Chapter 44

Rod's POV

It has been another couple days and everything had been moving very smoothly. I was quite astonished at how fast I was progressing. Even Crip had been surprised when Nicky and I passed the final Selethicks exam. In fact… I was getting rather excited. Just by walking around the base I realized how much stronger my legs were. The physical shots must be kicking in. I couldn't wait until I started working out.

And speaking of physical shots, I start training with Mark, Crip and Groff today. Can't say I was excited… but in a way, I actually was. It had been really helpful with Leary and Tenny there quizzing me. I don't think I would've been able to pass the test without them. So if Leary and Tenny were helpful, surely Mark and Crip would be.

"Hey cupcake, wake your butt up!" Crip yelled, shaking the crap out of my bed. "Derk is on his way so I wanna be ready when he gets here."

I groaned, slowly removing my covers.

"Wake up!" Crip shouted, making everyone else in the room mutter.

"I'm up! I'm up!" I yelled, jumping out of bed.

"Alright let's move. I want you done eating breakfast in ten minutes!" he growled, slapping my left cheek out the door. Crip turned back to the men lying in their beds. "And all you lazy maggots otta be getting' up too. You think we're gonna win this war sleepin' on our butts?!"

I quickly shuffled down the hall, away from the demon soldier behind me. Holy cow, Crip needs to get a grip! I thought, rubbing my rear end. I headed down the stairs and into the cafeteria. Before I could jump in line, I saw James standing outside on the airfield. He was all suited up in a Marauder suit and was surrounded by other men. Seargent Baker was lecturing them on the world outside of training. It looked as if they were about to depart to Jinksole.

I haven't even said goodbye! I ran out to the airfield and waited while Baker gave his speech.

"You men are the backbone of our army. Once you team up with the Marines, we will be unstoppable. Now like I've said before, the only way to really get better is by experience. There is nothing that we can do here to resemble fighting the Protoss so goodbye and good luck." Baker stepped out of the way as they marched onto the medivac. I ran quickly up to James, who towered over me like a skyscraper.

"James!" I yelled, grabbing his attention.

"Rod!" he said, the helmet masking his voice. We stood there for a moment staring awkwardly at each other. "Well this is it man! I'm finally going into real battle!"

I smiled, and nodded. "Yeah, I'm glad," I said, feeling a pain of worry for my friend. "Be safe out there."

"Oh you won't have to worry about me bro, I'm in a ten ton battle suit, I'll be fine," he said, diminishing my fear.

"Hey Private Prawl! Get your metal butt cheeks over here!" a Marauder yelled. "Ships leaving!"

James nodded, lightly punching my arm. "I gotta go Rod, see ya on the field." James retreated inside the vessel, just as it lifted from the ground.

"Don't get yourself killed James!" I yelled, watching him wave as the ramp closed shut. I let out a sigh. I wonder if I'll ever even see him again. I thought, sadly drooping my shoulders.

"Hey crud bucket!" I heard from behind. Oh no… "You better gimme a good reason why you're wasting time struttin' around out here!"

I turned around nervously, to face the oncoming rage.

"If you don't start talking I'm gonna kick your sorry cask clear to Jinksole and back!" Crip growled, stepping so his nose was inches from my face.

"Oh, I-I've already eaten," I said, frantically. Oh crap, what a stupid thing to say. He'll never belie—

"Oh you have have you?" he asked, relaxing his shoulders. I thought quickly.

"Oh yeah, cut in line, grabbed my food and ate without a tray," I said, desperately. "I didn't wanna… waste your time or anything…."

"Hmm," Crip said, folding his arms. After a minute he smiled. "Good man. Looks like little twerp here is learning."

Crip slapped my back, sending my tripping a couple steps forward. "Now let's get down to the training grounds and get you finished up."

I let out a sigh of relief and followed Crip. Dang, for a second there… I thought he was actually going to kill me.

"Alright, so if we work our tits off these next couple days, we might be able to get you and Nicky built up and ready in time for Derk's arriavl," Crip said, sticking a toothpick like object in his mouth. "But if we're gonna push it like that, your gonna need to be training 24/7."

"Wait what?" I asked, surprised. "You mean… all day?"

"Yup," he responded, without hesitation. "Hopefully if Plank allows it, we can get you in the arena by tomorrow morning."

"Arena?" I asked, skeptically. "…What's that?"

"It's a new program the Orange Terran are implementing. It's a virtual randomly generated training platform. It's like the Brood Battles if you've heard of them." Crip approached Mark, Groff, and Nicky who were all waiting for us.

I suddenly got excited, at the mention of the Brood Battles. It might actually be kind of cool, being in a virtual gaming world. Or at least that's how Tenny had put it.

"Okay, you ladies ready to get started," Mark asked, once we got within talking distance. Seargent Groff cringed once he recognized Crip. The reaper spit out the toothpick in his mouth and scowled back at him.

"Yup, I'm all good," he said, tensing his shoulders. "How 'bout you Gruffy?"

Seargent Groff clenched his teeth. "Don't think for one minute that just because you aren't here for training you have more authority than me. I don't care how many awards you've won or how many Zerg you've killed, but I can guarantee that if you give me any trouble, you'll be court marshaled so fast, you're great grandmother will feel it… oh and you will refer to me as Seargent Groff… not Gruffy."

Crip opened his mouth to retaliate, but Mark cut him off. "Alright so now that we have that out of the way, let's get started.

Break Break Break Break Break Break

We had been working out all day with no slack. It was as if Crip's suggestion was coming true. We had literally been training 24/7. Crip had hailed Plank about getting me in the "arena" tomorrow and was down. He said something about how it wasn't quite operational. Half of me was disappointed, the other was not. I have no idea what I would face there. It did sound kind of fun though. But it doesn't matter; I am not allowed to go.

It was only seven p.m. and it looked like we weren't going to stop. Crip and Groff stayed away from each other, one working with my while the other went with Nicky, while Mark switched between us. Of course I got stuck with Crip, who was already on edge. Sure Seargent Groff yelled a lot and was very gruff, but he didn't really hold his name. I was expecting Groff to be much worse than he had shown to be.

Crip on the other hand was being worse than normal. After a lot of yelling, he would eventually get sick of screaming the same things at me and would revert to slapping or kicking me across the floor. I was getting sick of it. At least everything Groff did to Nicky was to help him. Crip was trying to kill me.

"Okay ya little pussy, step it up!" Crip yelled, watching me run across the field, carrying a gauss rifle. It took everything I had not to drop the gun. I had only done two laps and my arms were killing me. This weapon was not meant to be carried without a suit. "That adrenaline shot I gave you isn't going to last forever. In fact you should probably be feeling it wear off."

I heaved in and out as I sprinted passed Crip. My lungs burnt so bad, I was afraid of looking down, in fear that I would see fire singeing my skin. Tears began to form in my eyes as I rounded the bend. The gun started slipping out of my grasp.

"Hey twit, you drop that thing you've gotta run double laps," he yelled, clearly seeing me struggle. "Move it Jingle! I've seen larva run faster than that!"

Sticky saliva covered the inside of my mouth. I attempted to spit it out, but it only made it worse. Now everything that was inside my mouth was now hanging from my jaw, and onto my already sweat covered shirt.

"You have two minutes to finish three laps lets go!" Crip screamed, kicking dirt in my face as I passed by. Oh lovely, now I have dust covering my already sweaty, spit filled shirt. The nasty fabric clung to my chest like honey to a table. I felt like puking. I still had two more runs. How am I supposed to make it?

"Alright chump you're done," Crip said, as I ran by. What? Did I just hear that right? "Hey! Dim wit you're finished!"

I looked back, confused.

"Stop!" he yelled, stomping his way toward me. Just I was about to comply, my arms gave way to the gun. Not being able to stop myself, I fell forward and landed in a pile of mud, offset from the track. Even considering my current situation, I sighed with relief. I was done. My shoulders relaxed and I refused to stand. My body was too exhausted.

"What don't you understand about stop?" Crip asked, haling me out of the mud. "You think you're funny or something. You think that you'd impress me by running another one? I ain't some dumb high school coach! That ain't gonna work on me."

Crip raged on for what seemed like an eternity, until Baker finally showed up and ordered the angry reaper away. I just laid there, completely relaxed. I didn't care what Crip had to say, or that I looked like a complete mess. I was done. The entire day had been like this and now I could finally stop.

Baker stood over me and appeared to be trying to communicate. At this point though, I didn't want to listen. It didn't matter if he was happy, angry, sad or neutral. I was exhausted and enjoyed the shear fact of doing nothing.

Eventually I must have closed my eyes and passed out, because the next thing I remember is waking up staring at the ceiling.

I was debating whether or not I should get up and check in with Baker, but the lack of encouragement drove me to stay where I was… But then again, I really didn't want to have to deal with Crip bringing all hell into the bedroom to wake me.

I went to sit up, but stopped in my tracks when a sharp pain went through my entire body. I gasped, but stopped that too, once a horrifyingly painful throb went up my throat. For a second I just laid there, too scared to move. What's wrong with me? I tried to look over to the door, but again was halted by pain. I heard a rumble of footsteps approaching from outside. Someone was coming to get me. Thank heavens. I forced myself to look towards the entrance, biting back a scream and hoping above all that it wasn't Crip. Luckily it wasn't

"Hey Rod, how you holdin' up?" Tenny asked, leaning on the wall next to the doorway. I remained silent, afraid I would cause myself more agony. He, thankfully, got the hint. "Yeah you look to be in worse shape than Baker said."

My eyebrows shot to the top of my head with worry.

"Oh don't look so concerned, you'll be okay. Your body is just... really sore," Tenny said, motioning with his arms. "And before you ask, well if that were possible, we won't be healing you with anything. With help of the Selethicks, your body will heal on its own and be twice as strong. This is what the whole idea is, just… over a longer amount of time. But Crip said something about you wanting to be done as fast as ya could so we could get going when Derk gets back."

I scowled. That liar. I didn't say anything of the sort!

"Well anyways. You'll have to lie there today so your body can heal. I just came to check on you. I'll be back sometime before lunch," Tenny said, looking to leave. "Oh, I almost forgot." Tenny, using his receptacle, scanned out a pan of food. "This is for you."

He set it in front of me, and then with a wave goodbye, exited the room. I smiled staring down at the food, but the joy was wiped off my face when I realized: How the crap am I supposed to eat this?

What up Guys. Hey guess what! This is a Rod Chapter I am actually PROUD OF! Fancy that right?