HALO Fanfiction

Arby/MC

Chapter 5

The warthog crashed onto the ship, and the Spartan and Arbiter landed on the floor. There was an ominous creak and Thel looked up to see the tank rolling in his direction. Thel jumped to his feat and leaped over boxes. He dived into a mountain of boxes that muffled the impact of the tank. The Spartan jumped over the warthog and placed Cortana into the console. Then, turning to the boxes rushed to them and started pushing them aside. His heart was racing as took out one box after another. Thel's head resurfaced and John stilled himself. He gently placed a hand on Thel's shoulders and studied his health condition. His stomach lurched as Thel's breathing was labored. John held up his face in both hands and started to tremble.

"Thel, you're okay," John said. "You've got to be."

Thel's hand clamped over his and John helped him to his feet. The elite stumbled for a bit, but was content with having the Spartan leading him to the pilot seats. He even allowed the human to strap him in. John then returned to Cortana's console.

"Hang on," Cortana said. The entire ship tilted upwards as Cortana sent it into the portal. John ran towards the door at the back of the hanger, only to find that it was getting too steep to run. He collapsed on his stomach before crawling. He ducked his head as the scorpion tank crashed just a few feet away from him and bounced off. He grabbed onto the handles with the last remaining bit of his strength. But he could feel his fingers slipping through. He let out a grunt as his grip collapsed and slid down the rail. There was a sharp yank when a four fingered hand caught his arm and hauled him through the door before sealing it. John looked up in amazement as the battered body of the Arbiter lifted him up and placed him on a nearby bunk.

"Chief, Arbiter. Are you ok?"

John groaned in pain as he righted himself. In the corner of his vision, he could see the Sangheili warrior do the same. He realised that there was no gravity as he was floating.

"Cortana , did we…"

"Make it?" Cortana asked. There was a soft smile on her face as she looked over at the two. "Yes, Chief, welcome home."

John sat up right and floated to the nearest window. Down below, he could see the majestic beauty of Earth. It was his first time ever, to see his origin planet. He was unable to form any words in his mouth. He was later joined by Thel and the two joined the view of the last remaining human planet known to man.

"It is true, Spartan," Thel said. "You are home."

John placed a hand over his and asked, "And you? Will you return to your planet?"

Thel contemplated this for a moment before saying rather slowly, "Yes, I will see if my planet is safe and then…" He gazed down upon the slightly smaller human with a fond, gentle look. "I will come back for you."

"For us, the storm has passed. The war is over. But let us never forget those who journeyed into the howling dark and did not return. For their decision required courage beyond measure...sacrifice, and unshakable conviction that their fight; our fight, was elsewhere. As we start to rebuild, this hillside will remain barren, a memorial to heroes fallen. They ennobled all of us, and they shall not be forgotten." Lord Hood said. The other attendants started to leave, but Thel made his way up to the memorial.

"I remember how this war started. What your kind did to mine. I can't forgive you. But... you have my thanks, for standing by him to the end," Lord Hood said to him. The human held out his hand to shake his, and they parted ways.

Thel entered the ship with the remaining Covenant separatists. His comrade R'tas Vadum stood with him inside the control room. R'tas stood in front of the hologram Earth.

"Things look different, now that the Prophets' lies have cleared our vision," R'tas said. "I would like to see our own world…to known that it is safe."

"Fear not," Thel said, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "For we have made it so."

"By your word, Arbiter," R'tas said, bowing.

Thel sat in the pilot's seat and grabbed a small picture frame. Inside the frame was a photo of the Master Chief, unmasked, along with the A.I. Cortana.

"Take us home."