Takes place after Halo 3,

Prelude

Reach: City of New Alexandria, August 16, 2552.

Complete panic and mayhem overtook the populace of New Alexandria as several Covenant Corvettes dropped plasma and troops into the city. Elizabeth Ratke fumbled her way out of her classroom escorting her class of second graders. Elizabeth stood at five feet and eight inches with a slender figure. Her bright red hair whipped across her face as she sprinted with her class through the crowd. Her bright green eyes scanned for any covenant soldiers who would eagerly start killing the second they spotted humans. She had been working at Willian A. Landmichael elementary school when the alerts came through. A massive covenant fleet had been detected through slip space ruptures within orbit of the planet. The fear she felt hearing the words of the alert was both primal and horrifying. She knew what happened when the Covenant found a human world, despite ONIs best attempt to cover up how poorly the war was going, she knew if the Covenant didn't just glass the planet, it would be overrun by Covenant troopers.

"Come on class!" She cried. "We have to get you to the shuttles!" They were moving through the hallways.

"What about our parents!" A young boy cried out. "I want my mom!" Elizabeth clenched her teeth, the teachers had been addressed if the covenant ever attacked during school hours, the students were to be sent to an evac shuttle, there would not be enough time to reunite them with their families prior.

"Alert! Alert! Covenant fleet has been spotted above Reach. Please make your way to the evac zones!" The monotone voice of the AI echoed throughout the hallways where other teachers and students were running to get the children out. Liz rubbed her stomach, being eight and a half months pregnant made her worried for the health of her soon to be born daughter under all this stress. Loud explosions were heard outside the school causing everyone to shout. Gunfire from police and military were heard along with the ping of plasma fire that Liz had never heard before. She and her class made it to the front doors where through the glass, she could make out many explosions and military personnel. Upon reaching the glass doors, a group of large simian aliens had appeared. Liz didn't see much but could see the much smaller UNSC soldiers getting obliterated underneath large hammers. She yelled as she stopped running and turned to her class.

"Go! The other way!" She cried as the glass doors were blown open. Immediately sharp spike projectiles and red plasma bolts began killing anyone who was unfortunate enough to be in their path. Liz protectively shielded her class as they tried to move towards the other exit. All around her teachers and students alike were brutally killed by the cruel weapons the covenant had. Her heart was pounding as they turned the corner and saw the roof had caved him, leaving them blocked in. She turned to see three of the heavily armored covenant soldiers walking towards them. She immediately stood in front of her class who had started screaming and crying. She was horrified at the size of these aliens, eight feet or more in height with thick muscles larger than her waistline. The aliens did not shoot them however which made Liz think for a single fleeting moment that maybe the covenant did have reservations against killing children, this thought was emptied when she remembered they had no issue mowing down the other students a few moments ago. She heard them back and growl in what she assumed was their native language. The three placed their weapons in their holsters and simply walked forward, the sound of chuckling coming from their canine filled mouths. That's when Liz realized it, they were helpless. They were so helpless the aliens didn't even bother having their weapons out, the chuckle and dark smile on the aliens mouths gave her chills, wondering what they were going to do.

"Ugh…" She heard a nearby groan. One of the aliens also heard it and went to investigate. It used its powerful arms to lift a wounded teacher off the ground and hold him up at eye level. She recognized him immediately, Jimmy Walker, the other second grade teacher. He was a larger man, weighing nearly three hundred pounds, for this alien to effortlessly pick him up with one arm showed her how strong these aliens were. She screamed as the alien holding him began to ruthlessly rip his limbs off one by one. Blood spattered everywhere as Jimmy screamed in agony before the shock settled in. Once the limbs were gone the alien put Jimmy's head in its mouth and hit down, biting off his head clean and throwing the corpse towards Liz and her class. Many of her students had stopped crying at this point, merely staring in a traumatic induced shock. Liz was shivering as she saw her coworkers corpse splatter in front of her, still spurting blood out of the severed limbs. The lead alien ran up to her face and let out a loud terrifying roar, exposing its mouth full of razor sharp teeth. Liz yelled holding her stomach, her heart beating so hard in fear she was worried she would lose her baby.

"P-please!" She cried, hoping she could appeal to any sense of morality in the barbaric aliens. "T-they are just children! I-I'm p-pregnant!" She whimpered as the alien grabbed her by left arm. She screamed as it brought her up to eye level and started to squeeze. The already iron grip turned into a hydraulic clench as she felt the bones in her forearm begin to break. She screamed as tears rolled her down her eyes realizing this was the end for her, she looked down to pregnant belly.

"I'm sorry baby girl, mama tried to give you a life! Please forgive me!" Just as her arm felt like it was about to severe completely. She heard gunshots as the alien holding her turned to see its two comrades dead in a pool of their own blood. The alien dropped Liz to the ground as she clenched her forearm, now bruised a horrible black and purple with fragments of bone prodding out from the skin. She looked up to see a green armored soldier effortlessly dodge the aliens' grasp. Her pain temporarily went away as she was in shock watching the green soldier deliver punches strong enough to actually knock the alien back. She suddenly recognized the soldier, it was a Spartan. She had heard about these legendary soldiers of the UNSC but wasn't sure if they were real or just propaganda. She smiled as tears of relief rolled down her cheeks, there was hope. As the soldier continued to fight the alien, she went to her shell shocked class and huddle them together.

"We are gonna be okay, the Spartan came for us!" She laughed holding them all tight while rubbing her stomach.

"DEMON!" The alíen yelled as it pulled it's hammer out to hit the Spartan with. The Spartan dodged and climbed up the hammer where it used its magnum to fire seven rounds into the neck of the alien. It's shields sputtered till they gave out, the alien fell dead as the Spartan stood above it. The children and Liz looked up to see the Spartan, their hero, hold out its hand to help them up. Liz never got to chance to ask it's name but saw three digits on its chest.

117.

One year later, Planet Earth 2553

"Whatever will be will be, the future's not ours to see, Que sera, sera." Liz concluded her lullaby for her eleven month old daughter, Maya. She laid her child down in her crib and kissed her forehead. After the fall of Reach, Liz had been able to get to an evac shuttle which had abandoned Reach to its fate. The months after Reach were harrowing, with the UNSCs mightiest colony falling, nothing could stop the Covenant now. She had arrived on Earth with off her refuges where Maya was born just two weeks later. Each day she woke up with fear of the covenant finding earth, after facing them, she knew how dangerous they were and could not imagine any situation where humanity would come out on top. The day Earth was attacked sent her into a full panic attack, she grabbed her daughter and just left the suburbs of Chicago where she had been staying at a refugee camp. She figured her odds for survival would be better out in the country than a major city, not that it mattered as the Covenant would simply glass the planet till every last organism was dead. Upon hearing that the war was over that joyful day in December. The Sangheili, or the Elites as she learned they were called, had allied with the UNSC along with some other members of the Covenant. The covenant had been dissolved and the war over with an uneasy alliance with the Elites. After the war was over, Earth was one of the few remaining colonies still somewhat intact. She had cried that day, eternally grateful her little girl would have a chance in life, not having to fear the Covenant attacking. To grow up in a world without war.

After the war was declared over, she returned to Chicago where she took up a job teaching in the suburbs. She had wondered what happened to her students at Reach, she never saw them again or heard anything about them but she hoped they made it out alive and were reunited with their families. It was hard at times, being a single mother in a post war world where humanity was slowly rebuilding. Her baby's father, had abandoned them shortly after learning she was pregnant. She had trust issues after that and she needed to focus on her daughter before she could think of finding another partner. She didn't doubt there were millions of widows across what remained of the UNSC. She poured a cup of herbal tea to bring with her to the living room where she turned on the TV where a breaking news bulletin was playing.

"Hello, this is Kyle Bosch with UEG News. Earlier today, the Master Chief was found in the wreckage of the UNSC frigate, Forward Unto Dawn after being adrift in cryo sleep for nearly a year. He was found by former Covenant commander, Thel 'Vadam, or the Arbiter as he is better known." Liz felt a warm feeling in her upon hearing the Master Chief was still alive, he had been declared missing in action after the final conflict of the war a year ago. She had never forgotten how he saved her and her class from a brutal death.

"The Arbiter wishes the return of humanities greatest hero as a gift of goodwill." The news continued.

"Bullshit!" Liz snarled. She had grown a deep hatred of the covenant after her experience on Reach. She had lost family members who had been conscripted. As far as she was concerned, the only good covenant was a dead covenant. She had seen some species like Unggoy and Kigyar roam the streets of major cities, engaging in trade with human businesses. She couldn't help but feel a seething anger. She believed the Covenant had gotten off too easy, sure they lost High Charity, their mobile capital but they didn't lose the hundreds of colonies humanity did. Covenant citizens didn't have the fear of losing their children in a world invasion. The damned brutes especially should have all been killed, the vile beasts torturing and eating humans, even children. Realizing her heart rate had been elevated, she took a few moments to calm herself. Her therapist told her holding onto such rage was unhealthy and that she should focus on better things, like her daughter. After calming herself she turned off the TV and went to bed.

UNSC Headquarters: Sydney Australia.

John, the Master Chief, took off his armor for the first time in over a year. He didn't like being out of his armor, he felt naked without it. Protection aside, the armor had become a part of him, like skin. It just didn't feel right. When Thel had found him in the CAS carrier, Shadow of Intent, he never thought he would be happy to see an elite, the crew of the ship consisting of Elites, Unggoy, and even a few Hunters, were respectful of him, offering him water and whatever food they had that humans could safely ingest. Upon contacting Earth, it was decided the wounds of the war were too fresh and that a covenant assault carrier appearing in the skies would send people into a panic. A UNSC ship was sent out past the Solar System to retrieve him.

"So what happens now?" John asked looking at himself in the mirror wearing only a pair of undergarments.

"What happens now is you enjoy retirement." He turned to see Lord Hood and Dr. Halsey with Cortana.

"Sir!" John said snapping to attention, the fact he was in underwear only not bothering him.

"At ease son." Lord Hood chuckled. "Though might I suggest at least putting a shirt on."

"The shirt and pants issued were too small Sir!" John replied. His large build was not able to fit into even the largest standard shirts, it would seem that he would need specially tailored clothes.

"Understood." Hood chuckled. "Well Chief, it's been twenty seven years of war, practically your whole life training and fighting. It's time you go to have your own life."

"I'm confused." John said.

"What he is saying John." Halsey said coming up to him. "Is that you missed out on your life, I can't give you back your childhood or adolescence or your young adult life, but I can give you the rest of your life. You served well and fought hard, you deserve to find happiness."

"I am fulfilled here." John replied.

"But are you happy?" Halsey asked. John thought for a moment. His childhood conditioning had tossed away any notions of being happy with what he was doing. Sure he felt great fulfillment defending humanity and ending a genocidal war, but he can't recall ever feeling "happy" that was the first casualty of his training.

"This is all I know." John said.

"All you know so far." Halsey said.

"What will I do?" John asked.

"Rest assured Chief, financially you are settled. You were conscripted when you were six, that's a lot of backpay the UNSC owes you, not to mention the pension you will also receive due to your years of service and rank. You can do whatever it is you want." Hood explained. He was one of the few officers outside ONI who knew the truth of the Spartan program, something he didn't like but understood it ended up being necessary.

"Couldn't I be an instructor?" John asked.

"Yes you could." Hood said. "But I think you will find civilian life has so much to offer. Even I have a life outside the Navy. Of course if an emergency arises we will call you back in but give it a try. You may find something you truly enjoy."

"I-" John said. "I don't know what to do."

"That's where I come in Chief." Cortana said. "I will provide you with basic knowledge of civilian life. Managing your money, household chores, cooking, and more. I have already found a house for you that I have calculated has the best chance of helping with your transition. Along with a therapist who can-"

"Therapist?" John asked.

"I spent a lot of time in your head Chief, you've been through a lot and haven't ever had time to fully process it in a healthy way." Cortana explained.

"Your identity will also be kept secret if you wish." Hood said. "I doubt you would want to deal with the press or the hordes of fans."

"That is correct Sir." John answered. "But it won't be long before someone can put two and two together and realize what I am." He did have a point, there weren't many humans his size walking around.

"That's why i picked the location I did," Cortana explained. "I examined the profiles of everyone living nearby in this suburb forty miles from Chicago. It's a quaint town with a small population but close enough to a major city you can explore everything there is to offer. Many of them never saw a Spartan aside from videos. Unless you do something crazy like lift a car over your head or announce who you are, I calculate there is a 97% chance your identity won't be figured out."

"Can I keep my armor?" John asked, not ready to separate from it.

"Unfortunately that is one request I can't allow." Hood said. "That is a highly expensive peice of military equipment that belongs to ONI."

"Of course." John said understanding. "I just feel, naked with out it."

"I understand Chief." Hood sympathized.

"Is there any word from the other Spartans?" John asked. "My team was with me on Reach, what happened to them?

"The rest of Blue team was sent to a forerunner shield world, we haven't heard anything back in months." Hood confessed.

"I see." John said sadly.

"But the second we learn anything Chief, you will be the first to know. With that, comes your final order from me." Hood said. "Live"

Xxx

Always wondered what a post military life Chief would have. There are a few fics like this that are good but they are few in number. Thought I'd give a try.

As you have probably guessed by now, this is an AU as some events of the OG trilogy are different and anything after 3 does not happen the way it does in canon.