Caboose the SPARTAN
Part 3: Candy-Coated
Part Description: Being abducted along with your new best friend is harsh, but as Michael learns, there are- however few- perks to living with the UNSC. The ups and downs of Michael's abduction.
Description: Caboose the SPARTAN AU, from part to part, leading to the lovable Blue Team rookie we all know and love. But where did it all begin? This is his story.
A/N: Sorry it took longer than my last update, but again, I'm unsure of when updates will be. In the meantime, I hope you're all enjoying what I've got so far! Please review!
Everything is… warm. Warm like a heated blanket. Michael smiles absentmindedly, squirming around on what he suddenly realizes is definitely NOT his bed. He almost shoots up as a result of his surprise, but holds back, feeling like he's being watched by millions of eyes. As he begins to wake up more, he can hear things more clearly. The tapping sound of heels/boots on a clean, hard-tile floor, sounding not too far off, pass by him every so often. He can hear a different tapping, too. This sound is more energized, hyperactive, and afraid. Someone's hitting bullet-proof glass, little fists beating at a near-invisible force-field keeping them locked in. Very slowly, Michael feels the need to see rather than feel and hear, and opens his eyes to the world surrounding him.
As predicted and hinted at by his findings thus far, Michael is lying inside of some sort of bedchamber, made to fit someone much, much larger than him. It's not tall enough that he can stand upright, but Michael eventually does roll over, sitting up on his knees to look around. Around him are other bedchambers, containing children that can't be much older or younger than himself. Some are awake already, acting as the ones pounding on the glass in a frenzy, while others are still fast asleep, looking at peace with the world. Remembering foggy thoughts from the night before, Michael searches the room for Veronica, successfully finding her in the bed-chamber to his right, still fast asleep. Printed on her bedchamber is a laminated chart.
On the chart is information about Veronica: her age, height, weight, dominant hand, hair color, eye color, etc. But what really catches Michael's eye is a big, black, bolded number, that takes up more than half the sheet. 56. Michael's brow furrows, confused by the strange number, trying internally to deduce why that number would be special to his friend. Suddenly, knocking Michael out of his thoughts completely, a tall man in a white, pristine lab-coat steps beside Veronica's bedchamber, though he looks into Michael's. He grins, adjusting his glasses as he scribbles hastily into a notebook, afterwards turning to a control-panel on Michael's bedchamber, pressing a button connecting to an intercom inside.
"Hello, Michael." The man greets, unable to keep his glee a secret. "I see that you're finally awake. Aren't you a curious thing, already trying to deduce where you are and what's going on. Children are truly fascinating. I'm Dr. Browning by the way."
Michael doesn't say anything back, tilting his head as he tries to figure the man out. The doctor has short, neat, slicked back brown hair, glossy due to an excess of hair-gel. His eyes are startlingly russet, making Michael's own eyes widen with wonder. "Relax, Michael. I'm not going to harm you." Dr. Browning assures the boy, glancing occasionally at his notebook for information. "I see that you're about… six years and two months old? Not our youngest candidate, but you're close!"
Out of nowhere, another man approaches, this one in white ODST armor with purple accents. He has his helmet off, hair a messy wreck. "Dr. Browning, please, for the millionth time, the kids need their rest before you go messin' with 'em!"
Dr. Browning rolls his eyes, stealing a wink Michael's way, confusing the small boy even more than before. "At ease, Clawson. I assure you, the children have slept long enough as it is. Why not let them out in the gym? Look, they're already getting stir-crazy as it is."
Clawson groans, glancing Michael's way. "Goddamn, Dr. Browning… fine, I'll check with management and see if we can give 'em some time to exercise." He walks off, looking for a superior officer by the looks of it.
With Clawson gone, Dr. Browning turns his attention back to Michael, right hand tracing faintly over the laminated label on Michael's bedchamber. "Michael-57… I have a feeling that you're going to be doing some amazing things in the near future." He then, like Clawson, leaves Michael in peace.
Michael waits anxiously until he's sure that all of the ODSTs and doctors are away from his chamber, before tapping repeatedly on the glass, trying to get Veronica's attention. "Psst, Veronica! Hey! Wake up! Come on, Veronica! You gotta get up!"
Veronica stirs, but doesn't wake up, instead, she rolls over, facing away from Michael and towards another trapped child to her right. Frustrated, Michael flops down on his bed, surprised to find that he has no blankets or pillows to keep him feel warm or safe. Then again, it seems that the bedchambers can produce their own heat, eliminating the need for any such bedtime necessities. It's not long before Michael grows bored of daydreaming and wondering, and he instead sits up again, trying to look for a way out. Some of the other kids are doing the same, no longer screaming and kicking like wild animals, but thinking more rationally in order to seek out a way of escape.
However, before the kidnapped children can come up with a logical solution to their predicament, all of the bedchambers simultaneously open. At first, no one moves until a tall, brave boy with short brown hair and blue eyes hops off of his bed, giving the other's a nod of approval. It's safe. At once, all of the children who're awake start throwing themselves off of their beds, running around screaming to release their built-up frustrations and energy. Michael is hesitant, drawing his knees to his chest as a defensive shield. However, the first boy to have moved notices this, and jogs over to Michael. Out of all of the other children, this boy is taking things much better than the rest.
"I'm John." The boy explains, holding out a hand to Michael. "It's safe, I promise. Don't worry, we're not playing 'The floor is lava' or anything."
Michael, again, hesitates, but this John kid makes him feel safe enough. So, with a long inhale and exhale, Michael takes John's hand and climbs slowly off of his bed, running to Veronica's side as soon as he's certain it's safe. "Thank you." Michael remembers to tell John as he runs to Veronica, smiling at the other boy.
John simply nods, coming to stand beside Michael. "Is this your friend?" He asks, and upon earning a nod smiles. "She seems nice. What's your name anyhow?"
Michael turns his attention away from the sleeping Veronica, giving John a wide grin of his very own. "I'm Michael, but some kids call my Mike."
"Nice to meet ya, Michael." John responds, taking Michael's hand and shaking it, as if reassuring him that he's real. "I'm gonna go see if anybody I know is here. See ya later!" He runs off before Michael can stop him.
Michael watches him go, feeling like he should follow him. Instead, he stays by Veronica's bedside, loyal to his short-time friend before this John character. Due to problematic happenings in his future, Michael will not learn that he met the Master Chief himself until it's been far too long.
The ODSTs watch the children from afar, as if parents at a park or school field trip. They say almost nothing, only answering children's questions with 'go play'. They've gathered them all up in a big, spacious gymnasium. There's equipment and sport toys everywhere, a few kids even starting up games. Not everyone is happy and playing, Michael notices. Some kids are hiding under the bleachers or in corners, crying softly or bawling loudly as they beg to see their parents again. Some kids have already accepted this change, playing and talking like nothing is wrong. Michael feels… undecided. On one hand, he's scared and in a new place, wanting to go home. On the other hand, there's a lot of toys and things to play with that he's never had much access to before.
Michael tries playing soccer for a bit with some of the other kids, but they've already seemed to have formed a group and ignore him, causing the dark haired boy to stroll off on his own. Eventually, Michael settles for the indoor monkey bars, jumping up with ease and swinging indignantly. After a few swings and tricks, Michael catches the eye of one of the doctors- the doctors are a bit more social than the ODSTs, watching the games closely and taking notes- who walks over and starts scribbling things down. A bit peeved still with the staff, Michael jumps down from the monkey bars, hoping to disappoint the doctor. Instead, he only seems more interested, and follows Michael from a safe distance as he storms off.
Frustrated, Michael kicks a dodgeball on the floor against the wall, causing the bouncy ball to connect loudly with the wall, flying into the air before managing to hit one of the ODSTs square in the helmet. For a moment, no one speaks, before the gym erupts with laughter. Hell, even the ODSTs and doctors chuckle. Finding this to be satisfying enough to ward off his own anger, Michael walks calmly over to where he spots Veronica in the corner. The doctor leaves afterwards, chasing after another kid to observe and stalk. Glad to be free of prying eyes, Michael crouches down next to Veronica. She's not crying very loudly, but loud enough for Michael to easily hear.
For awhile, Veronica just cries, with Michael staring at the floor, face scrunched up in thought as he tries not to cry, too. "I wanna go home." Veronica cries, rubbing her tear-stained cheeks with a balled up fist. "I want my mommy."
Michael simply nods, before remembering a scene in a movie where the hero of the movie rubbed their crying partner's back soothingly. Taking the tip, Michael starts rubbing Veronica's back, feeling awkward as he does so. "Don't worry, Veronica. Mother and your mommy will come get us soon, you don't need to cry."
"But I'm scared!" Veronica insists, breathing faster as she tries not to choke. "I don't wanna be here! I wanna go home and see mommy and watch videos like I always get to do! These people are scary and creepy! They won't tell me anything!" She punches the wall beside her with the word 'anything' leaving her mouth, a loud bang exploding in the gymnasium.
All at once, this seems to really hit home for the other children. Veronica's right: the doctors and ODSTs refuse to tell them what's going on, and even if playing and running around is pretty fun, they still have no idea where they are or what's happened to their parents. A sudden sensation fills the room, and immediately, almost all the kids starting screaming and crying, some throwing themselves to the ground from the force of it, others just standing their with their hands as little fists as tears trail down their young faces. Hell, even John's crying a little, although he's trying to hide it. That's enough to break Michael. He begins sobbing like a baby, falling down beside Veronica and curling into a tight ball.
For a long time, the only noise is the crying children, before a big, steel door opens and shuts abruptly, echoing through the gym. The children near said door stop crying at once, staring with big eyes at whoever has entered. Michael doesn't look up, all the way on the other side of the gym, until something cold and rounded is pressed against his arm. He looks up, peeking behind folded arms, only to see a young woman with long, blonde hair, and grey/blue eyes. The woman smiles at him as she catches his eyes, John standing a few feet behind her, eating from a small cup of ice cream using a spoon. A cup of similar looking ice cream is being held out to Michael, it being what startled him.
Hesitant as a mouse, Michael reaches up and takes it, getting onto his knees as he's handed a spoon to eat the treat with. Beside him, Veronica's eating ice cream as well, it being handed to her by a young man with black hair and blue eyes like the woman. Soon, Michael notices that all of the children in the gym are having ice cream, save for one or two, who are probably lactose intolerant and are having small pieces of cake. The children eat quietly, all red-eyed from their crying with a few tears still falling here and there, but no one speaks. Either from fear or because their mouths are too occupied with their given tasks, no one cares to know. Finally, the woman who handed Michael his ice cream coughs, calling for their attention.
"As some of you may have already figured out, you have all been taken to a remote facility, far away from your homes." The woman begins, and when no one speaks, she sighs with relief at the quietness. "Right now, civilization as we know it is in great peril, and we need heroes to protect humanity. That is why we have chosen all of you- the smartest, strongest, and most logical children of a generation- to come together and become SPARTANS." The room erupts into a soft murmur, before the woman holds up her hand, calling for their silence once again. "I know that this is a terrible curse for any man to have, much less a child, but we can no longer wait idly by until you have all reached maturity. Right now, we need all the help we can get."
The woman continues, with everyone's eyes on her. "Very soon, you will all be separated into groups. The groups will be formed judging on the skills you have already shown while playing these last few hours, as well as through observations made before you were taken. I feel now is a good time to get to the hardest part of this change to your lives: you will never see your family's again. As of now, you are all children of the UNSC, and will be allowed to keep your first names. However, your last names will now be replaced by a number, the same ones that were printed onto your bedchambers. You may go back to your playing in a moment, but for the next few hours, one by one you will be taken into the examination rooms for a bath, a tattooing of your number onto your wrist, and a haircut. Any questions?"
It's quiet, before John steps up behind the woman, tugging on her coat to earn her attention. "Um, ma'am? Um… who are you?" He asks, sounding almost shy.
The woman chuckles, giving John a kind look. "My name is Dr. Halsey." She explains, walking back towards the doors she entered through. "Now then, onto business… Alice Harbor?" A girl looks up, eyes wide with fright. "You first, dear." The girl follows, although hesitantly, and the doors close menacingly behind them, the noise echoing and thunderous.
Michael watches them both go, feeling a deep, deep sense of foreboding. He continues eating absently, wondering just how much his life is going to change. A SPARTAN, huh? Sounds pretty funny to him. At least the ice creams good. Strawberry.
"Michael Jupiter?"
Michael jumps with fright, surprised by the sudden noise. Leaving the room with Halsey right behind her is Veronica, shivering slightly. Her head is shaved now, just like everyone else's whose gone in and out of the room, but she seems unharmed. She's wearing a white T-shirt now, along with green shorts with Veronica-56 embroidered into the hem. Michael rushes her as soon as she appears, causing Halsey to chuckle with amusement, but Michael ignores the doctor, too busy checking Veronica for any serious injuries. On her right wrist is Veronica-56, the area around the newly tattooed letters red and painful looking. He shoots Halsey an accusing glare, forgetting momentarily of the gifted treat from earlier.
"Settle down, Michael." Halsey orders, ruffling Michael's hair almost fondly. "You'll have one of your own soon enough, Come along now, we shouldn't waste anymore time."
Giving Veronica a sad look, Michael follows after Halsey behind the steel doors, Veronica giving him an encouraging nod in return. The doors close behind Michael like a drum, and he jumps, surprised by the intensity of the noise. The hallway is long, like a school hallway leading to the principal's office, but with less posters on the walls. Halsey leads Michael into the first room on the left, with a sign that says 'Washroom' on the front. Halsey doesn't follow Michael inside, pushing him in gently before closing and locking the door behind him, trapping the young boy inside. Michael swallows around a lump in his throat, feeling as if he's about to face his executor. Before him is a big curtain, surrounding what looks to be a tub on the other side.
"Please come forward." Michael is startled by the voice at first, ducking and hiding behind a large, potted plant beside the door. "Oh come now, please don't make this anymore difficult than it already is, boy. Come here."
Hesitantly, Michael comes forward, the curtain being pushed back to reveal a tall, young man on his knees by the basin, pulling on a fresh pair of rubber gloves. "That's a good boy." The man praises, helping Michael pull off the over-sized T-shirt that he's been wearing since before he was kidnapped. "My, aren't you skinny. Oh well, that too will be taken care of over time."
The man then pulls down Michael's underwear, who doesn't resist, not as embarrassed as some kids might be of being seen naked. Wasting no time, the man scoops Michael up and places him in the basin, already filled with warm, bubbly water. "Stop that." The man orders when Michael starts splashing, making a mess. "You can play later. Right now you need to hold still so I can clean you. Arms up."
Michael obeys, the man letting out a short hum of praise, encouraging the obedience as he scrubs Michael's armpits. "Good. Sit down, and legs up." Once again, Michael does what he's told, almost going under as he tries to put his legs over the side of the basin. Thankfully, the water only goes up to his nose when he's lying back like this. "Quit squirming! I can't clean you when you're moving!" The doctor snaps, making Michael huff. "Oh, stop that. I'm being as gentle as I can."
Michael doubts that, hating the way the scrub-brush stings his skin slightly, but he knows better than to fight, kick, and scream. He obeys, with a bit of eye-rolling to be fair, but he does indeed follow the doctor's orders until he's permitted clean. Draining the water, the doctor wraps Michael in a scratchy towel, drying him off mechanically before forcing a white, over-sized T-shirt over his head. He doesn't even bother with underpants, since Michael's parts and ass can't be seen due to the shirt's size. He scoops Michael up as soon as the shirt is on, leaving the washroom. Fast as a bullet, the doctor takes Michael into another room, this one with a '!Quiet!' sign on the front, and nothing else. Like Halsey, he simply leaves Michael inside, closing and locking the door behind him.
The door bangs shut, and instinctively, Michael backs up. but his back hits a cold, metal door instead of an escape route. There's a big, intimidating dentist-type chair in the middle of the room, with a small but efficient looking stand beside it, along with a tall, adjustable chair. In the chair is a man, whose readying a long, sanitized tattoo needle, running a clothe over the the metal stick. He spots Michael and pulls off his helmet, giving the boy a wiry grin. He has a tattoo of his own going down his collarbone, showing a bit from under his doctor's coat. He adjusts the dentist-style chair to go down, high enough now for Michael to climb on. The man smirks at him, patting the chair almost lovingly. Michael notices, as he tries again to press himself against the wall, that the tattoo artist's name-tag reads 'Jordan Monroe'.
"Come here, Michael." Jordan Monroe urges, pulling back on his helmet. "It's time to get your tattoo."
Part 3 Complete
A/N: And here's Part 3! God, I'm hooked on this fucking AU! Please review!
NEXT PART DESCRIPTION: Part 4: Blood-Loss. While there are perks to becoming a child owned by the UNSC, there are a lot more downsides. Tattoos, for example.
~Supercasey.
