Forevermore

by EventuallyConcedes

The new Noble Six, Scarlett, has just joined Noble Team. However, she is fighting her own personal battles, with the recent suicidal sacrifice of her previous lover, Jack. However, she cannot ignore how she begins to feel around her new teammate, Noble Five, or Jorge. Soon enough, she finds that their love is Forevermore. NOTE: Some characters may be out of character at points.

2. мємσяιєѕ & αℓιєηѕ

CHAPTER TWO - мємσяιєѕ αη∂ αℓιєηѕ

Scarlett couldn't help but roll her eyes. Right now, Colonel Holland was giving her a full-on lecture about she should have never, in his words 'engaged in a relationship that was not only dangerous to herself, but also to her partner'.

Thankfully, she was talking to Holland over the radio, so he couldn't see her roll her eyes sarcastically; If he could, she would be in even more trouble.
"Sierra-312, are you listening to me?" Holland snapped.
"Sir." Scarlett mumbled.
"That relationship you had with Jack-B489 was incredibly dangerous. If he hadn't been so absorbed and distracted by the relationship, then he wouldn't have died by Covenant hands."
"No," Scarlett snapped back. She didn't care if he was her C.O. She wasn't going to let him push Jack and herself around like this. "Firstly, Jack's sacrifice was to ensure myself and the remaining Marines on the Pelican made it out safely. If he hadn't detonated that bomb strapped to him on the super carrier, then we would have never made it out of orbit. So don't give me any shit about him being distracted by me. That sacrifice wasn't just for me. It was for those marines, too."
"Any other C.O. would have you removed from active duty for that, Noble Six," Holland sighed. "Fortunately for you, Noble Team needs you a lot. ONI are still investigating Sierra-489's death. We'll speak again soon." And with that, Holland cut the channel. Scarlett swore, before removing her armor in favour of a training outfit. She immediately headed to the gym to let out some steam.
About halfway through training, she was interrupted by Jorge. "Just wanted to check that you were okay after yesterday's incident, Lieutenant."
Scarlett nodded briefly. "I'm fine. Thanks." Secretly, she hated the way he kept checking on her as if she was a little girl. Yet she suspected that he was just trying to make up for what had happened, and so forth did not confront him about it.
Jorge nodded. "Alright," He looked around briefly, as if he was deciding against something. "So, uh, what happened between you and Holland?" He gently asked. "Well...Wait, why? What does it matter?"
Jorge shrugged with ease. "Nothing. I just heard you two auguring as I walked past your dorm. Seriously, you'd better be careful. Jun is a serious eavesdropper. He also likes mouthing off to others."
Scarlett raised an eyebrow. She couldn't imagine this behavior from Jun. "Seriously?" Jorge nodded solemnly. "Yep. Couple of months back, the Commander and Kat had...Let's call an 'intimate' conversation about their feelings. Jun overheard and told Emile and I. The Commander went nuts, not speaking to anyone. Kat was angry too, snappier than usual."
"And that's saying something." Scarlett replied. Jorge chuckled. "Well, you don't have to tell me, Scarlett. But whatever the point, never leave your secrets with Jun."
Scarlett nodded. "Alright. I'll tell you. A few months ago, before I joined this squad, I was in a relationship with another Spartan. Sure, I know it's highly frowned upon, but we didn't care. Anyway, he committed suicide...I guess, as a sacrifice. His death saved me and my Firefight Team. Anyway, Holland told me today he thinks that my relationship with him was why his death occurred; That he was too 'distracted' by me. Which is a load of bullshit, if you ask me. But anyway, if ONI get their own way and investigate it further, I could get suspended. Hurrah."
Jorge was quiet for a while. Scarlett had to look up to check he hadn't left; He was staring right at her. "I'm sorry. For everything, Scarlett." He replied softly. Scarlett shrugged. She'd heard that a thousand times. "Scarlett, get back to training! Jorge, leave, NOW." Kat barked over the loudspeaker.
Scarlett rolled her eyes, and Jorge chuckled lightly. "Better leave you to it. See ya, Six."
"Bye, Five." Scarlett stood still and thought about what had happened. It was crazy how Jorge still accepted her. Nobody except Jack had done. And he felt compassionate. But instead of just saying sorry automatically, it sounded as if he had meant it. Jorge was so much different than any other Spartan she had met. Shrugging these thoughts off, she continued training, oblivious to the fact that Jorge had been watching her from the doorway.
Jorge wasn't trying to be creepy. It was just that as he was to Scarlett, she also puzzled him completely. He had never met a Spartan who was so in-touch with her feelings as she was. He had often wished that there would be another Spartan who wouldn't hide their feelings as he didn't, and finally, that person had come. But Scarlett was also different. She was so in-touch with the humanitarian part of her; She saw herself not just as a weapon, or a Spartan trained to kill. She saw her emotions and she accepted them - Even Jack's death - Instead of forgetting, she had burdened the guilt. It wasn't her fault, but she still felt it. And deep down, Jorge knew she still loved Jack.

"Noble Team, this is Noble Leader. Get back to the main hall ASAP. Debriefing is about to start." Carter's voice sounded over the loudspeaker, snapping Jorge out of his thoughts. He took one more glance back at Scarlett, who was sighing and turning the treadmill off, then hurried off to the hall.
When Jorge arrived Emile and Kat were already there, Emile looking as if he might slaughter Carter at any given moment, and Kat looking incredibly bored. Scarlett arrived a few minutes after Jorge, already haven gotten back into full armor.
Carter's jaw clenched, realizing that Jun, yet again, was late. "Alright, where the hell is Jun?"
"Right here, Commander!" Jun chirped, walking in. "Did I miss anything exciting?"
Carter narrowed his eyes, sighing. "No, Jun. Just try and get here quicker, okay? Y'know, if there were a fire..." Everybody stopped listening as Carter gave another lecture to why Jun should arrive on time. This happened at least twice a day, but it never changed anything.
"...And that's why you should arrive on time, Jun." Carter finally finished. Jun, who looked as if he had fallen asleep, suddenly sat up straight. "Of course, Commander."
Scarlett raised her eyebrows. Her old squad was nothing like this. Noble Team were so strange and foreign to her. All of them had completely different temperaments and personalities. No wonder they so often clashed.
"Alright, Team. The Covenant are attacking an vital ONI base. ONI has requested us to take 'em out. Start getting prepped. We're leaving in the next fifteen minutes." Everybody nodded.
Scarlett didn't like being sent out so quickly after the events of Visegrad, but there wasn't anything she could do. She sat down next to Kat to clean her weapon. She checked that it wasn't clogged, cleaned the exterior and made sure the trigger wasn't jammed. She did this a few times, thinking more than cleaning. Kat noticed this and opened a private channel between the two. "Alright. What's up?"
"Who said anything had to be up?"
"You've been cleaning your weapon like that five times. It's obvious."
Scarlett sighed. "Alright. I'm just thinking about Jack. I miss him."
Kat stayed silent for a moment. "I know. I sometimes feel that way thinking about Thom."
"Oh, I'm sorry - I don't want you to think I'm replacing him or anything - I mean, it wasn't even my choice to join this team-" She was cut off by Kat, who waved her hand, shrugging it off. "I know. I don't think you're replacing him. I'm not blaming you, either. You're an excellent addition to the squad. It's just that I feel guilty, y'know? Maybe if I just payed enough attention, I could've evaded that Banshee bomb."
Scarlett nodded. "I know that feeling all too well..."
Kat stayed silent, fiddling with her robotic arm again. Scarlett knew that she was thinking of Thom, so didn't say anything. A few minutes later, Carter re-emerged from where he had been.
"Everybody ready?" Everybody mumbled 'yes'. Carter sternly nodded. "Head out to the Falcon's. Kat, Jorge, with Scarlett. Emile, Jun, you're riding with me." Everybody quickly filed to their Falcons. Almost as soon as they had taken off, Emile spoke up. "So I heard that Dr. Halsey is in quarantine yet again."
"Oh? Really? Why?" Jun asked.
"Probably broken some sort of rule, or stepped over the boundaries yet again. The lady is nuts." Scoffed Emile.
"Halsey is not crazy, Emile." Jorge replied darkly. "Oh? You know her?" Scarlett asked.
Jorge sighed, thinking of his childhood. "Yes. It was her who thought up the idea of us Spartan-II's. She brought us up single-handled, too," He chuckled, thinking of this. "She's the closet I have to a Mother."
Scarlett nodded. "Ah. Lucky you. Kat and I never had a Mother figure when we were in training."
Kat scoffed. "You can say that again."
"Cut the chatter," Carter ordered. Jorge quietly sighed and turned to observe the view.
Kat shrugged and tried to access the data chip she had found at Visegrad.
"Heads up Team, we've got a Corvette inbound. We're gonna be stuck with it for some time, so Kat, Scarlett, you're out here. Jorge, Emile, Jun, I'll drop you off at the base."
Kat jerked her head towards the Courtyard that was over-flowing with Covenant. "Let's move, Lieutenant!"
Kat and Scarlett jumped out into the courtyard; Kat got her assault rifle out, whilst Scarlett got her DMR.
"I have visual." Kat informed Scarlett.
"Confirmed." Scarlett responded.
"Spartans!" A marine who had noticed their arrival, called them over. "Oh, thank the lords! Give us a hand, would ya?"
"Kat, Scarlett, push back the attack on Sword Base," Carter ordered over COMMS. "Find out what we're dealing with."
"Rodger that; We're your strike Team." Kat responded.
"Noble Strike, this is Sword Control. I'll be your Command from here on out."
"Copy that." Scarlett responded.
An Elite minor, who had been watching Scarlett since she'd been dropped off, raised a closed fist in sign of a challenge. A few Marines had engaged the Elite, but appeared to be struggling. Scarlett snuck up behind the Elite, reached up to it's neck, and silently snapped it. A quick, painless procedure that killed the Elite instantly. Smirking slightly to herself, Scarlett turned and scanned the Courtyard. It appeared to be an easy challenge, a dozen grunts and jackals. Suddenly, a Phantom hovered over.
"Phantom, inbound!" Kat called over COMMS.
The Phantom moved to the back of the Courtyard, firing at Scarlett, who scrambled to find some cover. Once the Phantom had moved on, Scarlett again scanned the Courtyard.
"Okay, we've got two more Minors and an Ultra with a Concussion Rifle." Scarlett informed Kat over COMMS.
"Copy that." Responded Kat.
Scarlett began taking out the Grunts and Jackals, then the Minors, whose shields were easily pierced with her DMR and were easily killed with a headshot. The Ultra, seeing almost everything else was dead, began to retreat towards the gates.
"Oh, no you don't..." Scarlett muttered under her breath, hot on the Elite's heels. She was halted by more Jackals, but easily took care of them with some simple head shots. When she tried to approach the last Elite, she was thrown off her feet by the Concussion rifle.
"Whoa! Scarlett - You okay?!" Kat's panicked voice sounded over COMMS. She approached Scarlett and held out a hand, helping her up.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Scarlett replied, retrieving her weapons. "Let's just get that damn Elite."
Kat nodded. "I'll draw it's attention. You just do your thing." Kat began shooting at the Elite, causing it to jump back in surprise and start shooting at her. This gave Scarlett the perfect chance to sneak around and assassinate it.
"Noble Two to Sword Control. Courtyard is clear, over." Kat informed Sword Control.
"Head to the main gate to the East, I'll brief you as you go."
"Sword Control, I see a Target Locator," Kat informed Sword Control, squinting slightly to make sure it really was one.
"Any artillery support in the area?"
"Limited, but will prioritize whenever you need, Ma'am."
"Okay, Scarlett, take the Locator. I'll get the gates opened."
Scarlett nodded, picking up the Target Locator. A few seconds later, the gates opened. A smoking Warthog pulled up, heading back to the base.
"3 Echo 5-7 heading back to base, but we've got enemy tangos on our six. Hot copy." Two Wraiths appeared, firing plasma balls and sub-consequently destroying the Warthog.
"Scarlett, use the Target Locator on those Wraiths!" Kat called over.
Scarlett curtly nodded, and destroyed the Wraiths with the Locator. One minor and a small pack of grunts remained, but were taken care of quickly. "Outstanding!" Kat called over. After Scarlett switched her Target Locator for a Rocket Launcher, Kat informed her of transport coming in.

Whilst Scarlett and Kat tackled the COMMS array, Jorge, Jun and Emile were being dropped off at Sword Base to clear the atrium. Right now, the Courtyard and Garage was clear, so they were able to quickly move through and take an Elevator to the Atrium.
"I still think Halsey is up to something." Emile grouchily said.
Jorge groaned. "You're kidding. She hasn't done anything, Emile."
"Then why is she in quarantine?"
"Probably because the Covenant are attacking. Her lab is hidden under the base, she needs to be kept safe." Jorge snapped back.
Emile rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, whatever."
"Noble, this is Sword Control," Sword Control informed them just as they stepped out of the elevator. "We have a Corvette which has burst a hole through the roof. They're sending troops through via the Phantom, which are moving from the top floor throughout the base. Some Troopers are providing assistance, but we need one of you to provide covering fire on the Phantom and Banshees."
Jorge thought about it, and came up with a plan. "Emile, you deal with Phantom and Banshees. Jun and I will clear out the atrium."
Emile raced upstairs, dodging attacks until he found the top floor and the gaping hole in the roof.
"Damn," He muttered to himself, and searched the floor for a useful weapon. His eyes found a prize - A Rocket Launcher. About six, scattered all over the place. "Jackpot." smiling smugly to himself, he picked one up with a good amount of ammo, and clambering up to a higher point, positioned himself and waited to for the kills to rack up.

"You did it, Six," Kat spoke over COMMS. "COMMS array up and running."
Scarlett started down the stairs and back to her parked Warthog. She hopped in the drivers seat, with Kat on the gun.
"Good work, Spartans. Return to Sword Base, the rest of your Team is inbound, imminent."
A Gauss Warthog was dropped off by a Pelican, which Kat and Scarlett switched to.
"Noble Strike, this is Noble Leader," Carter sounded over COMMS. "Get back to Sword Base ASAP."
"Copy that, Commander," Kat replied, eyeing up an incoming Phantom carrying a Revenant. "We're on our way."
Scarlett skidded at the sight of the Revenant, along with an Elite Minor and Grunt were dropped off.
"Shit." She muttered under her breath.
"Don't worry, I've got this." Kat spoke, sensing Scarlett's worry. With three shots from turret, the Revenant was destroyed. Scarlett took care of the Elite and Grunt by running them over.
Just as they turned the corner, they found two more Revenants, a Ghost, a couple of Grunts and another Elite Minor. "There's more of them!" Kat shouted.

Meanwhile, in the Atrium of Sword Base, Jorge and Jun were struggling.
"Where are Kat and Scarlett?" Jorge asked. "It's been awhile."
"Hold on, I'll check," Replied Jun. "We're stalled in the tower Atrium...Kat, where are you?"
"Opening the gates now." Kat replied over COMMS.
"You know, I can't do this on my own." Emile bellowed down the COMMS.
"We know," Jorge replied, mowing down an Elite and kicking it's dead body for emphasis. "Kat and Scarlett are on their way up."
"We've got an General Elite upstairs." Jun informed Jorge, zooming in the Elite. He pulled the trigger, but it noticed him and evaded the shot. "Argh!" Jun cried out in frustration. "I can't get a good angle!"
"We'll start moving up when they get here," Jorge replied through gritted teeth. "We need as much covering fire as we can get."

"Look out!" Kat cried out, watching at the Hunters firing beam through towards Scarlett, her heart pounding. If she died... But Scarlett leaped above the beam at the last minute, making Kat let out a loud 'phew'.
Scarlett throw a plasma grenade at the Hunter, sticking it's head, effectively decapitating it.
"Let's get to the Atrium," Kat told Scarlett. "We have to go through the security office..." Kat looked around, looking for a way to the tower. "Elevator, Lieutenant. Let's take it."
Scarlett nodded, stepping in with Kat, and slammed her palm against the button. They stood in silence, the ride smooth, until it stopped for a few seconds. "Corvette's hitting this base hard..." Emile sounded over COMMS.
"Where's our orbital support?" Kat questioned out-loud. "Got to be three platforms that could take it out in a single MAC round."
"I thought orbital rounds weren't in use?" Scarlett asked as they stepped out of the Elevator.
Kat shrugged slightly. "It shouldn't be an issue...I guess the skies need to be clear."
Scarlett nodded, head-shoting some grunts. She then saw an Ultra wielding a Concussion Rifle.
"Kat, you distract...I'll assassinate it."
Kat nodded, firing at the Elite. Scarlett then snuck around the corner without the Elite noticing, then quickly and quietly snapped it's neck.
"Great job." Kat commented.
Scarlett smiled smugly, and waited whilst the door slowly slid open, reviling Jorge, Jun and a couple of Troopers locked in a Firefight battle against some Jackals and a Minor Elite.
"Kat, Scarlett," Jorge shouted. "Over here!"
"Scarlett, head upstairs and assist Emile. Jorge, make sure she gets there." Carter ordered over COMMS.
"Depend on it." Jorge responded.

After going through many levels of floors and Covenant, and a close brush with death due to the General Elite, Scarlett finally arrived at the top floor.
"'Bout time." Emile remarked snidely. Grabbing the nearest Rocket Launcher to her, Scarlett began shooting down some of the Banshees.
However, a Phantom pulled up, dropping off two special operation Elites. "Scarlett, look out," Jorge warned. "They're in active camo."
Scarlett nodded, slamming the back of her DMR into one Elite's jaw, breaking it. The Elite was shocked, so before it could react, she headshot it, the Elite now crumpling to the ground. The other Elite, upon seeing it's dead ally, roared in anger and pulled out an energy sword, charging towards her.
"Shit, shit, shit." Scarlett muttered, reloading her DMR whilst trying to get away from it. Suddenly, a spray of bullets ran through the Elite, and it fell in front of her. In shock, Scarlett turned to see Jorge, who was now walking away. She knew she'd have to thank him later.
"Keep shootin', Noble Six." Emile shouted over, snapping Scarlett out of her thoughts and instead focusing on the incoming Phantom.

"That's the way we get it done, Spartan!" Emile shouted proudly, dropping his now out-of-ammo Rocket Launcher and walking back inside.
The area was clear, and Scarlett watched proudly as two LongSwords shot missiles through the now-retreating Corvette.
"Beautiful, ain't it?" Jorge's voice came behind her. She turned to see him approaching.
"Someone should take a picture," Scarlett smiled at this comment. "Nice work, by the way." He patted her on the back, a friendly gesture, but his hand seemed to linger for a second too long.
Scarlett shrugged. "I aim to please."
Jorge dropped his hand from her back, watching the Corvette sink into the lake with Scarlett.
"Five, Six, get down to the science wing," Carter barked over COMMS.
"Doctor Halsey wants to debrief, and Command's sayin' we're all hers."
"Repeat?" Jorge replied. "Sounded like you said Halsey."
"I did."
"Copy that, on our way. Don't need Command to tell me," Jorge explained to Scarlett. "Been hers half m'life."

"...I requested your assistance, Commander," Halsey was saying as Jorge and Scarlett entered; Carter rolled his eyes, already fed up of her.
"And do not need a report of events that occur on my doorstep. What I do require is a detailed account of your previous engagement with-" Halsey paused, seeing Jorge.
"Jorge. It's been too long." She softly spoke. Jorge nodded proudly. "Ma'am."
Halsey looked him up and down, narrowing her eyes. "What have you done with my armor?" She asked, the soft tone replaced with an icy one.
Scarlett looked over at Jorge. "Just some...Additions I've made." Jorge replied, nervously shuffling on his feet.
Scarlett turned back to Halsey, whose eyes were still narrowed. "Indeed." Halsey cooly replied, turning back to Carter.
"Visegrád Relay. It's data center was home to one of my xeno-archaeologists, Professor Laszlo Sorvad...Perhaps you could shed some light on his death?"
"If he was a Civilian Male in his mid-sixties, he died with an Covenant Energy Sword through his abdomen."
"Elites, then?" Halsey asked, tilting her head towards Jorge.
"They engaged us as well, it was just, uh," Jorge shuffled nervously on his feet again. Scarlett noticed this only happened in front of Halsey, never in front of any other Military Official. His behavior made her think of a lost, little boy. "Just after we found your Scientist's daughter, Ma'am, she just hiding in the, uh-" "Irrelevant." Halsey sharply cut him off. Jorge stood up straight. "The Elites. Tell me more about them."
"Three. Zealot Class. One got by us; The Leader, from the looks of him."
"Zealots? You're certain?" Halsey sounded concerned.
Jorge solemnly nodded. "Their armor configuration matched."
"Shield strength, too." Scarlett chimed in.
"I gave the order not to pursue," Carter explained. "Our Primary Objective was to get the Station's Relay back online."
"Your 'Primary Objective', Commander? Are you a puppet, or a Spartan?" Halsey snapped. Emile and Jun jerked their heads up, shocked to hear this.
Carter was fuming, but kept his cool. "Ma'am?"
"There are those at ONI, myself included, who believe the Covenant dispatch Elite advance teams to hunt down artifacts of value to their religion," Halsey explained. "Survivor accounts suggest such teams are small, nimble, and almost always Zealot-class. No doubt they came to the station for the abundance of ONI excavation data stored there... And you let them get away."
"Data retrieval was not a command directive. Even had we known, we had other, more urgent matters to attend to."
"Like warning the planet." Kat cut in.
Halsey glared at Kat, stepping forward. "Professor Sorvad's final entry in his field notes made reference to 'a latchkey discovery'. Latchkey... Not a word he would use lightly. So let's hope that the data module your Lieutenant Commander stole contains it."
"Kat?" Carter questioned, looking towards her.
"Before you ask, I was alerted the moment you tried to access it's content," Halsey explained, watching Kat closely as she pulled the module out and dropped it into the tray Halsey had pushed out. "As I am with any unauthorized tab." She pulled the draw back hastily, examining the module. "That data is classified Tier One... I could send you to the brig for interfering with my work."
"Maybe you'd like to join her." Carter snapped back, stepping towards Halsey. Halsey's head snapped up. "...I'm sorry?"
"We're currently under emergency planetary directive, WINTER CONTINGENCY. I'm sure you're familiar with the punishment for civilian interference with a Spartan deployment."
"Are you threatening me, Commander?"
"Just making a reading suggestion, Ma'am," Carter responded. "Let's move, Noble Team." He left, with Kat right behind him, followed by Jun and Emile.
Scarlett turned to leave, but waited for Jorge, who seemed to be hesitating.
"Ma'am?" He softly asked.
Halsey, who was absorbed deep in her module, did not look up. "That will be all, Jorge." She replied.
Jorge nodded slowly and headed out with Scarlett.