Note: I hope this thread will become a collection of short stories I’ve written about the Halo Universe. For now, enjoy part one of this moment.
The universe is as mysterious as time. An unperceivable horizon. Acting beyond intervention. Limitless.
Yet, for its vastness some things will never change. Like deserts. The number of suns or which planet one is on doesn’t change the fact that a desert is a desert. Arid, harsh and unforgiving some say only the strongest survive. Typically however, it’s the one who find the best shade that survive.
Sanghelios, the fourth planet in the Urs-Fied-Joori system, it is the homeworld of the Sangheili. Patched together by large expanses of desert, society here is reigned by honor and tradition. In one patch of desert something foreign runs across it. Or rather somethings runs across it. One of those things was a human, completely covered from the land, is driving a warthog. Along with him was a Sangheili and two other humans in the back. Much like the driver, the three were wearing protection from the suns. And much like the driver, they were armed.
“Rhem,” Orin called out to, “I see it!” The Sangheili raised his head. Indeed, ahead of them was a mountain. Peaks that touched the clouds shrouded the base beneath. The suns hid the features of the rock but Rhem knew what was hidden underneath. Pointing to a part of the base he turned to Orin, “take us there.” Soon, the warthog was before the mountain, away from the Sanghelios’ suns.
“My ancestors lived close to where they could find water,” Rhem explained as he stepped off the warthog, “for those who needed to travel such as traders and merchants, sometimes they must venture into the desert. They traveled in groups to survive. Mountains like these were taken as a blessing. Eventually they dug into the mountain for shelter,” the humans had followed Rhem into a cave, “a nook turned into a cave, a cave into a cavern,” deeper they went before Rhem stopped, “a cavern into a city.”
Past the tunnel was a large cavern. Pillars in the center touched the ceiling where light shone through. Torches lined the room shining places where the suns could not touch. Sangheili roamed the cavern going to and fro. Shopkeepers all along the cavern floor, bragged about their bargains. Orin felt an odd but familiar air as he walked. Considering the space that was still available the market was warm. As Rhem led the group through the marketplace, Orin could see a pair of Kig-Yar watching them. He palmed the grip of his magnum, slowly wrapping around it. Orin gave one more glance at the two before realizing they had vanished into the crowd. The group had created a distance between Orin and them in his time looking. Picking up his pace Orin moved through the market to catch up. “Don’t worry about any of the Kig-Yar,” Rhem said, “most of them are harmless.” Orin didn’t say anything but nodded, hand now hovering over his pistol.
The four stopped in front of a vendor that was presumably owned by an Unggoy. Despite its size the grunt and Rhem were aggressive towards each other. The grunt slammed its fist on the vendor. Clearly whatever Rhem was doing was aggravating it. After what sounded like threats thrown at each other a rather awkward silence followed. It was Rhem who broke the silence mumbling as he reached for a tablet, tapping and placing it on the vendor. The grunt, satisfied, grabbed it and completed the transaction. A moment later and Rhem grabbed his tablet and motioned the humans to follow.
Leading them into a tunnel in the cave wall they stopped just as the noise from the market ceased. Well lit, the tunnel itself was large enough for the four to stand side-by-side and still have space to themselves. Rhem pointed to a door, “this is the room we’ll be staying in,” flatly explaining. Raising his tablet to a mechanism next to it, the door opened.
In stark contrast to the market, the room was Spartan in its accommodations. One table, a kitchen and walls on either side to separate the bedrooms. The main room was just as wide as the tunnel they were in but the light fixture was just bright enough to illuminate it. Rhem disappeared into one of the rooms and the other humans took to sleeping in the main room. Orin took the remaining bedroom organizing himself before laying on the bed. Turning on his datapad, Orin tapped and swiped away at the screen. A profile of a Sangheili appeared before him. Studying it, Orin sighed. “Tomorrow,” he whispered before closing his eyes.