Year: 2543, four months after Operation SHADOWFALL
Location: Orbital Station Kappa, Reach
Time: Classified
The young man was dreaming again. He was in an open grass field. A woman was waving at him with a big smile on her face. A beautiful young lady with long black hair and reddish skin. The man tried to wave back but could not. He was frozen in some kind of trance and unable to move. Then a shadow appear behind the woman. The shadow made a slashing movement at the woman. The woman then scream the young man's name.
"Darien!"
Darien woke up from his sleep. His whole body was covered in sweat. This was not the first time he had this particular dream nor was it the last. Since his botch mission on Tempest he was on psychosocial watch and transfer into a new unit. He was no longer a Headhunter, no longer Misfit-2. He now known by his Spartan call sign; Sierra-B094. He sat on his bed in small room looking at the door on one the floors of the massive station.
Another nightmare, same as last time, he thought to himself.
He open his hand and clutch it into a fist multiple times to make sure he was not still dreaming.
No, I'm back to reality. I'm alive she's not.
He was thinking back to his dead partner, Asra. He tried his best to not blame himself for her death but could not. This was last day of psychosocial watch in which an ONI agent from Beta-5 Division will interview him and determine to return to active duty. Darien lied back down on his bed when he heard his call sign over the intercom.
"Spartan B094 to Room 100, Spartan B094 to Room 100."
Darien got off of the bed and wipe himself down with a towel. He walk out his room and followed the maze like corridors to Room 100.
Part 1: The InterviewYear: 2543
Location: Room 100, Orbital Station Kappa, Reach
Time: Classified
Lieutenant Quinsey watched the interview from a room adjacent to Room 100, looking through a one-way window. Quinsey wearied standard UNSC Army dress uniform with a tablet in her right hand.
"My," said a 40ish old man as he entered the adjacent room," it's been a long since I've seen you, Anica Quinsey."
"Isaac Churchill," She replied," I could say the same for you."
"Twenty years if my memory is right."
"Twenty-eight actually."
The two were talking about their old academy days. During that period in time, Quincy and Churchill had bitter rivalry. Both had top scores in their class as well as commendations from their senior instructors. Eventfully Churchill was the one who won by being granted an early graduation and ONI training. The two haven't really spoken to each other until today.
Churchill was dressed in his ONI officer uniform and was on his way back from a meeting. He was still assigned on Onyx to recruit and train candidates for the Headhunter program. Quincy called him the second the meeting ended and for what reasons she keep to herself.
"So, Churchill asked," there a reason you call me now after these years?"
"Look," Quincy made a gesture with her head pointing towards the window.
As if on cue, two men enter the interview room. One was dark-skinned wearing a dress uniform and second man was tan, ONI Beta-5 from his uniform as well as the division insignia on his right sleeve.
Dark-skinned man was in his mid 20ish, crew cut hair, and series of cuts on his face from either training or combat. Both sat on opposite sides of table in Room 100. Churchill eyes then became wide from the realizing who the young man was.
"Darien." He said out loud.
Churchill look toward Quinsey with a look of confusion. Churchill thought all personnel were lost during Operation SHADOWFALL, a project meant to replicate Admiral Cole's last stand. He personally recommended team Misfit for the operation.
"Your boy truly amazing," Quinsey said," Surviving for three months on an occupied world and then single handedly get off it."
"Why Am I hearing about this now?"
"Let me ask you a question," Quinsey said and turned to face window," why would ONI personnel delay missions for one team of Headhunters and have said team stuck on cleanup duty?"
"Clean-up duty" was term use when dealing with Insurrectionists, a job now occupied mostly by non-special forces. Churchill clicked his teeth.
She went digging huh? He thought to himself.
"So what?"
"So what is misapplication of resources Isaac, "She turned to face her old rival," especially when said personnel is in a program is design to send assets on suicide missions."
"Look if you're here trying to crucify me then HIGHCOM would have already done it."
Quinsey laughed," No I'm here recruiting. Anyways they're about to start."
Quinsey then turn to face the window. Churchill look at her then at the interview room. He remain quiet in order to hear what was happening inside the room. The interviewer took out of a small hand-handled tablet from his right side.
"State your rank, call sign, and original unit." The ONI interviewer said.
"Warrant Officer B094 Headhunter team Misfit."
"Odd name for a unit."
The Spartan remain silent. The interviewer open the tablet, started to look through Darien's mission records and reports.
"A lot of counter insurrection ops and one Covenant," the interviewer said," To my knowledge most Headhunters are sent out on deep reconnaissance missions against the Covenant after training."
Darien nodded.
"So why your team is only logged for one?"
"That something you're going to have to ask my instructor sir."
"And he or she might be?"
"Churchill," Darien answered," unfortunately he never told me his rank or title within ONI."
The interviewer once again stared down at the tablet.
"Is this him?" The interviewer asked then lifted up the tablet to face Darien. The image of a slender, pale skin man was on the tablet as well as his name in bold lettering, ISAAC J. CHURCHILL.
"Yes that him."
"Interesting," said the interviewer," but let get the main topic: you been on physiological watch for the last four month because of your nightmares. Nightmares as you're describe as: 'she's coming to get me' or 'I have to be with her'. You blame yourself for her death. I'm well aware that your kind of training is special, a forged bond but USNC can't afford to have assets sitting around.
"Yet despite what early reports say, your recent reports have shown steady improvement and the nightmares have stop."
The interviewer looked at Darien, as if readying himself for the last question.
"Do you still blame yourself for her death?"
"Sir," Darien said with a sternness in his voice," I've been locked up in a room for the last four months, staring at walls, and came to one conclusion, I don't. We were out maneuvered and our enemy exploited our vulnerability.
"We were caught with pants down so to speak and we paid the price, she paid the price. I'm ready to return to the fight sir."
The interviewer closed the tablet, finish his whatever data he had collected, and returned it to his side. While the Spartan wasn't overly persuasive there was something about him that left an impression. A determination you only see from those who survived Hell and ready to jump back in.
"So I'm being transfer and return to the field sir?" Darien asked.
"Yes I believe," said the interviewer, "good luck Spartan."
The interviewer left the same way he came in. Darien still sat in his chair. Quincy and Churchill looked at each other. Silence fell on both rooms
"So what?" Churchill asked breaking the silence.
"The agent will make his case with your superiors and this Spartan will be transfer SPECWAR/ Group Two." Quinsey answered.
"Group Two," Churchill said with some level of shock in his voice, "They are the CMA of special forces."
"Were, "Quinsey said with stern voice," I'm been given enough funding to reorganize it and allow one team of Spartans."
"And Darien?"
"My last member."
Churchill narrowed his eyes at Quinsey. Thinking she must have been on HIGHCOM good side to pull the maneuver that she just did. She effectively ended his career. He wonders now who was the person she asked to dig thru ONI files and find anything dirt she need. Hell she possibly done it herself with some A.I. help.
Was this some kind of revenge after all these years? Churchill thought to himself.
Churchill sighed and turn towards the door. He at the door for a few seconds and turned towards Quincy.
"I did delay them for a reason you know." He said softly.
"My I ask why?"
"Sadly I don't remember at the moment."
Part 2: New OutfitYear: 2543
Location: Orbital Station Kappa, Reach
Time: Classified
With that he left the room. Quinsey sported a big smile on her face then told Darien over the intercom to meet her at Elevator 20. A few minutes later they met at the elevator and took it to Floor 12. Darien could help but notice Quinsey's smile.
Was she that happy to get a Spartan? Darien thought to himself.
"Ever heard of Group Two Spartan?" Quincy asked out of nowhere.
"Not really ma'am."
"In 2535, ninety-five percent of all personnel defected or deserted."
"Why so many?"
"Between to reports from Harvest to glassing of outer colonies. Much of Group Two where station on those early glassed worlds. Many that survive didn't want to fight again."
"A soldier's duty is to protect his brothers and sister is it not?"
The elevator stop on Floor 12. As it doors open Darien saw two other Spartans sitting on crates. Both wore an unknown armor set that was painted steel and dark green. One had pale skin auburn color hair, deep brown eyes, and square facial features, while the other had blonde hair, gray eyes, ragged face
"Spartan A038 and Spartan A099," Said Quinsey as she introduced the Spartans," These your new and final team member, Spartan B094."
"Zev." Said the auburn offering his hand.
"Macron." said the blonde and did the same as Zev.
"Darien."
"Now with that out of the way," Quincy interjected," I would like to welcome you all to Group Two. Designation, Jester."
Darien want to laugh but didn't. For whatever reason he's in another team with a joker-theme name.
"At 1000 hrs. tomorrow we begin training." Quincy said in a commanding voice.
"Yes ma'am!" The Spartans said in unisons.