I watched the Spartans until we got far enough away that the trees blocked my view. "Hey!" I yelled up to the pilot. "Where the heck am I going?!"

He leaned his head back slightly and shouted over the roaring wind, "Del'Rio is ordering almost everyone to drive back that Didact. I've been instructed to drop you off near the Infinity's Anti Aircraft guns to assist the soldiers there in destroying the Didact by using any means necessary!"

Ok, I guess I can try to do that, shouldn't be too hard, I'm only trying to take down a giant impenetrable orb that is stealing thousands of gigabytes of classified data per minute. I grumbled to myself and sighed heavily before I grabbed my gun and got up, clutching onto the rack to steady myself as we hit a bit of turbulence.

Subconsciously watching the landscape for when we would get close, I checked to see if I had all of my equipment. I finally saw the main deck of the Infinity come into view, the massive friendly Anti-Aircraft guns inactive.

"Light's green!" The pilot said and hovered about 3 feet above the deck. I hopped out, rolling as soon as I hit the ground to break my fall and immediately getting up. I watched the pelican fly away and took my gun off my back. Hmm, where to start? I looked out across the vast platform, spotting multiple battles taking place across it. I tapped my gun quietly for a moment as I tried to decide which one I should assist with.

Suddenly there was a huge explosion to my left, on a deck above mine. I guess I better start there. I sprinted to the stairs, hopping three steps at a time, and slowing near the top. Can't be too careful.

I peeked over the top of the stairs, and immediately jumped out, firing. I killed one of the Elites that was up there, the other just letting go of a soldier he was about to kill at my interference. Dismissing the soldier the other Elite would have killed, he charged at me. I fired at him, draining his shield and firing one shot into his shoulder before he came up on me.

The Elite only flinched as he tackled me on my back next to the deck railing. I instantly lost my rifle, the force of his tackle flinging it far away, and lost my breath as his 700 lb or 325 kilo body landed on mine. The Elite sat up quickly and immediately pulled his arm back and brought his energy sword down onto me, aiming for my chest. I grabbed the handle, the only safe part of the energy sword, and managed to stop the blade inches from my chestplate somehow. I locked my elbows, and my bones groaned as the Elite pushed down on me.

The Elite grunted at my unexpected resistance and started pressing down harder, using his weight to increase the force, the end of the sword sizzling into my armor. My elbows began to buckle, and I couldn't keep my arms straight anymore. What should I do?! I can't go for my knife or I'll surely die and he has my legs pinned. Another push and it sizzled deeper, passing through my armor and beginning to cut into my skin. I cried out and pressed harder, my arms visibly shaking as I forced my muscles to their absolute limit, but I couldn't stop the blade from entering my chest. Something punctured through and I thought, This is it. This is where I die.

Then there was a sharp crack! The Elite seemed to seize up and fall off of me, his energy sword turning off as he released it, but not before it cut into my right arm armor, slicing through the first layer.

My breathing was labored from the pain in my chest, I shoved it the rest of the Elite's body off of me and sat up slowly, panting. Who saved me? And why'd they have to take so dang long?!

I looked to my right and saw a soldier looking at me, his rifle slowly coming down from firing position. His companion was just starting to get up as well, still rubbing his throat from the Elite's chokehold. I looked down at my chest to see blood running down my chest armor through the holes the energy sword had made. I weakly put my hand over them in an attempt to stop the bleeding, but my efforts accomplished very little. I painfully turned over and pushed myself to my feet.

"Thanks," the soldier said, starting to walk towards me as he shouldered his rifle. "For saving our lives."

"It's... it's not over yet." I wheezed and walked unsteadily to where my weapon had landed. I began to bend down to grab it, but the soldier grabbed it for me. "Here." he said, offering it to me. I took my hand off my chest and accepted it gratefully. He gasped as he finally noticed the copious amounts of blood running down my chest from the energy sword holes. "You're hurt! Here, Jason, get the biofoam!" He shouted to his partner who was shooting at any covenant trying to come up the stairs. Jason looked back and quickly threw a grenade down before grabbing something that looked like a small fire extinguisher and running over.

There was an explosion as he quickly handed it to the other soldier, and ran back to the stairs to continue firing on the Covenant and Prometheans trying to come up. "Here, this is gonna hurt but it'll stop the bleeding." The soldier said and sprayed it into my wound. It was some thick white foam, and it did hurt, but I couldn't complain. I grunted and tried to stay still. "There," he said, pulling it away and tossing it behind him, "that'll hold for now."

"Thanks" I said awkwardly and got up. "I never caught your name."

"Cameron, what's yours?" He asked, taking out his gun. "Kyle 324." I replied, taking mine out as well and subconsciously putting my hand over my chest-wound.

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"Oh, so you're going to be a spartan. Glad to have you. We better hurry over to Cameron, can't let him start the party without us right?" He said, smiling and running over. I chuckled, coughing a bit as I did so, and ran over as well.

Jason was slowly backing up, a good ways away from the stairs now as the aliens pushed through. I started running, and jumped past him, kicking the first few aliens with my feet and knocking them all over. I opened fire and I saw Cameron firing but looking at me with awe. I mean, I didn't think it was that impressive, but I guess that was definitely not a standard attack they teach at the academies. I shot a Promethean, not even watching as the bullet missed through it's disassembling body, but instead turning around and firing, killing the same Promethean where it re-appeared behind me.

Jason was on my left and Cameron on my right, shooting a couple Prometheans appearing in our way and an Elite as we pushed forwards, almost running. We got closer to the AA guns. Come on, I needed to hurry before that didact steals too much information. "Any of you technicians?" I shouted over the gunfire as we shoot a small group of grunts, hopping over their bodies.

"Yeah, Jason is." Cameron said, knifing a stray Promethean dog. "Good, I'll need his expertise in a minute." I reply, not even focusing on shooting, my reflexes automatically killing anything non-human for me.

"Ok, do you want him to get the Anti Aircraft guns online, because our destination is coming up fast." He says and I look up, surprised to see the AA guns only about a hundred feet ahead of us. We were that fast?! Sometimes I impress even myself. "Alright, we know those guns went offline because of Covenant interference. Jason, I need you to fix whatever the covenant messed with while me and Cameron keep guard." I said, killing another Promethean and skidding to a halt in front of the maintenance door. He puts his gun on his back and pushes the door open, the lock already broken. Jason steps inside, then Cameron, then me after checking that no Covenant or Prometheans were actively following us.

I closed the door with a loud Clang! The soldiers were already ahead so I followed quickly, keeping an eye on the exit. Jason entered a large room with rows of computers and wiring, and went over to a torn panel. "Ahh, so this is what they destroyed." He said, taking it off and going to work. I slumped to the floor, exhausted and weak from my injury. When will this chaos end?

___________________________

Steele's POV

The next few days I had to stay in the bed, doctors orders. But, of course I had to be moving in order to not let my muscles atrophy, so I tried walking a bit every day. I didn't push it though, I had made way too many mistakes in the last year to be acceptable. Two weeks had passed since the augmentations, and the doctors said that because I was recovering so rapidly, I'd be back on Atrius in a week or two. The people watching my recovery let me have regular clothes back, but they all had to be specially fitted due to my augmentations. Right now I was trying to get someone to escort me to the training room, claiming to be a new recruit.

Come on, what's taking so long? The escort should be here by now, I thought, pacing around the room.

There was a whooshing sound as the sliding doors opened and someone walked in. Finally, I can't wait to get out of here. I turned around, opening my mouth to complain on the wait... and closed it. Standing in front of me was a pretty cute girl, blue eyes, short brown hair, and a pearly white smile illuminating her face.

I coughed awkwardly and said, "Um, I assume you are here to escort me to the training room?" She smiled even wider, if possible, and said, "Yes, this way please." She pointed to her left down the hall. I briskly walked past her and her unnerving smile and stepped into the hall. I breathed in deeply. Fresh air! I heard footsteps as she started walking down the hall and looked to see her pretty far down. I can't ever get used to that.

I jogged to catch up to her and slowed to a walk. She walks pretty fast for such a small person. She turned left and I followed quickly, getting a workout before I even reached the room. Even with my memory I soon lost track of all the twists and turns. Where are we going? That answer showed itself not a moment later as she stopped in front of an indistinct door. I watched her put a key card on a scanner. So that's how they keep people out, and why I needed an escort. There was a click and the doors slid open.

I nearly opened my mouth in awe. I thought Fort Cause's training room was big, but this was four times the size. There were hundreds of soldiers working out on multiple floors, some getting fitted in armor, some sitting at tables engaged in gambling or talking. People there were pretty buff, but when I stepped in, talking stopped near me, while the rest were oblivious. I probably look like a freak with my fading scars showing at the edges of my sleeves and collar. Thankfully I brought a hat so they couldn't see the scars on my head. My hair was slightly growing back but now I realize that it would have looked awkward.

I followed the woman, not looking at the ODSTs and marines who were staring at me. She led me away to a bench with a bar and some weights already prepared next to it. "You can start here and rotate to whatever you want. Just press this button," she handed me a button on a small keychain, "and I'll come to take you back to your quarters." she said, plastered a smile on her face, and left. I looked at the assortment of weights before me. I guess I'll try 85 lbs for now. I loaded both ends of the bar and sat on the bench. Laying back, I grabbed the bar, easing it off of the hooks, and resting it on my chest to get a better grip.

I looked up, preparing to lift it, and met the eyes of an ODST instead. He leaned over me with a few other ODSTs on either side.

"So, you're the new kid. You may try to act tough but you ain't foolin' nobody. You probably drew those scars yourself, crappy job there." He said cockily. I grimaced, restraining the urge to punch him considering the pain these scars had caused me.

He continued, "You ain't no one, and you'll learn that soon enough if your smart. Why don't you let the real men do all the work instead, go join the kiddy table and get back to paintballs." He reached for the bar, bending over. His buddies snickered.

I had enough, what was their problem?

I shoved the bar up fast, accidentally catching him right in the nose. Surprised, he stumbled back with a shocked look on his face. Blood started to stream from the broken nose and he tried to stanch the flow with his fingers.

"Oh, you're in for it now. If I were you, I'd watch my back." He said in a nasally voice, walking away as he desperately tried to contain the bleeding. His buddies shot me glares and followed.

I laid down on the bench again, and hoisted the bar back into position. Man, Now I've drawn attention to myself and I've earned a few enemies. I need to keep a low profile from now on. I lifted the bar and started to bench-press, the ODST's words echoing in my ears.