The Marines had each found their rooms. There were more than enough for each of us, so everyone took their own private quarters. I was just about to enter my own quarters when Jenn passed by me, seemingly intent on taking the room next to me.
	“Just where do you think you're going?” I inquired.
	She looked over her shoulder, then turned to face me, leaning her head against the wall. “I thought you would enjoy the privacy. You always told me you valued it greatly on the Vienna.”
	“Well, that was before I had you. Come on, let's have some fun.” I said with a wink and a smile.
	“If you insist,” she added with a mischievous grin. As soon as the door closed, she wrapped her arms around me. “So where do we go from here?”
	“Oh, I had something special in mind,” I said. We stared at each other for a few moments, but we soon brought our lips together in a joyous embrace. She whimpered in satisfaction as I kissed her, slowly but passionately. It may have been only a few minutes, but it felt like hours. I didn't care, I was so engrossed in her that every second felt like pure bliss. I could feel the gel-layer shift in my loins. Maybe she could tell, as she slipped away from my arms, placing a finger on my lips.
	“This is amazing, but I think it would be even better if I got you out of that bulky armor. Don't you think?”
	I laughed. “Shit. I was so wrapped up in you I almost forgot about it. Give me five minutes and your soldier will return to your waiting arms.” I was about to head out the door when I turned to face her. “Hope I'm doing alright.”
	“Oh, you're perfect, Jake. Don't worry about it.”
	“And to think I'm probably a shitty kisser right now. I bet I'll get a hell of a lot better.”
	Now it was her turn to laugh. “What, and you think I'm any better? I've been human for less than 24 hours. I just hope I can keep up.”
	“I sure hope so. Us Spartans can be quite fast.”
	“Well, there's one area I can think of where speed might not be the best option. Now off with you, you just standing there is driving my mind wild.”
	“Yes ma'am”, I said as I sprinted out the door towards the armory. Thankfully, noone was there when I arrived, and I gave the voice activation to begin the disassembly of my armor. It was a state-of-the-art model that was fully automated. It also did a better job than the technicians did, and I was out of my armor in the five minutes I had promised. I opened the door to see Jenn sitting on the bunk bed. Meant for Spartans, it would be the perfect size for me. However, it seemed comically large compared to a normal person.
	“I counted five minutes, five seconds” she said jokingly as I sat down besides her.
	“I counted four fifty five.”
	“Oh, what the hell. It doesn't matter. Now you're here and that's all I care about.” She got up and sat on my lap, facing me. She had some hair in over her eyes, which I brushed away gently. She smiled softly and leaned in for another round of kissing which I gladly accepted. Her lips were so soft and supple, they felt almost like silk. After a while my hands slid around her neck when I felt something odd: a small metallic slip at the base of her skull.
	“What's that?” I asked in between kisses.
	“My...AI...core.”
	I pulled away just a few inches.
	“Your AI chip?”
	She furrowed her eyebrows.
	“Yes. What's wrong?”
	“Nothing. I'm just kind of surprised. Is it...integrated with your brain?”
	“Yes, but not directly. Hypothetically, I could still function as your AI.”
	“And what would happen with your body?”
	“Oh, nothing I suppose. My guess is that my memories would just integrate from being an AI and human.”
	“Huh. You know, you never explained to me what exactly happened in there.”
	“Well, I knew what it was as soon as you plugged me into it. Basically, what this 'Venerable Instrument' is an advanced medical...creation device. Similar to flash-cloning but much more advanced. I was able to create a hypothetical DNA strand that would match my characteristics. I just plugged it in from there. I believe the Covenant's interest in the device is that they think they can use it to make themselves Reclaimers; essentially the descendants of  the Forerunners. It seems a lot of Forerunner tech requires the use of a Reclaimer or a Forerunner to function, which is vital to their Great Journey.”
	“So we're Reclaimers? Humanity I mean.”
	“I guess so.” she laughed. “They've never found the missing link you know.”
	“I see.”
	“There's, uh, something else Jake.”
	“What is that?”
	“I'm not technically human. I had to make some alterations to my genetic structure in order to, well, work. For example, I had carbide ossification on my bones, and my brain is a bit different than a human's to work both with and without my core.”
	“Wait, did you say something about carbide ossification? Like what I have?”
	She started blushing and looked down. “Well, yes, but it doesn't matter.”
	I elevated her head to meet my gaze with my two fingers. “Jeeeenn.”
	“Oh alright. I got the ossification so, well...basically so you don't kill me when we're having sex.”
	“Oh,” I said with a raised eyebrow. “And when do you think that'll be?”
	“Not anytime soon, hate to tell you. I'm not that easy.”
	“I can be pretty irresistible.”
	“And I think you underestimate my willpower.”
	I leaned in for another kiss. She met it, but pushed me away when I tried to take off her bodysuit.
	“Ugh, stop Jake. I do want to have sex with you eventually, but not right now. I want to take it just a little bit slower than getting fucked within my first day of being alive. Besides, believe it or not, but I actually am getting used to this body. I'd prefer to keep it light for now.”
	“It's just the way you look in that bodysuit drives me wild, I'm sorry. God, you're so hot. I don't think you even know.”
	“Well, you're no better in yours displaying your fucking perfect physique, I'll have you know. She gave a light chuckle. “Do you even know how many women would look you up and down whenever you went on the bridge?”
	I paused for a moment. I was usually so wrapped up in my orders I never really payed attention to my surroundings on the con.
	“Honestly, no. I just hope you never got jealous,” I said with a shit-eating grin.
	“Oh, you have no idea. Especially before I really knew you. But, once I did, I could tell you had a thing for me pretty early on.”
	“Well, I guess the same was true on my end. Funny how I said we were similar in our quest for love. Now look where we are.”
	She gave me a warm smile. “And I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.”
	“I know hun.” I smiled, but her last sentence got me thinking about our destination. My smile quickly faded to a frown.
	“What's the matter?” she asked.
	“You just got me thinking about Earth, that's all.”
	“I'm sorry Jake. I didn't mean to.”
	“It's alright Jenn. It isn't a big deal.”
	“Well, it is a big deal to me. You can tell me what's on your mind.”
	I sighed. “Well, to be perfectly honest with you, I think this is it. The end. If they conquered Reach, they'll conquer Earth. Sure, we'll probably hold out for a few more years in the colonies. Decades even. But after that? Game over.”
	“Well, I don't. If every Spartan is as good as you, I think we might be able to turn the tide. And who knows, maybe the Shanghelli will fight with us if it's a war of extermination for them too. Didn't really seem like they were part of the Covenant anymore.”
	“I hope you're right, Jenn. I hope you're right.”
	She stroked my cheek. “Whatever happens, we'll be in it together. And that brings me some solace. Just keep your mind on us, together. Ok?” She let out a loud and extended yawn. “Wow, I just realized how tired I am. My God, it's almost one in the morning. Well, I think I'm going to go to sleep now. You're welcome to join me if you'd like,” she said as she lied down. I got up and turned off the lights, not bothering to get a pair of civilian clothes. I was exhausted, and besides, the bodysuit was just about the most comfortable thing in the world. I lied down beside her, facing her as I pulled the blanket over us.
	“I love you Jake.”
	“I love you too Jenn. Goodnight.” I whispered and planted a kiss on her forehead. She grabbed my hand and curled into my body, placing my arm around her stomach. She sighed in weary satisfaction, and fell asleep. I wasn't far behind her.

. . .

	I got up earlier than she had. I only slept for eight hours, which was quite a while by Spartan standards. I was especially careful not to wake her, and I slipped out of the room with almost total silence. I went to storage and picked out a pair of BDUs and boots in my size, and picked out some PT sweats for Jenn to wear. I changed and dropped off her clothes at the room, then made my way to the mess. Much to my surprise, I found Barnes sitting at one of the tables, coffee in hand. I grabbed a hot chocolate and sat across from him.
	“Mornin',” he said.
	“Morning. Didn't feel like sleeping in?”
	“Nah, I couldn't sleep, not with the news. You?”
	“Surprisingly, I was able to. I kind of feel bad for it, but I did.”
	He nodded. “I see. Well, I'd prefer not to talk about it.”
	“I understand.” We stood there silent for a minute, neither knowing what to say. Suddenly, his eyes lit up.
	“You roomed with Jennifer last night, didn't you?”
	“Yeah. So what?”
	“Well, how was it?”
	“Ah. It was, well, amazing. It was everything I imagined it being, and more.”
	“Yeah? And, uh, how was her body?”
	“Jesus Barnes. Way to be subtle. Sorry to disappoint you, but I didn't fuck her.”
	“No?”	
	“Oh believe me I tried, but she wasn't having it. She didn't want to fuck right away, which I respect now that I've thought about it. And she's getting used to her new body.” I paused for a moment. “Is it is as good as it's supposed to be?”
	“Eh, it depends. If it's just some random screw, it's nice in the moment but nothing more. But someone you love? Now that's something incredible.”
	“How so?”
	“You just have this kind of amazing physical connection that you don't have before. Like, being able to trust your body to someone. It's hard to explain.”
	“I never asked you this, but do you have someone now?”
	He sighed. “No, not with being deployed constantly. It just doesn't work out, especially with being in cryo while your partner ages. Of course, I've had one-night stands, but not anything more than that. I am a little envious of you though, I would like someone to come home to, to rely on, y'know?”
	“Yeah, I understand. I felt that way for a very, very long time.”
	“Jake, do you remember what I said to you on the Falcon?”
	“Of course, why do you ask?”
	“Now that she's here. Human, you know. You have to be careful; don't get too attached.”
	“How can I not Barnes? She's the girl of my dreams. And she can still function as my AI, so the status quo remains the same. The only way she dies, is if I do.”
	He didn't say anything for a while, just stared down into his coffee. The silence made me uncomfortable, and I went to go get some breakfast. I got my standard of bacon, eggs, and pancakes, and began to eat when his next few words stopped me in the act.
	“Do you actually think you'll survive?” he said. I looked up from and stared at him for what seemed like an eternity, judging on whether or not to tell him the truth. I decided that as my friend and as an ODST, he could handle it.
	“No. No, I don't think I'll survive. Honestly, I don't think anyone will survive. Not you, not me, not her, none of the Marines. No-one. It's over man. These next few days might be all I have left in life, because it's the last bit of normalcy and peace I'll probably ever know. But know this Barnes. I don't plan on giving up. The only time I'll stop fighting is when the Covvies surrender or they pry my rifle from my cold dead hands. That I can promise you.” I let out a deep breath. “I'm not hungry anymore. I'm going to spend some time with Jenn, what little I have. Goodbye Barnes.” I got up and left the man to his coffee. He didn't say anything after that, just stared into his cup, lost in his thoughts and memories of days past.