To Whom Are You loyal to?

'You never really notice how bright the flashes are on TV'

Liam hated how cold the stone steps of the courthouse were. He looked up at the sky and saw nothing but dark clouds, seemingly about to burst, and all he could think about was how much dedication did the journalists have to risk their equipment due to rain. Or were they waterproof? Or maybe they have little umbre-

"Mr. Bryant! Mr. Bryant!"

"Do you regret what you did to that man?"

"Did you leave all your victims in that state in the army?"

"Would your mother be proud if she saw how you desecrated an innocent man in the way you did?"

'Hmm?' As Liam glanced to his left to see which sort of individual would be so brazen in their attempt to get a reaction out of him, caught sight of something he didn't think he'd see today.

"Sergeant!" 10 voices shouted simultaneously, causing even the agenda-fueled journalists to become silent. Liam, for the first time, felt a genuine smile creeping up. He approached the group of men that had challenged death with him numerous times.

"At ease boys. At ease." Liam said softly, knowing this was the last time he would get to say the words he had taken for granted for too long. But for the first time since they left basic, they directly ignored his command. Instead, one of them tried to move forward towards him, but was stopped just as he took his first steps by the courthouse guards. 

Realizing he wasn't going to make it to his superior, he took a step back, and while standing at attention: "Sergeant, I would like permission to speak freely."

With a defeated smile, Liam moved towards him and responded: "Permission granted, Corporal Vance."

With permission on his side, Corporal Vance began: "Sir, you are the only reason any of us are breathing. You are what held us together when we needed to be together. When you needed us, we weren't there. For that, none of us can truly say we have no regrets. The system you fought so hard to protect, like us, forsakes you when you need it the most."

As Liam heard this, he just shook his head and stopped him right where he was: "You can blame yourself Vance, you can blame the world and you can even blame me. But never what you fight for. It only insults our brothers who fell in the line of duty. Once you start, you'll never be able to fight the same again."

As Vance heard this, he started to get agitated: "But Liam! That degenerate deserved to die! So what if you mangled his face the way you did, he should have known what he was getting into if he started r*ping girls any-"

Liam had heard enough. He looked dead into Vance's eyes: "Corporal! You would do well to remember that even as i walk up this stairs, I am your commanding officer. I failed in my duties as a citizen of this country and whatever occurs in that room, I accept. Now move along and remember why you do what you do."

Once he finished his last words to his squad, he walked past a broken down corporal and a group of grown men that had tears glistening in their eyes. He surprised himself as he had never lied to this squad before, but he had lied now. For he had no intention of accepting whatever the court decided for him.

---

As Liam sat down on the defendant's chair, his gaze became unfocused as he thought about the past. Liam always had a tendency to overthink things. He thought that maybe one of the benefits of joining the army would be him being forced to stop overthinking, and he was right.

From the burn of exertion and the drill instructors harsh words beating him everyday, he didn't have time to think. Then came the grueling journey through special forces training, throwing him beyond limits he didn't even know existed. Every challenge, every loss, and victory sculpted him the mettle of a leader. His superiors practically begging him to become a commissioned officer, but alas, Liam was satisfied with what he had. 

But was it enough? He thought back to what he said to the corporal. What they fight for. Is it loyalty? Loyalty to whom? The country? Vance said it best, though he defended it for a good chunk of his life, it betrayed him in the end. As his thoughts came to this train of thought, he came back to the image of the squad that he had raised since they left basic. The crying men may have brought unease to a third party but instead, warmed his heart.

For them? That was possible. They hadn't been together for long but the experiences were enough for a lifetime. He looked even further back, at all the squads he nurtured. All their faces flashed through his thoughts and he smiled again.

"Mr. Bryant, is this something that makes you laugh?"

'Hmm?' Abruptly pulled out of his thoughts, Liam focused his eyes on the judge: "No, your honor, I apologize."

"It's alright, it's about time I pass the sentence either way. Mr. Bryant, having been found guilty by a jury of your peers of the crime of first-degree murder, it is the judgment and sentence of this court that you be committed to Sing Sing Correctional Facility, New York for the remainder of your natural life, with the possibility of parole. This sentence is to begin immediately. You have the right to appeal this decision. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you. Bailiffs, please take the defendant into custody."

There was a sudden uproar within the audience. The medias' cameras started flashing and protesting could be heard.

Liam was oblivious to all this as a sudden sad smile came to his face. He closed his eyes and his mouth fully. Raised his teeth and with one gigantic chomp, bit his tongue clean off. If one looked closely, they'd see a tear rolling down his cheek.

---

There exists a rock. A rock the size of a pebble. It seemingly exists while doesn't exist. Some would say that isn't possible but that would show they hadn't seen it. Then again, how would they, for it doesn't exist? But it does.

There exist entities capable of manipulating the very fabric of the world. Where they point, natural disasters arrive and where they look, the world buckles. These same entities are unaware of the rock, for if they were, only the universe knows what would happen.

As if triggered by something, the rock started to pulse. As the pulses increased to three, there was a pause. 

Beat, Beat, Beat, Pause.

Beat, Beat, Beat, Pause.

Beat, Beat, Beat, Pause.

Once the third round ended, there was nothing. Just silence.

*crack*  Once the cracked began, they spread all over the rock and no sooner than it started...

**bang** As the cracks made it impossible for the structure of the rock to remain as it was, it split open and three golden spheres emerged from within. Almost as if they knew where they were going, they each headed into their own direction, with one gold orb heading towards a green and blue planet.