As it did every morning while he wasn't in a war zone at least-Hector's watch beeped to alert him it was time to get up. Now his watch went off at 4:30am so he could get up, go for his own morning PT, then come back to shower at 5am. Given he'd be doing PT with the recruits-he just shut the alarm off and decided to just shower and shave to get it out of the way. He'd probably shower again later that night after a long day of sweating was over. Hector pulled off his covers and sat up slowly to rub his eyes and let them adjust to the darkness of the barrack. After he was awake enough, he grabbed a towel from the closet and entered the bathroom with his shower bag: a small black bag that held his razor, shaving cream, deodorant, soap, shampoo, and conditioner-not that he really needed a lot of the hair supplies but when he started Basic they told them to grab one of everything the thought they'd need so Hector grabbed what he thought he'd need. With his hair as short as it was, his hair stuff lasted forever it seemed. He only had to replace it every two months, sometimes longer than that. Hector grabbed a set of clothes to wear-his ACU, the lighter one that included socks, pants, belt, undershirt, and coat. He'd get his boots on when he came out of the bathroom.
Hector held his stuff and entered the bathroom, he set his things on the chair outside the shower stall and only grabbed the things he'd use in there-once the shower was going he stripped down and stepped in. His showers never took long, ten minutes at best and if he needed to hurry then he could do it in seven. After a total of fifteen minutes in there-he was showered, dressed, shaved, and stepping out to get his boots on. Hector checked his watch. 4:50am-ten minutes until first call at 0500 hours, this was going to be fun to watch. Hector thought back to his Basic days, a riot for sure and he loved all the experience he got there and through AIT, he hoped these recruits wouldn't give him any trouble but he had a strong feeling about Skylar being one of the main people who would give him the most. This was fine, Hector would either fail him or make sure he learned his place: he didn't care which came first but he was going to show him what a mistake it was to join just so he wouldn't lose all his friends who chose to join for valid reasons. Hector moved to his bed and sat down to relax until the timer automatically turned on the barrack lights.
(5am)
The lights flipped on as Hector was standing at the barrack door in parade rest while the recruits groaned and tried to cover their eyes from the light now. "Rise and shine!" Hector called out loudly. Tallon, Thaxter, Ryan, Evan, and Viktor were already up and got off their beds standing by them at attention to see if the others would catch on to what to do for first call. It was something discussed on the plane ride of how to teach them without commanding orders-just to see if they could get the picture so to say. Most of them got it right away and stood the same way but others were apparently not morning people. Well, Hector would have to fix that, wouldn't he? Hector grinned as his eyes fell on Skylar and Trent-who were still in bed. "Thax, Ev, Ry, Vik-go make sure the others start getting ready, you know the drill. PT dress if you wouldn't mind?"
"Sure thing, Cap." the four nodded and slipped on their boots headed outside. Hector moved to Skylar and Trent's bunk as he chuckled a bit.
"Lights on-get up!" he ordered firmly.
"It's so early though, can't we start at like 8:30?" Skylar groaned.
"I said: GET UP!" he yelled this time as both boys scrambled out of bed and stood like the others, "That's better. The time is 5am-this will be your wake up time every morning for the next fourteen weeks so best get used to it. PT is in thirty minutes. You have that amount to shower, shave, get dressed, and make your beds the way you learned to at Reception. I will be inspecting five of 5:30am. I suggest you get started," Hector informed. Their eyes widened and hustled to do what they had to do. For thirty minutes-Hector watched them rush around between showers, shaving, getting dressed in their PT dress which was the shorts, tee-shirt, socks, and sneakers. What took them the longest was making the beds. The others returned saying the other recruits were just finishing up making their beds and awaiting inspection while at attention. The A barrack finished and all stood at attention now as Hector put his hands behind his back and walked down the line inspecting everything from beds to proper stance. "Not bad and you did it in the allotted time frame. Tal, lead them out while I check the others?"
"Got it," Tallon nodded. Hector moved around to each of the four barracks and inspected everything-everyone did really well actually, he was impressed. With a nod of approval each time-he'd have one of his guys lead them out to form up outside.
"Well done, all of you. Now-at this time we're moving to PT. Push ups, sit ups, and running or slow jog. We'll be doing this until 6:30am-that's when breakfast is. You'll learn the rest of the schedule as we move through the day. Let's get started!" Hector commanded.
"Yes, Drill Sergeant!" they replied as Hector and the rest of Inferno led them to the PT field. Here started fourteen weeks of training. Hector was honestly interested in seeing how this would play out-they had a long way to go though.
(Three Weeks Later)
Green phase was over finally. Three weeks of phase one, also known as Green phase and it was over and shockingly enough to Hector-they all did good. They learned pretty quick that week one was a major game of Simon Says meaning by that: Drill Sergeant Hector Says. They caught on to the fact that Hector had total control and they only did something if he said to do it. Most of week one was spent learning the schedule, bag drills, timing, and basic things they'd need to know. Week two was the core values, creed, heritage, first aid, hand to hand combat, warfare situations. They got to get familiar with the gas chamber, navigation, confidence courses, small teamwork tasks, and Hector's favorite: conquering a fear of heights on the Victory Tower. That had been interested to watch too, turned out that Trent and Drew were afraid of heights but Jessie surprised Hector by helping his friends get through it-showing leadership and that they could trust him. Honestly reminded Hector of himself when he went through it because Thaxter and Evan weren't big on heights either during their Basic time.
Repelling from a fifty foot wall was also included in week two along with getting introduced to the M16A2 rifle. The recruits got well acquainted with how to carry, hold, aim, take apart, clean, and put it back together. They didn't get to shoot it just yet but that was coming soon. Week three was spent working on all team builder exercises and this is where they learned that if they fucked up-their battle buddy did too. Skylar, Trent, Drew, and Jessie now understood what Hector was talking about when he said why him and Tallon were pretty much inseparable aside from being the best of friends. Of course in all this fun training for phase one wasn't complete without drill and physical training every single day. Hector worked them until they were sore that night-it's how he learned after all. The recruits learned how their schedule went because Hector explained what each section would be and what time it took place at so after week one they had it down and thank Thor that everyone got how he wanted it done after day two of week one. They learned to be up, head for the bathrooms, shower, shave-if needed, get dressed for PT, make their beds, then stand at attention to wait for his inspection. To save time-Hector sent his guys to check the other barracks and get done faster. They all passed their Green phase tests, not with high scores, but enough to pass regardless.
Also during these three weeks; Hector got all the guys in one barrack and the girls in another. It was easier than using four barracks when they all comfortably could reside in two while keeping the males and female separated. So all the guys were in A barrack and the girls were in C-just like it had been when Hector was in Basic. Oh memories.
(Two Weeks Later)
This was when they finally got to learn how to shoot their rifles and make their marksmanship qualifiers and it was not as easy to hit a certain number of targets in order to make certain levels. They knew they had to hit thirty-seven with the rifle and the hand gun. For final levels: a lot of the recruits made sharpshooter, only twelve got Marksman-but to Hector's surprise-Drew, Darius, and Jessie made expert level on their qualifiers. Trent and Skylar reached Marksman but would have another chance in AIT to up that higher but Hector told them to take their shooting more seriously. More of their training in phase two or Brown phase included more obstacle courses, drill, and ceremonies to practice on. Those were going really well too. Hector had them marching in perfect form, also they knew all their commands, the seven values, the soldier's creed, and the general orders by heart. Hector was very impressed and very proud of them for getting it all in just five weeks so far. Their end of Brown phase testing went better than the Green did-high scores and all passing. They'd just completed all those test and Hector decided to give them a break from the usual more PT and training. They'd passed and it had been a long two weeks at that-so they deserved this small break before they started Silver phase tomorrow morning. The last four weeks of Basic and then they moved on to four weeks of AIT before graduation and shipping to Iraq almost immediately after that.
"You did really well, recruits. All of you-I see a lot of promise in this group and you've met my expectations of the last five weeks. So in lieu of that and how well you did today, I'm gonna give ya break for what we normally do at this time. Head to the barracks, grab a shower, relax a bit. You've earned it," Hector told them calmly.
"Thank you, Drill Sergeant," they replied.
"Dismissed, recruits," Hector nodded as they broke off and went to their respected barrack: A or C to relax. Hector sighed as he moved with his unit to A barrack following behind the recruits-the male ones at least. When everyone was inside, Hector laid on his bed and relaxed there as it felt good to be off his feet finally.
"Hector-play something on your guitar, we're bored as fuck man," Thaxter stated.
"Why is it always me entertaining you five?" Hector inquired.
"Because you have all the talent dude," Evan chuckled.
"I do not. We all got something we're good at, guys," Hector rolled his eyes.
"Drill Sergeant," came Jessie's voice as Hector looked over to see him standing there at attention-Hector sat up now.
"As you were, Private Garcia. No need to be formal right now-we're all just relaxing." Hector said calmly as Jessie relaxed from his position with a soft, almost sad look in his eyes and Hector noticed it as he stood up now and faced him. "Is there something you need?"
"I was...wondering if I could talk to you, outside, in private?" Jessie asked slowly-his eyes casting to the ground a bit.
"Of course you can. Tallon-you're in charge until I get back," Hector stated as Tallon nodded with a smile and giving him a thumbs up. "Follow me, Garcia," he instructed while heading outside and Jessie following him quietly. When they were outside and a few feet from the barrack, "What's on your mind?" Hector had made it clear to them that if any of them had a problem or needed to talk that he was available too as long as it didn't interfere with training-he said this time was usually during Drill Sergeant Time which was right before personal time at 8:30pm, a time where they recruits could talk to the Drill Sergeant about problems they were having in training, or even personal problems they couldn't find a solution to.
"It's...kind of personal and I...didn't want to talk about in front of the others," Jessie looked down then closed his eyes.
"Understandable. It's just you and I, private. So come on, tell me what's on your mind?" Hector asked him again.
"How did you get over her?" Jessie asked which took Hector by surprise but he knew what he was referring to. Astrid. "I broke up with her...right before I went to MEPs and...she keeps messaging me and telling me she's sorry and wants me to come back to her. She knows I'm here and can't just do that but I also...don't want to go back to her and she doesn't get that. I haven't...answered her but it still hurts-ya know? How did you do it? Get past what she did to you?" he asked slowly.
"It took time and a lot of it. The first thing you have to do is accept what happened-stop asking yourself why it happened and just accept that it did. You have to break all contact too. Phone, Skype, social media. You can't be afraid to let it out if it hurts. Bottling it only makes the pain worse-that's what getting over it means. Letting it go and moving on with life," Hector told him calmly.
"How long did it take you?" Jessie looked up a bit.
"Three months to be honest. I know the day before I left that I'd said I didn't care but I did. It was Tallon who broke through me," Hector laughed a bit now, "I actually cried as soon as we got settled in Iraq for about forty-five minutes because it hurt so much and though I said I didn't care, I did. I said I didn't love her but I still did. Sitting in the barrack with the guys and even some of the officers, I realized that they didn't care I'd shown my emotions about the situation-hell some of them didn't even know what was going on. But they didn't care either, they knew I was hurting and they said they'd stand by me, that they wouldn't let me fall. And they didn't. They didn't let me fall apart or break, they gave me someone or all of them to talk to about it and as time passed-it got easier to deal with. One day, I was just over it. I didn't get upset seeing her picture, I didn't get mad thinking about what happened. I hit a point where it happened, nothing was going to change it and honestly I didn't want to. That's when you know it's over. You don't feel anything for her anymore. No love, no pain, no anger...just feel like yourself again, like you can be happy without her," Hector explained to him.
"So I gotta break contact with her and just...let time run its course?" Jessie asked looking at him more now.
"That's what I did. Broke contact, didn't hide what I felt, trusted my friends to keep me up, and let the time pass. It gets easier, Jessie. Believe that, I know it hurts right now but it will get better and you won't feel this way forever," Hector told him softly.
"Thanks, Drill Sergeant," Jessie offered him a smile now.
"You're welcome. You good or you need a few minutes?" Hector asked him.
"Maybe just a couple out here," Jessie replied.
"Take your time and come back when you're ready," Hector smiled to him as Jessie nodded and Hector turned to leave.
"Hey...thanks, seriously..." Jessie finally said. Hector smiled at him then he began to walk-returning to the barrack.
"Everything okay? Where's Garcia?" Evan asked when Hector returned without Jessie.
"Everything is fine-mind your own boys. He's got some things to work through, just like I did," Hector replied laying down on his bed with his arms behind his head, his friends knew what he meant as they smiled-happy for him being over Astrid and now helping Jessie get over her too. Hector closed his eyes with a smile on his face but not more than fifteen minutes later he managed to fall asleep there as the guys made sure he was left alone to rest.
(Eight Weeks Later)
Silver phase and Advanced Individual Training was over! Silver phase of Basic ended and they moved right into AIT-now both were done and today was their graduation. The soon to be soldiers did exceptionally well-except Skylar who almost didn't make it to this day. Half through Silver phase-he gave Hector a lot of shit but it didn't hold up because Hector put him in his place pretty damn fast. The end of Silver involved a basic summary of everything they'd learned the last eight weeks and then of course the three days field training exercise where they had to navigate from point A to B by themselves in the forest. Hector watched everything from outside the forest and kept in contact by radio. They did very well and Jessie was selected as platoon leader for it-he showed a lot of promise over the eight weeks of Basic so that's who Hector chose and Jessie then chose Darius as his second in command. They only had a few issues because of Skylar but they actually ended up yelling at him in the middle of the mission and he stopped arguing. Hector was most impressed with how they handled it.
AIT had gone pretty well too-that was all the training for their chosen job. Medics or Infantrymen were taught at Fort Striker. But today was graduation from both BCT and AIT. All of them graduating as privates except for a few who Hector put in good word for. And then Hector got the honor of promoting them too: Darius and Trent to Private First Class. Drew to Specialist, and Jessie made it to Corporal. Skylar didn't advance at all since he barely made it through Basic-it was a miracle he made it through AIT at all. When all the graduation diplomas were handed out and promotions completed-it was over. They were officially done but the joy didn't last when Hector reminded them all that tomorrow they were leaving Fort Striker to rejoin Nightwave company in Iraq. As it was they had to listen to Hector in the barrack radioing to one of his commanding officers about the completion and them returning. Hector was already packed when he pulled his phone which actually acted like a radio. Cody, Alex, Asher, Raymond, and Bludvist all had a phone with this feature-it was easier than trying to use the satellite radios between Archipelago and Iraq.
"It's 5pm here, gotta be 8pm there..." Tallon reminded.
"Bludvist will answer-always does," Hector shrugged as he clicked Bludvist's phone and held the two volume buttons on the side of his phone at the same time as it beeped. {Captain Haddock to Lieutenant Colonel Bludvist. Do you read me? Over?} There was a few minutes of nothing at first and then...
{Read you five outta five, Captain Haddock. Status update for me? Over.}
{New recruits trained and graduated. Ready to return to base, sir. Over.}
{Well done, Haddock. Knew I could count on you to get the job done. Plane will be at Striker Airfield at 1400 hours for you and the group. You pick the ten for your platoon yet? Over.}
{I will have them picked by the time we get there, Lieutenant Colonel. Orders received, understood, and confirmed. Leaving Fort Striker at 1400 hours to return to Dreki base. See you then sir. Haddock over and out.} Hector put his phone down while he continued to pack a few small things to take with him to Iraq, his guitar would be in it's case but for now he had it out and sitting on the edge of his bed-strumming at the strings a bit. He loved this thing, best gift he ever got from his platoon. "Darius, you tell Heather you're deploying?"
"Don't really have the heart to. Or Mom and Dad. They don't even know you were the one training us or that we're set to go directly to Iraq after training was over," Darius replied.
"Tell them. Just leave me out of it-don't feel like hearing that I haven't called in months. You can tell them you're joining up with Nightwave company-but that's it," Hector told him.
"Do I have to?" Darius sighed.
"Want me to make it a direct order?" Hector glanced over at him now.
"No, sir. I don't..." Darius mumbled as he grabbed his phone and moved off to the side to call home. He was on the phone a good twenty minutes before finally hanging up after yelling, "AND YOU FUCKING WONDER WHY HECTOR NEVER CALLS HOME-You're absolutely ridiculous! I knew I should have just bailed and not said a word like my brother did-he was right: you wouldn't and still don't understand! I honestly don't blame him and if you don't knock it off, you won't be hearing from me either! Good Night!"
"Told you I had my reasons for not saying a word," Hector remarked calmly.
"Yeah-I see that now..." Darius huffed.
"Let me guess, Heather's crying, Mom is in tears pleading for it not to be true, and Dad is being an unsupportive jackass?" Hector asked, Darius nodded. "Hence why I don't call home," he offered a smile now. "Bet you twenty bucks-one of them calls me next and asking if I'll be working with you,"
"You're on. No way they'll call you-they think you're in Iraq right now and likely to have no idea that I even joined," Darius grinned.
"Five. Four. Three. Two," suddenly on one-Hector's phone rang as he smirked at his elder brother and shrugged with a grimace of confidence now. Darius opened his wallet and tossed Hector a twenty dollar bill as Hector chuckled and answered the phone and put his finger to his lips for them to be quiet. "What?" he answered after putting it on speaker.
"Hector-thank Thor you answered!" came Heather's cracked voice.
"You just happened to catch me off guard duty, Heather. What's the issue?" Hector replied casually.
"There's so much to tell you. Darius...joined military-he's been away training since just about the beginning of July. Skylar, Jessie, Drew, and Trent joined too! They...are already being directly deployed to Iraq to join your company! Please tell me you'll see them, or working with them?" she asked quickly as Hector arched a brow at Darius who scowled almost and sat on his bed listening still.
"First off: relax or you'll make yourself pass out. Secondly: I'm already aware of what's going on. You think I'm not told who is joining the company-especially when ten of them will be joining my platoon that I'm in charge of? I'm a Captain-I get told everything, Heather. I know where they've been the last three months-at Fort Striker for BCT and AIT. They just graduated today about two hours ago and will be shipping out tomorrow at 2pm. Don't worry so much for their trip in, it's not like they are just flying alone-they are in good hands with my men and I," Hector stated calmly.
There was a silence on the other end for a moment, "Wait...how are they flying in with you if you're...already in Iraq?"
"For the love of...Heather I'm not in Iraq right now! I've been at Fort Striker for three months-who the hell do you think trained Darius and the others? Me. I was their Drill Sergeant and we all go to Iraq tomorrow at 2pm," Hector retorted.
"You've been back in Berk and didn't tell us!" came Spencer's voice.
"Wasn't any of your business-this was just another mission, a temporary one because Nightwave lost forty three people in the last nine months. I was sent with Inferno to Berk for the sole purpose of training these forty three and bringing them back to Iraq with us. No I don't have word on when the tour is ending, and no I don't care if you don't approve. Get over it, Dad. We aren't kids anymore-we're adults and can decide what we want to do with our lives. Sorry if it upsets you but I know for me-I didn't do it make you happy," Hector stated firmly. "Keep it up and you won't hear from me until the tour ends," then he hung up and tossed it down on the bed as he got up.
"Hec, you good?" Tallon asked him carefully.
"Just fine," Hector replied as he moved outside the barrack-through the screen door they saw Hector light a cigarette and tilt his head towards the sky and blew the smoke out while sighing some and closing his eyes. "Fucking same old shit-never ends, never will..." he stated calmly shaking his head. "Oh well," he shrugged some and continued to smoke. After about four minutes-he put it out and returned inside to lay on his bed with his eyes closed. The rest of them left him alone for now-he didn't seem like he was in a very good mood and Inferno knew for sure that Hector had one hell of a temper you didn't want to be on the wrong side of or you'd be reamed a new asshole. As it stood for now-they were shipping out tomorrow at 2pm to Iraq whether they were ready or not. Remainder of the night was still, they did have dinner, finished packing up then all laid down to relax until 10:30pm-Hector kept the lights on for an extra hour for them but after that it was lights out because tomorrow was going to be a long day.
