It's been a few weeks after Shadow Team was found. They managed to integrate themselves to the modern (a/n: Yeah I know the it is the future, but I said Modern as in the now in their now) military of the 23rd century. Many of the scientist were curious on their abilities, so they needed to see if they are as capable as their Spartans. These last few weeks proved them to be more than capable; adaptable at best in the worst scenario. The UNSC during these few months have finally decided to call them "Reapers", due to their dark armor.

In the firing range, Cross fires his rifle. The loud bang of the rifle echoed in the room he was in. He didn't showed his face, but a few. Not even the Spartans know of his face. His singular red eye lined up on all the target he's shooting at. Incredible accuracy, one which doesn't need the fancy equipment the Spartans so dearly replied on. His reactions are fast, his muscles quicker in a blur.

His rifle, though seemed a bit old and outdated, has performed incredible marksmanship and silence. His shots landed on target 95% of the time; high, but not nearly as high as Linda-058. What he makes up for it, is skill and speed, even if the weapon is "inferior" to the typical Sniper rifles of the UNSC.

After that, heh switched to his revolver named "The Hand-cannon": a devastating weapon, about the silhuoette of a typical revolver, though larger and more angular.

Again, he manages to hit the shots dead center. After reloading, he asked for 6 targets, and they popped up; only to get destroyed with deadly accuracy and in quick session. This ability ended earning him the nickname of "The Red Deadeye (or Deadeye Red)", not only for his red glowing eye; because he also hits multiple targets with his revolver, like a cowboy from very old times.

Linda came into the range to see Cross practicing his shots. 6 down to 1, she watched as Cross made quick and accurate shots to the head. She leaned on the wall and waited till Cross has finished his shots.

"Done yet", Cross turns around to see the Spartan leaning against the wall, signaling him. "Yeah", Cross sets down his Hand-cannon and walked towards to Linda. After the two left, some marines entered the range, when one of them spotted Cross's Hand-cannon.

"Hey look, it's Cross's gun", one of the Marines pointed out. "Yeah", another nodded as they walked towards the gun and held it in his hand.

"Wait", a female marine stopped the other marine, "Didn't Cross said this gun is dangerous", she questioned the marine, worried about the consequences of firing the gun.

Flashing back when Cross and his teammates were getting used to things, he noticed one of the Marines holding his Hand-cannon. "I wouldn't fire that thing if I were you... You could lose an arm or break one".

The other scoffs her question as he takes aim and jokingly said, "Heh, what could possibly go wrong", then pulled the trigger.

After a very brief meeting with the captain, Cross and Linda exited the room. As they were walking down the hallway, they have to stop as medical staffs bring an injured marine to the medical bay; apparently with his arm nearly blown off... Or broken.

"I already warned them and they didn't listen", Cross said ass the two continued to the armory, after acquiring Cross's weapons. The two began to suit up, but Linda needed some time for her Mjölnir to be properly fitted onto her. After wearing his bullet resistant coat (which have been tested by the UNSC to be effective, but subsequently get itself an upgrade), Cross decided to draw something on his notepad, to pass the time.

Pencil in hand, he sketch various entities and beings from his mind to when he faces the Covenant alongside his teammates. His sketches were wild, yet detailed. The silhouettes were kept distinct from one another.

After losing his thoughts on the paper, Linda finally equipped her weapons and armaments then proceeded to call the hooded Reaper, "Come on, Cross." He looked to see Linda already done with her equipment. He put the pencil and notepad away and proceeded to walk with her to the Pelican, where they'll be transported to the mission area.

After landing on the designated area, the two proceeded to hide within the trees. They marched with great silence as not to alert the target and the enemies. Linda set up her post on the ground, as low as she can go. Meanwhile, Cross has taken a more unconventional spot: hiding in the trees with his rifle peering at the enemy base: a typical Covenant base.

Linda said in her thoughts, "What is he doing up there", because she is curious on why Cross, of all people, decided to hide in the trees. Maybe it could be an advantage? Though, with the heavy armor, Linda doubt she'll be able to perform similar actions as Cross. But for now, they wait.

03:00...

The first hour has passed. No sign of the Target.

04:00...

Second hour have passed: Still no target.

06:00....

It's been 4 hours since the second and the target is not spotted yet.

Linda decided to rest a bit by the tree where Cross is hiding in, before returning on the spot. Cross, meanwhile, draw a bit; an artistic mind to be precise. While the two didn't share a word yet, the two still have thoughts on their head. Case in point:

Linda's thoughts about Cross: "He's unusual, yet very quiet, observant and keeps to himself. He'd never hurried or being in the foreground at best. He's just being a good sniper. Unconventional, but effective. I must admit, he does have an eye for details."

Cross's thoughts about Linda: "Subtle, quiet, observant and precise: like what most snipers should be. Although, she always take any opportunities she could gain, if it meant getting the target. If I were to put it into an analogy: she would be nearly the opposite of Kelly."

During their long wait, Cross decided to review the target's features to know exactly what he and Linda is supposed to be after: Elite in Gold colored armor, with some ornaments and a cape; the ornaments are wave-like with a a distinct shape that is more of a curve; most of the ornaments are primarily on the armor and helmet.

It is fortunate that he manages to get a drawing of the Elite; two to be exact. One with just the Elite's look in the hologram and the other of it's silhouette. As soon as Cross aimed down his sight, there he saw it, "Target Spotted."

Linda aimed down her rifle's scope, aimed and wait till the Elite gets in view. Now it's down to the Elite to ensure his doom. Once Linda got a slight glimpse of the helmet, she fired. The bullet only break pieces of the armor, but left the Elite unharmed; perhaps a bit anxious and pissed. Cross cocked the bolt halfway before inserting a specialized bullet and fires his shot center mass behind the running Elite, knocking the alien to the ground, only for it to get back up.

Soon the entire base is on high alert, grunts, Jackals and Elites are on their guard, and waited to find the snipers.

"Damn it", Linda cursed herself, "Looks like we have to call in backup, Cross.", she said in the comms, hoping for a reply from the Reaper. "Cross?", Linda looked up to the tree, where Cross would have been, only to see that he is gone.

Linda looked down and uses her eyesight to locate Cross, before going to her radar to find out where he's gone to. "Oh no.", After what Linda saw in the radar, she takes her weapons and run after Cross.

"What was he thinking", Linda thought to herself, obviously very worried about Cross like a parent to a child (even though it's supposedly the other way), "I know we didn't kill the target, but why did you have to go this far." Then the Spartan think to herself, "Maybe next time, I should really need to have a conversation with Cross." Ironic, considering that Linda herself don't usually talk with anyone often and when she did, it's often the other talking more than her.

Linda then came across an entrance Cross entered, with blood littered the floor and stained the walls of the Covenant base. Linda makes her approach subtle and waited till she can see Cross. She still look at her radar from time-to-time to see where Cross is at. By the time she's got close to Cross, an Elite was sent passed her visor, which it is killed soon after.

"I admire your bravery, Linda.", Cross said as both he and Linda came face-to-face, "Honestly, I thought you were more detailed on the enemy's silhouette." Linda nearly had to urge to shook him, and probably yell at him for being so reckless, but instead she does this: "Can't you just follow orders?"

"When someone give me a target", Cross said as he walked away, "I'll make sure the target stays dead.", Linda followed him deeper into the Covenant base. Linda drew out her magnum, while Cross have his SMG ready. Unlike the UNSC's standard issue SMGs, The SMGs of the Reapers' time is more compact with the mag inserted like a pistol. With the bolt traveling less, it has both an insane fire rate of 1200 rounds per minute, but with a nearly uncontrollable recoil.

The two entered a chamber, where the unsuspecting Elites and grunts began to panic and fire. The two went to cover as they are showered by incoming plasma fire. Cross took his rifle and shot rounds at the Elites, knowing the Grunts would panic after their dead. He took aim and fire.

BOOM!

Death #30: Elite killed by headshot

One Elite down.

The others scrambled into cover as one of the grunts run up to Cross. The latter took the opportunity to take the grunt's plasma pistol, after killing it with his machete, and charge it.

Death #31: Grunt death by stab.

Linda used her magnum to kill three grunts before switching for her sniper and shot one of the Elites.

Death #32-35: 3 grunts kill by magnum and Elite shot by sniper rifle.

Cross, after to fully charging the plasma pistol, tosses the gun at the crowded Elites, before shooting it; causing a massive explosion that killed several grunts and temporary disable the Elite's shielding.

He ran after the Elites, with Linda following his intent. The two Elites took out their energy swords and readied themselves for the incoming attack.

Linda fires rounds at the Elite, causing them to block it with his sword. The Elite ran after Linda in an attempt to stab her. The Elite swung their sword and thrust in a wild, yet precise fashion, in order to kill the demon infront of them. Alas, Linda manages to shoot the Elite's head, killing the alien.

Death #36: Elite killed by a shot to the head.

Cross's Elite isn't doing particularly well. The Elite tried stabbing the Reaper with the energy sword, however, Cross took the opportunity to hold the alien's wrist and began to attack specific points of the Elite with lethal precision. Cross first elbows the Elite's head, before curling into a fist and smacked the other side. He then shot the alien's neck with an elbow, causing the latter to cough as the former took the opportunity to knee the Elite's you-know-what.

The strike to the YKW, cause the Elite to flinch. Thus dropping the Energy sword and gives Cross the opportunity to unleashed a flurry of punches upon the alien. While the Elite's armor can withstand a normal punch from a Spartan, rapid fire punches to a specific area with the same amount of force have dire consequences to the midsection, as the ribs broke as fast as they could react.

A single upper-cut and a shot is all that is left to end the Elite.

Death #37: Elite killed by shot to the head.

Linda comes to Cross after witnessing the punishment he gave to the Elite. "Damn", Linda thought to herself, "He manage to give the Elite some hell. That fast punching, the detailed strike and holding onto the wrist? Maybe I could learn a thing or two from the Reapers."

"Come on.", Cross said, snapping Linda out of her thoughts, "We can get it, while the tracker is still in range." "Using a tracker on the Target?", Linda again thought to herself, as she and Cross chases after the Target. "Smart."

As soon as they saw the Elite, they began to fire upon it. Cross uses his rifle, no scope on, and began to fire rounds after rounds on the fleeing Elite. Linda did the same, focusing all her shots at the Elite. The Elite barely made it into a warehouse, which it them close behind them. Linda and Cross stopped by the door, wondering how do they get inside.

"Great.", Linda groaned, staring to get tired of chasing down the Elite to no end, "Now, how are we supposed to go in there?"

Cross looked back at Linda, then the building. He took his sights to the  window high above the door level. "There might be a way."

"How?", Linda asked.

Cross walked a few steps back, attaching a tool to the barrel of the rifle. He took aim and fire. The tool launches into the window, shattering it, and drill itself to the ceiling of the building.

Linda took a moment to guess where Cross is going with the plan. He walked up to Linda, grab the rope and said to her, "Sometimes you need to be observant to notice the details." This sentence rang into Linda ,as she was so focus on the Target, she failed to notice the window above the door.

After entering the building, via their window entrance, the two look over head on the building as they soon learn that that this building is a warehouse; a bit more barren than full.

Linda looked to Cross as the latter look at his wrist, "Anything?", "Not far.", Cross replied, "Somewhere...", He then points his finger to the densed corner of the warehouse, "There."

Linda looked to the direction Cross is pointing at, which would make it difficult unless... She looked to the catwalk, it encompasses the entire warehouse; shot a glance at the loading bay; looked to the ceiling lights and then the ground floor. "Think I may have a plan.", She said, which causes Cross to look at her as she explain to him her plan.

The Target thought that he manage to get pass the Spartans and radios any nearby Covenant to his aid. Unfortunately, the transmitter was shot before he could contact. He decided to run into one of the isle to hide from the sniper. With the isle so linear, the Target would have to hide in between the shelves to ensure the sniper don't get a view.

He must get out of there. He make a quick glance to check if the sniper is not looking. Good, the sniper isn't looking at him. The Target made a sprint to the loading bay, the only other place where the sniper can't get him.

As soon as he saw the light, he made a sprint. He ran so fast, he didn't bother to check if there were anyone behind him. Unfortunately, the doors shut before he even made it out. Now he's trap with one of them.

The Target is now on high alert, his heart pumping as hard as it can, his senses twitches with every single sound, and breath from running become shorter. The Target twitches his head left to right to find out where the other exit is.

As soon as the Target felt at ease, feeling relieved, yet tensed, that one only target him. But how can be so sure? Who would meet, him if he were to go outside the same way he came in? Sure he could wrestle a Spartan for a bit, but he have heard stories of his fellow Sangheili being torn apart by the Reapers. He couldn't forget the moment that his entire platoon and other units being massacred by these seemingly invincible beings. They're like the demons, but far worse. Whatever the cases may be, he must escape and survive.

The Target feel a bit off. He knew there was one, but it felt like there are others in here with him and that sniper. He figured that if the sniper is alone, surely he'd be able to take them out.

He climbed up the ladders, which admittedly is very difficult for his leg structure, and began to stalk the catwalks, trying his best to stay as quiet as possible with his foot shuffling across it.

It's long, sure, but he couldn't have any other options.

Suddenly the lights went off and the Target is now in an almost petrified state, merely managing to recover his will and pride. What became of the lights of the warehouse, turns dark in an instant. What worries most to the Target, now he can't see where the sniper is.

By the time he reached where the last time he saw the Sniper, it was empty. He sword he'd see the sniper. Then the lights went back on as the sniper said, "Boo." The Target startled and failed to react as the sniper flip him off the platform and onto the pavement. He's hurt, yes, but not enough to kill him.

He struggles to get back up, just as the sniper gets down. Turns out the sniper is one of the dreaded Reapers, he feared to face. Specifically, the Reaper, whose singular red eye glow an eerie red; the Hooded one; the assassin next to Ronin: Cross.

The Target immediately open fire on the Reaper, causing Cross to take cover behind the shelf as the former too take cover. Cross uses his tracker to pinpoint the Target's location, before shooting them with his gun.

The Target made a mad dash towards the exit. However, they were tackled to the ground by Linda. Both she and the Target wrestle a bit, knocking over the shelves next to them as they tried to overpower the other. Meanwhile, Cross used his reflexes to move out of the way of the falling shelves and aimed his gun at the Target. Unfortunately, it's a bit difficult, considering that he may hit Linda in the process.

Cross rushes at the two and manhandled the Elite, throwing the Target across the lane till they hit a shelf.

"Thanks.", Linda thanked Cross as he began shooting at the Elite. The Elite refuses to die and ran to a section of the warehouse.

Now he has a second thought: "What am I doing? Am I a coward?". He couldn't help, but think of himself being a coward. He kept running and running away from fights and now he is at the mercy of the two humans. On the one hand, he could survive, but would be embarrassed and looked down upon by his fellow troops. On the other, he would potentially kill one of them, maybe two and be awarded as a hero.

"Well well.", the Target hear a voice, clearly male, "I would imagine an Elite come up to us and fight us to his very last breath."

The Target only know of this a psychological attack. Clever, but not enough to tempt him.

"Thing is, you Elites fascinated me. Your amor and weapons, to the little details you add. And your culture as well. However, you're not the brightest of people."

The Target moved through the isle as he kept hearing the words coming out from the Reaper.

"You nobelones have a hierarchy it seems. What kind of alien would kill themselves because of honor? However, your kind never displayed this "honor" you're all talking about."

"It's sad that "Honor" means respect to the enemies. Clearly, you've shown no respect at all. Became savages later on."

No! He must not fall for the Reaper's lies! However, the more he thinks about it, it became all too true when Cross continued, "I must say, your are a cowardly elite. How can you earn that armor without any sort of accomplishment?"

The words of the human pierced the pride of being Sangheili of the Target. He knew of the things he did to get this far. This shall not stand. The Target gets out of his cover and shouted, "Face me demons!"

BOOM!

White flashes before his eyes and now the Target is officially dead, his body limp backwards, with his blood and fragments of his skull being blown back.

Death #38: Target headshot

The trails were followed by the sound of a rifle cocking back after the shot. Linda has taken down the Target, whilst holding Cross's Hand Cannon

"Nice shot", Cross compliment the Spartan as the two made their way back to the UNSC base via falcon.

Once at the base, and after many different shenanigans, Linda feel proud of herself. But there was one thing that is bugging her. She went to the range, "No, he's not there."; She check the armory, "Not here either."; Finally, she check his room.

When she entered the room, it was almost as bright as day somewhat. She saw the white that scaled the walls, looking like trees to her eyes. It felt familiar, yet different at the same time.

"Welcome to my room.", To her relief, it is Cross.

When the two sat on the bed, they talked. They were speaking on specific things and especially Cross's behavior, but overall it was a decent conversation to bare. Linda thought she ask all the questions when she almost forget about this one: "Cross, what happened to your eye?"

Cross went silent for a while. It's been a good few years since his injury. But since he is alone with Linda, maybe it's time to show her his true face.

"Maybe I could show you, Linda, considering that we're both alone in the room and potentially no one can hear us", he started to take of the mask he is wearing as he is talking. Removing the mask from below was enough to give Linda some indication in where the injury occured. But what makes her curious about it was the scarred area on the right. After that, he took off his eyeglasses to show her his face:

On the left side is his human face: brown colored eye with minimal scarring and a shaved side. On his right, there is a heavy amount of scarring and some metal plates with a red eye in the center. Some of these were covered by flesh, but with vast majority of the head cover what's left of the flesh on the metal.

Cross now feels embarrassed to show his heavily scarred face, thinking that Linda may think if him to be a bit... Off. Instead, she was just surprised to see his heavily scarred side.

Cross ask her, "What do you think?"

Linda answered, "I... I don't think I have any words for this.", She then ask, "What happened? How did you get... That?" Obviously referring to the right side.

"To start", Cross answered, "You should be lucky to have complete face protection. Not many off us would have it, mostly because we didn't worry about shrapnel. That's where I lost my eye. But my good folks that time manage to restore it, upgrade it and ask me to join their new program that'll help disabled people to join in..."

Linda continued for a bit, "But instead of that, they ended up turning you and Shadow Team into super-soldiers?"

"Yes", he confirms it, "Many of us didn't recognize each other, but with the enhancements, they now told us we were the key to end violence all across the galaxy. It was like that for a while."

Linda asked again, "So how is that eye powered?"

Cross answered her with a simple joke, "Would you believe me if I were to tell you that my prosthetic is powered by my body?"

Linda said, "Absurd, but not entirely impossible." Linda gets off the bed they were sitting on and walked to the door, though she hesitantly ask before leaving, "Would you tell the others about your thing?", Cross answered, "Only time will tell.", and with that Linda left the room.

Note: HOLY COW! I didn't know you could write up to 4000+ words! This is my far the most I've ever written and my average was what 2000 per page.