Forbidden Fruit

==Plot Summary==
A mysterious finding takes Fireteam Cell and Vincent Kaiser, ONI's top scientist, to uncover a mysterious Forerunner artifact on an unknown planet. But when the tide turns and they find that the enemy is one step ahead of them, they enlist the help of the Sangheili Alliance's Sangheili Strategic Ops Unit to recover the stolen artifact from a relentless foe, and a powerful insurgent.
==List of Characters==
===Main Characters===
Major_Josh_Konaree.png|Josh 'Konar
Zephyr_'Rorke_Neo-Remnant.png|Zephyr 'Rorke
===Supporting Characters===
Zuka_'Chavam.jpg|Zuka 'Chavam
Vincent_Kaiser_LEGION_Leader.jpg|Vincent Kaiser
Destiny-Guardian-Warlock.png|David King
Lex_Norsan_(Field_Master.jpg|Lex Norsan (Sangheili Alliance Field Master)
Fal_'_Telcam_Remnant.png|Fal 'Telcam
Hansen.png|Kim Singer (Army Major)
DeadSpaceAftermathStrossFlashbackCaleb.jpg|David Acwellen (Rear Admiral (Lower Half))
Kyle_Craig_post_war.jpg|Kyle Craig
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*Loku 'Moram (Crimson Circle Terrorist Commander)
===Minor Characters===
421px-Imperial_Megalopod.jpg|Andromeda 'Vadum
Alex_Worthington.jpg|Alex Worthington (General of the UNSC Army and Special Forces)
Nichole_Dunn_(UNSC_Commander).jpg|Nichole Dunn (Commander of UNSC Army and Special Forces)
Veronica_Anders.jpg|Veronica Anders (ONI Commander-in-chief)
LEGION_Commandos.jpg|LEGION Commando's
Prima.jpg|Ember Spec Troopers
Kz2-isa-trooper2.jpg|Ember Soldiers
Jason_Miller_young.jpg|Special Agent Jason Miller
Emily_Walker_image_2.jpg|Special Agent Emily Walker
----
*
**
**
*LEGION
**Jonathan Powell (CEO)
*Sangheili Alliance S.O.U Team
*Crimson Circle Elites
*Ember Coalition
*Black Hands
== Prologue ==
Zephyr and his followers walked through the luscious green forest with ease. Judging by the size of the environment that they were in, they were almost to the temple. They trudged on until they found a huge temple ahead of them.
"Leader, we found it." Fal 'Telcam said as he stood by his leader. He gripped the hilt of his energy sword, waiting for the enemy to present itself.
"That wont be necessary brother." Zephyr reassured him. Fal relaxed, looking at his leader for guidance. "There is no danger here. Yet. We are the first to arrive after all, are we not?"
They continued to walk on in determination, entering the vast ruins of what had once been created by the Forerunners. Fal didn't like the idea at all, and was beginning to doubt Zephyr. The place seemed too quiet, no enemies in sight? Not one?
"The Forerunner —" Fal began.
"I know that they were here first. Why would a place such as this be divinely vast." Zephyr said indifferently.
They had stopped in the middle of the ruins. The temples had great keystones and walling aligned with Forerunner glyph's. Most of the structures had been covered in vines and fresh vegetation.
"Activate the Kindler." Zephyr said. 
Fal did just that. The Kindler emitted two oscillating beams of purple light, and began scanning its surroundings as it moved. Fal pulled out a map and they began following the Kindler, the team trailing behind.
They walked through the temples huge keystone and continued down the corridor, making lefts and rights here and there. Fal knew that they were going in circles and began to become irritated along with the rest of his lance.
"I did not come here to play games Zephyr." A Crimson circle minor barked. Zephyr ignored him.
The team continued on until they came to a dead end with a crevasse in the ground. The Kindler took the decent with no problems and disappeared into the darkness. The holographic map began to static and then died out in Fal's hands.
"What happened?" Zephyr said.
"It failed somehow." Fal replied, ashamed of how Zephyr would react.
Zephyr snatched the device out of his hands and tapped it, trying to get the map to work again with no effect. He threw it down the crevasse.
"Don't waste our precious objects!" The Crimson circle minor exclaimed. He began feeling aggravated at Zephyr for wasting their time.
Zephyr turned around and grabbed the minor at the throat with his cybernetic arm, crushing his larynx. "Your impeding my time. And your pathetic attitude is not welcoming either." He threw the elite down the crevasse, his screams echoing as he fell deeper into darkness. He was self satisfied and turned towards his fellow compatriots, "Anyone else want to betray the group?"
They shook their heads in fear.
Zephyr looked down the pit and saw nothingness. "We need thruster packs. This pit may very well take us to the artifact."
"We need to go back to our outpost to aquire them." Fal said.
"Let's go then." Zephyr said.
They left the ancient ruins, determined to accomplish their goal of getting the artifact. The key to many treasures hidden on Pandora's surface lied within that single artifact. The Apple of Eden.
== Chapter 1 ==
"Your life does not get better by chance. It gets better by change."
— Jim Rohn
----
Sanghelios, State of Chavam, Unnamed safe house
----
Josh 'Konar stood outside looking out at his keep in the State of Chavam. The sun shining down on him, and a small breeze blowing past him. He could see the human infrastructure improving more and more over time, and beyond that, humans strolling happily throughout the planet's surface of Sanghelios. 
He didn't have a problem with humans on the planet, especially if it would speed up the trading of goods and services. They had worked hand in hand together on a variety of projects and professions. Josh and the forensic team had worked together to catch the criminals throughout Sanghelios, both Sangheili and human.
He was staying in a Safe house built by Sangheili and for Sangheili as an escape from the outside world. He felt a good sense of security since his last encounter with Kyle Craig. He felt safe now. 
His wife, Hala 'Konar, had taken the path of medical professional, fixing up humans and other species who sought for medical help. It had been traditional for the Sangheili to not perform medical practice on themselves. This would spill ones blood and be dishonorable.
"Looking outside for the hundredth time already?" A voice came up from behind.
Josh didn't turn around, he knew it was his uncle just from the sound of his voice, having heard it a lot of times in his life.
"Of course." Josh said with ease. He turned to face his uncle and smiled.
Fal 'Konar had served in the Human-Covenant war since the beginning, or 2525 for that matter. He had fought in many successful battles and slowly risen to the ranks of Sangheili Councilor. After the war, he had become the Kaidon of his state. His first goal was to start the Sanghelios Police Department. That goal had succeeded and had spread to other states as well and approved by their Kaidons. Most states rebelled against the idea wanting to uphold the Sangheili tradition, but times change, and with it it's cultural diversity.
His uncle smiled back and said, "Tell me. What do you see when you look outside?"
Josh thought about it for a second before responding, "I see mountains, trees, roads, my yard, cars, and another building. What about you?"
His uncle gave a Sangheili equivalent to a human bleak expression. "I see a chance for improvement. A chance for our society to be more than just traditional values."
"That's strange. Seeing that you've fought in the Human-Covenant war. Change should be hard for you." Josh commented.
"It was, but I managed to get through it."
"How?" Josh said.
They both walked inside and Fal gestured for Josh to take a seat, "Take a seat."
Josh sat on the gravity chair in the living room. Fal came back seconds later with a tray of herbal tea for them to drink while they chatted about his experiences in the war, as well as a lecture on change and how it could be used for the greater good or for wreaking havic.
After nearly an hour of lecturing from his wise uncle, he got a call from his communications device. Police business? He grabbed his comm and hit the answer button. It was his friend, Zuka 'Chavam. He had to go to class to prepare for a lecture in sparring. After hearing all the details; he disconnected, hugged his uncle, and thanked him for the lecture, exiting the hotel and preparing for what wisdom would lay ahead of him.
----
James Summer walked up through the troop bay of a Pelican dropship, the low hum of the small vessels engines could be heard as it cut through the emptiness of space outside. Seated along the two rows of seats sat three of his team members. Simon Garret, Kenny Ianson, and Samuel Bowman. The team was a five man Spartan fireteam that worked for ONI. The three Spartans were checking their equipment for damage, it had been a close call during their escape from the Kig-Yar pirate stronghold that they had, quite literally, blown their way out of after having terminated the pirates leader. James moved into the cockpit and threw himself into the co-pilot seat. In the pilot seat sat the final member of Fireteam Cell, Steven Bones.
"Were we followed?" Asked James as he pulled out an AI data crystal chip and pushed it into a small hatch. A blue silhouette of a bald human female appeared on a tiny hologram projector.
"Hardly." Answered Steven as he allowed himself a glance back at James.
"Not after a few blew up most of their fighter bays, and how we left them in such chaos." Steven turned back to view out of the windows and adjusted their path a little. He looked down at the holographic woman. "Zeta, contact the UNSC Misty Night and tell them that the mission was a complete success." 
The dumb AI gave a short nod. "Understood... Contacting the Misty Night...Contact established... Report delivered... Approach vector acquired, please proceed to the follow coordinates agent Dot." 
Steven let out a low sigh. "Would it hurt you to use my name just once hmm?" 
The AI only titled its head a little to the right. "Not understood, agent Dot. Please elaborate." Steven groaned loudly.
"Nevermind Zeta." He changed the Pelicans course to fit the coordinates and soon a bright light show of hexagon formed energy lit up out of nowhere before they fell apart on their own and revealed a Heavy Prowler, the UNSC Misty Night. Steven carefully flew the dropship down beneath the larger ONI vessel where a hanger door opened up and invited the Pelican inside its belly.
Hours later, Fireteam Cell marched through the hallways of the Misty Night, their powered armor making little to no noise as they walked, just as they were designed to do. Turning around countless corners and walking through what seemed like a dozen hallways, later the Fireteam of five entered through a heavy blast door and stepped into a small debriefing room. Zeta's holographic figure stood on a holo table and an ONI officer stood beside it, waiting for the team of Spartans to take their seats.
"Greetings Team Cell." The greeting was spat out as if it had been poison and the officer gave all of the Spartans a disgusting look. "You're here because a high ranking officer within my organization has requested you specifically to act as his bodyguards." The officer turned to the dumb AI. "Zeta Prime, if would be so kind." 
The AI nodded and her holographic figure was switched out with a holographic screen of an elder man, tiny bits of data displayed next to profile.
"This..." The officer began. "Is Vincent Kaiser, Chief Scientist for ONI, and I hope I don't have to mention, a very important figure for the office." The officer walked around the table and pulled out Zeta's chip and threw it to James who caught it in the air.
"Your mission is simple. Protect Mister Vincent from any harm. Should any serious harm befall him, you will all be terminated according to Zeta's programming. Any standard objectives that can appear on the mission will be weighted by Zeta or Mister Kaiser himself. Dismissed!" The Officer said and left the room. The Spartans groaned at the idea of playing babysitter for some weird ONI scientist in the near future.
----
UNSC Maximum Security Detention Facility
----
David King sat on his hard cemented cell bed hunched over, probably out of boredom. He was almost there, so close to winning the mega million dollar lottery from a WSOP tournament in New Vegas, until Detective Chris Logan and his partner Detective what's her name, yes, he had indeed forgotten her name, but he had remembered what she had sounded like, and let's not forget her golden blond hair, had showed up and chased him down. After the events in New Vegas, he knew he would be cornered sooner or later. Running into a house that was under construction wasn't the sharpest idea in the box, nevertheless, he was arrested and stuck in this shithole.
He had spent ten years in prison under cryosleep, due to unknown circumstances. After, he managed to get along for a year and he was nearing his probation sentence, how exciting. He had been assigned a probation officer to watch over him like a babysitter. This made him irritated, but he was ready to deal with the bullshit.
"Hey, prisoner-005! Lets go!" Called the guard through the interior speaker of his helmet, an amplified metallic, metronomonic voice. The guard had been dressed in black armor similar to that of an ODST, with helmets that covered their entire faces.
Cell level 2, the place for your not so serious crimes but still pretty serious: Robbery, Battery, Drug and armed dealing. The guard had cuffed his hands and secured a waste chain to a pole. Safety first right? With one guard in front and the other trailing behind, they exited the cell and continued down a series of corridors. David could only smirk as he was escorted to the elevators. 
As they got to the lobby floor and into the visitors station he was seated behind a one way, bullet and plasma proof window. On the other side was his probation officer as well as Johnathan Powell, the new CEO of LEGION. 
David picked up the telephone and pressed it to his ear. "Busting me out?"
"Of course! We still need you. All you have to do is sign the release forms and you'll be put on probation."
He read the "conditions of probation" carefully. He only had a few listed: Reporting monthly to a probation officer, you must not commit any new crimes, you must report any interaction with law enforcement, you may not change your residence or leave the county without written permission from your probation officer. The third one was going to be a problem, seeing that he had to travel to LEGION's headquarters to get prepped for his mission, whatever it may be.
He signed the "conditions of probation" using a electronic signature and the probation officer transferred the documents to his data pad.
A buzzing sound was heard and David exited the visiting room and met with his new boss on the other side of the window and the probation officer. They left the prison, heading for LEGION's headquarters.
----
LEGION Headquarters, unknown location.
----
They entered the main lobby of LEGION's HQ, they checked in with the receptionist, who was eager to see David again.
Next, David took a quick shower and discarded his civilian clothing, then Johnathan and him went to the armory. With the probation officer out of sight, David felt relieved. There was no doubt that he would have to keep in contact with him every month and this had bothered him in extreme ways.
"I'll leave you to it. Meet me in the briefing room when your done." Johnathan said, then exited the armory.
David had taken a look at his armor and was surprised at how well kept it had been. He loved how the Kevlar threaded and carbon nanotube fiber peaked lapels gave the armor the look of a deadly assassin. He fitted the ergonomic helmet onto his head, and attached the utility belt, securing it snug across his chest.
He exited the fitting room and proceeded to the weapons room. He entered a code on the holo keyboard and the walls retracted, revealing a wide range of weapons from guns to grenades to accessories. He equipped himself with some concussion and frag grenades. Sheathed two combat knives in his calf holsters as well as a plasma katana onto his back. He fitted a silencer and laser sight to his M6 pistol, and holstered that. He took a last look in the mirror and smiled behind the helmets visor. He was ready to kill again, probation officer or not, he would take care of that.
He left the armory and met with Johnathan in the briefing room and a few other executive heads of the powerful organization.
"Gentlemen." David said.
Johnathan stood up, eager to get on with whatever important task was at hand. Judging by the executives around the room it must of been important. A hologram of a malicious looking elite materialized before them, and he opened up with, "Zephyr 'Rorke, leader of the Crimson circle. This elite knows the location of the Apple of Eden and we need him to find it for us."
"What do you request?" David asked.
"We need you and ONI to find the elite and get him to spill out where the artifact is. Once you've achieved this, use whatever means you can conjure up to acquire the artifact. Understood?"
"Yes sir."
"Good." The hologram materialized into an elder man in a commander's uniform, who looked like a nazi, they knew who he was. "This is Vincent Kaiser. You know of him as the Chief scientist for ONI. He will be working closely with..." The hologram materialized into a group of five individuals. "Fireteam Cell. They will be escorting Vincent Kaiser and we need you to protect him at all costs."
"Seems like he has enough protection, sir."
"Indeed. But the more, the happier, Assassin." The hologram disappeared. "This is a very important recovery and research operation, so I would be proud to not see it screwed up. You will be accompanied by UNSC's commander Nichole Dunn, who will support you in firefights. Your job, Assassin, is personal protection. Got it?"
"Got it, sir." David couldn't be more happy. Nothing like going on an expedition with seven other people, who in return may screw everything up. He missed his old friends, and wondered if they were still alive. Probably.
"Good. Your dismissed." Johnathan said, then turned away from them with his hands clasped behind his back.
David left the briefing room and headed to his room to get some rest. No doubt that tomorrow he would be heading to a strange location, to interrogate a stupid elite, and to find some meaningless artifact.
----
Qikost, Unknown State 
----
It was a rare sight see Lhor Konar and his lance of six elite Sangheili Rangers march through the street of one of the many merchant cities on Qikost. Civilians quickly made way for the stomping jump soldiers as they entered the eastern part of the big city, the part that stretched up the side of a nearby mountain. It was hard to see, because of the Ranger helmet Lhor wore, but he felt nervous. Why was he nervous? He was going to see his old lover and mate, Huna 'Chavam. She was a female Sangheili who had built up quite a name for herself and was considered a person of extreme wealth and power, a thing she made for herself over the years after she had retired from the Covenant military two years before the end of the Great War with humanity.
"Sir, are you alright?" One of his troops walked up beside him. "You're shaking a little." He stated as he looked Lhor up and down. Lhor shook his head. 
"I'm fine, Behl 'Tillarun." Lhor forced himself to stop shaking and looked ahead. " It's just been a long time since I last saw her." The member of Lhors lance had become close friends over the years. They had served together and had forged a great bond between them. Not far ahead towered a large wall over them, separating a large building complex that was Kaidon worthy, the home of Huna 'Chavam. 
Lhor approached the gate with his lance right behind him. The guards on the wall and in front of the gate watched them with the eyes of a predator eyeing its next meal.
"Black Hand mercenaries." Commented another of Lhors men, pointing at the guards armor and high quality equipment and weaponry.
"I've heard rumors that they're all Ultra rank and extremely expensive to hire." Behl whispered back and turned to Lhor with a smirk under his helmet. "Quite an ex you have there, Lhor." 
"Shut it." Lhor hissed back before he came to a stop at what must have been the gate captain.
"What do you lot want? This is private property!" Sneered the captain, his men slowly aiming their weapons at the lance.
"We're here to conduct trade with Huna 'Chavam." Lhor said with a stern tone. "She is expecting us."
The Captain snorted and lifted a hand in the air as if he was about give an order. Lhors men steadily prepared to reach for their weapons if it came to battle. None of that, however, was necessary as a guard came up to his captain with a data slate in hand and handed it to him. The captain proceeded with scanning over the context of the data slate. Well over a minute went by before the captain looked up at Lhor again.
"You'll meet the boss in 20 minutes." The captain stated and signaled for his men to open up the gate for the lance. "I'll call for an escort to lead you to her." 
Lhor nodded his head and walked in through the gate into a large courtyard, that also seemed to double as a training ground, with a wide hardened dirt road that had seen much use, leading up to a large set of modern day Sangheili buildings.
True to the captains words, an escort of four Black Hand mercenaries greeted them halfway up the dirt road and asked Lhor and his men to follow them.
The guards took them around the the building and over to a small arena that was placed away from the other building. Leading them through a few hallways and up a small lift, they finally entered a wide balcony with a excellent view over the arena below.
Near the front of the balcony was a set of chairs, a small table in between with a bottle of wine on top of it. On one of the chairs sat a Sangheili female, her long hair hang lazily over the chairs backrest. Lhor slowly approached, the sound of two fighting down in the arena reached his ears, but he paid it little thought. Taking off his helmet, he stepped up beside the unused chair and got a good look at Huna. She had hardly changed since he had last seen her, only the smallest of wrinkles had begun to appear on her beautiful face. She turned from the battle below to look at Lhor, a bright expression of happiness crossed her face and then faded for a moment when she graced over the cybernetic parts that covered most of the right side his face.
"You look well, Lhor." Huna began and gestured to the unused chair. "Please. Take a seat and let's talk." Lhor sat down and placed his helmet by his feet, while Huna poured him a glass of wine. Lhor thanked her and took the glass of wine, taking a small sip.
"You look good too, Huna." He said. Huna snorted and laughed lightly at that and took another sip of her own wine.
"You don't." She gestured around her with the glass in hand. "I have been busy while you waged war against the humans...Very busy indeed." Huna glanced down at the two combatants in the arena below them and seemed to space off for a bit. Lhor took the time and looked down the combatants as well.
Both of them wore practice armor and practice blades. One of them carrying two while the other only carried one sword. It was clear that the one with two swords was the better swordsman and was slowly but surely outmatching his opponent. The other, however, was not to say that he didn't have a little talent with the sword but it was clear he was more of a ranged combatant by the way moved and the tactics he used.
"Who are these two?" Lhor looked over to Huna. "They look like they could become great warriors in the service of the Swords... or the Alliance for that matter." Huna only smiled.
"They're already strong warriors and commanders." A sense of pride in her voice that she tried to cover up. Lhor, However caught on to it, having spent so much time with her he knew what he had to look for... most of the time that is. Lhor leaned back into his seat, still looking at Huna.
"You sound proud of them. You know them well?" Huma almost jumped at the question but managed to remain calm and put on a masked calmness that didn't spoil anything, something she had learned from Lhor during her time in service as Weapons Master in his fleet when he had been a Special Operation Commander.
"That is Kelo, and the one with two swords is Nero." Huna answered. "You can say they're close relatives of mine." Lhor raised a brow at that. He was about to ask something but Huna beat him to it.
"Enough small talk." She said, changing the topic quickly. "Let get down to business. I have some information you're Alliance could be very interested in." She sipped her wine before giving Lhor a small smile. 
"And you want some information in return." Lhor said. 
Huna's smile widened. "My my. Lhor Konar knows how a trade of information works." 
Lhor snorted and shifted in his seat. "I thought we were done with the small talk." He gave her a smile of his own.
"Very well, dear." She sighed before she continued. "Some of my sources have received some very interesting information regarding the humans, ONI more specifically." She took another sip, downing the rest of the glass of wine.
"ONI operatives have found another Forerunner planet. I got the coordinates right here." She pulled out a small data chip from a pocket and placed it on the table, a finger resting on top of it. "Now I believe it's your turn to show me something." 
Lhor retrieved a data chip of his own and placed in on the table too. He looked far from happy to trade this information.
"This is information on the Sangheili Alliance's current movements and stations... As well as a few upcoming operations planned by the Swords of Sanghelios." He hesitantly pushed the chip over to Huna. "I hope I can really trust you that this information doesn't fall into the wrong hands." His grace hardened, an unspoken warning that she should try him. Huna, however, only returned his hard grace with a reassuring smile.
"Of course not, dear." She reassured and pushed her own data chip over to Lhor, who quickly took it an placed it in a pocket in his armor. Lhor got up from his chair.
"I hope so... For your own sake." He said before he walked back to his men and out of the arena.
Moments later he found the lance of Rangers outside the gate.
"So...got anything useful from her?" Asked Behl. Lhor nodded.
"I got something that Andromeda Vadum needs to hear...And that we need to change the Alliance's movements for next few months."
----
Unknown location, Outer Colonies.
----
"Sir... Incoming transmission!" Yelled a communication officer across the large bridge of the Claws of the Phoenix, a Phoenix-class colony ship refitted with military grade weaponry and one of the few mobile bases of the Ember Coalition. Vice Admiral David Acwellen turned to face officer.
"Play it." He commanded. He had waited for this call for over a week now and had begun to loose hope that the agent had been discovered. A tragedy if so, the agent was an excellent spy for the Coalition. A hologram appeared over a holo table, A large square with the text "voice only" was the only thing to take form on the holographic screen.
"I finally got those bastards off of my trail." A male voice in the end of his twenties said, he sounded exhausted. David allowed himself a small smile, relived that the agent hadn't been discovered after all.
"Good to hear you're doing well, Thomas Alojzy." He only got a loud snort in return, probably due to the Tomas having a mic so close to his face.
"I'll tell you, those AIs ONI utilize today are insane. I nearly got discovered... Twice!" Frustration was clear in his voice and it sounded like his breathing became quicker, probably from past fears concluded David.
"Did you get the data you had heard rumors about?" He tried to pull the poor ONI deserter back into focus before he went into some kind of panic attack. Over the years David had worked with Thomas had he become aware that though Thomas Alojzy was many things he wasn't cut for the intense dangers of being a spy... At least when he was nearly discovered that is and that hardly happened, He was to good at what he did.
"Y-yes Admiral... I-i got it right here." Thomas announced and a small holographic window appeared with an encrypted data stream waiting for approval. David quickly approved and the encrypted stream of data were downloaded and decrypted onto the ships data banks. David called it up on a screen and raised a eyebrow at what his eyes scanned over.
"A planet...A Forerunner planet." He said as he scratched his beard around his chin.
"Yes. ONI believes there might be powerful artifacts there, but..." Thomas trailed off.
"But?"
"But it seems this data have been viewed before by... Someone other than ONI."
"Someone else... Do you know who they might be?" Asked David, now very interested. Maybe they could get a new ally or some they could at least manipulate them to their own advantage.
"No sir, they covered their traces pretty good before they left." Announced Thomas, frustration clear in his voice but cleared his throat before he continued.
"Are you going to call Singers in for this mission too?" David Hummed to himself for a moment, thinking it over in his head and then nodded.
"Yes, His skills could come in handy if we'll have to engage the UNSC or who else might be on the planet."
"Alright... Just remember to keep him in line." Warned Thomas. "He can quite a mouthful at times... I have to go now or else someone might get specious, Thomas out!"
"Roger that, Acwellen out!" David turned to the same communication officer from before.
"Get Singers on the line and tell him to prepare his team... The Coalition wants him in on this mission."
The officer nodded and did as ordered. Meanwhile had David walked back to his command chair and taken a seat.
"Prepare for slipspace jump." He shouted to everyone on the bridge. "We're heading for Kiloton II to prepare for a little expedition!"
----
Core 5, a section of HIGHCOM Facility Bravo-6 in Sydney, Australia on Earth.
----
Veronica Anders sat at her desk in silence. Then there came a couple knocks on the door. She pressed a button and the door slid open. 
"Ma'am. Our adversary wishes to speak to you. Johnathan Powell." The ONI agent said.
She looked up, "Okay. I'll have a small chat with the gentleman."
She felt that she could at least pry some information out of him about LEGION's leaders and maybe break the link in the chain, but she knew that wouldn't happen anytime soon.
Johnathan Powell entered her office. The ONI agent nodded as he stepped out, the doors sliding shut.
"Mr. Powell take a seat." She said. Her voice stern.
Johnathan did just that. He didn't like her office. It was so bleak and lacked an elegant design that he favored.
"I understand that you have someone in custody that could be useful to us. David King. You know him?"
"Of course. But why should I lend my best agent over to you."
Veronica leaned forward, "Because if you don't i'll have you and your conspirators thrown in jail."
Johnathan thought about the idea for a moment before carefully choosing his words, "A shaky partnership you want then? Very well." He leaned forward and clasped his hands together. "Anything else you want Ma'dam."
There was a good reason why she wanted him here. To use him as a pawn to get what she wanted. That was how ONI worked wasn't it. Use people to get what you want?
"After he is released from jail, at 0600 hours he will depart for an expedition. One that is classified, even from a few of my subordinates."
He leaned back and smiled. "Agreed."
They both stood up and shook hands before he left her office. A young ONI agent came in, relaxed.
"A few of your subordinates?"
She sat back down massaging her temples before looking up at the ONI agent, "No it was only to diverge him from the truth. Besides, he doesn't know."
"Mmm hmm." The young ONI agent said before walking out, closing the door behind him.
== Chapter 2 ==
Ancient ruins and dense tropical forests of Pandora
----
Zephyr led the way through the thick brush of the tropical dense forest. The sun had been beating down on them and they were exhausted from walking miles and miles. They didn’t even stop to take breaks because Zephyr was eager to get back to the outpost.
Zephyr signaled for his team to stop, and they did just that. He pulled back a branch that had been obstructing his view and saw that their outpost had been ravaged by UNSC personnel.
The UNSC soldiers had parked a warthog a couple meters away and were now setting the outpost on fire. A female commander and been giving orders, pointing her finger at places to burn and what items to take. Two soldiers would carry covenant weapons in metal crates marked with UNSC logos and property belongs to UNSC personnel writing.
Another UNSC marine was waving his arms as a pelican hovered over the area, slowly beginning to descend, then landing. More troops poured out of the aircraft and secured the perimeter.
“Kill them all!” Zephyr yelled, then charged. His team broke from a slight jog to a full on sprint. Energy swords and plasma rifles at the ready.
Commander Nichole Dunn, commander of the UNSC’s Army and Special Forces, turned to see a force of seven elites, along with their commander, and surprisingly, their leader charging full speed at her crew. 
The UNSC marines had already dropped the case, pulling out their assault rifles. A marine had tossed her an assault rifle. She pulled back the slide and firing a dozen rounds into the oncoming elites.
Five elites went down hard, but the rest attacked with relentlessness. Just as they were trained to do. Kill with no mercy. Zephyr had managed to kill a couple of the retreating marines, while Fal headed straight for the commander.
Nichole saw him coming and turned her gaze to the charging elite. This one must be the commander. She proceeded to fire the elite with another dozen rounds to the head, taking quick steps back.
Fal withdrew his energy sword. The sword sparking and crackling to life in his hands was a satisfying sound to him. The sound of death by his hand. He would impale the weak human threw her chest, then throw her to the dirt, but he had stopped short.
What is this elite doing? He had just stopped in the middle of the field. She stopped firing, but still kept her weapon trained on his head. Then she saw her comrade had knocked the elite out. An ONI Spartan had saved her life. Though it was not over yet.
Zephyr had charged at the commander, ready to end her life by his own hand. He noticed that Fal had been knocked out by a demon and he was going to take action.
“Look out!” Nichole shouted.
The ONI Spartan turned and ducked at the last minute as the elite lashed out at him aggressively. The elite then proceeded to strike the commander, who stumbled to the ground when the huge elite approached her.
The ONI Spartan leapt onto the elites back and wrapped his forearms on his neck, choking the life out of him. The elite had dropped his energy sword to the ground, clawing at the ONI Spartan, desperately trying to get him off. With little time left. The elite blacked out and fell to the ground, crushing the ONI Spartan on top of him.
The ONI Spartan pushed the elite aside, then walked to where Nichole had fallen. He extended his hand out and Nichole gladly accepted it. He helped her up and she proceeded back to the Pelican dropship.
She turned to look at him, “Thanks Chris.” 
“Your welcome.” He said through his visor.
Then she turned towards the marines, “Grab that elite commander and bring him aboard.”
“Yes ma’am.” The marines said in unison, then proceeded to gather the body of the unconscious Sangheili commander.
Chris Logan, a Spartan V, hoisted the Sangheili leader onto his shoulder with little effort and walked inside the Pelican dropship. They left the area and headed back to base.
----
UNSC Military Facility, Megalopolis, Pandora
----
The pelican dropship slowly descended onto the tarmac. The UNSC Marines walked out, securing the perimeter. Commander Nichole Dunn and Chris Logan walked out side by side and were greeted by General Alex Worthington, who was more than happy to see them.
“Commander Dunn.”
“General Worthington, sir.”
The two shook hands.
Chris Logan proceeded forward with the Commander Dunn and General Worthington trailing behind discussing UNSC business plans.
Both elites woke up later in interrogation rooms. Zephyr was to be interrogated by Commander Dunn and Fal was to be interrogated by David King. They knew what would be coming to them, well Zephyr knew of course, but he wouldn’t give in. Fal on the other had was a tough shell to crack, but David had plans to make him talk.
Fal was seated inside the UNSC interrogation room, his chair uncomfortably small and bolted to the floor. Unlike any police interrogation room, this one was white walled and offered a futuristic human feel to it. A white table had been bolted to the floor with a built in holo pad in the center of it. 
His hands and feet had been restrained and when he woke up, his back ached, and he was incredibly thirsty for some odd reason.
He heard the door open with a loud squeak, followed by an echoing bang. He saw before him, a demon. Unlike the previous demon he encountered, this demon struck fear into him. His uniform had been designed to strike fear into his targets. An assassin.
“Well, well, well. I can’t wait to get my filthy hands on you, elite.” The Spartan said.
Fal looked into the cold and merciless camera that had been staring down at him, hoping that those on the other side of the room could come to some form of peace. He rattled the chains like crazy, then screamed at the top of his lungs. Nothing.
The Spartan lifted the chair back and put it back down as gently as he could, the legs smacking against the metallic floor. He took a seat and began operating the holo pad on the table, pulling up Zephyr and Fal’s file. He gazed emotionlessly into the elites eyes.
“Why are you here?” The Spartan said. His voice had a dark, robotic tone to it.
“I’m not telling you a thing, human.” Fal said.
The Spartan looked into the lens of the camera, then back at Fal. He smashed both fists onto the table. Fal jumped in his seat from the loud bang and swallowed. Hard. 
The Spartan then pushed a button on his helmet, changing the sound of his voice.
“Better? More human?” He said, his voice was now normal, more human.
Fal nodded, “Indeed. I’m here searching for an artifact of importance. You’ll never know the location. You’ll have to kill me first. I will die with honor, knowing I kept the artifact hidden from low vermin like you.”
The Spartan leaned back in his seat, contemplating what he should do next. He swiped the files to the left, bringing them off screen and opened up a new file showing the artifact, the Apple of Eden.
The Spartan then leaned in. “I’m looking for something very important too, this artifact your talking about,” He tapped on the image of the Apple of Eden. “My species calls it the Apple of Eden –”
“As does mine.”
“Huh.” The Spartan thought. “I thought you were going to say more along the lines of ‘The fruits of our fathers’ or ‘The Forbidden Fruit’.” He said sarcastically, but the elite took it seriously.
“No, demon. We came up with the Apple of Eden because it was merely that, an Apple that was left here by the forerunner Keeper-of-Knowledge.”
“Maybe we can work together?”
“Perhaps.”
“Give me the location, and I will give you something in return.”
Fal stared at him, trying to figure him out and where this was going. The Spartan, however, stared blankly at him. No emotion.
“Who are you, Spartan?”
“I work for a secret organization. Have you heard of it?”
“If I did it wouldn’t be a secret now would it.”
The Spartan removed an object from his belt across his chest. It sprang to life and showed the holographic image of the organization of LEGION and its logo. The elite’s eyes widened. The criminal organization known as LEGION was indeed a secret, but at the same time it wasn’t. It had gained power and wealth.
“What about those who are watching on the cameras?” Fal nodded towards the camera spying on them. “I thought we were allies?”
The Spartan stood up and his helmet retracted, revealing David King’s face. “I’m not your ally, elite.” He leaned in closer, “But I’m very happy to see you.”
David King walked away and exited the room. He couldn’t take it anymore and wanted to punch the wall. He couldn’t though. Not with ONI and LEGION personnel working together. And to make matters worse, they were constantly keeping an eye on him, an eye on everyone. Just like their motto. “We are everywhere.” And that was what scared him the most. He could be fired, or even killed without knowing it.
He walked into the observation room. Alex Worthington had been watching the entire time through the two way window. He wasn’t satisfied with the results.
“I’m sorry, sir. We have to push harder. I’ll make him talk.” David said.
Worthington just let out a sigh, “We can’t kill him. What are you proposing?”
“A simple torture technique. And if I kill him, you can kill me. Okay?”
He looked outside the window and shook his head. “Fine.” He muttered. “Make it quick,” He checked his watch, 5pm. “It’s getting dark.”
The doors opened in the interrogation room and David King entered in. “Where is it?” He said it as more of a statement than a question. He was getting irritated, and was not up to playing games no longer.
“I…I…Zephyr will kill me!” Fal pleaded.
David stepped to the side and four UNSC soldiers entered the room. They went around the table and hoisted the elite up, pinning him to the table. One of the soldiers took out a stun baton and stabbed the Sangheili in the side with it, sending 50,000 volts racing though his back. The Sangheili roared in pain, then shook off the soldiers.
There was no doubt that Worthington was going to kill him now, the Sangheili was loose. David shook the thought out of his head, punching the key code. The door sealed shut, preventing the other side from opening. He then paced towards the Sangheili and punched him in the mandibles. 
“Where is the artifact!?” He yelled once more, picking up the stun baton.
“Please! By the Gods! I don’t know!” Fal pleaded again.
He didn’t hesitate, and he stabbed the elite in the abdomen with the stun baton, squeezing the trigger. By now he could hear banging on the door over the screaming Sangheili, but he didn’t care. “WHERE! WHERE IS IT?!”
After one minute of torcher, the Sangheili spat purple blood in the humans face. And just as he drew the stun baton back to strike again, the door was kicked in and two UNSC soldiers, followed by Chris Logan stormed into the room.
“What in the lord’s name are you doing?” Chris said. He stormed towards David and disarmed him. Then he threw him at the window. The window cracked as his face smashed against it. “Get him out of here.”
The UNSC soldiers grabbed David and cuffed him, shoving him outside the interrogation room. Medics came rushing in, but the Sangheili called them off. Chris Logan knelt down beside the Sangheili.
“You alright?” He said sympathetically.
Fal whispered in his ear, “The artifact you’re looking for…it’s in the Garden of Eden, Five-hundred kilometers west from this location…”
The elite used the last of the energy he had left mutter out his final words, “Just don’t let it fall into that demons hands.” He then drifted into unconsciousness.