Pens and Needles
0 :: Impatience
Being young had its advantages and disadvantages; you are capable of learning, capable of adapting more quickly but you are inexperienced and being illed by inexperiency usually results in hasty, fatal decisions.
But under the current circumstances, the advantages remained the same; as did the disadvantages but merely adding a single word changes the picture entirely.
Young woman.
The overcast of clouds looming in the sky complimented Sergeant Wyatt Merchants attitude perfectly.
"Where the hell is my support?"
Grave, gloomy, and utterly unpredictable; but it was to only be expected.
"Sergeant Merchant to Control. Where are those Ravens!"
Crouched behind a crumbling wall for cover, Theta Squad's Gears waited eagerly in tensing silence for an answer.
"Control to Merchant. Those Ravens are coming. The sky is crowded. Stand-by." A stressed male voice exploded in their ears.
Merchant grunted deep in his throat in disapproval and fired rounds onto the on-coming Locust. Merchant was known widely for his impatience.
"This is bullshit." Alexander Capps grumbled, blindfiring his Lancer over the wall.
The guttural growls, roars, and screeches of the ugly, bulky Locust reverberated through the shattered and ruined cityscape, echoing deeper into the city. They were getting closer; louder.
"Hoover! Kennedy! Move up! Send those bastards back into the hole they came from." Merchant barked.
Hoover lanced forward on light toes and began towards the Emergence Hole. Kennedy fell in behind, watch their six.
Locust heads poked up from all directions, they were taking fire from all directions. and Hoover desperately wanted a sniper rifle, wanting to see their brains splatter.
As they continued to leap around from cover to cover, Hoover spotted the Hole dipping down between a pair of abandoned vehicles, Locust crawling out of the deep, misty hole.
Hoover recognized something from the corner of the eye and the adrenaline hit; skidding in the debris that layered the ground light, Hoover dived for cover yanking Kennedy along. A grenade, confirming Hoover's recognition, spiraled just over their head and bounced a mere yard away from them.
"Run!" Kennedy screamed.
Hoover thrusted over a mound of concrete and fired the Lancer, bullets spewing over the Locust dropping a few. Hoover could feel the bullets zing closer; their shots more well placed. Kennedy was just a beat behind Hoover, firing as well.
The grenade detonated and a wave of heat crashed into their backs.
Hoover slammed hard against a hard solid object, face first, crushing the face behind the helmet. Hoover slumped to the ground aching, mouth tainted with the metallic taste of iron.
"That was not a grenade." Hoover mutter, staggering up. "A little support would be appreciated."
"Well, my support ain't here!" Merchant countered with a thick, acidic voice.
Hoover groaned loudly in irritation.
Kennedy took cover behind a vehicle and fired his Lancer over the hood. "We need to find a way to get closer. The grubs aren't letting us – Oh shit!" Kennedy flipped down, shielding his head as a barrage of bullets hailed onto the vehicle.
Hoover thought hard for just a moment, eyes wondering. Hoover discovered a pair of discarded grenades, nuzzled up in a doorway. "I've got an idea." Ditching the Lancer, Hoover swooped, snatched the grenades, arming with one in each hand. A crude plan already compromised in mind.
Kennedy glanced back, his eyebrows raised.
Before he could object, Hoover said, "Cover me."
A Drone climbed out of the Hole and hissed. Hoover didn't delay a moment. Kennedy barely grasped the order in time. Hoover ignored the Drone, locking eyes on the Hole. Kennedy dropped the Locust with a quick firing sequence and suppressed them with fire.
Hoover spun the grenades in clutching fists as they neared the Hole. Kennedy shouted something as another Drone climbed out. Hoover swung a hard round kick to the Drones face, knocking it down bleeding.
It seemed like slow motion to Hoover as the grenades fell from their hold and disappeared into the misty hole. Hoover launched over the Hole and into an empty doorway and rolled. Hoover stood just in time to see the grenades deliver their goods, the Hole swelled outward and then collapsed. Hoover heard Kennedy holler something as the sharp teeth of his Lancer ground through a Drones shoulder and down the torso.
Hoover emerged from the doorway and started towards Merchant; winded.
"That's how you give 'em hell!" Merchant whooped, standing proudly. Hoover just nodded, panting. Hoover decided not to try anything risky like that again, that could have easily killed.
Kennedy jogged up to Hoover with a smile wide on his bloody face. He placed a heavy hand on Hoover's shoulder and said, "Way to go Red."
Hoover could barely manage a smile but did.
All chatter stopped as the sound of distant Ravens increased.
Chokka-chokka-chokka.
Merchant swore.
The Ravens came into view, gliding their way over the jagged rooftops. A pair screamed overhead as the third dipped down and leveled out.
Theta ambled onto the Raven, adrenaline shaking.
There was a single Gear standing with his hands on his hips, a helmet tucked under his arm in the bay of the Raven. He had a cleanly shaven layer of blonde hair and steel eyes. His features were sharp and patched with scars.
"Redell Hoover." He boomed over the Raven.
Hoover looked curiously into the Gear's face, trying to fit a face with a name but it never clicked. Alexander offered a large gloved hand down to Hoover. Hoover grasped it as Alexander lulled her up.
The Gear dwarfed Hoover extensively but she stood her ground, respectfully gazing into his eyes. "Yes sir." She said solemnly.
"Once we reach the base, there's... something I have to tell you." The Gear's voice rang a familiar bell in Hoover's mind that made her remember.
Raine Ward. Major Raine Ward.
She finally placed the name but was momentarily confused. The words shocked her. Major Ward was one of the leading COs remaining in Jacinto. Hoover knew whatever she was going to hear wasn't going to be very pleasant.