Chapter Two - The Spartan

The transport rattled along the track it was set on before it embarked on a smooth line, traveling the distance from one asteroid to another with a weightless glide. While The Rubble seemed so small in some regards, it was actually quite large. Some areas contained multitudes– from public spaces to private residences, while others seemed quite uninhabited. There were worlds within worlds, and it was unlike any other place I’d ever seen. Surely it’d be easy to find some place to hide away for a while, and I decided on the ride that I’d get a message to Astra somehow as I watched what felt like the entire galaxy pass by through the window.

When the transport finally stopped, I hesitated to leave it. The space, while mostly cramped and rigid, -generally uncomfortable- still felt like it would be the safest place I’d settle in for a while. Ultimately, it was closed, contained, and offered no chance of anyone sneaking up on me for the mysterious item I was now in possession of.

Nervous and on alert, I stepped past the doors, feet planted firmly back onto the ground. Keeping my eyes on my surroundings, I immediately headed for a dimly lit corner. I need to find somewhere to open this, I thought, knowing that being within anyone's view was not a good idea.

Clutching the case to my chest, I took note of how big and heavy it truly was. My mind ran wild with thought, steering clear of any real light that seemed to glimmer around the space. I thought of a million coins sitting untouched within its confines; or some kind of advanced weapon that no one other than the UNSC had the coding for. No matter what it was, I was sure it would bring me exactly what I was looking for— relief from living so poorly.

Sneaking further into the hollowed out asteroid, I kept my head down and my eyes ahead of myself. People who passed didn’t seem to notice -or at least didn’t seem to care- about the large, strange object I held, and I liked it that way.

In fact, I needed it that way.

It wasn’t until I reached an open door to what looked like a residence that I even considered stopping. Upon lifting my head again to peek around the large entryway, I noticed deeper within the home that the entire structure was based around a massive window. Even at a glance I noticed the spectacular view right away— millions of glowing stars and planets that hung around The Rubble, completely unobscured by any other mass of rock. But I had no time to admire its beauty, as much as I wanted to.

It then crossed my mind that lingering out in the open for too long could’ve put me in a dangerous position, more so than I was already in. Taking another peek inside, it was quite clear that the space had been abandoned for some time, noticeable dust on the decor that sat just within the entryway piled up more than it should have been.

But the place was still perfectly put together, almost as though its previous residents had simply picked up and left without so much as thinking to bring anything along with them. What I could see looked opulent, holding an air of glamor about it that I wasn’t used to. This was not something uncommon to find in various asteroids on The Rubble, but I still felt a bit leery as I tried to come to a decision.

Not having many other options, especially with the massive case in hand, I made the call. Tonight, this would be my shelter.

Looking over my shoulder and all around, -reminding myself of the pain radiating through my shoulder blade- I took extra care not to lead anyone in behind me. The last thing I wanted was to give myself away to any prying eyes.

While it was odd, I hoped that no one truly cared about what a derelict girl was doing with a suspicious item blasted with military logos. The UNSC wasn’t exactly loved on Rubble, but it didn’t mean there weren’t a few sympathizers dottling around either, ready and able to make a move despite the governmentless planet.

Once I’d disappeared inside completely, I closed the door, listening as it locked with a metallic ‘click’ on its own. There was no question that I still felt compelled to scan my surroundings now that I was inside, my heartbeat picking up in my ears in the silence of the space.

But it was still empty, devoid of any life.

Not so much as a passerby had moved along the outside either, making it easier than I expected to slip into the home without a trace. With a relieved exhale, I let my body slowly relax, if only for a moment.

Peeking at my shoulder the best I could, the fabric torn in almost perfect placement, it was clear that I’d been grabbed for. It was too dark to see if any other colors had begun to surface, but the way it felt told me if they hadn’t, they would soon.

All else aside, though, I felt a little better at the thought of at least having somewhere to stay for the night until I moved on in the morning; until I could figure out what to do with whatever was in the case. I had all night to think about it, and the beginnings of excitement began to bubble within me once more as I thought about just what it might contain. Getting a better look around now, I couldn’t believe someone would just leave something so cozy and beautiful. After spending so much time on the streets struggling to survive, it felt like whoever lived there was utterly ungrateful for such a privilege. I couldn’t help but cringe at the thought of it.

But stepping into the larger area, I noticed a wine glass tipped over on a small table beside the couch, a purple hue staining the luxe white rug that sat beneath it. Iridescent shards of glass caught the starlight with each movement I made, and I began to put the pieces together.

Down a hallway, I could make out a chest of drawers tipped over, the decor that probably sat atop it at one point strewn along the floor. All at once it clicked, simultaneously making more sense and sending me on a self inflicted guilt trip for thinking whoever lived there didn't appreciate the life they had.

It wasn’t that someone left… Someone had been taken.

A chill ran through my blood. I didn’t want to think about what could’ve happened. On Rubble, it was never easy to tell.

I finally made my way over to a large table coated with a layer of dust, deciding it would be the perfect place to set the case down. I tried to lower it with care, but the thud echoed through the room anyway, almost making me jump. I was definitely still on edge despite being sure I was alone.

Glancing around again, the room was extremely dark– and if it weren’t for the exterior wall being an entire windowed view of the galaxy, it might’ve been pitch black. But turning on any kind of light might alert someone to my presence, and that was not something I wanted.

It hit me that I was able to absorb the beauty of such a stunning view for a moment, now that that I was mostly safe. I allowed myself to look on, wondering just what else the universe held before my eyes.

My mind roamed back my home planet, then the planet I’d last resided before finding myself on The Rubble. It traveled to memories that felt like made up dreams, and then to where my family might be in the vastness of it all.

I thought of the way the flowers sprouted from the ground on a warm afternoon, and how the ice rings hung high above in the sky no matter the time of day or night.

My heart felt wistful for something that I hadn’t seen since I was a child, hopeful that maybe one day, I’d be able to see it again. A few more minutes passed, and I cut my hesitation short. Melancholy was begging to settle in, and I didn’t want to deal with that, either. Besides, there was no way I wasn’t going to open that case now that I had some privacy, some safety, no matter how temporary it was.

In the cell of my heart, I wished Astra had come with me after all. I’d told her to stay behind, find a new life if the Spartan did do away with me. But I could still picture her standing beside me, bright-eyed and full of excitement for the big reveal. She’d just have to take my word for it once I figured out how to release myself from the dire situation I found myself in.

With a small huff, I turned back to the metal case, staring down at it with immense curiosity. The UNSC logo stood out over all, and I felt ill. They practically owned the galaxy, they were humanity's one and only spacefaring military and the technological advances they’d made were troubling to me and plenty of other people. They never seemed to care who got in the way of their tasks, and I was in deep trouble with them.

But I still couldn’t help but feel just a twinge of pride at my acquirement as it sat before me, nearly calling my name. The tiny flecks of light that shone through the windows made the case look like it was sparkling, and it only heightened the anticipation I faced.

The entire room seemed to pulse with energy as I began to lift my hands to its cold, rounded edges, fingers trembling slightly from the come down of adrenaline and the upswing of curiosity.

I bit into my lower lip as the case audibly clicked with a small flick of my thumbs against the locks. Slowly, almost nervously, I lifted the lid. My pulse had to be through the roof— so much was riding on this. I needed it to be worth it.

“What do you think you’re going to do with what’s inside once you open that up?” A voice rasped from behind me.

I did jump then, an audible gasp filling my lungs as they tightened with fear. The lid slammed back down from the small lift I’d already given it, ringing through the room. My mind couldn’t catch up with my body as I spun on my heel, instinctively turning in the direction of the all too familiar voice that struck terror deep within every fiber of my being.

I must've taken my sweet time making my way into home without even realizing it.

Peering through the darkness wasn’t necessary anymore— there he stood, tall, commanding, and encased in armor. It was dark, but I wasn’t sure how I’d missed someone so large.

Had he been there the whole time? I thought. Did he manage to follow me in?

I didn't expect someone so menacing to be capable of being so... quiet. I added ‘stealth’ to the checklist of all I knew a Spartan to be.

But there weren’t words to describe the way my heart sank in my chest. My mouth went dry, my fingers gripping the table behind me as I tried to steady myself. I was as good as dead now, I knew it. Spartans were not sympathetic to anyone, and even if whatever I’d taken really meant nothing in the grand scheme of things, I was sure it didn’t matter anymore.

Before I had time to respond, traces of blue light began to permeate the air, coming to life between us. It was electric, intriguing, and separating me from what I was sure to be my demise. It gathered itself into a holographic figure of a woman with short hair and a warm grin. She quickly turned away from me.

“Chief,” she began, her voice clear and brilliant. “She poses no real threat. She’s displaying an immense amount of fear. Maybe lighten up a little, she might be more inclined to give it back.”

“I think I can determine that, Cortana,” he retorted, his voice just a hint softer than it had been with me, but still irritated.

Cortana, I assumed, disappeared back into the ether with another neon blue glow. I had no time to ask about what the hell that was, and even if I did, I wasn’t sure I had the words, either.

“Well?” He posed again.

Swallowing hard, it was quite apparent that now was not the moment to lose all momentum of courage. But ‘Chief’ sounded familiar, too familiar.

Getting a better look with scrutinizing eyes, I took in the armor and the number on his chest. This was no ordinary -if they could be ordinary- Spartan. This was The Master Chief – 117. Also known as The UNSC’s most precious weapon to win the war against The Covenant. Their propaganda fodder, and my biggest disdain. I felt hatred mixing with the fear that coursed through my veins.

“I can assure you that I need whatever this is more than you, or your UNSC buddies do,” I finally responded, a vague, wavering hint of venom in my tone as my hand moved to grip the case.

It took everything in me not to wince at the mere thought of what he might do to me for not throwing my hands up and giving him what he was after. But I kept my eyes locked on his face instead, the helmet he now wore intimidating in and of its own right. He was completely covered, indestructible— the thick gold shield across his eyes concealing his face completely this time. I couldn’t tell exactly where he was looking at any given point, but given the situation, I assumed he was staring right back into my own.

———

She wasn’t exactly the type I’d have pictured to steal something that carried such risk along with it, but there I stood, in a standoff with the girl. As I stared her down, my HUD told me that her name was {Y/L/N}, {Y/F/N}, and that her home planet wasn’t too far from Reach. She was bold, I’d give her that, and I could tell on my own that she didn’t have much to lose. Ever since I’d removed the hormonal pellet that suppressed me for so long, I understood how that might feel.  

I wasn’t going to chase her down and tackle her for The Artifact. It was impossible for her to get very far, and even further impossible that she’d know what to do with it once she got her hands on it. Hell, we were still trying to figure out what the damn thing did.  

When I stepped closer to her, she leaned back against the table and into a sliver of light that caught her face in the darkness. She looked young, almost delicate for someone who was speaking to a Spartan as though he was just a stranger on the street. Her hair was disheveled and her eyes narrowed, sizing me up like she would really be able to put up a fight if I had to use force to retrieve The Artifact. But I didn’t need Cortana to tell me she was trembling all the same.

“How did you find me?” she asked, not letting me respond to her first statement, her voice faltering.

“Do you really think I wouldn’t be able to find you?” I responded.  

Each Asteroid had more than one entry and exit point. Cortana helped with the rest. It was actually pretty simple.

“Not the brightest star in the galaxy, that one,” Cortana chimed in so only I could hear her.

Still, the girl stood her ground, coming off the table and stepping up to me then. It was… commendable. My Mjolnir seemed to fill the space. I could’ve walked right past her, reached right over her, and taken the case back myself no problem. But what I assumed to be curiosity of what she thought she needed with it got the better of me.  

———

“I don’t know what you machines can do,” I retorted, though he seemed to make a point without even having to.

I was mostly just wondering why I wasn’t dead yet as he stood before me like an impenetrable wall of titanium, his stance ready for anything. I had to crane my neck back just to look at him, not level with his face in the slightest. The soldier was tall, bulky– things everyone knew just by seeing him on every screen or holograph you walked by. He was always painted as a hero, the thing to win the war, but he struck fear more than anything— especially in people like me.

Being so up close and personal, close enough to reach out and touch, was another story entirely. There was a grave difference between him and the average man, one that made me wonder if he actually was human. I felt like a child, small and fragile, next to the metal he wore, but I tried not to think about it. I seemed to have reached a crossroads now, and it was do or die.

His helmet’s visor gleamed in the starlight, his head cocking just an inch to the side once I spoke. Though there was no expression, he almost seemed confused, though it was just a wild guess.

“What's in that case is of no use to you unless you’ve got ties to The Covenant,” he finally spoke, voice deep, seeming like crushed velvet.

The way he spoke, each word full of conviction, made me realize I was wrong. He was definitely not confused.

———

“She doesn’t,” Cortana piped up in my auditory cortex again. “{Y/L/N}, {Y/F/N}. She originates from Niacadus, her family having migrated to Reach. Her father, UNSC, AWOL– deceased. Her mother was captured by The Banished some time ago, also deceased.. Hm… I wonder if she knows that. Maybe, we should tell her.”

I tried to ignore her as I usually did.

“I have her file right here thanks to her father’s association with the UNSC. But… that’s all it says. There is no other data aside from her parents.”

“Cortana!” I finally whispered just loudly enough. I was trying to concentrate on what the thief was telling me.  

“Right. Proceed!”

———

“So you’re just carrying around Covenant contraband to bring them around Rubble, then? Why? Because none of us here are important enough to you? We’re disposable, losable.. You could fight them here, wipe us all out single-handedly in the process, and no one would bat an eye,” I spat.

For just a second while I was on my tangent, I thought I heard him mutter something, but it was so quiet, I couldn’t quite make it out. I wasn’t sure I really cared anyway.

“Just like you did to those poor people on Madrigal,” I finished.

“You have no idea what’s going on here,” he said sternly, his tone colder than it had been. I’d clearly struck some kind of nerve. “This is way beyond your comprehension, Miss {Y/L/N}.”

But that stopped me dead in my tracks, and I could feel my eyes widen. He knew my name. I wasn’t sure how he knew my name, but he knew my name.

It seemed to roll off of his tongue in a way that I wasn’t sure how to handle, and I tried to collect myself as I stared into his visor. I could only imagine what else he knew about me. I dreaded to think that maybe I really did find myself in an irreparable predicament.

I figured then that I had two options at that point. Relinquish the item, or throw the case open, take whatever I could that was inside, and run again. If I wasn’t dead yet, I assumed there had to have been a reason. Maybe, just maybe, I could get away with it.

He and I both knew he could take me out in a heartbeat, crush me like a daisy under his feet. But whatever it was that was keeping him from doing so that very moment, might’ve been my only hope. Perhaps it was another stupid decision, but I was good as dead either way… Why not take the chance?

There was no time to mull it over or hesitate the way that I had in the alleyway earlier. It was time to act, and I had to catch him as off-guard as possible if I was going to make any headway.

So, before I could even begin to think about what I was going to do, I turned around, lunged back toward the table, and threw open the case.

———

“Chief!” Cortana cried in my head, her attempt at alerting me to the situation I'd already seen coming.  

I could only take one step forward as I reached out to grab {Y/N} before everything went white, the world beginning to change through my eyes the way it had every time I touched The Artifact.

But there was something different about the visions, this time. There was no picnic, no forest, no dog. There wasn’t a house and there weren’t any caves… Just sky. Sky and fields for miles.  

And her.