Chapter 4
Dead men tale no tales...
By Humbleguy
"Noble six," Jeromi acknowledged him with a nod. His face was somewhat pale.
"Sir," Noble Six said saluting.
"At ease soldier. God knows I should be saluting you." Jeromi said
"Thank you, sir" Noble Six said still standing at attention.
"Do you know why you're here spartan?" The vice admiral asked
"No, Sir." Six answered.
"That makes two of us." Jeromi said. "Follow me."
"Where are we going?" Six asked.
"The docking area, if i'm right We have a new ship for you." Jeromi motioned for Six to follow him.
"No disrespect sir," Six started keeping pace with Jeromi. " But how do you not know if there is a ship on your station."
"You'll see when we get there." Jeromi vaguely explained.
When they finally got to the docking area. Six was puzzled to see a armed ship in the hanger. The Hopeful was a medical station. Why was one of the most beautiful ships he had ever seen be docked in the hangar. It looked like a cross between a sabre and a pelican, with twice as many weapons. "Brace yourself spartan," The Vice-admiral warned. "For what?" Six asked.
"You're in my light."
His body instantly froze as the voice came from under the ship. Six slowly advanced to meet the voice, and sure enough she was there, wearing a black tank top, cargo pants, and combat boot's. Her right arm whirred mechanically as she adjusted some of the machinery under the ship.
"Can I help you?" She said pulling herself out from under the ship. His mind raced as she came from under the ship out into the light. He saw her face for the first time since that night in New Alexandria. She had a couple new scars on her face and a prosthetic eye that glowed a soft blue.
"Noble Six and I are here on orders from Dr. Halsey." Jeromi said. Six looked confusedly between the admiral and the woman in front of him, wondering if he was hallucinating.
"Oh, Six, didn't recognize you without you're helmet on. What happened to it by the way?" Kat asked.
"You...It...got shot." he said stumbling clearly confused.
"Too bad," She shrugged. "I remember you loved that thing like a child."
"Yeah..." Six said indifferent about what he was seeing.
"Vice-admiral it's an honor," She said acknowledging Jeromi. They shook hands. "If you have any questions I would be happy to answer."
Meanwhile, Six was trying to recall if he remembered to take his medication today.
"I appreciate that," Jeromi said joining their conversation. "I'd first like to know why and how you've sneaked this much equipment onto my ship?"
"ONI authorization overrides any need to clear the transactions with the head of the ship." She stated simply.
"You're working for ONI?" Six asked cautiously rejoining the conversation.
"We're working for ONI." She corrected. "You should feel right at home Six." She returned her attention to the admiral. "As for your lack of knowledge on the matter. I may have looped security footage and locked some doors."
"So I wasn't hallucinating after all." Six thought to himself.
"Why the secrecy?" Jeromi asked curiously.
"I like my privacy." Kat said shrugging. "and because I've been working with dangerous materials."
"What kind of dangerous materials?" Jeromi inquired a little concerned.
"Sir, if you have to ask-" Six started to say say.
"Radioactive and unstable materials." She said finishing his sentence. "Best kind." She added
"Of course." Six said unsurprised for the first time in the conversation.
"And you brought them here because?" Jeromi asked.
"...Because we've developed a new prototype stealth fighter. One that with the right tools," She directed her attention to Six "and the right pilot, could take out a covenant armada."
"Why me?" Six asked still confused.
Instead of answering him she walked over to a workbench next to the ship. She picked up a wrench with her prosthetic arm tossing it in the air a couple of times. "That's a good question. Your not as tough as Emile. You're aim isn't as good as Jun's." Her robotic arm suddenly threw the wrench at the Jeromi at a lightning speed. The vice-admiral flinched slightly when Six grabbed the wrench out of mid-air. "However," Kat said continuing. "You're reaction speed is two times faster than a normal spartan. Six times that of a regular human. It's the reason I choose you for the Sabre program."
"So you're telling me you developed the Sabre too?" Six asked skeptically.
"Co-developed," She corrected. "and recruited pilots."
"I can confirm what she's saying is true Six, But..."Jeromi shook his head. "Have you even tested this thing yet?"
"Not in the field, but it will fly." She said.
"What does Halsey hope will come from this?" Jeromi asked.
"An assault on the covenant fleet." She stated simply.
"What?" Six asked dumbfounded.
"You have to be kidding." Jeromi looked at her disbelievingly. "One ship can't take on an entire covenant fleet."
"They said the same thing about the spartan program." Kat countered.
"True enough," Jeromi acknowledged. "But that gave us hundred's of super soldiers. This is one ship."
"This is a prototype." Kat said defensively. "But I promise you Vice-admiral. It will make a difference in this war."
"So what do you need from me?" Jeromi asked.
"I need to use some of the Hopeful's facilities for final tests and preparations." Kat said.
The vice admiral stroked his chin for a moment looking at both the ship and it's soon to be pilot. "Fine, but I want to observe these tests." Jeromi demanded.
"Done." Kat agreed and they shook hands.
"Now if you will excuse us Vice-admiral. I need to get Six acquainted with the ship." Kat politely inclined for Jeromi to leave.
"Of course" Jeromi said understanding.
As he left Kat sighed to herself. Six could tell that she was tired. Probably from building a very advanced war ship in about a week. "Right," Kat said rubbing the back of her neck. "I guess I've got a lot of explaining to do."
"You got that right." Six said still in disbelief. "You're dead."
"I got better." She said.
"That's impossible." Six stated.
"It's improbable." Kat corrected.
"It isn't funny!" Six said angrily.
"I understand you're frustrated." Kat reasoned with him.
"I'm more than frustrated, Kat. I'm pissed off!" Six said momentarily losing his cool. "Why didn't you come see Me or Jun or Emile?" he asked angrily.
"I only arrived yesterday." Kat explained. "And I had to take care of those dangerous materials before I could get any free time...I'm sorry."
"No," Six said somberly. He leaned against the ship for a moment putting his hands on his face. "I'm sorry Kat... It... It was my fault."
"What are you talking about?" Kat asked.
"It was my fault." Six repeated staring somberly at her. She suddenly realized what he was talking about.
"Six," she started with a softer voice "Why would you think that?"
"I should have been more aware." Six stated.
"There was nothing you could have done." Kat said trying to reassure him.
"But there should have been." Six said disappointed with himself. He sighed heavily to himself. "You always looked out for us Kat. I could have at least done the same."
"What do you want me to say Six?" Kat asked.
"I just-," Six started. "I want you to forgive me Kat." Six said quietly.
"I don't blame you for-." Kat started to say.
"Kat," Six interrupted her. "...Just please... say the words."
"...I forgive you." She said softly
Six seemed to relax and his shoulders dropped. "I know it's stupid-" he began
"It's not stupid," Kat interrupted him. "I know what it's like to blame yourself for something you have no control over."
There was a long silence between the two of them. Kat seemed to withdrawal from him, causing him to worry.
"You want to talk about it?" Six finally asked.
"No," Kat answered.
"You want me to go?" He asked.
"No." She whispered.
"...You want to go freak out Emile and Jun?" He asked.
The wicked smile she gave him was all the answer he needed.
"YOU GOT SHOT IN THE FUCKING FACE!" Jun screamed at the top of his lungs. The look on his face was priceless and Six was glad he was recording the conversation. "Kat? Is that really you?" Emile asked uncertain. She nodded. "What happened to you?" Emile asked confused. "SHE GOT SHOT IN THE FUCKING FACE!" Jun screamed again motioning to Kat. Kat Emile shook his head."Kat, this is really F-"
"Fascinating?" Kat said interrupting him. "Try impossible," Jun said slightly calmer though that wasn't saying much. "I should know, I've shot a lot of things in the fucking face."
As Kat explained everything to them. Six couldn't help but think back to that night in New Alexandria and his conversation with Jun and Emile. How exactly did he feel about her? Did she feel the same way about him? And- "Why the fuck are you recording this?" Jun screamed in his face. Emile and Kat chuckled in the background as Six sprinted out of the room with Jun not far behind.
(Ok explanation time. I had to rewrite this story three times before I was finally happy with it. Also I had to set in stone what I wanted to do with these characters. I hope you all picked up on the Kat blaming herself for Thom's, the spartan noble six replaced, death. I know many people will think that Emile would freak out more than Jun. However I've always seen him as a more disciplined soldier off the field than Jun. I'll hopefully get the next chapter done in less time than this one took. One last thing asdf commented saying "Six stabbing his commander seems stupid. That would most likely get him executed." Just wanted to take this moment to explain that Six was ordered by ONI to eliminate his former commander because of how he abused his power. Thanks to everyone for their feedback and I hope you come along for the ride. )
