Hello! This is my first story on so if it seems a little choppy that's probably why. This is a Cortana/John romance and action story, taking place on earth, which the Covenant have just landed on. I'm aiming for 10-20 chapters but I really have no idea. Now on with the story!

Err... wait a second... I forgot the disclaimer! Okay here it goes:

I do not own any of the characters portrayed in this story. The godly people at Bungie Studios own them, so go worship them. I do however own so many Halo action figures it would make your head spin!

Okay... now to the story.

Chapter 1

Spartan-117 walked nervously down the narrow halls of one of the UNSC sub-headquarters. Taking a left at a turn he nearly hit an ODST, clad in his gray military suit, who mumbled a curse after passing him. He was heading toward the double-doors a few meters away from him. As he approached, the two ODST who were standing guard gave a quick salute.

"Major Eisley is awaiting you sir." He said in a tone that was suprisingly formal considering what they had been through the last few days. The nearby city of New Mombassa was already invaded, and marines were always getting deployed and pulled back. John himself had already seen countless hours of combat. And now here he stood, ready to face something that was ten times harder than any battle.

He was going to see Cortana again. He hadn't seen her since the whole Halo incident.

He continued through the doors and stood looking at the back of a tall leather chair facing a large window.

"Petty Chief Officer Spartan-117 reporting as ordered, sir!"

"At ease." Was his response. The Chief stood there and after a moment or two of silence the Major started again.

"Chief I believe your well aware that Cortana is going through a... change now, correct? Ah of course your aware, what kind of a question is that?" The Major now turned the chair to face John and set his elbows on the desk.

"With all due respect sir, I'd like to know how it went."

"Of course, of course... well I can tell you that she's human now. No problems with that. Certainly wasn't easy though."

"Can I see her? Where is she?" he said, feeling the inside of his gloved hands become moist. He didn't understand why we was like this. It was only a week since he'd seen her, it couldn't be that. Something else was at work here...

"Well of course you can see her. She's right behind you." John quickly turned around coming face to face with... her. He couldn't believe it. She looked exactly the way she did when she was a hologram. Maybe prettier.

'What am I thinking!?' he thought. He quickly shoved those thoughts out of his head.

"Um... hi chief." She said nervously. It was amazing her resembalance to her 'other' form. She had brown hair that went down to her shoulders but other than that it was definitely the old Cortana he knew.

"Awkward moment guys? I'll leave you two alone, I'm sure you need to sort things out. Just be in the training area for your augmentation to the Spartan program at 5:00 tomorro-"

"Spartan Program?" John kept a coolness to his voice, but you could easily tell he was shocked.

"Chief, don't play games with me." He said strictly, "you saw this coming. How couldn't you? Besides it makes no difference. We need her for this war Chief. You can't change it." Chief stood there a few minutes, letting this all sink in.

"Your dismissed." The Major said. He turned back around in his chair as if they were gone already. Chief turned on a dime and walked out of the room. Cortana just stood there confused. She really thought he knew all this already. That all definitely came as a huge shock to him. She turned and ran after him. Eisley was right, they needed to sort this out.

---

Chief walked up to the information desk near the bunks. The marine at the desk handed him a paper with his room number and such. He took the time to notice that Cortana was bunking with him. As if reading his mind the marine said,

"Err... we were all a little out of space with all the ammo and vehicles being brought in. Besides, I don't think Cortana would appreciate bunking with those dirty marines."

Without a word, the Chief simply nodded and walked towards the room. Once inside, he began to take off his armor, starting with his helmet. It felt good to feel real air against his face again; he hadn't taken it off in 3 days. It was then that Cortana chose to walk in.

"Chief..." she began.

"You don't need to call me that anymore Cortana. My name is John." She could already tell that he wasn't fully grasping the whole thing.

"Nobody told you?"

"No."

She sat down on the first cot and sighed. She had known Chief- no, John – for 3 years and now the awkwardness of all this made it feel like they just met. She laid onto the cot and watch Chief continue to take off the rest of his armor (for all intents and purposes he was wearing something under it). Cortana felt herself drifting off and let the sleep come. This was all so tiring. The last thing she saw was John looking at her. She smiled. And for a second she felt something. A warm feeling, something she hadn't felt with John before. And the last thing she thought as she fell asleep was if John had that same feeling right then and there.

And he did.

---

The next morning was amazingly hectic. Cortana woke to see that no one was in the other cot. Assuming he just went for a walk or shower, she simply put on a military jumpsuit like the Spartans wore under their armor – basically just a black uniform – and proceeded down to the augmentation after quickly consulting a clock. After only a few minutes of walking and going down elevators, she arrived at the training area. A few marines were doing push-ups and pull-ups here and there, but other than that she saw no one. Like clockwork, Major Eisley walked in.

'God I hate this guy. He's such a jerk!' Cortana thought to herself as he walked in. She also noticed someone else enter alongside him.

'John...' she thought.

"Alright Cortana. Now we need to begin your training. Obviously before you get your Spartan suit you need a little training. It will be quick though; we need to deploy you to Mombassa soon." Cortana just nodded at his instructions. He continued,

"Now after a little while I decided that what better way for you to learn how a Spartan works than to train with one? That's why I decided to have 117 here direct you through it. I figured it also doesn't hurt considering you've known him a while.

Cortana seemed to perk up at this idea. Training with John? Sure better than training with those dirty marines. And not to mention how horrible having Eisley train her would be.

"Yes sir!" she shot out.

"Good. I'll be back in a few hours to check up on your progress. As I said, we don't have much time." And with that Eisley left the two of them stranded there.

"Um... Shall we begin?" John said. She smiled,

"Sure."

---

Only 2 hours after Eisley left Cortana already felt like she was sick. This stuff wasn't easy! Going through the obstacle course – SPARTAN obstacle course – 2 dozen times, countless pull-ups, curl-ups, and battle simulations, and so many other things...

"Alright, take five." Chief said. He have expected the response he got:

"FIVE?!"

"Yep, Eisley is getting back soon and he'll want a full report. I need to get just a few more things done and-"

"John there is no way while you were training you did all this every day." She said tiredly, "I mean, how could you?"

"It's not easy Cortana."

"Tell me something I don't know." She paused, "I'll do these last few exercises but only so you don't get in trouble... that guy is really mean."

John just gave a very rare laugh.

"Thanks," they stood up in unison. "All we have to do is go through a final battle simulation using heavy weapons." Cortana sighed and began walking beside him... walked until she hit her foot on a weight that happen to be lying on the ground. Naturally she fell to her left... taking John down with her. She landed on top of him in an awkward position.

"John..." She stopped mid-sentence as John put a finger to her mouth (let's all assume he didn't have his armor on). He inched closer to her face. She could feel his breath on her face, and their lips met. He had no idea what came over him. It just felt so right.

At this point Cortana was shocked. She slowly closed her eyes and began to enjoy it.

Now let's look at a few fact's. Spartans go through tons of test and they obviously need good hearing to tell if Covies are coming up on them right? Well it seemed that Chiefs senses, with all his training, were lulled in the few moments he was kissing Cortana. So were they that he didn't here the footsteps coming towards them.

"For the love of god," an all too familiar voice said, "there are places to do this, but not here. I mean really, get a hold of yourselves you two." It was Major Eisley if you haven't guessed already.

And John and Cortana just lay there, both as crimson red as a veteran Elite's armor. Eisley just sighed and began walking away, mumbling,

"Training dismissed."

---

Aaaaaaaaaaaaand cut!

Wow... that seemed rushed...

Okay well like it? Hate it? Wish someone gouged your eyes out after reading it? Either way I appreciate the reviews. Even if I get none I might –MIGHT- continue because I like writing. Don't let that stop you from sending in reviews though! Also is it too short? I can make chapters longer.

Okay how about this. 2 reviews and I will defienetly continue. Less... and I will think about it. Until next time people, cya later!

PS: I decided so you know the chapter is over at the end I'll put 2 lines instead of one.

-Alex