I… I’m flying. I’m shooting through something. Whoa. Look at these lights. Are those… stars? No wait… those are… galaxies!

Where am I? What is that? I… I’m going fast.

The android shot across the cosmos towards the edge of the universe…

And beyond that. Soon he was beyond existence. Beyond what anyone could dream. Into the eleven dimensional hyperspace that sat beyond the universe. And beyond that lay infinity. He shot through the confines of the universe into a higher plane of existence. All around him were bubbles of energy, popping into existence. Each on was… a universe. An entire world. An entire infinity.

An infinite number of infinities!

He smiled. All at once he felt so small. A great sense of realization washed over him. Then he began to fall.

Falling back towards the world. Falling back past the edge, past the galaxies, back towards the Milky Way. Towards a solar system.

But not Earth. An Earth sized planet sat at the center of a nebula, surrounded by stars, and circled by a moon and a small ball of yellow light. He accelerated faster and faster towards the world before being engulfed in a flash of light.

***

Equestria. 1842 years After Discord.

Starfire walked onto the playground. She looked at the sprawling landscape of various obstacles and challenges before her. Each one she had done before. She had mastered each one and had taken it upon herself to go through each in record time. This time she wanted to beat her time from yesterday.

The school she found herself in was Laputa Middle School. She loved it here. She was the fastest on the wingball team. Everything was perfect. The sounds of all her friends laughing as they played, the birds chirping as they zipped through the sky, the… crying over in the corner of the playground?

She frowned. This wasn’t right. No one was sad in Starfire’s world. No one. She would have to fix this. She found the source near the slide in a corner of the playground near the edge of the cloud surface. A boy with hair that was dark as the night itself sat with his arms hugging his legs to his chest. A pair of black wings was around him, shutting out the world.

Starfire flapped her own orange wings and hovered around the boy.

“Hey Kid, you alright?” she asked.

He threw his wings up as a shield, hiding behind them, “Go away.”

“Why? I’m just trying to figure out what’s wrong here. It’s a beautiful day out and I will not let it be spoiled by some sad kid in a corner all by himself!”

He shrunk down, “Sorry,” he whispered. His wings formed a cloak around him again.

She frowned. Okay maybe not the best choice of words. Hmm. There had to be some way to fix this.

She put her arm under one of the edges and lifted up to get a glimpse at his face. A pair of sapphire blue eyes stared back at her.

She formed a cloak with her wings and joined him under the tent they had made.

“What’s wrong now? I won’t tell anyone,” She gave a reassuring smile, “I promise.”

He sighed, “No one likes me here. I’m just the weird Nightmare Night kid that everyone thinks is creepy.”

“What?! That’s not nice! Who said that? Why I oughta-”

“No don’t do anything! They’ll just hate me even more.”

“Well don’t you have any friends here?”

“No,” he looked down, “All my friends are back in Cloudsdale.”

A sudden look of realization dawned on her, “So you’re the new Kid that just moved here?!”

He shrunk again, “Yeah.”

“Aw sick! I’ve been dying to meet you! I know everyone at this school and I’m captain of the wingball team and we’re short a Holder this year and I was hoping you’d be a good flier but if you’re not that’s cool too. I mean we can still be friends. You could come to my games some time and we could talk and stuff and hang out on the weekends and go to parties with the others and….”

She just went on and on. At this rate he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to hear by the time recess was over.

Suddenly she stopped, “Hey what was your name again?”

“Jet Stream. You talk a lot.”

She blushed, “Yeah, well, I guess I have a big mouth sometimes.”

“Did you say wingball somewhere in that?”

“Yeah! I’m the fastest on the team! But we’re short a Holder this year.”

“I used to play wingball at my school in Cloudsdale. I’m pretty fast I guess.”

“Aw sick! Hey! You wanna be friends?”

“Uh, sure I guess.”

“Alright!” she jumped into the air and did a flip before landing on the ground, “Dude I gotta show you all the cool things around here. And then we’ll get you signed up for the team! And then we’ll be best friends forever!”

She grabbed his hand and ran towards a group of kids playing near the sandbox, “Hey everyone! I found a new Holder for wingball this year!”

“The new kid?” one boy asked, “Isn’t he supposed to turn you to stone or something?”

“What?! No! He’s really cool if you just talk to him! Plus he’s a little cute!”

“Aw… does Starfire have a crush on him?” one white haired girl said.

“Shut up Icy!”

They all laughed at Starfire’s expense.

“Hey, what’s your name kid?” one boy with blue hair asked.

“Jet Stream.”

“Well Jet Stream, welcome to the school. Sorry we called you names earlier.”

“Yeah, sorry about that,” another girl said looking a bit ashamed.

“It’s alright.”

“So you’re gonna be our new ball hog this year?”

“Yeah, from what Starfire here tells me I guess I am.”

“Well then welcome to the team Jet Stream,” the boy laughed, “Hey! I made a rhyme!”

***

Earth. 2018.

“You know Daniel you’re the best pilot we have here.”

Daniel laughed as he drove his car down the open road towards the air force base. There were other cars around him as he drove. A picture was on his console, a man with salt and pepper hair with an officer’s uniform on.

“I hear you chief,” the 20 year old grinned. In truth he was the ace in his squad. Even better than the squad leader.

“I still don’t know why I’m getting a wingman like this,” he said.

“You know how it is now,” the chief said, “Equality laws now, all squads are mixed. And that includes yours pilot. So you might as well get used to it.”

“Alright. Just warning you, if she can’t keep up I’m leaving her behind.”

The chief chuckled. It wasn’t a laugh like ‘okay you win,’ it was more of a ‘oh your ass has no idea, big shot.’

“From what I hear, your new partner is quite the spitfire. A temper to match yours, same problem with taking advice when it’s given, always a mile ahead of everyone else, and one damn good pilot.”

Daniel tapped a series of keys on his console and watched as an image of a 20 year old girl with windblown orange hair pop up on his windshield.

“I’m looking at her file right now,” he smiled, “Adara. Interesting name. Means fire in Arabic, Virgin in welsh and Beautiful in Hebrew.”

“Yeah well don’t let her looks fool you. She’s been known to literally fly circles around her instructors. Be careful she doesn’t do the same to you.”

“We’ll see,” Daniel laughed as he approached the air base, “So when is my partner in crime arriving?”

“Today. She and her squad are on the 9:00 cargo transport in.”

“Oh goody, look at the time. 8:56. Looks like she should be getting here any time now.”

The base grew closer.

“Yeah we-” the chief’s voice was suddenly cut off by a loud yell on his end, “Everyone get down!”

“What?”

A loud noise could be heard behind Daniel’s car. He stopped and looked out the window just in time to see a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III cargo transport fly into his field of view and past his car. He only got a glimpse but it was enough. The stabilizers and rudder were shredded, unusable, and one of the engines had fire shooting out the end. The flaps were just barely down. Not enough to support the weight of the plane.

It flew by his car, leaving a trail of black smoke behind him. The sound of the engine’s straining continued on into the distance. The plane dipped and the left wing clipped the ground. The plane dragged left and impacted the ground. The sickening sound of metal bending and snapping hit Daniel’s ears just as the plane itself went through the fence surrounding one of the runways on the base. The remaining wing sheared off as a fireball engulfed the fuselage. The fire ball shot into the sky and soon black smoke came from the wreck of the plane. Fire trailed where the engines had hit and spilled burning fuel onto the grassy field. Pieces of metal and debris littered the field up to the base.

Sirens now sounded from the base as green trucks and other rescue vehicles rushed to the scene of the crash. The fire trucks sprayed white foam onto the wreck.

“Chief! Chief!” Daniel yelled. The line was dead.

“Fuck!”

Daniel shifted his car into manual and sped towards the base. Not caring about the condition of his car and more about the people inside the plane.

He went across the field past all the burning debris and onto the field. He smashed through the fence and onto the runway bringing his car to a stop near one of the ambulances

Screams could be heard as people rushed towards the remains of the C-17. Two men supporting a man covered in soot and black rushed by. Judging by the helmet Daniel guessed he was a pilot. Daniel hopped out of his car. One of the ambulances was loading the body of a man in a flight suit into the back.

“Get him to the burn unit!” someone shouted.

Daniel ran up to the nearest ER, “Is everyone out?!”

“We don’t know yet sir! The manifest said mostly cargo but there were nine people on board.”

Daniel let him go and ran towards another man. A captain.

“What happened?! Is everyone okay?!”

“We’re short one person! She hasn’t been found yet! Now get back Pilot and let ER do its job!”

An explosion rocked the plane followed by the scream of a girl.

“Fuck that sir.”

He ran up to one of the trucks and grabbed a fire extinguisher and bolted for the plane.

“Hey! Get back here Pilot! That’s a fuckin order!”

He ignored the call. He bolted for the tail of the plane. The tail itself was snapped off but he rear cargo hatch door was open. Inside rear part of the plane or what remained of it were several cargo containers, all of them were beat to hell or on fire to some degree.

Daniel called out, “Hey! Scream if you can hear me!”

“Help me! I’m over here!” a voice screamed.

That was all he needed. Everything was a blur. He ran further into the wreck until he came to one of the rows of seats. A girl with windblown orange hair was strapped in, stuck. A fire was burning only a few feet away, inching its way closer to her.

“Help!” she called out. Daniel ran up and emptied the extinguisher onto it, pushing it back a few meters. Not much time left. He pulled out his knife and started sawing through the straps. The fire began to return.

“Hurry! It’s coming back!”

He increased his pace. Soon there was just one strap left holding her. The fire was getting closer. Too close for his liking. He put himself between her and it, shielding her as he continued. He finally cut through and scooped her up in his arms and started running for the door. A pool of burning fuel had gathered just outside his only exit. The girl wrapped herself around him.

Adrenaline was the only thing running him now. He rushed forward and ran through the flames out of the plane. He bolted across the tarmac towards the emergency workers.

“Help her,” he gasped before falling to the ground gasping for air. Someone took her from his arms after much effort to get her to let go. He fell to his hands and knees and started coughing.

Suddenly someone yelled, “Jesus Christ! Medic! Get a medic here now!”

The world went black.

BEEP.

BEEP.

BEEP.

Daniel groaned and opened his eyes. The ceiling was white. He looked to his side. An IV was in his arm.

He looked to his other side. A woman in a flight suit slept at the foot of his bed. He looked out the window. In the distance he could see the tarmac and the wreckage of the C-17. The fire was out and the investigators were getting to work.

And then the pain hit him. He raised his arms up and looked at them. Bandages. He looked at his hands. Bandages on them too. He sat up in his bed only to feel a pain go through his shoulder and upper back. He looked at his back. Bandages. Funny, any more and he’d look like a mummy.

He sat up and groaned as the pain in his shoulder intensified as he got comfortable. The women at his bed side stirred. She opened her eyes to reveal brilliant amber irises.

“And just who exactly are you?” he asked.

She rubbed her eyes before jumping up and hugging him. He grimaced.

“Oh my god I was so worried about you! Are you alright? The doctors said you’d be fine but are you okay?” she blabbered.

“Burns!”

Quickly realizing her mistake she jumped back, “Sorry.”

He shrugged it off, “So who are you exactly?”

“The person you risked you ass to save.”

“So you are…?”

“Adara,” she said, “My name is Adara Ashbel.”

“Jesus Christ,” he laughed, “So you’re the hot shot everyone keeps telling me to watch my back about?”

“Hot shot? Wait, so that would make you-”

“Daniel Ty.”

She grinned, “So you’re my new flight partner everyone says flies circles around his instructors?”

“Funny, that’s what they told me about you.”

“Great minds think alike.”

A silence fell between them.

Daniel spoke up, “So what happened with that?”

She grew solemn, “We were on final approach when something hit us. The plane jarred and then the pilots lost control. We crashed into the runway harder than we expected. The ER workers got as many out as they could but my straps got caught. I thought I was a goner until you showed up and cut me loose. Thanks for that.”

“Yeah well, captain will have my ass for running in there like that.”

“Actually he said something along the lines of ‘that was the stupidest, most block headed thing I’ve ever seen a man do.’ But he’s recommending you for some kind of medal or something.”

“Yeah well, I don’t want it. I just did the decent thing.”

“You suffered second degree burns to 30 percent of your body to save someone you didn’t know and you call that doing the decent thing? Doing the decent thing is helping the old lady cross the street. What you did was damned heroic.”

“Well I know you now so I guess I just saved a friend I hadn’t met yet,” he smiled.

She grinned, “You’re alright Daniel Ty. Foolish hero, but alright.”

“Welcome to Eagle Squad Adara. We’re gonna make a great team.”

***

Earth. 2099. 20 miles Outside Tehran.

“Everyone fall back!” The lieutenant shouted.

Two people sat down quietly on the sandy landscape. A lance corporal and a Corporal. One a marine sniper, the other a heavy weapons specialist. They quietly smiled at each other and embraced warmly; even through their battle armor their love was evident.

All around them an entire military was retreating. Tanks, jeeps, hell people running on foot, everyone was trying in vain to stay alive. But it would not work.

A motorized heavy rail gun rolled by, firing a shot as it went. Everyone was too focused one saving themselves to notice that two people had already accepted the inevitable.

A gunship flew overhead. But even that would not be enough.

The two looked at each other and smiled sadly.

“I’ll be waiting for you on the other side.”

“I know.”

They shared a kiss just as a bright sun appeared in the sky and flashed the landscape of the city and the surrounding area. Then everything went dark.

***

Mars. 2334.

Well it was time to do group work again. Sara smiled. She loved group work. She tried to work with everyone at least once. And so far she had. She’d gotten to know everyone in her class. Well, almost everyone.

There was one kid who always sat near the window and looked out at the landscape beyond. He never talked to anyone and always worked alone. He seemed like a shut in a bit. Sara had never worked with him. She didn’t know his name, she knew nothing about him. Today though was her opportunity. Everyone was allowed to pick groups today and she was going to work with him.

She walked over his desk and sat down next to him.

“Hi, I’m Sara. What’s your name?” she asked cheerfully.

“Why do you care?” he asked without meeting her gaze. She frowned. Hmm. She’d been friends with everyone. This wasn’t going how she liked it to.

“Because I’m friends with the whole class. I know who everyone is except for you.”

“Well good for you.”

“Why are you so grumpy?”

“Why do you care?”

“Because I care about everyone. I like everyone and I want them to be happy. And you don’t seem very happy.”

“Sorry but I will never be happy. You’re wasting your time.”

“Why’s that?” she asked, “If there’s a chance I make a friend here then I’ll take it. Besides, if I don’t try then I’ll never know if I could’ve made a difference.”

“Well I-”

The teacher spoke up, “Apollo, the guidance office wants to see you.”

“Alright,” Apollo said standing up and walking to the door.

Sara frowned, “Apollo.”

She repeated his name. It rolled nicely off her tongue. She smiled.

“Wasting my time am I? We’ll see about that Apollo. I promise by the end of the year I’ll put a smile on your face and keep it there.”

Mars. 2345. Christmas.

Sara cuddled up closer to Apollo as the fire burned on. She sighed and stared into the calming flames. She looked up at her new boyfriend before leaning in and kissing him. He blushed but smiled.

“You guys are so cute,” Sara’s grandmother said, “You remind me of Steven and I when we were that young.”

“Grandma!” Sara blushed, “Stop it.”

“Oh alright. Just reminiscing is all.”

She turned to Apollo again, “You remember our second conversation we had? How I promised I’d make you smile at least once every day starting right then and there?”

“Yeah,” he smiled, “Why?”

“Because I meant every word of it.”

***

Spitfire flew along the slipstream. She was aware of various objects around her though she was unsure of what they were. In the distance she could see a light.

Somehow though, she felt happy. In the distance was her home, she would finally be returning home. She could clearly see the outline of the stadium. Various shapes were inside of it though she couldn’t make out what they were.

She rushed forward to it, ash and other debris flying around her as she went. Suddenly she was overtaken by a bright light as she broke the threshold and emerged back into normal space.

Well, it is at the end of the first half of this story that I make this announcement. I am taking a hiatus from writing for a while as Halo 4 is coming out next week and I'm gonna be playing that shit like a fiend.

Until next time, JC6.