Epilogue
John looked at the wall, his whole body numb. She was gone, everything about here was gone but the memories. Her sweet smell, her musical voice, the images of her curly black hair and stunning eyes. Everything but the images and the memories was gone, never to be his again.
John curled his fingers into a fist, his gaze unwavering from the wall before him. Upon it was a board that listed every single Spartan created and deployed thus far. There was no names, just their Spartan call numbers and one of two things beside it. Active or MIA. And John's eyes were on nothing but one in particular.
The stoic Spartan was silent as James stepped up beside him, not a word shared between them for quite a while as they stood there in silence. But then the blue armored man had to ruin it by dipping his head and giving a long sigh. "I'm sorry."
"What?" John asked, actually removing his gaze from the board to look at the other Spartan with confusion crossing his face under the golden visor.
"For everything I did, to you, to Liz- I was stupid and I'm sorry." James clarified, turning to him fully with his helmet removed. He didn't smile, not a single bit of his face held the same joy and charm it always did before. "She was an amazing woman, I understand why you fell for her." James lowered his gaze, unable to meet the unseen eyes of John any longer.
"She was." John replied.
James struggled to say something for quite a while, and then at last lifted his head up to nearly John's height. "I'm happy that she found a man like you to treat her well while she was with us. I wasn't enough for her, I can see why now. I never could have been. You treated her right, and you forever have my respect for that."
Taking in a long breath, John looked at James and removed his helmet, at last putting them on equal ground so to speak. "Thank you, and I'm sorry for the way I moved in on her." John admitted, and then looked at the board again. His glance fell on several numbers, most of which had a red MIA beside them. Ricardo and Samuel's caught his eye, and the soldier looked down to where a helmet rested with a small plague beside it, the visor bashed in and broken.
"She really did do it huh? I never thought she had time to set it up." James said, noticing the helmet as well.
"It was Ricardo's."
James nodded before he stepped back and looked at the board once again. "Spartans never die right?" He asked rhetorically.
John simply nodded. "That's what they say."
"I hope she didn't die then, still down there fighting like I know she would. Giving those alien bastards a taste of their own medicine, tearing it up." James said wistfully, his eyes glazing over somewhat. "I just hope we find her one day." With that, James placed his helmet back on and walked away from the board. Leaving John alone once again.
"So do I." He whispered, watching as the Spartan 297's status turned red.
S297 MIA.
"So do I." John turned, walking away from the board with a hardened determination. So do I.
A.N.
So that is it guys. I finally finished this long and emotional journey. I started it basically three years ago and have poured so much into it. It just feels amazing to have finally finished it. I hope you guys enjoyed it, and can forgive the lesser writing at the beginning. R&R, because I still would love to see what you have to think about it, even if the story is now officially and forever over. Thank you so much.
-Akari78
