Halo – Katerina Duran - "Make It Last: Of Trust and Friendship"

Location: Observation Deck, UNSC Frigate Forward onto Dawn
November 20th, 2552

"How are you feeling today?"

"Liberated, actually. I definitely needed to talk to someone about it all. I just never thought it would be you. After all, we are supposed to be enemies."

John gave the female Elite a half yet pleasant smile. "Well, as it turns out, you were never the enemy, Katerina. I'm glad to have you as a companion."

The Master Chief looked pretty much the same as he did yesterday. Katerina, however, had one slight change – instead of her Arbiter armor, she wore an emerald-green flowing gown with long bell sleeves. It had floral patterns of pale yellow all over. On the whole, the entire outfit made her look carefree - like she never went through everything that she had been through.

That sentence definitely brought yet another genuine smile to her face. "Well, in that case… my blade is yours, Spartan. Indefinitely."

"Good to know. Nice dress, by the way," He could not help but point out.

"Thank you! It is lovely to know that you like my work."

"Wait. You made this dress?" Was that what she meant?

She shrugged her shoulders lightly and in an 'it's-nothing-new' manner. "I make all of my dresses."

Highly impressed, he raised one eyebrow at that. "Well, you're really talented. Come on. Let's take a walk."

The Master Chief and the Arbiter were walking side by side down the lengthy hallway of Forward Onto Dawn, engaging in conversation as they passed by several personnel, some of whom had puzzled or shocked looked on their faces at the sight.

John wasn't exactly looking for a new best friend or anything, and neither was Katerina. Yet, all of this started when she made the ultimate decision to assist him onboard the Autumn. She had a story to tell and he was the only one there to listen to it. It helped him understand that there were, in fact, some good individuals out there; they were just thrown into the wrong side of the war they had absolutely nothing to do with. Katerina, her family, and her entire State were some of those individuals. They fought for the side that took almost everything away from them because that was the only way.

And now that everything had been unraveled, all of hell had been unleashed.

Not everything you saw was true. Katerina may have looked like your typical Covenant soldier, except she had a good reason to be one.

She could be trusted.

Katerina's arm was through John's as they took a slow walk. "So why the nickname 'Kate'? I mean, obviously it should be 'Kat', right?"

"I understand what you mean. Micah thought that it would be rather unique to hear. And I had to admit it, I quite liked it," She then glanced up at him. "You know, you may address me by 'Kate' if you wish. It would make it easier to yell at me when we are out on the battlefield."

"Johnson told me how you tore into that Brute when he called you that. I… don't really want you to tear out my tongue…" He said innocently.

Her grin was utterly dripping in mirth. "Now you know I would not do that to you! Are you always this playful?"

"No, not really. Although I never did like to lose."

"Always wanted to be the winner, then?"

"I learnt to share the glory."

"Good for you, then," He did not know whether she was being sarcastic or not. She was probably was. "So where is your wife?"

"… Excuse me?"

She cocked her head at him. "You said yesterday that you did not have any children. You did not mention anything about your wife."

"That's because I don't have one."

"Whaaaat? You are kidding!" She stopped walking and faced him. "Why not?"

We're Spartans, Kate. We're a little different from regular marines. "There's a reason. Maybe I'll tell you about it someday."

She shrugged her shoulders at that, not bothered. "As you wish." She slipped her arm through his again and they continued their walk.

"Your two girls. What are they up to now?"

"Well, let us see… Melika still appears to hate the world. She keeps to herself most of the time, reading her books. Ana, however, is married with two boys."

"You're kidding," John said in disbelief.

"I am not!" She said in a laugh. "Savos was from the Isara Keep, our neighboring keep. He was great friends with Ana and Versera. He was orphaned during the attack and came to live in our Keep. He proposed to her about 13 years ago. They are happy together. Ana needs some joy in her life, anyways."

"Wish the same could go for Melika though,"

"I agree…" After a 3 second silence, Katerina then questioned, "Is there… any news of your A.I. companion, Cortana?"

"No," He answered quickly. "Not since the message."

She flashed a little smile. "Do not despair. Once we are done with Truth, we can dedicate out time and effort into getting her back safe and sound."

"I just hope we won't be too late."

"We will not," She swore. "So what kind of a person is she?"

"Person?"

"I am aware she is an A.I., but she sure does appear to be more human than machine. That is why I say so."

That… was such a fascinating and truthful thing to say. John took a moment to take that in before replying. "Well, she's playful but damn effective. Very strong. We've been partnered together for… a good 3 years now and she's been with me every step of the way. I'll be damned if we don't get her out of High Charity."

"But we will," Her violet cat-like eyes shined as she said that. "You do not have to worry a thing. If you believe in her as much as I think you do, then it will be alright."

"I made her a promise,"

"I will help you keep it."

A/N: I thought long and hard about making this chapter believable. I hope it was!