"WHAT ARE YOUR DOING?!" I asked frantically. "We're not even halfway across yet, someone needs to hold them back or we're all dead!" Derick called in response, forming a Skip Grenade in his hand and chucking it at the column of Thrall charging us. It burst in front of them, splitting into its three projectiles and killing a couple of Thrall up front. That caused a couple others at the front to fall and the rest to slow down, backing up the line, but after a moment they resumed their charge at full speed. Derick next pulled out his light machine gun, unloading its large clip into their midst, and though the rounds had low impact, the frail and clumped together Thrall couldn't hold up to it and began tumbling over the edge a few at a time, the line still rushing forward but no longer making any forward progress. At least they wouldn't make any until he had to reload... The others had already started pushing me forward after Derick threw the Skip Grenade and we were running across the bridge once again. As we reached the end I looked over my shoulder to see Derick tossing his machine gun into the pit, knowing he didn't have the time to reload that bulky weapon. The Thrall were close now, too close for him to bother attempting to slow them down with another gun, so he crouched low and flung his arms out to the side. His body flashed brightly with Arc energy and then died down to a light blue glow, a large knife of pure Arc Light appearing in each hand. He charged forward, shoving Thrall more often then slicing them with the strength given by the use of his Light to summon the Arc Blades. Thrall after Thrall were flung over the edge or tumbled down dead after Derick had passed them. It was slaughter, but it would only last as long as his Light did. He yelled wildly, his body glowing brighter as he poured all of his Light into mowing down the Thrall, but they just kept coming, and I could only assume that there were so many because they were finding ways up here through the other passageways. Derick must've realized it, too, and probably knew that it would've been nearly impossible to take on the original group that had charged us by himself anyway. He spun, swinging his arm forward at the end to launch a wave of Arc energy forward, giving him space for a few moments. He looked back to us and his helmet flashed off of his head. His blue eyes shown with his Light as brightly as his Arc Blades did and he gave us one last small smile. Raising his arms above his head, he gave one more angry yell and stabbed his blades straight down into the bridge with all the Light he could muster. A small flash went off on impact and the knives and glow around Derick's body disappeared, but a massive crack split through the rock. Derick's body slumped and he fell to his knees, still looking at us with a now tired smile and mouthing the words "good bye, keep going". The Thrall came upon him as the bridge started crumbling at the point Derick had hit. He fell. Derick fell and took the Thrall with him, not having to suffer their claws and teeth before he perished. I ceased to hear or feel anything, and my eyes stared blankly down after him; I was unable to react to what had just happened, but it felt like a gaping hole was torn open inside me. I saw Cassie put her hands to her face; Maxwell fall to his knees and pressed his face to Cassie's leg, probably crying under his helmet; Jason turned away and stared at the ground, his fists clenched tightly at his sides; Claire reached out her arm to the abyss as if reaching to try and save Derick, her helmet off and face twisted in an anguished cry. If our team had a leader, it WOULD HAVE been him. I pounded my fist against the wall, letting out a cry of rage and sorrow. Why did it have to be him?! Why not me?! [i]He died doing what any leader should have done[/i], a voice at the back of my mind told me, calming my temper. I stepped back from the wall, lowering my fists but keeping them clenched. Claire running up to me and pressing her tear-stained face into my armor is what calmed me down the rest of the way and made me uncurl my fists, and I stroked her head to comfort her. I looked back out to where now only two short bases of the bridge remained regretfully. A spark of light shooting out of the dark surprised me and gave me a bit of déjà vu. Into the tunnel flew Derick's balling Ghost that slammed straight into Claire and I, seeking comfort from others. I took it in my hand and held it against my chest, knowing it was probably hurt the most by this. It started sputtering out what it had witnessed. "He used all his Light to break it, and when we fell he told me to leave, he told me I wouldn't survive or be able to revive him if I stayed with his body," It cried, unable to shed tears through its machine eye, "I said I would stay with his body and muster all the Light I could to revive him, but he told me it wouldn't be enough in so much Darkness and that I had to help all of you, so I said good bye and left him." "He was right," I told it soothingly, albeit confused as to why I had been the person it went to for comfort, "You couldn't have saved him, and he would've wanted you to get out safely with us. We couldn't have left you here knowing that you were trapped in the dark with the Hive." "You-you're right," it said, starting to collect itself. The Ghost floated out of my hand and Claire let go of me a moment later, wiping her eyes. I raised my eyes to see everyone looking at me; even Jason had turned his head slightly to glance over. "What?" I asked, blushing with embarrassment a bit under my helmet. Everyone scuffed their feet a bit and shifted uncomfortably as I returned their gazes. Then Jason turned and stepped up. "You're right about Derick, he would want us all to get out of here," he told me, "And we're watching to see what your next move is." "Me?" I inquired, confused. They all nodded, still watching me. Claire's helmet appeared back on her head. I felt the weight of being looked to for direction sink on my shoulders, but straightened my back and took a deep breath. "We have to keep moving," I instructed, "The Hive will have a harder time catching us if we're moving and a lot of these tunnels probably have a way leading back up to the surface." Jason nodded once in agreement. "Let's go people," he said moving down the tunnel first. The others followed and I took one last look back. A few Thrall were still gathered at the other side and one shrieked angrily at me before they turned and ran back to their passageway, probably finding another way around to us. I took my auto rifle off my back holster and jogged after the others. I would get us out or die trying. ______________________________ Link to part 3: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/217378787/0/0 Link to part 5: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/217378977/0/0 Master post: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forum/Post/217384398/0/0