Soldier

Others, others use their abilities to indulge themselves, some just to be rich and powerful, others indulge in darker things. There are groups there are orders, societies, clubs, fanciful names, and all manner of crackpot theories. Then there are people like us. Just people, that dont want to control or dominate or any of that, we just want to make some sense out of all of it, and more than that we need a purpose. That is what I wanted to make you ready for John, that is what I wanted to give you if you will have it. We are soldiers, we know one thing that makes all of this alittle easier to bear, we know that you shouldnt ask questions, you dont seek to change too much, you just follow orders. That is what I want to do, give you orders, things that will make this survivable, because when it all boils down money, power, and fame, are all as shortlived as the people that created their ideal. But a purpose, that doesnt fade so quickly." As Russell spoke, John's anger subsided and his mind began to remember a bit of the peacefulness they had together on their first meeting. But somewhere inside of him was still the questions. The questions that had burned him since he had first learned his fate. More than anything now he wanted no more questions. He wanted a life and that had been taken away from him, what he needed now was understanding.

"What kind of purpose can replace my life Russell? What kind of purpose is worth everything? And what the hell do these people want with me?"

" I dont know John, I dont know if what I do is worth all that, and as to what these people want, that takes alittle more explaining."

"Well, I need some explaining damn it, I need it more than air right now."

"I'll tell you everything, but it might be alittle easier to digest over a drink, any good bars around here?" John nodded as he rose.

"I know a few places, lets go."

They walked off together in silence. Passing people as they moved through the streets. The world was changed, darker and more dangerous, but more than that it had lost hope, the light it had back in the days of their youth.

They entered a small bar, Dillenger's, one of John's few regular haunts since the drink had claimed him. They moved to a dimly lit corner and over a beer Russell began his tale, and the reason behind what he told John all those years ago. John listened intently, trying as best as he could to find the meaning behind this, and everything else that had happened to him since, he wasnt looking to Russell for his purpose, he was trying to find one of his own. The hours stretched by as they talked until eventually as darkness crept through the streets outside Russell told John of himself.

Russell: Remember when I said you had to do what I couldnt..to try to have a normal life?

John:Yeah, I remember.

Russ: Good, well I wasnt exaggerating, I was taken for dead John, I was buried along with almost a thousand men in a ditch, three feet deep. It took me almost a day to dig myself out. When I stood up, and looked down there, I saw the hole, and I heard the thunder of artillery in the distance, and I knew that everything I was was over.