Chapter 4
Carrie was getting frustrated at Gumball for leaving her so quickly, and she hated the fact that he was forced to fight in a war that he didn't want to fight. Carrie knew that Gumball had been in a few firefights before, she heard people talk about it in school. Carrie knew if she sat around any longer, she would freak out and start to break things in Gumballs house. She walked downstairs, and saw Darwin, Anais, Richard, and Gumballs mother sitting on the couch watching the news. Gumballs mother's ears twitched, (meaning she heard something) and she turned around.
"oh, hello Carrie, do you want to sit down and watch the news with us?"
Carrie had to think for a few seconds, and finally agreed to sit down. As soon as she did, the news channel showed the war efforts, and how the US military was doing. News reporter
"it has now become clear to us that several marine forces have been demolished by enemy forces. However, one marines strike force unit was able to get into a demolished town and secure it. Though, now reports are saying now, that the marines were ambushed and were mostly wiped out. A still active predator drone shows that there is one Lieutenant leading seven marines through the war-torn town, and are now trying to find reinforcements to aid them. As of now, the military has sent five units of marines to move in on foot and reinforce the stranded marines."
Carrie could not believe what she heard. A Lieutenant? Gumball was a Lieutenant, and Carrie could now believe that he could be Gumball, stranded in the war-torn town. Carrie looked at Gumballs family, and could tell that they were thinking the same thing. Darwin looked at Carrie.
"I'm sure my brother is fine, Carrie, he's had his fair share of hand to hand combat. Besides, Gumball has fought seven security guards at the mall and won. So, if they do get overrun and Gumball is there, he'll be the last one to go down fighting."
Carrie looked at him with an angry look.
"DARWIN! That doesn't help me right now!"
Darwin scurried out of the room and ran upstairs. "DO NOT HURT ME!" Carrie rolled her eyes. Gumballs mother looked at Carrie, her eyes full of sympathy.
"Oh, Carrie, I'm sure my son will be fine."
However, Carrie wasn't so sure. Gumballs mother was trying to make everything seem better, but she was nervous and worried as well. she nodded.
"Ok, I'll go lie down for a bit and try to relax."
Carrie walked up the stairs and almost tripped on Darwin, who was listening to their conversation. She gave him a icy glare.
"Hey Darwin, eavesdropping?"
Darwin didn't say anything, but he rushed to the safety of his fish bowl. Carrie watched him go with a sigh. She didn't know why Darwin was acting like this.
Meanwhile, Gumball and his fellow marines had regrouped with a squad of marines that showed up. He and his marines found them fighting for their lives, and pinned down by two machine guns being fired at them. His marines snuck behind the machine guns and literally tore the enemy soldiers apart with their bare hands. They were not in the greatest mood, having spent several days in this warzone which they considered hell. Gumball walked up to the general of the marine unit.
"So, are we being pulled out of combat general? My men and I have had enough being in this kill box." general "what? No Lieutenant! You're to stay here and drive these bastards out with the reinforcements. That is, when and if they ever show up." Gumball was infuriated, but did not say anything, for he was only a Lieutenant. He decided to say something else. "general, if the other reinforcements show up, then can we go home for a week to get rest, then head back with more reinforcements?"
The general thought about it for a few minutes, then agreed to let Gumball and his marines go home. After all, they had been in the town fighting for their lives, staying up all day and night, crawling through mud and dirt, were almost out of ammo, and not to mention were tired and hungry. On top of that, over half of their force got wiped out, and they rescued him and his marines when they were severely outnumbered, and about to drop from exhaustion. Gumball went to tell his marines, and they piled up into the jeep, all squishing in, and drove back to Elmore. Gumball couldn't wait to see Carrie again, then he remembered that it was only for a day. Carrie was sitting inside, on the verge of tears, when a jeep pulled into their driveway. It had a machine gun on it, that was broken. Live bullets were stuck in the two-inch thick armor plating and inside of the jeep, eight exhausted marines sat, and Carrie could see that several of them were fast asleep. Carrie heard Gumballs mother talking loudly with someone at the front door. "Gumball! Your alive! Thank goodness, I almost was going to march into that town and get you myself!" Gumball looked at his mother.
"Mom, me and my men have been through hell and back. Can the other marines stay here for the day?"
Gumballs mother looked at him, confusion forming across her face. "a week? I thought you were staying for good." Gumball looked at his mother with a sad look. "No, me and my marines have one day to rest, resupply our ammo, and bring more soldiers back to that hellhole of a town with us."
Carrie was at the top of the stairs, crying as she listened to their conversation. She was scared that Gumball and his marines had to go back into the town they barely made it out of alive. Carrie could not contain her need to speak to Gumball anymore. Carrie rushed down the stairs, and slammed into Gumball with a massive force that only a ghost could achieve. Gumball was thrown back several feet, caught in a crushing bear hug. Gumball looked down and saw Carrie crushing him with her ghostly hug. Gumball "Carrie! I can only stay for a week. Generals orders." Carrie smiled sadly at him.
"I know, Gumball. I heard your conversation."
Gumball just sat there for several moments, enjoying the fact that Carrie was hugging him tightly.
"Ok, Carrie, you need to share hugs for my family."
Carrie blushed, and let go of him. Gumball was getting hugged by his family, when he remembered about his fellow marines. Gumball "Excuse me guys, I have to let my marines in here so they can rest and eat." Gumballs mother understood.
"Okay sweetie, I'll go cook a big dinner after your marine's rest."
Gumball walked outside. He now knew some of the marine's names.
"Okay boys, come on in! oh, and john, wake up those three. They'll be more comfortable in an actual bed."
John nodded, and went to go wake the three marines up from their deep slumber.
Gumball went up to his room, and found that Carrie was fast asleep on his bed. Gumball laid down beside her, and after feeling how soft his mattress was, he fell into a deep slumber. Gumball woke up two days later, and realized just how badly he needed his beauty sleep. He looked beside him, and saw that Carrie was purring softly in her sleep. Gumball didn't know ghosts could do that, but he liked hearing her purr. It gave him a sense of peace, and tranquility, and made him forget about the demolished town he was just in four days ago, fighting for his life. Then he remembered that his marines needed to resupply their ammo, and get as much rest as possible, then two days before they had to leave, he would get reinforcements. Gumball walked downstairs, and saw his marines sprawled all over the couch, and some were asleep on the soft carpeted floor. Gumball smiled, it was just like the war had never happened.
Gumball looked at his dad, Richard. Richard was standing by the couch with a sad face, because he couldn't sit on the couch. Gumball knew that his dad always sat on the couch and watched TV, because he has never been allowed to have a job. Gumball remembered the last time he had a job as a pizza delivery. He got fired because he would eat half of the pizza, then give it to the customer. Eventually, he got caught, and that's why he has never had a job since. Though, he did like his couch. Gumball woke up his marines, who were well rested, and made them some breakfast. Gumball
"Okay boys, we are going to the Elmore military base to get our guns checked, and more ammo. We will also bring MRE's this time, because last time, john stole some kid's protein bar at the school, while we were being attacked. However, what's worse is that john didn't share it with us. So, we are going in ten minutes."
The marines started to pack their things, and at Gumballs order, piled into the jeep. A Marine moved next to him.
"Lieutenant, sir. Are we going to get a bigger jeep?"
Gumball thought about the question for a second. "yes, yes, we are in fact, going to get a bigger jeep, with more armor, and plenty of room, with plush seat cushions." All the marines cheered at this. They were tired of sitting on rock hard leather seats.
Gumball stopped at the Elmore military base. Gumball "requesting permission to enter military base for weapon check, jeep replacement, MRE's and fresh ammo." The marine at the checkout granted Gumball permission to pass through. Gumball looked around the place. There were military jeeps all around, with marines scurrying from one location to the other, there was guard towers placed here and there, with two marines in each tower, with one manning an MG, while the other was a sniper. Gumball parked their jeep in the hangar, and him and his marines did their duties, and left to get more marines for his squad. Gumball and his twenty-three marines left Elmore's military base with one lightly armored military jeep, and one heavily armored military jeep, able to carry all twenty-four marines. Gumball drove up to his house, and set up large military tents for the marines in the backyard. Gumballs mother was happy with this, because eight marines took up an awful lot of space in the house. Gumball and his marines stayed there for four more days. On the last day, Gumball walked up to Carrie, and kissed him goodbye, and told her that he would write letters, and for her to write to him if she could.
Gumball took his marines out to the jeeps, and drove to his house. As Gumball was a block from his house, gunfire erupted from right behind him. Gumball
"CEASE FIRE, MARINE! The enemy hasn't reached Elmore yet!"
the marine ceased fire, then gave gumball a look.
"Yeah, Lieutenant. If there aren't any enemy soldiers in Elmore yet, then how do you explain the RPG's and MG's on the roof of that building with all of the dead enemy soldiers that I just shot?"
Gumball stopped the jeep, and turned to look behind him. "oh, shit! Marine driving the second jeep, drive to my house, and all twelve of you guard my family and house! I and my eleven marines will fight them here!" the marine Inside the second jeep nodded to Gumball and took off toward his house. The marine got to Gumballs house, and saw that there were seven Taliban soldiers kicking at Gumballs front door. The marine nodded to the gunner, and the gunner rained hellfire on the seven Taliban soldiers. When the marines kicked open the door, Gumballs family was nowhere to be found. The marine radioed Gumball. "uh, sir?" Gumball "did you secure the house? SHIT! GRENADE! Well, pick it up and throw it back you asshole! Times ticking away, you know. Okay, so did you secure the house?" the marine paused. "sir, we can't find them. They must have hidden in the house. Though, we did kill several Taliban soldiers."
