• Section 0: Escape
    Chapter 1: Tests

    0249 Hours, September 22, 2552(Military Calendar)/Aboard Unknown Covenant Cruiser, Location Unknown.

    Lieutenant Canias twisted & writhed under his invisible restraints. They bit into his wrists and he, in turn, bit them.
    “Cease your struggling,” said a soft voice from beside him. He looked up to see an Elite in shining white armor. “To make use of one of your clichés, Resistance is Futile.”
    “Why, why have you held me like this?” Canias growled through clenched teeth. He struggled harder than before.
    “I am under the order of the Council to investigate humans’ reactions to pain, pleasure and other bodily senses to further our war against you and your kind.” the Elite answered, his back turned away from him, examining something.
    Canias wriggled once, twice, then lay still, frozen in fear. The Elite was holding a long sharp knife.
    “This is the First Test.,” the Elite whispered menacingly as he slowly advanced. A hint of greedy satisfaction glinted in his black, hollow eyes.
    Suddenly there was a crash of Grunts hitting metal tables echoing through the single open doorway, opposite to them.

    “WHERE IS HE!” was the only sentence followed by a few very human exclamations that could be discerned from the pained squeals of grunts and the strong clashes of metal on metal. I don’t think I would of liked her any less when I first saw her, a small silhouetted figure standing in the doorway to the laboratory, towering over the elite with boring black/green eyes, who stared back with silent fear. As I slowly recovered from my fear induced state, I saw her more clearly, I was surprised that she was human, let alone that she was alive, strolling around a Covenant Ship, ordering high-ranking Elites where any other human would be dead as soon as they stepped onboard. Then her darkened figure stepped into the light, she didn’t look so menacing then, with her cropped blonde hair plastered to her head with dirt and grime. Her body sparking with an aura of anger and frustration, still not taking her dark green eyes off the Elite, glancing slightly at the slender knife glinting dangerously in the low-light of the lab, then at myself strapped to the alloy wall, staring stupidly back at her, then back to the stunned elite. Finally she spoke:
    “What are you doing ‘Tsunamee?” she demanded coldly, still glaring deeply at him. I was starting to feel sorry for him. The tall Elite bowed slowly, lowering his elongated head, staring at the floor as he replied. He uttered something alien and she glared.
    “Speak English ‘Tsunamee, to show the human your mistake. Not cowardly going to the refuge of Pure Sangheili” She really was bent on trying to humiliate him.
    “I was doing what the Council ordered me to, Holy One.” ‘Tsunamee said simplistically, emphasizing on the last comment.
    “Really?” she replied icily “Why was I not informed of this procedure that was happening on the very ship everyone in Covenant Fleet knows I’m positioned on.” She was clearly getting annoyed.
    “I do not know, Excellency, I was sure that you were to be informed by the Council about this procedure.” The Elite accented voice was rimmed with the compressed anger and humiliation of the conversation.
    “Save the ‘Holy One’ and ‘Excellency’ honorifics for sweet talking the useless rodents back on High Charity that you so call ‘Prophets’ she commented angrily. I knew ’Tsunamee would have to tread lightly if he want to get out in one piece. “Stop this procedure at once, this Human is now under my care. I suggest you go tell them how angry I was when I found out. Also if you have any problems about my decisions, I suggest you take it up with the rodent, I mean Prophet onboard. I also suggest that you leave before I decide to give you a worse punishment”
    ‘Tsunamee nodded affirmatively, and wordlessly, turned on his hoof and left the Lab. The Girl stared at the door, listening to the clip clop of hooves slowly fade away. Then the Girl turned to look at me with all Anger and Frustration dissipated from her face, now a look of concern and innocence was spread across in its place.
    “I’m sorry Lieutenant for what you have just gone through, being separated from your kind and all. Anyway, Let me help you out of your restraints, they look mighty uncomfortable.” Her hand reached down to her belt and brought out a slender blade. I was mesmerized by it; it gave me a weird felling in my gut, like something told me that it was wrong, in a way. I tensed, looking at it in apprehension and she noticed and paused for a second, then bent down to the restraints holding me I place. Then with a swift movement of the blade, the deadening pain in my ankle was gone, and then my arms were free. I dropped to the floor; I rose awkwardly to stand finding myself inches away from that Girl’s long nose. Her Dark green eyes glistened in the light behind me, sorrow glowing deep within.
    “Um, do you mind not staring at me?” She said calmly, blinking a few times to get me into focus. She snapped me out of my thoughts.
    “Sorry.” I said, quickly back-stepping slightly so there was a polite amount of room between us. I decided to risk a questioning then, thinking about the consequences. I fidgeted with my fingers behind my back, a nervous habit of mine. I closed my eyes, and opened my mouth to speak when she spoke.
    “No questions now, I give you time for questions later, I fear we are being watched by higher forces I cannot control, come with me to my private quarters.” Her back was turned from me looking at the ceiling corners. She started to walk towards the door. I just stood where I was, not moving. She noticed this; she spun around to face me, rooted to the ground. “Aren’t you coming?” Her voice suddenly sullen. I didn’t budge; I wanted at least one simple question answered. “What is your name, or rank?” She paused slightly
    “Tamerai”. Then she strode into the Corridor, I jogged after her into the depths of the ship.