The reason I deleted this story the first time is because of my friend. He came back from Iraq and it hurt knowing that I was extorting his trauma for cheap entertainment. If you are reading this, I'm sorry; I fucking love you and I want you to keep going like the Marine you are.
Check your corners, watch the enviro, and pray you don't get killed. Check your corners. Watch for cloaked enemies. Don't get murdered. Protect yourself.
The gunfire in the background has ceased, one by one the human guns were quieted. God damn it. I knew I should've joined the army. I'm in hostile territory, outmanned, and outgunned. I don't want to be a Hell Jumper no more.
Static fills my comm system, and I barely hear the pleas for help over the ghostly sound of it. My visor is cracked, disabling my HUD, not that it mattered.
The horizon is lit up like a new year's celebration. Buildings offer cover from the soon rising sun. Hopefully Covies hadn't decided to set up in them. The city is swarming with them, New Jerusalem is falling, I'm going to die a soldier's death. I will avenge my brothers and sisters.
"Nohkoh se jah." The unmistakable voice of an elite come from the street ahead of me, "Wort, wort!"
Shit, hide. Kelly, hide! Running into the closest building, I prepare to fight for my life. My SMG is almost empty, my pistol is dry, and I lost my blade in the body of an elite as we fell from a ledge. I don't like my odds of walking out of this one alive.
The cackling grunts are outside the door, the growl of an elite is hidden within. Fuck me. I'm sorry, Lexi. I'm so sorry. I'm not going to come back. Not from this. Not the way you want me to.
The door explodes open with blue smoke lingering where it once was. I yell and unleash hell upon the grunts. Their bright blue blood paints the walls and ground. Their flesh is shredded by my gunfire as the magazine begins to run out of ammo. Methane explodes as an enemy falls dead. Green bolts of plasma whizz past as the infantry of the Covenant scatter from the lone human.
"I'll kill you all before I burn in Hell!" I yell throwing the empty gun down to steal a plasma pistol, "For humanity!"
The grunts fall as they scream in terror. An angry snarl resounds as I throw the overheated gun at a retreating grunt. It grabs my attention from the infantry. Turning to face the owner, I come face to face with a tall SOB. His grey flesh is scarred and wrinkled. His eyes are almost a soulless black. Every bit of him screams seasoned veteran.
Removing my helmet, I let my head cool as I breath to catch it. My fists ball as he removes his own helmet. The minor snarls with a bow before throwing a punch in my direction. He misses, but tackles me with one arm. His hand spreads across my chest plate to hold me down.
I'm down, but not out. My thumb jams itself in his eye, his purple blood coats my thumb as he pulls away with a cry of agony. He slashes me with his talons across me face. My blood pours from the injuries.
The elite runs out of the building with purple blood trailing behind. Thank God. Lying my head down I rest for a minute.
"Sergeant Kelly?" the psychiatrist asks as I lie down on her coach, "Sergeant? You zoned out for a second. Are you okay, sir?"
Opening my eyes, I face the woman with eyes the color of grunt blood. Her smile is fake as she taps away on her device.
"Do you know what it's like? Killing a living creature that feels?" I speak feeling my guilt burden me even more, "I do. You don't think until after you pull the trigger. Perhaps they wanted to become a hero, parent, or just explore the galaxy. The sangheili, I'm terrified of them, afraid to face them because of what I did. They were kids who just became adults, some were fathers, some just bored men looking for a little action. Hell, some were probably drafted after what happened on Reach."
I look down to my hands and still see the blood that stains them. Countless lives taken. Nothing will bring them back, no apologies, no crying. Just the heavy burden of knowing that they were afraid of dying. They had so much more to live for. One haunts me, forever. He didn't need to die, not the way he did. I'll never forget his fear. The tears running down his face as I pulled the trigger. He didn't want to be there, but I ended his life.
"Our time is up, Sergeant." Marie smiles typing away not even looking at me, "Same time next week?"
"Is it mandatory?" I ask studying the woman as she never looks away from her device.
She smiles looking at her free before replying, "No, but I think-"
"No. You'll never see me again." I speak standing and looking at the device she never looked away from.
Two Sangheili are making out as a human would with their mandibles holding the other. Their grey flesh against one another as both of them molest one another. They have scars across their bodies.
"Excuse you! That's confidential!" the psychiatrist snaps finally looking at me, "Patient information."
"And I suppose watching Sangheili fuck each other is more important than the men and women who are damaged." I snap back feeling rage take over, "I've considered suicide after the war. But by all means, don't let my depression get in the way of you getting wet."
She looks guilty as I call her out on her failure. She is supposed to help her fellow humans, but instead she is going to masturbate when I leave.
"I'm sorry, it's been so long since I've had fun." She whines as slam the door.
"Lieutenant." I acknowledge the officer with a salute as she approaches me with two guards around her, "Sorry, ma'am."
Lieutenant nods as she motions for me to follow, which I do. I don't know where she's taking me; anywhere is better than here.
"How do you feel about politics, Sergeant Kelly?"