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  • Subject: The Sangheili Chronicles------- Book II, Chapter 17 (UPDATED 3/14/09)
Subject: The Sangheili Chronicles------- Book II, Chapter 17 (UPDATED 3/14/09)

Halo: Heretic or Hero---An Elite's Story
Choose your own destiny

FanFicFactor
Forged in the Flames of Passion, go forth and represent!

Chapter Seventeen

Evil's Finest

It didn't seem real. Nothing seemed real. There was a strong intensity running throughout the room, but I felt none of it. I only stared aimlessly at the pieced together body of my enemy--the enemy that had been driven to the furthest reaches of insanity to kill me. And now, after we'd left him to rot on the Delta Halo, he'd turned up again. It didn't make sense.

Kovalee seemed to be enjoying himself, drumming his metal fingers against the table. It hadn't even occurred to me yet that I was lying on my back at the mercy of his blade.

"It's not possible," I murmured without even moving my lips. I could pretend on the outside, but deep inside of me I knew it could only be Kovalee.

"Isn't it?" he asked sweetly; innocently. But I knew well that nothing he said or did innocently mattered. He was a monster, more so than ever.

I shook my head. "I killed you."

"I'll bet you'd like to think that."

"You weren't breathing!" I argued. "You had no pulse. We checked four times, just in case." It was true. Before we'd left we'd had to make sure this threat would never rise again. It turned out we'd made a monumental mistake.

He laughed--a disturbing mix of croak and screech. "By the Prophets, heretic. I knew from the very beginning how reckless...you were...but it wouldn't have crossed my mind that you couldn't...tell the very well living from the dead."

Kovalee leaned forward, and I immediately sprung into action, leaping to my feet and redrawing my blade. I relaxed a bit when he only rested his arms on the table separating us.

"How did you survive?" I pressed. "Even you couldn't live through a stab through the chest."

His eyes darkened, and I saw in that instant that asking him that was a mistake. He gritted his teeth--about the only completely natural part of him--and curled his fists.

"My brothers did not help me, that I am certain of!" he roared. "No! They abandoned me! They left me to die and forgot of my existence! They betrayed me! You all betrayed me!" His great shoulders seemed to become broader with every breath, and I took a short, inconspicuous step backward before he exploded.

"But my true family didn't! The Covenant... found me. They took me in at my dying hours. They showed me the... light again when all others drowned me in shadow!" he screamed. "My masters brought me back. They did everything they could to keep me alive, even digging out my limbs and replacing them with new, enhanced technology in which I could continue."

"Kovalee, this is madness!" I shouted. "They ripped you apart and still you kiss their feet! They lied to us! They eliminated our race!"

I barely had time to stagger backward as he brought his one good fist down on the table, snapping it half as if it were paper. He then hurdled the destroyed pieces at me. I had to flatten myself on the ground to avoid being struck by one of the sharper pieces.

"And by who's wrong step did they resort to that?" the mad Elite barked. "Who's cowardice gave us a bad name in the Prophet's ears?"

"I did," I put simply, not bothering with lies. "I took the wrong step. I was the coward." I looked away for a moment, looking back on the shameful moments of my past. "But I am a coward no more. I stand for the Sangheili, not the 'San-Shyuum. I took the risk all others of my kind should have taken long ago."

He laughed again (to my dismay). "You stand for Sangheili? You're the hero in this blasted story? Please, heretic, you are but a shameful, ugly beast."

"That makes two of us."

Kovalee sighed. "Your wit is sharp as ever, I see."

"Enough of this talk!" I demanded, taking charge of this reunion. "You came here to fight, did you not? You came here to fight me."

The deranged Sangheili blinked twiceor rather winked, since only one eye was operable. "No, heretic," he corrected me. "I came here to kill."

I nodded solemnly. "Then let the killing begin--and let this be our final confrontation."

Without warning, I activated my Battle Blade at the same time that his own Energy Sword roared to life, and the two of us began our battle to the death for the second time.

************************************************************* ************************

Sikanoy pressed a palm against the rock wall the pipe had led them to. Cholahee lagged shortly behind, wading his way through the slime that had been trapped inside the pipeline for years. Something was different about this wall. It wasn't identical to the ones around it because of its slightly lighter, more artificial features. "It's hollow," Sikanoy declared, knocking his knuckles on it twice.

"Brutes?" Cholahee inquired, already pressing a hand down on his weapon belt.

His partner shrugged and pressed an ear to the wall. When no sound came through, he turned back to Cholahee. "I cannot hear through it, however it does not block off that stench." He grimaced. "It must be a secret entrance. Should we pass?"

Cholahee looked behind him, as he had done several times throughout the walk. There was no sign of Hunter.

"I don't know, brother. We know not if our friend has perished. What if he needs our help?" Cholahee pointed out.

Sikanoy shook his head. "I, too, care for his life. But this is not a matter of losing one man."

"Agreed."

"Then we pass?"

"We pass."

Without further hesitation, Sikanoy wrenched his fingers beneath the rock and steadily shifted left, dragging the fake wall along with him. With a grunt, he tossed it aside and looked ahead. There, through the perfectly cut rectangle of a doorway, seven Brutes glared angrily back at them, ravenously searching for their weapons. One even did manage to snatch his Brute Shot, but Sikanoy was too quick on his feet. He flitted forward and punched the Brute square in the jaw, knocking him backwards into unfamiliar machinery.

Cholahee laughed, as if it was all just a game. "We fight?"

Sikanoy replied with a nod and a vicious smirk. "We fight."

************************************************************* ************************

Hunter had never felt so nervous in his life.

The flow of the water was inevitable. Soon it would blast through the tunnel and be upon him. Which was would he go? Back to face the Brutes or forward to face the fast-moving current that would either drown him or carry him back to a death sentence by the hands of the Brutes.

Flowing. Running. Gaining.

Where to go? What to do?

Closer

Thinking...thinking.

Closer

The rush of gallons of water deafened the Lieutenant, who had it bad enough already. Last moment thoughts thrust through him, but to no avail. It was over. There was no sly escape this time.

Upon him.

Gone.

************************************************************* ************************

Zens Kovalee could have had no limbs and would not have lost one bit of his fighting ability. His moves were swift and quick, seemingly leaping out from all angles at once. I lunged first, but he quickly drove my sword to the side and kicked me hard in the stomach. I gasped and rolled backwards, just avoiding the searing hot tip of his blade on my neck.

It was my turn now, and I took my speed advantage to whip around, blocking off his attacks and throwing open the door. He roared in displeasure.

"You haven't changed, heretic! Still you run from me like the cowardly child you are!"

I ignored his nasty comments and made my way down the hall and to the next set of stairs, this one not nearly as beautifully carved as the other. There was still a matter of deactivating the turrets. The Covenant must have set up a mainframe somewhere in the building, but where? Would I have to check every floor?

I heard Kovalee's agonizingly painful footsteps growing closer and closer. Checking every floor was an impossibility. I had to pick one and hope that luck was on my side.

I swung around the staircase and jumped up two at a time, Kovalee following close behind. I could hear the sharp hiss as his sword flailed about just behind me, but out of reach.

I picked up speed and hustled up the stairs to the third floor. Would the control panel be here? No, the Covenant would not be so sloppy in the placement of their headquarters. Something in my head was screaming the top floor.

"Kill...you!" Kovalee roared. "Finish what I started!"

"Not today!" I retorted, leaping up four stairs to avoid the massive arc of his sword. Still, my long journey up the staircase continued.

It seemed like ages when I finally reached the top floor, a rusty, long forgotten metal door with a number 18 printed on the front. I drove my shoulder hard into the door, praying that it didn't falter my momentum. It screeched and flung away. Kovalee, who hadn't been able to keep up with me, was now rounding his final two floors before he'd be upon me. I had to hurry.

I gasped when I glanced into the room.

There, before me, was the entire station of Covenant earth assault operations.


[Edited on 04.04.2009 6:29 PM PDT]

  • 03.14.2009 6:51 PM PDT
Subject: The Sangheili Chronicles------- Book II, Chapter 15 (UPDATED 2/4/09)

Halo: Heretic or Hero---An Elite's Story
Choose your own destiny

FanFicFactor
Forged in the Flames of Passion, go forth and represent!

I'd never seen so much engineering and machinery packed into one place. The room was fairly small, about the same size of the previous one I'd been in, but the ominous purple devices and wires made it seem bigger than the entire earth. Monitors showed current engagements, varying from the smallest of battles to the farthest reaches of war and slaughter.

On one screen, four Warthogs with Gauss cannons on the back took were making quick work of the Covenant's lower level infantry. They circled and spun around the battle, but were quickly bombarded by a Wraith. Their cries of triumph came to a halt.

On another, a Scarab tank slithered over a high wall, its demonic long legs working casually. Immediately, several Mongooses and Warthogs came to engage it, though they would clearly get nowhere without commandeering it. As the first Mongoose flew over the hill, something about the driver caught my eye. He was different; stronger, faster, more agile.

The Demon, once again. It seemed as if the only time I'd ever encounter him would be on a mere screen.

On the last monitor, one of the largest battles I'd ever seen raged on. There were at least four hundred Brutes in the pack, closely followed by Wraiths. I looked around for their adversary, but there didn't seem to be any present.

I squinted and looked closer. There, in the corner of the screen, a human and Elite ducked behind a trash can while an entire army searched for them.

Anderson and Reth!

It was a breath of fresh air to know that they were still alive, although they were outnumbered thousands to two. If I didn't disable the turrets and let them bring in the rest of the cavalry

The turrets! I'd almost forgotten what I'd come here for. I aimlessly glanced at every machine as if it would hint something, but I had no prior experience with technology. What difference was I going to make?

"Still playing, are we?"

I whirled around just as a blur of twinkling silver flashed forward. I yelped and dropped to the ground as a plasma blade hissed over by face.

Acting fast, I rolled to the left, banging hard against machines I couldn't name. Kovalee started after me casually, seeming elated.

"I have no desire to kill you quickly," he said darkly, still slurring some words. His expression hardened as he outstretched his replacement hand to grasp my throat. I choked helplessly as he lifted me up so that out faces were nearly inches away.

"You've caused me so much pain," said Kovalee. "So much suffering. Look what you've done! You've destroyed me!"

I managed to shake my head a fragment. "You destroyed yourself."

I expected his short temper to snap, but he seemed to have trained that, as well. "How so?" he snorted. "Was it not by your handthat I lost everything? Was it not your blade that pierced me?" His one good eye twitched for a moment, as if it pained him to speak of this.

My breaths were getting weaker and weaker. My throat was on fire. "It was by my hand that you were defeated," I wheezed. "But my blade could never have turned your heart so cold."

"I have no heart." Ironically, though, his grip loosened a bit when he said this.

"Everyone has a heart, Zens," I said quietly. "But it takes a soul to guide it in the right path."

He contemplated carefully, keeping a stern eye on me. For a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of hope in his eyes, but it was once again consumed by darkness.

"No," he muttered, then clenched his teeth. "NO! You're a traitor! You deserve to die! II'll kill you!"

Before I could react, he let go of my throat and brought his fist soaring at me, catching me in the exact place the Brute Stalker had sliced into my mandible. I roared in pain, flailing my arms in front of me as the crazed Sangheili walked toward me.

I tried to stand up, but his foot instantly cracked down on my ribs. Resisting was futile now. I was welcoming Death with open arms.

"This is the end, Heretic!" Kovalee screeched. I could see that no words would ever persuade him out of that level of hatred.

"No," a new, lower voice cut in from the doorway. "The fun is only beginning."

Janerus.

************************************************************* ************************

"We can't hide here forever," Anderson whispered.

"I'm well aware," Reth growled, "but our situation is not the best. Run and we die; fight and we die."

"So in other words we're screwed."

"Right."

Anderson moaned. Luckily, no one had yet picked up on them hidden behind a peculiarly large garbage can. Several scouts had patrolled the area, but they'd all been oblivious to them by the west side of the enormous Center.

"Could we call in your posse?" Anderson inquired, referring to the nine Elites Reth had arrived with.

"The turrets and Banshees will take them out immediately. Besides, it's not enough to take on an army of Covenant."

For several minutes they waited, each stealthily smuggling a quick glance around the trash can and into the main plaza of the City Center, which was flooded with Brutes and Covenant. All seemed to be focused on guarding the doors. Had they given up on Anderson and Reth?

"Do you hear that?" Reth asked, perking up.

"Hear what?"

"Listen."

There did seem to be a humming somewhere far off, but Anderson passed it off as a mere battle in the distance. "Yeah? So?"

The humming grew louder; closer with every moment. Something was happening. Voices started crowing war cries. Human voices.

And then all hell broke loose.

A group of at least sixty Warthogs streamed in from both sides of the complex, led by a Wolverine. Brutes were rammed and run over by the fleet. Chaos broke out between flaring machine guns and panicked responses from the Covenant mini-army. Explosions went off in all directions; two Banshees fell mercilessly at the missile launcher of the Wolverine; bullets ricocheted in all directions. It was truly a war zone.

One of the Warthogs skidded to a halt in front of them. Its gunner and passenger seat were vacant and inviting when compared to hiding behind a garbage can.

The driver and obvious coordinator of the attack flashed them a smile.

"Hop in, boys, join the fun."

Anderson chuckled and came out of his crouching position beside Reth, who timidly stood up. "Not bad Burnsy my boy," he reflected. "Could have come a bit earlier, though. You really know how to throw a party."

Burns smiled wickedly. "Guess being bait isn't so bad after all. Take a seat, anyway."

Anderson shot him a look. "I'm still driving, you know."

"Dammit!"

End Transmission

  • 03.14.2009 6:52 PM PDT

The Suspense! Will Janerus do the right thing and save Sol? I hope so, it would be pretty awesome.

And I really like the way you include the Chief in your story without violating canon.

  • 03.14.2009 7:28 PM PDT

"Oh, death was never enemy of ours!
We laughed, knowing that better men would come,
And greater wars: when each proud fighter brags
He wars on death, for lives: not men, for flags"

"The Next War"
http://www.blackwaterops.net/forums/index.php?referrerid=795

i hope kovalee comes to his senses

  • 03.16.2009 6:18 PM PDT
Subject: The Sangheili Chronicles------- Book II, Chapter 17 (UPDATED 3/14/09)

Posted by: Dropship dude
No, acnboy. Spartain Ken 15 is a lesser being. Much like the bacteria that lives in your shi­t.
Posted by: mike120593
My shi­t bacteria takes offense to that comparison.

Don't make me lel. You won't like me when I lel.

Argh! the dreaded non-spacing thingy rears its ugly head!
bungie really needs to fix this

absolutely stunning post though

[Edited on 03.17.2009 4:12 AM PDT]

  • 03.17.2009 4:05 AM PDT

DIUTYAUSDPOI

340083 Coagulated Derelict

"Zombies.Gentlemen at times like these our capacity to retaliate must be and has to be massive,to deter all forms of aggression."-JFK

Nice poast

  • 03.17.2009 12:40 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
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  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

must FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • 04.04.2009 7:01 AM PDT

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

Fantastic chapter, the fun really is just beginning here.
:D

[Edited on 04.04.2009 10:01 AM PDT]

  • 04.04.2009 10:00 AM PDT

I need moar!

  • 04.04.2009 5:58 PM PDT

Halo: Heretic or Hero---An Elite's Story
Choose your own destiny

FanFicFactor
Forged in the Flames of Passion, go forth and represent!

Chapter Eighteen

Among the Tombstones

The Brute Chieftain that I'd so long hated casually stepped out from the shadows of the doorway. Although his face was stern and not one to aggravate, his eyes were still playful as ever. As long as blood was being spilt, he was content.

"Your order was not to kill the boy," said Janerus.

"I care not...for your blasted orders!" spat Kovalee, who kept his eyes locked in on me and the tip of his blade at my neck. Just when I was sure he was going to plunge it into me, Janerus spoke again, calmly but cruelly.

"Careful, 012," he warned. I assumed '012' was a kind name given to a monster of Kovalee's rank. "Kill him now and you'll get nothing from it."

"Do not call me that!" Kovalee roared. "My name is...is" he trailed off, taking his eyes off me for a moment, thinking hard. "My name...is..."

"Do you see?" Janerus pressed. "Do you see what this criminal has done to you? You don't even remember your own name because of him. He made you lose everything. He put you down and left you for dead."

"Then now I may even the two of us!"

"Would you listen?" Janerus asked. "Kill him now and I'll personally slaughter you myself. Your only purpose to us is to capture him, and once that purpose is done with we will have no further use for a monstrosity like you." He paused, then added, "We'll dismember every part of you again and scatter your remains. There will be no more second chances. Let him live, and you, too, may have your share of life. So choose, 012, will both of you die now or later?"

Kovalee glared acidly down at me, then over his shoulder at Janerus. I could see his hand quivering with anxiety, and for a moment I felt a wave of guilt come over me. Had I put him in this position? This once great warrior had to choose whether or not to vanquish his enemy--and himself, or to come quietly and quite possibly lost his one opportunity at revenge.

"Your tongue...is crooked...with lies," Kovalee growled. "You wouldn't strike me down. Not here. No...tnow."

Janerus smiled wickedly and drew up his massive Gravity Hammer in an evil response.

For a moment, it seemed as if the two were oblivious to me, sprawled on the floor before them, but Kovalee's heavy foot on my chest made any resistance futile. There was a moment of impending silence in which my two worst enemies traded glares. Finally, Kovalee found it in him to ask the question I'd been waiting for:

"What does the boy mean to you?" He tried to force a sneer, but it was obvious that although he was brave on a level higher than the sky itself, he was more concerned on conserving himself; on living.

Janerus, for the first time, averted his gaze to me. This time his eyes were neither stern nor playful. They were only full of malice. A malice only found in the coldest of hearts.

"Aaah, yes," said the Chieftain. "This one here. Unknown to the both of you, Solonee"

"Sol!" I sputtered. "I go not by the name of you scoundrels."

"Please shut up or I'll bite your fingers off," Janerus said with a smile. "Now, where was I? Oh yes! Unknown to both of you, Sol, here, has something we want, although he hasn't quite found it himself yet." He grinned, baring his grotesque yellow teeth at me.

Kovalee looked at Janerus, then to me, then bowed his ugly head and deactivated his Energy Sword. The blade immediately retracted and I finally felt the freedom to breathe again. Kovalee outstretched a hand to grab me by the collar and hoist me up, but to his surprise, I grabbed his arm first and yanked him closer so that I could meet his darkened eyes.

Scowling, I said, "You're so easily seduced by his lies." Before he could retort, I pressed on. "He claims he'll leave you alive until I'm dead. Are you really that much of an idiot to believe that he won't kill you the second he claims me as his own prize?"

If there was one thing I noticed about the 'new' Kovalee, it was that his sense of decision making had slowed immensely. He seemed to drink in my words for a few moments, letting them sink in, before turning to Janerus.

"Why should I trust that you will not attack me?"

Janerus, who was still leaning in the doorway, half-heartedly muttered, "You have my word."

"What word?" I shouted. "The honest word of the Jiralhanae? He's lying to you! He's feeding you this propaganda while at the same time he's plotting your downfall!"

"ENOUGH!" Janerus boomed, stepping forward now. "Take the boy. Now. We will bring him to the Prophet himself."

Kovalee's one natural eye lit up. "The Hierarchs, you say?"

"Hierarch."

  • 04.05.2009 5:53 PM PDT

Halo: Heretic or Hero---An Elite's Story
Choose your own destiny

FanFicFactor
Forged in the Flames of Passion, go forth and represent!

But Kovalee was no longer listening. His mind was off in a distant place. Somewhere along the line he whispered, "Perhaps I will be put in command. Lead my people to victory.

"Ironic though, isn't it?" I prompted. "Your people fight for the opposite cause, if that one eye of yours has been in any way observant. You're alone. You're surrounded by people that only feel hate and pity for you."

Whether he had heard my comment or just ignored it, he didn't respond, just tore his hand free and grasped my throat. Slowly, I was raised from the ground and held high in the air. Kovalee peered over at Janerus as I gagged.

"Should I knock him unconscious?"

"And miss the massacre that is about to occur? Nay! I want him to see every last one of his companions being ripped to pieces," said Janerus. "He will try nothing unarmed, anyway. Let us go; we have much work to attend to." With that he bent over and scooped up the hilt of my Battle Blade, spinning it once, feeling its lightness and dexterity. "A good enough weapon as any. It should do fine as a token reminding me of this day." He laughed dryly and strode out the door, making his way down the stairs with the wicked smirk still spread across his face.

When it was just Kovalee and me, something struck me out of the corner of my eye. On impulse, I used all of my strength to squirm out of Kovalee's grip and on to the floor, pretending to be doubled over in pain. Kovalee scrambled after me, cursing and grabbing for me. I must have looked foolish to him, thrashing on the ground, but I didn't find the need to reveal my purpose.

When I finally calmed down, he was angrier than ever. I'd expected that. I was unwillingly grabbed by my sides and lifted on to Kovalee's shoulder; the metal side. Without halting, he ran me down the stairs to follow Janerus.

At the very least, though, I'd learned something out of it all: Truth wanted something that I had, unlike Janerus' promise that I was thought to be a warrior of great standing. One thing was for sure: I needed to find it before Truth did. But where would I start? What would I look for? Was the turning point of the entire war right under my nose at this very moment?

************************************************************* ************************

"Turrets are offline, Sarge," said Burns, having to shout over the roar of his turret. Anderson, at the wheel of the Warthog, did a silent fist pump and looked up at the City Center.

"Nice job, Sol," he whispered, skidding to a stop behind the cover of one of the smaller towers. The battle ahead still raged on, growing more and more violent by the second. The large brigade of Warthogs still did not match that of the Covenant's ground units. They could hold position for a few minutes, but would eventually be overrun.

"Quickly! We need more of your troops to fend them off!" Reth shouted from the passenger's seat.

"No kidding!" Anderson snorted. "I'm trying to get a COM signal, but there's only static. Waitthere's a voice! Something's interfering with our mainline COM system!"

"Can you reestablish a private connection?" Burns offered.

"Yeah, let me...damn! Private COM is gone too! What the hell is happening?"



[Edited on 04.05.2009 5:56 PM PDT]

  • 04.05.2009 5:54 PM PDT
Subject: The Sangheili Chronicles------- Book II, Chapter 18 (UPDATED 4/5/09)

Halo: Heretic or Hero---An Elite's Story
Choose your own destiny

FanFicFactor
Forged in the Flames of Passion, go forth and represent!

"What have man left now?
Now that the end is here.
Now that I have won?
"

The three companions froze, almost paralyzed by the powerful, grim voice that played through Anderson's radio. The voice was not that of a human, nor of Covenant. There was something about it that was so undeniably evil.

"Sing, now.

Recall salvation,

As your world crumbles down.


"Wh-wh-what was that?" Burns stammered nervously.

"Hell if I know," Anderson replied, then added, "but I know it's not friendly."

"I've heard it before," Reth muttered darkly. "Although I can't quite place it. Whenever I try to remember I only feel pain and sorrow."

Anderson moaned. "It's in full control of our COM, private and main. There is temporarily no communications available."

"Time rolls not over me.

I am in no hurry.

Millennia I have waited,

And thus I shall wait again."


As if on queue, the static cleared and the voice thinned out and away, clearing the system once more. Baffled but relieved, Anderson took his radio in hand again.

"How convenient," he mused, eyebrows raised. "Alright, let's try this one more time." Straining his face as if annoyed, Anderson held the radio tight to his mouth as if it might slip away from his grip. "This is Anderson, I'm with the ODST Delta Squad. Listen" He was cut short by the whining of bullets and plasma being traded from both sides. "We are in need of ground units. Some air support would be generous, too, if you don't mind."

Static, then, "Roger that. Your location?" the high but focused and firm voice of a young man answered.

"New Mombassa, City Center, sir."

"The City Center? How did you manage to get past?"

"Not now!" Anderson demanded. "Our situation isn't good; we can't hold them off much longer!"

Nervous now, the man replied, "Roger, sending for air and ground support now!"

Slamming his radio down and stepping on the gas, Anderson yelled, "Hang on boys, it's dinner time!" The three companions once again launched into the heat of the battle.

************************************************************* ************************

Carried along the fierce current of the water, being thrown around like a fish, Lieutenant James Hunter had lost all hope.

Where was up? Where was down? He could see nor feel anything more than the water whipping at his face, sloshing at his throat.

The more Hunter struggled the weaker he became, quickly diminishing to the power of hundreds of gallons of hydropower being thrown at him. Sooner or later he was going to drown, that was quite obvious at this point. What a horrible way to die, he thought. He'd always imagined dying as a hero, not as a helpless sewer rat. There was so much that needed to be done! Was it really about to end right now? Was there no chance of survival?

Perhaps--perhaps not. That was for fate to decide now.

Hunter could just barely get his mouth to break the top of the water. There was so much water splashing down his throat that breathing seemed more like poison than relief. Using all of his muscles to swing his legs up in front of him, (if there was something solid at the end of this thing he wouldn't want to meet it head first!) he heaved himself upward to get above the water, only to knock his head on the top of the low tunnel. Crap. That wasn't what he needed right now. More and more oxygen was being tossed out of his lungs and replaced by the all-consuming grey-silver water.

It was then that he felt the real pressure--it was like a sourness building up in his mouth. It was the uncontrollable zeal to drink fresh air again, only it seemed there was none left to ration. It was an awful, helpless feeling. Wherever he flailed, no one was helping. Whatever he yelled, no one was answering. No one, that is, other than Death itself.

And then, as if by magic, he stopped short, almost throwing him out of his skin. The current was still there, tugging at him to follow it, but a new force was yanking his arm from the right side of him. That was strange. Anyway, it didn't matter. One way or another, he was dying right now. For a brief moment, he saw the world in front of him in vivid detail, then it all started to dimgoing blackfading

It was peaceful under the water. The sound was soothing. That, too, slowly became more and more distant.

Then the force from the right tightened its grip and tore him to the side.


[Edited on 04.25.2009 10:12 AM PDT]

  • 04.05.2009 5:54 PM PDT

Halo: Heretic or Hero---An Elite's Story
Choose your own destiny

FanFicFactor
Forged in the Flames of Passion, go forth and represent!

For some reason, there was no water at all as he stumbled across the tunnel floor, head aching and eyes staring off somewhere distant. Instinctively, he rolled over once and whipped out his M6 Magnum and discharged it into the darkness.

"Jesus!" a human voice shrieked. "We're on your side, dammit! Put the gun away!"

"Bastard!" another, sterner voice hissed. "You'e gonna wake up every sleeping beauty in this rabbit hole, and we're not cleaning up!"

Flipping on their flashlights, two Marines in black battle armor stepped forward. Hunter couldn't make our their faces, though, as they were hidden behind a visor. Both cradled Assault Rifles in their arms.

Troy and Martin. They'd pulled him out of the water through a second tunnel.

"Oh, you two," Hunter said absentmindedly. "Don't make me go back in there, alright? It's wet." With that he yawned, lay down on the grimy tunnel floor and blacked out.

************************************************************* ************************

It didn't take more than twenty seconds for Cholahee and Sikanoy to bring down all of the Brutes with the help of their active camouflage system.

"You call it cheating," Cholahee had whispered in an unsuspecting Brute's ear. "I call it an unfortunate tactic to counter."

They piled the bodies in the corner of the room, not bothering with hiding the corpses. Sikanoy walked slowly around the room, looking in awe at the strange machines he'd never seen before. Cholahee caught up and fell in step with him.

"What is this?" Cholahee inquired, stepping closer to the large, pillar-like tube with bubbling purple liquid splashing around in it.

"It looks to be some kind of plasma generator," Sikanoy observed. "An interesting one, at that. Do you see those pipes on the ceiling? The plasma is running through it. But, alas, where is it going?"

Cholahee, however, was too busy gawking at another monitor which featured a blueprint of the machine.

"It's called a Tombstone," he claimed.

"Fascinating," Sikanoy snorted. "What does it do?"

"It saysoh no. Quick, Sikanoy, what part of the city are we under right now?"

Sikanoy thought for a moment. "We've traveled south from the outskirts of the city through these tunnels. Then we turned west and walked about one human mile. That would put us directly under the City Center."

Cholahee's eyes widened in horror. He pushed past Sikanoy and nearly flopped on the control panel, fingers flying over the keyboard.

Sikanoy still hadn't put the pieces together. "What's wrong? What are you doing?"

"Don't you see? It all makes sense! That crater we found was made from an explosion that started underground. Don't you remember, when we first engaged them down here, the Brutes had been talking about a 'firing sequence'? This is it! This machine here is pumping highly unstable plasma up through the pipes. It will blow a hole clean through the City Center, and if our companions have made it there, we will blow them to bits!"

Sikanoy leapt forward to join Cholahee. The two Elites viciously scrambled back and forth, checking all of the monitors in hope of finding the solution.

"How do we stop it?" Sikanoy cried.

"How should I know?" Cholahee screamed. "I've never seen this monstrous device. There has to be some way to shut it down..."

"Quickly! It could blow a hole in the surface any second!"

He was right.

The clock was ticking.

End Transmission




[Edited on 04.16.2009 6:35 PM PDT]

  • 04.05.2009 5:55 PM PDT
Subject: The Sangheili Chronicles------- Book II, Chapter 17 (UPDATED 3/14/09)

A pretty nice part, well done.

  • 04.05.2009 6:56 PM PDT

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

Great chapter there.

  • 04.08.2009 3:13 AM PDT
  • gamertag: clol7
  • user homepage:

C + lol + 7 = clol7

More? Pwese?

  • 04.14.2009 2:16 AM PDT

some ask for recon, some ask to be unbanhammered, i on the other hand, just play.

i finally get to read it and i am not dissiapointed.

  • 04.20.2009 5:16 PM PDT

"Oh, death was never enemy of ours!
We laughed, knowing that better men would come,
And greater wars: when each proud fighter brags
He wars on death, for lives: not men, for flags"

"The Next War"
http://www.blackwaterops.net/forums/index.php?referrerid=795

great chapter
however... i want more

  • 04.22.2009 3:49 PM PDT

Halo: Heretic or Hero---An Elite's Story
Choose your own destiny

FanFicFactor
Forged in the Flames of Passion, go forth and represent!

Thanks for supporting, everyone :)

I'd like to take this time to do one of my rare updates. I'll address some stuff to come, some stuff that's past, and how to cut a steak with a Battle Blade.

In the near future, I will be introducing a new line of story updates known as Character Portrayals. These portrayals will take you deeper into the world of the heroes and the villains of our story. Learn more about mysterious Reth; venture into Sol's father's unmentioned life as an Honor Guard; discover the origin of Janerus' wickedness. The possibilities are endless! These updates will take you farther in depth than the main story could ever match.

Not only will Character Portrayals be an interesting read for fans of the series, but it will also be an easier, shorter thing to update in the week to 2 weeks in between chapters. Hey, maybe it'll even bring some life back to this graveyard!

Speaking of which, the next chapter will most likely be out tomorrow, so you may continue hitting the refresh button until then.

To conclude this wonderful update, I'd like to ask (with uber politeness, of course) if anyone who has photoshopping skills could perhaps make a book cover for Through My Eyes, as I am lacking that right now.

Stay tuned, everyone, and thank you!

~Murph

  • 04.25.2009 10:41 AM PDT
Subject: The Sangheili Chronicles------- Book II, Chapter 18 (UPDATED 4/5/09)

Halo: Heretic or Hero---An Elite's Story
Choose your own destiny

FanFicFactor
Forged in the Flames of Passion, go forth and represent!

Chapter Nineteen

Yet Another Reunion

For the length of our descent back down to the ground floor I was helplessly draped over Kovalee's shoulder, who trotted at a good pace behind Janerus. It was an absolute nightmare. The two things I hated most in this world were working together against me.

Something bothered me even more, though. Janerus' wickedness was inevitable; he had a heavy lust for power and glory and would slaughter everything in his path to achieve just thatbut not Kovalee. Since I'd his return he'd been strangely...unstable. His thoughts were easily swayed, like a puppet only doing the will of its master.

As we started down the marble staircase once more, Janerus flipped on his COM system and muttered something in his own tongue, nodded thoughtfully, and replaced the small radio again.

"Quickly now! We must make haste in bringing this filth back to the Prophet."

"And then I suppose you'll bring me to the Prophet," I sneered.

Janerus chortled. "Have your joke then, fool. But it will be not long before the world of man and Sangheili burns before your eyes. Do you see the beauty of this planet? Not long from now it will be but ash and bones. Every last living being, innocent or not, will be slaughtered like the rest. The Covenant will gain galactic control over all. And who will they look to as their war hero? As their champion? They will look to Janerus, nephew of Tartarus and heir to the throne of the Jiralhanae!"

"That's despicable!" I cried. "You're no hero! You only kill for your own sake!"

"Rightly, too!" he snarled, and by the fierce look in his eyes I knew he could have been content with denting my head in with that giant hammer. After a moment of intense glares between us, he shook his head and turned away. "I shall speak no more of it. Come, 012, we've work to do."

Kovalee gave a low grunt in response and followed Janerus down the stairs and across the lobby to the door, where Janerus made a signal to halt.

"A battle rages behind these doors," Janerus noted, pressing an ear to the door. He drew up his hammer and nodded to Kovalee. "Keep the boy alive at all costs; he's no use to us as a corpse."

"It will be done," Kovalee answered flatly.

A battle? Did that mean that Anderson and Reth were fighting back? Had they brought reinforcements with them? My thoughts were cut off as Janerus kicked the door right off his hinges and flew out. Kovalee immediately broke into a sprint behind him as the three of us raced into the battlefield.

Fifty Warthogs or so slid around, swerving this way and that while rapidly firing their guns. In return, plasma fire flew overhead, and the ominous roar of Wraith mortars being propelled hung in the air. Ahead of us, Janerus brought his hammer down on the front of one of the vehicles, redirecting the spinning Warthog into a crowd of three. Even as the vehicles exploded in a magnificent burst of flame before him he continued striding forward.

I thought for a moment: should I cry for help? Should I try wrestle myself out of Kovalee's tight grip? If there was ever a time of escape it was now.

I looked vigilantly for Anderson or Reth or somebody that would help me, but the crowd was far too large to pick out anyone in particular. Besides, who was going to help me?. Humans and Sangheili are allies, maybe, but far from friends. Who, in truth, would mourn my death? Who would be pained to know that I was no more?

As it turned out, there were three of them.

Janerus lead our way into the clearing beyond the battle, a new jump to his stride. Kovalee followed at a steady pace, and I could feel his heavy, metallic chest rise and fall as he ran.

I sighed, taking one final, solemn look into the battle scene behind. Would I ever know who was to be victorious?

"Come," grumbled Janerus. "We are near now."

"Not near enough, for damn sure!" an angry voice boomed from somewhere beyond. Janerus stopped abruptly and looked both ways, as if caught off guard.

"And to whom may we share the pleasure of our company?" Janerus snorted.

There was a short pause, then, "One who remembers your blasted company, Chieftain!"

Janerus sniffed the air promptly, like a hound hunting for its prey. "You are near. Come! Come and fight me!"

Out of the three alleyways on either side of us stepped two humans and an Elite: Anderson, Burns, and Reth.

"You don't have to ask me twice to kick your ass," Anderson growled. He took a courageous step forward, first eyeing Janerus, then averting his sharp glance to me, then to Kovalee. He gawked at the re-pieced together body of the Ultra Elite. "You're back?"He chuckled dryly. "I killed you once; Sol killed you once; you're a stubborn little thing, aren't you metal man?"

Kovalee hissed angrily and advanced toward the Sergeant, fury gleaming in his eyes. Janerus held out an arm to stop him. "Do nothing foolish," he muttered bitterly.

Reth came up beside Anderson and squinted with keen eyes at Kovalee, who glared back with his ominous icy stare.

"You," Reth said simply. "It's been years, hasn't it?"

"Years since what?" Kovalee said, annoyed.

"Since we banished you from the Light," Reth said darkly. "Since you chose shadow over valor. Since you pledged yourselves to the Prophets and sided with the likes of him." He nodded at Janerus. "You were once a noble warrior. Headstrong, maybe, but noble in battle nonetheless."

I stared confusingly at Reth. "The Light?"


[Edited on 05.02.2009 4:52 PM PDT]

  • 05.02.2009 4:49 PM PDT
Subject: The Sangheili Chronicles------- Book II, Chapter 17 (UPDATED 3/14/09)

Halo: Heretic or Hero---An Elite's Story
Choose your own destiny

FanFicFactor
Forged in the Flames of Passion, go forth and represent!

He either ignored me or chose not to answer and started in on Janerus. "And who could forget you?" said he. "Who could possibly forget the boisterous young Brute, longing for royalty and power over others? Yes, I remember quite clearly. You were always jealous of your uncle, being the High Chieftain. Ironic, isn't it, that even as you are the only remaining member of your bloodline you have not taken up the throne?"

Janerus said nothing.

"All right, reunion is over," Anderson snorted. "Hand him over and we may just let you get a head start back to your hole."

Kovalee's grip grew firmer on my arms, as if he was threatened by this. Janerus, however, stayed casually calm.

"Hmm," he said. "Perhaps not. Perhaps I'd rather cut this animal up and devour him. Yes, come to think of it, I am quite hungry." He looked at me, a strange cross between glee and hatred lit in his beady eyes.

Burns, who'd been looking anxious but hadn't spoken, looked quickly to Anderson and Reth, then at last he broke out.

"Lay a finger on our friend and you'll never see daylight again," he threatened grimly.

Janerus slowly changed his gaze over to Burns, who, being short and young-faced, must have looked humorous to a monster like Janerus, for he laughed thunderously.

"And will it be your hand that I fall, little one?" he laughed. "What damage will you deliver?"

"More than you can reckon with!" he roared, and as fast as lightning he drew up his BR808 and fired two quick shots, both of which deflected simply off of the Chieftain's armor.

Cackling loudly, Janerus took tighter hold on his hammer and took a sharp, heavy step forward. "Fight, will you? Fine! Die like the rest!" Looking to Kovalee, he said, "Take him out of the city; and do not hesitate! He is cunning and fast; never let him out of your sight."

"Not if I can help it!" Reth retorted, throwing himself past the Brute and at Kovalee. The sharp pang of their armors clashing echoed around, even louder than the battle raging behind.

Reth elbowed Kovalee in the chest, making him stumble back a bit, then came across with a vicious kick to the mislead Elite's side. Kovalee, recovering from two consecutive blows, dropped his guard for a moment, and that's when I made my move.

My fingers slithered stealthily around the outside of his neck, then, snapped shut around his throat in a tight chokehold. Hissing and spitting, Kovalee spun and shook me, but I was stronger than he'd guessed, and would not let go. After stretched seconds of wrestling each other, he lowered his head and threw me off his shoulders, sending me rolling across the street.

"Get him, you fool!" Janerus called frantically, keeping one eye on me and one eye on the two angry humans that circled him menacingly.

Kovalee spat blood as he scrambled after me, looking ashamed of letting me out of his grip, but more driven than ever to recapture me. I was too nimble on my feet, however, and launched myself head first on to him as he raised himself up.

One hand on a metal shoulder, one hand on true flesh, I brought him down with me. His real eye locked into mine, and although to others it would look only of hatred, I noticed the doubt; the wonder that clouded his mind. You don't even remember your own name, Janerus had said. Was it true? Had I made this Elite so inexplicably furious with me that the only thing he remembered of his former self was how he hated me?

And it was apparent that he hated me more than ever now. I threw all my weight on him to pin him down, but Zens Kovalee would not have defeat. Not while he was still breathing, anyway. He somehow freed one arm and fired a rock hard punch into the side of my head. I saw only black for a brief moment, dizzy and disoriented. When I returned to reality, Kovalee was struggling to get a hold on me as I rolled away from him.

He shot an arm out to grab me, but I quickly rolled to the right and regained my feet before he could himself. It was my turn to strike back, and I used it to my advantage. He'd never seen my foot as I brought it around to kick him square in the chest. Sputtering, he rolled backwards, winded by my kick.

I stood hunched over, panting for a moment. Gazing over I saw that Reth had joined the two humans, and the trio steadily circled the massive Brute.

I then averted my gaze back to Kovalee, who lay sideways with his back up against the curb of the sidewalk, still breathing hard. Blood trickled down from the non-metal part of his mouth.

Shaking my head solemnly, I approached him.

  • 05.02.2009 4:51 PM PDT

Halo: Heretic or Hero---An Elite's Story
Choose your own destiny

FanFicFactor
Forged in the Flames of Passion, go forth and represent!

"There is no reason for us to be fighting!" I told him. He didn't seem to be hearing me; his eyes were wandering off into the sunset. "Listen!" I yelled again. "Janerus is the real enemy. You're hatred is aimed toward the wrong person!"

He spat blood at me in reply.

I thought briefly about my next move: the zealous part of me felt the urge to run a blade through his chest and be done with the monster; the other part pitied the disgraced Elite that might never be at rest. If I killed him now, I could be done with him for good. I'd make sure to burn his corpse.

And yet...

I couldn't. I could read the horrible memories written in his face; the sorrow in his eyes; the shadowing look of being manipulated by dark powers greater than he could counter. Then again, as I saw it, it would either be him or me. Would I kill him to save my own life?

He scowled at me. "What are you waiting for?"

I locked in with his deadly glare, giving every bit of the flame in his eyes back to him. "I want to kill you," I growled. "I do, really."

"Then get it done with, you fool! You have defeated me! Let me suffer!" Kovalee yelled.

"II won't," I stammered, frantically searching for words. "I won't. I can't. Not while the same blood flows through our veins. You may be treacherous and severely misguided, but not wicked enough to take a life for." It was a painful thing to utter to an enemy that I hated so bitterly, but truthful nonetheless. For the first time ever, I found a dim light in his eyes that had not been there a moment ago. He didn't move a muscle, just stared at me stupidly, silently contemplating. I would have felt much more comfortable to know what he was thinking about.

It was no him or I that shattered the silence, but instead the vociferous voice of Janerus from behind.

"Get up, you imbecile! Do not be fooled by his lies! He means to kill you!"

Kovalee's eyes flashed in anger once more, and he used all the strength left in him to suddenly leap to his feet.

"No!" I protested. "He's using you as his puppet! He's telling you what you want to hear!"

But the lunatic Elite didn't care. For all he knew, Janerus was his master and he was but an unworthy servant to the Shadow. Despite my pleads, he snarled wildly and lunged for me again. I hopped away nimbly, my eyes lain on the hilt of his sword that lay idle on his waist.

He flitted toward me again and rapped a fist into my chest like a lightning bolt. A short flicker of rage escaped me as I ducked his second punch and responded with four quick, vicious punches to his face. He hissed furiously and threw himself back at me, only to meet my other fist that careened into his side.

I didn't stop my relentless attack. Through anger I had taken control of the duel. Even Kovalee, with his ridiculous strength, could not match the fire burning inside of me. I glared down at my helpless enemy with merciless eyes; every blow I landed to him gave me a peculiar feeling of bliss. He wasn't going to listen to me. He was a traitor. I wanted blood.

I didn't halt until a large, red armored arm was thrust around my neck. I cried out, but the arm only gripped me harder. I was yanked backwards. Hot breath ran down my neck.

"Move a muscle and you'll not see tomorrow," Janerus whispered in my ear.

Reth, Burns and Anderson raced in before me, weapons ready.

"Shoot," Janerus said softly, "and I snap his neck."

I cringed as his other arm crawled to the top of my head. In the palm of his hand he held my head.

Anderson looked helplessly to Reth, who didn't meet his gaze. Instead, to my dismay, his solemn eyes were locked on me.

"A promise," he muttered darkly, bowing his head. "I made a promise. His dying words were that I would look after you." He shook his head painfully, then added, "I've done a pitiful job."

"What are you rambling about?" Janerus sneered.

"Never mind that," Anderson cut in. "Just let the boy go."

"Ha! And why would I do that? Why would I waste the prize that I've just won? I want to have the pleasure of killing him, alone, somewhere where his screams will echo all around."

"You're not fooling anyone," Reth growled. "Had your intention been to kill him you would already have done so. No. You want him alive, don't you?"

Janerus chortled. "Alive? ALIVE? Never have I spared an enemy that has come into my grasp."

"But you will," Reth pressed. "Because that was the will of your master, and you will obey."

"I take orders from no one!" Janerus boomed. "And I've had quite enough of this talk. Let us settle this now, just the two of us!"

"Do as you will," said Reth with a quick spin of his Energy stave. "I am doing you good service by ending your corruptive reign."

The Chieftain laughed in a low, menacing voice.

"I welcome your service, then."

In that single instant, I barely caught sight of the armored side of the Brute's arm wiping through the air at me. I didn't duck; I didn't even try to elude the attack. I just stood dumbly as the iron-hard metal connected with the side of my head. I didn't feel the pain right away, but I did feel a strange emptiness, like all of my blood had been dumped into the street. My eyes widened about my entire face, and the world began to dim, with only the faint, distant laughs of Janerus echoing in my ears.

Losing grip...falling...

Darkness.

End Transmission

  • 05.02.2009 4:52 PM PDT

Fantastic part yet again Murph! Why people don't read this I'll never know...

I'm literally on the edge of my seat.

  • 05.03.2009 2:21 AM PDT

By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

Beautifully written, fantastic chapter. As always, Murph, well done.

  • 05.03.2009 3:22 AM PDT

"Oh, death was never enemy of ours!
We laughed, knowing that better men would come,
And greater wars: when each proud fighter brags
He wars on death, for lives: not men, for flags"

"The Next War"
http://www.blackwaterops.net/forums/index.php?referrerid=795

worth the wait!!

  • 05.03.2009 6:29 PM PDT