The Specialist

CHAPTER 14

There was nothing but rubble and flames. The crops were gone, burnt to ash. There was nothing left. I walked to every house desperately looking for anyone, but nothing... they were all dead but I had one more place to look, the small hospital we were staying in. I stepped in and saw the lady at the front was impaled by a metal rod. I walked past her hesitantly and quietly. I turned and walked down the hall and stopped at the last door and opened it... and what I saw... they were all dead. I dropped to my knees and took out my respirator and threw up. Somewhere crushed under rubble and those left were stabbed with spears. I crawled to Sola, he was holding a arc maul, he fought to the very bitter end. Next I turned to Beatrix, his lower half was crushed and had a spear through his back. He was holding a bloody skewer. I propped myself up against the pile of rubble and just sat... for however long I did. It was hours maybe days later when, "move, move, these rooms are clear." someone said "I've got the last room" one said as a cadian turned the corner. "I'VE GOT A LIVE ONE IN ROOM 10" he yelled running over to me "come on, look at me" he said adjusting my head to look at him, "you gotta stay with me and well get you outta here" he said trying his hardest to get me out of it "it no use he's in shock" he said turning to someone behind him. "Let's get him out of here and maybe he'll snap out of it," the one in front of me said. "Hold on soldier" the one in the doorway said. "Let's leave him a second, clearly these are his teammates and besides we still have the rest of the town." he said as the other one stood. "T-there's no one left, I checked," I said, still blank-faced. "Oh I see" said who I guessed to be the sergeant. "Can you stand?" asked the cadin, "yeah but these are-" I said not wanting to finish the sentence. "I know but it's not safe here, let's get you out." he said, picking me up. He brought me outside and set me down. I noticed everyone felt bad for me, I could see it in their eyes, and they could tell my team was dead. Later the one that brought me outside said "hey I'm private Arthur Finley and I thought I'd bring you this" and set Sola's helmet and arc maul. "I know this is a jerk move but, I was just going to give you these" Arthur said. "It's fine." I said, feeling my soul sink even further. Just as I said this a ship landed and out came... Sir Popus and the fabricator general, Talos Rob Ot. I stood and saluted, putting four fingers to the center of the chest. They both walked past me without saying anything. With that I sat back down and took my skewer and... IIIIIIII I added two more for the attack on the town and the other for the crash on Theta. "I am one lucky son of a-" I said just before being cut off "hey what are those for" a Cadian asked "well each notch represent each and every time I've been almost killed." I said remembering every time I was lucky. "Oh sorry for asking" he said. After hours the arch-magos and fabricator general walked out "you Lok Bessemer, come with us" said the fabricator general. "Yes sir" I said, picking up Sola's stuff. The ride back to the ship was a blur. When we landed I saw there were a lot more guardsmen and some space marines even. "The path to the debriefing room is clear, meet me there, I want to discuss something with you." said the fabricator general. "Yes sir, will do" I said in semi-shock. I walked that way even though it took an hour and a half to get there I still got in around the same time as the general. "Sir, you wanted me?" I said as a question and statement. "Yes, it's about all that has happened between went you where last on this ship and now" he said "well I wasn't here for all of it but I will tell you what happened from my view. Yesterday me and my teammates were dispatched to a planet to kill chaos that was stealing from them, they put up a good fight and most of us were left wounded. I was barley skathed and that night I met back up with an old friend and she said theta was going to be attacked and I should return as soon as possible. The next day I went on a hunt for a long range transmitter and when I did a voice responded telling me the Blue moon orphan was going to crash into theta and they wanted me to watch, so I talked it over and I said I was going. Just before I left I was given crude remote detonated explosives and when the ship got to me a woman attacked one of the cultists then was shot and killed. When he got here I watched the ship crash and I killed the other cultist then stabbed the marine but it didn't kill him. Then he was told to drop me because the boss wanted it. I then threw the boss at the ship and detonated the bomb, killing both of them, next that led me to the Praetorian Guard interrogating me, next I flew a ship to the planet where I found... them. When I was found by the cadians they brought me outside and that's where you found me." I said without any hesitation. "Ok I understand, now I have a second matter to discuss." he said "it's about your team" he said and gave me a pause to process knowing it's still fresh in my mind. "Well I can promote you to Alpha of Bravo 2, you can be decommissioned till we find worthy candidates for Bravo 2, or we can move you to a different team so you can fight as soon as possible." he said and with no response from me he continued "you don't have to choose now, just come back to me when your ready" he said about to walk off. "Wait" I said now, no longer formal, "I wish to become the Alpha of Bravo 2" I said "I see, I will have that done as soon as possible" said walking out. I step outside and look at all that is around the ship