The Trojan Soldier

The Run

           It was sunrise, and Diomedes was running around the Reflecting Pool in Wahington D.C. when he heard a voice.

           "On your left." the man called simply, and true to his word, he dashed insanely fast past Diomedes.

          "He is going to wear out pretty quick," Diomedes thought. But he didn't. Instead it kept happening again and again and again.

          Before: "On your left," Achilles called. (Diomedes figured out by now no normal human could run that fast consistently.) "Uh-huh. On my left. Got it." This was the second time.

          Then, Diomedes was running, and he could hear someone coming up behind him. He looked over his shoulder. "Don't say it. Don't you say it." But Achilles did. "On your left." he called out. "Come on!" exclaimed Diomedes. 

          Present: Diomedes sat against a tree, panting, when he heard Achilles call out, "Need a medic?" Diomedes laughs, then shakes his head. "I need a new set of lungs." he replied. "Dude, you just ran like, 13 miles in 30 minutes." Diomedes pants.

         "I guess I got a late start." 

         Diomedes laughs. "Really? You should be ashamed of yourself. You should take another lap. Did you just take it? I assume you just took it."

         "What unit you with?" asked Achilles.

         "58th Pararescue. But now I'm working down at the VA." Diomedes holds his hand up and Achilles grabs it, hoisting Diomedes up. "Diomedes Argos."(I couldn't think of a last name)"Achilles Pelides." 

         "I kind of put that together." Diomedes pants sarcastically. "Must have freaked you out, coming home after the whole defrosting thing.

         "It takes some time getting used to. It's good to meet you, Diomedes." Achilles says while getting up to leave.

        "It's you bed, right?" calls Diomedes after him. "What's that?" Achilles calls back. "Your bed, it's too soft. When I was over there, I'd sleep on the ground, use rocks for pillows like a caveman. Now I'm home, lying in my bed and it's like..." "Lying on a marshmallow" Achilles finishes. "Feels like I'm going to sink right to the floor. How long?" Achilles asks.

       "Two tours. You must miss the good old days, huh?"

       "Well, things aren't so bad. Food's a lot better. We used to boil everything. No polio is good. Internet, so helpful. I've been reading a lot, trying to catch up."

       Diomedes thinks. "Marvin Gaye, 1972, Trouble Man soundtrack. Everything you missed jammed into one album."

       Achilles pulls out a small notepad. "I'll put it on the list." Achilles phone rings.

      "All right, Diomedes, duty calls. Thanks for the run." They shake hands. "If that's what you want to call running." adds Achilles mischievously.

      "Oh, that's how it is? Oh, that's how it is?" Diomedes repeats. "Okay." The men laugh.

      "Anytime you want to stop by the VA, make me look awesome in front of the girl at the front desk, just let me know."

      "I'll keep it in mind." Achilles says.

      "Yeah." Diomedes adds as an afterthought.

       A black car pulls up. Briseis rolls down the window, wearing her black catsuit. "Hey fellas. Either one of you know where the Smithsonian is? I'm here to pick up a fossil.

      "That's hilarious." say Achilles, with no enthusiasm. 

      "How you doing?" Diomedes ask Briseis.

      "Hey." Briseis says back.

      "Can't run everywhere." Achilles says.

      "No you can't." Diomedes asks.

      Achilles rolls up the window, and the car drives off.

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First chapter completed! If anyone ever reads this, tell me how you like it, and I'll try and correct any errors I've made. When I was supposed to type Diomedes, I typed Sam about 4567 times. Thanks for reading!

Word count (not including authors note): 561 words

                                                                                                     -Fandom_Changer23