Ch. 1
Caba was twisting around as the dream reached its usual apex.He heard explosions and plasma fire."We found one!",screamed a strange voice."Is he alive?" "i think so...lets kill the little ***,""No,he may know something."
Then he awoke,drenched in sweat.It had happened twenty years ago yet the dream kept occuring.They had found him after a surprise attack that had left Caba with a projectile in his left hoof.He still wondered if their letting him live was a curse or a wisgh come true.After all it was lonely as a grunt on Earth...He sat up and went into his living room.He still marveled at the fact that the UNSC had kept him alive.Had even given him a home.He lived in the area he had learned was called Texas when the Earth had been separated.Not thar it mattered to him.Somedays he felt a deep home sickness for the Covenant.But,strangely he felt right at home.There was no freezing storms here as was common on his homeworld.
He shook himself from his day dreams and turned on the T.V."Oh great."he snarled as he saw yet another cartoon depicting the Covenant as blood thirsty heathens.The war had ended some twelve years ago but many still felt Covenant were the root of all evil.He was stared at and cursed at as he went out.Noone ever saw him as a living thing.Just another God damed Covenant.At first he had tried to distance himself from the Covies.But there was little that he could do.No surgery could help him and he still needed his methane tank where ever he went.Eventually became immune to the curses and Disrespect others gave him.
He turned off the T.V and walked to his methane closet.The government had made his house livable by pumping it with quality methane.But he still could not leave the house without his tank.He went on his usual route to get his "favorite" human food,chicken.It was one of the few human foods he could swallow without emptying his gullet.I never have privacy anymore he mused to himself as he felt squishwed by the bodyguards who kept people from blowing up his methane filled home.He still had a limp from the wound he had recieved on that night.His mind slowed as he went back to that fateful night...
Ch.2
He awoke in a small cell.At first he couldn't remeber a thing.The voices and the horrible pain in his...His hoof!He quickly said a prayer to the profet that his hoof was still there.He looked down to not only see it but see it was healing nicely.Strange ,he thought.A bruter would have simply killed him or left him for dead.
Yet these people,these humans,hwelped him when he was in pain.How strange these Humans were.A human walked into the room.He automatically flinched away with the enemy.He had heard stories of how the "troops from the skies"(ODST's)Would cook Grunt flesh with plasma and eat it off their hooves.But thuis one didn't look like it had been raised by brutes.He looked nervous."Why should he be nervous?" Caba asked himself.Perhaps he thinks i am terrifying he mused.He did a little chuckle that made the marine jump.Wow,he marveled.Theyre scared of me.A small grunt,locked in a cell who has no weapon and is wounded.He began to laugh with the sasd humour that was thick enough to eat.
All of a sudden he fealt his gullet wail.He couldnt get up so he simply emptied his gut in front of him.A human soldier walked in.He dropped a plate of what Caba could only describe as dafrago for him to eat.It looked as if it was alive but upon deeing it he couldn't help but devour it.Funny,I atevworse at camp.It began to dawn on him that his life in the covenant hadn't been a happy one.The blue death,the lack of any respect,the utter humiliationj he faced every day.And,a couple days before capture he had found his brother ,Dabab,had died in battle on the installation above a Human settlement called Harvest.
He awoke in a daze.He hadn't realized he'd fallen asleep.He looked around to find himself in the same cell.He sniffed.The smell of meat met his nostrils with a tight embrace.He looked at the door and saw that someone had given him a piece of meat.He lunged at it and stuffed it into his mouth.It tasted almost like his fvoritye meal from home,only less salty and less cold.He shivered at the thought of his home planet.
He heard a bang and looked to the door on his left.In came a soldier with a very colorful uniform.Perhaps he can tell me whats going on,he thought to himself.As he had fought he had picked up traces of the human dialect."Where am I?"he asked.The soldier,upon hearing this leveled his small arm at him."I mean you no harm,I have no weapon while you do.Now,where are we?"He spoke with confidence as he saw the human gaze horrified at him.That an alien spoke his language shocked him.He stammered"Well,you were found on a raid into the covi,ahem,Covenant camop just roughly 20 miles south of our base.We picked you up.Now your on a cruiser headed to Earth."
Ch.3
Caba realized that he was almost at the store.Many thought he was a funny little creature for having a cane.As time wore on he had almost not noticed the need for a cane.But as he walked he soon tired of hearing the snikers and jokes of passerbyes."If only i had a Needler"He mused under his breath.He had seen many soldiers do "interesting" things to humans with a Needler.He didn't really hate humans he just felt as if he wasn't a part of the scene.An outsider.
As he entered the store,he immediately noticed a change in the enviroment.He walked down the aisle and picked up the usual chickens and fish and other little things."You'd think he'd be bigger with all he eats."snickered a bodyguard.Technically,Caba was the Humans superior but if he tried to report the man he would not be doing anything except make the guards angry at him.
He walked up into the checkout line.Their was one human however,that did treat him as an equal,a friend,a citizen.Suzan,the manager of the store,always treated him respectfully and sometimes even came over.It was interesting that in his house ,she was the one who had to where a suit.But he always made sure that she would be safe.He felt an over bearing affection for her.Humans clled it love.When he learned about what followed love he bust out in laughter."Me!?A grunt prisoner?!Doing that to a Human!Christ,why would i do that?"Strangely,Christianity had seemed actually much better than the Covenant.He felt an affection but he didn't believe in that way.He once again looked back on his days after his capture.
Ch.4
Caba,after being on the cruiser long enough, soon became more familiar with the crew.He was allowed to walk around the ship after it was seen he was no danger.Many of the crew regarded him with cold stares.But there were a few who were friendly to him and helped him when they could.He would ask them about Earth and what it was like.They told him it was a civilized place full of cities and and good times.Being adventourous,he was interested in Earth.He would explore the ship and try to learn how humans "worked".
After a month upon the ship he had gained the trust of almost every marine upon the ship.He learned how to play cards and soon becme close to the crew.And his Human vocabulary flourished.He soon believed that being captured was one of the best things that had ever happened to him.
He was content until one day when he was in the messhall.He was eating his now favorite food chicken when he heard a bit of conversation between a marine and ODST."That little alien shouldn't be alive.He's the enemy!We should be stickin him with a grenade and leave him.But we're feedin him!even being his friend!""I know.Its wrong but the brass said we needed to make him feel safe even like a family.What are you gunna do?Back talk the Admiral?""The ODST looked hatred into the marines eyes but did not dare say he would go against orders.
The conversation crushed Caba's faith in the Humans.He never quite looked at them the same.When a Marine offered him a seat the next day he screamed in fury"What was that an order to!?!?Go stick your seat up your grytarew!"The human didn't understand what he hadsaid.He giggled inside at his stupidity.He therew the ugliest curses he new and not one marine understood.He was content and then walked to get some fried chicken.
Ch.5
As Caba payed for the chicken,he saw Suzan in the corner speaking into a cell phone.Maybe I should invite her over,he though to himself.As he walked over to her she saw him coming and gave him a smile and told him to wait for a moment.As he waited his eyes were drawn to a man who seemed very calm,as if he had not a care in the world.He looked at Suzan then walked over to the man.As he got closer he thought he saw a small devise of some sort.He suddenly felt very uncomfortable.These humans were covered in gadgets but this seemed strangely different.He walked back to Suzan and motioned for her to come outside with him.She looked questioningly at him then finally hung up.He walked her outside,and as they turned the corner to discuss the strange man an explosion rocked the ground.
Being of a short hight he hardly ever fell or tripped and propped up Suzan as she stumbled.He walked back to see what had happened.The store,the exact store he and his only friend had been in not two minutes ago,was awash in smoke and flame. He stood there in shock and couldn't move.After a few moments he realized someone was pulling at his shoulder.He looked up to see a dazed Suzan.She murmured sometning but he didn't quite catch it.She said it again even louder and with a voice full of rage."URF!!!Those God dmned mother *** sonsabitches!!!!!"In all of his years that he had known Suzan he had never heard her speak with such utter anger and vehemence.Caba asked in true curiosity
"Who are the URF?"Her eyes changed and she realized that Caba was next to her."The URF are the people from the outer colonies who rose against Earth when they feel mistreated."Caba felt strange.Almost numb.He heard Suzan and everything around him,but time seemed to slow..."Are you all right?"Caba jerked awake to find himserlf in a white room with cabinets and a man all in white."Are you all right?"He asked again.Caba looked down to see that he was swaddled in blankets and then it finall registered.I'm in a hospital,he thought with relief.He relaxed on the bed and noticed someone outside his door."Who is that he asked the Doctor."Oh,she's the lady who brought you in after the market was bombed."So it wasn't been a dream.""Nope.You were lucky you hadn't been in there when it occured.Your lady friend said you asked her to leave before the explosion.You two are very lucky."With that he slowly fell asleep...
Ch.6
He awoke to the feeling of loneliness.After hearing that conversation between the Marine and ODST yesterday he realized just how different he and the Humans were.He had no friends left in this world.I will not ever trust a Human again he vowed.As a Human walked in he sneared and turned around in his bunk to put hios back to the soldier.As the soldier passed,Caba,for the first time since capture,wondered how it would feel to massacre the little loptrew.It wouldn't be hard...Just run up kick in hs knee and tear out his little puny throat.But after a moment he stifled the urge.It would do nothing except make him die sooner.He slowly hobbled to the cafeteria to get his food.
As he walked in he was aware of the stares that were being aimed at him.He laughed on the inside.'They not have known what i said but it scared the iteraw out of them.As he walked to the slow moving line he indulged himself a small favor.As he had seen,most of these soldiers never kept their arms.He ran up to a Marine about his height and screamed"I LIKE YOU!!!!"in Unggoynese.He nearly voided himself right there.But,Caba soon found out,this was something marines did not let slide.
He felt a piercing pain in his stomach and looked down to see his stomach was pushed in about a foot along with the Marines hand.He fell to the ground in a heap.Marine from all over ran up and began kickin him.He started to lose concsiousness when he heard a sharp"Attention!"The blows stopped falling and he rolled over to see who had saved him.A man in all white walked up and gave him a big kick in the stomach."Get up",he man yelled.Caba struggled up and stood swaying.The man kicked him over and said"If you ever *** with a marine again you won't live to regret it."Caba got up slowly.Well,he said to himself,I got away with it.Even though his body hurt his heart sang a small song.
Another man in white walked up and carried him to the Sick Bay.He spent the rest of the trip in sick bay humming the song of the grunt revolution.Soon he thought,I'll be the first and only grunt on Earth,And he began to weep the sorrow of a Grunt without a friend.
CH.7
...Caba slowly opened his eyes to see a white sterile room.'Oh right,he said to himself,im in the hospital'.He sat up to see Suzan sleeping in a chair with a magazine on the floor.He still wondered why she always protected him and helped him without even Caba's asking.Perhaps she did 'love' him.Of course it could never be but it seemed that it was the truth.Why else had she helped him get started on Earth?As well as always defend him.
He struggled out of the bed and by ther time he got down she was stirring.He walked over to her and said"Hellooooooooo?Anyone home?".She nearly jumped out of her skin.She looked down at him and gave him a big hug,which was quite difficult as she tried to put her arms around his methane tank."I'm so glad your alright!"she said in delight."What about the store?"Caba asked.She said nothing and just started to crie.She rarely did this with Caba around.He did what so many hours of T.V said you should do.He hugged her and said"It's alright.Your safe.Hush,its alright.".As he said this he began to keckle loud enough for Suzan to look up to see Caba on the floor laughing."What are you laughing at?,she said with a small trace of fury."I used to be a soldier who killed off humans in waves and now,I'm here,comforting a female human."As he said this he realized she might dislike his bringing up the military past.To his astonishment she laughed and said it was a little funny she supposed.
As she was about say something the doctor walked in."Well',he said looking at Caba,'it seems like your well enough to go.If you would just sign out..."As Caba walked out he asked the Doctor"I have been here before but didn't ask.Why is it that you don't show some dislike towards me?".The Doctor looked at him and said"Well...We have a law in medicine.It says that whoever is in need of medical attention,no matter what race,stature or,in your case, species,deserves that attention.We feel all are the same in a hospital."Caba turned this over in his mind and felt it was a interesting and fair way to work.He thanked the Doctor and went outside with Suzan.
It was sunny and still day outside.He heard sirens in the distance and he realized it was still the same day as the explosion caused by the group called "URF".He looked up to see smoke."So the fire still rages?"he asked.Suzan looked down at him and said"Yes,it does.How is it that you knew?How did you know it was unsafe to stay in the store?"He looked up at the column of smoke and said almost to himself."While I was waiting for you,I walked around and noticed a man with a strange device.All humans,it seems to me anyway,have a technical advice.But this one was...different.It seemed familiar...as if I had used it before..."As Suzan heard this she felt confused by it.But,he had answered his question.Caba looked up at her and asked"Would you like to come over?"She thought it over and shook her head."I think I'm just gonna come home.Get a nice long nap.Maybe some tea.Bye."Suzan walked off,leaving Caba alone in front of trhe hospital.
He began walking home.15720,15721,15722 Fox Springs Drive.He still wondered where humans got these strange names for roads.Covenant roads just said"road 1-100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.Oh well.Humans were just more eccentric.He entered his home,grabbed a drink and went to dream the dream of his first day on Earth.
Ch.8
Caba woke up to find the movement of the ship to have changed.It was as if...The atmosphere!They must be landing!He struggled up from his bed.He was still in pretty bad shape from the beating.He got down from the bed and slowly hobbled to the door.He could hear humans running outside the room.Their bioots clacking on the floor with a sense of urgency.Just as he was about to exit a Medic entered with a strange chair.It was like a normal chair plus a pair of tires.The Medic told him"Get onto the wheelchair.We're about to land and the Captain wants you to be the first off."
The Captain,thought Caba,could kiss his esra for all Caba cared.He hopped up onto the 'wheelchair' and was moved to the unloading area.Well,Earth,here I am...The Bay opened up to show a ocean of people all screaming for their returning troops.As soon as Caba was off the ship,an awed silence filled the air.He felt an awe at the size of the crowd."Hello?"He said with little more than a whisper.The crowd broke the silence.Bottles blocks,shoes,anything that could be thrown was.He was given a berth of 20 ft.as he was wheeled through the crowd.He was still hurt fairly badly by the time him and the Medic got to the building he was to take refuge in.
Once they entered Caba immediatly noticed a man in grey behind a desk.He had a face as still as stone and didn't even flinch at Caba's appearance.The man stared at him with hatred."Why were you captered?""Why?Why?I got shot in my hoof!"Caba couldn't believe the stupidity of this.Who wanted to be captured?The officer looked at him and said calmly"If you raise your voice in here one more time you'll have wished you stayed outside."Caba shut his snout and answered each question without resistance."Why were you stationed in the area?""I was needed there because there was a lack of grunts.""Why do you need a wheelchair?"Caba wondered if he should lie but knew if the officer wanted to know he would find out eventually."I screamed at a marine.Then I was pummeled by surrounding soldiers."The officer looked at him with disgust."You are now property of the UNSC.We will not tolerate any bullshit.If need be will put a bullet in that tank of yours and see how you fare."Caba had heard stories of how grunts who's tanks got shot didn't die instantly but rather died from burning to death or suffocation."You will receive a small quarters in a neighborhood.You will have bodyguards.We will know your every movement."
As Caba took this all in he realized that capture really was bad.That his life was not better merely not worse."Dismissed."A soldier walked Caba out into the diminishing mob.
Ch.9
Caba awoke with a start.He still had that dream once a week.He got up and went to the bar.At his first try he had wondered why humans drank alcohol.It tasted like yulters and made you sick if you had too much.But,after some time of experimenting he had learned it was great for getting rid of a bad memory for a couple of hours.As he took out the bourbon and ice he wondered what the point was.It always ended the same.He would get one drink,then another,then one more.He would be in his happy place until he fell unconcious.He would wake up and feel like he should be dead.He would drink more.And more.He would waste a week being hung over and drinkin away his sadness.
As he was goin to start this cycle he heard a buzz.He sprang up from his chair.Suzan.This would brighten his day!He looked through the peep hole and saw her with all her gear neede to enter his abode.She ran in and he quickly closed the door.No point to letting out all the methane.He looked over out her and quickly gave her all his attention.She looked afraid,scared,panicked."What's wrong?"She looked at him in utter sadness."They think it was you.""What are you talkin' about?" he asked. "They think you planned the explosion..."She stared off into space."A man walked into my house and asked if i knew you.I said'Of course,he's a friend.'He looked at me like i was somethin he found under his boot.'We believe he assisted in the attack yetserday.Have you noticed anything strange Ms.Hamilton?'.I told him no and to leave my house."Caba was sweating.This can't be!Noooo!I didn't do it!"His blood was turning to ice.He looked up to Suzan."What should I do?"
The Great WarCh.5 is up
Caba's JourneyDone
2