Duty, 14: Stones That Were Our First
14 Sep 2022Meowers
Oh, hello, it's me again. Yeah, I'm really glad about that last decision to visit Mion instead of going where it's loud, or just staying in my quarters and wasting time like I'm doing it usually. It was a... Maybe a kind of rest that I needed, but without being aware of that. Certainly positive. We had some coffees and smokes on the balcony while watching the sunset and the night sky, were talking about everything and nothing in particular, going smoothly from one topic to another, enjoyed the fresh breeze... Until we saw the first stripes of sunlight on the horizon. And then we both headed for bed and slept through all next day, hah. Yeah, days and nights are short here, but nonetheless.
Can't even remember when it was the last time when I woke up freely, without an alarm, already knowing that I have nothing planned on that day. Hah. It was my usual lifestyle back then, when I spent weeks in Komotae. But seems like that military discipline got me completely and I didn't even notice that. Funny thing is, I don't mind it. Never thought I'd say something like this, but looks like it's not about the pattern itself, but about why do you have to stick to it.
Also... Well... Looks like maybe I have a friend here now. Whatever the word 'friendship' might mean for me. I told once that Mion is smart and interesting woman, but something tells me... We can possibly perceive more than the text of our words. See... I have certain difficulties with understanding some of your common human stuff; in ways of life, in human relationships, in things that are of value for people... In whatever your 'human life' may mean, and... It puts me away from people, in general. Places a thick rough glass between me and the 'world of other people', like, I still can see and hear, but... At a distance. And not in full. And letting people to be close to me is problematic. And the idea of forming any kinds of connections... I don't see a point in trying. That's difficult to explain. But Mion... Seems like she knows what I'm trying to say sometimes. And it surprises me.
Uh. Anyway. That's a long story. Let's switch to something more funny. So, with a towel on my head and a fork in my hand, textbook classic afternoon-is-my-favourite-morning look, I wrote a message, requesting an update on what was happening last night and the day after it, and everything turned out to be quite expectable. With manageable losses on our side. My glorious wing was currently fighting a hangover, with, hah, Peter being in the heat of that battle. Christine said he was quite a star both in the bar and on the dance floor until he literally dropped, and, when she ran to check him, he was... sleeping. Right in the middle of it. Under the spotlights. I hope he was smart enough not to wear AXDF uniform, hah. And David was our usual quiet and shy David. However, according to her words, well, he had his share of attention from one young lady. Or it wasn't just one? Oh, my... Those people. Hah.
Hey, hey, don't think I'm old and boring, okay? Sometimes I like to let the steam off those classic ways, but... Well, not now. I'll do it later. Some day. Some night. Perhaps. Maybe. Who knows. Hah. If, and when, I feel that nothing else could have the same effect. With less destruction in my wake.
And with all vessels grounded, the only pilot that had some time behind the sticks that day was Matthew, the 'first' ADXF wing leader, and all he had to do was to bombard the plains and water around the town with surface scanner probes from the orbit, sending the data directly to AXDF research detachment. Before we were ordered to shut down all our active scanning devices, keeping only the passive sensors, that won't give our location away. Yeah, I was right, whatever all that clean-up meant, it was aimed at maintaining the low profile and hoping that any kind of move the Thargoids are going to do next will happen away from here.
Well, I guess spending an evening to walk around the town and have a look at it wasn't such a bad idea since we had nothing else to do anyway. Finally, I had a chance to take a closer look at everything that was odd and unusual, ask Mion about it and whatever. So, I said previously that I was quite surprised with the view of the living blocks placed near the hangars. Simple, standardised buildings made of those construction modules, blocks, but these were... Armoured. Thickly. So. Every building here was like that. Metal plates, made from ship armour panels, were placed on the walls. Also, those quickly removable lids were near the windows. Some of the plates were new, some were old and scratched, and some of them had those acid marks. You can tell them from anything else after you see them for the first time. And Thargoid cannon hits. Same here. This place was attacked, and not just once.
You know those little cafés, shops, all that ground floor stuff? Here, they were placed at the top. Why? To be a shield for the living quarters below. I've seen some buildings that had several modules crushed by impacts, with people living in intact ones. Also, locals were finishing with cleaning up the streets, and... Empty shell cases and even some little pieces of Thargoid vessels were as common as beer cans. Especially near their AA turrets. They had AA turrets on the perimeter, equipped with Gauss cannons and AX multi-cannons. Fire hydrants? Doubled. With one of a pair being a classic fire hydrant, and the second one being connected to a barrel with acid neutraliser foam placed nearby.
Like... I know people can call many kinds of places their 'home', but this... Place, where a building with a piece of Thargoid vessel sticking out from the wall is a common sight to see... Kids, learning first aid in school...
I've seen several armed conflicts, between people, humans, in my past. I was helping rebels, guerrilla forces, any kinds of irregular armed formations, all over the inhabited space, to fight whoever oppressed them. I've seen people taking arms to fight for what was dear for them, against those who wanted to take it, and putting those arms away after the fights cease, but... I've never seen a line between 'civilian' and 'military' being blurred that strongly. Back there, people had fights. And had peace. We, AXDF, here, we're a military organisation and even without any military stuff to do, we're maintaining that order, that level of readiness. But, them... They're living their daily lives like that. With first aid kits in their bags and missile launchers on their balconies.
What force can drive people to live here?.. Damn. Maybe, I'll ask Mion one day. Now, I'll just admire their fortitude. They call this place their home and they won't leave it easily.
Maybe that's what this word, 'home', means? A place that you built for yourself and won't give it away? Maybe. Maybe I will get to know it one day. Maybe not. It is a bit over my head at the moment.
However, the evening ended a bit unexpectedly. So, when we were about to part our ways, a drunk man appeared from somewhere and started running towards us and yelling something like... "We're all going to die because of you!". Definitely, well, a bit out of his mind. It happens. But then... He picked up a stone and thrown it at us. Thankfully, he was drunk, or high, or both, and it flew several metres away, but I reacted instantly, unholstering my pistol and firing a shot into the air... With no visible result. Second stone landed just before my feet and I had to make a smoking hole in the road right in front of that guy. Yelling his gibberish, he ran away, waving his hands, stopping to turn around and throw a few more stones in our direction. Whatever that meant...
Mion, possibly thinking that I'm going to nail him right here, on the street, grabbed my hand forcefully, but then relaxed, seeing that it wasn't on my mind... However, something made her... Quite cold. Haven't said me a single word after that. Reaching the road intersection, said goodbye, like, automatically, and went home, leaving me thinking about... What the crap?
Shit. I will definitely have troubles with getting to sleep this night, but I'll try to distract on something. You know... It's hard to stop these thoughts from yelling at me. Like, I'm doing wrong things because me, myself, I am, as a person, is terribly wrong. Beyond repair. But what was wrong here?.. What should I say to her?.. How should I... Shit.
I'll better stop the recording here until I get to know what's going on.