[b]“Of course. We’re heading to my ship. We got some ace monkey of an admiral to pilot it, but it is still my ship. Once Matilda has set the best course of action for us, we will begin heading there immediately… Oh, and Drake, once we’re off of this planet, come see me so I can see that hand of yours,” [/b] said the doctor. [b]"Felix! Quickly!"[/b] shouted the doctor as he pointed at Leonce and Esther. One of the other Spartans leapt forward with speed that humans shouldn't be capable of... way faster than Esther and Leonce could run. The Spartan reached both of the them, before they could even reach the corner. Then the Spartan kicked them both in their stomachs right back towards Lorenzo. Two Spartans grabbed them and practically threw them to the ground without hesitation before drawing their weapons and aiming at the hallway as the Spartan who kicked them attempted to draw his sword. Then something came "flying" towards the Spartan, breaking down the corner of the hallway and smashing the Spartan into the window. Dust filled the area as the Spartans began firing into the smoke. 

[i]'What the hell was that?'[/i] Zan questioned. Zan continued watching.

A few moments later the Spartan was thrown out of the smoke but was somehow able to land decently on his feet; however, his entire right arm was gone completely and he was bleeding heavily.

[i]'I knew Spartans were "special", but damn'[/i] thought Zan. 

Then a large Cruxi with its fangs and claws bared revealed itself before it leapt and tried to grab a hold of the smaller Spartan, but instead was faced with the blade of his sword as he cleaved the beast’s smaller arms and left leg before kicking it back. [b]“Stay behind me,”[/b] muttered the Spartan to Esther and Leonce before charging at the hurt Cruxi before it promptly jumped onto the ceiling and grabbed a hold of him by his clawed leg before slamming him into the wall. Even though shots were being constantly fired by the other Spartans and as the one who crushed Drake’s arm attempted to charge forward, it was hard for any of them to actually get close to the swinging Cruxi as it kept disappearing as if it were a ghost. Before the winded Spartan could actually get back up and actually do anything, the Cruxi reappeared from thin air and simply bit him hard on the shoulder, attempting to rip a large chunk out of him. Before the Cruxi could do so, the Spartan took his sword and promptly thrust it into the underside of the Cruxi’s head, causing it to let out a mechanical yelp of screeching horror before it finally fell dead. [b]“Cruxi Hunter… eliminated sir…”[/b] spoke the young Spartan as he pulled the Cruxi off of him and fell to the ground covered in blood and serious wounds, all the while looking at the creature that he killed.

[i]'Cruxi Hunter.'[/i] thought Zan. After seeing the Cruxi Hunter, the left side of Zan's face was now twitching uncontrollable. Zan was now so close to snapping, that just one thing might set him off. 

[b]“Which is something that wouldn’t have been necessary if Esther and Leonce here would have been fucking patient, and waited for Father and his men to finish finding a safe route… That Hunter was scanning the area and was almost done patrolling until your foolish running caused it to jump into action…”[/b] spoke the doctoas he gritted his teeth as he looked at both Esther and Leonce, before looking at the wounded Spartan. [b]“We were waiting because this specific location is rather safe for the time being… but now I’m not too sure.”[/b]

[b]“Correct,”[/b] chimed Matilda as she interrupted, [b]“The only reason we have not yet left this premise is because Doctor Lorenzo’s Office and his hallway are specially modified and reinforced to withstand Cruxi drop pods due to his importance. Once a few minutes were to have passed and we can see the initial damage and where most of the Cruxi forces are, we were to begin making our way to the Izanagi… instead of blindly making our way there with Cruxi landing on top of us,”[/b] spoke Matilda as she scanned information in front of her as loud explosions could be heard... and as a massive thud soon smashed on top of the area above them. 

[i]'So the crazy doctor's name is Lorenzo, huh.'[/i] thought Zan. [i]'What the fuck was that?'[/i] 

[b]“Grinder above us and is now moving towards the window on our right. Orders, Captain?”[/b] spoke the Spartan that broke Drake’s nanobots. 

[b]“It can’t break through the energy shields covering the windows; we discussed this before,”[b] stated the Captain as he whipped out his special graded shotgun and his… unusual sword before a large machine jumped onto the floor, and punched its ‘fist’ at the window before howling loudly with a mechanical roar. 

The pistons on the Cruxi Grinder began to pump faster and faster as the drills on its arms attempted to pierce through the shields over the window at unbelievable speed. Most of the Spartans had their weapons ready except for the Captain, while Lorenzo paid it no attention besides tapping his finger on the glass to taunt it. [b]“This kids, is a Cruxi Grinder. That Nano-type gun you had, Drake would have done nothing to this except heal it… before it ripped you to shreds and ate you alive and pounded you to pieces… and this is only one type of Cruxi. I don’t intend to let my children fight these things,”[/b] he spoke coldly with little emotion as the howling Cruxi continue to rapidly slam its ‘fists’ into the protected barrier.

[i]'Yet,'[/i] thought Zan about what Lorenzo just said. 

[b]“The Grinder will not be able to destroy the shield for a good five minutes, we have time… That, and we can carry Lt. Felix as-“[/b] said Lorenzo as he was interrupted by the Spartan named Felix. 

[b]“Nah, leave me here, sir. The Hunter banged me up pretty good. That, and you don’t need an arm-less Spartan slowing you down… Besides, once that Grinder breaks through the glass, you’ll need someone to hold it back,”[/b] spoke the younger wounded Spartan from earlier as he took off his helmet... revealing that he was just a few years older than the very kids he was protecting. [b]“I’ll do my best so it does not reach you guys. I’ll catch up with you guys as soon as possible… Godspeed, sir,”[/b] saluted Felix.

There was a moment of silence as Lorenzo and the Spartans nodded their heads and saluted. Zan stood at attention and saluted as well. 

Then Matilda spoke once again. [b]“Lorenzo, most of the Cruxi Destroyers’ pods have been fired and have either landed or have been destroyed. Spartans, Omegas, and Banshees are currently engaged in combat with Cruxi as of this moment to buy staff members time to evacuate. The safest and fastest route to the Izanagi has been found with minimal Cruxi resistance, but two Harbingers, a Grinder, and a Hunter, along with Cruxi troops are there and are making their way to the Izanagi. Shall I look for another route?”[/b] asked Matilda after turning to her creator.

[b]“No, we don’t have time. That’ll do just fine… I have faith in my Spartans… besides, it is the safest route, and we already have more Cruxi converging on our position now. If there are any Omega Units or Banshees to spare have them converge there as soon as possible to help us. Are the others meeting at the Izanagi as well like we planned?”[/b] said Lorenzo.

[b]“That is correct. All others will be meeting at the Izanagi with their pilots as well, along with all collected data.”[/b] said Matilda.

[b]“Good… Then let’s go,”[/b] spoke Lorenzo as he, the Spartans, and the potential pilots moved out with haste... though not before he looked back at Felix, nodding at him one last time. "Godspeed... Felix.. godspeed."

[i]'So he does has a heart.'[/i] thought Zan. [i]'Very surprising.'[/i]

Everyone finally reached the Hangar bay, … along with a White ... Framework? [i]'I think that's what they are called.'[/b] Which was loading up Frameworks and supplies into a ship of some kind. Lorenzo paused for a bit, but as then he looked at the force field at the hangar. 

[b]“Hundreds… huh?”[/b] whistled Lorenzo as he placed his hands in his pocket. [b]“I’m surprised to see so many…”[/b] 

[b]“It would appear the Hunter we engaged earlier sent out a distress signal prior to its defeat,”[/b] spoke Matilda as she folded her arms.

[b]“So… you are saying this is something that could have been avoided?”[/b] asked Lorenzo as he looked at Leonce and Esther, his eyes cold.

[b]“Correct, sir,”[/b] spoke Matilda. [b]“They gathered here upon the Hunter’s signal since they couldn’t breach the walls of the route leading here.”[/b]

[b]“Sir, we suggest you and the pilots get on the ship immediately. We’ll stand our ground here as best as we can while you prep the ship for lift off,”[/b] spoke the Spartan Captain as he loaded his shotgun and nodded towards the Cruxi. 

[b]“My children will get on the ship, yes, but I still need to wait for my fellow scientists… if any of them actually show. It is my duty as Head Scientist to wait and collect their data and follow through with the final protocol after all. We've all sworn an oath, and everyone on this facility knows this.”[/b] said Lorenzo.

[i]'I'm starting to see why he is in-charge of the project.'[/i] thought Zan. [b]'You'd have to be crazy to be in-charge of a project that uses children.'[/b] Zan watched as the Spartan Captain took up position with others, and the Spartan who did something to Drake came up to him and started talking to Drake, but Zan ignored the conversation. 

[b]“…Well then… Children, board the Izanagi and prepare yourselves for departure. There are Spartans and Omegas on the ship who will protect you, find them and stay with them. Ignore the White Framework as it does its work, and your Father will be coming shortly,”[/b] spoke Lorenzo as he indicated the massive ship before turning towards to adult males. [b]“How’s the status of the ship?”[/b]

[i]'So the ship's name is Izanagi.'[/i] thought Zan. 

[b]"Alright, lets get going then. Everyone on board."[/b] said Ashyln. [b]"Before any more of you decide to do something incredibly stupid."[/b]

Zan walked up to Lorenzo, the left side of his face still twitching. He stood at attention, saluting and commented, "[u]Sir, I would prefer to stay out here and fight, but today is not the time or place, yet. So you will be getting no argument from me, but I figure you are going to need this more then me.[/u]" Zan pulled the gun out of the front of his pants and grabbed onto the barrel, handing the gun to Lorenzo with grip away from him.