#1: Stone Dies
Amy ran up the stairs, stopping short to see the Sampson get pelted by bottle shaped explosives. "STONE!" Amy screamed as the Sampson blew up. Amy tore her eyes away and ran up to the command centre. "Are there any survivors?" She asked a sailor standing by the unresponsive monitor.
"No sir, there's not sight of any."
Amy sucked in a breath and stood watching the Sampson burn next to us. "What do we do sir?" Ord asked.
Amy turned to look at the sailor, collect Hopper and his crew on the water. Tell them to return to ship." The orders were carried out, Hopper making his way to the command centre immediately. Amy looked up at him with eyes filled with tears and pain. Hopper's face drooped with sadness before turning into pure rage.
"Full steam ahead! Those bastards killed all the men and women on the Sampson! We're getting revenge!"
"No we are not, Hopper. Right now we need to regroup and come up with a new strategy."
"But they-"
"I know what they did! But revenge isn't going to bring them back, it won't bring him back, Alex," Amy stated. An explosion ended the tension in the room. The aliens had bombed the Japanese ship. "I want rescue operations under way now! I want every survivor on the deck five minutes ago, move!" Amy ordered.
After they had defeated the aliens, the full reality hit Amy straight in the face. The man she loves was gone, he was never coming back from that mission. Two weeks after the end of the invasion, a ceremony was held to commemorate the men and women that gave their lives over the course of those days and to honor the heroes.
Admiral Shane stood at the podium after the gun salute. He stood straight, and listed off the names of the men and women that had died that day, in order of rank. "And last but certainly not least: Commander Stone Hopper of the U.S.S. Sampson," Admiral Shane read. Members of the families of the service men and women came forward and accepted the award their loved one had earned.
Recovery operations had occurred. In their operations, they had found the piece of Stone's uniform with his name on it. It was returned to Amy, as a part of the ceremony. Amy also accepted Stone's Medal of Honor. After accepting her own award, Amy stood at attention as Hopper received his award. The ceremony concluded. Amy smiled along with everyone else at the after party but left early.
Driving along the small road, Amy took a turn onto a thin, dirt road. She stopped the car at a small field next to the ocean. It was enclosed by a stone wall with a clear view of the Hawaiian sea. Amy opened the gate and stepped into the small cemetery. There were only a few graves here, reserved for military personnel.
Amy walked silently over to a grave next to a small sapling. Dropping to her knees, she rubbed the gravestone with her hand, reading it as she had done dozens of times before. "Here lies Commander Stone Hopper of the U.S.S. Sampson. He gave his life for his country and will be missed greatly by his wife, brother, and family," Amy read, sighing lightly.
She placed the flowers she had brought with her on the grave. "You missed the ceremony, Stone. You should have seen it, Hopper got an award for the first time in his life. You'd be so proud of him, Stone. You got an award too, I have it right here," Amy said, pulling out the frame that contained the award.
"I'm so proud of you, Stone. So proud. I have a little present for you too," Amy said, pulling a small white piece of plastic out of her bag. She placed the pregnancy test in front of the grave. "You're going to be a father, Stone. You would've been a great father Stone." Amy let a few tears fall before standing, kissing the gravestone, and leaving.
*/*/*/*/*
Seven months later, Amy sat in a hospital bed, in the delivery section of the hospital. She gripped her father's and Hopper's hand tightly as she screamed in pain. Sam was rubbing her back as she screamed again, her own screams drowned out by those of a newborn. Amy laid backwards, sweat dripping down her face, a small smile placed on her lips. The nurse cut the cord and handed Amy her newborn son.
Amy smiled down at the fussy infant, kissing his head gently. "What are you going to name him, Amy?"
"Stone Alexander Hopper Jr. after his father," Amy stated, rubbing the infant's mop of hair away from his closed eyes.
*/*/*/*/*
Eighteen years had passed and Stone Jr. had grown into an extraordinary man. Graduating fifth in his high school class and star varsity goalie of the soccer were just a few of his achievements. He was the spitting image of his father, with soft blond hair and green eyes. The eighteen-year-old drove to the same field him and his mother visited every Saturday. Except this time he was alone.
He walked the memorized path towards his father's grave. After cleaning it of dust and any debris, Stone Jr. squatted in front of the familiar grave. "Hey Dad, it's your son, again." Stone Jr. went on to talk about his week, how graduation had gone and how his mother was.
"Mom's doing well, you know she hasn't moved on from you, Dad. She never goes past a first date with another guy, saying she's met a better one before. She's stubborn, I guess I am too. I turned eighteen today. It doesn't feel any different than being seventeen. I joined the Navy today, Dad. Just like you and Mom. I haven't told her yet, but I'll tell her at dinner tonight. I just wanted to say that I'm going to make you proud Dad. The guy at the enlistment center said he remembers you. He said you were one of the heroes that died saving the human race. He said you were one of the bravest men he's ever met. I know I've never met you, and I know that it's not your fault, but I hope I make you proud one day."
Stone Jr. stood up and walked back to his car, driving off into the distance. A man stood behind the gravestone he had just spent a half an hour talking to. Stone Jr. couldn't see the man; he couldn't see how the man and he looked almost exactly the same, except this man was older. Stone Hopper Sr. stood in the sunlight, watching his son drive away. "You've already made me proud, son," he stated.
A.N. Hey everyone! This is the first one in the series. I don't know when I will update next. I have a few ideas already but feel free to add some suggestions in the comment box. Peace out, and happy holidays!