06.12 Sunday
Now that Graham was in the drop ship, he would finally take his part in the ending of this horrible conflict. The ascent was fairly smooth but hitting the LZ would be rough and hard not to mention the impending bullet rounds piercing his armored hull. He had think fast and use much whit in order to become one of the luckier ones in the bunch.
As graham soared through the clouds the ride started to get a little bumpier for he was descending into Sok air space and the turrets would be on his ass soon.
Graham gave a warning "alright men, we're about to hit enemy air space and the ride is about to get a bit bumpier" he explained.
A cocky hick of a fellow with a husky beard replied to his statement "common man, we just wanna hit some Sok mother fuckers, don't care for the ride, makes it more better" explained the obviously uneducated man.
Graham replied "indeed, now for the rest of you smart mouthed ass holes keep your mouth shut and let the superiors do the talking... understood?" asked Graham.
The cabin replied with a sharp sir yes sir and became attentive to Graham's supposed orders. Graham was surprised that these grunts were even following his orders in the first place. He was technically the same rank as he was. Duke had given him the chance of a life time, to pilot a decisive air strike in to the very heart of the Sok rebel faction posted in this sector. He could still remember the day that burden had been given to him.
Duke stood in the hallway as Graham and his rescuer began discussions and idle pleasantries. Graham was pissed about being left behind but the discussion was brightening his mood. Duke had come up behind him and startled him slightly, though Graham had enough time to not look like a fool and recover his straight face.
"Sir, I didn't expect to..." he was cut off duke's surprisingly pleasant voice.
"It's alright son I know your probably pissed as hell at me and I don't blame ya, but if your really that eager to get back into the heat then, your persistence might be paid off" explained duke to a now very pleased Graham.
"Sir?" questioned Graham, now more confused as ever.
Duke puffed away at a newly lit cigar "now I know that your eyesight is... well probably quite blurry right now, and if it wasn't for one reason we wouldn't be doing this right now or even having a discussion for that matter but there is... something I have to show you son, and it's important" explained Duke to a confused Graham.
"I... don't understand sir" asked Graham.
Duke sat there with a saddened expression on his face "come with me boy" he said with a brush of his glove hand.
Graham quickly followed him but yet with a little hesitation as he sensed both fear and sadness within Dukes voice. It wasn't something you would normally hear from a man of his caliber. Yet he still followed out of curiosity, if duke was worried about something it must be important.
Graham turned to Duke but forgot to say good by to his savior.
Graham turned and gave a polite and friendly wave to the hero. He was still there eating his lunch and barely noticed him before giving a slight smirk and a short wave to the wounded soldier. Graham then continued to follow his superior through the arched corridor and out into the open again.
Though duke hadn't spoken for the whole trip, he must have bean either horribly pissed or frightfully worried about something... but what, it was ripping Graham apart. The long awkward pause seamed to go on forever and the thing that got at him the most was the fact that he couldn't see his face, Graham needed to feed off of the expression.
As Graham walked passed the busy workers, the realization of the matter was starting to sink into his brain and that the final battle was nearing, Graham very desperately wanted to join into this final conflict between the confederacy and the rebel bastards. Demark was so close yet so far away, it was on the other side of the planet almost, but he could still feel the rage inside of him swelling and the hatred brewing.
Though Graham along with many other soldiers assigned to the mission, didn't even know why he hated them so much in the first place. What Graham didn't know would actually in fact hurt him, a great deal. For even though the confederacy was fighting for the beliefs and rights of the U.E.D, their greater priority was to make sure their soldiers were kept in line and in control. The conspiracy was around them all along, for the resoc tanks that fortified them and renewed them also served as nerve amplifiers that would trick with the most complex and deepest of brains to bend it to the bidder's will. These tanks were specifically modified to produce raw hatred within the soldiers. Hatred towards a pointless cause.
Graham had no reason to hate them, nor did any of the other soldiers. But the admirals and generals did, and their hatreds were now shared. Though Graham's fears were now adding to the labyrinth of emotions swelling within his heart.
Finally a lead, Graham noticed they were heading towards the med center and that duke was slowing his pace. This was odd, Duke would only be slowing his pace if he, for some reason, regretted going into the facility.
Graham was getting too paranoid, he needed to just relax and let the events unfold, besides, they were almost there and duke looked... a bit happier than he did a few seconds ago.
Graham entered the door ways of doom that symbolized his feelings towards the situation. Their were just too many feelings, too many emotions for him to control under his cool expression. But Graham's duty, as a soldiers was too maintain a cool attitude under even the warmest of situations, and that was exactly what he was going to do now.
Duke halted in front of the analysis room and spoke "now son, I want you to understand that you are in good hands" explained duke.
What did duke mean by that, what exactly was going on here? The paranoia was beginning to surface once again and it was uncontrollable. Graham's legs started to shake his eye sight became blurry and his feeling's were numbed.
Though this was not a side effect of nervousness, this was a weakening of the body. Graham was becoming sick and he needed rest, his wounds weren't healed enough. Graham gained consciousness though and stood again, for it was imperative to listen to what Duke had to say.
"Now boy, you understand that even though your injuries were severe, you amazingly and astonishingly survived that turmoil. But, like many a time, a fool's hope often fades away and, well, your luck has ran out a bit" explained the riddling Duke.
"I don't understand sir, please tell me what is wrong here" asked a puzzled and nervous graham.
"Alright boy, I've held off for long enough Son, your eyes have not yet to recover and, the thing is that they probably never will. Your slowly going blind boy, you have a deep infection that is spreading through your left eye and slowly moving to your right. There is... nothing we can do" explained Duke.
Graham was shocked, he did not expect this, the worst case scenario would be and impending attack on their camp but not this, it was too much. Yet, he was not too surprised. All along Graham realized that something was wrong as he was walking towards the med center. And deep within himself, he knew that it was something about him.
So this was it, the end of Graham's normal life. The end of seeing things clearly and the start of sitting idly by like an old man on a porch? Days filled with nothing but...nothing? Graham's depression rapidly dawned and he still did not fully understand the statement that Duke had just given.
"What?" asked a surprised Graham.
"I'm... sorry son" said Duke.
Though he did look sad and very displeased. A strange light shone within Duke's face. Graham noticed that even though Duke was finished with his speech, there was more to say.
"So... what now sir" asked Graham.
Duke stood, face to the ground and explained "well son, I didn't lie to ya when I said that your persistence has paid off, though your eyes and body may be broken, your brain still works like a gem" explained Duke.
"Sir?" questioned Graham.
"Son, I and, a select few have decided that since you're are so eager to engage to battle once again, and since you have had some very good experience within piloting confederacy vehicles, that your are perfect for piloting the unit of drop ships landing on Demark that will deliver the final decisive flanking maneuver on their capital command center" explained Duke to a very confused Graham.
Graham chuckled "this is very funny Duke, but I'm not in a laughing mood right now" explained Graham.
Was Duke crazy, was he actually taking things into perspective and dealing with this current situation seriously? He must have been crazy. Graham would be blind within the day and Duke expects him to kill himself by flying a drop ship into an enemy base?
"Neither am I" said Duke, pulling out a semi-circular object from within his bag.
Graham was puzzled as he gazed upon the gleaming object "what is that?" asked Graham.
Duke looked at Graham with a questionable eye and asked "are you serious boy? The whole time you've been in the service and you've never seen and radial stimulator before?" asked Duke.
Of course, how could Graham be so dumb founded. The radial stimulator would allow him to see with precise vision and accuracy. The gadget served as better eyes than his original ones. Though they were exceedingly expensive, and Graham could never even hope to afford such a costly piece of equipment. Graham's hope dimmed yet again as he realized that even though the hope was within his sight, he could not reach it.
"Brilliant sir but, I'm a simple soldier, how am I to afford such a thing?" asked Graham.
Duke looked at him with amusement and chuckled "Heheheh, your not boy, I am" said Duke.
Graham was now beginning to understand, and the hope that was once so brightly lit sparked anew.
"Now your gonna get these on you by night fall, and tomorrow morning, we head for that damned base" explained Duke.
Graham was starring at the marine's within his visor, and though he hadn't noticed it, he had been starting for a good 15 seconds.
The marines returned his stare as a very strange gesture, though they couldn't see his eyes, the man's head had been pointed in their general direction for a little too long to call it comfortable.
"Are you ok man?" asked one the soldiers with a puzzled look on his face.
Graham woke out of his coma like trance and back into reality. Graham's consciousness had drifted away in memory for awhile, and if he wasn't careful, it would affect his job.
Graham's co-pilot noticed what he was dong and gave him a light tap on the head with his knuckles. Graham instantaneously woke up and replied to the soldier.
Uh... yeah, yeah I'm fine" explained the confused and embarrassed Graham.
"good, cus I dun want no stinkin lazy ass jack ass of a pilot flying this thing into a Sok base unconscious" explained the angered marine.
Graham replied "sure... uh sure buddy, sorry bout that" to the now satisfied marine.
Graham retained his valor and his guile, and began to pilot his coarse yet again. With a new hope and new courage, Graham turned to the cabin and began to lay down the situation.
"Alright ladies, were about to zoom through the butter, and the ride is about to get just a bit bumpier" explained Graham with pride!
So... how did you like the new story line for Graham... it wasn't too shabby, seeing as how I haven't written this thing in like half a year. But I'm a little tired so if this was short than... TOO BAD I HAVE WORK TOMMOROW! But yeah instead of like 13 more chapters I think there's gonna be like 3, srry, but this is a fan fic!