Untitled Chapter 4

Marcus elad Delta Squad through the forest in search of Sam and Baird. Nobody got any rest that night as they prepaired and planned for a long day of walking.

"Do you think they're alive, Marcus?"

Marcus glanced at Dom. "Yeah. Baird is smart, he is probably with Sam hidden somewhere."

Even Col Hoffman was there to assist.

"Man, I really hope that Baird's okay."

Cole was really worried. He and Baird had been friends since they first joined the cog.

"It will take time." Hoffman said. "We have found the down raven, but no bodies which means that they didn't die in the crash."

It was obvious that Marcus and Baird were not friends, but he was a fellow Gear. That meant that he would not stop looking for him.

Marcus looked over at Dom. No words exchanged, but just the glance had said so much.

*earlier that day*

The sun was jus begining to rise, casting long shadows over the island and warmnig the cold morning air.

col Hoffman, Bernie and most of Delta Squad and a large group of Gears gathered together to search for Baird adn Sam.

"KR-5 will be taking off soon to find the down raven. As soon as she finds it, she'll radio in the coordinates and we can go from there."

Both Maruis and Dom stood off to the side and watched everybody.

Nobody had really slept the night the Raven went down. It was as if everybody held their breath and said a silent prayer.

Marcus seemed really tense today. His whole body was stiff, and his hands were clinched at his ides.

Everybody was quiet as they waited for the call and when it finally did, everybody was silent. The coordinates were given...right in the middled of a Lambent infested forest...

Marcus and Dom shared another quick glance. Hopefully Baird and Sam weren't dead.

"Alright." Hoffman said. "Let's move out! We will start at the crash site and slowly fan out. Keep an eye out!"

The wreck was still smoldering when they arrived. Parts were scattered everywhere.

"Man..." Dom said. "But the only body here is the pilot."

Marcus stood beside him. "They they at least alive when the Raven hit the ground."

Dom pulled out his map and scanned the area. Luckily the island isn't too big.

"Alright!" Hoffman said. "Stay in groups, the dead zones and stalks aren't toof ar away. Do not go into the dead zone."

"Ready Marcus?"

"...yeah."

Hoffman watched as Marcus and Dom walked away. Bernie knew that what happened between him and Marcus still haunted him.

"Ready Vic?"

Hoffman turned to Bernie. "Yeah."

The air got warm quickly for early Spring. If it wasn't for the dead zones, nobody could tell that awr had been going on for more than fifteen years. None of the island's inhababantants had known of it.

On Emergence Day, all communications had been completely cut off and they had continued to live comfortably while the rest of Sera was pratically blasted off the map.

Now, what was left of the Cog was on their little island, an island that was slowly falling apart.

If something really terrible happened to the island, where would they go then...?