Disclaimer: I don't own Halo. I wish I did, because then I'd be rich. I do, however, own Spartan-150 also known as Mariana.

Ria: giggles whee! I love reviews. Well, I guess I'll go in chronological order with these responses. Those of you who aren't interested in these may skip by the responses.

Spacefan: my first reviewer. Does a little dance To tell the truth, I have no idea what "wort, wort, wort" means. I have Halo for the computer, and if I have to guess, I'd have to say that it's a laugh and/or a pleased sound. I know this because, 1. I was spotted by an Elite, he wort, wort, wort's me. 2. he kills me, wort, wort, worts, and then evil laughs to rub it in my face. And 3. On the truth and reconciliation level, those invisible Elites that slaughter the Marines in the control room were wort wort worting before I entered and proceeded to blow their brains out… any more questions?

White Leader: shrugs I just type what I feel like typing. I never hold my stories in high regard because I'm not that good of a writer.

Chuey: thanks, and do my other chapters answer your wondering? I'm thinking that I'm going to have them meet up again somehow somewhere.

WireSpeed: so many people like my fic! cries tears of happiness … I'm over it. Jk.

tru7h nd 0rd3r: someone already did this idea? Oi, I didn't even know that. thinks okay, I know what I'm going to do with this now to make it uniquely my own.

Night Spirit1: Wait… Night Spirit1? … laughs YSF finally got you to read one of my fics? Oh this is too funny, I figured you were too stubborn to read stories that she recommended. Actually, this fic was her idea, but she gave it to me because she says she has too much to work on already. Yes Halo does rule! XD.

Gregoriev: I'm curious on how you got confused. In the first chapter, Mariana is two, and in ch 2, The story skips forward three years. Look at the top of the actual chapter part. I put the year of that chapter there. As for the junior officers, I needed her to be more special than regular humans. Mariana has the ability to pick up on things quite quickly, hence her advanced placement in ranks. looks through chapters Yeah, I see what you mean by my characters becoming out of character suddenly, but I'm eccentric and tend to get carried away, so blame me, not them. I don't own an Xbox. I have, however played Halo 2 twice at my friend, Tina's house. I like energy swords… sweatdrop okay, I'll fix the second chapter a little, but not by a lot.

White Leader: you know, you're the only one to review twice so far. I take it you haven't read the fall of Reach book, so I'll explain to the best of my ability. Captain Keyes accompanied Dr. Hasley as basically a bodyguard when she went around to screen the 150 children that were possible candidates for the SpartanII project to select the best 75. He was only a Lieutenant back then, and earned the title of Captain 35 years later according to the book.

PMOHWinters: Think so? I think my story is mediocre. But then again, writer's worst critics are themselves.

HobbitNinja: I have the complete trilogy. I don't want you to rush through the Flood, but First Strike is by far the best. It ties up all of the loose ends left off in both previous books.

Halo2girl: okay, okay. Lol keep your hair on!

Mariana: Ria, did you have to wait so long to respond? These responses take up two pages! You better not cut parts out of the chapter.

Ria: hehe, I'll just type more. You're going to like this chapter Mariana.

Mariana: I'm soo ecstatic.

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March 30, 2525- UNSC Carrier Atlas

Mariana stood at attention next to Sam and watched without emotion as ash canisters containing the Spartans that didn't survive the augmentation process were jettisoned into space. Even though she spent the last eight years training, learning, and basically living with them, she didn't feel as attached to them as she should have. They were merely acquaintances. Now on the other hand if it were an Elite like Arkanee or Adadee, then she would feel something for them. Listening idly to John's and Mendez's conversation about how sometimes leaders had to send their soldiers to death for the greater good, she decided that humans were stupid. Once dismissed, she headed back to her quarters and activated her holo panel.

"Hello Mariana, how are you feeling?" asked Amee appearing life-sized due to the projectors set up around the room. Mariana scowled and covered her eyes with her hands, laying back on the bed.

"Like crap, and that's an understatement," she muttered. Amee thought for a second and turned the lights down so they didn't hurt Mariana's eyes.

"You just have to get used to your new abilities. I'm sure the pain will go away soon," Amee soothed sitting on the floor. Mariana sighed and ran a hand over her shaved head.

"I wish they didn't shave my hair off though," she muttered. Amee gave a small laugh.

"You gave them a real hard time about it when they approached you. Needless to say, it was amusing," Amee said, looking over and seeing that Mariana was almost asleep. Turning the lights fully off, Amee disappeared into the hologram pad so Mariana could sleep in peace.

About a month later, Mariana was sitting on the floor of her quarters amusing herself by tinkering with some electronics, trying to manipulate them into useful, efficient technology.

"Mariana, what are you doing?" asked John coming into her room. Mariana rewarded him with a bored stare and went back to tinkering without even saluting him. John sat next to her and watched her hands fly rapidly over the electronics. "I see you're using the effects of the augmentation to your advantage," he remarked casually picking a part of it up and examining it before having it be taken out of his hands, "What are you making?"

Mariana paused and grinned. "Something that will help our next training mission…sir," she replied sarcastically.

"Mind elaborating?" John asked, well used to her defiance of calling anyone sir or ma'am…something that he was well accustomed to and couldn't care less about, but it drove Mendez crazy and she was constantly taking heat from him because of it.

"Give me a minute and I'll demonstrate," she said adding the last parts to it and snapping a plastic casing over the whole thing. Standing up, she tossed John an infrared helmet and walked to the other side of the room.

"Amee can you turn off the lights? Full darkness mode if you don't mind," she said facing the holo pad. Immediately the lights snapped off and John donned the helmet.

"Now what?" he asked curiously.

"Activate the helmet and then try to find me," came Mariana's voice. John complied and looking around, spotted Mariana's thermal signature. He did a double take. Mariana's signature was fading from sight!

"We already have coolant suits," John said about to remove the helmet.

"Switch to night vision and try to locate me then," Mariana taunted.

John switched the setting and scanned the room and found nothing. Suddenly his screen filled with Mariana's eyes. Falling back, he saw the lights go back on and Mariana, laughing, remove the helmet.

"Useful little bugger, ain't it?" she asked with a grin. John sat up and laughed too.

"Very," he replied with a smile, "So it blocks infrared and night vision. What else can it do?"

"Basically it makes you invisible. I'm not completely done with it because I became visible, but I know it will be useful to us on missions once it's fixed, especially with the Tango Company," Mariana said opening the casing again and returning to tinkering. John knew she didn't like being bugged while she was working on inventions, so he left.

Hearing the door close, Mariana waited a minute and put the machine away, pulling out another. This one was a purple metal with graceful, lighter purple designs on it. Opening it up, Mariana grinned as the little machine lit up and started pulsing.

"What is that?" asked Amee appearing close by.

Mariana glared at her. "Something that I can't let anyone see for my father's own protection, so forgive me for what I'm about to do," she said putting the item in a box and entering a computer. Finding Amee's core, she wiped Amee's memory clean of the object. Amee flashed multiple colors and then turned garnet with golden eyes.

"Amee, I'm putting you in sleep mode for a while. You're processing too much," Mariana said typing a command into her computer. Amee in response disappeared. Pulling the item back out, Mariana took off her necklace and inserted it into a special slot. Immediately covenant language scrolled across the little screen. As Mariana's eyes followed the familiar and welcoming words, she jumped in surprise and wonder as a star map appeared. Hooking the covenant computer to the projectors, she made sure that the door was locked and turned to the star map that now occupied her room. Gazing at the map of the galaxy, she spotted Sol, and saw two NAV markers blinking. Touching the indigo one, she smiled as the map zoomed up and showed their position on patrol in the Lambda Serpentis system and her Covenant name under the NAV marker.

Returning to the big view of the galaxy, Mariana touched the dark red NAV marker. Watching the map zoom up, she noticed the feedback appear in midair. Reading the covenant symbols, Mariana's eyes widened as her indigo irises reread the words. If she was interpreting this correctly, and she knew she was, then this NAV marker was pointing to Adadee's location in Covenant held space on the other side of the galaxy. Zooming up even more, she was rewarded with the image of a planet. The symbols underneath said that this was the Elite's home planet.

"Father," she murmured in Elite, "I know now what you mean by using my necklace to find you. I promise that we'll find a way to reunite once again."

November 27, 2525- UNSC Frigate Commonwealth

John looked over concerned at Mariana. For the whole trip, she hadn't said a word. All she had done was play with her necklace and stare out the view screen when they emerged from Slipspace. When they were in Slipspace, she had just worked on repairing her "invisibility" machine and didn't even talk to Amee or anyone.

"Mariana, what's wrong?" he asked going over. Mariana tore her gaze away from the view screen and solemnly looked into his eyes.

"Something's about to happen," she said so quietly that John, even with his sharpened hearing could barely hear her.

"What something?" he asked grabbing her shoulders. Mariana opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by a transmisson.

"Spartans 117 and 150 report to the bridge immediately," came Dr. Hasley's voice over the loudspeaker. John and Mariana looked at each other and left for the bridge.

Stepping onto the bridge, John saluted and Mariana just stood there, once again not showing proper respect to a higher ranking officer.

"Over here you two," Dr. Hasley said returning her gaze to a radar screen. Going over, Mariana looked at the radar screen and saw a blip that wasn't their ship. As soon as she saw it, she looked quickly at the view screen that pointed in that direction. Her eyes widened as her experienced eyes spotted a shadow that blocked out stars. Blinking, she saw that the ship had vanished and knew immediately what it was.

'So,' she thought, 'they're here.'

Listening idly to the conversation between John, Dr. Hasley, and Captain Wallace, Mariana grew irritated with their incorrect information. "Look," she said getting their attention, "That 'ghost' is a covenant ship and it's making an intrasystem jump right for us. If we don't hurry to Chi Ceti 4, your ship and all of us on it will be vaporized particles."

"And how would you know this? I will not have my command second guessed by a Petty Officer first class, so keep your mouth shut!" Captain Wallace barked.

No sooner had he said that, then the collision alarm sounded and green lights appeared on the radar screen.

Mariana only had time to let a satisfied smirk cross her face before John grabbed her and held on tight, bracing both of them for impact. It never came. Instead a covenant ship, roughly a third of the Commonwealth's size, appeared three thousand kilometers away.

The covenant ship and the Commonwealth traded blows for a few minutes until Mariana saw a lateral line of red appear on the hull of the covenant ship and knew what was coming.

"You have to engage evasive manuvers! They are going to fire plasma and we're at point blank range!" Mariana said running a hand through her short black hair as a sign of agitation.

"That's the second time you've spoken out of turn. One more time and I'll have you gagged since the doors are sealed so you can't leave the bridge," Captain Wallace snapped.

John saw Mariana's eyes flash and laid a hand on her shoulder as she was going to reply. "Let it go," he murmured as she looked at him with rage in her eyes. Mariana watched the plasma arc and hit the ship wishing that this was a simulator that she could end at any time, and Adadee would be right outside of the pod waiting for her.

John kept an eye on Mariana and hoped that this change in attitude was only temporary. Finally the battle was over and the two Spartans and Dr. Hasley were headed to their Pelican in the launch bay.

"What's gotten into you Mariana?" asked Dr. Hasley summing up what John was wondering, "You're usually never this impolite."

Mariana cast her gaze to the floor. "I've… just been caught up in a lot of things lately. This battle, it reminded me of my father. We were separated by the covenant," she said.

John nodded in understanding. "I understand that, but what I want to know is how you knew what the covenant would be doing as they did it. You even knew that the plasma would turn to hit us," John said.

"Mariana, is there something that you're hiding from us?" asked Dr. Hasley.

Mariana looked at her necklace as if it would tell her how to answer. "There's one thing that I've never told anyone, not even Amee. I…I know all of the Covenant's ways, because I am truly Covenant at heart," Mariana replied hesitantly.

"What do you mean you're covenant at heart? You're human," John asked.

Mariana raised her eyes and looked at Dr. Hasley and John with an intense stare. "My father's name is Daka Adadee. He's an Elite who raised me to be like him, so if that's a problem, then shoot me now," she said, holding her head up proudly.

John stepped back instinctively. All this time Mariana had deceived him and the others. He didn't know what to think. Luckily the lift stopped just then and the doors were opening. John glanced behind him and said in a firm tone: "We tell no one. Mariana, I don't know yet if you're to be trusted fully anymore, but know this. I will be keeping my eye on you at all times. You're too valuable to the covenant if they get their hands on you."

"The covenant thinks I'm dead. A brute that I told you about named Tartarus knew I was still alive, but doesn't know that I retained my memory of what Adadee taught me. I have no reason to rejoin the Covenant. You have nothing to worry about," Mariana snapped marching over to where Fred was and helped him finish fueling up the Pelican.

"What do you think Dr. Hasley? Can we trust Mariana?" John asked helping the doctor out of the lift.

Dr. Hasley sighed. "I have just as much information about her as you do. I have a feeling though, that Mariana was telling the truth. Don't let your friendship be ruined over a thing like that, but keep an eye on her just in case," she replied as they walked over to the pelican.

About an hour later, The Spartans were trying out their MJOLINR armor. John, experimenting with his helmet as he ran through the obstacle course, found that he could identify each Spartan in their armor. Looking around, he spotted Mariana practicing agility maneuvers. As he watched, John noticed her moves were over powerful, launching her over a three meter high wall effortlessly with about a meter of room to spare.

"Mariana, clam down, You're going to hurt yourself if you continue like that," John said on a private COM channel calmly to get her focused on being deliberate for now.

"Why do you care? I'm covenant after all," she snarled over the intercom.

"Leave her alone, John," Dr. Hasley said from the control booth, "Let her cool down. She's afraid that you'll reject her from the group or something."

"How do you know this doctor?" John asked. John was rewarded with a laugh for an answer.

"I've known all of you for so long that I know what's bothering you by your movements," she explained.

John nodded and concentrated on getting the group focused. Once everyone was gathered, and John had coaxed Mariana over, the Spartans headed back up to space after hearing that the covenant ship had returned. Mariana sat in the very back of the pelican and took a quick glance around.

Seeing that no one was paying attention to her, or looking in her direction, she shifted her gloved hand and revealed her necklace. Sliding it into a neural slot in the back of her helmet that Dr. Hasley had specifically made for it since Mariana had told her that it was a mini computer chip, Mariana pulled up the star map and double-checked Adadee's position. Selecting the silver NAV marker that had replaced the red NAV marker, Mariana noted that her beloved father wasn't anywhere near them.

"Mariana," came John's voice.

"What?" Mariana asked, turning off the star map.

"I need you the most on what we're going to do. We're going to blow up the covenant ship from the inside. I need you to guide us through the ship to the energy reactors. Are you up for this?"

Mariana sighed. "I'll help, but only because they attacked us first," she replied. Mariana heard a small laugh from John before he snapped the COM line off.

A little while later, Sam, Kelly, John, and Mariana were crouched outside a door, checking an uploaded schematic of the ship from their neural sensors. Finally opening the door, the foursome spotted a Jackal standing in the room, his back to them. Mariana, having a severe hatred for these creatures since she was little, snuck up behind him and broke the creature's neck before it could cry out.

Continuing on, the group reached another set of doors. This time, there was an alert Jackal in that room. "Get in the shadows! They have poor sight!" Maria hissed rolling into the shadows herself, the other Spartans following suit. Watching the Jackal sniff the air, it apparently heard their boots, Mariana suddenly hatched an idea.

"What are you doing? You do not grovel before an almighty Elite?" she barked through her intercom in her beloved tongue, effectively spooking Sam, Kelly, John, and the Jackal.

"I-I'm sorry your Excellency," the Jackal squawked falling to his knees, "I didn't know you were invisible. A thousand apologies."

"You scum, you aren't worthy of my mercy," Mariana sneered. Looking out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Sam shift restlessly. Unfortunately, the Jackal spotted the movement and fired at Sam. "You imbecile!" Maria snapped, still in Elite and shot the Jackal in the throat. Running over to Sam, John helped Sam to his feet.

"Are you okay?" he asked. Sam nodded and winced as his armor brushed his side. Mariana looked skeptical, but continued on. Finally reaching the reactors, they armed the nukes they were carrying and set them in place.

"You three go on, I'll cover you and hold any forces off," Sam whispered as they crouched in the shadows.

"No, we're all in this together. You're coming too," Kelly replied stubbornly.

"Sam, stays behind," Mariana spoke up suddenly from where she was keeping her ears open on watch, "Kelly, look at Sam's side. The sealant is punctured. Sam won't survive the vacuum of space."

"It's alright Kelly," Sam said, "I'm prepared to die in battle rather than in a vacuum."

"Let's go," John said standing, "we have three minutes to get out of here."

With one final glance at Sam, the other two followed John out.

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Ria: hmm, I can't think of anything else. I'm sorry for taking so long. My school was being a butthead…too many projects.