Chapter 16
"Liz… Liz it's time to wake up." A familiar voice drifted into my ears. I groaned with annoyance, sleep felt much too good right now to wake up and ruin it. But as a pair of large and strong hands shook me slightly, it was apparent sleep would leave me. I opened my right eye, and looked at John who was wearing all but his helmet. He smirked at me, his blue eyes friendly and loving. I gave him a tweak of my annoyance and grumbled as I rose. He Held out my helmet, and I slid it on. The cool feel of the absorbing cushioning something I welcomed gratefully. John placed his on and helped me up from where I sat. I then realized, it was the floor.
I laughed to myself, but soon a spasm of pain shot through my neck. "Crappp..." I groaned and John tilted his head slightly, not knowing what was wrong. "You are never suppose to sleep with your armor on if you don't wear your helmet. We must have doozed off at a point and now my neck is killing me!" I began rolling my head around, trying to make it feel better. But before I got it, John was behind me, his hands on my shoulder. He removed my helmet, and placed it on my bed. He moved one hand up my neck and then another, rubbing deep into the muscle. I let out a small groan as the knot came out...
He moved his mouth to my ear, his voice was intoxicatingly seductive. I smirked and turned around, my forehead pressed against his visor. I moved one around his head, to the lock latch on the back. I pulled his helmet off his head. Even if I won't get anymore sleep I can at least get more time with him, just the two of us. I felt him pull on my waist, bringing me closer to him. I gave a slight mumble of how he could be nicer, but he had something serious in his eyes so suddenly. "Don't leave me." He pleaded to me.
I quickly was lost, what did he mean? "John... What are you-"
"James, that's what I mean." He cut me off, he held me tightly making me unable to move. "I know how you feel about him. Its more then friendship isn't it!" He let go of me, and I stumbled back from where I had been next to him. His hands balled up into fists and he tensed all over. Shit! Did I say his name without knowing? Did I say something about him last night and can't remember? I leaned against the wall, unknowing of what might happen, but completely at the John's will.
"John, I love you! You know that! James is only a friend! Why are you so upset?" I panicked as he moved to the door. Last night he showed me that he felt fear, and loved me so much that being away from him hurt him. What had happened that turned him into such an angry person? I watched as he stopped at the door, his hand relaxed at my words. But it was obvious that what ever had done this, what ever I might have said, what ever might have happened, was too much, because he put on his helmet and ran out.
I stood there, my heart lurching and a fear and sorrow rose in my heart, and took hold of it. I walked out my door, my helmet on to hide my tears. I hissed inwardly, IDIOT! James is making trouble without trying and you're just crying! The critical voice in my head snapped. I couldn't see where he went, but a group of Spartans were talking rather loudly down the hall. I walked over to them, sending up a silent prayer that John hadn't done anything stupid yet. Matthew was one of them, he was laughing about something to the other four with him. As I approached he stopped and turned to face me. There was an awkward air between me and the five, not really knowing what to say was apparant with the way we stared at each other.
"Have you seen John?" I finnaly blurted out, Matthew shook his head. There was a lady among the five, she stepped up to where I could see her and she pointed towards the breifing room.
"He ran by just a few minutes ago, looked like he was in a hurry. Is something up?" She tilted her head at the last part, the light shining through her silver visor. I could see her brown eyes and black bangs that fell in front of her pale face. I shook my head, not wanting them to know.
"Thanks!" I called out and took off after him.
I ran faster then when I had been looking for James that day, that day wasn't that long ago either. Its all moving too fast. I'm losing control and soon its going to crash around me, I know that and I can't stop it. Those words echoed in my head as I ran. The constant fear in my stomach was sickening, making me want to double over and purge it from me.
As I turned the bend to the breifing room, I ran right into a spartan. "Ow..." I grumbled as I landed on my butt on the gray tile floor. I looked up slowly, hope overwhelming me, only to come crashing down in a sudden relization. Who I had thought was John, wasn't. Instead it was the last person I wanted to see right now. Blue feet, legs, waist, torso, shoulder, recon helmet in his hands, white secondary on his outter hips and down the bottom half of his arms, spots where the armor had been struck to hard leaving dents. Golden shaggy hair lining a barely tan face with amber eyes. But the most notable thing about him, was his always there, never wavering, cocky smile.
James... not John.
He looked stunned, perhaps unable to recognize me with my new helmet. This might be my only chance to get by him... I stood up and coughed slightly. "Uh sorry... I didn't see you there." I said in a different voice, a higher pitched and faster voice. He shook his head and pointed at something on the floor next to me. My helmet was laying on the ground, spinning slightly. DAMN IT! I hissed inwardly and slapped my forehead. He stared at me, his gaze was unwavering as he watched my reaction. "Look James, I don't have time to talk. I need to go." I said as I picked up my helmet, I hadn't locked it so it flew off with the sudden impact.
He didn't say anything but walked off, slowly like he was still stunned. I shrugged it off though and returned to looking for John. I ran up to the briefing doors, he has to be in there. I stepped through and looked around the computer filled room. The blue light they gave off slightly unnerving along with the many marines and scientists who stopped to look at me. I cleared my throat and asked "Where is John, er Spartan 117?" A lady pointed to a room on the right.
I nodded and they all returned to their duties as I walked over. I could hear his voice coming from it. He was talking about me, I could tell as I heard my name. I took a step back, what should I do? Walk in and confront him? No I can't go in there, he might be getting a mission. Or maybe he is talking about me and wants to know what to do? Maybe he is requesting me on his team for his next mission. But then the voices stopped and I didn't have to go in, John walked out with Dr. Halsey. They both turned to me, Halsey raised an eyebrow. I bit my lip, now what?
"Liz, what is the matter?" She inquired at me. I was once again glad for the mask and privacy my helmet granted me. I moved into a professional stance before I spoke.
"Ma'am, I wish to speak to 117 in private." I stated and John shuffled his feet ever so slightly.
"Go ahead, we are done speaking for now." Dr. Halsey dismissed us. As John and I began walking out of the breifing room, she called over to us. "However be back in a half hour for your mission."
"Yes Ma'am." We returned in unison. The doors whished open and the two of us left the room, marines, scientists, and blue computer screens behind us.
"John we need to talk." I told him. We were standing outside, near a large tree that was like the oaks back on Earth. He grumbled something and walked away from me, towards the forest and large fence. "John, you can't just walk away from this!" I yelled after him, but he ignored me. Darn it what did I do? I groaned inwardly. He placed his hand on the cool concrete wall. "John... What is going on with you? You've been acting so... oddly sense this morning. And you won't tell me what happened that made you like this."
He sighed and removed his helmet; when he looked at me, his eyes were somber. "Elizabeth..." Ouch, Elizabeth. He didn't call me by my real name. "I ran into someone last night..."
"Was it James?" I cut him off as he slowed down. He nodded his head. "I thought so."
"He talked to me, very friendly like compared to how we have treated each other before. After A while he suprised me. He told me that he was sorry, and attempted to explain his behavior. But he also pointed out my own." After that last bit he seemed uneasy, but like getting it off his chest was helping so I pressed him on. "I know you see me as some strong, smart, mysterious guy. But I'm so protective, I don't leave you room. I suffacate you, because its like a mission I refuse to lose."
I sighed and didn't even let him wallow in despair. I quickly removed my helmet and then I kissed him on the lips, holding his face with my hands. When I pulled back my eyes glew. "Don't you get it? John, I love that you want to look out for me. Hell I might be dissapointed if you didn't care about my safety." He smiled some.
"My behavior is inexcuable though. I feel like I'm failing you. Failing the UNSC, failing humanity..." John struggled with his words. I sighed and looked out. The sun was just now heading west. I could hear the ripple of wind through tall grass. The subtle sound of Spartans walking on dry short grass. "What if we fail them? What will happen?" He pleaded for the answer.
"I don't know... But we won't let it happen while were living right? If we fail, someone else will rise to protect humanity. Heroes rise in chaos." I tried to make him feel better, but it seemed it was an impossible task. I just had to get his mind off it long enough. "Hey, we should head to the briefing room now." I held out his helmet, a slight smile on my face. He nodded and we started back.
WHOOSH! The doors opened up and we walked in. Matthew and two other spartans were waiting. We had one minute left on the clock, good timing. A marine was ready to brief us, another hologram prepared. "Alright, now that were all here, I'll tell you the mission." He began, loudly and military like. "On certain planets the covenant has set up bases. While we do have remaining troops some of these planets and are sending reinforcements. It won't be enough to turn the tide. That's where you come in." He pressed a few buttons on the holo projector. A planet came up, called Grydo. "Grydo is where you will be going. The covenant are set up here in the north, south, northwest and southeast." He pointed out certain flagged points on the holoplanet.
He pressed another button, zooming in on the southeastern base. "This is where you will strike, you will be dropped off here, eight clicks out in this plains. Sorry that's as close as we can get you. The covenant could have unidentified anti-air guns or cannons. Any closer could be risky." I nodded as I took in the information, every second out there could be our last if were not ready. He continued to relay our instructions from the high command. We have to destroy the base, killing any covenant we see and make it to the LZ in the valley below the base.
"Your transport is waiting in the hanger, John your the head of this operation." The marine closed with that and walked out of the briefing room. I smiled up at John, who nodded. I turned to the other spartans. For a change I wasn't the only female in on the team. Matthew nodded, he seemed to already know the two new spartans for our team.
"Hi, I'm Liz." I introduced myself, John didn't need to introduce himself, everyone knew who he was. Besides the marine just said his name. The guy was in full grenaider armor, while the woman was in Eva for everything she could. They both sported a gold visor.
"Names Dannny. She's-" The man began but was cut off.
"I can introduce myself Danny!" She sharply cut him off. Then she spoke friendly manner to me and John. "My name is Rebecca, but I like to be called Becca." I noticed then that she had an accent, like the british on Earth but she spoke faster. "Well, we might be wanting to head out. The sooner we get there, the quicker we can fight." She gleefully expressed. It was obvious she didn't fear battle and longed for the excitment it brought.
We all moved out, Matthew was quite friendly with her. But when Becca took off her helmet for a bit, they looked exactly the same other then her being female. I couldn't stop myself before I sputtered out, "Are you two related?"
Matthew laughed while Rebecca answered. "Why yes, were twins actually."
"But you-"
"Have an accent? Yes, we were seperated while children. I was raised in England and he America. Later we were taken like you and everyone else thats a Spartan." She cut me off, she knew what I was going to ask. Hmmm, I really do hate smart-alicks.
Finnally we got into the hanger and were about to load the transport, when a voice yelled at us from behind. "HEY! WHERE THE BLAZES DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING!"
I spun around, James was standing there, looking mighty fierce. His helmet was off, and suddenly that same damn cocky smile crossed his face. He spoke slowly and softly. Like we had just been reuinited.
"With out me?"
