Lili Marlene
Disclaimer: Neither the lyrics to Marlene Dietrich's Lili Marlene or the Carmen Sandiego franchise are mine. For all you fans of the ACME group and my other original characters, be patient, this largely from Ted's point of view. Trooper means any Special Forces soldier below the rank of lance corporal. I couldn't resist adding two characters for comic relief (I borrowed Jay and Silent Bob and grafted their personalities to two B Squadron soldiers).
~ ~ ~ ~
2143: The North Africa sun was high in the sapphire blue of sky. The dust and gun smoke seemed to have faded temporarily. It seemed that both sides realized to avoid the heat of the day, fighting instead at dusk and all other hours. The sound of shooting from the frontline seemed to fade. Ted knew it would pick up in an hour's time.
Ted was lying on his back on a cot as the shortwave radio beside his head started to play a song much enjoyed and appreciated by the men of Army Corps Africa. Even though the lyrics were over 200 years old, several young female singers had revived the universal soldier's love song.
"Annette Marina Chavez sure makes this song come back to life, eh?" Ives asked.
"Yeah." Ted replied, not really paying attention. The song was one that brought back memories and thoughts that both inspired and pained him at the same time.
"Underneath the lantern by the barrack gate. Darling I remember the way you used to wait. Twas there that you whispered tenderly. That you loved me. You'd always be. My Lili of the lamplight. My own Lili Marlene." Chavez began.
Ted smiled to himself, a small, sad smile. He was happy Jamie was enjoying her relationship with Chris, but he was sad that his feelings weren't returned. He was hoping for a mission, something, anything to take his mind off the pain and loneliness he was enduring at the time. Hell even kitchen duty would hit the spot.
"Time would come for roll call. Time for us to part. Darling I'd caress you and press you to my heart. And there 'neath that far off lantern light. I'd hold you tight. We'd kiss good-night. My Lili of the lamplight. My own Lili Marlene." Ted started singing along to himself with the second verse, as were a half dozen other soldiers in the hangar.
Ted wondered how she was doing. Very likely, Mr. Perfect was making her life a field of roses and flowers, making sure she'd forget the lone soldier in Africa named Ted Balfour. He had to leave, he knew if didn't the pain of being in such close proximity with the girl of his dreams who didn't share his feelings would really complicate things. He wasn't sure if leaving was all that much better.
"You'll always be my Lili Marlene." Ted whispered to himself, "The Colonel would really have a fit that I'm moping about this."
Ted could just imagine the Colonel's stern disapproving look he'd give his grandchildren or children whenever they displeased him. He was a man universally respected by subordinate, peer, and family member alike. But there seemed to be regret in his eyes every day of his life.
What did he have to regret? Ted wondered as he grew up. He had a family that adored and respected him, four children, all upstanding citizens, a son in law that was the mayor of Liverpool, and a wife that genuinely loved him.
"What's wrong?" Tashtego said, taking his seat on his adjacent cot.
"Nothing mate." Ted replied. Tashtego heard Lili Marlene playing over the sound system somebody from A Squadron installed in the hangar when the deployment started in May, "Just a stupid crush."
"Affairs of the heart are never stupid, my friend." Tashtego replied with his damnable native wisdom.
"The Colonel always used to say, 'Grandson, never let anyone, not your subordinates or peers see you weak for any length of time.' He was with the 1st Special Forces after transferring from the 6th Ranger Battalion. He was also known for saying, 'The life of the Special Forces soldier is inherently lonely.'" Ted replied.
"He wasn't lonely, he had you guys." Tashtego replied.
"Yes, but I couldn't help but notice, as I got older, there seemed to be a deep seated regret in his eyes." Ted replied.
"Regret?" Tashtego asked.
"There was a girl he fell in love with while he was at Sandhurst. She was everything he wanted in a woman, beautiful, intelligent, caring..." Ted replied, "But his father didn't approve of her because she wasn't English. He never told her he loved her, and they parted ways."
"You really love her don't you?" Tashtego said.
Ted nodded as the next verse began to play, "Orders came for sailing somewhere over there. All confined to barracks was more than I could bear. I knew you were waiting in the street. I heard your feet. But could not meet. My Lili of the lamplight. My own Lili Marlene."
"But she's with Chris and she really loves him." Ted replied, "I can only imagine what she'd even think to see in me."
"Have faith, you will find love one day." Tashtego said.
"Resting in a billet just behind the line. Even tho' we're parted your lips are close to mine. You wait where that lantern softly gleams. Your sweet face seems to haunt my dreams. My Lili of the lamplight. My own Lili Marlene."
~ ~ ~ ~
Sitting in her apartment many miles away Jamie was listening to the radio and she heard the song. Ivy was working on another case she and Jamie at the computer. "I can't help but say that this song reminds me of Ted."
"C'mon," Ivy said, "Let's go get some coffee."
"I suppose you're right." Jamie said, "We've been up pretty late."
"Don't you and Chris have a date tonight?" Ivy asked.
"We do. I hope its someplace fun, but I wouldn't mind a quiet evening at home, a little soft music on the stereo, a home cooked meal..." Jamie began as they walked down to the coffee shop.
They took a table at Starbucks and sat down to talk. Jamie was busy writing something on her legal pad, when Chris walked behind her and said, "Guess who? For Ted luv?"
"Hey dude," said a fellow with longish blonde hair, "You don't happen to mean a guy stationed in North Africa right?"
"What unit's he in?" Jamie asked.
"He's the English dude in G-Squadron.....He's one weird mother...." the soldier began, his companion, a tubby, bearded fellow nodded.
"There are ladies here mate, don't swear." Chris replied.
"Hey English dude, get a life man." Jay replied, "You British dudes are way too uptight."
"Yes, Englishmen are uptight, but I'm Australian." Chris replied.
"Same difference, you drink your booze with a pinkie in the air and shit." Jay replied.
"I'm really not liking this..." Chris began, trying to control his temper.
"Please excuse my friends here." Said a third guy, a Cajun evidently from B Squadron, "I'm Rodney Danvers, B Squadron Sergeant Major. Jay and Silent Bob are good soldiers out in the field but they're a little irregular everywhere else."
"So we've noticed." Ivy began.
"They're Troopers Jason Kovak and Robert Pargos." Danvers replied, "I really have to police those two numbskulls when they're out on pass."
"JAY! SILENT BOB!" shouted Chief Inspector Cobb, the head of ACME HQ, "GET BACK HERE NOW AND PICK EVERY ONE OF THOSE PRAWNS OUT OF MY CAR!"
"Whoops, gotta bounce. Flee fatass flee!!!!" Jay shouted.
"And these are the elite of the US military, the guys that will be our backup on the counterterrorism team?" Chris said, raising his eyebrows, "I'm definitely buying that new insurance policy."
~ ~ ~ ~
"When we are marching in the mud and cold, And when my pack seems more than I can hold. My love for you renews my might. I'm warm again. My pack is light. It's you Lili Marlene. It's you Lili Marlene."
Somewhere in the North African desert, Ted smiled, sadly, but it was still a smile nonetheless. Just thinking of Jamie as the good friend she was to him was enough to make him smile despite himself.
~ ~ ~ ~
AN: I'll go into more detail as this fic continues. But basically the active Special Forces groups pull one squadron a piece to form the Special Projects/Counterterrorism unit behind friendly lines. They work with police/defense/intelligence agencies like ACME.
Disclaimer: Neither the lyrics to Marlene Dietrich's Lili Marlene or the Carmen Sandiego franchise are mine. For all you fans of the ACME group and my other original characters, be patient, this largely from Ted's point of view. Trooper means any Special Forces soldier below the rank of lance corporal. I couldn't resist adding two characters for comic relief (I borrowed Jay and Silent Bob and grafted their personalities to two B Squadron soldiers).
~ ~ ~ ~
2143: The North Africa sun was high in the sapphire blue of sky. The dust and gun smoke seemed to have faded temporarily. It seemed that both sides realized to avoid the heat of the day, fighting instead at dusk and all other hours. The sound of shooting from the frontline seemed to fade. Ted knew it would pick up in an hour's time.
Ted was lying on his back on a cot as the shortwave radio beside his head started to play a song much enjoyed and appreciated by the men of Army Corps Africa. Even though the lyrics were over 200 years old, several young female singers had revived the universal soldier's love song.
"Annette Marina Chavez sure makes this song come back to life, eh?" Ives asked.
"Yeah." Ted replied, not really paying attention. The song was one that brought back memories and thoughts that both inspired and pained him at the same time.
"Underneath the lantern by the barrack gate. Darling I remember the way you used to wait. Twas there that you whispered tenderly. That you loved me. You'd always be. My Lili of the lamplight. My own Lili Marlene." Chavez began.
Ted smiled to himself, a small, sad smile. He was happy Jamie was enjoying her relationship with Chris, but he was sad that his feelings weren't returned. He was hoping for a mission, something, anything to take his mind off the pain and loneliness he was enduring at the time. Hell even kitchen duty would hit the spot.
"Time would come for roll call. Time for us to part. Darling I'd caress you and press you to my heart. And there 'neath that far off lantern light. I'd hold you tight. We'd kiss good-night. My Lili of the lamplight. My own Lili Marlene." Ted started singing along to himself with the second verse, as were a half dozen other soldiers in the hangar.
Ted wondered how she was doing. Very likely, Mr. Perfect was making her life a field of roses and flowers, making sure she'd forget the lone soldier in Africa named Ted Balfour. He had to leave, he knew if didn't the pain of being in such close proximity with the girl of his dreams who didn't share his feelings would really complicate things. He wasn't sure if leaving was all that much better.
"You'll always be my Lili Marlene." Ted whispered to himself, "The Colonel would really have a fit that I'm moping about this."
Ted could just imagine the Colonel's stern disapproving look he'd give his grandchildren or children whenever they displeased him. He was a man universally respected by subordinate, peer, and family member alike. But there seemed to be regret in his eyes every day of his life.
What did he have to regret? Ted wondered as he grew up. He had a family that adored and respected him, four children, all upstanding citizens, a son in law that was the mayor of Liverpool, and a wife that genuinely loved him.
"What's wrong?" Tashtego said, taking his seat on his adjacent cot.
"Nothing mate." Ted replied. Tashtego heard Lili Marlene playing over the sound system somebody from A Squadron installed in the hangar when the deployment started in May, "Just a stupid crush."
"Affairs of the heart are never stupid, my friend." Tashtego replied with his damnable native wisdom.
"The Colonel always used to say, 'Grandson, never let anyone, not your subordinates or peers see you weak for any length of time.' He was with the 1st Special Forces after transferring from the 6th Ranger Battalion. He was also known for saying, 'The life of the Special Forces soldier is inherently lonely.'" Ted replied.
"He wasn't lonely, he had you guys." Tashtego replied.
"Yes, but I couldn't help but notice, as I got older, there seemed to be a deep seated regret in his eyes." Ted replied.
"Regret?" Tashtego asked.
"There was a girl he fell in love with while he was at Sandhurst. She was everything he wanted in a woman, beautiful, intelligent, caring..." Ted replied, "But his father didn't approve of her because she wasn't English. He never told her he loved her, and they parted ways."
"You really love her don't you?" Tashtego said.
Ted nodded as the next verse began to play, "Orders came for sailing somewhere over there. All confined to barracks was more than I could bear. I knew you were waiting in the street. I heard your feet. But could not meet. My Lili of the lamplight. My own Lili Marlene."
"But she's with Chris and she really loves him." Ted replied, "I can only imagine what she'd even think to see in me."
"Have faith, you will find love one day." Tashtego said.
"Resting in a billet just behind the line. Even tho' we're parted your lips are close to mine. You wait where that lantern softly gleams. Your sweet face seems to haunt my dreams. My Lili of the lamplight. My own Lili Marlene."
~ ~ ~ ~
Sitting in her apartment many miles away Jamie was listening to the radio and she heard the song. Ivy was working on another case she and Jamie at the computer. "I can't help but say that this song reminds me of Ted."
"C'mon," Ivy said, "Let's go get some coffee."
"I suppose you're right." Jamie said, "We've been up pretty late."
"Don't you and Chris have a date tonight?" Ivy asked.
"We do. I hope its someplace fun, but I wouldn't mind a quiet evening at home, a little soft music on the stereo, a home cooked meal..." Jamie began as they walked down to the coffee shop.
They took a table at Starbucks and sat down to talk. Jamie was busy writing something on her legal pad, when Chris walked behind her and said, "Guess who? For Ted luv?"
"Hey dude," said a fellow with longish blonde hair, "You don't happen to mean a guy stationed in North Africa right?"
"What unit's he in?" Jamie asked.
"He's the English dude in G-Squadron.....He's one weird mother...." the soldier began, his companion, a tubby, bearded fellow nodded.
"There are ladies here mate, don't swear." Chris replied.
"Hey English dude, get a life man." Jay replied, "You British dudes are way too uptight."
"Yes, Englishmen are uptight, but I'm Australian." Chris replied.
"Same difference, you drink your booze with a pinkie in the air and shit." Jay replied.
"I'm really not liking this..." Chris began, trying to control his temper.
"Please excuse my friends here." Said a third guy, a Cajun evidently from B Squadron, "I'm Rodney Danvers, B Squadron Sergeant Major. Jay and Silent Bob are good soldiers out in the field but they're a little irregular everywhere else."
"So we've noticed." Ivy began.
"They're Troopers Jason Kovak and Robert Pargos." Danvers replied, "I really have to police those two numbskulls when they're out on pass."
"JAY! SILENT BOB!" shouted Chief Inspector Cobb, the head of ACME HQ, "GET BACK HERE NOW AND PICK EVERY ONE OF THOSE PRAWNS OUT OF MY CAR!"
"Whoops, gotta bounce. Flee fatass flee!!!!" Jay shouted.
"And these are the elite of the US military, the guys that will be our backup on the counterterrorism team?" Chris said, raising his eyebrows, "I'm definitely buying that new insurance policy."
~ ~ ~ ~
"When we are marching in the mud and cold, And when my pack seems more than I can hold. My love for you renews my might. I'm warm again. My pack is light. It's you Lili Marlene. It's you Lili Marlene."
Somewhere in the North African desert, Ted smiled, sadly, but it was still a smile nonetheless. Just thinking of Jamie as the good friend she was to him was enough to make him smile despite himself.
~ ~ ~ ~
AN: I'll go into more detail as this fic continues. But basically the active Special Forces groups pull one squadron a piece to form the Special Projects/Counterterrorism unit behind friendly lines. They work with police/defense/intelligence agencies like ACME.