When Chris, Linda and the Elites got back, John was in a very bad temper.

"You were being stupid! Two men and two aliens to defeat a group of foes that could crush your bones as easy as a toothpick?"

"Or two Spartans, the finest warriors ever, and two of the best elites that their army has." Said Chris. The longer they talked the less Chris liked John. He'd always thought John was a hero but now he merely seemed a person who was against everything Chris did weather a good plan or a bad one. Chris walked off, forget John, he'd see one day that he'd been wrong to doubt Chris. The most of the next day was spent packing their weapons and such. Chris fully loaded his M9 shotgun and dual pistols before clipping on four grenades of each type. The flood had taken over a small moon that would be easy to overtake. The two Elites who'd been with him last night were sent with him as his guards, and Kelly was going with him. The elites had an energy sword and a plasma rifle and four plasma grenades, each. Kelly had packed a assault rifle and a pistol.

John had given them the orders to be airlifted past the main lines of the flood and then to plant four NUKE warheads in good locations. From there several air attacks could finish the job. Another easy in and out job. Assuming they didn't get caught. When they were all in position, John gave the signal. Chris jumped down into the needed room, taking down three of the spiders in a single shot. Another took down a Brute's used body. Kelly meanwhile, was firing off her assault rifle at anything that was a threat the two elites were rushing the bodies on in melee combat. The room wasn't extremely overrun and they cleared it in less than one hundred seconds.

"All along there?" Asked Chris, indicating the NAV point on his HUD.

"Plant them." Said Kelly. Chris nodded and signaled to the elites and started planting the war heads.

"Ok, let's get the hell out of here." Said Chris.

"Secluded killer, look!" Pointed one of the Elites.

"Man, I swear if I hear that one more time... what did you want me to... holy shit." Look Chris saw what must have been no less than three hundred spiders of flood. He threw his grav. lift disk below the hole in the roof they'd made. He grabbed Kelly's arm and started to pull her to the lift afraid that she didn't want to leave because she hadn't moved. Then he saw the true reason. The spot of her suit on the left leg was torn away and very bloody.

"Kelly.."

"I can move, don't worry." She tried to walk and froze hurt. The leg was broken at least in two places he could tell, she picked it up and held it. Chris lay her down on the ground. And started making a splint from part of her torn away suit, and tied together brute hair.

"Don't worry," Chris said. "I''ve passed the training to do this stuff." He looked at the approaching flood. Still far away, they had time. Chris lift Kelly off the floor and helped her walk. She was reluctant, but understood it was needed. She flatly refused any more help. The ship that came for them had a first aid in it and Kelly got a much better splint. Kelly removed her helmet and looked at Chris.

"I guess I owe you one, thanks for not leaving me." Chris took off his helmet and smiled. The medics soon left.

"Kelly, I heard that you were with... that you were on a mission with someone." Referring to how the last book left Kelly on a mission with the doctor.

"Oh that," She said. "I'll explain it in time. Not here though, it's not the right time." Chris left the matter alone. The ship dropped them off near John.

"What happened, I saw no large blow up!" Just as he finished the center of the flood start a large blowing cloud, the explosion took out several of the flood more the seven eighths of it. Then came the air strike. There was now just a few spare spiders left. Just the mop up. John turned towards the larger ships preparing to leave, he didn't say a word. Chris was happy he had carried out his mission well. He put Kelly's arm around his shoulders, and helped her onto the ship. He put her in the medical center. She came out later, wearing her repaired Spartan armor which had a good brace under it. She was wearing no helmet and Chris saw concern in her face. He walked over and sat with her.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, just John is so... I don't know bigheaded sometimes."

"He's tired, I've seen him, he doesn't eat much and doesn't sleep at all, always on watch." Chris said.

"You don't sleep more than a few hours a night." She replied.

"It adds up." He said simply.

"So do the missed hours. You keep quick and smart, you always use your head and don't just do what your told unless it makes good sense. I like you for that reason."

"I guess that's compliment from a Spartan." He joked.

"You speak of Spartans as though you aren't one." She said she looked at him looked him right in the eye.

"Perhaps I am not. Maybe I am less, or more that the others. Or maybe I am one and nothing more or less." Now she grinned a little.

"I think you are more, your a good man. Young maybe, but you've grown from this. I am glad you fight with us not against us."

"How old are you?" He asked before he could stop himself.

"Twenty next week. Why?"

"Sorry I didn't mean to say it." Chris looked at his shoes.

"That's ok I was just wondering. Your what 15?" Chris almost said yes but stopped, wasn't his birthday today. Yes march 26th, he was 16 now of course that was in the year 2006 in 2552 he was...

"I'm 560." She started at him, then he saw her doing the math. She laughed hard.

"You know what I meant."

"Yeah, sorry I had too, I'm 16 today." He said it as though he was uninterested. She got up and walked off waving a short goodbye. He got up, he was going to find John. Chris found John in his room kneeling and relaxing. John didn't look at Chris but knew he was there.

"Leave you bastard."

"Sorry sir but that isn't acceptable."

"I thought you weren't really in the army."

"I am as much as you."

"So you think." Chris sighed. It never failed. Every conversation with John became a contest.

"Sir please, I want to help."

"Stealing my position isn't helping me."

"Stealing your? You self-centered ass. I only came her to help you!"

"Talking to your superiors that way can get you thrown out." John said.

"To think I once looked up to you."