I b allseeing_spydr (\(\;;/)/)

The captain grinned as a static-y female voice came over the radio. “Dragonfly, requesting that you open shuttle bay three and allow us to board.”

Captain Wyer turned to the four officers who had just followed him onto the bridge as his second confirmed permission to board. “Well boys, I guess you’re going to get to meet the Master Chief after all…”

“This thing is falling apart!” the voice interrupted him over the radio.

“We’re going to make it.” Answered a second voice, this one male and mellower than the female.

“Yeah right, we’re not even close!”

“We’re going to make it,” repeated the second voice.

“Oh no we aren’t! Pull up, pull up!” There was a muffled boom from another part of the ship, though the Dragonfly didn’t even shiver. A moment later the female voice cracked out again, sounding sullen. “You did that on purpose…”

“I told you we were going to make it,” the male voice said, his voice filled with good humor and coming in clearer now that they were on board. There was a loud zapping sound. “Ouch! Hey, was that really necessary.”

“Yes.” The female voice said darkly.

The captain opened his comm. and cleared his throat. “Do either of you realize you’re on open comm?”

“We’re what?” the female voice shrieked, followed by the male’s mellow laughter. “You bastard,” she said a moment later, more humor in her voice. “I will zap you again.”

“I don’t think that will be necessary,” the double doors to the bridge slid open with a swishing sound as the man spoke. The four turned towards the sound and were surprised to see only one figure, encased in one of the by now legendary bio suits, dyed dark green. The reflective quality of the visor made the face impossible to see.

The figure nodded to the captain and then reached around for a button on the back of the armor. Something like a card-key popped up, and the figure inserted it into a matching slot on the main consol.

A figure of purple light appeared above the consol a moment later. “Ah,” she sighed. “Home sweet home at last, or at least as close as I’m going to come to it. Better than being carried around by a bumbling idiot anyways.”

The figure laughed revealing himself to be the male voice from the radio and touched a spot on the chest-piece of his suit. There was a click and the metal slid inward, somehow compressing itself until he held a palm-sized disk of green metal in his hand.

The man, about 5’9” with green eyes a match for his armor and onyx black hair in a braid just past his shoulder blades looked up at the representation of the AI and winked. “What, you think I like having you riding around in my head? Thanks, but I really don’t need a second conscience.”

The AI just sniffed and turned to the captain. “Captain Wyer, I suggest we relocate, our ghost was damaged, it will be easy to trace.”

“Of course,” the captain nodded to his first mate who immediately move off to see it done. “While you’re here, allow me to introduce you to Majors Markus Lee, Brian Tadum and Amanda Wilson, and First Lieutenant Marth Arman. Gentlemen, Lady, this is Master Chief Ryan Chase and Cortana, our resident AI.”

Ryan leaned back against the consol, “nice to meet yah.”

“Don’t lean on that,” Cortana said irritably. “Stand up straight anyways, what kind of impression are you trying to give here?”

Major Wilson threw her head back and laughed. “I’m sorry,” she said when the others turned to look at her. “But you remind me of a few married couples I’ve run across. It’s cute.”

“Well then,” Ryan said, shoving off of the consol and spinning around. “That’s just the opening I’ve been looking for!” He dropped to his knees before the consol and looked up at the AI, widening his eyes in a perversion of the ‘adorable’ look. “Cortana dearest, will you marry me?” He clasped his hands under his chin and gazed up at the flickering purple figure.

“Hmm,” she said, pretending to consider, then she winked at him. “Sorry hun, flesh and blood just doesn’t do it for me.”

“Ah, I’m crushed,” he said, leaping back to his feet with a laugh. He spun back around and leaned against the consol once more, ignoring Cortana’s glare. “So Cap, what are they here for?”

“Refreshing the troops,” Wyer replied, giving them an amused look. “Apparently they higher ups have decided to rotate some personnel. Maybe they’re hoping you’ll finally find someone besides the Lady there that you can work with.”

“Ha,” the Master Chief shook his head. “They don’t look like they could even keep up with me.” He tilted his head to the side as he looked their way. “No offence.”

Lee and Tadum looked annoyed, Wilson simply raised her eyebrow.

“I can,” said a quiet voice from the back of the group. The young lieutenant raised fierce gold-brown eyes to stare down green ones. Or perhaps the better word was stubborn. “I can keep up with you.”

Ryan leaned forward a bit, his eyes suddenly sharp. “Can you now? As you wish. Captain, our next mission we’ll be taking lieutenant Arman with us.”

5 years later

“Arman, you ready?”

Marth looked up from where he was checking his weapon. “Always Chief.”

“Great, let’s head out. Cortana.”

“I’ve already contacted the Captain, we’re good to go.” The AI’s voice echoed from two helmets.

After it had become apparent that the bold young lieutenant could indeed keep up with the famous master chief Marth had acquired a bio-suit of his own, lighter than the Chief’s, with less shielding but more maneuverability and a handy camouflage option. They had been working as a team for five years now. The Chief drew fire, and his partner went in for the kill.

Marth stayed silent on the way to their destination, perfectly happy to listen to Ryan speak, even if he was going to bicker with Cortana the entire way there. That first day on the ship those green eyes had caught him. He hadn’t meant to make his declaration, but now he wouldn’t have changed what he’d said for anything in the universe.

At the time he’d had no idea what it took to keep up with the living legend he’d heard so much about, or if he had it. But he’d been determined to try. Something about Ryan made him want to stay close, no matter what he had to do to stay there.

And he’d done it. That first mission had been hell, he was constantly surprised he’d survived it, but he’d stuck it out. After a few more like that the higher-ups had decided he was worth a bio-suit of his own, though thankfully that pretty package didn’t include a second AI. Marth was more than happy to leave Cortana all to Ryan.

And now they were partners. He got his wish, and he wouldn’t give it up for worlds unknown, this chance to be so close to the thing he admired so. Unfortunately partners were all they would ever be. The humans that were left were a very strict group.

A relationship between himself and his Master Chief was forbidden, and even if the Chief were amenable to the idea, to be caught would mean death, at the least. He wouldn’t do that to Ryan. At least he could be close.

Marth Arman allowed himself to smile as they slipped out of their transport and into enemy territory. The Flood had gotten a hold of some weaponry that the higher-ups considered dangerous. They had been ordered to destroy it at all costs.

He activated his camouflage as they encountered the first signs of the enemy. Ryan fired a few shots to get their attention as Marth slipped around them to come up from behind. Moments later their immediate targets were eliminated and they moved on.

That’s the way it usually went with them. They worked together beautifully after five years of nearly constant practice. Not that it was always easy.

They stopped on either side of an open doorway, looking out into the cavernous room beyond. Marth took deep breaths, trying to recover from a blow to his chest delivered by an enraged Flood that looked like it had once been a Hunter.

He pressed a hand to his chestplate and discovered that it was dented. No wonder he was having trouble breathing. He did a quick systems check and was relieved to find that other than the pressure on his chest, everything was working normally.

Ryan angled his head in the way that meant he was looking at his partner, though it was impossible to see his face through the visor. “Well,” his mellow voice whispered in his partner’s ear, and Marth had to fight off a shiver. “Let’s do this.”

They dispatched the remaining flood quickly. Marth hung back a little, still struggling to catch his breath. The systems check had come up good, but his suit was moving sluggishly.

“Are you alright?” Ryan asked, his voice concerned as they reached the weapon they were to destroy.

“Fine,” Marth said shortly. “Just a little winded.”

“Set the charge and let’s get out of here,” Cortana said, her voice wary.

Marth moved to put the charges around the weapon and then moved back. “Alright, all set.” They moved off, killing a few more Flood on the way out.

They reached the entrance. “Hit it,” Cortana said.

Marth reached out and touched a button on the arm of his suit. Nothing happened. “Oh shit…” he said quietly.

“What is it,” Ryan said urgently.

“My suit’s damaged,” Marth said quietly. “I can’t activate the charges remotely. I have to go back in.”

“Arman…”

It was Cortana who cut the Chief’s protests short. “We can’t allow the Flood to use this weapon. There is no other way.”

Marth sighed and tugged his helmet off. “Ryan…take your helmet off?”

“Why?” the Chief asked even has he complied.

“Just something I want to do before I go.” Marth straightened his spine, that spark of stubbornness back in his eyes and strode up to the man he loved. Ryan dropped his helmet.

Kissing Ryan was just like he’d imagined. The Chief’s mouth was warm and soft, and thankfully not rejecting him. “Marth…” Ryan whispered against his lips, looking dazed.

Marth smiled, happy to be dying with the taste of Ryan Chase on his tongue. “Goodby Ryan.” Without waiting for a response he turned and slipped back into the base, cutting off communications.

Ryan started to follow when Cortana’s voice, full of as much grief as an AI could manage, brought him up short. “Let him go Ryan.”

“We can help…”

“Someone has to return to tell them the mission is accomplished. I’m sorry.”

With a sigh the Master Chief retrieved his helmet and headed back towards their transport.

Marth woke slowly, the first thing he registered was warmth, the second, light. Warmth and light, well that certainly fit. “Am I dead?” he croaked.

Familiar laughter erupted somewhere to the left and his eyes snapped open. Ryan. Ryan was there, sitting next to his bed. He took in the surroundings. The ship’s infirmary, but how…

“What happened?”

“Freak accident,” Ryan said. “We were halfway back when Cortana double-checked and said she read your life signs. I turned the transport around and we went and got you back. According to the engineers that blow you took rewired your armor, and directed the energy that would have gone into other systems into your shields. Less than a 1% chance, but I guess I just wasn’t meant to lose you yet.”

The memory of what else had happened on that planet came rushing back, and Marth paled. “Ah. Yeah. About that kiss…I, ah…”

“Relax,” Ryan said with a soft smile. He hesitated a moment, glanced around to make sure no one was watching, and then leaned down and pressed his lips to the corner of Marth’s mouth. “I’m glad you’re alive,” he said softly.

Marth’s eyes blazed. “So am I.”