Killed By Death

by mrcookieman36

I don't understand. I thought I was a normal average teenager going through a shit experience. When I thought my troubles where over, more just come piling on. I cant even explain it myself I went in normal, but then came out as a killing machine. Maybe these people could help i suppose, i mean its not like i got anything else better to do.

3. Chapter 3

Ok here's another chapter for all of you. Also be sure to read and drop a review if can or want.

Chapter 3

Awe man I haven't had such a restful sleep in such a long time. I guess its morning now and the only reason I know that is that the green guy keeps bringing another tray of delicious food. The cool thing was they gave me a TV. Unless you're one of those types who likes to watch the weather channel or shitty soap operas, mostly because that was mostly on.

But like I said the before the food was great. I mean an actual breakfast that consisted of real fruit, eggs, bacon, and pancakes. I only known of this stuff from the many pictures I saw in books and magazines from the orphanage.

Man I hated that orphanage, we had an old turn dial TV, books and magazines from the sixties, and gruel for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Especially for the lack of a better education as well, I mean I'm seventeen and I could barely read much less write.

I hope those priest and nuns get what's coming to them. Since that Hawk guy did say the cops arrested them and shut that awful place down. I digress I got to get my mind off of that place.

Just like before I finish everything off of that plate and just in time too. The doctor guy just started to come in to check on me.

"And how are we doing today Mark?"" I'm doing fine mister doctor." Lifeline actually chuckles at that last part. "You know Mark you don't have to call me Mister Doctor."" You can call me Lifeline or I suppose doctor if you please."

"Lifeline huh, how did you get that name?"" Did someone pick it for you?"" Actually I named myself that."" Oh ok I think."" Anyways what time is it?"" Its 0800 hours."" Say what doctor?"" Oh I'm sorry your probably not use to that kind of time interpretation."" It is 8:00 in the morning."

"I'm sorry I ask Mr. Lifeline, it's just there are no windows in here so I don't if its day or night outside." "Are we like in a building with no windows or something?"

"Well Mark normally I would tell that's classified for your own protection, but I think it's safe to say that we are in fact underground."

"Classified, what does that even mean anyway I keep hearing that a lot."

Lifeline was a bit stunned at what Mark said thinking to himself. Huh that's strange I know this kid has to be at least like sixteen or seventeen, so he should have at least hear of this kind of terminology at least once in his life time. He can't be that oblivious. Uh oh he's starting to look at me a bit strangely so I better answer his question.

"Well Mark it means that we can't really tell you anything about it, because it's sort of like a secret."

"Oh ok Mr. Lifeline."" It's just Lifeline Mark no Mr. ok."

Lifeline in a way sees a little bit of distress and sadness in Mark. I know I'm supposed to keep him under observation, but I don't see any harm for him getting out to get some fresh air and may be some sunlight, Lifeline thought to himself.

"Hey Mark how would like to good outside for today?"

I looked up to Lifeline nodding to him in my approval. "Yeah Mr., I mean Lifeline I would like that thanks." "Very well then I'll just requisition a wheel chair for you and have Strike escort you outside and back."

"Requisition?"" Uh don't worry about that kid, um just sit tight for another hour ok."

Sure enough that Lifeline guy was right, because that Strike chick came in with a wheel chair for me to sit on. The only real problem for me was maneuvering myself into the chair with just one good leg and foot.

Lifeline explained to me that it wasn't really wise for me to walk on it since the last time I was trying to escape. He did mention that I was extremely luckily that I didn't cause any permanent damage. This cast was supposed to last at least two weeks before I could attempt to walk on it.

At least we where off to an outside adventure of my own with Strike tagging alone. "So Strike why do they call you that?"" You mean my name kid?" I nodded my head to her to answer. "Well that was a name that I gave myself."" And before you go asking why that is, it classified."

We start making out way down the large halls as I took noticed of my surroundings." So what is this place?"" That's classified kid." "Ok so what do you people do here then?"" That classified too kid."

"Well hell Ms. Strike isn't there anything that isn't classified?"" Pretty much everything is kid."

We finally make it to some kind of elevator that took us up to the surface.

When we got there the sun was out and very bright. If I didn't know better I say we were in some kind of desert or something like it. It was hot, windy and a bit dry to say the least. At least it wasn't too sandy out here since the wind was blowing.

Outside there was plenty of plant life which consist mostly of cactuses and tumble weeds. It had that kind of feeling of being in the middle of nowhere. The only difference was that there were a lot of people out and about.

There were also a lot of buildings everywhere. It finally came to me that this must be some kind of military installation. The only way I figure that was due to the amount of tanks that I saw. Some helicopters, even jets.

We passed by this circular driveway area that had all the hoods pop up with people working on the engines and such. In some of the larger buildings there where empty parts of it that had people working on all sorts of stuff.

I looked up at Strike who seems to have a happy face as she looked back at me." Let me guess Ms. Strike it's classified right?" She laughs a bit. "What was your first guess kid?"" Also you don't have to call me Ms. Ok, it's just Strike."

Strike continues to take the kid around the base grounds in a slow pace. From what she could tell that this kid was very wide eyed everything looks impressive to him. Which in a way gave her small smile to herself.

Strike then looked at her watch only to see that it was very close to lunch time. She did contemplate to herself on whether or not to take the kid back to sickbay or if they should have their lunch in the top side mess hall. She chose the latter of the two.

"Hey kid it's almost lunch time you hungry?" Yeah for sure Ms., I mean Strike." Strike chuckle at that, well kid at least your learning." "Well just hang on ok the mess hall is not far off."

Strike led me to one of the permanent buildings from the looks of on the outside it look very big. The only problem was that there was no ramp for wheelchair access. Strike was able to get help from the biggest ripped black guy I had ever seen. I think his name was Roadblock or something according to him. Shit I wouldn't want to be caught in a dark alley way with this guy.

For the most part the mess room had a lot of tables everywhere. So when it was lunch this place filled up quick. Strike was able to secure a table me and her nearly in the center of the room. I guess lunch was a big deal here, because everyone was in deep conversations with each other while chowing down.

Strike was very quick to say the least she had two fully loaded trays of food. It was some kind of meat dish; I think she said it was meatloaf, with peas, carrots, potatoes, corn, and bread of course.

I didn't even wait for Strike to sit down as I started to inhale the food. "Geez kid slow down are you going to eat the plate as well," Strike said while laughing. I wasn't paying any attention to her till I got some kind of itch on my backside.

Man this medical shirt that had me wear started to chafe a bit from the dry weather as I was sweating a bit outside. So without really thinking about it I tried to adjust it." Something wrong kid?" Awe it's just got some kind of itch on my back."" I just need to adjust this shirt."

Apparently I adjusted to the point where I had it bottom part covering my head, while Strike was laughing at me struggle with it for a bit.

As I was itching away with shirt nearly over my head, I didn't realize that my chest and ribs were exposed for everyone to see. It was kind of weird since all the noise in the mess hall completely died down.

Strike who sat across from the kid was smiling and laughing, till her smile started to fade once this kid started to reveal his malnourished body. No wonder this kid was eating like there is no tomorrow. He nothing but skin and bones, I could see the kids complete rib cage. He looked like one of those holocaust victims from WWII. Jesus Christ those cobra bastards where starving him to death. It just made my resolve even stronger that Cobra has to be stopped at all cost.

I also took noticed that all my fellow Joes where looking at the kid. Most of them had pity written on their faces as others had anger in their eyes. I think everyone in the room had their commitments to bringing Cobra down reaffirmed.

When I felt that the itch was dealt with I was able to put my shirt back on properly, when I saw Strikes face in complete worry looking at me I started to ask her what's wrong.

"Strike what is it?"" Did I do something wrong or something?" Strike got out of her thoughts the minute the kid spoke up. "Uh, no of course not, um hey are you still hungry?"" Well yeah sort of."" Here you can have mine."" Are you sure?"" Yeah I can always get more."

Strike started to pour her uneaten meat loaf and veggies on to the kid's plate. And as always the kid went at it. Strike told him that she was going to get some more and she'll be back in a jiff.

Strike went to the chow line to prep another plate of food mainly for the kid than herself. Of course when she was loading it up Scarlett took noticed as well saying hello as always. "Hey there Strike, isn't that the kid from the operation that we pulled off a few days ago?" Strike just nodded to her and also adding," poor kid this is probably the most food he ever seen in his entire life."

"Those Cobra bastards where starving him to death," Strike said angrily. Just then Strike heard some whispers about the kid coming from the KP staff. "Hey you two keep your dame comments to yourself about this, do I make myself clear." Yes ma'am the two staffers said in unison.

Strike came back with some more food for the kid and kept pouring it on the kid's plate. "Uh hey Strike you're not going eat anything?"" Yeah see I got my own right here."

I look at her plate and it has barely anything on it." Look Strike I don't want to impose on you so please you can have this back; I'm actually getting kind of full now." "You are not imposing on me kid, now please eat up ok and whatever you don't finish I'll help up out on ok." Thirty minutes passed on by.

Man I was so full; I guess this must be a new feeling to me. Feeling full and well fed for once in my life. I and Strike finally made it out of the mess room, only problem is that no one was near us to help me off of the stairs.

So I pitched the idea to hop on one step at a time to get down. It seemed like a good idea at first till I slipped on the second step and started to fall down. Just then another dude came to my rescue to keep me from falling flat on my face.

I look at him in the face; he actually had a very youthful face. He was also tanned as well. I guess he had blonde hair I couldn't really tell since it was covered with some kind of cloth hat.

"Whoa there kid, you got to watch yourself."" Thanks Dusty for your help Strike said."" Geez kid you're actually kind of light and nimble."" How old are you by the way?"" Um I'm pretty sure I'm seventeen." Oh, ok kid because a seventeen year old would weigh a lot more than you do."

Strike gives Dusty a stern look not to continue forward about this kid's weight. So Dusty takes notice and drops the subject then and there. "Well then kid maybe I'll be seeing you around, as for right now I'm hungry for some grub."

I started to seat myself down into the wheelchair, while this dusty guy makes his way to the mess room. I look up a t Strike smiling to her. "He seems like a nice guy."" Yeah Dusty is a nice guy all right."

We continue on as Strike took me across the grounds of the military like complex. I then heard some gun shots in the air from a short distance away.

"Are those gun shots I just heard Strike or is that classified too?" Strike actually laughed at this kid's sarcastic yet humorous remark. "Well kid at least your ears are working, but to answer your question yeah those where some rifle shots from our firing range, you want to see it."

"Can I Strike?"" I don't see why not." She leads me to area that had a lot of rows with what I would consider targets in the distance some were close while others were really far away. There where lines of tables with some sort of tripods set up.

There was another man nearby who seem to be shooting his rifle off. The weird thing was when I saw this guys rifle I started to have some kind of strange visions in my head. I watched very carefully as he was lying on the ground taking his time. When the time was right I just heard a loud crack from this guy's rifle.

"Hey Strike you think I can have a crack at that?"" What you meaning shooting a rifle?"" Absolutely not kid."" Awe how come?"" One you're a civilian and two your just kid and three it for authorize personnel only and that's clearly not you."

I was going to try and plead with her, but I don't think it would have done any good. So I just sat there a bit slump in my chair. "Gee Strike it's not like I'm asking you to give me a machine gun, but if you think it is for the best then I'll just drop it." Mark said in sadly.

Strike took notice in the kid's distress words. Man this kid could get depressing sometimes. Well then what's the harm maybe if he'd tried it once I suppose.

"All alright kid, stop sounding sad ok, I'll see what I can do ok but no promises ok."" Really you'll do this for me?"" Yeah sure why not, I mean it just this once right."" Uh yeah Thanks Strike."

Strike left the kid where he was at while walking a bit slowly to the Joe's best marksmen instructor they got. Which happen to be Low-Light, this guy always wears a lot of black almost all the time. While everyone is usually off eating lunch this guy always doing his targeting practice.

I see he is using his favorite sniper rifle the M40A1. Every now and then when I'm out here doing some target practices of mine own Low-Light always seems to use this rifle the most. I just hope he goes on board with my request.

Strike comes a bit closer to Low-Light who starts to get up from his lying down position. He see's Strike coming his way as he let out a soft smile to Strike." Hey Strike how are you doing today?"" I'm doing a-ok Low-Light; I see your getting in some practice the M40 there."" Yeah I thought I tried to see if it needed some sight adjustments, but it looks like its firing straight."

Low-Light takes a gander behind Strike to see that a civilian is nearby. "Hey isn't that the prisoner civilian we liberated from that Cobra base a couple of day ago?"" Yeah he sure is."" Huh he looks like a kid." "That's because he is, well more like a teenager."" I think he said he was seventeen."" Huh what the heck is Cobra doing with child prisoners?"" I can't give you an answer for that either mainly, because the kid is suffering from amnesia."" But I'm getting off track here."

"Hey Low-Light I was wondering if you will allow the kid here to pop off a few rounds." Low-Light started to chuckle at Strike, only to see that she looked a bit serious. "Oh wait you're serious about this, hey you know I can't do that."" Look it doesn't have to something like what you are using, maybe something like one of your old rifles."

"Uh,….I still don't know Strike."" OK look I'll take over for one week of your KP duty for next week, now what do we have a deal."" One week ok deal, but I get to choose what rifle he uses and how many shots he gets."" Sounds find to me."" Ok now let's go and meet the kid."

Low-Light starts to come forward to introduce himself in front of the kid. Shaking his hand," hey there kid my name is Low-Light, I'm the marksmen instructor here."" Nice to meet you Mr. Low-Light."" Hey kid there's no need to be formal in front me, just call me Low-Light."

Man was it with you people and your interesting names you all have." Well anyways kid I heard that you wanted to try and fire off a few rounds. ""Yeah for sure mister, will you let me at least once?"" Hmm…well I just got one question for you before I let you."" Uh ok what do you want to know?"

"Have you ever fired a rifle before?"" Uh no sir, not once in my entire life have I ever done that." Low-Light stood there a bit confused looking at Strike, who looked back with a confused face as well. "Ok kid I got another one then. ""If you never fired a weapon before, then why would you want to start?"

"Well I figure that since I'm here for a short while, I just want to try it at least once in my life."" So I can have a memory of it, since I don't seem have very many memories right now at the moment. "Well since you have put it that way kid, then I suppose I can help you with that."

"Shooting a rifle is not really hard at all kid, it's more like you just point, aim, and shoot. ""That's pretty much all to it." Low-Light started to make his way towards his gun shack/office, while he motioned Strike to place the kid at one of the tables.

Ok let's see here, what to use, what to use. Ah I got it I'll let him use my M1 Grand. I remember picking this one up during some R&R last year at a gun antique shop. Cool I got four live rounds of .30-06 in an en bloc clip this is perfect. Hmm I also have a regular in the Black bull's eye target.

Now I know for a fact that the max distance on firing an M1 Grand with iron sights is about 500 yards. So I'll be nice to the kid and set it up at the 200 yard mark. Low-Light walks out of the office heading down to the 200 yard make to set up the kids target then walks back.

Next he starts to load up the four round clip inside the M1 Grand. Then he instructs the kid on basic rifle etiquette. When he thinks the kid is ready he places to rifle on the table ready for the kid to fire.

Mark looks at the rifle then to Low-Light, "hey mister this rifle kind of old."" Can't I use some much newer like the one you were handling when I got here. ""Sorry kid this it for you."

When Mr. Low-Light told me that I just shrugged it off, but the thing that happen to me next I couldn't really explain it.

Awe man it was so weird the minute that I picked up and much less touched the rifle. Basically my mind took over telling me what to do as if I knew what the heck I was doing. even though I never held a rifle before in my life. It was almost like a feeling of familiarity. So when I pick it up, I immediately switched the safety off and cocked it on its side quickly via by some latch on the side of the rifle.

The next thing I did, I looked thru the rear sight. Even though the sight was just a small pin size hole, I could see very clearly thru the front sight. The other odd thing was that I could see clearly the target in front of me.

Even though Mr. Low-Light told me it was a 200 yards away I could see it clearly as daylight. I didn't even have to squint my eyes. I easily could make out the dead center bulls eye black spot.

So without any hesitation I popped off my first round. The sound alone was like thunder. It was a bit loud for me. The recoil for the shot slightly threw me off my aiming, but like I said before my mind and body immediately compensated by readjusting itself automatically. Even my breathing was changing. I would take deep breaths in and then slowly release the air out of my lungs.

I looked down the rear sight to see in the distance that I actually hit in the black. On the right inside the dead center circle. Holly shit I thought inside myself. I popped off my next three rounds in a matter of thirty seconds.

All of them hit the bull's eye in the center. In a way I was freaking out inside. There's no way that I just did that. I slowly put down the rifle on the table. "Uh I think that I'm done here, thanks for the opportunity Mr. Low-Light. "

"Well kid do you want to see if you actually hit the target?"" Uh nah that's ok mister, I think should be heading back to the Infirmary." Strike started to help me into my wheelchair." Well then kid I hope you got your fill in today."" Trust me mister my cup is plenty full now."

Low-Light actually smiled to kid at that last remark as he picked up his M1 grand rifle to put it up." Well the one thing I can say about your shooting kid is that it rather rare to see a lefty trigger finger."" Usually everyone I run across is a righty."

"I guess I'm unique then Mr. Low-Light, I mean Low-Light."" Well I guess I might be seeing you around, anyways Strike can we go now."" Sure thing kid."

And just like that the kid and Strike where heading back to the infirmary. After about five minutes of putting his stuff up Low-Light decided to head into the mess hall to get some much needed lunch.

Forty five minutes later Low-Light was heading back to the firing range. He had about thirty minutes extra till his next marksmen ship class for green shirt beginners was about to start. So he decided to take a nap in his gun hut.

Only his plans where rather spoiled, due to a rat. Tunnel rat to be more exact, I guess he decided to get a couple shots in for practice. The short little guy is one tough scrapper. I think he is asian, but he also might be Spanish as well, it was always hard to tell with this guy. Mostly because I never asked.

I see him using his trusty M4 carbine. I strolled a little bit past him to head into my shack.

Tunnel Rat takes notice of Low-Light while emptying his magazine. When he finally finishes, he just has to ask Low-Light a rather dire question.

"Hey Low-Light I got a question for you?" I didn't really turn around to Tunnel Rat to answer as I unlocking my office. I sit down in my chair about ready to take a short nap, till I almost forgot to acknowledge Tunnel Rat's question. "Yeah Tunnel Rat what is it?"" I found this target by the 200 yard mark, is this yours?"" Yeah I was firing off about four rounds with my M1 grand earlier."

"Wow no shit huh."" You fired your old M1 grand at this target."" Yeah what's it to you," Low-Light said annoyingly." Well all I have to say is, that's some fancy shooting."" I mean you hit all four rounds into the black in the bull's eye. I'm impressed."

Low-Light just scoffed at him not really paying any attention to him. "Well Low-Light if you don't believe me then I'll just leave your target right here at your desk."" In the meantime I know you were looking forward into get some rest before your class, so I'll just take off for now."

Low-Light just waved him off not turning around. As Tunnel Rat left, he did experience some itching desire to look at the target. So instead of taking the short nap he reached behind to grab at said target.

I took a rather small quick glance at it, only to follow his eyes all the way down to the bulls eye. Low-Light then blinked a few times to see if this was real. Holy hell as I looked in disbelief at all four holes in the black.

That's not possible, there's no way that kid hit every round in the black. So as an extra precaution to easy my curiosity, I decided to head to the area where the kid took his shots. I found the only shell casings of 30-06 which where the four in the area where this kid was. I found no other shells in the area.

The next thing I did was that I checked the security cams. I reeled it back from the time when the kid left till I came back from lunch. As my worst fears took shape, there was no one there except for Tunnel Rat, who walked out to the 200 yard mark to take the target down.

I sat back in my seat as my green shirt class started to show up. There's no way that this kid can shot like that, it must be a fluke. I sat there pondering for a good couple of minutes. I'm just going to have to get this kid back here to see if it is in fact a fluke. If not then there is something more to this kid.