Chapter 5
The battle in New Mombasa raged on as more and more Covenant troops entered the city, killing everyone in sight. Ruby managed to evade both civilians and aliens as she made her way to a casino. She saw looter smashing the machines to get the money inside. She managed to find an unabashed ATM.
"Welcome to your African Trust automated teller machine," the ATM said. "Banking with pride!"
"Finally, an ATM that still works," Ruby said, feeling relieved. "Vergil, get Mom!"
"Please place your right hand-"
"Ruby," Summer shouted from the ATM. "Where are you?"
"Outside one of the casinos, down by the river! I can barely hear you, mom! There are looters inside smashing everything!"
"Covenant troops have spread all over the city center! I can see them on the monitors in my lab! You've got to get as far away as you can-!"
"Forget it," Ruby shouted. "I'm coming to get you! End of discussion!"
As another looter smashed a machine, Vergil said "INVEST WISELY! OPEN A PERSONAL SAVINGS ACCOUNT TODAY!"
"Listen to Vergil, Ruby," Summer said.
"This looting is just the beginning, mom," Ruby said. "Pretty soon we won't need the Covenant to tear us apart-we'll do that by ourselves! Vergil, you've watched me all my life, kept me safe. Now you've got to save the city!"
As Ruby said this, Vergil played a recording of a police siren over the PA, making the looters quickly leave.
"That-a-boy! Scare them all the way to the river! I know they can afford the ferry!" She then turned her attention towards her mother. "Mom, can Vergil track the Covenant as they move? Stream positional data to the UNSC?"
"Yes, I might be able to re-configure his traffic congestion cameras to isolate known Covenant vehicle profiles."
"Maybe the ARGUS sniffers can pick-up their soldiers too," Ruby said. "I've only seen vids of the different Covenant species, but I bet they all stink in their own, special way."
"That's an excellent idea! Vergil, get right on it!" As Vergil left, Summer started to talk to Ruby. Ruby, I know I've been busy, and we don't always have time to talk. But sweetheart…you make me very, very proud."
This made Ruby tear up, but not cry. "Well…I just figured if know where the bastards are, we can at least run away better." Just then, Ruby heard a shotgun pump behind her.
"That was a nice trick with the police sirens, girly." Ruby tried to look behind her, careful not to move her head, and saw an old woman, with a shotgun. "But I ain't so stupid. Step away from that cash machine, or I'm gonna blow your pretty head off!"
People started to surround the two, murmuring about the situation. But, the old Crone shot into the air and shouted "You think I'm deaf?! Last warning! Back away from my cash machine! " She looked at Ruby. "You too, girly!"
"Ruby! Get out of there," Summer shouted."
Ruby carefully backed away, as she said "Look, I'm stepping back, OK? Why don't youjust put down your gun and-"
The Crone ignored her, as she shot her gun into the air again, shouting "Time to break the piggy bank!"
"Hey! You almost hit me!"
The Crone smashed the ATM with her fist, as Vergil continued it's normal routine.
"AfrICaN TrUSt-"
"Open up!"
"BaNKinG WiTH PriDE!"
"Open up!"
The Crone kept smashing the ATM, as Ruby noticed a Covenant Phantom above them.
"Everyone! Listen," she yelled. "That's a Covenant drop-ship!"
The people started to leave, as the Crone said "Forty years I've been coming to this place. Forty years of losing my hard-earned cash! Well, today I hit the jackpot! You hear me, you damn machine?! I…want…my…money!"
As she shot the ATM once more, Vergil said "INCORRECT PASSWORD. PLEASE REMOVE YOUR CARD."
"Vergil, give her the money," Ruby muttered. "Then we've got to find some cover!"
As she said this, money started whir out of the machine. The Crone laughed and said "Out of my way, you little slut!"
As Ruby ran, she said to herself "Gotta find a place to hide…There! Dumpster! Across the street!" She hid behind the dumpster, hiding as a group of Brutes exited the Phantom. "Brutes! Look how big they are," she whispered. She saw the Brutes go up to the Crone, who was still celebrating. "Move! They're right on top of you!" With an angry roar, one of the Brutes ripped of the ATM. "Oh my God! It just tore the ATM off the casino wall," Ruby whispered. The Crone started to yell at the Brute, as the alien slammed the machine onto her, crushing the Crone.
From Ruby's Chatter, Vergil said "TRANSACTION COMPLETE! PLEASE COME AGAIN!"
As the Crone laid there, she said "Jackpot…jackpot…"
"Oh my God," Ruby whispered. "She crushed under the ATM!" The Brutes growled angrily, as Ruby whispered "Please don't look behind the dumpster, you big dumb Brutes. Please, please, please…"
The Brute growled again, as the Crone said "Alien son of the bitch! Think I'd share any of this with you-!" One of the Brutes pointed its gun at you and shot the Crone, killing her instantly.
The pack leader then pointed to a direction, as the others followed its direction. Ruby, still behind the dumpster, whispered "That's it…keep walking. Nothing to see here…"
Her Chatter activated, with Summer shouting "Ruby! Are you alright?!"
The Brutes turned and started to shoot the dumpster.
"I was," Ruby said, now running away.
"I'm sorry! Run! Run!"
As she fell to the ground, a police car raced down the street, and smashed the Brutes into the casino.
Ruby got up and yelled "Vergil?! A car just came out of nowhere-smashed all the Brutes! Was that you?"
Just then, she heard the driver door open, followed by a groan.
"My head…I thought air-bags were supposed to help you from getting hurt…"
Ruby ran up to her savior and shouted "Weiss! You came back!"
"Who's 'Weiss'," Summer asked. "Ruby, what's going one?!"
"Hang on, mom…" She went up to the ex-officer and said "Let me help you out of there."
Weiss groaned again and said "I'm OK…seriously."
"That whole macho tough-guy thing? It's really worked for me. Give me your hand…"
"Uhn…Be gentle." As Ruby helped Weiss up, the ex-officer said "Take me around front. Let me see what I hit." Ruby did so, Weiss said "Brutes huh? Well that's never coming out of the grille."