Greetings! My apologies for the long delay--been trying to sell cappucinos and lattes at McDonald's (unsuccessfully). In case anyone's wondering, this is a bit of a flashback chapter--and an explanation of Blade's "odd behavior". Hopefully meets with approval; flames will be used for marshmallows and s'mores. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing from Halo.

Chapter Seven: Opening Up

"Eilinn!"

The trees inhibited her, but she ran anyway. Her brother's widow had taken the grief of his passing with her natural grace, but she had seen the light in her green eyes dim. She had stood with her during the Silent Vigil, to honor Marin's spirit, and felt her grief, a grief so strong that it could kill the strongest heart. I must find her, before she does something foolish.

"Eilinn!" Her feet carried her swiftly to the cliffs, and she knew Marin's monument was close by; because of what he had become, he could not be entombed, but a marker had been raised nonetheless. She was certain this was where Eilinn, Marin's grieving bride, was headed.

There, a flash of black! Raven hair flowing freely, midnight linen catching in the light wind. The young widow was treading perilously close to the cliffs…

"EILINN! NO!"

"NO!" Laura shot up, nearly smacking her head against the bulkhead. The air felt cold, but then that made sense when she felt the sweat rolling down her back. She got out of bed, running a hand through damp hair as she tried to clear her head. Was that another flashback? Had to have been, but it felt so real…A noise close by made her whirl around, ready for a fight.

"Forgive me, but I seem to have come at an awkward time," the young girl stammered, speaking in the ancient Forerunner language. Laura relaxed as she recognized the young scientist from the cargo bay—Alaya's descendent. If only I knew the girl's name, she thought. In an attempt to relax the girl a bit more, Laura decided to respond in the Forerunner language: she knew herself how soothing it could be to hear your own language, especially if you were around strangers.

"Please, don't go. I…I could use the company right now." She brushed a few stray strands of hair out of her face with one hand, which she noticed was shaking rather badly.

"Are you unwell?" the girl asked, and Laura felt a light touch trying to push her down on the bed. She acquiesced, sitting down and turning to face the other woman.

"Just a bad dream, of sorts. It…the whole thing is a bit complicated to explain, and even more difficult to understand."

"Perhaps if you spoke of it, it would help. If what I suspect is true, then maybe I could help you in some way." She's got guts, Laura smiled.

"Perhaps, but moreso if I knew to whom I was confiding," she replied.

"I am called Arisaya," the young scientist murmured. Arisaya—kind soul, she remembered from long ago.

"Arisaya…your name suits you. I'm Laura." Extending her hand, Laura was pleased when Arisaya took it in hers, a gesture she'd likely picked up from Dr. Halsey. "I am honored."

--

"I am honored."

Three words, saying so little and yet so much at once. Arisaya had no proof, but she felt certain that this woman did not take many people into her confidence. Indeed, the lines around her eyes revealed that Laura had seen much, endured much, and hidden much.

"It is I who should be honored. I doubt you normally take strangers into your confidence so readily." At this she laughed, a lilting melody, something Arisaya had not heard yet from her.

"You're right, I usually don't. But I feel I can trust you with this. Besides, you're curious to hear about my…unusual behavior." Her face took on a sad look, and somehow the young Forerunner scientist knew there were sad tales involved.

"You know of Alaya's circlet, correct?" She nodded, and Laura continued. "That circlet, in a way, is where it all starts. It was a few years ago, but I remember it clearly, like it was yesterday.

"I was on a mission, with the other Spartans, and we found a circlet onboard the ship we'd captured. It looked so familiar, I knew there was no risk, so I put it on." She sighed deeply and met Arisaya's eyes. "I'm sure you've noticed my resemblance to Alaya by now. Let me assure you, I share more than her face."

"You hold her memories." Arisaya was not surprised, especially when Laura mentioned the circlet. She had guessed there was a reason behind the woman's unusual behavior, and her story had confirmed what she had suspected. This strange woman was a reincarnation of Alaya, her ancestor. For a moment she marveled at the opportunity before her—here was a living link to the ancient past, someone who could remember the times before the rings were fired! Alaya's memories, they could change everything! Looking up, Arisaya was surprised to see a sad look in Laura's eyes.

"Yes, I have her memories, and sometimes I forget that I'm not Alaya. It…makes things difficult sometimes." Arisaya did not understand, not at first. Then she realized that with two people's memories in one mind, each attempting to come to the forefront, it was entirely possible that someone might be driven to insanity.

"It's even harder when I'm in an area that Alaya once walked, or if I'm around things she had helped create," Laura continued, and Arisaya understood. She is struggling to maintain a foothold. And rather than helping her, we are treating her with suspicion and imprisoning her.

"Forgive me, Laura. I did not understand," she began, but Laura stopped her.

"How could you know? Not many people do, and even less know how serious this could become. It's…not exactly something I talk about much, since I don't know who I could trust with this knowledge. I don't blame anyone but myself for this. You've done nothing wrong, none of you have." The two women sat in silence for a while, contemplating everything that had been said.

"Is there no way for you to control these memories?" Arisaya finally asked.

"Not entirely, no. Once I wore the circlet and found a way, but it's fading the more time I spend on this ship. I can feel the echoes pulling at me, and it's only a matter of time before I lose myself. I'm afraid of the possibilities: if I don't go insane, I may end up becoming Alaya rather than Laura."

"I do not think that is possible, but I will look into it. It may be possible for me to find a way to help you, if you will trust me." Laura said nothing for a long time, simply staring into Arisaya's blue eyes, as if she could find the answers there.

"I trust you, Arisaya, and for me that says a lot. By now you must know I don't take many people into my confidence—after a while, one gets used to keeping secrets." She smiled, and the lines around her eyes seemed to soften. "I trusted you enough to tell you my fears, and I trust you enough to help me now if you can."

"I will help, if there is a way. I do not think you will harm us." Arisaya stood and turned to leave, but stopped when Laura called her name.

"Arisaya, what else do you want to ask me?"

--

It had been easier than she'd thought, confiding in the young scientist. Maybe it was because she was Alaya's descendent, but Laura saw a lot of herself in the young girl, and felt her trustworthy. Of course, I could've also gone loopy with all these memories running rampant in my head, but who knows? Besides, right now I'll confide in whoever I can—not a lot of options at the moment. Being confined under house arrest had its disadvantages.

"What else do you want to ask me?" It was plain to her that Arisaya wanted to ask something else—the girl was easy to read. I guess she was never taught to hide her emotions, but then again she probably never had reason to.

"I…would not wish to impose," the girl replied, which sent Laura into a fit of giggles.

"You remind me of my niece and nephew," Laura replied between giggles. "Whenever they want something really badly, they get shy. No," she continued, attempting to regain some seriousness, "you're not imposing. I don't mind people asking me questions, as long as I'm not being manipulated. Ask away, kiddo, ask away." Arisaya seemed puzzled by the nickname "kiddo", but she didn't pause with her question.

"I…I remember you besting Arnyris in the docks. Was that another of the old memories?"

"Partly. I did remember the ancient techniques, but it would have done me no good without practice. On Earth, I studied martial arts techniques as part of my training, that's why I was able to pick up on my memories. Without it, I would've probably fallen on my butt on the first try." She smiled kindly, or at least she hoped it was kindly. "You want to learn, is that it?"

"Only to defend myself, no more than that." Arisaya seemed curious. "How much do you know?"

"Too much." Laura shook her head sadly, all mirth gone from her expression. "Alaya knew how to fight, but it wasn't her calling: she spent most of her time creating and researching. Me, I was created and trained to be a weapon—to kill. And while I'd rather not kill someone, it doesn't change the fact that I could." She took a deep breath, trying to chase away the regret; her entire life was hell, she hated what she'd become.

"At any rate, I can teach you enough to defend yourself, if need be. Since I'm under house arrest, though, it'll have to wait until we get back to Earth. Sound good?" She cocked an eyebrow, bringing a spark of laughter from the other girl.

"Truly you are no danger," Arisaya choked out between laughs. "Arnyris is a fool."

"He's wise enough in his own right, child. As a soldier, he does his duty well. Give the boy some credit, he's responsible." The two women looked at each other, and burst out laughing again.

--

John, Fred, and Arnyris were going through that very corridor when they heard the mingled laughter coming from Laura's quarters. Arnyris looked puzzled.

"I know one voice is Arisaya's, but who is the other?" John and Fred shared a look before breaking out in uncharacteristic chuckles.

"It's been a long time since I heard that laugh," Fred finally managed. "I daresay you've heard it more often though, John."

"Yeah, she laughs more often now than she used to. Though sometimes it's not as real as this—she laughs to hide sometimes."

"Hide from what? What need would she have to hide?" Arnyris asked—he was still having difficulty with standard, but was improving fairly quickly.

"More than you'd guess, kid," John said, looking at Laura's door, listening as the laughter subsided. "More than you'd guess."

The door opened and Arisaya departed, a smile clinging to her lips. Seeing Arnyris, however, caused her smile to falter.

"Arnyris, why are you here?" she asked softly, using standard out of courtesy, since John didn't know her language.

"We were passing through the corridor," Arnyris answered. "The stranger, she has not harmed you?"

"She will not harm any of us, Arnyris. Her heart is true, though her mind is troubled. I will help her long before I fear her." The young scientist bent her gaze on Arnyris and the other Spartans. "How long before we return to Earth, as you call it?"

"Another day, Arisaya," Fred replied. "You'll be able to see our home soon enough."

"Be that as it may, we Forerunners will wish to reclaim our ancient empire," Arnyris interrupted.

"Good luck with that, kid," Laura's voice echoed just before she appeared in the doorway of her quarters. "There's still a war going on, and I daresay the Flood are still running rampant in some areas. Plus the galaxy isn't what your histories describe anymore—a lot changes in 100,000 years, more than you'd think, and not all from natural causes." A troubled look passed over her face for a moment, but was just as quickly tucked away.

"Methinks your biggest concern would be seeing how much things have changed since the Forerunners left. Then you'd look at reclaiming your old homes, but remember that some might not want to give them up."

"You speak of what you do not understand, stranger," Arnyris began, but was cut off.

"I understand better than you know, child," she responded sharply, switching to the Forerunner tongue. "I have knowledge that is not my own, knowledge of what was, as well as my own eyes. I have seen what has happened to much of your ancient empire—it is not what it once was. A war still rages between races, and worlds have been destroyed that would not be conquered. Stars have ended, and so have their worlds. The ringworlds are lost, destroyed, or overrun. Nothing is as your records remember it. The only choices you have are to adapt or fight, and I doubt that your people came this far to start another war." Dark eyes bored into the younger man's. "You should start listening to more than your own feelings and ideas, young one. I do not doubt your heart, but your actions are foolhardy, the actions of one who seeks to prove himself too much. It will not do to be…overzealous."

"And what would you know of zeal, or of proving yourself to anyone?" The young warrior foolishly sneered. It was the wrong thing to say—one minute he was standing between Fred and John, the next he was on the deck staring up at a scowling female face. If looks could kill, John thought.

"Do not speak of what you do not understand. You may think me harsh, but you know little of my people—we are not as like you as you would think, and even then you underestimate us. There are some on my world who would try to kill you for saying the wrong thing. Beware your words and actions—not all are as kindly as I am." With that, Laura did an about-face and stalked back into her cabin. Fred shook his head and sighed, helping the young warrior to his feet.

"She's got a point, kid. Some people back on Earth might ignore your insults, but others could kill you for them. Better be careful."