Chapter 20
The very next day went about as usual, I got up did my pt, ate breakfast, and showered up. I was about to head on out to my first class, till some random green shirt dude came by and hand me a slip of paper. I asked what gives, only to be told that they were orders specifically for me.
So I opened them up and started to read them. It says here that I'm to report to the social service office, mark mutter to himself. I was to look up and ask my fellow green shirt where it was, but he took off. So I sort started to take off myself.
I kept wandering around the pit trying to find this place. I was able to get another green shirt to help me go in the right direction, but his own directions were rather confusing to me. I kept going on through hoping I was going in the right direction.
Now I was in area that looked really deserted, because I didn't really see anyone else nearby. I kept thinking to myself that I should retrace my steps. I hope I wasn't late or on a time constraint.
The big problem with this place was that it was rather large and that it looked the same no matter where I went. Metal walls and pipes all over and it's not like they had any instructions printed out on this slip of paper.
When I turned a corner I wasn't really paying any attention to where I was walking, that I ran into another guy. It was kind of weird because I think we both hit at the same time. "Ah shit I'm sorry I wasn't paying any attention to where I was going man."
"Hey no worries guy, I should've being watching were I was going too." When I recollected myself I look up to see a man about my height only older than me. He had blonde hair and fairly well built frame as well. He was basically dressed in a black shirt and black camo pants as well.
"Well if you excuse me sir, I'll be on my way." He just nodded to me as I started to try and move forward only to sort of back trace a bit. "Say there are you lost or something?" I turned around to face him only to say, "well sort of." "I'm trying to find the social service offices."
"I mean these orders don't really tell me where to go and yeah I think I might be lost.""Social services, yeah I know where that is, here just follow me and I'll lead you to it." "Hey thanks buddy just lead the way." As I started to follow this guy, he started slow down a bit so he walked alongside me.
"Say there, I never caught you're name by the way. ""Oh I'm sorry my name is private mark, but most people call me kid."" Kid?, huh I never would have thought of that." "But then again you do look a bit young. ""Yeah I get that a lot here."
"What about you what's your name? ""Well some call me Psy. ""Huh interesting name I suppose."" Yeah it is kind of interesting." After walking for another five minutes, I think I finally made it. Mostly because the door did say Social services on it.
"Ok kid here we are. ""Hey man thanks a bunch." I started to turn the knob on the door, only to realize that it was locked. "Ah shit I guess I'm late or this guy is out to lunch."" Well hey don't worry kid, because I got a key to get you in."
As I stood back, while Mr. Psy started to unlock the door it finally dawned on me that was the guy I was suppose to meet here at social services.
"Ok kid, why don't take seat over there across from my desk."" Uh ok, let me get this straight you wouldn't happen to be the social service guy?"" Good guess kid, but my code name is Psyche-Out."" But if you want to be more formal you can just call me Captain."
"Captain, as in a captain like an officer here?"" Yeah pretty much kid." Just then l literally started to stand at attention while saluting to him. "Private Mark reporting as order sir." As I stood there waiting for a salute back, the Captain here just gave a rather small smirk to me.
"All right kid look, I'm not really at all that formal here, so you really don't have to salute to me that often." "I guess if another Joe where to see you next me then go right ahead."" Uh you're sure sir," as stood there holding my salute?
"Yes I'm very sure, now please sit down." I just started to sit down as he instructed to me. I started to look at him as he seemed to be going through some papers. It seems like forever since I was sitting here in silence waiting for the captain to start.
So I broke my silence. "Uh captain can I ask you something?" His response to me was that he was still looking at his file. "Sure thing kid.""What am I doing here and what am I suppose to do?"" Hmm well I'm in charge of social services for the entire personal here in the pit.""And as far as what you are here for, is to just talk that's all."
"You just want to talk to me, is that's all," I said confusingly?" Yeah that's the plan for today," as Psyche-Out said back. I see him put up his file and started to focus on to me. "About what sir? ""Well nothing really in particular other than how you're feeling."
"Oh one more thing do you prefer to be called Mark, private, or kid? ""Well sir I really don't like be called kid too much, but I guess I'm sort of use to it.""I guess that's all I'll ever be here."" Now why do you say that?"
"Well sir I think it's because that's what everyone here sees me, as a kid.""Even though I'm already nineteen, I mean I'm practically an adult already," as I whine about it crossing my arms. "Ah I see, so you want to be treated as an adult, I suppose."
"Well yeah, I guess that's what I'm saying.""Well then private, I think they only call you that because in a way you're still learning.""But as far as I see I think your superiors are treating you like an adult.""How so sir?""Well for one you have special clearance to carry your weapons around and you get to go on missions." "Which by the way I don't see too many year one or two green shirts doing too much."
"I guess you got a point there sir.""Well I guess what I'm trying to get at, is that I feel really out of place here.""Out of Place, how so? ""Again it goes with my age here.""Like I said before, I 'm nineteen right." I don't want to really make any excuses or sound like I'm whining.
"It's like I'm on a different level with everyone here"" My taste and interest are not in sync with anyone here." I stop for a second to see how captain would react. "Well don't stop there kid, keep going."" I want to know more about your differences here."
"Well again it's like it meshes with everyone around here, for instances everyone here like sports and to read books on their down time in the rec area. ""Yet when I'm there I want to watch some action pack movies nice and loud."" And every time I'm in there getting into it, I get tossed aside while everyone else gets their way."
I look at captain a bit strangely as I went on with my rant, while he seems to be writing something down. "Uh sir you want me to continue?"" Yeah sure keep on going.""I guess another thing that bothers me, is my taste in music."
"Music?"" Yes music sir.""I mean how is that everyone here seems to like country music?""I wouldn't know the answer to that private, but if you think you know the answer than go right ahead. ""I wouldn't know the answer to that either sir."
"But as I was saying, I like to be in a state of trance.""God said let there be House and House music was born, and in my house there only can be house music.""EDM is the truth, the light, and the way." I smiled to myself when I said that out loud.
I couldn't say the same for captain here, since he was looking at me a bit strangely. I look up to him to say, "is there something wrong sir?""Umm.. No not really but what do you mean by a state of trance, house, and EDM?"
"Oh I'm sorry sir; those are the styles of music that I like"" Really, I never ever hear of anything like that." "Can you tell me what station plays that," as Psyche-Out started to turn the dial on his desk side radio?" Well sir you won't find it on that radio."" I won't, how come?"
"Well sir you need a Satellite radio.""A satellite radio?" "Yes sir you need one in order to listen to it."" Do you by any chance have one private?""That I do sir, but it's in my dorm and the only way I can use it, is outside. ""Well then I guess we are going on a trip I suppose."
"Uh you serious sir?""Yes private I am, I sort of curious as to how it sounds."I look at my watch noticing that I've been in here for a couple of hours, almost near lunch time."Well sir if you don't mind it's almost lunch time and I still have to go to my classes/training."
"Thanks for reminding me private, I am feeling quite peckish myself."" But as for the rest of your day, you are excused from your classes and training for today."" Oh," is all I said. So in a way I guess I'm stuck with this guy today.
In an about ten minutes we reached to my dorm first to grab my radio. Then we went to the mess to get lunch, yet captain wanted to see if it was ok to have it outside. I had no objections to it. "I don't know about you private, but I sure like to eat outside whenever I get the chance."
I just sort of shrugged my shoulders to him in response. Though for myself I ate a bit slower than normal. I guess I was sort of delaying the inedible. "Hey cap when the time comes to for you to listen to it, could we go to a more private location."" Why and how come?"
"Well sir when ever I play this kind of music I start to get into a feeling."" A feeling, what you do mean by that private? ""Well sir ever since I started listening, I would go into a state of trance."" And before you ask it's not that kind of trance, in which you would look like you're drugged out."
"Ah I see then you don't want to get embarrassed I suppose.""Yes sir that is exactly it.""Hmm I guess that's ok, let's see if we can find a secluded spot." So after lunch we went walking about around the outside. Obviously staying away from the people traffic.
Oddly enough we found a nice secluded area, which happens to be my old make shift bunk house. Captain decided to take a seat on crate on the backside, while I set up my radio. When I found the right station, that's when I turned it up a bit louder than usual for the Captain to hear.
One of the first tracks that comes on is on my way to heaven by Above and beyond. As I stood there I wait for the feeling of trance to take over my body, just as the way my shooting instinct takes over when I'm in combat. When the song starts to change tune, that's when I start let my body move.
It's a pity that this song track is short, yet another great track that I really like came on next. Sun goes down by Estiva. By this time I'm not really paying any attention to the Captain who seems to be watching me with a keen interest.
Huh I never even heard of this kind of music before, yet the kid here seems really enjoy it. Oddly enough he looks more content and relaxed. I should take a mental note of this incase for a future reference. His dance moves seem to be very eradicate with no direction, as if his movements were interpreting what he may be feeling. It's very interesting to say the least. Hmm I'll let it go on for another five minutes till we head back in.
Awe man this shit started to kick into high gear when Eric Prydz came on. Usually anything from this guy was awesome. When track finished I started to focus more on Captain, as he was taking some notes I suppose. That's in until the music completely stops all of sudden.
I look up a bit seeing Captain turning it off, I was about to ask what gives. Yet I had enough since not to question my superior. "That's was pretty interesting private; however I think we should be heading back in." Yes sir was my reply.
Of course he allowed me to drop off my radio back in my dorm. Once we got back I took seat waiting to see how Captain would react. "Well I must say that was very interesting private.""Interesting in a good or bad way sir?"
"I would have to say interesting in a good way and you shouldn't have to stop doing it." "In a way I could tell you feel more happy in that sense."" I know sir, but to everyone else it sounds very jumble and repetitive to them."" I tried to explain to some of them that's not the case, but you know how it is."
"I guess could see it that way too."" Well sir, thanks for not judging me then."" By the way sir can I ask you a question?"" Of course private, what's on your mind?"
"Why am I here in your office? ""Well private if you haven't guessed it, I'm the social services counselor here in the pit, but I'm also the register psychologist here." "Are you here to diagnosis me if I'm crazy?"
"Not at all private, it's just standard practice to do mental checks ups on all our recruits, especially after missions and such.""But put it this way private if you feel the need to talk a bit, my office is always open.""" So am I free to go then?""Yes you are dismissed, so just go about your day."
Later on during the week, I would come by the Captain's office just to shoot the shit with him. Mostly just on random stuff, yet most of the questions would be aimed at my dealing with my instructors and such. And as always once I got out of there I would just head over to rec area quickly hoping that I'll be the first one there.
Usually whoever is there first gets dibs on the remote. But it being a Sunday evening does help since mostly everyone is either topside or in their dorms resting up for the start of the week.
Mean while Psyche-Out is gathering his notes and information on the kid. Ready as always to head out to conference room on the assessment of Private Mark to Hawk and a select few of his instructors. He enters in quickly saluting to Hawk. In that instant he started to go over the mental assessment of Private Mark.
Ten minutes go by quick as Captain Psyche-Out is finishing his report while answering a few questions from Hawk. While Strike and a few others who associate with the kid stood there silently.
"As to my conclusion on my assessment of Private Mark sir, is that I believe him to be normal and a little bit quirky from time to time. ""After all he is a teenager somewhat." "" The other conclusion I could come up with, is his lack of confidence."
"Confidence, what do you mean by that Psyche?" Hawk said in a puzzled tone." Well sir the confidence part is not him having confidence with his training, its more or less having confidence in some social settings."
"For instance, Private Mark has show utter disdain for anyone calling him kid.""Yet he will not make any mentions of it to any of you for fear of reprisals.""His confidence socially wise is, he feels that he'll never be accepted by any of you."
"Part of it is his age, which we can't help."" A good part of it is that he feels that he'll never be accepted by anyone here.""I tried to reassure him to give it time and to be patient."
To everyone who was present, this was very disheartening news. Even more so for Strike. She always thought that she was cool with the Mark.
"As far as I know he can still do his job effectively here sir."" So my suggestion to you sir, is to keep up with his training.""As for anything else related socially wise the best advice I can give to all of you, is to take it very slow with him."
"Do not and I repeat do not, be sudden and quick with him on anything sociably.""Mostly because he'll see it as a sign of you being disingenuous and he'll get suspicious with all of you. ""As far as anything else that is my report to you sir."
Hawk sat there taking it all in, but answer none the less."" I see thank you for your report Captain."" As for the rest of you, you are dismissed and be sure to heed the Psyche's information, is that understood." A chorus of yes sirs answered to him.
Everyone filed out of the conference room in silence heading off to which ever direction they were going to next. Yet for Strike she was hit the hardest by the news. She knows in her heart that she has to try harder with Mark. So in the next few weeks took the advice that she gotten from Psyche and made some small efforts with Mark not only earn his trust as a friend, but maybe for him to feel like that he actually had a friend here.