Chapter 8
The Phantom rocked as it left the atmosphere of the planet. Looking around the soft purple glow of the interior lighting was barely illuminating the other Sangheilli, their combat harnesses reflecting the light as they shifted to stay standing. Tz'eal kept his head down as much as he could, not looking at the other men, wondering what was going through their heads, what they thought of him.
His approach to their team was met with confusion. A large collection of Humans had been found hiding in a building at the edge of the city. Tz'eal could hear the children and women screaming as his fellow Sangheilli ended them. The more defiant of the group were brought out into the open, to be executed by the highest ranking soldier.
A Major in a crimson combat harness lined the Humans up beside one another, forcing them onto their knees as he paced behind them, his Needle Rifle in hand. Before he ended their miserable lives he spotted Tz'eal moving towards them from outside the city. The Major lowered his weapon, before slowly approaching the unknown Sangheilli.
"You seem to be lost Brother." He said loudly in their mother tongue, his deep voice carrying across the open path towards Tz'eal.
"I was. I am here now. What is the situation?" Tz'eal asked as he glanced passed the Major to the lined up Humans.
"This filth was found cowering in fear of us. Most died screaming, these however fought for their lives." The Major began as he turned back to the Humans, pacing around them with the barrel of his needle rifle pointed towards them.
"And what do you plan to do with them?" Tz'eal asked as he looked down to one of them. He looked to be a strong Human, the makings of a soldier. Perhaps he was protecting the weaker females and children?
"End their miserable lives of course. The Journey demands it." The Major replied with a chuckle. Kneeling down to one of the smaller Humans. "Weak aren't they? It is a surprise they can even attempt to fight us." He said with a growl as he reached forward with a single digit, his talon running across the small humans face, cutting deep. The human simply glared back, not making any noise as his face was cut.
"They are stronger than we expected but still no match for us." Tz'eal replied as he approached the Major. He watched as the Major slowly stood and began walking behind the line of humans.
"Perhaps you would like to take one of your own Ranger? Or have you had your fill?" The Major asked with a proud tone, the smell of fear slowly wafting through the air.
"You and your men were the ones who took these Humans. I will not take your prize." Tz'eal replied as he glanced down to the Boy.
"My men have bloodied their hands. You do not look like you have engaged in much combat. You must be ready for a kill?" The Major pressed as he stepped toward Tz'eal, offering him his Needle Rifle. Tz'eal glanced down to the weapon before returning eye contact with the Major.
"My actions are my own. I am able to determine what is right and what is wrong by myself. I don't need some god to tell me that."
The words of the Human, Drake, echoed through Tz'eals mind. He slowly pushed the Needle Rifle back into the Majors grasp as he stepped back a few paces.
"My hands are bloody enough. It would be dishonourable for me to take your prize from you." Tz'eal replied as he looked down to the human group. They were looking up at Tz'eal and the Major with a mixed look of fear and confusion. With the exception of the small boy. He looked up at the pair with a look of anger and hatred.
"Do not make them suffer." Tz'eal said as he watched the team of Sangheilli line up before the captured Humans.
"And why should we do that? They are filth that must be removed." The Major argued as he turned to Tz'eal.
"They may be our enemy but even our enemy deserves a honourable death." Tz'eal retorted without breaking eye contact with the human boy.
"Then a swift and honourable death awaits them." The Major said confidently as he turned back to the line of humans. One by one the humans were ended with a single shot from the Sangheilli firing squad. Tz'eal watched as the boy refused to look away from him as the Major kneeled down before the boy. He lowered the Needle Rifle and drew his energy Sword, watching as the boy's face was bathed in white light as the sword ignited.
"At least they have courage in the face of impending death." The Major commented as he lowered the blade to the boy's stomach. Tz'eal watched the pain slowly cross the boy's face as the Major stabbed him in one swift motion. A single tear dropped from the boy's eye as he finally looked away from Tz'eal, the life leaving his eyes. Tz'eal looked over the line of corpses, wondering if this was truly needed. He abruptly shook his head, trying to remove the heretical thoughts from his mind as the Major approached him.
"We are leaving for the Truth and Reconciliation now." He said proudly as the air began to whip up around them as a Phantom lowered towards them.
"Good. I must speak to my Commander and find out my new orders." Tz'eal said as he stepped towards the gravity lift.
Several units had passed as the Phantom left orbit of the planet. Tz'eal couldn't help but think back to the events prior, the interaction with the Human and the execution of the others. The look on the boy's face as the Major took his life. They were brave but they were no soldiers.
"You seem to be lost, Ranger. What troubles you?" The Major asked as he stepped towards Tz'eal, using the supporting structures of the Phantom to aid his movement.
"Simply keeping my thoughts to myself. I spent much time trying to find my way back to our men. I am tired and need rest." Tz'eal explained without looking up.
"You are not from our ship are you?" The Major asked as he looked Tz'eal over.
"The Truth and Reconciliation? No. I am from the Righteous Intent. I will need to speak to your Shipmaster to arrange transport back." Tz'eal explained. The Major slowly glanced away as the Phantom jolted to the side.
"The Supreme Commander will arrange that for you when we land." The Major replied as he walked back over to his men. Tz'eals hearts started to pound at the mention of the Supreme Commander. His Shipmaster had mentioned the Supreme Commander several times. A highly respected and powerful Sangheili. The man in charge of the entire fleet. Tz'eal was not looking forward to the interaction.
As worry began to set in the Phantom gently set down within the bay of the Truth and Reconciliation, the side doors slowly hissing as they opened outwards. The Major and his team stepped out, being met by a group of Unggoy who attempted to aid the Sangheili upon their return, all of whom shrugged the Unggoy away with a grunt.
Tz'eal looked around the familiar looking but slightly different interior of the Truth and Reconciliation. The lighting was a slightly darker shade of the typical Sangheili Purple and was much busier. The Righteous Intent was staffed by much fewer men but was efficient enough. However this was the Supreme Commanders ship, it needed to operate as efficiently as possible, which meant as many people to do so as possible.
"Ranger! We must go. The Supreme Commander is expecting us." The Major called out to Tz'eal. With a slow nod Tz'eal followed behind. His mind continued to wonder as they passed through the halls of the Carrier. Unggoy and Kig-Yar would squeak and rush out of his way as he continued towards the bridge.
"I just don't believe in this Great Journey of yours"
The words of the Human continued to echo in his mind. With a growl Tz'eal shook his head trying to rid himself of these extremely heretical thoughts before walking into something solid. Taking a step back he glanced to his side as the Major looked at him questioningly.
"Are you sure you are well Ranger?" The Major asked, a hint of joy to his voice. Tz'eal slowly stepped back shaking his head. Looking back he had apparently walked into the door of the bridge while lost in thought. He was about to reply when he heard some squeaks of laughter behind him. Turning around slowly Tz'eal spotted a small group of Unggoy looking at him. All but one stopped their laughter as Tz'eal approached them.
Without hesitation he reached down and grabbed the laughing one by his tank, raising him off of his feet to look Tz'eal in the eyes through his visor.
"Did my accident humour you Unggoy?" He asked with a growl of anger, the Unggoy silencing abruptly.
"N-no of course not. My friend had told me a funny story! I wasn't laughing at the big Elite walking into the door! Of course not!" The Unggoy replied sounding terrified.
"You had better not have been." Tz'eal began as he let the Unggoy go, dropping it to the floor with a thud. "Leave my sight, all of you before I relieve your shoulders of your heads with my hands." He growled. The Unggoy letting out yelps of terror as they ran.
"I am tired. Let us get this over with so I can return to the Righteous Intent and get some rest." Tz'eal said with a sigh as he stepped up beside the Major. Pressing his hand to the console the Major opened the door to the bridge. There at the helm was the Supreme Commander, Thel Vadamee. Donned in brilliant golden armour with a purple cloak flowing over his shoulders which trailed across the floor he looked out towards the burning planet before them with his arms crossed before slowly turning around.
"Roka, I had heard of your return. I assume your task was completed without issue?" He asked as his gaze slowly washed over Tz'eal. The Major, Roka, bowed his head before raising his right clenched fist to his left shoulder, the respected greeting of a superior officer. Tz'eal hesitated for a single beat of his hearts. In that beat Thel was staring at him, as though he was peering into mind and knew everything. He bowed his head and greeted the Supreme Commander as Roka had, hoping his hesitation wasn't noticed.
"It was Sire. The Humans on the edge of this...city, were of no match for our superior warriors." Roka replied as he slowly looked up to Thel.
"And you. What happened to you Ranger?" Thel asked Tz'eal. Tz'eal slowly glanced up to him, his heart's pounding in his chest. The way Thel looked at him, it seemed like everything that had transpired down on the planet was already common knowledge. Tz'eal took a deep breath to calm himself before replying.
"I was tasked with ensuring no Humans escaped the city before it burned using one of their tunnels. During my station with a Jirilhanae an Imp wormed its way into our area. After a short battle, one which I assume the Jirilhanae lost his life, I was thrown down the tunnel by his spike grenades." Tz'eal began to recall, trying his best to make his story sound reasonable.
"I was not able to confirm the death of the Imp. I assume it was crushed as the tunnel collapsed. However I was alive. I navigated my way through the Human tunnels before managing to return to Roka here. After his team finished their task they offered me to return here." Tz'eal concluded. Thel stepped forward and looked over Tz'eal, running his talons across the dents and scraped grooves in his armor.
"And now you seek your return to the Righteous Intent correct?" Thel asked.
"Yes Sire. I will need my next orders as I deploy to the planet to continue fighting the filth below us." Tz'eal said as confidently as he could.
"Perhaps." Thel mused as he turned to Roka. "Leave us. All of you." He ordered as he looked around the room. Several of the Generals and Guards posted within the room looked around questioningly without moving.
"Now." Thel growled as he looked at Roka. Roka bowed his head before turning and leaving as quickly as he could. The Generals and Guards slowly filed out, murmuring to themselves. Leaving Tz'eal and the Supreme Commander alone in the bridge. Tz'eal heard Thel sigh as he turned back to the visage of the Planet before them without a word.
Tz'eal opened his mandibles to speak when a voice rang out from behind him.
"Beautiful. Isn't it?"
Tz'eal glanced over his shoulder to the voice in the darkness before his hearts sank. Approaching slowly using an anti-gravity throne was the Hierarch Truth.
"Another Human Planet burns at the hands of one of your own, a female no less. This truly is a moment to rejoice." Truth said calmly as he made his way towards the pair. Tz'eal dropped to one knee as the Prophet approached, bowing his head low.
"I'm sorry I don't jump to the side of someone who proclaims they are some religious prophet, claiming to be the voice of a god and expect people to follow blindly."
Tz'eal closed his eyes as the Humans' words wormed their way into his mind once again. Truth slowly moved by him, stopping by Thels side. Slowly Tz'eal got back to his feet and turned back to the new arrival.
"We are one step closer to finding the holy relic and one step closer to the start of The Great Journey." Thel said proudly as he crossed his arms once again, the recently glassed city coming into view.
Tz'eal slowly walked behind Thel and glanced over his shoulder at the visage before him. There, burned into the planet forever, was the sigil of the house of La'Vdamee.
"However before we can begin the Journey we need capable warriors to defend our path forwards. Some of whom we have lost recently at the hands of the Demons who are still trying to defend their planet. As fruitless as their attempts will be." Truth said calmly, his voice carrying out into the empty bridge.
"You seem to be one of those capable warriors Tz'eal." He said calmly before turning to face Tz'eal directly. Glancing between Truth and the Supreme Commander Tz'eal was unsure of what he meant.
"Hierarch? I do not understand." Tz'eal said quietly as he bowed his head.
"Field Commander Ruan is dead. Commander Shress has taken his role going forward. I need a capable warrior of filling her role as Zealot." Thel commented as he glanced back at Tz'eal.
"Me? Sire I am sure there are more capable warriors than I whom you could pick." Tz'eal argued as he took a half pace back from his Superior.
"That may be however there are those among our ranks who have yet to prove themselves in combat to earn such rank. You have." Thel continued before Truth spoke up.
"A Zealot is appointed to one who shows great faith in the Journey. Using that faith to drive their own path forward and, by extension, driving our whole Covenant forward on the path towards The Great Journey. You have done just that. Kneel." Truth said as he slowly turned around.
Tz'eal dropped to his knee once again and bowed his head. He felt Thel grasp his helmet and gently removed it with a hiss.
"This is a momentous day, one which will be remembered in your family name forever. Tz'eal N'thanalmee. You have ascended to the rank of Zealot. You will help forge the fire which will drive us closer to the Great Journey." Truth said in an almost angelic tone as he outstretched his hands. Tz'eal felt his new headdress being donned upon him before Thel stepped away.
"Rise Zealot Tz'eal." He said proudly. Slowly Tz'eal stood and looked to the pair before him.
"Shall I report to...Commander Shress for my next appointment?" He asked as he considered speaking to the female.
"No. You shall return to High Charity for the next three units." Thel stated as he began to escort Tz'eal to the door.
"But Sire. If I am appointed as a Zealot I - " Tz'eal began to argue before Thel gave a low growl, stopping Tz'eal in his tracks.
"Do not question me. Return to High Charity. Your new Combat Harness will be waiting for you. Rest and return here in three units. Then we will give you your new orders. Is that understood?" Thel said quietly without looking around. Taking a single, deep breath Tz'eal simply nodded as Thel opened the door. Outside the gathered Generals and Guards glanced at the pair. Several of the Generals took half paces back in shock at the sudden promotion of the Ranger. Others simply nodded in respect.
"I have arranged your transport already. Go. Your honorbound duty will begin upon your return. Zealot." Thel said proudly as the gathered Generals and Guards made their way back into the bridge.
"Of course Sire. I shall return." Tz'eal said confidently as he walked away, making his way back to the Phantom bay in order to return to High Charity.