CAPTAIN PINEDA: CHAPTER 25: S.O.C.
Day One
Captain Pineda was now at his quarters. He looked through some old stuff, which he had ordered the transfer of not so long ago. He then found a picture of himself and his old S.O.C. squad.
All of the S.O.C. troopers in the squad were in the picture, including Cruz. He just stared at the picture for a whole minute before being interrupted by Cruz.
"Sup Captain?" Cruz asked closing the door behind him.
"Nothing much, how about you?" Captain Pineda asked as he placed the photo back.
"Well, I've already seen some of the candidates. With the rest of your squad included."
"Anyone else you recognized?"
"Well actually, yeah."
"Who?"
"Fernandez."
"Huh. Didn't think she would make the qualifications."
"Well she is a Corporal."
"Barely made the qualifications." Captain Pineda said with a laugh. "Anyway… Cruz, I'm going to wear it."
"Wear what…oh don't be an asshole!"
"Only Captains in S.O.C. can wear these." Captain Pineda said pulling out an orange pauldron. A pauldron was a light plate of additional armor that covered the upper chest area and completely covered the right shoulder.
"Ass!" Cruz yelled at his Captain.
"Yup I remember wearing this baby, you know before the 3rd Battalion dissolved its S.O.C. unit." Captain Pineda said putting on the pauldron.
"Don't worry Cruz; I'm sure you'll get one…one day." Captain Pineda said laughing afterwards.
The two now walked to the communication uplink center and found about 100 candidates for S.O.C. With another S.O.C. instructor, giving him or her orders. The instructor turned out to be Lieutenant Mendieta, as they got closer.
"I kept them busy, sir." Lieutenant Mendieta said saluting the Captain.
"Good, now tell them to stop doing jumping jacks." Captain Pineda said.
"Sir," Mendieta nodded as he began to turn to the candidates, "Alright listen up!"
The candidates stopped doing jumping jacks and paid their attention to the instructor.
"You're here, because you're the best of your squad, platoon, or maybe even your company." Captain Pineda said. "In the next couple of days, you will either become the best this Republic has, or will go back to your platoons to serve the frontlines. Do I make myself clear?"
"SIR! YES SIR!" the candidates complied.
"Good and it's now an honor to introduce, Commander Jett."
"Thank you, Captain." Commander Jett said walking in front of Captain Pineda. "As you may have heard, we are now at war with the Firefly Empire. As a result, the 3rd Battalion's S.O.C. unit will be reinstated."
"That's right." Tommy said walking up to Commander Jett. "You are here to become the best soldiers Texas has.
"Enough with this chit chat; it's time to get started!" Cruz said interrupting.
"We'll begin with the hike." Commander Jett said. "Soldiers will walk from Jackson to the Dam back and forth in full equipment. Due to the fact of possible infected, you will be travelling in squads. Captain Pineda will organize you in squads of five. Alright let's get started!"
Captain Pineda organized the squads. When he came to his own squad members, he had a word with Allen.
"Allen," Captain Pineda began.
"Yes sir?" Allen asked as he walked up to him.
"Since you're the highest rank out of the five, you will be in charge."
"I knew that, Captain." Allen responded.
"And, I'm assigning Fernandez to your squad."
"Will that be all?"
"Yeah, dismissed."
Now the soldiers were marching in military format out into of Jackson. Captain Pineda and Commander Jett watched them exit from a balcony.
"Do you really think at least half of them will make it to become S.O.C. troopers?" Captain Pineda asked as the soldiers stomped their left leg and turned to face the gate.
"We'll see, Captain, we'll see." The soldiers now marched out and were no longer visible.
Day Two
The soldiers marched back and forth from Jackson to the Dam all day. When they got hungry, they were allowed to camp out. Speaking of camping out. They camped and slept outside. Now, none of the soldiers gave up. Their will was strong. Day Two would be different.
Captain Pineda was now in front of about 100 soldiers.
"Yesterday, you all did well. When I became a S.O.C. trooper, about a handful of soldiers already decided to quit. You guys didn't, maybe all of you do have a chance."
The soldiers just listened with their hands behind their backs.
"Today, you will fight the person next to you." The soldiers took a quick glance to the soldier next to them. "These are the rules: no low blows, no killing, and no breaking of any bones once so ever. We have a war coming; we can't send soldiers out there with broken arms and legs, right?"
The soldiers now had a little chuckle.
"Begin!"
Captain Pineda and the S.O.C. instructors walked around as the fighting began. Captain Pineda now noticed Allen and Fernandez about to get it on; he walked a little closer, otherwise he kept his distance.
"Mama told me not to hit girls." Allen taunted with his fist up.
Fernandez now threw punch towards his face.
"OH!" Allen said flinching a little, "not bad, now it's my turn." Allen attempted to throw a sucker punch from the right, but Fernandez ducked it and threw an uppercut.
The uppercut caused Allen to loose balance for a second, only to regain it seconds later.
"Enough of this." Allen said.
Fernandez threw another, but her luck had ran out. Allen caught the punch with his arm.
"Uh…" Fernandez said with nerve. At that moment, Fernandez knew, she fucked up.
Now, Allen used his free arm to kiss her face with his fist.
The punch to her face caused her to nearly fall back. Allen took this to his advantage. One more additional punch from Allen ended it.
Fernandez now fell back and hit the ground, staring at the sky.
Allen began to walk closer to her.
Captain Pineda then stopped him. "THAT'S ENOUGH!"
Captain Pineda now caught the attention of every one. All the soldiers now stared at the one in charge.
Cruz now walked up to his Captain. "You alright?" Cruz said in a low voice.
Captain Pineda just stood there for about 30 seconds. He then noticed the sun beginning to set. "Go get some dinner! We're done for today." The soldiers now dispersed. Allen began to walk away as he was not a part of what he just did.
"Stop right there." Captain Pineda ordered.
Allen now stopped and turned around to his superior.
"Anything I may help you with?" Allen asked politely.
Captain Pineda walked closer to Allen. His mouth was now next to his ear. "The next time we do something, which will be tomorrow, you'll be the first to go. And believe me; you are not going to like me tomorrow." Captain Pineda said whispering in his ear.
Allen stood there in fear. Wondering what they were going to do tomorrow.
"Do I make myself, clear?" He said in the low voice.
"Yes sir."
"I didn't hear you."
"Sir, yes, sir!"
"Now march your ass outta my face."
Allen turned around, stomped his left foot and began to march to the community center where dinner was being held.
Captain Pineda now turned around to find Fernandez on the ground. He offer his hand to her.
She smacked it away from her, "I don't need your help! I can get up myself." Fernandez said with a bleeding nose. She now attempted to get up herself but struggled. "Ahh!" she yelled in pain. "Alright, lift me up."
Captain Pineda grabbed her arm and lifted her up. Now on her feet, she began to limp as she walked to the community center.
Captain Pineda just looked at her as she limped. "Stop."
Fernandez stopped.
"You might want to go check with Dr. Cole."
"I don't need-"
"Katya…"
"Fine. But I'm hungry."
"I'll send Baker to you with a plate."
"Thanks," she said limping towards the clinic.
"Cruz, escort her, and meet me in the community center once you're done."
"Yes, sir." Cruz responded.
It is about 10 minutes later. Captain Pineda is sitting at a table with his helmet removed along with his glasses. He had already informed Baker of his orders. Now sitting in an empty table while the other soldiers ate with their squad mates or candidates. He had begun to drink.
Cruz now walked up to Captain Pineda.
"What's wrong Captain?"
"I made a fool of myself. That's what's wrong, Cruz." Captain Pineda now took a gulp from the bottle.
"I think you're drinking too fast, Captain."
"I'm fine," he said burping afterwards.
"Captain, we are now at a time of war. It is illegal for a soldier to drink during wartime." Cruz stated.
"You know what…," he said waving the beer bottle at him.
Cruz just gave him an unsure look.
"That Allen… I don't know… there is something about him."
"God damn it Captain, how much of these have you drank?" Cruz said lifting up the bottle.
"One…" he burped again.
Cruz then inspected the table, looked below him and found five empty beer bottles. "I knew it," he said pointing at him, "You're fucken drunk."
"I'll be sober by tomorrow."
"You better hope you are."
"Tiffany… what have I done?" Captain Pineda said looking at the roof of the center.
"Tiffany? The fuck?" Cruz said wondering who she was.
"Edward! Snap out of it." Cruz said slapping him once.
"Edward? We're using our first name names now?"
"Lieutenant-"
Lights out, Cruz managed to knockout the Captain with one punch.
Day Three
Captain Pineda woke up in bed, hung-over and with a headache. He looked to his right to find Cruz.
"What day is this?" Captain Pineda said as if he been asleep for years.
"It's Day Three."
"Shit," Captain Pineda stated as he got out of the bed.
Only a couple of minutes later, he found himself at the Dam on top on the dam. The candidates had been in bathing suits and ready to jump into the water. Damn. I'm still hung-over, hopefully Commander Jett doesn't notice.
"Everything alright?" Commander Jett asked.
Shit, he must have notice me wobble a bit. "Nothing sir, just maybe that Allen would like to go first."
Allen now stepped up.
"You ready Allen?" Captain Pineda said as he readied himself to push Allen.
Captain Pineda now shoved Allen forward. Allen began to yell in fear.
"Ahhh!" he yelled.
However, because Captain Pineda was still hung-over, he lost balance. He had ended up having one leg on the ground and the other in the air. He now rather began to spin towards Commander Jett. Commander Jett then noticed that he was about to fall. He tried reaching for him. However, Captain Pineda threw up on him.
This final blow made him fall off the dam and into the water. Commander Jett now with vomit on his face just stood there.
"Aww…shiiiittt…" Captain Pineda said as his voice died out.
"Who wants to be a S.O.C. trooper?" Cruz asked.
"I'll do it," Fernandez said.
"Go right ahead." Cruz stated.
Fernandez now dived off the dam to save the hung-over Captain.
Captain Pineda now submerged underwater, was lifted out and placed on the platform nearest with Allen and a soldier ready to perform CPR on the Captain.
Before they could even perform CPR, Captain Pineda coughed out all the water.
"Holy shit," he began, "you saved me…after everything I've done to you."
"I mean, you did give that plate of food you promised me." Fernandez said.
"I practically left you for dead all those years ago. And now-" Captain Pineda said passing out before he could finish.
Captain Pineda was on a clinic bed. A masked soldier stood guard. He looked at his clothes to find himself stripped of gear and equipment. His helmet was removed and placed on the table next to him, along with a wet backpack, the ballistic vest, the pauldron, and his glasses placed in his case.
Captain Pineda reached and grabbed the patient chart. You took a quick scan through it.
Patient Name: Capt. Edward Joseph Pineda
Reasons for visit: nearly drowning, intoxicated, vomiting
Doctor's resolution: taking a day off
External resolutions (coming from parents, employers, etc.): to be placed on probation. Late-afternoon patrol is being considered.
"Probation!" he yelled aloud.
The masked soldier just gave him a look.
The look didn't last long since Commander Jett entered.
"Sir!" the masked soldier said as he saluted the Commander.
"At ease." Commander Jett said walking in along with General Tommy.
"Captain, out of all the people…" Tommy began, "I'm at my wife's baby shower, and then I hear that you're dunk on the job!"
"I may not express it as the General does, but I am very disappointed in you." Commander Jett said with a disappointed look.
"Out of all the soldiers. I did not expect you to be the one hung-over on duty. You were the first one to enter Jackson, all those months ago." Tommy stated.
"In response for your actions you'll be placed on probation and will serve in late-afternoon patrols until further notice." Commander Jett said. "From what I hear, late-afternoon patrols suck."
"Disappointment." Tommy admitted one more.
A/N: What hole has Captain Pineda gotten himself this time? How will the next battle occur? What kind of tactics will each of these new nations use? Will we ever know Cruz's first name? Find out next time on, The Last of Us: Texas Rising!