I lean back against my pack and wait for any sign of Charlie engaging. All was quiet and soon my mind began to wander, Jack remained silent as well but out of nervousness instead of focus. I looked down at my rifle and admired the sleek design, a product of Tau origin.

The humble pulse rifle, a mainstay of the Tau military. ‘You’d never guess that this thing had the power to take down a space marine, at least on table top it did. Seriously a Strength 5 weapon for normal infantry.’ I shake my head and smile. ‘God I wish I could go back in time. If I knew what would happen I would have enjoyed my peaceful mundane life a lot more.’ I look off into the Jungle. ‘I guess there’s still a chance, I just need to get 50000 points. Easy right.’ I shake my head. ‘Focus.’

For many tense minutes the only sounds I heard were the usual Jungle sounds but eventually that peace was broken. I turned my head to the Jungle as I heard a pop off in the distance. “Looks like it’s go time Jack.” I tell him then take out my laspistol and throw it at him. “Here, and don’t break it.”

He caught the gun then nodded at me before running off to take cover behind a tree. ‘What about me jackass.’ I started to chuckle. ‘Jackass, heh, good one.’ I shook my head to take my mind off my own stupid pun.

I leaned back against my pack then shifted my rifle to my shoulder, looking down the iron sites I waited for my quarry. ‘Come on Charlie stop being such a slow poke. Get that bastard over here so I can kick his ass.’ The trees in front of my started to rustle and then Charlie appeared, sailing through the air his drone in tow. He landed on a tree branch next to me then quickly turned around to face the way he came.

The trees rustled again and then an 8ft tall black armored figure appeared, although there were some dents in the armor. ‘Good job Charlie.’ I thought with a smile before I pulled the trigger on my pulse rifle send a blue burst of plasma at the Predator.

The plasma struck the Predator in the chest making it glow a light red before cooling down. The Predator turned its head towards me and prepared to leap at me but before it got the chance a little red flash of light and a tungsten sabot hit it. The little beam of light did jack shit but the sabot put another dent in its armor.

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‘At least he tried.’ I thought before I pulled the trigger again but by the time the pulse arrived the Predator had already leaped away. ‘At least I tried.’

I looked up and saw the Predator and Charlie clash in mid air. Charlie’s fist had a slight blue glow to it as it connected with the Predator’s fist. As they connected Charlie was knocked back and started to fall but before he reached the ground he gripped onto a tree and almost immediately stopped. The Predator on the other hand simply dropped to the ground.

As the Predator was dropping to the ground I lined up a shot with where I thought it would land and fired. The blue plasma left the muzzle of the rifle but my timing was a bit off so I only managed to clip the armored feet of the Predator. Although that did cause the Predator to land face first instead of feet first.

The Predator put its arms under it in an attempt to get up but was forced back into the ground by another shot from Charlie. Taking advantage of its momentary suppression I let loose another pulse of plasma. The plasma managed to hit the top of its helmet and that caused the Predator to roar in pain.

‘I think I can speed this up.’ I start to focus on the demonic essence in my chest and will it to flow into my palm. The essence acquiesces to my will and like a break in a dam it floods my arm quickly pooling into my palm. Soon a blackish red ball forms above my hand. I concentrate and the ball shifts until it forms a flat disk. I look away from the disk and at the Predator who is still trying and failing to get up. I focus on the struggling form of the Predator then will the disk forward. Like a plate of death the disk shot through the air but it only lightly skimmed the armor on the back of the Predator.

“Damn it, Charlie merk this bastard.” I yelled, displeased that I wasn’t able to kill the Predator. A pop sounded then the thinned armor was pierced by a sabot, and another, and another. Eventually holes riddled the back of the Predator.

The Predator weakly place one arm to the side in an attempt to rise up to its feet. Charlie quickly walked over to it and placed a foot on its back then he put his carbine to the back of its helmet and pulled the trigger. The Predator went limp and everything went quiet.

I breathed a sigh of relief. “These bastards sure are tough.”

“Yeah.” Charlie agreed then he went over to his pack and sat down. “I think we should rest here, I’m exhausted.” He then laid back and closed his eyes.

I sighed. “I guess we’re staying here for the night.” I then glanced down at my watch. ‘6 hours left, huh.’ I laid back and closed my eyes and said. “You have first watch Jack.”

“What? Hey.” But before he could protest anymore I was already asleep.