The Other Side: A Second Chance

Fire. Bullets. Explosions. All of this was happening around me—screams of wounded men and women calling out for aid. I tried to regain my bearings. I rolled forward into the ditch, my back landing on the hard dirt and stone. I could hear them coming, the horrific thumping of their mechanical legs--the dreaded howl of the fighting machines drew near.

"Help me! Somebody fucking help me!" The cry of a wounded soldier turned my head back to see a young human boy clutching his leg. "Gaah-my fucking leg! Help!"

A roar of another fighting machine, followed by a torrent of machine gun fire, dust, and debris, blasted upwards around me as the magrite bullets ripped across the top of the ditch.

My stomach lurched as I once again dove onto my belly and crawled towards the wounded boy. I could see his face caked in mud and blood, his expression contorted into horrid agony. Gritting my teeth, I resisted the urge to vomit as I crawled towards the boy.

"I'm here. I got you," I yelled over the roar of machinegun fire.

I reached out and grabbed the boy's hand. My eyes were wide with fear as I took a couple of deep breaths as my eyes met his. He was cursing and crying as I closed my eyes and tried to focus.

"Luna!" I heard Isa's distant voice cry out to me. "Luna!" I opened my eyes and looked back just as a rocket screamed overhead and slammed into the earth just beyond the ditch to my right. The explosion caused my ears to bleed as I cupped my head as dust sprinkled down around us.

"Luna!" Isa's voice cried again as the dust settled, and my ears rang. Shocked that I could still hear her, I finally saw Isa crawling towards me further down the ditch as I looked around.

I opened my mouth and screamed her name, yet I could barely hear myself. Isa scrambled to all fours and crawled towards me rapidly, yet behind her, looming over the ditch. A fighting machine came into view.

A few soldiers behind Isa raised their guns and began firing on the machine, yet it was useless. The fighting machine howled, and its weapons began to fire.

I screamed for Isa to duck, yet my voice was unheard. Isa rose to dive out of the way, though the machine's guns swiveled upwards, and I screamed as dozens of rounds slammed into her body! I cried as blood and viscera clouded my vision. Isa's eyes widened, and her body crumpled into the mud.

With a loud howl, the fighting machine turned its attention to me, and I screamed.

 

---

 

A bugle blaring its horn jerked me from my nightmare, and I awoke in a cold sweat. My heart hammered away in my chest, and I looked in the direction of where Isa lay, and my blood ran cold.

She wasn't there.

I scrambled out of my bedroll and quickly rushed out of the tent into the cool morning and Isa's gut. The serelli gasped and grabbed onto me. "Lu-Luna!"

Oh, thank God. I thought and gripped Isa tightly.

"Wh-what's wrong?" Isa asked as the bugle sounded again, and soldiers quickly crawled out from their tents.

I took a deep breath. "I just had a bad dream, that's all," I said softly and smiled at Isa.

Isa sighed with relief and said, "Well, I hope you're feeling better now."

Not really. I thought as the images of the dream flashed across my mind. The thought of Isa being gunned down sent a chill down my spine. I took a sharp breath and held it briefly, trying not to think about it.

"Come one," Isa said, "We don't have long, they're mustering everyone."

"Grab your shit, boys and girls!" A man shouted. "It's time!"

Around us, men and women of all races scrambled. The soldiers quickly assembled weapons, packs, and other gear as they made their way towards the center of the camp.

Isa took my hand and dipped into the tent. After a few moments, she returned dressed in a drab uniform like the soldiers. The outfit was a bit loose on her, though Isa kept it firmly secured by the belt fastened around her waist, which she attached her holster to. Slinging her rifle and pack over her shoulder, Isa took a deep breath and smiled at me.

"Do you have everything?" She asked me.

Everything? I blinked. I don't even think I was given anything. I gulped. Should I ask for a gun? The rifles are way too big for me, maybe a pistol?

"Shouldn't I get a weapon, too?" I asked, and Isa thought for a second, nodded, and unholstered the handgun resembling the Mauser we found in the old cabin.

"Take this. Do you remember how to reload it?" Isa asked me as she handed me the gun. I nervously gripped the hefty weapon that barely fit in my hands.

I'd need to hold this two-handed to shoot effectively, so I pursed my lips, grabbed the small piece of metal on top that was the slider, and pulled it back.

"I pull this back and slide the ten-round clip into here?" I said, slightly unsure. Already, I saw the weapon was loaded, a bullet in the chamber. Thankfully, the safety handle was pushed up, so I had no fear of accidentally shooting it, not that my finger was on the trigger.

Isa nodded. "Yes, when you release that slider, it'll automatically chamber a round; after that, it's ready to fire. When you don't want to shoot, push the safety handle up. When you're ready to shoot, pull it down. Up is alive, down is dead." She tapped her forehead. "That's how I remember it."

I nodded as Isa undid her holster and hastily wrapped it around my waist, tightening it as much as she could. Once she was done, I holstered the weapon and latched it into place.

"Get a move on people!" A booming voice kicked us into gear, and Isa took my hand. Quickly, we began to make our way to the mustering ground at the center of camp.

 

---

 

Anxiety was officially settling in—at least more so than before. It's happening, I thought. This is actually about to go down. I gulped as I looked around the large open area. Beside me were Isa, the others of Easy Company, and the rest of the brigade. There were probably at least almost a thousand of us here. I was sure of it.

Most of the men and women around me were stone-faced. Others held what looked to be holy symbols and prayed, while few looked like me. I was terrified.

Up ahead, I could faintly make out a makeshift stage. On that stage sat Colonel Pitz and many of the other senior officers. Coming from the left, I saw Colonel Hass making her way up to a podium that had been put up on the stage, dressed in her defined, formfitting uniform decorated with medals. I saw she wore a small gold and black cape on her back, and as she got behind the podium, she fixed her peaked cap and gripped the sides of it with her pristine white gloves.

The air grew heavy, and a deafening silence permeated the area. All I could hear in the moment was my heart beating. Isa reached down and took my hand, and I flinched slightly but calmed after that.

"It's okay," She whispered. "We'll protect each other."

I nodded.

"Good morning," Colonel Hass's voice echoed as if speaking through a megaphone. My eyes widened, and I looked to the stage podium. No microphones were present, yet I noticed a faint, yellow shimmer around her neck. Behind her, a woman in a white and gray cloak held a hand towards her, a similar yellow shimmer around said hand.

"Good morning." A collective rumble came from the soldiers around me before fading into silence.

Hass's grip on the podium tightened as she took a deep breath and looked over the crowd. Her steely blue eyes seemed to examine every face of her men until, eventually, her eyes landed on mine and Isa's. We seemed to look at each other for a second until, finally, Hass broke off and began.

"In less than an hour. You'll be committing to the first and largest counter-offensive since this dreaded war began sixteen days ago," Hass said, her brow knitting as she scowled. "Sixteen days... It feels like we've been here for years." She took a deep breath. "Sixteen days ago, our land was invaded, our homes were destroyed. Over the border, Rusivite airships began to bomb peasant villages, and their fighting machines marched over the border into the Alter Valley. Killing, pillaging, and destroying everything and everyone in their path... They do not wish to occupy us; they do not wish to control us. Our enemy seeks nothing but to destroy our culture and our way of life. They want to consume us." She fell silent for a moment.

She breathed and continued, "The Rusivite's are not people. They do not hold compassion or morality. A person holds thoughts, feelings, and empathy. Yet none of that is displayed in the eyes of their monstrous machines or the devastating rockets they rain down upon our fellow man or woman. They are monsters. Soulless husks that wish nothing more than our destruction. Like the Oni unleashed by the Necrophage two thousand years ago. We are not fighting just for our freedom but for the right to live. We've been on the run for sixteen days, but today, upon learning what they're doing to our people. I say we make a stand, take the initiative, and strike them where it hurts!" She pounds her fist on the podium. "We know where these machines get their power; if we succeed today, it may only be a minor victory, but the message we'll send will be heard far and wide. Not just to the Rusitvite's but the world as a whole! All of Enora, the Global Allied Nations, everyone will listen to the fact that we Heinmarans will not be silenced! That we are not cowards! And that we will fight for every gen of dirt! We will survive, and we will fight for the Republic!" Hass thrust her fist into the air in the motion of Heinmarr's salute, and hundreds of soldiers did the same around me.

"Hoo-raah!" The soldiers cried out in unison. "Hoo-raah!"

"Get into positions!" Hass ordered. "We're going over the river!"

 

---

 

My stomach churned as Isa, I, and the members of Easy marched towards the lorries that would be carrying us over the Kenchala. On the way, I saw that the constructed bridges differed from typical pontoon bridges like I thought they'd be. Instead of being manually built, they were formed from stone. I saw they were being reinforced and maintained by mages, magically shaping the earth.

"Get on board!" Captain Weller shouted as we all began to pile into the back of the open lorries. "Check your gear! We'll be following once Ale and Berry are over those bridges!"

My heart once again began to beat heavily as Isa helped me into the truck and sat me down beside her as about twelve other men and women piled in with us. Everyone was clad in heavy gear, their rifles tucked firmly between their legs, their heavy packs pressed against the back, forcing many of them to sit uncomfortably close to one another. Across from me, I saw Drach, the halfling who questioned me; his eyes were closed and clutched in his hand; it looked like a necklace with a silver, flaming sword.

"O Kraten, God of War, hear our plea,

In the fray of battle, stand with me.

Grant us strength, courage, and might,

In your name, we march into the fight.

With gun and sword, we face the foe,

In your valor, our spirits grow.

Guide our hands, in the heat of war,

Protect us now, forevermore."

He touched the sword, kissed it gently, and sighed. Suddenly, his eyes flicked up to me, and I blushed and looked away.

Drach sighed. "Can a man pray in peace," He said with a sly smile.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop," I said as the lorry engines purred to life. Behind us, I saw a line of artillery wagons pulling up behind our convoy.

"I'm just giving you shit, kid," Drach said with a smirk. "You pray to any gods?" He asked.

I shook my head. "No, not really... well, only when casting my spells."

Drach frowned. "It's not good, taking but never giving back. They won't look fondly on that," he said.

"That isn't true," Lieutenant Zora said. "Magic is not taken from the gods but instead from our souls. Incantations are simply done to thank the gods for giving us the magic in the first place and help channel our power."

Drach rolled his eyes. "I'm not getting into this shit again." He sighed as our lorry lurched and began to move.

"Alright!" Captain Weller shouted from the lorry ahead of us. "We're moving out!"

I took a deep breath and sighed as I tried to keep my nerves in check. Isa touched my shoulder but said nothing, yet she didn't need to. Feeling her presence was enough to calm my beating heart. I lifted my head and watched the camp slowly move beyond us as our lorries turned onto a dirt road towards one of the earth-made bridges.

"I can't wait to see how those lorry guns do once we blast them fightin' machines," the young half-elf, Mara, said as she brushed her black and pink hair aside. "If our standard guns can cause quite the damage, I can only wonder what ones that can move and shoot can do."

Drach smirked and shrugged. "Who knows, maybe we'll be chasing them out of here this time."

Isa glanced at the two of them. "I wouldn't be so sure about that," she said flatly. "I don't mean to doubt their capabilities, yet Luna and I have seen much of these monsters up close. They will not go down so easily."

Drach, Mara, and a few other soldiers glanced at Isa and frowned.

Lieutenant Zora said, "Talon is correct. We shouldn't put all of our hopes into them. We need to focus on our task and work together as a team. Do not underestimate the enemy."

My stomach lurched when the lorry's wheels bounced over a large rock. As we began to cross over the earthen bridge, I shuddered.

I thought we were going back over now, just as three massive booms startled me. I saw in the early morning sky as vast balls of blue energy screamed across the sky overhead.

Around me, soldiers cheered from the back of the trucks.

"The Godhammer has spoken!"

"Give it to them!"

They continued to cheer as the horizon lit with fire and three mushroom clouds rose ahead. Suddenly, another barrage of guns, though much smaller, echoed from back toward the military camp as dozens of blue energy bolts zipped overhead in the direction of our enemy.

"Fuck yeah!" Drach shouted. "Damn, Rusivites must be shitting their bedrolls." He cackled.

I gulped nervously as I watched the artillery shells zipping over us, almost like falling stars; more and more continued to fly as the rumbling barrage continued.

This is it. I thought. The attack has officially begun.