Halo: Let It Die (Book 4, Arbiter x Female human series)

Chapter 29: The Flood

Bria was silent most of their little date on Sangheilios. Thel just assumed that she was just enjoying the day, so he didn't bring up her weird behavior.

     Bria couldn't stop shaking no matter how hard she tried. She thought of a million ways to tell him by now. And a million ways this could backfire... but everyone was right, she had to tell him eventually. She only has nine months, possibly shorter before her belly becomes visible.

She suddenly stopped and took a breath. "Thel there's something I need to tell you..."

He stopped and looked at her.

She took a long slow breath to prepare herself. But her eyes grew as they caught something behind Thel.

"Look out!" She pushed Thel to the ground as she saw a glimmer of a sniper scope. Seconds later it shot right where he was standing.

Thel stood up and brought out his prophet's bane sword. "Get behind me." He shielded her with his body.

Bria's heart was racing rapidly, she hoped that the baby wasn't hurt.

Soon almost half a dozen Elites in weird-looking armor approached them. Some of them had weird-looking spores on their bodies and heads.

Bria stood her ground behind Thel. "W-who are these people?" She asked Thel.

"The issue that we've been dealing with." Thel glowered. "Do not let them touch you."

"Who are they?" Bria asked again.

"It's the flood." He replied.

Bria recalled hearing that term before. "I thought they didn't exist anymore?"

"It only takes one scientist who is at the break of insanity." Thel replied.

Well, this is just great. Bria thought. Like nothing else could go wrong at a time like this.

One charged at Thel as he slashed it with his sword, evaporating it into a green Smokey dust.

"Ugh, they stink so bad." Bria said as she watched the dust. She stepped around Thel and threw a ball of purple fire at one. It exploded into flames.

At least they're easy to kill.

"They will come in hoards, we have to get you out of here." Thel said.

"But I could help." Bria said.

She spoke too soon when one shot her right in the shoulder with a plasma weapon.

Oh yeah, they can use weapons.

In anger, she used her power to rip it in half.

"Haven't you and Master Chief dealt with these before?" Bria asked him.

Thel gently nodded.

"Then why didn't you tell him about this? Or even me? I can help." She said.

He looked at her. "If you got infected because of this, I don't think I could live with myself."

She narrowed her eyes and stood silent for a moment. "You know, some days it sounds like you have a lot of faith in me, but sometimes your actions speak louder than words."

"Of course, I know you can take care of yourself, I just know what these things are capable of." He said.

He walked around the docking bay while Bria was lost in her thoughts.

"Wait a minute." She said and Thel turned to look at her. "Drugging me to sleep? Pleasing me whenever it's possible? Leaving me with Cassie a lot?" She stood still and looked at Thel. "Thel, are you scared of me?"

He was shocked at the question. But he didn't answer, because they both knew it was true.

Bria scoffed. "It is true."

"You haven't been the same since you got back." He said quietly, and honestly, it broke Bria's heart.

"I'm still me." She replied. "But just because I was with the wrong crowd, you don't trust me anymore?" She asked.

"That's not it-"

"No that's exactly it." She started to walk backward towards the ship. "Let me do you a favor then."

"Bria-" he yelled for her. But she quickly boarded the ship and closed the door locked tight. "Bria wait!" He yelled for her, but she started the engine and took off.