Donut looked at me "Hey, I've been meaning to ask..."
"Hmm?"
Donut goes to scratch the back of his head but soon realised he was wearing his helmet, and gave up. Old habits die hard I guess.
"What should call you?" He said as he crossed his arms, deep in thought. "Do you use your last name, or like a codename or something? I could just call you Dude or something…"
I chuckle, before I too cross my arms. A name to be known as for the rest of my time here? Well that's hard. I don't want to use my real name since it's way too generic and boring. I could just make one up. Or find inspiration for one? I don't know. Geralt? Master chief? Aladdin? Kratos?
Oh I know!
"Uh, yeah, Just call me Rookie." I say " Or Rook for short. Much better than my real name."
He visibly brightened "Ok then! I'll call you Rook then!" He pondered "I like it. Has a ring to it…"
Yeah I took inspiration from ODST. So what? Sue me. Arguably the most badass marines in the UNSC. Feet first into hell baby! Yeah!
I nod to myself. I'm satisfied with that name. Rook. Donut's right, it does have a ring to it. I mean we have a guy named 'Sarge' of all things so what harm can the name 'Rookie' do? Nothin' I say.
Donut stops in front of me "Hey! What the fuck!?" I hushed to him as he turns to me
He points to two figures talking to each other "Look! People! They must be our new team mates!"
I look to where he's pointing.. And.. yep! That's Grif and Simmons alright. Grif was leaning on.. Whatever those wall things on the roof are. While Simmons was standing at the edge of the roof. Looking over the canyon.
I raise an eyebrow "Okay…. So? Let's go?" I look at them "If you don't know what to say then I cou-" I would've finished that sentence had Donut not held his hand up, while simultaneously shushing me. Which essentially means he told me to 'shut up' twice, at the same time.
Donut puts his hands on his hips and looked at me like a mother to a child. underline mother.
He gave a sad shake of the head "I hate to offend you Rook but I have to say that you have very poor social skills-!" Excuse me? "-So let me do the talking okay?" he said, thumb jabbed at himself. "I got this!"
Oh you got this? Tell that to me when you get hazed into going to the blue base, asswipe.
"Yes it was! You said, "I'm not going to the vegas quadrant," A familiar voice came to my ears. "And then the next thing I know, you're In an escape pod headed for-"
Donut walked up to the two sim troopers "Excuse me, uh, sirs?" He called out.
Oh, well it turns out that he ditched me, and left me on this ramp. And he's talking to Grif and Simmo- Shit!
I scramble over to Donut, nearly tripping on the way there. Gah! My pride! I hope nobody saw that.
Both Grif and Simmons turn around and look at us "Sirs-?" Grif draws out as both he and simmons look at each other again. Before looking at us again. Grif loudly groans, his shoulders dropping as he does so. Simmons however straightened up, head held high as he begins to look down on us. Man, he really lets the power get to him, huh? "-Aw, crap." Grif groans again. I manage to catch up to donut, standing next to him.
Donut straightens up "We were told to report to Blood Gulch Outpost Number One and speak with whoever's in charge?"
Grif Lazily tilts his head to the right "Sorry, man. Sarge is at Command getting orders." He said as he pushed himself from the wall with a grunt. "Ain't nobody in charge today." He finished.
Simmons Immediate attention was now on Grif "Actually, Private, he left me in charge while he's gone."
"You are such a kissass." Grif snorted
Simmons tensed at the remark "Also,-" He continued as he walked closer to Grif. "- he told me if I had any trouble form you I should *ahem* "Git in the Warthog and crush your head like a tomato can""
…
Ouch, that was horrible.
Me, Grif and Donut, -or, Donut, Grif and I- all looked at eachother. Grif looked at me and I shrugged at him. Grif shakes his head "That's the worst impression I've ever heard." He says bluntly.
Simmons sighed, clearly fed up with Grif. He looked at the both of us, checking us from top to bottom "Alright, rookies. What're your stories?" He asked us
Donut saluted "Private Donut reporting for duty, sir. I'm ready to fight some aliens."
Grif reeled back "Couple things here, rookie. Private Donut?" He snorts "I think somebody needs a new nickname." He says as he leans back on the wall. "Secondly, what's with the armor color?"
"This is the standard issue red" Donut stated.
Grif crossed his arms "Yeah, I know." He lazily leans his head back, looking at the sky "Listen, only two kinds of people wear standard issue armor: officers and recruits." He looks at Donut again "And since you're not threatening to gut me like a fish, you're probably not an officer."
Donut looked at me "Isn't that what you said?"
I shrug at him "Told ya." Simmons looked at me, and looked like he was about to say something before Donut cut him off.
"But wait,-" He gestured to Simmons "-He's wearing red armor."
Simmons simply shook his head "No, my armor is maroon. Your armor is red." Now looking at Donut
"Well, how do I get a different color armor?" Donut frustrates.
Simmons waved him off before looking at me "What about you rookie? What's your story?"
"Hey, don't ignore me!"
Grif nodded "Yeah, I don't wanna listen to this guy anymore." He gestured to Donut who grumbles to himself.
I shrug "Yeah, I'm just gonna go by 'Rookie' If that's okay with you." I look at the rifle in my hands "Nothin' interesting about me, other than the fact that I can handle a Sniper Rifle." I say as I fidget with the sniper a little bit.
Griff nodded "Aw, yeah? Keeping it simple, are ya? I can respect that."
Simmons tilts his head "Why Rookie?" He asked "Why not just use your last name"
I raise an eyebrow as I sling the rifle on to my back "I dunno. Just easier for me I guess. What does it matter anyway?"
Simmons merely shrugged "Guess It would be nice to know your real name is all."
I cross my arms "Don't you have a guy named 'Sarge' leading you?" I snorted
Grif slowly turns to me "Wait, How do you know Sarge?" He asked
Oh shit.
"Honestly, I didn't think anyone even remotely knew who he was." He finished
"Grif! You know that's not true!" Simmons fumed "Sarge is a great leader and role model! It's thanks to him that we may or may not be -I have no say since I don't have understand the current circumstances- winning this war! I bet he's well known throughout Command!"
Grif waved him off "Whatever." He looks at me "So?"
"Uhm, uh, I learned in briefing?" I awkwardly answer "Before I got here of course."
Grif and Simmons look at each other before nodding. Obviously believing my bluff. Honestly, I can't believe they actually fell for that..
"Well, anything else we should know?" Simmons asked "I mean you are a Sniper. Which means, you could be one of the most vital men in this whole war. You could definitely turn the tables." He said "In our favour of course" He finished.
"Uh, nope. Nothing else. Why?" I ask
Grif shrugged "I don't know, just so we know you better? You know, like: family, friends… your social security numb-"
"Not happening."
"Meh, worth a try."
Donut crossed his arms and looked at me "How come you got your own color armor?"
"Really?" I look at him
"Yes! I want to know why you get cool grey armor! When I get boring red armor!"
"I don't know! Why didn't you just ask for a different color!?"
"I didn't think anyone else would pick this color! That's why I picked it!"
Simmons sighed and looked over the canyon again. "I bet the blues don't have to put up with this kind of crap." He sighed again, falling into silence
"Ahem" Simmons looked up and peered at Grif, while Donut ranting about how unfair his life is. He gestured to me and Donut -ahem, Donut and I- then to the canyon. Simmons obviously got the message as he looked straight at us. Oh yeah, I saw that whole exchange. I'm not dumb.
"Okay, Rookie, and Private Donut,-" Donut stopped ranting "- Here's the deal."
"I just refuse to call him Private Donut" Grif states to himself
Simmons glares at Grif, silently telling him to shut up. He looks at Donut and I and starts slowly "We've got a very important mission for you two. You guys think you can handle it?"
"Absolutely."
"Whatever."
He starts again "We need you two to go to the store and get two quarts of elbow grease."
"Yeah, and, uh, pick up some… headlight fluid for the puma, too." Grif added
Donut tilts his head "The what?"
Simmons shakes his head "He means the Warthog."
Grif snorted "You guys do know where the store is, right?"
Donut was visibly surprised and looked at me in panic. I shrugged. I'm not falling for this shit.
Donut looked at Grif "What? Uh- Yeah! Yeah, of course I do! Sure, no problem."
Simmons stared at him "Well, get going then.
Donut nodded and ran off, going left. "Wrong way." Grif pointed out
Donut looked embarrassed "I knew that! Just got turned around that's all." He said before running off.
Grif and Simmons looked at me, then looked at each other, then back at me.
"Uhm, why are you still here?" Simmons asked "We gave you a mission, and stuff. So… you should probably go do it."
"Elbow grease? Headlight fluid?" I deadpan "Do you honestly think I'm that stupid?"
Simmons looked taken aback, even Grif looked surprised.
Grif patted the back of his helmet "Well, yeah. We did. Huh, that's never happened before."
Simmons nodded "Yeah, It normally always works."
I raise an eyebrow "What, this has happened before?"
Grif looked up "Yep."
"Well, where is the last guy you did this to?"
"Oh, they died."
"Oh." Okay then, didn't know that.
We all watched in silence as Donut ran into a cave.
Grif looked at me and Simmons "You guys wanna bet on how long Donut will be gone? I'm betting on a week."
"Few hours" I Say
Simmons raised his hand "Same here"
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