~~~~~
A family was under attack by Covenant forces about a half mile away. Jorge and Noble Six double timed it down to the home. It was said that one of the members contained valuable information that mustn't fall into enemy hands. They were more than halfway there when they began to hear the sound of gunfire. "So I take it this is our place, then?" Jorge asked Six. She could basically hear the half grin on his face. "Yes sir," Six replied. Finally, some Covie bastards to take down.
"Move up the left flank, I'll cover you," Jorge said, getting right into business. Six nodded and sprinted up the left side. A few Covenant saw her but barely had time to fire when Jorge's turret mowed them down. "Hang on. Got a sniper targeting your position," Jorge told her over the radio. "Where?" Six asked him. "You're right below 'em," Jorge replied. Six looked up at the overhang above her. Just my luck, she thought.
She could see the shadow of the Skirmisher moving around. Six unslung her Battle Rifle and was glad that she had placed a silencer on it. Three muffled shots squeezed through a tiny hole in the roof and the enemy fell to the floor. "Sniper is neutralized," Six whispered over the radio. "Roger," replied Jorge. "Move up. I'll cover you," Six told him as she edged out of her cover and already setting her sights on an Elite Major.
"Nighty-night," she murmured and pressed the trigger. The sudden fire got their attention long enough for Jorge to hurry to Six's position. Jorge nodded his thanks and the two spartans from Noble Team set to work. Six glanced into the partially destroyed home. A shadow of a young female emerged, crouched and carried a standard-issue UNSC sniper rifle over to a small window. Six watched the girl as long as she could. The teen set the rifle up and fired a silenced shot. Shouldn't too surprising since there were a few rebel sightings reported a few months back on Reach. But the girl had a... sureness about herself. Like she could take down these Covenant bastards by herself. Almost.
Six quickly focused her attention back on the scene at hand. A couple of Grunts had cornered her and Jorge. "Frag out," Jorge said over the COMM Link. The frag unfortunately didn't kill the Grunts, just stunned them long enough for Six to quickly neutralize them.
In about five more minutes, the two spartans and teen managed to kill all remaining Covies. Six and Jorge entered the rundown building. The teen stood, slung the rifle onto her back, and over to a closed door. She knocked twice on it and the door opened. A small child appeared. She was about six to seven years old. The youngling watched the two spartans with a curiosity only a child of her age could muster. Jorge glanced back at Six, who nodded and walked over to the door and peered out to make sure no Covenant were trying to pay a surprise visit.
Jorge walked over to the little girl, looking briefly at her older sister who watched him expressionlessly, and kneeled down. He depolarized his visor so the girl could see that there was somebody inside the suit. "That must have scary for you. You alright?" Jorge asked her. In response, the little girl ran over to Jorge and wrapped her tiny arms around Jorge's waist. She mumbled something. Jorge looked at the little girl. She looked up at him and smiled. He couldn't resist smiling back. "She says that you're her big teddy bear and she wants you to stay," came from the older sister.
Six looked back at the little scene and smiled behind her visor.
"Sorry, kid," Jorge told her, "Wish we could but we have some business to attend to." He looked back over at Six, who was thinking the exact same thing.
Wish we could make everybody this happy and every mission this easy. Too bad life wasn't that simple.
