Chapter 6

White Flag

Okay, I'm dedicating this chapter to Lunar-Ninja for her last review. Thanks to all who did though! Please keep reviewing!

"Specs?"

"Um…5.56 caliber, 8.8 pounds with sling and 800m range for area and 550 for point target."

"Yup- but you missed a bit- in weight."

Mikey thought for a second then slapped his head. "Man- I never remember all the specs right- 8.8 including sling and one loaded magazine."

Steel grinned from where he was practising weights across the gym.

"If…fifteen…you're not gonna…sixteen…remember to load your weapon…seventeen…remind me not to be on your team… eighteen… nineteen… twenty." He placed the weights back into the cradle and Electrode, who'd been spotting for him, relaxed.

"You mind not talking while you're doin' that." he complained good-naturedly. "I'm always afraid you're gonna drop 'em and I'm not gonna be able to catch them."

"Fine, smartass." called back Mikey as he took his place with weights at the other side of the room. "M9- description and specs."

"A semi-automatic, single-action / double-action pistol. The M9 is the primary sidearm of the U.S. military, replacing the .45 caliber model M1911A1. The M9 has a 15-round staggered magazine with a reversible magazine release button that can be positioned for either right- or left-handed shooters."

Mikey sat up and stared at Steel along with the others as the brown-haired man reeled it out without glancing at the book near Mikey. He was word perfect.

"Steel- we haven't done that one yet." he said once he'd removed his jaw from the floor. Steel merely smiled sweetly and went back to spotting for Electrode.

"Right, now I feel stupid…" muttered Mikey and went back to studying the book.

They were interrupted by Malone coming into the gym holding his jaw and looking mildly dazed."Malone! What happened to you- get into another fight?" asked Siren, who hadn't yet spoken.

"Nooo…not exactly…" he sat down and Siren peeled his hand away from his chin.

"Yeah…that's gonna hurt", she said. "Another beauty to add to the collection, but nothing's broken."

"What happened? Malone." asked Mikey, his eyes narrowed. "Was it that git, Martin again?"

"No…I've never seen her before…" he answered. "Some woman comes up to me, shouts 'Beastly giant moth!" at me and socks me one! And legs it! Does that make any sense to you?"

There was a long pause as everyone processed this.

"Moth? Not mouth then?" asked Electrode carefully. "'Cos you know, calling you a big-mouth I'd understand. And agree with."

"Nooo…definitely moth…" Steel's eyebrows shot up.

"Congratulations Malone", he said formally, shaking the red-haired man's hand. "You win the prize for the weirdest thing to happen all day."

"Oh goody…" muttered Malone darkly, sounding more like himself. "What's the prize?"

"Free trip to the hospital hut. Come on. I'll save you from any more rampaging ex-girlfriends…" he added humorously. They could hear Malone complaining as he left with the quiet man who was having a hard time not sniggering.

"But she wasn't even an ex... I've never even seen her before…" trailed back up the corridor. The four mutants in the room stayed in silence for about ten seconds before the usually staid Glacier made the mistake of catching Mike's eye and they both collapsed laughing. That did it. Siren and Electrode were off as well.

I'm sorry people, I couldn't resist that. You'll either get it or you won't...

"Three weeks, people. We survived three weeks." said Steel formally.

"Hey, he's right. Weapons training! We're into White Flag- Gunfighter Phase." said Siren, surprised.

"Why, what were we in before?" asked Mikey, trying to remember. Electrode whapped him on the back of his head.

"Red Phase, ya moron. They've only been telling us pretty much every morning. 'Patriot Phase'? 'Bloody Hard Work Phase'? A-ringin' any bells here?"

"All right, all right. You've made your point." complained Mikey good-naturedly, rubbing his head.

"So, this section focuses on team-building, weapons-training with emphasis on guns, and discipline." mused Glacier, thoughtfully. They found themselves glancing around. The hall was still rowdy enough but it was interesting to note the changes in the people. They had lost almost a sixth of the original recruits, who'd found that the discipline of the Army wasn't to their taste after all and those left were all tougher then they'd been before, honed and beginning to function as part of a whole. Even their own table, while not perhaps as crowded as some others, had more people to it then it would have had two weeks, or even a week ago. Marginally more women then men at their table, compared to others- Siren especially had managed to make friends amongst the women and chatted with those close by as well as with the mutants. Glacier, reserved and cool by nature, would always find it harder to make friends then the more outgoing Siren. But through Siren, more humans had gotten to know the other mutants, even Mikey, who had been a source of morbid fascination by those who found it hard to accredit something so unlike them with human thoughts and emotions. But for those willing to make any effort to see him as a person, Mikey was cheerful, pleasant and funny, and was winning allies from the neutrals at every mealtime.

In fact, if Siren was any judge of her own sex, Fiona Leamy was looking entirely too predatory for her liking. Siren narrowed her eyes at the offender who was staring with a calculating look at the humanoid turtle. She shook her head. Some people were just strange. Relationships, or fraternisation, were forbidden, and natural law suggested interspeciel relationships should be off-limits, but…some people were just weird. She herself didn't like Mikey in that way at all, but was finding herself feeling protective of her team-mate, who would be unlikely to have had much experience with people like Leamy. She turned her glare onto another woman, Cathy Scott, who had an almost identical look as Fiona, except this one was directed at Steel. She shrugged. While she didn't want Steel hurt either, he would almost certainly have more experience with predatory females then the innocent Mikey! She turned her attention back to her team-mates, after an extra scowl in the direction of Fiona Leamy who noticed this time and looked away quickly, and tried to pick up again on the conversation.

Night team-building exercises. Oh joy. On the plus side, the mutant team had been kept together for this particular one. Mikey noticed that they often seemed to be kept together and wondered why. Most of the other groups had a high rate of turnover but not the mutants. Oh sure, they got moved around a bit- only yesterday, he'd been on an all-human team. And it had gone…okay. No better, no worse then most of the other teams. But not as well as the mutant team working together. Maybe because they had bonded as a team of outcasts at the beginning, maybe because they were getting used to working together, they were getting good, and almost always finished in the top three- better then most other individuals. Actually, he noticed that the groups were getting moved around less and less now. Teams seemed to be building when they found a dynamic that worked. He grinned. Things would start getting interesting now!

A bit too interesting perhaps. This time they had to complete an obstacle course affair with all sorts of distractions, mainly involving simulated gunfire and explosions around them in the dark. Mikey was crawling under a net, trying to avoid the lumps that meant mines (which covered the unwary with red paint and forced them out of the exercise to get shouted at). It was muddy in some areas- which at least didn't have mines and also helped disguise them so the 'gunfire' wasn't aimed at his team much. He was team-leader for this exercise and found himself half way between enjoying it and being terrified. Man, was this how Leo felt the whole time? Responsible for everyone else. But… He checked automatically for the rest of his team- Siren, Glacier, Steel…ah, crap, where the hell was Electrode? He cursed himself for his moments distraction…there he was. A 'mine'. The blond man was spattered with red paint and not moving. It was just an exercise. It wasn't like he'd be hurt… But… Mikey shook his head after the split-second thought. Damn- they'd lose fastest team for this but… He signalled Siren, behind him. She was to lead the rest of the team on to the final challenge, the 'Wall' and he'd go back for Electrode. She frowned but nodded. He was team-leader, and when 'under fire' she'd obey him if he didn't put the team at risk. Time to disagree later, when they were safe.

He crawled back and touched Electrode. 'Dead' people were supposed to stay down until after the exercise, to be shouted at later. But Electrode didn't stir. Mikey realised with horror that the 'mine' hadn't been a fake like the others! And that wasn't red paint either! He wondered how to end the exercise. He tried calling out but no-one could hear over the noise. He couldn't get out the sides either- they might as easily be booby-trapped. Who the hell would have done this? Electrode stirred- he was just stunned, Mikey was relieved to note. He picked him up with some difficulty and more scrabbled then crawled under the net, having to keep even closer to the ground with the injured man on his back. Even so, it would be faster and safer then Electrode trying to move on his own, and he needed to be got out of the danger-zone and checked out quickly. His blood ran cold as he realised that up ahead might be trapped as well- if so, he'd sent his team right out into it! He wriggled out as fast as he could, trying to remain silent still. No-good attracting 'gunfire' onto themselves as well- he needed to be able to think- and not be pinned down. This was where his ninja training came in useful- despite his handicap, he was out from under the netting before most of the other teams. Siren was waiting, camouflaged by mud, at the Wall. He briefly thought she'd make a good ninja also- he hadn't even seen her until almost on top of her.

"Steel's in charge- do you need help?" He glowered at her for a second so she'd know he wasn't happy about her disobeying orders before waving her up the Wall.

"Quickly- tell Sarge that Electrode really has been hurt. One of the mines was live." Her eyebrows shot up and she glanced at Electrode with worry before shooting up the Wall. Ten seconds later the simulated gunfire and explosions went quiet, much to the confusion of those recruits still squirming under nets or running around. Some glared at Mikey, suspecting rightly that it was his fault somehow. Some looked at him gratefully for much the same reason.

Fields suddenly appeared, worried and furious.

"Move." he demanded as he approached Mikey. Mikey had put Electrode down and thought he was sure it was only a few cuts as well as his being stunned. It obviously hadn't been a big mine or Electrode would undoubtedly be dead.

Fields checked him over and seemed to reach the same conclusion. There was every possibility of a concussion though, so Electrode would need to be checked out properly. In the meantime…

"Alright, you lot! UP AND RETRACE YOUR PATHS! DON'T VEER OFF 'EM! AND STAY OVER THERE WHEN FINISHED! YOU SHOULDN'T STILL BE HERE!" MOVE IT!" The unfortunate men and women who hadn't been fast enough crawled backwards at speed as the nets lifted. There certainly shouldn't have been any live artillery out in a training ground so the whole area would have to be gone over with a fine-tooth comb. In the meantime, two medics rushed over, loaded Electrode up on a stretcher and ran off again.

"Hamato, come with me. Rhodes, you also." He blew his whistle. "Push-ups- both sides of the Wall- more of you should have been on this side!" Both winners and losers groaned at this punishment but set to anyway.

Mikey and Siren followed Sergeant Fields to his office, wondering if they were going to get yelled at, but more worried about Electrode. Siren didn't look at Mikey, both mad with herself for not wanting him to go back for Electrode in a training exercise and ashamed that she would have left Electrode injured had she been leader. Or would she? She wrestled with herself as she tried to figure it out. Mikey was thinking too- had the live mine been an accident? Or deliberate- it was right in the path of the mutant team after all. But would someone have known which team would be where? And why such a weak one? Accidental again? Or just making use of what resources there were? No- if it was deliberate, it seemed more likely that it was only meant as warning not a murder attempt or anything like as serious. A death would make a martyr for one thing and even swing support towards the mutants. So…no. Or was it just a mistake?

"What happened?" Fields was staring at Mikey, as teamleader for the exercise. Mikey gave what had happened in as few words as possible.

"Why did you go back?" asked Fields interested. "It was only a training exercise?" Mikey opened his mouth but closed it again. Why had he gone back?

"I…felt Siren could lead the team to the Wall- it didn't seem right to leave Electrode behind…I…uh.." He bit his lip, sure he was about to get shouted at. But to his surprise Fields nodded slowly and dropped the subject.

"Is your team still having problems integrating with the other recruits?" he asked. Mikey and Siren glanced at each other.

"It's getting better, Sir." answered Siren after a second. "After the attacks, people seemed to support us more. The women are okay with Glacier and I now for the most part. I can't speak for the mens barracks." She glanced towards Mikey.

"Still split, but not too bad. Mostly people seem to have accepted us now, Sir" he answered carefully. Fields nodded again. He hadn't really expected to be told if there were major problems but he'd noticed more about what had happened then the recruits thought.

"Rhodes- fetch the rest of your team." he ordered. Siren left and Mikey wondered whether to follow. He decided he hadn't been dismissed and stood, rocking slightly as he tried to decide what he should do.

"Hamato, stay here."

Mikey stood still again at attention and waited.

"You should be careful about possibly compromising as mission by going back. But you showed good leadership skills by returning for one of your men. Good." Mikey managed to keep his mouth from dropping open at this unexpected praise. He managed a weak "Thank-you Sir" and stood still.

Siren returned with Glacier and Steel.

"I have a proposition for you. You don't have to feel obliged to accept or reject it now, especially not until after you have spoken with your teammate. A specialist branch of the Army has requested this team. They are known as Special Operations. This is a highly unusual request but…these are unusual circumstances."

The four recruits stood there in surprise with different thoughts flashing through their heads as they listened. They would be allowed- have to- finish their basic training and qualify well. Then they would go to a special programme, not the usual AIT (note- Advanced Individual Training) for specialist training. They would stay as a team. Whichever way they decided, it would need to be kept very quiet- nothing said in the Sergeants office was to go outside it. When Electrode was better, he would be called in and briefed by Fields. They would have a week after Electrode's briefing to decide.

"You may or may not have heard…bad press about the section known as 'Black Ops'" he told them. "Don't be influenced by gossip- make the decision yourselves. It is true that in Special Ops you may be ordered to do things that you wouldn't do otherwise. That is true in any area in the Army, and if you're not prepared to take orders you shouldn't have joined."

Mikey could tell what everyone was thinking but weren't sure how to ask. Would they be given a leader-a human- that wouldn't fit in and might resent them for what they were? He drew in a breath. He didn't want to ask but was afraid not to. He certainly didn't want Glacier- who he could see was shaping up the question- to ask it in her sneering way which would get them all into trouble if the wrong answer was given.

"Permission to speak Sir?" he asked. At Fields nod he continued, hoping he wasn't going to get hit by lightening. "Sir, what…are we going to be given a… a human team-leader?" he asked as neutrally as possible,

Fields lips shrank and were whitish. He was angry at something, that was for sure and Mikey wondered what was going to happen now. The other recruits watched with bated breath, half-expecting fried-turtle for tonight's Mess-Hall menu.

"Do you want a human team-leader?" he asked them.

"No Sir." answered Glacier, getting in there first.

"I didn't think so. This is off-the record. As it happens the Powers-That-Be agree with you. The people requesting your transfer are suggesting that if suitably qualified, and if nothing happens in the meantime to change their opinions, Michealangelo Hamato will be team-leader and Siren Rhodes 2IC. Otherwise, you'd be a normal team, under the same officers as any other team. These are recommendations only and by no means definite. Frankly it is highly irregular to even suggest it openly at this point in the proceedings." He leaned back to watch their reactions, knowing it would tell him a great deal about the recruits. Mikey was completely floored by the suggestion. Siren looked equally shocked. A look flashed across Glaciers face and vanished. That was interesting. Just as interesting was the absolute lack of emotion displayed by Steel. Almost as if he'd been expecting it all along…

Dum dum DUM!

Sorry to anyone who thought I was losing track of my plotline for the last chapter or so- it was kinda meandering along there…but now things are about to get interesting…

Oh yeah- damn, hate to spoil my exit line up there but can anyone tell me if, when I replace a chapter with new content, will I lose all the reviews for that chapter too?

Thanks, Aries

Btw. info on the AK and the M9 came from and