User:Mouse among men/Innies Out

DISCLAIMER: Mouse among men does not own Halo, Nickelback, azlyrics.com, or anything else mentioned/used in this fan fiction, besides the fan fiction itself.

Corporal John McLairy looked at the sunset. On the horizon, he saw a battle going on: the fight to clear an Insurrectionist base on Tribute. To his right was Private Manuel Estrada, his only partner towards his destination.

From underneath the trees, we watch the sky

Confusing stars for satellites

I never dreamed that you'd be mine

But here we are, we're here tonight

"All this fighting is useless," McLairy remarked. "Just let the Inni-Insurrectionists get what they want." He changed his wording mid-sentence. He was far to used to UNSC propaganda.

"I agree," Estrada replied. "If we can't get along with someone else's opinions, then we can't get along at all."

Singing Amen, I, I'm alive

Singing Amen, I, I'm alive

John put the keys in his X-2525 class sedan. It hummed to show it was activated, and Manuel entered the directions for the auto-pilot.

"186 Sacrifice Boulevard," a small street not far from the base. The street had a house with an Insurrectionist-supporting couple who agreed to allow the two to use their home as a hideout until the Marine Corps forgot about them. In the case of an emergency, there was a logistics building where they could hide in a truck.

If everyone cared and nobody cried

If everyone loved and nobody lied

If everyone shared and swallowed their pride

Then we'd see the day when nobody died

As the car drove along, they saw a set of Hornets fly off further into the distance; no doubt the Marines flying to another destination just to kill more protesters. Watching this, Estrada wondered why the UNSC didn't increase their "peace talks" when the Insurrectionists began attacking, no matter how futile they were.

And I'm singing

Amen I, Amen I, I'm alive

Amen I, Amen I, Amen I, I'm alive

After 15 minutes, they arrived at their hideout. The couple, Mary and Tanner Akono, greeted them.

"Welcome! Please, make yourself at home for as long as you like!"

John ignored the courtesy, however. He unloaded his and Estrada's bags and went to the guest room. Manuel followed him closely behind. Mr. and Mrs. Akono closed the door for them.

And in the air the fireflies

Our only light in paradise

We'll show the world they were wrong

And teach them all to sing along

Singing Amen, I, I'm alive

Singing Amen, I, I'm alive

(I'm alive)

As they were unpacking, an explosion appeared in the distance. In was in the location of a popular café that was known to support Insurrectionists. All places in the outer colonies were termed either pro- or anti-Insurrectionist as a consequence of the borderline civil war caused by OPERATION: TREBUCHET.

If everyone cared and nobody cried

If everyone loved and nobody lied

If everyone shared and swallowed their pride

Then we'd see the day when nobody died

"Such a shame," Mary said suddenly. "That was a mighty fine place to eat."

"Indeed. I had some good friends there. Let me eat with a discount, they did," Tanner replied.

Manuel didn't reply. He had eaten there before, and it was a good restaurant. McLairy just watched the smoke rise.

And as we lie beneath the stars

We realize how small we are

If they could love like you and me

Imagine what the world could be

Manuel was surfing the television when an all-news channel appeared with news of the raid on the base. It contained the normal bias associated with UNSC channels.

"The United Nations Space Command has just destroyed a base that was utilized as an Innie hideout," the reporter said. ONI Section II hand-picks people who were willing to do whatever they said when it came to giving on-the-spot news. This one, Amanda Gorbachev, was one of the most famous.

If everyone cared and nobody cried

If everyone loved and nobody lied

If everyone shared and swallowed their pride

Then we'd see the day when nobody died

When nobody died...

Tanner picked up the remote and turned the TV off. "We don't need to listen to the government's lies. Now, you must be tired. Please, feel free to take a nap."

Estrada thanked the man, and curled up onto his bed. McLairy, however, was more reluctant. While he lied on the bed, he was still thinking about the news. "... that was used as an Innie hideout." Innie. The very word represented anti-Insurrectionism and the subduing of one's opinion. As he pondered this, he felt the lulls of sleep overcome him, and he slowly drifted off into a deep slumber, but not before remembering what his drill sergeant's last remark was to him before graduating:

"No matter what, do all that's physically possible to protect Earth and her colonies. If that means stopping a few rebels, then so be it. Good luck, son."

We'd see the day, we'd see the day

When nobody died

We'd see the day, we'd see the day

When nobody died

We'd see the day when nobody died