Cafeteria aboard the UNSC Upon a Pale Horse, Ursula System
2548
Private James Gunderson walked into the mess hall, hundreds upon hundreds of soldiers filled it's halls with rambunctious laughter and energetic chatter filling every corner of the room. His tray filled with food he slowly moved through the bustling space trying to find where his squadmates had taken a seat or at the least a table filled with some veterans who would tell him some wicked war stories! Honestly that was one of the main reasons he joined was to make a name for himself, he had a crush on the popular girl back home and he hoped a nice round of service would raise her opinion of himself. Looking hopelessly across masses of tables, he spied what appeared to be a relatively open spot with only a few guys around it towards the far wall against the windows.
It seemed odd for there to be some spare room considering how busy everything else was, maybe they were outcasts sort of like himself! Or they might also be grizzled veterans who everyone else is afraid to approach, but he had the balls to go up and introduce himself. Once they saw that he wasn't put off by their gruff exterior they'd welcome him like one of their own. Settling on a plan of action, he walked across the room putting on an air of confident determination, making sure he only exuded a calm exterior. As he drew closer, he realized that they weren't wearing the standard UNSC armor or anything familiar to him, they were all decked out in obsidian black gear with each marine having their own specialized design emblazoned on their armor. He felt a brief tinge of uncertainty flare in the back of his mind, but he quickly quashed that feeling as he quickened his step towards them. Approaching near he noticed they were all playing a round of cards as well as what seemed to be going through a whole pack of cigarettes, the immediate space around them was suffocatingly thick with the smog of smoke. Slowing his step by the table, they all looked up at him with clear gazes of disinterest, figuring this was just part of their style he didn't left himself get fazed until they spoke.
"What the fuck do you want kid?" The largest of the three spoke, a golden skull with a knife through its eye laid upon his shoulder.
"Private James Gunderson sirs! Figured I'd like to dine with you if-"
"You seen combat yet?" The same one spoke.
"Well uhmm, no I just got here from boot."
"Damn you're greener than my shit." Another spoke, this one had three blood red scratches dragged across the top of his helmet on the table. His two friends looked at him before shaking their heads, one of them mumbling something about needing a doctor.
"Grow some fucking pubes on your balls first, probably smoother than Gunny's head." The first one spoke again, he said as he blew a heavy cloud of smoke into James' face, the private coughed as he waved the smoke away. "Coughing like a damn bitch, won't last a day if you can't get used to the fumes on the front lines."
"Piss off kid, no used wasting our time on a dead man. You know the rate of newbies surviving their first battle? Pretty fuckin' shite, its part instinct, part skill, all luck…and your luck right now is god awful."
James stood there dumb founded, he hadn't expected for his confidence to be destroyed in just a few quick seconds, he tried to stammer out a response, but it was cut off by the first solider speaking again, "Don't waste your time getting your thoughts together, just fuck off kid." James continued to stand there in disbelief, the trio went back to their card game for a short bit before looking up to see he was still standing there, "You need an ass kicking boy? Cause you're starting to piss me off now." Before the large soldier could stand up, a couple of Gunderson's nervous squadmates came to sweep the stammering James away, they apologized profusely as they made their way to their table.
One to his side hissed, "What the fuck do you think you're doing, trying to get the shit kicked out of you?"
James mouthed a couple times before words came out, "Wh-wh-who were those guys?"
A different squadmate scoffed, "God damn ODST's you idiot, best of the best marines that went through hell fire only to come out stronger on the other side. Like half of the ODST accepts die in their training regimen."
"Heard they're not even fully human, like a half breed with spartan tech mixed in."
"Probably, the main thing is Gunderson, unless they talk to you, don't fucking get involved. They're a breed of their own."
Back at the table once the kid had left, Wolfe broke out with laughter howling like his namesake as Barbie wiped a tear from his eye as he begun to wheeze which in turn caused Adrian's previously subdued enjoyment rise to a bubbling enjoyment at seeing Barbie keel over like a fish out of water.
Adrian spoke up first, "Christ you guys didn't have to shit on him like that, poor bastard probably pissed himself as soon as Wolfe started talking."
"I consider it my public duty; little green fucks all have an ego the size of the sun as soon as they leave boot. Thinkin' they're hot shit so I have to put them back in their place." Wolfe spoke back as he picked up his hand of cards that fell onto the table as they begun to resume their game.
"Better the kid is scared but smart rather than confident and dumb." Barbie mentioned as he checked, knocking the table once to signal he wouldn't raise. "Though speaking of, didn't hear you speak at all Marauder."
"Got stuck on your dumb ass comment, green as your shit? Really? Fuck man that was bad."
Wolfe laughed his deep booming chuckle again, "Talk to your doctor man."
"It wasn't real-"
"Gambling aboard a UNSC installation is a serious infraction you know." A rugged voice spoke, they turned to see their gunnery sergeant standing at the end of the table.
"But gunny, we already had a hand ready for you." Adrian offered.
"Well when you say that, it'd be a shame to waste that hand then." He smirked as he sat down next to Adrian, taking the extra cards from his hand before quickly frowning as he looked at his cards.
"You've got an awful poker face gunny." Barbie remarked Gunny stared up from his cards to his squad seated at the table, Wolfe and Marauder had stone cold poker faces while Barbie was smiling like a kid on Christmas.
"I'm starting to remember how serious an infraction this could be if reported to the right sources."
The smile fell from Barbie's face, "That'd be uhh…a damn shame sir. In fact, I think Marauder accidently gave you my cards, here let's trade so you have the right hand."
The two trader their hands, "Ah that's more like it."
Wolfe and Adrian chuckled to themselves are Barbie promptly folded upon seeing his cards, though in the back of his mind the poor private stayed with him, maybe because they were all like that at one point, but Wolfe and Barbie had a point. Better scared and smart, but also there ain't much you can do if luck isn't on your side, next time he got the chance he'd see how the kid was fairing. Adrian would forget to check with their next mission spanning four months running search and destroy operations against Covenant forces on Abalus, he would never know that Private James Gunderson died four days later on his first deployment with his pelican being shot out of the sky by covvie anti-air. He may have been scared shitless, but luck simply wasn't on his side.
Watchpoint Gibraltar, Iberian Peninsula, Europe
"Focus buddy, big night you know only need to aim for the middle and-"
Liam threw the dart, it went wide landing on the outer rim of the dart board, netting Adrian and Liam's a total of zero points. Adrian groaned as Reinhardt cheered off to the side with Shimada softly chuckling.
"Alright no loss, everyone has rough nights, we'll win next time."
Liam overly exaggerated his sorrow, "Ah the tragedy, well at least we weren't betting."
The opposing team comprised of the Genji and the mountainous German shared a look before Reinhardt spoke up, "Why not gamble? Like you said you'll win next time, no? It is good for the soul to engage in friendly rivalry."
"Oh well I don't know about that." Adrian said with a reluctant tone.
Shimada spoke, "What if loser buys a round of drinks?"
Liam perked up, "Ah well now we're speakin' my language, I could go for that what do you say Adrian, friendly wager?"
"Well alright but let make it interesting. All or Nothing, full drinks for the whole bar eh?" Adrian spread his arms out to the rest of the room.
Vivid conversation filled the bar on base as people of every background filled the room, all brought together by their common desire for the betterment of mankind through Overwatch. Within the decorated walls you can find entertainment of damn near any kind, drinks, talk, games, and maybe even a bit of gambling if you knew where to look – or in Adrian's case – served in a military where gambling flowed more than water.
"Deal." Reinhardt quickly agreed as Shimada seemed to have second thoughts, "First to hit the bullseye?"
"First to hit the bullseye." Adrian slapped Liam on the chest with the back of his hand as he handed his comrade a trio of darts. Barbie picked a dart with his left hand and held it up before Adrian interrupted, "You gonna play like that all night Liam?"
The grin on Reinhardt's face faltered, "What?"
"Well it just that Liam's been going lefty all night, but he's right handed." The façade of a reluctant boy scout that Adrian had been honing all night evaporated back into his usual attitude as Liam adopted a cocky smirk.
"Damn you're right Adrian, what would I do without my main man Adrian Kasporov." Barbie switched the dart to his steady right hand where he tossed it with pin-point accuracy nailing the center of the bullseye with practiced ease.
"Bop, OOOHHH." Adrian and Liam said in perfect unison as the dart made the satisfying think of hitting the heart of the wood board
Reinhardt slammed his fist on the table, "Scheisse! Played like a new-born pup!"
"I admit I let our success cloud my judgment, your behavior was far too courteous and reserved." Shimada chuckled.
"Works every fucking time." Liam boasted as he high-fived Adrian, "Now big man, how about those drinks."
The German grumbled as he walked away with Liam and Shimada in tow, Adrian stayed behind to instead score a quiet table. He'd already ordered a drink when they entered and wasn't in any rush to finish his liquor. Finding an empty spot in the far corner of the bar, he plopped a seat and kicked back in his chair, resting his boots upon the wooden table. Leaning back, he balanced himself on the chair's back legs as he nursed a rum on the rocks, zoning out before Liam slammed a heavy metal pint of beer on the table. Frothy foam poured over the lip and onto the table as Liam hurriedly slurped the drink down to a reasonable level.
"Hot damn mate, unless we were on leave this wouldn't pass, not that I'm complaining mind you." Barbie smirked as he took a swig of his drink before looking around at the placement of their table, "If I didn't know better, I'd almost say you're trying to keep me away from everyone else, think we scarred everyone off after our show of flashy wit?"
"Well not everyone here is so taken with my charms, a curse to be so charismatic isn't it?" Adrian joked back.
"Hah, I was beginning to worry you lost your sense of humor. Tell me though, what it's been like? For me it's like we were just talking yesterday but for you…"
Adrian shot him a confused glance as he drank, "I already told you everything."
"Not that shite, I mean with you. I already noticed some new scar on your mug, not to worry though, it'll take a lot more to make your face any uglier than it already is."
"Ah right," He unconsciously ran his fingers over the scars, "Not much to tell honestly, well not here anyway. Took a direct hit to the visor, the bullet itself righted off but the visor splintered inwards."
"Nasty work that, though aside from the few Talon agents you mentioned I assume most others are just using some early ballistic weapons?"
"Yep, against our armor they're practically worthless though the bodysuits are actually worse as you've already experienced."
Liam nodded in understanding, ODST bodysuits were already armored to an extent, though it worked against them with this world's ballistic weapons. A standard UNSC round is armor piercing or FMJ as well as far larger than the typical rounds used by the military forces here. So when the insurrectionists would get ahold of some UNSC weapons, sure they packed a punch but if it hit the bodysuit it'd also guarantee a clean wound. Here, the commonplace rounds were smaller, usually not modified in any way, meaning that as soon as they hit their armored under suit, velocity would drop off instantly and shatter. No clean wound plus shrapnel made it a righteous pain in the ass.
"On a different note I've been meaning to ask, you and that Doctor Ziegler huh?" Barbie grinned.
"Look she's … I don't know it's complicated."
"Yeah alright I'll drop it for now, aside from that though, don't tell me you've gone this long without even scoring."
"Well, that's also complicated."
"Jesus did you fuck married woman? An officer?" Liam stared Adrian down, "I know that look mate, how bad could it be."
"Now I've got no proof of this but it seems she may be a spy for Talon. Likely is. Probably almost definitely is."
Liam stared at him slack jawed, before howling with laughter as he slammed the today with his hand, "Bloody Christ, that's like the first thing they told us when dealing with the innies. Well don't worry, ole papa White is here to fix all your problems."
"Stuff it old man."
"Well if you see her, send her my way and I'll personally handle it." They shared a laugh, reveling in the break from their usual lives
"You really don't know when to quit do you?"
Any further discussion was interrupted as a deep, uncertain voice spoke up against the mass of people and a far from usual foot pattern could be heard reverberating with every step against the ground. "Ah Mr. Kasporov and Mr. White, glad I could find you here! If you don't mind I'd like to have a word with the both of you in a more quiet space?" Winston questioned as he gorilla-walked his way over to them, nodding his head to the exit.
Adrian rolled his eyes in annoyance before Liam elbowed him lightly, "Get the stick of your ass Adrian, never thought I'd be the one saying this, but this is our job while we're here mate."
Grumbling understanding, Adrian brought his feet off the table as he downed the rest of rum in one quick gulp while Liam quickly tried to chug as much of his beer as he could. Letting out a massive belch, he bumped his chest a couple times before motioning with his hands to lead on. Adrian chuckled to himself as the two followed behind Winston, making their way through the crowed room. When the finally exited Winston moved them over to an empty part of the hallway, Liam and Adrian shared a curious glance before waiting for the ape to explain.
"I'm sure you're expecting something very top secret but the truth is far more mundane than that." Winston elaborated, "Jesse has been deployed on a rapid assignment, something about his former… associates shall we call them, and the trouble they've been causing in the American Southwest. Which as Adrian knows puts a hamper into a future plan of ours, given our colorful cast of allies it normally would've been hard to find a suitable replacement."
"And so you're asking me to fill the role?" Liam questioned, crossing his arms. "Well hell, not like I got much of a choice, even if I was to say no. Well I've been a bit buggered the past couple days trying to wrap my head around everything, so some action will help to clear up my mind."
Winston broke into a smile, "Great! Adrian can fill you in on the details, and to be honest having two men of your caliber working this mission relieves me. Especially with your shared experiences together." With that he left, making his way down the hallway to a bemused Adrian as Liam turned to him for the details.
Adrian wrapped his arm around Liam's shoulder, "So remember when you said you'd never wear a suit in your life…"
…
…
…
"Christ I feel like a clown." Adrian muttered in his room.
"I assure you that you are not." The artificial voice of Athena spoke.
"How do people wear these things?" He questioned as he pulled on the suit jacket, it was a day before their mission but apparently their outfits needed to be exact, otherwise they'd look out of place at such a high class gathering. It didn't make any sense to Adrian, fancy clothes were fancy clothes, what else was there to it? Apparently a lot more as Athena kept critiquing him until he had settled upon the "perfect" look.
"I couldn't tell you."
"Ah right. Though I've been meaning to ask, do you envision yourself with any sort of physical form?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well like back in my world, smart A.I like yourself tend to also have human form that they see themselves as, or rather based on their personality. Do you have something like that."
She didn't respond for a few seconds, "I've never given it any processing power before, though now in the future I will…think on it."
"Get back to me, curious to see what the answer is."
"As you wish."
Silence once more in the room as Adrian adjusted his clothes, adjusting his hastily thrown tie and button up his jacket. Though the silence didn't last for long, "Adrian that's incorrect."
"Fucking…what is it now?"
"One too many buttons, also your tie is crooked with an uneven knot that looks sloppy."
"Well not like I ever had a need to learn."
"Never had to ask an alien to prom?" Adrian snorted at her joke, before trying to rectify her problems, "I apologize but you're simply making it worse."
"Christ does Liam have you breathing down his neck too?"
"Liam is occupied."
Stopping his work, Adrian stood their stupefied, "With what?!"
"It is private."
"That god damn son of a whore, I told him! I specifically told him and he can't go half a week before – I swear to god I'll strangle the bastard the next time I see him."
"I would advise against that." Athena coolly responded before a knock on the door drew his attention, "You're struggles were frustrating, I did not know I had a connection to that adjective, but it seems you showed me. Seeing as I lack a corporeal form, I requested help."
Adrian huffed as the door slid open to reveal Angela in her own formal clothing, a burgundy dress that almost touched the floor with laced long sleeves and an open back that was finished with a black sash tied into a bow wrapped around her waist. He stared a bit longer that he would admit, practically floored by the contrast of her alabaster skin to the dark colors of her dress.
"Stare any more and I'll have to charge you." Angela joked as she made her way into his room, looking around at the relatively spartan furnishings though for Adrian she found it rather fitting. The desk was filled with tech and foreign gadgets while the floor beside rarely used bed was lined with his collection of weapons. His room smelled of gun oil, metal, and sweat, all a distinctly Adrian scent that she couldn't help but admit she found oddly enticing. Let alone that seeing Adrian cleaned up was quite a sight itself though secretly she preferred his more rugged appearance his slick look would likely draw some attention from many of Overwatch's personnel.
Adrian did his best to avoid staring too much but it was too damn hard, there are some things you see in life that are just too beautiful to turn from. Shaking his head from his daze, he resisted the urge to shiver as he felt a tingle run down his back as she approached him, her fingers running around his neck to fix his embarrassingly shit attempt at tying a tie.
"Pardon my language Adrian, but this is quite shit."
Adrian laughed as the tension left his body, "If it makes you swear it must be far worse than I imagined though I can believe it, apparently I haven't been doing a single thing right or that's to be believed by Athena's accounts."
"It's a good thing you'll have me to lead you through the etiquette of formal events."
"I suppose, but you know what's funny? I'm not nervous, but the confidence I usually have just sort of…evaporated as soon as I put on this outfit."
"Well I imagine it's hard to be outside your comfort zone. Even a rugged veteran such as yourself will feel out of place at a fancy gala, but that's good right? To be reminded of your vulnerability every now and then."
Adrian didn't say anything for a short while before muttering, "Better scared than dead."
She looked up from her work, "Did you say something Adrian?"
"Huh? No its nothing…no…just…something I thought I remembered." He eyed himself in the mirror, taking in his new appearance feeling like he was looking in on somebody else's life, "Nothing at all."
A/N: Well apologies for the later than usual upload, nothing much happened other than some writers block on the next chapter. Wrote out a quick page or two before just hitting a dead end, so instead of drowning myself in uncertainty about that, I wrote an entirely different chapter that would be this one with even this chapter going through a number of different ideas before settling and feeling pretty confident with this. Anyway enough of my rambling, hope you all enjoy and remember to leave your thoughts and reviews!