| Author |
Topic:
Other Dreams - Simple Soldier Challenge response
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VaderLVR64
Title: Fan Fic Manager in Combat Boots
Registered:
Feb '04
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Date Posted:
3/18/07 9:02am
Subject:
Other Dreams - Simple Soldier Challenge response
- Date Edited:
3/20/07 4:12am (1 edits total)
Edited By:
VaderLVR64
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Title: Other Dreams
Author: VaderLVR64
Characters: OCs
Notes: Written for the Simple Soldier Challenge
Other Dreams
He had spent more than half his life trying to make his own way in the galaxy. Leaving his father’s farm at the age of sixteen had been the best, and the worst, decision he had ever made. But Zath Del Fin had never looked back. Not once.
His father’s anger had been a convenient excuse for the first few years. “No son of mine will be a soldier,” his father had declared. Indeed, Merrin Del Fin had been a lifelong pacifist, as had his father before him and his grandfather before that. Zath came from a long line of men who would never wield a weapon.
The decision to become a soldier, a mercenary for hire, had been surprisingly easy. There were not many ways for a boy to make his way in the world, but Zath was big and he had never lacked courage. Soldiering came as easily to him as farming had come hard. He had an instinct for it. The feel of a blaster in his hands felt right, and the credits in his pockets had been earned with his own sweat and blood. He was a good soldier and he knew it and Zath would make no apologies for it.
So for eighteen years he had roamed the galaxy he had vowed to see. It had been more wondrous and terrible than he had ever imagined as he stared up at the moons on his home planet, wondering what waited beyond. Now he knew. His curiosity had been satisfied, sometimes bludgeoned, with answers.
Never had he been dissatisfied with his life, with his choice. Not once had he considered doing anything else. And then a year ago, he had been sent to a farm to buy supplies and he had seen her.
A farmer’s daughter and he had fallen in love with her, fallen so hard and fast that it still made his head swim. If that didn’t prove that the gods had a sense of humor, he didn’t know what would. Sweet as the fruit her father grew, she had big brown eyes that seemed to see right through him.
While they were on planet, he had made excuses to go see her. He had even used some of his free time between assignments to visit her, flying half-way across the galaxy and pretending he had been in the region but she had seen through that lie with her great dark eyes. Her kiss had been his reward.
That had been the first time he had said “I love you” to anyone. Somehow, she made him want all the things he had disdained for so long. He wanted them with a fierceness that frightened him.
Eventually, his friend Xed had noticed his preoccupation. “Oh, that’s a woman on your mind, my old friend,” he said one night as they talked in their tent.
Unable to deny it, Zath gave a nod of his head and grinned like an idiot. “As pretty as a sunset and so sweet she makes my teeth ache,” he admitted. Then he sighed and threw himself back on his cot, resting his head on his arms. “Gods, I miss her. I feel like…like I left a part of me with her.”
“You’ve been struck by lightning,” Xed told him. “And there’s no going back from that, let me tell you.”
Leaning up on one elbow, he stared at his friend. “Have you ever been struck?”
Xed shrugged. “Once…long ago,” he said, scratching at his grizzled beard.
“And?” Zath asked.
“And I kept telling myself just one more year, just a few more credits and I’d go back and ask her to marry me,” Xed replied. “But I waited just one year too long and when I went home she had married someone else. Someone who was there and content just to be her husband.” Then he shook his head. “It’s for the best, I suppose. I’m not the settling down type.”
But there had been an old sorrow, long buried, in Xed’s voice. That had been the moment that Zath had decided that he wasn’t going to end up like Xed, looking back on what might have been.
“I’m going to fulfill this contract,” Zath said. “And then I’m quitting. I’m going back to her and I’m going to ask her to be my wife.” He glanced at Xed, half expecting the older man would laugh at him, but the warrior had merely nodded his head.
“Might be best,” he said. “Just do it. Make a clean break from this life. Walk away from it. There’s nothing here to keep a man warm at night.”
Then Xed had turned off the lantern and the two men had been plunged into darkness. “Don’t put it off, Zath,” the other man warned. “Take the credits from this contract and then get the hell out.”
“I will,” Zath promised.
So the decision had been made. Now the contract was up and he had earned his credits honestly. Even now, knowing he was going to wake up tomorrow as a former soldier, he had given his all.
He had known it would come to this. One last battle, one last time that his blood ran hot and then cold. When the bloodlust came, it raged through him like molten lava, and then came the aftermath, the cold, hard truth of what he’d done. But this was the last time. Never again would he feel that cold thrill, that uncertainty.
Afterward, he looked out over the field where both enemies and allies sprawled, some already dead, some caught up in the business of dying. Some faced it clean, head on, and others seemed to shrink from it. But death found them all no matter what. It was a brutal life, but he had embraced it. Warriors lived briefly, blazing across a dark sky and then plummeting into darkness, their purpose served.
Zath Del Fin had always prided himself on being a soldier. There was no glory in the job, certainly, just a grim certainty that one day his luck would run out and he’d be one of the bodies on the field, bloody and defeated by the most powerful enemy of all – death.
Today, however, the battle was over and he stood victorious simply because he was breathing. Simple victories were sometimes the best, he mused. He took a deep breath, perhaps merely to prove he could. Yes, still alive. Alive and ready to move on to other dreams.
From the clouds of dust and smoke, he saw a familiar limping form. It was Xed, bloodstained but breathing. Zath grinned at his friend.
“I was afraid you’d get yourself killed,” Xed mocked with a laugh. “And wouldn’t that be a hell of thing just as you get ready to retire.”
Zath threw his arm around his old friend and from his belt he pulled out a tiny flask. It was a tradition of theirs, a drink to celebrate survival. Each man took a swallow, grimacing with pleasure as the fire of the brew wended through their bodies. “Damn boy, that stuff’s gotta a hell of a kick to it.”
“We’re real men, we can take it,” Zath said. He sighed and looked around them at battlefield. “Well…I’m done then.”
“You’re done, boy,” Xed replied and there was a suspicious huskiness to his voice. “It’s been an honor knowing you.”
Kicking nervously at the dirt, Zath said, “Listen if you’re ever in the vicinity…” He stopped and shrugged. “Well…you know what I mean.”
“I do,” Xed answered and then clapped Zath on the back. “Make her a happy woman and have lots of babies.”
“I can promise to try,” Zath replied with a wink. He picked up the bag he had retrieved from their small tent, the tent that Xed would sleep in alone tonight before he moved on to the next job.
Zath gave Xed one last hard embrace, slamming his hand on Xed’s back and making him cough. “Insolence,” Xed muttered but there was a shimmer of tears in his eyes.
Walking away from his friend, away from his old life, this time Zath did turn back. “Stay low, old friend,” he called out.
“That’s my plan!” Xed yelled and gave one pump of his fist. Then Zath tossed his friend the flask they had shared so many times.
“Drink one for me next time,” Zath told him.
“I’ll drink more than one,” Xed promised.
Zath smiled and began walking through the bodies, surrounded by the familiar scents of blood and fear and death. Never again, he told himself. He’d catch a transport out of here this evening and in three days’ time he would be holding his love in his arms. After that there would be a whole new life waiting for him- for them.
The sun was setting in the distance, beckoning him with peaceful promise.
Zath walked toward the future.
-----signature-----
If you have to choose between tears and laughter, remember that laughter burns more calories.
Proud New Army Mom - off to bootcamp!
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earlybird-obi-wan
Registered:
Aug '06
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Date Posted:
3/18/07 10:15am
Subject:
RE: Other Dreams - Simple Soldier Challenge response
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That's a nice one going to a peaceful future and no death on the battlefield for him
" The sun was setting in the distance, beckoning him with peaceful promise.
Zath walked toward the future."
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writer and Star Wars fan
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SithGirl132
Registered:
Dec '05
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Date Posted:
3/18/07 10:18am
Subject:
RE: Other Dreams - Simple Soldier Challenge response
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So nice! It's nice that a story from that challenge has a happy ending. I like it alot!
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KELIA
Title: Moderator: Fan Fiction
Registered:
Jul '05
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Date Posted:
3/18/07 10:22am
Subject:
RE: Other Dreams - Simple Soldier Challenge response
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I hope Zath's girl hasn't married anyone else.
I loved that he was able to make the choice Xed waited too long to make.
Great response to the challenge
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Brant_Flir
Registered:
May '05
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Date Posted:
3/18/07 11:26am
Subject:
RE: Other Dreams - Simple Soldier Challenge response
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That was great, i actually thought something different was gonna happen at the end, but it was glorious. I'll add it to the list.
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jedimasterbac
Title: Fan Sites Manager
Registered:
Jun '04
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Date Posted:
3/18/07 12:03pm
Subject:
RE: Other Dreams - Simple Soldier Challenge response
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VaderLVR64 posted:
Zath smiled and began walking through the bodies, surrounded by the familiar scents of blood and fear and death. Never again, he told himself. He’d catch a transport out of here this evening and in three days’ time he would be holding his love in his arms. After that there would be a whole new life waiting for him- for them.
The sun was setting in the distance, beckoning him with peaceful promise.
Zath walked toward the future.
I love the description of the setting sun. Very well done.
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Star Wars: Episode I - The Chosen One (Star Wars Saga Reboot/Re-Imagining) http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/27764984/p1/?1 Chronicles of the Great War: Aftermath http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/28417488/p1/?1 John McCain 2008
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Darth Muis
Registered:
Mar '00
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Date Posted:
3/19/07 4:59pm
Subject:
RE: Other Dreams - Simple Soldier Challenge response
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I hope everything works out for Zath. And in my mind I imagined Xed working as a hired hand on Zath's farm some time in the future. Living in a small house on Zath's ground. Zath's children will call him old uncle Xed.
I don't know, maybe I'm just a bit of a romantic. 
Excellent response to the challenge VaderLVR64!
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brodiew
Registered:
Oct '05
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Date Posted:
3/19/07 10:33pm
Subject:
RE: Other Dreams - Simple Soldier Challenge response
- Date Edited:
3/19/07 10:35pm (1 edits total)
Edited By:
brodiew
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“You’ve been struck by lightning,” Xed told him. “And there’s no going back from that, let me tell you.”
I enjoyed getting to know Zath. this fic was an excellent OC character study. I wish I could write OCs as well. From Zath rejecting his father's pacificism(sp?) to the lightening bolt of love getting him out of the war game, this fic satisified. I happy to see that you did not make this a tragedy and kill Zath on his final mission. He deserves some happiness. 
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Jedi_Tigris
Registered:
Mar '05
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Date Posted:
3/22/07 10:48pm
Subject:
RE: Other Dreams - Simple Soldier Challenge response
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Wow, wonderfully written! Love the camraderie between Zath and Xed. Hope Zath got his girl and settled down well.  It'd be nice to see a sequel post. 
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"Who is more foolish? The fool, or the fool who follows him?" - Obi-Wan Kenobi, ANH padawan/adoptee of Myri_Antilles Battling DRL...otherwise known as college and work...  Please add me to your pm list when I review. Thanks!
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Sith_Squid
Registered:
Mar '07
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Date Posted:
3/24/07 4:51am
Subject:
RE: Other Dreams - Simple Soldier Challenge response
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Nice. Somewhat touching, yet at the same time gruff in its camaraderie. Refreshing to see a soldier leaving the army in anything but a wailing fireball of glory and heroism.
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VaderLVR64
Title: Fan Fic Manager in Combat Boots
Registered:
Feb '04
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Date Posted:
7/3/07 1:38pm
Subject:
RE: Other Dreams - Simple Soldier Challenge response
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earlybird-obi-wan I wanted him to have a chance at a better life.
SithGirl132 Sometimes I LIKE a happy ending! 
KELIA It was a "challenging" challenge!  Soldiers aren't usually what I write.
Brant_Flir I wanted to go in a hopefully unexpected direction.
jedimasterbac Thank you!
Darth Muis I like it!
brodiew I read a lot of work by an excellent author named obi_ew on these boards and just reading her work really helped me in writing OCs. At least I hope it helped. Anyway, if you want to read some incredibly well crafted OCs, check out her work.
Jedi_Tigris I just may have to do that! 
Sith_Squid Some of them HAVE to live, right?
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If you have to choose between tears and laughter, remember that laughter burns more calories.
Proud New Army Mom - off to bootcamp!
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