an ODST among Heroes.

5

Daisy's jaw dropped. "You spent an entire year among the Covenant... as a gladiator?"

Izuku nodded, smiling with a mixture of pride and humility. "Yeah. I'd been studying Covenant languages on my own, and the first week after I finished Spartan training, I got a little overconfident. I was out on a training mission, playing my guitar and singing a Kig-yar tune. Guess I didn't expect it to actually work as bait. Next thing I know, a couple of Jackals jumped me. One blow to the head, and I wake up on a Covenant ship. Eventually, I ended up on the Brute homeworld fighting in their arenas. Luckily, I had a few allies among the Kig-yar who helped me escape after a year of winning every match."

Daisy shook her head, grinning. "Now, that I have to hear more about. I bet it's a story for the ages."

---

Halcon 4 - December 8, 2544

"Don't wander too far, Halsey. We've had Covenant activity reported in the next system," the CO warned.

Izuku nodded, "Understood, sir," and headed into the jungle, his guitar slung over his shoulder, along with a small pack of rations. Finding a secluded clearing, he settled on a rock and tuned his guitar, the quiet hum of the jungle around him. Taking a deep breath, he began strumming a tune in Kig-yar, letting his voice carry through the clearing.

The melody flowed easily, and Izuku felt himself relax, so absorbed in the music that he didn't notice the silent figures creeping up behind him. Suddenly, a sharp blow landed on the back of his head, and everything faded to black.

---

When he regained consciousness, Izuku's head throbbed, and he blinked in the dim lighting of a cell aboard a Covenant vessel. The air was heavy with a metallic tang, and a faint murmur of alien voices echoed through the walls. As he stirred, a pair of Kig-yar stood outside his cell, leering at him.

"The imp is finally awake," one sneered.

Izuku groaned, rubbing his head, but a mischievous smirk crept onto his face as he noticed them watching him. In perfect Kig-yar, he said, "At least my species doesn't have to worry about our unborn becoming breakfast."

The Kig-yar froze, their jaws dropping, before one of them let out an indignant shriek, rushing up to the barrier. "YOU!"

Izuku laughed lightly, leaning back against the wall. "Guess we're even now. Not that it matters-I'm probably going to die here anyway."

"Enough, sister!" The other Kig-yar snapped, pulling her companion back. She squinted at him with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. "Imp... that sound you were making back there. What was it?"

"Singing," Izuku replied calmly. "It's something we humans do. I didn't think anyone was listening."

The Kig-yar exchanged glances, intrigued. "Our Shipmaster will want to know of this," she muttered, and without another word, they left him alone in the cell.

---

Hours later, Izuku found himself dragged before the Shipmaster, a towering Brute named Krag'Zarak, who glared down at him from a throne-like seat, his armor scarred and battered, his single good eye gleaming with menace.

One of the Kig-yar began to speak, "Shipmaster, we found this ODST-this Imp-making sounds in our tongue. It amused us-"

But Krag'Zarak cut her off with a scowl. "You dare bring this vermin before me without restraints? Do you value your lives so little?"

Izuku spoke up, unfazed. "Oh, please. We both know there's no point in trying to escape from this ship. Besides, I wanted to meet the one who thinks he's worthy of the title 'Shipmaster.'"