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  • Subject: [Story] ONI: Ghost Team (Part Four Is Up!)
Subject: [Story] ONI: Ghost Team (Part Four Is Up!)
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This is just to introduce the characters. It'll start up in part one. (Oh, and it's not a sequel.)

Prolague...


Private Katie Holland and Sergeant Jack Barron activated their silent drill spikes, and stuck them into the edge of the cliff. Taking out their lines, they clipped onto the spikes, and started repelling down the cliff wall, their black suits masking them as they moved through the dead of night.

Landing on the grass below, the stealth operatives unhooked, and turned towards the estate in the distance. Katie lifted her silenced DMR, and switched on its night vision. Looking through the scope, she scanned the area in front of them. "I don't see anyone." She whispered over their direct COM beam.

"Alright," Jack whispered back, "Stay low and be alert." They moved up to the side of the estate, and Jack took out a can. Spraying the fence, he froze the metal. A slight push broke a hole in the fence, and they crawled through into the estate's botanical garden. "Stay in the foliage."

"Rodger that." Katie crept into the bushes, Jack close behind. Jack held up a fist, and the two stopped. A guard was right on the edge of that particular patch of foliage, his back to the operatives. Jack moved forward as quietly as he could, watching out not to rustle any leaves too loudly, or snap any twigs. Upon reaching the guard, he grabbed him from behind, slit his throat with a knife, and pulled him into the bushes all in one fluid movement.

Jack signaled for Katie to follow, and she moved up. They peeked their heads out of the edge of the bushes, and seeing nobody, moved quickly across the open, and into the next patch of flora. This one consisted of plants and trees, giving them much less cover. "three men at the next clearing." Jack warned. Moving through the trees, the found a point where they had a good line of fire at the men. "One, two, three." The operatives fired their weapons. Three shots were fired, and three bodies hit the ground.

Jack and Katie dragged the bodies into the next patch of foliage, and moved on. They reached the edge of the botanical garden, and looked through the scopes of their DMRs. Patrolls were all around the house, and there were probably surveillance cameras everywhere. Looking at the roof, Saline spotted snipers. "We've got snipers on the roof."

"This isn't going to be easy."

"May I suggest taking out the snipers?"

Jack shook his head. "We're too far away. I can't risk one of us making a non-lethal shot."

Katie brought up an electronics scanner on her tactical contact on her left eye. Cameras shined in blue, along with motion sensors on the ground. Katie put her DMR on her back, and drew out her silenced pistol. Using the jammer on the bottom of the gun, she froze the cameras, and jammed the motion sensors. She nodded to Jack, and they moved in.

They moved from tree to tree, getting closer to the house. They were at the end of the trees, ahead of them, open ground. "I hope you have a plan." Saline said.

Jack looked at her. "Activate your stealth system, and follow me." They activate their camouflage, and Jack headed off for the back of the house. Katie's tactical contact gave her an outline of her squad mate, making him easy to follow. Their camouflage would only last fifteen seconds, so they didn't have long.

Reaching the back of the house, they found it just as well guarded as the other sides, maybe even more so. They took cover behind some hedges against the wall of the house, and their stealth faded away. "Nice plan."

"Open window." Jack whispered, looking above. On the third floor was a way in. The lights were off, so whoever was in there was most likely sleeping. "If we get up there quick they won't spot us." He took out a grappling hook, and shot it through the window. Once it caught, he hit a button and silently slid up. Once he was in, Katie did the same.

Two children were in the beds. As the two ONI units approached the exit of the room, one roused up. "Who are you?" The small boy asked. Katie spun around, leveling her gun to the child's head.

Katie lowered her gun, not knowing what to do. "We're you're new babysitters," Jack whispered, kneeling by the bed, "We're just making sure you're asleep."

"Why do you have guns?"

"We're your body guards too. Now go back to bed." The child complied, and closed his eyes. Even in the circumstances, Katie couldn't help but smile. Jack was as pure as a soldier could be, always seeming to find a way around hard choices.

Katie turned on her heat vision, looking at the door to the hallway. There was a guard coming towards the room, probably to check on the children. "Incoming."

"Get in the closet." Jack said quickly. The two slipped into the closet, and closet the door. The guard entered the room, checked the children, and left. The operatives waited until the man was totally gone, then exited the room. The blueprints showed that the master bedroom was just around the corner. Jack turned the sonar on on the side of his pistol, and it showed him an image of what was around the corner.

Jack gave Katie a look at the display. "On green." He whispered. They positioned themselves at the corner, Katie standing, and Jack kneeling behind her. A green light flashed on Katie's contact, and they leaned around the corner. They each fired one shot, and two bodies hit the floor. Unfortunately, one hit a small table, knocking a vase on the ground and causing it to shatter. "-blam!-!" He shouted in a whisper.

There was a "Chick-click!" from inside the door. This was bad. An alarm went off, and lights on the ceiling flashed red. "Go loud!" Jack yelled. The ONI operatives removed their silencers, and Jack kicked in the door to the master bedroom. Their target fired his weapon, grazing Jack's arm. The operatives fired back, placing three bullets in his head.

A fifth shot rang out, and Jack lost his leg from the knee down. Katie spun around to see a woman with a shotgun. She pumped it for a second shot, but received three bullets to the chest before she could pull the trigger.

Katie kneeled down to Jack, who was grabbing his leg in a futile attempt to stop the blood flow. Katie pulled a needle from her belt, and jammed it into Jack's thigh. The serum immediately clotted the artery. "Get out of here!" He shouted.

"Not without you." Katie picked him up, and threw him over her shoulder. Jack didn't protest. He knew there was nothing he could do to talk her out of it. Now they were both dead. Two men rushed through the door. Jack raised his gun, and shot both of them from Katie's shoulder.

Jack was carried out of the door, and back towards the kids room. Katie turned the corner, and hastily turned back, running in the opposite direction. There was a second set of stairs by the master bedroom. Katie didn't know where they led, but she didn't have a choice.

Katie's combat boots thudded as they hit the red and gold laced carpet of the spiral stairs. There were about fifteen men on her tail. That was some inspiration for making haste. She heard Jack fire his pistol as bullets hit the walls and steps around them.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Katie found that it led them to a long gallery of art, the front door at the end. Between her and the door were twenty guards. Threw Jack behind a marble figure, and dove behind a parallel one. Chips of white marble splintered off of the sculpture as it was struck by bullets. Katie threw a flash bang, then turned around the corner of the figure.

The operative fired at the blinded men. Jack dragged himself to the edge of his sculpture, and was assisting her. In only a moment, they had eliminated all twenty. Katie pressed on her ear. "Ghost team to Eagle 09, we need an immediate pickup!"

One step ahead of you. I'm circling outside. You've got every guard out there rushing in. You better haul ass.

The front door opened, and more guards stormed in. Katie holstered her pistol, and pulled out her DMR. The enemy took up positions behind sculptures across the gallery, and opened fire. They weren't going to be able to shoot their way out. Katie only had one idea. The house was armored against explosives, but she had to give it a shot. She took out a one RPG, small enough to hold with one hand. Placing C5 on it, she launched it up at the ceiling.

The house shook as the RPG detonated. It managed to blow a hole just big enough for Katie and Jack to get through. Rolling across the open, Katie got behind Jack's marble structure. "Do you have a flash bang?"

"Yeah." Jack said, grunting in pain.

"Alright," Katie shot her pistol's grappling hook through the hole in the roof, and it caught, "Throw it now." Katie grabbed Jack, and he threw his flash bang. As they zipped up, the snipers from the roof aimed down at them. Jack fired two shots from his pistol, and the fell in.

One of the sniper's bodies hit the operatives, knocking Jack off of Katie. He reached out a hand as he fell, and Katie narrowly grabbed it. The strain on her muscles was intense. Luckily, they were close to the roof. Bullets began flying from underneath them just as Katie crawled up onto the roof, and pulled Jack up. "We're on the roof!"

Falcon 09 flew down, and hovered over the roof. He ran out of the cockpit, and helped Katie get Jack into the pelican. "Sh1t! Where'd his leg go?"

"He left them a souvenir." Katie replied, jumping into the pelican. 09 ran back into the cockpit, and gunned it. Jack's body had gone into shock, which could kill him on its own. Katie looked down at him. "Hold on."


[Edited on 06.20.2010 11:48 AM PDT]

  • 06.09.2010 7:17 PM PDT
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Part 1: How The Hell?

Part 2: If There's a Will, There's a Way.

Part 3: The Vents

Part 4: I'm Right You're Wrong.

[Edited on 06.20.2010 11:54 AM PDT]

  • 06.09.2010 7:18 PM PDT
Subject: [Story] ONI: Ghost Team (Part Two Is Up!)
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P.1



Katie walked through the ONI base's Ops center, bare footed and in her pajamas, watching and doing her best to distract all of the ONI officers at their desks as they typed away, talking on headsets and commanding their smart AIs. She could do whatever she wanted in the base, being who she was, and the fact that she wouldn't listen anyway. Her name was renown in the ONI. She and Jack were two of its most valuable assets. The Ops people had learned to tune her out, but she did it anyway out of habit.

"Christiannnn." She dragged out as she stood behind one of the Ops runners. She reached in front of him, grabbed his coffee, and tilted it back. She let out an "Mm!" and spat out the burning beverage, spattering Christian's monitors.

Christian took a glance up at the huge monitors on the walls, then wiped the coffee off of his screens with his hand. Disappointed, Katie turned away. Unlike the others, Christian was usually distractible. She decided she would go harass the Colonial Communications AI. Katie found the ONI base incredibly boring. The only thing that kept her from going insane was driving other people insane.

Leaving the Ops center, she stepped into the metal hallway. Two guards at the entrance stood at attention. "Stay like that for the next five hours." Katie commanded as she walked by.

"Belay that," Jack said, "Katie, how many times have I told you not to harass the guards.

Katie turned around and pouted. "But nobody else tells me not to."

"That's because you don't listen to anyone else, and I know where you're going."

"I was going to get lunch."

"No," Jack pointed his finger at the girl, "You were going to harass Wallis."

"No I wasn't." Katie insisted.

"Yes, you were. You always walk a little faster when you're heading for that poor AI. You drive him up the wall you know. You always manage to make his algorithm cooling system fail, which is incredible."

"That would be my objective." Katie said quietly, looking down.

Jack narrowed his eyes. "Why are you wearing pajamas?"

"Because I can, and because they're pink. I've asked for a pink ONI suit like ten times now, but I never got one."

"Why the hell would you want a pink ONI suit? You'd be the first to get shot in any situation."

"Because I can't have one."

Jack let out a long sigh. "At least you're honest with yourself." Jack may have seemed oblivious to why Katie acted that way, but he wasn't. It wasn't her fault, not at all. "Why don't we go to the mess hall."

"But I want to see Wallissssss."

"You can harass the cooks."

Katie did a slight jump, and smiled. "Okay."

Ghost team report to Shade immediately.

"I'll tell him you're feeling sick." Jack said upon seeing Katie frown.

"Thank you!" The girl got up on her tiptoes, and gave the six foot three Jack a kiss on the cheek, devoid of meaning.

"Sure thing."

Katie continued down the hall, and stopped at the next door. "It's on lockdown ma'am," a guard stated, "Security system malfunction. We're in the process of fixing it."

Katie went up to its panel, and started tapping codes in. In a matter of seconds, the door slid open, and she walked through. An alarm started blaring, and guards rushed to their battle stations. Katie shrugged it off as a drill, and continued to the mess hall.

As Katie continued, and automated voice blared through the base.

All troops to battle stations. This is not a drill.

This had never happened before. They were miles underground on a deserted planet in the middle of a desert. How could the covenant have found them?

  • 06.09.2010 7:20 PM PDT
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P.2


Katie put on her black combat suit, her vest over it, and her tactical contact on her right eye. She laced up her combat boots, and cocked her M6S SOCOM. Holstering the pistol, she pulled out a drawer.

Inside the compartment was a shining crescent moon blade. Its razor sharp points faced inward, making it a slashing weapon rather than stabbing. Katie and severed countless spines with the clean yet blood soaked blade.

Katie picked up the melee weapon, and slid it into a crescent sheath, clipping it in with a strap. Finally, she pulled the shotgun out from under her bed, and pumped it. Moving back to the door, she listened.

Katie tapped on the door panel, and the titanium barrier slid open. This was a dangerous position. She wasn't at the end of a hall, so the enemy could be on the left or the right. With her sonar watch in repair, she was extremely vulnerable.

The ONI officer leaned slightly out of the doorway, and swiveled her head both ways, nothing. Suddenly, she heard heavy footsteps coming from around the corner. She slung her shotgun on her back, and jumped into the air.

Grabbing onto a ceiling pipe, Katie pulled herself up and balanced, one foot in front of the other. Five elites walked by, cautiously glancing behind them every so often.

Katie decided it was best not to engage. She had been in worse situations and come out the victor, but it wasn't worth the risk. "You're like a damn cat up there." Jack whispered from below.

Katie dropped down, taking out her shotgun again. "At least I can do that."

"Alright, we can argue about this or go stop the Covenant from getting every piece of data in this base."

"Hey, don't turn the table like that because you started it." Katie said, giving Jack a poke on the chest.

"My apologies princess," Jack said, smiling, "Now, back to what's important. The Covenant jammed the electronics in here, so we can't initiate the Cole protocol. That means it's up to you and me."

"Then can I go harass Wallis?"

"If we get to him in time, sure thing scout." Jack patted Katie on the shoulder. She war rarely childish in combat situations, but she had been fighting a lot lately, more than usual. It seemed that the more she fought, the more childish she got.

The two headed down the hallway opposite of the one the elites took, and headed for the intelligence center. "So what are we going to do?" Katie asked.

"Well, they jammed the electronics, so the only way to get rid of all that data is-"

"Blow it up."

"As usual." Jack commented, checking the next corner. Turning it, they reached the elevator. "Watch my back." He said, tapping in commands on the panel. The shaft doors opened, and a broken elevator screeched down, shooting sparks everywhere. "Great."

Jack was looking down the shaft when he heard Katie fire her shotgun, and the howl of elite. "Jack," She fired her shotgun again, and another yell was heard, "Whatever you're planning on doing, do it fast."

"Okay." Jack wrapped one arm around Katie, and jumped into the elevator shaft.

"Oh sh1t!" Katie shouted in surprise. Jack grabbed onto the shaft's cord, and held it tightly. He winced as the metal rope tore through his glove, and started to burn his skin. He gripped it tightly, slowing them down. When they reached the bottom, he released Katie, sat down on the wreckage of the elevator, and took a look at his hand. Katie shook her head. "If that was your idea of elevator sex, then you've got a serious problem."

"Would you shut up?!" Jack scolded, standing up, "I just burnt my palm down to the fucI<ing bone!" Katie went silent, and looked at Jack's hand. He wasn't exaggerating. Blood poured from his shaking hand. He tore a piece off of his black fatigues, and tied a tourniquet around his wrist.

"Jack, look up." Jack turned his head upward to see four glowing balls falling down the elevator shaft.

"Get in the corner." Jack commanded. Katie moved back into one of the corners of the shaft, and Jack picked up a large plate of metal from the smashed elevator. Holding it at an angle, he deflected the plasma grenades, sending them right at the titanium door to the bottom level of the ONI base.

The plasma grenades detonated, and blew the elevator doors open. The two soldiers stepped through. A different alarm sounded, and their hearts sank. They had found a way to detonate the base. Right when things seemed hopeless, a spark lit up in Katie's eye. "I know what to do. There's too much data in this base to throw away. We need to collect it before the base explodes."

"The systems are frozen, there's nothing we can do."

"If I unfreeze Wallis, I think we can delay the self destruct, and unfreeze all of the systems. It's that, or die." Without waiting for a response, Katie sprinted down the hallway towards Wallis. Jack followed, barely able to keep up with her. He saw her turn the next corner, then jump back as plasma flew her way, splashing against the wall.

Katie drew out her shotgun, and blew a hole in the first elite to turn the corner's chest. The next elite, clad in green armor, was smarter. It rolled forward, causing Katie to miss. When it ended its roll, it swept its leg under Katie's, sending her to the ground. Before it could fire its plasma rifle into her head, Jack opened up on it with an assault rifle.

The elite's shields flickered, then failed. Once down, the weapons full metal jacket rounds tore through the alien's chest plate, shredding its flesh. Jack helped Katie up, then checked the corner. "Watch your corners next time."

Katie slipped some more shells into her M90 shotgun, and gestured for Jack to follow. Cautiously they advanced down the hall. Katie stopped at the door separating them from the smart AI Wallis. She pressed her palm against a pad, and scanned her eye. Access Denied. She rammed the butt of her shotgun into the hand panel, and tinkered with the wires. When she finished, she moved on to the retinal scanner. "This one might take a little while."

"I don't think we have a little while." Jack said, listening to the noise of oncoming covenant forces from both the left and right.

"Make time then."

Jack hated it when Katie acted superior to him. He wished she would pick one personality and stick with it. However, that wasn't the issue at hand. Jack pulled out his SMG, holding it to the right, and his assault rifle to the left. "This is suicide Katie." Before Katie could reply with a guaranteed snide remark, Grunts poured into view.

Jack opened fire, sending bullets towards both mobs. Blood spattered the finished walls, giving them a blue spatter paint. Jack winced as he held the trigger down on his SMG. His mutilated hand struggled to keep a hold of the weapon as it fired, causing horrible inaccuracy. "Almost." Katie said calmly.

"Almost isn't good enough!" Jack shouted as his guns clicked.

"Got it." The two ran into the room, and Katie locked it behind them. The chamber was a small, circular compartment with a transparent cylindrical stand in the middle. Metal rods and wiring filled the inside. Katie moved to the cylinder, and tampered with its control panel. "I'll need your help with unfreezing Wallis, Jack."

With great hesitance, the man turned away from the titanium door that was rumbling as the enemy struck it. "Okay, what do you need me to do?"

"I need you to break the panel open. I'm not strong enough for this one."

"I thought you were going to let me do something other than shoot for once."

"That'll be the day I let you kiss me."

Jack slammed the butt of his MA5C into the panel, denting it, "I only tried that once," He hit the panel again, and it popped off, "And I was drunk as hell."

"Yeah, and when I ducked out of the way you threw up on Ackerson." Katie grinned at Jack's embarrassing memory.

"He was in the wrong place at the wrong time." Jack stated as he watched Katie's deft fingers move amongst wires and circuits, "The ONI has a party here once every two years. I was enjoying myself." It brought some relief to Jack to see that she had dropped his outburst of anger. The last thing they needed now was a grudge.

"I bet you enjoyed projectile vomiting the Colonel."

"Matter of fact, I did."

"No objections to that." Katie said, furrowing her brow at the circuits.

There was a small zap of electricity, and Katie pulled her hand away, placing the tip of her shocked finger in her mouth. The transparent cylinder glowed blue, and a scholarly looking avatar appeared on the holographic panel resting on the top. "My deepest gratitude Ma'am." He said in the voice of an erudite, pushing his glasses further up on his nose, and righting his jacket.

Katie ignored is thanks, and went straight to the problem. "How much time to we have until this place blows?"

"About nine seconds."

"Delay it now!"

"Just how long?" Wallis asked calmly.

"Fifteen minutes." Katie replied.

"Done."

"Good. Now, can you unfreeze the systems?"

"Yes, and I already have." Wallis's voice was full of satisfaction, "In addition, I have gassed this floor's halls, filtered the air, and prepared a virus that will decrypt the data in the data center. I can't collect the data from here, so I'll need you to take me there."

Katie's face was full of confusion and amazement. "How did you know we were going to do that?"

"Because Ma'am, through all of the quality time we have spent together, I have learned quite a bit about you. One thing being that you never quite give up."


[Edited on 06.09.2010 9:56 PM PDT]

  • 06.09.2010 7:22 PM PDT

An assassin will always carry on, even after death.

Good part.

  • 06.10.2010 9:24 AM PDT
Subject: [Story] ONI: Ghost Team (Part Three Is Ready!)
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P.3



Katie took Wallis out of the pillar, causing the blue light to fade. Placing the chip in a small slot in the back of her neck, she opened the doors to the room and stepped out. "There may still be some gas in the halls. It's quite difficult to filter completely. Make sure to watch out for orange spots. It would be most unfortunate if your organs melted."

Katie looked about uncomfortably. "Unfortunate might be an understatement Wallis."

"Could you tell me what he's saying?" Jack asked.

"He just told me that there might be some gas left, so watch out for orange patches in the air. Wallis, could any of the grunts have survived?"

"Unlikely ma'am." Wallis assured, "The gas seeps into any orifice, including pores. However you should still stay alert. More Covenant could arrive at any moment."

With that, Katie raised her shotgun. Turning the next corner, they found a group of dead ONI soldiers who had been holding off an assault. Blood was pooling on the ground, coming out of their nose and mouth. It was the gas.

"Did you know about this Wallis?"

"Yes, Ma'am. Unfortunately collateral damage was necessary."

"Jesus Christ." Katie said, covering his mouth and nose. Their bodies let off an awful stench that made jack turn away. She felt sick. Not because of the smell, but because of Wallis. She didn't need to hear Wallis's answer; the little bastard had knowingly killed eight men. Eight men he was supposed to be protecting, and he didn't even care.

Stepping over the bodies, and walking on those of Covenant soldiers, the group reached the data center. Katie removed Wallis from her neck, and inserted him into a slot on the door. They slid open, and Ghost team stepped through. Inside were both human and Covenant corpses. Wallis hadn't killed these humans, no, they had died an honorable death. It was a slight relief to Katie. Even Jack seemed to be unsettled. It was odd. This sort of thing had never phased them before. Why now?

Removing Wallis from the other side of the door, she inserted him into one of the many panels in the small room. Previously black screens lit up as Wallis absorbed each and every file into his memory core, deleting them from the mainframe as he went along. He made a "Hm." Noise as the list of files on the screens stopped disappearing, "This one's putting up quite a fight." Katie narrowed her eyes as she spotted the files name. 1324, 1336. 1324 was her service number, and 1336 was Jack's.

Jack had looked at the screen as well, looking confused at first but then shrugging it off. "What is in all these files?" Katie wondered aloud.

"I don't know," Jack shrugged, "Secret stuff?"

"Yeah but what?"

"We've seen millions of things like this Katie, what makes this one any different?"

"Just wondering." Katie mumbled. Looking around again.

"There we go," Wallis said as the file disappeared off of the screens, "Done!" Katie took Wallis out of the panel, and placed him back in her neck. "The base is evacuating into the steal cruiser Nightingale. We should get to it immediately."

Jack opened the door to the data center, and bumped straight into a hunter. "Ohsh1t." The hunter pushed its shield forward with all its might, but Jack moved out of the way. The beast stumbled forward, giving Katie the time to get in close to its mid section, and sliced it in half with her crescent blade.

"I'm mapping out a course for you to escape." Wallis said as a path lighted up on Jack and Katie's tactical contacts.

"Right through the vents, great." Crawling through vents was always uncomfortable, especially for Jack, a six foot three built man. He stepped out of the room, avoiding the orange eels squirming on the ground. The two agents turned the corner towards the entry point of the vents, and Jack nearly bumped into three Jackals, who all looked particularly hungry.

Thinking that Jack and Katie were the average marines, they jumped forward, eager for a meal. The first received a punch to the face by Jack, and the second was hit by that one's dead body. Katie took the less barbaric route, and simply twirled it around and snapped its neck. Katie and Jack spun around as they heard the hiss of energy blades. Two elites clad in black and one in gold stood directly in front of them.

"I would suggest running." Wallis said calmly.

Katie nodded. "Good call." They turned tail and sprinted away. Jack pulled the pins of two grenades, and dropped them. The explosion came with two howls. The ONI officer didn't need to turn around to know the gold bastard was still on their tail.

Katie looked behind her, and pulled out an incendiary grenade. She threw it as hard as she could at the Elite, who moved to the side. Fortunately, it nicked his hand and exploded. The alien burst into flames, screaming and flailing about. "There's the vent." Jack said, pointing at the end of the hallway. Apon reaching it, Jack grabbed the grating, and ripped it off. "Wallis, make sure to deactivate the flame security system." He jumped up, and with great difficulty turned in the vent to pull Katie in. Once they were both in the ventilation system they began to follow Wallis's path.

After many tedious corners and cursing from Jack, they hit a ninety degree upward shaft. "Why'd you stop moving?" Katie asked.
"Because you're AI led us to an upward shaft that I can't see the top of."


"He says we only have to go half way up."

"How consoling."

"Stop whining and let me go first. I don't want you falling on me."

"Fine." Jack submitted. He did his best to move out of the way in the narrow vent, and Katie started to squeeze through. "Well, this is one of the more awkward experiences in my life."

"Oh please, you're enjoying it," Katie retorted as she tried to squeeze past his chest, "Why do you have to be so big?"

"Bad choice of words in this situation."

"Ew!" Katie shouted, shutting her eyes tightly as she pawed at his chest in a futile attempt to get through to the upward vent.

"There's really only one way for me to push you through right now." Jack said, trying not to laugh.

"You're not touching my ass." Katie said as she tried to use his shoulders to get by.

"That ship's going to take off soon. This would be strictly professional."

Katie stopped struggling and starting laughing at their ordeal. "Fine, let's just get it over with," Jack pushed her through, and she started climbing, "You better not be-"

"I'm not." Jack laughed. Halfway up they crawled into an adjacent vent, and continued. "Alright, we're almost th-"As they moved around the next turn they encountered four grunts trying to escape. Katie shot them, and they spent the rest of their vent journey pushing four corpses along with them. Reaching the end, Katie shot the four screws of the grating and pushed the grunts forward.

One at a time the grunts fell out of the vent, thumping as they hit the floor. Katie moved up the exit, and let her arms and head hang over the edge, resting. She looked up to see a grunt staring at her, its head turned to the side. It looked down at the bodies, then back up at her. Lazily Katie raised her arm and shot the creature. She jumped out of the vent, and Jack followed.

In front of the two ONI operatives was the tube to the UNSC Nightingale. They had made it. They ran through just as the airlocks closed, and the ship ejected out of the ground, and into the atmosphere. "We didn't think you'd make it." An ONI officer said, relieved.

Jack looked at Katie, ignoring the ONI man. "I'm tired," Katie said with weary eyes, "Carry me to my bunk." Jack threw Katie over his shoulder, and walked through the small hangar towards the bunks. "That's not how you carry a girl you buffoon."

"Are you wearing a white dress?" Jack asked.

"No."

"Am I wearing a suit and white gloves?"

"Mh-mh."

"Exactly." Jack smiled, and stepped into the elevator.

[Edited on 06.13.2010 1:48 PM PDT]

  • 06.13.2010 1:31 PM PDT
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P.4



Jack pulled down the covers on Katie's bed, put her on it. He removed her combat suit so she could sleep comfortably, and turned off the lights. "Good fighting today." There was no response, she had already fallen asleep. Turning around, Jack quietly exited the room.

Jack's private quarters were right next to hers, so it wasn't much of a walk to his bed. Throwing himself down on it, he kicked off his combat boots. Jack hit the lights, and closed his eyes. His combat suit was uncomfortable to sleep in, but he didn't care. He just wanted to fall asleep, and that's exactly what he did.

Jack woke up to the sound of someone tossing and turning rapidly in their sleep, mumbling nervously and at a decent volume. He was still half asleep, so he tried to disregard someone who obviously needed help. When it wouldn't stop he cursed and got out bed. He slowly began to wake up, and realized it was coming from Katie's room.

With a confused face on the ONI officer left the room. He had seen this happen to other ONI operatives, but never Katie. He opened the door and stepped through, leaving it ajar. His eyes quickly adjusted, and he saw Katie rolling and thrashing. She was mumbling things that Jack couldn't quite make out, but it was frantic.

Jack walked to the side of her bed, and shook her shoulder. "Katie, Katie!"

"No!" Katie screamed as she woke up. She threw a tired punch, and Jack caught it. She tried another, but Jack stopped that one too.

"Katie," Jack said quickly, "It's me, Jack!" Katie stopped, but she was still breathing heavily and looking around the room. "It was a dream Katie, just a dream." Katie latched onto her friend's arm, and pressed her head against it tightly. Her quick breathing and restless eyes calmed, but they were replaced by tears. Jack couldn't leave her here. "You can sleep in my room tonight, alright?" Katie nodded slowly, "But you should put something on." He went to move to Katie's dresser, but she wouldn't let go. "I need my arm, just for a second."

Hesitantly Katie let go. Jack opened up Katie's drawers with no invasive intentions. He found a soft shirt and sweatpants, something nice for her to sleep in. He gave them to her, and she put them on. Jack picked her up, this time in his arms, and carried her into his room. Again she had latched onto his arm, and he had to convince her to let go so he could change out of his combat suit. Throwing on sweat pants, he climbed into bed beside Katie.

Katie slipped under Jack's arm, and put her head down on his chest. What was she dreaming about? Katie was tougher than any marine, or for that matter any ODST he had ever seen. The only time he had ever seen her scared was when he had his leg blown off by a insurrectionist's wife. She looked worried until they had cloned it, and had it reattached. Something was wrong. Jack felt it too, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

Jack thought for a while, and started realizing things. Both of them had been a bit curious lately, wich they had never been. Katie only started shielding herself with immaturity a month ago, and now she was having nightmares. Something was wrong, very wrong.


Katie was fast asleep, but Jack was wrestles. He couldn't go to sleep, but he wasn't sure why. He felt an emotion he had never felt before. It was a burning, but not the burning of love. This burning was dragging him down, taunting him and torturing him. It was guilt. Guilt from the thousands of lives he had taken. The Covenant he couldn't care less about, but he had fought the insurrection many times.

He suddenly remembered all of the lives he had taken, all of the times he had pulled the trigger with the barrel facing a human being. It was too much to take at once. Jack cried out, sitting up straight and breathing heavily.

Kate blinked, looking up at him from her pillow. Wearily she sat up. "What's wrong?"

Jack knew it was no use to lie to Katie. She could sense lies in anyone. He would just have to be blunt about it. "Go back to bed. I'm going to get some water."

"Stay."

Jack made the slightest of nods. "Alright." As he placed his head back down on the pillow, he heard the cries of all those he had killed. What was happening to him? He had heard of soldier being haunted by the things they had done, but the feeling had never hit him before.

Hours later when Katie awoke, he still hadn't fallen asleep. The two got out of bed, and took their pills. As jack swallowed the tablets he realized for the first time that he had no idea what they were for. "Do you know what these do?" Katie asked curiously.

"No, I don't. It's probably just some sort of vitamin supplement or something." Katie didn't seem satisfied by Jack's answer, and he wasn't either. "You go back to your room. Take a shower. I have something I have to do." Jack moved towards the door.

"Oh no," Katie said, shaking her head, "We're a team. Whatever you have to do I have to do it too."

"I'm just going to talk to someone."

"Talk to who?"

"Doctor Russell." Jack said with a hint of annoyance.

"Is this about my nightmare?" Katie asked, "Because if it is you're worrying too much. It's just a nightmare."

"Well you've never had one before," Jack sat down on the edge of the bed, "Why now?"

Katie walked towards the bed, examining Jack's desk and running her fingers across it as she moved by. "I don't know. What does it matter anyway? "

"Why are you fighting me on this?" Jack was getting frustrated.

"Because you're over reacting. Besides, Russell isn't even a shrink."

"I'm sure he'll know something about it."

"Stop worrying about me Jack, I'm fine. It's just all the fighting. I mean you woke up screaming last night. We're under a lot of stress. All we need is a little rest." Katie sat down on the bed beside Jack, exhaling deeply, "And that's what we're going to get. A destroyed ONI base doesn't go without some downtime."

Jack looked at Katie in submission. "Alright, but if I hear you tossing and turning again we're going to Russell."

Katie laughed as she got up and headed for the door. "Russell." She said, shaking her head. Katie opened the door and left. Jack stood up and rubbed his temples. Something didn't feel right. Both of them were changing, and with no visible incentive. They had been in much more stressful times and came out unscathed.

He didn't like doing things behind Katie's back, but he knew it was for the best. He was going to see Doctor Russell. Leaving the room, he headed towards the medical bay. The Nightingale was one of the few stealth cruisers of a large size, so the hallways weren't thin and cramped. That sort of thing didn't bother Jack, but he appreciated the space.

Agents of the ONI often kept to themselves, so the usual chatter in the hallways of the ships wasn't there. People who walked by, even people going to the same destination, were disturbingly quiet. That Jack didn't like. It made him uneasy, as if people were expecting something to happen at any moment.

Waiting in front of the elevator, a man stepped beside him. He looked oddly familiar, the scarred face, cropped grey hair, and near black eyes. Jack could have sworn he had seen him on television. "Are you Nicolai Erring?"

"Yes." The man nodded.

"Ah, I thought I saw you on TV." Nicolai Erring was the most decorated Marine in the history of mankind. The peak of his career was when his battalion was wiped out, and he slaughtered sixty elites with an AIE-486H machine gun that he pulled off of a tripod. Everyone knew his name. "What are you doing here?" Jack immediately recognized the rudeness in his question, "I mean, not that you shouldn't."

The elevator doors opened, and the two stepped in. Nicolai hit a button, but Jack was two star struck to remember he was going somewhere. "I've been recruited by the ONI," Nicolai answered, "And it's about god damn time."

Jack remembered his task, and hit the button right before they passed the floor. "I'll see ya around." He stepped out and headed for Russell. The medical bay was packed with wounded ONI gaurds. The base had gotten hammered. Russell didn't deal with petty wounds, at least what he viewed as petty wounds. His definition of which would be any harm done to someone who isn't a high ranking officer. Despite his disregard for human lives, he was a miracle worker. He had saved men who had significant chunks blown out of their bodies, and mangled organs.

Walking in between medical cots and surgeons frantically trying to save the dying, he reached Doctor Russell's office. He knocked on the door, and waited. "Come in." a voice said from the inside. Jack entered, and shut the door behind him.

Cont...

[Edited on 06.20.2010 11:47 AM PDT]

  • 06.20.2010 11:46 AM PDT
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Cont...


Doctor Russell sat in a large comfortable chair at an oak desk. On his walls were diagrams of human and covenant bodies. His desk had a snow globe on it. On its inside was a Spartan running an energy sword through an elite. Jack nearly laughed at a peaceful object turned into a violent display. Besides that were pens and scattered papers. He wasn't a particularly neat person.

"Hey." Jack said awkwardly as Russell stared at him. The doctor was a bit off.

"Take a seat." Russell said kindly. Jack sat, and he went on. "What can I do for you?"

"Well," Jack began, relaxing in the chair in front of the doctor's desk, "I'm not sure if you have any knowledge of psychiatrics, but I didn't know who else I could come to."

"I have some knowledge." Doctor Russell confirmed, folding his hands on his desk.

"Well uhm, last night Katie had nightmares for the first time. Or the first time in the years I have known her."

A look of surprise flashed across Russell's face. "Go on."

"Well I just don't understand why it would start now. Compared to our other experiences this attack on the base was nothing."

The doctor was silent for a moment. "Has anything happened to you?"

"I felt guilty for the first time, and so much that I cried out in the middle of the night."

"Anything else?"

"I was," Jack hesitated, not wanting to sound like he had gone mad, "I was hearing voices. More like screams actually. Screams of the people I killed."

Russell cleared his throat. "Have you two been taking your pills?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Just curious. You will be fine. You just need some time out of the ring, that's all. However I wouldn't tell anyone else about the voices, less they think you're, well, insane."

"I was planning on telling the whole ship." Jack joked.

"Sorry to ruin your plans," Russell smiled, "Will that be all for now?"

"Yeah, that's good," The ONI operative got out of his seat, "Thanks doc." Turning around, he left the room.

Doctor Russell cocked his head in thought. Opening his desk he pulled out a phone. The man quickly dialed a number and held the device up to his ear. It rang once, and someone answered.

Whatever you have to say say it fast. the man on the other side said quickly.

"The Oxallin pills are failing. Our subjects are becoming immune."

What?!

"I told you this would happen, but you didn't liste-"

Damn it!

"Stop shouting and tell me what you want me to do."

The voice took a deep breath. Kill them. Kill them both.

  • 06.20.2010 11:47 AM PDT