"Your actions do not make sense." A light blue light, fluttered through the corridor, in pursuit of the elite who had morbidly trudged his way towards the main bridge of a certain Control station. "Proper protocol for a flood out break is to establish immediate infection reporting." The monitor began to float rather vividly as the elite in front of him finished speaking with his assistant. " Communications must be maintained with all local forces, in order to track any spread of the parasite." After he finished the red clad elite narrowed his brow.
"There are no local forces Oracle." The Red clad elite turned his body around before finishing his sentence. "For now, all you have is me."
The monitor floated after the elite, quite puzzled at the reaction he was giving it.
"But I tracked multiple ships in orbit, including some remaining human presence. " The orb hovered in front of the determined Elite who briefly scowled at him before it started to hover circles around him. "In light of the danger posed by the Flood, surely you can set aside this disagreement with the humans and-"
As they walked past groups of elites who were busy preparing the defenses for the station, the elite quickly stopped before int erupting the monitor
"No, anything still alive in orbit are now our enemies."
The hum of the blue sphere echoed solemnly as they continued their argument.
"The humans have more reason to kill us on site. If you contact them, and if they even cast a sudden glance upon our stationary defense. They will not even consider the thought, to make a peace treaty with us. With every other ship above us; they will not be the help you seek." The elite hung his head down as he awaited the floating ball to respond. 343 guilty spark said nothing, only the sounds of his suspending gravity fields hummed lightly as his one blue eye began to flash a bit.
"But why would they not provide assistance?' The Blue spark hovered, questioning the red elite. "Because of this talk of prophecy and journeys?" The Blue orb displayed a hologram of a wire framed, purple covenant ship sitting in the reaches of space. "I learned a small amount about your covenant before that re-claimer blew up my installation." Images of the Halo array began to flicker on the hologram projector as it quickly zoomed itself into the face of a green clad spartan, wielding a rocket launcher. The spartan fired upon what appeared to be a generator of sorts within a large vessel. The green machine was surrounded by hordes of flood as he quickly switched to his shot gun and blasted the closing flood forms around him. "But my understanding," continued the Monitor. " Is incomplete. The A.I I encountered on board one of your ships, was less then forthcoming."
The Elite stood still as the hologram displayed a series of purple and blue flashes as the image of an A.I core swirled around on the hologram display.
The elite stared contentiously at the display before the monitor deactivated and awaited a response from the Elite. Shaking his head slightly, the elite continued to walk forward, his tone shifting to a more somber expression.
"What you need to know oracle, is that thousands of years ago; at the founding of our great covenant, a bargain was struck between The prophets and the elites." He stopped his pacing as he looked out of a nearby window. Watching the lightning of a nearby storm, flash across the infinite void of space. He looked down at the rails, waiting for the response of the oracle to come back.
"A bargain, I fear will be the end to us." Said a lower voice. Turning around, he saw a spec ops elite leaning against the wall that led to the bridge of the control room.
"If you wish to know of our history, you must first understand that all the covenant has been trying to accomplish, is to pursue the great journey." The blue armored Spec ops elite continued as he glance back outside the same window as Re'fumee.
"And it just so happens that the humans are a blight to our goals." Bathou'mus growled a bit before continuing. "We were promised salvation if we were to completely massacre the entire human race." Bathou'mus turned towards the wall beside him.
"AND FOR WHAT?!" He shouted as he used his strength to pummel a decent sized hole into the forerunner wall.
"LIES! THAT IS ALL WE HAVE BEEN MURDERING FOR!!" His breathing started to quicken, his fist felt like it was jammed inside the wall. He struggled a bit before he started to notice that every one in the room started to take notice of him. He shifted around before Re'fumee placed his hand on Bathou'mus's shoulder piece.
"At ease Bathou'mus." He calmly stated. "You are not the only one here who has been commanded to kill false enemies."
Bathou'mus narrowed his eyes at that statement. "False, enemies?" He pushed Re'fumee's hand off his shoulder.
"We were COMMANDED TO MURDER INNOCENTS!" He yelled back. This caused all the beings in the room to cease their actions. Each one felt the sting of remorse and guilt hit each and everyone of the them in the chest. Re'fumme raised his hand up, signaling Bathou'mus to calm himself.
"Commander Mahek'Bathou'mus." Guilty Spark started. "Please calm your actions." He floated over to him as his calming blue light flashed white as he continued to speak. "You have no reason to cause mass hysteria within your group."
Re'fumee nodded his head in agreement towards Bathou'mus as the Spec op elite sighed before he looked over at Re'fum, then back over to the 343 who flashed his glowing blue eye at both of them.
The elite nodded slowly as he relaxed his shoulders. After the event, everyone started their procedures back up, some slower than others as they thought even more of what they were apart of. Bathou'mus decided to follow the two as they continued their conversation. All the while, the silent elite kept recalling the events of all those he has killed.
None showed more than the time he was sent on a stealth mission on a lone, beginning human colonization. His mind kept racing back and forth on the humans that were sitting down, around a wooden table, each smiling and unaware at the camouflaged Elite standing besides their sink. He saw that they each had smiling faces, happy to have hard work day end with a good meal. His mind kept shifting form their pleasant stories to the horrid screams as they each looked at him with terrifying pleas of anguish. His mind couldn't stop the onslaught of thrusting his sword through the female first. Then over to the second male who tried his best to reach for his weapon. He easily decapitated him as his gun fired at the stove, which was unfortunately, still turned on. The explosion Blasted the last human out of the house and onto the hill.
Where he laid dead.
Bathou'mus crawled out of the half collapsing house, hearing nothing more than the high pitched screams of the farm animals. But, there was a different scream, a whine no less, Or was it cry? He stood back up as the flames tickled around him, his armor pushing the flames around as his shields came back up. He Glanced at the other side of the house, something in there was still screaming. He was about to turn around, but something caught his ear. A sob of sorts, a very young, almost.....infant cry. His mind stopped turning gears as the flames started to creep towards the undamaged part of the house. His curiosity got the better of him. He walked forward a bit, making his way past some holographic of humans displayed on them. He quickly glanced at them, seeing the pleasant smiles as before on each of the human's faces. Something reminded him of a similar picture when he was but a boy. His heart began to pump, but his mind reared back into the reality of what war was.
"Is it a war?" he thought.
The cry again sounded through the safer part of the house, this time closer and much more surreal. Something was in clear danger. Ordinarily, he would let it burn with the rest of the disgraceful humans, but....Something about the way it sounded. He...just needed to see what was causing this up cry, so he can......The elite's thoughts, emotions and heart all stopped instantaneously as he gazed what appeared to be the safest part of the house. In the center, was a small casket, with some trinket above it that swirled in a circle above. He could differently hear what was making the noise now, a clear high pitch wail that shot up from the basket and pierced his heart. The Elite slowly made his way to the basket; he had to see if this was for real. Looking down, he saw what appeared to be infant human, it kicked and screeched at the air as he continued to gaze at the infant. The Infant continued to scream until it opened its eyes up, the teary filled eyes looked up at the elite who just stood there. The baby's cries began to cease, which caused Bathou'mus to turn his head t the side, obviously confused at the reaction the infant was giving him. The Infant's fragile mind began to make unseen connection as it continued to look at the funny object in front of it. To Bathou'mus's surprise, it began to reach up with it's arms, laughing as it tried to grab hold of Bathou'mus's hands. The Elite backed slowly away from the infant, a subtly fear rising in his mind. Something was telling him to just leave it there, let the flames deal with the disgusting abomination. He began to act upon the thought, but as he turned around he heard it start to cry once more. This made him stop again, and turn back around to the casket. The Infant started to wail once more, only this was due to the flames that began to travel towards the room. Bathou'mus's stared at the little wooden basket, wanting to leave this all behind as he did before. The flames began to circle around him, but he never felt more cold than before with the flames about to reach the infant human's crib. It was when he heard it cry again, this time in fear did he....
"Bathou'mus?" a voice pulled him out of the vehement flashback. His blank eyes shifted to Re'fumee who had his eyes covered by the gold visors around them; expertly hiding the fear they held for his friend. Bathou'mus shifted his head up and down while taking in a deep breath. They were now in the main control room, all around them, elites and grunts filled through out the room each maintain a certain aspect of the facility. BAthou'mus glanced all around the room and noticed a blue printed hologram of entire mining station. It appeared ti have very confined and rather amusing symmetry as it hung literally on what appeared to be a rope that extended to no end. Whatever was holding it, it felt like it would give at any moment. Form here, he noticed that there was a spiraling stair case that ascended to the top with the rest of their small crew, traveling it top to bottom with equipment in hand. As the spec op elite looked back down, he noticed once more that the blue light and elite were still talking.
"Still, will you not even consider trying to get the humans to join you? I am sure that they would more than likely want to end this useless war and corporate."
Both Elites stayed silent, Re'fumee shaking his head slowly. "No, Oracle, they would not. Even if they were to join us, we will still need the rest of the covenant to join. But they are still within the clutches of the prophet's iron claws."
"Commander Mahek'bathou'mus." The ball floated over to him as it began to flash it's blue light eye at him. "Would you not agree that if we were to establish contact with the humans, would it not help your kind to stop the flood?" It asked as it floated right in front of Bathou'mus.
Bathou'mus looked over to the hovering ball, his face never changing from it's dead beat expression. He held his helmet tighter in his right arm as he began to think of any possibilities. Then something snapped in his head, an idea that dawned on him.
"Bathou'mus, you have fought and killed over hundreds of humans, would you not consider it suicidal to ask the humans for help?" Re'fumee asked, as he too stepped up to his friend.
"It would not matter, the entire galaxy depends on having corporation to deal with the more serious threat."
"The flood, as you keep stating, yes. But we cannot do that unless all the covenant has banded together on it. Which is why I propose to spread the word on the lies that the prophets whisper in our ears."
Guilty Spark rolled his entire form to signify his displeasure of that statement.
"Your news station will have no effect on the rest of your species if the flood spreads to your high charity. " The tension between the two parties began to rise as Re'fumee glared at the floating ball. Before they could give any more thoughts on the matter, Bathou'mus casually walked by them as if their conversation held no weight towards him. Both Re'fumee and Guilty spark turned towards the silent warrior as he made his way towards the hanger.
"Bathou'mus?" Re'fumee asked. The spec ops elite slowed down before turning his head around.
"Having the humans come to us will be a waste of time and lives." Bathou'mus stated. Re'fumee folded his arms as he felt that his point was finally getting across to the supposed high oracle.
"So we need to go to them. Prepare a phantom for me and me alone." Bathou'mus commanded.
Dumbfounded, both guilty spark and Re'fumee quickly glanced at each other.
"You are willing to go to the humans in an attempt to have them aid us?" 343 asked.
"That I am." Bathou'mus said as he clenched his fists.
"Splendid!" The Monitor twirled around the Spec Ops elite before Re'fumee even had a chance to question.
"Bathou'mus." Re'fumee walked to him, completely dumbfounded by his friends proposal. "How will you do this?" he asked simply.
"The closest Covenant stations are about a light year away, perfect for the phantom to reach."
"How will that-"
"Re'fumee, listen closely." Bathou'mus stepped closer to the elite, his face still deadpanned and frustrated fully. "I am going to be your spy. I'll shall give you information on the prophet's plans and any other Intel I can to relay back to you."
Re'fumee gave it a moment before he authorized anything. He folded his arms as he thought insistently.
"A spy aboard the covenant. Are you sure you will be able to pull it off?" Guilty spark asked as he hovered closely to Bathou'mus.
"They think we are all dead. KIA, is the status they are giving us right now, they know not about you or our plans just yet." Bathou'mus reached into his lower back compartment. He pulled out a blue, hand held orb device that when activated, showed the schematics of a ship.
"My migration back into the covenant will be temporary. My goal is to board this ship. The Redemption."
"My word, Bathou'mus, the Redemption is for ships that personally-"
"Track down humans, yes I know that. It is also our best chance for me to infiltrate and deliver our message to them." He paused as the monitor flashed his only eye a bit before turning towards Re'fumee.
"You have stated before that Bathou'mus has a high rank with in the chain of military command." Guilty Spark asked.
Re'fumee nodded solemnly. "He was on his way to become a ship master."
"I see. I say, this might have chance on successfully being accomplished." The Ball flowed back and forth between the two elites.
All three in the room looked at each other before both the monitor and Red armored elite glanced at Bathou'mus. Re'fumee walked closer to the Spec ops elite, before he reached into his back armor piece and handed him a device to him.
"You'll need this before you head out." Re'fumee tapped on his fore arm as he activated his comm. "Ready a phantom for departure."
Bathou'mus stared at the unusual device that felt similar to an energy sword but had a different weight and design to it.
"That is a forerunner artifact. Something we need to present to the humans as a peace offering to get them to join us."
Bathou'mus stared contently at the device, trying his best to decipher it.
"It is an enhancer suit modifier that intimates electrical impulse and kinetic energy through the user's suite, armor and physical nature." guilty Spark explained as he lifted the device up with his energy beam. "It has limited uses as far as having to recharge for a long duration before being in use again. And the effect only last for only a couple of minutes unless getting directly charged by a concentrated beam of energy. My creators used this as a means to help their more, "Advanced", warriors, aid them in their fight against swarms of flood infections."
Bathou'mus watched as the devices began to unhinge itself and wrap around his armor. Smaller pieces began to break off into even smaller pieces that connected to his helmet's visor that he held in his arm. His armor began to look more ancient as the forerunner device melted with him and surged through his veins as he felt the rush of the device enhance every aspect of his body. And then as quickly as the device latched onto him, it instantly shifted back into the rather oblique square component that it originally was.
"Use it only if you absolutely need to Bathou'mus." Re'fum said as he looked at his friend.
Bathou'mus, looked at both of them before he nodded. He grabbed Re'fumee by the arm and shook it before making his way back to the hanger. He Began to play with the forerunner device in his hand before putting it inside his back armor storage.