Ch. 1

The tiny, cramped vehicle bucked and rocked as it sailed over the rugged, barren desert landscape, tossing up waves of sand like a hot ocean mist. Great red canyons loomed on the horizon, fading into blue as they stretched out of sight into the atmosphere. I had never seen such a vast, flat stretch of land in my life. My time was spent on the other side of the mountains, where the horizon was almost never smooth. Here, I could see for miles and miles, the furthest stretches simply dissolving into the veil that was out of range of the human eye.

The driver's dog tags rattled against his chest as we rolled along, sounding like bells jingling to celebrate the journey. After so long, though, the jubilation I felt was melting along with the rest of me. The sun hissed against my skin mercilessly and I shone with sweat almost everywhere that was exposed. The only relief was the wind blowing through the open car as we drove, but even that was hardly comfortable.

I was trying to remain polite and strong. Complaining before my first day even started would probably not have been a good first impression. However, the driver did catch me pouring water into my palm and rubbing it on my neck.

"Ahh, don't worry, miss. It's not much further now. As soon as we mount this hill, it'll be standing there in the distance," he consoled me.

I nodded. "I'll admit that's a relief."

He smirked and tipped his head up briefly. "Y'excited to get on the job?"

A small, airy chuckle rushed from my nose. "Just as much as I was when I got in the car. More so, even, if it means air conditioning."

"Now, now," he warned me, peering over from under his helmet, "don't get too excited about that. Y'gotta be ready to spend a lot of time outdoors. And the RED base barely has any air conditioning."

"Augh, God. How do they stay alive?"

"By stayin' away from us," he grinned at me, "that's how."

I smirked a little, but remained quiet. In all honesty, I wondered how he could treat this war like a game when the reason I was there was to make sure he did not die from a missile through the chest.

I did not even know why we were trained to have a grudge against the RED team. All I really knew was that they were our employers' rivals. Enemies, even. But as a member of the BLU team, it was not my job to ask questions. Part of the reason we were paid so well was because our working conditions were so poor. While we had plenty of food, shelter, and comfort, we had no real personal reasons to fight against the troops in red, and we were only accepted for the job if we signed a contract swearing that we would not press our superiors for information that was not revealed to us.

While we had a fair number of troops, everyone had a different reason for joining the forces of the BLU team. Some desperately needed the money, others were ex-convicts that could not find any other job, even more others were there simply because they liked to fight. They hungered for competition and pitting themselves against others to prove their real strength.

For me, well… Desire was only a small part of why I was there. My love for medical science was, and still is, infinite, but I certainly could have pursued a medical career outside of trench warfare. However, my family has never been a particularly extravagant one, financially. I grew up in a home with many siblings, plus several cousins that we welcomed into the family after the passing of my aunt and uncle. My father made very much money as a Medic serving in the BLU team, but it was only just enough to support such a large group. The money I would make added on to that would help in unimaginable ways.

The head of the BLU team guaranteed me a job if my father would agree to train me for free, and that is exactly what happened. My father was extremely experienced in the battlefield, having been the BLU team's head Medic for over twenty years. I only hoped I could one day be the honored and respected doctor that he made of himself.

The clunky little car finally managed to pull itself up onto the top of a decently sized hill (for such a flat area, anyway). On the horizon stood two enormous buildings a fair distance from each other, one mottled red and standing on rickety wooden planks, while the other was a cold, grey blue, clearly enforced with brick walls and built to last. A vast, yet calm river snaked its way between them, a sheltered bridge stretching across.

"And there they are," the driver said in a final tone, stopping the car for a moment to take on the sight. With the wind off my face, the sun was beyond brutal.

"…That is a rather impressive sight," I remarked quietly and honestly. I kept to myself how intimidating it all seemed, these two mighty fortresses between which violence ran rampant. But I swallowed my fear and replaced it with the determination that I knew I had. This was the place in which I would please my father, support my family, and live my dream… More or less.

The car finally rolled forward again and I watched as the BLU base became more and more real, its highest tower reaching above the other expanses of buildings and the water tower standing resolutely beside it. Barbed wire fences stretched a great distance behind it, surrounding fields of obstacle courses that I knew I would become very familiar with. The west horizon beyond the base lay uneven with small hills and crags, while the background of the RED base was painted with a tall labyrinth of canyons. I frowned as I thought of the inconvenience of this, as we, the Builders League United, would have to pass by RED territory to access any rich mines, and we would no doubt be putting ourselves in great danger by doing so. Even then, while in the mines, the Reliable Excavation Demolition team could easily collapse the tunnels in on us…

I tried not to believe that they would do something so evil. But at the time, I think that the notion of my team's focus being to build and the opposing team's to destroy gave them a subtle villainous feel in my mind.

The driver's radio buzzed with distortion in his hand as he held it up to his face. "Coming in with the new recruit. Get that gate open," he said casually. A voice crackled back to him, barely understandable, though it sounded vaguely like a "Got it". He put the radio back in its holster and the car gave one final rock as it mounted a gravelly path that crawled along to the BLU base's back fields. A great metal frame stood before us shortly, a viciously barbed gate extending across it. We waited for a moment, and then a loud, obnoxious buzzing shot through the air as the gate mechanically and slowly pulled itself open.

We rolled along the path into the fenced in grounds, passing all the dirty, wicked-looking equipment in the obstacle course. This kind of heat coupled with that kind of exertion was sure to be excruciating. I swallowed dryly, knowing the harsh environment would take a lot of getting used to.

Not too long afterwards, we pulled up to the open door of a garage that seemed more like the gaping mouth of a cave. Rolling in on the smooth concrete floor, my face was greeted by a wash of cool air and the sterile, sharp smell of metal. Countless other vehicles, bigger and smaller than the one I was in, were neatly parked in their own specific rows. We pulled into an empty, marked spot and it was finally time to end the ride.

My sandal clapped against the floor as I stepped out, echoing throughout the impossibly spacious garage. I peeled myself off of the seat and stretched gratefully. As huge and new as this all was, it was good to move again.

"Right this way, then," the driver said briefly, gesturing with a flick of the wrist. "I'll bet your father's eagerly waiting for you."

I felt my mouth twitch into an involuntary smile. I tried to not let it be the main reason that I was excited for the job, but I could not help but look forward to seeing my dad. His job allowed such little time for him to come home and be with us. We would get to see him on holidays or for a short vacation in the summer, but sometimes we did not even get that pleasure. On a few occasions, we had gone over a year without actually seeing him.

We did, however, receive letters from him every week. Knowing that he loved us dearly but never really getting to be with him… well, it made him feel more like an imaginary friend than a real father. I was ready for all that to change.

The driver led me up a flight of stairs that overlooked the garage, and from above, it seemed even more overwhelming. I barely had time to take it in, however, before he took me through a door and we walked down a cold, blue hallway lined with windows on one side. I peered in subconsciously as we went, seeing what appeared to be a conference room about half the size of the garage. An enormous world map filled the far wall, tiny lights twinkling in numerous locations.

I was snapped back to reality when he spoke again. "So, what was your name again? I'm not so good with the memory stuff."

"Mylene," I swallowed a bit. "My name is Mylene."

"Mylene Dawnson, eh?" He glanced back at me, a dark brown eye appearing from under his helmet, and I nodded. "Name's Theodore. Call me Ted, though. I'm a Soldier here. I specialize with the rockets." His mouth pulled into a proud smirk on his last sentence. He must have been one of the workers that took the job just because they liked blowing things up.

I raised my eyebrows and nodded, pretending to be impressed, but all I could think of was what kind of injuries I would be tending to from his weapons.

We made our way down another corridor that was open towards the end, letting rays of sunshine spill in across the floor. Before the light touched us, Ted held out his hand in front of me and gave me a humorous grin, stepping out while I waited in the shadows.

"Gentlemen," I heard him say in a mock-official tone, and a few low chuckles rattled after him, "I give you our newest recruit…"

Oh, no. I was already so nervous; I did not need that kind of attention…

"Miss… uhh…"

My voice cracked a bit in my throat, but I corrected it quickly. "Mylene," I called out timidly.

"Yeah! Miss Mylene… Dawnson!" The small applause started before I even showed myself. I swallowed hard and smoothed my nerves. I could not let something this simple scare me.

Setting all my fears aside, I stepped forward steadily, presenting myself to the unforgiving sunlight once again. My eyes stung and my vision failed for a moment as the brightness burned deeply, but when I could see again, all I saw were perplexed faces staring at me.

I felt my eyebrows raise, as I was expecting to be welcomed a little more, but when I got a good look at the group, I started to realize why I was so new. Every single blue-clad figure before me was a man, many quite tall and overpowering. Even if they were on the shorter side, they had a fair deal of muscle and obvious wear and tear on their bodies.

I was basically the opposite of all of them. My height was remarkably small for a 21-year old and I was not sure if I was going to grow any more. My figure was slight and feminine, looking more suited for dancing than combat. My face was unspoiled with scars or bruises. My hair fell in flowing twists that barely grazed my shoulders. I was contrary to everything they were expecting in a new recruit.

However, it became very clear that some of them were far too glad to see a woman again.

"Great Scott, what's a tiny li'l lady doin' in a place like this?"

"Y'sure yer in the right place, sweetheart?"

"Surely you're joking."

"Uh, wow…"

"This does not seem right at all…"

Their distressed mutters were broken by a shrill wolf whistle. I startled and snapped my gaze to one of the smaller men, his eyes shaded over by his visor but still watching me with this wild look about him that made me squirm inside. Some men around him chuckled and clapped him on the back, only sending me deeper into my pit of embarrassment.

Ted watched me concernedly, but he seemed at a loss himself. It was not going as either of us had expected. This was not the way I had hoped my first day would go.

A low curse sounded from across the courtyard, and I felt myself immediately stand straight with excitement. I knew that voice.

"Is she here already?" He called out, sounding completely frazzled. "Augghh God, I didn't want to be late…"

Seconds later, he broke through the crowd, and I finally got to see him. His round, deep blue eyes stared right at me with a kind of alarmed and worried love that I had not seen before, his short and rough hair now a faded salt and pepper. Scars crossed over his face that were not there the last time I saw him, and though it had only been a year, his skin was worn with an even older look than I remembered.

Before I was conscious of myself, I had ran over and thrown my arms around him, the top of my head barely reaching his collarbone. I felt all eyes on us, but I did not care. I was going to hug my father whether or not it made us look overly sentimental. My anxiety about being such an oddity among the others was quickly being burnt out by my blazing excitement to finally be with him again.

He rocked slightly in my embrace. "Oh…" he sighed in a tone that I could not place, and briefly pat me on the shoulder blades. My excitement did not die down. If I was going to embarrass him, then so be it. But he managed to pry my arms off of him to look down at my beaming face.

"I really am so sorry that I'm late," he said softly but quickly, gripping my shoulders firmly to show that he meant it. "I had a patient to tend to." He glanced around at the others, observing their reactions.

"Dawnson," a man with welding goggles on his forehead addressed him, "why on Earth would you…" he trailed off as if he believed the sentence did not need an ending.

My father gave him a sharp, stern look, and the man pressed his lips together in a defeated frown. I had never seen such a fiercely commanding look in his eyes before. There was so much I was going to have to learn about my father's work behavior.

I could not seem to erase the smile from my face, but I asked anyway, "Is something wrong?"

He looked down at me, stricken for a moment, but then calmed again. "No… I just had to tend to a wounded patient…" He looked around again and stepped back from me to clap a hand on my shoulder. His arm felt like a ton of bricks on my tiny body.

"Well… Here she is. This is my daughter, Mylene. I need to speak with her alone now, if you will excuse us." His hand slipped down to mine and he pulled me abnormally quickly down the hallway across the courtyard.

"What…?" Doors and windows rushed past us as we rounded corners and descended steady ramps. It was all so disorienting; not only the sensory overload, but the constant whirling of emotions. I had thought he would be happy to see me, but he just seemed like he was taking care of an irritating chore. I watched the back of his head as we hurried along, wanting more than anything for him to turn around and put his arms around me. Words pushed at the back of my lips, but a sort of reverence encircled me. I just knew that something was on his mind and that neither of us would like it.

Finally, we reached a large set of double doors with huge blue medical crosses painted on each of them. He pulled out a set of keys from his pocket, turned them in the slot, and pushed the door open just long enough for us to slip in.

"Dad," I finally managed to utter when I stepped foot inside, turning around to look at him, but I was met with a crushing hug.

"I'm sorry I didn't do this earlier," he whispered at the top of my head, planting a meaningful kiss on it. "I really am."

I could not help but feel a sort of exasperation at the constant switching of moods, but I hugged him back just as tightly. I was going to take what affection I could get from this hardened war Medic. "What… What's wrong?"

I felt his head shake. "I'll get around to it. Don't worry… Nobody's died." A small, grim chuckle shook him for a moment. I frowned at the eerie joke.

He let me go to hold me by the shoulders, staring down into my eyes with the fatherly pride that I knew and loved. I sighed and smiled back up at him quietly. "Still such a beautiful girl…" he said slowly, stroking my jaw with his thumb. "Always so beautiful…"

Happiness welled up inside me to finally be in the moment with my father that I wanted. Just heart to heart, the way it should be. I felt my cheeks flush with heat at his praise, but managed to maintain a steady gaze with him. The tears, however, would be harder to fight.

"I…" he looked at me, a serious look of reality creeping back into his face, but he quickly smiled again. "I had better show you around your new work quarters."

I beamed at him, enthusiasm rushing up my throat like a rocket. "Yes!" I pleaded giddily.

He sighed admiringly, but sadness lingered in his eyes. "So excited to start your work in this Hell hole…"

He led me around the wide room, showing me the numerous crowds of machines and tables, strategically placed so as to not get in the way. He opened the cupboards to show me our Science tools, pulled out the drawers to go over the syringes, unlocked a large cabinet to show me the collections of chemical compounds and serums. Everything looked so old, but still shone so brilliantly. Whether that was because my father kept everything squeaky clean or because I was like a kid in a candy store, however, I was not so sure.

He showed me the patient rooms, small and ugly, the walls plastered with organ anatomy posters that I was sure would frighten patients out of their wits. There were ten rooms for the patients in total.

"…Have you ever had your rooms completely full?" I dared to ask out of grave curiosity.

He exhaled through his nose, a mix between a sigh and a laugh. "Almost. There are only so many of us to be injured."

Finally, he showed me my room. It was much more spacious and comfortable than the patients' rooms, but it was still very ugly in its color. Such a sterile, shuddering blue. Its only redeeming qualities were the all-too-welcoming bed, the tall shelves and spacious desk, and the vast set of windows with a windowsill large enough to sit on. Mechanical blinds huddled against the glass, blocking out the sunlight.

"Can I…?" I gestured to the windows timidly, and he broke a rueful smile. He tossed a set of keys to me.

"It's the little brass one," he told me, answering my thoughts. I crossed over to the slot on the wall and stuck the key in with a satisfying crunch, slowly turning it.

The blinds trembled and pulled apart from each other the tiniest bit, sending slits of sunlight reaching into the room. With a high, shrill moan, they lifted carefully up the glass, disappearing into a slot above. The western horizon looked so perfect, baked red by the brilliant sun which was now settling itself lazily between the crags of hills.

"Oh…" I sighed in amazement. The landscape looked so savage earlier, with the sun practically breaking my skin, but from inside, looking out… I believed I could stare forever, lost in my own realm of tranquility.

"Yes," I heard my father say from behind me, "you're lucky. I don't get that kind of view from my room. I get a charming look at the legs of the water tower…"

"…I expect I will be spending much of my free time here…" I said dreamily. "When I'm not occupied with medicine, of course…"

"You consider practicing medicine 'free time'?" He sounded kind of amazed at what a nerd his daughter was.

I laughed at myself softly. "Yes, Dad. I've only been studying it for the past ten years…"

A strange silence fell over us. I did not feel his eyes on me anymore. "…Dad?" I looked back at him, and he was staring out the window, his expression blank and serious. He did not look at me.

"You need to stop calling me that after today."

His words struck me bluntly, though part of me understood. I just did not want to accept that part of my job. I frowned at him tiredly.

"So long as you work here… tonight is my last night as 'Dad'. You will have to call me 'Dawnson' from now on."

"Alright…" I looked out the window again, subconsciously wondering if I was in over my head.

"If I am going to train you…" he said slowly, making his way to my door, "…then I am going to have to make you hate me with every fiber of your being."

I stared at him as he left, knowing there was no way he would manage that. I never did feel the potential for hate inside of me, and it was not about to start for my father.

"Get some rest," I heard him call from down the hallway. "We start bright and early tomorrow, and all the sleep in the world won't prepare you for your first day."