- soulguard
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- Exalted Mythic Member
“You okay?” Kim questioned. Melanie was holding her side and blood flowed freely from the wound.
“Nothing a little biofoam won’t cure.” Melanie replied. Kim jabbed the nozzle into the wound and the foamy mass quickly fizzed into Melanie’s wound. Melanie squirmed from the pain and fought against blacking out. “Oh that was heavenly. How about I not go through that again?” Melanie laughed to herself. Kim removed the bottle and tossed it to the side. She pulled a red flare from her hip pack and tossed several of them toward the buildings. The flares puffed bright red smoke into the air as plasma streamed through.
Eric slid in beside the group and stopped beside Kim.
“The civilians are mostly safe behind some barricades, but I’m not sure for how long.” Eric stated. “It’s tight in here. We have no room to maneuver or get clear of any mortar blasts. And I don’t want to mention grenades.”
“Noted, 19.” Kim stated. “I got through to the Rogue Fantasy and heavy artillery is on the way.”
“Great, I hoped that was what those flares were for.” Melanie replied. “Look, I see the pelicans!” Forty pelicans dotted the sky and were streaking in toward the encamped group of Covenant forces. “That is one hell of a beautiful sight.”
Without warning, Kim pushed Eric to the ground as a plasma grenade dropped at his feet. Kim looked around, torn about her actions. If the lone grenade exploded, they would all be killed including twenty or more of the civilians. It was too crowded in the small area and there was no way to get everyone clear. In an instant she lunged at the plasma grenade and felt the warm heat radiating from it quickly fuse to her hand. The pain began to intensify as she began to sprint away from the group.
“Kim!” Eric shouted. He leapt from the ground and chased her. Kim raised her arm away from her body as far as she could as the grenade began to release its final surge of energy.
Eric could only watch as the grenade exploded, sending Kim’s body sliding across the ground. Kim struggled to get to her feat as shock swelled around her body. Eric grabbed her by the shoulder as a hail of plasma blasts roared toward him. He tossed Kim onto his shoulder and ran back to cover. He tumbled to the ground and quickly began to seal the wound were Kim’s arm and hip once were. The damage was severe and Eric knew that he couldn’t save her.
Melanie crawled beside them as the final volley of plasma tore into their encampment. The pelicans began to release wave after wave of hellfire into the Covenant lines. The majority of pelicans began to land and what was left of the civilians eagerly crawled onboard.
“I can’t… I can’t… Eric.” Kim tearfully shouted. Eric fought to keep her calm and tend to her wounds. “Pull the squad out, get them out… out.”
“Shut up, Kim!” Melanie shouted. “You’re coming with us.”
“Eric, Eric…” Kim stuttered as she gazed into the sky. She slowly exhaled, her mouth opened and her eyes wide. Eric closed her eyes and softly mourned her death.
“Sir we have to go!” 08 stated. “Rogue Fantasy says they can’t wait any longer. Those Covenant bastards are preparing to glass the planet. We have to go.” Melanie was in shock and sat quietly on the ground, gazing into the lifeless face of her sister. Eric grabbed Kim’s body and slung it over his shoulder. With his free hand he grabbed Melanie and pulled her toward the Pelicans; 08 followed closely.
They climbed onto the back of the pelican just as Plasma barrages began to fall in the distance. The covenant had begun to glass Troy.
“How many did we leave behind?” Eric asked 08.
“We lost contact with the front marines.” He replied. “We were only able to fill twenty pelicans with civilians. We had to leave the others behind.” Of the eighteen Black Ops that begin the battle on Troy, only six survived. The flight back to the Rogue Fantasy was quiet until the pelican docked. The rear hatch opened and the last survivors of Troy exited from its belly. Standing before the Black Ops was Doctor Carolyn Smith; whom had become the ship nurse and chief medic in order to stay with her Black Ops, fearing for her life and career if she went anywhere without them.
“Take 04 to the morgue and put her in hibernation.” Carolyn stated to the nurses at her side. “And make sure to take a look at all of them, they all seem to be wounded. It seems this was by far the hardest mission yet.” Carolyn focused on Melanie and spotted a tear in her eye. “Are you okay, 05?”
“No.” Melanie stated as she slumped onto the side of the pelican. She suddenly balled over and began to sob peacefully to herself as Eric attempted to comfort her.
Eric looked at Carolyn and waved her off. Carolyn shook her head, understanding that she needed her space. He then sat beside her and held her close. No matter how hard they had fought in the past few years, this was the worst battle yet. They had usually worked alone and in secret, doing side missions for Section III, but when word of Troy being attacked crossed their speakers they had to go help.
There was no stopping the Covenant. Humanity had to become stronger, and not even his adjusted strength was good enough. The Covenant was to powerful, too numerous, and too advanced to be stopped. Soon they would sack Earth and nothing would remain of humanity.
“Rose.” Eric stated. Melanie had heard him, but ignored it. At that moment Eric decided that this war would only be won if their technology improved, and he didn’t want to see any one else he loves die. He was standing only ten feet away when Kim died and the more he thought of Rose, the more he wanted to redeem himself for failing Kim. Melanie would stay with him, he would convince them all to go back to Earth. If they followed him to war then they would surely follow him home.
To be continued…