When I see you again
As they made their way back through the ruins they came across very few covenant patrols. "So far so good." Hawk quietly said. They were getting closer to the entrance they came in when a jackal walked around the corner ahead of the group. It did a double take and let out a short screech . Vapor tackled it and silenced it with his knife but the damage was already done.
A massive roar shattered the quiet halls. "Move it!" Cassy yelled. They stared running and dragging the engineers down the halls. A deafening boom shook the building a few seconds later. Dust and small building debris fell on the squad. "Do you think you put enough explosives on that door Pyro?" Mark asked sarcastically. The large African man just chuckled and replied " There is no such thing as too much. "
They kept running as the roars got louder and one or twice a plasma round would hit a wall near them. Ryker was taking up the rear and would turn and toss a grenade back down the hall, buying them more time. They were nearing the entrance they had come in earlier when a fuel rod round streaked over their heads and impacted the ceiling.
Pyro, Hawk, Ranger, the five engineers, and the Kraramee brothers managed to make it outside before the ceiling started to collapse. Ryker grabbed Casey and yanked her towards him as a large piece of ceiling attempted to crush her. She gave him a quick pat on the arm to tell him that she was okay before taking off down another hall with Mark, Keith, Vapor, and Ryker in tow. Pyro called out over the comms. " Are you guys alright? " Casey quickly keyed her com to reply. " We're good. Start heading to the extraction point. We will meet you there. " She placed back as Ryker stopped and fired back down the hall before running again. "Roger that, but the Spartan says he will see if there is another entrance outside and meet you there to provide support." Pyro replied. Casey knew there was no arguing with the quite Spartan. "Copy, good luck. " She keyed back.
They bolted around another corner and slid to a stop. A large narrow stone bridge spanned the massive crevasse in front of them. It seemed to have no bottom and was as dark as a black hole. The bridge was in a crumbling state and looked ready to give out at any second. " Anyone see another way around? " Keith gasped out. Ryker replied with a no.
The group had no time to look again before plasma and spike rounds were peppering the walls around them. "Runing across the bridge is our only option!" He called out between reloading. Casey quickly dished out the plan. " On my mark, Vapor you take point and Ryker you take up the rear. " They shifted positions and signaled with a green light in their helmets that they were ready. "Mark!" And with her command they ran as fast as they could go.
Vapor made it across well before the others and was providing covering fire. The rest of them had nearly made it to the middle when an explosion in front of them blew a seven foot chunk out of the bridge. Keith didn't even pause and did a running leap across the gap. He landed with a foot to spare. Mark leaped but landed slightly short but managed to haul himself up. He turned to Casey and Ryker. "Watch out!" He screamed. Before Casey could do anything, Ryker placed himself in front of her. A burst of plasma impacted his shield causing it to overload and fail.
Cassy raised her DMR and shot the grunt in the head. A brute captain raised his spiker and let loose a couple rounds at her. She felt one graze her thigh deep enough to send her to the ground with a cry of pain. She heard Ryker grunt and the next thing she knew was sailing through the air and landed in Keith's arms. She frantically searched for Ryker. She spotted him going toe to toe with a massive brute.
"Barrock" she cursed with venom in her voice. The massive brute was swinging his gravity hammer but utilizing the blade side. He wasn't dumb enough to take out the bridge he was standing on. Ryker seemed to be doing okay. He blasted Barrock's side taking out his shields but lost the gun when Barrock attempted to slam him with a backhand.
Ryker grabbed his combat knife and stabbed him in the small gap between his front and rear chest plates. The brute roared in anger and grabbed the Spartan by his throat. Ryker grabbed the brutes spiker sidearm and shot him in the chest causing the brute to drop him. He caught himself and ran towards the gap.
Vapor was taking out as many as he could but his stomach dropped when he heard his gun make a click sound. He checked his ammunition pouches again but found no ammo. He looked up as he heard a cry of agony.
Ryker was laying on the ground inches away from the gap unable to move because of a spike round that went through his leg pinning him to the bridge. Mark raised his assault rifle and fired at Barrock. The Chieftan tossed a bubble shield in front of him. Covering him and Ryker from Marks bullets.
Barrock walked up to Ryker, reached down and pulled him up by his throat. The action of his leg being ripped off the spike caused him to yell again in pain. The bubble shield ran out and disappeared, but the brute activated his overshields. He held Ryker over the edge of the bridge laughing as he heard the other humans cry out in fear.
Keith couldn't shoot the brute in fear of him dropping Ryker and Mark had no clear shot. "Mark...Cassy... The siblings heard him weakly through the comms. Before they could reply he continued. " The mission comes first. Get out of here. " Cassy keyed her comm. " No we will not leave you! I won't leave you! " She felt hot tears run down her cheeks. " You don't have a choice. " He said gasping. She could only watch in horror and he looked at them. " Take care of each other and remember I love you both. "
In the blink of an eye Ryker grabbed his combat knife and rammed it in a gap near the Chieftans neck. Barrock roared and thrashed around while Ryker grabbed on to the brute using his weight to send them both over the edge. " Nooo! Dad!!!! " Cassy screamed as she tried to leap for him. Marks large arms caught her and pulled her to the exit.