A/N: This chapter is short. The next chapter is long. Both are slow. Not too much action. This does not mean that there is no action. I just like making you wait. ;-)

Chapter 2:

Forward Unto Dawn

Terrence Robertson was awestruck. Floating just outside Orbital was ½ of the starship Forward Unto Dawn. The half that the Master Chief was said to be on.

"Shania, are you seeing this?" The ODST said.

"It's amazing to me how lucky he is. He had a 0.01 chance of returning. That is assuming he was still alive." She said.

"I think it's safe to assume he's alive." As he looked out of his bunker window he just make out the large olive drab figure, along with two other people. One was waving.

"Yep, that's him alright," he said, remembering his time as a Marine when he saw the Chief in person. "but who're the other two?" Shania magnified the image in real time and said,

"Subjects identified as John-117 Master Chief Petty officer of the UNSC Navy and 'gasp!'" Shania said showing major emotions even though she was an AI.

"What?" Terrence asked, anxious to know what shocked the AI form of his wife.

"Get this: the African American one is Sergeant Avery Johnson, thought to have died on Installation 04 , and the other is Nicole-458"

"458? Sounds like a Spartan name."

"It is. Nicole-458 is a Martian Colonist taken at age 10 to train with the UNSC Spartan. Because she was conscripted at a different age and time, when she came of age, she was put into the Marine Corps, where she became a Petty Officer Second Class. It says here she was somewhat of a super marine." Terrence chuckled at this. That's what they called him, but he was no Spartan II.

"During the Reach incident, they added final augmentations and re-released her as a full fledged Spartan. Unlike most Spartans, due to her more developed character, she seemed to have more... personality than most Spartans. She was sent on a mission to Covenant owned territory as a saboteur. She never returned. She was presumed dead... until now."

"Terrence took his helmet off in utter shock and awe. He was black, light skinned, with slight five o'clock shadow. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, although truth be told, he wasn't thinking any thing at all. He couldn't think. Standing before him are three living legends, all of which were thought to be dead. Hell, John and Avery had a big time funeral!

Just as he started to wrap his mind around this he noticed something. A Federation Gunship was taking aim at Forward Unto Dawn! He snapped to attention, but his adrenaline was short lived. Before the ship could fire, Nicole had already jumped on and started pounding her way into the cockpit. He recognized the procedure. She was attempting to hijack the Gunship.

Understatement of the Year. She absolutely tore her way into the pilots seat and kicked both Federation Troopers into space. She then positioned the ship so that Avery and John could get on, which they did promptly. Nicole then turned the ship around and flew towards Orbital, where her and her passengers would dock.

"I gotta meet these people," Terrence said, dashing out of his bunker.

"Hey!" Shania shouted.

Terrence ran back into the room and grabbed his helmet and then sprinted to the main docking bay.

A/N: Sergeant Johnson survived in space because he was (temporarily) wearing a Space helmet. It was see through. Sorry if that wasn't clear. Damn! Halo/Metroid stories are hard! I have to logically explain everything! No Deus Ex Machina here!

Critic: So why's Sergeant Johnson alive?

Absolute Destruction: Where's my gun?