Song of Blu

by J A Ebonlight

  “I bet. Everyone wants the same treatment but not the same work.” I said. Everyone nodded their head in agreement.

  “It’s a good school too. I’m going too after service.” Darryl said, glancing at Jen. She flushed a bit, and I pretended not to notice. I never thought about my life after the military. I just wanted to be Vindicator and serve there until I couldn’t fight anymore. Fighting is all I’ve ever been good at. I couldn’t think of anything else I could excel at in life. Maria had calmed down, and so I decided to talk to her.

  “What about you, Maria?” I asked.

  “I want out of the military,” Maria said, swiftly. Everyone looked at her with shock.

  “There’s no way out once you joined,” Darryl said.

  “Not unless she goes through a lot of barriers. Even then, it just isn’t worth it. She can take a dishonorable discharge, but good luck getting anything with that on your record.” Jen said.

  “How does dishonorable discharge work?” I asked.

  “Well, unlike in history, you file your desire to leave the army, but you’ll get written up for dishonorable discharge. That stays on your records for a hundred years. Every institution, creditor, and pretty much anybody can search you up on the dishonorable discharge list. Your interest rates for everything will skyrocket. Many groups won’t trust you because you walked away from one of the biggest commitments that a person could make. You’ll get denied loans, government programs, and even jobs. And culturally, many will judge you harshly on it, even people with centuries on their life.” Darryl explained. Maria grew quiet.

  “Is there a way out?”

  “Yeah, by going back to the military and serving your time. However, suppose you’re given a second chance and attempt to walk out again. In that case, you’ll be jailed for the remainder of the time you owe to the military and still keep the dishonorable discharge tag.” Jen said.

  Maria leaned back in her chair, and her shoulders slouched. I could tell the loss of so many people has broken her. She needed to heal. I couldn’t help but think of the many people in my past who needed time to heal. Time was a luxury that only the powerful were allowed. Without that luxury, those people broke and became warloons. It seemed the military wasn’t that much better in that regard.

  “She just needs time,” I said.

  “Time waits for no man or woman.” A voice from the distant tremble. The heavy footwork gave away the voice owner. It was Silver Leader. Part of me wanted him to mind his own business, but another part of me desire his wisdom. Then fear overcame me, as I wondered if the Silver Leader had heard Maria’s desire. Although it wouldn’t have made a difference, I kept my hand on my cleaver.

  “Easy to say, harder to follow,” Darryl said. Silver Leader came into the light, his silver armor glistening and imposing. Sweat formed across Maria’s face, and my heart started racing.

  “Very true, little marine.” The Argent Lord said. “Many of life’s truths are hard to accept and follow. Time will not wait for you. There are those with greater hellsongs than yours and still push forward.” Then Sliver Leader made his exit.

  “That’s harsh,” Darryl said.

  “But true,” I said without thinking. Suddenly, my own life flashed before my eyes. My hellsong―song of pain―broke me without warning. I made myself scarce and departed from my comrades. Even after all this time, the wounds from my past still burned. Anguish washed over me, and I suddenly felt the desire to be near someone like Alicia, but I didn’t have that. The only comfort I could find was sleep and the battle that was sure to erupt tomorrow. The fight that might be my last.

  The next day we jogged through the dark subway to the nearest exit. Like the Argent Lord's advice, we scaled the tallest building nearby to the top. We scaled across each building, using our rocket boots to break the falls for buildings of uneven heights. Soon we found ourselves overtop of the residential district. The district consisted of over a hundred homes built for the rich. In the middle was a huge spiral that had glowing lines that resemble veins. That had to be Meta’s jamming tower.

  We heard the Argent Lords play my recording at the broadcast. We had to convince and practice all morning, waiting for the freedom leader to speak on the intercom.

  [“I can’t do this anymore. Justin, this is a personal shout out to you. Meet me at my location. I know you’re tracking this. Bring everything you got. I’m sure it’s not much after beating your asses all over this city. What you chumps got? Like a few hundred losers left? We can take them. Let’s finish this, you and me!”]

  It took about half an hour, but the rebels scurried out the district in swelling numbers. Over a hundred of them headed toward a location where only three argent lords stood. For a moment, I wanted to return to the Argent Lord's side to help them. Then I heard the Freedom Leader speaking. Apparently, a bloodthirsty battlegroup nearby attacked the Argent Lords.

  [“Attention all charging forces: The enemy at your targeted coordinates is not just that pesky marine group, but enemies far more valuable. They are Argent Lords, and they are every bit as dangerous as legend said. Red Boots Jimmy and his battlegroup have already been vanquished by them. A hundred good men put to death by those damn lapdogs. Give them hell and prove to all the worlds that even the Argent Lords can’t stop us! Freedom for mankind!”

  After that, more than a thousand rebels poured from the base, like ants from an anthill. War machines of various kinds traveled toward the location. It worked. After an hour, the stronghold only housed a skeleton crew for defense.

  “Holy shit,” Jerry said. “Three Argent Lords took out a hundred rebels. I wondered if they can take out all the rebels coming for them.”

  “Not our problem,” I admitted. “Whether they die or live, we need to accomplish our mission, or all their efforts are wasted.”

  Everyone on top of the rooftop nodded to me. It felt good to have people who had my back. I wanted them all to live, but I knew that wouldn’t happen. I will survive; I always survive, while everyone dies around me. My eyes drifted to Alicia, then Jerry, Darryl, Jen, and finally, Maria. Then my chest tightened when I realized I couldn’t look at Rolland and Gary. Many died fighting beside me, but few ever motivated and care for me like Rolland and Gary. I finally had friends, and they died. I pushed the thoughts away before they threaten to unmake me.

  We waited until we heard battle from afar before preparing to move out. Argent Lords had planted trip wires near their location. The explosion would be our signal to attack. A river of explosion happened at our campsite. Contact has been made.

  “Laser point the targets. Once the drop happens, the rebels will pull back up the jammers, and we won’t be able to use it again.”

  “We need to be strategic where we land our strikes. Since we don't know which building that package is in, we shouldn’t use any bombardment options.” Darryl said. I overlooked the district.

  “We have our supply drop there at the nearest building. EMP drops quickly. We’ll have the Mech drops right in front of the supply drop to take the brunt of the enemy attack while we replenish our supplies. I’ll take the chance the main house is near the jammer. Snipers!”

  All my snipers gathered around me. They were the largest group since most of them were not on the front line—they made up half my fighting force. I turned my head to Alicia, who shook her head. I wanted her to stay here and lead the sniper team, but she wanted to be next to me. I hated that but wouldn’t make a scene.

  “Darryl and Jen, you’ll lead the sniper team. I trust you to paint the targets. Wait until we are halfway to the ground.”

  “Yes, sir!” Darryl and Jen said.

  “The rest of us will go to the ground to fight.”

  “What? I did the count, and there are over 400 rebels still down there.” A marine said.

  “Good. I’ll get a high kill rate.” Jerry said. With the statement, all the marines went mute.

  “Jerry and I will take out most of them. You all just cover us. This is ju
st Tuesday for us.” I said.

  “Damn straight.”

  I wasn’t serious, but they needed to hear my false confidence. One thing I learned early on, that faith was half the battle. If you weren’t confident, skills could never make up the difference. Everyone gritted their teeth and followed.

  We jumped from the top of the building. Halfway down, I heard and saw the targeted houses being blown up. Right before we touched the ground, we triggered our rocket boots on max burst. Once landed, the EMP burst dropped and short circuit everything in the district. The Argent Lords cased this area well. The EMP hit only the neighborhood and nothing around it. Somehow the Meta jammer was unaffected. Next came the Mechs, and our supply soon behind it in various drop pods.

  “Let’s go. We kill everything that moves. Keep moving until you find Justin.” I said.

  “Oorah!”

  We all charged for the house near our supply drop. The Mechs were already out and fighting. The Mechs had a block for a body and walked on two stumpy legs. It had four arms―two arms with semiautomatic guns and the bottom two used for melee for any close-range units. From the top of its body, missile batteries fired on the oncoming rebels. They might clean up the rebels for us.

  We pushed inside the district, where smokes, flames, and debris replaced the luxurious buildings. Gunfire from the mechs and the wails of wounded rebels carried across the wind. The army they sent away will no doubt heard the destruction and might turn back. We could not waste time.

  “Will they shoot us?” Jerry said as he entered the building along with the rest of us. The supply drop pods shot through the house and landed in various areas.

  “The mechs use friend or foe tags to distinguish enemy and ally, so don't take off your helmet,” Alicia explained. That was good to know.

  For once in a long time, we were adequately armed and ready for combat. Bloodlust filled me, and I desired to see my enemies suffer. Thoughts of Rolland’s and Gary’s deaths inflamed my rage. I pushed forward outside the house to see a rebel running through bullets to throw some type of bomb on a mech. It blew and disable a nearby mech. The two remaining mechs reacted accordingly and retreated behind houses.

  “Cover the flanks of the Mechs and push forward. This is it, marines, tear their throats out for all our fallen comrades!” I yelled. My marines roared with furious battlecries.

  I charged through the houses to avoid gunfire. The rebels were disorganized and unprepared. Heavy arms fired into homes that showed signs of life. Snipers from their safety zone killed all their long-range fighters. Shieldbearers kept the mechs safe while they build up a body count.

  I couldn’t believe that I thought this would be difficult. The rebels were not well trained, did not have the state of the art equipment, lacked the augmentation and implants that made each marine more capable than five men. Rebels stood no chance. At least that’s what I had thought.

  Suddenly one of our mechs stopped moving. I realized there was a hole through it. After another moment, the second mech had a hold through its body. I peeked around the corner of the house and spotted a tank. A fucking tank…

  Entry 19

  Phoenician Date: October 30, 1026AR

  Military Time: 20:51

  Phoenician Classified World: Alexandria Prime

  Warmachine class taught me that tanks were the alpha predator of land machines. A railgun barrel for its main armament, four laser automatics to cover its flanks. And if you really wanted to get close and personal, it’ll burn you with flamethrowers and impale you with the spikes around its body. It was an iron maiden that suffered no insult.

  The tank pinned us down with its 360-degree laser automatic. The rebels regrouped and started to flank us while the tank destroyed any cover we could find. My snipers were trying their best to support us, but what could they do against a tank but annoy it? Then the tank did something I didn’t even predict. It rose its mouth and fired at our sniper's nest, which was the only thing keeping us from being completely flanked. It was a direct hit.

  It was happening again... Everyone died around me, and I was the lone survivor. My mind raced back to memories of when I was a child. So many of us sat in that basement room, stolen or bought from our parents. None of them made it to adulthood, none but me. Only turning my heart off allowed me to survive that hell.

  I didn’t have to do that here…turn my heart off to survive. Yet, the threat of losing my company still loomed over my head. I loved them. I never thought I could love, but I did. I only realized it there. I loved them all, and they were dying around me. Even if I could save one, I will save them. I don't care what I have to do. I won’t lose another.

  My body moved with newfound strength and speed. I rushed to the side, where the rebels sneaked around the corner. My cleaver whirled to meet him, lopping off his head. His body became my shield against the rebel's fire until he became too heavy to tow. Every object in the yard became a shield to block the fire as I edged closer to each rebel. I tore through twelve rebels like a wild beast. Twenty bullets impaled my armor and more than enough cuts on my body.

  Pain seemed like a distant echo as I continued to fight. The rebels couldn’t keep up with my ferocity. What was their conviction to my pain? Their faith in men, compared to my reality of them? How could a bunch of blind followers compete with a broken boy nurtured by hell? I couldn’t count how many times I killed. Only that I left a trail of bodies, and my marines could regroup. Exhaustion battle with adrenaline over control of my body. I couldn’t overthink about what hurts, only the goal. Once more, I filled my marines with shock, awe, and fear. Yet they regained themselves and followed behind me.

  I made it to the corner near the tank. As soon as I peeked around the corner, a bullet almost took my face off. It hit my cover, and it wouldn’t be long before the tank moved its main firing piece to my location. Alicia reached next to me.

  “What about smoke grenades?” Alicia said.

  “Go for it.”

  She threw two smoke grenades over the house, and I heard them land on the tank. Once the smoke was visible from our location, I signaled my marines to move. The first one to move ate dozens of laser beams from the tank.

  “Shit. They probably have heat vision.” Alicia said as she watched the man take his last breaths in front of us. My body whole tightened, and then I thought of something.

  “Everyone, throw your grenades,” I said.

  “Grenades won’t hurt that tank. It―oh,” Alicia said, reading my mind. In seconds we all tossed our grenades. A gust of fire encased the tank, blinding its heat vision, and then I made my move. I used my rocket boots to propel me faster. My body thrashed into the tank, and I climbed on top of it. With my cleaver, I bashed the turrets. The strength of these blades always impressed me.

  Before I could reach the other side of the turrets, the main mouthpiece whirled at an incredible speed and knocked me off the tank. I scrambled to find my footing and regular breathing. I found my body being dragged before I could even come to my senses. Jerry had saved me from certain death, and I couldn’t be more thankful.

  “Don't go all hero and get yourself killed,” Jerry said. “Trust us.” At those words, I realized I had been taking it all on myself. Growing up, all I could do was depend on myself. My allies were either too weak or likely to stab me in the back. Our cover was blown away from our head, and I noticed rebels building a new perimeter further south of the neighborhood. We still had to fight our way to the center. For now, we hastened a retreat to nearby houses. Forced to scatter like roaches, my marine’s morale dipped.

  I jumped through a window with Jerry in tow. We both looked out the window to the tank. One of my brave marines, a heavyarm specialist, attempted to fire an RPG at the iron beast. Flames encased the war machine, yet it still stood. Its smaller turrets turned to fire at my marine. My heart clenched as I prepared to watch another one of my marines face death.

  Pow! That was the sound that turned the tide. I noticed the smaller tank gun had
a hole through it. It no longer functioned. Pow! Another shot through the last minigun on the tank. I quickly put the pieces together.

  “Darryl and Jen’s squad must not have all died yet. They just disabled the anti-infantry guns. Nows our chance.”

  “Hell yeah!” Jerry said.

  We both ran with all our energy toward the tank. Before its main firing piece could lock on, we lunged ourselves on top of the tank. It attempted the same move before to knock me off. I jumped to the head and held on to the latch. I pried it open with my partner in crime, Jerry. Once opened, we were greeted with gunfire. With only seconds to think, I dropped a flash-bang grenade inside. Jerry wasted no time falling inside. By the time I followed, he had already slit all the rebel's throat with a knife.

  “Can you drive this?” I asked. Jerry looked at me as if I spoke a different language.

  “You want to use this?” he asked. I motioned him to follow me outside the tank and pointed to the jamming tower.

  “Life would be a lot easier if we could talk to everyone, don't you think?” I said. Jerry stared at the Meta jamming tower, then back to the tank. He did this a few times before it finally clicked.

  “Ohh!” He turned to the other marines. “Somebody help me with the bodies in here and then drive this tank. We going to go live.”

  “The rest of us will mop up and push to their main base,” I said.

  “There’s still easily a few hundred of them over there. They outnumber us three to one.” Maria said. “Plus, we have a few wounded. Some dead.”

  “You want Gary’s and Rolland’s killer to get away?” I asked her. Her face hardened.

  “No.”