Heritage

Heritage (Chapter 45)

Chapter 45: Stella

"Sources say that General Blake's fleet would have been eradicated had it not been for the heroic efforts of the allied race of humanoids called the Jinkor. Due to their contributions, General Blake and what remained of his fleet survived with minor injuries. Log on to your social networks and let us know your opinion on the Jinkor joining the fight. This is Arnold Dreyfus, signing off,"

The news caster finishes as I release the lump that I had been holding in my throat while clutching a pillow in fear. I turn off my television and sit back at my desk to finish up some homework. I lift my pencil and begin to write various technical information in relation to the dashboard of a specific model of fighter plane. I feel a warmth in my eyes though, as tears begin to fill them and drop on to the flawless lines of the paper. I lightly toss my pencil aside, causing it to roll in to my small desk lamp before coming to a stop. I place my hands over my face and sob uncontrollably at the realization of what just happened. I cry in both happiness and sadness. Happy that they're alive, sad that they almost weren't.

Being down here on Earth is beginning to tear me apart. I'm tired of sitting in a classroom while everyone I love is out there on the front lines fighting.

It's just as Lieutenant Colonel Myers said about being here on the first day of our instruction. "You will all be here for nine months. And it's going to be the hardest nine months you have ever endured mentally. This for two reasons. One, you will be tested to your limits with your training in an accelerated course that's supposed to take up to three years to learn everything. Two, once the hunger kicks in, you won't want to be here. And I promise you the hunger for war will take over and a lot of you will opt to be a grunt in the mud to satisfy that hunger. For those of you who stay, congratulations,"

The words echo in my mind as the speech passes from my memory. Though I've focused back on my training that hunger has been growing inside me and it's becoming unbearable.

A knock at my door breaks my thoughts. I wipe any loose tears from my eyes and regain my composure before finally answering the door. As I open the door, I see Richard leaning one hand against the door frame, with his other in his pocket as he looks at me with a grin.

I manage to produce a smile "Hi Richard," I say to him.

"Hey there fly girl, I've come to rescue you," He responds in an upbeat tone.

I give a puzzled expression.

"Rescue me from what?" I question.

"Yourself of course. You've been cooped up in here for the past few days. I'm pulling you out of here for a while," Richard explains.

Before I'm able to respond, he grabs my hand and pulls me out of my dorm, down the hall, into the main lobby, and out the main doors. He runs down the steps of the dorm and opens a door to one of the trainee issued vehicles used for recreational purposes.

Something about Richard's enthusiasm always seems to make me smile, which I do as I walk down the steps and seat myself in the vehicle. There's a strange quality I can't put my finger on that he has that reminds me so much of Leon.

Richard hurries to the other side of the vehicle and nearly jumps in, looking at me momentarily to give an excited smile before starting the car and driving away. As Richard drives off campus, we're greeted with a large canopy of oak trees. As fall has begun to set in, multiple shades of red and golden seem oversaturated and bright in the rays of the shining sun beaming through the ever-moving leaves shifting in the wind. I can't help but smile at the sight. Taking the moment to remember how beautiful the world is. Richard takes a left turn, and then a right and after a few minutes the sky opens up to bright blue. A winding road is ahead of us, leading up to a large hill with a single, lonely tree at the top. I notice Richard give off a small smile as he starts up the hill.