Halo 3: ODST Operation Cup o' Doom

Chapter Eleven

The Pelican landed gracefully before the back door opened.
"Nice landing, Captain." Aria spoke into her headset.
"Thank you kindly, Sergeant Peril."
"Alright, everyone off the Pelican. We got a camp to set up." She ordered, gathering supplies.
Once the Pelican had been unloaded, Aria, George, Chief, and a handful of others climbed back aboard to pick up the last of the supplies.
"So, you and Rha' been making the bed squeak a lot lately, Aria?" George asked suddenly, amusement in his voice.
Aria turned red with embarrassment.
Yuri laughed and shook his head. "You know we can hear you right, George?"
"Oh, shit! My bad."
A collective laugh escaped the crew.
"As a matter of fact, we are." Aria answered after gathering up the courage.
"At least someone's getting something other than their hand." George teased.
"Aaahh, oh my god! Sergeant, please! Too much information!" A female Corporal laughed.
Aria smiled weakly and turned her head away from him.
George looked over at her. "Aria?"
She sighed and took a sideways glance at him before slowly turning her head to look him.
"I'm transferring with you."
"What!? George, you can't!"
"We all talked about it. Chief, Kayla, Muhmep, and I. We are all following you."
Yuri looked towards them. "You're our leader, Aria. We will go wherever you go."
"We have engine failure!" The pilot hollered into the microphone suddenly, interrupting the conversation.
****
Meanwhile, Rha' and Kayla were chatting as they walked past the communication room and heard the call. They were in the process of getting additional supplies ready for their return.
He stopped dead in his track. "That sounded like our pilot!" He spun on his heals and ran into the room, Kayla close behind him.
"What's going on? He asked.
"Your Pelican has engine failure." A communications officer replied.
Him and Kayla both paled. "Aria?!"
They suddenly heard screams in the background.
He looked down at Kayla. "Get to sickbay and be prepared."
"Yes, Sir." She replied as she ran from the room.
"What's their status?"
"We don't know, Sir."
"Damn it, Ensign! Those are my troops on that Pelican. Will they be okay?!"
"I'm sorry, Sir. We don't know."
He snarled and ran to the intercom. "Ranger Masooree, I need you to meet me in the hanger. Now!!" His nearly panicked voice echoed throughout the ship before he ran from the room.
Kayla heard his page and gathered up what she could carry.
****
Aria gripped the seat of her chair, closing her eyes tightly as the Pelican began to rock hard.
George grabbed her hand.
"Mayday! Mayday!" The pilot's voice startled her suddenly. "We are loosing altitude fast! I have lost control and we are going into a spin!"
She looked back at George, terror in her eyes.
He smiled tenderly. "You'll be okay." He whispered into the receiver.
The Pelican rocked hard again and suddenly dropped out of the sky.
Aria screamed and grabbed the armrests in a death grip.
"Hang on!!" Yuri yelled into the mic. "Everyone hang on!!"
Even though they were all buckled in, they levitated a good foot off their seats.
Screams echoed around her as she closed her eyes tightly. The Pelican began to spin faster; the momentum of it pushing her into her seat. The amount of g's they were experiencing was more then anyone had trained for. She cried out as she fought hard to keep herself awake. Her entire body began to hurt.
The back door came open suddenly, filling the cabin with the rushing air. The tie downs of the empty cargo crates broke free, sending them flying out. One crate was hit by the wing as the Pelican came around, making it explode into wooden slivers.
Aria gritted her teeth and closed her eyes as the spinning of the outside world was making her nauseous. She began to cry and screamed in fear and pain.
She peeked out one eye and managed to get a glance at George. He was already passed out, his limp body like a rag doll and at the mercy of the g's and fluctuating gravity.
Seconds before she lost consciousness, there was a loud explosion and then darkness.
****
"Chief!?" Lilith hollered into his ear suddenly.
He suddenly gasped in some air, filling his lungs.
"Are you okay?"
His armor unlocked and he fell to the floor. "That hurt like a bitch! What the hell happened!?" He blinked his eyes before looking at the wreckage around him. "Oh, no!"
Some of the crew were scattered, their limp body's broken and lifeless, while others were still strapped in their seats.
"Serge!?" He pushed himself up and began to dig through the mess of seats, wires, and metal. "Aria?!"
He found George first, his body was beaten up badly. "George!" He moved the seat from his motionless body before touching his cheek to turn his head.
"He's gone, Chief." Lilith whispered.
He sighed and gently lowered his head. "Damn it! You were a good friend, George, and a good Sergeant. Aria is going to be devastated." He managed to find a medic bag and pulled a blanket from it, covering him. "Lilith, check for any signs of life. There has to be survivors!" He ordered.
"There are none, Chief."
He closed his eyes and lowered his head. "No." He whispered. "What am I going to say to Ultra...."
"Wait!" Lilith nearly gasped. "There is one. Very faint. It's Sergeant Peril."
"Aria!!" Yuri dug through the wreckage until he found her beaten body.
"Chief, scans indicate she has internal bleeding, three broken ribs, a fractured shoulder, and is in a coma. She's hanging on but only by a thread."
"Sergeant Peril!?" He cried, yanking the wreckage off her. "Aria, I know you can hear me! Hang on! Please, hang on!" Yuri finished digging her out of the tangled mess before grabbing the medic bag and pulling out a syringe of morphine and a health pack. He gave her the dose and used the health pack on her. "Anything, Lilith?"
"You've only bought her some extra time, Chief."
He gently scooped her up into his arms.
"What are you doing? You can't move her!"
"I don't have a choice! I'm not leaving her here! How far is the camp?"
"Fifteen miles, Chief."
"Well, I better get moving." He cradled her against his chest as he took off in a sprint. "Call for help. Hopefully someone will get to us first."
****
Field Marshal Tuyokee stopped Rha' just outside the hanger. "Ultra Bahtiyaree, what do you think you are doing?"
He knocked his hand aside. "Our Pelican went down, Sir. I must go help them!" He tried to push past him, but was stopped.
"That is not your job, Ultra. I just send our last Pelican out with Ranger Mansooree and additional supplies."
"Those are my troops!!" He yelled suddenly. "They are my responsibility!!"
Kayla suddenly came running down the corridor.
"Where do you think you're going, Sergeant Peril?"
"My sister was on that Pelican, Sir!" She nearly cried.
"I understand, but how are you going to get down there?! The last Pelican departed ten minutes ago."
"I'll take a Banshee!" Rha' nearly barked at him.
"What he said!" Kayla cried.
The Field Marshal looked down at her. "Do you even know how to fly one, Sergeant?"
"I do, actually."
He shook his head. "I need you two here if they return. I can't have my senior officer and best doctor down there. Is that understood?!"
Rha' could feel his blood boil as his eyes looked at the Field Marshal intently.
"I know that look, Ultra. Do not make me have to make an example of you!" He nearly growled.
Kayla took a step back, feeling the added tension in the room as both Sangheili eyed one another.
Rha' activated a wrist blade as he huffed in anger and frustration, but then backed off and lowered his head in obedience. "Yes, Sir."
Kayla sighed and reluctantly nodded. "Yes, Sir."
****
"Medic!" Yuri managed to holler as he pushed through the doors and nearly tripped. "I need a medic!"
"Chief!?" Colonel Mason questioned. "Why are you here!? Weren't you on the.... Pelican...." His voice trailed off as he saw Aria in his arms. "What happened!?"
"An engine failed at thirty-five thousand feet, Colonel." He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "It's a mess. We crashed fifteen miles away from camp." He lowered his voice. "We're all that's left, Sir."
Colonel Mason placed a hand to his lips as a silent gasp escaped him. "Get a fucking doctor in here now!" He yelled suddenly.
A couple of nurses finally came to Yuri's aide with a stretcher.
"She has internal bleeding, three broken ribs, a fractured shoulder, and is in a coma." Yuri filled them in as he laid her on the stretcher.
"We don't have equipment to treat these kinds of injuries, Sir." A nurse said regrettably, looking at Colonel Mason.
Extreme worry appeared on his face. "We need to take her back to the ship! That's going to take too long!" He turned to his communications officer. "Get those communications up and running now, and call for the other Pelican. Tell them it's an emergency and they better get their asses here asap!!"
"Yes, Sir!"
"Get a crew together and go get the casualties." Colonel Mason ordered an Ensign.
"Yes, Sir!" She replied, running from the room.
Colonel Mason looked down at Aria and touched her cheek. "Hang on, honey. Help is on the way."
****
"All available hands to sickbay!" A female voice called over the intercom.
"What's the status!?" Kayla questioned, running to the medics who carried Aria on a stretcher, Yuri following close behind them.
"She and Chief were the only survivors, but it doesn't look good."
Kayla's heart sank. "No!" She grabbed her medic bag and ran to help, but was stopped by a large hand. She looked to see Field Marshal Tuyokee. "Sir, she needs me! I must help!"
"Not this time, Sergeant."
Tears formed in her eyes. "It's my job!" She nearly cried.
"Kayla, you are her sister. I don't want you in there with her like this." He released her. "I'm sorry, but she doesn't look good. I fear the worst and can't have your feelings getting in the way."
She dropped her bag and faced him, grabbing his arms. "What are you saying!?"
He opened his mouth to answer, but was interrupted as Rha' burst through the doors.
Field Marshal Tuyokee grabbed him as he tried to rush past them. "Easy, Ultra."
Rha' fought his hands. "Release me!"
"Stand down, Ultra Bahtiyaree!" He ordered. "You have no business being in that room!"
"She is my mate!!" Rha' yelled suddenly, fighting harder. "Why must you always stand in my way?! I have every right to be by her side!"
Those words shocked the Field Marshal, but he kept his hold on him. "That does not give you a right to be in there! That's their job!"
"It's her sisters job, yet you keep her out here and she's the best doctor here. You said so yourself!!"
"We can't have your emotions involved! Let them do their job!"
Kayla walked to the window. She couldn't help the tears and sniffles that escaped her as she listed to the doctors.
Yuri stepped behind her.
She looked at him through the reflection of the glass. "Is she going to be okay?"
"I don't know, Kayla. She's been barely hanging on for quite a while. She's fighting to stay alive, but she's been getting weaker."
She looked back into the room. "Please, Aria! Please don't leave me!"
Soon the heart monitor was the only sound she could hear, the beeping drowning out everything else. So slowly on, the beeps were becoming further and further apart.
It was as if time slowed down.
Kayla cried as she pressed her hand to the window.
Rha's argument with the Field Marshal ceased as he turned to look into the room.
His eyes fell on Aria as the heart monitor flatlined. "No. NO!" Rha' cried.
Field Marshal Tuyokee fought extremely hard to keep a grip on him.
Kayla tried to run into the room, but Yuri grabbed her.
"Aria!!!" Rha' and Kayla's voices mingled, echoing through sickbay.
****
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The sound slowly pulled her out of sleep.
Aria whined, slowly opening her eyes to look around the room. She was in a hospital gown, her right arm was in a sling and her torso bandaged, making it a little hard to move. She had an oxygen mask on, an IV in her left arm, and several monitors attached to her chest.
She blinked her eyes several times, trying to get them to focus in the dim light. "God, why do I feel like I got hit by a bus?!" She thought.
A sleepy moan startled her suddenly.
She looked down to see Rha'. He was fast asleep, his head laying in her lap and his left hand holding hers. She smiled and slowly pulled off the mask. "Rha'." She managed to whisper, touching his cheek.
"Aria?" He whispered, slowly waking from sleep. "Aria!?" He gasped, nearly jumping up before he quickly looked at her.
She smiled at him. "Hello, handsome." She whispered.
Not once in her life has she seen a Sangheili break down and cry as Rha' did.
He held her tightly as he cried. He couldn't get any words out, only cries of extreme happiness and relief escaped him as he buried his face against her chest.
Aria kissed his forehead before closing her eyes and holding him, allowing him to cry.
Kayla was doing her rounds as she passed by the room, looking in. "Aria?!" She gasped, stepping into the room. "Aria! You're awake!!"
She smiled. "Hey, sis."
Kayla smiled and ran to the nearest microphone. She grabbed it quickly, nearly yanking it from its cord. "Attention Charley-Foxtrot, Sergeant Peril is awake!" She nearly cried into the mic.
The division ran to sickbay, Ranger Mansooree leading the way. They gathered outside the room and cheered as they saw their beloved Sergeant, startling everyone.
Field Marshal Tuyokee smiled and looked down at Colonel Mason. He had a look of relief as a tear trickled down his cheek.
"Oh, thank god!" He breathed. "She's going to be okay."
The Field Marshal smiled and nodded.
"Forget transferring her. What I have in front of me is the best pair of leaders I have ever seen."
"Despite their relationship?" Field Marshal Tuyokee questioned.
He nodded and looked up at him. "They stay professional in uniform. Plus, I made a promise to someone once. Her father told me to look out for her and her sister." He looked to see Kayla approach. "I can't do that if I transfer her, now can I, Field Marshal?"
"No, Sir, you cannot, but what will you tell those above you?"
"I have lots of things up my sleeve. I'll figure it out."
He smiled and nodded before turning back to the noisy division. "Okay, that's enough of that." He chuckled. "Ranger Mansooree, you may dismiss them."
He bowed his head slightly. "Yes, Sir."
Kayla stopped beside the door, looking into the room. She smiled. "Thank god you're okay." She thought, entering the room slowly.
Aria looked at her and smile.
Some tears fell from her eyes as she went to hug her. "I thought you'd never wake up." She pulled away. "Who would pick on me if I didn't have you?"
Aria laughed gently. "George would."
Her smile faded. "Yeah, he would, wouldn't he." She replied, trying to hold back her anguish as she turned away. "Can I get you anything, sis?"
"Not right now. Well, maybe some water." She replied. "Oh, and you can take all this crap off me."
She laughed gently. "I can't do that just yet, but I can get you that water." She replied as she left the room.
Rha' pulled his head back, tears still falling from his eyes. "You've been in a coma for a month." He whispered shakily. "You...." His voice cracked. "I lost you, Aria! You died!"
He broke down again, pressing his face to her chest once again.
She could feel him tremble against her as she wrapped her arm around him. "Rha'?" She whispered.
He slowly looked up at her.
She smiled tenderly before pressing her lips to his mandibles. He took her cheeks in his hands, returning her kiss.
Before long, they were interrupted by some guests. Chief and Muhmep entered the room, followed by Kayla with some water.
She was happy to see them, but then her smiled faded as she realized someone was missing. "Where's George?" She asked.
Chief, Kayla, and Rha' exchanged glances as Muhmep lowered her eyes.
Aria felt her heart sink as she managed to get off the bed and stumbled to Kayla, grabbing her arm. "Where is he?!" She demanded, her heart rate elevating.
"Aria," Rha' began, touching her shoulder. "You and Chief were the only ones who survived. Because of his armor lock, Chief made it out with a few bruises. You were beat up pretty bad."
"No!" She felt her knees give out.
Kayla tried to support her sister as she broke down.
"He.... He was...." She choked on her words. "He was my best friend!" She cried out, pushing herself from Kayla.
Rha' pulled her into his arms. "I'm sorry, honey."
She tried to push him away, but soon gave in. She wrapped her arm around him as she pushed her face against his armor. "George!" She cried harder.
Kayla turned away from her sister, tears building up in her eyes. Muhmep touched her shoulder as she lowered her head and sobbed.
The monitors suddenly began to go crazy as she began to hyperventilate. She was crying so hard she could barely breath. Her entire body trembled in Rha' hands.
"Why did she have to ask about him now?!" Kayla though as she grabbed a sedative and quickly injected it into her IV. "I'm sorry. I know what you're going through, but don't give yourself a panic attack! You need to calm down! You're body can't handle this right now, Aria!"
Rha' took her cheeks, gently forcing her to look up at him. "I am so sorry, Aria. I know how much he meant to you; how much you both meant to each other." He whispered.
Her cheeks were completely soaked in tears and her eyes slightly red. She sniffled and closed her eyes.
The sedative worked quickly on her as her entire body suddenly felt heavy.
Rha' scooped her up into his arms and laid her back onto the gurney.
Before long, the monitors went quiet as she began to calm down.
Kayla put the oxygen mask back over her face before she moved to prepare some pain medication. "She's going to need to stay here for a while, Sir. Once I release her she'll need constant supervision. Colonel Mason has put her on medical leave until further notice."
He nodded as he waved to Yuri and Muhmep, motioning for them to leave.
They obeyed.
"She will most likely need to see a counselor to help with her grief. I'm also going to get her started on some antidepressants and anxiety medication right away to help keep her calm. I have seen this before and these medications helped extremely well." She brushed her forehead. "I am so sorry, Aria." She whispered. "George was like a brother to me. Sometimes I hated his ass, but I'm going to miss him too." A sniffle escaped her lips as she began to cry.