FIC: "Duty" (for the Discovered in Remembrance challenge)

[kindkit.livejournal.com]

This brief gen ficlet features an original character and picks up specifically on the line in the challenge post about remembering "the millions of people around the world who have been killed by war."



He doesn't like killing people. It comes with the job, and the job needs doing, but he worries sometimes that he's not much different from the bastards on the other side.

Freedom is priceless, people say. What they mean is that freedom's fucking expensive. Sometimes you pay in insomnia and a seasick conscience; sometimes you pay in your own blood.

He died for his country. That's how his best friend's gravestone is going to read, once it's ready. They're still carving it. He got them to show him a drawing; he doesn't expect to see the real thing. In a few days he'll probably have the grave next door.

He's got a war to fight. Some of it's revenge, yeah, and he's going against orders, doing this. But some of it's plain cold duty. This is an enemy that's too knowledgeable and too ruthless to turn your back on.

He checks his weapons: Walther PPK, Armalite, ammunition for both. Semtex. Detonators.

He's ready.

He'll do what he can for his country's freedom. And he's going to make those CI5 murderers pay.


***


Title: Duty
Author: kindkit
Slash or Gen: Gen
Archive at ProsLib/Circuit: No
Disclaimer: This is a transformative work; no copyright infringement is intended.

Comments

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

It's all pov, innit... *g* Great stuff - thank you! Oh, and I love the idea of a seasick conscience...

[kindkit.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I was really kind of afraid that people would hate me for this, so I'm extra thrilled to see positive comments.

[kiwisue.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's all about perspective - I like the way you switched things around. Nice job!

[kindkit.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much!

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

Excellent. Just - excellent. I had my first flicker of ???? with Armalite, another with Semtex .... and then you brought me up short with the ending. Salutary indeed.

[kindkit.livejournal.com]

I had my first flicker of ???? with Armalite

Ah, good, that's exactly where I wanted it to happen. *grins* I'm glad you liked it--thanks!

[saintvic.livejournal.com]

Very chilling and a fascinating idea, that last line is very thought provoking.

[kindkit.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[mab-browne.livejournal.com]

Perfectly logical and chillingly eye for an eye. Cool. :-)

[kindkit.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

I admit you definitely got me with those last four words. Very good. There is "the other side", isn't there? Thanks.

[kindkit.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

Very original POV twist there - I liked this a lot!

[kindkit.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much!

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

This was interesting and different and I like 'different' so thank you.

[kindkit.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[mistry89.livejournal.com]

Odd as it sounds, it is nice to hear from the Other Team (and unexpected).
Thank you!

[kindkit.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed!

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

Ah, that was great - it never hurts to be reminded there are two sides to everything. And I loved and a seasick conscience.
Lovely!

[kindkit.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!

[rochvelleth.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that's lovely - short and enigmatic and surprising. Thank you.