A Fallen Soldier By Erika Wing
January 14 AC 198 The war had been over for three years now and there was nothing left to do. The people in the colonies had learned what peace really is like. No soldiers roaming the streets on patrol and no major bases on the colonies to take up park space. Most of the old Alliance and Oz bases had been either torn down to make parks or new buildings. But some had been turned into hospitals or clinics.
Erika Wing was a sixteen year old girl who lived in an apartment building on colony L1978129. There really wasn't much for Erika to do. She'd go to school all day then work late at a grocery store. But nothing else ever happened, not to Erika at least. Her parents had died during the war and Erika had been in a orphan program called "Children of The Lost" which was sponsored by U. N. S. A. When a orphan of the One Year War turned fifteen and was able to get a job, the child could go live on a designated colony. Most children had been adopted into families, but Erika was one of the few who had spent two and a half years in that orphanage. Erika supported herself with her job and received a check once a month from the foundation which she used to pay her rent.
"Stupid, stupid." Erika groaned as she walked to her apartment from school. Erika had forgotten her math book at the grocery store again and she had really needed it. The teacher had called on her to explain the math formula to the class. She'd had been so embarrassed about it when the teacher had lectured her in front of the whole class. But their teacher was always like that.
Erika fumbled into her backpack, trying to find he key chain. She finally found it in her side pocket and unlocked her door. The lights flicked on and Erika sat her backpack on the kitchen counter then went back to the front door and locked it from the inside. In the part of town she lived in, anything could happen. She sat at the kitchen and did her homework until 5:32PM. She had to be at work at 6:15PM and she couldn't afford to be late.
Erika sat behind the counter of the grocery store, it was a local store and only one person worked the night shift after 9:00 pm. Erika had found her math book and finished all her homework and she was watching the late night new on the TV.
"The Proventers have been working around the clock to put out these terrorists threats. Resources have indicated this group had been trying to rebuild the Gundams. Why would these terrorists want to build a Gundam in this time of peace? Proventers say that this isn't anything serious and that the fire will soon be but out. In other news." Erika moved away from the T.V when the door to the store opened and the door bell rang until the door shut behind the customer.
"Good evening," Erika smiled to the young man who entered the store. He nodded to Erika as a reply and walked around the isles as all regular people did. But he had a stern face take puzzled Erika. Most people looked tired who ever came in this late. He was rather handsome to her though. He had dark brown hair cut in a sort of shabby cut and he had beautiful dark blue eyes. A few moments after he had come in two more men dressed in black business suits entered the store. Erika greeted them just the same. They said nothing and didn't acknowledge her either.
Erika narrowed her eyes at their rudeness. But then she was a little puzzled because they bother wore sunglasses. The young man was eyeing them as he looked through the store and he held a few items in his hands. The two men seemed to be watching the young man because they walked through the isles a few feet away from him, not taking anything.
"Is this all?" she asked the young man as he came to the counter with his two bags of chips and a soda. He nodded and Erika rang up the items on the cash register. Erika looked up from the monitor slowly, seeing the two men in suits walk up behind the young man as if in a line. She also could see the young man looking into the corner of his eye.
"That will be seven dollars and fifteen cents. Will that be cash, check, or credit card?" she asked the young man as she bagged up the three items. The boy reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet.
"Cash." she said handing her a ten dollar bill. "Keep the change." his voice was calm but his palms were sweating. The young man kept look back behind him at the two men with sunglasses. The boy took the bag and walked out the door.
"Good evening Miss." One of the men said placing a six-pack in front of her. The other man walked out of the store and Erika waited for the alarm to go off. But nothing happened as the door shut behind him and Erika shrugged as she rang up the six-pack.
January 14 AC 198 The war had been over for three years now and there was nothing left to do. The people in the colonies had learned what peace really is like. No soldiers roaming the streets on patrol and no major bases on the colonies to take up park space. Most of the old Alliance and Oz bases had been either torn down to make parks or new buildings. But some had been turned into hospitals or clinics.
Erika Wing was a sixteen year old girl who lived in an apartment building on colony L1978129. There really wasn't much for Erika to do. She'd go to school all day then work late at a grocery store. But nothing else ever happened, not to Erika at least. Her parents had died during the war and Erika had been in a orphan program called "Children of The Lost" which was sponsored by U. N. S. A. When a orphan of the One Year War turned fifteen and was able to get a job, the child could go live on a designated colony. Most children had been adopted into families, but Erika was one of the few who had spent two and a half years in that orphanage. Erika supported herself with her job and received a check once a month from the foundation which she used to pay her rent.
"Stupid, stupid." Erika groaned as she walked to her apartment from school. Erika had forgotten her math book at the grocery store again and she had really needed it. The teacher had called on her to explain the math formula to the class. She'd had been so embarrassed about it when the teacher had lectured her in front of the whole class. But their teacher was always like that.
Erika fumbled into her backpack, trying to find he key chain. She finally found it in her side pocket and unlocked her door. The lights flicked on and Erika sat her backpack on the kitchen counter then went back to the front door and locked it from the inside. In the part of town she lived in, anything could happen. She sat at the kitchen and did her homework until 5:32PM. She had to be at work at 6:15PM and she couldn't afford to be late.
Erika sat behind the counter of the grocery store, it was a local store and only one person worked the night shift after 9:00 pm. Erika had found her math book and finished all her homework and she was watching the late night new on the TV.
"The Proventers have been working around the clock to put out these terrorists threats. Resources have indicated this group had been trying to rebuild the Gundams. Why would these terrorists want to build a Gundam in this time of peace? Proventers say that this isn't anything serious and that the fire will soon be but out. In other news." Erika moved away from the T.V when the door to the store opened and the door bell rang until the door shut behind the customer.
"Good evening," Erika smiled to the young man who entered the store. He nodded to Erika as a reply and walked around the isles as all regular people did. But he had a stern face take puzzled Erika. Most people looked tired who ever came in this late. He was rather handsome to her though. He had dark brown hair cut in a sort of shabby cut and he had beautiful dark blue eyes. A few moments after he had come in two more men dressed in black business suits entered the store. Erika greeted them just the same. They said nothing and didn't acknowledge her either.
Erika narrowed her eyes at their rudeness. But then she was a little puzzled because they bother wore sunglasses. The young man was eyeing them as he looked through the store and he held a few items in his hands. The two men seemed to be watching the young man because they walked through the isles a few feet away from him, not taking anything.
"Is this all?" she asked the young man as he came to the counter with his two bags of chips and a soda. He nodded and Erika rang up the items on the cash register. Erika looked up from the monitor slowly, seeing the two men in suits walk up behind the young man as if in a line. She also could see the young man looking into the corner of his eye.
"That will be seven dollars and fifteen cents. Will that be cash, check, or credit card?" she asked the young man as she bagged up the three items. The boy reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet.
"Cash." she said handing her a ten dollar bill. "Keep the change." his voice was calm but his palms were sweating. The young man kept look back behind him at the two men with sunglasses. The boy took the bag and walked out the door.
"Good evening Miss." One of the men said placing a six-pack in front of her. The other man walked out of the store and Erika waited for the alarm to go off. But nothing happened as the door shut behind him and Erika shrugged as she rang up the six-pack.