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Gary Young by SOS.Odin



Gary Young: A Lucky One?
Date: 30 March 2004, 1:15 AM

      Dr. Halsey rubbed her hands together. She was not used to the snow. Lt. Keyes wasn't either. They were both clad in thick coats and wore many layers of clothing underneath.
      Lt. Keyes picked up speed to make into the building faster. Dr. Halsey followed suit. The double doors looked very welcoming. Lt. Keyes opened the door for the civilian and promptly followed her through.
      Inside was much warmer than out. The large hall was empty of life. Laughter could be heard through some of the doors. The walls were decorated with juvenile achievements.
      A sign on the wall produced an arrow with the text "office" below it.
      "This way." Lt. Keyes pointed out.
      The two walked down the hallway until another arrow pointed them down another corridor. Dr. Halsey looked through classroom doors at the elementary students playing and laughing. Her envy of their innocence was slowly destroying her.
      The door to the office was open and the lady at the front desk produced a routine smile, "May I help you? Are you here for your kid?"
      Lt. Keyes walked up and produced a beautifully falsified badge of the local police department, "No ma'am. We called earlier about meeting with one of your students."
      "Oh yes, Gary Young? He's right over there," she pointed to a row of chairs on the wall where a young boy was sitting. "He's been sitting there for a while now, dosen't know what this is about. If you don't mind my asking, I don't either."
      Dr. Halsey walked up to the lady, "We beleive that he or some of his friends have been vandilizing private property."
      The woman put on an "oh" face, smiled and went back to work.

      Dr. Halsey turned towards the young boy, who was easily the size of a child twice his age. She produced a coin and flicked it in the air. The boy watched it as it twirled and landed back in her hand. Then she turned to Lt. Keyes, "Is this Gary-115?"
      Lt. Keyes produced a data pad and raised it level to the young boys face. A picture of a brown haired, blue eyed child appeared on the datapad. He had mussed hair and one eye was blackened. The boy on the bench had the same features and one eye had the remnants of a shiner still visible.
      "Yes ma'am, this is him."
      "Good."

      Dr. Halsey walked over to Gary-115,"Hi, is your name Gary?" She used the sweetest voice she could muster.

      The boy crossed his arms, stared straight into her eyes and nodded.

      "I'm Detective Brown. Do you know why I'm here?"

      Gary shook his head and continued staring.

      "Don't worry your not in trouble." Dr. Halsey noticed the boy slack his shoulders a good deal. "We just want to ask you some questions. Do you like games?"

      "Yes." Gary finally spoke.

      Dr. Halsey reached into her pocket and grabbed the quarter. She then took a second thought and left it there. "Do you know how to play paper, rock, sissors?"

      "Yes, it's all a game of luck though. I don't like it because it dosen't take any real skill"

      Dr. Halsey was surprised by the six year old's statement. "Well would you like to play a game with me real fast." Gary nodded. "Good. We will play best two out of three and if you win, you can go back to class."

      "What if I lose?"

      "You'll have to stay here and answer some more questions." Gary nodded again and placed his fist on his open palm.

      Gary fixated his eyes on her hand. Dr. Halsey raised her fist once, Gary mirrored her exactly. His gaze never left her hand. Dr. Halsey raised her fist and brought it down a second time. Gary's gaze was still fixed upon her fist.
      While bringing down her fist the third time she began extending her index and middle finger. Gary immediately knew to keep his fist closed.
      Gary had chosen rock and crushed Dr. Halsey's sissors. "All right Gary. This time I need you to keep your eyes on me, ok?"
      Gary's face looked puzzled as he nodded. He placed his fist on his palm again and raised it as Dr. Halsey counted. On three Dr. Halsey produced an open hand on her palm and Gary's fist remained closed. Gary frowned and placed his fist on his palm for his final chance to get to go back to class.
      Dr. Halsey raised her fist again. Gary stared deep into her eyes, he didn't want to be there any more than she did. She raised her hand a second time. Lt. Keyes stirred behind her. She raised her fist a third time, and brought it down closed. Gary had two fingers extended.



Gary Young: Chapter 2
Date: 30 April 2004, 4:20 AM

      Last chapter introduced you to a young boy named Gary. Gary wasn't an ordinary boy, and people knew this. For those reasons he was selected for a special program code named "Spartan-II". Unfortunately, the powers at hand only had enough funds for half of the candidates. Various "luck" tests were made and half of the six year old candidates were eliminated. Gary Young was one of those children.




      Gary blew the candles out of his birthday cake. It was his 18th birthday. His mother, father, older brother, and sister were all there. He had grown into a monster of a man. At the age of eighteen he was the valedictorian, captain of the football, gravball, and baseball teams, was guaranteed a spot in any college anywhere he wanted and already worked as an accountant at his father's business. Despite all of this and his parent's wishes, he was heading to the local recruiter's station and enlisting in the Marine Corps. later that day.
      Five hours later, Gary was at the Military Entrance Processing Station. Two months after that, Gary was on a plane heading for Camp Wehlermann for his basic training. He was well over six feet tall and weighed 286 pounds. He was ready for boot.
      Young caught on fast in basic. He quickly became a squad leader and a short while after that he became guide. He made expert with the rifle, pistol, bayonet, grenade, and in martial arts. He was born to be a Marine. He also made 100% on all of his PFT. With all these honors, Gary was a Private First Class out of boot camp.
      Ten days after his graduation Gary went to Infantry School. At the recruiter's station he enlisted in 0300. 0300 is Infantry, 0300 is the Marine Corps. Infantry School was the best time Gary had ever had. Gary graduated from Infantry School and was sent to the 1st Marine Division.
      In the 1st Marine Division Gary learned everything the UNSC knew about the Covenant, Elites, Grunts, Hunters, Jackals, and how to kill them. Soon after he settled into his squad, his company was dispatched to a cruiser, Alaska, and was sent to the front lines.

      Alaska orbited the planet Tango Prime. Covenant ships had exited slip space and dropped ground troops onto the planet. Alaska was the only UNSC ship sent to respond.
      Gary was strapped into his seat in the Pelican, ten other Marines, including the company First Sergeant. He sat at the edge of the drop ship, right next to the door. Waiting for the green light was the hardest thing he did since boot.
      "First Sergeant, when the frick do we drop?"
      "Don't worry about it Marine. We drop when battalion HQ says so. Pipe it down and go over the plan again or something."
      Gary sighed and laid his head back. He was anxious to drop and fight for his family.
      The pilot came on the intercom and told everyone to strap in, the company got the good to go. Gary rechecked his harness and checked the Marines next to him. A clang was heard outside the Pelican and Gary felt the Pelican get lifted off of the ground by a crane.
      "All right little girls, we're good to go. I want you guys to cover crack and the crack of the Marines around you. Follow the POA and your good to go. Shoot anything that ain't human and if any of you die I'll find you and kill you again!" The First Sergeant was quite the motivator.
      A buzzer sounded off and a monstrous clack was heard, seconds later the Pelican dropped. Gary felt the gravity vanish as his stomach rose.
      "This your first drop right?" Sgt. Johnson, his platoon's sergeant, was sitting to his right.
      "Sure is. Got out of Infantry School a couple weeks ago."
      "First one always is the hardest. My sons gone on a couple sims with me. He's gung-ho and good to go. He'll probably join up once he finishes high school."
      Gary smiled and laid his head back. The silent roar of the Pelican's engines soothed him a bit. Seraph fighters supposed to be around. He just figured the Longswords did their job.
      After a short while the Pelican began to rumble due to atmospheric entrance. The Pelican eventually broke through and all was smooth again, until the pilot broke in.
      "Sorry guys but our LZ is blazing. We're coming in hot!"
      Gary grinned like a mad man. He was finally going to test his training.

Sry bout the length guys. Next chapt will be good.



Gary Young: Chapter 3
Date: 20 May 2004, 9:20 PM

      "Sorry guys but our LZ is blazing. We're coming in hot!"
      Gary grinned like a mad man. He was finally going to test his training.




      Gary ducked behind the rock, barely dodging the overcharged plasma. He checked his ammo counter, 43 rounds left. The staccato of rifle fire was heavy in the air. Plasma whirrs answered with just as much intensity. Of the 175 Marines of his company, only 120 made it ground side. The mission was already off to a bad start.
      "Young!" Gary turned to his right and spotted Sgt. Johnson. "Get Cpl. Stevens. Tell him to call the ODSTs down."
      Gary nodded and primed a grenade. Sgt. Johnson called, "Covering fire!" and Gary lobbed the nade. The Marines around him popped from their hiding spots and opened up. A low thump resounded through the ground and Gary leapt to his feet.
      He sprinted towards a downed Pelican, where a makeshift Company HQ was set up, and dodged another plasma blast. Gary paused, turned and emptied his clip, killing a Grunt and diverting a Jackal long enough for Sgt. Johnson to fire on its opening.
      He hit the entrance of the Pelican to stop himself. Inside the back of the Pelican Cpl. Stevens was talking back and forth with the Alaska.
      "Corporal, get the ODSTs down here now! We're losing out there!"
      The Cpl. looked at Gary and nodded. Gary slammed home a fresh clip and went back outside. He noticed that his platoon had pushed forward since he left. He moved forward behind his rock. A Marine lay at his feet, two burn marks in his chest and no arm. Gary grabbed his tags and moved forward again.
      Sgt. Johnson was behind another rock about ten meters ahead. Gary dropped behind a piece of Pelican debris. He quickly found it was still hot and decided to move again. He just emerged from the debris when plasma rounds whizzed by right in front of him. He hastily dove back behind the trash. Gary propped back up on his knees and aimed at the nearest Covenant soldier. Grunts and Jackals were the only ones there, and they were out in the open. Gary fired on a Grunt no more than ten feet away. The rounds tore through his armor and the little beast dropped. A Jackal spotted him and prepared to fire. Gary opened up on the Jackal. The creature hid behind his protective shield. Gary noticed it did not cover his feet and fired. His rounds ripped up the Jackals feet and it opened itself up. He emptied the rest of his rounds into the Jackals body.
      Gary moved to Sgt. Johnson's position and reloaded next to him. "Sir, the ODSTs are on their way."
      No more than a minute after that, HEVs rained from the sky. The HEV chutes opened and they landed right behind the Covvie's position. Super trained Marines burst from the pods and opened up on the Covenant. The Jackals, Grunts, and handful of Elites were obviously surprised.
      Sgt. Johnson popped from behind his rock and shouted, "Open fire!"
      Gary and the thirty some other Marines of his platoon emerged and opened up. The Covenant withered under the onslaught. Gary moved forward, shooting a Grunt just around the rock. He moved further and shoulder tackled an Elite to the ground. The Elite hit the ground, his shield flickered and died. Gary opened up point blank. Armor piercing rounds shattered armor and caused blood to spray all over.
      Gary picked up three plasma grenades from the corpse and spit on it. Sgt. Johnson patted him on the back and moved further. Gary forward and gunned down another Grunt.
      He stopped behind an HEV and dropped his spent clip. Right when the clip clacked on the ground, a Jackal rounded the corner. Gary fumbled for another clip. The Jackal charged up his plasma pistol. Moments later Gary was sprayed with blue blood. The Jackal was torn apart by AP rounds.
      Gary looked to his left and a Marine clad in urban cammo, and grey armor with matching helmet, curtly nodded. He watched that Marine run back into the battle with the ferociousness of a lion. The ODST ripped the mask off of a Grunt and threw it at another, then shot the breathing apparatus, igniting the methane, killing the Grunt.
      Gary was awestruck. The Marine moved with quick efficient strikes. Gary was too distracted, however, to notice the Elite sneaking up on him.
      The ODST did notice however. "Behind you Gary!"
      Gary turned and was backhanded to the ground. He felt groggy. Everything blurred. He was barely able to make out the Elite's body be riddled with rounds. The ODST knelt beside him and removed his helmet. Gary was conscious just long enough to notice that he was a she.

      Gary woke up in the sick bay of the Alaska. He had bandage on wrapped around his head. It felt wet. On his left were a few more Marines, some missing limbs, some still unconscious, some covered with a sheet. On his right was a chair with a blanket. Someone had been there while he was sleeping. Just then a woman walked in. It was the ODST that saved him. It was also his older sister.
      She had two cups of hot coffee and a huge smile. Gary smiled right back and struggled to get out of bed. They hugged each other and drank coffee.
      "How's your head?" His sister asked.
      "Feels kinda wet. Am I still bleeding?"
      His sister smiled and shook her head, "No, I poured some water on you earlier because you were snoring." They laughed.
      "I didn't know you were an ODST."
      "Yup. It's the best. It's all volunteer and only the strong make it in."
      "So, where do I sign up?"





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