Well Howdy-do! Seriously, it's been a long fricken time. It feels good to write again. I reread everyone's reviews, and you guys helped motivate me to get this out. I wrote this chapter and more back when I was still updating, but I added and revised some of the stuff so the writing style may be different in some areas and still have some of my old style still in there.
Would you guys prefer for it to be in first person point of view or third? First I think would be more personal, then I could switch off when I focus in on other characters. But third would keep that second bit a bit more smoother. Tell me what you think.
Enjoy and please tell me what you think?
A hand to the helmet the Spartan listened, nothing but static fizzled in her ears as she checked each frequency twice. Nothing. It was a day since spotting the car, and it was a day no different than any other. Dirt and rubble crunched beneath boots as she continued down the road of failure, not a soul in sight, not a sight worthy to see. Thankfully she had moved on, past the buildings of decay, the crumbled city moaning in the loss of its inhabitants from help of the wind weaving in and out through destruction and devastation. Nothing but a tiny speck in the distance told of where the woman was going, where she was heading from, and where she was that very second. The old city left in the dust, the black clouded spot in the distance was my only direction besides the cracked asphalt beneath her feet, guiding another hopeless sap to its doom.
Cars scattered across the highway, a few had flown through the concrete wall separating incoming and ongoing traffic, head sized rocks being stepped over as the long dead vehicles melt in the smoldering heat. Sweat hung at the brow, threatening to drop down and blind her eyes with its salty warmth. Bodies, crashed through the vehicles deprived of their broken windshields and discarded like broken toys along the dirt, decayed and rotting as exposed bones bleached. Blood stained the ground and made up dried pools of mud alongside the road, cracked and gritty.
Hope seemed pointless, though it clung in the thick air as bare heat threatened to suffocate the believer. Spartan 113, the wasted Spartan II. Left for dead in a tank on a destroyed planet, to pay for the blood spilt upon her hands and tears left unshed for the lost. It seems that it has been three years since the Spartan had woken up from the tank, the clear green gel oozing off the armored plates and pooling upon the once white tiles. The frigid air bit at the armor, but could not be felt by the inhabitant, tucked safely behind folds of external armor, reactive metal liquid crystal, and internal padding. Yes, hope was futile. Yet she still clung onto it; it, she felt, being the last scrap of humanity. The key to sanity is hope; if you do not possess it then you turn insane. Life seems bleak, people look dull; everything has no meaning.
She looked up. Something wasn't right. She looked down.
Dust settled further into cracks, pebbles hopped along the sizzling pavement. That is not supposed to happen. She looked around, seeing nothing. Picking up the pace into a run, she focused her eyes on the crumbled city that has been slowly growing as I thought. Now it's the size of the fist, and continuing to grow as she ran. The hairs on the back of her neck were stiff, pressing against the internal padding of the MJNOIR suit.
The last time this has happened was on a training session after Deja's daily lesson on the Vietnam war back in 1955. Seems a bit exaggerated for teaching us the horrors of a war so long ago, over five hundred years ago, but the footage is still burned into the many minds of her siblings. The guns blazing, shredding apart bodies, wood splintering as blood stained where it splattered and pooled. The destruction of forests with Agent Orange, flesh being burned and stripped from its bones as the victims writhed and screamed in pure agony. Watching had made them all on edge, unable to look away from the holo as the footage played, becoming yet another gruesome war burned into their minds, so that may they never make the same mistakes as humanity's ancestors have. During these times, the cycle of humanity's mistakes must be broken.
It had been weeks since finding disappointment in the vehicle, the first real grasp for physical hope had died with the decayed engine. The heat of the insufferable planet was only added by the thick density of the acidic clouds, convecting the heat as the planet continues to cook itself. The heat had started to get to the Spartan, water preserves starting to run low. Twice she thought she saw someone in the corner of her eye, only to find the shadows drift away to nothingness. Each time she shook her head to fight the growing despair.
The road rocked from beneath the boots, bringing her back to the world around as a groan creaked up from the sun baked highway. Feet stumbled forward as she got up and slowed down, and while attempting to get her bearings, she tripped as the road moved from beneath. Gloved hands gripped at dirt and dust as the Spartan scrambled to the side of the road, hoping to escape the unknown threat. Vibrations racked the earth as a whirling sound made itself known in the air. Eyes shot to the sky as shadows crossed over rusted armor, orange visor reflecting the objects thousands of feet in the air.
Dread filled her entire being.
Ships appeared out of thin air as they flew on overhead, the great bulky shapes of the hulls shadowed the ground as a great hoard of ships covered up the sun, crossing over, allowing the sun to outline the gleaming metal. She stared listlessly, wondering if this was another trick of her mind, dehydration making her sweat underneath the armor.
Distinct movement caught her eye as a ship grew rapidly in size, the vibrations growing, the hum of the bizarre engine rattling her bones. Realizing the threat, she groped for a grip as loose dirt slipped through gloved fingers until finding purchase on rocks laid beneath the sandy earth. Boots scraped the earth, the armored being nearly able to stand, but the ship was already upon the woman. Orange visor looked back as blue reflected off the HUD, lighting up the gray dead world she had become accustomed to. Before she knew it, a glowing blue blob was shot out of some sort of cannon device attached beneath the alien ship. It hit the ground, but instead of crashing, dust formed up as it burned into the earth, scarring the war battered earth even more as the pebbles burned red like coals.
Eyes shot from the ground to the ship, pupils stretching wide as it dawned on her that this was no illusion. Panic was kept down only by life-long training. More and more balls of plasma rained down as the MJNOIR clad Spartan got up and ran from the unknown hostiles, unaware as another ship hovered down as they flew overhead in chase.
Pebbles tossed and turned under her boots as she scrambled to get away, to get some advantage in the impossible situation. Her mind screamed at her to run, to get away from the attacking beings, begging for the solitude she had been cursed with for far too long. She cursed herself for wishing that someone to find her, not realizing it could've been the enemy, whatever enemy this was. Another hole was seared into the earth behind her, the burning heat at her heels only imagined in her mind as she ran.
Drilled instincts and tactics forgotten, her breathing quickened as her heart raced, her panic-struck eyes stretched wide behind her visor. The whistle was her only warning before she was forced to dodge to the side, a sizzling ball of plasma impacted into the earth, leaving ash. More and more pelted down, forcing the Spartan to run like Hell's dogs were after her that very moment, leaving a scattered pattern of scorched earth in her wake.
A frantic mind pulled up images, fresh images from when she had first awoken. The buildings were still smoking, though the evidence of battle were far gone. She fought them at first, but they persisted, taking over her mind.
Bodies. Broken and battered, were strewn across the ground like a child's dolls. Beaten, broken, torn and dismembered, the images were put into the folder of her mind labeled 'war'. It was the results of war, it could only be it. No murderer, mafia, monster, could have done the destruction that she has seen on this planet alone. She had seen reports, videos, and has witnessed battles herself, but none had prepared her for the massacre that had been brought upon her home. The images that she had forced to collect dust were renewed and brought about another pang.
Reminded of which, she vaguely wondered if these were the beings who brought great destruction upon her planet. The monsters who slaughtered humanity.
Receiving a kickstart, she forced her eyes to blink, and for a moment she couldn't see the flaming balls coming at her, the foreign ships whirling away overhead, intent on her execution. She saw nothing, felt nothing, which allowed her military drilled mind to come online once more, the child within that died so long ago curling in on itself.
Pulling her arm out in front of her, she flipped open a section on her forearm, revealing a grime covered screen and hurriedly turned it on, clicking in orders. Her chest plates unfolded, revealing a panel that reflected the cloud covered sky. The lack of sun would slow the process, but the organic giant would still grant her power if she had the chance to wait.
Sprinting across the dusted covering, the energy levels printed on the sidearm panel slowly rose, the shields flickering in and out, weak. They had done some tweaks to her armor, along with the others'. Before, the suit had to be hooked up to a huge generator and could not be moved, which caused obvious difficulties on the field. So then they changed to disconnected energy lines, 'wifi' if you would. Then, still keeping the floating technique, they experimented with older technology, solar power. The cracked reflective panels glinted, the levels climbing up the scanner.
A rock collided with the back of her helmet, throwing the being forward. Dust rose as the figure was blown off her feet, her helm digging into the dirt as pebbles scrambled from her form. Clouds began to settle, heavy from the sudden shift in wind, scorched earth trailed and left behind, steam rising from the sand. Dirt trickled down, sliding across dented green armor.
Silence.
A groan crackled in through broken speakers, a shoulder jerking as sparks erupted from its casing. The noise was overshadowed as the whirling drew close, thuds soon following as lifts dropped off its contents. Series of footsteps marched around, surrounding the disoriented Spartan. Shadows covered the golden visor, the hidden eyes slowly opening before pupils shot wide. Her breath stilled, her eyes rolling in her head as she slowly looked up, sprawled on her back with her armor locked and her mind drew a blank.
Shrill red eyes glared down, piercing through armor, blood running cold. No whirling of the ships, no scuffling of feet, no breathing or heart hammering within minds. The odd creature moved, a beam of energy shooting out of a metal stick, throwing a new light on its daunting features. Gurgles rose from its throat, sounding wet and chilling as its muscles bunched. It snapped her out of the trance; her hands digging into the dirt and pushing herself up and off to the side before the light struck the ground where her head was mere seconds ago. Squawks of surprise and urgency rang out, flipping the switch on her hearing as she launched herself to her feet, shards of glass trailing from her chest cavity where the solar panel once was.
She dug a foot into the ground, swinging the other as it collided to a monster's head. She turned and grabbed one of the bigger ones, this one in blue armor, and launched herself over it, kicking it in the back as she lunged.
I'm going to die
Spinning around, her head was knocked back as something collided with it. Instinctively a hand shot out, grabbing a creature's face and squeezing. Blood and brain oozed from between her fingers, her other fist snapping another's jaw loose from its hinge. Colors, so bright and gleaming and foreign to her eyes hurt them, making her want to look away but unable to. Training bred instincts ran her body, shoving her mind aside as it scrambled to make sense of it all. Noises bombarded her ears, making them sore and raw, so used to the silence. She heard the hum of the weapons had her turn tail, glowing bullets trailing after her, the stomping of feet quickly following.
I don't want to die
Adjusting her course, her mind screamed at her. The city would be safe, she'd be safe in the city. Get to the city.
Boots flew over the gravel, running parallel to the highway as she dodged the flying plasma bullets to the best of her advantage. Her shields, charged enough from the now solar panels that hung, broken and twisted, from her chest cavity, flickered with each hit she took.
In no time she sprinted passed the hidden wall of the city, dodging around cars as her attackers pursued. A burning sensation spread through her calf from a close plasma bullet, her shields flicking off, making her force herself to take a sharp right through an alley. Almost immediately she spotted the rotting fence, her speed slowing drastically from exhaustion. Bunching up her muscles, her pursuers nearing the corner, she launched herself over the fence, clipping the top. The wood splintered, catching on her armor as she landed awkwardly. Hurriedly, she looked around as she stopped at the lip of the alley. She could hear the growls and yips of the aliens, making her dash down the street.
Her shields flickered back on, recovered.
Her head screamed at her to turn around, to fight back. Instead she was running away like a new recruit on his first day of action. But she didn't have a gun, and she didn't know her enemies. Both were a disadvantage, the Spartan knew, and yet instincts persisted. They told her to grab a rock, a stick, her helmet- something and neutralize the threat.
She sprinted across the dry earth, dust picking up after each footfall. The thunder made by alien guns and feet of all sizes boomed, bright blue balls of flame streaking past the green soldier. The creatures had found her too quickly. She disappeared around another corner, through another alley, cutting through a narrow street, right, left, right, left. Anything to throw off her attackers.
Her breath came in ragged gasps, heart hammering in her ribcage, wanting to break free and escape from this hell hole. She slowed, muscles stiffening from overuse.
Just when she thought she'd be safe in the confinements of the tall buildings acting as her safe house, she was betrayed again by the vengeful world. A shriek pricked at her ears, the raw eardrums trembling as eyes flicked up to what looked to be an alien fighter jet. Her stomach lurched as a green fiery ball of plasma shot out of the cannon and aimed straight at her.
Lunging forward, the earth behind her exploded, the aspalt smoldering and glowing green. Metal groaned as it scraped against dirtied pavement, the soles of her boots meeting the ground again as they supported her weight. Bewildered, she almost didn't catch that it was coming around for another attack.
She dodged to the side, blue bullets heating the ground of where she once was, only for her to look up in the face of a beast.
Two halfs of a jaw lined on either side of its face, piercing black eyes staring down at her with untold hate. Fangs were attached to the meaty sausages on its face, teeth as sharp as knives on the underside where lighter flesh was. Its skin was brown and leather, seeing many suns and withstanding immense amounts of heat. Its alien armor was gold, shining with pride in the cloudy light. It had no ears nor no nose, and when it snarled at her she saw that the sausages would spread apart, revealing that it had no bottom to its mouth. It growled low in its chest, renewing the panic in her chest.
Not fast enough, the beast's claws raked against her shoulder, the metal squealing, and she wasn't curious as to how much it would hurt if it had been bare flesh instead of raw metal. She rolled away, her shoulder sparking. Springing to her feet, the sparks glowed as she took off down the street. She ducked in and out of buildings and alleyways, trying to evade her pursuers. She could hear their ragged pants, the squeaks from the little ones, and the crashes made from debris underfoot.
Eventually the noise started to be put behind her, the whirl of the searching aircraft whistling farther away, and she couldn't hold up the armor's weight anymore. It sunk and clanged against a stone wall curled inside a decaying building, debris falling away and brushing across the scuffed paint. Sweat rolled down her face, ragged breaths fogging up the HUD on her helmet. The undersuit worn was sticky, chafing uncomfortably against her skin. Not for the first time she wanted to throw off her armor, the suit, and just feel the air, no matter how poisonous it'd be. But then she'd be exposed, vulnerable. She shuddered, desperately trying to ignore the events that happened no more than moments ago. The roars and gurgles of the aliens still rung loudly in her ears.
She wheezed, the breath coming in with shaky movements before being forced out with grunts and whistles. Her glove went to her chassis, gripping fruitlessly at her chest as if the motion would bring more filtered air to her. Soon her heart rate started to calm, her chest pains starting to be soothed as ragged breaths turned into small gasps. Closing her eyes as sweat dripped into them, she licked her lips, tasting the tang of salt.
All around her it was quiet, and if she held her breath, she could pretend she was dead along with the city around her. Dead and not having to deal with the shock of the strange creatures wanting to kill her, dead and not having the hope of being found. Tears mixed with the hot sweat, burning her eyes even more. Her throat tightened, monsters creeping in through the corners of her eyes that are nothing but shadows.