FAILURE
By Kool Killer
Author's note: This story was thought up after I read the story SUCCESS. Unfortunately, the author removed the story because it wasn't going anywhere. I know the elites consider medical science to be dishonorable, but just go with it. Covenant time/ Cycle = one year / Unit = one minute.
The Unyielding Triumph, Covenant cruiser 8/3/2540 5:37pm
Shipmaster Sael Yersen'ee paced impatiently across the floor of his docking bay. His armored hooves made a clunking sound as he walked. Sael's gold armor shined brightly under the ceiling lights. Today, was a very special day indeed. Sael would be meeting with two well recognized shipmasters, to discuss something of a rather bizarre matter. The prophets had not informed Sael completely of the plan they had for the humans. Whatever the prophets had in mind, it would be rather unpleasant. One thing the prophets had made clear was, the humans would have to be alive and unharmed. Sael was taken from his thoughts as the sound of a phantom filled the docking bay. A phantom flew into the docking bay and landed, the engine started to wine down. Sael stared at the phantom with anticipation. The phantoms loading ramp lowered and revealed two shipmasters, each holding large purple cases. Sael stepped forward and waved his honored guests over. Both shipmasters approached Sael and stopped. Sael placed his right fist over his hearts and bowed his head. Both of the other shipmasters did the same. Sael lifted his head and greeted his guests.
"Welcome Rtas vadum'ee and Thel vadam'ee to my ship, the Unyielding Triumph.
"We are honored to be here, Sael," Thel said as he griped his case tightly. Sael glanced down at Thel's case and smiled.
"Come brothers, to my quarters where we will discuss matters," Sael left the docking bay with Thel and Rats, leading them to his quarters. "This must be rather important to the hierarchs if they would send such skilled warriors as yourselves here," Sael stopped at his door and entered in his passcode. The door opened and the three shipmasters walked in. Sael closed the door behind Rtas and Thel. "Might I offer you some refreshments?" Sael asked, looking at his guests.
"That would be most welcomed," Rtas replied.
"Come and take a seat brothers," Sael nodded over to a table. The table was crafted from only the finest wood Sanghelos had to offer. Thel and Rtas set both of their cases down on the table before sitting. Sael emerged from his kitchen with a bottle of sangheilian whisky and three glasses filled with ice. Sael set the glasses down and opened the bottle of whisky. "This whisky has aged five cycles," Sael stated as he poured the whisky into the glasses. The ice crackled as the whisky filled the glasses. Sael put the bottle down and passed Thel and Rtas their glasses of whisky. All three shipmasters taped their glasses together in a toast. They all drank from their glasses together, downing the chilled whisky.
"This is quite strong," Thel rubbed his neck while he inhaled.
"Indeed," Rtas replied, coughing lightly.
"Five cycles," Sael said as he brought his glass back to his mouth and drank the rest. Thel and Rats finished off their whisky more easily, now knowing what kind of a bite it carried. The three sangheili sighed as the drinks started to affect them.
"Oh, this whisky is much stronger than most others; one glass is the equivalent of three." Sael explained.
"Without a doubt," Rtas replied as he held his head. The three sangheili all looked at each other in silence, until Thel spoke.
"Now we should discuss matters," Thel said, leaning closer to the table. Sael and Rtas leaned in as well, looking at Thel. Sael smirked, and then asked.
"So, what do the prophets have in mind for those pesky humans?" Sael stared at the two large cases that rested on the table.
"You tell me, Sael," Thel passed a PDA over to Sael. Sael took the PDA and looked at both the shipmasters. They had wicked smiles scrolled across their faces. Sael examined the PDA and found that it contained a video. Sael pressed play and began to watch the video. In the video, there was a human female restrained by plasma rings in the center of a lab. Thel and another sangheili could be seen off to the left behind a plasma barrier. Thel nodded to a sangheili medical officer, and the medical officer approached the human with his assistant. Both of the sangheili held syringes filled with liquid. The medical officer's syringe held a clear liquid, and his assistants syringe contained a clear pink liquid. The medical officer stuck his syringe into the humans arm and dispensed the liquid. He stepped back and waited with his assistant for one unit. Then his assistant stepped forward and stuck his syringe into the human's chest, injecting the clear pink liquid. As soon as the assistant emptied the syringe, he quickly walked with his supervisor behind the plasma barrier. The human looked over to a corner of the room and her face went white with fear. In the corner of the lab, was a lifeless mangled body that had taken on grotesque sangheilian traits. The human looked over at Thel and the three sangheili that accompanied him and yelled.
"What's a matter? YOU DON'T WANT TO WATCH!" The female took a deep breath and prepared to shout again but she stopped and cringed. The human shot her head back and began wailing in agony. Sael looked closely at her hands and arms, they started to change. Her pinky fused with her ring finger creating an opposing thumb. Then her fingers grew longer and sharp claws ripped out of her fingertips. The human's arms grew to fit the new hands. The human gasped and called Thel and his men bastards, then she screamed again as her feet started to change. The human's feet became sangheilian as the change worked its way up to her neck. Next her neck bulked up with muscle and stretched out to form a long thick neck. The humans head became more elongated forming the head of a sangheili. Then her mouth tore apart with mandibles ripping out, accompanied by many razor sharp fangs. Finally, the female's skin turned light brown in color and layers upon layers of new sinewy muscle rippled underneath her skin. The human female, well ex-human female hung her head low as she gasped for air, tears streaming down her face and dripping off her mandibles. The transformation was complete, now the female was a strong sangheili that still kept her feminine curves. The video ended and the screen on the PDA went black. Sael inhaled deeply not knowing he had held his breath. Sael looked over at Thel and Rtas speechless.
"That is what the prophets wish of the humans," Thel said as he took back his PDA and grinned at Sael.
"By the rings," Sael exclaimed as his mandibles slowly tugged up into a smile.
"Every human we turn, we gain as an ally," Rtas smirked, stood and opened the two large cases that were on the table. One of the cases had one thousand small disposable syringes that held the clear pink virus; the other case had one thousand syringes filled with a violet liquid. Sael looked at the two cases with confusion. Thel picked up on this and spoke.
"The clear pink liquid splices our DNA with a humans. The host's body will try to reject the virus at first, but the virus will consume them. Once the virus's assimilation with the brain is complete, the host will begin to change," Thel clicked his mandibles together when he finished speaking.
"What about these?" Sael pointed to the syringes filled with the violet liquid.
"They will suppress long term memories," Thel explained, tapping one claw near the case. Thel's claw made a clicking sound as he taped the table.
"Suppresses, but it does not erase memories?" Sael questioned.
"The memories are buried in the subconscious, it would take something of great significance to bring back memories of the human's previous life," Thel replied.
"So, once the human's transformation is complete, we can reshape the way they think?" Sael asked.
"Precisely, that is what we intend to do, we will show the humans the truth," Thel stated, and nodded toward Rats.
"The humans, they will join us in our glories march into salvation," Rtas spoke his words from his hearts. Sael was deep in thought while he scratched his lower mandibles. Thel leaned in and grabbed Saels attention.
"Do you have any more questions, Sael?" Thel asked as he swirled his glass around, the ice rattled inside the glass.
"Yes, we use our DNA, how does this work?" Sael questioned Thel.
"You place a drop of your blood into the vile," Thel grabbed a syringe and showed Sael how to open it. "Once the blood mixes with the virus, it will be ready to use," Thel smirked at Sael. Sael laughed heartily, then asked.
"How long does the virus take to work?" Sael looked Thel in the eyes.
"It takes two units, usually," Thel answered Sael.
"Excellent, soon we will show the humans truly creative means to win a war," Sael said his works darkly.
"They can only see one side of this war, we will show them the other," Thel laughed. Sael stood up and grabbed his bottle of aged whisky, smiling at the two shipmasters. Rtas and Thel happily pushed their glasses over to Sael. Sael opened the whisky bottle and poured generous amounts of whisky in each glass. Sael slid the full glasses back to Thel and Rtas. The three shipmasters taped their glasses together and downed the whisky. All three shipmasters coughed as they inhaled, the alcohol burned their throats slightly.
Sael looked over at his clock and said
"Brothers, it is time for our evening meal," Sael stood up, Rtas and Thel did the same. All three shipmasters could feel the effect of the liquor as they stood. The three sangheili left Sael's quarters and traversed down the large hallways to the dining hall. They all walked ungracefully, thanks to the drinks they had consumed. Thel, Rtas, and Sael entered the dining hall and walked over to the serving counter. Inside the kitchen were kig-yar and sangheili cooks preparing rather enticing meals. One of the kig-yar cooks spotted the three shipmasters, placed a fist over his chest and bowed his head.
"Your excellences, we have prepared a splendid meal for this evening," The kig-yar walked up to his side of the serving counter and smiled at Sael and his guests.
"Oh, and what have you all prepared this evening, Yarl?" Sael asked intrigued.
"A massive roast slow cooked in herbs and spices," Yarl replied, licking his beak. A little bit of saliva trickled down Sael's mandibles and he wiped it away.
"Is the meal ready now?" Sael asked Yarl with hunger present in his eyes.
"Of course shipmaster, I will dish you all up," Yarl walked back to his table and got three large bowls out. Then Yarl began to fill the bowls with the delicious smelling meat. Yarl walked back over with the three bowls on a platter and passed the bowls over the counter. Thel, Rtas and Sael graciously accepted their meals.
"You have my thanks, Yarl," Sael praised Yarl.
"Thank you shipmaster," Yarl replied, before returning back to work. The three shipmasters turned around and looked at the dining hall tables. There were many sangheili, kig-yar, and unggoy laughing and joking with each other as they enjoyed their meals. A group of sangheilian warriors spotted the three shipmasters and waved them over, hoping their superiors would dine with them. The three shipmasters walked over to their brothers and sat down next to them.
"Your excellences," One of the younger sangheili started to stand up to salute them, but Sael stopped him.
"Sit brother, and enjoy your meal," Sael commanded as he started to devour his meat. The meat tasted so good, Sael was a little embarrassed of hounding down his meal so quickly. Sael looked at every sangheili at the table; they were eating faster than he was. Sael chuckled to himself and continued to eat his meal. Sael glanced over at Rtas, the meat was very tender and Rtas had no problem eating with only two mandibles. Thel had finished his meal and started to talk to the other sangheili around the table. Thel exchanged war stores with them; the young sangheili listened in closely to Thel's stories in awe. Time flew by and soon it was thirty units past nine. Most of the people in the dining hall had left. Only Thel, Rtas, Sael, and the cooks remained. The cooks were putting things away and cleaning used utensils for tomorrow.
Thel had noticed that there were no jiralhanae aboard the Unyielding Triumph.
"Sael, you don't have jiralhanae aboard this ship,' Thel stated, receiving a weird look from Sael.
"Of course not, I wouldn't allow those apes anywhere near my ship," Sael voiced his words loudly. "This is a sangheili controlled ship and that's how it will stay," Thel nodded in agreement, then said.
"Understand Sael, I care not for those filthy apes, it is good you don't have any of those animals aboard.
"The beasts always reek as if they haven't bathed in a million cycles," Rtas joked, earning laughs from Thel, Sael, and Yarl, who was now walking over to them. Yarl had in his claws, four bottles filled with a dark blue liquid.
"I hope you enjoyed your meals, excellences," Yarl said as he sat down next to Sael.
"Your meals are always desirable, you do an impeccable job, Yarl," Saels complement made the Kig-yar blush a little.
"What are those bottles?" Rtas asked Yarl
"They are sweet drinks from my home world, here, try them," Yarl started to pass them out to the three shipmasters. "You twist the lids off," Yarl explained as he twisted the cap off on his bottle. A hiss was heard, and the blue liquid inside the bottle began to crackle. The three sangheili opened their bottles as well and tried the drinks. Sael could feel his throat sizzle as he drank the cool sweet drink.
"My my, this is quite good, thank you Yarl," Sael clicked his mandibles together savoring the taste.
"I'm glad you like them," Yarl said as he stood up.
"You're leaving all ready?" Sael questioned Yarl.
"I have to finish up in the kitchen," Yarl said, leaving the table and walking back to the kitchen. Sael looked at the clock above the entrance to the dining hall, it read ten thirteen.
"It's getting late, let me show you to your rooms brothers," Sael said as he stood up from the table. Thel and Rtas stood and followed Sael. As the three shipmasters neared the dining hall doors, the doors opened and two unggoy waddled in pushing mop buckets. They stopped when they saw the three shipmasters and bowed to them. Sael nodded to them as he left the dining hall with his two guests. They walked down the long hallway and headed back to Sael's room. Across from Sael's quarters were two guests' rooms with their own bathrooms. "Here are your rooms brothers," Sael said, then added. "Do you want me to get your cases of syringes?"
"No brother, this is your ship, so it is your operation," Thel smiled at Sael.
"Very well, enjoy your sleep shipmasters," sael bowed his head and saluted Thel and Rtas.
"You have our thanks," Rtas said as they both bowed their heads and saluted Sael.
Sael entered his quarters and closed the door. Sael stared at the two large cases lying on the table. Sael walked over to the table and grabbed a syringe filled with the clear pink virus. Sael thought back to the video Thel had shown him. Sael felt many things in his hearts as he watched the human turn. It was exciting and amazing what this virus could do. Maybe the virus could be spread other ways too. Sael wouldn't have admitted it, but, he found the humans transformation, slightly arousing. Sael shook his head and placed the syringe back into its case. Sael closed both of the cases and looked at the three empty glasses from earlier, the ice had already melted. Sael grabbed the glasses and put them in his kitchen sink. Sael then walked into his bedroom and closed the door. Sael started to take off his armor, starting with his helmet and working his way down. When Sael had finished taking his armor off, he unzipped his bodysuit and slipped out of it. Sael entered his bathroom and closed the door. Sael walked over to the mirror and stared at himself. He was much bigger than most of the other sangheili being nine foot four; Sael practically towered over other sangheili. Sael was pretty muscular and he took excellent care of his body. His skin was black but it got lighter towards his chest and abdomen. Sael leaned closer to the mirror and stared into his sharp green eyes. Sael noticed he had meat stuck between his fangs from his meal earlier. Seal grabbed a toothpick and removed the meat from his teeth. Sael licked his mandibles with his long tongue still tasting the juices left behind from the meat.
Sael left the bathroom and walked over to his bed. Sael got into the bed and closed his eyes. When Sael closed his eyes he could see the human females face. She was shrieking in pain, as tears fell from her catlike eyes. Sael's eyes snapped open and he blinked repeatedly. The human had been in so much pain, and misery. Could he really do that to a human when the time came, take away the only body they have known since birth. Sael shook his feelings aside and closed his eyes again. This time Sael was able to keep his eyes closed. Sael smiled as he thought back to when he was a youngling living in his parents company. Life was quite easy back then. Sael let his thoughts take him away into a wonderful dream.