Chapter 3

Mithel was having a really bad day. He was stuck in a lifeboat. Lifeboats didn't really have a way in comfort. The seats were uncomfortable, the heat was almost unbearable, and, excluding the roar of the lifeboat's engine, it was awfully quiet.

Mithel started thinking about all the kind people he met aboard the Autumn. He thought of only one. The Master Chief. It was awesome seeing the Chief, Mithel thought. I wonder what being the Master Chief feels like…

BOOM!

"What was that?" A Marine yelped.

"Something hit us! I-I can't control this thing!" the pilot struggled for the controls as the lifeboat swerved left and right. Mithel took a deep breath. So now they were going to die. How convenient. He watched the pilot try one last time at maintaining control, then stared wide-eyed in horror as the pilot's chest erupted, sending red blood and organs everwhere. A few Marines looked like they wanted to throw up. One particular youngster really did throw up. The contents slid across the deck towards the front of the lifeboat. Mithel himself almost threw up at the sight.

A shape hurtled across the bright blue sky as Kiyip opened his eyes. The Grunt was nestled under a tree, catching up on sleep. Kiyip watched as the shape, a cone-like thing, he observed, glide over the mountains. Kiyip was about to drift back into his dream world when Gigiv ran out, squealing.

" Kiyip! Our Excellency calls us! Something about a retrieval mission and such!"
Kiyip snapped awake.

" Then why are you so excited?" He asked.

" He-he promises us extra rations if we do our job well! See? Extra rations!" Gigiv almost drooled at the thought.

" Is it worth risking our very own lives just for extra rations?" Kiyip countered fiercely.

Gigiv seemed taken aback.

" Uh, well, I…"
" Gigiv, you naughty grunt! We can have extra rations any time we want! It's just that- Our lives!"
" What about your lives, gas-sucker?" Came a voice behind Kiyip. Kiyip jumped back and turned his head to see three Jackals.

" I said, what about your lives, gas-sucker?" The lead Jackal asked again.

" Hey, it has nothing to do with you, Comu, so go away!"

The Jackals all snickered.

" Hey, look! This little runt thinks he can boss us around!" Comu exclaimed, " Let's teach him a lesson, shall we?" The Jackals moved a step forward. Kiyip and Gigiv moved a step back.

" Please! No hurt me! I'm on your side!" Gigiv stuttered.

The Jackals closed up on them as if they hedn't heard Gigiv's plea.

" What's going on here?" A new voice came in.

The Jackals gave a startled yelp, and they all turned to see their Elite commander, Guri 'Hosamee. Gigiv whimpered.

" Uh… nothing, Your Excellency." Comu replied, trying to keep his tone nuetral.

'Hosamee craned his neck, as if to get a better look at Kiyip and Gigiv.

" Having fun with Grunts, I suppose? I thought you Jackals knew that Grunts shouldn't be picked on. It ruins their self confidence." Guri 'Hosamee said in an icy tone. Icy enough to make the Jackals freeze.

" We won't do it again, Your Excellency." Comu replied frostily.

" I am sure you won't." The Elite left. The Jackals turned to go. Before Comu left, he glared silently at Kiyip.

" Well, I'm glad that was over." Kiyip said in a quivering voice.

Gigiv looked down. " I think I just wet myself."