CHAPTER FOURTEEN:

Stay out of the mist…

Kennedy was standing around by the beacon with her two team members—Melissa and Trisha. Melissa had finally figured out the problem with the wiring and reconnected the power supply and the beacon was now powered up and appeared to be working properly. Kennedy was feeling relieved that the beacon was finally up and running as they could now get out this creepy forest world.

Kennedy saw the sun beginning its descent and the shadows being cast by the dead and dying trees and she knew it was time to go home.

She keyed the mic on her headset, "Dana … Dallas … We're done here … Bring it in and let's go home."

Dana replied back with some relief and also some concern in her voice, "Sounds good we're ready to get out of here … Uh … I do have a question?"

"What's up?" asked Kennedy.

"Where you guys are … Is the mist getting thicker and rising higher?"

"Uh no … It's fine here … Why?" asked a puzzled Kennedy.

"Well it's getting thicker where we are and it's rising fast!" Dana said with concern growing in her voice now.

"Well hurry back and keep your com channels open." Kennedy replied getting a concerned and worried feeling.

oOoOo

Dana and Dallas started moving quickly back to the portal point and the rest of their team. They were both getting worried and scared as the fog, mist or whatever it was had come in and was now surrounding them.

Their visibility was being reduced quickly. They had been only 200 meters out, but they were lucky if they could see 10 meters ahead now and it was getting worse.

"Stay close Dallas ..." Dana said, "I would hate to lose you in this fog."

The fog seemed to envelope them and suddenly they could barely see their hands in front of their faces.

Dallas became disoriented in the fog. She was calling out for Dana, "Dana where are you? Don't leave me behind please!" she pleaded.

Dana replied, "I'm not going anywhere without you … Just listen to my voice and try to find me."

Dana kept talking and Dallas was trying to find her, but the sounds of her voice seemed to come from every direction. As she stumbled through the fog, she thought she could hear something moving towards her. She called out, "Dana is that you?"

Dallas barely had time to register the paw and sharp claws that came out of the fog and slashed at her. The razor-sharp claws slashed her throat and she only had a look of surprise on her face as she made a gurgling sound as the blood flowed from her slashed neck artery.

Dallas collapsed to the ground without saying a word and the fog quickly covered her over…

oOoOo

Dana was starting to panic. One moment she could hear Dallas calling for her and now there was only silence. She called out for her friend and got no response—there wasn't even the sound of the wind anymore—nothing. She turned quickly as she thought she heard noises from behind her. She wasn't sure of anything now, it could just be the fog messing with her hearing.

Dana tried to keep calm, but she was losing the fight against her panic as her senses were blinded by this fog. She keyed her headset frantically calling for Kennedy on the com channel.

"I … I've lost Dallas and I can't find my way back to you …" Dana said between deep breaths trying to stay calm and keep herself together.

Kennedy's fear and worry were increasing exponentially as she responded, "Hang on we'll try and signal so you can get a direction to us."

Kennedy and the other two team members started yelling in all directions. Kennedy even fired a couple of shots from her weapon into the air to try and guide Dana back.

"Can you hear us? Can you see anything?" Kennedy said trying to think of something to do to help Dana.

Kennedy heard the panic growing in Dana's voice and could tell that she was close to losing it as she spoke, "I … I … I can hear you, but I can't tell which direction … God! Where am I?"

Dana was trying and failing to keep herself from panicking. She was stumbling in the fog aimlessly with no idea where she was going. She could hear the others yell, but she had no idea which direction it was from. She continued stumbling, when she suddenly tripped over something and fell to the ground. She reached out and felt along the ground, she put her hand into something warm and sticky. As she pulled out her hand she could see the blood covering it. Dana could feel the cold fear growing inside and she knew she was going to lose it. She crawled on the ground where she had fallen and the fog cleared enough—showing her the bloody remains of Dallas.

Dana screamed…

Kennedy, Melissa and Trisha heard Dana's scream. Kennedy called out for Dana desperately on the com headset to respond.

She could hear Dana sobbing on the com channel, "She's dead … Something tore her apart … Oh God … I can hear something … Please help me … I wanna go home … Please—"

Kennedy and the others heard a couple of gunshots and then a horrible scream shattered the quiet of the woods…

oOoOo

Michael reached Virgil in the control room. Virgil had brought up information on a display terminal about the last universe he had scanned.

"Michael, I have the information up and I inputted the universal co-ordinates into the dimensional transport system. What are your plans?"

"Can you reopen a mini-portal, so we can confirm if the signal is coming from there?"

"Yes I can … What is your plan after that?" asked the AI.

"We open a bigger one and I go through and check it out." Michael said in a plain matter of fact tone.

Michael took deep breaths, but he could feel his impatience and anxiousness grow waiting as Virgil went through the steps to reopen the portal. Thoughts were racing through his mind.

"Virgil?"

"Yes Michael."

"If I go through a portal … ummmm … How do I get back here?" he asked sheepishly.

Virgil had already planned for this and answered his question, "I have already taken that into consideration. I have integrated a Forerunner dimensional portal recall device into your battle armor. Your systems have been hardened and updated to handle the power requirements and the incompatibility that you were suffering from before. You can access the controls through your normal systems using your authentication commands. The device will open a portal around you returning you to this installation."

Virgil continued, "Even with the improvements I have made, I must advise that the recall device requires a 14 hour recharge between uses, so you will have to be sure that you want to return to this installation when you activate the recall device."

Michael let out a sigh of relief that Virgil had planned ahead, "Thank you Virgil … I do plan on coming back. I won't leave you alone for another 100,000 years."

Michael could have sworn that he heard Virgil let out a sigh of relief, "Thank you Michael … that would be most pleasant. I have enjoyed your company here and would miss it."

There was a moment of awkward silence as Virgil performed the required operations.

"The portal is reopening." Virgil reported.

Almost immediately, a com signal started flashing on Michael's helmet display.

"That confirms it Virgil … So now what?" he asked.

"I will have to close this portal. You can now go down to the transport room on sub-level two. I will activate the system to perform a full scale transport and you will be sent to that dimension … From there you can investigate the signal."

Michael had to fight to keep his emotions in control as he could taste how close he was.

Deep breaths … Focus and keep calm … Nothing is certain yet.

"How long till I can go?" he asked Virgil while still trying to stay focused and calm.

"System reset will require 30 minutes." Virgil replied.

"Sounds good … Just enough time for me to pack" he said as he went off to get his equipment and then head for sub-level 2.

oOoOo

Michael arrived at the transport room. As he went into the room, he couldn't help but note how it looked similar to the other transport room on that Forerunner planet from his universe all those years ago.

He did another equipment check for at least the third time … He had his pulse rifle with his last full clip loaded and one grenade for the launcher. He had his shotgun loaded with 8 rounds and 4 extra rounds and his combat knife.

He stood in the middle of the room … waiting.

Virgil spoke, "Michael, we can start in one minute."

"You can begin anytime Virgil." Michael said, his voice betraying his excitement.

He was getting closer to home and he could start to taste it. He took deep breaths again as his Spartan training kicked in and told him to relax.

Most problems on missions occurred when you thought you were in the clear or close to home. You relaxed and you tended to let down your guard—that's when bad things happened.

Michael checked his pulse rifle again—nothing was going to get in his way.

"Michael … I am ready to activate the portal." Virgil spoke with sadness evident in his voice.

Michael was at a loss for words. It was happening so fast and only now his thoughts were catching up. He needed to ask Virgil for a favor.

"Virgil … If something happens to me … and I don't come back. Can you tell Tala that … I'm sorry."

Michael couldn't think of anything else to add or say. The two of them had shared too much together that simple words couldn't begin to say how he felt and wished that things had turned out differently between them.

I do love you Tala … I also love Faith.

He swore to himself about the unfairness of it all, but then he was used to dealing with unfairness and disappointment his whole life. He took a deep breath and pushed away his thoughts as he couldn't think of anything else that could put his feelings and their relationship in perspective. His mind drifted back to the dreams he used to have of Faith and the way he felt when with her— she made him feel complete. He had no doubts about his decision—damn the consequences.

Virgil picked up on what Michael was trying to say and do, "Yes, Michael … I can do that." replied the somber sounding AI.

Michael smiled inside his helmet as he heard the AI that had saved his life and had become his friend. He did plan on keeping his promise, he wouldn't abandon Virgil.

"Thank you Virgil … Thank you for everything." he said with genuine and heartfelt thanks.

He heard Virgil's last words, "Activating transport now."

Michael's universe turned white and once again he felt nothing…