"Even as she dies, Sangheilios remains graceful," Thel Vadam', Arbiter of the Sangheili observed as he watched the beams of concentrated plasma in the distance cascade across the surface of his home. It felt as if the glassing beams were smashing into his heart. The two Sangheili were walking across the planet of Sangheilios, and more specifically were climbing Vadam mountain. In childhood, the two had always intended to do it together, but R'tas had been drafted into the military before they had the chance. This was their final opportunity, and they had seized it. The glassing beams were being fired away from their position, and Vadam was to be their final destination, long after Thel and R'tas left. "That she does, my brother. Never did I think this day would come. It is--" "Horrible," Thel finished his friend R'tas' sentence, putting a hand on the slightly smaller Sangheili's shoulder with his good arm. R'tas noticed the pained glance Thel had shot at his sword arm, which was suspended mangled and useless in a sling of sorts. "Does it hurt, Arbiter?" "My arm? No. The nerves have been completely destroyed, or so the physicians tell me. It is not wise to have a dead appendage hanging for long however; amputation is due tomorrow," Thel spoke sadly, voice tinged with distress. "But an arm is a small price to pay for my life." "Perhaps an artificial limb would be an elegant--" R'tas began. "[i]No![/i] I refuse to be augmented with machinery, my brother. I am a Sangheili, not some ill-begotten cyborg. I shall merely have to teach my left hand how to wield a sword." "A noble sentiment Thel, but will you be able to manage with just one arm?" "Do you manage with just half of your jaw intact?" the Arbiter retaliated, and that was that. R'tas studied his friend for a moment, before nodding. Now was not the time. Instead he focused on the climb, not bothered in the slightest by vertigo as he reached higher and higher. Finally, after nearly an hour of effort and turmoil, the two friends reached the summit; so high that it had not been tainted by the Flood. R'tas stared happily at the pure Sangheilios grass covering the top of the mountain, the light blue blades swaying softly in the cool breeze. Patches of snow dotted the wide summit, caught in the trees and on the sharp crags. The Arbiter sat next to him, as weary as he was. The glassing beams were more visible than ever, and R'tas knew that they did not have long before the atmosphere would begin to boil away. A Phantom remained alert below them, ready to pick them up at a moment's notice. The city of Vadam dominated the scene, a smoking, blazing wreck of a ruin. The walls separating the large hub from the outlying land and all its houses and small towns were crumbled, some scattered across the Flood tainted plains. Buildings were collapsed and ablaze, and the streets were piled high with the corpses of the Flood. They would rot on the streets, and deserved no more. R'tas was still uneasy about taking some of the Parasite prisoner, but the Didact had insisted. They were in secure, airtight containment in ships which could be destroyed at a moments notice, and were being taken to the glassed planet of Reach for safety. "Do you think Earth will serve us well as our new home?" R'tas asked the Sangheili who was his friend, brother in-arms and advisor. Thel considered his words for a few moments, absently ripping tufts of the tough Sanghelian grass from the ground. Perhaps some of the seeds could be preserved, and sewn elsewhere. "It is but temporary, my brother. We shall find a new world to call our own soon," the Arbiter finally replied, setting himself to the task of collecting the seeds of the blue blades of grass. "But when, Arbiter? The colonies are as ruined as Sangheilios is, and every human world we encountered was razed to the ground. Even if we find a suitable planet, the technology needed to terraform it sufficiently was lost with the downfall of the Covenant and Sangheilios. Perhaps in time we shall find a new home, but it will be many years." "Our primary focus should be pro-creation," Thel answered, coughing awkwardly as he broached the uncomfortable subject. "The Sangheili have been devastated by the Great Schism and now this. But a few hundred thousand of us remain. The humans may even outnumber us now." "Then we need to keep our vigil against those who could cause us harm," R'tas told him, face grim. "It will not be long before the Unggoy replenish their numbers; they breed like rodents." "You fear another rebellion?" "I predict it. Much of our might has been lost, and the Unggoy have always wanted independence. Now would be a good time for them to strike." "Then perhaps we should simply grant them independence," Thel voiced the radical thought he'd been entertaining out loud. R'tas started. "[i]What?[/i]" "The Kig-Yar and the Mglekgolo and all the rest, too. We are not the Covenant, my brother. They are all people too; they do not deserve to be kept in what is effectively glorified slavery." "Arbiter, what you suggest is--" "The best solution," Thel interrupted. "We grant them their independence, assist them in setting up their own governing bodies, and allocate them some of the land the humans will give us." "An admirable plan, Arbiter, but the Brutes and Prophets will never agree to it." "Daedalus is a good and wise person. He will see the merits in this decision, and will convince the others. We can hammer out all the details when we arrive at Earth. No doubt a treaty shall be formed." "Don't remind me," R'tas groaned. "The chances are that it will take weeks, or maybe even months to create such a treaty. I am not looking forward to being buried in political talk. It is a shame that most of the Council is dead." "Fear not, for we shall form a new one. With time, R'tas, the Sangheili will rebuild, and we shan't be alone. Together with the humans and those that we grant independence, we shall all create a unified conglomeration which will stand the test of time, and any who seek to destroy it." "By your word, Arbiter... the glassing beams draw closer. It is time we leave, I think." Thel sighed, standing up slowly, and looked out for one last time at a Sanghelian sunset. The pseudo-indigo star of Helios drifted beyond the horizon, the sky a myriad of purples, blues and oranges. "Very well," he said, activating the communicator on his neck. "We are ready to leave, pilot." The Unggoy on the other end of the line replied in a few moments. "[i]At once, Arbiter. Also, I have been instructed to give you a message. The Demon has awoken.[/i] Thel's head snapped up, looking at R'tas. His fellow Sangheili's expression also conveyed shock. "The Spartan is awake? By the gods! Hasten to us quickly, good Unggoy. I want to see this miracle with my own eyes." * * * * * * * * * "So, Mendicant Bias. You say that you can feel the Flood?" the Didact asked sceptically, staring intensely at the AI he had created long ago. The two were walking through the empty, quiet halls of one of the Flood prison ships. As Mendicant Bias passed by the cells containing the quiet, beaten Flood, they stood up and gathered at the bars, attempting to reach out to the AI like children to a parent. "I don't just [i]feel[/i] them, creator of mine. They're an extension of myself. Everything they experience, I do. Their minds are linked to my own," Mendicant Bias replied in an amazed tone, looking at the despondent, imprisoned Flood. The Didact stared at him through slit eyes, hand brushing against the human pistol he had at his side. "So... you're their Gravemind," he surmised, thinking about how he could take Mendicant Bias out if needed. A well-placed bullet would probably shut him down, or at the least buy him time to deal a quick strike. "I suppose I am," Mendicant Bias uttered, seemingly surprised by this revelation. "But that does not mean I am evil, creator. No; this is a chance for the Flood to start anew." "You know as well as I that they will all be executed en masse until not a single spore remains," the Didact replied in a dead-tone voice. Mendicant Bias sighed, looking again at the Flood. On the surface, they were hideous abominations, but he had seen beneath that. Inside, they were deep, living people who had emotions like anyone else. "Then help them, Didact," Mendicant Bias suddenly said, looking up at the surprised face of the Forerunner. "I beg your pardon?" he demanded, staring down at Mendicant Bias with an alarmed expression. "Appeal on their behalf. I am somewhat respected, but not nearly as much as you. The Elites and Covenant will listen to you, and I know the humans will be persuaded if you present a strong enough case." "And why would I do that?" the Forerunner asked, eyes stone cold agates. "Because everyone deserves a second chance. Your people failed the task assigned to them by the Precursors. Does this mean that every Forerunner should die?" "Every Forerunner [i]is[/i] dead," the Didact responded automatically, and Mendicant Bias laughed. "You know that's not true. There are hundreds, or even thousands of installations in this galaxy, and many more shield worlds in slipspace. Do you not think it's possible that some of your people survived?" "I don't pin my hopes on possibilities." "Then what else is there to hope for, Didact?" There was silence between the two for a few moments. Finally, the Forerunner spoke.