“Colors. I didn’t see this when I was in the void. It was pitch black; system, what am I seeing?”
The optical filters were effective in shielding you from the light. The wavelengths exceeded all safe levels and your visor was fully shielded to prevent blindness, injury, and eventually death.
“From light? What kind of light could do that in the void we were in?”
Solar radiation was detected, however it is not possible to experience solar radiation at such levels at ground level without total loss of life and atmosphere.
“So, let’s say I did pass the sun. What does that mean?”
I cannot answer that, not enough information available.
“So, I guess I passed the sun and lived. Great, that tells me nothing.”
The solar radiation was variable from what data is known.
“What else can you tell me?”
The standardized data package is limited to basic astronomical data to be used for navigational purposes. Basic solar system knowledge is available as well. Would you like to know facts about the Mars colony?
“No, that’s fine. I’ll just save this data in hard memory to view later. Powersave mode and good night.”
Good rest, soldier. You keep our society strong.
Well, that wasn’t very soothing, I thought as I yawned lightly, slowly drifting to sleep, thinking of what I’d be doing tomorrow besides walking another several hours and using a set of hoses plugged into my privates so I could go without stopping. Yeah, those were good times.
I don’t recall what, or if, I dreamed, but I remember waking up to a surprise. Birds were perched on my helmet visor. Looking at me and singing a song I couldn’t hear, but it looked pleasant and the birds looked terrestrial. Refreshing to wake up to, especially after what I’d been through.
Essentially being in a city destroying bomb, being pulled through space past a star, parachuting to the ground, then having to walk almost twenty miles. I yawned loudly and blinked a few times, really wishing I could wipe my face with my hands.
“System, report.” I asked, in-between yawns.
Good Morning. Current time is 10:16 AM. External air temperature is 24.4 degrees celsius or 74 degrees fahrenheit. All defence systems are damaged but functional, weapons systems are functional. You have healed thirty seven percent compared to your injuries yesterday-
“That’s fine. Open external audio at safe levels. I’d like to hear the ambient sounds for once, not artificial noises.”
With a click the songs the birds sang quietly increased until I heard their songs. It was so beautiful, like something out of a nature recording from before I was born. From when Earth was still vibrant, not just recovering. I laid there, being serenaded to by these tiny creatures that were completely unaware of what I was capable of.
Or maybe, they knew. I don’t know. I felt so much peace at that moment I didn’t notice I had fallen back asleep. When I woke up they were gone and I was alone so I sat up and looked around. Same sparse forest. Same blue sky above me.
I used a quick burst from a compressed air jet on my back that was only good to get me off my butt if I was knocked down in combat, to get back to my feet and I started walking again. The sound was unlike anything I had heard in real life before. There were birds, wind in the trees, the crunch of leaves below my feet.
The sudden impact of something against my side was a bit surprising, but not enough to scare me. I figured it was some animal that didn’t notice me so I turned to look at whatever it was and was not surprised to see a little horse with huge eyes rearing to punch me with its forelegs. I smirked and stood still as it landed several blows to my left side and arm without even scuffing the paint. Well, hardly.
I turned to it and knelt down as it turned to buck me and giggled as it’s legs hit me, then it stumbled forward, losing balance, and face planting the ground. I openly laughed as I quickly picked it up and righted it to it’s scrambling feet. Hooves. It ran away quickly and I watched it go. Just like a scared deer it didn’t look back.
“No harm, no foul.”
I stood and started walking again, enjoying the sounds of nature. I’ll admit it was getting boring to me; I mean compared to the fast paced and loud lifestyle of a soldier surrounded by others, this was meditation or sleep time stuff.
I was about to put my music on when I felt a heavy thud on my back. Camera’s being broken and all I figured I’d ignore it and keep on. Another, then another to my left side. “Okay, what the hell?” I asked turning to see a group of about a half dozen brown to grey horses about three quarters my size in formation with stones in their hooves.
“Ooookay? Uh, I come in peace?”
Yes, that’s what I said, exactly. One of the smaller ones near the back pointed to me and shouted something I couldn’t understand. I started recording for the humor of it all.
“Intrel ptick!”
I stood firm as the rocks began to thud against my suit. I couldn’t understand what I was seeing. Horses picking up rocks with their hooves and throwing said rocks at me shouting ‘intrel ptick’ at me. When one of the horses grabbed a tool, I took notice and grabbed my rifle from my back, with a quick swing and pointed it at the ground between us.
They stopped and looked at me. I actually saw their faces contort into what I knew to be confusion, fear, and anger. The one with the tool flung it at me and I shot a round into the ground toward them. The sound was no big deal to me but the look on their faces was pure horror and terror. I had never seen a real horse, or pony, so seeing their faces react like a human’s was interesting.
They all scattered, screaming like mad away from me, save for one. A light brown one with a necklace of feathers and dried fruit, it seemed. The horse fell to its side as the others ran away. I watched for a second before taking a step forward. I looked around and didn’t see any traps and where I was didn’t seem like a place to ambush either; it was too open with no cover. I watched the others running until they were beyond sight, lost to the trees.
I slung my rifle again and walked to the downed horse, knelt down, gently touched it, and wished I could feel it. I poked it and waited to see if it was breathing. A shaky breath in and slow release. Again. Again.
Okay, it’s alive, just in shock, I guess. What should I do? I can’t help it from inside the armor, I can’t get out of the armor. I could carry it, but then the others might think I’m taking it as a kill and they seemed to have a herd mentality, so they may protect their land violently.
Dammit, what do I do? I can’t just leave it here, what if a predator shows up? Easy lunch; and it’d be my fault.
“Shit.”
I saw it’s ear twitch at my word and I stood up and backed away slowly. “Hi, can you hear me? It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you. I’m just going to go, I really hope you’re okay.”
Once I was about ten feet back it huffed and slowly raised its head, looking around. It locked it’s eyes on me then tried to stand but fell again. Several times, each time trying to scurry away until I saw blood on it’s back leg. I didn’t shoot it, but some debris ricocheted to the poor creature.
It was terrified. Terrified of me and what I had done. I wasn’t some monster that was trained to kill without mercy, none of us were. We were allowed pets, when I was young we had a troop dog named Sky. I loved her as much as the other kids did. Now here I am, injuring a poor animal for no reason.
I hesitated and began to walk to it with my hands out and palms open, showing I had nothing. I couldn’t take my rifle off, that’s stupid no matter what, but I slowly walked to the terrified horse and knelt down. It stopped scrambling and leaned back from me, it’s breathing was heavy and fast. I could see fear in its eyes, folded back ears, and trembling lips.
“T-tirumbnaaptaltthan,” she rambled quickly.
It had a soft, almost child-like, voice.
Language. Real language. It’s smart. Oh god, what the hell. What do I say? I just met a new life form and the first thing I do is shoot it. Shit, intergalactic war.
I gathered myself and looked to it, my hands holding the several feet space between us before I retracted my hands and began pantomiming.
“I. No. Hurt. You.” I said slapping my arm then shaking my head the best I could. I motioned wrapping around my arm while saying ‘I-help’. It calmed down a little.
Okay, I think it understands me. Which is great. We have some cultural similarities, maybe I can help it and get on my way with a story to tell.
I knelt down and knocked on my chest plate, by my heart, and bowed to it; full prostration. I mean, if it was smart, it had to have a social structure. If I looked subservient to it I’d be in a better place. So, I looked up and it had a look of repulsion. Ears still back, head pulled back with a sneer, and one eyebrow slightly higher than the other.
“R-ruoum twoyg? Ythmloth ruoum twoyg?”
I looked at it and shrugged.
I hope this works.
I slowly sat up to my knees and opened my arms, inviting it to me. It’s look changed to one of bemusement. As though it was trying to scream ‘really’ with a look. It worked, but I stayed where I was, arms open like a fool.
It slowly rolled to its belly in a comfortable position and looked at me.
“Prit?”
I shrugged then nodded. “Prit.” Gods, don’t be a declaration of war.
It got up carefully and cautiously took a step toward me, watching me as seconds passed. Taking another step it regarded my body and I realized I was still behind polarized glass. To avoid any setbacks I’d wait to show my real face. It took another step.
“Prit,” it stated flatly.
“Prit,” I replied warmly.
It smiled a little then limped calmly ahead to me and stopped just outside my reach.
“Prit,” it said with a smile. It walked into my arms and reared, opening its forelegs it fell into me with a giggle.
Oh. My. God. It means ‘hug’, I think. I’m hugging a smart horse. What now?
It broke the hug but kept its forelegs on my chest and looked to my helmet. “Trrop timper tokok yur jilling?”
I slowly reached up and tapped my helmet and told the computer to disengage the polarization so it could see my face. It reacted as I expected. A scream and scrambling back, it fell to its haunches and screamed in pain, clutching its side. I lunged to catch it before it fell, and I quickly picked it up.
It was crying in pain so I turned it around and scanned its injury. It was literally a flesh wound. The shard of rock, or whatever it was, grazed the leg and left a centimeter laceration. I chuckled and looked around to find anything I could use to patch it quick. I saw plenty of nature around but nothing I could use.
Then I had a silly idea. I placed it down and took my rifle off my shoulder and broke the strap. It was a heavy bulletproof cloth called kevlar. It wasn’t absorbent but I figured it’d make this creature feel better. I ripped a segment off and quickly wrapped the creature's wound with part of the strap.
A brief struggle and a few terrified looks to me and I let it go. It stumbled to its hooves and took a few shaky steps looking at my amazing medical skills before looking to me with confusion. Then it beamed a smile almost too large to believe was possible.
“PRIT! Prit prit ruoum, prit prit ruoum, pri~t.”
It was singing and dancing like it didn’t have an injury to begin with. It sat again and looked to it’s rear leg when I noticed it was a female. I wasn’t really looking before but there were the obvious signs, teats and all.
I touched my chest and smiled. “Me. Mocha. You?” I pointed to her as she looked to me. Cocking her head to the side I repeated myself. “Me. Mocha. You?”
She looked to my pointing finger aimed at her then I could see the spark of her understanding.
“Ythmloth Mocha. Tal’than Lom.” She pointed to herself, “Lom.”
I smiled and extended my hand, more by habit. “Hi Lom, nice to meet you.”
She reached up and bumped my hand like it was no big deal, which was surprising to me.
“Ythmloth, Mocha. Nytyng.”
I chortled. I was having a conversation with a sentient horse.
“Me. Friend. Prit?”
She looked at me and then to the sky, almost like she was thinking of something. I followed her gaze and took a second to appreciate the blue, cloudless sky. The leaves blowing in the soft wind. The sound of nature around me; how it could have washed me away with it, if it weren’t so dang boring.
I felt a knock on my chest as she got my attention back she smiled. Poor teeth, but big smile.
“Fr-ind. Prit. Fr-ind. Mocha. Prit. Frongid.”
It was so cute and cool. She was trying to speak my language after a few minutes.
“Oh, you’re…” My heart skipped a beat. I think I just made peace. “You’re my friend?”
We looked at each other and smiled.
OR, I was just married. Crap, I’m not a linguist. It’s okay, Mocha. Just stay cool. Maybe it, she, Lom can help get this armor off. I could use a breather.
No, wait. Maybe they can help me get to my friends. Well, how would they help, exactly? Maybe I can become their god and they can carry me the whole way?
I rolled my eyes at myself.
What the heck am I thinking? Any plan like that would make me into a warlord, disrupt whatever balance these creatures had with other tribes, maybe even start a war.
I’m not here to kill. I’m not even a soldier to kill. I’m a soldier cuz it’s an easy life. Even if I went to war I didn’t expect to kill, these things always ended before harm was done. Maybe I should just leave. Yeah, that’s it. Just get up right now and leave.
I looked to her and saw her pointing in the distance. “Hey, that’s where Skippy is. I think I can go home with you, just don’t make me dance at your bonfire party tonight.”
She cocked her head and began talking to me in her language before getting up and trotting away. She stopped, nudged her head, and I got up to follow her. I wasn’t worried. They’d shown me that their weapons were rocks and stone age tools. Unless they were gonna drop a boulder on me, I was gonna be safe.