Sling laughed, and then grimaced in pain for the action as Shana lifted his chin and pronounced his head hollow "Can't be picky in a war zone Marine. Besides, it's clean. Haven't used it on anything yet, so get started already before we get into more trouble than we're already in. I wanna be in fighting shape soon as possible. Got more Covies to kill and they're certainly not gonna wait." He held his helmet over his shattered knee, and motioned for her to start in cutting an area so she could get the shard of bone that was lodged in his leg "Just do the best you can, I'm game for a temporary fix." Not really looking to anyone in particular, or talking to anyone in particular he muttered "I'm no use like this, just getting in the damned way and slowing everyone down".<br/><br/>Looking over to the Marine that had just dropped down the elevator shaft as debris rained down on him he said "You there, Private, what's the word top side? Seen any more of our friends up there?"<br/><br/>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br/><br/>Gladiator nodded to Valkyrie's suggestion "Sounds like a plan. We could use the rest" he said in response over their private line. He held on as Valkyrie began to turn them around so that they could catch up with the soldiers. No one questioned their reappearance and for that he was grateful. About twenty minutes later, after a couple pockets of small resistance that the soldiers thankfully cut down quickly, they arrived at a building with a small contingent of medics and more soldiers occupying it. The building was heavily fortified with barriers, mounted turrets, and ammo crates. A team of medics came up to the battered 'hog, noting right away that Patric wasn't well. After the two Spartans carried him inside, and set him on a makeshift bed, Gladiator collapsed onto the floor beside Patric's bed for a moment. Moving Partic into the building where the medics could work on him, had used the last of his energy reserves. Everything was beginning to blur, his head pounded, and he felt dizzy. Gently, someone coaxed him up onto the bed across from Patric but, how he found the strength to move he didn't know. He knew what this was in the back of his mind.<br/><br/>He was starving, he was dehydrated, and he was exhausted. In short, his body was beginning to rebel and shut down on him in return for all the abuse it had taken for the past few days.<br/><br/>Suddenly, he had to get his helmet off, it was getting too tight. Gladiator grabbed his helmet, and pulled it off roughly, setting it on a table beside his bed. He breathed in a lungful of fresh air, his blue eyes staring up at the ceiling before looking around for Patric and Valkyrie. Upon finding them both, he laid his sweat slicked head against the pillow, and fell into a very deep sleep within a few moments. In those moments, Gladiator didn't dream, his mind was too exhausted and had no energy for that, and he made not a sound as he slept, his handsome features probably the most peaceful they'd been in days. Anyone looking upon him without the helmet, would probably have concluded that he was in his early thirties. Gladiator had a strong jaw, a cleft chin with a scar along the side of it, high cheek bones, and black cropped hair that was slick with sweat, making it shine in whatever light was in the room. A jagged scar came across on his left cheek while another scar marred the middle of his right eyebrow and continued onto the top of his right cheek. A thorough examination of his body would no doubt reveal more scar tissue, most of which would be on his back, shoulders and chest, with a few dotting his arms and legs from his past battles but, if anyone moved him, he didn't feel it. He was completely out. In fact, he barely groaned as the medics removed one of his gauntlets, and stuck an IV into his wrist that would provide him with the much needed missing nutrients his body needed.<br/><br/>"Hey doc, weren't these guys supposed to be invincible or something?" a marine said gesturing to the slumbering behemoth in the blue and gold armor "Looks like they were wrong huh?" he said laughing.<br/><br/>The doctor just shook his head "they're still Human you moron, now shut yer trap Kowalski, before you get it slapped off by one of'em!" he said turning to start his work on the Spartan in white and gold armor, beginning first with gently removing his helmet.<br/><br/>The marine though just waved his hand at the doc "yeah sure, what are they gonna do? Snore on me? Geez! What a bunch of wimps!" he said turning around and beginning to walk out of the room "So much for our<em>super</em>soldiers. Super soldiers, what a laugh."