Derek sighed softly and set up a spot six hundred meters from the spot Truck marked on the map. "Little far for firing range for my liking, but this should do." He said as Xaldin got in a firing position with a scoff. "Puh-LEEEEEZE Darkness, this baby can fire up to thirty-six hundred meters, and you best believe I could nail that shot! Still wish they would have put me through sniper school... Shouldn't have lost my temper over that Autism joke...." Said Xaldin with a defeated sigh at the end. Derek just raised a brow, "There's that word again... My little sister got diagnosed with 'High functioning Autism' and I don't know what that means... Like she grasps things one way but doesn't with others? What does that mean? Like she's smart, but a little dumb?" He asked curiously. Xaldin grimaced and leered at him. "It MEANS she does well in certain aspects of social interaction but struggles in certain ways.... another term would be 'Neurodivergent' No it doesn't mean she's 'a little dumb'... I thought YOU'd be better than that." He responded coldly. Derek just put his hands up. "Sorry sorry! I don't know what that means! One moment I'm in high school, the next I minute I'm marrying my girlfriend so I can adopt my little sister and then joining the Army... All I really know is..... this." He said as they looked out at the bunker where the enemy was supposed to be stationed. Xaldin just nodded and sighed. "Sorry... It's just a touchy subject for me... I barely got in due to my own diagnosis, and it's caused a few fights... some people lump it in with 'Mental retardation' and it pissed me off to be called that so many times... it's cost me a lot of opportunities." He explained. Derek nodded and sighed. "That's fair, I'm sorry if I offended you... Thanks for the lesson." He told him as they prepared for alternating shifts.
A couple days passed and Fatigue started taking its toll on Derek and Xaldin. "Hey man, I think we should try and get back to base." Said Derek, but Xaldin just leered at the bunker. "They'll pop out as soon as we leave... No, I'm not leaving until I hear the soft rewarding 'Plink' sound of my firing pin connecting with the bullet." Said Xaldin. Derek shook his head and looked at their Assault packs. "Look man, with the gear I took off Truck and Golem... we only have a few days out here left at most... It was a long hike this far as is... if we don't"
"Plink.... Plink... Plink..." Said Xaldin over and over while he stared out at the bunker. Darkness just tried to relax so he could be ready for his shift. 'It's YOUR fault Truck and Golem died!' Derek just sat up at that, but he saw Xaldin muttering while staring at the bunker. "We've been in the heat too long Xaldin..." Said Derek before rolling over.
Three Days had passed and Derek had predicted correctly, they were out of supplies. Derek was starting to get worried about the trip back even more, and the nightmares were really starting to wear him down. "Xaldin... buddy... I think we might be fucked." He said, but Xaldin just began chuckling. "Any minute now First Sergeant... Plink... Plink... Plink!" He said with a dehydrated rasp in his throat. "Fuck man.... look we can't just stay out here... I'm going to see if I can steal some supplies, Cover me. He said nervously, hoping Xaldin was still mentally intact enough to understand him as he got up and travelled slowly to the bunker.
Darkness kept his rifle at the low ready, his vision was a bit foggy from fatigue and dehydration, but he knew it was do or die at the moment. As he got to the bunker, he noticed a camera pointed at him and quickly tried to circle back. The sound of a gunshot hit Derek's senses before the feeling of a bullet penetrating the right side of his chest did. Derek winced and fell as he coughed. At long last the bunker finally opened and six men came out laughing and mocking Derek as he crawled backwards. Derek glared as they could tell through their body language and attempts to sound American they were mocking him. "YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY YOU FUCKING BASTARDS!?" He demanded as they spat in his face and hit him in the forehead with an AK-47. Adrenaline was all that was keeping Derek Conscious as he spat blood back at them. "WELL GO AHEAD AND DO WHAT YOU WANT! I'M NOT AFRAID TO DIE! I'M NOT AFRAID TO DIE!!!" He screamed as the one who hit him put the barrel of their AK-47 to his head. Derek just closed his eyes as he heard a gunshot, then blinked as he heard five more, Xaldin had shot them all in the head while laughing maniacally and yelling "PLINK!" loud enough for the echo to reach Derek... Derek just coughed and nodded. "Yeah.... Plink buddy..... Plink..." He muttered before passing out from his wounds.
Derek grunted and woke up what felt like an eternity later as he sat up. "Hngh.... how long was I out?" He grunted while looking around, he was back in the medical section of the base. Lieutenant Smith just glared at him. "A WEEK!" He muttered as Derek looked around. "Where's Staff Sergeant Xavien Aldin?" He asked frantically, but Smith just scoffed. "That babbling loon is being sent home for medical discharge." He explained. Derek gritted his teeth as tears began to drop from his eyes. "I didn't... get to say goodbye." He muttered. Smith just rolled his eyes. "If I were you I'd worry about yourself... You left base for some revenge mission because two soldiers died? WE OUGHT to strip you of your rank." He said sternly. Derek gritted his teeth harder as he glared up at Smith, but Smith just continued on. "It was a mistake to promote you in the first place, you're too young and emotional... not that you were ever leadership material... honestly I'm counting the days until you get someone else kil-" Smith was cut off by a mean left hook to the jaw from Derek. Smith screamed out in pain from his broken jaw as the medical staff rushed in, but Derek was still ready for more as Smith was taken away.
Within the next month, Derek Sighed as he touched down in New York where Silver had moved with Lisa while he was Deployed. Derek was given the ultimatum of Dishonorable discharge, or time in a Military prison, and with his friends either dead or no longer accessible, the choice had been made clear. "BIG BRO!" Said a young blonde girl that Derek barely recognized as Lisa hugged him close. Lisa had grown so much that it felt like Derek barely knew her anymore. "I missed you SO much! I have a lot to tell you and-" But she stopped in horror when she saw that far-off look in Derek's eyes, she felt trapped in Darkness as if his very existence was pure pain for both of them. in her recoil, she let go and watched as Derek walked to Silver, who offered a hug. It was in Silver's Arms that finally, at long last, Derek felt fully at peace. Silver and Lisa just looked at each other in shock as the man they knew was clearly gone... This Derek... was a million-piece puzzle... one they knew they'd have to put back slowly if they even could.
Wow, this had me hooked from start to finish! It was so interesting to read about Darkness' history in the army and how it shaped who he is today. Their discussion on neurodivergence was interesting and relatable. Some people don't understand neurodivergence and are quick write off NDs as "dumb" or "faking" but Derek just sincerely doesn't understand it as he's lived in a completely different world, cut off from the rest of the world. It seems in some ways he also doesn't grasp things about the world either. I wonder if he is also ND, too? Or if he's just a product of his environment? Or both?
ReplyDeleteThe scene with the camera and the rifle was disorientating as it must have been for Darkness to endure it, so well done! This shows the brutality of his situation. There's no heart or soul among those men. They revel in the brutality of war and find amusment in it. It seems Darkness has reached his breaking point, begging for death.
I think Darkness has too much empathy for war and I don't think you can be like that to survive. I think him being discharged was a blessing, but it's too late, the damage has already been done. He isn't the same man he was anymore and there's something bittersweet and tragic about his reunion with Lyte and Silver when he returns to civilian life. He missed out on years with Lyte as he barely recognises her anymore. She's a grown woman now and a different person from who he knew before... and so is he. Lyte can see it in his eyes, the darkness inside of him and how he no longer is the same man anymore. I love that last line analogy about Darkness being a puzzle piece they'd have to put back slowly, if they could. Well, only Darkness can help himself and pull himself back together if he can. They can help him in this journey, yes, but Darkness needs to want that help, too! Excellent job, dude! i look forward to more!
Thank you so much! And actually you hit the nail on the head about Darkness! He's also ND, he just hasn't been officially diagnosed! Yes he's going to need to put HIMSELF back together, luckily he has people to help though! Very glad you liked the chapter! hopefully the next part lives up!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you came to me about this discussion between Derek and Xaldin. I don't think Derek means any harm in what he says about Lyte but he doesn't understand it and no one educated him on the topic beforehand. I can totally understand why this is a touchy subject for Xaldin and understand having many doors closed on me for my conditions (autism with PTSD and insomnia). They're not the same as mental retardation. This is something else different.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, I am glad Derek had someone to explain it to him.
Xaldin has his own issues with being obsessed with the grenade not going off, not wanting to go back, get rest, and this greatly affected his mental well-being. You can slowly see his mind deteriorating.
However, I agree with Hella. Derek has too much empathy to do this job. I feel this would be fitting for someone like my former master, but also, I feel it would be the worst thing to happen for humanity. It's a double edged sword. Him being discharged was a blessing. But I also understand him that the mental damage is done and he won't return to the way he was. I understand. I never got PTSD from anything military-related but being terrorized by my former master since I was 16. It changes you.
So yes, while the ending with Lyte and SIlver was good and he needs it, they both can see they have a lot of work to do. I feel this chapter offered a lot of development for Darkness and Xaldin. I can't wait to see the rest and am hooked!
Thank you so much for the comments! Darkness may not understand but he wants to learn and be there for his friends and family. The line about mental retardation part was based off an experience a friend of mine had, felt it'd suit Xaldin well.
ReplyDeleteThe "Plink sound is actually referring to the firing pin of the M4 Rifle, not a grenade, and it's a sound that is important to Xaldin, more on that in a bit.
Darkness might not be the same, but you and Hella were right, getting discharged was a blessing. He just doesn't know it yet.