Killed By Death

by mrcookieman36

I don't understand. I thought I was a normal average teenager going through a shit experience. When I thought my troubles where over, more just come piling on. I cant even explain it myself I went in normal, but then came out as a killing machine. Maybe these people could help i suppose, i mean its not like i got anything else better to do.

38. Chapter 38

sorry for the long update, but here you go and enjoy be sure to read and drop a review if you want.

Chapter 38

It was just like any other day in the pit. Early morning exercising, some breakfast, and on with the day at hand. Only this time was bit different. He kept going over his notes over and over making a few adjustments, after all today was going to be one of the hardest days for him. He would be giving a presentation on a subject that he really didn't want to discuss. As this Joe continues to go over and over on his notes at hand, he suddenly gets a knock on his metal door.

Before he answered to allow whoever wants to come in, he puts up his notes and files at hand. He was preparing himself to go over a progress report of another Joe. He sighs a bit to himself while massaging the bridge of his nose and closing his eyes as he said," come in." Only when he opened them up, it was completely different Joe that showed up to him. to him this was a huge curve ball out of nowhere. He stood there saluting to him asking for permission of course to sit down.

"Good morning sir, um did I catch you at a bad time?"

"Come again?"

"Did I catch you at a bad time sir?"

"What…no of course… of course not um private… um I mean Reaper."" You know very well my door is always open."

"Are you sure sir, because you seem like you were expecting someone else."

"No not all Reaper."

"You know sir you don't have to keep calling me that all the time. "" If you want you call me Mark or my rank if it suits you."

"I'll take that into consideration, now um is there something you want or need Private."

"Can I take a seat sir?"

"Of course, you can."

Mark takes a seat right in front of Captain Psyche-out thinking about some things to say to him. I look up at bit while holding in my own sigh. I see him looking at me with an ok smile hoping for me to start. So, I quickly started to say a few things to him.

"Sir I've been trying my best to figure out things, but I think I'm wasting Jinx's time."" I don't think I'll ever find my own meditation path or niche."

"Well private you can't always think in defeat. ""It's not always easy to find a path, but I believe in time you'll get there."

" I know sir but its been about three months now."" And even I think that Jinx is getting a bit annoyed at the fact that I can't seem to find it."

"Had she told you of this?"

"Well no sir."

"Then how do you know."" I know for a fact that that she's extremely patient."" You remember when you first started to training in self-defense in Scarlett's class."

"Yes, sir I do."

"It was hard at first, right?"

"Yes, sir it was."

"And in time you started to progress."" Did Scarlett ever make you feel that you seemed hopeless?"

"No sir, in fact she kept encouraging me to keep trying." Psyche then smiled to Mark.

"You see what I'm saying private."" These things take time and I'm very confidant that you'll find your meditation path."" And who knows it may even be something that you have never expected."" Now is there anything else then private."

"No sir not at all, but thanks for your encouragement."

"That's what I'm here for private, no go on and have good and productive day."

Mark got out of his seat and nodded back to Psy before he started to make his way out. As soon as he left, Psy was just sitting there thinking about how unexpected that conversation was. Yet needless to say he always enjoyed talking to one of the youngest Joe's on the team. The only problem was that he'll be discussing a lot about him in his presentation later today with a few select Joe's and Hawk.

Before he could dwell on that subject, he gets another knock on his door. Of course, he said come on in, knowing who that was coming on in to visit him. It was none other than Jinx that enter into his office. "Well good morning to you Jinx, go on and have a seat."

"Good morning back to you Psy Jinx said back with a happy smile."

"I summon you here for a couple of reasons Jinx."" I was going to ask you for a progress report on private Mark's meditation exercises."" However, he made a stop to see me a bit earlier this morning."

"Oh, I see well what's his thoughts on the subject at hand Psy?"

"I just gave him a little bit of encouragement and a slight nudge in the right direction."

"I see, he often feels as if he is a bit unsure at times."" I guess it's his inquest nature that he has a little bit of confidence issues."

"I know what you mean Jinx."" However why don't you try a different approach the next time you have a session with him."

"Hmm, what do you have in mind then Psy."

"I'll tell you one thing that I have experience with him."" To me it did seem a bit strange at first, but when private mark seems to be at his most relax or Zen like state is when he dances."

Jinx giggles a bit as to what Psy had said. "That's new, I would never have thought that Private Mark dances."

"Well I would say that its more of a dance of expression with no guidance or structure."

"I see then, well I do have a session with him later today and maybe I will try this theory today."

" Oh, I almost forgot Jinx, when private Mark dances he only listens to a very particular music."

"What kind of music," jinx asked.

"I know it's called EDM, but you can only hear it on his radio."" So, I guess your next mission with him, is going to try and convince him to listen to his brand of music."

"Well I do like a good challenge Psy."

"Good I look forward to see how you come along in your next progress report."

"And what was the next thing you wanted to talk with me about then Psy?"

"Oh, that's right I almost forgot. "" Later today at around 14:00 hours I got a presentation in the briefing room and I think you should be there." Jinx looks at Psy eyes as they got a bit serious with her.

"Of course, I'll be there you can count on me Psy."

"Good then, well that is all and I'll see you later."

At 14:00 hours Psyche-out has been in the conference room fifteen minutes ago setting up. He stood near the podium giving one last check over his notes and cue cards. Deep in his mind he really didn't want to give this presentation. But a higher conscious tells him that he must. Right on the dot at 14:00 some Joe's are make there way into the briefing room. It wasn't all of them but merely a select few that started to enter in. The only difference was that this select few, where some of the people that Private Mark interact with the most.

By the time Hawk enters the room everyone is standing at attention, till he sounds off to everyone to be at ease. As Psyche-out is standing by the podium Hawk makes it to his seat front and center. "Psyche-out the floor is yours," Hawk calmly says.

Psyche takes a rather small drink of water from his glass. He starts to recollect his thoughts as everyone in the room was waiting for his presentation. He scans the room seeing some of the Joe's that interact with private Mark the most. He sees Strike, Low-Light, Cover girl, Scarlett, Beach head, Duke, Lifeline, Lady Jaye, Dusty, Tunnel Rat, and even Jinx.

"Before I get started I have a question for all of you." Before anyone could react, Psy starts again. "If you wanted to train someone into becoming the best solider or infantryman, how would you do it?" Psy waited for a few minutes to see if anyone would answer, till he saw one hand in the air which happens to be Duke. He then pointed his attention to Duke to see what his answer will be.

"Well I was going to ask you if that was a rhetorical question, but the simple answer is join the armed services," Duke answered back plainly.

"As always Duke you are right, join the army to become a solider."" Training that normally takes an average person a few months of basic, and a few more months or up to a year in more training." "But what if I could show you a much faster way that could cut all that time by 75 to 90 percent."

"Eh a much faster way to train some good soldiers for a change then count me in," Beach head said pointily. "Maybe it could straighten up a few of our numbskull green shirts that we have."" So, what's the secret," Beach head said directly.

Psy answered rather bluntly to Beach head. "Well Beach, it involves the loss of freedom, the loss of your free will, and quite possibly the loss of your life." Next Psy heard a few moans in the crowd before him. "Well Beach would you be the first volunteer."

"No, I would not Psy please continue."

"As all of you are wondering what I'm getting at, then I'll explain it the best to my ability."" Much of the intel that was taken from the last mission in Nicaragua from the Cobra mainframes did carry a lot of logistic intel. "" However, I found a few files that where tucked away that required a few encryption code hackings."

"From all of this, we found that Cobra has perfected a way into making the perfect solider."" And no, it's not a robot. "" In fact, Dr. Mindbender had spear headed the project at hand."" He has practically perfected a way into doing this sort of thing. "" Which by all standards was consider just a theory and was years and years away due to technology constraints."

To Psyche everyone in the room was listening to him very carefully. "The best I could come up with, is a form of mind imagery synapsis."" Now before all of you start to raise your hands at what that means, I'll do my best to explain this in simple terms."

"Say again that you wanted an obedient and loyal army at your disposal, without the hassle of hiring mercenaries or having to go through the selection process of training your army."" Instead you have slaves, outcast, or even orphans at your disposal."" Basically, you would feed these individuals certain imagery of let say of a rifleman. And you feed them constantly for a few months. And in a few months, you have your army ready to do your bidding."

Lady Jaye then raised her hand up, in which Psy acknowledge. "You said that Cobra would have these so-called volunteers, um wouldn't they resisted such a thing by not looking."

"Actually, Lady Jaye, Dr. Mindbender's perfected such a perfect program, that even if you tried to close your eyes, the imagery would still penetrate the brain."" And he would most likely strap the said induvial down to keep them still."

"Where there any persons that rejected the treatment," Low-Light said out loud.

"As a matter of fact, Low-Light, there were causalities from these types of experiments."" As for the success and survivability rate."" It was rather low to say the least. "" Dr. Mindbender went through well over two to three thousand subjects, until he finally found one that was suitable."

"Before I continue on, I do have some video logs of Dr. Mindbenders excrement's."" In fact, Dr. Mindbender keep a really intricate detail log of his excrement's."" We were able to recover a few of them."" But I do have a rather interesting one to show all of you."" But before I show it, I must warn all of you the imagery can be quite disturbing."" And if any of you want to be excuse from watching, you may leave." Psyche-out waited for a couple of minutes to see if he had any takers. Yet no one did rise up. So, he went on ahead and dimed the lights and started up the video for everyone to see.

The video starts up with Dr. Mindbender standing in lab of some sort. The first things that came out of that snake's mouth was, his own name. "Dr. Mindbender with video journal number thirteen."" It has been five months since I've started on reeducation of Subject 10, since we recovered him in Silver town Colorado."" It was noted that Subject 10 escaped from our Idaho division a few weeks before his eighteenth birthday."" I have believe that I perfected the experiment at hand."" Out of many trial and errors of two thousand subjects, subject 10 has been the most positive response to the treatments." "Subject 10 has the most perfect brain capacity to handle the rifle programs that I've been injecting to him."" I believe that in a mere three weeks, subject 10 will be ready for test trails." Just then Dr. Mindbender turns around to see that a couple of cobra troops held on to an individual that was being forcefully dragged to a chair.

Once they remove the black bag from his head, everyone in the briefing room was stunned only to see that subject 10 was none other than P.F.C. Mark or Reaper as he called himself. To some of them they winced, some gasped, and some where silent.

Back on the video all the Joe's could here Mark pleading with Dr. Mindbender to stop. "Please s..s…sir no more ok, I'll….i'll do whatever you." "Just please no more."

"Oh Subject 10 you'll do this and many more things in the future for the Commander."" You'll have the honor to be the first of many in the service of the Commander."" Now lets us continue shall we." Again, Mark starts to beg and plead to no avail as he was strapped in tight with little room to even wiggle his own head. The machine before him starts to power up and shoot out what looked like faded wave of light that enter into his fore head. Either way Mark was screaming his guts out. The video then cuts off for a few seconds, only to be on again. The machine shuts off, as the two cobra troops then unstrap the restraints on him. Mark turns his head over only to puke out saliva as if he was dry heaving. Then the video cuts off entirely.

Psyche starts to turn up the lights, only to see that some of Joe's moods had completely changed. For the most part everyone was silent in the room. Yet he could feel the animosity of Beach head as he sat there with his fist clinched to railing of his own chair. He was angry all right. Angry at seeing Cobra treating helpless kids like that.

Low-Light along with Duke, Scarlett, Cover girl, and Lifeline pretty much sat there looking towards to each other at what they just saw. To Psyche it was hard to tell what they were thinking. To his conclusion, it would be none other that feeling nothing but sorry for P.F.C. Mark.

Hawk on the other hand, with his hand covering the most part of his mouth was sitting there in complete thought. Thinking and thinking, on what he should do next.

Yet for Strike she was obviously in tears seeing Mark like that. She did her very best to keep them to herself. As Lady Jaye did her best to comfort her. From that point on Psyche thought it should be a good time to have a five-minute break so everyone could recollect their own thought's." I think it's a good time to take a few minutes to recollect our thoughts," Psyche said out loud.

After five minutes had pass on by the mood was still silent, yet Strike was able to regain her composure for the most part. The first person to pop a question to Psyche was Hawk himself. "I guess the first thing I should ask you Psyche, if this kind of reconditioning program is reversable."

"As it stands now sir, my answer will be no."" This kind experimentation can have very lasting effects." "As far as I know, no such treatment even exists."

"Very well then."" My next question is, if Dr. Mindbender did any other alteration experiments on Mark."

"Well sir according to Dr. Mindbenders own medical journals, he did in fact used a series of injections to alter Marks senses and sight." "Basically, he made him more prone with his own senses."" And as for his sight, he was able to enhance it several more times efficient than most."" Yet a week before we sacked their base in El Salvador, Dr. Mindbender was schedule to inject Mark with some shots that were supposed to make him more aggressive."" Luckily, we hit the base before that even happened."

"That would explain his accuracy with those old rifles I let him use," Low-Light blurted out.

"Come again Low-Light," Psyche said.

"The first two weeks that Mark was here, he was shooting M1 Grands, the Springfield 1903, and other rifles I had."" Every single shot he made was at dead center in the black."" I mean he shoots an M1 Grande with plain iron sights at 500 yards away and still hits the black with every signal shot."

"I see."

"What do we tell him," Strike then blurted out?

Hawk then turns to Strike only to respond. "We tell him nothing."

"But sir he has a right to know."

"I know Strike, but who knows how he'll react," Psyche then quips in.

"What I really want to know is how much those Novosky priest knew about Cobras intentions with the children that had in custody," Hawk demanded. He then stood up to address both Duke and Scarlett. "Duke you and Scarlett are going to go and integrate all the priest and nuns from that Orphanage."" Be sure to get in contact with the D.A.'s office of Idaho and the U.S. Attorney general."" If they refuse to talk then show a little bit of this evidence to them to coax them." "If not then threaten that you'll show it to the district attorney."" I'm sure they will love this information we have." "As for the rest of you keep quiet about what you all just seen."" Just go about the rest of day as normal."" And as for P.f.C. Mark, just interact with him normally." "Do I make myself clear?"

Everyone stood at attention sounding off with yes sir's all around. Strike however was really conflicted inside. So immediately she asked if she could have private conversation with Hawk. Reluctantly he agrees. Before Hawk and Strike take a seat, he already knows what's on Strike's mind.

"I know what you're going to ask Strike and my answer is still no."

"But he has the right to know sir."

"I know Strike, but again we don't know how he'll react to it." Even with his current state of mind it can cause him more harm than good."" His memory is starting to come back little by little."" And I think it would be best if he's kept in the dark about this."" His sessions with Psyche-Out and Jinx are doing a lot good to him, in keeping him in a stable sense of mind."" Now is there any else?"

"No sir."

"Good now try and act normal in front of him."

Strike saluted to Hawk quickly and started to make for the door. When instead she bowed her head down while turning to Hawk. Who seem to be going over the days work load in paper work. "He's a good kid sir and deserves everything in the world."" Yet he was handed a shit hand in life."

"I know Strike, he has suffered a great deal."" Yet I like to think that we gave him something that he never had. "" Like a sense of purpose, some friends, and maybe even a family amongst us Joe's." With that being said Strike took her leave to go on wit the rest of her day.

A few hours pass on by and Mark is feeling pretty dame good about himself. He finally made a break through in his meditation exercises with Jinx. Who knew that listing to EDM and dancing in a state of trance could be his own form of mediation. At first, he thought it was a bad idea since his teacher would laugh at him just at the sight. Yet it didn't happen at like that. Jinx really was very encouraging to me about the whole thing.

But even then, I didn't believe that I could relax myself like this. Needless to say, I was getting the munchies since it's close to dinner time. I think tonight was spaghetti and meatball night. So as always, I make a mad dash to be the first in the chow line. Of course, along my way running through the corridors I just ignore all the looks and in some case the stares I get from everyone else. When I'm hungry all I can say is move it or lose it.

And always it pays to be one of first ones there. I make extra sure I got extra helpings in of spaghetti and meatballs, lots of garlic bread, some veggies, but also loads of rice crispy squares. I also get great seating near the chow line in case I want some seconds.

As always, the usual suspects arrive at my table. My roomie Dusty and Tunny Rat." Geez Reap you think you got enough," Dusty says a jokingly.

"So, you're the wise guy who keeps snagging all the rice crispy squares," Tunnel Rat said accusingly.

"Well if race it here like a I do, then maybe you can get first dibs on any desert Tunny." For the most part Dusty and Tunnel Rat got done with their dinner respectively and were on their way. I was alone again, until I see Sergeant Jaye and Strike coming by to sit with me.

As always Sergeant Jaye says hello to me in a happy mood. I respond kindly to her. However, Strike looked a bit worried to me as if something was bothering her. "Hey are you ok?"

Strike instantly gets out of her distracted mood and responds to Mark." No…uh nothings wrong."

"You sure, you look a bit worried."

"I'm fine Mark, um I got a little bit of stuff going on right now."

"All right." I then focus my attention to Sergeant Jaye. "So…um I finally made some head way in my meditation classes with Jinx" I said out loud.

"That's great Reap good for you," Lady Jaye responded.

I was hoping I would get a response from Strike, who seemed to be a bit distracted. That is until Sergeant Jaye noticed me looking at Strike only to nudge her a bit. Again, Strike looks up to Jaye about to ask what's up, only for Jaye to nudge her attention to Mark.

"Oh, I'm sorry Mark, what did you say?"

"Um are you sure you ok."

"I'm fine really Mark ok, it's just that I got some extra duties piled on at the last minute."" But please tell me what you were saying."

"I was just saying that I made a break through in my meditation sessions with Jinx."

"Oh well good for you, that's actually really good." I give a slight smile back to Strike and we went back to eating.

From that moment on, I really wanted some more garlic bread. Yet I was bit too lazy to get it myself. So, I concocted a plan on stealing Sergeant Jaye's instead. "Hey Jaye are you going to eat your garlic bread?"

"Uh yes I am Reap."

"You sure?"

"Uh yeah I am Reap."

"Oh ok" "Hey by the way Sergeant, I see Flint eye balling you over."

"What really," as Lady Jaye turned her head completely around to see where he was. In an instant I flip my fork to a stabbing motion to get Sergeant Jaye's bread.

When she turned around a bit annoyed that I got her like that. It only took her a minute or two to figure out that I distracted her long enough to take here bread. "What the…."" Hey give that back you thief."

"Oh, all right," I said back to her. But not before I took half of it when see wasn't looking. Needless to say, I gave her one of my rice crispy squares as a payment so to say. After all that said and done I got done with my dinner ready to head in for the night. At least that's what I thought until Strike tapped my shoulder.

I turned around to see her with an unsure face asking me something. "Hey Mark…um I was wondering if you wanted to…maybe…. hang out for a bit?"

I smiled back to her saying, "yeah sure why not." "Do you want to mess with my V.R. set again?"

"Uh no not really, I was thinking of more or less just going out for a stroll top side and maybe looking at the stars."

I looked at Strike a bit differently this time. "Well this is new, I never knew that you like to star gaze." "But sure, I'll do that with you." I was thinking about what this was about and whether or not I should bring my radio, but I decided to just go with the flow on this one. Soon enough we both make it outside and what not. We both decided to sit on the many picnic tables to look at the stars.

"Nice night, "Strike said out loud.

"Yeah it sure is Strike."

We stayed quite for a few minutes as we both look up into the night sky. There sure were a lot of stars out and about. "Hey Mark you see those three stars that line up in a line," as Strike pointed out.

"Uh yeah."

"That's called Orion's belt."

"Huh, so you know of all the constellations then Strike?"

"Just a few I suppose."

Again, there was silence between us again. But this time I decided to break the silence between us. "Hey Strike can I ask you something."

"Yeah sure go right ahead."

"Do you think that you and I will be doing this forever."

"What you mean being here in the pit and doing missions." I just nodded my head to her. "I don't know maybe, but I guess I would settle down and pop a few grand kids out for my mom and dad." I sort of chuckled a bit when Strike said that.

"So, you want to start a family then Strike?"

"Eventually I would like to Mark."

"What about you."

"I don't know Strike this is all that I ever knew."" I guess I'm destine to do this until I can't anymore."

"Hey don't say that you have just as much opportunity to strike out on you own and do your own thing being here doesn't have to define who you are and what you will be."

"Thanks Strike," as I leaned my head on her shoulders.

"Not a problem", as Strike started to put her arm around Mark's shoulder's. "Hey Mark I was wondering if you wanted to visit my family again for Christmas."

"Yeah sure Strike, if you want me to then."

"That's great, besides T.J.'s been asking about you in my last letter from my family on when you will visit." I just smiled to Strike for another short moment as we sat here till close to ten minutes before they closed the doors.