The Fall Of The Cards



Chapter 01: Serial Number - 72163427



"Name?"

Todd Blackburn straightened with pride. "Todd."

"Last Name?" the man behind the desk, Grimes by his uniform, did not even bother to look up.

"Blackburn."

There was a tense silence as Grimes typed in the information. He repeated to himself Todd's name a couple of times, making sure he got it typed in correctly.

Blackburn decided to end the silence. "What's it like?"

"What's what like?" Grimes replied, promptly asking for the Private's serial number.

His mind struggled for a moment to recall the long string of numbers, "72163427." and as Grimes entered that, Blackburn answered his question. "Mogadishu, the fighting."

Grimes hadn't even finished typing the information in before he answered. "First of it's 'Mog.' No one calls it Mogadishu here. Second, I wouldn't know about the fighting so don't ask."

Don't ask? Todd's mind questioned. Did he mean that there had been no fighting? Were things really that dull? Blackburn had to know.

"Why not?"

Grimes looked up, fixing Todd with brilliant blue eyes. He took a long drag of his cigarette.

"Didn't I say, 'don't ask'?" The army clerk just sighed, setting his cigarette butt in the ashtray at his elbow. "Look kid, you look like you're about twelve so let me tell you something." Grimes went back to typing as he spoke. "I have a rare and mysterious gift that prevents me from going into missions."

Todd stopped, trying to think of some sort of talent that would be so valued as to keep the clerk from the line of fire. He also tried to come up with a skill that he himself could not do.

"Typing."

The man looked at him, "Can you type?"

"No sir."

With a slight nod, as if to emphasize his point, Grimes went back to his typing. "Date of birth?"

Todd thought it best not to ask anymore questions, "2-21-75."

A thought popped into Blackburn's mind just after. It was a smart remark, something he was not quite sure would help him establish his image at the base.

As Grimes handed him his card, Todd just smiled. "Well, I'm here to kick some ass."