Post by Skyfire on Jun 26, 2009 7:37:38 GMT -5
I was listening to the Gods and Generals OST... "The Soldier's Return," specifically. It's a track for Stonewall Jackson's funeral scene in the movie: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjxfYFAASHU&feature=PlayList&p=3BD2550FD27D4D4B&index=17 This ficstub came out of that.
Listen to the music as you read this, please. It is really beautiful.
Lastly, as to how Warp and especially ZURG are goodguys, who the OC Zomega is, and other questions, you'll just have to take it all in stride and accept that what is, is. The only thing I'll tell you is that the OC Hope is a young girl whom Erin and Warp have adopted. Please just enjoy it for what it is.
The hovercar drifted past, the coffin draped in an ebony shroud bearing the Star Command insignia in gold thread, a silver cross embroidered on the shuttle in the design. Buzz, Mira, Erin, XR, XL, and Booster were all weeping – some in silence, some aloud – as they saluted. As Warp saluted, he didn’t share the tears – but his heart still ached. Hope clung to his leg and sobbed into his uniform. Zomega saluted in respect, and Zurg reverently bowed his head.
The hovercar continued on, and Erin stepped out of the line to follow it. Mira joined her, then XR and XL, then Buzz, then Booster, then Warp and Hope. It wasn’t part of the funeral plan, but no one cared.
At the grave, Buzz knelt and reached out to touch the cloth reverently. “Well, sir, now you’re home. Would you say ‘hi’ to Mom and Nana for me?” He blinked, trying to rid himself of the tears. “You were more than a Commander, more than a grandfather to me, sir. You were my father – the best father I could have had.” That was all he said, and that was all he could say. That was all he needed to say.
He stood, brushed away a tear, and stepped aside for XR to approach. “Dad?” XR said quietly, his voice still tearful. “I’m sorry I wasn’t always the best son I could have been. I tried.” His voice began to break. “I guess I shoulda tried harder, huh? I’m sorry. You were great, Dad – you were the best.” He bit his lip back, trying to hold the tears in. “I-I love you, Dad. I love you.” He finally broke down again, and Buzz gently pulled him away.
“Heh, XR doesn’t have anything t’ complain about, right, Pop?” XL ventured, taking his place at the grave. “I was the black sheep in the family. I-I’m sorry I was. I wish I coulda done better. Kinda late fer that now, huh? I… I love you, too, Dad.” He wheeled back a bit to let Erin come.
“Commander, I… I owe you so much,” Erin began as she knelt, not bothering to hold back her tears, weeping as she spoke. “In your own way, you gave me so much love – that alone is worth the world to me. You were finest commanding officer any soldier or policeman could ask for. You’re going to be missed sooo much, you know that? It’s true. We already miss you – a lot. I don’t know how we’re going to make it now without you, but we will. We won’t fail you.” She took a deep, shuddering breath. “I love you, Commander.” She kissed her fingertips, then pressed them against the black cloth. Warp helped her stand, and gently pulled her away.
Mira stepped forward and knelt – and she had only a bit more control on her tears than Erin’d had. “Sir, you once said you didn’t want to die, not in this lifetime. I have to admit that, at the time, I thought you were just… talking. Now I think I understand. You were trapped and you couldn’t do anything. But when you finally did die, you weren’t trapped – you were fighting. That was the way you really wanted to go, wasn’t it.” She bit her lip a bit. “Oh, Commander, we do miss you – so much! You gave us all so much – your encouragement, your own brand of kindness and love. I think it’s only now that we’re beginning to understand just how much you gave to us. Thank you for accepting me into your family – thank you for everything.” Buzz took Mira’s hand and helped her up, leading her away.
It was Booster’s turn. “Thank you, sir,” he sobbed. “I miss you.” That was all he could manage, and he trudged over to XR and XL. XR was still sobbing uncontrollably, and XL – in a rare moment of compassion – had one arm wrapped around his little brother.
Warp now knelt beside the coffin. He bowed his head, and didn’t speak for half a minute. Finally, head still bowed, he said, “Sir… You gave me a second chance. After all I’d done… you gave me a second chance.” The lump in his throat was severely interfering with his ability to speak, and so were the tears that had finally come. “You could’ve shut me away for life – you should have – but you yelled at me and let me go. Maybe more than anyone else, you taught me what mercy really is… what grace really is. I-I can’t thank you enough for that… I just wish I’d told you all of this while you were still alive. Kinda stupid, huh – waiting until somebody’s dead to figure out just how much they mean to you? I’m sorry. And… just… thanks.” He stood, head still bowed.
Others stepped forward – there was a long line. Commander David Nebula had touched many, many lives, and it was only now that those closest to him could see just how many. The sun was setting in the western sky when the last goodbye was spoken. Silently, solemnly, Buzz, Booster, Warp, and Zurg lifted the coffin and lowered it into the grave. Then, the crowd began to drift away. Soon, the small lot was abandoned… almost. One person was still there.
He traced a purple finger along the letters on the tombstone.
“Goodbye, Dad,” he whispered, briefly hugging the tombstone before wheeling away.
Listen to the music as you read this, please. It is really beautiful.
Lastly, as to how Warp and especially ZURG are goodguys, who the OC Zomega is, and other questions, you'll just have to take it all in stride and accept that what is, is. The only thing I'll tell you is that the OC Hope is a young girl whom Erin and Warp have adopted. Please just enjoy it for what it is.
==Sunset==
The hovercar drifted past, the coffin draped in an ebony shroud bearing the Star Command insignia in gold thread, a silver cross embroidered on the shuttle in the design. Buzz, Mira, Erin, XR, XL, and Booster were all weeping – some in silence, some aloud – as they saluted. As Warp saluted, he didn’t share the tears – but his heart still ached. Hope clung to his leg and sobbed into his uniform. Zomega saluted in respect, and Zurg reverently bowed his head.
The hovercar continued on, and Erin stepped out of the line to follow it. Mira joined her, then XR and XL, then Buzz, then Booster, then Warp and Hope. It wasn’t part of the funeral plan, but no one cared.
At the grave, Buzz knelt and reached out to touch the cloth reverently. “Well, sir, now you’re home. Would you say ‘hi’ to Mom and Nana for me?” He blinked, trying to rid himself of the tears. “You were more than a Commander, more than a grandfather to me, sir. You were my father – the best father I could have had.” That was all he said, and that was all he could say. That was all he needed to say.
He stood, brushed away a tear, and stepped aside for XR to approach. “Dad?” XR said quietly, his voice still tearful. “I’m sorry I wasn’t always the best son I could have been. I tried.” His voice began to break. “I guess I shoulda tried harder, huh? I’m sorry. You were great, Dad – you were the best.” He bit his lip back, trying to hold the tears in. “I-I love you, Dad. I love you.” He finally broke down again, and Buzz gently pulled him away.
“Heh, XR doesn’t have anything t’ complain about, right, Pop?” XL ventured, taking his place at the grave. “I was the black sheep in the family. I-I’m sorry I was. I wish I coulda done better. Kinda late fer that now, huh? I… I love you, too, Dad.” He wheeled back a bit to let Erin come.
“Commander, I… I owe you so much,” Erin began as she knelt, not bothering to hold back her tears, weeping as she spoke. “In your own way, you gave me so much love – that alone is worth the world to me. You were finest commanding officer any soldier or policeman could ask for. You’re going to be missed sooo much, you know that? It’s true. We already miss you – a lot. I don’t know how we’re going to make it now without you, but we will. We won’t fail you.” She took a deep, shuddering breath. “I love you, Commander.” She kissed her fingertips, then pressed them against the black cloth. Warp helped her stand, and gently pulled her away.
Mira stepped forward and knelt – and she had only a bit more control on her tears than Erin’d had. “Sir, you once said you didn’t want to die, not in this lifetime. I have to admit that, at the time, I thought you were just… talking. Now I think I understand. You were trapped and you couldn’t do anything. But when you finally did die, you weren’t trapped – you were fighting. That was the way you really wanted to go, wasn’t it.” She bit her lip a bit. “Oh, Commander, we do miss you – so much! You gave us all so much – your encouragement, your own brand of kindness and love. I think it’s only now that we’re beginning to understand just how much you gave to us. Thank you for accepting me into your family – thank you for everything.” Buzz took Mira’s hand and helped her up, leading her away.
It was Booster’s turn. “Thank you, sir,” he sobbed. “I miss you.” That was all he could manage, and he trudged over to XR and XL. XR was still sobbing uncontrollably, and XL – in a rare moment of compassion – had one arm wrapped around his little brother.
Warp now knelt beside the coffin. He bowed his head, and didn’t speak for half a minute. Finally, head still bowed, he said, “Sir… You gave me a second chance. After all I’d done… you gave me a second chance.” The lump in his throat was severely interfering with his ability to speak, and so were the tears that had finally come. “You could’ve shut me away for life – you should have – but you yelled at me and let me go. Maybe more than anyone else, you taught me what mercy really is… what grace really is. I-I can’t thank you enough for that… I just wish I’d told you all of this while you were still alive. Kinda stupid, huh – waiting until somebody’s dead to figure out just how much they mean to you? I’m sorry. And… just… thanks.” He stood, head still bowed.
Others stepped forward – there was a long line. Commander David Nebula had touched many, many lives, and it was only now that those closest to him could see just how many. The sun was setting in the western sky when the last goodbye was spoken. Silently, solemnly, Buzz, Booster, Warp, and Zurg lifted the coffin and lowered it into the grave. Then, the crowd began to drift away. Soon, the small lot was abandoned… almost. One person was still there.
He traced a purple finger along the letters on the tombstone.
Beloved Husband, beloved Father, beloved Grandfather. Beloved Commander.
Never was a Commanding Officer more loved of his soldiers.
Wife: Natalie Lightyear-Nebula.
Children: Miranda Lightyear-Nebula, XL, XR.
Grandchildren: Buzz Lightyear, Erin Darkmatter.
Great-grandchild: Natalie Miranda Lightyear.
Born: February 7th, 2920 – Died November 21st, 3014.
Never was a Commanding Officer more loved of his soldiers.
Wife: Natalie Lightyear-Nebula.
Children: Miranda Lightyear-Nebula, XL, XR.
Grandchildren: Buzz Lightyear, Erin Darkmatter.
Great-grandchild: Natalie Miranda Lightyear.
Born: February 7th, 2920 – Died November 21st, 3014.
“Goodbye, Dad,” he whispered, briefly hugging the tombstone before wheeling away.