Chapter 2 Keyes

Luna Officer Candidate School: April 15, 2535

Commander Jacob Keyes was having a good day.

For most people having a good day isn't something to be suspicious about. They may not happen as often as they like, but that doesn't mean they don't happen at all. Some people would say it would be stranger to never have one. So really, most people don't worry about good days at all, they would just enjoy them while they last.

Commander Jacob Keyes was not most people.

He is a career military soldier, he is an instructor to some of the greatest military minds the UNSC may ever know. He was a consultant and accomplice to one of the most morally bankrupt military programs in history. But more importantly, vitally so, he was father to two, young, precocious twins.

So that's when it finally clicked, what was different about today? What had they done that left him in such a good mood? They had managed to wake up on time, dressed themselves, brushed their teeth, and had everything prepared for the day, for the first time in over four years.

But was that so odd? Sure, kids can be tough to manage, but he's been an authority figure to men and women much harder to control than Nathan and Miranda. Is it really that strange that his children have finally managed to do the things they need to on their own?

'Yes.' Keyes thought to himself. 'Yes, it is.'

Keyes brought his hand to his forehead, pinched the bridge of his nose, and sighed. "Crap." He muttered. Wishing, surprisingly not for the first time, that he was someone else, anyone else in the universe.

Because, at least in his experience. There're no such thing as good days.

...

"Do you think he bought it?" I asked Miranda in a low voice. As much as I might complain, I've always been more of a follower than a leader. Miranda though, it's like it's her destiny. She always had a plan, or a strategy, so when she set her mind to something, she usually got it done. Whereas I just kind of came along for the ride.

"Maybe at first." She replied, in an equally low voice. We do not want to get caught right now. For anyone out there, who you know, hasn't tried to hack into your dad's ONI computer. I advise you to be as quiet as possible. "But he's not an idiot, he'll know something's up."

Typical dad, a strategist at heart. Then again so's Miranda, so I reckon we've got a fifty-fifty chance we pull this off. Or you know, forty-sixty, dad does have experience. "Maybe you should hurry up then." Playing lookout is pretty stressful, especially when you're 'looking out' for a potentially furious father.

"Relax, he doesn't even know what we're doing, we should have plenty of time." Good argument, considering I don't even know.

"What are we doing again?" I know it has something to do with ONI, obviously, but when Miranda wants me to do something, she generally doesn't give me the cliff notes on the situation. I think she's worried I'd back out if I don't like what I hear. Told you she was smart.

"Do you remember Alpha company?" She asked. Is she serious?

"The giant, heavily armed and armored, super trained, super soldiers? Yeah, they kind of leave an impression." I responded deadpanned.

"Aside from that, how much do you know about them?" Umm, good question.

"Well... not much." I admitted, a bit chagrined. Sure, I did try to ask one or two about their company. Like how they were trained, where they got their equipment, and why they were eight feet tall. But they were pretty hush hush about the whole thing.

"Neither do I. Neither does anyone at the academy besides dad, and unless he's told you something that he hasn't told me, then this is the only thing that's going to get us answers." I hate it when she's right.

"Unless dad catches us first." I whispered back to her, spotting dad rushing down the hall.

But not as much as I hate when she's wrong.

"Sign out. Now." I hissed, rushing to the door to try and stall dad.

'Casually' walking out the door, I stop dad in his tracks. "Hey dad," I greeted, "where's the fire?" That's how you got to play these things, make it seem like they're the suspicious one.

"Nathan," He spoke sternly, "I see that you're not in class."

"Today's a half day." I answered his unspoken question. "Some teacher conference thing, I didn't really pay attention."

Not untrue, today is a half day, and I didn't ask why. Miranda probably knows, but she hasn't told me. Come to think of it, there's a lot my family doesn't tell me. I should probably look into that... Nah.

"I see." He looks less angry now, but still a bit skeptical. "So why are you at my office, and not your room?" Okay, we got him hooked, just gotta reel it home.

"Miranda wanted to surprise you." He should buy that, Miranda is such a daddy's girl. "I wanted to go home, but I also didn't want to get yelled at, so I'm just kind of rolling with it."

"Where is your sister?" Well, I've bought all the time, good luck Miranda. I swear if you get caught and pin it on me, I'm gonna put mustard in your sheets.

"She's still in there, I just had to use the bathroom." I answered, "Why did you need her for something?"

Before he could answer. the door pops wide open, and out comes Miranda, rushing dad with her deadliest weapon, a hug. "Hi daddy!" She practically shouts in excitement. "How are you?" She asks, while dad's back is facing me, I give her a questioning look, and she gives me a thumbs up from behind him.

"I'm fine, just-", He cuts himself off with a sigh, "No, everything is fine, good, even. Come on you two, let's go home.

So, hand in hand, we walked off towards the sunset. Or you know, something like that.

...

"Well that was a waste of time." Have I mentioned how seriously disappointed I am that I wasted my half day on one of Miranda's hair brained, illegal schemes? No? Well then, I'm pretty bummed.

"I wouldn't say that." She replied with a smirk.

"I would, in fact, I think I did." I deadpanned. We lost plain and simple. Heck did we ever really have a shot? We're just two kids, this is freaking ONI! I know we're pretty awesome, but come on, that's like Robin trying to fight Superman. Kind of cute, but completely ineffective. That does beg the question though...

"Why? What are you so smug about?" I questioned, feeling a tab bit suspicious at this point.

"Not much, just this." She answered, pulling out... holy crap.

"I-...Holy crap" In her hands is a drive... a drive containing classified information from the Office of Naval Intelligence... This is going to end either very well, or very, very bad.

"I know," She said, "I'm awesome." Never thought I'd say this but...

"Yeah," I replied with a shaky breath. "You're awesome."

"Sooo..." She started, scooting a little closer to me. "Want to see what's on it?"

Well there's only one thing I have to say to that. "Thought you'd never ask."

...

We spent hours going over everything we could on that drive, starting with Alpha company, and we still haven't even scratched the service.

I'm not actually going to repeat any of what I learned, mostly because I just can't remember it all. It was a long time ago, and there was a lot to process. But even still, Miranda and I, we uncovered the secrets of ONI, and lived. That was a feat all on its own.

But more importantly, we found out about Alpha company, these SPARTAN III's. We knew where they came from, we knew what they went through, and we knew it wasn't the end. Not by a long shot.

It wasn't approved yet, it was unfunded, unmanned, and no less immoral than its predecessor, but it was still spoken of. This would not be the last time I've learnt this lesson, but it was the first.

When there's an Alpha...

There's a Beta.

This is Lieutenant Nathan J. Halsey, of the UNSC, signing off.

Journal Entry; 002