CHAPTER 5

O come, Thou Key of David, come

And open wide our heavenly home

Make safe the way that leads on high

And close the path to misery

0048 HOURS, DECEMBER 25th, 2559 [MILITARY CALENDAR]

ZETA HALO

"You have proven yourselves quite the nuisance, humans," Lupercalus bellowed. "So long as you stayed hiding in your holes I cared not about you for I have bigger things to prepare for. Yet you insist on challenging me. So be it."

Despite being outnumbered three to one, Lupercalus dashed towards the ODST squad. Bravo and Rig, the latter swapping to his magnum, responded by opening fire on the charging titan, but their bullets barely seemed to phase him.

Rukundo detached his pancho and, like a raging bull, tossed it in the path of the rampaging Chieftain. The trick worked at slowing the Brute down, but Lupercalus continued to pose a danger as he flailed his mace wildly around.

Seizing the opportunity, Rig detached his harness and slipped on custom brass knuckles fitted with jagged scrap metal. As the Chieftain fought free of the poncho, Rig launched himself forward and delivered a powerful punch to the Brute's muzzle. Though Rig's strength couldn't match that of a Brute, the blow forced Lupercalus to take a step back.

Rukundo and Bravo struck next, unsheathing their combat machetes to slash at the stumbling giant. Their agility outmatched his brute force, allowing them to dodge his increasingly erratic swings. But their luck didn't hold for long.

Staggering back away from the ODSTs, bleeding and bruised, Lupercalus roared and pounded his chest. The Chieftain showed no sign of falling and still had the power to psyche himself up.

Lupercalus raised his mace and swung outward. None of the troopers could understand why he'd swing so far from them, but as the macehead separated from the rest of the weapon connected to a chain it soon became clear.

He raised his mace and swung wide, confusing the ODSTs—until the macehead detached, revealing a deadly chain weapon.

Bravo and Rukundo hit the dirt just in time, but Rig wasn't so fortunate. The macehead slammed into him, shattering pieces of his armor and sending him hurtling into a Banished steel wall. Rig's body crumpled to the ground, unmoving.

The Chieftain let out a guttural laugh as it recalled the macehead just enough to keep the weapon swinging as it readied another attack.

Abe scanned the battlefield for anything that might work against the Chieftain. Nothing seemed available until he noticed a spike grenade half-obscured by loose dirt. Taking the chance, he rushed towards it and attracted Lupercalu's attention.

The mace went flying in his direction, but Rukundo managed to secure the spike grenade and grab a hold of the chain that connected the macehead to its shaft. He held tightly as the chain began retracting back only letting go to get close to the Brute to slam the spike grenade in his chest.

Quickly using his momentum to roll away, Rukundo turned back to see the grenade go off and send a load of shrapnel into the Chieftain. Lupercalus stood for a moment, before falling to his knees and dropping his weapon with a thud.

The last thing the Chieftain saw was Bravo walking up to him, pointing Rig's recovered magnum at his head, and a bright flash.

Once the other teams reported that their buildings were cleared and secure, Rukundo and Bravo finally entered the prison. Its general state was what one would expect a holding area constructed by sadistic Brutes. The odor was oppressive and the only source of light came from a red-orange energy barrier at the back of the main building.

Finding the main console, Rukundo deactivated the barrier, yet still couldn't make out what was inside. As his eyes adjusted to the dark, he was horrified at what he saw.

Nearly thirty human bodies lay crumpled in the cell, their gaunt forms bearing the unmistakable marks of starvation, dehydration, and abuse.

Abe's mind reeled with grief and guilt. If they had arrived only days earlier, perhaps these people could have been saved. His thoughts were interrupted, however, by the slight movement of one body.

The figure—a gaunt, disheveled young man in Navy coveralls—struggled to stand. His ID tag read "Tollhouse." He couldn't have been older than twenty.

Rukundo made his way towards Tollhouse and said, "My name is Lieutenant Abe Rukundo, ODSTs You're free now, son."

Tollhouse raised a shaky hand in salute, stammering, "Tollhouse, Carson... 98245-023—" He faltered, his expression breaking.

The sailor stopped suddenly, a familiar look beginning to form in his face that Rukundo had seen many times. He reached forward and embraced the man, damn whatever protocol was to be expected in a situation like this.

The former prisoner immediately burst into tears and sobbed into Rukundo's shoulder.

"Oh God, lieutenant," Tollhouse said through the tears, "I'm alive and none of them are. God, why?"

Abe let him talk, offering quiet reassurance. This boy carried unimaginable grief, and for now, all he needed was someone to listen.

Carson Tollhouse was the sole survivor. As he later explained, he and a group of Navy crewmen were captured early after landfall. The Banished threw them into a cell and left them to rot. Occasionally, prisoners were dragged out and returned battered, but no interrogations occurred. They were given no food and little water. Nothing seemed to justify any of the treatment.

When told of the rescue's toll—ten soldiers lost, including Rig—Tollhouse broke down again. "I'm not worth all that," he said. "All those soldiers died, and all you got was me. It isn't fair."

Rukundo placed a steady hand on Tollhouse's shoulder. "Carson, everyone who went on this raid knew the risks. Even saving one life makes it worth it. As far as I'm concerned, you're a miracle."

"But your friend—Rig—he died for me."

"Rig would've been proud to know his life saved someone else. That's who he was."

Tollhouse's protests dwindled. Rukundo continued, "Don't focus on the why. Honor their sacrifice by finding purpose in your survival. The road ahead won't be easy, but if you need guidance, you can count on me."

He straightened, saluting. "Dismissed, Private."