The Misadventure of John "Buckshot" Rhodes

[Monoo]

-PREVIOUSLY-

He had ignored all the voices in his earpiece. A blend of battle thrill and a strong desire to save his hapless comrades had driven Rhodes forward, across the river and down, down into the bowels of the earth. The air was hot and humid, causing sweat to coat him from head to toe. His feet squelched on an unknown surface. He refused to look down; if he looked down he would look back, and if he looked back, he would be lost.

The screams and alien cries ahead drew him onward. Before there had been people with him, fellow overeager marines - but they had blurred and vanished somewhere along the way, down the multitude of tunnels.

Bodies hung from the sticky walls ahead, and then John saw the massive shape looming over him. His hands tightened on his shotty; he remembered what Commander Knight had said before about victory or death. What seemed insane at the time was a temptingly sweet offer now.

He charged.
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He could see the thing in the light of his armor lamp now. It was something out of a nightmare, big and black and shiny, fangs dripping viscous liquid, a massive segmented head crest that twisted like an Escher canvas.

John's stomach turned to water, but he had already made his decision and stuck with it. As the monster lumbered towards him, he fired blast after blast of buckshot into its carapace. It roared, seeming to shake the walls of the cave as it swiped towards him with its tail and just barely missed. A jet of greenish liquid landed somewhere behind him with a distinct hissing noise; distantly, in the back of his mind, he felt a burning sensation on his neck.

Finally, the confusing and terrifying dance came to an end. Rhodes' eighth shot took the monster's arm off at its spiked shoulder. The inhuman noise it produced brought him up short long enough for its tail to scythe around once again, this time connecting with his head. His helmet crunched underneath the impact; his vision went black.

When he came to, he was cold and stiff... so stiff. He heard clicks and rustling noises all around him, and something had him by the ankle...

Something had him by the ankle.

John was being dragged away. He tried to scream, but the thing clinging limply to his face muffled his pleas for help.

(to be continued)

[Monoo]

If anyone wants to volunteer, I need a doctor, a squad engineer, and a standard.

[Crab_Spider]

10/10 No explanation needed.

I like the atmosphere and how you came to the conclusion, the ending only gave me more excitement as to what Rhodes' fate is

[SpaceFarer]

Use me as your engineer. Ezekiel Blaine. Penchant for getting FF'd right after doing 1-2 hours of work supporting those who shot him.

[Kwin_Original]

Well, even tough it is only a short beginning of the story, it is very well-written and I'm curious for the continuation.

If you wish, you can (mis)use Hans Meier as the Doc or Standard, I fill in both regulary and would be glad to lend the name for the story.

[Ping]

Huh, sure, why not. Put me in as ze Doctor if you can figure out my accent.