The Curse of the Taken Book 1: The Beginning

Chapter 17: Taken?!

   After the team flew towards a forest, Vahra asked, "are we sure that this is the place? This doesn't seem like a good place to keep supplies".
   "Yes Vahra, we're sure", Ghost replied, "these are the coordinates that the Vanguard gave us".
   "Hey", Issac spoke over the comms, "I think I know why this mission is so dangerous".
   "I see it too", Iris said.
   Ghost scanned the area, then said, "Taken energy. Fresh Taken energy. All over these woods".
   Xahn and Vahra spoke quietly to Each other. No one could hear what they were saying, but Maria could tell that they were scared.
   The ships landed, and the Guardians gathered in a small clearing, and Ghosts floated near their Guardians. Issac's Ghost, who wore a Skyline Flipside Shell, whispered something in his ear, to which he replied, "Yes, Sylvia, I think they'll be fine".
   "Relax, Shira", Josh told his Ghost, who wore a S.H.A.N.K. Shell.
   Iris' Ghost, who wore a Cosmos Shell, was yelling at Iris, "This isn't safe! We should just go back to the Farm, where it is safe".
   "And pass up these supplies?!" Iris responded, "no way, Cosmo! That's not happening. We aren't cowards!"
   "The other Ghosts are worried", Ghost whispered to Maria, "do you think we should be worried?"
   "I'm not sure", Maria replied, "I know that the Taken are dangerous, but Guatdians can usually win a fight against them".
   "But these Guardians look a little...inexperienced to me", Ghost added, "I've never even heard of these ones before meeting them at the Farm, and Marie knew everyone in the Tower".
   "But if they survived the attack", Maria began, "then they're probably good at what they do".
   The Guardians were still arguing with their Ghosts, so they hadn't heard the conversation between Maria and Ghost. Xahn and Vahra were having their own conversation, but no one could hear what was being said. A roar was heard from somewhere in the forest, and all conversations stopped.
   "Ogre", Josh said, "probably Taken. Very dangerous, Taken or not".
   "We still have to go in", Iris said.
   "What if we don't make it out?" Issac asked.
   "We will make it out", Josh said, "the Vanguard is counting on us to get those supplies. The City is counting on us to get them. We'll be fine".
   "Then let's look around, and see what we can find", Vahra said in English, suprising everyone.
   "How long have you been able to do that?" Issac asked.
   "Xahn and I have been working on it since we got to the City", Vahra replied.
   "Not good as Vahra", Xahn replied, obviously struggling to speak the language of humans.
   "Ok, now I've seen just about everything", Iris replied.
   "Vahra is right, though", Ghost said, "we should probably start looking around for supplies".
   As the team started to lool around, a group pf Taken appeared. There were a Captain, a Phalanx, and two Goblins. They ran at the Fireteam, who shot at them in response.
   "Here, take this", Ghost told Maria as he hid, "it used to be Marie's, but you nees it now". A hand-cannon fell into Maria's hands, and she soon recognized it as Crimson. She shot the Goblins with her new weapon, killing them, then she heard Josh shout, "Maria! Look out!"
   She turned around just in time to see an orb of Darkness flying towards her. Before she could react, it hit her, knocking her to the ground. Her vision began to go dark, and she heard a deep, slightly raspy voice that she recognized.
   "Your will...is mine", it said. As she realized who it was, she lost consciousness completely. It was Oryx, the Taken King.