Veterans Day
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“Sometimes when you have a pet that is out of control you have to put them down. Now, the pet may be useful, lovable even. But still, for the betterment of your family the pet must be brought down. Now some may find my methods a bit... harsh. But not me. I believe that what I do is for the greater good. The success that we have today, tomorrow, next week or month shall reverberate throughout history. Do you not understand that? You are special. You have been chosen from thousands. Yet you squander it. You think that what you did today would save your friends. It did not. It got two of them killed. Do not bother struggling. I assure you that the thread that holds you is indeed unbreakable. Now allow me to show you something. I can tell by the look in your eyes that you understand what is about to happen. Dr. Hecksford would prefer not to go on with this stage of research but I beg to differ. Not only is it essential to the project but, it is its next stage. Project: Killswitch Engage. This is considered by some, especially me, to be the next stage of evolution in regards to war. Imagine sending two soldiers into battle instead hundreds. Think of it. And you, Jones, will be the first live, human candidate. Now rest. You have a rough week ahead of you.” Then The Corps smiled.
What separates us from animals? I’m not talking about monkeys and shit. That’s too easy. People look them in the eye and get all warm and fuzzy. No, I’m talking about rats, lizards, and spiders. The things we don’t want to think about. We like to associate ourselves with the cute, furry shit. We never wanna fucking think about the part of ourselves that are reptilian an’ shit. This project made me kill a woman with my bare hands. I never told Tucker this but one morning I woke up squeezing my fist so damned tight that I dug holes into my own hands. I accept what I was, what I am, and what I’m turning into. I accept it but I don’t like it.
The first day was spent with me screaming until I couldn’t scream anymore. There is nothing like being wide awake and hearing the sound of your skull being drilled into. The smell is even worse. The feeling of brain fluid running into your eyes. Gritting your teeth so hard that they crack. I wanted to faint but the project wouldn’t let me.
“This will be worth it,” Mrs. Hecksford said to me as she wiped away blood from my mouth. I spit blood and teeth at her.
“I hope your baby dies!” I shouted. She just smiled and rubbed my cheek. “That’s not necessary,” Mr. Hecksford said. “She did nothing...” “She stuck a fucking needle in my neck!” I spat. I felt my brain catch fire and then douse itself
immediately. Whatever they were doing in my head was fucking with it. “You were going to...” Mrs. Hecksford began. “Going to what?” I asked. “Fight for my freedom? Get away before you killed anymore of my
friends?” “You have no friends,” The Corps said as he pressed his face so close to mine that I could smell
his breakfast. Ask me how many nose hairs he forgot to clip. I could tell you. “You only have people that you exhaust like a natural resource. You suck them dry.”
“Fuck you,” I said.
“No, Jones,” The Corps whispered. He leaned in close, his lips almost touching my ear. “Fuck you.” Just as I was about to spit in his face the drill began again.
“I don’t know what they’re doing to you, brother, but I swear to God that I will make them fucking pay!” Tucker was sitting next to me in a chair pulled close. I tried to speak but couldn’t even make my lips move. “Just rest, man. We’ll get through this. Just you see.”
“L.T,” Tip said. “I can walk again. They fixed me up good. But...fuck. They killed The Twins. They fucking dragged them out kicking and screaming like dogs!”
“Not now, O’Reilly!” Tucker shouted. “But you shoulda seen ‘em go!” Tip said. “Ya woulda been proud of ‘em. Took out almost ahundred of the bastards before they were...” “We’re going to fuck this place up, L.T,” Tucker said. He leaned over my bed and grabbed my
hand. “You just need to hurry up and get better.” “Red Eye,” I said. “That’s right, man,” Tucker said. “You look like shit,” I said before I passed out. “I have never seen the human body take so much punishment and still survive,” Mr. Hecksford
said to his wife. I was in a tank full of some dark brown liquid. “Look at his vitals! This is amazing!” I tried to move but could not. Hell, I was afraid to. Might fuck around and yank my oxygen tank
out or something. Mrs. Hecksford was really showing now. Any second she was gonna drop a kid out. The Corps entered the room and placed his hand on Mr. Hecksford’s shoulder. I saw him wince at the touch. The turned around and began speaking. Mrs. Hecksford strolled over to the tank and placed her hand on it.
“It’s a girl,” she mouthed to me. I wanted to give her the finger so bad but couldn’t.
“Honey, please...” Mr. Hecksford said to his wife. She smiled and turned away from me. The liquid started to get really hot and I blacked out to the sounds of beeping and alarms blaring. Over The Corps walkie-talkie I heard sweet music.
“There has been an escape! Dozens dead! (static) Beams everywh-- (static) Smashing everythin-- (static) O’Reilly! (static) Request backup! I repeat! Request backu-- (static)!”
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