[i]Does he think I can shoot plasma from my eyes?[/i] Ahkrin asked himself with an inward chuckle. "Get back, Elite!" the marine shouted at him, sweat trickling down his brow. Ahkrin grasped the bars tightly, staring at the marine. "What is this?" There was a pause as the human processed his question. Finally he lowered his shotgun. "What do you mean?" "Why have you taken us prisoner? I am hardly complaining, but it is most unlike you humans to do so," Ahkrin told the human, whose face contorted into one of unease. "It's really not my place to say, Elite. I'm not even supposed to talk to hostages--" "So we are your hostages?" Ahkrin asked the human, brow raising. "Interesting." "Corporal!" another voice boomed, a female's, yet strangely carrying much authority. It was very curious how the women fought for the humans. The Kig-Yar had their Shipmistresses, but the males still did the bulk of the fighting. The young man Ahkrin had been talking to paled, and spun around. "Captain! I... uh, I was just--" "Giving the enemy vital information?" the female captain demanded. She was smaller than the corporal but seemed to tower over him as she glared into his eyes, looking like she was about to punch him in the face. "Get your sorry ass down to reassignment, [i]private.[/i]" "Y-yes ma'am," the corporal-turned-private stammered, before pulling a sloppy salute and walking briskly away. The captain watched him go, before turning her blazing eyes onto Ahkrin. "You!" she shouted at him. Despite himself Ahkrin flinched back a little. From a [i]female.[/i] He was glad Zharn was not here to see him. "Talk again and I will ram a gun down your disgusting throat and put a bullet through it! Understand?" Ahkrin merely nodded, before shrinking back into the safety of the diminutive crowd. An Unggoy near him chuckled. He was promptly cuffed around the ear. * * * * * * * * * "Enough!" a voice commanded, the words distorted like an image viewed through dirty glass by the water Zharn was being near-drowned in. After a few seconds the marines torturing him pulled his head out of the water, and this time it remained out. Zharn was breathing heavily, eyes wide and unseeing as the water dripped down his cold, numb face. The bucket he could see terrified him. Zharn had faced down raging Mglekgolo with nothing but a rifle and a grenade, but the still rippling water imbued far more fear within him than they had. [i]Do not let them do it again,[/i] Zharn silently prayed to the Forerunners, hoping they were watching. He realised he was still shaking, and found that he couldn't stop it. He didn't [i]want[/i] to stop it. He just wanted to curl in a corner, shut out the world and never see a drop of water again in his life. "Take him to my quarters, bound," Admiral Cole ordered, before turning to Zharn. "We're going to have a little chat, you and I." * * * * * * * * <[i]UNSC Hastings, outside Eridanus II's orbit[/i]> "Elite," Admiral Cole stated blandly, staring deep into the small glass of bourbon on his impeccably polished desk. The word carried across to where Zharn was sitting and struck him like a slap in the face. "Y-yes?" he asked shakily, feeling as if he were about to throw yesterday's meager meal upon Cole's carpet. Water droplets from the torture still clung to his face, dripping down his quivering body and pouring into the ugly red welts that had been made across his body. A human loincloth was all that garbed him. [i]What are you doing? You are an Ultra! Has a little torture truly turned you into a frightened Unggoy?[/i] an angry voice within him demanded. [i]Yes,[/i] a meeker one replied tinnily. "There are people down on that planet. I'm planning to evacuate as many as I can before the rest of your kind show up. I know that Covenant are still on the surface." "I suppose there is truth in that statement," Zharn spoke back nervously, unable to look the Admiral in the eye. [i]Slam![/i] Zharn nearly jumped out of his skin, shrinking back against his chair. He forced himself to look up and saw Admiral Cole glaring at him. "You will command them not to attack civilians and otherwise as they leave Eridanus II," Cole ordered, and for a brief moment the broken shell of Zharn was bolstered by indignation. "I am not yours to order around! If my warriors wish to surrender they will do so. I shall not order them to, however. The Council would have my head, and I would be severed from the Journey!" he snapped, raising to his feet. He heard the marines posted at the door raise their guns before he'd even drawn to full height. "Sit down, Elite, or I'll have you flayed," Cole told him wearily, and Zharn immediately felt the strength leave him as he crashed back into the chair. The Admiral sighed, shaking his head and bringing a hand up to cover his eyes. Zharn could see a band of pale flesh on one of Cole's fingers, and if memory served him this meant that he had once been mated with another human. Zharn could not help but marvel at how this cold, cruel hell-spawned demon had ever gained the favour of a female. Still, the pale band showed clearly that it had not lasted. "I apologise for my outburst," Zharn muttered, eyes losing focus once again and memories of being plunged into the water arising. "No, it was very revealing. You obviously still don't understand just how much I dislike your kind. It seems I will have to show you. Raines!" A marine detached himself from the door and walked over slowly, an unreadable expression on his face. "Sir?" "The Elite our friend here arrived with; he's still in the brig, correct?" Cole demanded. After a pause Raines nodded. "He should be. I haven't given an order otherwise." "Good. I want you to take him from his cell and airlock him," Cole commanded without feeling as if he were ordering a meal from a menu. Zharn felt his hearts pound urgently. "[i]What?![/i]" he shrieked, sitting forward. Cole smiled a macabre smile. The marine named Rains nodded, giving a rapt salute. "At once, sir." "No!" Zharn cried, leaping to his feet despite his fear and attempting to stop the marine from leaving to carry out the order. His bound feet did not get far though, and he soon found himself toppling onto the floor, his jaw smashing into the hard metal. Raines glanced down at him with disgust before leaving. "You are close to this Elite, I take it?" Cole asked him after Raines had exited the room. Zharn still lay on the floor, moaning pitifully amidst the blood and tears. The Admiral strode over, boots pausing just before the purple puddle. Cole bent down, and stared at Zharn in the eyes. "Don't kill him... please," Zharn begged, too beside himself with worry for Ahkrin to even care about the shame he was dealing himself by stooping to the level of pleading. Admiral Cole smiled then. "Why shouldn't I? I'm sure that he has killed many of my people in the past. Such a menace should surely be removed, don't you think?" [i]I can't lose Ahkrin... not after Sorran.[/i] "If you kill him I won't order the troops still on the surface to lay down arms," Zharn spat out, hating himself for saying the words he was about to say. He knew this heresy would have him killed even if he survived this, and possibly even cut off from the Journey. But he could not let Ahkrin die. "Oh?" Cole asked, a glint in his eye as he grabbed the bourbon from his desk and taking a swig of it. At some unseen command, two marines came over and lifted Zharn up, before violently thrusting him back into the small, uncomfortable chair. "But I heard you say a few minutes ago that you'd never do such a thing. You were quite adamant, in fact." "I changed my mind!" Zharn retorted, his throat tightening as he realised that Raines was still carrying out his orders. Ahkrin could be being dragged to the airlock as they spoke. "Really? Well perhaps I don't care. Perhaps I'll just have you friend airlocked anyway to see your reaction. Being vacuumed isn't a very pleasant way to die, Zharn. The lack of air, the pressure as your friend's insides will be forced out of every orifice in his body, the freezing temperature... not very nice at all, really." "You can't--" "Can't I? What will you do, Zharn? Attack me? You're in no position to do so, I think. Perhaps I'll take you down to the observation deck and you can watch your friend as he is ejected into the harsh realm that is space. Would such a thing break you, I wonder?" Suddenly the communications receiver on Cole's desk buzzed, and after letting it ring for a few seconds the Admiral picked up the matte-black receiver and pressed it to his ear. Muffled words emitted from it, and Cole nodded sombrely. "Throw him in the airlock, Captain Raines, then await my order," Admiral Cole said softly, before gently placing the receiver on the desk beside him. Zharn stared at it as if it were some evil beast. "Now, Elite, these next few moments will be very important. Your friend is one button-press away from being thrown through the tunnel and into the great beyond, where he shall most certainly die. I'm going to offer you a choice, and it will be interesting to see how you choose. Your friend does not have to die. You can opt for the second option." "What is it?" Zharn demanded hurriedly. "Please, I'll do anything." "Don't be so sure. Your friend's place can be filled by ten other troops you command. If you choose this option then your friend shall live, but ten other various Covenant shall take his place and be thrown out of the airlock. No one other than you, Raines and I will ever know; it'll be our little dark secret."

Well, I had one of those inspirational moment and wrote the rest of this chapter. I can never stick to self-imposed restrictions. This chapter was very fun to write, especially the ending. Enjoy! [b]Part 22 - Breaking Point[/b] "Admiral Cole," Zharn remarked as he entered the UNSC [i]Everest[/i]'s captain's quarters. A man stood facing a small window, looking down at Eridanus II. A wide desk separated the two, decorated with the captured images humans called photographs and other personal effects. His wrinkled old hands were firmly clasped behind his back, which was as straight as a tree trunk. Cole was much smaller than Zharn, but he emanated the power of a giant. Cole didn't turn around, didn't even give any reaction to show that he'd heard Zharn. The Sangheili Ultra shifted uneasily, and at his unprompted movements heard the sound of five rifles being brought up and levelled at his unshielded back. Paranoids. Cole let his shoulders rise and fall, before walking to another part of his room, still not acknowledging Zharn. Finally he stopped at a wall which was adorned with a wide glass shelving unit, containing rows and rows of medals and commendations. "All of this," the human Admiral finally spoke, motioning at all the gleaming metals pinned to the wall. "All of it means nothing. After you attacked us life ceased to hold any meaning other than survival." Zharn was about to reply, when suddenly the Admiral turned around, marched on Zharn and struck him heavily in the side of a jaw with a blunt object. It hurt. The Sangheili fell to the ground as a result of both the blow and the shock. When his eyes focused once again he found himself staring down the barrel of a human pistol. Zharn sometimes found it surreal how something so archaic and primitive could end life. "There are laws which would prevent me from doing the things I could do to you. But the laws don't apply to you, only humans. So you just remember that when you are dealing with me, Elite." The words were venomous, and filled with raw hatred. Cole suddenly turned away, and spoke over his shoulder to the marines who were acting as Zharn's jailor escort. "Take him to advanced interrogation." It took a few seconds for the sergeant to reply. "What do you want us to find out, sir?" she asked, curiously and yet disgustingly eager. "Nothing," Cole replied in a hoarse, detached voice, the words laced with poison. They hit Zharn like a low blow to the gut. They weren't going to torture him for information. They were simply going to do it because they could. "No!" he protested as rough hands grabbed his shoulders. He managed to shake one of the humans off, but soon gave up when the cold steel of a battle rifle was violently rammed into the back of his skull, dazing him. "Understood, Admiral." * * * * * * * * * * * "Guard!" Ahkrin shouted in the language of the humans. The nearest marine reluctantly inched a few metres away from his post towards him and the chain of Covenant he was manacled to. "What?" the marine demanded in a hostile tone, looking for all the world like he wanted to bring his assault rifle up and gun them all down. "This Unggoy's methane supply is arduously low. He will die lest it is replenished," Ahkrin told the guard. The small Unggoy behind him named Tatat nodded in affirmation. The marine studied the two of them for a short time, before shrugging. "Not my problem," the human said, turning around and walking off. Ahkrin's concerned expression turned to one of anger. "Of course it is your problem, fool! You are his jailer and as such owe it to him to keep him alive," Ahkrin shouted at the guard. "I don't owe that little bastard anything," the marine called back at him. "If I had my way I'd throw you all out of the airlock and bring out the popcorn while watching you explode, but unfortunately the Admiral has other plans. We're to give you food and water. Admiral didn't say anything about methane." "And your kind wonders why it has been judged unworthy," Ahkrin spat, shaking his head at the human's lack of empathy. The marine's eyes blazed, and he marched over to Ahkrin with anger. "What did you just say?" the human demanded, standing on the very tips of his feet and staring at Ahkrin in the eyes with a feral expression. The Stealth Sangheili did not baulk. "I said you're an coward who has no honour or integrity. Like most of your--" [i]Thwack![/i] The fist smashed into Ahkrin's jaw and sent his head sharply reeling to the left. He flexed his mandibles, tasting blood, and turned back to face the human. "Is that the best you can do?" he taunted with malice, spitting the blood welling up in his mouth at the human's face. The marine didn't flinch, and only brought up his fist and drove it into the side of Ahkrin's face once more, with more force. Ahkrin was dazed for a moment, but was determined not to let the scum with no honour triumph over him. He stood his ground, breathing deeply as an eye began to swell shut. The marine was still glaring at him, and the two of them had an audience of everyone in the room. Several Sangheili looked like they wanted to tear the marine's throat out for hitting a helpless prisoner. Even the humans were frowning at the marine's actions. "Pathetic," was all Ahkrin said through the blood and pain. The marine's face contorted with pure rage, and he reached down to his side. Ahkrin suddenly found himself staring down the barrel of a magnum, and knew that the marine fully intended to use it. [i]I need to learn when to shut my mouth.[/i] "The rest will soon follow you," the marine vowed, flicking the safety of the pistol. Ahkrin screwed his eyes tight. [i]Bang![/i] It was a few seconds after the gunshot when Ahkrin realised he was still alive. Tentatively, he opened his eyes and saw the marine on the ground, rolling around and crying as he cradled a bleeding arm. "Take this man to the med-bay. As soon as his arm is patched up you will escort him to the brig where he will remain until I decide otherwise," Admiral Cole commanded two of the other guards in the room, who nodded curtly. The Admiral held a pistol in his right hand, which was still smoking. The mess heaped at Ahkrin's feet was lifted up by two of his fellows, who cast a furtive look up at Ahkrin as they bent down. Cole threw the pistol on the floor with disgust, shaking his head as the marine with no honour was taken out through the large door to the med-bay, the human equivalent of a convalescence chamber. The Admiral paced around the room, staring at the hundreds of Covenant prisoners held in this detention block, which was one of many. "Let this be a lesson to all of you," Cole shouted, and Ahkrin realised that he was speaking to the other humans in the room. "All of these Covenant are prisoners of war. And they shall be treated with the same courtesy you would show a human POW, unless I say otherwise." There was grumbling at these words, and Ahkrin caught a few words of dissent. Cole flared then, and raised his voice so much so that it was like rumbling thunder. "That is an order! And whilst you are on my ship my word is law. Disobeying this order is treason, and you know what we do with traitors. That's all." The Admiral turned to leave, and Ahkrin heard a small gasping noise behind him. The Unggoy who was running low on methane. Ahkrin knew that it might be suicide, but spoke up anyway. "Admiral!" he shouted, and could almost feel every other person he was chained to flinch. Cole paused, and slowly turned around, staring at Ahkrin with disdain. Ahkrin realised he wasn't going to get a reply, and so plowed on with his request. "This Unggoy is running out of methane. He shall die if he does not receive more. I'm sure there are many more on this ship in the same predicament." Admiral Cole stared at him for a few moments, face completely unreadable. Finally he nodded. "Fine. The little bastards will get their methane. But only for as long as they cooperate." * * * * * * * * * * [i]Air.[/i] Bubbles swam past his eyes as the oxygen escaped through his lungs. [i]Air.[/i] He tried to bring his head out, but was held firmly in place by rough hands. His eyes grew wider as he bucked and struggled ever more desperately. [i]Air! Now![/i] His mind was making demands that his body couldn't meet. Midnight began to creep into the edges of his vision, and the struggling began to stop. And then suddenly-- [i]Air![/i] Zharn coughed and spluttered as his head was finally drawn out from the bucket of water which sat on the floor before him, his knees raw from the attempts he'd made to escape the rough grasp of the three humans restraining him. One breath. Two breaths. [i]Submerged.[/i] * * * * * * * * * "I did not think that the humans took prisoners," Orpheus said to Ahkrin, shaking his head. The deep voice resonated with the other Covenant prisoners jammed into their cell, a conglomeration of Unggoy and Kig-Yar, for the most part. A carefree Huragok floated above their heads, almost completely unaware of the situation it was in. "They usually don't," Ahkrin replied curtly, edging away from the Jiralhanae as best as he could. Orpheus sighed as he noticed the Sangheili's movement. "Hey! No talking!" a young human outside the cell door shouted at them, brandishing about his shotgun with ridiculous bravado. Ahkrin pushed past the small Unggoy in the cell, moving up to the door. The young marine noticed him and brought up his shotgun.

Humans outmaneuvering covenant ships? There is only one person in the Haloverse with that skill that Wolvers feels obliged to write about.

I finally finished the story and by god it was godly. Im glad I finished it with in 2 days. It was a good read and a fun one. Reading all the different comments that other people have made in approval of your great writing. I only hope the that Sorran meets his friends again in a future reading.

I reported your last post, Wolverfrog. That's what you deserve for letting down all your fans for such a selfish goal. [i]Exams[/i]? SERIOUSLY? Why bother? SERIOUSLY????????? J/K

When I read that I died! Then screamed nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo for a while!

I've decided that I'm going to take a break from writing for a month or so. I've got a whole plethora of exams next month, so I'm busy revising for them. When I take breaks from revising I'm usually too mentally worn out to write properly. So the next chapter of True Sangheili might be a while, if you were wondering. I may have a spark of inspiration and get an urge to write at some point, but officially I'm on hiatus until these exams are out of the way. Thanks for your patience. Edit: Never mind, I'm far too impatient to stick to the above. [Edited on 10.21.2010 12:34 PM PDT]

Youre getting better at writing all the time Wolver.

It'll come, don't worry. I've completed two fan fictions, and I'll complete this. I'm just a little busy with exam revision, coursework and work right now.

Whens next part wolwy wolwers?

You need to make the next Halo book!

This is very good. Great work.

Ah, a terrific return to this story, Wolvers. VERY impressed with the plot twist.

Great work keep it up, read all your stories Memoirs insurrection and now this.

Great work Wolvers! I hope you allow our Covenant friends to learn a bit more about the Humans!

But, shall the humans spare our friends? I don't think so, but next to being the king of cliffhangers, you're also very good at plot twists. [quote][b]Posted by:[/b] Arulaen Just something quick here about the last page. It's Kig-Yar not "Kig-Year".[/quote]Unless he was talking about a year of Kig, of course.

Just something quick here about the last page. It's Kig-Yar not "Kig-Year".

YES awesome as always but I HATE CLIFFHANGERS :D cant wait for next part >:3

"It's always so, isn't it? We rely on the Forerunners far too much. What if one day their technology ceases to work, or if it turns against us? Say what you want about the humans, but you cannot fault their innovation. Where we simply found the secrets to slipspace travel, they [i]invented[/i] their own! It may not be as efficient, but it is their own. What can [i]we[/i] claim as [i]our[/i] own, Jajab? Mathematics, science; all things that humans have but we do not. When we encounter a problem we do not set our minds to it, we simply turn to the Forerunners for help." The Unggoy frowned, before placing a small hand on his chest, signalling for him to lie back. "You're delirious Sorran; it's possible your wounds have become infected." Sorran was about to reply angrily, when suddenly the world blurred slightly, and a feeling of intense pain shot through his head. "Be that as it may," he replied sluggishly. "It doesn't make my point any less valid." "The Forerunners chose us as their successors," Jajab began slowly. "You still believe that, even knowing the truth about the 'sacred' rings?" Sorran asked bitterly, wincing once again as the deep welts in his skin had pressure applied to them. Jajab hesitated. "I know that the Forerunners existed, and I believe that they had a plan for us all," the worn old Unggoy answered slowly. "Do you not?" [i]Do I?[/i] Sorran asked himself, realising that he had never really posed the question to himself before. But the answer came to him instantly. "No." "That's blasphemy," Jajab replied matter-of-factly. "Not even Restraint is so skeptical about the Forerunners. The sacred rings may not be the key to our salvation, but that does not mean--" "You're entitled to your beliefs, Jajab. But after all I have learnt, and seen... the Forerunners were simply mortal beings like us. Advanced, certainly, but not gods." "I fear that you may be the only Sangheili to hold that view," Jajab told him sadly, before applying a sedative patch to his arm. "The day will come when all learn the truth," Sorran replied sleepily as the drug seeped through his skin and oozed into his blood stream. "And then we shall all be free." * * * * * * * * * * [i]Restraints bound his wrists and legs as he hung in the air, dishonoured before all. He had been stripped down of all clothing, and a burning mark of shame covered his beaten chest. A shadowy figure glided towards him, execution-sword held in hand. [/i]Crack![i] a noise like thunder sounded. "This is what happens when you sympathise with humans," the Prophet of Truth snarled, before bringing up the sword and sinking it into his--"[/i] Zharn awoke with a shriek, and found himself nestled in rough foliage underneath a shoddy make-shift shelter. Rain poured through the gaps, trailing down his body and diluting the cold sweat he had broken out in. He was panting heavily, shaken. "Zharn, you imbecile! Do you want to bring them down upon us?" Ahkrin's voice hissed as he stormed into the tent, eyes and sword ablaze. Zharn was still shaking. "W-what?" he asked in an unsteady voice. Ahrkin tilted his head, peering down at Zharn curiously. "Are you okay?" Zharn forced himself to stop shaking, and prised himself away from the floor which was moist with rain and sweat, standing up. His loose garments, which he usually wore under his armour, were stuck to his clammy body. "I'm fine. Just a bad dream. Bring [i]who[/i] down upon us?" Ahkrin glanced skyward up at the shelter's patched roof with a worried expression. "The humans. Our fleet at this planet has been destroyed, my brother," Ahrkin told him sombrely. Zharn snapped out of his daze immediately. "Their ships destroyed an Assault Carrier, two CCS-class Battlecruisers and four corvettes? They must have suffered grave losses as a result," Zharn answered, reaching for his armour, which lay in a heap on the ground covered by leaves. Dirt marred its unshielded surface The next words spoken by Ahrkin made him halt in his tracks. "Eight human ships came. Only one was destroyed." "Impossible!" Zharn exclaimed as soon as his friend had finished his sentence. "Alas, the good special operator speaks the truth, noble Ultra," Orpheus' voice rumbled in a low crescendo as he stepped through the mouth of their shelter. "We watched, amazed as eight of their ships -- not even the largest ones -- managed to outmaneuver our own and turn what I thought would be a decisive victory for us into a tragic loss." Ahkrin's jaw clenched as he heard the Jiralhanae speak, but managed to force himself to add to Orpheus' input. "They've sent down their Falcons and Pelicans to secure the surface. Without support from the skies, we cannot win. All the long-range transmission equipment was in the fleet. It's possible that they managed to send a message to High Charity before they were destroyed, but I doubt it. The humans know how to jam our communications for a short while, and the battle took them less than twenty minutes." "Why did you not wake me up sooner?" "The humans only achieved victory a few minutes ago. I'd seen the ships exit slipspace before that, but never did I think eight ships would be able to defeat our own. We must leave and find transport, and tell the rest of the Covenant that--" Their words were drowned out by the sound of whirring blades high up in the air. The three rushed out of the shelter and looked up. A human Falcon hung high in the air above the trees of the expansive forest they were in, and it was soon joined by several others. Flood lights were spread out through the dark trees, threatening to reveal their camp. "[i]Every Covenant bastard cowering in those trees had better come out of hiding immediately and surrender themselves to my troops, or I swear to your hateful gods that I will nuke the entire province![/i]" a chilling voice boomed out of one of the Falcons through a sound system mounted on the bottom. A voice that sent shivers down every member of the Covenant's spine. A voice that signalled crushing defeat, or incomprehensible loss. A voice belonging to a human who was a better tactician than even the Supreme Commander. "Admiral Cole," Ahkrin stated unnecessarily, his voice carrying a despondent air. Zharn nodded, eyes downcast. When Cole commanded a fleet and won, there was no escape. Cole meant death. Except he was offering a surrender. It was very unlike him. "What do we do?" Orpheus asked, knowing that there was only really one answer. Zharn sighed, thinking. He could hear human voices in the distance, shouting. "There is only one thing that we can do. Find the nearest humans and surrender."

Goodness me, has it really been so long? This isn't not the longest chapter. But it'll get the dusty pendulum of this story swinging once again, and more will come soon. True Sangheili is back. [b]Part 21 - Personified Death[/b] Sorran staggered into Restraint's manor, still a little shaken from his near death experience. His face had been scratched by the tapered claws of the barbaric Sangheili Honour Guard who had attempted to kill him, and purple blood wept from wounds open on his face. The Sangheili who he'd rescued followed him timidly, even more upset than Sorran was. The house was warm, lit, and welcoming. "Sorran? Is that you? Thank the Forerunners you're back, the city is in an uproar!" the grandiose voice of Restraint reverberated through his home as he descended the stairs in his gravity defying chair. "Apparently, an Honour Guard was killed in the Religious district! The constabulary haven't been able to--" The elderly Prophet broke off when he saw Sorran's beaten, pale, wet face. Then he noticed the cowering Sangheili behind him. "Oh, Sorran. Please don't tell me you are the cause of this turmoil," Restraint groaned, hopping out from his Gravity Chair and shuffling slowly over to Sorran, who grimaced apologetically. "Okay then, I won't tell you," he winced as Restraint touched one of the wounds on on his jaw gingerly. "Sorran, you're supposed to be laying low! Killing an Honour Guard and rescuing a Heretic is [i]not[/i] laying low!" "I couldn't just let him die, Restraint," Sorran protested weakly, worn out. The Sangheili behind him begin to cough vehemently, pale faced and shivering. Restraint fumed silently for a moment, before closing the door with a touch of paranoia. The Prophet turned to face Sorran as if he were about to rebuke him, when suddenly his expression softened. "I know, Sorran. There's no changing your nature, I suppose. Jajab!" After a few moments, an elderly yet energetic Unggoy came into view, staring up at them with a slightly amused expression. As always, the ornate and expensive clothes the Unggoy was dressed in startled Sorran -- he was used to seeing the diminutive servants run around in rags. "Yes, Restraint? I suppose you wish me to clean up your new ruffian of an Honour Guard, yes?" Jajab's language skills were impeccable; most of his kind had only a faint grasp of the widely spoken language of the Covenant, and tended to mix up their speech with feral growls. Restraint smiled kindly down at the intelligent Unggoy, face conveying pure respect. "Perceptive as always, Jajab," the Minister laughed. "And try to find out exactly what happened for me." "Of course, Minister," Jajab replied, before turning to face Sorran with a stern look. "Come along, young Sangheili!" The Unggoy began to shuffle out of the room slowly, and Sorran looked at Restraint, who nodded. "Go on. I'll make sure your. . . friend here is well looked after," Restraint told him sincerely. Sorran stared at the beaten, half-dead Sangheili whose name he didn't even know, before turning sharply and following Jajab. The old Unggoy was muttering to himself about troublesome, unruly young Sangheili. "Your problem is that you think you are all heroes!" Jajab lectured him wisely as he shuffled along slowly, forcing Sorran to take tiny steps. "It's always been so, ever since I was young. Sangheili and their ludicrous system of honour. Too proud of run, surrender, give up, and do the sensible thing. In a way it's admirable, but it is very, very stupid." Sorran felt his face grow warm. He put a hand to his forehead to wipe away what he thought was sweat, but it turned out to be the purple hue of blood. "I'm not like that, I've run away plenty of--" Sorran began to protest, before being interrupted by the rambling Jajab, who probably wasn't even listening to him. "Why I remember once, back during the Jiralhanae uprising! I was serving as a medic with the Fleet of Solemn Contemplation. The amount of Sangheili who refused medical treatment when I offered it to them was beyond belief. I actually had to render a few unconscious so that I could save them anyway. And there was another time when Fort Verity was overrun, and of course I fled with the Unggoy and Kig-Year. But the Sangheili! Even though they were outnumbered fifty to one, they still stayed behind to hold the Jiralhanae off." "What happened?" Sorran asked, captured by this tale. The image of brave Sangheili facing a savage Jiralhanae army and coming out triumphant blazed in his mind. Jajab looked up at him with a contemptuous expression on his face. "They were massacred, you idiot. And subsequently eaten." "Oh." The image faded. "The fact of the matter is that Sangheili can't let things go. It's like I said; you like to think of yourselves as heroes. The Sangheili who stood at Fort Verity; do you think anyone truly remembers them now? Of course not. I ran, and yet I am still here today, living in these interesting times." Sorran paused, and thought upon the elderly Unggoy's words. He was right, in a way. Heroism was not always the most rewarding path. "You served in the army during the Jiralhanae uprising, then?" Sorran asked of Jajab, who grunted through his gleaming methane mask. "A long time ago, boy. I saw a great many die for a pointless cause. The Jiralhanae got what they wanted though. Needless to say, it was a little more successful than the Unggoy rebellion. Indeed, it saddens me to see my people oppressed so, but it had always been so." "Forgive me Jajab, but my curiosity has gotten the better of me. How did you end up here?" Sorran asked wearily, and felt himself begin to sway slightly. They arrived in the room where Jajab kept the medical supplies. It was fairly spacious, a soft violet colour, and devoid of furniture aside from a large table in the middle, which was held up by an anti-gravity system, some medical cabinets and some worn shelves housing old scrolls and books running along the right side of the room. The house of Restraint was not one which used digital texts. The Minister preferred physical scrolls and books. "That is a very long, and personal tale Sorran. I don't think I know you quite well enough to share it with you just yet. Now, hop up onto the table. We'll go about cleaning these wounds." Sorran obeyed the Unggoy's command, and painfully clambered up onto the below-waist-high table. It stooped down a little as his weight exerted on the anti-gravity lift, and bounced up and down a little. His legs hung off the side, gently swaying along with the table. Jajab moved over to one of the soft metallic medical cabinets, which was at contrast with much of the archaic wooden furniture in Restraint' house. The diminutive yet oddly imposing Unggoy opened the cabinet, and grabbed an armful of medical supplies, depositing them on the small counter adjacent to the table. Sorran studied them curiously as Jajab picked up what seemed like bandages, although Forerunner technology seemed to be housed within them, if the glyphs running down the sides were anything to go by. "What are these?" Sorran asked Jajab as the bandages were wrapped around his arms, which had gaping gashes on them wrought by the overly zealous Honour Guard. Immediately the dull throbbing ceased, replaced by a feeling of elation and contentment. "Healing bandages," was all Jajab answered with, continuing with his work. Sorran frowned. "Yes, I understand that much. But how do they work?" Jajab gave what could be considered a shrug with his petit shoulders, adopting an expression of thought. After a few moments, he spoke. "I don't know. What does it matter? They perform their intended function, thanks to the wisdom of the Forerunners." Sorran pounded the table with frustration, perhaps a little pain-drunk. Jajab edged back a little, startled by this sudden outburst. [i][/i] [Edited on 09.18.2010 10:45 AM PDT]

[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] AssaultCommand [quote][b]Posted by:[/b] Wolverfrog I'm finishing Insurrection this weekend. Then, I'll have all the time in the world to write True Sangheili. Thanks for being patient.[/quote] liar.[/quote] He can't let Insurrection go, he's in love with it. The epilogue is currently the length of a short novel, but he hasn't forgotten this story and will come back to this once he has finally let go.

[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] Wolverfrog I'm finishing Insurrection this weekend. Then, I'll have all the time in the world to write True Sangheili. Thanks for being patient.[/quote] liar.

sangheili never meet their father but they know their brothers and are train by their uncle

Please don't let this die.

Any news on this, or are you going to finish Insurrection first?

[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] noes Love it, but I need part 21 pl0x! Well actually I think I'll read your other one first. You know, you are really good at writing.(Zomg a compliment!)[/quote] yes please put out Part 21 soon Wolvers.