The Rabbit and the Wolfe
Once again, I grace you with my presence. This is the second to last chapter for the second part of the RW trilogy. As we wrap up this ride, I want to thank you all for sticking with me through it all. And the reviews mean a lot to me. And please don't forget to thank my editor MightyMilkDuds!He has been an enormous help editing and pointing out parts that didn't quite make sense or line up canonically. Trigger warning sections will be outlined in bold so that readers may skip if they so wish. Be sure to favorite, follow and review! I love hearing your thoughts!
*Trigger Warning: mention of suicidal attempts*
22: Shift in Perspective
December 26, 2561
New Noida, Falaknuma
18 Scorpii System
0231 hours
*Trigger Warning*
For almost 45 years, Patricia Shaddock had been searching for answers. Questions that had haunted her dreams, corroding her daughter's memory and shattering her once beautiful, loving family into a billion sorrowful, resentful shards. Sleep wouldn't come. During the day she cried. At night she would sit by the door, waiting for her daughter to come home. Then one day she found her husband's sleeping pills. He had just had it refilled. She downed the entire bottle. Waking up in the hospital a few days later, she and her husband Douglas had a long talk. Though the loss of their daughter was a wound that would never heal. They made a solemn vow to never give up searching for their little sapphire. Even if it took them their entire lives. For Douglas, he would never see the end of the search, perishing in a vehicle accident eight years later. Patricia almost gave up, then and there. End it, as she tried years ago. But she soldiered on. Not only for her daughter, whom she still held out hope, but for the promise she had made to her partner.
*End Trigger Warning*
Staring into the cold, unfeeling eyes of ONI, Patricia felt the last vestiges of that hope flicker out like a candle reaching the end of its wick. This woman was a snake. Lies flowed from her lips like venom, poisoning anyone who desired to listen, twisting their minds until they believed every half-truth she told. She couldn't wrap her mind around it. A laugh bubbled up, exploding from her lips, the foreign sound echoing around the small room.
Osman frowned at the unexpected reaction. "You think this is amusing?"
"I never expected-" Patricia explained between bouts of laughter. "that ONI would reach so far into the realm of impossibility-" "Just to cover their sorry butts!"
"I am not lying." Osman responded, not mincing her words. "I have no choice in the matter."
The words were like a bucket of cold water, squelching her laughter as she redirected her full attention onto Serin. "Tell me where my daughter is. Now."
"There is no point. She is unreachable at the moment."
"Unreachable? Unreachable? Just what the hell does that mean?" Patricia growled, shaking with anger.
"If you would be quiet, I will explain." That knocked some of the wind out of her sails. The older woman had enough sense to feel embarrassed at her outburst. "Your daughter is alive." She held up a hand, preemptively cutting off the million questions Patricia was about to bombard her with. Mercifully, she held her tongue. "She's headed for Earth. You can meet her there." Osman left out the fact that contact with the Infinity was sporadic at best. One thing at a time.
"M-my daughter is alive?" She stammered in disbelief. There was no way this could be true. After all this time…?
"Yes." And with that one simple word, the dying spark of hope exploded in her chest like a supernova, resonating warmth to every cell in her body. Relief, joy and sorrow coalesced into tears, cascading down her face like a waterfall. After almost half a century of searching she finally had her answer! She's alive, Douglas! Our baby is alive! Osman stood, quietly pushing the chair back trying to give the widow some semblance of privacy. She could only imagine what was going on in Patricia's head. You wanted to make things better. Wanted to correct Halsey's mistakes. But when an opportunity presents itself, you're an ass. A very important ass, yes. But an ass nonetheless. Parangosky is no longer in the picture. YOU are in command. Forgiveness may never be in the cards, but you can certainly give her closure.
"What happened to her?" Patricia asked almost a quarter of an hour later.
"Tell me, what do you know about Spartans?" Osman said, nimbly avoiding the broad question. Outside, the streets of New Noida glimmered under the night sky like moonlight reflecting off a pool of crystal-clear water.
"Not much, to be honest. My husband was always better with military matters and technologies." The unintentional mention of her husband was a knife in the ribs. She lost what little family she had to this search. "But they're some kind of top-tier soldier. What were the words he used? Oh yes, special forces." Serin turned on her heel and returned to her chair.
"Mrs. Shaddock," Serin began, looking directly at Patricia's face. "What I'm about to tell you is highly classified-"
"Yes, yes. I get it. Big, dark, scary hole." She cut in, annoyed by the jab at her intelligence. Osman flashed her a small smirk, which only served to deepen the woman's frown.
"Your daughter was one of a select group of candidates chosen, no, kidnapped, to become Spartans."
Serin paused for a moment to let the widow digest the information. As she opened her mouth to continue, Patricia butted in with a question of her own.
"How many? How many other families did you destroy?" The soft words chilled the room several degrees.
"Less than one hundred."
"Is that supposed to make me feel better? That you destroyed less than one hundred lives!" Patricia demanded, boring into the ONI Director with her frigid blue eyes.
"No. Only explaining the sense of scale. We were trained to become the best. But the augmentations in our teens nearly killed me." Osman looked off into the distance, a shadow of distaste on her lips as if she swallowed something particularly rancid. "I washed out of the program. Your daughter was one of the lucky ones. She survived her procedures and has been operating on the front lines for almost forty-four years."
Patricia just stared at her, mouth slightly open, like the woman had been frozen in time. Osman would have sworn the shock of the news stopped her heart cold if she didn't witness the widow's chest rise and fall with every breath. Serin couldn't imagine what must be going through her head right now, nor what her reaction would be once Patricia fully processed the deluge of information she had just been bombarded with. Would she be furious, lash out at Osman for hiding such a secret from her? Perhaps it would bring her comfort, knowing that her daughter was still alive and well? Perhaps it was neither, but most likely such astonishing news would bring both positive and negative emotions to bear, pounding Serin like a 20st century broadside barrage. Perhaps my own parents would have the same reaction? But to be perfectly honest, Osman had no desire to ever meet her biological parents, if they were even still alive. She was perfectly content leading ONI into the next era. They had become her family.
An hour passed before Patricia spoke. "So…my daughter was taken to become a Spartan? When can I see her? I have so many questions…" Fresh tears dribbled down her face, but she hardly noticed.
"I'm sure you do. But it will be at least several weeks." Serin paused, mulling over several possible options. "We can provide you transport."
"No thanks. I'll rely on commercial travel on account that it hasn't kept secrets from me for the past fifty years."
"You don't trust us?" Patricia scoffed, barely able to hold back an eye roll.
"I trust you as far as I can throw you. And I trust ONI even less."
"Mrs. Shaddock, I have been nothing but truthful to you. Does my word mean nothing?" While the older woman's distaste for the organization she oversaw was both palpable and understandable, Osman herself had been more than helpful. Did Patricia miss the point about how she was also stolen from her family at the age of six? Or did she just not care?
"Less than nothing." The widow responded darkly.
"Patricia, please be realistic."
The swinging shadows from the single light above the table cast the woman's facial expressions in a darkness that Serin couldn't penetrate. "That's quaint, coming from you. In the case you were less than forthcoming during this meeting, I created a list of demands. An insurance policy, so to speak. In light of what I have learned, I want all of them fulfilled."
Osman shook her head, giving the widow a hard look. "I have already answered your questions. You are in no position to demand anything."
"Actually, it is you who has no ground to stand on, ONI Director. The way I understand it, Taurus has you by the balls." Serin felt her frustration beginning to mount. Her fingers twitched, a remnant from her training on Reach. This was Staffan all over again. Only he had a CCS-class battlecruiser to offer. Taurus was the only true card Patricia brought to the table. ONI's ass was in the wind and Serin was not keen on making things worse.
"Fine. What are they?"
"First," Patricia began reading them off without hesitation. "My family will receive reparations for all the pain you inflicted upon us." She said, sliding a small sheet of paper across the table. Serin glanced at it, raising a brow in surprise at the number of zeros it contained. "Most of that will go to restoration and relocation efforts. ONI can finally do something good with all its blood money. Second, if she has a family of her own, husband, children, they will be left alone. Forever. Keep your blood-sucking goons away from my daughter."
"We aren't the boogeyman, Mrs. Shaddock."
"No, you're so much worse." Patricia spat, venom dripping from every syllable. "And stop interrupting. I wasn't finished. Lastly, and by far the most important, if she wants out, you will grant it. I don't care what it takes. It will be her decision to make, and hers alone."
Patricia fell silent, allowing Serin to take it all in. Money was of no concern, never had been for ONI. The various coups and ploys saw to that. The second request was…difficult to swallow. Few Spartans ever retired and those that did tended to end up dead one way or another. Each SPARTAN-II cost as much as a battleship, and had taken years to train. They were on a level of their own. Vitally important assets that needed to be observed and protected. And Serin couldn't do that if said Spartan was outside her influence, on their own. But without the Covenant hammering on their door and fourth-generation Spartans finally coming into their own, losing a single S-II to the wind would be but a drop in the bucket. People would be understandably pissed, but she outranked almost all of them.
"You might not like her answer." Serin said after a while.
"I would be happy knowing she made the choice of her own free will." Patricia said, smiling for the first time since entering the room. Serin watched those blue irises as they swirled with untold thoughts and emotions. Many would never understand the woman's pain, her struggles. Crazy, they would say. Obsessed. And, in a sense they would be right. No one of sane mind would spend half a century searching for their child. But Patricia and her late husband did, showing strength and fortitude very few possessed. At any time, Parangosky could have shut them down or made them disappear. But she didn't. The isolated blip of humanity in the former CINCONI's cold, calculating demeanor was something to ponder at a later date.
"You have a sharp mind. ONI would have been lucky to recruit you in your younger years."
"No, it wouldn't have. You people disgust me." The words sunk deep, tearing and pulling at memories that were better left alone.
"There is one additional piece of information I can offer you, Mrs. Shaddock. The head of the SPARTAN-II program. The person behind the mask, so to speak."
"A scapegoat." Osman flashed her a small smirk.
"Yes, ONI did provide funding and maintain the strictest levels of secrecy, but this woman oversaw the abduction, training and augmentation of every child. Your daughter and myself included." Ire coated Serin's words. Halsey never saw eye-to-eye on anything with her predecessor and Serin naturally picked up the mantle. "Her name is Dr. Catherine Halsey."
The words hit Patricia with the force of a gravity hammer. If she hadn't already been sitting, Serin's words would have surely knocked her off her feet. How could someone do this to children? Take them from their families, pump them full of chemicals and force them to fight?! They had spent decades of their lives searching for their daughter. Hell, Douglas had died desperately chasing leads like a bloodhound. After all these years, Patricia finally had the answers they had been searching for all this time. But this only brought about more questions. This woman, this Dr. Halsey, had so much to answer for. Wading through a torrent of swirling emotions, Patricia brought herself back into the conversation.
"Where is this…person?" Even speaking the woman's name in a generic sense left a rancid aftertaste in the matron's mouth. She never really hated anyone before. Greatly disliked sure, but never truly hated. This woman, this…monster? She could learn to love to hate her.
"Headed for Earth. Same as your daughter." Osman replied simply. Patricia's eyes darkened another shade but she remained silent, processing the information.
Slowly hoisting herself out of the chair, Patricia gripped the table with both hands as if holding herself back from launching herself at the ONI Director. Considering all she had been through, it probably was. "I will see myself out. Good night." With that, she turned on her heel and walked out, emboldened by a renewed sense of purpose. The troopers at the door moved to stop her but Osman waved them off. Let Mrs. Shaddock have her little reunion. ONI had much bigger fish to fry.
December 26, 2561
UNSC Infinity, S-deck
En Route to Earth, Sol System
0300 hours
Kelly stared up at the grey, titanium ceiling, all hope of sleep abandoned. Her eyes, having ample time to adjust to the darkness, flittered across its surface. She searched for any blemishes, inconsistencies in its manufacture. But it held no flaws. It was perfect, just like the four other times she checked. Throwing an arm over her eyes, she let out a frustrated groan. This is pointless. Dr. Cassidy's words kept swirling around in her head like a whirlpool, threatening to drag her into its fathomless depths. Halsey made Amber cry was the gist she gathered from the xenobiologist's colorful description of the events that had transpired after their departure. Anger slowly rolled through her frame, steadily compounding the headache building behind her eyes.
Ignoring the stiff muscles in her back, she sat up, gently easing back the loose covers holding in her body heat. Instantly, the chill bit down on her skin and slowed her movements by a few fractions of a second. Rolling her hips, she set her feet on the floor. A corner of her mouth twitched upward happily. I learned my lesson, she jested, wiggling her sock-covered toes.
"Can't sleep?" Her lover's gentle voice caught her mid-motion, words barely above a whisper. Kelly hummed in affirmation, shaking her head in the dark confines of the room. Warmth enshrouded her hand like a cloak as Sandra wrapped a hand around hers. Tension bled from her taut muscles as she relaxed into the touch. Funny, Kelly never knew how desperately she craved these little moments until they hit, blindsiding her with emotions she still struggled to interpret. "Take all the time you need, baby." Sandra planted a loving kiss on the Sangheili's forehead, eliciting soft coos as she nuzzled closer to her mother. "We'll be right here." The lopsided, sleepy smile washed over her, hiking the veteran's heartbeat a few notches.
Kelly leaned over their daughter and captured her blonde's lips. Unlike so many other things, tasting Sandra's lips would never be something she would tire of. Words tickled the back of her tongue just waiting to be announced to the world. But the veteran was not one for grandiose speeches or gestures. And some experiences didn't need words. And even if they did, Kelly didn't know what they were. Separating with a soft pop, Sandra settled back down into the sheets, pulling Amber closer to her body. Easing off the bunk, she quickly walked to the footlocker nestled at the end of the bed and opened it, pulling out a set of clean fatigues. Slipping into the shirt and shorts, she laced up her shoes before slipping out the door with nary a sound.
As soon as she was alone, all the thoughts swirling in her head descended upon her like a pack of ravenous Jackals, clamoring over one another in their effort to be heard. But with each step those thoughts quieted, leaving only the steady beat of her heart. There was nothing more freeing. The Spartan picked up speed, feeling the air whip through her hair as it swirled unbound behind her. Inhale. Exhale. Long legs carried her seamlessly from one stride to the next, effortlessly gliding across the deck. Inhale. Exhale. The smell of burning metal assaulted her nose as she turned another corner. Several crewmen were hunched over a titanium plate, orange and blue sparks spraying the corridor like paint flung from a paintbrush. They glanced her way as she raced past but quickly returned to welding the shattered bulkhead. Though the ship had been sealed and the engines stabilized, the damage was extensive and would require months of round-the-clock repairs to get her space worthy again. Which raised an important question: What would happen to Blue Team in the meantime? Reassignment? Temporary leave? What about Sandra? She's still classified as a civilian. Breathing hard, Kelly decided a break was in order. Stepping into one of many mess halls that dotted S-deck, she made a beeline for the beverage dispenser.
The hot mixture of flavors slipped down her throat easily, soothing her headache and quelling the more rebellious thoughts rampaging through her skull. Orange and cinnamon tea was one of the few luxuries she allowed herself, having been turned on to it by Brittany the first time she visited them on Earth. Leaning against the counter, she allowed the gentle aroma to fill her nostrils.
"I didn't peg you as a tea connoisseur, Kelly." Dr. Halsey's sudden appearance took the Spartan by surprise, pausing just a fraction of a second longer before taking the next sip. Kelly cringed internally. No doubt the good doctor had already filed away her behavioral faux pas for later dissection.
"Yeah, well there's a lot about me you don't know." She muttered, too low for Halsey to pick up. Throwing a sideways glance over the rim of her cup, Kelly took another sip. Irritation crept underneath her skin as any semblance of quiet contemplation disappeared like a candle dropped into a dense fog. She'd gone for a run hoping to work through her problems, not for them to come find her! She ran a hand through her hair, smoothing several errant locks. Her hair was getting too long. She would need it cut before it exceeded regulations. Returning her hand to the warm mug, she stared into its contents, silently hoping Halsey would grow bored and leave. She needed to face her, to do something…just not now. She wasn't ready.
"You seem…different, Kelly." Halsey observed, drawing the Spartan back into the conversation.
"Nothing's wrong." Kelly said succinctly, hoping to end the conversation there.
"What made you think that I thought something was wrong?" Halsey asked, her brow furrowing in thought. Exactly the opposite of what Kelly wanted. Shit.
"I'm fine." She said icily, glaring at the woman out of the corner of her eye. Halsey joined her at the beverage dispenser, selecting a coffee from the menu and sliding a cup under the spout. With a soft gurgle, a stream of brown liquid began to fill the cup, permeating the room with that all-to-familiar smell.
"You are being particularly aggressive. It isn't like you, Kelly." Halsey said over her shoulder as she stirred artificial sugar into her drink. Yeah, well people who make my daughter cry piss me off. The muscles in Kelly's jaw clenched tightly as she strove to keep her tongue in check. Lashing out at the doctor would only lead to further questioning, a potentially disastrous blunder. Luckily, she didn't have to say anything as the choice was made for her. Both women turned as the door opened, revealing a sleepy Sangheili youngling.
"Momma…wan juice…" Amber asked, rubbing sleep out of her eye, the other cradling the plush Master Chief she took with her everywhere. Shuffling through the door like a drunkard, she made a beeline for Kelly, her robe trailing along the floor behind her.
Quickly wiping the surprise from her face, the veteran bent down and scooped her daughter into her arms. "How did you find me?" She asked gently, pushing the previous conversation from her mind entirely.
"Roland." Though it came out sounding like Roo Land. Kelly couldn't quite repress the small smile that leaked out between her lips. Keeping her back to Halsey, she tapped the screen for her selection, sliding a cup under the nozzle as it began dispensing Amber's requested refreshment. Placing a small straw in the plain white cup, she passed it off into her daughter's eager hands. Halsey watched the entire exchange, a look of utter befuddlement plastered clear across her face. Kelly was a Spartan. She didn't do caring, gentle, or affectionate. Yet, here she was, cradling this young Sangheili to her chest as she placed soft kisses upon her leathery, gray head. Amber cooed under her ministrations, the tip of the straw disappearing into her mandibles.
The scene was so alien and unexpected, yet intensely familiar. Catherine could remember a time, many years ago, holding Miranda in her arms. But that was another time; another life. Her daughter was gone, one of billions of casualties in the war against the Covenant. Kelly was unknowingly twisting a bittersweet dagger in the doctor's heart. But where had all of this nurturing come from? What was the catalyst? Were there accelerating factors? Catherine had the distinct feeling that something fundamental and deeply rooted in Blue Team had shifted, but what? When? How? These were all excellent questions and she could easily point fingers and blame others. But that was not what a scientist did. They gathered facts and built their case upon them. Speculation had no place here. Answers would not be easy to come by, but she had to start somewhere. And her Spartans were just as good a place to begin as any.
"Kelly," No response. She tried again, this time louder, in the remote possibility she was lost in her own world. "Kelly." Still nothing. Frowning, she glared at the back of her head. Halsey knew better than anyone how good a Spartan's hearing is. There was no way the scout hadn't heard her. She was just being blatantly ignored, a tactic which she loathed. It was clear a more roundabout approach was acquired. Wracking her brain for the child's name took longer than she would have liked, but after a moment it clicked. "Hello, Amber. Shouldn't you be sleeping?" Kelly stiffened but didn't turn around.
"I was thirsty and mother was sleeping." The Sangheili answered, voice flowing like clear water. Whatever was in that juice had been enough to shake any tiredness from the young girl.
"That was considerate of you." Catherine pursed her lips, pausing a moment to think. If she was to get any answers from Kelly, she would have to appease the little Sangheili. And the best way to mend that bridge was to apologize, even if the very thought was ridiculous. "I wanted to apologize for what I said to you earlier. That wasn't very nice, was it? I'm sorry."
Amber tilted her head, golden eyes regarding the director with curiosity. "No, you aren't, Miss Meanie." The confidence behind the youngling's words stunned the doctor. Could someone so young see through her ploy? The prospect was both interesting and alarming. She could see Kelly's shoulders rock with silent laughter as Amber took another sip out of her cup.
"Why would I lie to someone as cute as you?"
"You want something from momma. But she won't talk to you because you were a big, mean baddie to me." Taking several big slurps of her juice, she watched Halsey with all the interest that a six-year-old could muster. Momma? Things were falling into place but Catherine wasn't sure she liked whatever picture these puzzle pieces were putting together.
"Your bios have been all over the map recently, but they don't align with the injuries you've sustained. Strangely enough, your hypothalamus has been producing heightened amounts of dopamine and norepinephrine for quite some time." The muscles in Kelly's back clenched uncomfortably as blood flooded her cheeks. She couldn't teach a class on it, but had enough rudimentary knowledge of what happened to the body during sex. Studying the cup in her hands, she spoke over her shoulder hoping that Halsey couldn't hear the quiver in her voice.
"My combat efficiency has not been hindered. Why the sudden interest? If you're worried about mistakes in the field, I'd talk to Fred. He's always had a hard head. Maybe he knocked it one too many times." She offered a small smirk, hoping that Halsey would see it as no more than a joke and move along. Her muscles knotted tighter, squeezing her like a python as Halsey continued to question her.
"I talked to Fred. And Linda. And John. Even pulled Lasky and Commander Palmer aside for a word. What any of them failed to mention was you. Or your newest addition. Whatever the issue is, it clearly lies with the two of you."
It was at that moment Amber leaned over and whispered loud enough for them both to hear: "Are you and mother in trouble?"
"That entirely depends on what Kelly's answer is." She said, drumming her fingers on the bench beside her. The scout sighed deeply, already regretting leaving her bunk. Right now, she would give her left arm to be back under the covers, curled up with her love. Setting Amber down on the stain-streaked counter, Kelly faced the doctor.
"Recently, certain…things have captured my attention." Not exactly a lie. More like omitting the truth and being as vague as possible. Spartans weren't known for their small talk. That was more Sandra's domain. Catherine stood a few feet away, impatiently waiting for something more specific. After several minutes it was clear that Kelly wasn't going to elaborate anytime soon.
"So, the scuttlebutt's true." Catherine muttered, more to herself than anyone else.
"Ma'am?"
"I will instruct Captain Lasky to pull you from the field. Temporarily, of course."
"What?"
"He may be young, but he understands the nuances of morale and unit cohesion." Halsey continued on as if she was the only one in the room. "I am also ordering you to undergo a full armor diagnostic and enhancement analysis, along with a complete psychological examination. To ensure you are, in fact, fit for combat." Deep down, Kelly knew this was coming. Halsey's reaction was perfectly reasonable given the rumors circling around Infinity. How much longer could they keep their relationship a secret anyway? A month? Two? Even with Roland and Aura running interference word would have eventually reached the doctor's ears. That is, if she didn't figure it out on her own first.
"Affirmative." Kelly responded, feeling a wave of frustration wash over her. A major pain in the ass, yes. But it wasn't the end of the world.
"I gave all of you everything you needed to survive. Your training, augmentations and armor…all of it. It was all to allow each and every one of you, my greatest success, to be the best I could make you." The words weighed heavily upon her, years of guilt choking and strangling the words as they left her lips. Kelly rested a hand on Catherine's shoulder briefly before allowing it to rest at her side. The strained smile that followed only served to bolster the scout's immeasurable pride. In truth, she was glad that Halsey had chosen her for the SPARTAN program. Without it, her death at the hands of the Covenant would have been a certainty. Catherine did not merely give her Spartans a second chance; she breathed new life into children, transforming them into the warriors Humanity needed. Kelly and the others were given purpose, forged through comradery, instinct and tenacity. And for over thirty years, she had dedicated herself to the fulfillment of that duty. That is, until Sandra surged into her life like a Category 5 hurricane, uprooting her old life and washing away the hardened stoicism ingrained within. "There are so few of you left. It would be a gross dereliction of duty to allow others to endanger Blue Team's continued success. And so, I've requested that Spartan Wolfe be immediately transferred from the Infinity the moment we return to Earth."
Terror crept through her veins like ice as it slowly froze the veteran from the inside out. This was her worst nightmare come to life. Being separated from Sandra once was…extremely difficult. Without her boisterous angels beside her, every day was monotonous, like being pulled through molasses. She hated it, but there was nothing she could do. But now…now she had a say. Mother figure or not, Halsey would not keep the scout from her family. "No." Halsey took a half step backwards, surprised by the sudden outburst.
"Kelly, I know your emotions-"
"This has nothing to do with my emotional stability and you know it." Kelly accused, taking several steps towards Catherine. "You've read Blue Team's after-action reports, watched helmet recordings and analyzed our suit's readouts. We're operating more efficiently than we ever have. I for one, gladly trust my life, and the lives of my team, in her hands. And I'm sure John and the others share my opinion. Your belief that Sandra could somehow taintBlue Team because she isn't one of your Spartans is quite selfish and conceited. For someone who lives their life based upon fact, you are quite the hypocrite. And that, Dr. Halsey, is far more disappointing than anything you could ever do." Catherine's lips were pulled taunt, her eyes flickering with the spark of deep thought. Surprisingly, Kelly couldn't bring herself to care. I don't think I've said that much in…years. Amber yawned quietly, reminding her how little sleep she'd accrued during the last few weeks. The call of the bed was much louder now and the promise of warm sheets was like honey to a bee. Turning on her heel, Kelly walked over to the counter and picked Amber up, mandibles dripping drool as the young saurian fought to stay awake.
"Was it worth it?" Halsey asked as she hit the door release.
"Absolutely." Kelly said, not bothering to turn around. She'd said her piece. The ball was in Catherine's court now. "Our actions have consequences, Doctor. I just hope you can live with yours." With that, she stepped through the threshold and allowed the door to close with a soft hiss.
UNSC Infinity, S-deck
En Route to Earth, Sol System
0450 hours
Catherine had spent the last hour pouring over combat data, searching for any discrepancies, irregularities. But Kelly's words kept rolling over in her head. "I just hope you can live with yours." But the video feeds were no more than a distraction, offering little comfort for her weighted conscience. As a scientist, her world was driven by facts and data. The logical choice in this situation was obvious, but was it the right one? She was still no closer to finding an answer. It was maddening! She took several sips of coffee from the mug on the table, the holoscreens throwing faint blue light into her office. I've been away too long, she mused, the wrinkles on her face made all the more prominent by the deep frown it supported. But she wasn't alone in this. There was someone she could talk to, one who shared her logical outlook on life, who's been around her Spartans and could explain the situation. Swiping several screens aside, Halsey dialed the Infinity's resident xenobiologist. Her call was rejected after several rings, further souring her mood. Unwelcome, but not unexpected, considering their history.
"Dr. Halsey, Spartan zero-five-eight is on route to see you." Roland said, pulling her eyes away from the screens for a moment.
"Send her in."
"Of course." Not ten seconds later the door slid open, allowing Blue Team's resident sniper to enter.
"Ma'am, I wish to discuss my implants. I believe they are damaged." Halsey dismissed the screens, throwing much of the room into shadow. After talking with Kelly, Linda's statement was worrying. But she had nothing to fear. According to her most recent suit vitals, all her implants and augmentations were operating well with allowable parameters. In fact, the only thing of note was Kelly's defective hormonal suppressant, which explained her erratic behavior.
"Your vitals are green, Linda. But we can discuss the issue at length if you believe they are malfunctioning. Though I did want your opinion on something first." The redhead was at parade rest, feet shoulder-width apart, arms tucked into the small of her back. The perfect solder. It was both pleasing and revolting to hear. Sometimes the best things in life are bittersweet. But if anyone were to give her a straight answer on Kelly and Blue Team's newest addition, it would be her.
"That would do just fine."
"Very well. What is your opinion on Spartan Wolfe?" In the dim light, Linda's eyes glinted as she mused over the inquiry. Like a predator sizing up potential prey.
"Personal or professional?"
In for a penny... "Both." Halsey answered.
Linda shifted her weight from foot to foot, the corded muscles of her arms twisting underneath her skin as the redhead fidgeted with her hands, a very un-Linda-like thing to do. "Spartan Wolfe is the most irritating, flippant and confusing person I have ever come across. She views many regulations as mere suggestions, willfully disregarding any even remotely associated with fraternization. She allows her daughter to freely roam the ship, unsupervised at times, threatening grievous bodily harm should anything befall the young Sangheili. Her temperament often comes as a liability and a hindrance when discussing and acting upon issues that affect her personally.
"Then you would second a recommendation of a transfer for Spartan Wolfe?"
"Negative." Catherine raised a surprised brow. Clearly, there was more to the sniper's explanation.
"Care to explain your reasoning, Linda?"
"Gladly." Linda said. Halsey could have sworn she detected a hint of bravado in the sniper's voice, but Linda didn't do cocky. None of her Spartans did. Afterall, a cocky Spartan was an overconfident one. And an overconfident Spartan was as good as dead. "Though she has a tentative relationship with regulations, it never interferes with the mission, nor does it lead to insubordination. She has a deep sense of duty, rooted in her upbringing. Being of mixed heritage lends her a unique skillset, including linguistic skills and proficiency with Covenant weaponry. Especially energy swords." Catherine caught a twitch of a smile before her face returned to stone. "Her moral compass is strong and she had passed that down to her offspring. While Amber is…undisciplined, she respects and abides by authority. Not to mention she has made a friend of almost everyone on this vessel. While I loathe to admit it, the social skills of myself, John and the others are severely lacking. Sandra has encountered no such setbacks, and as such, can easily communicate, interpret and harmonize with local military and civilian populations, providing Blue Team with a wealth of additional tactical and intelligence gathering opportunities. Furthermore…Spartan Wolfe, despite her lone wolf tendencies, has fully and completely acclimated herself with Blue Team. As such, we have adjusted our SOPs and engagements to account for her. Removing her now would irreparably damage team dynamic and mission success."
Wow. "That is…very high praise, Linda."
"Permission to speak freely, ma'am?" Halsey nodded dumbly, still blown away from the shining review from arguably the most serious member of Blue Team.
Gone was the neutral façade. In its place was a small, genuine smile. Rarely seen, she'd almost forgotten that her Spartans could smile. "Sandra is a major pain in the ass, but her iron will, sense of honor and combat capabilities rival that of an S-II. There is no one else I'd rather have watching my six."
Linda's words shook her completely. Spartan Wolfe, Sandra, wasn't the cheap imitation threatening her Spartans' survivability as she had originally thought. Rising from the chair, she waved the blue screens into existence once more. A complete reassessment was in order. Halsey retrieved a tablet from a nearby drawer, screen half boiled away by plasma. This did not slow progress, fingers tapping furiously away on the device. "Linda, may we postpone our discussion? Something important has come to my attention."
"Another time. then." Linda exited the office as quietly as she'd come, her bulk illuminated in the doorway for but a moment. A heavy silence followed her absence, smothering the stray embers of joy at seeing her Spartans alive and well. But there was work to be done. Armor schematics swam around her as she dove deep into the HELIOSKRILL's systems, peeling back the layers like an onion. Blue Team is only as strong as its weakest link. If only this technology was available ten years ago. She could have saved so many of her Spartans…saved so many more. Pulling a chip from her pocket she inserted it into the tablet. The drive seemed to hum with energy, she activated the command rewrite program.
TITANIUM ICARUS
PASSWORD REQUIRED
PASSWORD…ACCEPTED
ACTIVATE SEQUENCE? [Y/N]
YES
ACTIVATING…
Years of out of the box thinking, black market contacts and extensive reanalysis of SPARTAN bioenhancements all culminated into something she was quite proud of. Titanium Icarus, a complete firmware rewrite that boosts muscle response time, energy shield regeneration and a slew of various other modifications. The program was designed to piggyback upon existing UNSC firmware and subsystems to further enhance the survivability and effectiveness of the wearer. MJOLNIR [GEN2] armor was a damn fine improvement over the earlier, bulkier designs. Leave it to the UNSC to streamline the design and manufacture of Powered Assault Armor, impersonalizing a life-changing moment. My project would keep all your cheapened, assembly line SPARTANS alive if HIGHCOM could simply pull their head out of their collective asses. The next time Spartan Wolfe donned her armor, the woman would almost be on par with her SPARTAN-IIs. Like a demigod of old, a true force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, the program took almost a full four weeks to work its magic. The soft glow of the screens winked out with a flick of her wrist, allowing the shadows to swallow the rest of the room. The unpleasant whine of the damaged engines oscillated unevenly with every breath, much like a wounded heart would continue to beat long past the body's ability to process pain. But how long would it be until the Infinity's heart gave out? A week? A month? Regardless, it would be a long time until the flagship could sail unassisted. But their enemies will not wait for them to lick their wounds. Blue Team must be there to defend Humanity and its allies. All five of them. She sifted through a stack of tablets on her desk, her thoughts back on Linda. Pulling one at random, she quickly flicked through it, nodding in satisfaction at the contents.
The hallways were busier than normal, broken conversations and the din of machinery piercing the bubble of silence of her office. Engineers crowded around several shattered bulkheads, welding them into place as a shower of sparks drenched a passing Spartan patrol. Beyond exchanging polite greetings with several servicemembers, Halsey kept her head down, swiftly making her way down to E-deck. Even with Cortana and Aura, the Infinity may need an extra pair of eyes keeping her together. And who better than me?
Come Back Next Time!
Thank you for joining me on this chapter. Lots of dialogue, I know, but we're done with combat until the final part of the trilogy starts up. As to when the last chapter drops…tentatively, around Xmas 2020. But no promises (we all know how well I hold up to those). I hope you enjoyed it and I can't wait to see you at the conclusion of RW:CL! Don't forget to favorite, follow and review!
