Saga 1 - (Recruiting.) Part 3: Elite / Sangheili. Series: Halo (Videogame). Doctor Incarnation: 10th Doctor Duplicate / Meta Crisis.

"Do we really need another combat expert," Gene grumbled, as Hilda was interviewing a Sangheili teenager.

The guy was barely legal, and still not old enough to drink. He wasn't even wearing the typical Covenant Armor, but rather some kind of skin tight body suit, under a furry cloak... the fact the thing was so clean, despite being white, told Gene this guy wasn't much of a fighter. No matter how many weapons he strapped to himself... which, admittedly, there were a lot... mostly different kinds of guns and snipers.

Hilda sighed, at Gene's inexperience. She really didn't want to have to train a green horn... but the boy proved himself a competent fighter, and claimed to have flight experience. She did need a pilot, and those who could handle themselves were rare... plus... He had Jim.

Gene sighed, looking at the alien. "So are you, fast? You don't look like you could really blend into the background."

The Sangheili grunted, "Boy, I was fighting against the Reapers, since before whatever backwater, you crawled out of was colonized."

Gene snorted, "Anyone can claim to have fought the Reapers. And even if you did, So what? There are lots of old soldiers in the Galaxy. If you were really worth anything, The Space Forces would have picked you up."

The Sangheili sneered, "Not all of us are happy with such table scraps. I decided to go my own way."

"Where's your crew?" Gene proved himself competent in other areas. Hilda was planning to ask that very question. "Outlaws, as old as you claim to be, from what I hear, they tend to sail the black for centuries, never leaving their crews side."

"The Galaxy isn't a vid, kid," the Sangheili gave a cruel smirk. His pincer things making the nasty expression. "You won't make too much coin if you stay with one crew."

"NEXT!" Hilda called.

The Sangheili stiffened, "What you mean 'Next'!? I'm one of the top weapons experts on this rock!"

"And you just told me," Hilda glared right back. "You hold no loyalty to anyone. I'm looking for a crew, not a band of mercenaries. Thanks for wasting my time."

She turned to her Krogan. Since he was already carrying everything he owned, in his bag of holding, she asked him to stay nearby. But sent the Hunter to the ship. "Now get this filth out of my sight." she ordered.

The Sangheili growled, but Grunt put his hand on the guy's shoulder.

"You heard the Captain," Grunt growled back, "Best remove yourself."

The Sangheili scoffed, jerking his shoulder free, and began stomping away.

"That guy gives us a bad name." A... Sangheili? Sneered.

He looked about the other guy's age. Although dressed in looser robes... expensive looking robes... although he wasn't wearing the under-clothes with it. So Gene could see the blue blush on his skin pastel orange skin... unusual colors for am Elite. The robes were appeared modified, from the hero uniform, of planet Albein. Without the sleeves or pants, but and more bands with dangling clothes.

The boy seated himself, "S'mouth." He eagerly said, holding out his hand. Clearly familiar with human customs. No one else tried shaking hands, and few even introduced themselves before getting into it. "Sorry, but you did say 'Next',"

Hilda smiled, "So I did," shaking his hand. "I've heard of you, your old crew called you 'Snicker-Snack', right?"

The boy grinned eagerly, "Oh wow! Hot Ice Hilda knows who I am!" The kid was gushing like a fan-boy. "That's right, Alice in Wonderland really is my favorite book. And their isn't a stick in existence, that isn't as deadly as a Vorpal Sword, in my hands." He boasted.

Although Gene doubted that. At least the other guy had muscle. This scrawny kid looked like he spent more time reading then anything else.

"At least that's how it used to be," The boy nervously scratched one of his pincer things. "The family that took me in, after I got Rejuved, weren't too keen on my lifestyle."

Hilda smiled, "Heard you were on one of the Terran penny colonies."

"Yeah," even his laugh was nervous. "Got myself arrested, under no fault of my own of course." He winked. Another human expression. Gene wouldn't have noticed, if it wasn't for the fact none of the other aliens, they interviewed, seemed to care for human mannerisms.

"Yet here you are," Hilda smiled.

S'mouth blushed, "Too honest, I was trying to give this life up. Live on the straight and narrow. My guardians kinda succeeded in brainwashing me." He admitted.

"So I heard," Hilda nodded. "So what changed?"

S'mouth lost his smile, even his nervous demeanor. "My old crew..."

Hilda frowned, "I heard about that."

"Thing is," S'mouth sighed, not really hearing her. "They joined me on the straight and narrow. Penny Colonies may be harsh, but everyone their really does want the best for you. The whole, second childhood, is really effective for rehabilitation.

"When our sentence was up, the humans helped us get a job, as a shipping freighter. Not that far from our old smuggling jobs. So it was still something we knew, and could have fun with... The Terran empire really gets a bad rap.

"Anyhow... Pirates thought we'd make an easy mark."

"You want revenge?" Hilda eyed.

"What I want is my family back... even as Pennies, our guardians made sure we got to see each other regularly... even had the same classes together... but their gone... all gone..."

The Sangheili got a look in his eyes. Something cold. Something lethal. And Gene suddenly believed him when he said he used to be one of the deadliest Swordsman in the Galaxy. "I'll settle for revenge."

As fast as that look had appeared, it was gone. As his eyes grew more self conscious. "I know my skills aren't what they used to be... and my body is too soft to make use of them even if they weren't-"

"You're hired," Hilda smiled.

The boy froze, before slowly smiling himself. "Thank you..." he trailed off.

"Don't thank me," Hilda commanded. "You'll be kept on as a non-combatant. At least, until we can build your muscles up again. We could use someone with your crafting skills."

The Sangheili grinned wider, "Awesome! You won't regret this."

The boy pounced to his feet, and started shaking hands with the crew, even the Krogan. Before attempting to dash off.

The Krogan managed to grab him, "You don't know where we're parked." he pointed out.

The kid flashed a knowing grin, "Hot Ice Hilda always parks in Swanzo's shop." He proved, unlike many of the others that wanted to join Hilda's crew, he actually did know a thing or two about her. Besides just her name.

Hilda nodded, "Pack your things, and report there within the hour. I might be here for a while longer, but I want my crew available to leave at a moments notice. I'll let Swanzo know to expect you."

"Right-O Captain!" he gave a human salute, before running off.

Grunt sighed, "Damn Squid-Heads," He grumbled, once the boy was gone.

Hilda smirked at him, "That won't be a problem, will it?"

"Nah, I've worked with a few before." Grunt assured.

"What's a Squid-Head?" Gene asked.

Grunt shrugged, "You humans have fan-boys. The Sangheili have Squid-Heads. It's what they call themselves, based on what Humans once called them, during the Covenant War. They are Sangheili fan-boys, for all things human. Absolutely obsessed with human culture. Considering how most aliens view humans as slightly smarter animals..." He trailes off, though gave a shrug.

"Hope you haven't forgotten you're working for humans," Gene commented.

Grunt smirked, "Hot Ice Hilda barely counts as 'human', kid."

Gene glared, "Don't call me a kid!" why was everyone insisting he was a kid. Back on Sentinel, he was hot shit! But out in the black, he was seen as a rookie.

"Then stop acting like one," Grunt chuckled.

• A few hours later, at Hilda's ship.

"Been a while," The Doctor smiled, sitting at the table. "Heard you joined Hilda's crew.

Snickersnack looked up from his omni-tool. Sighing, the demigod-like entity, turned off the holographic computer screen. "Tell me to leave... and I will."

"No... no, it's good to see you," the Doctor insisted. "I was thrilled when Hilda told me. She's practically your sister. And as far as I know, you've never actually met.

"She was looking for a crew, and I recently lost mine. Mind you, their souls weren't destroyed or nothing... but their happy in their afterlives... i couldn't take that away. So figured I'd get over my grief with family."

"And that's all?" The Doctor eyed.

"You should know it's not," Snickersnack shook his head. "You always did enjoy burying your head in the sand."

"Liking being surprised by what happens next, isn't ignoring the future," The Doctor insisted.

Snickersnack sighed, again.

"I know we are approaching a fixed point. I was just going to skip it... but your involvement got me... curious..."

Snickersnack nodded, "I do enjoy saving people from the Fates' crueler designs. This wouldn't even be the first Fixed point, I've altered... despite me baching saving the Sangheili."

The Doctor smile turned almost patronizing... but held a strange fondness. "Well, your young, you'll get the hang of safely altering fixed points."

"I'm fairly good at it... I'll have you know." Snickersnack gave a sad smile. "I already stopped the MacDougall Brothers, from learning where Hilda is. And thereby stopped an attack, that would have eventually led to Hilda's death. She would have respawned, eventually. But not for a hundred years. I'm planning on saving her."

The Doctor frowned. "You'd have to use the power of 'The Deal', or your gonna blow a hole in the universe. Then again, there are consequences to directly channeling Omniva's power to steal a destiny."

"Really?" Snickersnack looked intrigued. "I mean, i know it involves cosmic forces, but is it really Omniva that-"

The Doctor huffed, interrupting the fan-gasm. "You're far too gullible."

"Is it really gullible, if it's true?" Snickersnack looked thoughtful.

"When it's as outlandish as that, yes." The Doctor crossed his arms, with a pout. But not denying what he said was true.

"I'd believe anything you told me," Snickersnack swore, looking at his father fondly.

The Doctor sighed, "There is a reason I'm called 'the god who lies'. You shouldn't take everything I say at face value."

"You only lie, when it's dangerous too know the truth." Snickersnack insisted

"Or when it's too inconvenient to explain something," The Doctor assured. "Or is funny. Don't fool yourself kid, I'm a liar by nature... it's one of my worst flaws."

Snickersnack eyed the Doctor, "I trust you." He insisted. "And I trust you wouldn't lie to me, unless it was for my own good. Besides, you forget, I'm a skilled Telepath. I can feel when you lie. I just know not to push you, when you do."

The Doctor sighed. "As concerning as your blind trust in me is-"

"I think most people have that when it comes to their parents," Snickersnack shrugged.

"At the moment," The Doctor moved on. " I'm more concerned about how you plan to stop this destiny."

"Like you said, I can change fixed points. If someone willingly feeds me their destiny. I might not be good at it, but I know enough about dark magic, to preform the ritual. I'm just trying to think of the best way to approach Hilda."

"You don't have to."

Snickersnack groaned, suddenly sensing Hilda behind him. The Doctor must have been shielding her. Mind reading was Smart Mouth's specialty, while the Doctor was better at mental shields. Must of been why the Doctor was so adamant about not trusting him... but as The Smart Mouth suspected, it was because the Doctor was doing what's best.

Hilda sat at the table.

Snickersnack eyed her, "Are you done recruiting?"

"For the day, I am." Hilda informed. "Calling it a night. I'll pick back up tomorrow." She suddenly held out her hand. "In exchange for saving me, and you serving loyally on my crew, I'll let you eat my destiny. Do we have a Deal?" she appeared to understand the rituals behind the deal. But that offer was too open.

Snickersnack gave a counter offer, channeling his dark magic to bind the deal... his eyes turning red, which faded to yellow. "I'll try my best to protect you, and service your crew as long as you'll have me... in exchange for you giving up your cruel fate." At Hilda's nod, Snickersnack informed, "this will hurt."

He reached out, taking her hand, "We have a deal."

Hilda tensed, but refused to scream. As she felt herself lose... something. It wasn't tangible, more like an overwhelming feeling of loss. As the cosmic ties to fate were ripped out of her.

Once the sensation was over, she still felt like she was missing something. Just a nagging itch in the back of her mind.

"Sorry, my counterparts are better at that then me," Snickersnack fidgetted. "Can't seem to get the hang of it."

Hilda took in a breath, trying to ignore the nagging feeling she was missing something. "Its alright," She assured. "But now what?"

"Now?" Snickersnack blinked. "You're the Captain. I'll do whatever you think is best."

Hilda smiled, "A first-mate should be prepared to make suggestions."

"Awesome sauce!" cheered the Time Omnian turned Sangheili.

• 1003 Years Ago.

The Arbiter sat in his quarters, looking at the impossible man before him. The creature looked human... but he had an odd smell to him. As if the stars themselves were seared into his every atom.

"My mother told me stories about you," Thel 'Vadam tried to keep his voice indifferent... but even he found it difficult. After all, it wasn't everyday one met a god. "The Warrior Healer, whom my people once worshipped as a deity. Before the Covenant stripped us of our old gods, and culture.

"Mother stood on the front lines of change, often saying how you would have done the same. Branded a heretic for speaking out against our masters... they killed him, some centuries ago... burnt out both his hearts. Yet here you are, wanting to make small talk..."

Thel gripped the armrest of his chair, "My mother, was a hero... and I thought him a traitor for centuries. It wasn't until the Prophets' own treachery was uncovered, that I, along with my world, recognized him for his Bravery and Wisdom...

"The way mother spoke of you... he was certain you would come to save our world, as you had so many others."

The Doctor sighed, "There was nothing I could do."

Thel tightened his grip. "Nothing?"

The Doctor insisted. "The Covenant had to happen, as did the civil war, you fought in."

Thel tried to keep his voice even. "My mother claimed to be the Son of a heathen god. He seemed to prove this, by bending time to his will... The mere fact he had temporal powers... it proved him Divine, in many people's eyes.

"He grew quite the following, started a rebellion to over throw the Covenant... and was put to a slow death... as I watched... a mere boy of 9. My father claimed he deserved it, which I came to believe... and now you sit there, and tell me that was necessary?

"If you were real, why do nothing? Why allow such pain and anguish. Why let me think my own mother was a traitor, when in truth, he was the greatest hero my world had ever known."

The Doctor stared at him, something dangerous in his ancient eyes. Eyes so old, he could only be a god. "Because you told me I did nothing."

"YOU CLAIM I'M AT FAULT! I WAS A CHILD!" Thel raged at the god. "The Prophets only kept me around, to be used as breeding stock, to circulate the Time Lord genes. My position was a gilded cage, since childhood! And you blame me!"

"I don't blame you," The Doctor assured. "But there are rules. Cosmic laws, and forces you wouldn't begin to understand. I can't stop a chain of events that have already happened." He glared at his temporal craft, as if it was too blame. Accepting zero responsibility, for his sins against family.

The Doctor continued glaring at his box, "By coming here, I've been locked into events. To change them would create an Alternate Reality. But your life would remain the same... by coming to this moment, I cemented your past as a fixed point. There is nothing I can do.

The Arbiter allowed a sneer, "You aren't the hero my mother spoke of. Nor are you the demon the Prophets condemned. You... You are nothing less then the devil himself. Allowing evil to exist, for no other reason, then because it should.

"After everything my race endured, slaves to cultist fanatics, to the point we believed there lies... you choose now to appear. After over a hundred and 30 years, of rebuilding our culture. Suffering through a heavy skirmish, with the Turians... then our political struggles, to be accepted by a whole new Galaxy."

Thel growled, "Remove yourself from my home... and don't come back. Or I swear, I will find a way to kill a god."

• Later That Day.

"This is awesome!" N'tho near giggled with delight. The Sangheili teenager wiggled gleefully, as dozens of human Soldiers pointed their guns at the intruder. They were in a bit of a shock, as it's not everyday a blue phone booth faded into existance in the corner of the Mess Hall.

"Pran-father!" N'tho ran passed the soldiers, ignoring them entirely, and hugged the man tightly.

The man gave an "oooof" as the wind was knocked out of him.

"I can't believe you finally came! I've always wanted to meet you!" N'tho was near tears as he hugged the man.

"Cortana?" The Master Chief spoke to the AI, in his suit. With only her hearing him. "Is this who I think it is?"

"If you think it is an extraterrestrial lifeform, marked in trillions of top secret government files throughout Sol's history, regarded as both an SSS level threat, and humanity's greatest Ally. ONI has an entire department, dedicated solely to cleaning up after this man... I hadn't realized N'tho had a connection to him. But then, The kid is rather obsessed with human culture... and Sol is hardly the only planet the Doctor has saved."

The Doctor, completely unphased by the guns, hugged the teenage Elite. "I take it your father showed you pictures of me?"

"I know all your faces!" N'tho loudly declared, as he hugged the Time Lord tighter. "And Father would tell me stories of the Warrior Healer."

The Doctor gently patted the Squidhead's... head. Then seemed to take notice of The Master Chief.

"Doctor," John-117, gave an indifferent nod. But didn't tell his soldiers to lower their weapons. "Should I expect another Apocalypse, within the Hour?" They just prevented the Reaper Invasion, a few days ago. And this man was said to only appear, when disaster struck.

"Just visiting family," The Doctor attempted to ease... but only created more questions.

N'tho finally broke the hug, and explained. "My biological All-mother, the progenitor of my line, reincarnated himself as an Elite, but he's really a Time Omnian... and the Doctor's own son."

"Son?" The Master Chief took note, recognizing the contradiction.

"Sangheili males, like most sapient species, can get pregnant," N'tho gave a weak shrug. Before looking back at the Doctor. His face a Big smile. "We still have females, but they are often revered and sheltered, because of how rare they are. Most live the pampered lives of Priestess, but many 'af joined the warriors in recent decades."

"The Arbiter wasn't particularly happy to see me," The Doctor noted, to his distantly-great grandson.

The Master Chief stiffened, "Thel... is your father?"

N'tho blinked, "More like the great Grandfather to my sperm donor. I told you how Sword Masters spread their genes around.

"My dad was honored, his mate was propositioned by a descendant of The Arbiter, but I only met the old guy a few times. Mostly at family rituals. He's had hundreds of baby mamas. And nearly a dozen kids with each. Then those babies had dozens of their own kids, each. I'm technically a subspecies of Sangheili. With even more Careful breeding then Sword Masters.

"but it doesn't matter much. Dad raised me no different then his biological children. But I did get to see my own biological Father regularly as well... but the Arbiter is more someone I got a very loose connection to.

"The Arbiter got all kinds of pissed, when he learned Father was teaching me the old myths. You know, about their side of the family being descended from our old gods."

The Master Chief eyed, "... and you didn't think to mention that?" the Spartan had fought by the Arbiter. He was probably the first alien friend he had.

N'tho blinked, looking very confused. "I thought most humans don't care about family, after you get passed great grandparents. The Arbiter is just my sperm donor's, sperm donor's, sperm donor. The only reason I've even met him, is because of how important family is to Sangheili... and even then, he didn't play a big role in my life. With his most notable moment being yelling at my Father, for teaching me the family Legends."

The Doctor tried, "Don't think too poorly of the Arbiter... I-"

"It wasn't your fault!" N'tho was suddenly adamant. "You're a bloody god! Of course you wouldn't be allowed to interfere in every squabble we find ourselves in! Father insisted we should be grateful when you help, not resentful when you don't. You owe us nothing."

"I'm not-" the Doctor tried to correct. Even if it crushed the boy's excitement.

"I know, I know. Not really a 'God-god'. But sorry if I have trouble relating to an Immortal time traveler, with enough raw energy to implode the universe. That might as well be a god."

The Doctor groaned. But couldn't deny any of that. Like Tenza, Time Lords could become ridiculously overpowered... In the Time Lords case, their magic doubled each time they regenerated... it made it harder and harder to rebute the accusations of godhood.

In truth he was classified as a "God-Killer". Which was a mortal, without Divine ki, that was insanely hard to kill, harder to keep dead, and with insane levels of power.

42 Years after the Reaper's Defeat .

"Your son thinks your dead." The Doctor observed. The Orange Sangheili, with the blue blush to his skin, had a can of Orange Crush, shoved in his mouth, and pouring the liquid directly down his throat. So the taste buds, inside his neck, could tickle at the carbonated, tangy, sugar.

"I was," The Sangheili took the can from his mouth. "But, apparently, if I die, a true death. My body reforms itself, after a hundred years. I imagine it's the same for you."

"I don't see how," The Doctor scoffed. "Seeing as I've never had a son. Much less compatible genes with an Elite."

The Sangheili smiled, "Regardless, you feel it. Our connection."

The Doctor eyed the oddly coloured Sangheili. "Why?"

The Elite sighed, "Must you be so un-observant? Try using all 7 of your senses."

The Doctor glared, until his eyebrows rose. "It can't be."

"Hello Grandfather."

"Susan?" The Doctor gaped.

"ye'P," The orange elite smiled. Popping his "p".

The Doctor just sat there, stunned. So the Elite went back to his soda. The Doctor stared at the impossibility for several long minutes.

However, thanks to a temporal chamber, The Time Lords gained the ability to resurrect it's dead soldiers. By pulling them out of time, and turning them into Time Abnormalities, to prevent the Paradox from splintering off into another dimension.

The Susan, was one of the few civilians resurrected. A gift to the Master, after the Madman was brought back, to fight against the Daleks. A means of controlling the Master, giving him something to fight for. Just in time to become, "Time Omnians"... while the lesser races just called them "Gamers".

While the procedure neutralizes a Gallifreyian's Regeneration energy. Making them no longer able to heal fatal injuries. So they don't restructure their bodies, nor alter their personalities, to avoid death.

Instead they have Grand Master "Gamer" powers.

"How?" The Doctor finally said. Confirming, through his Gallifreyian senses, that this was his Susan.

"You weren't the only one to survive the Time War. True, all proper Gallifreyians were lost. But I guess Time Omnian genes are different enough, we count as a Subspecies... and so all were spared. Oh we all died, but our souls weren't destroyed, so we were able to reform after a hundred years...

"We've had to travel the long way, with no more time jumping. Been a few Billion years, for me. Where it's only been a handful of lonely decades for you.

"We've actually run into each other, hundreds of millions of times. It just hasn't happened for you yet. You traveling in time, makes it harder to keep track of you... but I still got my Gallifreyian senses... and your eyes... you're so young." The Sangheili sighed.

"A lot has happened for me, since the Time War. Reincarnated myself a bunch of times. I actually know a potion, that let's me transform into a past life, until i sleep. Plus, I under went a ritual, that allows me to shift into my Equus form, at will. Nearly all my counterparts, have access to those.

"I like this face though. It was my last... What I wore when the Prophets caught me. I must have loaded a thousand times... before I royally messed up, and left a temporal scar on the moment of my death. I'm not you, Doctor. I couldn't save the Sangheili people."

"You don't have to be me," The Doctor assured. "you have a good life, a kind crew, and a knack for adventure. I couldn't be more proud"

The Squid Head blushed blue, his mandibles turning up in an awkward smile. Not realizing how moved he'd be, to hear those words. "You been spying on me," he teased.

"My TARDIS tracked you down, after you reformed... I thought you were another 'descendant'... never occurred to me, you could really be my child. I can be rather thick..."

The Sangheili chuckled.

"Regardless, I take it you haven't contacted your son?" The Doctor eyed.

The Gamer sighed, "I doubt you've ever had to deal, with a child of your own flesh... that hates you. It's not a pleasant feeling, Doctor. I don't dare face him..."

"That was a long time ago," The Doctor assured. "I know for a fact, he regrets shaming your memory. Now that he is free of the Covenant... he can admit how much he misses you... maybe it's time to reconnect. Eh? Susan?"

The Squid head smiled, "please, call me, S'mouth Sol'pax. Each of my faces, took a new title for ourselves... although I suppose you could call me by the title my crew gave me."

"Which would be?" the Doctor pressed.

"They call me," he paused, clearly for dramatic effect. "... Snickersnack."

( The Following CODEXes were taken from DinoJake's Story )

• Codex Entry (Aliens - Non-Council Races): SANGHEILI.

Physically superior to most other races in the galaxy, the Sangheili are a hardy race with a proud history of martial prowess and military expertise. After serving as the principal military arm of the Covenant for millennia, the Sangheili broke away from the Covenant in retaliation to an attempted genocide by the San'Shyuum, and formed the Covenant Separatists. This triggered a conflict known as the Great Schism, which coincided with the end of the Human-Covenant War, as the separatists allied themselves with the UNSC.

After the end of the Human-Covenant war, and after the end of the Great Schism seven years later, the Sangheili officially reopened ties with the UNSC in 2560, having deemed Humans to be warriors worthy of respect. A great deal of cultural, political and economic exchange between the two species took place as the Sangheili rebuilt their shattered society.

Today, the Sangheili are one of the strongest military powers in Council space, having a fleet to rival the Human Alliance and Turian Hierarchy, and have begun to carve out their own pieces of the untamed Attican Traverse for colonization. Though they have been through dark times, the future looks bright for the Sangheili people.

• Codex Entry (Aliens - Non-Council Races): SANGHEILI: BIOLOGY.

Sangheili are easily one of the most physically fit species currently residing in Council Space. They can reach heights of eight and a half feet tall, weigh up to four hundred pounds, and have life spans of three hundred galactic standard years. Features such as digitigrade legs, a double set of pectoral muscles, and a binary vascular system all play a vital role in giving them strength and agility superior to most other species'. Most of these traits were adaptations developed in order to out-compete rival predators in the harsh desert-prairie environments located in the northwestern hemisphere of their homeworld Sangheilios, where the Sangheili originally evolved before spreading across the rest of the planet.

Their quadruple-hinged jaws originally evolved to grip smaller prey and swallow it whole. However, once their brains got bigger and they began learning how to craft and use tools, the Sangheili began hunting bigger game, using their jaws to rip off large chunks of flesh. In absence of a tongue, their throats are lined with taste buds. Additionally, they sport a highly water-efficient digestive system as a consequence of having evolved in an environment where fresh water is scarce. The intestines absorb almost all the water from any food item. They do not urinate at all.

Sangheili females are typically shorter, thinner, and slightly curvier than their male counterparts. Being reptile analogues, Sangheili typically reproduce by laying hard-shell eggs. A female usually only lays one egg at a time, with more eggs than that being rare but not unheard of. Due to their longer-than-average life spans, it is possible for a female to have dozens of children before menopause sets in.

• Codex Entry (Aliens - Non-Council Races): SANGHEILI: CULTURE.

Similar to Turians, the Sangheili are a warrior race with a long and proud history of combat. So much so that the formation of the Covenant, their longest-lasting government, was formed in the wake of their first inter-species war. However, the Sangheili take their warrior culture much further than the Turians do, particularly their sense of honor, which dictates the everyday lives of all Sangheili, especially those serving in the military.

This code of honor is similar to Japanese Bushido, sharing concepts such as skill in combat, loyalty to master and clan, and views on death. Both belief systems romanticize death in battle as the most honorable way to die. If a warrior is captured alive, he has only two options: escape from his captors of his own volition, or commit ritualistic suicide. Furthermore, this warrior attitude once made the Sangheili extremely arrogant and even outright cruel towards species they viewed as 'inferior,' though they did display open respect and even admiration for fellow warrior races, even the Humans at the height of the Human-Covenant War.

One superstitious quirk the Sangheili have is the literal interpretation that blood is equatable to honor. To bleed outside of battle is viewed as shameful. For this reason, the Sangheili are the only species in the known galaxy to openly look down on doctors, due to their practices making patients bleed outside of battle.

Over the last century, the Sangheili have been experiencing a new cultural renaissance, mostly due to cultural influence from their former enemies the Humans. The Sangheili learned from the Humans values such as pragmatism and compassion. They treat their Unggoy comrades with more respect than they used to, and even doctors are not as looked down upon as they once were thanks to advances in medical technology (advances that are specifically designed to minimize blood loss during patient treatment) provided by the Humans. Nowhere is this cross-species cultural impact more apparent than in the self-titled Squidhead Movement, which embraces and celebrates many aspects of Human culture, particularly Human entertainment. Despite all these changes however, the Sangheili are still every bit the honorable warriors they have always been.

• Codex Entry (Aliens - Non-Council Races): SANGHEILI: MILITARY DOCTRINE.

Sangheili consider themselves to be the finest warriors in all the galaxy, and with good reason. Their unique ranking structure ensures that only the deadliest and most effective fighters ascend to positions of prominent leadership within the Empire military. It is the only military in Citadel Space that awards promotions based almost exclusively on kill counts. While other factors, such as leadership capability and tactical intellect, are also taken into account, the accumulation of confirmed kills remains the primary determining factor behind promotions.

Much like in the Turian Hierarchy, military service is mandatory for all citizens of the Sangheili Emprie, including Unggoy and Mgalekgolo. Sangheili are drafted into the military at the age of twenty at the rank of minor. As minors, they are issued a small squad of Unggoy so that superiors may accurately gauge the minor's leadership potential. Next rank after that is the major, who commands several minors and their Unggoy as well.

It takes roughly one hundred confirmed kills for a Sangheili to be promoted past major. Once this occurs, the Sangheili warrior will have multiple branches of service to choose from. Some stay in the infantry, the most skilled of these warriors going on to become ultras and generals. Others choose to join the navy, becoming rangers, servicemen, and banshee fighter pilots. Others still may choose to join the Special Operations branch of the military. Many states on Sangheilios offer counsel to warriors on the eve of such promotions to help them decide which field of battle they would be best suited for.

A recent major development within the Sangheili military is the induction of women into the armed forces. Sangheili have formerly had a very patriarchal society, believing that it was a man's duty to fight and serve the Empire, while it was the woman's duty to stay home and raise the children. However, after cultural exchange with Humans, this belief was challenged and, after almost a century of struggle, women were granted a place in warriors' circles. It has since been proved time and again that female Sangheili can be just as deadly as their male counterparts, the most famous example being the female General V'rika Sumon, who has become the face of Sangheili Feminism.

• Codex Entry (Aliens - Non-Council Races): SANGHEILI: RELGION.

For centuries, the principal Sangheili religion has been the same as that of every other Covenant species during the Covenant's reign; a belief that the Forerunners were Gods who ascended to a more divine plane of reality. However, this belief was proven false during the Great Schism, once it was learned that the Forerunners did not enter a heavenly realm, but were simply wiped out by the Flood. Since this revelation Sangheili religion, the most important aspect of their culture, has been in a state of flux.

Some Sangheili have chosen to revert back to their archaic Pre-Covenant faith; a polytheistic model not unlike ancient Drell beliefs. According to this belief system, the Sangheili are guided by a pantheon of warrior gods, each one having a specific dominion over a particular branch of the military. For example, 'Kavros, God of Stars, watches over the space navy. 'Dinosis, God of Shadows, blesses the Spec. Ops corps and other stealth specialists.

Other Sangheili have tried turning to other races for guidance, an option that became particularly appealing once they acquired an embassy on the Citadel. Some Sangheili have shown a fascination with Turian Spirits and the Asari Goddess of Life. Others have taken to Eastern Human religions such as Buddhism and Hinduism. Some have even gone so far as to create their own form of Astrology, worshipping the stars themselves.

Despite the emergence of so many altenative belief systems, the original belief, that the Forerunners were gods of some description, remains the mainstream religion of Sangheili society. However, much like Christianity in Human culture, this faith has evolved, becoming less about literal interpretations of Forerunner text, and more about contemplating the philosophical and theological meaning behind it. This new form of the old faith, dubbed "The New Mantle," subscribes to the Forerunners' own belief system, the Mantle, the belief that all life is holy and should be nurtured and respected. This new faith still reveres the Forerunners as gods, but acknowledges that they weren't necessarily supernatural.

• Codex Entry (Weapons, Armor and Equipment): SANGHEILI EMPIRE WEAPONS.

During the Human-Covenant War, the Sangheili detested human-made weaponry. Records show that when their own weapons ran out of ammunition, many Sangheili soldiers would take UNSC soldiers in head-on hand-to-hand combat, rather than scavenge and use for their own ends the weapons of a heretic race. However, when the prophets' deception was exposed and the Covenant splintered, many Sangheili recognized Humans as worthy allies. Thus, human-made weapons were no longer seen as "dirty" and so Sangheili weapon designers began to incorporate Human weapon design philosophies into their own.

This resulted in many new Sangheili weapons. One of the most popular is the Type-35 Close Combat Weapon, or 'Needler Shotgun.' This needler model draws inspiration from the M90 Close Assault Weapon System, one of the most widely-used shotguns during the Human-Covenant War. The Type-35 fires six needles at once that detonate 1.7 seconds after impact.

Another popular new weapon is the Type-26 Directed Energy Submachine Gun, a hybrid between the plasma pistol and the M7/Caseless Submachine Gun. It has both semi-automatic and full automatic firing modes.

And of course, you have the Type-52 Directed Energy Rifle, a plasma rifle that takes its ques from the assault rifle designs of other races. However, despite the Sangheili's newfound open-mindeness in the field of weapon design, many are still reliant on plasma as ammunition rather than mass accelerator rounds. In addition to cultural and religious reasons, the Sangheili believe that plasma is actually superior to mass accelerator rounds, a topic that is still hotly debated amongst kinetic physicists to this day.

• Codex Entry (Aliens - Non-Council Race): SANGHEILI: THE ARBITER.

During a visit to Sangheilios to observe and study the culture of the Sangheili, Asari sociologist Reina D'orna described the role of Arbiter as arguably the single most difficult job in all the galaxy, as it requires the wearer of the title to be a general, a diplomat, AND a high priest all at once.

The Arbiter was once a title given to supreme Sangheili warlords who displayed nothing short of exceptional skill in battle. However, after Arbiter Fal 'Chavamee was labeled a heretic for criticizing the theology behind the "Great Journey," the title ended up becoming tainted in the eyes of the prophets. For the next few millennia, it was a title given to heretical Sangheili as a last chance at redemption; to die a glorious death during a suicide mission. However, after the significant role played by Arbiter Thel 'Vadam in the Great Schism of 2552, the new Sangheili Empire changed the role of Arbiter back to its original purpose; a supreme warlord.

Similar to council spectres and Asari justicars, the Sangheili Arbiter is an independent agent representing the Sangheili Empire. Though he has no official jurisdiction over any particular branch of the Sangheili military, few generals or fleetmasters would dare question the Arbiter's counsel and instruction. The only authority that the Arbiter officially recognizes is the Sangheili High Council, the principle governing body of the Sangheili Empire.

Currently, the title of Arbiter is still being upheld by Thel 'Vadam. In addition to investigating and eliminating various brute bases on the outskirts of Sangheili space, the Arbiter makes occasional visits to the Citadel to help promote Empire agendas and protect Empire interests. The Arbiter's word carries great weight both in war and in politics. At 198 years old, it is rumored that 'Vadam may soon retire from the role and is scouting for a possible replacement. However, 'Vadam himself has publicly denied these rumors, pointing out that the Arbiter is a life-long position. He says that the day he retires will be the day he is finally slain in battle.