"Aw man," Lincoln groaned, "Rusty is going to kill me for not getting on!"
Dejected, he sat back and decided to watch the news. He didn't particularly care for it, but with his only means of entertainment for the night on the fritz, Lincoln saw the news as the only thing to keep him from becoming bored. Slowly, he became invested in the news, being able to point out names of cities thanks to his memory. Guess playing the campaign was worth it after all.
Lincoln's investment in the TV's words only wavered when Lori walked into the room, looking at it from behind the couch. She leaned over him, seeming to partially ignore him, almost as if the TV was on by itself.
"Ouch...looks like the situation is boiling in there." Lori remarked, checking the television.
"Yeah," Lincoln replied, "hopefully our troops can help keep the peace!"
Lori kept a straight face, and calmy explained like it was not a big deal, "Oh, dear Lincoln. Our government isn't going to do anything about it. We're just going to send them in to support the Manchurians, then when we find a new government comes along that is even friendlier to us, we leave them to die. Happened when I was your age, when we made a big deal out of supporting the Free Russian State against the United Socialist Armies, but then when the Siberian Free Economic zone came along, we left the F.R.S. to be destroyed and supported the Siberians. It's what happens".
Lincoln didn't know what to say, how casually Lori just explained how his government was leaving allies behind to be conquered when it suited them, and how it had happened at least once before. That night, Lincoln spent most of his time in his room, watching history videos. He had a rough outline of what had happened before, how the US revolted against Britain, and how two hundred years after the fact we were at war with Japan, but he never learn the details. Now, he was listening to these wild stories, of a war being fought across the pacific, just like in his game, of Nazi tyranny somehow defying every odd and bringing Europe to it's knees. Lincoln had went from being completely unknowledgeable on history, to nurturing a budding interest, specifically in the Second Great War and Cold War eras.
The next day, Lincoln was in class. A drag, as middle school often was. But in history class, he was paying attention more closely than he usually did. The current unit was on the Russian wars of Reunification, and how despite being reunified several times, each time the Russians suffered under their new nation and it promptly collapsed into new warlords fighting for control of Russia. Something about the history of Russia now interested Lincoln, how a great nation that was feared across Europe could be reduced to such a pitiful state. Something about it didn't sit right with Lincoln. How there were too much uncertainties about what warlords were involved in what wars, who led them, where they were, and even their existence to put together a meaningful summary of the period in Russia.
When Lincoln made it home, he went to his room, and watched history videos on Russia. He learnt of the genocidal All-Russian Reconstruction Council, the Nazi-sympathizing National Social Republic of Russland, and the...insanity...?... of Holy Russian Purification Legion, and how they all collapsed, plunging Russia even further into war and death. He was only interrupted by a Discord call from his friends. They were all playing Legionarium: Therian Armies 2. Lincoln joined the call, and played with his friends. Though the itch of history still pervaded him, so much he had to ask them.
Lincoln: "Hey, guys...you ever wonder about the past? Like history and stuff?"
Stella: "Sometimes, but why do you ask?"
Rusty: "Yeah, why do you ask?"
Lincoln: "Well, I've been watching some history videos lately, and it's really interesting! Like, did you know that the battle of the Albanian coast was won when US-donated submarines sunk troop transports preventing a naval invasion of Albania?"
Liam: "T-tha-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-atsmightyfine-fine-fine-"
Zach: "Liam is having internet issues, being on a farm and all."
Clyde: "Well, Lincoln, I love history! I always admired the architectural achievements of the past! Never the politics, though. They're simply unusual."
For the next few hours, they talked about history. But as Lincoln logged off the game and shut down his laptop, he could only wonder about the past, it's mysteries and it's effects. But even as he drifted off to sleep, he couldn't get the wandering dreams out of his head. What was compelling him to learn? What forces were controlling his destiny to lead him here? Would he become a part of history itself, or be left to the wayside, like billions before him? His questions lingered on far past him falling asleep.