Chapter 18
Now I know what most people are thinking. How can you really sleep on a noisy ass transport? Well at first I tried to follow Sergeant Scarlett's approach, by just shutting my eyes. But rather than just fight with the constant noise and turbulence. I just went with the flow. And soon enough I was sleeping like a baby.
Every once in a while I will wake up kind groggy but then just fall asleep as normally. Till I felt a few nudges and pokes on my part. When that didn't work, I was all of sudden shaken awake by my shoulders.
"Wake up kid," Scarlett said sternly to me. I started to look a bit groggy and tiredly ask Sergeant Scarlett "are we here."" Almost kid, we'll be landing in about ten minutes. ""So get your gear ready, because we are taking off as soon as we touchdown."
"Yes Sergeant," is all I said. However I did take a quick peek at my watch to see what time is it. Let's see we took off around 1800 hours and its now nearly 0400. Uh so the trip only took about nine or ten hours I suppose.
Well in any instances I'm actually pretty well rested. So as soon as I check in my gear we finally landed. As soon as we got the all clear the back hatch open to let us off. As soon as I made it out side, all I could see was perpetual darkness.
I mean I can see the moon up in the night sky. I was quickly taken out of my moon gazing when Sergeant Scarlett patted on my shoulder to follow her. For the most part I really wasn't paying any attention around me other than following my Sergeant. Yet from the constant noises of vehicles and people going out and about I could tell that this was rather bustling sub base.
Soon enough we came up to a transport chopper. It was a pretty intimidating sight of a chopper. I mean this thing had missiles and all sorts of guns mounted on it. It also had a fairly good size mid section to sit in. of course it also had mounted guns on both sides.
I thought at first we were going to check in, but nope we just hopped on aboard. As it was schedule to a tee. I mean I didn't even meet up with the pilot at all. Also the two green shirt gunners were fairly silent to us. I mean it was kind of awkward.
And just like that we were off in jiff. We practically sat on a bench next to each other. I noticed that my Sergeant was putting on a helmet. I guess so that she can get in contact with the pilot. For me however I was mentally preparing myself.
Yet one of those green shirt gunners came by me with a spare helmet for me to put on as well. He actually did help me with it especially on the communicator part of it. Next thing I know it I could hear Sergeant Scarlett calling to me.
"Can you hear me kid?" I turned to her and nodded, but also answered back to her." Yes Sergeant." "Good, ok we'll be touching down in about fifteen."
"One more thing kid be sure to set your watch for 1800 hours."" Before you ask that's when our ride is coming back."" Also one more thing kid, it's just going to be us down there."" So I'll watch your back and you watch mine."" I'll do my very best to get us to the target and back in fourteen hours."
"I'll take point and you bring up the rear. ""Do you understand kid?"" Yes Sergeant Scarlett you can count on me."" I hope so kid."
Once the fifteen mark passed on by I could tell in a way we were making our decent to the ground. I saw a red light near the exit. Once it turned green, we were given the all clear to exit. The great thing was that the pilot did make a smooth landing to the ground level. That way we didn't have to jump down.
Once we exited the chopper I continued to stay close to Sergeant Scarlett. And like that I could hear the chopper flying off in the distance. We ran about two to three hundred feet, till Sergeant Scarlett told me to crouch down.
In that same instance she order me in a whisper tone to turn on my night vision specs. To me it had that science fiction feel to it. We still remained crouching down in the tall grasses. I could hear all sorts of bugs going off in the night.
I guess in a way Sergeant Scarlett was getting her bearings to see which way we had to travel. It didn't take long for her to do so since she motioned to me to follow her within five paces to her rear. I had my trusty ACR at the ready as always.
In a way it was kind of weird to me that somehow my instinct didn't took over at all. I guess in a way it would only take over when I would start to aim and shoot I suppose. But then again what would I know about it.
We continued to walk but at a very constant pace. I guess in a way Sergeant Scarlett wanted to keep to her word about finding our objective and getting back. Even when I was walking I could tell that the foliage was starting to change after a couple of miles or klicks as they put it.
It went from tall grasses and very little trees in the area to all of sudden lots trees and somewhat of a barren ground. Though I'm sure there has to be some loose leaves, rocks, and dirt.
I remember reading up about the rainforest of Honduras and Nicaragua back at the pit. I mean I only had little bit time to look it up, but none the less I tried to get as much info in order to get a better understanding of my mission surroundings.
I guess in a way Sergeant Low-Light was right. That the trees and brush in the jungle did make you feel as if you were in a tight space. So having both of my weapons was solid plus to that.
Within a couple of hours the sun started to make its way up into the sky. Even though treading through the jungle the sun barely made it through. I guess from all the thick leaves from the trees up above. But none the less I was order by my Sergeant to turn off and put up my night vision specs.
Just like from the pictures that I've seen before, the jungle is green and beautiful. Especially hearing from the nature around, like the birds, the bees, and the monkeys. Soon enough Sergeant Scarlett motioned me to stop and take a knee.
"Ok this looks like a good place to stop and take five." For me I just nodded back to her in response. Finally I was able to get off of my feet. I take a quick look at my watch to see that its 0800. Wow we've been walking for about four or maybe five hours. All I know is that I'm bit hungry myself.
So I spoke up a bit for Sergeant Scarlett to hear me. "Uh Sergeant can I ask you something?" She took a quick glance back at me, but turned her head back I guess to cover the front." Go on kid what's on your mind."
"If it's not too much to ask, can I have a quick nosh for breakfast because I'm feeling a bit peckerish here?" She really didn't answer at first, but she did check her watch." Sorry kid, we really don't have the time to stop right now and eat." "Besides I didn't really pack any M.R.E's."
"Oh not to worry sergeant I was able to stow away a couple of oranges from the mess hall."" I see well we still cant stop right now. ""We really are on a tight schedual."
"Oh," is all that I really said back to her. Scarlett herself turned a bit to see the kid bowing his head down after that response. In that small moment she decided to be a little bit leant with the kid. "Look kid I'll tell you what. ""If you hurry and make pace with me, then I'll let you have something to eat most likely around noon time."" But you have to keep up with me is that understood?"
I perked up a bit when Sergeant Scarlett told me her deal. None the less I agreed with her. "Yes Sergeant", as I responded back to her. Good now let's get going.
And just like she said we started to move at a much faster pace. Almost like a speed waking if not a light jog. The path would often go a bit up and a bit down and over some small streams. Luckily in our case we didn't have to cross any major rivers in area.
None the less my hunger pains kept growing inside me. And then it hit me, didn't I pack a couple of candy bars in dry pack, as I thought to myself. As we kept moving, I was able to check it and see that I did in fact pack two good size bars.
Ah a simple chocolate, peanut, and some gooey nougat. All I know it's good as the chocolate melt down my throat. Of course I was on the go, so I couldn't really enjoy it as much as I could. The cool thing was that my dry pouch kept it from melting on me. So I chomped on it as fast as I could. I kept the wrapper since I didn't feel like littering. Then I took a few sips of water from my camel to wash it down.
In an instant my hunger pains went away. That should tie me over till lunch time when ever Sergeant Scarlett said so.
Later on the day I could tell that Sergeant Scarlett was slowing down up head of me. When she started to crouch down, she motioned me to do the same. But at the same time motion me to come by her side carefully.
When I was by her side I was about to open up, till she beat me to the punch. In small soft whisper, she told me to be still. "Ok kid be absolutely still."" I found a trip wire to frag grenade." I kept focusing to find such a thing. It is only when Sergeant Scarlett took some loose dirt and sand and blew off her hand when she showed me what a trip wire was.
And sure enough the dust started to collect on to it and it was bright as daylight. I quickly took notice as my Sergeant went to work on disarming it in front of me. "This means we're getting close to our objective kid," as Scarlett spoke in a whisper.
After she disarmed it she motioned me to once again follow, but to follow exactly where she steps. It also became apparent from that moment on that she wanted me to switch out weapons. I knew enough common sense by that point to switch out to my M110 sniper rifle.
As I unzipped it out quietly, Sergeant Scarlett was able to fine a perfect perch to stay hidden. The cool thing was the Sergeant Low-Light did make the adjustments to this rifle for me already, in that one my scope had a small covering near the lens area so it wouldn't reflect in the light. And two the suppressor was already equip to it so I wouldn't have to bother putting it on. I quickly folded the carrying case and stashed it in my pack. I then quickly locked and loaded my rifle.
Soon enough I started to crawl to Sergeant Scarlett's position quietly. When she noticed me, she started to scoot over a bit to give me some room. She had her tactical binoculars out and a small device that looked like a box with a lens on it.
I step up my rifle with its own stand and started to survey the area. From the looks of it I knew for a fact that we were in an elevated position. There were a lot of brush and small trees in the bottom. What was weird about it to me was that in the small area of about maybe few hundred yards in all directions it seems that the jungle has been cleared in this part of the rain forest.
I kept my focus all around the area, scanning it. When the wind hit it just right, I could make out what looked like some stone structure. I then patted on to Sergeant Scarlett's arm as she was lying down on her stomach much like me.
"What is it kid do you see something?" We kept up with our whispering. "I think so Sergeant; if you focus on my line of sight you can see a stone structure near the tree line." I could tell that she started to follow my line of sight and saw what I was looking at.
"Good eye kid."" What is it Sergeant?"" From the looks of it kid, I would say that they are ruins of some sort."" But I want you to keep focusing around the area." I did as she asked of me while she started to set up some kind of small tripod with that small box attaching to it.
Within a few short minutes, I started to see some people in the area." Found something Sergeant." "What did you find kid?"" Uh they look like people."" Kid just describe them to me."" Ok, they seem to be wearing all black and some in all blue. ""They are armed fairly well."" They got some sort of solid silver visor on covering their face."" They also seem to have some kind emblem on their chest in red." "Almost like a snake's face."
"Good kid just keep looking." When I kept looking at these dudes, I started to get vision in my head. For some odd reason these people looked familiar to me. I made sure to keep that to myself.
For Scarlett she quickly finished setting up the surveillance equipment to record the hidden Cobra base at their vantage point. It will scan all sorts of data from the layout of area, to the size structure and possibly how many men strong it holds.
As she promised before, she took a quick look on her watch only to notice that it was 1130. And in a way now was a good enough time to let the kid eat, since this kid did a good job keeping up with her and all.
"All right kid as promised you can eat now if you like." I quickly take out the oranges and pass one over to Sergeant Scarlett while at the same time not taking my focus on the task at hand. Cool thing was that Sergeant was nice enough to peel mine first.
. I quickly take a gander at Sergeant Scarlett to see if see is enjoying her orange as much as I am. But then she takes notice of me, only to ask me what's wrong.
"Is there something wrong kid?"" Wow you already done eating that's fast I said back to her. ""Yeah I'm sure am now back to task at hand kid.""Yes Sergeant. ""To Scarlett's dissatisfaction she wished she could have used better judgment in packing some actual food for the mission.
Any way she kept looking to her watch only to notice that it won't be long for the surveillance camera to get done looking over the location as well as provide itself with the coordinates of the location
Within a span of ten minutes the surveillance camera was done, while giving off a small vibration to let Scarlett know it was done. She quickly checked her watch letting her know that it is now 12:10. Not showing much emotion about it, only to her approval that she was ahead of schedule. Yet she knew she couldn't tell that to the kid.
After all she was there to test out the kid's abilities and to see how he handles himself under pressure. Hopefully this kid would keep a level head, especially if they were to get into a fire fight. Mostly because most green shirts she has run across were fairly hot headed as if they got something to prove.
Yet she knew all too well from looking at this kids track record on his marksmanship. It impressive to say the least, he could actually give her a run for her money. But enough thoughts on that, I have a mission to fulfill.
Scarlett quickly starts to break down the equipment putting up the pieces carefully and quietly. Of course she kept to most import part of it close to her at all times which happens to be that data memory card.
When the time came, which was about five minutes after the fact Scarlett then taps the kid on his shoulder.
I turn my over to see Sergeant Scarlett to see what she wanted. In that instant she told me silently that our time is up. So we both crawled back on our stomachs and slowly got up to knees. I get the gist since, Sergeant told me that we are done for now.
I walked very carefully following Sergeant Scarlett, till she felt that we are in the clear and started to make our way back to the drop point. At first I thought it was going to be an easy jog back, but nope it was a steady fast pace back.
Cobra troopers that were making their patrol rounds around the perimeter of the hidden sub base all of sudden got a message from HQ. "This is Major Bludd we have reports from our motion sensors in the North east of movement."" If you find anything eliminate it."
Within in minutes the Cobra patrol of ten strong reached the suspected area, but found nothing. Until one of them found some faint tracks and some orange peels. They reported in only to be rebuffed by Major Bludd to seek out and destroy any intruders in the area by any means.
Man all I can say that Sergeant Scarlett was either in a hurry or was just giving me a good workout. I couldn't really choose which it was. But none the less, I think we are making some good time. Every once in while she would look over her shoulder to see if I was keeping up.
Soon enough we reached to an area with some small boulders that were cover in some kind of moss. The area was fairly open if not. I mean I'm pretty dame sure were still in the jungle.
"Ok kid I think this is a good stop to take five." I was about to sit down myself till I felt the call of nature. So I spoke up rather hastily. "Uh Sergeant?" Sergeant Scarlett looked up to me as she was sitting on a boulder herself. "Yes what is it kid?"" Uh I got to go."" Ok just go then." I quickly strapped up my M110 and started to unzip my pants, not more than maybe three feet from Sergeant Scarlett.
"Whoa what are you doing Private!?"" What do you mean I'm about to go."" Really Private in front of me."" But I was always told not to veer off from the group when it comes to pissing Sergeant."" Yeah I can see that Private, however since it the two of us, please use better judgment. ""And go do your business elsewhere is that understood?"" Yes Sergeant."
I just take off about maybe twenty or thirty feet away from Sergeant. Of course as soon as I passed her I could tell that she was nodding her head me in disappointment.
When I found a good spot I just started to drain my lizard. Oh god it felt so good. I take a quick glance at my piss to see if I was in need of hydration. Luckily for me none was needed. The only problem was that I was getting a bit hungry again.
That orange only suppressed my hunger for a short while. Hmm I could go with my second candy bar while I'm pissing here. That is until I heard some gun shots in the distance.
I quickly zipped up my pants pulling out my M110 at the ready. From the noise I could tell that it was multiple rifles in the area. The good thing was they weren't coming in my direction. But then my eyes widen in shock only to think that they were mostly like aiming at Sergeant Scarlett. So I quickly and quietly started to make my way back to her position.
Moments ago
Scarlett was enjoying her small rest sitting on top of the many moss fill boulders in the area. In a way she was laughing a bit the kid's folly. After all he is somewhat of kid. I guess he sort of uptight in hoping that he doesn't piss me off. Man I should've packed some sort of ration pack, because I'm getting a grumble in my tummy, Scarlett thought to herself. Yet finishing the mission came first and foremost for her.
Well he better be getting back here quick time is almost up. Scarlett picks up her M4 Carbine only to stop for a moment standing still. Wait something's not right. In an instant it all happened in a flash. Gun fire coming from the front of her.
Running on her own adrenaline. She was able to duck back into one the many boulders ready to return fire. She was cursing to herself on letting these snakes get the drop on her like that. From her fire position she could possibly make out maybe nine or ten of them.
Only she wasn't going down that easily. She was about to fire back only to realize that the kid was out there. A million things were going through her mind. After all she was responsible for him. But all matters aside she has to survive this first.
She pulls out her M4 ready to fire back; only when she pulled the trigger it had a misfire. She tried to cock it again. Only to realize that cocking latch was not moving. She quickly takes a gander only to realize that her rifle was damaged as it bore a large hole in the receiver area.
She cursed again to herself. Unfortunately for her she didn't bother to pack her cross bow with her. The only armament she had left other than her tactical knife was her Beretta. She wasted no time taking it out firing back at those snakes.
The instinct took over me once again. I was moving very stealthy along the jungle floor. As always my combat instincts guided my body as my conscious watched within me. In an instant I was able to find a perfect perch that kept me hidden from the main fight.
I could see that Sergeant Scarlett was pinned down behind a couple of boulders that were able to give her good cover. From looking through my scope I was able to make out her using her side arm. She would return a few rounds back to them, when they fired off their own weapons.
As for the enemy targets, I could make out about ten of them. All armed with various weapons, from Uzi's, to modified M-16's, to scorpion machine pistols. From my vantage point I was to see how they fight. It looked rather chaotic and unorganized. They would fire off their weapons all at once, most likely to scare their perspective enemy into surrendering.
Yet apparently they were learning rather quickly that they had the numbers. Soon a couple of them split off from the main group to see if they could out flank their enemy. Which was all too perfect for me, so I focused on them first to eliminate them from the picture. These two were rather quick on their feet as they were coming in my direction.
As soon as they were no longer in sight of their main group, that's when I made my move. I focused my first shot on the one the left as they started to slow down. I lined up my shot and slow my heart rate down. I squeezed the trigger slowly as my first round zipped out of the suppressor.
A direct head shot dead center right between the eyes. Even thought they wore some kind of visor I knew this guy fell down like sack of potatoes. Before his comrade could tell what was happening he only stood there for a minute looking at him. He finally realizes what had happen as he looked up and tried to run away only for me to take him out in an instant.
I mutter to myself, two down eight to go. I quickly realigned my next shots to see if anything had changed. Oddly enough nothing at all. They were still all grouped together. I quickly started to pick my targets carefully, until my core instinct decided to fire off rounds that would match to Sergeant Scarlett's pistol fire.
It worked very well to my instincts satisfaction. As Sergeant Scarlett would fire off her pistol, I would shoot off my rifle to these cowards. Man they were dropping like flies too. They could never tell that it was coming from me. Five of them lay dead from where they stood. The last two in an instant made one last effort to kill my Sergeant. They immediately started to charge up the middle running to some cover. I was able to take out one of them before it reached to its cover. The last one however was well covered.
Yet I didn't need to wait long, as I could tell that he started to reach out for a grenade. Again I took aim at him only this time I aimed for the grenade at hand. I waited as he pulled the pin ready to lug it over. That's when I took the shot. Blowing his ass up before he even let's go of it.
I quickly surveyed the area seeing if there were anymore. Once I was satisfied, I started to come out of my perch heading back to Sergeant Scarlett's position. She started to shift her body moving to get a better position in seeing if there were any more of them.
As I made my way back to her I could see in her eyes the seriousness of her demeanor, but relief none the less of seeing me ok. I was about to help her to her feet, until I heard some movement in the distance.
I quickly lie down on my stomach popping out my M110 kick stand. It was another one of them only this one was running away. In five seconds flat this guy was down. One shot back of the head. Unknowingly I started to sound off to the Sergeant in a formal fashion. "All tem targets are accounted for and down."" Ten rounds out of twenty used."
Scarlett sat there kind of dumbfounded hearing this kid sound like some kind of robot to her, but none the less he did do his job. So her only response to the kid was good job. Instantly I went back into control of myself once my instinct was done.
I got up saying back to Sergeant Scarlett, "come again Sergeant." Scarlett looked over the kid as if something was wrong with him, but she quickly pushed those thoughts aside. After all they now more than ever have to make it back to the drop zone quickly. Who knows if those snakes radio in their position before they got taken out by the kid?
"Uh nothing kid let's get going who knows if they are more of them out here." I just nodded back to her about to help her up and hand her back her M4 to her since it was on the ground next to her. Until I looked over it. "What happen to your rifle Sergeant, there's a large hole in the fire mechanize part of it."
"It's really nothing private." Man no wonder why she was using her side arm. So I quickly unstrapped my ACR and offered it to her. "Here Sergeant take my ACR." Without hesitation Scarlett nodded with approval and took the kids ACR.
I held my hand up to her so I could help her up as she did take. We were about to leave in an instant only when I heard a rather large grunt coming from Sergeant Scarlett. I turned around only to see her on her hands and knees while holding on to her right thigh.
I quickly get at her level to see what's up with her. "What's wrong Sergeant?" She batted me off saying it was nothing. But a much closer look revealed to me that she was in fact injured. I pleaded with her to let me take a look at it only for her to rebuff me every time.
"Sergeant please let me take look ok, I can probably help you." At first Scarlett really didn't want the kids help, but relented eventually. Mostly because in the future they are going to have to trust the kid sooner or later. "Alright you can go right ahead and try kid, but you better not hurt me or I'll hurt you back."
I just nodded back to her and went to work. The first thing I did other than pulling out my med kit was to use a cleaning wipe to sanitize my hands. Next I pulled out an extra canteen of water to wash the wound a bit. I sighed a bit of relief only to know that my Sergeant had nothing more than a simple flesh wound that grazed the side of her right thigh.
I took out my scissors and started to cut a little bit on her black skin tight trousers. In a way I could sense that she was really nervous and in some odd way I could've sworn that I heard her stomach rumble. I stop and looked over to my Sergeant.
"Sergeant I really need you to calm down a bit ok." She just nodded back at me but none the less continue to shake a bit. I sigh a bit waiting on her yet I think it got even worse, because she shaking a bit more. In the back of my mind in knew I was going to regret this since I was getting a bit hungry myself. But priories first I got to take of my Sergeant.
So I reached into my dry pouch to retrieve my other candy bar. I also slipped in a couple set of empty cartridges into my empty wrapper in case my Sergeant were to ask me if I had another bar for myself.
"Here Sergeant eat this it's not much but it will help keep you calm and maybe fight off your hunger as well." She took it a bit slowly from my hand, but still asked me what it is. "It's just a simple candy bar that's all."" What about you do you have an extra one for yourself in case you need it."
I quickly pulled out my false bar tricking her into thinking that I had extra one even though I ate mine much earlier in the day. "Very well then kid, I usually don't eat much candy, but this will suffice.
The moment she started to chow down on it she was more relaxed now. I quickly got to work. I did my very best to clean her wound, while adding a blood clotting enzymes to help stop the bleeding. I also injected a fairly mild none drowsy pain killing injection. Then I finally patched up her wound, while writing some abbreviations on to it in case when she visits Mr. Lifeline on a follow up.
I quickly looked back to her letting her know that I was done. I held out my hand while letting her know to take a little bit easy to see if she could stand and start moving.
I could tell that she was a bit hesitant at first, but she also knew that we got to get out of here fast. So she got up quick and fast without so much as wincing or flinching to her previous pain. She nodded to me with much approval, but also instructed me to keep up with her.
We started off again, only this time almost into a fast run. Within a couple of hours we finally reached to the drop zone with no one behind us. It was as if no one followed us back. Which I knew was a huge sigh in relief from my Sergeant.
We quickly boarded the trooper transport back to our Sub base in Honduras. As soon as we touched down there my insides were already grumbling. I thought at first we were going to hang here for few hours so I can get some grub for myself, but nope we immediately got on board another transport to take us back to the pit.
Once we got on I knew Sergeant Scarlett was getting some much needed shut eye, yet for me my hunger pains continued. It was getting to the point that it was driving me bit insane. So I just continued to drink from my camel hopping it would subside, which it eventually did. As I sat here I too was getting a bit drowsy as I started to fall asleep on the long haul back.