The Barracks (Epilogue)
It’s been a year now and things are starting to fall through where they should be, slowly solving like a puzzle. Trent and I moved in with each other in Chicago. He draws while I write. We even did a graphic novel together. Will’s become a police officer. He also helps the rookies in training. We’re still friends, but he lives in Denver. Ty had a demolition job (who would’ve thought?)And lives in Pittsburgh. He has an inner poet in him; I swear he has an inner poet in him. He sends me excellent writings.
As for Abe’s wife’s, she thanked me and said she could tell I cared about him a lot. She sent me a picture. I also got a picture of Jason from the army.
As for the war, we soon won after we attacked the base. We made a deep impact on the world, and they realized that everybody meant something- even the screw-ups in battalion 5.
Oh yeah, about the writing, I’m working on a book about my life in the army. I think I’m going to call it The Barracks.
End
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Departed
Somewhere across the world, somebody would be complaining about their dead end job whining about how things never work out for them, somebody would even try to take their life because it was ‘too much’. Today, I had to bury two of my closest friends and the worst part was, they’d be like all the others- a thirty second memorial on the 8 o’clock news. They deserved much more than that, but I knew in our memories and their families memories, Abe and Twitch would live forever.
We all lined up in our camouflage suits, awaiting the funeral of Abraham Rod Strauss and Jason Michael Dawn. I stood next to will and he seemed as upset as I was. Ty slowly approached the podium; a sad, silent clap followed his presence.
“Ladies and gentlemen, officers and grunts, here lies Abe Strauss and Jason Dawn- both of my closest friends. I don’t think they’d be in caskets if somebody helped us, but I don’t get paid to be unpatriotic.
Dead silence. Ty wiped the sweat away from his eyes.
“Abe and Jason where to of the bravest men I knew. And sometimes I think I didn’t try hard enough, but I can’t beat myself up anymore. Truth be told, those men were both an honor to serve no matter which battalion.”
Everybody cheered at the truth Ty projected. “Wish me luck.” Will said as he inched his way towards the dreaded podium. He seemed like he couldn’t speak. Finally he cleared his throat.
“… I wasn’t exactly best friends with Abe, but I respected him. After a fistfight we had, I apologized for my behavior. We had an understanding of each other after that. As for Tw… I’m sorry, Jason we had our laughter. I tried to comfort him, but he wasn’t cut out for war, he was cut out to be a teacher. I don’t know if anybody knows about this, but Jason was a quiet genius. He knew so much, he should’ve had a degree. And as for everybody else, I’m sorry if I left a bad impression. I didn’t mean to act as I did. Thank you.”
He walked off. It was me and Trent’s turn. We decided we’d share the mic.
“Abe was like a father to us.” I started. “And Jason was like a brother. We were all related not by blood, but by battalion.” Trent chimed in. “They both moved us and they were excellent soldiers. We were all moved deeply” My voice came back. “What we were trying to say is, Abe and Jason; friends, motivation, inspiration, and family of battalion five.
…
Abe and Jason were buried along with my scope, Will’s revolver, Ty’s detonator, Trent’s pen, and a full drawing of Optimus Prime. I haven’t let go yet, but that day made me feel so much better. I grabbed my pen and started writing.
To Mrs. Strauss & Family,
Somewhere across the world, somebody would be complaining about their dead end job whining about how things never work out for them, somebody would even try to take their life because it was ‘too much’. Today, I had to bury two of my closest friends and the worst part was, they’d be like all the others- a thirty second memorial on the 8 o’clock news. They deserved much more than that, but I knew in our memories and their families memories, Abe and Twitch would live forever.
We all lined up in our camouflage suits, awaiting the funeral of Abraham Rod Strauss and Jason Michael Dawn. I stood next to will and he seemed as upset as I was. Ty slowly approached the podium; a sad, silent clap followed his presence.
“Ladies and gentlemen, officers and grunts, here lies Abe Strauss and Jason Dawn- both of my closest friends. I don’t think they’d be in caskets if somebody helped us, but I don’t get paid to be unpatriotic.
Dead silence. Ty wiped the sweat away from his eyes.
“Abe and Jason where to of the bravest men I knew. And sometimes I think I didn’t try hard enough, but I can’t beat myself up anymore. Truth be told, those men were both an honor to serve no matter which battalion.”
Everybody cheered at the truth Ty projected. “Wish me luck.” Will said as he inched his way towards the dreaded podium. He seemed like he couldn’t speak. Finally he cleared his throat.
“… I wasn’t exactly best friends with Abe, but I respected him. After a fistfight we had, I apologized for my behavior. We had an understanding of each other after that. As for Tw… I’m sorry, Jason we had our laughter. I tried to comfort him, but he wasn’t cut out for war, he was cut out to be a teacher. I don’t know if anybody knows about this, but Jason was a quiet genius. He knew so much, he should’ve had a degree. And as for everybody else, I’m sorry if I left a bad impression. I didn’t mean to act as I did. Thank you.”
He walked off. It was me and Trent’s turn. We decided we’d share the mic.
“Abe was like a father to us.” I started. “And Jason was like a brother. We were all related not by blood, but by battalion.” Trent chimed in. “They both moved us and they were excellent soldiers. We were all moved deeply” My voice came back. “What we were trying to say is, Abe and Jason; friends, motivation, inspiration, and family of battalion five.
…
Abe and Jason were buried along with my scope, Will’s revolver, Ty’s detonator, Trent’s pen, and a full drawing of Optimus Prime. I haven’t let go yet, but that day made me feel so much better. I grabbed my pen and started writing.
To Mrs. Strauss & Family,
Bittersweet
I picked myself up and limped down there as fast as I could. “We won!” I yelled. “We won!” But it seemed my other comrades weren’t as happy as I was when I reached the charred ground zero. Trent was praying, Ty was resting his head on his hands, Will was crying.
“What happened?” I asked.
“Abe and Twitch...they…”
“They what?!” Confusion and disbelief drove me to ask, but I already knew.
“They died Andrew.”
I stood there phased. They tried to comfort me, but it didn’t work. I couldn’t breathe. I felt so numb. Me and what was left of my team stared at blood a drenched valley, chewing on our bitter-sweet victory. That’s when we realized the win wasn’t worth it- the Militant’s Warranty was right.
I later found out that Twitch had been stabbed before the explosion and Abe was shot in the head. It was pretty hard to hear. We’re going home in a month so we each decided to do something. Trent finished his mural, Ty wrote farewell letters (which I didn’t have the strength to do), and Will arranged for them to get war hero medals to get buried with. I myself, decided to write the 6th rule for the ‘Mil’. I hesitated for a minute before I wrote on the paper.
6. Win or lose, a piece of your soul will always remain in the barracks
Andrew Compton 2032
“Hey.” Trent walked in and sat next to me.
“Hi.” I said back.
“I can’t believe Twitch died” He said.
“I can.” I stated. First I thought Twitch was just a war hero for being so brave, but now it seems like he just wanted to die, but I don’t want anybody to think badly of him.”
“True.”
“I miss Abe.”
“Me too
A long pause left us both open, the deaths made us feel both exposed.
“You know, when I was out there, I thought I was going to die. So I prayed for us all to make it. But you know what? I think it was their time, and out there was where they belonged.
“True.” I said.
I picked myself up and limped down there as fast as I could. “We won!” I yelled. “We won!” But it seemed my other comrades weren’t as happy as I was when I reached the charred ground zero. Trent was praying, Ty was resting his head on his hands, Will was crying.
“What happened?” I asked.
“Abe and Twitch...they…”
“They what?!” Confusion and disbelief drove me to ask, but I already knew.
“They died Andrew.”
I stood there phased. They tried to comfort me, but it didn’t work. I couldn’t breathe. I felt so numb. Me and what was left of my team stared at blood a drenched valley, chewing on our bitter-sweet victory. That’s when we realized the win wasn’t worth it- the Militant’s Warranty was right.
I later found out that Twitch had been stabbed before the explosion and Abe was shot in the head. It was pretty hard to hear. We’re going home in a month so we each decided to do something. Trent finished his mural, Ty wrote farewell letters (which I didn’t have the strength to do), and Will arranged for them to get war hero medals to get buried with. I myself, decided to write the 6th rule for the ‘Mil’. I hesitated for a minute before I wrote on the paper.
6. Win or lose, a piece of your soul will always remain in the barracks
Andrew Compton 2032
“Hey.” Trent walked in and sat next to me.
“Hi.” I said back.
“I can’t believe Twitch died” He said.
“I can.” I stated. First I thought Twitch was just a war hero for being so brave, but now it seems like he just wanted to die, but I don’t want anybody to think badly of him.”
“True.”
“I miss Abe.”
“Me too
A long pause left us both open, the deaths made us feel both exposed.
“You know, when I was out there, I thought I was going to die. So I prayed for us all to make it. But you know what? I think it was their time, and out there was where they belonged.
“True.” I said.
7. Takeover
There it was- the second of ten bases Mexico had (we destroyed one). American soil taken by South American soldiers, It didn’t matter what nationality they were from, where they were from, this was proving ground.
We crept down to the camp and checked our materials. “You ready?” Abe asked. We all nodded and Ty lobbed a grenade on top of a tent. Boom! Whoever came out, we pulped with bullets. We never stopped moving, we never stopped shooting. Eventually I just saw a blur of us firing. I forgot how many lives I stole, how many clips I empty, how many tents we’ve burned. I don’t think I want to remember something so painful. While I shot, I fantasized of being a hero. With a kill count of 56, I’d get a badge and everybody would give me congrats.
But it wasn’t like that. Instead, we’re walking through a maze of tents and I hear a gunshot. Trent shoots behind me and then says “Oh my god.” Trent whispers to Abe and they look at me. “What?” Abe looked down. “You’re bleeding son.” He was right. I looked down and saw a couple small holes in my leg. I must have been in shock because I told them I was fine. I tried walking and looked at my leg. It was bleeding profusely what looked like a shotgun injury. After four steps, I fell. My eyes slowly shut.
I heard voices.
“Wrap his leg!”
“Let’s go! Let’s go!”
I got picked up.
Fifteen minutes later, I got put back on the floor. I sat up. They had put me on a hill a short distance away. I couldn’t move my leg. I took my tripod out and drew the sniper rifle from my back. I rested it in the tripod and looked through the scope.
I could see parts of my squad fighting. I could see Will blowing people away with a revolver and a smg. Somebody popped out in front of him. I picked him off with my rifle which left a look of shock on Will’s face. Then he identified me on the hill and mouthed ‘Thank you.’ We were neutral now.
I saw Trent holding the crucifix in his hand tightly again. I could just tell he didn’t want to be there. I shot nearby enemies. And finally, I saw Ty yelling at everybody and shooting an M-16. I felt movement in my leg. I pulled out my med-kit and started working on it. Thirty seconds later, I saw and explosion. I hurried to the sniper rifle and looked. Ty had set an explosion off. The air was stagnant and I saw most of my crew left. We had won!
There it was- the second of ten bases Mexico had (we destroyed one). American soil taken by South American soldiers, It didn’t matter what nationality they were from, where they were from, this was proving ground.
We crept down to the camp and checked our materials. “You ready?” Abe asked. We all nodded and Ty lobbed a grenade on top of a tent. Boom! Whoever came out, we pulped with bullets. We never stopped moving, we never stopped shooting. Eventually I just saw a blur of us firing. I forgot how many lives I stole, how many clips I empty, how many tents we’ve burned. I don’t think I want to remember something so painful. While I shot, I fantasized of being a hero. With a kill count of 56, I’d get a badge and everybody would give me congrats.
But it wasn’t like that. Instead, we’re walking through a maze of tents and I hear a gunshot. Trent shoots behind me and then says “Oh my god.” Trent whispers to Abe and they look at me. “What?” Abe looked down. “You’re bleeding son.” He was right. I looked down and saw a couple small holes in my leg. I must have been in shock because I told them I was fine. I tried walking and looked at my leg. It was bleeding profusely what looked like a shotgun injury. After four steps, I fell. My eyes slowly shut.
I heard voices.
“Wrap his leg!”
“Let’s go! Let’s go!”
I got picked up.
Fifteen minutes later, I got put back on the floor. I sat up. They had put me on a hill a short distance away. I couldn’t move my leg. I took my tripod out and drew the sniper rifle from my back. I rested it in the tripod and looked through the scope.
I could see parts of my squad fighting. I could see Will blowing people away with a revolver and a smg. Somebody popped out in front of him. I picked him off with my rifle which left a look of shock on Will’s face. Then he identified me on the hill and mouthed ‘Thank you.’ We were neutral now.
I saw Trent holding the crucifix in his hand tightly again. I could just tell he didn’t want to be there. I shot nearby enemies. And finally, I saw Ty yelling at everybody and shooting an M-16. I felt movement in my leg. I pulled out my med-kit and started working on it. Thirty seconds later, I saw and explosion. I hurried to the sniper rifle and looked. Ty had set an explosion off. The air was stagnant and I saw most of my crew left. We had won!
6. Retaliation
We’ve never woken up peacefully, but this day was different for the worst.
As I was sleeping I dreamed. I dreamed my mother wasn’t an alcoholic. I dreamed my sister came home the day she ran away; I dreamed I had a dad. Everything was right. Then I woke up and looked at my cot, my rifle next to me, and the endless sand outside, and my dreams died.
Tink Tink I heard. I got that feeling of your gut tightening when you’re in trouble. Because that noise is a noise a soldier can’t mistake for anything else… it was a hand grenade.
BOOM! I heard an explosion downstairs. I grabbed my weapons and went to the stairwell. A swarm of South American soldiers flooded through a hole through our wall. The one who threw the hand grenade was using the door as cover. I shot him in the shoulder as soon as he leaned over. “Guys!” I screamed, calling for help. They all charged down and I dropped to the floor to avoid their fire. All I could see were legs, so I started shooting at their shins. As one of them had to reload, I rolled down the steps with my shoulder and started picking more off.
The mob showed resiliency, but eventually, it subsided into nothing. After that, we hurried outside, tripping on dead bodies. When we walked outside, we saw a cargo truck we knew had to be filled with soldiers. We didn’t have enough bullets to fight them all off, but then, I remembered something that would help us fight them.
Remote in his hand, two land mines forty feet away.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m waiting,”
“Waiting for them.”
“Ty!” I yelled. “Those mines you planted! Where’s the remote.” It took him a minute, but when he understood. On his belt were numerous remotes. He grabbed a handheld one with a green button. He waited until the truck was forty feet away. “Three…two… one.” He counted down. Click The mines sent the cargo truck spinning until it eventually flipped over. It stopped. Abe put his hand up, signaling for us to wait. He slowly walked towards the truck aiming at the back. I held my breathe, hoping nothing would happen to Abe, or anybody else here. He fired in the back of the truck, with a semi-automatic-sounding combat shotgun. He eventually signaled we could move.
“Where are we going?” Twitch asked. Abe turned around. “Honestly, I don’t know. Trent held a crucifix in his hand, praying, and thanking god for keeping us all alive. Abe pulled out a walkie-talkie “Come in all battalions.” He called in. “Rodger” repeated by the other four battalions. “We’ve taken fire, need assistance.” He begged. “What battalion?” One asked. “Battalion five.” Abe responded regretfully. Silence. “Hello? Hello?” Abe checked. No response- they didn’t want to deal with failures. Abe cursed and threw the walkie-talkie, he didn’t need it anymore.
We were stuck, alone, and we all knew it, but we couldn’t give up. Abe stood on the top of the cargo truck, his height making him tower over us even more. “Alright men, we may be the worst of the bunch, but I don’t give a damn. I think we should make a name for ourselves. We should address the fighting fearlessly, because to them, we’re already dead! Whoever wants to help give battalion five a good name and seek vengeance on these South American soldiers, follow me!
We all cheered, marching toward South American territory. I felt infinite.
We’ve never woken up peacefully, but this day was different for the worst.
As I was sleeping I dreamed. I dreamed my mother wasn’t an alcoholic. I dreamed my sister came home the day she ran away; I dreamed I had a dad. Everything was right. Then I woke up and looked at my cot, my rifle next to me, and the endless sand outside, and my dreams died.
Tink Tink I heard. I got that feeling of your gut tightening when you’re in trouble. Because that noise is a noise a soldier can’t mistake for anything else… it was a hand grenade.
BOOM! I heard an explosion downstairs. I grabbed my weapons and went to the stairwell. A swarm of South American soldiers flooded through a hole through our wall. The one who threw the hand grenade was using the door as cover. I shot him in the shoulder as soon as he leaned over. “Guys!” I screamed, calling for help. They all charged down and I dropped to the floor to avoid their fire. All I could see were legs, so I started shooting at their shins. As one of them had to reload, I rolled down the steps with my shoulder and started picking more off.
The mob showed resiliency, but eventually, it subsided into nothing. After that, we hurried outside, tripping on dead bodies. When we walked outside, we saw a cargo truck we knew had to be filled with soldiers. We didn’t have enough bullets to fight them all off, but then, I remembered something that would help us fight them.
Remote in his hand, two land mines forty feet away.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m waiting,”
“Waiting for them.”
“Ty!” I yelled. “Those mines you planted! Where’s the remote.” It took him a minute, but when he understood. On his belt were numerous remotes. He grabbed a handheld one with a green button. He waited until the truck was forty feet away. “Three…two… one.” He counted down. Click The mines sent the cargo truck spinning until it eventually flipped over. It stopped. Abe put his hand up, signaling for us to wait. He slowly walked towards the truck aiming at the back. I held my breathe, hoping nothing would happen to Abe, or anybody else here. He fired in the back of the truck, with a semi-automatic-sounding combat shotgun. He eventually signaled we could move.
“Where are we going?” Twitch asked. Abe turned around. “Honestly, I don’t know. Trent held a crucifix in his hand, praying, and thanking god for keeping us all alive. Abe pulled out a walkie-talkie “Come in all battalions.” He called in. “Rodger” repeated by the other four battalions. “We’ve taken fire, need assistance.” He begged. “What battalion?” One asked. “Battalion five.” Abe responded regretfully. Silence. “Hello? Hello?” Abe checked. No response- they didn’t want to deal with failures. Abe cursed and threw the walkie-talkie, he didn’t need it anymore.
We were stuck, alone, and we all knew it, but we couldn’t give up. Abe stood on the top of the cargo truck, his height making him tower over us even more. “Alright men, we may be the worst of the bunch, but I don’t give a damn. I think we should make a name for ourselves. We should address the fighting fearlessly, because to them, we’re already dead! Whoever wants to help give battalion five a good name and seek vengeance on these South American soldiers, follow me!
We all cheered, marching toward South American territory. I felt infinite.
5. Dominance
The next day Twitch was fine. “Just a flesh wound.” Ty told us. We sat outside and talked. I had a question on my mind. “Twitch, why do you shake so much when you feel or hear rockets?” I paused. It had evoked something in him. “When I was twelve…My father stepped on a landmine. I had a bit off a seizure.” He looked at me through his thick-rimmed glasses. “Whenever I feel the ground shake, I think of the old war site we lived on, I think of the day I witnessed my dad’s death.” He put a lot of effort in refusing to tear up. “I’m sorry” was all I could say.
Then we felt our pins vibrate. I looked at it and it was glowing. Everybody came outside as we looked at each other’s ranks.
Twitch: The Brave {Two stars}
Trent: Reinforcement {Two stars}
Will: General {Five stars}
Ty: Ballistics expert {Two Stars}
Our ranks changed. I stared at mine.
Valiant {Three Stars}
I was surprised. With all the panics, the skirmishes, I was a soldier that belonged here.
As everybody saw my badge, I felt like I got everybody’s approval. But as they continued to examine each other’s merits, I saw something moving in the distance. I felt under my shirt for the string that was attached to it and pulled out my sniper rifle scope. I peered through the scope to see a tall man whose head touched the roof of the van.
I rose and started sprinting towards the van (which was now was veering in a controlled-type-manner), yelling his old squad leaders name. “Abe! Abe!” When people heard the name, they started following me. “Stop!” Twitch yelled at those pursuing me. “This is going to be their Kodak® moment” They stopped to let me greet the man I saved.
As soon as Abe got out, my emotions took over me and I hugged him as tight as I could. He patted my back to reassure me he was there for me. “How ya doin kid?” I snapped back to reality and let go of him. “Whoa! I yelled. “You have mechanical legs!” I felt stupid for pointing out the apparent. He ignored the rudeness of the question and said: “Come on kid, let’s take a walk.”
“So I was in the hospital, and bright lights were being shined on me daily, so then I signed something and woke up with robotic legs. But hey, it’s the 230’s right?” He plugged the generation’s nickname.
“They’re cool.” He addressed the legs.
“Yeah, if you press a button, it bends back, like the mech legs on old Japanese anime’s. Speaking of which, does Twitch still talk about Star Wars and Gundam’s and stuff like that?”
“Yeah”
“Oh man, he’s gonna be so jealous of me.”
We laughed for a minute, but then the atmosphere became humorless.
“Did you write you write the letter?” Abe asked.
“To who?” I asked.
“My family.”
“Oh…no.” I said feeling at fault.
“Why not?”
“For some reason… I though you’d be back.”
“Well, you sholda’ done it anyway. Just in case.”
We kept walking until we reached the base. Everybody seemed to give warm welcomes except one. After he complimented Trent’s picture, he addressed us all. “Alright team, fir…”
“Stand down soldier!” A voice emerged- Will’s voice.
“Excuse me?” Abe approached him.
“I’m the leader now.” He pointed to his pin with a smug look of confidence. That’s when Abe pointed to his. “I’m a general. So I believe you’re the one who should be standing down.” He turned around to discuss matters with us again. Will snapped back. “Bullshit, you haven’t done anything since you lost your legs. They probably just felt bad for the crippled.” We were all hushed in tension as a strange look of desolation, rage, and pain crossed Abe’s face all at once. Then he erupted. Turning around, he swiftly struck Will in the face. Will retaliated with a headlock and returned blows to Abe. We all broke into an uncontrolled screaming as they continued to fight. Eventually, Abe broke free and kicked Will down, taking the fight to the floor. As the fight continued, blood started coming down Will’s face. “I’m not a crippled! I’m not a crippled! Abe yelled, perhaps, disturbed with the cruel truth.
Bam!
Trent shot in the air, demanding everybody’s attention. “Do you see what’s happening?! Do you see what this war’s doing?! It’s turned us against each other! Over a rank?!” His voice starting breaking as he started tearing up. He walked away from us- seemingly ashamed. “This is supposed to be a reunion.” He said, slamming the door behind him. As Abe went to comfort him, his metal leg kicked against Will’s ribs.
The next day Twitch was fine. “Just a flesh wound.” Ty told us. We sat outside and talked. I had a question on my mind. “Twitch, why do you shake so much when you feel or hear rockets?” I paused. It had evoked something in him. “When I was twelve…My father stepped on a landmine. I had a bit off a seizure.” He looked at me through his thick-rimmed glasses. “Whenever I feel the ground shake, I think of the old war site we lived on, I think of the day I witnessed my dad’s death.” He put a lot of effort in refusing to tear up. “I’m sorry” was all I could say.
Then we felt our pins vibrate. I looked at it and it was glowing. Everybody came outside as we looked at each other’s ranks.
Twitch: The Brave {Two stars}
Trent: Reinforcement {Two stars}
Will: General {Five stars}
Ty: Ballistics expert {Two Stars}
Our ranks changed. I stared at mine.
Valiant {Three Stars}
I was surprised. With all the panics, the skirmishes, I was a soldier that belonged here.
As everybody saw my badge, I felt like I got everybody’s approval. But as they continued to examine each other’s merits, I saw something moving in the distance. I felt under my shirt for the string that was attached to it and pulled out my sniper rifle scope. I peered through the scope to see a tall man whose head touched the roof of the van.
I rose and started sprinting towards the van (which was now was veering in a controlled-type-manner), yelling his old squad leaders name. “Abe! Abe!” When people heard the name, they started following me. “Stop!” Twitch yelled at those pursuing me. “This is going to be their Kodak® moment” They stopped to let me greet the man I saved.
As soon as Abe got out, my emotions took over me and I hugged him as tight as I could. He patted my back to reassure me he was there for me. “How ya doin kid?” I snapped back to reality and let go of him. “Whoa! I yelled. “You have mechanical legs!” I felt stupid for pointing out the apparent. He ignored the rudeness of the question and said: “Come on kid, let’s take a walk.”
“So I was in the hospital, and bright lights were being shined on me daily, so then I signed something and woke up with robotic legs. But hey, it’s the 230’s right?” He plugged the generation’s nickname.
“They’re cool.” He addressed the legs.
“Yeah, if you press a button, it bends back, like the mech legs on old Japanese anime’s. Speaking of which, does Twitch still talk about Star Wars and Gundam’s and stuff like that?”
“Yeah”
“Oh man, he’s gonna be so jealous of me.”
We laughed for a minute, but then the atmosphere became humorless.
“Did you write you write the letter?” Abe asked.
“To who?” I asked.
“My family.”
“Oh…no.” I said feeling at fault.
“Why not?”
“For some reason… I though you’d be back.”
“Well, you sholda’ done it anyway. Just in case.”
We kept walking until we reached the base. Everybody seemed to give warm welcomes except one. After he complimented Trent’s picture, he addressed us all. “Alright team, fir…”
“Stand down soldier!” A voice emerged- Will’s voice.
“Excuse me?” Abe approached him.
“I’m the leader now.” He pointed to his pin with a smug look of confidence. That’s when Abe pointed to his. “I’m a general. So I believe you’re the one who should be standing down.” He turned around to discuss matters with us again. Will snapped back. “Bullshit, you haven’t done anything since you lost your legs. They probably just felt bad for the crippled.” We were all hushed in tension as a strange look of desolation, rage, and pain crossed Abe’s face all at once. Then he erupted. Turning around, he swiftly struck Will in the face. Will retaliated with a headlock and returned blows to Abe. We all broke into an uncontrolled screaming as they continued to fight. Eventually, Abe broke free and kicked Will down, taking the fight to the floor. As the fight continued, blood started coming down Will’s face. “I’m not a crippled! I’m not a crippled! Abe yelled, perhaps, disturbed with the cruel truth.
Bam!
Trent shot in the air, demanding everybody’s attention. “Do you see what’s happening?! Do you see what this war’s doing?! It’s turned us against each other! Over a rank?!” His voice starting breaking as he started tearing up. He walked away from us- seemingly ashamed. “This is supposed to be a reunion.” He said, slamming the door behind him. As Abe went to comfort him, his metal leg kicked against Will’s ribs.
4. New
The next day I walked outside and saw Ty. He sat there with a remote in his hand, two land mines forty feet away. He was seemed zoned out. I sat next to him. “What are you doing?” I asked. He sat still. “I’m waiting,” He said. “Waiting for them.” I paused. “They’re not coming, we’re going to them.” It seemed to encourage him to fight. He got up and we both went back inside.
A lot of stuff has changed since Abe left. Me and Trent have become best friends. He draws pictures and stuff, and I write stories based on what I see. I’m okay I guess. Twitch acts more paranoid. I try to comfort him, but it usually doesn’t work. Still he has a reputation to be the best solider out of all of us. And Will has become the leader. We don’t know what happened, he just adopted it. I don’t like him. No one can replace Abe.
As soon as me and Ty walk in, Will gets up. “Alright, today we’re doing what we Adid a week ago: observing, taking pictures.” Now Trent, Andrew, Twitch, your team 1, Me and Ty are team two.
“What are you guys doing?” Twitch asked Will.
“You’ll see what we’re gonna be doing. Come on Ty.”
They headed out. We all looked at each other for a second. I shrugged and we left. We gad the camera, we took the pictures. It wasn’t hard, but the stealth would be a challenge.
“How far are we?” Trent asked tiredly. I looked at the watch. “About ten minutes away.” He seemed relieved. “You know the children of 2032 are supposed to be he ‘Generation of Regression’. Twitch randomly added, half- mocking the quote. We all knew it was true though. I still felt insulted though, all the fighting we do that could potentially change the world if we lose and they just spit in our faces.
I stared in the distance for a minute. “Is that…” I started. We hid from two enemy troopers. “What are we gonna do?” Twitch asked. Trent pulled his glock from his holster and dived sideways.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
I looked to where he dove. Trent wasn’t there. Did he die? I poked my head out to see Trent standing over two enemies. “Generation of Regression huh?”
We were quick to leave, knowing somebody would find those two. Trent and Twitch held their weapons up while I kept my pistol to the side. “Trent, I didn’t think you would do something like that. I said while we ran. He turned around, looking deep into my eyes. “War changes people.” I understood.
We finally stopped. We had an overview of a tiny village, constructed by dozens of green tents and small fires with pots and pans next to it. We could hear Trent zoom and snap the pictures as he lay down to get a better view. Twitch started to shake.
“Twitch, are you okay?” I asked.
“I can’t take this anymore.” He twitched.
“What?”
“I gotta do it for Abe.” He looked at me with guilt before he said…
“I’m sorry Andrew.” I was puzzled.
Within seconds, Twitch jumped onto the hill in front of us, and started scaling down to the enemy base. “Twitch!” I yelled. “Twitch!” The nervousness made me feel dizzy. “Damn!” I paused. I reached for my radio and called in. “Yes, I need an air strike in fifteen minutes at these coordinates…” Trent stared at me like I was crazy. I was. “I’ll be back in fifteen minutes.” I started climbing down. “Andrew!” Trent called. I turned around. He threw his glock 18 at me. I tossed my sniper rifle. A fair trade (and something he could bury me with if I die).
As soon as I got there, I could hear the burst of Twitch’s SMG. I stealthily weaved through the tents, trying to find him. Eventually, I did. He was surrounded by five soldiers in a line, playing with him as cats do with mice.
“Any last requests?”
One asked. I crept behind them and in front of Twitch. He saw me, but played cool. “Duck!” He did and I stood up. I gunned down the five soldiers. They all fell down and Twitch started spitting on them. “Twitch, we gotta go!” I said. “Why?” he asked. “Because I ordered an air strike!” His eyes grew wide open and we started running.
“Come on Twitch, we’re almost there!”
He started to moan. “Andrew I’m…”
Bang!
He was interrupted by a shot that pierced through his shoulder. He looks at it, but keeps running. “Twitch!” I tried stopping him. “I’m fine! Just keep run…keep” He fainted, but I grabbed him into a fireman’s carry before he even touched the floor. Rat Tat Tat! I blind fired behind me as I try to run with Twitch on my shoulders. “Where are you guys?” Ty asked on the radio. I responded, holding my walkie-talkie in one hand, just barely holding Twitch. “At the enemy base”
“WHAT!” I heard on the receiving end.
“It’s a long story.” I tried not to put the blame on my fallen comrade. Behind me I heard a group of enemies grouping. “Incoming.” Ty warned. Whoosh! I heard it was one of Ty’s rockets. I .The ground shook as the impact of an explosion and shrapnel hit our enemies. Twitch almost went into a seizure. I kept going. “Thanks.” I wish I knew where he was. Rat tat tattatattta tat! Twitch’s body stiffened as he fired his smg then went limp. I turned real quick and saw he picked off the rest of the surviving enemies. I admired his perseverance. I escaped the base twenty seconds later and witnessed the most incredible thing I ever saw- what Will and Ty set up.
“Turn around.” Ty instructed. I did to see an explosion make the ground shoot up look a geyser. Several more of them exploded, eventually causing the whole base to implode.
“Beautiful.” Ty did a fake cry through the radio. “Beautiful.”
“Damn straight.” I said. “Meet me at the base.”
When I got back, my shoulders were so sore that I couldn’t tend to Twitch’s wounds, but at least I could say I had taken out the bullet and stopped the bleeding.
Trent went into the base and got some spray paint cans to do a mural on the wall of the Barrack. An hour he had Battalion 5: The Base written and an outline of a gas mask. He also had a tall outline. We all knew who it was.
“You don’t belong here; you belong in an art gallery or something.” I told him. “I know.” He said depressed.
The next day I walked outside and saw Ty. He sat there with a remote in his hand, two land mines forty feet away. He was seemed zoned out. I sat next to him. “What are you doing?” I asked. He sat still. “I’m waiting,” He said. “Waiting for them.” I paused. “They’re not coming, we’re going to them.” It seemed to encourage him to fight. He got up and we both went back inside.
A lot of stuff has changed since Abe left. Me and Trent have become best friends. He draws pictures and stuff, and I write stories based on what I see. I’m okay I guess. Twitch acts more paranoid. I try to comfort him, but it usually doesn’t work. Still he has a reputation to be the best solider out of all of us. And Will has become the leader. We don’t know what happened, he just adopted it. I don’t like him. No one can replace Abe.
As soon as me and Ty walk in, Will gets up. “Alright, today we’re doing what we Adid a week ago: observing, taking pictures.” Now Trent, Andrew, Twitch, your team 1, Me and Ty are team two.
“What are you guys doing?” Twitch asked Will.
“You’ll see what we’re gonna be doing. Come on Ty.”
They headed out. We all looked at each other for a second. I shrugged and we left. We gad the camera, we took the pictures. It wasn’t hard, but the stealth would be a challenge.
“How far are we?” Trent asked tiredly. I looked at the watch. “About ten minutes away.” He seemed relieved. “You know the children of 2032 are supposed to be he ‘Generation of Regression’. Twitch randomly added, half- mocking the quote. We all knew it was true though. I still felt insulted though, all the fighting we do that could potentially change the world if we lose and they just spit in our faces.
I stared in the distance for a minute. “Is that…” I started. We hid from two enemy troopers. “What are we gonna do?” Twitch asked. Trent pulled his glock from his holster and dived sideways.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
I looked to where he dove. Trent wasn’t there. Did he die? I poked my head out to see Trent standing over two enemies. “Generation of Regression huh?”
We were quick to leave, knowing somebody would find those two. Trent and Twitch held their weapons up while I kept my pistol to the side. “Trent, I didn’t think you would do something like that. I said while we ran. He turned around, looking deep into my eyes. “War changes people.” I understood.
We finally stopped. We had an overview of a tiny village, constructed by dozens of green tents and small fires with pots and pans next to it. We could hear Trent zoom and snap the pictures as he lay down to get a better view. Twitch started to shake.
“Twitch, are you okay?” I asked.
“I can’t take this anymore.” He twitched.
“What?”
“I gotta do it for Abe.” He looked at me with guilt before he said…
“I’m sorry Andrew.” I was puzzled.
Within seconds, Twitch jumped onto the hill in front of us, and started scaling down to the enemy base. “Twitch!” I yelled. “Twitch!” The nervousness made me feel dizzy. “Damn!” I paused. I reached for my radio and called in. “Yes, I need an air strike in fifteen minutes at these coordinates…” Trent stared at me like I was crazy. I was. “I’ll be back in fifteen minutes.” I started climbing down. “Andrew!” Trent called. I turned around. He threw his glock 18 at me. I tossed my sniper rifle. A fair trade (and something he could bury me with if I die).
As soon as I got there, I could hear the burst of Twitch’s SMG. I stealthily weaved through the tents, trying to find him. Eventually, I did. He was surrounded by five soldiers in a line, playing with him as cats do with mice.
“Any last requests?”
One asked. I crept behind them and in front of Twitch. He saw me, but played cool. “Duck!” He did and I stood up. I gunned down the five soldiers. They all fell down and Twitch started spitting on them. “Twitch, we gotta go!” I said. “Why?” he asked. “Because I ordered an air strike!” His eyes grew wide open and we started running.
“Come on Twitch, we’re almost there!”
He started to moan. “Andrew I’m…”
Bang!
He was interrupted by a shot that pierced through his shoulder. He looks at it, but keeps running. “Twitch!” I tried stopping him. “I’m fine! Just keep run…keep” He fainted, but I grabbed him into a fireman’s carry before he even touched the floor. Rat Tat Tat! I blind fired behind me as I try to run with Twitch on my shoulders. “Where are you guys?” Ty asked on the radio. I responded, holding my walkie-talkie in one hand, just barely holding Twitch. “At the enemy base”
“WHAT!” I heard on the receiving end.
“It’s a long story.” I tried not to put the blame on my fallen comrade. Behind me I heard a group of enemies grouping. “Incoming.” Ty warned. Whoosh! I heard it was one of Ty’s rockets. I .The ground shook as the impact of an explosion and shrapnel hit our enemies. Twitch almost went into a seizure. I kept going. “Thanks.” I wish I knew where he was. Rat tat tattatattta tat! Twitch’s body stiffened as he fired his smg then went limp. I turned real quick and saw he picked off the rest of the surviving enemies. I admired his perseverance. I escaped the base twenty seconds later and witnessed the most incredible thing I ever saw- what Will and Ty set up.
“Turn around.” Ty instructed. I did to see an explosion make the ground shoot up look a geyser. Several more of them exploded, eventually causing the whole base to implode.
“Beautiful.” Ty did a fake cry through the radio. “Beautiful.”
“Damn straight.” I said. “Meet me at the base.”
When I got back, my shoulders were so sore that I couldn’t tend to Twitch’s wounds, but at least I could say I had taken out the bullet and stopped the bleeding.
Trent went into the base and got some spray paint cans to do a mural on the wall of the Barrack. An hour he had Battalion 5: The Base written and an outline of a gas mask. He also had a tall outline. We all knew who it was.
“You don’t belong here; you belong in an art gallery or something.” I told him. “I know.” He said depressed.
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