I do not own Halo or anything related to Halo and its universe. I only own this story, it's plot and my characters

OC's belong to their respective authors.

Ralu looked absolutely stunned with just how much I told her, and the way her mandibles hung open was kind cute-

'What the fuck Alex? Did you just think that she looked cute? She is a monster, an abomination! You disgust me!' I mentally yelled at myself, and while I was doing so, I did not realize Flynt stand up.

I saw Ralu brace herself out of the corner of my eye and I turned to find Flynt standing up and looking absolutely menacing.

He didn't move an inch before saying "My turn for watch."

I looked at my tacpad and saw that he was correct, It had already been an hour. Damn. I had just spent an entire hour talking with Ralu. Definitely a new record.

I nodded to him, and standing up, I grabbed my assault rifle and lumbered over to a rocky wall. I sat down with back to the wall and closed my eyes. I heard the clack of Ralu's hooves follow to a spot beside me about 10 feet away and then stop. It would be awhile before I fell asleep, and during that time I would ponder the new bond that I had just formed with Ralu tonight.

I was awoken with a start and whipping out my knife before I even opened my eyes, I grabbed hold of my assailant and placed the blade against their throat. It was only then that I saw the nervous face of Crystal peering up at me, worry evident in her eyes. I backed away from her with a sudden gasp, but quickly composed myself and glared at her.

"Damn it Crystal, you know better than to wake me up by shaking me!" I snapped at her, mildly irritated.

Crystal had the sense to look a little sheepish during my complaint, but she didn't back down or away under my gaze.

She just shrugged before going to wake Flynt up, grumbling under her breath the whole time.

I sighed to myself before looking at my Tacpad. 0600 hundred hours. Perfect.

I turned to where Ralu had sat down to sleep last night and found her staring right back at me, her gaze once again unreadable. I looked back at her, wondering just what the hell was going through her mind right now. Ralu was very enigmatic, but I suppose that was supposed to be expected. She was in the presence of the enemy, and probably tried to vary her responses as much as possible so that the enemy could not get a read on her personality. I would do the same if I were in her position-

'No you wouldn't Alex and you know it. You're a Spartan. And Spartan's always fight to the death, never giving up or surrendering.'

I got back up and prepared to tell everyone to start marching when I suddenly got a very cold chill race down my back.

Something was wrong. VERY wrong.

I looked over to Flynt who suddenly had his Machine gun out and ready to fire, sweeping the nearby trees with slow, precise movements.

"What is it?" I shouted out to him, training my own rifle at the trees.

"I don't know…. I can't see anything. But my radar is showing at least 6 contacts in front of us!"

I looked back at Ralu. Her eyes were wide, not with fear, but with anxiety. She wanted to hold a weapon, to fight back if she had too. I wouldn't let her though. She was still the enemy and I didn't trust her.

"Ok, everyone start to fall back to the edge of the clearing, if you see any contacts, shoot first and ask-" I was cut off as something slammed into me from behind and threw me to the ground. Rolling with the momentum, I got to feet and without looking at was attacking me, I launched a flurry of punches and kicks at it. My assailant was just a blur as it blocked all of my strikes, weaving and dodging.

"We've been engaged!" Flynt yelled out, and he opened fire with his turret, Crystal shooting at her own target.

I heard Ralu snarl something in her own language, but I didn't get a chance to worry as my attacker suddenly unleashed its own attacks at me. It launched a fist at my stomach which I easily deflected to the side with my elbow, then it brought a boot up to kick me in the face which I caught, and then with a sudden jerk I pulled it off balance and pulling it towards me, I snapped a kick straight into its chest. My attacker flew back and smacked into a tree, slumping down and remaining motionless. It was only then that I got a good look at my assailant.

It was a goddamn Spartan-III. The Spartan wore black downgraded MJOLNIR Mk.4 armour, with a golden SPI helmet to mask the Spartan's face and was maybe a foot or so shorter then I was. Why the fuck were they attacking us?

A roar of anger snapped me out of my thoughts and whipping my head to the side, I saw Ralu spin around on her hoof before striking another Spartan-III with a sidekick, the figure flying back through the bushes. She snapped her head to the side and was about to shoulder charge another when she was jumped on by two other Spartans and wrestled to the ground, roaring, snarling and struggling all the while.

"Goddamnit! Get the hell off of me you fucker!" Crystal cursed, struggling as a Spartan held her arms behind her back and immobilized her.

I started to rush over to her aid when a Spartan-III suddenly jumped in front of me, and would have dropkicked me if I didn't roll under him. Getting to my feet I snarled a few choice words at the Spartan before I launched myself at it.

The Spartan ducked under my punch and then jumped to the side to avoid the punt I aimed at its head. Not giving me any time to recover, the Spartan jumped over me and roundhouse kicked at my head. I was barely able to roll under it, and then spring myself up to avoid the low sweep kick.

Twisting my body, I thrust my elbow into its stomach but the Spartan's shield took the brunt of the attack, and as it twisted away, and grabbed onto my outstretched arm, it threw its hip into me and threw me over its back, but as I rolled over its back I grabbed onto the Spartan's head, and looping my arm around it I brought the Spartan down with me. It started to struggle but stopped as I whipped my knife out and placed it under the Spartan's helmet.

Dragging myself and the Spartan to our feet, I looked over at Flynt and found him engaged against two Spartans, barely dodging and blocking there attacks. All of a sudden Flynt flipped onto his back, and using his leverage he snapped his feet straight up into both of the Spartans helmets, launching them up and away from him. They both hit the ground hard, and while one remained motionless, most likely unconscious, the other struggled to get to its feet. Not giving it any time to recover, Flynt leapt onto the Spartan, and using one arm to wrap its arms around its back, Flynt used his other hand to whip his pistol out and place it against the Spartan's helmet. Everything was deathly silent until a booming voice rang out.

"Stand down Spartans!" A man walked through some bushes into the clearing, followed by two more Spartan-III's.

I glared at the man, practically ready to rip him apart for having his Spartan-III's attack us.

"I am Colonel Renshaw, commanding ONI officer here on this planet. Judging by your looks, you must be Spartan-II's. Identify yourselves." He ordered, and I bristled at the casual way he spoke to us. But he was a commanding officer so I obeyed his order.

"I am Commander Alex, Spartan-099" I said and nodding towards "And that is Chief Petty Officer Flynt, Spartan-101."

The Colonel paused in thought for a moment before saying "Well now that introductions are done, put down your weapons, let go of my Spartans and you will be escorted back to our base where you shall be interrogated." He said it so smugly, as if he were absolutely positive that I was going to listen to him.

If only he knew how wrong he was.

I tightened my grip on the Spartan I was holding and growled out "Like hell I will."

The Colonel's eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed at me as he just understood that I disobeyed him.

"Maybe you didn't hear me Commander. I order you to stand down at once and allow yourself to be escorted back to base!" He barked at me, eyes narrowed in anger.

I just glared right back at him.

"Sir, while you may be the Commanding officer here, I must point out that I have a high value target here that I must get to High Command HQ. This Elite is the first female Elite we have ever seen, and as a Spec Ops Sub-Commander, this Elite might have knowledge that could turn the tide of this war for us. I am charged with bringing her back to Reach." I finished.

"And what does that mean?" The Colonel snarled at me.

Taking a deep breath, I looked straight into his eyes, and said "Which means I have tactical control over your Spartans…. And you sir."

The Colonels eyes nearly bugged out of his head and his face went completely red with anger.

"No way Spartan! Now release my Spartans at once!" He yelled.

"Then release my charge and ODST!" I shouted right back at him.

We glared silently at each other until I pressed the point of my knife a bit harder into the Spartan's neck. I was getting pissed off right now. This proved to me that ONI did not think of us Spartans as soldiers or the defenders of humanity, they saw us as mindless freaks that they could use at their every whim and order around to do their dirty work.

The Spartan let out a gasp of pain and discomfort, and then it spoke with a feminine voice.

"Please Commander… don't." She whimpered out.

'So they were human after all.' I silently mused to myself.

"Your call Colonel." I said, and looked over at Flynt to see him flick the safety off of his pistol.

Everyone was silent until the Colonel ground out "Stand down Spartan-III's and release the Elite and ODST."

The Spartan behind Crystal let go of her hands, and scowling at the Spartan, Crystal went over to and picked up her rifle, then came to stand over by me.

The two Spartans on top of Ralu slowly got off of her, but kept their hands by their side arms in case she attacked.

Ralu growled angrily at the Spartans and looked like she was going to attack them again, but eventually just settled for a snarl and then came to stand off to my side a bit.

I glanced to Flynt and gave him a nod, which he then returned. We both let go of the Spartan-III's at the same time eyes watching the Spartans for any hint of hostility. They did nothing though; just walked back towards the rest of the III's and picked up their weapons.

I sheathed my knife into the holster on my chest, then walked over to and grabbed my MA5B Assault Rifle off the ground. Flynt just holstered his pistol and then grabbed his heavy turret off of the ground.

"Colonel, I need a ship off of this planet. Do you have anything at THOR Base?" I asked him.

He stiffened up, and then said "How the hell do you know the codename of our base?" He barked.

I just pointed to Flynt, who stood tall and remained absolutely silent, glancing at the Colonel.

"Colonel, do you have a ship that can get us off this planet? As you can tell, parts of the planet have been glassed by the Covenant. As to why they haven't glassed this place I have no idea, but what I do know is that this part will eventually become too cold and barren to live on due to the dust blocking out the light and heat from the star in this system. Do you have anything that we can use? A Pelican? A ONI Prowler? Even a Longsword?" I questioned him.

The Colonel glared at me before sneering "We have a Prowler ready to be used, but if you think that I will allow you to use it, then you are sorely-" He was cut off as a Spiker round lodged itself deep into his skull. The Colonel dropped lifelessly to the ground without a sound, and one of the Spartans yelled out "Contacts!"

Everyone snapped their weapons up and started firing at the source of light that emitted when the weapon was fired. A Brute howled in pain before seeming to just materialize out of thin air and it hit the ground dead, its body riddled with bullet holes.

One of the Spartans ran to the colonel and checked his life signs, but it was unnecessary. The Colonel was dead before he even hit the ground.

All of a sudden, multiple howls filled the air, seeming to come from all directions. I glanced back at Ralu, and saw that her eyes were wide with fear. There must have been a reason for Ralu to be afraid of the Brutes, and that made me realize that I had to protect her even more carefully.

Brutes charged out of the forest, firing at us and filling the air with Spiker rounds. A couple of Spartans cried out in pain but everyone quickly snapped their rifles up and started firing back. The Brutes were uncoordinated, and one by one, more Brutes fell to our combined fire. Almost as quickly as it had begun, the firefight ended, and the echoes of our battle bounced back and forth between the trees, creating a very disturbing and high pitched ringing noise.

Four of the Spartan-III's lay on the ground, clutching at their wounds that leaked blood. If we made it to THOR Base, then we would be able to get proper medical attention and then be able to get off of this planet.

"Goddamnit!" The female Spartan that I had fought with growled out, holding her leg which a giant spiker round lodged into it.

"Spartans!" I yelled out "Listen up! As the Commanding Officer alive here, I am taking control of this operation. Now we need to get to Sword Base, and I need you to lead me there. Any objections?" I finished.

"Sir!" One spoke up "I do not feel like I can submit to your authority-" He was cut off as multiple howls split through the hair. They sounded a close and that shut everyone up.

"Move Spartans move!" I shouted out, and sliding my MA5B onto my back, I picked up the female Spartan that was injured bridal style, and started to sprint as fast as I could.

Flynt tossed his heavy turret to one of the Spartans that was running by, and then picked up two injured Spartans and flung them over his shoulder and started to sprint as well.

Crystal was picked up by one of the Spartan-III's and she was too terrified to complain as she looped her arms around the Spartan's neck and clung on for dear life. The other injured Spartan had gotten hit in the arm so was still able to run with us.

As the howls got closer and louder, I picked up my pace even more, sprinting as fast as I could now. Ralu was able to keep pace with us, even with her hands bound, and I could hear everyone panting as we ran away from the Brutes.

That was when I saw it, a bunch of Warthogs!

I ran to the troop carrier hog, and setting down the female Spartan on one of the seats at the back, I handed her my MA5B as well as 3 clips of ammunition for it. "Make them count." I swiftly said and then helped put all of the injured into the back of the troop carrier hog.

I grabbed one of the Spartans "Drive them to THOR Base and keep them safe. We will ride behind you and keep the Brutes from getting to you!" I ordered, and the Spartan nodded before he jumped into the driver's seat and, pressing the ignition button, he floored the Hogs pedal and took off down the slight dirt road with tire tracks in it.

I jumped into the regular hog, and started it up. Glancing back, I saw Crystal getting into the Passenger seat of another Hog, with two other Spartans getting into the driver and gunner seat, before they too sped off down the dirt road. That left Ralu and Flynt. Ralu hopped into the passenger seat with a surprising amount of grace, while Flynt hopped onto the back of the Warthog, and shoving his feet inside the footholds, he yanked the Charging handle back, racking a round into one of the chamber of the tri-barrelled machinegun.

"Let's rock!" Flynt shouted, and I needed no more motivation as I stomped on the accelerator of the Warthog and raced after the other Hogs.

Hey guys im back! After taking a two month break to get my thoughts and motivation back together, I have finally come back to you with a new chapter. Due to popular demand, there will be a chapter that is focused mainly on a lemon between Alex and Ralu. I realize its been a while, and i am probably a but rusty right now. If you spot annything i can improve on that would be great. Otherwise, review and tell me what you think or if you have a question, and i shall respond back to the best of my abilities. Thanks everyone! Read and review!