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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

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"Break the Fear's Chains"

March 11 2527 - Hour 1513

First Blade Rtas 'Vadumee

Core Section, Shield 0459

"You should talk to her."

Chol Von's words brought Rtas out of her own thoughts, a perplexed glint flashing out of her eyes as she stared at the Kig-Yar that had successfully wormed her way into their team. It wasn't to say that Rtas failed to see the skills the T'vaoan had, yet it didn't make it any less weird for Thela to have incorporated someone else beyond a standard Sangheili for such a rank. It was odd, but not upsetting- and right now, it wasn't the issue at hand.

No, the problem was the topic of this unplanned conversation. General 'Vadamee was troubled. Not in a physical way as her skills were as unparalleled as usual. No, it was something that tied up to a recent behavioral change. Something happened that made the usually stoic and formal Thela behave in a more paranoid and upset manner. She was looking at all corners, keeping her distance from any group that wasn't commanded by hers, and... she was missing sleep.

At first, this was something that Rtas ruled out as their commander wanted to focus her whole self on completing a big step in achieving the Great Journey as this Shield World was going to do that and more. But as the trip to reach it went, the more empty bed that would normally be used by the commander continued to remain empty and cold.

It was no longer a case of devotion to the cause that drove her to commit this behavior. It was something else. And that something else was putting Rtas herself on the edge. Rtas was trying to clear her thoughts on the matter by training her aim by the shooting range within the ship, with Chol Von using this opportunity to start this conversation.

"Why?"

"You two are close. She trusts your advice, and she needs someone to talk to."

"She is busy with her duties," Rtas shot back, but the Kig-Yar sighed.

"Truly? Admittedly she may be busy, but I don't see a point in wasting rest for this. All perimeters are set, all logistical issues solved. If I may be blunt, I think you are as much in denial as she is about this issue, First Blade."

...

"Do you understand that you lack rank and familiarity to address me so brazenly?" Rtas inquired coolly, something that should have acted as a deterrent, but instead got a chuckle out of Chol.

"Truly? Apologies then. But, remind me, what's the point of a subordinate if they can't even voice genuine concerns for their own commander? We are believers, not slaves."

No reply was given to that, Rtas just left the shooting range to get back to her room. Shower first, her good uniform next, and finally making a decision. It wasn't as difficult as she wanted it to be. And there Rtas was, looking at her commander as she so lonely conducted the defensive planning for the incoming assault.

The humans had followed them into their current location and were soon to get to where they were staying. The fortifications had been set up, the troops displaced in the right locations to create forward bases and the Flood was surprisingly more tame to deal with despite early troubles in keeping those at bay. There was a chance that the parasites lacked the same grip in here that they had on the planetary surface, but with the arrival of new 'food', it wasn't against all odds for them to descend into the core to claim new flesh to corrupt.

"General," She spoke curtly, her tone sharpened by years of training and dealing with tough superiors.

Thela turned from her terminal, her glance missing some of the edge that once got her to awe and wonder the potential of this general. It wasn't stripped from her, but rather dulled and covered by something else. Uncertainty and... fear?

"First Blade- Rtas. I didn't expect you to visit right now."

"Are you busy, General? Do you want me to pass by another time?"

"No. I'm... I'm free for now."

Rtas nodded and approached the leader. Thela looked tired, and it was becoming clearer that it was as she had suspected: something else had caused her to be this restless. Something else was causing her current plight and... what could it be?

"I don't wish to be too blunt on this topic, but I seek to inquire about the cause of your restlessness, General."

Thela tensed slightly, not to the point of being too blatant in her upset, but enough to know she wasn't happy with it.

"I'm afraid this isn't a matter I wish to talk about."

The conversation should have ended there. The indirect demand was clear, but something pushed Rtas to push through. Was it born from worry? Was it conceived by dread?

"Something is causing you to lose sleep hours, General 'Vadamee. I wish to know what it is."

Mandibles clashed in an annoyed manner, Thela grasping the matter with frustration. "There is not. And you should leave-"

"Is it the Human?"

A memory flashed briefly to her as Rtas remembered by reports that the General had fought the human before they left with the scientist. That ambush was intense, yet something happened there- something unfolded and forced Thela to call for an odd retreat. They had been winning due to the element of surprise, yet the General had forced them all to leave without any major reason. No one called her out on it, yet it was becoming evident that it was tied to her current decline in sleep.

"No!" Thela exclaimed, a bit too worried for some reason, and then pulled herself back as she realized the way she answered that. "N-No. He is not. Never."

Soft, almost gone unheard, but Rtas heard that last word. 'Never'? Why this amount of trust? Something stirred in her stomach at the ramifications this could lead in the long-run; specifically the way the others may find this acceptance of a human as a trustworthy being. Wrong, but... intriguing in its own right. Thela was no heretic, and the way she said this sounded less like an idea and more of a personal and emotional thought.

"Then who, General- Thela. The others are noticing that you are pulling away from your usual attitude. You may try to push this away, but I have the right as your second-in-command to pressure you for any relevant element we should be made aware of."

What ensued was something Rtas herself couldn't describe on the spot. Thela looked ready to push her back again, but something yanked her mind from going for it. Something reacted to her sternness, something 'accepted' her point and was fighting off the need to ignore the problem in the hope of it going away. Her warrior spirit and common sense weren't lost.

And thus something unusual came through this intense skirmish of words and wills. Thela spoke and told her the whole story. Rtas kept quiet and listened, a skill she had mastered in the last few months more than the last few years due to how eager she was to please Thela's wishes, and yet now something about the topic of this discussion forced her to be focused on upholding the silence.

Anger boiled from within as the First Blade was tempted to trash the pathetic Arbiter for daring to pull such a treasonous move. Force a marriage? It would have made sense if Thela was someone from a low-rank family. But her clan was one of the greatest and her combat record made her excellent and too difficult for males his kind to obtain. The way he was using the Arbiter rank was deplorable and worthy of an execution.

And fear was what drove Thela to be particularly nervous from seeking rest in her room. They could access it, they could humiliate her- he would. It was a reality which not even Rtas could speak against as he had seen some behave unpleasantly towards their own troops. Criminals, all of them. And hopefully a soon to be forgotten memory the moment this campaign was over.

That night Rtas promised her a chance to rest. Thela reluctantly took it. And while part of her doubted they would dare to make a move this early on, Rtas was soon proven wrong. That night two Minors approached Thela's room and one opened the door to check on her. They weren't part of her team, and they looked fairly nervous when they saw that between them and the source of their investigation was a group of her own soldiers sitting with their armor and weapons at ready, plus a certain grinning Kig-Yar happily cleaning her sniper rifle and looking ready to use it if so needed.

Today Thela rested without any distractions. The message went through from the unease posture adopted by the intruders as they left without uttering a word. The night went through without any issues, yet Chol Von had many times giggled about something, a noise that was slightly unpleasant but warranted as Rtas heard some interesting things while Thela slept.

She uttered things in her slumber, and none of her team could grasp at most of those. After all, they didn't know their commander may or may not have developed a form of weird attachment to one of their enemies. And while Rtas wanted to be honest and confront her leader about it... part of her wanted to see where this went.

After all, if such a proud leader would be willing to concede this much of herself to a mere enemy, then perhaps the renowned 'Monster of Harvest' had more than a propaganda purpose when it comes to fighting.

AN

Thela is paranoid (rightfully so), Rtas be gud gril (gets a head pat from author), and Chol Von will be the source of many shenanigans by next chapter. Yes, Log has the chance for some 'revenge' against his current rival. Obviously, things go cray-cray to a degree due to other issues.

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

REVIEW Q&A!

Danielsnow: Something else will soon happen. A dumb 'Ripa-own trademark' decision.

Svetlana-Lackey: The Navy is getting wary of ONI due to their imperative demand to support the Spartan Project and reject Balmung. Sadly, the Navy/Marine corps is too invested into this and it's creating friction between these two factions. It will become more evident once this arc is wrapped up and Log is sent to handle some matters with the UEG.

The Great Saint: Butts, Captain Kirk's Doctrine and war makes people crazy.