Author's note: So quick explanation, this is a new series that's a collection of stories about my Spartan IV, Anastasia Novara. This story is rated T because of some serious sections of these stories. I don't own anything from Halo. Read and comment, please. I really do appreciate it and like feedback.
Anastasia
The wind rushed over the field that constituted a firing range. The smell of gun powder filled Anastasia's nose and stood at the table that was set up. She stared down at the pistol on the table. She reached down and took the weapon in her hand. It fit perfectly in her hand, or maybe she'd just spent so much of her life with a gun in her hand that she'd just gotten used to it.
Anastasia raised the gun, took aim, and fired. She emptied the clip into the target. She kept the gun raised, still looking at the human shaped target before her. The gun slowly lowered to hang limply at her side. She wasn't really thinking about the target or the gun. Her mind had been restless for the past few months as the date grew closer and closer.
"Wish I could shoot like you," a voice to her left said. Anastasia raised her gun and pointed it at the voice. The man didn't say anything, didn't even flinch. "You seem a bit more on edge than usual, Ana. What's on your mind?"
Anastasia didn't lower the weapon right away. She stared at the man for a couple seconds before she slowly lowered the weapon. "Nothing that's your business, Ted." She switched on the safety and placed it on the table. "What do you want?"
"What, I'm not allowed to come and talk to a beautiful woman?" Ted smiled at her as he moved a bit closer. "Come on, Ana, give me a chance. We can make this work."
"No we can't," Anastasia snapped. "It's over, Ted, just get used to it." She started to take apart the weapon and inspect it. She'd always found that cleaning her gun calmer her, helped her keep her thoughts focused and organized.
"Wow, did you get another tattoo?" Ted moved before Anastasia could react. He pushed up her sleeve where her newest tattoo was. She took a step away from him and looked to the man. Ted's mouth hung open in shock. "Is that a UNSC logo? What is wrong with you, Ana?" Ted's voice fell to a whispered hiss. "What if your dad saw this? You know what he would do."
"Of course I know, but he doesn't control me." Anastasia put the gun back together and holstered it on her waist. "In two weeks he will never be able to control me again." Ted furrowed his brow and frowned but Anastasia could tell he didn't understand. "I'm not like you, Ted. I don't do this to make my dad happy. I do this because when I turn eighteen I'm joining the marines."
Ted looked shocked by the news. "You're joining the enemy?" he nearly shouted.
"Keep your voice down before someone hears you." Anastasia looked around to be sure that no one had heard him. "If my dad found out you know what he would do. And they aren't the enemy."
"What are you talking about, Ana? Of course they're the enemy." Ted took a step back from her. "How can you not see that with everything you know?"
"Because everything I know tells me they aren't the enemy, the Covenant is. They are out there, destroying worlds and killing innocent people. You're just blind to that because of the lies you've been fed."
"My dad says all that stuff about the Covenant is fake. He says they're using it to try to distract us so they can crush our forces." Ted moved over to a fence behind the table, opposite the targets.
"They're real, Ted, I've seen them. The scar on my shoulder isn't from a dog, it's from one of the alien species." Anastasia's eyes unfocused as she remembered the attack. "I was three, about to turn four, when they attacked. It was ugly, like a screwed up bird or something. It probably would have eaten me if an ODST hadn't put a bullet through its brain. They burned my world and we ran. That's why we're here on the planet, because ours is gone."
"Why did you never tell me? Why hasn't your dad told anyone?" Ted asked.
"Because my dad told me to be quiet about it, but I don't give a shit about what he wants me to do any more." Anastasia reached back and pulled the hair tie, allowing her long hair to fall free. If she left it pulled back for to long it felt like it tugged at her scalp and made her head hurt. It made it harder to think and made her mad, or maybe that was just the thoughts of her father that had her blood boiling. "My father is so obsessed with his stupid conspiracy theories he doesn't care. He would see our species burned from the universe before he'd ever give up his pointless hatred for the military."
"Ana, I just don't understand. You'd be turning against your family?" Ted moved to stand beside her. "I don't want to fight you, Anastasia."
"My home is not a family, it's a dictatorship," Anastasia countered as she turned toward him. "I'd you don't want to fight me then don't. You're not an animal, Ted, you're a person. You can make choices for yourself. Chose not to follow them blindly." Ted looked away from her and looked to the ground. She knew he'd never a real away from the insurrection. He was obedient to his father who wanted him to one day help lead the rebellion. "If that's your choice." Anastasia turned and walked away from him, heading toward the paths that led to the supply sheds to put away her weapon.
Anastasia didn't return home right away. She dropped off her gun and headed out into the forest. There was a small grotto that only she knew about, her secret place. She liked to Sid in the silence and just let it calm her. She stayed there for a couple hours before she finally made her way home.
When she reached her home she found her father waiting in the living room for her. She stopped in the entry way, waiting. He stared at her from his seat and slowly stood up. "Anastasia, you and I have things to discuss."
Ted hit the dusty ground, grunting at the impact. Anastasia stood over him, fists clenched and ready to hit him again. "I can't believe I trusted you? Did you even try not to go blabbing it to your father?"
"Ana, please, it's not like that. Ted sat up but didn't date stand back up.
"Stop calling me that. You aren't my friend you traitor!" Anastasia took a step toward him. "You probably have me up without a fight, you coward. This is what you am d all of the rebellion are. You're selfish cowards. You hide in the shadows and harm the innocent because you don't think your lives are good enough. Well all our lives suck but not all of us are hurting people that are innocent." She reached down and grabbed the collar of his shirt. Anastasia pulled him up so he could see her face closer. She pointed to the bruise on her cheek that was red and had started to blacken a bit. "This, what happened, is on you. You know my father, you know what he was going to do, but you still ratted me out. This is your fault and I hope you're proud of yourself."
She released him and stood up. "I'm leaving, and I'm not coming back. If you want to stay here and be their blind sheep then go ahead. But know that I'll be ready, gun in hand, to stop you when you take action. Even if I have to kill you to stop you." She left him on the ground as she grabbed her bag. She was sure she'd find somewhere to stay, anywhere that she could spend the next two weeks until she was old enough to I list then everything would be fine. She'd join up and finally she'd be free of all of it. She wouldn't have to worry about her father, the bruises would fade, she wouldn't have to hide her hatred for the rebellion, and she'd finally have a purpose that felt honorable. For now though she'd focus on finding a place to spend the night.