*The Child is Gone*
Darling, give me your absence tonight
Take the shade from the canvas and leave me the white
Let me sink in the silence that echoes inside
And don't bother leaving the light on
`Cuz I suddenly feel like a different person
From the roots of my soul come a gentle coercion
And I ran my hand o'er a strange inversion
A vacancy that just did not belong
The child is gone
Honey help me out of this mess
I'm a stranger to myself
But don't reach for me, I'm too far away
I don't wanna talk `cuz there's nothing left to say
So my
Darling, give me your absence tonight
Take all of your sympathy and leave it outside
`Cuz there's no kind of loving that can make this all right
I'm trying to find a place I belong
And I suddenly feel like a different person
From the roots of my soul come a gentle coercion
And I ran my hand o'er a strange inversion
As the darkness turns into the dawn
The child is gone
The child is gone
*~^~*Lyrics courtesy of Fiona Apple*~^~*
*Establishing Contact*
Sergeant Major Jack Melivenski sat behind her desk, her combat boot clad feet propped up on the desk. She was dressed in the all black standard uniform, her long black hair hanging loosely to her shoulder blades.
"It's fucking hotter than hell in here! This whole fucking God forsaken planet is scorching! What fuck head decided that we needed to train here?!" With one of her booted feet she kicked a bin from her desk.
"Is the Sergeant Major complaining?" A voice from the next room rang in.
"Mandol you don't shut your pie hole and I will come out there and rip your legs off!"
"Touchy today there Jack?"
She stood pushing her hair from her eyes and sauntered into the next room, "It's this damn heat Mandol. They're just trying to torture us for our last job since they're still paying for it."
Staff Sergeant Mark Mandol sat behind a desk much in the same fashion Jack had been his silver blue eyes laughing, "That wouldn't surprise me. We fucked up 3 entire metropolitan blocks."
Jack laughed as a second man also wearing a black uniform entered the office, "Melivenski, your new troops have arrived."
"It's about fucking time! What took them so Goddamned long?!" Jack walked back into her office grabbing her black standard bucket hat and sun glasses then returned to the room holding her fellow officers. She quickly pulled all of her hair up into the hat sitting atop her head.
"The transport broke down about 5 clicks from here."
"Well then they should have fucking walked!"
"They did." The soldier stated knowing it would probably just piss Jack off even more.
"Should have walked faster than!" Jack received laughter from her comment as she exited her building and headed towards the newest troops.
*************
The soldiers were slacking off as Jack approached a Staff Sergeant at her side. Jack did a quick assessment of what she was going to have in store for her, so far it wasn't looking all too bad but that was only at first glance. Jack took her stand in front of the troops still unnoticed until the Staff Sergeant came to a halt at her right side.
"ATTENTION!" The Staff Sergeant recognized as Corigon made their presence known.
Quickly the soldiers fell into formation expecting Corigon to yell at them when they were all genuinely shocked to see Jack step forward; most soldiers were.
Jack began pacing back and forth before the troops; a form of intimidation and assessment. "Good afternoon. . .and welcome soldiers to Fort Omega in the Zineon 3 sector. I am Sergeant Major Jack Melivenski. I will be your trainer and one of your commanding officers for the upcoming months and once you are ready to go out to fight I will be your fellow soldier. For the next months you will eat, sleep, train and breathe with me in your fucking face. I say jump you better ask me how fucking high Sergeant Major. Oorah?"
Without hesitation the soldiers quickly answered, "Oorah!"
Jack continued, "I say hold your breath you better ask for how long and then you better Goddamn well do it! Oorah?"
"Oorah!"
"If you EVER question me or what I tell you to do I will personally rip off your fucking head with my bare hands and spit down your neck. Do not fuck with me! Do you get me?"
The soldiers now looking a little wary of Jack answered again with lightening speed, "We get you Sgt. Mjr. Melivenksi!"
"You damn well better get me! I wont tolerate fuck ups so you better be straight or I will straighten you out myself. Here on Ft. Omega we don't take any bullshit. There's two choices. . . it's my way or I rip your heart out and make you watch it stop beating. Oorah?"
Steadfast as ever the soldiers answered, "Oorah!"
Jack slammed her hands together in a gesture to possibly break a little tension, "Now that introductions are over, let's get to the real shit." Jack stood dead center in front of the troops and began, "You are now in training to be a part of the most elite force in the universe. We are the Black Knights Special Ops. Delta Force. What are we? We are the fucking cream of the crop. We walk around like our shit doesn't stink because IT DOESN'T! The Black Knights are the fuckers that keep this piece of shit some people call a life from self-destructing or being blown to bits by others. We are the elite, we are one of a kind and if for one second I myself or any of my fellow officers think you can't hack it you will be thrown out of here in 3 seconds flat. If you are lucky enough to become a Black Knight you will be the most highly trained motherfucker in EVERYTHING! By the time I am through with you there will be nothing that you wont be able to fly, shoot, fight or hijack. And
courtesy of the Black Knights you will receive two special gifts which you will wear for the rest of your lousy life. One being a tattoo such as this one." Jack lifted her hat so that everyone could see a black tattoo of an 11 digit number and a bar code beneath it. Turning around she continued, "You will also received babies like these." Jack took off her sunglasses revealing silver blue shined eyes; she was greeted with a few gasps. "It is called a surgical shine job and it's a very painful procedure that will leave you blind for anywhere from three to five days. What does this enable you to do? Answer: see in the pitch black of night. This is the most advanced technology around. Not only can you see in the dark but unlike the older versions with these bad boys you can see normally during the day time and in color. Now, I've seen that a few of you already have shine jobs done, yours will have to be upgraded. From personal experience I warn you. . .you thought it hurt the
first time, the pain you will feel in the upgrade is ten times worse. . .ENJOY! Also, if you're thinking that the tattoos will be easy, think again. These little bitches are no piece of cake, they are gonna hurt like hell. Once again, we have the best technology. These tattoos will be genetically linked with your body so if you die in combat the tattoo will glow green. It's like a homing device so your body can be found. Now of course these little goodies don't come free, you've gotta earn `em by becoming a Black Knight. So, best of luck soldiers and I hope to serve with you in the future. Dismissed!"
Quickly all of the soldiers filed away to their lodging to unpack. Jack sighed, maybe this set of troops would be easier than her last but it was a fat chance. Finally after much silence, the Staff Sergeant demanded Jack's attention.
"So, what do ya think Melivenski?" Corigon questioned.
"I don't know. They seem better than our last troops but we could be in for a rude awakening." Jack, as always, preparing for the worst.
"They seemed a lot more disciplined than the others though, so who knows. Hey, maybe now we have God's good graces." Corigon, being in his nature, was always trying to look for the best.
"I wouldn't count on it but maybe you're right, Corigon. It sure would be nice to get some troops that aren't total dip shits." Jack put her glasses back on, "Well, back to that oven of an office," with that Jack turned on her heal and walked back to the metal shack which currently posed as her office.
Jack hadn't even made it five feet into the office when Mandol turned in his chair and smiled at her. There was good news, either that or he knew she was gonna be pissed off, either way it didn't take long to find out.
"The Captain Bortelli wants to see you, Jack." His smile didn't fade, it was almost as if he was laughing at her misfortune. He knew something that was just gonna piss her off royal, she knew that smile all too well. It wasn't fair, he always got to give her shitty news.
"What is it? They finally gonna discharge me?" Jack faked enthusiasm as she saw Mandol's face fall. Yep, that was a sure fire sign that whatever it was was going to seriously suck.
"Can't say, all I can tell ya is that Captain Bortelli wants to see you now."
"Great, just my fucking day, eh?" Jack slammed her hand against the wall as she started to leave the building.
"Every day is your day don't ya know Melivenski?" He yelled after her.
*************
"Captain, with all do respect. . .you can't send me on a shit job!" Jack ran a hand through her hanging hair with aggravation.
The Captain, cool as a cucumber, replied casually. "Sergeant Major Melivenski, I understand how much this could damage your reputation and I regret having to do this but this contact is different from most."
Jack tucked her hair behind her ears, "Well then who is it sir?"
"You know I cannot release that information without the contact's permission, he wishes to be addressed as Mr. Evil." Captain Daryl Bortelli was having trouble keeping her from going ape shit but there was nothing he could do, the contact had asked for the best of the best from his company. He couldn't very well send a private to do the job, the contact-this `Mr. Evil'-said he'd test to make sure they were the best and for some reason the Captain didn't doubt it. "Look Melivenski, I'm sorry but the guy requested the best and that he'd make sure I sent the best. That's you Sergeant Major, you are my best."
"Captain, I know that's supposed to comfort me or some shit but it doesn't! The fact is you are sending me on some little nobody's job and if I was your best you wouldn't do this to me." Jack couldn't believe he was putting her on shit detail.
"Jack, please. . .this is the entire mission on the string, you of all people should know how hard we've worked to get information on Antonio Moran and his organization."
Jack slammed her fist onto the desk that separated herself from the Captain, "Fine Captain Bortelli, I'll do it. But quite honestly sir, to me it seems to be a set up; I mean it could be a scheme Moran came up with to get to us. Just so you know sir, and it doesn't come as a surprise, if it's some little league fuck or for one second I think it's set up I'll kill the fucker." Jack's eyes were narrowed and determined, this was a serious diss to her career and her position.
"Sergeant Major, on behalf of the Black Knights Special Ops Delta Force, thank you for humbling yourself for the good of the operation." The Captain saluted her respectfully.
"Yeah, yeah, how many times have I heard that come from your mouth now Bortelli?" Jack saluted the Captain and turned on her heel.
"Jack. . .please just be careful, this guy is a big time guy. I can't afford to lose my finest, not to mention my most suicidal. No bullshit unless he brings it understood?"
"Yes sir, and Daryl. . .you don't have to worry, I'll fuck with his head extra just for you." Jack blew him a kiss saluted once more and left.
Captain Bortelli sat back in his chair sighing, in all the years that he'd known Jack Melivenski he'd never once been afraid for her safety especially with all her training suddenly he feared for her-seriously was scared that he might lose his best soldier and that would be too great a loss for anyone to handle. He hoped Jack was on her best behavior. He couldn't lose her or this contact, both were chiefly important in this operation. Damn, it was about time something surfaced. He and Jack had been working side by side on this operation for 2 and a half years now, it was a well deserved break. Antonio Moran was a universal terrorist, the most lethal of any, and lately he was causing a lot of commotion. Moran and his forces were blowing things up all over the galaxy, causing great famine and poverty. Moran's latest act of destruction was blowing up one of the greatest economic giants in the galaxy. Unheard of, it was going to take a great deal of time to reconstruct the
economy. This was a well deserved break, he just hoped it was worth the humiliation it'd cost Jack. He had to take the chance though. He'd give it to the girl, she was very loyal to the Black Knights-always had been and always would be. He sighed again, tonight Jack would establish contact.
Darling, give me your absence tonight
Take the shade from the canvas and leave me the white
Let me sink in the silence that echoes inside
And don't bother leaving the light on
`Cuz I suddenly feel like a different person
From the roots of my soul come a gentle coercion
And I ran my hand o'er a strange inversion
A vacancy that just did not belong
The child is gone
Honey help me out of this mess
I'm a stranger to myself
But don't reach for me, I'm too far away
I don't wanna talk `cuz there's nothing left to say
So my
Darling, give me your absence tonight
Take all of your sympathy and leave it outside
`Cuz there's no kind of loving that can make this all right
I'm trying to find a place I belong
And I suddenly feel like a different person
From the roots of my soul come a gentle coercion
And I ran my hand o'er a strange inversion
As the darkness turns into the dawn
The child is gone
The child is gone
*~^~*Lyrics courtesy of Fiona Apple*~^~*
*Establishing Contact*
Sergeant Major Jack Melivenski sat behind her desk, her combat boot clad feet propped up on the desk. She was dressed in the all black standard uniform, her long black hair hanging loosely to her shoulder blades.
"It's fucking hotter than hell in here! This whole fucking God forsaken planet is scorching! What fuck head decided that we needed to train here?!" With one of her booted feet she kicked a bin from her desk.
"Is the Sergeant Major complaining?" A voice from the next room rang in.
"Mandol you don't shut your pie hole and I will come out there and rip your legs off!"
"Touchy today there Jack?"
She stood pushing her hair from her eyes and sauntered into the next room, "It's this damn heat Mandol. They're just trying to torture us for our last job since they're still paying for it."
Staff Sergeant Mark Mandol sat behind a desk much in the same fashion Jack had been his silver blue eyes laughing, "That wouldn't surprise me. We fucked up 3 entire metropolitan blocks."
Jack laughed as a second man also wearing a black uniform entered the office, "Melivenski, your new troops have arrived."
"It's about fucking time! What took them so Goddamned long?!" Jack walked back into her office grabbing her black standard bucket hat and sun glasses then returned to the room holding her fellow officers. She quickly pulled all of her hair up into the hat sitting atop her head.
"The transport broke down about 5 clicks from here."
"Well then they should have fucking walked!"
"They did." The soldier stated knowing it would probably just piss Jack off even more.
"Should have walked faster than!" Jack received laughter from her comment as she exited her building and headed towards the newest troops.
*************
The soldiers were slacking off as Jack approached a Staff Sergeant at her side. Jack did a quick assessment of what she was going to have in store for her, so far it wasn't looking all too bad but that was only at first glance. Jack took her stand in front of the troops still unnoticed until the Staff Sergeant came to a halt at her right side.
"ATTENTION!" The Staff Sergeant recognized as Corigon made their presence known.
Quickly the soldiers fell into formation expecting Corigon to yell at them when they were all genuinely shocked to see Jack step forward; most soldiers were.
Jack began pacing back and forth before the troops; a form of intimidation and assessment. "Good afternoon. . .and welcome soldiers to Fort Omega in the Zineon 3 sector. I am Sergeant Major Jack Melivenski. I will be your trainer and one of your commanding officers for the upcoming months and once you are ready to go out to fight I will be your fellow soldier. For the next months you will eat, sleep, train and breathe with me in your fucking face. I say jump you better ask me how fucking high Sergeant Major. Oorah?"
Without hesitation the soldiers quickly answered, "Oorah!"
Jack continued, "I say hold your breath you better ask for how long and then you better Goddamn well do it! Oorah?"
"Oorah!"
"If you EVER question me or what I tell you to do I will personally rip off your fucking head with my bare hands and spit down your neck. Do not fuck with me! Do you get me?"
The soldiers now looking a little wary of Jack answered again with lightening speed, "We get you Sgt. Mjr. Melivenksi!"
"You damn well better get me! I wont tolerate fuck ups so you better be straight or I will straighten you out myself. Here on Ft. Omega we don't take any bullshit. There's two choices. . . it's my way or I rip your heart out and make you watch it stop beating. Oorah?"
Steadfast as ever the soldiers answered, "Oorah!"
Jack slammed her hands together in a gesture to possibly break a little tension, "Now that introductions are over, let's get to the real shit." Jack stood dead center in front of the troops and began, "You are now in training to be a part of the most elite force in the universe. We are the Black Knights Special Ops. Delta Force. What are we? We are the fucking cream of the crop. We walk around like our shit doesn't stink because IT DOESN'T! The Black Knights are the fuckers that keep this piece of shit some people call a life from self-destructing or being blown to bits by others. We are the elite, we are one of a kind and if for one second I myself or any of my fellow officers think you can't hack it you will be thrown out of here in 3 seconds flat. If you are lucky enough to become a Black Knight you will be the most highly trained motherfucker in EVERYTHING! By the time I am through with you there will be nothing that you wont be able to fly, shoot, fight or hijack. And
courtesy of the Black Knights you will receive two special gifts which you will wear for the rest of your lousy life. One being a tattoo such as this one." Jack lifted her hat so that everyone could see a black tattoo of an 11 digit number and a bar code beneath it. Turning around she continued, "You will also received babies like these." Jack took off her sunglasses revealing silver blue shined eyes; she was greeted with a few gasps. "It is called a surgical shine job and it's a very painful procedure that will leave you blind for anywhere from three to five days. What does this enable you to do? Answer: see in the pitch black of night. This is the most advanced technology around. Not only can you see in the dark but unlike the older versions with these bad boys you can see normally during the day time and in color. Now, I've seen that a few of you already have shine jobs done, yours will have to be upgraded. From personal experience I warn you. . .you thought it hurt the
first time, the pain you will feel in the upgrade is ten times worse. . .ENJOY! Also, if you're thinking that the tattoos will be easy, think again. These little bitches are no piece of cake, they are gonna hurt like hell. Once again, we have the best technology. These tattoos will be genetically linked with your body so if you die in combat the tattoo will glow green. It's like a homing device so your body can be found. Now of course these little goodies don't come free, you've gotta earn `em by becoming a Black Knight. So, best of luck soldiers and I hope to serve with you in the future. Dismissed!"
Quickly all of the soldiers filed away to their lodging to unpack. Jack sighed, maybe this set of troops would be easier than her last but it was a fat chance. Finally after much silence, the Staff Sergeant demanded Jack's attention.
"So, what do ya think Melivenski?" Corigon questioned.
"I don't know. They seem better than our last troops but we could be in for a rude awakening." Jack, as always, preparing for the worst.
"They seemed a lot more disciplined than the others though, so who knows. Hey, maybe now we have God's good graces." Corigon, being in his nature, was always trying to look for the best.
"I wouldn't count on it but maybe you're right, Corigon. It sure would be nice to get some troops that aren't total dip shits." Jack put her glasses back on, "Well, back to that oven of an office," with that Jack turned on her heal and walked back to the metal shack which currently posed as her office.
Jack hadn't even made it five feet into the office when Mandol turned in his chair and smiled at her. There was good news, either that or he knew she was gonna be pissed off, either way it didn't take long to find out.
"The Captain Bortelli wants to see you, Jack." His smile didn't fade, it was almost as if he was laughing at her misfortune. He knew something that was just gonna piss her off royal, she knew that smile all too well. It wasn't fair, he always got to give her shitty news.
"What is it? They finally gonna discharge me?" Jack faked enthusiasm as she saw Mandol's face fall. Yep, that was a sure fire sign that whatever it was was going to seriously suck.
"Can't say, all I can tell ya is that Captain Bortelli wants to see you now."
"Great, just my fucking day, eh?" Jack slammed her hand against the wall as she started to leave the building.
"Every day is your day don't ya know Melivenski?" He yelled after her.
*************
"Captain, with all do respect. . .you can't send me on a shit job!" Jack ran a hand through her hanging hair with aggravation.
The Captain, cool as a cucumber, replied casually. "Sergeant Major Melivenski, I understand how much this could damage your reputation and I regret having to do this but this contact is different from most."
Jack tucked her hair behind her ears, "Well then who is it sir?"
"You know I cannot release that information without the contact's permission, he wishes to be addressed as Mr. Evil." Captain Daryl Bortelli was having trouble keeping her from going ape shit but there was nothing he could do, the contact had asked for the best of the best from his company. He couldn't very well send a private to do the job, the contact-this `Mr. Evil'-said he'd test to make sure they were the best and for some reason the Captain didn't doubt it. "Look Melivenski, I'm sorry but the guy requested the best and that he'd make sure I sent the best. That's you Sergeant Major, you are my best."
"Captain, I know that's supposed to comfort me or some shit but it doesn't! The fact is you are sending me on some little nobody's job and if I was your best you wouldn't do this to me." Jack couldn't believe he was putting her on shit detail.
"Jack, please. . .this is the entire mission on the string, you of all people should know how hard we've worked to get information on Antonio Moran and his organization."
Jack slammed her fist onto the desk that separated herself from the Captain, "Fine Captain Bortelli, I'll do it. But quite honestly sir, to me it seems to be a set up; I mean it could be a scheme Moran came up with to get to us. Just so you know sir, and it doesn't come as a surprise, if it's some little league fuck or for one second I think it's set up I'll kill the fucker." Jack's eyes were narrowed and determined, this was a serious diss to her career and her position.
"Sergeant Major, on behalf of the Black Knights Special Ops Delta Force, thank you for humbling yourself for the good of the operation." The Captain saluted her respectfully.
"Yeah, yeah, how many times have I heard that come from your mouth now Bortelli?" Jack saluted the Captain and turned on her heel.
"Jack. . .please just be careful, this guy is a big time guy. I can't afford to lose my finest, not to mention my most suicidal. No bullshit unless he brings it understood?"
"Yes sir, and Daryl. . .you don't have to worry, I'll fuck with his head extra just for you." Jack blew him a kiss saluted once more and left.
Captain Bortelli sat back in his chair sighing, in all the years that he'd known Jack Melivenski he'd never once been afraid for her safety especially with all her training suddenly he feared for her-seriously was scared that he might lose his best soldier and that would be too great a loss for anyone to handle. He hoped Jack was on her best behavior. He couldn't lose her or this contact, both were chiefly important in this operation. Damn, it was about time something surfaced. He and Jack had been working side by side on this operation for 2 and a half years now, it was a well deserved break. Antonio Moran was a universal terrorist, the most lethal of any, and lately he was causing a lot of commotion. Moran and his forces were blowing things up all over the galaxy, causing great famine and poverty. Moran's latest act of destruction was blowing up one of the greatest economic giants in the galaxy. Unheard of, it was going to take a great deal of time to reconstruct the
economy. This was a well deserved break, he just hoped it was worth the humiliation it'd cost Jack. He had to take the chance though. He'd give it to the girl, she was very loyal to the Black Knights-always had been and always would be. He sighed again, tonight Jack would establish contact.