A/N: Well this is the second to the last chapter of non-Halo action but I will more than make it up in the next chapters. So thanks for being patient and for reading.
(Please Review!)
DisclaimerAuthor: I don't own Halo or any of the characters; I'm just using them in my story
Lawyers: Awwww…
Chapter 5
2211 hours, January 16,2005
Al Kawaz Airport
Outside of Luxor, Egypt
Chris looked out the window at the great emptiness that stretched all around him. They had just landed at a small airport just outside the town of Luxor in Egypt. Just yesterday they were in Cuba and the day before in Houston, he knew he was getting too old for this. But still this was for Dr. Clancy and especially for his daughter, Elaine. He knew Elaine wanted to know what had happened that day at the temple she was obsessed over her father's death. Still, he can't blame her; he himself has tried to research what happened to Dr. Clancy but all he could find out was that forerunner reference. What were the forerunners? Well the he knew that the legend came out of East Africa, the birthplace of homo sapiens and spread throughout the know world, even to America. But how did the Egyptians build the structure? The architecture used was far too advanced for the Egyptians and for other civilizations at the time to build, even modern civilization can barely build the arcs and other things involved in the building and what was in the building that killed everyone and left no bodies behind? We'll find out soon enough he thought to himself.
"Where are we?" Elaine asked. Jay opened his sky blue eyes from his slumber and looked around the dark surroundings.
"We're in Egypt " Chris said flatly
"What's wrong with you?" Jay asked
"I've been thinking," Chris said
"Ok… well let see how they're doing unloading the stuff," Elaine said. Elaine stood up and motioned the group to follow her towards the door. The chill of the desert hit them as they stepped off the plane and headed towards the back of the other plane that traveled with them.
"Thanks for coming with us Jay even though you didn't have to," Elaine said gladly
"It's the least I can do for a good customer," Jay said. A man in military uniform then approached the group; he was about 6 ft tall and looked very lean and muscular. Jay walked up to the man and spoke in a foreign language, the switched to English as he introduced the man to the couple.
"Elaine and Chris, this is Captain James Walters, he will lead the mercenaries," Jay said
"Nice to meet you sir," Elaine said while shaking his hand
"Likewise ma'am," said James in a British accent. The accent again brought a chill down Elaine's spine.
"Hi Captain," said Chris in salute. James raised his eyebrows in surprise as Elaine motioned Chris closer.
"Chris you're doing the salute Nazi style, you hold your hand like this," Elaine said as she showed Chris the right salute.
"Oh sorry sir I didn't know I was doing it wrong," Chris said as he corrected the salute.
"Quite all right, a civilian mistake nonetheless," he said a pretentious voice. Chris slowly lowered the salute and quickly turned towards Jay for help.
"Let's see how the unloading is going," Jay said as he tried to change the subject. The group awkwardly walked to where the plane was being unloaded to find the mercenaries still unloading crates of weapons and supplies.
"Hurry up we don't have all bloody day!" James yelled
"So what's are mission Jay?" James said as he turned back to the group.
"According to Elaine you'll be doing some exploring and mostly guarding," Jay said
"Is Elaine a military expert?" James asked
"If you're saying I have military experience then no but I worked for the FBI," she said
" That's good, I'll need all the help I can get," James said, "So where exactly are we going?"
"We're going to a temple my father discovered a few years back and we are going to explore it," she promptly
"Is this in the valley of the kings?" James asked
"Yeah, why?" Elaine asked
"Right now a company is offering a reward for anyone to explore the temple your talking about," James said
"Are you sure?" asked Elaine flabbergasted
"According to the article it's referring to the temple discovered by Dr. Clancy," James said
"That's the one," Chris said, "So I suggest the that we leave ASAP"
" Now listen here bloke, your not in good stance with me so don't talk to me like that," James said irritably
"No I was just saying man or do you got a problem with me?" Chris said aggressively. At that moment James pushed Chris away while he prepared for an attack.
"Hold it, this is not the time for fighting; we got work to do so break up," Jay expressed. The men lowered their testosterone level as the calmed down and slowly turned away.
"Look like they're done," Jay said quietly as the rest of the group nodded.
"Time to go," James uttered quietly
The wind blew furiously across the sands of the desert; the weather seemed to grow worse by the minute. In the middle of the desolate wasteland stood a lonely dirt road that was seldom used but at that moment a convoy of military vehicles noisily interrupted the silence of the road. James looked ahead as he drove the truck down the bumpy, desolate road toward the temple. Normally a person like him would only be interested in money but his motives for taking this job was much more. After years in as a seasoned mercenary he felt the need for something more, more spiritually than physically, he decided that he would search for a perfect religion. At first he attended regular church but he wanted much more. He wanted to be involved in his destiny but also he felt that he would have a hand in the destiny of millions. A guy can dream he thought to himself with a smile.
"James!" Jay yelled
"Huh?" James said confused
" I've been trying to get your attention for the last 10 minutes," Jay said
"So what do you want?"
"We wanted your opinion on what you think the temple is," Elaine said
"How the hell should I know?" James said indifferently "Why do you ask?"
" I recently pulled some pictures from the GO satellite and I detected faint heat signatures in the temple," Chris said
"I wonder what that could be," Jay said rhetorically
"Apparently that's part of the reason why I'm here," James said as he fingered his sidearm
"What do you mean 'part of the reason'?" Chris asked
"Don't take me for a dumbass bloke, I know about the famous 'Temple massacre' and I know that Elaine's father was one of those killed in the temple we're visiting," James said. "No offense Elaine."
"None taken, but please don't refer it to the 'Temple massacre," Elaine said
"Ok sure, but next time tell me everything that's important, I really don't like to be out of the loop," James said
"Don't worry, we'll tell you everything," Chris said. "Right guys?"
"Sure, whatever," Elaine said. The group grew silent as James ended the conversation in order to concentrate on the bumpy road. The road soon disappeared and was replaced by loose dirt. Ironically, the GPS beeped on Chris' laptop, Chris typed rapidly on the keyboard and looked up in anticipation.
"In a few minutes we'll be at the temple," Chris said. Before anyone could talk the radio beeped up.
"Sir we can see the temple, we'll be there I about three minutes," the radio chirped
"Excellent, radio the rest of the group about the arrival," James said into the radio
"Sir there's something else, there is a large group of people at the temple, looks like they made camp,"
"Fuck! I was afraid of this," James cursed
"What's wrong with a little competition?" Jay said. No one else said a word after that.
Two days later…
Elaine walked out of the tent refreshed from a good night's sleep; she was dressed in American style fatigues and carried a SCAR weapon on her shoulder. Her hair was hidden under a cap and her police pistol bulged out from her side in a menacing way. She stretched out and walked toward her group of mercenaries gathered outside of the main temple courtyard. James dressed in his British uniform was about to addressee the troops with Chris and Jay standing net to him, Elaine walked up to join them as she heard James start the speech.
"Attention troops!" James said with a thick accent. The solders stood at attention as James examined them.
"Today we're going to explore the temple before us and let me assure you this is not an easy job, the top level of this temple is as big as a five story building and we don't know how deep it is. Yesterday a group before us went into the temple and never came back, so keep your eyes open. Also as many of you all know, this is the site of the infamous 'temple massacre'. So just be on watch and good luck to you all. We will gather at the entrance of the temple in twenty minutes. Dismissed!" The mercenaries dispersed quickly talking nervously in the process; James walked back to his tent to prepare, leaving the group behind.
"Nice motivational speech," Chris said
"Its better than for them to be on guard than to be surprised," Jay said
"So what do you think about the group that never came back," Elaine said
"Don't know, but I think whatever did it, they also did it to you father's group," Jay said
"We better see what James is doing to prepare," Chris said. The group walked into the tent to find James hunched over papers and Chris' borrowed laptop working furiously.
"So what's the plan?" Jay said
"According to initial reports of the temple, the main room has two tunnels, so I plan to send twenty solders into one tunnel and the rest of us will go down another," James said
"So what exactly are we looking for anyway?" Jay said
"We're looking for evidence of what happened to my dad," Elaine said
"I suggest we get started then," James said as he lifted his Beretta. The group followed James out of the tent but Chris pulled Elaine behind.
"Elaine I wanted to give you something special, to remember your father," Chris said as he pulled out a package and handed it to her.
"Wow, I don't know what to say," Elaine said as she handled the package
"Open it," Chris said. Elaine opened the package to reveal a Colt .45 pistol, she knew instantly it was her father's.
"Oh my god… I…Thank you Chris," Elaine said in a weak voice.
"Your welcome Elaine, I hope you will cherish your father's memory with this in mind,"
"How did you get this?" Elaine asked
"Well I pulled some strings and I had it sent and polished here in Egypt; it came just yesterday," Chris said
"Thanks I will cherish it forever," she said as she rubbed the pistol and checked to see if it had any rounds.
"Wow it's loaded," Elaine said as she put the pistol in her shoulder holster.
"Looks like James is ready," Chris said as he looked out the tent.
"Let's go," Elaine said.