The Wilted Planet

Chapter Thirteen: Serge's Orders

Caleb and his companions rushed back to the hog. Covenant fire hitting the building behind them. Pocketing the wall with holes. "How did they know we'd come here?" Dean exclaimed, jumping into the driver's seat. Flint snatched shotgun again leaving the back to Caleb and Rose. Caleb boosted Rose up letting her get in first and scrambled in right after she had settled.

"I don't know just get us out of here!" Caleb commanded, hearing the waurthog roar to life a split second later. "You got it Cal." Dean said putting the hog into gear and slammed his foot on the gas. The vehicle jolted forward sending everyone who wasn't ready in the same direction. Caleb slammed his head into the back of the seats.

"Ow frick!" He yelled in pain holding his head in his hands. Flint turned back to him and smirked a little. "That's why you don't take off your helmet pretty boy." He said. Caleb growled a little at him and sat back down rubbing his head. "Thanks for your concern." He grumbled. Flint chuckled and faced forward again waving his hand. "No problem kiddo."

Caleb frowned at the insistent jabs at his age and continued to rub his head. Rose offered his helmet to him and he slipped it on. "Thanks Rose." He said. Rose nodded and peeked over the back of the hog. "No problem Caleb." She replied quietly. Caleb got onto his knees and rested his rifle against the edge of the waurthog.

Aiming down the sights he opened fire at the Covenant who got too close for comfort. A particular jackal got risky and rushed in front of the others. Caleb took it out with an battle rifle round and reloaded after hearing the click of the clip going empty. Slapping the new clip home, Caleb shot down another jackal and ducked back down.

"Can't you drive any faster De?" He yelled. Dean glanced in the mirror and shook his head. "If I go any faster I won't be able to avoid anything. We'll crash." He replied. Caleb knew he was right. But he also didn't like the plasma fire being so close to the waurthog. The risk of the non-combat
vehicle exploding making him all the more desperate to keep the Covenant soldiers off them.

"Incoming Covies!" Shouted Flint who fired ahead of the waurthog. The bullets taking down any unlucky grunts or jackals who peeked out from buildings. Covenant troops having heard the sound of combat had made their way in front of the human vehicle. A particular not so bright jackal ran in front of the hog. The alien made a satisfying crunch on the grill of the car. Purple blood splattered on the windshield.

Caleb rose again in the back and picked off a few jackals with his rifle. The buzz of the radio caught his attention. He ducked back down and Rose gave it to him. Caleb attempted to adjust the dial, trying to clear up the signal. The familiar voice of the Serge was poked through the radio static. But the signal was still too fuzzy to understand him.

Hissing plasma fire hitting the back of the hog dragged Caleb's attention back to the combat. He handed the radio back to Rose. "Give this to Flint. Tell him to clear up the signal." Rose nodded and moved toward the front carefully. Caleb pulled out one of his last grenades and peeked over the back of the hog. Seeking out the largest group of enemies.

He spotted his target, a group of jackels, and pulled the pin on the grenade. Caleb let the grenade cook for a moment and then chucked it at the group of Covenant.
The frag skipped on the ground and exploded among the group of enemies. Caleb ducked his head back down, feeling satisfied that the problem problem dealt with for the time being.

"Any luck on clearing up the signal Flint?" He called up to the front. Flint nodded confirmation and passed the radio to Rose who carried it back to him. Caleb took the radio and held it close to his ear. The static was still thick but he could make out the words Serge was saying.

"All my boys out there. If you can hear me. Get outta here while you still can. I repeat get out of Delta Outpost." After adjusting volume, Caleb furiously pressed the button to speak. "Serge! Where are you sir?" Serge's voice paused as he heard him. "Jones! You're still alive son, good. Get yourself and your squad out of here this instant."

Caleb glared at the radio in frustration. "Sir we're doing no such thing. Where are you? We'll report in and help." He said trying to sound confident. Serge's voice darkend to a level that Caleb had never heard before. "Jones you get yourself as far away from this outpost right now. And that's an order!" The radio went dead before Caleb could reply. 

The waurthog was quiet, setting aside the Covenant fire and the roar of the engine. Caleb looked up seeing the eyes of his friends studying him. Dean too busy driving to get the chance to do so, still seemed to have been listening. And remained grimly silent. Caleb stared at his hands for a moment. "What are we going to do Caleb?" Flint asked finally.

Caleb didn't answer. His mind too busy racing with questions to reply. The main one being: Why is this happening? Why? Feeling a hand touch his arm Caleb flinched and met Rose's eyes. She didn't say anything, just waited for him to speak his mind. "I can't just leave him." He whispered softly. Rose nodded and dropped her hand. "Then tell Dean and Flint."

Caleb blinked and switched his gaze to Flint who still watched him. Waiting for an answer. Dean shot glances at him in the mirror, still not saying a word. Caleb made up his mind, thinking of the corpses of men he had never even gotten to know personally. Their scattered bodies torn to shreds by the Covenant.

"We're going to Serge. Screw his orders. I'm not letting his stubborn cigar smoking self die. Not like this" He said firmly. There was a small pause as the words sunk in to the others. Flint grinned and nodded in agreement. "True that." He murmured. Dean chuckled and kept driving. "Took you long enough Cal." He said smugly.

Caleb smiled sheepishly. "Hey you guys put me in charge remember? I had to think it over." The two marines in the front of the hog laughed. "You over think everything buddy. I was already driving towards Serge's location." Dean replied. Caleb smiled a little and stood up looking out the back of the waurthog. Seeing nothing, he sat back down next to Rose.

"Caleb?" Rose whispered. Caleb turned to her. "Yeah? What is it?" Rose bit her lip and stared at the floor of the hog. "What's your plan now?" Caleb frowned slightly and fingered the trigger of his rifle nervously. "It's  uh.. coming along fine." He said quickly, trying to think of a better answer. Suddenly Rose griped his helmet and made him look at her. She then flipped up his visor staring into his eyes.

"Tell me the truth Caleb." Rose demanded fiercely. Caleb clinched his jaw, unsure of what to say. "I'm working on it." He answered honestly as he could. Rose let his helmet go and smiled. "You don't have to be perfect all the time Caleb." She said setting her hands in her lap. "You just need to do you're best."

Caleb gazed at her for a moment then smiled. "You're right Rose. Thanks." He said dumbly. Rose laughed a little. "No problem." She replied relaxing visably. Caleb nodded to her and peeked out the back of the waurthog. He frowned and sat up a little more as he noticed a slight shimmer in the air. Caleb studied the strange sight for a moment. Then settled back into the hog, dismissing it.