Location: Nearby the base of the Beaumontia Rebel Association
Beaumontia, Epsilon Eridani system
14th March, 2546
11:02pm

"It's a beautiful night tonight. Too bad we're stuck out here at this Innie base,"

"I think we can make this just as fun, baby girl,"

"Remember we only allowed to subdue them, Emile," Celestina said in her distinctive sweet tone. "Don't go nuts on me now,"

"Good luck with that."

"Shut up, Jun!" Emile shot back, jerking his head to his right.

"Come on, boys!" She whined. "We got a job to do. Those rebels have stolen UNSC weapons in that dinky little base of theirs. We have to steal them back. So," she glanced to her right and then her left. "How shall we do this, my darlings?"

"I've already scouted the area," Jun then spoke, keeping his gaze on the base below them. "There are 2 sets of guards and they change every 20 minutes. One guard at each side of the base."

Emile then asked, "And when we get inside?"

"We wreak havoc."

They liked the sound of that. "Rock, paper, scissors? Loser has to stay up here and be jealous that the other two are having fun."

"You're on." Jun said.

"I'm feeling lucky anyways," Celestina added. "Ready? 1, 2, 3!"

"Goddamn it..."

"Sorry, Jun!" She apologized playfully, handing him her Sniper Rifle. "Keep a look out for us and we'll yell for you once we've secured the base."

"Alright. You two be careful now," He told them as he attached Celestina's Sniper Rifle to his back.

Emile let go of a dark chuckle at that. "I think it's the Innies that need to be careful."

On this intensely quiet night, it was Team Phantom's mission to retrieve a stolen batch of UNSC weapons from a tiny base belonging to the Beaumontia Rebel Association. What confused the team was how small this base was for an association - unless it wasn't the headquarters, or the association was not as huge as they originally thought. Not a lot was known about the rebel group, but Phantom was about to find out.

"Shotguns, Sniper Rifles, DMRs, Assault Rifles... you guys have everything!" Emile commented, pulling out one Shotgun from a locker and inspecting it.

Only 4 Insurrectionists were left alive in this tiny base and they were not in a talking mood. They were on the ground, their backs against the wall and their heads hung low.

"I'm curious," Jun said thoughtfully. "How did you people even get your hands on these weapons? Raided another base? Took down a Pelican?"

Not a single reaction of any of them.

"Someone on the inside?"

Like clockwork, all of them glanced up at the sage-colored Spartan.

"That's all we needed."

"Sit tight, boys," Celestina folded her arms across her chest. "UNSC personnel will be here shortly to take you all into custody. Don't worry about your friends - we didn't kill them. They're just... seemed a little grumpy so they're taking a nap."

"Not you guys though," Emile dumped that Shotgun back into the locker and took a few intimidating steps towards them, the skull craved into his helmet doing all the talking. "Oh no, no. It'll be a while before those UNSC guys show up," He took a seat next to Jun. "How about we all have a nice little conversation about what's going on here?"

"This place is way too small and has way too little people to be the headquarters of the Beaumontia Rebel Association. So where's your main base? If you tell me that this is the main base, be prepared for some ugly laughter coming from me." Celestina said.

"Like we're telling you freaks anything!" One of the 4 suddenly spat out.

"I believe the lady asked you nicely, pal," Emile looked right at him.

"It's alright," She waved it off. "None of our business anyways. We've done our jobs. So let's just play the waiting game."

Location: Dorms, AMBER Base
16th March
8:41pm

"This is BULLSHIT."

"Yeah, I don't think there's any other way to put it..."

"Why do we have to break up?!" Emile's outburst would very well be heard all over the base. "We've been Team Phantom for years. What did we do to deserve a break up?!"

Celestina sat on her bed, her thumbs twiddling. "Hey, if they think our talents will be better suited with other teams, then let it be. I just... didn't think it'll end so soon."

Emile stood in front of his two friends, hands on his hips, highly annoyed. "Come on, baby girl, you can't be happy about this."

She bit her lower lip for a good 2 seconds before saying, "No. If anything, I'm as pissed as you are," She got to her feet and grabbed his arm like a child would to their parent. "But we had a great run as Team Phantom, Emile. Now we're on to bigger things. It'll be okay."

"I don't feel right about this too but she's right, Emile," Jun said as he got up as well. "We had a great time as a team. All good things come to an end eventually, I guess..." He turned his head to Celestina. "So where are you going to?"

"Oh," She searched for the piece of paper on her bed and picked it up. "I'm paired with Nick. Remember him?"

"Aw yeah - he has a thing for explosives."

"What about you, Emile?" She asked.

"Uh..." He spun around to grab is own paper that he had left on the little table they had in their room. "Noble Team. Oh and it's led by Carter."

"Oh! The handsome one!"

The boys looked at her.

"What? He is sorta attractive, you know,"

"What about you, man?" Emile asked, changing the subject.

"Shadow Team. It's led by the twins - Ryan and Rhonda,"

"Well," Celestina placed one hand on her hip. "Seems like we're all going to be in good hands," She titled her head at the irritated Emile and sat one hand on his shoulder. "Come on, Emile. There's always letters and video calls!"

The Assault specialist was just not happy at all. He folded his arms across his massive chest and huffed in great annoyance. "I'll miss you guys. We've been through a lot."

"Aw..." Celestina pulled his arms away so she could give him a big loving hug. "I love you too, my precious little psycho!"

"COME ON, BABY GIRL, YOU JUST MIGHT MAKE ME CRY!"

Jun could only shake his head, but smile.

Location: Rooftops of AMBER Base
11:37pm

Celestina and Jun had agreed to meet on the rooftops of AMBER base later that night after lights were out. It wasn't like any of them were able to sleep anyways, what with the given news. Celestina was trying to remain optimistic about it all, however, she was the most broken one. She didn't want to have to leave her two teammates, the men who were basically her family. She had been with them ever since they became a team. So it was one of the most unfair things she had ever heard.

The silver stars were laid out on the black sky above her. She wanted to enjoy the sheer beauty of it all, but she couldn't. All she wanted was to stay.

"So Carter's the handsome one?"

A devilish smirk came to her as she spun around to face the person she had been in a relationship with for the last three years. "Why? Ya jealous?"

"Never said I was," Jun was practically pouting and had his arms folded across his chest. "As long you don't call him adorable, we're cool. Because that title is mine."

The little things he would say and do always put the brightest smile on Celestina's face. "Aw, I was just trying to make you jealous." She skipped over to him.

"Well, you're mean."

She placed her hands over his arms, in an attempt to pull his arms away from his chest. "I'm sorry?" She pulled her apologetic face.

Jun was only playing. They both were. It was their thing. His fighting smile turned into a full-blown grin. "You're silly." He lowered his arms and instead turned her around to envelope her in his arms so that they could both glance up at the sky together.

Celestina had never known a more safer place than his loving embrace. It also definitely made her heart sing the loudest. "I'm really gonna miss the both of you. I wish it didn't have to be this way."

"None of us do, princess, but an order's an order," He informed bitterly. "We can all still be in communication, though. Let's be thankful for that."

"It's not the same, though."

"I agree."

"It's not the same because I don't get moments like these anymore," Her tone was filled with melancholy and she could not help it. "I've always felt safe with you more than being in my own armor and that's the way it is. I've never cared if our relationship is 'non-Spartan' behavior. You complete me. Now that you're going to be far away... I don't know what going to happen to me."

That was when he pressed his cheek against hers in a comforting manner. "Celestina... nothing is going to happen to you. You're strong just the way you are, both physically and mentally. If you fall, it's only because you're human. You don't need me. You'll be fine on your own. You believe in yourself, don't you?"

She shut her eyes at the contact and opened them to answer his question. "As long you believe in me, Jun. It's all I need."

That was when Jun took her right arm and lifted it up so that they both could clearly see the six tattoos printed vertically just below her wrist, that say:

Vigilance
Strength
Friendship
Family
Believe
Love

A/N: Chapter 3 and 4 edited, as I've said! I hope you guys like the changes. :)