Chapter 2: The Brotherhood
I cringed. They were all around me now. I was surrounded. I steadied the sight on my pistol and aimed at the nearest head. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead and slowly rolled down my face. The shot was lined between the eyes. My finger itched nervously. BANG!!! I pulled the trigger and the grunt collapsed dead. I scrambled from the debris and ran with all my stamina to a cliff edge. I had but one chance. I turned around and fired all my bullets at the grunts. Two more died, collapsing into a heap as the others ran past them. The grunts charged their weapons and fired back. One of the plasma bursts streamed through the air and hit me full force in the stomach. The shot brought me rolling to the ground gasping for air. Somehow I managed to find the strength to get back up and keep on going. Only a few feet were left between the edge and me. I stumbled my way to it and in a last effort, flung myself from the ledge. The grunts were surprised by this but still made their way to the cliff edge and shot over the side. Plasma bursts streamed past me, superheating the air making it difficult to breathe. I had fallen forty feet before I found the control. I pressed the button to activate the anti-gravity function of my battle armour. I pressed the button again. Nothing was happening. I was now only two hundred feet from the ground. Falling. Falling to my death. I desperately searched my suit for the energy readings on my suit. I had been leaking energy!! My suit was nearly empty on power. That plasma burst had short circuited the container and opened it up. I was plummeting to my doom and there was nothing I could do to save myself. In my last few moments I surveyed the scene. It was beautiful. The stars in the endless black of space, the endless green woods beneath me, the pelican transport rising out of the forest. What!? What was that? A transport. I was saved. I called out, shouting for help. I was only a hundred feet from the ground now. Whoosh, Whoosh. Two missiles soared over my head towards thee top of the cliff.
"Run away," I heard one of the grunts shout squeakily as they ran from the side.
BANG! BANG! The rockets exploded on impact sending rocks scattering down the cliff face. Several hit me but none were large enough to cause any major damage. Suddenly a line was thrown from the ship and it hung loosely next to me. I reached out and grasped the lien with both my arms and I wrapped it around one of my legs. The force of my fall caused both of my arms to be ripped from their sockets. I screamed at the searing pain rushing throughout my body. Desperately I clung onto the rope with my teeth, just trying to stay alive. I hung limply from the rope. Slowly the rope was being pulled into the vehicle. My vision faded and I fell out of consciousness.
When I awoke I felt a searing pain in both my arms. Again I screamed, but my mouth would not move. I decided to try and use my other senses. My vision had still not cleared up but I could hear everything around me.
"Where did you find him," said the first voice. "We found him falling from a cliff, he was shouting for help just off the border." The second voice sounded slightly feminine but I was not entirely sure. "Is it human?" "We still aren't sure, the radiation given off when his power pack leaked is preventing our scans from taking any readings." "Keep him here until we know for sure. How's he doing? He looks like he's had a rough time." "He's been unconscious since we brought him in, but other than that he seems okay. There is one problem though; his battle armour has fused with his body. Don't worry, we'll keep an eye on him."
I heard footsteps leading away from me. I listened as they slowly faded out.
"That's strange," the feminine voice said, "I'm sure that his eyes weren't open before. It's time for your treatment."
I felt a sharp sting in my arm and then again I lost consciousness.
When I re-awoke my vision had completely cleared up. Remembering what I had heard I looked at myself. My body looked awful. Cuts, scratches and bruises made up what was now my tormented body. But, that was not the worst thing. My torso, legs and arms were now a strange mix of human and the battle armour. However a new power seemed to be surging through my veins. I felt different somehow. I looked around at my surroundings. I was in a steel grey cell, with my bed and a small window overlooking the stars. I had been tethered to the bed with thick metal restraints. I tried to break out but to no avail. I heard a monotone beep and then the door slid open revealing a figure in full body marine armour.
"Oh, so I see your up at last. Good morning sunshine, hope you had a nice nap. You've been sleeping for quite some time."
Now I know what I was going to say was a little cliché but...
"Where am I?" "You're in the Omega station on a strange structure called a 'Halo'. I am a member of an elite group of marines called the Brotherhood. We have been without contact with Earth for over a decade. We want to ask you some questions, and your going to answer." She paused for a second to let me take this in and then continued, "Who are you?" "I am private Zell Zimbane, marine core 2nd division. I was an engineer." "Is anyone else with you private?" "There was, now they're all dead. Everyone. Dirk, Fex. All dead. All because of that General Straightler. The murderer. He betrayed us to them. The arsehole. We arrived on the 'Halo' several days ago and everyone was really excited. The general had arranged an attack on a major covenant installation; we were on the way when we were ambushed. Everyone was killed and I only survived because you saved me." "ALERT! ALERT! ENEMY IN THE BUILDING! ALERT! ALERT! ENEMY IN THE BULDING!" The alarm rang through the building. The marine questioning me told me to stay and then ran out of the room.
I waited. I could hear nothing in my room except from a continuous screaming. Then there was a dull thud. Followed by another dull thud. Then thud, thud, thud. No noise was left. I heard large intakes and outtakes of breath. I felt adrenaline pumping through my veins in anticipation.
To Be Continued...
Footnotes:-
Chapter 2 is completed slightly earlier than scheduled. Hope you like it ( I should have the next chapter completed by the end of next week. Oh and I agree, General Straightler is an arsehole :P
From GoldEliteWarrior – Zell Zimbane, the bane of all zim's From Realm Of Chaos – Zell, a name found from a character he hates
I cringed. They were all around me now. I was surrounded. I steadied the sight on my pistol and aimed at the nearest head. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead and slowly rolled down my face. The shot was lined between the eyes. My finger itched nervously. BANG!!! I pulled the trigger and the grunt collapsed dead. I scrambled from the debris and ran with all my stamina to a cliff edge. I had but one chance. I turned around and fired all my bullets at the grunts. Two more died, collapsing into a heap as the others ran past them. The grunts charged their weapons and fired back. One of the plasma bursts streamed through the air and hit me full force in the stomach. The shot brought me rolling to the ground gasping for air. Somehow I managed to find the strength to get back up and keep on going. Only a few feet were left between the edge and me. I stumbled my way to it and in a last effort, flung myself from the ledge. The grunts were surprised by this but still made their way to the cliff edge and shot over the side. Plasma bursts streamed past me, superheating the air making it difficult to breathe. I had fallen forty feet before I found the control. I pressed the button to activate the anti-gravity function of my battle armour. I pressed the button again. Nothing was happening. I was now only two hundred feet from the ground. Falling. Falling to my death. I desperately searched my suit for the energy readings on my suit. I had been leaking energy!! My suit was nearly empty on power. That plasma burst had short circuited the container and opened it up. I was plummeting to my doom and there was nothing I could do to save myself. In my last few moments I surveyed the scene. It was beautiful. The stars in the endless black of space, the endless green woods beneath me, the pelican transport rising out of the forest. What!? What was that? A transport. I was saved. I called out, shouting for help. I was only a hundred feet from the ground now. Whoosh, Whoosh. Two missiles soared over my head towards thee top of the cliff.
"Run away," I heard one of the grunts shout squeakily as they ran from the side.
BANG! BANG! The rockets exploded on impact sending rocks scattering down the cliff face. Several hit me but none were large enough to cause any major damage. Suddenly a line was thrown from the ship and it hung loosely next to me. I reached out and grasped the lien with both my arms and I wrapped it around one of my legs. The force of my fall caused both of my arms to be ripped from their sockets. I screamed at the searing pain rushing throughout my body. Desperately I clung onto the rope with my teeth, just trying to stay alive. I hung limply from the rope. Slowly the rope was being pulled into the vehicle. My vision faded and I fell out of consciousness.
When I awoke I felt a searing pain in both my arms. Again I screamed, but my mouth would not move. I decided to try and use my other senses. My vision had still not cleared up but I could hear everything around me.
"Where did you find him," said the first voice. "We found him falling from a cliff, he was shouting for help just off the border." The second voice sounded slightly feminine but I was not entirely sure. "Is it human?" "We still aren't sure, the radiation given off when his power pack leaked is preventing our scans from taking any readings." "Keep him here until we know for sure. How's he doing? He looks like he's had a rough time." "He's been unconscious since we brought him in, but other than that he seems okay. There is one problem though; his battle armour has fused with his body. Don't worry, we'll keep an eye on him."
I heard footsteps leading away from me. I listened as they slowly faded out.
"That's strange," the feminine voice said, "I'm sure that his eyes weren't open before. It's time for your treatment."
I felt a sharp sting in my arm and then again I lost consciousness.
When I re-awoke my vision had completely cleared up. Remembering what I had heard I looked at myself. My body looked awful. Cuts, scratches and bruises made up what was now my tormented body. But, that was not the worst thing. My torso, legs and arms were now a strange mix of human and the battle armour. However a new power seemed to be surging through my veins. I felt different somehow. I looked around at my surroundings. I was in a steel grey cell, with my bed and a small window overlooking the stars. I had been tethered to the bed with thick metal restraints. I tried to break out but to no avail. I heard a monotone beep and then the door slid open revealing a figure in full body marine armour.
"Oh, so I see your up at last. Good morning sunshine, hope you had a nice nap. You've been sleeping for quite some time."
Now I know what I was going to say was a little cliché but...
"Where am I?" "You're in the Omega station on a strange structure called a 'Halo'. I am a member of an elite group of marines called the Brotherhood. We have been without contact with Earth for over a decade. We want to ask you some questions, and your going to answer." She paused for a second to let me take this in and then continued, "Who are you?" "I am private Zell Zimbane, marine core 2nd division. I was an engineer." "Is anyone else with you private?" "There was, now they're all dead. Everyone. Dirk, Fex. All dead. All because of that General Straightler. The murderer. He betrayed us to them. The arsehole. We arrived on the 'Halo' several days ago and everyone was really excited. The general had arranged an attack on a major covenant installation; we were on the way when we were ambushed. Everyone was killed and I only survived because you saved me." "ALERT! ALERT! ENEMY IN THE BUILDING! ALERT! ALERT! ENEMY IN THE BULDING!" The alarm rang through the building. The marine questioning me told me to stay and then ran out of the room.
I waited. I could hear nothing in my room except from a continuous screaming. Then there was a dull thud. Followed by another dull thud. Then thud, thud, thud. No noise was left. I heard large intakes and outtakes of breath. I felt adrenaline pumping through my veins in anticipation.
To Be Continued...
Footnotes:-
Chapter 2 is completed slightly earlier than scheduled. Hope you like it ( I should have the next chapter completed by the end of next week. Oh and I agree, General Straightler is an arsehole :P
From GoldEliteWarrior – Zell Zimbane, the bane of all zim's From Realm Of Chaos – Zell, a name found from a character he hates