Life With Ares

So this is combat?

I sat in my cabin, the viewing port offered the familiar blue blur of hyperspace as we jumped to the Furana system. Four hours it'll take. Two down already. I reflected in the movie scene I'd walked out of in Admiral's office. There was so much I didn't know about Yamato apparently. He said he did independent contract work for the UPIAF, but these Monoliths sounded like something else. My heart should have been racing, knowing when we exited hyperspace, space would be lit up with missiles and lasers, some aimed at us no doubt. The metallic thunk of a knock on my door brought me back to reality.

"Come in." I said.

The door slid open to the devil himself. Yamato walked into my room with a worried look on my face.

"I forgot to drop you off." He said. It was true. In the heat of the moment, Yamato forgot to get rid of me.

"Yeah you did. Guess you're stuck with me, now." I gave him a wicked smirk. "Admiral Keers contracted your whole crew."

"No. You're not leaving the ship once we land on Furna." He crossed his arms.

"Yamato, I'm not a kid, you're not my dad, and I won't be a liability. I can handle myself." I stood my ground.

"Shiara tells me you've been shooting with her." He cocked his head to one side.

"Yeah, I'll hold my own." I stood up and crossed my arms, minicking him.

"Fine. Two rules: Lt. Landen Sage, he's our sniper. You'll stay with him once we get on Furna. If things go south, run." Yamato said, holding up two segmented metal fingers.

"Okay," I nodded, "Yamato, can I ask you a question?"

"About the Monoliths and UPIAF?" He shut my door.

"Yeah... What's the whole story...?" I said, leaning against my desk.

"Right. Well, it's true that I did do contract work for UPIAF, after my three tours. That's how I know the Admiral so well, and why he refers to me as an Operator. After my twelve years, I tried out a different life. Couldn't get used to it. I loved serving too much, so I decided I'd do contract work and make a little bit more cash, then the incident with the Monoliths put me outta commission, and while I appreciate the work I do with the Augmented Combine, I'm glad to be back with UPIAF."

"I see. Why didn't you mention your service before?" I asked.

"Cause while I loved my twelve years with the UPIAF, I don't like to talk about it much. I don't want to become just 'Yamato the UPIAF man'".

"I understand. I don't wanna be 'Mars the Psionic guy.'" I nodded.

"Exactly."

"You also said you didn't want credits, you wanted answers... What do you mean?" I hoped I wasn't pestering Yamato too much.

"Mars, these Monoliths, I don't know what they are. No one does, except maybe the Dagorans. When my team encountered it, we were trying to secure it until UPIAF could arrive with sufficient tools to analyze it. The Dagorans came out of nowhere, and my team was composed of some damn good men, but even they were shaken. They said they felt a weird sense of dread ever since we found the Monolith. Like something was watching us, or waiting. During the firefight, a black pulse erupted from the Monolith and... It was horrifying. Suddenly the Dagorans all started moving and shooting in unison. Like they were possessed. I got torn apart and barely made it outta there." He visibly shuddered. I felt a little uneasy at the story too.

"Right. You don't have to elaborate anymore. I get why you didn't want me to come with." I have a nervous laugh.

"I still don't want you to, but you're your own man, Mars." He shrugged and patted me on the shoulder. "Hopefully the Jaraxans can hold the Fishies in orbit and we won't run into them." He rolled his neck and yawned. "I'm gonna go recharge. Take a power nap." He said and left, just like that. At this point I expected Ares to do his thing, but he was quiet.