AW's Note: The letters in this chapter are a collection of the hundreds of letters that Graveheart sent to his brother Mica while away from home. There were too many letters to choose from so, I picked the ones that I felt were most important.
My Brother's Keeper
By Al's Waiter
Chapter Four: Letters
Pyrope 14, 3268
Barry's Pit Quarrior Training Facility
Barry's Pit, Kaolin Province
498 375 32
Dear Mica,
I'm writing to you from the plane right now. It was weird saying good-bye to dad. I can't believe I'm already on my way; it seems so unreal. You know I've never considered myself army material, but "Ya gotta do what ya gotta do" like granddad always said.
I wish you could be here to look out the window and see all the different rock formations of the cities; they're really beautiful. The different colours and patterns below are absolutely amazing. I've never seen anything like it before. The sections of red, yellow and purples are simply breath taking! I really wish you could be here.
I don't know exactly how long it'll take this letter to get to you from Barry's Pit but I know you got it if you're reading it, right?
I met a guy Nick, short for Nickle, on the plane. He's really nice and he was also drafted so I hope to get to know him better during training. He's got a younger sister named Lapis, who is a little older than you are. He's from the town of Agates. It's not too far away from Anvilla so maybe you could meet up with her some time if you ever get over your fear of girls. From what Nick tells me, you might have a lot in common, not to mention both having brothers in the army.
Flying sure feels weird. I don't like it when the plane suddenly drops a little bit and takes your stomach for a ride. It doesn't make me safe at all. Boy, makes you wonder what kind of Quarrior I'm turn out to be if I hate flying, eh?
Actually, to tell you the truth, Mica, I'm really nervous about this. Who knows what's up ahead? I didn't want to say so in front of mom and dad but now that I'm on my own and I've been doing a lot of thinking, the reality of it is finally sinking in. This isn't a dream.
I hope to see you really soon. I'm going to try and get some sleep now. I feel that I might need it later.
GH
Pyrope 15, 3268
Quarrior Training Facility
Barry's Pit, Kaolin Province
498 375 32
Dear Mica,
I'm sending you this letter with the other because it's saves on postage (heh heh), but don't worry, I'll be sending you a letter everyday after this. I'm writing this on the one hour we have before lights out and I'm using it to write to you. Don't you feel special, Rock-head? (smile)
I'm in Barry's Pit now at the army base and boy! is it big! I've never seen so many quarriors in one place before.... except on tv.
We arrived at the airport and was bused to Barry's Pit at three thirty in the morning - everybody pretty much slept on the way there.
Nick is in the same bunker as I am, so we get to see each other on break, mess hall and lights out.
The dorms are long buildings carved out of the rock - sandstone mostly - and is covered by a special clear rock to strengthen it and to keep it from collapsing. The special rock is called nara - I'm not quite sure if you've heard of it - and the process to make it is a secret, to new recruits at least. Nara is very smooth and somewhat cool to the touch.
Along the two long side of the dorms, rows of black cast of iron beds are lined up with grey sheets and black wool blankets.
The floors are well polished and the hall is well kept.
We were assigned beds according to our family names and were allowed to sleep. Some guys were too excited to sleep - I was not one of them.
Early in the morning, around six o'clock I guess, we were ordered to get up, dress in our army commistioned training uniform (which is a grey t-shirt with a small Rock's emblem on the front and an enlarged Quarrior logo on the back, black pants, thick woolen socks and big clunky army boots) and were herded into a large building for our lessons.
It started off with a listing of the army's rules and regulations that we're to follow (and trust me there are a lot!), then we were taught the ways around the different battle stratigies of Rock's history, the workings of the vechicels of the army and facts about the other planets. After that we headed to the mess hall.
Oh. And when I say "Mess Hall" I mean it. Guys all over the place (and these guys are huge), talking loudly, banging on the tables and occasionally throwing the granite hard bun. Not only that but the cooking is terrible! I miss mom's soup and I've been here one day.
I over heard some talk from some older Quarriors and apparently miners are looked down upon here. They think them as cowards because they don't fight in the army. I think that my supervisor knows this cause he's always glaring at me for no reason at all. I'll have to try and prove that I can do things just like all the other guys.
After a "delicious lunch" we were put through the obstacle course. I think I did pretty good. I wasn't the best but I did better than most of the guys. Actually, I think Nick was first. Next time I'll try and whip his butt and he can eat slag....
Then we did tonnes of push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks - you know those types of exercises - all lines up in rows of tens. When finished that, we did a five mile run. I don't think I have to tell you how tired I was after that, right? I didn't think so. I think you can pretty much guess.
I'm sure I'll be in shape in no time if we're doing this all day everyday.
I've got to go. Leitenant Heliodor is giving me a dirty look so I'll have to write you tomorrow.
All my love,
GH
ID: 3850274992
Breccia 29, 3268
Quarrior Training Facility
Barry's Pit, Kaolin Province
498 375 32
Dear Mica,
It was good to see you on the weekend. You're really grown in just four months. I bet that my appearance shocked you too; me with muscles... who would have thought it? (Training is not that hard now, so that helps.) It was good to see mom and dad again. And boy did I miss mom's cooking! I could believe how good it was. It actually had a taste to it and it wasn't a burned taste either.
I'm glad you're doing well in your studies and getting top grades. I'm also glad that you finaly got the courage to writing to Lapis after all this time. I don't buy your excuse of 'I was too busy'. I just say you were scared. And don't argue with me, you know it's true.
I wasn't at all surprised when you told me that Jade had been drafted; she was bound to get in with no problem. It would have be nice to have seen her though.... It would also have been nice if she had been assigned to my batallion but it's in the luck of the draw I guess. Can't win them all.
I want to tell you that I got my first stripe today. The first in my division. Just told you that to make you jealous. (No, just kidding. ...did it work? (smile)) Nick is absolutely green about it, but he's happy that one of us got it. Besides, he almost has his.
There isn't much to tell you this time because I saw you on the weekend so I'll just sign off now and hope that there's more news tomorrow.
Your bro,
GH
ID: 3850274992
Idocrase 4, 3269
Quarrior Training Facility
Barry's Pit, Kaolin Province
498 375 32
Dear Mica,
I received a letter from Jade today and she's doing fine at her batallion. She's already been promoted, can you believe it? I knew she could do it but... already? It sort of shocked me, though I know Jade better than I know myself. I miss her.
I haven't seen her for almost a year and it's such a change because I was used to seeing her everyday at school.
Well, training is almost finished and I'll be a Quarrior in two months. Wow. It seems like last week I arrived to Barry's Pit and started killing myself during training.
Today our commanding officer showed us pictures from Planet Bone, Fire, and Ice. They were beautiful. I'm glad that the pictures were shown to us now 'cause when we actually get there, we're going to be too busy watching our butts to look at the scenery, right?
Planet Ice was magnificent! Everything was a blue as the sky and white as the purest clouds that you have ever seen. The glare from the sun off the ice was blinding - even though it was from the film taken during one of the past raids. All the ground as far as the eye could see was glistening in the bright light and the tall mountains of pure crystal clear ice were indiscribable.
On Planet Bone, the terrain is extremely soft compared to Rock. It's also very green. I didn't find it as beatiful as Ice but it had certain parts that at least most people would have to appreciate. We saw a shot of a suset and it's the most unusual sight I've seen. Instead of the sky turning yellow and red like it does on Rock, the horizon line seemed to glow a bright green. Green, can you imagine? Swamps of weird and exotic plant life stretched for miles and disappeared into the glow of the sunset. It was really interesting to see.
But I would have to say that the most breath taking world was Planet Fire. On Bone, the horizon 'seemed to glow' but the earth on Fire did glow. Red mist was covering the landscape and obscuring the volcanic mountains that faded into the distance. Where the earth on Fire isn't glowing, pitchblack Aha rock stretches out and forms hills, cliffs, plateaus - any type of land formation that you can think of, was there. The sky was full of thick blood red clouds and there is lightning flashing rampid throughout. The lava flows are something to see though. The looked like large rivers of... well, fire. I think you'd love to see them for yourself.
Well, I've got to go now 'cause I promised Nick I'd spar with him.
GH
ID: 3850274992
Cinnabar 22, 3269
Quarrior Training Facility
Barry's Pit, Kaolin Province
498 375 32
Dear Mica,
Well, it finally happened; I hurt myself during training. Don't worry though and tell mom not too worry either cause I know she would. Tell her that it's not serious. I just pulled a few muscules in my shoulder during the obstacle course. The medic says I'll be fine in a few days, a week at most, I just have to relax it for a bit.
Actually, I'm glad that I hurt my shoulder because ever since Nick sprained his ankle, I haven't been able to talk to him very much.
Well, I did get talking to him for quite a bit today and found out a lot about him. I asked if I could tell you in my letters and he said he didn't mind. He said that you might learn something, but Nick doesn't want you to take that the wrong way. Really.
It turns out that Nick's dad was a quarrior. A pretty high ranking one too; Emerald Class. That's almost Cobalt Class - Mantel's personal guards.
Anyway, on his last raid before a promotion, Nick's dad was killed on Planet Ice. Nick was only ten when it happened; he was heart broken but he tried to appear brave for at least his mother and sister's sake. He knew he was the man of the house then and it was his duty to take care of them.
He took a part-time job when he was twelve and helped with his family's income. Later, he had to drop out of high school to get a full-time job as a Servayor with the Architects.
Everything was fine for him until the Golden Jubilation was broken off and Emperor Femur didn't waste anytime and raided Rock. The raid happened to be in the area where Nick was sounding the rock for instabilities for building apartments. Nick almost died that say, but the wall that fell on him was stopped by a large bolder in the way. He was in the hospital overnight and then released.
That's when he signed up for the Quarriors because he had the same sence of duty to Rock that I did, plus he knew that's what his father would have liked.
That's when I met him.
What surprises me is that even though he went through all of that, he doesn't seem to have the life scars on his soul like a lot of the guys here have. They joined up to get revenge for someone they lost during the wars, but not Nick.
He's simply amazing!
Nothing seems to get him dowm. Even with the sprained ankle, he's as cheerful as before, maybe more-so. He sees this as a well earned break, and an oppertunity to write long letters to home.
I wish I was as optomistic as he is.
Nick just came and told me that Lapis is engadged to a guy named Toren. Wow. That's cool.
Your Brother,
GH
ID: 3850274992
Pyrope 10, 3270
Quarrior Training Facility
Barry's Pit, Kaolin Province
498 375 32
Dear Mica,
I can't believe it! I'm a full fedged Quarrior now. Two years of training are finished, the ceremony is over and done with and my first raid is next week.
The ceremony was magnificent, don't you think? All the Quarriors looked amazing in their armor and everything was so professional (yeah I know they do it all the time, but that's beside the point!) I actually got to see Lord Mantel face to face. He's a little taller than I pictured him to be but he was still impressive anyway.
And for the first time in the two years of training, I finally saw Jade again. We had been writing back and forth to each others' batillion, but it's completely different seeing her in the flesh.
This may sound weird to you, but it seems to me that Jade has really matured since I saw her last. Not only physically, but emotionally as well; she's changed. I found her a little less emotional, a little more distant. She says that it's all in preperation for war, but I think it's something more. She won't tell me exactly what it is.
Anyway, she's really grown into a beautiful woman now. It seems weird calling my best friend beautiful but it's the truth, but I also think that nothing will come from it. It would just seem a bit too strange.
Like I said, my raid is next week; Planet Bone. Leitenant Heliodor told us that of all the planets, it's the easiest to raid. But he also told us, never underestimate your opponents; they're all potentially dangerous and deadly threats.
The people of Bone sort of look like dragons from our old story books but their emperor, his name is Femur, is short and fat, so he looks more like a frog.
The beings of Ice are really weird looking. They're also really hard to describe physically. They look like giant blue bugs and would you believe it? They have four arms!
The people of Planet Fire actually have flames on top of their heads! They're heads are on fire! If that were me, I'm sure it would hurt. But then again, they probably go swimming in lava flows, so I guess that doesn't mean a thing.
I have to stop now. I'm leaving in about half an hour to go to my new military base in Carrara, Lithos Province. Nick will be coming along later. He's on leave because his mother died last night. Apparently, she had been sick for some time but Nick didn't tell me; he said that he didn't want to bother me with his problems.
Anyway, I'll write you again tomorrow.
love,
GH
ID: 3850274992
Idocrase 15, 3270
Carrara Quarrior Base
Carrara, Lithos Province
583 480 42
Dear Mica,
I feel numb. It's been two days since my last letter and I didn't mean to make you worry for me but there's a reason for that.
Nick is dead.
It happened on the last raid to Planet Ice. He was on perimeter watch, keeping a look-out for Ice Mites, and the giant ice fleas that have cannons strapped to their backs.
The raid was going well and we had three ships filled with ice, when Nick's team was ambushed by a small group of Blade Wings. He tried to give us a warning. He ran to the Arrowhead to contact the fleet when they shot the airship. It exploded with him in it. A guy named Tor told me later after we pulled out of Ice's atmosphere. We actually lost twenty men in that raid.
It doesn't seem fair. Nick was only looking out for his planet. They need water to surrvive and he's killed for trying to save thousands?
I mailed Nick's belongings to Lapis and Toren.
I'm sorry. I can't write any more. I'll try to write tomorrow but I can't guarantee anything.
love,
GH
ID: 3850274992
Shale 21, 3270
Carrara Quarrior Base
Carrara, Lithos Province
583 480 42
You enlisted and you were excepted? That's great news! It's something you've always wanted. I knew you'd make it but I have to tell you it's not all fun and glamour, as you'll remember my old letters of complaining about the body aches everyday.
How do you like the training by the way? I want to hear every single grusome, painful detail. Hey, a big brother wants to see how his little brother stands up to those pushing drill sergeants! It's my job, plus I want to laugh at your pain. (grin)
Well, now that I'm a full fedged Quarrior, I get to go to a bar on Battle Moon 5 called The Moon Over Mayhem. It's the toughest tavern that you've ever seen. Even tougher than the ones in the movies.
I don't know how it happened exacly but Jade got in this huge brawl with a guy named Jet. When they started knocking over tables and chairs, other Quarriors joined in and soon the whole place was in one big fight. I did my best to stay away from it but you know how the army is... all for one and one for all.
The Moon Over Mayhem is a dimly lit bar that's run by a guy named Slate. He's an old war veteran. He lost his hand in one of the last wars before the Golden Jubilation. He's really nice and picky about the state of his tavern. You should have seen his face when the fight finally stopped. The place was a complete wreck! Worse than how our room would get after one of our squabbles; about ten times worse.
Hard to imagine, isn't it?
Must run. See you on the weekend.
GH
ID: 3850274992
Cinnabar 22, 3272
Carrara Quarrior Base
Carrara, Lithos Province
583 480 42
Wow! My little brother is now a Quarrior. You have no idea how proud this makes me! The ceremony was awsome! You looked great! I really don't know what to write other than that.
I just went on another raid to Planet Fire as you know. It went fairly well, but we did lose five men this raid. Jet was one of them. I'm sort of getting tired of losing friends in raids. You think you'd get used to it, but you never do. I guess I'm glad I'm not getting hard with all the fighting.
Anyway, Jade and I are dating steady now, as if you didn't see that coming. It's great. Something happened last week that got us both in trouble, but I'll tell you a little later. I still feel embarassed about it.
I'm sure you'll find a girl soon. Maybe even here. There are some really nice ones here and they're pretty too. (nudge nudge)
I got a letter from dad yesterday after I wrote you. He says that mom's very sick; coughing and has a very bad fever. I'm planning on taking some time off to go see her. I have some time coming to me anyway. I just hope I'll be allowed to leave, but I don't see why I couldn't. Dad also said that she was a lot worse last week, so I take it she's getting better anyhow.
Let me know where you're getting posted and maybe I can pull some strings and get you here at Carrara. We'll see.
You're bro,
GH
Coming soon - Chapter Five: Brotherly Love