The Hope of Humanity: Lost in the Wastes
Chapter 2: The Welcoming
As the Dawn plummeted to Earth, Chief's HEV parted ways with the back half of the frigate. The 2 other drop pods, carrying Chief's scavenged weapons & supplies also fell to the ground, one heading the northeast of Chief's drop point, the other to the southeast. The pod crashed violently into an outcropping of rocks, knocking Chief momentarily unconscious.
In the nearby Fordham Flash Field 3 raiders watched as the "rock" dropped from the sky. Naturally curious, the trio made their way over to the crash site. Upon closer inspection, the group found the asteroid to actually be a teardrop-shaped hunk of metal. There was a small glass window, but none of them could make out anything inside the container.
"Hey, I think this is the door, help me open it." One of the raiders said.
"Excuse me," A woman's voice bursted from the pod, "This is UNSC property, I advise all of you to step away immediately".
The three raiders took a step back from the HEV "UNSC? What the fuck is that?"
"Who gives a shit, all I know is there's a girl in there, and I haven't seen some action in a while." Grins came over the trio's faces.
"Ah come on lady, we're just lookin' for some fun. Why don't you come outta there? We'll show ya a good time." The three raiders began to snicker.
Back inside the pod, Chief's eyes flickered as he slowly came to. The first thing he noticed were 3 shadowy figures standing outside the pod trying to get open the hatch. He could hear them cursing and taunting his AI companion, still believing she was a real woman.
"Waking up finally, huh? I have some good news Chief. It seems as though humanity survived. And so did assholes."
"I've noticed," John muttered groggily.
Back outside, one raider grabbed a lead pipe and began bashing the tiny glass section of the HEV hatch repeatedly, but to no avail.
"Last warning boys," Cortana's voice rang out from the pod. "Back away NOW."
The raiders laughed, oblivious to who was really inside the pod. Seconds later, the sound of decompression emitted from the HEV. As the raiders looked on, the hatch door exploded, propelling itself into one of the raiders, knocking him out cold. A cloud of dust picked up as Master Chief stood. The awestruck raiders squinted to make out the figure.
"What the fuck is that? Looks like a Super Mutant" asked one of the men.
"Super mutant?" Cortana inquired.
"No no, it looks like some kind of Power Armor," That raider assured. "You're gonna pay for what you did to our friend bitch." The Raiders began to walk slowly towards the Chief, one wielding a bat and the other aiming a hunting rifle.
Cortana, attempted to warn the mean, "I wouldn't do that if I were you boys…."
"Hand over the suit honey, maybe we'll go easy on you". At that moment, John sprang into action. Catching the bat of one of the assailants during mid-swing, John took it out of the raider's hand, spun around and using his momentum smacked the bat into the back of the first attacker, sending the man to the ground. As he lay there motionless, the second raider looked on in horror. He took a shot at John, the .32 caliber round effortlessly bouncing off of the advanced MJLOJNIR armor's shielding. The Spartan sprinted at the Raider, closing the gap before the man had a chance to re-chamber another bullet in his bolt action rifle. John grabbed the rifle from man's hand, grabbed onto the butt of the rifle and smacked it into the man's face, knocking him to the ground as well. Throwing the gun to the ground, John picked up the raider by his jacket, lifting him up with one hand.
"OH GOD! I'M SORRY! PLEASE DON'T KILL ME! PLEASE!" begged the raider, kicking with all his might to get free.
John's voice came through the faceless visor "I have questions. Answer them, or get me someone who can."
"I thought you were a chick! Uh well yea, yea sure thing no problem. Just uh, just go to Big Town, they'll tell ya anything you need to know, it's right ova that ridge, you can't miss it." John threw the raider to the ground, observing the area in which he was pointed to. The raider scurried along, sprinting away as fast as his legs could carry him. John returned to the HEV, grabbed his M7S, M6C, Spartan Laser, and the survival pack full of supplies and headed off over the ridge.
He approached what appeared to be a makeshift settlement, walled in by oddly designed cars. The only sign of life were scattered fires inside the "compound". John walked towards what looked to be the entrance, a small pond with a wooden bridge spanning the distance. "This must be it, I don't see anything else for miles," The Chief thought to himself. Then came a voice from across the bridge.
"Hey! Who the hell are you?" questioned the guard as he stood up, grabbing his own rifle.
"Master Chief Petty Officer of the UNSC Navy, call-sign Sierra 117." stated John, as professionally as possible. "Is this Big Town?"
"Uh huh….well good for you buddy." The guard gave a stare of confusion to John. "I'm Dusty, and yes, this is Big Town. I suppose you're not here to kill or enslave us, are you? No, you would have done that already." The watchman lowered his rifle.
"Enslave? By the covenant?" Chief inquired.
"No, by slavers of course."
"The UNSC are enslaving people?"
"Nah, by slavers from Paradise Falls. I don't know about any U-N-S-C." Dusty replied
"He doesn't know what the UNSC is?! Is he living under a rock?" gasped Cortana.
John was perplexed by the comment. "He's obviously not in the right state of mind" Cortana confided to her spartan. Chief continued with the guard, "Are there any covenant left on Earth?"
"Sorry, but you're asking the wrong person. I don't know anything about these things you're asking me. If Red were still here I'd send you her way, but she's been captured by the Muties up north."
"Muties?"
"Yeah, super mutants. They come to Big Town and kidnap us, probably eat us later on. During their last attack they came and took Red and Shorty." Dusty explained. "I see you have some nifty power armor there…maybe you could go up there and rescue them? I'm sure she could answer any questions you have for her. Maybe she'll throw you a few caps as well."
"We don't have much choice Chief…we're not getting any answers with this guy." Cortana sighed. "This Red person might be able to get some information, if she isn't already killed by these 'Super Mutants' we keep hearing about."
John nodded in agreement. "What can you tell me about Super Mutants?" he asked the guard.
"They're big, green, scary…kinda like you. I actually thought you were one before I got a better look at ya. They're a lot stronger than a regular human…and they don't like us much either. They'll attack any human they see on sight." Dusty informed. "They're not too smart and usually not too well armed, they use hunting rifles mostly, like this one here."
"Give me your rifle" Chief asked, holding out his hand.
"Um, sure…just give it back when you're done…I guess" Dusty, intimidated by the supersoldier, gave the hunting rifle over without a fight. The chief examined the design of the rifle. He then pulled back the bolt action releasing a round from the chamber and caught the round. He assessed the round and its potential for damage. Satisfied with his research, he put the round back in and closed the bolt, handing it back to Dusty.
"They're based up north?" Chief asked, getting down to business.
"Yeah, at Germantown, it's they're stronghold in this region." Dusty pointed in the general direction of the settlement.
"If she's still alive, I'll bring her back."
Before Dusty had a chance to respond, the chief turned abruptly and began to walk, heading off to Germantown. Dusty, returned to his lookout chair, wondering if the man in the green power armor was really foolish enough to attempt an assault on Germantown all by himself.