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Chap 10

"Hello? Blind there?" It was Mavis. I was still sleeping off my injuries from the training session.
"Yeah, he's here. Cryin like a little b***h, but here." Alex had answered the phone.
"We need you guys to come in and....Show the F.N.G.'s how serious we are."
"Alright. If we can get his a** outta bed"
"******** YOU!"
"I'll take that as a yes, Carriker"
"We'll be there in 15." He ended the call, and I, begrudgingly got up.
"Showing the new guy's the ropes?" Kindert asked.
"Yeah." I replied.
"I remember when you did that for me. Scared me shitless."
"Well, look where you are today."
"Sure pays off."

We walked in, and were greeted by applause by the senior officers. Poor rookie's had no idea what was gonna happen.
"Psst, Corin, look at the one with the red hair. Pinned up. Yeah. I'd hit it."
"Shut up. Don't you know who that is? Who she's with? Lay off it man. You ain't got a chance." I looked over at the whispering rookies, and just grinned.
"You realize I can hear you, don't you? Biotic senses. I can hear a whisper 20 yards away. What's your name, Private?"
"Uh... Ritton, John, sir!"
"Ritton, you think this s**t's a joke? Hundred's of men, people you'll learn to be your comrades, friends, brethren, are dying. And yet you stand here and whisper about how you'd "hit it", and that it being MY girl. If I were you, i'd watch your tongue, and show some respect. To me, you, and everyone else here."
"Pfft. Yeah. Whatever. Like I care what some KID tells me." I had no choice but to punch him. Right in his ******** mouth.
"Do you understand that i'm the only reason you're here? That I created this Militia, and I can kick you out. Right now."
"And?"
"And I'd shoot you. The moment you stepped out of this building. And my men would simply say it was a missfire. You're nothing to me. I want to change that. Do you?"
"Piss off." I hit him again."
"Come with me."
"Why? I aint gotta listen to you."
"That's an order Ritton. Pay attention to your commanding officers. And the rest of you, pay attention to these fine people. They may not look it, but they're a great bunch of soldiers, born and bred." Mavis instructed.
"Guys, take over. I'm teaching this whelp his place." I took him along, and I intended to show him something.

"Yeah, a rock, so what?"
"...Do you not realize WHY this is here? This is a monument to great people. If it weren't for them, you'd be maggot food." We were at the Noble-Point monument, the first of many places I intended to show him.
"And? This was over 50 years ago. Not like you were there-" I grabbed him.
"I was there. I fought. I held my dying friends. I saw the once love of my life DIE and there wasn't a DAMN THING I could do. You make me sick. Not realizing what's happening. My five friends died here. My five best friends. And all I could do is watch." A look came across his face, as if he was trying to understand. And failing. I took him to the next place.
"You think one of these old rifles 'l shoot?" I punched him again.
"You dumbass. These rifles are GRAVE MARKERS. Every rifle and helmet you see, is a dead soldier. Look around you. It's a field of graves kid. And yer pissin on it."
"And? Dead people don't mean-" I gave him a black eye. I swear, my fist is gonna break by the end of the day.
"Ya know what, i'm done with monuments. Hold out your hand." He did, and I grabbed it. I made him live everything. The war through my grandfathers eyes, the war through my fathers eyes, and the war through my eyes. Once I let go, he simply fell to his knees.
"You see that? You FEEL that? The feeling of hopelessness and dread, at seeing your friends die? The feeling of how WEAK you are, and how futile fighting is? I live with that feeling. Every day."
"...But why?"
"Because it's all I can do. Fighting is why I was made. But I got friends to help me fight. And it makes s**t worth it."
"And? What makes you think I wanna do this?"
"Why did you join? The only reason I want people in my Militia is to fight. Fight to protect those they love."
"...I wanted pride. And popularity. I thought if I joined, I could get girls, and to be the cool guy."
"Dumbass. The military wont make you cool. It makes you a hero. But it comes with a price. Now, i'll show you some of the things worth fighting for." I gave him the memories that I cherish. The good times. The pleasurable thoughts. The ones I try to keep alive.
"So..that's what you fight for?"
"Yeah. You gotta find a dream and fight for it. No matter what."
"...I got my dream. To find a girl who makes me happy."
"Then use it. Make it the one thing that pulls you through battle. I think we should head back now."
"Yeah." We returned, and the instructional was over.
"I have an announcement. In three days, we will be going to war. A very large war. Now, for many of you new guys, this will be your first action. Don't let that phase you. Follow orders, keep calm, and we outta be able to get out alive."
"You heard em, muppets. Come on, we got more things to do." Mavis walked em away, and we headed home.

"What are we gonna do?" Danni asked.
"About what?" We were in my room, talking the night away.
"About the war. There will be casualties, and there will be problems in the aftermath."
"I'll handle it the best I can."
"It's not always you. We can help."
"Are you sure?"
"I know so. Stop being such a loner. I'm here, Alex is here, Elizabeth is here, Chiru is here, Everyone is."
"I know. But still." She grabbed my hand, and looked me in the eyes. Those damn green eyes of hers.
"Alright alright, I wont try and do everything alone."

"Chiru, come here." She walked over, looking older than eleven.
"Yeah, Alexander?"
"You realize you wont be with us on Friday, right?"
"Yeah. Big war. Nasty stuff. Evil men. You're gonna take care of it."
"Yeah. I need two people to stay here with you, because I wanna spare two men, and staying here with you would be nice. So, you have any-"
"Brick and I will do it!" Blair said.
"Blair, Brick, come here. I got questions."
"Yeah?"
"Why such an interest in her? I mean, you guys protect her a lot."
"Uh...Um...Jeez...I dunno how to say this..."
"Just tell him Blair."
"I'm infertile. I cant have kids. So Brick and I kinda...adopted her. Heh, heh heh..."
"Good enough. You two sit out Friday. Stay here."
"Yes sir."

A day before the war. The war to end it all. Wonderful.
"So, guys, any advice?" Alex asked them.
"Keep calm. We've done worse s**t and survived. Remember New York?" Mitch said.
"Right, New York. That s**t was tough." Alex replied.
"Hey, India. Don't forget that. I was there for that." Jeremy said.
"Damn right. We almost went down." I said. Jeremy, Alex and I were at the monument, talking with the ghost's of M.F.U.
"Jeez. The old times. The only way to describe em is Same s**t, Different day. But it was easy."
"Yeah. I remember having quota's of 50, not 500." Free said.
"Feh. All you boys can talk about is WAR WAR WAR." Mop said, with Emily snickering behind her.
"Stuff it, Mophead." Jeremy retorted.
"Hey, Adamska, gonna stick up for me?!"
"Not my girl." I cracked a smile. Good old times.