Chapter 3
Lifeline
Authors note: Merry Christmas everyone! Hopefully this new chapter will be a good present for you all! Please leave a review down so I can improve the series! Thank you and again, have a merry Christmas!
November 22nd 2560
Location: Zeta Halo
ID: Private Jacob Kubrick
Occupation: ODST
Jacob quickly walks out of the garage, trying to locate the source of the Beeping.
He comes into the mess hall, looking away from the decomposing bodies.
He looked around the mess hall and found a door with a plaque next to it saying "Communication officers Only"
He walked through the door, almost gagging at the smell of the bodies. He wondered for a second how he didn't smell their bodies on the first night.
He looked to find a communications device, Marcus's SoS signal ringing through the device.
Jacob reached for it, panicked and glad. He talked quickly yet clearly
"This is private Jacob Kubrick, come in, over!"
Static.
Jacob paced through the room, stress flowing through his mind.
Suddenly, a crackling sound came through the radio as the sounds of Shotgun blasts and plasma fire rang through the device.
"This is sergeant Marcus Davidson!"
Jacob was relieved partially that he was alive right now but worry still lingered as Marcus was in a firefight, seemingly on his own.
Marcus continued speaking
"You son of a bitch, I knew you'd live. Where the hell are you? Over!"
Jacob responded back quickly, a drop of sweat rolling down his face.
"I'm at a UNSC outpost, coordinates are 34 degrees North and 52 degrees west! Over!"
Jacob heard the sound of a brute yelling in the background getting louder before a shotgun blast rang out. The yelling stopped and was replaced with wet dripping sounds.
Marcus responded, laughing. "I'm 23 degrees south and 39 degrees west! Pretty close I'd say. Now, if your ass hasn't been blown to bits by the pod's impact, I'm gonna need some back up! Over"
Jacob sighed, he didn't have much weapons.
"Alright, it'll take me a couple of minutes. Over!"
Jacob left the room and took out his electric compass. He turned towards the vehicle bay and began to walk towards it.
As he walked, he heard the familiar booming foot steps of Rikomi. He turned and saw her walking slowly behind him, the orange lekgolo worms that made her up slithering around and making wet noises.
Rikomi began speaking, the implants translating her garbles into words
"Where are we going, Jacob?"
"We're going to go get my squad member, he's likely not going to react kindly to you so just be a little bit careful around him, alright?"
He watches her head nod before responding
"Affirmative"
Jacob quickly began speeding up, leaving the outpost's premises and turning into a full on sprint with Rikomi closely behind.
He pulled out his M90 Shotgun, combat ready.
It wasn't long until they came upon the still ongoing firefight. It was in an open circular ditch with multiple destroyed vehicles around. Jacob saw Marcus hiding behind a flipped warthog, smiling ecstatically.
Marcus had always enjoyed a good fight, finding the rush of adrenaline intoxicating. In fact, the rush of adrenaline was the only reason why he joined the UNSC and chose to be an ODST.
Jacob looked back at Rikomi, his eyes gazing at her hands. Due to her size, she had no fuel cannon. But Jacob could tell this didn't bother her, the lekgolo worms squeezing together as to prepare for combat.
After taking a quick breath, Jacob sprinted towards some of the Banished soldiers.
There was one ghost that was being piloted by a grunt, 2 other grunts, a jackal sniper, and 3 brutes.
Jacob jumped onto the Ghost, surprising the grunt driving it. Jacob kicked the grunts head, hearing the crunching and squishing sounds of the unggoy's head caving in on itself.
He piloted the ghost and rammed into the other two grunts before the ghost was grabbed by one of the brutes who then threw it into the air, sending him flying. He landed into the snow, feeling one of his bones sprain if not break. He saw the brute that threw him and the ghost charge towards him. Jacob pulled out his shotgun and waited until the brute was up close when he shot the brute point blank in the chest, the brutes blood and organs flying out of his back as he fell over.
As Jacob began to stand up, a plasma beam grazed past his head. He saw the jackal sniper aim its beam rifle directly towards him, cackling cruelly. Jacob ducked as another beam flew past his head. He sprinted towards the jackal, his eyes focused on the rifle's trigger. He weaved to the left as the jackal fired the rifle, feeling the snow under his feet fly up as he weaved.
Suddenly, The jackal immediately fired, piercing Jacobs shoulder. Jacob fell backwards, lying on the ground in pain. He looked towards the jackal as the beam rifle finished cooling as it aimed at his head.
Suddenly, The jackals head exploded, pieces of its brain and blood flew everywhere. Jacob looked to his right to see the smoking barrel of Marcus's double barrel shotgun.
One of the brutes charged at Marcus who weaved out of the way and kicked the brute in the back, causing the brute to fall over. Marcus then walked over and stomped on the brutes head, crushing its helmet and its head. Its blood flew out, covering Marcus in its purple blood.
Jacob watched as the last remaining brute had his head grabbed by Rikomi from behind and slammed into the ground repeatedly until the brute's face was compl unrecognizable.
After the brute's face was thoroughly bashed, Rikomi dropped the brute's body and looked up at Jacob and grunted.
She turned and saw Marcus loading his shotgun, some awe in his eyes after seeing the brute's face being bashed in.
Marcus turned towards Jacob, excitement in his Green eyes.
"Damn, should have told me you allied with a hunter!"
Jacob chuckled softly
"Yeah, Probably should have but either way, it worked out."
Marcus looked at Rikomi, curious.
"So what's its name?"
Jacob replied, laughing a little.
"Her name's Rikomi."
While Jacob couldn't see Marcus's face behind his helmet, he knew Marcus was raising his eyebrow.
Marcus responded, "Wait the hunter's female? How's that possible?"
Jacob responded, wiping some sweat off his face.
"Well, the Lekgolo worms that make her up are all female."
Marcus started laughing softly
"Damn, didn't know you had a thing for worms!"
Jacob felt his cheeks warm up just slightly
"Oh shut up!"
Marcus broke down laughing to the point to coughing where he had to remove his helmet.
After Marcus stopped laughing, he sighed and began speaking.
"So, how are we supposed to understand what she says?"
Jacob began thinking, "Xyza had two chips but were two chips required to fully understand her?" He removed the chip in his left ear and handed it to Marcus.
Marcus looked at him confused.
"What am I supposed to do with this?"
"put them in one of your ears, it'll translate what she says."
Marcus put it into his right ear, and looked towards Rikomi.
Rikomi started speaking, the voice being the same but they could also hear Rikomi's garbles.
"So, I assume you two are both now able to communicate with me?"
Marcus nodded, still smirking towards Jacob.
Rikomi continued to speak, "So Jacob, who is that?"
"His names Marcus, my sergeant"
Rikomi nodded, the lekgolo worms still squeezed tightly together.
Jacob spoke again, the falling snow starting to increase.
"Come on, night is going to arrive and we can't stay out here for long."
The three start their trek back, trudging through the snow tired.
Marcus starts talking to Jacob
"Hey, Jacob."
"What sir?"
Marcus slightly smirked, "I have question about last night?"
Jacob saw Marcus's smirk and looked at him skeptically, "Yeah?"
Marcus smirk grew, "Was she on top?"
Jacob just stared at Marcus before responding.
"You don't know how much I want to shove your shotgun up your ass"
Marcus broke down laughing, catching Rikomi's attention
"What are you two talking about?" The lekgolo worms slither about, likely trying to generate heat.
Jacob responds quickly, not realizing a slight blush has appeared on his cheeks.
Jacob stammered a bit when he responded, "I- it's n- nothing."
Marcus noticed this and saw a perfect opportunity.
Marcus then immediately shouted, saying "Jacob said he thinks you're cute!"
Jacob immediately turned his head towards Marcus, his eyes like daggers.
Rikomi stopped moving as some of the worms that made up her face shook a little, what Jacob assumed was a blush.
Jacob immediately responded, "N- no, that's not what I said at all, I swear!"
Marcus continued to break down laughing, enjoying the situation unfolding.
Jacob immediately started speaking to Marcus, "You know, now I'm starting to regret saving your ass back there..."
Rikomi started speaking, her voice a little softer than before.
"Hey, we're coming upon the outpost..."
Jacob sighed, his shoulder hurt like hell and was tired.
They entered through the Vehicle bay, Marcus noticing and eyeing the Mantis.
"Hey, shoulda told me we got a mantis!"
"Well, unfortunately, damn thing isn't complete"
Marcus groaned quietly, muttering.
As they came upon up to mess hall, Jacob swore he felt a tear roll down his face, he felt sick.
As they walked past the decomposing bodies, Marcus smile was wiped off his face as he looked at the bodies. A look of disgust came over his face, gritting his teeth.
Marcus spoke softly to himself gripping a dog tag that Jacob saw was burnt and Charred.
It was Cassie's
Marcus spoke to himself, still gritting his teeth.
"I swear I'm going to find Atriox and rip his head off his body."
The pair slowly walked to the garage, night had came upon them.
They walked into the garage, Jacob noticing Xyza's body gone.
"Hey Rikomi?"
Rikomi immediately responded, her voice quiet.
"Don't worry, I buried him outside while you were communicating with Marcus over the radio"
Marcus looked at the two, confused with no context.
"Excuse me, buried who exactly?"
"Xyza" Rikomi responded, "An elite who had defected from the Banished along with me."
Rikomi looked down, her optics not conveying much emotion but they looked sad. She spoke again.
"It does not matter at this time, what matters is for you two to get rest."
Marcus sighed rather contently, saying, "Oh god finally! Haven't gotten sleep in two days!"
And with that Marcus laid down on the floor and rather immediately fell asleep.
Jacob just looked at him, before looking back at Rikomi.
"Yeah he falls asleep rather quickly"
Rikomi looked at Jacob, the worms slithering about making wet sounds with every movement.
"Yeah, I can tell"
Jacob laid down on the ground, getting into a comfortable position to sleep in. He watched Rikomi lay down as well, facing towards Jacob. Rikomi took off her helmet, gently placing N to the side. Jacob rolled over, the darkness of sleep creeping into his mind.
But just before he fell asleep, something strange happened. All he heard was movement and then heat radiate onto his body as Rikomi moved closer to him, nearly touching him. Jacob blushes slightly but didn't stop her, feeling warm from the heat.
He slowly drifted to sleep, his vision going dark.
Hello everyone, hoped you enjoyed this installment! Yeah, the last 3rd of this installment wasn't great, I was kinda procrastinating but I managed and hopefully you enjoyed it. Please leave a review below to help me improve the series, thank you and have a merry Christmas!
