Believe it or not, Lee is one of the only characters in this story not based off someone or something. Anyway, here's another look into Jacob's past.
Four years ago...
"98...99...100. There, morning pull-ups over." I said, dropping down from my metal bar between two trees. "How the hell are you done!? I'm still on seventy!" said Jack from his own bar. "Don't know what's keeping you, I'm on ninety." said Howard from his.
"Hey fellas!" said Connor, who was coming into view. He was carrying his crossbow and pulling behind him a full buck from a rope.
"Man, your really getting good with that thing." I exclaimed, walking over to help him out. "Practice makes for perfect aim." he said proudly.
"We're gonna have to skin that thing aren't we?" Howard asked, jumping down to come see. "Well, that'll be an adventure all its own." I said happily.
I still thought it a miracle that we each managed to convince each other's parents to allow this camping trip. We had each told them that the other parents were shouffering so they needn't worry.
"You did good Connor, you've more than earned skipping a morning warm up." I said. "Well I'd hope so, do even know how hard it was to lug this thing back here?" he said. Connor may have been young, but he made up for it in initiative and spirit.
"Take a break, man. Jack, help me get this in the shed." I said. "Sure, I'm coming." he said, getting down after counting to eighty. Jack was a friend of Howard's, so I didn't know him that well. He had recruited him and I trusted Howard's judgement, so I trusted Jack. We picked it up and carried it to the shed behind the two-story cabin.
When that was done we met up in front and made plans for the day. "Alright, we're gonna do target practice till noon, then sparring, then an end of the day run. Got it?" I said. "Yes sir!" they all said jokingly, being that we were all the same rank. This kind of regime would probably wear anyone out within a day, and it had, but we'd been doing this for a month so we were accustomed to it.
We were in the forested hills of Pennsylvania, with a cabin we had rented out with a donated sum from each of our parents.
"How many rounds do we each get?" asked Howard, as we trekked over the nearest rise. "I'd say ten, that'll be enough. And we'll use
the HK's this time." I said, carrying the ammo pack over my back.
"Let me guess...semi-auto?" Howard said in a let down voice. "Going full-auto with ten bullets wouldn't improve your accuracy." Connor said. "Who said anything about accuracy?" Howard said jokingly.
"Your uncle really doesn't miss any of this stuff?" I asked. "Nope. Didn't even have to ask. When he heard that we were going camping he wanted to give us as much 'hunting equipment' as we needed." Jack said.
We hiked for about fifteen minutes before reaching our 'firing range', which was just a big clearing with some stumps and a wrecked car in it.
Connor set up a dozen soup and soda cans on the car while Jack inspected the weapons. Howard and I set to work loading the magazines.
When it was all finished, we moved back another hundred yards. We weren't using scopes, better to practice with iron sights.
"Alright, we each have three cans. The one to walk away with the most bullets left in their clip wins. Loser has to gut the buck." I said as we lined up and took aim. "Sounds good to me!" said Howard.
We each fired three shots, no one missed their mark. This month of training had really paid off, before this there was no we'd hit them all.
"Well...now what?" asked Connor. "I suppose...we could all chip in. But let's not worry about that now." I said, picking up the shell casings. Howard went to collect the cans while the other two helped me.
After it was all collected and stowed we set down our gear and went a little further back into a shady area nearby. We had cleared it of brush and small trees our first week.
"Alright, let's go with blitzkrieg today." I said. "Let's do this!" Howard yelled.
We broke into pairs and faced directions ninety degrees apart. Then we sprinted with our partners through the woods in different directions. We stopped about three hundred yards later and faced our partners.
Howard took a hard right swing at me, but I stopped him at the forearm. I did a roundhouse kick, but he blocked it with his elbow. He tried to get me in a submission hold, but I slid out and jabbed him twice in the ribs. Whenever we sparred it was always full contact. Always stopping for respect of another's injury or submission.
He recoiled a bit, but came round with an elbow to the collar-bone. I stumbled back and he came in for another blow. I moved my head out of the way and grabbed his wrist. I turned around and pulled hard on his arm, causing him to tumble over my shoulder. While he
was sprawled on the ground I made a swift punch at his face, but stopped short. "If this were for real, you'd be unconscious or dead right now." I stated.
Howard made a fast side-kick to my shin and I collapsed too. He brought his forearm down across my neck and pinned me. "Now who's unconscious or dead?" he said, getting up and offering a hand. I took it and he pulled me to my feet. "I know, I know. I hesitated and you took advantage of the situation. But I only did that because if I hadn't hesitated I'd have to carry you over my shoulder all the way back." I said, dusting myself off.
"True that. Let's get going." he said, grinning. Howard was the first one to join the Black Wardens, he was patient, loyal, if not a little headstrong and 'guns blazing character.
"I wonder if Connor beat Jack?" Howard said. "It doesn't matter. The way we've all committed to training this whole month, there isn't a gang-banger or punk in the world that could take us down!" I said confidently.
Three years later...
It was raining. How appropriate it seemed for a funeral, as if the earth itself wept for a lost child.
His family hadn't expected such a large following, being ignorant of what he had truly helped accomplish in life.
Comrades and friends alike had come to pay respects. Howard and I were standing near the front with umbrellas as the coffin was lowered into the ground. "So young...why him?" I thought aloud.
A hand fell on my shoulder, it was my brother Tonial. "All the more important to keep him alive our hearts." he said. I truly appreciated his words, but they didn't make a difference.
"He was a good friend, but it's my fault this happened." I said. "How could a mugging possibly be your fault?" he said. I bit my lip, lying came with my position, but it hurt so damn much.
"Just shut up. You don't know anything." I said, holding back the tears. Howard gave me a quick glance. I had to be strong for the rest of them, show that he didn't die in vain. "May he be remembered as he was...a soldier, a leader, a friend." I said.
Howard nodded in agreement. Tonial gave me a questioning look but decided not to say anything. "Jack too...may his soul rest in peace." I finished. It had already been a year since that funeral. Howard nodded again.
All Black Wardens in the crowd stayed long after the others had left, we knew better than anyone to honor the dead.
After the tombstone we donated had been erected, I laid his weapon over the grave. Those of us that remained took a knee and extended an arm to the ground, and the other arm across our chest.
I rose and turned around, the eyes of all my comrades were on me. I nodded, and so did they. They all went back to their cars.
I faced Howard and said, "The forest just seems like a lifetime ago doesn't it?" The rain had gotten heavier. "Yeah, sure does." he said, looking at the tombstone.
"Well, knowing him he'd want us spending less time around his grave and more time 'gett'n stuff done'." I said, forcing a smile.
"Yeah, your right. Are you coming with everyone else to HQ?" he asked. "I'll be there in a minute." I said, turning to face the fresh grave.
He left and I knelt before the stone. "When you see Jack, tell him it's my fault. And I hope to God that you died before seeing what was in that chair." I said, letting a few tears drop down my face.
We had found out the girl was an orphan, so she didn't have any next of kin. We had held a small service and had her buried in a flower bed.
"If there's a heaven, go to the bar, you'll get a great view of me burning in Hell." I said, closing the umbrella and letting the rain cloak my many tears.
Such grief. After everything that's happened he questions his own morals and ideals.