Esau
Corporal
Reged: 06/25/02
Posts: 74
Loc: Stevens Point, Wisconsin
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Jim's Story Part 10: Talic Dream
#84084 - 02/21/04 10:41 PM (24.197.244.193)
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The sky was blotted out from smoke coming from the burning city. Civilians where huddled together in a tight group inside an open field. Talic stood next to a Jeep armed with a machine gun and looked at the people. From behind he heard the shouts and screams of a woman being violated by a group of men in the bushes. A man in the crowd stood up and shouted.
“You bastards! I’ll kill you for this!” His face was red and spittle shot from his mouth as he shouted. Without a second thought Talic pulled his pistol out aimed at the man and pulled the trigger, the mans head exploded into a wet pink cloud and splattered those around him. Another woman screamed and a child sobbed. Talic turned to the gunner of the jeep and said in a cool voice.
“If any of them try anything, kill’em all.” He turned from the crowed and walked over to a field radio. He keyed the mic and spoke. “Red Dog 6, this is Red Dog 3, what are my orders, over.” The answer came quickly.
“Red Dog 3, you are to pull back and go to Rally point Dodge, you know what to do, over.” Talic closed his eyes for a moment and then returned to the Jeeps.
“We’re done here, getting ready to pull out before the local defense forces can get here.”
“What about them sir?” The gunner asked leaning down from his firing position.
“Kill’em.” Talic stood there for a moment looking at the people in front of him, raised his arm high and shouted. “Make ready!” The crowd looked around and a murmur went up slowly. “FIRE!” Talic shouted and brought his arm down hard. The report of rifle and machine gun fire resounded in his head. Each Tap, Tap, Tap, of the machine gun caused him to flinch as he watched the people stand up, and then convulse as they’re bodies where torn in half by machine guns. Woman, children, old men, all of them, gunned down in an orgy of bullets and blood.
Talic shot strait up in his bed, his body soaked in sweat. His hands trembled as he wiped his face. His body felt weak and his stomach was weak. Carefully Talic sat up and then stood up. Bits and pieces of the dream rushed back into his head and he could still hear the tapping. Inside the bathroom he found it. The faucet on the sink was dripping. Working the handle he got it to stop. Talic looked at himself in the mirror and felt like he looked. His eyes where blood red, hair bedraggled and face gaunt. He rubbed his chin and felt the facial growth.
Talic left the bathroom and entered his modest room in the barracks. It was a penthouse compared to many of the barracks on Neveron, but it still was very stark. Many of the soldiers in Clan Rabid Badgers service had homes or apartments off base and returned there at the end of their shifts. Talic opted to remain in the barracks. Making his way into the kitchen, if you could call it that, he reached for a bottle, it was empty, opening a cabinet above the sink he pulled out another bottle of amber liquid. 6 other large bottles of the same color sat there and Talic thought that maybe he should get more soon.
In the living room now he sat on his old couch and began to drink strait from the bottle. Taking large gulps for a moment he stopped and pulled the bottle away. He winced slightly and then reached for his cigarettes. Before he was able to light his first one there was a noise in the hallway and then a gentle tapping on his door. He was startled for a moment, but collected himself and went to answer it. With no spy hole he had to open it to see who it was. He cracked the door open and peered out. His eyes made contact with Josephines and let out a heavy sigh.
“What do you want? Come to punish me with my past some more?” Talics face was drawn, he didn’t have the energy to fight.
“May I come in?” She said softly. Her hair was down, and she looked much less formal than the last time he had seen her. ”I’m not disturbing you am I?”
“No, I, uh,” Talic sighed again. “Nevermind, yeah, come on in.” He stepped back from the door and let her enter. She did carefully and looked around the stark room. The walls where bare save for an old picture and a few newspaper clippings. A chair, couch, a large wire spool and a TV sitting on 2 ammo crates decorated the living room.
“Nice place you’ve got here.” Josephine smiled sweetly at Talic and walked toward one of the clippings. It was then that Talic noticed that she was carrying a small photo album.
“What’s that?” Talic said closing the door and motioning toward the small booklet.
“Memories,” She said without looking away from the clipping. “Capt. Talic Pride, has won his 14th duel today in a stunning victory over an unnamed opponent.” She frowned thoughtfully and then spoke again. “Impressive. You know I watched that one.”
“Did you now.” Talic said going into the kitchen to grab some glasses. “Care for something to drink?” Talic set the cups down and opened the small fridge. Inside a small container of Chinese food was surrounded by cans of beer.
“Sure, whatcha’ got?” She stepped toward the kitchen and leaned on the partition separating it from the living room and examined the glasses.
“Um, beer, whiskey and water.” Talic said without looking up from the fridge. Josephine looked at his back and examined it. She remembered the 2 scares on his left shoulder, but there where more now, they seemed to cut lines over his well defined muscles. She was staring at him as he stood up and turned to face her. There again, she saw the 2 scars, bullet wounds, just over his heart. Seeing her eyes, Talic reached up rubbed them carefully.
“Memento's,” He said.
“Whiskey,” She said taking the cleaner of the 2 glasses and retreating to the living room. She sat in the chair and reached for the whiskey, exchanged the booklet for the whiskey and stat down. Talic followed with a new bottle and sat down, hunched over on the couch. Josephine took a sip of the amber liquid and made a face.
“Strong stuff,” She commented. “Where’d you get it?” Eyeing the fluid again she brought it up to her nose and sniffed it again before taking another small sip.
“I have it special ordered from Earth, its from a place called Kentucky.” He said as he opened his bottle and took a few long pulls. Setting the bottle down he reached for his cigarettes and pulled one out. He was about to light it when Josephine spoke again.
“It’s been a while.” She commented. Talic didn’t look at her but answered none the less.
“Yes it has.” He sighed and finally leaned forward reaching for the book. “May I?” He asked before he laid his hand on it.
“Oh, by all means.” She smiled again, then stood up, took a few steps toward him and said. “May I?” Looking down at the couch next to him.
“Yes.”
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I r a m0t0rist!
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Tigre
Lieutenant Colonel
Reged: 02/10/03
Posts: 1833
Loc: Atlanta, GA
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Re: Jim's Story Part 10: Talic Dream
[Re: Esau]
#84180 - 02/22/04 01:14 PM (216.130.152.51)
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Good writing, as usual. Nice to see the depth of your character development, that's hard for most of us amateurs.
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- Tigre
Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est
- Francis Bacon
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Tenshi
Sergeant Major
Reged: 05/27/03
Posts: 259
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Re: Jim's Story Part 10: Talic Dream
[Re: Esau]
#84300 - 02/23/04 03:14 AM (24.196.181.92)
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I am oddly reminded of several of my favorite animes, mainly with the way Talic responds and "opens up" (if it can be called that). This is not a bad thing, mind you, it is something I have wanted to achieve for quite some time... I think that emotion, whatever you would call it (void, pain, emptiness...) is the true human condition for all those who accept their regrets. Truly great work, I look forward to the next piece..
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CRASH
Sergeant
Reged: 11/08/03
Posts: 176
Loc: Philadelphia, PA
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Re: Jim's Story Part 10: Talic Dream
[Re: Esau]
#84689 - 02/25/04 01:20 AM (68.81.22.236)
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Good story. Lots of detail. You put me to shame sir. Seems like once I start fleshing out my characters and scenes it starts to sound, what's the word? Dang. Can't think of it. Lame? Trite? Nuts, I can't think of the right word. See what I mean? I shouldn't be writing....
Keep up the good work.
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"It is not home if there is no beer." - Largo, MegaTokyo.com (10.12.01)
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