Location: Celestina's private dorms, Hydra Base, Mars
February 18th, 2553
10:34pm
Another busy and tiring, yet fruitful day for the Head Trainer of the Spartan Branch. There was nothing better than laying on the bed, data pad and a glass of wine in hand on this rainy night in Chicago. The weather report Celestina was reading about on her data pad predicted that it was going to be raining for the next couple of days. She was glad to hear that; it could cool some things off.
She picked up a soft beep and it had came from the little AI console she had on her nightstand. It was Death, Jun's personal AI, requesting to access the console for an unknown reason.
She had never turned down her friend for anything. So she reached over and hit a button, and the AI popped up in mist of sage-green.
"Hi, Death!" She greeted with a cheery smile. "What's up?"
"Pardon me, Lady Celestina. I hope I was not interrupting anything." Death apologized with a little bow.
"Not at all, Death. Just reading about the weather."
"I have... desperately wanted to speak to you about something for a while, Lady Celestina. With Jun asleep right now, I find that this is the best time for me to speak to you."
The AI definitely sounded secretive about it all. "What's going on, Death?"
Death drummed his fingers on his scythe as he spoke. "It's about Jun, Lady Celestina. And I believe you are the only one who can assist him. Will you?"
Upon hearing that, Celestina placed her data pad aside on the bed and turned her full body to the console. "Of course, Death. I'd do anything for him. Tell me, what's going on with him?"
"As you know, he has endured a lot since July of last year. Losing Thom and all members of Noble Team, and of course, there was the Covenant capture."
She saddened at that, but nodded. "Yeah."
"However, I am afraid there is more,"
That was something she didn't want to hear. "More?"
"As you also aware off, Lady Celestina, he is unable to continue active duty due to the extent of his injuries, as well as the psychological damage done. However, he has been doing his rehabilitation without fail. Yet, he refuses to engage in hand-to-hand combat with me."
"Hand-to-hand combat? As in, he... doesn't want to engage in close quarters assault?"
"Be it with fists or combat knives," Death continued on. For the next statement, he heaved a big sigh. "I have a bad feeling that he does not have any faith in his combat skills anymore."
Celestina tilted her head at the AI, giving him a little laugh. "That's silly, Death. He was there on Infinity when Zane and her creeps tried to hijack the ship. He helped to counter the assault!"
"All he did was fire that Assault Rifle, Lady Celestina," He relayed to her. "It dawned upon me that he has no issues using firearms. The problem lies with using hand-to-hand combat."
"Death... you're serious about this..."
He gave a reluctant nod. "Yes, I am, Lady Celestina."
"Well then," He picked up the confidence and impishness in her voice as she leaned over to grab her data pad. "You can just leave it to me, my dear AI."
Death was intrigued by the way she put that. "Oh?"
"As Head Trainer of the Spartan Branch, I know how we can get our boy back into the game. And you're gonna help me with it."
A/N: A short chapter to make way for the next chapter! Stay tuned! :D