Author's Note: I wrote the latter part of this chapter while listening to the song "Don't Forget Me" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, so I'd suggest doing the same as you read. Got my chapter title from it, too. ;-) Hope you enjoy and please please review! Peace!
Chapter Forty: Don't Forget Me
0900 Hours, March 3, 2552. Phase Two, City of Cote D'Azur. "The Responsibilities of Leadership," Planet Sigma Octanus IV. Day Sixteen of the Battle of Sigma Octanus IV
I still wasn't entirely sure how I'd managed to survive my encounter with the Brute. But from what I remember, my salvation came in the form of a 14.5mm round from an S2 AM sniper rifle. While I was busy getting my head reshaped into a pancake, Lieutenant Lewis's third platoon had finally come around the building. It was then, Lewis explained to me later, that one of his snipers saw a Brute crushing a Marine on the far end of the street. The sniper, Sergeant Skyler McCorse, didn't waste any time giving the aggressive alien a precise bullet through the back of the head. Severing the creature's cervical spine, the projectile caused the hulking beast to topple over, luckily missing the Marine as it fell.
Sergeant McCorse said it was only after he'd shot the Brute that he'd aimed his rifle at the Marine to see who it was. When he saw the name LT COOPER come up on his heads-up display, he was stunned to find that he'd just saved the acting company commander---me.
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"Lieutenant!"
I heard the shout come through the COM channel, and I slowly began to open my eyes. How come I'm not dead? I wondered. That Covie was going to flatten my damn head…
Trying to take in a ragged breath, I found that I had to cough before I could fill my lungs with oxygen; the crimson blood that came from my mouth was thick and warm. I need to get this stupid thing off me, I thought, struggling to keep my mind focused.
My attempt at moving my arms so I could remove my helmet failed. I wanted to curse, but l ended up letting out a low moan instead. On my second try I was able to move, but at a price: pain shot through my body like a lightning bolt as I popped the seal on my helmet. I slid it off my head with gritted teeth, then spat blood onto the pavement.
Finally, I managed to take a deep breath of air without feeling like I was suffocating---or drowning, for that matter---inside my helmet. It felt good to be able to breathe again, and the oxygen gave me the strength to roll onto my back so I could sit up. I groaned as a wave of pain nearly caused me to lie back down on the ground.
Shit, I got lucky, I thought to myself, despite the pain. I can't believe I'm still here in the land of the living. Thank you, God. Thank you for watching out for me yet again.
My head was pounding with excruciating pain, and the rest of my body protested as well. When I looked down at myself, I saw blood oozing slowly down my shirt and jacket from when I'd coughed up the blood in my mouth. I must look like a fucking train wreck, I thought. But at least I'm not choking on my own blood anymore. Starting to regain normal hearing and sight by now, as well as alertness, I could feel the wet blood covering the lower part of my face. I wiped the red fluid away with my sleeve and reached for my helmet. I wasn't ready to put it back on just yet, but I wanted to have it in my hands.
When I glanced down into the helmet, I saw the visor splattered with my blood on the inside. Guess I won't be wearing this anytime soon, I thought with the tiniest of grins.
"Jesus Christ, Lieutenant!"
A man was suddenly in front of me, and it took me a moment to recognize him as Doc Reynolds. Concern was clearly displayed in his blue eyes as he raised his faceplate.
"I-I'm ok," I said shakily. "I know I probably don't look it, but---"
"Are you kidding? You look fucking dead, El-Tee," a second voice replied. I lifted my head, blinked back the terrible pain the motion brought, and saw Second Lieutenant Laura Hillburn standing over me.
"Get outta here!" Reynolds snapped, angry at the young officer for what she'd said.
"Last time I checked, Doc, I'm pretty sure I was the one with the rank," Hillburn shot back.
"Do. Not. Disturb. My. Fucking. Patient," Petty Officer Reynolds stated clearly in a threatening tone. "Ma'am," he added.
"I know tempers are flaring since we haven't gotten any sleep. But can it, you two, right now," I managed to say.
Lieutenant Hillburn and the medic exchanged looks, then stared at me in astonishment.
"What? Just 'cause I've got blood on my face I'm not allowed to give orders anymore?" I asked. I kept my expression and tone serious, even though I was amused by their reactions.
Neither replied, but Doc Reynolds soon regained his composure. "Ma'am, I need you to lie back down for me."
"Do you have any idea how much effort I put into sitting up?"
"You bled from the mouth, Lieutenant. I need to check you for internal bleeding."
"Fine," I said.
The medic placed his hands behind my head and back to help lower me with the least amount of pain. Once I was lying on my back, he opened my battledress jacket and began feeling my stomach through my T-shirt.
"Pain? Discomfort? Unusual sensations?" he asked as he pressed each quadrant of my abdomen.
"No," I answered. "Pain and discomfort, yes, but from other parts of my body."
"Where does it hurt, ma'am?"
"You mean where doesn't it hurt?"
"Point taken." Doc Reynolds sighed, then announced, "I can't feel anything abnormal. No tenderness, no rigidity, no lumps. You check out."
"So can I get back to the company now? What's our status?"
"Just those first three Marines dead, and a few wounded. Nothing serious, though."
"Good," I replied, sitting up with a little less difficulty this time. I buttoned my jacket back up and said, "Then help me up and let's continue this shit."
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Two days had passed since my run-in with the Brute, and I was still working through the aches and pains---my head especially. But I was gradually recovering, even though the bloodstains on my uniform tried to suggest otherwise. At the very least, I'd been able to use water from the river to clean the dried blood from my face and neck. It had taken half an hour of continuous---and vigorous---scrubbing to do so, but it worked eventually.
My helmet was a different story. I'd wiped the blood off the inside of the visor, but the blood that had seeped into the padding was too hard to get out with just water. So basically, the thing reeked constantly of my blood, and it often made me nauseous. As if that weren't enough, the two pictures I kept inside the helmet of my family were now tinted a permanent shade of red.
But I was still alive and doing pretty well, and that was more than what could be said for others. Others like Lieutenant Graham, Private Beesner, the ten Marines we'd lost so far, and the critically wounded Captain Kingston. The poor man hadn't woken up yet, as third platoon's medic had predicted, and every day that went by, his chances of survival grew smaller.
Despite it all, there was at least one piece of good news out of the last forty-eight hours: today marked the start of Phase Two of Captain Kingston's operation to save Cote D'Azur. Bravo Company had finally managed to clear out the city, and now the hardest part of the mission---keeping the Covenant out---was just beginning. I'd already set up a perimeter around the heart of the city, and had ordered the platoons to maintain posts in various sectors. With one company in a large city, we were spread thin at best, but I did what I could with what I had at my disposal.
After a few early and unsuccessful attempts to break our perimeter, the Covenant must have decided they would take a moment to figure out a better plan; there had been a lull in the battle for the past hour or so. I'd used the time to organize some Marines from each platoon so we could distribute supplies. This way, when the Covenant's next attack came, Bravo Company would already be stocked with food, water, ammo, and medical supplies. As the selected group of Marines handed out precious equipment to the others, I went around with them to see how the rest of Bravo was faring. I spoke to the Marines of each platoon as a group, then walked down the perimeter and spoke to some individually. I offered them words of encouragement, even though I knew our situation was worse then what they'd been told by their platoon leaders. But in the end, speaking with my Marines had brought out a positive change: morale seemed higher than in days past, and I was able to demonstrate to the Marines that despite a couple of close calls, I was still functioning and in charge.
Presently, I removed my helmet and took a moment to rest; walking throughout the perimeter just days after my encounter with the Brute had taken it out of me. Leaning against a broken wall near first platoon's side of the perimeter, I slid my back down the surface until I was sitting on the ground. My muscles protested, but not nearly as much as they used to.
I've come close to exiting this world on two occasions now, I thought to myself. And things are only going to go downhill from here. I guess it's about time I get this over with. And so, I pulled out my datapad, focused the camera on me, and pressed record. This was something I'd wanted to do for a while now, and I finally had my chance.
"Hey, it's me," I began. "If you're watching this message, then I suppose it means I didn't make it. Talk about tough luck, huh? Guess I'll just have to see you on the other side.
"I just wanted to give my final messages to everyone, and I guess I'll start with Mom. I know it'll be hard for you, knowing you've already lost a daughter, but don't worry. I'll say hi to Jenna for you when I see her." I gave the camera a faint grin, then settled back into a serious expression. "You were great to all of us, Mom, and we'll never forget what you did for us after Dad died. I love you, Mom.
"Mark, you're the best older brother any little sis could ever ask for. You drove me nuts, but you also looked out for me. And I'll always be grateful for the way you stepped up for the family after Jenna died. You're not just my brother, Mark; you're one of my best friends. I love you always.
"Little bro, you're next. I'm sorry for those times I got mad at you when we were younger. But, I mean, you did steal my make-up and embarrass me in front of guys all the time." I grinned. "And yet despite all that, I still love you to pieces, Trav. We had some good times, me and you, times I'll never forget.
"Allie, we always teamed up when Jenna got on our case. For all those days we played house and dress-up as kids, and those nights we'd stay up with our girl talk when we were older…thanks. You're one cool little sis, Allie."
Tears were starting to cloud up my vision, and I had to pause for a moment to compose myself. Addressing the last two people would really tear me up inside, and I didn't want to make them even more depressed when and if they had to see this video. So, I took a few breaths and put on a brave face before going on.
"What do I say to the most wonderful man I've ever met? You've been pretty much everything to me, Will: my partner, my lover, my best friend. You saved my life when you barely even knew me, and you've been there by my side ever since. No one will ever know me the way you do, so thoroughly. Thanks for all your support, love, and caring, and for always keeping your cool when I lost it." I gave him a smirk. "I like to think we balanced each other out nicely in that respect. Tell Jamie she was the greatest friend ever, and take good care of Gabriel. You're an amazing husband and father, and don't you forget that. I love you so much, Will.
"Gabriel, my little boy," I said with a smile, barely able to control my voice. I swallowed hard on the lump in my throat. "I'm so sorry, sweetheart. If you're seeing this message when you're older, I've failed you. I wasn't able to be there for you like I should, and I'll feel guilty about it forever. Know that I want to be with you and your dad more than anything, but life's events have sadly kept us apart. And now, I'm no longer going to be able to be there for you in the future, kiddo." I paused to wipe the tears forming in my eyes, then continued, "I love you, Gabe, more than anything in God's entire universe. You are my life, son; as long as you live, I'll always be a part of you, even if I'm not with you physically. I'm proud of whatever you do, as long as you promise to be a nice, kind-hearted person and make good choices. Help people in need and love others, Gabe. Those are the greatest things you can do in this life. I'm sure you'll do all of these, Gabriel. Don't forget me, kid."
I stopped the recording and sat there in a kind of daze, shaking from my attempt to keep my emotions inside. I wasn't about to fall apart with my Marines nearby, but it was terribly hard to stay calm after making a video with your last words to those you loved. I took deep, slow breaths for a long time before I felt composed enough to save the message onto a chip. I prayed no one would ever have to see the thing, but it was necessary; if I didn't survive, I wanted everyone to know how much they meant to me. Finally ready, I stood and started walking towards first platoon's lines.
"Doc? Got a sec?" I asked Petty Officer Reynolds when I found him.
The medic looked up from his seated position, his helmet lying beside him on the ground. "Yes, ma'am. Is something bothering you, El-Tee, or are you in any pain anywhere?"
Choosing to ignore his question, I instead crouched to his level. When he noticed that I didn't answer, he looked at me with questioning eyes.
"Can I ask you to do me a favor, Michael?"
I watched his expression change when I used his first name. He knew now that I had something important to say.
"Anything, Lieutenant," he said without hesitation, still searching my face for a clue as to what was going on.
I quickly dug into my pocket and produced the recording I'd made. I placed the chip carefully into a tiny case, then held out my hand for the medic to take it. Reynolds stared at the object for the longest time before turning his gaze back to me.
"Ma'am?"
"This is for you to keep, Michael. Please, don't let anything happen to it."
Doc Reynolds licked his lips and picked up the encased chip. "What is it?"
I took a deep breath and swallowed. "If I don't make it, I would like you to give that to my husband. The address is on the label," I said. Before the medic could reply, I added, "And Michael, I'm not asking you as an officer. You don't have to do this, but it would mean a lot to me if you did."
As realization slowly dawned, Reynolds began to shake his head. "No, Lieutenant. I won't do it, because you'll give this to him yourself."
I gave him a faint smile. "I would like nothing more than for that to be true, Doc. But we both know no one's immune to death. And let's face it: I probably have a better chance of departing than anyone else at this point."
"Why me, Lieutenant?" the medic asked.
"Because you're a good friend. And I trust you."
Reynolds continued to stare at the chip, no doubt mulling over my words.
"Michael?"
He glanced up.
"Would you please keep it for me?"
"I don't know if---"
"Listen, Doc, I know what you're thinking. You're worried that if I give you this, I won't have that same drive to live, right?"
Doc Reynolds shifted uncomfortably. "Well, no, not exactly---"
"This is an absolute last resort, Michael. I will fight harder than ever, because I know that if I don't survive, all my family will have left is a little five-minute video clip of me saying goodbye."
The petty officer nodded slowly. "Ok, Lieutenant. I'll do it."
"Thanks, Doc. I appreciate it."
"Yeah. No problem."
I started to walk away, but then I remembered something else. "Doc?" I asked, turning back.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"If I…uh…you know…"
"Yeah?"
"Could you make sure my son receives my dogtags?"
The medic's face revealed just a hint of surprise before he quickly masked his expression. "Of course, Lieutenant."
I nodded. With the conversation concluded, I started to head back to my post.