Audio log of Healer Nira 'Sarim, 21st of Heloi, year twenty-seven of the Ninth Age of Reclamation. Special Operations Commander Susa 'Kuralee came to this facility on the sixteenth day of this month. His arrival was odd: He showed up in a Spirit dropship in the wake of another vessel, and made a barely passable landing in the docking bay. After observing him alone, I can say that he is incredibly paranoid.

Susa has displayed no prior indicators of mental instability. Service record also holds no indicators of any severe mental trauma. In point of fact, his service record doesn’t even indicate that he would break like this. I don’t have all the details, as his last mission, and the entirety of the Halo mission is under investigation. There are rumors that a lone human did it, but I- I’m getting off track.

When Susa was admitted, he was unconscious. We tried to remove his armor at this time, which must have triggered a subconscious reaction, as he began flailing around. It subsided shortly after we stopped trying. From what I could see, he had no life-threatening injuries: a few cuts, some fractured ribs, and a few minor burns. It's the mental issues I can't explain. He regained consciousness a few hours ago, and began screaming, clawing at the walls, and generally acting like an animal. Now, I've seen soldiers on the front lines of the war with panic attacks; ones who just freeze in the middle of combat, or start getting panicky. It's mostly among the fresh recruits, not being used to actual battle. They recover in a few hours, and I never see them again, if they come to see me at all. I never see it at the higher ranks, especially not Special Operations Commanders, and nothing this severe in anyone. Whatever was on Halo had to be bad to make a man like this go insane.

*sigh* I’ll be interviewing him tomorrow, see what I can get about what happened to him. Provided he can still talk.

22.03.09

Susa was, thankfully, relatively calm today. At least, he was when compared to yesterday. He screamed at me for a bit, I tried to calm him down… I’ve attached the recording to this log.

Attachment 1: Audio only:

NIRA: Wait outside, please.

SUSA: Who’s there? *pause* MONSTER! Get away from me!

*scuffling sounds

NIRA: My name is Nira. I’m not a monster. Calm down.

S: LIES! You take our flesh, use us as weapons! I saw the truth!

N: There are no monsters here.

S: You would say that, monster! You won’t get me! I’LL KILL YOU FIRST!

*scraping noises, possibly boots?**growling*

N: I’m trying to help-

S: You can help by GETTING OUT! OUT! *slight swishing noises* GET AWAY FROM ME!

*recording ends*

It was interesting, if uninformative. I can’t think of anything that uses flesh as a weapon, other than from stories. But that’s the thing: they’re just stories. And military men don’t just suddenly start pretending children’s tales come alive.

27.03.09

I’ve spoken to Susa repeatedly over the past few days. I didn’t attach the recordings, as it’s very similar to the first attachment. On my second visit, he seemed to have forgotten me in the intervening hours, but the third day he seemed to remember me, if only vaguely. Each time he talked about “using flesh as weapons,” just with different words.
I decided to do some reading, see what I could find. As expected, the San’Shyuum and the Council have locked up pretty much everything regarding the Halo event, aside from trying to pin blame on someone. But the texts regarding the Great Journey did make a small mention of similar creatures, as some kind of test.

I think I need to speak to Susa again.

28.03.09

Spoke to Susa. The recording is attached.

Attachment 2: Audio Only

NIRA: May I speak with you, Susa?

SUSA: You again. What do you want, monster?

N: The monsters you’re talking about… can you describe them?

S: Why should I? You’re one of them.

N: Please?

S: *grunt* You take many forms. It all depends on who you possess.

N: Anything else? Anything at all?

S: As I said, many forms.

N: I need to know, Susa. I want to help-

*small step, frantic scrabbling and crashing noises*

S: GET AWAY! GET AWAY FROM ME!

*end recording*

I don’t know if I just broke the little trust he had with me, if any.

29.03.09

I tried to locate Susa’s lance members, hoping they’d be able to tell me what happened to him. Now that I think about it, if Susa broke under pressure, I shouldn’t have held out much hope for the rest of the lance.
When I got in touch with the Special Ops division, though, they gave me the same answer I’ve been getting about Halo: all classified. They did tell me, though, that many of the ground forces never came back. I’ll bet the rest of Susa’s lance was one of them.
I did ask a few other questions while I was trying to get info on the lance, and many Special Operations commanders get battle recorders in their helmets. If Susa has one, then the only real problem is getting to it.

32.03.09

I’ve spoken to Susa a few more times. He’s more skittish than he was before, but I’ve been trying to get him to let me approach him. Every time, I try to show him I’m unarmed, but he panics, grabs anything in reach, backs away, and starts threatening to kill me. It’s obvious that he’s delusional, and seems to think I’m going to sprout tentacles.
Hm…

01.04.09

I decided that, instead of trying to persuade him to let me near him, he should show me what’s going on in his mind. So, I presented him with some parchment, a writing implement, and told him to either write down or draw what’s going on in his mind. He did both after a few hours of just staring at them. Unfortunately, I can’t attach images to these logs, but I’ve transcribed his writing and attached that. The image, though, is… disturbing, to say nothing of the writing. The image is what I assume is a Sangheili warrior (Susa was clearly not an artist before this), but the head has been twisted back, far beyond a neck’s normal limits, so I can assume the head is just dangling. One of the arms has been heavily mutated, turning into a large, three-fingered claw, each claw like some kind of skewer. The other arm has what looks like a plasma rifle. If the writing is any indication, it shambles rather than walks. But that needs to speak for itself.

Attachment 3: Text only

You’re monsters, demons, unclean spawn, straight from the deepest pits of the Seven Hells! I saw you, watched you, looked at you as your demon seeds as your wormed, clawed, raped the flesh of my brothers and took them, twisting, rending, destroying their bodies for your purposes! I thought The Demon was right to destroy the Sacred Ring, keep your taint from spreading to the rest of the galaxy, but I see you’re here, too! I know what you want, monster. You want my home, my family, my keep, but I won’t let have them! I’ll kill all of you to stop you, even if I have to kill myself, I’ll NEVER LET YOU FIND MY BELOVED

I see what you’re doing. You’ve got the computers, so if I gave you the name, you’d get everything. But no, I’m too smart for you. You’ll never get to my planet, or my family. And I’ll kill myself if you try to possess me, monster.

02.04.09

I had Susa do another one of these drawing/writing exercises. Unfortunately, both of them were completely incomprehensible. But, judging from the tone of the writing, his last dream must have been quite frightening.
I also tried to get a look at his helmet, but he won’t let me anywhere near him. I asked him if I could look at his helmet, and he replied by jabbing at me with the quill, growling.
He wasn’t as violent towards me as he usually is when I seem to threaten his space like that, so he might be calming down, if slowly.

04.04.09

I left Susa enough parchment in his quarters in case he wanted to draw or write something and I wasn’t around. It seems to have been a good idea, as I now have three new drawings. Two of them are in the same vein as the first drawing he did, with the mutated Sangheili. One of them was what I think is a human soldier. Again, the head is hanging in an unnatural way, and what looks like feelers poking out from the neck. The rest of it looks fairly normal in human terms, though I’d say the humans on Halo didn’t fare any better than we did. The second features some kind of hood-shaped creature, with what I think are feelers to propel it. The drawing has many of these attacking a crudely drawn lance, complete with Shade emplacement. It looks like the lance is panicking.
The third I don’t think Susa intended to draw, or if he did, he didn’t intend to let me see it. It looks like a drawing of his immediate family. One wife, two children, one of which looks like he’s old enough to join the military, if he is a he.
I can only imagine what they’re thinking now.

05.04.09

Another writing from Susa.

Attachment 4: Text only

i’m sorry i’m sorry i’m sorry i’m sorry i’m sorry i’m sorry i’m sorry i’m sorry i’m sorry i’m sorry i’m sorry i’m sorry i’m sorry i’m sorry i’m sorry

they were everywhere all at once coming from the skies pouring from the ground bursting from your flesh

i couldn’t save you im sorry i couldn’t stop them from eating you im so sorry my love

06.04.09

I decided to see if I could get Susa to talk to me today. Very fruitful, I’d say.

Attachment 5: Audio only

NIRA: Susa? Are you feeling okay today?

SUSA: *grunting*

N: Were you going to see your family after your last mission?

S: How do you know about them?!

N: …It was in your last writing and one of your drawings.

S: That’s how you found them…

N: I don’t know their names.

S: It doesn’t matter. You found them, and now… *choked sob*

N: They’re fine, I promise. Waiting for you to come home.

S: “Home” being in your little hive mind?

N: No. “Home” being wherever they live with you. Be it Sanghelios or one of the colonies.

S: *small thump* Kill me.

N: Wh-

S: Just do it. Take me into your collective. Assimilate, infect, whatever it is you do to your victims.

N: Susa, I’m not-

S: Don’t lie to me! You’ve taken everything from me, monster! Everything I’ve been fighting for, you’ve taken! Just take me and be done with it!

N: *small click, possibly helmet unlatching?* Do I feel like one of them to you?

*silence*

S: …What are you?

N: I am not one of them. Whatever happened on Halo, whatever creatures attacked you, they died there. They’re not coming for you.

S: You don’t know that. You didn’t see what I saw! I watched them eat my brothers, turn them into mindless zombies! Gods know what else they can do!

N: May I have your helmet, then? So I can see for myself?

S: NO! I need that! They’re coming, I know they are, I don’t want them to eat me!

N: Just your battle recorder, then? That’s all I need.

S: Take it. Just give me my helmet!

*small click*

N: Here you go.

S: *another click**relieved sigh*

*footsteps*

N: I know these monsters haven’t gotten to your family, Susa. They’re waiting for you to get better, so you can go home.

I’ll review his battle record tomorrow. Right now I have to decide if I want to tell his family what happened.

07.04.09

Attachment 6: Video and Audio record
Special Operations Commander Susa ‘Kuralee, Fifth Lance
Deployed to damaged vessel Truth and Reconciliation
Objective: Terminate human Demon

*Identities of others have not been confirmed*
*camera shows interior of Phantom dropship*

SANGHEILI 1: And I say it will not take that long.

SANGHEILI 2: You are underestimating the Demon. We should be cautious when we get on board.

UNGGOY 1: Me agree. Demon not to be taken lightly.

S1: We did not ask for your opinion.

SUSA: Enough. The Demon is certainly a major threat, but I know we will take him down. Our cause is just, and our will is strong.

S1: As you say, commander.

*fast forward*
*camera is moving downward in a gravity lift into a rocky area*

PHANTOM PILOT: This is as close as I can get you. Parasite activity is too great deeper in.

SUSA: No matter. The gravity lift is still in operation, according to the chatter, so we will enter the ship there.

SANGHEILI 3: The Demon will likely be headed for the same place.

S: Then we will kill him if we meet him there. *arm points to a nearby path* That way. Move out, and stay alert.

*fast forward*
*gunfire is heard in the distance. Camera pans over a pool of coolant, a stream of it leaking from above. A strange roar is heard*

UNGGOY 2: What that?

S1: Parasite. I think.

S3: That is not ominous at all.

U1: Wait, what this?

*camera pans to a Lekgolo corpse near the coolant pool*

S2: Did the parasite do this? And where is the other one?

S: Either the Parasite or the Demon. *camera pans further down the path* Keep alert.

*fast forward*

*a human? Body shambles towards the camera*
*plasma fire cuts it down*

S2: Was that one of them?

*strange groaning noises are heard, and more creatures appear. Some land in front of the camera*
*Wearer fires plasma rifles, more plasma fire is heard, incomprehensible yelling*
*creature appears in front of camera, tackles*

S: Get off of me! *one arm blocks incoming swipe, other arm begins punching creature*

*creature is shot by Needler*

*scream is heard*
*camera elevates slightly and pans over to small bulbous creatures attacking a Sangheili*
*camera spins to try and locate weapons*
*wearer grabs weapon**camera pans back to Sangheili*
*gurgling noises*
*Sangheili begins to writhe and mutate*

S: By the Gods...

*camera swivels to more creatures attacking*
*Unggoy screaming*
*creature tackles the fleeing Unggoy and starts tearing at it*
*Sangheili corpse drops in front of camera*
*camera rises and begins moving away from battle*
*sounds of creatures giving chase*
*camera swivels and bobs, user fires plasma at pursuing creatures*

S: GET AWAY FROM ME!

*camera swivels again to front view*

*fast forward*

*camera is still, user is firing plasma into the darkness. No creatures are visible*

S: I know you're there! GO AWAY!

*camera swivels out over a pool of coolant, an abandoned Spirit dropship on the other side of the pool*
*hooting noises are heard*
*camera falls into coolant pool, moves toward other shore*

*camera enters Spirit cockpit, starts launch sequence*
*user hands are shaking severely*

S: Got to... get away...

*recording ends*

08.04.09

I didn't record anything yesterday. Honestly, I still don't know what to say about it. Though it's easy to understand why he went insane now. If those creatures, this.. Parasite, can infect bodies, then they really could be anywhere.
No, it looked like they mutated whatever they infected, and they seemed to act like animals. And Susa's drawings didn't do these monsters justice. I know I'm going to be seeing these things in my sleep for a while.
But I think I can help him now. I put him under constant observation since his last dream, in case of a suicide attempt. But since he ran from battle, suicide might be better for him than trying to heal him. If he comes back and this comes to light, his keep will probably execute him, if not them, then the San'shyuum will order it. It took a lot of convincing to let the head of this facility to let me look after him.
I really don't know what to do.

10.04.09

I gathered some messages from Susa's family and gave them to him. He seemed happy to see them. I don't know for sure if he thinks they're still dead, or alive, or what. I also wrote a message to his family, telling them that he's okay, but was shaken by the Halo experience, and has been in seclusion since his return, trying to reconnect to the faith. Seems a bit thin, but it's the best I could come up with.
Now that I think about it, though, I might be able to say he was possessed while on Halo, and I'm helping him exorcise it.
Either way, if I can help him move past this, help him return to normal, and his family believes my lie, he may survive.

13.04.09

Susa's doing pretty well. He's still erratic, and if someone else enters the room with me, he starts panicking. He's still wary of me, though he'll let me get further than two steps in the door. And if I make any sudden moves, he'll grab something to defend himself.
I'm not sure how long this is going to last, though. The San'Shyuum are issuing strange edicts, the Jiralhanae get bolder by the day, and our forces are massing for an attack on the human homeworld. The Prophet of Regret is supposed to be leading it himself.
I have a very nasty feeling about the next few weeks.

16.04.09

This might be my last entry for a while. There were Jiralhanae here earlier, claiming to be on some sort of inspection. They didn't notice Susa, thankfully. They left about an hour ago.
I'm not sure what they were really after, if anything. Maybe they just wanted to harass us. Either way, I think things are going to go bad, fast.
There's been no real change in Susa's condition. I gave him some more of his family's messages, ones from the last few days, and he again seemed happy.
He gave me a message to send to them, though. I'll attach it here. I may send this instead of my letter.

Attachment 7: Text only

my dearest Mira

i am okay.  It has been good to see your messages The healer has been watching over me. she is nice. I like her. I thought she was a monster at first, but she doesn't feel like one

i miss you a lot. I dream about you sometimes. i had a dream that the monsters ate you and the healer helped me see it was just a dream and you and Yra and J'Kai are okay. i read Yra is about to join the military. i know he'll do well he is our son after all.

i don't know when i'll be coming home, but i will. and when I do, we'll go to Hurios like you always wanted I promise

i love you,

Susa