CHAPTER 16

FUTURE OF EXILES DIVISION

Utter silence came through. Room sounds weren't there for him. Josh was still in shock about the moment. Standing much like a frozen moment of ice.

Eyes went staring into her very own. At the very center of the room. Was her body in mid air hovering. Battered from her lower half. Burns were too severe.

Majority of the major organs were ruined. Her body was dying from something else apart from the injury. Doc couldn't figure it out at all.

A choice was made to correct. The choice was something beyond what normal would have been. He couldn't do much more of what he was doing there.

Ahead of him. Holograms showed. A face. DNA numbers all around. Forming the rest of her. Hailey was becoming into the next A.I. , Josh didn't understand.

Ares stood behind him reaching to grab ahold of him. Reaching out little to her with a sudden shaking hand.

Hailey's eyes blinked and began to scramble in static as her configuration wasn't complete. Nurses rushed. Pushing Josh and Ares out.

Josh pushed and struggled to fight back. Hailey could see the reaction. Hailey turned to look behind seeing her dying body. Her reaction.

Was heavy but strong.

Hours had passed since the incident. Dansuke was now gone. Understanding that fact. Others came to mind when knowing that his life.

Everything he knew was wrong. Over the time through his mind he continued to wonder. What if he had done different. Could her life still have been saved.

Knowing this. It changed nothing at all. Staring at his hands. He wore no SPARTAN armor. Instead in military clothing. Josh had not said a word at all.

Into his room, door slid open allowing Ares to enter. Confined to his quarters for the remaining time. He felt nothing but anger at himself. Ares looked down to him.

"Tell me the truth Ares...Please" said Josh silently. Ares looked away from him. Moment between them went silent for a bit having this. The info was most important.

"She's alive from her mind they did what they could. The blade had struck way too deep. Her body couldn't be saved". Ares went silent after that knowing it well.

Josh understood it now without having a fighting moment with anyone having a cool. Stood up straight and looked to Ares. "I was wrong" said Josh.

Ares was face to face with him now. Surprised about this. Josh hand his right hand out to Ares.

Shaking his hand firmly. Ares was stunned by this.

"Ares. I hope you consider me an ally for a lifetime" said Josh

"I'm sorry for what happened before but I am honored by this from you" said Ares

Heading out of his room. Josh went back passing by others who repaired and re-armed the massive base of the DIVISION. Entering into the elevator.

His back to the wall. Looking down at his shoes. He thought about it very well enough to understand his next mission. Josh was knowing this now. Avoiding it.

Always running away from it never made it any better. He understood now that this was something he had to take control and confront.

Josh ended up back into the medical bay. Arriving to check on Hailey to see if she was able to speak to him in a better way. Entering one of the nurses headed to him.

Patting his shoulder and looking with a sight of relief. She headed out for a break. Josh walked in as others headed out. Giving him time alone with Hailey.

Three medical beds on the left hand side with Marines and ODST soldiers at rest. Moving to the right hand side. Cryo stasis pod. Hailey's body was there.

Lying being prepped for final touches to her A.I. system. Josh kneeled down. Touching the glass. His eyes closed. To the side of her. Miniature A.I. was sitting there.

Knees up head down with her arms covering her face. She had been almost crying if she could. Josh stared to her. Seeing her in her color of white and black.

"I'm sorry" he said without hesitation. Hailey looked up to him from her point of view. "..Your hurt...Josh..why-". Small grin came up as he looked away from her.

"Hailey...I blame myself for all this..I should have-". "Don't you dare. I came along with you apart from what promise we made..I made a promise" said Hailey.

"This was my choice and I have to live with it" said Hailey

"Wish there was another way" she continued

He liked her strong attitude as if it never broke at all. Hailey stood up and looked to the side seeing her body. "Everything is changed now" said Hailey.

Josh only wanted to give her comfort and happiness at this point. "Hailey..I'm sorry. You mean everything to me. I never wanted this to happen to you" he said.

Glancing towards him she made a small smile and felt a blush as if she could. She looked away from him then back to him. Josh stood up and reached out to her.

As Hailey touched his hand even if it phased through his own. She sighed. "You mean a lot to me as well" she said back to him. " What did you end up finding out".

"I've been avoiding my destiny and I need your help with it " said Josh. Hailey gave him a slight confused look. "I can't help you in combat if that's what your asking".

"I'll let you know when your ready" said Josh

Hailey looked to him wondering what that was supposed to mean all about. But a rising feeling of either bad or good was coming.

Ares was waiting on the main deck. Overlooking throughout the galaxy mappings and various scattered stations in different star systems they had covered. Allowed.

UNSC had given them directive to use and establish what they needed in various parts of the galaxies they had visited before. This was freedom in the way needed.

Ares could hear the sounds of the coming soldiers to there stations. Looking back away from the mapping. Josh had walked in fully geared up and armored.

He could see the much of old Havel inside Josh's new found strength and will. "What's the mission" asked Ares. Josh Voltera SPARTAN IV touched the map.

"Celestial System, were going in" said Josh

Ares stared at him without worry about what he had just explained.

"All units command at the ready, bring up mappings and coordinates all eyes and ears now" said Ares