A/N remember to review on your way out
A Moment's Reminiscence
"What the hell?!" Private Blogg screamed. It was more in shock than anything else. The rage would definitely come at a later time once the weirdness of having a Lance Corporal bring back an Elite wore off. "Why in God's name did you take back one of those things?"
"It was lying in a ditch! I couldn't just leave it there," Johnston was used to explaining himself to lower ranks. It was yet another character flaw in his already miserable idealist personality. William was much too nice and charitable for his own good especially to the disrespectful lower-ranked Private.
"Damn you, Will, when that thing wakes up, I swear it will bloody well murder us all!"
"It's just a kid. Relax. One Elite is no match for all of us anyway. It's not like I brought back a Hunter or anything." True to his nature, Will, stayed calm as always.
"You probably would have if you could carry one," a new voice joined the conversation. It was another Corporal. Lucy Blue was one of the more reasonable people, newly promoted. "Will, you better get that thing in a holding cell somewhere before it wakes up. We'll deal with the consequences once the Sergeant gets back. Private James Blogg, I suggest you show more respect."
Lucy and Will were walking now; headed back into the base, leaving Blogg furious and redder faced than usual. "You really should learn to deal with people better," Lucy sighed, annoyed at her friends complacency.
Will avoided the question, "You do realize that Blogg loathes you right? You joined the army later than he did and got promoted much faster."
"Blogg hates everybody who has more brains than he does. That is why he hates the Covenant anyway… Don't change the subject…" Lucy first began until something clicked in her mind.
She just realized what Corporal Johnston had done. "Since when were you nice enough to be doing community service for the Covenant?" Lucy's normally smooth tone was marred. She had put in almost every amount of hatred and fury in the single word 'Covenant'. Sometimes, her sudden mood swings were disconcerting.
"Um…" Will was smart enough to tread carefully. Corporal Blue's history was quite well known to him. She lost her entire family from a glassing. He was still a bit shocked that she had defended him against the Private and made no mention of the Elite. Well, she certainly was mentioning it now. "I dunno, it just seems pointless killing it. Like punishing a private for a General's war crimes…it's just a kid." He was babbling now. Great.
Blue sighed softly and brushed her hands over her cropped brown hair. "Somehow, if we even survive off this forsaken planet, I doubt it would last that long." She looked pointedly at the other marines they had just passed. All their hands were on their weapons. Each one was already tense despite the fact that the Elite was clearly nothing more than a child. A six foot child. A six foot child with claws that could gut you open like a fish; not to mention the teeth. "I just hope the Covenant is paying you well for this babysitting service you're hosting…"
As Will laid the Elite child in the brig, Blue examined the wounds. "It's nothing too serious… We shouldn't bring her to the medics anyway. That is the last thing we need to do. More people knowing about the thing just leads to trouble… The biofoam should hold up."
William nodded. "Considering I just brought back the kid of an enemy that only takes the occasional prisoner to kill for sport, I'd say this news would spread real fast anyways."
Lucy continued on her thoughts. "So, what are we going to feed it?"
"Actually, I hadn't thought that far yet… I suppose Blogg should fit the Elite's diet of garbage."
Corporal Blue sighed. Sometimes, Will always made the oddest of statements that always seemed in contrast to his personality. "There are new supplies coming in. Would the MREs fit the definition of garbage?"
It was common knowledge what MREs really taste like; nothing like the chicken with gravy so appetizingly stencilled onto the packet.
MREs: Meals Rejected by Everybody
Somewhere far back in time and space
The location is dry and hot. The ground was made from stone. Stone that was cracked in many different places as the ground expanded from the heat. Despite the inhospitableness of the place, the greenery is quite thick. Plants grew out of the cracks on the ground. Each waxy oily leaf was a reddish colour and gave off a spicy scent. There are two figures upon the cracked stone field. One is a young Sangheili and the other, an older one and both of them are gathering leaves.
"Will I see Father again?" A childish voice spoke. Echoes of it bounced around the emptiness of the plain and the innocence of it seemed quite out of place coming from reptilian mandibles.
"Your Father is incredibly busy," the older Sangheili sighed softly. She clicked her mandibles in slight irritation from the frequency of her child's curious questions.
"He'll come," the young voice sounded confidant. "He promised this time that he would. And as usual, he'll come back with stories to tell! Like the last time he was on battle! He said he'll teach me. I want to go out and fight for the Prophets and gain honour for our family name." The Sangheili child's voice prattled on with dreams of glory etched in her head.
Dark clouds are smouldering into red
While down the craters morning burns.
The dying soldier shifts his head
To watch the glory that returns;
He lifts his fingers toward the skies
Where holy brightness breaks in flame;
Radiance reflected in his eyes,
And on his lips a whispered name.
Will was leaning against one of the many crates in the brig. There were always crates in the army, he mused. He began to wonder if they contained anything useful. Everywhere you go, there were crates and more crates. Each one had no labels. He suspected the crates were there for people to move around in order to look busy. Deep in thought, a high pitched keening from a cell had him jumping for his gun.
"Huurrrghh…"
Where am I? There was plasma flying everywhere… then darkness.
Just smoke and…
I think I fell asleep…
Father will be so disappointed in me.
A/N Thank you again for reading! Please, please, please review! It makes me so happy and motivated to continue writing!
DISCLAIMER: MOST OF THE POETRY WRITTEN THROUGHOUT MY STORY DOES NOT BELONG TO ME. THEY ARE ALL POEMS WRITTEN BY SOLDIERS DURING THE COURSE OF WARS.