Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Hunter and Soldier. Enjoy the 2000-word chapter. I don't own Halo, Microsoft, and 343 do.

(2526, UNSC Charon Light Frigate Vagrant)

It was 00:00 on Gram's clock when the knocks on his door appeared, the Spartan was alert in 2 seconds, up and moving in 3.

He opened the door to greet Cal. The spartan sniper inclined her head towards him, she was still wearing the tank top attire from before. Gram blinked, having gotten any remnant of exhaustion out of him when he awoke.

Then again? So had she. Cal looked as alert as she usually was. Gram was silent while she spoke.

"You good?" Cal asked which garnered a nod from Gram. "Captain wants to see us in 2 hours. Orders changed." Cal stated while Gram hummed slightly.

Cal looked at Gram. He was scanning the hallway, his hands clenching and unclenching his fingers like snakes. She knew he didn't say much unless he felt like it.

Cal always found it funny that he was so quiet yet constantly annoyed at times. Then again? Cal wondered if he needed a visit to the ship's medic.

"Sleeping, ok?" Cal questioned another nod. "You can talk, Gram. I know you, your only quiet if your thinking." Cal put in before the spartan cleared his throat.

"I've gotten enough sleep," Gram responded and turned to Cal. "What about you? I'd have thought they do what they usually do with us." Gram added to which Cal could only hum.

(30 minutes later)

Cal and Gram sat on supply crates and looked out one of the frigate's windows. Both unarmored Spartans shared a look.

"Do you remember when Deja taught us about astrology?" Gram questioned, crossing his legs under him and looking out the window. "Did you expect THEM to be in out there? Expect us to be fighting like this?" Gram asked his partner as Cal cupped her chin.

"No," Cal answered honestly, gaining a hum from Gram. "I didn't. I expected us to be fighting insurrectionists. What did you remember the most?" Cal asked, her amber eyes scanning the room with machine-like precision.

"The 7 wolves and the moose." Gram said, turning to Cal with a frown. "Something you should remember. Spartans work as a team; we don't do things alone." Gram said and hummed.

Cal grinned slightly, pursing her lips while Gram closed his eyes. He knew what Cal was going to say, the hypocrisy wasn't lost on him.

"Sierra." The two Spartans heard as they turned to see a marine approach them. "Captain wants to see you both on the bridge." They heard which garnered a nod from the duo.

Both wordlessly approached the elevator to which they could only blink. Both Spartans looked at each other.

"Covenant?" Gram asked, answered by a shrug. "What about insurrectionists?" Gram asked while the elevator slowly moved up and towards the bridge.

The doors opened and both Spartans moved with a speed like snakes. They both shared looks as they entered the bridge once more. The captain swung his command chair around towards the duo. They snapped off salutes, their left arms folded behind their backs.

"Do either of you know the planet below us?" The captain questioned which got a shake of negative. "It's called Eden from what I've heard. There are 7 thousand or such soldiers living upon it… And all of them are URF." The captain stated, gaining a blink as Cal and Gram shared a look.

Rebels, there were rebels upon it. Insurrectionists were the natural prey of Spartan-IIs. They were about to speak before the captain showed a hologram from the table.

It showed a pair of Halberd-Class Destroyers dueling a quartet of CCS-Class Battlecruisers, there were smaller vessels around the ships. It was quite clear that they'd be killed sooner or later.

"About 2 hours ago? These cruisers dropped out of Slipspace above the planet." The captain put into which got a nod. "They're after something on Eden. I've been briefed on your operation." The captain said before one of the crew spoke up.

"Captain Grayson!" The trio heard which caused their heads to snap towards the soldier. "We need to speed this up, they're slightly moving towards this location!" The radar specialist stated once more.

"Your objectives are threefold," Grayson added to which he nodded once more. "Eliminate any covenant or URF VIPs, investigate the Covenant's operation… And secure the quartet of FENRIS class nuclear bombs below." Grayson added which gained another raised eyebrow.

"Details were sent to your HUDs. Get moving to Eden." Grayson ordered and got a salute from the duo. "I cannot promise Vagrant will be on standby. You both may have to secure your exfil." Grayson stated which got another nod as the duo were dismissed.

Both left towards their rooms, securing their MJOLNIR armor and weapons. Both were curious as to what had been done below.

"FENRIS?" Gram questioned before entering his room.

It took him 30 seconds to suit up, another 10 to exit the room, the armor felt like a second skin to him, he cracked his knuckles, this mission below? It was a one-way ticket, something only a spartan like him could accomplish.

He exited the room to be greeted by Cal who pulled her helmet over her head. Both headed to the armory which was just off the SOEIV part of the vessel.

"They have nuclear missiles?" Gram questioned before he shook his head in anger. "Those should be the first objective. Neutralizing the VIPS isn't the difficult part… But if those nukes go off like this? They're going to blow the entire region to hell." Gram stated before they entered the armory, both were used to quick preps.

Cal said nothing, grabbing her MA5B and SRS99-AM sniper. Gram grabbed an M90 shotgun, a BR55 Battle Rifle, and an M6D, making sure to grab more magazines, securing them to his armor.

"3 guns?" Cal asked to which Gram could only shrug and leave.

"We don't know ranges, nor terrain." Gram stated before exiting. "And this seems long term. Can't rely on resupply." Gram stated as he entered an M8823 SOEIV.

Cal said nothing as she secured her weapons while Gram did the same. Both Spartans knew that they'd survive the landing once more.

Gram nodded toward her before sealing his pod. She did the same, sealing herself in her seat.

"Launching, godspeed, Sierra!" Both Spartans heard while both pods were 'loaded' into the ship's launcher.

Cal and Gram were rammed back into their pods as the acceleration kicked in. Gram looked at Cal's pod through the window.

There was a flash of light as Vagrant vanished into Slipspace, escaping the jaws of the Covenant. Both pods spun like bullets inside of a gun as they sped towards the planet below.

They passed by the wreckage of a Halberd-Class frigate. The ship was gutted stern to bow, melted to ash in the orbit of the planet. One of the Covenant cruisers, floating in the middle of the battlefield. It slowly drifted towards them, its guns glowing like lanterns.

"Covenant cruiser." Gram said as the pods entered the atmosphere. "We need to adjust heading…" Gram started to say before a flash of light cut him off.

The flash of light seemed to consume Cal's pod just as the brakes extended. Gram watched as one of the flaps melted, shattering into glowing red fragments.

The pod spiraled away, still in one piece, but glowing like a sun. Gram watched in horror as the pod drifted into the snowy mountains which seemed to devolve into luscious jungles.

"CAL!" Gram yelled despite his training; he could feel the anger boiling up.

His pod's breaks extended, throwing him down to which he could only curse. He watched as the pod smashed into a hill, Gram was slammed into the back of the vehicle.

Gram punched the release bulbs, throwing the pod's door into a tree as he ripped free of the pod. Gram's training seemed to drift to the side as fury ripped through his body.

He flashed his acknowledgment light, praying beyond hope that Cal had survived it if she wasn't? Gram swore he'd… Gram felt moments pass as he grabbed his weapons.

Just when he was about to snap, he watched his HUD return an amber light. Trouble, Gram looked up to see a massive Covenant vessel slowly coast over them, dwarfing them like a massive whale.

Gram frowned, knowing that Cal would want him to carry on with the mission, but her safety cut into him like a blade. He couldn't leave her to her fate, mission or not? He had to know for sure.

Gram drew his battle rifle from his back, making sure to secure his other weapons.

"She can complain all she wants, there's more than one reason to go back." Gram said, checking his surroundings. "I'm not doing this without her… Cal's too stubborn to die, like me. She'll stay low." Gram stated while he shook his head and frowned.

Gram knew their training prohibited caring about each other over the mission… But Gram also knew part of his training showed that Spartans were a team. Cal was his partner.

And he was going to find the spartan sniper. Knowing the Covenant? They'd probably presume that the bolt had killed her. The insurrectionists would know better, but they were probably busy fighting the Covenant.

"Tracking the trajectory…" Gram stated to himself watching where the pod would have fallen. "There. Regroup in the mountains." Gram stated and set off to go and find Cal.

She could scold him later. He'd rather she be alive to scold him than death.

Besides, Spartans were meant to carry out being humanities' defense. And Spartans were human no matter what people saw in their armored shells.

Gram had his mind made up. He set off to find Cal, sweeping his rifle back and forth as he trekked through the jungle in the direction of where Cal's pod had impacted in the wilderness.

(With Cal)

Cal grunted and looked at the pod door which had seemed to melt into the frame of the pod, fusing it. She knew for a fact what was happening. The Covenant had probably assumed that their pods were part of the rebel forces.

Still? She knew that Gram would come to her to try and rescue her… And trying to contact him would only draw more attention to herself.

Cal attempted to press the release switches and was greeted by steam. The mechanism was melted to nothing by the plasma.

Cal sighed and said nothing, curious as to what the status of their mission was. She wasn't stupid, she knew Gram was coming to her aid… Even if it meant hiking halfway across the planet to get to her.

Sometimes the loyalty of her Spartans… And especially her partner? It annoyed her to no end. She knew for a fact that Gram meant well, but the mission came first.

There needed to be something she could do, even if she gave an 'all clear?' signal over the comm? It would still not stop Gram since his first instinct was to come and regroup with her.

Cal shook her head. She could only await Gram's arrival… If his headstrong personality didn't get him killed.

Cal leaned back in the pod, looking around with interest. She had a mission to do, and this complication was not something once more.

Cal could only hope that this mission was salvaged from this.

Author Notes

Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will be 1200-2000 words and such. The next chapter will hopefully be in 2-12 weeks and will show Gram fighting towards Cal and Cal reflecting on her bond to Gram and explaining their bond a bit once more. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!

P.S: Next chapter might be delayed, and I will try to update and such at the moment.