Rachels pov
''Alright everyone gather round I may as well discuss where we are going and what animals we are looking for'' everyone leaned in a little closer all looking Ashton gloved hand expectantly. A blue holographic landscape shot out of the open circle in his palm. The holographic conveyed what looked to be rocky terrain judging from the small hills and patches of grassland here and there.
''We are heading to what we call the jagged alps as you can see there are a lot of well rocks and jagged slope and don't let those small patches of grass fool you there is much more and in those medium sized grasslands is something called the bumblebrow cow or what I like to call the supercow we will be hunting a few but they aren't just going to stand there and be eaten they are big, pissed and the will attack''.
He paused looking us over ''for those who don't know super cows have been mutated thanks to the radiation from the old war but don't worry that's why we have the decontamination systems to clean and inspect the meat to make sure it's safe to eat''.
''So what kind of weapons do you want us to use some of us have elemental mods on our suits obviously it would be bad to obliterate the cow'' Cassandra the girl from the meeting spoke up. Her accent is hispanic, her skin was a light brown and her hair was a beautiful shade of black with brown highlights only coming to her shoulders and bangs that swept to the right of her forehead partially covering her eyebrow.
''Don't worry we planed for that with the pulse guns mounted behind you if you didn't bring your tyton bots with you'' he glanced at Raven and I then turned back.
''Those are called the mk-g40 and they are standard issue when leaving the hallows they can be set to stun or kill and we will have time to play around with them when we get there''. It wasn't long until the smooth grassy plans ended and the jagged rocks began to fill my vision rocks, gravel and hills as far as I could see and patches of green here and there. ''Alright everyone out and grab a gun'' barker said over the communicator.
We exited the truck and I was almost instantly brought back to when I first left the hollows with raven, I was greeted with the smell of minerals and a faint metallic smell. A man with a completely shaved head, dark skin and black beard walked up to us with beady black eyes and a face that might be set in a permanent scowl.
''Alright everyone I am sergeant barker and as long as this war will be going on you will see me most of the time seeing as I have authority over this little force here''. He paused to look at all of us ''as I'm sure corporal Ashton has told you you will have to change you color to ours so no bitching now get into your groups of twos' and ashton every group is to have one fighter with them understood'' ''yes sir'' ashton said stiffly.
''Alright everyone you heard the man get into your groups'' once we are all in our groups of twos' he began calling people towards the other scavengers until he finally got to us. ''Glenn your with raven and rachel'' a man with his suit jogged lightly over to us his helmet was clear except for the mask on going across his mouth on the outside. '' alright letz get this show on the de road young ones yeah''. He spoke with a heavy jamaican accent, we fanned out from the other groups but still remained in eye distance when we arrived at a rig overlooking one of the bigger patches of grass.
''Alright you two crouch down yeah'' it wasn't long before we spotted the brumbelow cows, ashton is right these things are big standing at about 20 inches tall with muscles on almost every inch of their bodies, A few of them even have white horns coming from the side of their heads. ''What we do here is pretty simple aim your sites, turn on da tazer and fire when ready''.
We all laid down on our stomachs Raven and glenn's guns' at the ready my own gun laying down beside me. The familiar crackling sound came from ravens gun and the next instant the brumbelow was on the ground, the others around it were looking around frantically but they couldn't see us from where we are.
'' Nice shot there'' glenn said and raven nodded silently ''ok force ripe it be your turn yeah'' glenn said. ''Alright sagira get ready'' I said in a hushed tone, ''alright rachel ready when you are'' ''set the laser to stun'' the familiar whirring sound ended almost as soon as it began ''FIRE'' the second brumbelow was on the ground a few feet from the other one laying still. ''Good job yeah'' glenn said slightly louder than necessary. Then we all sat still as glenn put his down last. ''Alright let's get down there and claim our prizes yeah'' glenn said standing up and sliding down the narrow slope of rocks.
''Ok we put them down but how are gonna haul them back'' raven said skepticism lining her features, ''don't worry my suit is armed with extra strength modifiers you take one I'll take the other two'' raven and glenn carried them both over there shoulders while sagira and I trailed along behind them. We made our way back to the truck then turned to go back out for a second round. By the time we began to finish up the sun started to slowly set behind the hills and we gathered about 15 brumbelow were on the back of the truck carriage and we set out one more time to get a few more.
As glenn was lining his next shot I took a quick glance at the sky to my left to be greeted with the sight of green clouds to the west of the rocky plains, I have never seen something so stunning before.
Waves of emerald green and electrifying clouds were quickly overtaking the pale blue of the sky above us and a low rumbling came from the same direction like what would usually come with thunder at least that's what daddy told me but this didn't look to be the same kind of event.
''Glenn'' I said tapping him lightly on the shoulder ''yes force ripe'' ''what's that'' I asked pointing in the direction of the emerald clouds. His dark brown eyes began to widen so far his eyebrows' twitched ''ku deh SERGEANT SERGEANT it be time to move yeah a shimmering storm be coming our way form the west'' ''UNDERSTOOD GLENN GET THOSE TWO BACK TO THE TRUCKS EVERYONE ELSE DROP WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND GET TO THE TRUCKS NOW' he barked. We made it back to the truck just in time to meet everyone else.
''Ok people hustle hustle hey dont worry about tha-'' the sergeant was cut off by a ''distorted mooing sound coming from the brumbelow. It whipped it's horned head wildly kicking both his front and rear legs back and forth. Glenn leveled his gun and opened fire hitting it in the side but before the stun could take effect. It's furious black eyes leveled onto me and charged raven jumped in the way while ty fired lasers of his own it turned on its front hooves and kicked raven away with it's back legs.
Out of the corner of my eye I could see glenn pumping his arms and legs but when I turned back I was greeted with a hoof to the face of my helmet and was thrown to the ground hard. The back of my head was protected my vision still began to dim and the last face I saw before the emerald green clouds faded above along with the rest of the world around me was raven's concerned face..
'' Hey dad where are you going today just to the undercity rachel I will be back but until then be a good girl and listen to grandpa, sagira, and your mother' understood'' my feet lightly slapped the wooden floor as I went back to the kitchen where ommy is ''mom can I ask you something'' she turned around with a pleasant smile her blue eyes shimmering ''of course what would you like to know'' ''what does dad go down to the under city I heard from the other kids at school that goblins live there and goblins are dangerous'' she kneeled down to me ''your father has important work down in the under city and your dad is a fighter he can handle himself''
''But he doesn't take a suitcase or his armour I even saw him look at a note in the bedroom but he shoved it into his pocket before I could look at it'' her smile faltered a little ''it must be something super important and he is probably going to be tired when he gets home so why not help me make some of his favorite food until he gets back and if you do a good job I will take you to go get a new frame for sagira tomorrow deal.''Okay momma deal''.
My eyes slowly opened to take a look at my surroundings there was a IV drip going from my right arm to a plastic bag hanging above me on a metal rod, The room was completely white except for the silver chair, A quick glance to my right told me It was day time in the hallows. All of my clothes and suit were stripped off except for my underwear fortunately leaving me in a plain white gown ''hello'' I said looking at the door which caused me to wince in pain.
The door suddenly came open revealing raven wearing blue jeans a white t-shirt and that familiar dark brown leather jacket with ty and sagira floating beside her ''sagira go to rachel Im going to go get the nurse'' raven said.''Hey you had us worried there'' sagira said bobbing up and down ''sagira wha- what happened'' ''first lay back down and I will tell you''. I did as she asked and she recanted everything that happened while I was unconscious. ''Really I didn't realize that storm was full of radiation'' I gave a small laugh ''It was pretty and I wanted to see more of it''. Suddenly a blonde nurse with dark brown eyes came into the room.
''Hey there rachel how are you feeling'' she said offering a comforting smile ''my head is throbbing a little but other than that I feel fine''. ''Yes well from what she told me you took quite a hit but luckily your suit took most of the damage about a day or two of rest and you will be fine''. I nodded touching my head which caused me to wince again. ''I'll let you two catch up while go get something for the pain oh and you have another visitor he will be arriving shortly''.
Raven silently sat down beside me her eyes downcast ''Sumimasen watashi wa motto yatta hazu'' she said ''what raven I didn't understand that'' her hands balled infists in her lap ''I should have done more'' raven please look at me'' reluctantly her face lifted to meet mine her eyes are bloodshot. ''Raven this is not your fault please don't blame yourself''. Her expression softened just a little though, the door opened again this time I was met with concerned expression of grandpa as he made he way to the side of my bed.
He stood right beside raven and put his hand across my forehead ''you alright rachel'' yes i'm fine grandpa ''raven took care of-'' before I could finish my sentence raven got out of her chair and leaned over so her head was now facing the floor ''Gomen'nasai'' she said solemnly.
Grandpa looked at raven with a calm expression than smiled like someone who is just getting to know an old friend. ''Raven please lift your head if you are blaming yourself for this then that is something I cannot stand for'' she slowly lifted her head ''you made sure that my granddaughter arrived her and got the help she needed if anything I feel even more at ease that you are her mentor''.
Her features eased back considerably and she took a seat back down next to me ''now rachel I have already signed the documents plus the release forms and I have your medecine right here why don't all go back to the house to eat I think the both of you could use it after this ordeal''. Shortly after we made our way home in grandpa's truck while ty was talking about how exciting the storm was while grandpa was conversing with raven about something about combat training.
We made it home and I breathed a sigh of relief taking in the familiar scent of spaghetti coming from the kitchen. We all sat and ate a small feast even though it was still early in the afternoon. Before we knew it the sun was setting and night followed soon after ''do you really have to go raven'' I asked standing in the doorway looking up to ravens pretty face. ''Yes rachel and don't worry about the missions you will probably be taken off temporarily due to injury'' she said with her rare comforting smile.
''Hey Raven we're partners right'' I asked she turned back her eyes widened briefly ''yes we are partners so don't take too long to get better ok'' I nodded my head then she was headed back home on her bike.
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