Post by Damon on Feb 29, 2016 3:01:09 GMT
(02/28/16 : 19:11:51)
||One Mind, Any Weapon||
.D A M O N -A P E X- T H O R N T O N.
.Mercenary || Normandy Squad.
|-|In Syria, Somewhere in the Dark|-|
-Lost among the world in the baron lands of Syria at an undisclosed sentry point for the Militia Camp.-
-The night rolled in. Like a cold ocean wave crashing against the rocks of a desolate island. The cloudless sky offered a mass of sparkling presence and a low moon settled against a black canvass... I laid on my side, staring up at the midnight stars... I watched them shimmer and gleam as though they were living things. It appeared so full up there, so dense with a universe of wonder. And yet every star I saw, was already dead. It wasn't a world of life, it was an abysmal graveyard.. those flickers of light were nothing but the ghosts of what had been...'Is my soul among them?' … I wondered, as my mind wandered...-
“Is there anybody out there? Looking back at Me?”
-I very much doubted it. Nobody was looking at or For Me. I was completely alone in this world, and it was a very cruel and ugly world. I hated it... I turned my blank stare away from the sky and looked through the darkness... It seemed to never End... From my place, in the patches of dry grass aside a ride of dirt, I could see for miles across the relatively flat land... Or at least I could if it wasn't so black out there. There was no electricity here, no power, no street lamps, or glows of city skylines. Just a baron emptiness. I tried to imagine a highway running along the dark horizon and it amused me for all of two minutes before my mind cut to the bite of the cold wind... Some days, it was boiling hot out here, so hot that the skin dried up and peeled if you did not moisturise properly. But when the sun set, a cold breath of death cast across the country and it was a bitterness that nipped at the cheeks and stung the ears... I tugged on the collar of my desert camo jacket and absently wondered how the feast was going. I had set up my sentry point a couple of miles South from the camp, but every once in a while, I could hear the odd cheer of merriment. They were only two real approaches to the camp. One was to the East, where Rea was doing the same as Me and laying guard... The other approach was right here in the South, so I remained here, nestled in the grass, guarding the feast.. When I glanced back over my shoulder, I could not see the many camp fires that scattered through the camp, it was just like the rest of the empty darkness. That was good, it meant that we had hid the camp well and chosen a good spot buried in the gorge.-
“The Sooner I get out of here, the better.”
-I still felt annoyed at myself for snapping at Macintosh. I had let my anger get the better of me and had not meant to say such foul things... A moment of weakness and I just... missed home... I had decided tonight, that I couldn't let war break me... and once I get out of Syria, when we fly home on Friday, I will never do this line of work again. It wasn't worth it. Working at the grocery store had paid less, what I earned here in three months would take me two years in that store. But fighting for my life every single day, just was not worth it and... I suddenly snapped out of my thoughts with a frown. Up ahead to my front left, I thought I had spotted something.. my gaze narrowed and I remained very still, laying in the dirt and watching... There it is again... Deep in that Darkness, something was out there...-
(02/28/16 : 19:21:55)
||One Mind, Any Weapon||
.D A M O N -A P E X- T H O R N T O N.
.Mercenary || Normandy Squad.
: |-|In Syria, Somewhere in the Dark|-|
-Lost among the world in the baron lands of Syria at an undisclosed sentry point for the Militia Camp.-
-A flash, or flicker of light. It was small and lasted a second or less, but it was definitely the glow of something... I rolled over onto my stomach and pulled my rifle closer so that I could make use of the mounted scope. I squinted through the cross hairs and aimed in the direction of the flash.-
-Enemies.-
Two of Them.-
-I could make out the faint shape of them walking side by side. The flash had come from a pack of matches as they had both lit up cigarettes. I could see that they were armed with rifles of their own, and dressed in rags. They were not troops, or civilian locals. They were Terrorists. Since our arrival here, Normandy Squad had been helping the Syrian troops fight off the terrorist rebels. But they were like ants, and were just... everywhere. My finger touched against the trigger and for a moment, I considered opening fire. I knew that I would be able to kill one of them for sure, but the second could quickly take cover and vanish into the darkness simply by throwing his cigarette away -which was the only reason I was able to continue tracking them. It was a risk. And if they were merely point scouts, the gunfire would alert whatever force was supporting them.-
“Just let them pass.”
-I told myself, forcing my finger -off- the trigger. They were not coming in this direction, they wouldn't discover me or the camp behind me. They would likely pass by the area, completely oblivious to its presence.. I kept them in my sights as they strolled wide of the mark, but eventually lost sight of them. A close call, but nothing new. There was a time for violence, and a time to play it smart. No need to start a confrontation if I didn't have to..-
“Shite!”
-I barked as I leapt to my feet. I had completely forgotten about Rea. I had fucked up and they were heading right in his direction. Rea was out there alone, just like me... but -unlike- Me, Rea may not spot them coming and could end up with them stepping right onto him. Rea would not be watching his flank because he would assume that I was protecting it for him... and I had failed... I pulled my bag closer and took out my radio. I turned it on and adjusted it to Rea's frequency before calling him.-
“Highlander, This is Apex. Come in?” … I waited a moment, and when no response came, I tried again... “Highlander! This is Apex! Are you there?” … Still nothing, and I was starting to panic. I held the radio closer to my mouth as if that would help... “Rea? Are you bloody there or what? Answer your fucking radio!” … -Nothing but static- …
(02/28/16 : 19:45:12)
||One Mind, Any Weapon||
.D A M O N -A P E X- T H O R N T O N.
.Mercenary || Normandy Squad.
|-|In Syria, Somewhere between Resafa and Al Kasrah|-|
-A land of fertile plains, high mountains, and deserts. Syria is a country in Western Asia, and Syrian territory borders Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the North, Iraq to the East, Jordan to the South, and Israel to the Southwest.-
-I tossed the radio into my bag and paced up and down. Frustrated. I was not supposed to leave this post. Under any circumstance. Doing so would leave the camp's flank completely Vulnerable and open to attack. Even if I Rea was compromised, I was not supposed to move from here because the camp is more important. More people are at risk. But... Rea is my best friend... Friend or Duty? … It weighed heavy on my mind, but even as I tried to consider it, I was already picking up my bergen and shrugging it on. I snatched up my assault rifle and set off at a run, heading towards Rea's last known location...-
“Rea, if you're sleeping... I'm going to kick your arse.”
-If Only.-
-Rea was not sleeping and I really wish that had been the case... As I reached the Eastern perimeter and moved along the dried up river bed, I spotted the large Scotsman and the sight of him made me sick to my stomach.. Rea was on his knees, his arms up and his hands behind his head. The two rebels had found him... I dropped to my stomach and started to crawl closer. I paid attention to every movement. For one thing, I didn't want to crawl onto a snake, scorpion, or other predator. But mostly, I did not want to make a sound and give my presence away. Both rebels had their back to me. They stood in front of Rea with their rifles pointed at his head, and chest. They were talking, but it was too quiet for Me to make out what they were saying. Rea on the other hand, I heard clearly... “Piss Off, You wee bastards” … As he said that, one of the rebels slammed the butt of their rifle into Rea's face. He fell to the ground and the other snatched him by his hair, pulling him roughly back up onto his knees. It wasn't easy to watch the abuse as they hit Rea again and again... but I just didn't know what to do... I spotted Rea's lantern glowing in the grass and I groaned... a rookie mistake and Rea usually knew better than that. The light of his lantern would have been what gave his position away and now he was going to Die... Because of my failures.-
-After they had finished giving their beating, one of the rebels slung his rifle to his back and drew a long curved knife from his belt. He moved around behind Rea, grasping his hair and pulling his head back. I watched in horror as they pressed that razor sharp blade against my best friend's throat. I had to do something. Anything. But what? … I continued to crawl closer. Slowly. Quietly. I knew that I could shoot, but I didn't have a clear shot at the one behind Rea and I feared that if I shot the first one, the knife wielding rebel would slit Rea's throat before I could save him... so with no choice, I put my rifle aside, leaving it in the grass as I carefully removed my bergen and unclipped the military axe that Christian had given Me. It had been used throughout the three month hike, but only to dig trenches and chop wood.... 'Do It.' … I breathed, trying to will myself to move... 'Don't be a pussy. He will die.” … I watched as the Rebels laughed, blood poured down Rea's face.... 'Fuck. It.' … I grit my teeth and rose up to my feet. I held that hatchet in both hands and started to approach the situation. The rebel with the rifle, still had his back to Me and was now barking something at Rea in a foreign accent. None of us had bothered to learn it. We had no reason to, General Abdul had spoke English perfectly and had always supplied us with a translator when we needed one. It was now or never. I knew that time was up. Rea was not going to tell them what they wanted. They wouldn't be able to break him and so they would kill him...-
-At twenty feet, I started to run. It was no longer quiet. But I ran like my own life depended on it. The rebels heard me coming and the one with the rifle started to turn around and face me. But it was too late... I cut the distance down in a flash and swung that axe with both hands. A power house swing that saw the deathly sharp cutting edge, hack upwards towards the rebel, tucking beneath his chin and beheading him in one fell swoop... Well... Almost... The axe cut three quarters of the way through... but I pulled back out for another desperate swing... just as he fell to his knees, I swung again, and the head came away...-
(02/28/16 : 19:54:13)
||One Mind, Any Weapon||
.D A M O N -A P E X- T H O R N T O N.
.Mercenary || Normandy Squad.
: |-|In Syria, Somewhere between Resafa and Al Kasrah|-|
-A land of fertile plains, high mountains, and deserts. Syria is a country in Western Asia, and Syrian territory borders Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the North, Iraq to the East, Jordan to the South, and Israel to the Southwest.-
-The head hit the ground with a dull bounce and rolled away into the darkness. The second rebel fumbled for his firearm but Rea was quick to react, he grabbed the knife wielding wrist with both hands and pulled the rebel to the ground with superior strength, the brute of a Scotsman was soon on top of the rebel and in possession of the knife. He sank it down into the man's chest. Stabbing him, over and over. The final blow saw that knife piercing through the rebel's neck and impaled him. Dead... 'Just like the Deathstalker' … It was a strange thing that came to mind, but it was the only thing I could think of, as I watched. When Rea was satisfied that the rebel was dead, I looked to my own kill. The headless body... 'Oh God... What have I done?' … I looked to the hatchet that I still held in both of my shaking hands. Blood, and flesh clung to the cutting edge. It had gone through so easily. I hadn't expected it to do that. I was in shock. I had killed so many rebels during this contract in Syria. It was not my first kill and was actually closer to my fiftieth kill. But it was the first life that I had not taken with a bullet. Killing from a distance was one thing. It was easier to shut off when you didn't have to -see- it. But up close and personal.. with my bare hands.. I could not process it... I could still feel the vibration of the blow in my palms and how it had felt in the muscles of my arms. How it had cut through the neck as though I was swinging the axe into a tub of water.... “Damon” … Rea's voice cut through the shock and I looked to him with wild eyed horror painted on my dirty features... “Are you okay?” ...-
“I.. He... You...”
-I didn't know what to say. Where to begin, and I couldn't seem to form my words correctly, my tongue kept sticking to the top of my mouth... “It's okay, Laddie.” … Rea soothed, in a low whisper. He moved slowly towards Me, careful, deliberately calm steps... “It's over now. Put down the axe.” … I tried... I really did... but my fingers just wouldn't listen, they refused to loosen their grip and I held onto that metal haft so tight that I was surprised my fingers didn't break... “Easy, lad” … Rea whispered as he drew close. He reached out and gained his own grip on the axe's haft. His other hand rose to gently rest on my back... “Easy” … His words were near hypnotic and I nodded mutely, finally letting go of the blood soaked weapon. Once Rea had claimed it, he threw it aside and pulled me into a firm hug. Without even realising it was coming, I burst into tears and wept in my best friend's arms.-
||One Mind, Any Weapon||
.D A M O N -A P E X- T H O R N T O N.
.Mercenary || Normandy Squad.
|-|In Syria, Somewhere in the Dark|-|
-Lost among the world in the baron lands of Syria at an undisclosed sentry point for the Militia Camp.-
-The night rolled in. Like a cold ocean wave crashing against the rocks of a desolate island. The cloudless sky offered a mass of sparkling presence and a low moon settled against a black canvass... I laid on my side, staring up at the midnight stars... I watched them shimmer and gleam as though they were living things. It appeared so full up there, so dense with a universe of wonder. And yet every star I saw, was already dead. It wasn't a world of life, it was an abysmal graveyard.. those flickers of light were nothing but the ghosts of what had been...'Is my soul among them?' … I wondered, as my mind wandered...-
“Is there anybody out there? Looking back at Me?”
-I very much doubted it. Nobody was looking at or For Me. I was completely alone in this world, and it was a very cruel and ugly world. I hated it... I turned my blank stare away from the sky and looked through the darkness... It seemed to never End... From my place, in the patches of dry grass aside a ride of dirt, I could see for miles across the relatively flat land... Or at least I could if it wasn't so black out there. There was no electricity here, no power, no street lamps, or glows of city skylines. Just a baron emptiness. I tried to imagine a highway running along the dark horizon and it amused me for all of two minutes before my mind cut to the bite of the cold wind... Some days, it was boiling hot out here, so hot that the skin dried up and peeled if you did not moisturise properly. But when the sun set, a cold breath of death cast across the country and it was a bitterness that nipped at the cheeks and stung the ears... I tugged on the collar of my desert camo jacket and absently wondered how the feast was going. I had set up my sentry point a couple of miles South from the camp, but every once in a while, I could hear the odd cheer of merriment. They were only two real approaches to the camp. One was to the East, where Rea was doing the same as Me and laying guard... The other approach was right here in the South, so I remained here, nestled in the grass, guarding the feast.. When I glanced back over my shoulder, I could not see the many camp fires that scattered through the camp, it was just like the rest of the empty darkness. That was good, it meant that we had hid the camp well and chosen a good spot buried in the gorge.-
“The Sooner I get out of here, the better.”
-I still felt annoyed at myself for snapping at Macintosh. I had let my anger get the better of me and had not meant to say such foul things... A moment of weakness and I just... missed home... I had decided tonight, that I couldn't let war break me... and once I get out of Syria, when we fly home on Friday, I will never do this line of work again. It wasn't worth it. Working at the grocery store had paid less, what I earned here in three months would take me two years in that store. But fighting for my life every single day, just was not worth it and... I suddenly snapped out of my thoughts with a frown. Up ahead to my front left, I thought I had spotted something.. my gaze narrowed and I remained very still, laying in the dirt and watching... There it is again... Deep in that Darkness, something was out there...-
(02/28/16 : 19:21:55)
||One Mind, Any Weapon||
.D A M O N -A P E X- T H O R N T O N.
.Mercenary || Normandy Squad.
: |-|In Syria, Somewhere in the Dark|-|
-Lost among the world in the baron lands of Syria at an undisclosed sentry point for the Militia Camp.-
-A flash, or flicker of light. It was small and lasted a second or less, but it was definitely the glow of something... I rolled over onto my stomach and pulled my rifle closer so that I could make use of the mounted scope. I squinted through the cross hairs and aimed in the direction of the flash.-
-Enemies.-
Two of Them.-
-I could make out the faint shape of them walking side by side. The flash had come from a pack of matches as they had both lit up cigarettes. I could see that they were armed with rifles of their own, and dressed in rags. They were not troops, or civilian locals. They were Terrorists. Since our arrival here, Normandy Squad had been helping the Syrian troops fight off the terrorist rebels. But they were like ants, and were just... everywhere. My finger touched against the trigger and for a moment, I considered opening fire. I knew that I would be able to kill one of them for sure, but the second could quickly take cover and vanish into the darkness simply by throwing his cigarette away -which was the only reason I was able to continue tracking them. It was a risk. And if they were merely point scouts, the gunfire would alert whatever force was supporting them.-
“Just let them pass.”
-I told myself, forcing my finger -off- the trigger. They were not coming in this direction, they wouldn't discover me or the camp behind me. They would likely pass by the area, completely oblivious to its presence.. I kept them in my sights as they strolled wide of the mark, but eventually lost sight of them. A close call, but nothing new. There was a time for violence, and a time to play it smart. No need to start a confrontation if I didn't have to..-
“Shite!”
-I barked as I leapt to my feet. I had completely forgotten about Rea. I had fucked up and they were heading right in his direction. Rea was out there alone, just like me... but -unlike- Me, Rea may not spot them coming and could end up with them stepping right onto him. Rea would not be watching his flank because he would assume that I was protecting it for him... and I had failed... I pulled my bag closer and took out my radio. I turned it on and adjusted it to Rea's frequency before calling him.-
“Highlander, This is Apex. Come in?” … I waited a moment, and when no response came, I tried again... “Highlander! This is Apex! Are you there?” … Still nothing, and I was starting to panic. I held the radio closer to my mouth as if that would help... “Rea? Are you bloody there or what? Answer your fucking radio!” … -Nothing but static- …
(02/28/16 : 19:45:12)
||One Mind, Any Weapon||
.D A M O N -A P E X- T H O R N T O N.
.Mercenary || Normandy Squad.
|-|In Syria, Somewhere between Resafa and Al Kasrah|-|
-A land of fertile plains, high mountains, and deserts. Syria is a country in Western Asia, and Syrian territory borders Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the North, Iraq to the East, Jordan to the South, and Israel to the Southwest.-
-I tossed the radio into my bag and paced up and down. Frustrated. I was not supposed to leave this post. Under any circumstance. Doing so would leave the camp's flank completely Vulnerable and open to attack. Even if I Rea was compromised, I was not supposed to move from here because the camp is more important. More people are at risk. But... Rea is my best friend... Friend or Duty? … It weighed heavy on my mind, but even as I tried to consider it, I was already picking up my bergen and shrugging it on. I snatched up my assault rifle and set off at a run, heading towards Rea's last known location...-
“Rea, if you're sleeping... I'm going to kick your arse.”
-If Only.-
-Rea was not sleeping and I really wish that had been the case... As I reached the Eastern perimeter and moved along the dried up river bed, I spotted the large Scotsman and the sight of him made me sick to my stomach.. Rea was on his knees, his arms up and his hands behind his head. The two rebels had found him... I dropped to my stomach and started to crawl closer. I paid attention to every movement. For one thing, I didn't want to crawl onto a snake, scorpion, or other predator. But mostly, I did not want to make a sound and give my presence away. Both rebels had their back to me. They stood in front of Rea with their rifles pointed at his head, and chest. They were talking, but it was too quiet for Me to make out what they were saying. Rea on the other hand, I heard clearly... “Piss Off, You wee bastards” … As he said that, one of the rebels slammed the butt of their rifle into Rea's face. He fell to the ground and the other snatched him by his hair, pulling him roughly back up onto his knees. It wasn't easy to watch the abuse as they hit Rea again and again... but I just didn't know what to do... I spotted Rea's lantern glowing in the grass and I groaned... a rookie mistake and Rea usually knew better than that. The light of his lantern would have been what gave his position away and now he was going to Die... Because of my failures.-
-After they had finished giving their beating, one of the rebels slung his rifle to his back and drew a long curved knife from his belt. He moved around behind Rea, grasping his hair and pulling his head back. I watched in horror as they pressed that razor sharp blade against my best friend's throat. I had to do something. Anything. But what? … I continued to crawl closer. Slowly. Quietly. I knew that I could shoot, but I didn't have a clear shot at the one behind Rea and I feared that if I shot the first one, the knife wielding rebel would slit Rea's throat before I could save him... so with no choice, I put my rifle aside, leaving it in the grass as I carefully removed my bergen and unclipped the military axe that Christian had given Me. It had been used throughout the three month hike, but only to dig trenches and chop wood.... 'Do It.' … I breathed, trying to will myself to move... 'Don't be a pussy. He will die.” … I watched as the Rebels laughed, blood poured down Rea's face.... 'Fuck. It.' … I grit my teeth and rose up to my feet. I held that hatchet in both hands and started to approach the situation. The rebel with the rifle, still had his back to Me and was now barking something at Rea in a foreign accent. None of us had bothered to learn it. We had no reason to, General Abdul had spoke English perfectly and had always supplied us with a translator when we needed one. It was now or never. I knew that time was up. Rea was not going to tell them what they wanted. They wouldn't be able to break him and so they would kill him...-
-At twenty feet, I started to run. It was no longer quiet. But I ran like my own life depended on it. The rebels heard me coming and the one with the rifle started to turn around and face me. But it was too late... I cut the distance down in a flash and swung that axe with both hands. A power house swing that saw the deathly sharp cutting edge, hack upwards towards the rebel, tucking beneath his chin and beheading him in one fell swoop... Well... Almost... The axe cut three quarters of the way through... but I pulled back out for another desperate swing... just as he fell to his knees, I swung again, and the head came away...-
(02/28/16 : 19:54:13)
||One Mind, Any Weapon||
.D A M O N -A P E X- T H O R N T O N.
.Mercenary || Normandy Squad.
: |-|In Syria, Somewhere between Resafa and Al Kasrah|-|
-A land of fertile plains, high mountains, and deserts. Syria is a country in Western Asia, and Syrian territory borders Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the North, Iraq to the East, Jordan to the South, and Israel to the Southwest.-
-The head hit the ground with a dull bounce and rolled away into the darkness. The second rebel fumbled for his firearm but Rea was quick to react, he grabbed the knife wielding wrist with both hands and pulled the rebel to the ground with superior strength, the brute of a Scotsman was soon on top of the rebel and in possession of the knife. He sank it down into the man's chest. Stabbing him, over and over. The final blow saw that knife piercing through the rebel's neck and impaled him. Dead... 'Just like the Deathstalker' … It was a strange thing that came to mind, but it was the only thing I could think of, as I watched. When Rea was satisfied that the rebel was dead, I looked to my own kill. The headless body... 'Oh God... What have I done?' … I looked to the hatchet that I still held in both of my shaking hands. Blood, and flesh clung to the cutting edge. It had gone through so easily. I hadn't expected it to do that. I was in shock. I had killed so many rebels during this contract in Syria. It was not my first kill and was actually closer to my fiftieth kill. But it was the first life that I had not taken with a bullet. Killing from a distance was one thing. It was easier to shut off when you didn't have to -see- it. But up close and personal.. with my bare hands.. I could not process it... I could still feel the vibration of the blow in my palms and how it had felt in the muscles of my arms. How it had cut through the neck as though I was swinging the axe into a tub of water.... “Damon” … Rea's voice cut through the shock and I looked to him with wild eyed horror painted on my dirty features... “Are you okay?” ...-
“I.. He... You...”
-I didn't know what to say. Where to begin, and I couldn't seem to form my words correctly, my tongue kept sticking to the top of my mouth... “It's okay, Laddie.” … Rea soothed, in a low whisper. He moved slowly towards Me, careful, deliberately calm steps... “It's over now. Put down the axe.” … I tried... I really did... but my fingers just wouldn't listen, they refused to loosen their grip and I held onto that metal haft so tight that I was surprised my fingers didn't break... “Easy, lad” … Rea whispered as he drew close. He reached out and gained his own grip on the axe's haft. His other hand rose to gently rest on my back... “Easy” … His words were near hypnotic and I nodded mutely, finally letting go of the blood soaked weapon. Once Rea had claimed it, he threw it aside and pulled me into a firm hug. Without even realising it was coming, I burst into tears and wept in my best friend's arms.-