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Edited by Wolvers:
1/29/2013 9:20:08 AM
1343
[Novel] True Sangheili (Part 39 available!) ~ 18 December
SCHOLAR, SOLDIER, HERETIC... SAVIOUR.
At first, the life of a warrior in the Covenant army seems a noble one. But are the motives behind the war with the humans as innocent as the Sangheili, Sorran, believes? An act of heresy unveils a conspiracy spanning thousands of years, which could bring about the total ruin of the Covenant.
[i]
True Sangheili[/i], from the fan fiction author of [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=31052475]Halo 3: Insurrection[/url] and [url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=27927918]Memoirs of an ODST[/url].
[u]
==[b]CHAPTER LISTING[/b]==[/u]
[b]Book I[/b] ([url=http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B4iUh3dauqsjN2QzMjBjYzQtZGE2Ny00ZDUzLThlZTQtNDIwMDJjYTBjNTk3&hl=en]PDF[/url])
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356#35203356]Prologue + Chapter list[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356#35203379]Part One - Sorran[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356#35253886]Part Two - Warrior[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356#35297818]Part Three - Besieged[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356#35673800]Part Four - Into Custody[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true#36184265]Part Five - Interrogated[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=2#36420291]Part Six - Assessment[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=2#36697145]Part Seven - Covert Extraction[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=2#37436099]Part Eight - To kill a Demon[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=3#37531866]Part Nine - Immortal Repentance[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=3#37685366]Part Ten - Insertion[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=3#37728386]Part Eleven - To show mercy[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=4#37912997]Part Twelve - Heresy, of the greatest kind[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=4#37970850]Part Thirteen - Trial and Punishment[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=5#38158685]Part Fourteen - Factions within Factions[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=6#38396722]Part Fifteen - The Truth[/url]
[b]Book II[/b]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=7#39673575]Part Sixteen - Life goes on[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=7#39888838]Part Seventeen - Things never go according to plan[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=9#41709559]Part Eighteen - The sound of battle[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=10#43058906]Part Nineteen - Old habits die hard[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&viewreplies=true&postRepeater1-p=10#43585008]Part Twenty - Cultural differences[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=11#49109093]Part Twenty One - Personified Death[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=12#50885734]Part Twenty Two - Breaking Point[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=14#51826058]Part Twenty Three - Turnabout[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=19#54241416]Part Twenty Four - Breaking free[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=21#55868885]Part Twenty Five - Mutiny[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=23#57570727]Part Twenty Six - Skirmishes, and Reflections[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=24#58101291]Part Twenty Seven - Shrouded Heresy[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=24#58896376]Part Twenty Eight - Signs and Portents[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=25#59170042]Part Twenty Nine -Parted Reunion[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=26#60763537]Part Thirty - Honour[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=29#62705377]Part Thirty One - Visitations to the past[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=30#63447045]Part Thirty Two - Loss concealed within victory[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=32#63843302]Part Thirty Three - The best intentions[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=34#64909520]Part Thirty Four -The Tower came crashing down.[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=38#66761388]Part Thirty Five - Blood runs thick, brotherhood runs thicker.[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=42#68771851]Part Thirty Six - For whom the bell tolls, for whom hell calls.[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=45#70648196]Part Thirty Seven - Daggers in a cloak.[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=50#73021323]Part Thirty Eight - Gods and their weapons.[/url]
[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=35203356&postRepeater1-p=53#76375771]Part Thirty Nine - Trials of Delphi.[/url]
[i]Next chapter ETA: Valve Time[/i]
**** ***** ***** ****** *****
[b]Prologue[/b]
[i]Edict of the Most High Prophet of Truth, 9th Age of Reclamation.[/i]
By the authority of the noble Prophets of Truth, Regret, and Mercy.
Henceforth, any and all battle worthy Sangheili are to be transferred from any idle posts in High Charity and/or upon any Covenant held world/ship into the active combat. Those amongst the excused are the Honour Guard, the Councillors, and the mentally ill, physically unfit, and the old. Female Sangheili are, as always, prohibited from taking part in any military action.
Any Sangheili engaged in a guard post, other than the Honour Guard, will be replaced by the Jiralhanae until such a time as the High Council deems otherwise. Any Jiralhanae in question of where they now stand shall direct all enquiries to Tartarus, Chieftain of the Jirahanae.
Failure to adhere to this edict will result in death. No exceptions. These are trying times, my brothers. The Human infidels persist in resisting the might of the Covenant. Rest assured, this 'war' as some are calling it, will be over soon -- to be forgotten and dismissed as an insignificant event in Covenant history.
[Edited on 12.17.2012 5:35 PM PST]
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I feel depressed...
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Who cares if it short! It's still great! Good job!
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Well, actually, it's a trout, because there was a trout in the lake, but it's raw, so Sorran's gonna be poisoned by the trout... great part Wolvers!
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[url=http://imagemacros.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/its_a_trap.jpg]It's a trap![/url]
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*No, Sorran, its a trap!!*
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Great Chapter! I wonder what is going to happen next...
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Sorran stalked towards the murderous Honour Guard, who was laughing, unaware of anything around him. He sensed the crowd's eyes on him, suspicious as he drew ever closer. "Enough!" Sorran shouted, grabbing Daran'ee's shoulder roughly and forcing him away from his victim. The heretical Sangheili lifted his head out of the water as the Honour Guard's pressure lessened, gasping and pale faced, moments away from death. "What do you think you're doing?" the Honour Guard demanded of Sorran, drawing up to his full height. Sorran sighed, knowing what was about to come. "That Sangheili was exercising his religious freedom. You have no right to kill him!" Sorran replied aggressively, drawing courage from an unknown location. The heretic was lying on the ground, water spurting out of his mouth. Daran'ee didn't reply, instead dealing Sorran a heavy blow in the jaw. He staggered back, reeling and dizzy. A few moments later, Sorran felt his own head in the raging Honour Guard's grasp, and was suddenly forced underwater just like the heretic had been. Sorran's mouth opened in shock, and a torrent of water flooded his mouth, seeping into his lungs. He immediately closed his jaw, attempting to stay calm. He tried to draw his head back above the surface, but he was well and truly trapped by the other Honour Guard's grasp. His arms were still free however, stuck high up in the air above the water. And he still had his weapons at his belt. Sorran groped around his waist until his hands clasped around something familiar -- the hilt of his sword. Driven by some deep Sangheilian instinct, Sorran activated the energy sword with one fluid movement, slicing through its sheath and slicing the Honour Guard who was him in the stomach. Daran'ee gasped as he felt the burning blade sear his skin, and his grip faltered. Not hesitating for even a moment, Sorran drew his head out of the water and drove the full length of the blade deep into the Honour Guard's chest. Purple blood sprayed out of the gaping wound only to be turned into a gaseous, fuchsia vapour. Sorran shoved the very much dead Guard of the end of his quivering blade with a noise of disgust, and found himself the subject of many horrified eyes. The Prophet who Daran'ee had protected had was frozen with shock. The only sensible thing to do was to run. Drawing out a plasma pistol, he fired a few warning shots at the outraged crowd behind him, and they fled in the opposite direction instantly. The Prophet was barking orders at them, demanded that they rip Sorran to pieces. His words fell on deaf ears. Sorran turned to bolt, and nearly tripped over as his foot connected with the petrified heretical Sangheili who had started all this trouble. "If you wish to live, you had better follow me," Sorran hurriedly snapped at the shell shocked Sangheili, who was staring with unseeing eyes at the Honour Guard's corpse. Growing annoyed, Sorran kicked him in the ribs, dragging him back into reality. "Run!" Sorran barked in an uncharacteristically stern and commanding tone. The Sangheili nodded, coughing up one last spurt of water and staggering to his feet, which seemed unsteady. Sorran looked behind him, and saw a group of Sangheili Constabulary step out from a Shadow transport, starting after Sorran and his new friend. Their armour was slow and cumbersome however, and soon Sorran had darted into a dark, old alley, practically dragging the heretical Sangheili behind him. He listened for a few moments, before pausing. "We lost them," Sorran stated with relief, letting out a breath he hadn't known he'd been holding. Spending more time in a prison was not one of his top priorities. "They tried to [i]kill[/i] me!" the heretic was gasping out, nearly babbling nonsense. Sorran wheeled on him then, spurred on by anger and distress. "Did you really expect anything different? Spouting blasphemy, challenging the words of the hierarchs? Had it not been for my far too charitable hand, you would be lying at the bottom of that lake right now!" And then, to Sorran's complete horror, the Sangheili began to cry, shedding tears freely and without restraint. He realised he'd gone too far. "I apologise if I came across as harsh, but by the gods brother, what I spoke was the truth. You [i]must[/i] be more careful about what you say, especially in these troubled times," Sorran consoled the husk of a Sangheili softly, looking down at his trembling body with pity and compassion. [i]Besides, have I not done things just as idiotic in the past -- if not more so?[/i] "Don't leave me!" the weeping Sangheili suddenly burst out, clinging onto Sorran's leg with dogged determination. Sorran sighed audibly. [i]Why me[/i]? After much deliberation, he finally reached a sensible decision. Well, in his eyes at least. "Worry not dear brother, my Master's house is a place of refuge. I shall take you there. We have much to discuss."
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Here's a new chapter, I'm sorry if it's not incredibly long, but like I said, I'm very busy with life right now. Enjoy! [b]Part 19 - Old habits die hard[/b] Sorran walked down the sterile avenue of the religious district of High Charity. Whilst it was true that the entirety of the station was holy and pure, this district in particular was the closest to the divine Dreadnought where the Oracle was said to be housed, and as such most religious figures set up shop here. [i]Why have I come here,[/i] Sorran wondered, looking around at the tall chapels and monasteries. He'd woken up, and Restraint had told him that he should go out and get some fresh air. It was hardly fresh, just recycled. Still, Sorran had taken the Minister's recommendation, and had set out from the estate with no real destination in mind. Somehow, he'd wound up here. He hadn't bothered with his Honour Guard armour. It would have just attracted unwanted attention. Instead, he'd chosen a loose fitting robe, tied at the waist, which was a soft purple ordained with faint silver lining. Hidden beneath the robe where it covered his left shoulder was a small personal shield generator which would offer him some small protection. Attached to his pitch black leather belt was a small civilian class plasma pistol, and his energy sword. The same things he had worn as a scholar, minus the energy sword, of course. His visit to the Grand Library yesterday had pained him. He hadn't had many friends there, seeing as how most of the scholars were aloof Prophets who refused to fraternise with Sangheili, but seeing his old work place had invoked painful emotions in him. High Charity was currently in orbit above an uninhabited planet. The station's resource gatherers were extracting precious materials from the planet's crust, most of which would be used to supply the war effort against the humans. Atop a dais was a Sangheili, preaching. A crowd had gathered around him, and they looked angry. "Our gods do not want war, my brothers! Do not believe the falsehoods the Prophets feed you for a second, the Forerunners did not command us to fight the humans. They are as noble and worthy as any of us, and should be welcomed into the Covenant with open arms! The Prophets are merely intimidated by their ingenuity and courage. Oppose the war, brothers. Campaign for the humans to be allowed to join us in our search for the Journey!" the zealotry Sangheili cried, a wild look in his eyes. "Blasphemy!" a Jiralhanae watching shouted, fists balled. "The humans insult our Lords by defiling the holy relics they left behind for we to reclaim. We must wipe every single one of the heretical swine out!" The crowd seemed to agree with the Jiralhanae's words, shouting insults at the Sangheili on the dais. "No! That is a lie, Brute. I myself have fought against these humans, and have found them to be compassionate and caring. They do not defile Forerunner relics! They do not even know of the Journey or our Lords. We must enlighten them, and end this needless conflict." Sorran watched the scene with a clinical dispassion. He hadn't really given much thought to the humans over the past few weeks. But now that he thought about it, he realised that the whole war was a sham. Sorran did not know exactly why the three Hierarchs had decided to war with the humans, but he knew that the reasons had to be faked. A heated debate had risen between the preaching Sangheili and the Jiralhanae, and their raised voices had caught the attention of a passing Prophet. The wizened figure leaned forward in his chair for a few moments, assessing the situation, before turning to his Honour Guard. "Seize that heretic. Bring him to me," the Prophet ordered. Sorran grimaced, and knew what was about to come. He knew he should leave, but felt compelled to remain by a morbid curiosity. The burly and utterly indoctrinated Sangheili pushed past the rowdy crowd aggressively, eventually reaching the 'heretical' preacher who opposed the Covenant war with the humans. The Sangheili bravely attempted to struggle with the trained Honour Guard for a few moments, dealing a few heavy blows, but was eventually subdued and manacled, before being aggressively dragged off the dais and led towards the Prophet, who had a murderous gleam in his eyes. "You, Sangheili. Why do you spread these falsehoods and slander with your unworthy tongue?" the Prophet demanded, sneering and aloof. "I speak only the truth, as our Lord do decree it," the heretic replied courageously, staring the livid Prophet straight in the eyes. "No! You are a heretic, worthy of neither pity nor mercy. I will end your blasphemy and grant your troubled soul peace. Drown this dissenter Daran'ee," the Prophet ordered his Honour Guard. Sorran's eyes grew wide at the Prophet's verdict. Daran'ee grabbed the shocked heretic with a disgusting eagerness, manipulating him towards the artificial lake some metres away. The heretical Sangheili attempted to resist, but the Honour Guard was over a foot taller than him, and knew what he was doing. With a sickening splash, the Sangheili's head was forced underwater by Daran'ee's strong hand. The crowd was jeering now at the drowning Sangheili, laughing and pointing. The Prophet who had ordered the death was watching the flailing of his victim with a smug satisfaction. Sorran watched on with horror, and found his fists had automatically balled. He turned away from the scene, fully intending to walk off and leave the foolish Sangheili to his fate. [i]Am I really that cold?[/i] Sorran posed the question to himself, conflicted. He turned back around, ignoring his common sense. The drowning heretic was still struggling, but his movements were slowing, and Sorran knew that he would die in the next thirty seconds. To hell with it all!
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[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] RogueAssassin27 I'm fresh off a ban, any updates?[/quote] I've nearly finished Part 19; like I said though, my primary focus right now is Insurrection and I'm also very busy with exam revision.
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I'm fresh off a ban, any updates?
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More please!
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[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] T55 sh4d0w um why did you get banned? i was greatly enjoying your story[/quote]He got banned because Bungle is strict.
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um why did you get banned? i was greatly enjoying your story
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I opened this thread up, just to see what it was like, and I lost an hour. I'm keeping a tally of all the time you owe me. BTW, it is great to see Nums evolve through this thread, I blame you for his obsession with flaps.
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Great story man!
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Nice story. I liked it alot. Continue onward my friend.
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[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] me123456789 ETA on a new part?[/quote] I've been busy with exam revision and coursework lately. So I don't have much time to write. Just keep checking in, I'm not going to give any definite times. In the meantime, check out some other stories around the Gallery. A lot of potential goes unnoticed because no-one reads their work. If I hadn't gotten replies for the first chapter of Memoirs when I released it a lifetime ago, I'd have probably stopped. Plus, it'd be nice to get a few more writers around here. Anyone with the motivation can write, just try your hand at it people. /PSA
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ETA on a new part?
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Awesome.
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Wow. That was so epic, fight, fight, fight! Ok, what did you do to get banned... [Edited on 03.05.2010 4:24 AM PST]
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This is brillant you should write a book Sangheli rocks we took our oath.
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Finally! I've been waiting for another part! Great job.
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YES! I love these, Can't wait to see what Sorran is up to.
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[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] Mendeciant Bias Great, great job! Only thing I have a small complaint about is the end. Doesn't seem endyish. But great job![/quote] It'll lead into another part soon after. Sorry if it wasn't very conclusive.
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Great, great job! Only thing I have a small complaint about is the end. Doesn't seem endyish. But great job!
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[i]Ahkrin, you'd better be grateful for this[/i], Zharn muttered inwardly as he jumped off the Falcon to the ground. The base in which his friend was trapped was somewhat in the distance, surrounded by a group of marines attempting a last stand. Colonel Errand, his Demon and the other humans with them had already reached the Albatross at the far end of the canyon, with the technology cache on board. The Demon was holding off the horde of Covenant soldiers throwing themselves against the ship single-handedly. It was impossible not to admire the proficiency of the devil. Zharn sprinted through the battlefield at a quick pace, dodging the human bullets being fired at him. He took cover behind a large rock, where a squad of Unggoy led by a Sangheili Minor were residing. "Ultra!" the Minor saluted, as did the Unggoy in his command. Zharn nodded, resting his head back against the rock for a moment and breathing deeply. "What is our plight?" Zharn demanded of the Minor, who looked to be young and green. Probably a conscript. Like Sorran had been. Zharn felt a rush of sadness as he remembered his dead friend. "The humans are barricaded in that building, with enough ammo to keep us suppressed for hours. Meanwhile, the Demon and his accursed infidel comrades are escaping with that which we came for," the Minor reported with a tone of frustration. "What of the Sangheili held hostage inside?" Zharn asked, referring to Ahkrin. The Minor's look grew thoughtful. "He might still be alive. I am doubtful, noble Ultra." Zharn sighed -- he knew the Minor was right. Ahkrin was probably dead. Still, he had a duty to pull his friend out from the building; alive [i]or[/i] dead. "Lay down a volley of suppressing fire, I am going to storm the building," Zharn informed the small lance of Covenant warriors, who baulked. "By yourself? That is madness!" the Minor protested. "Then consider me mad brother," Zharn muttered, drawing out a rapid fire needle rifle. He dove out from cover, shooting a sniper up on the building's roof with a volley of pink crystals. The shards embedded themselves in the human's body, before combining and exploding, staining the roof with blood and flesh. The other humans had opened fire on Zharn, but he was too quick for them. With the grace of a Jackal, Zharn leaped up onto the roof of the rectangular building, taking out the other sniper with ease. He searched for a tactical weakness in the roof, and, finding one, primed a plasma grenade. The resulting explosion tore a hole in the heavy steel of the roof, causing molten metal to smother an unlucky marine who had been unfortunate enough to stand underneath. He screamed as he was essentially cooked to death. Zharn leaped down the hole and with a quick slice of his crimson blade, put the human out of his misery. He could see Ahkrin in the centre of the building's ground floor, tied up and hooked to some form of primitive electric torture device. The marines on the floor Zharn was currently on the fourth, opened fire upon him. Zharn dispatched them quickly with a few shots from his rapid needle rifle. He then ripped a wire from the rafter it was firmly bonded too, pulling on it a few times to test its strength. Hopefully, it would hold. Holding onto the wire with one hand, Zharn leaped off the railings of the fourth floor, abseiling down to the bottom. Bullets fired from marines bounced off his shields as he lowered himself. When he reached an amiable height, Zharn let go of the wire, his heavy boots denting the ground as he landed on the floor. "Zharn?" Ahkrin cried out as he saw his friend. Zharn didn't answer the Stealth Sangheili, instead rolling across the ground and swiping a marine across the neck with his sword as he stood back up. Driving his blue sword backwards, he impaled a charging marine in mid-stride. One more remained, but before Zharn could grab him, he had Ahkrin on his feet and with a magnum aimed at his unshielded skull. "Drop the sword," the human lieutenant shouted at Zharn, who was reluctant to do so. The lieutenant drove the barrel deeper into Ahkrin's head, and finally the Sangheili Ultra let his blade drop to the floor, where it disengaged. "And your weapons," the human continued, backing away with Ahkrin towards the door. Zharn began to loosen his weapon belt with a sigh. Ahkrin wore an expression which was a mix between fear of dying, and embarrassment at Zharn seeing him in this situation. "I'm going to back out of this door, get in the Warthog outside, and leave. I'll take your friend with me. When I get to a certain distance, away from the battle, I'll throw him out. You can find him then." [i]Yeah, throw him out dead, he means.[/i] Still, Zharn had no choice but to go along with the plan. The marine was moving closer to the door, with Ahkrin close in front of him. He backed up against the metal, electronic door of the building, waiting for the computer to recognise him and open. The computer never had the time to do just that. One second, the marine was standing calmly, and the next, the huge, spiked hilt of a Gravity Hammer was stuck through the metal of the door and through the marine's chest. At first, the lieutenant looked down with curiosity at the huge spike sticking through his chest. He hadn't fully grasped the situation yet. Then the realisation kicked in along with the pain, and the human began to shriek, grasping desperately at the hilt as if he could pull it out and survive. After ten seconds or so of shrieking, the human's cries fell quiet, and he slumped against the spiked hilt, being suspended by the sheer size of the weapon's handle. The door suddenly crumpled outwards, and standing in the doorway was a Jiralhanae Chieftain, who looked incredulously at Zharn and Ahkrin. The latter had staggered over to where Zharn stood, breathing deeply. "We must move. Human reinforcements are arriving in their pods. If we don't leave now, we'll be overwhelmed," the Jiralhanae told the two Sangheili, who looked at each other, before nodding. Zharn handed Ahkrin his spare plasma rifle. "Lead on Chieftain," Zharn intoned. The Jiralhanae nodded, throwing the corpse of the human lieutenant off his Gravity Hammer and picking up the Sangheili-sized weapon with a single hand. He turned, and began to move. "Well this isn't how I expected my rescue to end," Zharn muttered to Ahkrin as the two began to follow the Chieftain. Looking around outside, Zharn saw the Jiralhanae had been right. The Covenant forces were being massacred by ODSTs dropping from the skies, which were now completely clear of Covenant Banshees and other air vehicles. The Albatross, presumably along with the technology cache, had vanished too. "Let's just take the situation as it goes my friend. With this Brute around however, I'll be certain to sleep with one eye open." There was no option other than to flee, on foot. Zharn and Ahkrin followed the Jiralhanae Chieftain up a small path cutting through a cliff. The sound of battle faded as they ran.
