As they'd been told, the whole week after the three day field training exercise-they were working on drills, marching, and rehearsing how the graduation ceremony would go on Sunday. Family day was to be held on Saturday, this event was something where parents or family of the graduation soldier could come to Fort Striker on a day pass to hang out with them, also eat a meal with them-a real one too, not one of the trays that the soldiers had been eating off of the last two or so months. Family had to leave by 9:15pm though because until they received their graduation certificates-they still had lights out by 9:30pm. For the graduation day itself, families would be allowed back on to base an hour before the ceremony began to get good seats-they were to be seated following the program that way their section of seating was before the platoon their soldier would be standing in. Also for the graduation, they would be emerging from behind their barracks after the smoke signals blew-each platoon would respond to a different color for Hector's, it was black. There were only six platoons total for this company which was referred to as Nightwave.

They would march out wearing their ACU's-a gray, brown-some khaki/tan, and green camouflage pattern and stand in their designated spot-after speeches were given and a few demonstrations of the skills they had acquired during BCT like firing the blanks from the guns, small obstacle course, drill commands, one or two team exercises. After that, the soldier would return to their barracks to change into their class B uniform-a black undershirt, dark green long sleeve over the black shirt, brown pants, black shoes, black belt with silver buckle, two silver pins on the color flaps, then a black beret with the crest of the Archipelago Military-Berk Division, finally a black name that that just read their last names printed in white. The only thing added to this suit was a blue cord of rope after he graduated from AIT in another four weeks-technically five since he'd train for four and then the graduation would be during the middle of the fifth week. For a short period of time in the last week-Hector seriously considered calling his family to tell them but he doubted it would be as easy as saying 'Hey, I know I disappeared one night and ya haven't heard from me but I joined the military and I'm graduating in three days, feel like coming up to Fort Striker which is two hours and forty-five minutes away from where you live?' His father would have a stroke.

As much as he wanted to see them on some days, he wouldn't see them until he was done training and would have time to actually sit down and talk with them. He couldn't just announce on the phone or during dinner that he up and joined the military behind their backs and took off without nothing more than a letter saying not to find him, he was safe, and not to worry, No, this whole situation would need a sit down talk with no interruptions because he knew they'd need time to process what he said and then ask a butt load of questions, followed by a lot of yelling for sure. It was going to suck when he told them but he couldn't just never go back-he'd have to at some point but that point was not right now. Today was Friday-it was lunch hour for Nightwave in the chow hall as Hayden sat with his group which consisted of himself, Tallon, Thaxter, Evan, Viktor, and Ryan. They were the best of friends honestly since all meeting-it kept them organized since the whole Dragon platoon was organized not just into two squads: male and female-but also they had broken themselves into six man or woman units ever since the last night of their three day mission when they had to split up into smaller groups to get around the enemies.

Family day was tomorrow, graduation the day after that. Today they were being given the day off in order to make sure they had their barracks cleaned up and clothes for that day set. They had to either wear their ACU or class B uniform for when families arrived-wearing the class A wasn't allowed unless it was a formal event like a funeral, promotion, meeting, or ceremony. They would really only wear the class B for their graduations from BCT and AIT-or around base if not in their ACU's. After graduation they didn't have to wear their training clothes anymore which was really just a gray, black, or brown sweat suit. If if was warmer months like how it was for the Nightwave Company-they could get away with wearing either a green, tan, or gray short sleeve shirt with the words ARMY written on the front in black lettering along with a pair of black shorts then fell to just above their knees and a pair or running sneakers. If doing the obstacle course then ten to one they had to wear their black or tan shirt with their ACU pants and boots with dog tags showing. They rarely wore their hats unless ordered too.

Hector's army haircut was simple-mostly shaved on the sides but not to the skin like shaved, it had a little length to it. As for the top it had more length than the sides and fuller so his auburn hair didn't go anywhere-it was just a lot shorter. It was only cut to be enough that it wouldn't interfere in his training, duties, or be in his eyes. Apparently the rule was that the sides had to be level with the ear or something along those line. Hector didn't really care-his hair was still there and didn't bother him in the slightest, he actually liked it a lot more now that it wasn't in his way. A lot of the others just opted to get a full shave leaving only a little hair present and some just went full bald. The girls had to keep theirs up and neat-no loose strands falling. "Hector, you sleepin?" Thax asked.

"It's four in the afternoon, why would I be asleep?" Hector asked as he cracked open an eye and looked over towards the right bunk that Evan and Thaxter shared: Evan on the top while Thaxter slept on the bottom. Hector's and Tallon's bunk was in between Evan and Thax's also Ryan and Viktor's.

"Because you've been laying there motionless for about twenty minutes dude?" Evan chuckled.

"Just relaxin-I'll probably be doing the same tomorrow since my family won't be here," Hector chuckled.

"Cody isn't coming tomorrow?" Tallon asked, of course they were referring to the recruiter; Sergeant First Class Cody Greysen.

"He'll be here for the graduation, but not family day." Hector confirmed.

"Well you're welcome to hang with any of us if ya get bored," Ryan offered.

"Thanks but I think I'll be okay. Like I said-probably just gonna rest up for graduation," Hector yawned tiredly while rubbing his eyes. Tallon exited the bathroom now and chuckled leaning on the metal frame while wiping his hands with a paper towel-then tossed it in the garbage can by his and Hector's bed.

"You're not holding out on us, right Haddock?" Tallon asked.

"Not really, no. Just tired is all. We've been bustin our asses for nine weeks-no way I'm not taking advantage of the rest. You guys have fun, I'm just gonna chill around the base or sleep." Hector smiled.

"Nah-come on. Something is wrong, tell us." Thaxter offered gently.

"Guys really, it's nothing-don't worry about me. I'm just gonna pop in my headphones and relax, okay? If I manage to fall asleep then wake me up for dinner," Hector pulled his headphones from the closet then laid back down on the bed as he plugged them into his phone and started scrolling through music while placing the buds in his ears while picking one song then putting his arms behind his head and closing his eyes.

"You think he misses his family?" Ryan asked looking at the others now.

"He's been missing them since he left but he's got his reasons for not involving them right now, won't knock it. He knows his family better than we do so I guess we just trust his judgment that they wouldn't understand his decision," Tallon stated looking back to his friend.

"It sucks though-I mean...everyone's family is coming tomorrow but his," Thaxter mumbled.

"Nah I'm sure there are some others whose parents aren't coming," came Andrew Cortez's voice now, "mine aren't. They can't the time off work but will be here for graduation,"

"Yeah-that's the difference though. His aren't coming because they don't know he even joined the military. He did it behind their backs-then just left in the middle of the night, a note saying he had to do this and not to worry about him. They don't even know where he is and he won't contact them," Tallon said now.

"Oh, my bad then." Andrew shrugged.

"Well it's his choice guys so we gotta leave him alone about it," Evan sighed-the rest nodded as the ones closest to him could see him looking at pictures of his family before sighing and putting the phone down with his eyes closed again. The others just left him be, they could tell he wanted to be alone right now.

(Family Day)

Family day was a complete success-well, for everyone except Hector. True to his words, he spent most of the time in the barrack. He did meet families of his friends but otherwise tried to let them have time with their family. During meals-soldiers got to sit with their families and it was a real meal: cheeseburgers, hamburgers, chips, fries, soda, potato salad. It was a good lunch. And for dinner it was simple chicken and ribs-normally the soldiers wouldn't be allowed to have this kind of stuff but since most of tomorrow would be marching and drill commands they figured that one day wouldn't hurt them very much. There had been a little entertainment by form of music but mostly it was soldiers talking with their families and catching up. They would all have to leave by 9:15pm after all so soldiers wanted as much time as possible with them before graduation day since most of them would be leaving Fort Striker in order to complete their AIT in other locations but the Dragon platoon of barracks A and C were staying put at Fort Striker so far.

Hector began to understand how they had been grouped now. Certain AIT training had to be done at certain bases around the Archipelago so for Infantryman-it was Fort Striker. Their platoon corresponded to a particular job or sometimes it was more than one. For Dragon platoon it was medics, infantryman, and vehicle training: small choppers and support vehicles. Other platoons were going to other places to learn about their MOS job-it made sense why they were grouped up the way they were now. It was safe to say now that the people he was with-he would stay with for a good long while. He remembered this from earlier training days during Green Phase-that the platoon or squadron he was with now would likely stay together unless certain people were called to other spots they were needed in and in either case-those people would be replaced by others to fill the holes but what wouldn't change was their battle buddy-this would never change so at the very best he knew he'd have his friend Tallon no matter what.

During this day, Hector wondered what his family was doing and a few times he contemplated calling them-he actually did once but after his mother said 'hello' he said nothing and hung up. Didn't sound like they were all that worried that their only youngest son hadn't been home in ten weeks and it was only ten because of reception week. It only proved his point that right now they didn't need to know where he was or what he was doing. Obviously it was just as he said that they didn't care that much and weren't worried about him in the slightest. That was fine with him-he wasn't worried about them either. His parents had their super time consuming busy jobs while his siblings had their friends and didn't have to worry about acting like they didn't know him or he didn't exist anymore because now he didn't. He was gone and they had no idea where. He wanted it to stay this way for a while. Hector put in his headphones after dinner and ended up drowning out everything around him and just falling asleep. His friends were worried for him but just assumed to leave him be for the night-tomorrow would be a big day: their Basic Combat Training graduation!

(Graduation Day)

It was stated that they stay grouped as their platoons and standing beside their battle buddy in a eight by six square-meaning eight across and six down. The other platoons were doing the same but we would be introduced to the crowd as the 10th Berk Infantry Division-82nd Nightwave Company. Then at some point we'd march just by Platoons and be announced that way and for Hector's, it was likely to be the 4th Dragon Platoon of Nightwave Company to Berk Infantry Division or something along those lines-he wasn't entirely sure how it would be announced, it didn't really matter in the long run. All that mattered today was that they were graduation Basic and moving on to Advanced Individual Training a week after this-they had to give the others time to arrive who would be taking the same training as the Dragon platoon was. Currently it was the beginning of May and hopefully by early June-he'd be done with AIT, graduated that, and moving on to his new station to perform his job duties of Infantryman.

The ceremony was to begin at 1:30pm-the signal of it starting was colored smoke bombs corresponding to the platoon color. Dragon platoon was black. It would be a simple march out-standing around at parade rest while there were speeches and special awards, after that they'd return to barracks to change into their class B's for the hand outs of their BCT diplomas. Just a piece of paper saying they passed Basic and a few other fancy sentences. The ceremony wasn't meant to last longer than an hour or so-also included before they changed out of their ACU's were small demonstrations of things they'd learned like drill commands, proper positioning of the guns that would only shoot blanks, few team exercises like the walls to get over, trust exercises, and general knowledge they'd learned such as the seven army values or the three general orders. It would be an interesting day for sure-Hector was honestly looking forward to seeing Cody, the recruiter who helped him start the whole process.

"I can't believe we're graduating Basic today!" Thaxter exclaimed while getting his boots on.

"Seriously, we've waited nine long weeks for this!" Ryan added while adjusting his coat and hat to be straight. All of their class B's were hanging on their bed posts-ready for them to change into as soon as they were ordered to. It had to be a ten minute process to get back, get dressed, and be back out all in that time frame too. It was fairly easy as long as nothing got in the way. Hector prepared all his to be open and laid out on his bed to grab and throw on as soon as he got to his bunk. The guys didn't care about seeing one another down in their boxers or underwear-they all had to do the very same thing during MEPS so a lot of them just got used to the fact of seeing one another with hardly anything on as long as it wasn't complete nudity.

"And to think we still have four more weeks of training to do. Also the one week of waiting to start AIT-then another week after AIT to graduate, so much fun right?" Tallon remarked sarcastically.

"Way to kill the mood, Tal," Hector joked with him as he sat on his bed already dressed and ready to go when their Drill Sergeant would inevitably come knock on the door to get them in formation for when the smoke bombs went off in about twenty minutes or so-the clock was counting down, in an hour and thirty minutes they would be BCT graduates! It was rather exciting.

(1:20pm)

Ten minutes before the ceremony was set to begin and everyone heard, "Company, Fall in!" So as expected, they rushed out and lined up accordingly by platoon with their battle buddy and there was no set form for where girls and guys stood as long as they were in formation and beside their assigned battle buddy then the Drill Sergeants didn't care one bit who stood where in the square of soldiers. They all stood at the ready to march-the bombs went off together as the platoons began to march towards the parade grounds in silence and perfect sync, all their training over the last nine weeks led to this moment. Graduation. As it had been rehearsed so many times in the last week-it went just as planned. Speeches, demos, getting changed and getting their diplomas. The names weren't announced-it was just a long speech while the Drill Sergeants handed out the diploma to each of the privates.

"It appears we forgot an award earlier folks, my apologies." came the voice of the officer who ran Fort Striker. Normally this wouldn't bother anyone and it didn't but the fact was that awards and promotions were handed out before the soldiers even changed clothes so how was it forgotten until now? Nevertheless, no one moved from their position while the officer cleared his throat. "Coming to my attention now is the fact one of our privates actually won't be graduating as a private today. This soldier is a young man who is by far one of the youngest we've ever had to join. He's shown high marks since the day he arrived at the Military Entrance Processing Station and was sworn in. He's a young man of smarts, courage, loyalty, kindness, friendship, generosity, respect, honor, integrity, duty. He's a good leader and team player according to his Drill Sergeant and apparently very humorous, witty, and sarcastic. This young soldier will not be graduating as a Private today, but he will be graduating above the rank of private for his exemplary skill and overall performance since arriving here at Fort Striker. Drill Sergeant Svendson, will you have the soldier being promoted step forward please?"

"Yes sir," Drill Sergeant Svendson saluted as his eyes scanned the group of the Dragon platoon, "Hector Haddock, will you step forward beside me please?" Hector's eyes widened a bit but otherwise turned to the right and headed out of the square and up beside Sean now-instantly returning to parade rest.

"Hector Haddock, it gives the Barbaric Archipelago Military-Berk Army division great honor to bestow upon you the rank of Corporal. The rank of a soldier who acts as team leader which according to your Drill Sergeant, you have been doing since the first day arriving here at Fort Striker by instructing just the members of the Strike Squadron that you had to work together complete the task of everyone getting their own bag. You utilized the aspect of teamwork right away and been leading several exercises rather frequently since starting your Basic Combat training. And also-during the three day mission, the soldier in command relinquished the mission to your command to lead them to safety. Your ability to represent every value is why you've been promoted. Congratulations, Corporal Haddock." said the officer who Hector believed went by the name of Sergeant Major of the Berk Army; Jay Wood. Hector was almost in shock as Sean was temporarily pinning the badge of Corporal to his sleeve which he would have to probably sew onto his ACU later, and then he'd receive a new name tag with the name 'CPL Haddock'.

He just got promoted three ranks from Private! He was a private and three ranks higher was Corporal-he was just about beside himself. Why did...he get promoted and the others didn't-he didn't do all that stuff by himself, he had help from Tallon and the others. "Well done, Hector. Return to your spot in the group now," Sean informed after putting a hand on his shoulder. Hector offered a salute to both the SMA and DS before he turned heel and returned to his spot. He really couldn't believe what just happened.

"Today marks the end of one journey and the beginning of another-many of the soldiers here today will be moving on to Advanced Individual Training where they will excel and train to perform their army selected job. Let's give it up for them!" the SMA announced as the crowd stood and applauded all the soldiers standing on the field before them. "Now I will dismiss the soldiers to spend time with family-guests may stay until after dinner and then the soldiers moving to their next training site must prepare to leave. Thank you. Soldiers! Dismissed!" the soldiers now offered a salute and broke off, right away Hector's friends had him surrounded in shock.

"You got friggen promoted, man! Holy shit, that's amazing! Congrats!" Thaxter said happily.

"I...don't see why I was though, I didn't...do more or less than any of you-we did all that shit together. Doesn't seem fair that only I got promoted from Private and it wasn't even to Private First Class-it was three rank jump to Corporal..." Hector mumbled.

"You were promoted because you are the youngest soldier in this Company and completed tasks that grown men couldn't manage on the first try. You earned this rank for all you've done since coming here-leadership, loyalty, and everything else the SMA stated before you were called to stand with me," Sean interjected now.

"Hector!" Cody yelled rushing through the crowds and hugged Hector tightly.

"Cody...need air to...breathe!" Hector gasped out at the bone-crushing like hug, Cody let go smiling wide now.

"Sorry lad-I'm just so proud of you! Making Corporal and graduating Basic," Cody said happily now. Hector chuckled a bit-it was kind of cool actually that he was promoted for apparently doing something that soldiers older than him couldn't. It was finally over-BCT was done they were graduates. Now all that was left was a week of waiting, four of AIT, then graduating from that-his life was taking off fast and he loved how it felt. This was the best decision he ever made.