//------------------------------// // I prefer dirt than shame // Story: A face doesn't tell you who you are // by xluferx //------------------------------// The forest wasn’t dense but the amount of tree that were all around his surroundings made him stay always ready to pull the trigger of his gun, he only needed a target to aim. The paranoia was constant, many trees means many spots where he could be ambushed either be by melee attack or ranged attacks. His combat boots were the only thing that made noise besides the passing wind which always take with itself some leaves from the top of the trees; his head always was looking to each side left and right something that he learned after serving his city and also the faction was that he must never lower his guard in hostile territory or neutral territory. In this case was the later. It was a normal day for him to say at least, is common the appearance of members of Wings of Heavens around the frontier. Though this time was an unexpected meeting that the current Archangel asked to his faction, so the president sent a small delegation of 5 members conformed by two officers and 3 rangers; however he was called with other 9 sentinels to hide around the perimeter and act as backup if things turn for the worst. Christopher was a bit nervous about the safety of one officer, because said officer accept his misconducts, sometimes allow him to break a few laws, he also handed him his good stuff for relaxation. In other words he was like some kind of friend for him, through his earpad he began to call for him. “Soos, Do you copy?” “Chris? Why do you call? “Where are you?” “Well, we are already at the meeting point, however follow the orders and hide behind the woods” “Any idea why they asked for this meeting?” “The Archangel said that something happened around here which picked up their curiosity and want to do a full scale research” “Will you accept?” “Depends in which area and how much they are up to offer as exchange” “Good luck then” The call was over and Chris’ worries were in vain so kept walking through the forest wondering which rangers could have been assigned this time, obviously his big sister was not there; she most of time stay at the frontier with the insurgents from the south, he wondered if she could make it so they could spend Christmas together rather than be alone despite he passed it with his friends it just wasn’t the same; Christmas with family is a lot better than a Christmas with friends, though the two of them combined would be awesome. Anyways is still too early for thinking about Christmas when is 5 months away besides his sister told him that this year she would spend it with him, and if they are lucky their mother would assist too. Finally he reached at the meeting point and as he was ordered he took cover behind the thickest tree he found near him, from his position he could see the entire delegation waiting for the Wings of Heaven’s arrival. And he didn’t have to wait much; their delegation began to arrive, starting with the officer who was easily to notice with his white combat gear, which they feel so proud of. Then the rest of the team arrived and walked next to their respective officer, but how they were only soldiers they combat suit was different from their superiors, instead of being whole with it had blue streaks as golden. Christopher always made him frown the arrogance that they showed off, they believed themselves so perfect that they think they can only take an entire enemy squad with melee weaponry and sadly it was true; their claim were true when they wiped out a small camp from the Insurgents with only melee combat. He doesn’t know much from them, he only hear rumors like the combat suit which they wear is directly connected to the vertebral spine allowing them to control the amount of adrenaline in their systems, making them extremely dangerous to face alone. He also heard that they developed a new combat that could resist any kind of damage from bullets to explosions; but that was it, rumors. The session started and he saw how those arrogant began to walk in circles around his superiors, he didn’t anything from what they were discussing but something was for sure they were mocking them as expected. “You aren’t supposed to be here, are you?” Before he could think of a counter attack an arm was around his neck and put firm grip on him, all the important veins and arteries slowly started to fail delivering the necessary blood to keep his brain functioning, breaths were not allowed only asphyxiation. He almost succumbed to despair but he was trained to don’t let the emotions take control of you so with what was left of oxygen in his lungs he delivered a powerful blow with his elbow directly where he supposed was the stomach of his assailant; causing the grip to falter a bit it wasn’t enough to break free but enough to breathe again and let some blood reach his brain so it could keep giving commands to his body which was in deep trouble. However his assailant didn’t like what he just did and increased the strength on the deadly lock making feel that his neck would be snapped. His pupils were panicking traveling to every place possible within his eyes trying to search for anything that would help him as his hands tried to remove the lock that he was in, Christopher knew that it was futile trying to best him on strength no matter how much he tried to pull the arm it just not ceased any inch from his neck. His vision began to fade away into the darkness despite his lens of his mask were black there was clear difference between the two, his arms were the first to give in; they stopped applying force to pull away his assailant arm from his neck and like dead body both arms fell to his sides. His head stopped struggling for freedom or attempting to strike the face of his aggressor, but something within the grasp of his right hand gave him new found strength to fight back before the darkness took him. “YOU SON OF A BITCH!” Shouted in pain his enemy as all applied strength which he was using to knock out Christopher stopped, so he could remove the knife that was recently stabbed into his arm, only the shaft was out. Christopher fell to the ground trying to recover his air as fast as possible before his enemy could recover from the stab. He never thought that oxygen would be something so beautiful to breath and feel pass through his nostrils; he needed to escape and inform about this aggression from the Wings of Heaven. He knew that he was attacked by one of the members of the hostile faction; because the Insurgents would never go hand to hand combat unless they outnumber the target, he was proven true when his head turned and the see the three colored uniform. Also he saw the oncoming boot directly to his face. “YOU BASTARD!” Christopher felt thankful that he always wears a mask or that kick would have defiantly broken his nose or an eye; it doesn’t mean that the kick doesn’t hurt. After receiving the blow he tried to escape but it he perfectly that was possible to achieve now. “I WILL NOT PASS THIS INSULT!” And the beat down began, from the ground Chris had to protect himself from the hell of kicks that he kept receiving without any hint to come to a stop, his arms became sore for the barrage of kick he received. The pain, he could pass it but that his body began to feel numb was a bad sign about his body was reaching to the breaking point of pain endurance. “STOP THIS IMPERFECTION CORPORAL!” Christopher after don’t feeling more kicks coming to his way he let his arms drop to the ground and began to breath with effort trying to ease up the pain which he was in, in a way he felt relieved that that guy stopped kicking him to dead but at the same time he was scared of what his superior was going to do with him; he also heard rumors about what they do with the prisoners. Yet the two factions weren’t at war, it was more like neutrality between the two but once in a while one will attack to the other for something in specifically. “Corporal you allowed your emotions to get the best of you, you will be punished for this imperfection. Dismissed!” He was only able to hear the short conversation between the two. “Yes, sir” Christopher believed that he could escape or that maybe his fellow sentinels would come from somewhere and help him but those thoughts were for naught; this was real life and those things never happen. With his sore limbs he tried to get up from the ground so he could disappear between the dense woods which he knew very well so he could miss him with ease, however his hopes were crushed when another kick collided directly on his diaphragm making him gasp for air as he fell completely defeated on the ground. “Your kind makes me sick, peering in the business from others” He felt a weight on the back of his head applying more pressure as the time passed. And then there was only darkness. It was blurry, his vision slowly returned to him but his head was killing him as the light touched his eyes, he wanted to throw up as he wanted to remove his brain so somehow the pain would subside. “You really took a good beat down there kid.” “Soos?” Chris asked with a groan. “In the flesh kiddo” Soos replied with a smug grin, as he patted Chris’ chest. “What the fuck happened?” Chris brought a hand to his head as he slowly began to massage his forehead and temples believing that somehow it will help him, foregetting the fact about him wearing a mask. “Well, we came to an agreement with those arrogant people, they will give us the new med kit specialized to heal injuries almost instantly and in exchange they will have free access to the zones J and H but with the conditions of constant surveillance from our Rangers.” “Not that Soos, I meant me.” Soos chuckled “Always to the point I see…” Clearing his throat he began “Well after the meeting ended the officer Gabriel said that the next time they will not show mercy to intruders, then from the trees various soldiers appeared dragging the your unconscious and the other sentinels. And I wanted to say that I’m sorry for getting you into this” Soos’ eyes were genuine expressing the sadness that he felt despite he seemed a bit happy, Christopher glanced at him then at the roof of the infirmary, he assumed that he was in an infirmary for how poor maintained was the roof because if it was a hospital the roof wouldn’t have two or three fissures where drops of water passed through it. “Soos, it wasn’t your fault” “Look if I’ve known in the first-“ “But you didn’t so please stop beating yourself” The injured sentinel reassured to his superior trying to give him comfort and succeed. “All the injured sentinels will return to their homes and their belongings will be deliver soonm, in other words your shift will end soon you lazy bastard” And the Soos he knew returned. But something hit him, others were going to deliver his belongings; they were going to find about Twilight and sure as hell that they will not be understanding like he was when they catch the sight of her. “Umm Soos ... I believe that will not be necessary, I will do it by myself” Christopher rejecting such offer so he could be lazy around was not normal for Soos. “That’s strange coming from you son” “Look I have things there which I prefer to stay secret” “Son...”Soos’ eyes became suspicious as serious “What the fuck do you have there?” ‘Shit!’ Christopher was a complete idiot believing that he could somehow fool his superior, he knew him for years and also being slightly corrupted gave him the advantage to detect halfs-truths between the words of somebody. “I have porn there alright?” Chris quickly blurted out. “Don’t bullshit me son, I know that you have a friend with benefits so porn is not necessary when you have a pussy” ‘Goddamit, why you have to be so blunt?!' He tried to figure out a response quickly or Soos might get angry, he needed an excuse and a fucking good one like right now. “Besides son, you know the rule number 7, all porn must be approved by me first” Soos pointed his serious face with his index finger. Embarrassment was an understanding right now, and he hated it with all his might. However he didn’t expected Soos to explode in a chorus of laughter, causing Christopher to cover his face or in this case mask in embarrassment and frustration. “FUCK YOU SOOS JUST FUCK YOU!” “I will never forget about this Chris, I will make sure that the other officer know about this as well” And another fit of laughter came from his mouth. “Just kidding son” If he wasn’t wearing his mask he could have been punished for killing his superior with his incredible pissed glare. “You have permission to retrieve you things by yourself after you leave the medic post meanwhile I hope that shame of yours taste well because the food here is shit” And like that he left Christopher on the bed embarrassment and humiliated. But defeated not. “I GAVE UP ON WEED!” “Gooddammit!”