Finally! I've been sitting out there for the longest time, Madame, and just watched as Pip and Luna swapped in and out of here randomly...hmm? Oh! He's doing just fine, if not better, actually. He is so excited to make his tech a permanent part of his body, it's actually quite cute. I even caught him wondering why he, and I quote, "Didn't lose an arm earlier so he could do this." Yeah...fearless as ever, I suppose...right, so what was you wanted me to talk about, again?...I see...but, weren't you a part of that conversation as well?...Geeze, you guys really gatta record everything, don't you?...oh, yes, you've noticed I've been a bit cheerier than normal! Thanks! You have Artemis to thank...for that...
Sorry...anyway, yes, so...it went like this...
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"Wait...you're telling me that this stuff has some Jackal DNA in it?..."
"Among other things, yes."
"'Among other thi-' WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'AMONG OTHER THINGS'!?"
I walked in on my brother freaking-out over the apparent findings of that stuff Pip scraped off his armor. Apparently, the Brutes are even less moral than the Elites were when it came to the subject of Bio-Soldiers.
"Widow, they took Jackals and fucking mashed them together with Drones and plasma grenades and...and other random bio-tech shit to make whatever the hell attacked Artemis and Pip." Ghost explained urgently.
"The one that Artemis killed probably slipped out of the Factory." I suggested, "And I'm almost 100 percent sure that there's more in there..." I paused, coming to a very morbid conclusion, "Among other 'things,' most likely..."
Ghost groaned, shaking his head, "I'm beginning to hate that phrase..."
"Whatever, listen, we have to get in that Factory and discover what else the Covey are working on. There could be tech in there which could tip the scales. So either we recover it for our own use, or destroy it to prevent the Covey from using it."
Ghost nodded, taking the sample back before thanking the scientist who had helped him, "Tomorrow then?"
"Yeah." I started to head out of the building, Ghost trailing closely, "After we break the news to Luna and Halsey. Plus, in all honesty, we need Artemis. She's perfect for a volatile situation such as this."
Ghost agreed, quickening his pace, "What did I say? I knew there'd be some crazy shit in that Factory."
"Yeah, you called it, alright." I admitted with a shrug, "Unfortunately."
We entered the holo-room and took our spots in front of the screen. I only waited about five minutes before the images of both you and Luna appeared.
"Madame, Princess." I addressed, bowing slightly towards Luna.
"Thank you." she answered, "Good to hear from you guys, is everything alright?"
I looked to Ghost, who jumped up and held the sample in front of him, "Well...yes, but we might have some unsettling news as to what's in the Factory."
"Go on, soldier." you ur-huh...? Oh, sorry..."Go on, soldier, Halsey urged.
"It's a bio-tech lab specifically designed for manipulating and distorting radar and radio, as well as enhancing stealth..." Ghost explained, "...as far as we know."
"What brought you to this conclusion?" Luna asked curiously.
"Not only have there been freak storm almost constantly through the years this encampment has been here," I continued, "But these storms have been drastically disabling the radio and radar of the base and armor. Plus...Artemis and Squirt ran into one of Bio-Soldiers which we believe was created in the Rainbow Factory."
"A-are they okay!? Where are they now!?" Luna asked fearfully, noting the absence of our two pony, Spartan friends.
"Yes, they are perfectly fine." I assured, "Though Artemis suffered yet another concussion from firing that enormous Rifle of hers."
"What enormous rifle?" Halsey asked, giving me the dead eye.
"N-nothing to be concerned about, Madame." I assured, "Just a custom rifle Artemis has. Very effective against vehicles."
Ghost nodded furiously beside me, and Halsey eventually shrugged it off...for the moment.
Luna sighed in relief as we continued, "We plan to enter the Factory tomorrow, first thing after wake-up." I paused before asking my next question. It was something I had been thinking about for a while now, actually. I knew that incorporating an obviously insane and mentally I'll subject into the Spartan Program was more than an overlook of fact. You...they had to have had a reason to attempt such a feat which contained so much probability for failure or catastrophe. Then, after it worked...
"Madame, I would also like to request the immediate removal of subject-013 from all aspects of the Spartan-IV Program and the U.N.S.C as of the conclusion of this mission."
Every eye in that room immediately fell to me in shock, even Ghost's, but I kept my gaze firm, "What...?" Ghost muttered in disbelief.
"She is going to end up killing herself, and probably others, before long." I started, "With all the head trauma she takes, it's only a matter of time before she snaps completely again...and with her training done this time, who knows what devastation she will cause."
Halsey tried to shut my argument down, "Reyna, now listen he-"
"This is immoral, and I can tell Artemis is slowly...falling apart." I cut in, "I don't know what exactly is plaguing her, but she's not fit for much more exposure to all of this."
The room remained in stunned silence for some time after that. Whether it was because I actually cared about Artemis' well being, or because this request was so out of the blue, I didn't know, nor did I care. I got my opinion out and that's all I wanted to do.
"Reyna...you know she won't agree to go, right?" Luna quietly spoke up, giving me an understanding smile.
"Court Marshall her. I know she's viable for one." I responded.
"You don't understand." she continued, "There's a reason she doing all of this, and she's not going to stop until everything is said and done."
"Princess Luna...how much time do you spend with Artemis?" Halsey asked, a hint of anger lined in her voice.
"Enough." she answered curtly, snapping quick glare at the scientist, "I've personally tried to get her to quit, and trust me, if anypony could convince her of something, it'd be me. She refused."
I sighed, shaking my head, "Whatever...you've all heard my case. I'll contact you again once the mission is complete." I turned to leave, motioning for Ghost to follow.
Once outside, Ghost took a deep breath, signing, "You know...something tells me we're all changing."
I remained silent as we continued to walk.
"Becoming human again, you know?" he continued to talk, "Problem is, our job is to not be just that."
"Ghost..."
"Maybe it's about time we all just stopped...after this mission..." he suggested, "God knows we deserve some rest."
I stopped suddenly, but my brother didn't notice until he had walked past mea few steps, "Ryan..."
"Hmm, sis?"
"Listen to this song for me, will ya?" I reached into my pocket and tossed him an old MP3 player I kept on me. It only had a few songs, but they were, and still are, my favorites.
He looked at the screen, "...'Ain't no rest for the Wicked' by Cage the Elephant..." he muttered, "What is...?"
"We can't all just stop, little bro." I explained, continuing to walk back to our bunk rooms, "'Ain't nothin' in this world for free.' We'll be done when the Covey is done." he looked down at the MP3 player again, frowning, "But...a nice, long, vacation is in order. We should be back home just in time for Christmas, too."
He shrugged, leaving me be by myself while he listened to the song. When I entered our room, I sighed and headed for the shower. I love showers...perfect place to meditate in. Plus, it's nice and warm all over. How can you not love that? Showers were always the location of my best thoughts, biggest plans, and better plans. This particular shower would be the vehicle which would help me realize exactly how I wanted to handle the Factory situation...and in enough time to make it back home for Christmas.
I grinned smugly, leaning against the shower wall and crossing my arms, "We're ganna blow the entire place to hell."
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...Y...yes. That was indeed MY decisions. No one else's but mine...I realize the probable penalties of this action, but I'm confident in the fact that you need this team, so you wouldn't do anything too drastic to their leader...I understand your complaints, but it's my job to decide what is and is not fit for my team to do while in the field, directly. Yes, I also realize that this ruined any chance of her recovery, but I know for sure that she wanted no part in your army, especially after death. Plus, we kept the scans of their more important plans, which I'm sure compensates for at least some of the complaints you have.
...Please, Madam, can we all leave now? The party starts soon and a nice day with friend's is exactly what my team needs...ye...y...I...yes! I know! I realize that, in part, I was one of causes of the recent status update is her profile. I know...I read the entire thing. This party is even partially dedicated to her, as we have discerned that her actual birthday is the first day of the new year. We even have another, bigger party scheduled for New Year's Eve, which, you are always invited to, Madam. Heck, if we go now, you can get in on the pre-party booze...heh, I know, I know you're not the party type...what? I'm not trying to change the subject at all...and why have I not mentioned her name yet? Well, I never believe talking of the dead is respectable, but since I have no choice, I choose never to use her name unless it's part of the debriefing and recounting.
...so you have all you need from me, then? So my team can leave now...? No?...fine...I guess I'll get Pip back in here...
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Right...I'm guessing you don't want to hear how the rest of my night went, hmm?...yeah...so the next morning, I woke up at the sound of soft crying...it wasn't coming from Cross...the name of my, ah...marefriend...she was still sound asleep. I had become quite a light sleeper because of the twitchiness that comes to being a soldier, so I sat up and looked around the room, trying to discern where the sound was coming from. After a bit of intense listening, I realized the crying was coming from outside the room, on the stoop of the building. I carefully rose out of bed, making sure not to wake Cross up. Quietly making my way to the door, I opened it to see Artemis hunched over, sitting on the steps in front of the building...she was the one crying.
"H...hey Pip..." she started, without turning around. Her head was still bandaged, and even stained with a small amount of blood which had seeped through to the top, "I..." she paused, sniffling a few times, "I wanna go home..."
I remained silent, I just didn't know how to handle this new side of her...I didn't know what was causing her to act so...different. I noticed she had a blood pouch, probably taken from the infirmary before she left.
"I just...want to go home..."
I slowly approached her, placing hoof on her shoulder...it was shaking. She was really upset about something, I knew that for sure...but I still couldn't think of how to respond.
"Can we go home, please?"
Sighed, lifting her to her hooves so she could stare me in the eyes. I could tell she had been crying for some time, as her eyes were bloodshot and tear stains ran all down her cheeks.
"I don't want to do this anym-!"
I covered her mouth with my hoof, shutting her up. She looked shocked, her eyes widening at my sudden action. I brought another hoof up to my mouth, signaling for her to quiet down, to which she nodded slowly. After I took my hoof away from her mouth, I grabbed her and suddenly lifted her onto my back, beginning to carry her back to the infirmary.
"Now you just shu' up, ge' some rest, and we'll be on ou' merry way home t' see you're marefriend by Chri'mas." I scolded, trotting casually.
She started to complain, but stopped, when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw her close her eyes and rest her head down in my back, sighing as she fell asleep again. She knew I was right, there, but...as it would later turn out, I couldn't have been any further from the truth...