"Stop! Get low and keep quiet, there are enemies ahead of us." Tz'eal warned. He and Drake had been fleeing the incoming Covenant forces for what felt like a lifetime through the dense woods leading them to the East. The trees and foliage had kept them concealed and made their tracks difficult to follow but there was only so much the pair could do to avoid getting into a fight.
As they continued to flee several Phantoms had passed overhead. It seemed as though their enemy were smarter than first thought. Moving to try and cut the pair off as they attempted to escape. But Phantoms weren't the most subtle of craft. Drake and Tz'eal adjusted their path to avoid them as much as they could. However they only had so much room to move. Eventually they were going to get cut off and enveloped.
Tz'eal hunched over and kept glancing at his motion tracker. Several red dots flashed around them. The tell tale squeaks and hisses of Unggoy followed by the occasional bark of a fellow Sangheili. A typical squad of infantry. This should be an easy fight.
Tz'eal tapped Drake on the shoulder to get his attention. Once Drake turned, Tz'eal tapped himself on the chest and raised a single digit, pointing in the direction of their enemy. Drake tilted his head for a few moments, taking the time to try and figure out the message before slowly nodding. He reached down into one of his pouches and drew a fragmentation grenade and showed it to Tz'eal who quietly clicked his mandible and prepared for the engagement.
"We know you are here Heretic. Come out and we will end you swiftly!" The Sangheili called out. Drake slowly shook his head before tossing the grenade in the direction the voice came from.
"What the? Oh Gods!" The Sangheili called out before there was a loud explosion. There was a chance he died instantly from the Blast but Tz'eal and Drake took no chances. Standing up they both aimed their weapons in the direction of the blast, and with a single burst of fire, took down the Elite. The grunts had all died from the grenade, the Elite survived only thanks to his energy shields which had been overloaded from the explosion.
"Alright, that was easy. Let's keep moving. We let them bog us down for too long and they'll run us over." Drake said before
"Agreed but we will need to find some place to rest. We can not keep running forever." Tz'eal said while nodding his head.
"I know. Hopefully once we get to the cliffs we'll have our evac and we can go get some rest back on the Glasgow." Drake replied trying his best to sound hopeful but both he and Tz'eal knew that getting out alive was going to be the difficult part.
"Alright let's keep going. The less time spent here the better." Drake added before getting to his feet and continuing his march to the East. Tz'eal got up to follow before glancing to the skies, watching as even more Phantoms and Banshees flew over their heads.
"Agreed." He added as he began moving.
Not many words were shared on their path, both knew that until they were either at their exfil point or on a pelican on their way back to the Glasgow that any sound could give their position away and get them killed. They carved their path through the dense foliage and trees before the sound of flowing water drew their attention. Drake took the lead, heading to the sound where they came across a large river. It looked shallow enough to cross but it would be a very large swath of open area with no cover.
"Alright we're going to have to do this like we did when we first ran. You stay here and cover me as I cross, then when I'm over I'll do the same for you. We go as quickly as we can but keep safe. This is going to make a lot of noise and anything nearby will be sure to come take a look." Drake explained while slowly making his way to the bank of the river.
"Okay. But know that this water will disable my active camouflage for a while. If we are engaged in combat I will not be able to use it for flanking maneuvers." Tz'eal warned as Drake set one foot into the flowing river.
"Damn! It's cold as shit. Alright. We'll cross that bridge if we get to it. Right now, cover my cross." Drake said confidently before wading into the river slowly. Tz'eal nodded and moved to a large rock, leaning up against it and scanning with his rifle. It wasn't long before his radio crackled to life.
"Alright I'm across, watching your approach. From the sounds of it we're not that far off from the cliff and coast. We should be home free shortly." Drake said. Tz'eal nodded to himself before walking towards the water.
"I am looking forward to getting out of this. The situation has continued to worsen since we dropped." Tz'eal commented as he took his first step into the water, his undersuit keeping the water at bay but the temperature of the water still chilled him to the bone.
"Yeah. Hopefully we'll have some decent backup before this is all over. I'm sure the UNSC is sending everything and everyone our way. Just got to hold on for as long as we can." Drake replied. Tz'eal continued to wade through the water, getting closer and closer to the opposite bank.
"You'd best hurry up Tz'eal. I'm seeing two…no three Phantoms coming our way. We're going to have a lot of company and shit all for cover if they come at us now." Drake called over the radio. Tz'eal stopped and glanced over his shoulder at the three Phantoms that were landing just beyond the trees. He began moving through the water as quickly as he could, the water sloshing around his feet as he ran. Just as he reached the opposite bank, flashes of blue and green plasma flew over his shoulders, impacting the trees ahead of him.
The retort of Drake's BR echoes across the river as he fired back at their attackers. The squeaks from Grunts letting them know his rounds were landing on target.
"Move to the cliffs! On me!" He shouted as Tz'eal finally reached his position. Without letting Tz'eal stop Drake turned and sprinted away. It took only a few more minutes for the combat to end. The Covenant forces weren't able to follow on foot easily, having to cross the river themselves. Drake and Tz'eal eventually reached their destination. An open plain with several large rocks for cover. Walking over to the edge of the cliff Tz'eal looked down from the drop. If they jumped they were not going to survive. It was now a waiting game. Who would get to the pair first? The covenant or the UNSC? Only time would tell.
"Alright, we stay here and pray that someone nice comes along to help us. Otherwise I guess we fight until we run out of ammo and then die a horrible death." Drake suggested with a forced chuckle.
""Horrible but honorable Drake." Tz'eal began before Drake waved his hand and shook his head.
"Don't even start with that 'It's been an honor' crap. We'll get to say our goodbyes if it comes to that. Right now let's just try to keep focused on the task at hand and our fingers crossed that we get out of here." Drake added with another forced chuckle.
"I am afraid too, Drake." Tz'eal said quietly. Drake nodded slowly while taking a deep breath to steady himself.
"I'm not going to lie to you Tz'eal. I don't think we're going to get out of this alive. If we were going to get an extract we would have seen it by now. I can hail them and see what's going on but if they tell us we're not getting out, or they're delayed I think I might cry." Drake said while shaking his head, his voice slowly starting to break.
"We can only hope that we survive long enough. I have enough ammunition to last a long time. Just stay behind me if you need to. My shields will protect us." Tz'eal said reassuringly.
"I appreciate the offer but we'll see what happens."
"You will not have to wait long Heretics!" A deep voice called out from the tree line. Drake sighed and shook his head before peeking around the rock. At the edge of the tree line There was a single Elite, clad in golden armor. Behind him was an army of Grunts and Jackals. Drake slowly crouched behind the rock once again and looked to Tz'eal, slowly shaking his head.
"I assume there are many?" Tz'eal asked. Drake simply nodded in response.
"Neither of you are getting out of here alive. If you step out now I will make your deaths quick!" The Elite called out as Drake shifted where he sat.
"He's right, but I'm not going down without a fight. Are you?" Drake asked.
"Of course not." Tz'eal responded with a nod.
"I know who you are Tz'eal. I know what the Imp has said and done to make you doubt yourself and our Covenant. How he told you enough lies to convince you to leave us." The Elite began as Tz'eal glanced at the rock, a look of surprise on his face. He should have expected them to use his name eventually but it was still strange to hear.
"If you choose to come back to us Tz'eal I have been given permission to grant you reprieve. You have yet to be branded as a Heretic. If you come back to us your honor will remain intact. You and your family will not face punishment. This I promise you." The Elite finished as Drake turned and looked to Tz'eal. Tz'eal was looking around, deep in thought.
"Tz'eal you can't listen to him. You know what they do to Heretics. Do you really think they're just going to let you go back into the fold without any form of punishment?" Drake asked, sounding concerned. Tz'eal nodded slowly. Drake was right, the Covenant do not forgive Heretics.
"You are a powerful warrior Tz'eal. Worthy of the rank of Zealot you once held. We will return you to your former glory and ensure both your survival and the survival of your family. Your Imp friend will be telling you not to trust me, how you have killed so many of our kind in defiance. Do not listen to him." The Elite called out.
"You can't trust what he says Tz'eal he…this motherfucker. He just Jostar'd me. I'm going to kill him." Drake growled as he peeked the rock once again.
"Take him alive. Bring us the Imp so we may make an example of him together as you rejoin our glorious Covenant. For you and your family." The Elite called out. Tz'eal looked down to Drake who was slowly shaking his head.
"They'll kill us both, you know that right?" Drake asked without turning around.
"I know. If we stay here and fight we die. Together." Tz'eal began as he checked his weapon and ammo.
"I'll be glad knowing I die beside my friend." Drake said confidently as he too checked his weapons and ammo.
"Forgive me." Tz'eal said quietly before striking Drake on the back of the head with the butt of his weapon. Drake fell forward and was knocked out. Tz'eal sighed and shook his head with closed eyes. He hoped he would be forgiven by all, but this was the only chance he had. Not just for him, but for his family.
He kneeled down and slung Drake over his shoulder simply before throwing their weapons out over the rick into the field. He slowly stood up with his free hand raised and walked towards the General who was nodding.
"Welcome home, Brother."