Ch. 12 Dual Preparations
After the positive response of the last chapter I am completely happy. You all have been great throughout this story and some of you have also expressed great responses to my other stories as well so I can't thank you all enough.
In another note, for those that have read my Love of Dragonesses latest chapter then you know that I will be away from my computer for a week from the 14th to the 22nd. Unfortunately, that week I am gone is the jurisdiction of this story so this won't be updated till after the 22nd. I can already hear your complaints but my reason for leaving is familial, my grandfather has bone cancer and he is 87 so there is a 60% chance of him not seeing next year according to his doctors. I want to spend some time with him like I use to as a kid before that day comes so here's to all day fishing and bowling!
Disclaimer: I own nothing, all characters are copyright of Bungie and 343.
"Chief..." Cortana said in exasperation. It only took the Spartan a quick second from the time he received his armor to put it on. "You were doing so well and now you just ruined it."
"So?" The Chief replied as he walked out of the room.
"You're impossible sometimes." Cortana said with a grin as she appeared in his HUD. "Not feeling naked now huh?"
The Chief shook his head as walked down the hall. "You know I believe you but no one else will until you have proof." he said as Cortana's grin dropped a serious expression appeared on her face.
"He has it on the data chip but we can't search him or his possessions without probable cause. The "secured" channel and his conversation with whoever it was on the other line is good proof but it isn't enough." she replied as the Chief nodded as he sidestepped a servant who looked awestruck. "What we need is to catch him when he makes the next call but he is getting antsy."
"How?" The Chief asked curiously.
"The peace delegation is arriving in two weeks, which means whatever he has planned has to be enacted soon. People always start to get a little more jittery when it's time to act because they are anticipating the event. He has been hiding it well but I can still see a slight twitch in his face every now and then." Cortana replied as the Chief narrowed his eyes behind his helmet.
"I caught that as well, when do you he'll enact whatever he has planned?" The Chief asked with a slight bite in his tone.
"I think a better question would be who else is involved and why?" Cortana said as the Chief went over everything in his head.
-Scene Change-
"What do you mean that I can't have that date?!" The Arbiter yelled in anger. The five elders around her had to stop their ears from ringing before they could reply.
"Daughter, the date you requested is the same day that the human delegation arrives. That date has been set for months now and we can't move it simply because its inconvenient for you." Her father said as the Arbiter huffed in irritation. "Has the human even agreed and have you had the customary sparring match?"
The Arbiter crossed her arms. "Yes he did agree, he didn't like it but he agreed and yes we had the traditional fight." she replied as Dava tilted his head.
"When was this?" he asked curiously.
"We had a spar on the ride over and the other when we got here remember?" she replied as the elders nodded. "And we had a few small ones in the last couple weeks and we had the actual one last night in the courtyard."
"I wondered why my guards were either upset or upbeat." Luka replied as he entered the room. "They said that they made bets on a fight last night." he finished as the Arbiter gave a Sangheili version of a smirk.
"Have you found anything new?" Dava asked as Luka gave a slight nod.
"The A.I. shared an interesting recording with us about one of the humans. I assume you have received a copy?" Luka asked as Dava nodded.
"It is disturbing but he took great care in avoiding what he was doing. As a result, we have no idea and we can't make any move until we have more facts." Dava said as Luka nodded.
"This is why I wanted that date. If he was planning something during the talks then rescheduling at the last minute would put him on edge." The Arbiter said angrily. "It also would give us more time to gather evidence and inform the humans upon their arrival."
"I understand but we can't move an important meeting because you want to marry." Dava said as the Arbiter huffed.
"Then tell them that we have a potential problem and are scheduling another event to draw out a potential assassin! We have enough credible evidence of some plot but we don't know who it is yet and by privately scheduling a different event but one that has the same impact we might catch them off guard enough to draw them out!" The Arbiter yelled in anger.
"She does have a point sir." Luka said in thought. "Tell only those that need to know what is happening and do so privately while everyone still thinks peace talks will happen but a different yet equally important event will happen instead. The resulting confusion will ensure that we have enough time to act on any other evidence we find between now and then."
"We can use what we have as probable cause and, if who I think is coming, then they will be more than reasonable to our request." The Arbiter replied as Dava sighed.
"It is credible evidence." one elder said.
"They did say that if any emergency comes up then we need to tell them immediately." another replied with a thoughtful expression.
"And this would qualify as that." Luka said with a nod to Dava.
Dava sighed in defeat. "Very well, we will inform those that need to know and tell them the plan. Until then it is business as usual. Luka, we might not have enough to arrest the human but we have more than enough to warrant a search but until we get approval from the humans then have him watched but do so discreetly."
"Yes, my lord." Luka said as he bowed and left the room.
Dava turned back to his daughter. "You might get your desired date but for now it is still the same as before."
The Arbiter nodded happily and walked out. The elders watched her go and shook their heads. "She has grown stubborn and defiant. She is most definitely taking after her mother." an elder said as Dava nodded.
"And she will always be my little girl." Dava said happily.
-Scene Change-
"So...uh...I guess that congratulations are in order Chief?" Dubbo asked as he sat at a table in the dining hall.
"I don't know if we should throw him a bachelor party or not." Stacker said as Dubbo laughed.
The Chief shook his head. "And neither of you could've talked me out of it?"
"Cortana asked us not too." Stacker said as Cortana hissed at him and the Chief narrowed his eyes at her.
"Why am I not surprised." he replied with a grunt as Cortana smirked.
"Admit it Chief, you aren't that tore up about it." she said mockingly as he swatted his helmet. "Not sorry for once Chief."
"Look at it this way Chief, you are getting the cream of the crop in terms of power." Stacker said with a grin. "She is practically the head of the Sangheili race now."
"Status isn't on my list Private." The Chief replied as Dubbo shook his head.
"Chief, this is something you will have to get use to now. You might actually enjoy being married eventually." Cortana said as he grunted.
"You know, you really have come a long way Chief. A few years ago you were an asshole but now you actually do have things to joke about." Dubbo said as the Chief shrugged.
"He's changing before our very eyes." Stacker joked as the Chief cracked his knuckles behind his gauntlets.
"Anyone want to volunteer for a fight?" The Chief asked as Dubbo and Stacker went pale. The Chief actually chuckled a little at their faces.
-Scene Change-
"Why is this so damn hard?" The Arbiter asked as she flipped through a list of things to do before a marriage ceremony. "I don't remember any other ceremony being this long!"
"That is because those were just usual ones, yours isn't usual so we must go all out to impress everyone." Kela said as she sat on the Arbiter bed. "I thought you wanted the best?"
"I do but all this..." The Arbiter trailed off as she flipped another page. "It's like a big book for an hour ceremony."
"Quit complaining and think of the positives. You are getting what you want after all." Kela said as the Arbiter snorted.
"Then what is wrong with a simple ceremony?" The Arbiter asked curiously.
"Too bland and boring, I thought you Zealots like action and flashy stuff?" Kela said as the Arbiter snarled.
"We like results and we don't care how we get them. Even if it means blowing up an entire base." The Arbiter said as Kela snorted in laughter.
"As I said, action and flash." Kela said as she laughed.
The Arbiter threw a pillow at her. "Shut up and help me with this, it's your big idea for a large ceremony."
"I wonder how that consummation is going to turn out...who is going on bottom in submission? You both would have a fight just to see who is going where!" Kela laughed as the Arbiter tackled her.
"Shut up!" The Arbiter said as she hit Kela with another pillow but Kela just laughed it off.
'So easy to embarrass and fun to annoy.' Kela thought with an internal smirk as she took another hit.
And we will cut it there with a flustered and embarrassed Arbiter beating her friend with a pillow.
Encase you all were confused we have two plans being talked about: one is the plan to disrupt Selmon and the other is Thela's (Arbiter/tress) marriage plans, which you will see more of in the coming chapters, hence the title: Dual Preparations.
I apologize that this is out kinda late but I do have a question to explain why. This is to my female readers but here it goes: How can you all keep yourselves occupied in a damn store for 5 frickin hours!? I spent the afternoon with my sister and mother and I thought it was just to eat but no we had to go to a damn clothing store! My entire afternoon and my time for writing went out the door for that.
Ok enough about my rant so read and review and please don't forget my note at the beginning about where I will be in two weeks and now you all may cue the complaining. Till next time my fellow alien lovers!