A/N:
So I actually wrote this story before Forevermore and all my other stories here. I've just been very reluctant to upload.
Contining this story will be mainly depend on feedback; if you guys don't like it, I probably won't continue. Otherwise, we'll see how it goes.
I'm pretty self-conscious that this story isn't that great. So apologizes if it does suck.
Btw, Scarlett's appearance differs. Same character as in Forevermore, just different appearance as this was written first.
I neglected to put in Jack into the description of the story, so I'll just explain the character Jack and what relationship Scarlett had with him.
If you've already read Forevermore, you'll know. Basically Jack is Scarlett's ex-lover who was tragically killed on a Covenant Super Carrier in order to get Scarlett and her troopers off.
In this story and Forevermore, Scarlett really struggles to let him go completely, hence the references in the chapters.
ＰＲＯＬＯ U G E
How do you forget?
"Oh, Scarlett," He murmured in her ear, his head leaning on her shoulder, arms wrapped tightly around her waist.
"I love you, Jack." Scarlett said.
"I love you too. Always."
ＩＮＴＲＯＤＵＣＴＩＯＮ
It had been two months since the last Noble Six had been tragically killed, sacrificing himself to destroy a Covenant Ship, but in the process, had saved Noble Two, or Kat. Now, today he was being replaced. Everybody busied themselves with something, awaiting the new Six's arrival; Carter was being briefed by Colonel Holland, watching the screen intently and listening, Kat was fiddling with her fake arm, Jun was already seated in the Falcon, cleaning his Sniper Rifle, Emile was carving his dearest knife, thinking of it's latest victims, and Jorge, less productively, sat around, bored, waiting for something to do.
Suddenly, a new figure appeared in the doorway; The new Noble Six. Surprisingly, for everyone, Noble Six was in fact, female. The last Six was male, and everyone in the Team was used to just having Kat. She had purple and silver; a black visor, and even the same Tactical Data Pad Carter owned.
Before Six was even able to step forwards, Kat's fake arm blocked her. Six jumped back slightly, feeling a little threatened by it. It wasn't everyday you saw a Spartan wielding a fake arm - Let alone block your entrance with it.
"Commander," Kat spoke, catching Carter's attention. Six eyed everyone of her new teammates; Emile she noted, should be steered clear of. Obviously just from looking at him, he was cold and arrogant, but the skull scratched into this visor and his knife intimidated her; Kat looked alright, despite the cold, hard looks she gave Six. Six didn't know what to think of Jorge; he was a Spartan-II, far more superior to her. He was also incredibly tall, and because of his status as a II, he was indeed, quite intimidating. Six wasn't able to build her opinion on her new Commander, as he had turned away from her as quickly as he had faced her.
"So that's our new number Six." Jorge spoke up, his voice deep and rough.
"Kat, you read her file?" Emile questioned.
"Only the parts that weren't covered in black ink," Kat replied flatly. Six focused on Carter again.
"Anyone take responsibility, sir?" He asked Colonel Holland.
"ONI thinks it's local militia, pulled a similar one on Harmony, took out our eyes and ears then stole two crates from dire dock. That cannot happen here. Reach is too damn important."
"Sir. Consider it done."
"Then I'll see you on the other side. Holland out."
Carter turned his attention back to Six. "Lieutenant."
"Commander, sir." Emile, Kat and Jorge left.
"I'm Carter, Noble Team's Leader. That's Kat, Noble Two; Emile and Jorge, Four and Five," He nodded towards the figures leaving. "You're riding with me, Noble Six."
They stepped outside; Kat, Jorge and Emile broke up to one Falcon, whilst Carter and Six headed towards Jun's Falcon.
"I'm not gonna lie to you Lieutenant, you're stepping into some boots the rest of the squad would rather leave unfilled. Me? I'm just happy to have Noble up to full strength," He explained, as they sat down in their seats. "Just one thing; I've read your file, even the parts the ONI sensors didn't want me seeing. I'm glad to have your skill set, but we're a team. That 'lone wolf' stuff stays behind, clear?"
"Got it, sir."
"Welcome to Reach." Jun remarked.
ＣＨAＰＴＥＲ ❶
They flew over the frontier; Jorge watched Six from his Falcon as she watched the scenery from her Falcon.
She looked up to see Jorge staring. "Can I help you with something?"
Emile snickered.
"No, no...I was just wondering, about your file?" Jorge questioned.
"What about it?"
Jorge hesitated. He wasn't sure if she openly talked about her past. "Well, what's with the...eh...Black ink?"
"Well, my skills are supposedly highly classified...Basically, when I first started out in Beta Company, I was taken out straight after training. I was pretty much a puppet to my C.O., he used me to get rid of anyone who threatened him. Local militia, civilians...Anyone. Yeah, I was like his grim reaper."
"Ouch." Jun said softly.
Six looked down at the scenery again, not comfortable with everyone watching her.
"I'm sorry about your past, Six." Jorge softly said.
She shrugged, still not looking up. "The past is the past. What's done is done, I guess."
"Quit the chatter." Carter ordered. "Listen up Noble Team, we're looking at a downed relay post fifty clicks from Visegrad. We're gonna introduce ourselves to whoever took it out, then Kat's gonna get it back online."
Carter and Six turned their attention to the other Falcon; Jorge and Emile were looking at Six, whilst Kat seemed to completely ignore her, looking at Carter. "Just get me under the hood, Commander." Kat replied.
"Sir, why would rebels want to cut Reach off from the rest of the colonies?" Jorge queried, his attention drawn back to Carter. Six heard the confusion in his voice, but also concern for the planet.
Carter shrugged. "Maybe you'll get a chance to ask 'em, Jorge."
"Commander, we've just lost our signal with HQ." Kat informed Carter, fiddling with a data module.
"Back up channels?"
"Searching...Nada," Kat replied, throwing a hand up in annoyance. "Can't say what's jamming us."
"You heard her; dead zone confirmed. Command will not be keeping us company this trip."
"I'm lonely already." Emile joked; Six laughed slightly at this. They jumped out of the Falcon; Carter, Kat, Emile and Six were to do a basic sweep of the area, whilst Jun stayed in a Falcon, looking out for Hostile air and doing thermal checks on structures. Jorge was to be dropped off further ahead.
"Alright, Noble Team. Spread out. Watch the approach." Carter ordered. Emile ran ahead, positioning himself upon a large rock, whilst Six followed Kat and Carter. "Structure point 3-4; Looks clear from this angle," Emile reported, watching the area intently. A few moments later he jumped down, lowering his shields; not like he cared. Six shook her head; Emile knew no boundaries.
"Distress signal is coming from just south of us, Commander. We're close," reported Kat.
"Copy that. Eyes peeled."
They came across a wreak of a warthog; Carter and Six investigated it, whilst Emile kicked some broken crates aside, reviling the distress beacon.
"Found the beacon," He announced, tossing it to Kat, who studied it briefly before dropping it.
"Make out any I.D.?" Carter asked Kat.
"Negative, but it is military."
"So where are the troopers?" Jorge asked over COMMS, his voice a growl.
"Why aren't we seeing explosives residue?" Kat questioned.
"Noble Three, can you confirm any e.x. residue in the area?" Carter asked Jun over COMMS.
"Ooh...Negative, sir."
"Plasma, maybe," Emile commented. Six turned to see him behind her, doing a sweep of the ground.
"Can't be. Not on Reach." Jorge sharply replied over COMMS.
"There's a lot of blood on the ground." Emile replied. Six knew he was right; there was puddles of blood, followed by some faded blue, which Six knew, had to be plasma.
"Alright Noble, looks like there's nothing here. Let's move on."
"Smoke at the next structure, boss," Kat informed Carter, surveying the area.
"Copy that. Noble Team, you have permission to engage; but be selective. We don't need to telegraph our presence."
There wasn't much; Six came across some wild Moa who pushed her to the side. Then she came across the house.
"Noble Six, move into the house. Go in quiet, I'm right behind you." Carter informed her.
They moved in quietly, not seeing much apart from broken furniture and belongings; it was like someone had ransacked the house, looking for something. Suddenly, Jun's voice came over COMMS. "Commander, I'm seeing heat syncs in that structure!"
The door opened and a middle aged man stepped out, speaking a foreign language.
Emile rushed ahead, pointing his shotgun in the man's face. "On your knees, NOW!" He shouted.
The man trembled, holding his hands up in surrender, blabbing something in Hungarian, unsure of Emile's orders. Jorge stepped out of his Falcon that had just landed, and rushed to the man.
"They're not rebels," Jorge told Emile. "They're farmers; look at them." Emile stopped shouting and thrusting his shotgun in the man's face, but didn't lower his weapon. Carter and Kat ran outside, Carter standing next to Six, Kat behind Jorge.
"Ask 'em what they're doing here." Carter ordered.
Jorge nodded slightly, before speaking to the man in Hungarian, using a soft and reassuring tone. Six was surprised; Jorge was a giant armored killing machine. It never struck her that he had feelings.
"Hiding, sir. Neighbors were attacked last night. Heard screams; gunfire," Jorge paused, looking away slightly. "Says something in the fields...Killed his son." Jorge immediately tensed up; something. Not someone.
Carter felt the same. "Something." He repeated. Suddenly, Jun's voice crackled over COMMS.
"Commander, I'm seeing heat syncs in that structure directly east of your position, over!"
"Copy that. Get them back inside!" Carter sternly ordered. Jorge shouted in a stern voice, startling the man further. But he did as he was told, stepping back inside and hiding among his family. Although Six would never admit it, she cared deeply for the civilians. She hoped they could hold on - Survive - Until the threat, in this area at least, was over.
Carter and Kat ran ahead. "Noble Team, double time it!" Carter and Kat sprinted ahead, followed closely by Six.
She began to get out of breath, and was taken over by Emile.
"You alright there, Six?" Jorge asked.
"Yeah..I'm fine." She panted, breathless.
Jorge nodded slowly. "Well, try not to fall behind. No more 'lone wolf', remember?"
Six rolled her eyes under her helmet. She'd heard enough of that from Carter. She sprinted ahead again, not replying. They arrived at the structure; Six stood inside with Carter, examining two dead Marines who were pinned to the wall. Six sighed inwards at the sight, before quickly moving on. The scene was messy; she hated seeing Marines, or anyone, for that matter, dead.
They reached a courtyard, where Six heard movement on the roof; she also saw something darting across. She moved away slightly, trying to get a better angle. Suddenly, she felt an arm grip her wrist and pull her in the other direction. She looked up; it was Jorge.
"I mean it, Six. No more 'lone wolf'. We've a team; we stick together. No going solo, okay?"
"I get it," Six hissed, pulling away and stalking off.
They entered the structure, seeing a Sniper calling out to more Covenant; they started flooding into the Basement.
"Huh? Dammit!" Emile shouted.
"Covenant!" Jorge yelled, his heart sinking. Covenant, on Reach?
"They're heading into the basement. Move down to the lower levels." Carter ordered. Six headed down, followed closely by Jorge.
A pack of snipers crowded. Six started head-shooting some with her Magnum, whilst Jorge's machine gun bullets sprayed through him.
"Arrrgh!" He growled over the COMMS. Six started heading outside, but was easily over come with Covenant.
"Noble, I'm cornered here. I need an assist," She said over COMMS.
Before anyone else could respond, Jorge replied. "I'm on my way; I've got your back."
However, just as he was headed over, Six was stuck with a plasma grenade.
"Ah!" She screamed.
"Six! Look out!" Jorge shouted over COMMS.
The grenade exploded on impact, lowering her shields. It threw her off balance; she was thrown to the side, much to her anguish, and struggled to get back on her feet. With a slight groan from the pain, she lifted herself back up. Jorge was making a good effort of shielding her whilst she got sorted.
She retrieved her weapons and began again, marching into the battlefield, much to her teammates' astonishment.
It was a few hours after Winter Contingency was declared, and Noble Team were stopping at a base for a few hours.
This gave Six the perfect chance to revaluate herself and check for injuries, dealing with them as she came across them. The most damaging was the gash across her stomach; an Energy-sworded Elite had swiped out at her, surprisingly cutting through her armor.
'Just another scar to add to my collection.' she thought to herself.
Six didn't take her helmet off much, but since nobody was around, she took the advantage and did so. Surprisingly for a Spartan, she had shoulder-length hair, which was honey-blonde. She had green eyes, but was unsure if they were natural or from the argumentations. One small scar ran slightly down her left cheek, from a Sniper's needle. She finished bandaging up her wounds, wincing at the pain.
She had just finished changing; wearing a white tank top and black shorts, when a light tapping occurred at the door. Before Six could even get her helmet back on, Jorge emerged.
"Huh. So you do have a face." He mused.
"Oh, haha. You know I don't like people seeing my face."
"And why not? Such a shame, a pretty face, too." Six pulled a face.
"What? I was serious," Jorge said, startling Six further. He thought she was pretty?
"Anyway, I came to see how you were doing. Those Elite's really hit you hard at the relay outpost. That plasma grenade had me worried, too."
She shrugged. "It's nothing. I'm fine."
Jorge stepped closer. "Are you sure?" He ran a finger along the scar on her cheek before he could stop himself. "How did you get this?"
"Sniper." She vaguely explained. She didn't know why, but she felt relaxed in his presence. She didn't push him away, and he took this as a good sign.
His hand stroked her cheek delicately, his soft hazel eyes looking deep into her sea-green eyes.
Six broke the eye contact first, turning away before it went any further.
She couldn't forget the past easily.
She couldn't let someone in on the same level as Jack.
She couldn't lose anyone else.
Six moved away from him now, heading for the door. "I should go. My weapons probably need cleaning and reloading..."
"Six..." Jorge tried to reason with her, but she was gone before he could. He looked around and saw her weapons; along with an old cleaning cloth, lying on the table.