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"Patter" 343i SSC Sep.5.2014


rrhuntington

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"Patter"

  This was based on option number 1.  I hope you like it!

 

Down below the skyscrapers of New Alexandria, stood a giant lone figure. He stood in a street of abandoned memories, belongings dropped at every corner, as if a monster had just appeared. The figure let out a sigh, and started to walk towards the intersection. It's body clad in brownish armor from helmet to boot, his head glowing orange from his visor, and chest piece having small figures reading W-363. It was a Spartan, Humanity's finest warrior, and their best chance at survival.
"I couldn't stay. I'm... a deserter, but I made a promise." The Spartan said to himself. He found a sidewalk which lead to some stairs going downward. The stairs took him to another street enveloped by surrounding buildings, which blocked out the already disappearing sun.
"If anything happens, I'd find a way back to you. I told you that didn't I?" He spoke again, almost sounding unsure. He began running down the street, with renewed vigor. The rain then started to come down again, very gently.
"Here!" 363 skidded to a stop in front of a very tall building. The doors were locked, but he forced them open with his incredible strength. He stepped in, and immediately took to the elevator. The power was out, so with no other choice 363 took the lengthy flight of stairs. The rain became harder and hit the massive window on the side of the staircase, which looked over more of the almost empty city.
Finally reaching the top floor, he kicked open another locked door to gain roof access. The rain pelted his dark brown armor as he stepped out. Three landing pads lay in front of him, and each one supported nothing but that humid, Eposz air.
"Damn it!" His shoulders sank. "Thanks NAPD, couldn't leave me one Pelican could you?" He started to turn around to walk back down the stairs when he heard a loud humming. A Phantom drop ship was upon him. 363 slid back into the stair well. He was not looking to get into a fight with the Covies. It wasn't about taking them out, but more about them slowing his search. After a few seconds of hovering above the rooftop, the troopship skittered away from the human. He let out a sigh of relief and led on with his search.
Back down at the door he had forced open, he peeked both ways, and decided to head to his right out of the NAPDHQ.
 
"The hospital isn't far from here, maybe they'll have a ride." He began to walk again, but saw the Phantom swoop into the middle of the road. He ran to the corner of an alley, and peeked around it to watch the Phantom disperse three Brutes in the area. "ugh, these guys never give me a break." he thought to himself. The Brutes however, did not seem to notice the Spartan whatsoever. Instead they made their way down the roadway, and stopped at another ally. The Brutes eagerly ran inside, leaving him confused. The hospital was calling, so he just decided not to worry with them, and save time. As he passed the alley by, he heard a scream come from the end of it. He stopped, and knew what had to be done, yet angrily knowing that this may waste time to keep his promise.
 
"You've GOT to be kidding me!" The Spartan cursed under his breath, and scooted down the dark alley to help whoever was about to be ape food.
When he reached the back of the alleyway, it had a left turn which led to a dead end. At this dead end were the three monkeys, about to devour the human who was balled up against the wall in front of them. The front brute snatched him up, and lifted the human above his massive body. The human was young, just a boy by the looks of it. He squirmed for an escape, but the Brute laughed, and intensified his grip. The Spartan readied his magnum, and pulled the trigger. The closest Brute's face flew apart. The second Kong reached for his Spiker, but as he placed his hand on the handle, his head had a bullet placed inside it's brain. The boy was dropped by the pack leader, and the Brute erratically ran at 363. His run didn't last for about two steps before being shot with 5 rounds. The beast collapsed into a puddle of water, and turned it crimson.
The boy sat in awe, and once again backed up against the wall. 363 put his magnum back in place, and walked over to him. The Spartan bent down, and asked the child "Are you hurt?"
The boy shook his head "No." He couldn't have been any more than about 13 years old. He was wearing cargo shorts, a white baseball cap which concealed his blond hair, and a black t-shirt.
"Why are you still here?" The Spartan asked, "Most civilians should have been evacuated by now."
"We were heading to the EVAC point, but those things came down from above us, and during all the running, I got separated from my dad." The boy said.
The Spartan held out his hand, and picked the kid up off the ground and out of the corner.
"Where was the EVAC point you and your father were heading to?" The Spartan questioned him again.
"I think I heard my dad say, ummm... something about a park." the boy seemed unsure.
"The only EVAC point I know is near a park is the one near Caracalla Park... and those flights are probably going to take off very soon..."
While the Spartan pondered his next move, the boy looked the Spartan's armor up in down, "Wow, you're one of those Spartan guys, aren't you?"
 
The warrior turned to look at the child. "...Yes, I'm a Spartan."
"That's awesome!" the kid had the look of awe glued to his face. "I heard you guys are real strong, and fast, and the best of all the UNSC!"
The Spartan shrugged "This suit isn't as cool as it seems, kid." The Spartan never thought his kind were "cool", he was made for one job and one job alone, and his burden was never a happy one to bear. "By the way, what is your name?"
"Jeremiah. What's yours?" the child was very curious about the Spartan. Amazingly, he is very positive sounding, for the imminent destruction about to occur to all he knew.
The Spartan was usually hesitant to tell anyone his name, but for this instance, he didn't mind too much. "Wallace." he thought for a moment, about how long it had been since he actually said his own name. "Look, I'm going to escort you. I'm gonna get you to Caracalla Park, and then you're getting off this planet."
The look on Jeremiah's face grew to one of excitement. Wallace was taken aback by the expression. "Why are you so excited about this? You do realize what's happening all around you right?"
Jeremiah tilted his head downward, "Of course... I know what's happening, and I hate it. I never thought the Covenant would reach this far inward. My life has been turned completely on its head in just one day. Before you arrived my mind was running on fumes. I was about to just let those Brutes tear me to shreds. I had given up, But when I saw you, that you were a Spartan, I knew. I knew that I would be safe, and you wouldn't just leave me here to die, and I would be able to see my father again!"
Wallace stayed silent. "Were Spartan's really this loved by people?" he thought. Until today, Wallace had never been a part of civilian EVAC operations. This is the first time he's really seen a civilian in a long time, much less talked to one.
Jeremiah started again "...Of course, I thought it would always be cool to see a Spartan in action." he smiled again.
Wallace looked up and saw the sky getting darker. "We have to make one stop before heading to Caracalla okay? Let's get moving."
"You lead the way Wallace." The youth dusted off his clothes and began to walk with the Spartan. They strolled to the left out of the alleyway, and towards Wallace's destination.
"So where are we going Wallace?" Jeremiah questioned.
"New Alexandria Hospital. I'm looking for something flyable, they may have emergency Pelican's there." Then the Spartan realized the liability the boy could be. "Listen, if we somehow find ourselves stuck in a fight against Covenant, I want you to find cover, and don't come out until it's all over. Understand?" Jeremiah shook his head "Yes."
They arrived at the hospital's doorsteps. Everything seemed calm for the moment, as the rain continued to pour. "I don't expect it to happen, because of who you are, but... what do I do if you-" the Spartan put his hand on the kid's shoulder. Jeremiah turned his head towards the Spartan.
Wallace stared at the boy. "I won't."
The Hospital door slid open as they approached. The power seemed to be on. "Good" thought Wallace. "No more stairs." They went into the elevator, up to about the 35th floor of the 70 floor building. That's where the landing pad was, that's where their escape waited for them. The elevator door slid open and outside stood four Grunts and an Elite, who were as surprised to see the human's as much as Wallace and Jeremiah were to see them.
 
Wallace picked up Jeremiah like his own personal dolly, and carried him toward a small wall with plants coming out of the top of it. "STAY DOWN!" Wallace shouted at Jeremiah. Plasma fire hurled in their direction. When there was a tiny break in the fire, Wallace stuck his head out, just to witness a Grunt trying to stick him. The plasma grenade whiffed by his head, and landed behind him and his young companion. Wallace pushed Jeremiah away from the grenade, and reset their cover. Wallace unlatched his MA5B assault rifle from his back and opened fire on the grunts. Each one fell dead from the short controlled bursts. "Wait, where's the-"
"Wallace!" the sound of Jeremiah's voice sounded so terrifying. Wallace turned around to see the gigantic Sanghelli warrior come out of active camouflage, and pull up his sword to prepare for the kill on Jeremiah. Wallace dove, pushing Jeremiah out of the way, but suffered a slashed calf as a result. Wallace gritted his teeth in agony, and then pumped lead into the Alien's abdomen, sending him to the great beyond
.
"Wallace, are you okay?" Jeremiah asked, a shaken tone in his voice. Wallace wondered where this deep concern came from. He's only felt it from one other person.
"Fine, just hand me that first aid kit over there." He asked of the boy, still gritting his teeth in pain.
After healing himself up, the two of them walked towards the doorway. It slid open, and Wallace finally saw his salvation. There on the landing pad sat the hospital's own personal Pelican. Wallace thought it was truly amazing how it wasn't damaged, destroyed, or just not there for some reason. The rain had stopped by the time they got back outside and the sun had broken through the clouds again.
"Ready to see your dad?" the Spartan cheerfully asked Jeremiah.
"Yeah!" Jeremiah responded happily.
Their flight was pretty short before reaching Caracalla park, even though Jeremiah was excited the whole way there. When Wallace arrived, he landed at the Starport, and saw the last civilians being loaded into the transport ships. He also saw the Covenant Corvette overhead and knew there wasn't much time. A loader assistant ran up to the Pelican and tried to tell the pilot he couldn't land there. He tried, but once he saw it was a Spartan he started to mumble down to silence.
Wallace explained, "I have a civilian child with me! Get him to his parents!" Jeremiah stepped out of the Pelican.
The assistant looked up at the Spartan, then back down at the child. "Alright, son. Come with me. Can you tell me your name?"
Jeremiah answered as the assistant walked him towards the shuttles, and his voice drowned out in the roaring engines of the Starport. The Spartan got back in the Pelican, but sat there, making sure that he had delivered this boy safely to his Father.
Jeremiah was nearly to the end of the first transport, and as he figured out which transport his Father was on, the transport closest to the sea sporadically took off. Wallace looked up and saw Banshees and Spirits fly in over the landing area. The pilot must have gotten spooked. Wallace turned on the radio in his Pelican to see what the hell was going on. He caught the tail end of the radio chatter. He heard three voices.
"I can't wait any longer!" one voice rang out, the pilot's it seemed.
"Negative, Echo 2, I can't cover you! Do not take off!" Another Man's voice.
The pilot was already in the air and above the water. Then a flash of light, and a large explosion overtook Wallace's eyes.
"Damn it!" The pilots voice again.
"Oh my god!" A woman's voice this time.
"Mayday! Mayday!" The pilot again.
"6 Echo 2, can you maintain altitude?" The man once more.
"Negative! We're going down!" The pilot and his transports sunk. Thousands of lives perished in an instant.
"I... I can't watch this..." The woman's voice again. Wallace couldn't listen anymore. He turned off the radio, and jumped outside his pelican, as Jeremiah and the assistant ran back to him.
"Jeremiah, that wasn't...?" Jeremiah's face was lifeless. Wallace knew that was the transport.
The Spartan looked at the boy and then to the assistant. "...He's coming with me." he blurted out.
The assistant rejected the idea. "You can't possibly-"
"What're you gonna do? Stop me?" Wallace cut him off.
The assistant stood still as Wallace walked Jeremiah into the pelican, and they took off. Wallace eventually parked on a city roof to stop and talk to the boy.
"Jeremiah, I'm... sorry. I wish I could have-"
"No, it wasn't your fault, but I need you to do me a favor. Wallace..."
"What?" Wallace asked.
"Just... put an end to me... put an end to this. Please..." Silence enveloped them.
Wallace began speaking again. "This war takes everything we love from us. It has effected both you and me, in different ways, but our pain remains the same. It destroys lives, it makes us want to give up, but I need you. I need you... to be my reason for sanity." Wallace puts his hand on Jeremiah's shoulder. "I'm gonna take care of you kid... I promise."
The rain falls again, as Night descends upon Reach's crown jewel.


 
Just about 2500 words, I hope I didn't go over :(

Edited by rrhuntington
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