Laurel's Pov
A two and a half hour ride, scratch that, race over a rough trail laid out by the Helljumpers days ago through dense jungle and rough terrain was all it took for Elle, Scar and Rtas'Vadum to reach the butte. The journey had been far from easy though. Elle had had a lead foot on the gas petal and nearly tore out the suspension on a couple occasions over the rock encrusted trail, not to mention the increasing threat of xeno attacks as they neared closer to the butte. Already Scar had already shot down six soldier castes. But finally the butte was only a few miles away, and things didn't look good.
Small pillars of smoke were rising from holes within the structure and they could see moving objects that glinted in the sun and moved upwards, it soon became apparent that the objects were Xenomorphs looking for alternative ways inside. Some of them would never make it in as a large explosion blew hole the size of a large house out of the butte spilling out smoke and alien monsters alike. Elle willed the Warthog to go faster.
The two soldiers and the young MIB agent tracked up the trail Elle had led the Helljumpers during their capture of the butte all those days ago. The metal door or what was left of it hung loosely by a few bits of shrapnel. Already they could hear the roars and screams of the soldiers within.
Each of them drew their weapons and prepared themselves as they entered.
"We should head upwards toward the mesa, that's probably where a majority of everyone is."
The journey upwards was even more dangerous than the journey to the butte. Xenomorphs of all different castes and Facehuggers leaped from the ceilings, walls and from shadowed corners. Sometimes groups of the creatures would emerged from some darkened area and the warriors were required to pause and dispatch them.
Finally they were nearing the control room, the door was closed tight that Elle couldn't wedge it open. Rtas' came over and began slamming his shoulder against the metal barrier trying to force it to give. Finally the door caved. The three rushed in weapons at the ready, only to be greeted by a strange but welcomed sight. A group of Allied soldiers was hold up within, including a group of young bloods, some Covenant and UNSC and a small squad of Jee'Dangians including X, wielding the energy sword, ready for the worst.
U's Pov
U didn't know his luck had changed so drastically but he wasn't about to question it as he limped through the hallway. He had expected to live out the rest of his days as a Federation prisoner, which was the best outcome he could've hoped for back in that cell. But lady luck was on his side as not an hour ago the entire brig had been under attack by a pack of strange and terrible creatures with black exoskeletons and large heads. He at first feared being killed by these beasts but in the end the guards and creatures whipped each other out, with the warden and more importantly his keys, falling dead only a few feet away. Now he had another chance for escape and planned on using it.
Panting, but smiling, as he finally reached the top of the butte and more importantly the airships docked there. U jumped into a Pelican started the engines and put the thrusters into full power. The ship began rising from the ground. U turned it in the direction of the Hoon'tak capitol ship. With any luck Alpha would take him back after explaining what had happened.
Zeeltor's Pov
Zeeltor, Jay, Y and the worms looked out their ship's large shield window as the EMP shield around 'Genesis' blinked blue, then white and fizzled out altogether. After days of constant work Zeeltore and the officers on board the Yuatja mothership had finally managed to bring down 'Genesis's protective shield.
The Hoon'tak forces around the planet had been defeated two days ago, already some of the Allied ships had returned to their home planets to bring back the wounded and damaged ships and to re-supply. Many of the captured vessels had been brought aboard the capitol ships, returned to their home planets or back to MIB headquarters. In fact it was most likely that only Zeeltore, Jay, Y the worms and Zeeltor's Unngoy guards were the last MIB personnel left in the war zone.
The doctor quickly grabbed his vid-link and opened a com-channel to Kay. His link opened and he saw the veteran agent shooting at something off screen. The doctor could hear the horrible screams and roars in the background.
By the look of things Kay had made it back to the butte. The agent turned to face Zeeltor, his face was bruised and was bleeding from a gash above his right eye. His visor was cracked and his armor was partially melted in three different places.
"Agent Kay the EMP shield is down, I can send in some ships to pi-"
"NO!" Kay shouted suddenly, making the doctor jump. "Sending any ships here would mean the infestation and demise of everyone in the Allied Federation. We can't let the Xenomorphs escape 'Genesis'."
"Then what do I do? I can't leave you all on that planet to die!" Zeeltor was officially out of ideas. The entire situation seemed so completely hopeless, and he couldn't bear to see any more of his friends die.
"Zeeltor listen carefully. Patch me through a com channel to the remaining soldiers. I'm going to gather everyone to the top of the butte and try to clear out the remaining xenos. I want you to get to the Yuatja mothership and see if their slip-space engine is still online."
Zeeltor nodded and quickly typed in a few buttons and opened a broad com channel over the planet, he nodded to Kay. Zeeltor pocketed the vid-link and turned to Y. He had to hurry. If there was a chance he could save his friends he was damned sure gonna' go for it.
Kay's Pov
Kay offed his com-link. That was everyone. Now all they had to do was climb fifty stories of Xeno infested tunnels to the top of the butte, secure the area and get the hell 'outta there. Not too big of a request considering all they've been through. He turned to his left just in time to see a Facehugger hurtling through the air at him. It burst suddenly a few inches from his face as the air was filled with the sound of gunfire.
Kay's rifle rested at his side where it hadn't moved from. Council Adviser Kimbli stood in the doorway, Magnum Pistol hot in hand, a thin trail of smoke emanating from the muzzle.
Kay looked at him with mild surprise, then down at the dead Facehugger. Acid blood oozed from the bullet holes and began eating through the metal floor.
"Nice shooting." Kay thanked him.
"Thanks." Kimbli responded.
"What the hell was all that about?" Shouted a familiar voice. Zed rushed down the hall towards where he'd heard the commotion.
"Kay!" He exclaimed and then smiled.
"Zed." Kay smiled back.
Kimbli cleared his throat. "I hate to interrupt, but how are we supposed to get off this gods forsaken rock? I got your message but I don't quite follow."
"We need to get to the top of the butte and secure it. Then we eliminate the remaining xenos and wait for Zeeltor's call and hope that the Yuatja capitol ship's slip-space generator is still functional."
"Well then what are we waiting around here for." Zed chipped in. The three held their weapons at the ready and started their trek to the top.
They continued on turning corners, wasting Xenomorphs as they went. There was a close call when a warrior caste dropped from the ceiling and landed on Kimbli, effectively pinning him. The Magnum pistol slipped from his hand and slid across the floor. Zed took aim, but with Kimbli in the line of fire he couldn't risk shooting him or spilling acid blood.
The council adviser grabbed the Xeno's jaws and tried to push the beast off him. The creature hissed and snapped its pharyngeal jaws, nearly taking out Kimbli's left eye. The Xenomorph began whipping its bladed tail trying to skewer him. Kay rushed up from behind and rammed the butt of his rifle into the Xeno's skull. It was stunned long enough for Kay to kick it away and shoot three precise shots into beast. All this happened within a matter of a few seconds.
Zed helped Kimbli to his feet. The grand council adviser looked down at himself. His expensive robes had been abandoned long ago for a Jee'Dangian uniform that too was now shredded, torn and now covered with a fresh coat of xeno saliva. He carelessly wiped his hands off on his tattered clothing. He wished now he had a tougher uniform or some UNSC grade armor like Kay and Zed had.
As they continued on through the maze of corridors, they stopped at one in particular. The floors and ceilings had been completely melted through five levels, and the remains of bodies littered the area. A platoon of UNSC, a Yuatja warrior or at least his leg, a Kig-Yar hung midair a tangle of wires wrapped around his neck. A Sangheili was on the floor, hanging over the hole, his fingers digging into the metal grate. They rushed to see if he was still alive, but froze as they realized his lower half was missing. His intestines and a few other unfamiliar organs clung from his empty midsection.
When they looked beyond the sickening sight they saw there were at least a hundred mutilated bodies, individual parts, limbs twisted in unnatural angles, broken jagged bones that stuck through the flesh and entire bodies ripped open strewing their insides onto those below. The entire place was choked with the thick, wet stench of death that clogged their noses and settled on their tongues. The three paled. Kimbli retched, emptying his stomach onto the floor.
"Come on." Kay said grimly. "There's nothing we can do for them now." They turned and fled.
The group back tracked a ways and searched for an alternate route up.
Zed froze and motioned for the others to stop. He pointed to a corner wall where a group of pale shadows were being cast by unknown entities, they heard movement, like shuffling. Was it more xenos or a group of surviving Hoon'tak?
Kay readied his rifle and spun around the corner. Only to find a rifle pointed at him. And staring from behind it was X. They both lowered their weapons.
"It's okay they're friendlies!" X called back. Around another corner came Rtas'Vadum, Scar, Laurel, a few Unggoy a Kig-Yar and a squad of Jeen'Dnangian.
Laurel smiled. "You're all okay."
Zed chuckled. "Well I wouldn't say okay, but we're alive."
Her armor was burned in a couple of places and she was cut, scraped and bruised.
Kay noticed she was favoring her right leg. "What happened to your ankle?"
She glanced down. "Twisted it while fighting a pack of xenos after meeting up with X and the others. I can still run, but I won't be winning any marathons." She smiled again.
"Anything down that way?" X motioned the way the trio had just came from.
"Believe me you don't want to know." Kimbli said grimly while shaking his head.
X nodded understandably.
"Any sign of Lopez?" Kimbli asked.
Elle nodded. "She's already at the top with the Arbiter."
"So let's get going before she has all the fun." X said raising his Energy Sword.
They all nodded and headed off.
They reached the top of the butte just in time to see a captured Skif that was literately crawling with Xenomorphs crash into the ground and erupt into a cloud of smoke and fire.
A group of Covenant were surrounded by a pack of soldier castes and it looked like the end for them, when Lopez led a platoon of her Helljumpers and a few Yuatja warriors into the fray. The Yuatjas stabbed and speared the monsters with combi-sticks and razor whips while the Helljumpers made Swiss cheese out of them. With the open opportunity the Covenant charged back weapons hot. Elle could now clearly see all the warriors and immediately recognized the Arbiter Thel'Vadam.
"Come on." She turned to the others. "Let's get in there!" A fire was lit deep inside, that filled her with fortitude and a thirst for battle. The warrior she was, was re-awaken.
U's Pov
U smiled widely and pushed the throttle of the Pelican forward, towards the Hook'tak capitol ship hanging in the air directly in front of him.
He'd just got off the comm with Alpha who, despite his anger at the former agent's failures, agreed to take him back. Alpha had clearly stated that it was only U's knowledge of MIB's that was keeping him alive. But U could've cared less, he was getting off this planet. He was going to survive.
U made a couple slight adjustments to his trajectory when he heard a hissing behind his chair. Turning to see if a pipeline or a tubeline had come loose U came face to face with the bared teeth of soldier caste xenomorph. His mind was frozen for a long second as he stared at the snarling beast before he turned back to reach for his sidearm.
Alpha's Pov
Alpha couldn't decide of which he was more of, absolutely furious or utterly vanquished. Vanquished because the entire effort, the entire war was an absolute failure. No scratch that it was worse than a failure because the end result was the ultimate destruction of an empire that was he greatly dependent on. All of his allies and connections that had been carefully cultured throughout the years were now completely worthless.
Absolutely furious because his plan should have worked, that this war could have been avoided and the Federation destroyed all because one agent went A-wall one day too soon. It was enough to drive a person to insanity.
The only good thing to come out of this entire effort, which still paled in comparison to what should have happened, was that Alpha was still in control of the Hoon'tak capitol ship, and judging from the distress calls from other Hoon'tak vessels outside the solar system the reminder of the invasion force now looked to him for leadership.
He didn't have the Earth, but he did have a rather decent sized flock of Hoon'tak ships at his command and disposal, so perhaps there was some hope.
Alpha was sitting in the bridge of the ship mulling all of this over as he awaited the last of his to dock. Former agent U, Alpha was surprised to hear from him again as he suspected the former agent was dead or captured. At first Alpha wanted nothing more than to end his life himself but then was forced to re-think the decision as he was reminded of his loss in numbers.
"Agent U is preparing to dock sir." The Hoon'tak pilot said.
Alpha nodded while watching the approaching Pelican. "Good, prepare to jump into slip-space as soon as he is and all hatches are secured."
The pilot nodded.
Alpha looked down to read the latest report, more news about the imminent failure, when a Hoon'tak technician shouted, getting his attention.
Alpha looked up to see the Pelican now wobbling sporadically mid-air and flying full throttle forward, towards the view port. He had only enough time to curse before the ship slammed through the three foot thick glass and into the bridge.
Laurel's Pov
She rushed in armor glinting, spear raised. A xeno leaped to meet her challenge, claws at the ready. Laurel side stepped and thrusted her spear forward. With one graceful movement she impaled the Xenomorph through the chest. She spun, tossed the dead alien off her spear and into a fast approaching drone caste. Elle swung her combi-staff horizontally and took off a soldier caste's upper jaw. This was what the she had been trained to do, what the Karepta clan had prepared her for.
She felt adrenaline rushing through her veins and in some strange way felt a part of herself enjoy this, not the war, but the hunt. She had never forgotten the skills the clan had taught her, they had slept soundly for years until know, reawakened. And the others were fighting just as valiantly.
Zed, Kay and X were busy filling xeno after xeno with lead, spilling their acid blood. Kimbli had joined a group of Kig-Yars who were currently cornering a group of drones. Scar and Rtas' were rushing through the chaos slaughtering many of the beasts as they went.
A xeno suddenly pinned X to the ground. With blind furry Laurel rushed it, memories of an all too familiar death running through her mind. She had already lost one partner to these bastard monsters and she wasn't about to let that happen again. Elle grabbed the Xenomorph's tail, cutting her hand in the process, and threw the monster into the air. It landed hard with an audible smack and before it could even get to its feet Elle's spear impaled it through its elongated skull.
X stared in stunned silence. He made a mental note not to ever piss her off again. She offered her and helped him to his feet.
"Your hand." He pointed to the trickling drops crimson that dripped from her fingers.
Elle examined it, a vertical gash stretched from her index finger down to her palm, which was bleeding freely. She looked back to her partner unconcerned. With all the adrenaline rushing through her veins she couldn't even feel it. "It's not very deep."
X on the other hand looked very concerned. He ripped a strip of cloth from his suit. "Give me your hand."
She did as she was told and watch as X wrapped the cloth around the injury. "Thanks." She said a little awkwardly.
He nodded.
An enormous boom followed by a shock wave tore through the air, silencing everything on the butte and momentarily halting the fight. Everyone turned to look out into the horizon at the source of the explosion. It was the Hoon'tak capital ship that was now going up, or rather down in flames. The ship spiraled downwards towards the ground, towards the 'Valiant'. The resounding explosion from the ship to ship crash sent a mushroom cloud of smoke and dust into the air.
The ensuing silence lasted only seconds, for as soon as the explosion died down the fight was back on.
Just then there was a loud bang. It was like someone hitting a tank with a sledge hammer. A metal trap door which led to lower levels was thrown suddenly into the air like a rocket. It landed with a huge 'bam'. Out from the bowels of the structure an enormous creature burst forth. Deep black skin with thick strong legs, a powerful bladed tail and an enormous shield like head crest.
Scar roared in his native tongue.
"Lookout! It's a Praetorian Xenomorph!" Elle shouted for those who couldn't understand. She noticed the large burn scars over its body and guessed that this Praetorian was a survivor of the red matriarch's nest.
Lopez's Pov
The remaining drones and soldier castes began a secondary attack with their new reinforcement. The Praetorian locked onto a group of UNSC soldiers and charged. The UNSC opened fire, but the bullets ricochet harmlessly off the Praetorian's thick carapace. The large Xeno smashed its crest against the humans and then into the wall. A sickening crunching sound filled the air as the soldiers were quickly crushed to death. The Praetorian turned to find new targets. What was left of the soldiers was a pile of bloody twisted limbs and mashed up body parts.
"YOU SONOVA BITCH!" Lopez yelled. She opened fire and unloaded her ammunition into the Praetorian's scared backside. Razor shots ripped through the softer flesh of its back, spilling bright green blood which ate through the floor below.
Letting out a roar of pain and rage the Praetorian turned and charged Lopez. But the general stood her ground and continued firing. The beast was closing and gaining speed with every step. Lopez prepared herself for what was to come, a large figure rushed to her side and knocked her out of harm's way.
Thel'Vadam's Pov
The plasma splashed against the hard shell, burning but not seriously injuring the closing monster. Throwing down the useless weapon he raised his arms just in time to catch the blunt of the force and was pushed back. He growled in pain as his left shoulder was dislocated and at least three ribs were broken.
The Praetorian began thrashing, claws slashing his lower body, while it bucked its large head trying again and again to crush him under its weight. Thel'Vadam kicked its injured abdomen, acid blood splashing against his leg.
The Praetorian threw itself off the Sangheili howling in pain.
Using his good arm Thel' grabbed his energy sword. Ignoring the pain coursing through his body The Arbiter stood and slashed at the Xeno, severing a chunk of its head crest. But before he could strike again, the Praetorian's bladed tail whipped around and pierced the Thel's gleaming armor, entered through his chest and exited through his back.
Laurel's Pov
Everything seemed to move in slow motion. Thel'Vadam had pushed Lopez out of the way and took the tremendous blow from the Praetorian. He then began fighting back, managing to kick the Xeno off him and get his sword out.
But then the Praetorian's tail stabbed straight through his chest, impaling him. The Thel' was now lying on his back in a growing pool of his own florescent blue blood with the Praetorian leering over him, preparing to make the kill.
A violent roar tore through the crowd as the Sangheili, Yuatja, Lopez, Scar, Laurel, Rtas'Vadam and X charged the Praetorian. The other Xenomorphs fell below the unexpected charge and the mob's rage.
The mob surrounded and made quick work of the Praetorian. Automatic weapons tore through its flesh and energy swords disassembling its body. Those who didn't have guns stabbed at it with survival knives and beat at it with any random rubble they could find. Soon the beast was still as its bodily fluids ate through the metal flooring, leaving a gaping hole.
Elle rushed to the Arbiter's side. His breath was ragged, trails of blue blood were trickling down from his mouth. The gaping hole in his chest where the bladed tail had been was flowing torrents.
She fell to her knees beside her fallen friend with tears running down her face. She held Thel's large hand in her smaller ones. "You will not die brother! Do you hear me brother, you will not die!" She sobbed.
The Thel'Vadam looked to her, his eyes peaceful and calm. He placed his hand on her shoulder. "Do not weep for me sister. I could not have asked for a more glorious death."
Lopez stood behind Laurel. "Why did you do that?" She demanded quietly.
He looked to her. "I feel you would have done the same."
Lopez turned her eyes to the ground in shame.
Thel'Vadam looked back to Laurel. "I have fought many great battles, but none so glorious as this great war." He gripped her shoulder more tightly. "I fought with many great warriors and I have returned honor to the title of Aribiter. I could never have wished for such an exalted death and I am proud to have fought at your side sister." He motioned Rtas'Vadum forward. Picking up his nearby fallen sword he placed it firmly into Rtas's hands. "Lead...the Sangheili." With that Thel'Vadam exhaled deeply and closed his eyes for the last time.
"He has achieved transcendence." Rtas' said in a whisper.
Everyone fell silent. Laurel choked back a sob as she looked at the lifeless body of the once great warrior. A firm hand was placed on her shoulder. She turned and saw X, his face hard but his eyes full of sorrow. He pulled her to her feet and embraced her tightly. A few loose tears trailed down her face, he carefully wiped them away.
Kay's communicator beeped. He activated it and Zeeltor's face appeared.
"Agent Kay the Yuatja's slip-space drive is still online and I think I can transport you all back to MIB headquarters by focusing a slip-space field around your position. We've locked onto your coordinates and we're in the process of focusing a tight beam of slip-space energy on your location and open a slip-space portal around you and should transport you all back to MIB."
"How big of a portal are we talking, what's the diameter?" Kay asked.
"About a hundred yards."
"Zeeltor give us five minutes to double check and secure the area befor-"
"There's no time! You have exactly fifty five seconds to get everyone together before the portal opens and the entire fleet goes with it!"
Kay didn't like it. There were too many risks to this plan. But leaving everyone stuck on the monster infested planet to die was out of the question.
"Alright I'll gather everyone together. Kay out." He pocketed the vid-link and turned to everyone. There was at least a few hundred soldiers left who were just finishing off the last pack of drone castes.
"Listen up! We're getting outta' here, but we gotta' move fast! Bring everyone together in the center here! Put the wounded in the middle!" Everyone worked fats to be ready.
Laurel turned to Rtas'Vadum and Scar. "Help me move Thel's body. He deserves a proper burial."
They nodded and with the help of a few other Elites they brought the former Arbiter into the mass of warriors. As they passed the gaping hole where the Praetorian's body had melted through the metal, there was the faintest of hissing, quiet as the wind. Elle strained to listen more carefully, but it was nearly impossible over the combined sound of everyone.
"Ten seconds!" Kay called over the commotion.
She looked back at the hole and swore she saw something shift in the darkness below her feet. But as the air began to bubble with energy she turned her attention away.
A bright blue light flashed out of thin air engulfing them all. Elle shut her eyes from the brightness. She suddenly had the feeling weightlessness, as if she was flowing through a cold river, her hands and legs went numb and she no longer felt the need to breathe. Then as suddenly as the feeling came it vanished. Her lungs once more demanded her to take in a breath of air. Her hands and legs filled with pins and needles as she inhaled. Wait a minute, she thought. She knew that smell. The smell of linoleum floor cleaner and sterilizer. Opening her eyes Elle found herself standing in the MIB lobby along with everyone else.
She was home, after all she had been through she was home. Kay's voice interrupted her happy thoughts.
"Spread out, check everywhere. Make sure nothing came back with us."