UNSC Vessel The Pillar of Autumn

In orbit over gas giant Threshold

Date:Error 27-B/ Time:Error 27-B

Corporal Perez was riding shotgun with his longtime friend and fellow Ranger Michael Shaunter. They were part of a convoy that was en route to a base in Iraq. But then the ambush came. Lieutenant Emerson was dead. Then a flash, they were stranded in the desert with Sergeant Valderenko, only, he was dead. His Warthog hit a tree on Sigma Octanus. Then another flash, he was battling an Elite, with half of his arm blew apart by a Needler. He opened his mouth to scream but all that came out was the sound of alarms.

Juan Perez awoke to the sounds of the alarms that were going off all over the ship. He jumped out of his cot, and grabbed his rifle. Captain Keyes came on the ships PA system.

"All hands go to battle stations. Prepare to repel boarders. We'll commence attacking after we pass Threshold. It has been a pleasure serving with the fine men and women who have fought for this ship. Good luck and God speed. Keyes out."

Perez saw Hightower and called to him.

"What the hell is goin on private?" he asked.

"I dunno sir, all I know is we're bein told to report to Sergeant Johnson. He's gonna brief us in."

"Ok lets go find him." Perez said.

"Ummmm sir?"

"What's up Hightower?" he asked.

"Where's your clothes?"

Perez looked down and saw that he was in nothing but boxers.

"I'll be right back." He said.

Perez went off, then came back five minutes later fully clothed in his custom Ranger's uniform. He joined Hightower and they went searching for Johnson. They heard the good Sergeant finishing an inspiring speech to a group of Marines.

"Am I right Marines?" he finished.

"Yes sir!" they all answered.

He started walking, "All you greenhorns who wanted to see Covenant up close, today is your lucky day."

"Sir!" Perez saluted.

Sergeant looked Perez over, "Well I'll be damned!" he laughed, "I haven't seen you since we found you boys in Iraq!"

Johnson looked around, "Where's Valderenko and Shaunter?" he asked.

Perez's gaze fell to the floor, "They died, we lost Valderenko at Sigma Octanus IV, and Shaunter at Reach."

Johnson swore, "So you're the last Ranger huh?"

"Yes sir, keeping the tradition alive."

Johnson grunted approval. He looked around, "Look, I need some help here, I'm gonna be helpin out all these rookies so I need you patrol the ship help any swabbies to escape pods."

"How bout I just get my happy Latino ass to the escape pods and forget about the swabbies, all they do is get in the way anyway."

Johnson laughed, "Yeah, but we might need em for cover when we land."

Perez shook his head and laughed, "Never thought about it that way."

Johnson pointed to Perez's rifle, "You still use that old thing?" he asked.

Perez patted his M-16 lovingly, "It's gotten me out of more than one tight spot, just like my .357."

"Whatever, if you ever need to replace that piece, come talk to me." Johnson said.

"Roger that sir." Perez turned and motioned to Hightower, "Come on 'mano, lets get outta here."

"Rangers lead the way." Hightower joked and stepped aside.

"Damn right we do."

Perez and Hightower made there way into the corridors of the Pillar of Autumn. Explosions rocked the ship.

"What the hell was that?" Hightower asked.

Perez looked around, "Dunno, felt like somethin just hit us."

Perez went down a corridor marked Cryo. The door slid open to reveal two black armored Elites.

"Shit!" Perez dropped to his knee and fired at the nearest alien. The Elite snarled and brought its weapon up. Hightower primed a grenade and threw it at the aliens. The two Elites tried to dive out of the way, but had nowhere to go. The grenade detonated and blew the two Elites apart.

Cortana's voice came on the PA, "Attention all personnel, we are abandoning ship, please make your way to the escape pods, good luck."

"Well, lets go then shall we?" Hightower asked.

Perez took the lead again and made their way to a flight of stairs. They made it to the very top and were ambushed by a squad of Elites and Grunts. Perez swore and opened fire on the nearest Grunt. The rounds tore through the aliens' tank and caused it to spin around like a top as the air hissed out.

A squad of Marines arrived and joined in the firefight. Bullets and plasma flew and soldiers began to fall. Perez inserted his last clip into his M-16 and fired at a gold armored Elite. The Elite's shields shimmered then flared as they died. Perez aimed for the Elite's head, and fired. The rounds tore through its skull and the Elite collapsed in a heap.

Perez looked to see how the rest of the Marines were doing, and saw that it wasn't going very well for the good guys. Hightower had managed to get a small fire team together, but they were getting hammered by heavy plasma fire.

Just when things were getting bad, a Spartan entered the fray. Perez had only seen a Spartan once before on Sigma Octanus. It had saved his ass then, and it probably was gonna save his now. Sure enough, Perez was firing on a blue Elite when his rifle clicked empty, the Elite roared in triumph, and moved in for the kill, then collapsed to the floor revealing the Spartan behind it.

"Thanks" Perez said.

The Spartan nodded, then continued on. Perez looked around and scavenged some ammunition from some fallen Marines. He hated to do it, but it had to be done.

"I say it's a lucky break that those clips fit into your gun." Hightower noted.

"You're not the only one who's noticed that." Perez said.

Hightower grunted, and they continued to the escape pods, stopping every now and then to fight their way through Elites and Grunts. They arrived at the pods, weary, and covered in the blood of their enemies. The pod ejected and slid into space. Hightower hit Perez on his shoulder and pointed at the ringworld.

"What the hell is that thing Corporal?" he asked.

"I don't, but it looks like we're gonna call home for a while."

"Damn, I need a vacation."

A/N: Well its time for round two with my ol buddy Perez. Hope this one gets as many good reviews as the first one. Updates may be a lil slow cuz I got a Half Life fic in the works. As for the Arizona story…I don't know if I im gonna finish that one. Anyway, please review and make me happy.