Spirit clenched his jaw. This was a futile effort. He was a Titan, not a tracker. His people were meant to wage war and defend the walls of the Last City against her enemies, not search the desert for missing Hunters. They were attackers, clean up crews; unfit for a task like this. He felt the powerful, hot winds pushing him about, searching his body for anything loose to tug him by. Unfortunately, they found nothing of note.
Spirit made his way up a rocky enclave in order to gain better vantage of the land around him. It felt as if there was nothing at all. Least of all any reason for a Hunter to be so paranoid. It didn't make any sense. Reis' paranoia, or the mission as a whole. Sending a Titan to find a Hunter that didn't want to be found was like… Sending a Titan to find a hunter that didn't want to be found. He could think of no better simile.
"Guardian!" Ghost called out from some distance away.
Spirit snapped from his reverie of complaints to look to the floating cube that found its way next to him. "What?"
"My sensors indicate multiple lifeforms closing in on us, as well as scraps of Fallen transmissions." Ghost said matter of factly, "They will be upon our position in any minute."
"Dammit!" Spirit cursed as he looked around for a defensible position in this arid hellhole. He'd be a sitting duck out here if he didn't get moving. "From what direction?"
"South at 170 degrees. Closing quickly." Ghost responded, lining the information directly to his Helmet's HUD display. A blinking light kept him updated on the motion.
"I can't stay out here." Spirit thought, "Time to get out of here." He jumped off the outcropping and landed in the sand with a thud, putting his gun on his back and running as quickly as he could in the opposite direction. "Ghost! Keep up!" he shouted back.
Spirit kept running and didn't stop. He couldn't stop. Not with the Fallen right behind him. Not in open terrain against their whole crew.
"Spirit, there is a ravine two hundred meters out, perhaps it will have a place to find shelter" Ghost chimed in. A marker appeared at the corner of his eye.
There was no other choice. He slid in the sand, creating a drag, then bolted in the direction of the ravine. In a handful of seconds, he was there, approaching the lip. No time to slow down. Spirit moved to the lip and moved into a slide, feet first. He felt his rear and lower back brush against the sand, rocks, and rubble as he rushed headlong into the ravine. The bottom wasn't too far away, a several meters down. He landed feet first on the ground, he knew he'd be feeling that on his knees later, and came to a slow stop. Spirit's gaze darted around, "Ghost! I need a hand!" He called.
"On it." The cube flew out from behind him and let out several bright flashes of light. "There's what looks like a minor cave to the left," He turned to point at it, "It may provide enough cover. I suggest you move, they will be here any moment."
Spirit followed Ghost's gaze, it was nothing to look twice at. A crack in the ground overshadowed by a boulder. Who knew how deep it was? He shook his head free of the thoughts. Anything was better than death at the hands of the Fallen. Or worse, living through the battle to be taken prisoner. He jogged over to the mouth of the opening, and quickly slid himself down.
He was as careful as he could be, but didn't expect his back and legs to meet slick metal. He lost his traction and slid fully down into the crevice. He couldn't see anything in the darkness, and his arms flailed out to catch anything he could. "Damn! Damn! Damn!" Spirit shouted in his head. Then, impact. He felt his legs hit a hard surface. Knees buckling, he tumbled forward. He struck his head on something hard, hearing a loud hiss. If not for his helmet, he'd be dead. He laid still for a moment, trying to get his bearings. Why was there a damned metal chute there?
He heard a murky, metallic voice poke through his semi-conscious state. "Guardian? I'd prefer if you weren't dead. You are meant for more than this."
Spirit groaned and felt around his helmet, "Don't worry, Ghost. I'm still here for now." He chuckled and sat up. "Hey, can I get a light?"
Ghost glowed brightly in response. His 'eye' glowing a bright white color, giving off enough light to see dimly. "Better, Guardian?"
"Yeah… Thanks, Ghost." He mumbled, feeling at where he cracked his head over his helmet. He squinted his eyes. The visor was completely cobwebbed. Useless.
"My pleasure, Guardian." Ghost replied in a sing song voice as Spirit felt for the clasps on his helmet. He hit the two buttons and the locks released. He pulled the helmet off and looked at it in the dim lighting. Whatever he hit his head on did a number on the helmet. The visor was completely useless, and a large chunk was knocked out of where his temple was lying just an inch underneath.
"Dammit…" He grumbled as he tossed the helmet aside.
"We should be quiet. The Fallen have closed in on our position. My scanners indicate that they are descending into the Ravine now.
Spirit silenced himself as he stood up slowly, mindful of his surroundings now. He slowly backed further into the 'cave,' his shoes making light clicking noises on the metal beneath him. He looked at the walls and roof. Definitely rock… But beneath him, it was metal, like a walkway of some sort. He reached back and took his rifle off his back, leveling it at the entrance in front of him. Even if they did find his little hiding place, he could easily finish off a crew if he was smart with his munitions…. He hoped.
"Lights off." He whispered, taking a knee and leveling it on the entrance. The light died away and left him in darkness, save the minor light flowing in from the mouth of the crevice. Spirit breathed slowly, evenly, his gaze narrowing on the entrance. The minutes ticked by. He heard them, speaking their strange tongue back and forth. Shouted orders, and the skittering of them moving about. Nobody had found their way in yet.
After what felt like hours, he heard the voices recede, the movement stop. He held his position, slowly counting to sixty. Over and over again. At least fifteen times. Finally, Spirit whispered, "Ghost?"
"No traces of life, Guardian." Ghost confirmed.
Spirit got off of his knee. "Alright. Well going out that way seems like a bad idea, they'll be swarming until they find us… Let's see where this takes us." He turned down to look into the tunnel as Ghost lit up again. The walkway led beyond the light.
"Did I mention that I love our adventures?" Ghost asked, making an attempt at humor.
"At least they give you a good story to tell." Spirit mumbled.
