Disclaimer: I don't own Halo, all OCs are mine

chapter 10: back in black, part 2

date unknown

location: UNSC Spirit of Fire- position unknown

The first thing Kyle felt upon regaining consciousness was pain, then his eyes hurt. All Kyle could see was a blinding blue light that slowly resolved as his vision became better. It turned out to be the monitor, floating mere inches from his face.

"Reclaimer, I am glad you have regained consciousness" he said as he put some distance in between them.

"W-what happened?" Kyle asked, and no sooner had he said that then memories of their transition came back... and Kelly! Kyle scrambled up and saw that the plotting table had broke the fall of the titanium-A beam. Team Omega was also regaining consciousness, but Kelly was nowhere in sight. Kyle looked around the darkened bridge and eventually found her tending to an injured Cutter who bumped his head after falling from his chair.

"I'm fine" Cutter said as he brushed Kelly aside and replaced his cap. "Serina, report."

"Our transition was surprisingly smoother than I thought" the AI said as she materialized on the holopad on the captain's chair. "Our hull was in danger of collapse, but it appears to be perfectly sound now, I can find no signs of damage aside from the breaches we sustained on the trip."

"Kyle, you need to see this" Kalmiya said as she materialized on the other holopad. She override the safeties on the blast doors covering the view ports and opened them. The bridge was instantly brightened by the massive blue-green planet below them.

"Serina, give me a topographic" scan Cutter said as he moved over to the plotting board. Despite taking a titanium-A beam to it, the Plexiglas surface held. Maria and Will cleared the beam off of the table and Cassandra rebooted the holographic emitters. A 3D representation of the plant soon appeared, and Serina began highlighting land masses.

"Australia, North America, Europe. They're all here. And judging from the available starfix, I'd say we're at Earth" Serina reported. "However, I'm not detecting any UNSC instillations, or signals of any kind. There is a variety of low frequency EM and digital transmissions coming from the surface."

"What's the status of the cloaking mechanism?" Cutter asked.

"I activated it when your AIs failed to do so" the monitor said, "we were only visible for a few seconds."

"Sir, I have received a signal from the Light of Truth, they too are in stealth mode and have assumed a higher orbit" Serina reported.

"Signal them to send over their dropship" Cutter said. "Lieutenant Commander, your mission is a go."

--

A half hour later, Kyle and Kelly exited the lockers, dressed in a pair of leather field jackets, cargo pants and black undershirts, all insignia from the Spirit of Fire or the UNSC had been removed, so hopefully the pair would pass as civilians. Both of them were silent on the trip to the hangar deck, Kyle teeming with excitement, and disappointment. He had hoped one day he'd be able to return, but wished it had been under better circumstances than the impending destruction of his Earth. They reached the main hangar deck and were told to wait outside until the Covenant dropship from the Light of Truth had cycled through the airlock. In the mean time, Captain Cutter arrived, being trailed by a brown haired nurse.

"Roll up your sleeve please, Commander" she said as she removed a hyposyringe from her pocket.

"What's all this for?" Kyle asked as the nurse injected him.

"We've been monitoring local broadcasts from Earth and apparently there's been an outbreak of a virus called H1N1 in North America. It's not fatal, but because it was annihilated in our universe we don't typically vaccinate for it anymore the nurse said."

"We also isolated the local date, it's April 24, 2009" Cutter said.

"2009" Kyle muttered, "I've been gone for nearly nine months."

"Don't worry, I'm sure they're still down there" Kelly said as she put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"One more thing" Cutter said as he handed Kyle and Kelly arm bracelets, "transponders, so we can track you at all times."

Cuter went over to the small armory on the wall and removed a pair of M6Ds, then handed them over to the Spartans.

"You're not going down there unarmed" Cutter said, "no exceptions."

"Fair enough" Kyle said as he attached the holster to the back of his pants, Kelly doing the same.

"Commander, let me make myself quite clear right now, your only priority is to make contact with your parents. Do not make any attempt to warn the population, or to rescue anyone else. We'll be tracking you the entire time, and if the Covenant arrive before you're finished, proceed immediately to the rendezvous point."

"Understood, sir" Kyle said.

Cutter saluted and then left the room with the nurse, as they left the holopad next to the door activated and displayed Kalmiya's avatar.

"How are you holding up?" She asked.

"Just fine" Kyle replied.

"You know, I wish I was going with you. Being cooped up here isn't exactly a walk in the park" Kalmiya said. "The Captain has Serina keeping an eye on my every move in the system."

"We'll be back home soon enough" Kyle said.

"Yeah, where ONI will want to dissect me for my augmented programing" Kalmiya said bitterly.

"I won't let them do that to you" Kyle said.

"Hey, one problem at a time, get your family out first and we'll worry about me later, deal?"

Deal Kyle said as the computer indicated the dropship had cycled through the Spirit's airlock. Kalmiya waved to Kyle as he and Kelly entered the hangar deck and spotted the lone green phantom among the gray pelicans. Kyle saw it was being guarded by helljumpers from the Razor's Edge, men who were more accustomed to elites than the rest of the Spirit's crew. The lead ODST gave Kyle a slight nod as he and Kelly stood underneath the dropship. The circular hatch in it's belly opened up and a purple light encompassed the two Spartans and brought them into the dropship. They were suspended inside the ship until a reptilian hand entered the beam and pulled both Spartans out.

"Apologies for the grav beam, it is in need of repair" the elite who helped them out said. He was wearing the standard white armor of Taloar's group. "I am Quen 'Atuggee, your pilot."

"Nice to meet you" Kyle said as he and Quen went into the cockpit.

"Where is our destination?" the elite asked as he showed Kyle a holographic map of Earth. Kyle went over and magnified north America, then selected the Mid-Atlantic states.

"There's a river that runs through the city in the middle of this area. Alexandria is on the southern bank just south of the city."

"I have it on sensors" the elite said as he took his station, "we shall be taking off shortly, I will activate the stealth generator once we are clear of your ship."

Kyle returned to the back of the dropship and sat with Kelly. Neither of them talked on the ride down, and Kelly could only guess as to what Kyle was feeling, happiness, disappointment? They hadn't been detected during their descent and soon Quen was calling to them to say they had arrive and he was setting them down in a forest.

"I will remain above the city until you signal me" Quen said as he opened the bottom hatch and activated the grav beam. Kyle stepped in first and was gently deposited to the ground, Kelly following. Kyle locked up and saw the dropship ascending, and activating stealth at the same time. Kyle took a look around, and realized where they were in relation to Alexandria.

"I know where we are" Kyle said as he took off running through the woods, Kelly in pursuit.

Kyle, will you wait up! Kelly called before deciding to simply overtake him. By the time she had caught up to Kyle, he had already cleared the woods and was standing on a hill. Kelly ran up to join him. The hill overlooked the entire city of Alexandria, off in the distance Kelly could see the Potomac river and beyond that was another city she didn't recognize. It was dominated by a great white obelisk and a domed building.

"Do you know how to get home from here?" Kelly asked.

"Yeah, but we're not going there first" Kyle said as he started down the hill

"Kyle, this isn't what you promised the Captain, you go off mission and he'll throw you in the brig!" Kelly said.

"I'm not going off mission, I need to know if its still safe to try and see them" Kyle replied, "don't you remember what happened last time?"

"Ok, fair enough. But where are we going then?" Kelly asked.

"To see the only person who probably knows" Kyle replied.


April 24, 2009

location: Alexandria, VA- T.C. Williams High School

"Come on" Mike moaned impatiently as he sat at his desk in last period study, waiting for the bell to sound. When it did, he was one of the first students to grab his bag and be out the door. Mike did a quick stop by his locker before heading out the door, and was immediately ambushed by Jessie Gilmore and his two friends.

"Mike, you coming with us tonight or what?" He asked.

"Jessie, you know I can't" Mike replied.

"Gonna go hang out with nutcase Catlin again?" Jessie's girlfriend Rachel asked.

"She's not a nutcase!" Mike fired back.

"Come on, she's been screwed up in the head ever since her boyfriend killed himself" Jessie's other friend Jake said.

"He died of a brain aneurysm!" Mike barked at him.

"Please, that's just what his family said to avoid the embarrassment" Jake said.

Mike marched forward and prepared to hit Jake, until Jessie blocked his path and held him back.

"Jake, do us both a favor and keep that kinda shit to yourself" Jessie said to Jake.

"Man whatever" Jake said as he and Rachel left for the parking lot. Jessie let Mike go and he picked up his backpack.

"You should have let me punch some sense into that dickhead" Mike said.

"I'll handle his mouth" Jessie said, "but man, he's right about Catlin. She's messed up, that's why she's home schooled now. Why do you keep her company anymore?"

"Because that's what Kyle would have wanted" Mike said as he went off in the direction of his car which was parked in the far lot next to the woods. He reached his truck, threw his backpack in the bed and had just removed his keys when he herd a rustle from the woods next to the lot. With in a few seconds, a hand was put over his mouth and he was pulled backwards into the woods. Mike tried to struggle but this guy's grip was too strong.

"I'm gonna put you down now, try not to scream" a feminine voice said.

Mike was tossed to the ground and he began coughing from lack of air. Someone extended a hand and helped Mike onto his feet. Mike's jaw nearly dropped when he saw who it was.

"Dude... what the hell are you doing here, are you insane!?"

"Nice to see you too" Kyle replied.

"No Kyle, you don't understand. After you blew the hell out of the police station the government figured out I was hiding you. They friggen arrested be and threatened me with GITMO!" Mike said.

"So then what happened to you?" Kelly asked from behind him.

"They made me sign a couple of forms of nondisclosure, and told me to contact them if either of you showed up. They said if I didn't they'd send me... and my mom to prison."

"How the hell can they do that!?" Kelly said. "Don't you have rights?"

"Yeah not if you're an enemy combatant" Mike said. "The president may be black, but he's not stupid."

"Wait, there's a black president now?" Kyle asked.

"Dude you missed a whole lot, AC/DC has a new album and is on tour, there's a new Star Trek coming out, and..."

"Look, I don't care about all that" Kyle said, cutting his friend off, "I need to know where my parents are."

"They had to sign the same shit I did, otherwise they'd dishonorably discharge your brother and send Josh to live in foster care, in addition to prison time" Mike said.

"I need to see them anyway, this is important" Kyle said.

Mike sighed, "Look... I'll take you if you want, but I'm not staying. I've got some... things to do."

--

After a quick ride in Mike's truck, they were at Kyle's old house. There were two cars parked in the driveway, one of them Kyle recognized as his mother's. Kyle didn't know who the other car belonged to, but decided that even if company was over he still had to do this. Kelly got out of the cab first, but Kyle stayed back a moment.

"Listen Mike, you need to pack some stuff and get over to the park within the hour" Kyle said.

"What?"

"Mike, for once in your life listen to me and just do this" Kyle said. "Get your mom too."

"Kyle, is something gonna happen?" Mike asked.

"Mike, don't argue with me, just do it!" Kyle said as he got out of the truck and joined Kelly in the front yard as Mike pulled away.

"Cutter won't let him aboard, you know that" Kelly said to him, she had apparently overheard their conversation.

"I know, which is why I'll have him go over to the Light of Truth" Kyle said, "Cutter doesn't need to know that he was even on the dropship."

"You ready for this?" Kelly asked.

"No" Kyle said, "how do I tell them the world is going to end?"

"At least you won't have to do it alone" Kelly said as she took his hand and gave him a quick peck on the lips.

"Listen, Kelly. Don't tell my parents about us, or Rebbecca" Kyle said.

"Why wouldn't you want me too?" Kelly said.

"Because I wanna be the one to do it, and I'm afraid of what my father would say to you" Kyle said, "he's a real hard core conservative. The face we're not married and have a kid isn't going to please him."

"He can pout all he wants, Kyle" Kelly said, "but if this is what you want to do, I'll go with it."

"Thanks, Kelly" Kyle replied, "let's do this."

They walked over to the front door and Kyle rung the bell. He held his breath as the door opened and his mother stood there dumbfounded.

"Oh my god!" She said in a whisper, "is it..."

"It's me" Kyle said.

He didn't waste another second and quickly hugged his mother, she wrapping her arms around her son.

"I'm home."

"Honey, what's going...." came the voice of Kyle's father when he came to see who was at the door. Kyle! He said when he saw his son.

"Dad" Kyle muttered, he was expecting him to be on deployment, but he was glad his father was here.

Alan Stevens put a hand on his son's shoulder before giving him a hug. When they parted, his mother had come over to join them.

"I swear you're looking more and more like your father every day" Marlyn Stevens said to her son.

"Thanks, mom. But we need to talk" Kyle said.

--

Kelly hadn't participated in the meet and greet, and was perfectly content just waiting in the other room. Kelly hadn't looked around much when she was here last, manly because of the pressing circumstances. She didn't look upstairs but instead wandered into the dining room adjacent to the front door. When she was satisfied that she wasn't going to have any eavesdroppers, Kelly reached into her pocket and pulled out the picture of Rebbecca she brought with her.

"I miss you, sweetie" Kelly whispered to herself.

She thought about what Kyle must be telling his parents, they weren't even that old and to find out they suddenly have a granddaughter must be a shocker. Then there was Kyle mentioning his father wouldn't take well to the news. Combined with the fact the Earth was going to be attacked, they had effectively turned their world upside down.

"She's cute" Marlyn Stevens said as she entered the dining room and saw Kelly looking at the picture.

Oh crap Kelly thought when Marlyn came over to look more closer.

"She's yours?" Marlyn asked.

"Uhh, yeah. She's mine" Kelly replied as she put the photo away.

"How old is she?"

"Six" Kelly replied, "and a handful to control."

"Kyle and his brothers were the same way" Marlyn said, "I imagine you had to leave her with her father while you came here."

"Yeah, something like that" Kelly said. Oh yeah, I lied. The father's in the next room getting yelled at for having kids out of wedlock she thought to herself. "Why'd you leave?"

"Kyle said he had to speak to his father in private about something" Marlyn replied, "I don't see why though, whatever it was Kyle knows he can say it in front of me. I don't really mind, I have to go pick up his younger brother from soccer practice."

"It's more serious than you think" Alan said as he entered the dining room, followed by Kyle.

"Alan, Kyle? What's going on?" Marlyn asked.

"You'd better tell her, Kyle" Alan said to his son.

Kyle swallowed hard and told his mother of the impending Covenant attack, and his plan to bring them back to his universe.

"No" his father flat out said, "we're not leaving."

"Dad, come on" Kyle pleaded.

"Kyle, no! You of all people know I don't run away from a fight. You have no idea what they did to us after you came here the last time."

"I have an idea, from what Mike told me" Kyle said.

"Your father lost command of his company" Marlyn said, "they didn't want to tarnish his record, so they promoted him to Major and gave him a desk job as the cover."

"You know how much I like field command, Kyle. I won't run from a fight" Alan said.

"Listen to yourselves!" Kelly chimed in, "me and Kyle actually know this enemy, fought them, and watched them kill countless billions. I am telling you there is no way to win in this situation, no way to resist, no way to fight. You wanna stay here and die, fine, at least think about your kids for crying out loud!"

"Marlyn... go get Josh, and when you get home, start packing" Alan said. "Kyle, you're right, I read those books of yours after you left and I know exactly what you went up against. If this is as bad as you say it is, then we need to leave, now."

"Thank you for listening, dad" Kyle said.

"You're older brother is still on deployment, I can pull some strings and get him back tonight if we're lucky" Alan said. "Do we have that long?"

"I honestly couldn't tell you" Kyle said, "but the sooner the better."

"I'll call in to CENTCOM, I have a few friends who owe me favors" Alan said, "but he's been assigned to a special outfit, I'm not sure I can just...."

"Alan, two Marines are at the door" Marlyn said.

"Kyle, you and your friend better sneak out the back while you still have time" Alan said, "we both know what they're here for."

Kyle's mother and father went towards the front door while Kelly and Kyle hung back in the dining room.

"Should we try and make a break fro the woods yet?" Kelly asked.

"No, hold on" Kyle said as he father opened the front door.

"Major Alan Stevens?" One of the Marines asked.

"Yes" Alan replied.

"Sir, we regret to inform you that your son is missing in action in Iraq" the Marine said. "He is presumed either killed or captured by the Iranian revolutionary guard, in either case there's no trace of him."

"Oh god, not again" Kyle's mother said as she broke down into tears and leaned on Alan's arm. Kyle and Kelly being witness to the whole thing.

--

Across town, Mike had just pulled into the Simmons residence and was met at the door by a woman clearly of Native American descent.

"Hi Mike, she's upstairs" the woman said as she let him inside.

"Thanks, Mrs Simmons" Mike said as he went inside and bounded up the stairs to the second floor. He found the first door on the left open and he went inside, dropped his bag on the nearest char and walked over to the girl sitting on her bed.

"Mike, how was school?" She asked.

"Jake making his usual remarks about you" Mike said.

"It doesn't matter, he doesn't have to say it to my face so I'm cool" Catlin Simmons replied. "Mike, I know you don't have to keep seeing me like this."

"Kyle would have wanted it" Mike said,

Saying that made Catlin's face sour.

"Oh, I didn't mean to get you upset" Mike said.

"Nah, it's no problem" Catlin said, "it just fells like yesterday he was here with me, cuddling sometimes, making out."

"Come on, can we not discuss your sex life with him" Mike groaned.

"Well we did a little of that, too" Catlin giggled.

Mike chuckled a bit too, but the fun didn't last long as Catlin's mom came in.

"uhh, Mike this man is apparently here to..."

She was shoved out of the way just as three men appeared, two in suits stood guard at the door while the third, wearing business casual, with gray hair and piercing blue eyes stepped in. He reached into his coat and removed an ID wallet which he flipped open. Inside was a badge and an ID that read: Department of the Navy: Navy Criminal Investigative Service.

"Michael Wilson?" He asked, "we need to talk, concerning your friend Kyle."