Different Galaxies Same Fighting Hearts

by BeeSamusnChief

After losing Cortana, and gaining his team back. Master Chief would have never thought of himself to become a father figure. Sent to investigate an unkown alien planet, the Covenant have invaded. Chief, and the rest of Blue Team, are put in a situation they've never been through in spartan history. Link to the full cover /art/Different-Galaxies-Same-Fighting-Hearts-Cover-569152729

5. Chapter 5

Hello again just a warning for the next upcoming chapters after this one and spoilers I suppose. I am walking in blind here I will have the least bit of relatability to the actual battle and death of the Didact. Considering I have a new villan to introduce with the Didact being his ally and leader. Again I have a wierd ass timeline. I will try and keep the actual way and reason to the whole death of the Didact still in the story. So Just throwing the wild card in and making the story off the top of my head so bear with it. And yes I am wrighting it as a family bonding type of story that's what I'm known for, family, comfort, and humor. So yes I've pretty much made a very protective family side to the spartans. Especially Master Chief, don't worry I'm aware that it's not his character, but is is in this story, so go in with an open mind you have been warned. Oh and PS yes Ridley will be able to talk like in the manga gives things a little more spice. Anyway enjoy and thank you for reading! :)

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Chapter 5: Killer Of Those Close

Chief motioned for the girls to help Samus as he turned his attention to the hologram he grabbed hold of. The pelican landed climbing aboard the girls setting Samus in a seat continued to attempt to get her out of her petrified state.

Chief and Fred examined the device and hologram. "What is that thing?" Fred questioned watching the hologram flicker. The dragon like creature looked like nothing more than pure evil waiting for it's next victim.

"Not confirmed on what it is yet. But I have a feeling Samus must know." Chief replied watching the girls comfort the petrified teen.

"You think it's a promethean of some sort?" Fred shrugged.

"Perhaps. We will have to get answers first." Chief sighed waiting for the pelican to land.

As they made there way to the bridge Samus had taken to being completely silent once more. Hiding behind the team hoping they would ignore her asking no questions.

"This hologram has some alien text unrecognizable to the Covenant language." Lasky said transferring the hologram onto the monitor.

"It wouldn't be Forerunners the Covenant use it all the time." Linda mulled. "A whole new civilization, another ally for the Covenant?"

"Yes but what?" Lord Hood agreed with the red heads thoughts.

"It's space pirate text" A quiet voice from behind the team of spartans came barely audible to ancient ears.

Chief stepped out of the way revealing the chozo armoured teen leaving through the exit.

Lord Hood fixed his gaze on the exiting teen sensing clearly she knew something they didn't. "Master Chief get the information from her and report back to me as soon as possible." Lord Hood dismissed the team.

With a respectful salute the team exited tracking down the teen.

Chief grasped Samus's shoulder. "Samus can we speak we need to know about that creature?"

"I don't want to have to speak about it. I'm sorry I screwed up the mission and made you angry." Samus appologized for an unrelated topic.

"Thank you for appologizing now after the 50 other frustrating missions. Glad you could apologize for the one successful one." Kelly sighed in annoyance.

"That's not what we are talking about right now." Chief shook his head at the female spartan.

"I told you I didn't want to talk about it." Samus voice was almost malice.

"Samus what is wrong?" Chief stepped infront of the teen.

"That bastard is a murderer and he needs to be taken out. And I'm going to be the one to do it!" Samus hissed pushing around the spartan.

"Samus you are not going to take out anyone. We need to report what this creature is and formulate a plan." Master Chief Grabbed and held Samus in place. "You are the only one who knows this thing and can tell us what it is capable of."

"You want to know what he's capable of?" Samus retorted shaking her head she scoffed. "Ok then here's the list."

"Destroying whole planets, galaxies, and families..." Samus paused gazing away for a moment before her anger boiled over her depression. "Killing anything in his way the condescending bastard takes pride in his destruction and uses it to manipulate his enemies and tear them apart first mentally then phisically!" Samus choked back angered tears.

The team was not blind to the obvious anger and sadness that created that hateful revenge boiling inside the teen just waiting to explode. "Samus is this creature Ridley?" Chief remembered when Samus first arrived she mentioning someone named Ridley who destroyed her family and home.

"Yes his name is Ridley he has control over a whole army of idiots. He is the space pirate comander and sole leader. But he is quick to gain allies, and loves to make his army grow in anyway." Samus replied with a sigh.

"And the Covenant seems like the perfect candidate for a said ally." Linda growled clenching a fist.

"Making both armies bigger and stronger... dammit!" Kelly cursed.

While the Spartans were figuring out the news Samus quickly slunk off into a nearby room to review the scans she did on the holographic device.

"We must report this immediately." Fred suggested.

"I agree..."

"Chief!" Lasky came jogging down the hallway clearly he had something important to announce.

Samus went over the information but got confused with something she had stumbled upon. "Prometheans, what the hell is a Didact?" as she thought to herself she heard the familiar voice of the captin speaking to the team.

"An ODST team on the planet below us has not reported in, and we need your team to inspect. We suspect Prometheans were the cause of this inexplicit reason to not respond." Lasky went over the missions info.

"Prometheans perfect, I find them, I get better clues on Ridley's whereabouts." Samus grined rejoning the team in the hallway as if she hadn't left.

"Sorry to throw you all back in the field so quickly." Lasky appoligized. "But we have a pelican prepped and everything."

"Thank you sir." John started moving his team down the hallway.

The captin smiled. "Thank you Chief." Lasky sighed his thanks.

Samus met Lasky's gaze as she walked following the team, he kept his smile and nodded at her as she passed. Samus hid a nervous smile behind her visor returning the nod she quickly jogged to catch up to the spartans.

Boarding the pelican Kelly passed Chief weapons onto the pelican, while Linda and Fred did a quick maintenance check on the aircraft. Samus entered the hanger approaching the now boarding spartan team. John stood at the opened hatch of the pelican as his team passed him on the way in, to no surprise Samus was behind them trying to enter the pelican.

Chief held up an arm stopping the teen at the door. "You stay here for this one."

"What why?" Samus groaned.

"This mission is to dangerous for you." John now took a defensive position infront of the teen.

"And all the other ones weren't? Chief I think you are underestimating me." Samus argued. "You always say it's to dangerous."

Chief knew the team was getting annoyed by the hold up. "No I'm not underestimating you, it's just a matter of saftey. You have never had to handle Prometheans." Chief wasn't far from being frustrated either.

"How am I suppossed know if I can, if you wont expose me to get the experience?" Samus threw in a valid argument.

Kelly jumped out of her seat in annoyance. "Just let her on, we don't have to let her out of the pelican when we land. She can stand guard at the pelican so lets go!" Kelly whispered over John's shoulder.

"I heard that." Samus folded her arms.

"Just get on board." Kelly threw her head walking back to her seat.

"John we are wasting time here let her on." Linda growled from the cockpit.

"Get on." The low monotone voice of annoyance allowed the teen to board. The hatch shut behind Samus as she boarded passed a extremely annoyed petty officer.

Pulling Samus to the side, seating her at the end of a row of seats, Chief wanted to imprint how important his orders were to be for her safety. "Stay close, and listen to my every order, if you don't listen so help me god, you will never leave the Infinity ever again." Chief made sure his threat sounded as firm and mean as possible. That odd personality Samus brought out in him was taking over him again.

Samus rolled her eyes. "I got it Chief I will listen to you."

"You say that everytime." John repeated Samus's earlier complaint.

Samus exhaled hanging her head. "I promise."

Chief knelt down infront of the armoured teen. "Don't let that Ridely business take over you, remember to focus on what's important." Chief held both Samus's shoulders.

Samus lifted her head making eye contact with the spartan, her expression seemed blank, but her mind was at war. How did he know she was thinking about Ridely?

Giving a small smile and nod of her head, Chief returned the nod giving a squeeze to her left shoulder, before standing moving towards the cockpit.

Kelly snorted with a grin as Chief passed by her and Fred.

Stopping with his hand ontop of the cockpit doorframe Chief exhaled. "Yes Kelly?"

Repositioning herself in her seat so she could face her leader, Kelly smiled behind her visor. "That was sweet of you to give her a pep talk. You know for a tin man with no feelings."

"Kelly!" Fred gasped sitting up straight.

Kelly was referring to Chief's lack of emotion towards most people and situations. John loved his team like a family, but didn't enjoy trying to get close to them, in case of a death he could over come and quickly recover from the loss. Hence the reason why he avoided spending his free time with them. But that had changed since Samus had arrived, and secretly it annoyed him for an unknown reason to him. Perhaps it was because his heart and mind were at conflict with his training.

"Your a whole new type a protective, it's just funny." Kelly chuckled resting her back against her seat.

"I am always protective don't get ridicules Kelly." Chief scoffed setting himself inside the cockpit doorframe.

"Yeah true, but this is a special type of protective." Kelly replied slyly.

Chief tired of hearing Kelly's remarks, he sighed with annoyance, shutting the cockpit door.

Linda peeked over her shoulder at the sound of the door shutting behind her. "John is it Samus that's getting to you? Or are you really allowing Kelly to get your last nerve?"

"Never mind Linda." Chief sighed. Another cocky feamale to deal with, it was times like this that Chief missed having Sam around. He wouldn't exactly back him up on the subject, but he would at least distract the girls, by arguing in a comedic manner. Sam was immature at times but none the less a grand spartan and teammate.

A small popping sound from the other side of the door caught both Linda and John off gaurd, shaking Chief out of his thoughts.

"What the hell!?" Linda opened the door with a switch. "Are we under fire?"

Chief looked on the rader and found nothing, then looked over his shoulder to see Kelly and Samus, standing frozen in the center of the pelican.

"Wasn't my fualt!" Samus held both arms up her cannon arm smoking at the tip as if it were just used. "It was Kelly!"

"Brat! I just was admiring her gun, I asked how it worked, she gave a mild demonstration, give me a break." Kelly defended, pushing Samus back down into a seat. Meanwhile Fred was hiding his head between his legs and arms, trying to ignore the crazy activities around him.

Chief quirked an eyebrow shaking his head at the two. Pivoting on his heels Chief returned to the cockpit, shuting the door behind him, he took a seat in the copilot chair.

"Samus?" Linda asked gazing over her shoulder for a brief moment.

"Samus... and Kelly." Chief replied with a sigh, somehow Samus seemed to bring out the child in everyone on the team. John was affraid that Samus's unintentional influence would make the team lose trace of their training. Worse thing was that he was the first victim under the influence, him, a leader, that had to be strong, and show little sympathy so he may carry on a mission.

"ETA status?" John shook his thoughts away changing the subject.

"10 minutes, may as well tell the crew to prep themselves."

Chief nodded opening the door. "Landing in 10 ready yourselves."

"Ready!" Samus replied cheerfully totting her cannon.

"Trust me we know your weapons are all good and running." Kelly remarked, using one of her fingures to push the cannon to point at the ground.

On the ground the atmosphere was different, not the planet so much as the teams atmosphere, their behaviour. They seemed tense, especially Samus and Chief, for two totally different reasons.

Samus was on a hunt. She was to find any clues, or signs, that would lead her to her sworn nemesis.

John had his mind set on the mission. Finding the ODST Team, solving the cause of their disappearance, and taking out the Didact for good if the oportunity presented itself. Spotting a damaged weapon through the sand storm of dust, Chief motioned for the team to sweep the area.

As Samus swept her part of the area she came across large claw marks, and a torn up warthog. Looking further into the horrific scene she found ODST bodies. "Uh Chief." Samus called in a slightly shaken tone.

Turning his head in the direction the voice came from Chief replied. "What's your status Samus?" slightly concerned that she possibly was being threatened by an enemy as he did not have a clear visual of her through the dust and her tone of voice kept the tension high.

"I found the team we were looking for." Samus replied as she knelt down next to a clawed open victim. She secretly wished Prometheans had giant claws.

The spartans were quick to arrive by her side, examining the wreckage for themselves.

"I scanned all the bodies, no sign of life, all are deceased." Surprised Samus was comunitcating like an adult.

Something that had and orange glow caught Chief's attention. A shimmer of reflective light from a promethean knight was enough to have Chief pointing his rifle at the said soldier. It stared for a moment before telaporting off. Following Chief's gaze, Samus watched as the creature vanished with out a trace, as a large shadow cast over where it last stood. "What the hell was that!?" Samus stood up defensively.

"Promethean knight, stay on high alert, we have company." Chief clutched his rifle tightly.

The shadow quickly passed over the team, unable to see what it was through the sand and dust, the team was frantically aiming scaning the sky and all around area.

"John motion sensors are picking up a bogey directly above us, and a large one at that." Kelly announced aiming to the sky.

A terrible familiar bone chilling screech echoed through the stom, flooding Samus with terror. All the spartans including Samus flicnched at the sound. "What... was... that?" Kelly turned to Fred looking for an answer.

Samus recognized that screech without even having to think twice about it, immediately she began firing into the sky, out of rage, and frustration. The Spartans visibly jumped at the sudden rapid fire, turning and aiming their weapons to the sky, seeing nothing.

"Samus hold your fire." Chief ordered throwing a large hand down on the firing cannon.

Samus of course protested the hand away aiming back to the sky. Chief grabbed hold of the weapon and held it down. "I gave you an order, you promised to obey them, remember? Don't waste the energy if there's nothing to aim at."

Another blood curdling screech filled the air, ringing through everyones ears. "Chief we have to go." Samus changed her mind, the last screech echoing through her, reminding Samus of those she got close to were stolen away by this very creature.

Kelly got confused at the random act Samus put on. "We haven't completed the investigation yet." Kelly lowered her assualt riffle turning Samus's way. As she did so, another roar was admitted into the storm. "Shit and this thing isn't dead yet!" Kelly brought her weapon back up.

"No we have to leave now!" Samus shook her head pulling her cannon loose from Chief's grip. She could deal with Ridley but not with another loss.

Lowering his rifle John could tell Samus was panicking now by her frantic behaviour. Clearly it was her nemesis hovering over them.

"What's the matter kid, you usually don't panick with enemies?" Fred called across the storm.

"It's not safe out here!" Samus replied shortly. "We need to find cover before he finds us."

Chief was willing to compromise with Samus's panicked cries. He noticed through the storm a small base camp building about a klick north from them. "We need to regroup, there is a base camp about a klick north of here, it should take us a five minutes to get there. We need to check for survivors, and see if we get any signals with command." Chief ordered out his voice carrying over the wind.

"Well then, lets not stand around, waiting to be lunch for this thing then." Kelly retorted taking point.

The team followed Kelly in tow. But Samus stayed behind, now that the team was heading to safety, she would wait for the opportune moment to be presented so she may strike. That plan immediately dissolved into nothing when she felt a strong arm guide her forward. "You to Samus." Chief was still standing with her, she had completely forgot. He was still in danger and most vulnerable!

Shaking the arm off she grabbed Master Chief's hand with her only free one, she took off running practically, throwing the spartan off balance from the sudden change in pace. Sprinting past Linda, and Fred, bearly making it by Kelly. "Hey cool your jets kid are we under fire?" Kelly grabbed and pulled Samus back by the shoulder.

"No but we could be!" Samus ran passed the female spartan anyway, still draging the leader.

"We need to stick close together though." Kelly groaned, jogging behind the Chozo armour, the team followed suit and headed into the dimly lit building.

The team quickly turned on there flashlights on their helmets and weapons. "Linda, Fred, search for survivors throughout the base, then rendezvous back at the enterance. Kelly, Samus, and I will search here, then go over a plan to deal with this new found foe." Chief immediately gave out orders to his team, who with out argument obliged, and took action.

Kelly went to south end of the room, while Cheif went for the west, checking behind and under fallen debris for any signs of life. Samus was to busy with her running mind to check out anything. As she just stood in the middle of the room trying to figure out a way to not get Chief and the team murdered by Ridley.

"kid get your ass moving, we need help here, come on!" Kelly snapped shining her rifles light at Samus's visor.

Samus winced at the bright light, taking a few steps backward, she stepped on something that made a plastic crunching sound. Samus knelt down, picking the item up she easily recognized the device as another holographic projector. The device was slightly damaged but she would have to fix it later. As she put it in a storage compartment in her suit the whole building shook. Sparks flew everywhere, electrical fuses blew, as the three of them regained their balance.

"Linda, Fred, status?" John didn't hesitate to check up on his other half of the team.

"Nothing yet John, what was that quake, is everyone alright?" Fred replied on the open comm channel.

Kelly gave a thumbs up while Samus nodded as she peeked behind a box for a survivor.

"Everyone is sustainable, our area seems to be clear, what about you?" Chief exhaled, as he watched cables above him spark, and swing.

"All clear here we are heading back now." Linda reported.

Master Chief ended the call doing a small jog back to the center of the room. "Samus, Kelly, regroup." he called the girls in.

"Linda and Fred are clear, and heading back our way now. We haven't tested to see if we can get a long range signal with command yet. Kelly I need you to do that, Samus and I will search around and see if we can find any information about what's going on. We will go over a bigger plan when Linda and Fred arrive." John ordered out his temporary plan to the two.

"On it." Kelly quickly made her way over to what was left of the communications computer.

Chief bearly walked passed Samus before she leapt away from him as if he had a plague. Thinking it would be best to keep a distance from him, as if she had never met him, so he wasn't a painted target of importance, that would capture the dragons evil intentions

Chief looked around to see if the teen had spotted and enemy, but was met by nothing but himself. He just couldn't bring it to himself as a normale behaviour from her, usually Samus would be happy he was with her. With that thought the sound of giant claws scurrying across the metalic roof pierced the ears, just as Linda and Fred reentered the room.

Samus flinched at the sound, backing into the middle of the room, creating distance from the now gathering spartan team at the exit.

The team had their guns pointed to the cieling, as they started speaking out their plans. "Ok we have a large target on our hands, with no survivors."

"And no communication, the link is down." Kelly interupted her leader.

"Do we even have any info on what's going on?" Linda added a question into the mix.

Chief had to quickly think about what was to go into action at this time. Make a break for it, and escape with there lives. Or stay, and collect information, at a high risk of getting injured or killed. Suddenly the sound of heavy flames on the roof, along with the cieling turning red from the heat came, that was when Chief made his decision. "We don't have time, we make an exit out of the base, and make a break for the Pelican." He did not want to risk the team's life, considering the computers with any information were completely totaled, obviously the damage was done by promethean knights, judging by the blade marks.

"Yeah, and what if this thing decides to pursue us?" Kelly retorted as the metal ceiling began to warp and bend.

"We engage it until we can reach the pelican safely." Chief answered. "We move on my mark, sync?"

Reluctantly the team agreed to the plan. "Sync." The team was getting concered about Chief's timing as the roof was about to collapse ontop of them.

Meanwhile Samus was to busy fighting herself on what to do. Weather she should stand and fight Ridely, or follow the teams orders and escape. But she was convinced she was ready to get revenge on the dragon.

The sound of the last support beam giving out, was the moment to move, John gave the signal, and the team high tailed it out of there, as the roof began to cave in, dropping large metal debris.

As everyone exited through the door Chief's head count wasn't complete, spinning around to see Samus distraught and confused in the middle of the demolishing room. "Samus!" Chief called in a frantic tone, sprinting over to the frozen teen, he tackled her to the ground, covering her as they were buried alive under rubble.

Samus loooked, up seeing blackness everywhere, along with dust. "Chi..." She was quickly silenced by a hand grabbing her helmet where her mouth would have been, and another hand pulling her closer to whoevers hands they belonged to.

"Shh... be still." Chief silenced the teen, having her hugged tightly to his side, as a dragon like snout full of razors, slowly crept up passed the small hole in the rubble above them.

Samus's fear boiled over by her rage, as she was stuck with Chief, and might have an extreme risk of loosing him if Ridely found them.

In his arms Master Chief could feel the girl tremble through her armour, as the low rumbling growl of the dragon echoed in the rubble cave they hid in. With an angered roar, the sound of powerful wings taking off, created a cloud of dust and smoke as the dragon breathed fire onto the rubble out of anger.

"Where the hell is John and the kid!?" Kelly turned around seeing the dragon destroying the base they had just eascaped.

"They must still be in there." Linda jogged up to the other female spartan.

"They wont be able to escape with that thing attacking them!" Fred looked through the scope of his weapon to see the large angered beast hovering above the base.

Kelly groaned. "Well then lets pull the pressure off, Linda you want to do the honors!"

"With pleasure." Linda gazed through the scope on her sniper rifle, taking the shot directly at Ridley's eye.

An ear piercing screech of pain echoed, as the fire breathing stopped, powerful wings flew off in a fit, giving Chief and Samus a chance to escape.

"John what's going on are you and the kid alright?" the familiar voice of a male spartan filled Chief's helmet.

"We are under rubble, life signs are stable, no reported injuries yet. What's the teams status?" Chief replied trying to lift and move the heavy rubble.

Firing his riffle Fred evaded out of the way of fire breath. "We have that bogey off you, we can keep him busy for as long as we can, just get out of there safely."

"Likewise Fred." Chief ended the call, briefly giving up on the moving the rubble, he turned his attention to the silent teen. "Are you alright?"

"Yes." Samus sighed nodding, trying to shoulder check some concrete out of the way.

"Your not injured are you?"

"I'm fine Chief!" Samus snapped drawing Chief back in surprise.

Chief sighed going back to removing as much rubble as possible.

"I'm sorry, I just don't know what to do." Samus exhaled throwing a small piece of concrete.

"I understand he's your nemesis, you haven't seen him since that terrible incident, you just have to keep your mind set on the mission and not let your emotions take over." Chief replied trying to give comfort to the teen.

"That's not the... I got it Chief." Samus gave an emotionless tone, as she gazed up at the small hole above them. A giant explosion and gunfire caught their attention reminding both the soldiers that the team was fighting for their escape alone.

"We need to find a way out of here, the team needs help."John growled pushing on a large piece of debris. "Nothings moving, and a grenade would be to much, and may cause a cave in. Clearly the entire roof is ontop of us, or else I could have moved everything no problem."

"Hey Chief, I can make it through that hole if you lift me up there." Samus pointed to the hole above them.

"Samus you would have to contort yourself into a ball in order to fit throu..."

"Are you going to throw me through or not?" the now contorted morphball spoke next to the spartans boots.

"Your done taking adittude lessons from Kelly." Chief threatened picking the ball up.

"Unfortunately for you, adittude is just a trait, all women come with." Samus remarked as she was pushed through the hole landing on the out side of the debris mountain.

"Ok enough goofing around, you're out now. So find some way to get out of here, so you can join the others."

"Sure but first cover yourself for a second." Samus replied.

"Why..." as Chief asked the question a small explosion admitted dust and little pieces of rocks hitting the spartans visor and armour.

Diverting his attention to the now slightly larger hole, big enough for him to squeeze through. "What did you do?"

"It was a small, low pulse, explosion, that breaks through concrete and other debris." Samus laid down reaching her hand down to Chief.

"Why didn't you do that earlier?" Chief took the smaller hand and hoisted himself up, almost pulling Samus back down into the rubble cave, until she stood up and pulled back.

"Did you want me to blow your hands off? By the way, you weigh like, two tons!" Samus hissed, as she landed on her butt, when Chief exited the cave.

"Half a ton, now lets go, the team needs our help." Chief corrected, pulling Samus back up to her feet.

"But there's to much debris in the way of the exit we will have climb out." Samus pointed at the open cieling.

"We climb quickly then."

"Die you damn parasites!" Ridley spat divebombing the team.

"Shit this things talks? Fred, what's John, and the kids status?!" Kelly rolled out of the way of a sharp tail trying to stab her.

Ridley was about to fire a charged, blast, of fire, at the team. When he himself, was hit by a charged shot. "What?!" Ridley clenched his jaw in rage spinning around to see what had hit him.

"They're right there." Fred pointed to the top of the demolished base, where Chief and Samus stood defensive positions.

Samus's cannon was smoking from the heat from her charged beam she had shot, she then turned to the spartan standing behind her, ready to fire at the dragon. "Chief get down to the team and get to the pelican, I will stay here and distract this bastard, so you can escape." Samus ordered to Chief.

Ridley swooped at them causing them both to jump to opposite sides of what little roof was left. "What, I'm not leaving you alone with this thing, I give out the orders not you!" Master Chief snapped in disagreement of such a plan.

"Trust me on this, the team can't hold out forever, just let me do it Chief!" Samus fired repeatedly at the dragon.

"Not going to happen Samus!" Chief shot at the dragon, to distract it from the girl to no avail, as Samus shot yet another charged shot, this time a direct hit into the dragons mouth.

"You annoying piece of living metal, I will melt you down to molten liquid!" Ridley landed directly infront of Samus, the quake of his wieght throwing her off balance as the roof beneath her began to crumble.

Chief immediately opened fire apon the dragon, resulting in a clawed hand batting him off the top of the building.

Cornered and being trapped by Ridley Samus could do nothing."Chief!" Samus cried, as all she could do was watch the spartan fly off the building.

Master Chief hit the ground hard, getting winded, he struggled for a moment to clear his head. "John!" Kelly, Linda, and Fred rushed to their leaders aid.

Picking up his riffle he pulled himself to his feet "I'm fine Samus is trapped..." Before he could finish his sentence, a horde of promethean knights appeared out of no where, and began spraying the team with bullets.

"Open fire and spread out!" Chief ordered, as he and the others, sprinted off in different directions.

Samus could just see the firefight from under the right wing of Ridley. "What are those things!?" Samus groaned, frustrated that she wasn't down on the ground, helping the team.

"Those are my allies in this conquest to eradicate that pethetic race called humans!" Ridley hissed closing in on the teen.

"Oh like how you eradicated the humans on planet K-2L!" Samus spat right back at the dragon taking a challenging step forward, her heart and mind, set on taking revenge.

"That was quite sometime ago. That horrid planet, I was lucky to get off there alive, after that imbecile miner blew up my ship ontop of me!"

Enraged by the insulting words said about her father, she fired at Ridley out of anger, only landing a few uneffective shots to Ridley's body. "How dare you say that, he was a brave man, who gave his life to save others!" Samus clenched her hand into a fist.

"Well he did a terible job, everyone on that planet was roasted alive, and eaten by me for my own survival." Ridley smirked with an evil growl, as he continued his slow approach, backing the teen towards the hole in what was left of the cieling of the base.

Samus's heart skipped a beat, and stomach churned, from the disturbing image of her parents being eaten by the sinister dragon now imprinted in her head. Loosing her focus on her suit it flared a couple times revealing her young distraught self.

Ridley's head cocked back for a moment as his eye that wasnt injured from a sniper, narrowed as a smirk curled on his lips. "Your that brat that had the nerve to ask me to be friends, diminishing me infront of my troops!" Ridley snarled. "How pathetic you've become, thinking you could bring justice, and revenge all by yourself? And who's the band of idiots you're running with now, your babysitters?" Ridley cackled, gazing over his shoulder at the struggled fight, going on below.

"You go near them, and I swear, I will burn you alive!" Samus jumped to her feet recovering her power suit.

"Oh you mean burn me alive, just as I will with you, so you may join your parents?" Ridley smirked as Samus drew back at the image given to her.

"It's ok I will just deal with you for now. They will have to come later, as I have a job to do. I have to store this anyway, and watch the real show go on." Ridley snapped his jaws showing Samus a key like item in his claws, with his other free hand, he attempted to clutch Samus in his claws.

Snapping out of her trance, Samus was wise to his moves, doing a backflip down into the base. Stumbling on her landing, as her feet slipped, from the loose rubble. Firing at Ridley once more getting direct hits eveytime, Samus was ready to fight so she thought. "What exactly are you using that for?" Samus dared to ask.

"It's to be used by the one we will resurrect! The Didact will rid of you parasites, and continue to eradicate all who deny him!"

"I highly doubt that will happen, you fail at everything!" Samus spat mockingly.

"That's where you are wrong, I have an instalation to get to, and you are distracting me from such duties!" Taking off, hovering just above the building. "Die you damned brat!" Ridley snarled, breathing his hot, flaming, breath at a rapid pace, like a gun trying to hit a target. Samus had no problem dodging the rapid fire thrown at her, as she fired back getting hits on the dragon. This enraged the beast, with an angered roar, he dropped down ontop of the girl. He grabbed her in the clutches of his claws, he slammed her into the base wall, and dragged her body against it, causing sparks from her suit to fly, effectively taking her shielding down 30%. With another roar Ridley took off upwards, with the ten still in hand, reaching an unacceptable altitude to hover at, he began to charge his fire. Samus shakily raised her cannon, charging it as well, she released the charge firing directly into the dragons mouth. Causing a great deal of pain Ridley dropped Samus, as she decsended she continued firing at the dragon recovering from the sting of pain.

Kelly ripped a scatter shot from one of the Knights firing the weapon, she blew through the knights midsection causing it's death, it fell backwards onto the ground, revealing Samus's mid air battle with Ridley.

Ridley regained his strength and dove for the teen that fired at him. Samus continued to pellet the dragon with charged shots from her cannon. Angering the beast further as he closed in on her, as they were a couple hundred feet from the ground, Ridley batted the teen down with his razor sharp tail. The hit caused Samus to fly at the ground at an uncontrollable rate of velocity. Samus woke second after hitting the ground with blurry vision, still stunned and unable to move, she was surprised hitting the ground that hard that her spine didn't snap on impact.

Samus hit the ground so hard Kelly could see a cloud of dust just reach the tip of the base. "Oh my god, Chief you've got to go rescue Samus. That dragon bastard just took her for a nice free fall baseball run, she just hit the ground. Don't worry about the prometheans, we can hold off theses idiots!" Kelly yelled over the open comm channel.

Chief tackled one of the last knights by him. Stabbing it's neck, it disintegrated, revieling the large flying beast firing yet again down into the base. "Kelly, Linda, cover fire. Fred get to the pelican then pick us up, I'm going to get Samus." John started sprinting back to the base with Linda and Kelly in tow.

Samus after recovering her energy level was let at 30%. She jumped up and dodged most of the dragons attacks, except one that caught her off guard. Ridley spat fire to the left then quickly switched direction when Samus jumped to the right, scorching her suit.

She yelped in pain as the heat ripped through her shielding causing it to malfunction, she no longer had any shields to cover her mistakes. Ridley took advantage of the small impairment diving down he slamed a huge clawed hand onto the chozo armoured teen pinning her against the hard, sharp, hot, rubble. Hindering her mobility, as more pain came as she attempted to move. The more she moved the tighter those claw got, trying her best to get into morph ball but to no avail the grip was to tight around her. One of Ridley's claws actually managed to puncture through her armour, into her waste, causing blood to gush out of the new wound.

"It will be nice to finally be able to rid of you this time, with no interruptions!" Ridely roared preparing to fire a charged blast at the weakened teen. Samus overestimated herself, she thought she would have been prepeared, and strong enough to take on the dragon, avenging those who died for her. But she was not quite strong, and skilled enough yet, and now she was going to die by the same thing that destroyed her family and home those few years ago.

As the two female spartans fired at the few remaining prometheans attempting to slow them down, Chief scaled the side of the building like it was a step ladder, reaching the top as Ridley released his fire breath. Ripping a grenade off the side of his leg, pulling the pin, he threw it, directly hitting beast in the face stopping the fire.

With an annoyed screech Ridley flapped his wings angrily taking off towards the planets atmosphere releasing Samus, with out anymore fight left in him. She hit the ground hard creating another cloud of dust from the hit. But Samus wasn't one to give up so easily, her last adrenalin rush mustered all the strength that was left in her, jumping to her feet, Samus continued to fire at the fleeing dragon. Once Ridley was out of site, the prometheans also disappeared. Exhausted, burnt, bleeding, beaten, Samus completely collapsed burnt armour recovering slowly from the damage.

"Samus!" Chief jumped down to Samus's side, scooping her exhausted almost unconscious form up into his arms, he could feel the burning heat from her armour emitting through to his hands. John climbed out carrying the overly exhausted, beaten teen, descending from the base he saw Linda and Kelly guarding the hovering pelican.

"Pelican has arrived." Kelly announced jogging over to Chief, walking beside her leader Kelly gazed down at the half conscious teen. "She looks dead almost, we have to get her to the med bay right away." Kelly told Fred over the comm channel.

"She seems weak at the moment, but I can't tell how injured she is with her armour still on." John replied climbing aboard the running pelican.

Linda and Kelly hopped in last Linda giving the go ahead for Fred to take off.

"Lay her on the floor, lets see if we can get her to take off the torched armour." Kelly said placing a fire blanket down on the floor for Samus to rest on.

Chief placed Samus carefully down on the blanket, trying to figure out a way to remove the scorched armour, Chief opened a compartment revealing a hologram projector.

"Where the fuck does she find all these things!?" Kelly gestured at the device Chief now had in his hand.

"Kelly focus!" Chief snapped silencing whatever else the sarcastic spartan would have said.

"Sorry, anyway I can see she has a huge gash on her left side high on her waste, but we can't stop the bleeding with her armour still on." Kelly returned her focus to her injured patient. "That dragon was a little too powerful for Samus to fight alone."

Guilt flooded Chief for leaving Samus alone with that horrid beast. "Linda take the device, Kelly go fly the pelican, Fred come help me with Samus." Chief didn't want to hear anymore comments.

"I know more about medicine then Fred does." Kelly mumbled taking the pilots seat.

Eveyone obliged the orders switching positions and studying the device. Fred knelt down on the other side of Samus and began examining her scorched body armour. "Her suits been completely cooked do you think she's burnt badly?" Fred's tone was worried, injured comrades always brought out a bit of panick in him. "We have to stop the bleeding from this wound, she also might have internal bleeding, keep her awake John, and Kelly speed up. Do think the kid will survive the injuries?"

"I'm flying this thing as fast as it can go Fred!" Kelly growled, she hated it when he dealt with injured people.

"Fred it is unknown at this point." John tried to keep his tone from sounding annoyed. "Samus" he called softly. "Remove your armour, we need to treat your wounds."

Samus weakly turned her head to stare at the spartan, from behind her visor obliging his request, her suit flared a couple times before dissolving completely.

Immediately the two began examining for any major damage inflicted apon the teens badly burned, and bruised form. "Only bruises, a gash wound, first degree burns to her body, and a second degree to her left arm as far as I can see. We should call command now, so medics can take her immediately, when we return." Fred implied, holding Samus down lightly, as they hit a small amount of turbulence.

Chief nodded in agreement sitting on the ground he scooped the teen up with the blanket holding her steadily through the mild turbulence.

"Kelly did you alert command we are on our way back?" Chief voice was directed to the cockpit.

"Yes I just got off the comm with them they have sick bay waiting for the kid, we will be landing in five." Kelly replied holding up five fingures.

Samus's eyes were bearly open from exhaustion, sleepy vision gave her a glimps of Chief's visor staring down at her, before she closed her eyes completely.

"You might want to keep her awake until the medics say it's alright for her to sleep." Fred's worried tone carried across the floor.

Kelly groaned from the cockpit "Give her a rest Fred, she just went through her first mojor one on one battle."

"Samus stay awake for few more moments." Chief softly encouraged as Kelly, and Fred spat at eachother.

Chapter 5 Part 2: Rocky Road To Recovery

Back inside the Infinity blue team was forced to ignore the teen that was rushed to the med bay, and stand reporting the mission at briefing.

"Samus found this sir." Linda handed the hologram projector device to the captin.

"Another holgraphic device?" Lasky questioned activating it.

"An activation index, this can't possibly be what that dragon beast would want." Lord Hood shook his head in disbelief.

"He's working with the Prometheans, and most likely in search of the Didact." Chief answered the Admirals question.

"So he is not deceased?" Lord Hood questioned blue teams leader.

"No sir I do not believe so." Chief admitted. "I believe he was sent into slipspace."

"No signs of the Didact have been reported yet. That beast must be collecting everything required for the awakening." Lasky mused.

"We shall call you when our experts get more information out of this holographic message."

It only took seconds for Blue team to arrive in the med bay. Where medics without question, lead them to a small recovery room. Where a couple of doctors were finishing up examining the weak, barely alive young teen. That yet still had enough fight left in her to refuse the medical testing. Her tired eyes caught glimps of the team entering the room brought a slight perk in the tired teen. "Chief!" with a weak voice Samus happily called her favourite spartan.

"Master Chief we could use a distraction." a female CMO walked over to the approaching team.

"Oh how so?" Kelly asked for Chief.

"We have been trying to do our last test on her for at least fifteen minutes, but she has been fighting us the whole time, calling us unimaginable names, and so on." the chief medic complained.

Kelly snickered under her breath. "That's our girl." the team hated treatment, it took them away from completing missions, it was mostly seen as a waste of time to them. Kelly was obviously not quiet enough, as Chief, and a few medics threw pointed looks at her. "How is she doing?" Kelly cleared her throat, as she proudly smiled behind her mask.

"Samus how are you feeling?" Chief began his distraction with a question.

"I'm tired... and a bit sore... that's all." Samus practically slurred as she fought to keep her eyes open.

Chief nodded for the CMO to begin her last tests, as he now had the teens full attention on himself. "I suppose you're going to deny the fact that your first one on one battle was painful?" Chief exhaled sitting down in a chair a medic pulled up for him to sit next to the berth Samus lay on.

Samus didn't want to admit it but she really didn't have the strength to argue with Chief. "Yes Chief it was painful." Samus gave a soft playful laugh.

"So you will listen to the doctors orders once they're done diagnosing you?" Chief kept his trivia going as the CMO finally finished.

"We'll see." Samus replied with a yawn closing her eyes.

"That's exactly how I would answer that." Kelly proudly remarked.

"Not helping Kelly." Fred leaned over the cocky females shoulder.

"What is her damage report?" Linda broke the ice between the medics, before a fight broke out between the two spartans.

"As far as we can diagnose nothing life threatening, her nervous systems are weakened from exhaustion, first degree burn to her body, she has second degree burns to her left arm, heavy internal soft tissue bruising, concussion, and a large gash to her left side of her waste which we have stitched up." the CMO reported flipping through her clipboard reports. "We highly recomend one day and one night of rest to fully recover from such inflicted wounds, if her condition worsens than a longer rest and more treatment is required. She seems to be recovering quicker with bed rest. So no running, jumping, training, etcetera. Then when she makes a full recovery, she may report back to the battle field for further missions to come."

Linda walked over placing a soothing hand on the teens shoulder. "Can she walk around after a day or so?" Linda queried.

Surprised at the sudden carrying act from a soldier such as a spatan was a rare event to see. But the woman understood that a younger sole could bring out the carrying emotions of a protective family out of the hardest hearts to reach. "She may. But only briefly, as she may be off balance, and may cause a slower recovery rate. But high odds are that she will be in far to much pain to even move the first day or so." She replied to the sharp shooting spartan's question. "You may leave her here under our care, or take her back to your quarters, and have us come on call if needed." The lady CMO gave the team the options.

Chief looked to the floor as he mulled over the options for a brief moment. The team could use a break from the teen, get their minds back on track, and away from the unnecessary family emotions over the said child. "Keeping her in your care will be just fine thank you doctor." Chief stood up and shook the females hand.

Kelly, Linda, and Fred all stared at there commanding officer in disbelief and shock. Hidden behind their masks were looks of confusion, and disbelief, their body stances made that clear enough to the medics around them.

Samus would have been heartbroken and confused as well, if she hadn't fallen asleep during her reported diagnoses.

The chief medical officer could feel the mass of emotions of disbelief brewing from the spartan team. "Very well then Master Chief, I assure you, and your team, that she's in well kept hands." the CMO smiled at the resting teen.

John nodded gazing one last time at the resting child. The team standing as if waiting for Chief to change his mind, to no avail John brushed past his stunned teammates, exiting quietly with a no turning back adittude.

The team exchanged looks for a moment, before solemnly exiting the med bay, kelly giving one last glance over her shoulder to the teen before exiting.

The team was silent walking down the corridor, it had been so long since they've had a silent walk down. Kelly was still trying to muster up the reason why Chief, who was the most attatched to the kid, could just flat out refuse to take her and help her recover. "What the hell was that!?" Kelly spat throwing her arms down in anger.

Chief knew that question was directed to him alone. "Kelly she will recover shortly." he simply replied.

"You know damn well that's not what I'm getting at." Kelly snapped hopping infront of her leader.

"We need to retrain our focus, we've lost our full function as a team, and Samus is the cause of it."

"What are you saying, we're in a rut when she's around us?" Kelly continued to fume.

"Haven't you noticed the change she's put in us?"

"I have yes, and I find it a change for the better." Kelly could no longer hold back what was on her mind. "She's brought us closer as a team, the kid has challenged and pushed our ability to protect at all costs, And how she has somehow brought back that playful, youthful, encouraging, sibbling role that Sam used to play when he was alive. Maybe not exactly like Sam but you get the point, I think!"

The team went dead quiet, as most of what Kelly ranted on about, was hitting the truth.

Chief said nothing further to add to the fire. He simply walked past the angered female and headed towards the training facilities.

Noticing her spike in emotions Kelly sighed. "Shit, maybe John's right." Taking a deep breath before continuing on down the corridor towards the track.

Linda and Fred looked at eachother with blank expressions.

"What's happening to us?" Linda shook her head.

"John might be right, I mean look at us arguing over a kid we rescued three years ago. Look how much we've changed, we've attached ourselves to a kid that's changed our emotions, and training against such things." Fred replied shaking his head as he followed Chief towards the combat sim.

Oddly to Linda that didn't at all sound that bad to her, she didn't mind the change, considering the team had been the same way for over twenty years. Some change was bound to happen to them at some point in their lives, and a child was just the icing on the cake. But Linda didn't mention her thoughts out loud yet, she would wait for the right moment to speak to John.

About an two hours later Samus awoke with extreme burning pain all over her body as it was now out of shock. To sore movem she only managed to emit small whimper. "Chief?" she called out in pain.

"Doctor your patient is waking." an unfimiliar male voice announced.

Fast walking footsteps approached her side. "Thank you Jeremy." a soft female voice replied.

Seeing a female doctor scanning her confused Samus. "Chief?" Samus called out once more this time in a weak confused voice.

With a sympathetic smile the female CMO spoke in her soft caring voice. "How are you feeling Samus?" the doctor ignored the teens calls for the spartan.

Samus stared at the doctor with fright, she knew nothing of this woman, and yet she knew her name. "Where's Chief?" Samus shakily asked once again.

"Chief left with the team two hours ago." Reading the teens frightened expression, the doctor changed the subject and introduced herself. "Sorry I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Cathrine Smith, you may call me Cathrine, I am the chief medical officer on this floor, and your caretaker." Cathrine gave Samus a warm smile.

Caretaker? Did Chief give her away to some random woman she didn't know? Chief said he would hold off on finding a caretaker for her. Why would he give her away now when she was almost old enough to take care of herself. Chief was usually the one to look after her, if she had gotten injured or sick, why the sudden change? All thoughts swam through her a head a million miles a minute.

"I will be your caretaker for this time, until you recover from you injuries, as the Master Chief seemed to busy at this time."

Samus was not comfortable being left alone with a doctor she barely knew. "How long until Chief comes back?"

"I don't know sweetheart perhaps after tomorrow when your free to go back into action." Cathrine sweetly responded changing Samus's gash wound bandages.

Samus hissed in pain as the loosening of the bandage around the tender flesh flared with pain.

Finally taking the bandage off the doctor appologized. "I'm sorry sweetheart I'm almost done."

Samus screwed her eyes shut tightly, as she held her breath in pain, while the doctor wiped off any excess fluids from the wound. "Ok this is going to sting a bit." Cathrine warned as she applied cleaning alcohol.

Samus winced and whined "Ow that stings!" Samus squirmed uncomfortably in pain.

Cathrine gave a small chuckle. "I did warn you it would sting." the doctor playfully replied.

Opening her eyes Samus exhaled, as the brief sting was soothed by healing ointments being applied along with a new bandage.

"There all done, I promise I wont touch it until tomorrow." Chathrine pulled off her gloves and washed her hands. "Are you hungry Samus?" she asked drying off her hands.

A slight hunger was brewing in Samus's stomach, but nothing to the point where she was hungry enough to eat just quite yet. "No." she quietly responded.

Cathrine sat down in the chair that was left for Chief. "Ok you let me know when you are ok?"

Samus nodded weakly as she gazed around the room.

"Well then do you want to play a game?" It was clear to Samus, and the other medics, that Cathrine had a soft spot for kids.

Tilting her head to face the doctor Samus sighed. "I can't move." she replied sorely from the pulsing pain inside of her. Although she was curious as to why the CMO wanted to play a game with a thirteen year old.

"We can play a game that requires only your eyes. It's a very old game but it's fun." Cathrine couldn't help but speak playfully.

"What game is that?" Samus's curiousity was begining to get the best of her.

"I Spy, it's a game were you spy something, then say the colour or shape of whatever you spotted, and the other person has to guess what you spied. You think you can do it?"

Samus grined, not wanting to be bored the whole time, she agreed. "No problem." Samus spoke confidently, this was going to be the easiest game ever.

"Ok I'll go first."

Then again Samus thought, as she was in a room full of equipment, and people, she had no clue what their rank, or names of the equipment, or other objects were.

"I spy with my little eye... something that is... blue!" the doctors enthusiasm was refreshing, compared to the usual monotone unenthusiastic Chief, who had a barely noticable dry humour.

Looking around Samus could see little to no blue objects in the room. "Um... the curtains?" Samus guessed the curtains were more of a green teal colour rather then blue.

"Nope your cold." Cathrine sat back in her seat.

"Um your cup?" Samus gestured her head to the navy blue coffee cup the doctor held, on a small table next to her.

"Oh yeah I have coffee! Thanks for reminding me." Cathrine cheerfully sipped her coffee.

Samus gave a barely audible giggle, at the small burst of goofy happiness, the doctor made over a simple cup of coffee.

"And no it wasn't my delicious coffee." The doctor replied to Samus's guess.

Samus continued to laugh, but was running out of blue objects, the only other blue thing she could think of was her zerosuit hanging off a hook next to a picture on the wall. "Is it my zerosuit?!"

"You got it! Your turn now."

"Wait why is my..."

"We had to take it off in order to treat your wounds, don't worry you have a medical gown on."

"I spy... um..."

"With my little eye." Cathrine aided the teen with the begining of the game.

"With my little eye... something... that is... grey." Samus finished.

Cathrine placed crossed her legs resting one on the other. "Grey huh? Let me think hmmm." she looked around tapping a fingure on her chin.

Samus kept a smile on her face as she waited for the doctor to begin guessing.

"Is it the curtain rails?" Cathrine guessed pointing up to the cieling.

"No"

"Ok that empty food tray over there?"

"Nuh uh." Samus shook her head.

"The walls?" Cathrine inhaled.

"Nope." Samus smiled.

"Alright, I give up, what is it?" the CMO sighed looking back at Samus.

"It's the floor!" Samus finally gave up her answer.

"Oh that was a good one, that would have been my next guess damn!" Cathrine playfully scolded the young teen.

Samus tuanted. "Sure you would have" giggling at the scolding.

"Funny Samus. But you know I would have." Cathrine put her hands on her hips.

After the laughing died down, Samus's stomach decided to make itself present with a loud hungry growl. Samus's eyes went wide, her face flushed red with slight embarrassment.

The CMO just chuckled at the teens reaction. "I guess your stomach has spoken, I will go grab you some food." She stood up.

"Thank you." Samus smiled nervously.

"Not a problem sweetheart, you think we can get you to sit up?" Cathrine bent down to be level with Samus.

Just the thought of moving hurt, but just laying around all day, she didn't want to get stiff. Samus nodded reluctantly, she began to move her legs, wincing in pain from the movement.

"Whoa there cowgirl let me help you up." Cathrine carefully began lifting Samus slowly.

Samus attempted to push up with her arms, but ended up yelping in pain, from the burns and strained muscles.

"No no no Samus, just relax, I got you." the CMO cooed setting Samus's limp body into an upright position.

Samus hung her head in shame, as this was practically the first in time in while, that she couldn't move around with out aid.

Cathrine sensed the depression and decided to reassure the girl. "Samus your bodies muscles have shut down from exhaustion, they've went into repair mode, you can't help it if you can't move, you went through a really big battle."

"Didn't seem like a giant battle, it's just something my body will have to get used to, for when we go after that bastard again."

"Samus don't be running into battle head first with angered emotions, that's how you get killed." the CMO warned exiting the room.

Unbelievable that's the exact same thing Chief said to her on the mission, before all this happened. Did all the adults think alike?

John stood off to the side while Kelly and Fred went head to head with sparring. Meanwhile Linda was on the approach after cleaning her sniper.

"John can I speak with you?" Linda asked permission to speak with her leader.

"Yes Linda you may." Chief didn't move a muscle.

"Do you think change is good?"

It seemed like an odd question but Chief replied. "I suppose why?"

"Our team has been running the same way for more then ten years at the least just the three of us. Same drills, same formations, the same ageing team members." Linda practically started a rant.

Chief finally turned his head to look at the female spartan standing beside him.

Linda kept her gaze straight ahead at the two being sparring. "The one small change to happen to us in all these years. Was pushed away today, we almost lost that change in battle today. But you and that new found, unique protective mode that change has gifted you with, saved her life today. Personally I hated change. But like you change has gifted me with an ability to adapt. I know we swore nothing would ever fill Sam's place. But a new addition that resembles his playful personality I don't have a problem with. I don't speak for the others of this team but they don't seem to mind the change either. We can't be affraid of change foever it will happen eventually." Linda ended he speech with little to no emotion and joined the two sparring.

Watching the other spartans train John felt like there was someone that wasnt there training with them. Sam was first to come to mind. The encourgment and reassurance of Sam always backing up his plans and ideas with a cheerfull tone always made Chief feel ten times stronger when he was told so. Samus was like a brother to him always saying that nothing could break or take them down almost making them sound invincible. Samus practically did the same only in a different manner. Thinking the world of him, like nothing could ever kill him. No matter how angry or upset he was with her she always warmed up to him ignoring his emotions. Encouraging him to join the team in group training exercises, Pushing to their limits, pushing them to their final nerves, their skills of protecting what needs to be protected. Guilt of leaving the girl in the med bay alone with stragers filled his entire body. Forcing him to march right out of the training facilities.

"Where's John going?" Fred questioned catching his breath.

"He's embracing change." Linda replied handing Fred some water.

Cathrine was going over medical reports, with some other medics in the med bay, when the doors swooshed open revealing a large green armoured spartan. "Excuse me for a moment." Cathrine quickly excused herself from the group of medics.

"Master Chief have you come to visit your recovering, youngest, teammate?" the CMO greeted.

"She's not a team membe... yes I have." Chief changed his wording.

"Right this way. She just finished eating, and has now fallen asleep, but I'm sure she won't mind a visitor." Cathrine lead Chief to the small recovery room.

"Thank you doctor." John replied stopping infront of the rooms door.

"Not a problem sir, besides she was calling out your name, when she woke a few hours ago." the female doctor mentioned. "I will be with you shortly to let you know how she's recovering." Cathrine said before walking off rejoining the other medics.

Chief sighed at the news he recieved, feeling guilt for leaving the teen with strangers. He entered the room, quiet as can be, he walked over to the chair left beside Samus's bed. Taking a seat he rested his arm on the small table between him and the head of the bed. He watched as the steady rise of her chest indicated that her breathing was healthy. Placing his large hand softly under Samus's smaller right one, a small smile formed behind his mask of gold, as Samus's slender petite fingures gripped his large ones very lightly almost unoticible to the unsensitive touch.

"She's quite the kid." The voice surprised the spartan, he turned his head to the door to see the CMO leaning against the doorframe.

"So I've been told." Chief's dry humour hung in there, as he sat up straight in the chair.

"I'm Cathrine by the way." the doctor held out a hand to shake.

Chief reluctantly pulled his right hand away from Samus and shook the doctors hand. "Cathrine?" Chief replied in a questioning tone.

"I'm no Cathrine Halsey trust me sir." She chuckled walking to the other side of the bed to check on IV bag.

"Of course I just... So how is she doing?" Chief awkwardly changed the subject.

"She's in a lot of pain, muscles have completely shut down, she can barely move, I had to assist in feeding her. I may have diagnosed her recovery rate wrong. Whatever that dragon is, he's obviously no walk in the park on the pain infliction scale. She may have further damage that we have not detected do to the swelling." Cathrine replaced the IV bag.

Chief shook his head at the new medical problems, mentally kicking himself for not climbing right back up that building, and ignoring the knights that distracted him from reaching the teen.

"She will survive sir, her recovery rate just may slow down." the doctor reassured the upset spartan.

Chief sighed placing his hand back under Samus's he was now changing himself to what Samus had molded him into. But his rule was to only be changed when he was around her, and his team, nobody else but them could possibly change him.

While the spartan and doctor spoke, Samus began to squirm uncomfortably, as she slept almost in a fighting manner.

Chief swung his whole body over the side of the chair to face Samus, watching the teen with concern. "What's happening?" he asked with great concern in his tone as the teens movements became more violent.

"I'm not certain her heart rate fast paced at the moment but no apparent reason as to why." Cathrine hopped on the near by computer linked to Samus's vital signs.

Samus was in the middle of a battle with Ridley the spartan team by her side. The battle was brutal, the team and Samus both getting beaten to death by the dragon. Soon Ridley knocked Samus off her feet and stomped on her pinning her with his foot. "Now watch as your family perishes!" Ridley cackled as his fire began charging. "No!" Samus cried trying to break free. "Samus!" Chief cried out running to her aid, but it was to late. Ridley spewed his hot molten fire breath across the battle field, vaporising Kelly, Linda, Fred, and Finally Chief who was inches away from her. His burnt remains landing on her visor, while Ridley cackled wildly. "Your turn brat lights out!"

The last thing Samus saw was flames, before she abruptly shot up in bed, crying Chief's name. "Chief!" she screamed as a wave of pain rippled through her body.

The sudden scream made the medics in the bay puase their work, as they listened waiting for the CMO to come through the recovery room door, and possibly give them orders. But nothing came, they all went back to work with their ears open.

Chief promptly scooped Samus up off the bed, as he quickly moved his seating position to the bed. He held the young teen in his arms, not caring if the doctor saw his actions. He was being protective and it was his job, was his excuse.

Samus seemed to not care for the pain at the moment, as she swung her arms around the Spartans neck, she embraced his armoured body for comfort.

"I'm here Samus I'm here." Chief replied placing a hand on the back of her head and an arm around her body in an embraced hug. This was this first time in years since he's actually hugged someone. Considering he had forgotten how to, this was strictly instinct, like when Samus had a nightmare when she was younger.

"Ridley killed Kelly... Linda... and Fred... Then... You!" Samus caughed through tears.

Nightmare of course she had one, she hadn't had a nightmare since Ridley was last mentioned to her three years ago. "He won't Samus, it never happened, and it never will." Chief spoke firmly.

"But he kills everyone I know!" Samus continued her frantic tears.

"Not this time Samus, I will make sure of it, the team will make sure of it." Chief reassured Samus.

Samus's crying simmered down as she chocked on the last few tears, her adrenalin dropped, and her searing body pain returned. She cried out in pain, as her body went limp, from her reminded exhaustion.

"I think she should lay back down sir." Cathrine pointed to the bed the spartan sat on.

"Oh of course." Chief stood up, carefully laying Samus back into the soft bed, he covered her with blankets and sat back down in the chair.

Placing a hand on the teens forehead the doctor sighed. "She has a bit of a fever." she said wrighting on her clipboard. "I'm going to grab a glass of cold water for her she's getting a little dehydrated as well, would you like anything sir?" Cathrine asked as she headed toward the door.

"No just tend to her please." Chief respectfully declined the offer.

"Yes Master Chief of course." Cathrine opened the door to be met by three spartans in jumpsuits. "Oh wow the whole teams here for you Samus, go on in, I will be right back." the CMO squeesed passed the spartans.

"Hi guys." Samus greeted with a weak but cheerfull smile.

"Hey kid how are you feeling?" Fred asked standing next Chief.

"Everything hurts." Samus complained wincing at a random pulse of pain.

Kelly and Linda stood on the right side of the bed opposite from the males. "Have you been moving much, fighting of nurses, and giving the doctor a hard time?" Kelly playfully asked before getting scolded by Chief.

"Ha no, the doctor is actually really nice, we played a game." Samus giggled at the Kelly.

"Huh, must have a real soft spot for kids." Linda leaned into Kelly.

"Probably, the kid would drive all the other ones crazy." Kelly chuckled.

Instead of protesting the lady spartans conversation, Samus a gave a small shiver, as if a cold gust of wind went by. The young teen got a cold sweat, while her fever spiked for a brief moment.

"You don't look so great kid." Kelly placed her hand on Samus's forehead.

"She has a fever." Chief sighed watching Kelly examine the teen for herself.

Touching the teens arm Kelly scoffed. "Yeah she's ice cold John, I think it's more than just, a fever!" Kelly snapped.

"Didn't she have giant gash wound, high on her left side of her waste?" Linda mentioned to Kelly.

Kelly leaned over Samus pulling the blankets off, she practically ripped the gown off on the left side.

"Infected, I bet they only used regular crap on this wound, fuck sakes we've been fighting aliens for how long now?!" Kelly stomped off towards the door enraged.

Cathrine opened the door as soon as Kelly reached it. "Oh good you've returned, now turn your ass around, and go get the strongest healing ointment you can find!" Kelly took the glass of water out the doctors hand.

"Our strongest ointment isn't safe to use on young teens, she could get very ill." Cathrine replied to the enraged spartan.

"And she's not now!? Find whatever is strong enough to be safely used on her, logic is key!" Kelly practically pushed the CMO out the door.

Meanwhile Linda found a cloth and began wiping sweat away from Samus's forehead.

"Kelly!" Chief snapped in a firm tone.

"Kelly you don't think that was a little harsh?" Fred folded his arms.

"I'm sorry, is she the one with the infected wound? Why don't you two make yourselves useful, and sit her up, and give the kid some water!" Kelly pretty much dropped the glass of water onto Chief's lap.

Fred didn't want to argue lifting the teen gently into a sitting position.

John took the glass in hand, and attempted to hand Samus the glass, while Kelly undressed her wound. "You have to have some water Samus. Please take it."

Linda stood across from the two males shaking her head with her arms folded and one eyebrow raised.

"Yes Linda if you wish to give some advice please do." Chief sighed gazing up at the red head.

"She can't drink on her own at the moment until her nervous system regains enough strength for her muscles to work." Dr. Cathrine snuck up behind the two. "This might help." she handed Chief a straw while she gave Kelly the cleaning alcohol and new ointment and bandages. "I will let you handle this Kelly, I will be in the bay if you need me." Cathrine left the female medical spartan in charge of the situation.

Chief placed the straw in the glass and held it infront of Samus's mouth. "Please take a sip Samus, it will give you strength." Chief encouraged the teen to drink the water.

Samus sighed, weakly taking the straw in her lips, she sipped from it, recieving the cold water into her system it gave her a small amount of strength.

Chief gave a breath of relief when he saw Samus rehydrating herself with the water.

Moments later Samus spat a mouth full of water onto herself, and Chief's armoured hand, when Kelly applied the alcohol to her wound. "Sorry Chief!" Samus hissed in pain.

"I'm armoured I won't melt. But you're soaked." Chief gave an attempt at teasing the teen.

Samus pouted at Chief rolling her eyes at the tease.

"Alright keep drinking you need your strength." Chief smiled behind his mask.

Samus sighed, once more taking a big mouth of water, she this time spat all over herself, Chief, and Kelly caused from the sting of the alcohol.

Knocking the glass into Chief's lap Kelly hissed. "Ok no more water!" Kelly wiped the spit water off her face.

"Thank you Kelly!" Chief would have had to hold a chuckle back if it wasn't for the fact that Kelly threw water into his lap.

Fred tried to hide his chuckle at John.

"Go find a towel." Chief growled handing Fred the empty glass.

It was a complete comedy act, Samus was enjoying watching her spartan family, and secretly the team enjoyed acting like a family for once instead of a drill team 24/7.

"Ow!"

"Sorry kid just wrapping you up now. Glad to see looking better." Kelly smiled at the teen.

"I wish I could move better." Samus sighed as Kelly finished wrapping.

"Well you can just be our human noolde." Kelly teased as she stood back up.

"Hey!"

Linda chuckled for once in her life. "Give it time kid you'll be back to normale soon enough."

"Hey Fred did you find that towel?" Kelly turned around.

"Here." Fred tossed a clean towel to the medical spartan.

"Sorry if this hurts kiddo." Kelly warned as she began to dab Samus dry.

While Kelly dried off the teen Chief headed out towards the door.

"Chief where are you going?" Samus asked as if she wanted to go with.

"Boy you don't miss a beat do you?" Kelly sighed turning to see her leader by the door.

"I'm going to get out of this armour I will be back." Chief reassured as he exited the room.

"How's it going in there, is she all dressed up now?" Cathrine met Chief by the bay door.

"Yes she's feeling a lot better now thank you." Chief replied.

"You're so protective over her, so fatherly, it's sweet. That's probably why you denied finding her a caregiver three years ago. Having a different kind of protective setting in your mind is good for a change." Cathrine gave a warm smile to the spartan who seemed to tense at her sentence.

Chief began to wonder if Cathrine would ever shut up.

"Don't worry your secrets safe with me." she winked before walking off into Samus's room.

Feeling like he was glued to the floor with what the doctor said. The words tore open that erge to push away from the the teen. He quickly denied the thought when he reminded himself of how he regreted ignoring the teen deeply after seeing Samus in tears after she saw his fake death in a nightmare.

Chief shortly returned into the recovery room, to see Kelly and Linda telling stories sitting on the bed with Samus, and Fred sitting on the chair looking bored out of his mind while the girls babled on.

"Chief!" Samus pratically shouted she was so happy to see the leader return. Causing Fred to jump to his feet in surprise.

"Eveyone seems to be comfortable here?" Chief exhaled happily, as Fred sat back down.

"Yeah I think Fred stole your seat." Kelly kicked the other male spartan back out of the chair.

"Dammit Kelly!" Fred growled jumping up like he was going to tackle Kelly.

"Take it outside if you two are going to argue!" John warned pointing the two to the door.

"Very well then come on Frederick." Kelly teased calling Fred by his full name.

"Kelly you are dead!" Fred chased the cocky female spartan out of the room.

"No running." Cathrine called out walking into the recovery room with a stack of chairs.

Chief was kind enough to take the chairs and set them in room for when the others returned.

"Thanks. I'll be back in a minute with some more water." Cathrine left as fast as she arrived.

Sitting back down in his chair Chief exhaled. "How are you feeling now tired Samus?" John couldn't help but smile at the tired blue eyes trying to focus on him.

"Her fever is down now but she's still in a lot of pain." Linda replied sitting in a chair instead of the bed with Samus.

Sitting back in his chair Master Chief spoke out of hope. "I hope she recovers soon she's the only one that knows the last bit of information on Ridley before he took off."

"She will tell us when good and healthy John. She will probably have enough energy to chat your ears off tomorrow, you know how she is." Linda raised an eyebrow at her leader.

"I'm still awake." Samus slurred.

"Sorry you do get chatty though." Linda shrugged.

Samus yawned slipping downwards in the bed, wanting to lay down. She was met by strong hands lifting her back up, sitting her up straight once more. "Not just yet Samus." Chief sat back down.

"Here's that water, try not to get it all over yourselves this time." Cathrine smiled handing the Master Chief a new glass of water.

"Funny." Kelly rolled her eyes sitting down in the chair next to Chief, taking the glass from him.

"Where's Fred?"

"I'm here kid, Kelly won't be the one to rid of me, I promise you." Fred sat next to Linda instead of Chief. "Kelly your in the splash zone again." Fred teased.

"I'm not placing alcohol on anymore wounds, so i'm fine, thanks for caring though."

Kelly tried to force feed Samus the water. "Drink please I don't care if your tired you need to stay hydrated."

Samus went wide eyed as Kelly tried to shove a glass down her throat.

"Kelly stop, if she dosen't want any, don't force it down her throat." Fred scoffed taking the water away.

"Oh yeah I forgot you could read minds!" Kelly slamed her hand on her lap.

Chief confiscated the glass of water from Fred and sighed. "Would you like a straw Samus?"

"Sure Chief thank you." Samus gave a thankful small nod.

Finally finishing her glass of water without spilling a drop. "Ok I'm done, can I lay down now?" Samus yawned trying to slide down again.

"Sure kid." Linda helped Samus lay down in the berth.

"Thanks Linda."

"You're about ready to pass out kiddo. We should probably head out and let you rest." Kelly placed a hand on Samus's head for a brief moment.

"Yeah it's pretty late, we'll see you tomorrow morning ok?" Linda followed Kelly out the door.

"Ok." Samus tiredly replied.

"John you coming with?" Fred asked standing in the doorframe.

"No I'm going to stay and make sure she will be ok." Chief answered gesturing to the half awake teen.

"She's not a little kid that has to be watched 24/7 anymore John. Plus there's twenty doctors to help her if something goes wrong."

Chief gazed back at Samus before turning back he gave a pointed look back at Fred.

"No doctor is better then doctor John 117. See you tomorrow morning John." Fred sighed leaving with the girls.

"You know I can handle taking care of her sir. You did leave her in my care after all." Cathrine sat on the opposite side of the bed.

"I understand Doctor, I'm just here to make sure she rests properly. She has a record for not listening to orders." Chief sat with his back straight up against the back of his chair.

"Do not." Tired slurring brought the spartans attention back to teen.

"Samus you wanted to sleep, why aren't you sleeping?"

"I'm not tired now." Samus tried her best to hide the sleep in her voice.

Remembering the teen had had a nightmare earlier, Chief decided to ask the question. "Is this because of the nightmare you had?"

Samus shrunk feeling embarrassed, she didn't want to seem childish for being afraid of a nightmare, infront of another adult such as Cathrine.

"It's ok to be affriad of a nightmare Samus, we have lots of soldiers that have them, in this type of job it's more common than you think." Cathrine reassured the embarrassed young teen.

"Yes I just don't want Chief to..." Samus sadly looked away.

"I'll let you two speak, I'll be back in fifteen." Cathrine left the two to speak in private.

"Samus what happened when you fought Ridley? I understand if you don't want to talk about it." Chief spoke sympathetically.

Figuring the spartan was speaking about the dragons future plans Samus sighed heavily. "He had some sort of wierd object that looked like a key, and said he was going to destroy the human race with somebody."

"Ridley talks? Sorry thank you for telling me that Samus. But I meant what did Ridley really say that scared you, clearly he must have said something that is haunting your mind." As much as Chief was overjoyed to have the information needed, his sympathetic side wanted to help the young teen.

Replaying the earlier battle today the disturbing image of Ridley eating scorched human flesh that was possibly her parents ran across her mind. Causing hyperventilation a wicked pain in her stomach came as it churned, the image was so distubring she had to vomit.

Lifting Samus up straight so she could breath better, Chief yelled for the doctor, as Samus got sick.

Cathrine came in only seconds later "What's going on Chief?" Cathrine began wiping the mess off the teen. "We need to get her out of the bed and cleaned. Stomach acid wont help her burns heal. There's a washroom right through that door, get her ready and I will be there in a moment."

Chief wasn't completely comfortable with the situation, he didn't want to reopen any wounds when washing her, so he called Kelly for back up. Because she would be the fastest to arrive, and she had the most medical training. He took the vomit soaked gown off Samus and placed it in a laundry hamper.

Kelly was quick to arrive. 'Shit are you alright kid?" Kelly asked as Chief handed the young teen to her.

"She got sick after I asked her a question, I don't know if something in her body made her sick, or it was a reaction to my question." Chief replied standing in the doorframe facing the recovery room.

"It might have very well just been her getting sick from her injuries, so what was you're question?" Kelly replied washing the vomit off of Samus with a warm soapy cloth.

"I just asked her about Ridley. The dragon defintely has the activation index, and he definetely is planing an attack with the soon to be risen Didact."

"Wait a minute, did you force Samus to talk about her encounter with her arch nemesis?!" Kelly snapped.

"I asked her about it, and told her she didn't have to talk about it if she didn't want to."

"Of course she's going to answer you, the kid will do anything for you!"

Samus wanted to stop the argument, having barely any strength to talk, all she could do was squeak. The spartan's stopped their argument turning their attention back to her, as she tried to speak.

Chief backed into the washroom, when Cathrine approached. "Here I have a towel and a clean gown for her." Cathrine passed the towel and clothing to the female spartan behind the Chief.

"Thank you doctor." Kelly dried and redressed Samus, handing the sore teen, back to her leader.

"We wheeled a new bed in, so the other one is getting cleaned." Cathrine explained the spotless new bed.

Chief nodded at the doctor in acknowledgement. "Are you alright now Samus?" Chief asked, placing the young body down on the new bed.

Samus didn't have the strength to talk or make any noise anymore. She was over exhausted, the disturbing image still lingered in her head, and she felt so nauseous, that the slightest move, made her feel like she could vomit her entire stomach. Secretly wishing Ridley was there, so she could just slaughter the dragon once and for all, ending this torture.

"Samus?"

Kelly covered Samus with a blanket, as the teen lay completely still. "She probably dosen't have the energy to speak, plus she looks as pale as a ghost, so my guess would be no, no she isn't alright." Kelly answered Chief's calls.

Chief felt bad for asking those questions about Ridley, clearly the dragon was more sickening, then he had anticipated. Wishing he knew what the beast did, or said to make Samus fall into this state, all he could do was sit beside her, and hope she felt better soon.

It was silent for a few moments, everyone in deep thought, until a meek shakey voice began to speak. "He told... me about... the aftermath... of the... attack on my... home planet..."

"What did he do at the aftermath?" Chief turned his body to face the young teen.

"John she should preserve her energy don't let her speak."

Samus took a deep breath, mustering up what little energy she had. "He said he ate... the human remains... eating the burnt, scorched, and torn flesh such as my parent, for his own survival."

Cathrine gasped in disgust and disbelief at such a terrible scene. The image being so disturbing, even Kelly cringed at the thought of a beast so disturbing, eating the remains of family members.

Chief had a flash of a similar situation when he first encountered a Halo, The Flood. That smell of burning flesh, the sound of the parasites feeding of corpses, tearing living beings apart to take over their still very functional mind!

"He plans to kill you guys next... I don't want the same thing to happen." Samus cried, snapping Chief out of his flashback.

"It's not going to happen Samus. We'll burn his ass, before he can touch ours, or yours." Kelly promised.

"Samus I think you're over thinking this, it's time we leave, and go to bed ourselves. You should get some rest now." Cathrine finally spoke standing up from her chair.

"Yeah kiddo, you will probably feel better, after you get some rest." Kelly followed the doctor to the door. "John you coming?"

"No."

"She needs her rest though." Kelly argued her leader.

Chief was not about to leave the teens side, she needed to feel safe, and he was the one that would keep her safe. "No she needs someone here with her."

Kelly obliged with a sympathetic nod, bidding Samus a goodnight.

After hours of promising, and confincing the young teen that he would protect her, Samus finally fell asleep after Chief had explained how the Flood situation was similar to her Ridley story. After feeling he understood what she was going through, she finally agreed to Chief's request, and fell into a deep sleep.

The spartan had his right elbow resting on that small table between him and the bed. Chief himself, wasnt far from nodding off, as he held his head in his hand, trying to keep his eyes from drooping.

"Psst Master Chief sir." the familiar voice of a female doctor whispered.

Chief jumped, siting up straight, hearing the voice and knock at the door.

"Sorry sir didn't mean to wake you."

He glanced one more time at the slumbering teen, before walking over to the doctor. "Yes Cathrine?" ignoring the apology.

"Lord Hood wishes to speak with you, he's just outside the room, would you like me to invite him in?"

"Yes."

Bowing her head in acknowledgment the CMO presented the Admiral as he strode passed her, she quietly shut the door behind her as she exited.

"Evening Chief." Lord Hood's old voice was already quiet, but he had the courtesy, to tone it down even lower for the sleeping patient.

"Sir." Chief respectfully saluted.

Gazing past the spartan, to the slumbering teen, Lord Hood exhaled. "At ease Chief. How is the childs recovery?"

"Recovering slowly sir. Further trauma may be detected later on, through further testing."

"Has she spoke of the encounter, any new leads about the index?" Lord Hood approached the recovering teens berth.

"Yes sir, Ridley and the Didact are going to fire the rings, that is confirmed. But I believe the Didact has not yet been found, as the Promethean's seem to be under Ridley's command for the time being. The Didact's life signs are not confirmed yet sir."

Turning back to face the spartan the admiral thoughtfully put his hand on his wrinkled chin. "We will have to track down this Ridley, and see if he leads us to the Didact. I'm assigning your team to this assignment, since you seem to have the most information on this new foe. Gather as much Didact information from Ridley as you can, then take Ridley out, no need to have two major foes alive. If you take Ridley out, it will either slow the process of resurrection, or completely eradicate it."

"Samus will have to give me more intel, before we go after Ridley, sir. I believe she may have more information on where the dragon is heading."

"Fine, just get that information and put it to use, you are going after the Didact, weather the girl is recovered, or not." the admiral spoke in a firm tone.

"Yes sir." Chief replied as the admiral exited the room.

Samus was not going to be happy if the team had to leave with out her. But he had no choice, he was given his direct orders, and Chief intended to follow them.

"You know she wont recover in time right?" a soft female voice approached.

"I am prepared for that, unfortunetly once she is mobile, you will be the one that has to prepare for battle." the spartan replied sitting back down in his chair.

"Oh is that so?" Chathrine raised an eyebrow.

"Samus is quite a determined girl, and will stop at nothing to join us in the field, you will have to restrain her from leaving."

"It all depends on how fast she recovers, who knows these last few brutal hours might have just been the worst part, and is now flushed out of her system onto a steady recovery." Cathrine shrugged, no to sure on how she would keep the teen out of trouble, if it came to the team leaving with out Samus. "Anyway, I've got work to catch up on, call me if something happens."

With a deep exhale Chief was relieved to finally be left alone. Happy Samus was content, and resting peacfully, he hoped she had enough strength by tomorrow, to give him the needed information.