Location: Few hundred miles from the city

Time: Unknown

Lady and Autumn sat in the cockpit of the ship talking. Lady was doing her best to explain everything to Autumn to help her understand everything.

"Fallen are alive. That was the title they were given after they lost their glory. And no, the Hive are not bees. And yes, I know that is confusing because they even travel in swarms." Lady said.

"I think I understand." Autumn said sitting back in her chair.

What would everyone else say about this? She smiled thinking to herself.

Autumn's eyes trail to the window. She looks out with Lady sitting on her lap.

"If you don't mind me asking, can I know more about your past?" Lady got her attention.

"Sure. I have four adoptive siblings and four friends that I consider to by part of the family."

"What are their names?"

"John-117, Kelly-087, Fred-104, Linda-058, Jameson Locke, Holly Tanaka, Edward Buck, and Olympia Vale." Autumn explained.

"That's a lot of people." Said Lady.

"That isn't a scratch on the surface of the people I had met. We lived on a ship called Infinity. It was always moving. The ship itself was about 5.7 kilometers."

"Holy shit!" Lady breathed. "What was it like living there?"

"Loads of fun for the most part. I have a lot of good memories on that ship." Autumn explained.

"Who was her Captain?"

"Captain Thomas Lasky. He is a good friend and a great Captain. John liked him and met the Captain when he was a first mate."

"Whoa… I want to meet this Captain." Lady said.

"He would like you—they all would. And Roland surely would."

"Whose Roland?"

"He's the ship's AI."

"There is just one of him!? Good thing he is programed to handle the strain." Lady said.

"Yeah…"

After their conversation the ship started to get closer to the city. Lady floats to the window as they see the city come into view. It was beautiful. The sun was just rising as they had arrived. Autumn was in awe.

So that is the Last City. It's beautiful. Autumn thought.

"Thank the Traveler's Light! Welcome home, Autumn." Lady said happily.

Autumn smiled pushing her sadness down. The ship flies over to the Tower as the light touched it. It had a bronze and silvery glow to it.

"That tower is where the Guardians live." Lady said.

"It's pretty. And no Infinity but I'll live." Autumn said.

When the ship got closer to the tower Autumn and Lady where transported out. They landed in the plaza. Autumn looked at the city below and then at the Traveler.

If it weren't for this big ball, I wouldn't have this second chance. Traveler if you can hear me, thank you for making me a Guardian. Autumn said in her head.

Autumn then turned her attention to plaza. She looked around seeing Guardians walk around and stop as they looked at her. They knew she was new. That much was clear. Most went back to what they where doing while others stared a little longer. Lady noticed that Autumn was getting uncomfortable because Autumn had pulled her hood over her head.

"Let's talk with the Hunter Vanguard, his name is Cayde-6." Lady said.

"Right." Autumn nodded following Lady.

On the way to the Vanguard they where stopped by a group of Hunters that welcomed her with open arms. They did catch Autumn off guard. They asked her all kinds of questions and cooed at her shyness to them.

Seriously? Thought Lady. Do they really have to crowd her?

Autumn held her hood over heard and quickly walked away.

"A shy hunter!" One exclaims excitedly.

"Cayde is going to love her." Another said.

"Too bad she's shy, she seems like a nice young lady." Said another with his hands behind his head as he walked away.

They entered the Hall of Guardians. That was when they met Lord Shaxx.

"Ah, another hunter welcome new blood." That was Shaxx he was known for his efforts in the Twilight Gap.

He is the founder of the Crucible where Guardians can get away with killing one another over any dispute they may have, or they just are bored with the Fallen, Hive, Vex and Cabal and just want to shoot something else.

"Thank you, sir." Autumn said politely with a small bow.

"A polite hunter, a rarity to come by." He said with a tone that hinted that he might have been smiling under his helmet.

Autumn just smiles at him before walking over to the Vanguard. They look up to see the new hunter and her ghost stand at the top of the stairs. Autumn strides down to the only Exo; Cayde-6 the Hunter Vanguard who really hates his job. Cayde noticed her walk over to him.

She's new. Cayde thought.

She looked timid. She was new and he couldn't blame her.

Don't worry little guardian I'll get you out of your shell. He thought coming up with a plan.

"Hey there!" He said, and Autumn blinked at him for the longest time. "What did I do?" He asks.

"Nothing you sound like someone I know is all." Autumn said honestly.

"Really? Uh." Cayde said interested. "And who would that be?"

"Edward Buck. You sound just like him." Autumn said smiling.

Cayde saw her smile and lit up. He couldn't really see her face because of the hood. And she was shy around him. But Cayde was taking a quick liking to her and wanted to know her. And she seemed to know something about her past.

"Are you saying you can remember your past Guardian?" The Awoken Titian Vanguard; Zavala asks from his place at the table.

"Yes, sir." Autumn was honest and respectable with him.

"Interesting. What do you recall guardian?" Asked Ikora the Warlock Vanguard.

"Um…." Autumn started recoiling.

"Hey, hey," Cayde holds her firmly, "It's okay. You don't have to tell us right away."

Autumn relaxed.

"And you two leave my hunter alone." He snapped. "Can't you see she's shy?"

"We weren't trying to do anything to her. Its just she has to be the first Guardian with her memory of who she was." Ikora said.

"And the rule is that Guardians aren't supposed to investigate their past. However, if the Guardian remembers their past then that is a different story." Zavala spoke. "What is your name Guardian?"

"Autumn."

After that Autumn excused herself. She made her way quickly out the hall. Cayde looked at his fellows with a "really?" look.

"Guardian Autumn. She's an interesting one." Zavala said.

"Did you sense her light?" Asked Ikora.

"Yeah," began Cayde. "It's huge."

"Is that a good or bad thing?" Asked Zavala.

"We'll have to wait and see." Said Ikora.

The room went silent and the Vanguard returned to their duties. After a few minutes Autumn had returned. She asked if Cayde would be willing to help introduce her to the other Hunters and Faction leaders. Since Cayde wasn't leaving the tower, Zavala gave him permission and told Autumn and Lady that they had to escort Cayde back to the hall afterwards. Cayde called a few hunters most of them being the ones that Autumn had ran into when she first arrived.

"Alright guys, meet Autumn and her Ghost; Lady." Cayde introduced. "Autumn, Lady, this is Kim and her Ghost Flare, Zos and his Ghost Flyer, Jackie and his Ghost Ranger, Mickey and her ghost Romeo, Dickhead-08 and his Ghost Frost—,"

"It's Dickcon-08." Replied the sliver Exo.

"And moving on; this is Sola and her Ghost Thief, Cody and his Ghost Bella, finally Luca and her Ghost Beauty." Cayde finished.

"It is so nice to meet you." Said Kim excitedly taking Autumn's hands in hers.

"Nice to meet you too Kim." Autumn replied back.

"Remove the hood girl." Said Luca. "We're all friends and family."

Autumn nods smiling and removes her hood. Everyone started.

"What?"

"Nothing. It's just that you're so pretty!" Said Mickey. "I have never seen such pretty auburn hair."

"Wow…" Trailed off Romeo. "I love your eyes."

"I know its like looking at a gem." Said Ranger.

"Thank you." Autumn said.

They began talking and that was when Autumn said that she could remember her past life.

"WHAT!?" Shouted the other Hunters.

"Yep."

"Oh, you have to tell us!" Said Cody.

"Yeah!" Said Bella. "Please?"

"I and Cayde want to hear too." Said Cayde's Ghost Sundance.

"After I introduce her to the faction leaders and the Speaker." Cayde said making everyone groan.

"I'm sure you all can wait a little while." Said Autumn.

"Only for a while." Said Frost. "Seriously Dickcon has ADHD."

"Exposed!" Shouted Kim while everyone laughed.

"Frost!" Dickcon shouted embarrassed.

Cayde, Sundance, Autumn, and lady took this as a chance to sneak off to the faction leaders and the Speaker. The faction leaders where nice to certain extents and the Speaker answered most of the questions she had. He was helpful but not really. Autumn and Amanda became fast friends. They liked one another and hung out with them and the other Hunters in the northern end of the tower on the right side of where the Speaker's chamber was.

"Now tell us about your past."

"All right." Autumn said. "But first I need to explain the UEG, ONI, the UNSC, Insurrectionist, Covenant, and Forerunners."

That took an hour or two—possibly three—at most explaining those in the simplest light. The group was amazed and wanted to know more. Autumn gladly spoke about the events she learned about from her studies. Then Autumn got into her past. She was pretty tried and deiced to tell them about how she met Blue Team.

X—Flashback—X

X

A little girl sat on her knees bloodied and crying. Her auburn hair was a mess, her green eyes where watery and soon drying out, and her warm beige skin was covered in blood. She was alone and afraid. Her parents were gone. Everyone she knew was gone. She heard the footsteps of the monsters that attacked her and quickly hid and covered her mouth. Then the monsters shouted in surprise, there was fight, voices that didn't sound like monsters where talking. The girl slowly crawled out from her hiding spot seeing four armored giants stand before the monsters. The tall green one saw her, she hid. He slowly walked over to her hiding spot. He knelt to her level trying to look to see her.

"It's okay." He said. "I'm not going to hurt you. Are you okay?" His voice was warm.

The girl slowly crawled out looking at the golden visor in front of her. He noticed all her injuries and sighed. At least she survived the ordeal.

"Chief?" Asked the white armored one.

"Shh." He hushed her and made a signal with his hands.

He looked back at the girl. "I'm Master Chief-117. You can call my John if you like. Do you have a name?"

"Autumn…Autumn Summers."

"That's a pretty name." Said the white one. "My name is Kelly. This is Fred, and the other one is Linda." She gestured to each of them.

Autumn slowly rose to her feet, fell but was caught by John. They saw her leg was gashed pretty bad. She was very lucky to have lived it. John carefully lifted her up in his arms. She curled into him feeling tired from the blood loss.

"Let's get moving. Linda call for evac and sick-bay."

"Copy." Linda said.

"Stay awake Autumn." John asked as he and the others bolted.

X

Autumn awoke in the infirmary and looked to see John resting by the bed. She weakly reached out for him. She lightly touched his hand which woke him instantly.

"You shouldn't be moving just yet." He said.

Autumn nodded.

"How are you feeling?"

"Better…" She whispered. "Where is Kelly, Fred and Linda?"

"Training hopefully. I'm going to get the doctor." John got up and left the room for a few minutes.

Autumn looked at the window and saw the blackness of space. It wasn't interesting, but it helped her to thinking oddly enough. She looked back at the door hearing it open. A woman with long brown hair entered the room with a smile. John was in tow behind her.

"I am Dr. Grace." She introduced herself and sat down.

Dr. Grace was very nice and did a bunch of tests before Autumn could leave. She walked along side John and held his hand. She clung to him and didn't speak until they reached the team. They where relieved to see her awake and up. Kelly hugged the little girl tightly.

"Don't suffocate her!" Fred scolded.

"I wasn't." Kelly said putting her down.

Linda knelt and lightly patted her head. Autumn spent the rest of the day with the Spartans. And since Autumn didn't have anyone Hood allowed Blue Team to be her guardians since he may or may not have been spying on them because of they and Autumn interacted.

X

Autumn sat in Kelly's room with a dismantled gun before her. She was trying to figure out how to put it back together. Fred was the one that dismantled it and told her that she had to put back together. She was getting frustrated and threw one of the pieces at the door. At that same time the door opened. The piece went flying out just barely missing the person entering.

"Nice arm. But you could work on your aim." Kelly teased. "What ya got here?" She looked to see the dismantled gun.

"Fred took it a part and told me to put it together. But I don't know how…" Autumn said with frustrated tears.

Kelly picked up the piece that was outside her room and sat with the little girl.

"I'll show you. And the next time Fred does this get me, Linda, or John. Alright?"

"Okay." Autumn said.

Together they sat on the floor putting the gun together. They went over each part and why it was important. Autumn watched in awe as Kelly put the gun together and then took it part for Autumn to try. Kelly did help on the first try. And then Autumn was doing it out her help.

"Now excuse me, I need to have a talk with Fred." Kelly said.

Autumn giggled. "Kick his butt!"

"You got it!"

X

Linda was meditating with Autumn sitting next to her in the same meditative position. Linda often stole a glance at the little girl. Autumn was an oddity. She was quiet and always did what she was told without argument. That makes for a great soldier so long as the commanding officer isn't insane and uses that to their advantage. Linda soon stopped her meditation and stood. Autumn opened her eyes and copied Linda.

"Ready?" Linda asked.

"Yes ma'am." Autumn said.

Linda gave Autumn a gun and taught her how to point it and fire. Autumn took a few shots missing but with Linda's help she focused her aim and was hitting closer to the targets' center. Over time Autumn was hitting the center of each target.

"Not bad."

"I have a good teacher." Autumn smiled.

Linda blushed and huffed making Autumn laugh. Linda smiled and rubbed the little girl's head.

X

Autumn rolled in her makeshift bed trying to sleep but the nightmare from earlier was keeping her up. She didn't want to wake the sleeping Spartan in the bed. That didn't seem right. He really needed his sleep. The Spartan's room she was in was Fred's. Autumn had this system. One night was with John, the other was with Kelly, the night after that was Linda, and finally Fred. Autumn looked at the clock seeing it was almost midnight. But at that moment she heard movement coming from Fred. She looked to see him having a nightmare of his own. Autumn slowly walked over to him and touched his arm.

"Fred it's okay. None of it is real. It's a nightmare." Autumn said in a warm soft voice.

Fred woke with a jerk sweating heavily. He sighed and rubbed his face. Autumn waited for him to look at her. When did he looked so guilty.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Sorry I woke you." He said guiltily.

"It's okay. I had a nightmare too." She answered.

"About what happened?"

"Yeah. And you? Did you dream about Reach?"

"A little."

Autumn sat on the bed with him and gave him a hug.

"I'll right here. I'll chase those dreams away." She said firmly.

Fred smiled hugging her to him. He laid back down holding her close to his chest. Both snuggled in the bed and drifted off to sleep.

X

She wasn't allowed to go on missions. Not that she minded. She fully understood why. And she had no interest that the time to through herself into what happened to her old home. Right now, she was hanging out with Commander Palmer, Captain Lasky, and Roland. She had become their little pony express; delivering messages and papers to others in Infinity for Lasky. Lasky enjoyed having her around. She was an adept learner and very respectful. She never threw a fit. Which made Lasky wonder what kind of life she was living before her colony was attacked.

"So, Autumn." Began Roland.

"Yes?"

"What is your biggest wish. I know a little girl like you has some kind of a wish." Roland said.

"I want to go to Earth." She said.

"Can't blame you. Earth is the birthplace of humanity." Lasky said.

"Where you born there?"

"No. I was born in an outer colony just like you. I never got to see Earth until I got older. The first time I saw her, it was incredible and knew that more what even if I didn't live on her I think of her as home. There is so much on the blue planet. Which is why when I retire I want to live there." Lasky explained.

"Now I really want to go there. It sounds awesome." Autumn said.

"I'll see when we can head there." Lasky said.

"Really thank you Captain! Chief was right you are a great Captain."

"The Chief said that?" Palmer asked seeing Lasky had frozen.

"Yep. He said Lasky has great judgement and isn't afraid to do something when it has to be done. Like when he gave Chief that Pelican on Requiem."

"Aww the Chief likes you Lasky." Palmer teased.

"I did help save Earth." Lasky admitted. "If I hadn't given him that Pelican the Earth would have been destroyed."

"True that." Roland said.

X

"I'm going to take you down John!" Autumn said.

"We'll see about that." John smirked.

Autumn had been growing a lot. The time felt like it was flying. From a scared little girl to a confident teen. Autumn charged looking to use her height to her advantage. John prepared himself for his. But was caught off guard when Autumn blitzed him. He was bewildered and felt Autumn kick him. He went down but picked himself right back up. Where did she learn that? Autumn stood on her feet and readied herself for John to attack. He did but she happened to be faster than him. It was like she new all his moves. She dropped him and kicked his ankle knocking him off balance. He fell again.

"Are you seriously getting your ass beat by a preteen?" Asked Kelly who just walked in.

"No." John said.

"I believe that was supposed to be "not yet"." Autumn cut in getting Kelly to laugh.

John sighed. If there was one thing he hated was when the girls ganged up on him. John quickly got back to the sparing match and attempted to attack. She dodged again by doing a backflip.

"Were did learn that?" John asked very confused.

"I asked Roland to find me some fighting style videos. I watched those a few times and practiced."

"And those fighting styles where?" Asked Kelly.

"Marital arts; so, like boxing, karate, capoeira." Autumn answered.

"Wow you practiced all that jus to beat the Master Chief?"

"Yep."

"Well I feel bad for you John." Kelly smirked.

John glared but then got back to the match. John could tell that Autumn had put her own spin in her fighting style. It was a martial arts mixture, but some moves she did where pass of her natural ability. John knew from that start that Autumn would use her size and speed to her advantage. He threw a punch. She blocked it and did an upper cut. It actually hurt him a little. He could tell that Autumn soon regretted that. She held her wrists and moved it around a little.

"What are you bones made of?" She asked.

"That's what Spartan Augmentation does to you." Said John.

"So that was the surgery you went under…" Autumn trailed off.

John and Kelly looked at one another confused. How did she know about that?

"Fred had a nightmare about it once." She said looking off to the side.

"Yes, it was." John answered honestly there was no point in hiding it. "When we did it, it costed many lives. But over time other people where able to create a safer away of augmenting the next Spartans. They used injections instead of full on surgeries."

"Oh." Autumn breathed. "And if I became a Spartan?"

"We would rather have you chose. For most people now being a Spartan is a choice. But I don't want you to rush into it. Think carefully before making a choice like that. Alright?" John asked.

Autumn had a right to choose this kind of life. True she was already living it but if she wanted to back out while she still could the team would support her.

"Yes sir." Autumn answered.

X

"Sir, I apologize, but you can't be serious." Said Lasky talking with an ONI agent.

"I am serious. This Miss Summers will be the first Spartan 5." Said the ONI agent.

"Sir with all due respect that is Miss Summers decision. You can't force her against her will to be something she might not want to." Lasky attempted to reason.

"You know the girl convince her."

"No sir. Miss Summers may prove valuable to be a Spartan, but it is her decision. The least I am willing to do is bring it to her attention." Lasky said cutting the transmission.

He sighed. How was tell Autumn without pissing off Blue Team. Those four would bring down ONI for that. Lasky walked to find Blue Team. He knew that they where probably resting in their dorms since they had gotten back from a mission eight hours ago.

"Captain." John saluted.

"At ease Chief." He said. "Where's Autumn and the team."

"Autumn is sleeping the team is taking a shower." John explained. "Is something wrong."

"That's hard to explain and I'll let you all decide." Lasky said.

John could only guess where this was going. After the team had gotten out of the shower and dressed they woke up Autumn. That was when Lasky explained to them the situation they where now going face. Blue Team was now secretly plotting murder on the ONI agent. Autumn was shocked and told Lasky that she was going to think about it. Lasky was honest and told her that ONI wasn't going to wait for her. Autumn understood that.

A few days later the ONI agent that Lasky had spoken with had arrived on Infinity. He didn't seem happy and guards with him. Oh boy. And it was right when Blue Team had left on a mission. His timing was awesome. Autumn was with Lasky and Palmer having a pleasant conversation when the ONI agent came in. The guards had restrained Palmer and Lasky while one took Autumn.

"WHAT THE HELL PUT ME DOWN!" Autumn demanded.

"Sorry Miss Summers but your time thinking is up. You are becoming a Spartan." Said the ONI Agent.

"Now I see why Insurrectionist hate you. You all are nothing more than self-serving bastards!" Autumn shouted.

"Watch your mouth girl."

Autumn smiled. "You know something jackass when Blue Team finds out I doubt that anyone is going to be willing to protect you." She said darkly.

ONI Agent didn't say anything and walked out the door with the guards following.

X

Autumn was now wearing Spartan Armor and was walking around Infinity. She didn't know what to do. Palmer and Lasky had been helping her adjust to the augmentations. Not a lot changed with her. She was still skinny but her felt heavier. It was very weird.

"Autumn." Roland appeared.

"Yeah Roland?"

"Blue Team is back."

"Shit." Autumn cussed rubbing her face.

She went to get her armor off and retreated into Linda's room. She sat there in the corner and sighed. This was going to be interesting. Soon enough thundering footsteps where heard. They stopped right after one another. There was almost a skidding sound.

"Autumn?" Linda looked to see her. "She's in here."

Linda knelt to Autumn's level and threw her arms around the younger girl. Autumn hugged back as the others joined refusing to let her go. She was the same. Not wanting to let her family go because she feared if she did then something bad would happen.

"That ONI agent is going to fucking die!" Shouted Kelly after they let go.

John was the only one still holding onto Autumn. He didn't want to let her go. She didn't mind at all. She was a little tired herself and enjoyed his warmth.

"Kelly first language and second you know you cant kill him." John reasoned.

"I know but—RAGH!" She shouted enraged.

"I still can't believe they did that to her. I mean yeah we were training her but that was it." Fred said.

"ONI and their bright ideas…" Linda sighed not continuing.

"Mind if I just go to sleep?" Autumn asked.

"Not at all. Get some rest." John said.

He took her into his room and laid her down. He stayed with her listening to the team talk. Autumn soon drifted and was sound asleep.

X

Autumn was getting a temporary assignment to a Fire-Team called Osiris. She didn't know want to expect. She heard a little bit about them. And now she was going to meet them. Great. She was so nervous. She was to meet with them in the hanger.

Deep breath Autumn, they are fellow Spartans. She told herself.

She entered the hanger seeing a dark skin man stand with his helmet by his hip. Autumn took a deep breath striding over.

"Are you Spartan Jameson Locke?" She asked.

"Yes. You must be Spartan Autumn Summers. Nice to meet you." They shook hands.

"Likewise. So where is the rest of the team?"

"Waiting in the Pelican. Follow me." Locke said.

Autumn nodded and followed Locke into the Pelican. That was where Autumn was introduced to the rest of the team. Holly Tanaka, Olympia Vale, and Edward Buck. They all were very nice, and she hit off with them. They had a bit more humor than Blue Team. Especially Buck. He was very funny. They exchanged stories while the Pelican took off. Locke then told them their mission. Their mission was to infiltrate a Covenant outpost and take it out. Simple as it sounded but the group knew that it wasn't going to be easy.

X—Flashback End—X

"And that's pretty much it." Autumn finished explaining.

"Whoa…" The others trailed off amazed.

"Infinity sounds awesome!" Shouted Cody.

"I know. Her Captain sounds cute." Kim said.

Everyone was commenting on Autumn's story and having a good time. That was when Dickcon-08 asked about what happened her to her. Autumn explained the attack on the base and the earthquake that happened.

"Damn…" Said Ranger.

"I know. You poor thing!" Jackie hugged her.

"It's okay." Autumn said as the others joined in.

"Ultimate Hunter group hug!" Shouted Mickey and Luca.

They laughed and smiled. After that Cayde took Autumn and Lady to Autumn's new room. After which Autumn was going to walk Cayde back but told her to get comfortable in her room and get some sleep. She listened because Cayde was her commander. Lady and Autumn looked around. Autumn got out of her armor and was in a t-shirt and underwear. She crawled into the bed and snuggled in.

"Not a bad first day." Lady said.

"I don't think today counts but I am glad I was able to make friends." Autumn said. "Tomorrow will be my real first day."

"Right." Lady rested next to her and they both closed their eyes going to sleep.

John, everyone where ever you all are, I hope you are safe. I pray that the Traveler allows us to meet again. Autumn thought going to sleep.

X