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      Dr. Hobson in particular had formed a bond with Brutus.
They had begun mind-conditioning Brutus since he came out of the tube. Brutus' species may have been trying to destroy humanity, but Brutus had been born into this world as one of the humans. He shared the views of the humans, and was of a level of loyalty towards his creators and their cause that was the same, if not more than, that of the honoured men and women who were serving with their lives for humanity in the UNSC.
      Yet even though in spirit one could say Brutus was a human, physically he was not. And the brain is a physical thing. Thus, Brutus' brain did think differently, and sometimes did not understand concepts that humans did.
      The Scientists had a limited archive of the Elite language, and though they had endeavoured to compile and teach as much of it as possible to Brutus, (as he was going to need to be able to communicate with the Covenant if not to arouse suspicion) they had been forced to fill in the gaps in their knowledge of the language. So Brutus spoke a mongrel mix of his species' language, and German, (the Scientists found that Brutus found it easier pronouncing German words with his four jaws than English ones.)
      And now, Dr. Hobson was having a deep conversation with Brutus, using some translating software they had created, to act as translator for the two.
The pair had become well accustomed to speaking, waiting for the computer to translate, listening to the reply, and waiting for the computer-converted reply that would be comprehendible.
Brutus growled slowly.
      The computer translated as he spoke,

      "I understand the principles of right and wrong. I understand that to be an enlightened being I must endeavour to do what's right. Yet I myself, and everything I learn, is clouded by bias. By simply having an opinion, one is obscuring the means to see right ad wrong. Surely a side fights because it believes it is right. For there to be conflict, two or more parties must be involved. These parties will fight because they believe their view to be right. Yet if those views conflict, logic dictates that one or more is wrong. I think the only way to perceive right and wrong is to be neutral. Yet I am not neutral, I am biased. So I am unable to judge right and wrong."
Dr. Hobson interrupted in anticipation of the point Brutus was about to make.
       "So you are concerned that if you cannot judge right and wrong, you cannot prove to yourself that the side you fight for is the justified cause."
Brutus listened to the translation, and nodded.
       "Yes."
Dr. Hobson gave a small laugh.
       "Well, I don't know what to say. Of course I believe that the human cause is just. Yet the very fact I am on the human side means my view has no ground, if your assumption is correct."
After saying that, and realising what he had said, he laughed again.
       "Why do you find it amusing?" Asked Brutus.
Dr. Hobson wiped his eye.
       "Because Brutus, you have no idea how terrified everyone is that when you infiltrate the Covenant military, you will decide that perhaps you would rather fight for them. And yet, here I am, fathoming with you over whether the human cause is actually right or not."
Brutus growled swiftly.
       "I feel strongly that the human cause is just also, and I will not abandon you."
Dr. Hobson nodded, waving his hand dismissively.
       "Yes, yes, I know that, Brutus, I myself am convinced of your loyalty. Yet in answer to your question: No side can be truly right or wrong, because there is no universal concept of right or wrong. What is acceptable in some cultures, may be considered an abomination in others. So technically, you can have two conflicting sides, yet both can be right, in accordance with their own morals. For us, we believe that we as beings are entitled to live, to exist. Yet the Covenant come, with no apparent provocation, and seem determined to deny us even the basic right to life. So Brutus, if you believe that it is right that beings should be able to exist, the very principle that life is for, then you are on the right side. Because the Covenant fight to end our existence, we fight to preserve it."
There was a long silence.
Dr. Hobson was awaiting Brutus to continue, expecting him to find more flaws in the explanation. However Brutus was satisfied. It is really quite surprising how much of one's communication and understanding is based on body language, of course this was nulled here, as Doctor Hobson could never learn to read the face of a four-jawed alien. Therefore, he couldn't be sure if Brutus was going to continue or not.
      In the end, however, the silence was broken by neither of them, but by that of Archimedes, the lab AI.
       "Brutus, Doctor Hobson. Head Professor Zolkievich wishes that you join and the rest of the team in the hardware lab."
Following the Doctor's lead, Brutus followed Doctor Hobson out of the small conference room.

       "The URA MJOLINER has arrived." Cried Professor Zolkievich eagerly to Brutus and Doctor Hobson as they joined the others.
Professor Zolkievich noted once again as he looked at Brutus how peculiar such a tall, exotic being appeared against the rest of them, standing several feet higher than even Doctor Hobson.
Doctor Hobson asked,
       "You're not going to open it are you? Shouldn't we leave that for when Brutus arrives at Reach?"
Professor Zolkievich snapped,
       "I should like to see Brutus in this armour before he must leave for Reach. Besides, that's still a few days away. During the time between now and then he can be getting accustomed to donning this armour, so he will be completely used to it by the time he begins combat training."
No one disagreed, secretly every one of them wanted to see Brutus in the armour, anyway.

      After about an hour of fitting the Scientists stood back and admired Brutus.
He stood, like some exotic knight, clad in iridescent blue, chromed-smooth armour. Outwardly it seemed no different from the amour the other Elites wore. But inside it was another matter.
       "How does it feel?" Asked Doctor Lloyd.
The computer translated for Brutus, and then translated his slightly irritated growl of a response.
       "Uncomfortable and restrictive. I think this armour will hinder me. I detest the armour plates that latch to my jaws, they do not allow me to close my maw properly."
Brutus gave his jaws a frustrated clench, fighting against the restraint of the mandible plates.
       "Sadly it is absolutely crucial to your success, Brutus. However, as I requested, NavSpecWep has given it a number of 'refinements.' " The Doctor addressed Archimedes, "Archimedes, begin the URA-MJOLINER display program."
The hologram crystals set into the ceiling warmed and projected a number of symbols and arrows that indicated the many parts of the armour, little boxes of scrolling information accompanying each arrow.
Brutus looked at his armour, moving his arms and watching with mild interest as the holographic arrows reacted and followed his movements.
       "Brutus, stop moving about, please." Said Professor Zolkievich, to which Brutus obediently stood straight and still.
       "Now," Said Professor Zolkievich, examining the holograms, "My, my, my! They've included things I never envisioned. Not only have they given the armour the same AI capacity as a warship and given you refined shielding, but they've included all other sorts of other hidden equipment. Brutus, raise your left forearm so it is vertical, and flex your middle claw until it touches your palm."
Brutus did so, and as he did, to his and the other scientists surprise, a small fiber-optic camera began to snake it's way from a virtually indistinguishable slot at the top of the gauntlet. Brutus unflexed his finger, and the camera stopped snaking out, then flexed it again, and the camera quickly zipped back into the gauntlet.
       "Cute." Said Doctor Lloyd, "But it's hardly going to save his life in a critical situation, is it?"
Professor Zolkievich ignored her and continued dictating actions for Brutus to follow.
By the time they had finished, they had uncovered a short 400 volt stun-lance that extended from the left gauntlet, sedation darts fired from the right gauntlet, several small, detachable sabotage-mines hidden in small compartments in the lower leg armour, night and thermal vision as well as scanning reticules that flipped down from the rim of the helmet, and all manner of concealed miniature sabotage and security insurgency equipment in the torso.
       "Very impressive..." Breathed Doctor Hobson, "What do you think, Brutus?"
Brutus growled, and the computer translated,
       "Worth the burden."

*******************

      The Scientists all donned vac suits, as did Brutus in a custom-made suit, (even though he was capable of actually surviving the deadly-cold vacuum of space for short periods of time.)
They were gathered to await the pickup of Brutus by a secured UNSC escort to take him to Reach for training and augmentation. The Professor stared for a while at the half of Earth visable from over the Moon's horizon. Their underground lab was based on the edge of the dark side of the Moon, so he never got to see any more of the human homeworld than that from where he stood. It looked so exposed and vunerable. It wasn't hidden, it was only that the galaxy was vast, and that the Covenant were having to search it all. Yet despite this, faced with an enemy that was so successfully destroying human worlds, Earth's doomsday seemed certain to be drawing near.
      And yet, here he was, with Brutus, trying to change the course of history and the destinies of billions of precious lives.
      The Scientists were all grimly silent. This was the point where they knew all their efforts were over, time to unleash what they had created upon the outside. Yet, the most horrible realisation was that once Brutus was on the escort, the Scientists' chance, there shot at changing things, was over. No time to change anything or go back, that was it. And all they had to look forward to was to await the time when they would find out whether they had done enough. And resting upon that knife-edge was all that human minds had ever truly contemplated; humanity's existence.
      It was a lost, hollow feeling, like being cast adrift into a foggy sea filled with rocky, shallow waters. And the only thing that would break the painful silence of waiting was the failure of a rock tearing through their boat, or the unbelieving relief of the boat softly embedding itself in the wet sand of a shore.
And here came the escort.
      The Professor recognised the pick-up as a UNSC 'Pelican' dropship. It was flanked by a pair of stout 'Bearclaw' gunships, a number of gun turrets swivelling around in unfading vigilance.
      The Pelican landed, it's vac doors opened, and six UNSC Vacuum Troopers piled out. They wore body-gloves of kevlar, scaled-down breathing apparatus and life-support systems, as well as combat armour. They carried assault rifles the Professor would not have been able to name, he assumed they were the standard issue for these kind of soldiers.
      The Troopers ran with extended, leaping bounds due to the Moons gravitational strength, until they came to an effortless stop before the Professor's team and the towering Brutus.
One of the Troopers stepped forward, the small rim of his gold-plated visor obscuring any expression, leaving only the static, artificial helmet.
       "Professor Zolkievich, as mutually requested by the Joint Chiefs of the UNSC, the Head Officials of ONI, and yourself. We are here to collect the individual, 'Brutus' and to escort him to Reach."
The Professor smiled to himself from behind his transparent facial visor, it sounded like the Trooper had rehearsed speaking this little protocol.
       "Very well, we relinquish custody and care of Brutus, who is now to be taken by the appropriate UNSC personnel whom you shall be transporting him to."
The Professor turned to Brutus and extended his hand.
Brutus recognised the sentiment and gripped the small Professor's hand carefully and shook it appropriately.
       "Goodbye Brutus." Said the Professor with finality.
Brutus paused as he pondered a reply, then he growled it. He knew they could not understand him without the translating software in the labs, but if they could have, they would have understood him to say,
       "If I do not die during my mission, I shall endeavour to see you again."

      Professor Zolkievich and his team watched as Brutus was escorted by the wary Troopers into dropship. The soldiers seemed uncomfortable, probably wondering what damage Brutus would do should he suddenly turn on them. Brutus looked cramped as he hunched over in the Pelican drop-off hatch, as the vac door came up, and the Pelican took off, followed by the gunships.
       "Now what?" Asked Doctor Wardmen a little hopelessly.
The Professor turned to his team, and spoke simply,
      "I think we had better get back into the labs and get back to work on the Covenant stasis shield technology. Before Brutus, ONI was pressuring us to discover how to maintain field stability while holding temporary shield breaches, they'll be pushing us again soon, we'd better get a head start."
The Scientists agreed enthusiastically, glad to be still contributing to humanity's cause.

****************************

      Brutus was listening to the Vac Troopers, although he had never been actually taught English as such- as it was believed it would be useless for his mission and he could not pronounce it very well. Yet, he still had picked up some rudiments of the standard human language, and listened to them behind a veil of utter disregard.
       "Never had the chance to see one this close before." Said one of the Troopers, beneath his visor he was examining the details of Brutus' face..
       "I've never seen one. Period." Admitted another. "I've only ever seen combat with the Covenant once, most of the time the bastards just orbital bomb."
       "Where did you see combat?" Asked another Trooper.
       "Draco III." He replied.
Several of the Troopers also said that they had been in the Draco III conflict.
       "What division were you in then?"
       "Division 17, we were assigned to guard secured civilian gatherings."
And so the Vaccum Troopers continued to talk, now beginning to ignore Brutus, when the Pilot of the Pelican announced on the come in a relaxed, slightly drawling voice.
       "Okay boys, we'll be docked with the 'Viking' in two." He said, referring to the cruiser they were headed for. "Get the alien ready." He added coldly.

***************************

      The Pelican came in the appropriate starboard hanger to be welcomed by four platoons of Marines, as well as the Captain and several lower ranking Officers.
Brutus watched their expressions as he came out from the Pelican, ranging from cool calm to uncomfortable disposition.
      The Captain, was one of the more reserved. As the use of the translation software was not really an option in the hanger, the Officers the Captain ordered to escort Brutus to the cryo room had to make do with gesturing.

      Brutus was not at all pleased.
The translation program was applicable in the cryo room, and the Technicians were trying to explain.
The on board AI translated,
       "We assure you, we've been sent specifications, and there will be no differences in freezing you than freezing a human, the anatomical differences are not a problem, it will be fine."
Brutus gave a fierce growl that made one of the Technicians think about calling in some armed support.
       "Once I have been frozen, I will be helpless. I am not willing to be so dependant on strangers."
The Technicians despaired, they could hardly force such a creature into the cryo tube even if they wanted to.
One of them opened a comm channel to the Captain, requesting council on how to proceed.
The Technician soon finished on the comm and then addressed his fellow.
       "The Captain's coming down to see if he can work this out."

      After a bit of talking to from Captain Malik, Brutus reluctantly cooperated.
Brutus lay back, finding he had to bend his knees slightly to just fit into the cryo tube.
One of the Technicians took a deep breath, forcing his face into an expression of determination and advanced up to Brutus with the Bronchial Surfactant Apparatus. He addressed Brutus.
       "I'm not sure how easily this is going to fit in your mouth," He said, eyeing Brutus' jaws, "So I need you to hold it in position, and when I say; you inhale as big a breath as you can manage. When you do this, you will be taking a fluid into your lungs. I urge you, do not panic. It will feel strange and unpleasant, and you will want to cough it up, but you must lie back, and do not inhale any more after you have taken in the fluid."
Brutus grunted, and took the device, holding the mouth piece awkwardly in his mouth with his jaws wide open.
       "Okay, now... inhale." Ordered the Technician.
Brutus took in a huge breath, and it took all his mental restraint to stop himself from gagging forward and trying to cough. A jet of a syrupy liquid shot unpleasantly down what felt very much to be 'the wrong way.' He could not breath, he knew that, so uneasily, he lay back, not knowing what was going to happen next.
      The Technician monitored Brutus' readings and keyed the tube door shut.
The hatch hissed slowly down, until Brutus could only be seen behind its acrylex pane.
       "Venting in Trioxide now!" Cried the Technician.
Gas hissed madly about Brutus, although he obediently remained still and quiet.
       "OK, inducing optical coolant, temperature dropping."
The Technician watched as the gauge dropped to -269 degrees centigrade, a little above absolute zero.
The Technician held his breath as he checked the stabilisation readings, to see that they were green.
       "Thank God for that!" He whispered.
The Captain, whom had watched the whole thing, commented with a hint of disapproval,
       "It seemed to have a psychological complex about being completely dependant, I wonder what other problems Command will encounter when faced with this thing's different mental mechanics?"
Captain Malik stared at the frozen form of Brutus for a few moments, then exited the cryo room.

*******************************

       "Captain, the security outpost 'Trident' is requesting we transmit our ID code."
Captain Malik did not turn his head.
       "You don't need my permission to carry out such a menial task, Ensign." He said curtly.
Ensign Nylund gave his eyes a resentful roll and transmitted the code.
       "A simple 'Yes Ensign' would have sufficed, you dick!" The Ensign thought silently.
The Viking, receiving permission to continue from the security outpost, proceeded towards one of the orbital docks in orbit around Reach.
       "Freud!" Summoned Captain Malik, addressing the ship AI, "Notify the necessary personnel to wake up our cargo, have it ready in personnel poly-airlock 5, with an armed escort."
       "Yes Sir." Freud confirmed.

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