My name is Jamie. I'm a Freelancer - well - newly recruited Freelancer Spartan of the UNSC's project of awesome elite super soldiers. I go by the codename Nevada, named after a state in the United States, Earth, along with my other soon to be teammates. I first joined the Spartan program when I was 14 years old, a little older than most. Well a lot older, actually. I guess you could technically say I'm a late bloomer or a "Newbie" as my past coach used to call me. I haven't seen a lot of action but I'd been promised (Honestly it sounded more like a threat) I'd come across it frequently as a Freelancer… A Freelancer. Me. Wow. I wonder why they picked me among my more experienced peers. They never told me why and I never felt right to question my superiors. I was considered the nerd or "shellhead" of my little trainee squadron. The nickname sort of stuck due to numerous accounts of blowing myself through doors in attempt to create some sweet new piece of… hardware… That's why the CQC helmet stays on during experiments. I like to think I have quite an inspired imagination but my engineering skills have been a little rusty lately on my almost endless journey to my new headquarters, moving from spacestation, to spacestation. I hope they've got a durable lab… I've researched the Freelancers. I've heard stories about them. The fact I'm on my way there seems ridiculous. They don't expect me to really go on missions with them do they?
My muscles start to tense up and I stare into the tranquility of space through the pilot's window, sitting forward in my awkwardly signature "I'm going to wet myself" position, waiting in anticipation of my final destination past the upcoming planet. With what felt like a hundred hours passing, I looked beyond, in awe of a shine rising from the horizon. My heart started to pound through my chest at the sight of one of the most beautiful ships I had ever laid my visor upon. My mind imploded when we landed in the bay and I stumbled out in exhaustion and admiration.
"You sexy thing." I thought, catching my breath, already finding an oddly terrifying sense of home but none of belonging, anxiety building at the thought of meeting the team of legendary characters.
"I see you've acquainted yourself with our little beauty" A southern accent caught my attention as a gloved hand rested itself firmly on my right shoulder.
I suddenly stood to attention, stuttering
"F-Freelancer Nevada, reporting for duty, sir!"
"At ease, soldier" Ordered the Director. A man in dressed in a tight, black UNSC uniform. A note taken that I knew would determine my future aboard this ship. But his face was blacked out by the lighting behind him. He waved his hand down and continued.
"If what I've heard about you I true, you're just what Project Freelancer has been searching for, for many a year." He pointed to my chest and I looked down, stunned and confused but retained my cool that I obviously have.
"You're in with the big boys now, son. Prove to me that I made the right decision. Come with me."
He turned and marched down the bay as I followed, scanning my environment in amazement, intrigued by the unfamiliar tech on the surrounding surfaces and ships and the armour of those who worked and marched passed us. My heart started racing again in excitement. I couldn't wait to have time to play with all this epic new gear. I almost squealed embarrassingly out of passion but remembered I was also a soldier and my work here should be taken with as much seriousness as Humanly possible. I looked dead ahead as we walked, feeling like I was pat of something so much bigger than what I had previously known. Through the dark archway into pure blackness I looked around, attempting to grow accustomed to the visual obscurity as I stacked a little on an upcoming step. Suddenly a single light blasted on above us, circling the nonchalant Director and I. Then with flickering dominos of glowing stars, the room was illuminated as the metallic blinds rose from surrounding glass incasing us. More lights jumped to life as the Director stepped towards the window and offered me a seat.