Gears of War 4: Rico Squad
Chapter 13: Close Call
Riddick Writer: Hey guys were finally reaching a close on the story's Quinta act! Only a few more chapters before were moving on but what's going to happen? Will we lose any other gears lose their lives in this dreadful city? Or will the rest escape with their lives! READ AND FIND OUT! Enjoy the chapter!
Matt watched for a third time as a massive yellow beam came from the sky decimating even more of the bridge with a Sera shaking boom. From below the Karn could be heard crying out in agony as they were literally annihilated by the Hammer's powerful beam. Corey and Jon weren't even sniping anymore, there was simply no point, plus the dark of night made it difficult to even lock on to a single Karn…
Suddenly the beam disappeared again and the gears watched as another massive section of the bridge crumbled into the river below. The quantity of yellow beady eyes that once covered the bride were now down to nearly half as they scrambled around trying to take up positions behind sandbags that still stood on stable sections of the bridge.
"Resilient bastards aren't they?" Cor. Downey said with a chuckle as Fixer prepared to let loose another powerful shot from the hammer of dawn.
"Just like the locust… but they can only hold so long before their will breaks and they retreat," Leonardo said wisely as he switched his sawed off shotgun for his retro lancer checking to make sure it was loaded. "They can only last so much longer."
Matt was looking at Leonardo and nodded in agreement at the last part. It was only a matter of time, and thankfully, there didn't seem to be any more causalities. That reminded him of Echo Squad and he stepped away from the overhang of the building and moved to the far side, away from his fellow gears. Staring out into the night sky he placed a hand to his ear, "Eck, come in, it's Lt. Dunbar."
It took a few brief seconds before the Echo Squad leader responded. "I hear you Lt. Dunbar, and damn did you do well! These bastards don't know what hit em, provided, some are still escaping the bridge to us, but Corporal Stiletto and I are mowing him down easy enough. How is your side of things, any trouble inside the building?"
"We didn't have too much trouble inside. How's your causality doing?"
There was long pause of static, no doubt Eckhart was checking. Matt looked back at his squad who were all watching Fixer fire another beam from the hammer. The beam literally lit up the night; you could see a good amount of the ruined city because of it.
"He's holding up alright for now, but if Corporal Mielke here doesn't get medical aid soon Dunbar, I don't know if he's gonna make it." Matt moved to the side of the building with a view on the gas station and stared. He squinted but still couldn't make out any of Echo Squad inside because of the darkness that ensued the station.
"Pvt. Hefresson is medically trained; I'll send Cor. Downey to retrieve her now." He paused, turning to watch as the Hammer's beam came down once again, "I don't think we'll miss him and if it's to save his life it's worth it."
"Affirmative Lieutenant, the sooner you get that Private here to fix Cor. Mielke up, the better," he said honestly. With that Matt nodded and jogged over to Downey putting grabbing him by the shoulder pad.
The driver whipped around quickly nearly hitting Matt in the leg with the barrel of his longshot. He laughed, "Sorry about that, what's up?" Matt made a grim face.
"Cor. Mielke's been injured down at the station, Emily is our only squad member between both squads with medical training," Matt began to explain desperately hoping that Jon would catch on. Fortunately, the driver got it right away.
"En route to get her and Amy then," Jon said throwing his longshot down. The driver was already striding to the staircase to leave the roof.
Matt watched him and just as he disappeared, Matt put a hand to his ear, "Cor. Downey is on his way to get her, tell Mielke to hang in there Eck." There was a buzz of static as Fixer stopped the current Hammer blast to inspect his damage. Then Lt. Eckhart's voice was heard once more.
"Roger that Lt. Dunbar, Echo Squad out." Matt scratched his growing goatee in exhaustion and practically fell to his bottom as he sat on the roof. It didn't take long for Cor. Rollard to follow suit and sit next to him resting his longshot on his lap. He removed his helmet calmly setting it directly in front of him, the visor facing him.
He smiled playfully, "What's the matter Lieutenant? Sick of war already again?"
Matt half smiled, "Damn right I am. I'm getting close to fifty," he chuckled making Corey grin.
"Yeah, you and me both, at least I feel like it," he said sounding distant as he stared at the horizon. He blinked his green eyes drowsily and stared at his leader for a long time. "These wars have prevented Sera from growing… like take us for example," he gestured. "Neither of us are married, hell, nobody in our entire squad is married. But the point is us old guys, you, me, Eck, Leonardo, none of us are married, none of us have a family of our own." Matt nodded grasping the concept that his long time friend was making.
"So what you're saying is because were not having children of our own, humanity is slowly dying?" Corey nodded solemnly. His face was expressionless and cold, his usually bright green eyes seemed dim.
"Exactly. It sounds stupid I know, but if you think about how many men and women die in the Cog during every one of these wars, it makes sense why were slowly dying along with Sera." Matt sighed, despite how much he hated what the Corporal was saying, it was true. And even though this war had just started, things were already going downhill.
On a simple city evacuation mission that was designed as search and rescue for civilians, several squads had already perished. Not to mention that between the two remaining squads, they've only actually rescued one individual… In other words this mission into Quinta was a complete failure.
"Your right Corey, but the only way we can change that is by ending this war, right?" Matt responded calmly without taking his eyes of Fixer as he readied another shot further down the bridge. Eventually he turned his gaze on Corey who was giving a puzzled look.
Corey suddenly nodded and closed his eyes, "Yeah, you're right Matt."
XVX
Another beam blasted away more of the bridge along with about two dozen screeching Karn. From the far end of the bridge it was hard for the Karn to watch their comrades die in vain, but it was for a good cause. The gears were lucky it was night… because otherwise the dozen Karn snipers watching the bridge's destruction would be having a field day.
Suddenly their leader, General Grudge emerged from the rear. He marched straight up to the last line of sandbags and squinted at the beam with his large, single, eye. He snorted impatiently and snatched another Karn's bolt action rifle loading it in mere seconds. All the other Karn snipers watched him in interest as he gripped the tiny rifle in his massive hands and took aim.
He could hazily see the gas station and first few buildings in the city with ease, but that was only when the hammer's beam was lighting it up for him. Suddenly the beam went out, ruining his vision with darkness. In annoyance, he lowered the gun and waited patiently until anther beam shook the bridge with more destruction.
For a second time he took aim, this time aiming upwards towards the roof tops. Sure enough, he found his targets. One big human stood next to a smaller one wearing a helmet who was firing the hammer of dawn. Without even knowing it his tongue slimed out of his mouth past his thick chin as he began to line up the crosshairs on the gear's visor. He let the roaring beam pass through his scope before moving his finger to the trigger guard. Then, with no hesitation, he sent a bullet flying and bit down on his tongue hard, drawing blood just as he saw his target to down…
XVX
Corey's green eyes flicked open just in time to hear the booming shot echo from across the bridge. Instinctively both he and Matt dove to their stomachs immediately, to their surprise they heard a sickening thwack, and looked up in surprise at Fixer who was frozen in place.
Time seemed to be going in slow motion as Fixer's helmet, which was soaring through the air, passed Corey. Matt watched it before turning his attention back to Fixer, his blue eyes widening, "FIXER! Noooo!"
The hammer of dawn slipped from the Private's hands hitting the roof top with a dreadful clang just as Fixer crumpled over to his side wheezing. It took mere seconds for the other gears to reach the Private who was clutching his face, now screaming in agony.
"Oh my fucking god! I can't feel my face, I can't feel it!" His screams were repetitive and agonizing to hear as Matt fretted over the profusely bleeding gear trying to get a look at the wound.
Suddenly Leonardo stood from his kneeing position shooting off rounds with his retro towards the bridge like no tomorrow. "YOU SPINELESS SNIPING BASTARDS! FIGHT US LIKE MEN!" Matt turned to the Sergeant his eyes wide with alertness.
"Leonardo get down," he yelled but instead of listening, the bear of a man continued yelling insults and shooting. Thankfully, Corey tackled him to the ground with great effort, grunting at the impact of hitting the big Sergeant and taking him down. If Fixer got shot, they were all within range…
Matt returned his attention back to Fixer and finally managed to pin him down getting a good look at his face. Other than a massive flesh wound scraping along the side of the Private's head, he appeared okay. But if the bullet had gone slightly to the left, Pvt. Fixer would no longer be breathing and that was certain.
"Okay Fixer," Matt said confidently, "just stay down, do not try and move… help is on the way." Fixer's eyes buzzed wildly as he looked all over the place and began desperately trying to reach at his face again, but Matt overpowered him with ease. The last thing he wanted the Private to do was go into shock. "You're fine, just relax!"
Meanwhile Corey and Leonardo were sitting against the overhang watching with concern. Leonardo was still huffing from his previous rage while Corey was calmly observing his Lieutenant attend to the Private who was moaning.
"Okay… okay… I'm fine," Fixer was moaning as he rocked back and forth as much as Matt would allow. Matt nodded still soothing him.
"Yes, you're fine, just try not to move," he repeated without moving his eyes from the Private's.
"How close do you think Cor. Downey is to getting back with Pvt. Hefresson, Dunbar?" The deep voice belonged to Leonardo who was no longer huffing but simply observing. Matt turned to him with his mouth slightly ajar while Corey moved past him to retrieve his long shot and helmet.
"I don't know, I can try and reach them- but right now Fixer needs out attention," he said quickly brushing away the idea of trying to contact them. It was pointless; it didn't help the driver or Emily get any closer. If anything it would probably actually slow them down!
Corey took a knee next to Matt staring down at Fixer frowning. "Theirs not much more we can do other than wait," he said pitifully. Matt nodded in anguish and straightened himself to see over the edge of the building down towards the far side of the bridge. "Whoever fired is one hell of a shot," Corey commented reading Matt's mind.
He turned back to Corey nodding wide eyed. "I was stunned that any snipers could see at all during night. Let alone hit a target hundreds of yards away…"
Corey kept the frown firmly planted on his face as he gazed down at Fixer. Surprisingly the young gear had stopped moaning and was now laying still patiently watching Matt finally release his grip. "How are you feeling now," Matt asked calmly.
"Better, to be honest, for a few seconds I felt like I was gonna die though," he admitted dryly as he ran a hand through his blonde hair. The right side of the Private's head was slicked with dark crimson blood that seemed stickier than anything. Matt frowned at it as he hesitantly gave the Private some room to maneuver and get comfortable.
"Good, you've already been shot once today, by now you should be getting used to it," Corey joked bringing a small smile to the wounded gear's face. Matt couldn't help but chuckle as his eyes darted to the arm wound, which to no surprise, was bleeding again. Emily had forgotten to bandage it properly…
Fixer sighed, "Lt. Dunbar?" The older gear raised his eyes brows, "Do you think… uh, Emily and Amy are doing alright?"
Matt couldn't help but smile, "I'm sure their fine and en route to our location. Let's just make sure we finish off the bridge." Suddenly Matt moved his hand to his ear. "Eck, what's the status on your causality?"
He heard the Echo Squad Lieutenant's voice immediately, "My men aren't no pussies Dunbar! He's holding up just fine at the moment, but we need Pvt. Hefresson ASAP!" Matt's face went firm with thought and he gave Corey a look indicating the hammer of dawn lying peacefully next to Fixer.
The Corporal got the message and instantly picked it up moving cautiously to the overhang. "Alright Eck, we just had a causality of our own, nothing too serious though, but one hell of a close call. Pvt. Fixer and I are en route to the gas station. I'm leaving Sgt. Rhodes and Cor. Rollard on clean up duty with the hammer." There was a buzz of static before Eckhart's voice came through again.
"Roger that Lt. Dunbar, see you soon, Eckhart out."
With that Matt removed his hand from his ear and gave Leonardo a hard look. The big man turned his scared, bearded face towards him, a look of fire in his eyes. "Can I trust you and Corey to finish things up here?" Leonardo let a smile cross his lips deviously.
"Of course, Lieutenant. We won't fail you; you get the youngster down to safety," he replied confidently winking at Corey who had his helmet back on once again. Matt looked at Corey briefly receiving a nod as he started to take aim with the hammer like Fixer had done before him.
"Alright Rico Squad… let's finish this shit," he said with an edge of determination as he helped Fixer up and slowly began leading him towards the stairs.
Riddick Writer: I KNOW THIS TOOK FOREVER TO UPDATE I'M SORRY! Anyways we have one last chapter to our Quinta Act before were moving on to our Ruins Act! Which may be less intense than this first Act, after all, gears are human! And humans need time to recover! And yes… I know General Grudge isn't a very unique name… but are you telling me Raam and Skorge are unique? Lol XD
REVIEWS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED! CYA NEXT TIME! OH AND HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY AMERICANS!