Reach for Halo

Captured

I don't know how much time has passed, but it feels like it's been years. Slowly, I feel my eyes beginning to open. As I wake up, I feel my body still aching slightly and I hear a low humming noise along with rhythmic beeping. Not only that, but I can make out the voices of a few people, not humans though, Elites. 

When my eyes fully open, I see I'm gazing up at the ceiling which is a dark purple colour and looks like metal. Moving my head around, I scan my surroundings. I immediately notice a bunch of medical equipment which is all hooked up into me. Looking down at my body, I see I'm mostly naked with the exception of my underwear still covering my crotch. I also see a bunch of tubes hooked up to me, passing some kind of fluid through my system. 

As I look around the room, I see two Elites approaching me. They speak to each other and I see one of them tell the other to go get something, leaving me and whoever this was. They pull out a light of some sort and hold it in front of my face. 

Elite: Follow the light, human. 

I look at the light as the Elite moves it around, checking my state. After I follow it for a few times, he nods and puts it away. 

Elite: The damage doesn't look too serious. Why our commander wished to keep you and your friend alive is beyond me. You are vermin. Filthy. 

I roll my eyes at the insult but I was glad to hear that Six was still alive. Now I just needed to find a way out of here and find her. Though I had to confess, I was just as confused as this Elite. Why did that woman keep me alive? Her last words to me were if she met me again, she'd kill me. She had her chance right then and there. Unless she wanted it to be a fair fight or something. 

A few minutes pass as the Elite checks my vitals and I hear a door slide open. Both the Elite and I look towards the door (except I can't see so well since I'm held down by all the tubes) and can see the same Elite that I spared and the same one who saved me. She approaches me and questions the other about something in their native language. They continue talking amongst themselves before the woman turns to me while the other Elites leave the room. 

Female Elite: Do not mistake my mercy for compassion. I promised I would kill you the next time we met. But I shall only do so in a fight, not an execution. Do you understand? 

I nod slowly. 

Female Elite: Good. Now to fill you in on what's happened. Two weeks have passed since your planet Reach fell. Your ally's injuries were not as severe as yours and she has been contained in a prison cell on this ship. Your recovery will take another week at most. 

With that said, she turned away from me and walks to the door. Before leaving, she stops for a moment and finishes on one last note. 

Female Elite: You will not speak a word of how you spared me. Even if I am grateful for it. Such shame, I will not let anyone else know. 

I nod once more and she leaves the room. I lean my head down on the bed and I sigh. So Six and I were alive, we were onboard a Covenant ship and now the Elite I saved earlier is only helping me so she can kill me in a fair duel. Wasn't this all just great? 

???: Well, at least you're awake now. 

I frown as I hear a woman's voice and I realise Cora's still with me! 

Cora: I'll be honest, I was starting to worry you were in a coma. Thanks for proving me wrong. 

Mutasim: Cora... Where is this ship headed? 

Cora: Do you really want to know? 

Mutasim: Halo... 

Cora: Yep. The first Halo ring. Which... Also means we'll have to deal with the Flood once they break out of containment. And if they reach this cruiser. 

Mutasim: Do you have a plan? 

Cora: Well... I do. Though, I'm not sure you're gonna like it. 

Mutasim: Just tell me. 

Cora: Right. Looking through my data archives and looking through both the ship's data and the game, I've managed to pinpoint which Covenant cruiser we're on. Does the name "The Fleet of Particular Justice" remind you of anything? 

Mutasim: That's the future Arbiter's fleet. The same one that glassed Reach. 

Cora: Yeah. And we just met her. 

I frown, clearly confused. 

Mutasim: Hold on. I thought Thel Vadam was a male. The Elite we saw was clearly female. 

Cora: Yeah. I'm confused about that too. Maybe there's a few differences between the game world and this one. Which means our knowledge might not be as accurate as Halsey expected. 

Mutasim: We'll manage. 

Cora: I'll keep an eye on the cruiser's condition. Let's just hope that the Flood don't attack while you're recovering. 

Mutasim: So what's your plan? 

Cora: Simple. Do nothing. If Thel Vadam is meant to survive the Flood, if we stay with her, we'll manage to survive. Though we'd also need to find a ship to pilot. I don't expect us to go to High Charity. 

Mutasim: Right... I'm just gonna get some sleep then. 

Cora: Goodnight Mutasim. Sleep tight. 

With a nod, I doze off, hoping that I recover before the Flood arrive...