Dealing with Service

 "Your job is to serve not dictate opinions on people. By the way if we see your mother walking with you again girls will be forced to your door." His uncle reminded him from across the picnic table. 

"Alright. My profession as a town Veterinarian assistant is more important than some ex-girlfriend I keep running into. Uncle Egren for the past four years Jui Yin keeps showing up at places that I go! Every time I see her, she is with another male, or guy!" 

"It is a small district of Otris, Zanarad, Zedarkhaand. She is probably having a difficult time keeping a boyfriend. I am sure it is nothing to do with you, Orono boyo." Egren responded in his calm voice. 

"What are you saying it is nothing? She literally treats me like a child handing me some treat or kid's toy calling me lame kiddo!" Orono burst out rising from his chair. 

Egren only smiled and pulled him back down. Deep inside he hated Jui these days. She slept with others just before breaking up. His dream of becoming a Zoologist was shafted by one of her friends who cackled in his face when he was forced to become a Veterinarian Assistant. Orono almost dealt the same humiliating blow when she went in for a front desk position. Jui's friend got put in the awkward position as a field nurse or something of that manner when the war broke out with Vullan. Why were they even fighting again? Orono was certain Zegrav and Evusia were the last ones the VUVR would fight for some time. However, that peace would have never lasted long since two alien invaders consumed much of their world in a span of decades. He looked at Egren thinking he would live alone. Orono did his best keeping that to himself. Several more months went by as the Veterinarian accepted a new Assistant. Ousting Orono did not sit well until Dr. Creffers offered some lines of work he should pick up. Through guardian consent Orono Motanorr considered five professions for Orono to look at. First, he considered a Lighthouse keeper, because they lived an hour from sea. His second profession was once a Scribe due to his writing skills. The third involved a Brewing business in the countryside as one of ten Brewers. A fourth consideration was a Monk profession to get him away from unruly crowds. The fifth one dealt with food preparations. Thus, Food Worker came to mind, since Orono knew how to cook, and handle food. While he worked for a year at one job after another Orono sought out love. The only ones he found attracted to him were the Dark Elves, and Drow who moved in some time ago. From the kingdoms, or lands of Galaia and Ghudran about 128, 441 Dark Elf refugees fled to V.U.V.R territories. Most of the became maids, bodyguards, clerks, waiters, blacksmiths, crafters, bartenders, town guards, and beast trainers. Others would become soldiers, assassins, or rogues. Orono found one sweet female Dark Elf who worked as a part time maid to a wealthy Countess/Heiress to three Estates. For whatever fortunes hit him Orono found himself with three such Dark Elves who came in different heights, and body types. Anasca Dovnan, Phinimri Dragonslofter, and Uterth Thadostre were their names. Each were good with animals. After spending some time with him they encouraged Orono to become a Zoologist. Once the last recommendation job was over, he managed to get involved with a Zoologist who moved in, Dr. Alezandier Pelham. A whole new line of work came with this Zoologist profession. Orono memorized various animals such as the Yackdreth of the north, the usual animals found on farms, the streets, Blackmell Hounds also called Icklad Hounds there, and various dire animals. 

Sitting on the picnic table Orono poured over the various animals he had to memorize especially some of the mysterious beasts found in the Unknown Lands. Almost a year passed, and he was looking forward to achieving another step towards Zoologist. Just half a year later and he would find himself in the universities in New Vattoram then travel south to the Tante Isles after two years of studies. His uncle Egren found him there in his casual Vestrisian-Zedarkhaand green partial button-down shirt with the buttons trailing towards the left shoulder. Called a Moss Linen the shirt sort of draped over the belt loops of his black crafter's breeches. On his feet were the new relaxed buckled shoes. In his hands were the newspaper Orono already read through this morning due to boredom. Men and possibly women were dying over in Vullan's Islands in a war that started over a broken agreement in a century's old treaty. No Vullanese temples of servitude were to be built past a certain line drawn between them and Boathria. If a religion required mandatory servitude of women or men considered lesser then the Vullanese should stay on their side of the map. Otherwise just give up an outdated belief system and start over. Looking up at his uncle he noticed bad news was on his face. 

"Dr. Creffers is dead, taken by a stray bullet in Vullan." Egren told him in a somber expression that nearly broke into tears himself. 

"He was like a father to me. Well grandfather despite grandpa being alive. You are like my father and aunt Alivia became a mother to me after my parents died in that steam powered xebec tragedy." Orono said staring down at the pages of a Tiger Lizard, and Ocelot Cat. 

"Nearly two hundred people died. All because of a miscalculation on a reef." Egren recalled that tragedy from five years ago. 

Orono held back tears as best he could. His parents died a while back now Dr. Creffers who recommended him to people for work. Over two years of working with him plus the five jobs he recommended through contracts with the business owners. The three Dark Elf girls he sort of saw and went out with, arrived from the park's path that bordered Egren's backyard. Some five and a half acres of land made up the backyard alone with plenty of foliage. His three female companions came to his side seeing he was distraught over something. Egren looked very perplexed at seeing the three Dark Elves come to his side. Alivia just laughed then left for her own tasks on a fine day off work. It made Orono forget about the rest of the women he grew up with in Otris. Two more weeks went by with the three Dark Elves in his company, but the depressing feeling of losing Creffers still clung to him. Each of them took turns maintaining his uncle and aunt’s house, and Dr. Palham's office while he taught. Orono studied the behavior of some cats inside the Academy outside Otris. Classes were lengthy yet worth the effort he knew various animals. His curiosity caused him to delve into some almost banned bestiaries written by the ancient Forsythans that had to be translated then transcribed multiple times. One such bestiary rested next to him in the grass while he watched the cats chase each other then found other prey. One went after a Musky Lat, another a red chipmunk, and the last dove for a mouse in the grass. Predatory behavior of cats was interrupted by one of his female friends who hadn't seen him since last month approaching him. Dressed in a blue apron dress with the skirt in three layers of ruffles over an orange blouse, Weznongrid Woodwater held her reddish hair in poofy curls that bounced. Her hair wasn't the only one that bounced, which explained her wearing shirts meant for larger body types. Weznongrid's thick legs had gold stockings over them. Blue ankle boots covered her feet. With a big smile she, a half dwarf half human invited Orono to a wedding of her sister's. Mannitta Woodwater was getting married to a Dwarf Carpenter's Son. 

He expected her sister to get married soon, but what he did not expect was for Weznongrid to shove his face against her massive chest. For a few seconds he could not breathe because of her hug. The more people who came to her sister's wedding the merrier it would be. Going to the Dark Elf Apartment Complex Orono found his three companion-lovers left for other cities. Each one left a letter for him detailing their new line of work and new life in a different city. Anasca set off for Zethra to work at an Elf estate along the coast. Phinimri travelled to a southern city to begin her work at an inn near Encira City.  At the wedding he joined Mannitta's side of the family. Sitting next to her father, Gregor Grimfoot, Orono had Weznogrid locking arms with him. She appreciated Orono's presence at the wedding. He enjoyed the celebration of Mannitta's union with Durok Caskhood for some hours. During the dancing Orono thought he caught a glimpse of Jui with another man. He asked Weznongrid about that who told him to worry about that situation. When the wedding reception was over Orono rode with Weznongrid to his home on Coach Lane. A week passed by and Orono walked along Spearhead Avenue when he spotted Jui in an alley. Though he only caught a glimpse of her Orono saw she was wrapped around a different man getting it on. Whoever this was, they were about to become a pilot in the V.U.V.R. air force. Orono felt a surge of rage rise up inside. That was sole reason he left her. She kept messing around even when she was with him. When he made his way to Pelham's office Orono was struck horrific blow. Dr. Pelham informed him a women named Jui told him Orono skipped work yesterday when he was clearly outside caring for some animals brought over from Evusia. Orono stormed off too outraged to say anything. What was she trying to do? They were no longer together. Does she want his life to be in ruins through a cruel jest? When he got home Orono told his aunt and uncle what happened except the glimpse of fornication in the alley. He wanted to reveal that to them but could not get himself to do that. 

"That Bitch! I can't believe she is still sleeping around!" Orono slammed a fist on the porch table. It was first moment he could express his anger. 

 

"Orono she is getting married now! That was the past let go already." his aunt advised him. Orono wanted to tell them what he saw in the alley but could not bring himself to say anything about it. If word got out about what he saw there would be no end to the drama in sight. 

 

"Fine. Well, what can I do?" Orono asked inside his aunt's office in the tavern. 

 

"I don't know, but be patient. The right woman will come along." Aunt Alivia told him rubbing his neck.

 

"What happened to your friends, the Dark Elf girls?" Egren asked Orono, giving him a few winks. 

 

"They, um left for other cities." He answered. Looking up at his aunt and uncle Orono wondered if he should enlist in the military just to get away from all this drama. 

 

After a few weeks of helping his uncle then his aunt news about the Vullanese allies coming to their aid revealed an opportunity. The alien invaders were fully at war with the Vestrisian Union it was now the year 1843. Orono rushed over to a recruiting station that was next to the docks. At this desk sat a half elf, and an Elemani with an Orc bodyguard behind them in uniform. The half-elf, Lieutenant Datherson with a moustache asked Orono about his line of work. When he answered he was a Zoologist and worked with animals the Lieutenant suggested he go for a combat medic position. Orono was of age to decide if he joined or not. He knew some youth joined in the training camps or certain bootcamps at an earlier age. As for Orono, he was occupied with a different type of service to the newly formed Republic Unions. His own successes would still be recognized since the Union was formed as a defense against the alien invaders. Neither his aunt nor uncle could stop him. When the news came to their ears, they looked at him with astonishment. Egren and Alivia did have children, but they were already grown adults. Orono was a nephew yet still a son to them. Now they were losing him to this war. War was hell, but it happened often over the many millennia civilizations rose and fell on Calorn. After four months of bootcamp, and training Orono Motanorr found himself sent straight to Zekmar as a combat medic. In a unit of ninety-eight, Orono moved through the Zema Ilam city of Zelhinan. Forced to walk on foot they passed a group of children being taught different languages by a Vestrisian Elf in an officer's uniform. It was presumed she was once a schoolteacher from the way she stood. Some memories returned to him as they passed through the preserved parts of the large city. A whole day went by before they even reached the edge of the ruined parts of Zelhinan. 

 

When their unit and five other units reached the ruins, they were greeted by a battalion of Zema Ilam fighters, and a horde of Muzad warriors. Both groups had been fighting for years and they had just gotten off the front letting a battalion of Vestrisians fill in for them. Orono's unit was to be part of the reinforcements. Orono felt a little impressed. Only four months in the fighting in Zekmar and the aliens were not even close to taking this city. As they moved closer to the front the defenders, volunteers, soldiers, and livestock brought over were not the only ones inhabiting Zelhinan. In the more jungle like ruins a group of primate beings called Dire Mandrills. Orono read about these creatures along with ordinary Mandrills and Baboons. All three types could be found in parts of Ottante jungles, the Unknown Lands, Gora-Via, Borvados and Vorcadam. Knowing the behavior of these creatures Orono warned the rest of the unit how these primates acted towards outsiders. He made them sound like a pack or tribe of animals that protected their territory or simply intruded upon others. One Dire Mandril screamed at them from atop of a ruined house before being scared away by a single shot. Orono was glad the shot did not kill the creature. They were here to kill alien invaders, not animals. Knowing very little about these Gantronese he was about to face except for what he was told in training Orono braced himself for the front. Although they arrived with a force of twelve hundred, they still needed to rendezvous with another force at the edge of the city. No more than five hundred forty-four Foguir Elves and Humans, former natives to Rhes Tarim, were meeting them at some statue. Wondering what kind of statue, some of his own squad mates was asked some pretty dark elf warriors in revealing armor. Some of them were slapped, while others had a dagger pointed at them. Orono spotted one that looked just like Anasca only with white short hair. this encounter ended briefly as they were pushed along towards a statue depicting a female warrior mounted on a horse next to another statue that appeared destroyed. Not too far from them another group of uniformed figures approached them. Armed with T.M. 13s, Repeater Rifles, Onway Revolvers, submachinegun 28s, and Gantronese weapons. Each one wore the Vestrisian blue uniforms, showing their allegiance with the Vestrisian Republics. One thing did stick out to Orono. On their foreheads were coins pierced to the skin. Sort of taken aback by the appearances Orono wondered how many of these Foguir were left. 

 

Combining their forces, the Foguir and Vestrisians moved towards the front lines that were moving again. Outside the city ruins of Zelhinan Orono spotted a vehicle with overgrowth in the field. One of the Foguir told him it was an old speeder the Gantronese used in the field. They surmised it was one of the last ones the Gantronese used before being destroyed. Orono kept turned around to catch a last series of glances at the overgrown speeder with the turret still attached to it. He stopped when the red-brown speeder disappeared behind a hill as they kept moving closer to the front. Aircraft and bombers flew overhead returning to airbases for refueling, resupplying and repairs. Their engines drowned out the noise around them until a company of tanks joined the procession to the front on their flanks. Taking a deep breath Orono made it to the front after another day of movement. Artillery, machineguns, yelling, orders, shouting, tanks and other weapons firing along with explosions filled his ears. What a mess the front was. Bodies, downed vehicles, flames, ammunitions shells, downed tanks, crashed aircraft, helmets, and mud made a thick line across the field. Orono expected this, because his uncle warned him what he was getting into as well as other figures like Mannitta's brother, Borfwill, a tank driver. None of this was a pretty sight, and it could only get worse until one side submitted. His unti fired their weapons at an oncoming group of Gantronese soldiers who tried spreading out their forces to avoid being mowed down by machine guns. Orono joined in fearing he might be hit by the captain. Captain Sexy Tits was the nickname behind Captain Sadine Koriban's back. She urged them on until the Gantronese came within a stone's throw of them. Barely making up a squad this Gantonese unit still lunged at them. Orono shot one in the chest only to have the soldier fall on him. Knocking him to the mud the corpse gave him a good look at the Gantronese soldier. Appearing humanoid except a nose and ears these Gantronese had scars covering their light gray skin tone. Upon closer inspection he noticed those were not battle scars, and their eyes were black and double the size of the average humanoid on Calorn. 

 

Orono was helped up only to be pushed into a counteroffensive alongside tens of thousands of Vestrisians who fought here months before his arrival. Pressing against the dwindling Gantronese forces the counteroffensive drew closer to a series of settlements the Gantronese held. Even as the Gantronese pulled back the Vestrisians still faced snipers, and artillery barrages from certain points in the area. Forced to halt for a few hours the Vestrisians pounded the settlements to rubble with their tanks. In skies aircraft arrived to bomb or mow down the retreating Gantronese forces. Captain Koriban took the unit on a flanking maneuver that brought them to a town on a hill. With aid from two tanks, they managed to take control of it. Only the defenders were Gantronese themselves. Orono partook in this battle despite his job as a combat medic. He helped three of their wounded during the counterattack. Oron also tended to some enemy wounded, monkey humanoids the Gantronese either hired or dragged over here for their war of conquest. In the heat the battle over the town Orono made attempts to avoid heavier fighting by hiding in a group of buildings that were connected. In one he discovered a monkey humanoid marksman in one of the second-floor rooms. Forced to gun the humanoid down after it shot at him, Orono found a clockwork steam powered sniper rifle at its side. Claiming the weapon as his own, Private Orono Motanorr prepared himself to deal with a whole new type of service. He would be forcing himself to deal with taking life as well as saving them.