Halo: Ghost of the Spartans

1430 Hours, March 05, 2525

Epsilon Eridani System, Reach Military Complex, Planet Reach

(Chief Franklin Mendez POV)

*SMACK*

It has been 8 years since I was brought aboard the SPARTAN-II program put together by Dr. Catherine Halsey, the head of the Office of Naval Intelligence's scientific division. In the near decade of service for the woman, not much has changed for me.

*WHOOSH* *SMACK* *SMACK*

Each day I get up and make myself a decent breakfast that is usually a few eggs, some bacon, and some bread to make a nice breakfast sandwich. Once full I finish with a shit and a shower, and then I'm ready to start a day of training. From there, I have a quick meeting with my instructors to go over the days training plan that Halsey had created for the Trainees, before proceeding to the barracks where the cadets muster and begin the evolutions set out for today. 

I will admit when I was originally told I would be training close to a hundred six year old children to be the ultimate killing machines, I was utterly disgusted by the idea. To this day I still find what I am doing to be revolting, and I am not so delusional as to make excuses like Dr. Halsey. We have stolen the childhoods and dreams of children to suit our own personal means, and to slaughter our enemies.

The kids have changed, they don't even fully remember their parents anymore. They are exactly as O.N.I. wanted them to be, killing machines. Now, they know war and the best methods to kill, even if it is something they are still against. Candidate S-137, Carris, a little girl with black hair and blue eyes had an incident 5 years ago. She had ended up killing an Instructor by accident, the girl was simply trying to reverse a pin on the mat and ended up severing the man's fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae at the age of 10.

No matter by what logic, no matter what reason, and no matter what my conscience may think, my actions here are unquestionably wrong. 

In the end, they have become what they were meant to be, the strongest of mankind, and that is the reason why I had accepted the assignment. As the saying goes, "If you want a job done right, then do it yourself." The only thing that these.....weapons will have is strength by the time I am done, and with that strength, I believe one day they will no longer be weapons of mass destruction and will find something more, some greater reason to continue living besides orders that trickle from higher ups like the freshest of rain to the driest of deserts. Trainee 001 has since the very beginning been the sole reason that there was any normalcy and that the others have the thought process that they are the "Defenders of Humanity" and that they were not just soldiers.

*SMACK* *WHOOSH* *SMACK* *SMACK*

Now moving away from that subject I am proud of the candidates and their progress from a strictly warrior perspective. All of them are fearless with candidates 001, 117, 043, and 051 showing unwavering courage even in the face of impossible odds, which fills me with a deep sense of pride, making it feel as though even though even a little bit of this was worth it, but I digress. S-051, Kurt, is almost like a son to me, as he reminds me of myself when I was just a lad. Unlike the rest he is quite sociable, even 001 who is also sociable is suppressed when compared to 051, he makes it a point to befriend and talk to anyone nearby, while the rest of the class are reserved and will only talk to other Spartans. I can see that he has a good heart, he will make a fine leader with his uncanny sense to 'feel traps' that will serve him well.

*SMACK* *SMACK*

*SMACK* *SMACK*

Besides being fearless and courageous they have uncanny teamwork skills. Each one of them considers their teammates to be family with the class as a whole being a clan or 'family of families'. Only one person is appointed as family of all and that is 001, who due to being a late addition to the candidate pool, has been the customizable teammate, able to be inserted and removed from the teams without messing up the cohesion, the perfect chameleon. Some of them stand out with skill, Linda-058, though the class will swear up and down that 001 is better, is recognized as the greatest shot in the class. Grace S-093 has unfortunately shown to be the explosives expert, Michael S-120 is a tech-wiz, John S-117 is the de facto leader who with his confidence and luck can inspire the most downtrodden and conquer any battlefield.

Every Spartan is a monster in their own right, including the ones that have not been mentioned, but one stands apart from the others as the 'Apparition', as the other instructors call him.

*WHOOSH* *SMACK* 

*SMACK* *SMACK* *SMACK*

*SMACK* *SMACK* 

*CRACK*

*cough* *wheeze* *cough*

I let out a groan as I struggled to shrug off the blow to my abdomen, and as I fell to my knees struggling to get my breath in order I saw the other two had been knocked unconscious from the kicks to the head. My face was no doubt bruised further from the combination of yesterday's sparring and today's. Thankfully he was holding back when delivering strikes to the head, otherwise a lot of instructors would be dead.

"Are you still alive Chief? Did I break your ribs? A juvenile voice, that sounded like 'Aizen' from Bleach, asked from in front of me. The voice sounded half-concerned and half-mocking, over the years no one had figured out what emotion it actually was. It might have been both as he has always maintained a certain rambunctiousness about him.

"Kid, *cough* you are still ten years too young to be able to take me out of commission." I spat up a little blood that has amalgamated from my now busted lip.

"Yes, sir." He laughed as he began removing his gloves to show the white hand wrap beneath and proceeded to take off his leg pads. "Well from my perspective only one of us is currently coughing up a lung and trying to catch their breath, but if you want to go again I can put on some more padding." 

I couldn't help but let out a small chuckle and show a rare sardonic expression to the boy, 'This is the monster I helped create but before he can ever be set loose on our enemies, I have to deal with him...' I thought, with the irony not lost on me. 

Indra began pulling the wrap from his hands and feet before the meat hooks and maelstrom of dancers that had mangled instructors and got him disqualified from hand-to-hand combat exercises with any other candidates besides Jai S-006, John S-117, and Kelly S-087. His hands and legs if they were on any other person would have been mangled with scars, and the battle maniac when pulled away from the combat exercises decided to do his own training.

He had started to incorporate something that he called Taijutsu whilst he conducted his own training. To make his attacks even deadlier he decided to start punching steel plates and kick steel poles while he practiced his Taijutsu to desensitize his feeling of pain, it honestly amazes me that even with the training and damage he should have sustained his healing factor got rid of all of his problems that had accumulated in the training session. 

After I stumbled upon that scene one day, I foolishly let my guilt coerce me as both his instructor and partner after remembering that he had not received any prize while 117 had been made squad leader. From that day forward I helped him perfect his Taijutsu, and added to his already extensive repertoire of killing. Eventually, as it was being perfected, I needed to bring in more instructors so that I was not overwhelmed by the sheer volume of attacks. Looking back I can't help but kick myself at why I thought differently after the mountain evidence proving the fact of the matter, and now I can't help but admit: 

Indra is a genius of geniuses. He has been given the nickname 'Ghost' as during the war games, the Trainees had noticed a pattern that he would disappear and would only appear after Deja had declared whatever Team he was on had won. Even after they would give up on attacking and strictly defend the objective, they would say that he had appeared as if but a specter from their very nightmares and by the time the trainees had noticed his presence they were already 'dead'.

The boy does not have many shortcomings, as he is slightly above average at driving and is known to be quite unserious when uncomfortable and makes bad jokes to break the tension. However, when he is on the battlefield, his talent combined with his 'unique' physique makes any difficulty just a minor setback on the path to victory. Though that's not to say he is invincible, nor unbeatable, after all, he is still human, even if he is.....evolved further than what normal humans are. 

"We're done for today," I sighed as I stood up, "Return to the barracks, you are hitting the driving course early tomorrow," I informed him only to get a chuckle and a "Yes sir." I had a feeling he just wanted to drive a Warthog again and this was just another attempt to break the record for the course and for him and he wanted to have some fun. 

I shook my head at this thought and watched as he exited with a tinge of anxiety. Eventually, he departed through the door and I was left alone to mumble to myself, "One final gate, Indra, you and the rest of the class have one more mission before you can officially call yourselves Spartans, but for this mission strength, intelligence, perception, agility, nor charisma... only luck."

0800 Hours, March 06, 2525

Epsilon Eridani System, UNSC Field Operations Offensive Driving Course (ODC), Planet Reach

*VROOOM*

"Cal, sweetheart, I am going to need you to aim a little better because I am trying to break the record." I say cranking the steering wheel of the Warthog to avoid another spray of paint from the automatic turrets.

"Shut up Indra" Anton says as he tries to keep a straight face in the passenger seat, "Turn riiiiight.... now" he says in his usual monotone voice. Sadly, I had another idea and turn the wheel after the turn to aim for a small trail in the woods that was just big enough for a Warthog.

"You missed the turn." Anton points out with a calm tone. "You would be very correct with that one Anton, but I am aiming for the record and on my original test run I had noticed a ramp at the edge of the woods that will launch from the cliffside right outside of the finish line into the field below and would only have 100 yards to go. And besides it'll be fun." I said looking at him with a mocking grin at him.

Looking back I caught sight of Cal, eyes wide and mouth open, I started laughing as I told her, "Hey Cal I'm gonna be honest here, I've never attempted the jump and I don't even know if it'll work but you are almost guaranteed to need to hold on tight." I grabbed the gear shifter, hit the clutch, and watched the RPM on the display dip for a moment and shot back up. 

Cal turned to look at me and franticly shook her head but her eyes had already resigned to the fact that there was no stopping me. "Don't worry Cal I will catch you just like when we were younger." I said.

A moment went by and we had just cleared the forest into a small meadow and I could see the jump come into view. I dropped a gear, dirt was shot up and branches were flying everywhere as the Warthog shot forward tearing through the meadow. Anton was now gripping the passenger handle with a death grip and Cal was holding onto the chain gun for dear life. 

*VROOM* 

We then hit the jump and the Warthog flew from the cliffside and soared above the field below. We hit the jump and the Warthog flew from the cliffside and soared above the field below. I felt as if I was soaring through the sky free as a bird with only the sound of the engine blaring through the air. *VRRROOOOOOOOOM* I glanced over saw Anton had a look of pure terror as he slowly started rising in his seat and franticly grabbing for another handle.

Cal was now no longer standing and had slowly becoming more and more horizontal as her feet lifted up into the air. But before she could completely go and leave the Warthog truck bed with the only thing tethering her from a plunge from death, was her grip on the gun, I reached back and grabbed her uniform and pulled her down. I then turned back focused on the landing and let off the gas so that she could resettle herself.

Now for the express trip down I had never felt more alive than in that brief moment. If Anton or Cal were to look over and see my face they would absolutely think I was insane and with how hard I was laughing at their reactions of my friends, I couldn't help but slightly agree with that assessment. 

*CRASH* 

With a sudden surge of gravity finally catching up signaling our landing, "Everybody good?" I looked around and asked quickly before shifting back into gear and flooring it.

*VRRROOOOOOOOOM* 

Cal had fallen down and was shakily standing back up when with a jerk from taking off again almost lost her grip. She glared at me through the rearview mirror before checking over the M41 again and looking for more targets. Anton looked like he was about to blow his top and launch into another lecture so I decided to call out to Cal, "Targets up high Cal, 4 o'clock," 

Anton tried to yell over the engine but soon the M41 Chain gun spool soon began and Anton focused up and began to assist Cal in taking our the aerial drones that simulated and aerospace target. Soon there were no more targets with Cal getting 4 and Anton getting the final one as we raced across the finish line. 

Once we had finished, I drifted the Warthog to a final stop and saw Mendez with his stopwatch begin walking toward us. We all waited in the vehicle with the idle rumble from the engine filling up the air as Mendez took up his clipboard to make some notes here and there. 

He lowered the sheet of paper with his pen attached and was looking between the three of us as he began to speak, "On the whole, you three broke the record by 30 seconds. I have never seen something so utterly reckless and irresponsible in my GOD DAMN LIFE!" He screamed at us, but he was making direct eye contact with me so I knew he was talking to me. 

He then turned to Cal, "S-141 that shooting was not half bad, but you need to work on your verbal communication like we have been telling you. You should have expressed to 001 that the 'shortcut' had never been attempted before for a reason. But other than that I felt that you had done an excellent job given the circumstances."

"Understood, Sir!" Cal replied.

"Finally, for this temporary fireteam's leader," Mendez said switching over to Anton, "Nice shooting. But the only issue I have is similar to S-141 with your communication, you need to make sure that your driver or whoever you are giving directions to acknowledges them. Besides that well done S-044."

"Now go get some rest. The final test is in a couple of days, and once you conquer it you can call yourselves Spartans."

1300 Hours, March 09, 2525

Epsilon Eridani System, ONI Medical Facility, in orbit around Planet Reach

I shivered and complained as I stood in my single filed like dress only in my underwear. Kelly-087 standing behind me decided to smack the back of my head to get me to stop complaining. I was about to turn around and give her the stink eye but the large blast doors opened up revealing Dr. Catherine Halsey in her white lab coat.

"Good morning cadets, I know I have already harped on the danger and importance of this test so I will not take any more time talking about the procedure. Instead, I will say good luck and Godspeed." She finished her quick introduction and we began being called one by one. I watched as everyone walked forward with bated breath towards the disk-shaped room and towards our individual medical tables.

Eventually, everyone had been called except for me. "Imagine having the Spartan number 001 and being picked last," the irony of the situation wasn't lost on me as I mumbled to myself.

"Last minute jitters?" looking up Halsey stood in front of me cocking her head to the side. I shook my head, "Good, we had to do a bit more for your operation, follow me," she motioned for me to get up and walked to the bed in the furthest portion of the arc-shaped room.

I went ahead and laid down on top of the medical bench. The bed was quite long, with the surroundings filled with a variety of screens that began to beep to life monitoring different vitals as the doctors hooked me up.

"So what's special for me this time?" I asked making small talk, "I assume it has something to do with my healing ability and unique body."

"You would be correct in your assumption that we are worried about what could possibly go wrong because we will need to increase the augmentations to a higher level." she explained as she worked.

I simply nodded my head and began to count down from ten but never reached one.

'W-What's going on...?' I called out to anybody listening but I seemed to be unable to move my mouth. I attempted to open my eyes but could not even twitch my eyelid. 

I used my Byakugan to look around at what was happening near me when I heard a doctor speak near me, "The first phase is complete, the subjects occipital capillaries have been rearranged according to the plan for Candidate 001. Likewise the Platinum Catalytic Thyroid Implant, was inserted after the incision was made, we had just enough time to put it in before the incision was beginning to close. All signs so far are adequate and it would appear the subject is taking hold of the adaptations naturally and will proceed with Phase II momentarily. 

'Well my head feels fine, with a slight stinging pain just above my eyes that was fading away, my throat however felt like it was sliced apart but could feel that beginning to fade also.' I thought to myself, 'I knew some shit like this was going to happen. They should have adequately prepared or predicted that I would need multiple doses of anesthesia. Hopefully.....they notice my brain activity on the monitors.'

As I finished complaining in my head I felt multiple sharp jabs that pierced through my skin. I saw everything that happened as they entered into my temples, legs, and arms. I was wanting to grind my teeth as they injected fluid for what seemed to be hours but I still didn't have control over my body. It was not even a minute later before I began to feel the effect of whatever cocktail of drugs they introduced into my body.

A searing feeling in every muscle, every inch, and every cell in within my body erupted like a volcano underneath my skin. I did not scream because I had no mouth to do so, my blood boiled and my body involuntarily convulsed at the rapid changes I was experiencing. But there was no relief as seconds became hours. I remained awake for every moment without a break, time and space seemed to slow to a crawl while the experience of boiling and tearing waned into a crushing soreness.

And just as I began to hear a voice, which I hoped would be my savior, "Subject experienced normal symptoms after being injected with F.E.V. muscle enhancements, though the cardiac response skyrocketed. Muscle relaxers were administered in small doses to the heart so as to negate a possible fatal volume increase," the monotone voice sounded out sickeningly to my ears. "Due to the success at this stage proceeding to the final step of augmentations immediately. Dr. Halsey warned that if the Carbide Ceramic Ossification was not issued as the subject's growth hormone-stimulated growth occurred, the possibility of the subject dying skyrockets." 

From there I had a moment to pause and realize what I had just heard from the doctor and watched him slowly walk over to something that I knew I was not going to like.

*WHIIRRRRR*

The blade of a saw whirring just above me and with a sickening realization that I am about to see my sternum begin to be carved through. I thanked whatever god there was in the universe that I was almost numb to the pain. But that numbness would never be able to take the memory of the feeling of having your bones carved open and having your organs moved around so the doctor could pour the hot liquid onto my skeletal structure.

The slicing feeling never went away and instead began to spread as flaps of flesh were peeled off my body like taking tint off of a car window. The disgusting sound of we meat falling to the floor, along with the sizzling sound of the liquified metal mixture that acted in conjunction with my own body to form and unbreakable shell around my bones was a sight I pray I never have to see again.

"OH MY GOD! HE'S AWAKE! QUICKLY GET THE STRONGER SEDATIVE!" The male monotone voice from earlier sounded out in a panic. They new sound snapped me out of my pain-filled daze, as I felt my brain had begun to shut down due to the overloading of my senses.

But by this point, it didn't matter, I had survived some of the worst possible torture imaginable, I had been flayed alive, stabbed multiple times, and basically boiled alive, all in front of my own eyes. For better or for worse I felt that I needed to feel this pain today as I had started to feel immortal due to my injuries no matter how large they were from training that I would be healed within a week. This was a much needed punch to the gut, I know that I can now make it through anything.

1100 Hours, March 27, 2525

UNSC Carrier Atlas en route to the Lambda Serpentis system

As Indra regained his vison he found himself inside his private recovery room on board the Atlas; Doctor Halsey was sitting in a chair next to his bed and had noticed him open his eyes.

"Welcome back" Halsey said

"How long was I out Doctor?" Indra asked

"For the time you were sedated for your augmentation you have been out for almost 3 weeks, 18 days approximately."

"Damn, I guess I did take my sweet time sleeping" Indra said with a chuckle to which Halsey chuckled as well.

As Indra got up from his bed and started stretching his arms and legs and could feel the differences in his body; he walked over to a mirror and took a look at himself. His black hair was all but gone but it had grown back slightly, his unique eyes which one was once red with a whirlpool pattern, is now ruby red with a whirlpool, the other eye was once all white now had a light blue color around the outside with a white shimmer in the middle of the Iris the pupil which had now turned baby blue. 

He noticed he was also slightly taller, actually no really tall as he stood at 6'10" compared to his previous 5'10". He was also more muscular than before when he suddenly felt something in the back of his neck where his brainstem was and moved his hand and went to touch it. "Damn is that a neural plant as well?"

"Yes it is standard issued" Halsey said. "Indra, are you alright? After we had run into some unforeseen consequences as the augmentations also boosted your already extensive healing ability and was filtering out the anesthesia but thankfully you were able to pull through."

I listened to what she said as I traced over my scars that I had thought would be healed but even my body wants to keep a reminder that we are not invincible.

"Don't worry about the scars as they will fade in time," Halsey said, causing me to look at her with a confused expression. "I hope they do not, as I would like a visual reminder that even though I may think I am immortal, I am just a human."

"So…how many survived" Indra asked unassured if he wanted to hear the answer of what ended up of his brothers and sisters.

Halsey had a serious look and said. "Well it seems some changes had occurred" confusing Indra. "Only 11 of the Spartans died, and only 4 were crippled."

"Wait what?" Indra said looking even more confused, "Didn't you say that the augmentations were extremely dangerous?"

Halsey gives him a look. "If I did not select you to be inserted into the program then I would have never had access to your genes to add to the augmentations and heal the Spartans mid-procedure. Based on my calculations on the original augmentations 30 would have died, 12 crippled, and 33 survive the procedures" Halsey said, "Therefore it is because of you that so many had survived."

"So what am I to do now?" Indra asked.

"Get some food to eat" Halsey said. "Your new augmented body will require the protein to function properly."

0000 Hours, March 30, 2525

UNSC Carrier Atlas en route to the Lambda Serpentis system

"And so we commit the bodies of our fallen brothers to space."

Mendez solemnly closed his eyes for a moment, the ceremony completed. He pressed a control and the ash canisters moved slowly into the ejection tubes . . . and the void beyond.

Everyone stood rigidly at attention. The carrier's missile launch bays—normally cramped, overcrowded, and bustling with activity—were unusually quiet. The Atlas' firing deck had been cleared of munitions and crew. Long, unadorned black banners now hung from the bay's overhead gantries.

"Honors . . . ten hut!" Mendez barked.

Indra and the other surviving Spartans saluted in unison.

"Duty," Mendez said. "Honor and self-sacrifice. Death does not diminish these qualities in a soldier. We shall remember."

A series of thumps resounded through the Atlas' hull as the canisters were hurled into space.

The view screen flickered and displayed a field of stars. The canisters appeared one by one, quickly falling behind the carrier as it continued on its course.

Indra and John were absorbed in watching, as with each of the stainless-steel cylinders that drifted by, they felt that they were losing a part of themself.

It felt like leaving their people behind.

Mendez's face might as well have been chiseled from stone, for all the emotion it showed. He finished his protracted salute and then said, "Crewmen, dismissed."

I looked towards my left and saw Serin in her wheelchair. I know I couldn't do anything towards the dead but maybe just maybe I can at least help Serin and the others. As the funeral was over we started to disperse. I waved to John and he came to me already knowing where I was going

We went over to Serin where she and the others who were crippled by the process were talking to our handlers.

As they were finishing talking Serin looked and saw me and John she gave us a small smile telling us it was okay. Me and John nodded together as we walked up to her together. We all stood/sat in awkward silence until Serin broke it.

"I guess this is it then." Serin said

"What do you mean?" Indra asked with a frown.

"The last time we will be seeing each other." Serin said as tears began to tear up in her eyes.

"Are you an idiot?" I asked calmly which surprised both Serin and John. "Just because you failed the argumentation process doesn't mean this will be the last time we see each. We are family Serin and family sticks together." I said as I kneeled on my knee to meet her eye to eye and I hugged her.

"Thank you." Serin sobbed on my shoulder as I patted her on the back.

"Serin before you go I have to warn you about O.N.I." I said. Both John and Serin looked at me with confused looks.

"What do you mean Indra." John asked and I looked at him and said. "Look, John there are 4 crippled Spartans. True they not might have augmentations but you don't have to be a soldier to be of use of the U.N.S.C or O.N.I. Out of all of the Spartans that have been crippled Serin is probably the best at wet-work assignments and that is the type of expertise that O.N.I will be looking for." I said both John and Serin looked at each other and nodded grimly knowing that I'm right.

"So what should I do?" Serin asked

I sighed knowing that this will not be easy, "I got nothing. O.N.I will either ask you nicely or kidnap you." again they nodded, "The only thing I can think of is to remember us." 

"'Remember us' what do you mean by that Indra?" Serin asked

"Remember that you are not alone and you have a family." I said as John nodded. "One final thing, O.N.I despite what I might have said still does good. Even though they do good through some questionable means. They fight monsters using darkness but remember this, "'He who fights with monsters should be careful lest he thereby become a monster. And if thou gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will also gaze into thee.' -Nietzsche. And do not forget to tell the other three exactly what I said, alright?"

"I will." Serin said and smiled at her before giving her one last hug. We waved good-bye as she along with the other cripples were being moved off site.

For the next three weeks the Spartans had gone through a daily routine of stretching, isometric exercises, light sparring drills, and lots of eating. They were under orders to consume five high-protein meals a day. After every meal they had to report to the ship's medical bay for a series of mineral and vitamin injections.

0430 Hours, April 22, 2525

UNSC Carrier Atlas en route to the Lambda Serpentis system

Currently Indra was inside the Gym of the Atlas where he trained using the weights and the punching bags to test his Taekwondo and Karate skills as it had been a while since he had last used them.

As he was sitting on the bench nearby as John came in the gym, went straight to the leg machine and then moved over to a tether ball.

I noticed that he was entranced in his workout probably trying to work through his grief and get used to his body at the same time. I moved my attention away from him as I noticed the four ODSTs entered the gym heading straight for John.

"Aw bloody hell the damn ODSTs" I said under my breath as they began harassing John until they started grabbing him by his arms, as I saw this I got up and started walking toward the ODSTs and John who looked like he was about to kick one of them in the nose.

"What the fuck is going on here?" I said slowly approaching. The ODSTs and John all turned to look at me.

"What do you want punk? One of the ODSTs, who seemed like the leader of the bunch said.

"I should be the one asking you that." I replied.

Then the ODSTs left John and instead start surrounding me, "Don't try to act smart bitch." the leader said.

"Or what?" I asked cocking my head and smiling trying to agitate the ODSTs even more. "If you really want to get your asses kicked then get in the ring, I could use some stretching as well." 

"Tch, it's on then." The leader said and then they all walked toward the sparring ring that was in the center of the gym, me and the leader got inside the ring taking opposite corners, around them the 3 ODSTs were on the leaders side, while John was on the side line giving me a curious look.

"Get ready to get your ass kicked punk" the leader said with a cocky grin.

I started laughing and said, "I thought I told you I was going to kick all of your asses? What are you three dumb fucks doing outside the ring?" The ODSTs stood still gritting their teeth waiting for the leader to say something.

"Alright motherfucker. Don't go crying to mommy after I finish beating the shit out of you and your buddy over there. Get on up here, let's give the kid what he wants." the leader said laughing.

Soon the match started with John ringing the bell, in that .1 seconds after hearing the *ding* I launched forward and drove my knee into the leader's face knocking him out breaking several bones. By the time the others had reacted, I had launched forward again and jumped into a split kick sending two of the ODSTs flying outside of the ring. The last ODST awake in the ring charged forward, "You're gonna pay for that, bitch!"

I remained quiet and soon he went for a punch which I easily dodged, then went for another punch this time to the face in which I simply dodged by ducking down. As he continued to throw punches and not one of them were landing he got angry and said, "Damn you, punk, stop running and fight like a man." Then without warning I proceeded to roundhouse kick him in the chin knocking him unconscious to the mat of the ring. 

As I looked at the downed ODSTs I shook my head and turned to the upper floor where the security camera was and did a bow.

As I was about to get off the ring on of the ODSTs leader awoke and groaning in pain suddenly grabbed my left foot, "You damn bastard you will pay for this" the ODST said as he went for a punch at my knees. I was about kick the guy with my right foot a voice sounded off.

"That would be enough!" Chief Mendez said, both me an John immediately stood at attention, soon another man entered the gym, I noticed the name tag on his uniform which said 'A. Silva.'

"Would someone please explain, why four of my men are on the floor unconscious and injured?!" Silva asked with a commanding tone.

"Sir, Yes sir" Indra said while saluting him since he was a 2nd lieutenant, "Your men were harassing a fellow crewman" Indra looked at John.

"I simply asked them what they wanted but instead they responded to me in a hostile behavior, so I proceeded to ask their leader and the other three ODSTs to go into the ring with me to settle this, all I did was simply humble them in a fight, Sir"

Silva gave me a look and nodded, "I see, did you critically injure any of my men?" Silva gave me a glare. 'Damn he sure was protective of his boys.' I thought.

"No sir, I knocked out all of them with some sort of kick, maybe a few broken bones they should be fine if they get medical attention" Indra said to which Silva nodded again and then looked at Chief Mendez.

"He is definitely not what I was told they would be like" Silva said and left.

As I got off the ring soon medical teams arrived and started treating the 4 ODSTs. That's when Mendez approached, I snapped to attention, "Sir!"

"At ease 001, Doctor Halsey would like to talk with you at the observation deck" Mendez said. "117, stay back."

As I started to leave the gym John gave me a nod before Mendez approached him as well. As I was walking through the halls of the Atlas, we were passed by some Naval personnel aboard the ship and soon made it inside the observation deck where Halsey was seen standing.

"I saw what happened." Halsey said. "And I am sure you knew that we saw what happened"

"Yeah I did, the fight just seemed off. There should have been no reason to be so unprofessional and aggressive. If I didn't limit myself then they would have been killed. They got lucky the only consequences were a few broken bones." I said.

She sighed, "Promise me that the next time you do something like this, you do it without getting caught."

"Alright, fine I promise" I said with a chuckle.