<span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'>Chapter 10 - The New Goal</span>
The seven marines walked together in a single file. Jeans led the front and in both hands he held up his LMG. The flashlight was on and he shined the bright light at every dark corner he saw. Behind him was Siral, who every now and then, would consult Jeans on a path to take. On the third was Frankie, who was in charge of communications with Ian, or any other squads. His hand was raised to his helmet and he adjusted the frequency in hope that he would be able to contact anyone out there. Following suit was Revolver who clutched a pistol in one hand and held a spare pistol clip with another hand. Following behind were Max and Duke. Duke was limping and Max was supporting him carefully. Much to Duke's misfortune, no one carried any medication or at least even a bandage, much less a Nano Medpack. But he didn't really care about it. Last of all was Elvin, who glanced to his back constantly to guard against ambushers.
They had long left the walkway where they met the terrible creature, and were now marching forward down a path. The lights were dim, probably due to the fact that MartianResearcher was not being supplied with any additional power, and the only source of power was from the many solar panals that lined the top of the colossal buildings.
The path twisted a few times, and menacing doors or glass windows lined the wall on either side. So far, there was little or completely no trace of Bacterium. Surprisingly, they did not encountered any Kharaa either, no that anyone minded.
"Here we are!" Jean stopped suddenly. He was familer with the way as he had came by the way earlier. "This?" Siral questioned, pointing at the massive door that was blocking their way.
It was the sort of the door which had a huge line in the middle which ran from the top to the bottom. It was made from two thick metal door joint together. And if unlocked, could easily be swung open by pushing from either sides. Only that now the door is locked.
"Well, can't you force open the door?" Duke asked, still supported by Max. "Nope!" Elvin said simply. Max rested Duke against the wall and moved to the door. "Tried shooting?" "You can try! Go ahead!" Elvin answered in a most sarcastic voice. "Shut up Elf. I know you guys probably tried. Is there nothing else we can do?!" Max shouted back.
Siral carassed the surface of the door with him palm, and Jeans helped to shine his torchlight. Together, they searched each and every part of the metallic barrier until Siral came to a conclusion.
"I conclude that the door is bullet proof, and that it can..." Siral declared. "Be opened by a key card!" "This?!" Max asked, pointing to a slot on the right side of the door. The light on it was dead, but he was sure a key card could activate and unlock the door. "Yup," Siral replied. "Now all we need to do is to find a key card.......which won't be easy at all. Guess we will have to take another way" "People! Don't you think we have lingered here too long?!" Frankie spoke in a loud and clear voice. Revolver suddenly interrupted, "Who cares?! Why don't we just find the damn key card?! Come! Follow me!" "You? Where?" Duke asked suspiciously. "I ain't gonna hurt you dammit! I saw a map of the layout of MartianReseacher just now! It's back there, another few minutes walk!" Revolver announced.
Everyone looked at each other uneasily, walk back? Check the map? Try to find a key card? It seems almost impossible for them to even find the keycard by merely looking at a map. But they have to try. Afterall, looking at the map could also give them a better idea of MartianResearcher's layout.
"Perhaps there are other ways beside this door!" Frankie suggested. "Why don't we go now?" "Siral, you think we should?" Jeans asked. "Why are you asking me?" Siral questioned in surprise. "Cause you are the most experienced of us all here" Jeans answered calmly. Siral pondered over what Revolver had mentioned a moment ago, and at last he spoke loudly, "Fine! This will be our new goal! We move back, check the map and then decide on a way!"
<span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'>Chapter 11 - We Got Company</span>
Revolver trudged forward quickly as the others followed in a single file, wondering where was he leading them. They went back the exact same way, which was rather alarming for Siral. Going back the same way would bring them closer to the creature they met earlier.
Already, the seven of them were weary and hungry and tired from the previous events. But they could not afford a rest. Whether or not Ian and the other squads are still out there and alive is unconfirmed. Even more questionable would be their chances of finding any survivors, and escaping off this cursed planet.
All of a sudden, Revolver stopped. He held a hand up, gesturing for everyone to stop. Something is wrong.
"What is it?" Siral asked.
For a moment Revolver was silent, and he turned and answered Siral's question with a sly grin.
"Well?" Max demanded. "People," Revolver began. "We got company!" Frankie glanced around to check for any Kharaa as he asked, "Human or Kharaa?" Revolver chuckled. "I don't know. But I bet its..."
His sentence was interrupted with a faint shriek from the distance. Immediately everyone tensed up. That shriek was clearly from something inhuman.
Elvin turned his head and raised a palm to his ear to magnify the sound.
"More!" Elvin cried suddenly. Everyone glanced around them for an ambush and Frankie asked, "So, where are they? Are they close?" "Nope. Still.......a distance away" Elvin declared. "What is there?" Siral questioned. "I don't know.....maybe a few Skulks.....and a Lerk or two!" Elvin said.
Siral gripped his LMG uneasily. This is bad, he thought. Skulks and Lerks make a really deadly combination. He had experienced it before in the past.
Frankie opened his mouth to say something, when there was a loud snarl coming from the front. Yet the front was empty. Everyone could hear it now, it was very faint at first and becoming ever clear with every passing second.
The hurrying sound of clicks and taps.
Everyone tensed up and huddled closely together. They formed a circle and faced outwards, guns pointed at every possible direction. Even Duke who could now stand on his own got ready to face the monsters. The clicks and taps were getting closer now, and everynow an then, there would be a loud growl.
As if there was some kind of undetectable telepathy, the sounds all stopped at once. Clearly, the Kharaa was planning something. Jeans turned on his flashlight and flashed it around. He checked the vents, the front, the back. Nothing.
The seven of them stayed in that position. Many seconds passed, and sweat began to drip down their nervous faces. Yet, no Skulk had appeared yet, or no Lerk made an appearence. And the most disturbing of all was the unnatural silence. Where are all the Kharaa?
Siral felt sure of it, something is going to happen soon.
Without making any noise, a Skulk appeared at the corridor in front of them. Revolver shouted, "To the front!" and fired several shots at the Skulk. A bullet whizzed pass its head and it sped forward. Another bullet went into its leg and chest and yet it continued on its sucidal rush. It came to a gruesome end as everyone turned and fired at it.
The Skulk was caught in a hailstorm of bullets and exploded in a shower of blood and bone. The Skulk had done its job well : To divert the attention of everyone
All of a sudden, all the other Kharaas which had remained hidden all along sprang out of nowhere and ambushed the surprised marines.
One moment, a Skulk laid dead on the floor with seven marines facing it. The next moment, Skulks suddenly uncloaked themselves behind the marines. And more were pouring out of the vents.
Hearing Siral's warning, the others spun round to find themselves swarmed by several Skulks. A Skulk suddenly uncloaked itself and leapt at the marines. Rounds and rounds of bullets struck it heavily and by the time it had landed, it was nothing more than a dead Kharaa.
Elvin sprang back as a Skulk suddenly appeared at his feet. It leapt at him and he dodged the incoming attack. Another Skulk whizzed past his face and he fell, blood streaming from a cut on his face and his gun snatched from his hand. If the Skulk had been to the left a little, his entire head would had been slashed off.
As Elvin laid on the floor, he stared in horror as a Skulk on the ceiling dropped down directly on him. But before it could bite, he had shoved his knife into its belly.
Revolver gunned down an incoming Skulk. As he aimed at another, he suddenly felt pain streaking up his back. A Skulk had leapt and clamped on to his armored bite. As it opened its jaws and lunged for his neck, he thrusted the nose of his pistol into its mouth and fired.
Max turned to see a Skulk charging directly at him. He aimed at its head with his LMG and pulled the trigger. Bullets ripped into the Skulks body but it didn't slow down. Even as Max pumped more and more bullets into the Skulk, it continued on. Suddenly, the Skulk leapt and Max ducked. He saw the Skulk jump pass him and its lifeless body simply hit the floor. There was a snarl behind him and Max spun round only to meet a Skulk face-to-face.......
Skulks continued to come out of the vents and Frankie and Jeans aimed at the openings. Whenever a Skulk appeared, they would dispatch it quickly. But the waves of Skulks were still continuing on.......
The Skulk in front of Max collapsed on the floor as smoke rise from a dozen bullet holes on its body. Siral sprayed more bullets into another Skulk which approached Max. "How many more are there?!" Siral thought wearily.
The waves of Skulks had stopped at last, and as both Frankie and Jeans were reloading, a final Skulk dropped out of the vent. Like a snake it swiftly evaded Elvin's knife and charged into the middle of the seven of them.
A loud hissing sound came out of the Skulk and everyone realized in horror that the Skulk was getting ready to activate its final and deadliest attack : Xenocide
"Run!" Jeans cried.
A knife suddenly hit the Skulk and pinned it down onto the floor. But it was still alive and was ready to explode anytime.
"Take cover!" Duke shouted as he dived to the floor and covered his head. The others all ran away from the Skulk frantically.
There was a mighty explosion and bits of meat and bone came zipping everywhere. Everyone who were standing lost their balance and were thrown onto the floor from the impact. Blood and pieces of meat splattered on them.
Amazingly, the bone splinters whizzed harmlessly past everyone's head and sparked off the walls.
For a brief moment, everyone stayed on the floor, too afraid to move. But after a while, the seven of them struggled to their feet, all at once. Is it over?
As Duke glanced around for signs of any Kharaa, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a Lerk peering down at the seven of them from the ceiling vent. Duke froze, no one else had spotted the Lerk yet. And he had dropped his gun earlier.
The Lerk fixed its vision on Siral who was standing closest to it. Duke saw two long fearsome spikes emerged from the lung tubes underneth its jaws. Yet Siral was still oblivious to the deadly creature behind him.
"Watch out! Lerk!" Duke screamed as he charged towards Siral. "What?" Siral asked in surprise.
Duke pushed Siral away from the path of the spikes and it was at that moment, the Lerk launched its spikes. The two bony and sharp cartilage pierced through Duke's armor into his chest. He swayed for a moment and collapsed.
Damn this story rocks so far... i just find it hard to believe the xenocide did nothing, but hey, it's just a story <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'>Chapter 13 - Casualties of Battle</span>
Even as Duke fell, the Lerk continued to pump spikes into his body. Duke jerked from the impact of the spikes and blood splattered onto Siral's face as he watched in bewilderment. Instantly, Siral realized in horror that Duke had sacrificed himself to save him.
The relentless attack finally stopped when the Lerk was satisfied. Screaming, Siral caught Duke's falling body with one hand and aimed at the Lerk with his LMG in the other hand. A hailstorm of metal lead sprayed into the vent. A moment later, the Lerk's limp body dropped out of the vent, blood gushing out of several holes.
The other marines scattered in two grounds. One group approached Siral while the others tended to Frankie who had been knocked out by the impact of the exploding Skulk. Blood trickled out of Duke's mouth and the many wounds on his body. Slowly and gently, Siral lowered Duke onto the floor.
"We got a casuality here!" Revolver cried as he checked for Frankie's pulse.
Siral ignored them as he continued to stare at Duke. The injured marine was still alive, or rather, barely alive.
"Hey...Siral" Duke murmured slowly, realizing that his death was only moments away. "Duke! Don't talk!" Siral said as he examined the wounds on Duke's body.
Duke was shivering and cold sweat dripped down his forehead. He raised a trembling hand and Siral cupped his palm with both hands. Duke's palm was cold, very cold, much colder than that of a normal human being. It was obvious that he was slowly passing into another world.
"Hee.......I am.....dying.....huh?" Duke murmured again, his words sounding more like a croak. "No you are not! You are going to live!" Siral shouted as he gripped Duke's hand tighter than ever. "Liar......." Duke smiled, and he suddenly coughed violently, causing Siral's armor to be stained with a mixture of blood and saliva.
Duke was starting to gasp for air, and Siral hurrily pushed everyone else away to allow the air to circulate well. But he himself still bent next to Duke. Duke tried to talk again, but his voice was muffed and shaky. His body begun to twitch and jerk uncontrollably. Meanwhile, a small puddle of blood has formed under his body.
"He is in shock. This usually means that a person is gonna......." Elvin tried to explain but Max had slammed his palm over his lips. "Shut up Elf!" Max whispered angrily as he continued to watch.
Duke's eyes were starting to close sleepily. He no longer spoke but smiled weakly as if he felt happy and peaceful.
"No!" Siral argued as he tugged at Duke's wrist. "Don't close your eyes!" Duke's eyes fluttered open lazily, and he asked, "Why?" "If you close your eyes, you will fall asleep!" Siral explained. "And what happens if I fall asleep?" Duke asked.
Siral fell silent. He couldn't bear to tell Duke that the moment he falls asleep, he would never wake up again and die. He knew deep down that Duke probably knew the answer. He also knew that it was hopeless.
"Don't you....dare.....give....UP!" Siral shouted suddenly. "Eh?" Duke muttered in confusion. "What?" "If you give up now, you will die! So you better not...." Siral's voice ended off as he saw Duke flashed him a thumbs-up. "You know? Siral, you.....the.....man!" Duke smiled at last.
Duke no longer spoke, he shivered for a while and stopped, his body laid still. His head tilted back suddenly and his arm fell. Siral's eyes widened in shock and mouth hanged opened wide. It ended so suddenly. The same peaceful smile was on Duke's lips and his hand still remained in the thumbs-up. But there was no mistaking it, the Frontiersmen known as Duke had died.
Comments
The seven marines walked together in a single file. Jeans led the front and in both hands he held up his LMG. The flashlight was on and he shined the bright light at every dark corner he saw. Behind him was Siral, who every now and then, would consult Jeans on a path to take. On the third was Frankie, who was in charge of communications with Ian, or any other squads. His hand was raised to his helmet and he adjusted the frequency in hope that he would be able to contact anyone out there. Following suit was Revolver who clutched a pistol in one hand and held a spare pistol clip with another hand. Following behind were Max and Duke. Duke was limping and Max was supporting him carefully. Much to Duke's misfortune, no one carried any medication or at least even a bandage, much less a Nano Medpack. But he didn't really care about it. Last of all was Elvin, who glanced to his back constantly to guard against ambushers.
They had long left the walkway where they met the terrible creature, and were now marching forward down a path. The lights were dim, probably due to the fact that MartianResearcher was not being supplied with any additional power, and the only source of power was from the many solar panals that lined the top of the colossal buildings.
The path twisted a few times, and menacing doors or glass windows lined the wall on either side. So far, there was little or completely no trace of Bacterium. Surprisingly, they did not encountered any Kharaa either, no that anyone minded.
"Here we are!" Jean stopped suddenly. He was familer with the way as he had came by the way earlier.
"This?" Siral questioned, pointing at the massive door that was blocking their way.
It was the sort of the door which had a huge line in the middle which ran from the top to the bottom. It was made from two thick metal door joint together. And if unlocked, could easily be swung open by pushing from either sides. Only that now the door is locked.
"Well, can't you force open the door?" Duke asked, still supported by Max.
"Nope!" Elvin said simply.
Max rested Duke against the wall and moved to the door. "Tried shooting?"
"You can try! Go ahead!" Elvin answered in a most sarcastic voice.
"Shut up Elf. I know you guys probably tried. Is there nothing else we can do?!" Max shouted back.
Siral carassed the surface of the door with him palm, and Jeans helped to shine his torchlight. Together, they searched each and every part of the metallic barrier until Siral came to a conclusion.
"I conclude that the door is bullet proof, and that it can..." Siral declared. "Be opened by a key card!"
"This?!" Max asked, pointing to a slot on the right side of the door. The light on it was dead, but he was sure a key card could activate and unlock the door.
"Yup," Siral replied. "Now all we need to do is to find a key card.......which won't be easy at all. Guess we will have to take another way"
"People! Don't you think we have lingered here too long?!" Frankie spoke in a loud and clear voice.
Revolver suddenly interrupted, "Who cares?! Why don't we just find the damn key card?! Come! Follow me!"
"You? Where?" Duke asked suspiciously.
"I ain't gonna hurt you dammit! I saw a map of the layout of MartianReseacher just now! It's back there, another few minutes walk!" Revolver announced.
Everyone looked at each other uneasily, walk back? Check the map? Try to find a key card? It seems almost impossible for them to even find the keycard by merely looking at a map. But they have to try. Afterall, looking at the map could also give them a better idea of MartianResearcher's layout.
"Perhaps there are other ways beside this door!" Frankie suggested. "Why don't we go now?"
"Siral, you think we should?" Jeans asked.
"Why are you asking me?" Siral questioned in surprise.
"Cause you are the most experienced of us all here" Jeans answered calmly.
Siral pondered over what Revolver had mentioned a moment ago, and at last he spoke loudly, "Fine! This will be our new goal! We move back, check the map and then decide on a way!"
Revolver trudged forward quickly as the others followed in a single file, wondering where was he leading them. They went back the exact same way, which was rather alarming for Siral. Going back the same way would bring them closer to the creature they met earlier.
Already, the seven of them were weary and hungry and tired from the previous events. But they could not afford a rest. Whether or not Ian and the other squads are still out there and alive is unconfirmed. Even more questionable would be their chances of finding any survivors, and escaping off this cursed planet.
All of a sudden, Revolver stopped. He held a hand up, gesturing for everyone to stop. Something is wrong.
"What is it?" Siral asked.
For a moment Revolver was silent, and he turned and answered Siral's question with a sly grin.
"Well?" Max demanded.
"People," Revolver began. "We got company!"
Frankie glanced around to check for any Kharaa as he asked, "Human or Kharaa?"
Revolver chuckled. "I don't know. But I bet its..."
His sentence was interrupted with a faint shriek from the distance. Immediately everyone tensed up. That shriek was clearly from something inhuman.
"Skulks" Elvin concluded.
"Anything else?" Max asked.
"Beats me!" Elvin answered.
Elvin turned his head and raised a palm to his ear to magnify the sound.
"More!" Elvin cried suddenly.
Everyone glanced around them for an ambush and Frankie asked, "So, where are they? Are they close?"
"Nope. Still.......a distance away" Elvin declared.
"What is there?" Siral questioned.
"I don't know.....maybe a few Skulks.....and a Lerk or two!" Elvin said.
Siral gripped his LMG uneasily. This is bad, he thought. Skulks and Lerks make a really deadly combination. He had experienced it before in the past.
Frankie opened his mouth to say something, when there was a loud snarl coming from the front. Yet the front was empty. Everyone could hear it now, it was very faint at first and becoming ever clear with every passing second.
The hurrying sound of clicks and taps.
Everyone tensed up and huddled closely together. They formed a circle and faced outwards, guns pointed at every possible direction. Even Duke who could now stand on his own got ready to face the monsters. The clicks and taps were getting closer now, and everynow an then, there would be a loud growl.
As if there was some kind of undetectable telepathy, the sounds all stopped at once. Clearly, the Kharaa was planning something. Jeans turned on his flashlight and flashed it around. He checked the vents, the front, the back. Nothing.
The seven of them stayed in that position. Many seconds passed, and sweat began to drip down their nervous faces. Yet, no Skulk had appeared yet, or no Lerk made an appearence. And the most disturbing of all was the unnatural silence. Where are all the Kharaa?
Siral felt sure of it, something is going to happen soon.
Without making any noise, a Skulk appeared at the corridor in front of them. Revolver shouted, "To the front!" and fired several shots at the Skulk. A bullet whizzed pass its head and it sped forward. Another bullet went into its leg and chest and yet it continued on its sucidal rush. It came to a gruesome end as everyone turned and fired at it.
The Skulk was caught in a hailstorm of bullets and exploded in a shower of blood and bone. The Skulk had done its job well : To divert the attention of everyone
All of a sudden, all the other Kharaas which had remained hidden all along sprang out of nowhere and ambushed the surprised marines.
"Watch out! It's a trap!" Siral screamed.
Chaos took over.
One moment, a Skulk laid dead on the floor with seven marines facing it. The next moment, Skulks suddenly uncloaked themselves behind the marines. And more were pouring out of the vents.
Hearing Siral's warning, the others spun round to find themselves swarmed by several Skulks. A Skulk suddenly uncloaked itself and leapt at the marines. Rounds and rounds of bullets struck it heavily and by the time it had landed, it was nothing more than a dead Kharaa.
Elvin sprang back as a Skulk suddenly appeared at his feet. It leapt at him and he dodged the incoming attack. Another Skulk whizzed past his face and he fell, blood streaming from a cut on his face and his gun snatched from his hand. If the Skulk had been to the left a little, his entire head would had been slashed off.
As Elvin laid on the floor, he stared in horror as a Skulk on the ceiling dropped down directly on him. But before it could bite, he had shoved his knife into its belly.
Revolver gunned down an incoming Skulk. As he aimed at another, he suddenly felt pain streaking up his back. A Skulk had leapt and clamped on to his armored bite. As it opened its jaws and lunged for his neck, he thrusted the nose of his pistol into its mouth and fired.
Max turned to see a Skulk charging directly at him. He aimed at its head with his LMG and pulled the trigger. Bullets ripped into the Skulks body but it didn't slow down. Even as Max pumped more and more bullets into the Skulk, it continued on. Suddenly, the Skulk leapt and Max ducked. He saw the Skulk jump pass him and its lifeless body simply hit the floor. There was a snarl behind him and Max spun round only to meet a Skulk face-to-face.......
Skulks continued to come out of the vents and Frankie and Jeans aimed at the openings. Whenever a Skulk appeared, they would dispatch it quickly. But the waves of Skulks were still continuing on.......
The Skulk in front of Max collapsed on the floor as smoke rise from a dozen bullet holes on its body. Siral sprayed more bullets into another Skulk which approached Max. "How many more are there?!" Siral thought wearily.
The waves of Skulks had stopped at last, and as both Frankie and Jeans were reloading, a final Skulk dropped out of the vent. Like a snake it swiftly evaded Elvin's knife and charged into the middle of the seven of them.
A loud hissing sound came out of the Skulk and everyone realized in horror that the Skulk was getting ready to activate its final and deadliest attack : Xenocide
"Run!" Jeans cried.
A knife suddenly hit the Skulk and pinned it down onto the floor. But it was still alive and was ready to explode anytime.
"Take cover!" Duke shouted as he dived to the floor and covered his head. The others all ran away from the Skulk frantically.
There was a mighty explosion and bits of meat and bone came zipping everywhere. Everyone who were standing lost their balance and were thrown onto the floor from the impact. Blood and pieces of meat splattered on them.
Amazingly, the bone splinters whizzed harmlessly past everyone's head and sparked off the walls.
For a brief moment, everyone stayed on the floor, too afraid to move. But after a while, the seven of them struggled to their feet, all at once. Is it over?
As Duke glanced around for signs of any Kharaa, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a Lerk peering down at the seven of them from the ceiling vent. Duke froze, no one else had spotted the Lerk yet. And he had dropped his gun earlier.
The Lerk fixed its vision on Siral who was standing closest to it. Duke saw two long fearsome spikes emerged from the lung tubes underneth its jaws. Yet Siral was still oblivious to the deadly creature behind him.
"Watch out! Lerk!" Duke screamed as he charged towards Siral.
"What?" Siral asked in surprise.
Duke pushed Siral away from the path of the spikes and it was at that moment, the Lerk launched its spikes. The two bony and sharp cartilage pierced through Duke's armor into his chest. He swayed for a moment and collapsed.
Keep it comming !!
Even as Duke fell, the Lerk continued to pump spikes into his body. Duke jerked from the impact of the spikes and blood splattered onto Siral's face as he watched in bewilderment. Instantly, Siral realized in horror that Duke had sacrificed himself to save him.
The relentless attack finally stopped when the Lerk was satisfied. Screaming, Siral caught Duke's falling body with one hand and aimed at the Lerk with his LMG in the other hand. A hailstorm of metal lead sprayed into the vent. A moment later, the Lerk's limp body dropped out of the vent, blood gushing out of several holes.
The other marines scattered in two grounds. One group approached Siral while the others tended to Frankie who had been knocked out by the impact of the exploding Skulk. Blood trickled out of Duke's mouth and the many wounds on his body. Slowly and gently, Siral lowered Duke onto the floor.
"We got a casuality here!" Revolver cried as he checked for Frankie's pulse.
Siral ignored them as he continued to stare at Duke. The injured marine was still alive, or rather, barely alive.
"Hey...Siral" Duke murmured slowly, realizing that his death was only moments away.
"Duke! Don't talk!" Siral said as he examined the wounds on Duke's body.
Duke was shivering and cold sweat dripped down his forehead. He raised a trembling hand and Siral cupped his palm with both hands. Duke's palm was cold, very cold, much colder than that of a normal human being. It was obvious that he was slowly passing into another world.
"Hee.......I am.....dying.....huh?" Duke murmured again, his words sounding more like a croak.
"No you are not! You are going to live!" Siral shouted as he gripped Duke's hand tighter than ever.
"Liar......." Duke smiled, and he suddenly coughed violently, causing Siral's armor to be stained with a mixture of blood and saliva.
Duke was starting to gasp for air, and Siral hurrily pushed everyone else away to allow the air to circulate well. But he himself still bent next to Duke. Duke tried to talk again, but his voice was muffed and shaky. His body begun to twitch and jerk uncontrollably. Meanwhile, a small puddle of blood has formed under his body.
"He is in shock. This usually means that a person is gonna......." Elvin tried to explain but Max had slammed his palm over his lips.
"Shut up Elf!" Max whispered angrily as he continued to watch.
Duke's eyes were starting to close sleepily. He no longer spoke but smiled weakly as if he felt happy and peaceful.
"No!" Siral argued as he tugged at Duke's wrist. "Don't close your eyes!"
Duke's eyes fluttered open lazily, and he asked, "Why?"
"If you close your eyes, you will fall asleep!" Siral explained.
"And what happens if I fall asleep?" Duke asked.
Siral fell silent. He couldn't bear to tell Duke that the moment he falls asleep, he would never wake up again and die. He knew deep down that Duke probably knew the answer. He also knew that it was hopeless.
"Don't you....dare.....give....UP!" Siral shouted suddenly.
"Eh?" Duke muttered in confusion. "What?"
"If you give up now, you will die! So you better not...." Siral's voice ended off as he saw Duke flashed him a thumbs-up.
"You know? Siral, you.....the.....man!" Duke smiled at last.
Duke no longer spoke, he shivered for a while and stopped, his body laid still. His head tilted back suddenly and his arm fell. Siral's eyes widened in shock and mouth hanged opened wide. It ended so suddenly. The same peaceful smile was on Duke's lips and his hand still remained in the thumbs-up. But there was no mistaking it, the Frontiersmen known as Duke had died.