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Shadow Wars Part 1: The Shadow
Date: 24 October 2004, 1:26 AM
Author's Note: It's a little on the short side, I realize, but it was a good place to stop. I'm currently perfecting parts two and three, probably need a week for each one.
Wandering through the hot and muggy jungle, the Grunt doubted he would make it out alive. Five of his fellow Grunts had been killed by the Shadow. One by one the Shadow had had taken them, and now he was the only one left. Surrounded by every hue and shade of green, he ran as quietly as he could. Ferns and broad leaves grabbed at his legs and arms, and he knew he was cutting a path that could easily be followed, but he didn't care. His one thought was escape; it was his only chance. He had to get out of the jungle. He knew the repercussion would be great if he was caught deserting, but he didn't care. He was afraid of the Shadow as he had never been of anything in his life. He would rather face the green-armored alien of legend than face the Shadow.
He didn't know what the Shadow was; no one did. But everyone knew that it lurked in the jungle, and anyone who left the encampment was in a great danger of being taken by it. Rumors and stories of the Shadow spread like a wildfire, and even some of the Elites began to fear it. The death toll was enormous; the Shadow had killed over one-hundred Covenant soldiers, most Grunts and Jackals, but at least seventeen Elites were missing, presumed dead, taken by the Shadow.
At every rustle of a fern, or cry of a bird, the Grunt jumped and looked around, watching the shadows, looking for the Shadow. He took some small comfort in the fact that his Needler was fully loaded, but he knew that he wouldn't have time to use it if the Shadow was hunting him.
He knew he couldn't escape, but instinct told him to run, run hard and fast. And he did. He ran for a half hour, always glancing behind him, always knowing the Shadow was hunting him, and that he had no hope of escape.
He watched as the Grunt ran by him. Five Grunts were already dead by his knife, and the blue, iridescent blood was still fresh on the blade. The Grunt stopped about fifteen meters ahead, and turned circles, Needler held at ready. He fired off about ten rounds at nothing, and they exploded in the trunk of a small tree, which then fell with a crash, further frightening the alien.
Knife held in one hand, the Shadow crept up behind the Grunt, silently. He was still turning circles, wide-eyed and fearful. He knew the Shadow was hunting him, and that he was about to die. He fired off his Needler at random, hoping to hit the Shadow, but he knew it was no use; you couldn't kill the Shadow. He wasn't scared for long, however, for the Shadow was upon him and with one quick motion, moved behind him and slit his throat. The Grunt fell, gasping for breath, and died. As quickly as he appeared, the Shadow disappeared back into the lush green jungle. But he was not gone; he was simply waiting for new prey to hunt.
The Marine crouched, hidden from view by a large, broad-leafed fern. An Elite, clad in matte black armor, was barely visible as he passed. He walked slowly, crouched low, and made good use of the dark jungle's foliage to stay hidden. The, little of which penetrated the canopy of the jungle, furthered his ability to remain unseen. But this time, the Marine knew he was in no danger. Three additional Marines had the alien surrounded, and would make sure the creature wouldn't leave the jungle alive.
Doubtless the Elite had been sent to find the Shadow, but the Marines couldn't let that happen. If the Covenant found out what the Shadow was, fear of it throughout the Covenant ranks would disappear, and they would venture out into the jungle and seek it out; only the Grunts would remain fearful, but no more so than they were during a normal battle.
The Elite had moved only thirty meters in five minutes; he was taking extreme caution to remain hidden, but he was still seen. He was coming upon the Marines' position, and he wouldn't leave alive.
As the Elite came upon their position, three silenced Battle Rifles coughed, and deadened the Elite's shields. His Plasma Sword pulsed to life, and he hewed trees and undergrowth in his search for the source of fire. A trio of bullets struck his right arm, and the alien dropped the sword; the failsafe activated and the weapon exploded.
The Marine used this opportunity and sidled up behind the Elite, K-bar in hand. He reached up and slit the Elite's throat with one fluid motion; a perfect stealth kill. After a quick search of the body, which turned up a Plasma Pistol, the Marine vanished into the shadows whence he had come.
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