Heritage

Heritage (Chapter 50)

Chapter 49: Stella

"Today, is a monumental day for all of you here. What was meant to be a nine-month course, has been cut short, due to our great need for pilots in this new war. Of which, you brave - now airmen - have so courageously embraced in service of your planet. Our people, here on earth and on the various colonies throughout the galaxy are calling the war to end all wars. Such has been said many times before. In World War One. When our men had only trenches and the most basic of firearms to defend themselves with. Suffering and dying from disease and infection just as often as a bullet would have done the same. In World War Two, when our tiny world, still split into various nations, came almost unanimously together to bring down one of the greatest evils ever known. In the final war against each other. Our planet, withering and dying from pollution, fuel deficiency, on the brink of apocalypse, save for the one small hope of a ship, armed with every technological advancement we had at the time. To the subsequent Evolution Wars that followed. Onward and onward our unified earthling and extraterrestrial allies have pleaded for galactic peace. My mission to you fine pilots is this: help make this war the last one this galaxy will ever see for a millennium. This Sekrid race has been a blight on our beautiful galaxy long enough. It is time for the allied planets of this great establishment to stop playing games and to bring down the empirical dictatorship that has so long ruled their quadrant. Civilizations have risen and fell underneath the boot of their rule. And as a man who has given his entire life to freeing the galaxy of such tyrants, I ask you to bring down the sky on these insects. With this mission I send you off with, I congratulate all of you as pilots of the UEDF Air Corps. Celebrate today, for tomorrow you enter combat. You are all dismissed,"

As the crowd roars and cheers, tossing their caps into the air, I can hardly find the will to move from my chair. Finding out Leon had been captured only a few days ago. Then today, watching on the news as General Blake was escorted in handcuffs into a military prison for shooting a defense agent. I can't help but wonder what is really going on out there and how everything went so wrong.

I have so many questions swimming in my head.

What's going to happen to Leon?

Why did General Blake do what he did?

How is the Commander handling all of this?

I feel a hand wrap around my arm and pull me to my feet. It was all I could do to break out of my stupor and focus my attention on Richard holding me up and smiling.

"Hey!" He yells through the clamor

"Cheer Up! We got our wings today!"

I can't help but allow a smile to shine through at his enthusiasm. He tends to do that a lot for me lately.

I can't seem to shake this undeniable attraction I feel towards him. He reminds me so much of Leon yet he's different. The battle in my head over them has become hard to keep struggling with. Especially with everything that has happened. For now, Richard is here.

Leon isn't...

After ceremony is over, Richard and I decide to drive up to our usual spot. We take it extra slow today. It will be the last time we have a chance to see it for a very long time. After our deployment ends, we were given the choice to either return to the academy to finish, and receive advanced training or retain a post for the duration of our service.

Richard and I opted to come back here in exchange for a longer service term. After reaching the top of the hill, Richard takes his usual spot underneath the tree. I decide instead to go to the edge of the hill and stare out into the horizon. I look down on the grey stone buildings nestled within the trees and reminisce about my time here.