Story [Issue 15] Dawn

[SpreadLoveNotHate 374]

 

 

A Sequel to Blue Lights over the Night Sky

 

The small group surrounds my tank which led them into this mess. Not one turned back. Well, one did ‘cause he had a loose part after being hit by the ricocheting smoky bullets. But, those that carried on knowing what they are putting on the line is what makes me believe that there IS good in this world.

 

Ok, enough thinking, I thought to myself. It’s not going to get me and my life back. Doing is. And then, I’m doing nothing. I’m tired. I’m out of ideas. I need something to get to me. It was at the tip of my tongue, or brain cell, for that matter. I just need to rethink. What can I use to break through? Something strong, powerful...yeah, definately not from everyday items. I get bumped hard on my back. I think whatever hit it broke part of it too, damn, I was in pain. I looked back, and it was if God had given me a clue. What poked me was the rail from my tank. One of my teammates crashed into mine while driving in. He looks at me worried as if I were going to hit him when we get back to base. Instead, I think I’ll give him a hug. I’m not a hug person. But, what he just did probably saved my life, and the lives of our group as well. Something strong and powerful? What else than the rail? It was the perfect solution. Thank God, and right after I prayed (sorta...lying in my head). Looks like I’ll be throwing out all 105 other statues when I get home and keep the cross.

 

I hop into my tank and communicate my idea with the rest of the surrounding tanks through comms. Shortly after, wasting no time, the rail lights up and fires in front of us, and I’d say it was a pretty good shot. Got right through the glass. Tried another shot to break the damn thing. Looks like it won’t go. We’re gonna have to haul it back to base and deal with it. I look at the time in a small clock located inside my tank. Almost dawn. We have to make it back to base before we get discovered, or else, I’m going to have to start over all again. Man, that would be painful, literally. A couple of us get off, and grab a few ropes and tie it to our tanks so we can drag it.

 

We moved out, with me leading. Natural leader or not, it becomes natural when life depends on it. That’s probably the only thing I learnt in this rubbish excuse of a city other than not to go into one alone. Now, we just have to exit through the forest and get back behind safe grounds. Oh, and what I just realized, probably easier said than done. Forces have been closing in on our last known position to the enemy and it won’t be long till they could find us when the sky lights in a couple hours. We moved out as a bunch, and taking out everyone who got in our way. Enemies noticed lights every once in a while, but by the time they got to us, we were ghosts already. Through the forest, we had the advantage that we were still unseen. Streaks of light, orange ones, started to appear by the time we see the opening at the end of the dark forest. It was sunlight, and we’re back to where we started. Something I can call my home on the battlefield. I took a random shot into the horizon as the sun appeared, dawn, and just in time. With the rail, the beautiful array of colours were about the only thing I enjoyed on this trip. First feeling I get was relief, and then happiness took over as we get out of our tanks and high five each other like when we win our hometown games.

 

Now, the only challenge is getting rid of the massive junk that’s stealing my life away from me. It took a long time, but it was worth it.

 

~~

 

Day and night, I worked on getting the rail modified to destroy that item. I used every excuse I could to stay away from the battlefield. 

 

"I'm sick, Colonel, I can't go out."

"But you were so amazing last mission! You exceeded our every expectation. Your team needs you."

"I'm sorry, I won't be able to focus, I'll just be harming them."

He walks away with dignity. Success (it was a thought, or else I'd be penalized by the full extent of military laws)

 

"I have a stomach flu, I'm stuck in the washroom"

" You can't hide in there forever. Come out, you need to work as a team!"

"I'm sure my tank equipment isn't waterproof on the inside, you want to sit in my wet and stinky tank afterwards?"

Colonel thought about it for a second. And then walked away. Imagine what went on in his mind. 

 

"My hands are glued together, I can't drive"

"So that's what you've been doing with all the glue! That's costing us from the military budget. Stop making excuses, you haven't been into a tank for a year! This war has progressed so far, and you're being ignorant of world events."

Ok, first time I was speechless, and my hands were starting to feel uncomfortable...*stranded on my toilet*

 

Those weeks definitely boosted my creativity level from 0 to 1.

 

Months later, Colonel gave up trying to force me back onto the field. I came up with new excuses daily, and if he didn't stop asking, I was going to run out of body parts to blame on. In the end, he knew what I was doing was for the better. It could be helping our allies on the battlefield, and this war could stop. I never slept on my blueprints again. They meant the world to me, and I wouldn't give it up for anything. I worked harder than I did for my relationship back when I dedicated 16 hours to working as a mechanic at home, 7 and a half hours to sleep, and half an hour for meals. I wanted my life back. 

 

I kept the blueprints safe. They were in a fireproof safe whenever I wasn't working on them. Then, I completed one modification after another, and soon, it was built with 3 modifications' power. I could finally be free!

 

 

~~ 5 Years Later

 

“And that is the whole story, son.”

“Wow, you’re a hero dad! When did you get freed from the...uh...what’s the thing called again?”

“ I was freed 3 years later. It took 3 modifications of what is now known as the railgun. 3 modifications later, it shot through it, and it exploded. It was like an angel protecting me from dying, but I want to be back, with your mother. She was such a charm. What it took was great courage and teamwork, what is needed in a lot of battles, hard or easy. It’s a necessary life skill perhaps. If not, I wouldn’t be here sharing this story with you, my sweet kiddo. And all it took was love on the battlefield.”

"Wow, I'm still in awe. That was a great story"

"It was indeed quite an adventure. Now, let's stop having nightmares and get to sleep. You only have a couple hours before school. Hurry along!"

 

I shut the door, and look outside the window of my house in the room across. Peace at dawn. Just how I liked it. 

   

THE END 

 

Edited July 31, 2017 by Hexed

[Ilia.ArchangeI 6,785]

Interesting style. I like it.

[q456wert 18]

Cool story.

[Gio_Control 581]

Wow bro, I'm impressed :D

 

Good work as usual ;)

[RabidNICK613 0]

Nice Article, Tip: Use Sketch Block as The Font on The Picture