OoC: I guess I'll join in as well. I will use Xantez.

BiC: After a long day of travel, the wandering soldier had found himself walking up a hill. Xantez came to a large rock next to a tree, and decided that he deserved to rest for the time being. He placed his swords down beside the rock, his handguns following after, and he himself sat down with his back leaning onto the rock. He closed his eyes and relaxed, reminiscing about his recent past and his childhood memories. Not long did an image of him and his father come to his head, and he saw himself with his father walking. He was 10, and they were taking a stroll through the park. It was one day I found out alot about him. God, I could never forget that day...

"Dad," he remembered himself start off the conversation, "Why did you choose to be a soldier?"

"It was something my grandfather did for a living," he replied to me with a smile. "He was a great commander, a great leader. I felt that I should be like that to gain respect from him." He looked at the 10 year old Xantez. "That's why I joined, son."

"But you always told me that the best way to gain your respect was to do what my heart led me to do." Xantez asked with confusion in his voice. "Wasn't it what grandpa also taught you?"

"Yes son," he replied, "But at that time I was too naive because of my young age. After awhile I realized deep within me that it wasn't to gain his respect, but something much more." He stopped walking, as well as I did, and continued to speak. "I decided to join because it was what I wanted to protect. It was you and your mother. My family. My friends. Everyone in this world. That was my true reason."

Xantez smiled, following after with a sigh. It was one of the only moments in his life that he really loved to remember. Of course, there were times that he wished he could forget.

"If only it were that possible to forget. would be truely satisfied."

Xantez sighed, and moved a bit to find a comfortable position to sit in. When he found himself in a comfortable position he heard a voice from the other side.

"Who's there," it said demandingly.

Xantez reached for one of his short swords to be ready for a fight. I don't want to fight today. I wish this could wait until maybe tomorrow. He then spoke out. "It depends," he replied, "Are you friend or foe?"

"That also depends," the voice replied back, "What is your intent?"

"Nothing but a relaxation against this rock, on top of this hill." Xantez gripped the hilt of his sword even tighter. "What about you?"

"The same thing, I suppose." The voice softened a bit, as well as the soldier's grip on his sword. "I do not want to fight today, so do not think of me as your enemy."

Xantez let go of his sword completely, and rested with his back against the rock once again.

"So what's your name, stranger?" the voice asked.

"Xantez" the soldier replied. "What about you? Do you have a name?"

"I'm Viratious."

"Viratious?" Xantez said with a fascinated in his voice. "That is an interesting name."

"I guess," he replied. "I have never heard of a name like yours, though. I find your name to be more interesting than mine."

"I have a normal name," Xantez told the voice. "Your name is longer than mine. I find long names to be more interesting than any other kind of name."

"It seems we think opposite, then," Viratious said with possibly a smile from the tone of his voice. "I thnk that short names are more fascinating. I think there is more mystery that surrounds a short name."

"To each is own," Xantez chuckled, relieved that he did not have to fight today. Finally, something I really choose to do instead of fighting. Just a simple talk.

"So where are you from?"

"A planet called Earth."

"Earth?" the stranger asked. "Never heard of a place like that."

"It's not part of this world," Xantez explained. "It isn't even in this galaxy, no doubt."

"I see," Viratious replied, understanding what the soldier meant.

How about you?" Xantez asked curiously. "Are you from around here?"

"Actually, I'm not. I'm from..."

Xantez noticed something bugged the stranger. He thought he asked the wrong question, so he wanted to apologize. Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted.

"Someone is coming, Xantez," the stranger warned. "Let's hope that it's not an enemy."

The soldier reached for his sword once more. Damn, did this really have to happen? And I was just having a nice conversation with a stranger...

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