Of course, the Forbidden Forest is a big place, and since the vast
majority of the creatures had left to assault the castle, it was desolate.
Shepherd and Sean walked around inside it for a long while with no contacts
at all. Then, finally, Shepherd noticed a couple of small spiders moving
determinedly through the undergrowth. He signalled Sean to follow and
stealthily they tracked the two little spiders. They followed for ten
minutes. Then all of a sudden the situation changed from deathly boring to
heart-poundingly real.
Two giant spiders stepped out from behind some gnarled trees and made for the two soldiers very quickly. Just as quickly Shepherd fired a launch grenade into the maw of the left one and Sean shot two dozen rounds into the underbelly of the right one. More spiders appeared further along in the forest. Both ran towards the spiders, Sean busy emptying his M60 into a group of four while Shepherd took the case off another 66 and reloaded his M203. Shepherd saw a spider out of the corner of his eye and fired the rocket. It impacted a small tree trunk ten metres in front of the spider. Shepherd brought up his M16 and fired on full-auto at the same spider, using half the clip to kill it. He turned his attention behind and fired the rest of the clip at another giant spider, then fired a launch grenade at two spiders close together, killing them both. While he reloaded and prepared another 66, Sean slammed home his third two-hundred-round box, then they both continued firing at any spiders who came close. Running along, they both lost count of the spiders they left as quivering mounds of disgusting flesh and hair, but they did notice that the spiders were getting more numerous as they ran further into the forest. At last they came to him; Aragog. He was an incredibly ugly spider, and all of his hair had gone white. His voice was tremulous from age, but ruthless, as he said in a raspy voice, "Kill them."
More giant spiders appeared from everywhere, and suddenly Aragog and the two soldiers were enclosed in a ring of spiders. Shepherd threw his M16/M203 over his back, snapped the cases off his last two 66s, and fired them each one-handedly at Aragog's ugly head. All eight of his eyes burst from the explosion, and he was killed so fast he didn't even give out a death cry.
Suddenly something invisible in the air (the magic binding the creatures, no doubt) cracked, fractured and then shattered, dropping to the ground and disappearing instantly. There was a sudden hush over all the school grounds as all the creatures stood stock still. Then all the creatures moved faster than before and the noise intensified.
Shepherd fired his last launch grenade and belted out an entire clip on full-auto, killing three spiders. He reloaded his last clip and snapped the safety-catch to three-round burst. Sean meanwhile expended his two- hundred-round box and slapped home the last one. They both looked at each other. It was standard that when one was down to their last clip, one was greatly outnumbered but one had completed one's mission, they ran like fuck. So they both charged towards a spider, mowed down it and the spider either side, so as to run through the circle and get away.
Determined not to fire unless it would directly save their own lives, they both pelted away down the undergrowth. Being trained to run long distances with great weights on their backs, they really motored when all they had to carry was their primary weapon. But the spiders, grieving at their lost grandfather and leader, wanted revenge, and charged just as fast as the soldiers. The soldiers regulated their breathing and running to conserve oxygen as they sprinted. They could see light ahead! They ran all the faster. They had made it out of the Forest! They ran into the glorious sunshine, then turned around and looked back into the Forest. The spiders, in the dark of the Forest for so long that they could not take direct sunlight, could only stare menacingly. But then again, they did that all the time anyway.
Shepherd looked up at the sky and bellowed in triumph. But as he did so he noticed two attack helicopters and a bubble helicopter approaching them. The attack helicopters hovered far enough away to be difficult targets but still make effective use of their rockets and machine-guns. The bubble helicopter, meanwhile, made a smooth landing on the ground near Sean and Shepherd. A pale politico dismounted from the chopper, smoothing the lapel of his suit. As he walked a little closer, the rotors of the bubble helicopter wound down, and the two attack helicopters waited patiently.
"So." he said. "I understand you are corporal Shepherd?"
"Yeah." Shepherd said defiantly.
"Well, if you and your man would be good enough to drop your weapons, backup weapons and explosives, I'm sure my men in the choppers would be good enough to not open fire." he continued, without traces of recognisable emotion in his face.
Shepherd considered it, then nodded. He dropped his assault rifle and Desert Eagle, and Sean dropped his M60 and satchel explosives.
"I'm glad you are so cooperative, Mr. Shepherd. I must admit I somewhat admire you, adapting to the situation at hand and surviving against all odds. You remind me of... me, Mr. Shepherd."
"You're damn right I should be admired." Shepherd stated. "I rebelled against the perverted orders from my superiors, and it was only because of this that I was then able to resolve the situation successfully and aid a national ally in a time of crisis. By exhibiting a lot of valour and skill, I might add."
"Not to mention luck." the politico added, unabashed. "While you are indeed a credit to our great country, Shepherd, I'm sure you'll understand why we cannot allow you to mingle with the general population again. My employers believe you would be far too tempted to 'tell all', and that is simply something which cannot happen. The public does not know of the existence of magic and it must remain this way, which is why my employers want you out of the picture. But out of admiration for what you have done, succeeding in disposing of that madman Lord Voldemort where even the Black Ops failed, I have decided to instead detain you for a period of time in a place where you can do no harm - and no harm can come to you." Two female Black Ops soldiers, armed with silenced pistols, stepped off the bubble helicopter, each holding a steady aim on either Sean or Shepherd. "Just get on the helicopter and be prepared for a long ride." the politico concluded.
Suddenly there was a bestial roar from the two attack helicopters. A pair of griffins had snuck up on them and punched through the windscreen with their talons, killing each of the pilots instantly. One of the griffins didn't escape from its spiralling helicopter fast enough and was chopped into fish food by the whirling rotors, but the other got away clean.
Meanwhile Sean snatched up his M60 while the Black Ops were distracted, dove sideways to avoid their bullets, and shot both of them in midair. Then he stood up and pointed the heavy machine-gun at the bubble helicopter's pilot, as he was unsure whether or not the man was armed. Shepherd picked up his Desert Eagle quickly and aimed it at centre mass on the politico. Shepherd walked around behind him, kicked him in the back of the leg to bring him to his knees, and did a quick search of the man's pockets. He was unarmed. Sean ordered the helicopter pilot to come out of the helicopter and lie facedown on the ground. Then Sean and Shepherd switched hostages so Shepherd could search the helicopter pilot (Sean couldn't search him and hold him at gunpoint at the same time, his gun was far too long). Shepherd came up with a pistol behind the man's belt. He tossed it to Sean, who pocketed it. Shepherd retrieved his AR just as Harry Potter and his friends showed up on broomsticks.
"Hey, Harry!" Shepherd greeted. "From what this asshole says, I'm guessing you succeeded in killing Lord Voldemort!"
"Damn right." Harry said without much enthusiasm. "I got him. The wizarding world is at peace once more."
"This prick wanted to deport me to somewhere 'where I could do no possible harm', probably some top-secret prison." Shepherd called, changing the subject upon seeing the look on Harry's face. "What should we do with him? This helicopter here is his only way out of here."
"Kill him." Ron said indifferently. "Ungrateful bastard."
"Ron!" Hermione cried, shocked. "Corporal, just leave him here. The wizarding authorities will pick him up, if the creatures don't get him first. You force the pilot to take you to some obscure country where you can disappear. I'm really sorry you can't go back to society now that you're a hero."
"What are you sorry for?" Shepherd laughed. "It's not your fault. Hey, Harry, are you sure you're OK?"
"What?" Harry asked. "Oh, yeah, great."
"Well, I hope we see you again, but I doubt it." Shepherd called to the wizards and witches hovering in midair, as their griffin rejoined them. He gave the politico a good hard kick before getting on the helicopter, with the muzzle of the Desert Eagle pressed into the pilot's neck, and the rotors started turning.
The end...
Two giant spiders stepped out from behind some gnarled trees and made for the two soldiers very quickly. Just as quickly Shepherd fired a launch grenade into the maw of the left one and Sean shot two dozen rounds into the underbelly of the right one. More spiders appeared further along in the forest. Both ran towards the spiders, Sean busy emptying his M60 into a group of four while Shepherd took the case off another 66 and reloaded his M203. Shepherd saw a spider out of the corner of his eye and fired the rocket. It impacted a small tree trunk ten metres in front of the spider. Shepherd brought up his M16 and fired on full-auto at the same spider, using half the clip to kill it. He turned his attention behind and fired the rest of the clip at another giant spider, then fired a launch grenade at two spiders close together, killing them both. While he reloaded and prepared another 66, Sean slammed home his third two-hundred-round box, then they both continued firing at any spiders who came close. Running along, they both lost count of the spiders they left as quivering mounds of disgusting flesh and hair, but they did notice that the spiders were getting more numerous as they ran further into the forest. At last they came to him; Aragog. He was an incredibly ugly spider, and all of his hair had gone white. His voice was tremulous from age, but ruthless, as he said in a raspy voice, "Kill them."
More giant spiders appeared from everywhere, and suddenly Aragog and the two soldiers were enclosed in a ring of spiders. Shepherd threw his M16/M203 over his back, snapped the cases off his last two 66s, and fired them each one-handedly at Aragog's ugly head. All eight of his eyes burst from the explosion, and he was killed so fast he didn't even give out a death cry.
Suddenly something invisible in the air (the magic binding the creatures, no doubt) cracked, fractured and then shattered, dropping to the ground and disappearing instantly. There was a sudden hush over all the school grounds as all the creatures stood stock still. Then all the creatures moved faster than before and the noise intensified.
Shepherd fired his last launch grenade and belted out an entire clip on full-auto, killing three spiders. He reloaded his last clip and snapped the safety-catch to three-round burst. Sean meanwhile expended his two- hundred-round box and slapped home the last one. They both looked at each other. It was standard that when one was down to their last clip, one was greatly outnumbered but one had completed one's mission, they ran like fuck. So they both charged towards a spider, mowed down it and the spider either side, so as to run through the circle and get away.
Determined not to fire unless it would directly save their own lives, they both pelted away down the undergrowth. Being trained to run long distances with great weights on their backs, they really motored when all they had to carry was their primary weapon. But the spiders, grieving at their lost grandfather and leader, wanted revenge, and charged just as fast as the soldiers. The soldiers regulated their breathing and running to conserve oxygen as they sprinted. They could see light ahead! They ran all the faster. They had made it out of the Forest! They ran into the glorious sunshine, then turned around and looked back into the Forest. The spiders, in the dark of the Forest for so long that they could not take direct sunlight, could only stare menacingly. But then again, they did that all the time anyway.
Shepherd looked up at the sky and bellowed in triumph. But as he did so he noticed two attack helicopters and a bubble helicopter approaching them. The attack helicopters hovered far enough away to be difficult targets but still make effective use of their rockets and machine-guns. The bubble helicopter, meanwhile, made a smooth landing on the ground near Sean and Shepherd. A pale politico dismounted from the chopper, smoothing the lapel of his suit. As he walked a little closer, the rotors of the bubble helicopter wound down, and the two attack helicopters waited patiently.
"So." he said. "I understand you are corporal Shepherd?"
"Yeah." Shepherd said defiantly.
"Well, if you and your man would be good enough to drop your weapons, backup weapons and explosives, I'm sure my men in the choppers would be good enough to not open fire." he continued, without traces of recognisable emotion in his face.
Shepherd considered it, then nodded. He dropped his assault rifle and Desert Eagle, and Sean dropped his M60 and satchel explosives.
"I'm glad you are so cooperative, Mr. Shepherd. I must admit I somewhat admire you, adapting to the situation at hand and surviving against all odds. You remind me of... me, Mr. Shepherd."
"You're damn right I should be admired." Shepherd stated. "I rebelled against the perverted orders from my superiors, and it was only because of this that I was then able to resolve the situation successfully and aid a national ally in a time of crisis. By exhibiting a lot of valour and skill, I might add."
"Not to mention luck." the politico added, unabashed. "While you are indeed a credit to our great country, Shepherd, I'm sure you'll understand why we cannot allow you to mingle with the general population again. My employers believe you would be far too tempted to 'tell all', and that is simply something which cannot happen. The public does not know of the existence of magic and it must remain this way, which is why my employers want you out of the picture. But out of admiration for what you have done, succeeding in disposing of that madman Lord Voldemort where even the Black Ops failed, I have decided to instead detain you for a period of time in a place where you can do no harm - and no harm can come to you." Two female Black Ops soldiers, armed with silenced pistols, stepped off the bubble helicopter, each holding a steady aim on either Sean or Shepherd. "Just get on the helicopter and be prepared for a long ride." the politico concluded.
Suddenly there was a bestial roar from the two attack helicopters. A pair of griffins had snuck up on them and punched through the windscreen with their talons, killing each of the pilots instantly. One of the griffins didn't escape from its spiralling helicopter fast enough and was chopped into fish food by the whirling rotors, but the other got away clean.
Meanwhile Sean snatched up his M60 while the Black Ops were distracted, dove sideways to avoid their bullets, and shot both of them in midair. Then he stood up and pointed the heavy machine-gun at the bubble helicopter's pilot, as he was unsure whether or not the man was armed. Shepherd picked up his Desert Eagle quickly and aimed it at centre mass on the politico. Shepherd walked around behind him, kicked him in the back of the leg to bring him to his knees, and did a quick search of the man's pockets. He was unarmed. Sean ordered the helicopter pilot to come out of the helicopter and lie facedown on the ground. Then Sean and Shepherd switched hostages so Shepherd could search the helicopter pilot (Sean couldn't search him and hold him at gunpoint at the same time, his gun was far too long). Shepherd came up with a pistol behind the man's belt. He tossed it to Sean, who pocketed it. Shepherd retrieved his AR just as Harry Potter and his friends showed up on broomsticks.
"Hey, Harry!" Shepherd greeted. "From what this asshole says, I'm guessing you succeeded in killing Lord Voldemort!"
"Damn right." Harry said without much enthusiasm. "I got him. The wizarding world is at peace once more."
"This prick wanted to deport me to somewhere 'where I could do no possible harm', probably some top-secret prison." Shepherd called, changing the subject upon seeing the look on Harry's face. "What should we do with him? This helicopter here is his only way out of here."
"Kill him." Ron said indifferently. "Ungrateful bastard."
"Ron!" Hermione cried, shocked. "Corporal, just leave him here. The wizarding authorities will pick him up, if the creatures don't get him first. You force the pilot to take you to some obscure country where you can disappear. I'm really sorry you can't go back to society now that you're a hero."
"What are you sorry for?" Shepherd laughed. "It's not your fault. Hey, Harry, are you sure you're OK?"
"What?" Harry asked. "Oh, yeah, great."
"Well, I hope we see you again, but I doubt it." Shepherd called to the wizards and witches hovering in midair, as their griffin rejoined them. He gave the politico a good hard kick before getting on the helicopter, with the muzzle of the Desert Eagle pressed into the pilot's neck, and the rotors started turning.
The end...