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Second Chances: Chapter two

When the last few boots hit the ground, O'Neal's voice called over the radio, "Alright men let's get a perimeter set up and ready to roll, were exposed in unknown territory. Treat everything as if it can kill you, for all we know everything can."

Shields slipped out of his parachute harness and took stock of the situation. They landed in a mostly flat stretch of land roughly 100 ft. in every direction. The soil even looked similar to earths. One thing that gave it away was the large 10 ft. tall plants on the outer fringes of the field, with three rows of large waxy leaves that was oddly reminiscent of earth's corn fields. Another was the sky, showing a purplish-pinkish haze with sparse clouds that gave the setting a sunset-feeling. This was most likely due to the far-off dying giant sun that was this planet's sun. Noticing the biting cold as well, Shields noted that was also probably due to the sun and its far-off location.

A quick bark from O'Neal brought Shields back from his real-life daydream, "Green horn! Quit your gawking and get those coms set up!" Snapping back to his current mission, Shields rushed over the streamlined black Humvees to program them. Jumping up into the passenger side of the first, Shields plugged a cord in the large sat-com in the dashboard and began typing away on his combat tablet connected via the cord.

After he uploaded the base coordinates and calibrated the system to the new atmosphere, he headed over to the other vehicle and began the same process. When he was done Shields Looked around to see what his teammates were doing. He saw the assault team setting up on the outskirts to protect the team while they got mobile-ready, medics checking their kits, scouts moving their LAV (Land assessment Vehicles) which were basically motorcycles with large wide knobbed tires and an independent suspension, everybody was doing their part.

Shields stepped out and zipped open his pack to check on his personal backup radio, "Everything's here just got to make sure it doesn't get damaged in case we need it" he thought to himself. Before he could form another thought a cold detached voice stated to the group over their radios, "Contact." Shields recognized the voice; it came from Sergeant Rio, well known as the quickest shot and craziest man on their team. Battled-scared and shifty looking, most men didn't trust him. To be fair though, Rio's past wasn't exactly glamorous. Rios fought tooth and nail to make it were he was, and damned if he was gonna let anyone screw that up for him, especially the greenhorn.

Everybody turned towards the south where Rio was stationed, and sure enough they could see the plants rustling, announcing something's arrival. Expecting the worse, everybody strategically placed themselves around the vehicles, everybody except Rio who was still locked in a three point stance following the rustling plant trail with his rifles sights.

"Rio," O'Neal exclaimed, "don't be stupid, get back here in case we need to bug out!"

"Sorry captain, I ain't a runner. I'm staying right here"

Cursing Rio under his breathe, The captain began issuing orders to ready up for whatever was coming, gunners loaded up, scouts ready to roll, everything he could do to prepare. But nothing could prepare them for what they saw next. The rustling suddenly went dead, and time seemed to slow around the team. Deathly silent like shadows and as smooth as water, came out four large creatures. Dwarfing Rios 6 ft. frame with an extra 2 ft., these beings were standing on two feet and covered in fur. They walked like humans but with more fluid motions as if they spent years perfecting their form. This was soon apparent as they walked up to Rio and stopped 10 ft. away, not making a single sound. They were dark brown with a lighter shade around their chest and black fringing their ears hands and feet. Simple loin clothes and tribal necklaces/jewelry were all they wore. More unsettling then their intimidating form and icy stares were the scars born upon them. Each one had some sort of battle story upon them, three slashes on the chest of the far left, a scared cheek on the far right, while the inner two had several on their bodies. The one closest to Rio, and undoubtedly the leader, had a prominent scar traveling from the one side of his muzzle to the other.

Rio never took his sights off the big one. They had locked eyes and were staring daggers at each other. They each carried a spear carved with intricate tribal markings and as tall as the creatures were. Hearing the click of his rifle signaling it was fully warmed up, Rio itched to pull that trigger. They got closer to him but he never budged. Finally the leader opened its mouth, a slow deep rumbling dialect boomed out a single sentence of a language unknown.

"Vosss Huuuraaan Raaahhhsss," it spoke, drawing out each syllable in a deep hiss.

"Captain" Rio called, "What are our orders?"

"Do not fire unless you absolutely have to, were trespassing on their territory we have to establish our friendly intentions." O'Neal stated, "Coms! Get MAS on and inform them of our situation!" Shields quickly turned the radio and began transmitting when suddenly piercing howls came from the creatures. Turning to see what the cause was, he saw each creature clutching their ears in pain. Realizing it must be because of higher than normal frequencies used in the HOVEX Humvees, he quickly switched it off hoping to keep the situation from escalating. All to no avail as several shots rang out.

As soon as the howls started, Rio tensed up his trigger finger, aiming right between the leaders eyes. He was ready to take them out, and when the far left one lurched forward in pain, that was all the excuse he needed. Thinking it was going to attack, he quickly shifted his sights over to it an unloaded four quick shots, the creature crumpled onto the ground. Before he could do anything else, the leader let out a roar and bashed him with his meaty club of a hand, effectively sending him flying.

Chaos broke out; the two gunners tore apart the far right wolf with their heavy fire, but not before it sent its spear through one of the scouts. The remaining two wolves reacted quicker, using hunting tactics they now doubt learned through years of experience on that strange planet. One flanked left using the vegetation as cover, the other went right. They circled around and with their combined force tackled and flipped over the first Humvee Shields programmed. Shields knew they were doomed as the gigantic wolves began to tear off the door panels.

O'Neal knew he was in no position to continue fighting. "Let's go, everybody roll out!" The remaining Humvee and LAV plunged in to the thicket, practically running blind and flattening the plants on their way.

Leaf after leaf hit the windshield with a slap, but shields was happy he wasn't the scout on the LAV ahead taking the blunt of it. Looking around he noticed all that remained was the captain, Humphrey, the scout and himself. They were driving full speed through a green forest and lost over half their force. The captain started calling out over their headsets, "Is anybody alive?" Dead silence.

Humphrey said in disbelief, "I can't believe how fast they were...those two moved before I could even get a bead on 'em...it aint right. It aint right..."

"Humphrey snap out of it! We're gonna get out of this! They bleed just like we do." Captain O'Neal shouted.

Returning his attention back to the road, O'Neal saw something that made his blood run cold. Two trails just like before were following on each of his sides. Slowly but surely he could see them creeping up in his side mirrors. Humphrey swiveled his gun around but it was too late. A flash and the scout was gone, leaving the LAV to tip over right in front of the Humvee. "Hold on!" Someone yelled. Then darkness enveloped Shield's mind.

You're nothing just look at you. You have nobody. You have nothing. You're worthless. That's all you- Shields eyes slowly opened. Everything was hazy. Something inside him had sparked his mind awake. "Those words. They're wrong." He thought. With sheer will he forced back the comforting darkness that tried to take him and began his last transmission. Looking up at his captors, he was actually comforted. As the vision slowly went black, he welcomed his fate with open arms.

Just as Shields was losing consciousness, Rio was regaining his. He had a severe pain in his side, no doubt from the force of the blow that knocked him out. Very slowly he stood up, gazing upon the carnage that had happened mere moments before. He felt someone was watching him. Crack. Rio slowly turned around. Standing before him was the beast he loaded round after round into, with the split halves of Rio's rifle in his hands. It was shaking snarling and foaming at the mouth, eyes dead set on its next target. Rio smiled and retrieved his combat knife from its sheathe. A duel was about to take place.