Chapter 6

Chapter Six

0913 Hours, September 24, 2563 [Military Calendar]/

Theta Uradis System, Madilion UNSC Military

Air Space, Planet Madilion, Johnson Cadet Academy

   Jake yawned, "Sleeping on this bird has been hard on my back." He stretched and walked around what little space they had. "Twelve days but we're here." He looked at the Lieutenant, who got up to talk to the pilot. Jake sat down next to Mallory, "Some thing's wrong."

    "How do you know," she whispered back.

    He pointed to the Lieutenant, "Look how he carries himself. Not the usual proud confident commander he is."

    "Go talk to him," she said. He got up and walked over to the cockpit. Dozens of buttons, controls, and lights filled the room. Jake knew nothing about all this but the Lieutenant did. He sat in as the co-pilot and watched the sky for trouble. He rotated in his chair and looked at Jake, "Yes?"

    "What's wrong?"

    He thought about what to say. "Nothing," he finally spat out.

    "Bullshit. If nothing was wrong then you would acting normally. No, you're nervous. You're scared. What is going on?"

    "Jake get down!" He ran out of the cockpit tackling Jake. There was an explosion and the ship rumbled.

    "We're going down," the pilot yelled. He pulled up on the steering wheel but to no prevail. Smoke started coming from the front of the plane; the glass was shattered, and the pilot was pulled out of the cockpit. As he was pulled out, his body hit the bay door button. Jake held on to one of the bars on the ground as the Lieutenant got off and climbed up to the open door.

    "What are you doing?!"

    "Saving our asses!" He got up and walked to the emergency button. Pressing it the bay and cockpit door closed. He helped Jake up, and as the went to sit down the Pelican hit a mountain and crashed into the jungle.

    Jake's vision blurred as he came conscious. He was on his back, next to the crashed Pelican. He sat up and rubbed his face. Fueled on adrenaline, he stood up and felt only a little pain from the two broken ribs and sprained ankle. Coughing into his hands, he noticed black smoke come out. How much of this is in my system? He brushed off the thought and looked around for survivors.

    “Hello,” he yelled. “Lieutenant! Mallory! Cooper! Is anyone alive?!” He walked over to the Pelican. Tilting his head he examined the Pelican. He walked around it, the left wing was deep into the ground, and the cockpit was all but detached from the ship. The right wing had broken off during the impact with the mountain, and as he examined the wing better, Oh, s**t. Where’s my sword?

    His thoughts were broken by the sound of rustling in the trees. He tried for his weapon, That’s right, their scattered around. Something fell out of the tree and hit the ground moaning. It got up and looked at Jake, and smiled.

    “At ease son. I got something for ya.” He tossed Jake the energy sword.

    “Thanks,” he sighed. “Are they dead?”

    He walked over to the troop bay. “No Jake, but that wing is leaking fuel and we need to get this open before it explodes.”

    “This is the most time crunching mission, I have ever been on. What do I need to do?”

    “Okay first, cut open a hole big enough for us to get into and get them out. Second we get away from here as quickly as possible. Then we find out what has happened to the base. Okay?” Jake nodded and activated his sword. He made a cut into the door and kicked it in.

    Jake ducked under the metal. "Guys," he said. There was a slit moan to his right. “Hello?” He felt around for a body, he padded someones helmet. “Who is this?”

    “Jake,” said the voice.

    “Cooper?”

    Anderson groaned, “Get off my leg please.”

    “Oh, sorry,” he took his hand off his leg and helped him unbuckle. He slung him over his shoulder and walked him over to the exit, “Lieutenant, get Anderson.” He handed Anderson to the Lieutenant. “Wait,” they looked at him. “Anderson give me your helmet. It’s too damn dark in there.” He handed him his helmet. “Thanks,” He walked inside and turned on the flashlights. He walked everyone out, one by one, Swiss, Missy, and Kody.

    “Is that everyone,” the Lieutenant asked.

    “No, I need to get Mallory, go check on the wing.” He headed back in the pelican and looked for Mallory. “Mallory? Mallory, are you awake?” He turned left and the flashlight lit up her face. “Oh thank god. Mallory,” he asked, but no response. He patted her face trying to wake her up. Damn it. He unbuckled her and picked her up. As he walked out of the plane the back collapsed in front of him.

    “Jake,” the Lieutenant yelled.

    Jake fell back with Mallory on top of him. Still coughing up the black smoke, he pushed her off and took out his sword. He got up cut out a cut out a hole in the plane. Putting his sword away he picked up Mallory and walked out.

    “How’s the wing?”

    “Jake, we need to get out of here now.”

    “How long do we have,” Jake asked. The Lieutenant held up ten fingers. “Everyone move, now! We need to haul a*s.” They ran north, away from the Pelican and headed off to the edge of a cliff.

    “Where now,” Missy looked at Jake.

    “Down the slope, it’s not that steep.” Jake slid down and holding Mallory in his arms. When he reached the ground he tried stepping off, but flipped over and was sent sliding on his back. When he finally stopped he tried pushing Mallory off of him but was too weak.

    “Somebody get her off of me!” he grunted. Coughing up the black smoke again, Anderson pulled Mallory off of him. He leaned on his elbows looking around; his vision started to blur again. Swiss picked up his head as it feel and tap Jake’s face.

    “Stay with me Jake,” he muttered. “Come on, stay with my voice.” Jake started to losing consciousness, “Lieutenant! Jake’s going out.” His hearing started to muffle.

    “Okay cadets. We set up camp here,” the Lieutenant walked into his line of site. “Make a bed and a room for Jake. He needs aid ASAP. Move now...” he slipped into unconsciousness.

1134 Hours, September 26, 2563 [Military Calendar]/

Theta Uradis System, Madilion UNSC Military

Dantren Forest, Planet Madilion, 11 miles from Johnson Cadet Academy

    Jake started gaining consciousness. His senses start returning and he starts to cough. “Guys,” a muffled voice said. “He’s waking up.” Jake leaned up on his elbows and a wave of pain shot through him.

    “Gaah,” he grunted. Kody, Anderson, and Missy walked into the room. Jake continued to grunt and scream in pain. “What the hell is wrong with me!”

    “Matthews, calm your a*s down,” Anderson yelled. “You’re okay, just relax.” He helped Jake sit up and gave him some water. He grabbed the canteen and poured it all over his face. His breathing slowed and he started to relax, “Okay, where am I?”

    “We set up camp here a couple of days ago,” Kody explained. “Right after we came down the slope you passed out.”

    “So where are the others?”
    “Swiss and Mallory went hunting for food.”

    “And the Lieutenant?”

    Anderson looked at Missy and Kody. “He uh...” he tried to find his words. “He’s on his daily patrol. He’ll be back on the hour.” Jake pointed to his foot. “Oh that. You have a sprained ankle; it won’t talk long for it to heal.”

    “Okay, but what about the my torso, how bad is it there?”

    “Two broken ribs.”

    “Someone give me paper and a pen or pencil.” Missy handed him gauze and a pencil. “Okay I’m...writing down stuff I need...for you guys to get me...Anderson, Kody. I need you two to go out and get me these.” He handed the paper to Kody. She looked at it, it read:

Important Stuff:

1.Manza Leaf      

2. One Membazi Fruit (Bright red fruit, shaped like a barrel.)

3. Orca Berries

4. Grocra Root

    “Go, now,”Jake said. “Missy stay here and guard the camp.”

    “Yes sir,” they said in unison.

    “Kody.”

    “Hm?”

    “The leaf, is a bright green color. There are two bright green leaves here in this forest. The when the paste made from the herbs is spread on the Manza leaf can cause a numbing pad dulling the pain. But if you get the Sufix leaf and break it excretes a liquid that burns through the skin. The Sufix leaf is a lighter green than the Manza leaf. Make sure you get the right one.” They nodded and started to walk off, “Missy, leave me your pistol. You never know.”

    “Okay,” she handed her pistol to him and walked out.

    “Hey, can I ask you something?”

    “Yeah,” she walked back into the room. “What is it Jake?”

    “To be honest...” he hesitated. “I want to talk about Mallory.”

    “Okay, talk about her how?”

    “Well, we have been going out for a couple of years now...and before I left I was dating this girl...Kimberly Jane Daniels. I was gonna marry her.”

    “Well?”

    “Well...ever since I heard about “Master Chief” I wanted to be something more. Since I was a kid I always wanted to be a Spartan. After the last Spartan Program 2557 I had no chance. In 2561 when the drafting came I took it. She took the news pretty hard, and as far as I know she still waits for me.

    “I love Mallory,” he continued. “I do, but I don’t think she’s the one, you know?”

    “Jake, I’ve known you for about seven months, and I grew up with Mallory. She’s a great girl and,” she leaned in close to him. “And if you do anything to hurt her I will design a machine that will tumble your body down an eternal flight of carpeted stairs so you die by carpet burn and broken limbs. K?”

    “What?”

    She laughed and patted his shoulder, “I’m just messing with ya.” She walked out of the room but turned back. “No, but hurt her and the broken limb thing happens.” She smiled and left the room.

    “Cooper,” Kody said. She pointed to a barrel shaped fruit on a tree. “There it is,” she raised the sniper rifle and shot at the branch. It feel down, he caught it and broke off the fruit. Putting it away in his bag he looked around. He grabbed Kody and pulled her towards the tree. “Ouch Cooper! What the f-,” he covered her mouth. She looked at him and he placed a finger on his lips.

    “Coveys,” he whispered. He leaned around the tree. He held his hand down low to symbol grunts and held up five fingers. He held his hand high for Elites and then two fingers. Finally he held his hand at a medium height for jackals and then four fingers. He looked back at Kody, “Take this.”

    “What is this?”

    “Armor piercing rounds, just head up that tree and wait for my signal. Take out the Elites and keep your radio on.” He waited for her to climb the tree then crouched and headed to a bush. He walked behind the patrol, "Now." Kody shot once, the first Elite dropped dead. The second looked up and around, she shot again, the other elite dropped. Anderson strafed left heading to cover. He shot at the grunts and jackals, taking out all of the grunts. He rolled into cover, reloading his rifle. "Kody, take out he jackals!" He heard two more shots and he looked around he cover. As she reloaded they took the chance to shoot at her. Anderson unloaded on one of the jackals. Before he had time to reload, it turned around and shot at him. He tossed his weapon aside and ran straight for it. He jumped and landed right on top of the jackal’s shield. It broke making Anderson fall right on top of the him. It started to shoot at him but got the gun knocked out of his hand. Anderson grabbed its head and broke its neck, before it could claw his face off.

    "Anderson, are you okay?"

    He spat on the dead Jackal, "Yeah. You have the stuff?"

    "Yeah, let's get this to Jake." They checked their gear, look around for more covenant, then head out.”

    Anderson and Kody walked into the tent. Jake looked at them with a smile then saw Cooper’s armor. “What happened?”

    He looked down and saw a few new scuff marks, “We had a run in with some Coveys on our way back.”

    “Anderson mix the herbs together into a fine paste. Kody cut the leaf in half, and take the paste that he makes and spread it on the leaf. Missy, help me take these bandages off.” They did as he said. He looked at the his bruised body, "Damn. I am messed up. Hand me the leaf." Kody handed him the leaf and he laid it gently on his ribs. "Okay, now I need to to wrap me up real quick." He grabbed a rag and bit down on it. She wrapped the gauze around him as he grunted in pain. When she was done he spat out the rag and breathed heavily.

    "Dear god," he took a deep breathe. "That hurt more then I thought. Okay now hand me the other leaf." He laid it across he ankle and fought through pain as he wrapped it up. "Cooper, cut the fruit into eight slices and spread the paste on them."

    "What will this do?"

    "The paste, when not ingested combined with the Manza Leaf, creates a numbing agent that takes effect after thirty minutes. The time started when you spread it on the leaf...so I have about ten minutes until it takes effect. Now, when ingested, the paste becomes a healing agent that spreads up the process of broken or sprained bones, or any other illnesses. It just tastes boring so I put it on fruit.

    "Anyway," he continued. "While I eat this I want you guys to get the others here. Tell them to get things packed up, we're moving on." He started to eat his fruit as everyone left the room. "Hey," he said with a mouth full of Membazi Fruit. "Missy, do you know where my weapons are?"

    "Yep!"

    "Well," he paused. "Can you tell me?"

    "Nope," she said and left tent.

    "What the f**k?!"

    "Sorry," a distant voice said. He placed his right foot flat on the ground and pushed himself up. Grunting in pain, he had got to his feet. Looking around, brushing himself off, Where the hell are my weapons?

    Jake walked outside and shielded his face from the sun. Oh god that’s bright. Looking around he saw the how the camped looked. Four huts in a square, and a small campfire. He hobbled around looking for his weapons and came across a weapons storage. “Now why couldn’t she just tell me this?” He picked up his swords, a Battle Rifle and walked around camp, waiting for everyone to return.

    Kody and Anderson were almost done with packing up the tents when the Lieutenant had walked back into camp. He waited until they were done packing up and then walked up to them. Anderson noticed the Lieutenant walking towards them, so he stopped what he was doing and stood at attention. Not knowing why he was doing that Kody dismissed his salute and keep working. When she turned around, startled by the Lieutenant’s sudden presence she dropped what she was doing and saluted him.

    “At ease cadets,” he looked for but was no where in sight. “Where is Cadet Matthews, isn’t that why you sent the flare?”

    “He’s off in his tent thinking about what we should do next,” Kody said. “Anderson, I’m going to try our radios. Maybe, by some miracle they’re working.” She walked off. Anderson was left there staring at the Lieutenant.

    “So,” Anderson said.

    “So.”

    “I’m going to go help Missy clean the weapons,” Anderson walked away. The Lieutenant watched him and looked around the the empty place that was once their camp.

    "Damn it! Where the hell are the radios," Kody screamed. Jake walked out of his tent with a smile on his face. In his hands were the radios. He walked to everyone giving them a radio. After he was done, he headed over to his tent and packed it up.

    “Matthews, I am going to kill you.”

    He gave her a hug and patted her head, “Love you too buddy.” He looked over and saw the Lieutenant. “Sir,” nodded and headed over to him.

    “Matthews,” the Lieutenant said with a smile. “I’m happy to see you up and walking. How is that?”

    “Medicinal herbs I had Anderson and Kody get for me. I did what had to be done and I’m healing,” he patted his busted armor. “I can feel the pressure but none of the pain. But it should be good after about two weeks.”

    “HEY GUYS,” yelled a distant voice. “WE GOT FOOD!” Everyone looked the at the direction of the voice and saw Mallory and Swiss walking towards the now empty camp. When they reached the others they were confused by the emptiness of the camp. “What happened?” Mallory asked.

    “We need leave this area and head back to the academy,” said Lieutenant Norman. “Covenant have been spotted all around here, we have to get moving.”

    Jake stretches his back and picks up his gear, “Okay then. Let’s get going.” He starts to walk but then stops and looks back at the group.

    “Jake, what’s the plan,” Anderson asks.

    “Yeah, I was just thinking about that,” He trails off into thought again. “Okay here’s what we’re gonna do. Lieutenant, Mallory and I will head back to the Pelican and see if there is any useful gear left. The rest of you will head South,” He points in the away from them. “That should take you to the academy. Find the radio and get the Assassins here now.”

    They all looked at him. “Well, Jake,” they look at the Lieutenant. “You’ve turned out to be a better leader then I thought.” He pats Jake on the back, "Let’s get going.”

    They start to walk. Jake stops, “Lieutenant go ahead, we’ll catch up.” He steps back, grabs Mallory’s arm and pulls her aside. “Mallory, there’s the thing.” He looks at the Lieutenant. “If anything happens to me I want you to know…hold on, let’s walk now.” They start to walk after the Lieutenant who is forty feet in front of them. “Okay, sorry I just wanted to keep walking,” they continue to walk. “Okay so, I wanted you to know that I love you no matter what.”

    “Jake I love you to-”

    “Let me finish. You’re a great friend, and I’m sure you’ll make someone happy one day but you need to know that-”

    “You love someone else,” she interrupted him. “I know that. I’ve read up on you’re files. Everything, even the stuff they didn’t want anyone to see. Under the reasons why you joined us, you put, ‘For Kim.’ So I can only guess that is a girl back home. It’s okay Jake.”

    “Thanks,” he kissed her cheek. “Let’s speed this u-”

    “Jake,” the Lieutenant’s voice came up on the radio. “You guys need to book it up here and see this for yourselves.”

    “What is it?”

    “You’re just gonna need to see it.” They head up the hill and look over the edge. “Get down,” he motions them with his hand and they drop to the ground. They look at the Pelican.

    “Holy s**t,” Jake says. He stares at the crashed Pelican surrounded by Grunts, Elites, and Hunters.

    “It seems the Covenant has set up base camp here. As long as I’ve been watching them they’re looking for survivors. They sent a patrol out a few hours ago.”

    “Kody and Anderson attacked a patrol few hours ago. We need to get to that Pelican. If the Covys want it, it must be worth something.”

   “Okay, here’s the plan. Jake you see those two Spec Ops on the ledges?”

   He look around for a minute then finally spotted them. “Yeah, take them out?”

   “Yes, quickly and quietly. Take a sniper then radio in. When he does, Mallory, I want you to head up there and watch us with your sniper. Don’t shoot until I say so. When she is in position Jake and I will move around the camp and try to take out a Hunter from behind. After dealing with them I will give you the signal and Mallory will take out the General.

   “When she does I will strike at the Grunts hard and fast, and Jake will then proceed to take out the Elites. We can worry about the other Hunters when we get there.” Jake and Mallory exchanged a look and loaded up their weapons. She gave him a kiss then turned to the Lieutenant.

   “Okay, here I go.” Jake headed around the camp and to the mountain’s face. He put his Battle Rifle on his back and started to climb. Okay Jake, you got this. It’s just a thirty foot drop to your death, no big deal. He reached the ledge and took out his knife. He looked at the Elites and them flipped the knife in his hand, so he was holding the blade. Looking at the Elite to the far left, he threw it at its head. It hit and fell dead; the other Elite turned and charged for him. Not thinking, he charged the Elite into a game of chicken. Jake slid underneath it and hopped up to his feet behind it. Stabbing his sword straight through the Elite’s back plate, he looked around for the snipers. Picking them up he radioed in. Mallory reached the ledge as he was pulling the knife out of the Elites head.

   “What the hell did you do Jake?”

   He said nothing but smiled and headed back down the mountain. When he reached the base of the mountain, the Lieutenant called him over. “Okay, I have a sniper and Mallory’s got the other,” the Lieutenant said nothing just stared at the ground. “Are you okay? Sir?”

    “Yeah, just worried Jake.”

    “Huh? Why?”

    “I just have a feeling,” he looked away. “Okay, let’s move.” They headed around the camp. Jake tied a string around the pins of his grenades and attached it to his waist.

    “Well now I have a plan for the Hunters,” Jake said. Picking up the Beam Rifle he aimed it at the Plasma Battery that sat next to the Grunts. Jake pressed a button on the radio. “We’re ready for your signal. Take out the General.”

    “Okay, here I go.” Mallory took a shot to the Elite Generals head. There was a pulse sound and then a roar; the General hit the floor. As soon it fell, Jake shot the plasma battery making a bigger explosion than he wanted. Chunks of Grunt bodies, Pelican parts, and rocks were sent flying everywhere.

    One of the Pelican parts was sent into the mountain where Mallory had set up her outpost. The impact of the part weakened the side of the mountain and it started to crack and crumble. She screamed as the rocks crumbled on top of her. Jake rushed out to get her but was stopped by the hand of an Elite to his face.

    Swiss lead the group to the edge of a cliff. “Nice going dumbass. Now where do we go?” He looked around and took out his Binoculars. In the distance he saw the Academy or what was left of it. They faced the back of the building, smoke was coming up from it and Covenant ships were coming and going.

    He took the binoculars from his face and stroked his beard. “Holy s**t…” he finally said with a distant look in his eyes.

    “What is it,” Kody asked. He held out the binoculars, still looking off into the distance. She looked in the direction that he was staring and gasped. “Oh f**k…”

    Anderson looked at both of them. “Guys, what the f**k is going on?” They said nothing. He took the binoculars from Kody and saw the base. “Son of A b***h!” He threw the binoculars on the ground. “Damn it all! F**k! Okay, so what now?”

    Swiss paused for a second. “Let’s head over there.”

    Kody looks at him, “Are you f*****g kidding me? The Covenant has that place on lock down. Ships going in and out, patrols all around the base. How do we get there?” Swiss picked up the binoculars and looked around the area. “Wait, wait. I see a part of the base that’s no that well guarded. We’ll have to travel to through the training field.”

    “Are you f*****g serious?! We’re out manned, out gunned, and out classed. Even if we do get there, there’s no certain that we can survive.”

    “That’s a chance we’ll have to take,” Swiss said. “Let’s start heading down this cliff.” He starts descending down the face of the cliff and the others slowly follow.

    When they reached the bottom Swiss checked his Shotgun making sure it was full with ammo, Anderson did the same. Kody, started to climb one of the trees, but when she got nine feet off the ground, bullets, riddled the tree. She jumped down landed on her feet, and into a roll. Anderson picked her up and ran to cover.

    “Kody,” Swiss asked. “Are you okay?” She nodded and brushed the grass and dirt off of her. “The bullets have stopped. It’s quiet…” The branches in the trees started rustling. They looked up but no one was in sight. “This isn’t right. It’s not the Covenant because they used human weapons. Who could it be?”

    Three figures jump down from the trees and stood behind each cadet. Swiss and Anderson stood up and pointed their guns at the figures. They are both quickly disarmed and incapacitated. Kody, goes for the third figure but he already has his hand on her sniper.

    It’s pulled away from her hand and thrown aside. She throws a few punches into his stomach and hits something, hard. What is that? He grabs her hand and twists it, she kicks his face but he grabs her leg and flips her. She lands on her back and tries to get up but she can’t find the strength. The figure walks up to her, picks her up by the collar and slams her against a tree.

    “F**k,” she screamed.

    “How did you contact them,” The figure asked.

    “What?”

    “How did you contact the Covenant?”

    Wait that voice, it belongs to the Assassin that helped us out on Crantoras. “Wait, I know you. I was one of the Cadets that you rescued on Crantoras. Don’t you remember? Jake Matthews, he’s the one that called in the rescue.”

    “Delvin, does she speak the truth?”

    “Yes,” said Delvin. “Let her go, let them all go.”

    Swiss brushed himself off, “That’s right b***h, shiiiit.”

    “Swiss, shut up,” Kody said.

    “What? I would have had him, if you didn’t butt in.”

    “Delvin, I caught a few birds. I think you should-” he was interrupted when he saw the faces of Kody, Anderson and Swiss. “Guys…?”

    “Cinna,” Swiss asks puzzled.  Cinna runs over to Kody and hugs her, then hugs Swiss. Before he can hug Anderson, he puts his hand out to stop him. “I’m not much of a hugger.” He pats Cinna on the back and looks at him. “What happened after we left the base? And better question where is Nick?”

    The assassin took off his helmet and revealed is face. He was a thirty-six year old man, scares on his face, his eyes were tired and wounded, but like his hair they were brown. “He was hurt real bad when we found them. He had four plasma burns to his torso, his whole left arm was broken, and a deep cut across his back. He had bled out immensely and by the time we got back to the ship he was dead. I’m sorry...so sorry…”

    Kody looked at them for a second, then mouth covered with her hand and broke out in tears. She fell to her knees. Swiss ran to her and held her. Held her in his arms. He patted her back, rubbed it, anything to keep her calm. She started sniveling, crying louder.

    “H-h-he’s gon-gone W-w-w-will. H-h-he’s really g-g-gone,” her voice cracked. She started to hyperventilate.

    “Shh, shh,” Swiss said, calming her down. He patted her back, “You need calm down, please, stop crying, just shh. This isn’t going to get us anywhere. You need to honor his memory and help us out with the Covenant, that’s what Nick would want. Don’t you think?” She looked at him and nodded, then hugged him back.

    Swiss looked at Delvin. He was the only one with his helmet off. Anderson picked up their weapons and handed them to Swiss. He looked at Delvin, “Wait. You asked her how did she contact the Covenant. But why? how?”

    “I don’t know,” Delvin said. “That’s why I was asking. Mason, Robert, search the area.” He looks at the group of cadets and walked over to Kody. “I’m so sorry for what happened to Nick.” He patted her back and looked at Swiss. He nodded and looked at the other two cadets. Their faces were tired and scared. “What was the point of you guys being here? Why did you decide to head towards the academy?”

    “We had a plan,” Anderson says. “There’s an unguarded area into the base. We were going to sneak in there, and call in back up. But that was it, otherwise we have no idea.”

    “I have an idea,” Mason came back first. “There are cargo trucks heading in and out of the academy. If we could take one of those trucks we could head inside without getting noticed.”

    “You have a good point, but the thing is the Elites are driving each and every one of those trucks. We would need someway to get in them and inside disguised as an Elite.” Delvin looked at the group and then to Mason. He ran his hand through his short hair and looked at the cadets again.

    “I have something that could help,” Cinna stepped up. “When we were sent out we were given some equipment. It was made to disguise us as Elites, to translate Sangheli Language so we could understand it and changed what we said into Sangheli. When I was captured by the Covenant and tortured, my equipment, for the most part, wasn’t as badly damaged. I could be the driver.”

    “That’s brilliant,” Mason said. “We can hijack the truck a few miles away from the academy, take out the Elite, Cinna takes his place. Then we get him ready to drive, and we stow away in the crates and then we’re in.”

    Everyone smiled and looked at Delvin. “Okay, so it’s agreed,” he said. “We’ll head out at dusk. Until then everyone take some rest, you’ve all earned it.” They got up and started to follow Cinna to camp, but after they started walking Jake came on the radio, “Guys,” his voice was breaking. “It’s Mallory...She’s seriously injured.”

    Jake laid on the ground, staring at avalanche that was burying Mallory. The Elite walked up to Jake and took out his sword. Jake looked up at him, tears rushing down his face. The Elite saw this and then chuckled. Jake took this to heart, he whipped his tears away and stood up. He took his swords out and looked down at his feet, he started to mumble.

    “...have the nerve to laugh?! You scaly, spit-jaw, son of a b***h! You all talk about religion and honor, where is the honor in laughing at a warrior’s death?!” Jake’s swords started to tint red. “You want to make it to the great beyond?! You want to complete the great journey, you want to meed your gods?! Well," Jake paused. "Let me help YOU!”

    Jake rushed the Elite, jumped over it and impaled it with his swords. He pushed the whole sword through his body, the turned him clockwise ninety degrees and pulled them out. The Elite fell to the ground clutching it's stomach. The Elites left, backed up and shot at Jake. He slammed his foot on the ground and rushed them. Dodging plasma blasts and grenades he made his way to the Elites and started slashing them with his swords.

    He made quick work of them and headed over to Mallory. His glow and anger started to fade away as he pulled the rocks off over her and tried digging her up. The Lieutenant ran up to Jake making sure they were safe. “Jake,” he grab his shoulder. “Jake. Jake answer me!”

    “I need to make sure that Mallory is okay!” Tears rush down his face as pulls rocks out of the pile.

    “Jake just calm down, you’re going to hurt yourself.”

    Jake pushed the Lieutenant off of him, “Get the f**k off of me. Just guard me while I get her out.” As he started pulling off rocks a few grunts ran around the corner but were met with the bad end of the Lieutenant’s bullets, and quickly fell. Jake pulled a few more rocks and was able to pull her out of the ruble. She was unconscious.

    “Here,” the Lieutenant said. “Give her to me.” Reluctantly he did as he was asked and handed her to him. Jake walked over to the side and turned on his radio.

    “Guys,” his voice was breaking. “It’s Mallory...She’s seriously injured.”

    Missy’s voice came on the radio, “Jake! What happened?!”

    “She got crushed by rocks, but she’s fine, just unconscious. Where are you guys?”

    “About two miles north of the Pelican.”

    “Okay we’re going to head to you guys. Stay safe, and we’ll be in there soon,” he looked at the Lieutenant and they headed North.

    They reached the cliff. They looked at each other and then over the cliff. The three Spartans stood a few feet from the base with the rest of his team. Jake sighed in relief. He started to calm down and rub his temples. He looked at Mallory and checked her face.

    “She doesn’t have a fever,” he said. He check her pulse. “Her heartbeat is fine, okay how are we going to get her down?”

    “Guys!” Anderson boomed. They looked over the edge then at him.

    “Yes?”

    “How’s the weather up there?”

    “Fan-f*****g-tastic! How are we going to get Mallory down there?”

    Anderson paced back and forth and then looked back at them. “Jake come down here then the Lieutenant can toss her down.”

    “Uh,” the Lieutenant said. “I would like a plan that would not get her killed.”

    “Just trust me.”

    “It’s okay sir,” said Jake. “I will make sure she’s okay.” He back away from the cliff and took a deep breath in. He ran to the edge and jumped off. Grabbing a tree branch he swung around it and flipped off, sticking the landing. He stood next to Anderson, Swiss, and Cinna. “Okay sir, we’re ready.”

    Hesitant he looks at her and then at them. With little force he tossed her off the cliff and she fell right into their arms. They placed her laying on a tree as the Lieutenant climbed down the cliff.

    The Assassins walked over to Jake and the Lieutenant. Delvin stepped forward and held his hand out. “I am Delvin Mallory, Assassin Leader, Field Class. This is Mason Lander, and Robert Martinez, Assassins Field Class.”Jake shook his hand and so did the Lieutenant.

    "I am Nathan Jake Matthews, but everyone calls me Jake."

    "And I am Lieutenant Chris Norman. So, Delvin, what's the plan?"