The Rabbit and the Wolfe

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! May whatever you celebrate be filled with joy and happiness! Thank you to all of you who have come this far with me. This is the final chapter in the first part of The Rabbit and the Wolfe, so enjoy! And don't worry, their story isn't over yet, I have much more planned for these two. This is my little gift to you so sit back, relax, and enjoy!

26. From One Life to the Next

The next morning…

Sol System, Earth

Oceania (Eastern Australia)

Subtle rays of glowing sunshine shown through the dimmed windows. Green eyes fluttered open, a loving smile directed to the body in her arms. Brown locks splayed about haphazardly on the fluffy pillow. Kelly's lips were parted slightly, light breaths flowing from her lungs. To anyone else, Kelly was a symbol, an ideal, something to stand beside. But Sandra got to see another side of her, a side she kept hidden from everyone else, even her family. The woman under the armor, in all her magnificent glory. To Sandra, she was nothing less than perfection. She was still at a loss as to what drew her to the veteran in the first place.

She smiled as she took in her current position; arms wrapped around the Spartan, legs intertwined. Her smile grew wider as she ducked her head under the sheets. Definitely was NOT a dream! Score! Her ears perked up as the most adorable yawn she had ever heard. How come some of the most ferocious creatures make the cutest noises as they sleep? She pulled her head out of the fabric enclosure, eyeing her lover with curiosity, mischief pulsing in her eyes. Even waking up completely relaxed, she quickly caught on to her partner's look.

"It wasn't me."

"Do you always make that sound? It was adorable!" Kelly pouted at one of her deepest secrets being revealed, but it was quickly masked by a neutral look Spartans were so well known for.

"That does not leave this room, understood?" She tried to sound stern, but could not stop the small smile from breaking through her emotional mask. Light pattering of footsteps and clinking of silverware stopped any response the blonde may have made. Placing a light kiss on Kelly's lips, Sandra untangled herself from the pile of limbs, wrapped a sheet around her, and left the bedroom. Kelly glanced at the clock: still early morning. For once, Kelly had no inclination to get up. Instead, she nestled into the still-warm sheets, content with her situation.

"Morning." Sandra announced as she sat down on one of the stools in front of the counter. Bridget and Carlie eyed her suspiciously, sliding a mug filled with a brown, aromatic liquid her way. Sandra took a few quiet sips as the other two women exchanged looks. Something was amiss. She was glowing, almost blindingly so, a complete 180 from last night. Her relaxed posture, not to mention the fact the only thing covering her was a sheet were a dead giveaway that something had happened last night to create such a drastic shift in her mood.

"So…where's Indigo and Amber?"

"In our room, still asleep, I think." Bridget responded offhandedly. Carlie bit her lip in an attempt to halt her curiosity. It worked, for about a minute as her blonde friend took a few more sips of the delicious brew.

"Do you know wh-"

"Alright, quit stalling. You look like you fell out of the sex tree and hit every branch on the way down! What gives?" Her pointed look did nothing to lessen her smiling eyes, happy that her friend was doing much better. Sandra placed her morning coffee on the counter, a casual smile breaking out on her face as she rested her head on her arms.

"What gave it away?" Bridget rolled her eyes at the Spartan's playful question.

"The sheet for one. That, and the fact you reek of sex."

"And how would you know what I smell like after sex, hmm?" Sandra wiggled her brows playfully, earning a smack upside the head for her crude remark. They chuckled softly as Indigo made her way into the kitchenette, wearing her trademark feline pajamas. Pouring herself a glass of juice, she joined the others at the counter. One look at Sandra told her all she needed to know.

"So…how was it?"

"Huh?" Came Sandra's distracted response.

"You know…" She placed her drink on the counter to make intimate gestures with her fingers, causing all of them to blush various shades of red, failing to hide their embarrassment.

"It was glorious." Sandra moaned.

"They still here or did your bedside manner scare them off?" Carlie teased. As if on cue, the shower burst to life, giving the girls their answer. Sandra stuck out her tongue to further prove her point.

"I could take an educated guess, but I want to hear it from you: who is it?" Indigo asked slyly.

"Not telling. I guess you will just have to wait." Sandra responded cheekily, not falling for her friends' taunts. With nothing to do other than to wait for the mysterious lover to leave the room, the four women settled down to an easy morning of checking messages, eating breakfast, and preparing themselves for the day ahead. After almost an hour, the shower clicked off, catching everyone's attention. Sandra sauntered over to the bedroom door without a care in the world, leaning against the doorframe to await her companion while the other three girls watched with rapt attention.

The door barely had time to slide open before Sandra dragged the woman into a sudden, loving kiss. The taller woman moved to wrap her arms around her blonde angel, but Sandra mischievous side flaunted itself for everyone to see. She quickly ducked out of the embrace, gave the chestnut-haired beauty a hearty slap on the ass and rushed into the bathroom, cackling madly. Kelly was frozen in place, embarrassed, fighting hard to keep her skin from turning a deeper shade of pink.

"Well that was…" Indigo started.

"Something." Carlie finished, still trying to pick up her jaw off the floor. Bridget sighed ruefully, picking up a fifth mug and making her way over to the Spartan.

"Tea. To help you relax." Kelly took the cup absentmindedly, still trying to understand what just happened. She sipped her drink, allowing the warmth of the brew to heat up her insides, to shield her from the dropping temperatures outside. Winter was fast approaching her natural resistance to the elements only went so far. The other bedroom door opened slowly, followed by a sleepy Amber, rubbing her eyes and clutching a stuffed Master Chief toy.

"Mommy." She grumbled, reaching her hands out to be picked up. Not surprisingly, the little Sangheili was not a morning person, just like her mother. Kelly's lips twitched upwards in relation to the newfound connection. She pulled her daughter into her strong arms, who immediately got lost in a staring contest with her brown hair.

"Where muver?" She questioned sleepily, still clutching the stuffed toy.

"In the shower." Kelly responded evenly, taking her cup back from Bridget, who had a warm smile on her face. Her golden eyes closed as she nuzzled into her parent's neck. The four women enjoyed the rare moment of quiet. Of course, with a child, moments like these are but a fleeting memory.

"If muver is in the showa, why you smell wike hur?" The reaction was immediate. Carlie burst out laughing, the hot coffee singeing her nose as it sprayed over the countertop. Indigo was the next one to injure herself, falling off the stool as she tried to hold her laughter inside. Bridget gave the embarrassed Spartan a supporting smile, but Kelly could tell she was trying to hide her own laughter.

Burying her embarrassment, the Spartan released a frustrated huff as tried to glare daggers at the room her lover currently occupied. But they were half-hearted at best, her mind occupied with much happier thoughts. Mission Accomplished. I tried something new. Something unknown. And it was you who led me through it. Thank you, Sandra. For showing me something beautiful. For showing me something I had been missing, something beyond the mission. She lovingly scratched Amber's head a few times, encouraging the young girl to release an adorable yawn of her own. Kelly smiled warmly. You are worth fighting for. I love you and I would die before I abandon you.

2 days later…

HIGHCOM Facility Bravo 6

Sidney, Australia, Earth

Sandra tugged nervously on the collar of her dress uniform. Perfectly pressed, this simple, but striking uniform was meant to impress, not for comfort. The metals and ribbons fixed to her breast were meant to highlight her many accomplishments in her years of service, but to her, they only served as a reminder of what she had thrown away. She wanted to throw up, but she felt it would look unprofessional showing up to her own court-martial covered in vomit, so she pushed her nausea aside. She was uncomfortably warm and now wished she had gone with the skirt instead of a pair of incredibly stiff pants. At least then her legs could breathe. To any passerby, she looked like a poster child of the UNSC: strong, independent, intelligent. She could have been too, save for the handcuffs linked between her wrists and the two massive, fully armored OSDT's shadowing her.

At least they had the decency not to drag me through the proverbial mud, she thought as she was ushered through a well-lit, though mostly empty corridor. The ODST's made no attempt to mask their presence, their boots sounded like and idling Warthog as the trio made their way through the winding hallways. People would occasionally poke their heads out of their offices to view the spectacle. For some it was bewilderment, others confusion, hatred, disgust, and glee. But she refused to bow her head in shame. No, she would not be brought down by the opinions of others. These people had never met her, never had the chance to get to know her, understand the reasoning behind her actions.

But does it really matter? They would judge you no matter how you look. It is human nature after all. Her mind argued.

They don't know you! They don't understand! That bastard murdered your family, your FAMILY! Why don't you ask them, huh? Ask what they would have done! ASK THEM! Another part of her mind shot back.

Soldiers usually don't abandon their post to pursue personal vendettas. That isn't considered 'normal', is it?

Is anything? What the hell does 'normal' mean anyway!? For fuck's sake, we have a baby! An ALIEN baby! One, I might mention, as cute as she is, was a symbol of genocide for the past 30 years! Don't you think that might piss off MORE THAN A FEW people?!

…

…

You may have a point.

Her internal argument ended as a set of doors hissed shut behind her, temporarily sealing the three inside. A few taps and the composite box rose noiselessly to its destination. Sandra caught a few mumbles behind her. At first, she believed that one was talking into his radio, but when the other responded, she realized that the two soldiers were broadcasting their conversation. And by their tones, two things were apparent: that they did not know they were openly broadcasting, and they were not too happy about the person they were escorting.

"You sure she can't hear us?"

"Of course she can't. This is an encrypted channel, you idiot." A female voice exasperatedly responded. Sandra resisted the urge to snort. They must have been green as freshly cut grass to believe that. With nothing else to do on the ride up, Sandra listened intently.

"What did she do anyway?"

"I heard the bitch fled her post. Coward." Coward!? If I wasn't cuffed I'd beat you black and blue! She glared at her cuffs to emphasize her point. Sandra did not consider herself an overly violent or combative person, but if it came down to it, she would gladly put someone in their place. Yea, someone like this British asshole!

"She must have had a reason to do something like that, right?" The boy was talking to his companion, but she felt that question was directed at her, hoping for a reason, if nothing else to prove her innocence. How naïve he was. Odds are he had never seen a war-torn battlefield nor the horrors that came along with it.

"It doesn't matter what she did. She deserted. In my book, she's as good as dead. I hope they shoot her." The larger ODST spat. They spent the last few moments in silence before the ride came to an end. The doors opened with a hiss, revealing the pristine hallway, spotted with fauna and dark oak furniture. But it was not the bland decorations that caught her attention, it was the two men talking just a few doors down. Or more particularly, the officer, who upon noticing the occupants of the elevator, dismissed the other individual, nodding quickly to the man's last words. In just a few short strides, she stood face to face with the officer.

"Admiral on deck!" She barked. It was more of a reflex, than out of any necessity. Though she was mildly disappointed when the two ODST's behind her snapped crisp salutes. She saluted the man as best she could, but the cuffs made it incredibly awkward to perform. Admiral Hood gave the cuffs a hard look before refocusing on the trio before him.

"I'll take it from here." He said sternly.

"But sir, the Admiralty-" The female soldier began.

"And I am a part of it. Remove those cuffs, soldier." Sandra couldn't entirely hide her smirk as the woman jumped to her task, clearly embarrassed and angry. Her restraints removed, the ODST's made their way back to the elevator and disappeared back into the depths of the facility.

"My apologies, Spartan. I did not believe you needed them but the other Admirals insisted."

"I understand, sir." Sandra massaged her wrists as they quietly walked down the freshly polished corridor. Sandra looked beside her and could see the Admiral was wrestling with something. Figuring it concerned her, she decided to broach the topic.

"Was there something else, sir?" The Admiral stopped walking a few stops from the double doors at the end of the hall, turning to face her with his mouth in a tight line. His usually hard eyes had softened slightly as he regarded the woman before him.

"I was just informed by one of my aides that you will be given full custodial rights to your daughter, provided that you continue to fulfill whatever conditions the board set for you." Sandra flashed him with a beaming smile, wiping away a tear that gathered at the corner of her eye. But her elation quickly died as a realization struck her.

"Sir, what about rights for the other parent?" A frown quickly showed itself on the man's features before vanishing just a quick as it came.

"Due to your…unique circumstances, visitation may prove…difficult, if not impossible. Leave would be the only available option, and in your line of work, such circumstances are rare. I'm sorry." Sandra bit her cheek to relieve the crushing pain in her heart. What little uplifting news she received had been quickly shattered, like glass. Kelly won't be able to see Amber for who knows how long?! Oh god. What if she d-dies, out there- A solid hand on her shoulder brought her back to reality.

"I'm sorry I don't have happier news." He offered apologetically, replacing his hand behind him.

"Don't mention it, sir. I am grateful for what you have done." The Admiral had stuck his neck out for her and she was not about to squander his attempt to help remedy her situation. He saluted her one last time, one which she proudly returned.

"Good luck, Spartan." With that he was gone, marching through the double doors before him to take his seat on the board. With nothing more to do and having nothing to occupy herself with, she concentrated on her breathing, counting down until the end of her career. Eventually, she was called in. Taking a deep breath, she nodded to the marines who ushered her in and marched pointedly to the center of the room, taking it all in with a sweep of her eyes. The lights were dimmed, casting the figures before her in shadow, their darkened faces a moot point when their nameplates were in full view.

"Sandra Sheila Wolfe, you are brought before this board today on the charges of Desertion, Theft and Improper Use of UNSC equipment and Insubordination. How do you plead?" The woman's harsh, no-nonsense voice sent her skin crawling. Serin Osman was not the type of woman to be taken lightly. As the head of ONI, she was privy to the many, more…unscrupulous acts the UNSC committed to remain in control. Sandra understood the need for such divisions, but Osman's hateful glare showed that the woman had already made up her mind about Sandra's sentence; the court martial was just a formality for her. Sandra squared her shoulders and shot the woman before her quick, withering glare. If the head of ONI wants to play, I will be more than happy to step up.

"Guilty. On all charges." Sandra couldn't suppress her smirk as Admiral Osman frowned in the darkness. The woman wanted a battle, but Sandra wouldn't stoop to her level. She knew what she had done and would face the consequences head-on.

"We've all read the reports. But we would like to hear it, straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak." Rear Admiral Musa Ghanem, founder of the Spartan Branch, stated calmly. Sandra couldn't see the man's eyes to see what he actually thought about her situation.

"Yes, sir." She responded dutifully. The four Admirals listened closely as she retold her story, occasionally shuffling their reports or shifting in their chairs. Of course, she left out the more intimate details, but the facts of story never changed.

"Do you wish to add lying to your list of growing charges, Ms. Wolfe?" Osman snapped, not bothering to hide behind pleasantries or veiled threats. The blunt removal of her Spartan status pissed Sandra off to no end, a fact that the head of ONI was quick to catch onto. As angry as she was, to her knowledge she had told them the truth of her actions.

"Ma'am?" Sandra questioned, confused. Serin let out a heavy sigh, clearly annoyed. Sandra felt the Admiral was going out her way to piss her off. It was working, slowly, but working nonetheless. The hearing seemed to come to a stop as the Admiral flipped through her briefing, tapping in her commands agonizingly slow just to make the others wait. You're doing this on purpose. Bitch. Truthfully, Sandra had nothing against ONI, but she was really starting to hate the Admiral in charge of the illusive intelligence service.

"You have stated, both in your pre-trial meetings and before us today, that Blue Team was never involved in what we have termed a 'personal vendetta', that they only acted in what you have described as a, and I quote, 'reactionary force, designated to restrain your activities and if it came down to it, terminate the operative', which was you. Is that not what you told us?"

"Yes ma'am, it was."

"Then how come we have reports from each member of Blue Team, stating, that their involvement with your vendetta was much more than 'reactionary' in nature?"

"I'm afraid I don't quite understand." What the hell is she talking about? I clearly brushed away any involvement the others had before submitting my report. Why would they state otherwise? Admiral Osman may seem like a grade-A bitch, but lying in a formal court-martial hearing is something I doubt even she would do.

"What Admiral Osman, as do the rest of us, want to know is why we received conflicting reports from you and the rest of your team." General Hogan, a UNSC Marine Corps officer, stated flatly. It seemed as if the General didn't care one way or the other, more bored than anything. He probably though he didn't need to be here, with her status as a Spartan and all, and was annoyed his down time had been interrupted. Humph, the lazy bastard. Probably was sipping a beer on a beach somewhere when they called his fat ass in. Sandra rationalized that she shouldn't be so aggravated by the people delivering her sentence, but at this point, she only had respect for half the board.

"Forgive me if I appear rude, sir, but would you care to elaborate?" She might not have respect for the man, but she respected his rank and would treat it as such. He nodded his head, a gesture she almost missed in the dimly lit room.

"We received after-action reports from the Master Chief and the other members of Blue Team. While these reports concur with the basic facts you have stated, there were some obvious, glaring differences. Namely, that they came willingly, following your plan to eliminate the rogue Covenant assassin, Ekan 'Satinee. By my own understanding, that is not, in any way, 'reactionary'. Care to explain these differences, Spartan?" His boredom seemed to have fallen by the wayside, the General eager to get to the root of the inconsistencies as quickly as possible.

Sandra wrung her fingers together behind her back, structuring her thoughts. Damn it, Kelly. This wasn't your problem, and you didn't have to get involved. But I'm impressed you were able to get Chief and the others to throw a good word in for me. Might not mean anything, but it will give em' something to think on. You go girl! Beautiful and brilliant. No point in trying to cover for you anymore. Ok, here we go… She looked to Admiral Hood, who gave her a supportive nod. She smiled inside, relieved that at least one person was on her side.

"Sir, Blue Team's actions were correct in their reports. From the start, I failed to report their full involvement in order to stave off any potential repercussions."

"You did it to protect them? Cute." Osman replied bitterly.

"You know as well as I do, Spartan, that the Spartan-II's aren't children." Musa interjected before Serin could make any more inappropriate remarks. "Surely you must have had a reason for this?"

"I do, sir. But they are my own reasons, ones which I am not inclined to share." Musa, Hood, and Hogan nodded understandingly while Osman continued to face her with an icy glare. Must suck, having to keep your damn tongue on a leash, huh Admiral. The four Admirals looked to each other, seemingly having a silent conversation.

"Very well, Spartan. You made your choice, as we have done so here," Hood began, standing up to get the others attention. "On this day, November 17, 2558, Petty Officer Third Class Sandra Sheila Wolfe will receive the following sentence, carried out by the board assembled here today. Due to the charges leveled against you and in light of present circumstances, you will be stripped of your rank as a Spartan, and discharged from the UNSC, effective immediately. Your personal belongings will be delivered to you as you undergo a mandatory debriefing. From there, you will be relocated off-planet. Normally, this debrief would be accompanied by an augmentation removal, but based on Blue Team's mission reports and the threat Ekan 'Satanee posed to the galaxy, the board would be remiss if we ignored such important factors. This session has come to a close." Sandra delivered a crisp salute that the admirals returned. Sandra was about to march out but paused with a signal from the Fleet Admiral.

"I am sorry again Spartan- Ms. Wolfe. If it was up to me you would be receiving a medal, not a court martial."

"I understand, sir. But someone had to take the snake out before he could do any real damage." She looked away momentarily, lost in thought. "He took something from me, something I can never replace. I just returned the favor."

"Was it worth it?" Sandra met his gaze, fire burning behind her emerald pools.

"Absolutely. I just hope my parents would agree."

"I'm sure they would be proud." He said, placing a hand on her shoulder, supportively. She saluted him once more, which he gladly returned. She reached the set of double doors before the Admiral's voice stopped her once again.

"I can't have an unescorted civilian running about unsupervised in a military facility. Luckily for you, I thought ahead. Your escort will be waiting in the hall. Good luck, Ms. Wolfe."

"To you as well, sir." She responded before opening the door, heart swelling in her chest. Linda and Kelly were armed and armored, clearly intended to be her 'escorts'. The did not say a word as they entered the elevator, likely for the countless ONI personnel listening in. Only when they exited out the front doors, that the silence was broken.

"Five minutes." Linda ordered. Sandra was still trying to figure out what their sniper meant when she was pulled into a nearby alley, away from prying eyes and cameras.

"Kelly, what's goi- mmnpph!" Sandra hadn't even gotten in two words in edgewise before Kelly pinned her against the wall, unsealed her helmet and pulled her wolf pup into an eager kiss. Sandra instantly relaxed, ignoring the titanium poking her in the chest, as their tongues portrayed their erotic dance of dominance. Eventually, the need for air overpowered the desires that flowed through their bodies, breaking away breathless.

"Shit, where'd you learn to kiss like that?" Sandra said, surprised.

"You." Kelly's neutral face could not hide the pink embarrassment creeping up her neck.

"Flattery will get you anywhere. Especially, with little ol' me." Sandra responded with half-lidded eyes, drinking up the shiver that ran down Kelly's armored spine. "But as much as we both want to, I wanted to talk to you about a few things." Sandra rested her head against Kelly's chest, trying to listen to the beat of her lover's heart. She had been dreading this moment ever since Admiral Hood had informed her of Amber's fate. Now that it was here, she couldn't bear to look into those sapphires as she slowly crushed them.

"After my debrief, I will be sent off-world, don't know where, the whole shebang. But Admiral Hood was adamant that Amber went with me. I understand the reasoning behind it, of course, b-but…" She trailed off as the first tear trickled down her face. "The only way you could visit, would be sanctioned leave. We both know that in our line of work, any kind of real leave is few and far between, if at all. We can stay in touch, but I can't help but feel as if I'm taking her away from you. I never, ever want you to think that is the truth, I would never want something like that. I love you both too much. I'm s-sorry. S-so sorry." She smiled behind her tears a pair of arms wrapped protectively around her, pulling her close.

"She will be safer with you." Kelly stated gently, cradling Sandra's head to wipe away her tears.

"But you'll miss her." It wasn't a question.

"The mission comes first, Sandra." Her gauntlets running through her pup's golden locks. The ex-Spartan gave a mirthless chuckle.

"God, I'm really starting to hate that phrase." Kelly hummed in agreement. Sandra glanced around for something to talk about, as she was not ready to leave just yet. Her eyes landed on Kelly's visor, its pristine condition catching her attention. "New visor? He he. Sorry about that."

"It was replaceable. Unlike you." Sandra couldn't help but roll her eyes at the cheesy remark.

"Kiss ass."

"Your ass and more." Sandra could feel her face turn six shades redder. They held their embrace for a few moments more, only the sights and sounds of Sydney to accompany them. Reluctantly, Kelly pulled away, not before Sandra planted one last loving kiss on her speedy rabbit. They made their way through the narrow back streets until they reached Linda waiting in the warthog, drumming on the steering wheel impatiently.

"That was seven." Translation: About damn time! Neither of them said a word as they climbed into the scout vehicle. Linda put it in gear, pulling out into the busy streets, headed for an ONI facility to debrief her teammate.

Mars, Sol System

UNSC Supply Depot, Undisclosed Location

Alexander Reilcat never believed himself to be against humanity. When the Covenant declared war on Humanity in 2525, Alex was proud to riddle their exotic bodies with bullets until their own mothers wouldn't recognize them. He didn't care where you were from, what you did, or who you were; if you were human and weren't pointing a weapon in his direction, you were a friend. That all changed when- He swerved sharply to avoid hitting a tree. His helmet chirped angrily at him, accepting a call from a person he didn't really want to talk to.

"This mission is worthless if you end up wrapped around a tree. Focus, Alex."

"Duly noted, Willy." He smiled as Wilhelm Sundance muttered obscenities over the link.

"Run the plan by me again." The Major let out a frustrated sigh, aggravated that he was being treated like a child.

"Your men know the plan. As long as they don't fuck it up, things should go smoothly. You'll hear from me when it's done." He cut the connection before Wilhelm could voice his objections. He ran over the plan once more as the warthog climbed through the hilly forest. Pulling up to the gatehouse, he quickly checked his weapons: fully loaded, safeties off, and most importantly, silenced. At least with his jet-black ODST armor, the SMG and pistol would not seem out of place.

"Pass." The guard demanded flatly. Alex could sympathize with the man; gate duty was boring as fuck. He handed over his pass without a fuss. If Wilhelm's techs were worth their weight, this step shouldn't be a problem. The guard came back with a visibly cheerier expression.

"You're our tech guy!? Thank fuck! I was finding beating my head against a wall more and more appealing every day."

"Believe me, I would have been out here much earlier. Politics and all that bullshit." He may not have cared what the man did but it never hurt to butter them up a bit. The guard ushered him to follow, pulling at his collar. Even the nights on this part of Mars hardly dropped below 80 degrees. They two entered the small shack. Not much there beyond the gate controls, a few fans, some leftover food and a personal laptop.

"What's with the getup? Didn't think they gave techies armor."

"Raiders." The guard nodded understandingly. There had been an increase of raids upon civilians and unarmored military personnel ever since the war ended. Providing protection to those venturing to these remote outposts was just common sense. "Plus, it's nice to walk around in a mobile air conditioner."

"Here's our com link. Direct line to the main grid for the base. Master control right here. Do whatever you need to do." The guard instructed, chuckling. Not very bright, are you? Alexander thought spitefully. Truthfully, he had no clue what to do. That's what the remote access chip in his pocket was for. With his current problem being solved, the man cracked open a beer and propping his feet on a nearby desk. Discreetly inserting the chip, Alex waited until the techs took control before he started to type aimlessly on the keys. He had to at least look like he was working. The fans may have drowned out his senseless typing, but not the outburst which followed it.

"Stupid bloody code!" He screamed, relishing in the fact the other occupant spilled his beer all over his crotch.

"What happened?"

"Someone recently installed the new coding standards and never told me. I was using an older standard and crashed your system! Cameras, gate controls, lighting, security locks, everything!" In truth, the techs had successfully hacked into the system and wiped everything that wasn't essential, including the cameras and visitor logs. As of the beginning of today, the system ceased to exist. And no one would know until the next inspection.

"Shit! What do I tell my boss?!" He asked, worried.

"Don't care." With three rapid coughs, the man fell over, dead, blood pooling around his skull. Stepping over his cooling corpse, the rapid change of temperature did not faze him as multiple shadows seemed to materialize from the forest itself.

"Cut the fence. Take anything vital. No survivors." He ordered over the com, receiving green lights in return. Unslinging his M20, he stacked up with the others as they used bolt cutters to shear through the chain-link fence. The M20 was the post-war personal defense submachine gun used by many military branches who expect close-quarters fighting, thought its predecessor, the M7, is still preferred by many. They silently poured through the opening, eliminating anyone they came across with deadly efficiency. The planet itself seemed to bleed as submachine guns tore through barracks, peppering the walls with bullet holes and gore. DMR's silenced the oblivious guards while combat knives ended those who were lucky enough to fumble for their weapon.

Never one to cut corners, Alex ordered the troops to triple sweep the entire depot, searching for any survivors, before he broke radio silence. He was not about to let months of planning go down the toilet because he became complacent. As the third search came up clean, he decided to call in their support.

"Were secure. Bring in the birds."

"Copy that. On their way." Came the terse response.

Their raid had yielded quite the cache. Weapons, attachments and ammunition, enough for a small army. But sometimes quality is better than quantity. Warthogs, Wasps, and even a few Scorpions added to the growing pile. But the greatest treasure were three nuclear warheads, still contained within their lead shells. Supposedly, Wilhelm had a plan for these and was going to inform Alex when a few last details were ironed out. While he didn't fully trust the Insurrectionist leader, he was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, at least in this case. Nonetheless, he made a copy of the activation codes, just in case. As if sensing his thoughts his helmet chirped once again.

"I heard it went off without a hitch."

"Seems your men aren't completely incompetent after all." There was a pause on the other end. Long enough that he checked his suit to make sure he had not lost connection.

"You know, I sent you on this mission for a reason, a test of sorts. And you passed with flying colors. Finish up there. When you get back we will discuss your future. Welcome to the inner circle, so to speak." With that Sundance ended the connection, leaving Alex to load up the spoils.

Earth, Sol System

Sydney, Australia

The sky was a peaceful blue, marbled with puffy white pillows as the wind created art in the sky. Seagulls cawed happily as they dove for fish and settled along the ocean's edge, enjoying the gentle waves that lapped at their feathers. A trio of Pelicans roared overhead, cutting off the sounds of nature. Woeful eyes watched as they performed aerial maneuvers, creating their own art for Mother Nature to witness. Inhaling deeply through her nose, Sandra breathed in the scent of sweat, aviation fuel, gunpowder, burned rubber, and tarmac. It was likely the last time she would ever step foot on a military installation again. A final sendoff, one last immersion, courtesy of Lord Hood. She really did own a lot to the man. Without his intervention, she could have ended up on a shuttle to a remote prison, or worse.

"Muver, you ok?" Pushing all worries aside, she kneeled down next to her daughter, stroking her head lovingly and putting on her best smile. After all, she had to stay strong, no matter how painful it might be.

"I'm alright, sweetie. How about you? Any problems with the clothes?" Amber shook her head. After her debrief she had gathered up Amber and the few things she had with her and took her clothes shopping. Just enough to last them until they were planet side.

"Why can't mommy come wiv us?" She looked down at the ground, playing with the hem of her shirt. Her mandibles twitched intermittently as she collected her thoughts.

"Because mommy has a job to do. And because...your momma made a mistake, and she has to face the consequences." Sandra hoped Amber would understand her explanation. Tearful golden eyes met her own as Sandra wiped away the tears from her daughter's face.

"Is it because mommy doesn't luv us anymore?" Sandra dropped her gear quicker than ever before, scooping Amber into her arms as she continued to shed tears.

"No, no, no, god no! Don't ever think that mommy doesn't love you, alright? She loves both of us more than anything. But mommy also has a very important job. Want to know what it is?" She felt Amber nod against her chest. "Mommy has to protect you from the bad guys. You wouldn't want the bad guys to get you, right?"

"No. Bad guys scarwy." Sandra hummed in agreement as she gently rubbed Amber's back. Eventually, her crying ceased and looked up to her mother, who kissed her gently on the head. Amber gave her mother a small smile, happy that her momma was keeping the bad guys at bay.

"Plus, since mommy is so old, she is really good at keeping the bad guys away. She's a good protector." Amber nodded, relieved, and picked up her toy from the tarmac. "Don't tell mommy I said that." Sandra added as an afterthought. Taking Amber's hand, she stood up at the sounds of boots behind her. Erikson, Blue Team's pilot, had been tasked with transporting the two of them to the Stonewall, where a military transport would take the two of them to wherever the UNSC had deemed fit for her.

"Ma'am." He offered her a crisp salute.

"You don't have to salute me, Erikson. I'm no longer a Spartan."

"Could have fooled me, ma'am. How about a handshake instead?" She offered him a weak smile and shook his outstretched hand firmly. A tug on his pantleg brought his attention to the Sangheili. He laughed as Amber stood herself up as tall as her small body could, offering the pilot an adorable imitation of her mother. He crisply returned it before gesturing the two to follow.

Sandra stopped at the gangplank of the Pelican as a realization hit her: this would be the last time she ever flew in one of these. Erikson could see underneath her mask: the worry, the unease, the sadness. All of it shone through her twin green pools.

"I still have a few pre-flight checks to complete." Erikson said, moving into the cockpit and closing the door to give the woman some space. Sandra placed Amber on the gangplank as she ran a hand across the olive titanium. Closing her eyes, she committed its smoothness to memory.

"I'm old, huh?" Sandra jumped at the sudden voice, slamming her head into a low-hanging fixture, cursing profusely. She shot a glare at the opaque visor, knowing the woman under it was smiling.

"I didn't mean it like that! I only meant-" She let the rest of her sentence go unfinished as Kelly motioned her to relax with a quick cut across her chest. Sandra relaxed as Amber shifted in Kelly's arms.

"You really haf to stay and fight the baddies?" Amber's question broke the increasingly somber mood, directing the veteran's attention on the bundle in her arms.

"Yes. Take care of your mother, that is your mission. You understand?" Amber nodded happily, kissing the cold visor, before being placed on the ground to take her seat. Kelly stood up to find Sandra standing just within arm's reach. Kelly longed to reach out and embrace her pup, but in such a public setting it would not be appropriate. So, she settled on the next best thing: a salute.

"Stay in contact. That's an order, Spartan." Came Sandra's strained command, returning the salute, wishing she could rip the woman's helmet off and kiss her to the end of time.

"Affirmative, ma'am." Kelly responded, injecting as much warmth into her tone as she could. Sandra mustered the most brilliant smile she could, a tear lingering on the pinnacle of her emerald orbs. With a nod, Kelly did an about face and marched out of the bird. Stay safe, my little wolf pup. I love you both.

Sandra wiped away her building tears and stowed their gear. She hit the door release, allowing it to close completely and activate the internal lighting. Moving over to the only other occupant, she buckled her little angel in, before securing herself.

"Erikson. We're green." The pelican roared to life as the engines were ignited. They rose gently into the sky, the deafening roar reduced to a dull hum as the dropship broke atmosphere.

"Smooth sailing from here out, ladies. Sit back and enjoy the ride." Sandra stared hard at the floor, finding it harder and harder to keep the tears at bay. Her life as she knew it was over. Her entire body shook with anger and sadness as her world crumbled around her.

"Muver?" Sandra turned to face her daughter, who gave her the most loving smile she could muster, before hugging her arm, squeezing it as tight as she could. "We'll be ok, mother. Mommy is pro- pro- keeping the bad guys away." Sandra sobbed quietly for a few minutes, pulling Amber to her chest.

"I know she will sweetie," She whispered, allowing the saurian to nestle into her side. "And we will be there when she comes home." Their life ahead may be wrought with uncertainty, but she would always have the two most important people in her life there by her side.

Come Back for the Sequel!

Wow…this journey has been amazing. All the reviews and follows have pushed me to become a better writer, doing the best I can to bring my own take on the Halo lore to you. But this journey of our Spartans is not over yet. Not by a long shot. This is only part one of a trilogy, I already have the main points lined up. This is my little Christmas/Holiday gift to you all. So, enjoy and share it with your families! As always don't forget to favorite, follow and review. Till next time…peace out! See you in 2017!