Chapter one
The beginning
"You know Tornow if you shine those boots anymore you're going to buff the leather right out of the thing." Said Bonds chuckling slightly as he watched Tornow apply another layer of shine. Tornow was a short man of Asian descent and had a wide build. "Well I figure if I sign these boots enough that they might just not lose the shine again." He blew on the boots drying the black polish before beginning to rub a cloth across it making a squeaking noise. "Or your just trying to impress that new chick." Said a man sitting at a table with the rest of the squad. The man that had spoken was Private Stewart, A young guy the same age as Tornow with curly blonde hair earning him the nickname of "Curly". "Isn't she a MP?" said the man sitting opposite the table of Curly. Private Wright a slim built man with short cut brown hair. The man sitting next to Wrights left threw a few chips into the hole. "I'd let her take me away in handcuffs." He grinned as he laid down his hand full house topped by aces. "Awww that's bullshit Crow." Said Bonds throwing his cards onto the table.
The dirty blonde haired Private Crow just smiled and raked in the chips. "What can I say guys I am just good at poker. "Yah good at cheating at poker." Scoffed Stewart as he too threw down his cards. "Or he just has the natural skill to play the game like a professional." Said Wright gathering the cards and shuffling them. "Yah like Crow ever had any skills, that's a funny one Wright I'll have to use that some time." Said Tornow taking a second from his boots to join the conversation. "Well last time I heard I had quite the skill in a certain area. Well that what that new mp gal said." Everyone got a laugh at the look that spread across Tornows face. "Crow if you even tried to make a move on her she would mace you in the face then bash you in the head with her billy club." Tornow said finally finishing his shine and setting the boots aside. "There now deal me in this hand." He said pulling up a seat to the table. "Ready to lose some money are yah?" Bonds asked him with a grin still on his face. "Yah we'll see about that."
Just as Wright began to deal the cards out a bang came at the barracks door. "What was that?" said Bonds looking towards the door. "I don't know" said Stewart standing up and moving towards the door. The bang came again as Stewart neared the door. All of the men were silent now Wright had stopped dealing the cards. All eyes were locked on the door as Stewart reached slowly for the door knob. His hand gripped it and turned it and pulled it slowly open. The daylight spread across the room as the door opened wider. Stewart stood looking into the daylight at nothing. He turned back to the group "Must have been one of the guys from second pla-"He was cut off as a dark shape lunged from the side of the entrance grabbing him and pulling him to the ground snarling and biting at his neck. "AHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Stewart kicked and yelled as he was pulled down. Everyone jumped to their feet at this site not knowing what was going on.
Laughter rang out as the figure let go of Curly. Standing up fully the squad finally recognized the figure as their Sergeant, Sergeant Johnson. There was silence for a few more second before the rest of the squad broke out into hysterical laughter. Stewart stood up slowly glaring at the squad as they laughed at him. "You know Sarge one day these pranks of yours are going to backfire on you." "I reckon they will Private, but until then I'am going to have my fun." "Stewart you nearly pissed yourself!" Crow said between gasps of air. "Did you see the look on his face?" "Did you hear the scream?" the laughter continued until the Sergeant raised his hand. "Listen up guys. Quite down." He patted Curly on the back then pushed him toward his seat. "I just came back from a meeting with the Company commander and the 1st sergeant. Where going to be assigned to guard duty at the research building at the northern tip of the base. It going to be a around the clock duty meaning where taking it in shifts and no leaves to go party on the weekends until our time guarding it is done." A groan came from the group as they heard this news. "No leave that is until after this weekend's leave, ya'll better enjoy it. It's the last for a while."
A cheer and clapping came from the squad as this relief was revealed. An hour later they were all changed into their civilian cloths and heading towards the parking lot that held their civilian cars. "So what are ya'll doing with our last weekend of freedom?" Asked Bonds as he looked around at the others. "I think I'll go to the bar and have a few drinks meet up with a nice lady and, well ya'll know the rest." Said Wright as he reached into his pocket and felt around for his keys. "That actually sounds like a good idea Wright I think I'll join yah." Said Stewart. "Me too." Said Tornow as they reached their cars. Bonds pulled his keys out of his jacket pocket and unlocked his door. "Well then the same plan as usual is it? You in Crow?" "Yah I'll see ya'll at the bar. The usual time then." "See yah there said Nick Before climbing into his trucks seat and cranking up the engine. He pushed it into reverse and backed out of his parking spot then slammed it into drive punching the gas his tires screeched and spun before he shot of speeding out of the lot.
He turned on his radio as he speed down the road the tree flashing past him. The usual country channel playing the good old southern country music. As he sat there windows down warm air blowing in and threw his dark brown hair and over his face. He knew this was going to be a good weekend. Just as he was relaxing to the music the song ended typical. He thought to himself as the host voice began to speak. "Now for a daily news with Weather man Matt Elbertson." "Good after noon folks this is your local radio station weather man Matt. It looks like its going to be a warm weekend with plenty of shun sine but a cool breeze. With a high of 80 and a low of 72. Back to you Lisa." "Thanks Matt, now we go on to your news update. There has been a small riot in Rome, Georgia today. It seems that a mob of people have been assaulting several people in the town. Authorities say they are in the process of quailing this incident. Now back to our top ten list." The music began to play as Bonds thought of what he had just heard. He began to think about it as he ended up behind a old grandma driver.
It was weird for a riot to be happening there hadn't been one of those in forever. There wasn't really any reason for one to be happening. The taxes weren't that bad no new law had been passed recently that was that bad. He stopped thinking about the matter as he pulled into the bars parking lot. He parked his truck then got out locking it he saw that the others had already made it there. All their cars were parked in their usual places. He walked to the bars door and opened it walking in. "Hey! It's Bonds." Called Crow from the bar. "Come pull up a stole Bonds order a beer! Bar tender pour this guy up a beer." Said Crow rocking on his stole a little. Bonds sat down looking at Crow before asking Tornow. "How many has he had already?" "You know Crow he started off with a few shots of tequila then chased them with a few more shots of tequila then chased those with a few more shots of tequila." "Ah he really should take it slower with his drinks at this rate he's going to be passed out at eleven." "Well you know the rules Bonds last man here has to take him home." Said Wright patting him on the back.
Bonds took a ship of his beer as he watched Crow stumble off and attempt to hit on a chick across the room. "You have to give it to him he is a determined little basterd." Tornow said as they watched him walk after the woman that was obviously trying to lose him in the crowd. "Well did any of ya'll here about that riot in Rome?" asked Bonds after he finished off his beer. "Yah I heard it on the radio. It's weird it's usually peaceful around there." Said Wright his eyes still following the movement of Crow trying to navigate his way through the dancing crowd. "Hes not going to make too much farther." Chuckled Stewart as Crow seemingly lost his orientation in the crowd along with the woman he was perusing. "One of us better go save him." Said Tornow as they watched their drunk friends tap a man on the shoulder and asked for directions out of the crowd. "I'll get him." Bonds said paying for his beer and walking out onto the floor towards Crow. "You're a good man Bonds." Yelled Tornow as the three chuckled.
"Hey Crow! Crow come here!" Bonds yelled as he got nearer to Crow. Crow turned around smiling as he saw Bonds, he stumbled slowly towards him. "Man it's good to see you Bonds I… I couldn't find my way out of here." "Yah I saw you looked quite confused." "Yah I was there was no exit sign. They should really put one up in here." "They do Crow but it's over the exit to the building not the exit to the dance floor." "Ya'll well they should get one." Bonds put a arm around Crow as he ranted on about the need for a exit sign. He guided him out of the bar and to his truck before Crow realized that he wasn't in the bar anymore. "Hey wait what happened to the bar?" said Crow confused. "It just closed man lights out for the night." "It doesn't look like that look… look at all the light in there." "Don't let them fool yah Crow their closed." "Damn I wanted one last shot to… o well." Bonds helped him into his passenger seat and closed the door before moving to his side and climbing in.
He pulled out onto the road and began to drive in the direction of his house. The soft country music played softly all the way to his house. He pulled into his drive way just as the host was announcing the news again. "The riot in Rome has just escalated there have been several brutal murders in the area and assaults on civilian and law enforcement alike." Bonds turned the engine off and removed the key. He wondered what was happening in Rome that was causing all of that mess. He helped the almost asleep Crow out of the truck and into his front door. He guided him to the bed in his guess bedroom before he moved back to the front door. He stood there for a second letting the cool breeze blow on him looking at the woods around him letting the scene relax him like it always did before he closed and locked the door for the night. He moved to his bedroom and flopped down on the bed and fell quickly into a peaceful sleep. Just before sleep took him he thought to himself. Yah this is going to be a good weekend.