Through The Ups & Downs
Couple; HarrisonXAddilyn
Rating; Mature
Disclaimer: I do not own HTTYD or any songs I might use! Also, from this point in the story and in future chapters, I do not own the character; Ella(Eira) Solveig. She belongs to my good friend, ShadowSpirit020.
10) Good & Bad News
{Harrison's POV}
[Alpha Barrack Lounge]
Even with what I said to the others about knowing a deployment overseas could happen, I found myself surprised that it was going to occur so quickly. In April, we were leaving for a six-month tour in Kuwait, staying at Camp Arifjan. Also, April marked one year that I've been in the army. Talk about coincidences, right? From what I understood at the moment; on April 5th, 2015, we'd been arriving back to Arc Isle and get to see our families from the 5th to the 11th; then we shipped out for Kuwait on the 12th. I had to admit that it was a little nerve-wracking to know we were going somewhere that is considered hostile.
I did wonder, though, how come only the Wind Rider Platoon was getting deployed? I was sure that during my Basic Training we were told that the company goes together for this kind of thing. Glenn also mentioned that we were helping out the Americans so that was going to be interesting and I already knew we would be bringing our dragons too. I was grateful for that; I wasn't sure I was ready to do a tour of duty without my best friend there. At the moment, all twenty-eight members of Wind Rider were still in the Alpha Lounge, trying to process that in thirty-five days we would be in Kuwait.
"That's all we get for information?" someone asked.
"That we're getting deployed to Kuwait and staying at this Camp Arifjan place?" another wondered. I sighed heavily; it did suck that we didn't know more about everything, but maybe some of the Americans would know? After all, Arifjan was an American military base.
"Well, we won't learn anything if we don't ask so let's go to dinner and talk to the Americans. Surely they must know about one of their own bases?" I offered. That shockingly seemed to suffice for the time being. The twenty-eight of us exited the lounge and began preparing for dinner.
[Trainer Headquarters Mess Hall]
When we had our food and took a seat, we made sure it was near some of the Americans to talk to them about Kuwait and this camp we'd be stationing at for six months.
"So, interesting question for you guys," started Oliver Clarke, one of our platoon members who didn't have a dragon. In fact, only twelve of us did.
"Sure, shoot?" replied the American soldier with a smile.
"Camp Arifjan, what can you tell us about it?" I asked calmly.
"Well, it's one of our outposts overseas. Why the curiosity?" inquired the man sitting across the table from the person who answered first.
"We just found out we're getting deployed there for six months starting April 12th, 2015," Trevor responded.
"Oh! I can tell you that it's a big camp and broken up into seven zones," said the guy who had the name patch of Vazquez on his uniform.
"But you'll probably only end up being in areas one, two, and six. Section One is an internet cafe, Starbucks, Charley's, bunch other food joints and a place to relax. There are even some gaming systems there too," answered Miller, I think his first name was Steve but wasn't sure.
"Zone Two is living quarters, and basically, it's old warehouses converted into two person rooms, but you'd all be in the same hallway as a platoon," stated Dawson, the first name of Robert.
"And the last spot, six, will be where you end up going to work. However, all of you mentioned being Infantry, didn't you?" said MG Wright who was walking by and had heard the conversation.
"Well, a few of us are. Those of us with dragons are Infantry," I told him.
"Infantry will be running missions and guard shifts for the base or surrounding neighborhoods in Kuwait, maybe some outer lying ones too. The rest who aren't Infantry will likely be in Zone Six doing their assigned jobs," Wright informed. "You'll be okay. Belmore told me about it; you're joining up with some of ours. If you want to see it in action before you go, there is a Camp Arifjan website. You can see everything the base has to offer on that," he added.
"Thank you, Major General Wright. The information helped," Syrus said as the man walked off to sit with some friends and eat. "Well, it's something at least," he stated afterward.
"We'll check out the site after dinner," Dexter said. In agreement to wait and look at the website, the group of us began to eat and talking about how they were going to tell our families. So far, Lieutenant Belmore had instructed not to inform parents, friends, or siblings until we were back on Arc Isle and home with them. It was going to be hard for me not to tell my family or friends that I had a week at home, then I was leaving for six months to Kuwait.
[Alpha Lounge-7:15 pm]
With everyone back in the lounge after dinner and changing out of our uniforms, I somehow got elected into using my laptop to see the website on the projector screen with the lights off. I hooked everything up and then logged into my computer. After the internet had loaded the search page, I typed in: Camp Arifjan, Kuwait and waited for that. A few seconds passed as we were able to see an aerial view of the base and a good shot of each zone. I clicked on Section One and began looking through it all with the others. Afterward, we did the same for Two and Six.
So, we learned that from Zone Two, we could get to the showers and bathrooms. Also, there was a bus to get to and from work in area six. Zone One was the food places and a place to relax or call home. Come to find out; we'd have to pay for the internet, but that was okay. At least would have. Overall, it didn't seem like it would be horrible to live there for six months. I was sure I could handle it because I would have Toothless, I already asked Lieutenant Belmore how that would work.
I learned that we were taking our dragons and could use them to get around the base and for some other things, but there would be times that our winged buddies had to stay at Arifjan. At 8:30 pm, I shut down my computer and returned to the dorm room to lie down and relax a little. The others were still in the lounge, talking about the upcoming deployment. I didn't want to do that; it was going to happen so might as well accept it and get ready. I honestly think the only thing that sucked the most was that we'd only get a week home with our families and then have to leave again. My parents, brother, and friends were going to hate this.
[Saturday, April 4th, 2015]
The days flew by until now, the day we left the US to return to Arc Isle. Currently, we were in the Atlanta, Georgia Airport and waiting for our 1:30 pm flight to Newark, New Jersey, then onto Copenhagen and Arc Isle after that. Yeah, same stops as last time when we flew into Georgia. The platoon and I spent Thursday and Friday packing to make sure we had everything and the dragons left on a boat on Wednesday so they would arrive before we did. As far as I knew, we were boarding our flight in twenty minutes, so I might as well call my family and let them know I'm coming in tonight so they would be able to get me from the airport in Archian City, an hour away from Berkville.
I stepped off to the side and got out my phone. I knew that if it was 1:30 pm for me, then it was 6:30 pm for Mom, Dad, and Nate so they would likely just be finishing up dinner. I called the landline number and put the phone to my ear.
"Harrison!" I heard a lot of voices say and I winced a bit at the noise.
"Hi, son! How are you?" greeted my father, Spencer.
"I'm doing alright, Dad. How about you, Mom, and Nate?" I asked.
"We're all doing great. Your friends are over too, and of course, Hailey. She just got a call from Dexter. Are you boys on some free time right now?" Vivian wondered.
"I know Dex just called Hailey; you forget we're in the same unit? Anyway, hi everyone," I said so my friends wouldn't think I forgot about them.
"Hi, Harrison. How're things at Fort Benning?" Addilyn asked curiously.
"I, uh, wouldn't know. I left with the platoon about two hours ago now. Look, I don't have long to talk so listen up. We're on our way back to Arc Isle," This time, I pulled the phone away from my ear to hear them all scream,
"YOU ARE?!"
After a minute, I return the device to its position and sighed. "Yes. I'm at the airport in Atlanta, and we're boarding the 1:30 pm flight to Newark, New Jersey in about fifteen minutes. Now, I won't be arriving into Arc Isle until tomorrow night around 4:45 pm, but I thought I'd give you the heads up," I informed.
"That's fantastic news, son! Will you be home for a bit or is this just time off?" Spencer asked.
I bit back a little because I knew I couldn't tell them about the deployment until we were back on the island. What did I say? That it was time off and I didn't know how long until the next assignment? Yeah, that seemed reasonable. I'd have the whole flight to think of the excuse for why I had such short warning about deployment.
"It's just some leave time, and I don't know for how long. The entire platoon is coming home so it could be for a while or might not be. Our CO said he'll know more tomorrow when we're on our layover in Copenhagen tomorrow morning," I stated.
"What is your flight looking like?" Regina questioned.
"Leaving Atlanta at 1:30 pm, landing in Newark at 4:09 pm. Layover in New Jersey is an hour and twenty-eight minutes. Leaving there at 5:37 pm and flying overnight into Copenhagen, should be landing at that airport around 7:17 am. We've got a two-hour layover, then flying onward to Arc Isle and should be landing there at 10:32 pm, but with the five-hour time change, it will be 4:30 and by the time they let us off the aircraft, 4:45," I explained.
"Well, then we'll meet you at baggage claim/passenger pickup for 4:30 pm tomorrow afternoon. We can't wait to see you, Harrison!" Viviana said happily.
"Yeah, can't wait to see you too. I gotta go, for now, they are starting to board. I'll call you on the lay over in Newark; it will be about 9:15 pm, though," I stated.
"That's fine, son. Have a safe flight!" Spencer said.
"I will. Love you guys," I replied.
"Love you too!" they called back as I ended the call and shut off my phone. Dexter had just got off his call too.
"Hailey excited about the return?" I asked him.
"I think I went deaf in my left ear from her screaming. It's going to break their hearts to learn we're deploying the week after next," Dexter sighed.
"Well, orders are orders. Come on, let's go line up with the rest," I said. Dexter nodded, and we grabbed our backpacks with the electronics and a set of underwear, socks, and an undershirt to change into when we landed in Copenhagen. Also, we carried a toothbrush, toothpaste, and hairbrush on us to stay a little freshened up for when we returned home. Our first flight was two hours and thirty-nine minutes, following that was a one-hour and twenty-eight-minute layover where we would probably grab an early dinner before boarding the next flight to Copenhagen which would be overnight and a total of seven hours and forty minutes before the next layover.
[Sunday, April 5, 2015-5 pm; Arc Isle Airport]
Arriving at our destination and pulling into the gate at 4:40 pm, the flight attendants said we could stand up to get our overhead bags then file off the aircraft in an orderly fashion. At this point, it was already 5 pm, and we hadn't been allowed to power on our phones until we were in exit tunnel that would lead us from the plane to the building. All I had on me was my backpack with my tablet and a change of clothes in it; the toothbrush, hairbrush, and toothpaste in it too. I had all my music on my phone, so all I needed to do for that was flip on Airplane Mode and use my headphones. Plus, my phone and tablet charger was the same wire, so it worked out that I only needed one charger for both.
"Harrison, am I riding home with you?" Dexter asked while we were walking to passenger pickup and bag claim.
"Yeah. My parents said you can stay in the basement room for now. I haven't told them about the deployment since we haven't been able to. I'm sure they won't mind keeping an eye on Hailey; you have a pretty good arrangement going with them," I smiled at him.
"Thank, man. I owe you and them one for all this," Dexter returned the smile as we reached the escalator and headed down to where all the families were waiting. I would tell my family and friends when we got home; I didn't want to cause any problems in public. Getting to the bottom, Dexter and I stepped off, waving goodbye to the others as we all shared one look that said 'See ya soon.'
"Harry!" Nathaniel cheered as I got tackled instantly by my little brother. I couldn't believe he was thirteen now, already a teenager. Man, the time flew right by. Nate was like me, slim-figured but packed a punch when he drove into you. I hugged him tightly as Dexter got rammed into with a forceful hug from Hailey. Shortly after walking over to everyone and giving the hugs or kiss on the cheek which was mainly my mother because Dad only kissed my forehead or top of my head, we moved to where our bags would be coming around.
Thankfully, this didn't take long because our suitcases and long bags were strapped together and would come off the plane in one group. As they came around on the carousel, the soldiers just put them in a big pile, and then we worked together to make sure everyone got their belongings. By this time, it was 5:30 pm and everyone was breaking off to go home. Dexter and Hailey with my family of course. My friends were driving their vehicles or at least that's what I figured. Addilyn had a car, so did Frankie, so it was my assumption that the Thorston twins rode with one of those two.
[Haddock Residence; 6:45 pm]
After the horrid traffic leaving the airport and grabbing something to eat on the ride home, we reached our destination. I showed Dexter where he would be staying, which as it turned out, was the small office space that my parents used to use. I guess they converted that into another guest room and moved their offices into the basement where it was bigger. The new guest area was smaller, but it was enough to hold a twin bed, mini desk with space for a computer and some drawers, nightstand with two drawers, and six drawer dresser for clothes.
After unpacking and getting a quick ten-minute shower in for each, it was 7:15 pm and we were finally able to relax in the living room. However, t wasn't so easy because now we had to inform them about the deployment and pray to God they didn't get too upset.
"So tell us everything about the last three months?" TJ asked with a broad smile.
"Yeah!" Regina and Nate agreed.
"Did Glenn let you know how long you're home for?" Addilyn wondered. And there was the question we'd been waiting for. I took a deep breath as Dexter sighed and nodded to me.
"Alright, I have good news and bad news about why we're home and for how long. Which do you want first?" I asked straight out. There was no use in putting it off. The times Glenn told us had changed, and now we were leaving on the 11th of April and arriving on the 12th in the evening. I figured this was the best way to break it to them, asking what they wanted first; the good or the bad news.