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Halo

The Blood Of Brothers

Section 3: Atonement.

Sde’hegt Stared up into the dark sky. Grey bodies of rain flowed over him. Small drops of water bled onto his Energy Shields. Pouring down his body onto the dirt under him. Letting the weight of his head bring his neck down. Staring at the fallen Sangheili. His heart beat fiercely out of his chest in fear of his Brother. Jakrotak waddled franticly though the mud, Attaching to his foot, dyeing his skin. The other Unggoy sat down and let their bodies fall into sleep. The Unggoy slept with no bother of the falling rain onto their unprotected skin. Sde’hegt looked into the forest behind him. A strange feeling came over his body as his eyes began to fill with suspicion.
“Where is Benice?” Sde’hegt stared deeply into the endless forest trees. Jakrotak did not answer. Not because he did not know the answer. Simply because if he were to speak to a Sangheili with no mention of his name, He would surely be disciplined. Left only to ponder his own words in his mind.
Jinv opened his eye lids, as his naked eye gazed upon falling water droplets. Exploding on his Charred skin cooling it softly. His boned melted to the Earth beneath him. His lungs let out Carbon dioxide molecules into the Oxygen filled atmosphere around him. His collapsed Lungs let more Oxygen molecules Enter his lungs filling his heart with life let his blood turn Purple. Chilled water pounded his Armor letting smaller drops escaped the more massive drop that held them so close. The force of his head pushed his neck. His eyes looked at the sleeping Unggoy, Feric. He thought how sad it was he was completely expendable in the sense of almost no use. Unggoy are often used as shields for the Commanding officers. Yet they willing throw there lives away, just so may there officers shall live only moments longer.
“Jinv! Jinv! You’re awake!” Jakrotak shouted to Sde’hegt, Jumping in joy. Sde’hegt standing arms crossed staring into the endless forest turned is head to Jinv. He turned his waist around and walked to them. He stood over his comrades body as his head turned to look at him. They said nothing at first until Sde’hegt spoke. “Are you going to lie there all day?”
“Humph…” Jinv stared at him. Sde’hegt bent down with his arm to raise him.
“Well get up” Jinv looked at his hand then raised his own and grabbed it. They both pulled as Jinv rose to his feet. They stared into each others faces. Jakrotak looked at him as if he was to burst. Jinv looked down at Jakrotak.
“Yes?” Jakrotak burst into joy arms flying into the air as he screamed “You’re alive!” He ran up and hugged around his leg. Normally an Unggoy would never touch any Sangheili unless they wished punishment or possibly death. But Jinv was different, and so was Jakrotak. “Have you been keeping my Unggoy in line Jakrotak?” Jinv said looking down at him. Jakrotak jumped back and saluted him. “Yes Sir!” Jinv looked at his squad then to Sde’hegt. Sde’hegt Knew he did not find Benice, he acknowledged it with a slight nod. “How long?” Jinv said
“[20 Minutes]” Sde’hegt looked at him
“Did you see him leave?”
“No”
“Have you tired communicating with him?”
“Yes, The Humans have some sort of jamming devise around us. We tried contacting the Bridge as well.”
Jinv turned to the forest. Reaching behind him as his fingers pulled the Carbine from his back. He let it fall into his other hand. Stepping closer to the forest edge he turned around to his forces. Jakrotak stared at him blankly before he kicked in. “Get Up!” he shouted. The Unggoy woke up with yelps and scrambled into formations. Sde’hegt pulled his plasma rifle from its holster. Jinv turned to the forest again and pushed leaves from his path. Sde’hegt followed closely behind him as Unggoy scrambled at his feet separating into teams to the Sangheili, Jakrotak and Feric in front of Jinv, Kler, Xde, and Qui with Sde’hegt. They walked slowly and in attack formations in case of any ambush based attacks. Jinv’s blood cooled from the fight he had before, yet his warrior’s soul craved more battles. Suddenly Jinv stopped. All other forces stopped limitedly making no noises following the officer. Jinv looked back at Sde’hegt verifying the sound he heard. Sde’hegt Nodded as they crouched down. The mechanical heart of a Human beast roared calming in the air. Jinv slowly sneaked to near the sound as the Unggoy tip-toed behind him. Jinv looked out from behind a tree at the lights of the Beast, rain glimmering over it. Droplets beat it. Jinv looked back at his team. Staring at Sde’hegt. Jinv nodded and burst out of the cover. Sprinting to the beast he moved to the Driver seat and placed his Carbine with the drivers head. But there was no driver. No passenger. No Gunner. All other forces circled it as the stood at attention looking for the Humans. Jinv lowered his rifle. Stared at Sde’hegt. “Stand ground.” Looked around the forest for any imperfections. Scanning the forest slowly looking at each tree in sight. He saw one tree with broken branches, shredded into pieces by human weapons. He ran to it with his Carbine leveled. Pushing to it he swept the area with his rifle. He saw a Dead Human an other base of the ground. He bent down to it as it lay face down in the rain. Assessing the damage to the body. Smashed skull, Plasma rifle. He stood up, walking on a Sangheili footprints in the Mud. Running to them he saw a human face down in the mud with three holes in his head. He raised his head to a tree with a Sangheili corpse on it. His blood boiled instantly. He ran to the body and kneed to make sure of the identification. It was Benice, He knew it.
“Jinv… I haven’t failed you.” The body spoke on the brink of death. “I killed them, killed one with a Heretic weapon.” The Human rifle in the rain near his hand. Jinv leaned to him.
“No. You have fallen in battle, the way all Sangheili Wish to parish. Benice, if your courage was as powerful as your soul, your body would crush the ground beneath it.” Jinv told him as he felt. Benice raised his head looking with one eye. The other was bleeding from a piece of Shratnel that exploded off the Human corpse. His side open as Purple blood spilled into the water. His body was dieing but his Soul was growing stronger with ever beat of his heart. “If my Shields could take anymore. I might have survived this. Once the Grenade grabbed the Humans flesh my Shields grew to full power as it exploded. Unfortunately, it overpowered-“ Jinv interrupted his dieing friend.
“Need not explain Mighty Benice. Salvation awaits you. You have not perished in vain young one. Though these foul humans may have slowed you. You shall never die.” Benice looked up with his good eye at Jinvs heart. He could see the power in Jinvs soul, as Jinv as could see the Pride in Benices soul. Benice smiled as his neck fell down and his heart stopped beating what little blood it could. His soul escaped the weak body. Jinv stood to his feet and looked into the sky. He opened his mandibles and roared into the air for his comrade. Letting his arms fall down. Staring into the Raining skies. Turning his body to the leafs and pushing his way though. Slowly rain slowed as the sky opened its mouth letting beams of sun light exhale to the forest. Sde’hegt turned his head to this oncoming comrade. “This Jiralhanae weather is Strange.” Sde’hegt commented looking up to the beams of light.
“Strange indeed.” Jinv responded looking directly past Sde’hegt. Passing him he slowed his pace. “Minor Benice is dead. Three kills. One including a Heretic Weapon.” Jinv whispered as he continued. Sde’hegt updated his heads up data bank system. Selecting Benices name, changing to fallen status. Adding his two kills. Any death caused by Heretic Weaponry is strictly forbidden in under circumstances. Jinv walked into large leafs and pushed them from his path. Stopping in his traces his eyes grew in angry, his skin burned from the human damage from before. He turned his head around to the others watching him. “Come” He turned back to the front, pushing his body forward.


“God Damn it Kevin!” 1st lieutenant Patrick Erickson Shouting though the cold metal walls reflecting swallowing Kevin in a vocal sea of hatred. The Scientist Kevin jerked his white lab coat, pushing his glasses up his face as he panicked with a fearful sight in his eyes. He gazed at the 1st lieutenant and swallowed his words. The lieutenant lifted his hat from his hair. He rubbed his hair back collecting sweat onto his fingers. Erickson opened his mighty mouth as he gathered rage into his windpipe. “What the ******** did you think you could pull off with that!?” He slammed his fist to the metal desk which Kevin stood on the other side with his laptop. “Sir! The Spores are held at the correct temperature in which they will not mutate.” Kevin looked at his commanding officer. “Jesus Christ Kevin! You’re treating this like some kind of science fair project! These are Human life’s damn it! Not little test tubes!” Erickson shouted his voice beating off the glass casings. “With all due Respect Sir, You authorized my Experimentations, you even forwarded the Experiment #F5063 To lab site #19 and I’ll be damned if you want to take back our work now.”
“Our Work! This isn’t work! It’s a Plague! You can’t control it!”
“Sir. I believe we have it contained.”
“You have no idea how to contain this. You’re playing God Kevin.” Erickson turned his back to the scientist.
“Sir. There’s no God here.” Kevin stated looking down to his laptop as Experimental Formulas combined with Alien DNA. The Lieutenant turned his body to the door and walked to it. Reaching out and grasping the door handle he looked back at Kevin.
“Sir. It will work, I can make it work.” Kevin said as the door opened.
“It damn well better.” The Lieutenant looked out into the shining bright jungle in front of him. He turned his head to the barracks. He looked on troops sitting there as smoke pored from there lungs, cards falling onto a table. He let out a Sigh.
Kevin’s Laptop lit up as a Strong voice came from it. “Human. We are returning” Kevin turned his head to the screen as he stared upon an Elite with a Breathing apparatus in his mouth and olden gold mandible plate, yet Covenant looking armor on his body. Kevin turned to the Heretic Elite as he spoke
“The cells are ready for your extraction, as we have arranged. Have you taken care of the Brutes?” as he pushed his glasses up. The Heretic Laughed. “You think some Jiralhanae could stop us?”
“Of course not. Just checking. Also our scout squad hasn’t returned. Sure The Jiralhanae have all been eliminated?” Kevin turned His back to Laptop.
“Do not question us Human. We are making our return.” The Screen faded. Kevin let out a sigh and turned back. “It will all be over soon…”

Sunlight exploded onto Jinv’s face as he pushed a large leaf from his path. He gazed onto a Full Human base below them. A Steel shell near large Ancient building, all placing along a center structure. Jinv lifted his weapon up and looked back at his forces all staring at the battle to come. Sde’hegt walked to Jinv's side and helped his weapon up.
“Sighting of Flood, they said. I’m sure Rohle noticed this upon his flight. Weapon pods may be near here.” Sde’hegt turned and looked for a small hole in the forest. Stepping all around he saw nothing. He groaned with disappointment. Jinv looked below for path to enter the Human base. Sde’hegt was no fool; he knew what Jinv would do if he engaged in battle in the shadow of his fallen Comrade. Sde’hegt proposed an argument to present Jinv. “Perhaps we should wait for confirmation from the Phalanx. The devise should not work so close to the source. The Folly of Human designing.” Sde’hegt turned to Jakrotak “Try Contacting once more Jakrotak” The sound of leafs being crushed and broken caused Sde’hegt to turn to Jinv. He wasn’t there. Sde’hegt ran to the edge and looked over the tree line as the shifted from moment. “Jakrotak. Cancel the request. We’re going down.”
Jinv moved eagerly though the trees before finally coming to the base. He walked with his Carbine placed on his back into the open field of the base. A human saw him, turning to him from his table he jogged to the Sangheili. Jinv scanning the base for points of human dwellings. The human shouted. “He-hey! The Elites are here! Finally.” He slowed his pace as he came upon Jinv. Jinv turned to the human as it caught its breath. “Oh we thought you guys would never show up, sure did take you awhile.” The human bent back up and stared at the Elite. Jinv looked down on him with burning anger. “Well oh well your… here… oh. God no!” Jinv reached his mighty hand out and grabbed the human by the throat. Lifting the Human in the air he watched it struggle and gag for life as he pushed every bit of soul out of it. Eyes burning with blood they roll back as the Human stopped struggling and fell with no soul. Jinv threw it away as he would an incompetent Kig-Yar. Grabbing his Carbine from his back he dashed forward. Two carbine cells left. Three bursts remaining on the current. Jinv slowed his pace near the edge of a Metal shell as he listened to Human chatter. He turned from his cover looking at Six Humans. Five gathered round a table with small pieces of scrap. One in an officer uniform. The officer turned to the Elite.
“Ah they’re here. That was quite Earl—“ The back of his skull exploded with a green beam at the Corpse fell to its knees. The others in a panic reached for the armaments which they had foolishly left. They turned to run to a different metal shell. Two burst of fire blazed form the Carbine. Two more body fell to the ground with perfect accuracy. The other three humans slammed the door on the shell. Heat exploded from the back of Jinv’s Carbine letting the cell fall to the ground. Reaching to his back he grasped a cell. Lifting it into the holder, closing inside.
Sde’hegt Ran swiftly though the brush and into the open human area. Seeing his Sangheili Brother he ran to him. Turning to the assessed combat area he laid his Plasma Rifles. Seeing no moment and bodies on the floor he stared back at his brother. Jinv looked back with burning rage in his eyes. “They were expecting us. They spoke of our arrival, but yet were surprised to see me.” Sde’hegt lowered his rifles slowly though the crisp air and opened his mandibles in shock. The metal door shot open, as a Human weapon peered its fearless face from the door bullets screamed to the forces. The Sangheili quickly leapt to the sides away from hostile fire. Jinv placing his back onto the cold shell. Sde’hegt rolled on the dirt and knelt behind primitive liquid storage containers. Sde’hegt heard Unggoy yelping from sudden movement. Turning his eyes to the five Unggoy standing around Jakrotak. Jakrotak furrowed his eyes and waddled to Sde’hegt, looking back and calling for his forces, the four scared Unggoy snapped with pride. Running forward with their leader they jumped into the hail of metal shards. The shards tore through the skin of the Minor Unggoy Xde, His glistening plasma blue blood splashed the air and he jolted backwards forcing his tiny body to move forward he hailed plasma shots onto the shell. The weapon moved back for moments. The Sangheili jumped from there cover and jolted to the door, the Unggoy attempting to keep the pace slowly fell behind. Jinv Bolted into the intense air. He came to the door, kicking his foot fiercely he placed it onto the metal and slammed it onto the human, he fell back onto the ground behind. The door slammed closed and the Human Gasped for air. Before the air could inflate his lungs Sde’hegt pulled his triggers. Plasma smoldered its clothes and skin. Rifles heating he then stopped leaving no moment. Jinv peered though the Small glass square on the metal frame, he looked inside of it to see the two Humans in fear for their lives with their weapons held at their sides the shook in utter fright. Jinv reached to his belt, grabbing his final plasma grenade he forced the trigger down and shattered it into the glass. Turning his cover to the wall. Plasma burst from inside the shell forcing the door open once more, slamming into Sde’hegt. Sde’hegt slammed his Rifle down onto the door bending the metal and swinging it to its place. He looked over at the eyes of Jinv. He showed no fear, regret, shame, only rage, rage for a fallen Friend.