Author's Note

I hope you guys enjoy. I'm having fun writing this.
If you want something to listen along to, here you go!

"Data Hive" (Redone)

"The Rookie" Location: Unknown

"Fuck…" I whispered as I opened my eyes, feeling a dry feeling in the back of my throat. Hadn't I just been shot? In fact, hadn't I just been shot dead? I sat up quickly, my hands supporting my weight on either side, on the soft grass. I looked around for a few moments, seeing nothing but plains. Nothing but plains? I was just in a building, getting executed. All I could see now was a forest to my south, but nothing else. Where the fuck was I?
I looked at the map HUD in my helmet. There was not a single landscape or dot on it, other than the one that pointed out where I was. After a quick knock to the helmet and my head, another thing appeared. North. At least I had "North" to look at. I sighed, looking towards the pelican I saw moments ago. It was certainly a sight for sore eyes. It would at least work as a shelter, something to live off of until I could find out what was happening. As I stood up and made my way towards the pelican, I tapped my helmet to bring up its radio. It was not a long-range radio by far, but it still served as a means of communication, for someone to find me.

"This is Lance Corporal J.D., known as 'The Rookie.' Serial Number 11282-31220-JD, UNSC ODST. I require assistance." I spoke into the helmet, broadcasting the message out into the world. I only had to talk once, and I could keep the message on a repeat, as long as I'd let it do so. I kept the radio in my helmet on the side of the HUD, ready to hear any response. Hopefully soon. I soon arrived at the pelican. It was slightly battered, with damage to a side, but otherwise in a completely fine condition. In fact, it looked like a newer model. One of their nicer ones. It was time to check out the inside. I walked around the rear of the pelican and looked up at its hatch, pulling it open with a grunt. A bit of dust rose, but seeing inside would be no issue.

This was definitely a newer, maybe a spartan class pelican. There weren't more than four seats inside, the normal ones which were always filled to the brim with seats. Instead, in place of these seats, were crates, of differing sizes. I took a cautious step inside and looked around, looking into some of the crates that were half-open. There was a small, open crate, something that captured my attention. Inside was the superintendent, on an AI chip, mixed in with random assortments of ammo. It wasn't a smart AI, but it a guide for a soldier to get from point A to point B. Superintendent had saved my life a few times in New Mombasa. Its mapping technology was one of the best. It wouldn't know where we were, but it would start mapping everywhere I'd go. I investigated the pelican further after this, hoping to find other goodies like the superintendent. I couldn't see much else in the few open crates, so I decided to start sorting through all of them individually, and messily.

I searched each crate, finding a few valuable objects. I found a few hundred rounds of ammo for my SMG, and in fact, another SMG. I sifted more, finding two more weapons, and again, hundreds of rounds of ammo for them. The sniper and the shotgun, two weapons that were invaluable in this situation. I placed them aside with a feeling of satisfaction, opening one of the larger crates with I knife I'd found in an open crate. Inside of it was food… And quite a bit of it. There were a dozen or so four-man MRIs. Plenty enough food for me alone. I grabbed at one, took off my helmet and tore at it, grabbing a granola bar. I ate it as I sifted through the rest of the crates. I found grenades and more ammo, and a few first aid kits scattered throughout the crates. I only wished that I would find something to contact others with, other than my shortwave helmet. I finally finished sorting through the crates, at least partially each one, except for one. I opened it up with a small huff, this one being a little more tightly secured. I opened it and found one of the best things one could ever hope to find in an abandoned pelican. A mongoose, the motorcycle of choice for the UNSC.
It was quickly getting dark once I opened up the mongoose though, so I put all of the objects that weren't too necessary in their respective crates with a bit of haste. I wasn't the tidiest person ever. I went to the hatch of the pelican and slammed it shut, putting on the lock. I didn't want anything sneaking up on me while I gave in for the night. I went into the cockpit, sitting at the pilot's chair. Things seemed... peaceful for once. I looked up at the moon. It reminded me a lot of my home, I was born on the colony of Luna. Earth's moon. I took off my helmet and placed it on the dash, drifting off into a deep sleep, the moon directly in front of my bird, in this strange land.

The Rookie. Location: Dreams

I awoke once again, this time with a little less pain. I sat up and looked around me. I was in a UNSC building. The constant changing of locations was getting a little annoying. I looked over to the dim, shivering light. It was a TV, and stuck inside the TV was a helmet that read, "DARE." Now I knew where I was. This was a dream. This is when I was stranded in New Mombasa, alone, and found Captain Dare's helmet. I stood and up and walked over to it, giving it a strong pull. There was a reason I was here. Mickey's box hit mine as I dropped. I landed far away from all of my squad when we were supposed to land together. I walked towards the window, looking out at all the destruction the Covenant had made on this city. Outside lay a broken warthog, a sculpture torn to pieces, and buildings burning as far as the eye could see.

This was a horrible dream. I hated having it. I looked back down at Dare's helmet. I wanted to go home, and enjoy the feeling of lazily sitting on the couch with my loved ones. That wouldn't happen though. Not in a long time. I couldn't help but feel something looking straight at me once I looked back out to the city. It wasn't a chilly and cold feeling like when you think someone is stalking you, but a warm feeling. I looked around for the source, finding it atop of the destroyed sculpture. I saw her flowing, galactic hair. Her blue eyes, looking directly at my own, seeming past my dark visor.

"Thou seems to be lost, much like I was. Thou is troubled, shaken. Thou isn't from here." She spoke, and even from outside the window, I could hear her words as clear as daylight. Her words soothed me. "I will send ponies, and with due haste, they will find you, lost warrior."