Risen

Chapter Eleven: NOBLE Team

56th day of Aries, 1 AJ

Hearth's eyes slowly opened. Dawn had fallen asleep while holding their daughter. Hearth smiled and got out of bed. He put on his Assassin cloak and fastened Wolf's Fang onto his hip. Dawn got up and carefully tucked Hope into her cradle. She then walked up to Hearth and gave him a kiss. Dawn looked back at Hope who was slowly kneading the air, lost in a dream.

"She's adorable. Right, Hearth?"

"She's adorable and smart. I mean, she knew how to find 32 + b2 = 52 when I was typing away for work!"

Hope awoke and let out a cheerful gurgle and her mom and dad chuckled. Dawn rocked Hope to sleep before heading out with her husband. They were taking a leisurely stroll through the Tower's shopping sector before a man pulled them aside. He had a UNSC uniform on.

"Hello. I am Captain Thomas Lasky, commander of the UNSC Infinity, remember her? You've been on her two times. The reason why I've stopped you two is to give you an offer. Doctor Catherine Halsey has tasked me with finding one hundred volunteers for the Spartan V project. She wanted you two along with your two other Guardian friends among those one hundred."

Hearth had made some more friends among the Guardians since he had last met the UNSC. "Smoke and Lightning?"

"Yes, them. I've already met with them and gave them the risks. They've joined. Will you? The risks are high. At the end of the program, you will go through many augmentations. Some of them are-"

Hearth and Dawn had read Lasky's mind and memorised the risks. Dawn cut Lasky off. "No need. We know the risks. And rewards." The couple looked at each other. "We'll do it. When will the project start? And what will happen to the children of candidates during training?"

Lasky looked at the Dragon Hearted. "The project will start as soon as possible at a base on Reach. And if you have a kid, bring them. We'll take care of them. You'll be given breaks from time to time so that you don't work yourself to death."

"Got it. We'll go get Lightning, Smoke, and Hope."

"Hope?"

Hearth jumped in. "Our daughter."

"Ah."

Hearth and Dawn ran back to their home and carefully picked up a sleeping Hope. Hearth went and visited Lightning and Smoke (who was meditating) and returned to Lasky. Lightning had picked up Jewel, who quietly looked at his mom in confusion. Lasky looked the group over and gave them a small nod. He then raised his arm and waved his other arm over it. Blue light illuminated into a miniature panel and Lasky tapped a command into it. While looking at the sky, he muttered "Hate it how the Artemis is exclusively for Mjolnir armor." Hearth looked closer at Lasky's arm and saw that his forearm had a piece of Mjolnir strapped to it. A drone came from the sky and Lasky lowered his arm with a sigh of relief. A Pelican hovered close to the edge of the Tower and the back door opened. Four Spartans were on-board. It was Locke, Buck, and two other Spartans. Their armor had the names "Tanaka" and "Vale" painted on. Tanaka had dark skin and white armor on. Vale had fair skin and red armor on. Locke stepped forwards and offered a hand to Lasky. He took it and the Guardians followed close behind. Hearth briefly loft his footing, but he coalesced the Light into a solid matter on which he regained his footing. Locke raised an eyebrow and Hearth made a sly remark. "The Light's elusive, even to the seasoned Warlock."

Dawn carefully set Hope down and sat down next to her. Her eyes grew heavy and waking dreams eagerly greeted her. Her head slumped and the mother and daughter shared the same, peaceful pose. The trip to the Infinity was uneventful. Hearth gently shook Dawn awake and she unbuckled Hope. Lasky showed the family to the room that had been prepared for them and he gave them small passes.