Chapter 3

Time: 6:39

Date: 6/23/2552

Location: Shadow of Justice, Prison Block

I looked around at the 10x10 small, covenant cell. It had a small metal bed, a clock that was in another language - most likely the elite's language - and a small closet, which I assumed was the bathroom. At least they let us have privacy.

"What have I done to be here?" I uttered in disbelief.

(A/N: I'm going to try P.O.V switching between Scotty and Kará)

(Kará P.O.V)

I was walking back to the bridge, to tell the Prophet how the mission was a failure, but managed to capture a human alive, that deemed to be a more valuable quarry than the others. Then I started to remember all that just happened, especially with Uszé being viciously killed. I had started to tear up when I heard a voice came from behind me.

"You performed well today Kará," the voice said. I turned around and saw my best friend, Jen. She was a red mane T'vaoan Kig-yar, Murmillo class.

"How do you consider my mission one of success? My entire squadron was slaughtered by one puny human," I said, becoming enraged.

"Well you did managed to earn a hostage, a SPARTAN to be exact, much stronger than their foot-patrols," she said in a sympathetic and considerate way.

"That may be true, but the consequences still stand. I have failed and I appear as a waste for female Sangheili," I sighed

"I'm sorry about what happened to Uszé, he was a valiant warrior, but you deserve better than him," she said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"But I think he deserved a second chance after what happened,"

"Kará, he had bedded your sister while you two were courting. He is no better than an Unggoy traitor," she hissed.

I had a tear rolling down my face as I recalled that day.

Uszé and I were both back on Sanghelios for rest and I came back from my mother with the wedding gown. it was tradition in our heritage to make a gown with our mother by hand, and I had heard noises coming from our bedroom when I walked in on them two mating. I started to cry as I left. Male Sangheili are allowed to pick what female to court. I thought he chose me, but he used me to get close to my sister. I was betrayed by both of them.

I shook my head and came back to reality. I nodded in agreement with Jen, as she was right, he was vile.

"But to die like he had, his head exploding as if it were a grenade," I muttered.

"Yes, he shouldn't have died like that, but really he still deserved some of it. He tore your hearts out and stabbed them with an energy dagger. He treated you as if you were nothing," Jen cursed.

I sighed as I knew I could not win an argument with Jen. She did have a point. He had hurt me before, and I was setting myself up for a second chance of him being able to do it again.

"Gods, why am I so easily manipulated," I muttered.

"You were in love, it happens to the best of us," Jen said.

"But I never fell for such trickery before, yet I seemed as if I being herded to my own demise," I sighed.

"There isn't much you can do about it now. This time you should recognize any other deception such as that," she smiled trying to cheer me up. "Anyway, how hard was it to obtain the prisoner?"

"He put up a decent fight, still no comparison to me, he is very cunning though. I have a feeling he was more capable than what he showed me, but I do not wish to see it. The endurance on him makes him honorable enough to fight, but that does not redeem his actions," I said slightly admiring the ferocity of the human, yet hold him lesser than myself.

"It seems you admire his strength; even for the enemy, he's pretty strong," she said.

"True, I may admire his capabilities, but do not easily mistake that for tolerance for him," I sternly said.

"I didn't say you did, just that he is strong, may want to watch yourself," she said smiling, as if more to what she meant.

"Are you planning to see the Prophet about the Spartan?"

"Yes, but I am not sure what he will decide when he comes, whether the human lives or dies," I shrugged.

"I think he will be interrogated by the Prophet," Jen said. "Maybe the Prophet will get positions on the enemies, or any other valuable information that we could use," she suggested.

"We shall see. I had better attend the meeting and see what he has in store for the human," I said returning to my action of heading towards the bridge to be debriefed by the Prophet of Hope.. I do hope that I am able to redeem myself, as the mission was a failure as far as staying in stealth while the planet was to be invaded in search of the artifacts that the humans continue to hold in their possession. One of the artifacts happens to mention a super weapon that can be used to wipe out countless enemies, a great weapon to posses when fighting the human. I arrived at the bridge, waiting for the prophet to dock with the ship, and I continued to speculate the outcome. As far as the mission's success/failure, it was both. I snapped out of my deep thought as I saw his ship boarding, and I kneeled as of the respect he deserves. The Prophet boarded the ship, guarded by four Sangheili Honor Guards.

"Stand, we're to proceed to the interrogation chamber where the prisoner is held," he said as I gained my posture. I watched as his gravity throne passed, he dismissed the other members of the covenant to their usual work, and I followed behind his guards as we proceeded to the room. The Prophet of Hope is one of the lesser prophets, but he will soon become one of the three Hierarchy if one is to fall. We entered the room and began to discuss the mission.

"You failed to complete your mission in retaining the artifact, along with your entire troops were slaughtered by one lowly human. As of now, I believe you need to be dismissed and possibly become branded as Arbiter, but you did, however, retain an alive human that can possibly be questioned to help us find the objective that was needed in your mission. Along with that, he may give us any other valuable information on the petty humans," he said in a serious tone, as of a strict parent. "I may allow you to maintain your position if the human cooperates and gives us the information we need to continue the Journey." He turned to one of his guards.

"Bring the human for questioning."

I sighed as I felt my entire career hanging in the balance of Scotty. I have had years of unbelievable outcomes and circumstances that had my authority and position questioned, but never like this. All the work I had put into aiding the Covenant, during the lengthy encountering of the humans on Harvest, where I was recognized as an important force needed in the Covenant. I was a minor then, but after a small incident was promoted for a great heroic action.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Flashback)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had just joined the Covenant, barely making the requirement on the age of 16. I was on my first mission, already deployed on the ground forces to provide cover fire for the Phantoms to come in. I heard chatter on the major's radio. It was the Arbiter saying they were under heavy fire and needed assistance. My commandeer had order another Sangheili to commandeer a T-26A Banshee to aid them, but I was closer to the aircraft, so I sprinted to the vehicle and took it.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING, MINOR KARÁ TRATOMEE?!" Major Valàmee shouted through the radio transmitter in the aircraft.

"I am assisting the Arbiter; they are soon to be taken down," I responded.

"YOU HAVE NO TRAINING IN FLYING A BANSHEE!" he continued to yell.

"I may not be as experienced as I need to be to fly, but that does not matter," I said nonchalantly, turning over the station to the Arbiter's.

"I order all aircrafts in the vicinity to protect my ship. We are under heavy fire and have a valuable being on-board." Arbiter Ripa 'Maromee said, worried.

I quickly gained on the phantom with the boosters, as I knew how to operate that and the guns. I spotted 3 pelicans firing heavily on the phantom. I started opening fire on a back engine on one of the pelicans. it had some damage already from the defenses that were on phantom, so it did not take many shots to blow it up. I was thrilled to take down a high value human transport ship first day, but I continued to aid the ally ship. One of the pelicans fell back to allow my aircraft to pass, and it fell behind me. I panicked as the pelican began to fire at my small vehicle.

The Arbiter came back on the radio, "Good shot banshee, but do not allow the human aircraft to take many shots into you. It's main armament is very powerful, you will need to perform tactical maneuvers."

I was embarrassed as I did not know how to do that.

"I apologize, I am not trained in this vehicle, it is my first day. Can you please inform me how to do that?" I asked, but I soon expected anger as he probably expected a skilled fighter.

"That is fine, push the button under the right control stick and you will do a loop. Lean with the control stick while pushing it, and you will do a barrel roll," he said in an informative manner.

I acknowledged and did so. I flipped upwards and was soon behind the pelican.

"Now use the secondary gun. Push the button on the left control stick, and it will fire a cannon fodder blast," he said and I followed as so, maneuvering above the airship, shooting the cockpit of the aircraft, which killed the pilot and caused it to crash.

"Excellent, now help take out the last one," he said. I boosted quickly to catch up, the pelican had taken out the defenses on the phantom and caused it to start flaming. I took all what learned in this next fight. I approached the pelican, but the back door soon opened and humans with automatic weapons started firing at me. I maneuvered the banshee to the left side of the pelican where I used the banshee bomb to take out the front left thruster, along with the heavy firing of the plasma cannons. This caused the marines in the back to fall out, but the pelican maintained its course and continued to shoot at the phantom. I focused on the other engine on the right back side, repeating what I did and the engine blew out, which caused the pelican to spin out control, crashing into the ground.

"You are great with the banshee, but you need more training," the Arbiter said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(Current time)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ever since that I was able to prove that females were just as worthy. I watched as Scotty was escorted by one of the guards in energy cuffs and a sword to his back.

"Ah, a SPARTAN! I was not informed what the human was. Interesting," the Prophet of Hope said. "If this goes according to plan we will have great use of you; if not death will be imminent."

(A.N: This will probably be a monthly posting ordeal for me until testing is finished for me, then I may be able to post more frequently, but until then I will try to post it every month. Thanks to all those who have read this story so far and please continue to read as there is much more to come.)