Chapter 4: Specimen.
Date: 20 October 2552
Location: Old Mombasa, Kenya, Earth
Does muscle memory extend to the heart?
I took a deep calming breath and smiled up at the Master Chief. I detected a small smile in his voice when he asked "What?" which, in turn, made me grin like a fool.
"Despite everything," I held up my strapped, rifle-toting hands for emphasis, "I just feel happy." I shrugged as we caught up with the team.
As we continued on-foot to New Mombasa, we encountered more unfriendlies. None were a match for this tight-knit group, even the Sangheili Zealot didn't stand a chance after being dropped off with more forces from a Phantom dropship.
Once the courtyard was cleared the team made a move to head out toward the chosen landing zone. It was then that nearby gates busted open and we were confronted.
Mgalekgolo. Ogres. Hunters.
"Stand back, Marines. Let the Chief show you how it's done!" Johnson called.
It was quite the sight to behold. While the Hunters focused on us with their plasma cannons, the Master Chief slipped around to take them out easily with a SRS99C-S2 AMB sniper rifle. The guys all cheered while I grinned and clapped alongside. When the Spartan turned around I couldn't help but notice that he looked straight to me instantly, stiff posture relaxing almost imperceptibly.
"Does Chief have the hots for her?" I heard Mack whisper-ask someone and it broke the spell.
Ignoring yet another blush, I put all my concentration into reloading and restocking on ammo while Chief took a calculated turn to speak with Johnson. Sarge had received orders to leave us to board a Pelican and drop supplies under heavy fire. It didn't escape my notice that I was not included in any COM channel, understandably so.
Another, or the same Covenant drop ship flew overhead and landed nearby.* At Sergeant Johnson's orders we moved toward its LZ unawares that its passengers had already unloaded. In the blink of an eye, everything went south. Mack went down but took out his assailant. I landed headshots on some Elites, killing them almost too easily. Master Chief was surrounded by foes. Spotting this, I ran up the side of our squad to pull some attention toward me. It worked all too well.
"Is this her?" I garbled voice asked. I turned, ready to shoot, but the Sangheili knocked the battle rifle from my grasp and took hold of me. A cold, green reptilian gaze met my own.
"Hello, Specimen 12."
12. Specimen. Assassin.
Panic flared through me as I was first dragged, then carried away from my team. I fought with all my might despite the cold realization that there was no hope at escape. Biting, clawing, screaming, all of which only resulted in a tighter grip around my neck.
Oxygen deprivation clouded my vision and muted my hearing. I glanced at my team only to see Chief fighting a mob of Covenant forces, helmet up, searching for something, someone.
Me.
His head snapped over in my direction. I could almost see him gauging the probability of rescuing me. It was too late. I knew it and he knew it. Yet he charged forward in a vain attempt to reach me.
"Jayne!" His yell sounded faint, subdued, possibly imagined.
My eyes fluttered shut as the distance between us grew. A sigh escaped my lips when unconsciousness grasped me firmly in its clutches.
*This does not happen in the game (Halo 2) but it makes for a story! :)