Prologue: Displaced

Well I got another prologue for everyone to mull over and I hope you enjoy it like you have enjoyed my other stories. Don't worry though, I have four stories already so this is kinda just to tease you all until I clear up a free spot.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, all characters are copyright of Blizzard.

Purgatory, the one place that was considered worse than hell. The one place that even the most hardened criminals pray they would never set foot in. Well, I was there once and to be honest it wasn't as bad as everyone thought. It was where you go when you were didn't warrant going to Hell but also weren't able to get into Heaven.

Most Christians think that it's black and white, you either adhere strictly to the Bible or you burn in hell but there's quite a bit of wiggle room in that divide, mostly if the person in question didn't believe they belonged in heaven such as myself.

I didn't do anything bad, maybe lied to my parents once or twice in my youth but what kid hasn't? Even Christian Politicians can't say they never lied as a kid because they did and we all know it. I also did steal a couple dollars from my mother to buy a pack of gum but that was the extent of it.

Why am I here you ask? Well the answer isn't as normal as you would think. I won't go into detail because the memory still stings more than you could imagine but I will tell you what happened.

-One month ago-

"Do you have to go away again daddy?" My daughter Claire asked worriedly as we drove home. I had just picked her up from daycare after a 12-hour duty shift and I just wanted to get home safely.

"Yes pumpkin, daddy has to go away again." I replied sadly as I could see her face turn sad and her eyes start to water. "It's only for a few months this time and not a year, plus I'll be here for your birthday! I hear Disney is really great this time of year." I told her as her face turned from sad to glad.

"Really?! Yay, I'm going to see Mickey and Goofy!" Claire said as her little fists did the air pump.

"And you know I'll be back by Father's Day and I'll b eon light duty for the summer." I told her as she kept smiling.

"I have the best daddy in the whole world!" Claire replied as I smiled as we came to stop at a red light.

I bet you're wondering where her mother is? It's not something I like to talk about but I'll give you the gist of it. About a week after Claire was born, I had to go for a 24-hour shift on post and we had to leave Claire with grandma and grandpa. When I picked up Claire and got home I opened the door to our house and found it completely empty of both the furniture and all the appliances. I almost dropped Claire but I recovered and found a note taped to a wall.

Dear Daniel,

I wanted to let you know that as of 9 AM this morning we are no longer married. By the time you read this, I will be far gone to the point that not even my parents will know where I am. Since you weren't at the hearing to claim anything we had it went to me by default. Just so you know I will be suing you for alimony as well as child support for my 1 year old I have. Yes I cheated during your deployment and I don't regret it in the slightest because it gave me a beautiful baby boy and a new man in my life that is always willing to cater to my every whim.

Samantha

I left the house that day and never went back to it. It was sold a week later and we stayed on post in an apartment complex until a year ago when I found an affordable house a few miles away from post. I didn't mind living on post but I wanted a place of my own to raise my daughter and after a year I found one. True to Samantha's word she did sue me for both alimony and child support but then she goofed and claim it was for two kids instead of one. She balked at providing evidence the boy was mine and then she refused to answer when asked if Claire lived with her. Let me tell you what, JAG is usually slow just like everything military but when it came to defending Soldiers they stung like bees. My lawyer claimed that since no proof that the boy was mine then she wasn't entitled to that child support and when he revealed that Claire was still in my care that she didn't deserve child support for her either. We couldn't fight the alimony because I did hold the higher paying job by about 2 grand a year but what Samantha wanted and got were completely different.

She received no child support and alimony was set at only a paltry $150 a month, much to Samantha's protests, and the judge told her that she should be thankful she got that. The judge also gave Samantha a warning:

-Flashback-

"Let me tell you this Miss Dean, I walked in those very same boots that he is currently wearing right now." Judge Walker to Samantha sternly. "I know firsthand how hard it is for Soldiers to take care of families but consider this your only warning. Our military members are the finest men and women to ever grace this country and to come into a court room expecting a judge to leave them out in the cold is even lower than trash. If you ever do this again, you had better pray that I feel generous enough not to move this into a military courtroom." Walker said as she was about to bang her gavel but stopped before leaving one final remark. "And this letter you left is insulting to the point that I couldn't even imagine why you felt this vindictive and the fact that you enjoyed someone else while your husband is out fighting for all of us is even more insulting. Take this as a lesson and get the hell out of my courtroom." she said as she banged her gavel a little harder than normal.

Samantha was escorted from the courtyard with a snarl on her face as I shook my lawyer's hand in thanks.

"She gives you any more trouble, just give me a call." he said before he left in high spirits.

I honestly felt elated that not only was that part of my life done but the award amount that I had to pay her was easily covered by my base pay, leaving me with enough to put a down payment on a house and pay my bills.

-Flashback end-

Needless to say I never heard from Samantha again save for the check I had to send her every month but I never received an address to send it so I just kept records of writing them and sending them to JAG as proof I tried. A year later she tried to sue me again for non-payment but JAG was all over it as they contended that she never provided me with an address and she subsequently fell off the earth again after that. I never heard from her after that time.

After going through memory lane the light was still red but a cop did pull up next to me. "Just get off deployment?" he asked casually as he sat back.

"No but I'm due back on it in a month." I replied casually as he seemed to understand.

"Iraq?"

"No, Afghanistan this time." I replied as he cringed. He wasn't alone either in that regard either. After all the news stories about Afghanistan it became the worst post of choice for Soldiers but you couldn't just decline an order.

"Rough time then." The officer replied as I nodded.

The light turned green after that and we both started off but neither of us noticed the swerving car to my right.

"Hey buddy, you're up." Someone said as I was brought out of my thoughts. Glancing around I sighed before standing up and shuffling into a gray room.

"Welcome to the Displacement Bureau Mister Warder." A man said from behind a desk in the middle of the room. The room itself was completely gray but there were a few pictures and items on the desk. "Please have a seat." The voice was a little rough but it was friendly nonetheless.

"I'll stand but thanks for the offer." I replied a little intimidated but he offered a smile.

"Your choice, now I'm going to make this simple and to the point. You refused Heaven because of guilt correct?" he asked curiously as I nodded. "I understand why, car accident where you lost your only daughter and suicide over grief on her birthday. All of this after the driver of the opposing vehicle was cleared of any wrongdoing by a bought out jury?"

It took every ounce of my training to keep my gaze locked on him as he cut away at my heart. "I knew they were. When the son of the Governor is on trial, the Governor will do anything to make sure his "innocent" son is cleared." I replied as my voice cracked.

"Ah yes but I think you'll be pleased to note that the Governor was impeached and removed when one juror came forward. The son was then convicted on all accounts and his father was convicted of bribery and corruption." The man replied as I did give a small twitch in the upper corner of my mouth. "That's the spirit, now in the Displacement Bureau we allow you the opportunity to overcome what is keeping you for moving on. How we do this is simple, we have a list of different places that are in need of aid but I warn you now that some of these places can be...different than our own. Some have different rules and others are just different in time so you need to choose wisely."

"How different?" I asked worriedly as the man grimaced.

"Some are more advanced than our own and some are more Medieval in terms of technology. Some adhere to very strict rules of what's acceptable while others are the same as ours but while some are straight forward with what you need to do and others can be completely blind to what needs to be done so if you accept you must be careful of what you pick." he explained solemnly as he gestured to the folders on the table. "These are the ones that I believe you will find most suitable to your skill sets. You can either turn around and leave but you will be stuck here or you can approach and take your pick."

I hesitated for a long while. Leave and remain here forever with my grief or leave the world I know. I needed to by some time. "How do you know what skills I have?"

"Your folder of course." he said simply as he pulled out a thick envelope. "Let's see, runner-up in the National Mathelete competition, winner of the International Science Association's Science Bowl, winner of the International Chess Associations Prodigy Championship, Class Valedictorian of your High School with a GPA of 4.5 unweighted and a 4.99 weighted and offered full scholarships to Yale, Harvard and Brown as well as numerous Universities around the country," I nodded at that. "but you chose a different path. Your family is deep-routed in the military dating back to the Revolutionary War and your great grandfather was a three-star General followed by your grandfather as a two-star General. Every male of your family had served in all branches at some point in their lives and you were no different."

"My sister did as well." I pointed out as he nodded.

"Ah yes, your sister and brother were offered full scholarships to West Point. So were you but you turned it down in favor of simple enlistment." he said as I nodded.

"I wanted to be in the trenches like my grandfather." I replied with a slight smile.

"Yes but you weren't right for Infantry so you chose a more technical field. The Network Switching Systems Operator to be specific. It fit right into your alley with your grades and accolades." he replied with a small hint of pride.

"I chose the right calling in my eyes." I said as he gave a curt nod.

"Your family was surprised until they understood your decision. Physically you were average but you were extremely smart so they knew it was the perfect fit, your grandfather even showed up to your graduation for both occasions wearing a smile right?" he asked with a hint of humor.

"Yea, my Drill Sergeants were shell-shocked and so were my classmates during AIT graduation. A two-star coming to see his enlisted grandson graduate and become a full fledged Soldier." I replied as I did give a small laugh at the memory.

"They were mortified to learn what happened and even more so of the outcome. Your sister even named her first born boy after you so you have nothing but supporters regardless of what you did." he said before he sighed. "I need your decision though but I have a feeling you'll do fine with whatever you choose."

I grimaced as I tried to think but it seemed I only ever had one choice. Very slowly I approached his desk and to my new future. "Is there a time limit in these options?"

"There is no time limit but you must stay until your tasks are done." he said calmly as I gazed at the folders. Sanctuary, Red Canyon and Aurelia.

I gazed at the folders for a long time; these folder's would change everything in my life but I had this nagging feeling that something would happen that would wash everything away. As I gazed at them, it seemed like an image briefly flashed in front of me before fading. It was too quick but I believe I saw a flash of something thin and waving in a breeze that was purple and is if being lead by a ghost my hand strayed towards the one marked Sanctuary.

"This one but how would I..." I began but the man stopped me with a simple motion of his hand.

"Everything will be provided for you but to ensure that you can survive we have allowed you access to our special bag." he replied as he put a backpack on the table. "Inside is your standard load out from your branch and the bag will allow you to reproduce any items you need such as ammo. You only need to place the item in it but be warned: It will only work you and even then only the few essentials will work. Ammo and medical supplies will but nothing else and you must only use your own supplies on yourself. This is done in the interest of fairness, you have access to an unlimited supply but only your medical supplies will work on you and nothing else." he finished as I grimaced.

"So I have to use my own medical equipment or else that's it." I surmised as the man nodded.

"Also you will be responsible for your own maintenance on your weapon and equipment with no one able to help you, you only have one life so you must be careful and you must be careful not to open Pandora's Box." he cautioned as I looked at him.

"My weapon and my knowledge." I surmised as he gazed at me.

"Only you have the knowledge of future technology and you alone hold it in your hands. If everything seems lost and you are about to be captured or killed everything you hold must be destroyed, do you understand?" he asked seriously as I nodded.

I can only imagine what would happen if advanced technology fell into the wrong hands. "I accept your terms." I said as he looked me over.

"Very well, when you have finished your task use this." he said as he handed me a small seal. "Break it in half and then throw it to the wind."

I took the seal and gave it a quick glance; it was small and felt like clay with runes etched into it. I gently placed it into my pocket before adorning the backpack. In a brief flash my clothes changed to a standard Army ACU with body armor and pads and a Kevlar helmet on my head. It felt like ages since I wore this but in truth it was only a month or so but I did miss it.

He gave me a nod of approval before he pointed to a door behind him. "Good luck Sergeant." he said as I walked nodded and walked behind him to the door. "One more thing, always trust your instincts in there and be wary of pushy or oddly acting people." he cautioned as I nodded again and opened the door.

A bright blue portal appeared before me and I hesitated before I walked into it. All I felt after that was the feeling of falling and the wind before I knew no more.

And cut. A little wordy and maybe a little weird but hey it's my version of purgatory. Also, don't be one of those die hard Christian who has to point out and complain about every single thing that doesn't match up to the Bible or "your interpretation" of it. I already had someone do that to one of my stories multiple times and it's getting on my nerves.

Strength and force might get you through a battle but it's ultimately the strategist and thinkers who will win the war. Brain will always trump brawn when it comes down to it.

Read and review and tell me what you think!