Halo: The Search

Chapter 15

September 8th, 2552
(Victor Huff) I had been shot. When I opened my eyes I wasn't in the quarters of the commander who was going to kill me.
Kill me... he had shot me with a spiker before he himself had died from Vex.
Vex... he had killed the general. He saved my life.
Why? My eyes slowly opened and I quickly sat up. Pain shot through my rib cage and I grit my teeth holding my hand against my left ribcage. My hands landed on medical tape. It was cleaner than my clothes which were tattered and dirty. I assumed this is where I had been shot.
I looked around at my surroundings. I was laying on grass and was surrounded by trees. Whatever plant life had been on the ground I sat on had been cleared out and disposed of somewhere. It was just a clear patch of grass within a 5-foot radius around me and then just infinite trees. No signs of life rang throughout this forest, but wind rustled all the trees slightly creating a pleasant noise.
I heard footsteps behind me and almost jumped out my skin when I realized Vex was right behind me.
I cursed and sat still again. "Your awake." I arched an eyebrow feeling the obvious statement slap me across the face. He stared down at me with a look of concern clear in his eyes. I slowly stood up, and felt pain spike in my ribs again at a greater level. I gasped falling against a tree for support.
Vex took a step forward, but I shook my head and held my hand out towards him. "Yeah I'm awake... and you are, uh... well you saved me?" Seeing an elite look awkward was the last thing I thought I'd see in my life time. (I wasn't disappointed by the sight.) Vex cast a glance to the side not knowing where to start. "I... yeah I helped you. It was the right thing to do." I stood up a bit straighter stretching, a bit careful not to hurt my ribs. 
"To save a human was the right thing for you to do?" I felt a pang of guilt for saying that, and frowned casting a sorry look.  "Sorry... thanks for saving me, I'm just... confused." Vex stared at me for awhile unable to come up with any words, but he nodded. We stood there silently for a few seconds just looking at each other. I took a deep breathe thinking of what to talk about.
"I'm sorry Victor." I looked at him even more confused. "Huh?"
Vex sighed leaning against a tree of his own. "The reason I saved you is because it really was the right thing to do. Your an innocent human being... just like the other ones I've killed who have been fighting for a true cause. The cause I was fighting for proved to be a lie straight from the prophets mouths. I always thought humans were a nuisance, and obstacle towards what we were trying to achieve, but it turns out that the humans were the rightful owners to what we were trying to get our hands on. The prophets told us you all must be eliminated in order for us to transcend with the forerunners on the Great Journey. When I learned how wrong our objective was, I wanted to save you. I couldn't take back the lives of those I've killed, but I could at least save a child. One who was kidnapped from his parents, and held for ransom... which led to more deaths... more kills..." Vex lost himself in his thoughts staring at the ground in heavy remorse.
"It's not your fault." Vex glanced up at me surprised. "You were raised to believe that right? What's to stop you from thinking that we're the bad guys? Everyone's done their fair share of wrong. As far as I'm concerned, your doing better than many others by realizing what you've done wrong, and feeling remorse for it. Many haven't even taken that step it seems."
Vex stared at me astounded by my words. I stared at his eyes looking for any remaining signs of regret to see if my speech had failed. "Well to hear that from one human is surprisingly nice... thank you Victor Huff." I nodded. "So... do the other aliens want to kill you now? Also you can just call me Victor. It's easier." Vex nodded taking note of that, and sighed. "They might not know what I've done. If they did find out that I killed their commander, they'd probably want to kill me, or take me in for questioning which I don't want either of those. Because I won't be able to return, I've decided that I want to help you." It was my turn to be gratuitous this time.
"I... thank you..." I tried finding more words to show how happy I was, but my stunned expression was enough. "So what exactly do you want Victor?" I sighed and looked up into the sky through all the trees where cumulus clouds lazily floated. "I want..." I wanted to go back to my father. To see him, and my mother again. But when I looked at Vex I felt a pang of guilt again. After figuring out the truth about  all his life's work being a lie, he had managed to turn away from his beliefs to help me.
I felt so confused. "I want different things. Things that feel of the same importance, but I can only choose one." Vex looked at me confused. "You don't just want to go back to your parents?" I shook my head. "I want to stay with you. I know it sounds weird, but you treated me better than anyone else has since I was stranded, and I can't just walk away from that especially since you're in a pretty cruddy situation right now. I think I can handle not seeing my dad. I'd at least like to tell him I'm alive somehow." When I finished my statement, Vex hadn't responded.
He was just staring at me in shock again. "Vex? Are you okay?"

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(Vex'Redna) Victor Huff was truly an astonishing human... After assisting in holding him for ransom, he had managed to see our past time as somewhat nice?! The kid could probably befriend the flipping devil!
I had deep down hoped that Victor wouldn't leave my side, but that thought had died so quickly being clarified as a fictional dream in my head.
"If that is what you want to do, then I'll help you train. We'll find a way to contact your father so you can say what you want. Then I'll see how skilled you are in combat, and shooting." Victor gave a small smile which was nice. "Cool! Is there anything you need to do that I can help with?"
I shook my head grateful anyways that he had even asked. "I'm just here to be with you on your journey." Victor nodded still holding onto that smile. "So a friend for along the way? That's always nice."
The term friend threw me off. It felt like a huge difference from the term ally, or comrade. The way Victor viewed me for who I am continued to astound me. I shook away all the thoughts and nodded. "This is the least I can do. On that note, let's go find a way to contact your father. Victor nodded looking excited and full of energy which I felt would exhaust me later on. I was, none the less,  happy to have friendly company. Victors acceptance of me as a friend was a step towards my new goal in redeeming myself.
I knew I couldn't make up for all the wrong I've done, but helping Victor felt like a step forward. Victor was also the first and LAST company I'd expected to enjoy having.
It was time to start a new journey...