At Alice's household, the young woman spoke to the gathered Spartans, a smile on her face as her kids ran around to each of the guests, surprising BLUE Team with how friendly they were. Looking at Halsey, she continued explaining, "... After my surprisingly timely death on Reach, it turned out some form of God-machine or other had a better idea. It dropped me off here in about the year 1990, right at the turn of the decade. You can imagine what it's like when a random woman wearing a full-body armor suit drops into the middle of rural America."
"Scared the living shit out of a bunch of us, heh," Johnson quipped as he scarfed down some of the food.
She chuckled, shaking her head, before adding, "Johnson was the first person to see me. Man looked a little less worse for wear back in the day, too, but he did save my ass from the CIA spooks, offered me a place to lay low. Turns out he was also a 'Nam Vet and was still a Marine in Reserve at the time I arrived, so..." she hummed and looked to him, "While I was 'hiding', he figured it'd be a good idea to go get me paperwork so I fit into the US better."
She sat herself down after handing the plates with food to the others, continuing, "I also decided I wasn't going to hang around and do jack shit while he did that, so as soon as I got a green card and some proper paperwork, I tagged into the US Military as a Marine, just in time for Gulf One. Man, that was fun," while letting out a chuckle. Halsey seemed to be listening intently, while the Spartans simply enjoyed their meals, one ear open and listening to her as well.
"... Were you able to-" Halsey started
Six snorted, "No, no, I was not able to wear my armor, sadly. Didn't really matter, though, apparently. Turns out a supersoldier that was taller than your average Haji, or, hell, your average Jarhead, wasn't going to be facing much in the way of trouble, doc. Afghan and Gulf Two also proved that, though the last couple years of Afghan, I toured without Johnson here..." before turning to him.
The old marine hit the metallic prosthetic with his knuckles, two light clinks echoing as he said, "Got hit by an IED when Taliban decided to play coy and ambush our damn convoy," then he motioned to the Spartan woman and stated, "Alice's husband dragged my ass outta the line of fire and called for a MEDEVAC while he and his platoon held ground. Helmand ain't shit to scoff at, I'll tell you..."
Alice smiled at that, while Halsey took a sip of her drink and said, "I see... What's your husband's name?"
"... James..." She replied, "Jamie..." And she smiled, a little sad, as she gazed at the food in her plate. Halsey, a surprised Shino and the Spartans had wanted to let the woman have her moment. Her children, however, noticed that their mother was sad and, without wasting another second, ran to her and wrapped her in a tight embrace. She jumped a little, then sighed and hugged her little kids back. She sighed and said, "Let's just finish eating. I'll tell you guys everything after we do and I put the kids to bed..."
And indeed, half an hour later, the kids were fast asleep with their bellies full. Alice peered into their room with a small smile, then gently locked the soundproofed, bulletproof door and turned back to face Halsey and the others, her face now dead serious. She crossed her arms and said, "To preface this, doctor, Blues... I'm not leaving this Earth. I'm not coming back... Not while those two still need to be raised."
Halsey and the others looked to one-another, while Shino stared, wide-eyed at that, before Halsey turned to the woman and told her, "Don't worry, Lieutenant. You'll be happy to know your and Noble's services have been commemorated amidst so many others' sacrifices on our Earth... Your return to duty is not necessary. You've been honorably discharged by your perceived demise."
Six's shoulders sagged. She sighed, seemingly relieved, before motioning to the couch and easy chairs. She went to sit on one of the chairs, while Halsey sat herself down on the couch. Johnson gave a wave to the Spartan-III and then motioned to Chief, the Blues and Shino. She nodded in thanks. Johnson turned to face the Spartans and said to them and Shino, "Alright, kids. Onto the porch. Gotta let the good Doc and Alice talk alone."
Chief and the Blues hummed, then turned to Halsey. One nod and a low, sideways motion of her hand and the four, plus Shino, followed Johnson wordlessly. The old Marine, however, stopped to grab a beer and another cigar as he walked out. Alice chuckled at that, then listened to the door to the outside open and shut. She sighed and shook her head, while Halsey commented, "I see the Sergeant-Major never changed..." her voice low, quieter.
Another short laugh escaped Alice's lips, "No, the old dog didn't change much. Bastard's in his... Like... Hundredth year of life and he's still going strong as can be."
Halsey blinked, then made some quick calculations as Alice began to mentally prepare herself. Once Halsey was done, she looked to the Lieutenant and wordlessly gave her approval for the girl to start. With that, the Spartan took a minute, fully composed herself, then said, "... Out with it, then, Jamie's... Gone..." her voice cracking. She covered her mouth as her lower lip trembled, then shook her head and told her, "Came home with him from Afghan. He was a little off. Nightmares, insomnia..." Her voice began to tremble, "VA wasn't very helpful. 'Not service related' my fucking ass... We all saw something was wrong with him. Shrink came too late to..."
... The good Doctor had to take a moment to chew on the thought, the implication. Her usually steely expression softened and she swallowed empty air. She gently took Alice's hand as the woman, who had been holding like a cracking dam, finally broke. With her mouth covered, the soft sobs were further muffled, quiet enough that even Halsey could barely hear them. Catherine then sighed and whispered, "I'm so sorry, Alice..."
She kept sobbing, though she nodded in thanks for the Doctor. Halsey knew just how important the mental health of a soldier trying to come back to a normal life was. She wondered for a precious moment if her own Spartans would be able to live normal lives once this conflict was over and whatever was left of the Covenant's Remnants and Insurrection were finally gone. A thought she soon realized she couldn't afford to entertain.
Gently squeezing Alice's hand, she told her, "It seems as though you two cared deeply for each-other..."
"Wouldn't have had the kids if we didn't..." The girl whispered, then wiped her eyes and said, "And I wouldn't be in my line of work if I didn't want him to have a legacy... Something to be proud of..."
"What exactly do you do, then?"
Six smiled, though with some of the tears still running down her cheeks, it seemed a bit off. She explained, "Well... Because all I've known is the life of a soldier, I did the only thing a soldier could do..." before pulling out a patch from her pocket. She extended it to Halsey, to which the woman looked at it. She blinked, a heartbeat passing between the moment she registered the markings and that in which she looked back up at the Spartan, stunned. Alice spoke, "I'm the CEO of the Black Eagle PMC, one of the largest Private Military Contractors in the world," with a hint of pride.
The doctor read the Latin below the patch's eagle-holding-the-globe emblem, one eerily reminiscent of the UNSC's. "Alea Iacta Est. The Die is Cast..." She spoke it aloud, then looked at the Spartan.
"A hint of irony regarding the gambling of Soldiers' lives in foreign wars without a promise to serve them as they served us upon their return," The Spartan told her, her eyes burning bright, determined, "I made the Black Eagles for soldiers like Jamie, those who were lost, without a hope in the world, wandering. We started small, training Iraqi soldiers. Just me and my squadmates from the Corps. More and more of us joined and the US Government started paying us more and more, too... Today?" and she smirked, "We've not only provided jobs for, but also helped tens of thousands of Vets across all states. Hell, I have Subsidiaries as far out as Russia..."
... Halsey had to admit, she was awed. What one would do so what happened to them does not happen to others? "Truly admirable," She told Alice. Then, she paused, "What of the MJOLNIR, then?"
"Armor's safe and sound, hidden in a place where nobody'll find it," She nodded, "Even if they did, not like they could do much with a 500 kilo piece of Titanium whose microfusion core ran out a couple years ago, heh..." and she chuckled awkwardly. Quickly, though, she composed herself and said, "Doctor, would you... Perhaps, like to see the HQ for the Black Eagles?"
"I'd very much enjoy seeing it," Halsey nodded, "And might even consider putting in the funds to hire the Eagles for... Personal security..." and she smirked.
... Outside, Johnson drank his beer while Shino was casually having a mental breakdown in the front yard, just moving left and right, face red and mumbling to herself in Japanese about something or other. The good Sergeant pointed to her gently and asked, "She... Uh..." took a swig of his bottle and continued, "She always like this, Chief?" Or is it just when... Y'know..."
"She's been like this since we know her," Kelly replied in Chief's stead, arms crossed.
Cortana, meanwhile, asked, "What about you, Sarge? Never thought I'd see the day you retire," as she appeared on Chief's shoulder. Johnson snorted and took another swig of his drink, before puffing from the cigar he had between his lips. It wasn't a Sweet Williams, mostly because the likelihood of those appearing anywhere in this timeline was a bit beyond the scope of this world.
He replied snarkily, "After a hundred years of kickin' ass, Cortana, was about high time something made me hang the ol' shotgun over the fireplace."
"Clearly metaphorically," Fred quipped, looking at the older Marine, "Since you did nearly fill us full of pellets when we walked in," and that got a right holler out of Johnson before the man went into a coughing fit again. Chief walked up to him and handed him an item from his IFAK, which the Marine took and injected into his arm. The Spartan hummed, then patted Johnson on the shoulder, looking sympathetically to the tired old man.
"Oh, don't give me that face, Chief," He joked partially, due to the Spartan's face now being obscured by his visor again, "I'm an old-ass man. I've lived my time and day. Twice, so fa-"
All of them paused as Halsey and Alice walked out. The Spartan-turned-CEO looked to Johnson and said, "Can you and one of the Spartans look after the kids?"
NYC
As night began to fall over the city, Rory gazed upon the mighty constructions of man. Tall buildings, aptly named Skyscrapers, stretched out into the heavens. All around her, the bustling civilization of a humanity unhindered by the Gods rose, the streets and boulevards of New York seeming both incredibly narrow and extremely massive all at the same time. People around her walked, unchanged, careless of the matters ongoing beyond the Gate.
Leaning her covered halberd on her shoulder as she looked around, she could only smile at how relaxed the locals were. Regardless of the ongoing war against the Empire and Insurrection on her homeworld, the people here lived their lives as they did normally. Itami himself made a note of it, stating, "Man, life outside of an active warzone, huh...? Been a while..."
"Yeah," Torres shrugged, "Still don't know about NY, man. Place is too crowded."
"It is a massive city," Lelei suggested as they walked past facades and store windows. In truth, what awed her most was the sheer diversity of the people present. Going by the look of the Princess and her guardian, Bozes, were just as dumbfound by this. No matter the race or creed, age or looks, the locals walked together almost peacefully. Almost, rather obviously.
A cry for help took Piña's attention. She turned and watched a thief running with an elderly woman's purse. A scowl formed on her face and, before anyone else could react or try to stop the man, she delivered a high kick just as he passed by, knocking him to the floor. The thief groaned in pain, the purse falling beside him. Piña picked it up with a smirk and said, "Next time, my friend, try not to rob someone in front of a Princess..." before walking to return the purse to the lady.
The elderly woman, stunned, smiled and spoke, "Thank you, darlin'... I swear, there's a mess of'em appearing as of late."
"Thieves are common?" The Princess asked. The elderly woman nodded, then began going on a bit of a tirade. Piña let her speak for a bit about how 'the mayor screwed it all up' and how they 'should really get the police back to work'. She understood the feeling. An underfunded police meant more petty crimes could happen. People could lose their life's work... She sighed and said, "I am certain things will be solved in due time, my lady."
Her temporary, elder ward chuckled, "Thank you for the compliment, dear, but I ain't a lady..." as she arranged her coat, "Was raised out in the Bronx... If I didn't have any god damn arthritis, I don't think I'd'a been enough a lady to just kick the guy once like you did. Hell, I think he'd be in a bigger pool of blood," before offering a grin. She was certainly a fighting type.
Piña smiled, "Any woman worth her salt has the fighting spirit you have. Do you have a name?"
"Carla. Carla Johnson," She extended her hand, "Not my family name, 'fore you ask, heh. Took it from my husband, who's helping one of our family friends right now, I think."
"A pleasure. I am Piña... Yes, I know, strange name," She spoke, then paused as she heard someone clear their throat behind them. Torres, arms crossed, was sitting there, smiling at the exchange. Even so, he jabbed a thumb back, to which she nodded. She looked to the surprised elderly woman. She bowed, "Apologies, lady Johnson, but it seems I have to leave."
The woman then laughed and said, "Oh, I know how Marine boyfriends can be, darlin'. You two and your weird friends just take care, okay?"
Despite both Torres' and Piña's faces glowing as red as the latter's hair, the two nodded and bid goodbye to Carla. Rejoining the group, both looked to see a grinning Itami, a smiling Lelei and a rather confused Bozes and Tuka. The pair rolled their eyes, before they continued their trek. From stopping in front of stores, to chatting along the way to Central Park, to just overall enjoying each-other's company, it was a rather interesting trip.
Torres showed Itami to stop while they were walking across the street from a restaurant. He pointed with a grin, wtih the man and just about every other member of the party peering toward the indicated target. They all grinned as they saw Richard and Tyuule, sat at a table, eating, laughing and chatting, too. Torres snorted and said, "Damn, they're moving fast."
"More progress than they've had in the past couple of years I have worked with the UNSC," The Apostle beside them quipped, "How endearing."
"Well, you and Itami ain't far behind," Joked the Marine, which got a few laughs out of everyone except for the two it targeted. He still smiled, watching the two before them having their moment of relaxation in all of this. One would almost think there wasn't a war on currently, though it being relegated to a whole other planet or alternate reality helped a lot more than any of them knew.
In truth, nobody cared for the intricacies of how they even got into this situation. They were just glad that two of their friends were finally moving out of that weird limbo between friendship and relationship. Especially after they both knew each-other for about three years at this point. To Rory herself, it had become a rather drab waiting game, to be quite honest.
She was glad she would finally be able to receive those Credits from the base's staff back in KINGDOM, though. Them and Delilah of course.
She felt a chill up her spine. She slowly craned her head to their left, to look amidst the crowds. A lone figure sat across the road from them, at the corner of an intersection. He or she was speaking into one of those 'Smartphones' that seemed so prevalent nowadays. The hood, the black jacket, the jeans and she could just barely make out the outline of a gun from...
Worrying.