Last Hope

Chapter Eight

"Whoa," Chy said "That's awesome.  How long have you had him?"

"Well," Tucker said "I got him just before the Covenant attacked Earth.  He's been a big help, he's watched my bio signs, monitored a motion tracker with the area around me.  He's been my guardian angel."

"All in a day's work," Thomas said with a smile.  He looked as if he was a normal person, just in computer form.  He was just like any person, he had a sense of humor.  He cared about people around him. But most of all he did the job that needed to be done.  "Anything you guys wanna ask me?"

"How old are you?" Clementine asked.

"Well." Thomas started "I'm just a little older than when the assault on Earth first started.  I can't really pin point when I was made."

"Oh," Chy said "so you know about how old you are?  Are you a-"

"A smart AI?" Thomas cut in "yes I am."

"How'd you know I was gonna say that?" Chy asked

"Lucky guess," Thomas said.

"That'll be all for now Thomas," Tucker said "thank you."

"Yep," Thomas said "whatever you need I'm here."

Thomas dissolved into thin air, almost like Tucker does everyone and a while.

"That's pretty sweet," Clementine said "I have another question now.  Kinda off topic."

"Yes?" Tucker said.

"You know how you go invisible, everyonce and a while?" She said "how do you do that?"

"Well," Tucker said "it's an ability I get from my clothes, it's not that cool.  I can only use it every once and a while, when it recharges.  Then Thomas tells me it's ready."

"Oh," Clementine said.

There was a noise of footsteps coming into the room everyone turned.  It was Sabre and Doc, Sabre was wearing fresh armor with his helmet off.  Chy rushed up and huged Sabre, his plasma burns were still on his body but he didn't care.

"What are you guys still doing up?" Sabre said "I gave you guys an order."

"I gave them an order to stay up," Tucker said standing up.  "And I outrank you, so my orders come first."

"And what rank are you exactly?" Sabre said.

"Fifth Echelon Officer," Tucker said saluting "reporting for duty."

"More like," Noob said "reporting for booty."

Tucker punched Noob in the left shoulder, he stumbled backwards.  Chy then smacked him in the head.

"When will you guys stop doing that?" Noob said.

"When you stop making marking those kind of comments." Chy said.

"Oh," Noob said rubbing the back of his head. "So never?"

"Yeah," Thomas said appearing "they're not gonna stop."

"What the hell!" Doc and Sabre said "is that an AI?"

"Yep," Tucker said.

"I'm Thomas," he said "you must be Sabre and Doc."

"Yeah," Doc said "is he implanted inside of you? Like your neck of something?"

"Yeah my neck but," Tucker said "I can't take him out."

"So why doesn't he just appear around you?" Clementine said "and not just on you data pad."

"He can but it takes energy," Tucker said "and that's what I don't have."

"You need Spartan armor," Sabre said "don't you?"

"Yes," Thomas said "he does so I could tap into it's power."

"Oh," Clementine said.

"Thanks Thomas," Tucker said "that'll be all for now."

"Alright guys we've got an hour before sunrise," Sabre said "get some sleep.  Thanks for making sure I was OK, you guys didn't have to."

"What are friends for?" Tucker said.

"I guess," Sabre said "but it's what's family is for." Sabre smiled a little as he put his arm around Chy.

"What's going on between you two?" Tucker asked.

"That's classified," Chy said "but I guess if you have the clearance.  We could tell you."

"I'm just gonna tell him," Sabre said.

"Then tell me," Tucker said.

"Tucker," Sabre said "Chy and I...we're in a relationship."

"Are you serious?" Tucker said.

"Yeah," they both said.

"They're not joking," Noob said.

"Nice," Tucker said.

"Well," Sabre said "let's get some shut eye guys."

"So who's gonna sleep with who?" Doc said.

"Me and Chy," Sabre said "Tucker and Clementine, Noob and Doc, then Junior and Frost."

"Sounds good," Frost said "but him and I'm not gonna share a bed."

"Deal," Junior said.

"Alright guys," Tucker said "see you in an hour."