Tribute to a Fallen Hero
Here is a little spin off of one of my other works 'The Spyro Chronicles' However it doesn't involve Spyro or any dragons for that matter, it is however in the setting of the series and chronicles the adventures of another character. This was actually a story I had been meaning to write and then I did write it for a school project and well here it is, hope you enjoy it.
Tribute to a Fallen Hero
Private Jonathan Lorain ran down the street, his M78C Carbine swaying slightly as he ran. He heard the soft sounds of his boots hitting the concrete along with the occasional Splat as he stepped in a puddle of water created by the soft drizzle which had begun to fall.
Lorain heard chatter behind him along with a lot of new sounds. He swore as he looked around for cover. He spotted a creator in the street and jumped into it. He unloaded his Carbine and ensured that it had a full clip of .30 cal ammo in it. As he placed the clip back into the weapon he had a glimpse of the past. He remembered it all as if it were happening in front of him this very instant.
This all started long ago, long, long ago. Around 2100, the United Earth Republic (UER) was formed. Humanity had colonized maybe two dozen worlds and all were under one government. Things had been peaceful for a long time until a small Communist rebel group started to attack United Earth Republic Armed Forces (UERAF) bases.
At first the rebellion was small and not much of a threat to the UER. The UER didn't even have to send in any Marines or Army Infantry to halt this rebellion. That was then. This is now.
A few years ago, in the Zeta Riticuli system, on a colony known as Sirus 12, first encounters with an alien race went sour. These aliens were reptilian in nature, having purple, scaly skin as well as definite bi-pedal reptilian features.
They called themselves Lakadors and they laid siege to Sirus 12. The 7th battle group, the United Earth Republic Navel Forces (UERNF) detachment stationed there, returned to Earth saying how a fleet three times their size attacked them.
Apparently, the Lakadors had allied the Communist Rebel group and had doubled teamed the UER. They destroyed worlds and killed millions who wouldn't submit to their cause. As they pressed their attacks, more and more submitted to them, thus increasing their ranks. World after world fell to them.
During the course of all this, the Lakadors had given the rebels some sort of magical energy. This gave the rebels the edge over the UER. According to intelligence reports, the rebels were also lending a helping hand to the Lakadors, giving them access to nuclear weapons so they could deal with a problem they referred to as the 'Plague'.
It had been 5 years since Sirus, and now there were only a few backwater colonies left. Now Lorain was on Earth. He was in the United States. More specifically, he was in Threshold, the capitol city and headquarters for all the UERAF.
Lorain was a member of the United Earth Republic Army Infantry (UERAI). He was in the 472nd Infantry Division, Theta Company. They had been called in to help repel the rebels and Lakadors who were attacking the city. Hundreds of Marines and Army Infantry valiantly defended the city, but to no avail.
Only a few days after the first shots were fired, much of the UER defenders were dead. The remaining UER forces were told to fall back to Rally Point Alpha. It was a desperate plan to hold them off until reinforcements arrived from the other colonies.
Lorain's Company had been falling back to the rally point when they were ambushed. They had all been killed. Lorain had barely escaped death and had managed to miraculously escaped death's cruel wings. Now Lorain was alone, no-one there to help him. No-one there to help him in his time of need. He was all that was left.
Lorain had managed to reach Rally Point Alpha to find it empty. Jaguar 8778 MBT (Main Battle Tanks) lay destroyed, marines lay face down in the street, and all of Lorain's hopes lay with them. With all the forces at Alpha destroyed, there was no hope for Threshold, Earth, or even the UER itself.
Lorain came back to reality, feeling the light drizzle stain his uniform brought his senses to and he clutched his M78C tightly in his hands. He peered his head over the top of the creator scanning for hostiles. He saw nothing but destroyed buildings, blown out cars, and forgotten hope. He sighed sadly before getting out of the creator and jogging down the street once again.
The water from the drizzle felt great against his skin, drowning all of his troubles and washing his worries away. However, Lorain had to concentrate on his surroundings. He heard shouts from behind him and heard loud CRACKs. He turned around to see muzzle flashes dotting the buildings behind him. The flashed emanated from windows, rooftops and behind overturned concrete. They fired from their concealed positions in an attempt to kill the lone infantryman.
Lorain speed up in an attempt to find cover. However there was none that he could use so instead he ran in a zigzag pattern to avoid the wall of bullets zipping past his head. The bullets impacted the street in front of him, kicking up large clouds of dust obscuring his vision.
Suddenly though the clouds being made in front of him he had another vision of the past. He felt as though he were escaping from the ambush he had escaped from earlier. He saw his friends and fellow soldiers, fighting to survive. When they had gotten ambushed all of his friends, those who he had grown close to over years of combat, had been killed in front of him.
He watched as they all fell, one by one, like helpless animals. Then he saw his best friend, Private Michael Webster, die for him. Webster and he were amongst the last soldiers fighting. They didn't have much cover so they were out in the open. A Lakador placed his gun sights on Lorain, about to kill him. Webster saw this and was about to kill the Lakador but his rifle was out of ammo.
Thinking fast Webster leapt in front of Lorain. The Lakador then fired a burst from his rifle, nailing him in the back. Webster yelled out in pain as the bullets penetrated his skin. Webster's knees buckled and he slumped forward to be caught by Lorain who was standing in front of him. Lorain brought his Carbine up and leveled it out. He used his left arm to hold onto Webster while using his right to align the weapon's sights. He aligned them on the attacker's head and squeezed the trigger. The .30 cal rounds blew through the Lakador's head, effectively killing it.
Lorain laid Webster down on the street beside him and then they looked each other in the eye. Lorain had been fighting off a wave of tears at this point and could contain it no longer. He felt a waterfall of tears stroll down his face and fall onto his comrade's chest. Webster managed a weak smile. Lorain let out a small sob and continued to look his friend in the eye.
"Why'd you do it?" Lorain asked, a tear falling from his face and staining Webster's uniform.
"Because you are my friend..." He responded.
"But you had more to live for... I should have died..." Lorain said, hanging his head low in shame.
"No... I would have never been able to live with myself if you died and I could have done something to stop it..." Webster said with tears running down his own face, collecting on the street beneath him. They heard sounds all around them and they saw figures moving in the shadows.
"Go! Leave me, live to fight another day..." Webster said to Lorain who hesitantly got to his feet. They heard shouts all around them and a few Lakadors running towards them from down the street.
"I can't leave you here for them!" Lorain told him.
"Just go, I'll hold them off!" Webster said while drawing his pistol from it's hoister. Lorain started to go but looked one more time at his friend lying on the ground.
"Remember what I said: live to fight another day!" Webster yelled as he worked the pistol's slide, loading the weapon. Lorain bolted into a run and he heard Webster yelling in adrenaline and firing the pistol. He heard Lakadors scream as they took hits. The gunfire was silenced and a eerie silence filled the city. It then began to drizzle.
Lorain was brought back to reality as he dodged this way, and that, trying to dodge the bullets being fired at him. He kept up his hunt for cover but there was none to be seen. He almost tripped and he knew that if had, it would have spelt the end for him. He continued to run down the street as the bullets flew past him and impacted the street.
Lorain felt angry now, angry for what had happened, angry for what was happening, angry at the Lakadors and rebels for killing millions of innocent people. He felt anger for all those who had died in this pointless war, and for what? The defense of a government that was being attacked by these selfish traitors who would gladly kill millions so they could live their own way and control all of the colonies? The defense against a hostile alien race who only wanted to kill those who opposed the rebels? And what was this "Plague" that the Lakadors were so bent on destroying?
He felt anger growing in him. His best friend had died protecting him, his fellow soldiers had died fighting a hopeless battle, he couldn't stand it anymore. He suddenly remembered the words that his Sergeant had once told him long ago: "What you do now makes a difference."
He had the chance to make a difference. He might not be able to stop the rebellion or the alien onslaught, but he could sure as hell kill the ones shooting at him.
He was still running in the street when he stopped mid-step, turned swiftly around and brought his M78C Carbine up to bear. He leveled it against his hip and pulled the trigger. The barrel flashed and the gun kicked backwards a bit as the .30 cal rounds left the gun and cascaded down the street.
The bullets impacted the building across from him, the Armor Piercing (AP) ammunition cutting through the walls and continuing into the room. Lakadors and rebels alike sought cover to avoid being killed. Some did fire back at the lone infantryman, only to get cut down by the Carbine's .30 cal ammunition.
Lorain let the empty casings fall from the gun. He felt a wave of adrenaline rush through him as he fired the rifle. The weapon finally stopped when he had exhausted the clip of ammo he had in it. He turned and began to run once more. As he did, he let the empty magazine of ammo fall from the rifle, only to get replaced with a full one.
Lorain continued to run until he saw a building with a balcony further up the road. The balcony was supported by pillars which were perfect for cover. He jumped towards it and slapped his back up against it. He saw more clouds of debris being kicked up by bullets.
Lorain began to look around at his surroundings. He spotted a blown up Jaguar tank and several dead infantryman lying next to it. He felt more anger build up in him and he pivoted his body so that he could fire around the corner. He leveled his Carbine out and aimed with the sights. He once again pulled the trigger.
Lorain let out a loud roar of adrenaline as he felt the Carbine kick against his shoulder. The .30 cal rounds flew down range once again. Lakadors and Rebels once again sought cover. Even so, the AP rounds penetrated it and claimed their lives.
Lorain heard sounds from behind him and turned just in time to see a Lakador swing a large metal sword at him. He quickly brought his Carbine up and blocked the blow. The creature applied more force in an attempt to overpower the human. Lorain felt the creature winning but he knew he couldn't loose, not here, not now.
He let the creature take the winning side and let go of his side. The Lakador was nonetheless surprised with the lack of resistance being applied to the rifle. Lorain then took advantage of this and lifted his knee up, delivering a kick to the groin. The Lakador came off of Lorain and staggered a bit. Lorain then leapt forward and turned his rifle around, using the back of his weapon he hit the creature in the face. He then brought the weapon up again and delivered yet another blow to the face. He then lifted his boot and kicked the creature in the stomach, sending it onto its back. He followed this up with a short 3 round burst from his Carbine. The Lakador's chest armor exploded outwards and blood trickled from the wounds. The creature squirmed for a few seconds before dying.
At the corner of his eye Lorain spotted a group of rebels sneaking up on him. He turned to their direction and fired off the last of the bullets in his magazine, killing the group. Lorain dropped the empty clip from the gun and was in the process of loading another when he heard gunfire and felt something hot and sharp penetrate his left leg.
He howled in agony as he fell to the ground, grasping his wound. He continued squirming until he saw something lying next to him in the street. It was a picture. He picked it up and realized it belonged to him. It must have fallen out of his pocket or something, for this picture was very dear to him. It was also the window to a very painful memory he had been trying to forget for a long time now. It was a picture of his wife and only son. It reminded him of the Battle of Desmal and the countless lives lost there.
About a year ago, Desmal, one of the UER's finest colonies fell under attack by the rebel and Lakador forces. After a weeklong campaign the colony was doomed. The UER initiated an evacuation and millions of evacuees struggled for a way off of the planet. Many of the residents never had approved of a Communist government and were not about to fall under its cruel wings. Two of the residents were Lorain's wife and only son.
When all of the colony ships came back to Earth Lorain struggled to find out who had escaped and who hadn't. The UER had made a list of all those who were on board the ships. When Lorain got the list, his heart sank into a pit of despair as he read his wife's and child's names under the 'Dead' list.
Now all he had to remember them by was this photo, and now it was stained with his own blood. Instead of feeling a pang of sorrow as he usually did, he felt pure rage build inside of him. Too many people had died in this war, many of which Lorain had grown close to.
Even the finest UER defenders were dead, their corpses littering the city. The Rebels and Lakadors had conquered almost all of the UER, planet by planet. Life by life.
'They won't have Earth!' Lorain thought to himself, 'I won't let them have it!' Lorain took comfort in the fact that as long as he breathed, Threshold and Earth were still UER held. As long as he stood the UER was still alive.
Lorain reached for his Carbine and slapped a fresh clip into it. He then used the weapon as a pole to elevate himself off of the ground. He gritted his teeth in pain as the bullet wound in his right leg exploded in pain. As he finished standing up he brought his M78C up to bear and pointed it where he had been shot from.
He fired the weapon and heard a scream accompanied by a spray of blood. He smiled as he had killed his attacker. He then turned his attention to the Rebels and Lakadors held up in the buildings down his street. He aimed his rifle and fired bursts at targets he couldn't see.
He saw more muzzle flashes and felt something sharp hit his left leg. He fell onto his knees and continued to fire his weapon. More and more muzzle flashes came from the ruins and Lorain howled out in pain as he felt his left shoulder take a hit.
He let his left arm slump down and he continued to fire the Carbine with his right hand. He didn't let up, even as the pain pulsed through his body. He wouldn't go without a fight. Lorain continued to fire his weapon until he felt his body tense up and stop.
Three clouds exploded from Lorain's chest. Lorain's body tensed up and he fell onto his back from the force of the bullets. He heard his Carbine slip from his hands and clatter onto the street next to him. He felt the rain getting harder as well as a wave of coldness wash over him. He felt no more pain and all he could feel was happiness course though him. Now he could meet his wife and child. Now he could meet his best friend, if not in this life, then in the next.
His vision became blurred and he closed his eyes. He felt his body getting colder as well as the rain striking his face. He had always loved that feeling; he had always loved the rain for that matter. It was the last thing he felt before slipping from consciousness.
End
Well there it was, hope you liked it. I might make a sequel to it (which follows in the footsteps of another obviously) and it may only be a few chapters long. Remember it's a spin-off and not the story from "The Spyro Chronicles."