Uilliam Nebel
24th Imperial Crusade
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Posted - 2008.06.12 22:43:00 -
[1]
Sarum Prime III - Moon 2 - Imperial Academy School
The inside of the Academy station, especially the lower deck hanger, was a surreal site to behold. Everywhere one looked, on stretchers, tables, and on the floor of the hanger were the thick plastic bags, or red stained white poly-linen sheets that now held the Amarrian civilian dead. As the Elder Fleet had entered the system the thousands of everyday Amarrian people, whom called Sarum Prime home or whom had been traveling through it at the time had been caught up in the tidal wave of destruction as Elder and Imperial ships warped into the area and engaged in heated combat.
Uilliam once again wearing an Imperial uniform, but this one now of the 24th Imperial Crusade militia, made his way through the rows of bodies. In his hand he held the tag which read 'CX-IIIVX-Female-Adolescent.' The civil authorities, and the volunteers helping them could no longer take those whom had come to claim a body to it. Sadly they were too overwhelmed as the corpses were being brought into the station still and had to leave those whom came to find their loved ones to do so themselves.
Following the unceremonious signs that were placed upon stands, Uilliam made his way through the sections. All about him where squares marked off by synthetic silk utility ropes that designated the different areas which contained the remains. Finally after walking for sometime he came to the one marked 'CX' and ducked under the rope into it. Going down the lines that the bodies here had been laid upon the hangar floor in he came to IIIVX.
He stood over the poly-textile black bag, only four and half feet by two and a half, and the bulge within it showing it was barely half filled. As his eyes stayed looking at it his legs began to buckle somewhat before he caught himself. Slowly taking a knee on the floor before it, his one hand palming his face as the other reached out and ran itself gently over the cold surface of the body bag. Staying where he was, Uilliam's soft sobbing joined the low chorus of many others that were near and in mourning, every so often a wail of anguish rising up.
"What was their name mister?"
Uilliam looked up to see the small Amarrian boy standing there looking at him. His eyes wide, and a bit heavy as he stood fidgeting slowly, his hands behind his back as they held a toy model of a Punisher frigate. Wiping his eyes, and clearing his throat, Uilliam looked to the boy as he replied.
"Catiz-Anne, when she was born her Mother named her for Catiz Tash-Murkon and my Grand Mother."
"That's a pretty name."
Uilliam could feel another wave of grief rising within himself as he somewhat bit his lip and nodded in thanks to the boy.
"I'm sorry, sorry she..."
Looking down the small boy did not finish his words, as he seemed unsure how to exactly say it.
"It's all right, thank you though." |
Uilliam Nebel
24th Imperial Crusade
|
Posted - 2008.06.12 22:44:00 -
[2]
It was the only reply Uilliam could manage as he stayed kneeling by his daughter's body. Hearing Uilliam, the child went on.
"We are here because Momma's cousin, he got hurt to, and he died."
"I'm sorry for your family's loss. Did you know him well?"
With the question, the boy just shook his head no in a typical small child's exaggerated fashion. Uilliam nodded his head in understanding as he turned back to look at Catiz-Anne's remains.
"Why did they do this?"
Looking up to see the boys wide eyes as he heard the child's question, Uilliam just shook his head slightly as if to say he had no idea. From somewhere behind the poor, Uilliam could hear a woman's voice, with that Amarrian mother's authoritarian hiss to it's tone.
"Udoran Sves Moran, leave that man be and come here."
Looking to Uilliam, the child quickly spoke.
"I better go, she is calling me by my long name."
Barely able to hear the boy, as he stayed looking down, Uilliam heard Udoran's hurried foot steps as he scurried away. And then the hushed berating by his Mother a few moments later. Staying besides his daughter's side, Uilliam now only heard the rest of those about him whom were caught up in grief for the loss of their loved ones. Soon his own sense of loss giving him to join in their chorus again.
The end. |