Chapter 24: Gravemind
Disclaimer: I Don't Own Halo, Red Vs Blue or Any of their Respective Characters
A/N: Hello. Before I start, I want to apologize to all of the readers who expected the story to be finished on Christmas Day. Well, it obviously didn't happen. And that is because I went to bed sick Christmas Day and I forgot all about my promise. I apologize again. But with all of that said, welcome to the next chapter. In this chapter, John will figure out if attempting to kill the Gravemind from Installation 05 was really worth doing. Also, Carolina and Tucker will kind of a have a moment to make up. I hope you have enjoyed this story so far, because the last chapter doesn't exactly have a happy ending and it will be all too familiar. So, please follow and/or favorite the story, as it really has been fun to write. Also, if you want to submit your opinion, then please, I ask you to submit a review and/or PM me. So, I hope you enjoy this chapter, and without further ado, let's start it off!
John-117
Holy City of High Charity, Flood Outpost
John stared at the smoking, dead Flood bodies, they were actually dead this time. "I can't believe that actually worked." Simmons said. "Could you have done that before I was kicked in the balls fifty-bazillion times?" Grif asked. "Oh, shut up you wimp!" Tex said. "You're one to talk!" Grif said. "You've kicked me in the nuts so many times, that I can't count!" Simmons scoffed. "Then you probably can't count that high." Simmons said. "Nice burn, Simmons!" Sarge said. "Thank you, Sir!" Simmons replied in return. "Kiss-ass." Grif said. "Let's focus people." John said, as he placed his Rifle on his back. He walked over to the source of the smoke. 343 Guilty Spark deactivated his Active Camo that Tex had lent the AI and hovered over to John. "Thank you, Sparky." John said. And he meant it. "You are welcome!" 343 Guilty Spark beeped. "How did you do that?" Tucker asked, as he walked up next to Chief. "The files I picked up from interfacing with the Sentinel Body. I learned how to utilize my beam to a hundred percent."
"Can you do it again for the fight against the Gravemind?" John asked. "Negative. That attack used up a significant amount of energy. I won't be able to it again any time soon." the AI said. John sighed. "That's alright." John said. "We'll go with our original plan. Tucker! Doc! Now!" Tucker and Doc ran over to John. "Do you two remember what to do?" John asked. Tucker sighed. "What was I supposed to do again?" he asked. 343 Guilty Spark hovered over to Tucker. "From what I saw of it's chamber when I hacked their 'camera system', the Gravemind sits atop a pedestal. However, the pedestal has one weak thing about it." the AI beeped. "What is that weak thing?" John asked. "The pedestal it sits on, it has a medium sized hole in it, exposing it's weak spot in it's flabby 'skin'." 343 Guilty Spark. "Why would it do that?" Tucker asked. "It must think we don't possess an energy weapon powerful enough to wound it significantly." the AI chirped. "We don't. It's right." Tucker said. "No. We do have an energy weapon." John said. Tucker turned to look at John. "But Chief, what is the weapon?" he asked. John stared at the Energy Sword that sat on Tucker's thigh. Tucker followed his glance. "Oh, fuckberries." Tucker finally said.
Tucker
Holy City of High Charity, Flood Outpost
After several minutes of listening to the plan, Tucker knew what he was in for. He was supposed to slide underneath the pedestal, while the crew put down covering fire, stab it when he got the chance and Doc would finish it off with a few well placed rockets. "Remember, when you stab the creature, it could potentially overload the sword and harm you, even enough to cause your death." 343 Guilty Spark said. "Please don't say death!" Tucker exclaimed. The doors in front of them opened and they saw the Gravemind sitting on it's pedestal. "It's time." the Master Chief said. They all walked towards the door. Tucker started walking through the door, but someone grabbed him from behind. He turned around, to see Carolina standing there. "I thought I told you to leave me the fuck alone." Tucker said. "I don't care, I want to tell you t-" Tucker interrupted without a second thought. "I don't give a damn about what you want to tell me!" Tucker said. "I thought I had made a clear message. Now get the fuck away from me and let me do m-" Carolina interrupted him.
"I'm sorry." she said. "What did you just say?" he asked, slightly irritated. "I'm sorry you've never been able to have a relationship." she said, sounding solemn about it. "Okay..." Tucker said. "Look, if we survive this," Carolina began to speak and it sounded like she was really struggling to speak. "I just want you to know that I might think about taking you out for a coffee. Or whatever is socially acceptable these days." Tucker just stared at her. "Are you serious?" he asked. Carolina looked down at her feet, before looking up at him. "Yes." she said. "That's very nice of you, Carolina." Tucker finally said. "Tucker, let's go!" Tucker heard the Master Chief calling to him. "So, ready to go be the hero?" Carolina asked, as they ran to catch up to the others. "Ugh. Let's just go get this over with." Tucker said. They ran into the room together and immediately got bombarded by enemy fire. "Take cover!" the Master Chief called to the group. Tucker ran to cover and hid with the Master Chief. "Okay Tucker, we are going to cover you, so all you need to do is slide under that pedestal and stab that thing. Can you do that?" the Master Chief asked.
"Of course I can do it, Chief! What's so fucking difficult about swish, swish, stab?" Tucker asked. "Whatever you say, Private." the Master Chief said. "Okay. We're going to cover you. Get ready!" Tucker just barely peeked out from cover and surveyed the room for a good path to the target. When he finally found it, he spoke. "Ready." Tucker said. "Now!" the Master Chief yelled, as all of them except Tucker exited cover and fired in all directions enemies were present at. Tucker leapt out from cover and sprinted for the pedestal. Make it count! he thought to himself, as he neared the pedestal. Tucker went into the slide and just hoped for the best.
Epsilon-Church
Blood Gulch
Church appeared in his holographic form as he interfaced with the Blue Base terminal console. "Are you sure about this, Epsilon?" Delta asked, appearing next to Church. "I'm positive." Church said. "Start the recording and the replication process." Delta seemed to be thinking for a minute. "Replication for the AIs or you?" he finally said. "Both." Church said. "Replicate both the AIs and me." Delta hovered without speaking. "And you are sure?" he asked. "I'm sure!" Church said, slightly irritated. "If you say so." Delta said. "What if they need you?" Church sighed. "If they need me that bad, they'll know how to wake me up!" he said. "Let's see if this is all worth it." he said.
Tucker
Holy City of High Charity, Flood Outpost
Tucker slid underneath the pedestal and began to fire at the Gravemind's weak spot that was covered by a thin coating of flabby, rotten "flesh", if you could call it that. Once the skin was gone, Tucker took out his Energy Sword and activated it. "Okay you rotten piece of shit. Now you get yours!" Tucker exclaimed. With one single heave, Tucker forced his Sword through the narrow slit, that the ancient AI had said was supposed to lead the the Gravemind's "heart" or power source. The Gravemind let out a roar of pain so loud, that it hurt Tucker's ears. Tucker couldn't hold his ears. The only thing he could do was hold the Sword in place and try to keep it forced upward, as he could feel it vibrating. "Doc, fire the rockets! Now!" Tucker heard the Master Chief exclaim. "Fall, you bloody fool!" Doc said, in his "O'Malley" voice. Doc fired the Rocket Launcher and Tucker felt the Gravemind shudder. "Oh, yeah! That thing took it the the mouth!" Donut said.
"Shut the fuck up." Lopez said. "Yes, please. God, with your innuendos." Simmons said. Tucker had to brace his right hand with with his left hand, to keep his Sword in it's spot. "It's collapsing!" Tucker heard the Master Chief shout. "Just hold on a little longer!" Tucker grunted. "Way ahead of you, Chief." Tucker whispered, as it was the only strength he had. "A few more Rockets Doc! Back him up with grenades men!" the Master Chief exclaimed. Tucker heard several Frags being thrown. Tucker looked down, after he heard something. He was met with a Frag Grenade sitting right at his feet. "Oh, shit!" Tucker exclaimed, as he kicked it away. It exploded after Tucker kicked it away and the resulting explosion sent shrapnel flying. Some of shrapnel cut through the layer of jumpsuit that the Mjolnir Armor was placed against and it cut through some of his skin underneath the suit. "Ow, god damn it!" Tucker said. "Can you not throw grenades my way?!" Several seconds later, someone spoke. "Tucker did it!" Caboose said. "Why does Caboose get grenades?" Simmons asked.
Tucker could feel blood coming from the wound in his lower leg. And he felt something else. He touched his abdomen, to feel a few cuts in his protective gel layer. He brought his hand back up in front of his visor and saw blood. His blood. "Oh, fuck." he said. Above him, the Gravemind shuddered as it took another rocket. "Take this and call my other personality in the morning!" Doc said as he laughed. All of a sudden, Tucker felt his sword vibrating even more than it had been. Seconds later, a wave of energy pulsed through his armor. Tucker was knocked back away from the Gravemind and fell to the deck of the room. He looked to his right, to see that he was still holding the sword, but it was malfunctioning. It was flickering on and off. As Tucker's vision began to fade, he thought of Carolina's words to him. If we survive this, I just wanted to let you know that I might just think about taking you out for a cup of coffee. "A cup of coffee." Tucker said, as he began to lose consciousness. "And I won't even survive." He could already see his file or status after this whole thing. Private First Class Lavernius Tucker. Status: K.I.A. Tucker's vision faded and he lost consciousness.
John-117
Holy City of High Charity, Flood Outpost
"God damn it!" John said, as he got out from cover, firing on the Gravemind to keep his mouth open, so that his team could fire rockets and toss grenades into the beast's mouth, destroying it from the inside out. "Keep fire on the damn thing!" John sprang from cover and began to run towards the platform, dodging the fire of the Flood Combat Forms that remained. John slid underneath the pedestal to investigate Tucker's condition. "Tucker! Tucker!" John exclaimed, over the sound of all the explosions. "Oh God. He's breathing, but he's been cut by shrapnel. Doc, if we don't get Tucker medical attention soon, he'll die!" There was no answer from Doc. "Doc!" John exclaimed. "Yeah, I'm here!" Doc exclaimed. "I need you to get Tucker out of here once you have taken care of the Gravemind!" Doc said nothing for a second. "But, Chief! The Gravemind has already been taken care of!" he said at last. John got up and ran out from under the pedestal and turned around to look up.
Doc was actually right. Sort of. The Gravemind was slowly opening and closing it's mouth. It's "skin" was blistering up. "You're right." John said. He walked over to in front of the Gravemind. "Why did you let us win?" John asked. "What was the point of it?" The Gravemind didn't speak. "Talk!" John shouted. Eventually, it spoke. "I was a distraction." Was all it could say, before it's mouth closed and it collapsed. John didn't know if it was dead, but he had a pretty good idea that it was. "I think it's dead." John said. Just then, a door to his right opened and a Flood Tank sprang into the room, attacking the group. "Oh, fuck!" Simmons said, as he opened fire on Tank. "Every man for himself! Women and children last!" Grif said, running as he fired the Bruteshot. Out of the corner of his eye, John saw the Flood Tank running towards him. He turned around to fire at the monster, but it was too late. The Tank hit John with it's giant tentacle arm thing, sending John flying into a metal structure. The Tank sprinted towards John, and was about to rain hell on him again, when something shocking happened.
Caboose ran over to the Tank and hit it with the butt of his Assault Rifle. The Tank stumbled backwards after it took the hit. The Tank eventually regained it's concentration and continued it's advance, still heading towards John. However, Caboose placed his Rifle on his back and ran over to grab the Tank's tentacle arm and actually succeeded in forcing it back the way it came. "My name is Michael J. Caboose, and you won't hurt Mister Chief!" Caboose bellowed. Caboose kicked the Tank back back the way it came and when it fell, Caboose walked over to it, taking the Rifle off from his back. "Freckles! Now!" Caboose said. "Affirmative." Freckles said, before the Rifle fired it's entire magazine into the Flood Tank's chest. After he finished, Caboose slammed a fresh magazine into his Rifle. He walked over to where John was lying on the deck and stuck his hand out. John took it gratefully. "You, you saved my life." John said, his voice full of awe, confusion, and thankfulness all at the same time. Caboose shrugged. "Yeah, I uh, thought it would be fun." he said. "How were you even able to get that thing away from the Chief?" Simmons asked in shock.
"Oh, I just think that I'm a very scary person and that I am very strong!" Caboose said, as he lifted his Rifle in the air and fired confetti all over the place. "I call bullshit on that." Grif said, as he loaded his Bruteshot. "Guys, Tucker could be dying!" Carolina exclaimed. "We have to get him to safety, now!" Washington reloaded his Battle Rifle and looked at Carolina. "Since when do you care about what happens to Tucker?" he asked. "I don't." Carolina said. "But I've seen enough people die. I'd rather not see anymore people die." John sighed and nodded. "I'll grab Tucker. Lopez, go back the way we came and prep the Pelican for dust-off." he said. All of the Reds and Blues left the way they came, leaving only Tucker, John and Noble Six. As John lifted Tucker up onto his shoulder, Noble Six spoke. "You know what I have to do." he said. John nodded. He reached around to his back and gripped the nuke. He handed it off to Six. "I hope you can make it out." John said. Six nodded. "So do I." he said. "Good luck." John said. And with that, he ran out of the chamber, carrying Tucker the whole way.
Tucker
Blood Gulch
Thirty to Forty Minutes Later...
Tucker slowly opened his eyes, still in a lot of pain. He could only keep his eyes open for seconds at a time. Or for minutes or hours at a time, for all he knew. He saw the Master Chief above him, with his helmet off, looking down at him, with a solemn look on his face. He could hear the roar of the Pelican Dropship's engine. The Chief looked to his right and Tucker could barely hear him say: "What are you waiting for?! Chinese New Year?! Get Tucker on that makeshift stretcher!" Tucker slowly lifted his hand, using all the strength he had left and felt his helmet. No, his face. Someone had taken off his helmet. He reached up to try to pick himself with something, but his vision faded again as his hand hit the surface of the Pelican. "If you keep going that slow, Tucker will bleed out before we even get to the Infirmary! Hurry up!" he could barely hear the Chief yell. As Tucker faded again, one thought remained in his head. Private First Class Lavernius Tucker. Status: K.I.A.
Tucker opened his eyes again, what seemed to me minutes later. He saw the sky above him and he felt someone's hand's on his lower torso. He could barely hear the sound of running footsteps. "Carolina, keep pressure on that wound!" Tucker could barely hear the Chief shout. "I'm trying, Chief!" Carolina said, as he continued to be moved. Tucker closed his eyes again. Private First Class Lavernius Tucker. Status: K.I.A. Tucker could still hear what was going on, but just barely.
John-117
John pushed into the Infirmary, while still transporting Tucker. "Out of the way!" he shouted. "Tucker needs medical attention!" Cortana got up and ran to John's side, while Doctor Halsey stood up from her desk. "What happened?!" she exclaimed. "Hey! Didn't you hear me?" John shouted. "Private Tucker is wounded!" Halsey rushed from behind her desk. "Cortana! Get a cot ready! We have to prep Tucker for surgery if necessary!" she exclaimed. Cortana nodded and went to go get one of their cots ready. Several minutes later, Tucker had been put on a cot and had been stripped of his upper body armor, along with some of his lower armor, exposing his knees and everything below that. Halsey was shouting orders to everyone, and it just made it worse that Tucker had awoken again in the middle of all this. He reached up and grabbed Carolina's shoulder, just to hold onto something and began to cough. And he didn't just cough. He coughed up blood. And it got on Carolina's breastplate.
"Restrain him! He can't be fidgeting around while I perform surgery to remove the shrapnel!" Halsey shouted. "I have to sedate him if he is to even make it to surgery!" John and Carolina worked to keep Tucker held down against the cot. "I'm sorry Tucker! You'll thank me when you survive this!" John said, keeping him held down, as Halsey administered the sedative via needle. Once he had gone under, Halsey began to quickly prep her surgical tools. That's when Tucker's monitor flat-lined. "Doctor! The patient has flat-lined! His heart isn't beating, but he is breathing!" Cortana said. "I'm on it! I might be able to get his heart beating again!" Halsey said. "Everyone get back!" John and everyone else obeyed and moved back. A few seconds later, Halsey approached Tucker. "Clear!" Halsey exclaimed. A second or two later, they heard Tucker's heart begin to beat again. It was faint and slow, but it was there. "Do you think he'll survive?" Carolina asked John. "Of course he will." John said as he grunted. "Tucker is a tough guy. If he survived multiple Flood outbreaks, than he can survive a little shrapnel to the leg and abdomen." Private First Class Lavernius Tucker. Status: W.I.A.
A/N: Okay, that is the chapter! For those of you who do not know, W.I.A. is a military acronym, standing for "wounded in action". So, what did you think of Tucker's near death experience? Are you satisfied with the ending to the conflict with the Flood? Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! If you did, please favorite and follow the story, as it helps the story out. And please don't forget to review or PM me if you want to submit input. Again, I'm sorry that this story wasn't finished Christmas Day, but as I said, I got sick. And I can't prevent getting sick. I didn't even feel like writing at that time. I mean, would you? Anyway, I'm going to go though, so have a good day and bye.