Progenitor

Progenitor (Chapter 1)

Chapter 1: Ethan

"Hey, Ethan...you okay man?" Damien says snapping me out of my stargazing.

"Huh...? Oh, yeah, I'm good bro," I respond in dismissively as I turn my head back to the blackness and stars.

This last mission had been a particularly rough one for Hunter Two. Damien and I were dropped behind enemies and expected to infiltrate and destroy a key communication tower the Sekrid had been using to pound our forces with constant artillery fire.

We took it.

But it hit us a little harder than normal.

The small transport ship smoothly glides into the docking area of our mothership, touching down with a slight thump. I stand up quickly and walk out of ship just as the bay door touches the ground. I hear Damien's footsteps close behind me.

I push past the small crowds of people hustling and bustling through the ship, completing their various tasks. All I want right now is silence and I'm rushing to seize it away from the masses.

I finally reach the locker room door and swipe my access card quickly across the panel, causing the door to slide open with a click. I step inside, removing my ballistic vest and tossing it to the side. I feel my heart begin to race as it becomes hard to breathe.

I pace back and forth as with my hands on my hips as the sweat starts to pout off my body. I hear the sound of the door opening behind me. As I turn around to continue my pace, I feel Damien's hand on my shoulder. I look up from the floor to see him standing opposite me with concern on his face.

"Breathe, Ethan. It's alright. Here, take a seat," He says, motioning a hand to the bench.

I follow his instructions and start to control my breathing, placing my face in my hands.

"These have been getting more frequent lately. Have you talked to anyone about this, man?" Damien points out.

I pull my face out of my hands, taking a deep breath before coming to rest with my elbows on my knees. I turn my head to look at Damien.

"I don't know how much longer I can do this, Damien,"

Damien looks at me with acceptance in his eyes.

"I think it's time you hang it up. Let me talk to Cap about this, alright? I'm gonna get you some transfer papers out of here, make sure they're expedited," He says, placing a few pats on my shoulder.

I sit up "What about you?" I ask.

"What about me?"

"Who's going to watch your back?"

"Ethan, I live for this shit. You know that. I'll watch my back," Damien says, pointing a thumb to his backside.

I let out a long sigh "I hate feeling like this,"

"It's been a rough few years, brother. Yours were more than most. It's alright to say it's enough,"

I respond with a nod of acceptance.

Damien stands from the bench.

"Take a shower. I'm sure the Cap will put you on a few more runs before he puts you into Transit status. You need the sleep," Damien explains before turning and leaving the locker room.

I sit there with my thoughts for a moment. Thinking through the last few years in god forsaken conflict. And as the tears start to well up, I shake myself out of my mind and begin to undress.

I run the water so hot it turns my skin red, trying to sterilize myself from the grime of the previous mission. I stare down at the drain, noticing the water turning a lambent blue as the Sekrid gore washes out of my hair and off my body.