The Fallen Soldier

Chapter 31

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"Why don't you ever talk about yourself Anderson?" Asked the rainbow haired woman on your back.

You thought for a moment, "You guys never ask."

"Wait." Rainbow paused for a moment, "You mean you're completely willing to talk?"

"Yeah, I really don't have a reason to not talk about myself." You stepped over a rock.

"Hmm, I figured you'd be like those guys I read about in books." Rainbow replied.

"You read books?" You tilted your head and looked at her.

"You know what I'm talking about Anderson, we read the same books!"

You chuckled, "Yeah, I know."

You continued with, "I'm not entirely sure as to why I'm like this, I feel like I should keep this all hidden away. But I just refuse to not talk about it, my life is something I'm proud of, yet I'm not."

"You got any good stories you'd be comfortable with telling?" Rainbow asked.

You looked ahead, Ponyville was getting closer with every step. But it would still take a while at the pace you're moving at.

"Looking for a specific genre?" You ask.

"How about something. . . Action packed?"

"Kinda figured, but I'll only talk until we reach town. Deal?"

"Deal!"

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This story dates back to my first few months of military training. I was a new recruit, and me and my buddy were quite afraid of our superiors.

You were scared!? I find that to be quite the lie, you're the bravest guy I know!

Flattering, but I wasn't always the guy you know now. I was. . . Let's call it my D.I. Years.

D.I. Years?

It means 'During Innocence'

Thats rough man.

Yeah, anyway. I was sent to the ice planet Aethra, there was this huge military complex. Half of it was for training soldiers, the other half ran a mining operation. One day, when the mining operation called the military operation, they complained of the attacks that's been occurring on their remote mining sites. They lacked the manpower to protect themselves, so they requested a few trained soldiers and some recruits. Guess who ended up getting picked?

You?

Bingo. Now let's start the actual story.

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Aethra

7 / 17 / 2467

2:47Pm

"Alright maggots! You have been hand chosen by me! You will assist miners and your fellow soldiers in the recovery of this mining site! If you fail! You can kiss your hot water goodbye! If you succeed! Then drinks are on me!"

"Sir! Permission to speak!" Yelled a fellow trainee.

"Permission granted!" Replied the Sergeant.

"What if this infestation is worse then we think?"

"Then you'll just have radio in and request backup. Now! Anymore questions!"

No-one spoke up.

"Report to the vehicle bay and your squad mates! You're dismissed!"

Everyone saluted, turned, and marched down the halls, eventually ending up in the Vehicle bay. From there, everyone broke up into small groups of 5 and surrounded their commissioned vehicle. There were 6 different squads, so it was a small number of 30 men and the occasional woman.

You approached the vehicle assigned to you and your squad. There were 4 people standing by the passenger door, 3 men and a woman. The squad leader was toying with a holographic map, he was placing markers on the map of the mining site.

You stepped into the tight circle of soldiers, one of your fellow trainees smiled at you and shook your hand.

The squad leader looked up from the holo-map, "Nice of you to join us Anderson, we were just going over the plan again." He looked back at the map.

"Now, this is where our squad is going, we're meeting up with 2 other squads. They're going to help us re-take the storage tanks. We're expecting a dozen Levels 3's and maybe a level 4."

"Fuck man, a level 4? We got the firepower to handle something like that?" Asked a wary teammate.

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Why don't you tell me their names?

I forgot them, that's why.

Oh, can you at least number them?

Sure, Squad leader is Number 1, other trainee is Number 2, other soldier is Number 3, and the female is Rachel.

Why does the female have a name!?

Uh, she is someone special, so I actually bothered to remember her name.

Thats kinda mean.

Maybe, but let me see you try too remember the names of every person I've fought alongside.

Uh . .

Exactly, now, where was I?

Something about needing firepower.

Right, thanks.

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"Don't worry, I've got 2 RPG's and a couple rockets stacked in the back." Replied Number 1.

"Will that be enough?" Asked Rachel.

"Should be, as long as you hit your targets." Replied Number 3, a small smirk of his face.

"Fuck you." Rachel countered.

You were slightly intimidated by the aura the trained guards presented, they were clearly aware about what was happening. Your knowledge on the creatures inhabiting this planet limit to level 1's and level 2's. Plus, this was your first time officially doing something outside the training area, this was a LIVE fight! You were about to use LIVE rounds to kill living things! A part of you found this wrong, but your loyalty to the military easily overpowered these uneasy feelings.

"GET READY!" Announced the intercom.

Number 1 was caught off guard, "Fuck." He whispered.

He motioned for all of us to pile in the back of truck. Number 1 opened the door and jumped in the driver seat, he pressed a keycard to the dashboard. The truck roared to life moments later, Number 3 hooted and jumped in the passenger seat.

You opened the door and let the trainee and Rachel load in, you quickly took a deep breath and jumped in yourself. You sat opposite of Rachel, the trainee was next to her. You looked around the vehicle, nothing but a box and a couple spare air tanks. You assumed the RPG's were in the box.

The world was suddenly set in motion, the truck launched forward. The car would stop every now and then, but eventually you and your squad were outside. And the cold instantly kicked in.

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How cold was the weather?

Pretty fucking cold, we had to wear these special suits that kept us warm. They were really bulky, but they kept you warm during the worst.

Oh, okay, Continue your story now.

If it's alright with you, I'm gonna skip the ride there. It was nothing but talking and I can't remember anything we said.

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"We're here." Announced Number 1.

"Damn, they weren't kidding when they said it was an infestation!" Laughed Number 3.

You rushed forward and peered out the front window, frost covered most of it and visibility was low. But you could pin-point each and every critter roaming the once human occupied lands. They kinda glowed a fiery green.

The trainee looked terrified, "I think we can expect more than a dozen." He whispered, clutching his assault rifle closely.

"Man up." Rachel commanded, "Anderson is doing far better than you."

You cheekily smiled and looked back outside.

"Where are the other squads?" Asked Number 3.

Number 1 squinted, "I don't kno-Wait! There's squad 9! We should regroup, rally our troops! Radio them now!"

"Sheesh, okay okay." Replied Number 3, who started fiddling with a device on his arm.

Your eyes widened as a large creature appeared from the blizzard, "Hey, we might wanna cancel the regroup. It looks like they got someone over at the moment." You point at them.

"Dammit Anderson, nows not the time for joking. . . . Fuck." He stared at the creature.

The creature stood roughly 3 stories tall, and was armored around its legs. It approached the truck from behind, and you could see a man get out and start firing at the creature. The beast raised its leg and brought it down on the man, killing him instantly.

Rachel suddenly appeared at your side, she muffled a gasp. "I know the only man who'd be brave enough to fight that thing alone." She sat back down and stared at the flooring.

The creature shrieked and moved towards the truck. Several men jumped out and started running, the beast used its leg to kick the van. The van flew into the air. . And directly onto a running man. You flinched and mumbled a curse.

"Should we help?" You ask.

"No. We'll get wiped out." Replied Number 1.

"Isn't that why we brought the RPG's?" Asked Number 3.

"We'll need more than a rocket." Mumbled Number 1.

You glanced back at Number 2, his hands were situated on each side of his face, you could only hear his quiet whimpering. You frowned and looked back out the window, your heart dropped when you noticed the creature looking at your truck.

"All right, story time over." You crouched down and let Rainbow get off.

"What!? You can't end a story like that!" Rainbow threw her hands in the air.

"Sorry, next time pick a shorter story." You faced her and smiled.

She frowned and crossed her arms over he chest, "Come on! Don't leave me hanging like that! At least give me a shortened version!"

"Alright, the creature approached us, Number 1 ordered us to abandon the vehicle. I grabbed the RPG box and jumped out, knocking the air outa me, while narrowly avoiding death. If I would've stayed in the truck a second longer, I would've been sent flying. And then I made a last stand for my life, my other squad mates ran for their lives while I stayed back and made great use of the RPG's. I spent the next 30 minutes of my life avoiding giant spider legs, while occasionally firing a rocket at its weakest points. I survived and regrouped with another squad, I helped take back the storage tanks and even helped eliminate every creature that dared to stay behind."

"You really are the most badass guy I know." Rainbow smirked.

"Yeah, I'm pretty fucking cool." You smiled and chuckled. "Now are you happy? You know a little something about me now."

"That story only made you seem like more of a badass."

"If I ever die, the one thing I want people to think about me, is how much of a badass I am." You laughed and started walking away.

"I'll see you later Rainbow!" You waved goodbye.

She smiled and waved back.

You stopped and looked up, "Sugercube corner. A place of memories? Or a reason of future obesity? I'll never know."

You sighed and hopped up the stairs, you pushed open the door and was met with the familiar chime of the door bell. You looked around the slightly crowded store, then approached the front desk. You looked down at the call-bell, then pressed the little button down. There was a small ring, than Pinkie appeared from seemingly nowhere.

"Heya! Anderson! What can I get you!?" She flashed her smile.

Your eyes narrowed, for a person who eats a lot of junk food, she has a nice pair of pearly whites. You switched your focus, "I'd like a a chocolate cupcake, no bag please."

"Finally willing to eat some junk food eh? I don't blame you! Cupcakes are amazing!" She smiled and disappeared into the kitchen.

She returned moments later, a (hopefully) fresh chocolate cupcake in hand. She handed you the cupcake and pressed a few buttons on the old fashioned register. The number 3 shot up.

"That'll be three bits." Pinkie looked at you.

You nod and pull a couple golden coins from your armored pockets. You drop them in Pinkie's hand. She smiles and drops the coins in the register, she looks back at you.

"How is your day going so far Andy?" Pinkie leaned on the glass counter.

"It's alright, I went to Fluttershy's and talked with her for a bit. Than I met up with Rainbow and gave her a piggyback ride back to Ponyville." You bit into the cupcake, quietly savoring the delicious treat.

Pinkie's eye narrowed for a split second, "Oh Yeah?"

"Yeah."- You took another bite, quickly swallowing.- "She asked me a question about my adventures during my military training."

Pinkie's smiled faded a wee bit, "Did you answer?"

"Hmm? Oh yeah."

"Would you mind if I ask something then?" Pinkie asked, while twirling her hair with a finger.

"Ask away." You bite into the cupcake.

"What is you home like?" She replies.

You freeze and look at the cupcake in your hand, you speak after a moment of silence. "I lived in Outer Space. You know? The place beyond the clouds in the sky?"

Pinkie nods, "I don't know a lot about it, but I know of its existence."

"Oh yeah? Well I lived in a giant space station called the Patriot, it was a military station. My father was told to move there, my mother didn't like the idea of me going, but my father convinced her anyway." You bite into the cupcake again.

"The station was home to over 3,000 people. It was crowded and I breathed the same recycled air, but there was this room you could go to, and it had this beautiful view of a planet, and all these monitors that relayed information to those who actually understood what they said. It was my favorite place as a growing boy, other military children made fun of me for it, some even bullied me."

"Oh my." Pinkie gasped.

"Nah, my dad got pissed and started training me. He made me run with him, he made me lift weights with him, he even had me get into a ring and box with him. He always told me I'd thank him one day."

"Did you?" Pinkie asked.

"Hell yeah I did! A couple years later and I was beating my father in everything he taught me. My size scared most people off, and after I started putting muscle on! Oh! I was a sight to see."

You chuckled and finished your cupcake, while turning around and leaning on the counter.

"But between you and me, I still went to the room and admired the view, even after I earned the 'ruthless' title. I'd never forget the view I saw, I actually carry a picture with me."

"Can I see!?" Pinkie asked, jumping in place.

"Sure." You summoned your suits Holo-keyboard and pressed a few buttons.

"Wow! Who are the people walking?" Pinkie leaned towards the holo-picture.

"Just some men who happened to be there when I took the picture." You smiled and admired the picture yourself.

You sighed and pressed a button, the picture disappeared and Pinkie slipped and slammed her face on the counter. You flinched and mumbled, "ouch."

"You okay Pinkie?" You poked her neck.

"Yeah." She responded.

Pinkie's head slowly raised, you looked at her nose and bit your lip.

"You should be careful next time Pinkie, you don't wanna ruin a face like yours." You smiled and turned around.

"Hmm." Pinkie mumbled.

You chuckled and started walking for the door, "Later Pinkie!"

Pinkie looked at her nose and rubbed it, "Yeah, bye Andy!"

You pushed the door open and stepped out.

Author's Notes:

Are you guys interested in seeing the different outcomes of Your life?!

Like, what if the portal didn't consume Your ship and send you to Equestrian? What if you successfully reached your location? What would've happened? Of course it's not gonna be a actual story, just a timeline I'll write a blog about.

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Also, I wanna talk more about Fallout 4. What are you guys mainly looking forward too? Have you pre-ordered the Pip-boy edition? I sure as hell did! I can't wait to get It!

( I bought mine for the Xbox-one )

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THE PICTURE USED IN THIS CHAPTER DOES NOT BELONG TO ME, IT RIGHTFULLY BELONGS TO THE ARTIST WHO MADE IT. ALSO I DONT MAKE MONEY OFF THESE CHAPTERS.