Warfare.
A wolf talks about himself and his memories for a game company.
_ Warfare. _
A slightly hunched wolph morph walks into camera view, and takes a seat on the other side of the table. Two scars line his face, one on the right side of his muzzle, and the other slicing into his left ear. His fur is a slighly rusty brown, with some silver greys near his nostrils.
Armed and Ready Inc: We invited Gerohn Victyrt over to Armed and Ready Inc. headquarters to give some usight on modern battle, so we might make our games better for public consumption. Glad to have you with us today.
Gerohn Victyrt: "Good to be here." Leans over, shakes hands.
ARI: Let's start at the beginning, how many years have you been enlisted, and how many campaigns have you served in?
GV: "Well, I've served in 11 campaigns during my 36 years, as a GDC Operative. When released from duty, I signed up for another 12 years with the Cerberus XII's Marine Corps. No wars to be faught that time though." Smiles, and makes a sign with his left hand over his right shoulder. "Here's thinking of you, guys." Smiles. "Dumb, crazy [people]. Great fun though."
ARI: Amazing! You've been active for almost 50 Galactic Standard years? You certainly look good for those years under your belt!
GV: "That's about right, yes. When you do the math, it actually is a little more, but still." Smiles again. " And I can thank C-XII's Corps for the good looks. Not allowed to talk about that though..." Rubs jaw.
ARI: That's okay. We're sure there's plenty of things you aren't allowed to share with us. And we won't try to weedle them out, we promise.
GV: Chuckles. "Well, that's good. I'd hate to get into trouble now."
ARI: Don't worry, we here at [ARI] know confidential means confidential. Leeks can be serious problems in the gaming industry too you know.
GV: "I bet."
ARI: Okay, now lets get to know more about you.
GV: "Sure. What would you like to know?"
ARI: What is your favorite frozen lolly flavor?
GV: "What?" Looks startled.
ARI: You know, cold crystalized and stored in thermal protection sheaves?
GV: "Oh, popscicles... hm... beef, I think."
ARI: Really? They make them in meat flavor?
GV: "Oh yes, Rohn's Mart usually has about 73 different flavors. Their beef one is the best. Kinda tastes like it has a hint of mint jelly, too." Winks conspiratorially.
ARI: That's certainly interesting. How about meals cooked hot?
GV: "Oh, I'm pretty certain that would be fudge bombs. Little choco-cakes with hot centers of melted fudge. Very sweet. Very messy, too."
ARI: What is your favorite sport?
GV: "Grav-Ball. Call me a traditionalist."
ARI: Everyone's favorite. I have one signed by Jimon Shanderwahk himself.
GV: "Really?"
ARI: Yep. Even has his shoeprint.
GV: "Nice."
ARI: Well, enough about me. What do you do for recreation? Other than Grav-Ball, that is.
GV: "For the most part, I work out. Doctors say that my regression is due in part to physical innactivity, so working out helps keep it in check."
ARI: Regression?
GV: "My spine was missaligned from a Slam tournament I was in a few years back. That, coupled with a mildly rare genetic morph disorder I have, is bending me forwards."
ARI: Oh, well, best of wishes for that.
GV: "I don't worry about it. I've three surgeries coming up that should remove the problem permanently."
ARI: Three? That seems like a lot.
GV: "I've already had two. And I can say I'm quite happy with the results. I used to be almost L shaped. And I didn't feel any pain afterwards!"
ARI: My then, you sure are looking better!
GV: "My people are very good at what they do. It's why I chose them." Smiles.
ARI: That is reassuring. Wouldn't want a hero like yourself to be lost to something like that.
GV: "My thoughts exactly." Laughs.
ARI: Arlight then. Think you are up for some real questions?
GV: "Do your worst."
ARI: Hahah. Okay, we will. What is the first thing you remember about fighting at the Nezrehl Gamdon Industry construction site? Tell us the first thing you remember.
GV: "Wow... heh... wow... How to describe those street to street battles..." scratches back of head. "Uhhh... well... I suppose the first thing I can think of is the noise. It's a mix of guns, screams, explosions... Death. Yeah... You can definetally tell there's death from just the noise alone. The sounds overlap, slap you, jerk your attention... It is a very [jarring] ordeal."
ARI: It sounds like it. We've gotten a few vids from the extranet, but the sound and video quality is always so bad.
GV: "That would probalby be the electron jammers. Basically big disks that fry communications equipment with frustrating ease." Shrugs. "R&D thought it up, but they can't seem to make a defense against it."
ARI: That sounds frustrating.
GV: "It is. A lot of the time one relies heavily on mechanical equipment. You could be in a vacuum, or underwater. Anyway, at the NGI site, half of the place was unbuilt so far. I mean, push something aside, and then 4 more things bang down with it. There was metal everywhere. Nanite compressors were still active..."
ARI: Were there any civillians?
GV: "No. They had cleared out by the time we had arrived.All we had to worry about was our surroundings and the Fenzine infantry. [Heck] of good fighters. No multipersonal strategy, but one on one? It's a fair fight. Of course, that didn't happen often. Can't leave your quadmates hanging." Chuckles.
ARI: Were you ever scared?
GV: "Anyone who tells you no is a liar or not mentally fit."
ARI: Tell us more about the experience.
GV: "Well, there's smells, too. So many to sort out through. And the adrenaline is pumping so much, there's this constant rush in the background. There's so much movement, it's hard to get a good reading on the whole situation."
ARI: This may sound callous, but did anyone ever call for their 'momma'? You know... at the end, like in a vid...?
GV: Silently strokes chin a few times, looking into distance.
ARI: Sorry, we were just wondering for our next game-
GV: "No. No, don't worry about it. Just remembering some old things." Sighs. "Yes, there were many who called for their mothers at the end. [Heck], most did... Morph, human, mutant. We're all the same in the end. Bleed out, get dismembered, fry to a crisp... It's all the same in the end." Shaken laugh. "I remember... I remember the first time I was in an actual firezone... Hydraxin III... Burned in my memory and [darned] if I'll let myself forget it. Nearly fell off the [dang] drop pad and drowned..." Chuckles. "The liquid ocean there covers most of the planet. Can't swim in it. Not dense enough to support even humans, let alone a morph." Looks at camera again. "I was raw, green... Hadn't seen anyone die outside of bootcamp yet. I mean, they can repair you there, unless you take one in the head. Anyway. I was just coming off the DLZ, and I slipped. Some one, a mutant from another element, was there coordinating the landings, and he grabbed my arm. Pulled me in and smiled. We both laughed, and... then his body just... it just opened up... it was an hyper velocity projectile. Just... blew him right open. Blood was everywhere, on my faceplate, my chest, my filter intake... I didn't even hear it. Just... The slightest pressure on my front and red mist. And he fell... so slow. Like he had all the time in the world to land...No hurry. Like there wasn't a hole the size of my thigh in him. And he was laughing. Just laughing, and then gurgling... and then the death moans came over him."
ARI: Death moans?
GV: "Yeah. These moans. Hard to explain. It runs... deep in the brain. Can't make it unless you really are dying. Horrible little gasps and groans. And then most start calling for their mommas. The mutant did... they all do... Momma... momma...' a gasp or two... 'momma... moooommaaaa... momma...' And then blood replaces words, and they die in your arms while you stare and scream medic, or pull them into cover, or drag them to a medivac. It was nearly always the same..." Looks away, rubbing his eyes. "Absolutely, the worst thing... I can't explain it. You either know or you don't. You go in thinking you heard all about it and you'll be okay..." Looks up. "But you don't, and it's just awful... Its something you have to live with the rest of your life. And that [sucks]." Chuckles uneasily. "I got it easy though... I wasn't a medic." Smiles crookedly. "Now their job just bites."
ARI: Would you like it if we take a break...? You know, just to...
GV: "Yeah, that'd be good. Let me catch myself. Been a long time since I really thought about all those old times." Stands up and walks off of camera's view.
*****
This was different. That is why I did it. I don't know if I'm going to continue it.
Go check out my other works if these stories of different interests entertain you!