What needs to be done for a better world

Chapter 12

Samantha's smile faltered, her expression shifting to one of surprise and confusion. 'He didn't want to join?' The realization hit her like a cold gust of wind. She stared at him, struggling to reconcile the idea. How could someone who had so clearly excelled in the military, who was now an integral part of an elite squad, be doing it out of obligation?

She had seen him as someone driven, capable, someone who made decisions with purpose. Yet here he was, admitting that his path into the army was not by choice. 'Why?' she thought. 'Why would someone forced into it end up here, pushing themselves to excel in a system they didn't even want to be part of?'

The thought lingered, puzzling her. For someone who didn't choose this path, his commitment, his ability to rise through the ranks, it all spoke of a dedication that seemed out of place for someone merely fulfilling an obligation. It was something more than that. But why?

"When it was either that or prison," Ray continued, his tone hollow, "I thought I could at least learn something in the army, make the best of it, and took the bait. But look where it led... Rin died because I was there, because I, a human, was brought into your army. I know the reality, Samantha. I'm fully aware that most of you can't trust humans, but for a while, it seemed manageable. Only a few of the others treated me like any other recruit during basic training, but that... that was only temporary."

Ray's anger simmered as the memories resurfaced, and his fists clenched involuntarily. "For a long time, I was nothing but a target on those training grounds," he said, his voice growing cold with fury. "From physical violence to constant insults, hell, they even spat on my food when I tried to eat. One day, one of them even pissed on me while I was asleep, telling me it would teach me to 'stay in my place.' Below them."

His eyes darkened as he spoke, the memories of that time still raw and painful. It was as if the cruelty had never fully left him, lingering in the back of his mind, constantly reminding him of the price he paid just to exist in their world.

Despite the shame, the anger that seethed within him, Ray endured. He had no choice. Each day felt like a weight on his shoulders, but he pushed through, knowing it was temporary. "I told myself it would be worth it," he muttered, almost to himself. "Once I paid my dues, I could go back to civilian life, just... disappear into a human community. Leave all this behind and finally live in peace. Away from the pain, away from all of this."

The thought of escaping his past and the present struggles had been his only solace during those dark times.

He had vowed to follow the orders given to him, to endure without thinking, without retaliating. His only focus was survival, to make it through the hellish training and get to the end. Over time, most of his bullies grew tired of tormenting him, realizing there was no satisfaction in provoking someone who didn't react. The insults and physical abuse had lost their sting when he refused to fight back. But even so, the verbal assaults never ceased. They still found ways to trash-talk him, to remind him that, in their eyes, he would always be less than them, an outsider, a human among anthros who would never truly belong.

One day, during a particularly grueling training session, one of Ray's instructors approached him with an unexpected offer. This instructor had been quietly observing Ray for some time. He had seen the potential in him, something that the others had overlooked. Despite Ray's unspoken pain, despite the mistreatment, he demonstrated resourcefulness and an unyielding will to push forward. The instructor saw that, with the right environment, Ray could thrive.

He was also well aware of the brutal treatment Ray had been subjected to and, though he couldn't change the culture overnight, he knew that Ray's talents deserved better than the environment of constant harassment. The instructor offered Ray a chance to train with the elite forces, a move that could not only put him on a more prosperous path but also prove to the others that a human could rise to the challenge.