Chapter 8

September 15, 2554

03:11 Hours, Earth time

Havoc Prison Space Station

ODST Spec Ops Unit, November Six, aka Nova Team

Status: Currently engaged in hostel terrain

Location: Havoc Prison Space Station, just outside of Pluto Orbit

Rapacity

[Play Halo 2 Unforgotten on You Tube]

"Damn." Holden sighed deeply, "Just... Damn.", he searched for the words to described the horrific scene before him but found none that could do the setting justice.

"This... All of this."Chambers started before her voice retreated into herself.

Lt. Miles was quiet, unsure if what he was seeing was a fantasy of the most sadistic man who'd ever lived or some sort of sick joke. He looked to Radd who was providing security just outside of the room then back to the scene before them to ensure that his eyes were not playing tricks on him.

Before them covered in dirt and fresh bruises were women and children dressed in rags and seemingly ancient footwear, bound together by shackles and chains. The troopers could see the uncertainty and fear in the eyes of the young children, they winced as the fresh red light entered the room, dim though it may have been. They were numerous, there were at least fifty. They were young, the oldest of them could not have been more than twelve years of age. And, they were frighten, the smaller ones slowly backed away, huddling together for security, while those who were older moved forward ready to protect the others as necessary. Behind them were an assortment of adult women dressed in either orange prison uniforms or hospital gowns that were worn and tattered . Each either showing the signs of pregnancy or gently cradling a newborn babe in their arms. One woman deeply embraced the children that were nearest her crying something in a language the troopers could not understand. Another lay defenseless on a nearby bunk possibly moments away from giving birth, an expression of something beyond sadness craved into her face as she weep.

One of the boys stepped forward: he had dark black hair, intense brown eyes, and a single bandage under his left eye; he wailed, "No More! You can't take away anymore of us... not again!" he's eyes locked in on Corporal Holden as he spoke. The intensity of the child's eyes was enough to make even Holden step back in baffled. Holden's gaze made its way to the lieutenant, who nodded before moving to confront the boy. As the Lieutenant moved the boy spoke, however this time the boy's voice was not a roar but a whimper, all traces of strength ceased as the boy began to beg, "Please!... Please. Haven't you taken enough of us?"

An older woman who looked old enough to be the child's grandmother stepped between the lieutenant and the boy. She too was dress in tattered clothing colored gray. She spoke, in a disjointed and broken English making it painfully obvious that English was not her language of choice. Her sentences were broken and she paused when speaking often, "Forgive Cody. She pointed to the boy, "Child." The lieutenant gently brushed her aside as he continued for the boy.

With the last of his fire the boys voice exploded from his chest, tears ever-present on his face, "Okay assholes if you're gonna take somebody than take me!" the lieutenant reached for the boy, causing him to close his eyes tightly as he prepared himself to be struck. After a moment he started to open his eyes, surprised and yet relieved by the lack of pain. Instead The boy felt a warm hand resting gently on his head. When the boy he looked up he saw the face of a man with caring eyes, the lieutenant had removed his helmet.

The lieutenant then knelt down, grabbing the shackle on the boy's left wrist as he moved. Lt. Miles sighed, "So... You're name's Cody" reaching into his pouch the lieutenant pulled out one of his two single-blade energy sabers, he spoke calmly, "Well Cody... try not to move too much, I'd hate it if I accidentally cut off anything other this these shackles," Cody closed his eyes expecting the worst.

Waching!

The blade spring forth, with a sound similar to what one might believe to be a bolt of lightning accompanying its beauty. The metal shackles hit the floor with a loud thud. Slowly Cody began to open his eyes. The children circled the troopers in awe as the various colors of the blade danced there eternal dance, each color more beautiful than the one before it and yet somehow each feeling hopelessly incomplete without the others. The darkness of the room made the display all the more stunning. The boy could feel something within his chest, a feeling that felt so very foreign to the cold steel of the walls and the harsh punishments that took place within them. A feeling that was both joyful and somber. The feeling was warmth. That was when the boy did something rather unexpected, Cody began to laugh. Although the sound from his mouth was one of happiness, his eyes told a tale of sadness and woe, as if he had never been done such a kindness before.

"You... you're not one of Dexen's men are you?" the lady laying on the buck asked the troopers as the lieutenant continued to remove the bindings of the children, he simply shook his head. The lady smiled as a single tear began to flow down her cheek. "Thank heavens."

Chambers was next to remove her helmet, her short hair sticking to her forehead, she started, "We're here to help, ONI sent us to..."

Lt. Miles quickly hushed her not wanting to associate himself with the Office of Naval Intelligence anymore than necessary. He continued, "I'm Lieutenant Trent Miles of the USNC. We're the troopers of November Six, Nova team. We're gonna do our best get you folks outta here safely, okay." As the last shackle hit the floor the lieutenant motioned for Chambers to provide medical attention to anyone in need of it.

"Easier said than done Commander." Chambers forced a chuckled looking through her pack of medical supplies, "I only brought enough supplies for one other person not an entire sick bay."

"Just do what you can." Lt. Miles replied with a look in his eye that could only be describe as human. He looks the older woman in her tired, dim eyes and says calmly, "Whats going on here?"

She breaks his gaze, looking down to the floor at an angle, a look of shame emerges. "It..." she mutters trying to get the words out. Cody grabs the woman's hand a mink smile still present on his face. The woman seemed to take strength from the boy as a smile slowly but surely found itself upon her face. "That man, Saran Dexen. Evil! Very very bad man." The trooper gather around as she began to speak, all except for Warrant Officer Radd who continued to provide security. "I got here twenty years ago to serve a five year sentence."

"An extra fifteen years?" Holden laughed, "Damn lady you must be a real fighter. The craziest guy in here only got half that." A serious look from Lt. Miles made him shut his mouth all to quickly.

She shook her head, "I do nothing. Dexen he looks for us, he hunts us like we prey." The troopers still not completely understanding, look at each other before returning their attention to the woman before them, "The women in here, all the same. No family, few friends, no one that cares. That's why when we go missing, no questions, no one to help." she paused losing her voice to her cries before she continued, "Some was framed. Sent here. He said. Reduce sentence, if we... if we!"

Lt. Miles placed his hand on her upper back as if saying that you've said enough. However, the lady grabs his other hand ever so softly and shared a kind smile with him as the look of determination returned to her eyes, he could feel that this was something she needed to say. She continued, "We had to make child, a child that was not ours to keep. He'd take, and we had to be okay with that."

"What did he do with the children?" , Chamber's finally spoke.

She shrugged her shoulders, "Don't know. Heard so many things. Rumors. All bad. Trading, scientist, covenant. All bad! For Money, always for money." her voice appeared but only as a whisper as if it were being drowned by the weigh of her sorrow. "Five. I had children. Five... All gone. Everyone here, they my family." She points to the troopers and then to everyone else a single word lives her lips, "Protect." The lieutenant shares a weak smile with the lady and nods showing that to be his intention all along.

Lt. Miles secured his helmet and made his way just outside of the room to Warrant Officer Radd's position, Chambers and Holden soon followed, "Human trafficking." he finally said.

"Human trafficking? More like damned slavery!" Chambers exclaimed angrily as she slammed her fist into the wall beside her, "All that time, all those sacrifices trying to stop the covenant! All those years trying to make sure that there was a home to come back to..." Chamber's eyes fell to the ground the righteous anger and confusion in them was apparent to all, "And for what? So some rich son of a bitch can treat innocent women and children like money making cattle."

"This is some elaborate joke them folks have set up in there." Holden laughed, trying to convince himself and the other, "I mean we're... humanity is better than that right?" his eyes went across to room searching for some sign of conformation that things were not as they appeared, there were none. "Fuck." he finally said walking off. "With all the crap that's been happening today, this definitely takes the cake."

"Today. You wanna know what's gonna happen today!" Chambers shouted, "I'm gonna found Dexen and when I get my hands on him..!"

"Negative. You're still recovering from being shot remember." the lieutenant interrupted her, "Besides, right now you're the only one who knows anything that can help those people. They need you here. See what you can dig up on Dexen and his operation while you're at it."

"But Commander!" Chamber started clenching her fist.

"That's an order Staff Sergeant!" Lt. Miles voice began to elevate. "Right now You're more useful here, the rest of us can't do anything for them." Chambers knew there was truth in his words, but the thought of Dexen being taken down by anyone other than herself was agonizing. She said nothing, she simply took a few steps down the hall turning her back to him. Cursing the entire time as she did. "Get ready to move, the rest of us are going after Dexen."

"You got a screw loose Forge, I mean with all do respect sir, if you hadn't noticed I'm kinda not exactly equipped for this kinda of operation." Holden explained revealing a pistol in one hand and his trusty skin penetration device in the other.

"What's the matter Holden?" Lt. Miles exclaimed turning his gaze to to the corporal, "Was the prison shower scene too much for you to... What in the world is that?" the lieutenant asked spying Holden's trusty device.

A crude smile made its way to Holden's face as he begins to explain, "You see this here is my skin penetration dev..."

"We don't have time for you two to gaze warmly into each others eyes." Warrant Officer Radd stated loudly trying to end the conversation before it begun.

"Right, questions for later I guess." the lieutenant said walking away, he placed his hand on the side of his helmet, "Lucy, I'm gonna need to you to contact the UNSC, we got civilians that need evac ASAP." Warrant Officer Radd followed.

Holden's eyes followed as the warrant officer moved further and further into the distance without thinking he spoke, "Ya know, sometimes I really hate that guy."

"No worries." a voice snuck up behind him, it was Chambers who had apparently managed to cool herself down to some degree, she exclaimed, "I'm sure he gets that a lot. Here you might need this." She hands him her assault rifle. "I know its a little on the light side for your taste but its all I could do on such short notice. You remember how to use that thing right?"

Holden smiles taking the assault rifle into his grasp, "Does a one legged duck swim in circles?" he pops the magazine out taking note of the total remaining rounds before reinserting it.

"Soooo... Was that a yes?" Chamber sighed scratching her head , before reequipping her helmet.

Holden smiles, "Wait. if I got you're rifle what are you going to use, if anything goes dow..." Before he could finish his sentence Chamber cocks her shotgun back fiercely and smiles, "Oh I gotcha, take care of yourself, got a feeling we might be gone for awhile." The two ODSTs bump forearms.

"Rogar that. And, I know that those two knuckle heads didn't tell ya, but its nice to have you back." Holden nods before moving to catch up to his fellow troopers."

Holden arrived only to see both Lt. Miles and Warrant Officer Radd both standing on each side of a door peeking through in a way to not reveal their position, however just enough to observe what little they could. The only information that they could gather from the dark room lite by only the faint red light from above was that the room was rather large, so large in fact that the only light source present scarcely reached the floor making it impossible to see the far side of the room. They could make out the shapes of a few military grade tables and chairs, a chow hall maybe, even spot a few support beams, and an ominous steel door that was just open enough for a man to slide through sideways. But not the slightest trace of a single person, not even a sign that someone had been near the area recently. No trash or clutter even after several firefights had broken out on the station, this area was somehow still spotless to the point of being creepy. The troopers didn't buy it, anyone with eyes could see that this was a trap.

"Holden, what's the likelihood that there are prisoners in there waiting for us?" Lt. Miles whispered as the corporal took a knee beside him.

"Bout as good as you'd expect really." Holden explained, "By now I'm sure the guards have rounded up most of the dangerous fellas. As for everyone else, well this place may be a shit-hole, but the only thing keeping it from becoming hell itself were the people."

"The people huh?"

"Yep." Holden continued, "This may be a prison, but a good bunch of the people here are like me, at their core they're kind-hearted folks who were just a bit down on their luck. So they did what they had to do to survive, they turned to crime. But I suppose there is a chance that we might have a round of bad luck and encounter all the: serial killers, psychopaths, sociopaths, lunatics, loonies, fruitcakes, nut jobs or rebels that aren't too fond of the UNSC that has made this place such a joy to be apart of these last couple of years."

Lt. Miles shook his head not taking much comfort from Holden's words. He decides to return his mind to the task at hand, he may have known it was a trap, but the chance that Dexen would show up once this trap was sprang was to good to pass up. Suddenly he let out a sharp whistle signaling the two trooper to give him their attention, with hand signs alone he told them to stick close while clearing the room, moving as efficiently as possible. They moved. Holden took point his assault rifle at the ready, the lieutenant was next in line aiming his battle rifle over Holden's shoulder for his rifle had greater range, Radd took up the rear his pistol in one hand, while resting the other on the back of the lieutenant so the two had a feel for each others position. Suddenly the room that was almost completely consumed by darkness was engulfed in a pale white light, blinding the troopers as their eyes struggled to adjusted, quickly they tried to tint their visor. Unfortunately for Lt. Miles the damage his helmet had taken rendered his tinting feature inoperable. Although blind they could hear the clinging of metal weapons and the sound of multiple charging handles being pulled back. Warrant Officer Radd tinted vision allowed him to be the first to recover his vision he quickly shouted, "Cover!"

[Play John Dreamer brotherhood on You Tube]

Before the troopers knew it a hail of gunfire consumed the room. Still barely able to see the lieutenant was able to make his way behind one of the support beam he had taken note of earlier, he could feel sparks on his helmet as the rounds collided with the gray metal of the beam. It took what seemed like an eternity but the lieutenant was able to finally make out his surrounding. Behind a support beam just to the northwest of his own was Warrant Officer Radd returning fire as best he could with his pistol, ahead of them with a poorly made barricade made of tables who had been turned on their sides for cover with several guards behind them providing borderline obsessive levels of fire. He looked for Corporal Holden, however he was nowhere to be found. "Where's Holden?" Lt. Miles asked.

The Warrant Officer shrugged before speaking rather calmly,"They must've somehow got the generators back online. Next time I'll be more thorough... Any ideas?"

The lieutenant hesitates before finally speaking, "I got a few... Yeah! Just... Just follow my lead." The lieutenant distances himself from the pillar just enough to sight in through his scope, before being forced tight against the pillar by an onslaught of gunfire. "You've got to be kidding me."

Suddenly the large steel door that previously laid dormant burst open accompanied by a hail of gunfire and an all to familiar face. He shouts, "Christmas must've come early cause I got a bullet with all y'all names on em." To the lieutenant's surprised Holden was holding the M41 Light Anti-Aircraft Gun, otherwise known as a turret, as he began to let loose a barrage of bullets. The smart guards quickly ducked for covered under the hail of such overwhelming firepower the others where mowed down like lawn gnomes. "Was that part of your plan?"

"Hell no!" Lt. Miles yells, "But I ain't complaining!" With suppressing fire on their side he and Warrant Officer Radd were now able to sight in and aim accurately. But not before they each hurled a frag grenade up and into the enemy position. The guards left their cover at an utmost pace leaving themselves open to be picked off by the combined and incredible accurate marksmanship of both the former members of Project Challenger. One by one the guards began to fall. Suddenly a guard emerges with a rocket launcher in hand, an all too excited trooper on the turret in his sights. The Lt. Miles takes note of this, knowing that if he shoots the guard it might cause him to jerk the trigger meaning almost certain death for his comrade. Immediately the lieutenant sights in, and for an instant it appears as if time has stop, as Lt. Miles enters a state of hyper awareness. A blue shimmer echos around his pupil as he fired. As the rocket leaves the weapon, it was simultaneously ripped apart by three rounds from the lieutenant's battle rifle. The rocket blows up right in the guard's face sending him flying back dazed to be the point of being unconscious. The rocket launcher is thrown through the air and lands in the middle of the battlefield. After that it took no time at all for the troopers to put down the rest of the guards. "Radd find me someone who's still conscious enough to talk. See if he knows where we can find Dexen." The lieutenant exclaimed as he made his way towards Holden.

"Look here Commander!" Holden laughed carrying the turret with both hands. "Gots myself a new baby girl. I think I'll call her Charity."

"Charity huh?" Lt. Miles smiles, he had forgotten how incredibly strong Holden was, he was the only guy he'd ever seen to arm wrestle a spartan to a stand still even if it was right after she just finished flipping an upside down warthog . "Well tell Charity she has my thanks. And speaking of Charity, mind telling me where she come from?"

"You see that metal door." Holden explained motioning towards the door. "That there is where they keep the possessions of the convicts in this place, somebody must have used his 2nd amendment rights to hold on to a fire arm or two. Lucky us huh?"

"Are... Are you serious?"

"Nah, I'm just pulling your chain. First time I've laid eyes on that place same as you." Holden laughed, "It's an armory I'm guessing. Surprisingly empty thou. I don't know what they could have done with all them weapons. They didn't give them to those guards that's for sure."

Bang!

A loud bang crosses the room reaching the ears of the two troopers, they move towards its origin only to find Warrant Officer Radd violently thrashing one of the guards against a wall, it was the one that fired the rocket only moments before. he speaks firmly, "Where's Dexen! Talk!" The guard spits into the Warrant Officer's visor, then presents his blood covered teeth with a smile. Radd says nothing, he brutally throws the guard to the ground before pulling out his combat knife. The guards attempts to crawl away slowly at the Phantom's approach. Quickly Lt. Miles place both hands on the Warrant Officer's chest telling him to cool down for a moment.

Lt. Miles looks at the guard holding himself upright on the floor, looking as uncooperative as ever, he huffed before finally moving to confront him. He held the guard up by his chest plate and then said, "Just so you know the UNSC is already on its way, You're buddy Dexen is going to be going away for a long time. Are you..." the lieutenant could see that the guard was trying to accumulate saliva within his mouth, more than likely to give him the same treatment he gave the warrant officer only moments before. With no hesitation the lieutenant slammed the man's head into the cold metal floor causing a loud crushing sound, before continuing to speak, "Try that again and you'll find out real quick that I'm not as nice as the Warrant Officer over there." The guard's face scrunches up in anger. "You're pretty loyal for some guy who's just in it for a paycheck. Is that prick Dexen really worth your life?" the lieutenant forced a laugh as he continued, "Why go through this for a guy like him, you know he doesn't respect you, he doesn't even like you. Why keep working for him?" Lt. Miles use one hand to casually point towards a security camera on the far wall while pulling out his pistol with the other, "The powers back on right, I can promise you that Dexen been watching us entire time. He sees you now, clear as day: weak, bleeding, being held at gunpoint, half of your buddies: either dead or in the process of dieing... And he won't do a damn thing to help you." The blind faith in the young guard's eye slowly begins to fade replaced with doubt and confusion. "That slaver's going away for a long time, I can promise you that... But you don't have to. Just tell us where Dexen is and I promise you I'll do what I can to make sure you don't share his fate."

With uncertainty now consuming his very being more than ever he slowly points to the door just beyond their man-made barricade. "Thanks kid, see was that so hard." Quickly the lieutenant slammed the butt of his pistol into the guards forehead knocking him senseless.

"You were too lenient." Warrant Officer Radd stated.

"We got what we needed." Lt. Miles explained.

"You've gone soft. Never bargain, take what you need by any means necessary. You know that better than anyone!"

"I didn't get rough with him; because I didn't have to?" The Lieutenant snapped, entering into Warrant Officer Radd personal space. "And... if I don't know better I'd say your tone was bordering on insubordination. Now... I hope I'm mistaken warrant officer."

Warrant Officer Radd finally responses after an elongated silents, "No problems here Sir."

Boom!

Without warning a fiery explosion and a huge gaping hole appeared right where the security door use to be. Miles and Radd examine the breach then move their eyes to its only origin, only to see an overjoyed Corporal Holden with a huge smile on his face and a freshly fired Rocket Launcher in his gasp. "Sorry Fellas, couldn't resist."

[Play Zack Hemsey The Way (instrumental) on You Tube]

The troopers walk through the entrance, the light from the room behind them echoing into the darkness before them. In the room was a pitch blackness making all but a single desk illuminated by lamp light visible to the naked eye, everything else seemed insignificant . At the desk sat the detestable man that was the cause of so much frustration and sorrow, a serious frown upon his face. The lieutenant approaches him slowly, sure that the two marines behind him would have his back. Quickly he pulls out his pistol, it's barrel pointing at Dexen pinning him to his seat, He speaks, "It's Over Dexen. Just give up and come quietly." a sharp click is heard as the lieutenant set his weapon to fire. "Or don't... and give me a reason to put a bullet in your brain."

"I'm sure you must find this all very ironic lieutenant." Dexen chuckles, "While trying to capture you and Phantom, you and your little friends have managed to cost me millions in damages."

"Whoops." the lieutenant smiled.

"Whoops indeed." Dexen leaned back in his chair and poured himself a glass of what was more than likely some kind of liquor. "Well you made it this far, now what? Tell me, do you plan to kill me?"

"Do you really think I'd just kill you after all you've done? I'd rather see you crucified."

"I see... I'm familiar with this game lieutenant what is it that you want? Is it money? Is that why you're doing this? Just tell me your price and we can make it as if this entire situation never happened."

"All the money in the world won't make this problem go away Dexen."

"Who in the hell gave you the right to play god! I may not be perfect but look at you... we both end lives for money. What's the difference?"

"You're a heartless slaver that see everyone and everything as your next paycheck, even children. What kind of monster tries to breed children and sell them off like cattle? You wanna know the difference between us? I'm the Marine with the gun to your head. Right now that's the only difference that matters."

"Ah yes the children... It appears you've been busy lieutenant. If it makes you feel any better I show no favoritism no matter how fond of a child I became. I remember the most adorable little girl, Caucasian, she had brilliant brown hair and the most beautiful hazel green eye in the galaxy..." Dexen chuckles as he flips a hidden switch beneath his desk, causing the lights of the room to turn on revealing dozens of prisoners in orange jumpsuits armed with assault rifle, sub-machine guns, among other weapons. "I sold her off just like the rest, I even managed to charge a little extra for emotional distress."

"Damn it."said the lieutenant hesitant to move a single muscle for fear of the possible rain of gunfire that might follow. The troopers were completely surrounded, and all out of tricks. There were prisoners everywhere. Knowing his death could be mere seconds away Lt. Miles finger tensed up on the trigger, if nothing else he knew he at least had to put Dexen down.

"Last chance lieutenant. If your going to shot me now will be your only opportunity, you won't get another."

Lt. Miles began to grit his teeth, more than anything he waited to pull the trigger and he didn't fear death. In fact he had come to terms with death some time ago. However, he wasn't okay with sentencing his teammates to an early grave just because he had an itchy trigger finger. He was always told that it was simple complete the objective, eliminate the target, that's what he was trained to do. As things were, they were all at death door anyway, at least this way they would drag him to hell along with them. No. At the back of his mind the lieutenant hoped for an escape, or at the very least a way to save his subordinates. He knew it was naive and even a little selfish, but it didn't matter, he knew he wouldn't pull the trigger.

"You can't do it, can you?" Dexen smiles, "Somebody help the lieutenant along in meeting whatever god he takes an interest in worshiping." A prisoner steps forward and faces the lieutenant, a magnum resting at his side. There was nothing special about this prisoner he was a black man with corn rolls, facial hair and a mean expression on his face. Lt. Miles pistol stayed on Dexen, however his eyes followed the man. Quickly Radd and Holden turned their weapons on the man waiting for him to try anything that looked remotely threatening. "See people are all the same, wave a little money in their faces and they'll give up anything." Dexen grins, "Even their own humanity."

The man slowly moved the magnum over to Dexen desk, resting it right in front of the still grinning slaver. He speaks, "You got us twisted homie... We're not gonna be your monkeys... You gotta put your own work in round here." Dexen expression turns to one of disbelief, before cracking a smile.

"Are you serious?" Dexen laughed as he point to another prisoner, this one was a woman holding an assault, "You, execute these fools, and whatever I offer you before, I'll double it." Radd quickly puts her in his line of fire. She looks to her fellow prisoners and then back to Dexen, she hesitates for a moment and then lays her weapon on the ground before putting his hands up indicating surrender. Dexen laughter stops as his smile begins to grow faint as he continued his deplorable bargaining attempt. He points to another prisoner, they then lay down their arms, he points to another, and they do the same, and then another and another. Unable to control himself he stands and begins to raged, "Double! Triple! Quadruple! Imbeciles! Don't you know who I am? I own you!" Throwing his glass against a far wall, the clicking and clacking of weapons hitting the ground continued which only served to add fuel to the slaver's searing flame, "I'm worth more than all of you combined, I could kill all of you and no one would give a damn." Quickly he reaches for the magnum resting on his desk, only to have a round pierce his shoulder, the force of the impact cause him to stumble for a moment. He regains his footing then begins hysterically searching for the culprit. Ending his search on the trooper that started it all. With furious eyes he yells"You! You did this!"

"That one was for Chambers."Lt. Miles frowned.

"Commander." Lucy voice could be heard over the communication system, "Just got word, The UNSC is five minutes out."

"That's faster than I expected." Lt. Miles stated plainly.

"We are still in the Sol system remember." Lucy exclaims, "On a galactic scale this place is only a hop skip and a jump away from Earth."

Suddenly the prisoner who previously placed the pistol on Dexen's desk reclaims it and points it at disheartened slaver, "Ah Marine, make sure you get those children to a safe place alright. We'll make sure this son of a bitch stays out of trouble til you get back, you got me."

"Yeh I got you." The lieutenant hesitates for a moment before holstering his pistol, "But, I hate mop up jobs so try not to have him in too many pieces when we get back."

The man smiles, "I gotchu."

Lt. Miles turns his back to the slaver and proceeds to randevu with the incoming UNSC forces, Dexen grabs he shoulder violently trying to stop any further blood lost he cries, "Lieutenant! Lieutenant! Don't you walk away from me! Nightmare!"

"You created this hellhole, now it's your turn to burn in it."

One Hour Later In the Docking Area

"That's kid's something else." Chambers smiled removing her helmet, "Clearing out the docks by himself like that."

"Gideon? Yeh.. Pretty impressive." the lieutenant replied fairly confident that there was more to their newest member that meets the eye.

"By the way, I did like you asked?" Chambers said brushing her hair out of face, "Apparently those kids were pretty good at getting into places they're weren't suppose to be, made gathering up that data child's play... No pun intended."

Lt. Miles shook his head before asking plainly,"What'd you find?"

"Everything you'd expect." Chambers explained, "Records of trading partners, possible victims, money wiring information. Apparently he's been at this for decades, guess he never thought someone would make it this far behind enemy lines. We have everything the courts will need to get a conviction. But... There was one more thing..."

"What's that?"

"Dexen's going down regardless so it probably doesn't matter." Chambers sighed, "While I was recovering the data there was a program running that was deleting files faster than I could recover them."

"It was probably just Dexen trying to cover his tracks."

"That's what I thought too." Chambers continued, "But the program was created with the purpose of only deleting files that were created before January 1st 2534. In other words..."

"In other words..." The lieutenant added, "Somebody wanted us to have enough information to put Dexen behind bars, while covering their tracks in the process. 2534. Almost 20 years ago, exactly." Chambers nodded

"Commander look, Dexen." Chambers exclaims with contempt in her voice.

Handcuffed and being escort by a UNSC Marine was Dexen. The bullet wound in his shoulder was covered by a thick bandage, however he had one or two more visible bruises on the face than the lieutenant recalled causing him to smile. The former slavers gaze made it's way to the lieutenant causing fury to overtake his face, but then something rather unexpected happened. As his gaze moved away from the lieutenant towards his Staff Sergeant a look of confusion took hold of his face followed by an unsettling grin. Finally full blown laughter erupted.

'I remember the most adorable little girl, Caucasian, she had brilliant brown hair and the most beautiful hazel green eye in the galaxy...I sold her off just like the rest.'

"What was that about?" Chambers asked curiously.

Lt. Miles paused for a moment before finally saying, "Don't worry about it... It's probably nothing."