(3rd Pov)
The inner cabin of the Pelican rumbled as it traveled through the upper atmosphere of Circinius IV. In sight was the Sahara class Prowler sitting and waiting patiently for their arrival.
Lasky, sitting close to the cargo door, couldn't shake the memory of the beams that scorched the surface of the planet. The mere sight of the ventral plasma was like watching a demon of myth. He was certain this would be a day he would remember for the rest of his life, whether he liked it or not.
The Spartans in front of him had no reaction, however, which was…unnerving. Despite him knowing that there was flesh beneath the armor and helmets, he couldn't help but wonder if, beneath it, was more metal. It wasn't something he had no experience with; the Captain was a man of few words as well.
He glanced over, seeing Chyler sleeping peacefully beside him, and couldn't help but feel his face soften. He turned to the Spartan he'd seen working on her earlier, "Thank you," he brought himself to say.
The Spartan, Sheila, looked over and glanced at Jorge, who gave an almost imperceptible nod before turning to Lasky, "Don't mention it," she said before pausing and removing her helmet.
Lasky contained his reaction upon seeing Sheila, even though he knew that she was… well, a she, he was still surprised to see her. She looked almost like a valkyrie, although she was nearly seven feet tall and her build fit the bill of what could easily be considered a super soldier (though she was noticeably smaller than both David and Jorge). Her hair was scarlet red and short by women's standards, but it did appear to be growing out. Her face was unmarred by scars, except for a small ruffle of skin on her jaw by her chin. He was once again drawn to her face, like Jorge, who quietly watched him; she was incredibly young-looking.
He wondered if it might just be part of what makes them so…. Super. Or maybe it was that they just had naturally young-looking faces. Regardless, he would refrain from ever calling them kids or young.
Sheila, after taking off her helmet, looked at Lasky with the ghost of a smirk, "But if you want to pay me back, then pinch in to help Dave pay for a new suit. Because that ain't cheap,"
Before Lasky could respond, another voice pitched in from beside Jorge. Turning, he found the same amazoness-like woman but with platinum colored hair and soft yellow eyes. Thomas thought that in a different era, a different age, maybe this one would be some type of princess.
Cal looked over at Sheila with a slightly tilted head, "We get paid?" she asked with her usual tone that no one could know whether she was joking or being serious.
That actually gave Sheila a small smile, "We'd better. I plan to retire on Arcadia after this war is over."
Daisy removed her helmet next, revealing golden hair and a tough-girl look, "Sounds boring," she said, rolling her crystal blue eyes.
"Come on, you don't want to lounge on a beach and watch the water?" Sheila asked, bumping Daisy with her elbow.
"No," Daisy said simply.
Despite the joking, none of them actually had any plans of ever retiring. David had already said that he wouldn't, and so neither would they.
Seeing the Spartans act a bit more like humans, Lasky decided to ask a question that had been on his mind, "If you don't mind me asking, how old are you guys?"
The temperature in the cabin instantly dropped multiple degrees. Daisy turned to look at Lasky, "None of your business," she said with a look that dared him to say something else.
Lasky instantly shut his mouth.
Jorge spoke up to clarify, feeling that Daisy might have been a bit harsh, "It's classified," Lasky shot him a thankful look to which he didn't respond.
Quiet spread as his question had effectively killed the conversation, as the Spartans returned to their reserved state. Lasky couldn't help but sigh and shake his head as he leaned back into his chair.
His head rested against the cold metal of the bulkhead, and he looked at the ceiling. Slowly, his eyes strained to stay open, 'That's right,' he thought, 'I haven't slept properly in a few days,'
By now his eyelids were becoming increasingly more difficult to keep open, 'Maybe just a few minutes would be ok,' and slowly his consciousness slipped away as his breaths became more labored.
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-Some time later-
(David Pov)
"Well, that could have gone better," Sheila said beside me as the team walked toward our quarters.
"How often is it that you guys get grilled by CO's?" Jorge asked with a raised eyebrow.
Daisy shrugged behind me, "Less than you think, more than I'd like," she spoke dismissively, Cal beside Jorge nodding in agreement with Daisy silently.
The moment we'd gotten back to the prowler, the five of us were pulled into the bridge for a debrief while the two cadets were immediately taken to medical. What followed was two hours of passive-aggressive remarks and jabs at me, my leadership, and overall judgment. Nothing I hadn't expected and nothing I wasn't already prepared to endure.
"How are you, David?" Cal sped up to fall in line with me and ask. I noticed her eyes drawn to the new dents and now holes along my chest plate.
I grunted, "I've been through worse," I shrugged before motioning to my Mjolnir, "Halsey will not be happy though,"
"You got that right," Daisy mumbled behind.
"So when are you going to take off that helmet?" Sheila cut in with a curious tone, "That thing cannot be working right."
She was right, since my fight with that new alien, my helmet had gotten even worse. Now it refused to prop up the HUD, instead opting to be the most expensive pair of sunglasses.
"Force of habit," I said as I pulled off my helmet and tucked it under my arm. We stopped in the hall, and under the white light of the ship's LEDs, I saw how all four of their eyes were drawn to the dried blood on my face.
Jorge was the first to speak up, "What caused that?" he pointed to the faint red mark.
I sighed, "I ran into a pair of new aliens. Big ones and debatably more dangerous than the Brute we ran into at the AA gun,"
Daisy's eyes sharpened, "You're joking. There's more?"
Cal looked deeply at me with a grim expression, "What were they like?"
"Big and covered in what looked like battleship plating," I spoke, recalling the dark figures clearly, "They were bipedal with two arms, one had what I assume to be a plasma cannon and the other a shield as you'd see with ancient knights… But they aren't just a single creature," I paused to emphasize.
"When I was pulling it apart, I found out that they are made out of a bunch of worms. Each being about the size of my forearm," I wrapped it up, focusing on what was important. "If you run into one, be extremely careful. Don't engage them if you don't have to. One nearly killed me,"
"Great, bugs, gorillas, birds, lizards, and now worm colonies," Sheila said with sarcasm, sighing, "Next thing you know, we are going to have giant floating strawberries."
"Careful, you might have jinxed us," Jorge said, earning a smile from me and the rest, easing the tension.
"Sierra Zero-Zero-Three?" A voice came from behind me, and I turned to find a naval comms officer.
"Yes?" I asked calmly, looking down at the middle-aged man.
"We have a-uh Doctor Halsey who is looking to speak with you," he said with a bit of hesitation, "She was… adamant that you speak with her."
"Speak of the devil, and she will arrive," I heard Daisy whisper
I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I turned to come face-to-face with Cal. "We will meet you back in our quarters,"
I nodded, "I'll see you there," and I watched them slowly depart past the seaman and me before disappearing down a corridor.
I turned to face the soldier, "Let's not keep the doctor waiting."