Bonds of War

Location: New Damascus, Central District

Date: July 5, 2531

Time: 0545 Hours

We moved through the wreckage of New Damascus, the city's once-glimmering towers reduced to broken, jagged silhouettes. The sky was dark with smoke, and the streets were littered with debris, vehicles overturned, and buildings gutted by plasma fire. It felt like we were walking through the bones of a world already lost.

"Keep it tight," Allen called over the comms, his voice low but firm. "We're heading for the research facility, but we've still got Covenant in the area. Stay sharp."

I nodded, scanning the rooftops and alleyways as we pushed forward. My heart was still racing from the firefight at the LZ, but the adrenaline was keeping me focused. In the distance, I could hear the faint hum of Covenant vehicles, but for now, the streets around us were eerily quiet.

Ramirez—or Fumble, as we called him—was walking beside me, his SPNKR slung over his shoulder. He had that usual laid-back swagger to him, like we weren't marching through a warzone but heading to a casual training exercise. It was something I had noticed about Fumble from the start—no matter how intense things got, he always seemed to find a way to relax, to inject a little humor into the situation.

"Yo, Junior," Ramirez said, nudging me with his elbow. "You still alive over there?"

I chuckled, adjusting the grip on my rifle. "Yeah, still kicking."

Ramirez gave a mock sigh of relief. "Good. Thought maybe I'd have to save your ass again, and we all know that'd just be embarrassing for you."

I smirked, shaking my head. "Pretty sure you're the one who needs saving half the time, Fumble. Last I checked, you're the one who dropped that flashbang on your own team."

He laughed, the sound low and easy despite the situation. "Ah, man. You're never gonna let that go, huh? One flashbang, Casper. One. And suddenly, I'm the guy who 'fumbles' everything."

I couldn't help but grin. Fumble had been a constant source of humor since I joined Beta Four. He had that older-brother energy about him—always teasing, always joking, but never in a mean way. He kept the squad's spirits up when things got tough, and that was something I had come to rely on more than I realized.

"Hey," Fumble added, his voice dropping a little as we neared a narrow street, "just so you know… you did good back there. At the LZ. You're getting the hang of this ODST thing."

The unexpected compliment threw me for a second, and I glanced over at him. Fumble wasn't the type to hand out praise freely, so when he did, you knew it meant something.

"Thanks," I muttered, feeling a small rush of pride. "That means a lot, coming from you."

He shrugged, though there was a faint smile on his face. "Don't get too cocky. I've still got way more kills than you."

Location: New Damascus, Alleyway

Date: July 5, 2531

Time: 0600 Hours

We continued our advance, making our way through narrow alleyways and side streets, staying out of sight of the main Covenant forces. The research facility wasn't far now, but the closer we got, the more I could feel the tension in the air. Something was coming—I could sense it.

Fumble seemed to feel it too, his joking demeanor shifting into something more focused. He hefted his SPNKR, scanning the rooftops as we moved. "Keep your eyes peeled, Junior. This place feels too quiet."

Before I could respond, the silence was shattered by the high-pitched whine of plasma fire. A burst of blue energy slammed into the building next to us, sending shards of concrete raining down. I ducked behind cover, my heart racing as I tried to get a fix on where the shots were coming from.

"Snipers!" Allen barked over the comms. "Find cover and return fire!"

I pressed myself against the wall, peeking around the corner to spot the source of the attack. There—on the rooftop across the street, a pair of Jackal snipers were perched, their beam rifles glowing ominously as they lined up their next shots.

"I see 'em!" Fumble growled, already loading a fresh rocket into his SPNKR. "Time to make these bastards regret showing up."

He stepped out from cover just long enough to fire. The rocket streaked through the air, slamming into the rooftop with a deafening explosion. One of the Jackals went flying, its body a twisted mess of armor and limbs. But the second sniper was still up, its beam rifle trained directly on Fumble.

I saw it before Fumble did—saw the glow of the rifle, the Jackal lining up the shot. There was no time to think. I lunged forward, grabbing Fumble by the shoulder and yanking him back just as the beam fired. The shot hit the ground where he had been standing, leaving a smoking crater in the concrete.

Fumble blinked, momentarily stunned as he realized what had just happened. "Holy—Junior, you just saved my ass."

I grinned, adrenaline still surging through me as I ducked back behind cover. "Looks like we're even again."

He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief. "You're not gonna let me live that down, are you?"

"Not a chance," I replied, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction. Saving Fumble was a rare opportunity, and I wasn't about to waste it.

Before he could say anything else, Allen's voice cut through the comms. "Casper, Fumble, get moving! We need to push up and take out those snipers before they call in reinforcements!"

Fumble and I exchanged a quick glance, the lighthearted moment fading as the reality of the situation set in again. He gave me a quick nod, his expression more serious now. "Let's go, Junior. We've got work to do."

Location: New Damascus, Rooftop

Date: July 5, 2531

Time: 0615 Hours

We climbed the stairwell of a nearby building, moving fast to reach the rooftop where the Jackal sniper was still firing on our squad. The sound of battle echoed through the city, but up here, it felt more isolated. It was just Fumble and me, working together to take down the remaining sniper.

I kicked open the door to the rooftop, my M392 raised as I scanned the area. The Jackal was perched at the far end, its back turned to us as it lined up another shot.

Fumble grinned, hefting his SPNKR. "You want the honors, or should I?"

I smirked, raising my rifle. "I've got this one."

I squeezed the trigger, my shot hitting the Jackal square in the back. It screeched in pain, dropping its beam rifle as it staggered forward before collapsing in a heap. The rooftop was clear.

Fumble let out a low whistle. "Not bad, Junior. Not bad at all."

I felt a surge of pride, but I didn't let it go to my head. We were still in the middle of a warzone, and there was no room for complacency. But I couldn't help the grin that crept across my face.

"You know," Fumble added, slinging his SPNKR over his shoulder, "I think I might actually like having you around. You've saved my skin twice today."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Don't get used to it."

He laughed, giving me a playful shove as we made our way back down the stairs. "Yeah, well, try not to screw it up next time. I might not be as generous with my saves."

Location: New Damascus, Central District

Date: July 5, 2531

Time: 0630 Hours

As we rejoined the rest of the squad, I couldn't help but feel the bond between Fumble and me growing stronger. He wasn't just the joker of the team anymore—he was someone I could rely on, and someone who could rely on me. The sibling-like dynamic between us had deepened in a way I hadn't expected, and I knew that, despite all the teasing, we had each other's backs when it counted.

We regrouped with Allen and Slink near the research facility, the battle still raging around us. There was no time to dwell on the moments we'd shared—we still had a job to do.

But as we moved forward into the next phase of the mission, I knew that whatever came next, we'd face it together.