I decided to do something a bit different with this chapter: knowing how Laura likes to know anything and everything she can, and taking into account her tendency to get a bit cocky, what if it were to backfire on her? Have fun!

Disclaimer:I don't own Halo.

Chapter Twenty-One: Departure Pt. II

June 27, 2558 0525 hours

Forerunner Dreadnaught Petrarch's Glory

Sol System

Laura and her brother entered the meeting room to find a war zone. There was shouting in various languages (which she couldn't sort out because of the sheer magnitude of voices), ugly looks, and it appeared to her eyes that things were ready to deteriorate to violence.

Kelly and John saw her and motioned her with one hand; she lightly tugged Matt's sleeve and they carefully made their way over.

"What the hell happened?" she muttered close to their ears.

"Near as we can figure, they're arguing over who's commanding the operation," Kelly answered. "Dr. Halsey tried being a mediator, but they're ignoring her."

"Then it's time to interrupt." Jumping up on a chair, Laura whistled shrilly, a loud ugly noise that bordered on painful. Amazingly, the room went silent.

"You know, considering this mission is supposed to be a cooperative effort, you all don't seem to be very cooperative," she said conversationally. "I haven't even been in here two minutes and you're about to come to blows." Hopping off the chair (which was beginning to groan under her weight), she continued, "Now, what is so damn important that you're about to start a war over it?"

"Very diplomatic, Laura," her brother commented.

"There's a reason I'm a soldier—there's a lot less of this idiocy going around," Laura tossed her braid over her soldier and looked pointedly at each person or group in question. "Certainly there's a lot less yelling about who's in charge, and a lot more cooperation when it comes to planning. Frankly," she addressed the various captains and elders in the room, "I could care less about who leads or not—or who goes or not. I'm the only one who absolutely has to get there, and I'm not above stealing a sip and going alone if I have to."

"Why?" one of the Elders asked; she recognized Cardus as the speaker, and nodded.

"You know part of it. Something is calling me there, and if I don't go things could get very ugly. I'm not afraid to go it alone, but I'd prefer to have backup along." Laura stopped and fixed each of them with her most intimidating glare. "Which isn't going to happen if we keep getting hung up on who's leading and who's following."

"And what do you propose?" Dr. Halsey asked.

"I'm not proposing anything. It's a soldier's job to fight, a politician's job to compromise. All I'm doing is making sure we don't have another war on our hands." With a smirk evident on her face, Laura sat down in the back of the room, waiting to see what would happen.

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June 27, 2558 1305 hours

Forerunner Dreadnaught Petrarch's Glory

En Route to unknown system

It had taken several hours, and Laura had tuned out most of the conversation, but it was decided that the Forerunner dreadnaught would be the lead ship, since it had the most advanced technology. However, key members from either ship were onboard to help decide on tactics and actions as needed—and a sophisticated relay system had been set up that would allow for communication in Slipspace and out of it. Laura didn't really care much about the technological aspect, as long as it worked.

Making her way to one of the holographic chambers on the ship, Laura pondered how she would spend the long voyage. First things first: get some practice in, she thought—while she could remember details about the Flood from Alaya's research, combat techniques the Forerunners used long ago in battle, and files she'd hacked from John's missions on Halo, there was nothing like good practical experience. That's where those holochambers come in, she grinned at the thought.

Finding an empty chamber, Laura slipped in and sealed it so she wouldn't be disturbed. Granted, it wouldn't take much to unlock the door, but at least people would know she was in there. Taking stock of the room, she spotted a computer terminal and grinned. This is gonna be fun. The computer could program any scenario she chose, and Laura even spotted a dataport. Pulling a chip from the "wristwatch" she was wearing, she slipped it into the port and waited.

"This is interesting," her voice chuckled. Laura smiled as the AI continued, "The systems here are nothing like Covenant or UNSC systems, much more roomy."

"Any chance that you could be caught?" Laura muttered.

"Oh, there's always a chance," Lorienna reminded her. "But I don't feel an AI yet, so I can buy a little time with some blocks. I'm assuming you didn't pull me to do some raiding, though."

"You assume correctly. I need you to set up a holographic simulation. You're faster at that than I am."

"Flood?"

"Flood. Combat forms, carrier forms, infection forms, anything you can dream up and put together. I need to get some practice in."

"You got it." Lorienna paused for a few milliseconds, setting up the simulation. Basing most of the simulation on ONI files from SPARTAN-117's missions, she threw in a multitude of everything she could find, even a few of the evolved forms he'd encountered in Africa. "What kind of setting do you want for this?"

"Forerunner architecture, since we're heading to Stronghold. I know I'll probably be using projectile weaponry down there, but for now give me energy swords—and some grenades probably wouldn't be a bad idea, either."

"Done…and done," Lorienna proclaimed as she finished the program. "Though I have to wonder why you're doing this—there's no record of Flood on the world that I can find."

"Thought I said I didn't want any hacking this time," Laura frowned.

"No, but I did anyway—and there's nothing to say the Flood were on Stronghold."

"There's nothing to say the Flood weren't there, either," she pointed out. "Better safe than sorry, plus it'll be a good workout."

"True," the AI agreed. "At any rate, the program's done. Feel free to pull me whenever."

"Thanks." Laura pulled the AI from the port and loaded the custom program. Within minutes she was standing in a Forerunner room, filled with hidey-holes and potential ambushes. Nearby she spotted the energy swords, which she appropriated and switched on. And not a moment too soon, for the minute she armed herself the Flood came to greet her.

Infection forms swarmed up to meet her, and she pulled back to find a more defensible position. Combat forms leapt down from rafters, and she slashed and cut at the ones who got too close. A pod-like infection form flew at her face, and Laura just managed to kick it away just in time. One combat form took a swing at her: she ducked and sent one blade through the heart of it, killing the infection form she knew to be there. Managing to put some distance between her and the wave of killer pods, Laura tossed a grenade and watched with grim satisfaction at the exploding infection forms. Impres—oh SHIT! She felt herself flying backwards at a hit from a tentacled arm, and grunted in pain as she hit a pillar. Picking herself up quickly, she charged, flipped, and slashed the head off her attacker. It didn't work, and she barely managed to sink her blade in the thing's chest cavity.

Uh-oh, she thought when she saw the approaching carriers, and there were even more combat forms behind her. A crazy idea surfaced and she grabbed it with both hands, literally: disabling her energy swords, she primed two grenades and ran towards the approaching horde of nightmares. I've only got one shot at this. Stopping just inches away from a carrier form, she tossed her grenades behind it and turned to run. Too late: she'd mistimed the carrier's explosion, and found herself flying straight for a metal column. SHIT!!!! Twisting her body, she tried desperately to maneuver her feet and hands to take the impact. It worked…sort of: her hands and knees caught the blow, and she dropped to her back, nearly blinded by the intense pain. Caught by surprise, she cried out in pain, and stars bloomed in her vision; she couldn't even move for a long moment. Fortunately, the program was geared to stop when she did, and the nightmarish attackers halted.

"Dear God in heaven," she breathed, unable to move from the pain and exhaustion. And this wasn't even one-sixteenth of what John faced! She now had a new appreciation for what her lover had gone through. As out of it as she was, she didn't even register the opening door, or when the holographic surroundings vanished.

"What on earth were you doing?" John asked, kneeling beside her while she lay there.

"Laugh…and you…die," Laura wheezed, finally getting her breathing to slow down. John chuckled, helping her sit up; she gasped in agony as her body protested.

"In the shape you're in, I doubt you'd be able to," he pointed out. "Now, what were you doing?"

"Getting a little practice in. And I have to admit—I never realized just how bad your situation was on Halo until now, and I was barely facing a fraction of what you were." Laura winced as she stood, and limped towards the door. "How'd you know I was here?"

"Well, the High Council was looking for you, and there was an intrusion alert in this area. Didn't take long for me to figure it out—you sent Lorienna to put a program together, didn't you?"

"She did the raiding on her own, after I told her I just wanted a program put together." The pain in her knee was about blinding, but she didn't think anything was seriously wrong. Might've just strained it or something, she thought as she limped out into the hallway and stopped short: Dr. Halsey and Arisaya were waiting for her.

"We managed to convince the Forerunners that there's no need to worry, but I would…" Dr. Halsey began, but stopped when she saw the expression on Laura's face. The Spartan was in agony, and no matter how she tried to hide it the pain still broke through. "What happened?"

"Holo-sim," Laura grunted, trying to block out the pain. Her knee was killing her. "I wanted to get a little practice in, and Lorienna helped write a program. Guess…guess it got a little out of hand…" The pain…damn…she felt herself falling, her damaged knee unable to handle her weight.

John caught her before she hit the deck. "You're hurt." It wasn't a question, and since she'd been unable to stay on her feet she knew a denial would be impossible.

"I think…I think I might've done something to my knee." Laura tried to take a step and nearly crumpled again. "Scratch that, I'm pretty sure I did something to my knee."

Dr. Halsey had her medical scanner out in an instant, checking Laura's vital signs. "Pulled tendons, severed ligaments, fractured kneecap…what on earth were you fighting in there?"

"The Flood," she replied tonelessly. "I wanted some practical experience, and underestimated my opponent. Next time I'll be prepared."

"There won't be a next time, not for a while," the doctor scolded. "I'll have to do minor repair work, but you'll be taking it easy for a few days while this heals."

"The infirmary is this way, Doctor Hal-see," Arisaya interrupted. John wrapped one arm around Laura's waist to help her along, and the group headed towards the ship's infirmary.

"Why the Flood?" Arisaya asked softly. Laura turned and smiled at the young scientist.

"I need to be prepared. There's no telling what's on that world, or why it was lost." She shook her head, loose strands of dark hair falling in her eyes. "Is there anything in your histories that says when the Empire lost contact with Stronghold?"

Arisaya shook her head. "No one knows why Stronghold was lost except…" she trailed off.

"Let's not even go there," Laura grimaced, though that may have been because Dr. Halsey had had John dump her on an exam table. "Ow," she muttered, switching back to standard.

"You did it to yourself," John pointed out.

"Not gonna argue with you there." Wincing as Dr. Halsey began the repair work on her knee, she asked. "So how'd your reunion with the Arbiter go?"

John grinned.

"It has been a long time, Demon," the Arbiter rumbled.

"Likewise, Arbiter," he nodded, extending his hand. The Sangheili took it and nodded. "You don't seem to have changed much."

"Nor you, though for a long time I thought you dead. You made it back safely to your world, then."

"Took awhile, but yeah. And a good thing, too." John smiled as he recalled the homecoming: no tickertape parade, but quite a few gifts.

"Something is different about you, Demon," the Arbiter commented. "You seem…happier."

"A lot's changed since our last mission. Starting with the individual that interrupted the argument earlier."

The Arbiter clicked his mandibles in what John knew was the equivalent of a smile. "She is interesting. Is she your mate?"

"Not quite, but close enough." Lowering his voice, he murmured. "She gave me children."

Arbiter's eyes widened. "Children? Then she is your mate!"

John chuckled. "Well, when you put it that way, yes. You'll have to meet her, she's full of surprises."

"Hey, idiot," Laura's voice interrupted his musings with the good-natured insult. "You never answered my—OW!—my question," she finished weakly as Dr. Halsey put the finishing touches on her knee.

"It went well. He wants to meet you." John smirked at her questioning look. "For some reason he thinks you're my mate."

"They have interesting ideas about marriage and families," Laura nodded. She hissed as the last ligament was repaired.

"Almost done, Laura," Dr. Halsey commented. A few pulses with a laser-scalpel and her knee looked as good as new, except for a few scars. "Now remember, no strenuous activity for a few days."

"Define 'strenuous,'" Laura snickered, swinging her feet over the side of the exam table—and wincing at the flash of pain.

"You can walk, but that's about all you can do. The re-fused tendons and so forth need to strengthen, and you need time to recuperate." Dr. Halsey shook her head. "Though I daresay you'll try to overdo it again. Typical Spartan behavior."

"You act like you're surprised," she pointed out. "Having had to deal with him alone would be difficult. Oh, wait, you've already done that." Laura grinned. "He told me about Ascendent Justice."

"No I didn't," John argued. "You hacked ONI's mainframe to find that."

"Guilty."

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"I heard you ran into a little trouble."

Laura paused in her unpacking to glance at Captain Morisson in the doorway. "Only a little?"

"With you, a little is a lot." Matt walked in and plopped down on her bed. "Think this'll hold you?"

"Not if you're sitting on it. Don't you have your own bed?"

"Yeah, but it's on the Apache." Propping his hands behind his head, he regarded his older sister with concern. "You'll be okay here, right?"

"Whether I am or not, I have to be here. They'll need the intel I have, you know that." Laura sat down next to her brother, raking one hand through the remains of her braided hair. "Believe me, I'd prefer to not have any visions or flashbacks or whatever they are."

"That's why I'm worried," Matt pointed out. "What happens if these stop being just flashbacks? And what happens if you have one and you're in the middle of something? You need someone to look after you."

"That's why John and the other Spartans are here, Stick. They'll keep me on the straight path."

"You may not be able to rely on them, though."

"I know," Laura sighed. "But the call's not mine to make, not yet. If they tell me to stay, I have to stay. Don't exactly have a choice there."

"True." Matt got up and placed one hand on her shoulder. "Promise you'll get a hold of me if you need to, okay?"

"I'll try." Lightly hugging him, Laura smiled. "Behave yourself, Matt."

"Only if you do." With a final smile, Matt Morisson exited the room. He'd be heading back to the Apache from there. Take care of yourself, Stick, she thought. Turning back to her packing, Laura stowed everything but her weapons and gadgets, which she hid under the bunk. Never know when I'll need them.

A knock sounded on her door, and she looked around to make sure everything was set. "Come in."

John stuck his head through the door. "Feel up to some food?"

"Hell yeah." Laura headed for the door, and John looked at her curiously. "How's the knee?"

"Sore, but I'll heal. Hopefully soon, or I'll be out of shape by the time we get there."

John smirked. "You, out of shape? I doubt that."

"Shut up." Laura playfully swung a punch at his head, and the two went in search of the mess hall.