The bridge was surprisingly calm and quiet. Despite being on the ship for a month and a half, it was only my second time on the helm. The first was when I was first assigned to the Vienna, when we were attempting to make it to Reach. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately from the reports I got), we didn't make it in time. A man dressed in a white uniform was overlooking the expanses of space. Besides him was Jennifer on the bridge's holographic projector. The faint smell of cigar smoke got stronger as I approached him. “Sir!” I said as I rigidly saluted him. I wonder if he ever feels belittled to be saluted down to. “Ah, Chief Petty Officer, it's good you showed up”, he said as he turned around to face me. He's a man of average stature, with a slim gray beard with a pinch of black, and a gray high-and-tight haircut. Captain Antonio Rodriguez, aged 52. His file told me about his storied career, and I came to understand and respect him. Compared to his contemporaries, he was captain of a Marathon-class at a record age. I'm sure he prided himself on it. He took the cigar out of his mouth and blew a puff of smoke to the side. “At ease, Spartan. Yes, I have an assignment for you. Don't worry though, I think you'll enjoy it. And it's optional, but I have a feeling you'll take it.” He gave me a sort of smug expression. I relaxed and looked over to Jennifer. She gave me a warm smile. I couldn't help but return the favor, and I looked back at the Captain. “Well, now you have my attention sir. What is it?” “Well, as you know, it's in 3 weeks it'll be Chrismas. I've got a group of ODSTs and Marines setting up decorations in Mess Hall A. I plan on having a Christmas Party, the troops could use the morale boost after Reach. Anyways, it's a surprise. I've classified it top-secret. You're not to tell a soul about it outside of those involved. Normally I would have just had a message relayed to you, but the secrecy of the matter warranted the face to face meeting...Well, you should be on your way Petty Officer. They're expecting you.” I laughed and replied “Yes sir, and thank you. Christmas is my favorite holiday after all.” I saluted him and walked off with a smile on my face and a perk in my step.

. . . 

	I reached the mess about ten minutes later. It was huge, about a quarter the size of a football field. Around it, around 15 other troopers in BDUs were milling about, putting up decorations and lights. A Christmas tree draped with ornaments stood in the far right corner. A friend of mine turned around from putting up lights and saw me. “Ayyy, looked who finally decided to show up and give us little guys some help, eh?” He says loudly. The rest of the room turns around and wave or nod to me. I wave back. He gets off his ladder and briskly walks towards me. He outstretches his hand, and I shake it. He gives me a solid pat on my shoulder. “How the fuck you doin' slick? Here I was thinking that we weren't going to be getting any reinforcements.” “Good to see you too, Barnes. And yeah, the Captain interrupted my sleep-in to tell me to report to you guys. So you have his good graces to thank for this. Although persoally I don't think I could let you helljumpers get all the credit,” I said with a smile and a wink. “Yeah, just once I'd like us ODSTs get all the credit instead of you 7 foot tall killin' machines. Well, Pulowksi needs help putting ornaments on the tree. I would recommend getting a ladder, but I don't think you're gonna need it.” “Yes sir, lieutenant sir.” I said to him teasingly. “For fucks sake, Jake. You know I hate it when you address me as a superior officer. It's not like you've been in the service longer than I have or anything.” He'd never admit it, but I could sense he deeply respected me and what I've done for the UNSC, despite the facade of friendly competition between us. “Alright, whatever you say Jim. By the way, do we have some extra decorations? I have a pet project in mind.” “Sure slick, anything we got at the end of the day is yours for the keeping. Just return whatever you don't use to Brian at Quartermaster B. You know how they get when shit goes missing.” “See you around Jim.” “See you.” I then made my way to the kid.
	“Need help Marine?” He looked down to me as he put ornaments near the top of the tree. “Yeah, that'd be great Jake. Mind passing me some of the ornaments in that box by you?” “Sure thing, but are you sure you don't want the guy who doesn't need the ladder to do the work?” I said to him jokingly. “Hey man, be my guest” he says as he steps down off the ladder. I move the ladder aside, and he starts handing me ornaments. A few normal ones, snowmen, painted spheres, and a few novelty ones. He passed me a miniature Warthog, and I chuckled a bit to myself. The smell of pine filled me nose. “You know,” I said to him “one of my favorite parts of my childhood was Christmas time. We had a real tree just like this one, maybe a bit smaller, but that's all that we could fit in our living room. I distinctly remember my last Christmas. It was the best I ever had. I had wanted one of those RC Warthogs, but, they were all sold out by the time I made my wish list. I remember a woman, who had taken a keen amount if interest in me starting about a year earlier, attended the little Christmas celebration my mother and I had. The next morning, I got up early and went to our tree. I saw a large box under it and when I undid the wrapping, there it was. A deluxe model Warthog no less, with the animatronic Marines. I still don't know how Dr. Halsey got it, but that moment was the happiest in my life. Being around my mother, the snow, the gift...That day was the best day in my life, now that I think about it”. I looked at the ground, and a sad smile appeared on my face. I always was a bit nostalgic. I stayed that way for a few seconds, lost in my thoughts, until I heard Pulowski speak up. “Was it your choice to go?” “Yes. I was selected for the program because I fit the genetic template, but at the end of the day it was my choice.” I lied. “...I always wondered how Spartans grew up. I didn't know if they were clones or orphans or something else. When I was a kid, I always wanted to pretend to be a SPARTAN.” “And I always wanted to be a Marine. Maybe in another life bro.” I laughed, but it was forced. “You know, had I told you that story ten years ago, it would have been classified information. I'm glad they declassified us.” That being said, I still held a lot resentment towards ONI for basically treating me as a guinea pig and then controlling me. Hate may have even been the correct word to use. But, to me, it was validated. They robbed me of a childhood, of the chance to find love. Still, I was thankful to them in one sense. I thanked them for putting me in the situation that I was as a soldier. Casualty rates for humanity were at 50%, including civilians. I was always glad that being a SPARTAN-II gave me a greatly increased chance of survival. Whats more, I was damn glad to be able to protect people like I did. Marines, Army, Navy, civilians; it didn't matter. I felt a sense of protection over all people. Like being a soldier wasn't my job, protecting humanity was.
	About 20 minutes later, Pulowski and I finished up on the Christmas tree. A bright star topped it, and I was admittedly a bit proud to be able to put it on without a ladder. The room was finished, and it looked great. Holiday lights covered the ceiling, and in the corner was our magnificent Christmas tree. I even saw a bit of mistletoe. “Well, that's it then,” he said to me. “It looks nice, right?” “Yeah. I think the skipper will be in for a nice surprise when he sees our handiwork,” I replied. “I've got to go man, I have to work out and shit. Thanks for the spare lights, Say, do we have a spare tree?” Pulowski gave me a curious look. “Yeah, we have a fake one that we didn't need to use. It should be under one of the tables. What do ya need it for?” “Just a personal project. Nothing special. I'll see you tomorrow, bro.” I said goodbye to everyone, dropped off the lights and tree at my room, and began my daily routine.

. . .

	10 hours later and I was back in my room. It had been a tiring day. Working out, range time, and time in the sim had worn me out. I sat down on my bed and took off my boots. Damn that felt good. I changed into my underwear and put my head on my pillow when a familiar blue light appeared. “Hey,” said Jennifer. “Do you have a minute? I feel like talking tonight.” “Sure, what's on your mind?” She looked down and put her hand on her arm, then looked up. “What do you think you'd like to do with your life? After the war I mean.” “I don't know, Jenn, I've been a soldier all my life.” I thought about it for a moment. “I think I'd like to be a teacher, especially history.” A few more seconds passed. I knew I couldn't ask her the same question, being an AI, but to my surprise I got a response. “I think I'd like to be...human. Or to able to experience things at least. I want to experience the feeling of the sun on my face, and the joy of a Christmas celebration...Love too. That more than anything, Jake.” She sighed. I felt something strange deep in my heart, and my stomach tingle. “I know how you feel”, I told her. “You know, we're not so different you and I, in that regard. Not being able to love or be loved; me being a cyborg and you being an AI. I guess being more machine than man isn't all it's cracked up to be, huh?” “Yeah, I guess we're two of kin.” It sounded like she was choking up a bit. “Joined by our misery and our want for love, huh Jake?” “We lonely two, I guess we'd make a good pair then,” I said. My heart was pounding, and I didn't know why. “Thanks for talking to me Jake, I guess I just needed to get that off my chest. Goodnight.” “Wait-” I said, but it was too late. She gave me a sad smile and disappeared. “Fuck”, I whispered to myself. I had a hard time falling asleep that night.

. . . 

	I had just finished showering after my routine at 1800 when I heard the Captain's voice over the loudspeaker. “This is the captain speaking. All nonessential personnel, please report to Mess Hall A on the double. Thank you.” I gave a smug smile to myself and put my BDUs on. This was going to be good. 
	I was one of the last to arrive, and when I entered the Captain gave me a nod. The rest of the stragglers came in and the Captain began his speech. “So, today we celebrate Christmas as you all know. But, I think we celebrate something more than that. We celebrate what makes us human; our traditions, our loved ones, and our beliefs. I don't care if you're an atheist, Christian, Jew, or Hindu. I think we can all agree that these are principles worth sharing. Principles worth preserving. So, in accustom with tradition, I've decided to throw a Christmas party for all of you here. Each and every one of you is vital to the conduct of this ship, and I don't know how I would do it with each and every one of you. God bless all of you, and Merry Christmas.” Two hundred pairs of hands began to clap, and the room was filled with thunderous applause. Then the party started. Beers were being passed around. I made a bet with Barnes over who could drink more. I knew I would win, being an alcohol-resistant SPARTAN. 100 easy credits I thought to myself. A few hours later, and he was absolutely shitfaced. I felt nothing. I saw a few of his squadmates carry him back to his barracks. The party was starting die down, and I said goodbye to the group of people I had been talking with that night. It was a great night. And it was about to get even better.
	
	I had finished setting up the lights in my room early in the morning, and I ate lunch while I put together the tree and the few ornaments that were left over. I started playing Nat King Cole's “The Christmas Song” on my audio system as I pressed a button on the pedestal. “Oh, Jennifer, I have something to show you,” I said brightly. The light flickered and she appeared. “What is it?” she asked, giving me a quizzical look. I stepped back and stretched my arms out to show her my festive display. She turned and gasped, and put a hand over her mouth. “How did you-” “I knew you would enjoy it from all the times we've talked. I knew you wanted to experience something Christmas related, but couldn't because of being of this being only one of three projectors in the ship. So, this is my gift to you. Merry Christmas Jenn.” She gave me a look; I'm not really sure how to describe it. There was a kind of glow in her eyes. I could see a holographic tear rolling down her cheek. “I-I don't know how to thank you Jake. This is the best day of my life.” I smiled at her. I felt a certain notion in that moment; an attachment that I'd never felt before in my life. The thought of love entered my mind, but I quickly dismissed it as impossible. We talked for hours that night: about my last childhood Christmas, about what she envisioned as the perfect Christmas, and about each other's day. I began to fall asleep. My last memory of the night was her turning off the lights, and sweetly saying. “Goodnight”.