Strife: A Red vs Blue Fan Fiction

Good Luck Girl

April, 08, 2546

Mother Of Invention. UNSC controlled space

13:30

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Honestly, I don't know what Italy had planned. She left Rome, Hallenway, whatever the hell he prefers to be called there, wondering where exactly she went. I turned to her brother, suddenly curious. "If your Italy's brother, why does she call you by your last name?" I questioned, crossing my arms over my chest. It was odd, wearing the armour. It wasn't uncomfortable, but I just wasn't used to the feel yet. No in the slightest.

"I bet you felt the same, when you first got here. The fact that Ireland wasn't your real name, but you had to use it anyways. Am I right? Rome might be my real, given, name, but, at the same time, it feels like a part of my old identity had been taken away. You understand?" He questioned, leaning his back up against the cold, metal, wall.

I nodded, doing the same right next to him. "I understand that. Does everyone call you Hallenway around here?" I could hear my own accent tint my voice. I've done well in the past years, suppressing it, but sometimes it just slips. It's not like I don't like my accent, I just never wanted anyone to mark it down, if you know what I mean. Know where I was from right off the bat.

"No, not really. Only my sister, and her close friends. The rest of Beta Company. Have you met them already?" He answered, glancing over at me as we waited for his sister.

"Hell yeah," I smiled. "Germany's already got me in a headlock," I said with a light chuckle, shaking my head from side to side, closing my eyes. I wonder if anyone has fell asleep in their armour, just sitting -or standing- there with their helmet on, trying to gain a little extra sleep. Maybe. I wouldn't doubt it, with those in Beta Company that I've met so far. A certain someone in particular.

I heard Hallenway chuckle quietly to himself. "I didn't expect anything different from him, of all people. If you two ever train together, let me give a bit of a warning. Avoid his right arm," He said, placing a hand on his ribs, a flash of something running through his eyes.

I looked at him curiously, cocking my head to the side. "Any particular reason why?" I asked, a suspicion running through my mind.

"A long ass time ago, maybe... like, three years ago-"

"Yes, like that's a long ass time ago, brother," Italy interjected, striding into the room via one of the lower doors, heading right for us.

"Oh, shut up back there, blondie!" Hallenway cleared his throat, shaking his head at his sister before looking back at me. "He was in an accident caused by Insurrectionist explosives set across the freeway, maybe... I don't know, maybe an hour outside New Mombasa, in Kenya, where he was stationed at the time. I never got all the details, anyways," He paused, taking a quick breath.

"Well, in short, he lost the arm entirely. He told me that he was about damn ready to be the 'badass one armed gunfighter that'll make all the top news reports'. But, of course, UNSC wouldn't allow that. A short, very short time after the incident, well, they basically installed a cybernetic arm on him. And, trust me--"

"He's damn deadly with it," Italy finished for him, a light chuckle in her voice. I didn't respond immediately, almost surprised. I guess that's why all of his movements seemed to be reversed, using his left hand instead of his right to pound his chest, and the way he seemed to always use his left more in day-to-day activities. I don't know why I didn't make the connections before now.

"Let me guess," Italy started, looking over at me with an amused grin playing on her lips, "you've already seen the signs, but you hadn't made the connection before?" She questioned, crossing her arms as she stood in front of Hallenway and I.

"Yeah, I guess that sums it up pretty nicely," I replied, with a light laugh, looking over at her, then at Hallenway beside me, watching the both of them. They nodded in response, looking at each other and smiling, something going through both of their heads. My questions is what the hell are they thinking. They nodded at each other in sync, looking back at me.

"Come on, follow me," Italy eventually said after a brief pause of silence, a small smile playing on her lips. I arched a brow, questioning her and her brother. What the hell are they thinking? Italy took the steps quickly, skipping two or three steps at a time. Hallenway and I followed not to far behind, leaving me to wonder where the hell we were going.

She slowed to a walk as we stepped outside the armoury, a few members of the crew stopping in their tracks to look at the three of us before continuing whatever they were doing previously. I guess it's normal to see Freelancers running through the halls at random times? I don't know just yet. Just looking at the ones I've already met, I'd say my guess isn't to far off from the truth.

Italy held a fist up, over her shoulder. I stopped a few paces away from her, watching her curiously as she dropped her hand back down to her side. She walked slowly to an armoured figure, who had his hands resting on the window sill, looking out into the training room. His armour is what caught my attention. ODST helmet and shoulders, with a small, mostly decorative, gilly suit around his neck.

Italy tapped him on the shoulder, getting his attention. He turned toward her, obviously standing over her head. My eyes drifted down, studying his armour. Mostly his forearms. Decorative flames were printed up his forearms, stopping maybe a few centimeters past his elbow. His chest piece held another decorative item. A white circle, with a red star painted inside of it, with a... covenant -what's the name?- energy sword goining across it, with three skulls resting on top of it. I have to say I like the design. (Picture on top or on the side, if it works)

Italy stood on her tiptoes, the man bending down slightly so she could reach easier. She exchanged a few words with him before dropping back down, nodding. The man motioned for me to follow him, just using his hand to signal what he meant. Is he mute or something? Or is he just messing with me, now?

He led me down the stairs, stopping just short of one of the doors leading out onto the arena floor sat. He looked over a me as the door opened, the lights shining in from behind us. "Good luck, girl," Germany said, a chuckle in his voice, as he shoved me through the door, and out into the arena, the door slamming shut behind me.

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A/n: Hey, guys! Sorry for the kinda late update. I was out all day yesterday, and I kinda forgot to update earlier... so, yeah. Lol.

More to come.

Should be a pic at the top orside, depicting Germay's little insignia. If not... fuck that, I'm not explaining it again.

Short author's note, I know.

-Seekers