09-14-2006, 12:43 AM
It had been a while since I retired from the military. Over five years, to be precise. I have had too many scars and horrid memories to continue to serve my planet. Yes, of course the good times will always been remembered. The days with the boys, looking at dirty magazines and tossing coins to the stripped, who elegantly twirled around her gold-plated pole. Yeah, that pole?but I had to leave.
?Torah!? The general shouted out from his workplace, the cigar between his lips muffling his words, though everyone that knew him had adapted to it. ?You can come in now.?
The veteran warrior took one last deep breath, exhaling as he firmly grasped the doorknob. Then he entered. Though he seemed normal, the Saiyan had to contain his emotions from pushing outward. The news that he was about to deliver would certainly force a frown upon his commander?s rugged face.
As he went to take a seat, the commander leaned back in his chair, putting his hands together, fingers laced. He took a small puff on his cigar as Torah finally sat down. The room then was overwhelmed by an awkward silence as Torah looked across the large redwood desk at his commander.
?So?? The commander?s eyes looked around the room as he broke the unusual silence. He then leaned forward, placing his hands on his desk. ?What is it that you need lieutenant?? He asked, pondering what Torah?s response would be.
Torah?s eyes scrolled down to the floor. ?Well, I?ve been serving my planet for quite some time now.? He said, looking back up at the general. ?A lot of bruises, sir.?
The general took another puff on his cigar before interrupting Torah. ?So you want out??
With a sigh, Torah responded, ?Yes.?
?Can I get a reason?? The commander asked as he removed his hands from the desk.
?Well, it?s been a while since I saw my family, or even made love to my wife.?
The general sighed. ?I understand, Torah.? He then removed the cigar from his mouth and dabbed it in his ashtray, putting it out. ?But your presence will definitely be missed.?
Torah said nothing. His cluttered emotions that he tried to contain began to break through. A tear slowly ran down his cheek. ?I?I?I just can?t do this anymore.? He finally muttered out.
?It?s alright Torah, really.? The commander replied. ?Just remember that you?ll always be welcome back.?
The warrior nodded. He then grabbed the scouter that was firmly attached to his ear. Removing it, he placed it on the desk and got out of the chair. ?Goodbye sir.? He said as he put his legs together, stood straight, and saluted his commander.
?Put your hand down.? The general said. ?You don?t have to salute me.? He then extended out a hand towards Torah.
The two firmly grasped each other?s hands and shook hands. Then Torah walked towards the door, opening it.
?Hey Torah,? the commander said as the former soldier began to exit. ?Have a good one.?
Torah simply smiled as he then left, closing the door behind him.
As soon as the door shut, the veteran allowed his emotions to escape. Tears poured from his eyes, running down his rough face. As they dripped from his jaw, he wiped them away. He was aware that the fighting was over. But even though pain came from battling, so did the fortunes of victory. That was something he was miss. But it was over now. It was time for him to start a new phase in his life.
Yeah, that?s how it happened. Ending my career in the military was the best, yet worst decision of my life. Those long nights of sorrow, after leaving the force, kept me awake. And the short and stressful mornings only fueled it. My wife was the person that kept me sane. Without her, I probably would have committed suicide.
Then after a while, I decided that I needed the military, almost as much as it needed me. And after controlling my addiction for the job, I decided to come back. Yeah, I?m coming back.
*__________*__________*__________*
?Torah!? The general shouted out from his workplace, the cigar between his lips muffling his words, though everyone that knew him had adapted to it. ?You can come in now.?
The veteran warrior took one last deep breath, exhaling as he firmly grasped the doorknob. Then he entered. Though he seemed normal, the Saiyan had to contain his emotions from pushing outward. The news that he was about to deliver would certainly force a frown upon his commander?s rugged face.
As he went to take a seat, the commander leaned back in his chair, putting his hands together, fingers laced. He took a small puff on his cigar as Torah finally sat down. The room then was overwhelmed by an awkward silence as Torah looked across the large redwood desk at his commander.
?So?? The commander?s eyes looked around the room as he broke the unusual silence. He then leaned forward, placing his hands on his desk. ?What is it that you need lieutenant?? He asked, pondering what Torah?s response would be.
Torah?s eyes scrolled down to the floor. ?Well, I?ve been serving my planet for quite some time now.? He said, looking back up at the general. ?A lot of bruises, sir.?
The general took another puff on his cigar before interrupting Torah. ?So you want out??
With a sigh, Torah responded, ?Yes.?
?Can I get a reason?? The commander asked as he removed his hands from the desk.
?Well, it?s been a while since I saw my family, or even made love to my wife.?
The general sighed. ?I understand, Torah.? He then removed the cigar from his mouth and dabbed it in his ashtray, putting it out. ?But your presence will definitely be missed.?
Torah said nothing. His cluttered emotions that he tried to contain began to break through. A tear slowly ran down his cheek. ?I?I?I just can?t do this anymore.? He finally muttered out.
?It?s alright Torah, really.? The commander replied. ?Just remember that you?ll always be welcome back.?
The warrior nodded. He then grabbed the scouter that was firmly attached to his ear. Removing it, he placed it on the desk and got out of the chair. ?Goodbye sir.? He said as he put his legs together, stood straight, and saluted his commander.
?Put your hand down.? The general said. ?You don?t have to salute me.? He then extended out a hand towards Torah.
The two firmly grasped each other?s hands and shook hands. Then Torah walked towards the door, opening it.
?Hey Torah,? the commander said as the former soldier began to exit. ?Have a good one.?
Torah simply smiled as he then left, closing the door behind him.
As soon as the door shut, the veteran allowed his emotions to escape. Tears poured from his eyes, running down his rough face. As they dripped from his jaw, he wiped them away. He was aware that the fighting was over. But even though pain came from battling, so did the fortunes of victory. That was something he was miss. But it was over now. It was time for him to start a new phase in his life.
*__________*__________*__________*
Yeah, that?s how it happened. Ending my career in the military was the best, yet worst decision of my life. Those long nights of sorrow, after leaving the force, kept me awake. And the short and stressful mornings only fueled it. My wife was the person that kept me sane. Without her, I probably would have committed suicide.
Then after a while, I decided that I needed the military, almost as much as it needed me. And after controlling my addiction for the job, I decided to come back. Yeah, I?m coming back.
![[Image: 1stAerosig.png]](http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q218/Aerogfx/sigs/1stAerosig.png)
Placed 3rd in Dante's Abyss 08