Caroline's recollection Part 2

After the surgeries, Roy and Monica became fast friends. I think it was because she thought he was funny; always tripping over himself. And I’ll admit it, at first I was a bit jealous, but soon got over it. Let the young lady have her fun with him; he’d be all mine soon enough. Those few months after the surgeries all the surviving Spartans were fitted with the Mark IV MJOLNIR armor. Unfortunately the Mark IV didn’t have an A.I. port come standard. But after the initial distribution of the armor, many different programs began to experiment and modify the existing model. They were able to issue an A.I. compatible port into the helmet of the Mark IV armor; years in advance before the Mark V when it became standard issue. It also helped that since it was a prototype model, Roy could have the armor in EOD variant and what ever color he wanted. And that choice was the color red. He didn’t actually make the choice himself; I had a little hand in that change. He still hasn’t realized it and thinks it was a mix-up in his favor, my little secret I like to keep.

I was so excited when the day came that Roy and I would be together. We had a more formal introduction this time with Halsey. What struck me was the change in him; he seemed more calm than normal. I had always been watching him from the background, never up close; he was normally energetic, funny…, smart, and kind. It’s just the energetic part was missing. And I wouldn’t see that part of him again for almost twenty years.

“Roy, this is Caroline.” Doctor Halsey said standing next to Caroline at the Holo-pedestal. Behind his red EOD helmet, Roy gazed at the blue A.I. program. He noticed her features, blue for one thing, a nice long white dress and black knee-high boots. Her hair was black and tied in a pony-tail. Her face was soft with its features, a cute little nose, lovely blue eyes, and perfectly sized lips. “Caroline will be you’re A.I. unit for the foreseeable future, to correct your motor skill-imbalance.”

“But Ma’am, I’ve been doing fine without the need for an A.I. helping me. I don’t think I need one.” Roy said crossing his arms over his chest. When he said that Caroline felt hurt, she had been waiting for this moment since his surgeries and now…he didn’t want her? She flickered a dark red, then a deep blue, before returning to her normal light blue color.

“You might think you’re fine, but you’re not all that, Spartan!” Caroline said stomping her foot. “I’m here to help you reach your full potential!” Roy stiffened when she reacted.

“Roy, Caroline will help you be faster, stronger, and safer. I know you want to be safe and make others safe too, so let Caroline be with you and help you in your endeavor.” Halsey said reaching up and putting a hand on the large red Spartan’s shoulder. Roy was silent for a moment as he mulled over what was said.

“Okay, I would like to have Caroline join me as my A.I. unit.” He said finally. To Caroline that was music to her ears. She smiled and Halsey ejected Caroline’s chip and handed her to Roy. He held her in his hands and turned her over a few times before plugging her into the back of his helmet. There was a sudden cool liquid feeling at the site where the chip was plugged in, and then he heard Caroline’s voice.

“It’s very spacious in here, huh… thought it would be more filled up with knowledge.”

“Hey! Don’t do that!” he shouted.

“Do what?” Caroline said in surprise.

“That, that talking.”

“What, you don’t like having another voice in your head?”

“Yes, it’s weird and unnatural.”

“Says the augmented super-soldier in hulking red armor that would kill any other soldier in it.” Retorted Caroline.

“Oh this is going to be very fun…” Roy said in sarcastic tone to himself.

“I heard that.”   

And it was hard the next few weeks. We constantly argued with each other about simple things. If it wasn’t for Monica stepping in and mediating I’m sure we wouldn’t have this great working relationship we have now. I just wish she was still alive to see how we’ve both turned out.

The next memory Caroline began to recall was when Roy first encountered the Covenant.