Chapter 2

0900 hours, December 13, 2525 (MILITARY CALENDAR) \

Mining tunnels under ONI CASTLE base, Reach colony world

"All right, we're in a training mission against ODST Delta Company, one hundred and fifty strong, commanded by Captain McKellan. Our job is to hold a Key Strategic Location that is next to a ravine. ODST will be trying to take that location from the same side of the ravine, so we must set up defenses to hold out. Mike, I need you to set up on that ridge that overlooks our position. Matthew, you'll be his spotter. Rachel, Kate, and I set up a defensive barricade in front of the Key Strategic Location and prepared a defense. Remember, we are using stun rounds, if you are hit, that area of your body is now disabled until stuns are turned off."

We could hear the footsteps of the ODST coming closer. Hundreds of ODST were headed towards our position, and it was us five. To simulate Spartan armor, we were able to take multiple shots before losing neural control.

"Contact, a hundred or so ODST are charging straight into you guys, be ready."

Bullets flew through the air in both directions, though ODST were falling left and right. a few minutes into the fight, Kate yelled, and I turned my head toward her. A bullet hit her right shoulder in the crevice between the shoulder and chestplate and my eyes widened and my vision blurred.

[Roy getting hit by a needler round in the crevice between the shoulder and chest plate, exploding and leaving his arm permanently damaged.

My vision blurred and went black, emotions cycled, anger, fear, pain, agony, and failure. Failure to save my teammate, agony I had to deal with this over and over, pain from losing the closest people to me, fear that this will happen again, anger to stop this from ever happening again.]

-My eyes started to focus in again to realize every single ODST was on the floor and I was on top of the last one, a young man, in his twenties, holding a knife to his throat.

Realizing what I had done, I dropped the knife and looked back at Kate, who was now holding her gun in her left hand since her right arm was neurally disabled. I shed a tear, thinking of Roy, turned and walked back to my dorm.

1800 hours, December 13, 2525 (MILITARY CALENDAR) \

Dormitory in ONI CASTLE base, Reach colony world.

Kate walked into my room as I was looking at a photo of my old companions and stood against the wall. She was very beautiful to say the least; she had beautiful long blonde hair and had very nice curves to go with it, while her dark sapphire colored eyes were complemented by her slightly pale skin.

"What was that?"

"What?" I replied

"What you did today! You looked toward me and went beserk!"

Obviously since it had been a personal problem, I replied with a dull "Nothing."

Angered by my answer, she stood against the door with her arms crossed against her chest, "You're not leaving until you answer."

I was actually suprised by her patience, she broke down hours later, dropped her arms, and asked "Please tell me what happened, I would like to know."

I decided that she might as well know since she triggered it and I do prefer being alone, and not under mock-surveillance.

"Before this happened-" I gestured to the portfolio"-I was part of a Red team at Memorial Basin. We were to hold the Covenant off from attacking a Medical facility that resulted in only me surviving. One of them-" I shed a tear as I spoke. "-died by how you were shot today; a needler round blowing his arm nearly off, resulting in too much blood loss."

She walked over and hugged me, "It'll be alright" She said in a sincere tone. Normally I wouldn't take it sincerely, but in this case, I did.