Agent West Virginia made her way down the hall ways of The Mother of Invention as it went by. Her AI Jack at her shoulder as they talked away, bickering like siblings almost.
“Jack, we’ve gone over this, time, and time, and time again. I DON’T KNOW. Why people have emotions! I am HUMAN!”  She huffed, annoyed at him.
Agent North Carolina who was adjusting his arrow’s immediately interjects. "Humans have emotions because we have bodies and our emotions are our bodies way of controlling our minds. A.Is are just raw intellect so they have no need of them as they have no body. Agent North Carolina by the way", he said with a charming smile, "Agent West Virginia isn't it?"
West was dumbfounded for a minute, by both the fact she hadn’t seen him there, and his fast pace accent. “Uh….Yeah, yes,” She chuckled “You can call me Rook though.”
"Nice to meet you Rook", he replied politely, "and you can call me Aro by the way, wait am I keeping you from something?" he said, suddenly remembering there might have been a point to her wandering the halls of the ship.
“Um, no. Not really, I was just going to get lunch.” West said to him, shrugging lightly.
“Luuuunnnnnccchhhh!” Jack echoed.
“Yes, Lunch Jack.” West rolled her eyes annoyed.
“Mind if I join you?” Aro asked, rather awkwardly.  Chuckling lightly.
“Sure.” Rook said.
Aro falls in to step alongside Rook, "So is there a story behind the name Rook? I'm guessing it's not after the Chess piece right?" he asked enthusiastically.
“No of course not.” Rook said frowning, “I…Uh, never liked my real name so I changed it. Brings back bad memories.”
Aro raised an eyebrow, "I thought that was why they designated us after states", he said matter-of-factly. Do you mind if I ask what happened?”
Rooks Shrugs "I guess your right..." She sighs "I used to be in the Spartan program, which is why I’m so tall. They called me Rachel, my real full name which I did not know at the time was Rachel, Sirena, Bullgore."
He thought for a moment, "You must have Spanish roots? Last names were given as nicknames based around vocation so your ancestors had to have something to do with Bull gore, most likely job, Matador. Which was only done in Spain", he said very analytically, he thought for a moment, then shook his head. But how does that bring back bad memories? He wondered.
Rook looks away "Yeah...I guess... It just...I...Never..Mind..." She slows down a bit, to put less weight on her bad leg. It was starting to bug her as the muscles ached.

Aro watched her, "I thought you were walking funny.” He said with mild interest, “ bearing in mind I'm not exactly muscle man and you kind of are, can I help at all?

"Oh nothing it’s just an old wound. Wash threw a grenade in training, he didn’t know it but it was a real one. Was hospitalized for about a month, they stopped me from dying but some of the shrapnel is still there they didn’t want to remove it from the bone in case something went wrong. So it just acts up sometimes.” Rook says, sighing slightly.
“You should get it check out.” Her A.I says.
"No Jack I'm fine...I hate doctors...." Rook said and flinches a bit.
Aro laughed and supports her by the shoulder and they keep walking on at a slower pace, "Hey I'm a doctor, kind of!" he said jokingly, "don't hate us we're so cool!" he said laughing before he even finished the sentence, "I don't even know why I try to say that." He chuckled.
Rook smiled slightly at that, “Hehheh, thanks. If you’re a Spartan its common to hate doctors after what they did to us.” She said.
Aro smiles, "Don't worry I'm not a proper Doctor. I'm a P.h.D so I have the title doctor but I don't do medicine and stuff", they come to the mess hall and sit down Aro takes Rook to the hatch gets her food then asks the cook for his meal. He sits down with a ration bar and a glass of Orange juice.
"Are you going to be okay? Because I believe we have a training session after this.”
"I should be fine, I just need to sit down for a bit is all..." West said.
Jack appeared “Don’t listen to her she’s stubborn.”
“Shush!” West snapped a him.
Aro smiles, "She's stubborn? Really? I hadn't noticed", he said with a 'no duh' kind of expression. "So if you were in the Spartan program, why did you leave?"
“Well you DON'T leave the Spartan program, they'd shot you if you did. I ran away, beat the crap out of the guards, and then the freelancer project found me before the UNSC did. And... So here I am." West said, shrugging. She clearly didn’t want to talk about it, avoiding any details.
Aro raised an eyebrow with a smile, "Oh so all fun then! But would you be here if you didn't have to be?" he asked with his voice slightly lowered.
“I…Don’t know…” Rook said, Aro check the time and cut in. “We’ve got that training session now are you up for it?” He asked. West nodded “Always.” She gets up and puts her helmet on.
They go to the training ring where South Dakota is fighting Maine with sticks. As they approach South ducks under a powerful swing from Maine and brings the staff up into his chin. He hardly flinches and swings again, this time making contact and sending South hurtling across the room. "Fugal stick training complete", said Phylis over the loud speaker, victor” Agent Maine". Maine goes to help South up but she shoves his hand away and storms out.
"Temper, temper “said Aro with an amused look,
"Agents North Carolina and West Virginia please enter the training area"  Phylis said, they walk in looking for opponents, "Agents Missouri and Nevada please enter the training area". Two other figures walk in. Missouri, heavily built in Green and Charcoal armour and Nevada relatively small in comparison to the giant. "Prepare for team battle, weapons scenario". Wall opens up on the other side with a variety of weapons . Aro puts his helmet on and goes to pick up a sword and pistol "Aren't you friends with Nevada?" He asked thoughtful .
"Ehh... Yeah we're close friends, she's probably going to try and kick my but while I'll be trying not to hit her to hard" Rook laughs and takes a weapon.
Aro twirled his sword in his hand. "In which case I know what they're doing, their trying to see if we honour our personal connections or our duty. Missouri's my brother in case you didn't know". He looked across at the huge soldier, a small axe in each hand.
"Begin exercise", Phylis said calmly. "I'll take Nevada!" Aro said quickly, "Missouri's way stronger than me; sync?"
Rook nodded, “Sync.” she had an SMG. She rolled forward and fired a few round at Missouri knowing they would miss but trying to get his attention.

Aro sprints at Nevada , slides under a shotgun blast and goes into a somersault as she goes to melee. He lands and dives to the side as another shotgun round hits the ground where he was before.
Missouri sprints, jumping over cover, charging at Rook.
Nevada turns around towards him, pumping the shotgun again, and widening her stance to get better grip on the floor.

Rook turns as Missouri sprints at her and runs at the last second she sliding to her right near a column knowing that she would be to slow just running. Missouri tries to stop and slides past her, Rook crouches down taking the few extra seconds to her advantage.  
Aro steps in and slaps aside the shotgun, the shot unloads into the wall as he pulls the trigger on the pistol knocking the shotgun aside and brings the sword into an upward slash across Nevada's torso. Nevada's armor locks down and she curses.
Missouri slides into the column and jumps off of it landing right next to Rook and goes for a neck slash with the tomahawks.
Rook jumps back surprised and lets herself fall to the floor so Missouri miss's just barley. She feels her leg strain a bit, and she Rolls behind the next column using it to help her get up. Missouri comes around and Rook dashes to the other side before he sees her. Aro puts a shot into Nevada just to be sure. Then turns to Missouri and fires his gun, nothing happens. Notices it was jammed by shooting Nevada's shotgun,
"This is why I prefer bows", He drops it and runs towards Missouri jumping across the tops of the pillars.
Missouri looks around confused then sees Aro jumping across the pillars towards him. He turns away from Rook, getting ready to throw one of his axes.Rook comes up behind Missouri and fired two shots of her SMG into his back. She crouches down just in case ready to dash away. She did NOT want to get hit in the face by this guy…..
Missouri collapses with a loud thud. Just as Aro lands next to him in a roll. He shakes his head, "Brother what did I say about an enemy at range in hand-to-hand combat?" Missouri couldn't move but the words,
"Ignore them" were audible. Aro nodded and turned to Rook, "nice jo-" he said as Missouri rose with a very stiff back, grabbed Aro by the throat and held him in between himself and Rook. "This is very annoying", said Aro in a choking yet calm voice.
Rook froze, looking at Missouri, she thought quickly trying to think of what she could do. Her SMG in hand ready, she didn’t know what to do though without hitting Aro…Aro struggled then swung his legs up on to Missouri's right robotic arm, and disconnected a power lead feeding his arm. The arm went limp and Aro drops to the floor gasping for air,
"Any time you're ready", he gasped as Missouri retrieved one of his Tomahawks from the floor ready to swing. Rook fire's at Missouri's feet and keeps firing up into his chest. She then slides down to her knees and helps Aro up onto his feet as quick as she can, in case her shots still didn't work on Missouri.
Missouri goes down slowly, his armour completely locked. Aro gets up,
"Huh, you think you're so bad-ass by not going down when shot don't you?" he said jokingly to Missouri, who replied with a loud, "Yes!" Aro shrugged as Phylis's voice came on, "Victory to Agents North Carolina and West Virginia. Agents Missouri and Nevada please leave the training floor". Missouri's armour unlocked and Aro offered him a hand to get up. Missouri got up and they exchanged a quick high five before he left.
Aro Picks up the sword and returns to the rack, rolling his neck.
"I guess we've got new opponents now. Thanks by the way, you did good. Not many people beat my brother".
Rook smiled taking off her sweaty helmet "Nah it was nothing really, a team effort. I’m not so easy to take down either ya’know."
Aro takes of his helmet and gives her a huge Smile, "a modest Freelancer? That is rare!" Extends a hand to shake.
Rook pauses for a moment looking around, and then smiles and hugs Aro tightly forgetting her extra strength. "Really appreciate the sentiment but can't breathe!" Aro choked, getting faster as he runs out of breath.
Rook let go looking very embarrassed “Sorry! Are you okay?”
He inhales sharply, "Yeah I'll be okay", Phylis's voice cut in,"Next match between Agent West Virginia and Agent North Carolina. Aro's face drops, "Or maybe not. Again, this is a test of our emotional attachment. Don't take it easy on me!" He said with a smile. "Hand to hand training match", Phylis reported, Aro rolled his eyes as he puts his helmet on, "Why do you hate me?” he muttered.
West cursed “I hate you Phylis.” She grumbled and went to the other end to get ready.
Aro shrugged, I agree but what are we going to do", he stopped to think for a moment then shook his head, "just try not to break me in half okay? I like my spine the way it is, not in pieces."
"3, 2 ,1 Go" phylis announced.
Rook dashed forward towards the nearest column.ugh..Why do they put me against Aro? Already? A few hours ago I would have gladly..but now... She thinks and tries to clear her thoughts of that, as she ducked behind a column. Stay on a track, don't think about that. Think of it as just another person.As she takes cover behind a pillar Aro jumps over it, grabs her by the shoulders and flips, smashing her to the floor. He has no problems with apathy,
"It's not personal!" he shouted back as he ran off. And used his helmet's loudspeaker feature to disguise his location, his well-spoken British accent flooded the arena, "I'm actually very fond of you, I just want to win" his voice said apologetically.
Rook doesn't answer, not wanting to give away her position. She runs towards the direction he went after getting up, it would take more to hurt her. She was careful going around corners to slightly hide her bad leg, she wasn't sure Aro would take advantage of that but she knew the training bots when she fought them always did. Spotting Aro crouching by a pillar looked like he was about to run off again. Rook crouches down brakes off a piece of the column and throws it just across from Aro hopping he'll think its her when she'll be the other way. Aro snatches the rock out of midair and looks straight at her. He runs straight at her, as he is just out of distance throws the rock to mess up her timing and goes for a flying side thrust kick to the head.
Freezes for a second, as her mind thinks but in the next second she drops to the floor almost as if she was dead and rolls to her right over to the next Colum. She feels the adrenalin rush into her blood and the surviving Spartan instincts kick in. Any thought of Aro being her friend pushes out. Aro catches a piece of stone without looking, finds the pillar where she's hiding then Jumps at the column, grabs hold and throws himself round it on to Rook, feet first landing on her torso, and rests his knees on her shoulders, pinning her arms to the floor. Rook full of adrenalin the only thought on her mind is to get Aro off. She kicks him in the gut as hard as she can, and a idea comes to mind she head buts him really hard.Aro is obviously hurt but doesn't relent, his mind still calculating launches several, lightning fast punches all aimed at weak points both in the armour and in the human body. Culminates barrage with a jumping axe kick to the stomach, the floor crack underneath the force of the blow, Twenty eight years of Martial Art training had made Aro's strikes far more powerful than his strength and build would suggest.
Rook grunts and lays there in pain for a moment, but years of both Spartan training and Freelancer training allowed her to ignore pain in the heat of battle. But she knew that she’d be feeling it big time once this was over. She rolled onto her feet, it was clear she was stronger but Aro was faster. She needed to distract him somehow… She sprinted as fast as she could at Aro her leg was hating her for it but she did. As she was almost on top of him she stretched her arm out it hit one of the columns the pain was intense and she flinched but she had a bunch of rocks in her hand so it worked…Somewhat.
She threw the rocks hopping to distracted Aro, and jumped forwards knocking him back onto the floor the moment of her sprint and her heavy weight being thrown into it.
Aro grunted, 'That was clever he thought, but it had to hurt, so mind distracted by pain which should allow me to do... this! As he was so close to Rook he might as well make use of it. She's going to crush me against the wall; need to get out of the way Brings left leg round his right then quickly spins, locking her right leg with his left and spinning around her body at the same time bringing her crashing to the floor. He lands ungracefully, rolling across the floor as Rook crashes to the floor in front of him. He rolled up and spotted a SMG, less than three steps away. He goes to grab it.
Rook grunted everywhere seemed to hurt well that was smart too…She looked up to see Aro going the SMG, see could almost hear her old sergeants voice in her ear ‘Don’t let them get it first! Or your as good as dead!’ but there was no way she could get it in time… Just no way. Why did they put them against each other? They must have known it would be a long match. Rook rolled to her feet unsteadily dizzy, she ran for cover behind another Colum at the most she hoped if he did shot her she could catch him off guard if her got a low shot. She grabs rocks off the floor, she wasn’t sure but it was better than nothing and waited slowly moving as quietly as she could through the columns keep her ears sharp and eyes open, she could hear Aro going for the SMG. Aro grabbed the SMG and turned quickly to find Rook gone. His mind went cold as he came up with a plan, I was occupied for about three seconds, he thought, so she can't be far, she's unarmed all I have to do is get a shot. He walked around the perimeter of the columns knowing that if he could see her down one of the rows she'd be at a disadvantage. He moved slowly deliberately. This felt good, like back in his vigilante days. Waiting in the shadows for what seemed like ages to pick off a straggler from a group, finally a to make it more interesting. He looked down the rows of columns, nothing. Then an idea struck him, he jumped up onto a pillar...
Rook stopped and froze every couple of feet something she learned in Spartan training, she listen carefully. She could hear the light thud of Aro’s boots as he walked then the sounds stopped and she heard a scrapping sound followed by…She wasn’t sure she strained to hear….A louder thud maybe..? What could he be doing…Climbing? Crawling? No why would he crawl? What else made that sound..?

She looked up.
She wasn’t sure what to do, okay he was up there on the columns she saw him do it the last match…
She kept looking up and around, she had an idea she had been taking rocks form the columns many times before. If Aro had as good hearing as she thought, he did he would hear her if she did it again. She took one of the rocks she had collected earlier, and threw it across from her after checking to see if he had found her yet. She threw the rock as hard as she could with her arm, and it hit the column father away from her hard enough to break into it and send a bunch of rocks falling down. Rook looked up to see if it would work, though she knew it probably wouldn’t.

A sound? Aro listened carefully, rock on rock then rock on metal. No dice, diversionary tactic, she'd never be that sloppy...Unless she was desperate. But he knew where it hit, two columns in front and one to the left so find everywhere within sight-lines of that and... Bingo. A white shape was pressed against a column. Aro jumped silently, a skill he had mastered years ago, the only way to survive unarmed against armed criminals. He could fire but he was out of range, needed to get closer. He hated tense fights, someone always had to lose their nerve. He came to the end of the row. Decided just to Go for it. In one swift movement he started jumping across the columns directly at Rook. Half way there he opened fire, his marksmanship was unwavering all that would let him down would be the gun, he renewed his hatred for automatic weapons and kept firing...
A direct tactic, he was just going for it rook realized her distraction hadn’t worked. She fell to the floor as fast as she could, it never seemed to fail her but it did hurt. All the weight of her armour and her own body weight being pressed down suddenly. She rolled to her right taking cover behind another column. As Aro moved in again since she had moved Rook knew she was running out of tactics but she had one last idea. It would hurt like hell…She just hopped it worked, she dashed to another column and as Aro moved closer she turned around on the heel of her right foot and sprinted towards him.
She ran straight at the column he was on and ran shoulder into it the rocks fell apart and Aro fell off, Rook tripped over him head first and rolled forward into her back. She moaned as she ungracefully got to her feet, rocks stuck in her armor cracks and scratches all over her and the armor. She knew she couldn’t take much more, but she would keep trying. She turned and saw Aro getting up, and she ran at him hopping to catch him before he could turn around and fire at her. That was irritating; Aro spotted her over his left shoulder, plenty of time to shoot. He threw the SMG into his left hand, than noticed the ammo count, one bullet. Rook was charging straight at him. Get to slow her down, simple solution. He fired the bullet into her good leg and watched as she collapsed as her leg froze.
Rook cursed under her panting breathing, he shot her in her good leg, her momentum made her roll forward and she stopped face first in the metal floor right in front of Aro. That was embarrassing...She looked up "Nice shot...Aro" she said slowly though she was pushing her bad leg up this was gonna hurt...Again. I should add.
She pushed as hard as she could with her bad leg and jumped/slid forward grabbing Aro's foot and pulling him down. Aro had almost laughed when she had collapsed in front of him but then she tried to grab his leg, if they were both on the floor he'd lose, it would be a straight fight between weight and strength, neither of which he excelled in. He judged it, last resort using bad leg, grip was weak. Easy. He raised his foot out of her grip and stepped back, simple yet effective; she slid off.
"Uh look I could finish you now but I think I would have to hurt you too much to make it work. Could you surrender?", he asked feebly, he didn't expect her to say yes but it never hurt to ask. He made sure to say out of distance, he wasn't sure if she would be able to do that again but better safe than sorry... and sore.
"Aro...Look I'm pumping with adrenaline, and right now my Body is telling me to kill you. No offense the answer is always going to be no and you know it.” Rook snapped, she did everything she had, she was running out of options and was really hurting. She threw what smalls rocks in her hands she had left at him they bounced off Aro’s helmet with a loud crack. And she managed to push herself forward with both legs but mainly the left one as her right wouldn’t bend. She almost made it to him, and somewhat awkwardly hopped/jumped until she crashed into Aro. It wasn’t enough force to knock him down only unsteady him and she held on to his chest plate armor hopping to either bring him down with her or get another chance to hit him. She dug her fingers as deep into his chest plate as she could bending the metal slightly. It looked rather strange….
"As you wish", said Aro coldly. He slapped both sides of her helmet with his palms, a very effective stunning technique loosening her grip. He pulled her down on to his knee kneed her in the face and kicked her away with a heel kick. She slid in to one of the weaker columns and Aro had an Idea. He ran at her and jumped over her to be holding on to the edge of the column she was led against. He swung and put his full power in to a double kick into Rooks chest, using her to bring the column down on top of her. It collapsed and shattered heavily on Rook. Aro stepped back to avoid getting hit and waited….. Had that done it?
Rooks chest felt like a burning pain, and she felt like throwing up too.
ugh I think he won… Still she wasn’t ready to give up, but realistically there wasn’t much she could do. She took one of the rocks and dug it into her own arm, it hurt and she saw some blood but she had to keep going. She wasn’t sure she had the energy to get up anymore, but she pushed some of the rocks aside and then just got frustrated and threw them all aside. And she stood up looking at Aro, she was pretty sure she was seeing two or three of him though. And she couldn’t really keep herself up right, one leg shot and frozen the other too weak.
She managed to get her good frozen leg up onto the floor by leaning back on her bad leg, but she couldn’t help moaning a bit as she did so form the pain. So she was standing…Still that wasn’t walking or running. She just starred at Aro and his dizziness twins her mind felt like a mass of fog and pain. This girl really never does give up! The test still hadn't ended and he was starting to feel as if he would have to do a lot of damage to take her down. His mind whirred, eliminating possibilities. Then his mind focused on a certain point, how the computer knows who's one, if someone stays on the floor for more than 10 seconds the other person is declared the winner. Aro smiled under his Helmet, all he had to do was get her down. But how? She is much stronger and heavier, but she is unstable on her feet. Hmm. In one motion he reached down and grabbed a piece of stone from the floor, threw it at Rooks legs knocking them out from under her and then jumped on her back putting her arm in to a lock that uses natural body weaknesses to maintain, making her strength count for nothing. And he held on, trying to keep her pinned to the floor. "Please... Stop... fighting" he said, struggling to get the words out from effort.
She knew she was done for, just give up it would be easier she was going to feel this for weeks. But she just…She couldn’t, something in her just kept telling her that stopping was like death. If she stopped then she would be dead, but that wasn’t true, it was training. If she stopped it just meant she’d have to train harder, that’s all. But she couldn’t believe there was nothing she could do, that had to be something! He was on her back now twisting her arm, she could hear jack in her helmet she had forgotten about him he was always so quiet.
“I believe we are done for. The chances of escape are very low.” Jack said. Rook couldn’t answer him, she kept trying to get free the seconds ticked by it seemed so long. She brunt her knee up to her chest, maybe she could throw him off somehow? Roll over? She pushed up with her knee and rolled over to her side knocking Aro on the floor, his grip was weaken but still strong and she struggled to get her hand free. Finely she painfully pulled her arm out, she gave out a yelp of pain though as she did. And she rolled over to face him on her side,
It’s not going to work… It’s not going to work, why did I just give up? Ugh I hate this!! she could barely even get her thoughts out, and she was still seeing three Aro’s. She brought her foot up into Aro’s chest, and grabbed his shoulder brining him down closer to the floor with a loud thud. Giving it all she had, but still knowing it probably wasn’t going to work. She had one more move before he could react she knew, and she slid closer to him I’m going to hate myself after this, I hate your director, I hate you! She said silently in her head and lifted her right fist brining it down as hard as she could into Aro’s chest plate. The wind was completely knocked out of Aro as his chest plate shattered, but he never stopped thinking. That really hurt and she wasn't going to give up so she had to go down now. It was harder to breathe but he still immediately brought his hands up, one grabbing her wrist and the other her hand. He twisted and lifted, dislocating them. Let's see you punch me with that again. He brought his right leg up and kicked her in the kidneys, knocking her off balance. Ignoring a lot of pain he turned his torso towards her.
"Jettison chest piece" He commanded. The armour shot off hitting Rook in the face now her arm was out the way and he could breathe again he twisted in to a round house kick, a kick he'd always been good at. He used to train by kicked over trees with this kick and now all this force went to her head, which should help to keep her off balance. He rolled backwards on to his feet and then jumped at her, ready to finish this fight with one last punch.
Rook felt her head whirling, that had hurt a lot. She stumbled up onto her feet, and looked around in circles for a few moments clearly very very disoriented until she saw Aro’s purple/ red armor. She took a step away from him, raising her arms in front of her, her mind a whirling mass of fog and pain.
One…two…Three Jack echoed in her mind. Rook felt her knees collapse, and she fell onto the floor on her back. She was sure she was about to throw up…And she threw off her helmet and did just that. Rolling back onto her back after throwing up, her breakfast and collapsing.

“ releasing seal from chest and side to allow better breathing for lungs and throat” Jack said in his electronic simple voice, his tiny image standing next to Rook’s side.
Phylis's voice chimed in, "Victory to Agent North Carolina", Aro started to cool down, his sympathy came back on-line. "Oh c***!" he exclaimed immediately, running to Rook. "Jack is she going to be okay?"
“I have released the seal from her Chest and side plates, if you could slide them off it will allow for better breathing in the lungs and throat. There is a 80% chance of recovery from Agent West Virgina.” Jack said.

Rook moans "Shut the F*** Up you stupid AI." she barely got the words out her adrenaline was coiling down and she felt competently exhausted.

“ There is a low percentage that me 'shutting the F*** up' will help your recovery” Jack said.
Aro laughed and awkwardly removed the plates from her armour. "You will need to actually go to the doctors this time. If I would've done that to anyone else they'd have died. You are ridiculously tough, I've seen cars take less punishment than that before breaking".
Rook groaned , “that hurt like hell....Aro you may be short and small but you pack a punch in that small size of yours...Uugh" She cough some and started breathing harder. "I hate doctors...they al-" She was cut short by herself and flinched as the pain came back.

“Agent north Carolina's smaller size than Agent West Virgina also makes him a smaller target and easier for him to slip past larger people such as Agent West Virgina.” Jack said.

Rook wanted to tell jack to shut up but she didn't say anything.
Aro shook his head at Jack who stopped talking, "I'm not short, you're just ridiculously tall!" he said with a smirk on his face, "Medical team!" he shouted at the door. "Look I'm going to take you to a doctor, my doctor, she's nice and she's practical". Rook just nodded feeling dizzy and pain she moaned a bit. “A good start to a new friendship huh?” she said sarcastically,
Aro smiled “Totally!”

West watched as Aro paced back and forth on the pelican’s cotpit, muttering under his breath for a moment. He looked up then shook his head, cursing, he paced again. Letting out a frustrated growl, West looked at Missouri “Whats up with him? Does he have ants in his brain or something?” Missouri raised an eyebrow to the comment, “Ant in his brains? What? Did you just make that up Rook? And I don’t know, I think he’s trying to figure our situation out. I’d suggest leaving him be.”  The green freelancer responded, “Yes I did, and alright…” West said glancing over at Aro. Who was still pacing back and forth, he growled shaking his head fiddling with his combat knife. Then snapped his fingers so suddenly it made West jump, “Yes!” Aro said smiling. West raised an eyebrow, “Uh….Aro? Care to explain?” She asked. “I got it!” Aro went on, turning to them looking rather pleased of himself. “This isn’t as I initially thought, I thought perhaps a much larger ship had attacked us. But I was wrong, first- if it was a full cruiser then we’d be dead, second- If they wanted us alive where is the cruiser? And why wouldn’t beta pick it up? I believe we were attacked by something much smaller,  maybe a modified Pelican or Dropship…And, I concluded that we must have been attacked by our rebel friends. They probably thought we’d have our prisoner aboard this ship, and wanted to kill him so there’d be no witnesses, plus they’d eliminate three freelancers as well. But-By luck or skill we survived, and we’re being dragged by their ship above. As we all can see, hence the gravity we must be inside their shields. And here’s are advantage, they haven’t come inside yet, they probably think we’re all dead, AND we don’t have the prisoner, he was sent on a different pelican.” No one said anything for a minute.

“How in the world did you figure all that out in the last….What?! Eight minutes?!” West asked, Aro was smiling from ear to ear. “The human mind is capable of a lot more than people give credit, when used right that is.” Was Aro’s response. West shook her head, “Wow, is all I can say Aro. Okay so whats the plan? We don’t have Jet packs so we can’t really get to their ship even though its above us…” West asked. Missouri nodded in agreement to her question, “She has a point, however the fact they are right above us gives us an advantage.” He said. Aro nodded “I thought of that already.” He said “West remember our first mission together?” West nodded “Yeah why?” Aro smirked widely, West thought about it a moment. “Remember how we had landed?” West realized what he was saying. “Oh no, no no! We’re NOT doing THAT again!” She said stepping back. Aro couldn’t help but smile, “I thought it was rather fun!” he said. “Fun?! Fun?! It was Terrifying!” West said.
Missouri looked between them confused, “What? What mission?” He asked. Aro lifted his hands slightly “Okay okay Rook calm down, I thought you might say that and I came up with another plan.” He said chuckling. “And Brother on our first mission we used the jets on my boots to fly down and land on a rooftop, West had to hold onto me. She didn’t like it as much as I did I think. “ he said.  Turning more serious he went on, “Anyways I’ll show you.” Aro walked into the back of the pelican picking up his bow and Pistols as he did. He crouched down to one of the boxes laid under the seats and opened one taking out the hilt of an Energy sword. “This will do the job just fine I think, cut a hole into our roof and their floor.” He said looking up at West and Missouri. “Sounds good to me brother!” Missouri said, West nodded.  “Alright, load up and lets move out.” Aro said. As they all took up their scattered weapons and reloaded ammo. West had her SMG in hand, and Missouri his Assault Rifle, “Brother mind helping me out with some of that muscle of yours?” Aro asked, Missouri nodded walking over and looking down at Aro with his Silver visor. “Of course, how can I help?” He asked “I need a lift.” Aro responded, “Up to the roof.” He explained  pointing upwards, when Missouri continued to stare at him. “Ah, okay. Just don’t kick me in the face please?” Missouri said, as Aro turned around and Missouri  quickly hosted him up. West shifted her weight from foot to foot as she watched,  clicking the safety on her SMG off and on.

Aro activated the sword and started cutting into the roof, after West clicked the safety for the eighth time Aro said “If you don’t mind that’s rather distracting, and I AM holding a boiling hot piece of light shaped plasma right above my head”.  West stopped, “Thank you.” Aro said continuing to cut into the roof. He got on the last part and put a hand on the circle he had cut out. “Okay, get ready in case this thing is too heavy for me to hold up.” He said, Missouri tensed and nodded getting ready. Aro cut the last bit, and felt the weight of the ton of steel press down on his hands. He let out a fast breath, “They don’t make the armor on this thing out of wood that’s for sure.” He said in a strained voice, Missouri stepped back and Aro let it clank to the ground. “Okay, time to say hello to our friends!” Aro said.
A few minutes later inside the Rebel ship.

A guard walked down the back of the ship, crates were stacked on either sides and a few things scattered here and there. The lights flickered slightly as he walked, his boot creating a soft echo every time they hit the metal flooring.  He sighed, bored and tired, “Why do they even need us?” He muttered, “I’m bored out of my F*** mind here!”  He walked past some of the crates, the lights flicker out for half a second, and he suddenly felt a hand on his mouth and neck, he dropped his rifle out of surprise as his air flow got cut off and blackness over took him.
“Tell me why I can’t kill him again Aro?” West grumbled over the COM’s, as she dragged the guard’s out-cold body behind a crate. “I prefer not to kill unless we have to.” Aro said. “Oh what you’re a hero now?"

West said “He would have shot you if he saw you.” Aro glanced at her from the shadows of the wall, “And if he had saw us I would him killed him, silently.” He responded. West grunted “Why take the chance? Whats one more dead guy? I’ve killed plenty of people it’s what I do, it’s all I know. The sooner you realize that, the better. I’d kill anyone, if I had the reason. “ West growled, “Yes I know you tried to kill me remember? And Ro-“ he was cut off “Shut it!” Missouri snapped “Now’s not the time, West chill out and deal with it. We can use him to get information later, stop being such as pain in the ass  and relax.” He said over the COM’s looking at West. “You’re not my father don’t act like it.” West growled, “No.” Missouri said “I’m not, but I am older then you, and your endangering our operation and decreasing the success of our mission, and if something goes wrong it’ll be your fault. We’ve already been delayed enough, let’s get moving. And deal with this matter later. “ He said, neutrally, not angrily but more of a matter-of-fact tone.

West sighed, and seemed to give up. “Fine.” She said. Missouri nodded “Let’s take out the other guards next. Aro you take left I take right, West you go for the driver. Sync?” He said. “Sync.” Aro said “Sync.” West repeated. “…..Now!” Missouri jumped up at the guard on the right, who looked shocked to see  him, his moment of shock gave Missouri the second he needed to kick his legs out from under him. And bring his elbow down on the man’s head, as that same moment Aro seemed to almost materialize form thin air and knock the other guard off balance, giving a quick punch to his throat and knocking him out instantly. West jogged up into the Cotpit put a hand over the drivers mouth, she snapped his neck quickly. She turned around to see Missouri standing behind her. “Rook.” He said looking down at her, “What did I just get through telling you before?” he asked. “To stop being a pain in the ass?” West echoed. “We could have interrogated him.” Missouri said, getting to the point. “He’s a pilot he wouldn’t know anything.” West said. “Pilots would know locations and addresses, types of shipments, from who and to where.” Missouri said, “And I gave you a order not too, not just because it’s a waste of human life, but because they could have useful information.” He said. West starred up into his silver visor, “Your. Not. My. Sargent.” She said slowly, “If you don’t like the way I do things, then it’s not my problem. Deal with it.” She growled.  Aro looked at Missouri who nodded slightly at him, he stepped back and started tying up the guards.  Missouri turned back to West, “West Virginia, don’t forget there’s a chain of command here,  and just because you’re a Spartan doesn’t make you any better than anyone else. Especially not someone who’s older and more experienced then you, and has looked over the situation and made a decision based on that.  I gave you an order, I shouldn’t even have to tell you why you should trust my command, and trust that I have a logical reason for giving you that order.” Missouri said. “And now, because of what you’ve done, we’ve lost valuable information that could have been used.”

West hissed clenching her hands, “I never said I was better than anyone, I’m just trying to prove a point. I’m not like you. I was raised to kill, nothing more, nothing less. “ She said. “And fine, your right. I made a mistake, and I disobeyed your orders. Okay? Leave me alone now.” She said. “We’re all trained too Rook, Spartans are soldiers, trained to complete missions, not killers without a cause, you’ve obviously forgotten your training, and using it to satisfy your own twisted ego Agent.” Missouri said. “Twisted Ego?! I’m a MONSTER! Don’t you get that?! All I know how to do is fight, is kill people. The Spartan programed turned me into a Monster, anything I had to do in order to survive, and I only trusted my team. Until they all died!” West growled, Missouri looked at her “You need to put the past behind you, I don’t care West. Your acting like a child,  I myself lost over 30,000 men. And I don’t use that number lightly, and yet I still go and comfort my terrified daughter from her own past and nightmares, putting my own behind me.  Your becoming a mother, you need to learn to forget your past and think about the future. Think about someone besides Yourself. Your not in the Spartan Program anymore, you’re not suffering, but other people still are. So get up and help someone not as fortunate as you.” Missouri said, he walked past her without another word and into the cotpit, taking the drivers body out he sat in the chair. “Now let’s go home, it’s been a long day.” He said.

“Hoome sweet home oh how I missed you my dear! Oh how I can’t wait to see you once more~!” Aro suddenly said from the back of the plan in a sing-song type tone. “Oh how I can’t think of more words  right now!  And I think I’ll shut up before I embarrass myself anymore….” He walked over to them, “Home sweet home! I can’t wait to see you my dear! Once more in your…Your…Er…Dang it.” West gave Aro a strange look, he was acting very strange indeed. “Um….Aro…Are you okay?” She asked.  “ Well, yeah I think so.” Aro responded, “Actually I’m not sure, I feel very strange.” He concluded. “I think perhaps the side effects of getting impelled into a two ton steel wall might be coming on… I think I’ll go take a nap while we head back if you don’t mind.” With that he walked off to the back of the ship to sleep. “…Missouri?”
“What?”

“Your brother is the weirdest man I have ever met.”

“Yeah, but that’s why he’s so likable. And actually he’s very logical, but a lot of people in the world seem to class logical as weird.”

“He’s still crazy.”

“Yes. Yes he is.”

“Your pretty weird too actually.”

“Thank you.”