Young Writers Society

Shooting stars fly overhead

Oh my, my dear

Get out of bed

Make a wish

And close your eyes

For I will be up there tonight.

They land on bugs

And make them glow

Oh my, my dear

It's a firefly show

The stars still fall

But it's alright

I'll become one too tonight.

I see a light just like the sun

Oh my, my dear

It looks like this is done

Now all will join the stars so bright

At least I'm still with you tonight.

"Everyone. . . . duck and cover!"

What? . . . What's happened? . . .

"Do not retreat. . . . repeat, DO NOT RETREAT!"

Why would I retreat? . . . Is there a logical reason to do so? . . .

"Have no mercy for that thing! . . . Shoot damn it!"

Without warning, something hits my back, causing me to lose my balance on whatever it is I'm standing, whether it be the actual ground or one of the hyper-gravital transportation ports. The ground meets my face, and it's determined now that I am indeed on Earth, the taste of dirt and rubble now in my mouth. It's not long before I start spitting, trying to rid my mouth of the metallic taste and strange texture. I try to prop up my body, but I fail. My arms are sore and weak, but why?

After a small struggle, I'm able to get to my knees and crawl fast to rest against something, my best guess an overturned air rover, as I can feel the tank's familiar edges. My head feels heavy, my perception of everything besides the clear lines of what I'm leaning against vague at best. All I can hear are ear popping bangs, coming from the AA-12 Converts and AER 21 Rifles that must be shooting from nearby, the vibration of the launching Web Missiles becoming more dominate as their usual low rumble follows. It's as if I've been thrown into an orchestra's percussion section, the sounds beginning to morph into something similar to a large drum, beaten again, and again, and again, releasing a large low eruption of sound waves that overthrow all others.

"Kill it!"

Why do you want me to? . . . What has it done to deserve death?

I bring my hands come to my face, wiping away whatever grime I guess is left. I wipe across my eyes, when suddenly a sinking feeling overcomes me. I can't figure out how it took me so long to realize it, but it's clear what's happening.

I can't see.

Of all things that can happen to a soldier, this is probably one of the worst. Not being able to see means you have absolutely no idea when air attacks are coming, or attacks period. You aren't able to fire at anyone, or anything, considering you aren't able to aim or even find your target. And most severe, you don't know when you've become a target.

I should stay hidden, at least until the fighting has moved on so that I can survive. Though I have no idea where I even am, or what is around me. Hell, for all I know, the rover I'm leaning against is the only kind of protection for yards, miles maybe. I have no choice but to remain here at this point and hope another soldier finds me before it's too late.

To my shock, however, my body doesn't obey my sane thinking, as I feel my hand go for my own XM8 E Rifle that's in my side holster. I try stopping my actions, but it seems another is controlling me as I clip in another magazine and turn, resting some of the gun's weight on the rover as I look through the view finder, a rather pointless action. Then, without fail, my hand grips the receiver, the other the hand guard, and my index finger squeezes the trigger, a popping noise soon sounding as I feel the recoil against my shoulder. After a dozen shots or so, I stop, and stand a bit, holding my rifle upright still as I start to run around the rover towards what I know will soon be my death.

"Jintez! Get back!"

I know, I know I should get back, but hey, aren't I doing what you ask by advancing like an idiot? . . . I was told to not retreat. . . .

"I'm not going to allow her to be killed!"

I'm caught off guard as the words escape my lips, now more confused than ever. Wait a minute, that's my voice. . . . What the hell? Since when do I care about someone? And 'her'? . . . Who is the girl I'm talking about? I don't know many girls, none especially that I would go into a line of fire to retrieve. . . .

"It's a lost cause you idiot!" someone shouts.

Yeah, listen to the guy, he seems to be sane, unlike myself at this point. . . . don't go after this girl. . . .

"She's a human being!" I yell back against my will.

"It is a weapon of the Noxcus now!" the same voice answers.

Whoa, whoa, what?! . . . I'm trying to save a Noxcus?! . . . Alright, that's it, dude, whoever you are, just shoot me, I'm gone, I've gone insane. . . .

Despite my honest thoughts, it seems whatever is in control of my vocal chords disagrees, declaring, "I won't abandon her!"

My stride quickens to a pace much faster than before, and I hear the man's voice fading into the distance as I advance further. I'm apparently just asking to get killed out here, aren't I? And for what? Oh yeah, some girl who I don't even know. And to top it off, she's a Noxcus, the sworn enemy to us.

As I continue forward, ideas of what may be happening begin to form in my mind. Maybe I'm under her control? I was told once in the academy that some Noxcus have the ability to manipulate minds.

Oh, ok, so I'm not insane, I'm just weak. God dammit, I spent seven months in that special mind course for nothing if this is where it got me, and that crap was hard too, not to mention it sent quite a bill to my parents!

If I do survive, I'll have to go and try to pay them back for at least trying to help me out here.

Without warning, I'm once again hit by a force, though this time the impact has my feet off the ground, throwing me into what I imagine is a wall. I can hear some of my bones raddling through my body, widespread pain spreading throughout my body as I hit the ground with a smack. Thankfully for adrenaline, the pain is dull, and I'm able to lift myself to three of all fours. When I try to set my left arm however, I'm shocked to find I have almost no feeling, except for a short but horrible pain that shoots down my spine. It appears I've dislocated it.

Great.

I sit against the cool wall and with all my might, I grasp my left bicep, and do all I can to pop my limp arm back in. And luckily, I feel the sensation of life come back with a screeching pain as it reconnects to the socket, an anguished grunt sounding through my clenched teeth. After a moment, I test my left hand, making a few fists to make sure I can still grip well. It stings some, but I'll have to get over it. I wipe my mouth, blood probably dripping.

Heh, I can see myself now, my blonde hair matted by drying blood, my once good blue eyes now either shot out or just blinded for some unknown reason, my uniform is probably stained and muddy, the padding cracked in some places, and my data shades are probably missing as well.

I do my best to stand, though I'm staggering on my feet, unable to become fully upright. As I do so, I pick up my rifle, surprising myself as I was somehow able to find it and now clasping it tight in my right fist.

"Jintez, STOP!"

Listen to him jackass! . . . Follow his orders! . . .

Despite my will and a slight limp, I start sprinting as best I can, dodging something as I continue forward. How I'm able to do such a thing without sight is beyond my better judgement, or any way of making sense of this predicament.

If I break free of this Noxcus, I'm gonna have a field day beating its ass.

To my relief I finally stop, my breathing a bit coarse considering. I set my rifle against my right shoulder, and take a few shots, aiming in the darkness at something that must be approaching me. Then, the ground suddenly starts to rumble, almost knocking off my shaky balance. I whip my head around, and for the first time, I'm able to see something.

A bright, blinding light morphs from the nothingness surrounding me, appearing to be get even brighter by the moment. For some baffling reason, I don't put up my arms to shield my eyes. I can't, something about this light has me transfixed. As I look it over I see something within the light, something seems to be forming with a different color of light. It's a bright blue, a little lighter than my own eyes. Like the heart, it beats rhythmically, and I turn all my body towards it, my legs walking me closer as I'm consumed by it.

"You're dead!"

Here it comes-

Then, everything abruptly changes. I'm upright, sitting in my cot, a cold sweat forming on my face. Rather frantically, I look around, finding myself in my quarters of the barracks. After a moment, I make another realization; I can see again. It's night, a calmly lit half moon shining dimly outside the window above my cot, lighting the end of my blanket, and exposed feet which hang off the end. Apparently the cots weren't designed to be slept on by guys over 6', as I'm 6'3" easy. Maybe even 6'5". Finally, I let out a long drawn sigh, resting my head in my hands, running them through my tangled locks.

That was probably the worst of the weird dreams I've been having lately. Ever since I left Liber Base down near Stellos, I've been having dreams about war, and other military problems Vesperia has been having lately.

I turn my head a bit, seeing the hologram clock beaming softly on the wall, reading the time, late as I already know, and the date; the 14th of Ortus, year 3000. I sigh, rubbing my neck as I begin to think on the past few years. Since the early 2990's, Vesperia, and the neighboring country of Earth, Orienus, have been at odds with the Noxcus, one of the most powerful Terrestrial Societies in our known universe. Many of the Societies are peaceful and are ruled by kind beings, though there are a few that are ruthless and are power hungry, which the Noxcus happen to be.

Though, it wasn't until that dark day five years ago that things turned to war. One minute, there was a peaceful town in Plannis Valley, a region at the heart of Vesperia. Then, in a matter of minutes, a small fleet of Noxcus war crafts descended on the largest city of the valley and massacred 9,000 people, men, women, and children, all slaughtered in cold blood. This enraged the Vesperian and Orien people and our Vivrex's, who together with our many Terrestrial Allies, sought the ruler of the Noxcus to learn why they killed. And in one sentence, the Noxus leader, who they apparently call the "Regerus", launched the war.

". . . Ultimate obliteration to your children, and to all Sapien, for I will spill all blood."

At the start of the war, I was just about to turn 16 years old, and was immediately put into the Vesperian Military Academy with many of my friends and neighbors to become a soldier to fight against the Noxcus. I spent three years learning that was needed to be known on strategy and the weapons we would be using. I learned about the Noxcus' history, and our own, as well as some of our top allies; Altuvalen and Jacboatus. I was taught the basics on how to speak the top 6 languages of the Universe, which include English, which I already knew, Japanese, Nocan, Altum, Faxsens, and Saxcotes. At the same time, I was trained on how to use the weapons I had been taught about. I went through hours of combat courses. I learned how to survive out in desolate places. I was made to memorize what is edible and what is poisonous in the Vesperian wild. After that, with me passing the exam with some of the highest scores, I was posted down south in Stellos.

Though, a few weeks ago, I was called forward with about fifty others to move bases. We all left yesterday, and are currently staying at a private military camp for the night, as we won't be at our new assigned base till tomorrow. We're going to one of the top bases in Vesperia in fact, Base 035, Gelus. The base is very well known for it's high caliber soldiers, advancing technology, and one thing that no other does.

They're studying a new type of soldier that I've recently read about.

Apparently these soldiers are stronger, and are described to even have powers. They were discovered around a decade ago, but it wasn't until recently that information on them was allowed to circulate in other bases. What has been released, however, is sparse, not relaying how they were discovered, or even what they look like, only telling that they're advanced beings, and have been said to be probably the best thing for the military since the invention of guns. That's saying something.

Thinking over everything, I sigh, and lay back down, looking up at the ceiling. Shadows dance on the pale gray, lulling me back into unconsciousness. Though, before I know what's happened, I'm being shaken.

"C'mon Man, wake up!"

"H-Huh, what?" I say groggily as I sit up.

"Dude, we have an hour before we gotta go. Get ready Man!"

I look over to see Cent, my best friend from my home town standing over me, looking at me with a bit of annoyance. He has curly red hair and warm brown eyes, pale freckled skin, and a normal build. He's shorter than me, my still decent height, roughly six feet. I watch him for a moment, than yawn, "Hey Mr. Leprechaun."

Cent glares at me in a non-seriously manner, and hits me lightly upside the head in response to my joke. "Seriously Man, we gotta get ready before the Colonel comes around," he says as he walks away.

"Alright, alright," I reply, moving my blanket aside as I turn to hang my legs off the side of the cot. I take off my shirt as I stand, throwing it into the basket of dirty clothes I keep beside my bed which I clean once every other day. Unlike back at home, we only have a few articles of clothing, those of which are necessary, being three or four T-shirts, if lucky, two pairs of shorts, 2 pairs of long pants, one insulated for cold, one more like dress pants, our long sleeve squad shirt, one thick jacket, one coat, our tool vest, then two pairs of boots. The only other thing we have are our dressy uniforms that we wear on special occasions. I usually just wear one of my T-shirts and shorts to sleep in, while others just sleep in their boxers. But I don't like that, not that I'm self-conscious about anything, I just, y'know, like knowing that if we're attacked, I'm at least wearing clothes.

I sigh and look up, meeting my reflection in my mirror above the sink. My hair is a bit messy as usual, though my blue eyes seem a bit puffy for some reason, though it'll pass. I shave, being careful not to cut myself as Cent tries to carry a conversation, something he knows I'm not a fan of.

"So dude, how last night?" Cent asks.

"What do you mean?" I reply as I finish the first pass.

"I mean did you have any nightmares again?"

I've told him about all my bad dreams and nightmares that have occurred recently. He's the only one I trust with the information, as I am the type that doesn't like to share private things that are bothering me, so it's nice to have him around to talk to. Though, this time, I don't know if I want to tell him about this dream. It was too real to me. I thought I was actually experiencing all that was happening. I really thought I was blind, that I had been thrown against a wall, that my arm was actually dislocated. I truly thought I was in pain.

"No. . . . no," I trail.

Cent looks over me, and groans. He rests his weight against his own sink which is on the opposite side of the room, right next to his cot. That's right, we share a room.

"Dammit Goro, tell me what's wrong," Cent says.

"Goro" is my nickname. Although my full name is Isugoro, when we were young, Cent was too lazy to call me by my real name, so that's what he started calling me, and it stuck for all these years.

"Nothing is wrong-" I start.

"Oh don't go trying to tell me that crap. Dude, how long have I known you?" Cent interrupts.

"Cent-"

"No, how long have I known you?"

"Since we were seven."

"Yes Sir, seven, meaning how many years now?"

"Thirteen, but still-"

"But still nothing Man, I know when there's something going on, and you're not talking. Now talk."

I stare at him, looking him right in his brown eyes. They're concentrated and focused, meaning that he won't let up on me. Once Cent makes up his mind, there's no stopping him. I sigh as I get the last part of my face shaved.

"It was nothing, really. Just a very realistic dream," I say.

"Ah ha!" Cent says, feeling victorious, "So you did have a bad dream."

"Really, it was just a dream."

"Well, what happened?"

"I was in some war zone," I say as I splash water on my face.

"Alright, keep going," he says as he turns around, picking up his tooth brush.

"Well, I couldn't see anything-" I start.

"Was it night or something?" he interrupts again.

"No, I was blind," I explain as I lean against my own sink.

"What the hell?"

"Yeah, and I could hear people trying to tell me to return to wherever they were, but I kept saying no."

"Why?"

"I was trying to save someone I guess."

"Who?"

"I don't know who she was-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait, She?" Cent interrupts, turning around as he puts his toothpaste on his toothbrush, "You were trying to save a girl?"

"That's what I'm guessing," I reply with a shrug.

"So what, was she your girlfriend or something?" he questions.

"Hell if I know, I never found out anything, other then that she was associated with the Noxcus."

He just stares at me for a moment, before he sighs like an ashamed father. I raise an eyebrow, unsure what to think as he turns back around, commenting more to himself than me, "Damn, you got a weird taste in girls."

"I do not-" I begin.

"You were trying to save a Noxcus Chick, dumb ass," Cent interrupts.

"I don't think she was a Noxcus," I comment.

"You just said she was a Noxcus-" he starts.

"Associated with, not a Noxcus," I correct.

"Same difference," Cent says, making a strange face in the mirror for me to see.

I chuckle. Cent has always been a funny and outspoken guy, probably one of the most out of all the friends we have in the squad. But hey, that's probably what makes him popular with everyone; especially the girl members.

"But then, I got hit with something," I say, continuing my story.

"What? Shrapnel?" Cent asks, before he begins to brush his teeth.

"No, it was more like an energy burst or something. But whatever it was it sent me flying into a wall," I reply.

"Ow, sounds painful," he comments, his voice a bit distorted as he continues to brush.

"It was."

"Wait, you felt it?"

"Yep, every break, tear, and dislocation."

"Damn, I hate those kind of dreams, they're a bitch."

"Yeah, well, got up from that, and then there was this really bright light-"

"I thought you said you couldn't see."

"Not till this happened."

"Oh."

"Yeah, and the I saw something blue, and boom, I woke up."

He doesn't answer quickly, probably processing what I've described. He may say something wise, which happens every so often, and would be much appreciated at the moment. Yet, instead, all I get is a shrug, and him saying with an uninterested tone, "Hmm, sounds weird."

"You're the one that wanted to know," I sigh. Oh well, maybe next time.

Without warning, Cent's expression becomes more animated, realizing it's time for his favorite type of question; the psychological reasoning. "So, what do you think it means?" he asks with a smile on his face.

"Uh, I don't know. Maybe that we're going into Hell," I say in monotone. Instantly, his energy depleats about fifty percent. With his toothbrush sticking out of his mouth, he turns and sends me a humorous glare, which I reply to with a smile. He knows I did it on purpose just to ruin his fun.

After a minute, he turns back, sighing, "Yeah, the Military is so much fun."

I laugh at him as he moves his tooth brush around his mouth, doing a little dance as he does so, trying to keep a beat.

"Yep, it is," I say somewhat sarcastically as he takes out his toothbrush.

He grins, then leans over, spitting into the sink and rinsing it out before he turns back and says, "And what about the girl?"

"What about her?" I ask.

"Think you'll meet a girl that you'd risk your life for?"

I shrug, replying honestly, "Probably not. Remember, it was just a dream."

"Who knows, maybe it was a premonition of the future," Cent says, making weird motions with his hand as he grabs the cup of water he normally has sitting on the edge of the sink, tilting it back like a shot glass as he brings it to his lips.

"Yeah, let's go with that," I say with a smirk as I pull on a new T-shirt.

Within the next twenty minutes, I get fully dressed in my attire, as does Cent, coming out of our room at the same time. We hurry quickly to the cafeteria to make it just in time to sit with a few friends at the table before the Colonel walks in. He looks over us, his small beety eyes picking out every man in the room, scavenging to see if anyone is missing as he walks over to the stand. The Colonel is short, standing probably around the height of 5'3". His hair is grey and receding under his officer's cap, the setting sun insignia that represents Vesperia clipped to the front. He wears an official uniform of our country, green, and looking somewhat like what the uniforms those the Americans wore back a thousand years prior.

Our military take a lot from them, and the knowledge of the ancient country of the United States has spread worlds wide. The U.S., as it's abbreviated, is said to have been one of the greatest countries ever to have a pull in the world, a symbol of freedom and the highest of respect. Even to this day, those who're born within the original American borders pride themselves in the fact that they walk on the soil which so many historic figures called their homeland.

But, even the great country of America wasn't immune to terror and war. In fact, they were at the center of the dark time known as the Continental Apocalypse, when chaos raged upon all nations from the early 2200's to as late as 2400. It only ended when so many had lost their lives, and only a handful of nations remained. The United States, the largest of the surviving people, called those still standing to join and start anew. It was decided by the majority that the lands would be joined with those around it, the western countries creating the continent country of Vesperia, and those of the East created Orienus, our sister continent country. This time is known as the Great Uniting, and since, war has been little, only a few uprisings here and there in the past few centuries due to a few greedy Vivrexes.

My attention is pulled back as I hear the Colonel cough into the mic, signaling he's starting. "Alright Men. Today, you will be walking into Gelus as a new and honored Gelus Base Soldier. You will become some of the top soldiers in Vesperia, and will get the once in a lifetime experience to interact with things that many recruits do not," Colonel says, "I am honored to of been able to train you for this day Soldiers. May you make all of Vesperia, Orienus, and our Allies, proud."

With that, he steps to the side of the stand, we all standing in reply. He raises his right hand to his temple, and we do the same. This is one of the things I was talking about that we adopted from the U.S., and I've always thought this was an interesting way of signing off in a way.

"Fight with the setting Sun-" Colonel says.

"For the coming Sun of tomorrow," we all reply.

"Carry your Arms-"

"For the Arms of your Brothers."

"Fight for the Light!"

"Fight for our Right!"

"Vesperia!" Colonel yells.

"Vesperia!" we yell back.

Colonel grins, and sets down his arm, allowing us to sit and start our meal. Cent and the others talk giddily around me, talking about some girl Cent had gotten the attention of the other day during training. I look over my shoulder at the rising Sun. We are in a valley beside the mountains, right outside the Summan Territory, which Gelus is located in the heart of. The peaks look high and majestic as their snow caps reflect the rays of light. Pine trees line the skyline, and I can see birds flying above. Everything here seems peaceful, hiding the Hell that is on the other side of those mountains.