The Regrets I Have are Not the Ones I Say by Or M. Bialik

Author:Or M. Bialik
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Red Bladestorm Books, OMB

Day 7 – They came from nowhere

Hajni was gone again when I woke up. But at least I did not find Minerva sitting there. I got up, got sorted, picked up my helmet and came down. I found Hajni in the living room with Gatewatcher, Halbert and, to my surprise, Longspear, having a heated debate about last night’s offering.

“It might sound ridiculous to modern ears,” Longspear said, probably in response to something. “But there was a period where they actually were trying to indoctrinate us to talk like that.”

“No!” Halbert exclaimed.

“Yes.” Longspear retorted. “The very old guards, the ones that have been around since the Old Regime, they would actually talk like that sometimes, especially in combat, it was like someone activated a script in their head… which might very well be given how things were back then.”

“You are making that up.” Gatewatcher was snickering. “Even you are not that old.”

“Oh, they very much did.” Minerva said as she walked in from the kitchen, a tray in either hand, one with cupcakes and the other with hot drinks. “If you ever want to experience it, the first sixty seconds have what they call ‘the ancients’ company’, which are all Old Regime era super soldiers. Riflestock is small next to them, massive beasts, all male, look all deformed, tiny dicks, and completely wrong in the head. Half the time they have to remind them they aren’t supposed to assault anyone that’s a bit different to ‘preserve the glorious purity of the Empire’ and nonsense like that.”

“Why do they keep them around?” I asked as Minerva handed me a cup of something, it was strong and earthy, but I liked it.

Minerva shrugged. “As a reminder and a lesson?” She said, not sounding very convincing. She took a seat and a cupcake. “If I ever figure out why the Empire keeps preserving terrible bits of its history in living culture, I would actually be able to do something about it.”

I picked up a cupcake. “Wait,” I looked at Longspear. “Did they show Glorious Heroes of Akash again?”

“No.” He shook his head. “We just got stuck on it for a bit. They only showed Name of Love again, twice.”

“You had marines actually crying the second time when Riverfold had to leave,” Minerva said. “You missed it.”

“Really?” I scanned the rest of the present company, but they all seem to be momentarily too occupied to confirm or deny.

“I am very sorry, it was balderdash he had to leave,” Halbert said and picked up a cupcake. “Completely contrived for drama, he should have stayed and raised the baby with her.” I took a bite of my cupcake; they were just as good as the rest of the baked goods Minerva somehow produced.

“The status quo must be preserved.” Minerva said. “Don’t you know that?”

“That is rather subversive speak, Fleet Captain.” Hajni said, although by her tone it was clear she was not saying that seriously.

“Good!” Minerva said. “I’m a fucking special forces specialist, if I don’t keep practicing I won’t be able to start the next insurgency when I need it.

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