Shadows of Hope
Chapter 18: 18. The Same Eyes, From Different Sides
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Devastating.
It was the only word that Soap could come up with to give a battle report to his commanding officers. Out of the 141 and Shadow Company put together, they had lost over 40 men, not counting the number of U.S. Marines that were with them. It was the first time in years he had felt the real pain of loss, ever since Operation Kingfish when he thought he had lost Price. He rubbed his temples, then checked the batteries for the flashlight he had been using to see his writing, then continued writing after turning it back on.
They had arrived at a small U.S. outpost about 40 miles outside the city limits, Bloodied and Battered soldiers helping their fellow men off the vehicles. Specter and Jester had helped carrying stretchers, the girls doing their best to comfort the injured and dying. Applejack was still visibly shaken from seeing Scarecrow gunned down.
Soap had been up all night, not able to sleep. When ever he did, he saw his fellow men being torn apart by gunfire, and the scarring image of Applejack crying when Scarecrow's body hit the earth kept replaying through his dreams. He continued writing the report, anguish coming over his face as he wrote down the names of his dead comrades.
It had been a terrible night for them all. After some arguments, the girls had to get some sleep, but Applejack's soft crying filled their room, and they stayed up, being there to comfort their friend. Jester's hands were covered with blood helping treat wounded soldiers. He wasn't an expert in medicine, but he knew enough to help. But it seemed for every man they helped, 5 more took his place.
Ghost, Price, and Specter had to help the body counting, covering those that had not survived. Numbers stacked high, both of military personnel and civilians. The had carried so many bodies, Ghost had collapsed. Specter helped him up, giving him some of the water he had left.
Price couldn't bear to look at them, it kept reminding him of the hell they had went through in the city. It was the first time he was shaken up since his first days in the military.
"The Main headline today, as it will be for months to come, is the Story of the United State's fight against Russia, once again on U.S. soil. The western sea board is still under heavy attack from Spetsnaz forces, and major cities for the time being are under Spetsnaz control." The T.V. screen in a small bar in Scotland then changed to a picture of MIG-29s flying past the Space needle of Seattle, being chased by F-16 Fighting Falcons, then cutting to Portland were a group of Marines were taking cover from the shell of a Russian tank. The bar was filled with people watching, all the world had stopped, turning their eyes to the televisions.
"The German government has agreed to send forces to the United States to assist on the East coast, SKS forces preparing as we speak." This was heard in England, hundreds of people watching the news unfold on the big screens of TV's advertising screens, even the scoreboards of some football stadiums.
"Il Papa ha messo l'Italia in preghiera nazionale oggi, dicendo che il paese mantiene i suoi alleati occidentali nelle loro preghiere, e per Dio per guidarli alla vittoria."(1) An Italian T.V news reporter said, almost the entire population of Rome gathered in the streets, watching many T.V. screens, praying for peace and victory for the U.S.
"Deutsch KSK haben für die Vereinigten Staaten verließ heute gehen, um von New York nach Los Angeles zu helfen. Tausende haben die Kirchen und religiösen Stätten beflockt, betet nicht nur für unsere Soldaten und Familien in den Westen, sondern auch für die Männer und Frauen von Amerika, dass sie Schützen."(2) thousands of German citizens been watching the T.V. screens, Even Munich's Allianz Arena's outside walls were programmed to display the event to inform the people
Now, in the eyes of the world, the United States was the victim. 2 years back, no one had said a word when Russia invaded, due to the Moscow Massacre. But with the information released the latter year about the story behind the Massacre being truly revealed, they had seen how wrong they were. Now, with the U.S.'s forces crumbling, multiple countries took to help however they could.
The Pope had issued national prayer for the U.S.
All across Germany, U.S. flags were flown.
Donations were being made in large amounts to the Red Cross and to medical services to help the U.S.
The Japanese government had been discussing sending parts of their military to assist the west coast of the U.S.
Russia's brutality was strong, but the will of the World was behind the U.S.
History may be written by the victor, but it can be changed by revenge.
Celestia stood back as the man in her royal chambers suddenly awoke, looking around.
"Where am I?!" He suddenly asked, looking around desperately.
"It is alright, You are safe." Celestia said, calming him down. He looked at her, and after a little time, recognized her.
"You? but how did I-" the man started to ask, but Celestia stopped him.
"You are dead. I had intercepted your soul, and you've appeared here." She explained. The man put his hands on his chest, then his face.
"But...how did you..." he trailed off.
"It was a very powerful bit of magic, but I did it because you are still needed." Celestia said
"Needed?" he asked.
"That's right. Your comrades need you, and the one that you love needs you, just at her love needs you." Celestia said. "I had found out about it while performing the spell." she added.
"Oh. well, does that displease you ma'am?" he asked. Celestia shook her head.
"Actually, not at all. Love is one of the most powerful elements of Friendship, it keeps us all strong." Celestia said. "That's why you must go back."
The man nodded. "Alright. but how will I know I won't die again?" he then asked.
"You are a strong man, You shall make it." Celestia smiled. "Now, you must return. They need the Scarecrow."
First person point of view
I suddenly gasped for air, my face covered in blood and dirt. I couldn't feel my legs for a moment, and I thought I had lost them for a second. I picked myself up, looking around.
I saw the observatory, it set ablaze. I tried to conjure what had happened, and looking at the AK-47 near me, I remembered. I had volunteered to run back out here, to save that one man from the AC-130. I didn't know him, but he was a man, a human, like me, and that was enough needed.
I looked around, and saw the early sun rising. I could tell I had lost some amount of blood, how I was still alive was a mystery to me. I got to my feet, picked up the AK, and slowly started to move, falling to my knees occasionally. The others had left, like I told them to, leaving me alone in this hell.
I was surrounded by the dead, some of them being the ones I had taken down. It was a scarring image, and knowing I had done this only added on to the pain.
I'm a man God, killing was against his law. even though he states that those who fight in his name are protected by him, This wasn't war.
It was genocide. Not just for us, but for them to.
I walked along, not hearing a single noise, until I heard a voice cry out. It sounded like a man about my age, I couldn't tell his accent, all he did was cry. I looked around, keeping my weapon aimed the best I could, but the pain was still immense. I followed the noise until I found one man crawling, or at least trying to crawl, away from the battle scene. I couldn't tell who he was or what he was wearing, so I decided to get closer. Since I was still able to walk, as weak as it was, I was able to catch up to him.
I had stopped for a moment when I was able to tell the flag on his sleeve. Russian. The voice crying out was a Spetsnaz. I instinctively aimed the AK-47 at him, but for some reason, I couldn't pull the trigger.
I just couldn't. He may have been a Red, but he was human. After thinking about it, I decided.
The Lord had blessed his enemies, so in this case, so shall I. I caught up to him, helping him up. When he saw me, I could tell that he was shocked, and he probably would have tried to hit me if he could've mustered up the strength to. He looked into my eyes, mine looking into his.
His light blue eyes practically shown in the dark. His balaclava was covered in mud, the obvious look of pain stricken on his face. I looked down and saw him holding his stomach.
"Let me look." I told him in Russian. After giving me a worried look, he did, and I could see the bullet wound. I set him down, treating the wound. After doing so, I helped him back up.
"What's your name?" I then asked him in Russian
"Pavel Stapkovich" He responded.
"I'm Nick Walker." I responded in Russian. We kept going, telling each other about ourselves. He was like me, he didn't believe this to be right. He had signed up to protect people, not to slaughter them. We walked on for a while, both of us eventually getting the strength to walk on our own.
"Where are you from?" he then asked me. "Is this your place of birth?"
"No," I responded, "I'm from Atlanta. That's in Georgia, on the east coast."
"Why are you here fighting, and not there?" He then asked me. I thought about this for a moment, I hadn't really thought about it like that, why was I fighting here instead of defending my home? I then came to a conclusion. I looked him in the eyes, saying in his language,
"The people over here are just as important to me as the ones over there. We're all equal."
Pavel looked down at the ground, then back at me.
"I'm sorry This has happened, This is wrong of my people." he said. I put a hand on his shoulder.
"Do not blame yourself. I do not hate you or any man that I have fought here. I only hate the belief that some have, thinking this is right and ethical." I told him. Pavel nodded in agreement, and we went on.
We had walked through the early morning, telling each other about our lives until we stopped and rested. We had became close, almost like brothers. Pavel had taken off his Balaclava and helmet, revealing his light trimmed beard and short blonde hair. I had taken off my helmet as well, my faux hawk being nothing more then a mess of hair now, not that it mattered. After resting for about 10 minutes, we moved on, but were suddenly stopped by a jeep coming to our side, them pointing our weapons at us. We both stopped, putting our arms to our heads.
"Halt! wer bist du, was ist Ihre Nationalität?" one of the men asked. This confused me. This was German, not Russian, and definitely not English. Pavel looked at me in confusion.
"Ich bin mit dem US-Kraft namens Shadow Company, und das ist der Mensch mit dem Spetsnaz. Tu ihm nicht weh, er von seinen eigenen Leuten ist aufgegeben worden, hat er vereinbart, sich zu ergeben, wenn fair behandelt!" I then yelled. They circled us, one of them coming up to me.
"You can both put your arms down." He said in English, his German accent still strong. Pavel and I did so, the German men lowering their weapons.
"Who are you, and why are you here?" I then asked.
"Were part of the KSK, and we were sent by our country to help you Americans defend your land, just as you would do for us." he said. Pavel looked at me confused, I could only return the look.
"How long have you two been out here?" the man then asked.
"Obviously too long. Pavel was left to die, I was thought dead by everyone else, myself included." I responded. The man rubbed his chin, then nodded.
"Let's get you two back to the base outside of here, You can explain everything to us on the way." The man said. He then looked at Pavel. "how do we know he's not going to screw us over?" he then asked. I stood by Pavel, defending him.
"This man was left by his own men to die, but I, being a very man he was trained to kill, saved him. Why tell the ones that left him to destroy the ones that saved him?" I asked. Pavel looked at me, then at the man.
"Alright, let's go." he said, the KSK men getting into the jeep. I started to follow, but Pavel stopped me. I turned, and saw the grateful look in his eyes, some tears washing some of the dirt on his face. Without saying a word, he hugged me.
I was taken aback for a second, but I held him, hugging him as my brother would have hugged me. We then got into the jeep, and we drove off, leaving the broken city of Los Angeles.
"These KSK guys sure have come in Large numbers." Rainbow Dash said. She was standing next to Soap, who was checking ammunitions.
"Thank God for em', we can use all the help we can get." He responded. Rainbow Dash saw Applejack walk by, her hands in her pockets, keeping her eyes at the ground. Dash sighed.
"It's devastating for her way more than it is for us. She really cared about him." she said.
"Yeah, They were close. I think they had a liking for each other really." Soap said.
"Yeah, you can say that…" Dash trailed off, knowing the truth. She kept it hidden, for her friends sake. She looked over at the gate entrance, and saw a jeep come in, seeing the people inside.
"Hey, Soap, that convey is back, they've got two people with them." she said, not recognizing the two guys with them that got out.
"They ours?" He asked.
"One of them is a Red, but the Others Sha- wait, Soap, look!" Dash said, shaking Soap's shoulder. He looked up, and couldn't believe his eyes.
"Bloody hell, It can't be!" Soap exclaimed. Applejack had heard Soap, looking at him.
"What is it?" She asked. Soap was at a loss for words, all he could do was point at the man in the torn and bloody Shadow Company uniform. Applejack looked, her jaw dropping and eyes widening. "Sc-Scarecrow?" She shockingly asked. She immediately ran towards him, Soap and dash following. Applejack hugged Scarecrow, a bit of pain coming over his body, but he didn't care.
He looked into her eyes, giving a simple smile. They kissed, not even caring that Soap and Dash were watching.
"Well, I guess your suspicions were right captain." Dash chuckled, wiping some tears from her eyes. Soap was honestly trying to hold back a couple of drops himself. He grabbed his radio, speaking into it with new energy.
"Price, Specter, guys, come to the front gate now!" he excitedly instructed.
"What the bloody hell has got you in a good mood?" Ghost responded. Soap smiled.
"Our fields are still guarded!"
Translations:
1:The Pope has put Italy in national prayer today, saying that the country maintains its Western allies in their prayers, and for God to lead them to victory. (Italian)
2: German KSK have left for the United States today, going to assist from New York to Los Angeles. Thousands have flocked to churches and religious sites, praying not only for our soldiers and families in the West, but for the Men and Women of America that Protect them. (German)