Gods of War.
by: Lady Vader.
rated: PG for sequences of violence, death, and war battles.
characters: Sam and Toby are (c) to me.
songfic of Def Leppard's 'Gods of War'.
summary: Sam has been in the middle of a war for nearly a year. Over that time he has encountered many adventures and been delivered from death by the hand of God. Can Peter, his handler, and Sam make it home?
a/n: I'd been looking for a way to get a Def Leppard songfic on the site, and I finally found one!
I know war is necessary but it must be the closest thing to hell than anything else on the planet. Here is just a dog's spin on it. No particular war was used here, just one in the desert.
So here it is.
Enjoy and Comment.
Feelin' like it's all over.
Feelin' like there's no love.
Feelin' like it's not easy.
Breathin' life in the dust.
On a countdown to zero,
Take a ride on the nightmare machine.
There ain't gonna be heroes.
There ain't gonna be anything.
Oh!
The sounds of gunfire filled the hot, dry air and the two year old German Shepherd's fuzzy ears. He flicked them back against his head. He'd been out here for nearly three months, and he still was not use to the horrid sound. He rested his head on his paws, heaving a tired sigh. He finally had a few moments to rest, but he couldn't make himself sleep.
He was in overdrive and couldn't relax. How was he expected to? He had been shot at time after time, narrowly escaping death along with his master. He closed his deep brown eyes. Eyes that had seen so much, so many things that would haunt him until he dies.
-Flashback-
The sound of machine gun fire filled the hot air. Explosions erupted in the distance. Sam rushed through the rough sand loyally, never leaving his master's side. The wind gusted, slinging stinging sand into his brown eyes, blinding him. How was his master seeing anything in this?
He glanced to his left. Another man clad in camo had a German Shepherd struggling beside him. More gun shots reigned out, causing Sam to flinch involuntarily. He felt a growl escape his throat in anger. Americans were going down all around him, and he would rip anyone apart who came near his master or friends.
Gunshots fired once more then a piercing yelp was barely audible over all the other noises of war. Sam felt his heart sink as his eyes hot franticly around for his brother, Toby, once more. He saw Toby's master sling the dog over his shoulder, and rush off after the rest of the men.
He soon found himself in an abandoned, rundown building with the other members of the American army. His heart was racing as he saw many surround the doors, securing the facility. < Toby.> Came his racing thoughts.
The man sat the Sable German Shepherd lightly down on the crack cement floor. The man was speaking quietly to the limp dog, stroking it's head. Sam pulled away from his own master and rushed over. Toby's dark eyes showed the pain he was in. A bullet had pierced his hip and his shoulder, both gushing deep red blood.
"Put that dog out of its misery! There's nothing more you can do! He can't be saved." Called one of the men on the other side of the room.
Toby's master just crouched there, shaking his head. "I can't!"
"If you won't, then I will, Chris!" Growled another man.
Chris just shook his head roughly. "I can shoot as many enemy men as you want me to, but I will not shoot my dog!" His voice cracked, obviously upset.
"Fine then, move!" Said one man, taking aim at Toby. After a moment, a single gunshot broke the painful silence.
Chris just yanked his camo ball cap farther down on his head, over his eyes. "Bye, Tob'." He murmured. He readied his gun and moved to one of the doors.
Sam glanced at the lifeless body of his brother. His heart pounded roughly against his chest as he returned to his master, Peter.
"I'm sorry boy." Peter said gently, rubbing a rough hand over Sam's head. Peter glanced up, over at his own brother, Chris. He shook his head gently, sighing. This never should have happened...
-End Flashback-
Sam's eyes shot open. He greedily sucked air into his lungs, willing himself to calm back down. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw someone dying. What a nightmare...
He didn't understand why he was in this war zone. There was no heroes, there was only lives lost. No one seemed to be winning, and no one seemed to be trying to get them out of there. In his eyes, there was nothing being gained from this.
His chocolate eyes glanced skyward, staring up at the fading sunlight. The air was significantly cooler now, the wind catching and casting sand towards him and the rest of the camp. Fear began to crawl into his gut and clentch it's fist about his already pounding heart. Night was falling.
Most of the worst battles he had found himself in had been during the night. Maybe, just maybe there would be no fighting tonight. The rest of the day's light faded away, leaving him in silence in the dark.
When we all fall down
When we walk into silence
When we shadow the sun
When we surrender to violence
Oh!
Then the damage is done
Put away that gun!
I dont wanna be there
I dont wanna be anywhere
Oh!
Thats right!
We're fightin for the gods of war but what the heck we fightin for?
We're fightin with the gods of war
but Im a rebel
And I aint gonna fight no more.
-Flashback-
three days before:
He heard the crunching footsteps of someone approaching. His eyes turned, landing on a thin, muscular man. He was overly tall, but he wasn't short either. He was clad in tan camo, blending into the desert sand. He pulled his ball cap farther over his head and crouched by the dog. Tears had streaked the man's face, but he wiped the remaining trails away. In his right hand was a silver dog tag necklace. He reached out with his other hand and stroked Sam's silky head. "I know what it's like to lose a brother." He uttered.
Sam's hear sank. They hadn't been able to save Chris. He whimpered his response, nudging his master's hand. Peter just continued. "You've lost your brother, I've lost mine. I guess it's just you and me, eh?" He said, his voice quiet so only Sam could hear. The man's blue eyes glinted with determination. "This is what happens when we surrender to violence. Now our brother's are dead, the damage is done. Their is no bringing them back. I just want to put away my guns and go home. I don't want to here, or anywhere near this freakin' desert."
Sam couldn't tell if his master was angry or not. So he just sat there, feeling sorry for the man who began to cry once more. Peter shook his head. "We're fighting for gods of war, Sam." He said. "But what the heck are we fighting for?" Peter pulled himself in a standing position. "I don't want to fight any more. I'm not going to fight any more. "
-End Flashback-
Here it comes, here comes the night
Here it comes, hell in the night
Here it comes, here comes the night
Night had fallen over the silent desert completely by now. The humans luckily had night vision goggles, but the dogs had to fend for themselves. Nothing was clear, the sand in the air blurred Sam's vision, and what he could see was just shapes. Sam once more found himself on a night patrol. The whole situation made shivers run up and down his spine.
He walked obediently at his master's side, the cool night air snatching roughly at his tan and black coat. Dogs could be heard barking in the distance, making his hackles raise involuntarily. He felt a growl form in his throat as the barking neared. He felt Peter pause, not sure what to do about the dogs.
Then they saw them. Numerous mixed breeds rushed down a sand dune, not far from an abandoned city. All growling, barking, and snareling, they destroyed most of the distance between them and the American troops.
Sam yanked free from Peter's hold on his collar, his muscles tensing as he sensed the fighting about to happen. 'I could sure use Toby's help right now!' Was his last thoughts before he lunged, snaping down on the first dog's skinny neck. The smaller dog stood no chance as Sam slung his head, a loud pop sounded. He released the vicegrip and the mutt fell silently to the sand.
His eyes shifted upwards in time to see another one of his kind slam into him, sending him rolling in the sand. Jaws lashed at his neck, but he managed to only be bitten on the shoulder. He yelped as the sharp fangs dug into his flesh. He spun instantly, his own jaws landing on the German Shepherd's matted neck.
He felt crimson blood begin to fill his mouth. He released after a moment, blood falling from his mouth. He had spit out the offending substance, shaking his head as he did.
Gun shots rang out from about him, knocking one man from the toops down. He spun, praying it wasn't Peter. The army had started running, making their way up a sand dune. He shot off after them, avoiding those who had been shot and now laying dead on the sand.
Shots rang out again. He glanced back, seeing the enemy men not far off. More appeared ahead. Great, they were surrounded. He froze next to Peter, growls still coming from his throat.
"Shh." Came his master's voice to him, calming Sam inwardly.
One of the enemy stepped forward, his voice thick with an unknown accent. "Drop all your weapons to the sand. Any wrong move and I shoot."
Sam wanted to lunge at the man's throat, but his master's words stuck in his mind. I don't want to fight anymore. I won't fight anymore. He froze when he heard Peter's weapon clank to the ground behind him. He turned to stare at Peter, then back to the enemy.
"Now hand over the dogs. We cannot chance keeping them alive." The man said.
Peter balled his fist up. "No." Came his voice, clear as bells in the darkness. "You won't touch him."
"Wanna bet?" Growled another man, already taking aim at Peter with his rifle.
"You won't kill me." He said calmly.
The man growled, and with a shaky hand pulled the trigger. The bullet brushed by Peter's shoulder, barely slicing him open. He grabbed at the wound, but before he could command Sam to do anything, the dog lunged.
Sam was enraged. They had injured his master. He lunged at the one who had shot, his jaws clasping harshly at flesh. The man toppled to the ground, then fell limp below him. He released his grip, but he felt something pierce his chest, sending him to the ground. His vision blurred and he felt his chest burning. The last thing he heard was Peter calling for him, a gunshot, then silence.
He slipped into an inky blackness.
a/n: Kinda choppy. I may revise sometime later on and add a few more flashbacks.