"Inko!"

Inko turned and smiled. "David!"

The two doctors laughed and hugged each other.

"I didn't think you'd get here until Thursday?" Inko spoke as they pulled away from their hug.

David smiled. "Decided to come a little early; Melissa was so excited she asked if we could come early."

Inko saw movement behind David's leg. She smiled as long blond tresses tried their best to hide behind the legs of the older man.

David chuckled. "She's a little shy."

Inko smiled. "Izuku is the same. Melissa?"

Melissa poked her head out from behind her father's legs and stared awkwardly at Inko. "Y-Yes, ma'am?"

Inko laughed and bent down to her level. "What good manners you have! Your father is teaching you well!"

Melissa beamed at Inko. "He's the best papa in the whole universe!"

Inko laughed again. "Would you like to meet someone?"

Melissa's face morphed into a look of fear as she gripped onto her father's pants.

"Izuku!"

The sounds of pattering feet sounded down the hallway as a small green-haired child appeared.

"Yes, mommy?"

Inko smiled and motioned him over to her.

"This is Melissa."

Izuku stared at the blonde-haired girl and blushed. "H-H-Hi."

"Hi!" Melissa chirped.

"I-I-I'm I-Izuku."

Melissa giggled. "I know! Your mommy told me!"

"Do you two want to go play for a little bit?" David asked.

"Yes!" Melissa shouted as she jumped up and down excitedly while Izuku blushed furiously.

"Go on then. Mr. Shield and I need to talk some grown-up stuff." Inko stated.

"C'mon!" Melissa exclaimed as she grabbed Izuku's hand. "Let's go!"

She then pulled him along as she went to explore, Izuku's shocked and blushing expression never leaving his face as he found himself being pulled along.

David laughed. "That girl is a handful; your little one has no idea what he is in for."

Inko smiled. "I'm just happy that he has someone his age to play with, even for a little bit."

Inko and David approached the nearby table and sat down.

"How is he doing?" David asked, his face becoming serious.

Inko closed her eyes and tried to keep her hands from shaking.

"H-He is remarkable. I-I-It's like all the simulations predicted, no, even better. It worked."

Tears spilled from Inko's cheeks as her hands began to shake. David was by her side immediately and pulled her into a hug.

"Why?! Why did it have to be him?! Why did it have to be my baby?!" Inko wailed into David's shoulder.

David felt his heart clench as his friend wept, rubbing his hand up and down her back in soothing motions to calm her.

They stayed like this for a bit until Inko's tears stopped flowing.

"They want to put him in the program… Want to make him a Spartan…"

David pulled back and watched her fear-stricken face.

"I can't handle the thought! My baby being taken away put into a training program! He's only five! And they want him to be a soldier! My sweet and innocent Izuku, a mass killing machine!"

"Inko… what if I told you there was an alternative?"

Inko snapped her head to stare at David.

"What?" She whispered.

David looked at her with confidence. "What if I told you there was a way to have Izuku trained, and not by the military? Completely separate from the UNSC and ONI?"

Inko stared at him, not believing what she was hearing.

"How?"

David smiled, "An old friend, would you like to meet him?"

Inko was hesitant, but her curiosity got the better of her, and she nodded. David pulled out a communications device and activated it.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Inko's eyes widened as a massive figure entered the room.

"It can't be…"

"GREETINGS MS. MIDORIYA. I AM ALL MIGHT, AND I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT YOUR SON."

"ATTACK!"

With a mighty cry, the forces of the Infinity stormed Installation 03. Bullets and lasers soared through the air as the battle began.

While the main force engaged the enemy from the front, Ochaco and the Master Chief went around to flank them.

The Covenant forces found themselves outgunned as both Ochaco and the Master Chief greeted them from behind. Ochaco threw a flashbang at the Covenant, blinding them while the Chief got to work.

He took out the grunts first, a headshot for each of them before punching through a nearby Jackals shield and throwing him at another Jackal. He dodged a slash from an Elite's energy sword before grabbing said hand and breaking it with a swift karate chop. The wailing Elite was unable to counterattack as the Master Chief snapped its neck.

Ochaco engaged several grunts, dispatching them before dodging several blasts from a group of Jackals. She detached a drone from her armor and had it pepper the Jackals with covering fire before she rushed them. She pulled out a knife and slit the closest one's throat before using it as a shield from stray fire. She stuck her rifle through its body and took out several Jackals before throwing the dead body at the final one. She grabbed it and slammed it headfirst onto the ground.

The Master Chief inspected the area before lowering his rifle. "Clear."

"Clear," Ochaco replied.

Ochaco turned to the closest computer console and plugged her gauntlet into it.

"Woah."

"What is it?" The Master Chief asked.

Ochaco pressed a few buttons on the console, and an image of the relatively large Composer appeared.

"It's a lot bigger than I thought it would be." She whispered.

"What about the Didact's forces?"

Ochaco pressed a few more keys, and images from all over the station appeared.

"No sign of any Prometheans, a few hunters, but it looks like mostly the typical Covenant forces."

"Any brutes?"

Ochaco shook her head.

"Only the two of us are capable of handling Hunters and Elites; the others can handle the grunts and Jackals."

Ochaco nodded and turned to her soldiers.

"HERE ARE YOUR ORDERS! THE MASTER CHIEF AND I WILL BE HEADING DIRECTLY TO THE COMPOSER! THE REST OF YOU WILL BREAK UP INTO THREE DIVISIONS! HEAD TO SECTION B, C, AND D! KEEP ME UPDATED WITH ANY CHANGES! GO!"

Ochaco turned back to the Master Chief while the squads broke up and headed for their destinations.

"Are you ready, sir?"

The Master Chief nodded, and the two took off.

Despite the stakes at play, Ochaco could not help but have a giddy smile on her face as she and the Master Chief were running and gunning down the corridors. After clearing a hallway of Covenant troops, they entered the turbo lift.

"So, um. Sir?"

"Yes?"

Ochaco felt butterflies in her stomach. "I-I-I just wanted to say thank you. F-For all you did."

The Master Chief went rigid as his hand scratched the back of his neck. "Oh. I-It's no problem. Really, it's what any soldier would have done. Many good soldiers fought at the same time as me; I'm not that special."

"It is, though!" Ochaco exclaimed. "You were responsible for the biggest victories in the war! You single-handedly destroyed two Halo rings! Saved the galaxy more than five times! You are a legend, sir!"

The Master Chief turned his head away and continued to rub the back of his head. "T-Thank you."

Ocacho was happy to have her helmet on so that the Master Chief could not see her jaw drop.

Is he blushing?!

Melissa suddenly materialized before them, her eyes twinkling and a wide smile. "If you two are done flirting, we are approaching the next level. "

Ochaco blushed under her armor, and the Master Chief went rigid.

"Be ready. Enemy forces are waiting for you."

Master Chief readied his rifle and Ochaco her battle rifle.

"Ready?"

Ochaco nodded. "Yes, sir."

They exited the turbo lift and were met with fire from several Jackals. The Master Chief pulled out a flash grenade and threw it at the Jackals. He then pulled his modified Gravity Hammer and smashed it into a large piece of rubble. The rubble was sent flying into the group of Jackals, killing them instantly.

Ochaco sprung into action, engaging an Elite who was still dazed. She broke his shield with several shots from her rifle and slammed its head against the nearby wall before stabbing it with her wrist blade.

The sound of an energy sword activating caught her attention. She turned and was grabbed by a snarling Elite. She narrowly moved her head out of the way before stabbing her blade into its neck. The Elite dropped her and its energy sword as it howled while she kicked it off of her. She grabbed its energy sword and decapitated it before throwing the blade at a nearby Jackal, impaling it against the wall.

"LOOK OUT!"

The Master Chief tackled Ochaco out of the way of a massive beast before it could turn her to paste.

Ochaco looked up, her eyes widening at the sight of their new foe.

"A Hunter!"

The Hunter roared and readied its weapon to fire. The Master Chief grabbed onto Ochaco's shoulders and rolled them out of the way of the blast and behind a pillar.

The Master Chief pulled out his Gravity Hammer and rushed the Hunter. The Hunter roared and charged at the Master Chief, who sidestepped the attack and slammed his Gravity Hammer into the beast's back. The Hunter went limp as it was sent flying into a nearby wall, its body unmoving after it landed.

Ochaco groaned as the Master Chief approached, his hand extended.

"Are you okay?"

Ochaco took hold of his hand and pulled herself up. "Yes, thanks to you."

The Master Chief turned his head away and changed the subject. "How far are we from the control center?"

Ochaco checked her gauntlet. "We're close."

"Then let's hurry."

The two Spartans ran towards the control center; surprisingly, no enemies to stop them.

"Sir, somethings wrong. Shouldn't there be more resistance here?"

"You're right."

They approached the main door to the control room. Ochaco pressed the button to open it.

"Why is the enemy not...here…"

Ochaco's eyes widened, and her heart dropped as she gaped at the sight before her.

"No…"

The control room was a massacre. Blood and dead bodies were strewn all over the room, and standing in the center of the room was a massive black metallic covered monstrosity holding a lone human. The figure turned to them and gave a sinister laugh.

"Ahh, so you found me. I expect nothing less of you, number nine." The figure spoke, its voice synthesized and metallic.

Ochaco was frozen as the massive figure tilted its head. "And what's this?! You brought a friend this time! How exciting!"

Ochaco's heart began to beat faster than she thought possible as she realized what was before her.

"T-T-THE DIDACT?!"

The figure laughed. "Oh, I haven't gone by that name in some time; it feels so good to hear it."

The monstrous being threw its captive against the wall and gave an exaggerated bow. "Oh, how far you have gone to erase my identity from history."

The Master Chief kept his rifle aimed straight at the now laughing villain.

"You are just like your predecessor, always so close, yet always so far."

The Master Chief kept his firearm trained on his foe. "Surrender."

The metal monster chuckled. "And where is the fun in that?"

Ochaco and the Master Chief were then seized by an invisible force and lifted into the air. Ocahco tried desperately to move, only to find her efforts in vain.

"Such creatures. Always willing to struggle, even when you know, you will fail. Foolish, yet entertaining."

Ochaco watched as the Master Chief was pulled closer to the villain. "And you, the Chief amongst the failures. How does it feel, knowing that even after all you have suffered, you will still lose?"

Ochaco and the Master Chief were then thrown against the wall of the room with a powerful throw. The Didact turned back to the control panel and activated several keys.

"LOCKS DISABLED." The voice of the computer stated.

The Didact chuckled. "Finally."

Before the two Spartans could retaliate, the Didact disappeared with a flash of light with the Composer.

The two stood, and Ochaco pressed her communications device. "Captain! The Didact has stolen the Composer!"

The entire installation shook briefly as vibrations moved throughout it.

The Master Chief looked at Ochaco. "GET EVERYONE OFF THE STATION!"

Before they could react, a massive yellow light bathed over the station.

Ochaco felt her body scream briefly before the pain stopped. She collapsed next to the Master Chief and passed out.

"Good morning, everyone."

Ochaco's head whipped around as her instructor walked in. The room was silent as they waited for him to speak.

"I am Shouta Aizawa, and I will be your instructor for the next three years of your time at U.A."

The man scanned over his class and examined them, his gaze powerful and piercing.

"Before I start with our first task, are there any questions?"

"ME! ME!"

Aizawa sighed and looked over his notes.

"Yes, Kirishima."

The red-haired boy grinned. "Is it true that you fought with the Master Chief?!"

Most of the class gasped, Ochaco included, as they turned to their instructor.

Aizawa sighed. "Yes, I did fight alongside the Master Chief."

"What was it like?!" Kirishima exclaimed.

Aizawa held his hand up. "We can save that for later; right now, I am more interested in you all. So, starting with the first row, why are you here?"

Each student went around and gave their reasons. Some were here because of duty, others because of excitement, one to pick up chicks, and another to be the best."

"I'M GOING TO BECOME THE GREATEST SPARTAN OF ALL TIME!" The explosive boy yelled. "I'LL BE EVEN GREATER AND MORE FAMOUS THAN MASTER CHIEF HIMSELF!"

Except for Kirishima, the rest of the room merely rolled their eyes.

"Moving on. Last one, Uraraka Ochaco."

Ochaco squeaked as all eyes were on her. She bit her lip before she spoke.

"I-I-I want to be a Spartan because of… my hero."

She breathed and continued. "My parents and I were at the final battle for earth, the day before the war ended. They were in the city on business; I was only a baby when the Nomu spores were dropped. They had to watch as people all around them were changed into monsters. When they were about to be killed, the Master Chief saved them. The only reason I am here is because of the Master Chief. Because he answered the call to arms and gave his life to protect others."

A bright smile grew on her face. "I want to do that for others! To be someone who will give their all to help someone they will never know, to be the one who makes a difference! To be a hero!"

A few of her classmates cheered as she sat down while she attempted to hide her blush.

"Good. Now we can begin."

"co?"

Ochaco groaned as her body thrummed.

"O….co?!"

She felt her helmet get removed as a foreign object touched her face. A bright light flashed over her face; she winced as the voice grew louder.

"Ochaco?! Ochaco, are you alright?!"

Ochaco opened her eyes and was met with the concerned face of her captain.

"Captain?"

Aizawa sighed in relief as several medics examined her.

"What happened?" Ochaco winced as the doctors examined her.

Aizawa grimaced. "The Didact used the Composer on the station."

Ochaco's eyes widened. "Is everyone okay?!"

Aizawa closed his eyes and took deep breaths. Ochaco was lost until she saw several piles of dust.

"Oh god…"

Realization hit her as she turned to her Captain.

"If that's what the Composer does, why am I okay?"

"I don't know; the Master Chief didn't give me an answer."

Ochaco's eyes widened. "He's alive?!"

Aizawa turned to her. "Yes."

Ochaco stood to her feet. "Where is he?!"

Ochaco felt pain shoot through her leg as she stumbled, Aizawa catching her.

"Take it easy. We're doing all we can."

Ochaco sat on the medical table. "The Didact is heading to earth, the Master Chief following close behind."

Ochaco winced as she looked up. "We have to help him!"

"We are already en route. You need to let the doctors help you."

Ochaco sighed and laid back down.

"Can he stop him?" She asked the retreating form of her captain.

Aizawa stopped and turned to her. "Let's hope so."

They arrived at earth later, the Composer already in use as the Didact's ship fired on earth.

"ALL HANDS TO BATTLE STATIONS! ALL HANDS TO BATTLE STATIONS!"

Ochaco grabbed her helmet and ran to the bridge. "Sir!"

"I thought I told you to rest!" Aizawa barked.

"We don't have time for that, sir!"

Aizawa grunted. "Coordinate the cannons! We need to create an opening for Chief to get inside!"

Ochaco ran towards the forward guns and examined the Didact's ship. "Concentrate fire on the external shield generators!"

The guns fired on their targets for several minutes before the shield generators stuttered.

"Fire all torpedoes!"

Dozens of torpedoes shot from the Infinity and hit the generators. There was a massive explosion, and when the smoke cleared, the shield generators were seen destroyed and a massive gash in its place.

"Captain!" A soldier yelled. " The Master Chief made it in!"

Ochaco grinned as some of her fears were lifted at the words.

"Good. Helmsman, pull the ship away from the Didact's."

"SIR?!" Ochaco asked, her voice filled with shock.

"The Master Chief is going to destroy the Didact's ship with a nuclear payload. You will take transport and grab him once he has completed his mission."

Ochaco nodded and ran to the hanger bay.

A massive explosion shook the Infinity, knocking almost everyone to the ground. For several tense filled minutes, Ochaco quickened her pace before she felt her heart drop. She stumbled as she felt a burning weight on her chest as foreign emotions flooded her.

Pain.

Regret.

Anguish.

Loss.

Loneliness.

The most crushing part about these emotions was that she already knew they were not hers.

She took deep breaths when her communications device went off.

"He's out there!" Aizawa yelled.

Ochaco wasted no time before boarding a ship and blasting out of the hanger. She flew for several moments, desperately searching for the Master Chief before finding him drifting in space.

She stopped her ship directly above him. She attached a cable to her and exited her ship. She floated and grabbed the Master Chief and pulled him into the ship, the door closing behind her.

"I have him."

"Good. Bring them home."

As much as she didn't want to leave him, Ochaco went and piloted the ship back to the Infinity. Medics were already waiting for them in the hanger. Ochaco carried the Master Chief out of the ship and placed him on a gurney.

"Will he be okay?" Ochaco asked quietly.

"He should be. His armor's life support systems are functioning, and his body seems to be in order." A doctor replied as they took him to the sickbay.

Ochaco breathed a sigh of relief.

Aizawa's voice chimed in on her communicator. "Commander, report to the bridge."

"Yes, sir."

Ochaco took one last look at the Master Chief before making her way to the bridge.

What she didn't notice, what no one saw, was a small item the Master Chief was gripping in his hands, like his life depended on it.

"You did good commander," Aizawa said as Ochaco entered the bridge.

Ochaco removed her helmet and gave him a small smile. "We lost a lot of men today."

Aizawa sighed. "Yes. Yes, we did."

Ochaco looked at her captain, trying desperately not to cry. "I...I worked with some of them for months...and now they are gone."

Aizawa placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know."

Ochaco stared at him. "How do you do it?" She asked as tears leaked from her eyes. "How do you keep going?"

"I think about what we fought for, what my men died for. I think about how each of those men gave their lives because they believed in what we were doing, and they were willing to give their lives for it. I try to remember the beauty of this universe, try to visualize all the children who will get to grow up because of their sacrifice."

Aizawa smiled softly. "I think about my wife and my children, and how much I am blessed to have my family. Never take it for granted, Ochaco. Never."

Ochaco smiled as she wiped away her tears. "Yes, sir."

"Captain! Commander! We have intercepted a communication!"

Ochaco and Aizawa turned to the console as the video played.

"Is that… The Master Chief?"

Ochaco and Aizawa watched as another figure appeared on the screen.

Ochaco's eyes widened. "Melissa…"

"Melissa?"

The Master Chief was perplexed as he looked around this unknown space. The last thing he remembered was detonating the explosion.

"Hi, Deku."

The Chief turned around and stared as Melissa walked towards him, tears streaming down her face.

"Melissa?"

"You did it, just like you always do." She said with a smile.

"How do we get out of here?"

"We don't."

Chief stared at her. "What?"

More tears streamed down her face. "Most of me is gone; the rest stayed here, to save you."

Chief's hands twitched as he refused to believe this. "No. We… We go together. We can find a way. Maybe the Composer survived. Maybe we can still use it- "

Melissa's arms wrapped around him and pulled him into a hug while she gave him a small laugh.

"You always did like to mutter up a storm."

Chief stared at her. "It was my job to take care of you."

"We were supposed to take care of each other." She corrected. "And we did."

"There...There has to be a way. I-I-I can't leave you here….Please…"

Melissa kissed his helmet and placed an item in his hand. "Say hi to papa for me, and auntie inko, tell them I love them."

"NO! PLEASE!"

Melissa smiled as her body began to break apart. "Goodbye, Izuku, love you always."

"NO!"

Melissa's body then broke apart, shattering into billions of bits of data, lost to the sea's of the universe.

The Chief stared there unmoving before falling to his knees.

"Don't...Don't leave me…"

Ochaco was speechless as the video faded away.

She turned to Aizawa, his face filled with pain.

"Captain Aizawa!"

Aizawa and Ochaco turned to the approaching officer. "What is it?" Aizawa barked.

"Sir! The Master Chief is awake, sir!"

Aizawa tensed. "I want him confined to the med bay."

"Sorry, sir, but he has already left the med bay."

Aizawa cursed. "Where is he?"

"No idea, sir, but the ship's doctor wanted me to give this to you."

Aizawa took the report from the officer and scanned over it. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply before setting the report down.

"We need to find him," Aizawa said as he looked at Ochaco. "Keep it quiet, but let me know when you find him."

Ochaco nodded, and Aizawa left the bridge. Ochaco was about to leave when she noticed the report.

She was going to leave it; it was none of her business after all.

I need you to take care of him.

Melissa's voice echoed in her mind as she slowly took the report.

Based on what we have gathered, the Master Chief is in excellent physical health. His mental state is far different. Extended cryosleep usage has never been witnessed on a subject that survived, thus limiting our knowledge on the matter. Based on my years of medical practice and from the tests I ran on him, I believe that the Master Chief suffers from PTSD and is possibly suicidal. Extreme caution should be used when handling him.

Ochaco's eyes widened, and her heart stopped after she finished reading the report.

Those emotions from earlier...they were his. How?

Ochaco felt a heaviness on her chest. She looked down and felt a warm sensation.

Melissa's locket!

She opened the chest compartment of her armor and pulled out the locket, and found it glowing. She turned with the locket towards the door, and it grew brighter. Curious, she walked towards the door, and the locket grew brighter.

Her eyes narrowed, and she ran from the bridge, her mission begun.

The Master Chief stared at the earth, his gaze never wavering.

Say hi to papa for me, and auntie inko, tell them I love them.

His left hand twitched while his right-hand grips onto the item Melissa gave him.

Goodbye, Izuku; love you always.

He breathed heavily as her final words played in his mind on a repeat. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't hear a figure approach.

"Mind if I join you?"

Chief turned to see Ochaco standing in the opening, a small smile adorning her face.

"Of course, not commander."

She stood by him, and the two watched the sun rising over earth for a while. The majestic sight never becoming dull to Ochaco.

"I...I saw the video. Of you and Melissa."

Chief stayed still as he ran his fingers over the item in his hand.

"I...I can't imagine what you are going through. I...I am so sorry."

"Our duty as soldiers is to protect humanity. Whatever the cost."

Ochaco turned to the Master Chief, her eyes full of worry. "You say that like soldiers and humanity are two different things. We're not machines, were… were people."

The Master Chief turned to her and stared at her for several moments before turning back to stare at earth.

Ochaco watched him for several moments before she turned to leave. "I'll let you have the deck, sir."

As she was walking, she felt the locket pulse in her hands. As she looked at it, an overpowering urge flooded through her, one that overrode every impulse that told her not to. She stopped and turned to the Master Chief.

"Sir?"

The Master Chief turned and watched her approach.

"Yes?"

Ochaco pulled him into a hug.

The Chief was stunned, Ochaco not too much better as she hugged the Master Chief.

This was a bad idea!

She then pulled away. "Thank you for everything you do."

She stepped back. "I am here if you need anything, sir. Anything."

Ochaco turned and exited the area, stealthily leaving two drones in the room to keep watch over the Chief.

After she left, Chief turned back to earth. He raised his hand and touched his chest, where Ochaco had pressed her head as she hugged him.

"She said that to me once. About being a machine."

"In this hour of victory, we taste only defeat…I ask, why?"

The Chief walked slowly down the hallway, his hands twitching as he found it harder to move forward.

"We are Forerunners, guardians of all that exists. The roots of the galaxy have grown deep under our careful tending, where there is life the wisdom of our countless generations has saturated the soil. Our strength is a luminous sun, towards which all intelligence blossoms, and the impervious shelter beneath which it has prospered…"

Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared in awe and disbelief as the Master Chief walked by. He paid no attention to any of them until a familiar brunette came into his line of sight.

"I stand before you, accused of the sin of ensuring Forerunner ascendancy — of attempting to save us from this fate where we are forced to…recede."

She stared at him, her eyes wide with curiosity and concern like she wanted to say something. He kept his eyes on her and gave a small nod, and continued his trek, unaware of her eyes remaining glued to him.

"Humanity stands as the greatest threat in the galaxy, refusing to eradicate them is a fools gambit. We squander eons in the darkness, while they seize our triumphs for their own! The Mantle of Responsibility for all things belongs to Forerunners alone…"

He walked onwards until he came to a place he knew all too well. He motioned for the technicians to leave and closed the shutters once they had.

He entered the contraption and felt for the first time in years as his armor began to peel off.

"Think of my acts as you will, but do not doubt the reality… the Reclamation has already begun,.."

Pieces of titanium crashed to the floor until only his helmet remained. As the last piece of armor was removed, messy green hair and a face that had seen too much for one lifetime greeted the air.

"And we are hopeless to stop it."

Thank you all for reading this! This conclude the first chapter of the story! New developments next time, familar faces and new ones as the Master Chiefs return sends ripples through out the galaxy.

Please leave a comment and have a wonderful day!