Halo Fanfic

by Eaglestriker5

A young twelve year old lives a normal life in this world, and time...But things go awry when she travels to another... And when it comes to her. Destiny and fate throws her around like a ragdoll.

5. The Fifth Fanfic (sequel)

I chomped down on my delicious, juicy chicken drumstick, the television behind me blaring out the news. I shifted on my stool, dropping the dissected drumstick onto my plate and picking up my fork, stabbing my carrots and scoffing them. I finished my potato and sat back, burping.

"Thanks mum." I said over my shoulder at the two figures sitting on couches in front of the telly. I jumped off my stool, running down the tiled white hallway to my room. I opened my sliding cupboard door and got out my pyjamas, I marched halfway down the hallway, turning to my left and opening the bathroom door, and I undressed quickly, shivering.

Brr…this is freezing! I wish I was back in John's world with temperature controlled stuff. I thought bitterly, but I have no idea when I'll get to see John or his world again…

How I wished to go back there! Even though going through the light was dangerous, where I ended up and what I did was fun…in that scary, adrenaline way.

I shoved all thoughts aside. This can be done later, when I'm not standing here naked, freezing my undevelo- actually, let's not go there.

I turned the shower onto hot and jumped in.

Twenty minutes later

Emily

"Get that attack boat!" demanded my father.

I sighed. I was flying an attack jet in Battlefield 4 - on the map Paracel Storm, an ocean map set around a bunch of islands. My intended target was a large boat with a big gun and other dangerous weaponry. It could probably have missiles for all I knew, so I moved the mouse, rolling my jet to the right and lowering the nose, diving. I lined up the unsuspecting boat, firing the thirty millimetre cannon. The hit register came up on the screen. Twenty damage. Thirty, forty, fifty- Then I heard a metallic tinging sound and my jet blew up. The kill register came up on the side of the screen:

RG_Patty[99K Tunguska M]MrSquizzie

My father sighed.

"If you can't kill anything, we aren't getting the jet."

Annoyance flashed through my mind. It wasn't MY fault the AA was right there! HE told me to kill that bloody boat! Not my fault that he was the one who had no clue how hard it was to fly a jet! I stormed out of the room, fuming. I marched up the hallway to my room and slammed the door, the sound echoing. I threw myself onto my floor and stayed there, I didn't know how long and I didn't particularly care. My thoughts were thunderous and angry, but soon I became aware of a humming noise and I sat up slowly, coming face to face with the light. Yes, "The" Light. I tried to scramble backwards but found I couldn't. The orb seemed to hold me in place, and I could do nothing but stare into its depths. It bobbed, and I felt myself getting pulled in.

John

I sat down on the chair, listening carefully for any squeaking, potentially meaning it would collapse. I might not be in armour but I still weighed around one hundred and thirty kilograms. Lasky sat on the other side of a desk, on an identical chair. The room was small and stuffy, with grey metal walls. There weren't any windows, but it didn't bother me - I am not a claustrophobe.

"This is about that light that keeps appearing at its whim and taking you and Emily with it. Who knows when it will take someone else? We don't even know if it's dangerous. I'm asking you, tell me everything you know."

"Sir, I am sorry. I don't have much to tell."

"We have scientists….but they are stumped. They have no idea what this "thing" is."

Lasky sighed. I tried to hold some sympathy, this was troubling Thomas more than anything ever had. As always, I couldn't seem to conjure up the feeling.

"Dismissed."

Lasky turned away, holding his head in his hands. I got up, opening the door carefully. I strode out and closed it behind me, marching down the corridor. I walked automatically, leaving my head clear for thought. Why was this so heavy on Lasky's conscience? I don't understand….this should not disturb him. I sighed, I missed Emily, and I hadn't thanked her for saving me from Halsey. I added that onto my mental to do list and then I realised I had walked to the cargo bay where Emily first appeared. I halted, was this what Emily had talked about one time? "Fate" she called it. I strode inside, staring around; I could see tiny bits of dirt and dust on the metal around me; no one had been in here for a while. I blinked, wanting to protect my delicate enhanced eyes from the dust. I sat down on an old ammo crate, reaching into the pocket of my black pants and pulling out a pencil, which I shoved into my mouth and chewed. Ugh this tasted horrible. It helped me think; strangely, it seemed to do the trick for Emily too. I sighed and closed my eyes. Sometimes not having emotions….sucked. I used Emily's expression, hoping to amuse myself. It didn't do anything, and I sat there for a long time, closing my eyes and chewing on my pencil, until I heard a loud humming noise and I opened my eyes to look.

The light was floating a few inches away from my face, and as I blinked, it chimed, clear and loud like a bell. I stared at it, cocking my head to the side. This thing was strange, I wanted to know more about it, but I had never got the chance. It usually just sucked me straight in, no questions asked. It seemed to shimmer, here but not here, it was almost transparent, and I studied it carefully, reaching out a hand. It instantly floated out of reach. The orb thing bobbed up and down and I felt I strange tug on my mind, it was calling me, and for some reason I wanted to go. I stood and walked forward and the orb dropped lower obediently. I tried to stop myself, it wasn't me that wanted to walk into the light.

Emily

Damn you! I dug my heels into the carpet and tried to stop, but the light had a relentless pull. I was lifted up, and I had no points of contact to the carpet. I flew forward head first into that bloody thing that kept stalking me. I couldn't see, the light was blinding, and I could tell I was still hurtling forward. I closed my eyes and waited, but the light didn't dissipate. I felt myself stop, and I detected a presence, strong. I seemed to be detached, spirit like, it felt like I had a body but it just wasn't there. Just for a moment, I thought I could smell John- a strange, metallic and a strangely sweet smell. Then I felt something against my hand. I couldn't grab it, it was too big and I felt muscle under my fingers.

John

I felt a small thought process, I didn't know how I knew that, but it was confused and a little scared. My mind seemed to roam about, I could still feel my body but my thoughts seemed free. My body detected a small touch in between its shoulder blades, but I couldn't seem to move. I wanted to recoil away, an instinct drilled into me, so I willed myself to somehow, just somehow, interact. I felt my thoughts roam, searching, finding their target. I couldn't seem to enter whatever- or whoever's- head I think I was attempting to intrude on.

Emily

I felt a small pain in my mind, like someone was sticking a pin into my conscience. I quickly began to puzzle out what it was. With a flash I remembered the Eragon books, the sensation Eragon had when his mind was being probed. I thought that if something was trying to probe my mind it wasn't exactly friendly. I tried to block everything out, instead thinking of a brick wall. The presence retracted, but the skin on my hand which had touched the muscular 'thing' felt like water and I felt it go through the flesh. My mind returned to a body….but I didn't think it was mine. I knew I was being sucked in, and then everything went black.

John

The world spun and I was chucked out onto the cargo bar floor. What? Nothing happened, I didn't go anywhere. I stood slowly. What had happened? Was the light…..Broken? I felt like I wasn't alone….there was something somewhere; I listened carefully, but I could hear nothing but the distant hum of the Infinity's engines. Then I heard the whisper inside my head and I flinched, startled.

Where am I? What the HECK happened? It said nervously.

It was Emily? She was inside my head?

John? What the HECK!? Emily's thoughts scrambled into a corner of my conscience. I thought I could probably reply…..I thought, hard.

You're inside my head, Emily. We….we merged.

Wow this is cooooool! But also scary. I can't… I can feel your body but I can't do anything….it's like I'm floating around inside your head, Emily said anxiously.

I felt a sudden urge to tap my foot and I realised Emily had told my body to do that, without realising. Tapping her foot was a thing she did, a habit. I forced myself not to.

Emily, you are scrambling me up. You are telling me to do things I don't want to do. You're controlling my body, I thought to her, irritated. I tried to walk forwards, wanting to test how this strange new connection would affect me, but instantly I felt Emily's input and I tangled myself up in my own feet, and I tripped, for the first time in years, falling flat on my face.

Her dismembered laughter echoed around inside my head.

John, I don't know how to stop myself….I want my body back! I don't like this one! She whined and I groaned out loud. Now I had an Emily inside my head I couldn't get rid of her.

Emily

I, of course didn't tell John that his body felt amazing. I resisted the urge to use it, it was so amazingly strong and fast, and I could even see what he was seeing, his vision as sharp as an eagle's, crisp, clear and perfect. I could hear John's thoughts as voices and could see flashes of memories, too quick to discern. I wanted to blink but I didn't, as that could scramble John.

Tee hee, I'm like a Cortana, I giggled. Cortana could slot into his armour which connected her to his brain and allowed her to communicate.

I heard one of John's thoughts sigh quietly,

Although, you are more annoying than Cortana.

I mentally told him to shut up, and he strode forward, out of the cargo bay. I had the most ridiculous urge to take smaller steps and swagger about, sometimes how I walked when I wanted to show off, it was a habit and instantly, I was in control; John was walking like Lady Gaga and taking small, dainty steps. I laughed, lucky no one was in this deserted hallway or they would have wondered WHAT THE HECK was going on. I felt John desperately stop himself from laughing like I was.

Emily…, I felt John grow tired and he almost fell asleep, and I realised that this was straining his brain, somehow. I guess the only reason he hadn't simply died from the strain was that his brain was super intelligent and big and had heaps of room and stuff. I instantly withdrew, into a corner of his conscience and stayed there, blind and de-tached. I didn't know how I could do these things, I just knew.

I was so happy to finally see John again; it had been a month since I left his world. I felt John open a door and I sensed his feeling of safety and I realised that he was in his room. I rushed into his head again as he sat down on his desk chair.

So what are we gonna do? I'm stuck inside your head, we don't know how I got there, I keep scrambling up whatever you do and apparently I am annoying, I thought to him.

I don't know, he thought back. This is not my region of expertise, we could tell-

NO! You can't tell anyone! This is something special, I know it. I…I don't know why, it just is, I interrupted.

John pondered this for a moment.

I think it's unreasonable that you would think of this that way. Lasky is very troubled by this and he gave me orders to tell him everything I know; It's against a lot of my rules to ignore orders, and I do realise that I don't always obey them but this is different, he thought to me, his familiar, deep, calm voice calming me down. He didn't seem fazed by the situation, just slightly confused and a little miffed.

Please, John. I have this reaaaally bad feeling that we shouldn't let this slip. This might sound weird coming from a twelve year old but I think that there are greater forces at play here, and that there is a reason for all this. And don't give me all that "But we don't know that" stuff and just listen, I thought, trying to get him to understand. I had this feeling deep in my gut and it demanded that I listen to it. I concentrated on John's body, seeing through his eyes and hearing what he could, but this time I think I went too far, I felt John's conscience shoved out of control of his body. I blinked, confused, but when I realised what I'd done I gulped nervously; well, my host's body did anyway. John's conscience hammered me relentlessly.

What did you do? He thought to me nervously, the first time I'd ever heard that note in his voice.

I...I don't know! I flashed back. When I wanted to see and hear what you could it just shoved you out of your own body!

I instinctually tried to stand and John's body reacted so quickly the desk chair toppled and I tripped over it. Strangely, I didn't seem to feel much pain when I landed on my back and I realised that it was still essentially John's body, but a different….well, soul. I didn't think like John, I was literally an Emily who was him. I could sense John's thoughts restlessly discerning ways to get out of this. I could almost imagine him stalking around back there, his bright blue eyes narrowed and concentrating.

This is bad. You can't go around as me, he thought angrily.

Why not? I asked.

He was silent for a moment.

You will be different, you will stuff up, and you are most certainly not able to use my body properly; I don't think Thomas will approve of you-I mean- me, smashing things, he thought, irritated.

I began to get nervous and I wanted to chew my nails, another habit, but this time I forgot; John's body responded by smashing its fingers into its teeth. Hard. I felt I momentary flash of pain then nothing. John's consciousness grew slightly amused at my terrible use of his body.

Someone doesn't know how to drive, he said.

Oh shut up you smart ass, I shot back.

His amusement grew. He was annoying me, but at least he was having some fun out of this, the poor guy probably felt so lost back there. The moment didn't last.

Emily, we need to solve this. We cannot have you walking around as me.

Well, you give me ideas then! I can't do everything!

Then there was a dreaded knock on the door and John grew silent.

John! Help me! I thought nervously.

Remember how I act. How I react. You'll be fine, just concentrate, said his calm voice.

I stood slowly, controlling John's body carefully, and walked across the small grey metal room and opened the door carefully. I tried to make sure no trace of emotions was in John's eyes.

As I opened the door, I was met by a barrage of sound, the sheer quality and range of John's hearing was incredible. I could hear the electrical currents flowing through the lights, humming softly. The person standing at the door was Lasky, and I felt a surge of fear. Lasky knew John on a personal level and he would pick up on the tiniest difference.

It's okay, Emily. Stay calm, don't worry, I'll help you, John's voice said in the back of my head.

"John! I was just dropping by to ask your assistance for something; one of the warthogs….has a problem. Its upside down and there are not enough Spartan IV's around to lift it." Thomas announced, rather sheepishly. "A Spartan IV got it like that in the first place," he added.

I gulped nervously.

"I…Of course sir. Right away sir." John's voice unusual and alien to me.

Oh no I messed that up! John only ever talks so much with me! Lasky, however, just seemed relieved.

"The 'hog is at platform A. I'll trust you'll be there soon."

"Yes, sir."

I sighed with relief, after Lasky had turned and strode away down the busy corridor packed with people.

Errm, John? How the HECK DO I get to platform A? I asked the presence in the back of my head.

He gave me a complicated mess of directions.

Sorry, Emily. My sense of direction is horrible. I can't actually control my head to see where we are and I cannot get us there myself, he said only with a trace of jeering in his voice.

It was a jibe at my mess I had set up, and I mentally growled at him. I was suddenly met by a vision of him staring at me with smugness in his blue eyes, eyebrows raised, one corner of his lips twitched ever so slightly upwards. I started with surprise and missed a step, stumbling as I had begun to piece together John's directions while I made John's body walk. John had sent me an image, like a thought hologram or something. I didn't know. I was slightly annoyed at his smart ass look, however.

So it worked, then, he said.

How did you do that? What is it? I stopped John's body as I was walking and slid down into a dark, rank side corridor for privacy, John's delicate eyes itching at the dust in the air.

I think it's a representation of my disembodied self, my thoughts are changed into an image, he said, that trace of mockery in his mental voice as he jibed again at my mistake.

Oh very good, very good. Clap clap, I appraised him sarcastically, Now you can annoy me in person.

The image seemed to move to the corner of my mind, so now I could concentrate, but I could still see him, pacing now, his blue eyes unfocused and his muscles tense.

Twenty minutes later

John

The boredom was killing me. Nothing to do but observe and both Emily and I knew that was not was I was supposed to be doing. I didn't have a body, I couldn't feel safe, I felt vulnerable and I had only Emily stumbling around like a fool in my own. She still hadn't quite got the hang of it. I observed quietly through her thoughts, as she made slow progress to the A platform. She rounded the corner, and there was the warthog, turned upside down and a group of marines and Lasky surrounding it. Thomas looked up at John, well, what he thought was John, anyway, I thought wryly.

"Chief! You made it! Well, as you can see for yourself, we're in quite a pickle." A sergeant said, his American accent strong.

Emily controlled my body very carefully and stiffly over to the warthog. I admired her concentration and care as she grabbed the wheel hub. I heard her thoughts flash by, worried, anxious and scared. She lifted the military truck easily, rolling it onto its side and over onto its wheels, the large off road tires causing the truck to bounce. The marines hollered and cheered all the way. I could feel her revelling in my body's strength, and I felt a small tinge of….. Jealousy?

"Jeez man! Who needs those Spartan fours anyway! We got chief!" a private hollered.

"Thanks, John. Nice to see you could find the time to help out with a little "maintenance" here and there. Dismissed," Lasky said cheerily.

Emily turned stiffly around and marched carefully back down the corridor.

Well, how'd I do? You think I can drive yet? She thought smugly to me.

You're already driving, I replied back. Unlicensed too, I added.

Shut UP, she flashed.

She halted suddenly as a group of ODST's crowded the hallway, blocking her path. Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, rough and tough soldiers, essentially souped up marines. A branch of the UNSC that hated Spartans unlike any other, as they had found themselves outdated by the high tech super soldiers. I watched them through Emily's thoughts, as they formed a line and a single ODST strode through the middle. I recognised the face, and I began to feel a tiny bit anxious.

Emily…..You do realise who these are, correct?

Yeah….aren't they those soldiers Spartans replaced? ODSTs? They hate you guys.

The leader is Odval…he hates me in particular. Be careful, Emily, you haven't learned how to use my body properly yet and you could get- I mean- I could get hurt, I warned her.

What do you mean, use? she asked, but I didn't have time to reply before the black clothed Odval spoke.

"Well, well, well, look who we have here. The Master Chief, sulking around the hallways. Children shouldn't play by themselves" he sneered. I flashed with annoyance, and Emily's thoughts became anxious.

John! What….what do I do? She asked.

It's okay. Just walk through them, ignore them. They won't put up much of a fight.

She controlled my body, barging through the ODSTs. My body had enough force even while walking to knock a few of the angry ODST's off their feet. She was scared of their bulging biceps and their tattooed shoulders, their rough and tough looks terrifying her, even though she had my body. Emily accelerated, wanting to get this over and done with, but I heard an unmistakable "click" and I calmly told her to stop.

It's a gun, Emily. Stop.

John….I don't wanna do this! I don't wanna do this! John please! she begged, halting my body.

Calm down. You've got yourself out of things before.

"You're not going anywhere, Spartan one one seven."

Emily

I tried to pale and sweat, but John's body didn't seem to be able to do the action. I couldn't feel the terrible knotting and twisting in my gut like my own body could. I could only feel these things mentally; I had no relief from them like I would if I had a body that could carry out the feelings. John's image in the back of my head was tense, his blue eyes irritated and his thoughts swirled around back there like a traffic jam. I returned my attention to the gun and I turned around slowly, coming face to face with Odval, a pistol levelled at my head. Odval's emerald eyes were smug, knowing he had succeeded. I couldn't kill him; all the ODSTs had guns in their belts and could pull them out in a moment's notice. I thought and thought what I could do, and the only thing I could was glare at him with all the coldness and intelligence that I knew that John's eyes could produce. I saw a momentary flash of fear in Odval's slim, evil face. His thin, angled cheekbones made him look like a supervillain, and I had an instinctual hatred for his smug, superior look.

Emily, turn and go. He will not dare to shoot you-I mean, me, John's voice said in the back of my head, his tone calm and sure.

I obeyed, swivelling away from the gun and striding down the grey metal hallway, but I didn't get five meters before I heard it.

BANG!

Instantly, I felt John use all of his mental strength to override my control, and I watched, shocked as his body moved at blinding speed, dodging the bullet and smacking the gun out of Odval's hand. Next, he whirled around, shattering the wrist of an ODST who had half drawn his pistol, the splinters of bone protruding from it the ODST screamed and fainted. I shut my connection to John's eyes, wishing I could throw up. I could still see faint flashes of blood, remnants of what he was seeing. John was courageous, there were fifteen ODSTs and maybe if he had his armour, he would be fine, but not like this. I felt John's consciousness weaken; forcing his way into controlling his body was draining all his energy. I felt small shocks travelling up John's wrist, and I could still hear screams, blood and groans of the dying. He was killing them, for his own sake, and the worst thing was that I didn't feel any remorse in his thoughts. Then, I knew John was gone, for once his massive physical strength not aiding him in his task. I rushed back into control, opening John's eyes and being welcomed by a scene of utter destruction. ODSTs lay sprawled on the ground, over hand rails, some of them in awkward, sharp and unnatural positions. Every single one was unconscious, not breathing or mortally injured. I tried to gasp with shock, but again, John's body could not perform the action. He didn't need to kill them!

I did. They would have killed me in an instant, John's voice replied weakly in my head.

"What is going on here?" I heard a familiar voice say in surprise.

I whirled around to find Lasky and Sarah checking the pulse of an ODST. I grew disgusted at the blood on John's knuckles, the tiny splinters of bone sticking out of his shirt.

Commander Thomas Lasky

I stood up, the ODST had no pulse. I knew that the ODSTs hated Spartans, and that was half the reason I put their quarters and training areas in separate sides of the Infinity, but I didn't know they were stupid enough to attack the Master Chief of all things.

"What is going on here?" I said, shocked.

John whirled around, surprised, his knuckles and clothes bloodied, which he observed with….was that..disgust? What? John never felt…disgusted, I didn't even think he had the capacity to feel it. He didn't stand like John, either, a trained military stance, he stood almost childishly, his feet close together, his body language like the child that had messed up this world so horribly. The familiar stance shocked me to the core, Emily couldn't have done this! What the heck? Sarah checked another ODST, quickly pronouncing him dead. She noticed the look on my face and she turned her head, her armour's servos whirring quietly. John blinked, three times in quick succession.

"E…Emily? Are….you?" I stuttered out.

John's face grew into an expression of shock, something I had never, ever seen. His-or possibly-her face grew tight, the icy blue eyes widening slightly. It looked very, very strange, the innocent, but guilty look on John's serious face.

Emily

Ohhh crap. Oh crap oh crap oh crap. I'd been caught.

Emily…., John sighed.

"Emily, is that you? Pfft who am I! Of course it isn't you." Sarah scoffed, slapping her head with an armoured hand.

"Um…Noooo" I said, completely screwing up my reply, the words completely un-John. Lasky's mouth dropped, and Sarah's eyebrows rose. I dug the toe of one of John's boots into the metal floor and twisted it from side to side.

"Would you mind telling me how the heck you are John?" Sarah asked, stepping forward to squint at me closely, and I stepped back, fixing her with a glare.

"I have no bloody idea or I would have told you already!" I said, John's voice sounding funny with the sentence.

"It was the light wasn't it?" asked Thomas.

"Oh yes, well done Durlock." I said sarcastically, rolling John's impressive blue eyes.

Sarah tapped her foot, her armoured appendage making a very annoying loud thumping noise. I screwed up John's nose and raised both eyebrows, and I stood on her foot, pinning it to the ground with enough force to produce a groan from her armour. She gave me a withering look and proceeded to lift her head up proudly.

"STOP BICKERING YOU TWO!" Lasky yelled. His roar echoed off the walls in the high hallway, and hurt John's extremely sensitive ears; for the first time since I took his body, I felt actual pain. I cringed away, putting John's hands over his ears. Lasky's face looked almost sheepish.

"Sorry. Was the only way I could get you to stop." He said bashfully.

I pulled my hands away from my ears and glared. I saw John's eyes reflected in Thomas's, just as cold as ever, but with a little me in them somehow.

"So if you're John….where is John himself?" asked Sarah, her armour reflecting the lights on the roof of the hall.

I tapped John's head.

"Still in the noggin. I'm in control, though."

You're unlicensed, don't forget. I did not give you permission to drive this vehicle, John said.

Another jibe at my mistake. Oh ho ho, John could be a real smart ass when he wanted.

Oh would you stop with that! I flashed back.

"So the light….it switched you?" Thomas asked, rubbing his chin with one hand thoughtfully, and I winced, hearing the rasping sound off his light stubble. Now I knew how extremely sensitive John's hearing was, I knew how John felt when I whined or did something repetitive and loud.

"Correct again, Derwood Holmes."

Lasky's face turned into one of shock, and he went pale.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Yes, yes of course" Thomas said, straightening.

"What are you going to do with me?" I said.

Hello? I am still here! he said with mock shock.

FINE!, I replied.

"Erm..I mean, us."

Again, Thomas rubbed his stubble. John's eyelid twitched as I resisted the urge to stop him.

"I don't know how to put this but…I would like to..examine you." He said sheepishly.

I saw the John in the back of my head shiver slightly, his blue eyes saying "no" completely.

"There's something John doesn't like about that idea. You know how he feels about things like this."

The image looked at me with the closest he could get to gratefulness.

"It doesn't matter. This is important, and we need to know what this light has done."

"You know what it's done! We're switched around! You don't need to do anything!"

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you are hiding something."

I wasn't hiding anything! What was wrong with him? He's gone all weird, and I felt like slapping him in the face.

It could be the shock?, John pondered.

He's not in shock you dingbat! I replied.

Sarah looked at Thomas funny, her lips tight.

"Sir I-"

She grew silent as she noticed Thomas had gone very pale, and looked sickly.

"Ummm," I stuttered.

The commander's knees wobbled and he fell unconscious to the floor.

Two Days Later

John

The doctors had no idea what was ailing Lasky, but he couldn't stop tossing and turning, crying out. I felt helpless; all I could do was watch as Emily attempted to assist in some way, causing more trouble than good. Stumbling around in my body and tripping over things wasn't exactly helping. I felt….embarrassed, I think, that I had to be seen like that. For the hundredth time, Sarah asked one of the doctors, striding past in their long white coats.

"Do you know what it is yet?"

I wished Emily would close's my body's eyes; the harsh glare off the polished white floor and metal medical equipment was beginning to give me a mental headache.

"No, ma'am. We have no idea what it is; he has no infections, no viruses, and no wounds. The only thing off the scale is his biological readings and his EEG.

I paid sharp attention to "biological". It sounded familiar….so close, think, think…just almost there….

JOHN WOULD YOU STOP THINKING SO HARD?! It's very annoying and its throwing me off, Emily yelled angrily at me.

Emily, I was onto something. You completely destroyed my concentration, I replied, my tone flat. I adjusted my mental image, folding my arms and raising an eyebrow.

Now what was it? I thought, again racking my brains, but again, Emily ruined my train of thought; standing up and pacing, drowning out my contemplations with her awful memories of music she listens to.

I CAN'T HEAR YOOOOU! She yelled mentally.

I can't even hear myself, I sighed.

I heard the faint sounds of boots tapping on the cool white floor through her thought trains as she paraded my body around. She stopped and turned to stand facing Lasky and Sarah. The Spartan commander stood stiffly, her white armour glinting. The red hawk symbols on her shoulders were dull and scratched, her hands clenched at fists by her sides.

"Stupid eggheads. As soon as we need em', they fail us." She said irritably.

Thomas shifted and muttered softly, his forehead drenched with sweat.

"Mmmpf…Don't take m….Dida..t.."

I started with surprise. Didact. In Emily's world, a HALO 4 villain. In my world, humanity's greatest threat. I wasn't scared, I never was. He probably could have killed me if it wasn't for Cortana, my faithful AI who sadly "died" in Emily's computer game. She didn't in reality.

Thomas sat up suddenly, brown eyes wide with fear, but instantly he fell limp, prey to the torture of his dreams. It wasn't a virus or even the Didact himself. At least, I did not think it was. The only other thing would be that something-or someone, had poisoned Thomas, and I didn't think it was impossible that it didn't want to do it willingly. I hadn't seen the extent of the ancient Forerunner's power; he could have mind control for all I knew.

Emily

I controlled John's body stiffly along the corridor.

What's all this stuff about the Didact and Forerunners and what the heck in general? I asked, Johns mental image pacing.

Do you know about the Forerunners?

Yeah, aren't they like aliens that came before humans? Or something or other. Ancient, the Covenant think they are gods, pretty silly. In the HALO games the Librarian, she's some old woman isn't she? And that bad guy you were talking about, they're Forerunners, I told him, proud of my knowledge.

Correct. Before I was interrupted rudely by you earlier, I was onto something. Emily, in HALO 4, is there anything referred to as "biological?" John asked.

Well, yeah sure. When you got that umm… Thing, off the Librarian that helped you fight the Didact or something, Cortana mentioned something about your biological thing bei-

I halted suddenly.

Waaait. You think the Didact's done something to Lasky?!

I do not think he has done it directly. Somehow, I think that he has had someone else do it, John pondered.

How, exactly, can he manipulate someone through space and time? That's impossible.

But we do not know if it is for him, he replied, and I thought I could detect a faint tinge of… was that…anxiety?

Okay. So Lasky has been supposedly poisoned by an unknown person, being controlled by a certain someone who's a Forerunner. We don't know how to help your commander, and he's probably going to die; could this get any more negative?

I felt a strange presence and I stopped.

John, what's that?

What?

Why couldn't he feel it? This heavy presence, growing stronger and str-

The light appeared, directly in front of me, blazing more strongly than ever; the light beginning to burn out John's sensitive retinas. The pull, I could tell, was warping space and time, the hallways around me seeming to stretch a million kilometres long; making me feel sick. The light was not a transparent, gentle anomaly; it was literally a miniature sun. I flew forward, head first.

Unknown time later

I opened my eyes slowly to find cool, soft grass underneath my back and a sun in my eyes. The air smelt sweet and soft, and I sat up. To my surprise, I didn't feel that strength anymore, the world seemed dull, edges no longer sharp and crisp. I looked down at myself and found with a shock,

"I HAVE MY BODY AGAIN! YEEHA!" I hollered, jumping up. I looked about at my surroundings; I was in a clearing, woods around it. The trees were mossy and tall, the forest inside well lit and friendly looking. But I soon silenced my amazement.

There were no bird calls, no animal roars or wails; utterly silent save for the wind rustling softly through the trees. I began to feel that unmistakable knotting and tightening of my stomach, the feeling of fear, of anxiety. I had to find John. If I had my own body, he should have his.

I didn't expect to hear the voice in my head, a deep, malevolent sound, and I thought I recognised it.

Foolish Reclaimer. You interfere with the business of higher beings. I shall be thankful to correct this mistake.

I tried to shrink away from an invisible enemy; the Didact was talking to me, like he had in HALO 4, but to John instead. Somehow, he could contact me, too.

Leave..Leave me alone! I replied.

The Didact chuckled, the presence fading away. I wanted to go home! It was bad enough I was all alone, but with the Didact too? I wanted my warm bed, my books, my cat, I wanted something. I ran blindly into the forest, not noticing the sun setting. Branches whipped at my face and I twisted my ankle on a root. I fell to the ground sobbing. The forest grew dark around me. Mist started to drift through on a musty, wet breeze. I tried to stand but my ankle had swollen up and was throbbing; I cried out in pain and fell down again.

"Help me! Someone! Please…." I sobbed.

The strong one will help you, child, a kindly womanlike voice said gently inside my mind.

The Librarian? I asked her.

I received no answer. I thought she would help me, even though she was an ancient forerunner alien. I shivered, the air growing bitterly cold. Fog drifted above me and for a moment all I could see was grey, the thick moisture clogging my nose. Wisps of mist drifted out of holes in tree trunks, evaporating. The strong one? Could she mean John? How could he know where I was? I shivered again; the cold was beginning to penetrate my bones. I felt numb, my brain slowing down. It would be so good, to just fall asleep….

NO! I shook myself awake. I wouldn't succumb. I got up, careful to not put so much weight on my ankle, and limped through the foggy wood. I eventually broke out into a starry sky, two moons present, both thin and bright, delicate crescents. There was a vast plain ahead of me, rocky and grassy. I looked around for John, or anything, be it alien or something….else. Then I heard the howl, just like a wolf's, echoing around behind me in the misty forest. It was close, dangerously close. I totally freaked out; wolves?! I limped faster, across the rocky moor. They were hunting me. Moonlight reflected off icy mountains in the distance, at least twenty kilometres away, the massive cloud-reaching peaks thoroughly intimidating. The sharp surfaces I couldn't avoid sliced my runners to shreds, holes in the side and top. Meanwhile, the wolves howled again, closer. I should've stayed in the forest, climbed a tree. Out here there was no cover, nowhere to hide, no vantage points.

I turned to look back at the forest, now two kilometres away. I froze with shock as I saw five wolves lope slowly out, they must have seen me silhouetted against the moonlight; they began an excited barking, rushing into attack speed. I turned and tried to run, but I stumbled and tripped, gashing my hand on a sharp rock. I swore, and sat up. I could hear the thumping of the wolves paws now, hear their panting. I scrambled under a ledge of rock and hid, shivering. The excited barking halted and I knew they were in hunting mode.

A hand clamped over my mouth, pulled me away from the ledge and lifted me upwards, against a body of solid muscle. I relaxed, turning around and hugging the Spartan gratefully. He picked me up, slinging me over his shoulder. The wolves leapt up onto the rock, and for the first time, I really saw them, lean but strong, with long legs and yellow eyes, silver grey fur and dog like muzzles. They would be beautiful if they weren't out to kill John and I.

"John, go!"

His muscles tensed and he jumped right over a wolf.I screamed as he hit the ground again, jumping off the ledge and dodging rocks with blinding speed. I couldn't see anything, but I knew John could see like it was daytime. The wolves pursued, their yellow eyes glinting in the darkness, but John still wasn't at full speed. He was waiting until there weren't any sharp rocks threatening to impale him. I shrunk into him, the dangerous tactics worrying me. A wolf barked, probably an Alpha, and the pack surged forward in their classic tactics, three wolves jumping up above and to the side as John entered a narrow defile.

"You know what they're doing, right?" I yelled above the howling wind.

"No, but I know what they have in mind." He replied, totally calm.

He used his last burst of speed, charging ahead of the wolves before they could block his path. The rough thumping as John ran rattled my teeth and the rushing ground made me feel sick. The Alpha howled, calling the pack to stop. Instantly, the wolves dropped back, standing in a single line aside their leader. The moonlight glinted off their eyes as they turned and strode away.

Half an hour later

"Why did the wolves stop?" Emily asked.

I halted in a foresty clearing, dropping her gently to the ground as I leant against a tree to gain my breath again. Running almost nonstop for half an hour at around thirty to seventy kilometres an hour could even tax a Spartan.

"They may have decided to expend their energy on lesser prey." I answered.

Emily lay down on the cool grass, looking up at the starry sky.

"Either that, or there's something more dangerous here. Dangerous to them." I added thoughtfully.

"Oh wow, that's a really positive thought there, John!" she said sarcastically.

Emily

The Reclaimer speaks the truth, weak one. You and the other have decided to meddle, and I will accept your challenge.

I started, surprised, and I curled up on the grass whimpering. Not him again! I told him to leave me alone!

"Emily are you okay?"

I opened my eyes to find John kneeling next to me, his blue eyes confused. I launched my arms around his neck and buried my face into his shoulder.

"Emily…?" he said, surprised. His body was stiff and unyielding, but that wasn't anything unusual.

"The Didact….He's talking to me."

John drew in a sharp breath.

Telling the other will serve no purpose. The friend of my enemy is my enemy also, the Didact said.

The presence faded.

"John, why are there wolves? We're probably on an alien planet, why are there Earth animals,?" I said, changing the subject.

"The Didact could have created them. They might not be real." He answered somewhat ominously.

He turned his head away and stared off into the distance. I waved my hand in front of his face; his eyes didn't focus on them.

"I don't think you should be involved in this." he said finally.

He turned his head and looked at me, the moonlight glinting eerily off his blue eyes, shadowing his face and outlining his scars. A wolf howled, off in the distance and his pupils narrowed sharply as he gauged the distance.

"We have to keep moving. The wolves may decide to chase us anyway," he announced. He stood, the night brightening slightly; the sun was rising somewhere.

One hour later

Emily

The forest didn't last long. It ended with a vast, snowy field, huge mountains rising in the distance a few kilometres away. The sun cast a pinkish glow in the sky as it began its slow trip over our heads. I looked up at John, his breath rising in small mist clouds.

"How deep do you reckon it is?" I asked.

"I don't know. I haven't encountered much snow in my life."

I shivered, stepping closer to John in the freezing air. He looked down at me curiously, his eyes as cold as the air. But, for the first time, he smiled quite stiffly. It wasn't a big, beaming smile; he didn't even show any teeth. Pretty much, both corners of his mouth rose ever so slightly at the same time. It didn't quite reach his eyes, however, so it made him look somewhat evil. I gave him an exaggerated, huge, ugly smile, raising both eyebrows and tilting my head to the side. He frowned and raised an eyebrow simultaneously in confusion and I laughed, so hard I fell onto the last remnants of forest floor. I accidently fell into the snow, and I yelped, sunk up to my waist in it. Plus it was freezing cold.

"Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh get me out get me out! It's freezing!"

John jumped into the snow, only sinking up to his thigh. He put his hands under my arms and lifted me out. His eyes were narrowed somewhat, and I realised he was putting up with the cold. He swung me over his shoulder and I protested.

"Not like THAT! It only makes me feel sick."

He held me straight out in front of him like a dolly.

"I will drop you."

"NO! Okay! Okay I'll put up with it."

He threw me over his shoulder this time, and I got the wind knocked out of my lungs as I connected with his rock hard shoulder.

"I'm not a ragdoll!"

"Stop complaining or I will make you walk."

I silenced myself. I should be grateful he saved me from the wolves, that he was with me.

You believe you can run, yet you cannot hide from my eyes.

What do you mean? Why do you keep speaking in stuff like that? I replied to the malevolent voice.

Rough manners and coarse language is something I do not wish to bestow upon myself, weak one. You have chosen your path and I will end it for you. A favour, if you wish.

Go away! I've got better things to do than listen to the ramblings of you!

You would do well to listen, for it may be the last thing you hear.

With a flash, the oppression of the Didact's consciousness was off my thoughts.

I realised with a start John had stopped, his shoulders tense.

"I heard it this time."

"You mean….we're still kind of connected?"

"Possibly." He answered, suggesting case closed.

"What are we gonna do? I think "last thing you hear" is pretty suggestive.

"We can't do anything. I can't fight him. I don't have my armour, and even with it I don't think I could beat him a second time."

He'd had Cortana last time as well. She'd restrained the Didact with hard light so John could detonate a grenade on his chest.

I buried my icy face into the short, spiky black hair on the back of his head.

"I'm cold."

"There may be caves in the mountains," he said as he began to set a brisk pace wading through the snow. He seemed a little apprehensive with my touch.

"How far away are they?" I said through chattering teeth.

"It will probably take me an hour."

The forest grew farther and farther away as John trudged slowly up a snowy incline.

"I…I'll try to wait."

John snapped a branch off a dead tree as he passed it, the noise startling me.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm getting firewood. When we reach the cave, I will build a fire."

I shivered again. John picked up the pace once more.

Forty five minutes later

John

I'd reached the mountain earlier than I expected, but that didn't bother me. I could sense Emily growing weaker and colder. I probably had climbed only one hundred meters up the mountain, but as I didn't know how high we were elevated above sea level, the air was already beginning to thin. I stopped for the second time for a rest, annoyed at my loss of strength. I glanced upwards at the steep, snowy incline, trying to spot a cave. I cocked my head to the side as I saw a dark patch of rock that seemed to go into the snow.

"I may have found a cave," I announced to Emily. I was quite surprised; I'd expected it to be harder to find some sort of shelter. I didn't think the Didact would make it quite so easy.

She mumbled.

"Hurry up then. I can't feel my fingers."

I sighed at her terrible manners. I'd dragged her at least thirty kilometres all together and all she had to give me was whining. I dug my feet into the snow and began my trudge again. I reached a ledge of rock sticking out, just below the cave, and I pulled myself up onto it, Emily slung securely over my shoulder. The cave extended at least three meters into the mountain, and then stopped abruptly. I couldn't stand up in it, so I dropped Emily onto the ledge.

"Hey! What are you doing? Oh. I see. Sorry." She said, crawling into the cave on all fours ahead of me. I crouched and crawled inside. Instantly, the air grew warmer.

"Wow, it's so snug in here," Emily commented.

I pulled flint and steel out of my black military pants pocket, something I had kept with me in case the light took me somewhere in the wilderness. Seemed like my caution had paid off. I pulled the pieces of branch, kindling and wood off of my other shoulder, building a neat cone. I struck the flint against the steel and sparks flew out, catching alight the dry, dead wood easily. I had made the cone small, so to not smother us and use our oxygen. The sun had risen outside, revealing a beautiful blue sky free of clouds. It was still bitterly cold, however. Emily snuggled close to the fire. I felt a sudden pang of hunger and I realised we still needed food and water. I could provide one of those; I reached out of the cave and grabbed a handful of snow, popping it into a dip in the cave floor. The ice would melt, and we would have water, soon.

"I'm not particularly thirsty, but I need some food. And no, I'm not whining, because you need food as much as I do."

"There are no animals for me to hunt. You know that."

I'd told him about the lack of animals besides the wolves earlier.

"Then how will we eat?"

I looked away at the sky. We could eat wood, or kill the wolves and eat them; however I didn't think that would be particularly easy as they were in a pack. Besides, I didn't think they would be pleasant to eat. I didn't think wood was a nutritious diet either. I couldn't feed Emily or myself. I could only get water.

A few hours later

Emily

Okay, so eating wood was one suggestion. Eating the wolves was another. Wood didn't taste like anything, wasn't technically "living" and probably wasn't the best thing for our bodies to eat. The wolves were beautiful, intelligent, living creatures, even though they had tried to kill John and I, I didn't feel that I could bring myself to eat them. John didn't even have any weapons with him. He could be the one getting eaten. I reminded myself that he'd endangered himself for the sake of others heaps of times and that I was fussing. I stared blankly into the dancing flames of the fire. John was asleep, his back against the wall, his face finally somewhat peaceful. I stared at his scars, wondering how one person could endure so much. He was amazing, but then, he was made to be amazing, a leap in human science. I continued to stare, wondering why he kept protecting me, why he felt that need. He could do anything he wanted; he had the power to do so. He could leave me to die and save himself, yet he didn't.

I became lost in my own thoughts and I hadn't realised John had opened his eyes a crack, regarding me passively out of the corner of his eye. He was neither angry nor irritated; he was simply observing me like I was some sort of strange zoo animal. I blinked in surprise and he opened his eyes fully, continuing his intelligent observation. His pupils, shrunk from the harsh snowy glare outside, seeming to stare into my soul, the emotionless expression deeply chilling. I never really had the time to look deep into his eyes, and now I realised how broken he was as a human being. I shivered and looked away. I opened my palms to the fire to warm them and I shut my eyes with relish. I heard a rough scraping noise and I saw John had somehow pulled a standard issue UNSC knife out of his pocket; the Spartan was chiselling out a piece of wood, bright blue eyes fixed on the object of his task. I stared, surprised. It must have been a compactible knife or something. Again, his eyes shifted sideways and he looked once more at me, this time a questioning glance, like he was waiting for me to say something. I pulled a big lip at him and looked away. The hunger was beginning to come now, a cramping in my stomach and I curled up into a ball, attempting to alleviate the feeling. The rough scraping noise started again and I felt myself drifting off to sleep, the repetitive sound lulling me.

I woke sometime later to a howl. Very close. I looked for John and I saw no one in the cave with me. I drew my knees up to my chest, scared. Why would he leave me with the wolves? They howled again, the sound echoing eerily off the mountain. I stuck my head outside to be greeted by the two moons, blazing brightly. The mountain was awash with their light, every rock shadowed. The fire warmed my back while my front froze, and I withdrew quickly, shivering. Then I heard an excited bark, only probably around ten meters away. The wolves would have seen the light in the cave; I'd been found. I heard panting and paws crunching on the snow, and a snout poked into the cavern. I screamed. I'd be torn apart, played with, and then finally eaten. In came a head, followed by blazing yellow eyes, my terrified expression reflected in them. I tried to scramble back, but the cave wouldn't go any further; I was trapped. More wolves appeared outside on the ledge, one striding through the middle: the Alpha. He was bigger than the rest, his coat glossier and his fur fluffier. Another followed close behind, probably the Beta. The other three were Omegas, the lowest of their pack order, skinny and bony. A rush of cold air blew through the cave and the fire went out. I screamed and screamed, but the wolves didn't flinch.

"There is no need to scream." The Alpha said, in a husky, deep voice.

I didn't think I could scream anyway, I was so stunned. They could talk? I blocked everything else out. I babbled indecently.

"Why….why…why can't I scream? I mean, I would scream anyway but you can talk so I'm so surprised I can't scream and, and and..Oh the fire went out I can't light it again, look you're really scaring me so can you-"

"SILENCE!," the Alpha snapped, cutting off my blabbering, his fur fluffed up.

His silver grey fur settled back down again, and I shrunk back, shutting my mouth.

"I've come to take you into our pack. Your companion has left to find food; he wasn't to know you could die. One of the other packs around here could have found you."

"Why would you help me? And…There's more of you?"

"It is against our nature to abandon a pup," the Beta said in a feminine voice, completely ignoring my question.

"Oh, so you would have eaten me if my friend hadn't left?"

"We do not eat defenceless beings, otherwise they are not worthy of death. An opponent who can fight is worthy." The Alpha said, snapping at an Omega who had whimpered.

"I still don't trust you. I mean, you're talking wolves for Christ sake. I think I'll just wait for my friend to come back."

"He will probably not make it. Our whole pack is ten wolves; we are only half; the others are hunting him as we speak. Another pack hunts him also, they will kill him."

I started with shock; this wasn't the whole pack of wolves?! Only like a squad or something. I got up quickly, pushing past the Alpha who growled. The Omegas whimpered, snapping at my heels.

"I gotta save my friend; I don't want him to be torn apart by wolves!"

I wanted to believe this was just a dream, the wolves couldn't talk, John was right next to me…. Everything was fine….I tried to blunder off the mountain.

The Beta launched herself at my jeans, her jaws snapping shut and halting my frantic dash off the ledge. She mumbled through my pants,

"Our wolves, they don't know about you. They will rip youapart."

"Well, we gotta stop em!," I said, my teeth chattering. I had already begun to lose feeling in my fingers.

The Beta let go, and I tumbled down the steep snowy slope, flinging the white stuff everywhere until I was stopped by a tree trunk.

"OW!"

I heard paws crunching on the snow and I sat up, surrounded by the three Omegas and the Alpha and Beta.

"You'll die before we get there," an Omega commented.

"You said something about there being other packs….are there more than just yours?"

"There is only two other packs. One lives in the forest from the direction you came from; the other is far away, out past these mountains." The Alpha answered.

"Wait, so you mean that the pack that chased us across the moors wasn't you guys? They stopped as soon as we reached the forest at the edge of the mountains. I…I think they were a squad too. There were only five."

"They stopped because they were about to enter our territory."

I still couldn't believe I was talking to wolves, even stranger almost than the light and John. I didn't feel like much conversation.

"Where is your home? I'm….. I'm freezing…."

Sometime later

Emily

The wolves didn't have a "home" so to speak; they had a simple snow cave lined with fur and bark; however the cave was huge, at least two meters high and four meters wide. The expanses of the snow cave were probably three meters back. For light, there was an eerie glowing in the ice. As I entered, the fur cushioned out the cold and the bark stopped my hands from touching the cold snow, the perfect insulating combinations. As a result, the air was instantly warmer. The Alpha followed after, then the other wolves. I sat in a corner, as far away as possible from them, I didn't know if I could trust them yet and I wasn't willing to try their patience. The Alpha lounged, stretching out, and the Beta lay next to him, grooming his fur and I realised soon she may be the Alpha female. I smirked inwardly; if they were human I would have teased them ruthlessly. Hopefully they wouldn't er…do their thing while I was around.

The Alpha spoke, his deep and husky voice startling me.

"Tell me about this companion of yours. The wolves in the forest communicated that he was worthy prey, that he was theirs to hunt. You see, that pack has eaten all the food sources in that forest; you may have heard the silence. They are starving."

"Well….we're from a different world..I thought I'd start with that," I paused, waiting for barks of laughter and howls of amusement, but the Alpha simply tilted his silver head, the fur over his shoulders rippling. The glow from the strange light in the ice threw his eye sockets into shadow, and his yellow eyes gleamed intelligently.

"Go on, pup."

"Okay…there is this world with aliens and crafts that travel through space, that's where my friend comes from, he's a solider, he fights against the aliens. I'm from another world, we don't have high tech stuff, half of our population doesn't live in space, and we almost certainly do not have super soldiers, like my friend is."

The Alpha seemed to understand, his yellow eyes curious.

"How do you know about this stuff?" I asked him.

"The One who rules all on this planet."

"The Didact?" I asked, although I thought I already knew the answer.

He nodded.

"He gives us knowledge and food for our services. We are the guardians of this world, we have seen all, and I know that life could not exist without the One. He created the food in that forest for the other wolves, but they no longer wish to obey his command. They have therefore, run out."

"How do you exist in the first place if life cannot be made naturally?"

"The One has his own plans, and servants are needed to keep them safe."

"The…the wolves are going to kill John! We've got to help him..," I remembered with a flash, and I sniffed, tears forming.

The Beta got up, padding softly over to me. I shrunk back, but all she did was lick my tears away and tilt her furry head to the side, her yellow eyes sympathetic.

"Little pup, I know you are scared for your friend, but if our wolves find him first, he will be safe."

I looked up.

"Your wolves aren't going to kill him?"

"No, they are saving him from the other, forest pack. Do not worry, our wolves are more swift footed then the forest ones," the Beta answered. She sat next to me and I resisted the urge to bury my face into her soft silver fur. The Omegas eyed me greedily, and I knew that if the Alpha wasn't here I would have been ripped apart already.

A wolf howled in the distance and the Alpha's ears pricked.

"They've found him."

John

I eyed the five wolves cautiously as one of them spoke.

"We're not here to hurt you. Other wolves may come soon, they will be the ones to cause you harm."

I didn't reply; strange enough that they were talking wolves, strange enough to be a threat. I could see every line of muscles under their thick, silver coats and I knew I might be hard pressed to kill them all. I heard more paws crunching, and another five wolves melted out of the night. They were so well camouflaged even I could not pick them out from the snow and the shadows the moonlight cast. But then, I spotted Emily, stumbling along behind them and I ignored the wolves. So be it if they decided to rip me apart, I was going to protect her from these over grown dogs. I lifted her up and I stood in a classic attack stance, but Emily wouldn't cooperate and squirmed wildly.

"PUT ME DOWN YOU BIG OAF!" she roared.

"The wolves are friends, okay? The other wolves, the ones that chased us, they're a different pack." she announced, pointing to the knife still in my hand. She wanted me to dis arm myself? I didn't know if I could trust her, although I wanted to. Something in my training stopped me from doing so. I looked at the wolves, but I didn't see any kind of threat in their intense yellow gaze, and they weren't in threatening postures, either. I let Emily down and looked her in the eye, folding up my knife. She looked away, as usual; squirming under my powerful gaze. I put the knife in my pocket and watched the wolves. Waiting for death.

Emily

The Alpha stalked up to John, his yellow eyes matching the Spartan's cold gaze.

"I require your help, human. The wolf packs of this world wish to be free of the One's rule, and I know from his teachings that you are the one to do it. I have communicated with the other packs; they understand; they want to leave. I request that you take us with you when you return to your worlds. Without the One, we would die."

John's blue eyes glinted in the darkness; I could see his pupils narrowing in the moonlight.

"The One is the Didact, correct, wolf?" he asked.

The Alpha nodded.

John turned his head to look at me, suspiciously. I knew that look, like I'd done something wrong. The empty blue eyes again, pierced my soul, like he was searching for guilt.

TRAITORS! YOU SHALL PAY FOR YOUR MISTAKE!, the Didact's voice boomed through my head.

I watched with horror as John's blue eyes rolled up into his head and he toppled into the snow. He slumped on his back and didn't get up.

MY ENEMIES SHALL PERISH!

With a flash, I was reminded of Lasky. Maybe if we got rid of the Didact, he would get better? But we couldn't do anything now. I rushed over to John, shaking him roughly.

"John? John! JOHN!"

He didn't respond. The wolves padded over, their paws crunching in the snow. I tried to feel his neck for a pulse but my fingers were so numb I couldn't. I hyperventilated, he couldn't be dead, couldn't! It's impossible! I laid my head on his chest, and thankfully I felt the faint rise and fall of it. I calmed my breath and sobbed quietly. Another big scare; I didn't know how much more I could take of this.

"The One has deactivated him, at least for a while; but he can renew his hold over your companion at any time. The only way we can free him is to get rid of the One." The Beta said, her voice sad.

"We need a plan! But we don't even know where the Didact is! How are we gonna fight him? John was probably our only hope, now he's lying on his back in the snow, in some sort of sleep," I shouted angrily.

I looked down at the huge fallen figure at my feet, face serene, a rare occurrence, even while he was sleeping. For once, I actually wanted to see the intelligent icy blue eyes and see his silent amusement.

"The One is everywhere and anywhere at once. Only the person he wants to meet shall meet him."

OI! COME OUT HERE AND SHOW YOURSELF! HOW DARE YOU THREATEN MY FRIENDS! I screamed mentally at the presence still in my head.

You do not wish to see me, weak one, for I will be the last thing you ever do.

Oh ho ho, hell yes! You control these wolves like puppets, you cause my friend to fall into some sleep and now you threaten us?

I realised my mistake. Seeing red, I went too far.

I felt a strange sucking feeling, and the snow around me writhed, the moons warping strangely. Then I could see nothing.

I could open my eyes sometime later to find I was suspended by some weird blue light, forming cuffs around my wrists and attaching them to the roof, a dark grey metal. Strange, alien lights on the metal illuminated the room. I tugged on my restraints but they didn't budge. I tried my ankles but they were likewise held fast to the floor. I looked up and saw him; the Didact in full armour, about fourteen feet tall. His helmet was shaped like a skull, outlined by weird orange glowing lines. The armour was fixed on a dark brown over suit, lined, and the chest and thigh pieces were flat, again, outlined with glowing orange. I screamed, struggling, but it did nothing to the hard light chains.

"You wanted to meet me human. Accept your fate." The Didact's deep voice rumbled. I closed my eyes. John will help me. John will save me. He always does.

"Exactly, human. You will lure the reclaimer into my trap."

I recoiled. He could read my thoughts and now I was bait?! I gulped nervously, examining where I was. Past the Didact was a large room, filled with holographic monitors and screens and a large beam of light flashed down from the roof to the floor, and I thought it must be some type of teleporter, probably what John would come through, that is, if he knew where to find the other one, and if he would wake up. I wouldn't look at the Didact, closing my eyes. I didn't know how much more I could take before I finally broke.

John

I rolled my shoulders stiffly, shaking the snow off of my legs and ruffling my hair to get it out. I looked at the silver grey wolf, the Alpha who stood next to me, growling.

"So the Didact took her?"

"Yes, he teleported her, right here. He could not have taken you, only one at a time may be taken and only once a month; the month is for the recharge of the One's power. It may be hard to believe, but the One does have limits."

Probably a trap, if the Didact had just taken her and not me; better to kill two birds with one stone. He knew that I would go after her.

"Is there another way in?"

"A teleporter, somewhere. It has been so long since anyone used it, no one really knows where it is anymore."

I looked off into the rising sun. It was very obviously a trap, but I had no other choice and the Didact knew it too. Either I came, or she died. The snow glinted yellow as the sun continued to rise, painting the sky a light pink. I heard rather loud crunching as the wolves stood in a perfect line, the Alpha in front.

"We want to be rid of this threat. We shall help you in your task, as an enemy of my enemy is my friend." The Alpha said, tipping up his head to howl. The other wolves followed suit and the dawn echoed with the chorus of the wolf. For the first time, I thought I recognized beauty when I heard it. It hurt my ears but it didn't matter to me, at least I had backup. First, however, we needed to find the teleporter. The Beta seemed to read my thoughts, her strange feminine voice causing me to turn my head.

"The one place that may have it is that cave you were in. I did not know why you didn't stop to think why the cave came to such an abrupt end; that is a door. It is very primitive, a pressure plate located on the wall to the left. The teleporter could be in the small room behind it."

I cocked my head to the side. The reason I'd never found it was because I didn't even know it existed. I didn't really think about the cave stopping so abruptly because that was not part of my training. I wasn't a detective.

"What are we waiting for?"

The cave seemed harder than before to reach, loose snow and rocks hampering the wolves and myself. It took the better part of a day and by the time we'd reached it the wolves and myself were thoroughly exhausted. I crawled into the cave, my breath billowing out in clouds in front of me, the wolves following and crowding into the cave. I looked closely at the wall and I saw the outline of something. I could see the tiny cracks in the wall, and I pressed in between two that seemed just a little too perfect and angular. Too easy, I should have expected more, but then, the Didact wanted me to come. The wall made a high pitched squealing noise and I winced, flinching away from it. Dust showered from the roof and straight into my delicate eyes. I blinked rapidly against the pain the small particles caused. When I opened them, a dark hole had appeared in the back wall of the cave, the wolves already streaming in through the opening. I strode forward, delaying a little to let my eyes adjust properly; instantly I could see the room was quite small, probably only around three meters wide and four meters high, the floor a smooth, dark metal. The wolves snuffed, investigating the strange light in the centre of the room that ran from the roof to the floor.

"Comrades, I think we have found the teleporter! I do not know if it still travels to its intended destination, however," the Alpha said, yapping happily. "But maybe, just maybe, we shall soon be free from the tyranny of our master."

Probably. More than likely we would all die; I knew that much from previous experiences. I felt a small wash of uselessness, but I shoved it aside as I usually did.

"There is only one way to find out if this still works," I said, squinting closely at the light. I turned to the Beta, "We'll have to try it."

The Alpha barked sharply, "I wouldn't mind the risk. We would die from the One anyway."

He stepped cautiously towards the light, his black nose snuffling the air. His silver grey coat fluffed up and he advanced slowly. He turned back towards us, "Follow, my comrades. Be brave," he said, leaping gracefully into the light. I narrowed my eyes, walking in also. I couldn't see, and the sensation was similar to that of the Light. I felt myself deposited gently on my feet and I opened my eyes to find the Didact staring at me.

Emily

"JOHN! GO WHILE YOU CAN!" I screamed, straining uselessly against my chains. His blue eyes flicked from the Didact's imposing figure, twice as tall as he was, to me. He seemed calm and a stream of wolves appeared behind him, growling and low to the ground, their teeth bared. The Didact huffed.

"My former servants are a poor excuse for backup, reclaimer," he said disdainfully.

John didn't reply, instead I could tell he was planning. The Didact didn't wait for him to get any further, swinging a clawed hand at him, but John seemed to move at blinding speed, dodging the swipe. The attack hit a young Omega, who died instantly as the claws ripped through his body, and the Alpha howled angrily. The silvery wolf leapt at the Didact, crunching his jaws on his armoured arm, but the Didact threw him off, and the Alpha flew into a wall, collapsing on his flank. He didn't move and I screamed again, my throat raw. How many of my friends had to die? WHY!? The other wolves barked angrily, throwing themselves at the ancient alien. I closed my eyes but soon opened them again as I felt a tug on my hard light chains. John pulled resolutely at them with all his might, but they didn't break. He was frowning thunderously, his blue eyes confused. He turned his head to look at me, irritated.

"For once, I can't seem to break something," he announced, frustrated.

I wanted to just fall into his arms and sleep. My battered and exhausted body just could not cope anymore. My eyes closed slowly. My moment of peace didn't last long as I heard a startled sound from John and I opened my eyes to see the Didact dragging him along the floor with some kind of telekinesis. He tried to stand but the ancient Forerunner reached out his hand, and John's eyes narrowed. He seemed to choke and I realised the Didact was crushing him. For the first time I could see something resembling pain fill John's eyes; the remaining wolves howled piteously as they watched the Spartan slowly die. I couldn't do anything anyway. I felt numb, detached. I didn't care. I didn't care. Why couldn't they just shut up and let me sleep? John looked straight at me, but I didn't see any resignation or sadness, no begging for mercy either. He seemed…apologetic, almost like he'd failed, like he wasn't just about to run out of air and collapse, dead onto the floor. His eyes slowly lost intelligence and grew blank. Then they rolled up into his head and he slumped onto the floor.

Wait.

John was dead?

NO!

I wrenched strongly at my light chains and they shattered, weakened from John's efforts. The last of the wolves attacked the Didact, their fight renewed. John mightn't be dead. He couldn't be. I looked around and spotted my weapon; loose panelling on the ceiling that if I hit hard enough, would fall on the Didact and possibly kill him. I grinned crazily. Oh what the heck, I don't give a crap anymore. I knew I was going stupid but did it matter? An almost vertical ramp led up to the panelling, the large room filled with toppled monitors, somehow migrating from the smaller room through the alien corridor. Broken hard light shards littered the ground, and I managed to drag myself painfully over to the ramp, my battered body and chafed wrists and ankles hampering me. I climbed slowly up it, sliding my hands and feet into grooves in the metal. I reached the top, and I stretched upwards, touching the panelling.

That was all it took.

Half the roof came smashing down around me, covering the Didact and smothering the wolves. Time seemed to slow down as I watched a piece of metal head straight towards me. I couldn't dodge that; it hit me on the head. I felt a brief flash of pain as I was knocked out.

My body toppled, unconscious, into the falling pieces.

Unknown time later

Emily

I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. I struggled, trying to cry out. I saw death, blood, violence. Wars, peace, and treaties. Huge spaceships, aliens, weapons. I screamed. An alien executed a marine in front of me, and I watched his headless body topple. WAKE UP! WAKE UP GODAMMIT!

My eyelids fluttered open and I breathed in deeply, smelling fresh, clean, crisp air. It smelt of pine needles and grass, and I found myself in a pristine forest, sunlight filtering through the trees. Every tree, every leaf, seemed so perfect.

Was I dead? Was this what heaven looked like?

I sat up, my muscles screaming in protest. I didn't expect to see a familiar face cocked to the side, intelligent blue eyes concerned. The Spartan crouched in front of me, and I gasped in astonishment; I threw myself at John, hugging him. He sighed softly and relaxed.

"You're alive! I thought you were dead…."

I wouldn't let go.

"Spartans never die."

I sat back, blinking. Not that old saying. Spartans do die.

I sniffed, burying my face into his shoulder.

He looked off into the trees.

"We're in your world," he looked back at me again. "The light took us all, the wolf packs too. They are currently hiding, waiting, for the light to take them somewhere more suitable."

I struggled to keep my eyes open, I was still tired.

"Where abouts in my world are we? If we're in a highly populated place we're screwed, like China; if we were in China about a million people would have seen us already."

"I don't know. I don't have a way of checking our position," John said.

I stood slowly, my legs shaking and my calves aching. I felt my knees buckle and John caught me.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"To see where the heck we are! I don't think the light would take us too far from where I live. I want to get you and the wolves safe."

"You're in no condition to go anywhere."

"Easy for you to say, you could have died."

He looked at me sharply.

"Emily, the Didact wouldn't just kill me. He would have made sure I died slowly; I was only unconscious Emily," he stated flatly.

I collapsed into his chest, again closing my eyes.

"John! I don't want you to be captured or anything and I don't want the wolves to get hurt!"

He sighed quietly, hoisting me into his arms.

"I'll take you around; see if you'll recognise anything."

He strode quietly through the forest, and I noticed the gum trees, and Australian scrubland.

We broke out into a clearing, leaving behind the forest.

"It's Wirraglen! John, we're back here! We have to be careful, I don't know what day it is, and there could be kids here."

The grass crunched quietly under John's silent footsteps. He turned his blue eyes onto me, narrowing them slightly. He didn't look nervous at the prospect of being discovered, just irritated.

"You know just as well as I do that we can't be seen."

I struggled; trying to get down, John dropped me gently. I found I could stand, and I scrambled forward up a hill toward Wirraglen. John followed me slowly, and I peeked over the rise. Kids ran everywhere, up, down, all around the Wirraglen building. I spotted Oliver with Chloe and his sister Daisy, his tan brown face scrunched up with laughter. Chloe flicked her long brown hair and Daisy swung her small pink bag around.

"It must be Thursday, John! That's the only day when all these people come."

He turned his blue eyes to look at me.

"You realise you have been missing? I don't know how time passes compared to your world and the one that we were in. For all we know, you could have been missing for weeks," John said. "I can't take you back to your house, either. I don't have active camouflage."

A voice sounded behind us.

"I think I can help with that."

I whirled around,

"Lasky?!"

The commander smiled and nodded. I launched forward; I hugged him and wouldn't let go. He wasn't sick anymore; he didn't smell sickly sweet and like disinfectant and blood. The old cinnamon smell was back, and I sniffed it in gratefully.

"You're better!" I mumbled into his uniform.

"No thanks to you and John. The light took me here shortly after I recovered. I took supplies just in case, and I happened to bring what you two seem to need." He said, amused at my sudden attachment to him. I stepped back and smiled at him, Thomas's brown eyes warm. John began one of his cold and reserved examinations that he always did; seeming to make sure Thomas was really there. I thwacked his arm, and gave him a disapproving look. He turned a withering glare onto me. Lasky held out a strange ball and John took it gratefully.

"There is also the problem of wolves, you two. Don't forget the wolves." Thomas said.

"How'd you know about them?"

"While I was sick, I could see the world that you were in, like a spectator. I could hear what you were saying, see what you were doing. Trust me, I know everything you did."

I shivered. The thought of Thomas watching over us creeped me out.

"There is also the problem of the children," John interjected suddenly.

Thomas pursed his lips.

"I have a feeling my time here may be limited. Your world is very beautiful, Emily. I wish I could live here."

The light swelled behind Lasky as he spoke. He turned and stared at it for a minute.

"Well, it looks like my time was very limited," he said, chuckling to himself. "Goodbye, you two. Make sure you get Emily back to her house without any trouble."

With that, he jumped back into the glowing light. I blinked. That was quick and painless.

I turned to John.

"Do you really think the Didact is dead?"

He shook his head slowly.

"He is too powerful for a mere piece of panelling to kill him. I woke up shortly after you had destroyed the room."

He hoisted me into his arms again and I squealed with surprise.

"Can we please not run back to my house?"

He raised an eyebrow sarcastically.

"Yes, I want to be deafened by your screaming, Emily."

Twenty minutes later

Emily

The rhythmic movement of John's walking began to lull me to sleep, relaxing my traumatized muscles and soothing my stressed brain, but I still couldn't get a fact out of my mind.

"John, I'm still scared."

As we were both in active camouflage, I could see him. His blue eyes focused on my face, still cold and hard as ever.

"You're fine," John said simply. The crunch of the rocks under his black boots grew monotonous and annoying. I snuggled into his strong shoulder and sniffed quietly, my emotions overflowing. I wasn't walking because my body just wouldn't. My legs swung in time to the Spartan's stride, and before long I felt myself drifting off again.

John

Again, Emily fell limp as she drifted back into sleep, her tear streaked face lolling backwards. I knew what she felt, but again, I couldn't feel it. I continued my slow walk, respectful of Emily's need to rest and the fact that a slower moving shimmer would be less obvious than a fast one. Luckily, Thomas had brought the upgraded model of active camouflage which could last for around two hours, compared to the usual one minute. Strange cars drove past, blowing Emily's hair around and ruffling mine. I didn't notice that I arrived almost mindlessly at the child's house; I laid Emily down gently on the grass, careful to not lose contact or she would lose her camo. I looked up, at the white walls and the front door of her home, the small gate at the side. As I watched, the front door opened and for the first time I saw Emily's parents. Her father was almost bald, a small bit of black hair remained at the back of his head, he had a close cropped black beard and her mother had puffy red hair, short. Both looked to be a few years older than myself, at least around forty five or fifty. Their faces were sad and their postures were slumped. I cocked my head to the side.

So, Emily was missing, after all, I thought. She shifted, opening her eyes. I kept a firm grip on her arm, so she wouldn't lose contact; she turned to look at her parents and tugged roughly, her eyes filled with dismay. She mouthed words at me angrily.

LET ME GO! JOHN!

I forced some pity into my eyes and said nothing.

"Emily!" her mother called hopefully. Unbeknownst to her, her daughter was five meters away with my hand over her mouth. Emily cried quietly into my hand, her body slumping onto the ground again. Her parents turned and closed the door slowly. Instantly, Emily bit my hand and writhed in my grip. The bite to the hand stung a little, but quickly faded into nothing as always.

"Stop! You know we can't just appear out of nowhere!" I fumed angrily. The lawn under my folded knees crunched softly and I sighed at the fact I would probably get grass stains. Emily sobbed as she frantically tried to swallow her emotions. I stood and pulled her upwards with me.

"John please! I want to go home!"

For the first time in a while, I actually felt something. Emily was probably ecstatic the whole time to get home, yet she was stopped literally meters away from what she loved the most. I thought for a moment. One way in, one way out. I was going to have to do what I was not supposed to do.

"Emily, I'm going to knock on the door and hand you in."

"John….You don't like stuff like that….You'll stuff up."

I stared her down quietly. Her eyes grew grateful and watery, and I turned off the active camo and I tenderly reached for her hand; it would not do to go walking up to her front door and not looking like I actually found her. She looked up at me in surprise and took my hand rather apprehensively, holding it out stiffly in front of her. I pulled her forward and knocked on the large wooden door loudly. I smiled wryly inside; I usually would just punch the door down in my usual line of work. Inside, even though they were down the end of the house, I heard hurried bare feet slapping on the bare tile floor. I sincerely hoped that they wouldn't notice the UNSC insignia on the left side of my long sleeved grey shirt. The door was thrown open, and Emily's parents stood in front of me, expressions of hope on their faces. Her dad was shorter than me, about a one foot and a little more. They saw Emily, who let go of my hand and leapt at her parents, laughing happily. They hugged her and kissed her and laughing, tickled her. I watched the scene with some amusement, Emily's beet red cheeks after she was tickled was quite hilarious. After a while, her father straightened and looked at me gratefully. I could see my icy blue eyes reflected in his chocolate ones, and I looked down at him.

"Thanks mate. How did you find her?" he said in a classic Australian accent.

I thought for a moment, but Emily noticed and saved my bacon.

"Dad, invite him in! Don't be rude," she chastised.

Her father looked down at her and waved me in. I gave Emily a withering look when her parents turned to walk back into the kitchen, she shrugged and grinned wolfishly. I strode in after her parents, making sure I wiped my boots clean on the brown mat inside. I may not be good at social interaction, but I knew I shouldn't track dirty boot prints all over the white tile floor. A lounge room went off to the right, with a huge television and couches. Further along the white hallway a room branched off to the left, Emily's parent's bedroom. I followed helplessly along behind Emily's parents, dismayed at my predicament; hopefully Emily would help me through some of the "social" things. Her parents entered a kitchen with another flat screen television and sat down on some couches in front of it. I lingered uncertainly, and Emily jerked her head over ever so slightly. I strode over, looking about me, slightly anxious. I sat stiffly down beside Emily, and her mother who sat next to her examined me closely. Her father sat on another couch ajar. Emily ever so slowly lowered her hand on top of mine and held it. Her mother kissed her again and hugged her happily, happy tears falling from her eyes.

"How did you find our precious daughter?" her father asked once more.

I'd already thought of an explanation.

"I found her lost, wandering your town." I tried to say normally, but I still couldn't get that flat note out of my voice. Emily hugged me sweetly, and I forced myself to smile stiffly.

"American," her dad whispered, not intending me to hear, but he wasn't to know I could hear a pin drop from one hundred meters away.

"Thank you. May I ask your name? We'll need to tell the police that we found our daughter," her mother said, kissing Emily on the forehead again.

I opened my mouth and closed it, and Emily squeezed my hand.

"John. My name is John."

"Last name?" her father asked.

Emily turned her head so her parents couldn't see and mouthed "Make one up".

"Bird. John Bird."

"Would you like some tea, or coffee or…." Her mother suggested.

"No thanks, ma'am. I have to get going," I said, my American accent spoiling the ma'am as I tried to say it without an emotionless tone.

"Thank you again, John," Emily's father said.

Five hours later

Emily

I stood outside in the crisp night air, the time ten o'clock at night. I'd opened the door silently and slipped out into the cool, clear night. The moonlight allowed me to see quite well, and I sat on the lawn and waited. The trees in the middle of the road rustled eerily as wind blew my hair and ruffled my Angry Bird pyjamas. I shivered; they were only shorts and a T shirt.

"John, come on out," I whispered. I stood and reached out a hand, waiting for him. After about a minute, a strong hand folded around mine.

"You're still here?"

John appeared, switching off his active camouflage. His blue eyes reflected the full moon above my head and his spiky black hair ruffled in the breeze.

"I don't know why the light has not taken me back."

I hugged him, snuggling into his warm body as I tried to stop shivering. John wrapped his arms around me and I could feel his warm breath over my head, stirring my strawberry blonde hair. I liked to think of him as my kind of guardian, just for me. I couldn't exactly call him an angel, more like an angel of death.

"Thanks for saving me, John. You're so amazing!"

He didn't comment.

"And by the way, John Bird? Really? What kind of last name is that?"

"You were the one who forced me to go inside, you were the one who drove unlicensed," he shot back. I pushed him away and folded my arms, pulling a big lip and frowning. I couldn't hold my serious pose against his deliberate blank face and stare and I broke out laughing.

"Shut up!" I said.

He raised an eyebrow.

"Stop it!"

It rose further.

"Would. You. Stop. Doing. That!"

He tickled me, and I fell, giggling crazily, on the ground. He bent his long legs and continued to poke my ribs, and I could feel how much he was holding back his strength.

"Sttooooop! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

I couldn't believe I had the Master Chief playing with me, but after all the stuff I'd been through it didn't seem that weird. I attempted to noogie him, but he reacted as fast as lightning and blocked my hand, looking from it and to my face, his expression a fake frown. The playful moment was halted as I realised I could feel the light's heat on my back. I pulled away from it and stepped backwards, but John walked forward expectantly. Just before he reached the pulsating orb of light, he turned to me.

"I don't know what these travels mean. For once, I can't stop something, I can't understand something. But thank you. I think you've…made me realise I can do other things than be a mindless killing machine."

He leapt into the light, leaving me no room for comment.

"Thank you for what?"

But he was already gone.

A few days later

John

The wolves barked happily as the light dumped us all in a pristine, snowy forest. They rolled in the snow, yipping, playing and growling. The Alpha tackled me before I could get up, licking my face.

"Thank you! Thank you, Spartan! This will be our sanctuary, our oasis in the desert."

I pushed the excited wolf off me and fixed him with a frown.

"I hope this will wash out," I said, examining my slobbery clothes.

The Alpha Female stood next to her mate, licking his face and grooming his ears, and he returned the favour happily. Their yellow eyes glowed with happiness as they strode off together in the falling snow.

Maybe this wasn't the end?

Maybe there was more?

I didn't know.

After all, I was just a Spartan.