Chapter 2: A New Adventure
Planet Iris, Chorus System, 2555
POV: Michael J. Caboose
Premise: A new adventure begins for the Reds and Blues as they go to meet an old friend.
The sun swept over the cliffs of Iris as a new day had begun. Its brightness radiated off the lake causing it to almost seemingly glow. A lone soldier, clad in blue armor sat on the cliff with his draped over the side. However, he wasn't looking at the rising sun, instead he was admiring a pendant that he had. The pendant is that of a silver rose, which was connected to a chain that was around his neck.
The soldier kept admiring the pendant until a voice pulled him back into reality.
"Hey Caboose." the voice said, the soldier now identified as Caboose, turned around and saw a soldier like him. Except his armor was an aqua color, and had a different helmet.
"Hey Tucker." Caboose replied, "Is everything ready?"
"Yeah." Tucker answered, "Just waiting for you."
Caboose got up and walked towards him, "Then let's get going."
He put the pendant away and went off with Tucker. The two then walked back to the base near the lake.
"So what were you doing?" Tucker asked him
Caboose shrugged, "Just enjoying the sun I guess."
"Really?" Tucker questioned, "Cause I couldn't help but notice the pendant around your neck."
Caboose stopped walking and spoke, "I just really miss them."
Tucker rolled his eyes behind his helmet, "Look I miss them too, but I don't think they're coming back. It's been a whole year for us, who knows how long it's been for them."
"Last time it was two years though." Caboose countered
"That does matter now." Tucker retorted, "Maybe it's time we move on. Besides, Weiss probably destroyed their teleporter when she got the chance."
"Well, you're not wrong on that theory." Caboose replied
The two continued walking back to their base. Without saying another word.
POV Change: Dexter Grif
Grif was inside the Reds and Blues' Pelican, talking on the phone with his sister Kakainia, and his mom.
"So how's the new apartment?" Grif asked them, "Is it better than the trailer park?"
"It's awesome bro!" Kai replied, "Four bedrooms! Two bathrooms with fancy toilets! A break room! It has everything!"
"How did you afford it sweetie?" Mrs. Grif asked him
"I might have used some of my pension I got while working with the UNSC." Grif explained, "Simmons helped as well."
"Well I should send you guys something in return." she replied, causing them to laugh.
Grif then spoke in a more serious tone, "Hey I just wanna say that I'm sorry that I left you guys." he said, "I needed structure in my life."
"You don't need to apologize." she replied, "I've been a weight on you and your sister's lives. Look where you are now, living the dream, a hero. Your father would be proud...though he probably say some bullshit since he'd be drunk from whiskey."
"Well you're not wrong there." Grif quipped, causing them to laugh, "I gotta go. We have a business trip."
"Alright see you bro!" Kai replied, "I'll be joining you guys tomorrow."
Grif then ended the call, and left the cockpit. He joined his own team just as Tucker and Caboose returned.
"Was that Kai?" Simmons asked
"Her and mom." Grif replied, "By the way, she says thank you for the apartment."
Simmons nodded at him.
While this was happening, Carolina was putting a needle into Wash's neck, and ejected a medicine into it.
"How's it feeling today?" she asked him
"Better than before." Wash replied dryly, "Sucks though that I have to have constant medications everyday."
"That medication was the best Simmons and I could create." Doc spoke up, "Besides, there is no treatment for Cerebral Hypoxia."
"I like to pay a visit to the doctors." O'Malley added, "Make sure they pay for not discovering a treatment."
Sarge then spoke up, "Is everyone ready?"
"Yeah."
"Sure."
"Whatever."
"Let's go."
"[About time.]"
"Alright, let's move." Sarge said, as everyone started to board the Pelican. Grif and Sarge took their seats in the cockpit. With Grif as the pilot, and Sarge as the co-pilot. Everyone else sat in the back troop section.
Grif then then got the radio and started to speak in the funny tone, "Ladies, gentlemen, robots, and Donut. This is your captain speaking. I hope you all enjoy our flight from Iris to Chorus today. Please note that this is a thirty minute flight, so no refreshments will be available. If you do get hungry, we have a communal jar of peanut butter that you can stick your fingers in. Please have a safe flight."
"Hmph, some flight attendant." Simmons joked
"Heh, wait till you see the new ride we got." Sarge replied, "I heard its top of the model."
Rif fired up the engines and the Pelican took off, leaving Iris' atmosphere, and now was in the cold vacuum of space.
"Attention all passengers." said Grif, "Prep for slipspace jump."
A portal appeared in front of the Pelican, and the ship was sucked inside.
After a half an hour, the Pelican exited slipspace, and found itself in orbit of Chorus. Grif flew towards the planet, passing its orbital defense system, and now was in the lower atmosphere."
A voice then came over the comms, "This is Chorus control tower, please identify yourself."
Sarge then answered, "This Colonel Sarge, me and my team are here to speak with Kimball."
"Understood." the voice replied, "You know where to land."
Sarge then got off the comms and looked down at Grif, "Take us in dirtbag."
Grif replied by flying in the direction of New Armonia, the capital of Chorus. The city was almost immediately after the war on Chorus ended. This was done by assistance from the UNSC, but funds were cut during the incident involving the Blues and Reds.
The Pelican flew over the city, past Donald Doyle General Hospital, and towards the Chorus Parliament building. A landing pad was on top which was occupied by Vanessa Kimball, and the Lieutenants, and even Dr. Grey.
Grif landed the Pelican and dropped its loading ramp, allowing everyone to step out.
"Hey Kimball." Tucker said to her, "How's the boring world of politics?"
"Busy as ever." she replied, "It's good to see you all again."
"Same here." Wash spoke up
"Ah, Agent Washington!" Dr. Grey shouted, "How's the neck doing!"
"It hurts AF." Wash replied, "The memory flashes are getting a little more frequent than usual."
"What about that medicine, Simmons and Doc made for you?" she questioned
"It works." Wash replied, "But it seems weaker anytime I use it."
"I see." Grey muttered, "Well you should be happy to hear that I have been working round-the-clock in finding a suitable cure for that Cerebral Hypoxia of yours."
"I hope you find it soon." Carolina said to her
"Ahem." Kimball spoke up, "Shall we take this conversation inside?"
"Agreed." Sarge replied, "This meeting is gonna be a little tense."
Everyone started to walk inside, as this was happening. Smith started talking to Caboose.
"Captain Caboose, I am so glad that you are here." he said to him
"Aw thanks." Caboose replied, "We haven't been travelling because of that whole paradox thing last month, sorry about that."
"That's ok." Smith replied, "I see you still got that pendant of yours."
Caboose realized that he kept the pendant outside of his armor, and quickly put it back.
"Uh yeah." Caboose replied, "It's like a good luck charm."
"Well, I hope you get to see that girlfriend of yours." Smith said to him, "She sounds very nice."
"Yeah…"
POV Change: Kimball's office
Everyone was now sitting in Kimball's office, conversing about the specific topic the Reds and Blues came here for.
"I trust you all a lot." Kimball said to them, "You have fought for us, and died for us. But in all honesty, I am having trouble trusting you all right now."
"We will keep an eye on him." Wash replied, "He'll be right under our thumb."
"Do you have an idea what he has done to this planet?" Kimball retorted, "What he has done to me, and my people."
"We know." Grif replied, "We were there."
"Look, we understand your concern Kimball." Carolina said to her old friend, "But we owe him for saving us. He even delivered Wash to Chorus. Saved us from the Blues and Reds. Just give him a chance."
"Even though he's a bastard." Sarge added
Kimball sighed, "Alright. We will put him on parole. He will be in your care, and your supervision. If he proves himself worthy, then I will accept him as one of your own."
"Alright." Wash replied, "Can we go see him?"
"Right this way."
POV Change: Chorus Federal Prison
A police guard escorted Kimball, Tucker, Sarge, Wash, and Carolina through the prison. Passing by numerous prisoners in their cells. They were soon in an interrogation room that was white with a black floor, with a metal table and chairs.
"Wait here." the officer said, "I'll be back with the prisoner."
A few minutes went by until the officer came back with the prisoner. Who was clad in dark gun metal grey armor with white and green accents. His helmet was off as well, revealing his face. He had light medium brown skin, brown eyes, and semi-long black hair.
"Mr. Ortez." the guard said to him, "You have guests."
Kimball then spoke up, "Hello Locus."
"Ma'am." Locus replied, he then noticed Wash
"Agent Washington." he said, "It appears you are doing fine. How's the neck."
"It's a pain but we're getting there." Wash replied, "How's life on the inside?"
"Boring as ever." Locus shrugged, "But I get why I am in here."
"Not anymore." Kimball said to him, "Locus, you are being paroled under my authorization. The Reds and Blues will be your supervisors for now until your parole is complete. Which is only a week or so."
"Are there any restrictions?" Locus asked
"Uh…" Kimball muttered, she then looked at the Reds and Blues, "Do you have any restrictions?"
"Right." Wash muttered, "Locus will be given a position on Red Team, and must be with another member of the Reds and Blues if necessary. Other than that, nothing else."
Kimball nodded, "Alright then, he's all yours." she then turned to the officer, "Go get all of Locus' belongings, ship included."
"Yes ma'am." he replied and left.
Later…
The officer got all of Locus' belongings, which included his helmet, a pistol, shotgun, sniper rifle, and the key from the temple on Chorus. The Lieutenants were busy trying to get Locus' ship, The A'rynasea, out of storage for him to use.
The group was now making their way back to their own ship, when they were stopped by a voice from one of the numerous prison cells.
"Hey look who it is, the fuck-tard UNSC loyalist!" the voice cursed at them. The turned around to see none other than Mark Temple and the remaining Blues and Reds standing in their cell.
"Temple." Tucker said dryly, "How's prison bitch?"
"Oh I'll be out soon." Temple replied
"So these are the Blues and Reds?" Locus questioned
"You never met them?" Wash asked him
"No." Locus replied, "The officers refused to put us in the time schedules."
"Isn't that the man who near;y wiped out all of Chorus' population?" Temple questioned, "You must have huge balls to trust that guy."
"We trust him like one of our own." Sarge replied, "And he could pop you all down with a finger twitch."
"Hhehe, I like to see him try." Temple muttered darkly
"Alright enough." Kimbal spoke up, "Don't listen to him guys, let's keep moving."
Everyone made their way towards the exit as Temple shouted: "I'll see you all in hell!"
"Sure!" Sarge shouted back, "When you get there! Tell Surge we said hi! He was the only good soldier out of all of you bastards! Loco too!"
POV Change: Landing Platform
"Oh hey Locus!" Caboose shouted, as the group returned, "How was prison?"
"Fine, I guess." he replied dryly
"Missed you partner!" Grfi jokingly said to the former merc, causing him to groan slightly.
"Um, so is this situation where we welcome Locus but secretly have our fingers on the triggers of our rifles?" Simmons asked
"No." Carolina replied, "We have him on parole. Once it's complete, he can leave if he chooses."
"I may not leave by the way." Locus added his two cents,
"Eh, I'm fine with." Grif replied
"[Finally we get a green soldier.]" Lopez spoke up
"Alright, everyone on the ship." Wash said "Let's go home."
Every one boarded the Pelican, with the exception of Locus and Grif, who boarded the A'rynasea.
Both ships took off, and departed Chorus for Iris...