A/N:
Whoot! One chapter closer to the end of the first in a trilogy! But,
before I get started, I'd like to point a few things out.
To all of my reviewers, thank you and keep sending in those reviews!
The Marines of Charlie Company
Chapter 8
The Other Side of the Spectrum
'Takamee grunted unhappily as he observed the other troops aboard his drop ship; none of them seemed fit for combat except for his own Rangers, 'Kanamee and 'Zukamee. The rest were low-ranking Grunts and Elites, far below his standard of a soldier. The Elite shifted his weight as the drop ship altered course yet again; it seemed that the blasted pilot was lost…again. Clicking his mandibles in frustration, 'Takamee squeezed past the Elites in the ship and stepped up into the cockpit.
"You!" he snapped at the Grunt pilot, "What's taking so long?"
The Grunt yelped and jumped slightly. "Fleet Master has changed our course again. We'll be there soon…but me have a bad feeling about this."
'Takamee growled softly then stalked back through the ship and strapped himself in next to 'Kanamee and 'Zukamee, neither of whom asked any questions; they both knew that their commander had a short temper and an itchy trigger finger. The interior of the drop ship became noticeably colder and a foreboding sense of dread seemed to wash over everyone within as they neared their destination. Many of the Grunts and even some Elites seemed to be on edge…close to frightened, even.
'Takamee's stomach lurched as the ship slowed to a halt and began it's descent to the ground. He gripped his Plasma Rifle tightly in his claw as the flaps opened and 'Takamee was sure to be the first one out…right into the murky, thigh deep swamp water, which he was quick to let everyone know by cursing loudly in as many tongues as he could think of. After a few moments of this, he led his Elites to the Nav point that had been set by the Grunt pilot on his HUD.
Rain flickered off 'Takamee's shields as the small group of Covenant troopers stalked through the dark swamp, the eerie fog washing over them like a blanket. Red blips would suddenly appear on his radar occasionally, only to disappear the second he noticed. Something was definitely amiss with the swamp, which gave 'Takamee even more reason to want out of it; his nerves were rattled, true, but he'd never let the warriors around him know it.
The small group finally arrived at a medium sized depression, just across the way of a fallen tree. Two or three Shade turrets had already been set up with more being set up by Grunts of low status. Several of the miniscule creatures yapped and waddled about, going about their assigned tasked or, more likely, slacking off and sleeping. A group of seven or eight Elites, most of them low ranking Rookies, stood near a gaping hole dug into the side of an even larger hill…even though 'mountain' probably would have been a better word. They scattered as the Rangers came closer and their leader, a Zealot in gold armor, turned to greet them.
"Ah, you've arrived." he spoke, garnering the attention of the entire crew.
Introductions of both parties were made and the large group descended down into the depths, completely oblivious to what lay ahead of them. Deeper and deeper they delved, pausing occasionally to leave a contingent of Grunts behind to protect their rear with Shade Turrets and the like. Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, the Elites reached their destination; a single door at the very bottom of the complex. 'Zalamee, the Zealot Elite in gold armor, simply grunted gruffly and one of the younger ones, a Rookie by the name of 'Zamamee, stepped forward and began tinkering with the lock mechanism of the door. It opened relatively quickly, revealing a mostly empty cavernous room so large that could have fit in half a hangar aboard the Truth and Reconciliation.
Most of the remaining Elites, around a baker's dozen or so, stalked inside on high alert, ready for anything that could be thrown at them. Just as 'Takamee was about to lead his squad in, 'Zalamee stopped him.
"Wait here, 'Takamee. Something about this room is strange…if anything comes through those doors," he inclined his head to the two pairs of doors on the left and right sides of the room, "have 'Zamamee here lock this one down as tightly as possible."
'Takamee knew better than to question orders, so he nodded and held his now trio of soldiers back in reserve as 'Zalamee went to join his troops. 'Takamee's grip became unusually tight around the triggers of his Plasma Rifle as he watched, trying to ignore the nagging voice in the back of his mind telling him to run as fast as he could toward the exit. Minutes passed by agonizingly slowly as the Elites waited for something to happen, never once bothering to look toward the roof; after all, who in his right mind would have?
One trooper did, and nearly leapt out of his skin. 'Above! Above!' he cried repeatedly, drawing everyone's attention toward the roof and causing several to backpedal; the ceiling was alive and squirming. Hundreds of small, bulbous creatures were latched there, apparently awoken from their slumber by the Elite's yell. As if they were one body, the tiny things detached themselves from the roof and rained upon the Elites below, who opened fire at once.
'Takamee merely stared in awe at what was happening, but was snapped by reality by a flaming heat in his right claw; the weapon had overheated. One by one, the Elites fell to the onslaught, their screams and shouts of agony ringing in 'Takamee's ears. Only one made it through the door, which was sealed immediately afterward. 'Takamee swallowed a lump that had built up in his throat and turned to the survivors, who were just as much dumbstruck and in shock as he was.
"'Zamamee, lock it down…lock it down so tightly that no living creature will be able to enter or exit."
He watched the younger Elite go to work with shaking hands, using every trick he knew to keep the door containing the abominations locked forever.
A/N: Yeah, I know it's short, but I've had a severe case of writer's block with this one…hopefully, the next chapter will come along faster. Your reviews do help inspire me and get me going, so keep em coming. Also, feel free to put some ideas out there. Thanks!
-Psychotic Marine