Author Note: NaNoWriMo kicked my butt. Hopefully I'll be back to a semi regular updating schedule. Maybe not, though, since I'm working to publish said NaNoWriMo novel. But I'll try not to leave you people hanging for too long.

I walked down a narrow street, trying not to stagger. Maybe I couldn't handle alcohol as well as I thought, because I was really feeling that last drink. So when a large figure moved into my path, blocking me from going any further, the quick stop I'd have to make to avoid the large figure wasn't particularly well executed and I ended up running face first into the large figure.

"Whoa there, big guy." I said, putting a hand out to steady myself. My arm was grabbed by the figure in front of me, who turned out to be Thel. It really hadn't taken him long to show up. It was almost like he'd been waiting just outside the bar for his Sangheili narcs to tell him what was going on.

Unfortunately, due to my rather high blood alcohol content, I wasn't as good at losing people as I usually was. So he'd managed to follow me. I really shouldn't have had that last drink.

"Kasey Adams." Thel said, his deep voice stern. "Would you like to inform me what it is you and your companions are up to?"

I swayed slightly as I thought about my answer. He'd called me Kasey. And Adams. Which meant that he really meant business. So I had to be particularly careful about my answer. My intoxicated brain put it's rusty gears into motion. Then, I beckoned him closer with one hand. He leaned down, close to my face, and I put my cheek against his, feeling his warmth.

"WE'RE GOING TO GET CORTANA BACK!" I shouted.

He pulled back quickly, and I saw him wince. He then shook his head, with the incredible measure of patience that was his greatest virtue, and said, "That, I know. What I am asking is how, exactly, you intend to divert the UNSC's attention from what it is those two are planning to do."

I folded my arms, swaying again slightly, trying not to giggle like an idiot at the completely juvenile move I'd just pulled on him. I really hated that my motor functions were the first thing to go. I could think just fine, but it was like the connection between my brain and my body was completely shot. "Well, I haven't figured that out yet. I have some ideas, though." I told him, being completely honest in that regard.

He narrowed his eyes at me. "And what are these ideas of yours?" He asked, intentionally ignoring the fact that I was sloppy drunk, once again. At least I wasn't puking this time. You can't win them all, but sometimes you have to be grateful for the little things.

I thought for a moment. What would a reasonable person with no intention of getting court martialed come up with? Man, that was difficult. Doing things that would end badly was literally my greatest talent. In fact, I'm not sure I even knew how to do something that wouldn't end badly. But I wasn't going to tell him some of my actual ideas, because, obviously, he wouldn't be a fan of me doing something that would end very badly. The last time I had done something that was certain to end badly, specifically, attempted to kill my own father, I'd almost died. This time, the consequences were worse. Yes, there are things worse than death. Being labeled a traitor to the UNSC is one of them. Being assigned to an administrative position is another. The power of an administrative position appealed to me, for sure, but the amount of paperwork definitely didn't. Plus, it's boring. And the boredom and paperwork far outweigh any satisfaction that comes from having administrative power. Few things are worse than being in administration. Even death was preferable to administration. Other things worse than death include having to explain a concept to someone more than four times, one of Ewing's farts, weak coffee and having to talk about my feelings. On a scale of death to having to talk about my feelings, being labeled a traitor to the UNSC ranked somewhere in the middle. So it was a risk I was willing to take. Of course, the fact that I had some ideas that could definitely cause my death if executed improperly was just a small consequence of executing said idea. I mean, dying would suck. Not just for me, but for the people I cared about. But they'd move on, eventually. It's not like Thel and I could make this thing last forever. Bloodlines were incredibly important on Sanghelios, and I was definitely not in the selection pool for him to propogate his bloodline with, so really, I was making the choice easier if I ended up dying. I knew that he'd already refused any and all recommendations to further his bloodline with some choice Sangheili females out of loyalty to me, even though I'd expressed to him that it didn't bother me. It really didn't bother me, from a rational standpoint. He was a prime specimen of both brains and brawn, and having offspring with quality Sangheili females would really do wonders for not only his legacy, but the Sangheili as a whole. What bad could come from several mini Thel 'Vadams running around on Sanghelios? But on the other hand, it also really gave me some negative feelings that I refused to acknowledge and work through because dealing with feelings in a healthy manner isn't my style. He didn't know I knew about the recommendations. He'd never said anything, because in his mind, he was committed, and why mention something you're not even considering. But I'd found out. Granted, I'd found out by nefarious and underhanded means because I'd had suspicions and wanted to confirm those suspicions and thus stroke my own ego in being right about my suspicions because I can't resist the occasional ego boost, and I hadn't told him I knew about the very strong suggestions that he further his bloodline. I didn't know who those doing the deciding (it was generally a matriarchial responsibility to carefully calculate bloodlines to provide for optimum furthering of choice genetic material, so I'd had some guesses, but they hadn't given me any information I'd wanted-probably a smart choice) had picked for him to procreate with, but I knew that Sangheili took the bloodline thing very seriously, but I had some theories about who they'd picked, and if I was right, it was hard to argue with the decision. Which is why I'd decided that if the subject came up between us, I'd tell him I was okay with it, even though I wasn't fully okay with it. In my opinion, raging jealousy isn't a reason to tell someone not to do something that makes sense. I may have a lot of flaws, but being petty isn't one of them.

Actually, that's wrong. Being petty is one thing I'm really great at being, but not when it comes to romantic relationships. I'll be petty fucking spaghetti all day long, but not when it comes to Thel. Okay, well, maybe sometimes I'd be petty spaghetti with him, but not if it was an issue that genuinely caused him distress. Only if it was something that didn't really matter. Like him being right about something that I'd specifically told him he was wrong about. But who isn't petty about that stuff?

I guess I took a long time in deciding what to tell him one of my ideas was, because he leaned forward slightly. "What ideas, Khase?"

I forced myself to think of an answer. It still wasn't coming. But then, I had it. "Well, they offered me that new assignment, right? What if I end up submitting so many strange and vaguely idiotic drafts for changes to the program that they're so busy trying to go through all my ridiculous proposals that they don't notice John and Vale have suspiciously disappeared?"

Thel's expression was one of someone who was incredibly unimpressed, and incredibly skeptical. "You would use bureaucracy to help your cause? That does not sound like you."

I shrugged. "Maybe I've decided to play their game the way it's meant to be played. With red tape."

"You have never played any game the way it is meant to be played. Ever. In your life. Not once."

I squinted at him. "Chill. We don't need to revisit the past, especially not if it concerns me being a little shit. Maybe I've grown up. Maybe I've matured. Maybe I've realized that the smartest way to get what you want is to play by the rules."

"I doubt it."

I put my hands on my hips and gave him a sour look. "It's nice to know someone believes in my ability to mature."

He folded his arms. "I have no doubt that you have the ability to mature, I doubt that you have the desire to do so."

I considered this for a moment. "That's fair."

"I thought so." He shifted his weight, and glared down at me. "You will not do anything rash, or idiotic, or anything that might put your personal safety and career in jeopardy, will you?"

I shook my head. "Of course not." I was going to hell for being a liar. I was straight up going to hell. And it was because I was a goddamn liar. Kasey Adams, MD. A brilliant doctor, and a shameless liar. That was me.

"Good. Because if you do anything that could classify as treason, I will not be able to protect you. I cannot allow you to hide on Sanghelios. You know that, right?"

I sighed and looked at the tall Sangheili. "I know that. I would never ask you to do that, because I know you can't do that. You have an alliance to maintain. The Sangheili and the UNSC have an agreement, and I wouldn't expect you to do anything to put that in jeopardy."

He frowned at me, as best as a Sangheili can frown. "You say that like you're planning to do something that would classify as treason."

Whoops. Come on, Adams. Get it together. You're not supposed to let on that you're going to do something that could classify as treason.

I shook my head. "No, I'm not. John and Vale would never ask me to do that." They would. They just did. But it wasn't like it was for a bad reason, it was for a very, very good reason, a reason that I was willing to risk committing treason for. "But in the event that I ever did something that could be classified as treason, I wouldn't ask you to protect me as a fugitive. Never. I'm not that kind of person."

Thel sighed. "I know you are not. But you worry me, sometimes. The lengths you will go to for those you care for are lengths that often put yourself at risk. And this I know from personal experience. You almost gave your life for the sake of mine, and I will not allow you to do that again."

I reached out and took his hand. "Thel. I knew what I was doing. And I'd do it again, in a heartbeat."

He pulled his hand away and gripped my upper arms. "Khase, I know you would. But I won't allow you to put yourself in that position again. What kind of person am I to allow the woman I love to endanger her life for my sake?"

I slid my hands onto his forearms. "The kind of person who recognizes that the woman you love would do anything to keep you safe, and who would allow her that."

He tilted his head back and closed his eyes. "No, I would not allow you that."

I shrugged slightly. "Which is okay, because I'd do it whether you allowed me to or not. I've never needed another person's permission to do what I know is the right thing." And I meant that. If I know it's the right thing to do, to hell with getting someone's permission. You shouldn't need permission to do what you know is right."

He pulled me into a gentle, yet tight embrace. "Don't do anything that could put you at risk. That's all I ask."

I decided to choose my next words carefully. "I promise you that I won't do anything to put my physical safety at risk." Man, even that was a promise I wasn't sure I'd be able to keep.

He ran a hand down my hair. "Good."

I pulled back. "I have to go. I have a UNSC offer to respond to."

His eyes took on a brooding expression. "I hope you think long and hard about whether that position is a good thing for you."

"What do you mean?" I asked, my brow wrinkling slightly in confusion.

"You are a fighter, Khase. You have always been a fighter. You are the kind of person who can keep her head when everyone else around her is losing theirs. I am not convinced that a position where there is no crisis is what is right for you. As much as I long to see you in a place where your safety is guaranteed, I know that is not what you desire. So I simply ask that you take some time to consider whether the new position is something you really want."

I nodded. "I can do that."

"Good." He released me and started to walk away, then stopped. He turned to face me. "Khase 'Nradaman, did you know that I love you?"

I couldn't keep the laugh from bursting out of me. "I kind of figured you did. And I hope you've figured out by now that I love you."

A smile of sorts put itself on his face. "I have indeed figured that out."

"Good. I don't know how I can make it any more obvious." I muttered.

"Go back to your ship, Khase."

"Yes sir, Kaidon."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

First of all, I'm lying trash. What I was going to do would definitely put me in physical danger, would probably put me on the UNSC "Most Wanted" list of dispicable traitors, and would do significant damage to my career. It would most likely obliterate my career altogether. Sometimes I wished I was a stone cold bitch who never needed the company of other people, and could therefore tell them they and their requests of my help could shove said requests where the sun don't shine, but I'm not that person. I'm the exact opposite. I'm the person who'll risk life and limb to help someone if they really need it, and if I really cared about them. Except I pretend I'm a stone cold bitch. If I hadn't decided to be a doctor, I'd like to think my chances at acting would've been superb. But the fact that I'm the kind of person who will do pretty much anything those who I care about ask me to do is probably my biggest flaw.

Aside from the drinking. And the fact that I'm an asshole. And the part where I do things without thinking them through. And that I'm not concerned with the consequences for my actions. And that I'm a liar. But whatever.

But I wasn't about to spend too much time thinking about my biggest character flaws, because that doesn't get you anywhere other than spiraling into a deep depression about how terrible of a human being you are, and I didn't have time for that right now. I had to create a diversion. That, and taking time to list all my flaws would probably take a long, long time. I had a lot of flaws. But like I said, I didn't have time to waste listing my flaws. That could wait for a therapy session I would never go to.

Which is why I was back on the Infinity seeking the help of Captain Lasky. I figured he'd be a great person to rope into this little scheme because he'd helped the Chief before at the risk of losing his job, his life, his career, etc. What's to say that he wouldn't do it again, especially if his ability to help wouldn't require him to risk anything?

I wished I'd given a more tender goodbye to Thel, though. After I did what I was about to do to help out John and Vale, there was no telling whether I'd ever see him again or not. I guess I could classify that as my one regret in this whole thing. That I hadn't really told him goodbye. At least, not in the way I'd wanted to. There had been so many things I'd wanted to say to him. Like to tell him to stay strong, to do what it took to take Sanghelios back to it's former glory, without being dependent on the Prophets. That he had what it took to be the leader Sanghelios needed. That he deserved to succeed in everything he undertook. That he deserved to be loved. That he was incredible, and strong, and just. That he had people who would always stand with him. That kind of thing. But he'd have gotten suspicious if I'd told him all that, so I'd refrained. I guess it was just a regret I'd have to live with. Maybe I'd write him a note. Less meaningful than saying it in person, but sometimes you have to adjust things to fit the circumstances.

I'd contacted Vale and John before I reached the Infinity, letting them know their diversion was about to go down, and that they needed to move, and move fast. I didn't know what their end of the plan entailed, but in the grand scheme of things, it was probably better that I didn't know. No need for them to be affected by what I was going to do. As far as I knew, they were heading out to do whatever it was they were going to do. All I had to do was do what they asked me to. Create a diversion. Which is what I was about to do, right here, right now, on the Infinity.

I found Lasky on the bridge, alone, with Roland. It was "night" on the Infinity, which meant that it was the scheduled sleeping time for all personnel, save those who were assigned to night shift. But the ship was mostly dead, regardless.

Lasky didn't notice I'd walked onto the bridge. I stood in the shadows of the large, dark room for a moment, debating whether or not to say something and scare the shit out of him, or wait for him to notice me and scare the shit out of him.

I decided on the former.

"Lasky." I said, from the dark corner I was standing in. In retrospect, it probably would've been better to just crash my way into the bridge and start yelling, but considering the fact that I was about to do something I'd never done before and had never even thought of doing before, I hadn't been sure how to go about it. So I'd opted for sneaking in and standing in a dark corner. Only natural.

He jumped. Which wasn't surprising, considering I had been lurking in a goddamn dark corner for a solid five minutes.

"Adams?" Lasky said, looking at me with blatant confusion.

I ignored him for a moment, and waved a hand at Roland. "Go away, Roland. I need to talk to him alone."

Roland just looked at me. "Sorry. We're in the middle of something far more important than whatever it is you want to talk to him about."

I shot him a look. "Uh, you don't know that."

"I'm pretty sure I do."

"Hey, Roland? I don't like your attitude."

"Look at that. The feeling is mutual."

"Feel free to fuck off."

"You first."

I opened my mouth to give a blistering reply, but was cut short by Lasky sighing. "Roland. Adams. Anytime you two would like to quit harping on each other, I'll be happy to hear you both out."

"He can't be here, though." I said, leveling a glare at the AI. I'd deliver that blistering reply at some point. Mark my words. Treason or not, I'd deliver that blistering reply.

"He has to be here. It's regulation. Anytime I'm on the bridge alone, he has to be here. To prevent anything bad from happening." Lasky told me. "I'm sorry."

I sighed, and rolled my eyes towards the ceiling. "Alright. Then I guess I'll just have to work around it."

Lasky frowned. "What do you mean?"

I pulled the classic, standard issue gun off my back. "I'm taking you and the bridge."

Lasky's reaction was completely uninspiring. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, bowing his head. "Adams. Why." It wasn't even a question. It was a statement. He was so vastly unimpressed that he wasn't even asking me why I was doing this. He was just reacting with irritation, like I wasn't serious about this.

Roland's reaction was even less inspiring. He laughed. "Right. You. Taking this ship and it's captain hostage."

"Shut up, Roland. This is exactly why I wanted you to leave, goddamnit." I growled, raising the weapon at Lasky. Then I fired it into the console that Roland was occupying. His image flickered slightly, and then Roland looked at me like I'd started licking doorknobs.

Lasky looked at me in disbelief, finally starting to realize I was serious. "Are you insane? Why are you doing this? What is wrong with you?"

I sighed. "What's wrong with me? I tend to go above and beyond to help out a friend. That's what's wrong with me."

Lasky still didn't look afraid, the way one should look when one's ship is being taken hostage by a crazy doctor. "What do you mean?"

I shifted the weapon in my hands. "What I mean is that the Chief is on his way to respond to a message from Cortana, the real Cortana, and I'm supposed to create a diversion to make sure the UNSC is too busy to keep tabs on him and what he's doing. So, naturally, I decided to take their biggest and most important ship and it's captain hostage."

Roland and Lasky both stared at me for a good long minute.

I shifted. "What?" I demanded.

"He what? You what? Are you serious?" Lasky said, his voice going up a couple octaves.

"Yes. He what, I what, and I'm serious." I sighed again. "Roland, can you please just send a distress call to whoever needs to know that I've taken the ship hostage? Oh, and let them know that I destroyed the door to the bridge so no one can get in. Not without proper cutting tools, at least. And if they do, I'll shoot Lasky."

Lasky looked betrayed. "You'll shoot me? Why!?"

I rolled my eyes. "Because I'm taking the ship hostage to create a diversion. Seriously. How many times do I have to explain this?"

Roland raised an eyebrow at me. "Okay. I'll send the message. But you should know that once it's out, you're pretty much screwed."

"I'm aware." I told him.

"No, Roland. Don't." Lasky ordered.

"Do it, Roland." I growled.

"No, Roland. That's an order." Lasky said, his voice going into that commanding voice he always ordered his staff around with. "Adams, put the gun down. Don't do this. Put it down, walk away, and we'll pretend this never happened. You're throwing away your career and possibly your life over this."

I closed my eyes briefly, then opened them again. "You risked all that, once. I'm doing the same thing."

Lasky shook his head. "The worst I could've been hit with was insubordination. This is treason."

I took a deep breath. "I know."

Lasky shook his head again, looking at me with those soulful eyes. "What about Thel, Adams?"

I took a step back, unwillingly, like someone had pushed me. "Don't throw that at me, Lasky. Roland, send the message." I said, my voice becoming rough, unlike the way I usually spoke.

"Adams-" Lasky said, stepping forward.

"DO IT, ROLAND!" I yelled, pointing the gun at Lasky.

Lasky stopped, and Roland shook his head. "No. You're insane."

"Yeah. I am." I murmured, then pointed the gun at Lasky's leg. "Send the message. I'm serious."

"No you're not-" Roland started to say.

He didn't get the chance to finish, because I fired the gun into Lasky's upper leg.

He dropped to the floor, making a gutteral noise of pain.

I fixed my gaze on Roland. "I just made a declaration of intending to take your captain hostage, and now I just shot him. Send the message."

Roland looked horrified. "Adams. Why would-"

"Send it!" I shouted.

"He's going to bleed out!" Roland shouted back.

"For fuck's sake, Roland. I'm a fucking doctor. Jesus. He's going to be fine. I brought pain meds with me. It's a flesh wound. Holy shit. Just send the goddamned message before I punch my way through the console!" I shouted at him.

Lasky grunted out something that sounded like, "I hate you so much, Adams."

Roland went to say something, then stopped. "Okay. I'll send it." His avatar disappeared from the console.

I moved to Lasky's side, and lifted the medical bag I'd brought with me off my shoulder. "I'm sorry. I hope you know I'm doing this for the greater good." I stabbed Lasky with a syringe of a strong painkiller. "Just know that you're not going to die, and if you end up wounded, you'll get some quality medical care."

Lasky grunted out a shaky laugh that was affected by the pain he was obviously in. "Adams, while I don't blame you for doing this, and to a certain extent, I admire your resolve in taking a UNSC ship hostage, if you shoot me again, I will plant my fist in your face with as much force as I can. This hurts."

I looked him. He looked equal parts shocked, amused and an incredulous. "You know what, sir? When this is all over, come find me. I'll let you punch me in the face as many times as it takes for you to feel better. I probably owe you that."

Lasky shook his head and let out another shaky laugh. "Goddamn you, Adams. I hope you know what you're doing."

I sat back on my knees and threw a look towards the ceiling. "I know exactly what I'm doing-I'm doing something that will most definitely end badly."