got another chappy up be sure to read and write a review if you want.
Chapter 25
Once again its been another ok year for me in my new home. Its close to March right about now. The only eventful things that have happen to me was that my birthday passed on by, as I just turn twenty for this year. All in all, I did get a few good happy birthdays from some of the Joe's that I know and some of the green shirts as well. Usually the best thing about it being your birthday here at the pit, is that you get the day off.
So, training went on as usual for me. One of the first things I did around the start of March, was to put in a liberty request for my vacation time that I was going to spend in Guam. Even though my secret agenda was to catch up with pop's and get the money that was owed to me. As I was filling out the request form, I wasn't too sure on how much time I should ask for. So, I went with the logical approach and asked for at least three weeks off. I sent in my request on the first week of March not knowing that the pit was going into high alert.
Usually when this happens, pretty much all liberty passes are put on hold or hiatus. While anyone who is about to go on leave is cancel. The only way I got a heads up on this was that in the next few weeks, we had nothing but supply drops to the pit almost nonstop. Soon enough rumors and speculation started to spread in the pit amongst the green shirts.
Some say that this was Hawk's way of keeping us green shirts on our toes so that we don't fall into a routine or a rut. Others had said that we are gearing up for a mission. All I know is that the Joe's weren't saying much, if anything at all. Heck I even tried to get Strike to spill beans so to speak. Only to get rebuffed by her. She would mostly tell me to just mind my own business or just continue on with my training.
Yet one day I got my answer soon enough, and it was even from someone I would never expect at first. So, it sort of went like this. Dinner just got done, as I was about to head out first to the recreation room first and fast. Mostly because who ever got there first had control of the remote. And since I'm no longer a scrawny weak green shirt, I could hold my own with the best. I was making a mad dash through the corridors of the pit. I only had about fifty yards to go till I was home free. That is until sergeant Low-Light almost appeared out of nowhere.
I almost took his head off, till he sides step me to the side while grabbing on to my shoulder and neck turning me around in a 180-degree turn using my own momentum against me. "Whoa slow down there private, what's you're hurry by the way?" As I was breathing to catch my breath I tiredly say, "just trying to get to the rec room sergeant."" I can see that private, however I don't see the reason for you to run in such hurry."" Oh well its nothing really sergeant, other than who ever gets there first gets to control of the remote."
I can see sergeant Low-Light grinning a bit with some amusement after I said that." Anyways sergeant is there something you need. "" As a matter of fact, private there is something. "" I need you to come with me to the briefing room. "" How come sergeant?"" Well if you must know kid, its by order of Hawk."" Awe man do I have too." Sergeant Low-Light grins a bit more. "I'm afraid so private, now come along now."
It didn't take long for me and sergeant Low-Light to reach the conference room. Once we enter inside, all I saw was pretty much a lineup of rows of small desks. About five rows deep. And additional five rows deep of chairs in the back. If I could guess there had to be at least fifty some odd desk in here, with another fifty chairs. "Ok private take seat anywhere you like."" Anywhere sergeant?"" Yup anywhere you like." Without really thinking about it I chose to sit the third row down, eight seats to the left. While Sergeant Low-Light chose to sit first chair in the front row to the left.
It didn't take long for Low-Light to get a pager from Hawk. So, he gets up and tells the private that he'll be back in a couple of minutes. As soon as heads out of the conference room he is greeted by Hawk. "So, sergeant has private Mark reported in the conference room? "" Yes, sir he has."" Good did he chose to sit front and center."" Well not exactly, he chose to sit the third row down near the center sir."" Hmm I see then. "" Well just go and get back to where you were." Sergeant Low-Light Saluted Hawk at once and quickly returned to his seat in the conference room.
As for Hawk, he thought of a rather crafty and clever plan to get the kid to sit in the front. He quickly notifies Duke to order the green shirt support troopers to fill up the back rows first. And once the other Joe's start to come in, he is also order if not encourage them to go and take a seat but to move the kid to front in their own creative way.
I continue to sit here not really expecting much at all. Just then I see Sergeant Low-Light come back inside to take a seat near the front. Man, maybe I should've chose to sit in the front. As I was about to get up and change seats, that's when the door opened and all sorts of people were coming through. From the looks of it, it was nothing really more than some green shirt personnel. To me they were all strangers. I mean the pit is a pretty dame big base. And for the short of amount of time I've been here, I've only met a mere hand full.
Yet as they were coming in, they all seemed to be heading to the back of the room filing up the back seats. From the looks of it, I think they numbered around fifty or so. For the most part they didn't so much as make a peep. In some ways this sort of creeped me out a bit. I mean you do run into those types of green shirts that are all business. As if they got something to prove. Well like I said before I didn't really heed any attention to it.
I just start to slouch in my seat resting my head. I shut my eyes for a good five minutes. Yet it only lasted about a few seconds as I felt a nudge on my arm. When I looked up, I noticed that it was one of the members of the drinking brigade. I started to snap my fingers, trying to come up with a name. oh, I got it, as I thought to myself. "You're Clutch right? "" Yup that's my name kid, don't wear it out. "" Well alright then, uh is there something you need," as i said to him. "As a matter of fact, there is kid. "" You seem to be in my seat."
I looked at him with a little bit of a puzzle look to my face. I started to look around as I see some Joe's coming in to take their respective seats. But I also noticed that there were plenty of seats all around." I don't want to sound rude to you Mr. Clutch, but one I don't see your name on it."" And two there are plenty of seats to go around." Clutch smiled to the kid, but responded in a more commanding tone.
"Well be that as it may private, you're still in my seat."" Now if you don't mind please get up, I really don't want to pull rank on you ok." I knew enough sense not to piss this guy off, especially a Joe. So, I got up without saying a word and head to the next seat. But again, I was told to get up, only this time it was Ship wreck. And once again I moved.
This was kind of weird to me, I mean every time I sit down, I would get bumped out or up from my seat by a Joe. And every time it happened I just sigh to myself. I mean after all I am the low man on the totem poll here at the pit. I have the lowest rank amongst these Joe's. Even with one of them having the same rank as me, they still out rank me because of their status. Before I knew it, there wasn't really anywhere for me to take a seat. I tried to go to the back to were all the green shirts where, but there was not one free seat left. I knew I had find a seat quick, because I just know that this meeting was going to get started quick. I was frantically looking all around to find an extra seat. That is until I heard Strike's voice calling to me letting me know that there was an empty seat near her near the front.
So, I quickly walk over ignoring all the stares I got from everyone else in the room. I got up to the front to where I thought Strike was, only it was not Strike at all. It was her roommate Ms. Lady Jaye. Oddly enough Strike was sitting next to her, while the empty seat was next to Sergeant Jaye and none other than Sergeant Low-Light. I stood there for a second thinking about what just had happened. Until my eyes widen in shock as I come to realization. These clever bastards purposely pushed me out just to get me to the front.
I sort of grumbled to myself after that. Just then an idea popped into my head. "Hey um Ms. Jaye." She looked at me with a mischievous smile. "Yeah what is it kid."" Um you think you could get uh maybe Clutch to change seats with me up to the front."" Why what's wrong with this seat."" Well it's just um I sort of liked my old seat in the back." I see her quickly looking over to where Clutch is sitting as she just quickly turns her head back. "Hmm I guess I could arrange that, but it'll cost you." I quickly pull out twenty dollars out of my pocket. She then looks over to Strike as Strike looks back to her almost smiling to my proposal.
She quickly snatched the twenty bucks out of my hands saying, "done and done kid." I sort of wait here for a few seconds waiting on Ms. Jaye. "Well are you going to do it?"" No, now take a seat."" But I just gave you twenty bucks," as I whined to her. "Yeah, I know kid and you should know better than to try and bride a Joe, especially one like me."" Now sit your butt down, or I will sit you down." I sighed a bit to myself. I really didn't feel like challenging her either. So, I sat down not really looking at her.
Lady Jaye then started to tease the kid a bit. "You know kid I like you, you are a bit fun to play with". I dryly replied back to her, "whatever you say Sergeant."" Awe don't be grumpy." Till Lady Jaye felt a slight nudge on her arm from Strike. As she notices Strike looking at her while nodding her head slightly in no fashion. "Ok well, we'll talk about this later Private."
In that instant that's when Hawk enter the room. Of course, sergeant major Beach head sounded off first, ordering the room to stand at attention. It didn't take long for Hawk to order us all to be at ease and take a seat. Right after that the lights in the room started to dim a bit, as back drop screen came down. Soon enough a projection came up. And from that moment on that's when I knew that I was going on another mission.
"All right everyone, I'll do my best to keep this pre-mission briefing quick. As you all may know, we've been tracking Cobra down within the Caribbean high and low land regions primarily within Nicaragua. Intel has suggested that Cobra is a massing a force of any where between to one to two battalions within the Caribbean low lands of Nicaragua. With communications taps we've located their main sub base near the edge of the jungle canopy close to the border of Costa Rica."
"From our code breaking, we've determine that Cobra plans to take their sizable invasion force to cut across Costa Rica, to invade Panama. Their objective is to seize the Panama Canal. That is not going to happen. As it stands, an air strike is not possible due to jungle canopy that their base lies within. Which leads to only one option, a ground invasion. Before I continue on are there any questions."
Cover girl was the first to raise her hand, as Hawk acknowledge her. "Yes, Cover girl. "" Yes sir, um is there by any chance that armor can support the ground invasion sir."" Good question Cover girl."" As a matter of fact, it is estimated that Cobra has anywhere between to ten to twenty Hiss tanks from within the compound."" However, with that being said, intel has suggested that the ground might be a bit too moist for heavy armor."" So no M.B.T's or MOBATS on this mission Cover girl."" But that doesn't mean we can't use wolverine's or armadillos. "" Got it thanks sir." Good are there any more questions then." Soon enough he sees a raised hand near the front. As he gazed upon it, it turned out to be Private Mark. "Yes, private what is it?"
A few moments ago.
Yup it was another mission alright. I did my very best to pay attention to what Hawk was saying that is until I started to look around a bit. If I didn't know better I could've sworn that everyone one around me was taking notes. Sighed maybe I should've brought a note pad with me. Yet with these dimed lights I couldn't help but yawn a bit to myself. Of course, I did my very best to hide and hold it in. I mean it's not my fault, we've been in here for about an hour. And it's close to my bed time. Man, I just hope we get out of here so I can catch some cartoons.
With out really thinking about it I started to stretch out my arms up a bit to keep my ass awake. Soon I get a nudge from sergeant Jaye. I pushed her arm back, since I was in no mood to play with her. Not after what she has done. Yet I got I another nudge from her again. So, I looked over to her to see what's her deal. I quietly say," what is it?"" Hey genius he's calling on you. "" Who?" She then pointed up to the front. I looked over to see who it was, only to realize that she was pointing to Hawk.
I looked up to Hawk to see what he wanted. "Uh yes sir, what do you need?" Hawk then repeated himself in a clearer tone. "Do you have a question Private?"" Question," as I mutter to myself. Why would I have a question, unless….. oh shit. Awe crap he must have seen my hand raised up as I was shaking off my tiredness. Oh, crap I better think of something quick, because if Hawk ever found out that I was almost asleep during a mission briefing, I just know he's going to sick the Sergeant Major on my ass.
And I for one don't feel like doing any extra Pt today. So, I did my best to wing it. I responded rather slowly. "Uh…. Yes sir…..I do have a…..question." Hawk stood there for a few moments, waiting on Private Mark. "What is it Private?" I started to look around see what I could use. First, I looked over to Sergeant Jaye to see what she has written, to my dismay her hand writing is rather atrocious and she covered it up from the moment I looking over.
Next, I looked over to see what Sergeant Low-Light had written. Again, not much but the one word that I did recognized was Battalion." I'm sorry sir, I sort of lost my train of thought."" But you mention a Battalion."" Yes, I did, I mention at least two Battalions. "" Yes…. speaking on that sir…. uh how many is that?"" Very well private since you are a bit new to this, I'll do my best to educate you."
"A Cobra battalion is close to three hundred men."" so you are probably going to expect to see anywhere to three to six hundred enemy combatants."" Ok got it sir thanks a bunch."" Very well then, are there any more questions." Hawk waited for a couple of minutes then continued on." Good then the mission operation will commence around 15:00 hours tomorrow."" Good luck and watch each other's backs."
As soon as Hawk left we all stand at attention. I was about to head out myself, till Sergeant Low-Light stopped me a couple of feet from the outside of the conference room." Private I need to speak with you for a second." I stopped and turned around. "Ok Private right after you do your morning pt and breakfast be sure to report to the firing range right after, is that under stood? "" Yes, Sergeant Low-Light."" Good go on about your night."
I just started to head down the hall way. I take quick gander at my watch, only to noticed that I only had about forty five minutes to myself. Well if I hurry a bit maybe I could catch a little bit of T.V. I suppose. I continued to walk down the hallway, only for me to hear Strike calling to me. So, I slowed down a bit so she could catch up. I really didn't turn my head to see her. Yet from the moment I felt her grab on to my shoulder and neck pulling me into a half hug I knew something was up.
Well for one I know for a fact that Strike doesn't wear black fingertip less gloves. I sighed out loud in distress. "What do you want Sergeant?"" Awe are you still mad at me Private?" I stared to get her arm off of me only for Sergeant Jaye to keep holding on to me. "Leave me alone," I said rather angerly. "Hey…Hey come on now Private be at least a good sport about it."" Here you can have your twenty bucks back."
Sergeant Jaye starts to tuck my twenty bucks into my front pocket. "Good now can you leave me alone." "Hey what's with you, you know I was just playing with you right. "" I don't play with you like that Sergeant."" I'm going to level with you private."" It was never my idea or anybody else's to push you out of your seat like that."" We were merely order by Hawk to do so."
"Yeah well you could at least treat me with a little bit of dignity about it and not treat me like a kid." Lady Jaye sighed to herself. I guess Strike was right about how he feels about us treating him like a child. "Look private, I'm sorry if I ever treated you as such."" And I apologize if anyone I knew treated you just the same. "" I know you don't like to be treated like that. "" I know it seems that we do it often to you, but we're just trying to teach you the right way that's all."" And in a way, you sort of are our little brother so to speak."
"So are we friends again." I look down a bit as I try not to give away my feelings about it." Are we friends now Mark," as Lady Jaye started to lighten up, while at the same time started to shake Marks shoulder a bit to coax him. "Come on…. come on private." I look up and smiled a bit. "Ah there you go I knew it." We continue to walk a down the hall while sergeant Jaye held on to me.
"Sergeant can I ask you question? "" As long as I get to ask you one, also you don't have to keep calling me Sergeant you know. "" I know."" So how are you able to sound like Strike. "" Oh well it's sort of technique I learned over time. "" It's a part of my covert training, especially when I go undercover."" I mimic voices."
"So, my turn where are you heading off too private. "" Well I was going to the rec room to get in a little bit of T.V. time. "" That is until you stopped me to ask twenty questions Sergeant."" Oh, so you're blaming me now for not letting you go to have some T.V. then." As Lady Jaye started to check her watch." Oh, I see your point on that one Mark, I guess I did held you up on that. "" But I got an idea, since you got about thirty minutes left. "" How about you come back to my place and I'll let you watch some T.V."
"Uh I don't know Sergeant, I don't know if it'll look right. "" Hey no worries Mark, I'm inviting you as my guest."" Also, I'll let you have some of the candy that gave to me awhile back as a treat and as an apology from me." I was about to say no, but I could tell from the look of Sergeant Jaye that she wasn't going to take no for an answer. So, I reluctantly agreed to.
So, in five minutes we both made it to Sergeant Jaye's quarters. As promised she gave me a candy bar from her stash, while she let me pick a station to watch. I chose the cartoon station and sat here watching some old cartoon shorts. Of course, in the span of five minutes the door opened an Strike came in. I didn't notice her at first since I was watching T.V., but I did instantly when she called out to me." Mark what are you doing in my room?" I looked up in surprise. "Uh…well…um I was invited by Sergeant Jaye to come in and watch some T.V. that's all. "" Lady Jaye invited you in," Strike asked again. "Yeah, she did, she even offered me a candy bar from her stash," as I showed it to her. "Oh well that's great that she at least made up to you."
Strike looked over her room only to guess that Lady Jaye is in the bath room getting ready for bed. "So, what are you watching then?"" Oh, nothing special Strike, just some cartoons. "" Cartoons, aren't you a little too old for that. "" No, why would I be, beside I came in here as a guest. "" Hmm well why don't you watch some sports or maybe the local news, here let me see the remote."
As Strike started to reach for the remote from Mark, he all of sudden pulled it back from her reach." I don't want to watch the news or sports, I just want to watch cartoons."" Oh yeah well one it's my T.V. Mark so hand it over or else." Mark got up from his seat and responded "or else what Strike. ""Oh, I see how it is then Mark, you want to challenge me."" No, I just want to watch five minutes of cartoons then head in, is that too much to ask for Strike."
Apparently, it was to Strike, because all of a sudden, she bolted towards me to get the remote. I know for a fact that I'm just about as strong and tall as Strike is. The only difference is she was more determine to get her way. I was able to push her back while keeping the remote away from her. The only problem is she was rather crafty, by tackling me to the floor. We wrestled for a few minutes till Strike got the upper hand. She basically got me into a school boy pin, with her knees pinning my arms to the floor. She easily pried the remote from my hand as she changed the channel to the local weather. But I had an ace up my sleeve
What caught her by surprise is that I used my legs to twist around her body near her neck as I dragged her down, while at the same time she drops the remote. I grab it quick and change it back. All the while Lady Jaye couldn't help but laugh as she was inside the bath room brushing her teeth. "Man, those two are just made for each other," as she said to herself.
Strike got a little bit pissed when Mark got the upper hand on her that in that instant as he was changing the channel, she grabbed on to his ankle and tripped him really good as he came face down to the floor. Of course, he dropped the remote as she quickly gets her knee as she pins him to the floor while changing the channel.
Strike starts to congratulate herself since it looks like she won this battle of the remote control. So, she stands up as the winner, while say a few words to Mark. "You didn't believe me when I said I would get my remote back huh Mark." What got caught her off guard was that Mark wasn't responding all that much. Instead she heard a few groans from him. "Hey are you ok," Strike said with some concern. Mark just started to reach for the side of his head while he was still lying face down on the floor groaning.
"Shit," as Strike cursed to herself. Thinking that she was maybe a little to bit forceful with their rough housing with him. She gets on her knees while instructing Mark to get on his. She couldn't really tell how hurt he was, since he was using his hand to cover the injured part of his head. "Mark please move your hand let me look at it ok," Strike said. Mark continues to whence in pain while adding," all I wanted was just to watch some cartoons Strike."
"Hey look I'm sorry ok, I…. I… I... didn't mean for this to happen."" But please move your hand so I can take look ok." Mark knew from then on, that Strike had let her guard down completely. As in an instant he snatches the remote from Strikes hand and changes the channel once again, while pinning her down again. "Ah Ha, I got you Strike."" Rule one never let your guard down." Strike couldn't believe that Mark had tricked her like that, oh she was angry all right. Angry to the point that she forced Mark to lose his balance as the both continued to wrestle for the control of the remote.
That is until Lady Jaye started to come out looking over to those two as she couldn't help but laugh at the both of them. Well only for a good couple of minutes since lights out was only a few minutes away. So, she clears her throat loud enough for the both of them to hear. "AHEM!" Strike who was now on top while Mark was on the bottom both looked up in unison only to see Sergeant Jaye looking at them with a plain look to her face. "If you two are finish, I would like to get some sleep if you don't mind." "Lights out is only five minutes away."" So, Strike say good night to your play date."
All I could do was just lie here in embarrassment as my face grew red as a cherry. I assumed that Strikes face was just as red as mine. Strike got up to her feet in an instant, while I did the same. I quickly said good night to both of them then headed out to my dorm.
Strike for the most part just went straight to her bath room to get ready for bed. All the while as she went to her bottom bunk ignoring her roommate. Lady Jaye again couldn't help but smiled to Strike. So, she just had to tease her about it.
"You know Strike if I didn't know better, I would say that you are crushing hard for Private Mark."" What no I'm not," Strike protested. "Hey I wouldn't blame you, he is kind of cute."" And he is close to your age." Strike just buries her face into her pillow hoping her roommate would stop. "Please Lady Jaye would stop it and keep this to yourself."" Oh, all right, I'll keep this to myself, but it is true that you and Mark would go great together."" Just think about it." "Why does everyone keep telling me that", Strike said out loud. "What was that Strike."" Uh nothing Lady Jaye just go to sleep. ""Ok, well good night Strike." Soon enough the both of them were asleep.