I awoke to someone nudging me softly, I groaned and rolled over wanting more sleep.
"Wake up Valora," I heard John whisper softly into my ear, I smiled and rolled back over to face him through squinted eyes.

"Five more minutes," I groaned covering my face with my arm, I heard John chuckle.

"Come on Infinity has requested for us in the commanders bay," John chuckled in my ear, I sat up and stretched wincing slightly from the faint pain in my side. It had been a month since I had been shot and I healed rapidly which I was grateful for, I got out of bed and chucked my armour on before I followed John out of my room and towards the commanders bay. After I had started walking again I had developed a slight limp, it was barely noticeable thanks to my armour but when I walked around without it everyone would give me worried glances. I pushed my way into the room after John and gave a sigh as I had a bad feeling about what was happening, John was already talking to the head commander about something.

"Ahhh greetings spartan, please do sit we have much to discuss," the commander offered, I took a deep breath and sat down at the large metal table.

"What are we needed for commander?" I asked simply, he gave a chuckle at my enthusiasm as I hadn't been able to leave the ship since the incident.

"Well I more so needed Master Chief than you but he refused to leave your side so I had no choice but to call you both here, Chief you are needed down at the docking bay for a special mission, details will be given once you arrive, as for you Spartan Valora you can go do some training in the training facility," the commander ordered, I felt furious about being bait to get John to go to the commander. I stood angrily my fists in a ball, John tensed up knowing I was about to do something stupid.

"You and the rest of this damn fleet can shove your heads up your asses because I'm going with Chief on this mission and nobody is going to stop me!" I snapped storming out, I heard the commander shouting for me to come back but I didn't even think about turning around. A hand on my shoulder made me jump and spin around ready to attack whoever tried to stop me, as I spun around I calmed down seeing it was only Chief.

"Easy there, I only wanted to see how you were doing," John sighed, I shrugged and we continued to walk.

"I'm fine just pissed that everyone is treating me like a child ever since I got shot," I grumbled, John tensed up as if recalling a horrible memory. I turned to look at him my gaze saddening as I realised I had dug up an old memory of his time with Caden, I put a hand on his back trying to calm him down when my head began spinning.

*flashback*

"I won't let you down Commander Will sir, I should be fit in just a matter of days given you give me some proper opponents to fight, imma be honest sir your trainers have been pretty slack," I whisper, we both chuckle and he helps me stand so I can gain my strength back. I immediately headed for the training room, I started off basic to get my feel for fighting after almost dying I felt strange. I walked over to the punching dummy, I began to throw punches when I noticed a soft ringing in my head.

Scarlett I'm not the only one feeling that right?
[no I can sense something is wrong but your vital signs seem normal, huh strange...]
What Scarlett what is it!?
[i can sense another presence in you body]
I know I'm not pregnant since I never had, you know with John so I wonder what it is.
[best I keep an eye on it while you train]
Thanks Scarlett.

I continued to throw punches at the dummy, I began to notice a whispering at the back of my mind. Shrugging it off I moved onto something tougher, I backed away quite a distance before running and jumping hitting the bell before landing. The landing caused my suit to flash white, that's odd because I don't remembering even thinking about armour lock.

Scarlett what's going on?
[......]
Scarlett???
[.......]
Scarlett answer me please.
[......]
Scarlett!?
[it's speaking to me....]
What is it saying??
[it's telling me that it is what's called a Serpent, that's what the elites have named it, those energy crystals have implanted it into your body so it could feast, Caden we need to see doctor Halsey now!]

I rushed towards the med bay, Doctor Halsey looked shocked at my sudden burst through the doors.
"Doctor Halsey! Have you any idea what a thing known as a Serpent is? Scarlett has detected one in my body system, she claimed it is feeding off of me and it was imprisoned by the covenant," I explain, a look of shock crosses her face.
"I have heard very little of what they call the Serpent, it is a dangerous virus that if not contained can kill its host in a matter of days, months if you are lucky," she explained solemnly, my eyes widened and I sat on one of the beds. This means I only had a few days if lucky months to spend with Chief before I died, hurt and anger soon filled my mind.
"Is there any way to stop it??" I questioned quickly, Doctor Halsey simply shook her head.
"We have tried to find a cure but all we know is that it slowly takes over its hosts mind then kills it by shutting the body down, there is nothing we can do to stop it, I'm sorry Spartan," she almost whispered, I walked away sadly. I was walking through the halls when I bumped into John, he wasn't wearing his helmet so I could see the smile he gave me.
"I was just coming to tell you that I was about to go on a mission, seems you beat me to finding you," he joked, I gave a chuckle to pretend I was happy. I had to tell him sometime just not now, right now I needed to show myself the most.

*end of flashback*

I shook my head as Scarlett had shown me Caden's memories, I felt my chest pounding as my heart raced. I stumbled backwards which made John stand up straight and grab me, my eyes widened as I saw everything in her view. Her every thought, her every move felt like it was mine. I began to cough as I felt every ounce of pain she had felt, finally the pain was too much and everything went black.