Staff Sergeant Parker (Lucas Parker) (Human)
6/10/2031,
(Eastern Territory, Kingdom of Wintkin)
(Chesk Fishing Village)
“What a fucking day.” Parker said looking up at the glowing night sky, thanks to the gas giant, most of the nights feel more like a vibrant full moon, making what would normally be a pitch black night back home a vibrant low light night, becoming the perfect world for their night vision. Well that's if we aren't facing away from the gas giant.
After a couple of hours of Parker wearing the mystical translation purity seal. it had shown that he wasn't slowly dying or something else, so others began to use these seals as well, with Levinsion having one placed on his hat. So there was no need for him now, he was dismissed. “hearts and minds.” Levinson said. “Mingle with the populace,” Levinson said. How is he supposed to do such things, when it's in the middle of the night? Let's be honest it was just his way of saying fuck off, do stuff, be productive. That's probably what he meant.
finding an alley obscured in shadow, Parker sat down against one of its walls, watching the little number of people walk about. Unable to handle it anymore, Parker ripped his mask off, talking in the cold Sulfer-tainted air around him. The stress of all this was getting to him, he lost his family, His closest friend is missing in action, hell he even lost his own world. He really can't take much more of this. The motion of breathing in and breathing out is all he could do at this moment. That was all he could think to do right now. Was this an anxiety attack? He did not know, he never had gone to a doctor about this before.
“Parker?” some said walking up to the alley. Glancing over, he saw it was James.
“Oh hey.” Parker said, exhaustion evident in his tone.
“You look like shit.”
“Yea, I don't think I'm going to renew my contract next term.” a small smile showed itself on his face.
“If you get a chance too.” they chuckled as James sat down besides him.
“You got a cig.” Parker asked.
“They're worth more than gold now, but sure.” James brought out 2 cigarettes, handing one of them to Parker as he did so. “I got these from Thomas, so ask him if you want more.” Parker brought out a lighter and lit both of their cigs.” After a bit of smoking in silence, Parker spoke up.
“Hey, James.”
“yea”
“I want to apologize. You are right, this whole situation was too close to me, and it clouded my judgment, especially back at that holocaust cart.”
“I want to apologize too, I overstepped back there, and brought up something sensitive.”
“I guess we both have some regrets about what happened back there.” the two once again chuckled, as the alley they sat in felt evermore lively.
“I need some sleep.” Parker says getting up, “wake me when it's time to rotate security. I'm going to take a nap by the boats. ” James nodded. With that statement he started to walk off. You would think that getting a new rank means you wouldn't have the same position, but here he was, still a squad leader. Which really goes to show how cut off we are from the rest of our world.. Damn it's been like a whole week now, though it feels as though it has been months. How time can be so warped in their minds? trying to navigate through these streets is something else at night, especially when you have only been in the village for about a day now. He put his mask back on, any longer could cause problems with his health for the day.
He crossed another alley only to do a double take. His eyes fall upon that woman he had saved from earlier. A makeshift tent was set up in the alley, though it was sloppy. It could still be called home for any survival enthusiasts. Amongst her was her kid, yeah it was her kid, it was hard to tell with all those blankets he was wrapped up in, I guess since their home burnt down, they were currently living off the streets.
“Well we can finally speak to each other at last.” She perked up at his words, her ears angling in his direction before she turned her head to face him, a mixture of surprise on her face.
“It's you again!”
“I'm glad you're alive, all my hard work would have been for nothing if you were to kick the bucket.”
“Kick the bucket?” she said back confusion fused with her tone.
“Just a term we use, don't worry about it.” Before he could get back on subject, she spoke first.
“Let me express my thanks for saving me and my family not just once, but twice. You don't understand how much this means to me and my culture. I am forever indebted to you.”
“Hold up, no need for all that, I was just doing my duty as a United States Marine.” Parker stated, or at least that's his excuse for his actions. “Well anyway, what is your name?”
“Reslica.”
“Well Reslica, I am Lucas, but you can call me by my last name, Parker.”
“You have a last name? I didn't realize I was dealing with a person born in nobility .”
“I, huh what? I am no noble, do you not have a Last name?” Parker asked, leaning against one of the alley walls.
“We don't really have last names, We more or less use our home village as our last name, so my name would be Reslica Chesk.”
“How interesting.” Parker commented.
“So why are you living out here? I know your home has burned down, but there's still gotta be some friends you could live with.” She looked down upon his words, Not conveying much emotion.
“Homes are already flooded as is, I was just unlucky and couldn't secure a place to live in time. There are only so many people that the remaining homes can take in, hospitality can only go so far.”
“Damn, Even if you have a child you couldn't find a place to stay.” he gestured to the sleeping kid.
“Oh my, that's my brother, not my child.” she shook her head dramatically, embarrassed for some odd reason. “But yea, there's many families here that need help more than me.” Parker's eyes went wide at her words, if that was her brother then that meant, her parents are dead. with her home now gone as well…well that's a hell of a thing to go through.
“Do you not have some relatives you can live with?”
“I wish but my aunt is on a trip to a trade city, she won't be back till the start of winter.” She stated. Parker took a moment to think about how to help her, but before he could say anything. Reslica spoke up,
“If you don't mind me asking, why the mask? Is it some religious symbol?”
Parker shook his head, “No, it's not religious. when we first arrived here you found your air to be tainted with sulfur, making it difficult to breathe and as well as shortening our lifespan. that's why I didn't give you a mask or a cloth back at the fire. if you can breathe in sulfur daily then breathing in some smoke shouldn't be life-threatening, priorities and all that.”
“Ah, well thanks again for that, you allowed me to gather my strength when my body was so weak, I hadn't eaten or slept at all that day, and it hit me hard as I tried to get to my house.”
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“How about you come with me? We set up some tents for you all back at the harbor, I'm sure you can use one to spend the night in.” out of kindness, and to show good intentions they had set up 2 repurposed garrison tents, since the word was put out to set them up while he was stuck dealing with diplomacy/politics. He still hasn't seen what they look like yet.
“I must refuse you all have already done alot for me.” her face grimaced at those words.
“Don't worry about it, plus I'm lost so I do need directions.” he said, chuckling a bit.
“If you insist.” she said, scoping up the sleeping child in her arms. Parker grabbed her lantern and followed her as she held on to what little belongings she had. You gotta do a good deed when you can, or that's what his old man said at least.
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The moon cast its enchanting glow on the harbor, illuminating the encampment from the darkness, its synthetic lights blazing like beacons against the warm, orange glow of the surrounding buildings, which seemed to slumber in the night. showing both the Marine's technological superiority and their foreign understanding of the world order.
“I'm back.” he said to a pair of guards as he approached. Before him was his Radio operator David and his medic Landon. The two talked as they sat on some barrels that where already at the harbor when they arrived.
“Hey Parker, what's with the company?” Landon asked, looking over at Reslica.
“Ain't that one of the girls from our first encounter.” David commented.
“Yeah, she's currently homeless with her little brother. So i'm just trying to do a good deed, and let them find a place to stay for the night.” Parker retorted.
“What, are you trying to get to first base?” The dumbass known as Landon said.
“Screw you, you haven't even been on a date since you began your time in the Marine Corps.” Parker shot back.
“Alright just don't come calling me if you get shot up.” Landon stated, in which David got into the middle of the there soon-to-be argument by changing the subject.
“Where are you even going to put her, the tents are full.” David asked.
“Then I will let her stay the night in one of our supply tents, one without all our important or sensitive gear.” Parker said back.
“Well that tent is mostly empty. The squids have been funneling resources in all day, but that is where they are storing water and MREs, you can probably let her stay there for the night.”
“If she needs anything, I don't mind helping, maybe I could tell her about the word of god.” David commented, one of his hands resting near the cross he etched on his mask a way for others to identify him more easily.
“Maybe another time you could spread Christianity, but now's not the time, so keep that bible in your pocket.” David was sometimes too devoted to god, that it started to rub off on the rest with his preaching. Parker didn't mind it but sometimes he needed to read the room. And in this case he might have a field day with a whole world of non-believers, showing god's love through helping others had to be his favorite pastime. He really got to ask why he would join the USMC in the first place with his contrast to what a regular marine would be.
“Follow me.” Parker spoke through his mask, as he turned to face Reslica.
“Okay.” she said quickly. She seemed embarrassed that this whole conversation was surrounding her, or at least that's what he guessed. They made their way into the supply tent, finding a stretcher he set it up in a far corner of the supply tent. placing her lantern on one of the Harden Boxes, after a bit of work, he had made this dark corner of the tent into a little home. “See this, this is a propane heater, it produces heat. he pushed down on the button and after a few seconds clicking noise began to sound, before a small spark ignited causing the inner frame to glow with heat, creating warmth, this seemed to surprise Reslica, her tail no longer moving about, but stood frozen only for a moment before wagging with more vigor, she reached out her hands feeling the warmth from the Heater.
“Make yourself at home.” Parker said, looking at the makeshift bed.
“Thank you I really mean it, Whatever you desire, may it be my body or….”
“Woah woah, I am not helping for a prize like that!!!...I just.” Parker stammered, walking back a couple of steps as he did so, his hands out like he was surrendering. He sits down on one of the boxes after a second, “I am not looking for anything like that, you see My father once said, your life is only as good as the others you support.” Parker took a moment to gather his thoughts before he spoke again “I think he meant that one who helps and supports another is one that will have the most support when they too need help themselves.” Replica watches Parker, her tail not even twitching. It's usually back and forth motion behind her disappearing showing her attention to his words.
“I didn't put much thought into what he said, in the beginning, but after I too lost my home, I found those I helped, reaching out to support me, and I will tell you this, I had little support when I needed it.” Lucky for him, the mask blocked any emotion that may have been on his face as he said those words. “So I decided to support others that need it the most. My little mission I gave to myself, all because I know how it feels to be lost.”
“I see…Thank you.”
Feeling embarrassed for venting to her all of a sudden, Parker quickly sat up, “well I must get going gotta take care of a squad”, he quickly began to leave the tent. His footsteps were quick and precise as he did so.
“Wait!” Reslica said, but it was too late Parker was gone. A soft smile crept on Reslica’s face, which Parker got a glance at before leaving the tent; Outside he was greeted by David and Landon who had seemed to have heard a bit of it.
“It seems someone has a crush.” one of the two said.
“Shut up.” Parker quickly retorted, Grown men can be so childish at times.
Right as he entered his squad's tent, and was about to take off his gear to have some oh-so-sweet sleep, his hand-held radio flared to life, “Whiskey 1-7 to Whiskey 1-1 come on over.”
“This is 1-1 send traffic.”
“Cap and the others are coming out now, seem’s Diplomacy has finally Ended.”
“Alright, I'll be there.”
Parker began to head back walking past Lucas and David who looked at him questioningly.
“You alright?”
“I'm fine.” Parker said, waving them off. As he walked past them, their heads tilted as he headed out once again. The streets were still quiet as the morning light crept up in the sky. That was the last thing he thought before a blade was pressed against his neck and the chilling words that followed.
“If you value your life, you will do as I say.”
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Maz Paskel (Humanoid, Elf) (Commander of the Selvis High Guard)
6/10/2031,
(Capital, Selvis Empire)
(War Room)
“Let's make sure we get as many that are fleeing from that prized Fortress city of their focus on their evacuation routes, then mop off the military remnants in the region.” Maz Paskel said as he looked across the war map of the Wintkin kingdom, this war has gone on for nearly 90 years now and finally, their inner provinces have been exposed. Those vile beasts will finally be part of the empire, or what's left of them. The other commanders and strategists nodded in agreement. Some looked tired as this meeting hit its 5th-hour mark.
“When will the 9th livestock fleet hit their Eastern shore.” he asked.
“Last check-in says they will be hitting the shore in 3 days from now, the perfect time to cause havoc with their forces most likely diverted.” the commander of the Selvis Naval forces Mosmel Kelcak responded, the man was more bloodthirsty than him, to the point his giddiness for the hunt a bit unnerving. Looking over his stack of paper, it seemed they had finally gone over all that was on the agenda.
“Now is there anything that anyone wants to bring up.” His words were met with silence marking the time to wrap up this meeting of the empire's war leaders.
“This is the biggest campaign yet in this war, so let's make it the best we can make it. so that when the next Heavens World Meeting happens, we can show our might to our neighbors,” he stated, the other officers and commander cheering and laughing as they imagined all the new unbroken toys that would soon enter the market. He never was one for slaves, but culling those damned beasts was something he could get behind.
“For the Empire! For the Empress!” Maz said, his hand pounding on his chest as the other followed suit. With that everyone was dismissed. now what was else on the agenda? Yes, he must run an errand for the prince, god that insufferable man should not have such power, but he still wished to have his head so he wouldn't say anything about that twerp, yet at least. As he walked through the halls of the palace and then into the streets. there was always at least one slave in his line of sight. Why does the empress want them as slaves when they could just exterminate them, that has got to be one of the few things that he and the empress disagree on. The early morning light illuminated the streets making his armor shine bright wherever he was. The city began to wake up as businesses opened and men and women started their daily tasks. WRACK! Looking down he saw a slave girl had accidentally run into him, such insolence, how dare it sully him with its mere touch. His prestige armor should never be touched by such trash.
“YOU DARE! YOU FILTH.” Maz said, instinctively pulling out his Sword.
“Sorry master, please forgive this slav….” the girl said but it was too late, the blade cut through her throat causing blood to gurgle before the thing fell dead. Lifeless in a moment, dead as all of those keskin should be. Sparing only a moment, Maz went back to walking, he just wanted to get done with this as soon as possible. He kept thinking about that over and over again even as he signed the paper that brought 5 slaves into imperial custody. Looking at them, they were all females, the most beautiful this market had, All for the lust of that prince. “Come one you vermin, if you trail behind I will kill you.” Then again he didn't want to give the prince damaged goods. That would just cause more problems for him. They flinched as he said that. They were not broken yet, which may be why the prince wanted them.
Toys were just toys after all.