Fireteam Shiloh Ch8: Ghost Hunting

CRACK! The team flinched as a rotten wooden beam fell from the aging roof of a nearby structure. All around the guardians there were abandoned, crumbling buildings, a testament to the destructive power of the Fallen. “Scanners remain negative,” Dakota announced. The Hunter had keen eyes, and had noticed a ghostly form from the ridge, but now that they were in the town there was no sign of life whatsoever. “There’s no way someone is still living here,” asserted Lassiter. “Any form of shelter has long since been destroyed and there isn’t a reliable source of food and water for miles.” Dakota sighed. “You didn’t do your homework, did you? There's a natural underground reservoir beneath this town that would serve as an excellent source of water.” The Warlock shrugged. “I try not to do unnecessary work.” Solomon shook his head. “Oh Lassy, why are you always slacking off?” “Oh as if [i]you[/i] did your homework!” Lassiter said defensively. The Titan tried to look as innocent as possible, but Lassiter saw through him. “You’re too cunning for your own good.” “Guys!” Dakota interrupted. “Do you want him to see us coming?” Lassiter swung his weapon around a corner into a dark alleyway, but didn’t find anything. “Who? We saw nothing, remember? I still think it’s just your imagination.” Dakota grunted in frustration. Solomon came to her defense. “Don’t be so hard on her Lassy. There has to be something here. Why else would someone leave coordinates to this location in an abandoned Fallen hideout?” “Sorry,” said Lassiter. “I guess this place is just giving me the creeps. I want to find whatever we are here for and get the hell out.” The clouds shifted overhead and the moonlight illuminated the intersection in front of them. Solomon took the lead, keeping his eyes forward, while the other two strafed to keep an eye on the adjacent streets. Still nothing. Something flashed in Solomon’s peripheral vision. “There!” he shouted. “On the roof!” The other two looked up just in time to see the flap of a cloak over the gap between buildings. Solomon sprinted after the stranger, shortly followed by Lassiter. “Don’t let him get away!” “Wait!” Dakota called. “You’re being led into a trap!” Of course, they did not hear her. She dashed after them. “Honestly, how daft are these idiots?” she huffed to herself. Solomon and Lassiter kept pace with the anomaly. They still could not make out a living form, but every few seconds they caught the flare of cloth as whoever or whatever it was traversed the rooftops. As they ran, Solomon began to notice that the buildings were more and more recognizable, and the damage became less noticeable. “I think the town’s center is up ahead!” he called behind him. The buildings grew taller. Homes turned into businesses and community institutions. A large open space was now visible ahead, most likely the town square. Solomon skidded to a stop, Lassiter nearly crashing into him. “What’s wrong?” asked the Warlock. Just a block away opened a massive open square surrounded by tall buildings. “Look ahead,” directed Solomon. Dakota came sprinting up from behind. “Finally!” she gasped. “Don’t go any farther. It's a trap!” Solomon nodded. “I can see that now. The square is completely open. No cover. Also, the surrounding structures could give ambushers any number of deadly sightlines.” “Well I would prefer not to die,” said Lassiter, “so what do we do?” Dakota analyzed the buildings that now towered over them. She was amazed to find a series of wooden planks and walkways built across and around the structures. “Look at the scaffolding above us,” she pointed out. “I’ll bet whoever we were following used those to disappear and find a good vantage point.” “Makes sense,” said Solomon. “What do you propose, Ms. Dakota?” “It’s simple. We use the scaffolding to our advantage. I’ll climb up and activate my super, making me invisible, and then I’ll make my way to the opposite side of the square so I can see everything. Then we will need, uh…” “A distraction,” Lassiter finished. He knew exactly where this was going. “Why do I get the feeling [i]I’m[/i] the distraction?” “Um…” Dakota fidgeted with the tail of her cloak as she continued. “Well, you’re really good at it.” Lassiter threw his hands up in disbelief. “Relax Lassy,” comforted Solomon, placing a hand on the Warlock’s shoulder. “We are going to be very careful, and should you end up getting shot, I assume I’ll be waiting here as backup.” “That’s the idea,” confirmed Dakota. Lassiter groaned in frustration. “Fine,” he growled, “I’ll be your diversion. Ghost, prepare for resurrection.” “Alright,” said Dakota. “I’ll climb up onto the scaffolds and skirt the courtyard. Once I’m inside, wait thirty seconds, then… do your thing.” Lassiter rolled his eyes. Dakota leapt onto a nearby fire escape and carefully scaled the building. Upon reaching the top, there was a flash of arc energy, and then the Hunter disappeared into the maze of rundown structures. Solomon whistled in admiration. “She knows what she’s doing, I’ll give her that. This is it. Good luck.” The Warlock gripped his weapon a little tighter. “Good luck? That’s funny. Just be ready to cover me should I go down.” Solomon nodded and then took cover behind a nearby pile of rubble. “Okay, go now.” Lassiter took a deep breath and casually began to make his way into the square. The buildings that towered around him weren’t all that high, but they had enough floors and windows to make it nearly impossible to keep an eye on them all. The night grew cold and silent. Lassiter became uneasy as his boots clacked against the worn, crumbling pavement. He neared the center of the square where a single broken fountain laid dormant, no flowing water to be found. He stopped at the fountain and peered in at the stagnant, dirty water. The reflection was unclear, but Lassiter could make out the glow of the moon and… something else. The Warlock walked the perimeter of the fountain to get a better look. There in the water, almost completely obscured by the light of the moon, was a strange red glow. He moved again, keeping his eyes on it, and found that the light moved across the water with the reflection. Lassiter’s eyes widened as he realized too late what he was looking at. He whirled around, only to be met with a sniper round through the skull. [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Clan/Post/1371758/228566575/0/0]Chapter 9[/url] [url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/224417569?page=0&sort=0&showBanned=0&path=1]The Hub[/url]