Kyle's POV

I arrived back at my barracks, slightly disappointed my armor wasn't waiting for me when I opened the door to an empty room. He did say he'd send someone and that should take a while though, so I shouldn't be too upset. What to do, what to do. I sat at my computer, logging in and thinking. Oh! I know, that file! I'll search for that solar system with a red dwarf and sun with a habitable planet. I went into the galactic search and searched for the specific info. But when I hit the Search button it came up with nothing except a small file that I couldn't open because it was classified. I sighed, man, despite classified files supposedly being rare, this stuff seems to be everywhere. I did my thing and pulled up the file, revelaing a map with the planet I was looking for on it. Apparently it was called Atrius, and was on the outer rim of the colonies. It had two oceans and a few bases on it. I looked for the base that matched my dream's description. I found it, it was called Fort Cause and had a specialized training program.

Finally, I'm getting answers for once, I thought. I looked at the map of the area... Woah! This facility is huge! It had and indoor and outdoor training area and full sized shooting ranges along with a ton of other specialized areas. I began looking into the map a bit more before pausing. Wait, what was I doing? Oh yeah, I have to find him, the kid from my dream. Focus Kyle, I thought a bit scoldingly. I clicked out of the map and swiped until I found the directory and the rosters. I searched through the descriptions, looking for his specifications. A few minutes later I sighed in frustration. He wasn't in the rosters! There was a black page on one if the rosters that must be him but why would He himself be classified?

I sighed and hacked into the page, clearing off the black and looking at the page again. It was him! The kid from my dream! Blue eyes, brown hair, 12, 5 feet 6 inches, Cadet Steele 118. Yes! I silently cheered in my head.

I know his name too now and he is 5ft 6? That is Tall! Like really tall. But hmm, no weight. Maybe they just haven't done it yet. I thought. I clicked on another part of his file. It said, Subject's purpose: Succeed the Master Chief. First Augmentation Appointment: age 14, March 31st, 0600 hours.

Wait, what? Succeed Master Chief? That was his sole purpose? I was at a loss for words, or thought. I don't know what to think. That was a big task, and Master Chief was like The Guy. Everyone knew about him. His battles were legendary, and this kid was somehow supposed to fill those shoes? That must be why he is classified. I moved my hand over the screen to click on the accuracy percentage and accomplishments. But before I could, there was a knock at my door. I scrambled to close out of his profile and quickly said, "Come in." One of the maintenance crew came in holding a suit of armor. "Delivery for Kyle. He hopes it holds up to your expectations." The man said.

My eyes widened as I realized that it was my new armor. The person set it down on my bed and left but my attention was fixed on the gloriously customized piece of equipment before me. I was probably exaggerating but I didn't care. I have never had anything that truly was made for me and me alone. It was a base-dark blue and White color. It also had black and gray pieces all over it. My number 324 was clearly stamped in white on the middle left of the chest-piece and there were small lights on the shoulders and around the suit for various purposes. The helmet had also been replaced with a better one and had lights on it on either side of the visor and a camera on the top right.

The armor came in pieces but together it would be incredible. I brushed my hand over my number on the armor and rushed to my computer, turning it on and quickly sending messages to my friends Slash and Seth. I told them to come to my quarters and went back to my armor, still amazed. I was inspective the undershot when I heard my door open moments later and I turned around. Seth and Slash came in and when Slash came in he immediately gasped, seeing the armor. "Is that yours? Is it Real armor?! Like bulletproof?" He asked in awe.

"Yes and yes," I said, "The First Lieutenant tested me and said I was ready for it." I smiled proudly as they looked in awe at the armor.

"Is that all that you wanted us to come for? I mean it's cool alright, but you could have shown us this at training. I'm getting the feeling you have something else you want to show us right?" Seth asked. He was always straight to the point, although sometimes a bit frustratingly so. "Oh yeah, I have to tell you guys something, sit down, this might take a while." I exclaimed.

Stolen story; please report.

They sat down and settled in, looking at me expectantly. "Ok, so you know how I do good in training matches? Like really good? Top of the class good?" I asked. They nodded. "Well, apparently I attract a crowd and First Lieutenant Lasky watches almost every time, and that's how he set up my test to determine if I was ready for my new armor."

Slash gasped in awe, "Dude, that's insane! But how do you know they are all there for you?" He asked skeptically. "Oh of course they are there for me, besides, he said so." I laughed, throwing my pillow at him, "but that's not all, last night, I had a really really weird dream. There was this kid, bro-," I continued, describing the dream down to the last detail. They nodded periodically, not once interrupting .

"-and then woke up in the cryo-tube and choked on the cryo-tube's air that they use to unfreeze us." I finished.

"That's so weird. Did you look him up? I mean it'd be foolish to think that you hadn't already." Slash said. "Yes, you know me." I said playfully. "Anyway, turns out that the planet he's on and he himself are classified. Like, there's nothing on either that's available to the public. They want to keep this guy as big of a secret as possible."

"Now that's weird." Seth said.

"I know right, his name is Cadet Steele 118 and he is 5ft 6! That's crazy tall!." I exclaimed excitedly.

"Whoa, I'm kind of jealous. I wonder if they did any experiments on him or something." Slash said. "No idea, but I wouldn't put it past them, anyway," I continued. "from what I gathered, he lives on a planet called Atrius, and it takes a year or two to reach through Slipspace."

"That's so cool, that you had the dream and it was real. Too bad you can't go through slip-space to get there. The Infinity wouldn't waste a trip for that." Slash said. I paused and sighed a bit dejectedly, realizing he was right. It's not like I'd ever see him, so the dream meant nothing. It was cool and everything but we would probably never meet. "Anyway," I said, changing the subject. "Who wants to help me try on my armor?" I smiled mischievously. They smiled, "Let's do it." Seth said. We got the under layer out and put it on top of my clothes. We grabbed the chest-piece and clicked the two interlocking pieces in place. It was a snug fit, perfect.

We worked our way down until we reached the knee pieces. It was a bit confusing to figure out which way they assembled but after fiddling around a bit, we got it on and finished my look with the boots. I stood and they stepped back. Slash put his hand on his chin, looking me up and down and said, "It suits you, and wow what a great fit."

Seth agreed, "Yeah, looks nice and bad as heck!" I smiled and shook my head. "Thanks guys, glad you like it, well I guess we should take it off now, come help me." They stepped in to grab the straps on the back but as they did, the intercom came on and said, Cadet 324 please report to your commander for assorted messages immediately.

Crap! I still had my armor on. "Umm..." I said, trying to think about what to do. "Hey, you're fine, just go. Lots of people wear their armor around." Seth said.

I paused a second longer but I didn't really have a choice anyways. "Alright, you are probably right. Thanks, bye guys!" I said quickly and ran out the door. The armor was heavy so I ran slower than usual, but I still made good time. When I got there I was practically panting so I waited outside his office to catch my breath for a sec. Once I was calm I went inside, trying to look cool and collected. My commander turned around and his eyes widened in surprise at seeing my armor. "Did you get that today?" He asked. I nodded, turning a bit to show it off.

"How? Cadets don't get armor until the next level, or so I thought" he said, confused. I frowned a little at his reaction but said, "First Lieutenant Lasky tested me at the training room and said I was fit to receive it. I think that means I've leveled up." He sighed and shrugged. "Hmm, ok, good job then. But that's not why I called you here." he said.

"I called you here because in 4 years, you will be having your first augmentations. You may not know what these are but that's why I am putting you in an Augmentations Preparations Class, Aug-prep for short." I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "When will it be Sir?" I asked. What if it got in the way of my training?

"Don't worry, it won't get in the way of training," he said, a smile in his eyes. He knew how much I enjoyed my practice matches. "No, it will take place once every other week on Wednesday, during your classes and before training. I expect you to attend them instead and I will inform your teachers of this. I wish you good luck in this endeavor. That's all, you are dismissed."

I breathed out a sigh of relief that I didn't know I had been holding. Looks like everything worked out, and I wasn't in trouble. I started walking to the door. "Oh, and Kyle," I stopped and turned around. "I suggest you wear that all you can now, it will help you get used to the extra weight." he said. I nodded and left the room. Wow, what a great day. I hope every day will be like th-. Suddenly the Infinity shook, sending me sprawling and slamming me into the wall. A few alarms went off. What the...

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