Chapter 10: Tom

Date: 17 November 2552
Locations: Shadow of Intent & Forward Unto Dawn

"No," came a firm reply from an all too familiar voice. Rebellion flared under my skin as I looked up at the Demon.

Johnson chuckled at the two of us and only stopped when Keyes spoke, "There will be plenty of time for you to make him change his mind, Lasky. Right now we gotta board Forward Unto Dawn."

...

"Forward Unto Dawn.

From Earth, For Earth.

Honor, Valor, Allegiance, Excellence.

From Earth, For Earth.

Today. Tomorrow. Forever.

Together We Rise. Together We Prevail.

Forward Unto Dawn."

We as a group chanted to the beat of our footsteps in the mud. Just another day at the Academy. Blindfolded then transported by air to somewhere remote. Expected to take what we've learned to survive and make it back to campus.

The sun was rising as we approached the familiar architecture of the Corbulo Academy of Military Science. I looked over at my brother and grinned ear to ear as our hazel eyes met.

Tom.

"Great work everyone. We worked together to achieve our end goal of finding the campus." Tom smiled back at me.

"That was our end game?" I quipped. "I thought we were just out here to learn to appreciate the finer things in life.""Like brisk showers," Chen supplied and I nodded enthusiastically.

"And mystery food!" I waggled my eyebrows and almost everyone laughed. The fun did not last long as our group spotted the Robot. We promptly stood at attention in front of Hastati Squad Leader April Orenski.

"Well done Cadets," she said sternly. "Take today to recover and appreciate the accomplishment you all achieved. There is nothing you cannot do if you work together. Dismissed."

We all fled toward the showers before Orenski could change her mind about the T.O. A free-for-all ensued as we all raced to claim the shower stall that afforded the most room and coincidentally the warmest water.

As the leader of the pack, I knew people would begin throwing cheap shots to snag first so I kept pace to stay in the lead… barely. I counted on them having a false sense of security that they could overtake me at any moment. One glance at my twin's smirk told me he had pieced together my plan.

The stairs were the worst-for everyone. At the base I kicked it into full gear and nearly flew up the steps leaving everyone in the dust. At the doors I glanced back to see how much of a cushion I had in terms of distance and giggled as I witnessed Tom "trip" taking down almost all of our squad mates with him and securing my spot of first place.

"Runnnn Jayneeee!"

"Jayneee?" Johnson's hand waved in front of my face.

"Yes?" I sucked in a careful breath looking around at everyone watching me. "Oh, sorry."

"What did you remember?" I fought my body's automatic response to the quiet tone of Chief's voice. While I successfully prevented the blush, I couldn't stop my heart from jolting at the sound of his concern.

Yet again I saw my reflection in his visor but this time it wasn't completely foreign. Familiar hazel eyes peered back at me and a small smile came to my lips.

"My brother," I replied softly. "Just a day at the Academy when we were kids." Tears came to my eyes as the faintest touch of the Spartan's hand to my shoulder crumbled my control.

"Excuse me." Clearing my throat I headed toward nowhere in particular, just any place but there. When the Master Chief began to follow, Commander Miranda Keyes stopped him wordlessly and accompanied me instead.

"Walk with me, Lasky. Let's head onto the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn and get you squared away." I followed her without hesitation.

"I can't pretend to know what you're going through. None of us can. As much as many of us trust you there are many aboard this ship who won't. For your protection, I'd like for you to have Johnson, myself, or Chief with you when outside your quarters. As Commander of this ship I will not wager your life on the expectation of my crew respecting my decision to have you aboard."

"I understand, ma'am."

"I took the liberty of stationing you down the hall from myself." We stopped walking. "This is you. I'm three doors down and on the left."

"Thank you," I said as she punched a code in the security panel.

"You're welcome. Place your hand on the screen. It will make it so only you can open the room-aside from AI and myself," she amended.

As we entered the room I openly observed its sleek simplicity with obvious relief. I couldn't stop myself from eyeing the bed wistfully.

"Welcome to your humble abode. The ship's day is just beginning with breakfast starting at 0600 in about 20 minutes. Chief will meet you there-it's not far," she added when my eyes snapped to hers. "You must be hungry for a proper meal. Saffron, the ship's AI will guide you to the mess hall. Ain't that right, Saff?"

"Of course," came a pixie-sounding reply. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Jayne Lasky. I've already learned so much about you!"

As unsettling as that statement was, I couldn't help but smile at the petite, red, female AI on the holopad. "It's nice to meet you as well, Saffron. Perhaps you could help me run reconnaissance on my memories?"

"Of course!" Her voice squeaked from her genuine excitement.

"I'll leave you both to it then. I have boring matters to attend to like a mound of paperwork. See you soon Lasky."

I nodded. "Thank you for everything, Commander."

She chuckled in reply. "Let's see if you still appreciate me after you see your schedule." With that remark, Miranda exited the room.

"Saffron-"

"Pulling up your schedule now!"

"Thank you." I grabbed a datapad to take a look. Various appointments were scattered over these next few weeks. Doctors, lawyers, and psychologists. I sighed and put the tablet on the nightstand.

I looked over at Saffron. "I don't suppose the bathroom has extremely hot water? I could use a steamy shower."

The AI jumped up and disappeared. "It is set to a temperature and time limit." I followed her voice to the bathroom. "I can be persuaded to alter the limits, though."

I grinned as the shower started automatically and grabbed a towel. "Saffron, I think we're going to become fast friends."

"Becoming fast friends with Cortana, I see." Dr. Catherine Halsey said darkly from behind me. I held back a sigh and continued my research on Forerunner linguistics.

"She's very sharp," I agreed. "I'm not sure splitting her in two was the right call."

"We needed her in two places at once. She's to be paired with a Spartan at present… Another person with whom you've unexpectedly become friends." The last statement somehow left the artifact room even more chilly than before.

So that's why she has always had a problem with me.

"Sierra 117 is a great soldier but, more importantly, a good man." I stated simply and smirked when she slammed something, presumably a datapad, onto the table behind me. I kept working.

"And just what is the nature of your relationship to the Master Chief?"

I finally turned to witness the frosty look in her eyes first-hand.

"Is this the update from Cortana's data-mining?" I picked up the tablet.

After a minute of browsing, I glanced back up at the woman. "Thank you, Dr. Halsey. That will be all." I saw a flash of rebellion in her eyes before she stiffly walked out of the room. It was then that SWORD Base AI Morpheus came out of hiding and appeared on a nearby holopad.

"Jayne, are you-"

"-okay?" I blinked away the memory and nodded to Saffron.

"Just a memory creeping up on me. Now, time for a good cleaning!" I hopped into the shower gleefully, setting adrift all of my worries for the time being.

*MCC for PC HYPE! If any of you got in to Flighting for the game this past week congrats! I can't wait until I get the opportunity!