Phase 5: Homestead
On the Eternity, Yuri is on the firing range to practice his skills with an S5 Sniper while Sela and Vela come into the target range. "Looks like your favorite human is here," Vela teased Sela holding back her embarrassment.
"Stop it, hey Yuri," Sela said as Yuri looked over to see the lovely Elite in her skintight undersuit coming to him.
"Oh hello Sela, I was just sharpening my aim. Can you give me some pointers?' Yuri asked.
"Oh sure, I can do that. Not used to using human weapons, feels weird in my hands," she said pulling out a Mosa Carbine holding 20 rounds of radioactive shots.
"Some of the alien weapons do feel weird but I got used to it," Yuri said as the two put rounds onto the moving targets.
"Yeah, some of your soldiers show me some of your weapons to get used to them if I need to use them as battle pickup if I run out on the field,"
"Yeah, you got to be capable and adaptable on the field of battle to win fights," Yuri said.
"I agree with that. I am thankful the crew seems nice to us," Sela said.
"Not everyone likes you being here but the galaxy is chaotic and we need all the help we can get out here. I am glad you and other Elites are here," Yuri said to pat her on the back.
"Thank you, that is sweet. Come on, let's focus on our aim before the battles ahead,"
"Yes madam," Yuri said as they kept practicing on the targets.
Vela and Olympia look on to see the two getting along with an awkward air around them. "Oh those dorks," Olympia said.
"Yes she is fearless in battle but when it comes to her favorite human," Vela said.
"Elites are cool, can't blame him," Olympia said.
"Are you into Elite males?" Vela asked as Olympia's face looks fluttered.
"No, I am interested in your culture and language," Vale said.
"Oh so you were deep in talking with Commander Uzza from before," Vela teased her.
"I wanted to know about Elite tactics and such," Olympia said as they both talked back and forth in the hallway.
Alisa and Cortez are still on Mars in a car to drive towards Cortez's family house within the rural area of the Northern areas. "Time to meet your mom and see your hometown," Alisa said.
"Yeah, I don't be nervous Six. My mom likes you," Cortez said.
"Yeah, I know," Alisa took a deep breath as Cortez drove the car over the mountainous area to see a humble little town in the mountains with a population of 7500.
Cortez's mother looks out the window to see the duo's car as she comes outside the door to greet the two. "Oh, my son. A hero's return," the little woman goes up to her son and gives him a big hug.
"Hey Mom," Cortez said.
"I saw on the news, you saved Veil from those rebel thugs. Your father would be so proud of you," she said as she had a sweet tone.
"Thanks, mom. I brought Alisa with me," Cortez said.
"Good to see you, my dear. You look very pretty," the mother said as Alisa shaped up her short blond hair while wearing a blue top, a beige skirt that went to her knees along brown shoes.
"Thank you, I want to present myself well to you Mrs. Black," Alisa said.
"No problem, it's good that Cortez has a nice girl to be with. Maybe have kids," she teased them as the duo blushed from her teasing comment.
"Mom," Cortez protested as Mrs. Black giggled at their embarrassment.
"Hey, an old woman can dream of cute grandkids to take care of," Mrs. Black said as they went into the house.
Both Spartans bend down to go over the door with Alisa tapping her head at the top of the door. "Crap," she said.
"Sorry, I forgot how big you Spartans get. I need to remodel the door next time you come over," Mrs. Black said. Alisa looks around to see all sorts of traditional Martian pieces along the walls and floor along with modest-looking furniture.
"Quite messy like in the storage room, I feel right at home already," Six joked lightheartedly as the older woman laughed at this.
"I am glad my home suits your expectations," Mrs. Black said lightly.
"Mom is quite the pack rat having artifacts and trinkets she gathered throughout the years," Cortez said as they were in the living room.
"I can't help myself. I want things that remind me of our world's rich past," Mrs. Black said as Alisa looked at a fireplace with old burned-out firewood to see a picture of Cortez when he was a young boy with his mom and dad.
"Cortez, you were so cute," Alisa said.
"Really?" he asked as he looked like a nerd.
"Still cute now," Alisa said as she slipped up with his mother noticing this for she thought they looked right together.
"What was that?" he asked.
"Oh, nothing Cortez. You are imagining things," Alisa said dismissively to shift her attention to his father. "What happened to your father?" Six asked.
"He passed away when Cortez was very young during the Human-Covenant War. He was an ODST with our family working in the military for a long time," Mrs. Black said.
"I am so sorry madam," Alisa said as she still remembers losing her teammates on Reach.
"It's okay dear, I am happy he served in the military to protect us and it was worth it in the end," Mrs. Black said as she rubbed the ring on her finger very tenderly. "I have been raising my son alone along with help from the rest of the family," Mrs. Black said.
"You have done well, he is a great man who is very important to me," Alisa said.
"I can certainly see that," she teased them making them embarrassed again.
"So how is your work at the bank?" Alisa asked as Cortez told her about her place of work.
"Pretty well, I just got a raise recently. I got some food from the market to cook you some dinner," Mrs. Black said.
"Sounds pretty good," Alisa said.
"Mom is a wicked cook. Her beef stew is the best," Cortez said.
"Cortez, show Alisa around. I will get the food ready," Mrs. Black said.
"Yes Mom, come on Six I can show you my old room," Cortez said.
"You have a bunch of baseball cards in your room?" Alisa joked.
"Nope more precious," Cortez said as he pushed the door to see a bunch of books scattered onto the floor and on a bookshelf.
"Wow geek porn on display," Alisa said lightheartedly looking at the posters.
"Indeed," Cortez said as he picked up his book.
"You are well-read?" Alisa asked looking impressed.
"Yeah, when I was bored. I always go deep within these books from worlds of fantasy to tales of soldiers fighting on alien worlds," Cortez said.
"I need to read more," Alisa said as she browsed through his room to see he had a few posters of an AI Japanese pop star named EVE. "Big fan huh?" she asked.
"Of course, she is the perfect idol. Good voice, easy on the eyes, and wearing cute outfits," Cortez said.
"Yeah EVE, she is very popular with the guys for obvious reasons," Alisa said as the AI girl's figure was quite tall but had large breasts being shown off in revealing outfits.
"She is pretty but there is a girl who is much prettier," Cortez said.
"Oh, who would that be?" Alisa asked.
"It's a secret," Cortez said being coy as he looked upon Alisa's beautiful light blond hair, a perfect blend of Korean and Russian facial features, and crystal blue eyes along with her outfit fitting her shapely hourglass figure for she can be mistaken for an angelic warrior.
"Okay, I will play along," Alisa giving him a cute wink making his heart go flutter for they go into the hallways with Cortez's thoughts drifting back to Alisa.
"I need to tell her how I feel. I don't want to have regrets if something bad happens," he said as he noticed her swaying her broad hips looking good in her skirt.
"Cortez, I would give to have him handle my edges," she whispered as they felt tension between them. They looked away to go around the house to be within the living room to see huge capital ships hovering in the sky going out into space.
"I am very proud of you serving on the Eternity. One of the two most powerful ships humanity has ever made," Mrs. Black said.
"Yeah, it's bleeding edge and it's very spacious. We have been hunting Storm, Banished, Prometheans, and Rebels. All equipped to deal with these threats," Cortez said.
"You are doing a damn good job dear. Come the food is ready," she said as she brought them to the kitchen to see the table to have three bowls of chili along with chicken dumplings on the side.
"Smells so good," Alisa said.
"Dig in," she said as they took their seats for them to begin eating.
"This is very good Mrs. Black," Six said as her taste buds were going on a merry-go-round of wonderful flavors.
"Why thank you, my dear. Enjoy as much as you can," Mrs. Black said.
"Oh man, that was good and the dumplings are nice too," Alisa said.
"Told you it was good," Cortez said as they enjoyed their meal together.
Back on the Eternity, news about the Silver Team going KIA spread across the ship. "Gee, the signals from their suits went flatlined. "Gee Black Team and now Silver Team. These Prometheans are getting serious," Olympia said as they were talking in the service room.
"They are getting in their homework early," Rose said.
"Gee, there are barely any sights of the Didact at all. Those constructs are way more organized than before and then they keep adding more units like those humanoid robots they have. They are getting stronger," Yuri said.
"After what happened with Earth. Master Chief knocked him into a slip space portal. No dead body was found. He is gathering his forces but we don't know why," Rosenda said.
"Things keep getting more complex. The Banished are on the move and the Storm are holding on with the Swords cutting them down. These rebels keep coming out of the woods," Yuri said as Rose sighed at this.
"Also some personnel went to some black site of ONI called Pearl. An old prison ship used to test some experiments," Rose said.
"Sounds fishy," Vale said.
"Indeed, we need to check out Lemuria to check out the status there. It's a warzone there," Yuri said as Rose wondered what her best friend was doing on her date on her boyfriend's home planet.
Back on Mars in Cortez's family home, they finished their meal. "Thank you; Alisa," Mrs. Black said to take their empty bowls to place them into the sink.
"Hey Mrs. Black, I am going to take a walk and get some fresh air," she said.
"Okay," Mrs. Black said.
"You want to take a walk with me?" Alisa asked to reach out with her small hand to Cortez.
"Of course, I know the area. So, I don't want you to get lost," Cortez said as they both went out of the house to go into the local forest to take in the scenery. They are within the mountain wilderness to see the warm glow of the afternoon sun against the horizon.
"It's so beautiful," Alisa said as Cortez looked at her to see something even more stunning.
"Nothing compares to you Alisa," he blurted out as Alisa had a blush on her face from his sweet comment.
"Thank you, Cortez," she said to give him a bright smile which he adores for them to see a big lake in the middle of the forest.
"I used to swim in this lake when I was a kid. It was a lot of fun with the rest of the kids in the neighborhood," Cortez said
"Everything is set to go," she said as her heart was about to burst out of her chest.
"Hey Six, what's wrong?" he asked appearing before the tall, lovely blondie.
"You mean the world to me, Cortez. You are a good friend and a good field partner. I am grateful for you to be by my side," she said.
"Yeah, it was a total pleasure Six," Cortez said as his sweet words made her have a soft red glow on her cheeks.
"Cortez," she said softly as her velvet voice made Cortez's heart melt making him blush as well.
"Hey Six, close your eyes. I have a surprise for you," Cortez said.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I am not telling you. Close your eyes," he said as Alisa followed his request waiting for her surprise.
"What is he going to do," she said as Cortez thought the bashful expression on her face was quite adorable. She feels him gripping her cheeks her face blushing further to feel a warm breath. She feels something soft on her lips as she opens her eyes to see Cortez kissing her with her blue eyes widened in surprise and delight.
"Oh, you ruined the surprise," Cortez said as Alisa was left breathless. "Alisa, I want you to be my girlfriend," he said as Alisa started crying. "Hey Alisa, what's wrong?" he asked.
"I am so happy. I wanted this for so long but I got choked up about it," she said to give him a big hug to give each other a long passionate kiss while there in a tight tender embrace.
Cortez pushes Alisa onto a tree to enjoy how soft her body feels with Six holding his chest while he is gripping her hips. They feverishly brushed their tongues and their lips pressed down hard drawing air with each withdrawing breath.
"Why me, of all people?" she asked feeling a bit insecure about herself. Cortez places his hand across the scar on her cheek to tenderly stroke it and look deeply into her bright blue eyes.
"Despite you being a trained killer. There is a woman deep down who wants something more. Friendship, love and life. Things to fight for more than just this being a job. I am willing to fight to make sure we both have a future together in a brighter galaxy," Cortez said.
"Cortez, you have always been nice and patient with me. I am forever grateful to you," Alisa looks up at him feeling like a young girl once again. She is very lucky to find people who care about her more than just being a good tool for war.
"We connected. I love hanging out with you, sharing war stories, and our silly little hobbies. I want more of that," Cortez said to tighten their embrace.
"Me too," Alisa said as she returned the kiss enjoying his taste.
"Finally, you two got together," Mrs. Black said as the new couple were embarrassed that they were being spied on.
"How long were you there?" Cortez asked to break off their hug but he put his arm around her waist.
"Long enough, well you two are official?" Mrs. Black asked.
"Yes, we are," Alisa said warping her arms around his torso and laying her hand on his chest.
"I am a lucky guy," he said.
"You know that was my first kiss," Alisa looking embarrassed and sheepish.
"Oh, your first kiss at 27 years old. Oh so embarrassing," he joked as Alisa playfully hit him on the arm.
"Oh you," she said grabbing onto his hand to hold onto it tight. "You are my prince," she said with a bright smile as they went back to the Black family home to enjoy some R&R.