Hi readers I may have butchered the Didact scene changing the ending after the battle but I think it turned out ok. Considering I didn't think I could possibly get through this chapter.
Chapter 6: Hell Bent
Morning came and Samus woke up as stiff as a board now able to move her mobility came with a price of pain rippling through her. But the upside was she felt more energetic not to her usual full extent of youthful energy, but still more refreshed then yesterday.
A quiet almost barely audible snoring caught her attention. Looking to her left she saw Chief passed out on the chair next to her. Samus pulled herself to the edge of the bed reaching out as far as she could she went to poke the spartan. Her arm shaking from holding up her weight Samus was inches away before her arm completely gave out causing her to briefly brush the spartans heavily muscled arm before slamming her upper body into the side of the bed. "Ow!"
Chief opened his eyes to the feeling of something brushing his arm his vision was already set on the half empty bed infront of him. Knocking the sleep out of his head he finally heard a pain filled groan coming from below. "Samus what are you doing!?" Chief quickly lifted the teen back onto the bed.
"I was trying to wake you up." Samus replied with smile.
"Mission accomplished."
"Oh like you've never lost your balance trying to poke someone." Samus scoffed folding her arms.
Smiling he replied. "I can't recall a time when I have no." Chief raised an eyebrow.
Samus rolled her eyes.
"You're finally awake." Cathrine entered with coffee in hand.
"She sure is now that she's right side up." Chief exhaled.
"Not going to question that. How are you doing today Samus?"
Samus pulled herself up sorely nodding in response. "Better now can I get back to training now?" John instinctively helped the young teen sit up.
Cathrine tapped her clipboard. "Whoa there little filly until I do another full assesment of your recovery you're not going anywhere near a battle simulator or the field."
"But I'm so bored." Samus complained.
"Well have some breakfast first and then we will begin some tests ok?" Cathrine sighed patting Samus on the head.
Feeling like this recovery was a waste of time turning to the spartan for an answer. "Chief?" she whined.
"I agree with the doctor Samus it's for your safety and health." John stood up to stretch his arms.
Cathrine made her way out the door. "I'm going to get your breakfast don't you leave."
"I'm going to go find the team and speak to them for a while I should be back soon ok?" Chief followed the CMO.
Wanting to follow the spartan around rather than lay in bed Samus rolled her eyes. "Ok..." Samus sighed hiding her irritation.
"I wont be long I promise."
Smiling Samus nodded letting the spartan leave as breakfast arrived.
Making his way to the traning arena he knew he would find his team training there. "John you finally pried yourself away from the kid huh?" Kelly was the first to greet the team leader.
"Yes Kelly I can manage I've got some news." Chief replied stopping in the middle of the team.
"What did the kid do now?"
"Nothing we are assigned to a mission we are hunting and taking out Ridley."
"Do we have any leads on where he is headed?" Linda queried leaning to her left.
"Samus was the one who spoke with him I'm positive she has the answer to his whereabouts."
"Well then lets go shake the answers out of her." Kelly walked towards the exit.
"She's busy." Chief stopped the speedy spartan.
Kelly quirked an eyebrow. "Doing what laying in bed?"
"No the doctor is going to do some tests to see how she is recovering." Chief replied.
"We'll then may as well be back up." Kelly exited.
Chief was confused by the last words Kelly said. "Back up?"
"John the kid was fantastic the last time the medics tried testing her remember?" Linda brushed passed her leader.
"Right I'm coming." Chief exhaled following his team in tow.
Entering the med bay all eyes were on the team it was as if a gang of Elites had invaded. Seeing the spartans visit multiple times not on the account of being injured was an odd site.
"Good and ready for testing?" Cathrine waited for the teens reply.
"Can I leave after?"
"That's why we are doing these tests to confirm if you are fit and stable enough to return to normale activities." Cathrine explained for the hundredth time just as the spartans arrived.
Chief moved himself and the team to the far right from the door standing in the corner letting the doctors have as much room as they needed for the testing. Four other medics not counting Cathrine were prepping to deal with the young teen.
John knowing Samus the best out of anyone knew straight away this situation was not going to work. The teen hated strangers especially when handling her if she was unable to do activities herself. Even the rest of the team tensed clearly they had the same thoughts going through their minds. Kelly even took the smallest most unnoticed step forward holding herself back from mention what was about to happen. While Samus herself tensed up holding her breath as the medics approached her.
Chief took the finale straw and snapped it walking over to the approaching medics to give some words of wisdom to the CMO. "Dismiss your medics." Chief put an arm up infront of the medics stopping them in their tracks.
"Master Chief sir they are here to aid with the tests." Cathrine didn't carry an angry or irritated tone mostly just confusion lingering through.
"Promise me you'll be doing your medics and yourself a favour if you just let us help instead." Kelly stepped in begining to scare the doctors away.
The medics hesitated to leave as their CMO had not given them direct orders. "Go then I will take your offer." Cathrine gave in sitting down at the small compute, that held Samus's vital signs.
Linda and Fred were polite enough to even escort the doctors to the door shutting it behind them.
Samus released a sigh of relief when she saw the medics leave she was more than thankful that her favourite spartan had stepped in to bail her out of what could have been hours of struggling with strangers.
Transferring the vitals onto a data pad Cathrine stood up and approached the bed. "Alright Samus let's begin with some simple mobility tests. Can you move your arms up straight out at chest level."
"Sure... thing..." Samus slowly and painfully fought off the resistance to keep them by her side. Only holding her arms up for a mere 10 seconds Cathrine scribbled on her data pad before requesting the next test.
"Ok can you sit up without a back support." Cathrine motioned for the spartans the to move the teen in an upright position away from the stack of pillows she was supported on.
Chief was hesitant to move his hand from supporting the teen he could feel her body tremble as she prepared to support herself moving his hand away as slowly as possible.
As the hand left her back Samus held her breath as her ab muscles strained a sharp pain in her rib cage and spine caused her to collapse back into the large hand waiting for her.
"Ok Samus we're going to try to walk now before I do some scans on you. You feeling up for it?" Cathrine asked finishing up wrighting on the data pad.
"Yeah of course." Samus already knew she was going to have horrific pain when walking but she didn't care she wanted to get out as fast as possible.
Cathrine nodded for the spartans to begin lifting Samus off the bed onto the ground. Placing the young teen on the floor Chief refused this time to release the girl from his hold she shook more violently as she began to step across the floor.
Something in her back kept flaring and transmitting a sharp intense pain he gave in after her fourth step.
Chief now completely supported the limp teens wieght. Gazing up at the spartan Samus sighed. "I'm not going to leave am I?" Master Chief didn't respond he was waiting until the test were done.
Cathrine walked over to the spartan and teen. "Ok Samus I'm going to quickly do some x-ray scans your swelling has gone down quite a bit so we shall be able to detect any breaks or fractures. Master Chief if you could just hold her there I can just quickly scan her and we'll be done."
Master Chief held Samus up as the CMO scanned her the team watched as Samus began to squirm impatiently causing herself more pain while messing up the x-rays.
"I guess I should have said don't move. Samus this is the last test alright I know you're in pain just hang in for a couple more minutes alright?" Cathrine sighed getting ready to do another scan.
Samus groaned standing still for a couple moments before Cathrine finally gave the go ahead for Chief to put her back on the bed.
"Ok I'm just going to run this through I will be right back don't run off on me."
Rolling her eyes at the words that came from the doctor Samus pouted only wanting one thing. To get the hell out of recovery.
Linda was begining to get intolerant of the impatient teen. "Calm the fire there kid don't be so hell bent on leaving here so quickly. The only way you are leaving is if you are fully recovered." Linda warned the restless teen.
Samus didn't want to argue with Linda she knew Linda was a harder person to argue with compared to arguing with Chief. Who was practically a push over when it came to her.
"Ok Samus I've got your results and it looks like your going to be staying here for a while." Cathrine announced approaching the side of the bed.
"What why?" Samus whined as if it was a complete shock to her.
Cathrine gazed up from her data pad meeting the young teens restless eyes. "Samus this cannot come as a surprise you went through heavy trauma."
Chief finally approached the doctor. "What are the finale results doctor?" he asked before Samus begun a heated argument.
"Nervous system is recovering concussion symptoms are still in effect, muscle strains and soft tissue damage still very fresh, found two rapidly recovering fractures in the x-rays."
"Is that bad?" Samus quired curiously.
Two medics entered handing Cathrine another data pad one whispered something into her ear. "We'll if your fractures weren't recovering so quickly I would say you would be on bedrest for at least a couple of months. But you're unique genetics are mending your fractures as if it were a simple cut on your hand." Cathrine spoke in an amazed tone of voice as she read the vitals on the new data pad.
"Don't even think about disecting her!" Kelly warned seeing the doctors exchange curious looks.
Scared by what Kelly had snarled Samus shot a terrified gaze up at the team leader. "Chief!" Samus cried out in worry.
Sitting down next to the teen Chief grabbed Samus's shoulder. "It's not going to happen Samus." John shot a pointed glare at Kelly and Cathrine.
"Anyway you have fractures in your spine it explains the walking issues you also have a few cracked ribs."
Samus sighed in annoyance at the news. "How come he dosen't have fractures when he fights?" Samus gestured to Chief.
Kelly and Chief couldn't help but hold back a snicker and a smile. "Good luck breaking our bones." Kelly snorted.
"You are not fully devoloped yet Samus give it time and you might get even stronger bones later in life. But only if you let your bones heal properly." Cathrine simply put to the young teen.
"Anyway let me go put this in the database and I will come back and deal with that healing gash wound of yours."
Samus cringed just thinking about the sting of the oinment and alcohol.
"I got it she won't put up to much of a fuss for me will you kid?" Kelly scoffed grabing the healing equipment from a storage cupboard behind Fred.
"No Kelly I would never." Samus grined with her sincere sarcasm.
"See this is why Kelly isn't aloud to be around kids she teaches them bad habbits." Fred shook his head.
"I think we can all agree that we've equally taught her something bad that she picked up from us." Kelly put her hands up in a surrender.
Linda smiled in agreement. "Or the fact that Samus knows she can get away with anything if she just argues with the right person." Linda glared at John at the end of her sentence.
"Why are you looking at me when you say that..." Chief raised an eyebrow catching Samus giggling out of the corner of his eye.
"Ow!"
"Sit still then!" Kelly barked throwing away the old bandages.
"Oh please everyone knows this brat has you wrapped around her little fingure. Even the admiral notices." Kelly teased both Chief and Samus.
"Do not!" Samus huffed before flinching from the sudden sting of alcohol.
"She most certainly does not." John denied his teams crazy theory.
"Chief can we do this can I do that what's this can you show me? Uh maybe we will later fine just listen to me do you have to ask so many questions? Ok I'll show you quickly." Kelly teased her leader by imitating both John and Samus.
John shook his head at the mockery getting up to leave the room before he said something to Kelly he would instantly regret for not being able to out run the female spartan.
"Oh come on John I was just teasing you take a joke for once in your life." Kelly rolled her eyes as Linda followed the Master Chief out.
"Kelly did you scare Chief off?" Samus quired half playfully.
"He will come back he always does even if Kelly was annoying to the point he was driven away." Fred reassured the teen.
Exiting the med bay Linda noticed a bunch of medics gathered around one data pad. Blowing it off as just a patients vitals or a new medicine. Quickly catching up to her leader the red head strode beside in sync with the Chief's steps.
"Do you really think everyone knows?" Chief barely looked over at Linda.
"Well John the moment that kid stepped into our lives it was almost impossible not to quickly get attached considering she saved your life before we even new of her. And the fact that she was probably the cutest kid we've ever met how could we say no?"
Chief kept and eyebrow raised as he gave an odd look to the red head.
"Ok yes it is hard to say no to her I admit that. And of course everyone can tell we've grown attached to the kid. When you walk down the halls and all you can hear from the marines and other UNSC personnel is yeah you mean Blue Teams kid, Master Chief's kid, or yeah Chief's little girl kicked ass at that. They may seem a little far fetched but who cares I enjoy hearing them." Linda listed off the many names Samus gets from the UNSC personnel. "There's no denying you see her and treat her as if she were your own John."
"And you guys don't?" Chief scoffed nervously clearing his throat.
"We do too I admit that but you hang around with her the most." Linda pointed out.
"That's because she follows me everywhere I go." Chief argued the womans point.
"You were the one that wanted to bring her home don't complain if she follows you like a lost puppy."
"Our duty is to save those in need I wasn't going to leave her to die on that planet. Plus the Covenant was hunting for her." Chief rolled out the excuses.
"True but still you're the most connected." Linda pointedly stared at her leader making him shake his head before turning back around.
"Chief!" that glowing burst of sudden a happy overjoyed youthful tone. Gave Chief a dose of happiness with the feeling of being wanted everytime he entered the room.
Kelly was once again sitting on the bed with the teen meanwhile Fred was wrighting or drawing on a piece of paper. "You have your jumpsuit back on?" John noticed the teen had her blue jumpsuit back on.
"Yeah it turns out the kid is healing up really fast that gash wound is pretty much gone." Kelly replied looking down at the paper Fred was using.
"That's excellent." Chief looked at the two spartans over a piece of paper. "What are you doing Fred?"
"He's counting how many times I beat him at tic tac toe." Kelly proudly announced.
"Ok then..." Chief went to the other side of Samus taking place beside the teen sitting himself on the bed.
Linda stepped in stopping in the doorframe to look at scene of spartans around the teen. "Comfy?" Linda asked rhetorically entering the room with Cathrine.
"Yep!" Samus replied to the rhetorical question.
"Good ok Samus you can leave now as long as you wear your armour and take it easy." Cathrine announced to the now armoured teen.
"Ok let's go!" Samus ignored her pain as she climbed over Kelly im a matter of seconds sprinting out the door in a stumble.
"Ok we will go get psycho runner while you talk to the doctor."
"Master Chief please don't allow her to bounce off the walls. She still is recovering and will exhaust easily take frequent breaks her concussion will exhaust her quickly even if she does seem back to her old regular self. This is just a small adrenalin rush she's having out of excitement."
John nodded in acknowledgement to the doctor as he exited the med bay he found Kelly holding Samus with one arm as everyone but Samus waited patiently for the leader.
"Kelly let her down." Chief sighed stopping infront of the two.
"Samus look, just because you are free to go, does not mean you are not still under strict instructions to recovery." Chief warned. "Look you are to stay with me no running off or training. You need to make a full recovery before even thinking about training or missions." John firmly informed the teen on his strict rules he was putting into action.
Catching her breath after being released from Kelly's tight hold. "What am I supposed to do then?" Samus complained at the rules spoken by Chief.
"Follow me and do as little as possible." Chief put as simply as possible.
"So I am just supposed to sit by and watch you guys do all the fun stuff?"
"No you may do small activities to keep strengthening yourself but nothing to physically demanding."
Samus folded her arms. "So I can do things but I can't do things?"
"Yeah exactly." Chief put an arm around the teens shoulders escorting her down the corridor.
"Where are we going?"
John replied as the team instinctively followed them. "To the bridge you are going to tell the admiral all by yourself about your battle with Ridley."
Samus tensed up as she heard the spartans plans. "I can't do that!" panick was filled in her tone as she looked to the other spartans for an answer.
"Yes you can." emotionless Chief replied to the nervouse young teen.
"You're a big girl now you can do briefing by yourself right? Or are you still that shy little girl?" Kelly hoped her teasing would convince Samus to do the briefing confidently.
Like a charm Kelly's teasing worked. "I'm not a little girl! Fine I will do it!"
"Good." Chief replied entering the bridge.
Formally lining up the team saluted the admiral. "Sir Samus is here for briefing." Chief presented the teen.
"Excellent thank you Master Chief. Spartans you are dismissed." Samus nervously watched as the team exit out the large doors not paying attention to the high ranking officer calling her name.
"Aran?" Lord Hood called for the fourth time grabbing the teens attention.
"Y...yes... sir?" that shakey voice bearly audible to the old ears.
"You're encounter with Ridley we need to go over the exact information Ridley said that gives us any leads on where the Didact might be."
"Um ok..." Samus looked past the Admiral as Captin Lasky approached with a datapad.
"Go ahead Aran we are ready." Lasky smiled reassuringly to the young teen.
"How do you think she's doing in there?" Kelly asked leaning against the outside wall of the bridge.
"She's fine it's just briefing." Fred replied before Chief could.
Samus exited the bridge just moments after Fred's reply. "Ok I'm done can we do something now?" Samus said as if she had been there with them the whole time.
"Sure Samus." Chief smiled leading the teen towards the training areana.
Linda spoke with intrest. "So it went well I'm taking it?" curious to know how the teen took the briefing.
"It was easy he just wanted to know where Ridley was going." Samus looked back at the red head.
"And you know where he's going?" Kelly was curious to know where the dragon was heading.
"He said he was going to some sort of installation." the teen shrugged.
John looked at the teen. "What installation?"
"Ridley only said an installation nothing else the way he said it was like he barely knew either." Samus said through a yawn. Quickly shaking off her tired spell hoping Chief didn't notice the yawn. But to her avail he noticed with a small brief smile.
"Sounds like this may take some time then." Fred raised an eyebrow.
"Depending on how intelligent Ridley really is it would take quite some time to go through all installations and weed out what he's really looking for." Linda added.
"I'm sure the admiral's sending teams to gaurd on the installations that that will send the news of a dragon soaring above them." Kelly said, walking through the enterance of the training arena.
"I thought you mentioned the Admiral assigned us to the task?" Linda quired to the Chief as they followed Kelly in.
"He already has teams out there we can't hunt this thing alone and be in multiple places at once." John replied.
The idea of hunting and taking enemies down appealed to the teens interest. "I think that would be an interesting job." Samus finally spoke.
"What would be?" the spartans turned their attention to the young teen.
"Hunting down an enemy adventuring through space searching for troubled places in need of help." Samus replied excitedly.
"What like some wild freelanced bounty hunter or something?" Kelly raised one of her eyebrows at the teens excitement.
"Yeah that would be cool!"
"Well you have a really creative mind but that's just not my cup of tea. I'd rather snipe alien bastards and cover from behind." Linda mentioned.
"Yeah I'm going to have to agree with Linda." Fred and Kelly nodded.
"It sounds a little far fetched to be randomly freelancing all over the place. Seems disorganized walking in blind all the time is kind of putting you're life at risk all the time." Chief had to agree with his teammates.
"And this job dosen't put your lives at risk?" Samus quired.
"Touche but still seems like a waste of time flying around waiting for the next distress call to pop up." Kelly replied to Samus's comment.
"Oh please you do the same here." Samus pointed out.
Kelly groaned in defeat. "Stop pointing out similarities. Needless to say we just prefer the team action better."
That was where Samus thought it was better to be solo and keep as many people away from being dragged into a hitlist of an enemy they were innocent to. Samus sighed giving up on the subject the spartans just had a thing for shooting the down.
Kelly exhaled. "Sorry kiddo didn't mean to sound rude. Hey Linda come on lets spar." Kelly changed the subject after apologizing.
"Sure need better competition then Fred huh?" Linda scoffed brushing passed Fred following Kelly to the mats.
"You know it." Kelly grinned at Fred.
"Excuse me?" Fred objected that sentence from the two females standing with his hands on his hips.
Chief guided Samus passed the insulted male spartan sitting himself down on the resting bench seating Samus closely beside him with one arm supporting the teen upright.
"John are you wanting to join us you can take on the knife whinner here?" Kelly gestured to the Fred.
"You mean wielder?" Fred raised an eyebrow.
Ignoring Fred Kelly waited for an answer. "John?"
Samus was getting weak again her body was reminding her that she was recovering. Groaning Samus bonked her helmet into Chief's shoulder resting it there.
"Not right now Kelly." John replied putting a comforting hand on the back of the teens head.
Grinning once again this time at her leaders actions Kelly nodded preparing to battle Linda.
Fred sat beside Chief leaning forward to see Samus. "Hey kid you doing ok?" all Fred got in reply was pain filled groan. "Maybe next time don't sprint out of the med bay like you're ready for a battle it's only the day after getting injured that's the worst part feeling everything the next day." Samus lifted her head for a brief moment feeling the words Fred spoke before letting her head drop back to Chief's shoulder she let out another groan.
"Stop talking Fred." John shot a pointed glare at his male friend.
Seeing Samus's reaction to his words Fred quickly apologized. "Sorry kid."
John didn't want to make the teen sit and watch them train while feeling terrible pain everywhere. "Do you want to go lie down Samus?"
Lifting her head in a panick Samus refused that suggestion. "No I'm fine!" Samus wanted nothing to do with going back to bed back in the recovery room.
"Samus You're in pain though."
"I'm not going back to the recovery room." Samus began to argue.
Chief sighed Samus's argument reminding him of his regreted the decision to leave her at the med bay. "That was a mistake I wont make again Samus."
"What?" Samus questioned at the odd apology.
"Never mind you can rest in my room on your bed." Chief changed the subject.
Resting her head on Chie'fs shoulder. "I'm fine Chief thanks." Samus was thankful for having her suit on hiding her pain under her armour.
"Samus you know I'm going to choose when I think you can't handle anymore right?"
Samus was slow to respond to her favourite spartan. "I know..." she responded half asleep on his shoulder.
Fred smiled. "I think your decision was just made clear." Fred gestured to the young teen.
"Keep training I will be in my quarters if the admiral calls come get me and call Cathrine so she can take care of Samus in my absence." Chief stood up while Fred held Samus up straight.
"Yes John I will make sure that happens."
Two weeks passed and before anyone new it the next month had come. To no surprise to the spartans Samus was fully recovered and ready for action.
Running races around the track with Kelly and Linda Samus was taking advantage of her recovered form. Jogging up to the two spectating male spartans Linda panted. "That kid has gotten faster." She said wipping the sweat from her brow.
"I know it's getting kind of scary how much Kelly and her are evenly matched." Fred replied to the red head.
"Having two decoys to distract and throw off an enemy is even better." Linda mentioned grabbing Chief's full attention.
"I don't think so." John shook his at the red heads last words.
"John you can't keep her in bubble wrap for the rest of her life." Fred replied to Linda's refused suggestion.
"I'm not I just don't think she's ready to be a decoy yet." John gestured to the teen dropping behind Kelly.
"Tired already kid?" Kelly taunted over her shoulder to the young teen.
Samus wasnt even breaking a sweat yet she just wanted to play around with the cocky spartan. "Nope not even a little." Samus dashed off passing Kelly in a blur.
"You brat!" Kelly had to find a higher gear for herself to catch up to Samus who was gaining distance.
"I think that just contradicted your excuse." Linda scoffed to her leader.
"You're right Linda she's going to be a real good decoy." Fred mentioned just for the sake of bugging his leader.
"Samus come here!" Chief yelled for the teen.
Samus stopped dead in her tracks turning in the direction that Chief called her. "Shit!" Kelly was hot on her trail halting at last minute she ran into the back of Samus. Causing them both to tumble across the track at least ten feet.
"That's exactly what it's like to be hit by a rocket." Fred cringed with Linda and John.
"Are you two ok?" Linda asked jogging over with the two males.
"Fantastic it's always great to run full speed into a small blonde kid thanks for asking." Kelly grumbled sitting up.
"Ow... Kelly you're heavy!" Samus complained as she was trapped beneath the brunet spartan.
"That was quite the tumble you guys took I thought you guys would never stop rolling." Fred almost chuckled as he helped Kelly up.
Kelly laughed sarcastically. "Very funny. What the hell was so important John that you felt the need to stop us from racing?" Kelly turned to the lead spartan.
"He's angry because Samus is running fast and dosen't want her to be a decoy like you." Fred replied while chief helped Samus up.
"And why the hell not it's an awesome adrenalin rush and you are helping your team majorly." Kelly growled listing all the reasons to be a decoy.
Standing behind holding Samus's shoulders Chief shook his head and waved one of his hands trying to get Kelly to stop.
"Sounds awesome!" Samus excitedly outburst.
Unintentionally squeezing Samus's shoulder out of irritation. "Thanks Kelly you're a great help." Chief lowly growled at the speed runner.
"No problem John anytime." Kelly grinned.
Samus winced as the grip got tighter compressing all her bones. "Chief!" Samus whined trying to shake off the strong hands.
Chief gasped releasing the teen from his grasp. "Sorry Samus!" He apologized as Samus rubbed her sore shoulders looking up she glared at him.
"Why can't I be a decoy?"
"I just think you need to get a little stronger." Chief rubbed the back of his head.
"If she gets any stronger she'll be a spartan right kiddo?" Kelly remarked pulling Samus into her in a one armed hug.
"Yeah!" Samus smiled big in agreement with Linda and Fred.
"You're still recovering." Chief tried.
"I actually recovered about two weeks ago." Samus corrected.
"You taught her how to argue didn't you?" John glared at the brunet.
"No John it's a gift only few people have and the kid seems to have it to your disadvantage." Kelly replied slyly.
"You have to be able to follow orders thoroughly to be able to becom a decoy." Chief finally found his winning argument.
Releasing the teen Kelly respectfully excepted John's valid argument. "Ok he's got us there can't defend you anymore." Kelly stepped away with her hands up.
"But..."
"No until you can actually follow through on an order and prove to me that you can listen to direct orders. I will allow you to be a decoy with Kelly other than that the answer is absolutely no. You are lucky I am allowing you to join us in our next mission after the last one that badly injured you." Chief lead the team out of the training facility.
"How am I supposed to prove that if we don't go on frequent missions?" Samus complained folding her arms watching the team leave.
"I think I might have the answer to that brat." Samus recognized that venomous voice not hearing it for a while it took a moment.
Turning around Samus spotted the ODST female leader and what was left of her team. "It's Samus not brat." She growled defensively.
"Oh I'm sorry Sammy I've forgotten you've grown a bit." Bree rolled her eyes looking back at her team.
Cringing at the name the ODST lady called her, Samus hated when strangers called her nicknames it was only a right only reserved for people close to her. Not wanting to deal with the team of hostile ODST's Samus attempted to turn around and leave. Unfortunely being stopped by two men who spun her around to face their leader. "What do you want?" Samus was in no mood to play games as she tried to shake off the hands holding her in place.
"To help out you that's all you want to prove to Chief that you can listen to him right?" the females tone dripped with a sinister intention.
"Yeah..." Samus kept her eyes fixed on Bree.
"Well then this is put very simply. Convince the spartan team to a paint battle against our team and we will go from there it will be just like a real mission situation." Bree smirked looking back at her men holding the teen with a small nod from their leader they released the girl. "What do you say kid?" Bree wrapped an arm around Samus's shoulders and pulled her in.
"You better not do anything against the rules. Cause it sure seems like you're driving towards that road." Samus challenged ducking out of the womans grip Samus backed into the two males still standing guard.
"Oh Sammy don't get that way we wouldn't do that."
It was almost painful to hear the woman speak in such a condescending tone. "Samus!" the teen snapped beginning to lose her patients.
"Whoa kid we call you whatever we want got that?" Bree challenged back pushing a fingure into Samus's chest.
"Personally I like little brat." One of the males said putting an elbow on the teens shoulder using it to lean against.
Shrugging off the soldier Samus glared at the man.
"I couldn't agree more Henderson." the second male rested an arm on the teens head.
After fifteen minutes of waiting in his quarters for Samus to enter Chief began to worry. Wondering if the teen had wondered into one of the other spartans rooms.
A knock at the door brought Linda out of her meditation sighing she promitted the interruption to enter.
"Sorry Linda did Samus come in here with you?" John asked entering the red heads quarters.
Getting out of her sitting position Linda stood up. "No the kid usually goes straight to you before any of us enless she was upset with you."
"She might be upset with what I had said to her last."
"She usually dosen't let something that small go to her head John check with Kelly I'll catch up in a sec."
"Come in." Kelly replied to a knock on her door.
"Is Samus in with you Kelly?" Chief greeted the brunet upon entering her room.
"No why?" Kelly almost looked as worried as Chief.
"She hasn't come back from the track yet." John replied turning to exit.
"I'll go check the training facilities you check with Fred." Kelly sprinted past her leader down the corridor.
"Any luck?" Linda asked walking up to the Chief.
"Not yet no." Master Chief shook his head entering Fred's room.
"John Linda what's wrong?" Fred read the worried expressions on his friends faces.
"Samus hasn't come back from training we are worried she might start something unintentionally." Linda replied truthfully.
"Kelly just went back to the track to check we should head that way." John said opening the door so they may leave.
"Oh come on Sammy what do we have to do to convice you to agree?" the female ODST leader spoke also using Samus as a resting post.
"Hey hell jumpers what the fuck do you think you're doing?!" Samus was relieved to hear the familiar voice of an angry female spartan.
"Spartan 0-87 we were just talking with our little buddy hear isn't that right Sammy?" Bree and her team got off Samus immediately.
Samus exhaled with relief relaxing her stiff body from supporting all the ODST's resting wieght.
Storming up to the group circling Samus Kelly shook her head. "Oh yeah you expect me to believe that bullshit? Last time I remember was you guys are a bunch of assholes that pick on an innocent little kid!" Pushing through the soldiers Kelly grabbed and pulled Samus to her side away from the sinister team.
"A little kid perhaps. Innocent no." Bree spat back at the fuming spartan.
Chief Fred and Linda entered upon an argument about to break out between Kelly and a whole team of hell jumpers.
"Kelly Samus." the three jogged over Chief grabbing Samus right away protectively holding her by the shoulders infront of him.
"You know what we were just trying to help the little brat out but you fuckers are on us like the pack of wolves you are." Bree had no respect for any of the high ranking Spartans.
"What could you bastards do that would possibly help her?" Kelly retorted.
"We were trying to set a capture the flag paint battle your team against us to help the brat prove she can be a decoy."
Blue team all exchanged looks. "Fine in three hours you better bring your a game." Kelly agreed to the battle with out John's consent.
"Alright we will see you then Sammy." Bree lead her team to the exit.
Samus finally fed up with hearing that name come form such an evil voice she lunged forward pulling Chief with her. "Ugh let me at that stupid bi..."
"Samus!" Chief held the angered teen in place.
"Kelly why did you agree to that you know they're going to pull some stupid stunt?" Fred glared at the brunet.
"I know that, I'm not stupid we just have to be prepared for that."
"No Kelly that was a stupid and rash decision you know they will and are going to attempt to avenge their fallen comrade." John finally snapped at the brunet.
Worry flooded Samus's body remembering that horrible thing she did to the ODST's three years ago. She looked up at Chief for comfort but his mind was to focused on his rage with his teammate too focus on the teen he held onto.
"John I think we can handle it. Our protective skills have grown beyond what they were before the kid don't you think I wont take full responsibility if something does happen. I will never forgive myself?" Kelly argued.
"All of us train then in the paint simulator now!" Chief firmly spoke pointing the team to the training sim at the back of the arena.
The whole team jogged quickly to the simulator this was not the time to argue with their leader. "Here are the rules." Chief escorted Samus to the team. "The objective is to protect Samus at all times. There will be two teams one is a three man team of foes the other is a one man team with Samus and that one person will have to protect her at all costs. She get's hit three times games over is that clear?"
"Crystal clear John." the three responded.
"Go suit up then lets begin." Chief replied.
Chief already being armoured before coming to the training facilities a second time stayed with Samus who in a flash was armoured. "Chief I don't think I can go through with this." Samus spoke nervously, looking at the ground.
"Yes you can you will do fine just listen to all my orders and you will be fine."
"But what if I kill one of them again!" Samus cried out in worry.
"Samus it's paint you couldn't possibly harm a thing. Just try not to hit them to hard so don't worry yourself sick." John comforted the teen.
"But..."
"We are practicing now I promise I wont let anything happen those hell jumpers don't want to deal with me. And Kelly dosen't want to have to deal with me either I promise you." Chief reassured the teen.
"Ok." Samus laughed as the team ran up to them.
As they ran through the simulation for what felt like the hundredth time. They got it perfectly for the tenth time in a row no paint touched Samus even once.
"Ok we rest then meet back in an hour to run one more practice run." Chief informed the exhausted team.
The team obliged with no argument heading back to their own quarters to wash up and prepare.
Chapter 6: In The Heat Of Battle
After doing one last successful run the ODST squad showed up with two extra members to make the teams equal.
"Ok nothing to rash remember just protect as much as possible. I will give more orders on the field." John gave a quick briefing before the battle.
"Alright Jablonsky I'm having you go out in the front line with me you have the best shot. Cole I want you to guard the flag with Henderson. Jame's and Woolf you two find a spot to hide and wait for my signal to give that brat what she deserves." Bree gave her briefing to her team.
"Are you ready?" Chief asked the ODST's formally.
"Yes sir we are." Bree replied surprisingly without a rude tone.
"Both teams on the field. There will be no use of lethal weapons or lethal force paint simulation weapons only. There may be close combat you get shot three times you're out of the battle. Which ever team brings back the flag to home base wins one round only." Chief briefed both teams on the rules. "Take you're positions at your flags we will begin from there." Both teams did so ODST team taking the red flag While Blue Team took the Blue flag.
Samus disengaged her arm cannon and grabbed a paint rifle with the rest of the team. The team gathered at blue base while ODST team took position at red base. "Woolf Jame's go take your positions prep yourselves." Bree ordered handing the two a bag full of lethal objects.
"Linda stay and cover from base Fred stay and cover Linda. Samus and Kelly come with me." Chief gave his team orders as they took their positions right away.
"Do we have a strategy to retrive the flag?" Kelly asked as she followed her leader.
"Yes I will rush the front line while you and Samus flank the flag guards from opposite sides. Kelly take the right path Samus you take the left path." Chief gave his directives as the buzzer went off.
Both teams sprung into action Kelly and Samus quickly sprinting to opposite sides waiting for eachother to get to the correct positions.
Linda and Fred got rushed by one male while Chief handled the feamle leader.
Linda getting two shots on Jablonsky Fred tackled him to the ground when he was inches away from the flag. Dodging the panicked gun fire Fred quickly used his weapon getting the thrid shot. "You're out." Fred pointed the man off the field who obliged respectfully.
"That's really odd." Linda thought out loud.
"The fact that only one of the men made there way when there was four?" Fred replied checking around the area for anymore intruders.
"Yeah all I can see is John fighting that bitch ODST leader." Linda gazed through her weapons scope.
Fred cautiously walked back to the female sniper. "She must have all of her men guarding the flag."
"That still seems odd to me."
Linda could see Chief and Bree continuing to battle in the middle of the field ducking behind cover and firing every minute or so.
Kelly rounded her last corner getting visual of her target she waited for Samus to pop up at the corner across from her.
Samus rounded a corner finding no one she continued to her destination thinking nothing of it. she didn't notice the two above her on a platform.
"Bree target is directly below us." Woolf called over a private team comm channel.
Ducking behind cover for a brief moment Bree responded. "Ok Henderson and Cole rush the middle."
Suddenly the two flag guards sprinted away from the flag and rushed towards Chief.
"Shit what the hell!?" Kelly was confused at the random action. "Linda give us some back up the guards are ambushing John." Kelly called giving chase to the two not waiting for Samus as Chief was about to be ambushed.
"Fred go help them. I've got my eyes on just give me the word Kelly." Linda replied as Fred rushed to go aid his leader in battle.
Now that the whole spartan team was distracted Bree gave the two men above Samus the signal. The two men pulled pins out of the frag grenades given to them there was enough for a small bomb.
Samus picked up on some odd sounds like small pins dropping instantly recognizing the sound as she saw about ten grenades raining down towards her. The explosion shook the field throwing almost everyone off balance.
"What the fuck was that!?" Kelly looked towards the direction the smoke came from.
Samus evaded out of the way in her morphball only getting half the damage from the explosion. They men were confused to see no body laying on the ground below. Samus quickly transformed scaling the platform she shot the two each three times before kicking them both down to the floor.
"Samus!" Chief punched Henderson to the ground shooting him three times before rushing over to the smoke filled area.
Linda taking advantage of the distraction shot the other flag guard twice once again allowing Fred get the last shot.
"Samus!" Chief called looking around only to fnd two defeated men. "Linda I can't find Samus do you have a visual?"
"Yes she has the flag and is standing beside me." Linda replied proudly.
"Excellent work everyone. Fred please call the Captin and Admiral." Chief gave an exhale of relief.
After hearing the news Kelly did the honors of tackling the ODST leader holding her down. "I hope for your lifes sake you get put away for ever. You don't ever want to be caught walking past me ever again." Kelly threatened.
"Kelly get off her she's not worth your energy." Chief escorted his teammate to their base.
"kid are you alright?" Kelly asked walking up to the slightly burnt victorious teen.
"That has to stop being your greeting for me. It's going to take a little more then a bunch of grenades to kill me." Samus replied setting the flag down.
"Bastards." Linda cursed watching as the Admiral and Captin had soldiers take the ODST's away.
"Well we won't be hearing from them again. They're asses are going in the brig then getting demoted to janitorial duties after their sentence." Fred rejoined the team after speaking with the Admiral.
"I'm sorry but it's about fucking time." Kelly responded to the news just as the team expected.
"Excellent job Samus you really had me worried for a while." Chief patted Samus's shoulder.
"So can she be a decoy with yours truely please please please?" Kelly asked like a child wanting candy.
Samus giggled at Kelly before gazing at Chief for an answer.
"I hardly saw that as a test to prove herself." Chief raised an eyebrow from behind his visor.
"Oh come on she followed your every order without a single complaint." Kelly argued.
"Fine just be safe and don't over do it." Chief sighed in defeat.
"A decoy is a brief moment of success then it's back to shooting down the enemy." Linda explained.
"Simply put I suppose so yes. Don't worry John I will teach everything she needs to know." Kelly smiled reassuringly.
"Alright how about a celebration lap for the team hey kid." Fred friendly punched Samus's arm.
"Ok!" Samus grabbed the winning flag running around the whole battle field rounding back up the ramp to the team Samus slipped on the weapon dropped by the man Fred took out. Stumbling forward bowling into Kelly and Fred who backed into Linda and John.
"Yeah victory lap!" Samus rolled onto her back and cheered.
"Yes kid every victorious soldier celebrates by laying on the floor." Kelly playfully stepped on the armoured teen.
Samus grabbed hold of the boot and held on for dear life. Kelly just rolled her eyes walking off draging Samus with her.
"Alright time to settle down." Chief pulled the bubbly giggling teen off of the speed runner. "Time to go back to our quarters." Chief stood Samus up on her feet.
"Aw we can do another round." Samus suggested not wanting to end the fun.
"I'm ok with tha... no I'm not." Kelly quickly switched her words around when John glared at her.
"Time for bed." Chief spoke firmly now escorting his team out of the facility.
"Good night kid."
"Sleep well kid."
"Night kiddo training starts tomorrow."
All the spartans bid Samus a good night before entering their rooms. "Good night Fred, Linda, and Kelly." Samus entered her and Chief's room to find the spartan already in his jumpsuit scrubbing his armour clean from a couple paint splaters. "You get blood stains on it anyway why clean it?" Samus made her armour dissolve into nothing as she sat down beside the spartan on his bed.
"Suit maintenance is important keeps it from wearing down." Chief replied still focused on cleaning.
"Oh..." Samus didn't really feel like begining maintenance on her suit so she decided to lay down on the floor.
Finally looking up from his armour John looked confused. "What are you doing?" Chief looked down at the teen on the floor.
"Being awesome." Samus replied almost sarcastically.
Ignoring the disrespect for a mature answer tossing a cleaning cloth at Samus causing it to land on her face. "Why don't you be awesome and go lay in your bed and sleep." John exhaled.
Sitting up Samus sighed. "But I'm not tired." Samus tossed the rag back at the Master Chief.
"Samus how many times do you have to say that when you always fall asleep moments later?"
"That's not true." Samus replied getting up and making her way over to the desk. "What's this?" Samus wondered picking up dog tags.
"My identification tags."
"Can I keep it?"
With large sigh Chief hung his head in annoyance but was trying to hold the irritation back. "Must you get into everything?"
"Maybe." Samus replied putting the dog tags back on the desk.
"Go to bed please." John went back to cleaning.
"Why are you trying to force me to sleep?" Samus was starting to get irritated by the way the spartan was treating her.
John replied emotionless. "Because you need your rest so you may grow more."
"I'm not ten anymore why do you keep on treating me like I am?"
Secretly Chief wished she was ten again somehow he found a curious innocent ten year old easier to deal with. Rather than the sarcastic curious moody not so innocent young teenager. "You want to recheck you sure seem to act like a ten year old." John responded codly.
"I am fourteen Chief I promise you that." She replied firmly as she sat down on her bed.
Looking up Chief shook his head. "Samus you're thirteen." Master Chief corrected.
"Nope I turned fourteen three months ago it's been a whole year since I turned thirteen." Samus shook her head at the spartan.
Chief had no idea where the time went. "Fine... you're fourteen just go to sleep I'm going to bed now." John placed his armour down putting the cleaning supplies away.
"Ok." Samus finally agreed hopping under her covers.
Chief practically threw his arms up in defeat how come the teen was so eager to sleep now? Thinking to himself he thought it must have been because he was going to bed as well.
Almost six months had passed by blue team had waited and researched for any signs of activity in the empty recreational room.
"This is ridiculous how stupid is that dragon idiot!" Kelly threw her arms up.
"He's pretty dumb he also likes to raid and take on side projects for more power gain." Samus replied to Kelly's outburst.
"Well you would have thought the admiral would at least give us some sort of side mission. I feel like something is wrong here." Linda suspiciously spoke.
"You think you are getting a little suspicious Linda?" Fred quirked an eyebrow.
"Well weather Ridley finds the Didact or not. I don't think the Didact will wait around he has to be out there somewhere." Chief finally entered the conversation. "He is a bigger target then Ridley."
Leaning against the wall Samus was practically falling asleep listening to the spartans trying to find out logical reason for eveything that has been happening. The site of the Lord Hood and Captin Lasky passing by the doors in the hallway caught her attention It was as if they were in a hurry. Spiking Samus's curiosity she snuck easily from the arguing team. Off to catch up with the officers wanting to be undetected Samus contorted into her morphball rolling softly behind the two. They stopped at the bridge door that was her chance. Quickly transforming Samus caught glimps of the data pad the two were examining scanning it quickly before being detected. Samus rolled back down the hallway through numerous marines going straight back to the rec room.
Samus walked through the door to have four unamused spartans staring at her.
"Where the hell did you go?" Kelly hissed as Samus approached the team.
"What I can't go off on my own?" Samus raised an eyebrow.
"No you can't." all four replied as if they all had the same mind.
"Really I'm not going to get into trouble if I wonder around alone for an hour."
"No trouble follows you and an hour is a little to long thank you very much." Kelly snorted.
Samus when returning back to the rec room rembered hearing the marines comment in the hallway speaking about the Spartans having her attached to the hip."This attached to the hip thing is really your guys thing huh?" Samus folded her arms.
"What?" the team looked confused.
"Never mind. What were you doing out there?" John finally cut to the chase.
"Collecting valuable information." Samus replied simply.
"What Information Samus what did you do?"
"Nothing I just scanned the Captin's data pad and recorded the info from it."
"Kid you can't do that it's wrong it's stealing! It's... It's..." Fred went off.
Kelly rolled her eyes. "Helpful what the hell is going on?" Kelly finished Fred's sentence.
"Kelly!"
"They sent a team down to escort a sience team on Gamma Halo to investigate some sort of slipspace stuff or something rather." Samus replied skimming over the scans she did.
"Ok maybe it is useful you think they could of let us know?" Linda looked at her teammates for an answer.
All though it was useful information it was wrong to gather it in such a way. "It's none of our business Samus what you did was unacceptable you had no right to go through the Captin's files." John scolded the teen.
Kelly wrapped an arm around the teenagers shoulders. "What are you going to do John send her to her room? Look John if the Captin isn't going to tell us what's going on. Some one has to and it may as well be Sammy here." That was the first time Kelly had called Samus by a name instead of just calling her kid.
"Blue team report to the bridge." The Admiral's voice came across the intercom.
"If this is because you stole files..."
"I don't steal just copy and code." Samus replied to John.
"Lets go."
Upon entering the Admiral quickly briefed the team on their mission to go investigate the missing science and spartan team on Gamma Halo. As soon as the briefing was over the team eagerly rushed to their aircraft.
"See they were going to tell us anyway." John glared at Samus as they entered the long sword ship.
"There is no way any of us could have known that we would be called to investigate the planet." Kelly argued Chief's point who turned his glare to her.
"Can I fly the ship?" Samus joined Fred sitting next him in the copilot chair.
"Um I don't think John would..."
"I know how to fly Fred the coordinates are already punched in just trust me be my copilot." Samus reassured the wary spartan.
"Fine." Fred felt like he was going to regret his choice as he switched from pilot to copilot.
Taking off out of the hanger smoothly Samus followed the course without any flaws to her piloting skills.
The rest of the team seemed completely oblivous to the pilot switch. "So that audio bit was pretty clear on the fact that black team and that science team got attacked by prometheans. Only thing is is have we found our location of the Didact?" Kelly spoke while loading her shot gun.
"I don't know Kelly but I fear you may be correct." John replied.
"Let's just hope Ridley is late to deliver that index to him."
"You were right you can fly." Fred almost sounded surprised.
Sighing Samus snorted at the surprised tone Fred used. "Yeah my past training hasn't flown out the door yet."
"Ok so I underestimated you." Fred admitted apologetically.
"That seems to be a popular trend."
Fred tried to reassure the teen the team wasn't nagging her. "Look we just care and worry about you."
"You can't trust me to walk around a ship but you can trust me enough to fly one." Samus pointed out the stupidity.
Fred put a hand up in defeat. "Ok ok you prove a point. Let me talk to John and I will see if I can get him to loosen that grip." Fred got out of the copilot chair and began his way to the others. "You can handle it on your own right. We're not going to be spiraling to our deaths if I leave?" Fred glanced over his shoulder.
Samus just glared at him in response. It was enough to convince the spartan to leave quicker.
"John can I speak to you for a moment." Fred said exiting the copilot seat.
"Fred what the hell are you doing we're going to crash!" All three freaked out at seeing the spartan out of the pilot seat.
"It's fine Samus has been flying the entire time." Fred reassured them but that didn't seem to make them happy.
"I better make sure she's flying ok." John said walking to the pilot seat only to be stopped.
Fred held a hand infront of Chief. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Did this talk convince you to speak with me?" John half growled motioning for Linda to go check on Samus.
Linda got up and did so without question walking past the two.
"Look don't you think we've been keeping her on a short lead?" Fred began the argument.
"No I don't." that emotionless voice made everyone go silent.
"Ok." Fred ended the talk returning to the copilot seat not wanting to get in the way of Chief's leadership.
"I got to admit the kids flying skills are pretty top notch she knows her stuff." Linda walked away from the pilot seating area.
John sighed deciding to check for himself.
John stopped a few feet away from the piloting area listening on the conversation between the spartan and girl.
"Sorry kid there's no changing John's mind. I tried but I can only argue so far." Fred appologized for his failed attempt to change his leaders prospective on letting the teen wonder.
"It's fine Fred I understand."
The tone Samus used to reply to Fred put some worry into Chief's core. She spoke as if she had some sort of plan she was going to put into action.
Upon landing it did not take long for Blue Team to discover the ONI science team and Black Team's deceased bodies.
"They don't have the same markings the ODST team had after Ridley got through with them." Kelly investigated the bodies.
"No I think it's definetly straight up prometheans." Linda added moving one of the lifeless shells.
It was a gruesome site Samus was scanning almost everything picking up an odd energy around them. "Chief I'm picking up some wierd signals." Samus announced as if something was going to attack them.
"What kind of signals?" Chief quickly turned his attention to the teen.
"Unknown but I think we are about to have company!" Samus replied as a horde of promethean knights appeared out of no where.
Fred raised his weapon and shouted. "Contacts.
"Open fire!" Chief ordered spraying the knight infront of him with bullets.
Samus kicked down a knight to the ground. Quickly making a move to lunge back up at the teen Samus shot a charged blast straight into the flared skull screaming before it's death.
Samus watched as the rest of the spartans ripped apart the rest of the horde. Kelly blasted a knight in the chest with her shot gun watching it disintegrate into orange particles. Fred doing his signature move using his combat knife to destroy what prometheans dared to jump at him.
"Duck kid!" Linda yelled over the gunfire.
Samus quickly ducked out of the way of a sniper rifle bullet. Looking over her shoulder Samus watched a knight disintegrate behind her.
"On your toes Kiddo!" Kelly warned reffuring to Samus's lack of concentration.
Samus quickly hopped onto a nearby knight blasting it's head off it fell as it turned to particles. Landing back on her feet Samus didn't even have time to flich as she was harshly hit from behind. Slamming into the dirt face first. John quickly spun around spraying the knight that took Samus down with bullets destroying it to nothing.
"Clear." Fred announced as all knights were destroyed.
Opening her eyes shaking off the hit all Samus saw was dirt. "Need to work... on my combat skills..." Samus grumbled with a deep breath. Upon staring at the dirt she noticed little tracks pushing herself up to her feet she noticed the tracks going off into the distance. "Linda come check this out." Samus waved the sniper over to her position.
"What did you find kid?" Linda jogged over with the rest of the team.
"Look at these tracks what are they?" Samus brushed her hand across a footprint.
"Those are crawler tracks Linda are you tracking?" Chief recognised the footprints.
"Tracking now come on this way." Linda lead the team straight to a giant almost grave like hole.
"What the hell it looks as if something was burried here." Kelly kicked a stone into the hole.
"This must have been where the composer was burried." John studied the crater with his eyes.
"You mean before Ivanoff dug it up?" Fred added to John's sentance.
"Yes it would seem so."
"Hurry up you guys talk to much!" an echo from below caught the teams attention.
"Dammit kid can't you let us investigate in peace." Kelly jumped into the crater Samus yelled from.
"No no she likes to act not think remember." Linda, John, and Fred followed suit
"This place so smooth the armour almost untouched." Linda thought out loud as she scanned the crater.
Chief wasn't to focused on the craters condition he was more focused on the teen that was freely adventuring towards a large tunnel enterance. The team quickly gathered near the tunnel and examined for a moment.
"That goes pretty deep. Looks like a stair case straight to hell." Kelly mentioned.
Samus was curious wanting to know what might lay beneath she had no regrets taking the first steps down into the tunnel. Chief followed closely behind her somehow he was also drawn to what might be below.
"John?" Fred called as he was confused as to why the leader didn't yell at Samus for entering without permission.
"I guess we're going down then." Kelly shrugged following Fred and Linda.
"John you want to advise us on anything?" Fred asked as they all came to a dead halt to the glowing scene infront of them.
Millions of victims of the composer lay dead glowing a sickly red glare. Glaring red off the teams armour the scene was most disturbing. Samus could feel her heart skip a beat seeing so many bodies those terrified unsuspecting beings randomly destroyed without reason. What had happened to them what sort of monstrosity could have caused such horror.
Taking a moment to reply shaking off the disturbed memories of bodies disintegrating before his eyes. "We move forward." Chief replied emotionlessly leading the team on.
Samus wasn't one to hang around a site like this. She didn't pause to take it all in she just followed obediently hanging by John's side. "Why are all these bodies here?" She asked.
"My guess would be this is the composers graveyard all victims of the composer. A weapon capable of destroying nothing but humans." John replied.
"Why were they sent here I thought you said they were reduced to ashes?" Kelly questioned John's intel.
"I'm not sure Kelly." Chief simply replied not sure of any answers.
Continuing on further through the building structure the area soon turned into walls of overgrowth like an abandoned city.
"This just looks like the similar places found on shield worlds and other Halo's." Fred mentioned as they walked through the cool grey building structures.
"Could you imagine how amazed Halsey would be of this place." Kelly sighed looking around.
"She would be in research heaven." Linda scoffed.
Samus was silent just listening to conversation for once simply following Master Chief like a shadow. Before deciding to do a little jog up ahead upon seeing large structured obejects that caught her eye.
John was confused by the sudden move but followed jogging behind the teen the team was seconds behind.
"Whoa in John's debriefing I watched that thing looks like the composer." Linda gasped seeing a row of perfectly operational composers waiting for use.
"They are composers." John said almost confused and shocked at the site.
The flapping of wings brought the teams weapons to the sky. Landing directly on one of the composers infront of the team Ridley gave a blood curdling screech.
"Weapons free!" John announced opening fire onto the dragon, who simply shielded the fire with a wing.
Samus stopped her fire as something approached and stood below Ridley.
"How predictable!" A large wave of energy rippling through the floor threw the spartans and Samus to the ground.
"You immediately fire upon what you fear attempting to demise it completely!" the large armoured being stood before them holding the same key Ridley had had in their previous battle.
"The Didact?" kelly picked herself up off the ground reaching for her weapon.
"Affirmative." Chief replied jumping to his feet.
"Pathetic really." The Didact scoffed releasing an army of promethean creatures upon blue team.
Through all the gunfire and dying prometheans Samus caught a glimps of the Didact arguing with some sort of floating ball before dissapearing with the dragon.
Effectively using the promethean weapons against their wielders after running out of ammunition the spartans took down many enemies surrounding them.
Samus had her sites set on the approaching glowing ball. "Chief there's a glowing ball coming at us." Samus announced over the open com.
"Ball of death like a grenade or what kid!?" Kelly snapped kicking a knight to the ground.
"The hell?" Fred watched as the ball Samus must have talking about descended towards them.
As the monitor sputtered information over the gunfire the spartan team learned where they were and what the Didact's intentions were. Chief began arguing with the monitor figuring out who the knights were. "The knights are composed humans?" he questioned in the heat of battle.
"This was the purpose of the composers when they were constructed. But they have seemed to bring fear and confusion. There for unacceptable." The monitor continued to seemingly bitch in Samus's prospective.
"Your point here gabby bulb?" Samus growled firing at watchers.
"The Didact is planning to fire the ring he is repairing near your homeworld burning you from this universe." monitor 859 spoke firmly.
"Didact is going to fire the ring to burn us there is also a lost composer on this ring to help with that?" John continued to query.
"We need to beat the Didact to the Halo then!" Kelly hissed puching down another knight as she began to clear a path.
Chief obliged with that idea and began leading his team through the battle field.
Samus listened to the monitor ramble on angrily randomly torching knight's behind them with a giant lazer.
"We continue back the way we came." Chief announced as they finally got back topside.
Just in time as a giant shadow cast over them they looked up to see the Didact moving the composer into position directly where they stood.
"Double time Blue Team!" Chief ordered the team to sprint up the walls of the crater.
Reaching the top with moments to spare the energy that radiated of the composer as it was put into place shot through the spartans causing them to fly forward a small distance.
"You still persist to survive." the Didact appeared infront of the Kelly, Fred, Linda, and Samus.
Master Chief was still pulling himself up behind the Didact. Against a pillar providing cover for him as Didact attacked his team. Pulling out his combat knife John snuck behind the Didact jumping on the giant he stabbed one of the Didact's eyes before he could strike at the team again. A yelp of pain emitted from the Didact as the decisive squish and crunch of the eye being stabbed could be heard.
Samus collected herself just in time to see the enraged Didact grab Chief by the head. "I consistently recieve the opportunity to eliminate you." The Didact hissed ripping Chief off his back. "Yet I make the foolish choice to decline." The Didact held Chief up like a trophy. "No more shall I make that mistake!" he tightened his grip on the spartans helmet.
Muffled pain could be heard coming from the Chief as his life was being held in the enemies hand. The crushing sound of John's visor struck fear through the whole team as he was slowly about to get his skull crushed.
"Chief!" Samus was the first to charge straight at the Didact rage and fear on her mind as the Didact was seemingly moments from crushing her idols skull.
"Take him down!" Fred ordered the team following Samus's charge.
Out of rage the Didact must have thought this was only a waste of his time and delaying him from his true intentions as he threw the Master Chief at the charging team members. Causing Chief to bolw over Fred as Samus, Linda, and Kelly dodged the incoming spartan. Kelly continued her charge at the Didact swiftly missing the swinging clawed hand she effectively blasted the enraged enemy in the chest with a scatter shot. Linda took that as her que and also got a hit on the target. Only frustrating the Didact further he ripped the weapon from Kelly's hands causing the spartan to lose balance crushing the weapon he cursed at the team. "Insubordinante consider your mission a Failure!" He blasted Kelly away with a burst of raw energy. Going after Linda next as she fired at him with Samus.
"Shit nothings working!" Linda had no time to dodge as she was grabbed by the clutches of the Didact's claws and tossed aside like a stone.
Samus felt the need to unleash heavier set weapons on the bastard releasing a few missles was enough to draw his attention away from the downed sniper. "No more shall you hender my objective!" he turned and sent a wave of energy at the active teen who rolled in morphball to dodge the attack. The Didact was not in the mood to play games using his telekinesis to pick up the now transformed girl. "Such irritation you bring." he slammed the teen into the ground creating dust. Standing in the middle of the defeated team the Didact finally removed the knife from his right eye.
Moving over top of Fred who still held his weapon. "I will allow you to fire your weapon human I grant you with this last gift of a dying warrior." Fred didn't think twice of his action as he fired his weapon at the Didact's head. "We are done here." the Didact simply growled turning his attention back to the recovering spartan leader.
Samus being Samus had to question what the Didact meant by what he had said. "So tell me..." She pushed herself to her feet. "What exactly you're done with?" she asked her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"You dare question me?!" He turned in the direction of the teen.
"I'm sorry I forgot to catch your name. Are you someone of importance? Because I was starting to wonder if you were famous for those long drudging monologues that never seem to get to the point in time before you get your ass handed to you?" Samus grined happy that she had redirected the Didact's attention away from the team.
"Premature soldier you lack the knowledge and power to defeat your enemies. Your team has been defeated and yet still you feel the erge to taunt before you're own death!?" Enraged by such a disrespect the teen had hit him with he lifted the teen using his telekinesis.
Seizing her movements sending energy waves of torture through her body he moved her above the spartans laying on the ground. "You will be reduced to nothing this is over!" he screamed.
Samus saw the monitor pop up from behind the Didact. In the background she also noticed sitting on a cliff was Ridley watching in the distance. The monitor shooting the Didact in the back with that lazer it had used earlier. "I can comply with that!" it shouted as the Didact and Samus hit the ground. The Didact had no time to counter attack before he was warped away by the monitor.
"Ow holy freaking god that hurt! You alright Linda?" Kelly sorely sat up with Linda.
"Beaten up but I'll live." Linda shook off her pain.
"John you ok?" Fred helped up his leader.
"I'm fine a broken visor won't kill me." John held his head for a moment.
"You alright Samus?" Chief helped the sore teen up.
"I'm peachy how about you broken glass?" Samus still had the energy to tease Chief definitely knew the teen was fine.
"I'm ok thanks for buying that extra moment for us to live." Chief replied smiling.
"Yeah so it's official you're a good decoy. I like how you insulted him that was a good twist interesting method kiddo." Kelly complimented the orange armoured kid.
"It seems Didact has adapted to all weapon types." The monitor floated over in a flustered manner. "You have to quickly regroup I have sent Didact to the most secure place on Halo." Monitor 859 flustered.
"Where the hell would that be?" Fred picked his weapon up off the ground.
"The control room." Chief answered with an emotionless tone.
"Correct." The monitor nodded.
"You fucking idiot why would you send him there!" Kelly growled up at the floating ball.
"It was either send him there or watch him slaughter your team." 859 argued. "If you were dead he would still reach the control room."
Samus right away found that key object laying on the ground were the Didact was beamed off. "Chief." Samus tossed the object to the leader.
"Hmm you said his armour adapted to the weapons right?" Chief interrupted the agrument.
"Yes why do you ask?" 859 gave his attention to the lead spartan.
"I know a weapon he can't adapt to." Chief held out the index key.
"Oh are we gonna blow shit up!" Samus let her youthful excitement take over.
"Samus!" the whole team gasped at the out burst.
"Way to blow a serious moment with a kid." Kelly shook her head.
"Sorry." Samus grinned.
"I see your plan I shall warp you to the Didact immediately." The monitor understood and complied with the spartans plan.
"Return to the long sword I shouldn't be long." Chief ordered his team.
After a few moments of arguing Kelly and Linda finally drug Samus aboard the ship meanwhile Chief was warped away.
Being warped to the control room where Didact was confused and questioning what had just happened. "There is something I have yet to comprehend."
"You're right." John walked in just in time to hear the last question.
Back aboard the long sword Samus wouldn't stop driving the team insane.
"Kid shut the hell up and sit the hell down John will be fine!" Kelly was ready to bang her head against the dash of the cockpit area.
"But what if Didact destroys him before... what if he dosen't make it!?"
"He'll make it." Fred sighed.
Kelly groaned banging her helmet against the dash three times.
Seeing out the ships window a piece of the Halo crash and burn into the composers forge Samus's heart rate stopped. A few moments later a glow from behind and the appearence of Chief eased Samus's worry. "You made it!" Samus couldn't help herself hugging the spartan as soon as he appeared.
"I always make it." Chief replied exhaling returning the hug.
"All went according to plan." The chatty monitor began to speak about how Chief saved the ring from destruction.
"Thank you for your hel..."
"Thank you reclaimer." The monitor dismissed the spartans thanks. "Endless years of overseeing a dead facility. I finally have found a new meaning through you."
Samus watched the Halo ring from the window noticing a large but small from this far away creature flying off into space away from the Halo. "You bastard!" Samus smashed a fist onto the window cill. Samus noticed the talking had stopped behind her she looked over her shoulder to see everyone staring at her. Nervously smiling she activated her combat visor hiding her face as she sat in the copilot chair next to Kelly.
"Goodbye reclaimer I will now take the Halo for repairs and safe hiding." 859 bid his goodbyes.
"Wait taking Halo where?" Fred stopped the monitor.
Back aboard the Infinity Chief was debriefing the mission with Lord Hood. Outside the bridge was the rest of blue team. "That was a hell of a mission." Kelly sighed streaching her arms.
"So it was." Linda agreed.
"It was awesome." Samus bubbly agreed as well
"What the hell were you yelling about back on the ship there kiddo?" Kelly playfully punched Samus's arm.
"Oh nothing... Just something I saw."
"Oh like what?" Fred was curious.
"Nothing just Ridley flying off into space." Samus finally gave in.
"Right that bastards still out there. Well I don't think he will be messing around with this Halo crap any longer, best not to worry kiddo." Kelly shrugged off the fact that Ridley was still active like it was no big deal.
That answer almost made Samus blow up out of rage. How could they pass off a killer off as just fine nothing to worrry about.
"Master Chief you are dismissed. We will let you know if anything comes up." Lord Hood called out as the spartan left through the doors.
"Sir I thought they were supposed to be retired after the mission. Why did you tell him we will call him if something comes up?" Lasky questioned the admirals actions.
"I didn't quite have the heart to do it yet. I will soon after they settle and adjust to relaxing for a while without being put in a cryo chamber." Lord Hood replied as if it was a simple question he had answered.
A few weeks had passed Blue team continued training and hadn't noticed any change around them. Except for the now oddly distant teen which confused them completely.
Chief walked over to his team training on the sparring mats. "Have any of you seen Samus?"
"Not a chance John that kid is harder to find then Linda is undercover in the night." Kelly replied flipping Fred over her.
"Does anyone know where she went then?" Chief exhaled looking over to the exit.
"No idea sorry John try the asking the marines they have probably seen her more then we have."
"Just walk through the corridor I'm sure you'll hear them all gabbing about her doing something." Linda suggested pinning Fred with Kelly.
"I will be back soon." John sighed exiting the training facility.
This is what happens when you unleash a teen they dissapear on you trying to do everything to avoid you. Chief thought to himself as he passed the soldiers in the halls.
"That kid sure knows how to build."
"Have you seen the ship she's building?"
"Ship!?" Chief's outburst made the marines visibly jump.
Spinning around Chief hightailed it back to his team. "She's building a ship!"
All three gapsed. "What!?" Fred stood up making Linda and Kelly fly to opposite sides of him.
"Oh hell no what the fuck does this girl have planned now!?" Kelly practically sprinted full force out the doors.
"Don't know but we are about to find out." Fred looked at Chief and Linda.
Running through the hallway like there was a fire the marines all cleared a path for the spartan team. Samus saw the charging team as she was walking towards the training facility they ran past her not even noticing the teen watching in confusion.
"Where's the fire?" Samus called from behind the team.
"Kid!" Blue team spun around running back to the teen waiting for them.
Kelly grabbed Samus and pulled her off into a busy rec room. "Everyone get out now." Kelly ordered the soldiers in the room.
"Double time double time get out!" Kelly rushed the soldiers as the team entered Kelly shut the door.
"What's wrong guys?" Samus was confused usually she was the hyper one not the team.
"What's wrong is why the hell are you building a ship in secret!?" Kelly snapped.
"I have been doing that for a while now I thought you already knew?" Samus put her hands up hoping that would shield her from Kelly.
"No Samus we didn't know that when the hell did you start doing that?"
"Um a couple years ago."
John pulled Kelly off to the side stepping infront of the teen. "I don't care when or how you've built this ship. What I want to know Samus is why you have a ship?"
Samus looked up John looking him straight in the eye she could tell he was being extremely serious with her. Gazing at the team behind him they were as serious as he was Samus could just read the worry behind the serious looks. Samus's expression changed from shocked and confused to guilty and upset.
The entire team tensed up feeling they weren't going to like the answer about to come from the teen.