4 Years Later

"Atten-shun!" The drill Sargent shouted. The Spartans and me, the only one younger than 16, lined up in the front of the training room and quickly saluted.

"At ease." He said. "Today you will be cataloged for height, weight, and physical features by Dr. Catherine Halsey, the overseer of this specific program. She holds the highest rank a civilian can have so treat her no different than me." He then stepped aside as the door opened and she came in with an assistant holding equipment. She immediately went to work and took each Spartan into a room and weighed and measured them, including their Body mass index. When she came for me and measured me though, she smiled for a brief second... I blinked and then it was gone. She didn't say a word when she went on, and I stood there bewildered.

"Get cleaned up for lunch marines!" The drill Sargent ordered when she had left. "Sir, yes sir!" We shouted and marched to our quarters.

1100 hours

Being in the mess hall was a little awkward for me since I was the only kid and everyone was at least 4 years older than me. Luckily though, I was respected and had been promoted to Team Leader, or Captain if you could call it that, after our mission that terrible night long ago. I no longer spoke about it since I wasn't supposed to show emotion to my team, I had to be strong for them and a role model. I was also a lot taller, stronger, and faster than other 12-year-olds.

Selina, Kade, and Scott had become my only "friends" They were never called by their first name by anyone but me, mostly because that was the name I had learned first. Others simply called them Spartan 245, 164, 283. I don't know how the number system works, I never asked. We had also become the best team, White team, and now had pieces of white included in all of our clothing and armor, even if it was a darker white that was almost grey. We ran in formation with each other instead of a messy group like when we first started. Everyone knew my name now and showed me a decent amount of respect now too despite the age difference. I had proved my worth during the attack four years ago and although no one directly brought it up, I heard the tall tales and stories for weeks afterwards. That's not to say that we hadn't lost a lot of people over the years though. Small squads from other groups were deployed and never came back. Now it was only us and a few other teams from training left.

We grabbed our standard issue lunch and sat down. Scott spoke first, asking, "When do you think we will be getting our augmentations? I never knew when they did it. Do they test you or something?"

"I don't know, probably just when they think you are ready physically and mentally." Selina said.

He thought for a moment, "I guess I was hoping for a more specific date but you're probably right Selina, as you usually are. I wonder when I will be ready." Kade said. I remained silent as they talked. Even in such a comfortable atmosphere I usually didn't socialize as I was told only to speak when necessary and was trained like that. Even if that wasn't the case, I had limited my contributions to conversations after I lost Grayson and Sift and my team respected that.

I thought about my own augmentations as they talked. I knew that I would probably get my first round soon. I had passed my first four years of training and was gaining significant weight and muscle. Even though I was younger than everyone, I already knew as much as my fellow cadets and could take them in a fight using my wits. However training could only do so much and for now their strength was still superior to mine, but that was okay. If I kept at the pace I was at now, I was on track to be stronger, faster, taller, and smarter than them when I reached 16 year old.

I listened to their conversation loosely as I ate. They concluded that no one knew when enhancements would start and finished lunch. We cleaned up our trays and reported to class. Today we were learning about soldiers in combat.

"There are many heroes in battles..." the instructor started. "but none have done more than some of the first Spartans for the UNSC."

Everyone in the room sat up a bit straighter, their interest collectively piqued. The teacher paused, smiling at their reaction, and continued.

"These Spartans were entrusted with the most important missions because of their strength, natural leadership, and quick-thinking. They took on the hard jobs and over time, they went missing-in-action doing acts of heroism for mankind. Now there are only a few left," he said.

"Sir?" A cadet in the back interrupted. "Yes?" The teacher responded.

"If the Spartans were so great, why didn't they make more?" He asked.

"That is a very good question cadet. The reason there are not more is that to make them, they had to be exceptionally gifted and very young children to do well in the spartan program and withstand augmentations. These children were one in a billion finds, and so they were tested and then specially selected, and eventually kidnapped from their homes." the teacher said, to which gasps of exclamation could be heard throughout the room. He continued, "Also when they were augmented, they had less than a 50% chance of coming out of it alive and well. There were originally about 75 candidates, but only about 33 made it out of the program fit for duty. Dr. Halsey was sent to jail for kidnapping them and other war crimes that we will discuss another day."

The room was completely silent for a moment as everyone who had been in awe of the program were ashamed now that they realized how terrible it really was. I however was a bit concerned at this revelation. If it was true, then my whole existence was technically illegal, and whoever was sponsoring me could get into serious trouble. Not to mention I recognized the name Dr. Halsey from the woman who had me play the coin game and did our weight and height 4 years ago. Considering she was working with the UNSC again, she must have gotten out of jail but my existence and training was still a bad thing right? But then again, it seemed like I was the only one taken this time. Could they need me for some specific purpose that would excuse the use of the program one last time?

Even if that was the case, I didn't even know if I would be able to go through augmentations considering the survival rate the teacher just mentioned. I mean all I could do was trust them I guess, it's not like anyone would believe me if I told them my story. And even if they did, what would I do? If the UNSC was involved I could just be causing more trouble for myself too. In any case, I was too far into this to quit now.

Scott seemed to remember our original topic and spoke-up. "Sir? Who was one of the last Spartans left?" Several chairs squeaked as they swiveled from their conversations to face the front of the room again. He answered, "That would be the Master Chief, Spartan 117, he's the only well-known one."

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

He went on about the Spartan program but my eyes widened in recognition. So that's why my number was special, It was the number directly after Master Chiefs. This was further proof that I was here for a reason, but what? I brought my attention back to the teacher who was saying, "and that brings me to Master Chief's achievements. He had to destroy 2 of the Halo rings to stop the Flood parasite and the covenant from killing mankind with them. The Halos are massive superweapons that kill all life, originally meant to stop the flood by killing their food supply." The cadets all had their mouths open. Scott said, "He did all of that!? Spartans truly must have been everything people say they are."

The teacher smiled, "Yes 283, they were the saviors of mankind. Unfortunately, they are almost all gone after sacrificing themselves in the initial invasions. Most went MIA when Reach fell. There are new Spartan programs like the Spartan IIIs but no genetically enhanced adult can replace them. They were the best of the best." There was a moment of silence.

"Well," the teacher said, clapping his hands together. "It seems we've run out of time, you need to get right to training. There will be a test on the history of the Spartans in the future so make sure you review your notes. Do your best in your next class." he said smiling. We all started filing out the door. I now knew more about why I was here, even if it wasn't very much. I would have to do my research on Master Chief I thought, maybe it would help me find out what they want to use me for in the future. However as I was about to leave for training, the teacher leaned over and whispered as I walked by, "Don't let anyone beat you."

I was about to ask what he meant but he quickly ushered me out the door, saying nothing more. I shrugged, confused as what it could mean. But, for now, I have to get on my training suit. I headed off to the locker rooms. I quickly got into my gear, given to us as a step up from training level 1, and grabbed my Stun-Paint loaded gun, given to us as a step up from level 2. I was the only one that had a better helmet with a computerized screen and movement tracker, a level 3 accomplishment. After we put our gear on we went out into the training field/forest. We were divided into two teams, red and blue.

I was pretty familiar with the members of my team, but there were only ten here that I grew up with. The rest would usually be people who were added and taken out sporadically for missions or some other need. This round was Capture the Flag. The automated voice started a countdown and we got into our tubes. The voice hit zero and we drifted off into cryo-sleep, a sleep-like state in which your body doesn't age. After what felt like nothing (actually 30 minutes in which the game was set up) we were awoken from cryo and got our helmets on. We quickly hurried out into the sheltered starting alcove and waited for the countdown. The countdown hit ten seconds and I relayed our plan. "Ok, let's do this quick and clean. Ten of you will hit them head-on and then quickly retreat to draw them in. When they take the bait, two teams of five," I pointed to a group of cadets, "...will flank them and another will close their escape route. I will provide cover fire from that tree," I pointed to the tallest tree, "after they pass me."

"You ten soldiers," I pointed to a group on my right, "will return and jump behind this ledge. When they jump over it, surround them, and if they don't surrender immediately, take them out. I will then head for the flag with a squad of eight. You two, " I pointed to two soldiers with sniper rifles slung across their backs, one of them being Scott "stay to the tree-tops and take out any snipers that might be watching us through the brush. I need to count on you to cover us." I finished, looking them in the eye. They nodded solemnly and slung their rifles on their shoulders, walking off to find good spots to set up.

The countdown hit zero. Ten cadets moved in while the other two teams spread out among the trees. My team and the backup team hid under the ledge at the near side of the alcove. I waited silently, I could hear the other cadets breathing heavily. Waiting was always the hardest part. I tilted my head over the side of the bottom of the tree I was behind so that only the smallest edge of my helmet could be visible from the other side. The clearing was silent.

I shifted my weight to keep the blood in my legs flowing. Then a twig snapped from the foliage to my left, directly across from the ledge. I signaled to a cadet under it and he waved to the others to press close underneath it so they wouldn't be seen. I paused, waiting until the nearest enemy cadets passed my tree, and took them out before quickly scaling the tree as planned. Our team's main group ran out of the foliage and engaged the enemy. After making sure I was completely hidden, I shot another two of their soldiers before I had to hide to maintain cover. The main squad who engaged them retreated and the other team took the bait, running after them.

I dropped down from the tree and hit the forest floor as quietly as possible, but when I got to the bottom, I stumbled. As I did, I was blinded momentarily by a glint from someone's armor. I quickly aimed and took out the sniper up a tree with a quick burst from my rifle. I checked the area for any others before running up to join with my group to find the flag. Tree branches whipped at my helmet as I jumped over a log. The forward squad followed me to a clearing. The flag was in the center. My team slowly walked into the clearing, keeping our rifles up, alert for any movement. I lowered my rifle, backing towards the flag, whipping my rifle back and forth. Then there was a crack and the soldier beside me fell with red splattered paint on his chest. It was impossible to tell the exact location of the shot, he had twisted when he fell.

"Take cover!" I yelled. We quickly retreated and ran into the bushes surrounding the clearing. They were all around us! I looked at my motion tracker to try and give some help. There was movement to my five-o'clock, but he hadn't noticed me. I backed up and circled so I was behind him. He was currently lining up a shot at Scott who was occupied with a sniper-battle. You're not taking out a soldier under my watch. I walked up behind him, stepping slowly. I aimed for his head, focusing on the stripes of the back of his helmet. I took one more step to get a clearer shot through the foliage. A twig snapped under my foot.

I fired and cursed as he swung around and rolled out of the way. I stepped out of the brush and aimed again and fired. As I pulled the trigger I noticed him doing the same thing and darted to one side. The paint hit his gun instead, and because of my impromptu dodge mine got caught in a branch and I couldn't pull it out.

Now that we were both without our primary weapons, he took advantage and moved in, swinging at my head. I abandoned my gun and ducked. At the same time I swept his feet out from under him, breathing hard and thinking for a way out. He rolled over backwards and I moved in, punching him in the side as he stood up, which left a small splatter, marking the touch with paint from my gloves.

He threw some gut-punches at my left and right side. I got tagged on my side by his right arm but I grabbed his left arm mid-swing, spun around behind him, twisting it in the process, and kicked the back of his knees. He dropped to his knees and bent over, crying out in pain as I pulled his arm behind his back.

To finish him off, I put my hand in front of him and hit his top helmet part, leaving a paint splatter their and marking him as a 'kill'. He fell and stayed there, not permitted to move once the paint was on his helmet's half-face cover. I stepped away and looked around. My team shot one last person and was scouting the area for any more soldiers. Selina came up to me and said, "We think you should take the flag, you have earned it." I nodded. "Thank You."

I walked up to the flag and grabbed it, tearing it out of its holder. The automated voice said 'Training game Capture the Flag Over'

A door opened in the foliage and a commander stepped out. "I watched your game, Good job 118." I nodded respectfully. "Thank you, sir."

"Now, there is something I want to talk to you about so report to my office at 1800 hours." I handed him the flag. "Sir, Yes Sir." I replied saluting. He went back through the door and my team came over and congratulated me. All of the 'dead' got up and took their armor to go get washed. We went to our quarters. Winners got to take a break while the team that lost took 5 laps around the training area and did 100 push-ups. I took off my gear, put on my uniform, and walked to the commander's office a little later, at 1800 hours.