[Naked Crook]

Anaconda hefted his hammer, as Xyrho got back to his feet. He held both of his energy blades in his hands, as he started the Brute down. Xyrho: Why are you helping this filth? Anaconda: My reasons are my own! Xyrho: Our Gods look upon your treachery with much distaste... Anaconda: Your Gods...are not my Gods... Xyrho was taken aback by this. He had encountered many types of philosophies in his time, but never before had he ever encountered one who0 flat-out denied The Gods of The Covenant. Even Xyrho, one who was more fascinated with the technology of The Forerunners, would never stray so far as to flat-out deny the divinity of his Gods. Xyrho: You speak...heresy. You speak like an infidel! Anaconda: I speak for myself. If that is heresy...then condemn me. I would spit on your Gods...but that would just be a waste. Xyrho winced his eyes, as he charged at Anaconda. This had become far more personal for Xyrho. Xyrho was ready to strike down this Brute simply for the words that he dared to utter. However, as Xyrho got closer, he was met with the full force of Anaconda's hammer slamming to the ground. Xyrho was tossed back with unmitigated force, and was slammed right into a concrete barricade. Xyrho found himself to be winded, as he struggled to get up. He watched as Anaconda approached him again, with his Hammer ready to strike. Xyrho watched as Anaconda raised his Hammer. Xyrho barely rolled out of the way when the Hammer came crashing down. Once again, the force of the impact tossed Xyrho to the side, being sent about 15 yards from he previous position. Xyrho struggled to get back to his knees, as he knew getting close to the Brute was going to be almost impossible. Xyrho holstered both of his blades, and looked to his left, and saw a Plasma Rifle, laying on the ground, placed there as a result of an Elite from earlier being killed. Xyrho watched Anaconda run towards him. Without giving it any further thought Xyrho rolled to the side, and grabbed the Plasma Rifle, and began to fire at Anaconda. Anaconda stopped his approached, and went for cover, as his energy shields were being rapidly depleted by the Plasma Rifle. However, the Moment that Xyrho had stopped firing, he heard the sound of the door the stairwell bust open, as Nighthawk had just kicked the door down. He watched Nighthawk charge onto the roof, with both of his Magnums in hand. Xyrho and Nighthawk made immediate eye contact. Nighthawk: We have a Zealot! Focus fire to bring that bastards shields down! Nighthawk took aim with his Magnums and began to fire. He knew that he would require a significant amount of firepower to break the shields of an Elite Zealot - Elites that typically had the best shielding that could be provided to infantry personnel. Just as Xyrho turned to fire his Plasma Rifle at Nighthawk, he heard a very aggressive growl from Anaconda, as the Brute had just emerged from cover with both of his Spikers in hand. Without giving a second thought, Anaconda began to fire both of his Spikers at Xyrho. The combined fire from both Nighthawk and Anaconda had managed to push Xyrho back right to the edge of the roog. With his shields rapidly fading, Xyrho had but one option... Nighthawk: Reloading! Finish that fucker off! Anaconda completely emerged from cover, and began to walk towards Xyrho as he fired. Xyrho, on the other hand, tossed his Plasma Rifle aside, and looked down. The fall would defianatly kill any unprepared Elite. IT was at that moment that Xyrho allowed himself to fall right off the roof of UNSC Regional HQ Bravo. Nighthawk saw this happen. He rushed to the edge of the building. Anaconda did the same. Nighthawk: That guy just jumped! Did you see that!? Nighthawk stopped when he reached the edge of the building. He could still see Xyrho falling. Anaconda looked over Nighthawk;s shoulder. Nighthawk: This is gonna be fun to watch. Wanna take bets on how far his guts will go? Anaconda: He is going to live. This fall won't kill him. Nighthawk: What? Anaconda: Watch... As Xyrho fell, he waited for his shields to fully recharge. He was rapidly approaching the ground. As he got closer, he pulled a piece of equipment off of his belt. He activated it, and revealed it to be a single use over shield. This allowed for Xyrho's already powerful shielding to withstand an incredible amount of force and impact. Xyrho just hoped that his own physiology, combined with his over-driven shields would be enough to keep him alive from this fall. Sure enough, as soon as Xyrho hit the ground, he was able to survive, but at the expense of his armor's shield generator being totally destroyed in the process. The impact that Xyrho made with the concrete had destroyed the concrete, cracking it in every direction in a 10 yard radius. Far above, on the roof, Nighthawk and Anaconda looked down. Anaconda: Told you he would survive. Nighthawk: Holy shit. What the hell happened? Anaconda: Xyrho... Nighthawk: Xyrho? You know that Elite? Anaconda: I do...we go way back. Nighthawk sighed. Nighthawk: So...what the hell just happen- Nighthawk stopped when he heard the transmission from Tye. Tyber: Attention...all remaining forces...This is Commander Vernette. I am pinned down by a vast number of hostile forces. Chances are...I got most of them with me in the Sub-Basement. I am giving everyone here a direct order to evac immediately. Do not come back for me! Doing so...would be suicide. I am going to hold these bastards here to give you all a chance to get the hell out of here without any kind of pursuit or trouble. Let the record show...that you all fought bravely...with the highest distinction and honor you could possibly bestow upon yourselves. I'm proud to of been able to fight along side each and every single one of you. Nighthawk froze. Anaconda: What is it? Nighthawk: Tye is in trouble. Anaconda: Again? Nighthawk: He is pinned down...somewhere... Nighthawk paused. He pulled out his PDA. He began to scan for Tye's transponder signal. He cross referenced the coordinates of the transponder signal, with a layout of Regional HQ Bravo. Nighthawk: According to this, he is in the Sub-Basement...in the Infirmary. I have to go get him... Anaconda: Don't you mean "we have to go get him?" Anaconda paused. Anaconda: This facility must be crawling with Covenant troops. DO you honestly think your chances of saving him are better if you go at this alone? Nighthawk shrugged. Nighthawk: You know...when this is over...I owe you big time. Come on. Let's go! Just as Nighthawk and Anaconda turned, they were face to face with Cameron. They both glared at Cameron. Nighthawl: Can you move? Cameron was silent for a moment. He then reached onto his back and grabbed his Assault Rifle. Cameron: With the three of us...we can save the Commander in no time at all. We should have no problems what so ever... Nighthawk and Anaconda exchanged looks. They then both looked back at Cameron. Nighthawk: Whatever...let's go. I don't have the time to argue this!