Born of Blood

Faded Memories

If this world was a fair one, a just one, perhaps their excellence would be appreciated.

Unfortunately such a world did not exist, not for these children.

Solidus stood tall, hands clasped behind his back. His gaze sweeping across the kids lined up in their respective paired rows. Of the many kids that arrived, only six pairs had made it through training. Now they would spill blood. Not for freedom, not for the betterment of mankind, but for survival. At that Solidus finally stared at the pair that would spearhead this unorthodox unit.

Jack and Yorha.

Again, the veteran could not help but pity the two. Perhaps in another life neither would be here. If they weren't born they way they were, if what had happened in their past never did, where would they be? There was no doubt the two would have lived fulfilling lives, accomplished a great many of things. With a shake of his head however, the sentimentality he held for the two disappeared and was replaced with indignance.

"Your training has been completed, now it's your time to show that what we prepared you for wasn't a waste." His voice also carried weight but now more so than ever before. The children stiffened in response, heel locking against heel, arms and back straightened. None dared to look away.

Any signs of previous exhaustion or damage from training were erased, ignored, and everyone's full attention were focused. Of course not everything could be corrected in a few years. Solidus knew this, but it was this failure that would keep them alive. Jack deep seeded hatred remained within the boy's eyes, neither corrected or replaced, only controlled by Yorha's presence and the Old Man's stare.

"Jack. Forward!"

Jack did as he was told, Yorha's hand twitched the urge to follow him needing to be fought within her system. Taking the spotlight he stayed silent, his back straight, feet shoulder-width apart with his hands together behind his back. His hair had grown long through the years now reaching his shoulders. His outfit just like the others, was comprised of a simple beige military vest, forest camo pants, and a pair of reinforced black steel-toed boots.

Most of his exposed skin had been wrapped in blood-soaked bandages. Body aching in pain with each step.

Silence lingered in the air. Solidus forming the words in his mind before taking a step towards Jack. "As of today Jack will be in command of the QRK unit. His orders are your orders, those of you under his command must follow without question, without hesitation, and without failure. Should you prove a hinderance to the squad. Jack's judgement on any punishment is my judgement. It will be swift and final!"

In any other setting, there would have been refusal. However, that was neither a luxury or privilege the rest of the QRK unit had. Solidus had made his choice and perhaps out fear of him, Jack, or even Yorha none would ever lodge a complaint at leadership. Although the kids may not have known at the time, the candidates who had "washed-out" had their lives taken by the two figure heads of their unit.

Such a thing was just a part of the pair's training.

"At approximately 0600 hours you will all be shipped off to your new home. There will be no training nor will you ever see the comfort you have here now. Tonight is the last time you will eat real food or sleep in a bed. War is here and it will not welcome you kindly. Now head to the cafeteria. Dismissed!"