UNSCDF Chapter 39- A Farewell

Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

UNSC Richmond Outpost

August 4, 1999

0900 Local Time

            Charlie stood at the landing pad and saw a Pelican descended from the sky. The Pelican dropped in front of Charlie and blew a gust of warm air over him.

            “Looks like my ride is here.” Mary walked up behind Charlie with a small suitcase.

            “Yeah…it’s here.” Charlie sighed.

            A marine stepped out of the rear of the Pelican and waved a bunch of civilians to get on. A family of four grabbed their belongings and stepped inside the Pelican.

            “Here, let me take this.” Charlie picked up Mary’s suitcase as she began to walk to the Pelican.

            “Thanks. You’re such a gentleman.” Mary smiled.

            “Thanks.” Charlie blushed.

            Mary was the last to get on the Pelican. She sat at the last seat at the rear as Charlie placed her suitcase in between her legs. Mary clutched on to the suitcase and smiled at Charlie. Her glistening hair fluttered in the air as she brushed it behind her back. Charlie smiled at Mary as the marine got on the Pelican.

            “Goodbye Zyrok.” Mary stood up from her seat and placed a warm kiss on Charlie’s soft cheek.

         “Goodbye Mary. In case I don’t see you, I wish you all the best. It has been a pleasure to meet you.” Charlie blushed.

            “Likewise. Go find Sarah.” Mary sat on her seat and fastened her seatbelt.

            “I will. Bye Mary.” Charlie stepped off the Pelican.

            “Bye Charlie…” Mary smiled and waved as the Pelican began to lift upwards.

            Charlie stood his ground and watched as the Pelican lifted off into the cloudy skies. The Pelican hovered in the sky for a brief second before turning away from the Outpost. Charlie watched as the Pelican disappeared into the fluffy clouds. He looked down at his feet and touched his cheek where Mary had kissed him. Mary was a good girl and now she was gone. Charlie shook away his thought and looked at his watch. He would have to find Sarah before it became too late.

            “You alright, sir?” Hawkes walked up beside Charlie interrupting his train of thought.

            “Huh?” Charlie snapped back to reality.

            “You seemed a bit stressed.” Hawkes pointed out.

            “Yeah, just a bit.” Charlie sighed.

            “I heard that Mary left.” Hawkes pointed at a Pelican landing beside them.

            “Yes, she left…” Charlie watched as a group of civilians got on the Pelican.

            “Man, you should have gone for her.” Hawkes voiced his thoughts.

            “But…” Charlie thought about Sarah.

            “Sarah can wait. Mary is right here man.” Hawkes read Charlie’s mind.

            “I can’t.” Charlie shook his head.

            “Dude, it’s not cheating. It’s keeping your options open.” Hawkes reasoned.

         “Well, I’ve got to find her and talk to her first before I do anything that I’ll regret later.” Charlie explained.

            “Very well, do what you must. I’m just telling you that time and opportunities don’t wait for you.” Hawkes sighed.           

            “I know Hawkes…I know.” Charlie replied with disappointment on his face.

Bankstown, New South Wales, Australia

UNSC Relief Center

August 4, 1999

1315 Local Time

            “Congratulations Sarah.” Taylor looked at a joyful Sarah looking at her ring.

            “Thank you.” Sarah smiled happily.

            “Is it Cookson?” Taylor asked.

            “Yup.” Sarah nodded.

            “You two make a good couple. I’m so happy for you.” Taylor opened up his arms.

            “Thanks. I’m so happy too.” Sarah embraced Taylor with a hug.

            “Alright Sarah, let’s finish your training.” Taylor pulled out a black briefcase.

            Sarah studied Taylor as he opened the briefcase to reveal two pistols with four clips of magazines.

            “Meet the USP. A major upgrade compared to the Lock 17.” Taylor took out a USP and two clips.

            “I’ve heard about this gun…” Sarah took the gun from Taylor’s hand.   

            “Most UNSC officers carry this sidearm.” Taylor took the other USP and loaded it with a magazine.

            “Wow.” Sarah studied her gun in awe.

            “This one definitely packs a big punch than the Lock 17.” Taylor slid the USP into his gun holster.

            “So, where are we going today to train?” Sarah asked.

            “Somewhere that’s not near a horde.” Taylor laughed.

            “Where to this time?” Sarah asked.

            “Bankstown Memorial Park…” Taylor grinned.

            “Again?” Sarah replied with disappointment.

            “Well, radar info that I gathered indicates almost zero to nothing for hostiles.” Taylor pulled out a printed radar sheet from his pocket.

            “Alright. Let’s go.” Sarah looked at the sheet and headed to the gates.

         “We’re not walking this time. The UNSC has given us a Mongoose for transportation.” Taylor pointed at the garage.

            “Sweet.” Sarah started to run towards the garage.        

            Taylor quickly followed behind Sarah as she made her way to the garage entrance. Sarah looked at the Mongoose in awe and touched its leather seats.

            “I’m driving.” Taylor pulled out a set of keys from his jacket.

            “Fine.” Sarah crossed her arms and sat on the back seat.

            “Cheer up. It’s going to be a fun day.” Taylor sat in front of her and turned on the ignition.

            The Mongoose engine roared as it came to life and Taylor drove it out of the garage. Taylor halted to a stop as the gate guard began to open the gates.

            “Sarah!” Cookson called out from behind.

            “Hi!” Sarah smiled.

            “Be careful out there honey.” Cookson cautioned.

            “I will.” Sarah nodded.

            “Have fun then.” Cookson walked up to Sarah and gave her a kiss.

            Sarah smiled and kissed back while Taylor pretended not to see anything.

            “I’ll be back before dinner.” Sarah smiled.

            “Alright, let’s get going.” Taylor began to accelerate the Mongoose to the opened entrance.

            Sarah waved a goodbye to Cookson as Taylor drove out of the entrance and turned onto the streets. The pair drove down a small street and turned into an alley. Taylor shut off the engine and got off.

            “We’re here?” Sarah looked at the alley.

       “Not yet. We’ll park the Mongoose here and walk the rest of the way. I don’t want to attract zombies with the engine noise.” Taylor explained.

            “Oh, good idea.” Sarah got off her seat.

            “We’ll cut through the buildings and make our way to the park.” Taylor pointed at a rear door that was partially open.

            Sarah took out her USP and watched as Taylor approached the door cautiously. Taylor gently pushed the door back making a squeak as the rusted hinges collided with the door. Taylor saw a zombie walking in front of them and quickly dispatched it with his hands.

            “There.” Taylor pointed at the main entrance leading out to the streets.

            Sarah stepped over the dead zombie that Taylor had dispatched and made her way slowly towards the entrance. Taylor opened the door and scanned the streets. There were five zombies scattered around the streets roaming around unaware of their presence.

“We’ll book it.” Taylor pointed at a building across the street which appeared to be an apartment.

“Ok.” Sarah nodded.

Taylor waved his hand as he began to sprint towards the apartment. Sarah put away her sidearm and quickly ran after Taylor. By the time the pair reached the entrance of the apartment, the five zombies had walked away unaware of them. Taylor walked inside the apartment and saw a group of zombies huddling in front of a dead corpse.

“We’ll go up one level and go down another set of stairs to bypass them.” Taylor whispered as he walked to the stairwell beside them.

Taylor and Sarah silently made their way up the stairs to the second floor. Taylor pushed the door open and saw a sign displaying where the emergency exits were.

“Down this hallway and turn left. There’s another set of stairs.” Taylor pointed at the hallway.

Sarah nodded and quickly followed behind Taylor as he reached the corner. Taylor peeked his head over a corner and saw two zombies standing still in front of the stairwell.

“I get one and you get one.” Taylor pointed at the zombie he was going to kill.

Sarah watched as Taylor charged at a zombie and knocked it to the ground with his shoulder. Sarah ran out of the corner and slid across the hall and tripped the zombie. The zombie fell to the ground and Sarah smashed its skull with her USP.

“Good work Sarah.” Taylor snapped the zombie’s neck.

“Thanks.” Sarah got up and grinned.

“Down we go.” Taylor pushed the door to the stairwell open and saw a mob of zombies.

“Oh shit!” Sarah replied in horror.

            “Run back.” Taylor watched as the mob turned their heads towards them.

         Sarah turned and ran to the corner of the hallway when she bumped into a zombie. Behind the zombie was another mob.

            “Oh damn…” Sarah froze in terror.