The Noble Diaries
Disclaimer: I do not own Halo or The Vampire Diaries in any way, shape, or form. They belong to their respective owners.
fridgeraiderz: Thanks, man, and I'll do my best. And I'll try, but it won't be as quick as Stefan and Elena who were dating within four days of knowing each other.
marlastiano: Thanks!
Azai Jin: Glad you like it, and hopefully you'll this one too. And you're in luck, there are more interactions between Six and Elena this chapter.
BIRD0FHERMES: Got ya, and thanks.
NightEternity: Thanks for letting me know.
REDdemon28: Hopefully it was worth the wait.
xXwolfsterXx644: Thanks, and good news, Six has his first encounter with a vampire this chapter!
Unknown 425: You're welcome!
DeathCrawler: Thanks! And I hope you like this one too!
jmknz777: Will do!
BetaKing1: Thanks! And not really. I try to write when I can but unfortunately life gets in the way.
CrimsonN7: Then I hope that this was worth the wait.
GrimmPandaMan: Thank you, I appreciate it. And I've been meaning to get back to the Charmed crossover, but just keeps being pushed back due to my more popular stories taking precedence.
sniperbro1998: Yeah, Six is confused by a lot in the twenty-first century lol. There'll be more of that, this chapter for example. And the encounter between Six and Damon won't go as well as you think.
Daua002: I hope you'll like this one too!
MarauderPrime12: I hope you like it!
nagiten: It really isn't. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't, but he sure knows how to push Caroline's buttons. I think that Lexi will drive Six mad, seeing her as a second Dot...and one is already enough, lol. And they will be.
sebgon78: I actually like that idea.
edboy4926: Thanks, I hoped you like it and had a good Christmas and happy New Year!
morgriff: Thanks, and I'll try.
Sixfan29: After much consideration I might not do that now, Bonnie would be beyond traumatized if she essentially relived the Human-Covenant war in her head, and she already goes through enough on the show as it is. And ONI, at least the fictional one in Halo wasn't founded until 2178. She might mentally, as in she annoys him, lol. And if/when it does then both Six and Dot will know that the attacks are being covered up.
Not a day job, but something for Six to do and start up the new branch for Noble Industries. Corporate funding, why wouldn't they want that? And most definitely. And Six just misunderstood what Jeremy meant. Good news, there are more scenes with Six and Elena this chapter.
War Sage: Oh, without a doubt. She's like an annoying older sister...with Six sorely regretting building a positronic brain for her. And there is a lot more high school drama to come! He should be lucky that he got it back. No, he's just going to renovate the building that'll be the basis for the auto parts headquarters and garage for Noble Industries, which should bring more business for Mystic Falls. And probably a bit of both, but mostly having fun.
Bonnie really does, lol. That he is, but nothing that Six and Dot can't handle...and Jenna no doubt will help out, being her ex and all. Six won't be pushed around, that's for certain. Just a misunderstanding with Six. He doesn't do drugs since they have no effect on him, and his last encounter with drugs turned him into a supersoldier. Then you're in luck, there are more this chapter with Six and Elena. And he really was in the first season.
Guest: Thanks! And the fight will happen this chapter, hopefully it's enjoyable. And as for Cade, well it depends if I have him or change it to have Supernatural elements where Lucifer replaces him, as well as adding demons, angels, and even God into the mix.
Brainstorm Sorcerer: It was quite the hiatus, but fortunately this chapter was out much, much quicker. I'm sure she will, not that it'll do her much good, or get her anywhere. Liz isn't going to tell her where Jericho and Dot lives, that would be a massive breach in protocol. Bonnie's time will be soon, maybe next chapter...or the chapter after where Six and Bonnie spend some time alone rather than with everyone at the dinner date, which will be altered a little bit since Stefan and Elena aren't getting together in this chapter/episode like they did in the series.
But after thinking about what you said, I'm probably not going to have Bonnie see the Human-Covenant war in her head, that would completely traumatize her, and she already goes through enough in the show. She will feel his emotions, which should bring her closer to him being the only one that knows how he feels constantly, an experience that will still be horrible for her. I just thought that Police looked more professional than cops, but I might use it for future chapters.
Olivia Wilde seemed like a good choice for Dot, especially since, as I said last chapter, I used her appearance from Tron: Legacy for Dot's A.I avatar in some of my other stories to give her a human appearance instead of just having a glowing blue and white grid pattern. Six pulling a Drax line? Not bad, but he might add on after a few moments "Except planes, and birds, and...hm, maybe things do go over my head." And he wasn't really making a joke, more stating a fact, and regretting opening his mouth.
I think that Six will be stubborn, at least initially. He was raised on the principle of science and will look for a logical explanation. He'll know immediately that the attacks are being covered up and probably decide to investigate further. Stefan has a small POV segment this chapter. And she didn't. Six's presence is creating small butterfly effects through the series/universe, not just for Elena, but for Vicki too because of this chapter. And you probably will do in time, yes.
And no doubt, especially if/when it comes out that he's the owner of Noble Industries. Dream time, right there. I just don't think he cares at the minute. It was made specifically on Jericho VII, the recipe lost when the planet was glassed and it's unlikely that any bottles would be on Reach, and even if they were Six and Dot were busy with trying to escape the planet after it fell to the Covenant. And his heartbeat could be slightly altered, I never really put much thought into it to be honest.
I do like the idea of Six and Matt working at the auto shop, just two humans, one obviously more than the other, working on restoring the building and eventually working on cars. I also thought that would be something that Stefan would want to do to, but they didn't really get on due to his relationship with Elena, and the fact that Damon turned Vicki into a vampire and her eventual death, but since neither of those things might happen in this story/universe they could have a better relationship.
Six is probably going to end up driving poor Caroline insane at this point, lol. And the only time Six is high is when he's on the ship. The council really underestimate Dot if they think that they can bully their way in, but at least there is hope for Liz and Carol, the others, not so much. It was her only chance with convincing Six to come into her house, otherwise he would've left right there and then. And I hope that you'll enjoy their fight/encounter!
Chapter 5.
Sitting on the couch with Elena after having his own words turned against him and forced to socialize even more, Six watched as she utilized the handheld gaming console that he had been informed was called a Nintendo DSi, although it was the game that gave him cause for concerns.
"You derive pleasure from abusing animals?"
Her eyes never leaving the screen, Elena smiled. "It's Pokémon." She shot back, specifically Pokémon Platinum. She hadn't touched her DSi since her parents died, but after seeing Jericho reading the back of the game case, she decided to charge it so that she could show him. And since it had been so long, she had deleted her previous save and started a new game due to forgetting what she was meant to be doing.
"The name is irrelevant. You're taking them from their ecological environments and forcing them to fight for your own amusement." Six countered evenly. "I've also noted that you haven't supplied them with even the basic of necessities such as food and water."
Shoving him, Elena laughed. "Would you stop!" She begged, actually enjoying playing it again...even with his added commentary. "And I still can't believe you've never heard of Pokémon before."
"What you chose to believe is up to you, I'm not here to alter your beliefs." Six stated to Elena. Furthermore, for all he knew the Pokémon franchise might have been discontinued by the time of the twenty-sixth century; then again it might not have been. Whatever the case, he had no time to procrastinate by gaming, not when there were Covenant and Insurrectionists that required his attention.
Looking up from her Nintendo, Elena smirked up at him. "Do you have an answer for everything?"
"I'm not omniscient, so no."
Smirking a little more at his sarcastic retort, Elena continued. "Alright then, what do you do for fun?"
"Nothing."
"You have to do something." Elena persisted. "What about your car?"
"What about it?"
"From what I saw it looked cutting-edge. You didn't have fun..."
"It's not a hobby."
Elena's smirk was quickly replaced with a teasing grin. "I never said anything about it being a hobby. Something you want to share?"
"No."
"That sounded more like a grumble than a no." Elena teased him with a mischievous twinkle. "Is somebody embarrassed about have a wittle hobby?" She asked with a playful pout.
"There is no hobby to express embarrassment about." Six grunted insistently. "And wittle is not a word."
"So defensive."
"Factual."
"Sounds like I hit a nerve."
"Then your hearing must be exceptional."
Smirking to herself, Elena looked back down at her DSi. "Yep, definitely hit a nerve." She taunted triumphantly, basking in her win over him. "And sure I can't tempt you to have a go?"
"I have no desire to participate in your animal abuse."
"Alright, that does it!" Putting up as much as she could, Elena practically threw the Nintendo at him. "Just play the game."
Having no choice but to accept the handheld gaming device, Six found it somewhat humorous how quickly she became disgruntled. His thumbs brushing across the directional pad, he looked at the top screen that depicted the protagonist that was standing in a rural area. "What is my objective?"
"Haven't you been watching?"
"I've been watching you abuse animals," Six responded getting a flat look from Elena, but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her. "But still fail to understand your objective...unless that is your objective. And if you find gratification in doing it speaks poorly of your character. Purport to be as attractive inside as you are out."
Taken aback by his blunt, but not unwelcomed remark, Elena smiled to herself and unconsciously tucked her hair behind her ear as she watched him enter battle with a Wild Bidoof that was a low level since they hadn't reached Jubilife City yet, spending a little time grinding experience with Chimchar and the other Pokémon that she had caught while doing so. "Know what you're doing?"
"Hm." Six acknowledged through a grunt, observing her enough to have a rudimentary understanding of the game.
His grunt making her smile, Elena rested her head on his arm and watched him battle the Bidoof. Normally she would've told him to lower its defence, but since it was such a low level it would have been a waste of an ability, and since most were already on yellow. She really should've gone to a Pokémon centre to heal Chimchar and the others before giving it to him, but that's what he got for being cute.
That strange feeling in his chest emerging again, Six ignored it and focused on the miss-the game, he focused on the game. Getting the animal, a Bidoof which he thought was a ridiculous name, health down to half, he used the ability known as Blaze to finish them off and watched as disappeared into the ground.
"Well?"
Six glanced at Elena from the corner of his eye. "Well, what?"
"What did you think?"
"That's my business."
Elena smirked. "You liked it." She stated, her head still resting comfortably on his muscular arm and watched as he moved through the grass and headed in the direction of Jubilife City.
"That's enough animal abuse for one night."
Reluctantly lifting her head from his arm that felt nearly as good as when she had been carried in them, Elena smiled up at him. "Would it really kill you to admit you liked it?"
"The hour grows late. I should go."
Even knowing that he was once again dodging the question, Elena agreed. "Yeah." She voiced, guessing that he had a point. "And I know that it was past your quota and all, but was it as terrible as you thought?"
"Let's not let dissonance ruin the evening."
Smirking, Elena went to retort before something crossed her mind. "Um, do you have your phone on you?"
"Hm."
"Can I see it?"
"Unlikely. It's in my pocket."
Fighting back a smile, Elena held her hand out. "May I?" She asked. Expecting another sarcastic retort, which he never seemed to run out of, she was pleasantly surprised when he instead slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone that like Caroline had said was cutting-edge, and way nicer than her own. Tapping the side, the screen lit up with the picture being much clearer and displayed the logo for Noble Industries, practically confirming that he was that Jericho Reach, not that he really hid it.
While she wanted to look through it, she instead tapped the phone symbol on the home page. The screen changing, she saw that the only two contacts being Dot, and Caroline, the former most likely being his aunt...who now that she thought about it was probably Dot Amita. Putting in her number, she saved it to his phone before ringing hers that was charging in the bedroom.
Letting the phone ring a couple of times to make sure that she got his number, Elena handed it back. "Here. Now you have two friends."
"Acquittances."
Rolling her eyes, Elena smiled before getting up off the couch. Walking over to the door, she opened it for him. "See you tomorrow."
"Hm. Have a productive night."
Smiling at his version of goodnight, Elena stood at the door as Jericho walked down the path and over to where he had parked his Charger. Watching him get into the car, she gave him a small wave as he pulled away from Maple Street and headed...wherever it was that he lived. Once he was gone, she walked back into the house with a soft smile and closed the door.
"So, how was your date?"
Jumping a little, Elena turned to see a grinning Jenna standing on the stairs. "It wasn't a date...but I did have fun tonight. Actually, it's the longest that I've ever spoken to him. I've only known him for three days, but he usually keeps to himself, not even eating in the cafeteria; which makes a lot of sense now."
"Well don't leave your aunt in suspense." Jenna encouraged, walking down the stairs and into the front room.
Walking back over to the couch and sitting down, Elena replied. "Last night at the party he said that his parents died when he was five years old, and tonight when we were talking about Jeremy, I tried asking whether or not he had any siblings and he just said not anymore."
"That doesn't mean they're dead, they might have just had a massive falling out."
Elena disagreed. "I don't think so. His grunt was much softer,"
"His grunt?" Jenna smiled.
Smiling back, Elena answered. "Yeah. He grunts a lot, and I mean a lot. I've never met anyone that communicates through grunting, but it seems to work for him. Then there were his eyes, they looked so sad, so tired. He also said that his friends died, too."
"There's a pattern emerging,"
"...There is." Elena hesitantly agreed, thinking the same thing herself. "But you can't blame Jericho for that. It's not like he asked for everyone he cared about to die." She argued, defending him.
"I know, I just, be careful, that's all I'm saying. You said yourself last night that you barely know him, and those scars didn't come from nowhere." Jenna warned gently, worried about Elena getting hurt or possibly worse around this Jericho...even if she knew it was unfair to blame him for everything that had happened to him.
"Well, I've learned a lot more about him tonight. And I know that he's not exactly what you would call a social butterfly, but if I had lost my parents, my brother, and all my friends then I wouldn't be either."
"When you put it like that." Jenna sighed. "Just..."
"I know." Elena smiled back, cutting Jenna off. "But if you actually get to know him you'll see that he's not a bad person, grumpy, really grumpy, but not a bad person. I mean he didn't have to bring Jeremy home tonight, yet he did."
Jenna smirked slyly. "And will I be getting to know him?"
"...Maybe."
"I thought you liked Stefan?"
Running her fingers through her hair, Elena sighed at her current dilemma. "I like them both, but for different reasons. Stefan has this romance-novel stare that makes you feel like you're the only person in the world when he looks at you, and I do feel drawn to him. He had a gorgeous smile that makes your heart skip, cute, really cute, charming, loves reading and writing, and we can spend hours talking and not run out of things to say."
"Yeah, I learned that last night." Jenna teased her niece who blushed a little. "And what about Jericho?"
"Jericho...Jericho's eyes enchant you, piercing your soul with just a look. He's sarcastic, blunt, handsome, really smart, and listening to him rip Tanner a new one is the highlight of my day."
"I'd pay to see that." Jenna smirked, wishing that she had taken Jericho with her. She had only gone there to speak to Tanner about Jeremy, only to be belittled with every sentence and talked down to like she was a kid; the kid sister, as he put it.
Smirking back, Elena finished what she was saying. "And I guess...I dunno, I feel comfortable around him. He doesn't see the girl that lost her parents, doesn't coddle and walk around on eggshells around me, he tells me exactly what he thinks, grunts and seems to tolerate my presence at best."
"...and that screams boyfriend material?"
"He did say that I was attractive." Elena voiced, happy that Jericho thought so. "And he makes me laugh."
Seeing her smile, really smile and not the one that she put on for everyone, Jenna replied. "I take it back. If he makes you laugh, then he is definitely a keeper."
Rather than answering with words, Elena just smiled. Tonight had been great. Not only had she got to spend time with Jericho, but it had easily been the most fun she'd had since her parents died...even if he had tried to ruin Pokémon for her, and refused to admit that he had a hobby, and he definitely did, despite what he said. She also got to know more about the mysterious Jericho Reach, even if everything she learned just made her heart ache.
She couldn't even begin to imagine what it was like to lose everything. Losing her parents had been horrible, but the thought of losing Jenna, Jeremy, Caroline, Bonnie, and all the people she cared about. Yeah, Jericho still had his aunt and all, but to lose everyone else...she'd probably keep to herself too.
It had taken no more than fifteen minutes to reach his place of residence. Heading through the gate, Six used his neural interface to close it. Heading up the driveway, he approached one of the three garage doors. Using his interface again, he opened the door and drove inside. The garage was empty since Dot was in Richmond, deciding to stay there tonight to catch up on the work that had been halted due to Sheriff Forbes visitation.
Cutting the engine, he climbed out of the Charger and shut the door behind him. Using his neural interface for a third and final time, the garage door closed shrouding the room in darkness. His eyes adjusting, the augmentations granted him his own biological night vision, he walked over to the door and entered his place of residence.
Stepping into the hallway, he closed the door behind him before walking down it and into the front room that like the rest of the building was shrouded in darkness. His footsteps echoing across the dark room, he headed over to the couch and sat down. Sitting there for a minute, he listened to the empty silence that greatly reminded him of the last eight years where the only company he had was the nothingness of space and the people he was sent to eliminate.
Slipping his hand underneath his hoodie, Six freed the dog tags that were under his attire. Gently brushing his thumb across them as if they would shatter at the slightest bit of pressure, he spread them out in the palm of his hand. Staring at the names, the faces, and final words of who they belonged entered his mind.
"You're on your own Noble; Carter out."
"Where does he got off calling a demolition op Priority One,"
"I'll do what's necessary, sir...Good luck."
"I'm ready! How 'bout you?!"
"Tell 'em to make it count."
Hearing their voices as clearly as the day the words were spoken, Six reached out with his other hand and when his fingertips were almost touching them he clenched his fist, squeezing so tightly that his knuckles cracked. Closing his eyes, he buried it away, but not completely. His pain was a tool to be employed against his enemies, even if he didn't have any in this century...none that he was cognizant of. But he was certain that it would only be a matter of time,
A hard knock suddenly reverberated through the house, cutting through the silence and Six from his thoughts. Several more following, he placed the dog tags back under his attire and got up from the couch. Crossing the front room and heading back the way he came, he turned down the hallway to see a figure standing behind the frosted glass.
"Come out, come out, I know you're in there." A voice, a rather obnoxious one called out. Since he had shut the gate, the person was a trespasser rather than a visitor, but then there wasn't much distinction between the two. Opening the door, he stepped outside and into the light that was positioned next to the door and looked down at his...guest.
He had unkept black hair that should've been combed back or shaved off, striking blue eyes filled with arrogance, high cheekbones with attractive features, and a smile that displeased him. His attire consisted of a leather jacket, a black tee, and jeans that looked a few sizes to big; and just like Stefan Salvatore, there was something about him that put him on edge.
"Well," The black-haired stranger began, looking him up and down. "Aren't we a big boy."
"You should consult an ophthalmologist, there is no we."
"Funny, too."
"My comment was factual, not humorous."
"...right."
"What is your purpose here?"
The stranger grinned. "So demanding, so serious. What happened to that sensitive soul that was pouring his heart out to sweet, sweet Elena this evening?"
Detecting his desideration, Six expressed his abhorrence for his kind. "You're a paedophile."
"Oh, come on, you've seen her in those tight little jeans. She is certainly no child."
Six disagreed. "You appear to be in your mid-twenties, whereas Elena is between sixteen to seventeen years of age. You tone alludes to you desiring an underage female, which by its very definition is paedophilia. Your remark was also erroneous. If I poured my heart out, I would be dead."
"...what?"
"Furthermore, the heart is an organ, not a liquid; it cannot be poured out." Six elucidated, hoping to clear up any misinformation. "It is comprised of muscle tissue meaning that it cannot be liquefied."
"Alright, that does it!"
"You're leaving?"
His inquiry only made the stranger grit his teeth. "No, I'm not leaving!"
"Well, you can't stay here."
The stranger's nostrils flared. "I was just going to feed on you, but now? You brought this on yourself!" He declared before punching him in the chest so hard that the supersoldier was launched off the ground and into the air.
Punched above his place of residence, Six was directed towards the garden. More surprised by the speed than the strength, having endured much harder hits in his lifetime, he righted himself and landed as best he could, impacting the ground and rolling across the grass. Eventually stopping, he grunted uncomfortable and pushed himself back to his feet.
"Well, I'll be." The stranger chuckled. Looking over where the voice came from, Six saw him standing on the slope with a smug, but impressed smirk. "See, I knew that there was something different about you, but to fall from a good 40ft and getting up from it."
Ignoring his comment, and that he possessed augmented strength, something that should have been impossible in this era, Six still tried to discourage him from following this course of action. "You do not want this fight."
The stranger made a face. "Pretty sure I do." He disagreed as his blue eyes turned soulless black with veins around them and his canines grew until they resembled fangs, which threw the Spartan. "But trust me," He grinned cruelly at him. "It won't be a fight."
Expecting it this time, Six entered what had coined as Spartan Time. His reaction time increased over 300x times making it seem like the world was going in slow motion, and watched as the stranger ran at him at speeds that not even a Skirmisher could dream of matching. Staying where he was and waiting for him to reach him, when he did, he reacted.
A punch thrown at him, Six blocked it with his arm earning a dumbfounded look from the stranger. Capitalizing on it, he jabbed him in the trachea making him gasp, bringing him to his knees. "Agreed." He concurred, answering his previous remark. Grabbing him from under the arm, he attempted to question him only to be punched, launched back into the air and above the trees.
Knocked into the air for a second time, Six found his patience beginning to wear thin. Tackled, he spun out of control as the stranger leapt from the ground and slammed into him. Reacting on reflex, he gripped a handful of hair to hold him in place before proceeding to punch his face mercilessly, breaking bone and caving his face in with each hit, blood covering his fist with every strike and earning gurgling, brutal screams that were unintelligible and break through the silence of the night.
Stopping his assault as they neared the ground, he slammed his boots into him and kicked himself away, slowing his own decent. Hitting the ground for a second time, he rolled across the grass as a snapping sound cut through the darkness. Rolling to a stop, he got back to his feet and looked over at where the sound came from to see the stranger that had somehow been augmented, and the one that likely attacked Victoria Donovan, laying lifelessly on the ground, their body managed and deformed.
"Good going, Six." The Spartan berated himself mentally. One rule, and that was that he couldn't kill in this era. They were already messing with history enough without going around killing people, no matter how much he desired to return to some sort of normality by getting back in his armour and eliminating Insurrectionists. But in his defence, it was only a paedophile.
Hearing bones snapping and a painful scream, he watched in disturbing fascination at the accelerated healing factor that the stranger possessed that far surpassed his own that only allowed him to heal a little quicker than non-augmented humans and clog his wounds up, preventing him from bleeding out. Within moments the bones that had been broken snapped back into the place, his mutilated face healing rapidly, as did his caved in skull.
Gasping painfully as he stood on his healed leg, the stranger glared at him with his soulless black eyes. "T-There's, T-There's no way you're human."
"Look who's talking." Six retorted walking towards the stranger who hesitated for a second before racing towards him. Blocking another punch, he redirected it and jabbed him in the liver earning a pained look as he stumbled back. Disoriented, he slipped his arm around his, holding him in place and punched him in the stomach making him lurch forward, then gurgled, and gagged when rammed his knee into his face, caving it in for a second time.
Pulling him back, Six delivered and uppercut that broke his jaw and left him oscillated. His head swaying and his eyes rolling around, he watched as started to heal in a matter of seconds. "What are you?" He interrogated. Nothing was making sense. No organic being should've been able to move at those speeds, it would've put so much strain on the body that they would have ripped out their Achilles Tendon or tear their Soleus.
Then there was the healing factor; he'd never witnessed anything like it. ONI were amoral, if an accelerated healing factor was achievable then there was no line they wouldn't cross to incorporate it with the Spartan augmentations if it was viable; and it certainly would've been beneficial. A soldier that could come back from life threatening injuries in moments? What military organization wouldn't want that?
There was also the enhanced strength, something that also should have been impossible for this era.
His hand shot to his face, intercepting the punch that was thrown at him. Applying pressure, the strangers fully healed face contorted and gritted their teeth, showing their fangs, as he squeezed his hand around him slowly bringing him to his knees. The second that he was, he rammed his knee into his face earning a crack and blood nose, then slammed his knee into his sternum kicking him away.
Watching him slide across the grass, Six heard him breath painfully, cradling his chest. Hearing him approaching, he forced himself to his feet and threw another punch, one that was intercepted by his hand, another hurled at him, he caught it with his other and twisted them around making him squirm. "What are you." He repeated for a second time, something he didn't appreciate.
Gritting their teeth and fangs, the stranger begrudgery answered. "You first," They shot back defiantly, despite the pain they were in. "You're no vampire,"
"Vampires are fictious."
"Doubt your own eyes?" The stranger retorted, barring their teeth and fangs at him. "And you might smell human, but no human has this sort of strength. The first punch should have killed you, and if that didn't then the fall should have. So what are you?"
"Asking the questions." Six responded coolly. "You attacked the girl." He stated rather than asked.
"I've attacked many girls; you'll need to be more specific."
Dissatisfied with his response and caviller attitude, Six twisted his hands even further bringing him to his knees before throwing his head back, then drove it forward as hard as he could and headed butted him. Hearing a crack, followed by a scream as his nose was broken again, then slammed his boot into his chest so hard that he broke it and sent him back across the garden.
Pursing him, he found him bleeding and broken on the ground. Not worried about hurting him knowing that he would just keep healing, he dropped down and sat on him making him gasp from having his augmented weight sitting on his broken chest. Gripping his hair and pulling his face up, he landed another punch, then another, and another as he renewed his assault, mutilating his face with each brutal strike, hitting the same place every time.
Defending his broken and mangled face, he brought his hands up only to let out a disturbing and inhuman gurgling scream when his arm was broken, the bones snapping and piercing through the leather jacket.
"You attacked Victoria Donovan. Why?" Six interrogated, and in hindsight he probably shouldn't have broken his face. Waiting patiently for it to heal, and when it did, he finally got a response from the so-called vampire."
"...W-Who?" They breathed gaspingly.
"The girl in the woods."
"I needed her blood."
"What's wrong with yours?"
"I need to feed." He growled almost...hungrily. With the only arm that wasn't broken, he grabbed a handful of grass and dirt and lobbed it at him, hitting him in the face. blinding him. Throwing him off and freeing himself, he got on top of him and tried to bite his neck only to be socked in the jaw, desolating it and rolled down the hill with him and towards the lake.
Rolling down to the bottom of the garden and stopping by the lake, Six turned them over so that he was back on top and renewed his assault. Pummelling his face repeatedly, blood covered his fists and coated ground, his screams piercing the darkness. Their arms coming up again, he grabbed one of the bones that were still sticking out and ripped it out earning an agonizing howl, one that only grew when he stabbed the bone through his shoulder, pinning him to the ground.
Ignoring his screams, Six threw another punch only for him to bite his arm, piercing his flesh and felt his blood being drained. Not appreciating the sensation of being sucked by another man, he viciously grabbed the side of his face and gouged his eye out with his thumb, burying it deep within the eye socket as he started to choke on his blood, spitting it out like it was venom.
Burying his thumb deeper into his eyes socket, Six staggered when another punch landed, the knuckles splitting his cheek open with blood squirting out and was knocked off into the mud between the lake and garden. Hearing the desperation in his scream, he looked up to see vampire rip out the bone from his shoulder and was confused when the bone seemed to have aged decades within the span of ten seconds.
The bone thrown at him, Six caught it. Tossing it to one side, he scrambled to his feet, his face and clothes covered with blood and mud, and leapt after him as he tried to escape. Capturing his ankle, he yanked him back and grabbed the back of his head and smashing his face into the ground repeatedly. Flipping him around, he returned to beating his already broken and bloody face with him bringing up his arms, screaming as he brought up his broken, bone-missing one.
Blocking with his broken one, Six grabbed it and viciously ripped it off along with the sleeve jacket. Screaming and looking at their now missing limb, he brought his only remaining arm up and socked the Spartan in the face, knocking him off. Hyperventilating, he scrambled to his feet and pressed his hand where blood was oozing out of and ran, tripping and staggering to get away and went to the only place he could think of...the lake.
Hearing a splash, Six followed the trail of blood that led into the lake and watched as he made a desperate break for it, but much slower than he previously had. Getting up, he thought about giving chase...but opted not too since while he might have been able to react, he was outclassed in speed. Taking a few deep breaths, the adrenaline and Spartan Time slowly began to fade. Slowly walking over to where the discarded arm was located, he picked it up and as it slide from the jacket sleeve his eyes widened slightly when he saw that like the bone it had aged rapidly, already decaying.
Holding the decomposing arm, Six was only left with questions. His mind race, he tried to make sense regarding what had just occurred. Enhanced strength, speed, a healing factor, and limbs and bones that decayed within moments, fangs, a need for blood, even draining his own. "Vampires are fictious. Doubt your own eyes." Their brief conversation repeated in his head.
"Could..." He started to say, only to shake his head immediately. There would be a logical explanation behind this, he just needed to find it. He had been raised on the principle of science, and everything could be explained. It was some government experiment that had gone wrong, or right, depending on whom you asked. Unlikely, but not impossible. And if it was then it was possible that there were more like him...and if there were, well, it could've meant that they hadn't been transported back to the twenty-first century but rather some alternate universe, some tangent timeline.
Noble Industries had only been around for three months and while they had brought advancements to the world it was nothing that would allow for augmented humans, at least not chemically. Cybernetically, perhaps, but not in the same way the Spartans and original Orion-program were.
Forgetting about it for the time being, Six slowly lowered himself to the ground, grimacing slightly from his injuries. Rubbing his hand across his face, blood and mud smeared across it. Damn the consequences of time travel. He should have just ripped his spine out and been done with it. He was a threat; he had proved that by his actions tonight. Remembering what was in his pocket, he slipped his hand into said pocket and pulled out his cellular device to see that the screen was broken. Tapping the side, the broken screen didn't even light up.
"Hm." Six grunted, displeased that his workload had been increased. "Damn, paedophile."
Driving home after school had finished, Elena anxiously gripped the wheel. Jericho hadn't been in, and nobody could get hold of him. She had tried ringing and texting him, as had Caroline, and yet nothing. She might have been overacting, but she was worried that something had happened to him.
It had been sixteen hours since she last saw him and for all she knew he might have crashed, or depending on where he lived, he might have been attacked by that wild animal that had killed several people already.
Turning onto Maple Street, Elena was surprised to find an Aston Martin DB9 parked outside her house. Pulling up behind it, she turned the key to switch the engine off. Grabbing her bag, she climbed out and locked her Ford Escape before walking up the path.
"Is that you, Elena?"
Hearing her aunt's voice calling from the kitchen as she entered the house, Elena answered. "Yeah!" Hanging up her coat and bag on the hook, she walked through the living room and towards the kitchen. "Did you know that there's a..." Her voice trailed off when she realized that they weren't alone.
"Afternoon, Elena." A British voice greeted.
Shaking off her stupor, Elena smiled back. "Hey." She greeted the celebrity that was sitting at the table with Jenna. "I know you, you're Dot Amita."
"Indeed, I am." Dot smiled at Elena. "It's good to finally be able to put a face to the name. I've heard a lot about you."
"You have?"
"I have." Dot replied. "Aside from what your aunt has told me, Jericho also mentioned you...well, he grunted, but that's his equivalent." She remarked getting a smile from Elena. "But I'm sure that you're wondering why he wasn't at school today."
"A little." Elena said, playing off how she had been worrying about him all day.
"Well after leaving yours last night, and you really should give yourself a pat on the back for that, I've been trying to get him out of house for over three months, anything to stop him grunting and brooding 24/7." Dot remarked with Elena and Jenna smiling. "But I've gotten off track. When he got home last night there was an intruder on our property, which he had to fight off."
Elena's smile dropped immediately. "Is he okay?"
"A few cuts and bruises, but nothing serious. He was more annoyed that his phone was broken." Dot informed Elena. "And he was planning on going to school, but I managed to convince him to stay home with a little well-placed logic, his kryptonite...just for future reference." She finished with a not-so-subtle wink to the brunette who blushed.
"Um, what happened to the intruder?"
"Sadly, he got away. But if I were to go out on a limb, I'd say that he is sorely regretting his decision to fight Jericho; but then most do." Dot voiced knowingly. "But if you'd like to see him then you're very welcome too. I'm sure he'll love the company." She said with a devious smile, then looked at Jenna. "As long as it okay with you."
Sitting at the table, Jenna shrugged. "Elena is a big girl, I'm sure she can make up her own mind."
"I don't actually know where you live." The brunette admitted, not objecting to seeing Jericho to make sure that he was okay.
"You drive?"
"Yeah."
Dot smiled. "Wonderful. I can give directions. It's only fifteen minutes from here depending on the traffic, and you can't miss it, it's the only house out that way."
"If you're going then you should take the house keys with you, just in case."
Elena looked at Jenna. "In case of what?"
"In case me or Jeremy aren't here when you get back." Jenna told Elena. "Dot hasn't had the chance to see Mystic Falls since moving here, so tonight I'm showing her around."
"Which I'm greatly looking forward too. Just a pair of aunties hitting the town." Dot tittered before looking at Elena. "Now then, those directions."
Arriving home after his fourth day of school, Stefan walked up the path and into the Salvatore Boarding Home. Spending most of his time cleaning up after Damon who like he promised was determined to cause him an eternity of misery, he hadn't been able to see Elena, the only reason that he was still in Mystic Falls.
First meeting her the night her parents died, he had pulled her from the SUV and got her to safety just like her father had pleaded for him but failed to save them before they drowned at the bottom of the lake. He should've left then and there, he had only come back to see how Zach, but after seeing her, he had to know her. She was virtually identical to Katherine, at least physically.
Elena was gentle, kind, and warm, everything that Katherine wasn't. He wanted to see her last night, but after using his powers to compel Vicki Donovan to forget what she saw and fleeing before Matt could see him, he had been exhausted. But with the festival tonight,
About to open the front door, Stefan watched as it was pulled open with Zach standing before him. "Good, you're finally home."
"What's wrong?"
"It's Damon,"
Sighing, wondering what new headache awaited him, Stefan replied. "What's he done this time?"
"Just come with me." Zach practically pleaded.
Confused, Stefan followed him. Closing the door behind him, he made his way through the house and stepped into the parlor where his heart immediately when he found Damon on the couch nursing a whiskey...with the only arm he had left, his hand trembling as he stared out the window. His face covered with bruises, and a bandage wrapped around his head, covering his eye.
"D-Damon?" Horrified at the state that he was in, because despite what he thought, he still cared and loved his brother, Stefan approached him only for his eyes to widened when he caught his scent. "...You're human."
"Observant as ever." Damon muttered, his usual cockiness gone and replace with dread. He had already figured that out when he had stopped healing, followed by his enhanced senses fading leaving him mortal.
With a shocked expression, Stefan persisted. "How?" He questioned, staring at his human brother. There had always been stories about a cure for vampirism, but he had always thought that it was just that, a story, one created to give vampires hope that it was possible to reclaim their humanity, their real humanity.
"I encountered a friend of yours."
Stefan frowned. "A friend of mine?"
"He mentioned you by name when he was talking to Elena on that Charger of his."
"Charger." Stefan thought to himself, and the only person he knew that owned one was, "Jericho? Jericho did this to you?"
Looking at Stefan, Damon rested his only remaining eye on him. "I never caught his name; I was too busy fighting for my life against that psychopath." Flashes of the previous night entered his mind, fists smashing and breaking his face and skull apart with a brutal, and terrifying calmness, empty blue eyes looking down at him, impaled by his own bone, his arm ripped off and discarded like it was nothing.
"A fight that I'm sure that you didn't start." Zach countered. "Sounds like you finally met your match." Damon might have been his very, very distant uncle, but there was no love lost between them. It wasn't even a contest, he'd pick Stefan every single time.
Before Damon could say anything to Zach, Stefan interjected. "Describe him."
"He was like a big ball of sunshine."
"That's him." Stefan muttered. "And he ripped your arm off, a vampire?" He asked, trying to wrap his head around it...and yet, he accepted it immediately. From the moment that they had locked eyes in the reception he had known that there was something different about him. It wasn't just the scars, or the cold blue eyes that put him on edge, but his mannerisms, they all screamed military, as did the way he spoke.
"So, he was another vampire?"
Damon stopped Zach right there. "No. Whatever that thing is, he's not human. He might smell it, might even look it, but he's not. I punched him so hard that he went over his house and landed in the garden. Every bone should have been shattered, yet he got up like it was nothing. He possesses the strength of a centuries old vamp that he used to tear my off, rip my bone and out and stab it through my shoulder with enough force to pin me to the ground."
"How can you know for sure that he wasn't a...
"Vampires and humans have different scents." Stefan explained, cutting Zach off. "And Jericho is definitely human."
Ignoring Stefan, Damon continued. "And none of his wounds healed. I split his cheek open and just kept bleeding...he didn't even react to it."
"It still doesn't explain how you're human."
Damon frowned deeply, only to grimace when he narrowed his crushed eye that was still in the socket. "His blood. The second that I bite his arm and started feeding on him I knew there was something wrong."
"Jericho's blood...cures vampirism?"
Damon scoffed. "Cures is a matter of opinion. And it wasn't straight away, but I could feel myself growing weaker like I was being infected by disease."
"Is it permanent?"
Looking at Zach, Damon retorted. "How should I know?" He retaliated, but prayed that it wasn't, really hoping that it was like vampire blood being in your system and only lasted for twenty-four hours. If not...he refused to live like this, to be mortal. Stefan might have hated being a vampire, but he loved all the perks that came with it, the power, and he'd damned if he was about to spend the rest of his life as a human. If this was a permanent cure, he'd just have to find a vampire to turn him again...even if it meant that he wouldn't be as powerful as he once was, being a new vampire and all, assuming that the clock was reset.
He wanted to leave, to stay the hell away from this Jericho...but he couldn't. After a hundred and forty-five years, he finally had the chance to free Katherine from the tomb and he wouldn't rest until he did. But first, he needed to get himself one of those arms to replace the one that he lost.
"And Jericho?" Stefan suddenly asked. "What happened to him?" He hadn't been at school today and while he didn't really think about it at the time, but now? He had so many questions.
"Oh, right, show concern for him but not your own brother, one that he nearly killed."
Stefan responded with a flat look. "Because you tried feeding on him." He countered smoothly, trying to figure out exactly what Jericho was...and how his blood could somehow cure vampirism.
Slowing down and pulling into the driveway after following the directions that Dot had given her, Elena stopped outside Jericho home. Heading through the gate, she passed what looked to be a workshop of sorts and followed the path up to the ultra-modern house that sat atop the hill.
Pulling up outside, she turned the engine off and jumped out of her SUV. Wandering over to the front door, she rang the doorbell and waited. After a couple of moments, she saw movement coming from behind the frosted glass before the door opened to reveal Jericho. Rather than his typical black hoodie, or hoodies that he was usually wearing, he had on a black tee that hugged his muscular body tightly, leaving very little to the imagination.
However, it was the bandage around his arm, his battered knuckles, and the bruises across his face that made her pause, as did the stiches across his cheek. "Elena."
"Hey." Elena greeted back. "I heard what happened, I see what happened when you got home. Are you okay?" She asked worryingly, his injuries way worse than Dot had made them out to be.
"I was." Jericho grunted causing Elena's worried frown to be replaced with a smirk"And if you'd allow me to hypothesise. Dot."
Elena nodded. "Yeah. She was at mine when I got home from school."
"My apologises." Jericho said sincerely getting another smirk from Elena. "And I suppose it would be discourteous not to invite you in." He remarked, stepping to the side to allow her entrance.
Stepping into the house, Elena smiled up at him. "So chivalrous." She teased softly. "Want me to take my shoes off?"
"Are you staying long?"
"Are you asking me too?"
Looking down at the smirking brunette, Jericho retorted. "Would you care if I said no?"
"Probably not."
"Hm." Jericho grunted, closing the door. Turning, he walked back down the hallway with Elena following once she took her shoes off. "Do you require a beverage?" He inquired, even if it sounded more like a grumble.
"Sure." Elena smiled, accepting the offer. Reaching the end of the hallway, she followed Jericho into the front room and was amazed at the sheer size of it, as well as the massive garden and lake that could be seen through the large glass windows that gave the room natural light. Her eyes were suddenly drawn to the huge flatscreen on the wall that was around 90 inches, possibly bigger, and easily the biggest TV that she had ever seen.
"Big TV." She remarked, then coyly smirked up at him. "Compensating for something?"
Looking down at Elena, Jericho replied. "Yes. A low tolerance for company." He stated which only made her smirk grow. "Sit." He told her, gesturing to the couch.
"So demanding." The brunette teased as she walked around and sat on the large, padded, U-shaped couch that was very comfortable.
Grunting, Jericho moved in the direction of the kitchen. "Hot or cold?"
"Cold, please!" Elena called after him as he disappeared down another hallway and led into what he guessed was the kitchen. While she waited, she glanced around the large, spacious front room that was basically the entire floor. Looking over her shoulder, he saw a staircase that led up to another floor that had a small balcony; and another staircase that led down.
Hearing footsteps, Elena turned back just as Jericho returned holding two glass water bottles and offered one to her. "Thanks." She smiled, accepting the bottle that was cold to the touch and watched as he walked around and sat down on the couch, but noticed the slight grimace as he did. "You okay?"
"Just a bruised abdominal. Nothing I can't handle."
"How bad?"
"Tolerable."
Elena frowned. "How did you get hurt?"
"Physical trauma."
Not even surprised, that being his go-too response for all his injuries, Elena continued. "Aren't you on any painkillers?"
"No."
"Why not?"
Looking at her, Jericho answered. "My metabolism is too high, making drugs ineffective."
"Can't you just up the dosage?"
"It's very high."
"So... what, you have to sit here and suffer in silence?" Elena asked rhetorically. "At least tell me you've applied an icepack to the area?"
"I've applied an icepack to the area."
Smirking, Elena gave him a look. "You know, I really have no idea why anyone would want to hurt you."
"Agreed. But not everyone shares my sunny disposition."
Her smirk growing at yet another sarcastic retort from him, Elena unfastened the lid to her bottle of water. Bringing it to her lips, she took a small sip only for her eyes to widened slightly and pull the bottle away from her lips. "What is it?"
"Hydrogen water."
"Oh. Well, it's nice."
"I aim to please." Jericho voiced dryly as he brought his own bottle of water to his scarred lips.
As he did, Elena stared at his bruised knuckles that gripped the bottle. Waiting for him to finish, and when he did, "I was talking to your aunt..."
"I've already apologized for that."
Elena continued, pretending that she hadn't been interrupted even if her smile betrayed her. "She was saying that the person that attacked you got away."
"Hm."
"Did you see who it was."
"I did."
"And?"
"And, what?"
Groaning, Elena felt like it would be easier talking to a brick wall at this point. "Did you at least give the cops their description?"
"I did. But there is little they can do."
"What, so they're going to do nothing?" Elena asked incredulously. "Some lunatic came to your home and did that to your face."
Looking down at her, Jericho replied. "What's one more scar?"
Frowning, Elena really didn't like how nonchalantly he said it. "You shouldn't have any scars. And what happened to your arm?"
"Physical trauma."
"Were you stabbed?"
"No."
"Then what..."
"I was bitten."
Shocked, Elena expressed it. "They bit you?!"
"Hm."
"They sound like a complete psychopath."
Jericho grunted. "Not the word I'd use." He remarked. Forgetting about his assailant, he changed the subject to a more pressing matter. "While I appreciate your concern, your visitation was unnecessary."
"That almost sounded like a compliment." Elena teased softly. "And I wanted to make sure that you were okay. I was worried that something had happened to you when you didn't turn up for school and nobody could get hold of you."
Unacquainted to people showing him concern, Jericho's eyes shifted uncomfortably. "That was not my intention." He voiced quietly, unsure what the correct response was in this situation, one he had never been in before. "But one I should remedy." He declared and tried to get up, but before he could...
"And where are you going?"
"To repair or construct a new cellular device."
"You're hurt."
"Well, fortunately for me, I won't be utilizing my abdomen."
Elena strongly agreed. "You're right, because you're going to stay exactly where you are. I'll text Caroline and tell her you're fine, and you can rest up." She expressed firmly, then smirked deviously. "And since I'm your guest, and it would be discourteous not too," She quickly reached over and yanked the TV remote from the coffee table. "Yoink!"
"Yoink?" Jericho repeated, discontented with her butchering the English language in his place of residence. "And correct me if I'm wrong,"
Turning off the news and bringing up the menu of the unfamiliar cable or satellite TV, Elena smirked. "I will." She teased, repeating his words from last night verbatim.
"But I thought that you were attending the social gathering with Bonnie and Caroline tonight."
"My friend,"
"Acquaintance."
"Is hurt." Elena continued, fighting back a smile as this helpful comment. "Going to the festival and watching the comet is the last thing on my mind. So, here I am."
"Lucky me."
Smirking at his dry tone, Elena scooted a little closer and got comfortable. Looking through the channels and seeing that he apparently owned all the packages of the unknown cable or satellite TV, which was probably made by his company since he was definitely that Jericho Reach, his aunt being Dot Amita all but confirming his identity, she looked for something good to watch; and ensuring that Jericho do anything that would aggravate his injuries.
And cut! And here is the next chapter of The Noble Diaries, and the conclusion of the second episode, not to mention my first update of the year, hooray! I hope you all had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.
The fight between Six and Damon will have a ripple effect, especially for the first few episodes such as him not grabbing Vicki, or Caroline, etc, etc. And speaking of the fight, it probably wasn't the best, but I didn't want to kill Damon this chapter, hence why I didn't just have Six rip his head off or tear his spine out...that and he made a vow not to kill. Maiming is fine, especially since he has a healing factor,
But they'll change in time when he decides to start protecting humanity again from the supernatural.
Not really much to say other than let me know what you all thought.