I slowly turned over on my bed as my eyes fluttered. Opening them I saw my room was still dark. Looking at the digital clock I saw it was 4:57 before rolling over again. After a second I sighed before sitting up and stretching.

Quietly and quickly I got dressed and finally placed Cali back on my arm, just as the lights turned on at o'five hundred. Cali popped up yawning and saying, "Good morning Alli!"

I smiled at her contagious attitude, "G'morning Cali. Anything surprising going on today?" "Nothing so far, but I'll keep a lookout." I nod and walk over to my computer.

Freelancers, cadets or not, had special privileges. For cadets, this was off days. A whole day without training or class. Turning the computer on I think a little on what I'm gonna do.

"Might as well video mail uncle… I'm sure 'kuz is still hacking into it before he's able to read them." I mutter as I get everything set for said video.

"Hey Uncle C. How's it going? Yes, yes. I know you don't like me calling you that. Well to bad. I'm gonna. How am I doing you ask even though I know you won't? It's going well, thank you. I'm excelling through all my classes and simulations and have put my 'Annoy General Black' schedule down to a minimum. The training room is still down from last week's incident. Some students got out of hand. I would appreciate it if you could give me news on any new armor and weapons. I want to be prepared for when I graduate. That's all for now I believe. I look forward to hearing from you." I quickly ended the video before my face cracked.

God Uncle C. is such an asshole. I smirk though as I replay the message through my head, adding in what it really means for when my cousin listens to it.

"Hey Uncle C. How's it going? Yes, yes. I know you don't like me calling you that. Well to bad. I'm gonna. How am I doing you ask even though I know you won't? It's going well, thank you. (Hey 'kuz! What's going on?! How am I doing? Great! The people are strict but I'm surviving.) I'm excelling through all my classes and simulations and have put my 'Annoy General Black' schedule down to a minimum. (I'm passing every single thing I participate in. Some of these things are too easy. I annoyed Black again too! It was great!) The training room is still down from last week's incident. Some students got out of hand. (I'm bored though! The training room is closed because I had a fight with a kid. Words were said, lines were crossed, and I broke his bones.) I would appreciate it if you could give me news on any new armor and weapons. I want to be prepared for when I graduate. (Got anything new I can shoot or try out when I come to visit next time?) That's all for now I believe. I look forward to hearing from you. (Anyway, I gotta go. See ya later 'kuz!)"

Sending the video I get up and stretch. "Hey Cali, is there a package here for me today?" "Uh…yes. It's in the front office." "And is anyone at the Freelance Shooting Range?" "No, not at the moment."

I smiled happily before sprinting out of room and to the front office. After getting the package and reaching the shooting range, I carefully set it down on the table.

"What's in there?" "My favorite weapon~" "….Alli if it shoots or does bodily harm you like it." "Point taken. But! I love~ long range. So I pulled a few strings, impersonated a couple calls, forged Black's signature and, ta-da!" I say, all the while unwrapping the package.

Finally I take out a sniper rifle. "Oh my god! Is that what I think it is?!" "The Sniper Rifle System 99-Series 5 Anti-Materiel." "Holy crap Alli! How did you get this!? It's not supposed to be released for another several years!" "Remember that laboratory/warehouse I asked you to scan a couple months ago?" "No way." "Yep! And now this baby is all mine!"

Cali and I stared at it in admiration for a few minutes before we both said excitedly, "Let's shoot it already!"

I sit down with a happy sigh at the table. The other Freelancer Cadets look up from their food to look at me with confused faces. Stretching I say, "I just spent the entire morning shooting. No contest. No yelling. No grades. Just fun, peaceful shooting."

Somehow that was the starting point in all of us talking about our day.

"Um, I spent the morning reading various books." Johanna said shyly.

Matt puffed out his chest saying, "Lewis and I spent the morning playing basketball! I won, of course." "Did not! It was obviously my win!" "I shot more baskets than you!" "Yea but they have to go IN the basket to count!"

We all turned to Nick, expecting him to say something. His head stayed down as he continued eating. Seeing as how I was sitting right next to him I gave a fake cough, and when that didn't work I elbowed him in the side. He jumped slightly and winced as he rubbed his side.

Lewis rolled his eyes saying, "Dude, just tell us what you did this morning. Did you run, shoot, read, play a game?"

Nick blushed slightly as he looked back down to his food and said, "I-I was training, all morning."

We all groaned and Lewis and Matt hit their heads on the table. Placing a hand on Nick's shoulder I say, "Dude, you need to learn to relax a little. All work and no play is gonna burn you out."

Nick thinks a little before sighing and saying, "Yeah, you're right."

Suddenly we heard yelling and look behind us to see some Cadets fighting. "All right!" "A fight!" Lewis and Matt yell as they run over to watch. Johanna follows them nervously, curious about the fight. Nick and I look at each other before nodding and quickly rushing over.

Intending to break up the fight I'm surprised to find, "Lasky?"

As I watch Lasky and one of his own teammates fight for a few seconds, Nick nudges my shoulder before he goes to pick up the other kid as Lasky had him on the ground.

I quickly run to Lasky and pull him off the other kid as they tried to fight Nick and I to get to the other.

Suddenly a blonde girl yelled, "Officer on deck!" Everyone stood at attention as Colonel Mehaffey came. She stared at Lasky before turning and saying, "Outside." Letting go of him, Lasky follows her outside.

Pushing the other kid aside, Nick says in a loud commanding voice, "All right that's it! Shows over everybody! Get back to what you were doing!" Everyone quickly scattered back to their tables or out the cafeteria doors.

"I wonder what started that fight…."

"I heard he dissed his mom."

"No you idiot he was calling out on his brother!"

"I'm not an idiot, idiot!"

"Nice come back ugly!"

"We're twins asshole!"

I sighed as the Matt and Lewis began throwing punches at each other again. Suddenly Black rounded the corner in his Warthog and we all saluted him as we kept walking. Well I used a mock salute but whatever.

"All cadets, be advised: New mandatory curfew tonight at 21:00." As soon as we couldn't see Black the twins were at it again.

"Tomorrow is the final exercise for the term. What is everyone doing? I know I'm doing Capture the Flag between Zeta and Rho squad." Johanna asked us.

"Lewis and I are playing Slayer!" "Yeah! Against Kappa and Chi Squad! It should be fun!"

"I hope you both realize it is not a game nor is it for fun. These simulations will count for 65% of our final grade. I must rig both Omicron and Lambda Squads simulation bases with explosives in order to complete my assignment." "In other words, you have Assault." "….Yes, basically."

I smiled happily as I said, "Well next to Race and Slayer I think I've got the most exciting one. Keep-away with Alpha and Omega Squad!"

Nick stopped us all and stood in front of us with his hands behind his back. Manni appeared next to him in the same posture. Cali appeared next to me as well. Missy appeared next to Johanna and Core and Fist appeared next to Matt and Lewis.

"Alright Freelancer Cadets! I expect every one of you to pass your simulations with flying colors! I want nothing less!"

We all stood to attention with wide smiles on our faces and mock saluted him saying, "Sir, yes sir!" He finally cracked and smiled too, placing his hand out. We all followed his example and placed our hands on top of one another till we made a pile of ten. Our AIs jumped on top as well.

"Break!" We all said happily, throwing our hands into the air as our AIs flew through the air before disappearing in a flurry of colorful pixels. We all talked and laughed the rest of the way to our bunkers.

I smiled happily. It was hard, and seeing them or any other teammate die would kill me. But I liked this. They were my family as well.

Kind of a cheesy ending but I think it's sweet. Although it is a slow chapter… Can you guys guess who Uncle C is? There's only one more chapter left. I do not own Halo or Red vs Blue or Forward Unto Dawn. Only my characters!