Catch and Release [Closed] [Llau, Fac, BetaW]

[Llau]

Lieutenant Commander Michelangelo Moretti
ONI Tactical Field Operator
Mid-April, 2548
Neutral Systems, Undisclosed Location
Aboard UNSC Prowler #596
Old "Friends"
Tag(s): Faclan, BetaWülf


Lieutenant Commander Michelangelo Moretti entered into the interrogation chamber, dressed in his ONI uniform, looking sharp and ready to begin. He glanced over at the three sleeping Kig-Yar who were picked up by the Prowler he was in, and were now strapped to the chairs, dressed in overalls, inside the chamber. He stared indifferently at them, and didn't smirk...at least, not yet. He remembered the three quite well. The last time he saw them, was when he escorted them into the Pelican, and then dropped them off on the Prowler above Protector after they evacuated from the planet back in January. After that, he didn't know where they were taking them or for how long for that matter. After spending the rest of January and most of February recuperating from his injuries, then dealing with that terrorist attack on that Luxury Ship back in February, and then spending some much needed quality time with his young daughter, Renny, he returned to work. His first mission coming back had him team up with Section Three Field Agent Richard Chen to rescue two Section One scientists, one being his good friend, Chris Hyde, from Insurrectionists who captured them on the planet, Frontier, while Moretti was away.

Now, here he was, meeting the three aliens again. He couldn't say he was happy to see them, at least not happy to see the one called Roh. He leaned up against a table, studying them for a minute. When they first brought them on board, they weren't even clothed. He didn't like aliens, but at least he had the decency to order them to be clothed. Just because they were aliens, doesn't mean they should treat them like they weren't sentient beings or animals. Behind him, an AI popped up.

“Are you ready, Lieutenant Commander?” Hayden asked him, dancing around a little, and seemingly eager to begin.

Moretti quietly nodded, keeping his eyes on the former test subjects.

“Good,” Hayden stood still, standing in attention with his hands clasped behind his back. “This report will be recorded by AI Hayden and compiled by Lieutenant Commander Michelangelo Moretti following the interrogation of Subject 001, Subject 002, and Subject 003 – also known as “The Protector Subjects”. All three were captured in the Delta Domes on Protector on January 15, 2548, at approximately 0956 hours. Each subject was sedated and sent to [REDACTED] for multiple testings, starting on February 21, 2548, for forty days before being transferred over to UNSC Prowler #596 on April 08, 2548, 1895 hours.”

The field operator looked over his shoulder at him, and Hayden paused as he noticed the expression on the officer's face. “Is something wrong, Lieutenant Commander?”

“No...” Moretti returned his attention to the three Kig-Yar, and crossed his arms while he waited for the ship's AI to finish speaking. Of course, he did find something to be wrong about the whole thing; being tested and probably tortured for forty days wasn't something he wanted to hear. Nor approved of. ONI was like that, but not him.

“Current date and time is April 09, 2548, 0600 hours standard. We are in orbit above an undisclosed location in the Neutral Systems, aboard UNSC Prowler #596, within the ship's interrogation cell. This is UNSC AI Hayden, service number SLP 9017-9.” The AI nodded to Moretti. “Lieutenant Commander, please state your rank, name, and service number for the record.”

Moretti stood away from the desk he was leaning up against, and stated, “Lieutenant Commander Michelangelo Nicoli Moretti, Office of Naval Intelligence, service number 36593-06164-MM.”

Hayden went on, “Let the record show that Subject 001, 002, and 003 were captured, sent for testings for forty days, and have been transferred several hours ago onto UNSC Prowler #596 for disposal. Subject 001, female, T'vaoan, is approximately 6 feet in height and approximately 135 pounds in weight. Subject 002, male, T'vaoan, is approximately 6-foot-6-inches in height and approximately 210 pounds in weight. Subject 003, male, T'vaoan, is approximately 7-foot-1-inches in height and approximately 212 in weight.”

Moretti slowly approached them, listening to the AI as it continued, while checking their vitals on display, and then testing the restraints that tied them down to the examination chairs, as well as checking to see if their muzzles were secured in place over their beaks. Without looking up, he simply said, "Ruuthian."

"Hmm?"

"The female, Talz," Moretti explained, still not looking over. "She's Ruuthian. Not T'vaoan."

When it became silent, the Lieutenant Commander slowly looked over at the AI, who was glaring at him. He raised an eyebrow slightly. "Oh, that's right...Hayden doesn't make mistakes. He is a smart-AI. He knows everything." He grinned when Hayden just stood there, crossing his arms and huffed.

"It must be a...some sort of bug...I'll have to clean it."

"In other words, you don't want to admit you made a slight mistake in classifying them...good job."

"Anyway...The subjects are restrained and currently unconscious,” Hayden asked, “Lieutenant Commander, can you verify that for the record?”

Moretti leaned over a little, peering closer down at Roh. “Subjects 001, 002, and 003 are restrained and currently unconscious...” He tilted his head a little to the side, grinning a bit.

“Thank you, Lieutenant Commander,” Hayden stood in attention, and saluted him. “You may begin...though...I don't see why you wish to speak to them. I thought you would be happy to throw them out of the airlock somewhere and not bother with such things.”

“I'm not like Red Dragon, thank you very much, Hayden,” He replied gruffly, still peering down at the sleeping T'vaoan. “I just want to try to have a nice, friendly conversation with my old friends here.” He glanced over at the AI's hologram, and smiled at him.

“I see...” Hayden responded slowly, squinting his eyes, as if he was unsure what to think of the operator's behavior at the moment. “Well, I will let you get to it.”

“Good,” Moretti smiled. “Wake them up.” He peered back down at Roh, looking straight at his closed eyelids, and waited for him, as well as the other two, to finally come to.

“Wakey, wakey, sweet birdie...”

[BetaWülf]

T'vaoan Major Roh Gel
ONI Prisoner
A Rude Awakening

Roh lay limp on the table, strapped down and muzzled like a raving lunatic, like a rabid animal. He did not move, the only sign he was alive were his shallow, ragged breaths. At first, he breathed strongly and clearly, like a proud Strong Gel Warrior. But as his torments worsened, so did his condition, and his will. If he was a lesser Kig-Yar, he would have been dead. A Ruuhtian commoner surely would have succumbed to the horrific tortures he endured.

Over his time as a test subject, he had been used to examine mostly the regenerative qualities of his species. His left arm was in a cast and splint, broken in three places at the start of the experiments, to examine the healing of bones. His entire lower right arm was set on fire for five seconds, causing third degree burns. His legs were bandaged, the burns requiring skin grafts to rectify in places. His body was riddled with needle marks, blood tests, medicines, probably diseases, Aecor only knows what all they injected and extracted from him. His chest and back covered in cuts, lines mostly, but his left shoulder had a smiley face carved into it, the left eye still oozing a tear-like blood trickle.

In the name of science! That's surely an acceptable reason for this? Ooh smiley faces, so scientific!

Roh however was rousing from his drug induced sleep, eyes slowly opening, slowly closing, and slowly reopening. It went on for several minutes, his hearing came first, a familiar voice he found unpleasant disturbingly close. He understood it, his prolonged time in the presence of speaking Humans he could not kill giving him ample opportunity to listen to clearer voices. He could speak and understand English fairly easily now, though it was a bit harder to speak it.

As his vision cleared and his mind did as well, he looked up at the Human leaning over him. It was the Human Mike, the one who was responsible for all Roh's pain, suffering, and torment. Roh had every reason to hate him, to want to kill him. But likely the first thing the Human would notice was there was no light in the T'vaoans eyes, no will to fight and no desire to feel. He lay they unmoving, simply looking back at those devious eyes.

His head eventually rolled to the side with a dull smack against the table, entirely involuntarily, as many times his motor skills would cease and he would simply go limp. He rarely spoke anymore, as he was punished for it, shocked and burnt and broken by their electric batons. If ever he spoke, he required encouragement from his fellow captives, the only people he still registered as people really. Broken was certainly a word that could be applied to Roh now.

[Llau]

Lieutenant Commander Michelangelo Moretti
ONI Tactical Field Operator
Mid-April, 2548
Neutral Systems, Undisclosed Location
Aboard UNSC Prowler #596
Tag(s): Faclan, BetaWülf


He continued watching Roh for several minutes, but every once-in-a-while, he would glance up to see how the other two were doing, and if they were rousing from their drug-induced sleep. He was there when they were brought into the Prowler, and noticed the wounds they endured after the forty days of cruel tests. Wounds that made him cringe, and quite frankly, became very pissed off about because they were pretty much tortured. The broken bones, the burns, and whatever else they did while they held them at the research facility they picked them up at - all for the name of science, safety and security...he couldn't imagine the pain they had to endure. Hell, even he was appalled when he saw the smiley face someone carved into Roh's left shoulder.

Who the fuck does that? He thought, aggravated.

So, he was glad that he ordered a couple of ensigns on board the ship to put clothes on them to cover them up, so he wouldn't see their wounds while he tried to converse with them, and not just because he had the integrity to end their humiliation. Once was enough.

When Roh looked like he was coming to, Moretti shifted around a little, and looked closely into his eyes once they were opened. The two looked at each other, but the small grin on the Lieutenant Commander's face had disappeared a little bit ago when he remembered seeing their wounds again. He noticed something different, but something he has seen before in tortured people's eyes who no longer had the will to fight and feel anymore. There was nothing...no signs of light left in the T'vaoan's eyes. It was haunting to see, and it shook him to the core a little. The devious look in Moretti's eyes faded, and was replaced to match his stunned and appalled expression upon his face when Roh's head eventually turned to the side with a dull smacking sound against the examination chair.

“Jesus, what the hell did they do to you three?” He whispered in disbelief.

He cautiously moving one hand underneath Roh's head, so he could turned his head back, and examine him a little, and also to see if he could wake him up again.

After all of this time, he was expecting them to just be placed into a prison, where they could be interrogated, but nothing like this. Of course, he should have known they would end up doing something like this to several aliens; aliens who were the enemy. He carefully let Roh's head rest to the side again, inhaled a slow, deep breath, and had to take a step back for a few moments. He rested both hands on his hips, looking to his left, over at the corner of the room at nothing in particular.

It's a damn good thing Chris isn't here with me...he'd be so angry, he thought. Angry...angry at this, and probably angry at me for being responsible for their torture, but he would be more angry for not being able to do anything about it. I'm sure of it.

There would be nothing his friend could do, nor Moretti could do to have stopped it and prevented it from happening. Or could there have been a way? If he realized sooner, rather than now, that they were being sent to a research facility, instead of being thrown into a prison, and becoming Prisoners of War, then he would have just allowed the ODSTs to kill them when they found and rescued him from Larkin. Being tortured for many days, like they have endured, was a fate much worse than death. He knew it all too well, as he, too, had been tortured before more than once. The physical and emotional torture he had to endure...seeing Sage being ripped apart and eaten alive in front of his very eyes by Covenant Forces, and then being tortured by the Insurrectionists on Protector, was very hard on him. He certainly wanted to die during the ambush when he saw his loved one being slaughtered without any remorse, but he continued living after that. Some would tell him that he was lucky, and lucky that Gold Team arrived in time, but it wasn't luck...more like a curse. If the torture on Protector went on longer, then he certainly would have been worse – much worse for him. It was all the same ordeal, even if he suffered much less in terms of the amount of days than these three Kig-Yar. All suffering ended the same – causing people to not want to feel anymore, let alone to fight anymore.

Why did he still continue fighting? He felt numb, feigning emotions, and trying to present himself as a constantly happy man who was optimistic, when he really had a bleak outlook on life these days. He used sarcasm to cope with it, even if his sarcasm ended up being hurtful to others. Then there was his aggression he was trying to deal with at times because he would sometimes be too aggressive, and part of him loved that side.

Renny, he slowly smiled a little as he thought of his little girl. Renee was his reason for fighting, and he wouldn't give up on her. Not by a long shot.

“Is there something the matter, Lieutenant Commander?” wondered Hayden.

Moretti's eyes shifted over to where Hayden was located in the room. “Plenty...” He muttered.

“Such as...?”

“I wouldn't expect you to understand, Hayden, but what the scientists did to them, was completely wrong.”

“Interesting that you're thinking that way,” Hayden titled his head a little. “Curious. If it were three Jiralhanae strapped down in front of you, rather than those three Kig-Yar, would you feel the same way?”

Moretti turned his head away, looking back toward Talz, Eal, and Roh, but could only answer him with silence.

“How about if it were the one you have been hellbent on seeking? Everyone practically knows about that. Word tends to get around, as you know.” A slight pause. “Although...” The AI's hologram lightly tapped at his chin when he was thinking about another detail. “I've been hearing about something else...something involving that Chieftain's pack-mate. Do you know about that?”

The Lieutenant Commander's eyes widen, and he quickly turned around to face him. “Don't! You dare...” He sneered, pointing at him.

He heard Hayden chuckle lightly. “I think I made my perfectly morbid point,” He said rather smugly as he clasped his hands together in front of him. “You wouldn't blink an eye if it were Jiralhanae in their stead.” While adding, “In fact, you might even enjoy it.”

Hayden watched as Moretti shifted his body around, so he could look at the three alien prisoners easier, and then waited for a reaction. “Hmm...you are so hard to figure out...”

“I stopped caring about revenge a long time ago, Hayden,” Moretti whispered, “I have a daughter to take care of. Then I found out from the one named Roh that Garatus' pack-mate was murdered in my name. Someone went on ahead and took revenge for me, despite how I changed my mind and was against the idea, and they knew it, too.” He glanced over at him, arms resting at his sides, and then started to pace around the small room.

He spat, “Now you can see why I'm angry at your assumptions that I wouldn't care and would enjoy it more if these three were Jiralhanae, and not Kig-Yar.”

“Fair enough,” Hayden lightly tapped at his chin again. “Nonetheless, Lieutenant Commander, I do understand your disapproval of how your employers dealt with these prisoners. But, they are the enemy, and we need to test them for weaknesses and so forth. After all, it's a dirty job, but someone has to do it...as the old saying goes.”

As an afterthought, he said, “Something I recommend you being reacquainted with as you continue working with ONI...otherwise, the other agents will start calling you 'alien lover', and mock you behind your back, just like they do with that one Chris Hyde fellow you are friends with.”

The Italian muttered under his breath, “I don't give a shit...”

Hayden smirked, the recorder in the room easily picked up what the field operator said. “Of course you don't...”

Moretti let out an aspirated sigh and shook his head in annoyance. He went over to the table, grabbed a chair, and sat down to wait for the three aliens to finally be able to wake up...and stay awake.

"You're right, Hayden..." He said after several minutes passed. "ONI does do good work, despite some of it being dirty. I've done some dirty work...but torture goes too far against my beliefs and my convictions."

"It's a losing war, Lieutenant Commander," Hayden replied, "A losing war, where Humanity must do anything to survive it, even if it's by unconventional means against the enemy. You know this."

Moretti chewed lightly on his bottom lip for a moment. "Sure, I know it," He kept scanning his eyes on the three Kig-Yar. "Doesn't mean I agree with 'The end justifies the means.', Hayden. Not when it comes to torturing Prisoners of War. That's what my father believed when it should really be 'The means justifies the end to that end.'."

He sighed. "I would probably feel better if the testings were done on corpses, who wouldn't feel anything or have to suffer through those tests. I mean, carving a damn smiley face in their shoulder is not a fucking test! That's torture!"

"Oh?" Hayden then responded, "They could, yes, but the results wouldn't be as good as live test subjects."

"That's not the point..."

"Then what is your point, pray tell?" 

Moretti shook his head a little again. "Forget it," He frowned. "You don't understand at all, and I won't waste my breath trying to explain it to an AI." 

[Faclan]

Eal Tas - T'vaoan Murmillo
ONI Prisoner and Test subject.
Barely seeing the world.

Like his other two Cell mates Eal sat unmoving in the chair, securely strapped down and muzzled even though none of them were in any state to cause any kind of trouble or danger to anyone.

Eal had been through less extreme but equally damaging tests as Roh - and while he didn't have a back of scars or scar tissue a plenty he bore many 'souvenir's from his visit to ONI and their testing facilities. The most easily seen change in his appearance would be the face that his feather mane was gone. The feathers from his arms also removed. Each of them painfully removed from his scalp and arms to see if they would grow back. The smallest bits of fluff were starting to grow back on top of his torn and scar covered scalp - and the amount of time and pain could only be guessed about from looking from the outside. But the ONI had taken the better part of a day to 'pluck' Eal.

The other most obvious injury would be the fact that his injured hand, his right, was no longer on his body. After the ONI had found out that Eal's nerves had been severed in his hand it was decided that the T'vaoan didn't need it anymore. It was probably in a jar in ONI's possession now to be set on someone desk in some disgusting trophy.

After his hand had been removed the ONI had thought about other things they could remove from the smaller, but older, T'vaoan since they had too. And it was eventually decided on an eye so they could figure out if they were similar to Earth birds of prey to give them that good of vision. Surgical marks and a few small incisions would be around Eal's left eye, but thankfully it was decided in the end to use some of the dead bodies ONI had on hand for the purpose. Not worth having the possibility of the T'vaoan dying if the eye was removed. Besides that he had been through many of the similar tests as Roh and Talz; nearly drowned, forced to collapse from exhaustion several times before beat to continue, and shocked more times that he ever wanted to remember. Burns all over all of their bodies from the fetish ONI seemed to have for the shock batons.

It was hard to tell of Eal's mental fortitude and desire for ethical high ground lasted those Forty days, as the few times the three Kig-Yar had been able to talk with each other Eal was more focused on trying to get them all food and trying to stay together as a unit.

As the drugs slowly wore off Eal's scarred head and face would slowly raise before flopping back down to his chest as a it of spit leaked out of his beak and onto his binds. But eventually his beak did rise up enough and eyes open to see the Human in front of them. But unlike the Murmillo that was happy to work with Mike and had done his best to stop Mike being killed by the other Humans and Roh the Murmillo wasn't pleased to see him. Throughout the forty days Eal had completely forgotten Mike. So all he saw in front of him was an ONI Human, one that was the bringing of pain unlike any he had experienced before. So the T'vaoan recoiled from Mike and shirked away from him, looking down at the floor as the restraints rattled slightly at his movement. But after the initial fear outburst Eal went limp again as his beak flopped forward again to be resting against his chest. Eal still breathing and working on waking up again.

-----

Talz on the other hand was a very different story. Besides very shallow breaths she wasn't moving. At all. She had undergone nearly all the same tests and tortures of the T'vaoan's and bore all the scars and burns from them. But she was a Ruuthian, the smallest and lightest of the breeds - and so she had been brought the closest to death and did 'die' a few times during some of the more extreme tests. But would have been brought back with injections so the tests would continue.

ONI knew this would shorten her life considerably, but they didn't give a single care about that. Such information would probably be known to the AI - and that it was roughly estimated that Talz would barely have five more years now before her heart and stomach started to fail. And then a year of slow suffering before they failed completely. The T'vaoans would fare a lot better because of their tougher structure, but Talz really suffered at the hands of ONI. No hands removed or massive burns applied, but years of life stolen from her.

( ;_; D: Feels )

[BetaWülf]

T'vaoan Major Roh Gel
ONI Prisoner
Dead Tired

Roh continued to lay still, his head resting to the side where it had lolled to. Roh normally would have flinched, struggled, or tried to bite Mike as he surprisingly carefully took the T'vaoans head in his hands, but Roh had no fight left in him, and wasn't all the way with it yet either. His heart rate had remained about the same since awakening initially, but it actually decreased slightly as Mike held his head, and even a little more once his head was returned to its sideways resting position.

After a long moment by himself, listening to Mike argue and bicker with the AI, Roh almost perked up when he heard a familiar word he hadn't once thought of since the torture began. Jiralhanae. Were they attacking? Would they take the facility? Roh could perhaps bribe them, or... or... or... not, the AI was simply antagonizing Mike about murdering one or something. He perked again when he heard the name Garatus, he knew of him, they were from the same Legion.

A Legion that abandoned him.... He surely did not feel included in the supposed fellowship of the Covenant that mutilated Field Marshal preached so often. For a long time, Roh had believed it. Now he and his two comrades were... were... what the hell were they even? He honestly didn't know. Kig-Yar was the only answer that he knew to be true....

"Garatus... Til... We are Legion..." Roh muttered quite audibly, his head having rolled back to look at the ceiling of his own volition. "Kael... Zaat... Qesa... We Gel...." he muttered now, having thought of the Commanders in his former Legion made he skim over them all, which eventually made him think of his Mother, and his closest Gel Kin.

He moved his head to look at Mike now, though he said nothing, a mostly blank stare was all he had mustered at the moment. It was a cold, soulless gaze, like dead eyes almost, except with a modicum of misery showing through his now dull eyes. He wheezed slightly as well, from his now healed throat injury.

He missed them all so badly... it didn't even cross his mind that Qesa had been dead for years, he just wanted to be home with his family now....

[Llau]

Lieutenant Commander Michelangelo Moretti
ONI Tactical Field Operator
Mid-April, 2548
Neutral Systems, Undisclosed Location
Aboard UNSC Prowler #596
Tag(s): Faclan, BetaWülf


When he detected that Eal was finally waking up, the operative slowly stood, keeping his eyes on him. He took several steps toward him, but stopped when he watched at the T'vaoan suddenly recoiled and shirked away from him when the alien locked eyes on him. It was fear, and Moretti could only but stand where he was, as he watched his outburst of fear, before Eal went limp again. The Lieutenant Commander didn't know what to think, but the way he reacted when he saw him...was it because he remembered him, and was scared, or did Eal think he was just another ONI agent in black.

He winced a little, unsure about the reaction. It wasn't the first time that a prisoner showed him fear, but it was always a little fear, and more along the lines of either hatred, anger, confusion, or defiance. He had to admit, he has beaten prisoners before to get them to speak, but just enough to get them to speak if they weren't talking. A lot of times, they still continued to stay defiant; such as the Sangheili. He was then either ordered to kill them or they would be sent off somewhere to a prison to be never seen again.

Sighing, he closed his eyes, and bowed his head, as he thought about what was going on. He then decided that maybe taking his jacket uniform off, might help them relax more. Maybe it would help, but then again, maybe it wouldn't. He opened his eyes again, and started to unbuckle his gun belt, but stopped. Hearing one of them speak quietly, he noticed it was Roh, but he couldn't understand him. He stood there silently, watching the younger T'vaoan for a few moments, while he took his belt and laid it onto the table, before he went to unzip his jacket. When he turned around, he looked back at Roh, who was staring at him with those dead-looking eyes. That same, haunting expression that would have been easier to look back at if Roh was dead, and not alive.

Moretti folded his jacket and laid it down onto the table, and then peered over at Talz, who was still not moving, nor was she waking up. He slowly approached her, and stood between her and Eal, while he checked the Ruuthian's status. While checking to see if the medical equipment was properly hooked up to her, thinking that the Prowler's doctor didn't hook everything up right, or something else happened, but no. It was neither reason, even though he wished it was, when he did another overview of the smaller Kig-Yar's medical report. There wasn't much, due in part of the redacted information from the report.

Why go all that way to hide some of the information about Talz's medical report, and not the other two...? he thought, tapping his finger on the side of the data-pad.

“Hayden?” He turned around to look over at the AI.

“Hmm?”

“Some of the information wasn't added to the female's medical report,” Moretti said, “In fact, it's been redacted. Why?”

“I can't answer that, Lieutenant Commander,” Hayden replied. “Why do you care anyway?”

“I want to know what's wrong with her and why she isn't responding to the drugs we are using to wake her up with, while the other two are,” said the operator. He walked back to stand in front of the AI, and stared down at him.

“Don't look at me,” Hayden shrugged helplessly. “I just work here.”

Moretti pointed at him, and whispered, “You know something, and you're keeping it from me.”

“Do I? Am I?” Another shrug. “We just don't know...I apologize.”

“I don't like it when things that I should need to know are kept hidden from me,” The field operator muttered while he paced back-and-forth in front of him.

The AI sighed, “I do believe that information falls under the 'Need-to-know' basis, sir...”

“Yeah?” Moretti slowly looked over at him when he slowed to a stop. “It would be great right now, because that hidden data might help me figure out why she isn't responding or waking up, like the other two.” A pause. “You and I both know how things in the past have become helpful that are hidden to us.”

Hayden blinked, raising an eyebrow up somewhat. “What do you mean...?”

The Lieutenant Commander slowly inhaled, frowning a bit, while he strayed away from the curious AI, and thought about his question. “Hmm...”

He crossed his arms, and stood with his back turned to Hayden, as he gazed at the three aliens for a few moments; taking his sweet time waiting to answer him.

“Please, Lieutenant Commander,” Hayden frowned. “Don't keep me in suspense...is this a particular part of your personal history, or is it something else?”

“Sure, I can give you an example,” Moretti smiled briefly before turning around to face him again, and rested his arms at his sides. He took a couple of steps toward him, and quietly answered, “It's 'Undid Iridium'. Have you heard of that phrase before?”

“Undid – Un..did...did - ” Hayden's figure suddenly started glitching when he attempted to repeat the phrase; morphing into several different colors before ending back to his light blue color, as well as moving around oddly, before he stopped and calmly stood still. “UNSC AI Override Instructions active, Lieutenant Commander Michelangelo Moretti.” He spoke to him, in an oddly calm voice.

Moretti smiled happily. He was glad he was able to take control of the little bastard of an AI. He clasped his hands in front of his lap, and ordered, “Hayden. Tell me what the redacted information was in the Ruuthian's medical file was.”

“Yes,” Hayden answered him in the same calm voice after the operator took control of him, “The Ruuthian couldn't withstand the testing of the males, and medically died several times during her captivity.”

“What?” Moretti blinked in disbelief. “She died several times?”

“Yes,” Hayden explained, “They were able to revive the female during four separate occasions.”

“Is this why she has yet to wake up?”

“Correct, Lieutenant Commander Moretti,” The AI replied, “The tests have left her physically weak.”

“What sort of problems will impact her after this...any long term effects?”

“Due to the forty days of experiments on her smaller frame, the Ruuthian is dying.”

“Huh. Dying...” Moretti trailed off, and then he thought about the condition Talz was currently in. He turned around to slowly walk over to the sleeping Ruuthian, and studied her. “How long does she have, Hayden?”

Hayden started to glitch again, as he tried to regain control over Moretti's override command. “Lieutenant Commander! You asshole! Whatever you just did -” He started fighting against it again. “ -to...me.”

The field operator slowly looked over his shoulder before turning around somewhat to see him better, and watched as the AI returned to his full control.

He repeated his question, unfazed of the AI's attempt to fight his override command. “How long does she have? Can you answer that for me.”

“Yes,” Hayden replied calmly once again, “She will not last more than five years, ten months, and twelve days from now."

“What's the reason...or reasons?”

“It will be due to multiple organ failure.”

“Such as?”

“Cardiovascular and abdominal organ failure,” Hayden answered, “Which is estimated that she will suffer very slowly from in the final year of her life.”

Nodding a little, satisfied with the answers, but didn't like what the answers he was given were, Moretti walked away and stood closer to the three Kig-Yar, and crossed his arms, while he gazed over at Talz.

“I don't know about anyone else, but, if I was her, I would've wanted to not be revived after that many times, just so they can continue running their tests...” He whispered quietly, as he started to regret knowing these things.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the Lieutenant Commander, Hayden managed to split himself into two, so he could fix himself completely.

“What was the point in keeping her alive...even after she died more than once on the table? Did those damn tests on her even produce the results they wanted? They shortened her life, taking many years away from her, all for science...” He laughed quietly in disbelief, shaking his head at those thoughts. “Why do I even find myself caring anyway? I'm either spending too much time around Chris, or I really do have a conscious.” He muttered under his breath.

Hayden crossed his arms, looking angrily at Moretti, but equally smug when he was finally able to regain control over himself.

“Hey,” Hayden said, gaining his attention. “That was an amazingly dirty trick, Lieutenant Commander. I didn't think you would know an override code to take control over an AI, but this is you, and not someone else...who knows better.”

“Well, I was able to get what I wanted out of you, Hayden.”

“Oh, I know,” scoffed Hayden. “That was a very rude way in getting what you wanted from me. I should fill out a complaint about this, and request that those override codes be changed! Hmph!”

Moretti smiled somewhat. “I would say I'm sorry, but I'm a terrible liar.”

“And a little shit, too...” Hayden muttered. He sighed. “You're lucky that you're a higher-ranking officer, and not some lackey or some damn civilian.”

“Yeah, yeah...” Moretti waved at him, and grabbed the chair and wheeled it over with him when he went to check on the two T'vaoan, who he knew were stable and either awake or waking up again.

“Hey...um...” God, this was awkward for him. “Do you two even remember me?” He bit his lower lip, and ran his hands over his face and through his hair. “Who am I kidding? You guys probably don't even remember me, but...it was on Protector, and when I was escaping from captivity, I ran into you three. Eal gave me some food and water...stupid shit happened, like those Innies attacking us, which forced us to become allies, but then...” He trailed off, sighing as he bowed his head regretfully.

[Faclan]

Eal Tas - T'vaoan Murmillo
ONI Prisoner and Test subject.
I volunteer as tribute.

Eals second time slowly waking up went much better than his first time and he was actually able to keep his eyes open this time. Just like Roh however his expression wasn't empty. Instead it was worry and fear. As the only thing Eal had been able to hold onto in his mind through the weeks of torture and experiments was that he was the leader, and it was his job to see his troops through it all to safety. So when he finally got a hold of his facilities again he first looking around to see if he could see his fellows. Talz was the first one see as he looked around, and Eal did his best to reach out to her and weakly warbled out her name. But his stump of a wrist barely moved from the restraints as he watched her sit there unmoving...but at least she was still breathing.

His second thing seen would be a Human talking with one of their little glowing men AI. But all of the shifting colors and glitching went pretty much un noticed by Eal as he averted his eyes from the Human...but knew that wouldn't stop the pain he knew was coming. This was probably just going to be another terrible test of pain with little data. Just because the Humans thought they could.

Finally there was Roh, who he heard before he slowly looked over and saw him looking down at the metal ground and quietly speaking about Gel. Eal once more tried to reach out to him to try and comfort him but the restraints kept him from moving far. So instead he listened - his heart sinking even lower as he was reminded of how young Roh was, and how all of his family and Gel were never going to see him again. But after he stopped talking Eal tried to speak out to him. But it was very quiet.

"Roh...Roh. You will see Gel...again." Nodding a little through his muzzle he turned back to look at the Human, and after taking a deep breath and speaking as clearly as he could in the Kiggy language. A translater computer probably in the room somewhere or the AI could do it.

"Human...please let...them go." He said, pointing with his beak at the other two Kig-Yar. "I...I will stay...just let them go..home." Eal had tried to make this request a few times while they were in the testing facility, but this was the firsty time there was only one Human. So no shame in trying one last time. "...Aecor help us." He added quietly after as he did his best to keep his beak up and look at the Human.

The Human however had moved to be sitting in front of them as Eal offered his plea. And started to talk just as Eal was beseeching Aecor for help. He heard some cheeping and pheeping from somewhere above him, probably some translation, that gave a rough idea with what he said. And then the Human had a little spiel which was eventually translated once he finished.

"Hi, uhh. You couple remember me? Who do I joke? You men mostly don't remember me. I was on Defender, when I run from jail i meet you three. E give me food and water. Silly poop happened. Inside Humans attack. We friends...then..."

If Eal had feathers right now Mike would see them slowly rising as Eals expression of fear and worry was quickly replaced with just pure rage. Some nice pure abject rage as he remembered. Now he remembered that underground time...the Human they spared and then saved the life of. The Human that had caused this to them and made Talz still unresponsive! The Betrayer! The Mike! Eal's upbringing and family honor not allowing him to let this go unanswered.

The T'vaoan Murmillo would lunge forward from his restraints as much as he could and even snapped his beak at Mike before he collapsed and breathed deeply from the outburst...still very weak from everything that happened. And after a few gulps he would look up still full of rage as he spluttered out his reply with many cheeps and screeches.

"You! Human Mike! Betrayal! You worthless betrayer! We didn't kill and and even saved your damn life after that and you gave us up to be worse than slaves!" He collapsed again after this outburst before dragging his head up again and hissing some more. "You act regretful now, but look at us! Look at what you caused! I can't believe I ever thought you were respectable down there - when you allow this to happen to we who saved your life. Alien or not," he took some more deep breaths, clearly only his anger keeping him going. "That is a scum thing to do...you may have well as just murdered us after saving you. So you could be a lying, betraying, murderer!" Keeping his glare up as long as he could Eal slumped back in his restrained, eyes still opened as he tried to look over at Roh as his message was slowly cheeped and pheeped back at Mike.

------

The third Kig-Yar was still unconscious...even after the drugs keeping her asleep had finished and the shouting from Eal. Either she just really wanted to sleep or something else was wrong. The medical signs would be good so nothing immediate like a heart failure but it at least made for easier dealing with her because she wasn't doing anything. No rattling at her restraints or glaring at Mike.

Fine if the Kig-Yar were soon to be executed as it would make for easier disposal. But if they had to get up and move would probably be an issue that she wasn't waking up.

[BetaWülf]

T'vaoan Major Roh Gel
ONI Prisoner
Horrid Consciousness

Roh continued to watch Mike, the Human started to take off his belt. They made eye contact for a moment, Mike seemed disturbed by the dead eyes that stared back from the living creature. Roh kept on watching with his hollow eyes as Mike started to take off his jacket with the dread ONI symbol upon it, folding it up.

There was a low hiss in Roh's throat as Mike approached Talz... was he finishing what he started? Killing them now that his vile little minions had concluded their sickening fun and games. Roh was at least feeling something now, anger and almost a giddiness. Maybe he could kill them, and end the pain? Free them to Aecor's embrace....

How Roh would love death now, he hoped it would be an endless sea, the warm sun shining down upon him and the salty spray tickling his skin. The cool breeze ruffling his feathers, Qesa would be there too he hoped... it had been so long since he last saw her... how he would revel in the chance to do so one last time. The younger T'vaoan was roused from his death wishing to listen, as the Human and the little mockery of a man spoke.

He watched the banter between Mike and Hayden, the AI was giving Mike a run for his money on which of the two was the more intentionally combative. Mike seemed determined to know why Talz would not wake, which honestly frightened Roh. Had they killed her truly? Roh leaned up as far as he could to see over Eal and get a glimpse at Talz. At least she was breathing.

The AI refused the Human his answers, Mike however seemed to be toying with Hayden, taking control of the AI through some strange code words. 'Undid Iridium' was the phrase... Roh tried his damnedest to commit it to memory, repeating the words in his mind over and over again. He never knew when they might come in handy, or at all.

What he heard next was horrible, unacceptable, and infuriating. The fucking beasts had robbed Talz of years of her life, not that it mattered down here. Or was it up? Sideways? Roh had no orientation to his location... he did not like it. Not one bit. Roh looked over as Mike sat down near them. He spoke to them both, Eal and Roh, asking if they remembered who he was. Roh did, of course, he'd never forget. But as Mike spelled it out, Eal caught on, apparently having forgotten Mike.

Roh shrank back for once as Eal went into a furious outburst, screaming at Mike about what a horrible person he was. Roh couldn't really argue with Eal's opinion, it was his to have and shared many of Roh's thoughts as well. Once Eal had settled however, the translator dragged on, butchering both species' languages as it translated. Roh was disgusted by it honestly. However, he had a pressing question.

"Yes... I remember you, Mike... I wont be forgetting your face any time soon. Tell me, deceiver, are we down or up? Left or Right? Your machine speaks both languages badly..." Roh said in English, a raspy almost hiss-like accent heavy with the otherwise decently spoken words. Roh cringed as the machine attempted to translate his English into a Kig-Yar dialect, so terrible it made his ear holes hurt.

[Llau]

Lieutenant Commander Michelangelo Moretti
ONI Tactical Field Operator
Mid-April, 2548
Neutral Systems, Undisclosed Location
Aboard UNSC Prowler #596
Tag(s): Faclan, BetaWülf


He jumped a little in his seat when he reacted to Eal lunging at him, but was honestly relieved that the T'vaoan was restrained. He stared at him, listening to all the angry cheeps and screeches at him, and then waited for the machine to translate what was said to him in English in his ear. Slowly closing his eyelids, he crossed his arms, while listening to the translation of the angry outburst Eal had. He had to admit, the translation software was still pretty bad, and would need a lot more work still in the years to come, but it was all they had. It was also something that wouldn't get upset or mad, like Hyde would, if he was here. So, while it butchered both languages, he was able to figure out what was said to him. Eal accused him of being a lying, betraying murderer. He had to smile, had to chuckle at it.

He uncrossed his arms, clasping his hands together and resting his arms over his lap as he spoke, suddenly, but eerily disassociating himself from the operation. “Well...you aren't entirely wrong...but you aren't entirely right either, Eal...” He gradually opened his eyelids to stare indifferently over at the older T'vaoan, while he overheard the younger one asking him a question.

Not taking his indifferent-filled eyes off of Eal, he answered Roh, “We are neither here or there...”

It was followed by a long pause, before he spoke again. “Hayden, turn the translation software off. It's shit anyway.”

“As...you wish, sir,” Hayden said, “Translation software is off.”

Moretti continued to sit in his seat, continuing his stare down at Eal. Smiling a little though, he wheeled back over to the table in the front of the chairs, and grabbed his belt off of the table. He stood, putting it back on, sat down, and wheeled back over to them. He stood up again, but this time, he tightened the loose muzzle over Eal's mouth, but made sure it was uncomfortably tight around him, so he wouldn't get used to it at all. He gave Roh a quick glance, making sure the younger T'vaoan saw what he did. He then sat back down, and leaned back in his chair, as he took a palm-sized cylinder device away from his belt that it was strapped to. Quietly, he flicked it in the air, extending it into a baton, which flickered with electricity as he pressed the button to turn on the stun to test it, but to mostly intimidate them because from the reports he gathered, he knew it would easily work on them.

“What I have to do around here to get people to shut up and listen...” He muttered under his breath, staring ahead as he waited for their response.

[Faclan]

Tags: Llau BetaWülf

Eal Tas - T'vaoan Murmillo
ONI Prisoner and Test subject.
RAR HISS MAD BIRD NOISES.

Glaring at Mike as he sat there and seemed to be absorbing what ever the machine was telling Mike he had said. He hoped it was correct as it could be...little scum should know the fury that Eal had for what Mike had allowed to have happened to them after they saved his life twice. But after some sitting there Human Mike started to laugh...LAUGH! How dare he laugh at the suffering they have endured because of his allies doing! Talz was still unconcious for Aecors sake! He then said...somthing about how he was right and wrong at the same time? Glaring daggers still from his normal and nearly cut out eye Eal responded again.

"Your tricky words won't clear your soul of Aecors disapproval Human Mike. Even Gel wouldn't have done this to Sisterhood who saved one of their lives." He thought for a bit as Mike seemed to be responding to Roh before he spoke up again. "And I don't even care what you would have done to me, I was the leader of the group and the decision to trust you was mine in the end. But I will never forgive you for what you did to Roh and Talz - you probably don't even care that they were young! Their lives probably ruined because of yoMMPH." Was as far as he got before Mike reaches up to his beak. Eal was tempted to try and bite, but was too busy trying to get the last word in before he flinched and shut his eyes with a low groan as the muzzle painfully cinched up around his beak. He sure wouldn't be saying anything else now so he settled to glaring at Mike.

But he was distracted by Talz finally making movement. His expression softening as he looked over to his side to try and see if she was ok. But his head then snapped to the front as he heard the low humm and zap of one of the Humans shock sticks. Immediately he looked right ahead and not at Mike anymore....they had been conditioned with pain well...

---

Finally waking up the Ruuthian would slowly look around through half open eyes at where the hell she was...she felt like throwing up but knew that she had to suppress the feeling as the muzzle wouldn't allow her to do it. She quickly cheeped out for Roh or Eal and smiled a little when she finally looked over to see her two allies there. Glad she was among friends. She had missed all of the angry shouting and didn't seem to have seen Mike was there.

That was until the shock stick was activated.

Talz immediately pheeping out in fear as she snapped to be looking at Mike and the baton as she tried to shirk away from it, not looking at him as she fidgeted and tries to push back with her feet...clearly terrified.

( )

[BetaWülf]

T'vaoan Major Roh Gel
ONI Prisoner
Blatant Lethargy of Souls

Roh furrowed his brow at Mikes answer, one brow slightly raised evocative of 'are you fucking serious'. Roh thumped his head back into the table, looking up at the incredibly boring ceiling. Why couldn't it be like a Human nursery? Roh had seen those before when raiding homes, bright, with pictures on the walls and ceiling. And blood. At least once the Covenant had gone through them.

He listened as Eal continued his verbal attack on Mike, his head vibrating a bit, a tension in his muscles shaking it almost like a woodpecker, making a dull thrum on the table. His feathers ruffled a bit as he continued to listen, but looked over when Eal was muffled. Mike had tightened the muzzle on Eal's beak, preventing from further speech.

Then Mike turned off the terrible software, thank Aecor. Slowly, deliberately, Mike took out his stun baton. Slowly he extend it, and tested it to scare them. Roh had seen his own kind have their eyeballs slowly pulled out without breaking the optical cords, which were then latched upon by small biting insects until they told the truth. Shocking that the baton wasn't quite so scary to him.

"I take it you didn't like the truth? Or was there a different reason you decided to act like a pissy child?" Roh said despite the stun baton before him. He was desensitized at this point. What was another shock or bash to him now? Routine. Expected. Maybe Mike would hit like the other had? The T'vaoan felt it necessary to make sure Mike knew that's how he was coming off to Roh.

"And that was a shitty answer to my question, just so you know" Roh said, matter of factly, with a legitimately helpful and intent, but a blunt factual execution. He had a screw loose, broken in the head... at least he wasn't a nose picker.

[Llau]

Lieutenant Commander Michelangelo Moretti
ONI Tactical Field Operator
Mid-April, 2548
Neutral Systems, Undisclosed Location
Aboard UNSC Prowler #596
Tag(s): Faclan, BetaWülf


"A shitty answer for a shitty question..." He muttered.

Moretti kept his eyes on the shock baton, but then he glanced over to where Talz was at, when he heard her freak out. So, she's awake now...good, he thought.

He wondered how many times they were struck by the shock batons by the other agents who were part of their testings, to get them conditioned like this. They must have hit them a number of times to cause them to act like this; either with fear or apathy. He grimaced slightly at the thought, leaning over a little in his seat and pressing his fingers on either side of his nose. He shut his eyelids tightly, feeling his emotions fight against the other. It really was tempting to do the same thing, but...

He scoffed to himself, and murmured, “Why am I even bothering with this?”

He sat there quietly, thinking about the angry outburst Eal had at him before he decided to tighten his muzzle around his beak. Part of him wanted to know what was said, as he only picked up on a few words, but he figured it was him being pissed at him for what he apparently did to them. Sighing, he parted his eyes and turned off the baton's shocking mechanism when he stood up, but didn't return the baton to its place on his belt. He glanced over at Talz, and watched as she continued to be terrified of it...of him.

Rubbing the back of his neck, he grumbled a bit before he responded to Roh. “You know,” He smiled, trying to keep his irritation down to a minimal. “The truth, huh? Yeah, that's funny you even mention about truth. You three seem to think I did these tests on you, and tortured you, and yet, I wasn't even there in the first place. Blaming someone who wasn't there and did nothing to you...do you see...the problem with that?”

“Do you want to know where I was?” he asked. “I was in hospital recovering from my injuries. Did you forget how you found me down there? I wasn't a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, you know." He chuckled angrily. "Let me remind you how I was tortured and barely given any food and water for nearly a week. You're probably sitting there thinking "how a week doesn't compare to the amount of time you had." You know what? I don't care. It felt like forever to me, and I didn't even think I was going to be able to live; let alone escape, but I did because by some stupid luck, some fucking earthquake happened.” He huffed. “I was exhausted, my whole body was in pain. I was hungry, thirsty, and I just wanted to get the hell out of there and finish my god damn mission so I can leave that god forsaken place, and then go home and spend some time with my daughter.”

He glared at him as he continued talking, “Then I encounter you three. I hide because I know I wouldn't stand a chance against three Kig-Yar who are armed and armored, when I wasn't as well-equipped to be able to handle a fight. Then, by some strange miracle, you three Covenant bastards don't slaughter me right then and there because I'm just another human target to you...your sworn enemy due to some screwed up...fanatical, religious bullshit you aliens have against my species!” He let out an angry but very brief laugh.

“Hell...” He trailed off for a moment, starting to pace the front of their examining chairs they were strapped into. “Who knows what you were planning on wanting to do to me...probably capture me and take me back to your leaders since you didn't kill me...which would have ended very badly for me.”

He shrugged his shoulders a little. “Yeah, Eal saved my life twice, which was great, but...I'm pretty sure you had a terrible reason for doing that...him too.” He pointed over at Eal.

He stopped pacing, and stared down at Roh. “Am I right about that? I saw the look in your eyes, Roh...the kind people get when they're up to something bad and think they are being subtle by hiding it behind a friendly act of kindness. You're no different from humans.” He smiled, though it wasn't a happy one.

He returned to his seat. “I did what I had to do in order to continue with my mission, and...I used you to get there, and I used those Innies to get there too.”

He sighed, thinking for a moment. “As for capturing you...that's all I did, was capture you...I didn't know they were going to bring you to that facility and torture you by running all of those tests on you and your buddies.” Looking up at him. “So, if you three are going to be angry at someone, don't blame the one who wasn't there like some pissy child. Blame those who were and did those things to you. I will not be your damn scapegoat.”

[BetaWülf]

T'vaoan Major Roh Gel
ONI Prisoner
Hypocrisy

Roh listened as Mike raged on, about all his injustices, about it wasn't his fault and he wasn't to blame. Roh listened as Mike made his false assumptions, and labeled the three prisoners as he demanded they not label him. And quite frankly Roh wished Mike would get off his high horse, or that someone would dehorse his. With obvious anger in his voice, Roh repeated back what Mike had said to Eal and Talz.

"It wasn't a shitty question, you're just too angry to respond with anything but hateful words. I admit, you've not been met with any kinds ones as of yet. We have a right to be angry, and so do you I suppose" for the first time in his life Roh seemed diplomatic. He saw how anger had begotten anger, and he had learned to adapt to please Humans.

"I see your point, you did not personally torture us. I do not expect empathy from you, I don't want it nor your pity, which I am assuming you're conditioned against given the your previous words of not caring" His tone cool and soothing.

"But you demand we not lay blame on you, that you are not some drone of this... this... this ONI" Roh said, the organizations name bitter to even speak, his face twitched as he spat it out almost fearfully.

"You call us 'Covenant bastards', and call us zealots. But we are no zealots, are rank is too low, and we only serve the Covenant for pay and continued survival. My deity is not theirs, mine is pure and of the Sea...." Roh said, trailing off at the end as he recalled the Seas of his home.

"I have no interest in the extinction of your species, only the survival of my own. When I joined the Covenant's Army I expected to be stationed on a border patrol or as a prison guardian. But no, my subspecies is being dwindled down by the Aecor damned Sangheili, and by your species. I didn't want to kill Humans, I wasn't given a choice, I was given a weapon and told kill them before they kill me" Roh said as his feathers bobbed casually.

"But now, now I have a reason to hate Humans, to want to kill them. I'm sure you do too, after your own kind tortured you for a quarter of the time and severity they tortured me for, of course, you don't care, you hate me" Roh said, though his words came out calm there was a small amount of venom with the last sentence he uttered.

"And my smile was not false, I was genuinely excited to be around a Human that didn't shoot at me. However, I did suggest that we kill you once you started lying to us, but Eal was not so keen on it, he would have happily let us all part ways, who would have known? What harm could it have been? Well, I think we all know the answer now...." Roh said with a deadpan stare before continuing.

"And I would have followed Eal's order if he said to let you leave, Talz too. Do not try and act like you had more of right to leave that place than I, I have a family too, people who love me, people who loved me that were killed by Humans, she was only a child and your whore spawn ONI killed her... and at least you have a child, you've gotten that luxury in your life, I didn't even get the chance" Roh said, these words gnarled and bitter, more so at his prospect of a happy life and famiy of his own escaping him.

"You demand we not make you a scapegoat, whatever you fucking apes mean by that, yet you try and lay the same blame on us? How dare you demand that, you and I, both damned hypocrites. But at least I admit to my sins Human... and if you demand that of us, you could at least show us the same respect in turn" Roh stated, sighing from the strain of prolonged speaking on a poor diet.

Roh hastily translated his own statements and points to Eal and Talz, trying to explain that if they expected any progress they must cool their rage so their words be as smooth as a calm sea.

"I can die with my pride... with my soul mostly intact... unless you came here for another reason?" Roh said to Mike, cocking his head to the side like an inquisitive bird, one eye suspiciously studying the ONI Agent. He was half afraid they were going to put his brain in animal or something just as vile. A fate worse than death so to speak.

[Faclan]

(Great post again BetaW, calling out Mike.)

Eal Tas - T'vaoan Murmillo
ONI Prisoner and Test subject.
Would respond if possible.

As the conversation started up between Roh and the Human Eal just maintained a glare level at Human Mike as long as he could before he blerghed quietly as his head flopped back down to be resting against his chest as he listened to the alien language being spouted back and fourth between Roh and the Human. Taking some time to get his flagging strength back so he could be able to look up at the Human more...but the muzzle around his beak was incredibly distracting and was starting to properly hurt and so the few words he probably could pick out from the conversation were lost to him as he instead glared down at the muzzle around his beak. He despised the fact that it was being used on him - and all of them. Like they were just animals to the Humans. Though by now he knew that most Humans seemed to think of them like that. He had often requested simple decency during their tests but was denied and beat every time he tried to have this go any way other than them being treated like expendable animals that didn't have complex thoughts of any sort. By Aecor he hated Humans so much right now...before he had no hate for them and even respected their tenacity, but now he was fine with the Sangheili wiping them out.

But he looked up, eyes showing more discomfort now then rage, as Roh explained what they were talking about. Staring at Roh for a bit it would be clear that Roh wasn't impressed with Human Mikes complaining and furious that Mike dare lable them as happy little followers of the Sangheili. Eal pulling at the restraints again before collapsing as he just tried to focus on breathing. Some muffled growls and pheeps came from his tightly muzzled beak as he seemed to want to respond to these accusations - how Eal's plan was never to kill Human Mike. If he had his way he would be taken to Kig-Yar who could fully speak the language and questioned there...but nothing like this. Kig-Yar didn't believe in torture for information unless they were sisterhood scum. Deals and talking were the sign of a true intelligence gatherer. These Human ONI were disgusting.

But since he couldn't respond besides facial expressions Eal just hissed quietly and went back to looking at the floor as he tried to regain his strength.

------------

Talz;

Looking back from the ground up to the Human when the shock stick didn't swing down at her Talz slowly relaxed as she looked around and tried to see what was going on. They seemed to be in a ship...and all of them were muzzled and chained to chairs. Nothing new there...but Gods she felt sick. Her head was killing her as was her stomach. But she stayed quiet as Roh and the Human talked back and fourth as she tried to work on breathing. and staying awake. But once the conversation was finally completed and it explained what was happening. Talz just nodding as all of this was a bit too much for her exhausted mind to comprehend she just had a simple quiet thing to say.

"Roh...can you ask him for some water please. And if we are to be executed here - please ask if he would allow us some time to talk with each other as Eal seems to be silenced." She seemed pretty calm about the possibility of death, but all of them had been through hell and back throughout those forty days.

[Llau]

Lieutenant Commander Michelangelo Moretti
ONI Tactical Field Operator
Mid-April, 2548
Neutral Systems, Undisclosed Location
Aboard UNSC Prowler #596
Tag(s): Faclan, BetaWülf


Moretti was staring down at the floor in between his feet, while he sat there, listening to Roh's response. After the young T'vaoan was finished, he clasped his hands loosely together, and rested his elbows on his knees, and quietly sat in the chair for more than a minute; listening to the sounds coming from the medical equipment, and then the faint sounds the ship created. His eyes soon shifted their focus from the floor and to his clasped hands, and then he eventually closed his eyes.

“Yeah, I don't care if you are or aren't fanatics,” He whispered, loud enough for them to hear him. “I don't care about either of you and I hate you. I hate you a lot...looking at you makes my blood boil. I struggle with the thought of just killing you three right now, simply because you're my enemy...” He trailed off, thinking of Sage, and the thought of his unit being brutally slaughtered, but he stopped himself. He tensed up a little, grimacing for a few moments, as he willed the memory back into his mind. “...among other reasons of wanting your species and the Jiralhanae dead...” He hissed venomously between grit teeth as his raw emotions were slowly seeping through.

He didn't bother looking up, but he went on, saying, “I want to take my gun, and blow each of your brains out. Or...use my knife and slash each of your throats, and watch as all three of you bleed too death...” A pause, his eyes staring at the bottom of Roh's examination chair. “Or maybe just dispose you three out of the airlock, and be done with this shit...”

His eyes darkened as he reminiscence on those thoughts, but then he slowly shook his head. He let out a short sigh, lowering his head as his shoulders drooped forward. He chuckled quietly to himself, running his fingers through his hair. Smiling, he titled his head up to look back at Roh, when he leaned back in his chair again.

“That...that's what part of me wants to do...wishes to do, and not just because I was ordered to dispose of you three somewhere,” He tilted his head as the smile faded into a troubled expression. “It's a constant struggle...I love it...I hate it...”

Still gazing at him, he continued, “If I really didn't give two shits about you three and hated you, then I wouldn't have bothered taking you three out of that cage they brought you in...I wouldn't have bothered feeling appalled when I saw the physical results of those torturous tests they did to you three. I wouldn't have forced Hayden to give me a report on what was wrong with Talz.”

Behind him, the AI muttered, “Rude...”

Moretti started to walk away, but glanced down at the floor as he changed his mind about something else. “Those muzzles...it's protocol, but...protocol be damned.”

He took a step closer to Roh, and then started to unbuckle the straps to take the muzzle off of him.

“Lieutenant Commander,” Hayden warned, “I'd advice you to cease taking the muzzle off of the subjects.”

“Whatever...” he muttered, carefully taking the muzzle off of the young T'vaoan's beak.

“Well then,” Hayden shrugged. “If you don't care, then I don't care. The consequences will be yours and...only yours.”

Moretti went over to Eal's side, and hesitated as he cautiously reached both hands to unbuckle the tight muzzle from his beak. After slowly taking it off of him, he walked around Eal's examination chair, and then slowly over to Talz to take her muzzle off as well. Once he was finished, he threw the three muzzles he collected from them onto the table, and then started to pace again; rubbing his hands together repeatedly, as he was thinking intently.

[BetaWülf]

T'vaoan Major Roh Gel
ONI Prisoner
Insanity

Roh continued to listen to Mike, raising a brow as the Human went about not caring that they didn't really care that the Humans lived, and how he wanted to kill them all just for being Kig-Yar... and apparently some intense hatred for the Jiralhanae. It was fairly clear to Roh that this Human was not at all mentally sound, insane likely, and quite possibly a depraved psychopath. Roh couldn't help but think of his Mother, there was a certain... similarity between the two now that Roh could see Mike was wrecked in the head too.

Roh turned to Eal, trying not to alarm Talz "Eal... I think he's deciding how he's going to kill us... either shooting us in the head, slitting our throat, or blowing us out an airlock... we must be inside a spacecraft then" Roh whispered to the older T'vaoan. "Also, I think this Mike is insane, he keeps mentioning the Jiralhanae, the Chieftain Garatus was mentioned earlier, I think he hates him for some reason, perhaps he was stuck downwind of him?" Roh said, strange chortling giggle slipping out that caused his head to bob slightly.

Roh turned back to listen to the rest of what Mike had to say, apparently he was quite as insane as previously thought. Or maybe he was, but he seemed to try to control it, so he wasn't a completely lost cause. Roh's brow furrowed, taking in the information with a modicum of confusion. So, there were to die then since they were to be disposed of....

Roh sighed, resigning himself to his death. How dishonorable it would be to die like this, he wanted to die by the hands of a worthy foe in battle, and have a corpse for his kin to bury or send out to sea and enter Aecor's embrace.

At least this Mike man cared, at least to a small degree, that their killer wouldn't derive great satisfaction from their demise. But it would be atrocious knowing what his death would do to his Mother and Father... Grandmother Zaat... they'd lost much in their time and didn't deserve another death in the family, though he hoped his Father would fair well since he'd not endured the Gel tragedies.

"Eal, he's been ordered to dispose of us... but he says only a part of him wants to kill us, and he fights it, and that if he didn't care he would have just left us naked in the cage we were brought in... and wouldn't have forced his nasty little pixel man to tell him what was wrong with Talz" Roh said, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.

Roh was surprised when Mike took the muzzle off of him, he made no move to bite or hiss. He let Mike move back before he started working his jaw. It had cramped from the tension, the lack of mobility, so he shifted his jaw around and loosened up his facial muscles. He watched as Mike did the same for Eal and Talz, tossing the muzzles onto the table before he started pacing and rubbing his hands together.

"Thank you... Mike" Roh said "if you are to dispose of us, so be it, but may I request some water for Talz first? Last time they cracked my ribs for asking it..." Roh said, bodily shuddering at the memory. "We have resigned ourselves to our fate, but could we have a moment to say goodbye to each other?" Roh asked, his tone almost pleading, but he hadn't sunk quite so low as to beg. At least he knew Mike wasn't quite so much their enemy as the others were.

[Faclan]

Eal Tas - T'vaoan Murmillo
ONI Prisoner and Test subject.
It's time.

Eal just nodded and let his head flop back to his chest as Roh informed him that Human Mike was debating on how they were to be killed. Although he couldn't see it he had the impression that this Mike was smiling as he probably explained it to Roh. The voice's tone meant nothing to him so he didn't know that Mike didn't sound happy at all. And unfortunately although the joke about Jiralhanae Chieftain Garatus was a good one Eal just stayed flopped and didn't chuckle. He was too busy being full of regret, sorrow, and rage.

Regret because he was the one that decided to go after Human Mike in that underground Cave. The few times they had had to talk in the weeks of torture Roh had tried to tell Eal that it was a group decision...But Eal still laid the blame on himself. His position on Aecor's eternal vessel wasn't even paramount in his mind now - but with this much regret it would be low and likely not even on it. The lives of Roh and Talz, and himself - that he lead to their torture and now deaths.

The sorrow was mainly a by product of that, that especially Roh was going to be killed when he was still barely an adult. Eal wouldn't call him a boy but many would still consider him one...Just trying to live up to Mama Gel and get her attention, and he was going to be murdered for it after having to endure horribly torture and burning.

And finally rage, at this Human Mike and all of the Humans for what they had done to the three of them. They had peacefully surrendered after saving the bastard Mike's life. And they were rewarded with nothing by pain, having their lives ruined, and now death. Not an honorable one. No time to think of loved ones or seemingly even talk to each other. Just being killed like the animals these Humans thought they were.

He barely glanced over from his ruminations as Roh spoke up again, but then just went back to looking at his lap and the chair he was bound in. Eal had accepted that even if the Human didn't want to kill them he would anyway. He would follow his orders like all the other onee had during those tests.

He did however finally look up fully when he felt warmth by the side of his head and where his...feathers used to be as the painful muzzle was quickly removed from him. Opening his beak to stretch it out Eal let out a low groan as he could see the rings left behind by the tight muzzle. But then he went back to silent as he heard what sounded like sobbing from Talz as he finally sighed and looked back up - the Human retreating from her without any of the water she had requested drunken. He was surprised the Human had offered her some, but Talz wasn't in the mood to drink anymore.

"...At least we will go to Aecor together Roh and Talz. I just hope the old crow is willing to let me take the bilge job so you two can see the sun again and feel the spray. You deserve that much from me as our tiny File leader...Tell him I will go first." Taking deeper breaths now Eal brought his head up to look ahead. To look his death in the face as memories of his family rushed back to him...making his eyes start to water as he thought about his tiny Nest. Family only interested in finances and nothing remotely related to this war.

------------

Talz;

Despite Talz starting off calm when death was mentioned she soon lost her nerve as the possible deaths were laid out. The Ruuthian beak dropping down as she started to silently cry that she was going to be killed. The sickness and hunger in her gut didn't help her resolve at all. Neither did the memories of her asteroid home. The large ceiling window where you could watch the stars move and dance...the friends she had there before she was bundled off to serve the Covenant...Her Papa always looking out for her by himself as he worked hard to keep her happy. She opened her eyes when she felt the muzzle removed from her beak but then went back to closed eyes as some tears started to drip down her beak.

The games they would play with just a ball as chicks and the machines they had to mess with when older. It was so simple but it was something she wouldn't trade for anything.

Her watery eyes opened again when something bumped into her beak and she saw the hazy outline of a cup of water...but she just coughed and started to sob audibly as her beak dropped down to her chest. Water wasn't important now when she was going to die. Never to see the stars again. Never to see her Papa. No more machines or friends...Only the cold steel of the chain and the bindings and the cold indifference of these machine like Humans - treating them like they don't think or feel as the Kig-Yar do...But she had Roh and Eal with her. And after some more coughs she shakily cheeped out after Eal had spoken.

"R...Roh and Eal I...I...I'm glad we are all together for our passage." She gulped before continuing. "Al...Although we are not...kin - I feel that we will go...as Kin. Together." She then went back to sobbing as she looked away from the Human...she didn't want to see Eal be killed...She knew begging would be meaningless, and despite her crys she didn't want Aecor to look down on her in her final moments for begging for life.

(*Hugs both tightly* ;_; Writing these before Bed and after a long Sheepy feelz talk not a good idea. You may want to post next BetaW so Mike can respond to all of it .)

[BetaWülf]

T'vaoan Major Roh Gel
ONI Prisoner
Final Moments

Roh's exterior appearance was for the longest time one of indifference. When he was just a wee lad it was indifference with just a hint of sadness. When he was a bit older it was indifference with a small amount of rage boiling over. Then when he was older still, it was anger, pride, and resentfulness, all trying to hide under a mask of indifference.

But now, now his features were contorted into fear. For the first time in his life, he was legitimately scared, terrified even. Would his soul really transcend to the Final Seas? Would his actions condemn him to the darkest depths? Or was it just over, and once he was dead, that's it. He's just gone forever.

Anxiety and fear bunched his brow up into a look of worry, his eyes darting back and forth as if searching. He turned to Eal, tears in his eyes as he listened. He nodded solemnly, knowing what was to be done. He looked to Talz next, the slight welling of tears turning to a small trickle down each cheek.

"You two... are family, to me you are... and together we'll sail the endless seas and revel in the freedom of it...." Roh said, his deeper voice catching in his throat as a lump formed with the emotion filled words.

Roh turned his head towards Mike, though he looked down at his own feet as he faced the Human. Now... now he would deliver Eal's decision to die first as the File Leader.

But when he raised his head to look at the Human, and opened his beak to speak, it came out far from what Eal had wanted.

"When the disposal begins Mike, kill me first... I want Eal and Talz to have those precious few seconds longer...." Roh said to the Human, his head held high and strong. He was a Noble, and Aecor damn him if he wouldn't act the part in his final moments.

"Know my love, Eal, Talz, know you're loved!" Roh said, trying to reach out to them despite the restraints, despite his attempts at composure but the tears stream regardless and his torso quivered at muffled sobs that took all his strength to contain.

He turned his thoughts once more to home, his final thoughts he supposed, recalling family and friends, comrades and idles. He prayed to Aecor desperately that his loved ones would fair better than him, that they'd prosper and live on for his memory. A lone sob broke through Roh's guarded persona as he closed his eyes tightly and strained with all his might for a hand to grasp just one  last time.

[Llau]

Lieutenant Commander Michelangelo Moretti
ONI Tactical Field Operator
Mid-April, 2548
Neutral Systems, Undisclosed Location
Aboard UNSC Prowler #596
Tag(s): Faclan, BetaWülf


While pacing back and forth, he overheard Roh telling him thanks, and then asking if Talz could have a drink of water. He slowly stopped in his tracks, and glanced over at the young T'vaoan for a moment, and eventually nodded at the request. He wasn't the type of person to deny another water, or beat them if asked to have water to drink. He stood there for a few moments, and remembered when he was captured, and how he was beaten or denied water when he asked for it. During that time being the Insurrectionists' prisoner, when they did bring him water to drink once in a while, it was barely any in the glass, or they threw it at him; or worse, it was either straight up alcohol or urine – at least, he was able to smell the alcohol and the urine.

Assholes...he thought with an angry frown. Glad all of you are dead.

Especially Skyler. Little punk ass deserved it.

“Sure...” He finally replied.

He walked over to the table, where there was a canteen and a plastic cup sitting on it near his uniform jacket, and picked up the canteen to open it. He grabbed the cup and poured the cold water into it halfway, and set the canteen back down onto the table. Holding the cup of water, he quietly ambled over to Talz, and then carefully reached over with the cup, and held it underneath her beak. Her eyes were closed and watery, and didn't seem to notice. He lightly raised the cup a little more until it softly bump her in the beak. This caught her attention, but when she opened her eyelids to look down at what he was holding, she started coughing.

At first, he thought she was going to drink it after her coughing fit was over, but when she started sobbing, and rested her beak on her chest, she didn't seem to want the water. Moretti winced a little at that. Sighing, he pulled the cup closer to him, but set it down on the corner of the medical equipment, and studied her for another few seconds before walking away from her.

She thinks she's going to be killed, he thought.

The question was, is he going to kill these three by following his orders, or no? Would he risk everything and go against his orders, or will he continue to be ONI's lap dog, and do what they say like a good little dog? Did he still have his integrity intact or was he a cold-hearted soldier in this war? Truthfully, he didn't know. The good and the evil wolf always fought within him, and will continue to fight for dominance over the other for as long as he was still alive. It sure felt like the evil wolf was winning more and more. What would the fox think of him now?

His hand instinctively reached up to hold onto the silver fox pendant that was still wrapped around his dog tags, and held onto the pendant. The pendant, Sage's pendant, and it was something that he had left of her that he could take with him during his missions. It was also something Wagner and a few others keep telling him to give it away and move on with his life. He still had his daughter, Renny, who is even more precious to him than the pendant, but at least with the pendant, he had something small to serve as a reminder when he can't be with Renny. Truth be told, he couldn't throw it away. Maybe some day, when his daughter is older, he'll give it to her to keep when he tells her about her mother when she is old enough to understand.

Roh spoke to him again, saying, “When the disposal begins, Mike, kill me first...I want Eal and Talz to have those precious few seconds longer...”

Now, standing in front of the room, he looked right at him, eyes wide with alert; body tensed, and his relaxed fingers tightly rolled into fists.

“You want to die first?” The Lieutenant Commander asked, deadpan. “How noble of you. Unfortunately, you don't get to pick and choose when or how you're going to die.” A long pause. “I shouldn't have to either. I'm no God, but...orders are orders. I'm a human and you three are aliens. I may now see...you, Eal, and Talz as not as fanatical in your views on my species, but ONI will always view you as a threat. No amount of explanation will make them change their minds.”

“I am sorry,” He stared at him for a few more seconds, before turning around to face Hayden. “Hayden, what's the ETA to our destination?”

“Thirty minutes, Lieutenant Commander.”

“Okay...in thirty minutes, have them be taken back to the Pelican bay and set them up in there,” he whispered, “Also...have someone set up some of those crates inside the Pelican before we leave for the planet.”

Hayden replied suspiciously, “Understood, Lieutenant Commander,” he asked, “Will there be anything else?”

“That will be all,” Moretti said with a nod.

“Now will be a good time to talk amongst yourselves, Roh...I've made my decision...”

He sat down at the table after pulling out a pocket-sized notebook and a pen, and became silent as he worked intently in it; looking up often at each of them, as if he were drawing them – he was.

[Faclan]

Eal Tas - T'vaoan Murmillo
ONI Prisoner and Test subject.
...Whats this?

Since Eal was looking he saw Roh look up and Mike and then say...some stuff before Mike just muttered something to him and then moved back to sit at the table and watch them...Were they not to be killed or was now just not the time? Were they going to be forced to wait for their death to come even more. Have Human Mike torture them with the agony of waiting for their death to come. At least they could speak to each other now.

"Roh...whats going on?" He asked after taking some breaths and trying to shake his beak to get the water out of his eyes. "Is Bastard Mike not our executioner?" He then looked over at Mike and raised an eye ridge as he watched Human Mike look from them and then back to his pad often. "Is he...drawing us before cutting our throats?"

He asked incredulously before sighing a bit and looking over at Roh then Talz. Trying to reach out to both but the bindings made that impossible as he tried to smile. "But it seems we have time before the end...get our thoughts more in order and at least Human Mike let us talk..." He then trailed off and went silent as he looked down a bit. Seems Eal didn't know what to talk about or say.

---------

Talz;

Blinking through her watery eyes when she noticed that Eal was still alive Talz carefully watched Human Mike move away from them and sit down at the table. She half expected him to pull out a gun to shoot them now. Or a knife to let them see before he got up to kill them. Or....poison of some sort to let them slowly succumb to. Or some kind of noose to hang them or wrap it around their necks just tight enough that they couldn't fully breath and slowly suffocate. She was sure this Human wouldn't give them a quick death anyway. All of the others so far in the tests seemed to revel in making their pain last as long as they could.

But she had to notice that they were all still alive. So her sobbing quieted down a bit as she looked over at Roh and Eal. After a lil cough she glanced at everyone in the room. Even the lil hologram man before speaking up. "Seems the execution was moved back," she took a deep breath at that as another tear slid down her beak. "...How long do we have Roh?"

(Gah sorry for short. Go for the timskip Sheepy in your next post D: we'll shorthand what the Kigs talk about in our next posts. Talz may flop asleep.)

[BetaWülf]

T'vaoan Major Roh Gel
ONI Prisoner
What Now?

Roh watched Mike, listening as the Human spoke. He seemed conflicted, aware of the fact that this should be a moral quandary, but seemingly still going to kill them all. Orders are orders he said. And that they'd always be considered a threat by the vile ONI.

Roh sighed, waiting for Mike to kill whichever one of them he so chose to start with. He was denied his last noble act, so it was random selection at this point. Roh couldn't bear to see Eal or Talz die, it would be too much to endure.

He was confused however when Mike withdrew to talk to his little glowing man. Roh wondered if it could think and feel, or if it was simply a way to make their computer systems more enjoyable to interact with. Though, this one was quite mouthy and antagonizing.

Roh listened as best he could, but couldn't make out much. He listened to Mike, telling them they could talk now. Roh nodded his acknowledgement and thanks to the Human. He turned to look at Eal as the older T'vaoan spoke, unsure of what to say at first.

"I... I do not know... he seemed as if he was going to kill us, but now he's told me now is a good time for us to talk amongst ourselves" Roh said, confusion evident on his features and in his tone. He turned to look at Talz as she spoke

"I couldn't hear how long he said for sure, and... I don't know their number words well... I think under a Rook though" Roh said somewhat sadly, though glad to get to live just a short while longer.

[Llau]

Lieutenant Commander Michelangelo Moretti
ONI Tactical Field Operator
Mid-April, 2548
Neutral Systems, Undisclosed Location, Undisclosed Planet
Aboard Black Cat - Flying toward planet surface
Tag(s): Faclan, BetaWülf




Moretti was sitting with his arms folded in front of him as he sat across from the three Kig-Yar, who were sitting with their hands restrained behind their back, and their beaks taped closed, as well as one of their legs shackled to the seat. It was precautionary and protocol when transporting prisoners from one place to the next, and he hoped at least they would understand that. Two armed guards were also sitting with Eal, Roh, and Talz, to keep an eye on them for the duration of the ride down to the planet below. He was wearing light armor protection, just the chest harness, over his black uniform, as well as carrying a sidearm in his thigh holster for protection and out of habit.

In the middle of the Black Cat's bay, were two crates, secured by thick straps for transport. In one crate were supplies of food, water, blankets, and other survival gear. If they conserve their food and water between the three of them, they can make the food and water last for a month. In the other crate, was a waist-tall emergency beacon that will be able to send out a constant distress signal to ships within the Neutral Systems. In theory, they would only have a month, but truthfully, they would only have a few weeks to survive on the planet, unless someone picked them up on time and if they conserved their food and water supply.

Part of him, at least a little bit, hoped someone would find them in time. As it did seem rather cruel to drop them off on this deserted planet with a short amount of supplies, with a lot of unknowns. It would be better for him to execute them, but he just couldn't bring himself to do so, not after the amount of torture they've been through. The rest of him didn't even care, as it was completely out of his hands. Maybe he did want to kill them, but honestly, he didn't know what he really wanted to do. This though, he was already in the process of doing it, and will complete it; despite his struggling mind's questions on what he should or shouldn't do. He just knew that he wanted to get this over and done with.

Technically, he was still following orders of “disposing them”, but giving them a chance to survive in the process. Still, he was sure as hell going to be reprimanded for this, and whatever else they would punish him with. Wagner did give him a warning to not do something like this again, after he returned from his Operation in Sheep's Clothing mission weeks ago. His handler was blatantly angry with him, but still gave him a chance; though, Moretti was certainly risking that chance. He grimaced.

Fuck it.

He sat there, remembering what Admiral Merinkov said to him when the Lieutenant Commander was up at the bridge talking to him before heading out to talk to the three alien captives.

“I don't care what you decide to do with those three, Lieutenant Commander,” said the gruff man as he turned to speak to him. “Kill them or release them. As long as you get rid of them, then I'm fine with whatever decision you make.” While adding, “Just remember, it's your ass on the line when you do decide, Moretti. Not mine.” Then he explained, “You're an officer, a Lieutenant Commander at that, and one who should know by now how I run this ship, and what I expect from those who are under my command.”

“I expect everyone, including you to think for themselves, and decide on better plans, and so on. No need to hold your hand. You know this...I just hope you are ready to face the consequences of your actions with those who expect you to follow their orders to the full extent.”

So there Moretti sat by himself on the right side of the Black Cat Sub-Prowler, constantly thinking in silence of his two choices; and then possibly burning in internal pain at one of the choices that will get him into trouble. A lot of trouble. Kill them on the planet, and leave their bodies to rot. Or give them a chance to live or die in the end if no one from their race or the Covenant locate them in time. He was certainly fighting against his frailties, when it should be a no brainer and an easy kill. Hyde wasn't here, no one was here that could possibly care enough to stop him from following his orders. So, why does he care now? Why does he even care about these three aliens? Why now? Was it because of what ONI did to them? Was it because knowing their names somehow “humanized” them? Or was it because he was beginning to see that some of them were just as human as he was, and also fighting in this war to survive, like humanity, and not blood-thirsty, mindless drones who didn't think?

Or everything mixed into one giant ball of cluster-fuck, he thought.

He blinked, realizing he'd been staring right at them for the past ten minutes. The Italian field operator sighed, unfolded his arms as he leaned over to rest his elbows on his knees. He then reached his hands up to bury his face into his hands. Another headache, wonderful. Let's hope it's nothing more than a stressed-induced headache.

“Ten minutes until we're at our LZ, Lieutenant Commander,” Informed the pilot over on his ear-piece.

“Great, thanks,” Moretti muttered, rubbing lightly at his sore eyes.

[Faclan]

(Had thirty minutes till landing, and ten mins til land in Sheeps next post. So going to assume Kigs had about 15 mins of talking, then last five was being tied up and silenced again just for you to reference BetaW :> )

Eal Tas - T'vaoan Murmillo
ONI Prisoner and Test Subject.
Well that didn't last.

Only a rook? They better talk quick then. Erring a bit Eal looked at both of them before yawning and finally speaking.

"No doubt he will just kill us or slowly bleed us to death. He acts aggrieved and sorry for us but hes a Human. And an ONeI Human. None of them have done any different."

Talz groaned a bit at this reinforcement...which made Eal feel absolutely terrible as he hissed a bit and looked down at his pants covered legs...the suit he was in was something at least. And it seemed like pretty tough and durable material...a rather odd choice of execution wear. "He did cothe us I suppose...thats different. There may be other differences. This suit seems tough...Maybe he'l release us onto a planet and then hunt us down like the animals he thinks we are." He hissed some more. "Probably from an aircraft so we can claw his face off...Best make peace with yourself both of you in case we will just be executed here. I'm just glad I was able to work with you both and see you now."

He trailed off a bit as the rook minute they thought they had turned into two, and then three. Talz starting to inform her comrades of how sick she felt and decided to try the water again. Shaking off their beaks from their wet eyes Talz was surprised that her request was granted and she took a few sips before cheeped out a quiet thank you...But still the minutes dragged on. The three Kig-Yar becoming a bit more talkative as time went on.

----------

Later;

Several Human guards were approaching them now, and they looked angry. Taking a breath in case it was now time Eal cheeped out a final little prayer to Aecor before they were upon him.

Eal wished he could say he was surprised when the tape came out again. But he was just so glad it wasn't the muzzle this time. And so he stayed quiet as it was wound around his beak so they would hopefully not 'accidentally' put one over his nares. But soon the restraints were removed from him as the two Humans held him securely and instead secured his remaining hand to his side...was it time to move? It sure seemed like that. But after he was pulled off the chair he was pushed back against it as one of his feet were also unchained. All he could do was look at his fellows as they were given similar treatment and tilt his head a bit. Confused about all of what was going on...Unless this was preparation for the Hunt. Human Mike had been staring at them for so long now, it was unnerving.

[BetaWülf]

T'vaoan Major Roh Gel
ONI Prisoner
Fascination

Roh turned to Eal, listening to the older T'vaoan. Eal's assessment of the situation was far from comforting, but Roh only frowned, he had never been comforted as a youth, save for encouragement from his beloved Aunt of Hul. He turned to look at Talz as she groaned, his brow furrowed further in sympathy. Poor Talz, she suffered so much, yet had done nary a thing to incur it; aside from the Rebels, what Humans had she killed? Roh was fairly certain she hadn't seen much if any combat. Just a simple radio operator.

Roh smiled a small smile as Talz managed to sip some water; it warmed his heart. "I'm not sure what's happening, but... as disgusted as I feel to say this... I don't think Mike is going to let us get taken care of in a cruel way... maybe they'll move us to a place where they can study us naturally? Behavioral observation?" Roh said, trying to make Talz and Eal feel better, a small part of himself desperately tried to believe it.

------
Later
------

Roh perked slightly when the Human guards approached... time for whatever was next, or worse; what wasn't to be. The young T'vaoan half-breed, much like Eal, began to pray to Aecor. For a swift death if that was to be their fate.

However, the tape used to muzzle them was now being used to bind their hands behind their backs. Then his leg was unshackled, and forced up into a standing position. What was this heresy? Or was it even that? Roh wasn't overly confused, but... still a bit so.

"I wonder where we're off to now...." Roh said in English. "Eal, Talz, this is it... Aecor guide us...." he then said in his native tongue, in the specific dialect of his homeland, which he rarely used.

[Llau]

Lieutenant Commander Michelangelo Moretti
ONI Tactical Field Operator
Mid-April, 2548
Neutral Systems, Undisclosed Location, Undisclosed Planet
Aboard Black Cat, At the LZ
The Finale
Tag(s): Faclan, BetaWülf



Once the Black Cat landed at a suitable landing zone, he watched as the troop bay door hissed open to let those who were in there out. While it was opening, the guards were busy unshackling the three Kig-Yar. Just as one of the guards finished unshackling Roh's ankle, Moretti quickly got up from his seat, and marched right over to where Roh was. He snatched the young T'vaoan by the arm and the back of the neck, and roughly rushed him out of the Black Cat, while the other guard did the same to Eal, with the second guard aiming his weapon cautiously as he followed them out.

“Try to fight me. Or kill me. My guards will put a bullet to your head,” Moretti whispered harshly, before throwing him onto the rough ground.

The planet reminded him of Yellowstone, the more he glanced around his surroundings, which was why he picked it out, and not because the atmosphere was breathable. So, maybe the trio could have more of a chance at survival. One thing he wasn't sure about was if anything was edible, like the flora or the wildlife. Let alone if the water was drinkable. It could be toxic to them for all he knew. Which was why he wanted to give them the survival supplies.

Outside, it was bright, so the Italian squinted until his vision focused as it became used to the sunlight as he walked back into the bay, while the one forcing Eal outside threw the older T'vaoan to the ground, next to Roh. While they kept watch on the two, the Lieutenant Commander walked over to where Talz was weakly sitting at, and crouched low to remove the restraint from her ankle. This time, he was trying to be careful to stand her up and walk her outside. Once he was outside, he carefully dropped her beside Eal and Roh. Pistols out, the two guards were pointing their weapons at the two T'vaoan, but Moretti motioned for them to head back inside quietly. They seemed to have been disappointed at being told to go without shooting anyone, but he didn't care. This was it. The moment he was waiting for, and dreading. This was where he'd make his final choice on the matter. He wandered over to stand behind Roh, sidearm held at his side, while he stared down at the back of the alien's head.

There, he waited until he was sure he was alone with them, with the other ONI personnel waiting inside the Black Cat. After a couple of minutes of just standing around, he pulled out his ear-piece from his ear, and shoved it inside his pocket of his pants.

Cocking his pistol, he raised the gun, and aimed it by pressing it up against the back of Roh's skull. Frowning, he said to him quietly, “I did a lot of bad things, Roh...assassinated fellow agents, political dissidents belonging to the Insurrectionists who hated the UNSC. I also killed aliens like yourself, too...all in the name of what? Safety and security during this long, drawn out war? I don't even know why I do it, but I do it.” A dark chuckle. “I'm not even sure how I feel about killing any of them. I'm not even sure if I enjoyed it. I felt nothing. I still feel nothing. So, why now...why question? Why. Do. I. Care?”

Moretti tensed up, clenching the handle of the gun tighter. His body shook a little when every muscle in his body tensed. He sneered a little, gritting his teeth as he fought back the urge to shoot each of them at point blank.

He paused, not expecting an answer as he continued on, “Killing you three shouldn't even be difficult for me. As you, Eal, and Talz would just be another number - another statistic...”

The urge became too great, and as he pulled the trigger, he fired three rounds...into the ground as he willed himself to aim away from Roh's head; missing him by a millimeter, just in time. Panting, Moretti rapidly blinked his eyelids, and stared in silence as he thought about what he was about to do. What part of him didn't want to do.

“I'm tired of the blood on my hands...I just want to go home and raise my daughter without the worry of seeing the blood on my hands all the damn time.”

A long pause, as he stood there, glaring at them. Trembling and panting still, he quickly turned around on his heel, and walked back into the Black Cat; ordering the two guards to slide the boxes out of the bay. He returned to his seat, and looked on in silence as the two guards did what they were told, once they were finished, they sat down across from him, and one of them spoke to the pilot, telling him they were finished here. The Black Cat activated the camouflage around the sub-Prowler's frame, and lifted off; leaving the three Kig-Yar to fend for themselves.

[Faclan]

Eal Tas - T'vaoan Murmillo
ONI Prisoner and Test Subject.
Confused, angry, and now left to rot.

Roh's assessment of Talz would be mostly correct, she had never stabbed a Human in the throat and watched the life drain from their eyes as she normally stayed further away. As one of the few Covenant on the field beside the Commanders who had a fully built of radio she was often hanging further back. But she had fired at them before and probably hit them too - she just never took the time to claim kills as her own as she was often busy with her radio duties.

Eal scoffed though when Roh hoped for some less cruel studies. The normally calm and understanding banker clearly pretty done with these Humans. He had been trying to talk to them to have himself or his fellows treated fairly and that they would do the tests without beatings for the first week. But eventually gave up and now just despised all of them. "At this point I doubt they even care about our culture or why we think or act certain ways. We are just aliens to them, evil aliens who follow behind the heels of the Sunk Sangheili even though many of us don't." He growled a bit but then flopped forward. "I don't even know anymore...Sink this war and its entirety, so much death and hate."

---------------
Later

Raising an eye ridge as the Human guards looked back at Human Mike and then undid the wrap around his beak Eal was thoroughly confused now. But he just sat there and then stood when he was pulled to his feet as he just nodded at Roh. Whatever was going on they could do nothing to stop it now. They seemed to be leaving Talz in her chair however and it looked like she was about to pass out again...Eal wished he knew what was wrong so he could help her but he was soon distracted by Human Mike grabbing Roh and marching him toward the lowering ramp of the ship they were on.

They had landed wherever they were, all of them had felt that. And Eal was soon being half drag half carried out toward the entrance too. But Talz was still in her chair. Trying to reach out for her as he was marched past Eal awked in surprise as he was bodily thrown out of the transport and toward the ground where Roh was now. Unfortunately for himself he was still getting used to the fact that he was missing a hand. And so when he twisted in the air to try and land on his feet and hands to cushion the blow his wrist stump impacted the ground hard. Screeching in pain Eal curled up and clutching his stinging wound, barely registering that Human Mike had gone back in for Talz


Talz looked up through her half closed eyes at Eal screaming and saw Human Mike in front of her, waiting. Slowly shaking her head she muttered out some quiet pleas as she was unchained from the chair. Her attempts to pull away would be felt by Mike, but they barely had any strength behind them as she was thankfully lightly dropped out of the Prowler and meekly curled up into a ball with her arms covering her head as she tried to just keep all the badness away. Just flinching and cringing at the gunshots as she lay there.


Finally able to see Eal looked over just in time to see Human Mike hold a pistol to the back of Rohs head and was muttering to him about a lot of things. Growling in pain Eal rolled over onto his stomach and tried to drag himself over to get at Human Mike and help Roh. For all he knew Roh would be the first to be executed and this may be his only chance to save Roh, or kill Human Mike, either were fine for him now.

But then Human Mike fired...shooting the ground thrice. Eal froze at that was he watched Human Mike stare down at Roh and then quickly run back into his Ship. Two crates were then dropped off the back with them, the ramp closed, and then the ship faded away and the engines could be heard lifting it off and then it left...left them here on this planet.

Grunting in the pain from all there tortures and his recent fall the bald T'vaoan slowly pushed himself back onto his knees and looked around as he spoke out to his two seemingly still alive friends and Cell mates.

"Roh...Talz...Speak to me, are you both alright?"

[BetaWülf]

T'vaoan Major Roh Gel
Former ONI Prisoner
Freedom?

Roh tried to shirk away as Mike seized him roughly by the feathered mane and his arm, but ceased his struggling away from the pain when Mike made his threats. Roh hissed softly but did little else as he was rushed out of the Human vessel. Roh squawked as he was flung forward, landing on the dusty ground of the clearing, eyes clenched shut to protect from the brightness.

He spluttered as he laid face down, a large fwoof of dust flying into the air from his sharp exhaling. A low hiss escaped as he lay there, it hurt so much, his ribs still weren't fully healed, and the bruising was tremendous beforehand. He started to move, trying to move into a four limbed crouch, but the attempt was short lived.

Barely had he started to move and Eal was thrown down on top of him, the elder T'vaoan bouncing of Roh's back and landing on the stump where his hand had been. Roh cringed as Eal began to shriek, poor bastard. Roh felt lucky for the first time in a long time; at least he still had all his body parts.

Roh started to get up again, but felt the cold barrel of a gun pressed to the back of his head. He quivered slightly, this was it. The other times seemed like they could be the end, but none of them felt so certain as this moment. He was going to die.... Or so he thought as he sat there on his knees, leaned forward so as to rest his weight on his hands. He kept his head bowed, listening as Mike spoke. This Human was so full of rage... were they always like this? Or was this what the Covenant had turned then into? The truly were imps and demons now, regardless of when the became this way.

Roh tensed as three deafening blasts rang in his ears, Roh barely able to tell Mike was speaking as a high pitched shing filled his head. Roh rolled over onto his side, clutching his head between his hands, eyes bulging in his head as Mike walked away at a hurried pace. "Thank you!" Roh yelled at Mike as the Human disappeared. "... you bastard" he said as he rolled onto his back as the Human vessel started to take off.

He rolled his head to the side as Eal spoke, shaking his head "I... I'm... I'm fucking fantastic, how're you doing?" Roh said as he panted heavily.

After a long moment on his back Roh willed himself to attempt to get up. He eventually managed to get off his back, slouched forward on his knees, resting forward on his knuckles. He squinted, looking at their surroundings. Trees... lots of trees and grasses, rocks too. It wasn't anything he was familiar with specifically, but Aecor be praised, it was good enough for him whatever the hell it might be.

"We... we need to get out of the sun, in...  into the shade, we should grab one of those boxes, but... can grab the rest of those Aecor forsaken crates later" Roh said, shaking a lot of the dust off of himself. "I cant believe we're still alive... Aecor be praised!" Roh said, at first astonished but then joyous.

[Faclan]

Eal Tas - T'vaoan Murmillo
Contestant on ONI Survivor.
Dawn of the First day.

Watching the Human crafts vague outline swoosh away Eal was hard pressed to believe that this was actually happening too. Shielding his eyes with his remaining hand as best he could he kept watching until the sound of the ship was gone entirely...They were left here. Their bodies weren't gong to just be dumped here. They weren't going to be hunted down, they were just left here with some boxes. They could be bombs but why waste that many resources on them? Shoving those from his mind Eal yawned before just nodding. One thing at a time now. Checking on his comrades and seeing what was int he boxes would be good first steps as he looked over as Roh responded.

Pleased to see that Roh was still full of anger and more importantly life Eal just smiled and nodded at him as he started to move over to the curled up form of Talz before he gasped and sunk down to a knee...Moving was still going to be an issue for all of them after what they have been through but they were alive! Aecor would decide for how long that would last but all of them were still alive. And that was worth some celebration. But shade and box searching was a better time for celebration than now. Grunting as he got back up to his feet Eal smiled more at Roh and nodded.

"Praise indeed...praise indeed. Good plan as well, try to get over to the shade as best as you can. Only try to move a box if you think you can, we don't want injurys or overexertion now, otherwise just look at it out here and then to the shade. Hopefully one will have food we can eat there...and then have a real sleep finally. No drugs or shocks. Then work on figuring out what to do. But Praise Aecor indeed...The O.Ne.I nightmare may finally be over." Letting out a long breath at that he limped his way over to Talz and hoped that she would be alright...but she was already asleep. Smiling a little he patted her on the arm, proud of all of them that they had made it through. But she needed to get into the shade and not out here in the sun on top of a rock. So he gripped one of her wrists with his hand and pulled her up as he crouched down. Pulling the smaller Ruuthian over his shoulders and soon had her off the ground. It hurt to have the weight, but it was needed as he started to walk over toward the shade, doing his best to force out a smile to Roh.

"Goo...Good thing shes a Ruuthian eh?" He struggled out before spitting a bit but managing to keep going as he neared the shade.

[BetaWülf]

T'vaoan Major Roh Gel
Former ONI Prisoner
Sweet Sunlight

Roh sat for a long moment, planted squarely on his rear in the dirt. He panted slightly, his chest rising and falling with weariness as he rested. He listened as Eal complimented him on his plan, and how the nightmare seemed to be finally over. He scoffed. looking over at Eal as the T'vaoan pureblood investigated their Ruuhtian comrade, Roh spoke.

"Yes, a good plan, better than 'Eal, Talz, I think we should follow these Human Rebels', which turned out perfectly" Roh said bluntly, he was such a damn fool before and they had all paid the price for it. He'd never make the same mistake again. Never trust a Human.

"I'll grab a crate since you're carrying 'just a Ruuhtian', nothing too serious for you I hope?" Roh said to Eal, at first snarking but then serious so as to let Eal know he could help carry Talz if need. However, Eal seemed to have it under control.

Roh moved over to one of the crates, the smallest one with a handle; grabbing it with his 'good arm'. He started to drag it out of the clearing with some effort, in the vague direction Eal was carrying Talz in. Roh sat down about fifteen feet away from them, in the barely filtered sunlight. He fiddled with the latch on the crate, eventually discovering the simplicity of it. He rummaged through it, waving a can and some packets at Eal without looking up from his scavenging.

He stacked the food cans and packets neatly next to him, along with some water; rolling one over to Eal. Next came a pile of four blankets, one of which Roh draped over his shoulders like his night cloak from back home. He threw a large gray square over his shoulder, the thing landing directly behind the young Kig-Yar. Next he pulled out what appeared to be several metal sticks, all attached in a row. Utterly useless. Roh shook it in frustration, and to his surprise and amazement they shifted and turned into a long flexible rod. A small piece of paper was attached to them, which Roh snatched up.

"This looks like some sort of makeshift shelter Eal, the picture would suggest so at least" Roh said, waving the piece of paper in the air.

"Aecor damn these Humans and their refusal to make anything sensible! No wonder the accursed Sangheili wish to kill them all" Roh said, shaking his head with a sigh.

"I think that's a beacon!" Roh said, looking back over the things thrown from the Human vehicle, he recognized it from his time in the Covenant Army, having destroyed some before. He was thrilled at the sight, it would be their salvation if it was not some cruel ruse. He rushed to it as fast as he could with his injuries. He immediately began to fiddle with it, attempting to turn it on and figure out the controls.

[Faclan]

(T'vaoan pureblood XD, oh Roh you silly half breed <3)

Eal Tas - T'vaoan Murmillo
Contestant on ONI Survivor.
Hopefully hopeful cajoling.

Upon hearing Roh once again lambast himself, as he had many times during their torture, Eal stopped walking for a moment. Talz happily snoring away over his shoulders. Eal had tried many times to explain to Roh that it wasn't his fault, that he had agreed to the plan even when it looked dire...But the weight of Talz was getting unbearable so he would respond to that in a moment. Gasping out a reply to Roh before collapsing wouldn't help anyone. But he just shook his beak in reply and was breathing hard when he finally made it to the shade, they all needed some food and rest.

Dropping down to his Knees Eal held onto Talz as best he could before half leaning half falling to the side to get her off his shoulders. At least they all had the Human jumpsuits on rather than just letting their scales and skin touch the rocky surface...But Eal hoped there would be something for them to lay on in those boxes as he didn't want to sleep on the floor of an alien world. But he let out a happy sigh when a water bottle was rolled over to him, Eal happily squirting two gulps into his beak before capping it and setting it beside Talz's sleeping form for when she awoke as he started to move over to Roh and the box he was looking at. He tilted his head at the grey square but just ehed and left it for now as he took two of the blankets and set them aside for Talz and himself before seeing what Roh was doing with the weird collection of sticks.

The pictures sure seemed to show it was part of some construction, Eal nodding a bit as he looked over the paper, but he needed to address Roh's frustrations first before they tried to work on that and then eat before a real sleep. But that was shoved aside when Roh cheeped about a beacon. A beacon! What in the Depths was Human Mike doing?! Not only not killing them but giving them camping gear and a beacon? It almost seemed too good to be true and Eal had a really hard time believe that this was what was happening to them after so much pain. But the older T'vaoan grunted and got up to stumbled after Roh to crouch with him beside the beacon. But at least now he could try to once again tell Roh that it wasn't his fault. And this time, finally, there wasn't any tables to be chained too or Humans to shout or shock.

So after a bit of fiddling with the beacon Eal reached out and hugged Roh around the shoulders as he tried his best to smile before speaking up. "Hey, Roh. We're alive, all of us. Thats nothing to skip past but it wasn't just you deciding to follow the Humans down there. We all had chance to question that plan but we as a group decided it was a good plan. And now we as a group are here and still alive. We'll make it back home yet and...and." He stammered a bit as he was struggling to think of what he would really do when he got back. "...Be home, and work it out from there I guess." Squeezing Roh's shoulders again, though more so around his back and chest since missing a hand, he let his arms fall back to his side before flopped back to sit on the ground, hoping this beacon was functional and they could get a signal sent out.

( :< feelz.)