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Battlefield 2552: Road to Redemption
Posted By: John Morris<Katrn@msn.com>
Date: 4 May 2003, 11:58 PM
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Battlefield 2552:
Road to Redemption
The trip back to the UNSC Iron Eagle was perhaps, the most sullen time I had experienced since my families death. I clasped my hands and placed my head in-between them. Maybe I was tired more than anything, or maybe I was dreading the call to Johnson's wife and 8-month-old child he so often bragged about before this mission. I never understood why I always lived, in situations when most would die, I would leave with a scratch, forced to push their faces to the back of my mind, forgetting their existence so I would not live in turmoil.
Yawning, I leaned back in my seat, looking out the porthole to my right; the conflict had temporarily been postponed; yet the damage was extensive. Multiple UNSC frigates sat crippled, some missing large sections of hull which floated in orbit nearby, I peered back at the white orb which we were leaving, so peaceful from our distance, but knowing to well about the chaos on the surface. So many lives lost, so many still to be lost. I always felt that each action I made, had an effect on the outcome of this war, even if it was just a minute incidence. One more alien killed, meant one less to fight on, one more escaped, meant another threat in the future. It was in this form of thinking that kept me going, giving me some solace in my actions.
"Touchdown in five" the pilot called back to us. I acknowledged him with a nod of my head followed by sitting down and clipping my belt. Soon we would be safe, out of harms way or at least for the moment. In the distance, the lights of the docking bay approached, and the electronic hum of the landing skid descending filled the ship, before we touched down with a rumble. The red hull lights turned green and the back of the ship opened, I was the last to leave, calmly walking off the Pelican's rear ramp with a metal clang as I crossed the steel grating. My sleeping quarters rested between A and B deck, a kind of transition floor, not even designated on the ships blueprints, reserved for Marine officers.
Swinging my MA5B assault rifle over my arm, I headed to the lift at the far corner of the Hangar. A Warthog ATV pulled up and the driver asked if I needed a ride probably due to my sorry condition. Without hesitation, I jumped aboard, riding the remaining 300 yards to the Elevator in a short time. Upon arrival, I quickly hopped out and thanked the driver who did not reply. I shrugged my shoulders and pressed the button to head up to B deck; from there, I would access a staircase to make the rest of my trip up, since the elevator didn't stop on my floor. To my surprise and benefit, the door immediately slid open, something that rarely happened on a ship of 7'000 inhabitants. A man half way across the room waved and called for me to hold the lift but I ignored his pleas, aggravated by his request, opting instead to hurry the door close button.
So I rode alone for six minutes, watching as the lights flickered on and off in the tiny elevator, until it came to rest with a ping. I exited the small enclosure and made my way straight to the staircase, which was engulfed in darkness, each step I made, reverberated off the concrete floors and echoed through the close walls. The flight of stairs was no larger than fifteen steps, but seemed to be longer, much longer, as each time my foot hit the ground, a searing pain shot through my head. Slowly I reached the top and opened the door to a dark hall, which was only lit by several white light bulbs spaced some 15ft apart each. My room was the first on the right and was rather small compared to other officers; to make things worse I had a roommate who always had a tendency to leave her belongings about.
I quietly swung the door open in case she was asleep, luckily she wasn't. Flipping on the lights, I squinted as my eyes struggled to adjust. I dimmed them somewhat and found it easier to handle. Removing my helmet I placed it on the on the counter in the cramped bathroom, which contained a toilet, shower stall and sink within a 4X6 room. I looked into the mirror, my own image staring back at me as if I was mocking myself; I ran a hand through my short brown hair, which once again needed a trim. I slowly turned on the faucet and washed the soot from my face, watching as the mix of dirt and blood rolled down the drain.
Pulling off the armor plaiting from my uniform, I piled it onto the floor and walked over to my bed, flipping off the light switch before I crashed unto the firm mattress. Although the room temperature was around a warm 80degrees I pulled the quilt over my body and curled into the fetal position, trying still to warm up from my stay on the Ice Planet. It was now 23:05, if I awoke seven it would allow a good nights rest, setting my alarm I fell asleep.
The lights turning on in the room awakened me with a jolt, my pupils rapidly retracted from the light, and I quickly retreated my head under the covers. I checked my watch 6:30 becoming aggravated I bit down on my bottom lip, something I often did when I was frustrated. Suddenly I watched as the covers were stolen from my body. I groaned and sat up straight bracing my back against the Cerulean blue wall that my bed cornered against. I flashed a glance at the attacker that sat at the end of my bed brushing her teeth. She was a fair burnet haired woman with a striking figure and green eyes that sat upon a rounded face, yet sometimes I loathed her. At first I assumed UNSC Co-ed rooming specifications would be a decent proposition, and I eagerly volunteered, now I longed for a male roommate, who wasn't so damn energetic.
"Rise and shine." She said happily, I smile crossed my face but was one of utter sarcasm. She returned the favor, not realizing the frustration behind mine.
"What the hell" I whined, "I was going to sleep until seven." I fell back onto the bed.
"Oh well, it's close enough." She obviously didn't realize how important a half hour of sleep was. I tried to ignore her, only to be tugged on persistently.
"Fine!" I gave in; Ellie O'Connor always seemed to win for the exception of once when I refused to move at all. Pulling myself to the edge of the bed I swung my legs over the side letting them hit the cold floor. Rubbing my sore eyes I once more yawned before standing. She patted me on the back, quickly I pulled away, gathering my armor off the floor and reattaching to my clothing. Grasping the helmet under one arm and clipping my combat belt with my right hand, I pulled the weapon from the floor and tossed it over my shoulder. She stared at me politely, before she resumed her aggravating rant.
"You want to eat?" She requested.
"No" I gruffly replied
"You sure."
"Yes."
"Cause I'll pay." I became exasperated; walking to the bathroom I slammed the door behind me. I wanted to shave but was stuck looking for my razor, which ended up in the shower. I exhaled, trying to relieve some stress; I turned on the cool water, and began to cut the dense layer of whiskers away from the rigged contour of my face. My eyes, which were normally green, now had red streaks running through them. I shook my head, sleep deprivation showed, and I didn't want to seem disheveled when I spoke to widow of Johnson. Quickly brushing my teeth I almost had made it out of the room when she spoke again.
"Sorry I had to use your razor, I couldn't find mine." She told me softly as if it were no big deal. My face turned a vivid crimson, as I tried to hold back the rage. It was bad enough that I had to share a room with a female Navy who didn't understand the value of sleep, but it was worse to have one who stole my belongings. I clenched my hand into a fist, turning my knuckles, which turned white. I wanted to tell her off, tell her to just shut up, but I only managed to say:
"It's ok, I'll get another one." She smiled her bright smile, and waved goodbye. Turning down the hallway that now buzzed with men, I walked to the chapel that housed the system, which I could contact Johnson's wife. I entered the holy area, conscious of my surroundings as the multi color illumination gleam from the roof. Removing a plastic card from my pocket, I typed the co-ordinance of his wife into the system. Placing the Type 5 Titanium helmet unto the table, I grasped both hands together. The screen in front of me flickered on and the image of a short blonde haired woman in her early twenties appeared clutching a child.
"Hello." She greeted me as she bounced the baby on her knee entertaining it, the small boy cooed and smiled.
"Mrs. Johnson, I regret to inform you that your husband, Private Second Class Tim Blair Johnson was killed in the line of duty yesterday at 20:00 hundred hours, while serving on the planet Sirius. The UNSC sends full gratitude to your family and those left behind." I was a bastard, my nonchalant tone made me sound heartless as if I didn't care, normally after those speeches we would flip off the screen and let them to fend for themselves, but this time I continued to watch, breaking several UNSC codes. She remained calm, something I would not expect from a woman who just lost her husband. The baby stirred, drool seeping from the side of it's mouth as he giggled.
"He was a good man, and friend." I was lying to an extent, I hardly knew him, and he was hardly a man, still to young in my opinion to be dead. I watched as she pushed the long blond hair from her face, an attribute she and her son shared.
"I lost my brothers also." She said calmly "and no one ever stayed on this long or said anything after the initial news."
"Excuse me ma'am, what do you mean by that?" I was caught off guard.
"Never mind." she said "it just meant a lot." She smiled, and I flipped off the monitor, the holopanel disappearing completely, leaving me in a leather chair with an empty room. Another layer of rock had compiled onto my heart, I snapped my fingers together and stood, Walking back out into the bright hallway, my radio buzzed.
"All Jump divisions report to your appointed docking bays at once, this is not a drill." I ground my teeth, the warning that once had sent my heart racing, now liberated me from the depths of the unknown. Conflict was once again on the horizon, and I had decided to take the road to redemption, the road to revenge. And now as I walked once more down the large corridor, Ellie following close behind me, I just smiled, and squeezed into my rifle, the friend who I would once more call on to bring me home.
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