Author's Note: To anyone who was waiting on this story, or any activity on my account period, sorry I took so long to update. I've had a lot of things going on and it took me awhile to get this story to a way I was at least some what comfortable with it. I hope you like it.
Anyways, I just realized my math is wrong, in order to make my timeline work I'll have to modify the years and Lockett's age in order to fit what I need. I'll go back and change it soon but for now, know that Lockett enlists into the army in 2539 and instead of 10 years ago, make it 8 years meaning that the first chapter started out in 2547.
Disclaimer: I don't own Red vs Blue or Halo.
"Don't be surprised when a crack in the ice appears under your feet."
What I'm Leaving
I sat there on the table without my shirt as I patiently waited. I watched as the doctor placed two pads onto me; one to the left from the center of my chest and one on relatively same spot on my back. The UNSC may be able to accurately scan individuals in a concrete structure 50 meters doesn't change the fact that the pads are still give a more accurate and detailed reading, at least for now anyway. I watched as the doctor then pressed a few buttons on his PDA and waited for a few seconds as he waited for the data to gather. Each second ultimately began to drag and what was suppose to be three shirts seconds turned into an eternity as my anxiety started to build and I anxiously eyed the doctor. The doctor, after a moment then nodded at the data he was give. He shuts off the PDA and then proceeds to take the pads off of me.
"How is it?" I ask nervously.
Modern medicine has made it to where almost anything could be cured, even some of the more severe cases. The drawback is that all treatments take time and I wanted to get what I needed done as quick as I could. Something like cancer could hold me over for several weeks. By then all of the people I had grown up with, my friends, classmates, even some of my teachers, they all would have left, either by getting drafted or by their own choice, that's something I can't live with, getting left behind.
The doctor looks into my eyes, "Your heart is healthy," he replied reassuringly. "No diseases and no abnormalities." I then nod and start putting my shirt back on.
"When do you plan on going?" the doctor asks.
"I'm going to head down to the recruiter's office tomorrow morning," I reply. "I'd do it today but it's Sunday so they're closed." My dad returns a nod and then begins to pack up his equipment and fill out my physical forms. "Dad?" I call out. He then looks up to me.
"Yes?" he responds.
I walked up to him, stood up straight and said "I know I am old enough to no longer need your permission but still…." I pause and take a deep breath, "Dad may I please go?"
"Jonathan, you're right, you don't need my permission. In fact something tells me you're going to go regardless of what I say," he chuckles, "No matter your choice I will always support you," he finishes his statement with a warm smile to me.
"Thanks dad," I reply. He then glances downward and then frowns.
"There is one thing I do need to tell you though," he says.
I look back and I could see the sadness and the worry in his eyes. He then sighs and continues "Treating those men and women from back in the Insurrection….it wasn't that they had their flesh torn, it was that they had their souls torn out. I don't want to look into your eyes one day and see no spark, no life. It would break my heart." I give him a respectful nod and he then asks, "Give me time to break the news to your mother?"
"After dinner I'll take Sampson out for a walk," I reply.
"That'll do," my dad nods. My father and I left the room to join my mother at the dinner table.
Nothing was different later that day, we sat at the table and talked about our day. My mother didn't know I was planning on enlisting but she did know I was aware. When dinner was over, like we had planned earlier, I put on my jacket, grabbed the leash of my Sampson. I pulled my bicycle from the garage and called to my dog. Within a few moments I saw a German Shepard come bounding happily my way. I knelt down and scratched behind his ears.
"Hey boy, you up for a trip?" I ask.
Sampson barks twice and moves his head in a nodding motion. I then place the leash around him and hook the other end onto the handlebars of my bike. I grabbed my backpack, climbed onto the bike and then off we went. As I rode down the streets of my hometown, I looked around me. Everyone was there as if nothing was more important in the world than what was their task was at hand. No matter how mundane or how simple, that task was that person's priority, not some war that was way out on the edge of human space.
When I finally reached Jackson Square Park, the sun had already shown signs of setting this signaling some of the other park goers to start leaving. I locked up my bike and Sampson and I then ran out over the emerald hills and when we reached the top of the biggest one I stopped and reached into my pack. As I opened the zipper, Sampson was all over my arms knowing full well of what I was about to pull out. From the depths of my pack I'll pulled out the prize my dog was hungering for, I bright neon green tennis ball. My dog started to bark and dance excitedly as I stood up and then struck a pose.
"Go get it boy!" I cried and I lobbed it as far as I could and Sampson bounded after it like a bat out of hell.
I watched as he quickly caught up to the ball and once he had the green sphere within his jaws, he then turned around and began the journey back to me. This process of me throwing the ball and Sampson retrieving it would repeat for hours until finally I got bored and took the ball and ran. I laughed as Sampson chased after me with the goal of rescuing his stolen treasure. He eventually caught up of course, we stopped at the edge of the park near the parking lot where my bike was locked up. Sampson then sat down and waited patiently for me to return the ball, I let out a soft chuckle and handed it back which he gladly took. I then proceeded to kneel down to his level.
"I may be going away for a while," I tell him sadly. Sampson lets out a soft whine and lowers his head. "Until then you're in charge of the house. Look after mom and dad for me 'kay?"
Sampson looks into mine with his big soft brown eyes and he proceeds to give me several kisses along my face. I couldn't help but smile as Sampson went on, I then tried to push him off but he refused to let me go as if he was afraid I would never come back. I can understand that feeling. He's one of several people I would be leaving behind, but there was one other that was on my mind.
A Day Earlier
I grew up in the relatively small city of Huntington Beach located along the southern coast of the former state of California. As stated by the name, the most famous attraction to this city is the breath taking beach that spans 5.3 kms as well as the amazing almost year-round sunny weather and mild winters. Since I personally lived only 5 kilometers from the beach, it took me on average 13-15 minutes to ride my bike from my home to the beach head. I tended to go there and watch the tide whenever I felt either bored or bothered by something. It was always so quiet and peaceful, always gave me a place where I could feel safe enough to let my thoughts just go. As you can probably imagine, I spent a lot of my youth just sitting in the sand watching the tide or whatever I felt at that moment….today was no different.
As I lay there in the sand staring at the sky, I slowly raised a small daisy I had picked from a bush earlier to the point where the flower was blocking the light from the sun. I let out a contempt sigh as I lower my arm and close my eyes as I let the heat from the sun's rays hit my face. It was then I felt something by my side move and pressure was lifted and moved from my side to my chest. I opened my eyes and saw the head of a gorgeous girl whose petite frame was snuggled up from my right side up to my lower chest.
Her fiery red hair, which was tied into a ponytail on top of her head, helped emphasize her already pale peach complexion. She wore sky blue denim shorts with torn ends with a yellow, short sleeve button up top tied just above her midriff. She was in all intents and purpose, a tomboy. It was then the girl started to stir. She let's out a soft moan and I see one eye crack open revealing bright hazel eyes.
"Jonathan?" she groans, lifting her head.
"Hello," I greet softly.
"Hello," she replies and smiles warmly. She frowns slightly, she turns to face me and asks "What's wrong?"
"What do you mean?" I ask trying to pass it off, but she didn't seem convinced.
She then props her head on her elbows and says "Jonathan, I know you. I know how you act when something is bothering you."
I slowly sat up and gazed out across the ocean, I let out a sad sigh as I directed my gaze to the horizon and I noticed that the sun was beginning to set filling the sky with brilliant shades of pink, purple, and red.
"Anthony was killed in action," I sigh sadly. Her eyes widen with shock. "And Mark shipped out yesterday." I continue. I then hear her sits up.
"Alexis," I murmur as I feel her wrap her arms around me. "It's alright."
"You don't have to pretend that it's not bothering you Jonathan, everyone's leaving," she cries. "And it hurts me just as much as I see it hurt you." I finally give in and slump my shoulders.
"Everything's changing so fast," I breath, "Everyone is leaving to fight and die for us while I'm just sitting here trying to figure out what I'm going to do with my life."
"So is everybody," Alexis reasoned, "We all have those thoughts."
"I know…." I murmur, "It's just….intense I guess. It's also a tough dealing with the fact people we knew our whole life are now gone and any moment the enemy, those aliens we are fighting….they could somehow find their way here and burn everything we know into ashes."
"Don't worry about that! The military is doing their best and I'm sure they have everything under control," Alexis cries in an attempt to maintain that false sense of security that she along with many others seem to wear.
I saw right through all that propaganda the UEG pumped out. Half the town can't see the obvious right in front of their face while the other half has either left or their ready to leave. Hell not even the UNSC is willing to follow along with it, they intact just seized emergency powers just last month. There hasn't happened since the Insurrection!
Instead of flat out voicing my opinion I instead reply, "Well half the neighborhood seems to think otherwise."
"Well then let them," Alexis counters, "They're worrying about something that isn't there. Even if there is something, how do you know the UNSC weren't being too imperialistic and decided to push themselves into this "war.""
"Do you really believe that?" I ask in disbelief.
She nods "Yeah I do," she replies, "The UNSC has held us together for this long, I'm sure they've got it handled and this is all going to end soon and even if it gets bad, I'm sure they also have something prepared for that too." She then grabs my chin and turns my head so I am facing her, she then says to my reassuringly "It's okay, we're going to be fine."
I always did enjoy her optimism, but I will admit I've had people tell me that she could use a but of realism in her life. I'd be lying if I didn't agree with that statement at least a little. Still, I can't help be feel brighter every time she was around, it's just this thing she tended to carry with her. She just seemed to make every emotion amplified when she was around. The sad part was that emotions affected her deeply, so if there was anything negative, the same effect would still apply.
"Okay," I whisper. She then leans in and gives me a kiss. She lets go and glances at the horizon and we see the sun hovering just above the water.
"You want to go?" she asks me.
"Not just yet," I tell her.
She smiles warmly, "Okay," she whispers, "We'll stay for it."
We then silently watch as the great golden orb slowly sinks below the waves taking all the brilliant shades of pink, purple, and orange with it and among the black sky, the stars started to appear. It doesn't matter how many times you've seen it, a beach view sunset will always be as beautiful as the first. I can guarantee it.
We both then got up and walked back to the sidewalk and began our stroll along the beach. As the day turned into night, the beach goers with all their surf boards, towels, and kites, they all began to leave. They were swapped out as the sidewalk was filled with new people there to enjoy the streets of the plaza next to the beach as well as a few people who wanted to light bonfires.
We soon came upon a long pier that stretched out at least 500 meters from the coast and into the ocean. We walked up the steps next to the base until we came to a stop at where the pier began. It was there we found ourselves deep in a sea of people.
"This packed," I breathed Alexis, "As usual."
"Yeah," I smile, "No different then we were kids." I then turn and ask her "Is there any place you want to go in particular or do you want to just go to Ruby's since we're heading there anyway?" Alexis places her hand under her chin as she ponders for a little.
"Let's go to Ruby's, I'm kind of craving a milkshake right now," she replies with a dreamy grin on her face. I nod and we continue down our path to the pier.
The enormous structure was built at the dawn of the 20th century, five years before the founding of the city of Huntington Beach in 1909. The pier has had many different uses over the centuries and has been rebuilt and remodeled many times. It is a treasured peace of history in my hometown as well as one of it's biggest tourist attractions, it drove hundreds of people to the beaches both daily and nightly, we were lucky because today was one of the smaller crowds.
"It's such a nice day today," Alexis sighs as she stares off at the horizon. I just chuckle at her nostalgic joy as I open the door.
"Coming?" I ask snapping her attention to me.
Alexis blushes with embarrassment, "Oh, right." She then rushes to my side.
"Table for two," I tell the waitress. She nods and then takes us to a booth by the window which let us look back at the path we had just walked. We are soon meet with a blonde waitress.
"Hello," she greets cheerfully, "Welcome to Ruby's, my name is Jenny and I'll be your waiter tonight. May I start you two out with drinks?"
"I'll take a chocolate milkshake please?" Alexis replies.
"Strawberry for me," I add. After quickly jotting down our drinks, she nods and walks off to deliver our orders. I watch as Alexis glances absentmindedly around her with a sad smile.
"This place sure brings back memories," she tells me, she turns to me and continues "We practically grew up here."
"It's actually interesting, this place…." I comment as I look around me, "Barely looks like it had changed while look at us." I turn back to her, "I miss my life before my high school graduation." Alexis laughs at my statement. "No I really do."
She nods and replies "I feel you, not having all those responsibilities and worries in life was a great feeling. We never had to worry about our future, well not as much as now anyway. We've never had to deal with reality and have to learn the hard way of what we were capable of and if that was even the path we wanted to take."
Though she meant it to be humours, I couldn't help but feel upset. I feel as if the path I personally have chosen is not what I should be doing. Don't get me wrong, I am happy with the accomplishments I have achieved up to this point, but I can't help shake this feeling that I was meant for something else. Alexis seemed to pick up on this.
"Look at you now, four years later and now you're here with a bachelor's degree," she tells me, "It's not a bad trade you've taken for your innocence."
"I guess," I murmur.
I hear Alexis then let out a frustrated sigh, "Jonathan, you gotta stop looking at the past like the way you do. I have told you this many times and yet here we are."
I glance downward than our the window, "I know," I sigh.
"It's going to be fine Jonathan," she tells me reassuringly, "I have faith that you will make it far, but you gotta get you head out of the past, staying back there isn't going to do anyone any good, especially you."
"Why me specifically?" I ask her. I notice Alexis then roll her eyes as we go down the same conversation we've had many times before.
"Because Jonathan, you seem to always have the need to dwell on things long after they've happened," she explains, "I know for a fact I've told you personally many times that you should never dwell on the past. I also know that many others have told you this same thing as well." She then leans closer to me and gently grabs my hand. "The future is what you need to look at Jonathan, not the past," she reassuringly tells me, "Now what was the moto I made for you?"
I let out a small smile, "Keep moving forward."
"Exactly," she smiles right as the waitress she then leans back right as the waitress comes back, she gives us our drinks, we give our orders and she leaves. This is a routine that many waiters and waitresses like her have done a million times before, especially in a diner. It's weird how a diner is a place where these talks seem to happen, this time is no different.
"Have you put any thought into graduate school?"
"Not really," I reply.
"Have you gotten any offers?" she asks.
"A few," I reply.
"Well, who?" she asks expectantly.
"MIT, Stanford, and Berkeley," I replied. Alexis's eyes widen in surprise.
"Well shit," she laughs, "You're pretty much set then. You going to say yes to any of them?"
I shrug, "I don't know yet?" I then ask her "How about you?"
"Harvard," she smiles.
"No," I a reply in disbelief. She just smiles and nods.
"And I said yes," she adds.
"Tha-that's great," I reply. "I'm proud of you," and I was, but in reality I really wasn't sure how to feel about this. A part of me wanted to feel happy for her because she achieved her dream, but another part of me was upset, Harvard was on the other side of the continent.
"Thanks Johnathan," she replies.
"For what?" I ask curiously, "Most of the work was done by you. You deserve the credit."
"Yeah I know…." she murmurs, "But the only reason that I am even here where I am is because of you. Thank you for pushing me." I sheepishly nod. I then check the time on my watch.
"Hey it's getting late, you ready?" I ask.
Alexis glances down at her plate, after a moment of pondering she looks back to me and nods "Yeah, I'm finished."
With that I paid the check, and we left. The rest of the night we found ourselves walking along the same route back across the pier past the beach to her car. The trip was mostly silent with maybe a small chat every now and then. Other than that I had even more time to myself to ponder of whatever preconceived greatness my child self had dreamt up and I could feel it all. As the car came to a stop at my house, Alexis turns to my and pulls me into a kiss.
She then lets go and says "I had a good time." I give her a smile and as I get out, she adds "Again, don't worry about the future, and I know I may be going far away but I want you to know that no matter what happens you will always have someone. I'm always going to there for you."
"Thank you Alexis," I whisper.
"Just promise you me the same alright?" she asks me sincerely, "Don't leave me."
"I won't," I tell her.
She nods and the before she says "I love you."
"I love you," I respond back and with that she starts the engine of her car and drives off.
I am alone once again left with nothing but my own thoughts to accompany me. As I walk silently along the street leading to my neighborhood, my lungs filled and then deflated and couldn't help but wonder what was it I truly desired. With each passing moment I looked around me and I saw exactly what it was. All this, this life I have, it's pure, untouched, and they have no idea what's coming. No one is willing to admit that there is a job that needs to be done. Someone has to be willing to sacrifice the life they may have had in order to keep that small measure of peace and normalcy that everyone craves. They have to be willing to risk it all to protect what means most to them, even if that something ends up out casting them for it somewhere down the line.
I know now, what I want to do with my life. I can hear calling to me and it's song grow louder with each passing moment. There those who are born to raise the flag, born to dedicate their lives to an organization with an embedded history whose roots could be traced way back to the forming of the First Continental Army of the United States in 1775. Those who are willing to rise up to the call of duty and dedicate their lives to preserve the lives of those who live and prosper under the ideals that has held us together as a race for centuries.
I come to a stop at a wall and it was covered in posters. I guess most people would call them propaganda, not going to lie, that's pretty much what they were. They were recruitment posters for every branch all of them well designed and surely enticing, but there was one that stood out to me the most. It was the largest of the posters and sat dead center of the them life a mural. It was a picture of Earth from orbit and above it in bold white letters read "Fight for Her."
It reminded me an excerpt from a book written by a famous astronomer during the late twentieth century during the later years of the Cold War and towards the end of the Space Race. The quote read "Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there-on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam."
All I could think of now was my home, my family, my friends….and Alexis. Would I be willing to risk it all to protect them. Well it looks like we're about to find out, but what pains me the most is what I said to her. I promised her that I would never leave, I'm sorry Alexis, I want to do my part and fight for all of you. I can not sit back and watch as other young people stand up, fight, and die for me while I just go on my nerdy life like nothing is wrong.
"It looks like I'll have to break that promise," I whisper to myself as I turn my gaze to a poster looking up to an army trooper. The trooper was in a pose as of calling to his fellow soldiers, I think he was leading them. On the top read "This we'll defend!" and on the bottom in smaller letters read "Join Now!" and have out an address of a recruitment office, a list of times, and the phone number.
Author's Note: Thank you all for reading, and once again sorry for the long wait. The analytics say that there aren't a lot of people waiting on this chapter, but still, there are people. To those who were waiting on activity from my account, I'll figure out a schedule for my other stories both written and in planning. I just hope you guys remain patient with me as a get try to get a handle on my wonky schedule. I just realized this chapter is probably cheesy as fuck, lol, oh well, it'll be over soon. Thank you.