Star Soldier Zackarack SIDE TRACK: [I-XI-I-III]

Zackarack Verse 1: "European Woodsman"

Well... This is new.

I don't remember having any sort of dreams or knowing about anything while I was asleep, but I do remember what happened before I blacked out. Or at least punched down by some random guy in the middle of the winter.

Come to think of it, how did I even get outdoors? What was I even doing freezing my ass off in that cold only to be smacked down by a guy in multicolored robes. And then just when I'm starting to regain consciousness, I feel some sort of warmth. A form of protection from the harsh temperatures known as the great outdoors.

And then I opened my eyes. Eyes that have been probably shut for God knows how long before now, and the first thing I see is something that looks like a bunch of wooden blocks hanging above me. Wood that looks weathered potentially by the outdoors outside. I then muster the rest of my strength to turn my head around me only to find more wood. Wood, wood, and a glass window showing me the outdoors that I've somehow managed to sleep in for god knows how long.

Everything is wood. There's almost nothing to liven up the place. Nothing like something warm on the ground or anything to make things look at least kind of appealing. Everything just smells like trees and the scent of burning lanterns.

The one good thing here is that at the very least, I can find myself sleeping on what appears to be some sort of mattress made out of the fur of some sort of creature. I looked down at my resting place and took a few seconds to analyze whatever that is, and I really can't seem to recall anything.

It's an animal, sure. People know all kinds of different animals, but this ain't anything I'm familiar with. It seems to be some sort of massive, fluffy mass decorated with red, green, yellow, and blue spots on it.

So did someone kill a bear born on a rainbow for this thing or what?

I would continue staring at my mattress before finally, FINALLY mustering the strength to stand up on my own two feet... Still naked.

So whomever jammed me in here didn't have the decency to slap some clothes on me or at least wrap me in some sort of cloth then. All I got was a hook to the jaw and some vague warning, how swell!

And then I looked around some more, all before finding some sort of package laid out before me near the front door of this "Cabin". A package that appears to have no signatures or any indication about who brought it in, but still a package nonetheless.

I mean... Would anybody here mind, really? Who would even want to live in such a banal and pretty bleak place like this? If anything, this could be some sort of housing for extra storage or some kind. Maybe this could be a package that was stored here just for the sake of storing things?

...Well, it would be rude to not try. And judging by the conditions outside, it's not like anyone would just barge in here anyways.

The package that laid before me would then be torn open by my cold, semi-awake hands. As if I'm trying to tear my way through a massive barrel of hay to find the world's most expensive needle. Paper would be sent flying across this small, dainty cabin as I frantically claw and scratch my way through this mass of bonded paper and plastics. It could be anything, really. Maybe something to find my way out of here? Maybe something to use for self-defense? Something has to be better than nothing, you know!

And then the package was finally clawed open.

...Clothes?

I mean, something IS better than nothing. I definitely need clothes after freezing god knows what outdoors, so surely this can be quite beneficial for me. The thing is... These clothes look like absolute lunacy.

The boots that I touched first seem to have some sort of pattern of three yellow triangles near the toes and circles under the sole. As if it's mimicking some sort of animal or something. Those were then followed up by a bunch of gloves that followed a similar motif with circles on the palms and claws on where the finger tips are. They feel nice, sure, but who would genuinely even wear this stuff too? People wanting to look part wolf?

The other things that I found were these jeans that seem to have some tears near the legs, a neat belt that seemed to have a bunch of silver plates on it with a series of bright red Zs etched onto them, a black shirt with a strange golden cross etched onto the front, and quite probably the most intriguing piece of apparel. A brown leather jacket with belts slapped on the sleeves for some reason and furred trimmings near the zipper and collar colored in a lighter hue.

And then the yellow spiral embroiled on the back... Well, the rest of the outfit seemed to be kind of conventional. Even slightly civilian, even, but that spiral just seems to be quite something.

After sitting and cycling through what I've just shifted through, I would then begin slowly putting these clothes on. The process would be relatively easy, although the belt would seem to be a little bit too large for the jeans. Even to the point that part of it seems to be hanging on the side, although it's not like I'd want to rip off that belt for now. Every pair of pants needs to have a belt. Otherwise, what really are you as a person?

Beltless. Beltless, and quite possibly dense.

After finishing getting dressed, I solemnly wished that I had some sort of reflective surface to look at myself with. The wood just appears to be so damp that looking at it would pretty much be useless, and ain't no way I could look through a window covered in nothing but an endless rain of snow.

The closest solution that I would have would have to be using one of the lanterns hanging against the wall. Although the glass seems to be forged in a rather low quality, I could at the very least make SOMETHING out of it.

Blonde, stylish hair that leads downwards... Red eyes...

You know, I think I look kinda alright! Even for a guy who just came into this random cabin when some random guy punched me out!

But now that I have clothes, the question is now what? The heat ain't gonna last forever and I'm going to need something to eat. Eventually, I'll have to find a way to ensure my survival here if this is to be my impromptu home. Ideally, I could probably set some sort of fire or a beacon of sorts. Just to see if some other group could probably come pick me up and take me to somewhere much more appealing and accommodating.

I don't even know how I got even HERE at this point. All I did was find myself sleeping on a mountain, being watched, and then being brought here. I have no idea how I got here in the first place or what I've done before. Hell, I don't even know my name!

Well... What could I go by then? Robert? Ringo? What would I even call myself should anyone come to my rescue? I can't be nameless my entire time now, can I?

And then I look down at my belt hanging on my side. Glancing down at the emblems hanging around my waist. The red Zs hanging from me.

...I mean, it could work? I'd be probably laughed out of any normal civilian settlement, but maybe it could just be an initial until I work something out?

Yeah, Z sounds good for now. It ain't the greatest name, but I guess it really is better than just talking to people as "Nameless" or "The Stranger". Well somebody could probably pull that off, but I want to at least have people try to at least help me out with my predicament. Thank you very much.

After figuring that out, I would then walk towards the front door and then open the door. Closing my eyes anticipating the incoming flood of snow which I'd have to get used to if I'd try to at least find some sort of food or basic form of sustenance.

And then, some sort of explosion would happen right before me. Launching me backwards into my cabin from the sheer impact of the shockwave up until I landed smack dab onto the wall in the distance.

How neat. The first thing I experience after recovering and it's something going boom that launches me square on my ass. But that explosion didn't come from nowhere, no.

It sounded fired. Fired from a weapon.

Fired from a nearby tank.