Ethan's team had been wondering down this street for five minutes using cars and mail boxes as cover. They were almost to the end of it. "How's it look up there Chad?"
"We are trying to find out where these shots are coming from, we've been hopping roofs and dodging bullets and oh sh...ho….Iwe've…." static.
"CHAD, CHAD STICK WITH ME!"
Chad ran and ducked behind a the window frame of a building that had its roof blown off. That grenade was too close, way too close. Where the heck are these coming from?
"The water tower, they're up there but I cant get a clear shot," there was a sharp ping over the com as a bullet ricocheted off a rock close by, " I'm pinned hurry up!"
The water tower of course! He brought his sniper rifle up to eye level. There they were, two of them. One was on the radio and the other was firing on Andrew. "No one screws with my little brother."He whispered as he lined up the cross hair with the sharpshooters head and squeezed the trigger.
He saw the impact and the blood coat the tower and his buddy behind him. His body stood still for half a second until falling to the deck. He then saw the second one whirl around, blood spinning from the gaping hole in his skull, and fall off the deck behind a building.
"Oh headshot alright!" His slightly younger brother screamed over the comlink, "You ok?"
"Shove it little bro remember I saved your ass, not the other way around."
"Yeah yeah, you awake now?!"
"Haha you know it brotha!"Chad threw his fist up.
"Just don't get too cocky, that was only two." He came out from behind the rubble, "let's get to the end of this street and see what's ahead."
"Affirmative."He said as got up and started jogging in the direction his brother was pointing.
"Corporal, we've taken care of the sniper. He had a buddy on the radio so there's a good chance his comrades know we're comin."Chad explained as he breathed heavily into the comlink. "We're headed to their location to inspect, maybe get some new intel. I'll contact you when we arrive."
"Good idea, I'll contact you if we need cover," Ethan breathed. "Ethan out."
His team kept walking, the streets were so deserted, it was eerie.
"What's the situation Corp.?" Amber looked up and blew a bubble with her gum.
"We have to get to that water tower way over there, here check it out." He handed her a pair of binoculars.
"There's blo…oh, hehe" She shook her head, "Andrew?"
"Who else?" Ethan chuckled, "c'mon we're almost to the end of the street."
Ethan and his team sprinted to the last building of the street, "Hold," He said as he walked to the corner. He went to peer around the corner, but tripped over a piece of rubble.
"What the hell, FIRE!" the Helghast ordered.
Ethan rolled to his left and hopped onto his feet. "Cover fire!" He yelped as he slammed into the building across from his team.
He heard the familiar sound of an engine starting up, "Artillery, Richard get up here!" He fired a few short bursts. "Where's my rocket launcher?"
The rocket screamed between the buildings and made contact with the tank. It fired back, but the shell connected safely with the building a few blocks down.
Ethan shot a grenade from the launcher attached to all standard issue assault rifles. It detonated a few feet away from a group of Helghast and blew a few off their feet. That gave him just enough time to move up to another building.
"Enter what ever building you can and find cover." He screamed as he fired yet another burst. He tapped his ear, "Chad, Andrew we need cover, NOW!"
"Where are you?"
The tank went up, as the second rocket lodged its way between the cannons and the main body. Smoke rose quickly above the buildings.
"Oh…never mind I found ya."
Ethan focused on three soldiers that had Amber pinned behind a car. He fired a few shots at the one in the front. One round clipped him on the shoulder. He dropped his rifle cried in pain, he turned his attention to Ethan and drew his pistol. Ethan was too quick and fired a steady stream of bullets into the bastards head.
The Helghast's dead body fired randomly as his limp body fell to the ground. His comrades either didn't notice or didn't care, because they didn't turn to see where the shots came from.
Oh well, makes my job easer. He squeezed the trigger and his assault rifle spit lethal metal spikes at the enemy's torso. His chest exploded in a fountain of blood that covered his partner.
Now was his chance! Ethan broke out into a sprint and raised his gun.
"We're pinned down!" Coalman screamed over the comlink built into his breath mask, "We need back up!"
"I'm out, cover me!" his partner turned to face him, "AHH sonava bitch!" he turned and drew his pistol and aimed…
From that point he only saw red, "AHHH what the hell!" He desperately tried to wipe the blood off his goggles. He succeeded to an extent, he saw a figure and it grew bigger.
Coalman had just enough time to react. He picked up his rifle and hurled it at what he knew now was an ISA soldier. The figure blocked it with what looked like his own gun.
The ISA soldier jumped and swung for his head, he missed and Coalman dealt a bind punch to his enemy's torso. He could feel the ribs crack as he pulled his fist back and readied for another attack. He felt an overwhelming force pulling at his arms, it pulled them back and he fell to the floor. He still couldn't see a thing.
Coalman struggled against the soldier hoping to use his enemy's weight against him, it didn't work. As he struggled he heard the shing of a combat knife being drawn.
He tried desperately to throw the ISA off of him but to no prevail, he was screwed.
Ethan drew his combat knife from its sheath while struggling to keep this guy down. When he finally gathered himself, he grabbed one of the tubes that ran from the Helghast's breath thing to a pack on his back and severed it.keep this guy down. Hback. He stfinally gathered himself, he grabedor another attack. He felt an overwhelming force p
The Helghast went berserk. Ethan jumped off and rolled. When he got to his feet he watched as the Helghast grabbed for his neck, strange gurgling noises erupted from his throat. He grabbed franticly for the tube attached to his back. When he couldn't, he grabbed and clawed at his head, throwing the helmet off onto the ground revealing a very pale white head with patches of hair here and there. The helghast dropped to his knees and screamed.
Ethan reached to the helghast's thigh where his handgun dangled, he drew it and aimed at the struggling Helghast. He cocked the pistol and pressed it against the enemy's head, and pulled the trigger. The helghast's head whipped back and Ethan heard a few bones crack. The body fell limp to the ground. A straight line of blood and bits of skull and brain lined the street.
"ETHAN WATCH YOUR SIX!" Amber yelled.
Ethan sprawled to his feet and turned around. He was staring up into the luminous red-orange goggles of a, rather massive Helghast elite.
The Helghast stepped backwards and un-slung his pistol at such speed, it made Ethan dizzy. He stood motionless literally staring down the barrel of this handgun that was being held by an enemy that , he knew for sure hated his ever-livin guts. The odds were definitely not in his favor.
"ISA scum, you are nothing but worthless vermin." The Helghast spat, tilting his head ever so slightly, "But soon you and your pitiful band of roaches will be nothing but corpses when my regiment has its way."
Ethan kept silent staring intently into the face of the giant. The Helghast scowled, his face had sharp wrinkles from the bridge of his nose to either tips of his mouth. He could feel the Helghast's hand tighten around the grip of the pistol. With unbelievable speed and surprising accuracy the Helghast lashed out and grabbed Ethan's throat, shifting his fingers around, thus causing unbearable pain. Ethan managed a gargled cough.
Lightning streaked the sky, seconds later the ground shook as thunder caught up with it.
"Say something swine, or I'll blow that thing you call a brain, right out of its protective cavity!"
"Its called a skull dumbass," Ethan looked up, his black hair dangling in his face. He knew he was screwed three ways from Sunday, so he figured he'd have a little fun.
He shoved the barrel up under Ethan's neck, "You just screwed up big time you filthy abomination."
Ethan started to say something sarcastic retort, when he saw a red dot on the right side of the Helghast's face. He grinned and couldn't keep him self from chuckling hysterically.
"Oh, so dying is funny to you humans is it?"He boomed and grinned, his teeth showing a dark yellow tint.
"I don't know you tell me." Ethan laughed; the Helghast's grin quickly vanished. Three shots rang out as Ethan watched each one impact in slow motion against the Helghast's head. Ethan felt the hand on his throat go limp and let go. Blood and ichor soiled his face. Ethan watched in slow motion as the body of the mighty Helghast fell to the ground.
Ethan turned to see Amber pull back the lever and load another round into the chamber of her modified sniper rifle. She lowered her weapon and winked at him, while brushing a loose strand of blue/blonde hair behind her ear. "I'm there for ya sir!"
Ethan ran, dodging fire from what was left of the Helghast scout team. He found cover behind a sand-bad barricade next to Amber. She kissed him on the cheek. "Stop trying to get yourself killed Corp."
He blushed "you think I'm trying?" He ruffled her hair as a grenade detonated a few yards from their position. He threw himself over Amber in an attempt to try and protect her from harm. " You alright?"
"Yeah I'm good," She said throwing him off her with impressive strength, "We gotta do something about these guys though."
"Jazz, Tyler flank left! Brian, Ty, Rob, Lee, advance to cover!" Ethan pointed to an overturned semi. "The rest o' you fall in!"
Lee ran holding his turret gun down by his waist, "FIRE IN THE HOLE!!" He warned as he sent a missile flying from the missile pod attached to the underside of the turret. The explosions sent three Helghast flying into nearby obstacles with a reassuring THUNK. The estimated ten or twelve Helghast pushed harder with impressive effort.
A bright light lit up the field of battle as Rob spewed the area with flames. He charged the area blindly spraying anything and everything in front of him. The Helghast quickly learned of his tactic and dove for cover.
One Helghast managed to get a clear line of view and took advantage of it. He aimed his rife and pulled the trigger, sending a volley of rounds into the gas tank of the flamethrower, creating a chain reaction.
Rob's body was quickly torn apart and vaporized in the explosion, taking four Helghast in the wake. In very little time the firing continued and three more Helghast were picked off.
"ROB!!" Ryan yelled, "DAMMIT!!" He sent a grenade hurdling toward the Helghast, "DAMMIT, DAMMIT, DAMMIT!"
Ryan's grenade blew a Helghast's right arm to Hell. The enemy screamed and grabbed for the charred stump. He stood weaponless being of no use to the others. His comrade turned to examine what the screaming was about. He quickly drew his pistol and shot his comrade in the temple. The body fell to the ground and twitched in a writhing spasm of involuntary muscles.
"That's messed up", Jazz breathed as he fired upon the traitorous Helghast. His aim was off and the Helghast managed to duck behind a mailbox.
"Advance!" Ethan ordered, trying to take in what he'd just witnessed with Rob.
Amber aimed steadily at one of the two remaining Helghast. He was firing on Ty and Scott. She activated the laser and re-aimed, the Helghast noticed the light and turned but Amber had already squeezed the trigger sending a three round burst flying towards said Helghast. One round caught him in the chest, another lodged itself in the Helghast's jugular creating a fountain of blood spewing to the ground, and as the body fell, the last round caught him in the face sending the deceased Helghast's helmet arching a few yards behind him.
Ty managed to flank the last Helghast behind the mailbox. He crept up on the Helghast fingering his shotgun anxious to destroy the enemy. The Helghast reached for a grenade and nobody had to tell Ty that this was probably the best time to act.
Just as Ty raised his weapon, the Helghast jerked its head to the side, a spray of blood erupting from his neck. Ty jumped back, "Holy hell!" he searched the street.
"Target neutralized."
Ethan got to his feet and helped Amber to hers. "Andrew that you?"
"Yeah what I miss?"
"You and your brother get down here ASAP."
"Roger that"
Ethan walked over the last place he ever saw Rob. He knelt down and ran his fingers on the charred, rubble strewn pavement. He closed his eyes as his fingers hit something; he closed his hands and picked up the object. He opened his hands to reveal two metal objects attached to a chain.
"Dog tags."Ethan whispered loud enough for them to hear.
Ryan dropped to his knees and threw up, then again, and then a third time until all he could force were dry heaves. Amber and Brent ran to comfort him. "Why" He quivered. He looked up at Brent, his vindictive nature taking over. Rage shown in his eyes. He got up brushed Brent's hand off his shoulder. "Thanks he said to them, but the only comfort I need is knowing I can kill those bastards." He walked away and sat on a the hood of a car.
"Hoo-hah sir, did you see that headshot that's two in a row man I'm on a…"Andrew walked up his brother following silently behind him.
Ethan glared at Andrew with the wrath of God in his eyes. He stood there glaring for a few seconds, and then shoved his way past him.
Chad, realizing what had happened, stopped Ethan and put a respectful hand on Ethan's shoulder. Ethan looked at him and shook Chad's hand and put his other hand on his shoulder, Chad closed his eyes tight and gave a short bow, and removed his hand.
"What crawled up the chiefs…?"
Chad walked over to his twin brother and put a fist in his jaw, "Andrew…shut your mouth." Chad opened the hand that punched him. He looked at his little brother. "He would have wanted me to do that."
"I..am…such a..a dick." Andrew said as he took the object in his brother's hand. He walked over to Ethan who was sitting alone on a sand bag. "I, I didn't know man, I'm sorry sir." He handed the 'tags back to Ethan.
Ethan looked at them and balled his fist until his fingers and palms turned white. "This is for Rob…"
"Wha…"
Ethan reared his fist back and slugged Andrew in the jaw.
"What the hell!?" Andrew stumbled back and grabbed his face, "Will you guys stop that, damn! I apologized!"
"Apology accepted," Ethan shoved the 'tags into a safe place in his armor, "let's get moving we have to cross a rather large park as a short cut to meet up with the other squads."
Andrew gathered himself and fallowed behind the squad.
It started to rain.