: UNSC Tuonela - Pilvros Station : Encrypted Comms :
- UNSC-T: ODP Pilvros Station, this is Gladius-class corvette Tuonela, copy?
- PS: Loud and clear Tuonela, status report?
- UNSC-T: Intel provided was positive, DAV-class light corvette intercepted and destroyed. Ex-Covenant, Kig-Yar pirates.
- UNSC-T: Most of the crew dead or escaped, two captured. Requesting assistance.
- PS: Imminent danger? Details required.
- UNSC-T: Negative. One is adult, other is juvenile, both T'vaoans. Adult is not talking - language barrier unknown, juv appears to be too young to communicate. Is there any personnel that can provide support on the matter?
- PS: Preliminary search finds one active personnel match on New Carthage: Sen Reea, Xenopsycology Kig-Yar Specialist. Further details unknown. Should I make the call?
- UNSC-T: That sounds like ONI to me, shit. I hate spooks.
- UNSC-T: Make the call, at least it will get one problem out of our laps.
- PS: Roger, calling in. Return to dock ASAP.
- UNSC-T: Copy that.
Sen's bleary eyes opened slowly, feeling the soft pillow against her head feathers and a familiar warmth at her side.
It had been two Human weeks since Sen and Cal had moved into the Bardeen household, and things had progressed quite well. Cal's parents were slow to warm up to her, particularly his mother, but it seemed that for Sen things were beginning to settle into a new kind of normal. They didn't stare at her quite as much anymore, and she had even begun to learn how to do some of the many tasks that living on a Human farm required.
In the Covenant, it was widely believed that Humans were lazy and spoiled, living lives of decadent indulgence while doing little. Additionally, the role of a farmer was dirty and menial, grueling, and disgusting work for the lowest of the caste. It was due to these prejudices that Sen initially had some inherent negative thoughts about the station of Cal's family, though they were thoughts she was ashamed of, and hadn't spoken freely.
However, during her time with Cal's family, Sen had come to see the folly of such preconceptions and had even found herself enjoying her time here. For Humans, the role of a farmer was stooped in a great deal of respect and honor due to as the Humans say, 'honest and simple hard work,' and Sen had come to realize that this was the biggest difference between these Humans and the Covenant she lived in.
The Covenant valued prowess and might over all else, with the religious military firmly engrained in all aspects of society. However, the Humans she had met, even the soldiers, seemed to value productivity and essentials over all else. Those that accomplished important things, be it on the battlefield or on farmland, were given respect almost equally. Here, there were no castes. One's accomplishments dictated who they are, not their birth.
She glanced around the room, sleepily blinking at the many colorful, shiny mementos dotted around Cal's room. Objects from throughout his life, which she had only found out the stories about a few of them. It was strange, Sen had few personal effects in the Covenant, and little to no security when it came to living space. But now, Humans had given her belongings and a room that Cal shared with her. The room did not move, nor did her belongings get stolen. They simply stayed, and if she wanted any of them, she could just reach out. It felt bizarre how much was given to her and shared, how much Cal shared.
She turned her head to face him, a ray of light casting over the bed sheets to illuminate his face as he slept. She felt her heart flutter for a moment as she examined his soft features, a feeling that had exacerbated the longer she spent living with Humans. At first, she believed that her attraction to Cal had been only emotional, a byproduct of the bond forged between them on Humanity's homeworld. However, the longer she spent with him, the more she noticed how handsome she found him. Despite physically being smaller than her, and as a soldier one of the least respected ranks for a Human, he was far from weak. His body is well toned with strong natural muscle, clearly developing from his time both on the farm and in the Human military. His skin is soft, but his facial features are distinctive, with a short forest of full hair on his head complimenting the ring of stubble that trailed down his cheeks and around his lips. And on top of that, he was clean and well-kept, though he never fretted over his appearance that much. Sen felt herself huff indignantly at that thought. Cal looked great every time he got out of bed, while she spent a great deal of time straightening each of her feathers to make sure they were pristine.
Then, an intrusive thought entered her mind: what did Cal honestly think of her? Did he see in her what she saw in him, or were his feelings purely emotional? She felt like the question shouldn't bother her as Humans had different standards and cultures, and Cal clearly cared for her dearly. However, there was an underlying doubt and a wish for reassurance. For her entire adult life, she was a soldier. Under her armor, her body bore scars from the bomb that almost killed her, and over the years she only continued to gain more. And those scars defined who she was, who she accepted herself to be: A survivor, sometimes even a monster to reach the rank she did. But now, she wanted to be seen as more than that.
She banished the thought from her mind, opening her beak in a wide yawn as she turned her attention to the early morning light shining through the bedroom window. She decided that she would go and find something to occupy herself with, and would ponder these questions later.
Sen carefully scooted herself to the side of the bed and lifted the blankets off of herself, being sure to carefully place them back down so the cold morning air would not disturb Cal. She then walked towards the door, carefully lifting her claws up so they would not clack on the hard floor too loud.
Entering the hallway outside Sen turned right and deliberately walked to the stairs going down, the floorboards lightly creaking under her weight. She touched the worn railing along the stairs and carefully walked down, not wanting to wake anyone. As she reached the base of the stairs, she noticed a dim light shining from the large kitchen door. Deciding that a bite to eat wasn't a bad start, she made her way to the light and stepped inside.
Stepping inside she noticed Cal's father, Devin, leaning against the counter on the far side of the room holding a cup of coffee. Sen made a murmuring sound in greeting, to which Devin replied with a small dip of his head in return. She then approached the fridge and opened it, poking her head in to look for something to eat.
Devin took a sip from his cup, eyeing Sen for a moment before speaking with a friendly tone. "Hey Sen, you're up early."
Sen reached into the fridge, pulling out three small spheres of bread stuffed with seasoned meat. She glanced over at Devin with a shrug, an honest tone in her rough voice. "Yeah, Cal's still asleep." She tipped her head slightly at him in a questioning gesture, curiosity entering her voice. "You too?" She concluded that question by popping one of the meat pockets in her beak, quietly chewing as she waited for his response.
Devin sighed with a grumble, looking minorly peeved. "Yeah, unfortunately." He took another draw from his cup, gesturing out a nearby window towards a grazing pasture. "Motion detectors picked up a predator skulking around out there, moving towards our herds. I had to get up early to go deal with it before it causes a problem."
Sen swallowed her food before tapping the bottom of her beak with a hum, giving Devin a silent contemplating glance for a moment before speaking. "I could help."
Devin chuckled as he watched her pop another morsel in her mouth, "Cal did mention that you went hunting with your bare hands and won, so I can't say I'd reject your offer." He swirled his coffee for a moment before gesturing to Sen to follow him, a small grin on his face. "Here, come with me."
Sen followed Devin into the house's garage, a large room full of equipment, and took her final bite as she glanced around the room. Tools and storage crates were all around, gathered alongside various things. A large vehicle was sitting on stilts In the middle; one that reminded her of the 'Warthog' she had ridden on with Cal once. There were also the crates containing the things that she and Cal were given in a corner, they still had yet to find places for everything inside in their time there.
Her momentary scan of the room was broken off as she turned her attention to Devin, who had taken a large case out from a cabinet and was setting it down on a workbench next to his coffee cup, quietly beckoning her over.
Sen obediently approached, looking down at the case as it opened. Inside was a Human firearm, but one she had never seen before. It was long and thin, metal at its core but surrounded by plating of wood. On the bottom near the trigger a magazine poked out, and on the back, it sloped down to form a handle, clearly designed for Human hands, which then lead to a shoulder stock. On top was a tubular optic, magnified. Devin picked it up from the case and held it in his hands, removing the magazine.
Devin turned to face Sen, holding the weapon out toward her. Sen felt a jolt of surprise at the gesture and took a step back, looking down at the weapon with uncertainty. Devin gave her a curious look, a hint of questioning in his voice. "You've used our weapons before, right?"
Sen blinked at him, a shocked look on her face. "You trust me… with this?"
He let out a small grunt, raising an eyebrow at her. "Why wouldn't I?"
Sen opened her beak, but found she had no words to speak. She let a breath out of her nostrils as she silently reached out and gingerly took the weapon, acutely aware of the fact that she had not touched a weapon of any kind since ONI took her in. The first thing she noticed was that it was lighter and slimmer than the weapons she used before, even the Human ones. Wrapping her claws around the grip, she found it slightly uncomfortable, but doable.
Glancing back toward Devin, she saw that he had gotten out some small boxes and was removing bullets from them, slowly slotting them into the metal magazine he had removed from the gun. She hadn't understood exactly how Human weapons had worked previously, but in her time with Cal, she came to understand. They simply contained a weak explosion and used it to propel a small spinning piece of metal down a tube, ultimately making some unremarkable things into something deadly. Simple, yet powerful in its own right.
Clicking the last bullet into the magazine, he silently handed it to her with one hand before reaching for his arm and tapping on a device mounted to his wrist. Rifle in one hand and magazine in the other, Sen watched quietly as Devin clicked a few buttons before tilting his arm to show her the screen. On it was a map view of the farm with several small dots scattered around, one of them was blinking blue rapidly. He pointed at the dot, then raised his hand towards the garage door while still looking at the screen. "Sensor relay due north, B-12, is going off; you can spot it easily if you head straight out the garage and towards the fence line from there. You can get a live feed from that station, and if you need anything you can call me from there."
He turned around, glancing at the weapon in her hands and speaking in a slightly sheepish voice. "You, ah… do really know how to use that, right?"
Sen glanced down at the rifle, looking it over for a moment before her memory clicked back into place. She raised the steel magazine into the compartment on the bottom of the weapon and rocked it backward, feeling it click as it locked into place. She pointed the weapon down at an angle and peered around the scope, pulling the bolt back enough that she could see the small brass casing underneath, but not far enough back to chamber the round. Pointing the weapon to the side, she looked up at Devin and gave a reaffirming chirp.
Devin gazed at her for a moment before speaking quietly. "Thanks again, do you need anything else?" Sen glanced around the room for a moment before shaking her head, glancing back at Devin, and speaking in a grateful tone. "Thank you, Devin. I will be ok."
Devin nodded, looking lost in thought for a moment before scooping his mug off the workbench and taking a few steps back towards the door. After a moment he paused, stopping for a moment before turning back around to face her. Sen glanced over at him with a quiet questioning croak, watching his eyes fall to the floor before he slowly started to speak. "You know Sen, I had my doubts about you. When Cal first brought you to our doorstep I was confused, afraid even. I didn't know what to think, but I couldn't bear to lose another son." He raised his eyes, gaze now meeting Sen's. "But now, now I understand. You and my son formed a bond of the like that few share, something inseparable." His voice stopped for a moment, taking a breath before continuing with a hollow sadness in his voice. "Ever since his brother died, he lost a piece of himself. He spent a long time trying to find it, never did. The only thing that drove him was work. That… that's why he joined the UNSC, I think." Then, an emotional tenderness entered his voice that caught Sen's breath in her throat. "From the moment he brought you here, I can see that old Cal again. The happiness, the love he has for you." The man sniffed, reaching his free hand up to wipe a small tear from his eye. "I trust you Sen because you gave me my son back, you are the light of his life." He glanced over his shoulder, back towards the kitchen with a small sigh. "Cathleen… Is stubborn, and old school. But she's coming around; she knows these things as well as I do." He took a deep breath, firm resolve entering his voice. "The bottom line is no matter the struggles, you're family. Not just to Cal, but to all of us." He reached his hand out towards her with his palm out, in an offering gesture. "Just know that, okay?"
Sen slowly blinked at the hand, taking a breath in, and softly closing her beak as she reflected on his words at the moment. She set the rifle leaning against the workbench, glancing at his outstretched hand. She turned to face him and stepped forward, ducking her head so she wasn't towering over him, reaching a claw out slowly to take his hand in her own, three-taloned hand dwarfing his in comparison. She opened her beak and spoke slowly, choosing her words methodically as each word rasped from her throat as softly as she could manage. "When Cal found me, I, was going to die. Sel-f, or wound, both likely… Cal, found me. I, found me." She reached her free arm up, cupping Devin's hand softly in both of her claws. She closed her eyes and bowed her head, touching her cupped hands with the tip of her beak. "I lost my f-amily, long ago. But, found new. Whole." She released his hand and gazed up at him, taking a step back and bowing deeply. "Thank you."
Devin flexed his hand for a moment, seeming to process her words, before giving her a smile and a short bow in return. He spoke, eyes glistening with moisture as he murmured. "You're welcome." He then turned around, stepped back through the kitchen door, and closed it behind him.
Sen gazed at the closed door before looking down at her clawed hands, clasping them together for a moment as she took a deep breath in and out. Devin's words tugged at her soul, bringing to the surface feelings of belonging that she had once lost long ago. 'Family,' that's what he said. She reached up and touched the cloth that hung around her neck, feeling the ancient pendant concealed beneath press lightly against her chest. Family was something she had lost, something she never thought to regain. Yet here, among Cal and his parents, she felt more at peace than she ever had before. She did not feel a swell of emotion at this, such as the crying she experienced when she was touched by the kindness of others. Rather, she felt something click deep inside her; something that felt right.
It was acceptance, she realized. Acceptance that her world would not disappear tomorrow, acceptance that things would be okay.
Sen absorbed herself in thought for a moment before turning back around and looking down at the Human weapon again. She glanced down at her cloth garments, now slightly frayed around the hems from constant wear. She breathed a small sigh of defeat, thinking dejectedly about the possibility of damage to it. Suddenly, her eyes widened as she remembered that the Humans had actually given her old gear back. She walked over to the large metal crate, carefully undoing the latches and cracking it open. The hide of the beast she had killed previously lay haphazardly on top, which she carefully moved to the side. Peering into the bottom, she let out a small gasp as she realized that her golden yellow Champion armor was missing, leaving only the light grey techsuit laying limp in the bottom. She stared for a moment before shrugging and reaching into the crate, plucking the techsuit from the now mostly empty interior. She did not understand why anyone would move the armor, but at the end of the day, she cared little. Though Cal had complimented it once, she had no want to wear Covenant colors, it still felt distasteful to her among Humans.
Carefully stripping off her cloth robes, she neatly folded them and placed them in the crate for safe keeping. Donning the techsuit was strange, as she had not worn it in a long time, but the familiar feeling quickly came back. The suit was form fitted to her, tight material fitting perfectly against her frame, but as flexible and reactive as her own skin. She stretched her arms and legs, feeling the material follow the movements of the dense muscle underneath fluidly. The suit was designed so that it protected the maximum amount of space, while also allowing her feathers to be free from it.
Sen reached down, feeling the hole in the material in her left thigh where a jiralhanae spike once was embedded into her flesh. She touched the skin, feeling the lightly scarred tissue underneath where Cal stitched her torn flesh back together. She lifted her left arm up, looking at a nearly identical hole in the bicep. The suit was designed to protect her even when damaged, but even if it didn't, Sen wouldn't attempt to mend the pair of holes. It was a memento of the first time someone aside from Raq had shown her kindness, and showed her that the world was not quite broken. Sen clipped the pendant back around her neck, loosely scraping against the techsuit.
She approached the rifle and picked it up again, pointing the barrel to her lower left as she aligned the stock with her shoulder. Stepping towards the open garage door, she gazed into the distance with her sharp eyes, noticing the thin antenna of the sensor relay poking above the horizon just before a line of trees. She glanced around outside, seeing the thin morning light shine through the cloudy sky and onto the ground below. It was a quiet morning, still as any other. Cal's SUV was parked in front of the house, alongside the large pickup truck that his family used on the farm. Reaching one of her unshielded forearms, she felt wind slip through her feathers, steadily drifting behind her. The wind was blowing her scent away, for now, this hunt was in her favor.
With that factor noted she set off across the gravel driveway towards the field in front of her, tough clawed feet crunching against the loose stones below. The gravel quickly turned to soft soil as she entered the golden grain field, eyes barely clearing the tall plants as she trudged toward her destination. She carefully stepped around deep muddy tracks left behind by the machines that they used to till the land, still amazed by the complexities of Human farming.
Soon Sen reached the relay, watching the wall of trees behind as she approached it. The relay was a large metal device on a concrete pad surrounded by a wire fence, its tall antenna stuck out high above. She approached a door in the wire fence marked by electrical symbols and unhooked the latch, pulling the wire door open with a creak. She stepped over to the large metal device, noting a screen mounted to it under an overhang. She tapped the screen and watched as it lit up, displaying a topographical view of the area around her. On the screen a bright blue dot was flashing on the map not far from her location, text alongside the dot read 'PREDATORY CREATURE,' and it appeared to be moving toward her.
Sen reached up to the bolt of her rifle and pulled it back hard, watching the brass round slide up, then releasing it to let the bullet slide into the chamber. She reached her hand up once again and felt the breeze, still blowing away from her in relation to her target. She stepped out of the fenced-in area and closed the door behind her, latching it once again.
The hunt was on, and a short one it would be.
Sen glanced towards the tree line, noting the fence that skirted it. It was decently high, and well-maintained, but not indestructible. She knew that holes were found frequently in the boundary, and repairs had to be made. If this creature found a way past the fence, it could do irreversible damage to the farm's livestock. Taking a deep breath into her beak, Sen could detect traces of something in the air. She remembered what the native prey smelled like, as well as the farm animals, but this was something completely different. It had a sharp, musky smell, a dangerous smell.
Sen's eyes focused on the trees, triangulating approximately where the relay detected movement in relation to her. Whatever it was, it was an issue for her to fix. And if it was still coming this way, she could easily ambush it. She could take her brutal training, and her wild nature, and use it to protect those she loves. Her eyes darted around, spotting a large and thick tree beyond the tall fence. The canopy was dense enough to hide her, and branches thick enough to hold her, perfect.
Tensing her legs up, she kicked against the ground and forced her body into the air. She sailed over the fence, wind whipping through her feathers, and landed square on her feet on the other side. She immediately moved into a crouched position; rifle held to her right as her eyes darted around her surroundings. She could still smell the weak scent of the predator in the air, but nothing else.
Pulling herself up, Sen walked over to the large tree and eyed the branches above. Spying one that looked secure, she leaped into the air again and landed squarely on the branch, catching her balance as it shook under the force. It quickly calmed down, and she released held breath as she relaxed.
Sen reached her free hand up and touched the pendant around her neck, reassured that it was still hanging there after her leaps. She then crouched down and stared at the ground motionless, waiting for the opportunity to strike.
Soon, the scent of the beast became stronger. It was still carried on the wind towards her, so she could tell each time it moved closer. Her eyes darted around in front of her, carefully watching for a sign when she suddenly heard a rustle from below. She craned her neck to see, feathers bristling in anticipation as she leveled her weapon in the direction of the sound. The beast was so tantalizingly close, she could almost taste it.
A moment later, a shadowy form slunk from the underbrush. It held itself low, stalking across the ground. Sen sat motionless, glaring at it from above as she examined the hunter-turned-prey. Sen realized that it was the same predator that's head was displayed in Cal's home, apparently a well-known Human-killer on this world. She watched as it silently stalked across the ground, lean muscles rippling as it slithered its way toward the tree Sen was perched in. Still oblivious to her presence, the creature let out huffing growls as it smelled the air, moving swiftly as it darted erratically from side to side.
Sen slowly raised her Human rifle, breathing in as she placed the crosshair on the beast's head. It suddenly stopped with a snarl, wildly looking around as Sen's scent drifted down to it. Its gaze shot up into the tree with feral hate, letting out an ear-splitting hiss as Sen braced her legs against the branch and squeezed the trigger.
With an echoing boom, the rifle recoiled into Sen's shoulder. She saw the sight go dark suddenly as the recoil threw her aim, only to refocus on the limp form of the predator below. She heard a melodic ping as the chunk of brass that ejected from the gun hit a rock somewhere below, audible over the mild ringing in her ears from the gunshot. She removed her eye from the sight and looked below, seeing the body of the once dangerous beast reduced to a lifeless corpse in seconds, a tiny hole in its skull turning its brain into a pulp. Sen removed the magazine from the gun and pulled the bolt back, releasing the newly loaded round and carefully sliding it into the magazine again. Sticking the magazine back into the now unchambered gun, she lept down onto the woodland floor below.
Approaching the dead predator, Sen gazed at its vicious fangs and murderous eyes, still glowing with malice even in death. She felt a shiver, imagining that beast coming anywhere near her new family. She vowed to never let that happen, she would protect them no matter what.
She shook that thought away, gazing around her for a moment. Glancing to her right, Sen noticed a small glint flash to the side of a tree. Curious, she approached it, and felt a twinge of surprise at what she saw; she spotted the shell casing that had been ejected from the gun when she fired, and surrounding it was a ring of flowers.
Sen stared down, feeling oddly touched by the strange sight. The flowers were a pool of color in the grey and green woodlands, nearly perfectly surrounding the small spent casing of a Human gun. It was almost symbolic, an icon. Sen glanced down at the rifle in her hands, then back over to the corpse of the feral beast. A weapon of Humans used to kill a threat to Humans, in the hands of a t'vaoan. And here, the very shell fired by the gun she raised landed amongst flowers.
Sen reached to her chest, grasping Raq's pendant in her claw, feeling her techsuit underneath against her skin. Her brother died protecting her, ensuring that she could live on and find a better life. She carried that piece of him with her this whole time, a reminder of what she had lost.
But now? She thought about what Devin told her; and what Cal told her. She had found that better life, her brother's death had not been in vain. She knew deep inside; this is where he wanted her to be.
It was time for her to let go.
Sen crouched down and reached into the bed of flowers, scraping a hole in the ground, carefully digging a grave as she once did with Cal. She then reached up and untied the pendant from her neck, gently cradling it in her hand as a small tear leaked from her eye as she carefully placed it in the fresh hole. She scraped dirt by the clawful in, watching mournfully as the necklace disappeared under the soil. She gazed at the shiny brass casing, sitting like a marker above the hole, and breathed a shaky sigh. She reached her palm out and held it flat to the ground, speaking quietly in their native language. "Goodbye, Raq. Rest well, little brother."
Cal stretched and yawned, blinking his eyes awake as he immediately noticed an absence. He reached a hand over and felt the cold blankets next to him, realizing that Sen must have gotten up earlier. He quickly sat up, rolling his shoulders as he slid out of bed, glancing at the clock to see that it was about time for him to get to work. He pulled himself out of bed and grabbed some fresh clothes from his dresser, throwing them on quickly and grabbing a pair of socks.
As he sat down at his desk chair to slip his socks on, he glanced at Sen's data pad, which had been left there on the counter. Its screen was lit up with an alert, an urgent message. Confused and alarmed, Cal picked it up and tapped on the alert.
From: UNSC Pilvros Station Command
To: Sen Reea, Xenopsycology Division
Re: Emergency; Presence Requested
This is a priority status message regarding the ongoing security of Carthage System and its colonies, respond immediately.
UNSC strike force on the Gladius-class corvette, UNSC Tuonela, successfully intercepted and destroyed a Kig-Yar pirate vessel. Two individuals were captured: (1) one adult T'vaoan, (2) one juvenile T'vaoan.
It is noted that (1) is as of now non-communicative, and (2) is too underdeveloped to communicate.
Due to the nature of the situation, your presence is requested due to your listed skillset as a Kig-Yar Specialist.
Report to your nearest UNSC spaceport for transit, summons attached.
Cal felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, and a feeling of dread wash over him. He and Sen had just gotten into a somewhat normal life, and now the UNSC was calling them again? Of course, he knew this would happen. ONI still had them on active call, and he doubted they could ever escape fully. He let out of huff of irritation, shoving the data pad under his arm, and stepping out of his room.
Walking downstairs, he stepped past the kitchen and spotted his mother sitting in the living room on her own data pad. Cal waved at her with a smile, trying to hide his grumpiness under a positive tone. "Hey Mom, morning."
She smiled at him, glancing up from her device and replying warmly. "Good morning, dear!" She then clearly noticed his frustration and gave him a worried frown. "You look upset, is anything the matter?"
Cal let out a frustrated sigh, plucking the data pad from under his arm and gesturing toward it. "I got a message from the UNSC, or more specifically Sen did. They want her to help them with something."
Cathleen blinked at him, looking a bit worried. "Really now? Will you need to go too?"
Cal spoke with determination. "I'd go even if I didn't need to, but yeah. I'm supposed to go with her everywhere." He paused for a moment, "Although, I doubt this would take that long, honestly."
His mother looked relieved, worry disappearing from her face.
Cal suddenly realized that he didn't know where Sen was, and he had to talk to her about this. He looked back at Cathleen, speaking with a questioning voice. "Do you have any idea where Sen is? I need to talk to her about this."
She blinked, looking thoughtful for a moment as she spoke. "Your father mentioned that she volunteered to go out and take care of a predator early this morning, I think he said around relay B-12."
Cal felt a twinge of confusion, only to remember that she would be the one to volunteer for that right away. She was likely enjoying herself out there, doing her thing. He smiled fondly. "Ah, yeah. That sounds just like her. I should probably bring the truck around, make sure she can carry whatever she killed back."
Cathleen simply nodded with a smile, returning to her data pad. Cal turned around to leave only to pause, looking back at his mother with a question in his mind. "Hey Mom, how do you feel about Sen now?"
She paused, looking back up at him with a conflicted look. She stared into the distance for a moment, clearly thinking over her words, before finally responding with deliberate words. "I think she's a strong, driven individual, who cares deeply about you. She's a hard worker and a fighter, who isn't afraid of facing up to her past mistakes." She paused, staring away for a moment before continuing. "I didn't know what to think at first, how to even begin. I didn't think it was possible for a human to love an alien, let alone my own son. But…" She trailed off again, looking out into space before continuing. "I think she's lucky to have you Cal, and you're lucky to have her."
Cal felt speechless as he felt relief flood his body. He knew that his mother had disapproved of his relationship at the start, and had even been a bit distant toward him since he brought Sen home. The news that his mother's thoughts on it were changing was a reprieve like no other. He looked up at her, speaking after a moment with relief in his voice. "Thanks Mom, that really, really means a lot to me." He dipped his head slightly at her before continuing with a level tone. "Well, I'm off now. See you later!"
Cathleen smiled at him again, though still looking deep in thought as he left.
Cal stepped onto the porch of his family's home, gazing out across the open field ahead. He could identify approximately where the relay in question was from memory, but couldn't quite make it out from here. Holding Sen's data pad under his left arm, he pulled his key fob out from his pocket with his free hand. He then trudged down the steps, moving over towards the two parked cars out front, his family's yellow pickup and his white SUV. He walked around the SUV, giving it a quick glance over as he walked around to the pickup. Moving around to the driver's side door, he tugged it open and clambered in. He whistled a breath out between his lips as he pressed the ignition, hearing the vehicle rumble to life as he moved it into gear. He tossed the data pad onto the adjacent seat and started pulling the vehicle out, carefully pivoting his body around so he could see through the rear window. He then changed the gear into drive and took a turn, setting off down the long driveway.
Zooming past rows of various crops, and eventually livestock fields, he finally reached the turn-off marking the end of the property. He turned off sharply before the road, heading onto a clearing of grass with distinct worn tire marks carved down the middle growing alongside the fence line. He would take this off-road track till he reached the right relay, then he would find Sen.
Cal cruised his truck down the bumpy path, feeling thankful for the truck's sound shock absorbers as it jostled about. He scanned the fence line as he went, eyeing each relay station as it went past. The relays were vital for the farm, as they formed the backbone network for the drones to operate. They defined boundaries and allowed the system to precisely locate virtually anything on the premises. They also monitored anything that wasn't supposed to be there, such as predators.
Cal drove past relay B-11, glancing ahead to see the antenna of B-12 jutting up into the air. Sen had to be close, she would likely hear the truck approaching soon, if not already. He stared at the trees nearby, feeling like she might appear at any moment.
As his truck approached B-12, he saw movement to his right. Vision snapping to the motion, he felt his breath stop at what he saw: Sen emerged from the trees into the light wearing her skintight techsuit, hunting rifle hanging from her right hand as the thin morning light reflected off of her exposed feathers. He could see the strength and definition in the contours of her body as she walked, moving in a flowing and graceful manner. Every part of her; from her long and powerful legs, up to her crimson feathers and sharp beak, was beautiful and elegant in her own unique way.
He blinked and shook his stunned thoughts away, averting his eyes as he realized that he had been staring at some… places. He let out a huff of embarrassment, composing himself as he reached for the door handle and stepped onto the running board to peak over the cab.
Sen glanced up at him from where she stood, raising her free arm up in and letting out a sharp call in greeting at the sight of him. He smiled and waved back, speaking loudly with friendly anticipation. "Hey Sen! How goes the hunt?"
Sen gestured behind her into the woods as she continued to walk towards the truck, a look of pride on her face as she spoke with enthusiasm. "Predator dead, back there. Shot it good!"
Cal beamed at her, giving her a thumbs up. "That's great to hear, nice work." He paused, letting out a small sigh, causing Sen to glance up at him with a questioning purr. He waved his hand towards the forest, explaining briefly. "Sorry, let's get your kill into the truck. I do have something to talk to you about, but after this."
Sen gave Cal an odd glance before giving a small shrug and an affirming chirp, walking around the back of the truck and placing the rifle inside before meeting him back at the front. Cal found himself staring again, marveling at how she moved in the suit. As she approached, her gaze caught his eye as she tipped her head with an inquisitive rumble, noticing the way he was looking at her. Cal gave her a grin, speaking with a wistful luster in his voice. "It's been a while since I've seen you wear that suit; you look great in it!"
Her feathers went flat against her neck as she stared at him, appearing taken aback as a quiet uncertain rumble emerged from her beak. "You mean it?"
Cal reached out and brushed a finger along the soft downy feathers on the side of her cheek, as he spoke with assurance. "Of course I mean it. You're beautiful, Sen." Sen opened her beak slightly, eyes widening for a moment before a look of happiness spread across her face. She leaned her cheek into his hand, letting out a soft coo and puffing her feathers up in contentment.
Cal held that position for a moment before slowly lowering his hands, reaching down low to softly grasp one of her claws in his hand. He looked at her with a grin, gesturing with his other hand towards the woods she came from eagerly. "Shall we?"
Cal followed Sen into the small, wooded area, quickly spotting the large predator dead on the ground. Its eyes and mouth remained open even in death, bright fangs and still glowing eyes appearing just as vicious as in life. Its velvety blue fur shined in the darkness, specialized for cutting through the air on the open plains. It was big, fast, and dangerous, or in other words, a day's work for Sen.
Cal crouched by the creature and examined the clean bullet hole in the forehead, still glistening with fresh blood from the tunnel that carved through its brain. He glanced up at Sen, who was standing proudly over her kill, and gestured at it with satisfaction in his voice. "Clean, perfect shot. Your style!"
He heard a pleased warble from her as he walked around to grab it by the legs, lifting it up a little as he motioned his head at the other end of the beast. "Go ahead and take that side, let's get this thing in the truck before it starts going stiff."
The duo carried the carcass out of the woods and to the truck, although, as much as it embarrassed him, Cal felt as though his contribution was slim in comparison to how much Sen was lifting off of him. Upon reaching the vehicle, they both lifted the carcass into the back and shut the trunk. Cal took a deep breath as he reached up to brush the shed fur from his clothes and hands, glancing over to Sen doing the same. After a moment he silently waved at her to follow him, leading her around the truck to the passenger side.
Cal opened the passenger door and reached inside, looking around for a moment before fishing Sen's data pad from the seat. He tapped on the screen to turn it on, then opened the message before turning the device over to Sen. Reaching out, she plucked the glowing device from his grasp and held it out in front of her, slowly reading the message with an unreadable expression. Cal watched her as she read, hardly able to contain his building frustration by the time she finally lifted her eyes from the screen, letting out an irate huff as their eyes met. "I don't understand, why can't they just leave you alone? You've already done so much, yet they just put you on role call like one of their creeps. This is unreasonable!"
Sen stared at him with a look of surprise, seeming bewildered by his outburst, before a look of realization finally crossed her face. Her gaze dropped for a moment as she grumbled something to herself before bringing her eyes back up, speaking with reassurance in her soft rasp. "It's ok, Cal. I know, you want to protect me. But I want this, need this." Cal felt surprised at her words, staring at her as she continued musingly. "I want to help, help humans. I still f-eel shame, hurt inside. I can do a right for my wrongs, I will."
Cal felt his anger and annoyance wash away at her words, the realization of what this meant for her. He then felt pride and admiration replace those feelings, realizing just how brave she was to face the wrongs she felt. He thought back to the episode she had a few weeks ago coming to this planet, how broken and isolated she was. If going back to the UNSC… and ONI, was what it took to bring her the happiness she deserved, so be it.
Cal looked up at Sen's face and took her hands in his own firmly, letting out a defeated smile. "I understand, and I'm sorry. Whatever you need to do to be happy, forgive yourself, I will be there with you, no questions asked."
Sen looked down at him for a moment, feathers smoothing against her body, before slowly craning her neck down and pressing the smooth tip of her beak against Cal's lips. Cal felt himself freeze at the contact, a shiver running down the length of his spine from the sensation. He kissed Sen once before, but being on the receiving end of such a thing was a different experience altogether.
After a moment of holding that position, Sen moved her head down to his shoulder and wrapped her arms around Cal in a hug. She placed her chin alongside his neck, warm breath tickling his hair as she whispered softly into his ear. "You're too good for me, Cal."
Cal let out a breath, letting his head rest in her mane as he returned the hug tenderly, feeling her muscular physique under the techsuit press against his torso. He let out a small chuckle, breathing in a flowery aroma from the natural dust on her feathers as he spoke lovingly. "I could say the same about you, honest. You're the greatest thing that's ever happened to me."
Sen lifted her head from his shoulder and nuzzled his cheek with a soft purr, gazing at him deeply for a moment before stepping away.
They both stood silently, taking in their emotions before Cal let out a small sigh. He looked back up at Sen, anticipation in his voice. "So, we're doing this then?"
Sen gave a small nod, lifting her data pad up and typing on it for a moment before turning it around to show Cal.
'I have received your summons Pilvros Station Command, and will depart as soon as I am able. Expect me soon. – Sen Reea'
Cal looked down at the message, giving Sen a nod as she turned it back around to hit send. He stared at the ground for a moment before a realization suddenly hit him like a truck; something he had been intending to give Sen soon but hadn't had a good opportunity to. He let out a chuckle, causing Sen to look up from her data pad with a sideways glance. Cal motioned to the car door, gesturing for her to get inside as he spoke with a reassuring demeanor. "I'll explain in a bit, I have something I've been meaning to show you."
Sen blinked with confusion, having no idea what he was talking about, but silently followed his lead into the car, nevertheless.
Sen sat silently clutching her data pad to her chest as Cal drove back towards the house, the gravel driveway rumbling under the tires as they went. Her gaze drifted out towards the fields, staring dreamily out the window as they approached the house. Glancing forward, Sen's focus shifted ahead to a building adjacent to the house, a small, shed-like building. She remembered that Cal had called it a 'workshop,' the place where he and his family repaired all manner of tools and machines to keep the farm running, but she hadn't been inside yet. Cal pulled the car up in front of the twin doors of the small building and put it in park, unbuckling his seatbelt as Sen fixed him with a curious stare. He gestured for her to open her door as he reached for his, shoving the heavy door open and stepping outside.
Sen dropped out of the vehicle and looked ahead to see Cal walking towards the doors. He turned to face her, reaching up to stroke his chin as he pieced together his words carefully. "So uh, Since you got your suit out, you probably noticed that I borrowed your armor… without asking. I probably should have asked, but I made a promise, and I really wanted to surprise you. So, sorry about that."
Sen felt bewildered at his words, watching as he turned around again and began unlatching the twin doors, pulling them outward with a loud squeak from the worn hinges. They swung open wide, only to illuminate the massive form of a half-disassembled drone sitting on a maintenance cart in Cal's way. He glowered at it, muttering a curse under his breath as he shuffled around it and out of view. "Broken again? Damn, probably gonna need to replace this piece of crap soon. Now, just where is…" He trailed off, pushing the cart away to make space as he searched behind it, Sen leaning forward to try to see him.
Sen peered towards him, trying to see what he was doing, before suddenly seeing a recognizable form and color, but both together in a way she never dreamed of. Cal was carrying her old Skirmisher helmet in his arms, but it looked nothing like it once did. Once battle-worn bright gold yellow had been completely replaced with a dark olive green, the same color Cal wore when she met him, while the grey highlights and areas around the eyepieces were filled in with a much darker green. Her beak dropped open in amazement as he approached her and handed the helmet over, slowly picking it up in her hands and staring at the obvious care and workmanship that was put into the painting process, transforming the armor into something new. Her eyes moved up to Cal's face from the helmet in her hands with absolute shock, a small incomprehensible sound emerging from her throat before she caught her breath, speaking with a shaky voice. "You did this, for me? W-why?"
Cal reached out and placed his hand on top of the helmet, giving her a sly wink as he spoke with delight. "Because I told you I'd get you some real marine greens, didn't I?"
Sen gazed into his face before looking down at the helmet, shock dissipating as she slowly turned the helmet to face away from her. She then lifted it up, slowly lowering it over her face as it slid perfectly to fit. Her eyes were met with darkness for a moment before suddenly a familiar display appeared, Covenant runes flashed as the lenses illuminated to reveal Cal standing in front of her, staring up at her with pride. He smiled, asking curiously. "Well, what do you think?"
Sen reached up, touching the edge of the once familiar, yet now unfamiliar helmet. It was once a symbol of evil, but it was now made anew by Cal into something else, just like herself. She grabbed the side of the helmet and lifted it off, watching the lenses power off once again as she removed it from her head. She looked at Cal and back down at the helmet, genuinely at a loss for words as she mulled over how to even begin to describe what it meant to her. When she finally spoke, it was slow and methodical. "When you f-ound me, you gave me a chance. A chance to… re-write, me." She lifted a claw and slowly traced it down the side of the helmet, looking into the marine green surface as she continued. "This armor, is like a symbol. New symbol, like me. I cannot un-do wrongs, there will always be f-ear. But, maybe, I can be more than 'me.' Like, the Demons? More than Human."
Cal stared at her, thinking for a moment before responding with understanding. "So… being born anew, right? A fresh start, you get to decide who you are and what you do."
Sen nodded slowly, holding her gaze on the helmet as she continued. "Blood will never go away, best that way. Never f-orget, remember pain." She turned her gaze up to Cal, determination in her eyes. "But, don't dwell on pain. Pick up, go f-orward." Her eyes blazed as the last two words shook in her throat. "Never. Again."
Cal stepped forward and reached out, placing his hand on top of the helmet as he looked directly into her determined gaze. He closed his eyes and gave her a nod, softly touching one of her claws with the tips of his fingers as a wistful smile hung on his lips as he spoke. "And I'll be right here, every step of the way. You don't need to remember alone."
Sen's feathers puffed up slightly, a pensive expression on her face as she whispered softly in her rough voice. "You are too good for me, Cal."
Cal laughed softly, stepping away as he turned back towards the workshop with a wave. "I almost forgot, wouldn't be much of a promise if I just painted your helmet, eh?"
Sen saw Cal wheel a cart outside with a large crate, clearly a bit heavy for him as his muscles strained as he pushed it. She then felt her feathers quiver as she saw more of the same olive green color shine from within the box, it was the rest of her armor, and it was all painted. It hit her just how much work he must have put into this in his spare time, to get it all done for her. For her…
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, holding it for a moment before releasing it and opening her eyes. She took a step forward and reached into the box, Cal standing over her shoulder with anticipation as she lifted the heavy chest piece out. On the right breast, there was a new addition; a small plate emblazed with her name in Human English, Sen Reea. She reached and ran a talon under the letters before raising it up over her head, feeling it seamlessly glide over her techsuit. She pressed down on it and felt a familiar click, locked in. She repeated this process for each piece, attaching each piece of armor to her body one at a time. Not long ago, she wore it every day. Now, it was a strange feeling to wear it once more.
As the last piece clicked into place, she stared down at her arms and legs, feeling the tough metal plates become one with her body once more. It felt the same, but also different. Not in weight or flexibility, but in emotion. In the Covenant, her armor was her rank, her privilege. But now? It was something else, something greater.
Cal looked her up and down with his hands on his hips, whistling softly as she stood almost fully armored. "Yep, still stand by what I said before. You look drop dead gorgeous in that, and even better in green!"
Sen let out a chuckle, holding her helmet in her hands as she averted her gaze with a twinge of embarrassment at his words. "You flatter me much, but I know, I am not much to look at. You would not like me in… a Human dress."
Cal stood silent for a moment, staring off into the distance for a moment before turning back to Sen. He looked her up and down before quietly scoffing, giving her a disbelieving stare. "Bullshit." He spoke suddenly and flatly, causing Sen to look at him with a small croak of uncertainty as he continued in a quasi-serious tone. "That's bullshit, and you're on. When we get back from this thing, I am going to buy you a dress. And I will prove you absolutely wrong; that you in fact do look great, and can rock absolutely anything!"
Sen stared at him with her beak open, moving her throat to say something before Cal raised a finger and pressed it square on her beak, shushing her with a smile. "No objections! A promise is a promise, and I keep my promises."
Sen released a gentle sigh through her nose as she closed her eyes, feeling warmth growing inside her as some of her worries from earlier that day were washed away in an instant. She fluffed her feathers slightly, leaning away from Cal's finger and opening her eyes to meet his. She reached out a claw and took his hand, gripping it firmly and speaking with quiet determination. "Okay, okay. Deal."
Cal gripped her hand in return, reaching up with his free hand and combing his fingers through her puffed head feathers with a happy look on his face. After a moment, he looked down at the helmet in her hands, and back up to her face. There was a kind of conclusiveness in his voice as he spoke, as though his words were the mark of an end, or a new beginning. "So, are you ready for this?"
Sen looked down at the newly painted helmet again, staring into its dark surface before flipping it around again and sliding it over her head, closing her eyes as it dropped over her vision. The armor set now complete, she took a deep breath and opened her eyes, meeting the bright flare of the interface once again. She looked down at Cal, in her mind's eye remembering the dirty, rain-splattered face of the Human she met in a city called Mombasa, a time that now felt so long ago. She met his gaze and nodded firmly, as she reached softly and grasped his hand once more. Her voice was a rumble in her throat as she spoke, the most certain words she had ever spoken.
"I am ready, Cal. Now, and always."