Augmented Heart

3

Henry woke me up early the next morning, "Hey, what happened last night?"

I rubbed my eyes, "What do you mean?"

"With the Master Chief?"

I had convinced myself that it was a dream. I recapped Henry on the conversation I'd had with him last night.

"Ooh~" He teased.

"Shut up," I stretched. "God, I stink."

"There's a creek."

"It'll work," I stood up and left the tent, still in my undershirt and undershorts. The morning air was crisp and slightly cold. There were a couple of soldiers keeping watch. Master Chief was sat atop a gearbox, completely still. I had a feeling he might've been asleep.

I went over to the creek. I knew I'd probably get in trouble for being out in my underclothes if the commander caught me. I found a relatively secluded spot and stripped. I washed off as quickly as I could, checking for any dirt on my face in the reflection of the crystal clear water.

I put my clothes back on and headed back to the tent, dripping wet.

I dried off with my blanket and put my uniform on.

I knew the wake-up alarm would go off soon. I left the tent to see Noah already loading up the Warthogs.

"What's going on?"

"You and I are driving. We're meeting up with another squad. Some people are staying here to maintain communications."

"Is Henry coming with us?"

Noah nodded, "How was the Master Chief?"

"Stoic, mysterious."

"That's what they all say."

Most people were already awake by the time the wake-up alarm sounded. Master Chief stood up from where he had been sitting. I wondered if he ever felt claustrophobic with never taking that armor off. He got into the passenger's seat of my Warthog. Henry raised an eyebrow at me before taking the gunner seat of the other Warthog.

I began the drive to the next FOB, lifting my visor to feel the wind on my face. Chief reached over and flicked my visor back down, "Don't be reckless. We're nearing covenant territory."

It felt like my heart was pounding in my ears the entirety of the drive. Eventually, we made it to the rendezvous point.

"Status report," Master Chief loomed above a marine.

"Covenant is not that far off from here, sir."

I stayed in my seat, assuming we'd head out again at any given moment. Henry walked over to my side, "I saw that visor thing."

"He told me it was reckless."

"He's not wrong. We're getting close to the covenant."

"I hope he'll protect me."

"You really do have a crush on him," Henry rolled his eyes. "You should probably stop that. You know how Spartans are."

"I don't have a crush on him," I definitely did. I knew  Henry was right though, falling in love with a Spartan was a one way ticket to heartbreak.

He walked back to the other Warthog. Master Chief got back in the passenger's seat.

"What's happening?"

He turned to look at me, "Let's go."

I knew that meant we were headed straight into covenant territory. I swallowed the lump in my throat and drove. Soon enough we were driving straight through the covenant and mini guns were roaring all around me.