[ IP ] You and what army ?

Marino, the beast rider, gazed upon us. Whilst his Dragon stood behind, its spiked scales shimmering like furious glass thorns in the background. I held my gun close, and my focus glued to each word he spoke. The way he looked at me then, the way he looked at all of us, made his intent clear. Although we were simple soldiers with normal guns, the fact that we were in his army, meant we were much more than just that. 
 
 `` -you may think, that they have weapons better than our own,'' Marino said. `` You may even believe that their technology is a mystery.'' 
 
 He paused. I breathed in, deep, waiting for him to confirm all of my worries. But he had a confident smile on his face like he was out for a ride in the wind. I stared as he ran a hand across his ferocious beasts mane. `` But we have something more than they do. We have skill.'' 
 
 He stepped down and walked through the crowd. `` We have a lust for vengeance.'' 
 
 I gulped. He shifted closer. 
 
 `` We have a reason to fight. TO TAKE BACK WHAT IS OURS.'' 
 
 The men were nodding their agreement now, each helmet bobbing up and down, including my own. Marino stopped in front of me. 
 
 `` And we have a secret, a reason that we must go back victorious.'' Marino glanced around, still standing just steps away. He locked his eyes on my helmet. 
 
 I wanted to turn and run then. But at the same time, I wanted to do nothing less than disappoint this man. I would fight through blood, alien-guts, and with honor, if it meant standing with my arms held high in victory. If it meant winning back the land that was taken from us, for our people. 
 
 Marino pointed at me then. I had to check behind to make sure he was actually pointing at me. Sure enough, he was. This was going to be the second time he'd noticed me on this trip. And for a soldier, that was saying something. I held my chin high, my gun tight, and basked in the moment. 
 
 `` Remove your helmet, soldier,'' he said to me. 
 
 I was n't sure I'd heard him correctly. `` Remove - your - helmet,'' he said once more. 
 
 I dropped my gun, letting it hang from my belt and then went to my helmet with shaky hands. There were gasps from the crowd. 
 
 `` Does anyone know who this woman is?'' Marino asked the crowd. 
 
 He only received murmurs in response. 
 
 `` She is the daughter of Lae, a woman who breaks her back to bring good beer to our ship. And she's one hell of a fighter. Maybe the best amongst us. And that's saying something.'' 
 
 There were gasps. 
 
 `` You think about Lae's daughter -Chlo, when you're up there kicking alien butt. And you fight for her, you fight for me, you fight for our people!'' 
 
 Mighty cheers erupted from the crowd, the roar shook the battlefield under us. I put the helmet back on clumsily, my eyes watered but I held my chin even higher than before. 
 
 The screech of enemy beasts sounded in the distance. 
 
 And with the rest of the army, I screamed our name. `` FOR VALLA!'' 
 

