Chapter 7
Jerome-092 was still aching, nearly thirty years trapped in cryo sleep. He allowed grief to run through him upon hearing Alice and Douglas did not survive. While drifting through space, the ship had traveled through an electromagnetic storm from a nearby Star which fried the power on the ship chasing most of cryo chambers to go offline. Jerome was the sole survivor of the ship. It was at least painless for Alice and Douglas whom were already asleep when they died. Upon being found and released from cryo he nearly killed the elites who were assisting the humans with search and rescue. Upon learning the war was over and the elites and humans were now allies blew the Spartans mind. It had been a long few days. Non stop paperwork and briefings and travel. Jerome looked in the mirror in the room he was bunking in. He was still so young, only twenty three due to the decades spent in cryo. His light blonde hair and blue eyes looked back at him. It seemed so surreal to him, last thing he remembered was the outer colonies getting decimated and fighting elites and the next moment he sees humans and elites working together.
"Jerome?" Jerome heard the familiar maternal voice.
"Mom." He said turning to see Dr. Halsey at the doorway.
"May I come in." She asked.
"Of course." Jerome said as the doctor entered his room.
"It fills me with so much joy to know there's another spartan still alive." Halsey said truthfully
"There's more of us? Who else is still there?" Jerome asked.
"For now, just John." Halsey said. "I'm sorry about Alice and Douglas."
"At least." Jerome said sadly. "I still got John. I'd like to see him, where is he?"
Xxx
John could barely contain his excitement. While crushed at the confirmed loss of Alice and Douglas, At least one of his Spartan family was still alive. Liz noticed him standing outside his home clearly in anticipation for something.
"Hey John!" She called out. "Waiting for something?"
"Someone." John replied. "They found my brother a few days ago, he is arriving today!"
"Oh that's wonderful!" Liz cried. "I'm so happy for you!"
"Haven't seen him in nearly twenty years." John said. "He was on the Spirit of Fire which was declared lost with all hands back in '34. He was in cryo that whole time."
"So that means he's gonna be twenty years younger than you now!" Liz said in shock.
"It'll be a shock for sure, if my math is right he's technically 42 but due to cryo he's only 23." John said as a UNSC marked vehicle rounded the corner. Jerome had been given the same instructions that John had been given but unlike John, Jerome was not offered retirement due to his still very young age. In the meantime he was given some time off and would be staying with John. The vehicle pulled up and the back door opened to show a tall man nearly seven feet with combed back blonde hair exit. John let out a rare genuine smile and walked up to his brother.
"John!" Jerome cried walking up John as the two clasped hands and then went in for a hug. Liz felt her heart warm watching the two long lost brothers reunite.
"Jerome, this is my neighbor and friend Liz Ratke." John said introducing Liz.
"Hi!" Liz said offering her hand which was quickly enveloped by Jerome's massive one.
"Yikes you're a strong one aren't ya? Can definitely tell you two are related by the grip strength." Liz said. "It's been a while for you two so I'll let you catch up with each other, if you need anything just let me know!" Liz smiled as she entered her house.
"Just a friend?" Jerome asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Jerome-" John groaned.
"Just saying John, she's easy on the eyes." Jerome replied.
"Let's get inside, I got this amazing thing to show you called hot chocolate." John said as the two entered his home.
Xxx
"So you haven't heard from any one else?" Jerome asked, sipping the beverage John had made for them.
"No, after Reach fell-" John explained.
"Wait? Reach fell?" Jerome asked astounded. "That was the most heavily fortified colony!"
"It was a brutal battle, one of largest covenant fleets ever seen, over three hundred total plus a supercarrier." John said. "A lot of the spartan casualties happened there. Jorge died there."
"He always said he loved Reach." Jerome said silently grieving his deceased brother.
"After Reach fell we were really screwed." John said. "It wasn't for the Schism and the elites joining us we would have lost."
"Damn it got that bad huh?" Jerome asked. When he went under, the war wasn't going great for humanity but it wasn't hopeless.
"Yeah, Kelly, Linda, Grace, Fred, and I intercepted a massive covenant battle station that had over five hundred ships. Grace died there but we destroyed the entire fleet by overloading the station's reactor. Not long after that, the covenant found earth.
"What happened to Kelly, Linda, and Fred?" Jerome asked.
"I don't know, right after we destroyed the covenant battle station they were sent to a forerunner shield world, haven't heard from them since." John explained.
"There's more than one?" Jerome asked.
"You mean you've?" John started.
"Yeah, covenant tried to activate an old forerunner fleet there so we blew the whole planet up to make sure they could never get it, that's why Spirit of Fire got stranded cause we lost the slipspace drive doing it." Jerome explained. "And these Halo Rings? They can destroy all sentient life? Have they found the rest?"
"They are working on it, it's a priority one directive right now to find them before someone else does. Weapons like that are too dangerous." John said. "If the wrong group got ahold of one they'd be holding the entire galaxy by gunpoint. That's why we have a permanent patrol of UNSC and Elite forces on the ark.
"Still can't believe the elites are our allies now. I won't lie, I still kind of feel uncomfortable walking with one behind me." Jerome said.
"It took some getting used to." John said. "After fighting alongside the Arbiter I was able to better see them as allies.
"This arbiter sounds much more pleasant than the one I dealt with." Jerome said. "Ripa 'Moramee was his name, absolute freak of nature, huge even for an elite. He was as bloodthirsty as they came."
"Did you kill him?" John asked.
"No, there was a marine, Sergeant Forge, he told Alice, Douglas, and I to deal with the incoming elite guards while he went one on one with the arbiter. He actually won and killed him too. Amazing cause even a spartan would have had trouble with this guy." Jerome explained. "Last thing I remember was Forge staying behind to activate the detonation and we went into cryo."
"So you never dealt with brutes?" John asked.
"No, I heard about 'em though." Jerome said. The covenant forces he faced were all under elite shipmasters.
"You thought elites were strong, brutes were like five of them combined. Very hard to kill." John explained. "Honestly, it was easier to take down a hunter than a brute."
"More difficult than a hunter you say?" Jerome said, shocked. "Sure your heads screwed on right?"
"Brutes usually took an entire magazine and then some to bring down. Even when you took down their shields, sometimes it would just piss them off and they'd go crazy and charge you. Got hit by one charging me, completely depleted my shields."
"Shields?" Jerome asked.
"That's right, you went missing when you still had the Mk.IV armor. Later on the MJOLNIR armor got outfitted with shields like the elites have." John explained.
"Arcadia and Harvest would have been a lot easier if we had those shields." Jerome said. "Anyways, who is this neighbor of yours?"
"She's a teacher, I actually first met her on Reach." John said. "Her school was in New Alexandria and the covenant attacked with a brute fleet there. Brutes have decimated a lot of the ground forces and broke into the school. When I arrived the brute was about to rip her arm off." John explained.
"And does she know it's you?" Jerome asked.
"No." John said. "Can't risk the secrecy of the Spartan Program getting out. Plus I would absolutely hate being recognized everywhere I went."
"Smart choice." Jerome said.
"She has a child, a one year old daughter." John explained.
"Father around?" Jerome asked.
"No, she told me he only married her to avoid getting drafted and once she was pregnant he abandoned her and the child." John explained.
"Yikes." Jerome said.
"That's not the only thing Jerome. I have a younger sister, she lives down the street." John said. Jerome raised an eyebrow.
"Sister? As in biological from the same parents sister?" Jerome asked.
"Yeah, what're the odds?" John said.
"You were always the luckiest of us John." Jerome said. "I take it you haven't told her who you are either?"
"No, she still thinks I died in 2519 when the flash clone died." John explained.
"I've always wondered if my folks are alive. They'd have to be in their eighties by how." Jerome said. "Ever wonder what we would have been? What profession would we have gone into?"
"It's hard to even imagine, this is all we know." John said.
"Always thought being a chef would be nice, those ration packs and ship cafeteria food was always awful. You could just state how long it was frozen for." Jerome said, chuckling.
"Maybe you could give it a try, now that you're retired." John said.
"No retirement for me." Jerome said. "I'm still only twenty three John. From what I've heard you've definitely earned your retirement, stopping the Halos, the Flood, and everything else."
"So you're going back to service?" John asked.
"Yeah, they let me off for a week to come visit you though." Jerome said. "Whenever I get a chance to visit I will.
"Trust me retirement isn't as fun as it seems." John said. "I'm incredibly bored most of the time. You can only PT so much. I can't even remember the last time I ever had this much free time on my hands. Usually it was straight to cryo for extended periods."
"Personally I've had enough of cryo to last a lifetime." Jerome said. "For real though John, you should take advantage of this. I know it's hard for us to imagine but there is a whole life out there aside from war. You've been given this second lease on life, I wouldn't waste it."
"With what?" John asked.
"I don't know, get married, have kids, something like that." Jerome said.
"Could I even have kids?" John asked. "How could I when-"
"Ah geez John, look when a mommy and a daddy love each other very much-" Jerome scoffed.
"I'm not five, dick." John said. "You know what i'm referring to."
"Ah shit sorry John, I completely forgot." Jerome said regretfully. A side effect of one of the augmentations was a depleted libido and sterility. While it wasn't a guaranteed side effect, it had happened to John. Other Spartans could feel sexual attraction but John was unable to which often made for some banter between his siblings and him.
"It's nothing to be concerned about, I can't see myself really being a father." John said honestly.
"Ah wouldn't that be a sight? Daddy Chief? I can already picture you tactically changing diapers." Jerome chuckled. "But even aside from that John, you still got a good eighty years left. Why waste that just sitting around and working out all day waiting to get called in? I mean for real you already saved the galaxy from two extraterrestrial threats, I don't know how you can top that.
"Easy for you to say, you're still in." John chuckled.
"Yeah it is pretty nice. That's how we Spartans are, no home like a foxhole." Jerome said. "I would like to meet your neighbor and sister though. My lips are sealed about who we really are."
"Just wait till you try Liz's cooking, you spent so much time bitching about our rations taste that this will blow your mind." John said.
"I'll hold you to that." Jerome said.
Xxx
"So he does have a brother?" Katie asked Liz.
"Yup, they don't look alike but you can tell they are related cause they are both like seven feet tall and strong enough to wrestle an ox. You know I've been wondering something- No it can't be." Liz said.
"What?" Katie asked.
"You don't think John is a Spartan do you?" Liz asked. Katie's eyes widened. "Think about it, he's freaking huge and is legit the strongest person I have ever met. Plus he mentioned he had a lot siblings that are MIA, just like the other Spartans.
"Of course he isn't." Katie said. "All the Spartans are dead or missing except Master Chief and Chief is currently still on tour." While Chief was allowed to retire, the official UNSC statement was that he was still on duty in the fleet.
"Yeah maybe I am thinking way too much into it. I mean I guess it's not common to see people that big but they do exist." Liz said. "Sorry, I'm just such a Spartan nerd I couldn't help but draw the parallels." A knock was heard at the door.
"I got it." Katie said standing up. She opened the door to see two large men in the doorway.
"Oh hey John!" Katie greeted before turning to the other man. "You must be John's brother?"
"Jerome." Jerome said offering his hand.
"Apologies if we are intruding but Jerome was stranded in cryo for a very long time and I was wondering if Liz could cook something up for him?" John politely asked.
"Who is it?" John saw a flash of dark red hair turn the corner. "Hi guys! Come in!" Liz said as the two men entered the home.
"John here has been telling me you're quite the cook." Jerome said. "Thought I'd put that to the test." John rolled his eyes. Prior to the spartan program, Jerome grew up in a harsh colony and as a result, wasn't always the most polite with words except to senior officers.
"Oh ho is that right! Challenge excepted big boy!" Liz said proudly prompting Jerome to gain respect for her. He always loved people who were up for challenges. "What's everyone thinking huh? It is getting close to dinner."
"Let's let John and Jerome decide." Katie said. "What do you guys want?" Jerome's cocky grin suddenly disappeared upon realization he really didn't know any particular foods or meals aside from what was given at the mess hall or ration packs.
"Well I do have a lot of boxes of pasta. I can cook up some sauce and meatballs." Liz said. Due to her apocalyptic ordeal with the covenant she developed a habit of making sure she had plenty of food and water stores.
"Pasta?" John and Jerome asked nearly at the same time.
"Never had pasta before?" Katie asked.
"Yes but, never actual home cooked pasta that wasn't freeze dried." Jerome said.
"Alright, I'll get cooking! Katie can you tend to Maya while I get everything ready?" Liz called from the kitchen.
"Sure thing girl!" Katie said going into a bedroom and then emerging with a cooing infant. Jerome looked at the baby with an odd look of fascination.
"It's small." Jerome said nonchalantly.
"It has a name you know." John said.
"Oh yeah what was it again? Myka? Mina?" Jerome asked.
"Maya." John said. The four sat in the front room while Liz cooked.
"So, John here tells me you were in the service." Jerome said to Katie.
"Army, 17th infantry." Katie said.
"Infantry huh? Where were you deployed to?" Jerome asked.
"Originally from Eridanus II where I was born and grew up. After my brother died in '19 and the covenant attacked and my parents died in '30. Next year I was fighting the covenant at Arcadia." Katie explained
"Arcadia? I was there too." Jerome said.
"That's right, John mentioned you were on the Spirit of Fire!" Katie said. "You guys really saved our asses."
"Yeah it was quite a shock for me come back to see not only the war over but an alliance with the elites." Jerome said.
"Shame about Captain Cutter and the Spartans. I only fought with Spartans twice. I can remember the numbers on their armor, 092 and 053." Katie said. "Shit wish I had some of that armor, might still have a right lung."
"What happened?" Jerome asked genuinely intrigued.
"We were pinned down on Bhakto III in '42. We were surrounded by elites, hunters, drones, you name it. Of all the covenant species to get taken out by, a damn grunt caught me in the chest with a plasma round." Katie chuckled. "That little bastard, I don't know if I killed him but I was able to get some shots at him. Since my right lung was completely destroyed I was stuck with logistical work the rest of the war."
"Hey don't underestimate grunts, they may be the smallest of the covenant but they can be quite nasty when motivated." Jerome said.
"Now what I REALLY fucking hated were drones. Ugh I hate bugs as it is! But then you got bugs the size of people? No thank you!" Katie said.
"I always found myself hating jackal snipers." Jerome threw in. John internally chuckled with delight seeing Jerome and Katie get along so well. Jerome was always more of a people person and knew how to get along with people. "How bout you John? What alien did you hate the most?"
"Flood." John said.
"Oh shit!" Katie gasped. "You fought the flood?!!" The flood was common knowledge around earth due to infestation in Africa a year prior.
"Yeah, all the covenant in the galaxy were nothing compared to the flood." John said as his hands trembled a little. Jerome looked at John, Jerome too had dealt with some small groups of infection forms on the shield world but John had fought through an entire flood army and a gravemind.
"John somehow every time I talk to you, you get more badass each time. Next you're gonna tell me you fought the forerunners!" Katie joked.
"Oh if only you knew!" John thought to himself remembering Guilty Spark and the Sentinels. His thoughts were distracted when he noticed a small pair of eyes looking at him.
"Oh she's looking at you John." Katie said as Maya continued to eyeball John. John didn't know what to do, the baby's face didn't look scared but didn't look happy either.
"Always wondered what goes in that little noggin of theirs." Jerome said, looking curiously at Maya.
"She's a good baby." Katie said. "They are so sweet at this age."
"How old is she again?" Jerome asked.
"Little over a year." Katie said. "She was born around the time the war ended. It's good to know after three generations living in war, hers won't have to."
"Alright dinner is ready!" Liz called from the kitchen. The four made their way to the table with Katie putting Maya in her high chair. Jerome and John sniffed the pleasant aroma.
"Man this smell alone is worth fighting the covenant." Jerome said, pleased.
"Just wait till you taste it." Liz said as she put out plates and silverware. She came out with a big steaming bowl of linguini with Alfredo sauce and a bowl of meatballs. "I made extra cause I know you boys need lots of food." Jerome and John reached out to scoop some pasta and meatballs on their plates. Jerome brought the pasta to his mouth and his eyes widened.
"So?" Liz asked.
"I think I'm moving in here, sorry John." Jerome said. "It's actually incredible!" A round of laughter was heard at the table. Liz took note of the first genuine smile she saw on John's face. Having his brother back again must have really made him happy. The group enjoyed their meal and exchanged small talk.
"I think John and Katie can back me up here when I say the stuff they gave us on the field was trash compared to this." Jerome said.
"Yeah, Jerome never stopped whining about how bad the food tasted." John said.
"Oh look who can joke!" Liz giggled as she fed Maya a spoonful of baby food which the infant gladly ate. "Will you be staying a while Jerome?"
"Unfortunately no, they gave me some time off but next week I gotta get back to the fleet." Jerome said.
"Oh that's too bad, you're always welcome here." Liz said.
"Why thank you, unfortunately unlike my dinosaur brother here, I'm still only twenty three due to cryo and the fleet wants the young ones." Jerome said.
"He says I'm the dinosaur but I could still lick him at anything." John joked.
"I'll give you that one old man." Jerome chuckled. "While I was sleeping for twenty years you were out in the shit." He said as they finished their dinner.
"Well this was nice but I've got to get Maya to bed." Liz said.
"I got work in the morning." Katie said.
"We'll make our leave as well." John said. "Do you need help with dishes?"
"Don't worry about a thing dear." Liz smiled. "I'm just glad you two enjoyed your meal."
"I'm telling you John, of all the places you ended up, your next door to a quality chef. I always told you that you have the best luck of us all." Jerome said.
Divine Ascent
"Any luck yet?" Jul asked his crew.
"No shipmaster, the demon has not been sighted."
"He must be somewhere, a warrior of his skill would not lay idle for long!" Jul said. "Perhaps we are too focused on searching for his armor. We know there is a human underneath." He said as an idea formed in his head. "Get the stealth squad ready! We shall infiltrate Earth and find where our demon is hiding!!"
A/N
So some might feel Chief is too expressive with Jerome. Personally I feel Chief comes out of his shell when he's alone with other Spartans and has a more vibrant personality
As for Jerome, it's canon he grew up in a harsh and rough area prior to the spartan program so I imagine he's more outgoing and street smart due to that