Of Blood and Iron, Sweat and Steel; Part One - Child's Odyssey.
A time ago before James was serving the Federation, before he was a Hoplite, and LONG before he was a Soldier fighting for every inch of soil he called home... He was a child with only his mother, younger brother and sister just trying to survive within a hell known as war. Fighting not a enemy that they understand, but one that they must adapt to as they adapt to their opponents; The Borg.
The planets name was Omega IIV, now known as Hope. Its been three years since the Borg invaded the planet and James' family is cowering in a ruin of what was once a proud city, a safe-haven before any of this began was now a death trap for all that chose to remain within the boundaries.
His mother held all of her children close, covering their mouths, trying her best to stabilize and quiet her breathing as the hulking figures of two Combat Drones marched past the boarded up window, the setting sun casting their shadows onto the buildings cluttered, dusty floor. Their clothes were tattered, stained and soaked with sweat. The Drones were about to pass the window without noticing them but then a young Madison sneezed, the Drone on the right recognized the sound as life and said the all to familiar... yet terrifying phrase at the same time.
"We are the Borg. Lower your weapons and surrender yourselves. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. Your culture will adapt to service us. Resistance is futile."
"Kids run! Out the back and don't stop until you are safe... go!" Their mother screamed as she pushed them out the door and ran the other way, leading the two Drones after her. The children cried no as their mother ran with the two monsters. James was only 13, his brother Justin was only 11, and Madison was only 7.
"Mommy nooo! Don't leave us and fight the monsters like Dad!" James screamed as he watched the figures disappear into the distance of the once lively city.
"Big brother... where is mommy going?" Young Madison asked, tugging on the torn sleeve on James' right side.
"Mommy... Mommy... Mommy is protecting us like Dad Maddie..." He replied, clutching his fists as his head hung low.
"Are they ever coming back for us big brother?" Both Justin and Maddie asked, looking up at their brother with fear and sadness in their blue eyes. Their faces were stained with dirt and sadly... blood. It wasn't any of theirs, but of people they once knew, cared for, and never knew would one day leave this world forever until they were older.
"I... Come on guys, follow me... Mom told us not to stop until we reached somewhere safe, and I intend to protect you both just like our parents are..." James lied, not wanting to tell them the truth... They walked for hours, avoiding Drones, not even bothering to check what little dead there was if it was their parents. As night began to finally fall, casting the dark blanket across the sky. It was quiet, not a single creature made a sound expect the occasional scream of terror... another unfortunate victim for the Borg.
James stayed awake as his siblings were curled up in a makeshift bed, sharing the only blankets they had to keep them warm. With no one else to look out for them James understood it was his turn to step up and look out for them, even if it were to cost him his life his brother and sister were not going to be harmed. It was too dark to see past three feet in front of you, luckily the Borg's implants glowed slightly in their night sky. That's what he was looking for, as he took a bite of food squinting his eyes as he scanned the environment. They didn't have any weapons being children, their only protection was to run as fast and as far as they could, praying that the strange laser weapons the Borg carried didn't hit them at all. He sighed as he finished the small amount of food he allowed himself, he hadn't eaten in three days before that, nor water for almost four. They were thirsty and hungry, tired and scared. James reached into the pocket of his jacket, grabbing an old photo... His family... they were standing in front of their home before all this happened... Their Father holding Maddie on his shoulders, their mother leaning her head on his right shoulder, with James and his little brother one arm around the others shoulders as they held onto a new puppy they just got...
The morning sun was slowly rising, they walked past the once proud sky scrappers... now collapsed within or blocking the streets and crushing the smaller buildings with the rubble. The dust had long cleared out but the creatures didn't. They walked out of the city limits where they had lived so close to... walking down the familiar streets void except for what was once happy memories. James laid a hand on a familiar fence gate as they walked up to the door, and inside their home. The roof was all but gone, bits and pieces still there, the windows were shattered, the white paint now gone as blood stained some parts of it. The family car was crushed, the fire died out long ago, most of the furniture was smashed or taken, only enough food for three days was left, and only a few days of water. James couldn't believe they left all this behind, but he didn't care... he was tired, Maddie was tired, and Justin was tired... they all curled up on the couch and slept...
(In case anyone is curious this a story of how my toon James Blaster came to be who he is. This is only part one of it, each section will skip ahead a few days, weeks, months, or years even of the last section. Enjoy and let me know what ya thought!)
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=/\= ================================= =/\= LT Dawn 12th Fleet Science Division, Zeta Squad =/\= ================================= =/\=
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