What it Means to be Human

Chapter 3: The Unholy Three: Enter the Shady and Confusing World of Conspiracy

"I'll run Blue Team's paperwork through and they will be on the Infinity within the month," Hood agreed as he added a reminder to his datapad. "What do you think will happen Catherine," he asked looking at her. Osman gave the woman her full attention as well.

"This could go a few ways," she began sitting down in a chain for the first time that day. She rubbed the bridge of her nose as she started again, "the first and most obvious, he cracks and we put him down. Another everything settles, he's pissed at me like Serin-019 and Naomi-010. Then there is always the possibility it changes nothing and he moves on, but then what to do with these new emotions and feelings he's getting from nowhere. What happens when he learns about it and ends up in a relationship? If he winds up with any normal human, he would have to be careful to not kill her, even by a strong hug. Sure say restric his fraternisation to just Spartans, that doesn't change the fact that John is gonna be hornier than a seventeen year old teenage at spring break. And what happens if he winds up in a relationship with one of them? If they cheat on him? Break his heart? Die?"

"To many variables to take into consideration," Osman summed up to which the Doctor nodded.

"Are only option then is to prepare for the worst and hope for the best," Hood added while sighing and sinking in his chair. "What a cluster fuck," Hood muttered out of character.

"Maybe you shouldn't have signed an order for the kidnapping of 75 children to become super soldiers," Osman said a bitterly to the aging Admiral.

"I would adjust your tone 019," Admiral Hood shot back. "If you read all your files, your predecessor signed the order as well. Don't throw stones when you live in a glass house. Yes being the head of ONI makes you the spook of all spooks. But I have eyes everywhere, just like you."

"Sir," Osman spoke back quickly.

"And before you two go," Halsey said standing back up and stretching, "just remember, I do too."

The two nodded before signing off as Catherine made her way to her main work bench. She reached out picking up the picture of John she took earlier that day, "I sent you through hell once before. I'll stop you if you start to enter it again."

A buzzing noise rang out in the darkened room before a fist smashed down on a small electric alarm clock; the force of the blow shattering it. Great, Commander Palmer thought as she rose from her bed, I'm just glad Infinity has a PX on board. She hit the lights on by tapping a few buttons on her datapad, thankfully the UNSC had thought a bit about comfort when they built the Infinity's officer quarters, and the the lights came on at a low setting as to not blind her. Perks of commissioning I suppose, her thoughts continued as she dressed for the day.

Meets, meetings all day, she grumbled in her head and under her breath as she prepared her working whites for the day. Stupid uniform, give me power armor any day, the working whites weren't bad per say, she just didn't prefer them. They were the standard officer coat that was an off white/grey color, armored ever so slightly. As a female officer she was given the option of a skirt, but Sarah being a Spartan usually chose the armored pants, she felt uncomfortable out of her armor ever since she got it.

I guess I just feel stronger, safer, she thought as she moved down the hallway to her office near the bow of s-dek. And now I'm talking to myself, just great, she trudged into the beautiful officer's office they had for her, why are the lights on? She didn't dwell on it, and made an immediate beeline for her coffee pot, she found that it already had coffee in it, did I not pour it out yesterday, she thought. Then her eyes caught the steam coming off the top, and an unfamiliar smell, I don't own that brand.

"Captain Lasky thought it would be amusing for us to share your office seeing as how you don't have another NCO working directly under your command, nor another officer," a voice startled her. Spinning around quickly and drawing the magnum from her side; Palmer almost dropped the offending weapon. Sitting there, lined up perfectly with her sights was the Master Chief, wearing the old fashioned khaki working uniform, sitting on a reinforced rolling chair, and at a slightly taller than normal desk. He was punching away at the desk's console interface with his datapad plugged in, and from what Palmer could tell he was reading files and taking notes.

"I am going to kill Lasky," Palmer mutter before pouring the coffee into her mug, "didn't know you like coffee Chief."

"I don't," he responded without so much as a look in her direction. "The Captain ordered me to inform you that the coffee was a peace offering and not to march to his office and...gut him," the Chief finished awkwardly, clearly disturbed by the statement.

What's crawled up his ass this early, she asked internally caught off guard by how awkward he had said it. "Well at least he has his priorities straight," she mumbled while taking a sip and savoring the brown liquid, "mh, double brewed," she breathed out after the sip. "Well you're off my shit list Captain, for the moment anyway," she said.

Why would she declare that, John thought as we continued scanning through the Spartan-IVs' records, the Captain isn't even here. Plus there is the insabourantion charges he could bring up on her for even saying that. Should I address the issue? Or, Chief cut himself off mid thought. His mind racing back to the two times they spoke when he emerged from the hard light simulation room. It must be joking around between two colleagues. Johnson attempted to rile me up a few times, Chief finally guessed after comparing the actions of the Captain with Johnson and some of the things the two would say.

Chief finally broke from his screen to turn and acknowledge her presence, and he was rendered speechless for a moment. The Commander's brown hair was pulled into a practical but delicate parted bun, and Chief found that the uniform accredited her figure nicely. He took a moment to take in her sleepy appearance as she more or less plopped down into her reinforced chair. Her eye-lids were half closed as she kept the mug near her face, taking in the aroma in between sips. I've seen plenty of female soldiers, but what is it about this one, that makes me look longer, the Chief thought as he finally broke out of his stare.

"Ma'am, I have finished reviewing the Spartan-IV records and ready for the briefing," John spoke, still giving her his attention, but not the intense stare from before. Seems she doesn't like not being in armor either, he noticed as she kept fidgeting with her top, trying to pull it down and make it longer.

"How in the fuck did you read all of the Spartan-IV records in," Sarah glanced at the clock and saw that it was only 0505, "five minutes?"

"I had trouble sleeping," John said after a slight pause while he processed what to say, "so I swung by medical and picked up a stem. Been here since 0100 ma'am."

"Trouble sleeping," Sarah parroted back sitting up straighter going into full officer mode as she like to call it, "care to elaborate Sierra-117?"

"John," he began simply,"John-117."

Sarah was deeply surprised by John's admission of his name. She smirked a bit before nodding his thanks, "I appreciate the gesture and approval to use your name, John-117. But as your Commanding officer that was one of the few things spoiled to me when they sent me your record. Which by the way, pretty much redacted. And some of the dates don't make since, got anything for that?"

"I have no reasonable explanations for the dates not matching up. But as far as the redacted information, most of my missions were highly classified. Until the Halo campaign there were probably a total of less than forty people that even knew my call tag. I appreciate your desecration so far," he admitted plainly.

"So private only then?"

"If that is alright," John responded with, never one to order a superior around. Defy direct orders sure, but never try to overrule.

"Not a problem 117," she said with a nodded before back tracking, "so you're having issues sleeping? What kind?"

"I was having issues staying asleep," he finished quickly as memories started to run ramped at the thought of the nightmares he was having. He closed his eyes for a moment as he fell back into his training and began to put everything back in its place mentally.

"Stop," Sarah ordered and John's eyes snapped open. He looked at her confused, and a bit angry for the order to disrupt what he was taught, "sorry for breaking you out of compartmentalizing your thoughts, but that's the problem."

"How? We were trained to do just that to keep our edge, to keep our instincts sharp in battle," Chief explained still confused by her order.

"You're right, that is what we are taught, but only for battle," she answered, "we aren't in battle Chief. And we definitely aren't at open war anymore, so there is no need to compartmentalize thoughts. So stop doing that and tell your new Commanding officer what is wrong," she ordered after her explanation.

John sighed but followed the order none the less, "I was having trouble staying asleep due to memories. I-," another pause as he searched for the words, "-I am deeply confused by these memories as I have no experience with them. They feel so vivid and real, yet they are fading more and more, which I find strange as all Spartan-IIs have identity memories."

It took Palmer a moment to realize what he meant, memories he has no experience with? Vivid and then fading...it almost sounds like-but, she cut herself off before slapping her forehead causing the Chief to stare at her awkwardly. "John," she began slowly testing the name as he nodded. She continued after the nod looking him directly in the eyes, "where were you posted for off combat duty when not running ground operations?"

"Cryo ma'am," was the response, once more his tone at the abnormal was even and calm.

"For the entire war," she asked her eyes going wide, and felt like they might pop out after watching him nod. Thirty years without a dream, she thought, guess it explains the body of a man in his early thirties instead of the body of a forty-six year old. She hadn't missed how his hair was not starting to grey or fade like the other members of Blue Team she had worked with on occasion. "Well," she began again, "those weren't memories Chief. They were dreams."

"Dreams," the Spartan repeated his voice taking on a touch of melancholy.

He didn't say anything after that and Sarah assumed he was processing the few he had before working. "Chief," she began again, this time with rank. She was hoping to convey the seriousness of her request, "please refrain from taking stems and using the cryo-tank. You need to deal with whatever is to come. It will be difficult, especially because of what you have seen during the war. But the repercussions of not dealing with them will be worse."

"How so? And how does the war affect my dreams," the Chief asked curiously.

"Dreams are strange. No one can say for certain what causes us to dream and what about. But we do know that you might relive memories, some will be exactly like before. Others may be different, you may see a different outcome, may put different people in different places. You could be dreaming of laying in the grass in a park and the next second in armor doing an orbital-drop. You could dream about someone you find attractive. You could dream about someone you lost. You could dream of a puppy you saw on a poster or ad. You could dream of success or failure or both all at the same time. You could dream about literally anything Chief. And repressing that will cause issues," she explained sternly, I am so glad we get an advanced psychology course in OCS.

John nodded before agreeing to the request to keep away from stems and cryo tanks. After receiving the confirmation Sarah let out a sigh of relief before pulling up her schedule, "now that that is out of the way. What's the plan for training," she asked.

"Tomorrow at 0400 all Spartans need to be dressed in armor in full battalion formation in the parade hall," John began as she started typing. "They will have a full combat readiness inspection before moving on to training brief," he sent her a copy of the brief he was planning on distributing. "First for full capabilities assessment I was going to run all the Spartan fireteams through the Library and High Charity simulations at full armor specs. Everyone will run the Library first, and then the High Charity to give them a break in between for rest. I want to evaluate how they operate at full capabilities. The missions will run until all four members of the fireteam are either locked up or the mission is complete."

Chief then moved to his next day and the rest of training, "the following day I want to see how the Spartans perform out of armor in various simulations, and I am fully open to ideas. Once I have a full assessment of the Spartan-IVs current skill level I will be able to set up a training schedule to improve on where they are lacking while keeping their other skills sharp."

"How do you want to schedule the simulation runs," Sarah questioned as she stopped typing about halfway through updating her schedule.

"Alpha-Nine will run first to set a benchmark," Chief said before looking through his notes on the other fireteams. "I would say Gypsy, Mystic, Crimson, Tango-Eight, Zulu-Six, Wolf, Shadow, Apex, Charlie-One, Jackknife, Rhino, Lancer, Sword, Switchback, Echo-Two, Avalanche, Tower, Echo-Five, Ivy, Fox, Kodiak, Beast, and Sydney.",

"Why that order," she asked as she began to list them in the order he provided for her.

"While each team is well rounded, they all specialize in one thing or another," Chief began before using the large wall display to show the groupings. "Gypsy, Mystic, Crimson, Tango-Eight, and Zulu-Six are all forward combat teams. While Wolf. Shadow, Apex, Charlie-One, and Jackknife are more long range and sniper support. Then you have Rhino, Lancer, Sword, Switchback, Echo-Two, and Avalanche running demolition and heavy weapons. Finally you have Tower, Echo-Five, Ivy, Fox, Kodiak, and Sydney as armor support. This keeps the different specialized teams in the same groupings allowing for inter-competition and better results."

"They will all try to out do the other to claim bragging rights," she realized. If he ran them at odd intervals then there would be squabbling over how one team would be less suited for the task. By running those teams back to back there is no doubt where we will be lacking in training and allow for less squabbling with four top dogs. Who will incidentally try to out do each other for bragging rights. He sure knows how play people's competitive nature. "Have to say Chief this is a hell of a training regiment just for assessment," she said, "but it will give us the best look at the gaps in our current skill set."

"That's what I was thinking," he said as he took down the screens and continued to work and figuring out the best way to train them after the assessment. "Will we be able to go planet side at all for vehicle training? Also do we have any training Pelicans, Longswords, or Broadswords? Also do we have access to any Prowlers or smaller ships both for combat and training," John asked going through a mental list of things he needed to know for this schedule rough draft he was working on.

Sarah paused before pulling up the Spartans full armory inventory list and checking through it while answering, "we can use either Luna's or Mar's vehicle training grounds for Warthogs, Scorpions, Hornets and the like. We also have some old Covenant ground vehicles for training. As far as access to smaller transport and combat ships that is a negative. Damn," she finished with a curse under her breath.

"Ma'am?"

"We have so much equipment for training with the new gear loadouts," she said rubbing the bridge of her nose, "yet every time I see someone on their "training" day, they would just be doing PT or using their favorite weapons to "show off their amazing skills". Ugh, no wonder everyone keeps picking the same gear over and over again. They have no idea how to use the new stuff, yet every day I have for training I'm trying to find equipment I haven't used. Fuck me."

"I see now why Lord Hood gave me this position," Chief agreed, "you are too busy with meetings, paperwork, and what not with keeping the division up and running to worry about their training."

"Pretty much," Sarah nodded closing out of the inventory list, "let's get through the next two days of assessments and then we will hammer out that schedule."

John nodded before opening a requisition form for two stealth Prowlers along with a few more things he thought the Spartans were missing. Regular BDUs, rucksacks, combat knifes, field repair kits for Mjolnir, his list kept growing bigger and bigger as he worked silently.

Hours pass for the two as the processed paperwork, scheduling, and memos. Multiple times Sarah had caught Chief glancing in her direction of the course of the morning and every time he did, he looked like he was about to say something but didn't.. Ok this is annoying, she thought after having caught him for the fifth time in the last hour. "If you have something to say Chief," she began haughtily, "say it."

"I've noticed you keep fidgeting with your uniform," John said politely as he continued to work, "it is a bit distracting."

Sighing she broke away from her work finally seeing it was about time to break for chow, "yeah. This thing is horribly uncomfortable, especially compared to the bio-suit from the armor. God I would prefer to remain in armor while on duty."

"I understand more than you know," John said opening a second requisitions form. I'll have to bypass her and go straight to the Captain for this, just hope she doesn't get mad, should probably give her a temporary solution, he thought before continuing, "and while regulations state we can not wear armor on duty days, it does not say anything about the bio-suit."

Sarah almost smacked herself, "so while I've been putting up with this uncomfortably itchy uniform, you have been sitting there all nice and un-itchy in the bio-suit?"

"The khaki working uniform for Spartan-IIs was picked for comfort," Chief answered with a negative shake of his head, "I wear the bio-suit at all times under it so it cuts down on my combat readiness time. Plus it is armored, seals with the helmet in case of EVA exposure, and is essentially titanium body armor."

Sarah thought about the practically behind it, and almost called him out on not having his helmet, till she noticed for the first time on his desk rested his helmet. "I didn't even notice your helmet resting on the desk; geez, I was out of it this morning. But it is a sound argument all the way around," she said before adding one more reminder to her to-do list before standing.

"Well John," said drawing his attention again, "time to break for chow."

"Enjoy your lunch Commander, "John said turning back to the paperwork that lay before him, "I have quite a bit of work here in preparing for tomorrow."

"If you miss chow now, it won't come around until after duty day," Sarah shot back hoping to speak with him in a bit more informal setting.

"I've missed meals before," was all Chief said.

Sarah's eyebrow began to violently twitch as her fists balled up. God fucking damnit! What the hell is with you? All I wanted to do was talk to my new literal "Chief" NCO. But no, she ranted internally dragging out the "O", the Spartan-IIs are fucking robots that don't want to spend more than five minutes talking to someone outside of a mission. He spoke more in the simulation runs than all god damn morning! She stopped in her internal rant as she heard the Chief sigh, "I-I just said all that out loud didn't I?"

John nodded and turned to face her an awkward look on his face, something was strange about it, he almost looked embarrassed. "Ma'am, you are going to find working with my very frustrating if you are not direct. It was very difficult for Sergeant Johnson, to the point I believe he would insult me to the face and then give the direct information; both for the insult which usually went over my head, along with the information about the situation I was socially inadequate to respond in. So I am not offended by your outburst. Second of all I was laboring under the impression that you were merely reminding me of meal time and how to keep top physical form by eating enough. I apologise if I seemed dismissive and would enjoy to accompany you to chow."

"You are gonna drive me nuts aren't you," Sarah shot back exasperated after his response. What the fuck am I supposed to follow that up with? I thought he was being an ass hole, but nope, just me.

"Most likely," John answered seriously while standing. Making his way to the door pausing before leavin, "coming Commander?"

"Yeah," she said joining him, the two leaving and making their way to the mess hall, "so Johnson use to insult you to your face?"

"Yes," John answered before elaborating, "he would often times say something witty, or reference something from an old American action film that would go over my head. Then he would, usually explain it to me later after calling my a plethora of strange curses that usually didn't go together."

"How long did the two of you know each other," she asked curiously.

"I was assigned to the Pillar of Autumn at the age of fourteen, Johnson was thirty-seven at the time I believe. We served together on most ground missions, unless I was called away to assist in another attack from our flotilla, until he died on the Ark. He was seventy-eight when he died," John trailed off thinking of the Marine Sergeant that knew no fear.

"Damn," Palmer said, stunned that Sergeant Major Avery Johnson, was seventy-eight and keeping up with the Chief unaugmented. "How on Earth did he keep up with you? He wasn't even ODST, yet he was dropping with them and running with you. How the fuck did that work," Sarah pondered out loud.

But apparently the Master Chief knew the answer, "Johnson was an ORION Special Operations Commando."

"You're shitting me? He was a Spartan-I," she asked breathless. But that's the only way he could keep operating at such an old age. And with precision. Damn.

"No ma'am," John replied, "he told me on Alpha Halo when we lost a platoon to a group of Elites that ambushed us. I called him out about how he survived and he explained. But the ORIONs were more of the precursor to the ODST branch. Spartan-IIs get their name from being the second coming of the Spartans of old, the sons and daughters of Hercules."

"So backtracking again," Sarah said processing all the info. Wow, I had no idea the ORIONs were pre-ODSTs. And I guess that makes since for the name's of the IIs, Chief is a walking demigod practically, "let's cover the part where you said you met Johnson at fourteen. Enlistment age is eightteen. How in the fuck did you enlist at fourteen? There's no way any recruiter would let you enlist that young."

"No ma'am," John nodded affirmatively, "no recruiter would let me enlist that young. I said that was my first posting, not when I was enlisted."

That stopped Sarah in her tracks as she watched the Master Chief turn to face her. They stayed like that for a few moments, neither talking just looking into each other's eyes. Sarah was looking for any hint of a joke, but the look in his eyes spoke volumes. As she came to the revelation of what he was saying she flipped out. "There is no fucking way," she crassly barked out at the Chief; lunging forward and grabbing his shirt, completely surprised John, "don't fuck with me Spartan. Because what you are insinuating is borderline cruel and offensive. It is also highly illegal."

"I told you I had no reasonable explanation to the dates on my file because there is none. What was done was done in a time of desperation, and is highly classified. Do not go opening doors that lead to dark places," John responded before removing her fist and backing up. He turned and continued on to the mess hall.

Oh, he's not getting away without explain some of this shit, she angrily thought. She began making her way after him, she caught up to him in the mess line as he was grabbing a tray. "So level with me here, and once again no fucking around? What age," she practically demanded.

"Six."

"Fucking six," she shouted lowly and a bit distorted, doing something he could only describe as a whisper scream.

"Affirmative."

"Well that fucking explains, literally, everything," Sarah sighed grabbing the bridge of her nose as the cooks loaded up their trays. "Fucking hell, no wonder the class II project is still kept top secret," she muttered before eyes going wide, "shit! Why would you tell me any of that? We could both be brought up on charges of sharing classified material."

She did the strange whisper scream as before and John shrugged, "you have the information. It doesn't take a genius to do math. On top of that I wanted you to understand what I truly meant by direct. I have lived a very strict military life, I will misunderstand and misinterpret a lot of gestures in the future. I am making sure that my Commanding officer understands that this is not intentional. Plus it is only top secret for people out of the military. The amount of people in the UNSC who know, or can extrapolate what we are is fairly high.

"10-4 Chief," Sarah said before the moved to grab a table. Lasky, you and I are going to have a very long conversation when I am done with chow. They sat down and began to eat. Chief enjoying the silent company as Sarah's mind raced a mile a minute. She glanced at her companion, he saved the human race. Is possibly the most decorated soldier in the history of the UNSC. And is a FUCKING CHILD SOLDIER. Why, she thought looking the man up and down, why was he chosen? Why were any of them chosen?

She finally decided to break the silence with a bit a chit chat about random things aboard the Infinity, along with policy changes he may not be familiar with after being on ice for 4 years

Lasky was finishing up in his office, about to break for his own lunch, when suddenly his door was thrown open by an angry Palmer. "What in the actual fuck Tom," she shouted as she slammed the door behind her.

"Decomre Sarah," Tom shouted catching her by surprise, he was suddenly in Captain mode. "No matter how long we have been friends I am still your commanding officer. Now then, if you have enough sense to rephrase your question I'd be happy to answer you."

"John-117," Sarah said before pulling up a few documents with his information from her datapad. She quickly circled a date at the top of his enlistment form, "he was conscripted at age SIX. Don't try to bullshit me on this either," she glared at him, "he confirmed it for me."

"You always were one to pay attention to detail, that's why you got the jobs as commander; thought I'm surprised he confirmed it," Lasky said punching a few commands into his desk interface before Sarah heard the door lock and a slight buzzing sound. "What I am about to tell you stays between me and you. You are never to mention it, speak of it, or even think of it again. Before I begin, why did the Master Chief tell you that?"

"I-I let my temper get the better of me," Sarah explained apologetically, "he felt the need to convey the situation to clear up any issues he may have in interrupting didemus, puns, sarcasm, and other social oddities."

"I told you back in OCS that mouth of yours was gonna get you in trouble one day," Lasky muttered under his breath, but just loud enough for her to hear. Sarah knew when to not interrupt the Captain, especially with how much breathing room he gives the Spartan branch and her in particular.

"Back during the War of Insurrection things were looking pretty bad," Lasky began as wove the tale of the darkest secret in the UNSC, "the Insurrectionists were growing. They were converting ex-military personnel, they were getting better ships, more weapons. It was shaping up to be a long and bloody civil war. So a plan was hatched, to make another batch of super soldiers superior to anything else we had ever done."

Lasky took a breath before continuing, "the plan was to select recruits based on certain gene markers and physical attributes. They originally set out looking for kids of the retired ORIONs, initial estimates were about three-hundred, however only seventy-five were found."

They took seventy-five children and turned them into fucking murder machines, she thought bitterly before something struck her as odd, "Captain, you just said seventy-five found, and I assume taken. But the reports I've read about the Spartan-IIs and what they say in Spartan-IV indoc is that there were 33 original Spartan-IIs; what happened to the others?" She knew it was rude to interrupt but she had to know why, why do I have a pit in my stomach after asking him that? Then John's voice rang out in her head, do not go open doors that lead into dark places.

"Thirty of them died in the bioaugmentation processes they under went before their postings at fourteen," Lasky said taking a shaking breath before continuing, "then another twelve were crippled for life and assigned menial tasks until a solution could be found."

Sarah didn't know what to say, or even think. Her mind was running a mile a minute and she couldn't for the life of her think of a response what she just learned, dark places, John's voice rang out again.

"Now then," he said trying to get her to focus on him again, "this information is highly classified. I only know it because of my position as Commanding Officer of this vessel. I was given the information by Lord Hood himself for when you came with questions about paperwork or aggravation when dealing with the Master Chief."

"Of course sir," she said, "if something like this ever got out. The fallout would be insane. The people wouldn't stand for it. Kidnapping, torture which I am sure they call training, forced conscription of a minor, and bioaugmentation of a minor? Whoever signed off on that would be hung in an instant."

"And considering quite a few high profile Admirals and Senators signed off on it, it is crucial we keep this between the three of us. Clear?"

"Sir," she nodded, "what is your opinion on all this?"

Lasky took a moment, and then answered, "what was done was cruel and barbaric, and yet," he paused again looking for the right words, "the cruelty and barbarism we would come to face in the Great War made what was done justified."

That caught Sarah off guard; but before she could comment, he held his hand up to stop her response continued.

"I say that very lightly," he growled out, "justification is not the same thing as morality. The UNSC finally had a justifiably reason for the creation of the Spartan-IIs, and all of High Command took a breath of fresh air at that. However it doesn't change the fact Dr. Catherine Elizabeth Halsey head of UNSC Research and Development, Admiral Margaret Orlenda Parangosky Commander and Chief of the Office of Naval Intelligence, and finally Lord Admiral Terrence Hood Commander and Chief of the United Nations Space Command committed an atrocious act when the three proposed the idea."

"They truly have no idea how fucked up they made him," Sarah grumbled as she processed his reasoning. Can't say I disagree but I don't. He is right, what was done allowed humanity to keep on chugging along. Doesn't change the fact that it was fucked up beyond belief.

"I believe they do," Lasky said in a way that pretty told Sarah he was keeping in contact with them in someway.

"Then get a memo out to them," she began a bit aggressively, "he's having trouble sleeping. He grabbed a stem last night around 0100 before working through the entire day. He honestly forgot what dreams where because his last postings kept him on fucking cryo when he wasn't running ground operations or ship boarding."

"I will make sure they are made aware of it," lasky nodded, "until we can figure something out Commander, I have a request."

Seeing her nod, Thomas moved forward with his request, "please try to help him to the best of your ability. You are correct, many of the Spartan-IIs were kept in cryo when not in ground operations because they were thrusted upon the UNSC so fast we didn't have time to make proper accommodations for them. While other class-IIs have gotten use to the idea of sleep, it wasn't well received. It took months of semi-isolation, running them on their own private cruiser like Blue Team, or if they showed stable working relations with ground units such as Namio-019 and Kilo-Five. But it took time. Something we might be lacking."

"Lacking sir," she question but Lasky shook his head.

"Classified, very, very classified," he spoke out seriously with a bit a of a glare.

"Understood sir," Palmer said standing and leaving.

When the door closed Lasky looked down at a hidden screen on his desk, "we might have an ally in her."

Good, a synthesized voice rang out from a speaker mounted on the desk as well, keep your eyes on them both, this is an incredibly delicate situation, one wrong move and it's all over.

"Still I feel like we are kinda pushing them together, playing cupid and what not," Lasky said with a sigh, "it just feels wrong."

We aren't pushing them into a relationship Captain, the voice spoke back again, we are pushing a companion on him. But not something as mundane as a relationship. He needs someone that has seen the darker side of war but remains human to see him through this. What ever they decided is up to them.

"Understood," Lasky confirmed before he cut the feed. Sorry to stick ya in the middle of all this Sarah. But if anyone can break the Master Chief out of his shell it's you and that damn mouth of yours. Lasky thought back to OCS when they met and became friends prior to their posting on Infinity. You always were one to push people's buttons, he thought amused.

Ugh could this day get any worse, Sarah pondered making her way back to s-deck.

"Hello Sarah."

Why, why on earth did I say anything, she thought turning to face the voice, "hello Locke."

Spartan Jameson Locke, a tall black spartan wearing a silver like armor stood before here with helmet removed, "been a long time ma'am. I believe the last time we ran into each other it was in OCS."

"Yes, when I do believe I put your head into a wall for calling me," she paused in her triad trying to remember the words, "oh yes a 'bitch wanna be ODST pretending to be a Spartan'.

"Yeah about that," Locke began before handing over his datapad.

Oh great, she thought looking down, "so you are being posted to Infinity for the next year, just fantastic. No idea why we need an acquisitions specialist outside of the normal chain of command, but what do I know? I'm just a wanna be ODST Spartan." She practically shoved the datapad back into his hands and began to storm past him making her way to the elevator.

"Hey wait a minute," Locke said trying to catch her, while fumbling around with his datapad.

"Locke," she said stopping for a minute, "I am storming away right now. Kinda loses its effect if you follow me," she said sharply before continuing away.

"Ugh," Locke said face palming while another Spartan wearing purplish blue armor came up from behind him. "I was just trying to apologize. Whelp, you want to report to the bridge now or later," he asked the armored Spartan.

"Now would be better," a female voice came from the external speakers of the helmet, and the two began to make their way in the opposite direction to the bridge.

"I still don't know why you didn't just bug out after you dropped me off," Locke questioned while they walked.

"I was allowed a bit of leave time before my return to Kilo-Five," the female Spartan spoke calmly, "I plan on using a bit of that."

"Family reunion?"

"Affirmative," she said as they reached the bridge and broke to attention before Captain Lasky. "Spartan Agents Sentzke and Locke sir! Request permission to come aboard," she asked with perfect discipline.

Lasky didn't immediately answer right away, instead he studied both of them for a good few minutes before answering, "granted. Under the conditions that you explain your presence Agent Naomi. I don't have orders for you."

"Sir," she began stiffly, "I was on assignment with Agent Locke. We were both making our way back to Earth when the orders were sent up. I was allowed two weeks of leave for a very belated family reunion sir."

"I see," he said taking a moment. She's up to something, I'll have to update the other two later this evening, "very well. You will both be given officer's quarters on s-deck for the remainder of your stay. You may request entry into the simulation runs tomorrow for the Spartan-IV assessments," he said typing a memo to the Chief. "But I will leave the final decision up to the Chief and Commander Palmer. I'd suggest you be there tomorrow at 0400 for the readiness inspection, might win over some good graces. Both of you are dismissed."

"Sir," they both said before nodding and spinning in an about face before making their way off the bridge.

Once they were out of sight Lasky turned to the orange bomber pilot like AI, "keep an eye on them Roland. I have a hunch about something," he said before pulling up his datapad and sending an encrypted message.

Understood Captain, the AI responded making sure they were always in his security footage feeds.

Line Break

Just great, Sarah thought arriving at the dark office, where the fuck is the Chief. Turning on the light she sat down before interfacing her datapad with the desk interface. Instantly multiple monitors and hard light consoles appeared all over her desk.

A email appeared from John;

Commander,

I took an early dinner as per-request of Captain Lasky. You may find me in the chow hall when you are done.

She sent him a message saying she would join him if time allowed, meeting with Lasky took longer than I thought. She began to finish up her paperwork starting with the schedule for the fireteams simulation runs tomorrow, along with the memo for the readiness inspection in the morning. I hope to god Locke doesn't show up, she made sure not to include him on the inspection and simulation run memo and schedule.

She then turned moved to another screen and began to write up a new field order before sending it to the Captain to be forward on to High Command after his approval, I really hope I can get Lasky to sign off on this, the Chief's idea and logic was pretty flawless as far as the bio-suit goes. Need to make sure I stay on top of this. She added a few follow-up reminders to her calendar.

Finally she pulled up John's requisitions and began to approved them based on budget. Looks like a lot of Spartans are going to get flight certified, she thought looking over the request for stealth Prowlers along with a laundry list of materials for further training.

BDUs, rucksacks, combat knives, Mjolnir repair kits, a whole slew of weapons slings, and, she paused as she caught the last item. "Sweet mother of god! If you would understand I'd kiss you Master Chief," she practically shouted to herself. The last item for requisition was for all Spartan-IVs to be outfitted with ONI's new Artemis.

Sarah had seen a few of the fireteam leaders had them, but she had never thought about rolling it out to all Spartans, "but then again, I wasn't prepared to train them to operate alone." Which was true. The Spartan-IVs being a new divisions in the UNSC weren't being trained currently to operate alone on extended missions; they were being trained on how to handle their new augmentations and team building.

And that is where the training he and the other Spartan-IIs had that we did not, she trailed on in her thoughts. She signed the last of the forms before sending them off to the Captain and financing for final approval.

"Damn already five," she said glancing at the clock. She quickly shut down her consoles and snatched her datapad up before heading to the chow hall. At least we don't have to change deck levels to grab a bite, she thought remembering back to her stations of small ships that usually only had one or two galleys for the whole crew, plus these guys know Spartans eat a lot.

Which was true, with the denser muscle mass and higher metabolism, Spartan's tended to need twice or three times the normal amount of food compared to regular Marines/Navy personnel and ODSTs. So the Infinity came stocked with a special galley and chow hall strictly for the Spartans, regular personnel had to be invited to eat there, guess there are perks to being a super soldier.

As she opened the door and stepped in she made a beeline for the food line and loaded up. It didn't take her to long as there were only one hundred Spartans aboard the Infinity currently, now then if I was a super tall, socially challenged, child super soldier, where would I eat. She scanned the room looking for the Chief and when she saw him in the corner she smiled for a moment noticing his face was buried in the datapad on the table along with a device she didn't recognize, before her face was filled with dread.

Who is the blonde in purple-blue armor sitting in front of him? And why is god's name is he sitting there, she questioned internally before trudging her way to the table. "Chief," she spoke up as she reach the table, "mind if I join you?"

"Not at all Commander," he said without looking up, attention still fully focused on the two devices in front of him. Then before she could react he pushed the chair next to him out with his foot and into her reaching hand. As she sat down, John began introductions without looking up, "Commander Palmer this is Naomi-010, and-"

However she cut him off the with the second introduction, "-Jameson Locke, Spartan-IV douche bag and ONI operative."

"I was trying to apologize earlier," Locke said speaking up for himself a bit embarrassed.

"History of some sort," the Chief asked, but not to anyone specially.

"Locke has a funny way with words," Palmer said not caring to elaborate. "And apology not accepted Locke," she said turning to face the other Spartan-IV.

"Figures," Locke mumbled.

"So you are the new Spartan Commander," Naomi said before extending her hand, "you will have to excuse the Chief. He can be a bit of a stick in the mud, I am Naomi Sentzke."

Sarah took the offered hand in a strong shake, "Pleasure, Sarah Palmer Commander of the Spartan branch. So, I take it you're a Spartan-II?" Naomi nodded to the question, Sarah continued after her confirmation, "so how come you have a last name and he doesn't?"

"I have read my file, while he has refused to. Repeatedly over the last few hours. I even have his file with me," she said a bit aggravated.

"As I explained a multiple times, I have no interest in what it might say," John spoke up, his face never leaving the two devices.

Sarah finally got a good look at them and noticed a banged up, tattered old tablet sending files over to his datapad, wonder what he is transferring that is so important?

"You are impossible," Naomi said leaning back a bit, obviously frustrated with him.

"So," Sarah began breaking the tension that was forming, "whatcha transferring from that old ass tablet?"

"A few more of my older missions for simulation runs after tomorrow's runs, plus one extra for me at another time."

"Really," this time Locke spoke up and the table gave him their attention, Sarah a bit bitterly from her glare. "Captain Lasky said you might let us in on the simulation runs, I was hoping we could join the others."

"I was informed by the Captain via message," John said plainly. "I am fine with your participation in the exercise tomorrow under certain conditions, but it is up to the Commander first."

"I wanna know what the conditions are first," Sarah asked looking to the Chief. He nodded before tapping a few icons pausing the transfer and Sarah thought she saw the inside of a ship she didn't recognize, what ship is that?

As he looked up he regarded his old Spartan-II teammate and the new Spartan-IV, "Naomi, you and Locke will run the assessment simulations together, but with the armor restrictions set to Mjolnir mark-V and mark-VI respectively."

"That seems a little harsh doesn't it Chief," Locke asked a bit surprised by the conditions.

"Commander Palmer and Alpha-Nine have both run one respectively with those conditions set and survived," John said with a bit of praise to both his Commander and the ODST fireteam that became Spartan-IVs.

"I wouldn't give us too much credit there Chief," John heard and turned around to face the voice of Sergeant Buck, "you were running those missions with us. I doubt we will do as good tomorrow." Buck then nodded to the commander before turning to the new arrivals, "Gunnery Sergeant Edward Buck, resident badass of Alpha-Nine."

"Your reputation proceeds you Sergeant Buck," Naomi said with a smirk, "Vasily said you were one of the best ODST Sergeants until ONI snagged you for the IV project."

"Oh really," Buck said with a smirk, "and how is old scar-face doing beautiful?"

"He is good," she said with a laugh, "though I doubt him or Veronica would appreciate you flirting with me."

Buck just about freaked when she said his lover's name, "one, stating a fact isn't flirting. Two, how the fuck do you know Veronica? Or that we are even together?"

She smirked before tapping a marking on her right shoulder plat.

"You are with ONI," he asked and with the nod he sighed. "Fucking spooks get prettier and prettier every year," he mumbled before turning to the other one, "and you?"

"Spartan Jameson Locke," the other Spartan said. Seems my reputation proceeds me as well, he thought by the look on Buck's face.

Buck quickly hid it before going for a handshake, "pleasure Locke."

"Same."

"So you two want in on the sim runs tomorrow eh," Buck asked grabbing an empty chair from the table and sitting down. "Not sure if ya heard, but it's gonna be hell," Buck said with a smile.

"You two made it through," the blonde Spartan-II shot back.

"Please," Sarah threw in her two cents, "the Chief carried us the whole way. You really have no idea what you are in for."

"Anything he can do, we can do," Locke said with stubborn authority.

"You are correct," John said speaking up drawing the attention of the table.

"I am," Locke was taken back for a moment surprised.

"You are. What I have done is possible, meaning anyone with the right equipment and mind set could do it, And if you so wish Spartan Locke and Naimo, you may join in training for the remained of your stay. I plan on having these Spartans up to snuff before we head out again in a month. " John elaborated.

"Way to throw a dead cat into a party Chief. You're gonna run me and my boys ragged aren't ya," Buck muttered.

Chief was thinking back to Johnson and how he would discipline marines and smirked, "sounds like you missed the message I gave Commander Palmer before the High Charity. Also sounds like you don't have the guts to be a Spartan."

"Well I'll be a monkey's uncles," Buck laughed. "You can smack talk, you son of a bitch. Alright," he smirked sticking out his hand, "Alpha-Nine will beat its time on the Library and take top time on High Charity. If that happens you buy us drinks until we drown next shore leave."

John looked at the offending hand for a moment before looking at Bucks smirking face, well that had some what of the desired effect. But what do I do in this situation?

"Can't take what ya dish out Master Chief," Buck taunted back, unknowingly hitting a competitive button within the Spartan-II

"And if you don't," John asked moving his arm forward but not grasping his hand just yet.

"We buy all the rounds for you till you drown," Buck said with a smirk that spoke volumes of internal brilliance.

A single thought went through everyone pretest minds, did he forget Spartan-IIs metabolize is so high they can't get drunk?

John nodded, the perfect poker face and shook his hand, "agreed."

John you sneaky bastard, Naomi thought amused as he was going to take the ex-ODST for a sucker. "So what mission are you transferring John," Naomi asked, and suddenly regretted it as he went stiff as a bored.

"My most recent engagement," he said with a frown.

"Would you mind if we viewed it," she asked.

Suddenly everyone's attention was on him and John felt really uncomfortable, "I would rather keep this one private for now. I am merely transferring all my data from the older tablets to the new datapad."

Naomi was about to press when Sarah spoke up, "understood Chief. You are allowed your privacy."

"Thank you Commander," John nodded to her and missed the glare sent by Naomi. "If you will excuse me I will take my leave." John grabbed his tablet and datapad as he stood up and walked out of the chow hall.

The others all felt uncomfortable, most of all Naomi, Siren told you not to push him. That he would be different. Did you listen? No of course not!

Buck watched as the Chief stood and looked between his full trey he just put down and the retreating man, "gorram! Watch my trey guys!." Buck stood and followed after the man, damn it. Now I'm gonna have cold meat loaf. You better thank me for this Chief.

He finally caught up to John who had taken a moment of paused to stare at the Earth. "She's a beauty," he said grabbing John's attention from he kept his focus on it, until he was shoulder to shoulder with the Spartan-II. "This view right here," Buck said turning but nodding in its direction, "this is what we fought so hard for. Now we've all seen some shit. Hell, Chief I couldn't tell you the countless number of civilians I couldn't save. Or how many men that died under my command. Chief there isn't a person alive that wasn't affected by the war in some shape way or form."

Buck turned back to look out at the Earth once more, "don't let that lose consume you. Remember nothing last forever. At some point we have to let go, now that doesn't mean forget about em. Just let them be at peace, and remember the good times."

John was silent through the whole impromptu speech. "I appreciate the concern Sergeant Buck. And I apologize for any awkward situations from the past few days and those to come. I am aware of my lack of social skills."

John paused for a moment before finding the right words to finish up with, "but this is not something I wish anyone to see. It is my greatest failure." The day I lost her, John thought before turning and making his way to his room.

However he was stopped by Buck, "hen. Guess what they say about you Spartan-IIs isn't true at all."

John turned to glance at the ex-ODST and Buck continued, "they say you guys don't have hearts. Which is bullshit because whether or not you will admit it loved Cortana. Maybe not romantically, but love comes in many different forms. You lost a true loved one Chief on that day. A day you felt powerless to stop it."

John nodded looking at Buck with respect, he knows what this feels like. This has happened to him, I wonder who he lost?

"What you're feeling," Buck continued, "is anger. Anger at yourself for not being better. Not being faster, not being stronger. But Chief there is no changing the past. We just gotta keep moving on till it doesn't hurt."

"When did yours stop hurting," John asked curious.

"Never has," Buck said turning with a smirk, "just gets duller as the days go by. Makes me cherish what I have though. Makes every day forward something nice. Good night Master Chief," Buck said heading back to the chow hall.

"John-117," he said with a nod to the Sergeant.

"10-4, John," Buck said with a wave, but kept walking without looking back. So glad he can't see the shocked look on my face right now, Buck thought with his eyes as wide as dinner plates.

"So he's not sleeping well," Halsey asked with a frown. Lasky nodded and she sighed, "we just have to go through it like with Blue Team."

"But with the alterations made to him he is experiencing a vast array of emotions," Lasky continued after her, "and from what Roland can see, anger the most prevalent. Not sure running him like Blue Team will be a good idea."

"Anger? What is he angry about? Plus he seemed fine to me yesterday," Hood asked speaking up while Serin nodded along wanting to know as well.

"Roland has picked up a spike in neural activity in the Limbic system," Lasky confirmed, "and while I can only guess, since he is so withdrawn from everyone, I would guess he is angry with himself."

"For losing Cortana," Halsey added with a sigh. "I should've picked up on it when we you sent him to get his new armor Terrance. He was acting very strangely. Hell he even hugged me."

"Should I send a new set of orders to Locke," Serin asked the Doctor a look of sad resolve.

"No, not just yet anyway," Hood said with a bit of a smirk, "but you can explain why Naomi-010 is on Infinity. Orders were only sent down for Locke."

"They were on assignment together, Serin said waving them off. For once I am glad for my Spartan-II training. Thank you for the best damn poker face. "Figured they could use the family reunion. Hell I still haven't seen him and would like took," Serin added hoping to throw them off.

"Yes that's a good idea," Halsey shot back, her tone dripping sarcasm. She nodded to Lasky who played the chow hall security footage, "the entirety of their meeting last night was spent with her pushing his file down his throat. To which many times he politely declines and gives a valid reason for each. Then she proceeds to pester him about a private mission log. John was so confused by her change in personality and the feelings of anger he can't properly process that he left."

Hood nodded along, while Osman sighed, "I'll speak with her. I did give her time off to just see an old...family member again. But I didn't want her to pester him."

Lasky watched Osman carefully, just like an interrogator would a suspect. He was watching for any sign of lying and so far he had found none, until now anyway, he thought with dread. She is lying about Naomi's purpose on this ship. And about the file, why is she so dead set on that damn file?

Hood and Halsey seemed to buy the lie from what Lasky could tell and the meeting progressed. "So what do we do about the anger then," Osman asked getting the conversation back on track.

"For now we try and treat it medically," Halsey said, "and no I don't mean with drugs," Halsey shot Osman a dirty look. "John needs to speak about his experiences and what they have done to him. We can't forget that John's first posting was when he was fourteen, and when not in combat runs he was kept in cryo. John has the mind and body of a early thirties man who is about to be going through not just puberty, but through an emotional roller coaster of things he's never felt before. He needs someone to talk to about these things. If he just compartmentalize them like his training has taught him, he will have a mental break down."

"Suggestions," Hood asked nervously. A rampaging Spartan. Not just any Spartan but the Master Chief. Dear God.

"I have a degree in psychology," Halsey suggested.

"Only if we get audio logs of all the sessions. I also want Lasky and Roland both listening in to make sure they aren't tampered with," Osman said with a growl.

"I would agree as well Catherine," Hood said with an edge in his voice.

"As much as you two despise me, no matter what you think of me, I still love all of my children," she said with a look of desperation on her face, "please. Let me help John."

"Agree to the terms," Osman and Hood spoke.

"Done," Halsey immediately answered.

The other two nodded before sighing off leaving Halsey and Captain Lasky in her office. Lasky was about to leave when Halsey spoke up, "Hood did a good job selecting you to replace him Captain."

Lasky turned to face her with, "why do you say that?"

"You still have a heart," she said with a sigh. "Hood may laugh and smile with the other Admirals up there, may preach the safety and security of the world. But remember, he like me was one of the original of the Unholy Three. Parangosky picked Serin for the same reason. But as I have told Serin who refuses to listen I will tell you as well. Do not ever trust the three of us."

"So you're not offended by the conditions set forth," Lasky asked a bit surprised.

"Not one bit," she turned and began heading over to a workbench lighting up the hard light display. "Once every two weeks," she said as she began to work, "set it for one of his off days. It will help give him some structure on those days."

"Will do," Lasky said finally taking leave.

The world is after you John, she thought typing away and opening a file on an old secured server. The file red John-117, oh John. I hope I can make you ready for what you are about to face. Another war is coming, I just hope you can face the war of your fate. ONI wants you, High Command wants you, and I can't figure out what for. But I'll do my best to keep their hands off you.

AN:

So hope everyone has a good thanksgiving!

Couple of things, I am not a psychologist but I will try to get as best information for this story as possible via google. I also am not in the military so I will have some problems with their off war duties. please forgive me for that. And finally I added a government conspiracy! Because it will play well with the final outcome.

As for Naomi, I feel like with the help from Kilo-Five she would be a bit more open. Not as open as others as she was still a bit guarded and spoke guardedly. Never too much information and I really hope to betray that better next chapter.

Blue Team is still probably two chapters away atleast but they will get here.