Chapter Text
Chapter 1: “Deserter!”
~Karina Maltino~
Home. Gone, set ablaze in ashes along with her own dreams. What even was the reason for all this? Why did she—
“Private Maltino? I’m sure you’ve heard the news. Despite it being just you and me, we’re going to stay at this post until they pick us up.”
Nashiv, her NCO, or was. Karina mumbled to herself, “But— everything we…” Then she paused. Karina didn’t exactly know what to say.
What even was to be said? Her entire country doesn’t exist anymore, the army she once served no longer fought for themselves.
Karina found herself trying to find entertainment by bugging around with a personal radio some other guy probably brought and forgot; the signal absolutely garbage down here. She managed to find a frequency that played music, just the type she didn’t quite like, but she could deal with it.
She looked out the window of her little checkpoint box, looking out at the valley walls that surrounded them, the mountains seeming impossible to climb. The checkpoint itself was stationed on what was basically almost the outskirts, the border only 100ish km away.
‘Why do we even have to watch this place?’ She pondered.
No one exactly told her why she was here; she only followed orders to not get singled out, which included asking the brass, “Why?” Usually, they’d stay here for a week, then rotate out, but now, since there wasn’t exactly a commanding structure, that most likely wasn’t going to happen any time soon.
But Nashiv still believed that some day, they'd come for them. Still holding onto whatever was left of their belief.
‘No way she still thinks they're gonna come down here for us, it’s been like what? 2 whole fucking weeks?’
Karina wished she could hold onto hope like her. From what she saw, Nashiv was not exactly happy about being in the backline deep in a valley checkpoint, but Nashiv also wasn’t exactly rushing to get back to the front. She’d overheard from rumors that Nashiv was court-martialled for something that sent her here, to the 16th Reserve Regiment.
‘Why the fuck am I in the reserve??’ Karina questioned herself.
She was drafted to fight, but perhaps it’s because of how badly she did during basic that landed her up here.
‘Hey, at least I'm not at the front.’ Karina sarcastically mumbled, secretly glad that she wasn’t. She fiddled with the radio a bit more, then picking her head up to spot Nashiv lighting a cigarette.
‘Huh.’ Karina knew she was a smoker; however, Karina began to notice how Nashiv began to burn through them. Maybe it was because of all the stress of literally losing her home, or well, her entire country, but that totally isn't relevant.
Karina stared at Nashiv, pondering about why she was so dedicated or was— to their “country.” Specifically Westwernd, the IndustriCity Karina was from. Karina thought about the place, an industrial workhouse that she never quite liked.
She didn’t think there was anything great about it; in fact, Karina always wished that one day, she’d be able to move out of the place. The air was always filled with smog, making it almost impossible to breathe, forcing her to wear a mask.
Though that was one thing she liked about this place, the air was clear and mostly isolated, an upside and a downside. Another thing she hated about Westwernd was the fear of gassing or bombing being a daily occurrence, which, for as long as she remembered, was always the case.
‘Wonder how Nashiv managed to find herself out on the front before she got here… Or her childhood.‘
Karina then pulled herself from the seat, standing up and walking to where the personal quarters was, it being separated from the checkpoint box with only a door before heading towards opening her bunk.
The bunk box was a small steel box that was quite literally welded onto the side of the bunk bed meant for personal items. Karina opened the latch and peered into it, searching through her other issued and personal gear, which consisted of a sewing kit, extra pencils, a wallet book, film camera, and a couple hygiene items.
Under all that, Karina found her sketchbook, a tiny black leather-backed book. Karina then grabbed a random pen before sitting on her bunk, thinking about what to draw.
‘Maybe… I should try perspective? That’d probably be useful. Never really practiced it then—‘
Karina once had wondered about being an artist before that dream was torn away from her when she was drafted, but she could draw now. There wasn’t any army left, so why should she let her “NCO” stop her from drawing.
Speaking of her NCO, she was still in view through the one-way glass on the side of the bunk quarters, so Karina began to draw her, for practice. Perspective was annoying as shit, but having a reference helped a lot.
The pen glided across the rough paper, every mistake permanent, but that didn’t bother Karina much; she just wanted to draw. The lines a shade of dark blue, lining up to create a piece of art that she was lost in, feeling like she was at home again, staring out the window at the smog filled skies, just drawing mindlessly.
Then she set the pen down and stared at her own work— Nashiv now inside still smelling like smoke and looking… tired was now doing something that probably didn’t involve her. The drawing itself was. Well, it actually didn't look that bad, but Karina felt she could’ve done better.
‘Eh.’ Karina shrugged, thinking, ‘I tried my best,’ Before shutting the book and putting it back into the bunk box, then pushing herself off the bed and heading back out to the checkpoint box to see what Nashiv was doing.
‘Nashiv doesn’t even make me address her like an NCO anymore. It’s strange.’
She was so used to addressing her like an NCO but does she really have to now? Does it matter? When would someone come for them, out on an outpost that probably was forgotten.
And a stupid question popped into her mind, one that only another person could probably answer, though they probably would not want to.
‘Uhm. This probably isn’t such a good idea but… I’ve gotta ask anyway.’
Anxiously, Karina stepped towards the door and held onto the doorhandle which felt colder than she remembered but eventually she pooled up all her courage to open the door.
And there she was, sitting next to the personal radio before immediately tensing up to Karina entering the room.
“Hey.. uhm” she stuttered before asking, “Do you really believe that someone's gonna come for us?”
“Of course they would! Why would you think that they’d just leave us here?” Nashiv responded quickly, slightly raising her voice.
“I just… what if they don’t?” Karina pushed. “I’m just saying, what would we do? We can’t stay here forever.”
Nashiv looked like she was genuinely considering the thought before raising her tone into an “this is an order,” voice. “They’re going to bring us back home. I know the brass didn’t just forget about all the outposts out here.”
“And how would you know?? I don’t wanna stay here okay?? I wanna leave this— I just.. I don’t believe that anyones coming and I wanna fucking leave.”
Karina stood there, mostly because she just cursed at her “NCO” but also would Nashiv even understand what she was implying? Nashiv wasn't the easiest person to convince, especially to do what she was suggesting– to quite literally defect. ‘Would she??’ ‘What are you even trying to do???’
‘Why’d you even do that.. you fucking dumbass.’
Her scolding of herself was then interrupted by Nashiv questioning, “Well what do you recommend going huh? We’re stuck here whether you like it or not.”
She was right, what could they do? Even if they could leave they— no wait they could leave. Wasn’t there a motorcycle out back? That’d probably work. “Theres a reconnaissance motorcycle you know. A-and uhm. We could go back ‘home.’ ”
The reconnaissance motorcycle was a small motorcycle with a carriage on the side and a glass shield on the front. The motorcycle also had a name, “Bitsy” which was stenciled into the thing before she even got here,
It was supposed to be used to get away in case of 1. Invasion and you needed to get away and 2. Relying news when the in built checkpoint radio didn’t.
Karina looked back at Nashiv who was silent, trying to not make eye contact, or so it seemed. ‘Maybe she’s considering it? No, no she wouldn’t. Would she?’
Nashiv suddenly spoke up, “We’d be called deserters, traitors even but… I hope you know what you're trying to imply. And I pray you know how to read a map and a compass.” in a voice that said “I don’t wanna do this but honestly, what other choice do I have?” Catching Karina by surprise.
“Oh.” She whispered before moving towards the personal quarters, peering at the map that was pinned on the wall which laid next to the military radio.
It was a map of the entire county itself. Nashiv followed her into the room and began staring at the map with Karina, whispering to her “So. Where to?” Karina thought about it for a moment before asking if she wanted to return to Westwernd.
Westwernd wasn’t exactly the safest place in general even before the war had started, it was crowded, messy, dirty— basically every other city though the crowdedness might help her and Nashiv blend in. If they ever ditched the uniforms.
It was also Karina’s home Bloc, influencing her to pick it. She assumed that Nashiv would just follow her to which again, caught off guard, they did.
“So. Westwernd it is huh?” Karina confirmed before beginning to pack her stuff. Luckily for her, most useful things were already standard issue meaning they already had space on her uniform to fit.
And also Bitsy had a place to hitch a bag on to as well. Karina, down shoving all her stuff into her knapsack making sure to tie her sleeping bag which was more of a semi-soft blanket with a hole and a pillow sewn on on top of the sack before looking at the map and taking it down to take with them.
Karina glanced at the map, looking into it with more focus than before attempting to remember important details. Westwernd was southwestish of here, around 913km away which seemed so far but a few days worth of travel would take them there– or Karina thought so.
From what little she heard on the small radio, the grand war was still going on somehow. ’Maybe we should ditch the uniforms,’ But they’d have to find more clothes to change into so that wasn’t a choice at all.
She then folded the map before shoving it into her shirt pocket, also adding a compass in there before buttoning the pocket. Karina also made sure to put her camera around her neck with the idea that she could take some good pictures.
‘Oh. And the rifle. Can’t forget the rifle.’ The “rifle” itself was not actually a rifle, but a carbine being light with controllable recoil, perfect for a checkpoint skirmish.
Patting herself down, Karina checked if she had everything, making sure to look into the bunk boxes— both hers and Nashiv’s even though she’d never seen Nashiv use hers at all.
However, to her surprise, Karina found a cigarette pack which she stashed away in her other shirt pocket— ‘Just in case.’ Turning to the door, she glanced back at the place. She couldn’t say she’d exactly miss the place, in fact Karina hated the place but hey! That was better than being on the front.
She reached for the door handle, opening it to see Nashiv fueling Bitsy before setting the empty jerry can onto the side basket and manuelling moving the bike past the bar gate, kicking the kickstand out. ‘Hope she knows how to ride a motorcycle. She probably does– she always knows what she’s doing… I think.’
Karina herself had once owned a motorcycle when she lived in Westwernd but when she had been taken away, her parents had sold her bike for money. She couldn’t blame them either, why would she need her bike anymore if she was most likely not going to return?
‘You’re such a positive person Karina,’ She whispered to herself, shuddering at the thought. But lucky for her she was sent to reserve instead soooo. Yippie? Nashiv then magically appeared behind her asking for the map which she struggled for a bit before handing it over.
“Southwest, 913 km. Listen Karina, hey–” Nashiv snapped her fingers, which succeeded in grabbing Karina’s attention who was staring somewhere else on the map.
“Hm- oh yes ma’am?”
Nashiv rolled her eyes, most likely annoyed by Karina but she turned her head back to the map. “Okay. 913 km n’ the bike got a top kmph of… 95 km/ph but that may over heat it…”
Karina stared at her while the gears in Nashiv’s head turned before she muttered something about cruising speed, following it up by stating, “It’ll probably take us a day or 2.. depending on how messed the roads are…”
It took a moment for Karina to process that information but it didn’t seem so bad. ‘Only two days huh? That's actually– less than I thought.’ Nashiv spoke again, then voicing that, “There's like a village or town every 79-85 km which means we could find a place to stock up n’ rest.”
“Though I’ve got no idea how many of them are abandoned. Most of this map has probably been outdated for like a week.” – “Though we’ve only got fuel for about 3 towns before we have to refuel,”
For a second, Karina thought about it, setting her hand on her chin. ‘So it isn't going to be as easy as I thought.’ She gazed at the map, noting most of the turns they'd have to take. North of the check point was their base, called “Fort Yerntif” only 50 km away but they’d probably be shot on site.
Mostly because of the uniforms but the war. Couldn’t ever forget the grand war. The more Karina thought about it, the more she began to doubt that this was a good idea but oh well.
Down the road 1 km in the road diverged into a Y which they'd have to take a left around, going straight for around before making about left to officially be going South and 68 km there’d be a town or something like that they’d be able to rest in.
She’d rather leave then starve to death here. Speaking of which, food wasn’t exactly an issue but food was strained so they'd have to be careful and probably ration their.. rations. It wasn’t like they were getting fed that much anyways, most of the resources went to the front and from what she’d heard, it wasn’t any better there too.
“Compass?” Nashiv asked to which Karina complied, handing it over. Nashiv walked out onto the street with Karina folding back up the map and putting it into her shirt pocket, then following Nashiv out.
As Karina watched Nashiv, she assumed that they were trying to gauge the direction of the way the checkpoint pointed, ‘Or something like that maybe”
She turned her head to the wide downhill eventual opening of the valley; there was only 1 way to go, straight down hill. The dirt road itself wasn’t much to talk about, and not many plants grew up here anyways so there wasn’t any foliage at all.
Nashiv then unexpectedly called her name, making Karina immediately stiff up into straight posture, fixing her back before reading Nashiv’s body and realizing that they were telling her to follow.
“So. We’re leaving now?” Karina asked, a very obvious and stupid question but Nashiv responded with a dry “Yes. Yes we are now cmon.” before hopping onto Bitsy, motioning Karina to hop in the side basket, then checking her pocket watch.
Karina walked over before attaching the knapsack to the bike’s hooks, shaking it to make sure it was secured before carefully sitting into the carriage, putting her feet first then her entire body, making sure her carbine was set on the mount that usually would be used for an LMG though from what she’d learn about it, the rig could be used for almost any standard issue weapon.
Nashiv then handed her goggles that Karina put on before buckling her helmet, watching Nashiv do the same before adjusting her shoulder strap and pistol holster, then turning the acceleration, ending Bitsy lurching forward, with both of them now heading downhill.
It actually felt nice, the wind in her semi exposed hair, the coldness bracing upon her skin. She felt free out here in the open, letting the world pass by. She could just stay like this forever. Everything– almost everything around her was a blur, the mountains that once bordered her check point only fuzzy bits of color of brown and pinches of green.
Karina looked up at the wonderful sky that wasn’t blacked out with industrial smog whispering to herself, ‘What a beautiful sight..” She took in a big hefty breath, letting in the rushing air before turning to Nashiv who seemed like she was having fun, though she barely let herself smile– her tannedish skin looking defined yet scarred under the sun’s rays.
The mountains faded from large formations to medium sized rock which slanted down to mounds barely her height to eventually nothing but sickly green grass and eventual shrubs and trees. ‘Grand war has reached here, hm?’ she muttered, mostly towards Nashiv but to her disappointment, Nashiv ignored her.
‘Maybe she didn’t hear…’ but Karina kept silent, only looking at the nature that lined both ways of the dirt road, now easier to make out as they weren’t going down hill or as fast anymore.
They both then approached the fork divergence to which they took a left at, Karina now holding the compass which Nashiv handed to her when they stopped at the divergence.
As they both began to approach the town named “Soritha” on the map, it seemed more old and ruined than they both previously thought, most of the burnt down houses appearing worse than they were in the distance. Since this was the countryside, the houses were more sparse making the damage seem less of an issue.
‘What the fuck happend here?’ Karina questioned, to which Nashiv unexpectedly responded, “Probably some raid… or a shelling.” in a tone that spoke of sorrow, something Karina barely heard from her.
The road began to become more and more bumpy when the both approached what seemed to be the square which was now mostly reduced to rubble, the surrounding foliage turning completely bare. Bitsy slowly pulled to a halt, making Nashiv kick the kickstand and getting up, taking off her goggles to get a better look.
The buildings themselves looked long abandoned, most burnt, some shelled, and the remaining ones that stood were filled with bullet holes.
"Probably been months huh? I mean since this place was y'know." Karina asked.
Nashiv, who was observing the buildings, took a moment before responding, “Most likely, There isn't much plant growth so.”
Karina turned her attention to Nashiv which was next to one of the remaining houses, her hand on the doorway leaning into place, probably taking a good look before mumbling something unauditable and stepping in.
Debating in her mind, Karina asked herself ‘What is she doing now… should I follow? Maybe I should– ah y'know what yea.’ before walking up and shouting “Hey!! Nashiv–” before walking into the building to see Nashiv inspecting the place.
She turned to eyes to meet Karina before stating that “It’s getting late. We’re setting up here.” like it was just a simple fact though Karina didn’t argue, only asking;
"So do you want me to bring the bike closer?”
Nashiv nodded before turning her attention upstairs, making her way towards the staircase. Karina stood for a moment just viewing Nashiv before kicking herself mentally, turning and walking away to get Bitsy.
As she walked, Karina took off her goggles as well, asking herself why she hadn’t earlier before unbuckling the helmet and buckling it onto the handle bar, then kicking out the kickstand, directing the thing towards the building.
Karina struggled, though not as much as she thought she would, putting the kickstand back up and unhooking her knapsack and heading inside.
Nashiv was still on the second floor, probably inspecting this place so Karina sat down on the wooden floor, untying the sleeping bag and setting it out onto the floor. ‘What else do I got in here,’ she wondered before pulling out a couple C-rations and a handful D-rations.
‘Oh. So that's dinner then’ Karina muttered before stashing away the other cans n’ boxes, leaving 2 C rations out and grabbing a fuel tablet.
The fuel tablet was a little handy thing that was made of mostly wax and fine sawdust wrapped in a thin paper that burned for a few minutes. She didn’t have a lighter though she remembered that Nashiv had one—
Of course for her cigarettes. Karina stood up and began to walk up the stairs, hearing the creak of the forgotten wood before approaching the top, spotting Nashiv hanging out on the balcony.
Nashiv’s bag was set down on the balcony next to her with their helmet buckled onto it looking off into the distance.
She slowly creeped up behind Nashiv which was made impossible by what seemed to be the creaking of the entire house though as she stood behind them, she turned to follow Nashiv’s gaze being met by sunset that shone over empty black barren town.
The beautiful orange and purplish scheme with the bright almost red like orb halfway out the ground was something Karina had always seen only in paintings she always wished to recreate.
Karina never got to look at the sunset, not even at base or the checkpoint, it being obscured by the mountains that surrounded both places. One day, she wanted to stare off into what she heard being described as the sunset.
Karina stood there simply admiring the view that she’d never experienced ever in her life, the hues oh so magical. Everything about it was just so. The more she fixated on it the more she wanted to color it out, to draw the scenery, to maybe just capture this moment before it was interrupted by Nashiv stating,
“You look like you’ve never seen a sunset.”
“I never have actually. This is the first time I've ever seen it. Like at all… it's so pretty.”
She turned her gaze to Nashiv who was now staring at her, who seemed unaware of the fact that most of the country was made up of IndustriCities.
“Back at home— I mean at Westwernd, it wasn’t exactly uhm. We didn’t exactly ever get the chance to see the sun.
“Oh? What was it like?” Nashic inquired, seemingly half interested, though probably trying to make conversation so it wasn’t awkward..
“Terrible.. terrible. I hated that shit hole. You know, I never even saw the sun until like… the first time they brought us to base. Black fumes always covered the sky. I had to wear a mask just to not get Smog’s Lungs, that thing was so uncomfortable."
Karina then paused, shivering at reliving the thought, then glancing at Nashiv’s expression, trying to decode it— ‘Curiosity?’
“They called it an IndustriCity. Massive factories being the only place for work.”
The more she thought about it, the more her face scrunched up. ‘Why’d they even force us to live like that??’ Of course, a question without an answer.
Nashiv let out a little “Oh,” tilting her attention back towards the sunset.
‘Oh? Oh what??’
Karina rolled her eyes— mentally. Nashiv just ended the conversation just like that, not even bothering to dig deeper,
‘Cmon.. something to keep the conversation going..’
She then spat out nervously a question of her own, “So. Where you from eh?” playfully nudging her NCO, testing the boundaries.
Nashiv immediately jerked back, looking stiff and immediately looking at Karina as if she’d just stabbed her, taking a moment to ease up, opening her mouth to speak.