Post by Allenric on Jun 15, 2011 20:24:49 GMT -5
re·birth (r -bûrth , r bûrth ). n. 1. A second or new birth; reincarnation. 2. A renaissance; a revival
Gary Karon knew only one way to live his life. As a solider.
Joining the United States Marines as soon as they would accept
him, he embraced the teachings and discipline that the Corp drills
into your being from day one.
Although he was far from the best soldier that his beloved Corp
could produce, his skill, heart and determination saw him rise
steadily from within the ranks. And each time his country offered
him a chance to either leave or re-enlist, the ink was on the line
before they could finish the question.
His mama may have brought him into the world, but the Corp
made him who he is.
---
It is said that wars are good for business. But Gary would
disagree. Although he willingly answered the call when his
Command and Chief ordered, he was hardly a war monger
and knew that sometimes, the only means to ending a
conflict was through combat.
His last deployment would be etched in his memory for a long
time.
A desert town swarming with insurgents. Out numbered
and pinned inside the crumbling remains of a long abandoned
residence, a call came through layered in static and radio
interference: "Civilians trapp..d betw..n enem.. fi..e and
advancing frie..dly air support. Any units wit..n range of
coordinates?"
Pressing the talk button on his radio, Gary acknowledged the
transmission and stated that he was advancing to the position
coordinates to assist.
Upon his arrival, the reported 'civilians' were disguised insurgents
being used to lure responding soldiers into a trap. Although Gary
took out several, there was too little cover and more enemies
then he could handle.
He was shot several times. If it were not for the arrival of the
air support of his allies, Gary would surely have been killed
in the spot. As it was, when he was eventually transported
from the battlefield, Gary Karon was not expected to survive
his injuries.
---
Waking in the hospital, the sounds of the medical equipment
helping him breath droned loudly in his ears. For some reason,
it made him think of Darth Vader.
Several alarms went off and medical staff came running. After
several shots in his IV Line, darkness began to close around
him.
With the darkness, a glimmer appeared. Looking like a glowing
translucent Squid, Gary struggled to open his eyes but a calm
and female sounding mental voice echoed all around him.
"Fear not warrior. I am not here to harm you." stated the
glowing form.
"Who are you?" asked Gary in response. His voice sounded
strange to his own ears."
"You are not actually awake Gary Karon. I have come to you
inside your mind. The drugs you were given make it possible
for me to reach you."
"What do you want?"
"You are dying. The machines that are helping you breath for
the moment will not be able to prevent this."
"Are you here to see me off to the other side?"
"I am dying as well warrior. My kind can exist only in symbiosis
with another. My host was killed not long ago and I was barely
able to free myself before her death also claimed me."
"I hate to break it to you, but you just said I was dying too."
"I did. However your current condition can be cured with my
assistance. My last host was killed too quickly for me to prevent,
but if we were to merge as one then I could heal your wounds
and make you more then you were before."
Gary sensed a big BUT hanging over this offer. "What do you
get in return?"
"I will continue to exist."
"And let me guess, you will have a brand new body in which
to inhabit. Allowing you to secretly take over the world.."
The laughter surprised Gary. It was light and very musical-like
in his mind. "Gary, my kind are explorers and we don't seek to
dominate those we bond to. Your body and mind are your own,
however my memories and abilities will become yours to access
when needed."
Just then, the peaceful sanctuary of Gary's mind was shattered
and outside sounds and an alarm could be heard.
"We're losing him!" Yelled a male voice.
The mental voice Gary had been communicating with had become
almost a whisper. "Gary, there isn't any more time. You must
choose to accept or refuse my offer. My kind can not bond with
or heal a dead host."
Gary struggled to keep this mental image of the squid-like being
in his mind. Breathing had become much more difficult and just
as the final darkness of oblivion tried to claim him, he croaked
out his answer "I...Accept..."
(To be Continued)
Gary Karon knew only one way to live his life. As a solider.
Joining the United States Marines as soon as they would accept
him, he embraced the teachings and discipline that the Corp drills
into your being from day one.
Although he was far from the best soldier that his beloved Corp
could produce, his skill, heart and determination saw him rise
steadily from within the ranks. And each time his country offered
him a chance to either leave or re-enlist, the ink was on the line
before they could finish the question.
His mama may have brought him into the world, but the Corp
made him who he is.
---
It is said that wars are good for business. But Gary would
disagree. Although he willingly answered the call when his
Command and Chief ordered, he was hardly a war monger
and knew that sometimes, the only means to ending a
conflict was through combat.
His last deployment would be etched in his memory for a long
time.
A desert town swarming with insurgents. Out numbered
and pinned inside the crumbling remains of a long abandoned
residence, a call came through layered in static and radio
interference: "Civilians trapp..d betw..n enem.. fi..e and
advancing frie..dly air support. Any units wit..n range of
coordinates?"
Pressing the talk button on his radio, Gary acknowledged the
transmission and stated that he was advancing to the position
coordinates to assist.
Upon his arrival, the reported 'civilians' were disguised insurgents
being used to lure responding soldiers into a trap. Although Gary
took out several, there was too little cover and more enemies
then he could handle.
He was shot several times. If it were not for the arrival of the
air support of his allies, Gary would surely have been killed
in the spot. As it was, when he was eventually transported
from the battlefield, Gary Karon was not expected to survive
his injuries.
---
Waking in the hospital, the sounds of the medical equipment
helping him breath droned loudly in his ears. For some reason,
it made him think of Darth Vader.
Several alarms went off and medical staff came running. After
several shots in his IV Line, darkness began to close around
him.
With the darkness, a glimmer appeared. Looking like a glowing
translucent Squid, Gary struggled to open his eyes but a calm
and female sounding mental voice echoed all around him.
"Fear not warrior. I am not here to harm you." stated the
glowing form.
"Who are you?" asked Gary in response. His voice sounded
strange to his own ears."
"You are not actually awake Gary Karon. I have come to you
inside your mind. The drugs you were given make it possible
for me to reach you."
"What do you want?"
"You are dying. The machines that are helping you breath for
the moment will not be able to prevent this."
"Are you here to see me off to the other side?"
"I am dying as well warrior. My kind can exist only in symbiosis
with another. My host was killed not long ago and I was barely
able to free myself before her death also claimed me."
"I hate to break it to you, but you just said I was dying too."
"I did. However your current condition can be cured with my
assistance. My last host was killed too quickly for me to prevent,
but if we were to merge as one then I could heal your wounds
and make you more then you were before."
Gary sensed a big BUT hanging over this offer. "What do you
get in return?"
"I will continue to exist."
"And let me guess, you will have a brand new body in which
to inhabit. Allowing you to secretly take over the world.."
The laughter surprised Gary. It was light and very musical-like
in his mind. "Gary, my kind are explorers and we don't seek to
dominate those we bond to. Your body and mind are your own,
however my memories and abilities will become yours to access
when needed."
Just then, the peaceful sanctuary of Gary's mind was shattered
and outside sounds and an alarm could be heard.
"We're losing him!" Yelled a male voice.
The mental voice Gary had been communicating with had become
almost a whisper. "Gary, there isn't any more time. You must
choose to accept or refuse my offer. My kind can not bond with
or heal a dead host."
Gary struggled to keep this mental image of the squid-like being
in his mind. Breathing had become much more difficult and just
as the final darkness of oblivion tried to claim him, he croaked
out his answer "I...Accept..."
(To be Continued)