[Open in journal and in person in the lobby]

[lonenoble]

[This isn't been remotely what she'd been expecting to have happen. Not by a long shot. She knows it is only a matter of time before it finally happens. Alone, with all of the Covvies on Reach... It is just a matter of time before the deathblow finally falls. She knows death is coming. But she doesn't regret it.

She just watches on her back as what should be the deathblow starts to fall.

Suddenly, the scenery changes. The Elites vanish. She's indoors. And instead of Reach... It's an unfamiliar room.  A lobby of some kind.  But she's injured. Her helmet is nearby on the floor. And she's gasping for breath as she tries to deal with the injuries from the Elites that she'd been trying to hold off.  When she finally manages speech, it's rushed.]

How did I get here? What's going on?

Comments

[inmylight-comdr.livejournal.com]

He's good at that. Infiltration and cryptanalyst specialist, but that's only a fraction of his talents.

[A little twitch of her lip, at least some of her news was good.] It's not going to be easy, adjusting here. Not for us. It certainly hasn't been for me. But, Freelancer York was able to supply some news that made my stay a little easier.

Six ... we win. Sierra-117 and his AI Cortana. They find a way to break the Covenant. [She reaches out to clasp her teammate's arm.] We win.

[lonenoble]

Interesting specialties. I take it he's been very useful.

[Noble Six nods.] We're Spartans. We don't do easy.

[That's almost a smile.] Good. Very good news, even if we won't see it.

[inmylight-comdr.livejournal.com]

He has. I'll let you find that out for yourself.

[She notices Six used 'we'. Death isn't something that would surprise her, but she does heave a sigh and glance away for a moment. If Six used 'we' and they'd only been parted a week? That wasn't good news at all.] So. What news have you got for me?

[She's not expecting happy. She's not expecting good. She's just hoping for successful, and well. Hopefully someone makes it out. This is her family they're talking about.]

[lonenoble]

Ought to be interesting.

[That gets a long pause. Kat already guessed something was wrong, and Six could tell that. But where to begin... That was the question.] What do you want first?

[inmylight-comdr.livejournal.com]

Well, I don't want to spoil all the fun.

[Yeah, you can't get much past Kat ... when she's paying attention, that is.] Let''s start from where I left off. Last thing I remember before being brought here was running to the bunker at New Alexandria. What did we find out about our redeployment to SWORD?

[lonenoble]

Of course not.

[Dancing around the issue a little.] It wasn't exactly a torch and burn. That was the cover story. There was something that needed retrieved from there. Sensitive information. Humanity's best hope for survival. We were to get it to a ship to get it off planet.

[inmylight-comdr.livejournal.com]

[And here Kat's curiosity kicks in. If Six is giving any indication of the more dire news she's holding, Kat doesn't notice it for the moment in deference to other things.]

What was it? ['Sensitive information' was like catnip to her.]

[lonenoble]

Information on alien technology to help with the war, and the AI that was carrying the information. We were the couriers and I was the one she chose as a carrier. We weren't given the full details.

[inmylight-comdr.livejournal.com]

Sounds like quite an honor, Six. I hope we were successful ... ? [Hoping Six hand't been brought in from the middle of that. She knew well enough how tricky time could be, but she hoped to hear an ending to this story that had some good.]

[lonenoble]

It was successful as far as I know. Made sure the Pillar of Autumn had what it needed to get clear. That's why I didn't get off Reach...

[inmylight-comdr.livejournal.com]

[Kat leans back and nods. It was sad, but there was a certain measure of hope from it. Every little success counted.] You did good, Six. Long-term survival was never in our job description.

[Spartans in general, but especially the IIIs. Kat and Six and their fellows were already on borrowed time, having been yanked from the slaughterhouse missions the rest of their companies had been sent on.]

[She hesitates a few moments before continuing. She wanted to know, she had to know, and although she had a pretty good idea where this conversation might go, she had to hear it.] And what about our team, Six? What about Noble?

[lonenoble]

I know it wasn't. Know it all to well. The only one I can't confirm the status of is Jun. He was sent to escort Halsey to safety while we took care of the AI.

[Six knew that too. Knew it all too well.] Everyone else is dead.

[inmylight-comdr.livejournal.com]

Escort who?

[But that final statement chases all other questions from her. She breathes in a sharp breath, closing her eyes and dropping her head, gripping hard enough on the bed that she dents the metal with her right. Jun makes it a little farther, hopefully, but everyone else ... Six, Jorge, Emile ... Carter. Kat lets out a heavy sigh finally and nods, for the moment not looking up.] At least we succeeded.

[lonenoble]

Dr. Halsey. [Resisting the urge to ask Kat if she hit her head or something. Especially with the other bad news.]

We did that much... Wish I didn't have to deliver that kind of news. Do you want detail or is that good enough? [The look in her eyes says she really doesn't want to give detail, but if ordered...]

[inmylight-comdr.livejournal.com]

[Nope, name doesn't register. Kat will have to ask later, she's wondering why this Halsey person is so important.]

[Kat glances up at her a moment. Yes, she's going to want the details eventually. This is her team, her family, all she's known for most of her life. She's going to want to know.]

[But Six just got here. She closes her eyes and holds her breath a moment. Death was no big surprise. They'd all expected it. Kat was no exception. But that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt.]

Eventually, yes. For now ..... for now, just me. [She knew at this point she couldn't expect more than a week, but at least she hoped to be able to go back to take out a few more of those Covvie bastards with her.]

[lonenoble]

Covenant sniper. We didn't see the bastard until it was too late. Shot you in the head.

[Actually trying to avoid saying when. Things you don't want to know, Kat.]

[inmylight-comdr.livejournal.com]

[Kat visibly starts, looking Six straight on.] A sniper ...

[but that's just half the story, and once she gets over the shock of having been taken out so easily (at least the initial shock; this would fontinue to haunt her), she had to doggedly press on. Newly arrived, wounded or not, Kat's questioning got a little more sharp.] When, Six?

[lonenoble]

Not long after we received the orders regarding Sword Base. You didn't even make it to the bunker alive.

[inmylight-comdr.livejournal.com]

[Okay yes, she's losing it a little. Her time here alone has been hard enough. Now there's nothing to go back to? Speaking fast and sharp, leaning forward, tense.]

The bunker in New Alexandria? August 23, the day I was brought in here ...?

[lonenoble]

[Six nods. No point in trying to sugarcoat it. And damn, while it might hurt Kat... It just brings back the memories of all her failings. All the lost teammates on Reach.]

[inmylight-comdr.livejournal.com]

[Kat's stock still and quiet for a moment, then pushes off the bed and starts pacing. She's conflicted. Good god is she conflicted. The best news - one of her team is finally here - and the worst news - she's spent a year telling hersle she had something to go back to. It crashes together in her head, making her restless and agitated. ]

[lonenoble]

[Six stays quiet at this point. She's not sure what else to say. Not at all.]

[inmylight-comdr.livejournal.com]

[There's really nothing else to say, is there? Kat's struggling for words -- as happy as she is to see her teammate, this revelation has deeply shaken her and she's having a hard time pulling herself out of it.]

[Eventually she gets herself calm enough, tense, glaring at the floor, making a concerted effort to keep herself together in the face of her teammate. A whole year without direction or action and now without purpose. She forces herself to sigh, to shed some of the immediate worry, and look at Six.]

If you'll excuse me, Six. I need some time. You have any questions, report to Freelancer York. If you absolutely need me, I'll be in the cemetary.

[And without further preamble, she's turning and leaving. It's too much for her to deal with right now on top of Six's arrival.]