Chapter 1- Septimus annus est
January 5th, 2544 (10:25 Hours – Military Calendar)
Epsilon Eridani System, Reach
In Upper Atmosphere over the Viery Territory
:********:
The Pelican bulleted through the atmosphere as part of a squadron with two others headed towards the surface of Reach. The planet itself was the hub of human intersystem expansion and the very heart of the United Nations Space Command. UNSC Fleet Command, or FLEETCOM, was responsible for ship deployment, mission structures and space operations undertaken across human-controlled space. And their headquarters just so happened to be here as well. That fact alone made Duncan feel something difficult to describe, like knowing you were descending to the throne room of giants.
In the more than weeklong journey that it took for the Achilles to arrive in system, Duncan had been at the center of suspicion on the ship, for others and himself.
Why was he here and not with the 10th? He couldn't make any sense of it. He couldn't make much sense of his newest comrades either.
Duncan and the others assigned to the 7th Battalion had gotten to know two of the ODSTs onboard and already in active service; the two he had seen on Nassau Station.
Private Second-Class Zachary Matthews, or Zack, was for all intents and purposes an attention lover. He constantly hung out with the 30 new additions to the 7th in the ship's cafeteria, telling them one interesting tale after another of missions he had gone on and things he had seen. While some were borderline unbelievable, what swung the widest across the spectrum of disbelief was the fact that he was only 19 years old and already an ODST. Duncan swore the kid was a self-effacing comedian in a past life. He found a way to make everyone laugh, whether it was at a joke he told or if he himself was the joke. It was often the latter.
While Zack was more welcoming, his comrade was his polar opposite. Specialist Szofia Novak, or Nova, appeared serious in almost everything she did. She looked closer to Duncan's age if not slightly older. She didn't bother getting to know anyone and habitually called out her teammate whenever he was lying about a story. Even though that often left him embarrassed, he always gravitated around her, constantly trying to impress or embarrass her in front of everyone else. Yet Nova seemed to regard him with the same resigned wariness one would reserve for a younger sibling busy showing off to his friends.
Duncan was mainly wary of Nova. He had heard her eastern European accent some time ago and confirmed his suspicions when he overheard her loose frustrated Hungarian at Zack once. Maybe Mahoney had given him PTSD, but he knew the reputation Hungarians had in the ODSTs. That made him even more nervous around her.
He would have to overcome that anxiety soon because as of now, he was officially on the same squad as them.
"The 105th Shock Troops Division, 7th Battalion, Bravo Company, 1st Platoon, Squad Epsilon. The Staff Sergeant had told him when he sought him for answers on where he was assigned.
"I'm honored sir. How many others are on the team?"
"Other than Zack and Nova, there are four others. I'm not going to tell you anything because I'd rather you meet them in person. That way you won't have the chance to space yourself before we get there."
Duncan sensed his sarcasm. But now that they had arrived at Reach and left the Achilles, those words were haunting him.
The Pelican jostled and the internal temperature rose as they entered the Stratosphere. Duncan and ten others from his class sat in the darkened blood tray lit only by the light coming from the reentry flames on the cockpit's window.
Staff Sergeant Atell sat next to him while Zack and Nova were on the opposite side.
At one point, Duncan wound up catching Zack's eye. The latter was staring at him, looking like he had a question to ask.
"Hey Staff?" He called over.
The Staff was half-asleep. He opened an eye.
"Wasn't our guy supposed to be Irish? I heard this guy talk. He doesn't sound like it to me."
"And how's that any of your business, Private?" The Staff asked.
"It's just that I had a few good one-liners stacked up for him. Now they're no good."
The Staff peered over at Duncan. "Iris, say something Irish."
Duncan shrugged and looked at Zack. "Don't know what you're talking about, lass." He said, doing his best O'Reilly impression. "This is how I always sound after a good days' stretch through the foothills."
Zack sat back, visibly stunned. The Staff and Nova gave each other a knowing look. The Hungarian specialist gave a soft snicker.
"Lass means 'girl'." She said. "Nice try though."
Zack blushed red with embarrassment. Then he seemed to taste some mischievous idea and clicked his fingers.
"Irish."
"What?" Duncan asked.
"Your new nickname."
Duncan arched a brow at him.
"Think about it. Just slap an 'h' on the end of your surname. You came in the place of someone Irish. You've got the accent. Not to mention you're as lucky as a Leprechaun to be joining the 7th." He said the last part in a mock Irish accent that Duncan felt would have earned him a broken nose from O'Reilly had he heard it. Zack flashed a toothy grin. "We don't just accept anyone. Only the best of the best."
"More like the best and then the rest." Nova said under her breath. Zack heard it and glowered at her.
"What do you mean 'the rest'?"
Nova stared him down, unamused.
Again, Zack's face flushed red and he looked away, brooding by himself.
"Don't mind him." The Staff told Duncan. "He's the bulk of my worries but the least of yours. And since you'll be on my squad, you have my genuine apologies for treating you so harshly back in Sol."
Duncan nervously swallowed and nodded. "I understand sir. It was a confusing situation for everyone involved."
The Staff looked off to the ceiling, deep in thought. "Not everyone."
The Pelican rattled upon entering the Troposphere.
"Personnel Acquisition gets me grumpy. You'll find I'm not so bad on most days."
Duncan mulled over what he said. He glanced at Zack and gawked when he saw that he was pretending to strangle himself with his seatbelt.
"What're you implying, Private?"
Zack winced. The Staff had his eyes closed yet he seemed to sense the suggestion.
"I was just showing Irish how to use a seatbelt under emergency crash conditions, sir."
The Staff gave a subtle nod of his head. "Carry on smartly."
Zack sighed with relief. But out of the corner of his eye he spotted Nova looking at him.
"You heard the Staff Sergeant." Nova said, pointing to the seatbelt. "Carry on smartly."
:********:
The squadron eased out of their reentry vectors and began a smooth flight across the morning skies of Reach. They soared over icy mountain peaks and desert valleys, headed north across the Viery Territory. The trip lasted another hour.
Duncan could tell when they had reached their destination the moment they slowed to a stop and started to descend. Mechanics whirred as the dropship's landing gear extended and touched down on the helipad.
"Let's move it ODSTs." The Staff said as he got on his feet. Everyone followed suit, taking their duffels out of the overhead netting.
The dropship's rear door opened and daylight flooded into the blood tray. Duncan had to squint as they walked down the ramp. What he saw next made him marvel.
The upper crest of a large mountain lavished in towering Douglas Firs and Cedar Trees rose in front of him. The mountain shot up another two thousand meters where a thin layer of cloud cover crowned it.
It was a part of a series of mountain ranges that rose up across the region and descended into valleys. Everything was clothed in a vesture of emerald flora whose seams were sowed together by an intravenous network of streams, rivers and lakes.
What added to his amazement was the large urbanized landscape that occupied a flattened area where the mountain plateaued. The massive assortment of buildings and structures formed a Maple Leaf-like organization. They branched out as five distinct extensions of structures before coalescing at an elevated plain. Several layers of barbed wire fencing hemmed it all in.
The entire area was aglow in the morning light.
The Pelicans had landed on the helipads of a decent sized airbase in one of the outer extensions. Looking at the others on adjacent pads, Duncan could tell they were just as overwhelmed as he was.
The Staff Sergeant turned to face the new arrivals. "Welcome to Falchion Base, the ancestral home of the 7th Orbital Drop Shock Trooper Battalion."
The statement earned more amazed looks from the gathering. "Don't mind the size. You'll have to pull your own weight if you want to make it out here. Today you'll be shown the basics. Then you're on your own."
Duncan spotted a convoy of a dozen Warthogs, troop carrier types, coming down the road towards them. They came to a stop in front of the helipads.
"Our rides are here." The Staff declared. "Let's move."
The ODSTs headed down staircases to the asphalt below. While most of the new arrivals loaded up on the closest troop carriers, there was one Hog further off to the side. The Staff urged Duncan to follow the rest of the team over to it.
There was a man in the driver's seat. He looked around Duncan's age and closer to Cosmo in physique and stature. His messy, unkempt hair somehow looked just within regulation limits. He was also resting his head on the wheel.
All the same, it was the other guy that got Duncan's attention. He sported a buzz cut with tiger stripes on either side. Like Nova, he had distinctly Slavic, high cheek bones. He was also staring right back at him and ignoring the rest of the group.
He jumped down from the Hog and stood in their way, nodding at Duncan.
"Kto novaya krov'?" That wasn't UNSC Standard English. It took Duncan a full second to realize he was speaking Russian.
"On nasha novaya krov." Nova answered, sounding tired. "Privykay, Yuriy."
The guy cocked his head at Nova, then to the Staff as if seeking confirmation. He eyed Duncan closely. "I guess…you'll do, newbie." He had a rough command of English. He stepped aside to let them pass.
The Staff walked to the passenger side of the Warthog and spotted the trooper sprawled over the wheel. "Heck, wake up, it's time to go." The man gave no response. "Nova."
Nova nodded as she reeled her hand back and slapped the driver on the hip. He quickly shot awake at the sharp sting to his backside.
His face was mostly unshaven with the shadow of sleeplessness under his eyes. He looked relaxed despite the harsh wakeup call. "Guess I clocked out for a sec." He scratched the stubble on his face and gave an apologetic smile to the Staff. "Sorry about that. Welcome back boss."
"What're you so tired for?" The Staff asked.
The man sighed explosively. "Its Deaks. He's been doing another one of his safaris. Had me chauffeuring him for almost the entire week up until earlier this morning because I lost a bet. Barely gotten any sleep."
Nova gave Atell a wary look. "What's he got in mind for the menu this time?"
"Moa." The guy said matter-of-factly. "It's they're mating season so they're active near the lakes around this time."
"I see. Say, how'd you even make it this far without passing out?"
"I don't trust Yuri piloting a ground vehicle to save my life. I drove us up once the Center told us you'd arrived. Yuri's constant shouting kept me going."
"Yeah!?" The man named Yuri yelled unnecessarily loud, his accent strong. "And I wouldn't e'en trust you wit' driving a Hornet without cra'hing it into Mount Csaba over there!"
"Inside voice, Yuri." Nova scolded.
"Why!? We're not inside!"
"I told you, use your inside voice when you're outside."
"Fine!"
Nova pressed her hand into her temples. "Tupoy."
"I heard that!"
The Staff spotted the rest of the convoy starting to leave. "Heck, troop section. Duncan, Yuri, Zack, you too. Nova, take the wheel."
Nova let the exhausted driver step out before taking his place while the Staff hopped into the passenger seat. Everyone else piled into the troop section.
Nova started up the Warthog and they joined the rear of the departing convoy. They drove along the extension, headed towards the larger amalgamation of buildings. As they went, Duncan realized that the whole thing looked less like a battalion headquarters and more like a large town. There were Ammunition Storage Facilities, Commissaries and Training Facilities, Mess Halls, Hospitals and even restaurants combined with routine fortifications placed at strategic sectors. Other warthogs and even Mongooses drove around the various streets. Squads of Marine Military Police headed to different stations. Maintenance personnel and units from other forces currently in transit went about their business. Duncan spotted a number of persons in ODST fatigues among them. The way they merged seamlessly together with other pedestrians added to the base' unusual feel.
Duncan was reminded he wasn't alone when the larger ODST beside him nudged him in the ribs. "What's your name, rookie?"
"Irish!" Zack cut in, leaning over from his seat on the opposite side. "See, we were supposed to get an Irish guy but-"
The larger man held up a finger to his lips at Zack. The latter retreated and sat back down in irritation.
"Duncan Iris." Duncan said. "Private."
The man nodded and held out a hand. "Hector Paulson. Private Second Class. Peeps call me Heck."
The two shook hands. Hector pointed around Duncan. "And that hot mess sitting next to you is-"
"I can introduce mysel' just fine." The person in question declared adamantly. Duncan turned to him. He wasn't so enthused to see the wild glare in his eyes. It unexpectedly diminished once he focused on the newbie. He gave Duncan a welcoming grin.
"Mastovich." He said. "Yuri Mastovich. Private Second Class. Both comrades and enemies know me as 'Matchstick'."
"Why's that?"
"Because he's gonna turn into one if he doesn't learn how to pilot his pod right." Hector answered.
Yuri snarled at him, all semblances of hospitality suddenly evaporating. "Yeah, I'll pilot it right on top of you! Then I'll ask whatever's lef' if I did a good job!"
"Inside voice." Nova said from the driver's seat.
Yuri simmered a little. He lightly slapped Duncan on the back. "I wish you the best of luck newbie. Hope you last longer."
"Longer?"
Duncan turned to Hector for an explanation but the man shook his head. "I wouldn't worry about it. And I'm pretty sure he's an undiagnosed bipolar so I wouldn't worry about him either."
"Hey guys." Zack said, leaning over the small wall between them again. "Should we warn him about Deaks? I mean, I know Ricky will give a good first impression but Deaks has that…" He waved his hand over his mouth "thing he does."
"Who's Deaks?" Duncan asked.
Hector and Yuri looked at each other. The former looked away towards the passing buildings while the latter laughed to himself but said nothing more.
"Come on guys." Nova insisted. "You don't need to make him out to be any stranger than he actually is."
Hector gave her a doubtful look in the rear-view mirror. "You volunteering to tell him, Nova?"
The redhead winced and suppressed a small, sardonic laugh. "Um, Staff?"
"He's a freak." The Staff put with such simplicity that it made it sound normal.
"Aren't we all freaks sir?" Nova asked.
"Indeed, you are. My freaks. But Deaks is in a class all his own." He looked into the rearview to meet Duncan's eye. "Like I said. I'd rather you meet them firsthand than take my word for it."
If Duncan was worried before, he was terrified now. He still kept it to himself. "Understood sir. Can't wait to meet him."
:********:
The convoy passed into the central area of Falchion Base. Here the buildings formed layers of semicircles around a focal point near where the hosting Mount Csaba rose up again.
At the center was The Center. It was a several-story tall structure that served as the dominant Administrative Building for the logistical coordination of the entire 7th Battalion. Architecturally it started off squarish from its wide foundations before rounding off into a domed roof.
As they circumvented it, the lead Warthog carrying the Lieutenant Colonel diverged from the column and parked outside while everyone else carried on.
They headed further in and stopped at another building. It was easily one of the largest in Falchion at over ten stories tall. There was a sign that read: 'Dante.' The ODSTs disembarked with their bags and assembled before the Staff at the front door.
"This is the Dante Building: Bravo Company's barracks. The other companies have their own buildings in other parts of Falchion. I'll help you guys get settled in. Your squad leaders will meet you in your rooms after that."
Hector and Yuri opened the doors for them, allowing them in.
The interior reminded Duncan of a hotel as they walked across the lobby. Atell worked with the front desk staff to get them their room assignments. From there they headed into the available elevators.
Duncan was taken up to the 5th floor. They came out into what was essentially an open area. There were no separative barriers, only isles and isles of bunkbeds that formed a maze on the floor and lockers that adorned the far walls. There was little if any privacy save for a large rectangular communal bathroom off to the side.
"Over here, Iris." The Staff said. He led Duncan across the room. Others were already there. Some slept or talked with teammates on their bunks. Duncan caught a few wary looks as he passed by. He followed the Staff into a particular section of bunks.
On the way he caught sight of something strange.
It was a bunk near a window with a good view of Falchion.
Tied from one end of the frame to the next were strings with teeth weaved onto them, almost like necklaces. There were hundreds of teeth and dozens of individual necklaces hanging from the top and bottom bunks. Upon closer inspection he found that there was an order to the madness. Each row of overhanging necklaces had teeth belonging purely to one particular species beaded onto them. None were discernably human.
Duncan reached out to touch one.
"I wouldn't do that, my friend." A voice said from behind. He turned and immediately found it strange that he hadn't initially seen the man sitting on the opposite bunk. He was visibly Hispanic with a caramel skin tone. His spiky hair was shorn into a low mohawk. He sat cross-legged with a bowl of cereal in hand that he looked to be enjoying until Duncan came in.
He examined the newbie from top to bottom. "You new?"
"Yeah." Duncan said and introduced himself. He held out his hand to shake. The guy took a last spoonful of cereal and put the empty bowl in his hand.
"Rico Corkeva." He said. "Private Second Class." He scrutinized Duncan who still looked perplexed at the bowl.
Rico burst into laughter. "I'm just messing with you man." He took the bowl back and actually shook his hand. "I'd welcome you to the team but I'm guessing that Staff already did."
The Staff and Zack arrived at the same time.
"Guess you met Ricky." Zack said.
"Hey, Staff, little Z, welcome back. Had a good trip?"
"If I did, do you think I'd really be back here private?" the Staff asked.
Rico shrugged. "I think so. You love us too much to go MIA."
The Staff gave an amused chuckle, something Duncan hadn't seen before.
"Looks like Deaks is back." Nova said from a nearby window. The others filtered through the bunks to join her.
Outside, a Mongoose slowed to a stop in front of the Dante Building. Two ODSTs were riding it, both dressed in ODST BDU. Surprisingly to Duncan but unsurprisingly to everyone else, there was an ostrich-like creature roped to the carriage. Its dirt covered feathers suggested they had dragged it using the Mongoose.
The trooper manning the rear laid his sniper rifle over his shoulder and took off his helmet so that his shaggy dark hair could breathe. He had brown eyes with faint dark circles under them. Duncan could tell right away that there was something off about him but he couldn't figure out what exactly.
The ODST he assumed to be Deaks nodded at the driver as he drove off with the dead bird in tow. He entered the Dante Building. A few minutes later he came out the elevator onto the 5th floor. He spotted the gathering on his way over to the bunks and met them with a delighted smile.
"Welcome back, family." He jeered. "You guys finally changed your minds about my merch, huh?"
"Want to tell me why you're this geared up for a 'Moa' Hunt?" The Staff asked, ignoring the earlier offer.
Deaks stopped in his tracks and shrugged. "I'm not the only one hunting Moa out there. They're the main prey animals for the Gúta so I've got to put safety first in case I run into one."
The Staff nodded, letting him pass to his bunk. Deaks dark eyes locked on Duncan. "Who's he?"
"The newest member of Squad Epsilon." Staff answered.
Deaks looked at him sideways. "This guy?"
Duncan started to introduce himself. Deaks cut him off. "Yeah, sure. Hey, while you're enjoying your stay here…" He pointed to the tooth-covered bunk. "Why not buy some merchandise straight from the frontlines, some souvenirs for yourself and folks back home?"
"Contraband." The Staff admitted.
"Contractual Bands of goods, sir." Deaks said with a hint of slyness. "You and the Cap' both agreed it was fine as long as I wasn't selling Covenant tech."
"More like Covenant teeth." Nova sighed, stepping into the gathering.
When she did, Duncan noticed Deaks' devious demeanor change to one of faint irritation. "Oh, hey Nova, when did you get here?"
"I always was." She said, arms folded across her chest.
"I see." He quickly ignored her, refocusing on Duncan. "So, what do you say rookie?"
Deaks gestured over to his bed and crouched down next to it. He put his rifle aside and pulled out a small container from his pocket. He slid it under the bunk to join a number of others. Deaks pointing to the necklaces in turn. "See any you like?"
Duncan considered what Nova had said. "What about Covenant teeth?"
Everyone else save the Staff and Deaks looked at Duncan as if seeing him for the first time.
"You actually want one?" Zack gasped.
Duncan nodded.
The beginning embers of respect flared in Deaks' eyes. He shifted to the other side of the bunk and pointed to each in turn. "I have Grunt Tooth necklaces for 10 Credits and Jackals' for 15. I've got several Elite ones too but those are premium items."
Duncan examined the variety of sharp animalistic canines and realized this was the closest he had come so far to encountering the enemy. Seeing their looted body parts wasn't the way he expected to go about it. He looked for one in particular.
"Got any Brute Teeth?"
A silence Duncan hadn't expected settled on the room. It came entirely from Deaks. Duncan glanced down at him and was caught off guard by the way he was glaring back at him, not threateningly, but with a modicum of blankness and suspicion. "…No." He finally answered. He reached for a sheath on his back and pulled out a large meat cleaver that looked like it had seen more action than most combat knives. The fact it was still dripping freshly drawn blood added to that affect. He pointed it at Duncan.
"But if you ever find any…you make sure to tell me…alright friend?"
The lethal intonations that laced his unnaturally calm voice sent a shiver up Duncan's spine. The Meat Cleaver did the trick as well.
"…Sure…."
Deaks caught a cold glower from the Staff. He reluctantly sheathed the cleaver. "Like I was saying, the Elite's are a premium so 40 credits."
"Sounds like a deal." Duncan said, relaxed now that the giant knife was no longer part of the negotiations.
Zack stepped in. "You sure you don't have any human teeth? Those Grunt ones look pretty sketchy."
"Who knows." Deaks turned to Zack, eyeing him like a wolf would an unsuspecting bunny. "But I am looking at a nice set of 32 pearly whites…if you're offering."
:********:
"They seem nice." Erica tried saying with a straight face. Duncan gave her a knowing look. After a few seconds, the two broke out into laughter.
After meeting all of Squad Epsilon, Duncan needed a break. He found out about the Communications Cubicles on the 10th floor and took the chance to call-in home. Thankfully, Erica was able to answer and the two were unloading everything that had happened to them in the past week. The conversation easily became one-sided since Duncan had far more to talk about.
"Well." Erica said. "Maybe it's a good thing they're that crazy. Can you imagine having to fight people like that?"
Duncan fervently shook his head. "I see your point though. It's really going to be something working along with them."
"You'll figure it out D, I know you will."
"I hope so." Duncan remembered the object in his pocket and pulled it out, splaying the necklace of Elite teeth in front of her. "I bought this from one of them by the way. Think you'd like it?"
Erica stared at him wide-eyed. "Oh honey…"
Duncan burst into another bout of laughter. "I bought it as a joke, no worries."
Erica breathed a sigh of relief. "Don't scare me like that again, please."
"Think Noah will like something like this?"
Erica shrugged. "Who knows what he'll be interested in once he gets out here. Although, I'm probably going to make soccer one of his main hobbies for obvious reasons."
The two shared another laugh. As they did, Duncan spotted Nova entering the room over the top of the cubicle. She quickly locked eyes with him.
"Hey hun, I've got to go. I'll call you later in the week okay?"
Erica was confused. "What? Already?"
"Sorry, a squad mate of mine's coming."
"There's a problem if they see me?" Erica put her hands on her hips. When she did that, Duncan knew he couldn't convince her to do otherwise with any easy arguments.
"Yeah, what is the problem?" Another voice, a Hungarian voice, said.
He froze as Nova came into the cubicle behind him. He was about to explain himself when he heard both Nova and Erica gasp, suddenly turning starry eyed.
"Erica!?"
"Sofi!?"
Confusion washed over Duncan like a tsunami as Nova grabbed his chair and pulled him aside to look at the display. When the two realized who the other was for sure, a gleeful smile formed on either side of the screen.
"Oh my God, Sofi, how've you been!? If I'd known you would be on Duncan's team, I would've sent something with him."
Nova was about to answer when she stopped. She slowly peered back at the newest addition to her squad, bewildered. His expression told her that he was still trying to grasp what was happening. She turned to Erica.
"Is he…?"
Erica nodded before flashing the silver ring on her right hand. Nova glanced back and sure enough, there was a similar one on Duncan's left. Nova pointed. "Him?"
Her blonde friend gave her another nod, causing the redhead to look between the two of them for a moment. "Why?"
Erica's smile dropped into a disapproving frown. Nova held up her hands in mock surrender. "I'm kidding-he's gorgeous-you make a cute couple-I'm happy for you." She pulled Duncan back in front of the display and pointed to Erica's stomach. "You're handiwork?"
Duncan shook his head. "It was a team effort. And can I ask how you two know each other?"
"University." Nova admitted. "I had a few classes with her back when I studied in America."
"She's one of my best friends from college." Erica proudly declared. "She helped me finish my degree with studying sessions. Hey, remember that one time we went to that café on campus and got the new waiter?"
"Remember?" Nova huffed. "I've still got the scars."
The two shared a laugh over that. They talked for a little longer while Duncan watched the entire exchange from the sidelines. To him this whole situation felt strange. With each joke they shared Nova transformed from someone he was secretly terrified of to something of a sister-in-law he never knew he had. Then Nova started wrapping up.
"Well Erica, it was good catching up but I have to take Duncan here to a little team meeting." She rested a hand on Duncan's shoulder. "But since I know now that he's your hubby, I'll keep an eye on him for you so he doesn't get into too much trouble. I'll make sure he gets back to you after all this."
"He's trouble all on his lonesome when he's ready." Erica said, laughing to herself. "I know you guys will do fine. Duncan, remember, you can trust Sofi here to watch your back, okay?"
"I'll take your word for it." He replied. "Catch you later."
Erica blew him a kiss and ended the call.
In the silence, Nova slowly rounded on Duncan. This time her expression was a bit less reserved and more open. "Guess I'm your new guardian angel now. Come on, let's go."
"Where to, Sofi?"
She rounded on him again. "Call me that a second time and I'll put three in your head and one in your groin. Only my close friends can call me that. Do you understand me private?"
The chill in her voice caught him off guard. He straightened up. "Understood."
"Good, follow me."
"Where to might I ask?"
"Like I said, a team meeting."
"…So are you really going to help me survive out here?"
Nova gave a light chuckle. "The Staff already told you: out here you'll have to pull your own weight." She gave him an amused smirk as they walked towards the exit. "Like you say, it's going to be a team effort."
Septimus annus est - Comrades