The Rabbit and the Wolfe

Back again! Hope all of you enjoyed the last one! I hope you are up for a bit of romance, because that is what's going down. It won't be anything special (that comes later), but it will be merely a taste of what's to come. Oh, and another thing: there will be some Amber cuteness included as well. Let's get this party started!

14. SPARTANS Can Get Drunk

Earth Surface

Oceania Region (Western Australia)

Brittany stretched her arms above her head as she miserably tried to stifle another yawn. Sitting up in her bed, she glanced at the sleeping Spartan on the floor. She had offered Sandra her bed, but her offer had been rejected on the grounds that she was too big for it. Her features turned into a pout as they fell upon her friend once again. Your too nice. This bed is definitely big enough for you. Even if you did grow almost a foot since we last saw you. Her eyes lazily roamed over Sandra's tanned frame, pausing nowhere in particular. She could see lingering scars and slightly mismatched skin tones, the product of skin grafts. Her pout tuned into a frown. Jesus. You guys must have gone through hell and back. She thought sadly. It angered her in a way. That she thought it was a good thing Sandra was out there fighting instead of her. Sandra had been born for the service. It fit her like a glove. Speaking for herself…well it just wasn't for her. Alright! Enough moping around! Time to start the day! She quietly snuck out of bed, tiptoeing her way around the slumbering form on her floor and out into the small kitchenette. There she found Carlie sitting at one of the stools sipping a steamy beverage, staring at a data pad in her hand.

"Hey." She half-whispered in greeting, a smile on her face. Multicolored locks tuned to greet her roommate, a small smile offered in return. Brittany plodded past her pulling a similar mug from one of the cabinets and filling it with the mahogany colored liquid. She shuffled into the stool beside her as a comfortable silence descended upon the two. A few minutes later that silence was broken as Carlie tossed the pad on the counter, running her hands worriedly through her locks.

"Jesus. These attacks are getting worse and worse by the day." Brittany gently laid her hand on top of the chocolate one, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "I know." Was all she said in reply. Even though the war with the Covenant was over, it didn't mean hostilities had stopped altogether. They had just been put on hold for 30 years. With the common enemy defeated, old grudges and rivalries reared their ugly heads, uttering guttural war cries like some mangled, malformed creature of the night. The UNSC had enough on their plate without the added wars and feuds that raged across their worlds.

"So what should we do today?" Carlie asked, eager to return to happier topics.

"I don't know. Maybe walk around town. Hopefully, tonight we can get into Snarky's. I'll make sure Indigo calls, reserve us some seats."

"What about Kelly?" Carlie looked up just in time to see Brittany glance at the front door. Kelly had been gone since last night, but had left her stuff there, which meant she was planning on returning sometime before they left to collect her gear.

"What about her?" Carlie growled out. She didn't like the other Spartan. Far too quiet and reserved for her tastes, she thought that the woman simply didn't want to be there in the first place.

"You think we should save her a spot?" The only response was a shrug of the shoulders. In Carlie terms that meant if she shows, she shows. If not, no harm done.

The slipped back into that comfortable silence once again. At least until Indigo stepped out into the kitchen with her ridiculous looking pajamas, complete with a tail and tiger slippers. The other two couldn't help themselves as they burst into a fit of quiet giggles.

"Wow, you really like cats." Brittany snuck out in between fits of giggles. Indigo just stuck out her pink oral muscle in return as she poured her own cup of coffee and sat down beside her friends.

"No, what she really likes is pus- OW!" The rest of her sentence came out as a hiss as Brittany jabbed her in the ribs. Carlie ignored the glare thrown by her raven haired companion.

"What this idiot meant to say was: are you bringing her tonight? We are dying to meet the person you can't stop raving over." Indigo could feel the heat creep up her face as her friends shot angry, but meaningless glares at each other.

"Uh…" Indigo started, unsure whether she should invite the girl she has been seeing for the past few months.

"Come on, I will be on my best behavior." Carlie added hopefully. "If you don't I can find you a nice young man to-" It was Indigo's turn to glare at her friend.

"You know I'm as gay as your hair." She hissed, aware of Sandra sleeping in the other room. Carlie quickly gave her an apologetic look.

"Sorry. We just really want to meet her. See if she passes the test." Indigo humphed in mock indignation.

"You'll find out tonight." She responded with some finality, but a small smile lingered on her face. From there, their discussion turned to what they wanted to show Sandra around the city.

UNSC Infinity (S-deck)

Docked with Manhattan Station

Pale fingers absentmindedly stroked a chip which had no light. A golden visor stared longingly out into the stars from inside its home of olive colored alloys. Motionless. Stationary. Humanity's Savior, the Master Chief stared at the AI chip splayed loosely about in his hand. So fragile, gentle. Harmless. Whispers of a past life reached his well-seasoned ears.

"John."

"They let me pick. Did I ever tell you that? Choose whichever Spartan I wanted. You know me. I did my research. Watched as you became the soldier we needed you to be. Like the others, you were strong and swift and brave. A natural leader. But you had something they didn't. Something no one saw, but me. Can you guess…? Luck."

"You know me. When I make a promise…" "You…keep it. I do know how to pick 'em."

"We were supposed to take care of each other. And we did."

John closed his eyes for a moment, as if the simple action would bring his friend back from the dead. When he opened them again, the same expanse of space greeted his eyes. Though he shed no tears nor break the neutral look that adorned his face, he missed her greatly. Her intelligence. Her battlefield strategies. Their synchronization and cohesion. Her demeanor…Her smile.

"Cortana." He put as much emotion as he could muster into that one word. Confidence. Doubt. Joy. Sorrow. Longing. Humor.

Love.

He sat in contemplative silence as he listened to the hum of the ship around him. He did not have to wait long before footsteps broke the stillness of his own world. He recognized them instantly. He stood, picking his helmet off the table beside him and stowed his dogtags before the armored footfalls made it to the doorway.

"Chief. You ready?" Fred's commanding voice called out to his leader, in what could be attributed as the closest thing that could be labeled 'concern'. Though that in itself was a stretch. Blue Leader gave a silent nod in return. The sound of their combat boots intermingled with one another as they made their way to one of the training rooms aboard the massive flagship.

Earth Surface

Oceania Region (Eastern Australia)

Linda smiled a genuine smile as tucked a spare strand of red hair behind her ear. This was the 19th café she had been to today and the food kept getting better and better. The blueberry muffins were absolutely scrumptious. She paid her bill with her credit chip and exited the small establishment, walking lazily down the street. The smile she had on moments before quickly morphed into a frown the more people she passed on the street. Not many civilians were used to seeing an extremely pale woman who towered over almost everyone. The myriad of looks she was receiving quickened her pace. Linda felt naked outside her armor and without her Nornfang, she felt even more so. Luckily the familiar weight of the M6 eased her discomfort, if only slightly. She breathed a sigh of relief as she entered another restaurant. A waited shower her to a small table in the corner. A preferable spot with a clear view of routes of infil/exfil. She looked over the menu and placed her order on the pad on the table.

Taking sips of her water (with an actual lemon), she thought joyfully, she observed the other patrons while waiting for her food. A group of middle-aged men watching a sports game. A trio of teenage girls laughing at something undiscernible. A few others scattered here and there, doing various tasks. A few cased cursory glances her way, but most were too wrapped up in what they were doing. Either that or they simply ignored the Spartan's presence. Is this what civilian life is like? She shared John's unstated sentiments that it was undisciplined. But she was not judging them. The UNSC was all she had ever known. Unlike Spartan Wolfe, her brain snapped at her. As much as an intrusion as she thought 'Blue 5' was to Blue Team, she freely acknowledged her expert skills, especially with an energy sword. But her attachment to Blue Team had created a worrisome crack between Kelly and the rest of the team. And if not addressed and repaired, it could end badly. Or with one of us dead. She added bitterly. She didn't hate her. She just needed the team dynamic back. Linda cleared those thoughts from her head as the waiter placed her order on the table. She nodded in thanks and ate calmly, without a sense of hurry or agitation.

The waiter had come by and cleared her plate away. She continued to sip on her water, watching the flow of customers with passing interest. A slight tug on her pant leg caused her to stiffen. Reminding herself she was not in hostile territory she eased the hand away from her pistol and looked down. A boy, by her approximate guess, no more than 8 or 9 at the oldest was looking up at her with shining eyes and a beaming smile.

"Hi. My name is Max. What's yours? Are you an Army lady? My daddy was in the Army. Mum said he had to go away on a trip. That makes me sad. Did you know my dad? How tall are you? Your pretty. Not as pretty as my mum though. She's the prettiest. Do you shoot things? Is it cool? I want to be in the Army like my dad when I grow up."

"Uh…" Linda said nervously after the endless onslaught of questions finally relented, glancing around feverishly trying to find the boy's mother. He opened his mouth again, much to the sniper's annoyance, but stopped as a voice cut through the air.

"Max." Came the half-hiss, half shout of a woman as she walked up to her table. She bent down to his level, had a quick conversation, and sent him scrambling back to their own table. Standing to her full height, Linda was able to get a better look at her. A petite face, sat upon a similarly thin frame. Her skin pinkish skin tone and small features gave Linda no sense of where she came from, even if she had a clue. The most striking feature about her was the fact that she had aquamarine colored hair. The wavy curls cascaded down her back of her head like a waterfall, complete with the white tips at the end.

"So sorry about that. My nephew, Max, is very inquisitive. Just like his father." A gentle smile adorned her face as she regarded the sniper before her eyes widened suddenly in surprise. "Oh, where are my manners? I'm Megan. Megan Dikos." She stuck out an unblemished hand in greeting.

"058, ma'am". She cursed herself as Megan squinted in confusion at her odd response. You are in a civilian establishment, act like it! She shook her head as to present the fact she was in her own world. "Sorry. Linda." She took Megan's hand and shook it, keeping a loose grip on it as not to shatter her unaugmented bones. That still didn't stop the woman from massaging her hand afterward.

"Forgive my forwardness, but are you a soldier?" Linda nodded her head, even though she was becoming uncomfortable in the woman's presence.

"Army?"

"Navy."

An air of silence hung over as they tried to find what to say next, well at least Megan did. Linda continued to sip calmly at her water. The aquamarine haired woman nervously wrung her hands together as her mind was a whirlwind of chaotic thoughts. Oh god! What do I say?! What do I say!? She obviously likes food. Well, duh! Everyone likes food. Her skin tone is creepily white though. But she is quite striking. Not to mention those muscles! Focus Megan! First, she's a soldier. Second, she's a woman. Not that there is anything wrong with that! I'm just a sucker for big muscles, no matter who accompanies them. It's well beyond awkward now: either say something or go!

"Uh…, Linda was it.?" The Spartan nodded again, barely casting a glance her way.

"Would you like…do you want to…what I meant to say was…" Linda gave her a confused look, not understanding where she was going with this. Megan took a deep breath to steady herself. "Do you want to eat dinner with me? You seem to like food…and…it will just be the two of us..." She interrupted herself to by waving her hands in front of her rapidly darkening cheeks. "N-not that it's a date or anything like that! It just you seemed to like food a lot and I know of a good place and…" Linda held up a closed fist out of reflex. Megan had seen enough military vids to know what that meant; she forced her jaw to snap shut, cutting off any further rambling.

"…"

"…Perhaps."

The nervous wreck Megan had previously been disappeared as if a switch had been flipped. A beaming smile replaced the flustered look moments before. "Great!" She took an old looking writing utensil from her hair and grabbed a nearby napkin. She quickly jotted down her name, restaurant, its address, the time to meet.

"Well, I hope you can make it! Gotta go, bye!" Without another word she turned on her heel and walked back to her own table, collecting Max and another individual before leaving. Once they left, Linda closed her eyes to try to regain a sense of peace. What was that? Why did I agree to that? Well, I can always walk away. As she stood up, she pushed all thoughts about the conversation from her mind, but took the napkin nonetheless. She needed to take a walk.

UNSC Infinity (P-deck)

Docked with Manhattan Station

As a holder of two PhD's and the closest thing to an expert in SPARTAN physiology as one could be, she was confident in her abilities. There was not an intellectual or academic challenge she couldn't handle. That being said, interacting with people was a little difficult, not to mention frustrating at times. Soldiers she could do. They were grown men and women. Children were another thing altogether. Human ones were bad enough, but alien? Don't even get her started. This is why she found herself panting heavily, hands planted firmly on her knees, her heart pounding in her throat. Goddamn it. Why do I have to be the bloody babysitter?

"Roland?" She called out loud.

"It's quite funny, doctor. I didn't know Sangheili children had so much stamina. Someone of your influence should be-"

"Roland! Where is she?" She cut him off.

"Currently 43 meters ahead, giving some of the crew quite a jump."

She nodded fervently, wiping the sweat from her brow, forcing her legs into another sprint. Up ahead, things were not much better. Marines were struck stupid as a small Sangheili ran past them, laughing freely. Others bumped into and tripped over one another as they stopped to look at her. Her purple robe flowed around her small body as she ran. It still had rips and tears from when she was found, but at least it was clean. She was so happy to see other people she gave them a hug, though being only two and a half feet tall, those actions were limited to their legs. For being only 3 years old, she was quite strong, forcing their legs together in an impromptu hug. Naturally, the only way these soldiers could go was down. Some of them hit quite hard. Blood and plenty of grumbling flowed in Amber's wake as she made her way across the deck.

"Someone…catch her!" Dr. Cassidy's exhausted shout could be heard down the corridor. Then it became a game for the little alien as she nimbly dodged the clumsy attempts to apprehend her. Outbursts of "Pway! Pway!" joined the symphony of curses and grunts as all kinds of members of the UNSC tried to halt the little one's joyful exploration of humanity's flagship.

Captain Lasky held a thin smile as he walked the halls of his ship. Crewmembers saluted as he passed, Thomas offering a nod or salute in return. The refits were underway and the Infinity was well on its way towards NIGHTSHADE. His success in making sure Blue Team enjoyed some actual leave Bout time. They deserve it for what they have given the UNSC and Humanity. Without them, I'm sure we would have lost this war already. A girlish squeal brought him out of his musings prematurely.

"Roland, what was that?"

"Not to be a bother, sir, but you might want to move out of the way…now." His eyes widened in surprise as a small Sangheili wrapped in a purple robe rounded the corner, giggling joyfully. Careening around the corner were at least four marines, two ONI officers, and three technicians. Raspy, exhausted cries of 'Stop…please' and 'Cut it out' were completely ignored by Amber as the men and woman stumbled over each other to catch the grey nuisance. Without missing a beat, Lasky bent down and scooped the small girl into his arms. Like parting the sea, the officers steered clear of their Captain, instead choosing to collapse to the ground in a heap.

"Hello there. What are you doing on my ship?" his smile grew as Amber let out a huff of frustration at finally being caught, turning her head to stare at the deck plates. His gaze turned to the collapsed members still sprawled out on the deck. "You've had your fun. Get back to work." A multitude of grumbles and slurred 'yes sir's' reached his ears as he walked the way he came, Amber clutched in his arms. Turning the corner, he almost ran into Dr. Cassidy, who was desperately trying to stay with the others.

"Doctor, is she your responsibility?" A relieved look, if slightly tinged with fear, met his steely gaze.

"Yes…sir…" She responded in between gulps of air.

He nodded once, handing the surprisingly calm Sangheili back to Bridget. "See to it that her…explorations are a little more controlled next time." A tired nod was all he received in return. He crouched down to her level. Now that Amber's fun had been spoiled, she quietly hid behind the doctor's legs. Lasky recognized the look in her eyes: curiosity and fear.

"What's your name." His voice took on an uncharacteristically soft tone as a smile spread across his face. A genuine one.

"Ambur."

"Well, Amber, did you have fun?" A tentative nod.

"Pway again?" Her golden eyes brimmed with wetness. Tears on the verge of being shed. It took him a moment before he put together that she was asking if she would be allowed to play again. Smart kid. Though I can't really have her running unchecked on the ship.

"Sure. You can play again." Her mandibles clamped together, the saurian's equivalent of a human smile, as she wiped the wetness from her face. "But only if you are with someone. We can't have you running around without proper supervision." She nodded fervently, willing to agree to the terms. With a smile on his face he stood up to face the doctor.

"See that this doesn't happen again."

"Yes sir." He stood there until Dr. Cassidy was out of sight, Amber carried in her arms. This outfit gets better and better every day.

Earth Surface

Oceania Region (Western Australia)

From Kelly's vantage point across the street, the tavern looked busy. Snarky's was a one of the smallest buildings on the block, yet it was packed to the brim almost every day. Patrons would rave about the friendly atmosphere and the wonderful food and those comments kept people coming back for more. The owner, Jason, took pride in the rustic environment his customers found themselves in when they entered the front doors. His knew his regulars by name and actually cared about how they were doing. He would listen to their problems and offer advice if they wanted it, but kept a respectable distance all the same.

Why did I even bother coming here if I wasn't going to participate? Belay that. Why am I down here in the first place? Of course it was because of her. For the first 12 hours Operation: 'Forget about Sandra and Amber' had been a spectacular success as she ambled about the city, taking in all the sights and smells it had to offer. As night approached, it had quickly plummeted into a cluster fuck of whirling emotions and images that left her confused, tired, and distracted on more than one level. I can still salvage what's left of this op. I just need to go in there and act… to be honest with herself, she didn't know how she should act. Outside of military protocol, her social skills were nonexistent. A Spartan never backs down from a challenge. Victory at all costs.

With her mentality set in place, she marched across the street during a lull in the traffic. The neon sign cast a purple glow upon her shoulders as she gently opened the door. Stepping into the atrium delicious smells of all kinds assaulted her systems. Almost all of them were foreign to her, but her mind extracted a few fuzzy memories of a life she never really had.

"E-excuse me ma'am, but did y-you have a reservation?" The young man was clearly intimidated by Kelly powerful, looming presence. The Spartan tilted her head, almost imperceptibly, at the server's question. The seemingly cold stare she gave him forced him back a step. Some of the patrons looked over in her direction, interested in what the commotion was all about. All of the attention made Kelly stiffen slightly, but felt relieved at the weight in the small of her back.

"Kelly!" A cheery voice burst forth from the corner. The woman in question caught rainbow hair at the edge of her vision. Without waiting for further instruction she quickly maneuvered her way to the booth in the corner. Oriented in a circular fashion, Carlie, Indigo, Sandra, Brittany, and an unknown person were already sitting at the table. Upon her arrival, they all shifted over, allowing Kelly to ease into the cushion next to Sandra. The furniture protested the extra weight, but held steadfast.

"Nice of you to join us." Indigo indulged what the group was thinking

"Humph. Didn't think you would." Carlie added, but was quickly shut down by a glare from Brittany. She just shrugged and returned to nursing her drink.

"Before I forget, this is Rachael, my girlfriend." Kelly just leveled a neutral stare at the new woman. For some reason, she took an immediate dislike to her. Her black hair curled down her back and her face looked unnatural, caked in what could be some sort of beauty products. Kelly didn't know, nor did she particularly care. She mentally cast her aside. As if some sort of sixth sense, Rachel gave the two Spartans a disgusted look before masking it with a beaming, forced smile. A light elbow to the ribs broke her contact with the loathing woman. Looking down she saw a crumpled napkin in front of her. Casting a quick glance to her teammate, a quick gesture was all that was needed for her to uncrumple the napkin. A message was written in loopy, if somewhat choppy letters:

FAKE-ASS BITCH

Kelly crumpled the napkin again and dropped it to the floor. Opinions of others didn't matter. Just the mission. A young, female waiter approached their table.

"What can I get ya'll to drink tonight?" Kelly was the only one who had not ordered a drink yet, so the question was directed at her.

"Water." Kelly said in a stoic tone.

"And two Siberian Hellfires." Carlie chimed in. Kelly shot the woman a sharp look, but the girl didn't back down, only offering a steely gaze of her own.

"What? Scared of a little alcohol, Princess?" She smirked as the Spartans face twitched in displeasure. The waiter looked between the two women, unsure of who's order to type on her pad. Without looking at the waiter, Kelly shook her head.

"Negative." Carlie's nod sent the woman away to collect the drinks when they were prepared. They continued to stare at one another before Rachael's voice broke them apart.

"Anyway, as I was saying, we only won this war because of Marines like my brother and his friends. Not because of those Spartan freaks." Her nasally, screechy words made the two Spartans stiffen in anger. While Kelly maintained a calm exterior, Sandra looked like she was seconds away from putting a bullet in her skull. A bump of the shoulder from Kelly eased the younger Spartan somewhat, but she still glared at the slanderous woman. Rachael caught the look and a sly smirk crossed her face. Apparently, she hit a nerve.

"Yea. And there were some rumors I heard that the Spartans were originally created to put down the Insurrectionists. Snuff out any resistance to UNSC control. They claimed these soldiers were recruited from all corners of UNSC space. Bullshit. I don't know where they got those machines from, but they sure as hell weren't recruited from some backwater shithole. Want to know what's worse? They get all the glory while people like my brother and all of their accomplishments are swept under the rug!" As the woman continued with her venom-laced speech, a cold rage started to build in Kelly's veins. The normally quiet Spartan was about to give the woman a tongue lashing, but Sandra was the one who snapped first.

"Listen here you little shit." He eyes burned with fury and rage as she cut into her rant. The younger Spartan's body was so tense, it seemed even a light touch would cause her to explode. "I happen to be on very good terms with many Spartans. And I can say, without a doubt, that I would not be alive today if it wasn't for their abilities, strength, stamina, or bravery. These freaks, as you called them, were the only reason we didn't lose this war. As an ODST, I can personally attest that they would have taken a bullet for me, as I would gladly have done for them. They are heroes, some of whom paid the ultimate price so Humanity could live on. Not so assholes like you could ground their name in the mud. So do us all a favor and get the fuck out." Her last words came down heavy like avails as the entire table became utterly silent. With one last glare and a look of disgust plastered on her face, Racheal grabbed her coat and stomped out, her heels clicking against the wooden floors.

"Good riddance." Carlie breathed.

"Some girlfriend." Brittany mumbled.

Their drinks finally arrived, pulling their attention back to the table. Kelly picked up her Siberian and downed it in one tip. Her eyes burned with unshed tears and her throat felt like it had been set alight then someone tried to rip it out. Ragged coughs were ripped from her lungs as she tried to fight the powerful effects of the alcohol. Sandra downed her in the same way, experiencing similar effects. The girls just laughed at them, stating that some beverages were to be finished bit by bit, not all in one go. Kelly nodded dumbly, blinking away the drops of pain that sat below her eyes. She really didn't want another one, but that asshole, Rachael, words kept circling in her head. She wanted to forget them. Forget her. Remove her existence from memory.

As the drinks kept coming, Kelly's belly warmed up, the organ enjoying the fiery liquid placed within it. The warmer her stomach got, the fuzzier her memory became. Solid images began to fragment and distort themselves as her impaired mind tried to keep up with the intake of alcohol. Though her enhancements fought hard to combat the toxins raging within her blood, they didn't call it 'Hellfire' for nothing. The heat in her belly gradually rose to her face. Swirling images and sensations made it hard for the Spartan to concentrate on any singular goal. The mission she strove relentlessly toward faded into nothing as the liquid concoction raged through her system. Eventually, Kelly collapsed into a deep, dreamless slumber.

Linda looked at the pad once more. Even though she stood just outside the assigned place, something held her back. She was already late, but for once in the Spartan's life, she was unsure of her mission. There was no objective to accomplish, no target to kill, no civilians to rescue. Nothing to distance herself from. Just enjoy. Plain and simple. To anyone else it would be. But Linda did not 'enjoy' anything about herself or her lifestyle (besides modifying her SRS). She was there to get a job done. No more, no less. That is why her invitation from the aqua-haired woman confused her. She had no intelligence to offer, nor did the sniper know how to enjoy herself outside of a strictly military definition. With a huff of frustration, she tossed the pad onto a nearby bench and sauntered off in the direction she had come.

Leaves shuffled about at her feet as the light breeze blew threw her short red ponytail. The copses of trees cast eerie shadows on the concrete at her feet. Her Spartan branch PT top offered her little comfort from the evening chill. She silently berated herself for not being properly prepared as she massaged her arms, attempting to stoke some life back into the cold muscles. Waste of time. Could have been preparing for departure or resting for a prolonged period. She shook her head as a frown flashed across her face. This was stupid. The rapid tapping of something off concrete caught her attention. Every muscle in her body tensed in apprehension for the coming battle. Sliding her magnum from its holster, she held it in front of her body so the attacker would see it until it was too late.

The moment she felt a hand ghost across her back, she engaged. Whirling around, she grabbed the would-be mugger by the wrist and pinned them to a nearby tree, her M6 pressed against their forehead. Ragged, labored breaths started to quicken as the cold steel of the pistol dug into their skin.

"T-take whatever you want. Just don't kill me…please." The last word came out as a high-pitched whisper, much too high to be a male.

"Identify yourself." The cold-as-steel tone earned no answer.

"P-p-please, I was just looking for someone. You looked similar to them. That's all, I swear!"

"Who?" Again only silence.

By some turn of fate, the clouds that had been shrouding the moon in darkness moved on, bathing the walkway in a lunar glow. It may have been too dim for the woman in front of her, but Linda could see clearly. The woman wore a blue dress that glittered like stars in the moonlight. Blue eyes reflected panic and fear as she tried to regain some semblance of normal breathing. Her light skin tone made the white markings that adorned her lips stand out even more. The woman she had pulled her weapon on, the woman she had, quite possibly, intended to kill was none other than Megan Dikos. Well…fuck.

Come Back Next Time!

Wow! Opinions anyone? Quite a lot happened there. Linda found a possible friend only to pull a gun on her later that day. Kelly apparently was so upset from that woman's comments she got black out drunk. Chief tries to come to some sense of closure with his lost AI, Cortana. Above all that though, the lovely little Amber caused a mess of trouble for the crew onboard the Infinity! You will have to wait till next time to find out what happened to our amazing Spartans. Till then peace out!