Luna Zulenka - The Early Years

[Vad]

The rain fell from the sky like a shower. The mid-summer day activities were suspended amidst the little neighborhood party. Children and their respectable parents running for their homes or cars in an attempt to escape becoming soaked. Luna enjoyed the rain. As she took a drink from her blue plastic cup she hummed to herself happily. She was the only one on her street living alone; the only one without children or someone to love. The wives of her cul- de-sac had tried to set her up on numerous occasions with men from different areas in her town. They all assumed she was crazy; the fact that she enjoyed being single and childless. They always brought up the same old argument; "You're young! Now's the time to start a family!" The brunette smiled at the thought.

"I'm a solider for life." She thought.

By this time the young woman was completely drenched. Tossing her plate into a nearby trash bin she drained the last bit of pop from her cup. Burping aloud she dropped the cup into the receptacle as well. The brunette crossed the warm pavement, adjusting her soaked shirt on the way. Crossing the moist grass she started into a sprint and leapt the wooden fence behind her house and landed inside her backyard. Rounding her deck she made her way to the front of her humble abode. Her green jeep sat in the middle of her driveway; she had forgotten to put its' top up.

Wrinkling her nose she took the keys from her back pocket and climbed in. Pressing the garage door opener on her dash board she started the engine. It roared into life like a lion protecting its' territory. Easing the break off she pulled it into her two car garage and ceased the motor. Pulled the keys from the ignition and tapping the opener on her dash she slid from the soaked cloth seat. Upon entering her house a series of chills coursed through her spine. The air conditioning had kicked on; doesn't help when you're soaked.

Rubbing her biceps with her palms she closed the door leading into the garage with her foot. Quickly making her way upstairs she entered the bathroom and shut the door. The rain had ceased for the moment and residents of the neighborhood were cleaning from their party. Luna stripped from her wet clothing and tossed them into the sink. Rotating the lever on the wall she turned on the shower and let it warm up. Smiling she stepped in and let the warm water bring her to normal operating temperature.

***

Descending the wooden stairs of her humble abode in a pair of black pajama's and a loose fitted pink t shirt she entered her kitchen to the right and flipped on her military radio.

"No chatter today, eh boys?" She said. Grinning she switched off the green device.

Taking her cell phone from the counter she flipped it open to find a new message. She frowned; pressing a button she placed the phone to her ear.

"Hey. I know you mean well, but you need to stop setting up dates for me." She said into the receiver in a stern, but friendly tone.

"Because I'm on leave for the next two months and I'd like to be left alone. I don't need any more horrible pick up lines or flirty comments. I get enough of that at the base." Luna replied to an obviously rude comment. Her tone was approaching frustration.

Rolling her eyes she closed the phone and let her hair down from the bun it was in; she sighed. Moving to her fridge she took a beer from the shelf. Opening the drawer to her right within the little bar suspended over the floor she removed a bottle opener and popped the cap off of her liquid courage. Tilting her head back she took a long drink, draining the contents of the bottle in a matter of seconds. Letting a loud belch escape her lips she placed the bottle in the sink and went into the living room. Taking a leather bound book from the end table she sank into her over stuffed leather couch and took a pen from the binding.

Today was fun. The neighborhood threw a belated get together for my return from service. They invited a bunch of random men to the party in an attempt to get my hitched. I regret telling Susie I'm a virgin. On a related note it's good to be away from the testosterone filled monkey's on base.

She grinned to herself noticing the pun.

Susie called. She started bitching about my stubbornness and how she was happy. I refuse to bring a child into this world while I'm serving in the military.

She finished her entry by signing her name and returning the pen to its proper place within the binding of the journal. Placing the leather bound book on the coffee table she shifted her position on the couch. Lying back on the comfy pillows beneath her she covered herself with a blanket that was draped over the back of the furniture piece.

[Vad]

The morning sun peeked through the French doors leading onto the deck as it started to rise above the great oak tree situated behind the house. Lying on an overstuffed leather couch half covered with a knitted blanket laid Luna Zulenka. The brunette awoke with start to her house phone ringing frantically. Mumbling some incoherent curse words she sat up and rubbed her eyes. Yawning wide she stood up from the comfortable furniture piece and hobbled over to the receiver hanging on the wall just outside her kitchen.

"Hello?" She said, barely able to form words.

The brunette's eyes examined the caller ID. It was Susie's number, but the voice was a guy and it wasn't her husband. Placing the phone back on the receiver she pulled the phone cord from the wall and rested her head against the cold drywall trying to wake up. No use going to bed again, a headache would form and she wouldn't sleep. Yawning again Luna took hold off the empty coffee pot and filled it with exactly 3 cups of water. Opening the top of her coffee maker she poured the contents into the area designated for liquid.

Haphazardly placing the pot back in the device she moved to the pantry in her dining room and removed a filter. Passing the fridge she grabbed some coffee from the freezer and placed the filter between her lips as she grabbed a measuring cup from the sink. Placing both down on her granite counter she lined the mini brewery with the filter and dumped 2 cups of ground coffee beans into it. Closing the lid she flicked the on switch; tossing the measuring cup into the sink she returned the coffee to the fridge.

"Eight AM." She moaned whilst slumping into a bar stool.

Her eyelids drooped as she watched the coffee pot slowly fill with liquid energy. Luna's mind rarely entered a regenerative sleep state anymore. The nightmares kept her mind alert to the point of exhaustion. She had a routine physical and mental evaluation today at four; might tell them then. Then again, telling them might get her discharged for mental distress.

The coffee maker beeped to alert her it had finished. Reaching behind her she took a coffee mug from the bar counter and slid out of her chair nearly falling to floor. Filling her cup to the brim with the black liquid she quickly downed it and had another.

"Damn I make good stuff." She said with ecstasy in her voice.

Placing the empty mug on the counter she left the kitchen and headed into the garage. Flicking on the light she examined her jeep.

"That top modification was definitely a bad idea." She mused.

Luna removed a wet/dry vacuum from the metal shelf in the corner of her garage. Plugging it into an outlet near her jeep she flipped it on. Running the end of the along the driver-side seat the vacuum groaned as it removed the dirt filled water. Even though she had taken it to the car wash, she had never cleaned the inside from the scum left behind from all of the use around the base. Working next door to the auto bay had made oil and grease a common sight within her cloth upholstery.

***

Finishing her work the brunette felt satisfied with the job she had done. Now completely awake it was time to shower and go for a drive to the liquor store. Luna laughed to herself and put away the shop vacuum to its rightful place on the shelf. Returning to her living room the brunette Saiyan bounded up to her bathroom to shower and change.

[Vad]

By the time the brunette had reached the liquor store it was 3:15 in the afternoon. An accident on the freeway had caused serious slow up's and she was forced to sit in bumper to bumper traffic. She cursed silently and rushed inside the little convenient type store. Exiting the store with two cases of beer she placed them in the back of her jeep and secured them with a couple of tow cables; her method of driving would have made them fling about the storage area. Luna had had the backseat removed to allow for more room to store equipment. Her battlefield equipment was in a relatively small footlocker bolted to the floor. A separate case held her standard issue weapons and a few clips of ammunition.

Igniting the monstrous engine she shifted her ride into reverse and backed out of her parking space. The freeway was jammed and the base was due south through a large field about 20 miles out. Testing her luck and military issue license plates (police normally don't bother with them) she jumped the curb and began gathering speed. Every minute or so the engine's whine would get unbearable and she'd shift again giving the transmission more room to play. Upon reaching 5th gear she held her speed at a constant 180 miles per hour.

"Shit."

Noticing a slight dip in her path she depressed the brake and down-shifted twice before steering around it. Accelerating once again she approached the entrance to the base medical area and hopped the curb; the vehicle lurched as it was punted over the concrete bump. Pulling a quick u-turn she pulled up at the guard gate.

"Running a little late are we, Luna?" Teased the guard.

"Yes, Louis. Mandatory physical and psychological exam." She groaned.

Handing the brunette a clipboard she signed her name and wrote her service number. Louis opened the gate and the Saiyan female hurried to her designated building. Upon pulling into a parking place the engine died. Not thinking anything of it she shifted the vehicle into neutral and pulled the parking brake. Turning the key to the off position she removed it from the ignition, grabbing her cell phone as she exited the jeep.

"You too eh?" Said a male voice to her left.

It was her demolitions partner Chad; the only guy who actually didn't want to get into her pants or hit on her. She grinned walking over to his car.

"Yeah. Not exactly going to enjoy getting poked and prodded." She complained.

Chad laughed as they started toward the medical building. Luna still had to figure out why the engine had died. She also had to decide whether or not to tell her examiners about the nightmares she was having regularly.

***

Entering the medical building was an assault on the senses. Coupled with chilling temperatures compared to the humidity on base, the smell of chemicals and sterilization filled the woman's nostrils. Luna pushed her sunglasses up above her forehead and examined the packed waiting room. Chad entered behind her and smirked.Not one female sat waiting in the small space designed for patients awaiting examination. The brunette approached the desk and the female desk worker smiled, handing her a clipboard. Signing her name at the bottom of the list and writing her service number she handed the clipboard to Chad. Sliding her cell phone into the back pocket of her blue jeans, Luna sat down in between two soldiers reading a style and model magazine. She mentally rolled her eyes and sat back in her chair crossing her arms.



Each minute seemed like an eternity; she could feel each guy checking her out. Chad was reading the service manual of a new explosive they had gotten just before she was released. Those documents were still on her dining room table awaiting examination. Apparently the stuff was really potent, only requiring a small amount to level an office building.

Just when she thought the pressure of sitting in the waiting room was going to kill her the phone in her back pocket began to vibrate. Removing it she examined the number; it was her commanding officer.

"Commander! What can I do for you sir?" She said in a respectful tone, getting up from her seat; her commander was also the only person who treated her like a soldier and not a walking piece of ass.

Chad lowered his paper and eyed his partner with curiosity.

"Yes sir, routine examination. In the waiting room as we speak. "

"No sir, I have not had a chance to read anything. Two days into my rest and my neighborhood has kept me busy."

"I will read them as soon as I get home. Me and Chad will see you in two days."

Closing the phone she grinned at her partner in excitement. Sliding the phone into her pocket she hiked one of the soldiers sitting next to her partner-in-demolition out of his chair and sat down.

"We're being shipped out with the 70th Infantry Division to take a key stretch of territory from a group of off world soldiers who have taken control of the province. They need us to assist with demolitions and artillery. We'll get more details on Thursday."

She smiled with joy; Chad returned a look of concern.

"I would normally be thrilled, but Luna, you haven't had any time off in three years. Two days into your assigned leave you get called up again. How much can you take?"

A doctor came into the room with a file.

"Luna, come with me please." Said the medical professional. She smiled at her partner and followed the doctor filled with excitement.

***

Colonel Garret Hayes placed his phone back on the receiver. Taking a drink of whiskey from the crystal glass on his desk, he sat back into his chair.

"Do you think it was unethical to order a medical interrogation without confirming if it's even true?" Asked a lower ranking officer standing at attention near the door.

"What is the purpose of telling her that fake story just before she's severely questioned."

The Colonel sighed.

"It will confuse her. When the story she spins doesn't exist she'll be considered mental. No one is going to question the military. Unless she somehow gets away from us and goes to the Royal Family, we'll be fine. She's being executed tonight whether or not this tip-off is true. I can't have this risk floating about. The influx of sabotages is unsettling."

He lit a cigar.

***

The entire room jumped and got to their feet as a loud scream penetrated the previously silent room. It wasn't the scream of someone scared, it was a scream of anguish. The secretary closed the glass window, bolted it shut, and withdrew into the safety of a back room. Chad got up and went to the window. Peering through the glass he caught of glimpse of his friend. She was tied to a chair, a doctor injecting a yellow liquid into her neck. Even though tears were streaming down her face she looked resistant; her screams continuing to pierce the veil of silence that followed them. He lost his view as the door was closed. What should he do?

***

"We can stop the pain Luna, if you tell us who you're working for." Explained her physician as she filled another syringe with a yellow liquid, but this time filled it to the brim.

Nodding to a nurse the brunette Saiyan was held still as the doctor plunged a needle into a vein on her prisoner's neck. Another scream of agonizing pain escaped the lips of the captive Corporal as she fought the intense drug designed to illicit a pain response; it had been developed for this purpose, and this purpose alone. Luna struggled against her restraints whilst fighting the numbing pain.

"Talk to me Luna. You can trust me."

Chad had retrieved his sidearm from his truck. Some other military members had their weapons as well; they were going to get her out of whatever predicament she was in. Kicking down both doors leading into the office from the waiting area, the soldiers moved in. Shooting the lock on the examining room door Luna was located in Chad gasped in horror.

"Corporal Myers! Stand dow-" Her sentence was cut short by a loud bang.

As the doctor fell to the ground, slowly dying, the demolitions expert rushed to his partner. She was propped up on the examination table and tied down. Her face was bloodied and beaten, and injection sites on her arms and neck were swelling. Luna appeared to be unconscious; her mind was spinning.

The nightmares hadn't been any normal dreams; they were glimpses of her future. They thought she was a spy? She had served for three straight years and they thought she was a spy. A demolitions expert having ample opportunity over the previous years to blow the base to kingdom come, a spy. Handling nuclear weapons, advanced fire based weaponry, tank ammunition, infantry grenades; she handled them, built them, and made sure they worked when called upon. How anyone could think she was a spy was beyond her. It was a mind fuck; the young woman was completely at awe at the accusations brought against her. At a medical office no less

Chad had lifted her into his arms and exited the building followed by his fellow soldiers. His comrades had gone to their respective vehicles and left. Sirens were blaring in the distance and Chad saw only one way of getting away; Luna's jeep. That thing had more horsepower than a low end APC; coupled with armor plating it could easily outrun and avoid anything the police could throw at them. Luckily she had put the top on before leaving home.

Luna had been so happy to be re-assigned Myers thought to himself as he placed Luna in the passenger seat and buckled her in. Reloading his pistol, he primed it and entered the jeep. He placed the weapon in the center console and inserted the key into the ignition. Pressing the clutch to the floor he turned the key; the starter strained to turn the massive eight cylinder engine until finally it kicked on. An engine light appeared on the dash, but Chad ignored it. He shifted into first gear and began driving west toward the barracks perimeter gate hoping to get out of the base.