Chapter 3: "Dead can walk" My ass.

August 30, 2552
Aeola, Fenris System
Two Hours Later

Two hours later, Wellings and her platoon were already on the road. Her orders were to scout a suspected Covenant position. The only problem was, they had no idea how many Covvies were out there, or if there were any at all. But right now, she was distracted by thoughts about her little sister, Sam, or Samantha. Last time Karla had seen her sister, it was when she was boarding the transport to Reach to attend the UNSC Officer Training Academy. Karla had hoped to bump into her at Kenwood, since their hometown, Marino, was on the north side of the river.

Guess the brass have different plans though.

Welling's discontent for this mission was universally shared by the rest of her platoon. Even though it was UNSC regulation to maintain comm silence, most Marines ignored it and constantly filled the comm-bands with personal chatter.

"Hey El-Tee."

Wellings recognized that voice. It was Sgt. Williams, the squad leader for second squad.

"Yeah, sergeant?"

"Let me go through this again. Command wants us to go scout a totally unknown and unmapped section of forest, for an undetermined amount of Covvies? Do we even know how many there are?"

"The Cap said their intel was 'sketchy and fairly reliable."

"Bullshit. They have no freaking idea what's out there, but they're sending us in anyways."

"Yeah, that's the same thing I told them."

Another voice cut in.

"Holy shit, you mean to tell me we actually have intel?"

"That's right, Johns. But only for today."

"Man, why couldn't they get third platoon to do this?"

"Because third platoon is busy training the local militia. Besides, you know the Cap's pet platoon is too good to go on a 'routine patrol'."

A chorus of grunts and acknowledgments filled the comm.

An hour later, the sixteen Warthogs pulled into yet another town. Their last stop to civilization. Wellings took a look at the sign.

Welcome to Molino
Pop: 6,000
Elev: 3,000

Wellings frowned. She had been to Molino before, and she knew from personal experience that the people who lived around here were as superstitious as they were paranoid, and there was plenty of both to go around in this town.

"Cobbs, Peterson, I want you to take two Hogs through town. See if anybody knows the surrounding area and is willing to be a guide."

"Yes ma'am!"

Wellings watched the two men drive off into the mist. She seriously doubted that they would succeed. The townspeople in Molino were deathly afraid to leave town, much less their own homes. The believed all sorts of strange and evil creatures and spirits were waiting in the mist and surrounding forest, waiting to leap at them and drag them away.

I wonder why the hell they even moved here in the first place.

Twenty minutes later, both men returned, with a civilian vehicle in tow. Wellings was thoroughly surprised.

"Hey, you finally got someone to come with us?"

"Not exactly, El-Tee. This guy says he's here to warn us."

The civilian vehicle in the rear stopped, and a very elderly man staggered out of the drivers seat.

"No... turn back, please."

"Cobbs, explain."

The young private hesitated.

"Well, we've been asking around, but everybody was too scared to even face us. This guy came up and just told us to bring him to you. Said the mountains were dangerous."

"And so are the Covenant. So, old man, are you going to be helping us, or do we have to tear up that mountain ourselves?"

"I'm sorry, I can't help you. Even I don't know what's out here."

"What? But you live here. Shouldn't you know the surrounding area?"

The old man now looked throughly frightened.

"No, you don't understand! Nobody goes up there. Ever. Nobody."

"And why is that?"

The old man took a look around, as if he were searching for any evil spirits that might've been eavesdropping. He then carefully walked up to Wellings and whispered in her hear.

"Because that's where the dead can walk..."

"Hey El-Tee, are you sure we should be up here? I mean, that guy seemed really scared."

"Williams, are you going to take the word of some crazy old guy who lives in a town full of them? 'Dead can walk' my ass."

"You sure? I mean, with zombies, I'd go up against the Covvies any day."

"Williams, you've been watching waaay too many of those 20th century horror flicks. I told you those things were bad for you. And Ryan! Tighten it up back there, the fog starts getting really thick up here!"

Just three kilometers away...

Zazat rushed up to try to find his Field Master, Raka Melazee. Zazat wished that he wouldn't have to be the one to report to the Elite about the bad news, but he lost the draw this time. The little grunt was now scared for his life. Melazee was known for his brutality on the battlefield, and that same brutality often extended to grunts as well. Finally, Zazat reached the command post. He gulped and stepped inside.

"Field Master!"

Melazee, who was busy studying reports about the local human activity, did not even bother to turn and face the grunt.

"What is it, grunt?"

"I h-have a report from t-the dig teams, Field Master!"

This time, Melazee turned around.

"Report."

"W-well, progress i-i-is going well, b-but-"

Melazee was starting to get impatient.

"WHAT!?"

"The teams accidentally released some of the creatures within the structure!"

Melazee roared in rage and started swiping reports, weapons, and all sorts of items from the tables. Zazat feared that soon it was going to be him flying through the air.

"But the they've eliminated all of the creatures! Except for one..."

Melazee regained enough to control to grab the grunt by the neck and growl.

"Then find it."