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Destruction of Reach - Part Two

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Halo Reach: Destruction of Reach
Part Two

Then all the sudden, I heard foot steps.

I was too exhausted to physically, mentally, and emotionally to turn and face the person/enemy face to face.

I don't even have the strength or possibly the honor of doing simple things anymore.

As I drew more ragged breathes, all I heard behind me was an activation of the Covenant Energy Sword...



My entire body was aching, all of my surroundings were nothing more than just glass, and I have a friggin' Elite right on my six that's wielding a friggin' Energy Sword!

But it doesn't matter... I'm done for anyways.

I have nothing to live for... nothing at all now that everything I had once is gone.

With my ragged breath, I asked the Elite behind me, "So... have you... come to... finish the... job? Or would you... rather watch me... suffer?"

"We have searched what we came for, Demon. Though the search did not end as well as we perdicted, but it's one less planet of you unholy pests," I heard the Elite uttered out a snarl when he said about the human civilization.

"But why, though? Why would your kind... want to... do this? Tell me..."

"We are on a holy campaign. We are destined to walk the path of the Great Journey, and the ones you call Humans are nothing but great annoyance and you should not deserve to breathe the holy air."

I snapped around to face the the Elite, ignoring my agnoizing pains throughout my body, and shouted at the Elite, "What the fuck do you know the human civilization?! It was YOU who fucking started this murderous onslaught! And for what?! Tell me!"

"And what do you know about honor and the Great Journey?!"

I was taken aback when the Elite raised his voice in return, and if I make a very wrongful mistake, this'll be the end of me.

But I don't care what this Elite does to me, not one bit.

"Great Journey? What's so great about that?! All you've been doing is killing innocent life for some "religious" shit that may not even exist on this goddamn planet! Or in fact, any other-"

"ENOUGH! You, and all the sub-species like you, makes me sick. You are not worthy to take the Great Path like our Hieraches promised us."

That's when I snapped at the Elite, "Promise this. Promise that. Great Journey this and Great Journey that! Again I ask, why is this fucking thing so goddamn important?! Answer that!"

The Elite paused for a minute before he made his deathly calm reply, "The San 'Shyuum, or what you creatures call our Holy Ones 'Prophets', said that if we're true to the Great Journey... they say that we'll decent into a far more god-like beings."

And that's when I become dumbstruck.

All the innocents wiped clean from existence... just to descend into some god-like beings that may or may not even exist?!

Before I could question the Elite more, the Elite let out a mighty roar - as if to silence me if I was going to question him - which I was gonna ask him.

"Enough talk, Demon! You have spoken too much by the likes of you and those like you must be silenced."

The Elite moved into an attacking position, his Energy Sword hand raised next to his saurian-like face.

"So that's it, huh? Don't want to share anymore secrets that your 'San' Shyuum' has told you of? Here's a news flash, fucktard - what you're just doing for this 'Great Journey' is nothing more than a mass genocide! A mass fucking murder!"

"And here's a news flash for you, Demon - your defilement with our intentions has gone too far and I will gladly end that defiled life of yours," the Elite's eyes narrowed down, staring me down as if I was nothing to him but a pest.

I snorted, "If you think that'll be the end of me, you got another thing coming."

"So be it. Since you're unarmed, I cannot kill you because that's unhonorable. But lucky for me that I happen to bring another Energy Sword with me, you may want to make a use of it," he growled.

As he said, he reached down to his other Energy Sword hilt that was attached to the leg plate of his armor and threw the hilt in my direction.

I watched the hilt bounced off the ground a couple times before coming to a complete stop, dust forming behind the hilt's path.

I bent down and picked up the hilt.

It's been a long while since I last wielded the Covenant Energy Sword, but lucky for me - I still remember how to actually wield and use the damn thing.

I positioned my right hand onto the metallic hilt of the Energy Sword, getting a comforting grip on it after many neglected days without using it.

After I felt comfortable with my hand positioning on the hilt, I pressed a button with my thumb and the Covenant Energy Sword came to life.

And either that it's been along time since I wielded one of these, or something that the Covenant did to these recently... but the Energy Sword that I am holding seems more brighter than before.

"Oh don't you worry, Demon. I would never cheat my way through honor. Especially sabotaging my own prized weaponry," the Elite snarled, clearly that he wished that he wanted to, but wouldn't without ruining his prized honor.

"It's been a long while since I wielded one of these, but luckily for me that I still remember how to use the damn thing. And with that, I am ready," I can feel my confidence rising within me.

The Elite growled in pleasure, "I like what I hear, Demon. This will be an honorable fight."


At first when this Elite appeared right behind me, I thought that it was my total end.

But I was proven wrong... well not yet, at least.

Now I'm standing right in front of this massive Elite, wielding a friggin' Energy Sword.

Hell, he's not the only one who's wielding one...

Within my right hand, I also am wielding the Covenant Energy Sword.

But nevermind that part, I locked my eyes on the Elite...

I watched him pace back and forth as he was eager to cut me down now.

And normally I would not say this, but I have noticed something different about this Elite...

This Elite is wearing a different type of armor that the Elites that I usually see on the battlefield.

The main color I usually see on these guys are blue, white, maroon, gold, and sometimes black to distinguish their rank among their kind.

But this Elite right in front of me has a native-type armor of bronze/silvery metal, with unique engravings on every piece this Elite has.

My thoughts were interrupted when the Elite said, "I can see it within your eyes, Demon.  How confused you are. I am not like my other brethren, not in this armor I'm not. This armor used to grant those, who are wearing it, the highest possible honor, but that day is now over. Thanks to Fal 'Chavamee..."

He paused, snapping his four mandibles in the air with disgust when he said the name of one of his brethren before he continued.

"As of now, this armor is now only given to my kind who have disgraced the entire Covenant army. Along with the Mark of Shame, we Arbiters are given much suicidal mission in order to regain our lost honor. The High Prophets expect us to die and become another great martyr for the Covenant to the Great Journey."

"Why are you telling me all this?" I asked him cautiously, my eyes narrowing.

The Elite snorted at my question, but finally he said, "I can see the curiosity in you, Demon. You've asked me about the Great Journey, my honor. I have answered, Demon. I am the blade of the Energy Sword of the Covenant, I fight under the Prophet's name! Though..."

The Elite drifted his head sky-ward, looking at the rust-colored clouds.

"Though I still question about this one thing that I don't agree with the Hierarchs, and it is this: Why must I die in these missions? Like I know that I am another great martyr for the Great Journey, but why for this reason?"

I deactivated my Energy Sword, reserving it's power serves.

My thoughts were starting to buckle, trying to figure out what this Elite was saying.

"Maybe your "Leaders" are planning on something big, Split Lip? But mainly, what are they intending to do?" I asked, my head was cocked to the side to add the effect of my confusion.

"Even though I do not know of the Hierarchs' intentions. All they ever say is that it's all important to the Great Journey and we shall succeed into God-like beings for the Covenant. Although, we have been thinking of letting what you call "Humans" to join us..."

I gasped.

I have never heard, nor expected an Elite - the backbone of the entire Covenant army - to emit any human being into an army of religious aliens that have been wiping out many human-occupied colonies since the Human-Covenant War had first started!

The Elite turned from the sky to watched my reaction, as he closed his black eyes and... smiled.

"Yes, Demon. We actually even thought of letting the likes of you into the Covenant due to the fact that you have bravery and honorship among your kind. Even some of us Sangheili even believe that you're equal to us, and some of you have the will to stay behind and portect your comrades against us. And yes, Demon, even I have even thought of that too."

My body was trembling from what the Elite had said.

I am not even sure if I want to believe this Elite at all, whether is he was telling the truth or not.

But there's a lot of evidence here on Her holy grounds that I should believe that this Elite is nothing but a miserable lie.

That's when I whispered in a harsh tone, "You're wrong."

I heard the Elite take an in-ward growl in surprise, "I'm wrong?"

"You just claimed that us Humans can be decided to join the Covenant army due to YOU and YOUR race's facts that you actually admired us. But take a good look around you, Elite, there's a lot of proof that we shouldn't join you. You have single-handedly wiped out BILLIONS of innocent lives!"

I reactivated my Energy Sword that this Elite has thrown to me and charged head on to him.

"You're just nothing but a miserable lie! You and the rest of the Covenant should just DIE!!" I cried out, almost half-way towards the Elite.

But the Elite barely moved an inch as I made my way towards him.

"A lie is an dishonorable act," he calmly said.

And with that, he dodged my charge...

I was taken by surprise how fast this Elite had moved, and I was in utter surprise when he had grabbed the wrist of my sword hand and halted my attack.

My mind was running wild that I should get away from him as possible because if I don't do something now, it's game over for me.

I tried prying myself away from the alien, but his grip was too strong.

I was expecting the end to come in a matter of seconds, but the Elite has me gripped by the wrist, eyes boring into me.

Before I could think of anything, the Elite then shoved me away with his two-toed foot.

I was sent flying in a few good meters before I hit the dusty ground with a hard thud.

I winced in pain as the wounds I completely forgotten about since my massive stand-off with the remaining Covenant, has reopened.

While holding my wounds, I stared at the Elite through narrowed eyes...

The Elite's head was cocked to the side as he was staring at an object in his hand.

And that's when I gasped in terror.

That Elite bastard was holding Jorge's dogtags!

I could hear the Elite "purr" as he examined the metal tags within his four-fingered hand.

"Interesting. Is this truely an honorable way to honor your dead, Demon? Collecting these "thin sheets of metal" with one of your kind's name and information upon it?"

That's when I raged at him, "Give those back, you bastard! You have no right to hold those!"

The Elite chuckled, "Easy now. I have studied your kind, Demon. I know how you feel, Demon, to lose someone that you care about. Even though it's actually impossible to find those who have been sent into the oblivion many times fold."

I was hyperventilating, my mind and eyes clouded by my rage at this Elite.

I casted out the pains in my wounds all over my body and charged again at the alien scum.

"Just DIE for what you did to our brothers and sisters!!" I cried out.

I can feel the tears leaking from my almost-dried eyes, but I could give a flying fuck about that. All I really care that this Elite should just die.

"Bloodlust," he sighed before he continued. "I can see your determination, Demon, but you're letting your bloodlust cloud you. An honorable warrior should always keep his rage in check, or..."

The alien dodged my charging attack with ease.

It gave him the perfect opportunity for the Elite to strike on my back, but he simply did a backward kick against my exposed back.

I was sent flying in the opposite direction of this Elite before I crashed against the ground.

The Elite turned to face me as I was down onto the dusty ground, "Your movements will become reckless, thus throwing you into your own grave!"

He sighed and shook his head, "But enough talk, Demon. I'd promised you a quick death into the afterlife. And that I shall do for you!"

This time, the Elite charged at me.

I quickly got onto my feet and faced him. Only that the fact as my eyes widened as the Elite made contact against my body.

But I was never expecting the Elite's fist to make contact instead of his Energy Sword.

I doubled over in pain and fell to the ground, awaiting death by the hands of this Elite.

As I waited agonizingly as the Energy Sword to bear down upon me, but... that hasn't happened yet.

I stared at the Elite with shaking eyes as he was back in his standing posture, Energy Sword in hand.

"Before I send you into the afterlife with your brothers and sisters, Demon. I am Neko 'Felanmee, I used to be one of the highest among the rank of Arbiters. But until now that the rank Arbiter is now used for the disgraced, they call me 'Arbiter'. You can do the same."

I kept my eyes on the 'Arbiter' carefully, waiting for something that he'll finish me off on the spot.

After a long-waited minute, I finally broke the silence, "My name is Ellis/Serenity, I'm a Spartan of the UNSC. I serve humanity to save all it's innocent lives that you barstards have destroyed. There's barely many of us left due to you, but in my team... they call me 'Six'. You can also do the same with me."

I awaited in silence again, waiting what the Arbiter would do to me now.

I watched the Arbiter close his eyes and said, "You have an honorable spirit, Six. Are you willing to die for that cause? Whether if one of us have succeeded or not, one shall walk away or none of us shall not be even walking at all, only into the afterlife."

He paused before he finally said, "I have seen many of you 'Spartans' fight honorably against us. Are you one of those that I wished you to be?"

I breathed in and out, in and out... then I gave my final answer, "I stayed behind to hold a resistance against your army, Arbiter. To save those lives that are currently aboard that UNSC crusier, and to protect the most important Package that our 'mother' has given us that is most vital to the UNSC."

I paused before I confirmed myself with a nod, "I am ready to fight an honorable fight against you, Neko 'Felanmee. Or should I say Arbiter?"

The Arbiter smiled at me, "A wise choice, Spartan. Then we shall fight an honorable battle."

The Arbiter backed away from me to allow me to have space to get myself onto my feet.

"Here, Spartan. You'll need this."

He threw the Energy Sword that I lost a while ago from my own recklessness and I managed to catch it with my hand.

I smiled at 'Felanmee, "Thanks. You ready there, Big Guy?"

Neko returned the smile at me, "This fight would be remembered by the ancectors of my kind back in Sanghelios, my home world."



Then it all became silent.

The winds of Reach blew hard across the plains.

I stared hard at my enemy, an Sangheili - or known to us as "Elites", the backbone of the religious army known as the Covenant.

But this Elite of the Covenant is more special in his own way - this Elite is the Arbiter.

Neko 'Falanmee, also known as the Arbiter, was sent on very suicidal missions by the San'Shyuum and are expected to die and become another great martyr of the Covenant and their religious path: The Great Journey.

Although now the San'Shyuum now bummed down the rank Arbiter - only Elites who have disgraced the entire Covenant armada - and the only way to regain their honor is to go on very suicidal missions sent by the San'Shyuum.

Earlier, Neko has told me that he questions the decisions that the San'Shyuum has said, but they only said that is to die within these missions and regain their lost honor.

But enough of that... that is along time ago. This is now.

"I hope you're ready there, Big Guy. I ain't gonna hold back," I said to the Arbiter.

I heard Neko emit "purring" sounds before he made his reply, "And I should be saying that to you, Spartan. The only thing that I should die for is honor. Not the San'Shyuum, only honor."

I nodded, "As you wish. Prepare yourself!"

Neko roared into Reach's sky, letting himself know that he's ready.

Both me and the Arbiter sidestepped slowly to our right, our eyes locked deeply to one another.

We sidestepped carefully over the rough terrain, extremely careful not to trip on lose residue from the conflict of the Covenant army.

After a full minute or two has gone by... we rushed against each other, Energy Swords at the ready to perform the fatality among one of us.

And it all became nothing but a blur to us.

Our Energy Swords struck true to their mark...

I can feel it's burning sensation piercing into my chest cavity, destroying the most important thing that within there - my heart.

I coughed up blood, the crimson red fluid gushing out of my mouth and leaving it's coppery taste behind.

With my failing eyes, I glanced at my opponent.

The Arbiter's purple-black fluid of blood was spilling from his four-mandibles.

I looked down and saw that the Energy Sword that the Arbiter gave me for this one-on-one duel has struck true.

Our grip on the Energy Swords has greatly loosened and embedded in our chests before the hilt's mechanism quickly activated.

The Energy Swords' energanic plasma blade quickly disappeared and the hilts fell from our chests and onto the red-rust of Reach's holy grounds below.

We both began to stagger, trying to stay on our feet the longest until one of us fell.

And that moment did come.

Neko began to pitch forward and landed face-first onto the dusty ground, covered with the Arbiter's blood.

And not long after the Elite fell... I too, collapsed onto Reach's dusty ground, also covered in my crimson-red blood.

But I refuse to die just yet, not while I'm facing into the ground.

After the longest and the most agonizingly painful experience, I managed to roll onto my back and peered into Reach's pinkish sunset sky.

Hell, it is so beautiful... I want to enjoy this moment, watching this beautiful sunset coming below the horizon.

But not just me that I want to be with me... I also want all of my Spartan brothers and sisters to see this moment.

While I was lost in my day-dream, I managed to hear the Arbiter's voice not too far in the distance.

His voice was ragged, his breathing more shallow, and he is almost nearing his end.

"You... fought an... honorable battle... Spartan." Neko gasped between breaths, almost choking himself with his blood-filled mouth.

"Same... with you... Arbiter," I, too, almost began to choke on my own blood that lingered inside my mouth.

"And I... want to say... thank you... for ending... my... suffer... ing."

And with his last breath of words, he sighed for the final time and his ragged breaths became no more.

I began to choke for words, but I couldn't and I could feel my eyes begin to fill up with tears.

"And... I wanted... to say... thank you... for... letting me... get to... know you and... the Covenant... better, Arbiter," I said in a very weak tone.

I know that my time in this living world is coming to it's end...

But not yet, not just yet...

With my shaky blood-covered hand, I reached up into the sky.

"Thank you... Noble Team... for giving... me a chance... to see the... remaining... brothers and... sisters... one final time... before I..."

And with those final words of wisdom, my eyes closed and I gave out my final exhale of breath before I finally found the peace that I was seeking for.

My hand dropped like a stone onto the dusty ground of Reach as the final member of Noble Team has finally passed the Final Gate towards Heaven.

With a smile on my face...
So sorry for uploading this late because I had writer's block and this was suppose to be uploaded a week or two ago. I apologize for being late!

Anyways, here's Part Two of Destruction of Reach.

I really hope that you guys enjoy this!

Part One: [link]
Part Two: You Are Here.

Story (c) ~Silverfang53

Halo: Reach (c) 343 Industries

*Note - I added two names (one for male and one for female) for Six in this. I hope you like the name choice.*
© 2011 - 2024 Silverfang53
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William-312's avatar
So that was the death of JUN-A266?