Erd-El-Ey

The ODSTs may not have liked us much, but they most certainly did prefer that we take point. Can’t blame them, especially since shielding isn’t standard issue in the Corps. Yet. Although I never shook off the nagging feeling that they were just sitting back and waiting for some Covvie contacts to humble us up a bit.
Fordya, I think the planet was called. We were sent on a joint UNSC-Sangheili op to clear out some Covvie holdouts on the planet. I’m pretty sure it’s the farthest I’ve ever been from UNSC space. Everything was different about it. Different sky, different plants, different water even. The water was light green. Don’t even ask me how that is, except that it is.
Our Sangheili counterparts decided to split from us, said that we’d cover more ground that way. Josh was wary, of course, and I shared in the apprehension, but there was a job to do. There was just Fireteam Xiphos, a squad of ODSTs, and the enemy, whoever they were and wherever they were.
After approximately twenty minutes of trekking through thick alien bush, we happened upon a river of moderate size. The waters flowed from west to east, but they were relatively calm, no rapids. I noticed there was a spot where the river was shallow enough for us to ford it, so with Josh and me on point, we made for the crossing. My sensors detected unusual activity near the far side of the river by the ford, so I kept my eyes forward and towards that location, my weapon at low ready.
“Talk to me Hera, what have you got?” asked Josh.
“Possible unknown contacts,” I replied. “A hundred meters to the northwest.”
“Sgt. Ganbaatar, take your squad back into the trees, go,” ordered Josh with hand gestures.
“Roger,” Ganbaatar replied. “ODSTs, on me.”
The ODSTs disappeared into the bush, with only my augmentations and helmet HUD capable of detecting their presence. “Hera, take point,” said Josh.
“On it,” I said, moving ahead of him. As we approached the crossing, the contacts became more distinct. “Contacts confirmed. Definitely not Covenant, though, signatures are totally unknown.”
“How many?”
“Five confirmed unknown contacts.”
“And you’re sure they’re not Covenant?”
“Affirmative. The tech they’ve got isn’t of Covenant origin at all.”
“Weird. Still, get ready for anything. Sgt. Ganbaatar, standby. Do not engage unless I give the green light. Repeat: do not engage unless I give green light. How copy?”
“Solid copy, sir,” said Ganbaatar over comms.
The shallow river crossing calmed the river’s waters as they ran over the bed’s smoothed stones. The glossy, clear green waters cut a clear path through the forested landscape, with foreign yet familiar sounds of wildlife sounding a natural, somehow harmonious chorus. The boots of Josh and me crunched down on the leaves and twigs as we stomped our way through the thinning foliage. We stepped out fully into the open. There was a small grassy clearing between the tree line and the river, and by the river, sediment formed a sort of dirt beach.
The two of us then sighted the contacts, five in total. They were all geared in some sort of armor with camouflage allowing them to blend in to the forest. One had a cape. They were definitely alien, with faintly canine cranial features. As the aliens approached the far side of the ford, I zoomed in with my HUD. They looked distinctly canine, but not quite. The snout and nostrils weren’t canine at all, but rather reminiscent of saurians or reptiles. They were covered in fur, or fur-like feathers. Three of them had helmets on, while one had a sort of head wrapping, or maybe a towel or bandana. Who I assumed to be the leader of the group had a cap of some sort, with a brim in the front, and a stiff top. The ones with helmets had some sort of data-collecting apparatus, or HUD display, or eyepieces, something like that, while the one with the bandana had eyewear that I came to believe was some sort of combat goggles. The leader had on eyewear as well, but they looked like sunglasses to me. One of them said… something, I don’t know, and another replied as if to hush him up.
Then, their leader stepped out onto the river crossing, the waters rushing around his legs. Soon, he was knee-deep in emerald-green water, and approaching us. There was a verbal disagreement among the squad, before three of them convinced a fourth one to go onward with their squad leader. One of them squad followed the leader, rushing to catch up with that individual.
“Maybe we should meet them halfway,” said Josh.
“I don’t recommend it,” I commented.
“Well, they’re taking the initiative,” continued Josh. “We might as take a leap of faith. Act in good faith, you know?”
“Alright, but you should take point then, I’ll watch your back.”
“Sure.” And so, Josh went out onto the ford, and I was right behind him.
We stopped about a meter in front of the aliens, while they likewise moved no further. Aside from the sound of the running water and the occasional cry of an unfamiliar animal, there was silence between us. I took a moment to study the two aliens’ gear. The squad leader had what looked to me to be a war hammer in his belt, and carried some sort of rifle, maybe a directed energy weapon. It looked tight, compact, but blocky. There was a pistol grip and what seemed to me to be the magazine, and some sort of scope on it. The other alien also had a rifle of such a design, although it didn’t look like he had a scope or enhanced sights on his weapon.
The helmeted alien said something to his squad leader, and the leader replied with something.
“Well, we’re here Josh,” I said. “What now?” Josh looked back to me. Then, he placed his MA5D on his back latch, and took off his helmet, revealing his somewhat light skin, parched of sunlight, and his stubble.
Then, the lead alien took out something from his pocket, wrapped in something. He took off the wrapper, revealing a white-colored bar. He ripped off a small piece of it and ate it, masticating it within his mouth. He offered it to us. Josh and I looked at the bar thing, puzzled, for a few moments, before Josh took the bar with his free hand. With his helmet underneath his elbow, he too ripped off a piece.
“Josh, I’m not too sure about that,” I said.
“Leap of faith,” he replied. Then, he put it in his mouth and started masticating as well. “Oh my God, this is delicious. It’s like some sort of candy.”
“If you say so,” I said.
“Hera, you should try one.”
“I’ll pass.”
The two aliens looked at each other, and the leader nodded at his subordinate, then said something.
Then, the squad leader placed one of his hands on his chest, and said something along the lines of “Erd-El-Ey.” Josh and I looked at him quizzically. “Erd-El-Ey,” the alien repeated. Then, the leader gestured to his whole squad. “Erd-El-Ey.”
“Hera,” started Josh with a full mouth, “take off your helmet.”
At this moment, I felt as if I could lower my guard to that point. Obviously these aliens were not hostile, otherwise the both of us would’ve been shot by now. So, I reluctantly placed my own weapon on my back, and removed my helmet, revealing my dark complexion and tied up hair.
“Human,” said Josh, gesturing to him and I. “Human. Human.” With each gesture of his hand, still holding the candy, to him and me, he repeated the name of our species.
“Human,” said the lead alien, pointing to Josh. Josh nodded. “Human.” The alien pointed to himself again. “Erd-El-Ey.”
“Erd-El-Ey,” I said softly. The alien looked at me and nodded. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he started to crack a smile. “Erd-El-Ey,” I said again.
“Erd-El-Ey,” joined Josh.
Erd-El-Ey. Erdellians.
(both Amy-G094 and Joshua-G024 have been used with their creator's permission)
Category:The Weekly