Chapter 26:
Green Machine
The Spartans were ready to move out. Finally. Although they had been ready for days, the ship they were waiting for had taken its sweet time arriving, and even then, the crew had been given a couple days' leave. Everything was finally ready, though, and there were Pelicans waiting at a nearby airport to take the Spartans to the ship. From there they would be touring various planets, trying to keep the Covenant infestations at bay for at least a long enough time to evacuate civilians and get rid of any information that could lead the Covenant to Earth. The Cole Protocol with its safety measures had been put into effect, and the Spartans were its enforcers. The Covenant wouldn't be finding Earth on their watch.
They were all battle ready, encased in their MJOLNIR. The rain fell steadily, making cases of weapons and replacement parts slick with water. The Spartans were in good spirits in spite of the weather, joking and teasing as they loaded the troop transports that would take them to the airport. They were grateful to finally be leaving the planet they had been stuck on and getting back into action. The rain, though it tried, did nothing to dampen their spirits.
John was the exception to both rules. He was in his fatigues rather than MJOLNIR as he had been ordered by the med techs to stay out of the next battle. He wasn't as glad as the others about their departure, either. There was a myriad of reasons, but he couldn't deny that his reluctance was centered on Kelly. Lieutenant Kelly Martin, to whom the choice had been given to go back to her previous job or leave with the Spartans. After their fight, it was fairly clear what she would decide on. John had thought about what they'd said to each other over and over again, just as he'd told Grace he would. He wanted to say something, anything, to Kelly, but he didn't know what. He couldn't find the right words to convey what he meant. Every time he came even close to approaching her, he began to feel nervous and stumbled over his words. John had tried writing a note to her, hoping what he wanted to say would come through more easily that way, but that hadn't worked either. So there he was, about to leave. Kelly was the only woman he had ever cared about in that way… and he was going to leave her because he hadn't been able to think of something to say.
Of course, John wasn't the only one who had passed up his chance to say something. Kelly had never approached him, and if she truly did care, as Grace said she did, she probably would have. Maybe she didn't love him as much she'd said. Or maybe she just hadn't been able to find the right words either. They had only seen each other a couple of times over their days on the planet. John had caught Kelly watching him, but it would have been a lie to say he hadn't watched her too. She didn't seem as happy as she usually did… though if that was his fault or due to something else, John didn't know.
No matter what Kelly felt, John still cared about her. He wished he done something. He didn't want to let whatever slim chance they may have slip through his fingers… but it was too late. His chance to say something to Kelly had already come and gone. The Spartans were done loading equipment and piling into the transports. John looked back up at the hotel, squinting through the rain in the hope that he might glimpse her familiar face. As fate—or luck—would have it, from the third floor, a woman looked solemnly out over the Spartans. Kelly. John's heart ached, and he was helpless to do anything but stare up at her. Their eyes met until Kelly quickly turned away, the window shades sliding shut without her holding them open. The pain in John's chest intensified, and there was a light touch on his shoulder.
"The green machine is ready to roll out, sir," Kelly-087 said playfully, rain dripping off her armor. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked, tone of voice changing as she noticed John's expression.
He nodded, pulling himself together. "Good," he said in response to her first statement, sounding stronger than he felt. "Let's get going, then."
The female Spartan nodded, getting into the transport as John walked around to the passenger's side. He climbed in slowly, in no hurry to leave. As he slammed the door shut with a final-sounding thud, he glanced back for one final look at the hotel. The window where Kelly had been remained covered. John tried to ignore his pain as he started the transport's engine, wondering if he would ever see her again.