CHAPTER 1

DURING THE EVENTS OF HALO 1

RE-EDIT 2

O'Malley speech

High above the cliff edge, over looking the box canyon. Stands a lone figure wearing a purple color variant of the Mark V armor. The figure places their finger on the right side of their helmet. "Come in Blue Command. Come in. This is Medical Officer DuFresne. I've reached Blood Gulch Outpost Alpha, do you read?" A second later there was a reply, but it was all disorted. "Say again, Blue Command. I do not read." He could still hear only a disorted voice. "Blue Command, please boost your transmission to match communication, Echo, Bravo-"

A chill voice on the other end of the radio can be heard more clearly. "Yo, I hear you. Calm down, dude, what's going on? Hello, yo, can you hear me, hello?" Medical Officer DuFresne was a bit confused by the response, "Uh, roger Blue Command."

The voice speaks up again, "Sorry 'bout that, I was in the elevator, this thing don't work to well in their. What's going on dude?" DuFresne was still confused, did he contact the wrong people. "Is this Blue Command?" He asked.

The man replied. "Oh yeah sure, totally! What's going on?" The purple clad medic is still skeptical,"You sure? The Blue Command base?" The man was slightly offended. "Hey dude. Take it easy. You called me. I didn't call you."

"Naw, I know, it's just..." whatever he had to say got cut off by the voice again. "It's just what, dude?" Shaking his head, "Never mind." The medic wanted to quickly change the subject. "I'm just letting you know that I've reached Blood Gulch Outpost Alpha." He turns around and stares at the Blue Base far in the distances. "I'm going to make contact with the blue squad members."

The radio makes a quick static sound before the guy spoke again, "Blood Gulch, huh? Alright, let me look here, let me see what it says..." He then looks through some files. "Blood Gulch, bloo... blea... B-L-, blu... Here we go, Blood Gulch, okay."

He takes a moment read up on the file, once so, he gets back on the radio. "Says here you need to make contact with Private Tucker. Ask them about their wounded dude." DuFresne says, "Roger that. Any other orders?"

"Anything else... yeah okay, yeah, it says here whatever you do, don't- oh..." He almost dongoofed. "Okay, never mind dude, I'm not supposed to read you that part, okay, just uh... you'll be okay, just, uh, be very careful. That's all."

"Great." The medic said. "Alright then. Well it's our goal here at Blue Command to provide excellent customer service, and I hope that I have done that today. Uh, if you have any further questions about this radio transmissions... you can just um, you know call back, say 'Dude, I've got some questions, what's going on.' Over and out." The transmission was cut, leaving Medical Officer DuFresne alone. "Okay... Private Tucker."

RED BASE

Three months have passed since the Reds had their major victory over the Blues by destroying their tank and killing the hired help all in one go. This is thanks to both Donut and Ryan. The former was happy to get revenge for being put into the pink armor, while the latter was rewarded with a two week vacation back to Earth by the team leader.

Ryan won't lie and say he was surprised by this, Sarge never rewarded his troopers with anything. But accepted none the less. He packed up his things and got on the pelican and went off to a transport ship that took him to Earth.

During the two weeks in his home state of Washington, Ryan had a blast. He did many things to have a great time. Swimming at the beach, eating some burgers, going to the arcade, and heading to the theme park that wasn't to far from the amazing hotel he was staying at. His room was amazing, big living room, big flat screen TV, big bedroom with a big bed, and big bathroom.

Everything was big, he kind of felt bad for it. He had this big room while the guys had the small base. Ok it's not that small, it's big enough to have other rooms like a kitchen, a room for all four of them to sleep in (Except for Sarge who has his own room), a shower room, medical room, and a storage room. So the base isn't THAT small, but still.

When he was in the room, Ryan would watch TV or read a English to Spanish book. So he can understand Lopez better, if he ever came back. After the Blue's tank had been destroyed. Lopez suddenly ran off towards the Blues and the was last they ever saw him.

At first the teen had no idea why Lopez just ran like that, when he got back to base, he tried ask what was going on with Lopez. Though he couldn't because Sarge and Simmons showered him with praise. Distracting him from asking the question.

Right now the teen is working on getting things straighten out in the storage room. "Let's see, two assault rifle crates. Check. Three pistol crates. Check. And tens crates of food that we're hiding from Grif. Double check." Seeing that everything is in order, Ryan sits down on a crate to take a break. "Phew, counting all the crates is tiring to the mind." He said. Reaching to the food crate, he opens it and gets out a can of grape soda.

Opening it, Ryan takes off his helmet and begins to drink. After getting the can half empty he stops to take a breath. "Man that's good. It's a great thing we hide these from Grif." He takes another swig of then soda. Just then, the intercom goes off and Simmons speaks through it. "All soldiers report to the meeting room. I repeat, all soldier report to the meeting room... And that means you too Grif." The intercom makes a static sound before turning off.

Ryan finished his soda and crushed the can. Tossing it in the trash that's in the room, he picks up his helmet and holds it under his arm. In 30 seconds flat, Ryan walks in the meeting room to see everyone in there.

Donut, Simmons, and Grif all sat at the table with their helmets off. "Ah good, we're all here." Said Sarge, he's the only one who had his helmet on. The Red leader sat at the end of the table. Ryan took a seat next to Donut and asks. "What's this meeting about?"

The Red leader places his hands on the table and says, "This meeting is about the Blue menace that live on the other side of this canyon. Men... and Grif." Sarge said the fat soldier's name in a flat voice. "We're going to attack the blues today!"

Simmons cheered while Grif just groaned, "Why today of all days. Can we just wait another three months to attack them?" Sarge shook his head no. "We've waited long enough. Right now is the best time to strike. Men, gear up! We got some Blues to kill." Slipping on their helmets and standing up from the table. All five of them went to get guns and ammo.

In the armory, all five of them began to get ready for the fight. Simmons, and Grif all grabbed assault rifles and pistol and began to load them. Ryan grabbed a battle rifle and pistol. Grabbing a few magazines and clips, he loaded one each into the two guns and placed the rest on his ammo belt. Donut grabbed a sniper from the weapons rack. The orange-red, pink, and maroon soldier all packed light. Since Grif's job is to carry ammo for the team to replenish.

A minute later they all finished. Ryan, Grif, Simmons, and Donut all stood outside the base in a line, waiting for Sarge to come out. During the wait, Ryan turned to Simmons and asked. "Hey Simmons, you ever why're here?" The Maroon solider was a bit hesitant to answer, since this question has brought up awkwardness in the past. But he stilled answered the question. "It's one of life's great mysteries."

"What? No." Ryan said, "I mean why we're here, on this alien planet? Don't you think it's risky to have soldiers stationed on a planet while the human race is at war with the Covenant?"

Simmons didn't know how to respond to that at all. He just stood their in silent for five seconds before he had a answer. "N-no, I mean yes, I guess. The Covenant haven't spotted in this region of space, so it seems logical to deploy troops."

Ryan couldn't give out another question because the Red leader came out of the base with his shotgun in both of his hands. He stands in front of his men. "Hope those blues brought their wallets, cause the rent in hell gets paid in advance!" Sarge said at the top of his lungs, raising his gun into the air. Simmons and Donut yelled 'yeah' in excitement. Grif just groaned and Ryan raised his gun up. Sarge cocks his shotgun. "Lets kill some blues."

BLUE BASE

Things at Blue Base have tense since Tex had died. After burying her and Church's original body, Church has been more annoyed at his teammates. Most of it comes from dealing with their crap. Caboose's sudden need for his attention and saying his best friend in the wide galaxy. Tuckers endless whining about how Caboose has made threats to kill him, though the leader doesn't believe him and thinks it's just a way to earn attention.

Even though he now has a body, it hasn't cool off any anger that's building up within him. Only slightly has he ever been able to release it, and that's by punching Caboose and Tucker in their sleep. So that's how they spent the three months after the death of Tex.

Currently, the three blues are standing outside of the base, and to Church's delight. The two were complaining to him, "Hey Church, we have a problem." Tucker said. The Blue leader quickly spoke up. "I am not your mother... so don't come tattling to me every time one of you does something that the other one doesn't like."

Tucker gesture his thumb to the blue soldier, "I'm telling you he's crazy. He keeps threaten to kill me and talking in a scary voice." Caboose interjected. "No I didn't." The aqua soldier looks to the blue soldier and points to him. "Oh, so you're saying you didn't threaten to cut off my head and give it to Church as a birthday present?" Crossing his arms over his chest, Caboose countered it. "You know, I think you're taking my words out of context."

Tucker threw his arms in the air. "What? What context?" Unbeknownst to all three of them, Medical Officer DeFresne is walking towards them. "Listen guys, this competition thing has to stop, okay?" He continues his rant, "I thought we'd established by now-"

"Excuse me." Said Defresne. Church turns his head slightly around to take a quick at the medic. "Hey pal? One second, okay? I'm in the middle of something here." Continuing where he was cut off. "Ah, look... I thought we'd established by now, I don't like either of you, okay? So competing for my attention is not gonna do ya any good."

"Excuse me!" DeFresne said louder. Focusing their attention to the new arrival, Church says in a annoyed and tired voice. "Okay. Yes. Hello. Who're you?" With the leader of Blue Team distracted, Caboose looks at Tucker and speaks in a deep, menacing voice. "Don't ever be alone." Fearing for his life. Tucker takes a few steps away from Caboose and says to Church. "He's doing that thing again..."

No one seem to notice the threat. The man in purple armor introduces himself. "My name's DeFresne." He points to Church, "Uh... are you Private Tucker?" Shaking his head no, Church says. "No, I'm not Private Tucker. My name is Church." He gesture an arm to the aqua clad soldier, "He's Private Tucker."

He gave a small wave, "Yo." With a little reluctance, he gestures the blue clad solider. "And over there in regulation blue, that's Caboose, or O'Malley, or whatever the hell he's calling himself."

"Why did you introduce me second?" Caboose felt a ping of hurt within him. Tucker quickly added. "Because he hates you." A grin grew under the helmet. After the introductions were over, Medical Officer DeFresne told the blues he's here because someone called for a medic. "Medic? That was like three months ago." Caboose said.

"Yeah, what'd you do?" Tucker then proceed to make crawling motions with his arms. "Crawl all the way here?" He stopped with the arm motions. However the medic defended himself. "I came as quickly I as could." (Really? Even in real life military medics don't take that long. What really kept Doc from getting there sooner?) "Where's the patient?"

They turn their heads slightly from the medic to stare at two mark graves that he missed when he was approaching them earlier. "Well, she's fifty yards behind you and six feet down." The tone Church used was nothing but smartass.

DeFresne turns around and sees the two graves. "Oh..." On the inside the medic feels really disappointed for how late he was. Turning back to face them, he speaks in a soft voice. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"What? Oh... yeah." The robotic leader was passed the whole mourning phase of his dead former girlfriend, he's pretty much nonchalant about it, "Yeah, thanks man, it was tough but, well what're gonna do."

"We didn't like her very much." Caboose voiced his opinion and whispered "She was mean to other people." Tucker silently agreed. "Who's in the other grave?" The medic notice the two graves and had to ask, he didn't hear anything about another person being injured. The leader had to no idea how to explain this to the new arrival, he's thinking on not telling the truth but he's compelled to do so. "That's, uh, that's me. I'm in that grave."

Under the visor, DeFresne raised his eyebrow high as it can go, finding what Church said completely bizarre. "Uh huh... of Course." It's then Caboose steps forward to explain how that happened. "See, uh... he got killed by this crazy runaway tank." Interrupting the explanation, Tucker added. "Or by the idiot driving it."

For a split second the anger in Caboose surfaced through a hard glare. But it quickly went away and the blue soldier went back to explaining the story. "Oh yeah, and he then became, uh... a really mean ghost, and uh, took over a Mexican robot's body, uh... Oh! And then we had to uh..., oh yeah that's right, spray paint him blue and now he is alive again and is a bionic man... who is blue."

Tucker adds, "Right, and it took us six weeks to turn off his Spanish setting." Church turns around and speaks in Spanish "Not entirely turned off, moron." Letting out a sigh. "I'll go get the Spanish dictionary."

"So wait." DueFresne looks at all three of them, "No here is hurt?" Every single one of them shook there heads. "No we're fine. In fact I feel better then ever." He flexes his arms, or well, flexes them to the best of his abilities, the robots limbs aren't exactly nimble. He then points to where his ears would be. "And if this two idiots start to bug me, I can just turn off my ears. Couldn't do that before."

Caboose says, "You said they were shorting out." A Soft click sound was made. "I'm sorry, what was that Caboose? I can't hear you!" Taking his medical scanner from his hip and raises it to the three. "Well then let me check you two out and I'll be on my way." The aqua trooper didn't like the chose of words and took a huge step back, "Whoa... check us out? Is this one of those things where I have to turn my head and cough?"

Shaking his no, DeFresne explains he's just going to check their vitals. Caboose turns his head to Tucker and speaks in the childish tone of having the better thing. "I bet I have better vitals then you! What's a vital?"

"On your way?" Church says incredulously. "I don't think so pal. Aren't you here to join our squad?" Again DeFresne shakes his head. "No, I'm just here to help out with Tex, and then assist in the canyon as needed."

Church raised his index finger and spoke in sarcastic voice. "First of all, great job on the Tex thing. Mission accomplished." He drops the sarcasim and raises his middle finger next. "Secondly, the way that we need you to assist, is to help us kill all the Reds."

The medic slightly lowers the scanner to explain his position in the military. "Well, even if my orders didn't prohibit me from doing that. I still wouldn't. I joined the army as a conscientious objector."

"Conscie... who?" Tucker didn't even know the word the medic just said. "I'm a pacifist." The purple medic clarified more clearly. "You're the thing that babies suck on?" Caboose had the word pacifist mixed up with pacifier, though Tucker tried to correct him. "No, dude, that's a pedophile." Church slowly turned his head at Tucker, "Tucker, I think he means pacifier."

So much awkwardness filled within Tucker and in the area around them. So thick not even a hot knife could cut through it. "Oh yeah, right." He scratched the back his helmet. "Man I was totally thinking of something else."

"..."

"..."

"That's real classy Tucker." Church said. Finishing scanning the two Blues and seeing their vitals are in the green. The medic lowers the scanner, "Well, everyone here checks out. I'll come back and check on you before I leave the canyon. Can you tell me where Red Base is?"

Tucker tilted his head and asks. "Why. You said you're not going to fight em." He confirmed by nodding, "I'm not. Resources are low so I'm on loan two both armies to help whichever sides needs me the most." ( And the blues do not question this when they called Blue Command to send a medic. They did and they get a guy who will help both armies. That raises a bunch of red flags they should be aware of.)

"Man, that's so freakin lame." Church groaned. "I'm just gonna head off to Red Base and see if they need any help." But before the medic can take his leave to Red Base, Church decided to give the medic some advice, "Well if you're gonna go up to Red Base, I'd recommend putting that thing away. If the Reds see you holding it that thing, they're gonna shoot it out of your hands." Just on cue the sound a sniper was heard, the round hit the medical scanner. Causing it to fly out of DeFresne's hands.

"Yeah, just like that." Another sniper round flew right passed them. "Scatter!" All three of the Blues ran for cover while purple medic ran over to his scanner and scooped it up in his hands. Now he ran to find cover from the flying bullets. While running he did a quick look around the medical device. Hoping it didn't get damage. Lucky for him it didn't.

RED TEAM

Donut shot another sniper round at the blues, Sarge slightly turns his upper body to the pink clad soldier and shouts a complement. "Nice shot cupcake!" The pink soldier quickly salutes. "Thank you sir!"

Simmons fired a few control burst from his assault rifle, "Yeah blues, suck it!" He jeered. In front of him. Grif stood up, blocking his view. "Yeah, sneak attack!" Simmons pushed him out of way. "Move you dumbass, I can't see." Ryan chucked a grenade and shouts. "That's for our jeep!" A cocking sound of a shotgun can be heard, "All right boys. Lets get em."