It was a sunny day, birds chattering, just a good day to be alive. What I didn't know then is that on that day my life as I knew it was going to end.
My name is Hunter Lee, though my buddies just call me Lee. I'm a pro airsoft player, and my team and I won a chance to fight the US Army in a combat sim. It was, quite simply, the best day of my life.
The team sniper Jake got drunk he was so nervous. Kelly is our squad gunner, a tomboy with a mind to kill. Last but not least Alex, team goof and a troll that doesn't seem to know when to stop.
It was 8 am and a nice cool spring morning. We got to the gate of Fort Bragg North Carolina after a long drive from Georgia and after two hours of checking all our gear they finally let us on base.
"Hey Lee, why can't I troll them again?" asked Alex.
"Because they are the fucking US Army? Seriously Alex, don't troll them," I shot back.
"Calm down Lee. We're here to have fun, remember?" said Kelly.
"What, you think I don't know this?" I asked.
"Sure yah do, yah just don't show it," she poped out.
"Two words. FUCK! YOU!"
Laughter then broke out.
After a few moments of awkward silence we start going over our gear one last time.
Normally it takes a good hour to get all of our gear ready for combat, but after awhile you get into a routine and finish off your checklist faster and faster.
A sergeant finally found us and asked if we're ready for combat simulations to begin.
"Well, if we're not going to last long anyway, sure!" Kelly responded in a joking manner.
The sergeant replied, "You guys are one of the best airsoft teams I have ever heard of."
"We just try to do our best and have fun," I responded.
"I'm sure you guys will be fine. Now if you're ready we have a Striker ready to take you to the combat area," the sergeant said with a chuckle.
In an excited tone o voice Alex exclaims "You serious?"
The sergeant only replied, "If I'm not I must be lying."
For the next five minutes Jakes was the happiest guy in the world, having always wanted to ride in a Striker.
After a ten minute ride, we heard some odd radio communications. From what we heard it was as if Fort Bragg was under attack.
Five tense minutes flew by and we blew it off as the start of the simulation. Out of nowhere a seemingly earth shattering explosion rang out inside of the Striker. The driver yelled out, "WE'VE BEEN HIT!"
After a few seconds of catching my breath I could see blood all over the inside of the striker. I knew at that moment something was very wrong. I looked around, and saw the rest of my team was knocked out cold.
I crawled to the front of the Striker, passing the dead bodies of the crew. By the time I made it to the driver my cloths were soaked with blood.
The driver turned around and, seeing the blood, asked if I was OK. Right before a moan of pain escaoed his lips.
At that moment another explosion chose to ring out inside the Striker. I was thrown into the side of the hull, and when I look back I see only gore where the driver once was. For the next few seconds I was in total shock.
Then I heard a familiar voice. "Lee, LEE? Are you ok?"
I recognize this calm voice and knew it was Kelly.
Shaking off my shock and locking away my fear I call back. "Yeah, I'm ok."
She asked "What the hell happened?"
I yell back, "Something just shot the Striker!"
"I thought this was a simulation Lee!" she exclaimed.
I whispered back, "Stop yelling! I think they're outside and yes it was SUPPOSED to be a simulation."
I then hear chatter from not far off. "Sarge you think we took out that Striker?" "Yes you did, but next time make sure you take it out in one shot not two, it wastes rockets."
After listening to their brief conversation and hoping that they've left I crawled back to Kelly.
I then heard Alex whispering to Kelly, "What the hell hit us? My head is killing me."
I whispered out, "Alex you all right?"
He responded with a light chuckle, "Other than this spike between my eyes yeah, I'm just fine."
I then asked Kelly if Jake was ok.
"Yeah he seems to be fine. Still out like a light, though," she responded.
"Good to hear."
Suddenly, Kelly asks, "Hey, can you guys smell diesel?"
I immediately respond, "Shit, I do too. We need to get the fuck out of this can right fucking now."
After a moment or two I managed to kick the back hatch open. I then carefully got out and made sure that the area was clear.
I then quickly got back in, and carried Jake well clear of the ruined Striker.
As we were walking away, the Striker vanished in a masive explosion that threw us all to the ground.
Apparently, an explosion is a great way to wake up someone who was knocked out because as I was trying to get up Jake was standing over me offering his hand to help me up.
He pulled me up and make sure we were all OK.
He then said, "Any of you got any damn ideas?"
I responded with "The hell I don't, but I might if I can find out where we are."
As we stand around, trying to decide where to go, a light of indescribable brightness sweeps across the entirety of the base, and our world changes forever.
