Eleven Thirty Five
A warm ball laid lazily in the sky while a breeze wafted wantonly across the land, carrying with it the smell of the sea. A little blue roofed house stood out among many other odd homes on the seaside suburbs. Inside a man examined the stubble on his jaw through a large vanity mirror. He felt the texture of its roughness like copper bristles across his hand while enjoying the roguish shadow it cast across his jawline.
Maybe I should keep it.
He eyed a razor on the sink and contemplated it for a few moments before letting out a sigh.
Some habits are tough to to break.
After a few minutes of practiced masculinity, the man splashed some water on his face and examined himself in the mirror again, this time giving his whole body a look over. A much younger Cliff in a pair of swimming trunks looked back at him. His face less weathered, his brow relaxed and his stylish hair with youthful vigor. All this rounded off by a much leaner but still fairly muscular frame.
A voice called from outside the restroom.
"Honey? Are you done yet? We're all waiting." A young womanly voice chided.
"Yes dear, just got rid of the stubble." He remarked giving his now smooth face another rub.
"Oh thank goodness! I hate kissing you when you have a stubble, it's like kissing a cactus."
"Well why don't you come in here and make a little comparison then?" Cliff smirked at his clever quip then turning to the door. The handle jiggled a few times and then it open to reveal the female voice.
A shorter lady appeared, with dark brown hair and pale freckled skin. Her eyes little ponds of blue lapis lizuli. She wore a two piece bathing suit that fit her slim figure snugly and, in his eyes, like Marilyn Monroe. She confidently strode over to the man and placed a delicate hand on his chest. She gave little devilish smile and a little finger curl to come hither. The man leaned forward and so did the woman but before they could go any further-
"Ewww! Mom! Dad! Save it for later! We wanna go to the beach!" A young child's voice chided.
"I want In-n-out!" Another younger voice interjected.
In the bathroom doorway two heads popped out, with impatience written all over them. It was Carrie and Caleb, their daughter and son who looked a lot like their mother but with his hair and height. The couple had a little chuckle and sighed at the situation.
"Alright let's go kids." Cliff relented which gave way to the sound of two cheering children. The family made their way outside with their big umbrella stand and towels in tow. Cliff stopped and took a moment to take it all in, as his family pressed onward across the sandy pavement.
The cool breeze.
The warm sun.
The sound of the Pacific Ocean breaking across the nearby shore.
Not too long ago he had bought himself the small house in Carlsbad, after coming back from the war, and at the behest of his cousin who was in the Navy. He had really come to enjoy the little beach town and it's friendly folk, always happy go lucky these Californians seemed to him. He didn't mind them and it wasn't much longer till he was out of the military. He would become one of them and finally settle down.
For good.
A sense of dread snapped him away from his moment and he immediately looked toward his family. That was when he heard it. The dreaded whistling sound of a mortar falling from above. He reached out toward them and tried to say something but they seemed not to notice, pressing onward without a single concern.
BOOM
The thunderous explosion filled his vision, sending him flying and his senses reeling. After an unknown amount of time he felt someone shake him.
"Y... ge... up!" A barely audible voice echoed from far away.
He smelled something sharp that caused him to awake with a start. He then felt the wounds all across his back, small pieces of hot metal lay buried in his body and he let out a groan. He felt a little prick and a sense of euphoria washed over him.
"Lets go Sergeant! Your squad needs to get moving!" The voice yelled a lot clearer now, who he now recognized as the medic due to the big red cross on his helmet.
Cliff got up from where he laid and quickly observed his surroundings. He was in a forest and nearby was a clearing where the sounds of battle raged constantly. The pings of Garands and bursts from BARs were met with the retorts of Hitler's buzz-saw. His wounds less of a concern now, he strapped his helmet back on and grabbed the Thompson laying next to him, then looking for his heavy machine gun squad.
"Michael!" He yelled over the cacophony of war.
"We're over here Sergeant!" Corporal Michael responded, his machine gunner who carried a thirty caliber belt fed machine gun with a small fifty round starter belt wrapped loosely around it. Next to him were three privates which both had Garands at the ready, along with a tripod and multiple belts of ammo for the machine gun.
"Alright lets get fucking moving to hill two two!" Cliff shouted as the plan for the attack came back to him, the group now heading towards the battle.
"I want you to rush up the hill and setup your gun on bipod while we cover you." Cliff instructed as they ran through the forest with a sense of purpose.
"Once you're up, go cyclic on their asses!"
"Roger Sergeant!"
The group approached the edge of the forest and they could see the outline of the enemy position in the distance, along with some of their comrades who struggled in the field. Soon the cracks of rifle rounds began to head their direction.
"Hurry the fuck up Michael lets go!"
The short corporal churned his strong legs as he sprinted up the hill with the occasional round tearing up the dirt around him.
"Open up!"
The three privates began to fire their rifles, exchanging a couple rounds each from the wood line. Which drew the attention of the krauts and put their heads down. Though this also drew the attention of a German machine gun and its volley of return fire.
A private was struck by a few rounds and slumped over.
Dead.
Fuck, they got us zeroed.
Until a slow but long volley of thirty caliber fire rained down on the Germans.
Thank fucking Jesus.
Corporal Michael continued to let off rounds from the top of the hill as Cliff and the two remaining Privates charged up the hill.
"Get him on that fucking tripod!"
As rehearsed one Private quickly unfolded the tripod and slammed it into the ground once he got close. The gunner then smacked it down on top and that same Private engaged the pin to lock it in place. While the other pulled out a fresh one hundred round belt and linked more rounds to what remained on the gun.
BRRRT
With a loud crack, a round from the German machine gun fire pierced straight through Michael's helmet and his body fell lifeless over the gun.
Fuck!
Cliff held his remorse and rolled the body off to the side, hopping on the gun then letting off a long burst.
"FUCK YOU!"
The rounds rained down on the defensive positions, bodies dropped and others hid. Cliff let off burst, after burst, after burst. Until the rifle platoon that was pinned down, finally pushed onto the objective and began to clear it.
The barrel smoked and a mirage heat enveloped it from the shear amount of rounds put through it. Cliff let out a tense breath that he didn't know he was holding and rolled over in exhaustion.
He stared up into a cloudy sky.
It began to rain.
He felt cold and darkness began to surround his vision. The soldier closed his eyes in response and let the cold rain drops land on his body until he lost himself to the dark abyss.
Cold.
Wet.
Wind.
Snow?
He opened his eyes suddenly and got up. His surroundings changed again, this time into a more snowy and mountainous landscape. One that he recognized as being in North Korea.
The whistle of a mortar was there to greet him already, which by instinct made him lay back down and roll until he fell into a nearby trench.
BOOM
The thunderous clap of the mortar kicked him back into overdrive and he observed his immediate area.
He was near a fifty caliber machine gun nest but the gunner and his assistant we're both dead, with the gun attached to a recently destroyed tripod. All the while, Cliff saw a horde of North Korean and Chinese soldiers moving towards his position.
He saw only one way out.
The large man detached the fifty caliber heavy machine gun and grabbed the long belt of ammo attached to it. He threw the belt over his shoulder and hefted the machine gun into his arms, then marching outside. The soldier perched his leg up on a snow bank then resting the machine gun on his thigh.
He let off a long burst.
The large burst ripped through the big group of soldiers who began yelling in their native tongue. Cliff continued to fire, not stopping even as the heat of the barrel began to burn his leg, he kept shooting. More and more fell, as closer and closer the enemy rounds began to land. Before he knew it, he was yelling in determination. The gun fired without fail, his leg practically melting but he kept going.
Until his vision went black.
Cliff shot up out of his bed and sat on the edge of it, dripping with sweat and his mind in turmoil. He lifted up a shaky hand and felt the scarred smooth skin on his right thigh and then reached across his back and felt the small little lumps of scarred flesh. His hand never stopped shaking. He tried clenching it few times to no avail. He felt weak and sickness roiled in his gut.
Quickly he rummaged through a drawer in his night stand and felt for a hidden spot. He grasped the object firmly and pulled out an unlabeled pill bottle. With much impatience, the quivering man opened it and popped out a few pills which he promptly swallowed dry. He shivered at the guilt ridden pleasure it brought him and watched his hand as it slowly relaxed.
After a few moments he regained some clarity. With it the reality of his life, sacrifice and circumstance all crashed upon him like a tidal wave of emotion.
He wept.
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It lives! Lives!!
So he was born at just the right time to participate in both World War Two and the Korean war? How very, lucky.
Well I'm sad now
Does the title refer to time of posting?
9848358
I had a great uncle who served in WWII, the Korean War, and Vietnam...
9848373
Nope
Thanks for the chapter ^_^.
Alright so Imma assume the title is from John 11:35 that simply says "Jesus wept."
And thats also the last line in the chapter
Anyway I cant wait to see more of story things keep getting interesting
Also congrats on the promotion soon
~Reggie
9848380
Blimey.
Congrats with the promotion!
Thanks for the chapter!
9848358
Well we can place him more correctly temporally. Korean War ends in 1953 and the first In-n-out is built in 1948 but would have been in Baldwin Park about 1.5 hrs from Carlsbad, in fact all 4 of the In-n-outs through the end of the 50s are about 1.5 hrs from Carlsbad.
We are told he bought the house in Carlsbad after the end of the war and it appears he is out of the military at this point. That would tend to put it after 1953.
Assume he was 18 entering WWII at 1941 that puts him at 27 in 1950 for the beginning of the Korean war and 30 by the end. Marilyn Monroe's popularity also hits a big breakout in 1953 but she is dead by 1962. Most likely in the house scene given his reflection on him getting older and the presence of small children would put him early to mid 30s so we are looking at a date post 1953 as he bought the house "not too long ago" after the war. So gut feeling is 1955ish plus or minus 2 years. This also fits nicely with the "Bridezilla" comment in the earlier chapter which felt anachronistic as it wasn't coined until 1995 but as Godzilla the movie did come out in 1954 he may have coined it himself, especially as the movie may have been relatively fresh in his mind.
And since Alaska and Hawaii become states in 1959 and his flag has 48 stars from an earlier chapter we know he left Earth sometime before 1959 and after 1953.
In other words, the author did their homework on the time period.
Addendum: A Ma Deuce is around 90lbs with ammo and adrenaline is a hell of a drug.
9848520
Interesting. I note that that timing would let him skip the Vietnam war, one bit of good luck I suppose. That supposition puts him in his early thirties on arrival, he spent a good few years traveling, and then arrived in Canterlot to operate his shop for a few years further. That'd likely make him forty-something, perhaps 45? I do like to see an older OC in Equestria for a change, maturity can be an irritatingly rare quality in visitors sometimes..
9848536
Yeah 45 or so feels about right for Cliff.
I may however be a bit biased as I'm in my 40s myself.
Vietnam is mid 50s for US involvement but if he is out of the military already it wouldn't be something he would be likely directly involved with and we have seen no reference to it so we can't make a judgement one way or the other.
But I like about 1955ish for when he leaves. Seems like a good date.
The title i think refers to the biblical passage john something eleven thirty 5 correct?
John 11:35 - Jesus wept. if I'm not mistaken
9848520
Wow, nice job!
9848433
Also, correct!
Man, I feel for Cliff. It was good to learn a little bit more about him. Heavy stuff though. Good job. Congratulations on the promotion! I look forward to reading more.
9848520
Well done.
Please tell me that dream sequence wasn't Luna fishing for information.
If it wasn't, I feel so sorry for this soldier. There's a reason why it's called the "Horrors of War"...no one comes out of that hell completely sane or whole.
If it was...I feel that's open invitation to deck a certain Moon Butt across the jaw.
9848824
is the chapter title about the nuclear Doomsday Clock
9856915
The hints are there
More?
Probably Luna rummaging around in his head for information instead of just talking to him. Based on how their last meeting went, she'll traumatize him and then he'll either thank her or submit himself to her and forgive her for being hostile without need AGAIN.
9856915
Iillegal arms dealer! Maybe not really
9926430
I wonder if they can get any more sexist or racist in that country
This still getting updated or it shelved?
9967925
I haven't shelved it, just buzy with work and want to release a very polished and longer chapter than usual.
Hmm, suitably moist, will keep an eye out for this one, hope there's an update soon.
Will there be a chapter soon?
10039571
Thanks bro.