Soldier On [ZS GUNS Vet Special X1]
Nov 8, 2022 4:47:54 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, Venom 🕷, and 1 more like this
Post by mosler on Nov 8, 2022 4:47:54 GMT -5
“Pew pew!”
“Pew! Pew Pew Pew!”
Having run out of stacks of overturned books to use as cover, Oliver stops making laser gun noises – and readies Snake Eyes for a final charge. The little boy smashing his G.I. Joe into the hated Cobra Commander! It is an intense battle that forgoes any attempts at striking, instead simply grinding the toys into one another.
Oliver:
You’ll never get to the escape pod! Pew! Pew!
Despite the laser sounds, there is no gunplay – with the child continuing to mash the figures together. This epic fight occurs on the floor of a living room, a few feet from the couch where Zoran Sainovic is recovering. End of Days took their toll on the older athlete. Along with his broken wing, and multitude of bruises from the tournament itself, The Final Boss has a new cavalcade of scars courtesy of Steve Awesome. Wounds dressed up with enough gauze that he resembles the Mummy; Zoran prefers to relax with a whisky rather than painkillers. Leaning back, the X*Crown champion uses his working hand to flip the pages on a copy of Kiš’s A Tomb for Boris Davidović, his attention only occasionally being broken by the action figure brawl at his feet. Having lost much of his youth to armed conflicts, the horrors of which still haunt him – Zoran is less than thrilled with Oliver’s latest obsession. The only silver lining is that the larger figurines hurt less when accidentally trampled on, than LEGO does.
Oliver:
Take THAT you stupid cobra-
SNAP.
The running commentary of the battle abruptly stops. Looking up from his book, Zoran finds his son starring blankly at the maimed Snake Eyes. Apparently the battle led to one of the ninja’s arms breaking off. Not wanting to be reminded about being gentle with his toys, Oliver tries to put on a brave face – but is clearly devastated by this damage.
Zoran Sainovic:
Do you want me to fix it, son?
The child lights up.
Oliver:
Could you? Thanks Dad!
Folding the book open to maintain his place, Zoran rests it on the coffee table. Looking around the floor, Oliver picks up the broken plastic that used to be Snake Eye’s right arm. In the background a door is heard opening.
Zoran Sainovic:
While I do zis - see if your Mother needs a hand with ze shopping...
Oliver hands over the pieces, before running out into the hallway.
Oliver:
HEY MA, DID YOU GET ANY COOKIES?
As the child disappears, Zoran uses his working arm to place the broken figure across his left leg. Reaching into his pants pocket, Sainovic removes a knife. Even in the safety of home, Zoran always feels the need to carry a weapon. He has a lot of ghosts.
Zoran Sainovic:
Hello XHF...
Not looking up, Sainovic uses his thumb to flip open the blade – light from the chandelier glistens off of the steel. The flash of the blade is his eye contact.
Zoran Sainovic:
I was sorry for my absence at ze GUNS season premier. My condition following End of Days – as you can plainly see – is still less zan pristine. A poor excuse, I admit. Ze logistics of scheduling a title defence within twenty hours of winning it also proved troublesome... zough I tried. For even as ze walking target you see sprawled before you, I still endeavoured to make a defence. Took ze redeye out to make sure I’d be at Atlanta for Halloween. Oh, I was zere. What greeted me? A few hundred Beahr Buddies camped outside ze arena, still protesting my third round victory. Zeir passion is commendable, zough I was in no shape to deal with an angry mob zat night... and while security normally helps with zose situations, apparently zey had other orders. So Magnus won. A GUNS without me... or ze crown…
As the words cross his lips, Zoran has a hard time stifling the scowl. Sighing, the champion lifts his leg to bring the makeshift table closer to his knife. From the spasms, this light movement is clearly a struggle.
Zoran Sainovic:
Now ze rest of zose End of Days participants zat were on ze concluding shows, have given zemselves a month to recuperate. Good for zem. Health first. Ze kind of time I need to recover, however, would require me to forfeit ze crown. Zat isn’t an option. So instead, I have decided to soldier on – my only course of action being to continue marching until someone puts me down. Oh, I could have waited a few more weeks until my first defence... but keeping up ze GUNS tradition of holding shows on holidays, I couldn’t help myself. See, zis particular holiday is near and dear to my heart...
Using the knife to pop off a covering plastic, Zoran exposes a screw in Snake Eyes’ back. Using the knife as a screwdriver, Sainovic presses the toy against his leg as a counterweight, and quickly removes the metal piece. Without the screw holding it together, the chest cavity opens up – revealing the broken pin that normally attaches to the limb.
Zoran Sainovic:
November 11th has adopted different names, but ze sentiment remains ze same – initially commemorating ze end of hostilities on ze western front, before taking on its current state of reverence. For instance, Armistice Day has been a statutory holiday in Serbia since 2012. You see, in ze First World War, my native country suffered ze greatest number of casualties – and we remember. In ze British Commonwealth it is referred to as Remembrance Day, while ze Americans call it Veteran’s Day. It is under zis last title zat we celebrate ze occasion. Zough transitioning out of my commissioner status, I still have enough pull to have ze GUNS put on a show at a U.S. Military facility to entertain ze troops...
Extracting the broken nub, Sainovic holds it against the arm. Manipulating both pieces of plastic with his fingers, while flipping open a lighter with his palm, Zoran proceeds to run the flame between the two – slowly melting them together. Pulling all this off with one hand, Zoran watches the smoke rise as he continues to speak.
Zoran Sainovic:
...A chance to entertain ze hard working members of ze armed forces, all while tormenting Magnus by putting on a superior show? How could I resist…
The Final Boss cracks an impish smile, eyes turning from the flame to the camera.
Zoran Sainovic:
Johnny Sniper.
Given Sainovic’s minimal interactions with The Saga, and their limited engagements with the XHF as of late, more than one person must have been puzzled at the choice. On a military base where his underdog opponent will certainly be the fan favourite? Perhaps The Final Boss is more comfortable when being spit on by the crowd? Maintaining his villainous status for one more show, even as he fights against the ever-growing cheers?
Zoran Sainovic:
Yes, a truly memorable defence. To zat end, I am counting on you, Johnny. Only one of us can leave with ze crown, but when it comes to tearing ze base down? Zat is a team effort. We are both going to be killing ourselves to entertain zose troops. When it comes to making Magnus GREEN with jealousy zat ze best damn GUNS show didn’t go down in Atlanta? We are comrades-in-arms! Zis is nothing but feel good, Johnny, and yeah, it is going to suck for ze guy who eats ze pin – but looking out at ze smiling faces? Zat is all zat matters.
Content with the burn on the shoulder pin, Zoran closes his lighter.
Zoran Sainovic:
Now I’m not Apollo Creed trying to sell ze masses a sentimental story in a Rocky Balboa. Given my current state, you’re no underdog, Johnny. Yeah, ze pride you take in your military service fits in with ze theme of ze event. But as much as I want to show ze troops a good time, I’m not defending against Johnny ZE Sniper. In ze squared circle, I’m defending against Johnny ze wrestler. ...When you’re getting prepared for our contest, don’t make ze mistake of putting ze nature of ze holiday, or your history in ze core at ze forefront. It would diminish your athletic prowess in our sport, and ze very reason you deserve a shot. If you act like you’re going to win because its what ze troops want, you are doing zem a great disservice. Zey don’t need you to win. Zey are winners. Even in defeat, YOU are a winner, Johnny.
Placing the reformed arm joint into the socket, Sainovic discovers the plastic knob is slightly larger in its melted state. No longer malleable, Sainovic instead places the figure back on his knee – using his knife to shave off the irregular grooves.
Zoran Sainovic:
...But I intend to officially win, Johnny. When I put you down for ze zree count, don’t get caught up in ze loss. Recognize ze sacrifice. For my exhausted condition, do you see any other challengers coming to pick ze strap off my bones? Nah, after ze tournament – zey are all zinking twice about zeir prospects against ze Final Boss. Not you. You took zat shot without batting an eye. Such courage should be commended! I certainly respect you for it. So celebrate ze fact zat up until zat final bell, you showed ze XHF zat you could be an X*Crown champion – and given another opportunity, you might well get it next time. I wouldn’t have put your name forward if I didn’t zink you had what it took. ...Now, you spend a lot of time reminding ze Network zat you used to shoot people across long distances, Johnny. Life might come from afar, but ze actual struggle is in close quarters. I tell you zis, because inside zat squared circle, ze range doesn’t get much closer... I hope you’re able to one-day find a similar pride in zis chapter.
When ze dust clears, I look forward to our armistice...
But zough ze hostilities melt away, keep fighting, Johnny. Zis is a reminder, zat ze XHF is far more interesting place when you are in it, motivated, selective, and focused...
Confident in the limb’s ability to move, Zoran clamps the breastplate back down – replacing the screw with his blade.
Zoran Sainovic:
Oliver- all done...
The boy races back into the room.
Oliver:
Thanks a lot, Dad!
Grabbing the toy, Oliver smiles at the repair. Testing it, the child extends Snake Eyes’ reattached appendage, then uses it to punch Cobra Commander. If the action is less fluid, or it sticks slightly, the boy doesn’t let on.
Oliver:
Pew! Pew, pew!
The laser battle begins anew. Once again in the glamorous world of war, Oliver runs off, eager to have G.I. Joe save the world.
Zoran Sainovic:
...It would have been easier to buy a new figure, but zere is a history zere. Why discard something zat can be mended? Zere is still value. Give it another chance to function...
As his son disappears from view, Zoran’s sights return to his novel. A brief reprieve before the next barrage. As he shifts his weight to pick the book up, the muscles in his pulped arm contract – sending waves of agony rippling across Sainovic’s fragile frame.
Zoran Sainovic:
...It will never turn ze way it did before ze accident. My son was just too polite to mention ze lag... some zings just can’t be mended. No matter how much we want to fix zem...
Flinching, Zoran stares down at his bandaged torso – then over to his broken wing.
It will never be the same.
Zoran Sainovic:
But we can try, Johnny... we can try.
Sighing, Sainovic finishes his whisky.
Not everything can be fixed, but we soldier on as best we can...