Darkness faded into dim light, then flashed quickly. Then again. It became unbearable and was shut out by the darkness again. But slowly it came back, blurry at first, then the white bed sheets, some pillow and a muzzle, sniffing intently. White walls, and a light brown carpet. A wooden desk, dresser, and bedside table, all made of a dark, soft wood came into view. All of this became crisp and clean and simple in the eyes of Jeremy. It was not peaceful, though, because of an unpleasant honking coming from the sleek metal box on his bedside table. It lay next to a metal and wood lamp and a paperback book, "Foundation." His hand groped for the tiny metal "off" contact on the alarm, then slipped back under the sheets. He rolled over on his back, and then pushed himself up on his elbows. He flopped back down and stretched wildly for a minute, then eased himself up, and fell unceremoniously on the floor. His dog licked lovingly on his face, then pranced off happily. Jeremy finally got up, stumbled to his dresser and pulled it open. He dressed slowly and, on the second step down, slipped on the stairs and rode on his butt to the landing, where he picked himself up and made sure to grab the handrail the rest of the way down. He mumbled something that was supposed to mean "hello" to his mom, who was preparing lunch for his little sister and who answered with a more understandable reply. He snatched some cereal from the cupboard and liberated some milk from the fridge. He continued preparing his breakfast.

Looking outside, he enjoyed the leafy trees and colorful flowers of his backyard. A wooden fence surrounded it and his dog romped around happily. It would almost look like someplace in a temperate region on Earth, except instead of living between the 23rd and one half and 66th latitudes, he lived on the 72st latitude of his planet. The axis of rotation on Sylvania was almost level, more precisely 88.48539 degrees. In other words, the planet was on its side. So he actually lived in perpetual day; to sleep you closed your shades. The southern part of the planet never saw the sun, only a gleam on the horizon. That was simply because of the light reflecting off the atmosphere. It made the fifty coldest inhabited (or previously inhabited, if a planet had been glassed by the Covenant) planets known to humans. In addition, the seasons were very slight. Because of this, crop yields on the planet were low and most of its economy was based on its extensive metal supply. Also there were forests of evergreen-like trees near the equator that were cut down and made into the elegant wooden crafts characteristic of the planet.

"Could he eat any slower?" said James, in a news anchor voice. He was Jeremy's younger brother. He was eleven, three years younger than Jeremy. More precisely two years, nine months, five days, one hour and three minutes younger.

Jeremy realized his mind had skipped off gaily to a stream of thought, and his spoon hung limply in his hand. He shoved it deep into the now-soggy cereal and stuffed it quickly down his throat. After finishing the not-so-well-textured food, he snapped his dog's leash on. Russell licked Jeremy's hand in thanks and yanked the fourteen-year old out the back door. They unlocked the gate and walked around the block, Russell sniffing just about everywhere his nose could go. He marked his valuable territory and strutted home with his master in tail.

The mother and her children hopped in the car and shot off to school. As she pulled up to the walk in front of the school, Jeremy opened the car door and leapt out wildly. His backpack flung wildly ahead, then swung back around onto his broadening shoulders. Up the steps he ran! It was already too late, though. Classes started in two minutes and already, the other kids were on their way to class. He ran to his locker, dancing and spinning gracefully down the hall past other less – motivated classmates.

He quickly remembered his saying: lockers never open when you're in a rush. So he calmed himself and dialed in the combination. He coaxed the latch, but not so gently, and the locker opened in a rickety manner. He stuffed in his backpacks and unnecessary books. As he checked his watch he noticed he had twenty seconds. He had to run down the hall, turn left, run very far that way, turn right, and it would be the fifth door to his right. So he bolted down the very empty halls. Flashing past a rather nerdy individual, Noah, with his books on the floor, he smiled. Nerdy, but a friend.

"Oh, no, I don't need any help," he shot.

Jeremy chuckled and kept running. Well, at least he wouldn't be the only one late.

---

"So, Jere, I take it you won't be able to come over to my house this afternoon?"

"No," Jeremy sighed, "Not with that detention. Ms. Harper was really uptight today. She doesn't usually give out detentions if you're a minute late."

"Well. We all get unlucky someday."

Paul walked off to his next class. Another friend. Not part of an extensive list, but Jeremy took what he could get. And anyway, how could a bunch of crummy friends match up to a few good ones?

Paul was relatively tall. Blue eyes clashed with red hair and a round face didn't match his angular, well-muscled body. All these things made him to be a frightening person. And that imposing part of him smash-banged with his friendly, welcoming personality. Paul was a boy of many facets, which made him very interesting to talk to. He was intrigued by history, especially the Human-Covenant War. He studied all the books and poured over any information having to do with the Covenant. He knew just about everything the Covenant did to survivors or prisoners, where they started glassing a planet, how the aliens acted, how they looked, their tenacity, their religion, their desire do destroy humans, and on and on. He also knew the details of the Humans. Political reactions to the news of Harvest's radio silence, the last report of actions and communications at Harvest, and propaganda throughout the war. He knew all about human weapons, technological advancements during the war, all the major engagements, and all the protocol and rules that had to be followed during Covenant attack. He had practically memorized the Cole Protocol. He knew everything Noah could give him about the top-secret Spartans and CSB (Crimson Star Battalion). Noah, though somewhat nerdy, was a great hacker, and sharing some of Paul's interest, helped him get as much top-secret information as possible.

As the writer hopes to have explained, Paul took great lengths to further his extensive knowledge of the war.

Jeremy came to his locker and shoved his books in. Extricating a few more, he walked on to English class. It was actually "Covenant Safety Day" so Mr. Ford had told the class the day before he had planned something "special."

"What's the point of this 'Safety Day' crap? How can you be safe when you're with the Covenant? They just blow us up in their fancy spaceships and plasma light shows," snapped Harry, overflowing with sarcasm. Harry was always rather downcast, and his parents were getting a divorce. That did not help his troubled mind.

"Yes, that was true, Harry, but our Navy has successfully held them back at the third section of the Intermediate Planets. By the way, does anyone know how many sections there are?"

A few hands lazily hauled themselves up.

"Anita?"

Anita, in Jeremy's opinion, was the hottest thing ever. She was just – beyond description.

"There are six sections – each of them is three parsecs across (one parsec is approximately 19,173,511,600,000 miles)."

Jeremy knew, though, that was wrong. The Covenant was closer than that. Paul had told him that was the situation one year ago. They were at the first section now. Of course, the propaganda had kept that quiet. Quite a feat, and quite unfortunately.

"Correct, Anita. And as you all very well know, scientists are working day and night to find solutions for protection against the Covenant. There is one thing we know about the Covenant. They are imitative. Of the few things we know about their religion, it seems to be based on an ancient civilization of great technology. They have copied this technology to the best of their ability. We, on the other hand, are superior in the respect that we can invent. We invented everything we live with now, kids. It's all of our own volition. We made it work.

"In any case, what I wanted to do was first, review safety guidelines -…" The class groaned.

"And if you're cooperative, since today is a double period, we can begin to watch 'Wolf and Wolf.'" The class's sullen mood changed instantly as Mr. Ford announced that. Each and every face snapped from "off" to "on" and everyone started chattering. "Wolf and Wolf" was the smash hit action-drama about Admiral Cole's ferocious battle with the Covenant over glassed Harvest. It had been released just six days ago, and was being aired on the holovision for "informational and educational purposes about the armed forces of humanity's fight against the Covenant," as UNSC President James McCoy had said. However bland that statement was, the movie was not.

His mood improved, Jeremy focused on how he could position himself to safely check out Anita during the movie.

---

"And how was school today, Jere?" asked his father.

"Well, as is obvious, I got a detention, but in other news-…"

"Let's talk about why you got a detention first. How is it that you got to class that late?"

"Well, if James could get his lazy self out of bed earlier, it would be nicer."

"You were the one eating slow this morning."

"Also, I was only one lousy minute late. In fact, 44 seconds. I checked. Ms. Harper was very angry today. She doesn't usually do that."

"Well, then. James' late sleeping is a problem, but punctuality within fifteen seconds would be more desirable."

"What, you expected me to run faster or something?"

"No, but you shouldn't be a minute late every day. You need to be more timely than that."

"Yeah, fine."

"Good. Now what else happened?"

"I was going to say, we started watching 'Wolf and Wolf' today in English class. It was really good." That was about all Jeremy could say, because, though he had enjoyed the movie, he had been paying a good amount of attention to Anita, too.

"Well I'm glad you enjoyed it. I've been hoping to see it myself – you guys want to see it in the theater this weekend?"

"Yes! All we did in English today was write five ways to improve the Safety Guidelines!" said James excitedly. His black hair flopped around and his grey eyes somehow brightened at the idea.
"Is it scary, daddy?" asked Gloria, Jeremy's seven-year old sister.
"You may not be able to see it. Joan, it looks like this might end up to be a gentlemen's only outing."

Jeremy's mother raised her eyebrows and said, "Unless I call the babysitter."

"Hmmm. That's a possibility."

Jeremy's mom was not the moviegoer type, but she always wanted to see the very good ones. She also preferred dramas – and since "Wolf and Wolf" was three hours long, there was plenty time for the boys' action and the mother's drama. So if, for one rare night, one of her precious children had to be left with a babysitter, it wouldn't matter as much.

Dinner continued without much incident. Afterwards Jeremy finished the last bits of his mound of homework, and he crashed in his bed.

---

Next morning, Russell hopped onto Jeremy's bed and licked his face for what seemed an exceptionally long time. Jeremy managed to hide himself under the covers and his seven-year old jack terrier leapt happily off the bed and went back to his morning meal. Jeremy pulled himself out of bed and dressed. He snatched his backpack and precious pencil, which was made of the finest wood on Sylvania. He had received twelve from his grandfather years ago, and prized the nine remaining very much. Those thoughts carried him down the stairs and to the breakfast room, where he pulled down the box of cereal and took the milk out of the fridge. Once again he peered outside at the large trees and colorful flowers. But today he was not so distracted and finished his breakfast in a timelier manner. James tottered down the stairs sleepily and sort of ran into the table without much speed – or control. His arm flailed wildly across it, and oops. Gloria's small glass of milk seemed to take a moment to decide whether to fall over or not. But today it was feeling rambunctious and it fell over, spilling the girl's favorite drink all over her toast and lap.

"Mommy, James spilled my milk!"

"James, what are you trying to do? You always seem to get on your sibling's nerves. Help your sister clean the mess up." The shocked and now very much awake James stood rather frozen, his arm outstretched across the table, one leg back a little to balance himself – all in all he looked silly. Jeremy chuckled throatily.

"You better hop to it so I'm not late again, Jim. I have plans for tonight."

"Yes, Sire. As you wish."

"Come on, Jimmy, take this dishrag and wipe up the milk," said Joan, handing her second son a soapy cloth. Her eyebrows were raised, and she sighed in exasperation. James hastily mopped up his mess and tossed the rag back in the sink. Then he took two paper towels and dried it up. Finally, he stuck a bagel in the toaster and sat down to the comics.

Jeremy now stood up and prepared for Russell's walk. Russell led the way, trotting royally in front. The walk was as usual. This morning, however, Jeremy's sister and brother were ready to go when he returned this time, and they left the house. And so, Jeremy had no reason to rush this morning, and arrived to class on time. Ms. Harper was also in a much better mood.

So the day began.