CHAPTER 4

NEVER THE LESS

"Sir?! We can't!"yelled a female voice

"We have to hold on! Now"yelled another

"Sir we can't risk this"yelled another

"If the Covenant get this! Imagine what they would do to the world!?"yelled The Captain

The recording ended as screams went off. Gun fire was last heard. Energy swords sounded off. Josh looked at the holograms in front of him.

He stared at the Halo Ring. The same ring he had heard about. Deka (Introduced in ECHOES 2: SHADOWS LIGHT)stared at Josh and his curiosity.

Deka is the leader of the "EXILES" organization that Havel help create.

"Josh your mission is done"said Deka

"What about this place? Deka what is it that your not telling me?"asked Josh

"That place is a dead end, worthless and timeless your better off with something else instead"said Deka

Deka wore a Spartan IV suit named "Locus". Her armor colors where steel and black. She crossed her arms at what Josh had just asked.

Josh had taken his helmet off. Staring at the hologram with wanting to know what was it that those many died for.

"Deka please"said Josh

"No, don't make it personal already it's probably nothing"she said

Josh looked at her and said nothing. Knowing he wasn't going to get much of anything else.

"You done what they wanted and now here's your next assignment"said Deka

Josh looked at the changing hologram showing signs of his next mission. Josh knew what she meant. He closed his eyes listening to his assignment.

CHANGE OF VIEW...3 Hours Later

Slide door opened as Josh looked out towards the city. The massive futuristic city of Mombasa. Josh looked downward towards the ground. Sky cars flew by.

Sunlight shined all around. The city sky scrapers gleaned in it's light. Josh stood ready.

"You can't change what she says, besides I told you it's for the best"said Hailey

"Yeah, guess your right"said Josh

Wind blew hard. Hailey elbowed Josh's right arm. She stood beside him looking out of the flying opened sky Patrol Car.

"Target within range 28 meters"said The pilot

Josh and Hailey grabbed they're Assault rifle and placed them on they're backs.

Hailey looked towards the Train, the long blue and red train that went out of a tunnel. Parts of it's train cars were on fire.

Other Parts had rushing plasma gun fire flying out on it's side. The Sky Patrol Car flew close. Moving carefully, towards the top of the train.

The train moved shaking little by little. Josh and Hailey jumped as they gained they're moment. The Sky Patrol Car moved back out away from the train.

Josh grabbed ahold of the train as Hailey placed C-4 onto the sealed door way on the roof of the train.

Josh looked forward as they entered into a half lit tunnel. His visor glowed as it went into the blackening darkness.

Light returned as the Hostile Train came right back out. He stared at the further train strips that guided the hovering train above the city buildings.

The sealed door popped as Hailey jumped down first aiming her assault rifle. She fired at the 3 rushing suicide grunts in colors of Grey and black.

Hailey's Spartan IV targeting aloud her perfect aim. Showing direct signs towards her enemies. Elites from the far back took aim.

Firing they're repeaters and Plasma rifle's. Josh came down as the suicide grunts fell. Hailey ran forward firing her entire clip clean.

Josh looked around seeing the dead bodies of civilians. Noticing no bomb traces at all.

"Hailey?! Bomb's not in this car"said Josh

"Next! Car go! I got these"said Hailey

Josh climbed back up and ran. Sprinting as he slammed his assault rifle onto his back. Josh moved quickly on the roof of the Train Cars.

Jumping from one to another. The Hostile Train length was 7 Sky Train Cars. All placed together.

As the train headed into the center part of the New Mombasa City. Josh reached the next Train Car, the main one.

Hailey was still in the route of getting towards the last Train Car where Josh was.

CHANGE OF VIEW

Doors exploded as chunks of grey and black smoke covered the inside of the Train Car. Josh rushed in as he jumped down aiming around. Aiming left and right.

Josh lowered his assault rifle noticing the many bombs and connections towards the levers and steering. He couldn't believe it.

This all was done with Human covenant. Lowering his Assault rifle he turned around taking aim again.

Yet the person that stood behind him was a Human. A human Female. She stared at him. Holding a shotgun with one hand. She was tall his height.

Josh didn't lower his rifle. Staring at her. His visor scanned her body. She wore battle armor of a SPARTAN IV, a Helmet known as Tracker.

Her armor colors were red and black. She wore a scared symbol on her right breast plate. Her helmet and waist had torn white cloth's torn apart by battle.

She stared at Josh.

"Why!?"he yelled

"Needed to meet you face to face, I needed to see what you can do"she said

"What?! Terrorizing people!? Killing civilians?!"said Josh

"Your so much like your father, but you lack something that he didn't"she said

Josh stared at her shocked. Listening to what she had just said. The Train car moved more and more. Getting closer towards it's destination.

"Who are you?!"asked Josh

"Josh?! Stop the train car! It's getting to it's last check point!"yelled Hailey

Josh continued aiming his assault rifle. Trying to think of what to do.

"You didn't even use it did you? Why haven't you used the "Syo Sphere"?"she asked

"How do you know of that?! Just exactly who are you!?"yelled Josh

She took aim and fired as Josh's Holo shield bursted quickly in-front of him taking the full strength of the shotgun.

The mysterious woman climbed up and ran backwards of the Train Car. Josh turned around rushing towards the Bomb. Noticing the bomb was ready to blow.

Placing bombs around the ground floor. He placed bombs of C-4 around the floor and the bombs themselves.

Knowing his chances of disabling it by hand were slim. He knew this was the only way since nothing else could be done.

Josh rushed towards the glass window and it bursted. Josh looked at the Flying Patrol Car. Black burning smoke covered his eye sight.

Josh climbed up meeting back with Hailey. Both stood together on the Train Car roof. The Sky Patrol Car came rushing in as they jumped back inside of it.

The Sky Patrol Car took flight away from the Train. Josh activated the trigger. The train blew up from the front as the back slowed down.

Hailey held onto the steel rail. She stared at the exploding train parts falling. She looked back at Josh.

"What happened back there?"she asked

"I don't know, the one responsible wanted something other than what was told"said Josh

"Did you kill it?"she asked

Josh stood back up from his seat and walked towards Hailey.

"No I didn't get to, she got away"said Josh

"She?! Interesting"said Hailey looking forward again

"She knew my Father, and what happened to him"said Josh

"Josh don't, I know you want to but some things..."said Hailey