A Knight of Ashes
Prologue
Court of the Judiciary
Silentium.
The initiating words of the Judiciary echoed in the cavernous room, falling over a vast curve of seats, much of them unoccupied. In another time, there might have been thousands, participants ready to bear witness and, if allowable, pass judgement. Another time… it was.
A bygone one.
"We gather here today to discuss, argue, and inevitably come to a settlement," the Judiciary boomed, gesturing from their platform, a minuscule presence in the very center, illuminated by a single band of light falling from the ceiling. "Though the agents of the Judicial caste who would have handled this case are.. likely permanently indisposed of, we nonetheless will settle this matter with those we could muster." They held out a hand for the opposition to speak, a subtle command more than the polite request it was meant to signify. Formality was threadbare now.
Another beam shot from above, highlighting a new presence donning a distinctive armor with silver filigree.
"Present, if you will, IsoDidact," the Judiciary intoned.
Though the IsoDidact stood alone, without support nor company, his posture remained neutral; his voice level and unwavering, despite the gravity of his accusations. "I stand here today to bring a case against my.. counterpart. The Ur-Didact," he announced.
"And what of the Ur-Didact's crimes?"
"Crimes against the Mantle, seizure of essential Forerunner military resources," the IsoDidact paused, taking but a mere second to collect his thoughts.
He decided then to let the last accusation fall, lest it distract away from the first.
"Is it that all?" The Judiciary inquired, waiting.
"Yes."
Short. Succinct. The accusation rang clearly in the amphitheater to the few ears that still listened.
"Very well. Will the defendant present themselves now?"
They did. Another figure, right to the platform the IsoDidact occupied, emerged from the shadows.
"Endurance-Of-Will," the newcomer said aloud, "I have been sent to stand in the defense of the Ur-Didact and his actions in this present time."
"Very well. All legal parties are present and accounted for. We may begin," announced the Judiciary, who beckoned to both. "Reports state that the Ur-Didact conducted an unauthorized usage of the composer on the Omega Halo installation, harvesting a large populace of human specimens in violation of the forty-ninth decree of the Mantle, which herby states that no harm shall befall a client-species within the Ecumene that would hinder, or otherwise impact their development, among other decrees."
The Judiciary waited, anticipating some response or counter to the details. There was none. Both parties remained quiet, almost subdued-like. 'Impact' was to put it in the most passive and unbiased interpretation. Hinder or impact, the humans had been reduced to nothing, their very selves consumed and broken up by the Composer. A heinous stain upon the Mantle.
"The Ur-Didact, after the composing of the human population, used the extracted information to.. produce a significant number of autonomous war machines." The Judiciary fell silent, their words hesitant, wholly unsure at the absurdity of what they read aloud. Nothing could have been more unexpected, horrifying; certainly not from what was once a famed and prestigious leader of the Ecumene.
"His actions constitute an abuse unprecedented with any Forerunner record presently available to us. Does the defendant wish to oppose this?"
"I do," came from the defendant, Endurance. At once, their platform unlocked with a resounding thump, and drifted upwards in the direction of the Judiciary.
"Speak, Endurance-Of-Will."
Endurance spoke, and did so with all the passion and ferocity that only a Warrior-Servant could have mustered.
"The Ur-Didact's actions fell in line with the preservation of the Ecumene, and future reconstruction, once the Flood has been eradicated," Endurance announced. "He seeks not to violate, but rather to protect, to uphold the Mantle. No other leader took the necessary measures to ensure the continued survival of Forerunner civilization."
"So you say. He 'protects' the Mantle, which we cherish so dearly, but does so by violating one of its most sacred precedents? The composing of an entire population of human specimens, of which were protected by none other than the Librarian's will herself? What kind of leader would shatter the very rules and mandates that he was sworn into service with?" The Judiciary announced for all to hear.
" A necessary sacrifice in time of war," Endurance replied, tone offering no recompense, regret. "The Ecumene cannot protect, nor nurture the species' under it should the Flood succeed. The composure of the humans, while regrettable, served to push back the onslaught of the Flood."
"But you do not argue that he has violated the forty-ninth decree of the Mantle," the Judiciary pressed.
The forty-ninth. The last and most sacred dictations of the Mantle. The only one that remained unsullied, even throughout the chaos of downwards struggle the Forerunners faced against the Flood. All life was to be sheltered, nurtured. Not taken and manipulated, broken down or rebuilt. Even in the most dire of times, never thought would there be one able and willing to violate it.
"No. I do not," Endurance said aloud.
The Warrior-Servant's answer went adrift in the silence; left to be processed by those who heard it. Never had a more heinous crime been brought before the Judiciary in such dire times; never a more reviling discovery as all fell to the Flood. The Judiciary showed no signs of offense, or any reaction at all; such was their position to act as a neutral, lawful hand in administering the justices of Forerunner society. They did not deviate, even in dire times such as these.
Endurance turned, briefly, to offer an indecipherable look to the IsoDidact waiting below. "I await your judgment," they said. "And.. that of the jury. If there is one."
"One has been chosen," said the Judiciary. "As a matter of fact, they have already been witness to these proceedings, though.. most were unable to attend physically."
"Then you have found the Ur-Didact -my commander-, guilty of these accusations," Endurance said, a statement more than a question. They all knew already.
Understood it, despite some part of themselves still deeply loyal to their station; seething with outrage at how it had ended.
"Possibly," the Judiciary paused. "But these are trying times for the Ecumene. There are those who feel that what was done, was merely a small price to pay for the continuation of this civilization; the preservation of all that we have ever been. An exception may yet be made for this. A subordinate debate has begun amongst the jury."
Silence remained dominant over the amphitheater, for the 'jury', if it could even be deserving of the name, fell down to but a few, distant individuals. A scrapped-together group of surviving Judiciaries of all ranks, orders and mutations. They were witness, even if they could not attend in person. The Flood had seen to their physical absence.
"Until now, we have heard much from your position here as the defender of the Ur-Didact, the sole defender. The Jury has presented an inquiry that, while it possibly will not defer the outcome, will provide a much more in depth deciphering of this situation."
"Their inquiry?"
"A recounting of your experiences, as a secondary to the Ur-Didact's command."
Endurance's unwavering composure cracked, briefly.
"Some parts of my recollection may be incomplete without outside assistance," Endurance said. "For much of the renewed campaign against the Flood, I fought alongside others, not just the Ur-Didact. Capable warriors."
"Records show few high ranking Prometheans amongst the Didact's present, or near-past commands. You are an exception, correct? Are we to assume that you, unlike many of your brethren, held off on the procedure to assist your commander as a physical, living being, rather than a digitized construct?"
"Correct."
"And you were aided in your role by another subordinate, a 'Promethean' for a lack of a better term?"
"Yes."
"Where is this.. subordinate, Endurance-Of-Will. This… Promethean?"
Endurance bowed slightly, as if to convey an artificial air of modesty for what they would say next.
"They are not here, Judiciary. I believe that.. the court was unwilling to have them accompany me in the Ur-Didact's defense, much less a witness to these events," they replied, head still lowered.
"Unfortunate. The preliminary report concluded that your subordinate was.. unqualified to serve on this trial. Constructs cannot serve, no matter the circumstance. We have learned that much from the last calamity involving a certain construct at the capital."
"Then it is unfortunate," Endurance stated flatly, raising their head to look up at the Judiciary. Their armor took on a more pronounced posture, stiffening, shaping itself into a configuration more suited to a short conflict, despite the present nonexistent dangers that the Judiciary Court could offer, legal decrees aside. "My subordinate has fought valiantly alongside me in our renewed struggle against the Flood; snatched my life away from death for more often than not; held fast under even the brunt of the Logic Plague. I can think of no better being to accompany me."
"This subordinate seems to have done much for you and your cause, Endurance-Of-Will," the Judiciary observed. "Loyalty in these times is a rare commodity, even amongst constructs who we had thought to be infallible for countless millennia past. That is.. until the arrival of the Flood. Do you see this construct as something more than what it is? To be deserving of the honor granted formerly to Prometheans alone? An amalgamation of sin and former enemy?"
"A Knight? Perhaps?"
AN: In honor of the Didact novel being released in around 3 days, I decided to deploy this thing I have had sitting in my writing folder for about a few months now, and it stemmed from an idle thought I had when reading Silentium. That being said, I've always wondered what would have happened if the Didact went off on his merry adventure to singlehandedly stem the tide -Flood-.
Expect infrequent updates and possibly the worst (and never be disappointed).