Location: Lionsong Medical Facility
October 28th, 2552
2:39pm

Jun's blue eyes ran all over the pure white dress shirt he lifted high up in the air to inspect it. The first expression he had on his face was the "I'm-not-impressed" face, after which he switched it to "But-it'll-do" face. Laying the piece of clothing down onto the bed once more, the next face he pulled was one of pure disgust. "Oh no..." He murmured to himself and picked up the object of his repulsion. "I hate ties..."

"Jun?"

He turned his head back momentarily to see who his visitor was. "Hey, Musa. What's up?"

"Excited for your first day tomorrow?"

Musa's gentleness most definitely reminded the former Noble member of Jorge. Good ol' Jorge. How Jun missed him. Along with Emile and Misha, Noble Six, Jorge knew of his relationship with Celestina and would tease the hell out of him for it. What wouldn't the sniper give to endure one more teasing from the big man. "I can't say I'm not. I mean, I am pretty interested in seeing how good of a job we do."

Musa placed both hands, over one the other, on his lap as he leaned against his wheelchair. "I just spearheaded the program, Jun. Most of the work falls on you but I have no doubt in my mind that you will do great. You and your new AI."

Jun tossed the tie onto the bed and glanced at the Commander curiously. "Seriously? It worked? You actually didn't need my brain? Intact? Preferably after I'm dead?"

"Technology is a wonderful thing, Jun, and it just keeps getting better," He said as he fished out a thick bracelet from a pouch he had with him. "It's a breakthrough in AI creation. However, we're unsure of all the capabilities your AI holds so I'm guessing he'll have fun discovering while he assists you in your work." So saying, he handed the new second-in-command the bracelet.

Jun accepted it wholeheartedly, noticing that there was what appeared to be a protruding rectangular slot for an AI chip. He slipped the bracelet on and was about to call out for the AI to make his appearance when something popped up in a mist of green a distance away from his face, surprising the Spartan-III nonetheless.

The AI preferred color of choice was a striking shade of sage, similar to his own armor color. He held onto a large scythe that was as tall as him and casually adjusted his hooded robes before looking at Jun's direction.

"Hey there," Jun greeted.

"Oh no. No, no," If Jun didn't know any better, he could have sworn that his own voice had just come out of the AI, but it was just a little huskier. "This will most certainly not do. You are far too enormous!" He also retained Jun's Slavic accent, if not a little heavier.

"Oh. Um, well..." As if Jun was a little embarrassed, he patted his own abdomen. "Sorry about that. I try to watch what I eat."

The faceless AI attempted to hold back a chuckle, one hand over where his mouth would be if there wasn't a gaping hole under his hood. "Yes! You are most definitely the one I was created from! It was simply a test. I must apologize. However, straining my neck like this to speak to you is rather hazardous to my health. If you will indulge me..." Instantly, the AI disappeared in a sage-green fog, only to reappear in front of Jun - life-sized.

Jun gasped in bewilderment. "No way!"

"I believe the term I am searching for is 'yes way'," He gripped the scythe in his left hand instead so his right one could be free for a handshake. "Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Death, and it is an honor to finally meet you, Jun."

Jun took Death's hand and gave it a firm shake. "The feeling is mutual, Death. Your name and your outfit compliment each other, that's for sure."

"I like to think that I have a fantastic scene of fashion, Jun. Thank you!"

He gave a smile for that and noticed the outfit underneath Death's robes. "... Is that my armor?"

Death pushed the robes aside to confirm that. "Like I just said, Jun: I have a fantastic scene of fashion."

"Well," All eyes were on Musa. "It looks like you two will have no trouble working together."

"I do not think so," Death said casually, looking back at his carrier. "However, I personally think that you must do something about that tattoo."

"Hey, don't be talking about the tattoo." Jun warned, lifting up one finger.

"But it is covering up half of that gorgeous face!" Death then whined.

"I like my tattoo! It reminds me that I'm awesome!"

"Oh please. It was a triple kill during training. It was not as if you achieved that out in the battlefield!"

"Damn straight, because out in the battlefield, I got a quadruple kill!"

"Oh, now you are just showing off..."

If Musa could, he would reverse the wheelchair straight out of the private room to avoid this whole scene, but it was much too entertaining. "Perhaps there might be some trouble after all..."

Location: Celestina's dorms, Vulture Base
Beaumontia, Epsilon Eridani system
March 25th, 2549
8:00am

What would Celestina have given to not let this day arrive. Yet it did and it was time to say goodbye to Beaumontia, Vulture Base, and Jun.

On this fine morning, where the Sun hid behind the fluffy clouds, Celestina was in the midst of pulling her dark-green tank top over her head when there were soft knocks on her door before it slid to an open. "Hey, sweetie!" She jogged over to him and threw her arms around his neck, wanting to never waste a chance of physical contact.

"And good morning to you, princess," Jun replied, making sure his hug was tight. "All set?"

"Really wish I wasn't," She muttered, though it was loud enough for him to hear. She pulled away and returned to her duffel bag that was on her bed and zipped it up. "But I am. Just need to wait until the pelican arrives to take me to wherever it is I'm supposed to go to. Oh, and by the way," She turned back to him, hands on his cheeks and gave him a kiss. "Thanks for an awesome night. Definitely one to remember."

Jun returned her kiss with a warm smile. "You're welcome, Celest. Being sleepy as hell right now was totally worth it."

"'Sleepy'? You're a sniper, silly! You're trained to stay awake for 72 hours and still be focused on your target!"

"Well, considering what we were up to last night, you gotta understand!"

Blood flowed rapidly to her cheeks, bright as a tomato. "Nooooooooooooooo...!" She plopped her head onto his chest, hitting it along the way. "You're embarrassing me...!" She whimpered helplessly.

He enveloped her in his strong arms, unable to contain himself from laughing out loud at his lover's reaction. "Come on, princess. There's nothing to be embarrassed about."

"Shut up! There is!" That came out in muffles due to her burying her face in his chest.

"No, there isn't, Celest."

She glanced up at him, pouting. "Yes, there is!"

"No, there isn't."

"I hate you!"

"Love you too."

That was usually how their playful bickering would end. Earning a glowing smile from the female Spartan, Jun leaned in for a quick peck on her forehead. "Hey, I wanted to ask - are you still thinking about getting that tattoo? It'll look great below the ones you have."

She ran two fingers over the one on the left-side of his face. "This is the baddest tattoo I'll ever see in my life, but nah. I don't think so. It holds more significance to you."

"It was just a triple kill during training, princess."

"I'm talking about the arrows."

Jun gave what appeared to be a solemn smile at that.

"You love your dad. Those arrows are a beautiful way to honor him and his archery skills. I can always get something else. In fact, I was thinking of that skull Emile helped crave onto my armor's chestplate."

"Now that's badass. Go for it." He said.

"Totally. Jun?" She called out softly, after a brief silence, capturing his bright blue eyes. "One last kiss? Please? And make it last?" She asked oh-so innocently, her hands snaked up to the back of his neck to hold him close.

There was no way he could deny a chance to taste those soft lips of hers once more. Especially when it was quite possibly going to be the last time for the next few years. So he tucked her left-sided fringe behind her ear, gave her a brief smirk before lowering his lips onto hers. He smiled into the kiss when he felt her melt in his arms. It definitely filled his chest with pure bliss.

Neither of them wanted to pull away, but the need for air was too great. If they had it their way, they wouldn't break the kiss for something as trivial as air.

"I love you. I'm always going to love you. Just..." Celestina attempted to find the right words to finish it off. "Thanks for an awesome ride."

That was when she placed something into his hand and closed his fist for him. Jun obviously opened up his fist to see the mysterious object she had given her. They were dog tags, still with its chains, and it dawned upon him whose they were. "Celest, no."

"Just take it."

"I can't. It's not right!"

"I'll just say I lost them or something. Hell if I care!" She closed his fist once more, this time with both hands and kept them there. "It's the only possession I have. You can take it. It's okay."

"Celest,a holo-still of us is more than enough. It's all I'll ever need!"

She then smiled as if she had given up on this debate. "Jun. Really. It's okay. I want you to have it. I don't need it because I don't want to continue active duty anymore."

He gaped slightly at that.

"You're totally right. Being a Spartan was never supposed to be in my future. There's only so much my heart and mind can handle. I want to get better, sweetie. And to do that? I don't think I should be in situations where the people I love and care for die around me."

"Well... I'm glad you see it my way. At least you'll get the help you need," He reached up and cupped her cheeks as well as her red hair. "And don't worry. I know we'll see each other again one day."

Her hazel eyes sparkled at that. "Promise?"

"Promise. Take care, princess." And with that, he pressed one final kiss onto her forehead.

A/N: Celestina's goodbye as well as the first appearance of Death! Hope you like and do leave a little review! :D

The next chapter is gonna be intense. Stay tuned!