Private Zimmerman shoved his foot into his boot, tucked the excess pants around his ankle into it and pulled the laces tight. After he had double knotted his boot's laces he stood up now fully dressed and walked over to where Vilan stood as he watched Private Stone. Stone was in front of one of the weapon racks that their rifles were locked into every night with the key pad covered pulled off exposing the wires and circuit cards of the device.
"This is so stupid. This is so stupid," Private Hook kept saying like a mantra. Zimmerman turned to him.
"What is?" He asked in a harsh whisper as not to wake everyone else up. Hook gave him a look that said: really you don't know.
"One going after the asshole yourselves instead of telling a DI," Hook explained. "Two breaking into the weapon racks after lights out is also right up there. Can you even do it?"
"Yes," Stone said sharply putting all his concentration into what he was doing. A moment later there was a metallic click as the lock slid back and Stone opened the case. Vilan and Zimmerman reached in and grabbed a weapon each. Not their rifles, as those would easily by messed by the DIs but a pistol instead. The pistols where for the DIs during combat excises, not that Willy hadn't shot everyone at least once with it for no particular reason. They each grabbed a magazine of stun rounds and silencers for the pistols and stated to screw the suppressers to the end of the pistols.
"Where'd you learn to do that?" Hook asked Stone as he shut the weapon rack, relocked it, and put the cover back on the key pad.
"Let's just say I wasn't always on the straight and narrow before my enlistment," Stone said standing up.
"You can't enlist if you're a convicted felon," Hook said more confused then angry.
"One I was never caught so I couldn't have been convicted," Stone explained. "And two what the UNSC doesn't know about my past won't hurt them."
"You lied when you in enlisted?" Hook asked disbelieving.
"Everybody lies when they enlist," Stone said with the wave of his hand. "You think they would have this many recruits if they didn't lie about one thing or another. You know how medically perfect you have to be to enlist? There is no way there is that many people out there that are like that and are willing to enlist."
"Well I didn't lie," Hook said puffing out his chest a little.
"Of course you didn't," Stone said and was about to say more when the sound of a magazine being slid into a pistol grip and snap of the slid moving forward echoed through the bay. Here a couple of the sleeping members of fourth platoon rolled in their beds and a few mumbled something but none woke up. It was Vilan who had loaded his pistol who was thinking how he himself had lied about his age to enlist. Zimmerman loaded his pistol and tucked it into his belt behind his back pulling his uniform jacket over it to conceal it. Vilan watched him and did the same thing. Zimmerman grabbed a roll of duct tape just before the two started to walk down one of the short hallways that lead to either the bathroom or showers Stone and Hook followed them.
"Let us go over it again," Vilan said as they walked. "If Willy comes in and wants a head count?"
"I tell him that you, Zimmerman and Decker went to take the trash out," Stone said. "You are punishing Decker by making him wake up in the middle of the night and take it out and you and Zimmerman are there to make sure he gets it done."
"Good," Vilan remarked. "If he comes back again and we have not returned still?"
"You're making him do a police call around the barracks," Stone said as they reached the door at the end of the hall that lead to the DI's hallways and their offices.
"Indeed," Vilan said. "If we are discovered remember you were unaware of our actions. The stories you have told to Willy are the stories we have told to you. I am the one that opened the weapon rack. Zimmerman I would prefer to do this alone so you do not get in to trouble."
"Fuck that," Zimmerman said. "I'm not just going to let my bunkmate go wondering around the base at night looking for the biggest fuck up that ever lived, without me. Beside it could be easier to talk our way out of a situation with a DI if there are two of us, you know proper battle buddy team and all." Vilan nodded the respect for his bunkmate increased more and more.
"Please I beg you not to go through with this," Hook pleaded. "Just tell the DI on duty and let it be his problem.
"Except that DI is Willy," Vilan explained. The company had reached the point where only one DI remained for the entire company as they slept. "Who do you think he will blame? Can you even image the punishment?" Hook dropped his gaze to the floor and knew Vilan was right, Willy probably make 'em carry the entire barracks building down to the obstacle course the crazy bastard. Vilan slowly opened the door and stuck his head out into the forbidden hallway and listened. Hearing nothing he opened it just enough to fit through as he stepped onto the waxed floor. Zimmerman was right behind him letting Stone catch the door so it wouldn't slam shut.
"Good luck," Stone said as he gently shut the door sealing the two privates in hostile territory. They started to move very slowly and very quietly down the hallway towards the back stairs that would taken them down and behind the barracks. Vilan was sure this was the way Decker took since Stone and Hook hadn't seen him leave through the bay door and there were no windows large enough to fit through. The reason that the two recruits didn't use the bay door was because of the two CQ runners setting at the CQ desk down in the C.T.A. They were fellow recruits but there were from first platoon and those goody, goody, phone call getting bastards would rat them out right away. And if they didn't they would crack if the DIs put the screws to them if Vilan and Zimmerman were caught.
As they moved down the hallway the sounds of gunfire and explosion could be heard letting the two know that Willy was playing his video game again. They reached the door to his office that they would have no choice but to pass it to reach the stairs. Vilan peeked around the corner and into the office. Willy had his back to him as he stared at a TV with displayed fast moving images of some virtual world, he had a controller in his hands and something sticking in his ear.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Willy demanded suddenly. Vilan shot his head back around the corner his heart thumping in his chest for he knew they were caught. He sat there waiting to the hear sound of boots walking towards them but he never did. Then Willy spoke again. "No you've got to do a 'nade jump from the light to reach the skull...What'd you mean you don't know how to do a 'nade jump? Fucking noob." It was clear to Zimmerman that he was playing with someone and speaking with them with a headset.
"It's ok," Zimmerman said sure Vilan didn't know what was happening. "He's talking to someone else with a headset, kind of like a radio. Vilan nodded and stuck his head back into the office. Willy hadn't moved still staring at the screen with his back to them.
"You've got to throw the grenade at your feet and jump right when it explodes," Willy explained a 'nade jump to his unseen friend. "No it won't kill you. You've just got to wait for your shields to recharge before you can do it again." Here there was a pause making Vilan think his friend was talking. "It's called blind it takes away your HUD." Another pause. "I don't fucking know it just does." Having heard enough Vilan quickly moved past the open door and pressed his back against the wall on the other side. He peeked his head in again to see Willy unchanged position and beckoned for Zimmerman to move across. He did taking some wall next to Vilan as the two looked at each other as they started to move towards the stairs again. They reach the stairs and started to slowly go down them. When they reached the bottom they had two choices a second hallway that would lead them to second and first platoons' bays or a door right next to them that lead them outside. Vilan opened the door and stuck his head out, he looked left and right and after seeing nothing he stepped out into the night air. Zimmerman was still right behind him and let the door quietly shut behind them. Vilan looked down and could see fresh footprints in the soft muddy grass that the rain from that day had formed and knew Decker had been this way.
Vilan pointed at the footprints and Zimmerman saw them and nodded. The two started to walk along either side of them Vilan looking at the ground and Zimmerman everywhere else keeping his eyes piled for any DIs. The trail took them to the base of a steep hill and the two looked up. Upon the top sat more barracks but these where encircled with a fence and the recruits had been told that they should never, ever be near these barracks. Vilan and Zimmerman exchanged glances before as they used their eyes to follow the footprints up the hill losing them half way up in the dark. Sighing heavily the two started to climb up the hill having no choice but the follow the trail. Vilan was in the lead and the sound of boots on concrete reached his ears. He immediately stopped bring a closed fist up and then opened it up and pressed his palm towards the ground, the sign for 'stop and drop'. The two recruits dropped to their stomachs and placed their faces in the grass whishing it was higher as to better hide them. The footsteps got loud and soon they could hear voices.
"Then he said: 'but sir I didn't get to eat anything'," The voice was saying.
"He fucking didn't?" A second voice asked.
"The fuck he didn't," The first voice said only confusing Vilan more about that word. "I then said: 'that's too fucking bad drink and get out'." The two laughed and their voices started to fade as they had walked past the two privates lying in the grass and were moving away. Vilan slowly moved into a crouch, Zimmerman following his lead, and looked around. Not seeing anything he started to move again and soon they reached the top. The grass had ended and there was sidewalk stretched out in front of them bathed in orange light from the outside lights. On the other side was more grass, then the fence and finally the barracks beyond. Vilan thought he would have lost the trail at the sidewalk but the mud that had collected to Decker's shoes had been pressed into the sidewalk in the shape of his foot. It moved from the hill, crossed the sidewalk, back into the grass, and he could see patches of mud on the fence meaning he had climbed it. He clearly wasn't trying to be stealthy or he just wasn't good at it. Vilan sat on the sidewalk with his legs in the air his feet over the grass and used a stick to scrap the mud from the bottom of his boots, so he wouldn't leave foot prints. He handed the stick to Zimmerman who did the same thing. The two moved quickly across the sidewalk but not fast enough to make noise and reached the grass beyond. Zimmerman jumped up and grabbed the top of the fence and pulled himself over dropping into a crouch on the other side. Vilan was tall enough simply grabbed the top and pulled himself over.
After he had landed on the other side he looked along the ground until he had found Decker's trail again and followed it. It lead them to the back door of a barracks, the one that lead to the stairs. Zimmerman pulled on the handle but found it locked. He looked down and saw muddy footprints right in front of the door but he couldn't find any more in the grass meaning the bastard had be able to use the door. He then saw a piece of paper on the ground and bent to pick it up. It had been folded over many times making it much thicker then it was, and Zimmerman knew then that someone had used it to jam the door to keep it from shutting all the way and when Decker had moved through it he knocked the paper lose.
"Shit," Zimmerman said under his breath. "We're going to have to try and go around to the front. Unless you just want to scrub this 'mission'?" Vilan thought it over for a second before answering.
"We will go around to their C.T.A. and if their CQ runners are there we will return to our barracks and inform Willy of his absence." Zimmerman nodded and followed Vilan as the two crept around the building.
"Why would he come here?" Zimmerman asked himself quietly.
"What was that my friend?" Vilan asked.
"I was just think why would he come here?" Zimmerman said a little louder. "I mean why risk coming here if you're going AWOL and risk getting caught?" Vilan just shrugged as he reached the end of the building and the start of the C.T.A. Vilan stuck his head around the corner and saw that they didn't have CQ runners posted and for that he was glad. He turned to face Zimmerman.
"They do not have runners," Vilan explained. "But the C.T.A. is very bright and we will easily be seen if anyone is around. Do we go back or after him?"
"You're the PG you decide and I'll follow your orders," Zimmerman said truly glad he could say that. Vilan didn't hesitate with his answer.
"We go after him," He said as Zimmerman nodded in agreement. "First platoon's bay door is the closest from our position. We should go in that way and explain the situation to their fireguard and hopefully they will understand."
"Alright," Zimmerman said. "I'm sure they got a fuck up in their platoon as well at least in their company." Vilan nodded in agreement as he stepped around and up to the C.T.A. Just before he step onto the concert pad he wiped the bottoms of his boots clean again. The two jogged over to the door and pressed their backs to the wall on either side of the double doors. Zimmerman pulled his pistol from behind his back and held it at his waist pointing it at the ground. He partially pulled the side back to ensure there was a chambered round before he flipped the safety off. Vilan eyed him.
"In case they don't understand," Zimmerman explained. "I say we drop 'em before they can raise the alarm." Vilan understood again as he drew his own pistol, checked it and flipped the safety off as well. Vilan nodded when he was ready and Zimmerman started to count down using his hand. When he reached one he gripped the door handle and pulled it open and Vilan twisted inside bring the pistol up as he did so. He scanned the dark bay for the fireguard desk and found it in a similar position as their own and turned towards it bring the pistol around.
"Do not move. Do not speak," He said in a harsh whisper as not to wake the sleeping recruits. The two marine recruits that were behind the desk had jump up and stood 'at easy' when the door had opened thinking it was a drill instructor. But once they saw that he didn't have the brown round of a DI they were about to speak maybe even yell, until he spoke and they saw the pistol. Zimmerman was inside the bay then, leveling his own pistol at the two recruits as well, he stuck his foot out behind him catching the door before it slammed shut. Using his foot and keeping his eyes on the two recruits he eased the door shut the bay becoming completely dark again, the two recruits on fireguard nothing more than shadowy outlines.
"Hands up," Zimmerman ordered in a whisper. They complied raising their hands about their heads. "Have either of you seen a private come through here?" The two remained quiet. "I said 'have either of you seen a private come through here?" Zimmerman said a little more forcefully.
"Hey asshole," One of them whispered back. "Your friend hear told us not to talk." Zimmerman casted a sideway glance at Vilan.
"It is true I told them not to speak," Vilan explained.
"Alright you can talk," Zimmerman said with a sigh. "So have you seen him."
No," The recruit said. In fact until you two assholes came barging in here pointing weapons at us we haven't seen anyone." Disappointment filled his heart then he noticed their voices sounded odd. Keeping his right hand on the pistol's grip and aimed at the recruits his left hand went to the front of the pistol and clicked on the light that was mounted under the barrel. The cone of white light landed on the two recruits and caused them both to shut their eyes.
"Holy shit they do exist," Zimmerman gasped. He had heard rumors about mixed companies be had dismissed them. Now he understood why they weren't allowed anywhere near this barracks this was a female barracks. The two recruits on fireguard where both female as were all the others sleeping soundly in the bay. The two were not the prettiest of woman especially since their hair was a mess, they had dark circles under their eyes from sleep deprivation and couldn't wear any makeup to cover it up, and the UNSC marine uniform wasn't the most flattering of outfits. Still they were both slender and Zimmerman could see just a hint of breast underneath their uniform jackets. It was the fact that he had spent god knows how long living, eating and showering with all dudes that just seeing them caused him to get a partial erection. Also he had forgotten all etiquette and didn't know if he should salute them, kiss them or fall and knee before them.
"You've act like you've never seen a girl before," One of them said as their eyes adjusted to the light.
"And get that damn light out of our faces," The other ordered.
"Ah sorry," Zimmerman said lower the pistol so the light was on their torsos but the pistol was still pointed at them. He tried to think of something smooth and cool to say but could come up with nothing.
"My apologizes," Vilan said still aiming at the two. "But we really must find our comrade."
"Will like I told your friend here," She said turning to face Vilan able to see him because of the light. It was her turn to gasp this time. "Holy shit his does exist."
"What?" Her partner asked turned to look at Vilan her jaw dropping. "The Elite marine." Like Zimmerman who had heard rumors of female marines everyone else had heard rumors of the Elite marine. The two looked him up and down and one whispered something to the other in her ear who blushed lightly and then smiled evilly.
"Seems like you have quite a problem here," The one with the evil smile said. "Losing a comrade and sneaking into a female barracks with weapons you're not allowed to have."
"Look we know he's here," Zimmerman pleaded. "Just let us go look for him and then we're gone. That why we have these pistol and stun rounds, he's coming back if he wants to or not."
"And what is stopping us from informing our DIs once you leave," Evil smile demanded crossing her arms. After seeing no repercussions towards her partner for moving her arms the other dropped her arms as well and let them hang by her sides.
"We'll just dart you, you don't know who we are," Zimmerman said raising his pistol a little higher.
"True," Smiley said. "But how many other Elite marines are around here? You want our silence who have to buy it."
"Fine what do you want?" Zimmerman asked jumping at the opportunity to strike a deal. "Money? I didn't bring any with me but if just let us get this guy I swear to god I'll bring it back." The two woman looked at each other and smiled before they looked back over at Vilan.
"We don't want your money," Smiley said. "We want him to whip it out." Zimmerman's jaw dropped in shook as he stared at the two as Vilan wore a look of confusion on his face being unfamiliar with the term. It was true that men in basic training all being deprived of sex and most of even seeing a woman for mouths that made them incurably desperate. However the same could be said for women no matter how much they may deny it. It boiled down to the simply wanting something that you couldn't have.
"What do they want from me?" Vilan asked Zimmerman in a very quiet whisper.
"They want you to ahh...they want you to..uhm you to show them your penis," Zimmerman said.
"My what?" Vilan asked not knowing what his friend meant.
"Oh right sorry," Zimmerman tried to think of a different and neutral term. "Your mating organ?"
"What? Why?" Vilan demanded even more confused.
"Well we're waiting," Smiley said with her arms still crossed.
"One second," Zimmerman said keeping his pistol on the two as he turned back to Vilan. "Look man just do it so we can grab Decker and get the fuck out of here."
"But mine is not like yours," Vilan explained. "It stays inside of me until it's needed."
"Really?" Zimmerman asked raising an eyebrow. "How do you piss?"
"May we focus on the task at hand?" Vilan asked.
"Right sorry," Zimmerman said facing the women again and flashing a finger indicating one more minute. The two rolled their eyes. "Is there any way you can take it out? Because if not we're going to have to cut our losses, dart these two, and hope they don't remember us which is highly unlikely."
"I can if I become sexual stimulated," Vilan explained.
"Then can you just think happy thought and pull it out them?" Zimmerman asked.
"I might be able to," Vilan said lowering his pistol and closing his eyes. Zimmerman turned to look at the two women again and coughed awkwardly.
"As you can see he's not quite human," Zimmerman explained. "So it's not as simple as 'whipping it out'."
"Well he better do something," Smile said. "Otherwise you can kiss your chances of being marines goodbye.
"This is it just going to take a little bit," Zimmerman looked over at Vilan who had his eyes closed and was rubbing the tips of his fingers together. It was hearing that he might not become a marine that caused Vilan to go through with it. After thinking his 'happy' thoughts for awhile he unzipped his pants and pulled it out. Zimmerman averted his eyes but couldn't help but to risk a glance as morbid curiosity over took him. It was gray the same color of his skin expect a little lighter around the tip, the tip was more pointed and didn't mushroom out like his did. Along the shaft were flesh rings that stood out reminding Zimmerman of iron rings around old wooden barrels. Zimmerman's next thought was: 'good for you', for it wasn't really erect, yet it was slightly bigger than his fully erect. Zimmerman quickly looked away again hoping that the women hadn't seem him look at it, to his relief they were too busy staring at Vilan. He stood with it hanging out unsure of what to do now as he rubbed the back of his head. He felt horribly uncomfortable and grabbed it about to put it away when Smiley spoke.
"Hold up there," She ordered. "I want to feel it."
"That wasn't part of the deal," Zimmerman protested.
"I don't care," Smiley said. "I hold all the cards." Zimmerman's hand tighten around the pistol's grip in anger as he realized she was right, he was the one that was armed and she was the one with the power it wasn't fucking fair. Smiley walked up to Vilan who stared at the ceiling as he rubbed the back of his head and coughed awkwardly like Zimmerman had done. She reached out a hand and gently lifted it up and started to slowly stroke it. Vilan gasped in surprise as he looked down at her as she looked up at him and smiled her evil smile. Zimmerman wore a look of deep shock on his face and turned to look away quickly.
"We don't have time for this we have to find Decker and get out of here," Zimmerman said. "Before yours and mine DIs do a head count."
"I've got your head count right here," Smiley said increasing her speed. Zimmerman winced at his poor word choice and then sighed loudly.
"Fine go look for him," Smiley said. "Mills go with him."
"Let's go hot shot," Mills said walking around the fireguard desk and over to Zimmerman. "Where is he?" Zimmerman lead them to the short hallway passing the bathroom, against his better judgment leaving Vilan behind with Smiley to do god knows what.
"He came in the back using the DIs hallway," Zimmerman explained and before she could ask him how he knew it. "We followed his muddy footprints all the way here. The guy's an idiot so he probably didn't wipe his feet so we can find easily." Zimmerman opened the door and shook his head sadly already able to see the muddy footprints. Sighing he followed them the short distance as they disappeared under a door set into the hallway.
"What's behind this door?" Zimmerman asked Mills.
"A closet were we keep extra cleaning supplies," Mills explained.
"Where's the DI on duty?" Was Zimmerman's next question.
"Up stairs," Mills said. Zimmerman nodded this was all he need to know.
"Do me a favor and open the door please?" Zimmerman asked Mills as he squared himself up with the door and held the pistol at his waist. Mills stood off to the side and yanked the door open as Zimmerman brought the pistol up. What he saw infuriated him. Decker had his back to them, his PT shorts was around his ankles, receiving head from some other female recruit. Both were unaware the door had been opened as Decker grunted in lust. Zimmerman heisted just long enough to take this all in before he fired two stun rounds into Decker's back, his pistol making two high pitched, quiet snaps. Decker's muscles locked up and he fell forward on to her. She let out a surprised gasp and pushed him off of her as she stood up as he fell to the floor. She saw Zimmerman holding the pistol then and opened her mouth to scream, before she could make a sound something hit her in the stomach and she fell next to Decker. Zimmerman fired twice more into the back of Decker's neck and once more into the woman's stomach. Tucking the pistol back into his belt he pulled out the roll of duct tape as he knelt next to Decker. After he carefully pulled Decker's trunks back up, he bond his hand, his legs and stuffed a dust rag into his mouth, he had gotten from one of shelves, before sealing it with more tape. He grabbed Decker by the wrists and dragged him out into the hallway.
"You know her?" Zimmerman asked Mills pointing at the girl unable to move on the floor.
"Yeah," Mills said with a sigh. "She's with second platoon a real screw up can't do anything right." A match made in heaven Zimmerman thought.
"Can you see that see gets back to her bay?" Zimmerman asked as he dragged Decker back into the bay. "You also might want to clean up the mud." Mills nodded as she went into the closet to grab her. Zimmerman dragged Decker back into the sleeping bay leaving him by the fireguard desk. He looked up and saw Vilan and Smiley had not moved from their position. Smiley had sped up her monition as Vilan watched her looking like he had been hypnotized. His member had grown significantly making Zimmerman feel horribly inadequate and very self-conscious. Sighing he pulled his pistol again and pressed the end of the silencer to the back of Smiley's neck.
"Somebody's jealous," Smiley said in a mocking tone.
"Maybe a little," Zimmerman admitted. "But we have what we came for and now we need to get back quickly."
"Fine I got what I want," Smiley said letting go of Vilan's member and backing away from him. Vilan blinked a few times and shook his head as if he had just woken from a dream. He looked down at his erect penis and quickly stuffed back inside his pants. He then walked over to Decker picked him up and threw him over his shoulder as Decker hung there limply as he was unable to move.
"We appreciate your cooperation," Vilan said as Zimmerman held the bay door open for him.
"Anytime," Smiley said leaning her back against the desk as Mills returned from her task. After making sure no one was around the two privates ran out of the bay and back around the building with Vilan carrying Decker. They reached the fence and both looked over at Decker as he lay on Vilan's shoulder.
"I'll climb over you toss him to me then I'll catch him," Zimmerman explained as he climbed the fence. He dropped down on the other side and looked around, seeing nothing signaled for Vilan to toss Decker. Vilan lifted him up and threw him over the fence Zimmerman didn't even make an attempt to catch Decker as he hit the soft grass with a muted thud. Vilan looked at him crossly as he jumped the fence and landed on the other side.
"Whoops," Was all Zimmerman said as Vilan picked Decker back up. They made it back to their barracks without incident only to find that the back door was locked. Having no choice they circled around and Zimmerman peeked into the C.T.A. He saw the CQ runners and looked at his watch it was 0050 they should be leaving to wake up their replacements anytime now. No sooner then he finish that thought then the two first platoon pricks got up and walk inside their bay. "Go now!" Zimmerman said in a loud whisper for they didn't have long. The two ran as fast as they could go without making too much noise making a bee line for the stairs. They climbed them quickly taking them two at a time. They reached the balcony and closed the short distance to their bay door, yanked it open and got inside just as Zimmerman heard a bar door open below them. Zimmerman caught the door and let is close slowly and silently.
"We have returned," Vilan said dropping Decker to the floor.
"Yeah," Zimmerman said panting his heart hammering in his chest from the stress of the entire situation. "And we got the bastard." That when he noticed how quiet everything was, not that it was loud at night but there was at least one person who snored, not to mention the tiny squeezed the bunks made when someone tossed and turned. Zimmerman then saw that the lights were on and he hadn't noticed for they had just come from a well lit area. He looked over at Vilan and saw him standing motionlessly at the position of attention and he wasn't the only one the entire platoon was standing toe to line not moving a muscle even Stone and Hook who were on fireguard. In the middle of the kill zone stood Drill Instructor Willy and Zimmerman immediately snapped to attention. He then noticed that Willy himself was standing at the position of attention himself and he then saw why.
Lieutenant Colonel Jackson had her face next to his ear and her mouth was open as if she was yelling but no sound came as she stared at the two privates carrying a third private that was bound and gagged. Off to the side but still in the kill zone stood Sergeant Major Wells, the battalion sergeant major. It was clear to Zimmerman that they had someone how found out that Decker went AWOL found two more privates missing and Willy was getting his ass chewed in front of the whole platoon. She closed her mouth backed away from Willy and moved slowly towards Zimmerman and Vilan.
"Privates Jones and Zimmerman could you please explain to me what exactly you are doing outside you bunks, yet alone your barracks after lights out?" She asked he voice strangely calm. "Since I can't seem to get an answer from you senior drill instructor." Zimmerman swallow hard but it was pointless for his throat had become dry as he tried to think about his answer. It was Vilan that spoke for both of them.
"We were completing a training excurse ma'am," Vilan said.
"Say again Private Jones," Jackson ordered as she moved closer to him. Vilan gulped to by himself a extra second of time. He wanted an answer that didn't get himself, Willy or Zimmerman in trouble but didn't want Decker to get off as well.
"At 0001 hours ma'am Private Decker left his bunk to use the latrine," Vilan explained not even daring to blink as the lieutenant colonel got closer to him. "At 0010 hours Private Stone notice that Private Decker had not returned to his bunk and went to investigate. He found that Private Decker had left the barracks and immediately informed Drill Instructor Willy."
"Oh really?" Jackson asked turning towards Willy.
"Yes ma'am," Vilan said. "Drill Instructor Willy then woke myself and Private Zimmerman up. He informed us of the current situation, he knew were Private Decker had gone and informed us he want us to see if we could find him and bring him back before 0100 hours ma'am. Which we did ma'am." She looked at Willy, then back at Vilan, over to Zimmerman and finally to Decker who was on the floor still not able to move.
"You have one hell of a recruit here," Jackson said turning towards Willy. "Coming up with a lie that quickly and only getting one of you in trouble. However since everyone is accounted for that is how my report will read to General Fox. You will all sign statements stating what Private Jones had said is true. All of you Privates Stone, Hook, Jones, Zimmerman and Decker. If you do not there will be a full court marshal and you Private Decker will spend time in prison. If you sign the statement you, Private Decker, will be discharged from the UNSCMC under less then honorable circumstances and you may never enlist again but will not have to serve out a prison sentence. Is that understood?" Decker managed to move his head up and down.
"Privates Jones and Zimmerman upon signing your statements you will have one month's pay withheld and this incident will go on your record for five years but you will still graduate with this company on time. Do you understand?" Jackson asked.
"Yes ma'am," Vilan and Zimmerman said in unison.
"Privates Stone and Hook you will be placed on extra duty for a week after signing your statements but there will be no mention of this incident in your records. Understand?" Jackson asked facing the two.
"Yes ma'am," Hook said on their behalf.
"The rest of you will forget this incident every occurred do you all understand?" Jackson asked her eyes sweeping around the bay.
"Yes ma'am," The platoon shouted in unison.
"Good," Jackson walking back over to Willy. "Then all of you back into your racks and go to sleep. As for you gunnery sergeant I want you in my office five minutes ago."
"Ma'am yes ma'am," Willy said.
"Carry on," Jackson said as she left through the bay door followed by Wells and Willy. Stone turned the lights back off as everyone climbed back into the bunks. Zimmerman and Vilan carried Decker to his bunk removed his bonds and gag. Before he left Zimmerman shot him three more times with the pistol he was very happy that Jackson didn't see he had. Stone already had the weapon rack opened and the two removed the magazines and silencers before they placed them back inside and locked it up again. None of them said a word as Vilan and Zimmerman climbed back into their bunks and drifted back to sleep surprisingly quicker than they thought they would have.
