Ch. 4 Never Make a Promise you can't keep

2330 Hours, September 23, 2554 (Cornerian Military Calendar) / Home Base, Echo Halo, Linksis Dawn System.

Fox ran as fast as his legs would carry him. He didn't even feel like he was touching the ground. The Battle Rifle in his paws was aimed forward. He pulled the trigger and it fired. The bullets tore through the air. The target dropped. Fox tripped to the ground. The Battle Rifle flew from his paws and landed 4 meters away.

The vulpine spun around on the ground. Above him was a large creature in Black armor. It raised a blue weapon to the vulpine's head and fired.

X

"Whao!" Fox awoke from his cot in a cold sweat. It was all a dream, but he continued to breathe heavily, until he convinced himself that it was all a just his imagination.

He sat up in the cot. It felt awkward to be the only one awake in the room. Every now and then his ears would twitch as footsteps went down the hall way and into the distance of the huge base. Fox got up as quietly as he could. His boots tapped the floor and grabbed his Battle Rifle. It was a combat zone. It was better to safe then sorry, or dead. He snatched 5 additional magazines and slipped them into his belt. The vulpine tiptoed out of the room.

Fox walked down the hallways and out of the base. There were about the same amount of troops that had been there in the daytime. Some of which were taking shifts with a partner. One slept and the other manned the gun or just kept watch. The area was illuminated. Flood lights poured blinding light 360 degrees onto the field and rocks below. Warthogs came and left the base, finishing and starting new patrols.

The vulpine cradled the rifle closer to his chest. The ammo indicator read a crisp and full 36 rounds. Guns had always made Fox feel safe. Even though deep down, Fox was well aware that they sometimes just gave the illusion of safety. But it was better to be looking at it then looking for it.

He tightened his paws around the pistol grip of the BR55. Fox wanted to walk a complete circle around the base and analyze it for what it was. He started to walk, when he was stopped, "Fox?"

The vulpine spun around, "Krystal? What are you doing up?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing," the vixen held her weapon of choice, the powerful M90 8 gauge shotgun.

"Sorry. I must have woken you."

"No I was already up," the truth was the Krystal was awake. She had problems sleeping too. She thought she may have fallen asleep at one time but she wasn't sure. Krystal had been watching over Fox's mind and she knew that he had been having bad dreams. That and she heard him yell.

"I was just…"

"You couldn't sleep. I've known that," Krystal finished his thought.

"Yeah I guess that's it," Fox grinned.

"It's good to see you smile again Fox."

"I… sure."

"Are you alright?"

The vulpine put his paw on the back of his neck, "Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"

"You were having nightmares. About being shot?"

"I guess I just have a bad feeling. Don't worry about. I'm sure it's probably nothing."

"But I heard you scream."

"It was nothing, really."

"Well like you said for me. If you need anyone to talk to, I'll be around too."

"I was just going for a walk," Fox eased into the question, "If you'd like to join me you could, if you'd like to."

"I'd love to," Krystal stepped over to Fox and the pair began an external circle of the base.

Fox looked at him communicator, "We have to wake up in 3 hours."

"I know that. Are you nervous about the mission?"

"You keep asking me that and I keep saying no."

"But you are, aren't you?"

"No," Fox answered again.

"No. You're not. Are you more worried about me?"

"No. I know now that you can handle yourself."

"You're worried about the others?"

"Why do you keep asking me so many questions? I don't have all the answers Krystal. I can't tell you what will happen tomorrow and I can't tell you if I will survive or if any of us survive. That's why I wanted you to go on with out me. You know, if I do somehow fall behind. So why with all the questions?"

"Like I said Fox. I missed you," Krystal said with affinity.

Fox was trapped again, "Well I… I missed you too."

"You must've, because you came back for me."

"Yeah. I guess I did."

"Yes Fox and I appreciate it."

"Well it was nothing really. It was my fault in the first place and I just wanted to right my wrongs."

"I know that. And am very grateful. I was upset with you at first. But then I found out how bad you felt about it. I couldn't just leave you like that way."

"I still can't believe you forgave me," Fox sighed. He was still mad at himself for the mistake.

"We all make mistakes sometimes and sometimes we just need to forgive and forget. You saved my life more then once and I had to return the favor to you."

"I guess I'm just not used to making such a great mistake."

"You've learned your lesson Fox."

"Believe me, I have," Fox nodded.

"That Panther was too weird for me anyways."

"Err… of course."

"But you've taught me so much. About piloting, and shooting and being there when I needed you the most."

"Well that's… err,"

"You taught me how to accept the past and to let things go. And most importantly you taught me to love again."

"Well that's... uhh… a given and err… for granted."

"No it's not. It take's someone with a pure heart to do something like that. And of course you had to be pure of heart. You did enter the Krazoa Shrines and saved me."

"That was no big deal really. I needed the money and you were just kinda… a bonus objective," Fox tried to remain modest.

"Fox I often thought what it would have been like if the tables were turned. If it were you in that crystal on top of the palace, I wondered if I would save you. And I've decided I would have."

"Well thanks, I guess."

"Don't ever change Fox."

"It's good to know that even though I put you through all of that you still forgive and respect me."

"Would you have done the same for me?" Krystal asked Fox.

"Yes. Yes I would have."

"That's why I did it then."

"Well that's great and all be we aren't out of this yet. We're just getting started. And with you beside me, I know I will succeed."

"And I will be."

"Well like I had said back on the Great Fox. I appreciate that you could trust me enough to come back for the team."

"I didn't do it for the team. I did it for you," Krystal pecked him on the muzzle with a short, sweet kiss.

Fox turned red immediately. He wasn't expecting that, "Well… thanks."

"And I won't ever be able to let you go because I…" Krystal took a deep breath. She was finally ready to say what she felt, "because I lo…"

"Everyone to your posts," it was Commander Keeding he spoke over the intercom of the base, "Covenant forces are inbound from the east. This is not a drill everyone man your stations."

Fox looked wide-eyed at Krystal. His worst dream had come true, "Fallow me," Fox took a post with Krystal beside sandbags. In another few seconds, troops gathered around the two. They all crouched behind the cover of the bags and peeked their rifles and other weapons over the top. They softly chattered among themselves.

"I don't see anything."

"Where are they?"

"Do you guys see anything?"

"I don't see nothing."

All of a sudden the base's auxiliary floodlights light up. The vision of the troop's was expanded for over 200 meters. At the very distance there was the sight of blue-ish purple vehicles. The hover craft's wings lit up and they sped in for the kill. Everyone opened their fire. Hundreds of bullets filled the air. Several of the approaching craft were simply shredded to bits. Others got closer but then exploded. In the air were pairs of blue lights. Rockets rushed toward them some tried to dodge the 102mm rounds but failed. Screaming fuselages fell through the air and landed flat on the ground.

Fox peeked up from under his cover. The Battle Rifle chattered in a burst. Fox put the cross hair on the target of a short, stubby target. The rifle chattered and the grunt dropped. Plasma fire erupted from the other side of the darkness. Many of the shots were well out of range but some found their marks on the sandbags. Then the plasma fire stopped, and the rifle fire stopped. It was completely quiet.

"Was that it?"

"That was nothing!"

"Wait, what's that?" Fox said. He peeked down the scope of the rifle. It was a glowing blue-white dual beam. It went up and down, and it moved like a ghost. Fox could see a blur of air around behind. He reloaded his rifle. Though everything was silent he fired twice. An Elites body appeared from nowhere. Its shield discharge and it dropped, "They're cloaked!"

As soon as Fox finished, a fire from hell randomly riddled the battlefield below. If a stray bullet hit an enemy, the cloaking would overheat, giving the enemy away. Some jumped and rolled to avoid fire but it was truly futile. There was too much firepower at the top of the hill. They hit the ground. Many of the enemies had been grunts but there was the odd Elite in the mess. The last shot was fired and final Grunt flipped to the dirt. The field was covered in a purple blood.

"Look out!" Fox spun around as he heard some one yell it. All of a sudden he was plucked from the ground by an imaginary force. He saw a blade of light appear from nowhere. He was being held by the neck, Fox struggled to break free but the attempt was futile.

"Take him guys," Fox choked. In another second he blacked out.

"Hold you fire!"

"Don't hit 'em!"

Krystal couldn't get a clear shot. She moved around the Elite trying to get a clean shot. Other soldiers moved around too but the Elite was so much faster then them. The alien held the blade to the fox's neck and slowly backed off. The flood lights flickered once and gave out. The Elite put away his glowing blade and disappeared into the night. When the lights came back on there was nothing in site no Elite, and no Fox. The area was clean and there were no targets in sight.

She dropped the shotgun. It clanked to the ground and Krystal had known that she had let him down. She has broken a promise.