Hello Ladies and Gentlemen, I welcome you happily to my creative theater. Please, enjoy.
Coming to the ruins of New Morian, was in a way, a hated reminder of the war that I had left behind. Long caved in homes and buildings, or just fallen over into the roads or into the buildings next to them.
Sammy was already running about. Digging for treasure as he called it. Looking for some artifact or relic. I watched from afar. Dot humming in my ear. Filling the silence to keep me from brooding.
'Heads up,' Dot spoke up. Cutting her own self off from the supply report. I looked up to see a lone beat-up Pelican land on the street. My hand strayed to the old DMR that was strapped over my shoulder. The Pelican landed about 14 feet in front of me, the hum of the engines was an old familiar sound that relaxed me almost instinctively. Coming off the Pelican, the only other survivor of Noble Team.
"UNCLE JUN!?" Came from behind me. In an almost blur Sam raced past me and tackled Jun into a hug. Latching onto him like an Earthen Monkey. Jun just chuckled long used to Sam's usual greetings. After the enthusiastic greeting he ran off back to his hunting. Jun smiled as he looked after Sam. I walked up to him slowly.
"So, you got my message," I stated as I stopped next to him as we watched together.
"I told you not to spare anyone." Jun answered softly.
"I know, but we knew this would happen soon or later."
"Six... Rona," He spoke softly, using my real name instead. "You were in a dark place when you came to Noble. They'll lock you away, or send you very far behind covenant lines. You know this."
"I do," I answered his concern. "But they will have to catch me first." I joked softly. We both knew that even if I was caught, I could break loose again. There was only one thing that would make me play by their rules again.
"Just make sure they don't catch him." He answered simply.
"You know I won't make it easy for them." I spoke almost stoic. He just chuckled.
"Damn straight, you almost killed me, when I found you." joking as he gentle punched my shoulder.
"I thought you had been sent to drag me back." I protested lightly.
"You were the one that brought Dot back onto the battle net. If I hadn't have known what to look for, I wouldn't have been able to hide it." He told me as he moved his hand to my shoulder.
"I'm surprised you didn't report it." I told him simply as I crossed my arms.
"You came to Noble as a shell of who you really were. A broken soul who was looking for blood to fill the void. ONI had called for all remaining Spartan IIIs." He trailed off a bit.
"I am aware, they are suffering. Just as I had once before."
"They have Chief hunting you."
"Let him come, I'll slip through the cracks. He's too loud, to out there." I critiqued Master Chief. Something most people wouldn't even think of doing.
"Don't let you're pride get the best of you." He countered.
"I can't help but have pride in my work, but you are right. Master Chief will be a dangerous enemy. I can't kill him, else I will anger planet's worth of people and leave humanity vulnerable." I listed the reasons.
"Just…. Be careful, I can't bail you out if you get caught."
"I'll be fine. If I get caught then I need you with Sam." I told him.
"I'll always be there for the kid. Can't let the monkey loose on innocent people now can I?" he teased gently. He patted my shoulder.
"Very true," I hummed softly as Sam started to cheer finding something in the ruble, setting it aside from everything else.
"Have your nightmares been going away? You actually had me worried with that emergency com last month." His concern really leaking through his voice. "What was that even about anyway.
"It was from my time before Noble, but my target…. The face changed. In the dream, it was Jorge on my sword. I woke shortly after I pierced his heart. I had forgotten where I was." I told him softly.
"I think you should visit Doc." He told me bluntly.
"He just got settled. Has a family himself now. I don't want to get him into trouble. Not with this hunting business." Protesting lightly.
"Rona, this isn't something you should push back. It could get worse." Squeezing my shoulder. I stayed silent with his worry.
"Expect a visit from Chief. He'll come to you first." I told him.
"I know. I'll handle it."
"Take Dot with you." I pulled out her chip from a slot on my wrist. Holding it out to him.
"Oh no I don't you'll be using her to know when he shows up and start a fight." He said pointedly. "I know you."
"We are the last of Noble Team, we need to look out for each other." I told him.
"Yea, a hyper lethal ready to jump anyone who gets a little frisky." He was very solemn with this. "Stay safe Six. And don't tell me where you are going. Only where you are when you want to meet."
"I know the deal," I huffed as I turned to him.
"Good, I need my Sniping Buddy." We clasped arms before I pulled him into a hug. He patted my back before stepping back and moving towards Sam to say his goodbyes.
"Hey kid," Jun spoke up once he was close enough. Sam stopped moving a chunk of rock to the makeshift tower he was building.
"Hi Uncle Jun, can you play with me?" Holding the half-broken brick up to him.
"I can for a minute." He spoke softly taking the brick that was offered to him. Setting it on the top of the tower. Sam went about collecting more bricks close by.
"You have to leave, don't you?" Sam spoke softly as he brought another brick.
"Yeah, I am expecting a little company."
"It's because of Mommy's job isn't it." Stopping at the towers base.
"Afraid so, Sam." Slowly reaching out to Sam's shoulder as he had done with Rona. "she stirred up the Hornet's nest this time."
"Is there anyway to fix it?" Sammy asked.
"I'm afraid not. All the top brass knows."
"What about the meanys?" looking up to him with big eyes.
"ONI isn't hunting her. Not that I know of." Jun spoke softly.
"Will you be okay without a friend?" he asked softly. Jun kneeled down to his level.
"Truth be told, I'm not sure. Don't tell your mom. She's worried enough as it is." Sam nodded his head. Head and shoulders slumping forward.
"Classified right?" he asked softly.
"Yea, classified from your mom." He repeated. Sam stayed motionless for a moment before springing into movement and hugging Jun as much and as tightly as he could. Jun smiled sadly hugging his nephew tightly.
"please, stay okay." Having learned a long time ago. Just being a Spartan, makes one a trouble magnet.
"I'll do my best. Now you take care of your mom and listen to her."
"I will Uncle Jun." Sammy promised. Slowly Jun pulled away going back to Rona as Sam went back to his small brick tower.
"I do have to ask." Jun spoke softly looking forward past her. "Do you plan to go through with your plan?"
"He is a Spartan by birth right. He has the strength, the speed, and all the other physical characteristics. Even if I dumped him out of necessity. Someone would figure it out. Yes, I plan to go through with it." I told him simply.
"I got some of the things you asked for in the back. I'll get out the crate." He spoke softly. I nodded my head.
"thank you."
"Anything for Noble Team." He held up his hand. I clasped his hand tightly.
"For family," I corrected. He nodded his head before going to unload the pelican. Looking back to my son. I knew deep down. I was doing the right thing. Sam who was a carbon copy of his father, would be even better than me if I had a say.
Well, how'd I do?