Colony of New Constantinople, Bosporus System:
September 2537
Private First Class Jeremy Jones stood aghast at scene the laid before him. The floor of the small apartment was sticky. Red stained the carpet, the counters, and the girl. Human pieces were strewn across the ground. A mother, a father, a son…they were all dead. He started to shake. Was it from anger? Disgust? Jones didn't know. How could he? The academy had not prepared him for this…savagery.
It was then that the smell of charred flesh reached his nose. He suppressed the urge to hurl his MRE. However, the odor also helped him snap back to reality. There was a battle going on, and he couldn't stand here a wait. There was a slushing, as his boots stepped through the blood soaked carpet. The wretched sound filled the silent room as Jones approached the girl.
"Jesus…" The marine whispered, catching sight of something new.
It was another body, that of an alien…a Grunt. It was lying face down on the ground. A kitchen knife was stuck into its stubby neck, not doubt the cause of alien's death. The girl was visibly shaking.
"Hey, you okay?" Jones asked, reaching a hand out.
He got no response. Admittedly, it was a stupid question. But what the hell was he supposed to say? A concussive blast of nearby grenade rang. Jones didn't have much time. The evacuation operation was wrapping up. New Constantinople had fallen. All the UNSC could do now is save and salvage what they could. His com buzzed It was his squad leader.
"Private, are there any survivors on level four of the apartment?"
"Yes sir, I found one."
"Good, now get your goddamn ass down here. It's only a matter of time before the Covies catch up."
"I am on my way, sir."
The marine gave another look at the girl. She was no older than six or seven. Her olive skin was, like the rest of the apartment, covered in a spray of blood. She returned a blank stare. His amber eyes met with hers.
"We have to go." He told her softly, breaking away.
For a moment, the brunette child did not budge. Jones' hand was still reached out, waiting. Then, she took it. With that, he scooped the small child up and left.