This is a HALO - Buffy the Vampire Slayer crossover story and contains an original character of my creation. I just want to say thank you to the creators, writers and designers of both the HALO and Buffy franchises. They have provided me with hours of enjoyment and entertainment. All characters are the intellectual property of their respective creators and publishers; this story may not be sold or distributed on a profit-making basis.

The 3rd story in the series to follow up "Faithfully Spartan" and "Eternal Spartan". Faith and Michael-113 have been reunited and enjoying the good life. But can a Spartan truly find and enjoy the peace? New challenges and old enemies arise to test and threaten Faith and Michael. Can they endure and survive? At what cost and what sacrifices will be required for them to be together?

CHAPTER ONE:

What's on the desert menu?

"To maintain morale among the forces of the UNSC, any Spartan casualties are to be listed as Missing In Action (MIA) or Wounded In Action (WIA), but never Killed In Action (KIA)." – ONI Directive 930 issued in 2547

Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) Research Facility
Brisbane, Earth – Sol System
April 12, 2556

Doctor Lawrence Harrison was at his desk having another busy day. Even though the genocidal war with the Covenant and the threat of the Flood was three years in the past, it seemed that each day brought new fighting flaring up with either remnants of the Covenant or human separatists.

The good doctor had been tasked by ONI to review the SPARTAN program. He'd been spending most of his focus specifically on the SPARTAN-II program. This small group of soldiers were considered the saviors of the human race during the Human-Covenant and against the Flood with the II's considered the elite of the whole program.

There was a push from high levels to create another group of Spartans to the same standards as the II's, but due to the genetic requirements and the prohibited cost it was considered all but impossible to recreate them. There was also the controversial aspect of how the II's had been "recruited" to the programs. The phrases—"war crime" and "crime against humanity"—were some of the more polite terms used when describing the SPARTAN-II selection process. Despite what side people fell on regarding the selection process, there was no denying their effectiveness and their impact on the battlefield. Without the Spartans there would probably be no human race left today.

Harrison was aware of the sensitivities that had been created by the II program. The SPARTAN-IV program was to reverse those perceptions as the candidates for that program would be only adults currently serving in the military and volunteers.

That was the funny thing, there was no shortage of volunteers for the SPARTAN-IV program and that was a result of the PR campaign waged by the UNSC during the war. The SPARTAN-II's and III's were the poster children—in some cases literally—for resistance against the Covenant. This created an aura of legend—a mythos about them and the deeds they performed.

This is why Doctor Harrison was hard at work. HIGHCOM and ONI were both aware of the "limitations" of the SPARTAN-IV program especially compared to the II's. The training for the IV's was hard and rumor had it that it was being overseen by a SPARTAN-II, but there were still shortcomings. Harrison had read some of Doctor Halsey's background work and her reasoning for the genetic and selection process. Putting aside his ethical concerns, the logical part of his mind saw and understood her reasoning, but there was no—at least no vocal—support to follow her path. The augmentation and indoctrination that the II's underwent could not be duplicated with adults in the IV program.

The doctor was reviewing all the SPARTAN program background material to find areas that could be improved upon for the IV program and any other future program developments. There was a limitation on what Harrison could review, due to the still classified controversial aspects of the "recruiting" program as there were no records on the family history and background for any of the SPARTAN-II candidates or at least none that anyone would admit to. He could only review the training, medical and battle records along with the current status of each SPARTAN.

When he'd started with his review, he begun with the record of John-117 and then moved on to some of the other well-known Spartans. He was finally nearing the end of his list of names. On his schedule today was to review the file for the Spartan designated—Michael-113.

Harrison started with the training record for this Spartan, he found that it made for interesting reading. Michael-113 had been one of the candidates that had almost died during the augmentation process—he'd actually flat-lined at one point, but the medical staff had been able to revive him after five minutes of being considered dead.

Observations made by Doctor Halsey and the training instructors noted that Michael-113 was classified as the "rebel" of the training program, which surprised Harrison that any SPARTAN could be a rebel. Michael-113 would carry out his orders and work with the others in achieving team objectives, but made it known early on that he preferred working alone. That didn't mean that he had problems socializing with the others—it was quite the opposite. He'd formed close ties with the other candidates. Doctor Halsey surmised that Michael-113 preferred working alone as he didn't want to put his "friends" in harm's way, the thought of seeing them hurt bothered him. Halsey quoted examples to support her supposition that during training exercises—many live-fire—Michael-113 disregarded his own safety to aid another SPARTAN that had been injured or was in difficulty. There were several "reprimands" in Michael-113's training folder of how he'd put the mission at risk in going back, even though he retrieved his comrade and successfully completed the mission.

From this it was recognized that Michael-113 would be better suited working alone. His intelligence and natural curiosity seemed to point him towards reconnaissance and intelligence gathering work. It seemed to be a natural fit for him. From there he underwent further training for infiltration and assassination. Once Michael-113 had completed his training, he'd been assigned to a large number of infiltration, long range reconnaissance and assassination missions—against both human separatist and Covenant targets. His success rate was astonishing—along with his body count. His ability to take out high-valued targets behind enemy lines and get out was highly valued by ONI.

Harrison reviewed the medical section of 113's file. There was the almost standard psychological review and notes along with concerns with his mental health over the length of his career. Even with 113's high rate of success there were concerns noted about the mental toll that these type of missions he was being assigned to was taking. Harrison was familiar with the list of mental concerns—anti-social behavior, sociopathic tendencies, PTSD symptoms—as they seemed to be almost standard among all the SPARTAN-II's.

There was the standard note that he be monitored continually for any psychological symptoms. He was surprised as he came across a handwritten note in 113's medical record. His eyes widened in surprise as he saw that the notes were written by Doctor Catherine Halsey herself.

"Michael-113 has a deep commitment to the other candidates and their well-being. Even though he tries to hide or mask his emotions there is no understating the depth of his feelings to those he cares about, this may cause intense anger at seeing others he cares about in pain or in danger. He will deliberately place himself in danger to protect those he cares about. He has an intense fear of failing them."

Doctor Harrison was still shaking his head at the words as he moved on to review Michael-113's battle record. There were the usual high number of commendations and medals awarded, but some entries on certain mission details had been redacted, most notably his first mission. There was no information about the operation codename, location or details other than the date of the mission. The other redacted missions only had details omitted.

This surprised the doctor as he had been given a high ONI security clearance and carte blanche to review all files as a part of his mandate. It made him wonder about the missions that Michael-113 did that even the good doctor was not allowed to see. He considered about following up to get more information, but he'd been with ONI long enough to know that if ONI was scrubbing operation information then they had their reasons for burying the information and ONI tended to bury those— literally—that started digging up information they wanted kept buried. Harrison pushed those thoughts from his mind and continued going through 113's battle record.

The last mission record info for Michael-113 was that he had been a part of an ONI research and recover mission to planet with the catalog name PX-2235. From the mission reports, a Covenant battle group arrived and attacked the mission team.

Harrison smirked as he read that Michael-113 disobeyed, overrode orders and commanded the marine fire teams to withdraw to the evacuation point. Due to his actions, the majority of the mission team was able to escape, but Michael-113 remained behind to cover the withdrawal.

A recon ship arrived back at the planet seven weeks later to try and determine the status of 113 and extract him if possible. The ship reported that the planet had been destroyed—half the planet had been blown out and the other part was crumbling. The remains of the Covenant battle group floated around the planet. It appeared that whatever had been on the planet to warrant ONI and the Covenant to go to there in the first place had been destroyed. No contact nor was any evidence found to determine 113's status. Michael-113 was officially declared "Missing in Action – Presumed Dead".

The doctor looked at the open file for a long moment. He finally closed it to move on to his next subject, but he paused for a moment. He hoped that Michael-113 was at peace.

oOoOo

Tahiti – April 12, 2005: 1535 local time

A woman's voice spoke momentarily pushing aside the sounds of the ocean tide washing up on the beach, "Michael? Did you hear what I said?"

It took Michael a moment to push the fog of sleep from his mind, he had drifted off listening to the sounds of the waves and feeling the sun and warm breeze against his skin.

"Huh? Sorry … I must have drifted off. What did you say?" he said sleepily.

"I said … You need to pay more attention to me." the woman's voice said teasingly.

Michael yawned and stretched clearing more of the fog from his brain, "I don't think that's what you said and you know that I pay attention to you and your needs at all times … especially last night." he said with a smirk coming to his face.

The woman laughed as she got her own mischievous smile, "That may be, but could you put some more sun tan lotion on my back? I don't want to burn."

"Yeah sure." he said as he sat up and reached for the suntan lotion. Michael turned to Faith laying on the beach blanket next to him and proceeded to expertly apply the lotion which he'd had a lot a practice with these last few weeks.

"Mmmmmm … That's nice. Still hard to believe that a big guy like you can have such a soft touch … not that I'm complaining. It has its uses." she said with a laugh and twinkle in her eye.

"Trust me … It took a lot of practice. I had to relearn how to hold things after my augmentation."

Michael studied the female that was at the end of sun tan lotion he was applying. Faith and he had actually met just over two years ago, but he felt like he'd known her his whole life.

To the outside observer they would appear to be a strange couple. Faith was 24 years old and Michael was in his mid-forties—Adriana kept track of the time difference between this dimension and his original home dimension as traveling and jumping between dimensions tended to play havoc with trying to calculate your age. If that was the only thing strange about them then they would probably wouldn't get many glances—an older man with a young woman.

What set them apart from everyone else was what wasn't noticeable and what the couple were currently working hard at not trying to attract attention to—Faith was a Vampire Slayer and Michael was a Spartan. Michael knew that being a Spartan didn't mean much on this world, but the world and universe he'd come from it meant something.

Michael let out a tired sigh as he rubbed suntan lotion on Faith's back.

Faith heard his sigh. She'd been concerned about Michael's behavior the last few days—he was becoming moodier even though he tried to hide it from her. His behavior worried and concerned her as she loved him, which a part of her found it hard to believe some days that she was still with the same guy and still in love. She'd never gotten this involved with a guy before and sometimes it scared her to death. Most of her relationships to this point had been of the "bump and go" variety or she'd said or done something to ruin it. If someone had told her a couple of years ago that she would be in love and that guy would be a super soldier from another dimension she would have called them crazy, but here she was.

With Michael it was so much different and deeper. Not to say that the sex wasn't bad, far from that. She'd found someone that that she could let herself go with—not hold back anything. That sometimes scared the hell out of her as she had her past and all the baggage that came with that—that was usually what ended her few attempted long-term relationships.

Michael accepted her for who she was, faults and all. He never judged her. She knew that he was strong and brave_—a champion for lack of a better description. He'd been to places and done things that she could only barely imagine, but he never bragged or strutted around about it. He was just—Michael—with no pretenses or airs put up and no masks. He was who he was.

That was one of the things that concerned her. She had seen and done things that would be considered dark, but he was at a different level. He'd seen war, pain, suffering and death on a scale she could barely comprehend. He'd told her about the Spartan program and the war, but she could tell and see in his eyes that there was so much more to it—things he held back almost like he was protecting her from that part of him. She knew from her own experiences that no one could go through what he had gone through and not be changed or affected by it.

Faith had no doubts about Michael and his love for her. He had literally crossed dimensions to be with her—how many woman could say that? He'd always been there when she needed him. He had survived the Hellmouth and saved her life. There were so many adjectives and words that she could use to describe Michael, but in the end it came down to that when she was with him she was the happiest she'd ever been in her life. That's all that mattered to her right now.

oOoOo

"Are you all right? Is applying sun tan lotion to my back asking a lot of a Spartan?" Faith said jokingly, but she was concerned about Michael.

"I haven't been sleeping well."

Faith had a small frown come to her face in concern, "You've been having those dreams again haven't you?"

Michael saw the look of concern on her face and he tried to ease her worries, "It's nothing to worry about … They're just dreams."

Michael hadn't wanted to worry Faith about the dreams he started having a few weeks ago. The dreams never were of a specific place or event, but he found himself always surrounded by his brother and sister Spartans. They were all there, the living and dead and they would look at him and point directly at him. They would never say a word—only point. In every dream Michael would find himself trying to talk to them—even yell and scream at them—but only one word would keep coming from his mouth — Why? The specters would never respond back, only continue their pointing at him.

He had told Faith about the dreams to try and figure out what they meant, but he was no closer to any answer and he could see Faith only getting more concerned about his well-being. The dreams were starting to have an effect on his sleep and behavior. He felt moody and it took all his self-control to not raise his voice over some minor irritant. He tried to hide his change in behavior from Faith, she didn't need to be subjected to his problems.

That was one of the reasons that they were here on this island paradise on a secluded private beach. He wanted to spend as much time with Faith before something happened to them.

Michael couldn't explain it, but along with the dreams, he'd been getting a feeling—much like an itch you couldn't scratch. It was a feeling that something was coming for him—something he'd been managing to dodge all these years. Some days it felt as if he'd been running his whole life either towards or away from something, but he had no idea what it was, maybe that's what was irritating him.

oOoOo

Michael heard the worried tone in her voice and he wanted to change the topic as it was causing a black cloud to hang over them. He didn't need that as he was on a private beach in a tropical paradise with a beautiful, young, and full of energy, strong woman that loved him. Here he was rubbing lotion on her back, caressing her skin gently.

What bad dreams, he thought as his mind shifted gears and his hands moved from her back to gently rubbing and massaging her shoulders. He heard her sigh and her body relax under his touch.

"Mmmmmm …. That feels nice … You are a wicked man." she said with a sigh that sounded happy and pleasurable.

Michael could see and hear that Faith had pushed the worry and concern away—at least for the moment.

"What do you want to do tonight?" he asked.

"I have a few ideas." she replied with a husky sexy tone in her voice now.

Michael smirked as he realized that they were going to have another long eventful night, "I do too, but I was thinking more about what you want to do for dinner tonight?" he asked trying to maintain some focus on massaging her shoulders.

Faith turned her head slightly to look at Michael smiling, "Oh, did you want to try that restaurant down the road?"

"That sounds like a plan … What did you want to do for desert?" he asked somewhat innocently.

"Something like this ..." Faith said as she turned and sat up. She had a smile on her face as she leaned in and kissed him.

Further up the beach under the cover of the trees and brush, a remote camera was taking pictures and video of the couple on the beach.