Another chapter to the saga be sure to read and write a review if you can.

Chapter 5

It's the start of the new week where ever here was. Lifeline was confident enough to let me out of that pesky boot, while he did make me wear some kind of ankle brace. The most annoying thing about waking was these boots they let me use. Good god they were stiff as hell. So breaking them in was not very fun at all.

None the less I got much needed exercise as I can get, so that I wouldn't limp as much on my feet. Of course the stuff they had me wearing was the usual medical clothes white shirt and shorts. Such a weird combination wearing a white shirt and shorts, with black combat boots.

Of course it gets boring from time to time when all I can do is watch TV. I mean they did have some reading material like magazines, but the problem is that I have a 5th grade reading level. It's not really my fault either. That stupid Novsky orphanage, basically gave me and everyone else who reside there a very piss poor education.

Most of the time that I was there I was doing some kind of manual labor, and this went for everyone that was there boy or girl. So when I was trying to read this magazine it was like I have to pause every few seconds sounding out each word. God it felt like a lot of hard work to me, that basically I would just look at the pictures instead.

As always by 3:00 Strike would come by my room, as I heard a knock from my door." Come on in," I would say in a friendly tone. As always Strike wore her blonde hair in a pony tail, while wearing her standard black t shirt with grey camo pants and of course black boots just like mine.

"Hey kid are you ready?"" As ready as I'll ever be Strike."" Alright let's hop to it then." Of course she gave a rather nice smile to me as she saw what I was wearing. "Yeah I know what you're going to say Strike, that I look rather silly in this."" Well to tell you the truth kid, yeah you kind of do."" I'll see if I can get you some better looking clothes for you to wear, if Lifeline will allow it."

So we started to head out to the firing range, which happens to be on the other side of this rather large place or facility. As I was walking with Strike I did noticed that there weren't that my people around. As we continued we reached what I would call the halfway point of our journey, which happen to be near some rather large open garage. Well at least to me it looked like some kind of garage.

As if out of nowhere some random dude came up to Strike asking for her assistance. She tried to talk her way out of helping him with some task that involved moving some crates, however the man was very insistence on needing her help.

Of course she tried to used the excuse to say that Low-Light was waiting for them, yet the man in all green said that he was there helping with their task that needed to be fulfilled.

Strike sighed out loud. "All right I'll go and help you with the ordinance shipment."" Just give me a couple of minutes ok." The dude just nodded then head out. Strike then turned to me and said," Alright kid I got to go and take care of this, but I'll be back as soon as I get done."

She led me to the front of the opened garage next to the wall. "Now you stay right here kid and I'll be back in a jiff?" I just nodded to her as she took off in a rather mad dash the opposite direction. Man I think she was actually sprinting to say the least.

I let out a huge sigh as I stood here leaning on the garage wall. The big problem was that the sun was out in the clear sky, as it continued to pound on me. Even though I was wearing practically all white, I was still sweating from the dry hot ass weather.

Worst of all there was no shade standing here next to the garage and I really didn't feel like getting burned out here in the sun. I know that Strike wanted me to stand here waiting for her to comeback, but I can't take it anymore.

So I started to walk alongside the wall of this rather enormous garage, till I found some kind of relief from the sun. Of course I had no cap on as well since it was such a bright day. So seeing was really hard to come by. I did my best to shield my eyes with my hands, but they too would strain under the hot sun.

Luckily I did found a one of those ominous large garage doors opened about half way up. So I dunked underneath to get inside and once I was in, such wonderful relief. Even though the air was rather stagnate and hot, it still was a lot better than getting beat up by the sun outside.

When I came inside my eyes had to readjust to the current light in the garage. So I wait for a minute rubbing my eyes and using my shirt tail to wipe the sweat off of my brow. When I can finally see in here I was like whoa. This place was huge; it had all sorts of tools all nicely and neatly placed along the walls.

Man this is like an auto mechanic's wet dream. Everything looks so brand new in here. I'm talking pumps, wrenches, rolling tool crates, even tires. I was so drawn to them, like when a flying bug is dawned to one of those blue lights.

Man I was admiring everything in here that I didn't even noticed that I bumped into something very large and hard. When I refocused my vision to what I ran into to, I was like Holy shit. Whatever it was it was massive and made out of metal. I know I should know what this is as my mind continued to draw a blank.

Then it hit me when I saw a large tube extended from out of the front of it. This is a tank. And just like any other tank that I've seen in movies and TV, it's got its machine guns and cannon in the front. This thing was so huge that the top of the treads met near my chest. As I stood looking up to the main gun of this behemoth I tried to reach it with my hands. I could barely touch it with my finger tips.

I know that Mr. Lifeline wanted me to take it easy on my feet, but I really wanted to see if I could jump up and grab on to the cannon. So I did just that and it was awesome. I'm literally dangling here like monkey on a tree. When my arms began to tire out, I let go and tried to land as safely as I could.

Awe man I was having so much fun at what I was doing, that I didn't really pay any attention to anything else. That is until I heard a very stern voice directed at me. "Can I help you?" I stood there absolutely still not knowing what I should do next, but from the sound of whoever it was, it sounded like a lady.

So I tried to walk away without saying anything, till she spoke up again only more serious this time around. "Hey you Stop and turn around!" I did as she said. When I turned around this lady was about two to three feet from me so I got a real good look up and close.

Wow she was actually kind of cute and beautiful too. She was about my height maybe little bit taller. She had long reddish and brown hair that reached past her shoulders till about midway to her chest.

As for what this lady wore, well I think she likes tan color clothing. She wears is well too with that tightness factor in place that show off her assets so to speak. She was also wearing a brown leather like jacket. I mean come on its scolding hot outside why would you need that.

Her boots look they went up to her kneecaps. But the best feature this lady had by far was her captivating soft brown eyes. If I could I would just stare at them all day, but I could see that this lady looked rather upset at seeing me. So I just stood there till she made the first move.

I see her looking at me from head to toe with those eyes of hers." Who are you!?"" Well…I'm, uh…My name is Mark" I said softly." Speak up will you I can barely hear you!"" Ok, ok, you don't have to yell at me my name is Mark."" Let me see your identification card?"" My what?"

She just looks at me with her eyes narrowed at me. I kind of get the gist then and there that I should probably leave right now. "Ok look Ms. I was just looking for a place to get out of the sun for a few minutes. I see that you look very busy so I'll just leave you be like right now."

I quickly turned around and started to make my way out of there, not until I felt some rather strong hands grab me from by the back of my neck. I reacted by turning around as fast as I could with my arms flaying around like crazy.

I don't know what pissed this lady off, but she was really man handling me. In one single swoop she was able to restrain my arms to the point where I was crying out uncle to her. "Hey take it ease lady that really hurts."" Not until I find out who you are."" I told you already my name is Mark."

This lady quickly moved me, while at the same time I'm trying not to trip on my own feet. I could feel my right ankle was straining against the pressure that it started to ache in pain. She placed me face first to one of those large metal tool crates. "Now you stay still or else."

Most people would say or else what, but I didn't really want to find out so I did the smart thing and kept my mouth shut.

Mean while Strike was coming back from helping out with an ammo drop shipment with some green shirts that diverted her attention from escorting the kid to the firing range. She made her way back to the drop off point where she left the kid.

Great, where did he run off to? Well it is really hot and sunny out today, so I bet he went somewhere to get out of the sun. Well logic would suggest that he would have most likely gone in the machine shop here.

Strike too went inside and had to readjust her eye sight from being in the bright sun as well. Only she did see the kid who looked like he was bending over face first on to a tool crate. Strike was just laughing at herself of the spectacle that she saw.

What the heck is he doing? Strike was just smiling to herself, till she saw Cover Girl coming to the kid's direction. Upon further inspecting the situation she did notice that the kid had his arms restrained. Shit I better get the kid out before Cover Girl calls security.

Cover Girl on the other hand was about to call in security on her com, till she notice Strike coming in her direction to see what's up." Hey Cover Girl how are you doing?"" I was doing fine Strike, till I found this intruder in my machine shop snooping around."

"Yeah speaking of your intruder over there, well he's with me."" Come again."" I'm his escort here at the pit." Cover Girl had confusion written all over her face, but still want some answers. "Who is he Strike?" "Uh you remember that operation we pulled in El Salvador?" Cover girl just nodded.

"Well that kid over there was Cobra's civilian prisoner that we found all banged up."" I was about to take him back to the infirmary, till I got caught up on some other task."" So that's the guy I heard about that was all skin and bones."

"Well I do have him restrained over there with a simple rope knot so I guess you can take him back I suppose no harm no foul right."" Thanks Strike for clearing this up, I just hope I didn't hurt him too much at least I don't think I did."" Don't worry about Cover girl, I'll just get him and get going."

Strike started to come up to the kid who had his head turned to right side. So she walks over to the right side of his face to make sure he got a good look at her. "I thought I told you to say put where I left you." "I'm sorry Strike I was just looking for some shade that's all."

"Ok well hold still while I'll untie you, you're not hurt by the way."" Well I have a little bit of pain in my ankle, but it's manageable." I started to stand up not looking at the direction of that other lady. I lowered my head down in shame. "Strike I'm sorry if I caused any trouble."

Strike was a bit sympathetic to the kid by placing her hand on his shoulder." It's alright kid no harm no foul no let's get going ok Low-Light doesn't like to be kept waiting."

Both Mark and Strike started to make their way out of the machine shop towards to the firing range, while Cover girl did take a quick glance at the both of them before returning to her work. Only when she looks at them again it appeared that Strike was going in the wrong direction to the infirmary. Instead Strike looked like she was escorting the kid else, but where, as Cover Girl thought to herself.

Cover girl just shrugged it off thinking that Strike was probably taking the kid on a short tour of the old place.

I finally make it to a familiar place with a familiar face. I meet and greet with Low-Light as I started to sit at one of the many benches here at the firing range.

"Hey kid how are you doing today," Low-Light asked." I'm doing fine sir are you going to have me doing some more shooting?"" Yeah pretty much kid only this time I'm going to give you something a bit more advance."

"Like what do you mean more advance?"" Are you going to give me a kickass machine gun to try," I said with much excitement. "Not quite kid, but this rifle can shoot like a machine gun if you want to."" Yet I still prefer that you shoot one round at a time."

"Ok well I'm already excited then Mr. I mean Low-Light show me what you got." Low-Light with an added grin that he gave to kid decided to show him the M110 sniper rifle. He could tell that the kid was very wide eye in seeing such a magnificent weapon of death.

"Ok kid so this is the M110 sniper rifle it usually has a max firing range of 800 yards."" I'm going to give one twenty round magazine ok."" The rounds it takes are much stronger than those rounds from the M1 Grand and the Springfield 1903."

"How stronger Low-Light?"" Well those rounds in those other rifles that you fired where 30-06."" This rifle takes a 7.62 mm rounds."" Ok so it's just a little bit bigger I suppose then."" Yeah kid it's going to be a much bigger round with bigger punch."" So do you think you're up to it?"

"Well all I can say is that I'll give it my best shot."" Well ok then, now remember kid don't get started until I say so ok." I nodded back to Low-Light as he took his position behind me with Strike.

As Mr. Low-Light got ready I suppose, I started to look at the good size rifle in front of me. Shit it looked nice. It's got some kind of kick stand on it near the front of the rifle. It was also painted in some kind of tan color. Hell even the barrel of this rifle looked long. I could tell that the magazine clip was about as big if not bigger than the length of my hand.

Mr. Low-Light finally gave me the go ahead to get started and as always the minute I picked up that rifle my instincts took over. As I could see thru my consciousness seeing my body go thru the motions. It just loaded that rifle by sliding the ammo from the bottom until it clicked into place. Next my left hand pulled the latch to chamber in the round.

Then as usual my body got ready to fire as it took on the position of using my left hand trigger finger. And finally last but not least my breathing was slowing down. I think for a second that the reason I do this, is that I think my body is trying to shoot in between my heart beats. But then again what would I know, I never done this before in my life.

All I know is that for every day that I've been shooting that it takes much less time for me to get into shooting ready stances and firing preps. At first it took me like ten minutes to get the breathing part down, but now it takes less than a few minutes to accomplish this.

Shit this thing was loud as heck. It's like a crack noise. At least Mr. Low-Light was right about something; this thing did pack a good punch. But as always my body made the adjustments when needed. Shit I know I was hitting this target dead center.

"He's getting much better every day with progress," Low-Light said plainly. "It doesn't matter what I give him he's just going to show me up every time."" By the way Strike did General Hawk say anything to yet about the kid?"

"Not much really other than just to keep an eye on him."" Oh by the way thanks for turning me in I got a month load of KP duty thanks to you."" Don't get too upset Strike he did the same to me, since I took the most risk letting him know about this and letting him using my range."

Strike just nodded in annoyance to that last remake made by Low-Light. "Do you think General Hawk will try and recruit this kid here at the Pit? ""I can't really answer that at all Strike, who knows how Hawk thinks."" He's probably trying to find anything about this mystery kid we have here."

Pretty much for me every day was the same by the end of the week. Everyday Low-Light would give me a different rifle to shoot with. I'm like god dame how many rifles are there. Like I said the first nice one was the M110, then the M40A3, then a much more compact SRS.

But the most awesome rifle had to be that AS50. Holy shit that thing had what was called a 50 caliber round. That thing was bigger than the palm of my hand. I was like what the hell you use these for killing rhinos. It was a beast to say none the least and somehow I still managed to hit the target dead on even though it ripped a large hole into it.

By the time Sunday rolled through; I no longer needed any foot or ankle restraints to help me walk. I am walking normal again. And my weight was back to normal according to Lifeline. I know for a fact that my upper body was getting stronger when I was able to man handle those various rifles when I was shooting.

The nice thing was that Strike was able to get me some better clothes to wear than this medical white shirt shit. It wasn't much other than green pants, shirt, and socks. Shit for a second here I thought I was starting to look like one of those other dudes and chicks here that wore the same stuff I wore.

But the lingering question in the back of my mind is now that I am better now, what happens to me. I knew this day was coming too. I was mentally preparing in my mind the motions that I would go through in case they decided to relocate me.

So I was expecting Strike to come and get me to meet to send me off my way, but instead it was some other dude. He was much taller and had short blonde hair in a buzz cut fashion. I was like; "can I help you with something?"

"Hey kid how are you feeling today?"" Uh I'm fine, uh who are you?"" What you don't remember me." "Oh then again I guess I did only see you that one time out of the mess hall when you where in that wheel chair."

"Well my name is Dusty kid." I try to think back from that day out to the mess hall when I almost fall flat on my face. I started to put two and two together when I finally start to recognized this guy's face." Oh now I remember you, you did catch me that day before I was about to fall."

"Cool kid, well are you ready then?"" Yeah I guess, but I was hoping that Strike would come and see me off."" Well Strike is actually kind of busy right now, but I don't know what you mean by sending you off."

"Well I think that since I'm much better now that you guys would be sending me off on my way back home to where ever."" Oh no kid not at all I suppose, I'm actually to suppose to escort you to General Hawk's office."

Now that guy I actually remember when I first got here. I don't know why he wants to meet with me, I guess to scare me into silence from what I have seen so far.

"All right Mr. Dusty lets go meet this Hawk."