Seven o'clock in the morning...
Haven't gotten up this late since last year's new year's party.
I slowly wiped the cold sweat across my neck. why am i sweating..
Hmm... That's right. I dreamt of my first year of school where i had to leave father's care.
I have regretted about not going against father's orders because at that time i didn't know that all my effort would have be for nought.
The war ended a year after i became a full fledged warrior and... My father, Apparently died on a rescue mission.
I couldn't accept it. I tried tricking myself by thinking he could never die and he was somewhere surviving against the harsh world he saved me from.
But all my hopes collapsed when i heard it all from father's bestfriend and brother. He is dead, info said that father betrayed his comrades and ran away and died in an airstrike.
I was mad, infuriated. Or was i shocked? I couldn't believe that father would bend his loyalty to the country he had served for decades. I tried to search for it, search for the truth. But the whole system started to erase records about my father. His name, birth place, squad he's in, his rank. Everything.
"That PROFILE does not exist."
All these painful memories clawed at my heart, i couldn't get up from the bed and before i knew it, tears started to flow down my cheeks.
"You're... Crying.. ?"
What! Who!?
That whispered voice made me jump out of the bed and put my guard up.
I scanned the room for presences but...
There's nothing there. Just the loneliness of the room i had for two years. But i wouldn't be fooled. There are a lot of stealth specialists that can hide their presence in this spacious room of mine. Uncle Leo is a good example.
"Show yourself!"
I shouted once but there was no response. Huh, there was really no one there.
"I'm seeing things aren't I?"
Before i leave the room. I checked every corner and nooks, even the closet where the perverts hid. Still nothing.
Bet that was just my imagination.
Click
"Oh, hello Ajustus."
"Good morning sir."
After greeting my superior, he started by explaining today's 'weather forecast' (Situation Report) as well as yesterday's incident's case being overtaken by uncle. That's fine with me, i said. But i hope he didn't overdo it with the torture though.
Grabbing my lunchpack, i started to head straight to the center base at the heart of the city.
"Oh one more thing Ajustus."
"Hmm?"
I inclined by neck to listen. Boss's face filled with hesitation like one's attitude when giving your grades to your parent. And i know that feeling. Afterwards getting shaped up for not having an above-average score, *sob* *cry*.
Boss continued standing, scratching behind his neck. What was he gonna say?
"You in for a to-home trip?"
My ears became itchy and my mouth gaped open, what does he mean.
"Where?"
"To your hometown, detroit."
---
"You on board?"
"Sure.. "
I replied at the hand-communicator blantly, without much of a tone.
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"Come on, this is an official mission. It's not like we'll have you sent there for just no reason."
Click
"I know... I understand the importance of this. It's just.. I'm actually not fond of going back to one's... My hometown."
"Haha, Don't worry. A really interesting fellow is going to be working with you. I found him rather entertaining and you might too. Anyway, this time's mission captain isn't one of ours."
Click
I twitched at that last sentence. I don't really have a pleasant past with other HQs workers. You might call it blood bad between us soldiers. But that's just it, and now it's my captain, just great. Hope my captain is a jolly old man with a pleasing personality, that'd be nice.
"Anyway, goodluck. All hail triumph!"
"All hail triumph.. "
Click
Now all i have to do is meet those two... And what the hell is with that clicking!?
"Who's making that sound?"
I tapped at the glass seperating the pilot from the passenger area. The glass slowly slided upwards.
"Sorry ma'am. Father's issuing orders to aerial pilots."
"Hah?"
"Hm. I mean colonel 🈂."
Oh.. This guy is that old man's son? Huh... He's really old. Not like my father huh.. Haha till now i'm wondering how old he was. Though he said nineteen, i doubted it. I mean i'm 19 right now, and i'm nowhere father's strength nor insight. Heh.
I'm feeling... A little sleepy..
"I'm clouded, wake me up if something comes up?"
"Roger."
---
Hmm? A dream? That was too fast. These past days i'm having these lucid nightmares i can't explain. Bringing me memories from the past and about father. I don't know why but i feel this is rather... Unnerving.
"Papa i want to become strong!"
A mist shaped like a little girl appeared and spoke in a little too similar voice.
"Haha! sure, rena. Come here you cutie. I'll make sure you become a strong and independent woman. Ok?"
"Okay!!"
Wait a minute! That doesn't sound right. My memory even among average people are not remarkable but i'm 100% sure, those aren't the words father spoke. Father will never say anything like that! Nor can i imagine him lifting me up in his arms while smiling. The helck?
"Father, i can't hear what you said?"
"Hmm? Oh, sorry Rena. But papa's gonna be gone a long time. I need you to attend school, you need it. Don't worry i'll keep in contact."
"But... Papa! How about my training!?"
"Haha, silly girl. You're going to a military school, you'll learn more stuff there than from me."
What?! Wait! Stop this! This is messing with my memories! Father NEVER spoke of those words. And why does he have a genuinely-looking smile on his face?
Just as i was pondering about that inside my head.
"Wake.. "
"UP!"
Hmm, i'm awake. I turned my head to the side and saw the pilot behind copter's walls shooting bullets towards the grassy area outside.
"Lieutenant! I could use some help here!"
Oh, sorry. I got distracted by the smell of gunpowder.. My nose is getting weird.
"Situation."
"8 minutes after entering spatial area-zone, sentries sent red-flagged signals and i requested for landing but they opened fire. So we had to crash land on the least populated area. Hostiles, wearing black-helmets, red stripes- "
"Yes, i can see that. Their identity? Intentions?"
The pilot continued firing and changing magazines while talking. Our position won't hold out for long so i had to cut it short.
"Umm.. Yes. About that. They are unknown."
"Hmm.. Alright. Let's switch, contact HQ and send distress signals to nearest outposts to alert them. And oh, make sure to use 'CukiTurnip' as A.C (Access Comm)."
Mr. Pilot started working and manned the portable communicator, which looks like a large medical box to me.
And of course. With a click the safety of the gun was lifted. Let's see what this guys are all about.
One step out the copter and i saw a bunch of black-helmet and heavily armed soldiers. They look like military operatives but i can't remember black-ops being scattered around broad-daylight.
BOOM!!
An RPG flew right past me and blew the house behind me to mere debris. I doubt that was a simple launcher, seeing that the speed and power could surely destroy an Anti-RPG tank. If i weren't sprinting at my top speed right now i would probably be smoked barbeque.
"That was on me."
I threw a magazine at a hostile and shot it with my handgun. Making the bullet cartridges explode on his face.
"This is a nightmare."
I slid down an alley to take cover.
I already got a few bumpy gunshots inside my clothes but luckily i wore this vest uncle gave me last week. Even though i said i didn't want it, it turned out saving my life. Thanks, uncle.
Another three hostiles went down and i had to reload behind this stinky garbage shoot. Stop shooting me oh god.
"How many of them are there?! Pilot, how's that thing doing?"
I tapped my comm and heard the static before being drowned by rapid gunfire.
"HQ responded, 15 minutes, at worst 30. I'm here inside a flashy restaurant building, I'm surrounded by hostiles. Luckily, outpost received, They should be coming as we speak."
"Oh nice.. "
I killed the last bastard nearby and threw my gun which was out of ammo. Now they're hiding too, Great. What a sick game of hide and seek.
What is this gun anyway? I've never held one before. Looks familiar to the new military's equipment, but i haven't used it still. How does this..
This looks like an FN Assault rifle. With a much bigger frame and a badass looking scope, cool.
Aw. Oh f*ck. Forgot that i was in the middle of a battlefield. Bullets are flying in and out the building right now. I think this concrete wall won't last that longer.
Magazine, change, slide. Ok.
"Come! You bastards!!"
I pulled the trigger while the muzzle pointed at the enemy's positioned lighted up with a blue hue. Fast and accurate bullets flew towards them and demolished walls, armor and heads.
"This thing is powerful! They should had killed me by now if they're using these- "
Eight, 9, eleven, 13th kill. Finally lost ammo but enemy's still pouring. Shit, we're really outnumbered! When will those goddamn reinforcements come.
BOOM!!
Just as i thought about the time delay from messages. My ears were filled with violent buzzing followed by a loud, really LOUD explosion.
"It's coming from behind!!"
Somebody shouted and i saw the figures of shooting soldiers being blown away by frag grenades and/or missiles.
"F*CK! Goddamn communists! Called for backup! F*cking shoot them down!"
The man issuing commands ranted by his dying soldiers and the next thing i knew he was part of them.
Holy shit, what kind are the people who could cause this crazy scene. They must be numbered around a hundred i'm sure. Just hope foreign ally aren't as shitty as the enemy.
"(Cough!)"
My throat got jammed with a handful of smoke so i had to cough down or i'll choke.
Step. Step. Step.
Heavy footsteps that belongs to a heavy-infantry wearing thick-studded boots entered my perception.
"Come on rena. Got to put a neat smile on."
I lifted myself by using my knee as hold and turned to greet the men.
Scary eyepatches, old scars, ripped muscles, built like a machine and arms that could rip through iron... Is what i imagined.
But what is this?
"Bitch! You the one who sent those goddamn noisy alarm!? F*ck! I couldn't turn off the goddamn shit even if i filled it with bullets! You f*cker pissed my day off you know that!?"
What stood in front of me is a boy. A boy in a literal sense. Black-hair, a young baby face and eyes sparkling in a healthy blue like mine. He exactly fit the criteria of a high-school hearthrob if not for the hanging Missile launcher and belt of grenades and bullets which looks heavy from a first glance.
The launcher themself are twice as big as his body frame. What.
"Oy! What the hell you spacin for?! You wanna die, huh?! You f*ckin called me here for nothing. Go f*ck yourself in the ass if this walk got wasted."
Spouting insults like they were normal speech and an attitude that makes people shed away from him.
"Huh...? Father?"
He's alive?! He's standing in front of me! No, it must be a lie! No! Those charming face and trash personality intertwined. It is definitely HIM!
"Father! Fatherr!! Fahtrr!! ... Papa!!"
"Oy, Oy. What the f*ck are you clinging for? Did you finally break from fear, what the hell are with brats nowadays!"
Papa!! I couldn't control my actions anymore. My mind is completely filled with memories, feelings and emotions i kept and held for so long.
"F*ck this! Stop calling me like i'm your father!"
Papa pushed my whole body away with a body which isn't any bigger than mine. Wait, what did he said?
"But. Father! This is me! I'm Rena! The girl you saved from this place! The girl who you taught how to be strong! This little girl who made your missions harder? Remember!"
Papa took on a confused expression and looked like he was trying to remember. He's thinking! He's looking at me now! He remembered!
"What in f*cking navy are you babbling about!? What saving? And why the f*ck would i bring a bitch in missions? That's f*cking crazy! If i needed that i could have went to a brothel! So, what exactly are you talking about!?"
"Father! No, i'm.. "
Father raised a gun to my face and raised a serious expression.
"Look here brat. I'm not in for games so you better act like your job and give me a damn fixed attitude."
"But father! I really am your daughter Rena!"
Flinch
The gun slightly shook and papa's finger on the trigger loosened up a bit.
"..what did you said?"
"I said-!"
"There you are!"
The voice of the pilot entered my ears as i was about to speak. Clothes tattered and deep wounds are his appearance. But overall he seems looks pretty bright mooded, just what happened on his side?