As the Pelican cut through the atmosphere, the debriefing droned on, but John, the Master Chief, sat in his seat, distant and unmoving. His gaze fixed on the floor, and his body language suggested he wasn't fully present. Noble Six noticed the shift and interrupted DOT mid-sentence.
"Sir, is everything alright?" Six asked, leaning forward, concern etched in his voice.
Chief didn't respond. His body remained still, locked in a frozen posture, as if he were somewhere far away. Six stood up, hesitating for a moment before reaching out to place a hand on Chief's shoulder.
Suddenly, without warning, Chief snapped into action. His reflexes kicked in, and before Six could react, Chief had grabbed his arm, flipping him into the air. Six's body slammed hard onto the floor, his visor fogging up as he stared in disbelief, wondering if his life was about to end at the hands of the legendary Spartan.
Sierra, reacting in an instant, sprang to her feet and charged at Chief, but he deflected her with brutal efficiency. A powerful Spartan kick sent her flying through the Pelican, crashing through a wall and into a small compartment, her body slumping against the metal unconscious.
"What the hell is going on back there?" the pilot shouted, his voice tinged with panic as he tried to maintain control of the dropship.
Chief froze, his breathing heavy as he came back to reality. He sat down, his hands trembling as they covered his helmet, his face hidden beneath the visor. Six groaned, slowly picking himself up off the floor, his body aching from the impact. His eyes immediately shot toward the gaping hole Sierra had crashed through.
"Sierra! Sierra, are you alright?" Six called out as he rushed over to her.
He squeezed through the broken panel, finding her kneeling on the ground, holding her head. A jagged crack ran down the middle of her visor. She looked up at Six, her eyes trying to focus.
"Sierra, are you okay?"
She stood, shaking off the dizziness, and climbed back into the main cabin where Chief still sat, his head down, hands trembling slightly. Without hesitation, Sierra approached him, her voice calm but firm.
"Are you okay now, sir?"
John looked up at her, his hands still shaking as he tried to steady himself. "My... apologies, ma'am."
Sierra sat down beside Noble Six, her eyes still locked on Chief. "Sir, if you don't mind me asking," she began, her tone softening, "I know the commander has some concerns about your mental health. But I want to ask you, Spartan to Spartan—what's really bothering you, John?"
Chief hesitated for a moment, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I've been in this war a long time, Sierra. Long enough to see everyone I cared about perish. My closest companion turned against me... it's enough to drive anyone a little crazy." His voice wavered slightly, betraying the emotion he rarely let surface. "I'm sorry for hurting you both. That wasn't me."
He didn't mention the memories that were flooding his mind—the ones of Cortana, trapped and tortured by the Flood. The nightmares that haunted him, creeping in when he least expected them.
Sierra nodded, understanding the weight of his words. "It's alright, Chief. We'll get through this together."
Noble Six remained silent, the tension in the air thick but unspoken. The three Spartans sat there, the hum of the Pelican's engines the only sound as they each contemplated the battles ahead—and the ones they were still fighting within themselves.
