Disclaimer: This is a work of pure fiction I do not own Halo and it's characters. All rights belong to Bungie and 343 Industries and its affiliates.
This is my fourth story. I appreciate any feedback. Thank you.
Author's Note: I haven't read the books this is going purely off the games and movies so things will be different then you are expecting and I apologize for that.
Last Author's Note: Im not very good at describing combat or battles but will do my best. Sorry in advance.
Chapter 7: Serious Talk
Aala growled as she stomped ahead of John who was warily following her, afraid to make her more upset and not understanding what he did wrong. Cortana thankfully had marked the LZs that Lasky needed clear on their huds so they were thankfully going in the right direction. The same couldn't be said of the covenant and promethans that crossed Aala's path however.
Many grunts found themselves bull rushed and punted into jackals or elites and used as makeshift explosives when she shot into their gas canisters that helped them breathe. Jackals necks we're sliced open with her Emile's kukri that her mother had retrieved from her comrade to never forget him and had gifted it to her when she officially became a spartan.
Elites however faced the full brunt of her wrath since she took her mother's pain out on them. Many found themselves either assassinated, plasma grenade to the face or balls and face's turned to mince meat from her assault rifle.
All the while John watched in stupidification and fear since all of her kills were gruesome and made sure that her prey felt the most pain possible before they died. Where as he just tried to make it quick and get it over with. "I think we are going have to redefine Hyper Lethal." Cortana said in a deadpan voice and in awe at how merciless Aala was to her enemies. With John nodding at her words.
Though he was worried about her encountering promethans and was about to help her when a knight attempted to stab her in the back only for her twist just in time and rip his sword off his arm before slamming it into its roaring face. Turning it into data and leaving her with a new powerful weapon that she deactivated and clipped to her waist. "Watch it bitch!" Aala growled as she watched the data eventually disperse. She was about to continue walking but stopped when John took hold of her arm stopping her.
"I think we need to rest a bit." John said for the first time in his life. Surprising both Cortana and Aala who started to breathe heavily from her fatigue of being so angry at him and feeling embarrassed at how out of control she had just been. Nodding her head wordlessly at him she moved to a nearby tree that offered cover to both of them before sitting down against one of the giant roots and crossing her arms looking away guiltily and embarrassed.
Seeing that she was calming down but was avoiding him. John looked out over the area and saw bodies of the covenant laying all over the place with lakes of blood around them and explosive holes littering the ground here and there.
Sighing in frustration John rubbed his hands anxiously before looking back at Aala who was still looking away deep in thought. "I'm sorry." John said at last causing Aala to jump in surprise at his voice and that he was apologizing to her. "I don't know what I did to upset you but I guess it was because you and our family have spent so long looking for me and at the first sign of a conflict or mission I immediately signed up for it without talking to you." John said despondently.
"It's not just that…" Aala said emotionally her voice choking thick with it. "It's the fact that this universe hell humanity can't do anything without always relying on you." She sobbed out. "When do you get a break? When does the fighting stop for you? When can you finally come back home to us and not be so scarred from everything that's happened? I don't want to bring a empty shell and machine back to the family John… This wasn't what I thought it was." Aala said crying and holding her hands to her face crying into them.
Sighing at how upset his niece was and the pain he was putting her and his family through he tried to explain himself. "I'm the way I am because I don't want anyone to ever have to go through what my friends and I went through. I want to be able to stand in the face of danger even it means I lose my humanity and become a machine if it means just one more person or child doesn't have to go through the horrors we went through." John said passionately surprising Aala, Cortana let alone himself with how he actually felt about his situation.
"I know you probably hate ONI let alone Halsey for everything she did and the lives she ruined but it saved more lives in the end then if she hadn't done something." John said expecting her to blow up at his defense of his kidnappers. Aala only nodded her head thoughtfully. "Maybe, but it still doesn't make it fucking right or fair." Aala said stubbornly with John chuckling at her tone. Feeling the tension starting to lift between them John stood back up and held his hand out to his niece. "I know your probably not going to ever be satisfied with who I am and the things I've done for humanity's survival but I did it all for my family that I never got to experience and for the friends I lost in battle." John said as Aala took his hand and he pulled her up. "I am satisfied and happy to even get the chance to meet let alone know you John. Your family no matter what. I'll always look out for you. Even if it will annoy you like crazy. But I need you to promise me something John." Aala said seriously holding John's hand tightly and refusing to let go.
Looking back at her hand holding his tightly even though his hand dwarfed hers the strength she was putting in her grip was staggering and drove home how much this promise meant to her. "What is it?" John asked. Tightening her grip even more which caused John to gasp slightly in pain. "You are going to promise me and to our family that you will make it home and give us a chance to be a family again no matter what. That includes you to Cortana. You've looked after my uncle all this time so your family as far as I'm concerned and I don't care if you ever go rampant. We will find a way to fix you." Aala said seriously her tone deadly and brooking no argument from either of them. John nodded his head to her "I promise to make it back to our family and give us all a chance to heal and be together again." John swore to her with Cortana making a similar promise though her rampany made her voice emotional as she didn't expect to be included with John. She had actually been feeling left out and thinking John was going to abandon her after his family found him only to be surprised at how much love Aala gave to John and was willing to give to her as well.
Feeling the last of the tension between them fade and a more somber but happy mood fill the air between them. John felt more alive then he ever had been in his life. He actually had a place and people that wanted him for him not the spartan, not the war hero and not humanity's savior. Him, John the boy that had been kidnapped and experimented on to become humanity's next step in evolution and to stop anyone or thing that got in the way of that. His shoulders for the first time in years straightened and his back stood straight not from military requirements but because he was someone's baby and family to them and they wanted him for him.
Tears of happiness fell down Aala's face as she saw a radical change overtake John's form. She could see it would take a long time for the boy inside the man to match his form but she could see him waking up and standing more straight then she ever imagined he had knowing people cared more about him then just military hardware.
Hearing him take a deep breath of air and releasing it. Years of stress and never resting seemed to bleed off his form and made him look even more taller and imposing then before somehow. Causing her to smile brightly before taking his hand in hers with him watching her. "Come on uncle, we have people to save, a assholes who's ass needs kicking and a ride home to get on." Aala said brightly bringing a chuckle from John who nodded at her as she released his hand and they resumed their march to the LZs working together like they had always worked together and had never been apart. Covering each other's back without trying. Finishing off enemies that either got to close to the other or just mowing them down together.
One thought came to both their minds. "I needed this and family is awesome." They both thought happily and joyfully. Enjoying being near each other and knowing no matter what they would take care of each other to the end.