The Blessing: A Second Chance Chapter3: More Questions Than Answers

“So, basically, you two are telling me that the helo just all-of-a-sudden disappeared when it hit the ground?”

The two Marine Corps helicopter pilots glanced at each other before returning their gaze to the captain.

“Yes, sir.  But there was also a noise.” Answered one.

“A noise?”

“Like thunder, sir.” Added the other.

The captain set the two pilots in a stare that could have withered and set fire to a grizzly bear.  After a few seconds of silent scrutinization, the officer finally sighed.

“Unfortunately, I’m forced to believe you two.  I am missing one helicopter, and reports from other Marines in the landing zone during the beginning of the operation do confirm that it was shot down.  However, despite these reports, no wreckage of the chopper was recovered.  And I find it very hard to believe that Hadgi just got a group together and walked away with a few tons of helicopter on the back of a camel.”

The captain was getting very annoyed.

“So,” he continued, “what in God’s name happened to it?”

He looked at the two pilots, not really expecting an answer but not excusing the fact that the helo could appear right behind him either.

All the while the two pilots stood nervously at attention.

With one final sigh, he stood up.

“I want your formal statements and reports by oh-seven-thirty hours tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir.” Replied the pilots.

“Dismissed.”

The two pilots took a step back and spoke in unison.

“Aye, aye, sir!”

And in the blink of an eye, the two pilots were out the door.

Despite Applejack’s fear fueled run, Rainbow Dash was the first to reach the crash.

At first, she couldn’t make out what this alien object was because of the dust and smoke.  But as that subsided, it revealed a huge metal… thing.

Applejack ran up beside Rainbow and stopped.

“Is there fire?!” she asked with a panicked tone.

Rainbow looked around, she couldn’t see any flames.  But the huge metal… thing did look like it was pretty charred.

“I don’t see any fla…”

She was cut off when she heard a groan.

At first, she thought it was Applejack’s reaction to the destruction of her apple trees.  But when she heard it again she realized it wasn’t coming from beside her, it was coming from…

The thing.

“I think there’s somepony in there!” she shouted.

In a rainbow colored flash, she was over by the wreckage.  She was struggling with a piece of metal when Applejack again came up beside her and started to push.  With a screech, the metal slid back across the body of the thing.

The two were astonished by the sight they saw.

Several creatures lay sprawled atop one another on the floor.  Many of them were obviously dead, their limbs and necks bent at odd angles.  A few looked like they were asleep, save for the terrible burns that adorned one side of their face or another.

The two friends stood in shock at what they were witnessing.  Neither had ever been exposed to so much death.  So taken aback by what they saw, they almost failed to see one of the creatures still moving.

Unlike the others, this one was still strapped in what appeared to be his seat.  He shifted, but his face made it obvious that he was in terrible pain.  His eyes were only half-open, and he was groaning in pain.  Applejack was the first to move toward him, sensing that she had to help this creature in some way.

Like the others, he was dressed in the same multi-colored garb.  Something akin to armor was strapped over his chest, and in his lap there was an odd wood and metal stick with a telescope on it.  As she moved forward, Rainbow Dash spoke in a cautious manner.

“Wait, what are you doing, you don’t know if that thing is dangerous or not.”

Applejack turned her head toward her friend, desperately trying not to look down to a body crumpled beneath her hooves.

“Well, I can’t just leave him here. He’ll die.”

She turned her head back to the creature.  His head turned, exposing the other half of his face.  There was a lot of blood oozing out from underneath his helmet, the red liquid ran down his cheek.

Moving closer still, Applejack studied him further.  In the center of his armor, there was a patch with writing on it.

“Makins, John.  O-positive.” Applejack read aloud.

The creature stirred again, and his eyes opened.  His eyes locked onto hers, and the two shared a moment.  Something was conveyed between the two beings.  His eyes held a glimmer of hardship, passion, immeasurable pain, age, and a steadfast resolve to not die.  They also held another glimmer of something…

Trust.  Pure and Unfounded.

Applejack’s eyes were locked onto his, and she tried to convey one thought.

‘It’s going to be alright.’

For a moment, Applejack thought she saw a glimmer of recognition in the creature’s eyes.

   Then the creature’s eyes closed, and he was quiet.  Applejack was frightened as she thought that he might be dead, but these fears were soon silenced as she saw the creatures chest moving.  It was labored breathing, though, and she knew that she would have to move quickly.

Applejack took a look at the restraints holding him upright.  The straps looped around his arms before attaching to the chair and they joined in the middle of his chest with a metal buckle.  Applejack leaned forward and poked the buckle with her hoof.  It separated with a metallic click and the creature slumped, his support giving a little.

Applejack looked to her friend.

“Rainbow, I need you to get in here and help me.”

Rainbow Dash walked up beside her friend, stepping carefully so as not to disturb the carpet of bodies.  She noted that AJ's drawl was starting to lessen in her speech, almost as if crisis caused her to communicate more clearly.

“What do you need me to do?” she asked shakily.  The scene inside the cramped space was starting to rattle even her cool nerves.

“Help me get him onto my back, he’s hurt real bad an’ we got to get him to the house.”

“What then?”

“While I’m getting him to the house, I want y’all to go to the hospital an’ fetch a doctor.  This creature won’t make it without one.”

Rainbow looked at the creature that was slumped in front of her.

“He might not make it with one.” She observed aloud.

“Well, sittin’ here arguing ‘bout it won’t help his condition either.  So gussy up and help me.”

Rainbow nodded and started to move the straps out from under the creature’s arms.  She hesitated as she heard him inhale sharply.

‘I’m no doctor,’ She thought to herself, ‘but I’d say that this creature has a broken arm.’

She continued her operation of removing the strap, a little more cautiously this time.  When she craned her neck across the creature’s chest to remove the other strap she noticed that his breathing was short, strained, and raspy.

“Hey, Applejack…”, she started.

“What?”

“I don’t think that you’re going to be able to carry him out on your back, I think he’s got some broken ribs.  A lot, if his breathing is anything to go by.”

“Oh horseapples…”, muttered Applejack, “Then how the hay are we supposed to get him outta here?”

Rainbow studied the equipment that adorned the creature.  She noticed a couple of straps strung over his shoulders that connected to his belt.

“We’re going to have to drag him.”