Chapter 21

(A/N: Sorry for the long wait. My computer was busted and I couldn't post squat until this Christmas! I'll try to make it up to you all! I hope you are having a great start to your new year!)

Disclaimer: Red Vs. Blue characters belong to Rooster Teeth Productions. I don't own them.)

The ride to Anvil wasn't exactly that long, but I had a bit of time to read. Dr. Weller gave me some interesting titles: Shakespeare's Macbeth, History of the Polity, and-of course: How Climate Change Forced Our World To Change In More Ways Than One. The Polity history was... interesting to say the least as well as the last long-ass title.

So, it turned out that, contrary to certain thoughts of my time... (Or rather, Dad's and Grandpa's times)-climate change actually was a thing here. Remember, I left in February of 2019, not to speak for anyone else. For example: raging bushfires in Australia that burned so bright and hot that the skies turned red like something out of the Apocalypse. Koalas were extinct for a few decades but were brought back to existence. Massive ice sheets melted. New York, Boston, and other cities on Coastal areas got flooded, forcing them to build massive seawalls. Some areas were irrevocably gone. Take for example: Florida. That massive state built on limestone... which when given a lot of weight on it and pressure: voila: a sinkhole plus property damage and death. Not to mention one or more lawsuits and funerals. Alabama, Texas, and elsewhere got hit hard. The Mississippi expanded in width, most states were either divided or entirely flooded. Olympia was surrounded in a water siege. That was just North America, parts of South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and, aforementioned Australia, were underwater and had seawalls too. It gets worse: Ten billion people on the planet. Yeah, with a capital 'b'. If there was any information about space colonies, I wasn't seeing it. There were water and food crises in Third-world countries now along with a few first-world ones... namely areas in Mexico, Latin America, certain rural areas in what remained of the Southwestern US. Some countries either disintegrated or unified. Others were gone... just...gone. I couldn't believe half of what I read.

Then, came the Union. What's in the History of the Polity is kind of vague about the Union's origins, but it sounded like some folks came together in secret, outside of the big three-letter agencies, and started forming their own 'nation'... along cultural lines no less. The first enclaves of the Union started out in China and Russia, not bowing to either government's authority. When both governemnts reacted badly to them, they sprung up elsewhere... like a virus. Soon, they started spreading every-goddamn-where. The worst part was: this was happening in 2025. Jesus, that's when Black Ops 2 takes place! Except, fuck Menendez: it's these Union assholes!

The Union, from what I read, was a totalitarian... dictatorship? Oligarchy? Nobody knows much about their government except what was publicly said. Nobody knew about their command structure save what the Union said (as before). Some folks agreed and happily joined them, committing treason and terminating their citizenship in the process, adding to their numbers. The Union enclaves were concentrated, by the 2030s in mainly areas that had known only totalitarian rule. So, parts of Eastern Europe, Africa, South America, the Middle-Near-South-East-and-Far-East. At first, they enclaves were small, but then they started expanding. The Polity did its best to support the resisting governments, but it didn't help. Somehow: they just... grew. The defenders were compromised electronically, and physically. Not to mention politically. It makes you think if the Decepticons that Vector mentioned were funding and helping these guys. This did start out as a sort-of-Cold War.

The worst part was that this was all happening when Mom and Dad were still around. They must've been so scared, wondering what would happen if us kids were still around when all this happened. I hope Dad died in peace. But, if I knew cousin Berto: he'd have been jacking shit up again. I guaran-damn-tee it. He joined the Marine Corps and got shipped off to Iraq and Afghanistan. I heard some crazy-ass stories from everyone else about it and he'd brag sometimes too. That, and he had connections. Hell, that's how Jordan and the aforementioned Jackson Darby, Miko, and Raph Esquivel all met: because Berto had that kind of charm and the crazy wiles to have everyone he knows meet up and talk.

So, the Polity was formed with the Vanguard taking in a bunch of certain nation's militaries as a sort-of 'combined arms' spiel. Doc Weller took the time to highlight the fact that they named a flight academy after my Dad as he helped kick-start their drone program and aided in their designs. That's nice. What would be even better was my family making it out of New York. No dice? Well, tough shit.

The Polity were mainly egalitarian and were all about justice, equality, et cetera. The usual 'Good vs. Bad', 'Us against Them' bullshit. I frowned at this. Every government had skeletons in their closet. Look at my own United States and my my own ethnicity of Native American. (Don't ask which tribe, not even I know. I kept asking my family and I didn't get a straight answer). England isn't out of the clear... ahem: Ireland, Scotland, India, wherever it had its grip on things. Yeah... they did some good things. But the bad parts of history tend to leave a much worse memory in certain folks. Hey, least nukes weren't dropped... yet. I didn't time travel just to get blasted by the start of Fallout, for tian's sake!

Everything was just so complicated. Then, there's a bit of redaction here: something happened in the 2040s... something related to space. Doctor Weller cut that whole bit out with scissors, it looked like. Weird. Why would he do that? More questions and more answers in the future. I'd be sure to ask him when I got older... that or maybe break some things he needed. Not like bones or anything, just lab equipment. I'd pay him back somehow. Still, why? Just... why? You give me all this much needed info... and yet, you take out that one bit about space I would like to know! For fuck's sake, Weller! You're giving me mixed signals here!

"This is your captain speaking," The pilot of the shuttle I was in announced. "We are now landing at Anvil Operations Base. Please keep your seatbelts on and obey any and all instructions by security personnel. Thank you for flying Kramer Airlines!" The pilot joked at the front.

"Oh, sure. Now give me some peanuts and a soda and we're good." I muttered to myself. Vector Minor groaned about his head-ache.

"You kind of deserved whatever you got," I reminded him as I put my books away.

"I was only following orders for crying out loud!" The little ball-bot whined to the ceiling. "Why can't anyone see that?!" He said in exasperation. I shook my head. "Yeah, well. You're lucky I'm not in the mood to beat your ass for tossing me into the future... without my consent... and without my family." I told him in a passive-aggressive tone. He looked at me with a confused and dead-pan stare.

"I was under orders! I had to bring you here!" He told me, getting off his seat and his feet landing with a 'klang'. Before we could speak further, the door to the cockpit opened.

"Don't make any dents on my plane," The pilot warned him in a tone that clearly said 'don't-fuck-with-me-I-had-to-chauffeur-a-cyborg-freak-and-an-alien-robot-not-my-usual-schedule' tone as he came out of the cockpit with his co-pilot. The ramp by now was extending down onto the ground where a team of MPs awaited us with what looked like a medic. I came down first with my bookbag and stood at attention, setting my book bag down. I looked at the massive structure that loomed in front of me.

I had heard of castles before-but this? This was more like a goddamn fortress straight out of Warhammer. I craned my neck to see a massive wall that had hangar bays for both mechs and planes with a large 'anvil'-like structure on top of it all. I shook my head. I don't think the America of my time could make something like this. You only saw something like Anvil in GI JOE.

I turned my head to the right to see a group of massive transports lifting off the ground along with some triangular gunships with four rotors on them. I remembered seeing those things back in the game. The loud roar of the engines nearly deafened me as the base's intercom spoke about something. I'm sure those big-ass transports could haul a squadron or so of mechs. That's a whole lance right there. I wonder how many are stationed here? This has to be the base for a whole goddamn division! We're talking tanks, mechs, infantry, artillery-the works!

"Excuse me, sir." A voice interrupted my thoughts as I heard Vector Minor groan as his day got worse. My head turned back to whom was in front of me. A fireteam of MPs that weren't armed with a medic and one of them having some kind of camera.

"Please place your bookbag down so we can search it," One of them ordered. I nodded, knowing the drill. I set it down in front of me and spread my limbs apart for searching. One of them stepped forward with the camera and instantly a bright light was flashed, forcing me to blink. No doubt that was for my ID card.

I then had to get checked for weapons: Pocket-knives, guns, et cetera. The usual pocket-search, brief, short, and somewhat-intense interrogation by the commanding sergeant... or was this guy a Staff? It's been over fifty years, they changed the insignia of some of the ranks. That, and we're in the middle of what could possibly be called 'WWIII' No, wait... Wait... I missed that one. Thank you, God... or whomever was watching my back. I don't know how I w ould deal with that kind of conflict.

"That's some old shit right there," One of the guys commented. "What is that? An 11?" He asked." I looked at him shock. I shouldn't be surprised Apple made an iPhone 11. "Nah, it's actually an 8." I told him.

"No shit?" One of the MPs whistled. "My granddad used to let me listen on his 8," He commented. Way to make me feel old, jackass.

"Do they still use Apple products?" I asked. Someone scoffed. All of these guys had their faces covered by the helmets. "Nah," The guy in charge said, dismissively. "Apple folded like fifty years back after some probing by the FBI when they were still around."

"Wait- the FBI's gone?" I asked in shock. "Yeah, Polity intel and another service replaced 'em." The MP told me.

"Oh, come on, guys! I was only following orders!" Vector Minor whined as he was picked up like a puppy by two of the MPs. One of them armed with, for some odd reason, a crow bar, eyeing the midget robot with a smile that was inferred only from his eyes. I got a shiver running down from my spine as he was taken away. That thing took me away from my family and took me here... why? To be a child soldier? What for? That, and where did all this techno-organic shit in me come from?

I stood there thinking as Vector was carried away. He said he was 'following orders'. That's a Nuremburg defense. I'm twelve, yeah. But, I know my history. Remember: I was reading adult history books when I was in grade school. Much less middle school. That, and what my family told me. Especially my yeye, both of them. Still, there just... HAD to be a reason for all of this.

"Hey, buddy. You okay?" One of the MPs asked, leaning down to my eye level. I looked up at the guy.

"Yes, sir. I'm fine." I said, nodding. And then I started to feel it. A sharp pain in my right arm, making me cry out.

::Warning: REFORMAT in progress:: My HUD informed me. I grunted in pain, trying not to scream as the MPs looked at me in horror. All of them took a step back. The medic near them started to talk on the comm channel. "This is Johnson here at hangar bay1 We've got a code-" He started to say into whatever he had. I felt something shift under my organs. Something hardening, changing, altering its form. Just as suddenly it came, it was gone. I grunted, straightening up after leaning over. I rubbed my arm. The sharp, hot pain was now a ghost.

"Jesus, look at his hand." One of them breathed. I looked at my right. The metal bit was now starting to go towards the center of my palm. I looked up at them.

"I'm fine," I said, giving a fake smile. "I'm just turning into a goddamn Terminator." I said, not feeling sorry-at-all for swearing. Almost no one batted an eye.

"Do you need a gurney or something?" The medic asked, walking forward, curious and his eyes showing that he wanted to help. I shook my head. "Nah, not unless you want to carry my ass." I said, grinning. A few chuckled while one guy muttered something about how I was going to quit swearing. I've been through, at least, the start of Hell. I deserved a bit of swearing.

"Alright, so: how we're going to do this is we take you to the Colonel." The guy in charge of this small outfit told me. "Just follow us, listen to what we tell you, and you'll be good." The NCO, his name-tag read 'Hazen'. I nodded. "Yes, sir." I affirmed. There were snickers as Hazen raised an eyebrow before explaining something to me. "Thank you for the promotion, but I'm actually just a Staff Sergeant." I looked at his shoulder patch. I blinked. Damn, time travel does something to you. It looked somewhat like the rank for Staff Sergeant. Shit.

"My bad, Staff." I respectfully said, looking up at him. The man smirked. "You're good," He told me before gesturing for me to follow him. I carried my now-full bookbag with me as we walked through a massive hangar bay. As I walked, I could do nothing but gawk at the size of the mechs and... my eyes widened as I saw the biggest fucking tank I had ever seen. Something that was the ancestor to a fucking Imperial Guard Baneblade. The Abrams must be one proud grandfather to have that thing treading around. It was like-half the size of one of the mechs. I'm not kidding. Okay, maybe a quarter-size. But, still it's fucking huge. Jesus, how many of these things do you people have?!

I looked around as we walked. There were mechs walking around from either coming off of a dropship or going to one. There was a massive 3D printer in the back making more of them in the back of this hangar. We never could make one of those in my time. I'd like to know who invented the mechs and how these mad bastards did it. Now that I think about it, Theory might like to talk to the guys that did it. I mean: the guy's smart as a fox and the Germans are renowned for their engineering and military prowess. Except for that bit when Adolf ruled over them... and Bismarck...Barbarossa...yeah, I could go on for a little bit. But, you get the idea. For the record: Bismarck did unify Germany, but the problem was a lot of people died to make it happen. Look what happened in the Franco-Prussian War. France got lucky. So did Austria. At the very least, we now have laws against that sort of thing. But, no one really follows them and those that do are considered-well: weaklings to say the least.

"Wow," I said in awe as a particular mech walked past me. I could feel the footsteps make the floor rumble like a T-rex. The tanks that I saw were either getting ready for combat or were being repaired. I spotted a few stretchers with wounded or bodies with blankets over them. Of course, I had to use my now-enhanced eyesight to do so. It was-like, a mile away from what I saw.

"Trust me: it's great now. But, you'll be bored out of your mind later." One of the MPs nonchalantly said. "Especially since you can't have leave." Another groaned. "Shut the fuck up, Griffin." Hazen told his subordinate. "Yes, Staff." He sighed. I looked at the guy that got reprimanded. I swore he sounded like Geoff Ramsey from Rooster Teeth. I looked at his eyes as he looked at me with a confused look. "Huh," I said. "What?" The guy asked as we walked. "You sound like Griff from Red vs. Blue." I told him. "But, you don't look like the guy that voices him." I commented. There were chuckles all around me.

"Oh, I'd happily not work if it didn't mean that I would be either in the brig or dishonorably discharged." Griff said. "Or have your pay docked." Hazen said aloud. Griff muttered a woeful 'right' under his breath. I couldn't help but giggle at this. I couldn't help but look around me as I saw my dreams made manifest: actual BattleMechs… made by 3D printers or some such... actually walking. It was like a dream come true. I wish Jordan were here. My face fell at the thought of him. He was long-dead now. His body still lost, last I checked. I sighed and produced my dog-tags from under my shirt. I looked at the names of those that were for all intents and purposes: my brother and sister. We had different family before... but we were raised together as one. Now: they were gone. I was depressed, still. I'll admit it. My family was dead. My entire clan was dead. Everyone I knew either dead or went missing. That, or had Alzheimer's. My hometown was under Union occupation. The homeland of my Native American ancestors was now fought over yet again. Whatever tribe I was with, I'd probably never know. Whatever lost culture I once would have been righted to: gone and lost. I would be making more nametags as a reminder of what I lost.

I didn't notice that the hallway didn't change until I had the sudden urge to turn my head. I didn't know why. I turned my head at the urge to see a wall of pictures. I stopped immediately, gazing at it. I nearly dropped my dogtags as I saw the wall. Above it read: 'In Memory Of Those That Gave The Ultimate Sacrifice'. Photos numbering in the dozens, perhaps hundreds lined it all. I looked around me, now familiar with where I was. I had been here before in the game. The one that used recordings from that day four years ago before I came here... the day that Julian 'died' to the world. This was where he had his last kiss with Miranda and-

"Hey, kid." One of the MPs asked, weirded out and concerned. They had all stopped. "You okay?" He asked, noting the concern and realization on my face. I licked my lips as I tried to compose myself. Jesus, there were a lot more photos than last time. "Yeah," I said, nodding. "I'm green," I affirmed.

"You sure?" Grif asked. "You look like you've..." Grif paused trying to find the right words. I looked at the photos. Maybe..? It took me a second to scan for it, but I finally saw it. I saw Julian's photo... the one that got taken the day he finally entered the Vanguard or graduated. His face looked back at me with a serious look. Tired, most likely, from a lot of schooling and hard work. It listed his birthdate as 2048... four years before Dad died. I wonder if there was a chance his Dad met mine? It made me chuckle. That would be one for the books. Still, what puzzled me was how the plaque said he had died and something awe-inspiring. Then, I remembered that officially: He was dead. Only, he still lived...ish. Stuck in a tank and only capable of getting out through digital-magic-fuckery. What a bunch of horseshit... to suffer all that.

"Hey, uh-kid. You sure you're okay?" Hazen asked, leaning somewhat close to me and then followed my line of sight. I looked at him, noting his frown. I saw a flash of recognition in his eyes."Huh, you interested in him?" The MP asked, looking down at me. I looked up at him, nodding. "Who was he?" I asked, pretending not to know.

"That's-uh." Hazen said, scratching the back of his helmet. "That's First Lieutenant Chase... he was a fighter pilot here back when I first got stationed here." Hazen shrugged. "He died at New York, saving folks." He sighed. I noted how solemn his tone was. "Set off an ESD that disabled the nano that was killing us all," Hazen said, as though he remembered. "I'd been looking at the news footage that day when it went to shit." He recalled, then looked down at me to break his train of thought. "Why you interested in him?" He asked.

"He looks like someone I knew back home," I told him honestly. "Oh?" Hazen asked, interested as he tilted his head. "Who?" He asked.

I paused wondering if I should speak about it. "I'll talk about it if I can." I told him, unsure if I should speak about 2019 or Jordan or anyone. I don't even know what the culture is like here in 2072. I know a tiny bit about the Ether as I went there once. But, that was a fiasco I'd rather not repeat. He nodded, obviously knowing to keep his distance. Maybe Marin did a briefing the other day? This morning? The day before? Who knows?

"Out of curiosity: there any vending machines?" I asked. I produced my wallet. "Got some money to pay for it." I said, hoping to God that American money was still used.

"Yeah, sure." Hazen said, his eyes smiling. "There's one right up there." He said, jerking his head to a side room. Please-Lord in tian, let there be some Pepsi! I looked around as we walked. "Y'all want one?" I asked. Grif was about to happily say something until Hazen glared at him.

"Nah, I'm good." Grif said, downcast.

"I hope you brush your teeth," The medic said, eyeing me.

"Every day," I lied. As we walked, I could feel the stares and I definitely heard not a few whispers behind my back. Great. It's like Middle School... all over again. Only: everyone I know is now either old, dead, missing or with me here in the future. And everyone here besides said time-travelers are all adults. I wondered if Rachel's parents were still around? Or her sisters? Not only that, but I had to wonder if Stinger was going to flip shit when he learns about his family? Or better yet: what happened at Boston. Now, I knew the rivalry: New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics. I'm more of a Knicks guy, myself. Not only that, but why is it that whenever I think of Boston, I immediately want to have some tea? Why? That, and taxes. I keep thinking of taxes. I don't need to pay taxes until I start getting a job!

Sure enough: there were two vending machines. One for snacks, the other for drinks. And do you know what still exists in the year 2072? Pepsi and Coca-Cola products! My eyes widened as I grinned, seeing the Pepsi machine. I licked my lips as I took two one-dollar bills out of my wallet. After some time... I was finally going to have a taste of home.

Y'see: Pepsi isn't just a drink for me. It's like... my crack or whiskey. I need Pepsi to make me energized, keep me happy. Yeah, yeah: 'bad for your teeth', 'rots your insides'. Et cetera. Coca-Cola was good too. But Pepsi? That's the shit right there!

I was about to insert a one-dollar bill into the slot when I was halted by the most ungodliest of intrusions: Hazen grabbed my wrist. "Hold it," He said, frowning. I looked at him in shock. The MP looked at my cash with a scrupulous eye. "I-Is that American money?" He asked, weirded out. I nodded, unsure of the problem. He gave me a look as Grif snickered. "We use Polity dollars here, man. How do you not have those?" Hazen asked. I looked at him in shock and disbelief at this bullshit.

"What?" I croaked in disbelief. Right place right time, but wrong money. GOD DAMN YOU, FUTURE ECONOMY! WHY, TIAN?! WHY?!

"I've got you covered, buddy." Grif said, producing a crisp two-dollar Polity dollar bill. He inserted it. I then pressed the Pepsi bottle, licking my lips with anticipation. Then: the monitor on the screen said: Sold out. What?!

"Are you kidding me? Are we short on soda again?" Grif asked after trying all the buttons only to have them read 'Sold Out'. Hazen sighed, patting my shoulder as I stared at the Pepsi machine in shock and disbelief.

"Sorry about that, son. Come on, I'm sure there's a water cooler in the Colonel's Office." He assured me. I silently nodded and followed him. "Goddamn Union bastards." I muttered to myself. Bad enough they took my family and my hometown… now they take our soda! Those thieving pricks!

XXX

"Hey, guys! Got the soda!" Jodie happily said, walking in with a plastic bag of the last six sodas from a vending machine near the memorial wall. He frowned as he saw that Miranda wasn't in. Most likely she was bothering Migas again about some technical issues with her mech. A lot of that happening to a lot of folks recently. Migas wasn't a traitor, or so he thought... but then again: he was Chase's best friend back when he was still around.

He set the bag down at a table that they all shared.

"Dude, that shit rots your teeth." Leon sighed as he was working on an After-Action Report from today's battle. Jodie had already finished his. Miranda was out bothering Migas again over some issue with her mech. You'd think the guy would be a lot more protective of his now-dead-best-friend's-ex-girlfriend.

"Also, you're going to have to limit yourself. A supply convoy coming in got wrecked by a Union sabouteur." Leon warned. Jodie shrugged. "Meh," He said, opening the bag. Leon got up. "Might as well have-" He stopped, seeing how many soda cans there were. All of them were full Pepsi. Sugary... Pepsi.

"Jodie... did you seriously take all of the goddamn Pepsi?" Leon asked, dead-pan. Jodie scoffed. "No. I'm sure there's still some left." He said, dismissively with that shit-eating grin.

"Go back out there and see if there's more at that soda machine." Leon ordered, pointing out the door. Jodie gave him a look. "Seriously?" He asked like a child trying to get out of his chores.

"Yeah, 'seriously'! That supply convoy that was coming in had a stock of soda! It all got destroyed trying to get over here!" Leon said exasperated. Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Enter!" Leon called. A grunt opened the door. "Oh, hey, Church. How's it going?" Leon asked, nodding. Lieutenant Leonard R. Church looked at the bag of soda and then at Leon. "Hey, anybody know who took the last Pepsi? One of those kids that's turning into a cyborg (whom just arrived at the base) was trying to get some and an asshole-" He looked at the two Strider pilots with suspicion. "-took the last of it. He looked like he needed it bad, last time I saw him."

"No shit, there's another one of those fre-" Jodie started to say before Church's glare shut him up. "Jodie," Church started to say. "-did you get all those cans from that soda machine by the briefing room?" He asked, jerking his thumb back. Jodie looked at Leon for help, whom raised his hands in surrender with a smile. Brennan looked back at Church.

"Uh-"

"I don't give a shit that we have different MOS's." Church scolded. "But, that." He said, pointing at the bag of unopened Pepsi. "Is shitbaggery, right there. Go find that kid and give him two of those." The grunt said. "He's off to see the Colonel now." He finished his warning with an implication. Jodie's face paled.

"Later," Church said, closing the door.

"Move your ass, boot!" Leon bellowed with a smile as Jodie grabbed two cans and bolted down the hallway.