Chapter Two: Even Winners Can Get Wounded
The mornings were the worst. In the haze between wakefulness and sleep, he was still alive. She could feel his soft hair in her fingers, and see his bright smile. Hear his beautiful laugh. There was always a warm glow around him. Like there was light in her life again. Her sun had returned. But she always woke up. He disappeared when she woke up. No. He died again when she woke up. She had to remember that he was gone, and she had to live without him. And it felt like he died all over again and her heart was ripped out again and again.
Annie opened her eyes and stared at the top of the tent. How much longer did she have to endure this? She rolled over and looked at Hitch. The other girl was sound asleep still. Hitch had curly brown hair, and when she was awake, cat like green eyes. Annie couldn't deny that Hitch was pretty. She could see why people were attracted to her. People like Marlowe. Annie glanced at her watch. 6:30. "Oh shit." They had to be at their briefing at 6:45. "Hitch, wake up." She said, pulling on her boots.
"Five more minutes." Hitch moaned.
Annie was on her feet, yanking the sleeping bag off of Hitch. "We're going to be late to the briefing, and then we're all in for it."
Hitch sat up. "What?"
"It's six thirty, Hitch. We overslept."
"Shit!" Hitch was moving now. In another minute or so, both girls had on their boots, and jackets. They were pulling their hair back as they stepped out of the tent.
Marlowe was waiting for them. "It's about time." He huffed as they all started power walking. "I was starting to think I'd have to come in there, which is a breach of protocol, by the way."
"Just shut up." Annie muttered.
"Where's Boris?" Hitch asked.
"Saving us seats."
"More like sitting in the hot seat if we don't make it." Hitch replied.
"Very noble of you, Marlowe, to send him there alone." Annie said.
"Hey, wait a second-" Annie took off in a run before Marlowe could finish his sentence. She could hear the other two start running as well.
They made it with about 30 seconds to spare, crashing into their seats without ceremony. "Seriously guys? What the fuck?" Boris hissed at them.
"Shut up." Annie hissed back as their sergeant walked to the front of the room.
"Good morning. Glad everyone could make it." He said, looking right at their squad as he did. "Pretty easy day. We're staying in camp until orders come through for the next advance, so you're all on traffic duty. Keep the trucks moving, and try not to let anyone get run over. Certainly not anyone higher than a sergeant." The group suppressed any signs of malcontent. Traffic duty sucked, but at least they didn't get assigned to the latrines. "Oh, and one more thing before I break up your squads for assignment. Corporeal Leonhardt, you've been reassigned." He held up a folded piece of paper. Annie could feel the eyes of the other three on her as she stood up to get her new orders. "You're to meet a Captain Zacharias at HQ at 7:15, so if I were you, I'd get a move on." He handed her the paper.
"Sir." Hitch said, rising to her feet. "She's our squad leader, so not only will we down a man, but-"
"There's a fresh crop of privates coming in, Private Dreyse. And as to your other problem," he held up another piece of paper. "Congratulations, Corporeal Freudenberg. You've been promoted. You're now leader of Squad Three."
Annie looked between Hitch and Marlowe. Hitch looked pissed that Marlowe got promoted before her. Marlowe looked like he was about to piss himself as he stood up to get his orders. Boris looked like he wanted to go back to bed.
"Squad leaders, come get your orders for the day. The rest of you are dismissed."
"I should go." Annie said as the other three cornered her.
"Wait a second." Hitch said, putting a hand on Annie's arm.
"Where have you been reassigned to?" Boris asked.
Annie unfolded the paper and started to read. Her eyes kept getting bigger as she went. "What is it?" Marlowe questioned.
"Something awful?" Hitch asked.
Annie stared at each one of them in turn. "The SOC."
"What?" Marlowe seized the paper from her and began to read. "This hearby declares that one Corporeal Leonhardt has been selected for advanced training with the intent on commissioning her service in the…in the Special Operations Company." He stared at her. "Holy shit."
"I have to go." She grabbed the paper back. "I'll see you guys later."
"Will we?" Hitch asked.
"I'll have to at least get my stuff." She said, stepping around them and out the door. She had to get to HQ. How had she been picked for this? Was this something she even wanted? Would she be able to say no? She guessed she'd find out when she met with Captain Zacharias.
Annie had only been to Headquarters once before, and it had not been anything good. She had been called in to be informed that Dad had passed away. She'd been sent home for two weeks to sort out affairs. It was not a pleasant experience. So, standing here eight months later, she couldn't deny that she felt a certain apprehension about stepping inside. Once she did, her whole life was going to change. She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. She was a grown ass woman, and veteran of two years. She could handle this.
Once inside, she walked up to the front desk. "Can I help you?" the secretary working there asked.
"Corporeal Leonhardt, here to see Captain Zacharias." She said, holding out her orders.
"Down the hall, take a left, third door on the right." The secretary answered without even looking at Annie.
"Thank you, ma'am." Annie followed the directions, and tapped on the door.
"Come in." A gruff voice called.
She opened the door. A very large man with a goatee stood behind a desk. "Captain Zacharias?"
"That would be me. Who are you?"
"Corporeal Leonhardt. I was told to report to you." She stepped closer and held out her orders. He took them and leaned closer to her. He inhaled deeply through his nose and she immediately took a step back. "Did…did you just smell me, sir?"
"He does that with everyone." Annie spun around and looked upon a familiar chestnut haired face. "Hi, Annie. My, how you've grown up. You're like a proper woman now."
Annie's face crinkled in confusion. "Hange?"
She grinned. "It's Captain Zoe now, actually."
Annie looked more closely at Hange's uniform. There on her shoulder was the Wings of Freedom patch. "You're in the SOC?"
"I am. And we're hoping you will be too."
"I have so many questions." Annie said.
"And we'll answer them. We're just waiting on one more person. They have a later briefing than you." Hange sat down on the desk while Captain Zacharias sat down behind it.
"Can I ask you one thing before they get here?"
"Depends on what it is."
Annie motioned to the now closed door. "Did you only stand back there for dramatic effect?"
Hange grinned. "You caught me. And it worked out beautifully, don't you think?"
There was a tap on the door. "Come in." Zacharias called.
Annie heard the door swing open and spun around to look. "Corporeal Lenz repor-Annie?"
"Christa?" Annie turned back around to look at the captains. "Tiny's being commissioned for the SOC?"
"Orders please." Captain Zacharias said, holding out his hand. As Christa stepped up to the desk, he smelled her too.
She raised an eyebrow. "Um…"
"Just ignore him. Mike smells everybody he meets. Says he can tell a lot about someone. Close the door and take a seat." Christa did as she was told. Once the two women were seated, Hange began. "As you probably know, the Special Operations Company exectures highly specialized, highly dangerous missions in service of our military and government. Because of this, we go through extensive background checks and training. We," she motioned between herself and Mike, "have been tasked with recruitment."
"That's where you come in." Mike continued. "You both finished top of your classes in training, clean service records, proven yourselves in the field. That's why you've been chosen."
"You see, we're an invite only club." Hange said. "And you two have been invited. Even then, there's still a rigorous 15 week training program you have to get through. The choice is entirely yours if you want to try. But we want you to make an informed decision. The SOC suffers the highest rate of casualties."
"Almost all of them KIAs." Mike said. "Upon graduating, there is a 73% chance of you being killed within a year."
"But those that survive will be the most elite members of our military. And there is opportunity to rise quickly in rank. Upon graduation, you will be commissioned a lieutenant. If you even decide to go to training, you will be promoted to the rank of sergeant, which you will keep, even if you wash out of training." Hange looked at them. "Now I will take questions."
Annie and Christa looked at each other. Clearly, they both had a lot of questions. Christa spoke first. "What happens if I decide not to do it?"
"You'll be returned to your current with no questions asked."
"Is there an increase in pay?" Annie asked.
"Besides the increase that comes with the promotion, there's also pretty good hazard pay."
"What's the likelihood of our bodies being returned if we're killed?" Christa asked.
"About 15%." Mike answered.
"Do I have to call you ma'am?" Annie asked Hange.
"Captain works." Hange grinned. "Reach Captain yourself, and I'll let you call me by my first name again."
"If I say yes, when do we leave?" Annie asked.
"Tonight."
"Will we get to see our families before we leave for a mission?" Christa asked.
"Your families will be invited to graduation and you'll get three weeks liberty after graduation."
"How long do we get to decide?"
"Two hours from the time this meeting ends, and at any point during training. But know that if you say no now, there will not be another offer."
"If we say yes, will we be able to say goodbye to our squad before we go?" Annie didn't know why she asked that. Maybe she was more attached to those nerds than she thought.
"Yes. We'll leave after dinner." They grew quiet and Hange let out a small sigh. "Okay, well, if that's all your ques-"
"I have one more." Annie said.
"What is it?"
"Why did YOU join the SOC?" She looked directly at Hange.
"For Petra." Hange said with zero hesitation. "Those bastards killed her and this is how I can get revenge."
"I don't need two hours, then." Annie said. "I'm in."
"Okay, Corporeal Lenz-"
"I'm in too."
Annie had to admit, she was impressed. She'd never thought of Christa as a fighter, let alone the kind of person to join the SOC. "So, now what?"
"Meet back here at 1900, out front, and we'll head out."
"What do we do in the meantime?"
"Pack. Say goodbye to anyone you care about. The odds of you ever seeing them again are slim." Mike rose to his feet.
Annie and Christa rose to their feet as well, and gave a salute, hand over heart. Mike and Hange saluted them back, then Hange grinned. "See you ladies tonight." Annie had a bad feeling about this. But her mind was made up. She was going, and she would become a member of the SOC.