Joe while being an ODST was what some would call a gentle giant who preferred to be a chef then a helljumper, but he along with his buddy Naofumi were a great team, sadly he didn't get to spend much time around Naofumi due to him being a Hero to this world. SO Joe decided to head down to the marketplace in the capital and look around, he smiled as he took in the scenes of the cooking meats, bread being baked and the spices in the air; which truthfully was making him hungry
"Hungry big guy?" a voice laughed as Joe turned around to see a hood Naofumi smiling
"A bit" Joe laughed "So what do you recommend?"
"I don't know" Naofumi said throwing a small bag of coins to Joe. "You tell me" he smiled
"You got it, excuse me, we'll take four skewers please" he said as he walked over to the closet vendor and started to buy food making Naofumi smile.
"Man that was good" Joe laughed
"I know, man the flavours are nothing like our worlds" Naofumi said
"I heard you still think of it" Joe said becoming serious "Reach"
"Yeah" Naomfumi admitted "It's just hard, after Harvest, heading for Reach getting a second chance to fight off those that destroyed Harvest, only to see that destroyed before heading back to Earth to defend it succeeding there, only to be you know here" Naofumi said
"I Know man, after Earth when we heard you disappeared, all of our division went nuts trying to find you. Then once everyone was on board the Infinity. Somehow it was brought here and we discovered you were the same planet and somehow various SPARTANS were scattered around the place, we knew this was a priority" Joe said "I'm just glad we can now have you back man"
"Thanks man" Naofumi said rubbing his shoulder
"But seriously you brought Chips onto a mission before your best friend?" Joe asked
"Hey we rescued his ass" Naofumi laughed "From a monstrous carnivorous plant"
"Must be why he has been side eyeing any salads lately" Joe said
"Yeah" Naofumi laughed
"How's the girl?" Joe asked
"You sure this was what you saw?" Buck asked as he pointed to the hologram in front of them
"Yes" Raphtalia said
"A Covenant Energy sword" Dutch said
"There's more, there was someone else there, he said that a wise one, a judge an, what was it" Raphtalia said
"Arbiter?" Buck asked as a hologram of the Arbiter showed
"THAT'S HIM!" Raphtalia exclaimed
"The Lizardman?" Filo asked looking at her big sister figure
"So the Arbiter had knowledge of what's going on here, and he gave you a way to remove this curse" Buck frowned
"Is that a problem?" she asked as her ears and tail drooped
"Just a bit of a confusion dear' Bernie said
"AH Alpha Nine" Lord Hood said making the Helljumpers salute "I have a mission for you"
"What is it sir?" Buck asked
"I need you to head to these co-ordinates and pick something up before taking it to the capital" Lord Hood said
"Wait the capital?" Dutch asked
"Thankfully Naofumi will not be a part of this mission, but you will meet up with him once you are there" Hood said
"Why do I get the feeling this is not the kind of cargo he will like" Buck said.
"They want me to meet with the king" Naofumi said slurping up some smoked noodles
"Why not?" Joe asked "besides you'll have your backup team there"
"Because I don't trust them, you I trust, Buck I trust, Lord Hood I have to trust, the king I don't trust and it's a massive understatement I really hate that bitch" Naofumi said
"Don't worry I'll be there, Bernie will be there" Joe said "And so will the rest of the team"
"Good" Naofumi said "because I think I wouldn't even show up if it was just me and him, or her" Naofumi said
"And I trust you will be unarmed" Joe said
"oh I will be totally armed" Naofumi said
"That's just showing hostility" Joe frowned
"Don't give a rat's ass" Nafoumi said
"Do we even know if they can wield them?" Joe asked
"No, and quite frankly I'm not going to let them, nor will anyone else be doing that" Naofumi fumed
"The people around here are already untrusting of the UNSC" Joe said
"But the out laying villages are staring to trust us, especially when we clean up after the children" Naofumi said
"I heard about the dragon, what's the other idiot done?" Joe asked
"If we didn't step in there revolutionaries running the place causing the people up there to starve from lack of funds and crops" Naofumi said
"Oh damn" Joe winced
"And of course I've been getting the guild fund and sending them to the Infinity" Naofumi said
"Good idea" Joe nodded "So where is the rest of your team?"
"Okay we're nearly at the MZ" Dutch said
"I'm not liking this, anybody else not liking this?" Mickey asked
"Well it doesn't feel right without Master here" Filo said making Bernie rub her feathered back
"You heard Lord Hood, Master Naofumi and his friend is doing recon in the capital and we will meet up with him later" Raphtalia said
"Okay" Filo said as the vehicles stopped
"We're here, spread out" Buck said as the team started to move around the area scanning for anything
"What's wrong Filo sweetheart?" Bernie asked
"That's a whole flock of me, and someone else is there" Filo stated
"Where?" Bernie asked getting her medic's pack as Filo pointed to the large flock.
"Hey I got something" Dutch said as he spotted someone among the Filolials
"Hello" a young girl said standing up
"Hi" Buck said "I'm Buck, what are you doing out here little one?"
"That is Melty Q Melomarc, the second princess of the kingdom of Melromarc" a familiar voice said
"Locke?" Buck asked as the silver clad SPARTAN showed himself.
"So that's the church huh?" Joe asked as the pair stood outside the church of the three heroes
"Yeah" Naofumi said
"Shall we?" Joe asked as he flipped a hood up
"Not exactly" Naofumi said
"Then wait here" Joe said as he walked over there
"Keep on comms" Naofumi said as he hid
"Okay" Joe said as he walked into the structure.
While Joe was inside the church Naofumi wandered around the city hidden by a hood he met up with Chips Dubbo, who had come along for fun. Chips informed him that something happened, but he couldn't get it out as Filo showed up
"HEY MASTER!" she said as she hugged him
"Whoa Filo!" Naofumi said as he hugged the young girl smiling "When did you?"
"Just now, the others are in town now
"I see" Naofumi said setting her down and ruffling her hair making the girl smile
"G'day little" Chips started
"NAOFUMI!" a voice roared
"Oh great" Naofumi said blocking his spear, Chips saw this and quickly radioed the rest of Shield Team "What do you want now?"
"SHUT YOUR FACE, where is that slave girl free her now" Motoyasu demanded
"What slave girl are you talking about?" Naofumi asked as he switch his shield to the Chimera Viper shield, "You already did that you moron" he said deflecting the moron's spear before going in for an attack
"where is the blonde girl with wings on her back, I saw her with you, so where is she"
"Why do you care?" Naofumi asked going for his SOCOM Magnum
"I happen to have a thing about angels" Motoyasu said with a dreamy look on his face "I didn't think there would be anyone who looks like Freyan from Hellworld here"
"Nope" Naofumi said
"Weird shit to be into mate, I'd say the dunderhead is a few prawns short of a barbie" Chip said
"No way am I handing over Filo" Naofumi said protecting her
"Filo, so that's her name, I heard you have her pulling carriages like that dumb fat bird of yours" Motoyasu said "So I'm going to send you to hell and free Filo AIR STRIKE SPEAR!" he said throwing it. Chips automatically grabbed Filo and moved out of the way as Motoyasu tried striking at Naofumi with various spears, only to send them over the place
"Damn, I don't have enough time to get some barriers up" Naofumi said moving back a bit
"You're not getting away" Motoyasu said
"THIS IS NO PLACE FOR A DUEL!" Noafumi said
"It is now" a voice said
"Oh crap" Naofumi groaned as Myne showed up
"So who's the Sheila?" Chips asked
"Ah Myne" Motyasu said as she held up a scroll
"Surround them" she ordered
"YOU HEARD HER DRAW SWORDS!" a guard said as they did so surrounded Chips, Naofumi and Filo
"Ladies and gentlemen I hereby declare this a duel between the spear hero and shield hero, all thanks to the royal crown who has bested me with the power to do so" Myne said
"now what?" Naofumi said as Myne had a cruel smirk on her face
"Put you weapons away" a voice said as Shield Team rounded the corner with a girl in blue making everyone bow to her but those involved with the duel
"What the?" Naofumi said as he looked around
"What are you doing here?" Myne asked
"It has been way to long sister" the girl said
"Sister?" Naofumi asked his hand twitching over his magnum, Buck placed a hand on his shoulder shaking his head slightly
"I hope that you know neither you or the hero's privilege can cover up this mess, the damage is plain for everyone to see, Spear hero, look around can you call yourself a hero when you endangered others?" she glared "Dear sister your fun and game have gone on way too long" the young princess said
"What do you ever mean, I'm just doing my duty as the hero's aide is all" Myne scoffed
"So you call this, making them fight in public place is your idea of aide I see" the princess said
"you dare to defy your older sister" Myne seethed
"I do and I may have to let mother know about this" Melty said.
"She's Myne's sister?" Naofumi asked as the girl dismissed the guards
"NAOFUMI!" Bernie shouted hugging him shocking the others
"Bernie, Raohtalia?" Naofumi asked seeing the demihuman up and about "You're okay?"
"Yeah I am" Raphtalia nodded as Motoyasu knelt down.
"Oh Filo, that is what they call you my sweet, I bet he's working you like some kind of beast" he said making Bernie's eye twitch
"But I like pulling the carriage a lot" Filo said
"Naofumi you boar, how could you make this sweet innocent girl pull your wagon like that overgrown fat bird of yours!" Motoyasu growled "You'll pay for this"
"What did you call my daughter asswipe?" Bernie muttered
"Easy dear" Naofumi said
"why did you have to call me that, you made fun of me the last time we met" Filo said making Motoyasu confused before she turned into her Queen form making Motoyasu stutter
"Now you've done it" Naofumi said
"Daddy I'm hungry" Filo said
"Now?" Naofumi asked "Didn't you eat earlier?
"Yes" Filo said
"Okay we'll get you something to eat once we're done with Moronyasu" Naofumi sighed
"Oh but daddy" Filo said cheerfully pointing a wing at Motoyasu "I want to eat him!" she smirked evilly
"What?" Motoyasu said before running for the guard "THE BIRD IS GOING TO EAT ME!" he shouted
"Too easy" Chips said throwing a chicken at Motoyasu upon landing chased after the spear user, making nearly everyone in town laugh but Myne and Motoyasu
"Nice" Dutch said
"Now Shield Hero" Melty said before she was aimed at
"STAND DOWN SOLDIER!" Locke said showing up
"Not happening" Naofumi said
"I am here as an envoy of my mother" Melty said "And her to arrange a meeting between the UNSC and the king" she started
"Yeah no" Naofumi said as he walked off only to be blocked by Buck who glared at him "Forget it"
"Hear her out, that's an order" Buck said
"Yes sir" Naofumi said
"Thank you" Melty said "as I said, I am here as an envoy of my mother with strict orders for a conference between the king of Melromarc and UNSC"
"Forget it" Naofumi said walking off
"Master Naofumi" Raphtalia said as she followed him
"I'm sorry your highness, but your father and sister has put him through a lot" Buck said
"I see" Melty said
"He'll be there" Buck said as Joe ran up to them
"What did I miss?" he asked
"A lot" Buck said
"Knock knock" a voice said as a figure walked into the tent of the slave trader
"Welcome, how can I help you?" Belokus asked
"I was hoping I could trade with you" the figure said
"What did you want?" the trader asked
"Wyvern claws, dragon scales, beast chains" the figure said
"I can get you all of those, but mind you I am keeping a set of Wyvern claws for the Shield Hero" Belokus said
"that's okay I rather avoid the UNSC" the figure said
"And why is that?" Belokus asked caution edging his voice
"Because we have...history" the man said as he looked at the chains
"Tell me what is your name" Belokus said
"Soren...Soren-066" Soren said.
G'Day Guys Grizz here and so I wanted to do something with Joe in this chapter since its been 6 chapters and he hasn't been used in here, so I figured I would show what he's friendship with Naofumi was like, plus that scene where Filo wanted to eat Motoyasu was just something fun I figured I would do instead of him being kicked again. Also yes Locke was with the queen, but he was ordered to escort Melty to the Shield Team where they would take her to Naofumi, which we all know would end.
Now Soren is a canon SPARTAN and has been in the books, but he is also features in the series coming to Paramount+ in march, he went MIA and the series says he's a 'morally complex privateer' whcih will be fun to write. Before I finish this note I want to address the reviews again, I love hearing your suggestions and what not but I would also like to see what you thought of it, so if you could leave a summary of your thoughts before or after your suggestions if you wanted to that would be great, I like hearing your suggestions so keep them coming
So until next time I'll catch you on the flipside