Shattering Humanity-Chapter 107: I Apologize In Advance

{Seven Years Before the Invasion of Leviathan.}

In a dusty city within a 2nd World Country, a Humvee is slowly cruising down the dirt road with a small platoon of 10 soldiers around it. They are all carrying fully automatic rifles and looking around at the empty windows and bombed buildings.

The few civilians in the streets are looking at the besieging soldiers with a mix of frightened or angry faces.

Walking up front, next to the left headlight, Daisuki, 26, is at the head of the group, his brand new, clean, 1st Lieutenant patch on his sleeve.

He has both his father’s brown Portuguese eyes, surveying all around the area but there is a stern look to his ocular senses. Nothing similar to his future demeanor.

A young soldier, 21, black hair, with heterochromia eyes, his right, azule blue. His left eye forest green. A 2nd Lieutenant patch on the bicep of his uniform. With a giant smile, he is looking around at the different local environment, but not for enemy lookout purposes, he is awestruck from just being in a different place.

2nd Lieutenant: "I can’t believe it, Big Bro Daisuki! You and I get to be the leaders of the youngest platoon ever! We both got promoted just in time to be the new platoon lieutenants! This is going to be awesome!"

The younger Daisuki continues the march but gets irritated by his 2nd in command.

Daisuki: "I’ve already told you, Ephesus, at least call me Lieutenant. Don’t let your guard down while on picket duty. Especially if you already know that we are the youngest platoon, with the least amount of soldiers within all of our forces. We can be ambushed at any moment out here in a ’No Man’s Land’ with multiple violent gangs, fighting for their own control over this unoccupied land. However, to all those gangs right now, we’re a common enemy.As we speak, we are wide open for any type of hostile guerilla attacks. These whispers between civilians could easily be a message relay to take us out and someone could perform a clean ’shoot n scoot’ into a building without us being able to see him."

Two older ladies are sitting on a bench, murmuring to each other, behind their hands, from the other side of the "road".

Old Lady 1: "Oh good, we were sent help. Those evil gangs are getting out of hand ever since the government began to disband."

Old Lady 2: "Don’t get your hopes up, Grecia. Whether it’s the anarchist gangs that start shooting first or these ’protective forces’ from other nations. The ’Innocents’ around the fight will always be the ones to lose. I’ve seen it happen too much these past few months."

Ephesus looks off to the side and something catches his attention. He leaves his position from beside the cruising vehicle’s drivers window. In the driver’s seat is Shelly’s father, Richie, but younger and still happily married. Richie sees the movement out of his peripheral and lowers the window.From behind the wandering 2nd Lieutenant, next to the back window, a long deep sigh can be heard and with a disinterested tone towards his officer. The voice is... familiar.

Yuzai(Katsu’s Father): "Lieutenant Mina...He broke rank again... Assuming his position until further notice."

Katsu’s father, 28, is now walking next to a driving, younger version of Shelly’s father, going 3 miles per hour with the window rolled down.

Daisuki holds up a closed right fist. Richie hits the brakes making the military jeep come to a complete stop, along with its surrounding soldiers.

The younger and slimmer version of Shelly’s dad gives a worried look at Katsu’s father, stone faced and looking forward.

Richie whispers at his life long friend.

Richie: "I thought you said you weren’t going to report on Ephesus when he broke rank, Yuzai?"

Richie looks at Katsu’s father who talks without moving his head.

Yuzai: "I wasn’t going to, until Mina reminded me we are on soil that we actually don’t belong on."

Richie looks around quickly to make sure there are no gun barrels hanging out of the windows.

Richie: "Yea but these people are being victimized everyday by gangs and domestic terrorists. Isn’t it our job as soldiers to come to the rescue and save the day for those who are being oppressed?"

Yuzai: "Well right now, our wives and children are alone and vulnerable without the man of the house there to protect them. You and I both know we are not here to protect the people who live on this land. We were put here to medically relieve the last platoon that was on duty."

Yuzai moves his eyes quickly to a window that opens. A little 8 year old boy pokes his head out and sees the threatening looking force with menacing weapons of war. The kid gets scared and swiftly shuts the window.

Yuzai: "What if we saw this type of unit just patrolling on our streets, with our kids, just one stray bullet away from an unfortunate and unnecessary death?"

Richie: "That’s why I love ya, brother. You not only thought of your home, but mine, and these people who were left to fight this evil on their own."

A few seconds of silence and Yuzai slowly turns to look at his old buddy, holding back tears.

Yuzai: "We aren’t at home, protecting OUR personal kingdoms.

’Evil searches for sinners.’

We are across the sea, looking for people who we assume are sinners. We’ve been told to watch out for any possible setups that could ruin our reputation. The last platoon that was on duty is now decommissioned because of their hesitation. But you don’t need to be a sinner to feel threatened and feel the need to protect your kingdom and the people you love in it."

Katsu’s father looks up to the blue sky with a few clouds.

Yuzai: "What are we doing right now, Richie?When we signed up for the military, we thought we would be fighting together to protect our own soil. Our homes. Our family memories. I don’t want to occupy a lawless city in a country I didn’t know the name of until two days ago. Getting into fire fights with strangers, who aren’t stupid and know our presence is a sign of their freedom possibly being in jeopardy."

Ephesus approaches a slightly scared, and cautious young girl. She has dirt on her forehead and a little bit of dried blood under her nose. She is wearing no shoes, torn clothes and no guardian while walking through the slums of the dangerous city. Ephesus looks down at the girl. From her perspective, he is incredibly intimidating.

Yuzai: "Yes, there are some gangs and sinful people here, but there are gangs and sinful people back home too."

Ephesus slowly kneels down, with his head bent down out of respect and it makes the young girl less skeptical of the young foreign soldier.

He slowly reaches for the breast pocket of his uniform and it makes the girl take a step back again. Ephesus lifts his head up with a bright smile, holding out a piece of fruity flavored taffy for her to take. She doesn’t take it but looks at the colorfully wrapped individual candy in confusion.

A shadow looms over both of them. The two new friends comically, turn slowly to see the platoon lieutenant, with glowing red eyes and it scares them both.

Yuzai: "God forbid, one of our wives or kids gets in a dangerous situation while we’re out here."

Richie: "Haha, I ain’t that worried about my girls back home, they would probably fight any threat better than I could. I am worried about my little brother though. He’s been on a downward spiral for the past few months."

Richie and Yuzai look as Daisuki is reprimanding Ephesus. The Big Bro takes the wrapped candy from the 2nd Lieutenant, and unwraps it. The leader bites half and holds the other half out for the little girl.

Richie: "Well, if Mina ever gets tired of Ephesus’ shit, you’re the next one in line for the platoon’s ’Vice-Cap’. I can’t believe you didn’t get promoted to at least 2nd Lieutenant this time. You’re the oldest out of all of us, most experienced, and clearly the most intelligent. Or did you turn it down again?"

Katsu’s father slightly sweats, clearly guilty of the accusation.

Yuzai side eyes the current and immature "2nd in command".

Yuzai: "I’m not that worried about it, Rich. If it’s meant to be, then it’s meant to be. You know, I’m going to sound extremely selfish right now, Richie, but I was forced to stop learning about the universe we live in, just to be on a counter productive mission that I’m morally against."

The local 7 year old girl doesn’t reach for the candy so Daisuki goes to eat the other half but the little girl changes her mind last second.

Little Girl: "Ah!"

Daisuki looks down and she has both hands up to receive the treat. He hands it over.

Yuzai: "My first kid will only grow up once, he’s finally gotten into sports and made a friend. I want to be there to help him figure out what this world is about. I want to help him figure out how the universe works and I want him to help me figure it out too.

Just like you only have one opportunity to watch your adorable daughter become a beautiful successful woman."

Katsu’s Papa gives a chuckle towards Shelly’s Papa.

Yuzai: "Haha, and hey, I apologize in advance, but my wife says Shelly’s got a little crush on Katsu. Aaand I trust her with that type of stuff."

Richie holds his left fist out the window.

Richie: "Aye, we’ve been family since day one anyway. That just gives me peace at mind if anything."

Katsu’s Pops connects the fist bump, and with a clearly genetic smile that he passed down to his son.

Yuzai: "So you were saying your little girl has a pretty good memory?"

Rich: "’Good’, would truly be an understatement to describe my daughter’s memory, ’Yuz’."

Katsu’s dad pulls out his folding combat knife. The engraving of the word "Respect" on the wooden insert.

Katsu’s Father: "Aye, Richie, can I see your knife real quick?"

Richie hands his exact copy of the knife over. With Richie’s knife, Yuzai Takeshi carves Y.T. into an open spot on his own knife. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Yuzai: "There, now nobody can rob me and get away with it."

Ephesus is still on one knee and he pats the little girl’s head. The little girl is crying of joy from her first taste of candy.

Ephesus: "I can’t wait until my wife gives birth to my own baby girl, Big Bro. I’m so excited."

Both the platoon lieutenants smile and the little girl opens her eyes full of happy tears. She looks at Ephesus in his heterochromic eyes. Then sees a shiny flash from a scope reflection in the distance.

Yuzai sees it too but it’s too late.

Katsu’s dad opens his mouth to shout "Sniper!" but the sound of the bolt action goes off. Acting as a sign to all that ’evil has found sinners’.

Both Ephesus and the local little girl were happy when they died.