Warm Guns and Happiness

A glimpse into Nathan Silver's past

"Is the end?"

"Nathan, get down!" A large explosion errupted next to Nathan, knocking him over as Tanya ran towards him. Tanya ripped off her helmet, revealing her dark skin and black hair, giving her blue eyes a large contrast in brightness. Her hair was long and tied back. She held Nathan in her arms as the other Viper members surrounded them trying to keep the two safe and hold their ground.

Nathan reached over and grabbed her arm tightly trying to pull himself up. His face covered in blood because the visor in his helmet had shattered and cut him. Tanya helped him up and rested his arm over her neck.

She pulled out her pistol as they walked slowly back towards camp, constantly being swarmed by the canadian military. She kept Nathan close to herself, never letting him get hurt by the incoming squads.

She met a hill and starts dragging Nathan up slowly. He was running out of breath and his heart was pumping rapidly.

"Tanya... Just leave me here. I'll be fine," he smiled as best as he could before completely collapsing and letting go of her hand. Tanya began to tear and grabbed his arm again, trying to walk each other up with all her might, "You're an idiot Nathan. I can't just leave you here. How would I ever get to meet your kids and live with you?"

She dragged him up the hill and sat with him back to back. "I can see the base from here Nathan." She smiled and looked over her shoulder, her eyes glowing from the sun. "Yeah, once we're out of here... We'll be damned good neighbors." Nathan said with a smile stretching across his cut open face.

"Nathan, I think we can be more than neighbors at this point." she kissed his forehead and stood, holstering her rifle to her back again. She wrapped her arm around Nathan's waist and started helping him walk again.

"Heh... I guess you're right. You do have a damned good shot though, that leaves me a bit worried." He said as humorous as he could despite his lack of breath. "You guess huh? That leaves me a little insulted. I'd say I'm the best damn shot around, Mr. Sniper." She smiled and laughed as she carried him further.

"Tanya, we need to get rid of our records first. We can't let these bastards hold us by that..." Nathan looked at her with a serious stare and a grim appearance. "I know Nathan... But, first we have to live through this. Now stop chatting about that and keep walking. We don't have all day to discuss what we have to do."

"Y-yeah... I'm sorry." Nathan looked down as he walked. Tanya gave him a harsh frown, "Stop saying sorry, you jack ass. If I wanted an apology, I'd ask." She sighed, shaking her head and continued walking.

They made it to a large tree, its petals were pink and delicate. It was out of its place and had an un-natural glow to it. Its petals fell gently on them as Tanya rested Nathan against the tree and pulled off his chest plate. "Your heart is hurting again... Isn't it?" He nodded slightly and looked down, breathing heavily. She frowned and laid on top of him, resting her head on his chest. "Once we get back, I'm gonna beat around those scientists to fix this for you." said Tanya, leaving Nathan with a smile and a sentance he could close his eyes to. They both fell asleep.

The Night Approached Rapidly

Whispers left Tanya's mouth into Nathan's ear, "Nathan... Wake up. I think we're in trouble." Nathan opened his eyes quickly and reached for his pistol, holstered on his belt. He whispered back in caution, "What is or who is it?"

Tanya and Nathan laid down, hugging the ground while watching their surroundings. They shifted uneasily as they heard a clank. A large explosion was heard behind themselves as the beautiful cherry tree egnited in flames. Ashes of the petals fell on them as Tanya grabbed Nathan's hand and started pulling him with her run.

"They caught on to us Nathan! We need to make it to the base or they'll kill us!" Tanya looked back seeing Nathan struggle to breath and kept running, "Come on Nathan! We have to keep moving, we need to get you your medicine!" A shot was heard as both fell to the ground. Tanya stood up quickly and checked Nathan, they were both unharmed, they quickly rolled down a hill on their side and had no mercy when it came to hitting the bottom which was a puddle of mud.

Nathan stared at her, both covered in mud she lied on top of him, looking around. "I think we'll be safe, Tanya." He smiled and sat up, reassuring them both. Tanya sighed and checked her belt and realised her pistol was missing, "Well, fuck me. I lost my damn gun." She took off her arm tie and whiped the mud off both their faces before showing a smile.

They stood up and continued traveling west, heading for their base. "I feel alot better now. You can let me walk on my own." Nathan looked over and added to the conversation. "No way in hell big guy. The moment I let you go your heart will get over worked and you'll die on me. Plus, I like feeling a bit more dominant than the man in the relationship." She grinned as she said with a smug tone. "Ha.. It isn't like this will be the only moment you'll be dominant, you always were better than me in the training courses and practice raids." He said in a happy tone. Tanya glared at him and shook her head, "If you keep making yourself sound bad I'm never going to marry you, Mr. Silver."

He smiled and laughed slightly before commenting back, "How can I not be negative when the only person I can compare myself to right now is so damn amazing, Tanya." She smiled and pulled him closer, "We'll be there soon Nathan, then we can start a new life." She nodded and he did so back. Both felt a bit more warmer knowing they had found each other in hell and were going to make it a heaven. They traveled onwards, towards the west to meet their goal.

Fire at Sun-rise

Tanya kicked down the cabin door. Its inside were completely empty and was one small. It was surrounded by trees with leaves of orange and red, the season was fall. They sat against the walls, finding their refuge welcoming, but not a site to behold. Its floors creeked with every step and its walled made whistles from the wind. Nathan dug through his pockets and found a lighter, but no cigarette to be lit. Tayna took off her chest plate and made it to the front of the cabin where she picked up twigs and fallen branches. Nathan stared at her attempting to catch every glimpse of her bending over as he could, although he would never admit it. Tanya brought in the wood and lit a fire that was warm and lit up the house and its empty room. They wouldn't have to be seperated by a cold steel wall anymore like they were in their base.

"Do you think they'll find us again Tanya?" Asked Nathan with a concerned look in his eyes. "We're pretty far away from the main roads, I doubt they'll check this area for us specificly, we're just soldiers." She replied with no worry in her voice, she was care-free and happy. Nathan made no hesitation to crawl over to her and lay next to the fire for the cold morning. "We should get going soon Nathan. The base is pretty close no-" She attempted to say before she was interrupted by him, "The base is always pretty close, I don't want to be there though. I'm happy where I am." Tanya smiled and rested her eyes after the exausting walk through the night.

They woke up and began preperations to head west once again. It rained while they slept and left a slight dew across the grass and mud where there was once only a little dirt. They set out with their ambition still in the Viper base. The place they can finally rest without worry, where they could fix their injuries and prepare for another day of upcoming misery. They blinded themselves to what they were doing by having each other. They knew this deep down, but needed to stay together if they didn't want to become inhumane.

Most would consider these two Viper soldiers and would have no hesitation to arrest them or worse, kill them. But heroics by killing a Viper soldier doesn't mean that soldier was any less of a person than the people who serve and die for Unity. They just had different beliefs or had no where else to go. Tanya and Nathan had both of those traits, it is what kept them going to meet their goals. Living together and starting a normal life was all they wanted.

Sorrow and Mercy

They could see the base in close distance. They cheered in happiness, even though their cheer was silent. Nathan smiled as they approached it slowly and stared at Tanya, "I guess you were right. We did make it back." He said as a smile reached her face too. "Of course we made it, we're good soldiers Nathan. Good people too, we always get what we truly want in the end." they nodded in agreement, knowing they could live a fulfilling life, it was only a short distance away. Tanya squeezed at his hip as she pulled him along, his injuries finally beggining to heal, allowing him to walk faster.

They stared at each other as they started moving ever so closer towards the gate. Their moment of silence made Nathan's heart beat rapidly, he was in pain, but silent. Tanya only sighed when he looked down, her mind was set on having his medicine administered to him. Her intentions were only good, even though Nathan cared little for her intentions. They hated each other for caring too much and loved each other as well for it.

They closed in finally and they spoke their words, "Nathan, we finally made it. I love you and I'm going to get out of here with you." She smiled, content with their journey. Nathan smiled back "I love you t-" his sentance was interrupted by a gun shot from a mounted sniper. Tanya dropped to the ground, Nathan widened his eyes and stared in shock. His heart beated quickly and it came to a sudden stop. He stood in place, staring at Tanya's lifeless body. The Viper base quickly opened the gates and dragged Nathan and Tanya inside. They left Nathan in silence as he mourned for her. He didn't cry, he didn't scream, he just stared. His eyes couldn't leave her, just as they couldn't when they were in the cabin or speaking casually.

The Viper officer who led Nathan's unit walked up to him in silence and drew his pistol against Nathan's head. The unit looked away, "Desertion... Is punishable by death private Silver." Nathan's eyes didn't leave her body. The officer's eyes turned to ones of compassion as he slowly lowered his gun, "Nathan, we'll bury her. Go rest in the medical station." Two soldiers walked over and grabbed Nathan, they started pulling him as he flailed and screamed to let him go. He finally began to tear, he realised what had just happened. He lost somone he loved and would never be able to live his life out with her.

He fell into depression, he lost his emotions. He lost his humanity.

"Is this the beggining?"