Chapter 14

As soon as Strike left I got work quickly on my wine and Pruno. I started out first to make the grape juice wine by adding in a few packets of yeast. In total I had about four bottles of grape juice in which I added one packet of yeast to each of them.

I then put on a special rubber stomper with a hose attachment to vent out any extra gases, while the yeast was cooking up with the sugars, thus the processes of fermentation. All in all the grape juice wine should take about a couple of days of fermentation.

The kick ass thing about my single room dorm was the fact that I had dark tinted windows. I guess it was there to make sure that the sun didn't bake the room that much, since whenever I came back my room would only be a little bit warm in here.

I put my bottles of future wine by the window so that the tubes would leak out any extra gases, that way my room wouldn't smell of alcohol and grapes as it fermented.

When lights out came on by I did turn off my main lights, but then turned on my tactical flash light on the lowest setting. I took the rest of the stuff to my bathroom and started on making the peach mash first. In total I was going to make about five gallons of peach pruno.

Since this was canned fruit mashing it was really easy. I would add the sugar and juice together to mix it more at the same time. Next I got all five one gallon bags ready to add the final crucial ingredient which was the yeast.

I put up my strainer and empty one gallon bottles up in my closet since it would take about a span of three or four days for this stuff to cook up. This whole process only took me about an hour to do.

I next I setup my alarm clock to go off at certain times in the night until morning for me check on my pruno. Unlike the bottles of grape wine which have their own venting system in place, the pruno has to be vented out manually.

Yet every time I did it I made sure that the window was wide open and made sure no one was near my dorm as I did it. Heck even during my busy schedule I still made time to try and burp my bags so they don't explode in my room.

By the fourth day I was ready to bottle up my stuff. So I got out my strainer which happens to be in a shape of a funnel as I started to sift out the mash for the pruno at hand. Of course I did this on a Sunday mostly because most the Joe's and personnel are in the pit enjoying their respective day off by either watching cheesy movies or hanging out with each other.

When I finished my bottling processes I took an entrenching tool i.e. shovel outside and started to dig a deep enough hole to dispose of the peach mash. By the end of it all I had five gallons of pruno wine and four gallons of grape juice wine.

So after dinner I made it back to my dorm to enjoy the fruits of my labor. I first tried the grape wine and it did not disappoint. It had just right amount of sugar but with a kick to it. It kind of reminded me of those frozen grape pops we had here at the pit.

Next I tried my peach pruno. And boy it was like drinking down peaches with a fiery kick to it, that in a way it caused me to cough a bit. I had to be careful with this stuff since I could get a tummy ache from drinking too much.

All in all I was really proud of myself now that I have my own libations to enjoy. So as day became night I took some extra precautions to hide my stash out of sight. The only problem was that one of the bottles of pruno was not quite done cooking. Yet from what I saw, it was just a minor thing as it would mostly fizzle out by the morning.

The very next day

11:00 am

I was normally out and about during my regular routine here at the pit. But before I left for early morning pt I did check the bottles of my stash to see it one of them was still cooking. From what I saw it looked liked it had stopped.

Of course when I was making my stuff from a few nights before, some of the smell did seep into my room. Giving it some of that peach smell. I did my best to air it out by letting my windows open for a bit and using some deodorizers.

Of course with all this labor I was doing some of that peach smell did get on my clothes. The cool thing was that I'm pretty sure laundry day was tomorrow. So I didn't really bother to pack my dirty clothes up since I was going to do that tonight.

Meanwhile at that very same time two green shirts were collecting laundry bags since today was laundry day here at the pit. Of course both green shirts where making their rounds starting with the Joe's first then the green shirt staff, and finally the kid's room.

When they reach the Kid's dorm they did noticed that the kid's laundry bag was not present on the outside of his dorm. The both sighed knowing that the kid should have at least left his laundry bag out. Normally they would just have left the kid's dorm and went on, but they have been order otherwise to make sure the Kid's clothes were washed since he's been doing a lot of heavy training.

When both of them entered it was like a huge whiff of something rancid just enters into their nostrils. "Holy hell what the heck is that smell, Perkins exclaimed?"" Shit whatever it is, it's almost making me gag," Drake exclaimed as well.

Perkins quickly grabs the kid's dirty clothes putting it into the laundry bag, while Drake started to look around as to see where the smell has originated. Sure enough he found the culprit as it turned out to be a jug of something yellowish orange. It was leaking out a bit from the top. Soon enough he another jug of something purple as well.

"Maybe we should take this stuff over to the quartermaster; he might know what it is,"Drake explained. "Sure why not, but first we have to stop by Hawks office to get his laundry as well," Perkins quipped in.

Thirty minutes later both Perkins and Drake where about to gather Hawk's laundry bag in his office. They also placed the strange jug of yellow orange on a desk, when Hawk came from behind them to greet them both. "Ah Perkins and Drake how are you two today?" Both men turned around immediately and saluted to Hawk saying good morning sir.

Of course it didn't take long for Hawk to take a few sniffs himself to notice the strange smell." Uh what is that smell you two?"" Well sir we were going to take to the quartermaster to figure out what it is first."" Yet we don't know what it is either since we found it in the kid's dorm."

Tunnel Rat also was coming about a couple minutes behind Hawk when he was going to give his ammo report count to Hawk when he too noticed the yellow orange substance on the desk. He too notices the smell as well, but instead pops off the top to take a whiff. While holding is nose back from the pungent smell.

Yet he also takes a few experimental sips from the container only to give a large grin to himself.

"You found what in the kid's dorm," Hawk demanded?" Well sir as you can plainly see Tunnel Rat behind you is holding the source in his hand." Hawk quickly turns around seeing Tunnel Rat putting a yellowish jug down on top of the desk.

"Oh hey sir here's my reports on the small arm's ammo counts for today."" Tunnel Rat what is that you're holding?"

"I knew that the Kid was holding out on me," as Tunnel Rat was grinning at the same time. "Holding out on what Tunnel Rat?""Oh I'm sorry sir I forgot you were there." Hawk just rolled his eyes to a totally obvious Tunnel Rat.

"So I ask again Tunnel Rat what is that?"" Oh, well sir it goes by many names."" The most common is Pruno."" What the heck is Pruno?"" You know sir toilet wine. "Seeing that Hawk was still not getting it Tunnel Rat just sighed a bit.

"Ok sir I see you're a bit confused right now, so I'll make it simple to you."" This is basically homemade hooch." Hawk stood there with just a plain look. "Perkins and Drake did you say you found this in the kid's dorm, did you find anything else?"

"Well sir we also found this purplish bottle as well in his room." As Perkins handed it over to Hawk. Hawk opens the bottle top off to take another whiff." Huh this one just smells like regular old grape juice."" Here let me see it sir," Tunnel Rat asked.

"Don't worry sir I'll only take a small sip." Tunnel Rat took a small sip himself only for his eyes to widen in shock for a moment." Whoa this isn't regular grape juice sir; this too has a kick to it, it's sweet though."

"Perkins and Drake drop what you are doing and come along with me, you too Tunnel Rat." Yes sir they said in unison.

Within ten minutes all four of them where in the kid's dorm searching his stuff. They soon find all the Kid's illegal stash. Five gallons of the Pruno and four gallons of the grape stuff." Good god how did he mange to make all this stuff," Perkins inquired?

"Let's see its 1200 hours and the Kid would most likely be in mess having his lunch."" The rest of you follow me with the rest of these illegal libations."

In ten minutes Hawk enters the mess hall as Sergeant Major Beach head was the first to take noticed as he called out for the entire mess to stand at attention. In which all the Joe's and green shirts did in response.

Hawk never really acknowledged to everyone to stand at ease, when he instead called for the head cook sergeant Pop's to come forward. "Yes sir."" Pops would you be so kind as to bring me enough paper cups for the entire mess?"

"Right away sir." Soon enough pop's brought out several sleeves to Hawk. Hawk then orders Perkins and Drake to pour small amounts of the Pruno in each cup with the help of the kitchen staff to hand out to the Joe's and green shirts in the room.

Mean while Private Mark was at the mess hall getting his lunch, but did visit the men's room just right before Hawk made his entrance in. Of course when he came out he really didn't know to make of it when the rest of Joe's and green shirts where standing at attention.

So he pretty much just hid himself from the rest of the Joe's just to observe what was going on.

Soon enough he saw the kitchen staff handing out some cups to everyone. Just then General Hawk told everyone to stand at ease, which he then joined the crowd at hand.

"At ease Joe's, I just wanted to share a little bit of gratitude with all of you doing such a great job here at the pit."" So cheers to all of you."

According to Hawks eyes most of the Joe's didn't really know what to think when he was making his short speech, however most of them took a few whiffs of the drink at hand only to make rather funny faces as to what ever heck this stuff was.

Duke was the first person to really speak up as to ask Hawk what the heck this stuff was." Sir," Duke asked out loud. "Yes Duke what is it?"" Well sir thanks for the congratulations and all, but what heck is this smelly stuff?"

"Well I'm glad you asked, because it seems that one of you in here has tried to make something rather illicit." Duke for a moment was contemplating on what Hawk meant by illicit when he then turned his head looking over to Shipwreck who was sitting with Grunt and Clutch.

Which in turn all of the other Joe's started to look at his direction with some rather accusing eyes." Hey what are you guys looking me for?"" I don't even know what this stuff is," Shipwreck exclaimed.

"No Joe's it's not Shipwreck who's responsible for this, but it is someone who is rather new here," Hawk said plainly.

Beach head then actually listen to Hawks words carefully as he then was thinking only for a short moment when it then hit him. Wait a minute here the only person who rather new here was the Kid. He then tried a small sip of the pungent drink at hand.

To him it tasted a bit of peaches, but with a fiery kick to it. His eyes then widen as just as well as his blood started to boil, he then slowly turned around to see where the kid was sitting at.

Of course while this was going on the kid was sitting by himself today as Strike was still in the chow line getting her lunch when all of this was going on. When he got the cup of the stuff, he knew instantly that somehow Hawk must have found his stash. So as a defensive measure he tried to act all innocent and started to slowly make his way to exit.

Yet he did take a cup of the stuff with him as he took one last final drink, before all eyes were upon him, especially the Sergeant Major.

Beach Head's eyes show nothing but rage as well as the veins to his forehead started to pop out when he then started to turn around to find the kid. When he finally focuses on him he let his rage and fury do the talking while letting all the Joe's, green shirts and Kitchen staff know who he was accusing.

"KID THIS BETTER NOT BE WHAT I THINK IT IS, BECAUSE IF IT IS YOU ME HAVE A DATE WITH DISAPLINE." Of course when Beach Head was yelling out loud he got all the Joe's attention in the room as they all started to focus on the kid.

The kid then knew the jig was up as he was stop making his way toward the back entrance to see all the prying and accusing eyes looking at him. He could see rather pissed off Sergeant Major, a grinning Tunnel Rat, and a plain looking Hawk staring at him.

"Oh hey there guys, uh….um…. you know the weather is really nice today. ""Hey you know this stuff…., it's… um… not really that bad you just got to take in small doses." So awe Shit I just make a strategic withdrawal.

To which I just bolted the hell out of there trying to find a hiding spot till this thing blows over. "Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow go get kid and bring him to my office unharmed if possible," Hawk order. "Beach Head go along with them and supervise, but keep your cool around the kid."" Yes sir."

"As for the rest of you just continue with your lunch, if you have any questions about this stuff, feel free to ask Tunnel Rat." When Hawk took his leave from the mess hall, Tunnel Rat got bombarded with questions on what this stuff was.

"So Tunnel Rat what is this stuff," Duke asked?" Well it goes by many names like Pruno and toilet wine, but it's really just some cooked up Hooch."

"Wait a minute here, did you say hooch?""That's what it is Duke, peach hooch."" What how did he make it?"" You know that's the same question I keep asking myself, but I'm pretty sure Hawk will mostly likely would want us to search the kid's dorm to see how he did it."

Mean while the kid is bolting his ass to find a good hiding spot. Of course he couldn't hide in his dorm from Beach head. So he thought it would be clever to hide in the duct work air vents inside the Machine shop. Of course Foster and Phillips where present there.

"Hey Foster and Phillips, I'm going hide for a few moments, be sure not to tell anyone that I'm here ok." "Uh what are you doing kid?"" Just doing some hide and seek that's all."" Uh ok kid."

Within five minutes both Foster and Phillips now see the two resident ninjas looking about in the machine shop area. At first Foster was going to greet them since they didn't really get those kinds of visitors in the machine shop.

But then they were followed by Sergeant Major Beach Head. ""Hey 5472 and 5473 you didn't see the kid come by here did you?""Uh I think so or maybe?"" What do you mean maybe yes or no?"" Uh yes sergeant major we've seen him he's hiding in the vents."

"Oh really," Beach head questions. He motions both Storm Shadow and Snake eyes to out flank the kid so he couldn't make an escape.

The kid on the other hand could not believe that both Foster and Phillips betrayed him, but probably mostly out of fear from the Sergeant major.

Just then Storm Shadow popped his head thru an air grate to come face to face with the kid. I on the other hand was expecting this, but it he still managed to scare the crap out of me. "Kid your presence is required by Hawk."" Uh you know Mr. Ninja guy I think I'll take a rain check on that," as Mark started to crawl back slowly away from the crazy ass white ninja.

Of course when Mark backed away he then felt a pair of strong hands starting to pull and tug on his legs. "Awe crap who the heck is that?"" That would be my fellow brother tugging on you Mark," creepy white Ninja guy told me.

"Oh you mean that other black ninja guy who don't say much?"" That would be Snake Eyes to you kid." As I felt the tugging getting strong, I could hear the Sergeant Major yelling at my ass to give it up. Yet I wasn't having it, as I was holding on to dear life in this vent.

The big problem for me was that, there was nothing for me to hold on to in this smooth vent. I started to slide out while flaying out my arms, until my hands caught on to edge of the ac vent entrance. I held on to dear life as I looked down a bit seeing Snake Eyes tugging on both of my legs.

I was only about maybe ten feet off the ground, by then I could see Foster, Phillips , and Specialist Cover girl looking at me with a bit of amusement on their faces.

Just then Sergeant Major was sounding off to me." Kid just give it up already and come down and face me like a man." I continue to struggle with my grip holding on while responding to the Sergeant Major. "Not till you calm down a bit Sergeant Major."

Till then I could feel Snake Eyes tugging on me even harder as I was holding on, until I hear a creaking noise. The vent was starting to give away from all the force and pressure load I was giving to it. Just then I lost my grip and started to tumble downwards as I landing on the hood of a VAMP.

From that point on I sort of started to sit up only fall down in a heap as my head and body was throbbing from the pain of hitting the hood. And then I was out, as I started to hear the Sergeant major barking out some orders for a medic.

Later on that day the kid was still unconscious as he was being placed gently on a chair in Hawks office.

Lifeline gave the ok since the kid didn't really break any bones, but just knocked himself out. By this time Lifeline just pulled out a smelling salt and placed it under the kid's nose so he could get a good whiff.

In a few seconds the kid was wide awake, while looking around only to see that he was in Hawks office rather than in the infirmary. He saw Lifeline who just instructed him to look at his small light and follow his finger with my eyes.

Before Mark could say a thing to him, Lifeline just left him only in Hawks office. Just then I looked up to see General Hawk looking at him with a plain stare.

I didn't make a single peep to Hawk as he just sat there. I really didn't want to get on this guys bad side, but I knew in a way it was a bit too late.

For moment Hawk just sat there, before giving out a small sigh to the kid. "Normally I would ask you on how you made that stuff in your dorm kid, but from the extensive search that Tunnel Rat and Duke did I could see that in a way you are very crafty."

"So my first question to you is, who taught you how to do it?"" Well sir it's just that when I was on liberty with Clutch I wasn't allowed to follow them or join them in their fun."" So I just made my way to go about buying my alarm clock, radio, and other stuff I might need."

I could see in Hawks eyes that he really didn't want me to shoot on the details of my shopping spree. "Listen kid I don't want to hear about your shopping ok, I just want to know who taught you how to do this."

"Well to tell you the truth sir, it was a memory that popped up in my head when I was at a store drinking some free peach sample that's all."" In a way part of my memory is starting to come back to me."

"Basically the idea of the peach fire came from a man who visited the orphanage when I was twelve or thirteen."" Along with his wife looking for adoption. ""The last thing I remember was that he was an ex convict looking to do right."

"In a way he saw how we were suffering at the orphanage, but couldn't say or do nothing about it since the head priest did threaten him with cancelation of adoption if he ever mention it to the outside world." "So as a parting gift of pity, he left the recipe to make this pruno with us."

"So private you're telling that some of your memory is coming back?"" Well sir just a small bit of it, I mean it was the peach drink that trigger it.""Anything else kid?"" At the moment no sir."

"Look sir I know you guys looked pretty steamed about all this, so here this." I got up and started to take off my side arm belt and holster along with my SIG P226, along with my dog tags, and ID card and placed it on Hawks desk.

Hawk sat there with almost little to no expression on his face, until the kid started to take his side arm, tags, and ID off. His first thought was that he thinks the kid is resigning.

"You quitting on me kid? ""Well sir since I made something that I wasn't suppose to make, I thought that you wouldn't want me around here anymore. "

"Well I am upset with you don't get wrong kid, but I will not kick you out of here."" You just need a little bit of discipline that's all.""So why don't you hold on to these for a little while longer." As hawk pushed the kids stuff back to him.

"Are you sure sir?"" I'm very sure kid.""Well then what kind of punishment are you planning giving me then?"" Personally I don't really give or dish out punishments." The kid started to sigh in a bit of relief.

When hawk saw this, he thought he should play a bit with the kid." However, punishments are met with my approval and are carried out by the Sergeant Major."" You may know him as Beach Head." The kid's face just turned white all of sudden.

"Oh one more thing private before I let you go, your new room assignment is as follow. ""You're being assigned to Dusty."" Well can I at least get my stuff sir?"" Don't worry about it; we've moved all your things to his room."" By the way he's waiting outside my office."" So why don't you go make yourself acquainted with him."

"Yes sir," the kid saluted while putting his side arm back on with his tags and ID.

Mean while in the mess hall. Head cook Pop's along with his right hand man Roger are doing their normal routine cleaning up the kitchen. Roger comes along with the five gallons of pruno along with the four gallons of the purple stuff.

"Hey Pop's what do you want me to do with this orange shit." Pop's with his rather gruff voice just told him to dump in the sink.

Roger continues to dump the peach pruno down the drain as he held his nose away from the pungent smell." Good god this shit stinks." Though he did saved just a small amount for him and Pop's to try. "Hey Pop's you want to try some of this pruno?"

"Eh sure why not." They both take a good swig from the last container only to gag a bit due to the alcoholic content. "Oh man this shit is strong."" Who made this by the way? ""Did you forget already Pop's, it was that kid."

"Really the kid made this stuff?"" Yeah apparently out of peaches sugar and yeast."" What about that grape stuff over there?"" Well Pop's I think that's just grape juice."" Huh that's not the usual stuff that we usually get anyways."

"Here let me take a sip of it."" Whoa, this isn't grape juice Roger it's sweet like grape juice, but this has a kick to it.""Well Pop's all this stuff came from that kid's room where Tunnel Rat brought it in."" Huh so the kid made this hooch then."

"You know I would like to get to know this kid, I think he could help us out."" Roger get with Thompson and find out more about this kid."