Stage 28: Am I your Hero?
The 'U' shaped covenant drop ship descended from above, parting the clear skies like a hawk attacking its quarry. The plasma cannon under its main fuselage began to fire pounds of plasma toward the oncoming company of marines. The lead warthogs had zero cover and sped through the sandy region with reckless aggression. The plasma instantly crystallized the sand around the warthogs as they missed their targets, but the small glass fragments couldn't damage the thick armored tires of the hogs.
Sandy dust and super heated plasma filled the air around the warthogs as they dodged the incoming fire, and the drop ship maintained a good distance to avoid the warthogs' gauss cannons and chain guns. The drop ship focused so hard on the warthogs that it hadn't yet noticed the two creeping tanks slowly approaching from the wake of the warthogs' dust. Linda, listening in on the open com from the Sergeant, knew exactly where the drop ship was. She tapped the tank driver's seat, pointed to her left and the driver turned out of the sandy cloud. As soon as they came into the clear, the drop ship was fully in view. The barrel of the MBT angled upward, and no matter how high the drop ship was, it would not be high enough to escape the tanks deadly ninety millimeter arsenal.
The barrel of the scorpion propelled two successive payloads with a satisfying explosion upon the drop ship's middle canopy. The drop ship split in two and fell from the sky in a smoldering rumble of secondary plasma discharges.
"Target down." Linda shouted across the com, but those words fell on deaf ears as the wave of warthogs ahead of her ran into their next obstacle. The jagged rocks of a long dried river bed near Camp Eden's external wall began to appear ahead, and within them were dozens of specters and two deployable lookout towers. Sniper rounds shot around the warthogs as jackals fired from cover. One warthog driver was shot through the head, and the hog spun out of control. The Marine passenger frantically tried to grab the wheel and regain control, but the hog swerved out of control and slammed into rock face; exploding on impact and killing the other four passengers.
Each hog was filled to capacity, except the Spartans' hogs which was slowed down by the Spartans weight. Maneuvering was difficult and stopping would be insane, but it was their job to help clear out the covenant threat around the camp.
Eric tapped the com channel, "Warthogs, push through to the wall! Tank platoon, hold your position and take out those sniper towers. Infantry, let's get in there! Go! Go! Go!" The lead warthogs with the Spartans and a few dozen marines, split from the main company charge and raced into the rocky overhangs and trenches. Kelly and her warthogs sped ahead, found the main road toward the camp and accelerated toward the wall. Linda and the tanks stopped at the edge of the rocky edge and began to fire upon the lookout towers.
The region around Camp Eden was a dry riverbed, and thusly it was filled with jagged rocks, cliff faces, ledges, trenches and more then two hundred imbedded covenant forces. Gone was the soft loose sand of the desert. It was now replaced with the windy canopy of overhanging rocks and a giant black wall in the distance; Camp Eden.
Eric checked his ammo as they drove into the twisting channel of rocks and came to an area where the hog could not move ahead. Before the warthog stopped, he jumped from the passenger seat, leveled his rifle and crouch walked to the nearest rock. The brutes had to know they were arrived, otherwise he was giving them to much credit. The rumble from the three warthogs behind him should have alerted every creature in the camp, let alone the explosion from the lookout towers. Eric peeped around the corner and the rock was suddenly engulfed in plasma rounds. Eric pulled his head back suddenly and looked back at the others. Behind him were three Spartans and twelve marines, going up against a force of encamped brutes and jackals. If the brutes had any common sense they would have advanced the drones. The flying bugs would have had a superior advantage and pinned them down, but Eric didn't hear the common beating of their wings and chalked another situation up to luck; or the Covenant's stupidity in ground based combat.
The chief crept up to Eric's side and waited for the plasma volley to cease. At the first opportunity he quickly stuck his head around the corner and pulled back.
"Eight brutes and thirteen jackals." The chief softly stated to everyone. He shouldered his BR55 and tugged from his back a fresh jackhammer he took from his warthog. "On you, Sergeant." Eric nodded while marveling at the chief's quick vision. The chief's enhanced vision had taken in nearly all of the opposing forces in the area with one quick glance.
"In and out, people. No heroics and stay behind the chief. 05 and 08 find a ledge and provide cover fire. The chief and I will advance. Marines, fall in behind us." Eric nodded to the chief, and the chief cut around the corner with the agility of a cat. For a man wearing a half ton of armor, he was graceful, light on his feet, mind numbingly quick and alert to everything ahead of him. Plasma roared toward the chief, washing over his shields, but his jackhammer launcher spat back or more powerful arsenal. Rock and blood cascaded backward as the second rocket shot from the long barrel of the chief's jackhammer. The dual explosion was deafening as one of the rock walls crumbled down upon them; jarred loose from the shockwave. Eric and the Chief pressed ahead, ignoring the falling rocks and dust.
The chief tossed the jackhammer, pulled up his battle rifle and fired into the dust ahead. Eric knelt down at his side, pulled up his rifle and squeezed the trigger. The two rifles cut down anything that moved. Two brutes stampeded out of the dust and charged at Eric and the chief, snarling aggressively. They were close, much too close to risk taking them down. The Chief and Eric stepped back, firing as they did, but the lingering dust made it difficult to hit them in the head. The Chief fired a volley and scored a direct head shot, spilling the brute to the ground as they continued to retreat. Eric continued to fire and eventually the brute crumbled from the numerous shots.
Eric felt a little out done by the Master Chief, but knew he would get another chance to prove himself soon. This was the moment he had been waiting for since he joined the UNSC. Not only was he fighting with the Spartans, but he was standing side by side with the Master Chief, a hero amongst heroes. The sound of a specter's repeating plasma turret began to fill their ears, and then the spotted the vehicle appear from behind a rock. The specter was fully loaded with four brutes, and the turret gunner turned the plasma gun onto them.
Plasma spat from the specter in successive fashion, forcing Eric and the chief to seek cover behind a rock. Brute shot grenades then began to explode around them as marines screamed in agony. Their small platoon was getting cut down; they were sitting ducks. Eric looked around and realized that he was sitting in a channel, there was no way to get around the specter. He looked to the ledge above and it was a clean ten foot jump. The ledge was much too high for him to jump onto, and if he tried to climb he would be cut down before he reached the top.
"04, what's your location?"
"Two rocks from your six. I can see you and the chief, but that specter has me and 08 pinned as well."
"Shit!" Eric cursed. He peeked around the rock and noticed the more jackal reinforcements had arrived, but he pulled his head back just as the plasma turret fired at him. "Can anybody get a shot?"
The chief looked up at he ledge, then at his rock, "Hold fast. I'll go." The chief primed a frag grenade chucked it over his head and waited for the explosion. A confirming thud sounded and the chief bolted to the top of the rock he was hiding behind. He scaled the small six foot rock in a second then rebound to the top of the channel wall in one jump. The brutes fired at him, but he was long gone. Eric then laid his battle rifle on the side of the rock and fired blindly at the specter.
The Master Chief raced along the top of the channel and looked down at the specter and its support of jackals and brutes. He pulled up his riffle and fired several rounds at the base of the gunner's skull. The brute tumbled from the turret and its surrounding forces turned their fire upward toward the Master Chief's position.
The plasma rounds ceased near Eric and he quickly stood from his cover. He glared at the distracted covenant patrol, "Frag out!" Suddenly six grenades sailed over his head and landed in the heart of the oblivious covenant group. The explosion tore a hole in the specters engine and plasma core, causing a chain reaction. Anything that wasn't killed by the first few grenades was killed when the specter's engines reached critical mass and exploded.
"Marines clean up any stragglers. 05 and 08 check the next area and see what we're up against next." Eric stated to the group.
Cortana cut into the channel, "All lookout towers have been eliminated. The warthogs are now pushing the Covenant forces toward us, and away from the wall."
Eric grinned at the news, "Linda, the infantry will remain inside the rocks but be advised, the brutes are retreating back toward you. Check friend-or-foe tags before firing on anyone coming out of the river bed." A green confirmation light appeared in the Chief's HUD and Cortana relayed the answer to Eric.
A static burst signaled in Eric's ear, "Lieutenant Raynord, is that you?"
"Is that you Johnson?" Cortana questioned aloud and simultaneously into Sergeant Johnson's com.
"Cortana? I guess the chief is with you. Bout damn time you all got here. The camp wall is starting to ware thin from those plasma mortars. Lieutenant Raynord…"
"I'm a sergeant now, Johnson." Eric returned. "And kill the chatter, the covenant might be sniffing the frequency."
"Sergeant! How the hell did you become a sergeant? Talk about an odd career move. But don't worry bout the frequency, the brutes haven't been sniffing any UNSC bands since they got to Earth. They're too busy fighting off the flood ships in orbit and look for the Ark. What's your current position?"
"Johnson, we're in sector 7B, eighty yards east of entrance nine." Cortana chirped into the com channel.
"I have a few squads in that area inside the gate. If you can clear out the Covenant forces near the gate, I can send out some support."
The Chief opened his channel, "Copy?" Kelly's green light flashed on the Chief's HUD, confirming that she understood. She split her pack of warthogs and began to race toward the nearby gate.
Cortana then replied, "Spartan 087 is on it, Johnson. She'll let you know when the gate is clear."
Eric interrupted, "Johnson, what's the status inside the wall?"
"That cruiser wiped out our shield grid a few minutes ago and then some brutes dropped in from orbit. We cleaned up the brutes easy enough, but that cruiser is still looming over head. I'm waiting to see where it will drop its gravity lift."
Cortana suddenly cut across everyone's com channel. "Chief, I just intercepted a wide band communication from Truth. They've found the Ark and he's ordering all cruisers to attack the defending human threats near it!" On cue, the covenant cruiser overhead began to pull away from Camp Eden; leaving all of it's ground support troops behind. The ship turned on its central point and sped toward the setting sun. The cruiser had clearly overtaken Camp Eden and could have unleashed its full arsenal of troops and weapons upon them, but thankfully their lives were spared; at least for the moment.
Eric paused and began to stare into space. The full covenant war group was about to pound away at the human defenses in the area of the Ark. He leaned against a nearby rock as the other marines around him seemed dumbfound on what to do.
The com channel opened, "This is Hood to all UNSC air and ground forces. Rally to the following coordinates at best speeds. We must stop the Prophet of Truth at all cost. All forces near Camp Eden, you will continue to defend the civilians."
Cortana breathed heavily, "Hood has transmitted coordinates to all ships, data pads and personal chatters." A soft moan filled into her voice, "Chief, what… what are we going to do?"
The com channel opened again, "Master Chief, this is Hood, I need you and your Spartans to get to the Rally point ASAP. That forerunner ship is now entering orbit. Stop Truth no matter what. Our lives depend on you and your team." The Chief's gut cringed at the words. He was so close to killing Truth a few days ago, but he had to abort his plan and settle on taking out the Forerunner ship's engines.
"Understood, sir." The master Chief stood tall, ignoring the past situation aboard the Forerunner ship and looked toward Eric.
Eric opened a channel, "Rogue Fantasy, copy!" Eric held his breath because all previous attempts to contact his ship had failed.
A choppy reply echoed, "19, I … copy you … damaged but making best … you."
"Captain Monroe I'm requesting immediate extraction, to the Rally point."
"Pelicans are … to you. Doctor Halsey and Smith are headed for …. Eden. But, Be advised … toward you."
"Repeat!" Eric shouted into the noisy channel.
"Wraiths! Dozens of … toward you!" The reply was broken, but Eric understood. He climbed the nearest rock-face to the top of the deep maze like river bed. He then spotted a random jackal scout standing on top of the ledge. The jackal was quick with its plasma rifle and fired off a clear round before Eric split its chest with his BR55. The plasma round scorched across Eric's arm and burned into the small gap between his armor. The pain was excruciating. Eric gripped it with his left hand and cursed that he was shot by a lone Jackal, but Eric pressed the thought out of his mind.
"My luck really is starting to ware out." He thought to himself. Eric knew that he would need to get some biofoam and tend to it later. He then looked toward the distance behind Linda and her tank team. A monstrous cloud of sand was coming and he quickly open his com. "Linda, wraiths are coming up your six!"
- - - - - - - -
The Rogue Fantasy descended through the clouds, smoke spewing from its side and engines. Flames snapped inside the pelican bay as fire control teams battled the flames inside. The ship was listing slightly on its portside, but the helmsman was able to keep the ship in the sky.
On the bridge, Captain Monroe thumbed her chin while she crossed her fingers across her soot covered face. She looked to the empty seat of her weapons officer and sighed. He had been killed when the Rogue Fantasy's weapons' terminal exploded. The whole command crew had fought the blaze and tried to save the young man that was being burned alive, but he died in their arms.
"Siren, did Juggernaut drop off Halsey and Smith yet?"
"No ma'am. Juggernaut is having problems clearing his Identity Tags for the landing strip. The base won't let him land.
"It's because we're Black Ops. None of our equipment exists within the UNSC mainframe." Monroe rubbed her temples in frustration.
"I'll hack in, Captain. Run some fake numbers to get our ships in."
"No, we don't want to look intrusive. Tell Juggernaut to contact Major Rawlings. She can vouch for us."
"Done. But it will take time for Major Rawlings to respond, she isn't near a terminal. 19 and the other Spartans are about to get hammered, they need to be extracted."
"I know, Siren. I know. Can we launch another Pelican?"
"No ma'am. The fire on the Landing Deck is blocking access to any of the available Pelican's. Nearly thirty percent of the blaze is under control, but the fire teams need more time."
"What about picking them up directly, Captain?" The helmsman questioned aloud.
Siren ran the figures, "At best speed; twenty minutes. But those wraiths have already begun to attack. I can try to fire a salvo of Archer missiles, but the missle controls are damaged. I can't promise that the missile programming will fire correctly. There is a high probability of a stray missile hitting our troops." Siren appeared on the holotank and looked to Captain Monroe with a heavy expression. "As much as I hate to admit it, Eric and the others are on their own."
- - - - - - - -
"Sergeant Johnson, all threats have been neutralized." Kelly stated into her com channel. Her warthog driver steered the smoking hog toward the massive gate door. The fifty foot gate parted with a loud hiss, and hundreds of marines and ONI officers ran out. Once the door parted wide enough, several scorpions and warthogs began to speed through. Kelly jumped out of the hog and saluted a middle aged, highly decorated woman. The woman was grey haired and tall, wore an all white uniform and was branded with the label of a Major.
She looked around the area, "It has been a while, has it not?"
"Ma'am?" Kelly questioned. "You must be mistaking me for one of the other Spartans."
"Oh no, I know exactly who you are. If anyone deserves to wear that armor, it is you." She walked closer and Kelly realized that the woman was very tall for a normal human. She was nearly six feet five inches. "Take off your helmet." Kelly obeyed and popped the seal of her helmet. A soft hiss escaped and she pulled the helmet off. "It's been more then thirty years since I've seen you. You always did like your hair long." The major laughed as she picked at Kelly's hair.
"Ma'am, I haven't had time to cut it. I know it's not regulation. But I have work to do. If you don't mind…"
"Don't you know who I am?" The major sadly questioned.
"Yes, Major Rawlings. You're my mother's sister; my aunt." Kelly stated in a somewhat none caring way. She had long ago severed her connection with her family and adopted the Spartans as her new family.
"You where with Sergeant Raynord and the others, so you know what it means to be in our family. I'm sure you uncovered many secrets inside the Seed ship." She looked at Kelly awkwardly and stepped closer so that no one else would hear her words. "We carry the direct bloodline of the soldier gene. It has always been our destiny to guard the Ark. I am no longer able to fight, but your mother knew that you would be the one to face them. We knew they were coming one day, so we had to be sure that one of our children was placed into the Spartan Program. Others of our extended family were also in the program, but sadly did not survive this far. Kelly, you and the chief must protect the Ark."
Kelly looked up into the eyes of an approaching black man, "Sergeant." She stated loudly so that Major Rawlings would stop talking. The Major cut her words short and turned to see Sergeant Johnson approaching.
"I heard that we have to save the world, and that the chief is getting the Spartans evac'd to the Rally point. If there's going to be a fight, then I'm in it. I have to watch my boy's back." Johnson walked past the major and tipped his hat, "Ma'am, I left Sergeant Major Mc'Cloud in command. He'll be taking your orders from now on." Johnson then climbed in the hog and nodded to Kelly.
Kelly sealed her helmet as Major Rawlings looked back toward her. "I have to go, Ma'am. My duty as a soldier is to eliminate any threats to the UNSC and Earth. I don't care about the details or about being a descendent of the Reclaimers." She saluted and jogged toward the hog. Major Rawlings watched as the warthog turned and raced away from the gate. A group of highly armored ONI officers ran to her side; bodyguards
She then mumbled toward Kelly's warthog as it sped away, "Where the master chief may fail, only you can succeed. The battle for the Ark is not the end. We must have the ship core back." She turned and the officers surrounded her as they walked back into the gate.
- - - - - - - -
Eric and the Master Chief jumped into the nearest hog and sped toward Linda's tank formation. The wraiths were dropping mortar on Linda's group, but they were holding their own. Eric steered toward the cover of an overhanging rock just off the side of the road. He stopped at the rocky outcropping and gazed through his binoculars. He could see ten wraiths, but there were no signs of faster vehicles to protect the wraiths. Eric thought this was odd, but nothing the Covenant was doing seemed right. When the elites used this formation, they usually provided ghost support with the wraiths, but the elites were no longer involved and the covenant were suffering greatly for it.
"Cortana, report." Eric declared into his com.
"All brute and jackal forces within the river bed have been neutralized, save a few stragglers. The company cleared them out with the support of Camp Eden's regiment. Your black ops Spartans and 087 are on their way here while the marines search for stragglers."
The Master Chief ran out toward the line of tanks and began to talk with Linda, but on a closed frequency. Eric then watched as a mortar round exploded on the left most tank. The explosion killed four nearby marines and knocked Linda and the Master Chief off their feet. They both quickly stood up as their shields recharged. They ran to cover behind a rock on the side of the road.
Eric opened his com as he ran toward them, "Chief, we can't hold that many wraiths back with one scorpion."
Kelly's voice then filled the com, "Sergeant Raynord, I have four MBTs behind me. But we are still out of range, we'll be there soon!" The com died and Eric realized that Kelly must have picked up more tanks from inside Camp Eden. Eric positioned himself behind a rock as the lone tank, and its two marine pilots, fired from the road on top of the small hill.
"Great." Linda stated as she pointed beyond the line of wraith tanks. Everyone instantly fell in to shock as they watched a Scarab part the dust from behind the wraith tanks. It quickly began to charge its primary weapon, and even from their distance they could see the blue-green plasma cannon sparking to life.
"… shit." Eric softly cursed. This battle was over and Eric knew it. Four scorpion tanks wouldn't be enough to stop the massive scarab from slamming its arsenal into them. In order to stop it, they had to get close, but it was more then two hundred yards away and guarded by a line of eight wraiths; two of them had been destroyed by the scorpions. The scarab would easily melt them away before they could get within fifty yards. But still he had to try. He jumped up and ran back to the warthog as more plasma mortars rained down from overhead.
The wraiths were finally able to track the last scorpion, and no mater how aggressively the tank driver maneuvered they could no longer avoid the inevitable. Two mortars landed on top of the scorpion and engulfed it in a sea of blue flame. The outer hull of the tank charred, the barrel exploded off and the screams of the pilot and gunner echoed across the sand.
Eric jumped into the driver's seat, "Chief, we don't stand a chance against that scarab unless we can get close."
"Let's go." The chief and Linda jumped into the hog as it crept beside them. Eric floored it and speed into the dessert, leaving the hard river bed behind. Sand kicked up and plasma began to rain down upon them from the wraiths. Eric swerved as numerous explosions rocked around him. He cut the wheel hard and turned parallel to them. The mortar shells began to adjust to Eric's course and he turned back toward the wraiths.
It was suicide, Eric as well as the Chief and Linda knew it, but until the Rogue Fantasy arrived, they had to do what they could to stop the covenant from attacking the base. Eric knew his luck was up, he knew he was going to eventually die in this war just like Roy, Justin, Sammy and his one time love Kim. It was the path of a soldier, any soldier, to do what they could to win the battle and that sometimes meant doing the impossible.
A mortar round exploded ahead of the warthog, flipping it forward and tossing Eric from the wheel. The chief tumbled along the ground and Linda slid out when the hog slammed to the ground. Eric stood and gathered his senses. He instinctively pulled up his side arm and took aim at the nearest wraith. His action was laughable, but it was all he could do. He fired a single shot and the wraith exploded in cool-hot wave of blue green plasma. He then watched as two more wraiths exploded at its side.
The scarab turned along the line of wraiths and slammed its leg through one of the wraiths. The small blue and heavily armored tank was no match for the tons of steels smashing into it. The scarab's main gun then fired along the panicked filled line of wraiths, destroying four tanks with one shot.
Eric slumped into the sand as the chief stood at his side. Linda groaned as she jogged toward them, her shields sparking back to life, and they all watched as the last wraith fired back at the scarab in a futile attempt to defend itself. The scarab had made quick work of them and their weapons had done little damage against its hull. Eric then realized that perhaps his luck hadn't yet run out.
- - - - - - - -
"This is nuts, babe!" Marks shouted again as he continued to monitor the scarab's course. He planted his hands firmly on the controls and gazed through the forward view screen. "This is disobeying a direct order."
"Screw Commander Rodgers!" Rose shouted from the main weapon's control panel. "And if you don't like it you can leave."
Wesley descended from the top deck and walked into the command room, "Commander Rodgers said that the company would stay behind and continue to defend Camp Eden."
"And that's what we're doing!" Rose barked. Everyone in the command room looked at her oddly; the eight marines, Marks and Wesley.
"We were told to guard the Target Zone, not the Camp itself!" Wesley sharply returned.
"Whoops, I guess I didn't hear that part."
"You're disobeying orders again, Rose!" Rose turned and gazed at Wesley, feeling that the situation seemed oddly familiar.
"Are you going to pull your sidearm again, Wesley?"
"Damn it Rose. This is the military. We have orders and a chain of command…"
"Private!" Marks cut into the argument. "Wraiths, dead ahead!"
"Charging the main battery!" Rose shouted.
"Holly hell!" Marks shouted. "That warthog has balls. Look! They're charging the wraiths."
"Damn fools." Wesley stated as he peered at the screen. "But still they have balls…" The screen zoomed in and everyone fell silent as they saw who was in the hog.
"Hey, isn't that one of the Sergeant's men driving those two Spartans?" A marine from the back stated.
"Eric…" Rose whispered as she looked at the screen. A mortar exploded in front of the hog and tossed it's passengers like rag dolls. Rose was breathless and her eyes followed Eric as he tumbled in the sand. Her heart stopped as Eric stood to his feet and pulled up his magnum. Rose fought against time. She pressed a quick series of buttons, gripped the trigger control and zoomed in on the nearest wraith. The tank exploded in joyful blaze. "Marks!"
"Oh, right!" Marks snapped out of his gaze and quickly began to maneuver the scarab into a better firing position. The scarab began to thud as numerous plasma rounds exploded against the hull, but the damage was only superficial. She squeezed the trigger once the main plasma weapon had fully charged, and began to decimate the covenant tanks.
- - - - - - - -
The wraith tanks were easily destroyed and after journeying back to the river bed, the scarab cautiously stopped beside a large rock. Eric's smoldering warthog crept beside them and Eric stepped out; the Chief and Linda at his side. They walked toward the massive rock as Kelly and the tanks began to form up on the road atop the small hill. Marines began to cheer from the top of the scarab as they quickly began to climb down the rock face toward the sand below. Eric nodded his head toward each.
"I doubt that Commander Rodgers sent you out here." Eric grinned.
His com buzed, "19 this is Juggernaut, sorry for the delay." A pelican slowly descended into the region and landed on the road, just in front of Kelly's line of tanks. "I had some VIP's to deliver to Camp Eden, but we can depart whenever you're ready." Eric then looked up and saw the Rogue Fantasy roll into view above all their heads.
"Sorry it took us so long, 19." Captain Monroe stated over the com. "The fleet his headed for the Rally point, luckily it's not too far."
"Raynord, lets go." Johnson shouted from the street. "You were always too damn slow."
"If you knew how bad my week was, you'd be a little slow to." Eric snarled in return.
Johnson shot back a wicked gaze, "Your week! Wait until I tell you about the shit I've been through. Now let's get to this Ark thing and kill us a prophet. Chief, load'em up." The master chief nodded toward Linda and Kelly and they walked toward the waiting Pelican.
Eric began to climb the hill toward the road when Melanie, standing on the road, spoke into his com, "Sarge, you may want to debrief the Private". Eric looked up at Melanie and she pointed her head back toward the scarab tank. Eric turned around and released a heavy sigh. He then walked back down the hill toward Wesley and Rose.
A communication from the Rogue Fantasy echoed in Melanie's ear, "How is he?"
"Why do you want to know?" Melanie replied to Siren's voice.
"I… I need to know."
"He's fine. Tired, but fine."
"What will he do about her?"
"You asked me that question last time and my answer is still the same." Melanie walked away from the sandy hill, turning her back toward Eric and the others. Sergeant Johnson, the Chief, Linda, and Kelly were boarding the Pelican. Mathew walked up to Melanie's side and they began to walk toward the pelican's hanging ramp. The exhaust from the bird kicked sand into the air as Marines scrambled around the tanks. Melanie stepped to the ramp, hiding her heavy eyes behind her reflective mask, and climbed into the belly of the pelican. "He'll tell her what she needs to hear, and then he'll leave her behind."
The chain gunner nodded as the two black ops Spartans passed by and Johnson walked toward them. "Where the hell is Raynord?"
Melanie turned to Johnson and pulled off her helmet, revealing dried tears, "He's coming. Just give him a second."
Johnson huffed, "We don't have time for this." He then walked out of the pelican and made long strides down the hill toward Eric.
- - - - - - - -
Eric stopped at the base of the rock and glared at Rose and Wesley, "You two okay?" They were shocked. Wesley fumbled with words and didn't know how to reply.
Rose suddenly blurted out, "We're fine, sir. It was my fault coming out here. I had to come and help..."
"You saved my life, Rose." Eric simply stated. His eyes deeply focused on hers. Rose suddenly lost herself in the moment and began to fidget nervously as she gazed into his reflective visor. It had been so long since he was nice to her or said anything kind in her direction. This was the Eric she remembered from school and at the ONI facility, and she was filling her mind with all of their happier times together. For that brief moment she didn't care about the war, what had happened in space or the events on the Elite home world, she only cared that Eric didn't see her as being useless.
"I'll go and help the others, Sergeant." Wesley softly stated, walking away from the two of them. He didn't want to interrupt and knew that he had no place. He began to push away the other marines that were lurking about, when he noticed Sergeant Johnson walking toward him. "Sergeant, anything I can do for you…" Johnson simply brushed past him, not breaking his walking stride.
Rose stepped closer to Eric, "Can you take off your helmet so I can see your face?" She smiled as she stopped only inches away from Eric's expansive chest. She looked up into his reflective mask, but Eric remained silent.
"Raynord!" Johnson shouted as he came closer. "What the hell are you …" Johnson gazed at the woman in front of Eric and smirked angrily. "You must be Roselyn Santos."
"Yeah, but how do you know my name?"
"Eric and I were bunk mates for a while." Johnson simply returned. "Eric, we have to go." Johnson gripped Eric's arm and tugged on him, attempting to pull him toward the pelican.
Eric gripped Roses shoulder, "Get into Camp Eden. It's the UNSC civilian fallout shelter. There's food, water and plenty of places for you to rest." Eric felt Johnson continue to pull at him and he let go of Rose. Eric could have easily resisted Johnson's pull, but he followed Johnson back up the hill. "Rose, when this is over I'll …" Eric paused as he walked backwards up the hill. Rose began to fallow, climbing the hill behind Eric and Johnson.
They reached the sandy road and Eric stopped as he neared the ramp; the roaring engine noise flooding into his helmet. "I might not make it back, but if I do … I'll look for you." Eric climbed into the back of the Pelican and Johnson fallowed suit, heading toward the pilot's seat. Melanie heard the words and she pulled her helmet on, sealing it.
Mathew watched as Melanie stood up, and he grabbed her by the arm, "Don't get involved." Melanie snatched her arm free from Mathew's loose grip and walked to the ramp. She grabbed Eric and pulled him away from Rose; onto the pelican loading ramp.
Melanie looked to Rose and then back to Eric, "We have a war to win." Eric was stunned at the sudden interference, and watched as Rose stepped away from the pelican Ramp.
Rose looked up at the two black ops Spartans standing before her, "I'll be waiting for both of you to come back." The last time they parted ways, she didn't have the chance to say goodbye or tell Eric how she felt. The memory of running across the university campus to find Eric swelled across her mind. She swallowed her pride and pushed past Melanie's earlier warnings of distracting Eric. She couldn't let Eric go, not again, not without telling him how she felt.
"Eric …" She paused, and the words seemed trapped in her throat. She lowered her head shyly and softly spoke, "… I love you."
Melanie nervously turned to Eric, "Sergeant, we need to go." She heard Rose's words and it stirred something inside of her, something she had long kept secret and hid from everyone. Her heart nearly missed a beat and she quickly became nervous. But foremost, she knew that Eric had to have a clear head about him. He couldn't be distracted with thoughts of Rose and hopes of living happily ever after. "We can't deal with this right now, Eric."
Eric could only gaze through his helmet visor and into his own reflection upon Melanie's face. He looked to Rose and could tell by her eyes that she was sincere in her words, but he had to focus and clear out all the thoughts in his head. Melanie was right; there wouldn't be a world for them to live in if the prophet of Truth wasn't stopped. He looked to Rose one last time, and she smiled softly in return.
At one time, he felt that Rose wasn't his type; she was all business, sharply dressed and determined to uphold her title as the leading engineer on the MJOLNIR project. But the new woman he was looking at was different, she had seen combat, been held captive and was finally beginning to understand what it meant to fight for what you believe in. Eric ran away from combat to be by her side, believing that he could protect her; knowing that he had to protect her from the closing Covenant threat. But the war changed Rose, and showed her who Eric Raynord was. She no longer wanted to keep him at a distance, and she no longer had Kim's wishes lingering over her head. She knew what she wanted, and so did Eric.
"Juggernaut, get this bird in the air." Eric stated firmly. He lifted his palm to Rose, giving her a soft wave goodbye, but then changed it to a thumb's up. Rose smiled as a single tear rolled down her face. She returned the wave and stepped further away from the ramp.
"Yes sir." The engines roared louder as the Pelican propelled itself into the sky. Rose covered her eyes to shield them from the sand that was dancing around her, and to dry the tears that were freely flowing down her face. The dust settled and they were gone, streaking into the sky toward the Rogue Fantasy. Rose folded her arms and began to walk the road back to Camp Eden's gate. It was going to be long walk, but she wasn't in a hurry. The walk would give her time to think and reflect on the future, but her silence was quickly interrupted as a warthog crept up beside her.
"Need a lift?" Wesley smiled. Rose nodded and climbed into the passenger's seat. Wesley sped away from the marines and tanks that lined the road and headed toward the gates of Camp Eden.
"So, what now?" Rose stated as the wind whipped through her hair.
"I'm … not sure, but I think you've repaid your debt ten fold."
They neared the gate and sped through the massive door. Marines and vehicles were stationed everywhere, as far as the eye could see and on both sides of the paved streets. The sandy roads were left behind and it was as if they had entered a major city. Camp Eden's above ground area reminded them of a small city. There were signs that pointed to an Airport and a shopping district. Wesley followed the signs and made his way toward the main camp's underground facilities.
There were several checkpoints ahead, but the guards waved them past, unconcerned. Wesley turned a curve and drove into a four lane tunnel, following the hanging traffic signs that guided them to the underground facility. Rose noticed that the tunnels massive doors were partially closed. Further into the tunnel they began to see rows of marines lining the walls with turret guns and jackhammers, clearly waiting to defend the camps underground structure if the Covenant broke through. Wesley couldn't help but think of the Elite Inner Sanctum, and how things bore a resemblance to it.
During the drive, Rose continued to reflect on what to do about Eric. Melanie warned her that Eric had to keep his mind clear of distractions, something that Rose understood fairly well, but she couldn't hold back her feelings. She had tried so hard to gain Eric's approval, his acceptance, and she finally felt a sense of peace knowing that Eric didn't see her as useless. Rose smiled at the thought that she had saved Eric's life, but a cold chill came over her. It was the form of chill that continued to grow as she began to realize that she may never see Eric again. Rose fought against the thought that Eric may die in battle, but she held on to a small sense of peace; she had told Eric goodbye and how she felt. Warmth quickly returned to her and pushed away the chill.
Eric had always been a major influence in her life, even when he wasn't around. When he left to join the military, he had left behind a world that was blinded by the UNSC; a power that humanity thought was capable of stopping the Covenant. Eric was right all along, the only thing he could do was to face the enemy head on and hope they would never find Earth. Humanity didn't have time to create the perfect weapon against the Covenant, but they did do something even better; humanity had created the Spartan's. And the man Rose loved, Black Ops Spartan 19, was leading them into combat. He was a man that knew combat and war, and while every UNSC Marine and ODST was praying that the Master Chief would save them, Rose looked to a different hero; a Hero named Eric Raynord.
After several miles of descending down the long tunnel, everything began to expand and the ceiling vanished into a massive openning. Miles underground, Wesley slammed on the brakes, forcing several vehicles behind him to swerve. He gazed into the monstrous cavern while horns rang out from the vehicles that began to go around them. Rose was also dumbfounded at the sight. They both climbed out of the hog as cars, vans and busses sped passed.
"No … no. This… this shouldn't be here." Rose nervously gasped. Together, Wesley and Rose peered into the grand expanse that lay before them. A cavern nearly identical to the elite Inner Sanctum was sitting before their eyes. The buildings were more modern then the elite Inner Sanctum and it was clear that they were using it as a base. With water ways, forests, wildlife and its own natural light source, it was if Rose and Wesley had somehow been transported back to Dorenth. The nostalgia from what they were seeing was overwhelming. The cavern was so large that they could not see to the other side, it was lost in the haze of the overhanging crystal formation that shined brightly over the city.
"What does this mean?" Wesley questioned. "I thought they said that Earth was seeded by the Ark, but this cave…"
Rose looked into the mammoth cavern, "The Ark rebuilt the Earth and made it habitable, but this …this looks like a Seed Installation."
"It is." A woman commented as she steeped out of an armored transport. "However, it is very old, much older then the Elite Inner Sanctum."
"Dr. Halsey." Rose shockingly stated as she looked over her shoulder.
Catherine Halsey stepped out of the transport, wearing handcuffs and two guards at her side, "It seems that the forerunners were here much early then humanity. We are on our way to the research center. The handcuffs are a bit over dramatic, but considering that I stole UNSC property, namely a Spartan, I can't blame them for being somewhat displeased with my return."
Another woman steeped out of the transport however she was not cuffed or guarded. "You two were with 19 and the others. I'm Doctor Smith, we met briefly onboard the Rogue Fantasy. Follow us, perhaps you can be some help."
"The rabbit hole keeps getting deeper." Rose thought aloud. The guards, Doctor Halsey and Smith climbed back into the transport and began to drive deeper into the city. Rose and Wesley followed closely behind.
- - - - - - -
Eric walked onto the command deck, with his helmet at his side and placed his hand on Captain Monroe's shoulder. Siren appeared on top of the holotank and smiled at Eric warmly. Eric smiled softly in return and they all looked through the forward view port. Ahead of them were dozens of UNSC cruisers, frigates, battle ships and carriers that were quickly speeding toward the Rally point. They were all hoping to arrive faster than the monstrous forerunners hip. The sky seemed to be a blaze as the forerunner ship continued to force its way into Earth's atmosphere, leaving a wake of smoke as it descended toward the ground.
Once again, Captain Megan Monroe looked to Eric for leadership, but he simply nodded his head toward her; squeezing her shoulder softly. She had always felt more comfortable with Eric around. His presence was reassuring and he had defended the ship countless times, but she had single handedly defended the Rogue Fantasy without his aid and know longer needed to lean on his strength. She exhaled softly and depressed the com controls on her command chair.
"Sergenat Johnson and Master Chief, we have the target in sight. The other ships in our fleet are headed for the Rally point. What's your plan of attack?"
The com returned, "Get us aboard that Forerunner ship. We'll do as much damage as we can before it makes land fall." The Master Chief calmly replied.
"What about those shields?" Monroe questioned.
"Let me worry about that." Came Cortana's reply. "Siren, I need you." The idea of working together with another AI was not something Cortana was looking forward to, but Siren was a Virus AI and breaking into systems was her specialty. Cortana was good, but their combined processing power would give them a sizeable advantage.
Siren smiled and faded from view, "Of course you do."
Captain Monroe placed her hand on top of Eric's and he squeezed her shoulder one last time. She felt that he was saying goodbye and she turned and looked at him as he pulled his hand away.
Eric sealed his helmet and walked off the bridge, "Good luck, Captain."
"The same to you, 19. Come back in one piece." Captain Monroe watched as Eric walked off the command deck. His armor was soaked in alien blood, plasma burns, and his own dried blood. He was a Spartan, a warrior created to fight, kill and be victorious in combat. She knew what he and the other Spartans were about to do would be suicide, but suicidal tactics was what he had been doing for years on board her ship. However, she couldn't escape the felling that this was his last mission, and that she would never see him alive again. The door to the command deck opened and Melanie and Mathew stood beyond. Their helmets were on, and weapons at the ready. Eric nodded toward them and they responded likewise. They then looked onto the command deck and Captain Monroe stood and gave them a firm salute. Eric returned the gesture as the door to the command deck closed.
Monroe returned to her chair, filled with a heaviness she had not felt since Kim 05 had died several months before. She ran her hand through her frizzled hair and fought the emotion to cry.
Her command crew looked at her as she gazed at the ever approaching forerunner ship, "Cortana, Siren … tell me what we need to do."
Cortana spoke directly, "Siren and I will take the helm. This may get a little bumpy as we get closer to the forerunner ship. Hang on."
The Rogue Fantasy climbed into orbit, racing toward the massive oncoming ship. All eyes within the fleet watched as the tiny stealth ship charged toward the forerunner ship. They all knew that the master chief was on board and they all knew that if anyone could slow down Truth's advance it would be him. But what most of the human fleet didn't know was that the Master Chief had an ace up his sleeve, something that the Prophet of Truth would never see coming.
The demon was about to hit Truth head on, and he was bringing the last of the Spartans with him.
The End.
Special thanks to the following:
My little brother.
My sister: Thanks for being patient C-dub
My roommate: Exploring the Halo mythology since summer 04
The Bnet community supporters:
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… and to all ofyou; thank you for your support!
Halo: If I Were Your Hero © Soulguard 2005
Written and Created by SoulGuard
Characters based on the characters from Halo, Halo 2
Based on the Video Game Halo, Halo 2
Halo© Bungie and Microsoft Game Studios
Halo 2© Bungie and Microsoft Game Studios