[b]SECTION II[/b] [b]Part Sixteen - Life goes on[/b] "Cover my back Ahkrin," "Cover it with what O' revered Ultra?" Zharn scowled; even now, with he being a Ultra, Ahkrin still couldn't resist the urge to throw in jibes at him in every possible circumstance. "Your [i]eyes[/i] Ahkrin, watch out for human snipers," Zharn impressed upon the other Sangheili, who smiled. "Is that an order sir?" [i]Why does he always have to be like this? He knows I hate it when he thinks of me as his commander.[/i] "Take it as you will, just do it." Indeed Zharn would need his friend's uncanny level of sight, the rocks in the valley were so numerous that hundreds of humans could be concealed with their snipers, and Zharn would be none the wiser. Ahkrin tended to notice the little things though, such as a leaf not pointing in the same direction as others in its cluster. The pair scurried from rock to rock, always alert. Active camouflage would do no good here, thermal sights on the human sniper scopes would detect them instantly. Far better for he and Ahkrin to use body cooling technology which masked them from such thermal scopes. When they were a quarter of a way through the valley, Ahkrin suddenly tackled Zharn to the ground, behind a rather large boulder. Zharn stared at his friend in anger. "By the Journey Ahkrin, what are you--?" the Ultra was cut off as a sniper bullet then flew over them, leaving a streak in the air as it flew by. Zharn blinked. "Ah. Thank you. Now what?" Ahkrin merely signalled for Zharn to stay pressed against the rock, and to stay motionless. "The sniper won't have had a proper glimpse of us, in all probability he saw a shadow flicker through his scope and shot nervously. Wait here for a few minutes, we will be safe," the Stealth Sangheili instructed Zharn, who laughed sharply. "That's what you said when we were boarding that human ship," he reminded Ahkrin, who scowled. "I had no idea that fusion reactor would blow, I'm no Huragok. Besides, the Phantom arrived before we ran out of air, and so why do you still talk about that incident?" Sangheili with bloodlines as strong as Ahkrin's could often be very highly strung, especially when their abilities were question. Zharn, not wanting an argument now of all times, with a sniper looking out for them, decided to let the memory drop. "Do you think the human has disregarded us?" Zharn asked half a minute later, breaking the awkward silence. Ahkrin shook his head firmly. "Nay, the barbarian dogs can be persevering creatures. Give it a little while longer." Zharn nodded, before sighing. "It's been three weeks since Sorran's body was found dead in his cell. And I know what you will say, but I can't forget about it. If I'd been in the city with you, with him when he'd been about to slay the Brute, maybe I could have changed things," the Ultra said sadly, shaking his head. Ahkrin nodded. "Perhaps, but I find it better not to dwell on what might have been." Zharn smiled crookedly, and then suddenly frowned. "You say a lance of Jackals saw the crime. I'm surprised you did not...deal with them before they reported the incident, it would be nothing new to one of dubious moralities such as you." Ahkrin then chuckled, shoulders rising and falling as he did so. "I tried to do just that Zharn, and managed to 'deal with', as you say, all but one. A cunning figure he was, and I suspect he was deliberately hiding from me. Bastard. Perhaps I should have arranged for the Prophet who reported to the Ministry Sorran's crime to die in suspicious yet inconclusive circumstances, before he could report of course," the Stealth Sangheili mused. Zharn laughed at what he thought to be a joke, before noticing Ahkrin's regretful expression. The Ultra stared incredulously at his friend. "You're serious are you not?" Zharn questioned Ahkrin, who nodded humbly. "It could have been done. A human poison -- human so suspicion falls upon [i]them[/i] -- laced within the Prophet's evening tea. I would have then killed the bastard Jackal, and that would have been that. Ah, if only time were not so linear," the Stealth Sangheili explained. Zharn scoffed. "Sorran got condemned to death for slaying a [i]Brute[/i]. I can't even begin to imagine the horrors that would be inflicted on you for going through with such murders." Ahkrin smiled wryly as Zharn said that. "Indeed, but you forget something: Sorran is--was not a trained assassin. I am. If I so wished it, I could have made all the evidence for the theoretical killings point towards a Brute in the camp, or you Zharn." Zharn rose his eyebrows at that, muttering a sharp retort, but he knew Ahkrin did not boast without reason; his friend really was that efficient. "Perhaps. Is it safe?" Ahkrin held up a hand, slowly popping his head over the rock. A few seconds later, he ducked back down and nodded. "The human sniper is busy foolishly clogging his lungs with smoke. The path is clear, let us move." * * * * * * * * * * * * [i]Look at those fools below. Ignorant, accepting, following a blind prophet...How I envy them[/i], Sorran thought to himself as he stared down at those below. A wave of emotion swept over him, and he pushed himself away from the window ledge, looking into the mirror. The Sangheili staring back at him from the shining surface was certainly he, and yet at the same time the reflection was a complete and total stranger. [i]Who am I, to be entrusted with such a dark secret? The fact I am the son of a now deceased Deacon Master makes it all the more ironic.[/i] Sorran stared at the fine robes that now covered his lean body. Restraint was certainly no frugal spender when it came to outfitting his guards. Sorran had been provided with an entire new wardrobe by the Minister, as well as weapons far more powerful than anything he had used in the Covenant military. His armour was ancient, harking back to near pre-Covenant times, possessing a kind of reverence about it. [i]I'm an Honour Guard. Me. One who was, not too long ago, a person of little significance. A scholar of small worth.[/i] It was nearly too much to take in, and Sorran felt a familiar uncomfortable feeling build within his head. These migraines had become all too common in the past few weeks. The door behind him suddenly sounded as a person entered. Sorran turned to see Hem, Restraint's second personal Honour Guard. The Minister had scores of guards in his chain of command, but only Sorran and Hem knew of the Covenant's dark secret. "Another headache?" the Elder Honour Guard questioned sympathetically. Sorran nodded slowly, before groaning as another spasm of pain crashed over him. "Indeed. And nightmares too. Horrible, chilling shades haunt my dreams." "I'll have an Unggoy bring you a medicinal draught. Aside from that, how are you faring?" Sorran shook his head, shrugging his shoulders. "As well as could be expected. I miss my old life--not being a Scholar, but strangely enough, I lament the loss of no longer being in the military alongside Zharn and Ahkrin," he sighed softly. Hem nodded gravely. "Such is the curse of being a dead man; no one can know you still live Sorran." "And yet I still keep my name?" There was a pause. "Whilst not completely commonplace, your name is not rare enough that being hailed Sorran shall draw suspicion to you." [i]Then I am not an entirely complete stranger; I still keep my name, and the sanctuary of my thoughts.[/i] "That is one thing to be grateful for. Is there a reason you've come, noble Elder, other than to soothe my mind?" Sorran questioned the older Sangheili, who folded his arms. "Quite. Restraint has requested that you ready yourself, he, I and you are to journey to the Great Library come noon." Panic gripped Sorran's heart in a vice-like grip, and he suddenly found it difficult to breathe. He stared at Hem incredulously.