Chapter 15

Dusty pretty much stayed asleep in his top bunk while the kid took the bottom. He didn't really mind him all that much. All he knew is that the kid screwed up royally. Originally he was suppose to get him awake at about 0400 to get the kid fitted and ready for Beach heads punishment to him.

Oh if only this kid knew the kind of shit that he was about to go thru. Dusty turned his head towards the kid's clock radio only to see that it was ten minutes to get up. Officially he woke about twenty minutes ago on his own.

Well at least this kid is a quite sleeper. No snoring which was a huge relief to him since Gung ho was loud and proud with his snore. I look again at the kids clock five minute till, well I guess I'll just get up and get this kid geared up.

"Ok kid rise and shine," dusty exclaimed loudly while turning on the lights. The kid was still sound asleep as Dusty went on. So he did the conventional thing to do in this situation. He shook his ass awake. The kid started to groggily get up.

"Uh what, uh…..what time is it?"" It's 0400 kid now get up."" Wait its 400 am."" Couldn't you just give me thirty more minutes?"" No can do kid, I got to get you geared up and ready for PT."" Huh, you know I dress myself in my own sweats?"

"Oh you're not going in your PT gear kid. ""Huh, what do mean then."" I got to get you geared up, by getting your battle uniform on." Just then Dusty hands the kid his black scout sniper uniform to him.

The kid looked at it since it was made with a rather tough material, possibly cotton with a polyester mix. It was black as can be as it was a long sleeve button shirt with black trousers. With some pockets here and there.

When Dusty meant geared up to me. I thought it was just another uniform for me to put on, not literally putting on all of my armaments. Which included my side arm, my secondary and primary weapons. Along with all the ammunition mags and clips.

Also did I mention, by basic survival gear, along with my med kit, oh let's not forget my helmet as well. All in all it was about maybe seventy five to fifty pounds of gear I had on, but with my AS50 and ACR on me it might as well have been and extra twenty or thirty pounds.

In a way it was close to a hundred pounds worth of gear I had on. Good god I looked like some over grown ape with all this shit on. So my next question to Dusty was. "Are you guys sending me a mission or something?"

"Well the only mission I know of that you're being sent on, is a mission of discipline with Beach head."" All right now let's get going to Pt."

Soon enough I was out of here. Holy shit this stuff was so heavy, that often I thought I was going to lose my balance. Before I could get top side to the PT assembly, I met by Sergeant Major himself. I could tell he had a rather large grin on his face even thought he had is mask on.

"Well good morning kid I'm glad you made it."" Huh you look rather spiffy with your gear on."" Don't worry by the time you're done today you'll be filthy just like any other grunt here."" Oh by the way I got some extra ammo for you."

I chose not to say anything to Beach Head since I didn't want to get yelled at by him, but my eyes protested when I saw the extra magazine belt with ACR ammo. Not to mention another belt with extra mags for my AS50.

Crap I just got another twenty pounds extra. No wait correction. Twenty five more pounds. When Beach head saw my camel empty as he made sure I had water in it. Not to mention the two extra canteens of water attached to my belt.

I guess he heard about my extra studies with Lifeline, since I took a lot of interest in it in wanting to learn of do some minor patching up. Lifeline would often tell me to carry extra water for such purposes. Soon enough Sergeant Major just started to bark orders at me to move it.

When I got to the Pt assembly area, I thought I was going to get a couple of stares, but nope. Instead I just started to exercise. Even on the run this stuff just bogged me down. The positive thing was that my gear and suit did keep me warm throughout the cold morning.

Yet I knew that by the time day light started to hit up, that I would be sweating like a pig. Luckily Sergeant Major was nice enough to let me refill my camel whenever I needed. I guess they didn't want me to get all dehydrated from the constant exercise.

It finally dawned on me that this was the discipline I kept hearing about. I guess this is there punishment for screw ups like me. Every exercise that I had to do I had to do it with all this stuff on, including the obstacle course.

By the time Pt was done, I thought that I was going with the others to get breakfast, but no Sergeant Major had other plans for me. Basically I had to do another run around the perimeter of the base while holding up my loaded AS50.

I pretty much did this for about an hour extra, before I could go and grab some breakfast. Pretty much for the rest of the day they had me with my gear on even when I had to go to classes. At the same time during certain hours of the day Sergeant Major would pull me aside whenever I had free time to do more exercises.

Basically this was my punishment, in which I thought would only last a few days. It turned out to two months, then to be followed by four months of Kp duty. So from sun up to sun down I was completely exhausted.

I often would ask my roommate Dusty, that in the mornings just to shake my ass awake or drop some water on me to get me up. I was doing this so often, that on most nights I would just sleep with my gear on. At least Strike would be there to encourage me to go on and on.

She would tell me that the pay off at the end of all this would be, that I would be much stronger. Yet as the weeks wore on, I knew that this was starting to get to me. I think by week five or six; I was starting to get rather exhausted quickly.

Heck even when I could go to meal times, I would often eat something light or just not really eat all that much. I would even skip meals, as I consumed as much water as I could. By the time I made it to Strikes tutoring session, I was almost completely out of it.

"Ok kid, so I want you to see if you could comprehend this paragraph here?" As Strike got out a simple hook on phonics booklet out. Only for Strike to notice that the kid looked really out of it.

Strike sat there looking at Mark hoping that he would try and focus a little more into his studies, but she knew that he was rather exhausted just from the look on him face. Huh I wonder if I should tell him that he has a few days to go with this punishment of his, well at least the hard part.

"Sigh, you know Mark why don't we call it a night ok."" Because you look like you could really use a good night's rest."

Mark just tiredly looks at Strike with not much of an expression to her, as he tried to get up on his feet only to collapse back into his seat." Look kid, let me help you ok."" Just put your arm around my shoulders ok."

Strike then lifted him up to his feet, only for to grunt a bit do to the amount gear and weight this kid was packing. To which she got her roommate Lady J to help her out.

Within in ten minutes they reached to Dusty's room where the kid sleeps. Luckily Dusty was in to let all three of them into his room to lay the kid on the bottom bunk. Of course they took his weapons to make sure they were not locked or load.

Mark tried to say thank you to Strike and Lady J, but was hushed up quick by Strike only to let him just to have a good sleep.

Man my head was spinning right now, even though I tried to sleep. I used what little bit of strength I had left to get my camel hose into my mouth to take a much needed drink. It didn't last long, because my camel was completely dry after two sips.

I just close my eyes hoping that sleep will take me soon.

The very next morning the alarm clock goes off; Dusty just pops out of bed ready to conquer the new day. "All right kid rise and shine, its start of a new day." Of course when Dusty pops out of bed while heading to the bathroom, the kid is still fast asleep.

"Ok kid you already had your five minutes of extra beauty sleep, it now time to get up." Dusty waits for a few seconds to see that kid is being a bit more stubborn this time. "All right don't say that I didn't warn you," as Dusty went to retrieve a large glass of cold water to get the kid up.

In an instant he dumps large glass of cold water on top the kids head, and yet he still did not flinch." Huh I got to hand to you, but you can't play possum with me forever."

So Dusty went by the kid's bedside to wake him up to old fashion way, by nudging him away. "Ok kid come wake up," as Dusty nudged him on his shoulder. After a few seconds went by, Dusty nudged him again calling him out by his nick name.

After a couple of tries Dusty was now getting a bit concern with the kid. After a third try of trying to get the kid awake, Dusty went ahead and removed the kid'ss blanket. Only to find it completely soaked with this kids sweat.

He also sweated right through his own clothes. He immediately checked the kids pulse. Only to sigh in a small relief that the kid had a pulse, but a weak one at that. Upon inspection, Dusty also notice that the kids breathing was rather fast.

In an instant, he got on the emergency com, to get a medic or Lifeline here on the double. Lifeline answers the com asking what the medical emergency is. "Yeah Lifeline it's me Dusty, but it's the kid he is not responding when I tried to wake him up."" He as a rather weak pulse and somehow sweated right through his clothes."

"All right I'm on way, just don't do anything else." Within the span of seven minutes Lifeline was now in Dusty's room along with a spare gurney. He quickly goes to work in trying to resuscitate the kid as best as he can.

But no dice, nothing was working. Within a couple of minutes, Strike was coming by to see what's the hold is up with the kid. After all she didn't want to see the kid get yelled at by the Sergeant Major, not since he only has a couple days left on this harsh punishment of his.

"Hey Dusty what taking you two so long," as Strike exclaimed while barging in to his dorm. Only she was stopped dead in her tracks, to see Lifeline tending to Mark who looks rather unconscious. While Dusty had a real concern looks on his face.

"What happen to him," Strike said in worried tone." Oh good you here Strike, I actually need the both you to help move the kid back to the infirmary a sap."" The kid is in really bad shape right now, I need to get him stabilize."

Even though the kid was in the lower bunk, they still needed to place him in a gurney that was at the same height. So to improvise, both Strike and Dusty placed the foot lockers of the kids and Dusty to support the gurney.

With Lifelines careful instruction they placed him on the gurney, while Lifeline injected the kid with an IV needle for some much needed nutrients and water. On the single count of one, both Strike and Dusty lifted the kid up, only to grunt out loud from the kids weight.

Dusty was the first to speak up," good god how much gear is this kid packing?""Never mind that Dusty, but I need you two to concentrate on helping me get this kid to the infirmary."

About seven minutes later Lifeline along with an assistant were preparing measures in getting private mark some much needed liquids and nutrients in his body, while both Dusty and Strike started to undress the kid.

It was with much surprise to both Dusty and Strike seeing how much gear, ammunition, and stuff this kid was packed on with. The kid was carrying about three times the amount of ammunition then he would normally carry. Along with extra canteens, a full medical kit, his normal gear, and an empty camel pack.

They also helped removed his battle uniform. To which they were completely soaked from his sweat. From just looking at the kids half naked body they could see that kid was suffering from something.

His skin was chapped and scaly as if it was dried. Even with his eyes closed, they look sunken a bit. His lips were also chapped. "Ok Lifeline we got him undressed and his stuff off," Dusty exclaimed. Lifeline came over quickly to examine the kid a bit more.

While Lifeline was examining him, Strike spoke up with a concern tone. "So Lifeline do you know what's wrong with him." While keeping his gazed on the kid, he promptly answers." Well from the looks of skin, facial features, body heat, and quick breathing the kid is suffering from massive dehydration."

"Don't worry you two, I'll get him back to his old self, in the mean time just go on ahead and get yourself to PT, before Sergeant Major blows his stack."" Also I'll notify Hawk of the situation here." Of course when Strike left she had a very worried look on her face, when Dusty just patted her shoulder.

"Hey don't worry Strike the kid is in good hands. ""Yeah I know, but it just I should have said or done something when Mark wasn't looking to good yesterday."

Two days later the kid was still out of it, as Strike sat there watching the kid whenever she had free time on her hands to make a visit. By now pretty much everyone who was associated with the kid would come by to see how he's doing.

Beach head didn't get much as a scolding by Hawk, since he thought he was in the right make this kid punishment as long lasting as it could be. But after hearing what had happen, he did relent from carrying it out since he felt the kid had learned his lesson well.

Yet I don't think the kid going to be too happy to find out when comes to that the rest of his punishment is KP duty for the next three months. Within a few minutes Lifeline came in to check the kid's vitals. "Hey Lifeline how long do you think he'll be out?"

"It's hard to say Strike."" From the blood test that I ran on him, his volume was really low."" He was that dehydrated," Strike said. "I'm afraid so, anyways I'll be back in thirty." Strike sat back in her chair feeling nothing but guilt.

"I should have said something." Until she heard a faint mumble that drew her out of her thoughts. She then focuses her gaze at Mark.

Mark started to rumble from his slumber, as he started to open his eyes. Everything seemed as blurry to him as he tried to focus a bit.

All man I feel so weak and tired. I take a look around with my eyes only to notice that's it like either late afternoon or early morning. "Oh shit I'm going to be late, awe man Sergeant Major is going to chew my ass out." I tried my best to sit up and get out of bed only to be hindering from someone.

Strike was just as surprised as Mark was as she got up from her chair alerting Lifeline that the kid is awake, while trying to hold him back. "Hey take easy there mark," Strike said with a small smile on her face.

"St…Strike, what are you doing in my room?"" Guess again kid."" Huh,…what do you mean?"" Oh never mind, I got to get to Pt before Sergeant Major chew's me out again."" I know I can make it."" Man why do I feel so weak?"

"You're not going anywhere today kid, you're going to rest ok," Strike said with a bit of sternness in her voice. Just then Lifeline enters to check the kid's vitals once more. "Well I'm glad you are awake kid, now I'm going to do some simple test and checks to see if your vitals are ok."

"Am I'm in the infirmary again?"" You sure are kid, you're lucky that we got to you in time." Before I could ask another question, all of sudden I got a massive headache. To the point where I was about to cry. "Oh god my head, it hurts!"

Strike had a worried look on to her face as she held the kid down, while Lifeline asked few simple questions. "Mark where does it hurt?"" It's like it's on my right side of my head. ""Anything else you can tell me kid? ""Yeah it can barely see out of my left eye."

"Hmm, it sounds like you got a pretty nasty migraine."" I can give a fairly strong pain medication to combat that, but I need you to calm down and rest ok." I just nodded to him instead of answering. When I took his medicine, for some reason I started to feel a bit sleepily. And in a few seconds I was out again.

When I came to again, Strike wasn't around anymore. Then again I think it was morning again, since I got some eggs and waffles for my first meal. Just then Lifeline came in to my room to check on me.

"Oh you're awake Mark, that's good feeling a little bit better today?"" When I turned my head a bit, I could feel a little bit of a mild pain sort like a troubling pain."

"Well don't worry too much about that, it will go away in time."" Uh Lifeline what happen?"" Oh well you were unconscious and unresponsive when Dusty tried to wake you up."" Apparently you were suffering from a major case of dehydration."

"Dehydration, I don't understand I tried to drink as much as I needed, or when Beach Head would allow me."" Well in that case you didn't skip any meal by any chance?"

"Well maybe just one or two I suppose. ""Look Mark I know if you're lying to me, now please be truthful." "All right then maybe like five or seven meals then, but not in a row."" Ok look I know you were very tired and all, but you cannot skip meals like that ok."" It is probably why you got so sick and dizzy, if not for your massive headache."

I just sat there taking in Lifelines scolding to me, only to think about how many problems I already caused. "Man all I do cause you people headaches," as I said out loud in a depressing way. "Hey mark you're not causing me any problems; it's my job to keep up your good health."

Later that day I pretty much just slept and watched some TV. I couldn't help but think of how much of a sorry burden I've been on these people as I lay here moping.

Lunch came by and went as I ate as much as I could. Yet Strike didn't come by until around my dinner time. She came in with happy smile to her face seeing me up. She pulled up a chair to sit next me. "So how are you feeling today kid?"

"Ok I suppose," I said bit softly to her." Hey you ok, you seem a bit down in the dumps?"" I'm sorry I let you down Strike." Strike cocked her head to side," huh why are you apologizing to me?"" I've been nothing but trouble to all of you."

"Huh, what are you talking about?"" I mean look at all the problems I caused," as I turn my head to side to hide my tears. Strike sat there thinking about what the kid was talking about, till she started to put two and two together.

Strike stood up a bit to lean on the railing of the kid's bed, while gently moving his head back to her so she could see his eyes. "Hey don't get teary eye on me."" Look Mark we all make mistakes and for the record you haven't let me down at all."" You just need to learn from them ok."" I'm pretty sure you'll never try that thing again right." I just nodded to her silently.

"Good now cheer up ok, I like when you're happy ok."" Any ways I'm also here to let you know that the hard discipline part is over ok." "What's next for me then?"" Well you'll get to go on your regular routine, but you'll have about three months KP duty lined up for you ok."" I guess that's ok then." Strike just smiled at me letting me know that everything's going to be all right.