Welcome to New Racona
"We can't go home. There's a line men like us have to cross. If we're lucky, we do what's necessary, and then we die."-- Colonel John Kurtz.
THEN
The night looked so peaceful. The colors of the jungle were so vivid.It was raining again as expected in such a tropic environment. Everything seemed so natural, so quiet despite the rain. But not in here. This was hell. The hill was burning. The encampment was ransacked and set ablaze by the countless barrages of napalm and white phosphorous.The rain was fighting a losing battle, trying to extinguish the flames. The airfield and the landing pads were annihilated from the artillery strikes, filled with craters big as a car. The trenches and the underground structures had caved in from the explosions. The defensive positions and gun emplacements were destroyed by grenades and the sandbags were scattered everywhere. The smoke rose so high it could choke the clouds off the sky.
The dead littered the ground by the dozens. Shot, stabbed in the gut, exploded to pieces and burned to the bone. The stench of blood, phosphorous, burned flesh and fur was disgusting. In here, the only lucky ones were the dead with all their pieces still intact. No such thing for those who were breathing. The few poor souls still left alive were trying to comprehend what had just unveiled. Some were walking aimlessly trying to understand where were they, shell shocked and their faces empty of all emotion.
And there he was. He had sat with his back against the wall of the HQ, they only thing still left standing. He was hurt, badly. multiple gun wounds and hacks covered his body, his fur burned at various places. His bandages were bloodied and covered with mud and some were torn off, ripped by force. He had closed his eyes and was breathing heavily. The battle had exhausted him and he was trying to forget what he had done. His hands were all covered in blood but it was not his own.
A figure approached. He heard it. Over the sound of the flames and the screams of pain he heard its footsteps come closer. He opened his eyes. They were swollen and bloodshoted. He stared at the figure. It came closer until it was just a couple of feet away from him. It stand there.
"You did it soldier. You are a hero" said the figure.
"Don't you dare call me that." he said angrily through his teeth.
He got up, steadying himself against the wall. Limping he closed the distance between him and the figure.
"Why?" responded the figure "Can't you see it? We won! They are going to give you medals for that."
He punched the figure as hard as he could. So hard he could feel the nose bone crack. The figure fell down, grabbing its nose. It looked up at him.
"YOU MOTHERFUCKER!"
He got on top of the fallen figure and started pummeling its face with punches.
"NOBODY FUCKING WON!"
He grabbed it by the sides of its head and then slammed it to the ground. Again and again. Until the skull cracked and blood came out. Until it was dead.He got up and standed over the body.
"I don't want the fucking medals."
He didn't notice it but the some of the soldiers had gathered around. They saw him do it but they didn't stop him and he knew that they weren't going to give him up either. Not because they were afraid of him, but because they knew they would have done the same.
NOW
Summer
New Racona. A fine city, at least that's what they say. New Racona used to be a camp back in the days of the Great Immigration.But as the borders of the Nation expanded it became a little town,well, more like a station for those who wanted to go further in the west regions. There wasn't going to be much of a future after that, but then it is said that some rich folk threw in a lot of cash just so they can make villas by the lakeside. So they city prospered, it became one of the major trade areas between the East and the West regions, only to be surpassed by New Hersy and Las Coralin which were the two main trade ports of the Nation. It also excelled in wood export, one of the advantages of being surrounded by miles of forest.
They say it is a city of opportunities. In reality it isn't any different than any of the other cities of the Nation. A big downtown filled with skyscrapers,stores, clubs and businesses. The suburbs, most middle class people live here, a decent place near the highway and easily connected with the rest of the city, but not without its problems nonetheless. The lakeside.Here the rich and powerful live like kings inside their villas and resorts while looking at the wonderful sight of the lake. Then there was the ghetto. A filthy place where most of the poor souls and the criminals live like outcasts. After that it is just forest and a gigantic highway as far as the eye can see before the next major city.
Chloe lived in the suburbs.She was just walking home from her work. It has been a hard day at the shop, and having to work an extended shift didn't make it any better. The truth is that it sucked. Ever since her mother started showing signs of Alzheimer disease, Chloe dropped out of High school and found a retail job in order to cover for the house expenses and her mother's medication.
Chloe was a fox. At least from her mother's side, she got her purple fur and fluffy tail.Her hands,belly ,chest and muzzle were snow white and were the two colors met there was a a red line that separated them. She never met her father nor could she understand what he was. Her mother always told her that they had divorced, but it must have been more than that because she had never seen a picture of him in her life.
It was getting late. She needed to hurry back home, there was a lot of chores she had to do as well. The only thing that she wanted though was a hot shower so she could make the exhaustion go away, and the chilly air made her regret that she hadn't taken a jacket with her. She increased her pace but her medical mask prevented her from taking deep breaths and was she was quickly exhausted. Chloe didn't use to live in New Racona. Before they moved ,she and her mother lived in a heavily industrialized town were air pollution was common, so wearing that mask became a habit.
Parker had just finished unloading the last of his stuff from his car.He took a gaze of what he would probably call his new home. It wasn't in a good state that was for sure. There was a lot of work to be done to get it back in shape.The house formerly belonged to someone named Henrik and it hadn't seen any occupants for years. Henrik was an old mutt, who lived alone in his house but he was liked by the people of the Good Hope street. Sadly Henrik passed away and the house was left unattended and run down.
"So what do you think?" asked Harold standing besides Parker."It's not good, it needs fixing in many places ,I will find a way though. Thanks for helping me with the legal papers by the way."
"Don't mention it, it was the least i could do."Harold was a cat. A house cat with a brownish fur closing to yellow in some spots. Harold was Parker's cousin and had helped him arrange the moving, but being bound to a wheelchair restricted him of helping any further."So what are you going to do next?" he asked him."I need to get myself a job, I am thinking of construction .As of right now I am going to get some sleep." Parker replied."Well, if you need anything, my house is over there." Said Harold pointing at a house across the street."And if I am not there, my son will be able to help you." Parker didn't say anything, he just kept staring at the house without changing his serious expression.
Harold decide it was time to leave."Goodnight Parker". he turned around and rolled his wheelchair."Goodnight" responded Parker while watching Harold crossing the small road on his wheelchair.
He took a last look at the building before going inside. "I hope you are worth the trouble." he said to himself. He opened the front door and went inside.The house was very typical for the suburbs. A hallway was the first thing you stepped into. On the right there was the living room which subsequently led to a small kitchen. On the end of the hallway was a flight of stairs that led to the second floor which had a bedroom and a bathroom. There was also a retractable staircase that led to an attic. Behind the hollow wall of the stairs was another staircase that led to the basement where a heater and a clothe washing machine were installed.
The interior didn't look any better than the exterior. The wallpaper was falling off at various places, dust covered most of the furniture and some of the windows were still barred with planks.The doberman let out a deep sigh."So what happens now?"Parker didn't turn around"I need to get this shithole fixed." he said while lying down on the dusty sofa in the living room."... I also need to find a job." "And what do you have in mind?" asked Will while standing in front of him holding a cigarette in his hand.Parker looked at the ceiling."You know... construction ... as always. That until the next phone call comes in." Will was a doberman as well. He was Parker's younger brother. Although Parker was taller and older, their facial characteristics really looked alike. They only way others used to identify them was the signature bandana that Will always wore around his neck.
The sun was almost gone when Chloe reached outside her house. She noticed a car parked in the garage in one of the houses opposite of hers. "Did somebody just move in?Who the hell would decide to buy that place anyway?"she wondered."I guess I will find out soon."Although hindered by the hardships of the recent years, Chloe was always willing to meet new people and curious to get to know them.She already knew almost everybody in the street. She went up to the front door and rang the bell, surprised that it still worked.
A big, muscly doberman opened the door. He was two heads taller than Chloe and was wearing a plain white t-shirt and had a dark red bandana hanging loose in his pant's pocket. His voice deep and rough."What do you want?"Chloe tied to put on a happy face. "Hey my name is Chloe and would really like to welc..." "I don't care who you are" Parker cut her off. "Neither am i concerned what you want to do." ."But..." tried to respond Chloe. "Now leave me alone I am trying to get some sleep." said Parker dismissively and closed the door behind him.
"That wasn't very nice." Will pointed out. He had sat on of the kitchen chairs and already lit another cigarette with his zippo. He rested against the back of the chair. " And who are you to judge?"
Chloe just stood there, frowning at what had just happened. " Great! The last thing I needed is some old grump living next to me.*sigh*. I guess some people just want to be left alone." she uttered.
Ironic. Just as she was about to leave as a car, pimped and loud music coming from the speakers, stopped outside the house. Four wolves stepped out. One of the them was Jack. He was a ruffian, but more so he was reckless. He thought himself as the king of the suburbs- although that was not true- and all he did was throw his weight around and harassed people.His fur was black with green stripes coming from his neck and running along the sides of his limbs. A little hint of white fur could be seen at his chest and belly where his thug clothes didn't cover it.
"Hey babe,how ya doin?". He approached the fox .Chloe didn't answer. Jack was not a person to get involved with."Hey babe, don't be like that."Jack and his pack had started surrounding her."Leave me alone Jack, I don't want to do anything with you." said Chloe warily as she tried to distance herself.Jack grabbed her by the arm and pulled her close."Why don't you just take off that mask of yours and come with so we can show you some good time." said Jack with a devilish grin, his hand placed on her cheek."Just let me go."cried out Chloe while she tried to free herself from Jacks grip.
Will moved to the window next to the door and rested his hand against the window sill. "Do you see this?" said Will while staring out the planked window. Parker moved beside him."I do" replied Parker taking a look as well."So you gonna do anything about it?" asked Will again turning his head at Parker with a puzzled face.A low but rough growl came from Parker's throat while he still stared out the window. His teeth were showing.
He opened the door , sat under the door frame and shouted "Why don't you fools get off my lawn?"."And who are you?" said Jack releasing Chloe's hand turning to look at him.Jack moved up to the porch and stepped in front of Parker. His stature seemed small against that of Parker's who towered over everybody."Listen here hobo." said Jack with hostility while pointing at Parker's chest. "You don't want to fuck with me." he threatened. The dog seemed to ignore it."Did you hear me? I said get off my lawn now." a frown forming upon Parker's face."Are you fucking crazy? get back in the house!,"said Jack jokingly. He knew if it came down to it he wouldn't be able to fight him but his gang had his back. They all were staring at the scene with smug faces, while they still had Chloe surrounded."Yeah, I will bury your ass in the ground and then I go in the house, and I will sleep like a baby, you can count on that" Parker threatened back through his teeth.
Jack grew tired of the dispute. All this trouble just for a sick bitch anyways."I will come back old man, just you wait."Parker didn't reply. He sat there as Jack and his men got into their car and drove off.He exchanged a stare with Chloe who was astonished. Nobody usually talked back to Jack like that. Deeply Chloe felt thankful for Parker's intervention. She was about to tell something, probably to thank him , despite his rude behavior he showed before ,but he cut her off again.
"Just go home, kid." he told her while he waved his hand in a dismissive manner before he went back inside."Off to a good start!" said Will with a grin.He was puffing his next cigarette. Parker didn't say anything. He opened one of his bags and took a can of beer out of it. He lied again on the sofa and took a sip."Let's just hope it won't be too long before their next phone call."