1852 hours, September 22,2552 (Military Calendar) Captured Covenant flagship, inSlipspace, location unknown.

After the Chief had left to investigate the cryopod, Haverson made certain that the bridge doors locked. He turned and walked over to the Covenant Engineer who'd repaired theMaster Chief's armor.

"Fascinating creatures," he murmured. He drew his sidearm and pointed it at the back ofits head.

Two of the Engineer's six eyes locked onto the muzzle of the weapon. A tentacle reachedfor it, split into fine probing threads, and touched the blue-gray metal.

Cortana asked, "What are you—"Haverson shot the Engineer. The round tore through its head and spattered gore across the display the alien had been repairing.

"Haverson!" Cortana cried.

The other Engineer turned and squealed—then a blinking light on the broken display captured its attention and it returned to its work, oblivious.

Haverson knelt by the dead Engineer and holstered his gun. "I had no other choice," hewhispered. He touched the creature's odd, slick skin. Its color faded from a faint pink to a cold gray.

He dragged it to the escape hatch, opened it, and placed the body in the corridor. He paused, and went back to fold its tenta.cles over its body. "I'm sorry. You didn't deserve it.""Why was that necessary?" Cortana demanded.

Haverson stood, wiped his hands on his slacks, and sealed the escape hatch access. "I'msurprised you even have to ask, Cor.tana." He heard th............