Halo - Rebel at Heart (Chapter 4)

Eris sat the window shelf gazing out into the camp of the Rebels, watching the world move around her. No exercises, no cryo training, no rifle ranges… just her and her mind alone to stew her into boredom. She watched some children playing a game. It was a game the marines played a lot but she could never recall the name of it. Kicking a ball around and trying to get it between two poles… basketball?  Eris rolled her eyes at that stupid thought.
The door of her room creaked open and to her surprise it was Rosa. She stood at the door looking up an Eris with her remaining, un-scarred eye. The child then walked in, looking elsewhere as she sat down on the fur rug. It was as if Rosa had a cold shoulder about something. It took a moment for Eris to remember that rude look she gave to Rosa the other day. Eris looked out the window, then to Rosa with a frown.    
“Why don’t you play outside with the other children?” Eris asked softly. Without looking the child replied.
“They don’t like me…” Rosa muttered quietly. “They call me monster.” Her words cut through Eris deeply. Eris straighten her posture and looked at the little girl seriously.
“The only monster in this room is me.” Eris announced shallowly. Rosa turned her head and looked at Eris confused. But someone else understood her words perfectly.
“You drag yourself down a lot don’t you Eris?” Jett said as he stood there leaning on the door frame with folded arms.

He smiled at Rosa. “Na- na is in the kitchen. Why don’t you help her out baby girl?” Jett insisted. Rosa stood while looking at Eris, then left without another word. Eris scowled a little at his sudden intrusion.
“How long was you standing there?” Eris asked looking out the window to avoid his eyes.
“Not long, I was looking for Rosa. She seems very fond in you.” He commented. This made Eris raise a brow.
“Much like yourself?” Eris pointed out causing Jett to smile a little, then frowned leaning on the wall.
“Rosa wasn’t born with that scar you know, it was given to her when she was a baby. No more than 3 months old when… me and my wife Linda lived as farmers. Little did we know the people we were hiring to help out at the farm were using us to hide from the UNSC. These people were Innies. But not that I could blame them after what I saw…” Jett frowned.
“What did you see?” Eris whispered her question. Somewhat dreading the story.
“Spartans… a squad of them. I had never seen anything like them. They were so tall… and all armed to the eyeballs in weapons. The Rebels came out of hiding to fight them but me and Linda… we hid in the bedroom with our daughter crying. Next thing I knew there was a flash and my ears rung. It’s started to get hot, flames and smoke soon covered our home. We were trapped as the building was starting to collapse. I jumped out of the window a broke my ankle. But I still wanted to save my family as I barely stood and held my arms out. Linda stood at the window holding Rosa in her arms ready to jump. The building however...” Jett looked away suddenly, shaking his head a little while his eyes glistening with faint water that gathered in them. It took him a moment before he continued. “There was nothing I could do but watch and listen to my wife’s cries for help as the building fell. The Spartans could hear her too, and went to her aid. They had managed to drag her out under the burning wreckage… but it was too late for her. Rosa however was still alive, still in her arms. Shielded by Linda our child survived, only just. One of the Spartans removed Rosa from Linda’s arms. For a moment… I thought I was going to lose everything when they surrounded me. I thought they was going to end me and take my baby girl from me.”
“And you joined the Rebels.” Eris pointed out the important fact making Jett sigh.
“I had little choice. Once my home was gone some stragglers took me here and gave me aid for my ankle, and treated Rosa’s burns. It didn’t take long for my mother to flee here. The military has mistaken farmers as Rebels before… but never this bad.” Jett shifted and frowned deeply. “Some question if these ‘mistakes’ are in fact just tests for their military warfare. In a way, I cannot blame what the people here did to you when you arrived. After all the suffering they have been through because of these new soldiers… I can understand. Yet those Spartans who killed my wife by accident could of killed me and my daughter. I had told Rosa the story of her scar and ever since you said what you are to my mother, Rosa can’t stop speaking about you.” Jett smiled at his words then stood up. “I’m sorry for yacking your ears off…” He muttered and left suddenly leaving Eris in deep thought.

Things only slowly came together the more Eris thought about everything. But maybe some of her thoughts mislead her? Jett was not born a filthy, murdering Rebel. He was forced into it. Sure, he assists them a little but nothing to deserve a death penalty. Eris gazed out the winter world of the Rebel stronghold. Eris felt as if she was at a cross road with signs all broken.

The path she picks could change her forever…

Weeks turned to many months within the camp of the Rebels as Eris remained in her new home. It was now deep into winter on Planet Reach and the camp has locked up for the season. No vehicles in or out till the harsh cold passes over. Rosa would often visit Eris to play with her toys on the fur rug on the floor. Not that Eris mind, she enjoyed the company from time to time. The morning was quiet as Eris stood before a mirror in her room fully dressed in a thick, grey winter coat and dark navy trousers. Her once shaved head had grown to her shoulders. For the first time Eris could admire her thick, healthy brown hair as she ran her fingers through them. But the scar on her face showed clearly. Eris sighed at this… it is something she cannot change.

She closed her eyes, and recalled that day.

There he stood proudly, a young boy who she was destined to trust. She remembered his warm smile as he reached his hand out to her. When Eris was placed in the program to become a Spartan she would often cry with fear and confusion. But when he entered her life it changed. His name was Harold. He grew into one of the most handsome Spartans Eris could admit to. Eyes rich in hazel color with a buzz cut goatee and shaved head. And under the layer of armor is a strong muscled figure. He would never be far from Eris, the years of their training they formed a strong bond. The both would even sneak off for their moments alone. He had even given her a flower and told her how much he loved her. Harold became protective of her and would often threaten other male Spartans who even glanced at her. At first Eris liked it…

It was then however Eris started to drift away from his overly obsessive behavior. He would snap at her if she didn’t do as her told. And things only descended into chaos when Harold became a subject of experimental armor augmentations. It was EMP, a painful and powerful energy he was granted capable of stopping vehicles in their tracks. He had killed so many souls that day during training… yet no one stood up to him but her. The price, was nearly her life if it wasn’t for another Spartan by the name Ryley. Harold had managed to slit the right side of Eris’ cheek just missing both her throat and eye by an inch with his combat knife. She could remember holding her face as blood oozed through the fingers, hearing two men fight in the background.

Becoming an object of war made Harold turn this way… it was what they wanted him to be… it was what they wanted her to be… a monster.

Eris returned back to the Rebel camp when she opened her eyes, seeing the puffy scar on her face in the mirror before her.

It was a memory much like the rest she wanted to disappear. Like that day them ODSTs left her to die. That thought made her hands clench. The reason she was here still, withering away. Eris stomped her foot down and turned to the door. She opened it with a loud creek then glanced down the corridor, she could see Jett looking back at her from the kitchen surprised. However Eris just snarled at him and turned for the front door. It wasn’t long till Jett’s footsteps thundered behind her. His hand blocked her from leaving through the door as he stared sharply.
“What are you doing? You want to get shot?” Jett started with his greenish brown eyes narrowing.
“I couldn’t really care at this point. I want to speak with Burnard Williamson.” She announced making Jett frown.
“Eris…”
“No Jett. This is what I do best. You can’t keep me here forever. I need to ready myself. I need to train.” Eris said shallowly.
“Train? For what?” He questioned. But Eris just stared with a frown. It was then it clicked for Jett what she meant. “Oh… I… I will see if I can speak with him.” He said turning to leave.
“I won’t wait forever Jett.” Eris added seriously as Jett closed the door.

Hours past into the day as Eris paced up and down in her room. She could easily walk out of the building. She has thought about doing that for a while now. But what if she blows her chance? However it was a risk Eris was itching to take.

The door to her room opened. It was only Jett however but it looked like he had some news.
“Will wants to speak with you tomorrow outside for your training.” Jett said grimly. Eris softened her gaze at him concerned.
“Why does this bother you?” She asked, but he frowned deeper.
“I… just don’t want to see you hurt again.” He whispered softly, as if the words struggled to leave his lips. Eris could see the dismay within him and tried to smile it away.
“Nothing will happen to me Jett, I promise you that.” Eris forced a positive smirk. But his face didn’t seem so sure when he slowly closed the door.

That night Eris remained awake within her room staring at the ceiling from her bed. All she could think about was what Jett said to her earlier that day. Why is he saying such things to her? Even after the events of his wife, Jett still didn’t seem fazed by that fact Eris is different.

Or is she…?

The more Eris remained in the camp the more it seemed so. Eris knew that look Jett gives her too well. That soft… needful look. Eris frowned and turned to her side trying hard to block out the wanted thoughts of the man. She could see him in her mind, as if he was lying next to her on the bed. Jett was like a fever on the mind, always there is its derivable yet irritating way.

Kind of like Harold them years ago...

The thought made her cringed at the name. It was almost scary to believe it was starting again. A weakness Eris has lived with since she was brought up as a soldier. Finally closing her eyes as her tiredness soon wept over she fell into a light sleep.

It was barely morning as the darkness still remained. A loud, continuous knocking from the front door shook Eris awake all the way in her room. Frantic footsteps followed as what was guessed Jett opened the door.
“Is the Spartan ready?” Eris heard a muffled deep voice ask from the other side of her door.
“Soon. I will get her up.” Jett answered back. By then Eris was already standing from her bed, slipping some clothing on. They had failed to mention it was going to be the crack of dawn training. After all with months of lying in every morning it has thrown Eris off her normal tracks.

By the time Eris had finished Jett knocked on her door and came in, standing at the doorway with a frown. Eris was too busy tying her laces on her snow boots to notice his concern. She stood up then strolled towards Jett placing her hand on his shoulder looking him in the eyes. Her hand trailed a little towards the side of the neck. A forced smile of confidence grew on Eris before she walked passed him, trailing her hand down his arm.

She had never touched him that much before.

The thought drifted at the sight of a bar of green light within a dark hood staring at her. Most Rebels Eris has encountered in her life have very basic civilian clothing. But this maroon hooded man wore armor on the shoulders bearing the well-known logo of the Insurrectionists, a white fist within a white ring. Over the front of his dark, tacky trousers a maroon loincloth hung showing the same logo. His face was shadowed by a flat mask with a horizontal bar green over the eyes that glowed, giving him a menacing look. It was clear this guy is one of the big shots of the Rebels.
“Burnard is waiting for you in the courtyard to begin the mission.” His thick voice said seriously.

The Rebel strolled out the house with Eris following. How she had not noticed the noise of the soldiers of the Rebels gathering she did not know. There had to be at least a dozen of the guys all with their own distinctive looks. But the most common feature they all shared was a hood with the Rebel logo printed on the forehead. They all glanced at her with weapons lowered as she strolled through them towards Burnard who waited for her. A light smile lifted his beard a little as she approached.
“Nice of you to join us Spartan.” He said looking her up and down scowling at her clothing. “Don’t you think you need some… armor?”
“I don’t plan on getting shot.” Eris sneered.
“So when you got shot before that was planned?” One of the soldiers remarked with harsh enjoyment, referring to the day of Eris was betrayed by her own squad them months ago. The other soldiers laughed as Eris glared at them all, however it wasn’t winning her any favors as it only continued to amuse them more.
“If only looks could kill.” Another commented. Eris narrowed her eyes as they approached her frozen figure. One circled behind her.
“Got a fine toosh for a Spartan bitch.” He commented deviously.

Within the second Eris felt something tap her rear, she spun and grasped the intruders’ hand. He yelped out in pain and shock as Eris crushed the fingers together in her palm before shoving him to the floor. Eris watch as he cradled his hand while cussing a storm. She glanced up, shock and horror was all that was seen in the other mens’ faces to what she had done. Burnard soon showed up lured over by whining of the injured one. But he saw what happened as he looked at his men coldly.
“Now… as you know there are going to some ‘rules’ when around this here Spartan. As one of you so kindly demonstrated. Do not touch. A man has once lost his arm when engaged in battle with one of these Soldiers, socket joint and all taken clean off. So I advise against pissing her off.” His cold words forced the men into silence.

Eris watched on as Burnard gave his instructions to his men. All of their attention focused on him, excepted the armored maroon Soldier that stood behind the group. He had his attention on her. The uncomfortable, unfriendly, featureless stare Eris near too well from other soldiers from her past. However what made Eris more on edge was the fact he was wielding a military grade sniper rifle, the type that can pierce armor.

It was him, he was the one who wounded her them months ago, she was sure of it.

She tightened her gaze at him when the thought past her mind. Yet there was little she could do, she still had to play allies with these Rebels for now.

The task was pretty straight forward Burnard set them. Collect a flock of Moa birds from a local farm. Yet Eris couldn’t help but notice the amount of weapons they took. She watched suspiciously at their moments as they loaded themselves into a Livestock truck.
“They are for defence.” A thick voice spoke behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to see it was that maroon soldier. “Gútas’ attack convoys that pass through these mountains.” He said. Eris’ eyes narrowed as her voice turned smug with hate.
“That’s quite a rifle you have, you must of killed a few ‘beasts’ with it.” Eris said thickly, yet the soldier stared at her and pulled his hood to one side revealing a handful of UNSC dog tags around his neck.
“I have killed a few beasts. Two in fact. Shame I missed my third.”

Eris would have lunged at him if Burnard hadn’t grasped her shoulder in time. Burnard glared at the soldier with discipline in his steely eyes before leading Eris away towards the truck.