Chapter 7 – Mission Ready and Deployment from Eton's Point of View
Eton's Point of View
The female AI, Cortana, woke me up with stating that it was time. I sat up from the Spartan sized bed with pale blue bedding and moved to the edge of the bed. Placing my feet on the ground and pushing myself forward to allow my body to not rock back so much when I get up. I observed the light gray walls with the desk beside the foot of the bed having a soft illuminating light from the clock. I walked to the adjoining bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. I see the scars and tattoos that I have obtained from my life. It is a face of a seasoned warrior and in my species something that the females call good looking. There is only one female for me and that is the female Titan with brown hair and enchanting brown eyes. The bond that I feel in my chest begs me to go to her and complete the ritual. I would love to be able to complete the ritual, only if she acknowledges me but after talking with the Arbiter about it. It all makes since now. They are not used to feeling anything besides neutral and getting fierce during battle. I recall the conversation that the Arbiter and I had.
"Arbiter, I would like to talk with you privately." I called out to him when we have returned to the hallway that is conjoined to your separate rooms. The Arbiter nodded his head and held the door open for me to follow him into the room that was provided. I looked around and saw that the walls were a light red color with black furniture and red bedding. I took the chair beside his desk and sat down.
"What is the question that you have?" Thel asked as he sat down on his bed slowly. He let his legs rest in front of him as he got comfortable on the bed.
"I know you are aware that I found my soulmate today. After so many years also." I stated and he nodded his head. "I would like to know why she does not acknowledge me or the bond that we have." I was frustrated from the turn. I know from the many Sangheili that have talked about finding their soulmate. How they have a bursting in their chest as the other says the words written somewhere on their body. Then a pulling, yearning, and burning feeling to be close to the other and to complete the ritual. The ritual consisted of, from what I have heard, amazing and mind-blowing intercourse with the feeling in your chest settling down. The feeling, as some say, becomes a comfortable warmth with small spikes of the other mate's feelings seeping through. I want to feel all that at some point not just the pulling burning feeling I must be close to her.
Thel made a noise in his throat as an acknowledgement to what he knows. "I know what you are feeling all too well. It took the Demon, John, a while to understand what he was feeling." Thel settled even further into the bed. "John told me that they were never informed of what a soul mark and soulmate was. It seems the general population of the humans do." Thel turned to look at me and gave a slight smile. "They, John and Valkyrie, have been through a medical procedure that changed their way of life. That is how I understand it. John described it as his body being torn apart and his soul splitting into many pieces before setting itself back into place again and becoming whole." I was started to hear that was what happened. What pain she must have gone through to be even this confused.
"That is awful. What they had to go through." I said as I shifted my body in the chair to a much comfier position. Thel nodded his head in agreement to what I said. "So, she doesn't even know what she is feeling." I saw Thel nod his head with a sigh.
"Yes, give her time to understand what it is that feeling is." Thel rubbed his wrist over the wording that his mate says. "She will come around with and understanding. If not, she will confront you about it and demand an explanation. But you must be careful of how you go about it." I nodded my head as I listened to Thel talk. "If you do not, you will lose her and be yearning for the rest of your life." I was startled to hear this. I must take is moment by moment with her. Every second that I have with her will always be a blessing.
Shaking my head from the thoughts I completed my morning routine. I walked into the room again and towards the desk that holds my armor that I took of yesterday. I observed how the green and white melded together perfectly as if they were one. The armor held slight scratches and welding marks from being in battle and being repaired. I placed my armor on with precision and placed my weapons about my body as they were designed to go. I walked towards the door, thinking of what the may be served today in the galley. I walked out of the room and down the almost deserted hallways towards the galley with a need for nourishment.
After obtaining the food and eating it. I headed towards the armory. It took me a couple of tries to get there but once I entered the room. The bright illumination from the lights gave a harsh glare to everything that could reflect it. The walls were a light beige which were iconic due to most of the ship being many shades of gray. There was a total of six open enclaves to around the room. Each enclave had a set of disassembled armor and weapons with each. The first to my left when I walked in was black. The next was red, then blue, then gray, then the master chief's green suit, and finally an ugly yellow colored suit finished on my right. The center of the room had a raised platform with what looked like computers spaced around it evenly for testing. I walked over to the other three Sangheili. I greeted each as we watched the Master Chief get into his armor. It was a different sensation. While for the Sangheili, we just place it on ourselves. The enhanced humans must have machines help them put it on. It looked like a lot of work and headache would come about from being turned this way and that to but even the smallest piece onto the body and mold it. The only the thing that the Master Chief would not allow the machine to put on was his helmet. He wanted to continue talking to Thel without an issue, it seems.
The doors opened to reveal my soulmate, Valkyrie. She was fitted in a skintight black suit with fingerless gloves. The suit had these odd blue lines weaving through out to make a unique pattern that accented her curves. I felt myself stop breathing for a bit at the sight of her. The lower parts of my armor were getting a bit tight and I tried to distract myself as much as I could, but I could not stop thinking about her. She walked over to her enclave that held the black armor. She stepped into the odd unit in the middle, typed in a pin, and the machine came to life. I could not keep my eyes from her. The machine placed her armor about her delicately yet securely, even making sure there were no restrictions to be had with movement. Truthfully, I would love to be her armor right now. I watched her be fitted for her helmet then move over to her weapons. I was shocked to see how large the weapons were for such a small person, but she was able to move around evenly. She turned and walked over to our group after she completed placing, her weapons about.
"Are you ready to head to the ship?" Master Chief asked. Thel gave the three of us a look and we rechecked our armor and weapons. After giving Thel the go ahead, he nodded to his mate. "Then lets head to the ship."
We followed the Master Chief to the aircraft that will be taking us. I could not stop looking at the woman in the black armor. It sat snuggly again her and looked so divine. I did not pay attention to much besides that. We reached the aircraft and I saw the rest of my brethren there waiting for us.
"Load up." The man in the green armor said. Everyone walked in besides the female. I noticed that she waited. I took a spot closest to the ramp after I noticed that was where she stood. She seemed very rigid before we even left the station. There was a countdown then a swift motion that had many of us stumble as we moved forward swiftly. The humans and Sangheili, besides the two in the full-bodied suits, grumbled about the turbulence that was happening; myself included. I observed that the small craft had several seats along the walls that the human men sat down in and got as comfortable as they can. I was startled out of my thinking by the voice of the pilot contacting the woman in black about a dropping. I knew it was going to happen and yet I was still fearful of watching her leave so soon. I saw the ramp start to lower and saw the way the sun's orange light illuminated her armor in a soft glow. It made her look almost angelical if that was even possible. She walked towards the end of the ramp.
"Go." Was the command that the female in black was waiting for. She launched herself off the back of the ramp. My hearts went into my throat and I almost followed her down. I was so scared. I could not see her anymore either and I desperately needed to. I must get a hold of my emotions before setting foot on the ground. I leaned my head back against the side of the craft and breathed slowly. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Thel giving me a knowing look. I closed my eyes after that and started to settle my heart and get ready for the mission.