Somewhere near Antonia City, Antonia
"That'll be fifty seven points, sir."
I reached down into my point pouch and pulled out 5 silver coins and 7 smaller coins, handing them to the cashier behind the counter.
"Here you go, fifty seven points." I said.
"Alrighty..." The cashier said, signing a paper. "Please sign your number here."
He handed me the paper and pointed towards the empty line on the bottom of the page. I took the pen after reading the form, and signed my number onto the bottom line.
"Done." I said, giving the paper to the cashier.
"Here is your new OHG-6. Good luck out there, sergeant." The cashier said, giving an amateur salute.
"Thanks." I replied, returning the salute.
Jonathan, Thomas, and Joe were waiting for me outside the store, all of them carrying their new guns.
"You got the pistol? I would've gone with the new Attack Rifle they had on display." Joe said. "Though, I assume the AR wasn't within your price range, was it?"
"It was, I just didn't want to lug it around all day. So I went for the pistol. I mean, .50 cal rounds? In a pistol!" I said. "I'll take power any day."
"Hey, if you wanted power, why didn't you join one of the armored divisions? Or the Navy at that?" Jonathan asked.
"I didn't really have a say." I said jokingly. "Besides, my place is with my men."
"I only run messages down to other officers, nothing fun like what you squad leaders do." Thomas said.
"If you consider hell fun, you can take my spot any day." Joe said.
"Eh... on second thought, I think I'll stick with messenger." Thomas replied.
"Ha! Just kidding! It's fun kicking ERA ass!" Joe laughed. "It only sucks when your ass gets kicked."
"So, you on the Eastern or Western front?" I asked.
"Eastern. The action up there is pretty light. Oh! I heard the seventh army was going to attack a trench system up in the Palomino district today!" Joe said. "Though I'm in the fourth army. What's your army, Mathew?"
"Tenth. Jonathan is also in the tenth." I replied.
"Oh, shit! You guys were in San Fransiscolt, weren't you? Damn, I'm sorry about that." Joe said.
"Yeah, we took a beating." Jonathan replied.
"I lost a guy there named Jacob." I said sadly.
"You mean Jake?! Oh god, Mat, I... I didn't realize-"
"It's fine, Jonathan... I'm over it." I said, interrupting Jonathan.
"I've lost guys before. It isn't easy." Joe said.
We just stood there for a moment, not saying anything, until Thomas broke the silence.
"Hey! We better get going if we want to get to the airsoft match!" Thomas said.
"Yeah, let's go!" I said. "Shotgun!"
"Damn!" Joe exclaimed.
"You sure swear a lot, don't you Joe?" I said.
"Yeah, sure." Joe replied, annoyed.
We all walked towards our rental car and got inside. Jonathan got into the driver's seat, I got into the passenger seat, and everyone else got into the back. Jonathan started the engine and we started to move forwards as he shifted the gear into drive.
After a while, I could see the tall buildings of Antonia City, otherwise known as the holy grail of the Danielson Armed Forces.
The city was just full of people, walking around and going about their daily lives. It was just incredible to really look at what we're fighting for.
We arrived at the airsoft stadium, which was already packed with people. The giant words that were displayed on the stadium read 'Don't miss the Hunters versus Arrowheads game on November 2nd!'.
I looked back to the crowded door, and I started to regret not getting here earlier.
"Oh... It's going to take forever to get inside." I said to myself.
It must've been an hour before we actually got inside the stadium, what with the horrendous line back outside. We managed to get our tickets and seats before the game started, so we got ourselves some snacks in the meantime.
The airsoft arena had two large buildings on both sides, and was littered with obstacles to use as cover.
"I'm betting that the Hunters will win." Joe said. "What about you?"
"Me? I dunno. It's my first time watching a game." I replied. "I guess Arrowheads."
"They won't stand a chance against the Hunters." Thomas said.
"No shit, Sherlock!" Joe said.
"Oh, hey look! They're getting on the field!" Jonathan exclaimed, pointing to one of the arena bases.
I saw twenty men gather around one base in the arena, and another twenty men at the other base. Each team was the same size as an army Infantry squad
"Who's who?" I asked Joe.
"Well, you see those guys over at red base?" Joe asked. I nodded. "They're the Hunters."
"Okay, so the other team-"
"Is the Arrowheads." Joe answered, interrupting me.
"Alrighty, thanks." I replied.
Then all of the sudden, a song began to play that reminded me of the Battlefield theme- No, it was the Battlefield theme!
"Good afternoon, Antonia!" A voice boomed throughout the stadium. "Who wants to play some airsoft?!"
A huge roar erupted from the audience, even Joe stood up and screamed passionately, as if it was his last time watching a game...
...which could be very possible.
"Yeah!" The voice roared. "Our game mode for today is eight, fifteen minute rounds of dominion! If you don't know what dominion is, I suggest getting a pamphlet from the info center."
I didn't know what dominion was, so I got up and went towards the info center, which was just a small stand. There were pamphlets laying on the flat surface of the stand, so I took one and opened it while walking back to my seat.
Dominion... Dominion...
Here it is!
It read, "Dominion is a game mode for airsoft. The basic rules of the game is that two teams defend their base from capture by the opposing team. To capture said base, the enemy team must have three members present inside the opposing team's base, and must lower the opposing team's flag and raise their own flag over the opposing team's base. If an opposing team player hits an enemy player raising their flag over the capture point, the said player must return to base following the respawn rules (see page 2). If the enemy base is successfully captured by the opposing team, they will automatically win the round, or game. Respawning is allowed, and players have infinite lives. Armored vehicles can be allowed (see page 4)."
Seemed simple enough. I stuffed the pamphlet into my pocket and continued walking towards my seat.
"Players! On your mark! Get set! BATTLE!" The voice boomed as I sat back down.
The two teams seemed to rush towards each other, while some of the other players stayed at their bases. I could hear the mechanical noise of the battery powered airsoft guns firing their pellets.
This could get interesting.
A lone soldier was running to the flag, his enemies high on his tail. He was running and jumping over obstacles in his path, trying to dodge the barrage of pellets headed his way. He made it to the flag and found that two of his teammates were there. He just needed to lower the enemy flag and raise his own, and then they would win the game. He took hold of the ropes attached to the flag pole and began to pull them downward, lowering the flag. His teammates were firing at the incoming enemies that were trying to reach him, and stop him from capturing the base. The soldier grabbed for the enemy flag and detached it from the rope. He attached his flag and began to raise it up. He looked to his left and saw that the enemy was right on top of them! He began to raise the flag faster, as the Arrowheads tried to stop him. The flag was almost there, almost to the top of the pole, he just needed a few more seconds...
...and he made those few seconds count, as the flag reached the top of the pole. A huge roar erupted from the spectators as the flag flew proudly in the wind. The Hunters had won the game!
"The Hunters win the game! It's over at 6-8! The Arrowheads were so close!" The announcer said excitedly. "The Hunters will be going onto the Final match of the year!"
All the players on the field met up and shook each other's hand as a sign of good sportsmanship. The Hunters, obviously, shook with more enthusiasm and pride than the Arrowheads.
"Jesus!" Joe said, letting go of a breath he was holding. "That was pretty intense, wasn't it?"
"For a sec, I didn't think he was going to make it! Oh, man!" Thomas said, grunting while he got up out of his seat.
"Come back next month for the final match, as the Hunters go up against the Eagles, in the fight for the title of the Best Airsoft Team of 2023! See you airsofters then! This is John, signing off." He said, killing the mic soon after.
Everyone around us got up from their seats and began to walk towards the nearest exits. We all got up from our seats and started to head over to the main entrance we came in from. I raised my wrist up to close proximity with my face and read the time on my watch; '6:41pm'. Jeez, time flies when you're having fun, I guess.
"So guys, what last-minute plans do we have for this evening, if any?" I asked the group.
"Well... I don't know. Joe? You got anything we could do to pass the time?" Jonathan Asked.
"Huh? Oh, uh..." Joe replied, deep in thought. "Well... we could go to the shooting range. They're open twenty four, seven."
"I'm starving. I'd kill for some fast food, like Chick Fil A, if we had one..." Thomas said, grabbing for his stomach.
"Well, I can give you an MRE- wait... No, I can't." I said, realizing I was reaching for a pouch that wasn't on me. "I forgot I'm not in uniform! Ha! I'm not even used to being in civvies!"
"You can say that again. All I've ever known is the military." Joe said. "You just get so used to the fact that your damn uniform is the only pair of clothes the army allows you to wear out there, that if you put anything else on, it feels so wrong! It's Crazy!"
"Now that you say that... Yeah! It does, even for me!" Thomas exclaimed, tugging on the bottom of his t-shirt.
"Heh, heh! Yeah..." Jonathan laughed. "Well, I'm getting hungry. How about we hit the diner I saw a while ago, it's just across the street from the stadium."
"Sure, let's go." Joe said, walking past a vendor just outside the main entrance of the stadium.
I could see the diner clear as day, or evening. Whatever works.
"Boyd's Burger Time Diner?" Joe said skeptically upon seeing the sign.
"We literally just got outside the stadium and you're already skeptical? About a diner? Joe, frankly... you're a weird guy." I stated.
"Not as weird as the guy who decided to name his diner 'Burger Time'." Joe replied.
"That's not even a weird name! It actually kinda fits." I said.
"Burger Time?! Does that not even sound like a shit name to you?!" Joe exclaimed, throwing his hands into the air.
"Dude, I really don't care about the name of the diner, as long as I get to eat something there." Thomas said.
"Come on guys, let's try to enjoy everything we're getting to do, rather than criticize it." Jonathan said.
"Fine." Joe said, walking towards the diner.
We all followed him to the street and stopped to wait on passing vehicles.
"Make sure you look both ways!" Thomas said.
"Hilarious, Tom." Joe responded sarcastically. "Almost as funny as watching paint dry."
After crossing the street, we got to the front of the diner and peered through the window, only seeing a few people inside. I walked in first, opening the front door and taking the first seat that caught my eye.
"Hey, Welcome to the diner!" The person, who I guessed was Boyd, said to us from behind the counter. "What can I get you fine men to drink?"
"Root Beer." Was the first thing that came out of my mouth.
"Same" Joe said.
"I'll have a water." Jonathan said.
"I'll take a Root Beer." Thomas said.
"Ah, should've known. I'll give you guys a discount for your service to our nation." Boyd said.
"Wait, how'd you know we were in the military?" I asked, very surprised.
"Your haircut is up to regs. I should know, I was in the Marines." Boyd said, folding his arms.
"Marines... Dang." Joe said, impressed.
"What branch you guys in? Army? Navy? Marines? Don't leave me guessing." Boyd asked.
"Army. All four of us." Jonathan replied, beating me to it.
"Army, eh? I heard you guys took a beating after San Fransiscolt. It ain't fun, isn't it?" Boyd said.
"Jonathan and I were in San Fransiscolt, with the Tenth army." I said.
It was as if everyone in the room stopped what they were doing when I said those last words. Good God, I hate having everyone's attention.
"You were there?!" Boyd asked in shock.
"Yeah... We were." I replied awkwardly.
"Well... What was it like?" Boyd asked, resting his arms on the counter top.
"Like Hell." I said bluntly. "I was leading my squad up a street when an Equestrian 102mm opened up on us. We went for cover in the debris, while the Howitzer emplacement was raining down on us. I lost a guy trying to take the emplacement out, so I chucked a pineapple from where I was and it must've detonated the ammo. The Howizter was destroyed and a tank behind us was able to dish out a few hits on the incoming armored division before it was blown up by a Mk 1... God..."
"Oh... Atleast you made it." Boyd said somberly. "I not only lost my men, but my leg in the Etalonia assault."
"You were a squad leader?" I asked.
"Yes, I was. Our platoon had set up a camp near Canternia, when a whole slew of ponies came in and ambushed us. I was hit by a magic burst almost a minute after we were ambushed. Only 78 of us from the platoon got out alive, and only seven guys from my squad came out of that mess in one piece." Boyd said, moving out from behind the counter in a wheel chair. "I can't remember a day I haven't thought about my leg. Or that battle."
"Seven?! How were you able to handle losing all those men?!" I asked, dying for an answer.
"Well... It isn't easy, that's for sure, but... you just have to know when to let go. It isn't easy by any means, but it'll make your life less hellish. Plus, I got over it, like anyone should." Boyd replied. "Never hold onto dead men... it'll not only kill yourself, but everyone under your command."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because you could become afraid of completing the task at hand. Say you had to send four guys to their deaths in order to save a thousand others from theirs. Would you do it?" Boyd asked.
A clash between moral and duty occurred in my heart, as I tried my best to answer his question.
...
I couldn't answer him.
"Can we... have those drinks we asked for?" I asked reluctantly.
"Uh... Of course." He replied, rolling himself back into the kitchen.
He knew I was dodging his question, but I just... couldn't answer it. It was weirder because the question came from a guy I didn't even know, and it still caused a moral dilemma in my heart.
"Mat? You okay?" Jonathan asked.
"Uh... Yeah... yeah." I said tiredly.
"You could really use that root beer, I can tell." Joe said. "But what Boyd said... He's got a point."
"That's what I'm afraid of." I said, putting my arm on the counter and laying my head on it.
I looked outside the window and noticed it had started to rain a little. It made me chuckle a bit, seeing the people scramble for something to cover their heads from the light shower. If we were in Equestria, no one in the army would really pay much mind to the light rain. It kept me entertained for the moment.
"Okay, men. Here are your drinks you wanted, three Root Beers, and one water. You want any food to go with that?" Boyd asked.
"Please, yes." Thomas replied immediately.
"Okay... what would you like?" Boyd asked.
"I'll have the... Morty burger?" Thomas said.
"Old Fashioned Cheeseburger." Joe said.
"Fried Chicken Sandwich for me." Jonathan said, pointing to the menu above the counter.
"And for you?" Boyd asked me.
"I'm not sure... Uh... You know what? Surprise me." I said, content with my decision.
"Ah... the old 'I can't decide, so I'll just have him/her surprise me' trick. If that's what you wish." Boyd said. "And... I'm sorry if I made you upset or distressed earlier, I'm just really interested in what's going on overseas."
"It's okay." I replied.
"I'll go make your food now." Boyd said, heading back into the kitchen.
"I don't know what the Morty Burger is, but I'm having it." Thomas said.
"Okay, so what I'm wondering is who's going to pay for the food?" Joe asked.
Uh...
Three Hours Later
I haven't had a shower in at least a month, so when I took one earlier, it was the best thing about this entire trip.
After we ate at the diner, we went on to the shooting range, which was a few miles from the diner. There, I got to try out my new pistol, and it fired beautifully. Joe forced me to make up a name for my gun, so thanks to a ton of peer pressure, I named her Lucy. It's so cliché, I know. After two hours of buying and wasting a ton of ammo, we came back to the hotel and packed our new guns away. We didn't know what to do afterwards, so we just hung out in the lobby, telling stories about our men. I probably set Dylan's ears on fire more times than I could count. We laughed, we sometimes cried, and at some point decided to go to bed, ending the day for good.
That's about when I took my long, awesome shower. I can't completely describe how good it was to have warm water running down my body, but it was awesome.
You know what?
I'm gonna take another one.