[i]Prologue[/i] [b]I Am Sangheili[/b] [b]Year 2535, Location Unknown 17 years ago[/b] Sangheili. A humanoid, reptilian race of once bloodthirsty and savage and now intelligent beings. Standing at over seven feet tall, broad, their mouths naturally split in four directions to form mandibles. Their hearts enveloped in an unbreakable code of honor and pride. The most powerful warriors in the Universe. And yet so ignorant. Daka 'Solonee was a Sangheili--one far too confident in his raw talent and constant luck in battle. He had just barely passed battle training on his homeworld, Sanghelios, where he'd managed to survive a grueling and unadventurous twenty years of his life. The title 'peasant' would have been a more than welcome promotion in his lonely, dark-shrouded home in the slums of the city Solon. And now, once again, he was standing as still as a statue, in darkness, his weary, bloodshot eyes fixated on the immense, ancient door in front of him. He was not alone. Szana 'Rethnee drew up beside him, 'Solonee's oldest friend and comrade, which was odd enough since 'Rethnee was a well recognized, disciplined and proven warrior who even donned the glimmering silver armor of an Ultra in the ranks of the Covenant military. "So we have found it, at long last," 'Rethnee said softly, bowing his head as if the door possessed some divine power. "So it would seem," 'Solonee agreed. He turned to his partner, and suddenly he didn't look so exhausted. Arriving here seemed to have rejuvenated him, washed away the pain that had weighed him down for so long. "We've come to the end of the journey. We did it. We made it through in one piece." "I wish we could say the same for the others," 'Rethnee murmured. "The others died aiding this expedition. They are what got us here now." 'Solonee sighed. "I don't think they'd have wanted to go out any other way." There was a moment of silence while the two pondered the loss of their four comrades. They'd done their grieving already. It was time to seal those memories away and move on. "You're right." 'Rethnee laid hand on his friend's armor-clad shoulder. "Open it. Retrieve the artifact. Let us return to High Charity as heroes." 'Rethnee stepped back as 'Solonee tentatively approached the door. It was time. After all the trouble they'd been through, it was finally time to claim his honor. Claim his infinite riches for the discovery that would change the universe. Perhaps even claim his position on the Covenant High Council. Whatever the future held, 'Solonee was sure he'd be pleased with it. He'd never been happier in his life. The Sangheili placed his left hand on the door, then his right, his fingers anxiously scanning the ancient architecture. He knew it was more than beautiful. It was alive, textured with steel veins of long-shackled power and engulfed in unsolvable mystery. He closed his eyes, breathed in a long, steady breath-- held it for a long moment-- then exhaled quickly, his eyes snapping open. In that instant, the veins of the door glowed a faint and yet greatly illuminating white. Pain shot through 'Solonee's fingertips, up his arms, spread all through his torso and down his legs. Pain that countless other ignorant adventurers had felt before him. His scream was just another melody in a never-ending song of misery. "Daka!" 'Rethnee shot forward to aid his friend, his eyes wide with horror. "NO!" 'Solonee screeched, gritting his teeth. "STAY BACK!" Reluctantly, the Sangheili stopped in his tracks, pleading to the gods that his friend would be spared. By luck, he received an immediate answer. Suddenly, all around them, the white veins of light streaked through the caverns, the powerful white glare battling fiercely against the darkness. A metallic, gritty voice, older than time itself, boomed through the underground facility. The world rumbled angrily, throwing 'Rethnee off his feet. [i]What sentient ventures into the Nexus?[/i] 'Solonee raised his head triumphantly at the sound of the voice. He pressed harder than ever before on the door, not even wincing at the pain that would have annihilated a normal being. He opened his mouth, and boomed a command in some unknown tongue. The rumbling stopped. The door swung open slowly for the first time in thousands of years. 'Rethnee gasped, confused and more frightened than he'd ever been. 'Solonee walked over and helped him to his feet, a newfound pride in his eyes. His comrade stared at him. "Those words..." 'Rethnee began. [i] "Massa er axa mana,"[/i] 'Solonee translated. "I am Sangheili." [b]Halo: Heretic or Hero---An Elite's Story[/b] [Edited on 07.28.2010 5:18 AM PDT]