Time to say goodbye.

"Six take these marines and go activate the fueling sequence." I look at Jorge, the marines, then the bomb.

"What are you going to do in the meantime?"

"I'm going to protect this bomb. Hurry six. Get that sequence activated then get back here."

"Got it." I take the men and go towards the bridge. We come up to a clearing and I see an Elite firing the ships guns at the UNSC ship that had covered us for the entire mission. Sadly I get to the Elite late as I see the UNSC ship blow up into a million pieces.

'It's too late for that ship now Six. Just take care of the sequence.' I pull my knife from its holster and stab the Elite in the back, bringing it's neck into my arm, and I crack it's neck. I motion for the soldiers to come along and we reach the bridge. I quickly take out the Grunts and Jackals, while the soldiers try to take out the two Elites. I run at the main Elite and plant a grenade on his back before taking an energy sword that I picked up earlier and stabbing the other Elite in the back. The grenade goes off and I see I only have two troops left. I activate the console and we run back to the hanger.

We enter the hanger and I see Jorge being overrun. I start picking off the covenant and Jorge mows down the rest.

"Six we have a new objective. Protect the slipspace bomb." I stand by the pelican and start killing all life forms that walk through the door. I hear Jorge take out his side and we quickly dispatch the rest in the room. Jorge walks over to the bomb and slams the side of it.

"Damn it." I look at him and he turns towards me.

"Well I got good news and bad news." He sighs and looks out at space.

"This bird took some fire and her thruster gimbal is toast. Which means the only way off this slag heap is gravity."

"And the good news?"

"That was the good news."

"At current velocity, fifty three seconds to endpoint." Dot tries to explain but Jorge ignores her.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah..." I watch Jorge take his helmet off and throw it at the ground.

"Bad news is the timers fried. Which mean it's going to have to be fired manually." My eyes widen under my helmet and I look at him, then the bomb.

"Jorge that's a one way trip."

"Well we all have to make it sometime." He reaches into his armor and pulls out his dogtags.

"Better get going Six. They're going to need you down there. Listen Reach's been good to me. It's time to return the favor." I grab his hand and he pulls me closer picking me up.

"Don't deny me this." He walks closer to the one way shield and looks at me one last time.

"Tell 'em to make it count." He throws me out the ship and I start falling towards Reach. I watch as the ship explodes and my armor locks up sending me spiraling towards the surface.

I wake up and quickly grab a pistol and start limping towards New Alexandra. When I get there all I see are dead marines without weapons.

"Son of a bitch." I continue walking through the city getting radio chatter.

'Watch out for suicide squads throughout the city.' I walk into one building and sure enough, there are suicide squads.

"Well that's helpful." I pick them off and walk though the building. I walk outside and see civilians and marines. They're fighting brutes and seem to be holding up pretty well. I grab a DMR laying on the ground and start firing on the brutes.

"A SPARTAN? Where did he come from?"

"Doesn't matter if he's helping us. Come on let's go." I run at the covenant and try to keep most of the soldiers and civilians alive but sadly the brutes overrun them. I enter an elevator with one lone marine inside.

"Sir, there are some ODSTs that could really use your help." I nod then follow the soldier to the ODSTs.

"Spartan? Good to see you. Grab a pack and get going. Welcome to the frog jumpers."

_Meanwhile_

Kat and Carter sit by the transmissions console waiting for Six or Jorge to answer.

"Six, Five. Do you read me?" All they get is static and silence.

"Six, Jorge, this is Carter do you read?" Still silence. Kat sits next to the console before putting her head in her hands.

"Kat they're fine."

"How can you know? Six always answers his comms." She looks at him and he removes his helmet.

"Kat, Six answers his comm when you talk to him. And besides I'm sure neither of them would let a mission fail."

"That's what I'm afraid of. Six won't let a mission fail and will do whatever he can to complete it. I don't want to lose another Six. I don't want to lose him..." She sits with her head down and Carter puts his hand on her shoulder.

"Kat, I've read his file. He won't go down easily. Get some rest. We'll try again soon." She nods and lays on her back.

"Don't die on me Six."

Six's POV

I bring down a gravity hammer on a Brute sending him flying. I keep up my attack firing my pistol at Grunts and hitting Elites with the blade of the hammer. The ODST's are keeping up but are dropping in numbers. I run at a Brute and slam the butt of the handle right into his skull crushing it into oblivion. I drop the hammer and grab a DMR off a dead marine and swap the pistol for an assault rifle. I run and jump on a balcony taking out three Grunts when I land on them. I quickly take out one Brute but the other gets the drop on me. It knocks me to the ground mounting me as it does so. I see the blade of its gun coming down towards my face and I quickly put my hand up to stop it. Sadly that left me open. The Brute shifts it's weight slowly crushing the breath out of me and it puts it's knee into my neck. I see its other hand come down on my visor and starts trying to crush my skull into the ground beneath me. I grab it's jaw and desperately try to push it off. Obviously it wasn't working and this made him laugh. I'm about to pass out when the air rushes itself into my lungs and I see the Brute being filled with bullets. I look up and see an ODST standing over me.

"Get up SPARTAN. We still have a mission to complete." He lowers his hand and I grab onto it as he pulls me back to my feet. I wipe the orange blood, that splattered on me when the Brute was shot, off.

"What's your name?"

"Mickey, what's yours?"

"Six."

"Six, huh? Well Six I need your help. On the other side of that building are turrets that are making it damn near impossible for our pelicans to evac the civies. Think you can help me take them out?" I nod and we sweep out the remaining Covenant on the platform.

"Okay. So how are we going to do this?"

"You take the low ground. Wipe the Covenant forces behind the building out then I'll take out the turrets."

"Got it." I wait to see Mickey enter the building before I move through the balconies wiping out any Covenant that might be on my level. I watch Mickey fire on the Covenant outside and I grab a grenade and throw it at the turret on my left. That one explodes and I drop on the other one using the Grunt inside of it to destroy it. I jump off before it explodes sending shrapnel into my arms. Mickey meets up with me escorting civies to the LZ.

"Thanks Six. Good luck wherever your going."

"Thanks. You too Mickey." I get on a Falcon and fly to my next area.

After taking out two revants and activating AA guns I finally take out the Covenant that were on this area.

'Six can you hear me?" I recognize the voice immediately as Kat's. Her voice is too recognizable.

'Six, Five, come in. Do either of you read me?'

"I read you Kat." As soon as she speaks I hear the relief and excitement in her voice.

'Six, we haven't heard anything from Jorge.'

"Jorge didn't make it."

'Affirmative. It's time to come home Six.' I see the pelican and I board the ship. I just hang my head and wonder how I'm going explain to the team how Jorge died.

Kat's POV

I sit on the floor of the ONI tower looking out the window.

"Well I sent Six on that mission you wanted him on. Now we have to think about what we're going to do." I look at Carter and sigh.

"Six's a hyper-lethal SPARTAN. One thing gone wrong can cause him to... Whatever we do better be careful. I don't want him hurt."

"Well I think we should talk to him about it. Maybe that will help."

"Have fun with that Carter." He looks at me then shakes his head.

"Actually Kat, you're talking to him." I look at him with a surprised look. Carter knows that I'm not the best people person on the team. Give me a piece of equipment that went to shit, I'll fix it. Give me a broken hyper-lethal SPARTAN, I don't think it'll end well. Not to mention, I uh- well that doesn't matter.

"WHAT?"

"Kat let's face it. Six is most comfortable with you. If you talk to him about it, he's less likely to break something or someone."

"You can't be serious."

"Not to mention that he's in love with you."

"Okay now your being delusional." He looks at me with a softer look and then sighs.

"Kat, he's saved your life twice in the same day, and five other times in our missions. He made sure that no Elites touched you."

"He was just looking out for another SPARTAN."

"Kat he decapitated them then blew up the bodies. Also how about the time when he almost broke two marines jaws for whistling as you walked by?"

"The marines were starring at my ass and Six was putting them in their places."

"He loves you Kat. And so do you."

"WHAT THE HELL? How did you...?" I catch myself before I blurt out something I'm going to regret. It's true. I do have a crush on Six, but I keep it secret. Six doesn't even know about it.

"I mean what are you talking about Carter?"

"You know what I'm talking about. You love him. I see how you act around him. Every time he was hurt you were always there with him. Kat I see the way you look at him, how talk to him, hell Kat you've even switched pair assignments just to make sure you were with him. Kat just talk to him." I sigh and nod. I listen to the radio waiting for Six's voice to pop up.

Six's POV

I land the Falcon and walk out towards the elevator when I notice my leg is sparking.

"Son of a... not this again." I slam my leg against the door, successfully ending the small light show. I just keep walking before I stop right in front of the elevator. I reach for the button but I don't push it. 'How am I going to explain this to them? It's bad enough I have a bad record of losing partners but this is worse. He threw me out. Wait, that's right. He threw me. I couldn't be held responsible for it. No, he was my friend. I should have tried to find another way. Oh god. Emile's going to be pissed, Carter sounded mad. Jun, well I don't know about him, but I can't even imagine how Kat's going to react.' I reach for the button again, but I retract my hand yet again. This time I turn to the nearest wall and slam my fist full force into the wall, creating what could be mistaken for as a small crater. The building shakes and I slide down the wall. I rip my helmet off and chuck it across the small hallway. It makes a thud as it impacts against the stone floor of the building. I turn my head to the elevator, hearing the faint dings of shaft. I grab my DMR and pick up my helmet, placing it back where it belongs. I point my gun at the door, and watch as Carter pokes his head out of the small room. Clearly he's searching for an enemy. I just stand there and wait, hoping to avoid any unnecessary confrontations. I watch him close the door and I head for the stairs.

I reach the room the team is in and lean on a wall close to the window, and the door I just came through.

"Look at this place, used to be the crown jewel... not anymore." I scoff and he looks at me.

"Hey, you're back." I watch as Kat's posture quickly stiffens before relaxing. She must be mad at me.

"It's a regular family reunion." I turn to face Emile and take out Jorge's dogtags, letting them fall out of my hand just enough to be seen.

"Keep 'em. I'll honor him my own way." I place the tags back onto my belt and then look out the window.

"Jorge always said he'd never leave Reach." Emile laughs and shakes his head, earning glares from all of us.

"Big man was sentimental."

"He gave his life thinking he'd just saved the planet. We should all be so lucky." I sigh, again earning a look from Carter. Luckily before he can question my mental stability, Jun gains his attention.

"Sir, that true about Gauntlet, Red, and Echo teams being assigned to civilian evac ops?" Carter looks at Kat, obviously mad about the team's electronics expert hacking into ONI.

"Those are senior-level communiques."

"I hear what I hear. Point is why put SPARTANS on defensive deployments?"

"I need that link to Sat-com, Kat."

"I'm chasing it, but this console's got more shrapnel in it than transceivers. You didn't answer my question."

"You want to know if we're losing?"

"I know we're losing. I want to know if we've lost." The console starts creating static, causing me to jump. I look at Kat and she looks just as shocked.

"Colonel Holland, hailing us? What's he doing on an open channel?"

"Let's hear it."

"- in the southwest quadrant of the city. Over? Sierra two five seven, if you are reading me, I'm authorizing override of radio security protocols to link with this channel."

"How long till secure link?"

"I can't guarantee secure anymore." I sigh and look at Kat, who currently is looking at Carter.

"Could the Covenant trace it to us?"

"I could." Again Holland comes back on the channel hailing us again.

"Noble leader. This is a priority one hail. If you are receiving, acknowledge immediately." Kat hands a transponder to Carter, warning him as she does.

"Keep it brief." Carter starts talking to Holland and I get a really bad feeling.

"We've got movement. Multiple Covenant ships are pulling out."

"Radiation flare. Big, 40 million roentgens."

"Just lost Holland, what's going on?"

"Atomic excitement scrambled the signal. 90 million now." I walk closer to her and Carter looking in between them.

"Source?"

"Airborne, close."

"How close?" As soon as Carter finishes, a huge explosion knocks everyone off their feet. I look up at Kat and hear her yell to Carter.

"That close." I jump to my feet and go pick Kat up as the others run to the elevators. She picks up her helmet and gets in the elevator.

"First glassing?" I nod and look at her eyes through my visor.

"Yeah. My first time." She looks down and quickly reaches for my hand, squeezing it before letting it go.

"Don't worry, Six. It's mine too. I've heard about them, just never been in one." I nod and listen as the others start talking. The doors open and we run out, Kat and I are behind the others. That's when I hear it. The quiet hum of the engines of a Phantom. I quickly dive on top of Kat, hissing as the needle passes through my shoulder. Crimson red liquid spits out of the wound splattering all over Kat's visor. I drop to the ground on top of her, my consciousness slowly leaving. I hear Kat pull her gun and start shooting. Again I push Kat out of the way, just in time to catch the bullet in my leg, causing the sparks to start again. I fire at the Phantom and another shot rings out, this time, it meets it's intended mark, knocking me back on the ground, blood dripping from my chest.

"Six!" I feel Kat pull me into the shelter and the door shuts. Jun and a medic come up to me and try to take my helmet off.

"No. It stays." The medic starts to protest, but Jun shakes his head.

"Not worth it."

"Also, leave my leg alone." Again the medic protests and Jun even argues against it.

"Are you crazy? Your leg got shot. We need to..."

"Jun." By the tone Carter uses, I can tell he's not messing around.

"If Six tells you to leave something alone, then leave it alone. He has his right." The medics start working on my chest and shoulder, though I can't feel the pain, I watch as they rip the needle out of my body. I feel my leg sparking, and I can't help but wonder why no one has noticed.

"Uh, Six, I think some equipment got damaged when you were shot. Something in your leg armor is sparking." I nod, and point to my legs, basically telling Jun that my "sprint" equipment was damaged.

"Ah. Well when we get evaced out of here, I'll make sure you get a replacement." I nod and feel a pair of eyes on me. The medics finish patching me up and I stand up and walk over to the wall. I look at Carter and nod, telling him I'll take first watch. He nods and lays down. The sounds of the city being glassed spook me. To know that millions will die because we were caught unprepared... I shake the thought from my head and hear shuffling behind me. Kat walks up and sits next to me.

"Want some company?" I look at her and shrug. She sighs and then looks to the other side.

"Something wrong?"

"Why don't you talk more?" That caught me by surprise. As a hyper-lethal SPARTAN III, most people didn't care if I spoke or not. As long as I got the job done I guess.

"Never had a reason."

"Well, you're part of a team. You should communicate more." I sigh and nod.

"I know. But you can't teach an old dog new tricks." She sighs and jumps at the sound of the next explosion.

"Scared?"

"I'm a SPARTAN. I'm not allowed to be scared." Again she jumps and I quickly wrap my arm around her shoulders. She stiffens and so do I. As she calms down I go to remove my arm but she stops me.

"Don't." I wrap my arm around her again and she leans on my shoulder. I can feel her breath hitch with every explosion.

"Don't think about what's going on. It'll only make it worse."

"We were supposed to save them. Yet we..."

"Stop Kat. Don't do that to yourself." She crosses her arms and I can tell she's on the verge of tears.

"How... how can you not think of these things? How can you just not feel?" I sigh and tighten my grip on her shoulders when the next strike hits near the bunker.

"I do feel, Kat." She lifts her head quickly and starts shaking it.

"No, Six that's ... that's not what I meant." Again I tighten my grip, this time bringing her closer. I have no doubt that the team has caught on to the fact that I have a tiny crush on Kat. Well at least Jorge and Carter do. As wrong as it is, I'm actually happy that this happened. It's the closest I've been to her.

"I know what you meant Kat. You mean how can I choose to not feel the grief or pain of knowing what's going on. The truth is, I don't choose. I do feel the grief, but I know that if I show it, those who aren't as battle hardened as me, they'll start to break down. Although I can't save those people now, I can save the people who would break. Don't get me wrong, it breaks me to know that those people out there are..."

"Six. Please. Can we not... talk about this?"

"Hmm? Oh, yeah. Sorry." She sighs and I feel her shift, this time swinging her legs out from under her and off to her side not pressed against me. She takes off her helmet and I can see her eyes are red and puffy, showing that she was crying underneath her helmet.

"Six... about Jorge..." I stiffen and wait for her anger to come out at me. To show me how mad the team, how mad she is, at the fact that I let a teammate die. That I knew there was another way but I couldn't stop him. Apparently my silence was a signal for her to continue.

"Are you alright? Losing Jorge couldn't have been easy for you. You two seemed close."

"I... I... I'm fine."

"Six... I know what it feels like to lose someone. To lose a teammate. You're not fine. Please..."

"Kat... I couldn't do anything. I couldn't stop him. He threw me out of the ship. He didn't give me the choice. It should have been me. Jorge was too big a part of this team. I'm just the new guy. The replacement. Jorge... he's been on this team longer than I have. He's the one who should be here right now. He should be alive. But he's not. He's dead because I failed."

"Six, you can't blame yourself. You just said that he threw you out. That's not your fault. Six you're a bigger part of this team than you think. If you were dead, I would be too. And even if I did survive, Six, I can't and won't think of how this would be without you. I've lost a teammate before, out last Six, Tom, he... he wasn't like you. Tom was a friend, but you're... you're more than that to me. Six, I need you. I..." Again an explosion rocks the bunker and Kat gets so scared that she visibly is shaking.

"Kat, it's alright. We're safe." She's still shaking and I wrap both my arms around her.

"Kat, look at me. It's going to be okay. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I promise." She looks at me, scared and then throws her arms around my neck.

"I... I love you Six. Please... don't let me go." I freeze from the shock of what she said, but I quickly snap out of it and wrap my arms around her waist, holding her closer than before.

"I won't. I promise. I love you too Kat."

After about five minutes of just holding Kat, trying to calm her down, I realize she's asleep. I know that if any of the others found out about what just happened, she'd be so embarrassed, but it's not her fault. She faced death twice and her emotions just let out. That wall that augmentation had built inside us broke. I sigh and realize she's trying to sleep on my armor. Not wanting her to be hurt in the morning, I take off my chest piece and then shift so that she's laying on my chest. I lay down and close my eyes, the last things I hear are the distant explosions of Reach being glassed.

Kat's POV

I twist my hips but I feel something holding me down. However I also feel something soft and warm beneath me. Odd, I didn't think the ground would feel like this. I slowly open my eyes and see a black mass underneath me. Under further observation I realize the mass is a chest. A chest that belongs to Six. I quickly try to get up but realize Six is holding my waist.

"Psst. Six. Six wake up." I feel him start to move and he lifts his head, which still has a helmet on it, and then he releases me.

"Kat, something wrong?"

"What happened last night?" He looks at me for a moment then sits up, replacing his chest plate. He sighs and then brings one knee up close to his chest.

"Well, you almost got shot, twice. I got shot in the shoulder, leg and chest, making sure you didn't get killed. You started to get scared as the world around us was ending, then you..." My eyes widen and I lower my head.

"So that wasn't a dream."

"Kat... it's not a bad thing to have feelings. I just didn't think you would ever have feelings for me. At all. I'm a hyper lethal SPARTAN III who has a reputation for having all his partners die."

"I... I can't explain why, but I do have feelings for you. I just wished I didn't tell you."

"Kat did you forget what I said to you?" I look at him, trying to remember what he said, but nothing comes to my mind.

"Kat, I told you that I... that I love you as well." That caught me by surprise. I hate the fact that my helmet's not on, making it very hard to hide the blush.

"Six, the others can not find out about this."

"Yeah. I know. Kat, about what you asked me last night... about Jorge... can we not tell the others about that? I still think they're pissed at me."

"Six. They aren't pissed. We were worried about you. We knew how close you two were. We also knew that it might be bad if you didn't talk about it." He nods and then hugs me, although it was quick, it was a hug none the less, and he hands me my helmet.

"Here. You might need this. I'm going to go scout ahead. Try to see if there's anything we need to watch for."

"Six. You know Carter doesn't like you going out on your own. Maybe I should come with you." He shakes his head and hold up his hand.

"No. You stay here. It won't be as bad if only one of us is gone. You can tell Carter that you were asleep when I left." Before I can protest against it, he walks out of the damaged doors to the bunker.

Six's POV

I walk around the perimeter of the bunker, trying to see if there are any Covenant that we need to worry about. Of course, there is one. I look closer at it and see it's a Zelot Elite. Of course. That's just great. Well, it's only one Elite. I slide down the side of the crater and slowly walk up behind it. I take out my knife, still trying to stay hidden from it, but I step on something, alerting the Zelot to my position. It turns around and I quickly swipe at it, missing but still staying on top of the situation. I try to dodge it's attack but as soon as I get a good distance, it rams it's shoulder into my gut, sending me onto the ground. I feel it's weight slowly crush every last breath out of my body. The slight cracking in my body proves that it's lowering itself on my chest. I stare at it, and it speaks.

"Tell me something Demon. Why do you continue to fight so hard? What could possibly be so important to you?"

"You don't get it. You don't understand what we fight for. You never will."

"You fight for your own kind... but this is not the first time our paths have crossed. Many times I have seen you fight, and many of those times you had others with you. One specifically. A female. Now I will ask again. Why do you fight so hard? Everyone has a reason to fight."

"That female... she's my reason. I'll do anything to keep her alive. She means too much to me." It stares at me and looks up.

"Ah. The human emotion, love. You love her correct?"

"What does it matter? You're going to try to kill me anyway."

"Actually, I had no intention of killing you. You attacked me. I understand love. That is why I will leave you alive. If you are willing to risk your life to save this female... then you are not the monsters and demons we believe you are. Do not mistake this mercy for kindness demon. For the next time our paths cross, I will not give you the same courtesy. However, my brethren will not think of you the same way. Good luck demon." It leaves and I stand up, staring at it as it leaves. I think about what it said then I turn to see another Elite behind me. This one is more hostile. Again it hits me to the ground and mounts me. This time, there's no talking. No questions, nothing but pure rage. It lifts its sword and is about to strike when a bullet punctures its shield, giving me enough time to grab my pistol and blow it's brains out. I shove it off me and see who fired the shot. It was Carter.

"Six, get back in the bunker, now." By his tone, I can tell he's not happy. I wipe the blood off my armor and walk towards the entrance.

"What were you thinking? You could have gotten yourself killed."

"Sir, someone needed to scout out. I'm the only one on this team who has had experience in working alone. I did what I knew how to do." Carter stares at me, his helmet off, revealing his angered expression.

"What was the first thing I told you Six? I told you that lone wolf stuff stays behind. And it's bad enough that you took it upon yourself to help with a civi evac, but now this? You need to understand you are on a team now. You can't just go off on your own."

"Sir, it needed to be done. We had no other way of knowing what was left out there."

"And what, exactly, would have happened if I didn't wake up in time to see you were gone? Do you think this team needs another death after what happened to Jorge?"

"Are you blaming me for Jorge's death, sir?" I can tell my voice has an edge to it, one that both Kat and Carter immediately catch onto as it comes out. Carter's expression changes quickly.

"Six I'm not blaming you..."

"Then what are you saying sir? Because it sounds like your saying that Jorge's death is my fault, and that I would bring another death to the team. I couldn't control what Jorge did. I can't control that I was augmented to be a hyper lethal SPARTAN who works alone. I can't help the fact that I would rather die, then see one specific person even remotely hurt. So you can blame me for Jorge's death, sir. But if I could control it... I would have been the one throwing my friend out of a doomed ship. But since I can't, Noble Team is unfortunately stuck with me, instead of someone you all knew. Someone you were close to. So if you want to blame me for Noble Team's misfortune, then go ahead. I guess you're justified. But don't ever think for a moment, that I would willingly let one of my friends die. I may be rumored as an emotionless SPARTAN who people think will do anything to complete a mission, but I will never waste a life needlessly." With that, I walk away, going all the way to the other side of the bunker. I hear Kat almost yelling at Carter and I find myself happy that my helmet is still on. I feel the tears roll down my cheek and I jump at the feeling of a hand on my shoulder. I look over my shoulder and see Kat. She takes off her helmet and I can see the look of worry on her face.

"Six, are you okay?" I nod and she sighs, looking away.

"Going back to not talking to me?" I look at her and then hug her.

"Kat I'm sorry. I really am. Carter just... he..."

"He was out of line, Six." I sigh and then nod. I look at her and decide now's a better time than any to let her know more about the person she's getting into this situation with.

"Look, Kat. If we're... you know... going to be in this situation... I think it's only fair you learn more about me, since my file is so... inked out."

"Six, it's okay. You don't have to tell me."

"Kat, I want to tell you." She smiles a little and waits patiently.

"Well to start off, my name's Alex. I don't use it much but I actually have one." She giggles but quickly stops, probably hoping I didn't hear it.

"The reason I became a SPARTAN, well, unlike most, it was by choice. After my mother died, my father started to work for Halsey. He brought my sister with him, I knew the only way I could keep her safe was to become a SPARTAN. Well, then I went on multiple missions and every one I lost an ally. The only reason I was even placed on a team was because you guys lost a member. They were going to pull me out of the program but... well I got the call from Holland." Kat just stares at me and then smiles, that smile she always gives me.

"So... the hyper lethal SPARTAN almost got kicked out, but still has a soft spot for his sister. That's cute." I start mumbling and Kat tries to stifle a giggle.

"Shut up." She shakes her head and I glare at her.

"So... your name's Alex, huh?"

"I'm going to regret telling you this." She shakes her head and she wraps her arm around my shoulders.

"Don't worry Six. This will stay between us."

"It better. Or I will pull up your files. I've heard there are some very interesting things on those files of yours." She looks at me worried, but only for a moment.

"Funny, Six. Like you could hack the ONI files and..."

"I already have. Before I came to this team, I hacked the sensors and pulled everyone's files up." Again she looks at me and I smirk under my helmet.

"Thought you were the only one on the team who was good with computers." She sighs and I laugh, wrapping my arm around her waist. I hear someone walking up to us and I quickly snap back to my original position and turn around to see Carter.

"Sir."

"Six, we need to talk."

"There's nothing to talk about sir. I disobeyed orders, your actions were justified."

"I was out of line. I shouldn't have blamed you for Jorge. I just couldn't think of losing another member. It's just that... with how close we came to losing Kat, and how close you've become to the team, my mind went to the worst. I'm sorry Six."

"Sir, you shouldn't be sorry. It was a stressful situation. I said things I shouldn't have." He nods and an engine outside interrupts him before he could say anything else.

"Guys, ride's here. Let's go." I nod and Kat starts walking away, and Carter nods at me. I grab my weapons and head to the evac ship.