Author's Note: Well, he goes my 5th story on As always, I DO NOT own Halo/Halo 2 in any way, shape, or form. This fan fiction is simply based on the games and books, done mostly by Bungie. Also, if any of the prison customs in the first chapter are wrong, I apologize. I actually have no idea whether or not they allow visitors to Death Row inmates, etc., but for the sake of the story I'm just going to leave it as is. Now, with that out of the way, I hope you enjoy the story!

“Second Lieutenant Hannah Railey? She’s in cell block 385, sir. I’ll take you to her.” The MP’s voice down the hall roused me from my sleep. Despite the interruption, my eyes remained closed; I’d been here long enough that I’d gotten used to the constant sounds, though I’d never been able to sleep right through them. I tried to return to the lovely world of never-never land. The dream world was, without a doubt, far better than reality.

I turned over in my bunk, hearing three pairs of combat boots walking down the otherwise vacant hall. There was the sound of the guards punching in access codes, followed by the sound of a few barred gates getting buzzed open.

The sound of the three pairs of combat boots came closer.

That’s when I suddenly bolted upright in my bunk. I forgot all about my lack and want of sleep, forgot about how much I wanted reality to go away again: I’d realized that the guards had been speaking about me earlier. I was Second Lieutenant Hannah Railey; I was the one who occupied cell block 385. I guess I shouldn’t have even had my former rank anymore.

But the fact that the MP had spoken of me with my former rank was not what bothered me; it was the fact that he was telling someone about me...a visitor. And here was the frightening part: Death Row inmates didn’t get visitors.

This special visitor could mean only one thing.

I heard the three pairs of boots finally come to a halt outside my cell. “Rise and shine, Lieutenant,” the MP said, deliberately using my former title, knowing it angered me. I ignored him, mostly because I didn’t want to admit to myself that I was afraid. Oh, I had known this day would inevitably arrive. I had just gone day by day, always saying to myself Not today. Of course, I had never let anyone see my weaknesses before; I certainly would not do it now.

“I said get up,” the MP said in a more sinister tone, compared to the amused tone of before. “Now. I don’t have time to play one of your fucking games, Hannah.” I silently cursed this poor excuse of a human being as I reluctantly rolled over to face him and the two men beside him. I did not, however, open my eyes. “You’re not a morning person, are you, Percy?” I asked him, although I actually had no idea what time of the dayor nightit was.

Presently, I opened only one eye, just to see his reaction. The MP guard hated my using his first name as much as I hated being reminded of my past by use of my rank. Much to my pleasure, Percy’s face went instantly red. He started to withdraw his pistol, but then glanced at the second guard and the man in a suit between them and thought better of it.

“Do it, and I promise we’ll treat you nice, Hannah. It’s your choice. You want to do this obediently and honorably, or do you want to go down in flames? 'Cause I’m fine with both,” Percy said. When I opened both eyes this time, I made it a point to roll them at him. I could’ve sworn I saw a vein in his neck pop. “Enough playing around! I mean it!”

I threw back the sad excuse for a blanket and climbed down the ladder to the floor. I turned to face the three men in front of me and looked them over with the most intimidating look I could muster.

“Percy, I must say you look exceptionally handsome when you’re mad. It’s really too bad that you’re a guard. There could have been something between us,” I said. Though I thought such a thing was impossible, Percy’s face turned even redder. Whether it was with rage, with embarrassment, or both, I could not tell. It took Sergeant Percy Wilkins two whole minutes to calm down enough to speak in a reasonable tone; he was obviously conscious of himself in front of the man in the suit.

“I believe the time has finally come for you, Hannah,” Percy stated a bit coldly. “After six long years, you’re done.” I tried not to show my fear in front of the men. I knew exactly what Percy meant, and I had every intention of going with my pride intact.

“Well? What are we standing here for, then? Let’s get this over with, eh?” I replied just as coldly. I didn’t want to stand there any longer, imagining my final moments. Waiting to be executed for something I didn’t even do in the first place.

For the first time ever, Percy actually gave me a grin, a wide, dark grin devoid of humor. “Very well, ma’am ,” he said, giving me a long look straight in the eyes. I made fists at my sides; calling me “ma’am” was completely out of line. But, seeing as I was determined not to let my anger show just to please Sergeant Wilkins, I quickly relaxed my posture.

“Open these bars up, Marine,” I ordered him. Hell, if he was going to acknowledge the fact that he wasused to bemy subordinate, I was going to command him as such. His grin vanished.

“You" he started to say, but, again, after glancing at the man in the suit beside him, did not ellaborate. Who is this guy that Percy is so afraid of? I wondered. I didn’t have time to investigate this interesting thought further, however, because the bars that kept me in my cell were suddenly opened.

Of course, I’d thought about escaping from the prison many times. The only problem with it was that I had always hoped my name would be cleared, and I could return to active duty, and life as it once was. Also, my escaping would have made it seem like I was guilty of the crime they’d locked me up for all along. And I wasn’t.

After Percy had the pleasure of grabbing my arms, pulling them behind my back, and slapping hand cuffs on them, he locked the bars behind himself, the two men, and me.

“This way, Ms. Railey,” the second guard said, taking hold of my bound hands. At least he’d had the decency to not address me by my rank. We walked silently down the hallway, with Percy up front, the second guard and myself in the middle, and the man in the suit following. For some strange reason, I had the uneasy feeling that the only man of the three of them not wearing battledress was watching me. I had the urge to turn around and ask him if he had a staring problem, but the second guard had a surprisingly firm grip. I tried not to think about the fact that this was the last time I’d ever be walkingor living and breathing, for that matter.

Percy buzzed several barred gates open as he’d done earlier, and then we were inside the cafeteria. Percy just could not help but grin. “Ok, Hannah. You’ve got you’re last meal. What do you want?” he asked me. I really, really wanted to kick him just then, but I did not act on my impulse.

“I want to see my brothers, my family again. I want my life back, Percy,” I answered. I hadn’t seen any of them for six years. Six years since the trial that had locked me up and thrown away the key. Six years that everything had gone on without me. A lump formed in my throat, but I would not let myself cry. Especially not in front of Sergeant Percy Wilkins.

“You know that’s not what I meant, Hannah,” he said with a bit of disgust. He really was the most evil man on the planet. “I told you before to stop with your little kid games.”

I shot him a glare, then replied, “I don’t care. We can skip it if you want. One isn’t particularly hungry when one knows she’s about to die.” Sergeant Wilkins gave me a peculiar look, then shrugged.

“Alright, suit yourself. We’ll go get this done now, then, since you want it so badly.” The sergeant turned and motioned for the other two men to follow him. The second guard pushed me forward, but the man in the suit did not budge. Percy noted this.

“Sir? Is something wrong, sir?” he inquired in a tone that differed completely from the one he used with me. The man in civies spoke for the first time.

“Yes, Sergeant. As a matter of fact, there is. If you go through with this, you’ll be killing an innocent person. Just ask yourself one question, Percival: do you really want that on your conscience?” Percy twitched.

“W-what?”

“You heard me, son.”

“Ok, who are you really, Mr. Hotshot? I’m surprised Tai let you in.” Tai was the prison’s AI.

“I am exactly who I said I was,” the man in the suit said cooly. “I’m her new lawyer.” I eyed the man a little closer this time. Is this guy for real?

Sergeant Wilkins was just as suspicious as I was. “Really? I don’t think so. How would she be able to hire a new lawyer from Death Row? And what good would it do, anyway?”

“Major Brandon Railey hired me, and it’s a very good thing he did. I found out the truth, Percival.” I perked up the mention of my older brother’s name. He hadn’t given up on me!

“Yeah? And what’s that?”

“She’s innocent. She wasn’t the one who killed Colonel Ronald Walker, Percival. Would you like to know who it was?” I noticed that Percy began to look nervous.

“Why do I care? Ain’t my case. Anyway, isn’t it a little late to try to get another trial?”

“There is not going to be a second trial, Sergeant. The person who shot and murdered Colonel Walker was you.” My jaw dropped. The man in the suit, however, did not miss a beat. “Corporal Tucker, would you kindly let the lady go and immediately arrest Sergeant Percival Wilkins?” This time it was Percy who had trouble keeping his mouth shut.

“W-what! This has got to be a joke! She’s the one who murdered him! The court said so! She’s been in prison for six years!” Although unaware of it, the sergeant was practically shrieking. The bewildered Corporal Tucker, who, like everyone but the man in the civies, obviously had no idea what was going on, took the cuffs off my hands and put them on the struggling Percy. “Get offa me!” Percy cried. “That’s an order, corporal!” Tucker ignored his superior.

“You’ll be hearing from me soon, Percy. I’m going to be the prosecutor for your case. Have a wonderful day, son. Come on, Lieutenant Railey. You’re free to go.”

“Huh? But how" I started to say, but the man in the suit pushed me along.

“Just walk,” he whispered to me. And so I did as he said.