A/N: Nothing too spectacular's going on in my life right now, so I should be able to update at least once a week from now on. Until I have to write new chapters, anyways, but that's a long way down the road. R&R and enjoy!

Chapter 16 – 0048 Hours

I soon found myself cracking up while we were flying, which appeared to be worrying everyone. Finally, Davis asked,

"Sir, what the hell's so funny?" I tried to answer, but I had to wait and get my breath back. I finally stopped laughing for a few moments.

"Safety," I replied, still laughing. A disgusted look came over her face.

"You bastard," Davis said as she covered her nose. Miranda looked confused, but Johnson shook his head and muttered something to himself.

"What's going on? Why are you… ugh, that stinks," Keyes said as she covered her nose. I was laughing even harder because it took her so long to catch on. "Pilot, release the emergency breathers. It smells like shit back here."

"No can do, ma'am. They're emergency use only," the pilot replied. "It's not life-threatening, don't worry. Plus, we're almost there."

"If we're almost there, then hurry up," Keyes yelled back.

""Just calm down, Keyes," I commented as she held her nostrils shut. "You act like you're gonna die." She sat back down quietly and crossed her arms, almost as if she was pouting. "So, are we teaching them about our culture, or are they teaching us?"

"We're teaching them about our culture."

"Then why didn't we bring our equipment? We could show them how to use it or even improve ours with their technology. Yet again, ONI displays their planning prowess." Davis and Johnson laughed and Keyes smiled a little.

"Good news, ma'am. We're finally here and we'll be docked in five," the pilot stated. Seconds later the door was opening and we walked out into the hangar of the rebel ship. Many nearby Elites shot us looks of hatred, so I gave them the bird. I then realized that I'd have to teach them what it meant.

"It's good to see you again, Lieutenant," the Arbiter said as he appeared from seemingly nowhere.

"It's Captain now, Arbiter," I kindly corrected.

"Congratulations. Follow me to your quarters. I have studied some human history, so I hope that they will help you feel at home." I picked up my gear, which for some reason seemed noticeably lighter. I quickly made sure that I had everything, and then I walked on without giving it a second thought. Through the halls many Elites still glared at us, so I just ignored them. Davis, however, could barely tolerate it.

"I swear I'm gonna cut their eyes or whatever the hell they see with out if they don't quit staring at me," she whispered to me. I turned to whisper something back, but before I could say anything I had run into an Elite who was sporting white armor and a big ass helmet. After it took a step back to regain balance, I looked up at its face as it began speaking.

"Watch your step, scum. I'm sure your inferior race has some kind of rank system, so consider me your social superior," it sneered. I spotted what looked like where a bullet had grazed its head, so I cracked a smile. "What is so funny, weakling?"

"How'd it feel to get schooled by a human child so long ago?" I could see the anger rising in the Elite's eyes. "Yeah, I remember beating you, so you better remember who you're dealing with," I retorted as I stared it down.

"You! Now is my chance to get my revenge! Prepare to die!" The Elite drew its energy sword out and slashed at me. Before the hit connected, I had pulled out the one I took from it on my homeworld and blocked the swing.

"Wow, you're still a horrible fighter," I taunted. It did the famous Elite Roar of Fury, as Marines had dubbed it, and charged at me again as I quickly dropped my gear and prepared to counterattack.

"Enough!" the Arbiter yelled. We both paused and looked at him. "You are not here to settle your petty rivalry. Lieutenant… Captain Henson is here to educate us on the culture of our newfound allies. You will not attack him or threaten him in any way. Is that clear?" The Elite nodded. "And the same goes for you, Captain. Do not incite or taunt my warriors. For if you do, I cannot guarantee your safety. We will continue to your rooms now." The Arbiter started walking again, so the four of us followed. I turned back and stuck my tongue out at the Elite quickly as I picked up all my baggage.

Once in our quarters, we noticed that it was only one room. There were no screens, sliding doors, or anything of that nature. There were some shelves and racks to store our belongings, four beds, two shower heads, one toilet, one sink, and a small workstation. Most of it was or resembled human technology. We would for the most part feel at home, but then there was the issue of privacy.

"Hey, uh, Arbiter? Where exactly did you get the design for this room from?" I asked.

"We got the shelves from your armories, beds from your 'barracks,' and the bathroom from your 'locker rooms.' I tried to include space for four people to live comfortably. Is there anything wrong with it?" the Arbiter replied.

"Not at all. You did a good job on the design. When do we begin teaching your men?"

"In your time, it is 0053. At 0730, someone will be here to lead you to breakfast. Make yourselves comfortable and get some sleep. You have a long day ahead of you." With that he walked out. I took my weapons out of their bags and put them on the shelves. They took up most of the room, but everyone else didn't have much stuff.

"How the hell did you carry all that? That must be well over a few hundred pounds," Miranda asked.

"I would say that the Marines are just stronger than the Navy, but it was much easier than I expected. Maybe I should have gotten a last-minute medical inspection to see if it was the Flood virus or whatever it's called. I may be resisting the transformation, but it's probably causing side effects. I'm taking a shower now, so either look away or leave." Davis and Keyes left the room immediately.

"I've heard that you have tons of scars from your years of combat. What's the exact count?" Johnson asked.

"Bullets, bruises, Covie weapons, cuts, or total?"

"Total."

"Eighty-four. I remember how I got each one, too."

"Eighty-four? How the hell are you still alive?"

"I was born with an incredibly strong constitution, so the wounds didn't bother me as much as they would anyone else and they healed faster, too. I've been hit by bullets, Needler shots, Covie sniper shots, exploding plasma grenades, shrapnel from explosions, energy swords, and once by a Brute Shot blade."

"I repeat, how the hell are you still alive? Well, it sounds like you've earned your rank."

"Amen to that. Say, you were on Delta Halo. Do you know how the whole Rebel-Human alliance happened? It just seems kinda odd that the rebels would just leave the Covenant."

"From what I heard, the Covenant betrayed them. Now they're just looking for revenge. As to the alliance, they must have gone with the old saying 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.'" I started to laugh a little. "What's so funny?"

"That saying shouldn't go like that. It should be 'The enemy of my enemy is my ally,' because we sure as hell aren't friends with the rebels. Well, I'm going to sleep now. Do you mind finding Davis and Keyes?"

"I'm not too tired, so yeah I'll do it. See you later." Johnson walked out of the room as I went to sleep.

At 0600 I woke up, wondering what we would do today. Looking around, I saw that everyone else was asleep. Instead of putting my formal uniform on, I pulled out a set of my woodland camouflage BDU's. I'm in command, I thought, and I don't feel like wearing my uniform. Once I had cleaned and donned it, I then put on my combat gear and energy shield. I looked at my watch, read 0637, and decided to wake everyone up. Just as I began an alarm-sounding noise took over from what I think was the intercom. Everyone jumped out of bed and started to get ready.

"What's the big idea, John?" Miranda shouted over the noise. "A simple 'get up' would have worked just fine."

"It's not me, it's the intercom. I don't know how to shut it off," I yelled back. I heard some alien speech over the intercom, but I couldn't make it out. I ran out the door and grabbed the nearest Grunt. "What did the intercom just say?" The Grunt frantically said back,

"The Prophet is sending ships to attack us! We're all going to die! We're all going…" I smacked it to shut it up.

"Get a hold of yourself! How big is the fleet?" The Grunt kept panicking, so I hit it again. "I said, how big is the fleet?"

"Many ships, but we have more coming, too." A nearby Elite in red armor said as it came up to me. "I have been instructed to take you and your friends to the bridge. Follow me," it ordered with a deep voice.

"We need a few more minutes to get ready," I replied. I let the Grunt go and ran back into the room. "You've got three minutes until we move out, Marines." I loaded my combat vest with M16 magazines, M203's, my Colt .45, and pistol ammo. Everyone else just put clothes on and ran out into the hall. "Lead the way, warrior," I said to the Elite.

"Hell yeah! I've been itching to kill something ever since we got off of Delta Halo," Davis said, wielding my M24 sniper rifle.