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They're Random, Baby!

She can have the TV........................
Posted By: Skavenger_s7 <Skavenger_s7@hotmail.com> Date: 8/11/03 1:35 a.m.

Noobs won't get some of this......... But regulars will.

********************* ENDING OF PART TWO *********************

Frogblast: I overloaded the game.... LOL... take off! Run! I can only keep it like this for a few more minutes then you sorry souls are back on your own!

Off we went, dragging the injured and pilfering the dead. As I was running I noticed he was right. The whole thing had stopped but us. Even the snow wasn't falling anymore, just sitting there motionless in the air. We ran until we could run no more. One of the marines that had lived found a small cave and we dove into it. Nobody spoke a word; we just looked around out of breath. I took count of who made it and who died. I think we got another 45 minutes up spin from the Covenant. Just as I started to breathe easy I saw an expression on Miguel’s face I didn’t like.

Skav: What is it? (As I turned and looked out the cave.)

Mig: The snow. It started to fall again. Whatever Frogblast did is over...there on the move again

I still really wanted to go home...

********************* Part Three *********************

So there we sat. The snow falling usually made me calm, but not today. Today it was a sign that my ass was going to be running again. Sometimes I felt the guys who died had it easy, and the guys in the cave with me were the suckers. Our numbers kept getting smaller and smaller with each encounter. Actually, I was surprised we got this far.

Miguel was crouched up near the entrance to the cave. He was talking with Guy Who Doesn't Post.

Guy Who Doesn't Post: Well the front of the cave is elevated and yet still covered by trees, which should help keep them back a bit.

Mig: Yea, but we left footprints that nobody could miss.

Guy Who Doesn't Post: Hopefully the snowfall will cover them before they get here; it's coming down pretty good now.

Guy Who Doesn't Post: Hey, where did you get the red bandana?

Mig: Why? ...Does it look bad?

Guy Who Doesn't Post: No... not really... it makes you look a little bit like a girl though... Sorry just being honest.

Skav walks up.

Skav: Now what, any ideas?

B-Sharp: (Sarcastically) We could surrender.

Mig: Seriously, what’s wrong with my bandana?

Guy Who Doesn't Post looks down the dark cave, “Well Skav, if you have any Yellow banshees to pull out of your ass, now's the time brother."

KORHAL: Told you the yellow banshee thing was him!

B-Sharp: Does anyone know exactly where we are?

Hipboyscott: Not exactly...Damn me all to hell... I was playing these levels so fast that I really didn't pay attention to what was around me at all.

B-Sharp: Why were you playing so fast?

Hipboyscott: Well back in the day, the rumor was that you could unlock Banshees in multiplayer if you finished quickly............... I never really played much after that.

Well, our little group of cave dwellers patched themselves together and prepared to fight. Even guys like Korhal that were broken up pretty bad, propped themselves against a wall with gun in hand. Vid Boi was scoping in way down the canyon from a perch just above the entrance to the cave.

HBS (Hipboyscott): Dude, how did you find that spot?

Vid: Bungie always puts these 'little shelf’ looking things in places like this. You know if you actually played the game for longer than 3 hours on easy you would know stuff... Anyways they are coming. And they aren't missing much; they are spread out into 4 man groups. Searching everything. They’ll see us here for sure. It’s only a matter of time.

WAR: Well, here are my thoughts. I don't think we can stop them; maybe we should follow this cave. These formations are not natural; they must lead somewhere..................

We all sat there with a touch of Deję Vu. After a quick discussion, Warbow and I decided we would head into the cave and see if there was a way out. More important to our quest (well for me and War, was to try and find Louis)

Skav: Remember back in the cave. I was the one who said it first to try to follow it and see where it led. Nobody said anything. Then when you do, everyone starts talking about it.

WAR: You didn't say anything at all. I was first to bring it up.

I knew he was wrong but I knew that we didn't need to be fighting each other while looking for Louis. Just like before when I was yelling about the weapons and stuff...everyone sat there like they didn't even hear me, until Miguel said it, then it was a great idea to gather them up. Whatever.......

WAR: And just so you know, Miguel deletes half of everything you say... he he he, that's why you think nobody is listening.

Skav: Freaking Miguel! He always does that!

We came to a fork in the road.... err cave. Neither of us knowing which way to go we left it up to an old Chinese ritual. ROCK PAPER SCISSORS! 1,2,3... I had paper; WAR had rock.

Skav: I win.

WAR: No way! Rock tears right through paper.

OK, we went his way. Alternating flashlights to keep them alive we walked for hours. I sure hope the other guys were doing OK. We came to yet another choice.1, 2, and 3...This time I had scissors, and WAR had rock.

WAR: I win! We go my way.

Skav: Wait, what beats rock then?

WAR: (walking away) Nothing...

I hadn't gone too far when I caught up with WAR. He had stopped and was looking at the wall of the cave. It had some crude Indian pict-o-gram looking thing. We stood there for a few minutes but couldn't make it out. There was like a big arch drawn by some water and a rectangular box spinning in the air over it. A bunch of stick figured people at the bottom chanting and a few flying. It was oddly familiar but neither of us could put our finger on it. We kept on for a long time. I just followed WAR, what was the point in stopping for 10 seconds of him putting me in my place with "rock always wins game" at every crossroads we found. We finally came upon another opening to the outside world. It wasn't snowing here though. It was hot. We slid down the bank 'till we hit the dry canyon floor. Just around the bend we could hear voices. Human voices. We ran over and peeked around. We were close enough to here them talking... well arguing.

Burnie: Man, I told you if we kept playing halo while we were drunk something really bad was going to happen to us.

Gus: I think you did this to us. Everyday we go over and over the same stuff. Then one day it happens and here we are STUCK! I hate you Burnie.

Burnie: Me? I didn't make you play, you cockbite.

We came out from behind the rocks..........."Hey guys!"

Burnie and Gus: Son of a bitch!!

Burnie: Damn you scared me. Matt? Is that you? (Looking at Skav.)

Skav: Uh, no I am Skavenger?

Burnie: Man you look A LOT like Matt.

Gus: Who are you?

Skav: Skavenger! You know! Hurricane Halo, Yellow Banshee...Skavenger!

WAR: Crap dude... give it a rest. (Warbow turned to me and quietly asked,) Who are these guys?

Skav: I think they are the Red vs. Blue guys. I think Burnie is Church and Gus is Simmons. What is strange is how come they don't know who I am...

WAR: Yes, that is a mystery, you jackass. (Shaking his head and turning away.)

They stood in confusion, as I had to explain to these two what fame inside the world of Halo was. I even explained why the new Halo 2 video had a "yellow" warthog was for me. They said they were working on the next episode for BGC and the next thing they knew they were here. Then I caught them up to speed on how I got here along with the rest of the gang too. Warbow was tapping me on the shoulder and muttering something about our position. I continued talking but realized he was right. We were on Blood Gulch. Up in the darkness behind the red warp exit. I was looking out and could see most of the valley. To my left the caves and to my right that long ledge to the blue cave side. I was trying to get them to understand and come along and help us find Louis when 2 more guys came running up screaming!

Jason: RUN!!!! RUN!!!!

Skav: Hey I think that's tucker (turning to Warbow) he's my favorite!

We all jumped behind the same big rock and stood quiet. I could hear the engines of a tank nearby. We were all bunched together. I was nose to nose with Jason.

Jason/Tucker: Matt? What are you doing here?

Skav: Tucker, I mean Jason, I AM NOT MATT! I keep telling everyone...

Jason/Tucker (interrupting): Hey don't get all pissed off at me you F***tard, I leave for a minute and come back and you're standing here with Burnie, and you look like Matt.

WAR: What’s that noise? That's a different sound

I peeked around the rock and saw the Scorpion scanning around slowly.

Skav: It's the turret. He's turning around looking for us...

WAR: What? The turret doesn't make any noise when it turns.

Skav: Well Warboy! Today it does, and it isn't supposed to be this freaking hot, but I am all about going to die out here in this heat!

Gus/Simmons: Man... are you out of shape, we only ran like 20 feet and now we're standing in the shade. You're sweating like a hog.

Skav: Don't you mean a Puma?

Gus/Simmons: What?

Skav: Never mind... just leave me alone.

All at once there was a shot that fired from the tank. The concussion of it hitting the rock that we were behind knocked us all over. The sound in that canyon rang around the walls at least 4 times. I couldn't hear a word anyone was saying, just a bunch of heads nodding up and down. When my hearing came back our new friends calling each other names and deciding how best to take out the tank. I grabbed Warbow by the arm.

Skav: Dude, let's run for that cave and get to the blue base.

WAR: Skav, have you ever played a game when a tank was right here on the grassy knoll and made it across that ledge? Ever?

Skav: It not as easy to hit someone there as you think, just keep running.

Everyone just stood there and looked at me. Not a word was spoken.

WAR: Yea, maybe with you shooting... But even a monkey could make that shot... Go ahead Skav, tote your fat ass out there and see what happens...

Burnie/Church: OK, we run for the cave on our left... everyone on 3...

Just then a jet sound came rocketing over the cliffs. Followed by the sound of bombs being dropped and explosions... more and more... these guys scattered. One into the cave, 2 right at the tank firing, and one guy across the ledge I wanted to go for.

Skav: See! Look where he's going. (I pointed showing Warbow that there leader was going my way).

Just then the tank spun around and faced the 2 running at it. The turret spun around at full speed to engage them. As it whipped by it tossed a shell right at Burnie/Church running across the ledge. It killed him dead!

WAR: See? He didn't even have to aim it was such an easy shot.

I stopped for a moment and looked over at Burnie while he died, I must say he died with more odd noise than a man should even be able to make. I turned and Warbow was tossing plasmas into the air. I could see a Pelican circling above. He was trying to get its attention to land for us. The two fighting the tank had managed to split up and were confusing the automatic targeting sequence. I could see the elite inside the tank arguing with the tutorial program. Covenant drop ships filled the sky over the Gulch.

WAR: Well, that's something you don't see everyday in Blood Gulch.

Skav: What the hell...this is a multiplayer map, what are they doing here???... IS NOTHING SACRED!!!

They covered the ground in rotations so precise the Blue Angels would be proud. Within seconds the whole valley was covered with swords and shields. A line of Hunters was on the ridge across the valley.

A warthog pulled up with some blue guys and a wave of red guys came over the rise. They were all firing. A Covie battle cry let out and it was on! This was a mess. The valley floor was filling with shells of all sizes and there was Warbow, still trying to save our asses. Well, at least his. Wouldn't you know the damn Pelican landed behind the red base all the way at the top... and sort of crashed landed at that...

Skav: What the hell is wrong with that pilot? If he is here to get us then why land there? Why not pick a normal spot?

WAR: It is on autopilot. I used plasma grenades to activate its visual receptors and caused it to land in an auto sequence.

Skav: What? How did you know it wouldn't land off the map someplace?

WAR: I didn't, now shut up and keep running and shooting you dumbass.

The smoke was thick and the concussions of the explosions were making me sick inside. I never felt anything that loud since the Zeppelin concert with Louis back in 1973.We kept running. As I dove behind the bush at the R.L., I saw a guy holding a dead elite by the ankles and literally bashing people over the head with his body. This guy was huge. He didn't seem overly bright though. He dropped the elite as the R.L. appeared, loaded it, and turned at me.

Skav: Whoa!!... Friend!! ...Easy man! ...That was amazing!

Hawk: Learned it in the core in when I joined in 78' got out in 86', but this was too good to pass up! So here I am.

Skav: Just be careful there dude, it's hard to tell whose side you're on?

Hawk: Sides? I was playing FFA when I got sucked in here.

Skav: Well, be that as it may, I am on your team, so if you kill me it counts against you...ok?

Looking confused, he decided against killing me and turned to fight with a group of pink colored guys. They all turned on him and beat him to a bloody pulp. Each one kicked him as he lay there and chanted something about "Keeping his big mouth shut when told to" They all had patches and matching shirts that said 'TDT'. I told myself, "Hawk... joined 78... left in 86... died today... for not listening... mental note..." I fought my way on to the first hill half way to the red base. I found myself down on one knee ducking next to Tucker.

Skav: Dude, here’s the plan, let's get to that Pelican and then you can fly us out of here while I cover with the SR! OK?

Jason/Tucker: Just for the record, I hate plans, secondly I can't even load the Rocket launcher what the hell makes you think I can fly that thing? And lastly, you haven't hit a thing with that rifle since I met you, so all in all... I'd say your plan sucks.

I corrected that part of history by laying the butt end of my rifle to his head. Out he went. “Guess I hit something' now didn't I?" I looked up and just before Dizzy got planted into the canyon wall by a stray rocket from KP, he managed a sarcastic "Nice! You actually hit something!" just before the rocket struck. I needed to get out of this whole scene. Ever since I met up with those guys my memories of Blood gulch would never be the same. I needed to go. I picked up my pace through the ever-growing debris of bodies and ammo; I caught a glimpse of Nick off in a corner. "I wonder how he got there so fast?" He was surrounded and had no weapon. Oh well, I guess he could debate them to death. And just as I was a few feet from the door to the red base, guess who appeared?????

Skav: Sleaz! Man! Is it good to see you, how did you ever get..............

'THUD!’ The side of his assault rifle hit my head, hard.

El Sleazbagano: (looking down at me regaining my senses) Man Skav, I warned you! Didn't I? My name is pronounced...

'THUD! THUD! THUD!' The pistol whipping he took from Warbow actually made my head hurt less.

WAR: OK, here we go...out the back, you, Airboy, and me. You cover... Airboy flies us... and I lead! Let's get out of this crazy mixed up place. Skav, put down that SR unless you’re holding it for me. And try to keep up this time"

We got to the back of the base; it wasn't a pretty site. While standing in the doorway a Covenant Dropship crashed right on us! The sparks were flying and that blue shield looking thing buzzed and made the fillings in my teeth hurt 'till the power went off. We ran for the hills and the rounds were whizzing by out of nowhere. When we got to the top of the hill we came up to the Pelican. All at once a shell hit and rocks came down. Airboy lost his footing and went sliding down. "Man, haven't you been here before??? Geeez dude you can't all the way up on that side anyways.... go left!!! Go left," I yelled. Warbow was throwing cover fire in all directions as Airboy scrambled up the hill again. He got within a hands grasp of me, when a rifle round stood him straight up and his eyes went open in disbelief. I grabbed him by the shirt and tried to pull him into the Pelican.

WAR: He's dead, for get him! Let's go you fly!

Skav: WHAT?!?! I can't!

WAR: Sit and fly or were both dead, they're coming!!!!

I took a quick look out the window. Sure as shit, half the soldiers were moving in, tanks and all. I jumped into the seat, and strapped myself in.

Skav: (yelling above the shots hitting the hull) There's no stick... no controls! What do I do?

WAR: There has to be something to fly us out!

I looked again then rubbed my eyes. There was a big long button about 12 inches wide and about 2 inches thick and it said "space" right in the middle. A tanks shell almost dislodged us and I yelled... “There is ONE BIG BUTTON, and it says 'space...’”

WAR: Press it now... who cares what it does.

I looked back and Warbow had an elite at his back holding him around the neck and a Hunter in front about ready to strike. He kicked the Hunter in the nuts and he doubled over with a scream that would wake the dead. He then took a deep breath and bent over FWD and tossed the elite onto the spikes of the green-faced Hunter. They both stood up and the unexpected extra weight sent the Hunter tumbling down the pelican’s ramp.

WAR: May we f**king go now, please?

Warbow was now fighting hand to hand on the ramp of the Pelican. I closed my eyes and hit the button. The pelican went full thrust... and I mean FULL THROTTLE grinding and scraping against the rock. Slowly coming up the 2 rocks and turning us toward the long end of the canyon, we broke loose and jolted up in the air about 25 feet. The lunge of the Pelican foreword pulled me away from the space bar button. As my fingers left the button the engines stopped, I felt the nose come over and we slammed down onto the hillside and began a very heavy slide down. We buried ten men on impact I figured and the others scattered like rats from a sinking ship. The tank turned and fired point blank! The driver died instantly (dumbass) and we drove that scorpion right in to the back of the red base like squashing a Pepsi can. Hitting the wall of the red base made Warbow lose his grip and come sailing into the cockpit. His anger and my fear met and I hit the bar again. Once more the engines roared away. Up over the base we went and up to the sky.

WAR: Let off! Let off! We'll crash into the top of the level!

I let go. And down we went.... straight down.

WAR: Man, even us out a bit!

Skav: I can't! This stupid thing is either on or off. The controls suck ass! And there is no left or right! Just one big freaking' bar for go or stop! What wannabe gamer made these controls anyways! GEEEEEEEEEEEZ!

So as I gained a little control over this dolphin motion of up and down, we came to the end of the canyon past the blue base. Everyone and their brother was shooting anything and everything at us like they had never seen a Pelican fly overhead and just felt the urge to try and see if they could bring it down..."Rookies" My mouth dropped open and I started for the rear door... Warbow sat my ass back down and said, “Just go for it! You can do this..." So into the side of the cliff we went, into a jagged cave with rock formations and colors of gray I had never seen. Man, I just wanted to be home ...again...

Skav: I swear to god. Louis or no Louis. If I get the chance I am so out of here...

WAR: Just shut-up and drive!

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