chiv-id: Yay, other chapter! Just starting this one off...

Angela: Hello, my name is Angela...

chiv-id: Yes, they read the prologue, they know your name.

Angela: Sorry...

chiv-id: ...ah, it's okay, disclaimer time?

Angela: What, oh, okay:

Disclaimer: chiv-id doesn't own Halo, but she does own me. Please begin.

Give Me Direction, Give Me Life

Chapter 1: Teacher

Angela Sanderson couldn't help but feel nervous as she waved a good bye to her friends as she piled onto the transport, leaving behind those who had been raised with her waving back. Angela Sanderson was an orphan, her family killed at the age of 1, killed in a war and she had been the only one left alive. Angela grew up in an orphanage, making friends due to her shy and lovable nature, often performing many tasks whenever her friends were sad…that's the reason why she was on the transport shuttle.

'If I wasn't so shy…if I wasn't so…without direction…' she thought, thinking back to her childhood and up to now. When she was around the age of 5, she had already had quite a few friends and one of her best friends, by the name of Jehovah Slader, was crying one day. She had asked the small boy why he was crying, but he couldn't tell her because he was crying so hard. Angela tried comforting the boy, but it was now use. She finally got the idea of entertaining him, making him laugh. Spotting a wall, little 5-year-old Angela ran at the wall and ran up it with ease and then back flipped. Jehovah stopped for a second to stare. When Angela continued her back-flipping after her initial one on the wall, the boy began to smile and laugh. She stopped before the boy and bowed, smiling an adorable smile and then walked over to him, managing to find out that someone had teased him. After reporting the teasing to one of adults, Jehovah blabbed about her amazing acrobatic skills and all the kids asked her constantly to do some sort of amazing thing. Eventually, the adults began to notice her.

"Angela, please come here," Greg Buntz called one day, a 7-year-old Angela flipping towards the adult for her friends' happiness, stopping at his feet, "You've been doing this for a while…when did you learn gymnastics?" Angela merely told him that she taught herself it, then did a meditative pose as she sat on the chair next to him.

"And who taught you that?" Greg asked, Angela again telling him that she taught it to herself. Greg was astounded as she stood up on her seat, her eyes closed, stilling her entire upper body, and bending her legs so that she ended with her right leg under her on its tip-toes and her left stretched out behind her, like a figure skater. She opened her eyes and smiled calmly, slowly coming back to stand on the chair with both feet. Greg stared at her for a moment before taking her and dragging her over to the other adults who were a bit disturbed by Greg's enthusiastic demeanor. Upon telling them, Greg asked her to show her trick to them, obliging because she honestly didn't know what else to do. After, the adults seemed to whisper to each other on Greg's "discovery".

"Greg, we're going to appoint you to…keep an eye on this wonderful little girl," said counselor Harriet Monroe, getting up and pinching her cheek. Angela couldn't help but rub her cheek in complaint. From then on, Angela had been supervised every day from her childhood to her adulthood. He would occasionally give her little things, cards, tests, to prove herself, but her knowledge was average. On the other hand, when Greg asked her to hit something, perform a move, anything physical, there was almost nothing she couldn't do. Once, as a joke, when Greg actually asked her if there was something she couldn't do, she told him that she couldn't fly.

'Well...it's also because of Mr. Buntz I'm on this transport, too…' she thought again, the shuttle taking off. Shortly after she became 16, they had put her to work, like the other grown-up orphans, letting her tend the garden of her own volition. Angela loved the garden, in fact, she had brought with her a mini-garden pack in her suitcase…an odd thing to do, but it would comfort her on the space ship she was going to board. When Greg had seen her nothing more than an item, as Angela found out, which broke her heart. She was honest-to-god in love with her guardian, despite how wrong it sounded. He gave her direction when most wouldn't, giving her life when most couldn't. He had sold her to the army, literally, as a soldier, despite her docile personality. He saw the potential and he became a bit richer, greedily receiving the case of money after the men saw her and she was told to pack her things and go with them. And no matter how many times she tried, she couldn't bring herself to despise him. It just went against her nature.

'I can't hate him…even though I know I should…' she contemplated, walking away from the window to take a seat in the lobby of the shuttle, 'I'll miss everyone, I hope they'll be happy.' She lifted her head to the window across from her, looking out of the opposite window and seeing the ship coming into view. She felt sad, but didn't cry, felt lonely, but stayed away from the other people. Angela didn't know them, and it was in that moment that she wondered whether she'd ever get to know them. The war had killed her parents. Should she stay away to avoid any more hurt, as she had with Greg or her friends? Angela shook the thought away. She needed friends, she couldn't live without them, being the social girl that she was. Angela wanted to be surrounded by the warmth of people who cared about you and felt happy with. It was her way.

"Estimated arrival: 10 minutes. Please gather your things and proceed to the entrance hall in the lobby. Thank you," an emotionless voice rang out over the lobby, the woman obviously not human. Angela did as she was told, gathering her things and walked to the entrance hall, seeing that she was the only one who actually had walked there. It seemed strange, yes, that a girl would obey something that was completely optional, yet, she explained it in her own thoughts and words, it was her way. Later, about 7 minutes later, people began scrambling to get to the entrance to be first, finding Angela just standing there patiently and with calm.

"This is your designated stop: the Blazing of Spring. Thank you for taking Nova Airs, hope you had a great flight," the woman's voice said, a bit cheerful this time, as if happy to kick them off the ship.

'Wow…this AI really wants us off her ship…' Angela thought, moving forward compliantly. She was flooded in with many of the people, some were here to visit their loved ones, others for educational reasons, some were even there for a vacation, but Angela knew one thing for certain: she was the only one to be a bought soldier on the ship. Angela trudged over and sat on a bench, officers and military personnel placed all along the walls and the stairs, watching and making sure there weren't any trouble makers or terrorists around. She was seated next to a particularly interesting fellow. This man wasn't in the usual army pants, shirt, and hat deal, no, he was dressed in a heavy suit and wore a green helmet with orange-yellow metal glass in the visor. Angela sighed, and stretched a little, looking around for someone, anyone to tell her where she should go. Glancing over to the standing soldier, armed with a MA5B Assault Rifle, holding the trigger with his right, keeping the weapon up with his left. He seemed like a statue, staring out into the mass of the crowd as if looking for something, like a watcher of the peace.

"Ahem…" she coughed, the soldier not moving, "Excuse me…" The man still didn't move and Angela sighed, rubbing her head a little bit. Finally, she stood up and walked next to him, tapping him on the shoulder, the man turning a bit stiffly towards her. She stifled a startled squeak, she cleared her throat again as she began to ask, a little intimidated by his 7-foot-stance and bulky exterior.

"Uh, my name is Angela Sanderson," Angela told him and that was all, instantly shutting up as the green-suited soldier turned toward her fully. He seemed to be judging her, looking her over as if to see whether she'd be good for anything, worth anything. When he was done, the man turned away from her and began walking away, his heavy foot steps echoing back to her. Angela swallowed and stood there a little confused, but the man stopped as soon as he found that she wasn't there and motioned her to follow him. Nodding, she ran back and picked up her things, running to keep up with the already moving soldier. She walked beside him, the soldier's strides matching hers so that she wouldn't fall behind. His rifle was low, but his hands were still in the same place they were, ready if trouble should arise. Angela was silent, as was he, down the corridor they went, and they ended up in the control room of the whole trip.

"Hmph, hey there John, I see you've brought Miss Sanderson," an older black man said, dressed in standard army uniform, even the cap, "I'm Sergeant Avery Johnson, I'm the ranking officer on this ship." Johnson held out his hand for her to shake and Angela shyly returned it, Johnson making a face at her timid nature. He shrugged it off however and walked along the catwalk, surveying the control room.

"We have a very tight schedule here on the Spring and despite me wanting to just say 'screw the schedule', I can't disobey my orders," Johnson was handed a clipboard to monitor the situation, then gives it back to the person who handed it to him, "You have been enlisted into the army, as you know by now, and you will receive your instructions in about 2 hours. Now, if there are any questions, ask me now because as soon as we're done talking, I'm going to have to ship you off to your quarters and then promptly sit my ass down somewhere and just sleep. Questions?" Johnson had talked a bit too fast for Angela to digest all at once and when the man was finally done talking, Angela became a bit intimidated by the man's stare. She stuttered out a response.

"Do-does this ship have a…a bio-dome?" she asked, a bit uncertain of how to say 'garden' or 'place where I can go to put my plants'. He blinked and leaned back a bit away from her.

"A bio-dome, little lady? Well, I believe we have a place like that up top, use the elevator over there marked with the red arrows to get to it. We call it the Sanctuary," Johnson pointed over to the elevator with the red arrows decorating the frame of the doors, "It's called the Sanctuary because it's so peaceful and calm, normally used by the religious and other people who are too stressed and go there to relax. We grow plants and our own food up there, but it ain't substantial to keep everyone on this ship fed 24/7. But we try like hell because it ain't cheap to ship food here every month. Any more questions?" Angela shook her head and he smiled a bit.

"Now, I'm going to have John over here get you to your quarters," Johnson turned her around and she unintentionally dug her heels in as he pushed her over to the green soldier that was following behind a ways back, "John, I'm sure you know where she'll be staying." John seemed to just stare down at the smaller female, Angela looking up almost as if she were a child and was actually cringing a bit at his height and looks. John and Angela were just standing there, almost pressed together by Johnson until he broke them up, wondering if they were going to kiss.

"Now get you two, don't want to have to write you up on public affection," Johnson told them, chuckling as John instantly turned away and Angela just stood there, almost fainting, and she eventually got the courage to gather her things and follow the man. She walked down the cold corridors and many were staring at her as she followed the green soldier, his mask never once turning to her, even as she gave a small squeak after bumping into John when he suddenly stopped. He turned to the left and motioned to her that it was her room. Angela nodded and swiftly took out the card that she had received when the military came to inspect her abilities, fitting in the slot and the door opened. Angela was about to thank her guide when she found that he wasn't there.

'Okay…' she wondered, 'He doesn't seem very social…' She walked in and unpacked her things, changing from her long trench coat, magenta turtleneck, and black dress pants that hugged her hips to the other outfit she had bought with her money back when she was at the orphanage. It was a lovely white and spring green dress, light and hugging the curves only slightly, her friends telling her that it was a slightly alluring dress because it "made boys want to pull it tight and see what was really underneath". Angela sighed at the awkward memory, both at the comment and the knowledge that she may never see her old friends again.

'If I could wish for one thing, I'd like to be able to see my friends again some day,' she mourned a bit, before putting it on in the bathroom. The dress went to her thighs and went wonderfully well with the bronze skin shown beneath. The sleeves were cut up to the shoulder, reaching down to the middle of her upper arm. The only white part of the dress wrapped around her chest, a v-neck that went a little above her cleavage. She was dazzling, but that wasn't really the point. She had actually only bought it because she was going to do some planting in the Sanctuary and it was the only piece of clothing that look like it would be void of grass stains. Grabbing her gardening tools and her plant material, she pondered on whether a hat would be necessary. Shaking her head, Angela ignored it and went on her way. When she opened the door, however, she found someone that she hadn't expected to see. A woman with a sizable bust and practically naked was in front of her door and she gave a cute squeak as she jumped back. She sighed and put a hand on her heart however in relief as she realized it was an AI, projected on the small wires lining the walls of the corridors (chiv-id: if any of you have watched I Robot with Will Smith, you'll know what I'm talking about).

"Hello Miss Sanderson," the AI greeted, floating slightly above the floor. Angela cocked her head a little as she observed the exterior of the hologram. She was blue all over, but her hair was a darker shade, the designs covering her more intimate areas a dark black. She was stunning, and would probably have been dating if human.

"I am Cortana, a current AI of this ship," she told Angela, the human girl nodding in understanding, "I have been told to keep you company until you are called…may I ask for which occasion are you dressed for?" Angela blushed and smiled softly.

"I'm going up to the Sanctuary…to do some planting," she told her, Cortana smiling back, "Would you like to come with me?" Cortana responded with a slight nod and moved out of the way for Angela to come out. Closing the door, Angela strolled with her new AI friend, Cortana engaging in a conversation with the sociable girl. The AI was honestly surprised, she normally wouldn't easily interact with humans, her only contact usually being John.

"And so, I came here, and I met that man dressed in the green suit named John," Angela finished her tale, "He doesn't seem to like me much, which is a bit sad, seeing as how he was the first person I met here on this ship."

"John? Do not worry, Master Chief is always like that," Cortana assured her and Angela looked at the holographic woman strangely.

"'Master Chief'?" she was puzzled, "What is a 'Master Chief'?" Cortana laughed a bit, but good-naturedly.

"You have much to learn about military if you are to become a soldier," Cortana informed her, "What made you wish to become a soldier?"

"Oh, well, I-" Cortana cut her off as she opened the doors for Angela, Angela getting in and marveling at the elevator's intricacy. Cortana promptly seemed to vanish and the doors closed on a startled Angela. Angela blinked before frowning, her friend having disappeared on her, but was startled again when she heard her voice.

"There are no holo-wires in the elevators, forgive me if I offended you," Cortana's voice rang out in the elevator, Angela shaking her head and smiling again. As they reached the bio-dome, the Sanctuary, Angela saw Cortana in her holographic form once again and they searched until a suitable spot was found. Angela set up her small garden and Cortana watched with patience and curiosity, observing Angela's skilled green-thumbs preparing the soil and then pushing the seeds in. Angela put them in a sunny place and smiled, dusting off her knees with her gloved hands. Angela resembled something of a child, kneeling and peering up at the AI with a glowing smile, her black-green hair gently waving around as the simulated wind blew about her. This was as Master Chief found her, staring at Angela and his other holographic friend.

"Oh, Master Chief, John, I hadn't noticed you there," Cortana said, her form bending back up and turned to greet the green armor-clad man, "Angela has shown me the secrets of having 'green-thumbs'." Angela smiled a bit apologetically, having told her that planters with skill had "green-thumbs", a silly term which Angela regretted having told Cortana. Master Chief just stood there, then came over and loomed over the kneeling gardener's body, terrifying Angela a bit. She stood up quickly and backed up towards her new friend, actually hiding behind Cortana like a child. Cortana was a bit confused by this action and her head spun to stare at Angela before turning back to Master Chief with a smile, understanding Angela's dilemma.

"John, you can never make a friend without first scaring them, can you?" Cortana admonished the Spartan, her laughter light and she moved forward, Angela staring at Master Chief with wide eyes through Cortana, "Angela, don't worry, he will not hurt you. He has never hurt a friend or an innocent." Angela nodded a bit nervously, coming from behind Cortana to stand beside her. Oh how Angela wished she could hold Cortana's hand! She had always been babied by Greg, her previous caretaker, and despite how childish it had made her feel, Angela missed that comfort in touch.

"Does Sergeant Johnson want her?" Cortana asked, being the only talkative one in the dialogue, John nodding, "Well, then it is with reluctance that I leave you for more dire matters at hand Angela. Farewell." With that, the AI blinked out of existence and Angela gave a silent "bye", mouthing it while going up next to the intimidating Spartan. She walked behind him as usual, but when he slowed down to walk beside him, she was confused. Angela slowed her own pace and he did the same, his head turned towards her as if observing her, measuring her up once more. Frankly, it was creeping her out.

"Is there…something on my face?" asked Angela, a bit shyly. Master Chief turned his head back, but then turned back to her again as his left hand left his gun to wipe a smear off her face. Blushing heavily, she quickly ran a hand over her profile to see if she had anything else currently on it. Master Chief replaced his hand back on his weapon and continued onward, speeding up a little and going back to being in the lead. Angela followed behind silently and was still blushing as she saw Johnson approach her.

"Miss Sanderson, lovely dress you got on there," he remarked, Angela shifting around a little uncomfortably and blushing, "Too bad it's gotta come off." At this, her head shot up and she stared at him with wide eyes.

"Here, standard issue military uniform, just your size, too," Johnson handed her the clothes, "Now go on, try it out, you gonna need it." Johnson shoved her towards the lockers and it was then that she realized that Master Chief had brought her to a gym. She changed quickly, folding the dress and putting it to the side of the room before rejoining the two men. Angela was now wearing a black tank top with a tight camo, green military jacket, matching shorts rolled up to the middle of her thighs, and black compact boots. It wasn't something she'd be comfortable wearing on a day-to-day basis, but she sucked it up, used to doing things she didn't want to do. Johnson nodded approvingly, Master Chief just giving a little tilt of his head.

"Now, here's what's going to be happening for today, even though you just got here," Johnson informed both persons, "John, you'll be her mentor, and Angela, you'll be his pupil. I want you two to train together, or more understandable, if you show her around the ropes, John." Angela's eyes widened at Johnson's words, her eyes darting between the Master Chief and Johnson, Johnson smiling while Master Chief was emotionless as ever.

"You've got to be kidding me, Johnson," was the first phrase Master Chief had uttered since she got there, his voice slightly robotic from his suit. Angela couldn't agree more as she fell, fainting at the thought of being taught by the most intimidating person on the ship. Johnson could only sigh and pat Master Chief on the shoulder as he saw her fall.

'This is gonna take some work on your part John, just don't be too harsh on the girl,' Johnson thought, kneeling over the girl and picking her up, depositing her into Master Chief's unsuspecting arms. The gun clattered on the floor as Johnson easily tossed the light-weight to Master Chief, his posture seeming outraged and disbelieving. That was how Johnson left the two to train, an unconscious little girl and a flustered veteran Spartan holding onto her.

chiv-id: Well, wasn't that an interesting start to this series?

Angela: (still knocked out, Master Chief shaking her)

Master Chief: ...Is she supposed to do this?

chiv-id: Yeah...she gets like that when she's feels too stressed out...well, just keep shaking her and I'll just ask for some reviews. Reviews people, I need 'em!

Master Chief: ...(drops her and walks away)

chiv-id: Master Chief!

Master Chief: (walks in with a bucket of cold water) I'm getting tired.

Angela: (water dumped) Ack! (splutters, looks at Master Chief and faints again)

Master Chief: ...I'm going to need more water...