Hey
I'm back.
Read on my fellow fans…
(I don't own HALO and I never will)
On with the fic…
Brigid blinked her eyes and looked up, her suit's monitor was slightly fuzzy. Brigid slammed her head into the floor and it righted itself, the laser from the Prohet's chair must have fried a few systems. Brigid rolled over and sat up, her head felt like there were grunts on parade in her head banging frying pans together. Brigid looked around, her cell was dark and the only light came from the glow of the door, which showed a red light signaling that it was locked. Brigid stood up and heard something to her right, no matter how weak she was Brigid's training still kicked in. She spun and took up a fighting stance against whatever was thrown in the cell with her. A low growl filled the room and a cold seeped through Brigid to her bones, fear biting into her veins.
"Oh fuck," Brigid whispered, it was all the noise she could make. There was a hunter in the cell with her, and the only hunters who were thrown in prison were those who refused to fight, and they weren't fed very often. Brigid backed away as a green glow from the Hunter's cannon filled the room, her back hit the wall and she slid into a corner. One of her hands rested against the wall as the other came up in front of her, Brigid figured that her left hand was already mangled, if it could be lost again to save the rest of her body the hunk of metal was no great loss. The green glow came closer, but did not leave the cannon or grow in size.
"What are you little one?" The hunter asked. "I have never seen one of your kind before." Brigid lowered her arm a degree.
"I'm human," Brigid replied, lowering her arm further, trying to look at him.
"I have never seen a human like you," he replied, "Please, you have nothing to fear of me." Brigid lowered her arm fully, but switched on her head lamp, which lit up the room and the giant hunter before her. "Hm. That is much more practical." The hunter turned and powered down the cannon, lumbering over to the middle of the room. He turned and tilted his armored head to one side, looking at Brigid. Brigid brought her hands up and removed her helmet, flipping a switch so that her helmet light would stay on, she then balanced it in the middle of the room. "Ah, I can see now that you are human. It is strange armor you wear." Brigid was still a little to surprised to say anything. "Well, tell me your story, you must have done something to get thrown in this cell."
"I helped lead a raiding party for the Resistance," Brigid said, "Our intel was bad and we got trapped. I won't tell them anything."
"Ah," the hunter said, "They hope to break you with fear. Strange, they've only ever thrown two other humans in here, and both of them were released within the hour because of hysteria. It is strange that you do not fear me."
"I know your race to be rational," Brigid replied, "Several of your people are in the Resistance, though I cannot claim to know them personally."
"Well little one," the hunter said, sitting back on his haunches, "I'm sure you have some story to tell of how you ended up with the Covenant Resistance." He groaned suddenly, sounding like a growl, and scraped at his shield arm with his cannon.
"Is something wrong?" Brigid asked, picking up her helmet and walking over to the hunter.
He sighed, "I have had something stuck in my arm for longer than I can remember, and I can't get my cannon off to pull it out. Truth never bothered to look after my medical condition when he threw me in here." Brigid set down her helmet and smiled. She took off most of her armor that had bulk, only leaving on her arm guards and the black suit beneath the suit. Brigid lifted the back section of her breatplate and located the pack just below the power cell, it housed first aid material and food.
"Let me see," Brigid said. She set up her lamp and slipped her helmet back on for a more focused ray of light. Brigid could see the piece of metal sticking out of the hunter's arm. She tapped it slightly and the hunter winced, blood began to well around the thing. "How long has this been in?"
"I don't know," he replied, "Too long." Brigid made a face beneath her helmet.
"This is going to hurt," she said, getting disinfectant ready and a bandage, "But it really needs to come out."
"Just do it," the hunter said. Brigid took a good hold of the metal and yanked it out of his arm, quickly dousing a cloth with medicine and laying it over the wound. Brigid's moves were faster than the eye as she wrapped a bandage around it and tied it tight. The hunter roared from the moment she pulled the metal and cringed away after she tied off the bandage. Brigid took out a small probe and poked it gently under the bandage, getting a small amount of blood.
"My suit has a toxin scanner implanted," Brigid explain, sliding the steel into a special slot at her arm, "I'm going to test your blood for any poisioning." Brigid looked at the scan from her HUD and smiled, removing her helmet. "Well, I don't know how, but it's a clean cut. You have a high level of bacteria because of the time it's been there, but the computer doesn't pick up anything to seriouis."
"Thank you," the hunter said, "I never told you. My name is Ja'naço, I was thrown in this prison when my brother was killed."
"You refused to fight without him?" Brigid asked. Ja'naço nodded. "I'm Brigid."
"If you do not mind my asking," Ja'naço said, "How did you come to aquire those scars on your face?"
"Long story," Brigid said, she removed her left arm guard and held up the mangled remains of her hand. From the elbow down she possessed only thet scarred tissue of the joint, from there was a shrewed metal replacement that covered her arm. Stitches wound from the false thumb around her arm, holding synthetic muscle to the metal bone and nerve cells. Brigid noted that wire was coming undone from her arm. Brigid's hand moved to her belt and she removed a special needle that would thread the wire.
"I don't think time is anything we have a shortage of," Ja'naço replied.
"It was during advanced infantry training," Brigid said, winding the wire threw her fake arm, and then through her own skin to attach it. "We were doing a live fire drill on the training course, my squad and I had just arrived on Ku-Lita, and another platoon was covering our flank. Well, one of them pulled a grenade pin, but was hit with a stunner and it rolled over to my squad. Juba couldn't get to me in time to pull me back, as I jumped over an embankment the grenade went off and sent schraplnel towads me. Blew off my left arm below the elbow, broke what was left of it, dislocated both arms, punctured my lungs, broke two ribs, shattered three more, destroyed my left eye, broke my jaw, my nose, my eyesocket, made me deaf in my left ear, tore two ligaments in my right leg, and broke my left leg in four places with extensive muscle damage. The doctors were able to save me, but they had to use revolutionary treatments and surgeries to salvage what was left of my body. The alterations made me stronger. Carbide ceramic ossification made what little was left of my bones unbreakable and replaced the ones that had been shattered. Muscular enhancement injects made the muscles in my body heal quickly and strengthen the others. Catalytic thyroid implants helped my muscle and skeletal tissues repair. Superconduction fibrication of neural dendrites increased my reflexes and helped adjusting with my new bio-electronic eye. Then there are countless others that helped me heal. Because of my pre-pubescent state the scars left are permanent and can never be removed. These scars are no badge of honor, they are a disgrace."
"It is not a disgrace," Ja'naço said. "It is simply another part of who you are." Brigid sighed and took out a soddering tool, melting the wire to steel with a double knot to make sure that it would hold this time. Ja'naço did not know her world, back home beauty was everything. Brigid then went into the emergency pack and took out some dried meat that was prepared for every trip.
"Dried Ketska?" Brigid offered. The hunter nodded enthusiastically and Brigid broke of two thirds of the meat, giving him the larger piece.
"I thank you," the hunter said.
"So," Brigid asked, "If you would care to tell me, how did you end up in this hole?"
"Hunters," Ja'naço explained, "Bond to their brothers, but that does not mean that we are related. Hunters can sometimes choose a different partner for battle. Luto and I had known each other since childhood, and I could not bear to face battle again. Truth ordered me to choose another partner, I refused. So, Truth had me thrown in here, I think he got more satisfaction than he let on." Brigid gave him a quizzical look. "Some races of the Covenant have kept their old ranking systems alive. By thet old standards I would be the prime minister if of our people, Truth always viewed me as a threat because of my popularity among my race, second only to the royal family.."
"Oh," Brigid said. "Let me check your bandage real quick, I want to make suare that it won't fester." Brigid stood and walked over to Ja'naço and put her lamp right over the wound.
"I thank you for this," Ja'naço said, "It was quite annoying after the first few months."
"It's not even infected. Do you know how long that in there?"
"I have lost count of the days," Ja'naço replied. "You told me the history of your injuries, but how on High Chairty (like the phrase 'how on earth') did you end up with the resistance?"
"Well," Brigid said, "A week after my surgery our planet was being destroyed and the Covenant were just pulling out. I ran from the infirmiry and found my squad, we jacked some supplies and a ship and blasted out of there as fast as we could. We made a blind jump through space and landed on the plant Ithil. Four days after that I met one of the solders in the resistance, my squad and I joined them after a few days and I've been fighting with them ever since."
"Why did you not just contact your human friends?" Ja'naço asked.
"We were to far out of our territory to hope for a rescue," Brigid explain, "And besides, we didn't want to get the order to destroy ourselves and our ship."
"They would have given that order?" Ja'naço asked, horrified.
"Yes," Brigid said, "We were driving a prototype ship and had vital information on it, we would have destroyed it ourselves had the need been so."
"Strange how trusting you are," Ja'naço said, "How do you know that I am not a Covenant spy sent in to interrogate you?" Brigid smiled.
"I doubt that," she replied, "Your thoughts do not seem to bend towards betrayal."
"You can read minds!" Ja'naço asked.
"No," Brigid replied, "Emotion and intent are my specialties. There is a strange component in the water on Ithil that increases brain function, apparently the effect on humans is that we can practice empathy on other creatures no matter what race they are from or what language they speak."
"Highly interesting," he replied.
"Yes," Brigid replied, "We still haven't been able to tell what exactly causes these abilities, but we know that it is in the water of Ithil." Ja'naço smiled and the two were fast friends. Days turned into weeks and still Brigid had no word if Oren was still alive or not, and her tack supplies had run out a frew days ago.
"You should not pace so," Ja'naço said as Brigid paced the cell, "You will use up your energy."
"I have to do something," Brigid said, "We've been stuck here for weeks, and they could have killed Oren for all I know."
"I doubt it," Ja'naço replied, "If he's a high security prisoner then they will not execute him until he talks."
"Well," Brigid said, looking around, "I'm going to find a way out of here. Can't you just blast through the walls with that thing?"
"I've tried, they have an inhibitor on my cannon," the hunter said, "It's no use. Save your strength." Brigid ripped off her helmet with a yell and it bouned on the ground, illuminating the celing. She went to pick it up, but noticed a small crevice in the metal above her.
"What's that?" Brigid asked, pointing towards the ceiling.
"It must be form the spines on my back," Ja'na.ço said. Brigid took a closer look and began to remove her armor. "I thought it would lead to a shaft, but I couldn't fit through."
"Can you stand right under the gap?" Brigid asked. Ja'naço stood under it and Brigid climbed up his back wearing nothing but her black suit.
"What are you doing?" Ja'naço asked.
"I think I can fit through here," Brigid said. Without another word Brigid climbed through the chasm and wriggled through and reached a ventilation shaft.
"Good luck little friend," Ja'naço said as Brigid's feet disappeared. "I'm glad you found your freedom." Ja'naço sighed and sat down. He had nearly resigned to a life of lonliness when the door opened. Brigid stood surrounded by the false light off the hallway.
"Hey." Brigid said, a Brute Shot in her hand, "Stand back." Brigid fired three shots and blew away the bars, she climbed in and showed the fact she wore a belt form the Brute Captain. "Here," she took a tool form her belt and took the small chip off his cannon, "That should remove the inhibitor." She quickly clipped her armor back on and picked up the Brute Shot. "Lets go."
"You came back," Ja'na'ço said.
"What?" Brigid asked, "Did you think I'd leave you. Come on."
"You are a good friend," Ja'naço said, "Little Sister." Brigid suddenly felt a sharp pain in her head and grimaced. 'Relax,' Ja'naço's voice sounded in her head, 'It's just the binding force that holds those of our race together. It appears that you are supposed to be bonded to me as a sister.' The pain subsided.
'What the fuck?' Brigid asked herself, she could sense thousands of minds touching her own.
'They are seeing who you are,' Ja'naço replied, 'They will not question you, they just want to know who is being welcomed into the clan.' Brigid sighed as the voices quieted and she calmed.
"I downloaded a schematic of the city," Brigid said, "I think we can spring most of the prisoners."
"That would cause chaos," Ja'naço said.
"Chaos is good," Brigid said, "It'll give me time to find Oren and get any more who want to join me in fighting the Covenant."
"These are hunter cells," Ja'naço said, "They will listen to me if you set them free." Brigid jogged over to the control panel and flipped some switches, all the doors opened and the hunters traveled to the bars. Brigid flipped a few more switches and the bars slid open, except for one cell that would not open. "Blast it." Brigid set a switch and blasted the grate away, she kept her helmet on just in case they decided that humans were really despicable.
"Let's go," Brigid said, "The grunt cells are three over, we can let them out and then the Sanghelli. After that we can use back grav lifts to get to the shuttle bay and steal a few ships to get us out of here."
"And lead them straight to where?" A hunter asked, "Where can we go?"
"I have a jump system that will confuse them," Brigid said, "We'll be able to get away without being tracked. A cruiser will have a long-distance communication system."
"Are you suggesting that we steal a cruiser?" Another asked.
"We have a platoon of hunters," Brigid said, "And pretty soon we'll have grunt and Sanghelli support. We also have stealth and surprise on our side, I don't see what we should be worried about." Brigid grabbed more ammo. "Are there any human's imprisoned here?"
"Yes," Ja'naço answered, "I do not know if they are still alive, but they should be held near the grunts."
"Well," Brigid said, "In that case, let's free everyone we want and leave the rest to rot. This way." Brigid smiled behind her helmet and opened the outer door to see a Brute guard facing outward. Brigid thanked the designers for all the shadows, she could kill him silently without alerting any of the other guards. Brigid crouched and moved silently behind the great beast, clubbing it in the back of the head with the great blade of her gun. Brigid shoved his body over the side and it rolled down the bottomless pit beneath the prison cells. Brigis smiled and threw the brute that had been hiding behind her down the pit as well, but not before cutting his throat so he could not yell.
"You are certainly more powerful that you appear," the hunter who had doubted her said.
"Tell that to Truth," Brigid replied, moving on in her search for more cells, she saw a strange writing on the wall. "Can anyone read this?"
"These are cells for jackels," another hunter said, "Tell me we aren't saving them."
"We aren't," Brigid said, "Come on." She lead on through the bowels of the city until they found a row of cells for grunts. Brigid freed them and they began outfitting their band with weapons as they moved from level to level. Several Sanghelli had been freed, but they were a long way from getting everyone, and it was getting dangerous to move about without detection.
"I'm surprised they haven't sounded the alarm," one grunt said to his friend.
"A raiding party crashed the defensive grid," a Sanghelli said, "That's why they haven't sounded an alarm yet and the guards are placed on high alert. Not that it helps." A small chuckle sounded through the group, but Brigid silenced them quickly as a squad of jackels passed ahead of them. Brigid spotted a beam rifle and gave her Brute shot to a Sanghelli, taking the more refined weapon.
"Ja'naço," Brigid said, "Take the party on ahead and start making your way to the hanger bay. I'll free the rest of the Sanghelli, the humans, and try to find Oren."
"Stay safe little sister," Ja'naço said, thumping her on the back. Brigid nearly stumbled and laughed.
"It isn't me you should worry about," Brigid said, patting her rifle, "I doubt this will make it back to the hanger bay. Now get going before another patrol comes along." Ja'naço began running off with the platoon and a half of forces at his back. "And look after yourself." Ja'naço replied in her mind.
"Fear not little sister," he said, "I can handle whatever that bastard Truth sends my way." Brigid smiled and turned, her feet resting just before the edge of the precipice. She picked her target three levels above and fired twice, and then twice again. The two Brute guards fell before they heard the shots that killed them. Brigid smiled and took a gav. Lift up to that level. She removed a plasma rife from the rack and held it at the ready, her other hand occupied by a deactivated plasma sword. She located some Sanghelli and quickly freed them, but Oren was not there. She led the new squad and freed some more grunts and three hunters, who believed her story the moment she contacted them through their bond. Brigid got to the last cell and found some humans.
"We should leave these creatures," a Sanghelli said, "They will slow us down."
"I'm not leaving behind my own people," Brigid protested. She opened up their cells, but no one came out. Brigid removed her helmet and a few Sanghelli gasped. "Oi, fall in!" Brigid invoked her voice that Sarge had taught her how to use, he said that in basic training every new marine was whipped into shape and could never refuse the tone of a drill sergeant. Sure enough, every marine, wounded or not, scrambled to attention. "Hey guys, I'm your rescue party. Everyone who can walk, grab a weapon and start moving. If you can't, grab a buddy and have him help you." Brigid smiled and replaced her helmet as they began moving. She knew that they should leave, but she just wanted to check a few of the interrogation rooms, she hit her first lucky shot all day. "Oren!" Brigid blew open the door with a borrowed brute shot and shot the brutes in the faces.
"Brigid," Oren groaned. "Idiot, I told you to get out of here."
"WE are leaveing," Brigid said, "Grab onto me." Brigid threw Oren over her shoulder and stood straight. "Lets go." Brigid led the party through he city and Ja'naço guided her to the correct ship. They all got on without a hitch and began warming up the ship. Brigid removed her helmet and called a Captain over. "How well can you pilot this thing?"
"Pretty well," he said, "But we may have to fight our way out of here."
"I know," Brigid took control of the ships intercom system, "All hands, find a station and man it. If you can't find one head to the infirmary and strap in. All wounded to the infirmary, Oren that means you too."
"Awww," Oren said through their suit intercom, "You're no fun."
"Move," Brigid said, "We have to get out of here, get us clearence, I don't care how." Brigid turned and began working furiously to disconnect the ship from the Covenant network, she made it just as they got out of the city.
"Five ships in pursuit," a grunt said, "Two cruiser and three phantoms. Guns charging."
"Ion cannons," the Sanghelli said, "Fire on my command."
"Do not fire," Brigid said, "I do not want to kill needlessly. We'll make it away, just trust me." Brigid's fingers were a whirl against the keyboard, she had already removed the AI from the ship, she didn't trust it.
"They're within firing range," the attendant said.
"Ready slipspace engines," Brigid said, "Execute on my command." Brigid flipped a few switches and the alarm flashed through the ship. "Slippspace go in five…four…three…two…one…mark." Brigid flicked the switch and the ship accelerated. Brigis switched stations and began programming for the second jump.
"They can track us," Ja'naço said.
"We won't be here for them to track," Brigid said, "Time for the greatest kept secret in the Covenant." Brigid flips a hidden panel and the switches beneath it. "These pods will be launched into space and confuse the perusing ships. Truth and the other Prophets hid them on every cruiser if they were on it." Brigid smiled. "Get ready for the next jump." Brigid keyed in the last few coordinates and hit the alarm again. "On my mark. 3…2…1…mark." Brigid set the ship into another jump just as the persuing ships appeared. Brigid smiled, they had jumped just at the same time as the pods. The Covenant now had seven ships to track and only five to send.
"I don't believe it," the captain said.
"Oh, just wait," Brigid said, "Five more jumps and we'll be there." Brigid keys in the next two more jumped. "Fire up the long-rang communicator. I need to send a patch to the resistance so that they don't blast us out of orbit."
"Can I…?" Oren asked over the intercom.
"Yes," Brigid replied, "You can come." Brigid and Oren traveled to the communication deck and it was powered up, the engineer left and Brigid plugged in the coordinates for Ithil. "Covesash, passcode Charlie-Delta-Two-One-Two-Echo, Colonel McClain." Brigid listened to the tones she heard that signaled her commander.
"Brigid?" Covesash asked, "My Lord, is that really you?" Brigid removed her helmet and smiled. "Is Oren safe?"
"I'm here," Oren said, stepping into the viewing screen, "Just a little plasma scoring and a dislocated mandible."
"We have new recruits fresh from the prisons of High Charity," Brigid said, "And updated plans of the city."
"Excellent," Covesash said, "We had nearly given up hope, you've been gone seven weeks. What is this about new recruits?"
"I befriended the Prime Minister of the Hunters," Brigid explained, "He has accepted me as his sister and we freed many others who wish to fight the Covenant."
"We will not be able to allow them all," Covesash said.
"The Hunters will be loyal," Brigid said, "We also have several humans who need to be returned safely into UNSC space."
"You bring much work, Brigid," Covesash said, "And much joy. I will see you upon your return." Brigid smiled and turned back to Oren.
"Næla will be pleased at your safe return," she said to Oren, "Now, lets get you back to the medical bay." Brigid saw Oren put into Cryo-sleep and then returned to the bridge to execute the last three jumps that would take them home.
"We are ready when you are," Ja'naço said.
"I have been cleared to escort you to Ithil," Brigid said, "Those of you who want to can join us, those who don't will be permitted to leave, but you must leave now."
"Why should we join your battle?" One Sanghelli asked.
"You get to fight the Prophets," Brigid said.
"I'm in," he replied. There were a few of the grunts they had saved who returned home and they were given a blessing. Then Brigid keyed in the last three jumps.
"Ready on my mark," Brigid said, "Three…Two…One…Mark." The ship accelerated quickly and the process repeated three more times. Brigid stood up as all the ship crowded to the windows. "Welcome to Ithil." They landed the cruiser and the engineers from the Belegra began stripping the ship of all former identification and information for further use.
"You hit a gold mine," the engineer said as Brigid helped move Oren from the medical bay, "This was one of Mercy's private shuttles."
"I want a triple scrub on this ship," Brigid ordered, "And double check for bugs and tracking equipment. I want a full de-breifing when your complete."
"Yes ma'am," the engineer said. Brigid continued moving.
"Oren!" A familiar voice called. Næla came flying out of a building and embraced her brother in the hover chair. "Oren, you're all right!" Brigid quickly left the two to their reunion, it was not her place in intrude. She did not notice Ja'naço following her until she reached Covesash's quarters, which were right next to her own, and the guards stopped him.
"Oh," Brigid said, "He's with me." Ja'naço looked at Brigid, unaware of her high rank. "Sorry, not used to having a partner." Brigid said, meekly as they were let through and into Covesash's chambers. Brigid turned to Ja'naço and quickly got him up to speed about what was going on. "You are about to meet Covesash, he is the leader of the Belegra and a very wise Sanghellli."
"Brigid," Covesash said as they entered the room, "Who have you brought?"
"Covesash," Brigid said, "This is my…."
'Brother,' Ja'naço thought to her.
"…Brother," Brigid completed, "Ja'naço. He is the one who helped me escape from High Chairty."
"Welcome," Covesash said.
"It is an honor to be here," Ja'naço said with a bow. "I am afraid Brigid give me far to much credit, I only…"
"Brigid!" Four voices shouted. The next thing Brigid knew was that she saw the ceiling and felt a great pressure on her chest. Ja'naço shouted in surprise, the guards burst in the door with weapons raised, and Covesash chuckled at the whole situation. Jo, Kyle, Brian, and Sarge were all piled on her chest and hugging her. It was just then that Brigid noticed the searing pain that they were causing because her armor was digging into herr skin.
"Ow," Brigid said, "Guys air." They all stood up and Ja'naço remained wary. She stood only to be crushed again by her squad members.
"We'd thought we lost you," Jo said. Brigid finally got them all off her and stripped off her helmet. Covesash was still laughing as he waved the guards away.
"Brigid," he said, "I believe that one of our party is at a loss."
"Oh," Brigid said, "Ja'naço, these are my friends I fled Ku-Lida with. This is Jo, Kyle, Brian, and Sergent Jonson." Each steped foreword and greeted Ja'naço. "Guys, this is my brother, Ja'naço."
"Say what!" Sarge asked.
"Um," Brigid said, scuffing her boot against the floor, "We were bonded together as partners while we fled High Charity."
"…" Jo said. "Cool!"
"Kyle," Brigid said, "Can you make sure that the humans are returned to UNSC with a briefing on our existence, or lack there of as far as the humans are concerned."
"I'll take care of it," Kyle said, "The sooner the better, come on Brian, we'll need a squad."
"So," Covesash said, "Do you and your people wish to join our fight?"
Ja'naço remained silent for a moment and Brigid heard a whisper through the air. "I can vouch for myself and my people, we will fight with you, but they would like to meet you."
"Certainly," Covesash said. Brigid excused herself to go remove her armor and Ja'naço would remain to speak with him comrades. When she returned the sight was very funny. The other Hunters ahd taking a liking to Jo and were examining her quite closely.
"She is so small," one said, "How could she even fight?" Jo opened her mouth to answer, appearing indignant, but was bumped and nearly fell.
"She's so light," another said, "We should look after this one."
"I can see why you accepted the other human as your sister, Ja'naço," a hunter said to him, "Humans are small and there is a need in our blood to protect that which is weak."
"Hey!" Jo said in protested, only to be sushed by Brigid with a finger to her lips.
"Jo," she whispered as the hunters continued talking, "Compared to them, we are weak. Now come on, I need some food." Brigid put her arm around Jo and they traveled to the kitchen. Jo was surprised at Brigid because she wasn't traumatized, then she remembered that Ja'naço had kept her sane and they were not traumatized by the capture. Jo put her arm around her friend and they went to go get some chow before settling back in.
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