Karl went back to the room and took a seat in a chair in the corner. Just like old times. Except he never looked at Soya when she was asleep. As he looked over at the seemingly peaceful sleeping figure. Karl let out a sigh, he didn't even know what he was doing anymore. To be honest he just wanted to go back to being a normal ODST trooper, someone who could be told orders and simply do them. Without all this secrecy and bullshit of being higher up. Especially since ONI gave him all that juicy public attention so people could hunt Karl down at their own will.
Karl just sighed and let sleep take over his body, he has had a long day if anything he deserved it.
Karl woke up to a silent room. He looked around and didn't see anyone but Soya's sleeping body in the bed. He turned low light vision on as he stood up and walked towards the door. As he opened the solid metal door he immediately regretted turning low- light on. He was almost blinded until he turned it off instantly. He looked around the halls and saw all the crewman going along their normal business. When a couple looked at him they gave him a look of what Karl could only guess was hate. He ignored the looks. He didn't care for the opinion of others of him, unless it was someone he cared a lot for.
"Kuhn!" Karl heard the voice and instantly recognized it. Captain Boyes came around the corner and bumped into Karl. "Oh sorry sergeant." Boyes said as he wiped off his shirt. Karl just nodded and looked at him. "I just wanted to let you know we will be arriving at the station in a few hours. Karl nodded again and looked at Boyes. "What happens when we arrive Captain. I don't think the public really likes me." Karl said monotone as usual. "Well, I have arranged a meeting with some higher ups in the UNSC to discuss these events more carefully with. Hopefully they are understanding or in a good mood. Especially the director of ONI who will be there." Boyes said explaining to Karl.
"So, I am basically going on trial?" Karl said straightforward. "Yep, you better have a good explanation to everything." Boyes responded.
"Oh, I do trust me." Karl said.
"Well you have a good day, and I'm sending one of my on board medics to check out your elite friend." Boyes said as he left.
Karl just mumbled out an "A-firm" and kept looking around the hallways.
Just then an alarm went off, 'For fuck's sake' Karl said in a mix of anger and a bad mood. Out loud and in his head.
Karl looked around and then dashed off towards the bridge. When he entered he saw Boyes frantically talking. "Get our shields up and make sure all gunners are prepped, I don't want a fight but hell if it comes to it." Boyes said. When Karl ran up he had no idea what he was talking about. Then he saw the 5 other UNSC Cruisers heading towards them aggressively.
"Captain sir, I really think you should talk to them." Karl said, "You know instead of panicking, to be fair they are UNSC." Karl said. Boyes looked around, "Oh yeah right." Boyes said as he hit his head a couple times. Karl just let out a chuckle.
"This is the USS Vengeance to unidentified vessel, respond or be boarded and your crew interrogated." A voice came through on what Karl guessed was the comms. A young women responded calmly, "This is the vessel USS Pyro, a special operations vessel, serial code I-34512."
"Copy that Pyro, you check out fine, we heard of your arrival, we will give you a fine escort back to Cairo, latch on." The young male voice came through. "You heard them ladies and gentleman begin attaching procedure. Nice of them to give us a ride back home." Boyes said and he saw his pilot and co- pilot begin doing their thing. Karl had no idea what the hell they did anyways. He didn't join the navy to be a damn pilot. Karl laughed internally at his own joke, cracking a smile on his face under his helmet.
Karl let out a sigh of relief at the same time. "What's that for?" Boyes said. "I wanted them to board." Karl said jokingly. He saw that Boyes got the joke and smiled. Karl then turned on his heels and walked out of the bridge. On his way out he saw Leo coming down to the bridge. "Hello sergeant major" Leo said.
Karl looked at him, "Hello Leo." They shook hands. "What was the alarm about?" Leo asked. "A small task force sent out to escort us found us and is currently escorting us." Karl said with a sideways smile. Leo just let out a 'hmph' and turned to walk with Karl.
"So what is your story Leo? I mean you are a spartan after all." Karl looked over to him. "I was hidden more or less, didn't get as much public attention as the Chief, because I didn't want it." Leo said, "From then I kind of went from small missions for ONI, to training myself to be better." Leo said. Karl hummed a little. "So I am guessing you know my story, from the files ONI probably gave you on me." Karl said straightforward.
"Oh definitely without a doubt." Leo said, "But all I saw were acts of valor and bravery, nothing off about you except near the end when your apparent 'murders' started popping up." Leo said as they turned a corner. "Yeah all that shit at the end was them just coming after me and someone I was supposed to protect, which I did to all of my ability. I was not going to fail the mission at any costs." Karl said. "So how was Sanghelios and it's people while you were there.?" Leo asked as they entered the mess area. "Some were good, some were bad, lucky I met all the good ones and they were good people, even a veteran that said he fought one of you." Karl said as they lined up to get food.
"But the bad ones were in kahoots with ONI and took up arms to kill or capture me and in the process take over the Keep I was staying in." Karl said as he got his food and Leo got his food as well and they went and sat down in a table in the corner. "So you managed to fend them off?" Leo asked. "Oh yeah definitely, it was about 10 to 1 after ONI attacked the keep and weakened us. You wouldn't believe me, but I killed about 80% of them before I had to fallback to our defensive positions." Karl said as he took off his helmet with a 'hiss' and took in the not so fresh but alright air.
Then Leo did the same revealing a almost normal face except for a scar on his left cheek from jawbone to his temple. He had buzz cut brown hair and brown eyes. "Ha you look normal, never seen a spartan without a helmet before." Karl stated. "I would say the same to you, my killing machine friend." Leo said. Then the ship shook slightly. "Looks like we docked." Karl said as he looked at the ceiling.
"So when we fought, did you think you would win?" Leo asked as he took a bite of his food. "Oh hell no, but I thought I would at least try, then convince you dramatically of their lies, looked like it worked." Karl said smiling. "Hmmmmmmmm." Leo let out a long sound of thinking. "Like a plot of a bad movie?" Leo asked.
"Yah, like a plot of a bad movie." Karl repeated. Then they both let out a little chuckle. "So I thought Spartans weren't supposed to have emotion other than kill or be killed?" Karl asked. "Well I am special you see, I am a prototype of a spartan with more emotion than the normal one, to see how well I bond with my team." Leo said.
"Where's your team?" Karl asked as respectively as possible. "They were all killed, on Reach. I was not there to help them." Leo said with a hint of sadness in his voice. "Hey, it's alright I know what it feels like to lose friends too." Karl said trying to comfort him. "Yeah, we all have lost something in that war." Leo said.
"But look at the bright side Leo, you made a new friend." Karl said as he pointed at himself and smiled. "Yeah I guess I did, we are all human, augmented or not." Leo said as he finished his meal and put his helmet on. Karl followed suit and put his helmet on too. They both put their trays back and walked out of the mess hall.
Karl and Leo walked back to Karl's room. "Well I will let you go and continue your mission Karl, glad we talked." Leo said as they stopped outside Karl's door. "I gotta say the same Leo." Karl said as they shook hands and Leo turned and left down the hall. Karl let out a sigh as he turned towards his door and walked in to see Soya fully awake with a young women next to her, it looked like they were having normal conversation as the young women was patting a cloth on a wound.
"Oh welcome Sergeant. Have a seat and I'll tell you her condition." The young women said, completely focused on her work and conversation with Soya. "So whatcha ladies talking about." Karl asked as he sat in a chair and crossed his legs on a stand. "Oh, just talking about men, don't worry Karl." Soya responded. One of Karl's eyebrows raised but he decided to not push it further for his own good. Karl leaned back and watched as the corpsman did her job and also chatted with Soya some. Karl mainly kept his ears closed and acted asleep so he did not have to hear what they were talking about. Then he went into his thoughts which he hasn't done for some time.
He started to think about his relationship with Soya and also his friendship with the Spartan. Then a snap broke him from his thoughts. He looked at the medic who was snapping her fingers in front of Karl's visor. "Yes?" Karl said annoyed. "Sergeant, she will be fine, the cuts are cleaned and patched, the bruises will be gone very shortly, I don't know their anatomy but they probably have faster healing processes then we do." The doctor said to Karl. Karl nodded, and looked at Soya who seemed to be happy despite what she endured.
"Thank you doc, appreciate the help." Karl said, "And I appreciate the praise Sergeant." She said before she waved to Soya and left the room. Soya then looked at Karl and did their version of a smile at him. Karl sighed and sat up, picking up the chair and walking over to her. He then put it down and sat next to the bed. "How you feeling?" Karl asked as he took his helmet off. "Much better, and I can't thank you enough for saving me again." Soya said as she hugged Karl. Karl returned the hug and planted a kiss on her head. "To be honest I don't know whether it is the mission or my feelings that are making me do this crazy shit anymore." Karl said as he released her and leaned back down on the chair.
"Well whatever it is, it is highly appreciated that you help me so often. I couldn't fight if I wanted to, I hate violence, but it seems that it happens so often in this universe." Soya said as her face dropped. "Well the fight you are doing now, which is for the survival of this alliance is enough." Karl said as he took her hand.
"And it is a fight you are going to win whether you like it or not, cause if this alliance breaks and war happens between our two races again. I can not say what side I would fight for." Karl said as he looked her in the eyes. "You better do everything in your power to keep shit from hitting the fan, we are going to Earth again, which means you need to go straight to those human representatives and tell them about everything that has happened to you." Karl said.
"I have to do the same shit, except in front of humanities top people. If I do one thing wrong I am fucked." Karl said. "And there is nothing I can do, you will be on your own." Karl said.
Karl let go of her hand and leaned back, "And in a few hours we reach the place I gotta do all this shit on." Karl said and looked down at the floor. "Whatever happens, if I fail to convince them to let me live, you need to continue trying to make this alliance last, no matter the cost." Karl said seriously, "No matter the cost, got me?"
"Yes, of course Karl." She said as seriously back. "Good, cause if something like the Human- Covenant War happens again, we are fucked." Karl said plainly.
"Attention Crew, we are beginning our docking with the military platform Cairo, all crew, be ready to disembark." A PA system said to all. Karl let out a sigh as he put his helmet back on and lifted his hand, Soya took his hand and gave him one last hug before they would be separated for the first time in a while. Karl let go of her hand after one final squeeze and they both went through the door.
As they walked down the hall towards the hangar Boyes came down the hall and stopped Karl. "Karl, they want all your weapons away and for you to be unarmored and cuffed." Boyes said calmly. "I'll comply captain, I will be right back." Karl said as he walked back into the room, but before closing the door, "Make sure all my things are taken care of Captain!" Karl yelled at him, "You got it sergeant, you have my word!" Boyes yelled back before the door closed.
Karl let out a sigh as he took his helmet off and then took his armor off, only leaving his combat pants and UNSC T-shirt. Karl then put on his UNSC Cap on his head and walked out of the room. He had no weapons or armor, he was weak and vulnerable for the first time in a long time. When he walked down the halls he was met by crewman who had their rifles pointed at Karl. One of them pulled out cuffs.
Karl let a sad sigh leave his mouth and then he turned around and put his hands behind his back. They swiftly cuffed him and turned him to be escorted off the vessel. As they entered the hangar he saw all the crewman with bags and personal belongings, they were all going home most likely. Then he saw the Colonel being escorted cuffed as well and being dragged along by a few Security personnel.
As Karl exited the vessel via giant ramp he saw Leo talking to a few UNSC Officers and, Doctor Halsey, as well as Hood. None of them paid any attention to him as they walked by. His escorts pulling him along and him complying to anything they said.
"All crew and personnel please make your way to the hangar area of the station." A PA system said loudly. This was going to be one big trial, and Karl was in the middle of it about to get more public attention than he ever wished for.
As more people gathered around he saw at least 5 officers, highly decorated and all of the rank of Field Marshall. Then he saw a few civilians dressed sharply. He recognized one of the Military persons as the director of ONI and nearly broke the cuffs and went to beat her face in. But he restrained himself. Soon he saw some what looked like news reporters with Camera drones flying all about them. At least 4-5 of these camera drones looking like they were not filming yet.
Soon Karl was put on his knees in the middle of the Hangar. 'Feels like a damn public execution' Karl thought as he looked around as more crew flooded the area. He then looked around for Soya who he saw talking to some of the Civilian representatives, giving them all respectful bows and hand shakes. Karl was just glad, maybe they knew her or maybe they were glad she was safe.
Karl then saw a giant podium being brought into the Hangar. Soon after that the Camera drones started to fly around him and he saw Hood walk up to the podium.
He cleared his throat. "Citizens of Earth and of UNSC colonies, we are here today for the trial of Sergeant Major Karl Kuhn, who is convicted of murder and treason against the UNSC and it's citizens." Hood presented loudly and with authority. 'Treason?' Karl thought as he looked around. "He will be able to explain what he has done or confess, now if all eyes will make their way to Kuhn himself. In my experience he was a brave soldier who has accomplished a lot, and I have no reason to believe what he has done is not wrong. But I have doubt he did it for personal interest. Now to you Kuhn." Hood said as he stepped from the Podium and the guards picked him up.
Karl walked towards the podium, he knew exactly what he was going to say. He got up it and his cuffs were taken off. He then saw all the Human representatives walked forward and get in a semi circle in front of the podium. All of them had small devices near their chests, which he guessed were devices connected to speakers so everyone could hear them.
The Director of ONI walked forward. "Karl Kuhn, I have directly seen video feed of you killing my agents, and it seemed like you were the aggressor. These were good people, many I met personally, their interests lying for the UNSC and ONI. What do you have to say about this feed from a street camera of you attacking my agents." She then pointed towards a holo screen which showed him shooting agents in the streets of Berlin and then him holding up the women in the air and talking to her, then slamming her on the ground. Except it missed the important parts, like when they landed and taunted him and his mission.
Karl cleared his throat and everyone turned towards him. "You are missing one detail there ma'am. I was driving through the streets towards the space terminal. When I was attacked by 10 or so heavily armed insurgents, with pristine weapons. Which I have never seen before since my career after the war revolved around hunting down the bastards. Then you guys show up conveniently after I defend myself. And then threaten me and my mission to come with you!" Karl trying to keep his composure, 'Trying to play bullshit right in front of my eyes, let's just see who can convince these people better.' Karl thought. "Which I was not planning on doing since I was guarding my mission and her interests, at this point not the UNSCs, she wanted to go home and I was making sure she made it there. The fuck were you expecting, "Come with us" Crap? I had no reason to come with you, and when I said no, you assholes throw a fit and threaten to kill me and her." Karl said back.
"That is ridiculous!" She back lashed at him. "IS it!? Someone go get my helmet, I have all the footage of the bullshit that has happened, and If that doesn't convince anyone, then I may as well be thrown into space right now, that is all the evidence I need for this damn trial. And everything that has happened to me this last month. All I have done is good things for this race, and ONIs warmongering is going to drive this wonderful alliance into war." Karl said and then took a deep breath, "Yes I killed them, do I regret it? No. I was defending my mission, which I would complete at all costs. I have met the Sangheili personally, got to know a few of them. They are a very good people. Are there bad ones? Yes. They may be backwards in society standings but not technologically. Another war would only cause more death and destruction to humanity. And I bet most humans don't want war. Only assholes like you!" Karl said as he shot daggers into the ONI Director.
Karl saw Leo walk over to Hood with Karl's helmet. Hood then walked over to Karl with the helmet and Karl took it gladly. He then whispered for Hood to come closer. "Get me a cable sir, so I can connect it to the big screen." Karl whispered. Hood nodded and walked off.
"You lying piece of crap!" She yelled at him. "Oh I am not, I don't lie, it seems that is all your good at though, I see how you got up the ranks." Karl said monotone. "Stop this at once!" Karl heard one of the Generals say. "From what I have seen from what he said, you targeted thus man. Because he had sensitive information on your activities." The general said to Her. "What, no?" She said to him. "Humanity, this women has been arming insurgent groups for years, I command the 1st SOU or 1st Special Operations unit. A while back in Berlin during the attacks on the embassy, the attackers had UNSC made weapons and equipment. But this equipment was fresh and not dated. They always sent ONI detectives to clear it out, literally. So no one would figure it out." The general said. "But after Kuhn found a bunker where they were making these operations from, we found fully decked out soldiers, with ODST armor, and after some looking into we found it was fresh armor, and so was the training of the wearers. Which is why Kuhn was easily able to kill them." The general finished, "All in all, this women is a piece of shit." The general said pointing at her and then went back to his place.
Karl could feel the reactions of the people around him, her eyes were wide and she looked like she was getting very nervous. Soon Hood came back and handed Karl a cable. He attached into a slot inside his helmet. He used a holo pad to go to the footage. "This might be a while people, it is over 3 hours of footage of ONI's shit fuckery." Karl said loudly. He then went through the footage and explained everything that was happening as he went along, like he was a school teacher teaching kids.
He went through the attack on the Embassy, his attack in their Bunker. Then when they were ambushed in the streets of Berlin, to when they ONI landed. Karl then went to the situation on Sangheilios when he was stopped by his old spec ops leader. Then the attack on the keep. Then when he boarded the ship and fought the spartan. Then finally his encounter with the Colonel in the cell.
"You are literally showing us, you beating my officer!" She screamed at him. "I have good reason to show this, you see he beat the shit out of my mission. This is Karma. It is to show him how it feels to be tied up and beaten." Karl then switched to video footage of when he first saw Soya with bruises and cuts all over her body.
"Looks like this is becoming a counter trial." A civilian rep said. "From what I have seen here he has enough evidence from his own point of view to save his skin. But do you?" He said as he turned to the ONI director. "I... I-" She was cut off, "That is enough from you ma'am, I suspected this for a while, but this man here, a soldier doing his job showed us what you were up to." Another general said. "Arrest this women." A civilian rep said and then the guards guarding Karl walked away and walked over to her. "Hands out ma'am." One of them said. "O-Okay." She said as he put her hands out. "Another bad apple thrown in the trash." Karl said into the mic, and he heard some chuckles from the crowd.
"Well, this trial is over, and I expect all ONI operatives that are doing illegal things to come forward in the future, or we will send Kuhn after you, ONI's worst nightmare." Hood said as he stepped forward.
I'm glad I got this chapter out. It was fun to write. I want to wish everyone a late New Years and I hope that 2017 is good and all. It has been a while since I posted a chapter, but this one was worth the 4 hours spent on it, it will be edited in the future so don't worry about the typos, they will be fixed, I did a quick read over but I always miss stuff. Anyways thanks for the support, Reviews are appreciated and so is constructive criticism.
Love, Stevie