The island that was littered with rocky structures was speeding into the distance. A small marine was still, staring out the back of a futuristic military issued craft known as a Pelican. This marine's mind was numb with thought. A voice came from behind him.
"Hey Charley! Are you okay?" But Charley just kept staring, and staring at the ever-shrinking island. He tried again, louder this time. "Charley!"
"It's bad, isn't it?" This was the most depressing voice that Dan had ever heard. This wasn't like Charley. He now turned from the island. His eyes were filled with sadness, and a sudden understanding. "The war, the violence, the fighting, it's all very bad. War is bad." Words failed Dan, but he had to say something, so he said what came to mind.
"War is hell." Charley's were now fixed on his. "That's all you need to know about it Charley. Don't forget that." Charley turned back to the island. It was about the size of a quarter now. He leaned forward on a pole and whispered to himself three words.
"He wasn't asleep." Dan looked over to Sarge, who was putting away a bottle of pills. Sarge realized Dan was watching him.
"Pain killers." He explained. He turned and glanced at Charley. "Is he doing' alright?"
"Hard to say." Replied Dan. "I think he's finally starting to realize what he's getting himself into."
"Poor kid." Sarge turned to the pilot. "Where are we headed?"
"I'm picking up another island about four clicks from here."
"Good, we can land there and have time to collect ourselves." Sarge looked to the back. "Charley, do you have a visual?" Charley swung around the back and looked ahead.
"Yes sir!" Charley came back and sat down. He took out a knife and doubled over. The trip lasted only a few minutes more.
They made landfall and emptied the craft. The landscape was swampy and dank. There was a very fowl stench in the air, and the only one who didn't seem to notice was Charley. He seemed so serious now. He put away his knife, jumped up, and drew his side-arm. Sarge and Dan stepped out after him.
Leaving the pilot to guard the Pelican, the three of them walked into the swamp. Charley walked in front, fallowed by Sarge, who was once again putting away the bottle of pain killers, leaving Dan to bring up the rear with a loaded and ready assault rifle. It seemed like they were walking forever. Their feet were getting sore and blistered from walking on the soft, sponge-like soil beneath them.
Occasionally they heard what sounded like a soft grunting and they stopped to listen before they moved on. The third time they stopped the grunting did not cease like the times before. This time the noise seemed to grow and surround them. They were now circling back to back. Dan panicked when he heard Charley fire a round from his pistol. "What did you do that for?"
"I thought I saw something." There was a silence… This was abruptly interrupted by a loud THWACK! Sarge and Charley turned around to see a screaming Dan flying through the air and hitting a tree. Dan opened his eyes to see Sarge and Charley, who were both distorted. Charley raised his pistol and pointed it strait at him, Dan closed his eyes. He heard around go off, Dan flinched. He waited for a moment, and then opened his eyes.
The first thing he said when he opened them was a loud scream "HOLY SHIT!" Now all that was before him was a massive elite covered in dark blue body armor. Dan closed his eyes, again preparing for the worst. WHACK! This time Dan's body went numb, but he could open his eyes. He was still against the tree and the alien was still in front of him. But it was so still.
Without warning, it fell to its knees, then flat on its face. Right behind it stood Charley, looking just as still. His eyes here wide and his breath was heavy. Charley dropped his pistol and held out the wobbling hand he was holding it with.
"Are you okay, sir" Said charley in a quivering voice. Dan looked at Charley's outstretched hand, smiled, and grasped it.
"I'm fine." He said as Charley hoisted him up. His teeth were clenched so hard that they would have shattered a bullet. Dan felt a pain so sharp in his chest that it could be nothing short of a broken rib. But he had enough strength to force a smile and walk back over to Sarge.
Charley stayed by the body of his adversary. He kneeled down and collected its grenades. His hands felt warm and he was disgusted to see that they were covered in a gooey royal blue blood. All of a sudden there was a new sign of danger. There was a loud shriek and Charley looked up. There was an electric green ball about fifteen yards away from him, moving side to side. Then there was something else, another allegedly electric object, this time it was blue and took the shape of a shield. Charley stayed still, crouching over the elite's dead body.
Suddenly the ball broke away from the shield and flew toward him. Charley still didn't move; he was too afraid. The ball seemed to grow larger, and larger as it got closer and closer. It was almost upon him; he turned away and looked at Sarge and Dan. Something was very wrong, Dan was running toward him. The truth dawned on Charley.
"NO! DAN DON'T!" But it was no use; Dan had jumped into the path of the glowing green ball. There was a bright flash, fallowed by a scream of agony as Dan hit the ground with a THUMP! He was panicking.
"MY LEG! Oh god, I can't feel my leg! Charley how's it look!" Charley looked to where Dan's leg used to be. It had been burned off just shy of the hip. Charley didn't know what to say, so all that came out of his mouth was a low.
"Ummmm…" Dan took this as a bad sign.
"What?" Dan pulled himself up and looked at the small stub that remained of his left leg. There was a definite look of sheer terror on his face. He rolled to a face down position and began to sob. They heard another shriek, like the one that had preceded the green blast. This was fallowed by a loud BANG! Dan and Charley looked at the swamp floor. Not twenty feet in front of them was a small, gangly, bird-like alien, now lying dead. They looked the other way to Sarge who was standing loosely, with a smoking pistol in his hand.
"Charley! Gather your partner, we're heading back to the Pelican."
To Be Continued…