Fan Fiction Inspired by Halo

The Return of the Archons - or - I dream in Halo
Date: 19 July 2002, 7:06 am

John gazes into an endless night. Stellar clouds blur the starlight into hues of orange. It would almost seem like a new day's dawn on a summer beach if not for the bitter cold. Oh it's so cold. John checks the control panel, no malfunctions, temperature at normal levels. He gives the panel a light knock with the back of his fist. Not protocol, but neither is drifting in space.

Got to get some shuteye. John, tosses and turns, sleep would be so nice if not for the voices. They call out from unseen corners, behind closed doors, in the dead of sleep.

Wake up John. Wake up! John cannot. In his unconsciousness, he has reached a consciousness where the voices become real. He is in the dream-like reality that transports him across time and space to her. No not her. Angelic beauty, but to stay with her would mean giving up returning. Never waking.

The fear of never waking has saved John before, in a panic he has awoken. But not this time. He has been sucked deeper than ever before. Rarely has he ever felt the fear and ecstasy that he does now. A combat veteran, who shows no fear in battle, no remorse for killing when needed, which is often by the way. Here he is stripped of his armor and weapons. Floating naked in the world of dreams.

Flying through a transparent tunnel, John is pulled quickly though a world beyond the tunnel. He sees much that reminds him of the pyramids of Egypt, waterfalls, and Stone Hinge. The world is ever changing, moving in and out of focus.

John pays little attention to the surrounding, what lies at the end of the tunnel is his focus. Dark hair with strands of gold, silver eyes as gray as the night sky and as piercing as an eagle's stare. It is her. John is frozen except to feel the ground now below him as he falls to one knee. Her beauty cannot be done justice by my mere words. John could easily be frozen by her piercing glance, the sweetness of her voice, the rest beyond simple description. However, John is not frozen for this reason. John is petrified for what he feels - this is his vision of beauty, that which she chooses him to see. Her true form is still hidden. John fears what he does not know. To open up to such beauty only to find the opposite to be true would be too much. The contrast would not just break his heart, but also his will. Deep down to his soul, he would be broken. This, John does know.

Strangely, she remains silent for a long moment. A smile comes across her face. "My name if Kira, Sovereign Princess of Archon," she says in a soft but penetrating voice. Then adds, "I'm glad you made it John."

"No riddles?" John blurts out, half not realizing that he is thinking out loud.

"My sympathies dear John. It took a while for our spirits to communicate on the same level. You simply were not ready, the riddles you heard were not mine but of your own making. I am glad you made it." Then with a gesture, she says, "rise up."

John is on two feet, fear exits him, and the void that fear left behind fills with warmth. "Your, err, err highness?" John stutters out. Then takes a deep breath, and says, "Why am I here?" (Which in itself is not characteristic of John who, under other circumstances would be compelled to demand, "What do you want?")

"You are here because I summoned you. I now wish a dialog, but time is short so I will speak, and you will listen."

"How much time do we have?" John interjects.

"As much as needed, but no more. Now please, listen, in fairness you will have your say." And with that her gaze freezes John.

"John, to understand why, means you don't need faith. But we all do need faith. What I am about to say may contradict your beliefs. Do not lose faith in what you believe in. There is much more in this Universe and beyond than you nor I will ever know, at least that is how it stands for now." She sees a puzzled look on John's face, and continues. "In your culture it is said that the face is a window to your soul, is it not. If so, you must have a puzzled soul. Much as the human race, searching for purpose in life, in the grand scheme of things. Much as the Archons of past, my ancestors."

"Archons of long ago were advanced to levels beyond what you have seen so far. Our science was of nature and all things did we grow, from spacecraft to entire worlds. But something happened, we met an evil, a plague. A thing existing on logic without compassion. It consumed, and consumed, without restoring what was taken. The balance of nature was lost."

"We lived by nature and knew that we could not defeat the logic we did not understand. We were not alone in this. What you know as the forerunners were many different cultures, with the Archons being a small offshoot. By cultures I could mean races, but as races intermixed, they became cultures. The plague threatened all forerunners. We cleaned and contained the plague. But that was not enough. We knew it would never last. So we had to do something more."

"Archons of long ago went to your home planet Earth. Or should I said that Archons were sent to Earth as part of our great experiment."

"Much like how a blind person's other senses become more acute, this was our experiment. Onto Earth were sent guardians and workers. The guardians were sleepers whose descendents awoke in times of need to protect Earth and human kind. The workers were those volunteers that we deadened their spirit so that they could not use our science of nature, this meant, in theory, that they would develop into thinking logically, like our enemy, the plague."

"So without our science of nature, survival on Earth meant that other ways of thinking would develop. That is what has happened. It is frightening at times to see the similarities between humans and the plague. You have reached points in your logical science beyond your ability to understand its significance. You blindly develop technology, only to later realize that you have created great weapons of destruction capable of destroying your fragile kind with the mere command of a lunatic."

"But at other times, the true Archonian ways prevail. There is much compassion and a sense of duty to protect the weaker and many more wonderful qualities, I do see."

"There is not much more summary to this story. Time and the many wars since the olden days have wiped out most of our records. I am not entirely sure that I speak the truth on all these matters, but I would not intentionally deceive you."

"There are few Archons left, I am their leader, along with my sisters. I would be called queen, but long ago when I was very little, my mother was imprisoned by the Overload Shai'tan to stay at his side as co-ruler of his demon realm. She still bears the title of Queen of Archon and I shall never bear that title as long as she still lives. But our plight to rescue our queen is not your concern. Just know that many great heroes of Archon have died trying."

"Demons you might ask. That's the best description I can give you. Bad to the bones, but even the demons fear the plague. They have been unlikely allies at times."

"John, John..." Kira pauses.

"John, I deem you guardian protector of human kind, second only to the Starguardians of Archon, as you will be known when you are fully awakened."

"Now go"

And with a kiss Princess Kira sends John away.

John yells as he is pulled away into darkness, "Wait! Wait! I don't want to leave!"

"We will meet again, I promise, you will have your say. Now is not the time. Goodbye guardian protector of hu..."

[Flashing bright lights.]

"Chief. Chief. Wake up."

A groggy John replies, "What is it Cortana? Can't a guy get a decent nights sleep around here?"

"Chief, you're just coming out of cryogenic suspension. I pulled you out because I'm picking up a lot of chatter and you've got to see this. We're going to need you wide awake for this one."

John looks up and out the craft's window with a dazed look on his face.

"Chief, the effects of cryogenics should wear off soon."

"No Cortana, it's not that, I just had the strangest dream, it seemed so real. But never mind, I'm better now, we've got work to do."

With that, this chapter ends.

The Return of the Archons (part 2) - Enter the Dead Zone
Date: 22 July 2002, 10:53 am

"Chief, Covenant ships 20,000 kilometers dead ahead. I'm picking up distorted signals but there appear to be three of them, Freighter class. Confirmed, it's a distress signal."

"Cortana, what are these other signals? It looks like a battle field out there."

"Not a battle field, Chief. I'd say it is more like a graveyard. I'm picking up more than a thousand signatures out there. Most are drifting in space with no power, a few with minimal life support. Several signatures are several hundred kilometers in length."

"Cortana, what about life forms? Are you picking up any life?"

"The signals are distorted, I can't get an accurate reading. But Chief, if the Covenant pick up that distress signal, this place will be swarming with them. Whether or not there's any survivors, we've got no choice."

"Right, power up engines, lock weapons on to targets. We'll come right up their ion trails, they won't know what hit them."

"Closing on first freighter, 19, 000 kilometers, 18,000 kilometers, 17... Engine power down 80 percent. Losing power."

"A trap, turn us around, full thrusters right back from where we came from..."

A long pause, lights dim to red.

"Cortana?"

"Sorry chief, it's too late. I've lost the helm and power draining."

Cortana's holographic image fades in and out. In almost a whisper, Cortana utters in desperation, "transferring to your battle armor, ship cannot support my life functions."

"Cortana, report. Cortana!"

[Silence... fade to black]

"This is Master Chief, Spartan class, ID number 225... well none of this really seems to matter. My name is John and that's it. John Doe drifting in space. At least that's what my grave will say if I'm ever found in this dead zone of a million corpses."

"If there's anyone out there that can hear me, stay away from this place. It's a strange place, kills your engines and weapons but leaves you just enough energy for basic life support and sending out short ranged communications."

"I don't need a translator to know that all the chatter on the com is the echoes of dead people. Warnings to stay away. Not distress signals as I first thought."

"I don't know what hell is like, but out here alone. Out of rations. Slowly dying. Gives a man time to think about his life. Reflect on all he has done. Try to make amends with himself and god..."

"I've got one chance, there's not enough power for the cryo-chamber to function properly. I'm going to shoot myself up with cryo-serum and lower the life support down. Try to simulate cryogenic suspension."

John to himself, "here goes nothing," as he injects the cryo-serum into his veins.

[Fade to black, echoes from the dead ships]

John once again enters the realm of dreams. A voice beckons him. "John, guardian protector. Seek the ark, the Ark of the Covenant."

"Princess Kira, is that you? John's spirit replies. "I hear you but cannot see you."

"John, you are caught in the web of Medusa. All are blind in her serpent tentacles. Go now, wake, wake John."

[Bright lights flash]

A deep but hurried voice, "ah, very good. You wake now. Drink this, give you strength. Give you much strength mighty Spartan."

John squints, then blinks. Towering above him is a brownish-green skinned reptile, like a giant gecko standing on its hind legs to me more specific. In one claw is a bottle of some florescent green liquid and the other an oblong device of some kind.

The room around him comes into focus, many colors drape down from above. John lies on a bed of pillows. Stripped of all but a pair of shorts.

John tries to utter words but his throat is so parched that all he can utter is a soft, "How?"

"Drink this man creature."

John drinks.

"You come here to the center of Medusa. It be like great sieve. Large ships filter through slowly, small ones like yours go through quicker. You be a drift for maybe a year in your stasis. I know your kind. Study for years. No one else know like me. I take care of you. Crack the code on your armor. Take it to workshop. Much interested. Lady though, she go. Mighty High Priest take her."

"Lady? What lady, tell me, uh, who are you, anyway."

"Oh, I forget to tell. Forgive little Croaker? Will you forgive me, mighty Spartan?"

"Thanks for rescuing me Croaker. Now tell me, this lady, was she human like, dark hair with strands of gold?"

"Don't know, only see faded hologram. Lady be an AI."

"Cortana. She lives?"

"Yes, Cortana was her name. She want to stay but High Priest take her to God Emperor."

"I must see her, take me to her... Wow, what is in this stuff, it's gooood!"

"No can do, only High Priest sees God Emperor. This stuff you drink is green ambrosia. Complements of the old ones that once lived here in this paradise."

"Bring me my armor and weapons, I'll find a way to this God Emperor."

"I bring you your armor, but not for that. You must now fight."

"Fight? Figures, what's all this about Croaker?"

"High Priest say you stay alive, may be useful. But Big Boss not care what High Priest thinks. Big Boss say only good Spartan is a dead Spartan. You die tonight in arena."

"Die? I thought you said I fight?"

"Mighty is Spartan, but you fight Max Rellius, great Covenant elite. Once Imperial Guard, before his fall from grace. You fight and then you die. Honor be with you."

John's now in Croaker's lab. A large pile of junk if you ask John, but he cares not of the mess, only about one thing...

"Spartan, here is your armor. You see that I fix it up good."

"Thanks," as John dons his armor. "You know you're not a bad guy Croaker, under other circumstances, we might be friends."

Croaker picks up a small metal pipe, puts it down and then picks up a larger wooden lever and holds it above his head. Swings it around slowly. "Hit here, right below the my right ear toward the back." Then Croaker hands the lever to John.

Croaker turns his back to John. "I say I do understand humans."

John takes the lever. "Sweet [whack!]... dreams."

John moves through winding corridors. Strange how this place is built. Almost like the walls are alive. No sign of anyone else either.

[A chatter of voices, getting louder, then silence.]

John reaches a dark open area. Two loud thumps echo. John knows that sound well, blast doors closing fast. Then comes a grinding sound from above as bright lights turn on. Far above, the room is opening to reveal seated creatures of all different shapes and kinds. John is in an arena standing on a half-circular, jagged shaped platform about 15 meters wide and 30 meters long.

John's radar goes off, enemy 100 meters away. There, stands a figure on a similar platform, a Covenant Elite with silver armor. Blue and red light radiates in waves across two features not distinctive to other Elites John has seen. On each arm are shields and on top of the head are large spines much like what John would recognize as features of a Covenant Hunter.

[The crowd roars. Then silence again.]

"Let the execution begin!" A voice from above bellows.

The platforms begin to spin and spiral up. John cannot help but to look up. Far above floats a Covenant energy sword.

From across the arena shouts, "I Max Rellius, once honor guard, do proclaim justice for my fallen brethren. The only good Spartan is a dead Spartan!"

[Crowd roars.]

Now the platforms are only about 50 meters away from each other. Soon they will be together. Suddenly a voice comes on to John's com, "Spartan, you must proclaim yourself. You have a chance if you can get the crowd on your side."

John replies, "Who is this?"

[No reply, just static.]

Here goes nothing, John thinks and without really realizing what he is saying, shouts "I John the Spartan, guardian of human kind, sleeper of the Archons, do proclaim that I have killed many in the line of duty, maybe brethren to you. Necessity means I will have to kill again. I seek nothing from you, but know I still have a duty, a duty to find the Ark of the Covenant. In this duty I cannot fail. So bring it on, bring it all on, don't waste my time with petty matters."

[A few loud boos, followed by loud whispers from the crowd.]

The crowd whispers... "It must be a trick. It's a trick. Devils they are."

Just then the platforms collide into one. John leaps for the Elite. He would bash it over the side, but at the last possible moment the Elite gracefully bends over backwards and kicks John in the stomach as he flies over.

John flies passed the edge but taking on a Spartan isn't going to be that easy. With cat-like reflexes, John grabs the edge of the platform, swings around and flips to his feet.

John crouches down in a low combat stance. "Not bad, for a...?" John stops. The Elite is gone, nothing on the radar. Darn Elite has a cloaking shield.

John drops to his hands and kicks back. Snap, he's hit something that was coming up behind him. Only a glancing blow though - stupid arm shields. John feels his right ankle held in a vise like grip. John finds himself being spun around by his leg.

Whack! John's upper body slams against the platform, shields damaged. But the Elite never loses his hold and John is soon spinning around head first again.

"Spartan," says the Elite, "I could easily toss you down to the demons below, but I will give you an honorable death. By the sword you will die."

Whack! John slams down head first, shields gone. John looks up to see the Elite reaching for the energy sword that is nearly right above. With his free left leg, pow, John kicks the Elite in the face. One time, two times...ten times as the crowd chants, "...four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Whoooo!"

The Elite falls back. SNAP. Pain shoots up John's right leg. In falling back the Elite kept his hold on John's ankle and with a small contraction the Elite has ruptured the tendons around John's ankle. "Stupid human, can't you just die." With that the Elite tosses John's crippled leg aside and reaches up for the energy sword.

John stares up in disbelief and says, quite sincerely, "Stupid human? That would be an assumption. Hey spiny head, I'm talking to you. When you make an assumption, do you know what that means?"

The Elite pauses for a brief moment, to gloat over John and the pathetic last words of defiance from a dead man.

The world spins around John, everything is in slow motion. Few times in the legends of the arena has a champion fallen as if from a movie script. Happy endings are not for the arena. Or are they?

In one continuous set of moves, John springs up on one leg. With his bad leg he kicks the side of the knee of the Elite and springs up. Knees the Elite in the chin, reaches up and grabs the energy sword with both hands. On the way down, drops an elbow on the Elite's right collar, glancing off, then comes up with a head butt under the chin of the off balanced Elite. Left hook to the right side of the head, followed by a spinning uppercut movement with the sword, sweeping both of the Elite's legs. Thump, the Elite lands flat on his back. John slides the tip of the blade between two plates of armor on the Elite's neck, just drawing blood, but stopping from going any further.

"Humans can't fight on broken ankles, but Spartans can."

[Silence from the crowd - total disbelief of what just happened.]

Then chanting from the crowd, "Spartan! Spartan! Long live Spartan!"

[Flashes of energy]

Crashhhhhhhh! Screams from the crowd, a voice from above, "run for it, the High Priest is here!"

[A plasma rifle blast hits a control panel]

John's platform spins down into the abyss below.

"Spartan," speaks the Elite, "finish me now, I do not wish to die at the hands of demons."

"Demons? What do you mean? And don't try anything funny spiny head."

"The demons below in the tunnels. And I am not spiny head, I am Max Rellius, once honor..."

"Hold that thought! Can these demons be defeated? How do I get out of here?"

"Yes, they can. In fact that sword you hold is an ideal weapon against them. Most that fall in the pit are badly injured and have no weapons. We have a chance. I know the tunnels well from expeditions for the High Priest. Give me the sword."

John, pulls the sword away from Max's throat. "Call me John, not Spartan. I believe that you speak the truth about the demons down there because you spoke of them before. You might be better with this weapon and know how to fight the demons. Nevertheless, I'm keeping the sword, just the same."

"Stubborn, foolish. I would not give up a weapon either if in your position. All is not lost. I can still use my cloaking shield to evade past them. I'd cover your back, but I think you will slow me down too much. John."

"Just how far down does this pit go before we reach bottom?"

"Many kilometers down. At our present rate of decent, I'd say we have about an hour more to go? I bet you have many questions, ask away."

John tries to remember some of the Covenant cultural studies courses he took in school. "Max Rellius, what is your legacy that it comes for us to meet here?"

"Very well put, John. I am spawn of Orsirus Rellius, Priest of Thorth. I was once Maximus Rellius, Commander of the 7th Imperial legionaries, Honor Guard to the God Emperor whose name we do not speak. Many years did I serve in honor until the flood came."

"No, not here!" interjects John.

"You know of this flood? A plague on all living things. The great destroyers from the records of the forerunners."

"Yes, I think so, if they are the same things I saw on Halo. Please continue."

"Once this place was a paradise. I still can remember the day. Protected by the Medusa field, this system was hidden away in the eye of the storm. The field itself was created a long time before, maybe it is even older than the forerunners. It is some kind of defense zone, much like how we might lay a mine field. Ships get stuck in it and orbital mass drivers somehow target the vessels and destroy them. Only now the orbital mass drivers are in bad need of repair, with only a few of them functioning so I hear. All is in the control of our God Emperor whose name we do not speak."

"The flood came, and at the time I was so naive. Everyone was bringing up the prophecy of the Ark of the Covenant. You spoke of this. The ark to escape the great flood."

"The God Emperor declared there is no ark, no escape, and a great purge began. Those that did not have necessary functions were conscripted into military service against the flood. Those that defied the mandate were made an example of. I was given the order to purge a town that defied the mandate, I was just about to do it when myself and my father was approached by the town priest. The evidence that he had was impeccable. Everyone knows that ships move towards the center of Medusa, but nothing gets out. The priest had diagrams of a spaceship with light sails. The solar winds could carry us out of the field. This was the ark spoke of long ago. The priest had reason to believe that at least one of these huge ships had been built and was hidden somewhere. If this was so, we could leave this forsaken place."

"I stayed behind and my father, Orsirus Rellius, Priest of Thorth, went to see the High Priest about this discovery. I never saw him again. Next thing, I was imprisoned for disobeying orders and stripped of my command. I spent 10 years and 25 days in the slave pits here, down in the tunnels digging up things. Until I was brought up by the Big Boss to the Arena."

John interjects, "10 years, how long has the flood been here?"

"Some say about 20 years, but this is our time, I'm not sure the translation to your time. I can translate hours and minutes, but years, I don't know. I'm not even sure the conversion to space mean time."

[Growling and slurping noises from below.]

"John, we are approaching the bottom, I can hear demons. I sure wish that I had a CER (pronounced "sir") right now."

"What's a sir?"

"You're not the first of your kind to come here, our first effective mass produced weapon against the flood and demons too, and still one of the best is a combination of your combat shotgun and our plasma rifle. C.E.R. for Combat Evolved Rifle."

Note to reader: CER, pronounced "sir" by marines because that is what the enemy calls anyone who has one pointed in their general direction. Technical specification: Plasma Rifle, shots 45, cannot be reloaded in combat. Shotgun, shots 6. If target is greater than 6 meters distance, default mode is plasma rifle. If target is 6 meters or less, default mode is shotgun. If either mode is out of ammo, the default mode switches to weapon that has ammo left if any. Fully loaded weapon weighs slightly less than 2 kg.

[Slurping noise gets louder]

"John we are getting really close, only a few minutes left, here's a plan I have..."

-- Next chapter, Exodus Denied --

The Return of the Archons (part 3) - Exodus Denied
Date: 26 July 2002, 5:02 am

In the darkness descends a dimly illuminated disc. Through a mist the two figures can be seen sitting atop the spinning platform. Max, the hardened Covenant Elite peers across to a smaller figure -- John, Terran Spartan, last of a breed. Both don advanced powered armor whose energy shields flicker to provide some dim light. The main source of light, however, radiates from a large glowing sword that lies to John's right side.

Max in a calm voice, "How is it, the ankle?"

John looks more intensely at Max, "Not good, you cracked it with your ankle lock. It's all swelled up, won't be much good now. I'll have to fight on one leg."

"No need, John, I think the only way either of us can get out of this is to work together."

[Slurping sounds from below get louder.]

"Max, I don't know how much longer you can keep me in suspense. Out with it, what's the plan?"

"I've been observing that your armor's shielding system is similar to mine. If you ride on my shoulders and I turn on my cloaking shield, you might be partially cloaked yourself. Of course the sword will not be cloaked, but that's the beauty of this plan."

"I see no beauty in battle, but this plan has some potential. What's the rest, big guy?"

"You see John, most of the slime that is at the bottom of the pit are lesser demon spawn. I doubt that they have ever seen a Spartan. But they do fear warriors of the sword. With you on top of my shoulders, we'll stand some 4 meters tall. Larger than any elite they have ever seen. They may even believe that a new breed of elite has come down to test his blade. When we get down to the bottom, I will target the biggest and meanest looking demon spawn. I will shout the Imperial Elite battle cry as you slice a path through its stinging tentacles and thrust the sword through its largest eye in the center." Max pauses for a moment, a glint in his eyes. "Then the other scum will cower away like the slime they are. We will make our way through the tunnels and to freedom."

"That is beautiful, Max, I have to admit. One thing though, you said most of the slime is lesser demon spawn. What else is down there?"

[Loud buzzing and flapping sounds all around.]

John utters, "what the?" as hundreds, no thousands of winged creatures bite, rip, and tear at John. So dense is the cloud that all vision is blocked.

Max replies in a calm but loud voice, "these are razor wings, they can rip the flesh off a creature in seconds. But these are small ones. They can't harm us in our armor. Ignore them, they are more of a nuisance than anything."

These roughly foot-long creatures resemble giant caterpillars with bat like wings. Each with a slightly different color scheme. Some with spikes along the back, some without, all have a pair of sharp talons along the wings and many rows of sharp teeth in a protruding mouth. But indeed, their slicing and ripping is in vain. Despite all they try, they cannot penetrate John's MJOLNIR battle suit.

The razor wings depart as suddenly as they appeared, leaving a void of silence.

[Slurping sound gets louder.]

The spines on top of Max's head part and face forward.

"Is it time?" asks John.

"Yes, let's go."

John lifts the energy sword above his head. The dim light from the glowing sword reflects off of moving strands of demonic flesh.

Max lets out a battle cry and rushes the two of them through the darkness.

Strands of flesh that bite and burn, sucking the energy from John's battle suit; these must be the tentacles. John slashes a path through them.

The white light from the sword reflects off a set of a hundred eyes. In a flash it is over.

"Arrrggggh!" A hideous creature bellows as John rotates his sword that is now buried deep in the center eye -- Mixing the eye like the yoke of a scrambled egg.

[Murmur and slurping sounds moving away.]

John checks over his vital signs as he scans the area around. "Max, you okay?"

"Yes, they hurt me some, but nothing too bad. What's your status?"

"No worse for wear. Your arm shields protected my legs very well and nothing really seemed to want to challenge the sword." John stops and listens.

[Growling and slurping sounds get louder.]

"Max they're coming back, what's plan B?"

Max shouts, "RUN!"

In the rush, John has lost sense of direction. The world spins around. His arms tire from swinging the sword, he has lost feeling in his legs.

"Max, they never end, more come."

Max's smothered voice from below, "Uh! Something is driving them towards us." Max falls as the tentacles pull his legs out from under him.

John, falls with Max, with tentacles wrapped around his arms, the sword is pulled loose.

[Flashes of green lightning ignite the chamber.]

"Hah-t!" John utters as he and Max bounce around like a drop of water in a hot frying pan.

All around multi-eyed, tentacled creatures burst into green flames.

[Sizzle, the sound of fried things. Then a distinctive low thump, thump. The sound of drums.]

John grabs the sword and uses it to prop himself up in the knee-deep slime that engulfs him. Green flames light up the large chamber they are in. All around are walls of stone and glass. Horrid drawings cover the walls -- depicting grotesque acts only possible in nightmares.

A slurping sound is made as Max pushes his head up above the slime. "John, we still live, but don't count your blessings. The ground shakes not from good, I fear we meet our doom."

John looks over to Max. John utters, "Here, I believe this belongs to you," as he presents the sword hilt first to Max.

Max takes the sword. Stands up as tall and proud as he can, his arms stretched out with sword in hand.

John finds a long jagged rock, holds it like a club and stands up on one leg.

Boom! Boom! Here comes doom.

Many strange creatures approach in a loose formation. Some look almost human except for bat-like wings and fangs. The majority seemed to be armed with a bladed pole-arm. Behind them all is the bane of this world; a shadow creature some 10 to 12 meters tall, surrounded by green dancing flames.

John sees Max waiver and slouch as if all hope has abandoned the great warrior.

"Hey Max, look alive, this thing may be big, but if it's so tough, why all the body guards?"

Max, drops to his knees. "No it can't be, not here, so close to the surface. John, it's a Balrog. Don't you feel it, inside you? Utter devastation."

[The world shakes in beat with the Balrog's words.]

Boom! Boom! Doom! "Human Spartan, if that is what you are? And Covenant slave. Drop your weapons. No doom for you today, I come in peace."

Neither John nor Max make a move.

[Zap! Flash of green light.]

Max lies on his back, coughing up blood from internal injuries; his sword shattered into many pieces.

Boom! Boom! Doom! "I said drop your weapons. I come in peace."

John's rock disintegrates in the flash of light but otherwise he seems untouched by the attack.

John shouts, "You come in peace! Nearly kill us, in the name of what I don't know? But I wouldn't call it peace." Just then something clicks in the back of John's mind. This voice of doom, is the same voice from the Arena, the voice on his com. John continues, "but then again, it was you that spoke to me in the Arena, was it not?"

Boom! Boom! Doom! "Yes, I probed into your mind to find what I wanted, but I was stopped by a strange but familiar power. I could not steal what I wanted, so I sent to you a suggestion so that you might reveal your true purpose."

Always keeping the Balrog in his direct line of sight, John limps over and checks on Max. John looks back up and sternly says, "Balrog, what do you want?"

Boom! Boom! Doom! "Many years ago I probed this Covenant Slave, Max Rellius. I found much about the Ark of the Covenant. However, search as I might, there are still places I cannot see. Bring me this ark and I will grant you your lives and freedom."

John asks, "what would you do with the ark?"

Boom! Boom! "Escape from this forsaken place; escape the flood. I even will take you and others that would be loyal to me to the outer reaches of the web of Medusa. There we go our separate ways. I have no need for souls like yours."

John looks toward Max, "We're in no condition to go anywhere, let alone find this ark."

Boom! "Very well, I give you this servant. He will be of use."

Out peaks a tall creature resembling a man-sized gecko walking on his hind legs.

John starts, "Croaker?"

"Croaker (cough), you old lizard," Max speaks up. "You, working for the demons?"

In a deep voice, Croaker replies, "Green ambrosia not cheap, keep Croaker alive many years past his time."

John interjects, "speaking of the green stuff, got any?"

Croaker pulls out a small green vile and tosses it over to John. John takes a sip. As the liquid melts in his mouth, he feels a warm sensation moving down is throat. Almost immediately his wounds heal. The swelling on his broken ankle goes down and ruptured tendons reattach. He is fully healed; not even a scratch ails him.

John hands the vile to Max.

Max whispers to John, "we can't work with demons, it just isn't right."

John replies, "even demons can be unlikely allies, at times..."

[Time passes as our heroes travel through the tunnels to the surface]

John speaks to Croaker, "Croaker why do you keep referring to yourself in the third person?"

"Mighty Spartan, Croaker only talk this way when he scared. But not scared any more."

The party reaches the surface where their demon escort departs leaving them a large crate.

Max looks at the crate, "what's in it Croaker?"

Croaker opens the crate, "this be supplies and weapons."

Max, grabs a short rifle from the crate. "I'll take this, one C.E.R., in mint condition too. Right to factory specifications. By the way, John, if we are going to find the Ark of the Covenant, we should find that town priest, the one that showed me the diagrams of the ark. What was his name, yes I remember, it was Arthas. I heard that he escaped the purge of his town and might be hiding in the sacred lands somewhere."

John, without looking at Max replies, "no first we get Cortana."

"Who's that John, some girlfriend of yours (wink)."

"No can do," Croaker interrupts, "we find ark, not rescue girly AI."

John looks at his two comrades, "Look, Max, you know the Imperial Palace very well, you used to live there, and Croaker, you are very good at breaking security codes. We can get her back from the High Priest. Besides, I'm not finding any ark without her. Croaker, what do you suppose your Master will do when he finds out that I'm not going to find the ark because you aren't cooperating with me?"

Croaker takes a big gulp, "Croaker be good, Croaker help rescue girly AI."

[As the three travel towards the Imperial Capital in a Covenant land speeder, great clouds of black smoke rise above the horizon ahead.]

Max puts the speeder into overdrive. "John this is not good, there are no communications coming from the Capital. Something is very wrong."

John comments, "If it wasn't for the low radiation levels, I'd say your Capital has been nuked."

From over a hill, all that can be seen of the once great Imperial Palace is a giant crater. The entire Capital lies in runes.

Max, slows the speeder down to a crawl, "Oh my god, this was the home of over three million Covenant. No one is left."

John looks in awe of the destruction. For a moment thinking of the destroyed human colonies, the millions of human lives murdered by the Covenant. John thinks, no, that wasn't these Covenant, most of these Covenant have been trapped here generations before the massacre at the human colonies.

John sighs, looks at Max and says, "I'm sorry Max. Who would do such a thing?"

In silence, Max drives on to the edge of the large crater.

[Fires burn everywhere.]

At the crater, there is a small section that seems relatively intact. Perhaps it had some extra shielding, built more sturdy or something.

"Hey, there is an opening here." Croaker says as he digs through the rubble.

Max jumps into the opening. His voice echoes, "Yes this would be part of the God Emperor's outer chamber."

Croaker and John jump in the opening behind Max. All three turn lights on and move deeper into the chamber. They find they have entered a large dome shaped chamber dimly illuminated by two large orbs floating above. Smaller bullet-sized lights can be seen above the two large orbs covering the entire ceiling like stars in the night sky.

A voice from a side chamber, "No, it can't be. No!"

The three rush to the voice. In the light just a few strides away, kneels a lavishly robed Covenant with a large pointed head. He pays no attention to the three as he repeats his words over and over again while looking straight at a large smoking box. Exposed and broken circuitry can be seen everywhere.

"John, that's the High Priest" Max whispers.

Another voice from a side panel, "Chief, it's about time. I'd started to give up hope."

"Cortana! You're okay."

"Yes, initiating upload into your battle suit. This will take a few moments, I haven't completely figured out this machinery."

"Listen Cortana, what happened here?"

"We were hit by orbital fire from mass drivers. The flood is here Chief. They have taken over the orbital defense system built by the old ones who inhabited this system millions of years ago. The flood has turned some of the mass drivers around to point at the planet. They have started to bombard cities. The other mass drivers, they are modifying to launch spaceships. They think that they can use the mass drivers to escape the web of Medusa -- That's the field that our ship was caught in when we entered this system."

"Cortana, what happened to the High Priest?"

"See that box over there, that's their God Emperor. They never knew that their god was a machine, and not a very sophisticated one."

"Cortana, what do you know about the Ark of the Covenant?"

"There isn't one, well not anymore. The God Emperor destroyed it years ago to prevent the flood from capturing it. The God Emperor may not have been very sophisticated and may have doomed this world, but it did try very hard to not let the flood escape this system. Got to hand it to him, err, it; listen, Chief..." (upload completes)

Cortana is now in John's battle suit. "Chief, we need to get out of here, no telling if the flood will hit this place again with mass drivers."

"Right, let's get going, what about the High Priest?"

"No leave him," Max replies.

"Croaker say leave now, don't like rocks falling from sky."

John, looks around, "Max what are you waiting for, let's go?"

Max continues to gaze upon the High Priest, "You know, there wasn't a waking hour while I was in the slave pits that I did not think of what I would do to the High Priest should ever we meet again. He took my father away from me and I can never forgive him for that. Now I look at him, his false god revealed; he has nothing, no faith, no hope, nothing. This is a worse fate than I could ever do to him. Perhaps he can find peace in his solitude; I almost feel sorry for him... Yes let's get out of here."

[A land speeder racing toward the horizon.]

-- Next chapter, Bella Luna --

The Return of the Archons (part 4) ñ Bella Luna
Date: 28 July 2002, 7:45 pm

In days long ago, the old ones dwelled in paradise. They were builders of great stone wonders. So real were their creations that they breathed with life, so the legends go. Greatest of their wonders was the sacred city. In the center of a sacred land it survived for millions of years untouched until one day 20 years ago, when the great disaster stuck. On that dark day, a column of fire engulfed the sacred city, propelling it to the sky. For the next few weeks it rained balls of stone and metal.

[Thud, a rock crashes to the ground.]

"Very funny Croaker," John says while shaking his head from side to side.

Croaker rolls on the ground close to the campfire; his reptilian skin reflects in shades of green and gold. As Croaker laughs he says, "I make a funny. Besides, what good is girly AI's story, everyone knows about great disaster and story of old ones."

John, ignoring Croaker's distraction, turns back to Cortana and says, "so that was the end of the Ark of the Covenant?"

"Yes, Chief" Cortana replies. "The God Emperor, fearing that the flood would soon discover the ark, launched the ark into space and used the orbital defense system to destroy it."

A voice comes from beyond the fire, where a large figure is cloaked in shadows, "Cortana, when you were linked into the circuits of the God Emperor, did you come across any information about Orsirus Rellius, Priest of Thorth."

Cortana speaks in soft voice, "Orsirus was your father, wasn't he? I'm sorry Max. I don't have much good news. Although the God Emperor turned out to be a simple machine, its archives were an enormous and vastly complex data storage array. There was very little information I could retrieve from it. I did come across the name, Orsirus Rellius, in one reference entitled the fall of the chosen. It goes: "

"Rise it be the chosen, to the heavens they go.

Sadness be the fallen, Orsirus Rellius be their king.

Banished in the land of the sacred, their king is gone.

Their king is gone."

[Solemn silence falls upon the group, only the muffed crackling of the fire can be heard.]

Max, the mighty Covenant Elite, perches on a cliff edge, overlooking the sacred lands. At his side is John, human Spartan. In any other world, the two would be bitter enemies, but here they have developed a bond of friendship.

John gazes over the lands below, in a crisp voice he says, "Max do you really think your father is still alive? Croaker told me that banishment to the sacred lands is quite a punishment. All of this land is overrun with the flood, let alone other adversities."

Max looks up at the stars, "we have Bella Luna, great fortune will come."

"Bella luna?"

"Yes, do you see the three moons above. The small moon is Bella. When Bella sits between the twin moons forming a perfect equilateral triangle. We have Bella Luna. Comes once every 20 years."

"Well I sure hope you're right about the good fortune, Max. By the way Croaker decided to stay with us, help us get through the sacred lands and find your father. He's even fixing up my armor right now. I don't think friendship was his only motivator, though. I think he decided to stay because he didn't want to be the bearer of bad news to his master, with the ark destroyed and all."

"You reckon John? (Smile across Max's face.)"

[Both pan up to gaze once again at the marvelous Bella Luna.]

The next day our heroes depart their camp on foot. With the many hazards in the sacred lands, it is better to move on foot than by land speeder. John, donning his pristine MJOLNIR battle suit takes the point. Croaker goes next, followed by Max covering the rear. From inside John's battle suit, Cortana monitors all bands of communication trying to locate enemy positions and find clues to where others might be.

A morning fog lowers visibility though the ruins of this once great land of wonders. The group moves in a tight formation, a single mistake could alert enemies of their presence.

John slowly moves around a corner, giving it a wide berth. Points ahead.

Croaker peers through an electronic eyepiece, moving his hand back and forth by his head to adjust the focus. Two taps twice means to evade the enemy.

The group moves away in total silence, cloaked by the fog, which seems to never go away, even though it is now mid afternoon.

"Help! Leave me alone!" a voice can be heard screaming.

[Crisp sound of small arms fire]

"Over there," Croaker says as he points toward flashes of plasma fire. Thump, Croaker hits the ground and is now lying flat on his stomach. "What you do that for Max?"

"Get down you fool, take cover."

John, speaks, "twelve flood with plasma rifles on the right."

Max, replies, "eleven on the left, two plasma rifles, nine slug throwers. What are they firing at?"

Croaker interjects, "they fire at Saurans -- my people."

John checks around to make sure he didn't miss anyone. "Max, what do say we give those Saurans an escape route?"

"John, you and Croaker, take out the right side. I'll stay here and take out the left side when they try to flank you."

The flood never knew what hit them; Three go down to a well-placed plasma grenade; six more to John's CER weapon's fire; four to Sauran small arms fire. The remaining are dispatched quickly by Max, whose cloaking shield enables him to close to point blank range undetected.

It never seems to fail that experience and a good arsenal wins the day. That seems to be the way it is against the flood - they're always falling for the same tactics, never seem to learn from their mistakes -- John knows this as well as Max. They also know that soon there will be hundreds more here. Our heroes gather up the wounded and head out.

Croaker carries a pair of Sauran children; behind him follow a dozen other young Saurans. John and Max each carry two wounded Sauran warriors and take up the rear. Into a run they go - the flood are coming.

A few kilometers away, they meet up with Sauran scouts. They are led towards a group of cave entrances hidden away behind a large waterfall.

Inside the cave, Croaker is greeted by a dozen or so smaller Saurans, "Great grandpa Croaker, yeah! Did you bring us any presents?"

"Children, children, we don't have time for that now, where are your parents?" Croaker pauses and looks at the little ones with sad expressions on their faces. He reaches into his pack, "Well maybe just one present."

"Yeah!" in unison.

"Here, a pack of gundarian jawbreakers. You'll have to share, but there's plenty for everyone."

Many more Saurans approach; all of different shapes and sizes, but sharing a common look similar to a gecko walking on hind legs. "Welcome," they say.

[Fade to black. The laugher of children in the background.]

That night there is a great feast. Our heroes sit at the head table with the Big Chief. One seat to his left remains empty, but otherwise the place is packed.

Croaker speaks with his mouth full of food, "mmmh, Big, mmmh, Chief (swallow), say we rescue lost party. Their ship shot down many days ago over sacred lands. He very thankful."

Johns shouts over the noise, "Tell him thank you for all the..."

[The noise ceases.]

John looks around.

Entering into the great hall is a smaller, shapely Covenant Elite with a long pointed head, dressed in flowing green and gold robes with many slits that reveal much of what is underneath. She sits beside the Big Chief.

Max throws his food down, "I've just lost my appetite," he mutters to himself just loud enough that John and Croaker can hear it.

A seducing voice comes from the curvy Elite, "Max Rellius, once great commander of the 7th Imperial Legion, I am Priestess Alainas the leader of these people. I bear you no ill will. However, I have sad news. Your father along with my father, Priest Arthas, both perished at the hands of the flood two years ago.

Max stares, eyes wide open, at the Priestess, "Deceiver, murder, where is my father?"

Alainas meets Max's stare with her own stare of death.

John breaks in, "hold on, can't we just all get along? Let's not forget the enemies still out there. You remember, the flood, right?"

Alainas speaks, "You speak wisely Spartan, perhaps..."

"Perhaps, nothing," Max interrupts her. "Perhaps, everything. You say you bear me no ill will, but you plot behind my back. Your kind has long pitted Covenant against Covenant, brother against brother. You are ill will."

A compelling, semi-sweet scent enters the air. Max scrambles to pour wine over a cloth and place it over his breathing slits. Then he turns to the exit, but he is cut off by armed guards that suddenly appear where friendly faces once were.

Alainas speaks at Max, "perhaps, you go too far slave. Perhaps you cowered too long in the slave pits while we chosen ones took battle to save this world. Why is it in ten years, you never once tried to escape?"

Max does not reply; still struggling to keep his breathing slits covered.

"Oh yes, what was your excuse? It would be dishonorable to escape the punishment of the God Emperor? Well you have seen what has become of the God Emperor -- you are a fool. At least we, the chosen ones, have a greater plan. We are the mothers of these people. Oh yes, we have deceived and murdered in the past, but it was all to protect the children."

Max, lowers the cloth; it is no use, he has almost succumbed to the priestess' pheromones. He speaks in desperation, "just let the children be, we're all grown up now." Then, Max falls into a walking sleep -- A drone under Alainas' control.

John feels no compulsion to help his friend. John too is in an intoxicated state.

"Chief snap out of it," Cortana speaks on the com.

"Hey, Cort, funny thing, never noticed all the guards around here are females. Got to say bye-bye, priestess want to talk to me."

"Chief...(snap)" Cortana is cut off as John turns off his com.

[Snap to black.]

Many hours pass, John wakes up in a daze. He feels the area around himself to find that he is lying on a thin blanket over a smooth and cold stone floor. He looks around the dimly lit room. Far above is a small skylight that allows a bit of the daylight from outside to penetrate the room. Sitting next to John is Max, stone-faced, his body in a trace, his mind transcending to another place.

"Blood, green blood, aaagh, the blood flows dry," a deep voice echoes from a pile or rags in the far corner.

John looks to see a figure moving in many layers of damp cloth.

A voice from Max, "John, that's all Croaker has said all night. He has the fever. I found what I could and soaked it in the cool water that seeps through the walls. They really messed him up, inside. They have no mercy for followers of demon kind. I did what I could for him."

John turns toward Max and says, "Max, the priestess... what happened?"

"You should tell me, John. You were gone the whole night. They carried you in just before the morning light."

"Max, I don't remember much..." However, as John speaks, memories return like childhood dreams.

[Out of focus edges - flashback time]

"Feel better?" Alainas asks John.

John looks around, his head spinning, "how long, how long have I been out?"

"Many hours, drink this, it will help."

John drinks the golden liquid, "Wow, one hundred percent better. Now what did you do to Max and me?"

Elainas, fearlessly moves closer to John, "I just did my duty, to protect the children. You are both trained killers, no telling what might have happened if things really got out of hand."

"True, for a moment I thought Max might try to bite your pretty head off (note to self, did I really say pretty? What is in this drink?). Anyway, if he tried and you got the jump on him, I wouldn't have just stood by and let you take my friend out."

"A Spartan and an Elite friends? I never really did understand your kind. One moment ready to kill each other, the next you're drinking buddies -- Utterly reckless."

Alainas continues, "Spartan, it is fate that brings you here, the time has come for the chosen to rise. You have heard that twenty years ago the great disaster destroyed the Ark of the Covenant -- so it is said. My father did not believe it was the only ark built. I continued my father's research after his death; analysis of the debris after the great disaster reveals it is much newer than the age that the ark should be. It may have been a ship, but it wasn't the Ark of the Covenant spoke of in legends. The God Emperor must have known about the ship and used it to deceive the flood into thinking that the ark was destroyed. That leaves only one problem, where is the ark? I only have a riddle passed down to me as a clue. Spartan, what to you make of this riddle?"

"Seek what is not there among the stars."

John shrugs his shoulders, then rubs the back of his head. "I thought it strange that the God Emperor's outer chamber resembled the night sky so perfectly, but with only two moons. The third moon, Bella, was missing."

Alainas smiles, "yes we had strong reason to believe that Bella is the Ark of the Covenant, I just needed to hear it from you. The time has come."

John questions, "the time for what?"

"Many years have the people of this world been separating into the chosen who are those that will leave in the ark, and the others who will stay. The time has come for the journey. We have gathered and hidden away any space-capable ships we could; even your ship is here Spartan."

John sits back, "Does the chosen include any demons?"

"Certainly not," replies Alainas, "why do you ask?"

"You said it was fate that brought me here. I would not say so, my friends and I were saved by a demon in return for finding the ark. I'm sure there has got to be some way..."

"Enough said!" Alainas says in an annoyed voice. "Spartan, I thought perhaps we could do this the hard way, but I cannot deal with your kind. The easy way it will be. Now tell me who among you is servant to demons. No demon would send anyone on a mission as important as finding the Ark of the Covenant without his eyes with them."

John feels the weight of a thousand eyes bearing down on his soul. His sins burn an effigy of human kind. John utters, "Croaker."

[Flash forward to the stone cell that holds our heroes.]

John heads to Croaker and wipes Croakers forehead, "I'm sorry Croaker, I didn't know."

"Know what?" Max interjects. "John you sort of spaced out on me, you seemed in deep thought."

John replies, "You know Max, what bothers me the most? I'm sick and tired of getting my ass kicked around here. I'm not going to take it any more."

Max grins, "John, you have a knack for understatement."

"You're forgiven John," Croaker's deep voice whispers.

"Croaker," John and Max say in unison, looks of great relief on their faces.

"Croaker okay, fever gone. Priestess try many tortures of the mind, but we Saurans are descended from old ones. We only pretend to be hurt. The fever was because they took my green blood -- my ambrosia away."

The sun outside is near directly over the skylight above. In the light can be seen a frail, more gray version of Croaker, the once strong and sturdy Sauran.

Croaker continues, "now years catch up to this old body. I think it time to let nature take its course."

Max interjects, "hey you dumb lizard, look alive, you didn't live all these years to just give up and die in some hole in the wall. Maybe now that you've slimmed down so much, you can fit through that skylight above? I reckon you Saurans can squeeze through anything."

Croaker sits up slowly, "Max, you thick-headed elite, if I was 500 years younger I'd slap you around like... well, like I would, if I didn't love you so much. Yes, you probably reckon right, we Saurans can squeeze through just about anything."

John whispers, "Aren't you guys worried that the guards will hear us?"

Max replies, "No. These walls around us are made of eldarstone, the stuff from deep underground. Surveillance devices would be useless in here as well as shields and plasma weapons. When the guards brought you here, there were more than thirty of them. They are afraid of us. No guards would dare ease drop on us because should they hear of our escape plans, they would be expected to come in here and try to stop us. Better to mind your own business, that is the way these Covenant guards think."

Some time passes as black clouds form overhead. First flashes of lightning, then in one loud spat, a wall of water hits the ground. Inside our heroes make their move; Max is on bottom, John stands on his shoulders, and Croaker is on top. Croaker, squeezes head first through a hole many times too small for his head to fit. Somehow he manages it. Twisting and contorting, Croaker uses his tail to push off of John's head to make the final push through the skylight. In the storm, he moves unseen.

Down below, Max and John use blankets to cover a pile of rags roughly shaped like a lying Sauran. John, soaked from the rain and mud that came through the skylight, wipes himself with a rag. "Max, what do we do now?"

Max replies, "wait and talk. Let me tell you of the legacy of my forefathers."

"Sounds good to me."

"Our legacy starts a thousand years ago in the times of expansion..."

Max continues through the storm, telling the story. He tells of two colony ships, the Naga and the Nata, and how his forefathers traveled to many worlds to escape persecution until finally being trapped in the web of Medusa. In life pods they made their way to this world, a jungle paradise. The natives they found here were simple folk, with long life spans and an incredible ability to understand complex things. These Saurans made good servants. Then the killing began... Once every four years there was a time with no moons called Darkling Luna, at this time the demons rose up to the surface. The Saurans worshipped the demons and made many bloody sacrifices to them. Many of the Covenant were killed during these dark nights.

These were the darkest of times until the Covenant discovered the oracle -- the God Emperor, as the High Priests did ordain. The God Emperor instructed them to build fortresses. With the help of Sauran servants who were converted to the light, they did build these great fortresses. When Darkling Luna came again, the God Emperor rained fireballs from the sky at the demons. The prey became the hunters, driving the demons deep down into the bowels of this world.

As the years went by, the great fortresses became great cities. Other Covenant life pods from trapped ships would occasionally come and bring news of what was going on outside the web of Medusa -- Quite an increase in the last 100 years or so; even other humans have come.

[A creaking sound from the chamber door.]

The door slowly starts to open, in a deep voice, "Does Croaker have to do everything around here?"

-- Next chapter, Blood in the Watcher's Eye --

The Return of the Archons (part 5) - Blood in the Watcher's Eye
Date: 30 July 2002, 8:36 pm

As our heroes make their escape through the Sauran tunnels, the world of Medusa comes alive.

It's a new day for the 103rd Legionnaires; formed from the remnants of the 4th, 6th, and 12th Imperial Guard -- Proud Elites of the Covenant Chosen. Combining with the 31st Jackal Battalion, they march over ten thousand strong.

Just two days before, they skirmished with the 7th Imperial Guard who remained loyal to the High Priest and the God Emperor. Those battles were cat and mouse, today's battle will not be, nor will they likely ever see another Covenant again. After today, even the thick-headed Elites of 7th would be welcome sight.

Today they march on Bala-dun, the once great Covenant fortress. It has fallen to the flood and now serves as a main communication center to the skies above.

It would be tactically unwise to attack such a fortress without assault weaponry and sky superiority; however, times are desperate. Their standing orders are to fight to the last Covenant -- no surrender, no retreat. Every moment that they fight, even if they fail to take the fortress, gives the Chosen time to complete their objective - to reach the 3rd moon and escape the flood.

Along with this mighty 103rd fly two dozen Banshee ground assault aircraft. They won't be used in the assault; they bear the emblem of internal security forces. Their role today is to gun down any Covenant that retreat from battle.

On a hill looking down to the fortress, the combined 103rd and 31st form a battle line three rows deep with shielded Jackals and two rows deep with Elites -- An unorthodox Covenant tactic to put the lightly armored Jackals in front, but the effect is a wondrous sight to behold. With the Jackal greenish energy shields locked together they form a solid wall, behind them the taller Elites peer over the wall just enough to fire their weapons, their own full-body energy shielding blending into the shield wall making it hard to tell where the wall ends and Elites begin.

"For the Chosen! Long Live the Chosen!"

Da, na, na. Da, na, na. They charge toward Bala-dun to battle music.

[Pan to lights flashing in the sky.]

Far above a battle of a thousand ships ensues. The 81st Elite Hornets and any other combat capable ships engage the orbital defense system that is now controlled by the flood. Point defense mass drivers fire explosive rounds at one-fifth the speed of light, the small and agile Hornet interceptors making very hard to hit targets.

Da, na, na. Da, na, na. The music goes. The music jams every communication channel across the system.

[Fade to black.]

With all that is going on, our heroes encountered few guards on their way to the "Big Vault" where they discovered that John's MJOLNIR battle suit and Cortana are being kept. They quickly gain access to the vault thanks to Croaker's incredible ability to crack codes.

Max, the mighty Covenant Elite, gathers his equipment and eyes some other interesting things.

Croaker, the now frail Sauran slowly speaks in a low voice, "Here is where the wonders of the ages are kept."

Many wonders are beheld in this place, but John quickly homes in on three MJOLNIR battle suits kept on stands as if on display. John approaches not his battle suit but the first one to the left. He sees a small device to the front of the stand that resembles a Covenant recording device. John hesitates with his hand above the device controls.

"Chief, you really don't want to do that," Cortana's voice comes from John's battle suit.

"But I have to," John replies, pressing the controls.

There appears a holographic image of Jen, one of the few female Spartan prototypes. Stripped of her armor, she lies in some hideous device. A voice in the background similar to Alainas, the Covenant priestess, can be heard, "Human Spartan, we made a slight mistake with the last one of you. It died too quickly. We won't make the same mistake twice..."

Max, Croaker, and Cortana all stand by, not knowing what to do as John watches Jen undergo tortures too terrible to be thought of. In all she only lasted ten minutes, but before she died, she revealed the unspeakable. She revealed the location of Earth, the Terran home world.

John mutters, "I remember the last time I saw her on Reach..." John looks at the ground. If you ever wondered if Spartans could cry, you need not wonder anymore.

Cortana speaks as best an AI can in a situation like now, "Chief, John... these Covenant records show that only Jen and Josh were captured because they were undergoing augmentation at the time of the assault on the Reach colony. They escaped and took over the prison ship that was transporting them. However, the ship got trapped in the web of Medusa. They made it here in life pods only to be captured again."

Max speaks out, "John, I grieve for your loss. You must be strong. Cortana won't say it, at least not in front of me, but I know that if the Chosen escape the web of Medusa, they will bargain the location of your home world to the rest of the Covenant forces. Your world will be lost; all human kind will be annihilated. I cannot help you with what you must do, but I will not stop you either. The time has come for our paths to part."

John replies, "I could not have asked for a better friend Max. I understand that if our paths cross again, you may be honor bound to be my enemy. For now though, we part as friends. Live long my friend with honor."

Max gives John a big hug and then turns to leave. "Coming Croaker?"

Croaker turns to John, "Croaker miss you John and even miss girly AI."

John inquires, "are you scared Croaker?"

"No, Croaker also talk like this when sad." Croaker then heads out the door.

As Max leaves, he says, "Cortana, monitor the music, when you hear Blood in the Watcher's Eye, that is when the Chosen will make their move to the ark."

Cortana replies, "Thanks, goodbye Max. Goodbye Croaker, I will miss you too."

Cortana looks a John, "Chief, gather what we need, I've located our Long Sword fighter in a launch bay not too far from here."

[Da, na, na. The music goes on.]

The assault on Bala-dun has not gone well. What's left of the Covenant forces are now in a circle formation in total defensive mode -- tens of thousands more of the enemy pour out of the gates of Bala-dun.

Suddenly, just when all seemed lost, the skies above darken. "In the name of the fallen, we go to doom!" The demons have arrived.

Bolts of fire rain down on the flood from the flying demons while underground, demon spawn enter the fortress through cracks and holes.

The Covenant forces, seeing that the demons are only attacking the flood, cheer in delight. Then, moving in a spearhead formation, they charge through the gates of Bala-dun.

Far above the battle still rages, the Covenant hornet interceptors are agile and quick but they do not have the weapons to hurt the larger satellites in the orbital defense system. All the Covenant strike craft are destroyed. There is not much else that can be done.

Again, hope becomes renewed.

From the surface of Medusa come thousands of ships. Sauran ships, designed from the technology of the old ones, they are small, fast and powerful. Where have they hid these ships all these years, no Covenant knows, but neither do they care at this moment.

The tides of battle turn and at last the music blares, "Blood in the Watcher's Eye!" The path to the ark has been cleared.

Priestess Alainas and the other Chosen, in a thousand transports, launch from Medusa - Destination Bella, the 3rd moon, a.k.a. the Ark of the Covenant.

Now at this time, a certain discovery has been made by 2nd class science officer grunt, Og. He says, "priestess, we're not alone up here."

The priestess replies, "Of course we are not alone, look around at the greatness of the Chosen."

Og, in a timid voice, "I mean, the Chosen aren't alone."

Yes a very astute observation Og has made. Heading toward the 3rd moon is not one but three distinct groups of ships. We know one group is the Covenant Chosen. The second are strange vessels resembling squids in space - these are demon transports. The last are wedge-shaped stone like vessels - these are Sauran transports.

The priestess in a very frustrated voice, "destroy them."

Maybe Og should keep his trap shut, but he is duty bound, "we can't, we have no weapons. Not that transports have many weapons, but even those weapons we did have were removed to make room for more critical items. We have nothing to attack with, all of our fighter support is still engaged against the orbital defense satellites."

"Alright then, 3rd class science officer Og, we still do have engines don't we? We have to get to Bella before they do."

[Pan to the ships outside. Thousands and thousands of them all heading towards a single bluish-white orb.]

-- Next chapter, Queen Cortana --

The Return of the Archons (part 6) - Queen Cortana
Date: 3 August 2002, 10:35 pm

The description in a manual defines John's past and purpose in one simple entry: all that remains of a classified military project to build a series of genetically enhanced super-soldiers... humanities last and best hope...

John is a Spartan, a diplomat of might -- a soldier. As a human soldier you are trained to follow protocol, to obey command, and to keep things simple. Simplicity is necessity. Stay focused, stay alert, get the job done, no matter what.

Human history, however, is riddled with examples of soldiers that don't quite fit this mold. In fact, I would go so far as to say that beyond the soldier is a person -- an artist, a builder, a lover, a son, a daughter, a father, a mother, a human being.

On any other day, to say John is a human being would be enough for him. On this day, however, his task is great and he will need to reach deep inside to find strength. The sleeper within must wake.

[Smooth golden light fades as the view focuses on John, suited fully in his MJOLNIR battle armor.]

John ponders through a window to another world. The view is unlike anything he has seen before, yet strangely familiar, perhaps too familiar. Through the window, different colored objects the shape of keys can be seen floating in black. Some of the keys have alien hands and arms attached to them. The hands and arms of those before that have reached through the window only to grasp the wrong key.

For a moment the sleeper wakes, John thrusts his hand through the window, not at any floating key but at an empty spot in the blackness. He grasps a key, pulls it out through the window. In his hand he holds a translucent black key, an Omega key from the days of the old ones. The window closes to become nothing more than a mirror.

Here we stand at the end of the line, nowhere to go but back - Omega key inscription.

John snaps out of it. He looks at Cortana, her holographic image illuminating the black key. "Don't ask me how or why, but I have a gut feeling we're going to need this Cortana."

Cortana replies, "Chief your vital signs disappeared for just a moment, almost like you were dead or in stasis. I recommend that you give me a warning before you try a stunt like that again."

"Cortana, I wish I could. Let's get out of here. We've got work to do."

[Fade to black.]

In the skies far above, another story unfolds...

Enter the Saurans.

Powered by the technology of the old ones, the Sauran transports are the first of three to reach the 3rd moon. The moon called Bella is not a moon at all but instead it is a gigantic ship built ages ago - the Ark of the Covenant.

The first transport to land belongs to the Supreme Chief. A mighty Sauran, his reptilian skin clad in suit of dragon scaled armor, he bears with him a long rod with a translucent black key at one end.

On the key is inscribed: we are not the first, we are not the last, a new beginning just the same - Omega. The Supreme Chief places the key in a lock hidden in the rock. A turn of the key opens small bay doors. A second turn opens great bay doors.

Enter the demons.

Not far behind the Saurans, the demons arrive. Their transports, powered by the souls of the fallen, need not wait for the great bay doors to open, they move in and out of focus, disappear for a moment and reappear inside the great bay.

Boom! Boom! Doom! Surrounded by floating green flames, their Balrog master exits the largest transport; he too bears a translucent black key, his key the front spike of a demonic crown.

On the key is inscribed: we stand neither here nor there, the journey has begun - Omega. The Balrog places the key in a lock hidden inside a crystal panel. A turn of the key pressurizes the great bays behind transparent force fields. A second turn opens the inner gates to the heart of the ark.

Enter the Covenant Chosen.

The last to arrive, but not for lack of trying, is the Covenant Chosen. Their large and bulky transports are only tiny specs in the great bays. From one of the transports descends a shapely Covenant elite -- the Priestess Alainas. Flowing green and gold robes cover her battle armor. Around her thin neck she bears a translucent black key hanging from a golden chain. As she moves through an inner gate and down a dark, long corridor, there is no sign of the Saurans or of the demons. The ark is huge with many great bays and inner corridors.

On front of the priestess now lies an invisible barrier. She feels around the barrier and finds a hidden lock. Before she places the black key into the lock, she pauses for a moment, holds the key in her hands and reads the inscription: here we cross the thin line, the line in our mind - Omega. A turn of the key increases gravity and illuminates the corridors. A second turn removes the hidden barriers.

The long corridors wind around like blood vessels in the body, but as we know all blood vessels eventually lead to the heart. The Saurans, demons, and Chosen draw closer together.

In the camp of the Chosen, Priestess Alainas prepares for what will come. "Commander Larkin, order our servants to engage the Saurans when we reach the larger chambers near the heart. Then commander, we will break for the heart in the confusion. One more thing, we will need a good number of volunteers to delay the demons too, but don't risk the Imperial Guard, we may need them later."

In the camp of the demons, Doom walks with his army. Although each of his demons could easily defeat a single human marine or Covenant grunt in melee combat, they are not the mightiest of demon warriors, nor do their magical bolts of fire match up to a good assault rifle. They are here for one reason only, and that is because they are absolutely loyal to their master.

For the Saurans, there really is not one camp. They have chosen to split up into many different groups. Each group has a figure roughly dressed to look like the Supreme Chief. They hope to confuse the enemy. If it works out, the enemy will be busy attacking a fake Supreme Chief while the real one reaches the heart.

"Oblivion is at hand," whispers Og, the Convent science officer grunt, as he enters into the last and largest of many great chambers that must be crossed on the journey to the heart.

He is not the only one who whispers, they all do. It's not because the Chosen wish to move in silence. If they could, they would whistle or hum tunes, but they cannot, the greatness of the inner chambers has stolen their voices.

Bam! The sound of a sniper firing a fuel rod gun. Saurans can be seen moving quickly in the distance. The battle begins...

The servants of the Chosen are Saurans that have been converted to the light. They, shout ancient battle cries as they charge toward the Supreme Chief and his Sauran escort.

The Saurans, clad in ancient armor and painted in ceremonial colors prepare to meet the charge. Their eyes turn red and saliva foams from their mouths.

This is not a battle for control of the ark; this is eye-gouging, testicle-ripping savagery. As the Chosen servants charge, both sides begin throwing down their plasma weapons and slug-throwers. They unsheathe ancient blades. Not long blades like the Covenant energy swords but short multi-pronged knives that are remarkably good at gutting and skinning prey. They brutally fight, Sauran against Sauran, brother against brother.

Up above the battle, move the demons. In the vastness of the chamber, they take flight. Covenant snipers take shots, hitting some of the demons. The demons press on, leaving their wounded to fall to death.

The sounds of battle are left far behind Priestess Alainas and her entourage of Elites. They ride like the wind on Ghost reconnaissance vehicles. And just like that, they reach the heart.

Compared to the vast inner chambers, the heart seems cramped at only about 1 kilometer across. In the middle of the heart lies a small raised platform, the control center for the entire ark. A group of the Chosen race ahead and enter the control center. They raise their arms in victory, but before they can utter a word, they are quickly gunned down. Several Sauran snipers have been waiting in ambush.

Moving in light vehicles, three large groups of Saurans arrive from separate directions; among the third group is the real Supreme Chief. He laughs in a deep voice. From a distance he bellows, "Priestess Alainas, we meet at last. I see you have beaten me to the heart of the ark. However, fortune be with me today. Throw down your weapons, we have you out gunned, out numbered, and out smarted."

"No, you throw down your weapons. Hear that sound, soon my main battle force will be here. It looks to me like you are the one who has spread forces too thin."

There is a sound of approaching troops, but the priestess has grossly misheard. The sound is not the battle hymn of the Chosen, but the evil sheiks of the fallen. In march the demons, their force ten times the size of both the Supreme Chief's and Priestess' forces combined. Their master speaks and the ark shakes with his words. Boom! Boom! Doom! "Spartan, I should have known."

All eyes turn to look upon the control center. There stands John -- A tall, lone figure in pristine battle armor. John turns his Omega key once. Impenetrable shields surround the control center. A second turn expands the great light sails that power the ark.

"Get him!" Says the priestess as all eyes now focus in on a pile of dead bodies. Og squirms out from under a dead elite. He has been trapped there since the Sauran ambush. He stands up only a few meters from John. Now when Og was science officer 1st class grunt, commander of the Chosen expeditionary forces, he would not have hesitated even for a moment before diving for the plasma rifle just out of his reach to the right. From there he would unload on the Spartan, striking him down by the wrath of the Chosen. But alas, he is Og, 4th class science officer grunt. His head gets light, his eyes roll back, he passes out. Thud he hits the ground.

John continues what he was doing.

"Stop!" Shouts the priestess. "If you don't have the true Omega key, the third turn will destroy us all."

"She speaks the truth Spartan." Interjects the Supreme Chief in a deep voice. "We all have keys that we believe are the one, but only the true one brings hope."

John gazes through the translucent blue shields that surround him. The main battle force of the Chosen has arrived from one side of the chamber. From other sides he sees many groups of Saurans also arriving. The balance of power has almost equalized. Each side sizing up the others. John says to himself, "ah, this is going to be good."

Boom! Boom! Doom! "Spartan, we have a deal, remember? I gladly give you my Omega key, the true key." The great Balrog then holds out his crown towards John, palms facing up.

John knows what he must do. He cannot let the Covenant Chosen escape. He is duty bound to protect human kind at all costs. He must demand that the demons and the Saurans destroy the Chosen. In failing that, he must destroy them all. Behind John sits a large cylinder the size of a garbage can. The warhead of a powerful bomb designed to destroy capital ships. The bomb has little chance to destroy the ark, but it is plenty powerful enough to destroy the vital control center - disabling the ark for good.

Then again, why not turn the key? If it is the wrong one, everyone is destroyed, if by some unlikely chance it is the true one, he still has the bomb. Curiosity gets the better of John. He tries to turn the key, but it only moves slightly. Even with all his strength he cannot budge it any more.

The lights dim as a giant holographic figure appears above. The figure is that of a pointy-headed Covenant elite dressed in flowing multi-colored robes. He speaks with the voice of the High Priest. His voice heard throughout all of the ark, he echoes, "Spartan, first before all else, you must prove that you are worthy of the ark. Let the games begin."

Throughout the ark, monitors show what is happening. All fighting stops, everyone looks in awe. The control center is surrounded by holograms depicting great figures from past, present, and future - a hall of champions.

Far below in a secret bunker under the sacred lands, the High Priest has his own hall of ominous figures. He chooses a dark handsome figure with a horn protruding from his forehead. This is Dagarth the destroyer. As Dagarth disappears, a large satellite moves around the world of Medusa. It is Thog -- One of the larger defense satellites. From its main mass cannon it can launch stadium-sized rocks at one-tenth the speed of light. Controlled by the flood, its weapons power-up. In one minute it will have moved far enough around the planet to have a clear line of fire at Bella.

"Chief, I recommend that you choose a champion of your own. It appears that your choice will affect the events that happen around us."

John looks at the many holograms. He whispers back to Cortana, "I don't know which to choose."

Just at that moment a single hologram catches his eye. There before him is a winged man with silver-white hair. He is dressed in all black; from his dark shades that cover his eyes to his long trench coat and down to his shiny leather boots this in one bad dude. Sheathed over his shoulder he bears an ornate bastard sword. The sword has a deep and perfect ruby mounted on its pommel; its guard forms golden wings sloping towards the point of the blade. Below the hologram reads, Arch - Great Daemon Slayer.

John chooses Arch. The hologram begins to move. Arch removes his shades to reveal penetrating blue-eyes. Arch winks and then from his right hip he quickly draws a powerful looking pistol; spins the pistol around like an old-west gunslinger, then fires one shot into the air. In the loud boom, he disappears; the last thing to seen is his sword twirling in the air.

Outside passed Bella a huge and beautifully ornate ship can be seen. The ship, some 10 kilometers long, has been trapped in the web of Medusa for tens of thousands of years. This wonder is an Archonian flagship battlecruiser. Inside the ship, the crew wakes from stasis. The great demon hunters have arrived.

Cortana says, "Chief, we're picking a communication signal."

At that point the signal can be seen on all monitors throughout the ark.

"I am Commander Aspasia of the Flagship Yon-Akirakon. Identify yourselves and state your purpose." The voice comes from a beautiful human-like woman with short blonde hair, deep green eyes and slightly pointed ears.

John whispers, "Cortana, you got any recommendations?"

Before Cortana can reply, Commander Aspasia looks John straight in the eyes and says, "a sleeper." Then she looks down to the side, "Queen Cortana? (pause) Quick fire weapons."

With only moments to spare before Thog fires on Bella, the Yon-Akirakon fires as one continuous weapon. A single beam of energy blasts clean through the hull of Thog. As the pieces of Thog break apart, each piece begins to glow and as if converted into pure energy, they explode into nothingness. A chain reaction ensues destroying nearly all the defense satellites on this side of Medusa.

The Balrog looks at John. Boom! Boom! Doom! "Now I realize why I was so powerless against you Spartan. Figures you would have the blood of the great demon hunters in you. Souls like yours are not for me."

[From far away laughter can be heard]

Deep in the bunker the High Priest laughs. He chooses Glyvenmegan the Goblin assassin engineer. As he does, vents and bulkheads open on the ark. From them pour the flood. For nearly two years the flood has known that Bella was the ark, but because they did not have the true Omega key, they laid in wait in special stasis containers until the time that the true key arrives.

John eyes the hologram of a proud looking Elite. The Elite stands highly decorated in formal battle armor, shields glistening. John feels inspired; he is reminded of his friend Max. Below the hologram reads, Kavaszer - Commander Elite, with Pride and Honor did he serve.

John chooses Kavaszer. The hologram begins to move. Kavaszer crosses his arms and eyes the Spartan. His thoughts can be heard, "What an honorable duel this could be." He then looks to see the flood. He nods his head and then with his right arm over his chest, he salutes John and then drops out of sight as if descending on a turbo lift.

Boom! Boom! Doom! "We have all been foolish."

Priestess Alainas replies, "perhaps so, we have lived many years in peace before today."

In a deep voice the Supreme Chief says, "yes, we have. Oh great Balrog and most wise priestess, let us resolve our petty differences and fight as one."

Doom! "Yes as one we shall be oh most honorable chieftain and beautiful priestess."

"Yes, as one, most strong Balrog and wise chieftain."

The combined forces of the new alliance drive back the flood into far corridors. All cheer with arms raised high. Covenant, Sauran, and demon embrace and dance.

Their victory is shorted lived however. They all stop and listen.

[The sound of more flood approaching]

The High Priest has chosen Xanthugul the plague bringer. From inside the vast inner chambers of the ark comes the walking dead. They have been reanimated, host bodies to the flood.

"They're everywhere!" Shout Covenant grunts as they withdraw back to the more defensible heart of the ark.

John spins around, does a small dance step and points into the hall of champions. He is getting quite good at the game. "I choose her," he says confidently.

It's hard to tell what he has chosen although its does resemble a woman. The image is fuzzy -- only an outline can be seen. The inscription reads, Shade -- Who is she that gives nothing and gains rebirth? Destroyer of the saviors, blood on thy name.

The image of Shade disappears in a cloud of black smoke. Not holographic smoke, but real smoke as the hologram projector overheats and shuts down.

As the dead rise, the Yon-Akirakon has entered into the great bays of the ark, from the ship rains bolts of bluish-black energy. The bolts form into shapes. Now arrive the Spartan Shadowguard, mightiest of the Archon elite. They move like shadows in the night, destruction in their wake.

Pop! Pop! Pop, pop, pop, pop! Go the flood -- down to the very last one.

The forces of the new alliance cheer with delight. They chant, "Spartan, Spartan. Long live Spartan." John is beside himself. He raises his hands; arms stretched out. The cheering continues.

Just above the cheers can be heard the voice of the High Priest. The crowd quiets down. They listen.

"Spartan, I admit that bringing in the Archons was not something I expected. I say that you have played the game well. However, the game ends now, I have the one that the Archons have never been able to defeat. I choose Shai'tan the Great - Demon Overlord."

There appears a great demon lord, green energy radiating into flames. Doom the Balrog mutters, "father."

Shai'tan speaks, the souls of all tremble to his words. Even John, who has had some protection bestowed on him, trembles in fear, the feeling of utter devastation rips the strength from his limbs. His knees begin to buckle.

Beside the great demon lord stands a most beautiful woman. She has the likeness of Cortana or should I say that Cortana has the likeness of her. If not for her bright light, John knows his soul would surely have imploded leaving nothing but an empty shell.

Shai'tan's thundering voice, "High Priest, I have mastered the dark and conquered the light. You are a fool to believe that the power of the old ones could bind one such as me. Now play your silly games. Your soul is mine."

With that Shai'tan and his queen vanish.

[Utter silence.]

"Chief, snap out of it."

"Whaaat, Cortana?"

"Chief, I highly recommend that you choose another before the High Priest recovers."

John eyes a mighty god of ancient times, thunder and lightning flying from his fists.

"I choose him." But as John points, he stumbles on an arm of one of the dead elites lying about. Instead he points at the hologram of an average looking Covenant grunt. There doesn't seem to be anything special about him, but his face does bear the look of experience, the kind of experience that can only be gained by living in hard times. The inscription reads simply, Banserki - the chosen one.

Banserki begins to move. He stretches has arms out and rotates his neck as if he is stiff from standing still too long. He slaps himself on the shoulders, then clenches his fists and moves them in small circles while he makes ugly faces as if he is trying to psych himself up. Banserki looks at John, salutes him, and then snaps his fingers. Snap! Snap, again but nothing happens. Banserki looks around, then lowers his head and turns around to face a door that appears. He opens the door and walks through. His image fades.

Down on planet Medusa, the doors to the secret bunker blast open. The High Priest turns around to see that members of the Elite 7th Imperial Guard have arrived, his most trusted servants. "How did you get in here? How dare you disturb me!"

In walks a mighty Elite in full Imperial battle armor. He is once again the commander of the mighty 7th and the leader of the newly formed MUF, Medusa Unified Forces. Behind him walks his second in command, the Sauran Croaker.

Max speaks, "High Priest, you are under arrest for high crimes against the people."

Before the High Priest can make a move, the Elites grab him and force him to his knees.

Max continues, "The penalty is death."

Thud... The head of the High Priest hits the ground. Max sheaths his energy sword. "You have been sentenced."

[Game over. Play again?]

Max looks through the viewer. "John, it is good to see that you too have survived another day, my friend."

"Max, Croaker it's great to see you buddies. How long before you can get up to the ark?"

"As you can image, John, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done here. We must part are ways again. Live long with honor my friend."

"Live long with honor my friends," John replies to Max and Croaker.

Max then removes a translucent black key from a control panel. His image vanishes.

John's Omega key turns once more on its own. The great ark breaks orbit.

[Fade to black.]

Many months have passed. Inside his Long Sword fighter, John sits entranced as he receives a transmission from Princess Kira, leader of the Archons.

Outside the ship, the great Yon-Akirakon battle cruiser has met up with a dozen smaller Akirakon class cruisers. Together they form a huge stargate. The ark and all ships pass through the gate except for the lone Long Sword.

Kira speaks in her soft and soothing voice, "John, rest assured that all is prepared. The Covenant Chosen will come and live in the Archonian worlds. They will be well provided for and well watched. The location of Earth will be safely guarded."

"As for Doom, because he has a claim on his father's throne, his father, Shai'tan, wants him destroyed. Doom may still become the ally foretold in our legends. We have allotted to him several captured demon cruisers. They wait for him at Archon."

"The Saurans will be very happy. The children of the old ones are always welcome."

"My precious John, our time draws short. We must make our parting words."

John speaks softly, "Princess Kira, you burn so bright, my heart is lifted. When will I see you again?"

"John, the time will come when we will speak face to face, body to body, soul to soul. As you know, sleepers are forbidden to come to or be in contact with Archon before they are fully awakened. Circumstances have allowed me to break the latter rule but at some cost. I might not be able to contact you again. We will have to wait and see. Farewell my guardian sleeper. At Archon I wait for you."

"Good-bye, Kira."

Kira smiles, "With the recovery of our flagship Yon-Akirakon, our greatest heroes return. There is hope that we may meet sooner than later for I can truly say, the Archons have returned."

[Transmission ends.]

In the background Cortana can be seen standing tall, chin raised high. Her holographic body is reflected in a holographic mirror. "Queen Cortana, I could get use to that. You know Chief that the Archonians are a greatly advanced race. They believe that there is power in names. I share the same name and likeness to their queen."

"Your majesty, what can a lowly Spartan say in the presence of such grace?"

"Alright Chief, I get your point, back to work. By the way, the Sauran modifications to our engines and the new shield and weapons array provided by the Archons are working wonderfully. Should we set course for Reach?"

"Yes, make it so."

[Pan to the stars, the lone Long Sword fighter zips away, in a flash it is gone.]

-- The End --

The Return of the Archons by Wado