Chapter 19

The one thing I say about most plane rides is they kind of suck. For one these seats are not really that comfortable and also this thing is noisy as hell. It also didn't help much that I was hungry as hell. The one thing that was actually going for this ride was the fact that it had air conditioning in here.

I was constantly getting awake by my hunger pains alone. I would often just drink a bit of water from my camel to try and subside it, which would work sometimes. Heck I would try to scrape off any leftover crumbs and chocolate from my old wrapper, which wasn't much at all. Any way I look over to Sergeant Scarlett who was only about a couple of seats away from me.

To me she was sleeping like a baby. But then again I guess when you're fighting as long as she has I guess you get use to this sort shit. And I only had known about that from talking to Strike about her. I take a quick look at my watch to see what time it is. It's about three in the morning. Man why haven't we landed yet?

I mean on the way up it only took about nine to ten hours. Which is getting close to about now. Anyways I started to unstrapped myself out of my chair. I mean it makes no sense that I should be wide awake sitting here staring at this rather empty plane.

As I started to get up, I could feel the movement of the plane itself while in flight. Huh it feels like normal walking only I did hold to some loose straps to keep my balance. I quickly make my way towards the front of the plane.

I do see what looked like a metal door in front of me. So I tried to open which it turned out to be locked. So I just started to knock on it hoping some would answer. But then again I also didn't think they would answer since this plane is kind of noisy.

However I did find a door buzzer next to it. So I pressed it a couple of times. I waited a good five minutes, as I started to turn around to head back to my seat. Until the door final slides open.

Before I took a couple of steps back to my seat, I felt a tap on my shoulder. So I turned around to see who it is. Of course I was a little bit awake seeing another dude in front of me. "Is there something you need or a problem solider?"

"Well that's a first you didn't call me kid." He just stood there not really answering back on my last comment. "Uh yeah, I was wondering where the bathroom is on this crate. ""You need to take piss?"" Yes."" Alright follow me then."

This guy took me to the rest room, which was a laboratory according to the door. I was in there for about a minute draining my lizard. As soon as I got out he was waiting for me. I guess so that I don't wander around.

"Well that was quick kid."" Alright let's go back."" Hey wait a minute man."This flight crew guy starts to turn around a face me." Look kid I can't really do a whole lot of chit chatting right now I got work to do." "Well just hear me out it won't take long."

"Look I was hoping if you guys got like something I can chew on.""Like maybe some crackers or peanuts." He didn't look too amused when I said that, but started none the less. "Look kid this is not a commercial air line flight."" So no we don't have any food on this plane."" Now if you please follow me."

"You got absolutely nothing."" YES kid we got nothing now follow me or else." I just did what he asked and continued to follow him back to my seat. Once he made sure I was back and strapped in I see him turning around as I started to bow my head down hopping I could go back to sleep.

Till he turn around calling me." Hey kid think fast." I looked up as he tossed me something. I grabbed it looking to see what it is. Awe cool he gave pack of chewing gum. I was about to say thanks, but before you know it he was already gone.

I started to tear the pack open. As I stared to chew on a couple of pieces. I was literally eating gum sticks. I think ate through about seven or eight sticks, before I started to chew and the last four or five of them.

Even though gum is not food, I guess this would tie me over till we landed. Awe shit I forgot to ask him when we land. Oh well at least my hunger has been suppressed for little while longer.

A few more hours later, we finally touchdown, I only know of this because ten minutes ago I got a nudge from Sergeant Scarlett to wake up. I too started to stretch out a bit myself, only this time I was really feeling weak.

Even with my Sergeant explaining to me about certain procedure when we land, I had a hard time staying focus on her. I guess she noticed it too, because she told me to forget about it for now and just head back to my bunk, take a shower, and get a hot meal.

Now that I can agree on, as the door hatch started to open from the rear of the plane. Sergeant Scarlett was first to exit. When I came out I literally had to cover and squint my eyes. The sun was very bright today.

As I started to move myself, it felt like I was moving in slow motion. Heck even with one of those flight deck people talking to me felt like he was saying something in a slur foreign language. So I tried to just smile in response to him hoping that would be enough.

I held my head down as I continue to walk on. I wasn't really paying any attention to where I was going. In the distance I could hear someone calling to me. When I looked up I think I saw Strike walking to me. Man even walking was a chore, which is until my legs gave out as I collapsed to the hard hot ground.I started to slip into unconsciousness as I saw my Sergeant coming to me and I think Strike as well.

Ten minutes later in the infirmary, Private Mark is just laid out on a gurney, while Lifeline is checking his vitals. Not really showing much emotion about it, as he continues to write on his clip board. Of course waiting inside the same room was Scarlett along with Strike who was as equally concern about the kid.

According to Lifelines assessment of the kid, the only explanation could be that the kid was merely out of energy do to a lack of food. That is until Scarlett protested it a bit when the kid reassured her that he in fact had an extra snack on hand in his dry pouch.

That is until Lifeline reached it out only to show Scarlett that the kid mislead her. The look on her face was of mere contempt for the kid. Since according to Lifeline the kid was ok, she requested that he should be woken up immediately.

To which Lifeline refused at first, but relented none the less. So he took out some smelling salts and held it up under the kid's nose to take a bit whiff. To Lifelines much relief along with Strikes they could see the kid responding to it.

Oh shit was is that nasty ass smell. I started wake up a bit only to see that I was in bed. Only this wasn't my bed, awe crap I'm in the infirmary again. I see Lifeline in front of me holding out a light checking my vitals to see if I was ok. Next I saw Strike in the room; she had somewhat of an ok smile to me. I was about to say hello, until Sergeant Scarlett got in my face. "Hey there Sergeant, um how are you today? ""I'm doing just fine kid." "Ok, is there something you need or want?"

"Listen up kid, because I'm only going to tell you once, I don't like to be deceived."" Huh deceived, like what do you mean?" Strike then answer to me in a calm tone, "it means that Scarlett doesn't like to be lied to.""You told me specifically that you had extra snack for you when you were treating my injury right?" I sat there trying to put two and two together, until I finally realized what she was talking about.

So in an instant I started to reach for my dry pouch to retrieve my candy wrapper to show her. Until she showed it to me emptying it out the spent shells. "Uh… I can explain that."Scarlett started to cross her arms to me. "Well don't let me keep you waiting."

I started to bow my head in shame, but explain none the less. "Well I was really hungry when we first got there after walking for the first four hours we where there, and since you wouldn't allow me to eat anything I ate my first candy bar to subside it.""When you got injured sergeant I was doing my best to treat your wound, but you were shaking a lot.""So I had to calm you down somehow, that's why i gave my spare candy bar to calm you down.""Yeah well somehow I'm not convinced by your story kid."

I looked up to her in an instant. "I swear to you Sergeant that's the truth.""You sure about that kid, how do I know you're not make up another lie?"" Well…," I'm sort at a loss for words then and there." Well what kid!?"" Go on spit it out!"

Scarlett looked at this kid with utter disdain hoping that he would say something rather inflammatory about why he did what he did.

I can see my Sergeant looking at me angrily, I really didn't want to say what I really felt about being here all alone, but I guess I got back up into a wall. So I started to rant on what I feel about myself.

"It's because you matter more here than I do."" If I was to die in that jungle yesterday, then I would have gladly accepted it. ""But you Sergeant you got friends, comrades, and love ones that care about you. ""Saving you would have been more important than saving myself."" I got nothing."" The sooner I'm gone the easier it would be on rest of you." "I was born with nothing and I'm going to die with nothing and that how it should be."

To Scarlett this was something totally unexpected, like a huge curve ball. She somewhat back away bit from him and eased up her stance. In a way she somewhat regretted for even pushing the question on the kid.

As for Strike she was just standing there not really wanting to listen in on Scarlett's grilling the kid with what mistakes he may have made, but when he started to say his true feelings that's when she looked up a bit and turned around to face him. To her this was new, as she felt really sorry for him.

Lifeline too was really minding his own business as kept on checking and writing on his clip board. He knows better than to get in the way when Scarlett is pissed off. However when he heard the Private Mark's testimony, he too look up bit which much concern.

Scarlett then opened up first; "well just don't lie to me ever again ok. ""Um you can go about your day as normal." Soon enough she walked out along with Lifeline. Strike herself was now alone with Mark. She really didn't know what to say to him. Yet it started to get awkward a bit, so she opened up first.

"Hey Mark,… um if you ever feel that you to talk a bit, I'm always willing to listen."" Look Strike I know you're just trying to help, but really I just want to be left alone ok."" Yeah, but…."

Mark just started to turn around on his bed not wanting hear anything from Strike. She got the gist of it then and there and started to walk out. She stopped for a moment by the door to look back at him with frown on her face, but then just walked out.

Later that day Lifeline finally released me saying that I was ok and maybe to take it slow today. As a bit of encouragement to me, he did told me that I did an excellent job in treating Scarlett's wound. To which I just nodded back to him.

For the rest of the day I was off. Since whenever you do come back from a mission, command usually gives you a day or two for resting purposes. So I just went about it normally.

Of course the first place I stopped by was my dorm, so I stow away my gear and weapons. Next I took a good long warm relaxing shower. After I got dressed and checked my watch only to notice that it was only 11:00 am. Man I got another hour before lunch what to do what to do.

So to keep myself occupied I decided to break down my weapons and clean them. After I was done with that then I headed for some lunch. I did my usual as I grabbed my tray and sat down to munch away.

The rest of the day was fairly simple and nice. Mostly because I was excused from going to my classes. Heck I can't even remember the last time I had a whole day to myself. I spent most of the day watching some action packed movies in the recreation room.

While after dinner time, I decided to go back to my dorm to pull out my satellite radio. In a way I was really excited about this, mostly because I can't really remember the last time I was listening to it. First and foremost I took my canteen to the mess hall hoping to fill it up with some red stuff. I know for a fact that the red stuff was mostly just a cherry or strawberry non sugar drink.

At first I thought I was going to be asked twenty questions by the KP staff or some random Joe, but not at all.

I quickly make it top side to setup my radio hoping it could grab on to a signal, which didn't take long. Next I found another perch for myself. I take a few good swigs of the red stuff. The sun is still out, but I could see in the distance that it was starting to set.

As I flipped through some channels, I tried to find something listenable. But I knew what I liked, that EDM music. When I first listen to it a while back I knew this was my kind of music for me. My favorite types were progressive, house, and trance. I would have to say that trance is my favorite by far.

Like I said before most of my green shirt friends and Joes that I work with, just couldn't understand what this stuff was. I guess I'm in the minority for this one. But who cares I was enjoying myself for once. Hell even I would often get into myself; unfortunately I really don't know how to dance.

I looked it up on the internet here at the pit only to find out, that people dancing to edm just looked like a bunch of people just jumbled together. I guess mostly for the free expression sort of thing. So in a way I guess there's no lesson to it. Anyways I just keep listening on for next hour or two.I did make sure to check the time; after all they do shut the doors around a certain time. So I made the most of this short time to myself.

Meanwhile in the debriefing conference room, Scarlett was preparing herself to report directly to Hawk. Normally for her she would just go through the motions on paper work and reports. Yet she kept thinking about what the kid had said today. Apparently Strike decided to tag along only I knew what she was thinking as well. Yet those thought went away for now as Hawk enter the room.

They stood at attention waiting for Hawk to acknowledge them. Which he eventually did. He looked over Scarlett to see ready to give her report, but then he also noticed Strike as well.

"Strike what are you doing here? ""Well sir, I was hoping I could have talk with you sir."" Alright then go on ahead."" Well sir I was hoping after your debriefing with Scarlett."" And why is that Strike."" Well Sir it's more or less about Private Mark."

"Hmm…. Well then I suppose it could wait." He then turned his attention towards to Scarlett. "Well Scarlett was the mission a success? ""Yes sir it was. ""I do have the data records here for your review on the location and any tactical data that you may need."

Hawk nodded with approval, "good work then. ""I guess my next question would be is, how did the kid perform?"Scarlett with much approval in her voice said," he did his duty sir with absolute distinction." "We were pursued by a cobra patrol in the area. ""I received a small flesh wound while my M4 received damage as well."

"Private then took command of the situation and did what he was trained to do. ""He took out all ten targets without any hesitation and very skillfully took care of my wound."

"I see so the kid did his job and with much approval on your part? ""Yes he did sir.""Well then I will look over this data and see where we go from here, till then I suggest you rest up and continue on with your duties as usual."" Yes sir," Scarlett said as she saluted." Good you are dismissed."

Hawk himself took the data card and tucked it away in a file. As he looked up he was now going to have his small conversation with Strike that is until he saw Scarlett still standing there.

"Is there something else on your mind Scarlett," Hawk asked? Scarlett stood there biting her lip while moisten them at the same time. She went over in her mind over and over again on how she should address about the kids state of mind to Hawk. Yet when she opened her mouth it came out all wrong.

"It's about the kid sir."" Go on. ""Well sir I don't know if I should say this, but I don't if he is happy here." Hawk relaxed a bit in chair wondering what Scarlett is saying. "'What do you mean? ""Well sir I confronted him on certain issues that happen to us out in the field."

"It was more or less than a thought that he was lying to me about certain food items that he had in possession, when he was treating my wound."" In the infirmary I kept grilling at him about it till he pours out his soul in a way."

"What I'm getting at sir, is that I think that he feels very alone here." In an instant Strike started to come into the conversation. "Sir if you just let me talk to him for a little bit, I'm sure I can find out what's really bugging him." "I don't think he's really all that sad or alone here yet if I could"….. Strike was cut off then and there when Hawk raised up his hand to silence her.

"I take that your where there in the infirmary with the kid when he said all this out loud Strike?"" Yes sir.""" I see well then you two are dismissed for now." Both saluted to Hawk which he promptly returned.

Hawk sat there for moment pondering a bit about the kid. He then looked to his roll decks to find the resident psychologist here the Pit.