Grunt Hero

by Weston Ochse

  Family of five dead in the road. Ohirra drunk and sobbing. Yeah, I remembered. I nodded.

  “My culture isn’t a revenge culture like Western ones are,” she said. “We don’t have a burning desire to react to every slight, every misspoken word, every effort that involves someone keeping us from being first in line. We don’t spend every waking hour trying to make ourselves feel better by driving a little faster, being first in the queue, or having the biggest pickup truck.” She laughed hollowly. “Want to know what my Japanese grandfather said about the iconic American pickup? He said that the bigger the truck, the smaller the man. For him, that single saying represented all of America. I don’t believe in all-encompassing metaphors, but I see some logic in that. No, the Japanese don’t generally believe in lynch mobs or getting back at someone. Buddha teaches us patience and the idea that retaliation isn’t always the best choice.”

  “Turning the other cheek,” I said.

  “Right. Japanese turn the other cheek as a practice. But that doesn’t mean we’re pushovers.” She saw me not paying attention as I began wondering why we were even having this conversation. “No, listen. This is important to me. I identify as Japanese. It’s part of my DNA and something I want you to understand. You see, although we turn the other cheek, we’re also an honor and shame culture. My honor demands I be shamed for what I did, and I owe it to my honor to spend my life redeeming the shame… somehow, some way, however possible.”

  “You can redeem your shame by avenging all those who’ve died. Come with me.”

  She shook her head. “My shame is specific. Those five people. I bet you didn’t know that I tracked down information and learned what and who they were, did you? Not just their names and ages. The husband was a doctor and his wife was a nurse. Think of all the people who died because I killed these two whose jobs were to save people.”

  “Then why’d you continue to be a grunt? That’s like the opposite of what they were.”

  “I was going to quit. I’d already gotten my EMT certification and had two years of college. I was going to get out and see if I couldn’t get into pre-med or nursing school.”

  I tried to imagine Ohirra in a doctor’s or nurse’s outfit but couldn’t. She was one of the best grunts I’d ever had the privilege to fight with, and one-on-one she could take me down anytime she wanted.

  “Know what happened? On the form it asked if I’d ever committed a felony and I had to check yes.” She licked her lips. “After that there wasn’t a college in America that would take me.”

  “I’m surprised the Marines didn’t kick you out.”

  “Oh, they tried. You have no idea how hard we fought JAG. They’d been trying to kick me out of the Marines ever since I was sentenced, but I had a lawyer who was dropping the PTSD flag, saying I couldn’t leave without proper counseling and treatment. The thing was, I didn’t have PTSD before that. All I had was the drive to relieve my shame. All I had was this pervasive, ever-present guilt that filled my soul so much I couldn’t think of anything else. But once they started talking about PTSD, once they began listing the symptoms, it struck me all at once.”

  PTSD for accidentally killing five people. I could see it.

  “So why do you think you didn’t get PTSD right away?”

  “I treated the dead as a problem instead of human beings. I treated them as the reason for my shame and something to be dealt with. Once I began to learn about them, about the children and what they liked and disliked—favorite TV shows and books, et cetera—then it hit me how I’d cheated them of long lives.”

  I sighed. “What are you getting at, Ohirra? You’re losing me.”

  “How are you treating the dead, Mason? Are you treating them as humans? Do you know and care about them on a cellular level? Or are they your reason for avenging and revenging? You know what I think they are to you? Fuel for the vengeance engine you call a soul.”

  “Wow. Vengeance engine. Is that how you see me?” I asked.

  “Sometimes, yeah. You’re so focused, so intent on revenge. It’s like a storm takes you over and sweeps all of us with you.”

  “You know, I used to be filled with guilt. I used to be powered by shame. You remember those times on mission in L.A. when I tuned out?”

  “I remember.”

  “It was my shame boiling over. It was my guilt throwing its wet, clammy blanket over me.” I shook my head. “I was totally fucked up. If it hadn’t been the end of the world and the fact that my brain was already in tune with HMIDs so Thompson could backpack me into the hive, I never would have led grunts into combat. As it was, I relieved Stranz of his arm.”

  “That was the alien, not you,” she said.

  “Fine. It was the alien. But it was my body the alien took over. It was my hand that held the blade that severed the arm of one of the grunts trusted to my care. Don’t you think I felt guilt about that? Don’t you think I felt shame?”

  She was silent for a moment, then said, “Yeah. I’m sure you felt those things.”

  “To use your words, they became fuel for my guilt engine. Mother helped me see that. My brother Merlin and his family helped me see that. Sometimes things just happen and they’re beyond your control. There’s no way you could have realized a single drink would have so impaired you. Likewise, those soldiers I led into battle who never made it out didn’t die because of me. They died because they volunteered to fight. They died because someone else figured out that if an enemy walked in a specific spot, they could place a bomb there. They died doing what they loved.” I prodded the side of my head hard with my right forefinger. “It took a long time for that to sink in.”

  “But I still killed them.”

  “Yes, you did. But drinking a single drink and driving while not knowing you were impaired is different than getting hammered and saying fuck all and then getting behind a wheel.”

  “Tell that to the judge.”

  “Ohirra, there aren’t any more judges. There aren’t any more lawyers. There’s just you and me.”

  She stared at me long enough for her eyes to go bright as tears poured out of them and ran down her face. I went to her and wiped them away. She didn’t move as her chest heaved and she sobbed. I put my arms around her, and after a few moments she hugged me back, pressing her face into my neck.

  When she’d finally recovered enough to speak, she pushed herself away. “There’s something I don’t think you’ve considered.”

  “What’s that?” I asked.

  “If you leave Earth, you become Khron. You become a collective version of our species whose sole goal is to exact revenge. You can only be human if you stay. Human is an Earth term, Mason. Khron is a space term.”

  That was something I hadn’t thought of. I’d taken for granted that I was human… an Earthling. I guess I’d still technically be that when I left, but then I’d also be Khron. Like OMBRA, it was something to which I hadn’t intended to belong but seemed destined for. But there was a bottom line I’d left unspoken. Something that has driven me since I first ran the streets of San Pedro in fear of the Eight Street Angels.

  “I admit that a lot of the reason I’m going to join the chase is for revenge. You got me, guilty as charged. But you know what runs through me a mile wide, what’s always run through me? My hatred of bullies. I know it sounds trite, but the Umis are intergalactic bullies who need to be stopped. I want to be part of the group that rids the universe of them once and for all. It’s a simple thing, really, especially now that we’ve actually won a battle. Do you know what they call someone who can’t stand a bully? They call them human, because bullies of all sorts, no matter if they walk on two legs or fly between the stars, are as inhuman as anything can ever be.”

  “You’re wrong about that,” she said, pinning me with her eyes.

  I felt my eyebrows quirk. “What do you mean?”

  “You asked What do they call someone who can’t stand a bully? Sure, human is a good answer, but not the best.” She crossed her arms,
wiped away a stray tear, and gave me a sideways smile. “What do they call someone who can’t stand a bully and tries to protect those who are being bullied? Or keep someone from being bullied in the future? What do you call them?

  “Why we call them heroes.”

  I shook my head. “That’s not me. That’s just a call sign I had everyone use to make them feel better.”

  She shook her head. “That’s exactly what I’d expect a hero to say.” She stepped back and started down the ramp to the ground. “Goodbye, Hero Prime,” she said without looking back. Once she stepped onto the ground, she turned, and offered me a cock-eyed smile.

  I waved, conflicting emotions roiling through me as I realized that I’d never see any of my fellow grunts again. “Goodbye,” I said, to Ohirra and everyone else I was leaving behind. War zones where I’d laughed and cried. Beaches where I’d swam. Mountains I’d hiked. Monuments I’d paid to see, only to cry when I saw them. And of course my grunts.

  The word Goodbye seemed so insufficient. I was about to say something else when the door closed before me and I stood, staring at it and wondering if I’d made the right decision. I was afraid to turn because I knew that once I did, everything would be forever changed. I’d no longer be Benjamin Carter Mason. I’d be Mason 1—the original version who would be downloaded and studied and cloned for as long as there are Umi in the universe.

  They’d made a new position for me. Battle Captain. Me and my future versions would maintain the strategic and tactical knowledge of all Umi-Khron conflicts. When next we met the Umi, it would be me again who would bring them down... a grunt from Earth, slogging endlessly across the galaxy, doing what I do best until the end of time.

  Yeah. I could handle that.

  I turned and became a spaceman.

  Can you hear that, my fellow Earthlings? Can you feel it? It’s quiet out there isn’t it? I wonder if the aliens are gone. We’ve heard that there was a hell of a battle down near Sydney, but don’t have any data to back it up. As soon as I find out, I’ll let you know, but in the meantime, go outside and take a deep breath. It feels different, doesn’t it? There’s something in the air. I daresay it feels like hope.

  Conspiracy Theory Talk Radio,

  Night Stalker Monologue #1999

  GLOSSARY

  .357 Ruger Blackhawk: Large revolver.

  9mm: Type of ammunition also used to refer to a type of weapon

  AC-130: Weaponized version of C-130 also known as Spectre Gunship. Carries Vulcan cannon and 105mm howitzer.

  Ack Ack: term for anti-aircraft popularized in World War II

  AK-47: Former Soviet-era Russian-made machine gun which fires 7.62mm ammunition.

  ANPVS-7: single-tube binocular night vision goggles

  AR-15: Former Soviet-era American-made machine gun which fires 5.56mm ammunition.

  Ascocarp: The fruiting body of an ascomycete phylum fungus.

  Belay: To stop or ignore, usually an order or command.

  Bingo Fuel: Zero Fuel

  Blue Falcon: Buddy Fucker

  Bounding Overwatch: also known as leapfrogging or moving overwatch, is the military tactic of alternating movement of coordinated units to allow, if necessary, suppressive fire in support of offensive forward movement or defensive disengagement.

  C-130: Airplane capable of taking airborne troops into combat. Can also take off and land with relatively short runways.

  Call Sign: An alpha numerical unique identifier used in communications.

  Caspers: White supremacist survivalists living in Rancho Cucamonga.

  Charlie Mike: Continue Mission.

  Chobham Armor: British designed armor named after the location of design, Chobham Common, Surrey, England. Made of special ceramics with a metal backing, this armor offers superior resistance against explosive rounds and kinetic weapons.

  Claymore Mine: A directional anti-personal mine capable of delivering 700 steel ball bearings at 1200 mps.

  CO2 scrubber: A device which absorbs carbon dioxide.

  Cray: Initially an overarching term for all aliens, this term really only applies to the alien creatures who reside in the hives.

  Cult of Mother: A survivalist group originally from Big Cieniga Spring with a leader who looks like Kathy Bates.

  Devil’s Thunder: Survivalist biker gang who control the I-15 corridor between Vegas and L.A.

  Donghai-10: Chinese-made land-to-land cruise missile capable of delivering nuclear payloads.

  DZ: Drop Zone is the location where airborne personnel and vehicles land.

  Eleven Bang Bang: U.S. Army Military Occupational Specialty 11B (Infantry)

  ELF: Extremely Low Frequency.

  EMP: Electromagnetic Pulse.

  Ethnobotanist: The scientific study of the relationships that exist between peoples and plants.

  Evac: Evacuate.

  EXO: Originally called the Electromagnetic Faraday Xeno-combat Suit, the EXO is an electro-mechanical exoskeleton with armor, targeting systems, and advanced weapons.

  FOB: Forward Operating Base

  FUBAR: Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition.

  Fungee: Common term for those infected and wearing ascocarps.

  Gaze Technology: Advanced technology that allows a computer to track the movements of the eyes and allows selection and operations of virtual command trees in head’s up displays.

  GEOINT: Geospatial intelligence.

  GNA: The largest survivalist group in the L.A. area, led by a charismatic former TV star.

  Grunt: The lowest life form in the military.

  HALO: High Altitude Low Opening parachute operation.

  Harmonic Blade: An electromagnetic Stellite-made sword mounted on the EXO which vibrates at ultrasonic frequencies, making it thousands of times more effective at slicing through armored opponents than a normal blade.

  HK 416: Advanced rifle system based on the AR 15, typically used by assault and special operations forces.

  HMID: Human Machine Interface Device.

  HUD: Head’s Up Display is a transparent display that presents data without requiring users to look away from their usual viewpoints.

  HUMINT: Human-derived intelligence.

  Hydra rocket: Adapted surface-to-air or surface-to-surface rocket fired from a pod mounted on the EXO.

  Hypocrealiacs: The over-arching term for the aliens who have invaded Planet Earth

  IMINT: Imagery intelligence.

  infilexfil: Get inGet out.

  JMPI: Jump Master Personnel Inspection.

  Leupold Mark 4 CQT scope: State of the art rifle scope capable of providing night vision.

  M-16: Vietnam-era and most common variant of the AR 15.

  M-4: Modern variant of the AR 15.

  M60A3: Vietnam-era main battle tank with 105mm main gun.

  MAC-10: Compact sub-machine gun capable of firing .45 acp or 9mm.

  MASH: Mobile Army Surgical Hospital.

  Military Fatigues: Any uniform created for work or combat.

  Mother: Leader of the Cult of Mother who has a striking resemblance to the actress Kathy Bates.

  Mr. Pink: Recruiter for the OMBRA Corporation and commander of OMBRA Special Operations Command North America. Originally a nickname given by Ben Mason because of the man’s resemblance to the actor Steve Buscemi, the name has stuck and is what Mr. Wilson uses instead of his own name.

  MRE: Meals Ready to Eat are boxed and bagged rations used to feel troops in the field.

  NAP: High-speed low altitude air travel following the contours of the Earth. Also called Nap of the Earth or NOE.

  Needler: Alien variant which protects and pollinates the flowers on the black kudzu.

  Net: A network of communication devices.

  New Panthers: Benign survivalist group from Corona who merely want to be left alone.

  NTC: National Training Center at Fort Irwin was the location where American military forces trained brigade on brigade combat operations.

  NVD or Nods: Terms ref
erring to Night Vision Devices.

  OMBRA: Largest world-wide defense contractor before the alien invasion.

  OPFOR: Opposing Forces.

  Ophiocordycipitaceae: A family of parasitic fungi in the Ascomycota, class Sordariomycetes.

  Overwatch: Units or elements of unit supporting each other during fire and maneuver.

  P226: Semi-automatic pistol which fires 9mm ammunition.

  P238: Very small semi-automatic pistol which fires 9mm ammunition or .45 ACP.

  Prick-77: A man-packable, portable VHF FM combat-net radio transceiver used to provide short-range, two-way radiotelephone voice communication. Capable of communications operations up to thirty miles with booster.

  PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

  QRF: Quick Reaction Force.

  Recon: Reconnaissance.

  Retrans: Intermediate booster for FM signal to extend the range.

  RPG: A class of weapon using rocket propelled grenades.

  RTB: Return to Base.

  Sirens: Alien variant which uses human brain-waves to establish alien to alien communication.

  SNAFU: Situation Normal All Fucked Up.

  SOCOM: Special Operations Command.

  Spikers: Alien variant, usually in animals, with spikey ascocarps protruding from the skin.

  T-80: Main Russian and Soviet battle tank.

  UAV: Unmanned Ariel Vehicle.

  VUAA1: Vanderbilt University Allosteric Agonist Number One is a pesticide which renders the user invisible to certain species of insects and needlers because it causes sensory overload

  W54: Manufactured in the United States in 1961, these were the smallest man-packable nuclear weapons devised.

  WWWSD: What Would William Shatner Do.

  Xenobotanist: The scientific study of the relationships that exist between extraterrestrial peoples and plants.

  XM214: A weapon’s system mounted on the EXO with a six-barreled rotating minigun fed from a backpack ammo supply through an ammo feed arm with 1500 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition.

  ZSU 23-4: Former Soviet Union-produced self-propelled anti-aircraft weapons system.

  1987, THE HEIGHT OF THE COLD WAR. For Captain Vadim Scorlenski and the rest of the 15th Spetsnaz Brigade, being scrambled to unfamiliar territory at no notice, without a brief or proper equipment, is more or less expected; but even by his standards, their mission to one of the United States’ busiest cities stinks...