FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 9 - Overture Pt. 3

Kvaz held his hand on Xal's shoulder as they silently stared at the skinned creature, which no longer even resembled a brother to Kvaz, but a monstrous abomination, whose skin shimmered from the refracting light below him.

" YOU FILTHY--IGNORANT, UNWORTHY, BASTARDS!" Tha suddenly screamed out maddeningly, saliva coming from his mouth, and he gripped at the air intensely and shuddered. Kvaz and Xal backed away from him as he shouted and slammed his fists through the air, and placed his fingers to his skull, touching it very softly. He hissed low in pain and looked back at them.

"What are you, Tha?" Kvaz demanded to know, stepping past Xal to glower up at Anfi, looking him over in disgust.

"I am the Noosphere Catalyst," he replied, "I am not_Tha_, I am not the vestige of an old friend that belonged to you! I AM THE ARCHITECT OF YOUR OBLIVION!" The voice roared out maddeningly and it stung the ears of Kvaz and Xal who backed away, holding their hands over their skulls. It was an unbearable wail, sustained only until Kvaz had screamed for it to shut up, to which the Sangheili glared at Kvaz.

Kvaz grabbed his stomach, which began to twist and lurch in furious stabbing pains that he fought against. It felt as if he has swallow glass, circling through his veins, stabbing every nerve in his abdominal region; biting down as hard as he could, Kvaz fell to his knees as he frantically breathed in and out. He cried out in agony, falling over and then vomiting hard, placing one hand onto the floor to sustain him-self as he hurled. Xal growled at Tha and reared his rifle up, firing the entire magazine at him, hoping to blow away the smug look on his face. Tha sustained every shot to his body but remained unfazed, and merely turned to look at Xal, who glared back at him.

Kvaz's cries of pain and had reduced them-selves to a deep quiver and he muttered, pushing him-self onto his knees, looking up at the bastard he once called a friend. He spit out the bile taste in his mouth and then cursed loudly at the creature for all that which he caused, and those he had killed; but the creature purely remarked that it was not his responsibility.

"They were unable to control them-selves, and now they live, exiled into the infinite nightmare of suffering." The Sangheili smiled with a quit hum, "If they were pure of mind, and heart--they would be serving my-self. Your commanders have joined this--Xal, and your precious little Gat."

"And what in the hell do you hope to accomplish, enslaving zombies to your whim!" Xal shouted and stomped forward, pointing at him, "What are you without this--shit here!"

"I am the amalgamation of all the nightmares, and haunting that you have known; I am the Noosphere Catalyst, the greatest and old mind remaining." The Sangheili held up his hands, pointing to the suspended bodies of those in the containers, "Their screams--are beyond describable. No species is destined to hold the Mantle, but I--and I will never let it fall into the insipid hands of you worthless, galactic vermin!"

Xal looked to Kvaz who looked to Tha, and then stood up again. "The Mantle--that is what you search for?"

" IT IS WHAT I WAS PREORDAINED!" The voice screamed out, "You know nothing of this sacred responsibility! You are but worms in the earth, frolicking about, worshipping false gods, there are none more real than me! I am The Faceless God--I am the void!"

The Sangheili lowered his hands and chuckled quietly, "I am your _Resonance of Insects¸_and your salvation."

"You are nothing but a deranged, skinless animal. A trophy for the idiots who are delusional enough to believe in your little fairytale!"

"You do not believe in it?" The Sangheili began suspiciously, "Very well--if you need more evidence."

Xal and Kvaz waited hesitantly until they felt the sickening, twisting vertigo of levitation as suddenly both became unaware, feeling as if they had suddenly fallen backwards. Their vision became a hazy mess of imagery and noises, echoing from all around but behind his invisible wall; Xal realized now he was looking upwards at a roof to a tunnel, and attempted to move but felt frozen. He was looking forwards now, standing beside Kvaz as they saw the back of a tram, and Xal felt his heart sink, whispering only no.

The explosion occurred as if commanded, and he became blinded by the furious light and smoke, watching his body lifelessly be thrown against the wall and roll onto its side. Beside him was Gat, but before Xal had not heard sound--now he heard Gat, crying out in agony his name, weakly muttering the words. His eyes swelled as he felt tears begin to form, and he tried to look away from the site but could not, chocking out in his throat to scream for him! There was no sound, and he remained still until Kvaz emerged from the tram room, standing and looking into the fire, and then towards his body. As he was taken, Xal's head slammed into the ground as he fell backwards, and he jumped up, screaming and shouting maddeningly in gibberish at Tha!

"You--aaargh! GOD DAMN YOU!" Xal screamed as hard as he could manage, " YOU TOOK HIM! MY ONLY FAMILY AWAY FROM ME!"

Xal charged forwards and lunged into the shallow pool of water, attempting to grasp at Tha's body, and wring his neck! He was flung backwards by an invisible force, and roared, charging forwards once more before he felt his legs go out from under him, then his head and body moved backwards, sending him into the ground again. Kvaz had arisen and held Xal back as the Kig-yar had become frantic, and the body of Tha displayed a wide grin of absolute enjoyment. Kvaz did not know how he would harm him, or cut him--and he thought back to whatever it was that was said, and muttered something under his breath.

"Hupadgh orr're, stell'bsna orr're." He whispered through his teeth, and Tha's eyes light up in shock at the sound, and Kvaz felt his body slam into the wall behind him, and Xal watched in horror, and then screamed out the same words.

"Aaaargh! STOP SAYING THAT!" Tha screamed at them, clenching his fists at the air, "CHTN'EYHE LATGH'EHY AHNG'GOTHA!"

Xal groaned out and fell to the ground and held his hands over his ears as his eyes began throbbing with a sudden intensity that was almost worst than the explosion he had survived. He felt his eyes burn and pulse so hard that it made him shake and fall onto his side, but it stopped after a moment, as Kvaz had arisen and screamed the words at Tha.

"You do not know what those--filthy, disgusting words mean!" Tha shouted in madness, "Where did you learn them!?"

"Kvaz," Elsv whispered behind him now, "You need to plug me into him."

"How?" Kvaz asked aloud, "What exactly do you need me to do?"

Tha tilted his head, "Who is that--who is he?!"

"Get to him and hold him down--then say ayarnk ash'thlbh nhygl'oob' oshu."

Kvaz nodded and moved to pull Xal up, and the Kig-yar got onto his feet. It would be hard for them naturally to charge him at the same time, and he moved to his HUD, and quickly scanned over the features of the location for something he might do! Kvaz neutralized Tha for another moment with the loud chant, but he could feel the retaliation as his own head began to blister and throb with an agony. There was a sudden flash as the lights in the facility became bright, and Tha shouted out in alarm at the sudden illumination! There was a sudden flash of light and a loud, crackling explosion as Xal had found a cable and sliced it in half, throwing it into the pool of water while Tha was not looking.

The flashing and explosions of light and flares were enough to startle Tha, and Kvaz made his move, while Xal ripped the cable from the pool! Lunging into the air with a roar now, his adrenaline surging, Kvaz slammed his arms down onto the skinless body! He pinned him down and screamed the words Elsv had instructed him to say, and he watched the body grow lifeless; before he could rejoice he heard a crash from above, and liquid drip from the balcony. A nude Sangheili approached and leaned over the edge of the balcony, and then stepped away, disappearing for a moment. Kvaz backed away and then quickly turned his back to run, as the body hurled it-self over the edge, and slammed into the alter with a sickening crack. It began shaking and convulsing, blood seeping out into the water, and Xal was horrified, as another had hurled it-self over the edge!

"Do you think that this will be easy?! DO YOU!? I am ancient, and your filthy words will do nothing to me!" The voice now screamed at them from above.

"Xal, tap into the intercom system, and let Elsv chant the words!" Kvaz ordered him immediately, "Do it, before he finds a way to kill us both!"

Xal immediately did as commanded and searched for the Intercom Function, finding it locked out and furiously dragged his claw along the HUD until it was active through his gauntlet! After this Elsv began to chant the words in a harmonic fashion, as if he were singing; from above the screams of another body began echoing, as it cursed, and damned the phrases! Kvaz searched around until he found it in the vestibule trying to leave the room, and roared out, digging his claws into the Sangheili's back, and slung it away! The body landed hard against the railing and he pounced on it once more, "How do we stop him from jumping!"

"Ratu'nangtha intathst nus ha'nun?ctha nugh. Taft'asuun goka sha g? anthuans sunat." Elsv repeated over and over again, ignoring the command as he focused all of his strength to chanting it, over and over again. Kvaz screamed out from above and stumbled away from the body as he felt a stab at his back, and arched it, struggling to find what had punctured him!

The Sangheili ran at the Commander and then slammed its knee into his stomach, and when Kvaz hurled over, his face was smashed into the side of a chamber, cracking the glass. Kvaz moaned and collapsed in the arms of the beast, going limp and then was tossed to the side; over the edge, and falling into the water, it, and the other two dead bodies, erected them-selves and began to pursue Xal.

"Elsv!" Xal screamed at him, "It is not working!"

"I told you I do not know how to kill him! This only distracts and interrupts his frequency!"

Xal panicked as the three moved closed, and charged at him all at once. He roared out and slammed the blade of his rifle into the gut of one, throwing it behind him and sprinted across the floor, around the cloister and then up the stairs! He panicked and tripped, screaming out as hands wrapped around his throat and lifted him off the floor; Xal chocked and grasped at the wrists, rearing his legs back and kicking at the face! The Sangheili tumbled backwards and Xal tore away from him, continuing to run up to the next level!

" WHAT DO I DO!" Xal cried out.

"You have to find the device that allows him to exist--it is a forerunner artifact! Destroy it!" Elsv cried out behind him.

"You will NEVER destroy me!" The creature responded with a roar, "I will NEVER die! Time and time again you will suffer in your dreams, and I will always exist!"

Kvaz pushed him-self up from the ground and stumbled, grabbing his head as blood trickled down the side; the pain was unbearable, and his brain pulsed in agony. As the three moved up the stairs he reared his fist back and slugged one of them in the face hard enough to kill a normal man, and sent it crashing down the stairs. The other two charged forwards and he brought his right fist up to slug the skinless Tha, and fling him over the edge. He was slung back by the free beast which then fell onto him and wrapped its fingers around his throat, digging the thumbs in. Kvaz chocked out and wrapped his legs up around the Sangheili's shoulders and then over his face, grasping him by the arms and then flung his hips to the right! The hands would not release from his shoulder and Kvaz rolled over top, snatched the arms away from his throat, and then pulled it up onto its feet. He then reared back and then kicked his foot up to the throat of the Sangheili and sent it over the edge of the banister!

Xal had struggled with his own assailant who he fired at in the leg, and as it collapsed, dug his blade into its skull with all of his might, and thrown it to the ground! He rushed away from the beast and to Kvaz who led him away, and they stood in the room, unsure of what to do, or where to go!

"Elsv, please tell us what to do!" Xal cried out, and realizing he left his gauntlet below, he rushed to the edge to hear for him.

"You need to destroy whatever it is he uses to sustain his influence!" Elsv called out to them, "There is a device here, hidden somewhere!"

"What is it!?" Kvaz bellowed out, watching as more Sangheili bodies began to approach, and the ones from below crawled up the stairs, "Where is it!?"

"I do not know! Just find it!" Elsv commanded, "And run! More are coming, you must run now!"

Running through the door into the main tunnel Xal and Kvaz hurled them-selves away from the group of dead Sangheili that chased, the maddening voice howling out for them! Exiting the tunnel Kvaz and Xal skidded as they beasts began to flow in from the doors ahead; and Xal pointed across to another vault, and the two ran into it!

"Commander Kvaz!" A voice broke over his com, "This is Sub-Commander Anfi!"

"Anfi?!" Kvaz called out, "I thought you were dead! We were told you were!"

"Almost--Commander, rrgh, I am alive but--barely! Z 'ba attempted to overload a fusion reactor at the base of this spire--that was the shaking you felt! I do not know where he is, and the creatures are hoarding!"

Kvaz held at his face and growled, "God dammit--what the hell do we do!"

"Z 'ba--he is what!?" Xal growled and snatched Kvaz's arm down forcefully, glancing down the hall and watched the monstrous beasts move, "What is he doing, tell me now!"

"He is trying to overload the fusion reactors! I stopped him but he is after something in a sepulcher, some kind of artifact! We have to stop. . ."

"I am after it before Anfi is able to take it him-self!" Z 'ba roared out from behind the crowd of infected who had begun to funnel down the tunnel. The creatures had frozen still and Z 'ba stood in the center of the room, holding within his hand a strange object; Kvaz, and Xal looked in confusion.

"What--who in the god damn hell!" Kvaz shouted in anger, "Anfi--or Z 'ba!! Which one of you bastards should we trust, or not!"

Anfi breathed heavily over the microphone and snarled loudly, cussing under his breath. Z 'ba walked forward as the creatures departed, and the voice of Tha, which had reigned behind them in supremacy was reduced to but a mutter, and Z 'ba introduced him-self to them.

"Commander Z 'ba 'Ikaolee of the Ikaol Clan, second sun." He saluted with his fist as he held in his hand the strange, circular object decorated with metallic plating, and in the center as a single item of great purple scintillation. The creatures had since stopped their movements and remained motionless, and Z 'ba demanded they come out; Kvaz and Xal obeyed, walking briskly into the center of the room where the Sangheili held the object tightly in his hand. He was wet, covered in blood but he stood proudly, as he looked the two of them over.

"You three--all of you have given me one hell of a challenge. You are--evasive little insects, I will say that much."

"Who in the hell are you, and what the HELL do you want!" Xal shouted at him, unable to continue to deal with the onslaught of confusion. He felt him-self hoisted into the air and shouted as a Sangheili restrained him, and before Kvaz could act his own arms were pinned back, and his legs secured into place. Kvaz shouted and struggled to fight against the hands that held his body still, and he looked at Z 'ba, who merely stood and watched him.

"Xal, do not worry," Kvaz promised him as he grunted, slamming his arms forward, "When I am out of their grasp I will TEAR these traitorous bastards to pieces!"

"Tear_me_ to pieces?" Z 'ba laughed quietly, "Anfi may have snuck a knife into my eye socket--but I promise you, he will not make it much further. He has shed his blood honorably, he should be proud to die by my hands!"

"What are you here for?" Kvaz snarled, "What is that?"

"This?" Z 'ba smiled as he looked at the object, "This--is what will allow me to inherit the mantle. Your little friend Tha--was not worthy. He is dead--long been dead; he could not handle the processing."

"Why was he flayed?" Kvaz asked slowly, and unsurely, "Was that part of your ritual?"

Z 'ba laughed and shrugged his shoulders, mentioning it was one of the various practices that removing the epidermis could enhance the effects, and that he seemed willing at first, when convinced it would stop the flood. His screams were long lasting, Z 'ba mentioned he was dead for a long time before they discovered him. He mentioned that he was curious why Kvaz was feeling little pain, and forcibly turned the commander's face to the side, looking over his temples.

"You removed your security chip, hmm?"

"I did." Xal hissed at Z 'ba, remembering the time he was condescended in front of the men and glared with intensity at the Sangheili. "You used the chips to spread the frequency through that Maser there--stimulated emission of--a type of radiation?"

"Intelligent rodent--haha, I suspected you from the beginning. The specifics are not worth mentioning to you, I could not have you ruining my plans by an unnecessary didact."

"Then what are your plans?" Kvaz growled, "And what does this device do?"

"It strengthens the wrath, and spirit of The Faceless God. He mentioned his name once before--you do not know the story of this idol, you are too ignorant to know the ancient teachings." Z 'ba laughed, "This ship is my design, it is my cradle, the Resonance of Salvation."

"A resonance cavity." Xal interrupted, "You are using the ship as a Resonance Cavity to amplify its effect, and the security chips would web the minds together."

Z 'ba cocked his eyebrow and looked at the Kig-yar, "You're not just an engineer, are you?"

Xal snorted, "I am not stupid."

Z 'ba quickly walked to the Kig-yar and slammed his foot into his gut, and Xal groaned out in agony, hurling over and panted, spitting at the ground. Kvaz roared out at Z 'ba, accusing him of being nothing more than a coward, and Z 'ba reared his fist back to slam it into the side of Xal's face. The Kig-yar groaned out and stumbled, his legs shaking but he flung his head up and stared back at the Sangheili.

"Keep your god damn hands off of him!" Kvaz roared out furiously, watching Xal hurl over in pain, " RAAARGH! Do not touch him!"

"You must be confused, and angry." Z 'ba began, "I understand the ruse--must infuriate you; the loss of your loved ones--of your friends, knowing that this humble temple will become your grave."

" FUCK your temple!" Xal shouted, and he received another blow to his stomach, coughing up as he fell to his knees.

"Commander Kvaz," Anfi broke out over the noise on the microphone. "Do not let that bastard win. I will do my part, you both will do yours; do not let him get off of this ship with that device."

"What are you. . ."

BOOOOOM!

There was a deep rumbling, and then suddenly all of them had fallen onto their sides; an explosion like thunder sounded off and Z 'ba had tripped momentarily, and Kvaz found his limbs free! He rushed forwards and slammed his knee into Z 'ba's face and sent him onto his side, and Xal rushed out of the reach of the Sangheili, who began screaming out in a mass! Anfi had found the energy during the commotion to overload the fusion reactor at the base of the spire, and the shock wave caused it to separate away from the main body of the ship, while the rest of it began to spin due to the force of the explosion. Anfi was now dead, Kvaz knew this to be true and he slammed his foot down over Z 'ba's arm and grasped at the Maser, struggling over the object with roars of anger!

Kvaz slammed his fist over the bleeding eye socket and Z 'ba roared out in agony, unclenching the object momentarily. Z 'ba tore it out of his fingers and backed away, looking around at the dead Sangheili, and then slammed it into the steel floor at full force! As it shattered he felt a deep, resonant pulse run through his body; and Z 'ba shouted out in dismay at its destruction, but condemned them, warning them they had not yet won!

"That is not the only object here--that was just the amplifier!" He stood up onto his legs and grinned, "I am still in control enough to send them to tear you into pieces, Kvaz."

Kvaz cocked his eyebrow, "So then--is it inside of you?"

Z 'ba laughed and shook his head, "Aboard the very place that Anfi has just foolishly destroyed. You won't be able to get back to it now, and as long as it exists, so does his influence!"

"He needs a device to pump frequency emissions throughout the ship--we need to find it." Xal whispered quietly to him as he backed away from the crowd, which had begun to approach and he looked up to the Commander.

"You would not have the first clue what to look for." Z 'ba growled at the Kig-yar, "The previous warriors who managed--they were lucky, you have nothing here!"

"That is not true," Elsv chimed in. "I was one of your lead scientists; I studied it daily--I know how you controlled the flood, and how you were able to channel him. Without that conduit, he is nothing but a mass in a specimen tank!"

"You--are dead." Z 'ba began unsurely, "Who are you really?"

"Vlez ' Vesaree," He answered confidently. "Your blasphemy has trapped my soul and hundreds of others here--we have lived through nightmares every day of our life because of you!"

"What do we do then, Vlez!" Xal shouted to him, "Where do we go!"

"Have you seen it Xal? That large, dark flood virus--they injected it with his DNA, harvesting it from the remains of an ancient place in this temple. Destroy it--it is that simple. I made sure of it, when we installed the chambers; there are no other samples of his DNA left."

As he said this, Z 'ba's eyes widened, and he summoned his soldiers to restrain the two of them, but Xal had all ready begun to make his way through the crowd, sprinting as hard and fast as he could and they could hear Z 'ba shouting behind them, warning them of their future. Kvaz had left Z 'ba to his own devices, with the device destroyed he hoped that his influence would be less than what it was, but he and Xal still struggled to make it through the tunnel into the original stone Cella, and then into the dark room, where the bodies had removed them-selves. Hurriedly Kvaz typed in the command and sent them aboard the Spire, which had since been set ablaze at the base and was slowly becoming engulfed in flames at the lower floors.

"You have ten minutes," Elsv warned them gravely, "I will try to ensure you survive."

"How do we get off of this ship!" Kvaz demanded to know urgently as they ran through the crowd, "Where do we go?!"

"Every head scientist was given a personal escape pod! Take the emergency evacuation route in the Medical bay; go now!"

Kvaz and Xal now rushed into the great temple, slamming their feet against the stone as they exited into the greave Nave with the Exedras, and then through into the original Cella that they had been in. Kvaz tugged Xal forwards as they rushed through into the main laboratory, and he could hear the screams of his brothers behind, and ahead of them now! He and Xal moved through into the laboratory and shined their lines through the polished, circular glass walls, prowling through ten different, massive chambers before they ran down the stairs into the next room.

"Ten minutes--ten god damn minutes!" Kvaz screamed, "FIND IT!"

"It--it is not here! The floor below!" Xal shouted, "Come on!!"

Xal lunged through the air and Kvaz followed as they panted, and they emerged into the next laboratory, and Xal traced his steps until he reached the containment center; he could see reflections of dead Sangheili all around, staring at him from behind the glass.

BOOOM! CRASH!!!

Another explosion sent them onto their sides as the lower part of the spire had erupted when the gas lines combusted and a catalyst of detonations led through several floors and separated chunks away from the rest of the body. Xal was lifted up from the ground, and the Kig-yar sprinted through the hall, around each cylinder, retracing the strange devices in his mind until he found the chamber. He looked in at the dark flood like virus and motioned for Kvaz, who banged on the hard metal sheet, and look around for a way in. He gripped his sword and pushed Xal back, slamming it through the deep panel of glass, which cracked and splinted as he did so! He lifted up his leg and kicked through, quickly running to where the large goo filled cylinder stood in the center.

"Kill it!" Xal cried out, "Hurry!"

Kvaz reared his hand back and punched it into the glass, and then slammed his sword through, stabbing it into the ebony skinned Flood that was nearly as large as his torso! The creature reared out and shrilled in an ear shaking tone that was like glass cutting through into the brain, and they backed away, holding onto their skulls! They moved away from the glass section, tripping and cutting them-selves over the shard, and Kvaz forced him-self onto his feet, shouting out.

"AAARGH! Xal, move!"

BOOOM!!! CRASH! BOOOOOOOM!

Another explosion sent them over on their sides as the spire had begun to tilt, and they slid across the floor now, bumping into the glass domes, and landing with a hard slam against the western wall! Xal groaned and pushed him-self up from his chest as he lay against cabinets; he looked up and Kvaz was lying back almost lifelessly against the wall, holding onto his stomach. A shard of glass had embedded it-self into his abdomen and Elsv could feel the stabbing pains of cuts in his back; Kvaz coughed and ripped it out, tossing it to the side and cussed loudly.

HRRRRARGH! AAAAAAAAH!!! KVAAAAAAAZ!

The Sangheili began to crawl out from the door and slide down the floor toward them, and Xal pushed him-self up, forcing Kvaz who groaned out weakly, and bled down his legs. He forced him-self up and stumbled, but pushed his weight ahead of him as the two of them moved over the shelves and uneven wall surface to where the door was. Kvaz hoisted Xal up into it and then jumped, grasping onto the doorway, Xal grasped his hand and growled loudly as he pulled the Sangheili through, who panted and held his hand over the wound. He coughed and groaned, falling onto his elbows, but Xal moved under his arm and forced him up more.

"Aargh!" Kvaz shouted as a foot tugged away at his leg, and from behind Z 'ba was holding a covenant carbine, which Xal realized he had dropped. Shots penetrated into Kvaz's back and he hollered out and crawled away desperately, kicking his feet and dragged him-self through the stair well, feeling sick by the vertigo.

"Come on Kvaz, we're so close!" Xal cried out, wrapping the Commander's arm over his shoulder and forcing him up, "I am not going to lose you too, Kvaz! Now come on!"

Kvaz grunted and heaved out in pain, panting and shaking as he stood up on his feet, and Xal guided him to the floor. The Sangheili had formed heaps and stumbled over each other as they tried to move towards the two, and Elsv urged the two of them forwards, guiding them to the edge, where he instructed them to slide down the wall at the juncture. Carefully Kvaz slid down on his hip and held his hands against the steel, trying to land softly but collapsed onto his knees, crying out in pain and clutched at his stomach.

"Dammit--damn that bastard!" Kvaz shouted, opening his eyes to look up at the tunnel, and then rolled to the side as the body of a Sangheili came crashing down beside he and Xal.

"Turn around and follow the hallway until the end! You are almost there, come on!" Elsv cried out for them, and Kvaz forced his body up and staggered as he followed Xal. Z b'a shouts could be heard further away as he struggled through the crowd to race to them, growing more and more furious and using every ounce of power he could to kill them before they escape! He targeted Kvaz and sent into his brain, and the Sangheili cried out as his head began to throb and the spot where he was operated on burned like a hot torch was placed into his flesh! He cried out and screamed, holding him-self as he flung into the wall and Xal watched in horror, rushing to grab his arms! Kvaz flailed and hollered, and Xal grabbed onto his hands and tried to shout to him, begging him to continue.

"I can't!" Kvaz cried out, "Get out of my head! GET OUT OF IT!"

Xal panicked and grasped Kvaz by the face and brought him close and held him tightly, begging him to resist, and that Kvaz was all he had. Kvaz whined out and almost cried at the pain and torture in his head, and Xal begged him not to give up now, because if he did, Xal would die with him, and he would have nothing else left to live for!

"Aaargh--GOD DAMIT!" Kvaz cried out, and slammed his hands into the wall, looking up to the other wall and rolled onto his side and struggled onto his feet.

They could feel the axis of the spire beginning to turn again and Xal held Kvaz's arm, helping him run to the end of the hall. At a final juncture Kvaz mustered all of the energy he could to leap across the hall way and stumbled onto his knees, and Xal grasped him by the arms, and pulled him forward. The Emergency escape hatch was right in front of them now, as the floor turned and began to readjust it-self, but they toppled forwards slowly. Kvaz grasped the handle and flung the hatch door open, and he fell into it, and Xal felt a sudden blast at his back, croaking out weakly in pain and fell over. He panted and felt dazed by the carbine rounds that penetrated into his flesh, and he looked over his should at Z 'ba, who was prepared another shot. His rifle was snapped to the side suddenly and the shot missed him, and Xal felt him-self be pushed into the Pod, and the hatch shut.

"Go Xal!" Elsv shouted to him, and Xal held onto the wall for a moment and cried out to Elsv. He saw his friend materialize in front of him for a moment as he held Z 'ba back and looked over his shoulder at him, the first Xal had seen him in days.

"Thank you my friend, I will never forget you!" Xal cried out to him, and Elsv nodded once, before Xal felt him-self pulled backwards into the pod.

Xal grunted as he fell back against the pod wall and he looked up as the command console was activated, and he assumed Elsv must have done this, and called out to him. There was no response immediately as the pod was dethatched from the body of the ship, and he crawled forwards, watching the hatch to the ship close as their pod began to propel it-self away. He held his hands against the glass as they drifted away, and Xal turned around, freezing in place as he saw Gat stand beside Kvaz quietly. Xal felt his body go cold as his cousin walked up to him, and Xal frantically tried to speak but Gat just laughed and told Xal to shut up, and go to sleep.

"Gat--but I never told you--"

"Xal, I know you cared about me. I've been with you the whole time--Elsv helped me watch you. I was the one who pushed you away from that ghost."

Xal felt his eyes grow hot as he looked at his cousin, and his bottom jaw trembled but Gat motioned to the Sangheili, instructing him to go to sleep, and wait until someone found them. Gat began to fade in front of him but Xal quickly said before he faded, that he was thankful to have him as his family.

"Xal--stop being so soft." Gat began. He pushed Xal away who fell back against Kvaz's body and he watched his cousin fade away from his vision and soon after the Popul Vuh's fusion Reactors would detonate, and separate the facility into pieces. When they had faded away from space and into silence, they drifted in and out of sleep, and Xal had bandaged Kvaz to the best of his ability. It would be but only hours later when they felt the pod vibrate and it was picked up by a nearby ship; the hatch door was open and a bright white light filled the room, and he protectively stood over Kvaz, preparing for who it was that had taken them. Kvaz was alive but spoke weakly and Xal catered to him, holding onto him tightly and spoke gently to the Sangheili, worried for his safety.

Kvaz promised weakly he would survive, mentioning that no one else would be able to tolerate Xal like he did.

Walking forwards was a strangely tall, massive creature with a long tail which bore the visage of a possibly mutated Sangheili, or otherworldly creature he had not ever seen before. Several more Sangheili entered followed by a shorter humanoid, which he instantly recognized as a Spartan and was quick to cry out a warning as he grasped his rifle and held it forward, demanding to know who they were! The Spartan removed his helmet and held it under his arm, assuring the Kig-yar he, and the others were not threat, and had detected a distress beacon; the other Sangheili were all equally polite, nodding their heads, and at the behest of the larger creature, not drawing their weapons. Xal nervously lowered it and Kvaz weakly looked up, and when he caught site of the massive creature, his eyes widened, and he pushed him-self up onto his knees.

Xal was too exhausted to be able to argue with him or say a word, but he watched as Kvaz was lifted up, and escorted out; Xal followed behind into the confides of a ship, alive and with Sangheili who spoke to each other, and whispered when they saw the two survivors. Xal kept his eyes low as he avoided looking at any of them, keeping close proximity to Kvaz as he was led to a chamber where he would be examined, and treated for his injuries. Xal was quiet for an hour or more as Kvaz was amended, and Xal stared silently through the glass, refusing treatment of his own wounds until the Commander was well.

"You seem protective over this Sangheili," The deep voice from behind him began. Xal spun around to see the huge body of this creature, with its long black tail staring down at him from behind a visor. It reached up and removed its helmet, and Xal nearly fell to his knees, grabbing onto the chair behind him and flinging it back in shock.

"No-- you're alive! How in the great hell are you here, right now, in-front of me!" Xal exclaimed, seeing the face of a legendary Sangheili who had vanished almost ten years ago. The Sangheili politely smiled, asking of the Kig-yar were upset at his sight; quickly Xal fumbled for words, and he held his head, "I am not upset-- I am in awe."

"I understand you have been through an ordeal." He answered him quietly, glancing to the Sangheili, "You--and your partner. Destiny is a bizarre thing, this much I understand now thanks to my own partner."

Xal felt weak in his chest, "When Kvaz sees you--"

The Sangheili smiled and chuckled quietly, looking through the bay window at the other soldier, and stepped up beside the Kig-yar to look. "He is a strong solider, such as your-self. I must warn you, according to High Charity, you and Commander Kvaz are marked as deceased, and you can never return to your home, such as my-self."

Xal nodded once and looked out into the window, and sighed quietly, "Where are we going?"

"I think that you should take some time to rest, Commander Xal; we have a long journey ahead of us." He turned his head down tot he Kig-yar and pat him gently on the shoulder, "Hupadgh orr're."