Mist

For You are With Me

The shaking stops. I reach out of the dirt to feel around. I find something metal and grab it. I pull myself forward out of the dirt cave. The trench is silent. Faint explosions are off in the distance. The metal thing was a body. I search it and find ammo that works for my weapon. I hear someone talking from my left. I aim my weapon at it.

Several aliens in black armor carrying an alien emerge from the dust. They stop in front of me and ready their weapons. I shoot at them. I go over to their bodies. None of them are alive. I stand and look at the valley. I start to walk. Giant shrapnel pieces jet from the ground. Bodies from all aliens lay motionless near them. I lightly jog at the sound of an explosion. "Just find some life," I say to myself. "You can push through just a bit longer." My stomach burns with pain. "Just a bit longer."

Three Service Soldiers hide behind a piece of metal as Unity fires upon them. I run forward. I hear a bullet hit the ground and I run faster, trying not to get shot. I slide ahead and the Service Soldiers pull me in. "Who are you?" One alien screams at my face.

"I'm service. I'm service."

"I can tell by your armor mate, but are you?"

I try to catch my breath. A bullet slams against the metal slate, making a loud noise. "I'm a human. I'm a human."

"Okay, I don't care. We can't do anything behind here. We're rushing out in three. Twooooo." They pause as I almost jump into the battle. "ONE!" They scream. The three Service Soldiers leap from behind the slate and charge Unity. I sprint ahead, shooting sporadically as I move in on the small line of Unity. I spring up with my foot out and kick them. I come down hard on the ground.

I search the horizon and see a Unity Soldier trying to get up. My leg hurts a lot, but I tackle them. We fall to the ground. I punch them. They pick up their weapon besides them as they take my blows. It looks like a shotgun. I shove it away and try to get a grip on it. I roll over and the alien is on top of me now, punching me. I push them off and fire the weapon at them. A large blast of fire conjures out of the weapon. I fly back while green blood covers my visor. I hear a crack when I land.

I roll around. Soreness cascades down my body. It was a mini missile launcher. I stumble up and try to focus my eyes on where I used to be. I lift up the gun and jog towards my previous location. Each step feels like a different battle. My body is telling me to stop everything I'm doing, but I just can't. More and more Unity regroup, shooting at the Service Soldiers who left the metal slate.

I arrive just in time to see a group of Service Soldiers running down from the mountain. An airship bombs Unity. The blast blows a hole in the large hoard of enemies. I run at them along with my comrades. I use the stock to smack a Unity soldier in the face. Their visor shatters as they collapse. A Unity Soldier runs at me from my blind side, tackles me, and wails on my face. My visor cracks and the alien staggers their punch as glass is shoved in their hand.

I desperately reach for my weapon, feel a rock, and slam it into the head of the Unity Soldier. They're hit to the side, but get back up. I punch their stomach. Their armor isn't penetrated by my attack. They throw a clumsy punch. I duck, wrap around their torso, and push them down. I stagger forward and pin their shoulders with my legs.

I try to take off their helmet. It pops off. I grip them by the throat and keep hold. They shake and struggle. They pull out their knife and poke me in the arm. I hold their arms down with my legs. They stop moving. I jerk their head to see if they're alive. I help myself up and pick up the weapon a few feet from me. Unity and Service battle around me, each focused on one another. I prepare my stock and rush to them.