Chapter 24

Derk's POV

The medivac came to a halt on the ground and lowered the ramp. I left the cockpit and shoved my way passed the other ghosts. Valen growled something at me, but I simply cussed back and carried on. If that punk is looking for a fight, he'll get one.

I am not in any mood to put up with his ignorance. I marched into a close by training facility to let off some steam. Walking down a short hallway, I turned into what I thought was a shooting range. But before I could even fire a couple rounds, Caps came trailing in behind me.

"Derk stop," he said, seemingly frustrated. "You're making a big deal of something that doesn't matter."

"I'm not playing this game with you Caps," I huffed back. "You can just turn your stock around and go right back the way you came."

"Oh, you're not?" Caps asked, sarcastically. "And Derk's in charge correct? It's all about you."

"Caps, I'm not kidding. You mess with me now and you'll wish you hadn't," I said, turning away and loading my gun.

"This isn't just going to blow away. You can't expect to say what you please and just walk off, like you rule the universe!" he said, raising his voice. "Man up like a ghost should and face your mistake."

"Mistake! No, I think you have it all wrong. If you don't remember it was your friend Cus over here that "made a mistake,"' I said, turning back around to face him. "I didn't do a thing!"

"Derk, I know about your condition. Now I understand your still recovering and you have problems controlling your emotions. But you have to take control of yourse—"

"What?! Condition?!" I'd lost it. "You don't know me! In fact it looks like you don't know much of anything!"

"Calm down soldier! If you don't I will use force!" he replied. I saw him back a couple steps away, and reach for his knife. I stopped, noticing what was happening. Relaxing my shoulders, I set my gun aside. After waiting a few uncomfortable seconds I finally spoke up.

"Okay… fine. You win," I said, shrugging. "You wanna talk about me and my life, fine. Let's talk."

I sat down and slumped back in the chair. If we were going to have it his way I am going give him as much attitude as I can. Caps stood still for a second, until finally nodding and taking a seat.

"So, my condition," I said. "Let's start with that. What do you know?"

The squad leader took a moment, but then eventually responded. "I know that you had an episode with a medic named Teresa Treeton. Following that display you were then sent to a hospital and whatever was wrong was taken care of."

"If so then why do you suggest that I'm still having problems?" I asked.

"Well, they said that you're still recovering and should be fine in a couple days," Caps answered. "And sense you only had two, three more until full recovery I didn't think it would be that big of an issue. Well up until just now anyways."

"And you assume that me being upset is part of my condition," I questioned, annoyed. "What if that was just a ghost irritated that he can't trust his own squad?"

"A well trained ghost should be able to control himself better than that," Caps replied. "Especially one of your class."

"So what now?" I asked. "Am I going to be discharged? Gunna get rid of me? Just like that?"

"No. I just want you to know that I understand and I—"

"I don't want your sympathy," I said, cutting him off.

"Well then what do you want Derk?" Caps asked. "Hmm? What? Do you even care? Are you so selfish that you put yourself in front of everybody? You're the most important then huh? Am I right? Tell me I'm wrong."

"Yes Caps. You are wrong. Everything I've ever done… ever tried to accomplish, was for the Orange Terran. So much that my life doesn't even matter. I am the troop that runs into a suicide mission with a smile on my face," I replied, calmly. "And you know what Caps… I can't help the Orange Terran if I'm dead. So you ask me, what do I want? Well I'll tell ya… I want you to make sure that Cus is never covering my back. In fact I want him in front of me at all times."

Not waiting for him to respond, I stood up and walked out of the shooting range. I don't care what happens to me. Huh, if I'm lucky he might request for a transfer. I'll never have to deal with them again. I continued walking. I didn't even know where I was going and at the moment didn't care. No. That won't help. There will always be men that don't know what they're doing. I'll just have to put up with them. And isn't that what a ghost does. Adapt? Yes… yes, I will adapt.

Moving along the corridor I grazed my hand against the wall. I walked out the glass doors and right into Valen.

"Where do you think you're goin'?" the man asked. "Think you can just run away from it all."

"Move Valen," I barked.

"I'm not going anywhere," he taunted. "I knew the moment I saw you that you were going to cause trouble."

"I'm not going to ask again," I replied, angrily.

"No."

We stood for a few moments glaring furiously at each other. And right when I was about to throw myself at him a voice came from behind.

"Hey guys, we 'ave an incoming transmission from Colonel Fou," Miesha yelled. "We better go see what tis all about! With any luck we 'ave a new mission!"

I immediately turned around and headed toward the ghost.

"Another time, dim wit," Valen taunted from behind. I ignored his threat and carried on. No matter what happens, I can't lose it. I have to keep it together. Entering the mission control room, I looked up to see Fou's black face up on the transmission screen. He wore his green beret and a face that showed no emotion. Impossible to read.

"Ghost Team Alpha, I have a rather important mission for you. Where 's your squad leader?" The man asked.

"I am here," Caps responded, coming in the door. I merely glanced back for a moment, but quickly rotated back.

"Good. This is everyone correct?" The Colonel said. I looked around to make sure we weren't missing anyone.

"Yes this is all of us," Caps replied.

"Lieutenant Mullfur is unable to be with us, so I will be taking command here today," Fou said, his hands behind his back. "Lucky for us there is a Protoss Executor traveling into our quadrant at roughly six p.m. tonight. In our terms he is the rank of General, for those of you who didn't know.

"Caps, you will pick two men of your choice to lead the raid on the Protoss Main Base. Try not to get anybody killed and above all… assassinate that Executor," Colonel Fou said, leaning forward. "I don't care what you do with the other soldiers, but we can't send an entire squad in. It's dangerous enough that we're sending in two ghosts. This is an open window that we cannot miss."

"It will be done Colonel," Caps said, nodding. Right before closing the transmission Fou stopped him.

"And one more thing Corporal," he said. "If not done quickly, the Executor will join up with an army and drive us into oblivion. Complete this mission with haste."

And with that, the conduction ended and we all starred awkwardly at each other.

"Well we all know who the two are," Valen said, confidently.

"Definitely not you," Miesha said, folding his arms. "If anybody, Bone is going in. And with your pride irradiating off you like dat, there's no dought da Protoss will smell you a mile avay."

"Hold up, I personally think that me being the skinniest, I should go," Cus said putting his hand on his chest.

"Absolutely not! I don't want a coward going in on such an essential mission," I said stepping forward.

"Yeah, and just because your small doesn't mean your stealthy," Valen said, raising his hand just above his hip. Following that comment, the whole room broke out into a chorus of chaos. Everyone was yelling at once, and no one could get anywhere. After ten minutes of disarray, Skullbone decided to speak up.

"Everybody quiet!" he yelled, stopping everyone dead. "It is up to Caps and Caps only, to decide who leads us. And no one will argue with him. Show the man some respect!"

We all stepped back and muttered to ourselves, while our squad leader took the floor.

"Well, being three o'clock and all, we have a couple hours until we need to depart," he said, looking around the room. "And I need a moment to think. So get your guns and ammo set, if they aren't already and I will retrieve all of you when I've made a decision."

The Corporal turned and walked out of the room leaving us with another few awkward moments. Not wanting to be there any longer, I made my way to the shooting range. Might as well practice. Doing what I had planned to do earlier, I readied my gun, aimed down the sight and fired at the target.

Smiling I lifted my eyes from the scope, satisfied. The bullet had hit right in the center. I continued practicing several more times until there wasn't any more red in the bull's eye. Moving on to the next stage, I shot several shells at the Zergling boards sliding back and forth. It wasn't long before Caps strolled in.

"Hey; Derk," he said, walking toward me.

"Have you made your decision yet?" I asked, firing.

"As a matter a fact I have," he responded. "I would appreciate it if you and Cus would be our two infiltrators.

"Heh, is this some sort of sick joke?" I asked, sarcastically; surprised as I was, I did appreciate it.

"You're welcome," he responded. Letting Caps know I was grateful, I nodded toward him. He gestured back to, in understanding.

"Wait," I said, stopping him. "Don't get me wrong on this Caps, but I don't know how I feel about—"

"Derk. You did say that you didn't want Cus covering you."

"I know but as my—"

"It's okay. Cus may be a bit of a coward, but I assure you that he is more than capable," Caps replied, approaching the door. "Cus is fast. You'd be surprised at how reliable he can actually be."

I looked down at my rifle as my squad leader exited. Man don't screw this up. You don't have to prove yourself to these punks. Pay attention and fight well. These are the kinds of missions I used to go on all the time. No need to be nervous. I stood up straight and left the range. But then again, I had Tenny on my right hand side. Ugh… Cus better impress me, because right now… I don't feel good about this mission.

Sup Bros! Here is another chapter! I felt really bad about taking so long on the last one, and sense school is coming up shortly I am afraid that's how long there going to start taking unfortunately. :C So I really wanted to get another chap. out. And don't worry! I didn't rush it. Even though it took a day to write. lolz I feel much better about this one. :D

I don't know why but I am having MAJOR trouble with Rod's chapters. He is so much harder to write than Derk is. IDK! So please give any suggestions and feedback in the comments please! Do you guys think Rod's chap. are bad?

And of course THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!