The Price Of Solitary
Chapter 4 - Akuze
What's up, guys? Here's Chapter 4! Read on!
Ever since the talk during last night, Samara could not stop thinking about The Commander, and what's he's been through. She only heard about how he lost his parents, and the details he told it in, as if the deaths happened the day before yesterday. She hasn't heard the story of Akuze from him, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to hear the gruesome story...
The door opened behind her, she knew who it was.
"Hey, Samara, you're not meditating?" Steven asked, walking in, noticing.
"Hello, Steven, No. I am unable to concentrate..." She replied.
Steven moved to the couch to her right, and sat down.
"Is there something troubling you?" Steven asked.
"No...I..." She stammered, she sighed, "It's you."
"Me again? Please, Samara, don't put me on your shoulders as a burden. I'm already one to myself, and you've got enough on your plate." The Commander told her.
"But, I think your plate is overburdened," she said with slight worry, looking at him.
"Like I said, I'm fine. I'll get by," Steven said to her, looking into her azure eyes.
"I don't think that's the case," Samara said as she stood, she walked to the couch Steve was sitting on, and sat down next to him, "I know you are hurting, and so am I."
Steve sighed again, he's not used to anyone sharing his losses, he forgot all about losing his parents when Sarah came along. Now, that she's gone, it all came back to him, with the addition of her death reinforced by Akuze.
"I really don't see how telling you, my nightmares, will help me," he said.
"I can save you the trouble of retelling the story," Samara said to him.
Steve nodded, knowing what she meant.
She turned and folded her legs in to face him, he did the same. They both leaned forward as Samara brought her hands up to frame his face. The Commander relaxed.
She closed her eyes then reopened them while saying, "Embrace Eternity."
Flashback
"Ten minutes out to the drop-zone," said the shuttle pilot.
Steven and his squad was in one of the several shuttles heading to Akuze. They've gotten reports of the colony gone silent, and they have been sent in response to check it out.
The men and women sent were made up of two platoons. Alpha and Bravo for this one. Lieutenant Commander Steven was in command of Alpha, and a good friend of his, First Lieutenant Evans Finnley, was in charge of Bravo.
There were three squads in each platoon, totaling up to thirty men with five in each squad.
"Alright, Guys, Listen up!" Steven said as he stood.
The Men and Women in the shuttle paid attention, his omni-tool was activated to broadcast to the other squads and Bravo platoon.
"We're here today to find out what happened to this Colony. Less than twenty-four hours ago, contact was cut off. No distress beacons, nothing," Steven explained.
"What are our orders, Sir?" asked a marine in another shuttle.
"What I was thinking was; Evans, you take Bravo platoon, and land on the right side of the colony while I take Alpha on the left. What say you?" He asked the Lieutenant.
"Sounds good, Steve, let's do this shit!" Evans replied through the radio.
He heard several other cheers from various marines in the shuttles, his included.
"Now, let's not get cocky. Last time I did that, I ended up with an injury," Steve said.
"You got it, Commander," Replied a marine.
"What's our ROE?" Evans asked.
"Identify first, and shoot last," Replied a Female Marine, sitting down next to Steven.
The Lieutenant Commander smiled as he looked at her, "She's right, She's read my mind."
That female soldier was Sarah. Ever since She's told Steven she was on the mission, Steven made arrangements to have her in his squad for the time being.
"Anyway, when I say shoot, kick ass!" Steven said with a quick nod.
Again, several marines cheered.
"We'll kick some ass!" One marine in another shuttle said.
"Screw that, we'll do more, and fuck 'em up!" Replied a marine.
"Calm down, boys, before you get your balls in a tangle," Said a female soldier.
"You'll be wise to listen to her, guys!" Said one more marine.
Steven laughed, "Yeah, I'm not going to be the one to untangle them, either!"
Some of the others laughed, including Evans,
"I say, let them do it, and grab some popcorn!" Evans said.
"Heavy butter, please!" Steven said.
"We're approaching the Drop zone, Lieutenant," said the pilot of their shuttle.
"Roger, Helmets on, Ladies!" Steven said.
The folks in his shuttle who already didn't, put their helmets on, and checked their weapons.
Steven pulled his Avenger out to check it. He injected a new thermal clip.
The doors to the shuttle opened. Steven was the first to file out, followed by Sarah, then the rest.
They landed next to a long building. Steven and Alpha platoon lined up along the structure.
"Good luck, Alpha!" Evans said, flying over head in their shuttles.
"Good luck to you as well, Bravo! Keep in radio contact, I don't want us being separated out here!" Steven replied.
"Roger that!" The Lieutenant replied.
The Commander waited until Evans was on the ground, The lieutenant acknowledged his landing, and did the same as Steven;
Steven backed off the wall as he looked at the platoon. He's called them over as he kneeled on the ground with a map projecting in 3-D from his Omni-Tool.
"Like I said earlier," Steven began, "We're on the edges of the town, Right? We'll split up the squads. One from both platoons, one to go through the very middle, have another through between the edge and the center of the colony, and the last on the outskirts. Got that, Evans?"
"Yes, Sir. Ready when you are," he replied over the radio.
Steven stood, deactivating his Omni-tool, and pulled out his Avenger.
"Alright, First Sargent, you take your squad on the edge," Steven said to a Female soldier.
She saluted, as well as her squad, "Yes, Sir!"
"Holden, Take your squad through the buildings, and I will take mine through the middle," Steven spoke.
A built soldier saluted, followed by his, "Roger!"
"Let's take it slow, and move out!" Steven commanded.
The three squads snapped into action as they all drew their weapons and began moving to their positions.
Steven and his squad cut through a short alley, and into the streets of the colony. Steve signaled to move left, and they did so.
They moved slowly, checking their sectors, and Steve looked to the right to see Evans and his squad doing the exact same thing.
"Lieutenant, I'd figured you'd be out here with us!" Steven said with a grin.
He grinned back, "It's more fun when you're out in the open!"
"Yeah, until someone shoots you," A man to Steve's left said.
He looked and it was Corporal Toombs.
Steve chuckled, "Pretty much."
"It may be so, but we got shields at least," Evans said.
Steve shrugged in agreement before vaulting over a low wall.
They kept moving, scanning every detail in their surroundings.
"This is creepy as fuck," Holden said through the comm.
"It is," replied a female soldier from Bravo.
"Way too quiet," said another marine.
"Eyes peeled, ladies," Steve said.
"I'll lady you," one feminine soldier said.
"Too bad, I already did," Sarah replied.
Again, Steve and a few others chuckled.
"What about the rules?" Said a young marine, from the sound of his voice.
"Fuck regulations, you can't fight without love," replied Holden.
"Hell yeah!" Steve agreed, as well as a few other taken marines, Sarah smiled at him.
"I've got a wife at home, I'm fighting everyday to get back to her. I love that woman with all my heart," said Holden.
"Damn it, Holden, quit talking hearts during a mission!" Said one marine.
Steve laughed as he jumped up and over an abandoned car.
"Alright, Report, any sightings?" Evans asked.
"Nothing on the outskirts," replied Alpha's outside squad.
"Same here," replied Bravo's outside squad.
"Not a single fuck seen," Holden said.
"I don't see shit," replied Evans's squad in the right buildings.
"We don't see anything either, so keep your eyes peeled, anything could happen," Steve said.
"Roger," Holden said to him.
The platoons kept moving. Steve's been noticed something.
"Woah, woah, woah!" Steven said, signaling to stop.
The squad did so, as well as Evan's squad.
In front of Steve was seemed like a large sinkhole, but it was created.
Toombs walked up, "Holy shit."
"What is it?" Holden asked.
"It's a hole in the ground of some kind. It was created, but not by machinery," Steve explained.
"Want us to stop?"
"No, keep going,"
"Sir, We're seeing the same holes as you are," said Evans's outside squad.
"So are we," The First Sargent said.
"Keep moving, we'll catch up. Stay away from the holes," Steven said, then looked up to see a large structure.
"Got it," The Sargent said.
"We'll regroup at the building ahead, get there," Steven said.
"Roger that!" Said Evans's inside squad.
Everybody check your weapons and ammo. We'll settle here for tonight, then we'll go out and look for why this is a ghost town," Steven said, after accounting everyone.
Engineers brought light stands, and they have begun setting them up. It was getting dark.
"We'll also sleep in our armor. Just in case," Steven added.
The structure turned out to be a large chapel. There were doors on both sides, as well as a second floor with windows. The Chapel took up the sides, so the windows were above the entrances.
"Snipers, I want a lookout on both of those windows," The Commander said, pointing to both windows.
A few soldiers nodded in acknowledgement.
"We'll also need guards on each entrance. Evans, you guard your side, and I'll have mine guard this one," Steve said to him.
The Lieutenant nodded, "Got it,"
Evans had the other side while Steven had the doors they came in earlier.
"Alright, I'm in for guard duty, anyone else?" Steve asked his crew.
"I'm with you," Sarah said with a smile, walking up.
He smiled back, "I wouldn't have it any other way."
The Commander looked to see if anyone else was going to join them, guess not.
"The rest of you guys can relax, but stay alert. Keep your weapons in hands' reach," Steve said to them.
"As you command," Holden said.
Steven nodded, then joined hands with Sarah. They made their way through the doors and out on the steps.
Steven and Sarah sat down at the top of the stairs.
Steven and Sarah looked around, There was moon orbiting Akuze, and it reflected light down on the land in front of them, illuminating it enough to see the outlines of the Environment.
"Beautiful night," Sarah said, looking at him, smiling.
"Yes, It is," he said, then looking at her. His mind was blazing from the look;
Her face was beautifully lit from the moonlight. Her eyes shined like sapphires. Her smile hastened his heartbeat. Her hair was flying from the slight breeze brought to them. It was a breathtaking sight.
"God...You look fucking amazing," Steve said with his mouth agape, speechless.
She smiled as both of them closed in for a kiss, Steve brought his hand to her left as he caressed her hair while their lips sealed.
They touched each other's foreheads after the kiss, looking into each other's eyes. Steven lost himself in the eyes of the love of his life.
They felt the ground shake, both of them looked about.
Then, they heard what sounded like ground erupting, followed by yelling.
Both of them stood up and ran for the door.
They looked inside to see the marines backing up, then turning to run as the other entrance caved in from a Thresher maw! Coming in, swallowing a few marines with one of Steven's squad leaders while it smashed through and into the ground.
"Holden!" Steven yelled as the maw left a big hole in the ground. He tried to run to the hole, but Sarah grabbed his arm.
"Come on! We have to go!" She told him, letting him go as she took off.
Steven gave in as he followed her.
More Maws popped from their holes. They were right on top of a nest!
They got down the stairs and began running.
Steven activated his ear piece, "This is Lieutenant Commander Steven Shepard, we need evac! Is anyone up there!?" He yelled.
He vaulted over a low wall and continued running, Sarah was ahead of him. The Commander looked to the right to see Evans and some of his remaining platoon.
"Commander, this is Capetown, do you copy?" Came a response.
"Yes, I fucking copy! Get us our evac! We're dying out here!" Steven replied.
He looked behind to see his crew, then a Maw erupted out of the ground, firing acid.
One hit his last squad leader, as well as another member.
"Fuck!" He cursed, jumping and over a car.
One came out in front of Evans and Bravo, raining hell. Steve watched as his friend was eaten alive from the corrosive substance, the Maw managed to get a few more of Bravo as well.
"Evans!" Steve yelled, "God damn it! Bravo, keep moving!"
The Commander continued moving after Sarah. She ended up tripping over an object, and Steven stopped to help her up,
"Thank you," she said to him.
Steven was in the lead now. Followed by the remnants of Alpha and Bravo.
One maw came up in front of them, Steven didn't stop and went around, Sarah did the same, as well as two more of Alpha, but, the others weren't so lucky.
"Where's our fucking backup, Capetown!?" Steven screamed into the radio, "We've already lost over half our men and women!"
Another Thresher worm came up behind them, sending a car flying into bravo, killing three more from the impact, and that was the rest of bravo.
"We just lost Bravo!" Toombs said through the radio.
"Keep moving!" Steven replied.
They kept going, dodging any obstacles, adrenaline kicked in.
A maw erupted up behind them again, he looked to see it looking down at Sarah, he pulled out his Predator and started shooting, hoping to distract it. The target didn't change.
She saw it looking down at her, knowing too well what was about to happen. She took one last look at Steven, she mouths, "I Love You," Steven looked into her eyes one last time, doing the same back before the Maw came plunging down on her.
It felt like your heart was torn in half as the other you went missing, Steven was frozen in shock.
Toombs came by and hit him on the chest, "Come on, Commander, there's nothing you can do, let's go!"
Steven snapped back to reality, and ran after Toombs. He and Steven were the only ones left.
They were nearly back at the drop zone.
Steve looked to the right after a Maw erupted out of the ground, but his world went dark as a car hit him.
Steve groaned as he awoke from his short coma. He opened his eyes with pain flashing through his body.
He tried activating his Medi-gel, but it never came. He looked around.
He was in a building, he looked down to see a car lodged in the wall with sparks raining down from a severed wire.
The Commander knew he had some broken bones. He felt his blood in various parts of his armor. He sat up, ignoring, but wincing at the pain it brought him. He grabbed a piece of thick wire to lift him up onto his feet. His legs were spiking with pain, he had several, wither fractured or broken, bones.
He took baby steps as he activated his Omni-tool for a flashlight. He limped steadily to the door of the building, navigating through fallen debris.
The Wounded Commander made to the door, and leaned on it heavily.
"Commander! Are you there!?" Came a voice through the radio. It was Anderson.
"Yes, Sir," Steven croaked.
"Thank god, Son! You had me worried,"
"You still need to do that, Sir. I'm heavily wounded, and my Medi-gel system isn't working. Can you get an evac down here?" He spoke with a cracked voice.
"I'm on it, son. Is there anybody else alive?"
"I don't think so, Bravo was decimated, and so was Alpha..." Steven said.
"Damn it..." He heard Anderson mutter.
"I'm sorry, Sir," Steve said.
"It's alright. As long as you're alive,"
"It's not alright, I lost Sarah..." Steven said, tears coming to his eyes.
Anderson was silent.
"I'm moving to the evac point," Steven said.
"The shuttle will be there," Anderson replied.
Steven nodded as he limped.
He wondered what became of Corporal Toombs, but he didn't have time to look, nor the strength.
He flared his biotics, his implants were cool.
"Commander? I got your location, we'll be there in a few minutes, hang tight," The pilot of the shuttle said.
"Aye-Aye," Steven replied.
He kept walking 'till he found a car to lean on.
The Commander waited, taking in deep breaths. He's lost a lot of blood.
He looked about. The Town was trashier that it was before. He can't believe they were camped right above a nest, let alone the planet.
And Sarah...the video in his mind of her death played over and over. He was still in slight shock from the event. He's lost some good men and women here...Holden, Evans...
He heard shaking again,
"Aw, Fuck, not now!" He muttered, "Pilot, get your ass down here! They're back!"
"We're here, Sir! Come on!" The pilot replied.
He looked around the corner he was against, and saw the shuttle.
Steven spun and made his way over to the shuttle, limping once again.
One Maw, one fucking maw, popped up to the right.
Steven flared his Biotics as the soldiers on the Shuttle fired.
He face the maw, he channeled all of his juice that he can muster, then let loose.
The Thresher maw's head exploded in a purple-bluish explosion.
Steve hit his knees and hands. His breathing was getting heavier.
"Hang on! We got you, Commander!" Were the last words he heard before he lost consciousness.
Anderson ran up to the shuttle that just landed, the door opened up with a marine carrying a heavily wounded Steven. He went over to help guide him to the med-bay of Capetown.
Everybody in the hangar knew what happened, and it was very quiet. There was a private sitting there laughing, and Steven heard.
He shook off the two men as he flared his biotics.
"Steven, stop!" Anderson said, knowing what he was about to do.
Steven turned to private on the far side of the hangar. He lifted his arm to engulf the private in a field, he screamed in fright.
The Commander brought the private in close, merely centimeters away face-to-face. The private was scared shitless.
"You look here, private. I don't know what you're laughing at, but I don't give a flying fuck. I just lost exactly twenty-nine men and women down there to Thresher Maws all in a blink of an eye. I was lucky enough to make it out alive. Keep fuckin' around and see if I don't send you down there. I also lost my someone special," he said with tears flowing down his cheeks, "The woman on my dreams, gone. I'm not trying to hurt you or anything, but there are and will be times to where you just need to shut the fuck up. Got it?" Steven finished with fires burning in his eyes.
The private was paralyzed by his speech, but managed a quick nod.
Steven dropped him, and the private took off.
"Let's go," Steven said, allowing the men to take him to the Med-bay.
End of Flashback
Samara breathed in a heavy one as she severed the meld.
Steven's eyes opened. They were bloodshot from tears. He wiped them away.
"Now, did you feel what I felt? That was only a fraction of what I was put through," Steven said to her.
She wiped away a few tears of her own.
She nodded, "I could never imagine, losing someone that you loved so dearly, so swiftly..." She said to him, remembering what she's talking about.
"That's why," Steven said as he sniffed, "I don't like sharing my pain."
She nodded, "Do you need time?"
"If you do not mind," Steven replied.
She nodded, "I will speak with you another time, but you will have to face the pain to overcome it," she told him.
He nodded back, "I will think about it," he said as he stood up, then walked to the door.
He stopped, then turned around, "Thank you for trying to help me, Samara, I will not forget it."
She gave him a rare smile, "You helped me, and I'm going to return the favor."
Steven nodded one last time with a weak smile before exiting the room.
And there you go! Steven's past.
Thank for reading, and please leave a review!
~Dark