Authors Note: You should only read this if you've finished all of the Halo novels already out (Ghosts of Onyx).I got a 360 like a month ago, so I decided to buy and finish Halo 2 and it was fun. I already have Halo 3 pre-ordered and fully paid for, and I've read all of the Halo novels already out, and they were just plain amazing. Eric Nylund has to be one of the most genius writers ever... I got bored, and decided to write my own story :) . I don't own Halo or any of the characters. They belong to Bungie and Microsoft.

Chapter 1: Run, run, jump

January 1, 2532

"These past few days... Life has been really harsh... I don't want to be here anymore, I want to go home... Back with you... Mom... Dad... I wish you were still here... Only if they didn't..." And with those words, Spartan A002, Shane, renewed his self remorse and once again found another reason to continue fighting... A chance... A chance to get revenge against the same ones that killed his parents. The Covenant.

The morning trumpets played. Alarms went off. Everyone expected some sort of "day off" for it was New Years, and one brave kid dared to ask the instructor whom the other soldiers called "Mendez." Apparently there in the military, "Day off" isn't part of their dictionary. One by one, groggy and tired little kids got up early in the morning. They all limped into the bathrooms, holding a cup and a tooth brush, as if they were put through torture. Few by few, they wash themselves and get ready for the day ahead of them. Most kids always stood by their own friends. If anything ever happened, they looked after each other like brothers and sisters. Shane happened to hang around Spartan A001, Jane, and Spartan A003, Robert. Shane would've given all to protect them, and they would've done the same. As a family.

Once they were done, they'd immediately went to the instructions room in the camp, or the more popular with the kids, "Hell."

"Ok listen up!! Today, we've redesigned the playground... And you guys are lucky enough to be the first to try it out." Said the instructor

"That's what they always say... I bet they wouldn't like to go through this crap everyday." Said not loud, but not very quiet either, one of the boys in a different team.

"What was that son? You care to tell the rest of us what you were talking about? Or are you just too excited about trying out our new playground? Well today's your lucky day! You don't have to stay bundled up! All of you get to try it!" And with that, everyone groaned and moaned in agony...

"Don't worry. By the end of today, you won't even be able to groan."

"SIR YES SIR!" my team yelled.

"Now that's the spirit... You other dirt bags need to be like them. Playgrounds are fun. At least they've got that idea." In all honesty, the USNC's "playgrounds" are anything but fun. They were like playgrounds from hell. Just pure obstacles...

"Oh, I haven't even told you guys the prize yet! The winning team gets to eat a buffet. Anything they want, how much they want." He said happily... Everyone stopped groaning and talking and snapped into attention. Now with serious faces, they looked like nothing would stop them from winning first prize...

"You know what that means... Everyone else gets... Nothing." Bad memories... The past few days, the losing teams have only been fed crackers and milk during our learning hours... Not even close to enough to stop the killing hunger pains all of us were getting. We needed to win.

"Alright guys... We need a plan... We'll need to make one up as fast as we can after seeing this 'new course.'" I told Jane and Robert. They both nodded in agreement and said, "Free of strife." That was our "phrase." (Oly oly oxen free). That was our "all systems go" phrase. If anything was ever wrong, one of us wouldn't say it, and we'd immediately address the problem... "Good. Let's do this."

And with that, we took a step outside and the bright light engulfed us...

End.

Authors Note: So how'd you like it? I try to make it "Nylund" style :) I sure hope you guys like it though.