Kids Learn Quick

by Lialle

Five years have passed since Grif was stationed at Blood Gulch, and two since the War was won. The Red Team find themselves split, stationed at different Planets within the Andromeda Galaxy, facing two new enemies; Human Emotion and a new Alien force. RvB

1. Chapter 1

"I am the sharp tip of the army's claw
Must look the part, must look the law"

Grif fingered the trigger of his gun. The cold metal was refreshing, but steadily it heated; from either his flesh or the sun that beat down, relentless. Time had progressed in a way he was unaware of, unaware of until it had progressed so far and so fast that, if he looked back, five years ago would feel as if they were yesterday. He was alone, lost in the dunes of a hot desert, marooned in memory and regret. He closed his eyes, pressing his free palm into one of them. He felt far more tired than he ever had felt in the boredom of Blood Gulch; tired of this intergalactic struggle for human dominance. They may have beaten the Covenant, but they had progressed so far – in technology and exploration – that they had finally become a threat to other races across the 2.5 megalight-years between the Milky Way and Andromeda.

Andromeda. A Galaxy roughly the same size as their own, filled with a trillion stars and—and planets to discover, in alien solar systems. Such as the planet he was currently stationed on.

Grif lowered his hand, blinking rapidly to clear his eyes of glowing spots from pressing too hard. The planet had oxygen—much more than Earth, but at least he wouldn't suffocate any time soon (although asphyxiation was a hazard, as they had come to discover). He was alone, despite having other soldiers around him, other soldiers sitting in the make-shift metal 'tomb' that protected them from the harsh winds that fluctuated and disappeared for hours on end.

He had come to discover that he wanted nothing more than to be among his old Red Team, instead of enlisted in real battle. He wanted nothing more than to be sitting next to kiss-ass Simmons, to be blocking out Sarge's rants or to be fending off Donut's unwanted advances (or, if he was to be honest, Donut's incessant nagging for friendship).

But instead here he was; stationed on the Alien planet they had named M4-11.

"This uniform's a red rag to bombers
Knowing that my death would bring them honour"