Chapter 4

Somewhere in a forest near Gutterville

David and Sam were marching though the dense forest as they found parts and bits of titan remains, most cover with vines and plants. Some in the mud as they hopped on some surfaces, untouched by the wet dirt.

"You know where that helmet is bringing us?" Sam asked

"It said that there a couple other here" David replied, couching down as he walked across a fallen log while ducking under a branch.

"It's closes to the town, how can there be one still working in the forest?" Sam said, as he followed David

"Let hope it not that hard to get one" He replied as they finally landed on solid ground

"So… how the helmet?" Sam asked as they walked though the forest

"It feel... it feel like I'm wearing a motorcycle helmet, but I'm not seeing anything blocking my view, it just really clear here, like I looking though a clear window glass" He explained

"Man, I really want to try one…" Sam whined, wanting to try the helmet on

"David"

"GAH"

"What is it?" Sam asked, suddenly hearing David shouting out of nowhere

"Who is-"

"David, I'm communicating from Jefferson helmet, you have nothing to fear" the voice said

"Archie? How- why-"

"I'm here to guide you to a nearby battery, my scan show there is one not far from where you are" Archie said

"David, who are you talking to?" Sam asked, seeing his friend talking to himself

"It's… Archie, the-"

"The Titan?" Sam finished for him, with David nodding in a yes "Really?! What else does that helmet do? Well, I've seen what it usually have, but what else?"

"Having YouTube"

"Really?"

"No" David laughed

"Oh come on now!" Sam shouted in annoyance

As the two reached the edge of the forest, they could hear voices up ahead, along with some mechanical sounds. Moving along the bushes and shadow, David and Sam could see a couple of soldiers, both holding the same kind of weapon. Next to them were at least three mechanical robots, Specters- If David remember if that what they were called.

"Don't forget, We're here to recon the area. These parts of the forest are still crawling with wildlife, lucky, command gave us some specters" One of the grunts said, which David and Sam believed is the captain "Corporal, you stay here to keep a eye out with Delta squad"

"But what about the wildlife?" the corporal asked

"I doubt that any Prowlers would come into a open field, but if there anything suspicious, radio us or Delta immediately… Alright let move" The captain and the squad of specters then moved into the forest as the alone grunt stood next to a few small and large crates, along with a deploy-able barrack nearby.

One Crate had a few green outline on it side, new to a few other box, slightly smaller than the green box. On the helmet visor, David could see a blue outline highlighting the green crate, with a screen popping next to it, showing a image of a Titan battery inside.

"There!" David whispered quietly, pointing at the large container, with the same soldier from earlier, guarding nearby "We just need to get past him somehow"

"Here, I'll distract him, you go get the battery" Sam said before grabbing a small rock, throwing it as it landed near a few crates, making a couple noises, enough to make the soldier distracted as he went to check it out

As the IMC soldier walked away, David quickly ran up to the Battery crate, taking him a while to find the panel before pressing a few buttons, as the four sides on the crate started to open up, making a loud sound while opening

"Hurry the hell up" Sam said under his breath, his heart racing as they were trespassing here, and the IMC no less

As the crate finished opening, there was one single battery inside, the green light glowing inside the box. Just before David could grab the battery, a loud stern voice yelled out "HEY, Who goes there!"

The same guard walked up to the teenage, his rifle trained on him "This is an restricted area, what are you doing here?" The grunt demanded

"I- I just got lost exploring" David lied as the Grunt walked closer to him

"Then why is that open?" He said, nodding his head to the open crate, containing the Titan battery inside

"I just found it like that" David replied, backing up a few steps

As the guard got closer, he quickly noticed the green colored helmet David was wearing.

"Where did you get that helmet?" the grunt said in a stern voice. David then realized that he was still wearing the militia helmet; luckily, the soldier didn't know that is was a Milita helmet... yet

"I, bought it- from a pawn shop" He replied

"Likely story… I'm going have to take you in" The grunt grabbed onto his radio, clicking on his walkie-talkie, as he opened his mouth to speak "This is Corporal Bradly, I got a trespasser here, I going to-GAH"

In a blink of an eye, Sam quickly tackled the IMC grunt onto the ground as he struggled with the soldier, the rifle sliding across the ground, in front of David, watching his friend fighting the Grunt

"Get the Battery! GO!" Sam shouted as he was pin to the floor, the grunt right on top of him

David took one step toward the open container, but he stopped. Looking back at his friend, and the grunt as he gotten Sam on the ground, holding him by the neck as he started to strangle him

Sam was gasping for air, as he tried to get the soldier off of him, just as his vision started to blacken, a loud gunshot fill the air. The down teenager's gasped for air as his vision returned to normal, slowly standing up. He looked to his left, just to see David, holding the gun that the soldier dropped. The barrel still smoking, with the fresh fired shells on the ground, at least five laying around

"I-I…" David was only able to say as he stared at the dead soldier on the ground. His heart skipping a beat as blood poured out of the grunt body, making a steam on the ground. David was still holding on to the weapon, his hand still on the grip. "W- What did I..."

He was only brought back to his senses because of Sam, who shook him out of it "David. We got to go, NOW- I got the battery, now let GO!" He shouted as they both ran away from the area, only hearing the radio calling for the now decease grunt, lying on the ground lifeless

I- I killed him!" David managed to say, over the sound of leaves and greenery the two teenage pushed away as they ran back to Ben garage. His mind still on the sight of his first kill.

"I know! But there nothing we can do" Sam shouted as they ran though the forest "We need to get back"