Chapter 2
"It was just before New Alexandria was glassed. I'd just lost my team in a massive firefight the day before. I don't know how I was able to get out of it alive but I did. All I knew was I needed to find my way to the tunnels to the east of the city. It would be a guaranteed way out and would provide at least some protection from the glassing beam."
The world slowly came back into view as Drake woke up from an attempt at sleeping. In his dream he was back home, spending some time with his family in their country side home. His Bulldog Rossi was always happy to see him, his white tail wagging rapidly while salivating at the opportunity to chase a ball which Drake held in his hand. His mother called out to him from behind, something about food. Drake waved back to her before throwing the ball for Rossi to chase.
He turned around to find out what his mother had been shouting about to see the house in ruins. Plasma burns coating the sides of the building while most of the windows had been smashed in. Dried blood stained the front door which was hanging on by a single hinge. Slowly he approached, being away on leave he didn't have his armor or weapons so he needed to be careful. Stepping through the doorway he first spotted the corpse of his Father, his abdomen split open, his insides now on the outside. Drake resisted the urge to throw up and continued up the stairs. He could hear soft breathing from inside the master bedroom.
Slowly opening the door Drake peered inside he saw two figures, the first was the telltale silhouette of an Elite, standing above his mother. The Elite engaged its energy sword and leaned over, the two tips of the blade slowly lowering to Drake mother's abdomen. He reached out for her, trying to call her name wanting to draw the Elites attention to him. The Elite slowly turned its head to face Drake. It clicked its lower mandibles several times before speaking.
"You did this Drake. You killed them." The Elite growled as he slowly and painfully pierced Drake's Mother's abdomen with his energy sword. Drake froze, he could do nothing but watch as his mother was slowly murdered before him. The world slowly began to change as the Elite drew the energy sword from the corpse and turned to Drake. He raised his sword arm, intending to end Drake in a single swift strike.
"You can not save them all. Let alone yourself." The Elite growled before bringing the sword down on Drake's head. Gasping Drake sat upright, shouldering his BR55 and scanning the area around him. The second story parking lot he had taken refuge in was clear. Glancing down at the motion sensor on his HUD there wasn't any sign of anything nearby. But that didn't mean he was safe. The enemy needed to be moving for them to be picked up. Slowly he checked his gear over, making sure everything was intact. Meds, ammo and equipment were all green. From where he was, he probably had a three mile hike through enemy controlled territory before he reached the tunnel. As long as he kept his head down and stayed quiet he would be okay. Hopefully.
Slowly he picked himself up and followed the lighting system leading him back down to the ground floor. The dim yellow arrows on the floor directing him to his escape route. He could hear the distant sound of combat and as he left the lot he could see the battle raging far above him. Falcons and Banshees were engaging in the air while every so often he could see fighting throughout the buildings surrounding him. He had no radio contact with any other UNSC forces within the city. There was nothing nearby that he could use for contact either. His only hope was to leave and link up with another unit before the city was glassed and everyone within it dead.
Following the road east he took his time, checking every doorway, clearing every corner on every intersection so he knew he was safe to cross. Any time his motion sensor picked up movement he would hunker down, taking cover behind anything large enough to conceal him from sight and wait for the contact to leave. Most of the time he could hear the higher pitched squeaks and sounds the small Grunts would make before a bark of anger from an Elite leading their squad. Drake knew he could easily take out a small team of Grunts if they were alone, perhaps an Elite if he caught them off guard and managed to drop the Elite first. But if they caught him he was a goner. Better to stay low and quiet and not risk detection.
Several hours had passed since he left his hide. Surprisingly the Covenant hadn't glassed the city yet. Every so often he would glance to the night sky and still see Falcons and Banshees going after each other. A sign that the UNSC was still fighting for the city, regardless of if it was lost or not already. He knew it wasn't worth the manpower and resources they were throwing at the alien invaders. Every lost man or woman was one less fighter, one less defender of Reach and her people. He believed in dying for his people but not throwing his life away for nothing.
He guessed he had maybe another mile or so to go before he reached the tunnel. He peeked around a corner of a building to check the street was clear when the sky lit up a bright orange color. His heart began to race as the ground began to quiver. He didn't have much time left. The glassing of the city had begun. He needed to pick up his pace. He didn't like to go quicker but every minute he wasted was a minute closer to getting glassed.
Being less methodical Drake hastened his pace as he made the rest of the distance towards the tunnel. Probably only a ten minute run away when he heard the conversation. Someone was discussing their options ahead of him, the voices were speaking english surprisingly but were definitely not human.
"We hold our position. Regardless of whether you like the decision or not you do not disobey an order given to us by our superiors." The first voice argued. The voice was deep but smooth, every so often Drake could hear a clicking noise coming from it as it spoke. Probably an Elite.
"We have the opportunity to leave here and kill some heretical Humans. You saw the skies. This city of filth will be burned until it is nothing but glass and we will burn with it. Unless we leave now we will die for nothing." The second voice retorted. The voice was slightly deeper but was closer to a growl than anything. Drake didn't have much experience with the other races of the Covenant besides the Grunts and Elites. This could be anything.
"You will not disobey! We are to stay here and secure our path on the Great Journey!" The Elite shouted, sounding angry. It seemed the tension between the two was very high.
"Do not tell me what to do reptile! I will tear your head from your shoulders!" The second voice roared before Drake heard the sound of an energy sword igniting.
"Stand down Sustyrus. I will not hesitate to end you." The Elite warned. Drake, his curiosity getting the better of him leaned out from behind his cover. The tunnel was there in the back, several purple erected pieces of cover littered the ground before the entrance. Two large floating sniper towers were set to each side of the entrance but looked to be empty. The far side of the clearing was used as a vehicle depot as Drake spotted what looked to be a convoy worth of Ghosts with a single Wraith tank, all seemingly vacant.
The two figures who were arguing were by the entrance of the tunnel. One, as Drake had figured was an Elite. A ranger by the looks of it, light blue combat armor covered its body with a sealed helmet over its face, suitable for combat in a hazardous environment. The second being was what Drake could only assume to be a Brute. A large bipedal ape-like creature. The two aliens were circling around each other. The Elite with its energy sword engaged while the Brute had its plasma rifle raised and aimed at the Elite.
With a roar the Brute began to engage the Elite, red bolts of plasma firing at the Elite as it ran into cover. The Elite extinguished its energy sword as it dove to the side, avoiding the plasma fire coming it's way. Using their fight as a distraction Drake slowly pushed forwards, using the edge of the clearing as best as he could for cover to make his way to the tunnel entrance.
Several times the Brute or Elite came close to discovering him, several bursts of plasma or shattered needles hit the wall over his head, the Brute slamming down into a crate of weapons not three feet away from where Drake was hiding. He could see the two aliens were closely matched. The Elite clearly understood he was not going to win the fight at close range and needed to keep its distance. The Brute doing whatever it could to get close.
"Heretics like you deserve to be glassed Reptile! I will gladly lead you to that destination!" The Brute yelled at the Elite as Drake continued making his way towards the tunnel before there was a loud crashing sound. Glancing over his cover he saw the Elite and the Brute now exchanging blows in hand to hand combat. Drake knew how this was going to end. The Brute would win, another Elite would be dead and Drake, if he got caught, would be dead too.
Taking the opportunity Drake broke from his cover running towards the tunnel. As he ran he glanced over his shoulder towards the skyline. The cloud layer glowing bright orange as the glassing beam continued to destroy the city and its people. He was almost into the tunnel before there was a loud crash and a thud beside him.
"Human!" The Brute growled as it approached Drake. Drake drew his BR55 getting ready to fight before he saw movement to his side. The Elite slowly stood up, seeing Drake it grabbed the plasma pistol holstered to it's side and began charging it.
"I'm going to enjoy feasting on your flesh human. It won't be quick. I will savour your every scream!" It yelled as it took a step forward.
"I don't fucking think so you walking carpet!" Drake retorted bringing his BR55 to his shoulder, aiming it right at the Brute's face.
"Sustyrus, leave! You want to become a heretic and disobey your orders then do so. I will deal with this human." The Elite said, purple blood dripping from it's mandibles.
"Don't think you're getting out of this either. Once the human is dealt with I will deal with you after." The Brute, Sustyrus replied with a deep chuckle.
"You can certainly try you overgrown ape! Give me one chance and I'll fucking paint the floor with your brains, if there is any in that thick skull of yours!" Drake shouted, taking a few steps back towards the tunnel entrance.
"I will not allow this to happen, Sustyrus. I knew being stationed here with you was a mistake. A mistake I will rectify here and now." The Elite said calmly as it turned the plasma pistol from Drake to the Brute. Drake glanced over to the Elite, not sure what was going on but was glad to have someone on his side against a Brute, even if only for a moment.
"Then you shall die a Heretic!" Sustyrus shouted as he dropped the plasma rifle and reached for it's back. The Elite discharged the plasma pistol which connected with the Brutes chest. The armor it wore almost shattering on contact. Drake fired a single burst of rounds from his BR, two connecting with the Brutes chest, the final hitting it in the skull. With a thump, the body hit the floor. Drake turned to look at the Elite who glanced his way. The Elite lowered it's weapon and turned to speak before there were two dull thuds above them. Looking to the ceiling there were two Brute Spiker grenades stuck there.
"Move!" Drake shouted as he took a few steps down the tunnel. The Elite followed his order as the two stuck grenades detonated, large chunks of the tunnel raining down on their heads as the ceiling began to collapse. Grabbing the Elite by the arm Drake threw it down the ramp before diving after it, the two of them tumbling down before coming to a hard stop on the adjacent wall.
Drake could hear the low grumbling of the Elite as the rocks stopped tumbling down the ramp, the light of the sky being snuffed out as the tunnel fully collapsed in on itself. A searing pain flowing through his stomach. Before he could glance down and see what was causing his pain the world spun around, his vision fading as he lost consciousness.