He didn't know why he was running, or even why he was following the waypoint. Maybe it was the training telling him to follow objectives when presented to him. Even if said objective was from an unknown.
Maybe it's the sense that he was dead, or dying. This was all one last lucid dream to him. The forest around him was ethereal to him like it was from a dream. Forest animals he's seen in books roamed and pass by him. A few of the flora actually glowed in multicolored florescence.
Or maybe, just maybe, he was curious. That sense of curiousness that was lost since childhood just came back. Another sense of freedom started to come back.
Still to Six it could be all of the above and then some.
Glancing at the timer it was still rapidly counting down. The waypoint still not getting any closer, or was he getting closer? It wasn't showing meters. It was just there on his HUD. A sense of urgency forced him to run faster. Armored boots rhythmically thudded on the ground trampling the glowing grass.
Five minutes remained when he finally broke out of the treeline. A vast expanse of rolling hills before him. Off in the distance a camp fire burned and above it the waypoint. The blue diamond soon disappeared replaced by fifteen red diamonds. The closest one was out by 200 meters. A large figure hunched over something on the ground. Another besides him doing the same thing.
His augmented hearing could pick up sounds from the large group. Laughter, boastful conversations, and screaming. Cries in a language he could not understand, but the meaning was all the same. Six had heard similar during his Headhunter days of clearing Insurrection bases.
The DMR came up to his shoulders. Its scope zoomed in at max over the first target. Head cleared from any obstacle. The grass surrounding them was still. Six calculated everything in a span of half a second. Exhaling, the trigger was pulled.
Valeria begged her father for them to not go. The rumors of the Flame Dragon being awoken could just be that, rumors. He was a stubborn man and insisted that she and her mother be moved far away to Italica.
There had been talks of bandits roaming the lands after the armies defeat at the Holy Hill. One such soldier wondered in their village raving about the defeat. He warned about the demons beyond the gate and how men had been driven mad to the point that they now pillage the surrounding area. Yet still her father dragged them onto the wagon away from the safety of their home.
Now here she was trying to breath as a bandits hand squeezed her throat. Arms tied above her head. His weight on her chest as he straddles her. Rancid breath in her ear as he talks about all the things he would do.
Valeria looked around trying to not see this beasts face. Her mother besides already screaming in the air as another holds her down. She could only close her eyes as tears fell. All her prayers of salvation to the Gods that never reached.
Her thoughts screamed in her head. 'Damn you father! Damn you monsters! And damn you Gods!'
Thunder cracked in the night. A warm wetness flicked on her face. The weight lifted and the grip loosen. Something heavy slams next to her kicking the dirt up. She dared crack an eye open to see.
Cold dead eyes greeted her. Blood pooling in the dirt from the massive hole in their temple. Her blood in turn ran cold from the site.
The bandit next to her looked up from her mother and asked. "What wa-"
Another thunder crack and his head exploded in a shower of gore. Everyone around the camp fire jumped up from watching one of their own struck down. Swords, knives, and other bladed weapons came out read to face whatever may be in the darkness of the night.
One tried to shout "Show your se-!" and he too was struck down in a clap of thunder.
They all began to panic as more and more of them fell to the ground dead. One cowered on the ground as the rest tried to run. Two disappeared into the dark before their dead bodies fell to the earth. Another leg was blown off sending them screaming to the ground.
Three where left when they made it to the hills. Their screams fading into the darkness as the one with one leg still cried into the night by the fire. The cowering one only whimpered.
Both Valeria and her mother held their tongue. Both never moving in fear of whatever had killed the bandits might see them. After a long while she soon picked up heavy footsteps coming their way.
In the flickering light of the fire a silver reflection shimmered in the night. A form emerged from the darkness. It looked like a man, but was not a man. Sharp edged metal of pitch and steel clad black skin. A green block was on it's back. A black and silver staff hung on the small of its back. In its hands was also a black staff with an odd reflective box on top. The thing placed it on it's back where it held. A silver smaller staff quickly in its hands.
Walking up to the screaming bandit the silver staff flashed three times as the end exploded. Chest in turn exploding in gore before the head shattered ending the screaming. The cowering bandit that was left was on his knees, hands clasped together.
"Please! Please! D-don't kill me! I-I just joined! I haven't done anything! I haven't stole or killed or raped any-!" The pleading was answered with three more thunderous flashes. Both lungs and heart exploded. Half his head was gone by the time he fell into the fire.
She couldn't help but finally scream. This brought the attention of this, demon, on her.
Six couldn't understand what this man was saying. Obviously pleading for his life as the magnum was staring down at him. Still he was a target to be eliminated, and he did just that. Two in the chest and one in the head. Like he always did when he executed Insurrectionists.
A yellow dot soon showed up in his motion tracker before a scream was assaulting his ears. He quickly snapped to where it was. A young girl, probably in her mid-teens, was laying on the ground. Arms tied and dress torn away. Near her was an older woman, maybe early thirty's by Six's judgment. Each of them had long shoulder length brown hair. Facial features and eyes where also similar. Obviously both of them where family though how was Six's guess.
Before he could think further IFF tags soon pinged. Standard UNSC civilian grade to his surprise. They didn't look like any civilians he's seen throughout the colonies. None of these people where dressed in modern clothing. The men where also sporting ancient melee weapons, and not a single one had a firearm.
Six noticed the timer had stopped. Reason why was now obvious. Looking out into the hills the red markers where still there. Meter indicators slowly ticking up as the remaining targets made their escape.
His magnum snapped back to his thigh. There was no point in pursuit for now as they weren't an actual threat. Instead the focus was now on the two civilians. Walking slowly to the younger one he unsheathed the kukri. The girls eyes grew wide at the imposing blade that shined in the fire light.
More yelling assaulted Six in the language he could not understand. Fear dripped from each word as he came close to her. She struggled against him when he held down her legs. In one quick motion the rope was severed. Before it even registered in her mind the same happened with her arms.
She became quiet, looking at her now free limbs. Rope burn was still there raw on her skin, but she was free. Six did the same to the older of the women. Once the final rope was cut she bolted to the younger embarrassing her in a tight squeeze.
Both of them sobbed on the ground for a minute. Torn, dirty, and traumatized by what had transpired. Six could only think back to a few ops in the outer colonies. A few criminal elements he encounter had done similar to what these men have done. All of them he came in too late for any of the victims. Though never part of any mission perimeters he at least tried to help during the early years. That stopped a few years into his career. A part of Six hated himself for it.
It wasn't the worst thing he had done. Not by a long shot.
Six tried to offer a had to help them up. He was only met by eyes of fear. They both huddled and scooted away from his armored hand.
"Big man forgets what he is sometimes." That familiar voice echoed in his mind. Hands slacked then clenched back into a fist as his arm retracted back to his side. A sigh escaped his lips as he turned back to where the targets ran off.
All was still there but they had stopped. He started to turn back to the camp when one disappeared. More screams where off in the distance that he could pick up. The two near him however didn't hear it. The last two also vanished as the screams where cut off. Hairs on the back of Six's neck stood. That sixth sense he had started to scream at him to get ready.
The DMR was already in his hands when he heard the faint foot falls from behind the hill. He took a defensive stance, ready for whatever was coming. Six was too focused to noticed the "Objective Complete" at the top of his visor.
A ping came over his helmet signaling that it picked up a friendly tag. One yellow dot entered in range of the tracker. Above the hill the IFF tag materialized. On it a name came up.
Rory M.
She knew she was getting close to where her God wanted her to be. The thunder in the distance, mortal men breathing their last into the hot night air. Their souls torn away to Hardy's side instead of Emroy's.
A smirk grew from that thought. 'How wonderful that scum where denied their place.' She laughed at that. Her hatred for those types ran deep to the point that she enjoyed their suffering.
'Whoever this "Man of Black Iron" was had been doing a good job.' She thought as she continued to race towards the slaughter.
The thunders echo stopped for sometime. In the dark by a hill three figures ran down it. Heavy panicked breath in the air as one stumbled down. He finally stopped at the base, face right at Her feet. The others stopped in their tracks with wide eyes.
"N-no, Rory the Reaper!?"
Her teeth gleamed in the dark as her boot slammed down on the head of the fallen. A sickening wet crack rang out as the two screamed. In swift motion the heavy halberd arced in a swipe. Her momentum was fast cleaving both in two. Their screams dying as they fell in a pool of blood and entrails.
A few twirls of the obsidian weapon flicked off the remaining blood before resting on her shoulders. Her tongue clicked "Sloppy, sloppy. They let a few get away." She shook her head.
"Still cutting down twelve souls in a span of a few seconds isn't bad. I'll give them that." She strutted up the hill.
Emroy had whispered to her only a few details. That this Man of Black Iron was both like, and unlike those that came through the Gate. A warrior of another time and nothing else. She had heard rumors on weapons of thunder and fire that annihilated Sadera's army. Thunder that she heard just before.
Her smile brighten when she crest the hill. Bodies had been strewn around a still burning campfire. The smell of burning flesh wafer in the air as one had fallen into it. Two women where cowering together, eyes glued to an imposing figure that stood there.
Clad in black armor, a silver face looking at her in the pitch of night beyond the light of the fire. A strange weapon pointed at her. It too was as back as the armor with a blue gem that rested ontop. He gave off an air of hostility, a stance that was ready to fight.
She only chuckled at this. "An air of a warrior truly."
The two women heard her laugh. Both now looking at her with the same wide eyes as the bandits before. She turned to them and was about to ask if they are alright, but stopped when the giant man of iron moved between them. One arm held out behind signaling the two to stay while the weapon was still pointed at her.
There was a look of surprised on all three women before the demigoddess laughed.
"Do not worry yourself," She said. "I'm not here to harm them."
The man said nothing, now both hands gripping the weapon. That air of hostility still hung over the camp. She frowned a little before continuing.
"I'm sorry, where are my manners?" She apologized.
With a bow she said. "My name is Rory Mercury. Apostle of the Dark God Em- HEY!"
A strong hand gripped her head. Black hair was tossed to the side exposing her neck. With her off hand she smacked away the metal arm. The massive figure swiftly backed off with the weapon still trained on her. She in turn jumped away with her weapon in both hands.
A male voice boom in a language that was not like anything Rory had ever heard. There was authority to it, demanding something that she didn't know. A tense standoff between the two held for a bit with two terrified witnesses. The man demanded again the same thing.
Confused she said the last thing back slowly. "You-en-es-see eye-eff-eff?"
He nodded and tapped the back of his neck. Again he said something. Rory only shook her head before saying. "I don't understand."
Both had realize that there was a massive language barrier between them. She slapped the palm of her hand on her face at the thought. 'Of course. Warrior of another time.'
She sighed before turning to the two women with them. "Are you both alright? Has he hurt you?"
The older woman only got on her knees and proceeded to bow to her. "N-no your Holiness." she blurted out.
The younger also threw herself to the ground with her. "I-it s-saved us Oracle."
Rory nodded while looking back at their savior. Silver face slightly moving to look at the two bowing before her then back at her. The strange staff slightly lowering, but still pointed at her body. To Rory's guess they wouldn't immediately killed by whatever the staff did. Still defensive to her in a way.
Carefully moving closer to the women she knelt with them and softly spoke. "Where there any others?"
The older of the two teared up. "No, just.." Her voice shook. "My husband..."
Rory looked away. "I'm sorry."
"Why would you be?"
Both she and the woman looked at the younger. Surprised by the anger in her voice as she spoke on. "Why would you be? I prayed to the Gods for salvation from these men!" She spat. "And yet not one of them answered when my father was butchered and my mother defiled!"
"Valeria!" The Mother was about to chastise her further till Rory held up her hand.
"It's alright." She looked at Valeria and continued. "I'm sorry I couldn't have come sooner. Though be glad that someone heard your prayers." Rory turned to The Man of Black Iron with a smile. Whether or not Emroy had anything to do with this strangers intervention she could only guess. Still The God of Darkness and Madness had always done things without reason. It is why he held that later title.
Six didn't know why this girl, or what he assumed to be a girl, had an IFF tag. She didn't have a neural lace which would show on the back of the neck. She also didn't know what UNSC or IFF meant.
He started to mentally chastise himself 'They didn't speak English or any other known language. Of course she wouldn't know what you where saying!'
Targeting reticle of his weapon was still glowing bright green on his HUD signaling friendly. Six couldn't trust it. He refused to trust it now with what was infront of him. A little girl probably no more than 13 wearing a strange black and red dress carrying a massive halberd that's tagged as friendly. Coupled with the fact that he was in a strange place that felt like a fantasy.
Still, the two women he saved was in reverence to this person. This Rory hadn't harmed them in anyway. Even with the younger one, Valeria the woman said, outburst she still didn't do anything. The smile Rory gave him after still unnerved the Spartan. There was a knowing gaze to it.
She soon held out her hand to the younger which she gingerly took and easily lifted her up. Doing the same to the older with ease. Six sighed to himself before lowing the rifle fully to a resting position. Rory smiled at this before saying something in that strange language. He ignored this looking out beyond the camp. In turn she pouted
Things where the quite for the longest time. The three of them had scrounged up clothing from the fallen to use. A stop gap till they could get appropriate clothing he figured. In all that time he stood vigilant over them all the while he formulated his next move.
He still had three full clips left for the DMR with three rounds left currently. Ten full box mags for the MA5B, and that includes the one in it. Eight clips for the magnum. Two of each of the plasma and frag grenades. Little water left in his canteen and no food. He had been in more dire straight with only a knife for survival. Six could easily survive on his own.
Turning to look at the two sleeping forms and one siting, he wasn't sure how they would survive. The odd girl was already alone when she came to them. If the sudden disappearance of the targets and screaming was an indicator then he didn't know what was.
The weapon she carried around was massive compared to her body. Its haft was taller then her, and the ax head itself was comically large. But it was still a deadly weapon as it still had the blood of the three bandits all dried up. If Six had to guess it might do some damage to him. She caught him looking at it. A sly look came across her face as she spoke to him. Once again he ignored it and she in turn went back to tending the fire.
Two hours passed before the morning light shown in the east. Valeria stirred from their slumber, eyes opening to the sight of the camp. The bodies had been thrown into a pile unceremoniously. Each one had been stripped of whatever valuables or food. Two large canvas sacks had been stuffed to the brim with whatever they needed.
Their ever vigilant guardian stood by them. The Man of Black Iron the Oracle told them. This strange being saved her, but still she felt they could have came sooner. She sighed as she thought back to the conversation they had before they slept. Valeria went off on the Apostle and the Gods. She in turn told her that the Gods could not answer every prayer even if they wanted to. It was just the way things where.
'Then what's the point?' she thought.
She looked at her mother. There was a pain in Valeria's chest at the thought of what her mother went through. Seeing the death of her father, what those men did to her after. 'Why did it have to happen to them? To her?' She shook her head.
Heavy footsteps came near as she fully sat up from the ground. A load of bread was in her face held by the black armored gauntlet. Looking up she was surprised at the offer from the man. He shook it a bit as if to encourage her to take it. Valeria gratefully took it with a soft "Thank you." though she doubt that it could understand.
In the short time they had been together it was already apparent that it could not understand the words they spoke to it. They where much alien to it as it was to them. Taking a bite out of the hard loaf her eyes wondered towards the rising sun. What she saw made her stop mid-chew.
The Apostle was in prayer basking in the light. She practically glowed in the rays as it touched porcelain skin. Even the black and crimson dress gave off a glow of its own. Valeria was mesmerized by the sight. The Man of Black Iron to stopped what he was doing to see the sight.
When the last bit of the sun crested the hill beyond did the Apostle rose up. A quick dust off her skirt before taking the haft of her weapon. She looked at the two of them with a smile.
"Emroy spoke to me." She proclaimed. "I know now where I must go to."
"So you are leaving us?" Valeria asked.
Rory nodded. "Yes I'm afraid. I go where my God ask me to, and he says that I must find..." She looked at the tall dark armored figure. "Other interesting men."
Valeria looked at her with confusion before turning that same look to The Man of Black Iron. "And you as well?" That silver face looked back into her own without a word. She turned away in embarrassment forgetting that they couldn't understand.
Her mother awoken to the sound of their conversation. Like her she was soon offered a loaf which she too excepted. They ate in quiet as the Apostle made her final preparations for departure. All the while the tall man looked off into the distance not moving. Rory looked out too and turned to him.
"Going there as well?" She gave a smile when it turned to her then back to the two.
He reached for both sacks and placed one before Valeria and her mother. They both were confused till it spoke. Head tilting into the direction where Rory had started to walk.
Her mother looked at her. "I think it wants us to follow."
Again it beckoned them as it to started to walk away from the camp. Quickly each of them hefted the bags over their shoulder and started the long trek to whatever the destination was. Valeria did not care at this point. Going alone with her mother out into the wild without protection was suicide. Going with their father was also suicide too. She didn't want a repeat that ever again.
His HUD had chimed signaling that a new objective was added. "Link up" was all it said as a new waypoint popped up on the compass. Rory was already walking in that direction, so he figured it was with other allies of hers.
Six was willing to hope that he would get some clue as to what was going on. Maybe that there where other UNSC forces here. The past few hours had been spent on listening to all channels, but no signal. He had even dared to broadcast on an open channel for someone to respond. None had answered.
He still had reservation on following these mysterious objectives. However what choice did he have. Grabbing what he could off the men the night before and shoving them into the bags for the two with him. He wasn't about to leave them behind, there was always a part of him that had the drive to protect others. After what happened in New Alexandria he'd damn himself for letting more civilians be left behind.
Six was glad that his pantomiming got the two moving with him. Probably the same reluctance after what happened that night. On the back of his mind he was wondering how they ended up here, but shoved that off. There was no point in satisfying that curiosity if it meant opening fresh wounds.
Right now he was focusing on watching over the three women, his compass, and his tracker for hostiles.
Beyond the rolling green hills miles from the four, on top of the Holy Hill in a command tent sat an older gentlemen. Around him top officials and his right hand man where looking at the report that came in that night. A radio operator that was setting up communications back beyond the inky black abyss of the Gate picked up something they never thought could happen.
Lieutenant General Hazama scratched at his chin as he read the transcripts. "And all of this was in English?" he asked.
Lieutenant Yanagida nodded. "Yes sir. We did translate it and well," He sighed. "We don't exactly understand the context."
Each of the officers read the short transcript again.
[This is Sierra Beta 312 to any and all UNSC forces respond. Reach HIGHCOM how copy?]
[Audible sigh]
[Again this is Sierra Beta 312 to any UNSC forces how copy?]
Hazama looked up from the report. "UNSC? Where they asking for United Nations Security Council?"
"I don't think so." One of the officer spoke. "The U.N is no where near the Gate on the other side. The transmission was picked up here. Unless another Gate was open that we didn't know about I doubt they are here on Falmart."
Another piped up. "That also doesn't explain this callsign "Sierra Beta". This could be a special forces operative." A lot of them nodded at this.
Hazama leaned back while tossing the paper on the table. "So we have a foreign spec-ops in the Special Region." He rubbed his eyes. "Honestly expected something like this ever since our government booted out those U.N dignitaries."
"Sir I doubt this even is the U.N at work." Yanagida looked over the report again. "Still it would be best if we get the word out to the Recon Teams to be on the look out."
"Right," Hazama stood up. "Lieutenant Teruya send the word out. The rest of you dismiss."
Each one in unison saluted with a "Yes Sir." before filing out. The Lieutenant General stood there in thought. Mauling over each detail from the short transcript. "Sierra Beta 312", "UNSC", and "HIGHCOM" all stood out to him.
'Whoever this is was trying to reach a higher command.' He thought. 'Yet there isn't any other radio transmissions but us.'
He started to walk to the entrance when he pause. 'Wait, could they have picked up our transmissions?' He pondered this as Hazama made his way to the construction site.