A/N: /Thank you all for the feedback/favourites. :D It's great seeing a positive response. Also, apologizes for the late upload. Don't worry, I haven't abandoned it. I just had some really bad writers block. \
׺°"˜`"°º× cнαρтεя 3 - ι sнσυℓ∂ вε sℓεεριηg ׺°"˜`"°º×
CHAPTER 3
Scarlett tiptoed down the hallway of the base Noble were staying in, not willing to disturb anybody else. The Team was heading out later that night. Scarlett was due to do a reconnaissance mission with Jun, whilst Emile, Jorge and Carter went on a separate mission, with Kat serving as Command. Because the mission was going to be so late, to successfully spy on the Covenant, everybody was resting.
Scarlett, however, hadn't been resting. She couldn't stop thinking about how Jorge had literally saved her, and made so little fuss of it. And the way he acted with Halsey; All in all, it puzzled her.
Soon enough, she found him in the Mess Hall. He was just staring into space, and Scarlett wondered if it were best to disturb him. But he had been there for her when she confided in him about Jack, and so she realized it would only be fair to do the same for him.
She walked up to him, and gently tapped his shoulder. Jorge jumped slightly, eyes widened, but calmed when he saw it was Scarlett.
"Do you mind if I join you?" Scarlett asked, gesturing to a seat besides him.
"Of course." Jorge replied.
Scarlett sat down. They were silent for a few moments, before Scarlett spoke up again.
"So, I just wanted to say thank you. For saving me earlier."
"It's no problem, Scarlett," Jorge replied, smiling. "I said I'd have your back."
"Never doubted it for a moment." Scarlett replied, returning the smile. "So, uh," Scarlett began, not sure how to say it. "Why was Halsey so...Cold at Sword Base?"
Jorge shrugged, and began picking at same fraying wood at the table. "I'm not sure. Her work is important to her. You know, she's not generally that rude," Jorge looked at Scarlett. "People just need to get to know her. If they knew her, like I do..."
"...They would see she's not like that." Scarlett finished for him.
"How did you?..." Jorge asked in confusion, wondering how or when Scarlett had known a person with the same personality.
"Jack was pretty cocky. People looked at him and hated him. They all thought he was trouble, that all he cared about was himself," Scarlett sighed. "Of course, he wasn't. Because they didn't know him the way I did."
Jorge nodded, understanding.
They were silent for a few moments, before Scarlett suddenly stood. "I better go. I've got a reconnaissance mission with Jun tonight. Better rest."
Jorge nodded. "Yeah, I'm heading out with the Commander and Emile later. I'll head back with you."
Jorge, in a gentlemanly fashion, walked Scarlett all the way to her dorm, as his was only down the hall.
"Thanks," Scarlett whispered. "That was really nice of you."
Jorge shrugged, smiling. "What are friends for?"
Scarlett smiled back. "Well, I'll see you in a few."
Jorge nodded. "Yeah. Sleep well."
Once Scarlett's door had shut with a quiet click, Jorge headed over to his dorm, smiling to himself.
Scarlett lay awake, thinking of Jack again. She knew she was starting to like Jorge. She just didn't want to let anyone else in on the same level - All in all, she was terrified of the implications.
Thoughts constantly drifted through her head.
Does he feel the same?
He's a II. I'm a III. It's just not happening.
What if I lose him, too?
"WAKE UP, SLEEPY-HEAD!" A loud voice screeched in Scarlett's ear. Groaning, she turned over and put her pillow over her head.
"What time is it?" She groaned.
"Time to get up!" The owner of the voice pulled the pillow off her head, and dragged her out of bed, onto the cold ground.
"Ow..." Scarlett muffled. "It's cold."
She opened her eyes to see Jun, already in full armor, standing over her.
"C'mon, we've got our reconnaissance in about half an hour."
Scarlett sat up. "WHAT?!"
Jun chuckled lightly. "Hurry up, then!"
30 minutes later, Scarlett arrived at the mess hall. Everybody else had arrived, so she took a seat next to Kat.
Kat looked over at Scarlett and smiled. "Heard Jun had to get you up."
Scarlett shook her head, smiling. "Yep," The smile faded as she looked over at the Commander. "He's not mad, is he? That I was late?"
Kat shook her head. "I think he's more angry at Halsey."
"Halsey?" Scarlett mused. "I thought he'd forget about it."
Kat shrugged. "She really pushes his buttons, y'know? I think after she threatened me, that was the final straw."
"So I see you two are close."
Kat nodded. "Yes, we're both the original members. Losing everyone around us, we both knew we couldn't lose each other. He looks out for me, I look out for him. It's the way it's always been."
Scarlett nodded, understanding this sense from Jack, but more recently, from Jorge, too.
Carter marched to the centre of the room, and clasped his hands together.
"Alright, Team, it's time to start heading out. Scarlett, Jun, you're heading in a Falcon to the west. Emile, Jorge, with me, to the south. Kat is serving as Command, so any queries and you ask her. Got it?"
Everybody nodded.
Scarlett and Jun were dropped off by a cliff, where they proceeded to climb. A Covenant dropship came into view above them; Jun signaled to Scarlett to take cover. The dropship stopped for a second, searching the darkness with its flashlight before moving on. Jun gave Scarlett a sign that it was all-clear, and emerged from his hiding place, moving along the cliff side. Scarlett did the same, a few feet behind.
"Recon Team Bravo reporting," Jun spoke over COMMS to Kat. Scarlett stepped over large gap in the cliff edge, watching a few stray rocks fall to the river below. The drop was a long one, and it made Scarlett's stomach turn. Not because she was scared of heights. It was just because she didn't want to die anytime soon, and certainly not this way. "Three and Six in position. It's starting to get crowded up here, Kat."
"Then we're closing in," Kat replied, with almost a smirk in her voice. "Report any Covenant structures or devices. Direct action may be necessary."
"Copy that," Jun replied, chuckling. "When Kat runs an op, direct action is always necessary." He explained to Scarlett, who smirked at this.
"Here. You may need these. High-velocity, armor-piercing. They'll take the hat off an Elite at two thousand yards. And they ain't cheap." Jun handed Scarlett a magazine of sniper rounds; Scarlett looked at them briefly before loading them into her Sniper Rifle.
Jun began clambering on top of a rock, in hopes of reaching a higher vantage point. He looked down, then at Scarlett. "Hm. I'll be in touch."
Taking the hint, Scarlett slide down the cliff and landed quietly and gracefully on her feet.
She wondered what Jorge, Emile and Carter would be doing, and if Emile and Jorge would be fighting again. As much as she tired to redirect these thoughts to focus on her mission, her mind would always seem to drift back to Jorge.
"Recon Bravo, the sector ahead is dark to electronic surveillance." Kat informed Scarlett and Jun, snapping Scarlett out of her thoughts.
"Covenant can block our instruments now?"
"So it would seem… Command wants to know what they're hiding."
"I just hope they're not planning a full invasion." Scarlett added.
Jun chuckled at this. "Ah, y'know the Covenant. Most likely going to glass the Planet. It's the same every time."
Scarlett was silent at this reply. Her thoughts channeled back to Jorge and how he would feel about Jun's words. He had often said how Reach is his home.
"Elite," Jun warned Scarlett of an Elite just ahead of her. The Elite surveyed the area as if it owned the place, its back to Scarlett. A few grunts littered the place, sleeping silently. "Do it quiet."
Scarlett sneaked up on the Elite, and dug her combat knife into its head, effectively killing it. It fell to the ground with a gurgle; Scarlett held her breath, but the Grunts did not stir.
"Not bad." Jun commented, having seen her work.
Scarlett quickly and quietly took out the grunts, snapping their necks.
"Recon Bravo to Noble Two, stand by for contact report," Jun spoke over COMMS. They had just come across a settlement, heavily fortified by Covenant ground troops.
"Standing by to copy, over," Kat replied.
"We have eyes on multiple hostiles patrolling a settlement. This what we're looking for, Kat?"
"Negative, too small, you're not in the dark zone yet… Engage at your own discretion, but keep moving."
"You heard her, Scarlett. Drop those tangos."
Scarlett curtly nodded, and began taking out Elite snipers that patrolled the rooftops. They were easily taken care of with headshots.
"I see I have competition!" Jun commented, before screaming out in frustration at a General Elite who had snuck up on him, and was now constantly hitting him, taking a large effect on his shields.
Scarlett noticed this and quickly raced over, hitting the Elite in the back, killing it instantly. Jun sighed out loud in relief, and Scarlett smiled, relived to see that he was all right.
After almost burning through her Sniper Rounds, Scarlett and Jun had finally cleared out the hostiles and were moving on. Just around the corner, stood another water tower-like structure, once again, heavily fortified. After managing to clear out these hostiles, they came across something neither had expected.
Gúta.
They thrashed around, hitting a group of Grunts, who went flying.
"Look at that…" Jun breathed, clearly impressed.
Scarlett began firing at one with her Magnum. It turned, looked at Jun and Scarlett for a spilt second, before charging towards them. Starting to panic, Scarlett tossed a plasma grenade at the Gúta. It stumbled, as if it were shocked by this act, before falling to the ground, dead.
The second Gúta, seeing its fallen partner, screeched out in anger, charging towards them. Scarlett threw another plasma grenade, and it died, exactly the same way as the first.
"Kat, pick any of that up?" Jun asked.
"Affirmative, Recon Bravo. It's an indigenous creature called Gúta."
Scarlett smiled. It was as if Kat's knowledge were bottomless.
She began to wonder if Jorge knew of the Gúta, as he was native to Reach.
Jun continued onwards, Scarlett closed behind. "There's a trail up ahead," Jun informed Scarlett. "Let's see where it leads."
Scarlett nodded, taking point. The trail lead to a water-pumping station. Several local militia were under attack by a large Covenant ground force.
"Noble Two, we're at some sort of pump station," Jun reported. "We've on eyes on civilians…I'm thinking more local militia. They've engaged hostiles'."
"Move to assist," Kat replied. "They may have Intel we need."
"You heard her Scarlett, keep those civilians alive!" Jun ordered Scarlett.
Scarlett found a good position perched high above the settlement and picked off the hostiles', beginning with the Elites. Soon enough, the entire Covenant in the settlement was dead, and Jun advanced towards the civilians, with Scarlett following behind.
"What are you doing here?" Jun asked one of the civilians skeptically. "This whole area is supposed to be evacuated."
"We didn't want to leave it to someone else to protect our home," One of them replied; He appeared to be the leader of the group. "So we came back…for this," He gestured to several UNSC boxes, with Rocket Launchers, DMRS, Magnums and Sniper Rifles in it. "We have them hidden all over the territory."
Scarlett was surprised at how open he has; Jun and herself were part of the UNSC.
"You know this stuff is stolen, right?" Jun asked.
"What you gonna do, arrest me?" The man almost seemed to find this funny.
"No…I'm gonna steal it back." Jun replied with a smirk. He looked up suddenly and eyed a Phantom coming in.
"We've got bigger problems now; Covvie drop ship coming in."
Jun and Militia troopers ran to the roof to do some sniping, whilst Scarlett was able to kill two minor Elite's before they jumped out of the Phantom with a headshot.
Now all that remained was a group of jackals and grunts, which were easily taken care of with a well-placed frag grenade.
"More inbound…" Jun warned over COMMS. Scarlett looked to her left and frowned as she saw a larger pack of grunts, with an Ultra Elite advance towards her position.
Jun sniped the majority of the grunts; Scarlett was successfully able to headshot the Elite before it did any damage to her. The grunts panicked, and so forth were easily taken care of with headshots.
"Another drop ship coming in." Jun warned again.
More minor Elite's, grunts, and jackals were dropped off, but easily handled.
By the end of the Firefight, all of the troopers had survived, which in a way, surprised Scarlett. Maybe she had been around Spartans for too long, but she didn't expect civilians to be able to handle the Covenant so well.
"Nothing here but that lake," Jun remarked, strolling over to Scarlett with the militia.
"Road leads to a hydro-electric plant, but the gate doesn't work." The trooper replied.
"Alternate route?" Jun questioned.
"We use the riverbed to smuggle rations, weapons..."
"Basically anything the UNSC considers contraband."
"Basically."
"Show us."
The trooper nodded and lead Jun, Scarlett and the others down a riverbed.
"Where does this riverbed lead?" Jun questioned about halfway down.
"Straight to the hydro plant. We dammed this river up forty-five years ago, plant powers every settlement in the territory. Shame if it all gets wasted." The trooper responded.
"Doing what we can."
A Phantom passed overhead, the spotlight searching for any activity.
"Hold up. Covvie drop ship, take cover," Jun advised. Everybody hid, and few moments later, the drop ship moved on. "Okay, clear. Let's move."
Further down the trail and around a corner, they found a large Covenant structure, heavily guarded by forces.
"Kat, are you seeing this?" Jun asked Kat over COMMS. "Covenant structure…Kind of a big pylon thing. Heavily fortified."
"That's the source of our dark zone." Kat replied.
"Okay…Consider it gone."
"Negative, stick a remote det charge on it," Kat replied. "Command's planning something big. They say that pylon dies at dawn."
"We're gonna blow it?" A trooper asked excitedly.
"We're gonna clear the area, then I'm going to stick a det charge on it. You wanna provide some cover, go right ahead." Jun replied.
The area was fortified heavily with turrets on the pylon, an Ultra Elite, a lot of jackals and grunts, and two minor Elites. Eventually, though, the hostiles were gone.
"All clear, Scarlett," Jun told Scarlett. "This is gonna take a minute, keep your eyes peeled." He quickly crouched by the pylon and stuck the charge to it. A moment later, another Phantom pulled up. Two hunters dropped out, with a group of Spec-Op Elites.
"We've got big targets!" Jun yelled.
Scarlett quickly ran back to the structure, and found a rocket launcher. She was able to kill one hunter with it. The other was finished with several plasma grenades and a shotgun.
The Spec-Op Elites were killed quickly with her DMR.
"Recon Bravo to Noble Two, charge placed," Jun informed Kat.
"Somewhere inconspicuous, I hope." Kat replied.
"Stuck it inside the pylon's power supply."
"Alright. Keep pushing into the dark zone. Command wants to know what the Covenant are hiding."
"There's a gate to the southeast of the power plant."
"Copy. Uploading security codes to you now."
"Okay, got 'em. Unlocking the gate."
"Recon Bravo, you're heading into the dark zone now."
"Understood."
The gates opened, leading to yet another Covenant fortified area.
"Phantom!" Jun cried out. "A little too close for comfort…"
After a large Firefight battle with the Covenant, Scarlett and Jun finally found what they had been looking for.
"Jackpot!" Jun exclaimed.
"Transmitting visual." Scarlett informed him.
"You seeing this, Kat?" Jun asked Kat.
"Confirmed. Receiving Noble Three and Noble Six's live visual of a Covenant strike force."
"That's no strike force, it's an invading army. If we're gonna smother this thing, we need to go in hard and fast."
"Agreed. All recon teams disengage and fall back. Sun will be up in a few hours...and its going to be a very busy day."
Scarlett sighed, happy it was over. She wanted to see Jorge again, but she was looking forward to a good nights sleep first.