zman007playr September 8th 2013, 10:03 pm
Five Years of Hell
Harvest, 2524
The floor clanked as a man and a woman walked down the long and narrow hallway that formed the gangways to the Tiara above Harvest. The two walked hand in hand, both dressed in Navy, dress whites. One of them was wearing a white skirt and high heels. The technicians that walked the halls of the Tiara gave the two strange looks, there was no insurrection activity on harvest, so why would the UNSC send personnel out here. In truth, they were not here for military matters, they were here…for a time away from things.
2nd Lieutenant Zachary Crabtree, an ODST fresh from the UNSC Naval Academy, walked with a fellow ODST, 2nd Lieutenant Melissa McKay, who was to be stationed on the Pillar of Autumn. They had been in a long lasting relationship ever since the two had met just over 2 years ago. This trip to Harvest was Lt. Crabtree’s anniversary gift to his loving girlfriend, and the two hoped to make the most of it.
Zack was a seeming built man who stood at around 5’8 and had brownish-blonde hair. He kept it trimmed to what the marines called a “high-n-tight”. His face was clean shaven and he his skin was a light tan color. He had slightly hazel shaded eyes, and had very broad shoulders. His “chocker” whites, as the UNSC Navy called them, where sharply pressed, and his white shoes were buffed to a fine mirror-like shine.
Melissa walked beside him, wearing the same “chocker” whites as Zack, but with a skirt and high-heels instead of the slacks and low quarters that the male uniform had. Her blouse and skirt were, just like Zack’s uniform, pressed, ironed, and looking professional. She had green eyes and was slightly paler than Zack, but not too much. Her black hair was cut short, about shoulder length, to fit with the military standards. Being in Dress A’s wasn’t exactly the way the couple wanted to spend their long deserved time away from the military lifestyle, but it was what they had to stay in until they reached their destination where the rest of their personal affects had been delivered a few days prior.
It was a long trip from Reach to Harvest; but the farther away from the Rebels, and their base of operations, the better. As the pair neared one of the wagons that would bring them down to the surface, usually reserved for the technicians and mechanics, Zack and Melissa began to talk to one another.
“Isn’t this great?” He asked her as they walked down the gangplank into the wagon. “A few months of leave with nothing but relaxation and fun. Plus, I get to spend it all with you.” He smiled a bit and leaned over and kissed Melissa. It was only a quick kiss, for the wagon began to start its descent towards the planet as he finished his statement. Melissa smiled as he pulled away from her. “I’m excited too. I’ve wanted to see Harvest for since I joined up. To see what the other colonies are like. The UNSC and the military have been all I’ve ever seen, it’ll be nice to see just relax and breath the fresh air for once.”
She smiled a bit more, and squeezed Zack’s hand in her own. “And,” she added with a slight giggle, “I guess spending time with you will be enjoyable.” They both laughed, knowing that it was merely a joke. The couple felt a slight jerk as the wagon detached from the Tiara and sped hastily towards the planet. The g forces pushing on them were immense at first, but soon lowered their relentless torture of the bodies of the couple. Being ODSTs had prepared them for these kinds of forces, but it was always a shock when they occurred. As the wagon began to maintain cruising velocity towards Harvest, the speakers in the chairs that Zack and Melissa sat in came on, and asked if the two would like to hear the CA’s intro to harvest. Melissa immediately replied with an enthusiastic yes, and immediately placed the small speakers to her ears, drowning out the outside noise of all that was in the wagon. She looked over at Zack and gave a quick smile. He shook his head and laughed quietly to himself before responding to his own chair’s question and placing the speakers in his ears and drowning out the monotonous ride of the wagon with the cheerful voice of Harvest’s agricultural A.I Mack. Listening to the descriptive narration, the two soon became lost in the wonders of the world, and the ride to the surface, seemed over just as it had started.
Coming to a screeching halt, the jolt of the wagon soon brought the two back to reality, and back to each other. As soon as the craft had reached a full stop, Zack was immediately on his feet and helping Melissa out of the six-point harness that held her in place. “You know,” he said with a smile. “If you have this much trouble out in the field, you might as well live in that pod.” Freeing her from the seat, he helped her to her feet.
She smiled, “Or I could just get some other big strong man to help me out.” She started to laugh, as did Zack. “Yeah, do that and that man may or may not be seeing tomorrow,” he said with a grin. “Now come on, our ride should be just outside waiting to take us to the hotel, and on to this well-deserved, and very special anniversary. Zack leaned forward and grabbed Melissa by the hips and drew her close to him. Looking down into her eyes, he slowly leant in and kissed her lips. Melissa closed her eyes and returned the favor, leaving the two standing in each other’s warm embrace for some time before Zack finally broke the scene.
Melissa smiled as Zack reached for her hand, and the two walked out of the wagon’s station doors and into the beauty that was Harvest.
