Chapter 2:
The First Hours of War Are the Longest
Making the right choice isn't always an easy thing to do…
We arrived at Harvest immediately. Kortan, Kathy and I were all separated into different squads to cover more territory from the Covenant. Of course though, I wasn't left in charge. I was just made a marine, so I was taking orders. I was ordered to stay at the base and help guard it among other marines, so, that's exactly what I did. I leaned against a wall, holding my assault rifle and sighed. A marine looks over at me and asks. "Hey, what's the matter?" I stared back over at him, surprised I was being talked to. "Oh, it's nothing. I'm just a bit nervous" The marine chuckled at me. "Ah, don't worry about it. I guarantee those Covenant bastards won't dare to attack us. They can't, we've got a beautiful lady in front of us. They can't dare to hurt you" I rolled my eyes at him. "I'm pretty sure the Covenant will surrender because of a girl" The man laughs at me. "Hey, you never know" Another marine shouts at us, angrily. "Hey! Will you two shut the hell up already? Right now is not the time to be flirting!" I narrow my eyes at him and say nothing. I look up at the sky, wondering what Kathy and Kortan are up to. Although more importantly, my little sister, Juliet. I missed her the most. Remembering how she said my name, and how adorable she was made me smile. I hope my parents are okay, I thought. My dad seemed more upset then my mother whenever we had to leave. Although, she was shocked and confused, so she probably didn't know what was going on anyways.
My daydreaming broke off just as a marine shoves me. It was the marine that originally yelled at me earlier. He spoke angrily at me. "Are you deaf or just stupid? I asked you why you're leaning against the wall, instead of being alert like the rest of us." I blinked a couple times, still confused. "I was just getting comfortable, while we wait-" The marine cuts me off by yelling at me. "What do you mean, "Getting comfortable"!? Do you think this is for fucking fun?" I look at him, furious. "No! I don't see any Covenant, I hear no one screaming for help or something, so what the hell is the big deal!?" He gets close to my face, seething. "This is war, recruit. People died in this war. It's supposed to be taken seriously. Either get your head outta your ass and pay attention, or get the fuck out of here!" I shove him away. "Get the hell away from me before I take the only thing that makes you a so called man" The marine looked absolutely furious. Without a reply, he walks away, back to his post. The marine I first spoke to came over to me, laughing. "Damn man, you burned him so bad!" I stifled a chuckle. This marine wasn't so bad, unlike the rest. "Heh, thanks. So, what's your name?" I asked him. "Oh, yeah, um, sorry. My name is Collin. Collin Smith" Collin answered. "So, what's your name?" he asked me. "My name is Kora Kipling" I answered back at him, proudly. "Heh, well, well, well, aren't you fancy" he said. We both chuckled at each other. This is pretty fun actually! This isn't so bad, I thought. Time would soon tell how wrong I would be.
Eventually almost two years pass. Collin, some marines and I were all playing cards. We were laughing, having fun, drinking, enjoying ourselves. I remember thinking that the UNSC meant serious work, but apparently not. The Covenant are a bunch of cowards. They haven't even attacked us yet!, I thought to myself. Collin put his arm around my shoulder, laughing. At this time, Collin and I were technically dating. We were happy together, and had crazy dreams. Like, after we get out of here, he's going to marry me, possibly have some children and live happily ever after. I chuckled and told him "The only way I'm going to be having children is if I'm completely drunk or kidnapped" He shook his head and laughed, insisting I was joking. I shrugged and continued playing the game. Though, that was until I heard a familiar voice, calling out to me. What was that voice? Whose is it? It called out. Kora! Kora! Kora! Can that be…? It's excited voice got closer, and louder. Kora! Kora!
I turned and saw little Juliet, running up to me. I excitedly got up and ran to her. I hugged her tightly and swung her around in the air. We were both laughing uncontrollably, as happy as can be. "Juliet! What're you doing here?" I asked happily, but concerned. This is a base kept to be guarded by the enemy, obviously no place for a 6 year old. "Grandpa said it's okay to visit you, since this place is safe! I miss you! Momma and Daddy miss you too! Oh! And I have a present!" Juliet exclaimed excitedly. She hands me an amulet, with a picture inside. It's a picture of her. I smiled wide. Good, everyone is okay, I thought to myself. I'm sure Kortan and Kathy are too. "C'mon, let's go meet everyone, okay?" Juliet nodded happily, excited to meet my friends. I took her over to Collin and he smiled at us. "Hi! Aren't you a little cutie! I'm Collin! I'm your big sister's boyfriend! We're gonna get married once this is over!" Juliet's eyes widened "You have a boyfriend, Big Sister? I gotta tell Momma when I get home!" I laughed and patted her head. She was absolutely adorable. Everything is going completely perfect. I have my favorite little sister here, and I have the man that I love. What could possibly go wrong?
A few days passed since Juliet's arrival. She slept in the same bed as I did. I woke up early and sneaked out of bed, making sure not to wake her. I yawned and walked outside, looking out in the distance. Nothing. I shrugged and went to the food court. I got an apple and went to my station, eating it. Collin met up with me and we started talking about our future together "C'mon, can't we have kids? Please?" I chuckled. "Okay, listen, Collin. We'll have only ONE child. And it has to be a girl" Collin laughed. "No way! It's going to be a boy! Or at least let's have both!" I shook my head, smiling. I told him. "It's either one or none, your choice" He let outs a sigh and smirks at me. "You're a troublesome girl, Kora. But, that's why I love you" He kissed my cheek and I smiled. I kissed him back. "I love you too, Collin. I can't wait to go back home with you and Juliet to start our new life" He smiles back at me.
"Kora, there's nothing more I want than to be with you. I can't wait-" As if this was a nightmare, a plasma bullet goes through Collin's head, blowing off half his head. I stand there, petrified, confused. I let out a scream and rush to his body. I start crying violently, shaking his body, as if I thought he was asleep. In the background I hear people screaming orders, bullets in the background flying past my face. I couldn't believe this. Nothing could get worse than this. Until I realized, I was wrong. I got up and sprinted to my room, where Juliet was. I was screaming her name. "Juliet! Juliet!" I made it into my room, and I froze. Everything was destroyed here, she couldn't be here. I searched the room quickly. She's not here. My heart racing, I sprinted out of the room, screaming her name again. "JULIET!" Suddenly, I heard her voice calling me. "KORA! HELP!" I jumped down from my position and ran to her voice. Just as I turned the corner I saw an Elite trying to grab her. I took out my knife and ran at him, jumping on his back. I violently stabbed his throat and neck. Quickly, I grabbed and hugged Juliet tightly. "Thank God your okay…" I said, relieved. Juliet cries into my shoulder and looks at me. "W-Where's Collin…?" Choked up, I told her the truth. "He's dead…" Juliet's face looked absolutely distressed. But before she could respond, groups of Covenant Grunts, Jackals and Elites surrounded us. I tightly held Juliet in my arms and stared at them. I spoke up, scared. "Listen…we…we mean no harm to you. Let us go, and you'll never see us again. We surrender" I dropped my gun, so they believe me. An officer Elite scans Juliet and I. Speaking his own language, he orders something to the two Elites. The Elites nod and they grab me and Juliet. Juliet screams and kicks, crying. "Kora!" I struggle to get to her. "Let her go! Take me instead!" The Elites take us out of the destroyed, burning base that used to be safe. They loaded us and many other survivors into Phantoms and flew us away. I looked back at the base, holding Juliet in my arms. I remember hearing Collins sweet voice in my head. I started crying uncontrollably, hearing his last words again. Kora, there's nothing more I want than to be with you. I can't wait-…