0800 Hours, February 10, 2525/(Military Calendar)
Epsilon Eridani System, Reach Medical Complex, Planet Reach
Simmons had spent the past week becoming acquainted with his new barracks. He had yet to actually meet the Spartan II's, but he watched them drill every day. He watched, as they became increasingly better, their drills where flawless, he doubted his platoon would ever act in such a manner. Today he looked as they drilled on an obstacle course; they flew through it as if it were a child's playground. Simmons knew that he could do better, and he yearned to go run the course, but knew he should not. These were children, they were not supposed to beat him, and he knew he would not feel better by defeating them in a simple obstacle course. He waited anxiously for their augmentation. When he could truly see why his friends had died, he waited for when he would no longer need to sit on a grassy field, alone, knowing he was truly the only one of his kind. For when he could finally belong, yet he still knew he did not truly belong, he knew, deep inside, that he was cursed to be alone forever. He longed to be just the normal Marine he had been, he longed for the life before he met Dr. Halsey, but something told him that was not true. He knew that what he had done was necessary, but still he wondered what his life would be had he never been a Spartan. What would happen were Amacus still alive? He forced himself to stop thinking these thoughts, dreaming and wondering were a luxury he could not afford.
SPARTAN-104, Frederic, took in a deep breath as he finished the obstacle course CPO Mendez had set up for them inside the Medical Facility Complex. It had many surprises not found on a normal course. As Fred looked back at the course he watched the others finish. Kelly had, of course, been the first done, and was now pleading with Mendez to let her run it again. Fred smiled as Mendez simply stared past her and ignored her fruitless pleas. As SPARTAN-117, John, finished he came over to Fred.
" Congratulations," he said.
"For what?" Fred asked.
"You beat me," John said jokingly, and Fred smiled again. As John turned to face him Fred noticed a puzzled look on his face.
"What?" Fred asked, but John simply stared. Fred now turned himself, to see a single man standing on the edge of the course. As Fred strained his eyes to soak in every possible detail of the man, Sam came behind them and let out a disapproving sigh.
"An ODST," he said, "He's here everyday."
"Why?" John asked, but Fred continued to stare. Something about the man perplexed him. Fred could not take his eyes off him; he continued to stare even as Mendez called them over to start the course again. Finally he was able to tear away, but not before seeing the man walk away, he slowly got into a Warthog and drove off, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake.
"104, Are you deaf? I said on the double," Mendez shouted, and Fred was forced to stop looking back.
Simmons walked away from the course as the sun started to set. He watched his long shadow copy his every move before him. He walked the seven miles back to his barracks double time, and made it in a little over an hour. Before he turned inside he looked back, he could still see the top of the enormous complex over the rolling hills of Reach's landscape. The sun had finally set, and the stars shone brightly onto him. Simmons finally opened the door and walked to his quarters. His clothing had been folded neatly, his M6C was holstered and on top off his small cot, his bag was under it. Simmons moved the M6C to his dresser and plopped down on the cot. He didn't try to fall asleep, he just thought. For hours on end he simply sat there thinking about the past week he had spent on Reach. He wondered why Dr. Halsey wouldn't speak to him, why he wouldn't speak to the Spartan's. Then, against his will, he drifted to sleep.
0400 Hours, February 13/(Military Calendar) Epsilon Eridani System, Reach Medical Complex, Planet Reach
Today Simmons Swore he would talk to the Spartan's, he just wanted the right opportunity. He drove to the course inside the Complex in a borrowed warthog and parked on the edge of the hill over looking the parade grounds and obstacle course. He sat on the bumper of the warthog and watched as the seventy five Spartans filed out onto the parade grounds, the man drilling them, CPO Mendez, was the shortest man out there, but he commanded respect, and he could tell all of the Spartans not only respected him, but feared him.
As they finished their drills and walked for the obstacle course Simmons sat down on the dewy grass. His boots quickly became soaked from the watery residue, but his feet stayed dry, so he didn't care. The Children ran through the obstacle course. Simmons noticed the girl finish first again, he wanted badly to test himself against her, but decided against it. As the final Spartan finished the course they gathered around the CPO. Mendez began to speak, but even Simmons augmented hearing couldn't pick up what he was saying. Mendez looked at Simmons and then back at his Spartans. Simmons wondered what that was about, and received an answer as the three boys who had stared at him three days ago walked towards him. Simmons started to walk for the driver's seat of the Warthog, but checked the motion; it would be suspicious if an ODST tore off while watching Spartans drill. He simply stood up and awaited their arrival. As they walked up the hill the sandy haired one spoke up.
"CPO Mendez wants to see you," he shouted, he seemed to command authority, apparently He thought he was in control, he thought wrong.
"Tell CPO Mendez that he will kindly come up here and request that I speak to him." Simmons said as they finally caught glimpse of his insignia. The two others saluted him, and Simmons returned it, but the taller one simply stared at him. "Do I need to put that in the form of an order?" he asked him.
"No, sir," said one of the others, the Sandy haired one refused to speak. "CPO Mendez wishes to discuss classified material with you, and feels this location to be unsafe, he believes the parade ground to be more secure."
"Very well," Simmons regrettably replied, and followed them to Mendez.
As Simmons locked eyes with the Chief Petty Officer he knew he recognized him. The Spartans were apparently unaware off this, as they simply looked at the two of them in awe.
"Lieutenant, you are here everyday, watching my men, and I want to know why," The CPO said.
"I have my reasons and I happen to know you are aware of them."
"But my Spartan's do not, and I am sure they are curious," Mendez told him.
"Well then why don't you tell them?" Simmons asked.
"I would rather show them, Recruit Kelly, on the double." As He said this one of the Spartans walked forward, it was the fast one, Simmons knew what was next, and by the look on her face Simmons could tell she didn't. "Simmons, I wish for you to race my fastest Spartan in my obstacle course."
"Okay," Simmons replied, "But it's hard to race myself, I usually tie." He jokingly replied.
Kelly now was aware what she was supposed to do, but Simmons comment had confused here and she barely heard Mendez shout, "GO!"
Pleased with his head start Simmons sprinted the first one hundred yards in eight seconds, and then he jumped over the low-lying hurdles. He was a full thirty Meters ahead of the girl when he reached the first real obstacle. The Fence stood ten meters tall, and wood blocks jutted out at random places. Simmons climbed with lightning speed, but Kelly climbed faster.
As Simmons jumped off the top, with a resounding thud and a cloud of dust, he noticed the girl was almost to the top. He Sprinted to the next obstacle, a man made lake, and swam across.
Kelly was obviously not a swimmer, as Simmons gained back his thirty-meter lead with ease. Once out of the pool he turned the corner of the course into a set of monkey bars. Mendez had put forth an odd course, but Simmons followed it all the same. He pulled himself on top of the monkey bars and ran the two hundred meters instead of pulling himself, he wondered if that meant disqualification.
As he ran the third leg of the course and turned the corner he saw a mile long sprint, the track was covered by rubber pellet machine guns. At least he hoped they were rubber pellet. He hesitated and Kelly nearly caught up with him. But he sprinted off, as the guns opened fire. As He was struck by the first round he realized they were not rubber pellets, but paintballs. He slowed down and was hit by three more. They stung but he kept going. He clutched his chest and full out sprinted the next quarter mile. He knew he was not a long distance runner, and hoped Kelly wasn't either. He checked his lead; it was still substantial and he slowed to a quick jog until she was only two meters behind. He used his last burst of energy to cross the finish line ahead. And then he rolled onto the ground.
Exhausted he gasped for air and stared into the beautiful blue sky. Kelly finished a few seconds later, and Simmons could tell she was angry. She spit onto the ground and looked away from him in disgust, she dared not look at the other Spartan's, too. Mendez started to clap his hands as Simmons stood up, but the Spartans did not. They apparently didn't like one of their kind being beaten by an ODST. Little did they know; he was their kind.
"Congratulations, Lieutenant, you can beat children," A voice jokingly said. Simmons jumped up and saw it was Dr. Halsey's voice.
"Yes, ma'am, I can," Simmons replied, happy Halsey would finally speak to him.
She turned to CPO Mendez, and he ordered the Spartans to retreat to their barracks.
"Doctor," Mendez said, as he curtly nodded at Halsey. She nodded in response, and turned back to Simmons.
"Walk with us," she said, "Please," she seemed to add the last word out of respect, but Simmons didn't know why. As they started to walk, away from the Medical Complex, The Doctor spoke again, "As you are well aware, the Spartan II project is in full swing, and will be completed within the coming months."
"Yes, I am," Simmons, said, "What does it have to do with me?"
Halsey stopped in her tracks, Simmons could tell the doctor was flustered, and she started to clean her glasses, as if that would somehow help her understand.
"What?" she said, placing her glasses back on the bridge of her nose. "Why would it not involve you?"
"With all due respect Ma'am," Simmons said, as he prepared to uncap months of anger, "I have been hung out to dry, to no help from you, why should I care if your little experiment works or not? I am just a guinea pig." He reminded her. Halsey was speechless, but Mendez was not.
"Son, you have been helped in ways you'll never understand." With that the Petty Officer walked away, as did the Doctor, and Simmons was left to trek back to his barracks alone, thinking about what Mendez said, and how Halsey had ever helped him.