A good soldier never gives up

My decision

The next morning, all I heard was "when can we meet her! what does she look like? Is she pretty?" as I walked along the halls. I wanted to tell them to stop, but there was no end to their constant begging.

"Will, are you ready for another practice session?" Kevin asked as he passed by. "We're supposed to be working on the basics again, but I'm up for a fight already."

I nodded, "if you want to fight, I'll be there as your partner. Although it is quite different, I'm confident in my skills that I will be able to defeat you."

Kevin flashed me a smile before saying, "you're on! I'm not going easy on you."

I smiled back as he turned the corner before turning back to the others. "If you all truly want to meet her, follow me." They all nodded as they followed me like young ducklings. I wanted to laugh as they stared around at everything with open mouths. "Alright, this is the location."

Just then, I was pushed away from the door as Mason excitedly knocked on the door. Juliet opened the door with a surprised look on her face as her eyes scanned their happy faces. "Can I help you?"

"I apologize, Juliet. They literally begged me to introduce you to them." I felt awkward talking to her with all of my friends surrounding me. It wasn't something I haven't done before, but it felt different this time for some reason. I believe it is because I've never had certain... Emotions towards someone before.

Juliet smiled and took my hand, "It's okay. It's a real pleasure to meet some of the people who knew you before all this." She gestured all around, letting me know she meant the military. "Hey boys, I'm Juliet Peterson. Nice to meet you all."

As Mason introduced everyone, he turned to me and said, "you were right, Will. Your girl really is pretty." My face grew hot as I glared back at him, knowing he was saying that on purpose. "You must really like her if you're blushing that hard."

As if to save me, Juliet gave a look as if she remembered something and pulled me away from the group. "Will, that reminds me. You forgot to come for the blueprints yesterday." I was pulled inside, leaving the others outside the door, waiting for me to return.

The second we stepped inside a small office, Zac ran over to me and wrapped his little arms around my legs. He looked up at me with a little smile on his face, wanting me to pick him up.

"Zac, leave the boy alone. It's time for your nap," Mr. Peterson took his son in his arms, nodded hello, and said, "William, the plans are on the desk. Please, wait a bit until I can explain them to you and the General.''

Once he left the room, I turned to Juliet as she took a seat on the desk chair nearby. "So Will, what happened last night? I thought you were going to come over right after that meeting?"

"My apologies. I had volunteered to test a new weapon and had to attend a training session. I had no energy to fulfill that promise at that moment, so I had decided to rest up. To be honest, it had slipped my mind."

She nodded and shrugged, "no wonder. I guess it would have happened to anybody if they had so much stuff to do. Just... Promise me you won't over do it, okay? I don't want you to get hurt anymore." She looked away from me as if she were embarrassed over her request. I wasn't sure whether or not I should grant her the promise, after all, I am a soldier.

"Juliet, I promise I won't do anything reckless. I'm not going to put anyone's lives on the line for the sake of my own." If worst comes to worst, I would be willing to give up my own life for the others sake. No one else will lose their lives for me. I won't allow that to happen. "Please, do not worry yourself over me. It's not a problem."

"But I-"

"Alright, I'm sorry if I'm interrupting your conversation, but creating a counterattack weapon may be more important. " I glanced at Juliet to see an annoyed look on her face as she stared at her father. As he began to explain the blueprints to me, I couldn't help but feel as if he had interrupted on purpose. "Did you understand all of that, William Ashton."

I blinked at the sound of disapproval in his voice as he said my full name. "Sir, I understand. May I take the plans to General Kingston, sir?"

"Dad, stop talking to him like that! Will hasn't done anything wrong, so stop talking to him like he's going to destroy the world." Juliet stood up as she took the plans right out of his hands and handed them to me. "I'm sorry about that. Here's the plans."

"It wasn't a problem. I understand his feelings towards the son of Damien Ashton, so I take no offense to him. It's only natural."

As I made my way back to Grandfather, I couldn't help but feel as if I were an unwanted presence. There are so many civilians who feel as if they can not put their trust in me because of Damien Ashton. Am I truly better off dead? No. Of course not. I have a very important job to complete. I shouldn't think like that.

Leaving the plans on his desk, I ignored every attempt of conversation and made my way to the XK-01. The room around me was empty except for the machines and I. I touched my machine before climbing up the platform.

"If I truly want to bring an end to this war, I will need as much experience with this machine that I can gather. Even if I am alone, I will bring an end to the Leviathan.