Moving at night still has its own issues, most of them negated by my genetic and neural enhancements. Whatever was too complicated and risky to improve genetically served as a basis for any cyberware and could be interfaced directly with my brain. My eyes rapidly adapted to the low light environment, the technological lense further highlighting and cataloging new information to store. My bones and muscles, while also stronger than a baseline human, are also covered in a biological weave under my skin that protects against stabs, low caliber bullets, and shrapnel.

I am designed to operate an exo-skeleton suit indefinitely, or as close as I could get to indefinitely. Training and conditioning in low oxygen environments to make my lungs more efficient, brutal training to prepare us for war, but also taught minor intricacies of being human. The last ones were never very important to me, I was made for a purpose and given the best tools humanity had to offer. Knowing what your life is meant for puts all other worries to the side, there is a calmness and serenity to act out your purpose.

Even five thousand years in the future I’ll come back and fight the enemy. The enemy exists to be destroyed after all. I’ll be the threat that they thought was dead, already so sure in their victory they may have forgotten about us. It’ll make it easier to slide the knife between the ribs.

I didn’t have much direction to go by, I simply picked one way and walked. The temperature has fallen quite a large amount sitting at four degrees celsius, the weather is cloudy so I am unable to guide myself by stars. I walk carefully, remaining alert to noises, taking the low ground when possible. I eventually stumble onto an animal trail with thick foliage on both sides and a narrow path to lead me.

There are a few ideas running around my head on what to do. I could simply try and get as close as possible to the enemy and shoot them, dying in the process. Quick and easy. There is also the long game of finding somewhere to settle down and operate out of, build intelligence and then strike a few times. They’ll probably hunt me down within a week of going on the offensive, a month if they’re stupid. They’ll win for sure, but I can make them bleed for it and spoil their victory.

I freeze, between the trees a few hundred meters away I see light. An orangey red, sporadic flickering. It looks like a natural fire. Focusing my eyes I can see humanoid figures, which doesn’t help as the Enemy were humanoid looking as well. I need to get a closer look to identify them. The skinsuit I wear inside the exoskeleton is already pretty good at hiding my thermal signature and offers some protection, however my head is uncovered and is one of the biggest heat spots on the body.

I prowl closer to the fire, circling around to get a better view of them. I have identified at least seven members of the group. I stop in a good position to watch them, going in and swinging my dick around like Big Dick McGee isn’t going to do shit than get me or someone else killed. Operator night vision isn’t the best available, it doesn’t allow me to see as if it was day like the Sniper or Special Forces do.

However luck was not on my side, after an hour they began scrambling to alertness. I watched as one person stopped by each sleeping person and quietly roused them awake. No one let out anything louder than a whisper so I couldn’t hear a thing they were saying. That doesn’t stop me from visually understanding what was going on, somehow they had detected me. I noticed more than one look in my direction and I knew the jig was up.

This activity actually makes me more relieved than anything, this is a very human reaction I’m getting out of them. The action also raises some worries, don’t they have any alert alarms? Why the need to physically shake them. I draw closer slowly and allow all of them to prepare, I have to be cautious, humans always lash out when cornered.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“Jinene khkuues yakho'uioes jhuthst fwere! bekhw yakhurlieh!” A voice booms out from the camp. Of course, five thousand years, there is going to be language drift. This is quite significant but it should be expected. I have nowhere to strap my pistol on my bodysuit and I’m sure as hell not leaving it in the woods.

“Okay!” I reply back, I’ll try and keep it simple with them as I make sure to telegraph my approach with the snapping of branches, twigs, and heavy footfalls. It takes a couple of minutes to approach the little clearing they’ve set up shop. A small covered fire pit to reduce light emitted, rolls of what I believe is primitive sleeping bags, backpacks full of supplies, and weapons.

Primitive weapons.

Mostly bludgeoning tools, clubs, maces, metal bar, a bow and arrow. I cringed at the sight of those. I shift my focus onto the people, humans and something else. It wasn’t the Enemy I fought before a few thousand years ago, they look similar to humans but with animalistic features. They watch my right hand, the one with the pistol with worried eyes, they know what it is.

“W-webo djoonnoet snnt ahrngeh hiroubehnd.” The tone immediately shifts, I have to play a different game here. I raise my left hand into an open palm and lower the pistol to a non-aggressive stance.

“English?” I ask simply and a look of confusion is shared amongst the seven or so people at the camp. I chide myself for being awkward and how annoying this is going to be, I raise my and and form a fist with a single index finger raised pointing up. “Wait.” I state simply.

I slowly walk backwards into the undergrowth and dash towards the place I was watching them. I left my SERE kit there and it would help. I don’t think they covered trying to communicate to someone that doesn’t understand English in training, everyone knew English. I grab the entire case and return to the camp, they seem to be discussing something quietly before turning silent when they realize I’m back already. It doesn’t matter, I can't understand them anyway.

Observing them for another moment, I assume the passive stance I took before and slowly place the case onto the forest floor. Opening it I find my used and empty water bottle, I slowly place it in front of me and with my left hand I pretend to drink something. They quickly catch on that I’m asking for water.

“Miyssiah, nheve ae mrechn luohmond snoueub.” A man calls out, he has a gruff looking face, he appears to be experienced. Another one of the group backs away to their supplies and grabs a canteen.

“Miyssiah.” I point to him, he looks like he would rather be anywhere else as he leaves the water a short distance in front of me.

“Water.” I point towards it, the gruff man I was speaking to sighs loudly and the group breaks into a little chuckle.

“Snoueub.” He states and I repeat it after him cataloging it away in my mind. The tension has broken and the camp seems to be a little more at ease knowing that they aren’t under threat of imminent death.

He gestures over to the fire, I pack up my SERE kit and the canteen they gave me before walking over. Taking a seat by the warm fire, I take a swig of water, the man I was speaking to points at himself and announces, “Aubsg.”

“Aubsg.” I point towards him and he nods, I take a breath because I’m sure this is going to confuse him. “November-Alpha-Four-Two-India-Three-Nine-Nine.” I point to myself, enunciating myself clearly and slowly.

The rest of the camp settled, a few more decided to stay up and kept watch on me, to see if I would do anything. The man named Aubsg begins to look annoyed and I repeat myself. “November-Alp-” He waves his hand to get me to stop, he points at me and says.

“November.” I take a minute and realize this would be quicker.

“November.” I agree and point to myself.