Chapter Four: The fall of LA
John sat up proudly on Saphira's saddle as they flew into the air. He knew time was of the essence and Eragon would not do well alone against the Urgals. "Saphira," he yelled to her. "We have to move faster!" Saphira roared in approval and dove to the ground, tucking her wings beside her causing John to hold on for dear life. After minutes of searching, John and Saphira located the troops.
"Touchdown beside them!" John ordered. Saphira nodded her head and swooped in low for a landing. "Hold your fire!" John barked to the squadron. "You are going to need to double time it to LA. It's happening again!"
"What is happening?" an Army specialist asked him. He was Hispanic with a muscular build and was clutching his M-4 sub-machine gun. "Who the hell are you?" John sighed. "Corporal John Conaway of EZ, John yelled. "Those demons are coming back! Only about a hundred feet of the last tunnel!"
"Shit," the specialist swore. "Radio!" he screamed. A private no older than John approached the specialist and kneeled down beside him. The specialist pulled out a small sized phone from the young man's backpack and swore again. "This is fire team Charlie," he said to the other line. "Rescue is aborted! I repeat, rescue is aborted. We have conformation of an enemy counter-attack not far from the last battle, how copy?" Silence.
"Delta, Mike, Echo, Charlie!" he said. John saw Saphira look quizzically at the soldier.
"Phonetic alphabet," he said to her. "It's a military thing."
"Outstanding CQ" the specialist yelled. "Give us all you can lend! I will stay in touch with our contact and keep you informed." After a hurried "Yes Sir," the specialist hung up the phone on the young private's back. "Lead us back there, Corporal," he said. "You can explain about that massive iguana later!" Saphira blew out a puff of black smoke at the rude insult and John grinned slightly. "Follow this road and double time it," John yelled as he mounted the dragon. "If we are lucky, they haven't broken through!" Suddenly, Saphira received a telepathic message.
Saphira, Hurry! It was Eragon. The ground is breaking!
Defend yourself well little one, she told him. We are on our way right now! Saphira quickly shot up into the sky and bolted towards Eragon's position. Something must be wrong, John thought to himself.
They are breaking through, Jovak answered him. John forgot that they could read each other's mind and was slightly startled. Do you know any battle tactics? John asked the small dragon. It has grown to his waist now and its voice has changed from a chirp to a roar.
Saphira taught me a few, Jovak said. Do you feel that I am ready?
It may take us awhile, Jovak, John said. Keep them busy but remember to keep moving and do not focus on one target alone.
Be careful The dragon told him. Suddenly, an image of John holding Jovak appeared inside his mind.
Be brave, Jovak, John said. Show them that size doesn't matter!
I will crush them! John closed his mind and said a small prayer for his new animal friend. "Saphira," John yelled. "Jovak is in the fight! They broke through. If we don't get there soon, Eragon and Jovak may not be alive much longer!" John looked down at the group of soldiers running below him. "Hustle!" He yelled. "They have broken through and I have two friends that are in the middle of it!"
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Eragon unsheathed Zar'oc and placed it at his side. "Well friend," he said, facing John's dragon that was standing beside him. "We cannot let them get far. Take flight and listen to my commands." Eragon focused and reached inside the young dragon's mind.
Can you hear me? He asked Jovak.
I understand, Eragon, Jovak said to him. To the death Dragon-rider! Jovak quickly leapt into the air and flew away from the battlefield. Grab anything that you can carry and drop them upon the enemy.
Of course! Came Jovak's reply. Urgal hands began reaching up through the soil. "Get ready, young one!" The Earth rattled as the Urgals continued to break through the dirt. After a few seconds, the soil gave way and flew out towards Eragon.
There the dragon rider stood. He was alone facing whatever amount of Urgals there were that came through. It was nighttime and Eragon could barely see. "Curse the night!" Eragon whispered, but he heard a familiar sound in the air. "ARROWS!" Eragon focused his attention to the sky to see a slew of arrows falling above him. "Trienda!" he commanded. The arrows broke in two and were pushed out of the way only thanks to his magic.
Saphira, He said. It is getting bad here…really bad.
We are not far, little one, She replied to him. How is young Jovak?
He is waiting for my word to attack. Eragon said. He felt her smile. I could communicate with him. Can you be able to reach John?
I can try, Saphira said. What do you want me to tell him?
If he doesn't get here soon we will lose this city in ten minutes! Eragon looked toward the tunnel. He heard the familiar battle cry of the Urgals and the King's loyal men. Eragon gasped at the sight of all the enemy soldiers pushing through the tunnel. "JOVAK NOW!" Eragon scanned the dark sky to see the dragon holding only a small mailbox. Forgive me, Eragon, he said. I could only grasp this!
USE IT! Eragon cried. Throw it in the tunnel with all of your might! He watched as the young dragon approached the tunnel and tossed the wooden mailbox, crashing on the side of a Kull's head. Find more and keep doing it until help arrives! Eragon said as he formed up into his battle stance that Brom taught him. The soldiers forced themselves upon Eragon, but he quickly retaliated and swung Zor'ac, cutting four of the men down to the ground. With a quick spin, he thrust his blade into the side of a Kull and knocked him off of his sword by kicking him hard in the groin.
Saphira Hurry! Eragon screamed. I can't last! He heard a loud shriek and looked behind him. It was Saphira!
Get away, Eragon! She ordered. Eragon quickly retreated to a nearby building, Burn the tunnel! He yelled insider her head. He watched as she dove in on the tunnel and opened up her mouth, sending a massive ball of flame down its shaft. They are still coming through Eragon! She advised. There is a large amount of them.
Where are the soldiers? Eragon looked to see that John was not on her back. WHERE IS JOHN?
Look to the East! Saphira said. They have all arrived safely. He did as he was told and saw John running over to him with his 308-Sniper rifle and his M-16/M-203 assault rifle over his shoulders and a machinegun in his hands. "Saphira told me of your problem," he said to him. "You will need this." John handed him an M-4 assault rifle that the Army specialist gave him. "Look through the scope and line up the cross-hairs. Pull the trigger here to fire." He handed him a few extra clips of ammunition and gave him a quick crash course in reloading a rifle. "I found my weapons along the road so I don't need it." John looked into the tunnel to see more Kull pouring out. "Consider it a more powerful bow and arrow set. Lay into them!" Eragon nodded and looked into the scope. "I can see the target more clearly," he said. John sighed. "Well stop admiring God's mistake and pull the damn trigger bro!" Eragon lightly squeezed the trigger and watched as the Kull that was targeted fell to the ground with part of its skull missing. "Don't let up on it!" John said. He took off his M-16 and lined up the sights. In one quick burst, four Urgals were on the ground dead. "There is too many of them!" the specialist screamed. "Fall back!"
"No!" John screamed. "Grow a pair dudes! If we fall back and retreat, Hollywood goes to Hell in a hand basket." He watched as twenty Urgals fought past the gunfire and converged on an unsuspecting soldier who was concentrating his fire in another direction.
"NO!" John yelled. He felt something strange building up inside of him. It was begging to be released and John felt as though this feeling was pure instinct. "Thrista!" he screamed. A pair of steel rods that were in a construction bucket began vibrating and flew out into the crowd of Urgals near the soldier. "How the hell?" John asked. He looked at the insignia on his hand that was glowing brightly.
"Careful John," Eragon said. "Magic takes as much strength as fighting with your hands. Know your limits." John and Eragon continued to take down the enemy but they were both running low on ammunition. "I am now starting to agree with him," John said pointing towards the Army specialist. "We don't have enough bullets to push all of them back." He motioned for the soldier to come to his position. "When are reinforcements coming?" John asked.
"They said that the 7th Cavalry would be here in minutes," the specialist said while letting rounds fly into the swarm of hostile soldiers. "I agree with your decision to fall back," John said. "We don't have enough ammunition to push them back." He looked to the sky. "But we have a few dragons that could assist. Eragon, Keep Saphira laying fire on the tunnel."
Jovak? John called to him. Are you safe?
Yes, the dragon answered back. What do you wish for me?
Find me! He sent him an image of the building they were beside. I have an idea. John looked toward the specialist. "Collect all of the grenades from your men," he ordered. "One dragon lays fire, the other drops the 'bombs.' We will open fire in between their runs."
"Nice," the specialist replied. "Men we have air support! Watch for each dragon and fire after it leaves your line of sight! Pile up all of your grenades as well." He pointed to a soldier carrying a fifty-caliber machinegun. He was PfC (Private first Class) machine gunner Casey, Hummel and had a Southern accent. "You just volunteered." The specialist said. "You will bring the grenades over here to John, but you will stay here and lay fire in the tunnel." Casey looked down the sights of his machinegun and squeezed the trigger, knocking out dozens of Urgals. "It's no use," the radioman screamed. "We kill twenty and a hundred more pile out!"
"We have to hold until the cavalry pulls in!" John yelled. Saphira flew in for another fire run and torched the area, burning all who were near her flame. "FIRE!" John screamed just as Saphira cleared the area. "Where the hell are our reinforcements?" John yelled to the specialist. The soldier cursed. Casey was sprinting past the Urgals and propped himself against the building where John, Eragon, and the sergeant were located. "We got a crap load of grenades for ya' sur," he said breathlessly. "Our left flank is getting pushed back by these freaks. What should we do?"
"Damn!" John swore.
"These guys know military tactics! I will have Jovak drop off these
in the tunnel and then we will have to fall back."
Jovak?
I am here John. John saw that Jovak was flying above him. Land beside me, John said. I want you do deliver a few presents.
What do you have in mind, friend? The dragon asked, now touching down beside him. John emptied the specialist's backpack and stuffed it with grenades. You will not have long, John said. It is not as heavy as you think. Aim for the entrance of the tunnel and drop it in.
I trust you John, came the dragon's reply. John smiled and pulled the pin of one grenade. "Go now!" John said. "Fly quickly!" John watched as Jovak lined up with the tunnel and dropped the bag inside. "Direct hit!" the specialist screamed. "Fire in the hole!" A loud explosion rattled the ground as fire leapt from the entrance of the tunnel. Urgals could be heard screaming as the tunnel shuttered and collapsed on top of them. "The tunnel has been sealed," Eragon said. "I fear that too many have gotten through!" John looked at the thousands of Urgals that were fighting against the gunfire. "I need ammo!" one soldier screamed. Another one cried for the same. "We can't kill all of them alone!" John said. "Tell your men to retreat. We are low on ammunition. There is nothing more we can do!"
"Squadron fall back!" the soldier ordered, waving his hands. "Fall back to the hills." John looked over to the young radioman. "Get him over here!" John said. The specialist motioned for the man and he came quickly. "Put the cavalry on the horn!" The young private did as he was told and John grabbed the phone. "You listen to me you dumb bastards!" he screamed over the gunfire. "We have lost Hollywood! I repeat Hotel Whisky has fallen! LA has been overrun! Now where in the hell were you, picking freaking flowers?"
"We ran into traffic," came the reply on the phone. John swore loudly. "You are military!" he screamed. "I don't care if you have to place C4 on every single car on the freeway. Get your asses over here so we can retake it!" John smashed the phone down on the receiver on the private's back and cursed to the sky. "Eragon we have to cover their retreat!" John took Eragon's M-4 away from him. "Light them up with Saphira!"
"What of you friend?" Eragon asked. John smiled. "I am covering the specialist!" he said. "We will be fine. I am worried of the other soldiers on the western flank…?"
"Where?" Eragon asked. John held his head briefly. "Just look for any soldier in trouble," John said. "Thank God that these guys didn't have guns or this could have been a massacre!"