The world flashed back into view as Drake woke, sharply inhaling as he sat bolt upright and spun around, looking for a threat. His heart sank as he took in the soft blue illumination, the dull purple color of the walls and floor. The glowing cyan blue hue of the energy shield covering his only means of escape. He knew exactly where he was. He was aboard a Covenant ship, in the brig. Tz'eal really had gone and done it.
"Son of a bitch!" He shouted aloud as he slammed his fist into the floor. After everything they had experienced together Tz'eal had still fallen victim to the lies of their enemy. Drake's enemy now it seemed. Drake got to his feet and checked himself over. The only things that had been removed from his person were his helmet, weapon and ammo. Everything else was still there thankfully.
"I see you are awake." Came a familiar voice from his side. Drake slowly looked over, passed the shield wall and there, now clad in a Maroon combat harness was his old comrade.
"How are you?" Tz'eal asked with a genuine tone of concern. Drake just stood there and stared, anger radiating from him.
"I know you are upset Drake. I had no intention of ever doing something like this but it was not just for the sake of myself. You must understand that I had to think of my family too. My actions cause them all to suffer." Tz'eal explained as Drake continued to shake from anger, his emotions coming to a point and erupting.
"We were family! You were my brother! After everything I've said and done to help you!? After everything I've risked to keep you alive!? THIS is how you repay me!? By stabbing me in the back like that!?" Drake screamed in retort. Tz'eals head sank as his gaze hit the floor.
"I would have done anything to keep us alive back there. I would have died happily knowing you and I were fighting side by side. But instead you pull this off. I thought you were better than that." Drake continued while getting quieter.
"I had not expected this outcome, Drake. I am sorry my friend." Tz'eal said with a slow nod.
"What the fuck else did you expect Tz'eal? Did you honestly think they would welcome me aboard with open arms like Shap and I did to you? Of course fucking not! You're dead to me, Split-lip. Now fuck off. I don't want to see your face until the end, only then will you look me in the eye and watch what you've done to me." Drake said, spitting venom with his words before he spun around, putting his back to Tz'eal and refusing to say another word.
Tz'eal took a step back, mandibles agape in shock as he took in the hatred. He continued to stare at the back of Drake's head for a few more moments, he had made the right choice. Not just for himself but for his entire family. If he had not done this his entire line would be branded Heretics and abandoned forever. Tz'eal sighed and stepped away, walking to the main podium in the middle of the cell block.
"Make sure the Imp is comfortable until his execution. I owe him that much." Tz'eal said to the Minor standing guard.
"Yes sir." The minor replied with a short bow of his head. Tz'eal turned and left the block, heading towards his quarters where he could rest, or at least attempt to. Walking along the winding hallways of the Righteous Intent Tz'eal felt as though he was foreign to this place. He had spent so long with the Humans that he had finally felt as if he were at home among them. Now back with his own kind everything felt off. His fellow Sangheili ignored him or gave him looks of hate as he passed. Once this situation had resolved and he was back fighting those he had just called his allies his Brothers would accept him again.
He reached the small door leading into his quarters and placed his hand upon the scanner, the door emitted a shrill beep before sliding open. Tz'eal managed a single step inside before he felt something press down on his shoulder.
"Welcome back Zealot. I am glad you decided to do the right thing."
Tz'eal slowly turned on the spot to look at the source of the voice. There in a cyan combat harness was a Ranger, his helmet preventing Tz'eal from knowing who he was.
"Do I know you Ranger?" Tz'eal asked, sounding irritated. He just wanted to get some rest and wait for this entire situation to be done.
"It has been some time and the last you saw me I was but a simple Minor so I will forgive you for not recognizing me." The Ranger said happily before he reached up and removed his helmet.
"Kavah? You stayed, I see." Tz'eal said to Kavah who clicked his mandible several times in response.
"Yes. After we talked it made sense to stay behind but then I heard that you had not only made your way to the Humans but you had also killed some of our own who were sent to look for you." Kavah said with a nod as he gestured inside the room. Tz'eal stepped inside and allowed Kavah in after him. Closing the door behind them they were now alone, free to speak their minds.
"And what of it?" Tz'eal asked.
"Nothing. You told me you were leaving and that I should stay behind. I initially thought it was a ploy to try and keep me safe or something but of course not. I was young and stupid. I know you were lying to keep me from leaving. I approached my Shipmaster and explained how I felt to him. He kept me on the path." Kavah added, sounding proud.
"And so now you are here as an 'I told you so'? Simply here to tell me I was wrong with my actions and I should have simply kept my head down and not risked my life and the lives of others in a brazen act of heresy?" Tz'eal asked with a sigh.
"More or less. You've put your entire line at risk with your actions but I am glad to see you have returned." Kavah added.
"Yes. Back where I belong, fighting for our Prophets against the filthy heretics in search for some sacred artifacts that will further advance us down the path of the Great Journey." Tz'eal said using a monotone. He still did not believe it.
"I would work on that if I were you. No one will believe you when you speak like that." Kavah warned.
"Frankly, I do not care right now. One of my closest allies, no, one of my closest friends is in one of our cell blocks and faces death because of me. I do not exactly feel like furthering the Journey at this moment in time." Tz'eal explained.
"Well if you would like I can go speak to the Ship Master and find out when everything will conclude? So that when the time comes and goes you will no longer feel the guilt of betrayal." Kavah suggested.
"You would do this for me?" Tz'eal asked, sounding unsure.
"Yes. If it will ease your mind and allow you to focus on our tasks at hand then I shall. You were kind to me when we first met Tz'eal. Kinder than any other Sangheili. I owe you this at the very least." Kavah explained.
"If you would do this for me Kavah I would appreciate it greatly." Tz'eal said with a nod.
"Alright. I will go speak to the Ship Master and find out when everything is happening for you so that you can put your mind at ease. Get some rest while I go. I believe the execution is planned sooner rather than later." Kavah explained with a nod before stepping to the door, opening it and leaving without another word.
Tz'eal stripped off his combat harness and threw it aside carelessly. Throwing himself down onto his bed he stared up at the roof contemplating everything that had happened and everything that was going to happen. Soon Drake would be put to death. He would be redeemed and his family pardoned. But something still did not feel right. He sighed and tried pushing the thoughts from his mind
Walking the halls of the Righteous Intent Kavah knew the Shipmaster would likely not give out a time frame for the planned execution of the Imp but as he had promised he would try and gather that information for Tz'eal to put his mind at ease. He followed the winding hallways until he opened the double doors to the bridge. Inside there were several Sangheili stationed at different consoles and displays, each monitoring different sections of the ship and displaying their status. Some of the Officer class Sangheili glanced up and looked at him questioningly as he slowly crossed the room towards the Ship masters station.
There, clad in a silver Combat Harness the Ship master continued to look towards his own display of the carnage below them. He swiped his digits around the air, moving his display from detail to detail while shaking his head in frustration.
"We were under the impression this would be an alien world devoid of life. Yet here they are once again. The Humans desecrated the land they set foot upon with yet another of our Gods artifacts before them. One more world to burn it would seem." He commented before glancing over his shoulder towards Kavah. "Ranger? What brings you here?"
"Excuse me sire, I know it is not of my position to ask you this but the Heretic was known to me once. I ask for information on his behalf if I may?" Kavah said quietly. His question drew the attention of several Sangheili in the room.
"You knew the Heretic before he committed?" The Shipmaster asked.
"I did. On High Charity he offered me advice which I took, not knowing of his intentions. He was the only one to offer me any kind of assistance. I owe him this one singular attempt." Kavah explained.
The Shipmaster sighed and nodded once after a brief moment of thought.
"I understand you feel…compelled to honor your 'friendship' with him so I will grant you your question for him."
Kavah blinked a few times in surprise, expecting to have been declined this chance. He nodded slowly and took a deep breath, glancing at his fellow Sangheili before making eye contact with the Shipmaster once more.
"He would like to know when the Imp is scheduled for execution." Kavah said confidently.
"The Executions are scheduled for the End of Unit. Everyone will be gathered to bear witness to the end of yet another filthy human after his attempt at manipulating one of our own." The Shipmaster said confidently in return. The other Sangheili in the room raised their hands and roared in acceptance. Kavah clicked his mandible several times and nodded.
"You have satisfied my request, Shipmaster. I thank you." Kavah began as he slowly turned and took a few steps before it dawned on him. "Executions, sire?"
"Yes. Multiple. Heresy will never stand within our Covenant. You understand Ranger?"
Kavah continued to nod his head without looking back. He made his way out of the bridge with a new destination in mind before returning to Tz'eal. He wandered the halls of the ship for what felt like a lifetime, his thoughts returning to when he was a Minor. Wondering if his Shipmaster could be so deceitful could the Prophets be as such? He needed to know the truth and there was only one way he could know. He finished his journey down a lone, long hall, entering a large chamber skilled with several data points. A lone San'Shyuum sat aboard a hover chair, looked over to him. Their Lore Master.
"Welcome Ranger. What brings you to my end of the Intent?" The Lore Master asked calmly. His voice carried and echoed throughout the chamber.
"I am here on a personal matter, Lore Master. An old friend of my family and keep has…fallen from grace so to speak. I would like to know if there was anything done to them when his heresy was discovered." Kavah explained calmly. The Lore master smiled and nodded while floating over to a small data point to Kavahs right.
"I believe you are talking about the Zealot that has returned to us, yes? If so I believe we have the details on his family here. There was a new update to their records when he returned." The Lore Master explained as he reached up and tapped on the data point. A flow of data streamed from the point to his hover chair before a display flashed into existence before them both. He scrolled through the information. The data stream came to an end as he stopped on a large chunk of information and nodded with a chuckle.
"Ah yes here it is, clan N'thanalm. They were a very respected clan for a time. Granting us very capable warriors until one of their last. Records indicate that recently there was a Ranger, turned Zealot, who turned from our Covenant and defected to the Humans. Allying himself with them and going so far as to fight and kill some of our own in combat. He has not formally been branded as a Heretic but he was declared a Heretic by the Prophet of Truth himself." The Lore master explained. Kavah listened intently as his hearts started to pound in his chest.
"Upon declaration of Heresy the Prophet of Truth ordered a contingent of Zealots to go to the home of clan N'thanalm and determine if they were continuing to breed Warriors or Heretics. They were given one chance and only one to renounce the sin known as Tz'eal. They hesitated but renounced him from their family. Once the deed had been done the Prophet of Truth ordered their execution to prevent a further chance of breeding Heretics. Upon his scheduled execution at the end of Unit, the N'thanalm clan will be no more." The Lore master concluded. Kavah took a deep breath to settle himself. He nodded slowly before bowing his head.
"Thank you, Lore Master. It is a shame it has come to this but the will of the Prophets must be done." Kavah said confidently as he turned towards the door.
"You are on the right path Ranger. For the Great Journey."
"For the Great Journey." Kavah repeated before leaving the chamber. Tz'eal was being deceived. Deception was not their way. Kavah knew something had to be done. Something he should have done a long time ago. He made his way towards the Brig and steeled himself for something he was sure to die for.
