A/N: Hey everyone! Here's the next chapter for you all, I know, that was quicker than last time. There's only really two things Iin this chapter I need to make you aware of, and that is: A. Gúta is a creature in Halo Reach, it's the big thing with huge ass claws and tusks and B. Tarnock is a name I came up with. It can honestly look like whatever you want it to look like because even I don't know what one would look like. I decided to create a name for a creature on Reach because we only ever see three in-game: the Moa, Rats and the aforementioned Gúta, that and I couldn't visualise Mitch eating Moa, Rats or Gúta really, which is why he says what he says about it. That's about it, Chapter 29 will most likely be the last chapter in the 'Rehabilitation' section of the story, and as previosuly mentioned, Chapter 31 is when we get our next character(s) introduction(s). One being from TWD and six OC characters that may have a place in the story alongside Indigo. If not all of them, then certainly one will. The TWD character however, definitely has a place in this story, and will be with us 'til the story finishes. [A quick look into my mind: I'm going to try and have maybe one chapter include Blue Team with Indigo. The thought is cool, but it's all about execution.] Anyways! Thanks for reading, and the follows and favourites (I have noticed, don't think I haven't), thanks for the support (even if it's just reading, that's more than enough). I'll stop waffling now. See you soon! - LegendsOfOnyx

Chapter 28: Rehabilitation – New information, A New Mission and Losing Friends

Spirit of Fire

In orbit above Reach

April 26, 2529

08:20 hrs

Anders' lab

"Has Violet told you?"

"Yes, I was the first one she contacted, and I'm thankful for that." Anders said to the person on her laptop screen, whilst jotting down notes on her recently acquired information into a notebook.

"And why's that?"

Anders' stopped scribbling, dropped her pen and turned to the screen. "Because, Catherine, it proves – in the strangest way – that the Covenant, Indigo encountered on Arcadia weren't there by chance. They were looking for som-"

The doors to her lab opened and Captain James Cutter walked in, her attention immediately moving from her laptop to her Captain.

"You know, Professor, as much as I miss my observation deck, it looks much better as a lab," He said with a small smile. "Now, I assume this isn't a social call?" He asked.

Anders' lab was a mess to others, but one hundred percent organised for her. Lined paper, notes, diagram, pens, pencils and anything else she needed was everywhere, from on the multitude of desks, half of the table-like console, to the reinforced glass floor. The floor itself could've been mistaken for a poorly disguised trap, as an unruly amount of thick black wires that powered her computers and terminal screens, all but covered the floor.

Anders smiled and waved him over. "It's good that you're here Captain-" She paused and looked over his shoulder to the door. "Where's Forge?"

"On his way," Cutter said, taking a seat after successfully and safely, navigating the floor.. "So what's this about?"

Anders took in a breath before continuing. "You remember that ruin we found on Harvest?"

"The same one the Covenant tried to blow up to stop us from gaining access to it?" He asked, ensuring they were thinking about the same ruin.

"Ruin?" Halsey asked.

Anders turned to her laptop and moved her finger and thumb across her mouth quickly, signalling Halsey to be quiet. Anders turned back to her Captain and nodded. "Well, we found a map, and – with the help of Serina – we discovered that it pointed directly to the Procyon Star System, more precisely, Arcadia. I have no idea why, and I've been trying to figure it out ever since we left Harvest."

The doors to her lab opened once more, and, Sergeant John Forge walked in. "What'd I miss?" He asked, his casual demeanour pouring into the room.

"Not much." Serina, the ship's AI said, coming to life on the table-like console in the room.

Anders looked from Forge, to the woman standing atop the console and sighed. "Serina, if you're going to be here too, make yourself useful and bring up the map we recovered form Harvest."

"Did you wake up on the wrong side of bed this morning, Professor?" The AI asked teasingly.

Anders glared at her.

"Very well," She sighed. "Bringing up the map now."

A large map showing a cluster of star systems rose up off the console Serina was stood on. Anders found Arcadia and pointed to it, the image zooming in on the planet. "When I activated this map in the ancient ruin on Harvest, Arcadia was the first and only planet it went to. This leads me to believe that whatever the Covenant was looking for on Harvest, can be found on Arcadia. That's even if they were looking for something on Harvest. But, Violet told me that she had a nightmare, and, this is going to sound ridiculous, the Brute that Indigo encountered on Arcadia came to her in that nightmare. Told her that their presence on Arcadia wasn't a coincidence, and it also said something about a 'Great Journey'. Whatever that means, is anyone's guess, either way, I don't like it."

"Assuming this is true, which, I'm not gonna lie, sounds like a whole heap of steaming BS, what do think they're looking for?" Forge asked.

"Dreams are still a mystery Sergeant, no one knows how they work. Either way, your guess is as good as mine. So, if whatever they're looking for is on Arcadia, then Arcadia..." She trailed off not wanting to finish the sentence.

"Will most likely be under attack, exactly like Harvest." Cutter finished for her.

They were all silent for a moment before Forge spoke up. "So, what do you suggest we do?"

"We take a chance, no matter how ridiculous it may sound we need go to Arcadia, see if what Violet said is true, and, if it is, find whatever it is the Covenant is looking for first." Anders declared.

"Absolutely not Professor," Protested Cutter. "Our orders were to investigate and protect Harvest. Besides, we're going off of a dream, even if we already have information pointing to Arcadia."

"Exactly Captain, 'our orders we're' they're not anymore." Anders sighed. "Look, I understand, that we don't fully understand why Harvest was attacked, but everything Violet has told me, and that I see here, tells me we need to go to Arcadia to figure this out."

Cutter looked towards Forge who raised his hands. "Don't look at me, this is your decision. But... I can't believe I'm about to say this, I'm inclined to agree with the lady on this one. I say: let's just go off of the information we trust the most."

Anders sent an appreciative smile and nod in his direction.

Cutter nodded at Forge and looked back to Anders. "Very well, Professor." He then moved over to Anders' laptop. "Doctor, I hate to ask this, as it could all end up being a wild goose chase, but, could we borrow Red Team again?" Cutter asked.

"Request granted James, and I'll do one better." Halsey sighed. "They're really not going to like this, but, I'll send up two Pelicans and let Jacob know he has a new mission." She said, the screen going black a second later.

"Two Pelicans and the Autumn? Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Forge said, walking backwards away from the laptop and almost knocking over some of Anders' equipment. "Whoa, sorry."

"Sergeant, please be careful. You break it, I'll make you repair it." Anders warned.

Forge stopped walking and turned to face forward. "Right, because if I try to fix something, I'll break it even more." He flashed her a quick smile before heading for the door. "See you later, Professor."

Anders shook her head in slight amusement and turned back to Cutter. "Is there anything else, Captain?" She asked.

"I believe it was you that called me, but no. Nothing more, Professor. I'll let you know when we're ready to leave."

With that, Cutter left her lab for the Bridge.

"Well, this has been... both strange and academic." Serina said, once again standing on the console.

Anders looked at her and turned away, placing her hands in her lab coat pockets. "Serina. Get out of my lab."


Reach FLEETCOM Military Complex

Planet Reach

April 26, 2529

08:30 hrs

Spartan Cafeteria

"What do you mean you got a roast dinner yesterday!" Louis exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air as Indigo and himself took a seat at one of the larger tables.

"That's what I said. I did say that, right? This injury to my arm hasn't affected my speech has it?" Violet asked, smirking at Louis' look of betrayal.

Mitch and Marlon looked at eachother, then back at Violet and Clementine.

"You're missing the point," Mitch said. "You had one of the greatest meals to ever exist."

"Mmhmm. It was bloody delicious. You're point?" Asked Violet.

Mitch stared dumbly at Violet, whilst Louis let out a small whimper and poked lamely at the croissant he'd chosen for his meal. Clementine had had her arms crossed this whole time with a smile on her face, enjoying every second of it.

"Since when did they do roast dinners?" Marlon wondered aloud.

"I think the fact they don't tell us stuff like this is going to make me sick." Muttered Ruby.

Louis tore off a chunk of his croissant and pinched it with his finger and thumb. "I'm going to file a complaint." He declared, before eating the chunk he previously held.

Violet looked at Clementine and nudged her shoulder to get her attention. "Clem, what was it you had for dinner yesterday? I forgot." Violet asked loudly, a smile on her face.

"Oh, you mean the-"

"I can see where this is going." Louis said, cutting off Clementine.

"What? No, I had Gúta, Violet's just trying to wind you up." Clementine said, amazed at how she managed to keep a straight face.

"Really?" Mitch asked. "What's it like, I keep forgetting to give it a try. I'm so used to getting Tarnock that the thought of trying new shit slips my mind."

"Yeah, does it taste as terrifying as it looks?" Asked Louis with a smirk.

Marlon and Ruby also showed their interest by leaning forward on the table more.

Clementine looked to them and began to lean towards them with a smile on her face. Violet had to feign a cough to stomp down her growing smile.

"Oh, this should be good." Louis said to Mitch, who nodded quickly in agreement.

"I wouldn't know, I had a roast like Violet." Clementine said casually, leaning back into her original position and folding her arms.

"You two, are officially the worst," Louis said, leaning back and pointing to the laughing couple. "So much so, that I'm going to complain to HR about the-" Louis stopped abruptly, unable to contain his laughter any longer. "No, no, ok. Y-you two got us pretty good." He said in-between laughs.

"Fireteam Indigo." A voice said, interrupting Mitch before he could say anything. The team looked in the direction of the voice to see Doctor Halsey standing at the end of the table.

"Doctor?" Clementine asked. "Do you need something?"

"Hmm, in a sense, it's not me who needs you." Halsey said, cryptically.

"Well that wasn't cryptic at all." Said Louis.

"Spartans, you have a mission. You're going back to Arcadia."

"Fuck. This." Sighed Mitch.

"This is so fucked." Marlon whispered.

"Is this some kind of sick joke?" Asked Ruby, not at all happy at the thought of any of them going back.

Louis didn't say anything and Violet flinched at the name of the planet, not having fully recovered from the previous mission there. The rest of Indigo exchanged looks, before Clementine spoke out.

"No, no way. No fucking way. That's not happening Doctor, Violet hasn't even fully recovered." Clementine protested.

"She isn't going," Halsey said, looking to Clementine and Violet. "And neither are you."

Violet looked to Halsey then Clementine, an aching feeling beginning to surface where her right arm should be.

"Excuse me?" Clementine asked.

"Neither you, or Violet will be going on this mission. As you said, Violet is still recovering from her previous mission, and she's still adjusting to her prosthetic. Therefore, she'll need someone to help and look after her, and who else better than her girlfriend?" Halsey said with a smile.

"What about us?!" Mitch exclaimed. "You expect us to just go back to Arcadia, just like," He snapped his fingers. "that?"

"This is so. Not. Right." Marlon said, placing his head in his hands.

"Why? Why are we going back?" Ruby asked quietly.

"We have... reason to believe that the Covenant you fought on Arcadia weren't there just by pure coincidence, but were indeed looking for something. However, we don't know what." Halsey told them.

Knowing she was the cause of all this Violet spoke up to clarify. "I had a nightmare, and the Brute that took my arm came to me, told me that their presence was no coincidence. It also said something about a 'Great Journey', but I don't know what that means. Now, I-I understand if you're all skeptical-"

"You got that right." Muttered Mitch, only to be elbowed by Louis.

"But what if there was a reason they were there?" Violet finished.

"Which brings me to my previous point: Violet told both myself and Professor Anders about her nightmare, and Anders said she'd found information on Harvest that could... validate, what Violet said. Now, you all know I don't like wasting resources on rumours, and wasting them on dreams is... ridiculous, but, when we already have information that points somewhere, I'm more... willing, to dedicate resources to investigate." Halsey said, elaborating on the situation a little more.

"So... what's happening then?" Clementine asked.

"All of you, except Clementine, Violet and Minnie, who will remain here, will be joining Red Team in assisting the Spirit of Fire on this mission. The Pillar of Autumn will also be accompanying you. Captain James Cutter and Professor Ellen Anders will give you more information. I've already arranged with Jerome for you four to temporarily join Red Team; a Pelican is waiting outside to take you up to the Spirit of Fire." Halsey looked to the clock in the cafeteria then back to the group. "You may want to hurry Spartans, the Pelican is scheduled to depart at 08:55 hrs, it's 08:45 now." With everything said, Halsey departed from the table, leaving Indigo in silence.

Mitch scoffed. "This is fucking stupid, I mean, what the fuck. This is all your fault!" He shouted, violently pointing a finger at Violet.

Violet's eyes widened and she turned her gaze to the table.

"Mitch!" Ruby shouted.

"What?! It fuckin' is! We're getting sent back to Arcadia over a fucking nightmare whilst these two get out of it!" He shouted back, pointing another finger that was directed at Clementine.

"Hey, what the fuck did I do!?" Clementine asked, standing up out of her seat.

"Don't bring Clem into this Mitch," Marlon said, leaning forward to look at him past Ruby. "This isn't her fault."

"No, no, you're right. It's-"

"Mine." Violet whispered, still looking at the table and cutting Mitch off. The table went quiet, and everyone looked to Violet. "It's my fault, I shouldn't have said anything."

"You see!" Mitch said, moving his arm to direct it towards Violet. "She admits it's her fault. I'm beginning to think maybe her arm wasn't the only thing she lost on Arcadia!"

Everyone's gaze went to Mitch, including Violet's which was one of pure fury – her prosthetic slowly twitching into a fist.

"Ex-fucking-scuse me!?" Roared Clementine, the other three too shocked to say anything. "Please tell me you did not just go there!"

Mitch was about to respond when something hard connected with the side of his face, sending him toppling over the back of the bench. All eyes turned to Violet, out of her seat, gritted teeth and a still clenched fist.

"I suggest you get the fuck out, because the next thing you say against me will be a whole lot worse than that." Violet warned.

"Whatever," Mitch said, standing up and clutching his jaw. "I'll see you on the Pelican."

Violet dropped back down onto the table's bench and put her head in her hands, her whole body shaking.

"Uh... Vi?" Louis asked carefully.

"You guys should go, you don't want to miss your flight." Clementine said quietly.

"Yeah, ok," Ruby whispered. "C'mon guys." She said, ushering Louis and Marlon out.

Marlon escaped Ruby's shepherding and went back to Clementine and Violet. He carefully placed a hand on Violet's shoulder. "We'll be back soon, don't overwork yourself."

Violet nodded numbly.

"Take care of her Boss." Marlon said, patting Clementine's shoulder before moving to catch up to Ruby and Louis.

"You need to go with them." Violet said, after a silent minute passed.

"What?" Clementine asked, thinking she'd heard wrong.

Violet lifted her head out of her hands and looked to her girlfriend. "I said: you need to go with them."

"But Halsey said-"

Violet changed position on the bench to face Clementine fully. "I couldn't give a rats ass what Halsey said, they need you. I doubt they're going to listen to Jerome, but I know they'll listen to you. Right now, they need you more than I do."

"But what about your rehabilitation?" Clementine asked, also moving to face Violet fully. "What if-"

Violet leaned forward and cut her off with a kiss. "I have Minnie, you don't need to worry about me." She said with a smile.

"But I do," Clementine said, squeezing her eyes shut tight. "All the damn time."

"I know you do, but I need you to go with them. If something happens to them..." Violet trailed off, shaking her head. "No... please. Go with them. For me?"

Clementine sucked in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, nodding. "Ok. Ok. I'll go."

Violet smiled brightly and hugged her, Clementine hugged her back, holding her as close as she could.

"Now go," Violet said, slowly leaving the embrace. "Go keep them safe... and as much as I may hate him right now, that means keeping Mitch safe too."

"I always look after friends, even if they do say some hurtful shit."

"Come home safe!" Violet called to Clementine as she jogged her way out the cafeteria to armour up. A very quiet 'I promise' from outside the cafeteria flew its way to Violet. Violet smiled at the promise, and, at Minnie as she appeared in front of Violet. "So," Violet said, addressing Minnie. "Ready to help me get back to my old self?"

Minnie looked to Violet and smiled brilliantly. "I thought you'd never ask."