Author's Note;

Jester; It's still for a friend.

Third Person's View

It's been four years since Bryan and his band of chaotic friends became a private contractor organization. Since then they have been holding their own even when the UNSC tried to capture them. Often the Merc's that came after them would be left in a bloody mess by the hand of the mad Spartan Smiles. Or find a peaceful end by getting shot. Often Smiles catch the unlucky ones. Nix, Lota, Mark, and the scientist often work as the comm's monitors or exchanging money to handle jobs. Nix and Smiles were lying in their room, Smiles was tired from killing a group of smugglers holding an outposts cargo.

Outside the door Bryan called in saying, "Nix Smiles are you descent"? Nix, "Yes Bryan Smiles is asleep right now so come in". With that Bryan walked inside and took a set on the couch. Nix was lying on the bed rubbing Smiles face. Nix, "Matt and Cordell are still dealing with that cargo shipment"? Bryan nodded to say, "Yeah also Cordell and Edwina wanted to ask if you and Smiles are serious"? Nix smiled as she rubbed her mans face to say, "Yeah I can't see a life without his lovable psycho so yes we will get married".

Bryan, "I never thought that out of all of us Smiles would get married first. With all the stuff he puts us through especially". Nix chuckled remember how Smiles and Cordell jumped from an exploding truck to fall down a mineshaft. Then have to walk for three days to find away out. Cordell choked Smiles for nearly a whole week but Smiles just kept on laughing saying, "It's a really good joke". Nix, "Not everyone wants a party life style Bryan plus after the stuff you went through is seeing this guy getting married so wrong".

Bryan, "I heard from Matt that you knew Smiles before what was he like. Cordell said he was a sky but happy guy". Nix looked at her sleeping fiancé to say, "Yeah I met him before when he was a gunsmith. He worked on my gun and every time I saw him smile I just loved it. His name was impossible to say so he just told people to call him E. But after the program… well his smiled the same warm smile to me. But to others it's a twisted kind that you would see from a crazy person. But Smiles isn't crazy he's just locked behind a wall of barbwire". Nix began to mess with Smiles hair deep in thought it was all Bryan need to know.

Taking his leave they waited for the others to return so they could find a colony to register his friends as a married couple.

Mark's View

Just great we've been here for only two days and we have find ourselves having to help defend this place from a Covenant attack. Standing next to Lota she was talking to Matt as she turned to me, "Matt and Edwina say the crew's have gotten most of the people to shelters. But Bryan and Cordell say the Cove's are going to hit faster then we thought". I scratched my head to ask, "What is Smiles location"? Lota, "He's helping the local officers get the shield grid back online. Smiles how's it going". Smiles, "Shit… how did they get this thing to work the first time. Its leaking fuel all over the place and its main controls has so many shorts".

Taking the earpiece I asked, "Come on Smiles jerry rig the damn thing and turn it on". Smiles, "Shit this thing doesn't run on piss and moonshine ya know. Its hard just fixing the main panel not to mention finding all the holes the fuel container and its pump have". I shook my head to ask, "How long will it take you"? Smiles, "I need an hour and I know that won't be enough". Getting on the second radio band I said, "Bryan Cordell I'm sending five guys your way two with heavy artillery. Smiles needs you to hold the Cove's beyond the city limits as long as you can".

Cordell, "Why"? "Cause the damn shield generator is a piece of junk and he need time to have it power up. And even then he doesn't know how long the damn thing will last so give him time". Looking around the room I said, "Keep them posted about the Covenants progress and keep me posted as well. I'm heading to the medical bay to check on Nix".

Bryan's View

Thirty minutes into the Cove's advance and we still don't understand why they're here. Turning to the guy's holding the rocket launchers I told them, "Take positions along those trees and shot down those Ghosts. Cordell take two contractors and cover the main gates the police are getting hit by Jackals with needle rifles". As everyone moves to take their new positions I reload me rifle and take out two Grunts. Mark came on the radio telling me, "Bryan Smiles say's that the shields ready for testing hold them off for a little more".

"Matt cover me I'm going to take out their torrent. Then we'll fall back to the second line behind the gates". Matt, "Make it fast and don't make me wait". As Matt and the others assault rifles rattle behind me I moved to take over the position. Running past the trees to find a good vantage only as I moved past a tree an Elite blind-sided me. Rolling from its grasp it just missed stomping on me. Pulling a knife I stabbed the Elites kneecap and grabbed it by the throat. Looking into its face I pulled my knife free and felts its blood, muscle, and bones pop loss with the Elites cry of pain.

Pushing it into the tree closet to us I used another knife and stabbed its dominant shoulder. With the Elite pinned I stabbed its side slowly to say, "Why are you here and keep it quick I got a colony to protect". The Elite grunt keeping its voice low but I need info and I wasn't going to just kill this fool. Bashing my helmets vision into its face I slide my knife further into its torso to say, "Trust me you don't want to be held as a hostage. I got a friend you might have heard of he's call the Laughing Spartan". The Elite eyes widened in its slit like sockets saying, "We came for the Seer's Root… you humans took the last one this one will lead us to the memories of the Runners". Nodding my head I plunged my knife deeper and began to drag it up. The Elite tried to push and punch me but after a few more inches up it gave to blood loss. Getting on the radio I said, "Mark I got some Intel you are going to flip over".

Mark, "Idiot when was the last time you saw a fat guy jump let alone flip". I chuckled picturing him actually doing both to say, "When I tell you about the info I got from an Elite you will".

Matt's View

Bryan managed to take out the turrets and met back up with us. But now that we were back inside the city we found Smiles still trying to get the damn shield generator to work. Firing a few more rounds from my rifle at the Grunts trying to change cover I turned to see Smiles pulling open another panel. I shouted, "Smiles stop taking your damn sweet time and turn the thing on already". Smiles splicing two wires on the panel he just opened to say, "Finger cross and powers online… yes fuel is holding charge ignite"! As the blue aura travels along the various power lines the city soon became shrouded by the shields energy.

The cities police picked off the few remaining Grunts allowing us to collect our selves. Smiles walked up to an officer to say, "Ok the generator has power but your going to need to refuel it every hour. That things taking in more fuel than anything I've seen in a while. You're going to have to siphon off some fuel from the gas stations to keep it going. Also please doing touch the controls… well if you touch anything it'll fry the wires and the shields go. We'll take to the mayor and see what we can do about the Cove's". With that done we followed Bryan to met Mark who was talking to the mayor.

Getting to city hall was painless once inside Mark was standing in his lad coat talking to the mayor. Mayor, "Ok can anyone tell me why the Covenant are attacking us. We're far away from the UNSC and even their routes. Why would they attack us"? Bryan, "They're after a Forerunner artifact one of a few the UNSC has beaten them two before. Now they know the UNSC doesn't have info on this one so they wanted this to be fast hid and run operation. But now I thing we stopped them from searching one of their main starting points". The mayor shook he head saying, "Why does alien technology have to be the cause of every life loss. Doesn't the Covenant ever consider the idea of peaceful negotiations"?

I responded by saying, "They tried in the past one five different times the Cove's only respond to force. They don't care for talking unless it's on philosophy or their ideals. For now they'll have to look elsewhere. Smiles are you sure the shield will hold"? Smiles chuckled saying, "I'm pretty sure it takes a lot of fuel to keep the thing running don't get me wrong. As long as no one touches the control buttons to shot a wire we'll be fine". As the words left his mouth the humming of the shields began to dim until the whole thing went down. I turned to the mayor saying, "Fire those jerkoff you call officers mayor. Edwina get Mark back to the ship take some of the crew with you. The rest of us will fan out and take out any Cove's that are going around the streets".

Smiles View

This is just great hardly an hour goes by after I fix that damn shield and I'm already in another firefight. After my SAW ripped through a few more Jackals I turn down a side street to find one of the shelter doors blow apart. Clicking on my helmet light I make the call, "Guy's the Cove's hit a shelter and they've killed everyone. From the noises and tremors that are hitting my boots I thinking they're tunneling down. Edwina, Matt move to my position if you can, Cordell Bryan take the guy's and look over the other shelters".

Mark came onto the radio saying, "Smiles Matt is moving to you. Move ahead on your own and see if you can secure the tech they're looking for. Remember if you find any survivors stay with them and signal the city police. Also don't get killed Nix is still sick and waiting for you". Smiles chuckled saying, "Tell her not to worry I'm going to kill all these jerk offs and give her a nice massage when I get back. Smiles out". Reloading my SAW I began my push into the ruined shelter.