Chapter 22

I guess vacations come differently here in the pit. You still have to fill out a liberty pass for it. Yet for those who have families and what not they are giving first priority. I guess in a way if you did have a family and only having the holiday months to spend with them, that does seem kind of cruel.

But that's how it was here in the pit. Your life is pretty much dedicated to training, doing some duties, and going on missions. I could see how this is not for everyone. Yet when the time came for leaving to Iowa with Strike, I just went through the motions with it.

I mostly packed up a few green clothes; I mean that's all I have. It's not like I have any time to do some clothes shopping here. I mean they pretty much keep me busy for weeks on end here in the pit. I even took my satellite radio with me. Who knows maybe I could listen to few good jams along the way.

At first I thought we were hopping on a plane to go to Iowa. I know its pretty dame far from Arizona. So logically I would think we were going on a plane ride. That is until we took a chopper instead, that dropped us off to the Tucson international airport.

I was about to ask what gives to Strike, but she later told me that we were going on a road trip whatever that means.

She actually rented a rather small but spacious car for the both of us. I packed up my belongings in the trunk along with Strikes and we were off. The car was cool enough to have a GPS on it. Once Strike calculated the directions the thing told us that it was at least a twenty four hour drive. I think it also said that it'll be a little over 1500 miles away.

Strike decided that she should drive the first leg of the journey. I didn't disagree at all, yet for a good while it was a very silent drive. I tried to sleep a bit, but it was no use I was pretty dame awake.

Yet Strike open up first to me." Your awfully quite today Mark." I took a quick gander to her but didn't say anything. I was kind at a loss to say anything. But I did try something. "Well what do you want me to say?"

"All we do is train at the pit.""It's not like I got much to say." I stole another glance back at Strike. She gave a small smirk to that last remark of mine. "Well you're saying something now," Strike pointed out. "But I could see what you mean."

"Well do you want me to turn on the radio?""Not really Strike, I mean I don't think this car has Satellite." But wait a minute I did pack my satellite radio with me, as I mutter to myself." Hey Strike can you pull over for a moment and pop the trunk open. ""Uh why?"" I just want to see if I can get my radio that's all.""Hmm I don't know if it'll work while we are moving at the same time."

"Well can you pull over anyways so I can at least try?"" Sure why not." Strike pulled over as I requested. I quickly pulled out my radio with the attachments. Now the last time I used this thing on a car, was on the Vamp when I first got this radio.

Once I got back in the car Strike took off as usual. Then I started to hook up the radio to the car. All it really needed was a power source, a digital hook up to the main car radio so I could use the speakers of the car, and my new booster antenna.

Within a minute or two I had my Sat radio all hooked up. "Now for the moment of truth. ""Sweet success" is all that I said. I quickly switched my radios channel to the EDM channel and cranked it up. Now this trip to Strikes family is a bit more bearable.

I get a little bit into it as I sit listening to some cool tracks. Strike for the most part was just listing to it with some intriguing thought to it. "So this is what you like to listen to Mark?" I turned for a second thinking that Strike was talking to me.

"What was that Strike," as I turned down the volume." So this is what you like to listen to?"" Yeah I sure do Strike, is there something wrong with me listing to it.""Oh no, no, it's just a little strange I suppose." "What do you mean by strange?"

"Well it's just that I don't hear any lyrics to it."" Lyrics," I said confusingly. "Yeah lyrics, you know the words to the song or music here.""" Oh well most EDM doesn't have words to it."" It's just the music." "It's called EDM, what does that mean?"

"Electronic dance music Strike. "Oh ok, I guess that's ok.""" Well Strike if you want to listen to some with words then I can change the channel to let you listen so some of them. ""Go for it Mark," Strike said with some excitement.

The first song that popped up was Ritual from Marshmello. "Oh this is one of my favorites Strike; I think you'll like this one." As the song started up I informed Strike of the artist and name of the song. I really get into this one myself.

Of course for Strike she started to smile and laugh at me, as I was getting into it. Pretty much it was like this for the first leg of the trip. We only really stopped for gas and some snacks to continue on. I wanted to volunteer to drive for Strike, but she was having none of that. So instead we continued on.

When Strike decided to call it a day, we stopped in a small town called Guymon, in Oklahoma. Let's see we started around at 0700 hours and it is now 1900 hours. Holy shit Strike has been driving for twelve hours.

We settle at an ok looking inn with dual beds. As for dinner, we went into a small diner near the inn. Strike once again orders a salad for herself, while I ate my usual cheese burger. I could see that Strike is really out of it.

"You know I can drive if you want me to." She looked up to me with her tired eyes and smiled at bit. "Yeah maybe a part of the way I suppose, but once we get near Iowa, I'll take over." We ate in complete silence, since I know Strike is tired.

Once we made it back Strike just immediately plopped herself face first to her bed. I laughed a bit to her thinking she was playing. So I was about to nudge her only to notice that she was fast asleep. I sighed at bit to myself, as I started to take her boots off carefully. I also started to slide her pit issue wool jacket off as well.

I would imagine it would be rather uncomfortable for her to wear all this while she rested. As for me I took a quick shower and wore my boxers and T shirt to bed. I made sure to set the heater to an ok level so we can stay warm; after all it is winter here. No snow yet, but it is sure is cold out there.

The very next day I woke right at 0430 on the dot, even without an alarm. I guess Strike was right about my body getting use to getting up at odd hours of the day. I look over to Strike, who is still fast asleep. But for me, I got up and went to bath room and relived myself. I was about to sit on the bed about to think on what I should do next. But instead I knew what to do. Just because I'm on vacation with Strike doesn't mean that I can slack off from my Pt.

So I got dressed up quick putting my boots on and my standard issue wool coat on to get in a good run. I made sure I had the other key to get back into the room once I get done. I was about to leave until I heard a faint voice asking me where I was going.

"Where are you off to this time Mark," Strike said tiredly? "Its 0500 hours Strike and I was hoping to get in a good warm up run in.""Look Mark we are on vacation ok, so you don't have to exercise."" Also last time I checked it's about fifteen degrees outside."

"I'm sorry Strike it's just that I'm so use to waking up early to go to pt."" Well if you still want to get in a mile or two in, then wait up for me ok." Strike got up and stretched herself bit and got dressed in a jiff. Soon enough we were on our way.

Good god it was cold as can be outside. No snow or ice yet, but we did get in about a mile of running near and around the inn. Before we both agreed to get our shivering butts back inside. Of course once we got inside I think Strike wanted to take a nap again.

But I was having none of that, so I started to do sit-ups and push up in the room. Strike sighed a bit to me, but none the less started to join me. Which was great since it really helps with motivation. So we actually did get in about hour and half of exercise in.

We only had one shower so as a guy I let her go first; however she was more insistent on letting me go first. I really didn't want to argue with her so I just went in and took a nice hot ten minute shower. I got dressed in a new set of green clothes as I made my way out.

Strike pretty much just told me to wait up in the room while she showered at got ready to head on out. So I sat here for about twenty minutes watching some TV. I already had my stuff packed and ready, till I heard the door open to the shower.

I really didn't pay any attention to her since I was watching morning TV. "So are you ready to go Mark," Strike asked. As I turn to look at her, I couldn't help but not gawk at her.

She was wearing civilian clothes, as I looked at her from top to bottom. She was wearing a yellow and black t shirt with the name Iowa with a birds face in the back ground. She also sported a leather jacket. As I looked to her legs, I could've sworn she was wearing leggings. But upon further inspection, it was just some black tight jeans and some kind of boots.

"So Mark are you ready to go?" I quickly snap out of it. "Uh yeah sure Strike, um by the way uh you look nice." Strike smiled a bit. "Hmm thanks Mark, but we should be on our way we still got a lot of driving ahead of us."

We quickly checked out, load our stuff up and ate a quick breakfast at a local fast food restaurant. And then we were off again, only this time I started to drive the rest of the way. While Strike decided to take a small nap.

I started to listen to some music, but with the volume on low so that Strike could rest up. As for me all she told me to do was to follow the GPS instructions and keep the car at the exact speed limit on the freeway.

Driving is kind of boring to me. I mean I have to focus on the road at hand and even though I would use the cruise control for the most part, it is still boring. I wish I could speed up since everyone seemed to be passing me by. But I have to follow orders first. The only times I would slow down is when we hit towns on the way up.

I was in Oklahoma for about an hour, till I finally entered Kansas. Driving through Kansas was the same as driving through Oklahoma, in that it's rather flat. The only difference is the land. In being that it looks like farmland and empty prairie with small sheets of white on the ground.

All I know about where I was heading is that it's rather cold since it's up north, but not too far north. Almost in the Midwest sort of way. So after a few more hours passed on by, I noticed that Strike is still fast asleep, and I can see why.

Driving does take a lot out of you, especially if you don't keep yourself occupied. Even though I'm listing to some music, that's not enough. So on certain areas of pastures that I pass on by, I started to count road signs and even cows.

But all that aside took me out of it when the low gas symbol started to ding a bit. Luckily for me we were about to pass the Kansas state line heading into Missouri. Soon enough I found a gas station to pull over and get some gas.

Of course when I started to decelerate, that's when Strike started to wake up from her slumber. She groggily starts to stretch herself, while asking me a question or two. "Ahh, I really needed that, by the way where are we Mark."" Well I just pass through Kansas now heading into Missouri. ""Cool, where almost there then."

"Do we need gas Mark? ""Uh yeah Strike that's why I'm pulling over."" Ok good, once we pull over I'll take care of the gas, you go on ahead take a bathroom break and stretch your legs out." I reluctantly agreed to her request since my legs do feel tired.

Once again we stopped for about twenty minutes refueling, stretching ourselves and picking up snacks along the way since Strike wants to get to her home before sundown. By this time she decided to drive the rest of the way.

All I know is that it's gotten a lot colder then the last time I was outside. I could've sworn I saw some white flakes in the air. None the less I started to head on back to the car since Strike looks like she's ready to go.

As she started up the car, she noticed me that I was looking out of the window staring at something. "What are you looking at Mark?"" Oh nothing really Strike, other than these white flakes coming from the sky. ""Ah I see, those are snow flurries."" Huh what's that?""Oh it just really light snow that's all.""I remember when I was kid that I would often stick my tongue out to see if I catch one."

I kind of looked at her a bit strangely when she said that. "Hey it's not a weird thing to do Mark, I often did it every once in a while when I was little.""But anyways we got to go; I want to reach Silver keep by sun down."

"Silver what? ""Sliver keep mark, that's where I'm from Silver keep Iowa." Before long we where off again. But I kept sitting there thinking about the name Silver keep. Why does this name sound familiar to me? I mean I never been to Iowa before in my life.

But the name Silver keeps coming in. It was almost like the same feeling when I first drank that peach drink in that supermarket in Tucson. Maybe it's the name Silver that keeps triggering something. I tried not to be too obvious with my deep thought, mostly because Strike would look at me thinking if there was something wrong.

So I turned to her and smiled a bit to throw her off. She finally noticed me and smiled back. Yet she started up another conversation with me. "Hey mark I've been meaning to tell you this." I looked over to Strike with a curious eye.

"Uh yes Strike is there something wrong?"" What…no, not at all.""It's just that when I get home my family is going to call me by a different name ok.""I know that you know me only as Strike, but my family does not. ""So if you could please don't call me by my code name in front of them."

"Uh ok Strike."" Also since you're a green shirt you're going know my actual name, which is something that I want you to keep to yourself ok.""Yeah of course Strike." She started to smile once again but still kept her eyes focused on the road at hand. We had an awkward silence for about a couple of minutes, before I broke it.

"Uh Strike.""Yeah Mark what is it? ""So what it is your real name? ""My name is Angela, Angela Baker." "That's a real nice name Strike.""Thanks Mark. ""And I promise I'll keep it to myself when we go back to the pit."

For the next hour we kept moving along heading to our destination, while I listen to some more awesome EDM. As I looked out the window I did notice that practically all of the land was covered in a sheet of white.

As we moved further north it became apparent that it was snowing, since the white flakes became heavier and whiter. For me, Iowa looked really flat. Yet I did see a sign that said Silver Keep was only a couple of miles away.

I sort sat here in my seat thinking about Strike's family, especially on what they would think of me. Once we passed the small town with a population of a three thousand. That's when Strike started to slow down and turn on to a dirt road.

I finally saw a house in the distance. It looked like a two story house. There were also other structures nearby as well. Some looked like a silos and another was painted red as well. Yet the land that surrounded the house was rather flat and spacious.

"Is this your home Strike?""Uh huh.""It looks very spacious here. ""Well it's a farm Mark.""Farm," Mark said confusingly. "Yeah I grew up on a farm.""You mean a like a place where you have cow's and chicken's? ""Well not necessarily that kind of farm Mark."

"My dad grows mostly corn, wheat, beats, and sorghum for a living.""Oh I'm sorry Strike. ""Hey don't be sorry and remember call me Angela." I smiled again looking towards Strike; soon enough we made to her front drive way.

It was snowing but rather lightly around us. One of the first things we did was getting our stuff out of the trunk, yet it was a bit hard I was waddling through snow in my boots. It made a rather crunching noise as I was walking in it. I checked the time which happen to 1700 hours. The sun was still up, but I could tell that it was gearing up to set itself for the night.

I tried to do that thing that Strike was telling me about, which was trying to catch some snow on my tongue. It didn't last long since she was nudging on my shoulder to get moving to her house. I could tell that she really wanted to get inside to warm up.

Her house looked rather big in the fact that it was made of wood and bricks. It had at least a couple of chimneys one of which had some smoke coming out of. We both got some relief when we made it up the steps of the porch to get out of the snow. The porch itself was spacious in that it had some outdoor furniture.

I stood there shivering a bit while Strike ranged the door bell. When in a few seconds the door open as a much older lady answered it. Just from the looks of it she had very short dirty blonde hair tied in some braids. She was a lot shorter to both me and strike. From her demeanor she looks rather happy and surprised once she recognizes strike.

"Angela your home at last, please come inside along with your friend.""Henry, TJ, Angela's home come quick!" To me Strike greeted her mother with a nice warm smile giving her a big hug." Hi mom I missed you. ""Oh I missed you too, how's my baby doing."" I'm doing just fine mom." As soon as I see Strike ease up her hug to her mother she was about to introduce me to her, until her father and I guess her younger brother came into the picture.

"How's my tough army daughter doing,"as I hear Strikes father called out to her. To me he was about the same height as Strike with a stocky built to him. He looked much older with some white and grey head of hair that he sported. Again I see Strike giving him a very embracing hug to him. "Hey dad how's the farm doing?""As always pumpkin it's doing fine, I'm more interested in seeing how you are doing sweetie."

Again as Strike is letting go of her hug to her dad, I see a small kid run up to Strike wanting the same attention. Yet in this kids case he looked rather short compared to Strike as I see him trying to hug her. I mean his head barely comes up to her stomach. Yet I could tell that it didn't bother her since she made the extra effort to get on her knees to give her brother a nice huge hug.

To me this child had the same facial features of his parents, while sporting the same hair color Strikes which happen to by dirty blonde. "Angela I missed you so much. ""Awe I missed you too Tj."" Are you going to stay a little bit longer this time Angela?"" Sure thing squirt."" By the way have you been behaving yourself with mom and dad while I was gone? ""Well you know me Angela, I like to have fun, but I also help out as much as I can when you're not around."" Any ways, can I ask you something Angela?"" Of course you can, what's on your mind little buddy? ""Who is that?"