It was rather difficult to move the story without constant descriptions of gunfights, and I was hoping to make the chapter longer at least till we met the Berserker for those who've played the first Gears of War, but where I ended this chapter should suffice.
After all these years, hoping and praying to hear something, anything from Link. It was an unbearable pain that weighed heavily on Zelda's heart. On their way back to base aboard the King Raven with Impa. The breeze doused her cheeks in cool air, drying any tears she had. Leaving her warm and swelling in her eyes. A long peaceful satisfaction coursed through her skin, telling her body to numb all of her senses. A small smile cracked on her face after so long.
After four years of silent agony from Link's time in prison. The whole idea seemed rather hysterical in a sick, messed up way. For as long she knew him, he's always been a silent man of action. Today she was reminded of that side of him.
Impa broke Zelda out of her good mood with a nudge to her knees.
Zelda opened her eyes to look at Impa. Finally reeling in the reality around her, she dusted off her lap of any grime or dust.
"You alright?" Impa finally asked.
"Yeah… Thanks Impa." Zelda looked down at the ground from the Raven. All those years of suffering in silence.
"To be honest, Zelda, after all that time I wanted to punch him where he stood. Having you suffer all that time alone. And yet, all I could do was scold him and give him a reason to fight with us again." Impa had to pause herself to let out a soft laugh. Even she started to smile. "I should've known the Slab wouldn't change him." For a moment, Zelda could see her best friend loosen the tension in her own shoulders just now.
After catching Link's face today brought back so many memories. Flooding all through her mind right from the beginning.
(10 years after E-Day, Ilima City)
Bullets and blood flew from across all sides. Zelda laid herself face down in the safest corner behind the Hammer of Dawn satellite console. Nestling her face to her knees hugging herself tightly from the menacing theater of war outside her doorstep.
An Emergence hole erupted on the inside of the base. The attack on their left flank shot down two more Gears. All that's left is two others, Zelda and Link. More specifically, Link was all that's left who can fight.
"Control we're running out of time, where is that backup?" Link shouted in his comms.
"They're not far, just hang on a little longer."
"Control they're right outside! We need to use the Hammer."
"Holy Shit… Roger that the console is in the back."
"Hold them Cadet, I'll get to-" A wounded Gear fell down, shot fatally with a splattered skull and bloody brain matter.
Zelda stuck her head out from her position and realized the hammer control console is here with her.
"Someone get on that console- AGHH!" Link screamed out in pain. A fatal gunshot no doubt to Zelda's situation.
"Goddess! Grant me strength." Zelda spoke to herself. Jumping out her hardened shell of trauma, Zelda crawled her way to the satellite console and found the screen with a bird's eye view of the battlefield.
From what she can see the four Reavers are the main priority.
"Alright, which button is it?" Zelda says while taking the reins. The trigger took a moment to load the laser cannon from orbit. Shortly after, the righteous weapon of the Goddess Hylia struck down. The Hammer of Dawn's heavy beam cut through the Reavers and any lingering grubs. A display of locust blood and Reaver intestines exploding in a majestic union of an organized composer. The straggling grubs all burned to death with the boiling imulsion beams from the Hammer's laser.
Zelda peaked out of the hammer's console center and found the entire block drenched in crimson. The rancid remains of locust bodies and imulsion fumes made the acid in her stomach bubble up.
"Zelda!" Link raced over to her.
Zelda raced over to him with a primal bear hug. Releasing out all of the tension and pressure of the last five minutes. Unfortunately, as Zelda was looking around for any other Gears she only found Link and he didn't seem to be returning the hug. Link let go of her to check for any wounds.
"Is it just us?" Zelda asked, seeing a deep scrape on Link's padding.
Link looked over his shoulder to witness the slaughter they left behind.
"Seems like it." Link turned his attention to his radio piece.
"Control, this is cadet Link Takanashi. The outpost is compromised, the princess is safe but our transport is gone, as well as the rest of the squad here."
"Repeat cadet, you and the princess are all that's left?" The woman on the other end of Link's radio asked while hiding her shock.
"Confirmed Control. She's safe though, but we need immediate evac, over."
"Roger that cadet, the nearest convoy is located at the City Bank around the block from your location. Can you and the princess make it?"
"I know the bank, alright we'll sweep the outpost for COG tags and head for the Bank ASAP, over."
"Negative cadet, escorting the princess needs to be your top priority. Leave the tags, and get moving."
"Control?"
"That's an order, cadet!"
Link wanted to argue again, but he understood the order. These Gears would've died for nothing if the Princess didn't make it to safety.
"Wilco Control, over and out." Link swallowed the lump in his throat and went over to Zelda.
"Here Zelda, in case of emergency." Link offered Zelda his snub pistol. Hesitant at first especially after using the Hammer not too long ago. Despite her hesitation, she just snatched the pistol before she could think any further.
"Okay, Link. Let's get to the bank." Zelda gripped the snub pistol to study the shape of the handle.
"Stay close, Zelda." Link said sternly.
(Present day, Embry Square)
Another group of Locust drones rushed down the stairway ready to finish destroying Delta squad.
"Hold on, I got this one." The Raven pilot said while hovering over the horde of grubs. Minigun fire hailed down, ripping the group to bloody ribbons.
"That one's on the house, Delta. Good luck boys."
"Roger that Six-Four." Groose responded. "Alright Delta let's get going." The lieutenant led his Gears up to the temple grounds.
"Alright Link, just like old times." Devin said while checking his current count of ammo.
"Old times." Link nodded.
"Cut the chatter Gears. Brandon, Carmine scout ahead."
"Yessir." Carmine responded whereas Brandon just firmly nodded.
Brandon and Carmine marched ahead through the temples front yard. No sign of any more Locust, but that didn't mean they're not around. Brandon and Carmine sweeped their corners of the field and found a pair of COG tags. Brandon slowly crept his way forward with Carmine still watching over the yard. The rest of Delta arrived behind with Brandon pocketing the tags.
"We have a Private Rebekah Hall." Brandon stashed the tags in one of his pouches.
"Anything else?" Groose asked.
"No, things are just quiet." Brandon said.
"Right… Let's move up Delta."
Making their way upstairs the temple stood tall and destroyed from time and warfare. The old Ephyran temple has definitely seen better days. The pediment still stands strong with it's pillars guarding a severely scarred piece of history from all the years and slaughter.
Around the corner, Delta Squad stepped inside a Locust ambush.
A group of well fortified drones caught Delta squad, and their cover isn't lasting much longer. The sound of drone roars and semiautomatic fire drowned all the ambiance of this shell of a holy ground.
At the corner of Link's eyes amidst the chaos he spots an old UIR Booshka launcher. Hugging the dirt ridden grounds, Link crawled over to what could give Delta a potential edge in their situation. The taste of four year old dirt was worth the hope. Wrapping his arms around the weapon he checked the barrel to find just two explosive shells left. Link snuck a peek out to find the locust shooting over their location.
Two shots, two explosions.
Link popped out from cover and emptied the drum with two effective explosions.
Kathump… Kaboom.
Kathump… Kaboom.
Limbs of Locust and blood sprayed all over the old grounds.
"... Good work, private!" Groose huffed out his chest walking past him. Clearly hiding his pride.
"That old Booshka Launcher… That takes me back." Brandon said with a smile. Remembering that day in Ilima.
(10 years ago, llima City)
Zelda remained close to Link while trekking through the back alleys. Both of them agreed the alley ways were the fastest way to the nearby bank.
The skies above are still growing in dark ink from the Seeders. They still have hours till the city is covered but that doesn't mean they have time to spare.
Passing the back garden of what seems to be a hotel, a heavy boom sprung under their feet.
BOOMMMMM...
BOOMMMMM...
BOOMMMMM…
The loud heavy shakes ended with an ear shattering roar from main roads.
"Brumak!" Link shouted.
He dragged Zelda down behind the patio railing by force. It was painful and uncomfortable, but it managed to break the view of the big living artillery walker.
Zelda and Link peeked through the holes in their cover and saw glimpses of this colossal monstrosity. The mask the beast wore carried multiple lights for what must be monitors or something that keeps them in line with the Locust. The COG was never really clear how the tech the Locust used. All they taught him was to shoot at them with every bullet and explosive at their disposal.
Another beam from the Hammer of Dawn struck the Brumak along with the nearby building across the street from Link and Zelda.
"Just a little longer, Zelda. They haven't seen us." Link whispered.
Their moment of pressured silence was interrupted by another hammer strike along with falling debris.
"Who's calling those Hammer strikes?" Zelda asked.
"Alright… He's going in the tunnel, we're clear." Link stepped out of their cover.
"Unbelievable… I think we're doing more damage than the Locust. Some Goddamn restraint would be nice." Zelda complained.
Link halted for a moment to look over at the princess.
"Zelda… I've known you for years and that's the first I've heard you swear."
"Well I remember you being a mute for most of the time we've known each other."
"Touche." Link replied, "Let's just go."
Link and Zelda pressed onward to the Financial district. The structures adorned in prestigious decorations were all covered in chipped debris and blood. Everything humanity has built all crumbled by one war. The sound of distant gunfire miles away from their position lingers the two on the edge of their nerves. The rest has been just quiet after the Brumak.
More gunshots just a mere block away caught the two within earshot. Link and Zelda ran faster to turn the corner to find two Gears the same age as them on their last legs.
Link fired a short burst to the last Drone's head with a success of splattering blood and skull fragments.
Zelda still sticking close to Link ran beside him to the drained fountain for cover. Link looked back over to Zelda to give her a chance to mantle over. Afterwards they found the other two Gears in worse condition than they thought.
The first Gear who perhaps had hair that bordered between bleached and blonde. This Gear makes Link's hair color look like refined gold. The Gear was preoccupied with unjamming the machine gun sentry.
The other who had dark hair was struggling to reload his weapon with a freshly grazed bullet wound. Blood is beginning to drip down his sleeve.
"Sir, let me help you with your wound." Zelda offered.
"Hey back off civilian I- Oh princess!" The Gear shook off any frustration before Zelda.
"Princess Zelda, what're you doing out here?"
"This is cadet Link Takanashi, he saved my life when my convoy was taken."
"Shit… lucky dodge, brother… I'm Cadet Brandon Parker."
"Cadet Devin Rico over here." said the blonde Gear
Zelda started treating Brandon's wounds with what fabric she could find.
"Link, do you have a knife?"
Link handed her his knife with a moment of hesitation. She may be the Princess of the COG, but the group is not in a place to worry about such matters. They're all gonna need to pitch in on this if they're going to hold out for evac. After all, he did give her his snub pistol. He almost forgot about that.
"Here, Zelda." Link finally said.
"Our CO went down with the rest of our evacuation. Civies included-"
A sniper shot with a roar in response was heard from the rooftops. The surface began to rumble with Emergence Holes popping further down the streets.
"Zelda stay down!" Link shouted, "Hold your ground Gears!"
"Keep them off my backs while I fix the sentry!" Devin shouted.
"Alright, Brandon let's give him time. Zelda, give him a hand!" Link shouted orders to everyone.
Zelda literally had to crawl on her stomach while hugging the fountain walls for cover from both the Locust Drones and the sniper.
"Alright, Zelda, hold this down."
"Got it!"
"We're running out of time here ladies! Now would be a great time." Brandon shouted, still keeping his nerves level enough to pop out some humor.
"It's running!"
The machine gun sentry hummed to life and mowed down the grubs in thick crimson blood works.
"Sniper is still on us!" Link said while firing at the sniper with his lancer. His nest is too well protected at the top floor of the hotel across the block.
"Link buddy if you're gonna shoot down a sniper, do it right!" Brandon said as he whipped out an old UIR Booshka Launcher.
Kathump… Kaboom.
The sniper along with the top floor ended in flames and shrapnel.
"Show off." Link rolled his eyes.
(Today, Embry Square)
After a grueling trek through the temple buildings, Delta planted a foothold at the House of Sovereigns. Swamped by drones, and grenadiers, the five Gears cleaned out the front gates with Locust blood across this old hall of history.
Link, and Devin regrouped with the rest to see Anthony struggling with his Lancer
"You good?" Groose asked, crouched behind the sandbags.
"Yeah, but I got a problem. Something's wrong with this thing. It keeps jamming."
"Military equipment, always works." Brandon commented behind the tall pillars.
"Shut up, Lancer's save lives!" Groose argues back.
Anthony moves closer to the Lieutenant. "See-" Next thing, a sniper shot planted a round in Anthony's own helmet and finding a spot inside his brain.
"Sniper!" Link took the helm with his lancer back at the streets to find another incoming wave of Locust.
"Keep firin!" Groose made his way over to Link to assist him with his extra gun.
"Brandon, get on the Troika!" Devin yelled as he started swinging his last grenade.
"Got it!"
"Fire in the hole!" Devin let loose his throw and landed his frag at the nearby group. They were nothing but another crimson explosion a moment later.
Brandon revved up the Troika and mowed all the grubs down to a pulp.
Link took a glance up above the sandbags to see the last grub in pieces, "Brandon, cease fire! They're all dead. Go weapons cold!" Yelling over the troika fire.
"Control, this is Delta. Come in." Groose heard nothing but static in response.
"Great." Devin sighed. Static normally means that transmissions are jammed.
"Shit. Alright, let's just keep moving. No reason to stay here." Groose said as he hauled his lancer from behind his back.
"Yeah you're sure right, lieutenant." Groose turned over to see Brandon with a pair of bloodied COG tags in his grip. "Lancer's really do save lives."
Groose just turned over and went over to open the exit door.
"Any next of kin?" Link asked.
"Just three brothers. He was voted to die in less than a year after graduation." Groose answered rather grimly.
"No shit." Devin replied.
"ALRIGHT! Form up! We gotta find Alpha!" Groose yelled in the stern voice of an officer.
Kicking the door open the rest of the Gears marched onward.
"Damn sucka's! You need glasses!" A big brawn of a Gear stood his ground with half of a clip left in his lancer.
Bullet after bullet, one grub fell in return with splattered heads.
"Now that's worth the points! Woo!"
His Lancer clicked empty, and switched to his pistol next.
"Oh yeah bring on the pain,grubs. I can do this all day!"
From above, support from Delta Squad arrived to back the Gear up.
The first ones to approach were Link and his two friends. Taking a closer look at the Gear he wore no sleeves which exposed his big biceps and his hair dyed white along being braided down to his chin. A mild burn scar seemed to mark across his right eye down to his shoulder.
"Now that's beautiful timing baby!"
"State your name, soldier." Groose stepped up.
"Private Daruk Hernandez, Alpha squad sir!"
"Daruk? As in 'Da-Rock'?"
"Yeah that's right baby." Daruk 'Da-Rock' accepted the praise.
"We're Delta Squad, we're here for the resonator." Groose spoke.
"And to get your ass's outta here." Link added.
"Yeah we're holed up in the Tombs." Daruk pointed, "The seeders are blocking our communications. We kill the Seeders we get our comms back."
"Then those Seeders need to be our top priority sir." Devin stepped in.
"I stashed a couple of Hammer device's in the next building. We get those we get the seeders."
"Music to our ears, private. Let's get going Delta. " Groose marched forward at the helm. The rest of Delta followed through the building.
"Number 64. Da'Rock!" Brandon said just to test the name slip off his lips.
"The one and only, baby!" Daruk boasted with absolute confidence.
"We saw you play." Devin replied.
"Yeah everyone wants to see Da'Rock, baby!"
"Hey Link, remember this guy? The 40 yard line. Best game we've seen." Brandon said over to his friend.
"Which reminds me, you still owe me 20 bucks for that play." Link smirked.
"Oh yeah, see me after the war."
"Yeah, very friggin funny."
Groose remained stern and steadfast while on point to the tomb of the unknowns.
"Focus Gears, we need to kill those Seeders." Groose ordered.
"There's one on the other side of this building." Daruk took point.
"Lead the way, Private."
I wanted to find a way to incorporate Cole, but if I did that would mess up the whole plot of this fan story. I mean I wanted none of the Carmines but given their traditions I suppose why not leave them there.
Regardless, Daruk taking Cole's place doesn't seem bad.
Here's to Creativity!