Another Chapter up! Alright, NOW it gets good. I'm starting to realize the fact that Antoine isn't reading the script. I'll plan one thing, then he'll do another. It's really annoying. Oh well. I hope this chapter doesn't suck!
Sneaking up on soldiers in the middle of the night, while they're on patrol, is not a great idea. But Antoine wasn't thinking clearly, or least that's what it would seem. He bounded into the small space his men occupied. Xander jumped in fright, and fell backwards; turned and leveled his rifle.
"WH-." The Staff Sergeant lowered the gun. "What the hell are you doing!" He paused, and threw in a quick: "Sir."
"Get ready men, we're moving out!" Ant motioned for Alex and Neal to get up, along with the medic.
"Finally!" Alex exclaimed. "We're out of here!" He got up with his brother, and they both grabbed their stuff. Xander shared their feeling, and picked himself up.
"Not quite." The Lieutenant slung his rifle over his shoulder.
"What do you mean, sir?" LaPlace stepped forward; he still hadn't taken his finger off of the trigger.
"Well, Staff sergeant, our orders were for a Reconnaissance mission, to scope out the enemy encampment that's nearby."
"And?" The older coyote sounded irritated.
"Well, I don't believe sitting here is gunna get the mission done, non?" LaPlace cringed at the French. "Don't you agree?"
The Ssg agreed, reluctantly. With a sigh: "Yeah, I guess."
"Oh come on!" Xander stepped between them. "Do you know how close we'd have to get to see anything when it's this dark out?" He looked at each of them frantically, hoping for one of them to agree.
"We have our orders, Pvt Madsen." Ant grimly stated. He smiled. "Besides, we got a medic, what could go wrong?"
"Nothing good ever happens when someone says that." For the first time, Antoine heard the Duck's voice, it was raspy, but low. Ant saw that his medic's armband also had a name on it: Fisher.
"Well, doc, what's your rank?"
"I'm a sixty eight whiskey one oh" Was the quick response.
"Really? Entry level?" Ant twiddled his thumbs. "No time to learn like the present." He turned away from his men. "We're wasting daylight…" A pause. "Nighttime, you know what I mean." He motioned for his men to follow; he could hear the groans as the grunts trudged behind.
This won't go well.
Stop worrying, just go for a while, see something, go back, and you're done.
How is this supposed to help me?
Just get some missions under your belt, earn some trust. You can do a lot with trust.
Antoine took point, with the brothers at his right and left, directly behind him was Ssg Laplace, and at the very rear, the doc and Xander.
He clutched his rifle tightly, it was an old thing, but reliable. He had handled these babies before, on the shooting range. Ant could hit the target at 1,500 yards. The squad entered a small pass, high rocks on both sides.
"Sir?" LaPlace had moved himself next to Antoine.
"What is it, Ssg LaPlace?" Ant didn't look at him.
"Well, I'm starting to question this plan. Recon seems unnecessary at this time; we won't be able to see anything."
"I took that into account, Ssg Laplace." He still didn't look at him.
"Benoit" Ant turned. "Benoit, that's my name. Benoit LaPlace." Antoine extended an arm, Benoit didn't accept it. "Call me Ben."
"Ok." Lieutenant D'Coolette pulled his arm back, and continued walking. "As I was saying, the plan is sound, we just have to be careful." He sounded smug. "Trust me. Would I let anyone down?"
"I don't know, I guess I should ask Mr. Prower about that."
"WHAT did you just say?" Antoine raised his fist, signaling for his men to stop. He Wheeled around. "Do you want to fucking repeat that?" Their faces were mere inches apart. Herealized his hand was tightly around his sabre's hilt.
DO IT! That asshole deserves it!
Ant was scared. What am I doing? He quickly pulled his hand back.
"Calm down!" The brothers rushed to separate the two coyotes. Alex grabbed Benoit. Neal tried to grab Antoine.
"Restez Loin!" Even without knowing French, Neal knew what he meant, he stayed away. Antoine stared Benoit in the eyes. "Is there a problem?"
"Hell yes there's a problem!" He shook Alex off. He started towards Ant, pointing at him. "I'm sick of this shit! You're in no position to lead; you're an inexperienced, selfish, young prick!"
"What are you talking about?" Ant looked confused. "You don't even know me!"
"I know that you're the ass who turned Amadeus in!" He shook his fist in rage. The men looked on, unsure of what to do. "I'm sick of your attitude! You're just a pawn of the King, leading some kids into battle, with no clue about what you're doing!" Benoit's voice raised. "You betrayed a good man, and you've ruined my life!" He became choked up; he regretted his choice of words.
"Wait. This is about you? How did that even affect you?" The disgust evident in Antoine's voide.
"Look at me! I'm a coyote with a French name! People look at me, and they see you!" He got even closer to Ant. "Do you know how hard it is to get a job when you speek liek zis?" He enunciated the last few words. "Of course not, you spoiled fuck! The army was my only choice, I HAVE to serve! Thanks to you!"
SMACK. Benoit fell to the ground. His rifle fell next to him.
"Stop being so selfish, you fucking coward!" Ant bent down, and grabbed LaPlace by the shirt, he lifted him up. "Get over it! Yeah some shit happened, and life sucks, but don't fucking blame me for it!" Antoine threw the Ssg to the ground, and spat on him. "You're disgusting!" He winded up for another strike, but Xander grabbed his arm.
"Sir!"
Ant lowered his arm. His eyes wide with fear.
What the fuck am I doing?
I don't know, but I really like it. His inner voice chimed in.
"Mon dieu…" He reached down, to help Benoit up. "I'm so sorry."
His hand was slapped away. "Fuck you!" Ssg LaPlace got up, and dusted himself off. The men were completely silent, and were all staring at Benoit.
"What the fuck are y'all looking at?" He grabbed his rifle, slung it over his shoulder, and started walking. Benoit' shoulders were low, but not as low as his pride. Antoine gathered the rest of the men.
"What the hell was that?" Alex asked.
"I guess he's had it rough." Xander chimed in.
"I feel terrible." Ant sighed.
"It's ok man. He started it, just be patient with 'im."
"Where the hell is he going?" Doc Fisher asked.
"I dunno, we should go get him." Neal started in Benoit's direction. He stopped.
CLICK, It was barely audible, but what came after wasn't. A large BOOM rocked the surrounding area. Benoit disappeared in a cloud of smoke. The rest of the squad fell to the ground.
"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?" Xander almost wet himself.
"LANDMINE!" Fisher ran forward, trying to find Benoit, another CLICK, BOOM.
"GOD FUCKING DAMN IT! NOBODY MOVE!" Antoine yelled out, hoping to prevent anymore explosions.
"" Xander's hands covered his head, he was mumbling to himself.
Antoine crawled over to Xander. "Calm down! We're going to get up, and we're going to calmly go look for Benoit and Doc. OK?"
"Y-Yes." Xander slowly got to his feet, trembling. The two brothers were nearby, looking at the ground around them.
"Ok, Xander. Just slowly go over to the brothers, I'll go check on the others." Xander took a tentative step forward. Followed quickly by another. "Slow it down!"
CLICK Xander froze, his face white with fear.
Merde.
It's up to you, people. Does Benoit die? What about poor Doc Fisher? I'll try to do what you guys want, unless i don't, oh well.