Chapter 8 – Dropping Sensation and Wonderful New Landscape
I felt my lips pull at the scar from the wide grin I had on my face. The free-falling sensation is always exhilarating! I saw the altitude decrease in numbers fast as I plummet to the ground. I can feel my body being pushed back slightly from the wind resistance of the fall. I slowly start turning my body around so my feet will hit the ground first. I had to put some force into keeping my feet together for a fast decent and to have a safe enough landing. I cannot hear anything beside the wind going past my helmet fast. It sounded made sounds such as rustling and whistling too. I watched as the ground became closer and closer. I started to prepare myself for the impact of the ground and make mental checks of all my gear.
"Orion, verify all connections on the weapons are secure and tight for impact." I stated as settled my arms across my chest and over the assault rifle in an 'x' shape. I wrapped my fingers over my shoulders for a more secure hold. Orion confirmed that all connections and tethers were secure and tight. He also informed me that the mechanisms in my legs will help absorb some of the impact from the fall. I sighed as I waited for the impact to happen in the next couple of minutes. During that time, I thought back to the time both Orion and I did completed our first free fall impact.
em Orion told me that the impact will have at the end of the countdown. I was extremely nervous for the impact. I have done some but never from this height. I will be the first to land from the squadron that was deployed to this mission group. I readied myself when I heard the number three. I realized too late that my feet were too far apart, and I will be coming in to fast to get a good stance when landing. I hit the ground and felt my armor give way from the pressure. I let out a couple of groans from the pain in my legs. I could not register what Orion was telling me.
"The armor was not suited for the impact. You have been." /em
Orion caught my attention with stating I was thirty seconds away from impact. I braced myself and unlocked my fingers from my shoulders. I settled my hands on my assault rifle and waited for the ten second countdown. I heard Orion counting down. I kept my feet together until the last three seconds before I moved them to be shoulder-width apart.
I touched the ground with major force. I felt the ground beneath me give out and crumble below and around me. I kept moving downwards without any pain in my lower legs, which was great and expected now. I felt myself slowing down then stopping after all my downward motion was complete. I looked around me to see a huge crater that I made from the impact. I sighed and knew this would never be anything new. I looked down at my feet and noticed that they were stuck up to my knees in the ground. I heard Orion laughing at me due to this predicament. I had to chuckle also. This was the first time that I have had my feet and legs planted further into the ground than normal. Usually it was maybe two or three inches into the ground I am stuck in. I placed my hands onto the ground on either side of me and start to gently pull myself out of the ground. I finally felt some give from the ground and I popped out of the ground fast. To stop myself from doing a face plant into the very ground that I pulled myself from, I turned it into a roll which lasted just three rolls and I ended on my back. I huffed and stared up at the slowly lightening dark blue sky. I laid there for a bit catching my breath and waiting to hear that everyone has landed before I forge forward towards them.
"Val," a familiar voice called over the communication circuit. "We have all landed and I am having Cortana send you the coordinates that we are at." It was John's voice that I heard. I heard a slight ping on the left side of my helmet and Orion opened the message to the coordinates and placed them on the radar to follow.
"Guess it is time for me to get up." I informed Orion as I turned over and pushed myself up onto my feet. I looked around and saw a large crater that could fit at least three pelicans in it comfortably and none would be touching. I turned to the east and started walking to the edge of the crater and climbed out to the undamaged ground. Standing there I noticed that it looked like a desert with some dunes in the distance that the sun is slowly showing over. I observed a small animal scouring around further in the distance. I started moving out to regroup with everyone. The landscape was a mixed of colors between greens, yellows, browns, reds, and oranges. It was truly magical of a mix of color.
"Val we are closing in on the group." Orion called out softly. "They are around the dune that is to your left." I nodded my head and went in that direction. I walked around the due and saw a Spartan, two marines, and eleven Sangheilian warriors congregated in a circle and further forming a plan. I sent out the three-note friend whistle, so they knew that I was there. The group turned to see me, and I noticed that some of the Sangheilian warriors were a bit banged up from the impact. I viewed the small craters their capsules created at impact. I am always envious of the smaller craters. I walked over to the group and joined the circle.
"I will be going with Jefferson, Johnson, Eton, Risa, Viti, and the four others that were said to join." John stated as he looked over at me with a nod. "The rest will be with the Arbiter." I nodded my head and awaited to see where the two groups will be heading. John indicated that his group would go from the front and my group will be taking side with the cliff and doing some long-range shooting. John informed everyone that we are currently three miles away from the town as it is. I nodded my head and moved away from the group to change out my weapons. I took the disassembled sniper rifle from my back and replaced it with my assault rifle. Orion verified the secure magnetic connection and I continued assembling my sniper rifle with great focus. I checked everything all over again before telling the group that I was ready for the long range.
"Groups move out." John and the Arbiter called out. We moved out towards our designated locations. The men and Sangheili were softly talking about what to expect. I walked silently in the direction with the large weapon that I have in my arms.
"Val," Orion spoke to me. "This mission will require the specific attributes of long-range vision, heat sensing, and x-ray. That is from what I have gathered but I am not sure of what else will be needed." I chuckled softly and under my breath agreed. I told Orion to let me know when my eyes changed from one to the other color. He agreed.
I blinked my eyes the first time and noticed a range of color being displayed. The colder areas were a multitude of blues and the warmer areas were a mix of reds, orange, yellows, and whites.
"Your eyes have turned pink." Orion informed me. I nodded my head and blinked my eyes and focused on the next thing I need to have my eyes do. I opened them again, saw the colors were now dulled out and I can look through the superficial surroundings of the land, bodies, and slowly the buildings that were placed about the landscape. "Eyes are now a mix of pink and red." Orion confirmed my very thoughts again. I felt a slight headache but pushed that aside as I kept moving with the group and my progress on changing my eyes to what is needed at the time. I blinked my eyes one more time and I could see well into the distance now with the included attributes of the previous two changes. "Your eyes are now a complete. With three equal parts pink, red, and yellow your iris has changed to the gear that is needed for the last change." Orion said and I turned to look at the group lightly. We have now made it to a mile out and by the cliffs, our designated area to start at before we move forward. I settled my sniper rifle in my arms and brought it up to my shoulder to allow me to use the scope along with my eyesight. The group that I am with, set up all around me and was ready to continue forward. I looked into my scope and turned my vision onto the town.