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Description
[So this one is kind of old. I did the sketch a while back and was never able to finish it since I had to give up my tablet for artwork. But I’ve had the story dialogue done for some time so I figured it was best I just post it. So here it is]
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Janai - Part One - The Alliance:

The vast territory of Onyx left Janai the ideal opportunities to observe the human settlement as well as the Servants of Abiding Truth seeking refuge. Her efforts to sneak into the highly classified shield world under the blasphemous human’s control, was in her favor. None of the Servants within the large vessel named Song of Wrath had detected her presence on board. She had strategically hid away inside the cargo hold of the ship, and slipped away undetected just as they unloaded their gear.
She found herself at the small settlement of Panom, laid remotely on the edge of a large forest covering most of the super continent of Vakkoro. The planet known as Hesduros was one of the many Sangheili colonized planets, along with her own home planet Sarav. Though the knowledge of her home planet’s existence was granted to only those chosen to settle by the once holy Prophets. Janai would not care to step foot on the planet’s surface were it not for the hidden treasure on Hesduros.
Janai was seeking the same artifact as the Servants of Abiding Truth, a righteous organization devoted to the path the gods had chosen for the people in the beginning. Honorable warriors and legendary Heroes, these are the traits that had defined her kind. And it is all being tainted by the coward Thel ‘Vadam, well known as the Arbiter. He had made peace with the wretched human race and in doing so, he has displayed weakness among her people. In the face of their Gods.
The Servants of Abiding Truth, are the only still active followers of the Faith other than the remnants of what was the Covenant. News had spread quickly over the faction’s failed conquer of Sangheilios and the loss at the Arbiter’s death.
Janai had not been on Sangheilios at the time of the battle, rather than staying alongside her Great-Uncle in her second home within the region of Ontom. She had successfully delved deeper into the plans of the Servants, her skills as an assassin granted her access to many of their secrets. One of which was a ancient holy artifact, created by the Gods themselves. A portal like device, hidden on the backwater planet of Hesduros. Though it brought little surprise to her for she had come from a similar planet, Sarav. Compared to others it was considered a dwarf planet, concealing the true treasure locked within it. The Gods had created countless Holy Relics and Artifacts of great power and strength amongst their created. The Vault was one such Holy structure, locking away Relics once used by the Gods themselves. One of these, being the very chest piece of armor Janai wears to this day and her chosen weapon. As well as the very Essence that flows in her blood, an experimentation that left her the way she is now. But that was all irrelevant now, certain events occurred and she claims Sangheilios as her true home world.
A Forerunner portal, the only ones able to activate these ancient technology were a species created by the Gods themselves. Lucky for Janai, the Servants had obtained one such species, a Huragok. An incredibly rare find, the creature’s vast knowledge of the god-like technology allowed them to activate the portal.
From the rumors spread amongst the Servants, Jul ‘Mdama the now famed past leader of the Covenant faction had escaped through the same portal. After vanishing for years, he resurfaced only to regroup his faction on a desperate assault to assassinate the Arbiter, soon costing him his life. But here, the Servants located the same portal Jul had used to escape his prison from the human menace. The only known access to a human infested planet known as Onyx.
And that is how Janai found herself among a variety of climates and environments, it was no doubt this was a planet created by powerful beings such as the Gods she believes in. From her own vantage point, she was able to shadow the Servants who had made their own hide out within an ancient structure they had named the Cathedral. As she watched quietly from the shadows, the leadership was weary with the current head of the group who has called himself the Pale Blade. She watched as he on some foolish accounts, sent scores of his soldiers to their deaths. One poor soul was wasted and used for fresh bait to attract a ferocious animal known to her kind as a Rafakrit. All of the leader’s inner circle had turned against him or had spoken against his judgement, and quickly met their fate as well. The Pale Blade was dangerous, surprisingly enduring and even skilled. But Janai could see his temper and irrational thinking would surely effect his strengths as a leader.

But it mattered little to what his fate would be, it mattered more that with the aid of the Servants she would successfully find the Key. Her sister had been living within the human settlement, for how long she had no clue, but she had gotten the intel from contacts that aided in tracking her down. Many events occurred as she kept distance, the Servants had attempted multiple times to access the human settlement. Their target being one of the many Huragok that roam the city, to gain more access with the species knowledge of the God’s technology. After their latest failure, it had seemed The Pale Blade had met his fate, only to return injured but still alive. Their next move was relocating to a Forerunner flag ship that has been inoperable for thousands of years. If there was any time to reveal her plan to the young leader it was now.

He was alone on one of their final patrols around the perimeter of the Cathedral. He sat quietly on a few rocks in the hillside, gazing out at the horizon of Onyx. With her high grade active camouflage, he was not aware of her presence only a few yards behind him. Her Forerunner sword stayed at her side, resorting to The Judge was only if he shows aggression. But rather she pulled out the armor lock, a small device originated from the humans to lock up powered armor. Rendering him paralyzed, she quietly snuck up to him. He must’ve heard the footsteps she desperately softened to safely sneak closer. His head cocked quickly to the side to look over his shoulder and she froze, after a long moment of silent stares he looked ahead of him once more. Pausing briefly, Janai crept closer than before, only to be met with him jumping to his feet and turning to face the camouflaged stranger.
“Who’s there?” He yelled out in their native tongue, his energy blade soon sparking to life.
But even as he readied himself for battle, he still did not see who he was addressing.
It’s now or never, Janai thought to herself. Quickly she activated the lock, thrusting forward, The Pale Blade did not expect his assailant to already be so close. She lunged and was able to press the Restraint onto the chest piece of his armor.
A moment later he stood, unable to move his limbs. His energy blade still active in his hand as he looked down to the item attached to his armor. He struggled slightly, only for his arms and legs to position back to a locked defensive stance. Only able to move to his neck up, his eyes darted as he bellowed low in fury. He let out frustrating growls as his eyes darted around him to spot his attacker. Once his eyes had focused, he could see the distortion, the transparent blur of Active Camouflage.
“Show yourself, coward. Attempt to slay your Leader with honor, so that I may slice your throat”
Janai only stood ahead of him, a yard or two away. She only shook her head slightly in slight annoyance at the warrior’s quick temperament.
“You are not my leader” she spoke.
Knowing the difference in their voices he could already assume she was a female. His struggles soon faded realizing he was going nowhere.
“Who are you? One of the Arbiter’s elite spies? Or maybe one of the weaklings allied with the humans?”
His accusations had begun to make her blood boil, to think that someone as committed to the faith would stand for such disgrace. She stepped forward with a low growl under her breath.
“Do not compare me to those fools, and I am in no allegiance with the Arbiter!” It seemed her bold remark had taken a change to the Pale Blade’s tone. As his eyes locked onto the camouflaged stranger, to not loose trace of her movement. He attempted to holster his energy blade, as if already forgetting he could not move. The blade only stayed in his hand still active until his finger slipped and it fell to the ground. An angered growl in frustration boomed from him once again, and his attention turned back to the female who had trapped him.
“Who are you then? Why have you trapped me here?”
She has yet to deactivate her camouflage, and she still kept her distance. The male had some size on her but if the lock were to fail she would surely bury him in battle.
“Calm yourself Pale Blade, I only wish to speak with you”
He scoffed slightly at her proposal with another attempt to move his arms but was again met with failure.
“Speak to me? What trickery are you up too?”
She then deactivated the Camo, revealing herself to him. She stood dressed in full armor, a black hood over her helmet. Her Forerunner crafted chest piece glowed with power, bonded with the Essence in her blood. Her other armor pieces were only hand crafted by Sangheili and painted to match her chest plate. Once revealed his struggles faded, he had almost seemed in awe at the chest plate she wore.
“Is that?...how did you retrieve that artifact? You dare steal from the Gods?” He growled towards her once again before she spoke over him.
“I have stolen nothing, the Gods have chosen me to wield this armor” before she finished speaking she pulled her swords hilt from the holster. Sparking it to life the vibrant orange blade hummed with energy and pointed the end to him. “As well as this”
He only stared at the unique blade, with Forerunner symbols crafted in the hilt. It’s heat burned as she held it in her hand. As he stared he stayed silent, giving her the opportunity to speak.
“I did not keep you here to fight for your leadership, I have a proposal”
She lowered the blade to her side, as a sign for no confrontation. They both stood there in silence for a moment.
“A proposal? What could you possibly offer me?”
Once she had his attention, she could finally put her plans into action. All the weeks built up to hiding out in the vast wilderness of this planet would come to an end. And her sister would soon be at her feet.
“Enough forces to obliterate the human settlement. And take it as your own”
Another moment of silence followed.
“And why do you come to me? How did a female, one who has no love for humans, find herself here?”
“Simple, I had arrived here same as you. It was not hard to stow away on your ship, Song of Wrath”
At the sound of his ship’s name he had left behind on the other side of the portal, he hissed in a low tone.
“You dared to trespass on my sh-“
“I did not go through this trouble to explain my travels to you, I came to propose an Alliance. With my own forces”
She soon raised her hand without the sword, at the signal The Pale Blade watched as he saw movement behind her. Bright flashing lights of Promethean Soldiers as they appeared, a form of phasing teleportation they were known for. Dozens of smaller troops known as Crawlers emerged from behind her. Even a pair of Promethean Knights stomped up from the bushes. Before The Pale Blade could retaliate, he was faced with a battalion of Promethean forces, seeming to be in her command as she lowered her hand, they stood dead in their tracks. As if waiting for her command, the Prometheans stood as still as statues. After he was left speechless, Janai reached up and removed the hood over her helmet. Pulling her helmet up, she revealed her face to him.
“I am Janai ‘Ruzauk, I hail from the forgotten colonized planet of Sarav. And I hold a closer bond to the Gods than any of our kind only hope to achieve”
The Pale Blade stayed silent as she spoke, still seeming confused as the Prometheans were under her command. The Prometheans were known creations of the Forerunners, designed to protect their master’s structures and artifacts. They were known to be ruthless in their eternal duty to their creators, it came as no surprise it would shock this young leader that they had allowed her superiority.
“I know of you Pale Blade, and I know what you seek here. And I seek something as well, will you hear my proposal?”
It was another long moment of silence, longer than she had wanted. But evidently, trapped as he was he only nodded in response. Janai took a few steps closer, only for him to try and jerk away but to no avail in escaping.
“If you strike me, they will destroy you, keep that in mind” she spoke in a cold intimidating tone as she reach out and pulled the armor restraint from his chest piece. Once he was released she stepped back once again. Moving his once still limbs, he reached down to his blade which was still active. Once he reached for his blade the low growls and hissed of the Promethean forces emerged and the Pale Blade froze. Once in his hand, he deactivated the blade moments later.
“Speak” he addressed to Janai.
“I come from an unknown planet, once under control of the so called Prophets. This planet held a Forerunner structure we had called The Vault. It is where my armor and weapon hail from, and many others. But some time ago, the Vault had sealed itself. For a time we believed it to be unknown reasons, but I was later informed my sister had stolen from it. The only artifact that is able to reopen The Vault. My sister who, as we speak, resides with the traitors of our kind. Within the human settlement on this shield world”
Another wave of low growls escaped the battalion of Prometheans behind her, sensing her anger as she spoke of her sister’s betrayal. The Pale Blade only stood in silence, his eyes fixed on the female warrior and the troops behind her, who stood still.
“I propose an Alliance, with your Servant of Abiding Truth and my Prometheans. I will aid you in destroying the humans who dare claim this God created planet as their own. I only ask you aid me in retrieving my sister, alive. She will receive the consequences for her crime, and in return I will allow you access to The Vault”

Another long moment of silence followed as she finished. Their eyes locked onto each other, she hesitated him to try and attack but he stood where he was. His head scanned the Prometheans behind her.
“They are not enough”
“This is not all of them”
As she spoke again, The Pale Blade looked down to see multiple shining orange lights aimed to his chest piece. More Soldiers were waiting beyond the tree line, aiming their binary rifles to all this vital organs. He could soon see the shining light of the eyes behind the bushes and trees. Dozens of more forces surrounded them, waiting anxious for him to try and retaliate against her.
“Then why not try yourself?”
“The complications with the Guardian had left many out of my command. But now, they serve me once again”
He did not dare to step forward, though Janai could see he wanted to in protest.
“And why do they serve you?”
It was a question she knew would be coming, but it would be the hardest to explain. The process she had endured as a fledgling was hard for any of her kind to comprehend.
“Because a God’s blood runs through my veins. Within the Vault, the Prophets had discovered a certain Serum with unknown properties. My lineage was hand chosen to study the effects of this Serum on our kind, to create an evenly matched opponent to the human demons”
She knew it was hard for him to comprehend with the expression on his face. He must’ve believed she was only wasting his time on his patrol. He shook his head in disbelief as he growled once again.
“Lies, how could this so called serum be granted to you?”
Janai tightened her mandibles in anger, knowing what he truly meant. Many of her kind had looked down on her due to her gender. Females of her kind were known to tend to home front affairs within their keeps. Though also trained to fight at early ages, war was always male dominated.
“Because I was chosen, if you do not believe me” she gestured her hand, and soon the lights aimed to the Pale Blade’s chest disappeared. The Soldiers, Knights and Crawlers lowered their weapons. Still standing, they silently waited for her next command.
“Perhaps my certain skills should convince you”
At her response he cocked his head suspiciously, tensing his muscles as she stepped forward. She raised her Sword, getting into a ready stance of battle. The Prometheans stepped back to give them both room to duel.
“Raise your sword Pale Blade, face me in battle. If I am victorious, our Alliance is formed. If I shall lose, we will never speak again”

He stood in silence for a moment before removing his blade from the holster. Moments later, he did not activate it nor did he ready his stance for their duel.
“I do not wish to harm a female”
At his words, she growled. Swinging her blade, the heat of it just barely missing his mandibles as he swiped his head away.
“Raise your blade you fool! Accept my challenge, so that I may show you the true skills I possess!”
At her advance, he soon stepped forward. Readying his stance, his blade came to life, keeping his blade close to his side. A basic form for beginning battles. The two circled each other, anticipating either of them to strike first. And he was the one, lunging forward with his blade in hand he aimed for her left arm. Only to be met with her dodging quickly out of the way, his blade missing its target. With his second strike he attempted to swipe across her torso. Her blade soon intercepted his strike and knocked it away, only to his surprise his blade suddenly deactivated once colliding with The Judge. While he struggled to reactivate the blade, her time to reveal her true skill was now.
In seconds, the orange lining on her chest piece glowed. She held in her breath as she activate her slip-phasing ability. Looking to the ground behind him, visualizing her targeted spot to relocate. At that moment, her vision went black, she could not breath.
To the Pale Blade, she had disappeared in a flash of light. Disoriented from the sight, the young leader did not see her reappear behind him. Before he could even look to see where she had gone a hard kick to the back of his legs made him fall to the ground. He turned quickly to be met with the tip of her orange blade inches from his face.
“How...How did you do that?” He questioned her in shock.
“As I said before, the Gods have chosen me” she growled as she kept the blade close to his skin. He hissed at the hot blade burned his skin slightly.
“I have bested you in our duel, will you accept my proposal?”
They glared at each other with a long moment of intensity.
“I only wish to aid in your attack against the humans, our faith is true...and with us both on this world, I believe the Gods wish for us to walk this path in their honor. Will you accept?”
The Pale Blade glanced over to the many Promethean troops that had witnessed his defeat, surely he was relieved none of his warriors had witnessed his failure. The Prometheans hissed and growled, awaiting his agreement or to tear him to pieces if he dared to strike her after reigning victorious. They had both locked eyes once again before he finally spoke.
“...you have bested me, I will accept your proposal. But if there are signs of betrayal I will rain down hell upon you and your subservient army”
At the relief of his submission, she stepped back for him to raise to his feet once again. Her blade soon deactivated, she holstered it again. Janai placed her helmet back on her head as well as the hood over her helmet as the Pale Blade stood. She raised her fist to the Prometheans, a sign of their Alliance had been made. They all let out blood curdling screeches and howls in victory.
Her attention then turned back to the Pale Blade, his head lowered slightly in embarrassment of his defeat.
“Do not be distraught Pale Blade, you will soon have victory over the humans. I do not wish to replace you as leader, I will aid you in battle” her fist hit her chest as a honorable salute, a sign of loyalty and honor.
He stared at her in silence, knowing he had lost many of his men during his attempts to infiltrate the settlement. His weapons and resources were limited as the world they stood on was trapped in slip space. A cowardly attempt by the humans to defeat the Guardian that had been mysteriously activated.
“Have your troops stay behind, I must address my Servants before you are introduced”
At that, he began to walk down the hillside that lead down to the back entrance of the cathedral. After a moment, he waited as she had not begun to follow.
“Are you coming?”
She nodded in response, and soon followed behind him at a distance towards the large structure that held as a base of operations for the Servants. Soon to relocate to the Forerunner flag ship. The Promethean troops soon followed at a distance behind, not wanting to leave their master’s side for long.
She was relieved her plans were finally coming together, that she had convinced this temperamental leader to accept. She soon felt excitement, anxious that her sister would soon feel her wrath over the crime she had committed. Justice would be served, and Janai was sure her sister’s blood would cover The Judge soon enough.
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Halo, Dural ‘Mdama (c) 343 Industries

Characters, storyline (c) Me

Description
[So this one is kind of old. I did the sketch a while back and was never able to finish it since I had to give up my tablet for artwork. But I’ve had the story dialogue done for some time so I figured it was best I just post it. So here it is]
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Janai - Part One - The Alliance:

The vast territory of Onyx left Janai the ideal opportunities to observe the human settlement as well as the Servants of Abiding Truth seeking refuge. Her efforts to sneak into the highly classified shield world under the blasphemous human’s control, was in her favor. None of the Servants within the large vessel named Song of Wrath had detected her presence on board. She had strategically hid away inside the cargo hold of the ship, and slipped away undetected just as they unloaded their gear.
She found herself at the small settlement of Panom, laid remotely on the edge of a large forest covering most of the super continent of Vakkoro. The planet known as Hesduros was one of the many Sangheili colonized planets, along with her own home planet Sarav. Though the knowledge of her home planet’s existence was granted to only those chosen to settle by the once holy Prophets. Janai would not care to step foot on the planet’s surface were it not for the hidden treasure on Hesduros.
Janai was seeking the same artifact as the Servants of Abiding Truth, a righteous organization devoted to the path the gods had chosen for the people in the beginning. Honorable warriors and legendary Heroes, these are the traits that had defined her kind. And it is all being tainted by the coward Thel ‘Vadam, well known as the Arbiter. He had made peace with the wretched human race and in doing so, he has displayed weakness among her people. In the face of their Gods.
The Servants of Abiding Truth, are the only still active followers of the Faith other than the remnants of what was the Covenant. News had spread quickly over the faction’s failed conquer of Sangheilios and the loss at the Arbiter’s death.
Janai had not been on Sangheilios at the time of the battle, rather than staying alongside her Great-Uncle in her second home within the region of Ontom. She had successfully delved deeper into the plans of the Servants, her skills as an assassin granted her access to many of their secrets. One of which was a ancient holy artifact, created by the Gods themselves. A portal like device, hidden on the backwater planet of Hesduros. Though it brought little surprise to her for she had come from a similar planet, Sarav. Compared to others it was considered a dwarf planet, concealing the true treasure locked within it. The Gods had created countless Holy Relics and Artifacts of great power and strength amongst their created. The Vault was one such Holy structure, locking away Relics once used by the Gods themselves. One of these, being the very chest piece of armor Janai wears to this day and her chosen weapon. As well as the very Essence that flows in her blood, an experimentation that left her the way she is now. But that was all irrelevant now, certain events occurred and she claims Sangheilios as her true home world.
A Forerunner portal, the only ones able to activate these ancient technology were a species created by the Gods themselves. Lucky for Janai, the Servants had obtained one such species, a Huragok. An incredibly rare find, the creature’s vast knowledge of the god-like technology allowed them to activate the portal.
From the rumors spread amongst the Servants, Jul ‘Mdama the now famed past leader of the Covenant faction had escaped through the same portal. After vanishing for years, he resurfaced only to regroup his faction on a desperate assault to assassinate the Arbiter, soon costing him his life. But here, the Servants located the same portal Jul had used to escape his prison from the human menace. The only known access to a human infested planet known as Onyx.
And that is how Janai found herself among a variety of climates and environments, it was no doubt this was a planet created by powerful beings such as the Gods she believes in. From her own vantage point, she was able to shadow the Servants who had made their own hide out within an ancient structure they had named the Cathedral. As she watched quietly from the shadows, the leadership was weary with the current head of the group who has called himself the Pale Blade. She watched as he on some foolish accounts, sent scores of his soldiers to their deaths. One poor soul was wasted and used for fresh bait to attract a ferocious animal known to her kind as a Rafakrit. All of the leader’s inner circle had turned against him or had spoken against his judgement, and quickly met their fate as well. The Pale Blade was dangerous, surprisingly enduring and even skilled. But Janai could see his temper and irrational thinking would surely effect his strengths as a leader.

But it mattered little to what his fate would be, it mattered more that with the aid of the Servants she would successfully find the Key. Her sister had been living within the human settlement, for how long she had no clue, but she had gotten the intel from contacts that aided in tracking her down. Many events occurred as she kept distance, the Servants had attempted multiple times to access the human settlement. Their target being one of the many Huragok that roam the city, to gain more access with the species knowledge of the God’s technology. After their latest failure, it had seemed The Pale Blade had met his fate, only to return injured but still alive. Their next move was relocating to a Forerunner flag ship that has been inoperable for thousands of years. If there was any time to reveal her plan to the young leader it was now.

He was alone on one of their final patrols around the perimeter of the Cathedral. He sat quietly on a few rocks in the hillside, gazing out at the horizon of Onyx. With her high grade active camouflage, he was not aware of her presence only a few yards behind him. Her Forerunner sword stayed at her side, resorting to The Judge was only if he shows aggression. But rather she pulled out the armor lock, a small device originated from the humans to lock up powered armor. Rendering him paralyzed, she quietly snuck up to him. He must’ve heard the footsteps she desperately softened to safely sneak closer. His head cocked quickly to the side to look over his shoulder and she froze, after a long moment of silent stares he looked ahead of him once more. Pausing briefly, Janai crept closer than before, only to be met with him jumping to his feet and turning to face the camouflaged stranger.
“Who’s there?” He yelled out in their native tongue, his energy blade soon sparking to life.
But even as he readied himself for battle, he still did not see who he was addressing.
It’s now or never, Janai thought to herself. Quickly she activated the lock, thrusting forward, The Pale Blade did not expect his assailant to already be so close. She lunged and was able to press the Restraint onto the chest piece of his armor.
A moment later he stood, unable to move his limbs. His energy blade still active in his hand as he looked down to the item attached to his armor. He struggled slightly, only for his arms and legs to position back to a locked defensive stance. Only able to move to his neck up, his eyes darted as he bellowed low in fury. He let out frustrating growls as his eyes darted around him to spot his attacker. Once his eyes had focused, he could see the distortion, the transparent blur of Active Camouflage.
“Show yourself, coward. Attempt to slay your Leader with honor, so that I may slice your throat”
Janai only stood ahead of him, a yard or two away. She only shook her head slightly in slight annoyance at the warrior’s quick temperament.
“You are not my leader” she spoke.
Knowing the difference in their voices he could already assume she was a female. His struggles soon faded realizing he was going nowhere.
“Who are you? One of the Arbiter’s elite spies? Or maybe one of the weaklings allied with the humans?”
His accusations had begun to make her blood boil, to think that someone as committed to the faith would stand for such disgrace. She stepped forward with a low growl under her breath.
“Do not compare me to those fools, and I am in no allegiance with the Arbiter!” It seemed her bold remark had taken a change to the Pale Blade’s tone. As his eyes locked onto the camouflaged stranger, to not loose trace of her movement. He attempted to holster his energy blade, as if already forgetting he could not move. The blade only stayed in his hand still active until his finger slipped and it fell to the ground. An angered growl in frustration boomed from him once again, and his attention turned back to the female who had trapped him.
“Who are you then? Why have you trapped me here?”
She has yet to deactivate her camouflage, and she still kept her distance. The male had some size on her but if the lock were to fail she would surely bury him in battle.
“Calm yourself Pale Blade, I only wish to speak with you”
He scoffed slightly at her proposal with another attempt to move his arms but was again met with failure.
“Speak to me? What trickery are you up too?”
She then deactivated the Camo, revealing herself to him. She stood dressed in full armor, a black hood over her helmet. Her Forerunner crafted chest piece glowed with power, bonded with the Essence in her blood. Her other armor pieces were only hand crafted by Sangheili and painted to match her chest plate. Once revealed his struggles faded, he had almost seemed in awe at the chest plate she wore.
“Is that?...how did you retrieve that artifact? You dare steal from the Gods?” He growled towards her once again before she spoke over him.
“I have stolen nothing, the Gods have chosen me to wield this armor” before she finished speaking she pulled her swords hilt from the holster. Sparking it to life the vibrant orange blade hummed with energy and pointed the end to him. “As well as this”
He only stared at the unique blade, with Forerunner symbols crafted in the hilt. It’s heat burned as she held it in her hand. As he stared he stayed silent, giving her the opportunity to speak.
“I did not keep you here to fight for your leadership, I have a proposal”
She lowered the blade to her side, as a sign for no confrontation. They both stood there in silence for a moment.
“A proposal? What could you possibly offer me?”
Once she had his attention, she could finally put her plans into action. All the weeks built up to hiding out in the vast wilderness of this planet would come to an end. And her sister would soon be at her feet.
“Enough forces to obliterate the human settlement. And take it as your own”
Another moment of silence followed.
“And why do you come to me? How did a female, one who has no love for humans, find herself here?”
“Simple, I had arrived here same as you. It was not hard to stow away on your ship, Song of Wrath”
At the sound of his ship’s name he had left behind on the other side of the portal, he hissed in a low tone.
“You dared to trespass on my sh-“
“I did not go through this trouble to explain my travels to you, I came to propose an Alliance. With my own forces”
She soon raised her hand without the sword, at the signal The Pale Blade watched as he saw movement behind her. Bright flashing lights of Promethean Soldiers as they appeared, a form of phasing teleportation they were known for. Dozens of smaller troops known as Crawlers emerged from behind her. Even a pair of Promethean Knights stomped up from the bushes. Before The Pale Blade could retaliate, he was faced with a battalion of Promethean forces, seeming to be in her command as she lowered her hand, they stood dead in their tracks. As if waiting for her command, the Prometheans stood as still as statues. After he was left speechless, Janai reached up and removed the hood over her helmet. Pulling her helmet up, she revealed her face to him.
“I am Janai ‘Ruzauk, I hail from the forgotten colonized planet of Sarav. And I hold a closer bond to the Gods than any of our kind only hope to achieve”
The Pale Blade stayed silent as she spoke, still seeming confused as the Prometheans were under her command. The Prometheans were known creations of the Forerunners, designed to protect their master’s structures and artifacts. They were known to be ruthless in their eternal duty to their creators, it came as no surprise it would shock this young leader that they had allowed her superiority.
“I know of you Pale Blade, and I know what you seek here. And I seek something as well, will you hear my proposal?”
It was another long moment of silence, longer than she had wanted. But evidently, trapped as he was he only nodded in response. Janai took a few steps closer, only for him to try and jerk away but to no avail in escaping.
“If you strike me, they will destroy you, keep that in mind” she spoke in a cold intimidating tone as she reach out and pulled the armor restraint from his chest piece. Once he was released she stepped back once again. Moving his once still limbs, he reached down to his blade which was still active. Once he reached for his blade the low growls and hissed of the Promethean forces emerged and the Pale Blade froze. Once in his hand, he deactivated the blade moments later.
“Speak” he addressed to Janai.
“I come from an unknown planet, once under control of the so called Prophets. This planet held a Forerunner structure we had called The Vault. It is where my armor and weapon hail from, and many others. But some time ago, the Vault had sealed itself. For a time we believed it to be unknown reasons, but I was later informed my sister had stolen from it. The only artifact that is able to reopen The Vault. My sister who, as we speak, resides with the traitors of our kind. Within the human settlement on this shield world”
Another wave of low growls escaped the battalion of Prometheans behind her, sensing her anger as she spoke of her sister’s betrayal. The Pale Blade only stood in silence, his eyes fixed on the female warrior and the troops behind her, who stood still.
“I propose an Alliance, with your Servant of Abiding Truth and my Prometheans. I will aid you in destroying the humans who dare claim this God created planet as their own. I only ask you aid me in retrieving my sister, alive. She will receive the consequences for her crime, and in return I will allow you access to The Vault”

Another long moment of silence followed as she finished. Their eyes locked onto each other, she hesitated him to try and attack but he stood where he was. His head scanned the Prometheans behind her.
“They are not enough”
“This is not all of them”
As she spoke again, The Pale Blade looked down to see multiple shining orange lights aimed to his chest piece. More Soldiers were waiting beyond the tree line, aiming their binary rifles to all this vital organs. He could soon see the shining light of the eyes behind the bushes and trees. Dozens of more forces surrounded them, waiting anxious for him to try and retaliate against her.
“Then why not try yourself?”
“The complications with the Guardian had left many out of my command. But now, they serve me once again”
He did not dare to step forward, though Janai could see he wanted to in protest.
“And why do they serve you?”
It was a question she knew would be coming, but it would be the hardest to explain. The process she had endured as a fledgling was hard for any of her kind to comprehend.
“Because a God’s blood runs through my veins. Within the Vault, the Prophets had discovered a certain Serum with unknown properties. My lineage was hand chosen to study the effects of this Serum on our kind, to create an evenly matched opponent to the human demons”
She knew it was hard for him to comprehend with the expression on his face. He must’ve believed she was only wasting his time on his patrol. He shook his head in disbelief as he growled once again.
“Lies, how could this so called serum be granted to you?”
Janai tightened her mandibles in anger, knowing what he truly meant. Many of her kind had looked down on her due to her gender. Females of her kind were known to tend to home front affairs within their keeps. Though also trained to fight at early ages, war was always male dominated.
“Because I was chosen, if you do not believe me” she gestured her hand, and soon the lights aimed to the Pale Blade’s chest disappeared. The Soldiers, Knights and Crawlers lowered their weapons. Still standing, they silently waited for her next command.
“Perhaps my certain skills should convince you”
At her response he cocked his head suspiciously, tensing his muscles as she stepped forward. She raised her Sword, getting into a ready stance of battle. The Prometheans stepped back to give them both room to duel.
“Raise your sword Pale Blade, face me in battle. If I am victorious, our Alliance is formed. If I shall lose, we will never speak again”

He stood in silence for a moment before removing his blade from the holster. Moments later, he did not activate it nor did he ready his stance for their duel.
“I do not wish to harm a female”
At his words, she growled. Swinging her blade, the heat of it just barely missing his mandibles as he swiped his head away.
“Raise your blade you fool! Accept my challenge, so that I may show you the true skills I possess!”
At her advance, he soon stepped forward. Readying his stance, his blade came to life, keeping his blade close to his side. A basic form for beginning battles. The two circled each other, anticipating either of them to strike first. And he was the one, lunging forward with his blade in hand he aimed for her left arm. Only to be met with her dodging quickly out of the way, his blade missing its target. With his second strike he attempted to swipe across her torso. Her blade soon intercepted his strike and knocked it away, only to his surprise his blade suddenly deactivated once colliding with The Judge. While he struggled to reactivate the blade, her time to reveal her true skill was now.
In seconds, the orange lining on her chest piece glowed. She held in her breath as she activate her slip-phasing ability. Looking to the ground behind him, visualizing her targeted spot to relocate. At that moment, her vision went black, she could not breath.
To the Pale Blade, she had disappeared in a flash of light. Disoriented from the sight, the young leader did not see her reappear behind him. Before he could even look to see where she had gone a hard kick to the back of his legs made him fall to the ground. He turned quickly to be met with the tip of her orange blade inches from his face.
“How...How did you do that?” He questioned her in shock.
“As I said before, the Gods have chosen me” she growled as she kept the blade close to his skin. He hissed at the hot blade burned his skin slightly.
“I have bested you in our duel, will you accept my proposal?”
They glared at each other with a long moment of intensity.
“I only wish to aid in your attack against the humans, our faith is true...and with us both on this world, I believe the Gods wish for us to walk this path in their honor. Will you accept?”
The Pale Blade glanced over to the many Promethean troops that had witnessed his defeat, surely he was relieved none of his warriors had witnessed his failure. The Prometheans hissed and growled, awaiting his agreement or to tear him to pieces if he dared to strike her after reigning victorious. They had both locked eyes once again before he finally spoke.
“...you have bested me, I will accept your proposal. But if there are signs of betrayal I will rain down hell upon you and your subservient army”
At the relief of his submission, she stepped back for him to raise to his feet once again. Her blade soon deactivated, she holstered it again. Janai placed her helmet back on her head as well as the hood over her helmet as the Pale Blade stood. She raised her fist to the Prometheans, a sign of their Alliance had been made. They all let out blood curdling screeches and howls in victory.
Her attention then turned back to the Pale Blade, his head lowered slightly in embarrassment of his defeat.
“Do not be distraught Pale Blade, you will soon have victory over the humans. I do not wish to replace you as leader, I will aid you in battle” her fist hit her chest as a honorable salute, a sign of loyalty and honor.
He stared at her in silence, knowing he had lost many of his men during his attempts to infiltrate the settlement. His weapons and resources were limited as the world they stood on was trapped in slip space. A cowardly attempt by the humans to defeat the Guardian that had been mysteriously activated.
“Have your troops stay behind, I must address my Servants before you are introduced”
At that, he began to walk down the hillside that lead down to the back entrance of the cathedral. After a moment, he waited as she had not begun to follow.
“Are you coming?”
She nodded in response, and soon followed behind him at a distance towards the large structure that held as a base of operations for the Servants. Soon to relocate to the Forerunner flag ship. The Promethean troops soon followed at a distance behind, not wanting to leave their master’s side for long.
She was relieved her plans were finally coming together, that she had convinced this temperamental leader to accept. She soon felt excitement, anxious that her sister would soon feel her wrath over the crime she had committed. Justice would be served, and Janai was sure her sister’s blood would cover The Judge soon enough.
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Halo, Dural ‘Mdama (c) 343 Industries

Characters, storyline (c) Me