Ok. A few corrections before I get to the main story. I own 000 and 913, not 452. And it's supposed to be Echo-452, not Echo-913. Sorry about that but I was writing it kinda late at night.

I don't own Halo or any of the characters within. If I did, there'd already be a Halo 3 out. -wicked grin- But anyway, on with the story.

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Chapter 4 - Decisions

September 10, 2560

I don't know what to do now. We've had another minor battle against the Covenant. It was a bit scary. We ... lost a few of the others. That is one of the things that makes me hate what we are and what we have to do. All 24 of us were raised together. Yes, they seemed to pair us off early but still, the others are family... or as close as we're going to get.

001 was my backup this time as Z had run on ahead and wouldn't listen to calls to come back. I remember him pushing me aside right before I heard the whine of one of the Covenant vehicles... a small one seater. I think it's called a Ghost. I was forced to look on as he got run over by it. It was one of the most horrible things that I've seen so far. Once it passed, I crept out of the hole where he'd pushed me and made my way over to him. I... I held him as he took his last breaths and he told me to make sure that I took his ammo and kill the driver of the Ghost.

A single tear ran down my face. Luckily, 001 couldn't see it. I know that he'd scold me for it if he had. 001 didn't like the mushy stuff as he called it. Since he couldn't see it, I didn't try to stop it. With a single nod of my head, I promised him that I would. I sat there as he took his final breath and died. Gathering up his ammo and his dog tags, I made him another promise. I promised that his death wouldn't be in vain and that I would personally take out the Ghost and the stupid Elite that killed him. Bringing my rocket launcher up and around, I took aim at the now returning Ghost. With a single twitch of my finger, I sent a rocket flying straight at it. With a grim smile on my lips, I watched as it hit its target and the Ghost with the Elite still in it exploded.

Finally Z responded to me when I called to him over the comm. Telling him briefly what happened, I moved quickly to catch up with him. I tucked the dog tags away for later as I moved. Together, we caught up with the remaining survivors and wiped out the rest of the Covenant that we found there. Upon our return to the Shadow Heart, we once again went through the debriefing process. When we were dismissed to return to our quarters, I pulled 001's dog tags out and stared at them for a minute. Turning, I went to the commander and offered them to him. He shook his head and told me to keep them. With a nod, I returned to the room Z and I shared.

I can only hope that the next time we come across the Covenant we don't lose anyone else. But I doubt very seriously that it is a possible wish.