January 17, 2134
Jennings, Louisiana
77Please respect copyright.PENANAghtUf3Ellk
“Crazy fucking war stories.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAAQEzUHwIIA
“I heard he once used his knife to fight off an entire Fed Division. He kept a sharpening brick in one hand and the knife in the other, swiping the knife over the brick before slashing the throats of his enemy!”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA3tC9stYSb2
“You must've heard this one. He took an entire band of prisoners, and made primitive weapons from the nearby forests. He used a bow to dismantle an entire, fucking, Command Staff AND their guards.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAxW72mU6uVy
“Bullshit! You ever hear when he took out three Tigers! Bare handed!”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA8rS9JrM2Tq
The war stories of Lieuteniant Valkyrie were exceptionally bold. In those stories he was brave, fearless, honorable, and respected. Yet the Lieutenant Valkyrie I knew was something different.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAPU4oJvfVnw
I didn’t disagree with him, but I also didn’t want to agree. I was stuck in a very unfamiliar spot.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAFUeK1vUkxX
By the fifteenth, we successfully secured all of Jennings. Six Divisions of two-hundred twenty men combined arrived. A Command Center was built on the airfield, and a working supply line connected us to Welsh. Helicopters transported troops, tanks, and artillery pieces into the city. We built a forward observation post at the school.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAnjZDMpB7va
All of the civilians were rounded up and escorted out of the city. It was too much of a security breach to have them roaming around the streets.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAUe38InySCr
Our next objective was to take Crowley, but Lieutenant Valkyrie ordered us to enjoy ourselves for a few days. How the hell could we enjoy ourselves in a broken city? Where the only bodies were dead. Where the air smelt of gunpowder and burning metal. Where the sky was dark with the plumes of smoke.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAIvkXWdhPKT
I found myself in the church a lot. Not to pray, but to get away from all the noise. There was another one on the southern side of the city. I sometimes switched between the northern one and the southern one. However, the walk to both was what I liked the most.
77Please respect copyright.PENANALaoZPIigfm
I was sitting at the northern church, where the blood stained the floor and walls like dried paint. Tyrese walked in, smoking a cigarette. He smiled, “came to pray?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANACA8tf3PuTm
I chuckled, “somethin like that.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANADLO0JakGdk
“Mind if I join your… praying?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANADu3IdTAv0Y
I tapped the wood beside me. He sat down and gave me a cigarette. I lit the cigarette with a match and asked, “you think we’re winning out west?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAn0TjUt7ubR
“No fucking clue. I try not to worry about that too much. A bit busy on the east side. Ya know?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANACUmzJUjn4O
“Yeah, I know. Tyrese, I gotta ask you something.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAryIriFongM
“Mate, just call me Ty. I don’t like hearing you drag my name out like that.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAMMj6zwqwc1
“Yeah, yeah. Look, how do you feel about the Lt?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANApXqemFUBfX
“What do you mean?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAiUjLat1IQf
“I saw the guy toss fucking people out a second story dude. Then he shot a bunch of prisoners into a fucking pond.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAAG6jeDPIXQ
“Guy’s got issues.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAYFZ7gIkHfH
“Too many issues to handle. I thought I slept bad.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAzAAE01ZOAg
“You don’t mess with a guy like that. He’ll hunt you down, even after he’s long been dead.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA4JhlSbwoRN
“You sure don’t.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAAwEFRHrxVo
I heard the faint flicker of a lighter. I turned around to see Lt Valkyrie standing a few feet behind us, in the aisle. He lit his cigarette with only his eyes lit by the flame. He walked towards us, “having a good time gentlemen?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAihDqlduo8K
Ty sighed, “yes Lt. Just finishing up here.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAGpqGpFZtor
Ty got up to leave, but Valkyrie held his hand out, “please- sit. I need to talk.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAlW4yLlixNN
Ty sat back down. Valkyrie continued, “I heard you were in Bell City Robinson?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAdSzfbrQJTj
He nodded, “yes- yes Lt.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANANTdi7xWK8d
He puffed smoke towards the ceiling, “my two sons died there. They were prisoners. Tied up to a post and shot dead for the entire town to witness. After a few days, the crows had feasted on their bodies, and the Feds let them rot away on fucking posts like damned dogs. So, I tend to make my life a lil easier, and skip out on the paperwork. For some Fed cunt to have a grand life back in our NCC? Fuck that.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAd6IX8KP2zl
He threw out his half finished cigarette, “Captain Marshall is arriving tomorrow with the Eastern Front High Command. They want to personally congratulate us on our win. Be ready for it.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAHJ084PS09L
He turned away and chuckled, “oh, and Rogers. I handle those issues perfectly fine. Sleep isn’t for the likes of us.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAF1i8q2deed
Ty and I went to the local pub, which didn’t have any barmaids or barmen, but a few Rangers took the liberty of being the servers. Ty and I sat at the bar and smoked another cigarette. He chuckled at something and shook his head.
77Please respect copyright.PENANA31wZWyBMnT
I asked, “what’s up?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAUXRRHYm7SG
“Funny how we take a town and throw out all the whores and bartenders. Should have kept someone around.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANALYe9y7GI1u
“There will be plenty of whores and bartenders in Crowley. Hopefully life isn’t too hard up there.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANApOn58C6lLz
“Hopefully something gets me hard.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA7MvVB4IEm9
I nudged him, “I thought I did?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAJm7L2sc8og
“Sometimes. Maybe if you squeeze your chest together you might.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAoQUN3Xs1FA
After we shared a few drinks we left the bar and walked down the street to a roadblock. We chatted with the Rangers there for a while, until we saw a convoy approaching the roadblock. Ty sighed, “this must be our superiors.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA77uI4HqYYS
The convoy turned into the airfield. A Ranger spit on the ground, “fucking jokes. That’s all they are. Pigs who walk on two legs.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAXwi2GQ7c9k
Ty and I returned back to our observation post. We sat in an old classroom and watched the road from our window. The field beside the road was covered in tank carcasses and dead trucks. Confederate bodies laid out everywhere. The ones who tried to retreat were torn apart.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAP1E9n5Pewq
I opened up a nearby math book and asked Ty, “have you ever learned math?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAaw1Mtbpkza
He shook his head, “no. I’ve never been to school.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAemInJfMwgt
I smirked, “school’s pointless anyways.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAVQiCXHkbKO
“I would have liked to gone. But, war had different plans.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAxBsJUY7qcE
“Indiana?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA35m4euHpTS
“Yep. My dad and mom served in the Militia. My nána had to take me out of the city. We were some of the last ones to board the evac shuttles. Never heard from my parents again.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAy9aDCNCNu2
“I’m sorry man.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA51Z8jQ5Ggi
“Nah. Didn’t know them enough to care, ya know? Makes it easier.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAOZu8odwjdc
I chuckled, “does it?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA8qH7Im9gGr
“That’s what I keep telling myself, yeah.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAubVtRNRv2Q
Day turned to night, and nothing happened. My hands began to shake uncontrollably. I grabbed onto my wrist and squeezed it, hoping to get rid of the shakes. I got myself under control before Ty could see it.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAZxE9Y3C1Jm
The door behind us opened. I heard Captain Marshall’s voice, “boys! I’ve been looking for you.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANANjVhrp5Mw3
Captain Marshall was demoted from Colonel not long after Lake Charles fell. He said it was because of politics, and High Command needed a fall guy for Burg Hill and Creole. I personally thought Colonel Marshall did an excellent job at Creole beach. The plan didn’t count on the Confederates having a fucking fort built. Burg Hill wasn’t even coordinated by Marshall. It was coordinated by Major Frost, who was still a Major afterwards.
77Please respect copyright.PENANABFh49T0r9U
I, and all of the Rangers who fought under him, still respected him as if he was still a Colonel. Rank didn’t matter to us in the field. It wasn’t about whether or not they went to school, earned it in the field, or were given it. As long as they could lead without cracking under pressure.
77Please respect copyright.PENANALtRVAYViys
Ty and I shook hands with Captain Marshall. He gave us each a hug and asked, “how have you been?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAI4JHTTlDAQ
I told him, “dandy as always, sir.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANATlo42jtBzl
Ty showed him his hand, “took a bayo to the hand, sir.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAeAds3ZqUUt
Marshall smiled, “I guess no masturbation for you for a while, eh?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAgfV9kM04Zp
Ty shoved me, knocking me off balance, “yeah that’s why I got this fucker! Sir.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA9shpsNUEKx
Marshall pointed to my face, “you okay?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAgHyi5WEY2o
“Yes sir. It’s just a scratch.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAyrrvwEG52y
He nodded, patting my shoulder, “keep it cleaned. You don’t want something like that getting infected.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAXg1WwAernI
He dipped his head at Ty, “mind if I get some time alone with Rogers?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA0syPkM7iag
Ty shook his head, “no problem, sir.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAmesAuv6MWl
Ty raised his eyebrows at me and left the room. Marshall found a chair tipped over and flipped it on it’s legs. He pulled another chair in front of him and said, “sit, please.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAYYBz3dG7Rw
I nodded, taking a seat. He sighed, “there’s no way for me to say this easily. So I’m just going to have to say it. Your mother passed away last week due to complications from cancer.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAEu9SbigxBo
My heart sank to the pit of my stomach. It felt like my chest was ripped open. I couldn't express myself because I didn’t want to look weak in front of Marshall. I think he noticed it, and hugged me tightly. He pat my shoulder, “it’s going to be okay son.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA57HZpwm4i6
He let go and said, “I can get you on a plane back home if you-”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAFOS8Z5CShY
“No. No… I have to stay.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAUXbNmJ3IBO
“Okay. Good. I would hate to lose a good Ranger like yourself. If you ever need help with it, you can come to me.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAsNUg4ba5O0
“I’m fine, sir.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAbav9lGJ1Er
“Okay, just know, you can come to me.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAqC1adhXqtX
Marshall slapped my shoulder, “c'mon son. I want to see if your bench max has increased.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA6qBY6APPL2
Marshall, Ty, and I walked out of the school to a gym downtown. It was an old community gym that took a missile to its front wall. We had to climb over the knocked wall in order to get into the building.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAxfMMvlAlRR
Ty began to bench while Marshall and I watched him. It was impressive, watching a human being easily push 405 pounds like it was nothing but a feather. A second goodthing about the Stem Cells was the amount of muscle we gained, and maintained, without effort. I often went a few days without eating and woke up the next morning still looking pumped. However, I felt like shit. I could almost feel my cells destroying each other.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAsTealBaUQv
Marshall asked, “how’s Tenson holding up?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAMBmWg6czCM
I smiled, “he wants nothing other than to go home.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANADlMFI0YloX
“Yeah. Don’t we all?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA6mxFHHNi4k
Ty racked the bar, “I sure as hell do. I miss coming home to a warm bed, hot food, and glorious… glorious! Beautiful breasts. Yeah?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANALpODztwAqf
I nodded, “that’s something I’d fight for.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANACpKvjsG7m5
Marshall smirked, “me too.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAO9uW1Op4mD
We left the gym and said our goodbyes to Marshall. I saw Kelly sitting near a tree and I parted ways with Ty for a bit. I walked up to her and asked, “you alright?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAnxiflZRwPY
She nodded, “yeah. Just looking for somthing.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAqJHWijCglR
I nodded, “can I help?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAFYU2JFlQqi
“Of course. John was married and wore his wedding ring around his neck. When…”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAvAnmknx1GT
“I got it. Cmon.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAlROyyqhbBi
We walked around and scanned the ground for the ring. Eventually, I felt my boot land over something symmetrical. I lifted my boot and saw the ring shining at me. I picked it up and showed Kelly.
77Please respect copyright.PENANA51e3GDSrlh
She gasped, “oh my god! Thank you, god. Thank you so much Matthew! This meant alot to Julie, I just wanted to get it back to her.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAVsOisqkXMo
I chuckled, “you think he meant more?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANASs8rW4fFWI
“Well… he’s kind of splattered all over the ground now. I don’t know if he means as much as Marco did.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAXXnCIYNwNs
“Marco? Wife’s mistress here?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANADOeJGoWZLK
“Uh… no. Marco was our squad leader. He got killed a few weeks ago. He got us through a lot. Julie was Marco’s sister, so, ya know?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAEch0VddioO
“Yeah, my bad. I’m glad I could help.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAP9YTtY2V6m
She offered to buy me a drink and I accepted. I was only going to stay for one, but she got drunk very quickly. I escorted her back to her room and helped her inside. She took off her vest and collapsed onto a couch. I chuckled, sitting by her legs and helping her take her boots off. She got up and snuggled her head into my neck. I let her do it, feeling a bit awkward. For about an hour she slept on me, and when she woke up she kissed me on the cheek. She quickly backed away, “sorry. Sorry.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA30ppbCUedm
I nodded, “yeah we shouldn’t do this.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA23V6N2Kbk7
The NCC was very strict on relationships between squadmates. The issue arose when women began getting drafted. To get out of the daft or end their draft early, they’d get pregnant. Of course, they would get sent home to take care of the baby while the father most likely died. Leadership recommended sleeping with civilians or yourself. But when you are a Ranger hopped on adrenaline and the constant fear of dying, yourself doesn’t work.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAlWxv0qOk5Z
She smiled, “I know. But… why did it feel so good?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANApAm6uvI6b4
I chuckled, “because it was illegal.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAipmaH5Vpb6
I kissed her once more and left her apartment and joined up with Ty who was conversing with another Ranger. As we were returning to our post, Ty asked me, “can I be honest with you brother?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAoayCeQU7Vx
I looked over at him, “of course.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAp39umXNeWA
“That gash kinda makes me wanna fuck you.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAXZTHi2JSec
I chuckled, “I think I’m a bit out of your league man.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAgW7oNydmfr
“Well mate, I’ve always been a high baller.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAc1TW7SGZ9p
He nudged me away and handed me a cigarette. I stopped to strike my match on my boot, but before I could my hands began to shake again. Ty kept walking, not turning his back anytime soon. I grabbed onto my wrist and squeezed it until my knuckles went white. Then I knew. I had the shakes.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAYPdUvKu8BN
Rangers returning from the front suffered from many different things. Diseases, wounds, infections, depression, trauma, but the shakes were the most common. It didn’t really happen during a battle or fighting. It always seemed to happen in the most calming moment of your day. Just out of the blue, your hand begins to shake and you can’t control it. Like a wild dog, tied to a breaking leach. If I had it, I knew it was going to lead to more severe problems down the road.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAw8iNOK5Ef8
Ty stopped, “you coming?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAlfFnDOeQZR
I nodded, forcing my hand to cooperate and striking the match against my boot. I caught up to him, hoping he didn’t see me. If someone reported my condition to Command, I could be sent back home to a medical rehabilitation facility. Those things were awful. Every Ranger I knew who went there, or had the threat of going, would have rather been shot dead.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAHuJGPXOlGE
We got back to our room and stayed guard for the rest of the day. During the night, artillery from the airfield began to rain hell on Crowley. That meant we were most likely moving to it the next day. I watched in amazement as the dark night sky flashed with the bright light. I could almost hear our enemy in the back of my head. Calling out for help, asking for their dying comrade, and running for cover. Each time there was an explosion, a second explosion followed it. This went on and on, until it ended at 0600. It started back up at 0640, and the ferocity began again.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAueQx6RZjLa
*
77Please respect copyright.PENANA6btNj7Z5nF
We were driving on the main highway into Crowley. Ty, Kelly, Carter, Que, and I managed to fit on the hull of an Abrams. I dangled my legs off the side, watching my shadow jump up and down the ridges of the craters.
77Please respect copyright.PENANA553YrYkXZK
Our convoy consisted of seven Abrams, two brand new M3 Bradleys, four LAV-25s, an Amtrac, a Spaniel, and two L-15s.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAkN91fnsy7O
The Spaniel was a Mobile Defense Platform. It was heavily armored, and had two retractable plates at the front. These plates could be extended to its side, offering solid protection against small arms fire and machine guns alike. Although it provided the cover, it did not provide the offensive capability needed. It only had two 50cal HMGs and one M249.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAnEhKBA1NlT
The L-15 on the other hand, was an incredible piece of weaponry. It was a hover tank, using jet engine-like thrusters to keep the tank off the ground. With these thrusters, it could easily pass over landmines, mudded out roads, and rivers. It also had a 225mm rail gun, which was fucking impressive as equally as it was cool. The rail gun used magnetic energy to launch a projectile at its target. It could fire a non-shaped shell, which was basically using kinetic force lethally, or a shaped explosive shell which was similar to a normal tank round. However, you could toss a pebble at the L-15 and leave a dent. Its armor was the weakest in the NCC, because it needed to be light in order to hover. We all called it the ‘Glass Cannon.’
77Please respect copyright.PENANADLPza4yenJ
Our convoy rolled by a damaged car with a woman and man standing outside it. They waved at us, and I waved back. Que smacked my helmet, “hey. Eyes on those buildings.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAmhtnHG20lR
I nodded, glancing down at the car and seeing two small children in the back. Their faces were full of fear and wonder at the same time. The lead Abrams turned off the main road before entering the town. Our tank, the one behind it, drove up an overpass and half way across it. The tank stopped at two MRAPs, the Forward Assault Team Valkyrie sent out. Three Rangers were leaning against the MRAPS and one Ranger on each machine gun.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAHTUMV8Wemo
Que hopped off and asked a Ranger, “where’s the fight?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAB9WBj4NenA
The Ranger shrugged his shoulders, “they’re gone. We spotted a few Feds moving down to a village South of here, but other than that.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAcehxxodUnd
Another Ranger chuckled, “must’ve heard Lieuteniant Valkyrie was coming to Crowly.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANADq8e2aByin
Que smacked his teeth, “right. Get your team to rally up any known Confederate sympathizers and put them into custody.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAhmy2fSDNMH
Que walked back to the tank and said, “dismount. Train stops here. Let’s start moving down this main street and do a search and recovery. Any weapons- take them.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAqrZWxrZq2S
Kelly, Ty, Carter, and I linked up with Savannah, Kyle, and Anton at the base of the overpass. The Abrams, followed by a Bradley and two more Abrams, drove down North Parkerson Ave.
77Please respect copyright.PENANA8iM219zf7p
Cars pulled off the road and parked on the side. Kelly pulled me closer to the tank. I counted sixteen cars. At least sixteen soldiers were ready to kill me and my squadmates. But I couldn’t see them. A woman got out of her car and threw something at the lead tank. I was about to shoot her until I saw what she was throwing when she threw it again. It was a flower.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAZXnAYVXwWr
She had glee in her eyes and happiness in her movements. I lowered my rifle, relaxing my shoulders. I took a moment to look around me. All I saw was white flags strewn up in windows and hanging off buildings. I also couldn’t figure out if it was all a trap or something sincere. I was just confused. I was so ready to have Jennings all over again. Street to street fighting would be hand to hand shaking. I just couldn’t fathom it. I couldn’t. After all that fighting and death we endured just to get welcomed by a young woman in a sundress, throwing flowers. I was so used to people throwing grenades at me, not flowers.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAyaLew7Z0gi
The buildings around us were fast-food restaurants, office supply stores, department stores, small Chinese takeouts in a shopping mall. It looked normal. Except the occasional shell crater or rubble fallen from a structure. These people weren’t going to fight us. They just wanted to live.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAUekxGHc7Xz
Our tank stopped at the railway tracks at the end of the avenue. A train had been derailed by an explosion. The crater was about six feet deep, so it wasn’t artillery or an airstrike. Someone had dug an explosive charge underneath the rails. Ty and I looked into the crater, finding small pieces of fragmentation and makeshift parts somewhat intact.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAFj0D6kaqOz
As we were digging around, trying to piece together what type of ordinance these guys had, an old man walked up to us. He was dressed in tan cargo pants and a dirt white shirt with suspenders. He waved, “hey boys! What’re you diggin’ around for?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAlR4EgFepLJ
I tossed a piece of steel out, “trying to figure out who made this train go boom. Any idea where I can meet him?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANASHVA9YaFIq
The old man smiled, “you a problem solver?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA1cTR5hn7TX
I nodded, “I’d say so.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAzMCJFTSzQM
“Good. Cause the same boys who did that already left. They’s went out chasing the army while they left.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANArcdD7TlMKy
“Okay sir. Thank you.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANASsO5iRD5Bn
I brought this news to Lt Valkyrie, who was surprised to say the least. He didn’t believe me at first, saying it had to have been Airborne remnants or Rangers who got ahead of us. Everything he could possibly come up with just didn’t make sense. I offered my thought of a resistance being formed. Obviously, civil unrest would be high as hell. Especially after a city just got abandoned by its own Government. When the TUC invaded Louisiana, no Ranger left any civilian behind. Alive or dead, they got their people out.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAmonhBB9Eku
**
77Please respect copyright.PENANAZE0ErxqaIL
It took us nearly two weeks to secure all of Crowley. We found small hideouts of Confederate soldiers, but none of whom were in fighting condition. It seemed like the Feds left anyone who couldn’t walk on their own. Most of the soldiers were severely wounded or dead by the time we got to them. We even found a high ranking officer who shot himself in an alleyway behind a dumpster.
77Please respect copyright.PENANATKvALeVbeR
I was making conversation with a captured soldier who told me the TUC was issuing commands to all NCOs and COs to shoot or burn wounded soldiers they couldn't carry. He said most NCOs didn’t do it, but they were shot by the CO and their men shot afterwards.
77Please respect copyright.PENANA3RGPiHSA1M
The citizens of Crowley were extremely helpful. We spent most of our time winning their hearts
and minds. Instead of shooting them, we drank beers together. Instead of searching and ransacking their homes, we offered to repair any damage done by our artillery. We finally had a chance to actually do good with people who cared. It felt good to see smiles and bows in bleach blonde hair. I felt normal again.
77Please respect copyright.PENANABnWilqXKWF
We were scheduled to be on R&R for at least a month. Instead of moving around wasting supplies, we stayed right in Crowley. Ty and I watched a convoy of about three Divisions roll out of Crowley. Their objective was to take Rayne, a medium sized city full of residential buildings.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAu0YXQbA1iw
Ty and I sat on the overpass railing, teasing the Rangers as they drove by in trucks. Ty shouted, “fucking pussies! Get out and walk!”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAjhWRKR57Hv
He chuckled, “goddamn it’s good.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA3cNM6m6aS5
I asked, “what?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAbXXSaoah8C
“Seeing other poor bastards have to go through the same shit we do.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAAYrLu4BZOp
I smiled, “yeah.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAWttCfaX9dc
“Hey, me and Carter are going to an Opera Show tonight. If you wanna come I’d be more than happy to have you.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAA7qChCejip
“I didn’t know Opera was your thing.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAq7NdZn3vvR
“Yeah. I don’t know if it is. I might like it. I might not. Don’t really know. Figured I’d broaden my horizons before I die.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAbaAAOnkFgS
I shook my head, “stop. You’re not going to die.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAxPt7ZZpgsh
He glared at me in a friendly manner, “we all die someday mate. Just depends on when. My bullet could come tomorrow, or it could come back as cancer later. Ya never know. Ya know?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANArwZ5974xRg
I pat his shoulder, “I’ll take you up on that Opera shit. What time?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAfggfDqLtfD
“Nineteen hundred, be there at eighteen-thirty.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAhqqcGFF5iv
I began to leave, “I’ll see you at eighteen-thirty.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANARHRGY7liit
I walked down the avenue towards a hotel we were staying at. I pulled out a cigarette and my matches. An elderly man dropped a bag of groceries in front of me. I put my stuff away and kneeled down to help him.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAFhL7fyP9l6
He smiled down at me, “well thank you sir. I can’t quite get down like that anymore.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAgCQT8VaV0R
I chuckled, putting everything back into his bag and handing it to him, “no problem sir.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA0lt0XchAVg
A woman in the building said, “oh Papa, I told you to wait.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANApqWdRN5EtK
The man replied, “well this handsome young man here gave me a hand. Thank you again sir.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANACQAoauqz3Z
The woman stepped down from the porch. She was wearing a white sundress with red roses spread out on it. Her hair was ginger, and her eyes shined a brighter blue than the clearest skies. She was thin and the sundress fit perfectly around her waist and chest. Her hair was short, barely touching her shoulders. It seemed to almost float in some kind of heavenly manner.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAcXZIJIt0Xi
She waved at me and said, “thank you soldier.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAZ1HgZyXdgi
I waved back, “it’s no problem. Have a nice day!”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAyjSTth3J1r
I left, her face burning in the front of my brain.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAMiYWRG9WaM
I got to my hotel room and laid on my bed. The show wasn’t for another six hours. I had nothing to do, so I just laid there. I didn’t budge a single nerve. I just laid there for what seemed to be days. It was comfortable, the most comfortable thing I had laid on in months. Yet, I was still extremely uncomfortable. I rolled off my bed and onto the floor, which was hard and not carpeted. Yet, I was comfortable.
77Please respect copyright.PENANADk2EJsdDd1
I laid on the floor, watching the ceiling fan swirl back and forth, hearing the buzzing of a helicopter blade. I took a deep breath in. After I exhaled, I began to cry. I didn’t know why, I just did. I didn’t hold it back. I just let it out. After hearing someone run past my door, I crawled into the corner and sat there, crying. I held my face in my hands and poured my body weight in tears.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAhcVSxV1zIx
While I was crying, my arms began to shake profusely, and I had no control over them. I pulled out a cigarette but threw them across the room when I noticed they were covered in blood. Flashes of the burned corpses from Creole to Jennings haunted me. Everywhere I looked I saw their skin melt away like sludge, and their cries for help crammed my ears, all while their nails scratched against a steel door, ripping off.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAovQ4MdZPQn
I smacked my head violently, but the flashes got more frequent. I saw that poor kid I swung a shovel into. His neck squirted blood and I felt something along the lines of enjoyment. I saw the eye pull out from a Confederate soldier as I removed my shovel. I saw it all. Not from my perspective, but from a third person. I saw it as it happened, and I saw the monster that was slowly crawling out of me.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAuobDNlSZDj
I crawled underneath my bed and used a pillow to suffocate myself. I sat there, trying to make myself stop breathing.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAneMteZOfZW
I heard a knock at my door. I rubbed my nose and wiped my tears away. I picked up my cigarettes while I was walking toward the door. I opened it to Carter, who was standing with a pizza box. He smiled, “got a pizza and movie on rent. Wanna join?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAfy2fPx8IbB
I nodded, “yeah give me a few minutes and I’ll join you.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAVMS18XJz3s
I got presentable and walked down to Carter’s room. I knocked, and Ty answered. His face lit up with excitement, “whoa! It’s Matthew!”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAph3ePuRqu3
He hugged me and slapped my back hard. I hugged him back and said, “decided to come out of the cave.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAk9CchEg8Rf
I was very distant from my Division after Lake Charles. I didn’t want to get involved and start making friends because I thought I didn’t need too. Honestly, people like Ty and Carter were what saved me from blowing my brains out or slitting my wrist. It was always a thought of mine. I had nothing to live for, but something to die for. At least I could have an open casket funeral if my wrist were slit. I knew a lot of good Rangers, and good people, who got blown away and all that remained was just a pink mist.
77Please respect copyright.PENANASawCQOLAfL
Suicide wasn’t the best option. But it was an option for me. At least if I ended it sooner, there would be a lot less noise and nightmares to forget. At least if I did it, I could go out on my own terms.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAoPSK1FzgD3
We watched Men Of War, a movie about Private Military Companies fighting for a small city in South Africa. Each time something happened that wasn’t true to what our military would do, Carter called it out. He scoffed, “no way they’d have air support that close to a target area!”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA5sQ4DxQ1VQ
“How is homie shrugging off 7.62 rounds? Like- what the fuck?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAAlSZuRfoFq
“There’s no plate in his vest. See!”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA4Qg2Oi2TED
“Yeah an Abrams wouldn’t survive that.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAysJ8nuj945
“I wish we had those.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAh9VnSzgxdv
I couldn’t tell if he was angry or just jealous. I enjoyed a few slices of pizza. It wasn’t bad. It was a lot better than the MREs and nonperishables we had. Ty and I didn’t touch the beer. But Carter did. He asked us, “you guys mormon or something?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAoX6A6fim2l
Ty smirked, “uh- no. We can’t get drunk.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA6LaAcZrDpk
A third bad thing about Stem Cells was that we couldn’t get drunk. No matter how much we drank, we just couldn’t get drunk. So there was ultimately no point in drinking.
77Please respect copyright.PENANABxzPOldhLH
Once the movie finished, we made our way to the Opera House. We saw Savannah and Anton in line ahead of us. Carter chuckled, “no way.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAwQXfIzgEmx
Ty nodded, “no fucking way.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAdjBL91UANT
Anton was cleanly shaven, pompadour in his hair, and had a bow tie on. He was wearing a nice button up shirt with black slacks. Ty went to get his attention, but I blocked him from doing so. I told him, “let him be for now. We’ll see him later.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAeC4kXiRCLh
Ty smirked, “yeah I guess so.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAXVh4mxo4wl
Carter chuckled, “no fucking way.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANATYxMWO2Hsv
Our seats were in the back row, and we ordered a few entrees to eat while the show went on. The singing was quite lovely. The woman had a decent, high pitch voice, while the man had a deep, almost growl like voice. I was surprised they could even propel their voices like that. It was annoying as hell, but also impressive.
77Please respect copyright.PENANAFpJlGJt538
I left to go take a piss. On my way to the washroom, I spotted the woman from earlier that day. She was sitting at the bar alone, spinning her finger around the rim of her glass. I walked up beside her and asked, “can I get you another drink.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAmiMNSr8NZG
She blushed, “it’s you again.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAtQ07S3A4tg
I smiled, “yeah. It’s me again.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA5TbL4CnCpi
“You’re quite the stalker. Bumping into my dad just to play it off. And now… you’re here.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAenA9L9Xdwx
“Not quite how it went. But uh- I like your idea better, so I’m just gonna believe it. That drink?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAh1DpaG35U7
“No. I’m switching to water. I have work tomorrow.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA15U6xFGfbg
“Okay-” I tapped the bar to get the bartender's attention, “two waters, please.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAImnMPEAgox
She smiled, “you workout?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAlsaPkErL5H
I flexed my pecs up, “yeah I lift shit sometimes.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANALtyhYzUfVs
She shook her head, “yeah I can tell. Do you have anywhere to be?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA0Q22gOiXgo
The bartender dropped off two glasses of water and took her drink. She asked again, “do you have somewhere to be?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANACmMtqGpd43
My heart began to race, but I remained confident in my posture, “no. Show’s not that good.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAN009PQ2M9g
She chuckled, “yeah. This show isn’t too good.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAqATDQwhOiK
She drank her water and said, “my place or yours?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANALymhRkOXLR
“Depends on what you want.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA8byg2t6M7K
“Well, dumbass, I’m three drinks deep and I want to get fucked. If that’s not what you want, let me know.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAw8GnI33uUo
I chuckled, “very open?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2ZH6Hvw78
“Very drunk.”
77Please respect copyright.PENANA7HaXbVCUkQ
“Okay. Your place?”
77Please respect copyright.PENANAmx0HVTy5Cf
“Yeah. Good with me.”
ns18.188.15.246da2