Darzul
Veteran
General
Posts: 218
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Post by Darzul on Jun 2, 2010 19:20:29 GMT -6
Darzul Vorca walked up the steps to the stage, a handful of other high-ranking soldiers sitting in seats behind the podium.
Bleachers flanking the graduating soldiers were filled with family and friends, watching the 192 soldiers who were graduating today (the class consisted of 4 basic training courses, each consisting of 50 soldiers, 8 of whom had been forced to retake the course).
The recruits themselves stood at attention, wearing their dress uniforms. Darzul cleared his throat, and stepped to the podium.
"Ladies and gentlemen, you have successfully completed your basic training courses," he said. "For each of you, the first step on the way to your military careers has been completed; you are officially Vorcan Army soldiers, and have earned all the rights and privileges that affords."
"The skills you have acquired over these last 8 weeks will serve you well in your careers, and also in personal life. Speaking for your drill sergeants, myself, and your fellow soldiers, I can assure you that your mechanics training will save you time and money in your personal life. Hopefully, none of you will find the need to apply your explosives training in civilian life," Darzul added, eliciting a few laughs from the soldiers themselves, and a handful of nervous giggles from the people in the stands.
"Most of you will be taking some well-earned R&R before returning here to begin your specialized training," Darzul continued. "But all of you can now go forward with the sense of accomplishment this gives. In short, ladies and gentlemen...you did it."
The new recruits instantly began cheering, loudly enough that they scarcely heard Darzul when he said "Dismissed." He then quickly left the stage, seemingly preoccupied with something else.
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Post by drixel on Jun 2, 2010 20:07:47 GMT -6
Drixel listened to Darzul's words, the past few weeks of training still in his mind. his skills in Stealth would greatly help the army. he gave a quick gaze threw the croud that was filled with friends and family of the other graduation class and noticed in the top right as Inor. he gave a quick smile and nod and went back to Darzul's words. as he finished his speach him,with the rest of the group started to cheer.
He watched Darzul move off the stage. he stood up along with the rest. he turned to his right and shook the hands of his fellow classmates. he didnt know what was in store for him now, but there was one thing he learned in the past weeks, whatever was came his way, he would be ready for it.
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Maku
Veteran
Chaos Embodied
Posts: 149
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Post by Maku on Jun 24, 2010 20:24:12 GMT -6
As Darzul spoke, Maku's eyes scanned the crowd, finally picking out Taka, Old Sarah, and Nate sitting with Inor. He allowed himself a small smile. Ever since he'd gotten his powers, he'd been running somewhere, or fighting someone, always struggling for something, without ever achieving anything. Now, he'd finally finished something. Now, he realized, he'd started to feel at home.
When the other recruits began their celebrating on-stage, Maku allowed his smile to grow, until he wore a wide grin, with no trace of the madness or anger that once tainted the expression. Raising his arm, he waved to his brother and his friends, and, for the first time in a very long time, Maku didn't worry about the dangers the day would bring. Instead, he was happy. Simply, fantastically, and truly happy.
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Darzul
Veteran
General
Posts: 218
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Post by Darzul on Jun 24, 2010 21:27:12 GMT -6
As the graduation ceremony commenced, a pair of soldiers began moving through the crowd. One headed for the officially-titled private Maku Riskan, the other for his brother.
As the soldiers arrived at their respective targets, each simply leaned in and whispered a short message to the twin they were sent after:
"The candle is lit."
Once the message - settled on several days ago as the code phrase meaning that they were needed to finish the procedure - was delivered, the men stood nearby, waiting to escort the twins to the underground laboratory.
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Maku
Veteran
Chaos Embodied
Posts: 149
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Post by Maku on Jul 8, 2010 12:06:01 GMT -6
Maku nodded as soon as he heard the codephrase, catching Taka's eyes across the crowd. He saw a soldier moving through the bleachers towards his brother, gestured to draw Taka's attention to the man, and then made his way out of the still-celebrating graduating class.
As he followed the soldier to the vehicle that would take them to the lab, Maku said a little prayer for his brother. He knew he was only taking part in this procedure because of his outburst during the meeting with Vorca, but he had a sick feeling in his stomach that Taka and his powers would be needed today.
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Post by rilkan on Jul 8, 2010 13:08:58 GMT -6
Taka applauded along with the rest of the crowd, proud of his brother despite all the problems this whole Army thing seemed to have brought him. Maku had taken his life into his own hands again, and this time, there wasn't a trail of blood and corpses leading to him.
As he found his brother in the cheering crowd, however, Taka's excitement faded. A soldier was standing at Maku's side, and as he and his brother locked eyes, Taka could almost read the words on the soldier's lips. By the time Maku pointed, drawing his attention to the soldier approaching him through the bleachers, Taka already knew what was going on.
Taka started towards the man almost before he could speak the codephrase, and shot a nervous glance back at Old Sarah and Nate, who were still clapping along with the rest of the crowd. Old Sarah turned her head slightly, meeting Taka's gaze out of the corner of her eye. The wink she gave him let him know she'd be praying for him, and that was all he needed to turn back to the soldier, and head off to the car, to his brother, and to the underground lab where the Empowerment Initiative was about to begin.
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Shin
Mortal
Posts: 8
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Post by Shin on Jul 16, 2010 1:23:22 GMT -6
Shin watched the ceremony, and clapped along with the rest of the crowd as the graduates began their celebrating. However, among the cheering men and women on stage, there was one who simply smiled, bigger and bigger. This young man began to wave, but stopped suddenly, and Shin's eyes caught a glimpse of dark snow camo among the dress uniforms the graduates wore. A messenger?
Glancing at Taka, the brother and mirror image of the young man on stage, Shin noticed another man in a dark camouflage uniform moving towards the healer. Whatever the message, it was meant for both of the twins. With a sigh, Shin stood, making his way down the bleachers as the twins walked off, escorted by the uniforms.
Cutting across a row, Shin placed a hand on an old woman's shoulder, leaning down to speak quickly to her. "The boy. How badly is he needed?"
Old Sarah closed her eyes and shook her head, not at all surprised by Shin's appearance or interest. "Very badly. Whatever your business today, give them a few minutes head start. A good man will die without those boys there."
Shin nodded. "Thank you again. I haven't met the man they're helping today, but the soldier I...spoke with, to get my ticket for today thought very highly of this Captain Apek. He is reputed to enjoy good food, good drink, and good company, but is neither reckless nor lazy. If Vorca's gambit pays off, at least he chose a good subject."
Old Sarah's eyebrow shot up, and she turned her head slightly in Shin's direction. Nate was still applauding, oblivious to their discussion as he celebrated with Inor. "Are you saying you support this now? Just because Darzul had the good grace to have this Apek as a friend? I've never known you to change your mind so quickly, Hayato."
Shin stiffened at the sound of that name. "Do not call that name here, prophetess. Some ghosts are better left alone. Regardless, this experiment will not continue after today. I will see to that myself, if Vorca doesn't come to that conclusion on his own."
Glancing down at the base roads behind the stage, Shin could see a small car off in the distance, moving away from the ceremony. "I think my business for today is nearly complete, prophetess. The boy will save a life, and the General will make whatever choice he's meant to. I pray it is the right one. Until next we meet, old one."
Standing without another word, Shin continued down the bleachers as though he'd never stopped. At the bottom, he turned toward the path that led to the access road. In one direction lay the entrance to the base, and in the other, the car that bore the Riskan twins, and somewhere, a fool, attempting to put his best friend through the same hell he'd been through himself.
Turning towards the front gates of the base, Shin began walking. He stopped the first soldier he came across, and asked for directions to the recruitment office. The time had come for him to enlist once more. This time, however, he knew what he was getting into.
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