Chapter 1:
Agent Tennessee
It was a calm and peaceful dawn in Blood Gulch canyon. A perfect view of the Halo ring cast over the heads of Spartans, and the sun shone down on the grass , and reflected on the blue ocean. Behind Red base, the sound of the ocean hitting the sandy ground overrun the footsteps that echoed in the dark, metallic structure that the Reds called home. Across from them, on the other side of the pasture, the Blues were situated, surrounded by large hills and mountains, a tank accompanying them. As usual, Leonard Church stood upon the circular structure, eyes of a hunter scanning the area, behind the helmet of a Spartan soldier, covered in Cobalt armour. They were all the same there, he knew, yet the rivalry between them stood as tall as the highest mountain, and as strong as a pack of wolves. Behind him, stood Tucker, a lean Spartan with turquoise armour - he carried a magnum on his upper leg, and in his hands was a DMR, whereas Church had an assault rifle and a sniper on his back. Inside the base, sat Caboose. Caboose was slightly smaller than the other two, and he possessed blue armour. He didn't have any guns on him, but beside him, a sniper was propped against a wall, and a magnum lay on the floor. He was leant against the wall, and his head had rolled back a little, but he wasn't asleep: He was thinking. Caboose thought a lot, mostly about things he didn't want anyone else to know. Such as how old he really was, and what he aspired to do. In all honesty, he just wanted to be alone most of the time. That didn't mean he wasn't happy, because he was, but he'd much rather be alone than to feel unwanted by others. The blue Spartan turned his head as Agent Texas prowled through the base, her eyes falling upon him briefly, filled with an almost obnoxious disgust before she walked past him and away again. Caboose sighed, and folded his arms on his knees, resting his head on them. Above him, Texas joined Church and Tucker, standing beside Church and gazing mindlessly across the landscape.
"I called in for another Freelancer." She gave him a hardy look. "I have to leave, but this other Freelancer will be good for you guys. Much better than myself." Church met her gaze.
"What do you mean?" He began. "No one's better tha-" Texas butted him with the back of her DMR.
"Don't start with the 'No one's better than you, Texas, I love you Texas.'" She pulled a mocking expression behind her visor, and Church huffed. "She's like a sister to me and-"
"Woah, woah. She?" Tucker piped in, and bother Church and Texas rolled their eyes. "No, no, I don't mean I want to hook up, not yet anyway, just … there's more of you?" Texas gave Tucker a challenging look, and nodded slowly.
"She's easy to get along with." She turned to Church again. "Just don't piss her off. She's tougher than me, but not smarter. That's what keeps her behind me a little, but she's good-hearted, and she'll fit in just right here." Church nodded.
"What do you mean 'fit in'?" Church asked, and looked at Tucker, then back at Texas. "Do you mean she's not as …"
"Strict?" Texas filled in for him, and when he nodded she replied; "Well, yes, she's a little … eccentric. I trained with her. She's a great marksman, assassin and shot-gunner." Church exhaled.
"Well, okay." He murmured. "I just hope she really does fit in. I trust what you say, Tex."
"Is there, uh, going to be a, um, new recruit?" The three of them turned to Caboose who was clenching onto his sniper like it was his lifeline. Church hesitated, then nodded.
"Yes, Caboose, a new recruit." He replied bluntly, and then looked back at Texas. "I'll see you around, Tex." The female in dark armour nodded as a falcon landed near the base. Texas turned and jumped off of the base, walking towards the falcon when another female jumped out of the back of it, also wearing black armour. The two stood in front of each other for a moment, then gave the most awkward of hugs before Texas turned and pointed in their direction. Caboose sauntered forwards and watched the two females cautiously, curious at the new arrival. He knew how it would go;
They'd turn up, talk to him, find him annoying, then leave him alone for a while. But then again, they'd be sick of Tucker's flirting, and Church's asshole-ness. The blue Spartan sighed to himself, still watching the two talking. Eventually, Texas punched the recruits shoulder and hopped into the Falcon. As the aircraft took off, the recruit waved at Texas who waved back, and then turned and began to walk towards the blue team's base.
The adrenaline ran through Avery Williamson as she walked towards the Blues Base. She knew Texas wasn't as much of a fun-lover as she was, so of course she would say negative things about them. However, as Avery neared them, she noticed there were three of them and each of them were staring at her as she neared. In her hands, she carried a Sniper, which she then put on her back when she stood in front of the base. A light-blue Spartan hopped down in front of her, and held out his hand.
"Hey," He murmured. "I'm Church. Welcome to Blue Team." Avery nodded, and shook his hand.
"Tennessee." She replied, and smiled. "I prefer to be more casual than Texas, so feel free to be yourself." Church chuckled, as a Turquois-Armoured Spartan joined them.
"Tennessee, hunh?" He repeated, and nodded. "Tucker." Tennessee nodded at the Spartan before her. The last Spartan was a little shorter than the other two. He had rich blue armour which was covered in scratches and scrapes. He didn't say anything though – He just stared at the Freelancer as though he were mute.
"Uh. This is Caboose." Church murmured, nudging the Private beside him. "He's usually more talkative. Maybe he's a little shy or scared." Caboose glanced at Church, and then looked back at Tennessee.
"Um. No. I, uh. I just didn't know what to, um … say." He said nervously. Tennessee nodded to him.
"Texas mentioned you a lot over the intercom." She smiled, and Caboose looked up at her wearily. She hoped that would induce conversation, but this guy seemed completely awkward and oblivious to everything going on around him. She kind of felt sorry for him, because it was almost as though he had hardly any social interaction whatsoever. Caboose, on the other hand, was fully aware of the kind of things Texas would have said about him. He tried not to think about it most of the time, but Tennessee kept the sentence hanging in the air, and it made him feel a little awkward. What Church had said was partly correct – He was a little scared, and it was all because of Texas. Agent Texas wasn't exactly the nicest of people to Caboose. Then again, nobody ever really was. Caboose stood still, waiting for someone to say something, and when nobody did, Church tapped his leg and coughed lightly.
"Well, uh." He took a sidelong glance at Caboose. It looked more like a warning to Caboose, however. "Caboose, do you want to show Tennessee around? You can show her Sheila if you would like to." Caboose seemed to perk up a little, but his stomach felt funny, thinking about being with a Freelancer by himself.
"Um. Okay." He looked at Tennessee briefly, who nodded at him, and he looked away. "Sheila is, uh … This way …" As Caboose walked away with Tennessee in tow, Tucker looked up at Church, and nudged him lightly.
"She's nothing like Texas." He murmured, and Church looked down at him.
"What do you mean? Of course she is." Church narrowed his eyes. "They're both Freelancers."
"Yeah, I know that, but …" Tucker stared at Tennessee's back, he seemed totally suspicious. "I thought all Freelancers hated Privates." Church put a fist on his hip.
"I know." He murmured simply. "But you've got to remember, we've only met very few Freelancers. There's going to be one that's a little more fun-loving than the rest of them." Church sighed also, and started to walk back into the base. "I can tell she'll be interesting. Let's just not piss her off." Tucker stared at Church again, then looked back at Tennessee who was stood beside Caboose, both observing the tank before them that seemed to look back at them using the turret. He gritted his teeth slightly, then followed Church into the Blue Base.
AN: This is much shorter than previous Fics I've written, but don't be disheartened - Chapters will get better and longer! I actually haven't seen on OC x Caboose, so why not. ;)
