Warning: Rated for language, violence and references to adult behavior.
The main characters of this story are based on characters from the cartoon 'Code Lyoko.' I do not own, nor do I claim, any copyright to these characters.
"Oooff!"
Odd hit the mat hard. Jeremie had Odd's hand in a wrist lock, and was slowly tightening it. Odd tapped three times on the mat, and Jeremie released him and stepped back.
"Good, Jeremie!" MGySgt. Thompson called across the mat.
Ulrich and the others had known about Jeremie and Aelita's training sessions with the Marines for some time now. Both were getting more proficient and confident, but one thing they really needed were opponents closer to their age and size. Getting pounded by adults wasn't always that confidence building.
So Jeremie asked his friends if they would join them. They agreed, and MGySgt. Thompson agreed to allow it.
So, on other parts of the mat in the gym were Aelita sparring with Sissi, Yumi sparring with GySgt. Grace, and Ulrich sparring with Cpl. Coffy, who started joining them. MGysSgt. Thompson presided over the group.
"Okay, everyone break!" he called.
Everyone stopped what they were doing, then shook hands with their opponent.
"That's enough for today. I'll get with Jeremie and we'll get scheduled for next time. Dismissed."
Aelita, Yumi and the rest of Jeremie's friends thanked the Marines for coming and left for the showers. Cpl. Coffy and GySgt. Grace went over to the bleachers and took up watch a discreet distance from Jeanie Wilkerson, who was sitting there talking to Herve.
"I see her father hasn't sent her to a convent yet," Jeremie said to MGySgt. Thompson.
"Well, it was a close thing," he replied, "about two days after that dance, she tried sneaking out again, but this time we caught her. Seems like there was an old door in the Embassy Residence that no one knew about, and it led right to the street. Needless to say we secured that entry right away. Afterwards, I made a deal with her. If she didn't sneak out any more, I would let her come with us to the school and she could meet with her boyfriend in a supervised manner."
"What's the big deal? Is really so bad for her to get out on her own?"
"Without escort, yes, and you of all people should know that. But look at it from another point of view. If she can sneak out, then Bad People can sneak in. We don't take kindly to Bad People sneaking into our Embassies."
"Oh," Jeremie said, "on another subject, I've got a little problem I'd like to talk to you about."
"Okay, shoot."
"Well, it's my friends. We, ah, compete, as a team, and we've been having some trouble lately."
"Does this have anything to do with that old factory you and your friends seem to frequent?"
Jeremie's eyes got wide at Thompson's comment.
He laughed, "don't be so surprised! And don't worry either. When I started this little program, I ran complete background checks of you and your friends. I even ran one on Miss Wilkerson's new playmate over there."
"Why?"
"Because you and your friends are interacting with personnel that have knowledge of classified material, and we had to make certain you aren't some kind of security risk."
"Us?"
"Don't be so shocked. Children have been used against our Embassy personnel before. And we can't afford not to be cautious. Especially with our 'princess' over there."
"So how do you know about the factory?"
"GySgt. Grace and Cpl. Pyle followed you one afternoon. Both of them came through Recon, so it wasn't a big stretch for them."
"Ah, how much did they see?"
"Enough to know that there's something odd about that place. An abandoned factory with a sophisticated security system about three levels below the basement."
"Ah, I..."
"Jeremie, don't worry. They didn't go any farther than the elevator. They could have done it, but there wasn't a need. Of course, if you want to explain..."
"I'd really like to, but I don't think it would be a good idea."
"Suit yourself. Now, you were saying you and your friends are having some kind of problem?"
"Yeah. We've been on this 'team' for about four years now. For about three and a half, it's been me, Aelita, Ulrich, Yumi and Odd. Well, over the summer, Sissi joined the team."
"She causing problems?"
"No, not that. It's just... the group has changed. I don't know how to say what I mean."
MGySgt. Thompson thought a moment, then said, "what you're telling me is the group dynamic has changed. You used to be five, working really well together, and now you're six, and you don't quite know how the new guy fits in."
"Yeah. Not only that, but I think I need to change my role in the group. In the past, I was kinda like the coach, sitting on the sidelines and guiding the team on the field. Well, the rules of our game have changed and I think my role has to change with it."
"You know, it would really help me if I knew what 'game' you and your team were playing."
"You do, in a way," Jeremie said after a moment, pointing at Thompson's uniform.
"Shit, kid, what are you in to?"
"I think the phrase is, 'I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.' Please, don't ask me any more. There's a part of me that really wants to tell you everything, but I would want to talk with the others before I did. I've already had to tell two people not associated with our group, but my back was against the wall when I did."
"Alright, I won't press. But if bullets start flying my way because of your 'game,' we will revisit this topic, and I will be insisting on answers. Now, about your problem..."
What the Master Guns told Jeremie only confirmed what Jeremie himself had already thought. They would just have to relearn to work together, now they had a new teammate. As to revising his role, Thompson said he would just have to start training one or more substitutes and let them try coaching. Jeremie was already starting to do that with Desmond Hopper and Aelita, but he was thinking about adding Yumi, Sissi and possibly even Yumi's mother into the rotation.
Master Gunnery Sargent Thompson then said that he might have a way to help them work out their new dynamic.
"I can't make any promises yet, but give me a little time," was the last thing he said on the matter.
A couple of training sessions later, MGySgt. Thompson called the group together.
"Jeremie and I have been talking. He has told me that your 'team' has been experiencing some problems working together."
The kids just looked around at one another.
"The way I hear it, adding a person to the roster has kinda screwed up your rhythm, so to speak. I have something I'd like to try in order to help your problem, but it will be difficult."
"Part of Marine training, well, any military training, is learning teamwork. Think about it; you have young men and women, who have never laid eyes on each other before, suddenly thrown together and expected to act as one single organism. That doesn't happen instantly, and it doesn't come naturally. It has to be practiced, over and over, until each individual can instinctively trust the others."
"From what little Jeremie has told me, you've lost that instinctive trust. Now, that sounds worse than it probably is, but whatever changes that have taken place is making each of you question the others, even if it's unconsciously."
"Here is what I want to do. We have a obstacle course on the US air base about an hour from here. I want to take you there and run you through it. It will be a scaled back version of what we in the service go through. This will mean a weekend away from school, and I'll need permission from the principal as well as your parents or guardians. If you'd like, I have forms here with me. I'll even invite your folks out, so they can see for themselves what we're doing. Any questions?"
"Yeah, Master Guns, how about us?" piped in Jeanie Wilkerson, from the bleachers.
"Miss Wilkerson, if your parents agree, and Jeremie doesn't have a problem with it, I don't either. And that includes you too, Mr. Pichon. Jeremie, what do you say."
"Fine by me, Master Gunnery Sargent."
"Alright, that settles it. Get to the showers, then see me after you're dressed. Dismissed."
On the way to the locker room, Ulrich confronted Jeremie.
"Why did you have to include Herve in on this? I can almost understand Jeanie, but Herve?"
"First off, Jeanie is the reason Herve's included. She really likes him, and just because we think he's a jerk doesn't automatically make him one. And he has changed a lot since he met her. I'm willing to put up with him, so how about you cutting him some slack?"
With that, Jeremie ended the conversation.
Two men met at a café near the Embassy.
"What have you to say," said the first man.
"The way the little bitch used to sneak out has been found and sealed," said the second man.
"Pity," said the first, "we will have to try something else. Do you have the Embassy schedule?"
"Yes, here it is," said the second, handing a piece of paper to the first.
"Good. Remain vigilant. I will contact you soon."
Road Trip! To Be Continued...
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