"Just because something is big and obvious does not automatically make it your target, your target could be as large a planet or as small a needle, it's up to you to figure it out Spartans. That is what will make you the best."

Chapter 3

Planet Onyx, Zeta Doradus System

August 24, 2540

0745 Hours, Local Time

The tension in the air was so thick not even a plasma torch could have cut it. Here were two of the oldest rivals in the UNSC, facing off right before the Spartans' eyes. Each of them, a masterpiece of armored military knowledge and skill. The dark blue soldiers known as the UNSC Navy SEALS were positioned at the water's edge, having risen from the depths like the human sea creatures they were and had positioned themselves to face off against one of their orbital counter parts, the ODST's.

"I don't care about beating the absolute shit out of you SEAL's," one of the leading ODST's said, "But I do care about killing you, looks very bad on my record, so let's settle this as we always have," he said confidently, dropping both his SMG and his pistol.

"Fine, one of the SEAL's responded, "we need everyone we can get to fight the Covies, so let's settle this here and now. Rough and tumble, no holds barred."

The ODST's dropped their weapons gladly, knowing at such close range that even their stun weapons could kill. And the SEAL's walked up and tossed their own weapons aside and raised their fists, and so it began. The ODST's made the first move, charging into the SEAL's without much of a plan, they ignored the downed members of Atlantis Team as they rushed to make the sure the SEAL's knew who the top dogs of the Special Forces were. The fight was nothing short of breath taking. Armored bodies slammed into one another, knocking each other into the water, sending waves of water jetting up as the expertly trained Special Forces operators fought like the devil to beat one another senseless. The SEAL's seemed to take the advantage, expertly landing precise blows into the helmets of the ODST diehards who seemed to have no appreciable respect for anything other than their own branch. The cracks of armored fists upon helmets and chest plates rang out loudly as the Spartans finally got their bearings.

"You guys okay?" Frank whispered, crawling over to Jules and June.

June was completely out cold, her hair caked with mud and stained with the blood of a bad cut on the back of her head that turned the water puddle her head rested in pink. Jules sat next to her sister, still daze beyond the point of being able to coherently move or talk. Darius crawled over to June along with Bryan who was quite well beaten, as blood ran down his face from several blows that had cut into his face. His nose might have been broken, but he didn't even pay it any mind as he maneuvered his way past the fighting commandoes which just never seemed to stop. They flopped around, crashing into one another with merciless rage and tried pounding one another into complete bloody pulps. The ODST's were clearly outmatched in the watery environment as the SEAL's threw them around like rag dolls, and proceeded to fight in their own turf. This gave the Spartans the opening they needed, and they attempted to take it.

"We need to get the Hell out of here," Darius piped up, watching the battle unfold.

"Wait, where's Eden?"

"There!"

Jules pointed to the lying down figure of Eden who was in quite a bit of water as she watched the battle unfold all around her. She looked to be waiting to make a move but the masses of men and armor around her were preventing her making a break for her team on land.

"Eden come on!" Frank yelled at his team mate waving her over.

Eden saw him and popped up, running at them as fast as she could in the shallow water and had to dodge around the battling ODST's and SEAL's as the SEAL's seemed to gain a definite advantage, taking the ODST's to the ground and holding their black helmets underwater and slamming their knees into the ODST's throats with the intention of strangling the commandoes into unconsciousness. Eden dodged a SEAL lifting an ODST over their shoulder and slamming them into the water resulting in a large splash and a flurry of punches aimed at dislodging the scrappy SEAL and the SEAL was kicked in the helmet and nearly knocked Eden down as he fell back into the water and the ODST jumped down on top of him. Each of the Spartans watched Eden bob and weave through the masses of troops, barely avoiding being caught in the crossfire herself until she reached the shrubs that her team was lying in, trying to stay out of the way while the ODST's were distracted. She slid down next to and almost on top of Bryan as she tripped over a log on stuck in the ground and rolled in front of Frank.

"Reporting as ordered."

The group grinned for a split second, pleased to hear that her sense of humor was far from gone. But then they settled back into the mindset of what was happening around them.

"We need to get June out of here, she's hurt bad," Frank ordered, "Bryan you and Darius take her arms and carry her out," the two boys nodded in understanding and positioned themselves by the unconscious Spartan, "Eden, you and Jules are on point, clear a path if the terrain is bad. I'll hold off any ODST's that try and come after us."

"Let's move," Darius sternly commanded, grabbing June's left arm and wrapping it around his shoulder and stood up as Bryan did the same.

The two male Spartans quickly held her up, but her feet didn't even attempt to hold their own weight and dragged idly as the Spartans started to make a break for it. The two girls ran ahead making sure the coast was clear and cleared or marked any hazardous terrain that they would have to navigate. Frank turned and watched with a feeling of amazement as the fight behind them continued.

The ODST's were by now getting their asses handed to them. The SEAL's had them on the ropes, throwing them to the ground and yanking them below water where their own training came into play. But a single titanic ODST was not playing by the rules, as a pair of SEAL's charged him he yanked out a knife and sliced at one of the blue and black armored men, cutting into his abdomen, blood began to seep from the water tight armor as the man collapsed into the water, his team mate right there next to him, ready to apply first aid. But the ODST had other plans, he turned and saw that the young Spartans were making a break for the woods and that he was the last of his squad not being dragged to the depths. He ran to where the ODST's had dropped their stun weapons and pulled out a pistol and started running at the Spartans, intent on doing real damage.

"Run! One of them got loose!" Frank yelled, turning to run towards his squad but as he turned he felt the painful strike of a chemical round plowing into his back. He fell to the ground, writhing in pain, unable to move. He saw the shadow of the ODST walking up on him, and aiming his weapon at his head. Frank shut his eyes, aware of what was coming, at the five feet away that weapon would kill him the same way as a real gun would, and this ODST knew it. But luck was on his side.

"No!" the voice of Jules called out, Frank opened his eyes to see the small figure of June charge the man, wielding a large branch and connected with the ODST's left knee, making him collapse to one knee. She brought the branch over her head and was about to strike again but then the man snapped his arm up, connecting with a brutal fist to her jaw, sending her sprawling to the ground. Blood poured from her mouth as she rolled not a yard from Frank as he watched helplessly.

"Jules!" he yelled, seeing her very much hurt. But she just reached her hand out weakly and grasped onto Frank's outstretched hand and smiled, as if to say, it's okay.

Frank looked back to see the ODST aiming his weapon at the two Spartans and preparing to pull the trigger. This was it, after all he'd been through, this was how he would meet his end. To come so far, to have sacrificed and to have lost everything he had held dear he would die at the hands of a fellow human who was supposed to be there to train him. But instead he would kill him and Jules, Eden, June, Bryan, and Darius without so much as a bye or leave. So this was it.

"Nighty night kid."

As he pulled the trigger the most astounding thing happened. First the feeling of the bullet hitting and fracturing his skull never happened. Frank about panicked, he thought that he had killed Jules first, he couldn't stand the sight of his team mate, his friend being killed before his eyes. But he couldn't help it, he turned his head, thinking he would see the dead face of Jules laying limply on the ground, still grasping his hand. But what he saw both thrilled him and stumped him. She was still very much alive, and was staring straight up, looking in awe at the sight above them. Frank turned his eyes to the sky but only saw it blacked out by an enormous armored figure in dull olive green armor grasping the barrel of the ODST's pistol, and then crushed it in the blink of an eye. Red chemical stun round leaked from the black hand as it yanked the pistol away and then, faster than either Spartan could comprehend, punched the ODST right in the visor. The man's body went flying, splashing into the water amongst the battling soldiers stopping the fight instantly.

"What the?" one of the ODST said out loud, seeing his comrade limp and near death in the water next to him a massive fist shaped dent in the helmet. They all turned to see the seven foot figure of the Spartan who had come to the rescue of the young IV's.

"ODST's you're done. Get off my planet, and take that piece of shit with you," the voice of Kurt boomed out, loud and angry at the defiant troopers.

"Commander?" Frank asked, unable to believe his eyes. Standing before him was the hero of the UNSC, a Spartan.

"Squad Leader, a Pelican is on its way. Prepare your squad, SEAL's go with them. I have some unfinished business here."

Turning to the still defiant ODST's the Spartan took powerful steps towards them and clenched his fists in preparation for what he knew needed to be done. The SEAL's walked out of the water and gathered their weapons and hustled over to the disabled Spartans, passing the massive armored figure, saluting as they passed. The Spartan paid them no mind instead he continued on with his single minded purpose of doing something that the Spartan Corp should have done long ago.

"You don't want to see this Cadets," the lead SEAL said to them as he picked up the small figure of Jules up off the ground. Another pair gently lifted Frank from the ground and carried the two over to where the other Spartans were standing and looking after the still unconscious June. A trio of SEAL's hustled over, pulling out a stretched from one of their pack and unfolded it, seeing the dire condition the ODST's had put the young Spartan in.

"What…what's going on?" they heard her mumble as she came to when a needle was stuck in her skin.

"You don't wanna know."

"What?" June asked again, regaining her composure seeing the figures of the SEAL's surrounding the Spartans, "Did we get captured again?"

"Not exactly."

Next Chapter Preview: How to kidnap a Spartan.