A/N: Angst. I love all the angst so here, have an angsting Noble Six with Noble One being emotional support. And other shit happens. Suspicious shit. But it's less important


Aboard The Athenian, somewhere above Reach, Epsilon Eridani system, February 11th, 2559

Artemis gave a jerk, startled out of prepping a Pelican to take down to Reach's surface, when she heard the sound of footsteps, getting closer. She turned, dropping her DMR with a clatter, and shook her head in disbelief when she saw Carter approaching. "Far out, Commander, you scared me! Don't just walk up like that."

"You know, normally you wouldn't scare like that unless you're up to something you shouldn't be." he returned, arching an eyebrow and gesturing to the crates, shut or half-open, and guns lying around here and there. "What are you doing? We're about to jump out-system and head back to New Harmony. We only stopped here briefly."

The redhead sighed and glanced down at her feet, rubbing the back of her neck. "Actually, I... asked the captain if he could keep us here for a few days. It's... Well, you know it's my birthday coming up in a few days and I wanted to go home. So I'm taking a Pelican down to Reach to just... have a look, I guess. I know there won't be much left but... home calls, y'know? And who am I to deny that to myself? I ... I physically can't."

The other Spartan crossed his arms over his chest and gave a sigh. "You shouldn't really be going down there on your own. And I don't mean that you're not capable of taking care of yourself or anything, but if you get into a spot of trouble – because who knows what's down there – then you'll have no way of contacting us up here for help. Satellites being dead and all."

Artemis gave a shrug and continued loading up magazines, storing her DMR on a rack on the wall of the Pelican. "What, and who do you think would come with me to a dead planet? There's no point anyone accompanying me because they'd be bored out of their mind." At least, that's what she figured, at any rate. And sure, she could take Jorge with her – in fact, she'd asked him, but he said that he was "waiting for the right time". Whatever that meant. She did want to take someone with her, but... she just didn't think anyone would be interested. Plus, she didn't want to trigger anyone's memories. They'd all had a time of it down there back in '52, and she didn't want to bring any of that up. It was the right thing to do, going by herself.

She continued to pack, feeling the silence linger in the air between them, despite the fact that she was making a lot of noise with metal clinking against metal and plastic and whatnot. She glanced over her shoulder and pursed her lips, studying her teammate, before continuing to pack her things. She didn't understand why he seemed so... concerned all of a sudden, but then, maybe that was just his caring nature shining through. He just wanted his teammate to come back safe.

She cocked her head, pausing to listen to the sound of shoe scraping against metal, and she glanced over her shoulder again. "I can hear you thinking, Carter," she teased, "Come on, out with it."

The Spartan in question licked his lips, ducked his head, and let out a sigh. "Well, I figured maybe I could come with you. If you're not bothered by it, that is."

Artemis shrugged, and turned away a third time. "Up to you. But I won't say I didn't warn you if you get bored. It won't be pretty down there, trust me." She finished packing the last case, which was full of food – because one never knew when they were going down to a heavily glassed planet – and straightened up, rubbing the back of her neck and stifling a yawn.

"I'm not bothered by that." she heard him answer, and she arched an eyebrow, brushing past him.

"You'd be surprised."


Aboard UNSC Infinity, in orbit above Forerunner Shield World Requiem, Epoloch system, February 11th, 2559

"Sarah, what do you know about what's been going on with the Prometheans?" Lasky glanced towards Roland, and the AI saluted before his avatar winked out. The Captain shifted his gaze upwards to the Spartan Commander, and he raised a brow.

"No new developments, aside from the fact that they, along with the local Storm Covies, have been getting excited. About what, the eggheads can't say for sure, but they're convinced it's not good." Palmer leaned her hip against the holotable and crossed her arms over her chest, shaking her head. The Prometheans were more trouble than they were worth, and the Storm Covenant were bloody determined little bastards. They wanted their claws on Requiem, and the UNSC was doing their best to prevent that. Even if they'd lost a decent amount of good men and women in the process – it was sacrifice for the greater good of humanity.

She opened her mouth to say something, but her attention turned to the holotable when a screen snapped to life, and Spartan Harkness' helmeted face appeared. "Captain Lasky... Commander Palmer... sorry to interrupt, but something's come up." He sounded breathless, like he'd just been in the middle of a firefight, or he'd been running.

Palmer inclined her head in Lasky's direction, and he gave a go-ahead nod.

"We've located a signal which is coming from a Halcyon-class cruiser, Sir. She's registered as the Dawn Under Heaven – that's the Pillar of Autumn's sister ship – but she's going by The Atlanta. It's not a distress signal... I think they were trying to contact us." the S-IV explained, his head turning away from the screen to speak to one of the other Spartans on his team, before looking back to the camera. "What do you suggest we do?"

Lasky mulled it over. It was strange. A UNSC cruiser – one of few remaining Halcyons – and she was going by a different name? And she wasn't asking for help? Something didn't sit right about it. And yet... He sighed, and articulated a response. "If you can get one of the techs to upload the COM frequency she's using, we'll try to get in touch with her crew. Stay down there until we've secured a connection – if we can – and then head back here at your earliest convenience."

"Understood Sir." Spartan Harkness gave a nod, and the screen flickered out of existence as he cut the feed.

The Captain pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed, turning to look at Palmer, who was standing there, stoic and patient, arms crossed over her chest. "Why do I get the feeling that we're in for more than we bargained for?" he lamented to her.

"We'll find out soon enough. Don't stress yourself over it, Tom." The Spartan Commander laid a hand on his shoulder, decided against squeezing it, and gave him a half-smirk before turning smartly on her heel to leave the bridge.


Flying over the ruins of New Alexandria, Eposz, Reach, Epsilon Eridani system, February 12th, 2559

"I can't believe..." Artemis murmured, staring almost vacantly out of the Pelican's windshield as she steered the craft through the skies above her home city. "I know it was bad when we were evacuating but... seeing the aftermath of it all..." She shook her head. "It takes my breath away."

She noticed more than felt a hand placed on her shoulder, and glanced up into the Commander's face, seeing the sympathy in his electric blue eyes. "It hurts to look at," she admitted quietly.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly, "It's gotta suck, huh?"

A short, somewhat bitter laugh. "Understatement of the year, but sure, I guess you could say that. See if you can find me a place to set this thing down. I'll look as well. I need to see up close. And there's shit I need to grab."

Carter's eyebrows furrowed in bewilderment. "There's nothing left. What are you going to grab...?"

Artemis smirked up at him, swinging her head from side to side, chortling. "There's such thing as bunkers. I came across one and stocked it with some stuff, over the years. Each time I escaped from ONI, I'd book it to Reach, and stock more things. Except it made it easier for them to find me... but it was worth it. I wanted to have enough stuff hidden away for when I did flee from them for good." It had never happened, not until after Reach had fallen, and she had long-forgotten her stash. She was too busy dealing with all her problems – until now. Now, she could head down to New Alexandria – or what was left of the city – dig through the glass...shit...whatever it was called... and find her belongings.

Apparently, the Commander was still confused as to how she had managed to store items in a bunker below the streets of New Alexandria, because his expression didn't change. But he didn't continue to question her about it. Just shrugged and peered out the windscreen, looking for the best spot to land. There was lechatelierite covering every inch of surface they could see, and most of it wasn't flat – which meant it wasn't very good for landing on. Eventually, though, Carter pointed out a good area to set the dropship down, and Artemis tapped the controls in accordance to his directions, steering the Pelican with more care, so that she didn't land on the rougher areas that surrounded the one flat spot.

"Let's see if I can recall where the bunker is." the Lieutenant mused quietly, putting her helmet on and walking down the ramp once it lowered. She sensed Carter close behind her, and turned slightly to give him a thumbs up before jogging with care through what seemed to be a straight line of glass – this was perhaps where a road had once lain, and that was the way the lechatelierite had settled.

Nothing looked familiar. She glanced around as she dropped to a walk, scanning everything. She had once known the streets of New Alexandria like the back of her hand. Hell, even when she had been here when the Covenant invaded, she could remember everything so well, despite the fact that she hadn't actually been there since she was four years old. Now, though? Now, it was foreign, and hostile, and not-same. And it hurt. There was an ache in her chest; hollow, throbbing. She released a sharp hiss through clenched teeth, and shook her head. She didn't know where to go. Couldn't recall where the bunker was. The landscape had changed so much...

Artemis let out a noise and darted forwards when she spotted a lone tower, standing tall and proud. The only one there, out of what had once been a large, proud city. And she knew this one.

Carter felt cut to the quick, the sound that his teammate had let out resonating through him. He didn't understand what this building meant. It was one lone apartment block, the only one standing... Artemis had recognized it, and had reacted. He jogged after her, puzzled. "What is this place?" he queried, breaking the eerie silence. There had been no wind. Even the air itself was dead. His voice didn't vibrate like it normally would have – the words just dropped, like stones sinking into the water. Creepy.

He watched as she darted inside the building, followed her, and stared as she took off her helmet. Then, finally, she gave an answer. "Home." It was barely audible, but he felt the weight of her words; he felt the emotions behind them.

"What do you mean?" He cocked his head at her, taking his own helmet off and tucking it under his arm.

Again, there was no response; Artemis was on the move, heading up a flight of stairs, two at a time. She squeezed into a doorway carefully, ducking her head, and stopped, staring. "...Where I grew up. All the way until my parents..." She let out a shaky breath and shook her head, moving through the apartment. In its day, it would have been a decent size. But now, she was much bigger than she used to be, and in her gear, too. It was a lot more difficult to get around. She squeezed through another doorway, and wound up in a child's bedroom – her room. She dropped to her knees and broke down, silently, head hanging low. After nearly twenty-one years of being away, she was finally home.

Carter sensed the raw, emotional pain that she was going through. None of them had been able to visit their old houses save for Kat, and she hadn't reacted like this. He dropped to a crouch beside her and pulled her close, feeling her shaking even through her armour. She must have been trembling pretty hard, then, for him to be able to feel it. He drew her as close as was physically possible and just held her, silent, an anchor through a storm of emotions. One hand idly stroked the top of her head, and he felt her leaning into the touch – a good sign. At least she hadn't dissociated – just broken down.

It carried on this way for a solid half hour or so, before Artemis shifted in his arms and pressed her cheek against his. She was still trembling – he could tell by the way her breath fluttered against his neck – but she was quiet, now, tears no longer falling down her face, sobs no longer robbing her of her voice. Still, his hand carded through her hair, and she leaned into him, quiet, mournful. "I'm sorry," he murmured, and she shook her head against him. He could tell her eyes had closed by the feel of her lashes against his face, and he sensed her relaxing.

"It's okay." Her voice was cracked, hoarse; she sounded tired. No, not tired – more like drained emotionally. "I just needed to get that out. Been a long time since I've cried that much." She laughed, then, but the sound was just... empty. No longer full of life; no longer musical.

"I understand. Come on. We should get going. We can find the stash later. Let's just get back to the Pelican and grab a bite to eat." His voice was gentle, and she responded to it, getting to her feet and pulling her up with him.

"...Thankyou." She stared into his eyes, just briefly, and pressed her lips to his forehead as a show of affection. Then, she turned away, and doffed her helmet, looking about the room one last time and grabbing something off the bed before leaving the room.

Carter gazed after her, befuddled, before shaking his head to clear it, and putting his own helmet on and following her. What was that all about? he wondered silently. He shook his head again and trotted outside, wondering just what would happen next.