//------------------------------// // James' Origin // Story: The Guardian // by NYChris824 //------------------------------// Like ten months ago or something "That's a tank alright." Dash said "Dude, you've seen three tanks." I pointed out "I'm still not wrong." "Where's man who come with?" David asked, his English slowly getting better. "That's the million dollar bit question." Twilight said "Bit?" David questioned, the term for cash always throwing him off. "Ruble." I explained. David nodded. But he still did have a point, the person who also came with it had to be close, judging by some of the shoe prints. "But it's British. I think it's a Comet, the gun is longer." "I'll take your word on it. I'm wondering where the owner is." Twilight noted. "Do you think he's hiding nearby?" "I doubt it. I'm going to peek in." I said and climbed up. Instinct took over, "US Marines!" I shouted. I waited a moment, then banged on a hatch. Another few moments went by and I opened a hatch. I slid inside, and looked around. I immediately noticed the inside was much more crammed and also held five men. I didn't notice a gun lying around, which we all were given. Some food containers and bags were scattered on the turret seats. I climbed back out, "No one home. I didn't see a gun, so either he's out or he left it." "I think he left." Dash said, "This thing has no marks behind it, and it's got a decent layer of leaves on it. Guess he couldn't drive it." "Where could he have gone?" Twilight asked. I began to think, I wake up in a weird place in something I've never been inside, much less seen. I can't drive it so it's staying. I explore the area and find a town, but I noticed the inhabitants are weird looking. Panic sets in and I want out. "I'd walk." I stated, "He sees Ponyville and freaks out over not seeing people in it. He wants to leave, but driving the tank is out of the question. Best option is his own two feet. Question is where to walk to." "I want to leave a message for him." Twilight said, summoning some paper and a pen. "Don't." I said. "Why not?" "Think about it, if you wake up on a populated alien planet, what would they speak." While Twilight paused to think about, Dash realized where I was going. "Anything but what he would speak." She said. "Bingo. He knows nothing about this place. If we check it out regularly and catch him here, we'll be good. Plus, if he can't survive in the wild, he'll be forced into town." "When would that happen?" Twilight asked. "I give him a week to ten days." "Sounds right to me." David added. He leaned down and looked at the dirt. "Here are shoes." "Shoes?" Twilight echoed. "Oh! Shoe prints." "Yea." "Okay. Well, let's just head back to Ponyville and see what happens." 3 days later I was at work, fixing a messed up battery in a phone. I pulled the dead battery out and tossed it out. The door let out a chime, someone just walked in. "Welcome to Wired. Oh hey Twilight, what's up?" "We found that other human. But it's complicated." "Where at? And what'd he do?" "A farm several miles away. He's freaking out, he is in a barn and threw stuff at the farmer. Almost got hit by a pitchfork." "Did you go to his tank? Was the gun there?" The last thing I needed was a dead local, or locals because of some crazy fucker. "I was there this morning and the gun wasn't there, he must have it!" I sighed, "All right, let me go clear this with Vinyl. I'll be back." "Nah, man!" Vinyl called out from the back, obviously aware of us talking. "Just head out, I'll finish up what you're working on." "Alright, thanks! Before we go, I want to make a stop." "For what?" "Stuff." We arrived at the farm, after making a stop for my own gun. No one else was around, but a few tools from the barn were scattered around. I tried to peer through the windows, but I couldn't see any one. "Stay here." I told Twilight, "I want to see if I can talk to him." "Okay. Just be safe." "I will." I walked down the path to the barn. I stayed out in the open so they could see me. Hopefully they would pop out the door and we could talk. Instead a gun barrel popped out the top window. "Stop right there." He said, I picked up a British accent. "United States Marines. Drop the gun." I ordered. "Why should I believe you aren't just some alien posing as a human?" "Well, I know what America is and the word Marine. I'm from California. I spent two combat tours in Afghanistan before an RPG fucked up my back early into my second tour." "How long have you here? Are there any others?" "I've been here for about five weeks and you're the fourth human here. I was the first and yes, we all have tanks. Mind if I enter the barn?" I waited a moment for an answer. "Alright." He said, but the gun didn't move out of the window. I walked in and looked around. Nothing would give away the fact someone lived here for a few days. I looked up and looked at the other human. The first thing I noticed was he was black and incredibly young, barely out of high school. His clothes looked damp and were dirty. "How long you've been here?" "In this barn for three and this planet for seven. I bumped into that farmer this morning. Should I be concerned that the military is about to kick down the doors?" "Not to my knowledge, how about I go back outside and grab a friend. She can answer you." "All right. Never got your name, mate." "Dan. What's yours?" "James." I nodded. "I'll be right back then." I walked back out, Twilight was hiding behind some bushes. She slowly walked out and came up to me. "How did it go?"' She asked. "Fine. He's a scared kid, he seems really concerned that he broke the law. He wants some sort of promise that nothing bad will happen to him. I figured you can make some sort of guarantee. I figured most he would have to worry about would be trespassing or something. Nothing happened to me. I told him that the two of you would talk." "He hasn't broken any laws, except for trespassing. Which considering the circumstances won't be an issue." "Agreed. Care to join me in going back to the barn?" Twilight nodded and we made our way over. "He's up in the second floor. He's trying to keep his face hidden, won't do him any good." We walked into the barn. "James, this is my friend." We waited for answer and I couldn't spot him in the shadows anywhere. "Hello." Twilight began, "I'm Twilight Sparkle. What's your name?" "James Carpenter. I've seen you around that town before. What promises can you give me?" "Well, considering you haven't committed any major crimes; just trespassing and nopony has been hurt. You won't have any issues." "Alright. I'll go with you." He announced and slid down. I noticed his gun was the Sten, which was one of the few sub machine-guns built by the British. James looked at Twilight, "You don't seem too surprised by my skin tone, seeing how he's white." "Dan told me about how humans looked. Where are you from?" "Chester, England. Just graduated from secondary school." "Were you about to join the military?" I asked. He shrugged, "Debated it, my father was in the Army, fought in Kuwait. He was with the Fourth Infantry Brigade. He drove the Warrior and stuff like that." "I faced that same debate as you, only my father didn't serve. I said screw it and enlisted. Can't complain too much. Come on kid, we'll take you back."