Disclaimer: Halo is the product of Bungie, and Red vs. Blue is the product of the fine geniuses of Rooster Teeth.
Author's note: Well, readers, this is the last chapter of Red vs. Blue ODST. I'd just like to thank everyone who has stuck by and read it; my main goal was to share my work with others, however mediocre it turned out, haha. But I hope you've enjoyed it, and that brings me to the second part of this message.
I'll be "off the air" here on Fanfiction for a couple of months, but that doesn't mean I want to quit writing. I have a few ideas for other stories, but if any fans want to post some requests for a possible story topic in the review section here, I'd be more than happy to take a look at them.
So thanks again, everyone! Here's Chapter 9; keep reading and reviewing!
RvB: ODST
Chapter 9:
Coastal Highway
"Jesus, that thing stinks!" Church exclaimed on the elevator ride up. "Smells like someone set a fish on fire in here or something."
With the alien seemingly unaffected by this, Church now turned to his two human companions. "All right, now what the fuck is going o-" he started to say.
However, he was interrupted by Tex's fist colliding with his face. "What was that for?" he yelled.
"Eh, I just wanted to do that," Tex said.
"That's it?" Church asked.
"Hey, if anyone's looking for catharsis between you and me here, they're going to have to wait for someone to write some happy love story. We've got aliens to kill up there, and an alien to protect here," Tex explained.
"Okay, fine," Church relented. "What's it's deal anyway?"
"This thing has knowledge about the Covenant's plans, and I need to get it back to Command."
"And how do you propose we do that?"
"Waterfront highway will be the fastest way out of the city," Tex replied as the elevator reached the ground floor of whatever building they were now in. She now turned to their pink-clad ally, who stood next to the alien, bewildered by the conversation.
"You've done great, Donut, but we're not out of this yet," she said. "Do me a favor and scout ahead for us. That road to the left should lead to the highway."
"Got it," Donut said with a nod. "Come on, little guy," and he and the not-so-little alien headed out into the street, now bathed in morning sunlight.
"Um, aren't you usually the one who does the scouting? You know, if you want something done right..." Church started.
"I know, but I wanted a second alone to do this..." she said, yanking off hers and Church's helmets for a passionate kiss.
As they hurried to catch up with Donut and Vergil, their helmets back on, Church muttered to himself, "Maybe this mission was a pretty good idea, after all..."
"It looks clear up here!" Donut called back.
"I agree," Tex said. "That building at the other end of the road; there should be an elevator that leads up to the highway."
They entered the building and, soon after, the lift. At the top, they found the highway, littered with wrecked and abandoned vehicles. There were, however, two untouched vehicles nearby: a jeep with a mounted machine gun, and a large garbage collector, which was built more like a tank, but without any weapons.
Several Covenant cruisers, the massive ships that had spearheaded their assaults during the war, loomed overhead.
"When did that happen?" Tex said, pointing up at the cruisers.
"Oh, they started showing up right before I went underground," Church said in reply.
"And you waited until now to tell me that?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I was a little busy not knowing what the hell you or the purple freak were doing here, and then having to worry about killing a bunch of other alien freaks!" Church retorted hotly.
Vergil, meanwhile, clearly upset about being called a 'purple freak,' now started to float away.
"Um, guys..." Donut said.
However, Tex and Church were now deep in an argument, and when Donut looked back, Vergil was gone.
"Ow!" Church said as Tex punched him again.
"Well, why didn't you tell me that your idiot friends had a Phantom?" Tex said, Church having mentioned that in their argument. "This is Freelancer Tex; Sarge, are you out there?"
After a moment, Sarge came on the comms. "Affirmative, Tex. Where are you?"
"Aw, it's great to hear from you, Sarge! You would not believe the adventures I've had!" Donut chimed in.
"Pretty in pink!" Sarge said. "I can only imagine..."
"Sarge, I'm here with Donut and Church on the highway; can you come pick us up? I have what Command's been looking for," Tex continued.
"Affirmative... Grif! Turn this thing around!"
"Ah, come on! We have to go back to the alien-infested city?" Grif complained.
"And step on it, dirtbag!"
Tex now turned off her comms and said, "All right, we need to move now. Wait, where's the Engineer?"
The three of them began looking around frantically, when suddenly there was a rumble in front of them. Vergil had entered the garbage collector and started it. Tex now climbed on, and called out, "Keep me covered, and try to keep up."
Church shook his head and smiled inside his helmet. "Hey Donut, I know this probably doesn't make a lot of sense, but if you ever fall for a woman, make sure she's got balls."
"Um, you're right, Church, that doesn't make much sense."
"Just get in that jeep," Church said with a sigh. "I'll take the gun."
Donut and Church began driving down the highway, with Tex and Vergil following in the garbage collector.
"Hey, Tex?" Church said with a chuckle. "Pick a lane."
The garbage collector was taking up the two forward lanes, smashing through abandoned cars with ease. "I'm doing the best I can," Tex said, a little irritated. "Just stay out of our way and watch for hostiles!"
The two vehicles soon arrived at a large door, leading to the next section of highway. "Covenant must've locked the doors; give the Engineer a second to override it," Tex commanded.
Just then, a swarm of Drones appeared. "Oh, crap!" Church said, and opened fire with a heavy salvo of bullets. The machine gun made short work of the Drones. Just as the last one fell, the doors opened.
"That's it!" Tex said. "We're moving on."
A group of Jackals were waiting in the next section of highway, but Donut quickly drove right over them. As the garbage collector began smashing through more cars, it suddenly erupted in blue light.
"Woah! What just happened?" Church shouted.
"I think the Engineer's sending a current through this thing, giving the outer plating some energy shielding. I don't know how strong it is, so stay close," Tex said.
"Don't worry, we've got you covered," Church said.
Past the next set of doors was a massive Covenant vehicle; a four-legged war machine with a large cannon on its back and an even deadlier cannon for an eye.
"Damn, it's a Scarab!" Tex said.
"It looks like it's on to us!" Donut warned.
"Floor it!" Church shouted.
However, while Donut and Church's jeep managed to take cover behind the next set of doors, the Scarab climbed above their cover and fired a burst of plasma at the garbage collector. The shields vanished and parts of the vehicle exploded in flames.
"Tex, nooooo!" Church cried. "Tex, talk to me!"
After a few moments of silence, the two heard Tex over the comms. "The - asset - is all right," she coughed.
"Screw the alien, what about you?" Church demanded.
"I'm okay..." Tex whispered. "But this garbage truck's had it."
The doors opened, and the garbage collector slowly began to move through them, with Donut and Church following in the jeep.
"Take the next off-ramp," Church said. "We'll wait for Sarge and the others there."
"Agreed," Tex said.
They found themselves outside the Uplift Nature Park. "Sarge, whatever you do, get here fast," Tex said.
"On it, Tex."
Church and Donut went ahead and secured the entrance building to the park, killing two sleeping Grunts who were supposed to be standing guard. Just as Tex and Vergil made it there, two Phantoms appeared.
"We've got company!" Church announced.
"I've got this," Tex said quietly.
The Phantoms discharged a duo of Hunters, a Brute Chieftan and his own squad of Brutes, along with a dozen more Grunts. This small army, they should have realized, was no match for Agent Texas. The Grunts were the first to fire at her, using their plasma pistols, while one fired a fuel rod cannon. Tex weaved in and out of the fire, and before they knew it, she was amongst them. Karate chops sent two of the Grunts flying into two more, respectively. She then picked up two of the fallen plasma pistols and began firing rapidly at the remaining Grunts, quickly dispatching them all.
The Hunters now opened up with their own fuel rod cannons, built into their arms. Tex jumped high into the air, dodging the blasts, and landed in between them. She now grabbed one of the Hunters' arms and manually fired its cannon at the other, sending it flying back into the group of Brutes, knocking two of them out. With unbelievable strength, she lifted the other Hunter up and tossed it at another Brute, sending both of them flying.
Now the remaining Brutes were firing their grenade launchers at her, to no avail. The Chieftan ran towards her, swinging its hammer. However, she quickly stunned it with a flurry of punches to the face and chest. The Chieftan, now stumbling, let go of its hammer, and Tex grabbed it. Her hammer swing did not miss. As the Chieftan was sent flying all the way back towards the highway, she delivered one final blow, killing the remaining Brutes.
"Wow," Donut remarked at the carnage.
"What, are you surprised?" Church said. "My girlfriend kicks ass."
Just then, another Phantom appeared and began to land, its gravity lift activated.
"Heads up, Tex!" Church called out.
However, as Tex turned to face the new threat, Simmons appeared from the lift. "What the heck is that thing?" he said, pointing at Vergil.
"We'll explain later, let's just get the fuck out of here," Church said, running for the gravity lift.
Sarge now dropped down and looked at the scene. "Well, what can I say? It was a hell of a night," he said in epic fashion.
"Yeah, screw you," Church snapped, breaking the moment. "You assholes left me behind. Let's just go already."
They all climbed into the Phantom, and Grif began to fly it away from the city.
"Let's just hope none of them are following us," Tucker said.
"I think they're too busy to care," Tex replied, looking back at the city.
The rest of the squad did, as well, and saw that the Covenant cruisers were now razing the city with their massive energy beams.
"This isn't over," Tex said quietly.
Church now walked over to her, and said just as quietly, "What about us?"
Tex sighed and took off her helmet. She looked back at him and gave a slight smile. "Win this war," she said, "then ask me that again."
"See, what does that mean?" Church said, frustrated. "Everyone's been saying these random lines like this whole thing is scripted or something, what the hell is going on?"
"No breaking the fourth wall, Church," Donut said disapprovingly.
"Seriously, I can't be the only one who's noticed this," Church continued.
"Actually, I have, too," Simmons chimed in.
"Yeah, me and Simmons were talking about it earlier," Grif added from the cockpit.
Tex shook her head and said, "Why do I hang out with you guys?"
"I can think of a couple of reasons," Tucker said devilishly. "Bow chicka bow... ow!" Before he could finish, Tex punched him.
FIN