Side Project made based on the popular web series Red vs Blue, The video game Halo combat evolved, and a brainstorming session myself and my friend Prophet have come up with.
Chapter One:
New Beginnings
Dark wine-colored eyes fixated intensely across the playground, locking onto a woman with short shoulder-length hair. This woman was seated alongside a man donned in a military suit. Tiny hands clenched firmly around the swing chains, and the figure with the wine-colored eyes swayed gently in her seat. Adorning her feet were small pink shoes, covering delicate lace socks, as her legs pumped back and forth, imparting energy into each swing. Her long brown hair had been meticulously fashioned into two pigtails that framed a cherubic and pale countenance, belonging to none other than a petite child—a little girl. At this particular moment, her expression bore an uncanny resemblance to that of a serial killer.
The young girl's steely gaze remained trained on the individuals she identified as Dr. Catherine Halsey and Jacob Keyes. The last thing the girl remembered before waking up in this damned playground was talking to her friend over the internet and some kind of storm that was going on outside, they were talking about halo and Red vs Blue and then she woke up here at the ass crack of dawn before any other child was even here.
So, she made the swings her spot, hanging out there until other kids started showing up with their folks, making her do the whole playdate thing. Let me tell you, acting like a kid with an adult brain and memories is downright exhausting. So, after a while, she snuck back to the swings for some me-time. But, of course, that couldn't last because here they came. And they looked almost exactly like how the games made them out to be. She had a pretty good idea why they were here.
Turning her head, she spotted a boy with short blond hair and bright blue eyes, happily romping around with the other kids. He stood out as taller and more athletically built than the rest, yet he mingled with them with a wide grin and shared laughter. Slipping off the swing, the girl stealthily moved out of their line of sight, maneuvering her way toward Halsey and Keyes. It was a bit of a pain, considering the absurdly pink dress she wore. It reminded her of how her mom used to dress her when she was around five, so at least there was some consistency.
Like a quirky, pink-clad ninja, she skillfully circled around the two adults, ultimately positioning herself behind them while they conversed about John. To her astonishment, they were also discussing her. "The boy is the offspring of a Project Orion soldier; he might be a suitable candidate. We just need to test him first," Halsey muttered to her partner, who simply nodded in agreement before chiming in, "As for the girl... in the pink dress on the swings, she's been eyeing us for a while. She might be a promising fit with those instincts of—wait, where did she go?" Keyes began to scan the park with a puzzled expression on his face, his gaze darting around in search of the elusive girl.
Halsey, preoccupied with her focus on John and the ongoing conversation, didn't seem to have noticed the girl's presence at all. She raised an eyebrow at Keyes's mention of a girl watching them. "A girl watching us?" she inquired, genuinely perplexed by his statement.
Just as the situation seemed to be getting stranger, the girl from the swings decided to reveal herself. With a poke to the back of Keyes's head, she startled him, causing him to jump and swiftly turn around. What met his eyes was a child with an expression far too intense for her age. "Oh, uh...hello," Keyes greeted, offering a friendly smile and a wave of his hand, clearly caught off guard by the unexpected encounter.
"Hello," the girl responded, mentally cringing at the sound of her high-pitched childlike voice when she was accustomed to her adult one. She couldn't help but despise how squeaky she sounded.
"Why are you watching John and me?" she inquired, her voice continuing to grate on her own ears. Keyes exchanged a glance with Halsey, then looked back down at her with a friendly smile. "I'm Keyes, Jacob Keyes. This is my friend Catherine. We're here... just observing how kids play. I want to get a sense of it before I have my own," he explained, skillfully spinning a tale that almost had the girl convinced.
"You're lying," she retorted, her glare intensifying. If she didn't know better, she might have fallen for the convincing story.
Halsey blinked, then pulled out a coin with a pleasant smile. "How about you and I play a game? What's your name?" she asked, attempting to shift the conversation and engage the girl.
"It's Alexandrite Callahan, and I don't want to play probabilities, that's boring. I want to know what I'm fit for," she stated bluntly, causing Halsey to nearly drop her coin in astonishment. The straightforwardness of the child's speech, coming from such a small and adorable figure, almost made it sound like an adult talking, which was undeniably uncomfortable to witness.
Keyes maintained his surprised expression but managed to regain his composure as he replied, "To... be a special soldier." His words held both gravity and surprise, mirroring the perplexing situation unfolding before them.
As Alex nodded and maneuvered herself around the bench to sit beside Keyes and Halsey, the two adults exchanged bemused glances. Keyes began to voice his concerns, but the girl, who now preferred to be called Alex, cut him off with a determined declaration, swinging her legs back and forth.
"Um, Alexandrite?" Keyes started to say, but Alex looked up at him and firmly stated, "Alex, and I want to go with you."
Halsey's suspicion and confusion grew as she scrutinized the girl more closely. Alex's long, simple brown hair was pulled into twin pigtails, but the scientist couldn't help but notice that the child's hair was knotted, dirty, and lacked a healthy shine. Looking down at the girl's dress, she observed that it was covered in dirt and rips here and there. From a distance, Alex seemed well put together, but up close, Halsey could see signs that suggested neglect and abandonment by inattentive parents.
"Alex, where are your parents?" Halsey inquired, her concern growing as she observed the child's frail appearance. Alex met her gaze with an intensity that made Halsey, a seasoned scientist, profoundly uncomfortable. This level of scrutiny from a child was disconcerting.
"Dunno, I woke up in the park," Alex replied with a hint of anger in her tone. Keyes, equally perplexed and now concerned, joined in examining the child, noting the same signs of neglect and hardship.
Alex was well aware of her own story and her choices. She could have simply avoided the two adults and never approached them. However, trapped in the body of a prepubescent girl, she had no desire to go through puberty all over again, only to spend the rest of her life on the run in the militarized world of "Halo." In this universe, you were either in the military, a military spouse, or a civilian in perpetual flight whenever conflict erupted. Alex wanted to be the one wielding the power, not constantly evading it.
Seeing the sun beginning to dip below the horizon, Alex hopped off the bench. She noticed the kids were engaged in some sort of monster vs. army game, with John playing the role of the army. Without hesitation, Alex sprinted over to John and, with a childlike roar, pounced onto his back, causing him to tumble to the ground amid fits of laughter. Standing up triumphantly, Alex declared, "I win!" She then extended a hand to the scuffed and dirty John. "Hiya, I'm Alex," she introduced herself confidently.
John reached out, grasping her hand and allowing her to help him up from the ground. "I'm John. You were an awesome monster," he complimented her. Alex nodded at the child Master Chief from the game. "Hey, my uncle and his girlfriend want to show you a coin thingy. I did it earlier, and it was weird," she explained, eager to introduce her new friend to Halsey and Keyes.
Grabbing the hand of the miniature Master Chief was a peculiar experience, but John went along with it, intrigued by Alex's enthusiasm. She led him over to where Halsey and Keyes were sitting, and Alex proudly pointed to Halsey.
"She does the coin thingy; Uncle Keyes is too lazy to learn," Alex boldly proclaimed, a completely untrue statement that left Keyes sputtering with indignation. However, it elicited a laugh from mini Chief, which was all Alex really wanted.
Alex observed with keen interest as Halsey tested John with the coin, a scenario she had seen countless times while watching lore videos on the internet. However, witnessing it happen in real life was an entirely different experience. It felt almost surreal, especially how John could predict the coinflip. Alex knew that if she were in that position, she would likely fail, which was why she had been purposefully emphasizing her adult-like behavior and speech.
While Halsey engaged in a conversation with John about his future, Keyes turned his attention to Alex, who sat on the bench, idly swinging her feet back and forth as she waited for the scientist to conclude her discussion. His curiosity got the best of him, prompting him to ask, "Alex, you seem to... understand what's going on. I'm curious... how old are you, and do you work for someone?"
Alex took a moment to contemplate how to answer Keyes' question. She finally replied, "I'm five or six? And how would I be able to work, I can barely put myself on the swings without needing to jump." She turned to Keyes with a glare, but the lieutenant couldn't help but chuckle at how absurd he must have sounded, interrogating a child in this manner. His caution was evident, but it was also clear that the situation was far from ordinary.
"As for understanding... no, I don't," Alex continued, her tone shifting. "I just know that you both were being creepy, staring at the playground... you were testing us, observing us. I don't know why, though," she explained, her gaze returning to her swinging legs as she sat on the glanced up at Halsey as she returned from her conversation with the miniature Chief, and they exchanged a nod and some silent words that Alex could only discern from their shadows. Then, Keyes's hand appeared in her field of vision.
"If you are certain this is the path you want to go, Alex... Halsey and I are going to lead you there," Keyes stated with unwavering determination. He believed that she had the potential to achieve great things as a part of the new project Halsey was assembling.
Alex nodded and reached out, taking his hand, all the while mentally cringing at the realization of her tiny childlike hands, a stark contrast to her adult ones not too long ago. "Even if you didn't take me, I would have followed you. I want to know stuff," she muttered as she slid off the bench and stood on her own two feet.
Keyes smiled and began walking in a random direction, with Halsey by his side. Halsey crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on Alex, calculating and somewhat inscrutable. "It's not going to be easy," Halsey muttered.
Alex turned her gaze towards Halsey, her expression determined. "Life isn't easy. There's no such thing as a happy ending; that's for books," she declared, embracing the uncertainty of the path she had chosen. With that, they moved forward.
Alex's awakening was accompanied by a sense of disorientation. The last thing she remembered was Keyes telling her to rest in a strangely futuristic car, but now she found herself in a bed pod. Blinking her eyes open, she surveyed her surroundings and couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Hundreds of other bed pods were arranged around her, each containing a child who appeared to be around seven years old or younger, but none younger than four.
As her eyes scanned her pod, she noticed an identity tag reading "One-One-Eight" attached to it. To her surprise, the pod next to hers bore the label "One-One-Seven," and inside was John. It confirmed her earlier assumption that John was indeed the miniature Master Chief, and he was real, more vivid than the video games had ever depicted.
As Alex got up from her pod, she noted the changes in her appearance: her hair had been cut short, and she was dressed in a military tank top with her designated number on the left side of her chest. She couldn't deny her own stubbornness, and she was determined not to be among the few who failed, faltered or died during their time on Reach. The path ahead was uncertain, but Alex was resolute in her determination to succeed.
John's voice from his pod drew her attention, and he asked, "Alex? What's going on?" She turned to face him, meeting his scared gaze.
"We... are soldiers now," she replied with a sense of purpose. "We get to fight and save people." She tried to sound confident, though her heart ached at the fear in his eyes. She felt a tinge of guilt for involving him in this situation, but she needed to maintain continuity.
"It's gonna be okay," she reassured him, attempting to use child-like logic to ease his concerns. "We're gonna be heroes, the good guys." Despite her best efforts, John still appeared confused, grappling with the sudden shift in their reality.
As the children gradually woke up, the scene in the room varied. Some were crying, others seemed almost catatonic. Despite the numerous bed pods, Alex noticed that there were only around eighty children present, herself included. The situation was perplexing, with many unanswered questions lingering in the air.
Eventually, soldiers entered the area and began herding all the children out and into a larger room with numerous seats. At the front of the room stood the woman Alex had identified as Halsey. The child glared at her with all the intensity she could muster, channeling her frustration and anger into that defiant look.
"Take a seat. All of you," Halsey ordered, her voice cold and distant. "Per naval code 45812, you are hereby conscripted into UNSC's special project code-named ORION-II, also known as SPARTAN II." Her eyes swept around the room, avoiding any emotional connection with the children she was addressing. The room fell into an uneasy silence as the weight of Halsey's words settled upon them, leaving the children with more questions than answers.
Halsey continued her speech, delivering it with a matter-of-fact tone that did little to alleviate the children's unease. "Your parents are gone. The planet Reach is your new home. Your fellow trainees are your new family. Each of you has been hand-selected and called to serve. Your bodies are already faster and stronger than other children, and we are going to make them even better." Her words settled heavily in the room, conveying the gravity of their situation.
The children listened, a mix of fear, confusion, and resignation etched on their young faces. Alex couldn't help but feel a surge of hatred toward Halsey, but she also understood the woman's motives, no matter how cold and calculating they seemed.
"Chief Petty Officer Mendez, escort the children to the mess hall, feed them, get them to bed," Halsey ordered, turning to a man in uniform who Alex knew would become a significant presence in their lives, one she was far from fond of. "Trainees, fall out!" the man barked, and the children began to move, guided by soldiers toward their next destination, their new reality settling in with each step.
Alex's memories of the lore and her experiences within it had given her a strong aversion to Chief Petty Officer Mendez, and her time in boot camp only intensified those feelings. The relentless physical training was a far cry from her previous life, where she had not been particularly active but far from sedentary. The constant movement and rigorous exercises took a toll on her body, pushing her to her limits in ways she had never imagined.
She found herself climbing walls, her small hands gripping each ledge with determination, muscles straining as she pulled herself up. Crawling under barbed wire was a painful and dirty ordeal, the sharp edges digging into her flesh, but she pressed on, determined not to falter. Running in the rain, her clothes soaked through, she pushed her body to keep up with the others, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
Throughout it all, Mendez barked orders, his voice cutting through the chaos like a whip. His harsh commands and relentless discipline fueled her determination, even if she despised the man. The challenges of boot camp were grueling, testing her physical and mental strength every day. But in the midst of the hardships, Alex knew that she had no choice but to adapt and endure if she wanted to survive this new reality.
The journey through boot camp was a grueling ordeal, and it came with its share of tragedies. Some children proved to be too weak to endure the training, faltering under the relentless physical and mental strain. Their young hearts couldn't withstand the stress, and a few resorted to desperate measures to escape their torment. Accidents happened too, unfortunate slips and falls that resulted in serious injuries or even death. It was a harsh and unforgiving environment, where only the strongest and most determined survived.
Throughout it all, Alex pushed herself forward, driven by her determination to adapt and overcome. She didn't know the children who fell along the way, not truly, and it was a sad reality that she had to accept. In this new life, she had to focus on her own survival and growth.
However, as the days passed, the adults in charge decided it was time to divide the trainees into teams. It marked a significant turning point in their training and set the stage for the challenges that lay ahead.
As Alex had anticipated, she found herself on Blue team alongside John and the other trainees she recognized from the games: Kelly, Linda, Sam, and Fred. They were a formidable group, and Alex couldn't help but feel a sense of relief knowing she was part of a team with a track record of survival in the lore. If she wanted to make it through the demanding training and the forthcoming augmentation process, she needed to tap into their collective determination and luck.
Navigating the obstacle course as a team was indeed a stark contrast to the solo training they had endured. The importance of teamwork was front and center, and the challenge required not only individual skills but also the ability to function cohesively as a unit. Alex had mentally prepared herself for what was likely to happen.
True to her expectations, Blue team ended up coming in last, and they were denied dinner as a consequence. The reason for their failure was John's impulsive rush forward, disregarding the instruction to ring the bell as a team. It left everyone hungry and frustrated, and Alex knew this outcome was necessary to drive home the importance of teamwork and adherence to orders.
Despite the hunger and disappointment, Alex kept her thoughts to herself. She understood that John needed to learn the lesson of responsibility, not just for himself but for his squad. John eventually apologized and managed to distribute some stolen crackers when the military personnel weren't looking, a small gesture that eased the tension among the team members. It was a reminder that they were all in this together, and they needed to rely on each other to succeed.
For the first time since her arrival in this new world, Alex felt compelled to sing in front of the others. Back in her own world, singing had been a familiar and comforting pastime, but it had never felt right to do it here. However, a strange sense of necessity overcame her, and she began to hum a soothing, melodic tune that rose and fell in a soothing rhythm.
Her humming caught the attention of her squad members and even members of other squads. Alex wasn't aware of it, but Halsey was also watching, her surprise evident at the contrast between the childlike appearance and the mature mind within. The gentle melody emanating from Alex's lips provided a brief moment of respite and tranquility in the midst of their demanding training, a reminder of the humanity that still existed within each of them.
As the years passed and the rigorous training continued, Blue team grew closer and more tightly knit. Alex could feel parts of her older memories slipping away, fading into the background. The details of what her parents looked like, the names of potential siblings—if she had any—became increasingly hazy. However, her knowledge of the Halo universe remained intact, as it was now the world she lived in.
During meal times, Alex would sing soft, wordless tunes. She couldn't remember any song lyrics, but her melodies never failed to bring smiles to her friends' faces. It was a small but cherished source of comfort in their challenging and often harsh environment.
Wilderness survival training tested the mettle of Blue team, pushing them to rely on their training and each other. Alex arrived at the designated meeting point by the river, just as the others did. John's thoughtful gesture of sharing blueberries with his squad brought smiles to everyone's faces, a simple act of camaraderie that strengthened their bond.
Sam, always the nostalgic one, took a moment to carve their mark into a tree, further solidifying their sense of unity. For Alex, it was a reminder that while she might lose her past, she had a future to fight for, and that's exactly what they did—fight to survive and succeed.
Under John's leadership, they managed to navigate the challenges of the wilderness and return home. Alex watched as he executed a tactic she had seen in the lore videos, stealing a Pelican from unsuspecting UNSC soldiers. Reprogramming the Pelican to fly them back to base proved to be a challenging task, but John's determination prevailed. As they headed back, Alex couldn't help but reflect on what lay ahead. She knew that in two years, at the age of fourteen, augmentation awaited them, and she needed to survive that.
As time continued to pass, it seemed to accelerate for Alex. Memories of her previous world began to fade, slipping away like grains of sand through her fingers. She could no longer recall the details of her childhood, her parents, her family, or whether she had siblings. Those memories were becoming increasingly distant, replaced by a jumbled mix of later years, friendships, boyfriends, and fragments of anime plots. But amidst the fading memories, the world of Halo remained remarkably vivid, stubbornly clinging to her mind.
However, as the years moved forward, something unusual happened during one of her nights at the training facility, after lights out. Alex was abruptly jolted awake by the unexpected sensation of a needle piercing her arm. Her eyes shot open, and she found herself staring at Halsey, who was administering the injection with a large needle. It was a chilling realization.
It was a moment of realization for Alex. This was it—the full sedation before the augmentation process. She recalled Sam's account from the lore video, where he had mentioned not remembering the surgery until after waking up. With the same trait she had brought from her previous life, being a light sleeper, she managed to mutter, "Hal-sea," before slipping back into unconsciousness.
As she faded into darkness, Alex couldn't help but wonder if she would ever wake up, and if her body would accept the augmentations.
The aftermath of the augmentation process was a blur for Alex, much like what Sam had described in the lore video. Every part of her body ached, as if she had undergone an intense full-body workout followed by a deep massage. Even her eyes throbbed with pain, and her movements felt strange, as if her body and brain were temporarily out of sync. The discomfort was so intense that even basic tasks like going to the bathroom became challenging, and accidents occurred, with Kelly, Linda, and even herself having mishaps during the first days of being awake. The male members of the team faced similar challenges, and it created a sense of understanding among them, preventing any teasing or mockery.
Tragically, not everyone survived the augmentation process. Several trainees succumbed to the ordeal, and while Alex had grown close to her squadmates, her memory of their full names began to fade. She could only recall their Spartan I.D.s, which felt like enough.
Among those who didn't augment correctly was a boy with blond hair and blue eyes, originally known as Mike 0-30 but renamed Michael Caboose. This was when Alex's memories of the side story to Halo, Red vs. Blue, began to resurface. Michael would be okay, he would be extremely dangerous and have the mentality of a child for the rest of his life but he would live on.
Alex noticed a significant change in her physical stature. Gone were the days when she had been one of the smallest trainees; now, she stood among the tallest, just behind Sam. It was a strange irony, considering that one of the few things she remembered about her previous life was being small, barely reaching five feet in height. Now, at the age of fourteen, she was pushing six-foot-five, a testament to the transformation she had undergone.
One incident that stood out during this period was the encounter with the ODSTs in the gym. Alex was present for that altercation, and she could still recall the intensity of the confrontation. The ODSTs had attempted to attack her, apparently unsatisfied with going after John alone. It was an odd experience, and it felt strangely familiar to her.
When one of the ODSTs charged at her, intent on tackling her to the ground, Alex instinctively sidestepped and extended her arm, making him run into it like if she were a brick wall. The motion felt oddly second nature, as if she had done it many times before. It was odd and yet made her smile as a memory made itself known to her, the memory of her speaking to her friend over discord, and him calling her a fucking fridge.
"Fucking hell…" Alex muttered to herself as Mendez came and stopped mini chief from beating the shit out of one of the ODST with the metal weights bar.
Their first mission was a significant test for the young Spartans, and Alex couldn't be bothered to learn the name of the traitor they were tasked with apprehending. ONI wanted him captured alive, but they couldn't risk using their regular forces or channels because the traitor had access to them and was monitoring military and ONI communications. So, it fell upon six of the best-trained, fourteen-year-old super soldiers to accomplish what a full-grown army couldn't. The absurdity of the situation was not lost on Alex, and she found herself silently laughing at the sheer hilarity of it all.
Before the missions even began, Mendez promoted John to Petty Officer second class along with giving Sam and herself promotions to Petty Officer third class, meaning Sam and Alex were both in charge if John wasn't available which she would just shove on Sam since she didn't want the responsibility.
However, there was one aspect of the mission that Alex didn't particularly enjoy—the skin-tight black stealth suit they were forced to wear. It clung to every curve and crease of their bodies, making her uncomfortable. Still, they were no strangers to discomfort, and they pressed on.
As Alex lay in her hammock, preparing for the upcoming mission, a nagging feeling gnawed at the back of her mind. It was as if there was something important she was on the verge of forgetting, something related to the Halo stories. Turning her head, she observed John engaged in conversation with Kelly about the ship, but the elusive memory continued to elude her. She decided to dismiss it for the time being and focused on getting some rest before the mission.
When they awoke, they wasted no time and were immediately on the move, heading towards the location where their target was believed to be located. Sam's display of strength as he effortlessly tore open the elevator doors elicited a silent scoff from Alex. She suspected that he was simply showing off, considering that Kelly could have easily called the elevator in this old building. However, she recognized that it was a matter of semantics, and they had a mission to accomplish.
Upon reaching the appropriate level, John placed a breach charge on the elevator door, blowing it open with a deafening blast. One by one, the Spartan trainees filed through and initiated their assault on the men in the room who stood in the way of their target. It seemed like a surprisingly straightforward task until the point man forgot about one of the enemies, who then took a shot at him. In a moment of selfless instinct, John jumped in front of his comrade, taking the bullet intended for him.
Sam quickly reprimanded John for his impulsive action, reminding him that as the squad leader for Blue Team, he shouldn't be putting himself in harm's way like that. Alex couldn't help but huff in agreement, slapping the back of John's helmet as her own form of reprimand. It had become a familiar gesture, one that had its origins in their early training days, particularly during the race to ring the bell.
John, displaying his usual good-natured demeanor, responded with a huff before issuing orders. With their target secured in a crate, the team swiftly made their way to the extraction point, leaving behind a mission completed, even if it had its unexpected twists and turns.
Things changed the moment they returned to the ship.
Upon their return to the ship, Blue Team disembarked from the pelican that had transported them from the extraction point. As they looked around, Alex noticed a lone man standing nearby in the hangar, engrossed in reading something on a tablet. She recognized him immediately but decided to keep her distance, understanding that it was John who needed to have a conversation with him, not her.
Feeling a sense of unease creeping over her, "I have a bad feeling" Alex mumbled to herself, catching the attention of her fellow Spartans. It was indeed an unusual occurrence for her to speak openly in their presence, as she usually reserved her words for private moments, communicating through soft tunes and melodies to calm them during flights to and from training sessions.
Kelly, concerned by Alex's statement, inquired, "What do you mean, Alex?" She was aware of the last time Alex had expressed a sense of foreboding, which had preceded the ODST incident.
With a tone that carried a hint of anxiety, Alex responded, "There's... tension. Something feels wrong. I don't know what it is, not yet." Her words marked one of the rare occasions when she had spoken full sentences since she had been a child back on John's home planet.
As the members of Blue Team exchanged glances, it became evident that if Alex was speaking openly about her concerns, it was a matter of significance that she couldn't keep to herself. Sam, being the only Spartan taller than her, reached up and gently patted her on the head, offering a comforting smile.
"Whatever it is, Alex, we'll tackle it together as a team," Sam declared, his words filled with unwavering conviction. However, his reassurance only seemed to deepen the sense of sadness that had settled within Alex.
She knew what lay ahead, and she couldn't deny the inevitability of it. What was coming was a crucial part of the strategy for the impending war, and she couldn't alter its course. All she could manage was a melancholic smile and a nod, unable to trust herself to articulate a response.
Mendez appeared not long after Keyes had left and informed the Spartans that they were needed in the atrium for a debriefing. As Blue Team exited the hangar, their fellow Spartans gave Alex curious looks, clearly wondering if she had predicted this turn of events. They filed into the atrium, each Spartan taking their designated seat, prepared to receive an explanation for what was about to happen.
Sam and John engaged in a hushed conversation, periodically casting inquisitive glances in Alex's direction, acknowledging her unique ability to sense when something bad was looming on the horizon. Then, an unfamiliar man entered the room, bearing the rank of Vice Admiral.
"At ease, Spartans. I am Vice Admiral Stanforth. This is Harvest," he stated, and an image of the planet appeared on a holo projector in the background of the atrium. "Population of 3 million. A peaceful and productive farming world. On February 3rd, at 1423 hours, the Harvest orbital platform made long-range radar contact with this object. After that, all contact with Harvest was lost. Command assembled a battle group. What they found was all that was left of Harvest. 3 million lives lost." The image on the screen changed, revealing a devastated planet. It became painfully clear to Alex and the others that the world of Harvest had been utterly devastated, subjected to a horrifying process known as Glassing.
Vice Admiral Stanforth continued, his voice heavy with gravity, "The colony burnt to ash. Power like humanity has never seen. Then they encountered this." A hologram of an oblong, purple ship materialized before them, a vessel Alex was already familiar with—the Covenant had finally arrived. Stanforth paused briefly to let the image sink in.
"A starship of unknown design," he continued, "It destroyed the Vostok and the Arabia in under a minute, using highly advanced weapons and impenetrable shielding. The Heracles escaped into slipspace with substantial damage and brought this Intel back. They will not negotiate, they will not communicate. They cannot be reasoned or bartered with."
The grim reality of the Covenant's arrival and their devastating power hung heavily in the air, and Alex couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. She had seen this all unfold in the Halo games and lore, and now, she was living it.
Alex stood up, her actions drawing the attention of both Vice Admiral Stanforth and MCPO Mendez. Mendez's expression clearly displayed irritation at the interruption. "Petty Officer Third Class Alex One-One-Eight, do you have a question?" he asked, his tone sharp, indicating he didn't expect anything significant.
"No, sir," Alex replied with a dull yet firm voice. "Then what is so important that you need to interrupt?" Mendez pressed further, seemingly ready to raise his voice.
"Harvest, sir," Alex stated plainly, causing Mendez and the Vice Admiral to pause and regard her with surprise. "What about Harvest, Spartan One-One-Eight?"
"It's a twenty-first-century book, sir. It describes the culling of an entire planet and species by pointing a high-energy plasma beam at a planet, glassing the surface... into, well, glass, sir," Alex explained with unwavering monotony.
Her revelation had captivated the attention of everyone in the room. "The book, Spartan?" Mendez inquired further. "Unknown, sir. I read an excerpt of the book out of context. It was a simple science fiction work, and I did not consider it relevant to read the entire thing, sir," Alex clarified. Alex was growing weary of speaking, a task she had never been particularly fond of, and it was evident in the way everyone in the room was staring at her.
"Spartans, dismissed. One-One-Eight, stay behind," Mendez ordered, receiving nods of acknowledgement from Halsey and the Vice Admiral. With a sigh, Alex watched her fellow Spartans exit the room, leaving her alone in the peculiar classroom-style atrium. She stood there, waiting, and when they had all left, she walked down to the center of the room and saluted, maintaining her blank expression.
The Vice Admiral wasted no time with pleasantries. "Was there anything else in this book that sounded familiar to what happened to Harvest?" he inquired directly.
"No, sir. I didn't read the entire book, as it did not interest me at the time. The only thing I read was an excerpt when going through old archives of the early twenty-first-century hub... the internet, sir," Alex replied curtly, her tone remaining monotone. Halsey raised an eyebrow at the girl's demeanor, remembering the child she had encountered in that park several years ago.
"Very well, One-One-Eight. Dismissed," the Vice Admiral concluded with a dismissive wave of his hand. Alex saluted and promptly left the room.
Alex continued to keep to herself after the conversation with the Vice Admiral. Her fellow Spartans tried to engage her, asking questions and showing concern, but she remained silent, unwilling to answer or interact with anyone at this point. The impending deployment against the Covenant meant the specter of death loomed ever closer for one of her fellow Spartans, and it weighed heavily on her mind.
A few days later, the Spartans found themselves aboard the UNSC Commonwealth, en route to Chi Ceti IV. When they weren't in cryo, they were crammed into the bunk room, where there was always more preparation and planning. Cryo always bothered Alex, the sudden disconnect and shift in time unsettling her.
During one of their rare moments of downtime, Alex observed Sam and Kelly sparring. Sam made a mistake, dropping his shoulder, and lost spectacularly. Her giggle broke the silence, drawing Fred's attention. He pointed out Sam's mistake, earning a huff from the defeated Spartan.
The bunk room's entrance creaked open, revealing John's presence as he posed a curious question, "Does Project MJOLNIR mean anything to anyone?" Alex's attention immediately shifted toward her squad leader. Fred, the ever-practical Spartan, couldn't help but express his dissatisfaction with the name. He remarked, "Gotta be some kind of weapon. Brass isn't very imaginative with codenames," while he swiftly retrieved a tablet to investigate the enigma of "Mjolnir."
In contrast to Fred's skepticism, Alex's perspective emerged as a beacon of insightful interpretation. Her soft-spoken voice carried a certain wisdom as she ventured, "It's a weapon. The military isn't creative with naming, sure, but Spartans are Greek soldiers, and Mjolnir is a Norse god's weapon, so it might be for us…" Her words hung in the air, capturing the attention of her Spartan comrades. They couldn't help but turn their gaze toward her, recognizing that this was her first time speaking aloud in days, especially in the presence of others.
Kelly, always quick-witted, decided to probe Alex's knowledge further, playfully asking, "How do you know, Alex?" A hint of amusement danced in her crossed arms and joking smile. Alex, true to her enigmatic nature, responded simply with, "A feeling." Her Spartan companions, attuned to her mysterious intuition, accepted her words without hesitation. There was an unspoken understanding among them that Alex's instincts held a deeper truth than they understood.
The intercom's urgent summons compelled John to action as he directed Sam with a commanding tone, "Sam, get everyone ready. On the double." There was no room for hesitation, and Alex understood the gravity of the situation. Without a word, she swiftly turned on her heels, determined to prepare herself and her fellow Spartans for the impending danger that loomed on the horizon.
As she readied herself, the ship was jolted by a sudden explosion, sending shockwaves throughout the vessel.
Seated within the dropship pelican, Alex found herself positioned between John and Sam. As the pelican left the vicinity of the UNSC Commonwealth, she gazed out of the rear window at the vast expanse of stars that stretched before her. Feeling a sense of camaraderie with her fellow Spartans, she reached out and took hold of both Sam and John's hands, softly murmuring a philosophical question that had lingered in her mind, "Ever wonder why…we are here?"
John's words carried a sense of resolve as he replied, "We are here to save the people who can't fight to save themselves." Sam, in response to Alex's unexpected introspection, adopted a playful tone, saying, "Why are you being so philosophical, Alex? You usually never talk, and when you do, it's always a warning, a question, or something profound."
Alex just huffed dismissively and started humming a soft tune, paying no heed to Sam's playful pouting. Gradually, the silence settled in as everyone on the pelican listened to Alex's haunting and oddly somber melody. Even Halsey found herself captivated by the gentle song, wondering what had prompted such a haunting tune when their only mission thus far had been to retrieve the traitor.
As they approached the Damascus Materials Testing Facility, the pelican flew low and fast, rapidly closing in on their destination where Project Mjolnir had been created. Upon landing, each Spartan team filed out and followed Dr. Halsey into the facility. Alex kept a watchful eye on Sam, silently hoping to make the most of the time she had left with the Spartan she considered a brother.
Halsey led them through a corridor and into an open weapons room, where she unveiled the culmination of her project. "Spartans, this is Project Mjolnir." From the floor, several suits of armor ascended, each clad in basic army green. Alex couldn't help but smirk at the sight of the armor in person, even if she found it somewhat aesthetically unappealing. Its functionality was undeniable, specially designed for Spartans like them. She wondered if the Reds and Blues were also Spartans or just augmented to the point where they could wear knockoff versions.
Halsey delved into the details of her creation, her words flowing on as if she relished hearing herself talk. "The armor's shell is a multilayer alloy of remarkable strength. An onboard computer connects with your neural interface to continually track tactical information. And the inner structure is composed of a new reactive metal liquid crystal that is amorphous, yet fractally scales and amplifies force."
Ignoring the rest of the technical exposition, Alex focused on her own suit of armor, positioned right next to John's. It was slimmer but taller than John's seeing as she was probably a good foot taller than John and Sam was a good foot taller than her. The anticipation to finally wear the armor she had earned after all this time coursed through her, and she secretly hoped that she could one day upgrade the helmet to a later model, one she fondly remembered from her time playing in this world as a game.
Predictably, John volunteered to test the armor first, as he always did when it came to exploring the unknown to ensure the safety of his team. Alex watched closely as the suit was practically bolted onto John's body, knowing that there was no easy way to remove it in case of capture by the enemy. As John took his first steps in the armor and commented on how light it felt, Alex couldn't help but scoff.
Halsey turned to her, her expression curious. "It's not light... I could feel the vibrations from that one step. You probably weigh somewhere around a ton, at max three tons," Alex noted dryly, giving Halsey a bland look before adding a playful comment, "Does it come in Purple?" Her joke shocked the other Spartans, but Halsey just chuckled before responding, "Not yet."
Before long, all the Spartans were outfitted and equipped with the Mjolnir armor. Alex chose the standard helmet design like John's since the Locus helmet didn't exist in this iteration. She marveled at how the armor moved and shifted around her, far more fluid than she had ever expected. In her augmented state, she could even perform a full back bend with ease, much to the shock of Halsey, who witnessed her bend in such a way. Her flexibility had remained even after augmentation.
Then, Halsey received word from the captain of the Commonwealth that the Covenant ship was on the move and headed their way. Alex turned to John, and though she couldn't see his expression behind his helmet, she knew what he was expecting. She nodded in agreement. John turned to address Halsey with command and determination, "Dr. Halsey, let us take a shot. We're the best possible option. Your only option. Blue Team is ready, and you know it."
In the blink of an eye, they found themselves on a Pelican, soaring into space. Sam couldn't resist complaining once they left the atmosphere. "I'm just saying, you could have volunteered Red Team instead." Alex chuckled softly as Sam continued his complaints. John, with a hint of humor, responded, "You want me to pull over? Let you out right here?" Kelly joined in with the jokes, saying, "As Chief Mendez would say, 'It's a long walk home.'" Her words brought back memories of their tough training days, and Alex couldn't help but giggle softly at the recollection.
Sighing softly, Alex began humming a tune, a remnant of her old life. This time, however, she sang lyrics, surprising the others.
You and I were in a dream
You'd follow close wherever I'd lead
My steps, you'd echo, on and on
You'd catch me, safe if ever I'd fall
Your hand in mine, we walked along
No hill too high, no road was too long
To stay with you, my only dream
To share your life, whatever it'd mean
They had no idea she would ever sing out loud. Before they could react, she continued, her voice weaving through the melody.. Before they could even say anything she continued as John set the pelicans flight path.
I knew you'd have to go away
My love for you could not help you stay
You drifted off day by day
I cherished every breath that remained
In my arms, close to me
Your body broke, your soul was set free
You left this world, my treasured friend
That chapter closed, but love has no end
But just as abruptly as she had started, Alex stopped singing. She stood up from her seat as John retrieved the nuke from its storage place within the wall. Sam, intrigued by her singing, "Why don't you finish the song Alex?" he asked her to finish the song. Alex shook her head, a hint of reluctance in her eyes. "I... don't want to finish it. Not yet," she replied. Her response left them puzzled, but they shrugged it off as John began explaining the plan.
The plan was to take the nuke inside the Covenant ship and set it off from within. There were some jokes made about the plan, mostly Sam's sarcasm and reluctance, but they all understood the seriousness of their mission. They had a job to do: kill these enemies, gather intel, collect samples, set the nuke, and get out.
Alex equipped herself with weapons, a standard rifle, and a shotgun, securing them on the magnetic mounts on her back before lining up at the dropship's door. Jumping into the void of space didn't feel like any ordinary leap; it was almost like flying. Alex was on her first spacewalk as a Spartan, a thought that nearly made her laugh, but that laughter faded as the Covenant ship began firing at them.
Entering the Covenant ship was a surreal experience for Blue Team. The interior resembled the settings from the Halo games that Alex had played in her previous life, but this was far from a game. It was very real and utterly terrifying. In moments like this, she couldn't help but wonder if she should have chosen a different path, perhaps become a scientist. But then, she reminded herself that such a choice would have deprived her of the opportunity to meet Chief, Sam, and the other members of Blue Team. Being part of the military and this team was a unique and challenging journey she had embarked on due to her peculiar circumstances.
As they silently made their way through the Covenant ship, Alex overheard John asking a question. Since it pertained to the mission, she allowed Kelly to respond. Walking through the ship felt strange, like a blend of reality and fiction. The eerie blue-purple bio-lights cast a dim, unsettling glow, creating an environment that felt simultaneously unreal and all too real. The hallways had an almost disgustingly organic appearance, making her skin crawl, and the thick, oily air threatened to make her gag.
Walking through a door, the team came to a halt as they heard a low yet oddly high-pitched noise. An alien, recognized as a grunt by Alex, entered their path, but it didn't spot them in time. It squealed and fired its weapon twice, missing both shots before succumbing to a hail of gunfire from the Spartans. John immediately assumed his role as squad leader, instructing them to collect samples—tissue, armor, and weapons—for ONI.
As they pressed forward, Alex couldn't help but recall what was about to happen next. She scanned the room, searching for the telltale shimmer of an Elite with active camouflage. John, sensing that something was amiss, had the team pause in their actions. Suddenly, the Elite uncloaked and charged at them, wielding an energy sword and a gun.
In that critical moment, Sam took a shot in the chest meant for John. Alex's heart ached as she witnessed her brother's armor being punctured and breached. He could no longer survive in the vacuum of space, and now, he had to be left behind. John began admonishing Sam for his reckless act, and Kelly joined in, expressing her frustration.
They pressed on into the next room, easily identifying the reactor due to its immense size. They began arming the warhead when several jackals and a few grunts spilled in from the door. Kelly acted quickly, sealing the door temporarily to give them as much time as possible to arm the warhead.
When it was time to go, Sam stopped and spoke somberly, "You guys should get moving." Kelly was outraged and tried to reason with Sam, but Alex placed a hand on her shoulder, silencing her. Removing her helmet, Alex gave Sam a sad, teary smile before continuing the rest of her song.
Farewell, my angel
You're with me always
Just close your eyes now
Next time we meet, it's forever
This shocked the others as she slipped her helmet back on after wiping her tears away. There was no more time for shock as they sprinted away from certain fiery death, leaving Sam behind with the armed nuke. She knew the others would try to talk to her the moment they got to safety, to try to figure out how she knew everything, and she was going to tell them the entire truth.
She would reveal how their universe was a game, how she loved their story, and how she had always dreamed of being a Spartan. Alex was determined to share the full and unedited truth, even what would happen in the future, so that no one would have to die. Not Carter, not Six, not Cat, not even Keyes. Unfortunately, she wasn't going to make it either.
As they were making their way back to the Pelican, shrapnel smashed into her back, destroying her pack and sending her plummeting to the surface of Chi Ceti IV. She was free-falling from space, captured by the gravitational pull of the planet, hearing Kelly's screams calling for her as she descended.
She didn't know if the first-generation suits could withstand reentry into a planet's atmosphere, and she had no idea if these suits even had armor lock.
Witnessing the armor begin to glow red-hot was a surreal sight. Alex couldn't feel the heat, likely due to the advanced material of the armor. As she plummeted from the endless void of space, there was an eerie silence, only her own thoughts echoing in her mind.
Then, as she entered the atmosphere of Chi Ceti IV, everything changed. The rush of wind surrounded her, and the pressure built up around her body. It was a chaotic transition from the serene silence of space to the tumultuous roar of reentry.
The fiery descent continued, and the red-hot armor cast an ominous glow in the night sky, a beacon of both peril and determination. The planet's surface rapidly approached, and Alex braced herself for the inevitable impact, hoping beyond hope that the armor would hold and that she would somehow survive this harrowing ordeal.
The fiery descent continued on for several minutes, and as Chi Ceti IV's surface loomed ever closer, it became clear that this reentry was far more turbulent than anything she had ever imagined. The armor glowed even hotter, casting an eerie crimson radiance that painted the night.
With a deafening roar, Alex slammed into the ground, the impact creating a massive fifty-foot-wide crater. The force of the collision reverberated through her armored body, causing excruciating pain to shoot through her. It felt as if every bone in her body had shattered, and every nerve was on fire.
Overwhelmed by the agony, Alex's consciousness began to slip away. The world around her faded into darkness as she succumbed to unconsciousness, her last thoughts a mixture of pain and hope that she might somehow survive this deadly fall.
Recovery teams from ONI, the UNSC, and the agents of the Damascus Materials Testing Facility on Chi Ceti IV rushed to the fallen Spartan's side. Dr. Halsey and the other Spartan teams joined the gathering, their concern and curiosity evident. They held their collective breath, hoping for the best but fearing the worst, until a triumphant call echoed through the air: "She's alive! Get a medic and prepare for transport to the medical facilities!" A wave of relief washed over the crowd, but the urgency of getting Alex to proper medical care remained paramount. The recovery teams swiftly and carefully secured her on a stretcher, with the help of red team.
Halsey watched with a mix of concern and curiosity as the fallen Spartan was secured onto a stretcher and loaded onto a waiting transport. Her mind raced with questions about what had happened, how Alex had survived such a fall, and what her future held. But for now, the priority was getting her to medical care.
Hours turned into days as Alex's body slowly healed from the traumatic fall. Her muscles were practically ripped to shreds, but miraculously, her bones remained intact. Some of her organs, however, were beyond repair and had to be replaced during the painstaking healing process. Blue Team members visited her while she slept and recovered, but her eyes remained closed.
Days turned into months, and still, Alex showed no signs of waking up. The UNSC assigned missions to Blue Team without her, and Halsey moved Alex to her own advanced science labs, where she remained in a deep slumber, hooked up to a multitude of monitors.
Months turned into two long years, and Halsey continued her efforts to find a cure for Alex's unending sleep. She placed the Spartan in cryo-sleep, thawing her out periodically when she believed there was progress. But each time, Alex remained in a seemingly eternal slumber.
Years passed, and the UNSC and ONI eventually forgot about Alex, relegating her to the status of a sleeping warrior. Her fellow Spartans, however, never forgot her. She remained frozen in time, eternally 20 years old.
Until one of her colleagues received a significant research grant for a groundbreaking project in prototype and weapons development. His initial prototype was an innovative shield generator, operated by an intricate network of power relays and advanced computers. He boldly proclaimed, "One day, a single soldier could carry it." Halsey recognized Doctor Leonard Church as a genius on par with herself.
A few months later, Church was granted a ship and access to older, decommissioned Spartan units as the Spartan three program was taking off, along with several teams of soldiers and personnel. Seeing the potential in his work and understanding the importance of collaboration, Halsey made the decision to reach out and contact him.
Halsey reluctantly transferred the cryo pod containing Alex One-One-Eight to Director Church's custody. She spoke to him with a directness that revealed the gravity of the situation, saying, "Alex One-One-Eight has endured an extraordinarily traumatic and detrimental experience. If you do succeed in waking her, there are likely to be severe physical complications due to her extended coma, exceeding six years. Additionally, there may be profound mental challenges. Although her skull remained intact upon impact, there's a high probability of mental disability. I... would appreciate being informed if you manage to wake her, Leonard. Please."
"Doctor Halsey, I assure you, if we do manage to wake her, you will be the first to know" A deep southern voice spoke up calmly as Alex's cryo pod was being loaded into a pelican that held the words 'Mother of Invention' on the side.