Ch. 2 I Volunteer
Chapter two of Were It So Easy is here for your viewing pleasure! I am glad at the amount of attention it has gotten in a little over a week and I hope you all stay tuned for more on our favorite duo. ^^
Unrelated note, A New Beginning is still 6 reviews from completely ending. That's all that is needed for you all to enjoy the good ending to my first story. If everyone who viewed it the day 22 was posted then the goal would've been met in about an hour but sadly it seems you must still wait. Get those reviews in and let's get that story finished this week! ^^
Some people have expressed skepticism over the pairing with how the Chief isn't very emotional save for Cortana and the Arbiter was more concerned with duty and still is to an extent. Granted, due to my infancy in Fanfiction I may not be the best person to write this but seeing as how no one else has stepped up to the plate, I figured I would throw it out there and see if people bite.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, all characters copyright of Bungie and 343.
"Normal Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Sangheili Language"
The Chief left the armory completely devoid of his, now damaged again, MJOLNIR Mark VI armor and for the first time felt a little unprotected. Cortana had reintegrated herself into the Cairo station computers and was talking to him through a headset attached to his ear. "How was the debrief?" She asked curiously.
"The same that you could find anywhere else; Lord Hood was worried about the presence of the lone Sangheili carrier but understands the need for diplomacy. As long as it keeps a safe distance from Earth and is under heavy guard then he won't mind." The Chief said. He was worried but his training didn't allow him to show it or let it enter his voice, Cortana might've loosened him up a lot but there was still a ways to go it seemed.
"I understand but I really doubt they will do anything at this point." Cortana replied calmingly as she knew what the Chief was thinking and tried to placate him. It took many ships to bring down one Covenant Cruiser and the Covenant ships always self-destructed when they were in that position. Even under heavy guard, that Sangheili ship could do a very extreme amount of damage before it was brought down.
"It's a necessary precaution Cortana. You know that." The Chief said as he wandered aimlessly around the Cairo. He was supposed to be heading for his assigned barracks for rest but he felt the need to walk. The Cairo was still being repaired from the assault on Earth and it would be at least a year before it was completely restored. The Athens and Malta stations were scheduled to begin rebuilding next year but it would a long while before they could be anything but works in progress.
"I do but do you really think the Arbiter would allow them do anything? She's just as war weary as you are." Cortana said to him. "Besides they are only staying to allow diplomacy to run its course before they return to Sangheilios. I've been hearing some UNSC chatter about establishing an embassy on Sangheilios but that's all it is. Maybe you should ask and see if they need a Spartan?"
The Chief sighed. All of a sudden he wanted to go to sleep, if only to escape Cortana's constant reminder of the Arbiter. "Cortana, there wouldn't be a need for a Spartan. They have the UNSC forces for security." He said before adding. They also have Spartan III's who will start to complain if they don't have something to do."
Cortana caught the dislike in his tone regardless of how hard he tried to conceal it. Dr. Halsey was blacklisted when the Spartan II project ended and she was wanted alive by ONI on charges of unethical experiments but both the Chief and Cortana knew that wasn't the actual reason they were after her. They wanted her for something but got pissed when she refused and put her as a criminal. What ONI didn't know was the fact that the many in the UNSC could care less about her experiments due to the outcome of her experiments helping in turning around the war and ending it; ONI was being given the middle finger and they didn't even know it. "Chief, sooner or later, you will have to work with different Spartan soldiers. At least don't count them out until you have seen them fight."
Chief knew that Cortana was right but he didn't like it. He wanted his squad again but they were still trapped at Onyx and probably dead by now. The newer Spartans weren't as trained as his squad and that could turn out to be bad in the long run. "They just aren't the same as my squad Cortana." He said warily.
"I know but sometimes you have to work with what you got, just like on a battlefield. If you run out of ammo then pick up an enemy weapon and keep shooting." Cortana joked and Chief had a ghost of a smile pass over his face. She was right and the Chief knew it. "Now I believe you were suppose to go to sleep, so get over to your bunk soldier!" She half-joked and half-ordered. The Chief shook his head and made his way back to the barracks; his bunk was calling his name after all.
-Scene Break-
"Anything new on our orders?" The Arbiter asked a communication specialist on the ship.
"Nothing for now; the humans sent over a list of requirements for us to follow but nothing else." The specialist replied without looking up from his work.
The Arbiter sighed tiredly. She wanted sleep but making sure her ship was safe was her priority right now. "What are the requirements we are following?"
The specialist never halted in his typing. "We have to maintain a certain distance from their planet at all times and we are to be under heavy guard at all hours. They will provide us with supplies if they are needed but we aren't to approach the planet unless we are told."
"Damn the Prophets." The Arbiter cursed under her breath. "If we would've kept pushing before this happened then maybe we wouldn't be in this position." She said quietly but the specialist heard her and did halt in his work for once.
"We were poisoned by the Prophets and took their arguments despite our own feelings. They are the ones truly at fault Arbiter. They led us all to defeat but now we have a small chance to reclaim our honor. Do not dwell on the past but look to the future and see the hope we have." The specialist replied evenly. "You look like your about to pass out so go get some rest. The ship will be here when you wake." He said before returning to his work.
The Arbiter went over his words in her head and decided that some sleep might be able to help her headache that was forming. "I will do that, thank you Specialist-"
"Relon 'Kevlan." He replied.
"Specialist Kevlan." She replied with an inclined head before walking away to her quarters. As she walked through the corridors of the Light of Hope her mind was back on the Spartan she fought alongside in the final moments of the war. 'What is the Spartan doing right now?' She wondered.
-Scene Change-
The Chief was roused from his sleep by Cortana around 0500. "What's going on Cortana?" He said sleepily, even Spartan's needed rest after all.
"The Sangheili cruiser decided to open-" She started but was cutoff as the Chief immediately grabbed his weapon and was out the door within a few seconds. "I still have things to teach him it seems." She sighed wearily.
The Chief was sprinting down the halls faster than a cheetah and with only a few minutes had reached the main control room where Lord Hood was talking with a few Elites in blue armor. His first reaction was to bring the Assault Rifle to eye level but Lord Hood noticed him and made a small gesture for him to lower it. "You're early Chief." Hood told the Spartan.
"Sir?" The Chief asked while eyeing the Elites. They were eyeing him back and sizing him up though he could tell that they were confused.
"The demon is human?" One of them whispered in their language.
"That would explain why they aided the humans in the war." Another whispered as they looked at him. "They were humans all along."
"I told Cortana to wake you up at 0700 Chief not 0500." Hood told the Spartan who blinked before narrowing his eyes.
"Cortana didn't tell me that part sir." The Chief replied as he looked at Cortana's, now visible hologram on a terminal. She had her arms crossed and was looking amused at the Chief.
"You never let me finish Chief. You just ran out the door before I got any farther." Cortana replied with a hint of humor. The few humans in the room started to laugh but the Chief didn't seem to mind.
Lord Hood sighed tiredly. "I wish I had taken retirement years ago." He whispered quietly. "Mendez did a thorough job on training you Spartans." He said as the Chief approached. "We were discussing a possible diplomatic meeting on their cruiser as they aren't allowed any closer to Earth." Hood told the Chief, who immediately glanced at Cortana.
"If you would've let me finish speaking, then I could've told you that and then let you fall back to sleep." She said amused.
"Are you sure it's wise to have humans on their ship sir?" The Chief said as he threw a glare at the Elites who snarled back.
"I know the last time you were on their ship it was a battle Chief but this is different. We can't hold a peace talk here on Earth because of the demands they have to follow and following them to their planet just for a talk would be counter-productive as they also might take it as a sign of aggression, right?" He looked to the Elites at the last part.
"Some would see it that way and with some Sangheili keeps still wanting war for our fallen, it would not be a wise choice. If a formal alliance can be made then it would make the populace believe that we can let bygones be bygones and the few keeps that call for war would be outnumbered and silenced." The lead Elite said confidently.
"That might be true for your race but humans won't ever forget. Our race would be split between anti-war and pro-war and that's before politics enter the ring." Hood said tiredly as he imagined the political shit storm that was about rage over this.
"All the more reason to make this official before it goes up in smoke." The Elite said.
Cortana looked at Lord Hood. "He has a point sir. If the UNSC and the Sangheili declare a ceasefire agreement then it won't matter who complains."
Hood shook his head. "ONI would try and raise hell about this Cortana. Politicians we can deal with but ONI is different and they don't care if they have to turn to illegal activity to get a job done. If they are against this then you can bet they will do whatever they can to make this break down."
"Then let's get a ceasefire agreement reached quickly then sir." Cortana replied with a tone of finality. "The quicker the better and I already have a list of people who would be great at negotiations." She said smugly.
"I'll go myself Cortana, this way I can end my career on a good note." Hood said in a low voice.
The Chief was thinking over this development with a careful mind. This alliance they had was a shaky one at best and was held together only by the mutual hate of the Covenant after the Prophets lies surfaced. Only two outcomes were possible in the Chief's mind; one was the talks breaking down and Lord Hood and his team held captive on the vessel and the other was a small chance of this actually turning out to be successful. Another thought then popped up in the Chief's mind that was completely unrelated to the problem at hand. It was a memory of the hill and the Arbiter's parting words to the Chief.
- Small Flashback -
"The majority of our fleet will return home while a single ship will remains as diplomats for a while." The Arbiter said while shuffling her feet a little. "You wouldn't want to but I hope you will visit it under peaceful terms this time." She finished awkwardly before she too departed to a waiting dropship.
- Small Flashback over -
'I guess I do owe her a thank you for pulling me out of the aft section of the Dawn.' The Chief thought hesitantly. "Sir, permission to speak?"
"Granted Chief." Hood replied as looked at the Spartan.
"If you do organize a party, I volunteer to be security." The Chief said.
Hood looked at the Elites. "Would that be acceptable?"
The Elites spoke in their language for a minute before turning back to Hood. "If the demon agrees to remain as he is currently."
"I don't think we'll have a problem with that." Hood said as he eyed the Chief.
"No sir." The chief said calmly. Internally though he was frowning, he felt uncomfortable without his armor but if he had go with normal Marine armor to ensure Hood's safety then he would do it. It also didn't help that his armor would take about a week to repair for all the damage it received.
"Alright then, tell the Arbiter we will meet later tomorrow at 1200 hours." Hood told the Elites who slapped their fists to the chest in a sign of respect and departed to their drop ship.
"Why do you want to go Chief? A normal Marine escort would've be sufficient." Hood asked the Chief.
"Just wanting to ensure your safety, sir." The Chief replied as he saluted and left the control room for the mess hall.
"Is there something I should know about Cortana?" Hood asked the A.I. who just had a smug look.
"The Arbiter came back for the Chief in the Dawn sir. I told the Chief he should thank him for that and he never did yet and this would be the perfect time to do so." Cortana replied as her hologram faded away.
Lord Hood shook his head and turned back to the console. "Let's just hope this runs smoothly or else we could wind up in a war that was even worse than the previous one."
And cue the second chapter of Were It So Easy. A diplomatic party was decided and the Chief volunteered to watch Hood's back during it. Yes I am leaving the Chief unarmored for the meeting for the reasons of allowing the Arbiter to see him without the armor. I know we never got a really good description of him save for his eye and hair color but we did some of his face during halo 4 at the end. Also I have read that in Issue 8 of Halo Escalation he did join rejoin his old friends of Kelly, Fed and Linda but for stories sake they are still in Onyx. (Taken from the Halo nation Wiki if you wish to verify it)
Either way I hope you enjoy this chapter and the next will be out sometime next week and also for those that have read A New Beginning, please review it so I can finish it. Also read and review this and tell me what you think so far!
Till next everybody!