Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Location: UNSC Pelican - En Route to UNSC Never Forget

Date: July 5, 2531

Time: 0935 Hours

The Pelican's engines roared as we lifted off, the landscape of New Damascus shrinking below us. I sat in the corner of the troop bay, the cold metal of the ship's interior pressing against my back as I tried to make sense of everything that had just happened. My mind was a mess, scattered between the weight of the mission, Allen's dog tags hanging around my neck, and the fresh pain of Fumble's death.

The sounds of battle faded as we rose higher, the world outside turning into a blur. But inside the Pelican, the silence was deafening.

Doc was sitting across from me, her hands clasped tightly together as she stared at the floor. Her face was pale, streaked with dirt and exhaustion. She hadn't said a word since we boarded the Pelican, and I wasn't sure if she was holding back tears or trying to push them down. Maybe both.

Slink was leaning against the side of the troop bay, her rifle resting across her lap. Her expression was hard to read—her usual confidence and sharp humor replaced by something quieter, more contemplative. She hadn't looked at me yet, and I couldn't blame her. I wasn't sure how I was supposed to feel, let alone how to comfort the others.

"Cass," Slink said suddenly, breaking the silence.

I blinked, confused at first by the new nickname. No one had called me that before—not Junior, not Rookie. Just Cass. It felt different, more personal. Earned.

She met my eyes for the first time since we'd left the facility, and I could see the weight of what had just happened behind her tough exterior. "You okay?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but nothing came out at first. I didn't know if I was okay. I didn't know how to process what we'd just gone through. But I couldn't stay silent forever.

"I don't know," I admitted, my voice low, barely audible over the hum of the Pelican's engines. "I… I should've done something."

Doc looked up then, her eyes locking onto mine. "You did everything you could, Cass," she said softly, using the new nickname as if it had always been there. "We all did."

Her words were meant to comfort me, but they felt hollow. I had just watched two of the most important people in my life die within hours of each other, and no amount of reassurance could make that right. But I nodded, because that's what we were supposed to do—keep moving, keep fighting, even when it felt impossible.

Slink leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees as she studied me. "You can't blame yourself for what happened to Fumble. He made his choice. He knew the risks, and he did what he had to do to keep us alive. That's what we do."

I swallowed hard, my throat tight. I knew she was right, but it didn't make it hurt any less. I could still see Fumble's face, that grin he always had, the way he cracked jokes even in the worst situations. And now he was gone.

"I just—" I started, but the words caught in my throat. I clenched my fists, trying to find something, anything, to say. "I should've been faster. Maybe if I'd—"

"No," Slink cut in sharply, her eyes fierce. "No 'what ifs,' Cass. That'll eat you alive. You did what you could. We all did. And he did his part."

I looked at her, searching her face for any sign that she wasn't just saying this for my benefit, but the conviction in her voice was real. She believed every word. She believed in me.

"Fumble didn't die for nothing," she added, her voice softening slightly. "He saved us. You saved us. And we're gonna keep fighting, because that's what he'd want."

Doc nodded in agreement, her voice quiet but steady. "He'd want us to keep going, Cass. Not to fall apart."

Location: UNSC Never Forget, Docking Bay

Date: July 5, 2531

Time: 1000 Hours

The Pelican touched down in the docking bay of the UNSC Never Forget, the familiar sights and sounds of the ship surrounding us as we disembarked. But it didn't feel the same. The weight of the mission, of Fumble and Allen's deaths, hung over us like a cloud.

The troop bay was busy, with Marines and crew members rushing to and from their stations, but it all felt distant. I moved on autopilot, following Slink and Doc as we made our way toward the debriefing room. My mind was still back on New Damascus, replaying the moment Fumble fell, the moment I grabbed Allen's dog tags. I couldn't shake it.

The walk to the debrief felt like a blur. Every step felt heavier than the last, every corridor longer. I barely noticed the salutes, the nods from passing Marines. My world was shrinking, narrowing to the pain I was carrying.

When we finally reached the debriefing room, Slink placed a hand on my shoulder, stopping me before we went in.

"Hey," she said, her voice softer than usual. "We're gonna get through this, Cass. I know it's a lot right now, but we're still here. We've still got each other."

I looked at her, at the determination in her eyes, and I realized she was right. Fumble was gone. Allen was gone. But I still had Slink, still had Doc. We were a team, and we had to keep going. For them.

"Thanks," I muttered, my voice rough. "I… I'll try."

"That's all we can do," Doc said from behind me, her voice steady. "One step at a time, Cass."

Hearing her use the nickname again felt strange at first, but in a way, it grounded me. I wasn't the same person I had been when I joined Beta Four. I wasn't the rookie anymore. I was Cass now, and I had to live up to the name.

Together, we stepped into the debriefing room, ready to face whatever came next.