UNSCDF2 Chapter 14- Enduring the Pain

Kandahar Air Base, Kandahar, Afghanistan

Fire Team Kilo’s Camp

April 13, 2001

1900 Local Time

            “So why do you have a picture of my wife?” Cookson stared at Zyrok.

            “Sarah?” Zyrok placed the photo back into his chest pocket.

            “Yes, that’s her. Are you her ex?” Cookson crossed his arms.

            “Sure seems like it.” Green added.

            “No.” Zyrok shook his head.

            “Then why do you have a picture of her?” Cookson demanded.

            “I printed it out to look for her.” Zyrok replied uneasily as Green, Frederick, and Cookson stared at him.

            “Are you stalking my wife?” Cookson asked.

            “No I’m not.” Zyrok replied with a blank face.

            “They you don’t need that photo. Give it to me.” Cookson stuck out his hand.

            “No Cookson.” Zyrok said firmly.

            “Zyrok, why would you want to keep a married woman’s picture?” Frederick questioned.

            “Yeah.” Green nodded in agreement.

            “This is awkward for me to explain.” Zyrok felt himself tense up.

            “Just give me the picture.” Cookson took a step forward towards Zyrok.

            “No.” Zyrok stood his ground.

            “Fine, you have no right to have that picture.” Cookson advanced and reached for Zyrok’s chest pocket.

            Zyrok swatted Cookson’s hand down swiftly as he attempted to grab Zyrok’s picture. Cookson felt annoyed and then lunged himself at Zyrok. The two marines fell to the ground with a hard thud as they tackled for the photo.

            “Get off me!” Zyrok shoved Cookson as he tried to get on his feet.

            “Give me that photo! It’s my wife!” Cookson placed a blow to Zyrok’s head.

            Zyrok felt a sting of pain followed by dizziness as Cookson struck again. Zyrok saw another hit coming towards his face and quickly kneed Cookson to his gut. In a matter of seconds, Frederick and Green intercepted and pulled the two marines away from each other. Zyrok coughed blood and tried to maintain his balance as he stood up.

            “Cookson, you attacked an officer.” Frederick looked at a bruise on Zyrok’s forehead.

            “It’s alright.” Zyrok rubbed his bruise.

            “That’s a court marshal right there.” Frederick announced.

            “No, it’s alright.” Zyrok shook his head.

            “I’m sorry for the behavior of my marines.” Frederick apologized.

            Cookson just breathed heavily and spoke nothing as he watched Zyrok with cold eyes.

            “Frederick, don’t court marshal him. He was being a good husband. It’s only natural.” Zyrok brushed some dust off his shirt.

            “Still, he should not have placed those hits.” Frederick stared at Cookson.

            “Look, I believe you all deserve an explanation as to why I have a photo of Sarah.” Zyrok grabbed a seat.

            “Be thankful Cookson that neither Zyrok nor I am going to court marshal you for your actions.” Frederick eyed Cookson.

            “Thank you sir, ma’am.” Cookson rubbed his stomach.

            “Take a seat. Let me tell you the story of Sarah.” Zyrok pointed at the chairs.

            Zyrok watched as Cookson and Green sat down while Frederick remained standing.

            “Please, sit.” Zyrok urged.

            “Alright.” Frederick sat down beside Cookson.

            “The year was 1999…” Zyrok took a deep breath as the haunting of the past buried so deep in his mind now surfaced.

            Zyrok began with the chats he had with Sarah prior to the evacuation of Australia. Then he continued on with his enlistment in the UNSC to search for her. The missions he had done as he risked his life each day in the pursuit to find her.

            “Zyrok isn’t your real name is it?” Frederick interrupted.

            “No it’s not. But I’ve come to grow with it.” Zyrok replied.

            “What’s your real name?” Frederick asked.

            “Let me finish my story first.” Zyrok continued.

            “Okay, sorry.” Frederick closed her mouth.

            Zyrok continued on about the day he had met Sarah online and got the news that she was married.

            “Never thought I’d see the husband right in front of me.” Zyrok looked at Cookson.

            Cookson smiled lightly, but didn’t want to upset Zyrok.

            “That was a painful day…anyways…” Zyrok continued.

            “It must have been.” Frederick replied sympathetically.

            Zyrok told the story of Mary and how he had turned her down because his heart was true to Sarah. Next, he talked about the day he went to find Mary after hearing Sarah’s news, but found out later that she had moved on.

            “The reason my name is Zyrok now is because the past is gone. I’m no longer who I was before. The past had to be forgotten so that I would continue on with my life.” Zyrok sighed.

            “Wow…” Cookson widened his eyes.

            “Quite a past eh?” Zyrok laughed.

            “You’ve gone through a lot.” Frederick smiled warmly.

            “My real name is Charlie Chu.” Zyrok announced.

            “I’m sorry Charlie for hitting you. You keep the picture of Sarah.” Cookson apologized.

            “Thank you Cookson.” Zyrok thanked.

            “Mike, Michael Cookson.” Cookson stuck out his hand.

            “Nice to meet you Mike. Sarah’s lucky to have you as her husband.” Zyrok shook Cookson’s hand.

            “Well, same to you. You are a good guy. Sorry that I thought wrong of you.” Cookson replied.

            “It’s fine.” Zyrok assured.

            “I’m glad you guys are working it out.” Frederick smiled.

            “Me too.” Zyrok answered with a smile.

            Zyrok rubbed his forehead and winced at the pain.

            “Let’s get some ice and get it looked at.” Frederick stood up.

            “Alright, I’m still a little dizzy from the entire scuffle.” Zyrok joked as he stood up and wobbled for a bit.

            “Woah, let me give you a hand Zyrok.” Cookson rushed beside Zyrok and helped him balance.

            Frederick and Cookson walked Zyrok to the medical room and saw May sitting at a desk.

            “What happened?” May stood up and looked at Zyrok.

            “A few hits to the head.” Frederick replied.

            “A fight?” May asked.

            “Yeah, but it’s all sorted out and dealt with.” Zyrok replied as May walked him over to the examination table.

            “Here, put some ice on it.” Frederick took out a bag of ice and handed it over to Zyrok.           

            Zyrok took the ice graciously and applied it to his forehead. The coldness of the ice numbed the throbbing pain as he placed it gently on the bruise.

            “Better?” Frederick asked.

            “Yeah, a bit. My head is still spinning.” Zyrok replied.

            “Let me take a look.” May put on some examination gloves.

            May touched Zyrok’s bruise and checked Zyrok’s heart rate using her finger.

            “You should be fine.” Just rest on the beds and you’ll be better.” May pointed at a couple vacant beds next to them.

            “Oh alright.” Zyrok got off the examination table with Cookson’s aid and lay down on a bed.

            “I’m sorry I hit you.” Cookson apologized.

            “Don’t be. It’s fine.” Zyrok rested his head comfortably on a pillow.

            “Get some rest Zyrok. We can do your work.” Frederick assured.

            “I will.” Zyrok closed his eyes.

            The two marines left the medical room and May returned to her desk. Something in Zyrok was different after the incident. Even though his hidden past was unearthed, he wasn’t as upset as he was the last time. Perhaps he had found closure. Perhaps it was peace knowing that he had found her. She was married to Michael Cookson and now lived in the San Francisco Outpost. Zyrok thought about the facts for a long five minutes and smiled.

            “No matter what happened or the current situation was, I am going to be Sarah’s good friend. It is the least I could do for her.” Zyrok told himself as he reflected.

            With that thought, he smiled as he fell asleep on the soft bed.