Divergent Warriors Rise Of The Hunter

by BeeSamusnChief

Alternate version of Different Galaxies Same Fighting Hearts. After destroying the first Halo, Master Chief on his way to warn Earth of the incoming Covenant invasion. On his Journey he accidentally enlists an extraordinary toddler to join him in the war against the Covenant.

1. Chapter 1

Apologies that it took so long for the upload. I wanted to get out at the very least two chapters before publishing. And I had quite a bit of writers block writing the first two chapters. But for those of you who have read my other story Different Galaxies Same Fighting Hearts. This is an alternate version of that story. The beginning will take place much earlier, during Halo 2. It's difficult enough trying to write it in this time period. I'm not completely following the direct lore from the Halo books such as First Strike. I will be heavily simplifying how Chief got to Earth before Halo 2.

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"Chief, you're out of your mind. Did you listen to a word Cortana, said to you?" Sergeant Johnson hissed over the radio at the piloting Spartan.

"I did. We need that ship in order to gain slip space travel." Master Chief responded as he followed a Covenant vessel into a large planet's atmosphere.

On the surface of the dusty rocky planet in Crateria, a small toddler ran around playfully. Giggling as she continued to test her own new growing strengths.

"Do not stray too far, youngling!" A tall, slender, elderly, alien bird called out.

"Don't restrict her from becoming something greater than her human form." A larger armoured bird hissed at the cautious bird.

"Raven Beak, she only just arrived here. She's barely recovered from the infusion and genetic modifications. After several weeks of modifications and genetic enhancements Samus, has only just began adapting to her new body. It will take several Terran years for her body to fully take to her mutations." Grey Voice hissed back at the Mawkin tribe leader.

"Old Bird, confirmed it has been almost six months since her arrival, Grey Voice. Your concern contradicts what you and Old Bird, have been doing. Your mild lessons are holding her back. My blood flows strongly through her, let her indulge it's power." The armoured Chozo scoffed with a head shake, watching as the young human toddler ran off playfully.

"Your blood is not the only strain flowing through her veins. She's a human infant, not your experiment. She is still in need of adequate care and attention for a hatchling. You'd be wise to remember that, Raven Beak." Grey Voice warned the Mawkin.

"Will you remember your own words? None of us has ever raised a child let alone, a human one. She is one of us now. Are you not using her for the sake of carrying on the Chozo legacy?" The Mawkin challenged the protective Thoha.

Grey Voice furrowed his brow with a look of disgust. "We did not infuse her with the blood of the Chozo and modify her genetics for personal gain. We did so, so that such a young human specimen could survive on our world. I was against bringing her to Zebes, but the Space Pirates had left us with no other choice!"

Raven Beak once again gave a scoff this time with a venomous chuckle. "You did call upon me for the sake of helping you with the human child. My blood has been physically enhancing to the girl, beyond your Thoha capabilities and genetic modifications. After taking a sample of the girl's new blood, you yourself asked me to give Mother Brain, armour templates so she may create the girl a permanent warrior's skin once she is of age..."

"In time, when she is ready, the armour will protect Samus, from the elements of this harsh world..." Grey Voice replied turning his glance away from the red eyed Mawkin leader.

"You lie to yourself, Thoha... There's a reason you infused her with the blood of the Mawkin." Raven Beak retorted, he knew that their dying breed that was the Chozo saw this young specimen as an opportunity to carry out the Chozo legacy as a protector of the galaxies. "You'll weaken her by not allowing her to explore her true Chozo abilities."

Grey Voice growled lowering his head he grumbled. "Once Samus's motor skills and cognitive functions pass this infant stage. We will begin the combat training, amongst our own training, and lessons. Mother Brain, has already begun to make disposable suits for Samus's many growth stages. But she will not wear any until she has passed her infant stage and fully adapted to her augmented genetics."

"Raven Beak, I assure you the little one, has been discovering her new strengths. Have you not seen it within the short amount of time you have been with her? Samus, will grow much stronger in due time. We must be patient." A stubbier much older bird's old voice reassured the impatient warrior.

The large warrior tribe leader once again scoffed in disgust. "I am losing patience with you two. I must return to ZDR. In due time I know your Thoha tribe members will require my assistance with issues of the X"

"Indeed we will. Thank you again for your assistance, Raven Beak. We look forward to hearing from you ." Old Bird kindly replied allowing the tribe leader to exit the conversation.

"As do I about the child's growth progress..." Raven Beak replied in a venomous tone as he swiftly turned, his cloak swooshing as he briskly made his way to his ship.

Grey Voice grumbled narrowing his eyes as he watched the Mawkin leader's ship take off. "The child's progress... he doesn't even care..."

"What is the matter, Grey Voice? You seem agitated." Old Bird said as he leaned on his staff to walk closer to his friend.

Grey Voice sighed with a groan taking note that Samus was nearly out of their sight. "Mother, please monitor, Samus. Report anything suspiciously unusual."

"Yes, of course." A floating metal one eyed sphere replied floating off in the direction Samus had run off in.

"Grey Voice?" Old Bird called again.

"I don't trust the Mawkin's you know that. Raven Beak, is the pinnacle to why I distrust them. I was fine with donating my blood to the girl. Why did we have to taint the transfusion with a mixture?" Grey Voice spat, even though he knew the reasons why.

"Hmm... I understand your scepticism as this blend and genetic augmentations has never been done before. But you know as well as I, that it was a necessary blend." Old Bird nodded with a smile, confusing Grey Voice.

"Was it a necessary blend? Was it really necessary to bring the human child back to what would be an inhospitable planet to her?" Grey voice was beginning to get annoyed with his friend.

Old Bird chuckled softly as Samus disappear out of sight. "If we are to continue to raise the human child as one of us, as Raven Beak mentioned she inherently becomes a protector of the universe. The Mawkin share a warrior's courage, tenacious strength, and power. Regardless as Chozo we're dying out. Samus, is young. She is our prodigy now. You know why we did this. Be grateful Raven Beak did not demand to bring Samus, back with him."

"I understand, old friend. But there's a part of me that is concerned for her wellbeing. Her Chozo DNA now heavily influenced by the Mawkin, I don't want to take advantage of a lesser species, just for the sake of the Chozo's benefit." Grey Voice sighed as he and his friend began walking in the direction Samus had run off in.

"I know you care greatly for our foundling, despite your contradictory comments." Old Bird smiled warmly as they walked. "Samus, has been extremely keen to her lessons. She wants this just as much as we do. You too must see this?"

"I do."

Samus giggled as she chased her playful pet Rabbilis Pyonchi. She had been adapting to her new life on Zebes. It had taken almost an entire month for her to finally begin crawling out of the shell of trauma that had encased her since being forced to leave her home world.

"You're wondering too far." A floating metal orb appeared in front of the little girl, causing the toddler to gasp and fall backwards.

Pyonchi stood tall his giant long ears pricked forward as he sniffed the air, catching a very odd, hostile, scent.

"Mother..." Samus grumbled pushing herself off the dirt, as Pyonchi tried to gesture for her to follow him back to the Chozo.

"Do not whine child. You are too far from your caretakers. You are still adapting and recovering from your new genetic modifications. You need to return immediately..." as Mother Brain had attempted to scold the child, an unknown alien language echoed through the valley.

Catching a glare of light coming from a quarry up ahead. Samus of course let her curiosity get the better of her. Pyonchi was far from interested, running back in hopes to get the Chozo's attention. Slowly crawling up to the ledge of the quarry Samus tilted her head curiously at the sight below. Aliens of different shapes and sizes roamed around. One tall golden armoured alien was clearly giving orders to the other aliens scurrying around the quarry.

"Your disobedience will not go unnoticed!" Mother Brain hissed as she floated above the curious child.

"Mother, look. New friends." The toddler's tiny voice carried through the quarry gaining the many aliens attention.

Mother Brain followed the child's pointing finger to the aliens below. "Invaders!"

The aliens below began scaling the quarry to get to the two above. Mother Brain quickly abandoned the child she loathed, flying back to the elderly birds.

Samus watched in confusion as Mother Brain flew off in a panic. She didn't have much time to wonder as she was violently ripped off of the ground and shouted at by a massive alien with a split mouth.

"Where is the Oracle, human?!" The violent alien demanded to the terrified toddler.

"Raven! Grey!" Samus cried out squirming in the aliens grasp.

"Ashkar?" The Sangheili repeated one of the foreign words the girl had screamed.

"Mother Brain, how did the invaders get past the planetary defensive shields?! Why didn't you deploy the planet defences!?" Old Bird asked the anxious AI. Pyonchi tugged at the elderly bird's robes trying to lead Old Bird back to Samus, while Mother Brain corralled Old Bird, and the rest of the local Chozo onto an elevator that led to a bunker in Brinstar in the depths of Zebes.

"Protocol says to evacuate all Chozo to Brinstar if an invasion occurred." Mother Brain argued as she activated the elevator beginning their decent.

"You failed to activate the planet's foreign proximity sensors!" Grey Voice hissed at Mother Brain.

"I'm only following protocol. I will deploy the defences. But I have to get you to safety first..."

Grey Voice angrily pushed through the crowd of Chozo to get to the AI. "Damn the protocols! Override! We must return to the surface to retrieve, Samus!"

"We're nearing the destination..."

"Change course. Now!" Grey Voice demanded the AI.

"I cannot, until the lift has completed its course. We must allow the others to stay in safety while we return to the surface." Mother Brain replied gesturing to the other Chozos aboard the massive elevator.

Grey Voice turned away in frustration, as Old Bird walked closer to the AI, Pyonchi pinned his ears at Mother Brain clearly just as disgusted as Grey Voice was. It was times like this that he wished he had wings

"What is the planetary status? How many invaders?" Old Bird questioned, trying to calculate the odds of Samus's survival.

"One single exploratory cruiser, with a crew of at least 50 invaders. Another ship has been detected in the planet's orbit. A frigate." Mother Brain reported.

Heavy boots quickly ran across the dry cracked land into the equally dry quarry. The gravity was heavier on this planet. Assessing the hostile Covenant situation the green Spartan descended into the quarry, silently killing a sleeping Grunt.

Samus sat uncomfortably on the ground surrounded by short stinky aliens with tanks and masks, and taller lankier reptilian looking aliens with sharp teeth. The massive golden split lipped alien that had dragged her down into the quarry seemed like the scariest out of them all.

Going into cover in the quarry unseen, Chief looked through his weapon's scope into the depths of the quarry. Locking his vision onto the very young hostage.

"The Covenant have a hostage." Cortana announced to both Chief and Sergeant Johnson who was waiting back on the Gettysburg.

"We're not taking on extra passengers. Get them safe, and get the slip space drive." Johnson replied through the radio.

Chief lowered his weapon scanning the area with his eyes he began to plan a safe way to relieve the threat from the child.

"A human hostage? It cannot be possible. I confirmed that this planet was completely inhospitable and dangerous to humans that aren't heavily equipped in specialty armour. You could manage breathing for a short while before the atmosphere would take a toll on your lungs. With elements too dangerous to fully explore. That's why I suggested only we go to retrieve the part. What's left of your armour can protect you from most of this planet." Cortana thought aloud as Chief began moving in.

"Your planetary scans said minimal wildlife on the harsh surface. What is a human infant doing on this uninhabitable world?" Master Chief replied locking himself into position.

Cortana truly didn't have an answer for that question. "I'm not sure. But make things quick, and get her to safety, looks like she's going to piss that Zealot off."

Samus sobbed trying to sneak away from her captors, only to have one of the reptilian alien screech and hit her with the butt of its rifle. Causing the toddler to fall onto her stomach.

The Sangheili growled hearing a sharpshooter Jackal alerting to hostiles, he drew his sword, ready to dispose of the useless human child.

"Demon!"

As soon as the green Spartan leapt out from behind his cover, the Covenant opened fire as he rushed the ones guarding the child. Two other Elites began to charge out at the Spartan, while the Grunts, and Jackals, opened fire. John immediately fired his battle rifle taking out multiple sniping Jackals. Running further into the middle of the quarry he took out any alien in his path.

Samus rolled in the dirt every which way, trying to avoid all the stray bullets and large feet scurrying around her. Yelping in pain as she was hit by a stray plasma rifle burst. Rolling onto her back to look at the one who was casting a massive shadow over her. She saw the Golden armoured alien with it's burning energy sword ready to strike her down.

Before the Sangheili could kill the child he was peppered with bullets before being tackled to the ground. Knocking the sword out of his hand causing it to disengage.

Master Chief wrestled the furious Elite who grabbed his Battle Rifle bending the barrel making the weapon useless. Chief quickly unsheathed his combat knife as the Elite attempted to reach for it's plasma rifle. The Elite roared grabbing the knife's blade with both hands, causing purple blood to spurt from his hands testing the Spartan's strength he attempted to prevent the blade from entering one of his hearts. John struggled against the resistance before attempting to stand gaining enough leverage to pierce through the Elite's chest.

Samus watched in horror as the green robotic humanoid creature stabbed the golden armoured alien.

"Chief, the child!" Cortana yelled as Grunts came charging out, firing Plasma Pistols at the tiny toddler.

Chief turned to rush over to the girl, only to be grabbed by the Elite he had just stabbed. Grabbing the Pistol holstered on his leg, Chief filled the Elite's head with bullets.

As bullets rained all around her the odd stray blast hitting her, while panicked alien feet trampled over her. Samus cried closing her eyes, curled up in the fetal position waiting for the chaos to end.

Master Chief rolled over to the child, evading bullets until he reached the child. Scooping the child into his arms, he held her tight as bullets rained onto him, depleting his armour's shielding.

"We need to clear out these stragglers." Cortana told the Spartan, as suicide bombing Grunts began charging them with grenades glowing in their hands.

John looked on the ground locating plasma grenades. Quickly using one hand to scoop up the deadly items. The familiar sickly glow of the plasma grenade. Chief threw grenades in multiple directions before running behind a bolder as the multiple explosions rang through the quarry.

Samus cried out as the loud explosion went off. She had no idea what was happening. She was injured, terrified, and confused. There was now a giant green alien kidnapping her. She struggled in the robot's grasp, trying to squirm out of the strong protective arms. But every time she moved she got sharp pains shooting through her little body.

"Path is clear. I don't know for how long though." Cortana announced.

Chief gazed up at the hovering Covenant cruiser above them. "How many hostiles remain inside?"

"Not many. 10 maybe 12 remain. Most of the crew is laying on the ground dead in front of you." The AI reported. "How is the child?"

"Injured, and confused. We need to gain that part and leave before another Covenant carrier arrives." Chief replied short.

"We should find the girl's parents and return back here. They can't be far." Cortana reminded the Spartan of the tiny survivor in his arms.

Chief gazed down at the injured and scared girl. "Where are your parents?"

Samus shrunk hiding her face in the green armoured chest plate as she trembled. The voice sounded human behind the golden visor. But she couldn't answer the question as she no longer had her parents.

Cortana sighed as she did a quick scan of the surrounding areas. "Chief, I didn't detect a single human colony upon arrival here. The planet is too harsh for humans to live here."

"How is there a single human child then?" John argued as he made his way towards the gravity lift under the cruiser.

"We'll have to get her to communicate with us." The AI replied unsure. "Tell me you're not seriously thinking of taking her up there with you?"

"We're running out of time." Chief replied as he picked up a plasma rifle before entering the gravity lift.

Samus peeked her eyes from the chest plate as she felt them floating upwards. Why were they going into an alien ship? As they entered they were greeted by many more hostile aliens. The one carrying her seemed to be able to easily shoot down each target that came at them.

Rushing to the engine room Chief set the child down next to him as he begun to pull apart the ship's slip drive.

Samus held onto the green armoured soldier's leg as she waited for their next move. Nervously scanning the area she saw a glimmering sheen run into the room. She watched as this sheen slowly approached them. Something in her gut told her whatever it was, was not good.

Chief glanced down as he felt small tapping on his leg. The toddler made noises attempting to communicate something as she pointed ahead of her. Without moving his head, his eyes followed the tiny pointing hand seeing the sheen of a cloaked Elite fast approaching them.

John quickly stepped out in front of the girl grabbing the arms of the now visible Sangheili as it attempted to strike them down with its energy sword. The Elite's strength was a match as Chief struggled against the powerful force of the Sangheili. Thinking quickly he ducked out from the force pushing down on him. Causing the Elite to fall forwards onto the ground.

Samus cried as the alien landed next to her the sword nicking her chest as the alien landed on the floor.

Chief kicked the Elite's head shooting it's sword hand with his plasma rifle. The Elite roared angrily releasing and deactivating the sword that was shot from his hand. Kicking the Plasma Rifle out of the Spartan's hands.

John once again drew his combat knife, jumping on top of the Sangheili warrior. They wrestled viciously, nearly hitting and rolling onto the toddler that stood by watching in horror.

Samus watched as the Master Chief pinned the mean alien to the floor, trying to drive the knife down into the alien's chest. But the Elite grabbed at the Chief's wrists using all its might to crush the Spartan's joints.

Chief hissed in pain as he continued to push downward to eliminate the threat as the pressure on his wrists got stronger.

Samus looked around wondering how she could help. Finding the hilt of the energy sword, she smacked her little hands onto the hilt until it bursted out two deadly blades of raw energy.

John fell against the aliens chest after the sudden release of tension from the fighting Elite. The familiar crackle from an energy sword brought his attention to the Elite's lifeless head above his eyes. Quickly pushing off the body, Chief looked to the hilt of the blade on the floor. Locating the toddler standing stunned at what just happened.

"Well, It's not everyday you get saved by a toddler." Cortana commented as Chief reached down deactivating the deadly blade.

"Indeed..." Chief agreed returning to the removal of the slip space drive. He was not embarrassed or upset that a toddler had come to his aid. He was very thankful. The girl was lucky the sword was facing the correct way, it could've easily killed her. But he was more astonished by the fact the toddler realized he needed help and came to his aid without question instead of running away to try and survive.

Once the slip space drive was secured Chief replaced it with an active plasma grenade. Scooping up the child he quickly ran back to the gravity lift. Evading the remaining Covenant on the ship. Once back on the ground Chief ran out of the quarry rushing to the where his pelican waited for him.

As they were boarding the Pelican an explosion went off, destroying the single Covenant cruiser. Chief rushed to the cockpit placing the toddler in the co pilot seat, as he began to engage the Pelican's engines.

Cortana appeared on the cockpit dashboard curiously observing the injured toddler. "Are you sure this is the right thing to do?"

"We don't have time to question..." Looking out of the corner of his eye John watched as the girl hid herself against the chair, she clearly didn't understand why she was being taken away from her home that had been invaded by evil aliens. With a heavy sigh he turned his attention to the child. "Can you tell me where your parents are? I can take you home."

Samus shyly peeked back over her shoulder at the Spartan. She recognized his language to be human english. Was this robot human after all? After speaking Chozodian for the past 6 weeks it would take a bit to remember the small amount of english she knew.

"Do you understand me?" John asked curiously.

Samus turned her little body to face the Spartan, giving a slow small nod in reply.

"Great." Cortana sighed exchanging glances with Chief. "Were there other humans on the planet with you?"

Samus shook her head no. She was the only human to ever inhabit Zebes.

"Do you have parents?" Chief asked getting a little impatient as they did not have time to play twenty questions.

Once again the girl shook her head this time with a few tears escaping her turquoise eyes.

It was enough of and answer for Chief to make a decision. "Let's get this to the frigate." He said as he took the Pelican out of the planet's orbit. Flying straight back into the Gettysburg Frigate.

"Took your damn time. If you don't remember we have get to Earth, before the Covenant invades." Sergeant Johnson was the first to greet the Spartan as Chief handed the slip space matrix over to one of the engineer marines.

Chief took a few steps away from the Pelican placing his hand over a nearby pedestal allowing Cortana to enter the Frigate's systems so she could help get the slip space drive ready.

"What is that?" The cigar chomping Sergeant pointed at the tiny tot warily trying to follow the green Spartan.

"A survivor." Chief glanced down as the girl shyly hid behind one of his legs.

"I told you no stowaways! There's no medical staff on this ship that can deal with her injuries, or care for her." The man shook his head at the Spartan.

Chief picked the girl up, continuing further into the ship until he reached the infirmary. "I couldn't just leave her alone on that planet. We've had enough casualties and death along our way. Let's at the very least save one survivor."

"We're all broken and defeated right now, Chief. The child was probably safer on that planet." Johnson sighed observing as Chief attempted to clean the girl's wounds.

"On a planet that is uninhabitable for humans?" Chief mentioned as the girl shied away the stingy wound ointments.

Johnson snorted with a laugh as he puffed on his cigar. "Answer me this, Chief. How the hell did she survive before you even got there?"

As Johnson left the infirmary, Chief had the same question burning in his mind. Setting down the ointments he turned to get the bandages. Before applying them to the toddler he paused. "...Who are you?"

"S-Samus... Aran..." The small blonde girl shyly answered.

"Why were you..."

Before Chief could ask the next question Cortana appeared on a nearby pedestal. "We're entering slip space. I'm getting us as close to the MilkyWay as possible. To prevent us from being in slip space longer than needed. We should be there within a day, if the ship holds up. It's been such a long journey, I know. I hope we get to Earth before the Covenant."

"We will." Chief replied with sigh, gingerly bandaging the toddler.

"I'm sorry, am I interrupting you?" Cortana asked after realizing her Spartan was busy treating the toddler's wounds.

"I was trying to communicate like you suggested." John replied as Samus winced in pain.

"Have you introduced yourself? Or are you just demanding questions?" Cortana folded her arms at the Spartan.

Master Chief turned his head away for a moment guilty of being a bit demanding.

"That's what I thought." Cortana smirked before turning to the toddler. "That big green guy over there is, Chief. I'm Cortana, Master Chief's AI. What's your name?"

"Samus Aran." Samus replied a little more confidently to the blue AI. As much as she had not been liked by the Zebesian AI Mother Brain, she was much more familiar with dealing with AI's than scary giant cyborgs.

"What a pretty name. What was the planet we were on?" Cortana continued the conversation as Chief checked the slash wound across the toddler's chest.

"Zebes." The girl answered wincing and pushing away Chief's hand from her tender wound.

Master Chief sighed resting his hands on either side of the toddler. "Were you born there?"

Samus shook her head no. "K-2L."

Both Chief and Cortana looked at each other confused. "How did you end up on Zebes, if you're from another planet?"

"Chozo save me after Pace Pirates killeded everyone on K-2L." The little girl explained confusing the two further.

"Chozo?" Chief repeated turning to Cortana for an answer.

Cortana shrugged her shoulders at the Spartan. "Don't look at me. I have no records of the planet, or the two species she's spoken of."

"Let's move on." John rubbed the back of his helmet. "How old are you?"

"Tree!" Samus answered a bit more bubbly than she had been towards the Spartan.

"Baby." John thought aloud.

Cortana cocked an eyebrow at the Spartan. "Toddler."

"Is there really a difference?" Chief sighed trying to once again examine the wound.

"Quite a bit actually. Would you like me to explain?" Cortana responded.

"No." Chief dryly replied as he did not want to encourage the AI's sarcasm.

Samus once again coward away from the massive examining hands. As Chief once again tried to tend to her wounds. "No..."

Master Chief once again sighed about to give up on treating the girl's wounds. "You're injured. I'm trying to see how bad. If I don't it may get worse." He explained once again trying to look at the slash wound.

Samus reluctantly allowed the Spartan to examine her wound, whimpering in pain as he did so.

"Hmmm... that sword got you pretty good. We will have to wait until we get to the Space Station to see how we can treat it." Master Chief thought aloud as Cortana nodded in agreement.

Cortana observed as her Spartan carefully placed the girl back on the floor. "We'll be there soon enough. The wound doesn't look life threatening. For now, relax while you can, the coming days do not look the brightest."

Back on Zebes Mother Brain had recovered a few items from the invasion for study. Searching for a clue as to where little Samus had gone.

"Could it possibly have been the Galactic Federation that took, Samus?" Old Bird questioned worried for their adopted child.

Pyonchi sniffed at the recovered items from the quarry Samus went missing from, while Grey Voice studied the badly bent human grade weapon. Looking over its frame he found UNSC engraved into the frame. "I don't believe the Galactic Federation had anything to do with Samus's disappearance."

Old Bird approached reading the same letters that were engraved into the primitive human weapon. "A different human affiliation?"

"Seems to be." Grey Voice answered emotionlessly, walking over to the cavern exit where the moonlight shone brightly.

"We must find a means of contacting them. In a few years time her power suit will be ready for the pairing procedure." Old Bird mentioned, joining his friend in the moonlight.

"Raven Beak, must not learn of this. He will cause more harm than good if he discovers Samus's disappearance." The taller bird told his most trusted friend.

Old Bird nodded in agreement. "Mother, research this UNSC, get all the information you can gather. We must find a way to contact the ones who took her."

"I will do so. But it could be a while before we're able to contact them." Mother Brain replied, reluctantly beginning her research.

Master Chief reluctantly made his way down to the mess hall as per Cortana's instructions to see if the toddler needed sustenance.

Samus tried to keep pace with large strides of the Spartan. Tripping over herself as she tried to hurry her steps.

Hearing a small smack from behind John looked over his shoulder to see the girl picking herself up off the floor.

"Slow down, Chief. Samus, is tiny. One step for you is thirty for her." The AI reminded Master Chief of the size difference between him and the toddler.

"You're over exaggerating..." John rolled his eyes as he waited for Samus to catch up to him.

Cortana snorted with a scoff. "Sad thing, I'm only by a little bit."

Allowing the toddler to lead the way Chief followed carefully making sure the girl did not get underfoot. "Tell me why I am the one taking Samus, to the mess hall to find food for her? If there is any on this ship."

"You brought her aboard. There's only us, a small squad of marines, and Sergeant Johnson." The AI bluntly replied. "But if you think Sergeant Johnson, is better fit to lead the girl around I can easily call him this way."

Chief silently thought about Johnson trying to care for a scared toddler. He would be less likely to assist the child, and more likely send her crawling back into her shell.

"Samus, come this way." Shaking the thought out of his head, he called the toddler to the mess hall door.

Samus spun around following the Spartan into the empty mess hall. Gasping as Chief hoisted her up onto a chair.

"Stay. I'll get you something." Chief told the girl as he began rummaging through the cupboards and counters.

Cortana once again appeared on a pedestal nearby the kitchen. Standing with her hands on her hips as she entertainingly watched her Spartan search for a snack. "Do you even know what you're looking for?"

Chief turned to glare at his AI. Clearly he didn't know what he was doing, and the added sarcasm from Cortana was not helping.

"Start simple. Water. And... crackers..." Cortana mentioned marking both items on the Spartan's HUD.

Master Chief poured the girl a glass of water and brought the crackers and beverage over to the waiting toddler. Placing both items on the table in front of the girl. "Here, if you're hungry or thirsty."

Samus wasn't exactly hungry, all the stress, and pain from her body had taken away her appetite. But she was parched. Slowly pulling the heavy glass to the edge of the table.

Cortana cringed at as the beverage got closer to the edge of the table, the girl was clearly not strong enough to hold the glass by herself. "Chief!"

John snapped out of his deep thoughts, finally noticing the toddler's problem. Quickly grabbing the glass before Samus spilt and broke it. "Here." He said placing the glass in front of Samus on the chair.

Samus used both her hands on either side of the glass. Awkwardly raising the glass she began to tilt it for a drink, once all the liquid began to flow to the top of the glass it quickly dumped all over the girl and floor as it became way too much for the toddler to handle.

Chief winced as he heard the glass smash after it slipped out of the girl's hands hitting the floor. "Stay put. I'll clean it." He said, not wanting the toddler to step in the broken glass.

Samus curled up on the chair, hugging her knees tightly as she waited to be scolded for breaking the glass.

"Maybe a straw would be the better option next time." Cortana said as her Spartan threw away the broken glass.

"You couldn't have mentioned that earlier?" John sighed dryly as he filled another glass with water. This time placing a straw in the glass.

"I marked it for you, you ignored it." The AI said as Chief sat next to the shameful toddler.

Chief pulled Samus's chair in front of his so he could assist the girl easily. As he pulled the chair Samus trembled curling up tighter as if she was waiting to be beat.

Samus was used to harsh corrections from Raven Beak. Although Grey Voice, and Old Bird, often got upset when they caught Raven Beak giving her corrections.

"Easy. I'm not going to hurt you." He spoke softly to the scared girl. "I'm going to help you this time."

Samus stayed curled up as she looked at the Spartan. "Y-you... not mad?"

Chief shook his head no. "I'm not mad. It was an accident. It was my fault for not helping you properly."

Samus slowly lowered her legs as Chief held the glass in front of her face. Gesturing for her to take a sip from the straw.

"Have a drink. I'll hold the glass for you." John told the girl. Patiently watching as the girl hesitantly sipped from the straw.

"We should head to the bridge afterwards. I'm sure the others would like to know our ETA." The blue AI mentioned as she watched Chief wait for the toddler to stop drinking.

"Why didn't you tell them when we entered slip space?" John curiously asked, handing Samus a cracker.

Cortana responded by gesturing to the toddler in front of him. "Because I figured I would see if you needed a hand with our rescue."

Samus took small bites of the cracker. She wasn't too keen on their taste, nor was she really that hungry. Trying to place the cracker back on the table, she accidentally threw the cracker across the table.

"Don't throw food. Are you not hungry?" Chief asked putting the empty glass away.

"No hungry." Samus shook her head confirming Chief's question.

Chief shrugged as Samus slid off the chair her ragged clothing soaked from all the water she dumped on herself. "Let's go take a walk to the bridge." He said, hoping the walk would help air dry the toddler.

Samus followed the Spartan to the bridge where a few men sat, keeping track of the ship's functions.

"Cortana, you want to finally fill us in on our ETA?" Johnson sarcastically greeted the blue AI that appeared on one of the dashboards.

"luckily We're not too far. We'll arrive within a day, Sergeant. Not a big lead over the Covenant. But enough time to warn Earth." Cortana answered the impatient Sergeant.

"Not a lot of time for Earth to prepare for the invasion." Sergeant Johnson sighed, taking note of the tiny tot holding onto the Master Chief's leg.

Cortana nodded in agreement. "It's not. You're correct Sergeant."

Samus cowered as the Sergeant crouched down to view her. The man seemed like he was a bit of a grump, but a good person.

"Do you have a plan for this one?" Johnson asked the Master Chief as he stood back up.

"A plan?" Chief cocked his head curiously at the man.

Johnson chuckled lighting another one of his cigars to puff on. "You're not planning on dragging a toddler through an entire war are you?"

John stared down at the tiny girl that warily smiled back at him. The thought hadn't exactly crossed his mind, his only thoughts were to keep the child away from harm. He figured when arriving at the Earth space station someone would take her and care for the child. But with the Covenant not far behind a caretaker would not be found quick enough. Nor would it be the safest option for the toddler. Sergeant Johnson was right, he had unknowingly put the girl in more danger.

Johnson cocked his head puffing his cigar. "Did you at least get a name out of her?"

"Samus Aran." Master Chief said as he let the girl wonder over to the massive windows ahead of them.

"The girl said the planet we took her from was called, Zebes. Something called the Chozo, brought her there after an invasion. She mentioned that she originated from another planet called K-2L." Cortana gave a little more detail to the Sergeant, as Chief followed the curious toddler.

"I haven't heard of either of those planets. Nor have I ever heard of a whatcha call it, Chozo... Must be some sort of outer colony." Johnson thought aloud.

"I've scanned the database. Nothing Samus, has mentioned is located anywhere in any of our records. She's a bit of a mystery, Sergeant." Cortana told the cigar smoking Sergeant, observing the child and Spartan from a distance.

Johnson rolled his eyes as he chewed on his cigar. "Very interesting. She has no reason to lie either." Walking to the exit of the bridge he exhaled tiredly as he exited with the two other marines in tow. "I suggest we all get rest while we can. Once we arrive at Earth, we won't be resting for a long while."

Once alone in the bridge John walked over to his AI. His body language clearly showing his uncertainty. "What should I do about the child?"

Samus yawned watching the blurry stars and colours passing by, she was tired from the gruelling day. But her growing concern for her Chozo caretakers grew tremendously as she realized that they had travelled far from Zebes.

Hearing sobs coming from behind, the blue AI glanced behind her Spartan, taking note of the upset toddler. Smiling up at Chief, Cortana gestured to the toddler with her head. "Well, you could start by finding out why she's crying."

"I don't think I'm qualified..." Chief replied reluctant to go check on the sobbing child.

"I think I will have to agree with you on that. You have many qualifications, yet this one just might be the thing that beats you." The AI joked as she motioned for Chief to go check on Samus.

John exhaled deeply as he approached the girl. "Why are you upset?" He asked crouching down to be level with the toddler.

"Why we no go back to Zebes?" Samus replied pointing out the window.

"Because it was too dangerous for you to be there by yourself." Chief simply replied.

"Not by self. Old Bird, and Grey Voice, there with Mother." The little girl shook her head no as more tears escaped her turquoise eyes.

"Who are Old Bird, and Grey Voice?" Master Chief was quite confused by the toddler's reply. He could've sworn he saw no one else alive on the planet when he found Samus.

"Chozo." Samus answered a quiver in her voice as she was uncertain whether she would ever see her Chozo caretakers again.

Cortana disappeared from the dashboard, reappearing next to the two on a nearby pedestal. "So the Chozo are an alien species of birds?" She wondered with names Samus had given them.

"Sounds like it. Samus, what about Mother? I thought you said your mother was no longer alive?" The Spartan continued on the questioning.

Whatever little cheer Samus had quickly vanished as she was once again reminded of her recent loss. "Mommy was killded by, Ridley..."

"Who's Mother, then?" Chief asked again, as the toddler mentioned more characters she hadn't mentioned before.

"Mother, is Chozo's Tana." Samus pointed to the blue AI.

Master Chief turned to his AI for an answer. "I thought you detected no other life forms on the planet? You didn't detect another AI?"

"I didn't say life forms, I said humans. There were plenty of life forms. As for the AI, I detected something unknown, but I didn't analyze it further as we had a task to complete." Cortana explained as Samus tiredly toddled over to the Chief.

Chief rolled his eyes at his AI, as Samus leaned over one of his knees. He was confused by the child's silly expression of exhaustion. "Why weren't the Chozo, with you when the Covenant, attacked you?"

"I ran to play when Old Bird, and Grey Voice, talk to Raven Beak. Mother, follow me, but when Covenmant tacked. Mother, went back to Chozo, she take them to Brinstar." Samus explained in her broken toddler language.

"This Mother AI, was with you when the Covenant took you, and she didn't try to help you?" Cortana questioned, with her tone of disgust quite prominent.

Samus shook her head with a small shrug, she wasn't sure there was anything the AI could've done. Except maybe send the defence drones out. But Mother had clearly hated her from the moment she set foot on Zebes. "No Mother, no really have time. She get others safe."

John could see the outrage fuming within his AI, he shared her frustration and disgust. But they could not discuss it in front of the toddler who would not clearly understand. "Not every AI is programmed the same. It functions differently with the knowledge of an ancient alien race. We do not know its programming."

The blue AI furrowed her brow at her Spartan as he sat on the floor in between the pedestal and window. "It's still wrong."

"That may be. But she doesn't understand that yet." John replied leaning his back against the wall. Observing as Samus shyly approached him.

Once she realized Chief was watching her, Samus pretended like she wasn't approaching him. She stopped a small distance in front of the Spartan. Turning her attention to the tunnel of racing colours outside the window.

"How long have you been living with the Chozo, Samus?" Chief asked breaking the awkward tension. He was curious to know as he figured it couldn't have been long, or the girl would've surly perished, or have been on deaths door when he discovered her.

"This much!" Samus stretched her arms out all the way.

"That's a lot. Is there a more accurate answer? Do you know how many sleeps you were there?" The AI asked for a clearer answer, as her curiosity peeked as she wondered how the tiny toddler survived the harsh elements of the planet.

Samus cocked her head curiously as she tried to remember the conversations between Grey Voice and Old Bird mentioning how long she had been there. "Grey Voice, say six... moths..."

"Six months." Cortana thought aloud, translating the odd word choices. "Even with some care, it's highly unlikely that you would've survived the environment."

So many questions were going through his head, but Chief did not think the toddler would be able to answer his questions even if she tried. His main question being how was she able to survive and thrive?

"She's here and alive. That's what matters." He mentioned as Samus tiredly leaned against the window.

"When we go back to, Zebes?" The tired voice of the worried toddler asked clearly already homesick.

Chief exhaled deeply before telling the toddler an answer she didn't want to hear. "Not anytime soon I'm afraid. We're too far gone from there, and cannot turn back now."

"Why?" Samus defeatedly toddled closer in between the Spartan and window.

"Because we have to warn another planet about the Covenant invasion. We have to protect the galaxy." The Spartan explained to which the toddler lit up after his mentioning of protection.

"Chozo, protect galaxy too!" The blonde toddler exclaimed to the Spartan.

Cortana curiously cocked her head in thought. "Oh really?" She was very intrigued to learn about an ancient alien civilization wanting to protect the galaxy.

"Mhmm. Old Bird, telled me one day I going to do same." Samus told the curious AI, who looked quite surprised.

Chief furrowed his brow slightly confused by the girl. "Wait, are you in training to become something?"

Samus shrugged her shoulders with a small nod. "I get lesson ev-er-y... day. But Raven Beak, no think it's nough."

"Who is this, Raven Beak? You only mentioned him once compared to the other two." Cortana pointed out as the toddler's eyes grew more tired.

"He not from Zebes. Grey voice, no like Raven Beak. But he help Grey make me stronger." Samus said as she rested the top half of her body on the Chief's leg.

"How do they make you stronger?"

Master Chief could tell the toddler was struggling to stay awake. Placing the toddler with her back against the wall, he allowed her to lean against him. "That's enough questions for now. Samus, is too tired."

"Sure, Chief." Cortana reluctantly agreed with Chief, even though she eagerly wanted to know how Samus was able to thrive on the alien planet. "Aren't you the slightest bit curious?" She asked, watching as Samus reluctantly fell asleep.

"We have bigger things to worry about." John shrugged his shoulders in reply, gazing down at Samus, he was more curious about how comfortable his armour was to lay against? "There's most likely a logical reason why Samus, was surviving there. It sounds like the Chozo are technologically advanced. So maybe she wore a suit to protect her, or there was some sort of biome she was in."

The blue AI simply rolled her eyes with a scoff. "I would've warned you if you were about to step into another biome. And second of all I saw no suit on her, nor is she wearing one now. So just how was she able to survive for two months on that harsh planet?"

Cortana's retort seemed to actually peak Chief's curiosity. Pondering as he took a closer look at the girl. Samus looked like a typical young toddler. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary to him. But how was the girl able to survive an alien world without such advancements?

"You know, once we reach the station, Command probably won't be happy about our little find." Cortana mentioned snapping Chief out of his thoughts.

It wasn't his plan to rescue a child from the clutches of the Covenant. And in doing so he basically kidnapped an orphan, possibly angering an unknown technologically advanced alien species for doing so. "I'll deal with the consequences. It's her safety I'm more concerned about. The Covenant, isn't far behind us. Even if we arrive at the station before the Covenant, we're still going to be in immediate danger."

"I'm not trying to be insensitive... but why do you care so much about her safety? It's a child you rescued from the Covenant, it's not like you haven't done this before. You've rescued people from the Covenant, and dragged them along with you until getting them to better safety. Why is she any different?" The blue AI gazed down at the child, her tone emotionless as she asked.

"Those rescued survivors were most of the time adults, or children with an adult. Not a toddler that is part of an unknown alien faction. I'm concerned I inadvertently angered a new alien race by stealing their child. But also, she's a small child with little control over what happens around her. Of course I'm going to be very concerned about her." Chief voiced his worries to his AI, as Samus shifted into a more comfortable position.

Cortana shrugged while nodding in understanding. "That's understandable. But I wouldn't worry about it too much. If the Chozo were kind enough to take in an orphaned toddler, I'm sure they'll understand why we thought Samus, was in danger."

"Perhaps..." Chief replied, going into deep thought. Wondering if he had made contact with this Chozo, that perhaps they could've been allies in this war against the Covenant. "If we hadn't have rushed off of Zebes, perhaps the Chozo could've been our allies."

"It would've been a possibility by the sounds of it." Cortana mentioned as Chief drifted off into deep thought.

An hour went by the only sound to be heard was the hum of the ship going through slipspace, and the tiny toddler's gentle breathing. It was quite calming considering anxiety was at an all time high for everyone aboard the ship.

"You still in here?!" The familiar gruff voice of the Sergeant scoffed as he walked over to the Spartan sitting on the floor.

"I want to make sure, I'm in the right place if something goes wrong with the ship." Master Chief mentioned as Johnson stared out the windscreen.

"Uhuh..." Johnson turned with a sigh focusing on the toddler napping on the Spartan's lap. "You better not get attached to that thing. Because you can't keep it." He dryly joked gesturing to the girl.

"Chief, get attached to a small toddler? That's highly unlikely, Sergeant." Cortana responded with a chuckle.

Master Chief understood the lighthearted jokes from his two friends. But deep down inside he did hate the fact that he always came off as just an emotionless super soldier. He had heart and compassion beneath his armoured exterior. Though he had difficulties showing it to some. He'd always try to never let those feelings get in his way of his duty as a warrior. He wasn't the most enthusiastic about social interactions outside of his team. Perhaps that was why he was usually viewed as an emotionless robot.

"I don't know if the UNSC will be able to transport her somewhere safe in time before the Covenant arrives. She's a special case that I'm sure ONI would love to get their grubby little hands on." Johnson mentioned, bringing Chief out of his thoughts.

"Wait, why would ONI be interested in a rescued civilian child?" Chief questioned, carefully standing up with the blonde sleeping toddler now cradled in his arms.

"I'm sure they'd be interested to know why the Covenant were poking around on that planet. And how a singular human toddler was able to survive alone on a desolate planet." Sergeant scoffed gesturing to the sleeping girl.

Chief shook his head at the gruff man. "She was not alone, she was accidentally left behind by her caretakers."

"Chief, is correct. Samus, has told us small details about her recent events. The planet we explored was home to an ancient alien civilization called the Chozo, they are incredibly advanced apparently. They adopted her after another alien faction that I'm assuming is similar to the Covenant, destroyed her home world leaving no one but Samus, alive." The blue AI gave a little more detail to the Sergeant, though he seemed to be even more concerned after that explanation.

"That... That, is exactly why ONI, will want to take this child. If we can even call her a child, or is she really just an alien in disguise?" Johnson suspiciously glared at the shifting girl in the Spartan's arms.

"If she wanted to harm us, she would've done so already. We're overthinking things. It's just a human child." John sighed getting tired of the suspicious guessing Johnson and Cortana were doing.

Cortana put her hands on her hips not convinced. "I'm not so certain about that, when she was able to survive that inhuman planet for six months, without a special suit of any kind?"

"Whatever the case is, the UNSC and ONI will be interested in the girl. Alien, or not." Sergeant said as he made his way to the bridge exit.

Chief actually rolled his eyes behind he visor as Johnson let out his suspicious thoughts about the girl. "ONI can't keep her against her will as an experimental prisoner."

"It's ONI, they have their ways. Samus, is an orphaned girl with no one to speak for her. She's got no chance if they get a hold of her." Johnson told the Spartan as he exited the bridge leaving Chief in his thoughts.

"Chief... I know that look..." Cortana said with concern as the Spartan went silent in deep thought.

"I'm not going to let that happen." John told his AI, who defeatedly sighed at her Spartan.

"Chief, you won't have time to worry about that, with the Covenant waging war against humanity. You'll be too busy defending the universe from the Covenant. Johnson, told you not to get attached, you need to put that advice into affect. You cannot keep a toddler on the battlefield." Cortana expressed good points to her stubborn partner, who was clearly disagreeing with her's and the Sergeant's logic.

"I'm not getting attached. I just disagree with someone so young becoming a military science project..." John mentioned, immediately going silent after he did so.

Cortana softened her expression, understanding her Spartan's strong feelings. "I understand. We'll do our best to make sure that doesn't happen. But it's not our priority."

Thats all Chief wanted to hear. He was concerned that the Chozo Samus spoke of were able to track them down. The last thing they needed was to actually piss off Samus's caretakers by turning Samus, into ONI for examination to never see her again. Hovering his hand over the pedestal Cortana stood on, he collected his AI before wondering the empty corridors. Every once in a while glancing down at Samus who began shifting in his arms.

Little Samus tossed and turned in the Spartan's arms whimpering as the usual horrific nightmare plagued her sleep. Watching her parents get slain by the evil reptilian Space Pirate leader. K-2L reeked of death and destruction. With a flash she was suddenly on Zebes surrounded by strange aliens with guns. A reenactment of the invasion on Zebes. The tall gold armoured alien picked her up by the throat, growling in her face. The alien tossed her as gunfire went off causing everything to go white.

"Grey!" Samus cried out as she awoke abruptly from her nightmare.

Chief nearly dropped the child, from the sudden shocking cry from the little girl in his arms. "What's going on?!"

"Uncertain. You didn't squeeze her did you?" Cortana replied curiously observing the girl.

"No I didn't." Chief said as Samus continued to cry in his arms.

"Then ask her what's wrong." Cortana almost sarcastically retorted to her Spartan, as they entered one of the living quarters. Where Johnson and the two surviving marines were relaxing for the moment.

Peeking out from under his hat the Sergeant groaned. "What the hell is going on? What's with all the noise!?" Johnson grumbled getting up from the chair he napping in.

Samus immediately scanned the room they were in with her tearful turquoise eyes. Remembering she was no longer on Zebes. She knew no one here.

"I don't know." Master Chief replied trying to turn the crying toddler to face him.

Samus hid her face in green chest plate, hiding from the strange men staring at her. Shaking in fright wondering if she was truly out of her nightmare.

"Well, she's a toddler. Probably had a nightmare during her nap." Johnson shrugged grabbing a new cigar out of his breast pocket.

One of the Marines watched as Chief tried to get eye contact with the shy toddler. "I don't trust it, Sarge. How do we know she's not like a shapeshifter?"

"Don't you start whining, marine. We already got one toddler on board, we don't need another." Johnson gruffly scoffed grabbing his lighter. Even though he was truly just as skeptical of the girl.

Master Chief knew that Cortana wasn't completely sold on the fact that the child was a normal toddler. But neither him or his AI dare brought up that thought to the already concerned and suspicious soldiers around them.

"Go to the barracks and hose her down with some warm water, and whatever soap you find." Johnson suggested, while lighting up his cigar.

"Why?" Chief cocked his head confused at the Sergeant.

Johnson sighed out a big puff of smoke from his cigar, before replying to the Spartan. "Don't question it. She's a toddler that just survived the Covenant. The kid has had a bit of time to decompress. Now she just woke from a nightmare. It's time to get rid of the dried blood, dirt, and grime that's all over her. Trust me she needs the washing."

Chief didn't question any further, exiting the room he made his way to the barrack showers. He understood that the others were clearly wanting to catch up on rest while they could. And taking Samus away to get cleaned up was a good reason to leave the room.

"She's got a lot of dirt and dried blood on her from earlier today. We probably should've cleaned her up a while ago." Cortana mentioned as Chief held out the girl in front of him. Samus was covered in dirt and dried blood from her wounds. Her shirt and pants were wet, Chief assumed it was because of earlier when Samus spilled water on herself. "Hmm... fill up one of the sinks with water and soap, Chief." Cortana mentioned.

Placing Samus down on the floor, Chief began filling a sink with water. "She's not going to fit in here." John said as he did what his AI requested.

"I know, it's for her clothing. You're going to wash them too." Cortana told the Master Chief who shook his head with a sigh.

This was officially the oddest task he had ever done. Turning to the defeated toddler, he cautiously began helping the toddler undress. Placing the dirty clothing into the sink of soapy water. Grabbing a bar of soap he handed it to the shut down toddler. "Here, Samus. Start scrubbing yourself clean, while I wash your clothes." Chief turned on one of the showers for Samus to bathe in.

"I suppose this is a good way to pass the time. I guess you don't get to do this too often" Cortana commented as Chief washed the clothing.

"I'm not above washing clothing. Or temporarily helping a civilian. I've washed my own uniforms, and jumpsuits before." John told his commenting AI.

Cortana sighed, she knew Chief never thought low of something a Spartan typically wouldn't do. No matter what the task was, he would always try to assist if he could. "I know. This is just an odd situation that's all."

"So it may be." Chief replied looking over his shoulder to see the little toddler sitting against the wall as the shower water fell on her. "Are these dryers functioning properly?" He asked turning his attention to the far side of the room.

"Yes. The far one to the right is still in operational. But if you smell smoke, I would probably pull the plug on it." Cortana answered, as Chief placed the girls washed clothing in the mentioned dryer.

Once the dryer began Master Chief made his way back over to the toddler.

"She looks so sad." The AI mentioned softly as Chief knelt down to be level with the tiny tot.

Samus barely gazed up at the armour towering over her. Looking closely she realized the green armour seemed to be broken. "You're broken..."

Chief blinked in confusion behind his visor. Some days he truly felt broken. And the toddler wasn't the first one to mention that to him. But he didn't believe he was a wreck in this moment.

Samus reached out placing her hand on the green chest plate. Unknowingly placing her hand over the Spartan's heart. "Broken."

John wasn't exactly sure what to do. There was no way the child was being that intuitive about him.

"Your armour, Chief." Cortana's voice quickly redirected the Spartan's thoughts.

"Yes, I went through many battles before finding you. It'll be replaced." John explained to the girl. Taking note of the dirt and blood still on the girl's body. "Cortana, should I assist her?"

Cortana chuckled at her Spartan. "Are you really asking me if you should assist in bathing a toddler?"

Chief already felt ridiculous for asking, Cortana's sarcasm was not helping the situation. Grabbing a cloth he began to gently wipe the dirt and blood clean off of Samus.

Cortana curiously scanned the girl's naked body. Taking note of scarring from incision sites all over the toddler's tiny frame. "Curious...?" She thought aloud.

"What is it?" Chief asked pausing for a moment.

"Samus's scars are not all from today. Though quite faded and unnoticeable. It looks like there has been multiple entry sites on her body were tubes have entered her." The AI noted to her Spartan.

"So I see..." Chief said also taking note.

Samus winced as the cloth went over her wounds. "It hurts..."

"I'm sorry, I'm almost done." The Spartan reassured the girl as he finished helping the toddler get clean. Truly wishing he had his team of Spartans to assist him with the child. It certainly didn't take an entire Spartan team to care for a toddler, but it would've at least made the situation not as awkward as he could focus on talking to his team instead of trying to awkwardly communicate with the reluctant toddler.

Samus hugged the towel she was wrapped in, dragging almost the entire towel behind her as she followed the armoured man over to the machines across the room.

Once the clothing was dry Chief handed the toddler her clean outfit. He stood watching the child struggle to put her limbs through the correct holes in the clothing. Wondering if he should be entertained by this, or concerned that something was wrong. "Is... she going to be alright...?"

"Give her a few minutes. She'll figure it out. And why do you keep asking me if she's alright? I'm keeping watch of her vitals. But other than that, you've got a perfectly good voice that works, ask her next time." Cortana replied as Samus finally got herself dressed.

Chief mentally shrunk himself as he stared at the backwards shirt on the girl. He could of very well ask the girl his questions, instead of relaying them to his AI. But being the reserved Spartan he was, it wasn't in his nature to communicate that much. Nor was he ever trained to deal with a toddler during a war.

"Your shirt is on backwards." Cortana told Samus, through Master Chief's helmet speakers.

Samus gave a small giggle as Chief helped her spin her shirt to face properly.

"You're feeling better." The AI chuckled at the now bubbly toddler.

"What woke you so suddenly when you were sleeping?" John asked Samus curiously, as they made their way into the corridor.

"Bad deem." Samus replied with a quiet mumble as she shamefully kept her gaze away from the massive Spartan.

"A nightmare, that makes sense." Cortana translated the toddler english for her Spartan.

"What's our ETA, on Earth?" Master Chief changed the subject, trying to get back to more serious matters.

"12 hours. You know time will pass by faster if you rest like everyone else on the ship." The AI answered.

"Everyone else?" Chief gestured to Samus, who was following him while curiously looking at rooms they passed by.

"If you rest, she'll rest."

"I don't believe you." Chief replied almost sarcastically.

Cortana mentally rolled her eyes as they both observed the cautious toddler following behind. "Look I don't think she's brave enough to wonder off on her own. If you just sit or lay down she probably won't stray very far. And if she does I will let you know. You're the only one she trusts so far so I'm not concerned."

Entering the bridge once again, Chief waved his hand over a pedestal letting Cortana transfer back into the ship, before he sat himself down in a chair near the windscreen. Samus stood next to him, her attention stuck on the colourful view out the window. John hefted the girl up almost lifting her past his head forgetting his own strength, before placing her on the seat next to him.

"It's going to be a while before we arrive at the space station. Try and get some more sleep." He suggested, to which the girl quickly shook her head no.

Samus didn't want to have another nightmare. They seemed even scarier when she wasn't somewhere familiar, like Zebes.

"She's probably a bit fearful of sleep due to the nightmares." The blue AI thought aloud to Chief's dismay.

A small sigh escaped the Spartan as he did not want to feel as if he had to keep the toddler entertained. Gazing over at Cortana, a thought quickly crossed his mind.

"Samus, how were you able to survive, Zebes? How did the Chozo make you stronger?"

Cortana eagerly awaited to hear the response from the girl, even though she knew this question was Chief's way of trying to both entertain and tire the girl out.

"I magnetically in bands." Samus finally answered.

"I'm doing my best with this one. I believe she is trying to say she's genetically advanced...?" Cortana attempted to translate what Samus had said.

"Chozo made me like them, infoozing them blood, and offered my magnetics." Samus explained further, once again getting Cortana to translate her words.

"This Chozo has seemed to be able to genetically alter her DNA and mutate it. Is what I am gathering from this." The AI thought aloud, making Chief go completely silent.

If what the toddler was trying to say was true, it would seem that he had rescued an alien hybrid from an unknown alien world.

"Obviously this infusion of blood from the Chozo, was a success as you are completely healthy and thriving on that planet. Besides the attack from the Covenant you had no physical signs of suffering from that planet. During your washing I noticed each of your wounds from that battle have rapidly healed." Cortana said as Chief got up from his seat, anxiously staring out the window.

"Grey, say I dapting to my abilities and getting stronger every day." The blonde toddler mentioned, to which Chief turned his attention back to her and Cortana.

Cortana snorted in disbelief truly astonished at what Chief had discovered. "You're an alien hybrid. Extraordinary. I would love to converse with said Chozo. I am curious to learn more about the Chozo, and there abilities..."

"Cortana." Chief called, silencing his AI as he approached the pedestal she stood on. "This does not leave this room."

"Chief, I can't promise you that. Samus, is a toddler that is sure to mention this to others besides us. You brought an alien hybrid of an unknown alien species onto our ship, and soon to be on one of the UNSC Earth space stations. Anything could happen, especially if they ask me for information. You just better hope this Chozo, is understanding if they happen to track us down to retrieve their kid. We will be responsible for anything that happens while Samus, is under the UNSC's watch." The blue AI firmly informed her Spartan of the potential happenings that could occur while Samus was their responsibility.

In this moment John truly wished they could just jump back to that alien planet and return the child. But it was too late, they were in too deep. They could not return to the alien planet while the Covenant was hot on their heels heading towards Earth. Chief was sure that the Chozo would eventually be tracking them down if not already. It seemed like both Cortana, and Johnson, were right. He was going to be dragging the toddler through a war. An alien hybrid toddler.

Samus could sense that both the Spartan and AI seemed unsettled by her responses. Wondering if she had done something wrong, or if there was something wrong with her?

"I bad?" The tiny tot's innocent voice timidly asked, afraid of what the answer may be.

Master Chief turned to the girl sitting in the chair. He could tell Samus looked uncomfortable, feeling like it was a mistake that she mention what she was. "No... you're not bad. We're just thinking..." It was a weak reply, but he hoped it was enough for the toddler.

"Honestly, too bad we didn't stick around on that planet. Perhaps the Chozo could've assisted us with getting to Earth quicker. In theory, odds are they're more technologically advanced than us." Cortana thought aloud her curiosity about the unknown aliens was growing more and more as she thought about the whole situation with the toddler.

Chief would've argued that his AI had rushed him to retrieve the ship part and bring it back to the ship. But he too was curious about what could've been, if he had just taken the time to communicate better with the toddler when they were leaving Zebes. But he knew it would have been risky for time either way, as the Covenant was actively making their way to Earth as they spoke.

"We going to Zebes?" Samus asked breaking the Spartan's thoughts.

"No, Samus. We're going to Earth. Once there, maybe we can find a way to get you back to your home. Maybe..." Chief told the small toddler who gave a weak smile in reply.

Cortana shrugged giving an uncertain glance to the Spartan and toddler. "I would't keep high hopes on that. We most likely will not be able to get you back home unless the Covenant's invasion is delayed by a great amount."

Samus went quiet. She mostly understood why they couldn't just send her back. They didn't seem to have the technology, nor the time as they seemed to be in trouble with the aliens that had invaded Zebes.

"Let's go for a walk. Come'on, Samus." Chief coaxed the hesitant toddler to follow him through the corridors.

"Deciding to exercise until she's too tired?" Cortana's voice came over Chief's comlink.

"That's the plan. And something to take her mind off of this conversation." John responded noticing that Samus was following him at an even slower pace than usual. Observing the girl, he could tell she was in deep thought. He wondered if Samus could sense how uncertain and uneasy Cortana, and himself, were about her announcing that she was part alien. "Samus, are you okay?"

Samus gave an insignificant nod in reply. She felt that staying quiet from now on would be best. Though she did want to know why the Spartan and AI were so uncomfortable when she mentioned she had Chozo DNA within her.

After two big laps around the ship Chief was able to find a few pieces of paper and a pencil. It was not something most would commonly come by, but Samus seemed to know what they were. Running back into the bridge Samus placed the paper on the floor, eagerly scribbling with the pencil Chief had found.

"What, aren't you going to doodle too?" Cortana sarcastically teased her Spartan.

John rolled his eyes behind his visor, unamused. Cortana thought she was being funny of course, but he was not going to engage. He was just happy to have Samus entertained. It was more difficult than expected to take care of such a tiny human... alien hybrid... It was definitely out of his comfort zone. But Chief, understood that he had put himself in this predicament, and would not abandon the task at hand.

All was quiet in the bridge except for the hum of the ship's engines. And the quiet joyful humming coming from the doodling tiny tot on the floor. Samus was laying on her stomach happily scribbling, swinging her legs up and down as she hummed.

"10 hours until our arrival." Cortana announced to the Master Chief, who didn't seem to quite hear her announcement. The blue AI cocked her head curiously at her Spartan as he intently watched the toddler.

Chief watched as Samus yawned, her little swinging legs slowing down to a halt as they got too tired to move. Her turquoise eyes blinked as her head bobbed, little Samus was barely able to keep her eyes open.

"Chief?" Cortana called a bit more firmly, catching the Spartan's attention.

"Yes?" Chief turned his attention to his AI standing on the pedestal next to him.

"10 hours until our arrival." The AI repeated, folding her arms. "Are you going to tell Johnson, or would you like me to?"

Chief nodded in understanding, glancing down at the now sleeping child on the floor. Ignoring Cortana's question.

"Chief, are you listening to me?" Cortana called as Chief leaned down to see what was drawn on the papers Samus was napping on. "Chief?"

"Yes, please tell the Sergeant our new ETA. I will stay here with, Samus." The Spartan finally answered his AI, while examining the drawings.

Cortana nodded, vanishing from the pedestal. Leaving the Spartan and toddler in the bridge.

Examining the scribbled drawings on the paper, it was clear the toddler had drawn what Chief assumed to be the Chozo.

"Interesting drawing. I'm assuming the Chozo are flightless alien birds." Cortana mentioned after returning to the pedestal.

The drawing had two bipedal birds in robes, one tall, one short standing next to a small human child, Chief assumed to be Samus. She seemed to be standing next to some sort of bunny-squirrel creature. Off to the side of the trio seemed to be a much taller bipedal bird with some sort of armoured helmet and cape.

"Seems that way. I'm curious about this one, they seem to be armoured." Chief pointed to the largest bird in the drawing.

The blue AI folded her arms going into deep thought. "Samus, did mention there seemed to be some sort of warrior class amongst the Chozo."

"Samus, also mentioned that she was in some sort of training program. Perhaps she is to become a warrior like the Chozo in this drawing." Chief thought aloud to which Cortana seemed to agree with his theory.

Cortana sighed glancing down at the napping toddler on the floor. "Unfortunate we cannot get Samus, back to the Chozo. It would've been excellent to have allies in this war. And a future warrior ally."

"You keep on saying that." John sighed putting the drawing back on the floor next to the child.

"I'm pretty sure you mentioned it first." The AI scoffed.

"I did. The Covenant, are well advanced beyond us, and it gives them the upper hand too often. Having another advanced civilization that wants peace within the universe as an ally, would help us end this war." John sighed taking note of how uncomfortable Samus looked on the floor.

Cortana went into deep thought, as Samus uncomfortably shifted whimpering in her sleep. Another possible nightmare plaguing her slumber. "...You might want to grab her, maybe give her some sort of reassurance before she screams herself awake again."

Chief quickly scooped the girl up off the floor and into his arms. Unsure of how to console the child. "What should I do?"

Cortana sighed frustrated, she was trying to concentrate on her thoughts. But Chief's naivety about child care kept diverting her focus. "Just stay calm, and do whatever your instincts tell you to do."

John could tell Cortana was irritated with him, obviously he was interrupting her train of thought. Gently tapping the girl's shoulder Chief attempted to wake the toddler in his arms. "Samus?"

Samus wriggled in discomfort as she woke up from another brewing nightmare. Taking a moment to realize she was in the Spartan's arms.

"Are you alright, Samus? You were having another nightmare." Chief mentioned to the sleepy tot.

Samus gave a small exhausted nod. She did not like the fact that her sleep was always plagued by nightmares from her recent past events. She was still tired, but she did not want to go back to sleep.

Chief understood the girl did not want to sleep at the moment. To divert her attention he picked up her drawing from earlier. "Who's in this picture you drew?"

The girl looked up at Chief, before turning to the picture she had drawn. "Me, Grey Voice, Old Bird, Pyonchi, and Raven Beak." She named each individual as she pointed to them in her drawing.

"Are they nice?" The Spartan continued the conversation as he walked over to the window.

"Old Bird, is really nice. Grey, is too but he gets grumpy sometimes. Pyonchi, is cheeky. Raven Beak, is leader from different Chozo planet, he travel far to see me. Raven Beak, is more grumpy, and no fun." Samus explained to the Spartan and AI.

"No fun?" Cortana questioned curiously. From she gathered from that info, the Chozo seemed to be well travelled. Possibly two different affiliations within the Chozo.

"He more seris... more focus on what I can do, staying strong, and powderful." Once again the toddler explained as she ran her fingers over the damaged chest plate of the Spartan.

"Raven Beak, is more serious and focus's on your growing power. Interesting traits..." Cortana said looking at the drawing once again. "Why is this Raven Beak, so much bigger than the others you drew?"

"Raven Beak, really really big. Way bigger than, Chief. Chief, big like Grey Voice." Samus explained to the curious AI.

"Those are some tall birds..." Cortana thought aloud, glancing at John. "Raven Beak, may be one to avoid if we ever make contact with this Chozo. Sounds like they have different affiliations, possibly two different tribes. One warrior class focused on military. The other I'm not sure. Perhaps research and science since it sounds like the Chozo are well advanced in technology."

"If we ever make contact. They're in an entirely different galaxy. That's why this is all so difficult." Chief sighed putting Samus down on the floor.

"We call, Grey?" Samus excitedly asked the two.

"No..."

"Actually, I was going to mention that I could attempt to communicate with the Chozo AI. It'll probably take some time before I actually make contact. It won't be the first time I've tracked codes over distant galaxies." Cortana spoke over Master Chief, interrupting the Spartan.

Master Chief didn't think to ask Cortana to attempt contact. He didn't believe it was possible. "Do you truly believe you can make contact?"

"It's worth a shot." Cortana optimistically smiled at Samus, who smiled optimistically back at her.

Master Chief sighed, knowing that even if Cortana happened to make contact with Samus's caretakers. It would be a matter of chance, and if they can make it here to retrieve Samus without getting ambushed by the Covenant. "Let's not make any promises we know we can't keep."

"I'm not making any promises." Cortana replied as Chief paced around the the pedestal she stood on. "I will make contact with them eventually. But it doesn't mean it's going to happen right away. It will happen over time."

Samus nodded in unison with the Spartan. If there was one thing the Chozo was attempting to teach her, it was patience. She wasn't very good at patience yet, but like Cortana mentioned, over time she will understand patience better.

Taking some time to draw and star gaze, Chief ended up taking Samus for another few laps around the ship. More hours had passed by, and they eventually ended up waiting in the officers room with the rest of the survivors. Until eventually arriving at Earth Defence Platform Cairo.

Cortana had informed the station of their rescued civilian. There was medical staff waiting upon their arrival into the station, waiting to treat the marines and Samus.

"Alright, I'm going to quickly go debrief. And get ready for the ceremony." Johnson told the Spartan as they began to exit their ship.

"Ceremony?" Chief repeated.

"Yes. You know, a quick welcome back. Thanks for saving the universe. Here's a medal, kind of ordeal. Don't worry there probably won't be any cameras." The Sergeant reassured.

"Right. I'll make sure to wear something nice..." Master Chief's sarcasm was dry as Johnson parted ways with them.

Chief carried Samus into the station, where a medic offered to take Samus off his hands. Samus was not interested in being taken by an absolute stranger. Even though she had only known Chief for a day, she had grown to trust the Spartan and no one else.

"Easy, I am not hear to harm you. I'm just going to check you over to make sure there are no hidden owies on you." The medic calmly cooed to the girl clinging to the Spartan.

"Cortana, can you accompany, Samus?" Chief asked, waving his hand over a nearby AI pedestal.

"I've got a lot of work to do monitoring the galaxy for incoming Covenant. And you have to make your way up to the armoury, the Master Gunnery Sergeant is waiting to assist you with your new Mark VI MJOLNIR armour. You've also got to meet up with Sergeant Johnson, before the ceremony. I will see what I can do, but no promises." Cortana replied with a task list for both of them. She was going to try to attempt to keep Samus comfortable, but it wouldn't be her priority.

Master Chief pried the tiny little arms off of his broken armour. Holding the frightened toddler out in front of him. "Samus, they're not going to hurt you. I promise they are just making sure you're okay." He reassured, handing Samus to the medic.

"No!" Samus protested as she was placed in the medic's arms.

"She'll be just fine Sir, our Chief Medical Officer will check her over. While you get ready for the ceremony." The medic reassured the Master Chief as they left for the infirmary.

Cortana turned her focus onto Chief, who was hesitant to leave his spot as he watched the scared toddler get taken away. "Don't worry I'll check in on her. Go get ready."

John reluctantly agreed, leaving to go get his new armour equipped. He was concerned about what would happen to the girl when the Covenant attacked this station. Again, he deeply regretted taking the child from the planet. Unbeknownst to Samus, he had ultimately put her in grave danger.

Samus shrunk into a ball as she was taken into the infirmary. There was a few other medics, but no one else seemed to be in the infirmary. It was a decent sized room with bright lights.

The medic placed Samus down on one of the beds. "The doctor will be with you shortly." they smiled before walking off to the other end of the room.

Before Samus could attempt to climb off the bed, Cortana appeared next to her on the pedestal next to a small monitor. "Better stay put little one. You'll cause quite a commotion if you go missing in this station."

"Tana, where Chief?" Samus asked, reluctantly sitting on the bed.

"Chief, is getting new armour. Remember it was broken?" The blue AI explained to which Samus nodded in understanding.

"This must be our little rescued civilian." A female CMO approached Samus.

The toddler shyly acknowledged the Doctor in front of her. Samus was completely uncomfortable with being away from Master Chief.

The CMO gave a small reassuring smile, understanding the child's reserved emotions. "Is there a small record of her injuries after obtaining the girl?" She turned to the blue AI.

"She sustained some injuries during her rescue. Including getting nicked by an energy sword. But none appeared to be severe." Cortana reported as the Doctor began examining the toddler's already healed injuries.

The CMO pulled Samus's shirt back down before using her data pad to scan the child for any of the injuries the AI spoke of. "Are you certain she was injured? There's not even a scrape on the girl. Only a few healing bruises and some old scarring from precise surgical incisions. Where did the energy blade strike her? I'm not finding any signs of sword wounds."

"Her chest was struck." Cortana responded half paying attention to the conversation as she was trying to multitask.

"Hmm..." The CMO lifted the shy toddler's shirt once more. Finding a sizeable scar going across the from child's chest to abdomen. "There's only a scar. No wound? How long ago did Samus, sustain these injuries?" The Doctor thought aloud thoroughly confused.

Finally returning her attention to Samus who looked like she wanted to escape, Cortana responded to the Doctor. "About 24 hours ago, Doctor."

The CMO shook her head in disbelief. "No sword wound from an Elite's blade has ever healed that quickly before. How is it this little one can heal her serious injuries no problem?"

Samus was concerned that Cortana would tell the questioning doctor what she was. But judging by the uncertain negative reaction Chief gave her after explaining she was part alien, she did not need a worse reaction from a station full of strangers.

Cortana gave a small shrug noticing how uncomfortable Samus was getting with the subject. Normally Cortana would be happy to assist Doctors and Scientists with new research on new foreign subjects. But she had made a promise to Chief that she would try her best to prevent Samus from becoming a test subject.

"Unknown. We're still uncertain of the girl's background." She was not exactly lying. Knowing that response would get more questions.

The CMO glanced at her data pad for a moment before staring at the shy toddler. "I would like to run some tests to make sure she is healthy. Maybe get to understand her body a little more."

There it was, the question Samus was worried about. Cortana was concerned that it was going to happen eventually. But there was no time for it now, and she knew Chief's feelings on the matter. "Is there an imminent medical reason for running these tests?"

"No, not exactly." The CMO responded flatly.

"Than why run unnecessary tests during this time? We should be prepping for the upcoming attacks." Cortana questioned the doctor's intentions.

The Doctor slowly put her data pad down, reluctantly agreeing with the AI. "I figured the testing would be a good opportunity to learn more about our little survivor. But you're right, we should be preparing for battle."

"Now if you don't mind, Doctor. We have to make our way to a ceremony, before getting to battle stations." Cortana gestured with her head for Samus to hop off the bed. To which Samus eagerly hopped off the hospital bed.

"Does she have an escort to this ceremony?" The CMO asked a bit concerned the child was exiting without supervision from a physical body.

"He will be here shortly." Cortana replied before disappearing from the pedestal, returning to her scanning and preparations.

"Don't worry, I'll hold her little hand." Sergeant Johnson said as he entered the infirmary.

A familiar voice and face in a formal white uniform. But not someone Samus was completely comfortable with yet. Reluctantly following the Sergeant down the busy hallways where marines and other soldiers were preparing their weapons, ammunition, and applying their armour.

"There's still no definitive plan for you, judging by the paging I got from, Cortana. I hope you know how to survive on your own. Because that very well may be the case for you if things go down with the, Covenant." Johnson conversed with the tiny toddler he escorted to the lift.

Samus was not unfamiliar with the game of survival. She had somehow been able to defy death under unfortunate circumstances so far. But it was definitely due to having the luck of caring people around her. The Spartan being the most recent amongst the many who have saved her from death by caring for her.

As the elevator ascended Johnson glanced down at the silent toddler. "You don't talk much do you?"

Samus moved her eyes to quickly glance up acknowledging the Sergeant before refocusing straight ahead of them. She had become more of a reserved toddler, with all that she had been going through. During the beginning of her lessons from the Chozo Samus had become more of a listener out of respect for the Chozo elders that cared for her. Although she of course had her childish moments.

As the lift reached the top Samus was a bit confused to see new green Spartan armour, who she assumed was Chief, standing in the middle of a whirring machine. There was another soldier speaking to the Master Chief explaining that he will need to take cover to recover the shielding on his new armour.

Chief stepped out of the shield tester as he took note of Johnson, and Samus, getting off of the lift behind the Master Gunnery Sergeant.

"That, or he can hide behind me." Sergeant Johnson commented as Samus was quick to run straight to Master Chief's side. "You done with my boy here, Master Guns? I don't see any training wheels."

The Gunnery Sergeant hesitated to respond as he was distracted by the toddler rushing to cling to the Spartan.

"Master Guns?" Johnson called regaining the man's attention.

The Sergeant turned to Johnson with a scoff. "His armour's working fine, Johnson. So shut your chilli hole." Before turning back to the Master Chief, trying his best not to stare at the shy child. "You're free to go son, just remember take things slow."

"Don't worry, I'll hold his hand." Johnson sarcastically said as he led both Chief and Samus onto the elevator lift.

Samus followed keeping her grip securely on the Chief's calf as they walked onto the lift with the Gunnery Sergeant watching them.

"So, Johnson. When are you going to tell me how you made it back home in one piece?" Master Guns asked as Johnson began to activate the lift.

"Sorry Guns, it's classified." Johnson replied as the lift began to slowly ascend.

"Ha, my ass! Well, you can forget about those adjustments to your A2 scope! And you're sure as hell not gettin' one of the new M7s!" The man grumbled as the lift disappeared upward.

"Well he's in a particularly fine mood. Maybe Lord Hood, didn't give him an invitation." Johnson joked as the lift stopped.

Samus warily followed both Chief, and Sergeant Johnson, as they boarded some other sort of transportation device. As they boarded Samus took note of the massive blue planet outside the stations windows.

"Sit." Chief said as he helped Samus climb up onto one of the seats. He didn't want her to lose balance as the rail car began to move.

Samus sat on the seat only for a moment before switching to standing on her knees staring out the windows at the large planet.

Johnson stood at the clear doors, smirking as he noticed the girl's curiosity on the planet. "Earth. Haven't seen it in years."

As Johnson went on about Earth and the many stations around it, Samus observed everything they were going by. The planet ahead seemed very beautiful, and large with lots of places to explore. Looking around the station she saw marines gearing up and getting ready, some jogging through the halls. And on the other side was the outside of the station, and what seemed to be a massive cannon like gun they were going by.

As Johnson talked on, Chief focused his attention on the curious toddler. Really beginning to worry about what will happen to the girl when they get attacked by the Covenant. He would do his best to protect her, but he wasn't sure how Samus would handle being drug through another Covenant invasion.

"I think something big is about to happen." Were the last words Samus heard from Johnson as the rail car came to a halt. Samus slid off her seat, immediately clinging onto Chief's leg for security as she scanned the audience outside the car.

Cheering, applauding, marines filled the room with noise as Chief and Johnson stepped out of the car. It was all so very overwhelming for the little toddler.

Immediately Chief took notice of the hovering cameras following them through the cheering crowd. "You told me there wouldn't be any cameras."

"And you told me you were going to wear something nice." Johnson spat back as the camera ahead of them zoomed down to focus on the child clinging to Chief's leg.

Samus ducked behind Chief's leg, almost causing the Spartan to stumble as she did so.

Chief gently pushed the camera away from Samus, as he encouraged her to continue moving. He knew this must've been overstimulating for the three year old. It was definitely too much attention to get at one time. Even if he did save the universe from sudden doom, the overexcitement was too much.

"Folks need heroes, Chief. Give 'em hope." Johnson said as they reached a sealed door where two soldiers in nice uniforms saluted them. "So smile, would ya? While we still got something to smile about."

As the doors opened to many other cheering soldiers in formal white uniforms. Once again Samus hesitated, causing Chief to look down at her.

Before going any further, Master Chief hoisted Samus up into his arms. Understanding that this was obviously too much for her to take in all at once.

"I don't know why you didn't do that in the first place. She probably hasn't seen this many humans in one place for a long while now." Johnson scoffed as he walked side by side with the Spartan.

As they entered the command center the applause was softer but many soldiers still surrounded them. Chief placed Samus down close to the door they had entered through. "Stay here. I will be right back." Chief told the toddler, as he continued on with Johnson, towards Lord Hood.

Cortana appeared on a pedestal right next to Samus giving the child a small spook. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you jump. I thought I would be able to catch Chief, before he went up. Looks like I just missed him."

Samus was happy to see another familiar face. She seemed to be either outnumbered by the sheer amount of soldiers, or just generally in the way. And the whole atmosphere of it all was making her uncomfortable.

Two more soldiers entered the room. One being a lady, the other being a man who nearly kicked Samus over as he entered.

"Move! Keep the doorways clear!" The man scolded the toddler he had nearly knocked over.

"No, Samus! Wait here, they're doing something important..." Cortana sighed as the toddler escaped the situation.

Samus was more than happy to move away, quickly jogging across the now entirely silent room, to the Master Chief.

As Master Chief and Johnson both saluted Lord Hood. Samus unexpectedly clung onto the Chief's leg once more.

A man whispered something to Lord Hood, who from the corner of his eye watched the child cling to the Spartan.

Cortana appeared on the pedestal next to Johnson, and Chief. Her attention drawn to the young girl holding onto Master Chief's leg.

"Go ahead, Cortana." Lord Hood asked for the AI's report.

"Another whisper, Sir. Near IO. We have probes en route." The AI reported to the Admiral.

"I apologize, but we're going to have to make this quick." Lord Hood apologized to Johnson and Chief, as the predicted battle was soon going to begin.

Cortana turned to both Chief, and Johnson, who both stood in respectful silence as the Admiral apologized to them. "You look nice." She complimented Chief's new armour.

"Thanks."

"Thank You."

Both men glared at each other with a bit of embarrassment and humour. Unsure of who the AI was speaking to. But never the less it was a very human moment.

Cortana smirked with a chuckle as her eyes looked down to the toddler warily scanning the room full of many people. "Sorry, I tried to get her to stay. But someone tripped over her, she got scared."

"It's alright." Chief reassured Cortana that her attempt to keep Samus in place was not unappreciated. He had a feeling Samus would somehow get too uncomfortable to sit still. He was a bit relieved that she had decided to run to him, instead of further into the station just before an attack.

"Sergeant Major, the Colonial Cross is awarded for acts of singular daring and devotion. For a soldier of United Earth Space Corps."

Samus watched as the old Admiral placed a shiny metal on the Sergeant's uniform. Shortly after the award was given a woman came forth, lining up next to Chief. Samus was curious to who this was, but hid herself behind the Spartan's armoured leg.

"Commander Miranda Keyes. Your father's actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service. His bravery in the face of impossible odds reflects great credit upon himself, and the UNSC. The navy has lost one of it's best."

As the Admiral gave this woman a speech, he handed her a small box. Samus only assumed it most likely had another metal of some sort in it. The teary eyes of the Commander told Samus this woman had lost someone important to her. How sad, she wondered if it was the aliens who invaded Zebes, that had anything to do with this woman's loss.

In the middle of the ceremony a red blinking light followed by an alarm filled the room. Causing a few soldiers to begin to jump into action. And Samus to visibly jump in fear as it sounded like the alarms that had gone off when her home planet got attacked by Ridley.

"Easy, I've got you." Chief quietly told Samus, as he instinctively scooped her into one of his arms, while the Admiral turned to Cortana for answers.

"Slip space ruptures. Directly off our battle cluster." Cortana reported.

"Show me." Lord Hood said putting his full attention on the AI.

"Fifteen Covenant Capital ships holding position just outside the kill zone." The AI explained as she displayed a holographic layout of what she was explaining.

"This is Fleet Admiral Harper, we are engaging the enemy!" A man over the com channel spoke to them.

As Lord Hood responded to the Fleet Admiral Samus clutched her tiny hands on Chief's chest plate as the loud alarms continued. "What happing, Chief?" Tears began to escape Samus's turquoise eyes as more and more people began rushing around the room.

"We're under attack." John responded emotionlessly, keeping his attention straight ahead on the Admiral.

"Commander, get to your ship. Link up with the Fleet." The Admiral turned around beginning to give orders to the three standing in front of him.

"Yes, Sir." Keyes replied with a salute, before exiting the room hastily.

Lord Hood spun around to face the waiting blue AI. "You have the MAC gun, Cortana. Soon as they come into range, open up."

"Gladly." Cortana nodded turning back to the displayed holographic.

Admiral Lord Hood examined the diagram again, feeling that something was not quite right. "Something's not right... The Fleet that destroyed Reach, was fifty times this size.

"Sir, additional contacts. Boarding craft. And lots of them." A soldier from behind announced.

"They're going to try and take our MAC guns offline. Give their Capital Ships a straight shot at Earth." Lord Hood thought aloud, before turning to the Spartan behind him. "Master Chief, defend this station!" He ordered.

"Yes, Sir." Master Chief eagerly obliged, turning to Johnson. "I need a weapon."

"Right this way." Johnson nodded, leading Chief to the nearby weaponry.

As a massive ship flew over them making the station rock and shake. Samus clutched tightly onto Chief, as she hid her face in his shoulder. Reminding the Spartan of her presence.

As he grabbed a battle rifle and an SMG to holster, he placed Samus down on the ground. "You need to stay behind me. If I tell you to stay put, I mean it." Chief firmly told the girl as Johnson led him and a squad of soldiers into the next room.

Samus nodded in understanding, following Chief like a shadow. Wishing that she could assist in some way. As the soldiers chattered Samus took note of the alien boarding craft latching onto the station.

Chief scanned the room, there was no where safe for Samus to hide. He had to bring her directly to the front of the battle with him. Quickly getting behind a stationary metal shield for cover, he crouched behind it with Samus next to him.

"Stay here. Do not move from this spot unless I tell you to. Keep behind this for cover. Do not move from it unless I say otherwise. If you move from it, you will be shot." Master Chief firmly warned the toddler to do as exactly what he was saying. "Understood?"

"Under hood." Samus nodded in understanding, crouching herself behind the cover as Chief stepped out.

With his battle rifle ready Chief watched as a laser began to cut through, opening the sealed door. His heart rate began to raise as he wondered if he would be able to keep Samus safe enough while he fought. The door exploded into pieces, revealing the variety of alien invaders behind it.

Samus held back a whimper as pieces of the metal door went sailing over her across the room. The sound of guns popping off and death could be heard beyond the metal shield she hid behind.

Master Chief took out the squad of Grunts led by a couple of Elites. The Elites snuck past the Master Chief on each side of him, as he focused on the Grunts. The Sangheili warriors attacked the marines on each side of the room.

Samus winced as a soldier was tossed into the bulkhead next to her. The soldier slumped lifeless as blood pooled from his head. Samus could hear the large alien moving around just in front of the cover she was hiding behind.

Master Chief shot the blue armoured Elite with his SMG shredding the alien's shielding, before firing his battle rifle fired the last fatal shot into the shieldless Elite's head. Reloading his SMG, Chief rushed over to where Samus was hidden, two marines were attempting to shoot down the red armoured Sangheili.

Samus gasped as she looked up to see the alien hanging over her cover staring her down. Before the Sangheili could reach for the girl a swift hard crack could be heard, before a decisive flop from the dead alien.

"Come'on, let's move." Chief coaxed the toddler to come out from cover, and follow him.

Samus followed very closely to Chief as they navigated through the next few rooms. Each room they travelled through, more Covenant viciously overwhelmed the few soldiers scattered across each room they went through.

It was getting more and more difficult to protect Samus, as they ventured through the next rooms with boarding crafts. Every corner he rounded was, at the very least two Elites waiting to kill him right where he stood. Chief was taking on the brunt of the bullets fired at him, trying to deflect any shots from hitting the innocent child. But with some luck, even though the toddler was a bit clumsy, Samus seemed to be agile enough to dodge most bullets and keep up with him.

"Hey, check it out the Malta has already driven off it's boarders."

Chief stared off in the direction the soldier had pointed in. Watching as the Covenant boarding ships departed from the Malta station.

"Malta, what is your status? Over." Cortana's voice could be heard over the intercom, questioning the neighbouring station.

"I don't believe it. They're retreating, we won!" The response from the neighbouring station was excitement and relief.

Master Chief cocked his head unsure of that reply. Even Samus seemed to tilt her head in confusion as they watched the alien ships eagerly escape the station they had invaded.

"Somethin no right, Chief." Samus looked up at the Spartan.

Chief tilted his helmet down to quickly glance at the toddler. Samus was right, something wasn't right. The Covenant did not flee like that unless there was a purpose.

Seconds later the neighbouring station exploded catastrophically. Causing Samus to wince and grab onto Chief's leg.

"This is bad. Real bad." The panicking soldier next to them was of no comfort to the young girl.

"That gonna happen to us?" Samus was too smart for her own good, she understood the Covenant's attack plan.

"No. I won't let that happen." Master Chief reassured the girl, as he began to lead her further into the station.

As the Spartan finished killing off the stragglers running around the next room of boarding crafts, Samus walked over to the windows. She observed as multiple Covenant ships quickly exited the nearby station, just like they did earlier.

"Chief, look."

John turned to the window to see what the tiny toddler was pointing at. The nearby station exploded just like the last neighbouring station had.

"Cortana, assessment?!" Lord Hood demanded over the com channels.

"That explosion came from inside the Athens. Same as the Malta. The Covenant must've brought something with them. A bomb." Cortana reported, confirming Chief's suspicions.

"Then they sure as hell brought one here. Chief, find it." Lord Hood ordered.

"Yes, Sir." Master Chief nodded, gesturing for Samus to follow him.

Samus continued to follow Chief through the station. Her little legs growing exhausted from the rushing and dodging they were doing as they battled on towards the Armoury. Going down into a narrow hallway, Samus warily followed Chief. Scanning the room with her turquoise eyes, a sheen fast approaching from the side made her gasp as the invisible alien opened fire on them.

Master Chief swung around, peppering the attacking alien with a storm of bullets. Shredding the Elite's shielding until it dropped dead.

Samus yelped in pain as another Sangheili came out from the door to the armoury, shooting at both Spartan and child. Hitting the child with the stray blasts from his plasma rifle.

John stepped in front of the Elite, taking on the fire before striking the weapon's out of the alien's hands. Using his battle rifle to strike the Elite in the head, knocking the alien to the floor. Before filing the Elite's head full of bullets from his rifle.

"Are you alright?" Chief quickly crouched down to be level with the shot toddler.

"Mhmm..." Samus held back her pain filled tears, as her arm burned intensely from the plasma burn.

"Get the hell out of my Armoury you split lip bastard! Agh!" The familiar voice of the Gunnery Sergeant yelled from above. Diverting Chief's attention back to the battle.

Samus watched as the Gunnery Sergeant was murdered just above her, the big scary aliens were ruthless but it didn't stop Chief from destroying them.

"Chief, what's your status?" Cortana asked over the com channel.

"Move quickly Samus, come'on." The green Spartan hurried the child into cover behind a small broken wall, before engaging another room full of Covenant. "I'm struggling, Cortana. Samus, has been shot."

Samus could see an ambush of Jackals and Grunts just above Chief on the upper deck. Picking up the small blue object that had fallen off the lifeless body of a Grunt, Samus clicked the orange button in the middle, hearing a distinctive click, followed by a blue glow. The toddler immediately recognized it to be those sickly grenades the Covenant had been throwing at them. Thinking quickly she jumped out from her cover, tossing the glowing sickly ball as far as she could. Her arm was stronger than she thought. Tossing the explosive past the Spartan who watched the grenade fly by him, onto the deck above. The grenade landed directly onto a Grunt's head causing it to panic running straight in the middle of the small alien squad that was ready to ambush the Spartan.

"Is she still conscious and able to move?" The AI replied, as she fired the MAC cannon.

As the grenade exploded the small alien squad, Chief looked over his shoulder to see Samus sheepishly waving, waiting for his next command. "Yes."

"Keep moving. Sergeant Johnson, and the Commander, are not far from your position. They got diverted from their route to the ships. They are pinned down. Assist them, and hand Samus, to them they can get her help aboard the In Amber Clad. Samus, will not be able to follow you any further. She needs to get aboard that ship." Cortana told her Spartan, making a waypoint for him.

Chief shot the last Elite in his path, before waving for Samus to follow him. "I'm surprised she got this far. This was harder than I thought. But she impresses me with her potential."

"Impresses you? Are you kidding me?! She's a toddler. The only thing that should impress you is the fact that she has the will to survive, and push through this war she didn't sign up for." Cortana scoffed before ending the call, to attend to her other duties.

John pushed forward with the exhausted wounded toddler, who was keeping pace for the most part. Rounding the next corner he found Commander Keyes, and Sergeant Johnson, pinned down by a squad of Sangheili.

"Chief, I was on my way to my ship when these guys showed up." Keyes greeted the Spartan.

John threw a few grenades in the direction of the Elites draining their shields, both Miranda, and Johnson opened fire along with Chief. Dropping every single Elite to the floor.

"Thanks, Chief. I owe you one." Miranda Keyes thanked the Spartan for his assistance.

Holstering his weapon, John knew the Commander could repay him now for his assistance. "Commander Keyes? Can you please take Samus, get her safely aboard your ship. She has been shot, and cannot come with me beyond this point."

"I'll make it happen." Miranda nodded in understanding, turning her attention to the shy toddler.

Master Chief gazed down at the toddler in front of him. "She's a bit reserved at first but warms up. She knows Johnson, and will most likely be more comfortable..."

"Chief, we're running out of time here. You still need to locate that bomb." Johnson interrupted the Spartan as he placed a hand down on Samus's shoulder. "I got the kid. Don't worry."

Chief nodded, hesitantly moving onto the next section without the foundling toddler.

"Who is this, Johnson?" Keyes asked gesturing to the child as they began to jog towards the ships.

"A tiny survivor, tugging at a war hero's heart strings. Hahaha!" The Sergeant joked as they approached the In Amber Clad. Looking down, Samus struggled to keep pace, but also didn't look too impressed with Johnson's joking. And neither was the Commander. "Truthfully I don't know Ma'am. Her name is, shamus... same us... I don't know, something like that."

Entering her ship with Johnson and the child in tow, Miranda sighed. "I thought Chief, said you knew this girl?"

"No. No. No... The kid recognizes me. Cortana, and Master Chief, told us her alias. I haven't been able to get a single word out of the kid." Johnson explained as they made their way to the bridge of the ship.

"We'll talk more about this in a moment, Sergeant. Get out of that uniform, and gear up." Commander Keyes said as she stepped into the bridge.

"Understood, Commander. Stay with her, kid. We don't want you getting lost now." Johnson nodded, pointing the Commander out to the toddler, before hastily leaving to gear up.

Turning to one of the pilots, Commander Keyes began giving orders. "Take off, we aid in the fight against the attacks on the station until we hear from the Admiral, and Master Chief."

"Yes, Ma'am. Commencing take off." One of the pilots nodded at the other soldiers next to him.

Miranda pivoted to go change into a less formal uniform. But was delayed by the single toddler standing behind her. "You're so quiet, I almost forgot you were here. Let's get you to the infirmary."

Samus was extremely reluctant to even follow the Commander, who was kind but clearly in a hurry. Luckily on their way to the infirmary, they ran into Sergeant Johnson.

"I'll get her to the infirmary Ma'am. Go, I will meet you in the bridge afterwards." The Sergeant told the Commander as he took over escorting the toddler.

Samus didn't want to go to the infirmary. She wanted to go with Chief and Cortana. She couldn't understand why she had to stay with Sergeant Johnson.

"Uh, this must be the little one everyone has been talking about." A medic cooed as Johnson placed the incredibly uncomfortable shy toddler on one of the beds.

"This is the one." Johnson replied with a sigh. "She got hit by a plasma round."

"Hmm... I see. Well, it looks like it's already begun healing." The medic mentioned pointing to the healing plasma burn on the toddler's arm.

"What?!" Johnson gasped in disbelief, taking a look at the wound himself.

"How long ago did she receive this injury. Was she assessed by the station medic?" The medical officer asked curiously as he applied a cooling ointment to the girl's burn.

"Moments ago, literally five minutes ago." Johnson scoffed folding his arms.

The medic gave a small nod in understanding, as he went to examine Samus closer. "Some burn marks, they're healing quickly though."

Johnson threw his hands up in disbelief. "How can that be? A single shot from a Plasma Rifle could burn straight through skin layers and muscle on a marine. You're telling me a baby soft toddler can deflect bullets?"

"I don't know what to say, Sergeant. She has a decent burn wound, but she's healing. Are you sure she's not another one of Halsey's projects?" The medic commented cocking his eyebrow at the shocked Sergeant.

"No she was found in an uncharted galaxy, on an unknown planet." Johnson scoffed at the medic's comment.

"Where did you discovered her?" The medic sighed with a shrug. Trying to think of a logical explanation for the child's oddly fast healing.

"I didn't find her. Master Chief, did. But it's a long story, we don't have time for." The Sergeant replied, taking Samus off the exam table. "We better go meet with the Commander."

"Sergeant, we're keeping the Covenant at bay, but a few have snuck through our defences, to Earth. We're focusing fire on the Covenant Carrier shields, so we can make an assault." Miranda turned to the man escorting the uncertain toddler into the bridge. "How are you doing?" She asked looking down at the shy girl.

Samus stayed silent nervously gazing between the floor and the Commander. Continuing to be non verbal around the unknown humans.

"Can she speak? Does she understand our language?" Keyes looked to the Sergeant, who shrugged in reply.

"She supposedly does. But she has only communicated with, Chief. And Cortana, as well I believe." Sergeant Johnson replied as the ship shook from getting fired upon.

"Return fire!" Miranda commanded as she steadied the toddler from falling over.

"Damn! I hope Master Chief, finds that bomb before it's too late." Johnson gruffly said as he observed the battle outside the ship.

After grabbing Cortana, Chief placed his hand on the ticking Covenant bomb. "How much time was left?"

"You don't wanna know." Cortana replied, relieved they had stopped the station from getting destroyed.

"Cairo, this is In Amber Clad. The Carrier's shield is down! I'm in position, and ready for immediate assault!" The Commander's voice came over the com channels.

Chief glanced out the window hoping the Admiral would refuse the request to move forward with an assault. The Covenant ship was much too large for In Amber Clad to handle alone. The entire crew would be at risk. Especially, Samus.

"Negative Commander. Not against a ship that size. Not on your own." The Admiral replied.

Master Chief looked at the bomb, before taking a look at the Covenant carrier preventing them from making a move towards Earth. "Sir? Permission to leave the station?"

"For what purpose, Master Chief?" Lord Hood replied immediately.

"To give the Covenant back their bomb."

"Permission granted."

Master Chief began to drag the bomb towards a lift. There was a lot risk he was about to take, and Cortana knew that.

"I know what you're thinking, and it's crazy." Cortana told her Spartan, as the elevator descended.

"So, stay here." Chief replied, as the lift doors opened.

"Unfortunately for us both... I like crazy." Cortana retorted as Chief dragged the bomb outside the lift.

Chief took a good look at all the fighting taking place outside the station. It was a lot of chaos he was going to have to go through to get to the Carrier. Quickly locating the release lever for the sealed hatch keeping the vacuum of space out of this section of the station. Chief prepared for his deadly leap.

"Just one question..." Cortana's voice was a little bit uncertain now as Chief's plan was about to be set in motion. "What if you miss?"

"I won't." Master Chief answered emotionless yet confident as he pulled the release.

The vacuum of space immediately began to suck everything out of the room, including the bomb, to which Chief waited until just the right moment to grab onto as it flew out of the station. Soaring through the vicious battle between UNSC forces and the Covenant, Chief steered the bomb directly into the heart of the Covenant Carrier that was devastating UNSC ships. Placing his hand on the bomb, Cortana reactivated the bomb.

Standing next to the sitting Commander, Samus looked up as the sound of a thunderous explosion caught her attention. The Covenant ship the Commander wanted to assault was destroyed. Samus visibly jumped at the sound of something heavy landing on top of the ship.

"For a brick. He flew pretty good." Sergeant Johnson sarcastically remarked as the Commander radioed the Chief.

"Chief, get inside. Gear-up. We're taking this fight to the surface." Keyes ordered the Spartan as the In Amber Clad was piloted down to Earth. "Sergeant, I want you to meet up with, Chief."

"Yes, Ma'am." Johnson nodded, making his way out of the bridge.

Samus moved to follow the Sergeant but was stopped by the Commander.

"Oh, no. No. You stay here." Miranda softly told the young girl who was not happy about being left behind.

"Ma'am, the Covenant seem to be specifically targeting New Mombassa." One of the piloting officers announced.

"Master Chief, Sergeant Johnson, you are going to head to the surface and assist with the attacks on New Mombassa. We need to know why they're attacking there." Commander Keyes turned to acknowledge the piloting crew, giving Samus a chance to slip away and search for the Master Chief.

Samus jogged as fast as her little legs could, trying to catch up to the Sergeant. Rushing through the other soldiers jogging through the ship. The amount of traffic she had to weave through she easily lost track of Sergeant Johnson.

Once safely inside the ship, Chief stepped into the corridors to make his way to the hanger bay where they were prepping Pelicans for the assault on the invading Covenant.

"You know that would never happen twice?" Cortana scoffed, as they navigated their way through the busy corridor.

"It got the job done. It's time to move on to the next." John replied as he stepped into the hanger bay, where Johnson was rallying a squad of marines.

Miranda Keyes sighed heavily as she turned to see no toddler standing next to her. Making this day more difficult than it already was.

"Master Chief, Sergeant Johnson. The kid is missing. She must've tried following you Johnson, when I was preoccupied." The Commander's voice came through the Master Chief's helmet speakers.

"Damn, that kid has to be as stubborn as you are. She can't be far behind." Johnson groaned as he put down the weapons he was loading onto the Pelican.

"Stay and continue your prep. I'll go find, Samus." Chief told the Sergeant, before quickly exiting into the hallways to search for Samus.

"Here, let me tap into the surveillance cameras." Cortana said as she tried to aid her Spartan in locating the toddler quickly. "Ah, there we go. Head down to the right and you should spot her."

Taking Cortana's directions it did not take long for Chief to locate the tiny toddler weaving in and out of the other soldiers that passed by. Quickly bending down as the girl unknowingly walked in his direction, he held out his hand causing Samus to run into it.

"Chief!" Samus excitedly greeted the Spartan who pulled her off to the side.

"Where were you going?" John asked curiously as he began to make his way back to the hangar bay.

"I find you." The toddler replied following the Spartan.

"You're supposed to be with the Commander." Chief told Samus, as they approached the Sergeant standing next to a Pelican.

"I wanna stay with you..." Samus protested, wanting to stay around the most familiar human she knew.

"Why?" The Spartan unconsciously thought aloud. Curious as to why Samus continued to choose him over someone less intimidating.

Sergeant Johnson scoffed chewing on the cigar he had in his mouth. "Maybe you secretly got a soft spot for mutant children?" He teased the Spartan.

"Mutant?" Chief cocked an eyebrow behind his visor.

"I have never heard of a toddler that can deflect bullets with no armour." Johnson commented as he loaded ammunition onto the Pelican.

"Samus, has never deflected bullets. She's only been able to heal rapidly from getting hit by stray bullets." Cortana logically replied.

Ignoring the two, Chief knelt down to be level with Samus. It was getting increasingly more difficult to keep her away from the war she never knew of. "Samus, you can't follow me. You have to stay here."

Samus tilted her head confused. "Why?"

"Because it's too dangerous for you to follow. I don't want you to get shot again, or worse." He explained even though he knew Samus didn't really understand.

"I can help." The toddler tried to offer her assistance even though she clearly was not a soldier of any sort.

John felt frustrated, he didn't understand why Samus had gotten attached to him. Or why the toddler couldn't understand that he could not safely protect her from the harmful consequences of war. "No. It's too dangerous. This is a war, I cannot take care of you while I am fighting to protect the galaxy..."

While Samus stared off silently thinking to herself, while Chief tried to divert his attention.

"Cortana, any progress on your side project?"

"I have been too busy to even attempt contact. I don't think I am going to have much luck right now anyway. I don't think it's wise to invite an unknown alien species to Earth, while we're trying to chase off other aliens." The AI mentioned to her Spartan, as the Commander entered the hanger bay.

"Master Chief. Sergeant. Are you ready to go to the surface?" Miranda greeted as she approached.

"Yes, Ma'am." Johnson answered as Chief attempted to lead Samus over to the Commander.

"I posed to protect galaxy too! I can help!" Samus chimed, hoping Chief wouldn't separate from her again.

Both the Commander and Johnson chuckled at the adorable toddler. "Told ya she talks."

Samus went quiet leaning closer to the Master Chief, as the two others chuckled at her. Why were they laughing at her? She just wanted to help her new friend.

John sighed, once again crouching down to be level with the girl. "You can't help with this. Not without training. You need skills before you can become a protector."

"I go back to Chozo. I get trained. Then I help." Samus was not about to back down on her offer, she would assist the Spartan.

"You're going to have to have patience. I've got to protect Earth, before I get you back home." Chief told the girl as he brought her over to the Commander.

"Your training could take years, Samus. It's best to just stay here with the Commander, until we return." Cortana's voice spoke through the Chief's helmet speakers.

Samus didn't reply, reluctantly standing next to Commander Keyes, who tried giving her a smile.

"Our bird is ready, Chief. Let's move out!" Johnson gruffly called out over the sound of the Pelican's engines.

Master Chief gave one last glance at the disappointed toddler, before boarding the Pelican.

"Come'on, we can monitor their progress in the bridge." Miranda gestured for Samus to follow her.

The little blonde toddler began to follow the Commander, but just before the exit Samus ducked backwards as Keyes continued on. Quickly walking in between boarding marines while Chief was occupied. Samus barely had time to find a hiding place before the Pelican dropped out of In Amber Clad with two others.

"I've tapped into the Covenant battle net. The chatter amongst the Covenant, is odd." Cortana mentioned as Johnson walked by them into the cockpit.

"I'm listening, Cortana." Miranda said as she sat down in her in the bridge.

"What are those alien bastards going on about?" The Sergeant gruffly asked.

"The message just repeats. Regret. Regret. Regret." The AI replied.

Keyes furrowed her brow curiously as she wondered what the Covenant meant. "Catchy. Any idea what it means?"

"Dear humanity, we regret being alien bastards... We regret coming to Earth... And we most definitely regret that the Corps just blew up our raggedy ass fleet! Hoo aa!" Sergeant Johnson sarcastically remarked over the comm channel.

"Regret is a name, Sergeant. The name of one of the Covenants religious leaders. A Prophet. He's on that Carrier, and he's calling for help." Cortana corrected the Sergeant Major.

Miranda Keyes looked to her side to see no toddler standing next to her, nor was there a child anywhere in the bridge. "Hendrick, was there a toddler with me when I entered the bridge?" She turned to one of the soldiers on deck.

"No Ma'am. You were the only one to enter the bridge." Hendrick replied.

"Immediate grid kilo two three is hot. Recommend mission abort." Recon came over the comms.

"Roger that. It's your call, Sarge." One the pilots said.

"We're going in." Johnson answered firmly. Before turning to the back of the pelican. "Get tactical marines!"

As the marines began to prep, Samus slid out from hiding when the Pelican shifted in altitude and speed.

"How the bloody hell did you get on here?!" One of the prepping marines gasped in shock after a toddler slid out from between an ammo crate and his seat.

"Is that a child?!" Another marine gasped upon seeing the tiny toddler.

Master Chief sharply turned to see Samus sitting on the floor in the middle of the isle.

"Master Chief, we've got a problem." Commander Keyes came over his radio.

All Chief could think of was that he was staring directly at that problem. Samus had stupidly followed him straight into the heart of battle.

"She's with us, Commander." Cortana replied just as Lord Hood came over the open comms.

"Master Chief, get aboard that Carrier, secure the Prophet Of Regret." Lord Hood ordered over the open comm channel. "This is the only place the Covenant decided to land on Earth. That Prophet is going to tell us why."

Nearly moments after the Admiral's order, Chief could see a massive Covenant Scarab blocking the path straight ahead of them. Both Pelicans that were flying with them were immediately shot down by this deadly war machine. Master Chief dove for Samus as they were hit, grabbing her he curled himself tightly around her as they flipped upside down hitting a building on the way down. The final impact knocking him momentarily unconscious.

"Matter Chief?" Samus weakly called, crawling onto the Chief's chest plate.

"Shake it off marines. Clear the crash site, go, go, go!" Johnson ordered the surviving soldiers.

"Chief?!" Samus called tapping on the Spartan's golden visor.

"Hey, wake up. Wake up, Chief." Cortana called as Samus tapped on Chief's visor.

Master Chief slowly opened his eyes as he came to. Hearing the tapping on his visor and the voice of his AI. Once his vision was clear, he saw the toddler on his chest trying to wake him. Sitting up Samus slid into his lap.

"I told you to stay with the Commander!" Chief scolded, lifting Samus as he jumped up to his feet. Placing Samus on her feet, he was absolutely boiling inside, frustrated with the stubborn toddler. "Why can't you listen to simple orders!" Snatching the battle rifle off the rubble covered ground, he hissed at the girl.

Samus winced as Chief reprimanded her for her disobedience. She still didn't know the Spartan too well, but she was surprised at how angry he was.

"Chief, we need to move. There might be an option for Samus, to return to the ship, if we can get evac." Cortana told her frustrated Spartan.

With a heavy sigh Chief gestured for Samus to follow him. "Come'on, you're here now. Stay close to me."

Samus did so, clinging to the Spartan's leg as they awkwardly walked to catch up with the others. The gravity and atmosphere of this planet made Samus unsteady. The atmosphere was not as heavy, nor was the gravity.

Chief shot the first target down, an unaware Grunt. After shooting the Covenant occupying a small building, Chief hurried Samus up the steps to the second floor, following behind Johnson and a few other marines. "I need you to stay under this staircase. Do not move unless you're in danger. Shout for me if you are." Chief told Samus as he tucked her underneath the staircase leading to the roof.

Samus nodded in understanding as gunfire erupted from the squad as more Covenant poured into the streets.

Stepping back Chief stepped on a pistol that was also laying under the stairs Samus hid under. Picking it up he gestured to Samus. "Have you used a weapon before?"

Samus shook her head no, she hadn't exactly been introduced to combat training quite yet. But she had used wooden poles before, as the beginning of her hand to hand combat. "Chief!" She squealed as a few Grunts began to climb the stairs from the ground floor.

The Spartan spun around firing his battle rifle at the intruders. Quickly turning back to Samus after killing the two, he took the safety off the pistol. "It's loaded. If those Grunts start climbing up again you shoot them with this." He placed the gun carefully in the toddler's hands.

The gun was hefty, to most normal toddlers it would've been too heavy. But it was not overly heavy for Samus. Chief still had his hands on hers as he properly positioned her hands on the weapon.

"Good. Hold it." Chief released his hold to see if Samus was able to keep hold of the pistol. And to his surprise she could. "Okay, now pull the trigger." He said hovering one of his hands behind the pistol just in case it recoiled too much.

Samus pulled the trigger firing the weapon. It recoiled a bit but she was able to keep it in hand. "Like that?"

"Yes. Now if you have trouble, call for me. Only use the gun if you're in danger. And never ever point it towards yourself." Chief said as he began to leave to help the others.

Samus nodded tucking herself under the stairs with the pistol in hand pointing at the floor.

"Do you think it was wise to give a toddler a loaded gun, unattended?" Cortana warily thought aloud.

Master Chief fired his weapon, tossing a grenade into the group of Jackals below. "No it wasn't. But I trust she'll use it properly."

"She's never fired a gun in her life, she won't use it properly." The AI responded with a scoff, as drones began to swarm them.

"She'll be fine. I trust her." Chief replied shooting down the Drones that were swarming the area.

"Trust, doesn't guarantee proper use of a weapon and safety." Cortana continued to argue.

"Chief!? Did you give the kid a gun?!" Johnson gasped after walking past the hiding girl.

"Yes, she needs to be able to protect herself if she's going to be with us in the middle of battle." Master Chief responded after shooting down the last Drone.

"You do understand that she's a toddler, right? She has no idea what's happening, and could possibly harm herself." Johnson warned the Spartan as another Phantom dropped another wave of Covenant.

"You should listen to him, Chief..." Cortana mentioned. Finally a voice of reason agreed with her.

Chief looked behind them, the girl was still tucked under the stairs, with the pistol in her hands. He knew this alien hybrid toddler was different. He trusted that she had good instincts. "I trust her."

Johnson shook his head, firing his sniper rifle at the aliens below them. "That's great you're on the path to trusting complete strangers. But don't you think you're putting too much faith in a toddler? She is still a very young child."

Chief understood everyone's concerns. But it did not deter him from giving Samus his trust. Tossing a grenade down the street, he blew up a small squad of Jackals huddled by some Grunts.

Samus gasped as she watched the short little aliens climb up from the ground floor. Once she was in their view, the Grunts raised their guns to shoot. And so did Samus.

In between the sounds of gunfire Master Chief suddenly heard a squeal come from where he had left Samus. Rushing over to the toddler's position he reloaded his weapon. Aiming as he got closer, he watched as two Grunts dropped dead inches from the staircase. Aiming his weapon down to the ground floor, he shot down the last two Grunts attempting to make their way up.

"Samus, are you alright?" Chief asked scanning for anymore enemies as he backed towards the stairs Samus hid under.

"They shooted at me. I shooted them." Samus answered the Spartan with a noticeable shake in her voice.

"Were you hit?" Chief asked as a Pelican flew over them.

"No." Samus shook her head as Chief led Samus over to where Johnson stood on the balcony next to a turret.

"Good. You did good." Chief praised Samus for her ability to defend herself.

"The Pelican is going to land in the quart yard the next block over. She's too big to land here." Johnson explained as giant metal doors across the street banged loudly.

Samus visibly shrunk as the metal doors were viciously beaten down. The doors eventually collapsed with a clang, revealing two hunters.

"Stand back marines. Let the Chief, show you how it's done." Johnson said as they all opened fire on the massive armoured aliens.

Chief ripped the turret off its mount, using it to spray the hulking Hunters with bullets. The armour shields blocked the bullets from hitting the orange worms that held the Hunters together. "I need them turned around..."

The marines were extremely hesitant to assist with distracting the Hunters. Samus knew the big aliens were terrifying and deadly. But she understood the aliens had to be taken down. Chief, needed help and she would be the one to help him.

Climbing down the broken stairs to the ground floor, Samus hid behind one of the Covenant Weapon caches before attempting to open fire on the giant aliens. She was slow to shoot the pistol Chief gave her, unknowingly she only had a couple bullets left before she would have to reload.

The Hunter pair grumbled as they were shot by some unknown assailants. With their annoyed moans came their investigation to find this pest.

Chief quickly whipped his head around accounting all marines with him and Johnson. Looking over the edge of the ground floor he immediately located Samus hiding behind a weapon cache, with the Hunters fast approaching.

Master Chief leapt down to the ground, using a sticky grenade he stuck it to one of the Hunters backs. Exploding the massive alien, it dropped to the floor. Causing the last Hunter to turn and go after the Spartan.

Samus fired the pistol at the alien trying to charge Chief. But her aim was poor, only irritating the alien as it continued towards Chief.

Johnson aimed his sniper rifle at the Hunter but didn't have a clear enough shot on the alien. Though Samus seemed to have hit the Hunter's tender spots enough times to cause it to turn. Just as it turned Johnson fired multiple shots into the Hunter until it dropped dead with a hefty thud.

"I'm going to contact the remaining squads. You deal with... Well trouble, I guess." Cortana halfheartedly joked as Chief made his way over to the child. "Second Squad what's your status...?"

While Cortana spoke over the comlink, Chief halted in front of the girl. "What were you thinking?"

"I was helping." Samus replied, trying to sound enthusiastic even though she knew the scolding was coming.

"You could've been killed." Master Chief said, as he took the empty pistol away from the toddler.

"But nobody help you." The toddler replied, watching the marines make their way to the open pathway.

As much as it was sweet, and very useful that Samus almost had zero fear unintentionally going into battle. She could've been killed. "You cannot put yourself at risk, Samus. You're too little to be going into battle."

Samus looked over her small body, before returning her gaze to the Master Chief. "I still help. Even if I small."

"Stubborn, just like you are." Cortana commented after finishing her conversation with Second Squad. "We've got to start making our way to Second Squad. Luckily the Hunters opened up a nice pathway for us."

"Any chance another Pelican is nearby?" Chief asked as he gestured for Samus to follow him and his squad.

"Yes, the Pilot that tried to land earlier is wanting an LZ cleared in the next courtyard. Commander Keyes seems to need Johnson on that bird, from what chatter I'm picking up on through the comms." Cortana replied as they nearly got sniped by a Jackal.

"Shit!" Johnson ducked behind cover, as Chief hastily scooped up the toddler before joining him behind a small cement barrier. "Damn bastards. Keep your head down, kid!" Sergeant warned Samus as he fired his sniper rifle back at the attackers.

Chief and the Marines also joined the Sergeant in taking out the snipers and nearby Covenant. While Samus stayed hidden, even though she wanted to help.

"Sergeant, I need you on that bird." Commander Keyes came over the radio as they shot down the last enemy.

"Ma'am?" Johnson answered as he approached the hovering Pelican.

"My Pelicans are going to start airlifting armour and reinforcements into the city. They'll need an escort that isn't afraid of a little hostile gunfire."

Master Chief holstered his weapons, picking up the toddler, he followed Johnson to the Pelican.

"Whoa, Chief. Did you not just here what the Commander said? I ain't babysitting." Johnson scoffed as the Spartan handed the toddler to him.

"You're heading back to In Amber Clad, to pick up armoury, and reinforcements." Chief said as Johnson reluctantly took the unhappy toddler.

"Commander, would you send a medic to the hanger bays. We need them to look after Samus, while we continue on." Cortana radioed to the In Amber Clad.

"There will be a medic on standby when Johnson, and the kid arrive. Is she injured?" Miranda replied.

"No ma'am. I figured a medic would have an easier time looking after an elusive toddler. While we're all busy." The AI mentioned.

Samus had a very uncertain expression, waving to the Master Chief as the Pelican took off. Taking her away from her only comfort and feelings of safety. She could help Chief, he obviously saw that she could. It's not the first time she had aided him since they had met.

"Hey, you're a damn brave kid. Going after those Hunters without even thinking." Johnson complimented the small toddler sitting next to him. "Whether it be bravery or stupidity, it was impressive. But like Chief, mentioned. You're too young to be pulling off such dire risks."

Samus remained muted once again. The Sergeant's sharp witted sarcasm, and tell it how it is attitude, made her respectfully trust the man. But he was a bit too abrupt to communicate with.

It didn't take long for them to reach the ship. Sergeant Johnson escorted Samus to the waiting medic, before ordering more squads of marines to board the idling Pelicans.

As Johnson began boarding his Pelican, he turned to make sure Samus was still with the medic. "No more sneaking on board. Chief, will be back before you know it."

Samus gave an insignificant smile in reply to the Sergeant's parting words. Watching as each of the Pelicans flew away.

"Come'on, let's go." The medic called for the toddler, using a hand to gently coax the child forward.

The small blonde toddler reluctantly walked out into the corridors with the medic right behind. Samus had no interest in being babysat, she wanted to help, Chief. Better yet, she wanted to go back home to, Zebes.