For Your Eyes Only

Daylight broke just after six in the morning. I rose slowly from my bunk, sore from the restless hours I had spent tossing in it. Stepping out into the dim light the canopy above let through, I found Sergeant Flathoof had already massed the troops and was waiting patiently for orders. As it was light out, he had pulled the perimeter patrol as well.

“Alright everyone, one of ours is still out there somewhere, and we’re not going to leave him behind. I need three volunteers.”

Private Ironside stepped forward, followed by two others.

“What are your names?” I asked them.

The female pegasus stepped forward and stood up to attention, replying “Private Speedy, sir!” before falling back into file with the other two.

The second, a male unicorn who seemed rather thin for a soldier stepped forward and called out “Private First Class Glass, sir!” and falling into line.

“Alright. The three of you will be reporting directly to Sergeant Flathoof. He will be leading the recovery team. His word is holy. If I find that any of you have disrespected or disobeyed him, you’ll find yourselves pulling double patrol shifts, got it?”

The thee replied in unison “Sir, yes sir!” and moved to the Sergeant.

“Alright Sergeant, you look like you’ve got some experience under your belt. Take these three out and search the area. Don’t go too far, and if anything seems wrong, report straight back.”

“Yes, sir.” He turned to the three waiting and barked “You heard the Captain! Move out!”

I turned to address the remaining seven. “The three of you that were on patrol, get some rack time. The rest of you, start on KP.”

I stepped back to my tent, and noticed that the tent flap was open. I was sure I closed it, but maybe the wind had blown it open again.

“Now I know something is wrong” a voice said behind me. I turned to see Dr. Opal leaning against one of the tables. “You just sent away a third of our protection there.”

“Nothing to worry about ma’am. One of the Privates went and got himself lost last night. I’ve got my Sergeant on the case already.”

“Not even a day into this and we’re already down one? Jeez, they weren’t kidding about this place.”

“Excuse me?” I said, turning to face her directly.

“You haven’t heard the stories about this place?” The humor had gone from her face now. Her orange coat seemed pale in the light filtering from above.

“I’ve heard rumors and the like. Something about this place acting oddly.”

“Odd isn’t the half of it… We’re not the first team, you know.” She said quietly. “There was one before us. Same mission, same setup.”

“Oh? That wasn’t in my brief.”

“No, I wouldn’t expect it to be. They didn’t come back, Captain. Not one of them.”

She stared intently into my eyes for a moment, before her composure began to break. Laughing, she walked away saying “Man, I love messing with you guys. So dang uptight.”

The morning went by slowly. After a light breakfast, I set the troops to helping the science crew with preparing some of the heavier equipment, and began reviewing my briefing packet again.

It was just as I remembered reading. We were to go into the forest and protect the scientists as they collected various samples of whatever it is they cared about. We were to spend one week here, no more, and then leave.

I had finished reading over the packet for the third time when Sergeant Flatfoot returned with the three he had taken in tow. I glanced up and noticed that the three younger troops seemed ill at ease. Standing up, I walked over to meet the Sergeant.

“I only count three with you, Sergeant.” I said, somewhat curtly.

“Yes sir.” He seemed unwilling to meet my gaze.

“And?”

“Well, sir. We found him. Most of him.”

“In my tent. Now.”

I opened the tent flap and the Sergeant walked inside. Before I entered, I moved over to the three that had joined him.

“None of you are to discuss your mission with the others. PFC Glass, I’m holding you accountable for these two, do you understand?”

PFC Glass looked up at me and managed to croak out a “Yes sir.”

“Alright. Go get some food and some rack time. We’ll talk later.”

I walked back to my tent and opened the flap, stepping inside. I found the Sergeant sitting on the bunk, and thought for a moment about having him rise to his hooves, but decided against it. There was something about the look in his eyes.

“Alright, Sergeant. Continue.”

“Yes sir. We searched the area around the campsite for a good hour before we found him near some sort of ancient structure. His body that is… It looked like it had been eaten, sir.” The Sergeant looked up at me, a mixture of fear and anger in his eyes. “What the hell is going on out here, sir? What did we volunteer for here?”

“I don’t know Sergeant, but I need you to keep it together. We can’t have the leadership crack out here.”

“Yes sir. I understand.” He said, returning his gaze to the floor. “I’ve seen some messed up shit, sir. The Griffon wars alone showed me how cruel this world can really be, but I’ve never seen anything like that… The look on his face…” He stared directly at me. “He was alive when they ate him.” His gaze pierced into me.

“Get something to eat and grab some rest while you can Sergeant. Dismissed.”

Sergeant Flathoof rose from the bunk and started towards the opening in the tent.

“Oh, Sergeant. Not a word of this to anyone, understood?”

“Yes sir.”