Earth
Kenya
New Mombasa
Safari Plaza
15:44, local clock
...Ok...
This qualifies as an ' unexpected development '
..To put it extremely mildly...!
Buck's mind was going like one of the high speed SCMAGLEV trains that ran all over the country, as he now processed said development, all all while doing what he could not to show like he was.
That couldn't be allowed. After all, someone had to always appear they knew what they were doing- if they actually did, of course. Because if they didn't, then, well...the oldest mantra on the books would apply: " Identify who around you is better suited for command, and then let them lead. If they're not, then that means you are. "
That one was still Buck for now, so...he didn't want the others to spot how he was juggling several emotions all at once here.
First off....
Realization.
Cold, shocking realization.
As he gazed down at the young lady that they'd found- the alive, unhurt, and very much responsive- lady, the ODST had no choice, but to remember all the other cars and vehicles the Squad had bypassed on their way here- and there'd been many of them, probably numbering in the dozens- that the 3 of them had jogged, run, or marched past to get here. The ones that were littering the roads like all the blasted-out debris, trash and garbage from slagged trucks, or even the plasma pistols dropped by dead Grunts...
They were still there, needless to say.
But more importantly...how many of them were empty ?
Had they all been abandoned ? Sure looked like they had been, just sitting there all haphazard like. Many even had their doors left open.
But not all. And that was what Buck was having his realization of the day about...
We found one of them, here...
We found one !
Could there have been others ?!
Had to be...!
Had to be...
Like a mountain-water spring, coldness came up from somewhere near his center at the new thought. He didn't like it, but it was there anyway. And he knew that he was right...but also wrong.
Had any of those abandoned vehicles had civvies trapped in them ? Any of them ? Statistically, there had to have been at least a handful, and they were still back there ! Not to mention, all the ones that were definitely waiting for the squad all along their route- whichever one they were going to on on, and no matter where it led them.
Dozens and maybe even hundreds more.
It just made Buck hate the Covenant even more than he already did...as if that was possible. He couldn't put it into words, and hadn't been able to for years...but it was the same in the end: He hated them, for what they had done, for what they were doing, and for more of what they would absolutely do.
Xeno scum are flooding this whole town, slaughtering everyone, and chasing the rest like wolves after a herd of cattle.
The ones that are still alive ? I must've gone right by them back there...because I was thinking 100 percent of rounding my men up...because they can't survive alone here without me. Nobody can.
I- no...no. No. Nothing wrong with that. Nothing at all. They're mine, and I always got their backs, until I'm dead. But, even so...
Did I overlook anyone back there ? And I can't even go back if I did ! Daylight's fading...
City's gonna be clogged with Covies like its High Charity itself. We can't stay...
We got to keep going...we have no choice.
Damn. Damn those xenos...!
Damn them...
And on it went, the tirade in his head.
His teeth dug through this lip, breathed in out sharply, but he didn't speak. He couldn't, because now was not the time, nor the place.
It would be ,eventually, but not now.
Rather, he mentally locked it up- that was nothing new-, and then let his body do its work as his mind did its own thing:
Which was assisting the Australian Marine with some..well,
Public outreach, basically.
" Ma'am- Ma'am ! ".
Dubbo had both palms facing outward, in a " chill, chill , its ok " sort of way, as Buck remained at the middle. Dekker was off on the right a tad, having sensibly cleared a corridor in advance for bringing the woman clear.
If they could coax her out anytime soon, that is. 'Course, hauling her out was always on the table, but...more of a last resort than a first.
Which they were still taking a swing at-
" The area's clear, Ma'am. You can come out now..."
Studying her expression, Buck was only 50/50 sold on that. He'd come across flighty civs before, and this one fit the bill, with the way those blues kept flickering from point to point, and the way she was pressing herself against the rightside door like she wanted to phase right through it.
Not petrified, but...yeah. Definitely flighty.
Breathing quick, as well..
"...H-How do you know ? ", she finally got out.
" ...Did you check the rooftops , though?! I saw ...I saw, lasers or something coming from the rooftops ! They could be hiding up there..! "
" They're not, Ma'am...they're not. "
Dekker stepped in now, leaning on his side of the door frame, and tipping his head through the gap a bit. " I promise- we wouldn't open the door if we thought it wasn't safe. That's what we do- we save folks like you. "
" What he said ! ", Dubbo agreed, nodding.
Not bad...
Neither of you are from the Corp's PR department, but you're doing ok...
As in, she hasn't had a freakout ..
...yet.
" ...What if they came back ?! "
There we go.
" We've got a 4th man on the lookout, Ma'am. He'll let us know if they do...but we can't stay here. Longer we do, the better the chance they will ! ", empathized Dekker, along with all the right gestures. " We've got to stay on the go ! "
" And we're not leaving you, ok ? We're not leaving you ! "
" I'd listen to the Corporal here, Ma'am. "
Buck could no longer stay idle. Dekker was right- they were really on the clock here, and every second spent was another that the Covies would have to track them down, and slag them all.
Not on his watch, though.
No way.
Depolarizing his visor, Buck revealed his face to her.
She blinked in overt surprise, with brows rising- the opaque visage of an ODST helmet tended to weird out some civvies, who virtually not ever got a look behind it. Heck, they didn't see ODSTs as much as rank and file Marines on account of being outnumbered by them by at least 9 to 1...if not higher than 10, but maybe lower than 12. Either way though, they were much more used to seeing the green-plated Leathernecks, than the ones who's faces were generally hidden behind those polarized helmet visors.
But not here.
" I am Gunnery Sergeant Buck, Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, Ma'am. ", the NonCom explained, letting his tone adjust to one that wouldn't issue orders- but reassure, and calm down.
It just wasn't what he was used to doing, but had to do the best he could here. A fearful civvy needed coaxing to be convinced to move, not furiously issued commands...unless there was actually plasma bolts in the air toward them, but even then...
If they'd been under fire, yeah sure, then there's be a total rush. But, there wasn't so...
Anyway- he needed to be lighter here.
He partially crawled inside, reaching a hand toward her. " That's Corporal Dekker, and the Aussie is Private First Class Dubbo here with me We're all getting you out of here. "
Whether that would've been enough from someone else, or if he just go it wrong, Buck couldn't be sure, but the woman wasn't exactly bolting, even after that. The woman stayed stuck fast...not because anyone or thing was holding her there, but because she had done it herself.
. Take my hand, and we'll get you out of here. "
"...Its..its not safe..! ". The woman was like a kitten in a wolfpack's den, clearly convinced that setting foot outside
" You've got to trust me. You've gotta trust us.I get you think its safer here- I do- but it isn't. Please...let me help. I'd rather not have to pull you outta there. "
He didn't get to do this much-working with the civs. He'd joined up to defend and protect them, yet hadn't talked with all that many of them, let alone when they were hiding themselves away right smack dab in the middle of an alien genocidal invasion of a planet ! Other ODSTs were his daily companions, and the ones he was most used to chatting with...aside from the occasional ( and unfortunate ) ONI operative...
Buck let his reassurance show clearly, though he wondered for a moment if he'd lost his touch.
But, after a second or so waiting, with his hand out, he got a response. The woman, eyes still flickering about, at last stopped, to focus on the gloved hand held out for her.
With a slight inhale, she reached out and grabbed it.
" Lance Corporal Agru ! Lance, your canteen. "
" Your canteen, come on... ! "
Buck made a brisk " give it here " motion with one hand- and a second later or so, the sniper handed off the ordered item.
The NonCom grabbed it, and was rewarded with a distinct sloshing sound from within. Good- it wasn't down to its last dregs...there was still about 4 or 5 nice long gulps of it left. Better than that, the design of the UNSC standard issue canteens was all about keeping their contents thermally stable...which was a more technical way of saying " Hot stays hot, and chilled stays chilled ".
Your " IceFire bottle ", as the boys and girls on the ground called it. Perfect for either the heat of the Sahara, or the clammy humidity of the Amazon.
Now, Buck would give a taste of what was nearly as ubiquitous to the UNSC as boots, guns, and bad coffee to someone who needed it more than any of them- or rather, two someones.
Maybe even more...
" Alright..."
" Back on perimeter watch, Lance. Keep your eyes up and scanning, got it ? "
" Copy that , Gunny. I'll holler if I see 'em. "
He turned toward the still nervous-but-not petrified-at-least looking lady, who he and the two Marines had carefully bodily pulled and lifted from the vehicle, and propped her up against its side. She was sitting on the sun baked ground, legs wide enough away from each other so as not to compress her belly, while gazing straight ahead.
But, also down. It was as if she was afraid to see something coming if she turned her gaze upwards.
Buck let his examine her, searching for signs of wounds. Thankfully, though, there was no blood anywhere on her outfit- a loose fitting maternity dress that was the dark tan, the color of sand- matching her hair, which couldn't have been a coincidence- and blue blouse that was fully buttoned.
She was quite pretty, with a round, girlish face that sported a dusting of freckles. Sandals covered both feet, and on one of her hands...
..A wedding ring.
...Hmm..
Any word on your hubby ?
Hope he's ok. For what's worth from me, I truly do. Should bring that up, sooner rather than later.
First things first, however.
He extended the hand with the container toward the still nervous-looking lady, rocking it around again to clearly signal its capacity to her. " Here..."
" Here. Have a swig of this ", he urged. " Nice and cold. "
She
" ..Thank God. Thank ...thank you both. "
Cautiously, but gratefully, the solitary civvy reached out, got ahold of the canteen with both hands, and put it up to her mouth to pull down a few halting, yet clearly longed for mouthfuls of water.
A few drops went stray, but that didn't matter. More than enough had made it already.
Buck quietly observed. He made a point ( mostly ) not to fixate on the way that the roundness and girth of the woman's belly made it resemble that she'd swallowed a medicine ball, or how the tips of her boobs formed twin peaks, despite the dress's voluminous coverage. He partially succeeded. It wasn't entirely his fault, though; the bump wasn't easy to miss at all, whatsoever. Or the...rack.
Biology. That's how it works.
That, and it reminded him of how there were technically two civvies at risk here. Not just the woman, but that child as well. That boy, or that girl...
Either way...the only ways it could go...
...was already in real trouble, and they weren't even born yet.
Good Lord...the Covenant is evil.
Dutch would say he sent us to protect her- them- from those alien monsters.
...I'd like to believe it, Taylor
Drawing air through his teeth, Buck suppressed his rage toward the aliens, and concentrated on the task ahead, as the woman finished taking in water, and slowly lowered the canteen, still clutching it like she hadn't drunk for hours.
Which was, to be honest, quite obviously the case. The NonCom let her rest on for a moment longer- aside from the water, it was the least he could provide for her right now.
Instead, he asked her, " Ma'am, what's your name ? Can you tell me your name ? "
There was a short pause. Her eyes did not open yet, but after breathing in, much slower than she had earlier, she finally responded.
"...Jeenea . My name is Jeena...Numare."
...That's a unique one, all right.
I like it...I like it.
Buck nodded understandingly. " Ok...ok then, Jeenea. Glad to meet ya. "
Introductions at last...
Knew you had one.
"...I don't wanna pry, but I noticed that ring. Any word on your husband ? You know where he is...were you talking with him before all this went down ? "
Jeena's eye flickered ( though they didn't open or close ) for a second, clearly thinking back to when the enemy had first rolled in. What exactly was going through her mind, Buck admitted he couldn't pin, but...the mention of her significant other...that was enough to reveal something the ODST could spot:
Concern. Worry.
Did I push her...?
" Ajmas. He's a Sergeant as well...of the NMPD. He's been working late these days, because the Department wanted all officers doing extra drill if the aliens came. "
She began to lace and tangle her fingers, as a nervous tic Buck had seen from just about every girl from high school.
" I...I talked to him this morning, right before noon. I was bringing him lunch...his favorite. "
Her tone wobbled, and Buck wondered if she might weep. Pregnant ladies were more emotional than the others, and what with an alien invasion going down in her town, plus her hubby obviously near the epicenter of it all...yeah. Even if she could've kept it together otherwise, all those new hormones having a riot ( protest ) through her system was tossing a wrench through all that.
Mood swings, basically. It was happening already..
The ODST, driven to act, reached out and held her hand. He rubbed his thumb across the top of it.
" Hey...". He kept up the massage as he spoke. " Hey... I know NMPD guys. Tough as nails. And their base is like a castle. Plus, he knows you're coming for him. And, we're gonna get you there. "
Part of him longed to be doing this to Dare's hands...but, the rest- and even the other- had no problem with this. It was right...
It was right.
And... she believed him. Because- or, maybe she knew there was no way she could get there alone, but that she had to stay by them.
Jeena closed her eyes for a moment...then rubbed away some moisture from their corners, before turning to offer a vulnerable expression that made him suddenly feel obligated to be sure he blocked plasma from her with his own chest if it came to it.
Just might, actually.
" Please, Sergeant. We have to find him. I have to..."
" We will. Count on it ".
" You're feeling up to standing ? I'll help you up otherwise..."
There was another pause, and then-
" I...yes. Yes, I think so..."
" Don't worry. I'll be right here. ", promised the ODST sergeant.
And he was , as Jeena drew her legs beneath her, braced one hand on the SUV, and pushed off from both.
Not the most graceful of maneuvers-she kind of rocked back and forth a bit as a woman as pregnant as she was would be while moving from sitting down to standing, but it could've been worse. She did get there, overall, and was finally fully upright.
( Again, for the first time in several hours, no doubt. )
Buck had been ready to step in if need be, though that had now proven to be needless. Dekker and Dubbo had been hovering at his elbows as well, but seeing as he had things in hand, they'd wisely stayed out of the way, though still close enough to help.
Which he was still unsure if he was doing a good job of, but he couldn't stop now., even if he wanted to, which he didn't..
" There we go..you're up. You're up.."
He patted her shoulder, hoping it was the right thing to do. Jeena showed no objection to it, so the ODST concluded that it was.
" Well...next step is, we need to leave. I wish we had something you could ride on, or in, but all we got is walking. "
It went without saying- well, to any of the Jarheads, at least- that riding in a civvy vehicle through a Covenant-occupied city was just a straight up bad idea, in the worst way possible. The things had no armor to protect them whatsoever, and no weapons to return fire with, no mention how they weren't anywhere close to as agile as a Banshee, or an M-12.
Actually, however, maybe Jeena did understand that. She'd been hidden inside it, rather than going on- just playing dead, being as innocuous as could be. And it'd worked; the improvised squad had found her, whereas the Covenant had not.
" Gunny ! "
Damn !
That's his trouble voice...
" One second, Jeena. "
" Wh- "
" Dubbo ! Stay with her ! You too, Dekker."
Long honed training and instincts kicked in, and Buck had no choice but to swivel Romeo's way, even as a slightly alarmed question was thus interrupted from the civvy they'd just saved.
( Well, nearly...still had to get to a place of actual safety, which sure as heck wasn't here )
" What is it, Lance ? What'd you see ?!"
Standing with his SS-2 raised to his visor, the sniper was watching a section of sky that was spread out toward the northeast. The sun was on is downward track, and even though they were facing away from it, the increasingly orange sky was a dead giveaway.
More clouds had showed up as well, clustering and clumping along the horizon, and leaving the upper center mostly clear. One would think that it would give some degree of cover to any aviation elements on the go on prowl, maybe giving them a shot at stealth, but-
They couldn't hide from Romeo. He was good at that.
" Take a look, Gunny...".
He handed the rifle over to Buck, who held it, and then sighted though the scope as asked.
Already, he had a suspicion of what he was about to see, though the details were unknown. It wouldn't be an issue in another few seconds, though; Romeo had already sounded the alarm, and all that remained-
Oh...
Yeah, that's trouble.
Nitrogen entered his blood now...and fighting side came alive.
"...Seraphs. And Phantoms...Banshees too. "
" Christ...Its a whole air wing...!"
" Worse, Gunny..". Romeo stepped in.
" An Air Wing inbound to our position. "
And just like that, their clock had just run out.
That explained why the distant explosions from the aerial bombing had tapered off, in the 15 or minutes they'd spent till this point. It'd been sharing space at the front of Buck's mind all along, as he wondered where the enemy was. Sure, they were in the grid, but it was a wide one. There was plenty of room to work with in it, and as on a trigger state of readiness as Buck had been, he still anticipated an encounter about an hour from now...give or take.
Well, it seemed the aliens had take the " take " of that, and run to the endzone with it.
They were swinging to win the SB...
" God..."
" Ok. Ok, that's a problem. Romeo..give me an estimate. "
" Couple miles out, but they're hauling ass. 'Bout..10 minutes. "
Buck bit his lip. 10 minutes was the blink of an eye when you were out in the field, and when that blink ended with a full company of Covenant soldiers breathing down your neck, it was a heck of one to miss. Even if you saw it coming, you still might be up a creek without a paddle..
Were they ? No...no. But, they were in the crosshairs again.
And not just them...
" Right. Ok...here's it back, Romeo. Stand by. "
He 180'd, looking back toward Jeena-
- right as she abruptly cried out.
What ?!
You ok, honey ?
Was she ? Looked like it; The future mamma was bent forward, hands to her belly lower down...
" Ahh...ow ! "
Dubbo had closed the range, taking her arm. The Aussie was ready to stop her from falling, while Dekker did the same on the other side.
Ok...
That's pain right there.
Buck jogged right for them at once, arriving just as Jeena's painful expression died away. From what glimpse of it he'd gotten, the NonCom surmised it hadn't been agonizing, but enough to get to kind of jackknife.
Somewhat...
" You- Hey, hey-how much does it hurt ? "
Nearly said ' Are you ok '. Geez...
Something's up..
" I... oohhh"
Stopping to breathe, and settle it down a tad, Jenna closed her eyes, opened them after another few seconds, before confessing: " ...He's kicking. Pretty hard, too. "
Ah. That added up.
Oh...and you're having a he ! Not a she. Thanks for clearing that up. Was curious, to be honest.
Resting both hands on the curvature of the belly, Jeena gazed down at it. " I think...I know, she knows how on edge I am. That must've caused it..."
"T the Covies are sending their whole blasted air force to carpet this place in plasma and Brutes, so that's a given. Nothing for you to be ashamed of ", Buck promised. " You're not an ODST; we live for this. "
" Also getting folks like you out of this, though. Need us to prop you up ? Or do you think you can walk ? "
Slowly turning her attention up the nearest road that led out of the plaza, Jenna turned back to Buck. "...I- well, yes, but...I can't run. "
" Walking, yes. More like a waddle, but I can manage. Just not that quick. Not as quick as any of you. "
" Is she good for that ? I don't wanna be rude, but...", Dekker spoke up.
Dubbo objected. " That's exactly what rude is, man... "
" You're forgetting something, Private..", the ranking Marine between the two of them warned.
Right on, Corporal...
Remind him. He needed it.
"...That's rude, Corporal Dekker. ", the Aussie manage to correct himself, as Buck meticulously, but swiftly, slipped one arm under and around one of Jenna's. The right hand side of her belly bumped against the ODST's side...another reminder of how, again, there were two civvies under his ward.
Two more reasons to guard them with everything he had.
" Let me know if that hurts you, Jenna..."
" I'm alright, Sergeant..but thank you for asking."
" Well, if that changes, let me know. We're going to have set a fast pace, but we'll be as gentle as we can."
Purpose- long standing, fiery purpose- manifested like a geyser, like it tended to.
" Romeo ! Romeo, get ready ! We're Oscar Mike right now ! "
He re-polarized his faceplate, and then issued rapid fire orders to the other Marines: " Dubbo ! Take her left side, give me some backup. Dekker ! Run point for us ! "
" Now, Leathernecks ! Now ! "
They got the gist, for sure- even Dubbo. He did as Buck said, and moved at once to support the civvy on the opposite side from the ODST NonCom.
Dekker re-shouldered his rifle, checked that the safety was off, and moved ahead of the trio, as Romeo got his own weapon up, and began moving off. The men were working like a fluid machine, even though they'd worked together for less than a full day...
..Buck was ferociously proud of them. All of them.
" Alright- let's move ! "
" Sure thing, Gunny- but where are we headed ? ", called Romeo, nearly at a shout.
Buck already knew the other two Marines were waiting to ask the exact same thing, even though he was looking straight ahead.
It was, granted, the one thing they hadn't worked out for sure yet. Everything had been all a blur of new additions to their own situation from nearly as soon as they'd entered the Plaza to begin with, let alone hammer out anything concrete and long term. And, with the Covenant barrelling down on them with enough troops and airpower to burn/ occupy a neighborhood, they couldn't afford to have a field strategy session here anyway- it was move or nothing now.
But, thankfully, Buck was one step ahead on that. As they'd been carving their way close and closer to the Plaza, he'd been mulling endlessly over anything that might serve as an anchor for them- a way to supply their non-existent supply of ammo. A priority...right along with reestablishing a connection with the B-Net, RV'ing with more Marines, and most of all-
Finding Alpha-9.
Well, that goal was still illusive, though absolutely still pursued. For the moment, though, they had to get clear of the enemy's impending assault.
But, they couldn't hide. They had to keep moving, find somewhere to accomplish one of their other objectives as well...and of course, leads on the lost ODSTs. All of them mattered, but-
We got to keep these two safe. We got to get more ammo. We need a trail to follow to find Dutch, and the Rook....
Well, I think I know that place I was thinking of can help with the first two. Maybe even the third...
God, we're taking that shot.
They could do this.
They would do this.
Two birds with one stone.
With a outline of a plan already at his disposal, Buck called back-
" We're going to NMPD's HQ ! "