Chapter 4: Exodus

thank god im wearing this suit, im sweating up storm from all this pressure

some-guy-eating1: hey, soldier! aren't you hungry?

no i'm fine great. attention.

some-guy-eating2: come on join us! we're celebratin'!

why?

guard1: what you didn't hear? we got some of our power back!

...

really...? that's good. gotta get out of here

some-guy-eating1: how about a seat?

no, I'm good good. god. damn.

some-guy-eating1: alrighty.

=continues walking through room=

some-guy-eating2: HEY! where'd you get that spiker, those aren't standard, nor are they allowed to used!

fuck.



~ good Ole' Stenzier is known for mistakes but also known for working well under pressure.
-a toast to Tar from his dad after graduating.

(He rounds the bend)
(The same bend he had hit over and over)
(He continues on)
(The only sound is the Hog going through the mud)
(He finds the Jungle)
(He parks the Hog at the place where it was before, he waits)

Well, while you two carry on your conversation, I will sit over here.

=I sit on a rock watching Jay and Ash=

=She laughs=
I guess I'm no match for you...

=She looks up at the stormy sky=
Has any of it changed? Since you childhood I mean...? I never got to see my home before the Covenant go to it...

I tuck my hands underneath my head and stare up into the sky.

None of it. Ever single bit is exactly how it was when i left. Not that that's a bad thing of course.

I smile at her and stare back into the sky

It's just, this is where im happy. This is my home. And i really feel that way.

I give a little sigh and then grin at her

I shall have to teach you sometime. How to play properly i mean.

=She smiles=
That would be nice...

=Lighting strikes light up the sky=
I've been looking for my home... But I'm glad you found yours....

=She laughs to herself=
I always knew where my home was... But I never got to see it again, I just wanted to say goodbye to my parents..

=She sighs=
But there's nothing there now, its all ash and dust...

I continue staring at her

Tell me everything you remember about your home before it was...

=She watches the sky, and smiles=
Before? It was so beautiful, long summer days... Not a care in the would, the city was surrounded with Jungles like this...

Me and some friends would go exploring around it... I can remember it like it was yesterday...

=A tear falls down her eye=

I stand up and slowly approach her

Go on, describe it to me.

There was this old trail... It was used by the uncs to get the troops out the city fast... Me and the other kids would go say goodbye to our parents...

=She looks at Jay shyly=
My dad was in the unsc, I guess I always wanted to make him proud...

=She looks back at the sky=
After they left we just sort of waited, we didn't know what to do next... We decided we would block the road... Kind of silly now I think about it... This kid came up with this idea, he said if we blocked the road they would have to clear it... Giving us more time with our parents...

=She smiles=
Stupid I know... But I remember it so clearly...

Is that your only memory? Tell me some more. What was the city like?

The City? It was a nice place, clean most the time... Big though lots of traffic...

=The smile fades from her face, she clenches her fist=
The train station...

=She stands up=
I don't want to talk about it any more...

I stop just in front of her and put my arms around her

Please. Tell me.

(He sits back in the drivers seat)
Hmm.
Should of been back by now.

(He flips his comms on)

Just in case

What do you want me to tell you?! What do you want from me?

=She pushes Jay out the way=
I can't... I just can't... I don't want to feel the fear again...

I go back and place my arms round her again

You don't have to be afraid. I'm here with you, i'll always be here Ash. You don't have to be afraid. Just please. Tell me what happened

Why?! You want me to tell you when the kidnapped me?! The threw a bag over my head and I was gone...

=Tears fall from her eyes=
All those people... No one saw me, the next thing I remember is being thrown into a transport... I swear, we went down that same road... I didn't see another human being till I got to Reach... I had no idea what was going on...

I hold her hand

It's okay. You don't ever have to think about that moment again. All your fear and that painful memory is shared between us now. Your not alone anymore Ash. Now back to the forest. Describe your favourite part to me.

think

guard1:well where'd you get it?

think

g1: dont ignore me.

think

g1:i guess i'm gonna have to do something about it aren't i?

think

g1: alright =throws punch at Tar=

do.

=Tar slams his foot down on the table, flipping it as he dodges the punch=

g1: the fuc- = receives punch in the gut, knocking him back=

i'm about to be in a lot of trouble

=rolls behind table and fires the Grenade launcher=

*click*

oh yeah, i forgot no ammo.....DAMN

=looks around, spotting forks on the ground=

blunderbuss...





~ hey, you know what suck dying from? forks!
-famous last words that came from guard1's mouth.

What's the point?! Its all ash now! Burned to the ground... If I was there! Maybe! Just maybe, I could of done something... But I wasn't

=She falls to her knees and cries=
I knew I shouldn't have left... I didn't want to... I never got to say goodbye, I don't even know if my parents made it out?! What if they didn't? That's my fault...

=She covers her face with her hands as she lets the rain fall on her=

(He hops out of the Hog)
Hmm.

(He walks into the jungle)
(He flips on the thermal vision)

I crouch down at her side and put my arm round her shoulders

Come on, there was nothing you could have done. If you had been there, you'd be dead too. Ash, you can't get hung up on regret like this. It's not good, it's tearing you apart. Please, for Draco, for your parents. For everyone who died that day. Let them go. You can't dwell on them.

I smile reassuringly

Look when we get off this place, how about me and you take the frigate. We'll search for your parents or anyone who knew them yeah? I promise to you, we'll find something.

(As he walks he is consumed by his thoughts)
(He feels himself slipping away again)
(He thinks of the years he had in New Alexandria)
(Lonely)
(Outcasted)
(The only person who ever approached him)
(Who never feared him for what he held inside)
(The one person who knew his birthname)
(He slips from that thought)
(Going deeper)
(Going into the depths)
(He tries to pull away)

=She sniggers=
''Someone''?

=She moves her hands away from her face and looks back to the sky=
Even if they are alive... Why would they want to see me? They think their little girl is dead... Why would they want a scared soldier like me?

=She looks down at her prosthetic leg=

Because Ashlie Cole. No matter how much you have changed. Physically or otherwise. Your are still their daughter.

My tone deepens and becomes more authoritive

And let me tell you now. You are an amazing person and i don't ever, ever want to see you disagree with that. Got it? Now what your going to do is stand up, stop crying

My voice grows softer again

and being silly and just come with me. Back to the base, we can take the shuttle out of here and then i will make good on my promise. I will find them for you Ash.

(He digs his way out of the memories)
(Nothing but Remnants now)
(He continues searching)

=She sits there not moving=
What's the point? I would rather wait here in the rain... I'm not there daughter any more, not after what I've done...

=She wipes a tear from her eye, and looks at Jay=
Why did we come her? Was it worth it...?!

=She looks back at her leg=

(He sees two heat sources appear off in the distance)
Well I think I found you.

(He presses on)

I pull her up

Right, i've had it with moping around. You are still their daughter, regardless of what you've done. And there is a purpose to everything we do, everywhere we go. It will always be worth it in the long run.

I start walking with her back towards the base

Now come on, lets not hang around. I have a promise to keep to you.

=She pushes Jay away=
I think you've done enough for me...

=She walks on moving away from Jay=

I sigh and stare after her

I've done nothing for you Ash. Look how much pain and problems i've brought upon us all. Let me do this please.

(He sees the heat sources moving towards him)
Hmm.

(He stops to lean on a tree)
(He flips off his thermal)

=She laughs=
I don't want you doing anything for me...

=She looks back to the sky=
I just want you to leave me alone...

=She keeps walking gaining distance on Jay=

I sigh and shake my head.

You might want this back.

I throw the flare gun to her

Yeah i'm real sorry for trying. Now get the fuck off my planet along with everyone else.

I turn and disappear into the foliage

(He looks up)
Should have passed me by now

(He flips his thermal on)
(One continues towards him)
(The other walked back into the forest)
(He flips his thermal off again)

=She lets the flare gun fall as she keeps walking=
What's the point to it all? We can't ever live our own life's...

(He sighs and begins walking further in)
Guess something went wrong

(He sees Ash)
(He stops and waves)
(He walks up to her)
@Ash
Hey.

=She see's Draco, not saying anything Ash sits down against a tree=
What's the point..? Our life is just meant for war...

=She points in the direction Jay went=
You better go find her...

(He puts his hands up)
@Ash
Wait, what happened.

=She looks up at him=
Dose it matter? I don't think any of it matters...

=She looks back at where Jay ran off=
You should find her...

(He walks up to her)
(He sighs)
@Ash
Okay.

(he starts walking off into the dense Jungle)

=Ash looks back up to the sky=
Its my fault... I killed them I couldn't save anyone...

=She cries=

(He continues through the jungle)
(He comes across a clearing)
(He begins to run)

Could I ever save anyone... The whole ship, the Thor... It was all my fault...

=She looks back at her leg=
Who would ever see me as a normal person with this... Thing!

(the trees surrounding him)
(He slips to that day)
(The fire)
(The screaming)
(So much blood)
(He snaps out)
(He continues sprinting)
(He sees where leaves had fallen)

That aint natural

(He continues on flipping on his thermal)

Hmm.

(He sees a person laying on the ground)

Aww man

(He walks up to the person)

Jay.