Chapter 1: Salute

"3! 2! 1! GO!" my voice echoed throughout the whole field. The next second, the only thing that could be heard was the roar of gunshots. I surveyed the fearless faces, with their eyes focused on the targets, knees on the ground and hands clasped firmly around their guns. They all stopped and looked at me once they ran out of bullets.

I clapped and called out, "Good job, everyone!" I then went to check if they all hit their targets. "You may all leave except for Jake. Jake, follow me."

"Yes, Captain". They all stood straight and saluted me and eventually trickled out from the hall.

After making sure they all left, Jake hugged me tightly. "I missed you," was all he said before silent sobs could be heard.

"Of course, who wouldn't? Now get off me and stop crying, people are going to think I hit you," I said, lightly shoving him off me.

"Sorry, Captain," he said rolling his eyes, which made me laugh.

"Apology accepted. How have you been, Kiddo?" I asked.

"Terrible. I missed you and Captain Tyler," he replied, pouting.

"Aww, I'm flattered, Second Lieutenant Jake." I pretended to be flattered by putting my hand on my chest dramatically.

"I'm offended," He admitted, looking up with puppy eyes.

"You always are. Now let's go before Tyler give us hundred pushups both. My hands are numb," I said, dragging my favorite student.

~~~

We were all sitting in our favorite place with our plates of food. I saw Tyler and Jake talking, fully ignoring my existence. I understood their situation. They hadn't met in over a month—a whole month— and that's a whole lot for best friends. I'd known Jake for 5 years now. Though he was younger than me, he was my best friend. Well, one of my best friends actually.

Tyler is not just my best friend; it was as if he was my brother too. We grew up together, did everything together and now, there we were, serving our country in the military, just like our parents.

"Hey, you with us, Jack?" Tyler spoke up. I flinched and replied with a nod.

"Of course, where else?" I lied.

"Yeah, right. Colonel wants to see you. Now," he said sternly.

"What's with the tone?" I replied, irritated, shooting him a look. "And why does he want to meet me now? I'm eating and he damn well knows it."

Tyler narrowed his eyes. "You're hiding something from me, aren't you?"

"Oh, come on, there's nothing to hide. I was just thinking." I gave him a reassuring smile and got up. "See you later then, guys." I bid my goodbyes and deposited my tray before making an exit.

Upon leaving the stuffy dining hall behind, I jogged to the office area. Millions of questions were running through my mind.

Why does he want to see me?

Why now?

'Especially when he knows I hate skipping meals.

That last one, in particular, did not fail to irk me. Not wanting to wait around any longer, I ran to his office.

By the time I was facing the thickset door, I was breathing heavily. I stood straight, fixed my hair, and straightened my uniform, then knocked on the door and waited patiently for the two magic words from my boss. "Come in" I heard a gentle voice from inside. I opened and entered.

I raised my right hand to my forehead as a greeting and said, "Good afternoon, Sir. You wanted to see me?"

"Yes, please take a seat".

I was nervous already. I gulped hard and looked up hesitantly. Did I make a mistake? Nah, there's no way.

"Captain Jackson, why do you look nervous?" he asked, after studying my weird facial expressions.

"W-what? I-I'm not, Sir," I stuttered.

"I see." He raised an unconvinced eyebrow. "I called you to tell you about the guests," he said, searching for what looked like a specific set of papers as he is rifled through a large stack.

"What guests, Sir?" I replied with confusion written all over my face.

"You haven't heard about them? The whole battalion is talking about them," he said, and looked up.

"No, I haven't. I was busy," I replied bluntly.

"I thought you would. But it's fine, I'll tell you everything," he said, collecting his papers and removing his glasses. "They will be here for a month. A group, sent from Headquarters, will stay on base to monitor our current status, and take inventory on weaponry, artillery, ammunition, total soldier count, and so on. A team of two fine lads and another two bright lasses." He tossed me a manilla folder, probably the one he was rummaging for previously. "Brandon, Louis, Mia and Natalie. I want you to prepare rooms for them. Got it?"

He said it all in one breath.

"Yes, sir. May I leave now?" I said, looking him in the eyes.

"Sure. Wait! One more thing, tomorrow, y'all will have a day off. Just rest well because the next month is going to be tough. Really tough, actually. Make sure to inform me once you are done with your task," he dismissed, putting his glasses back on and leaning back in his chair.

I nodded, trying my best to hide my excitement, and turned my back to leave. When I was about to open the door, his voice halted my steps. "By the way, apologies, I interrupted you from your lunch, didn't I?"

"No, its fine, Sir," I said, hitting him with my best fake smile. I then left instantly, not wanting to give in to my urges and punch him square in the face.

~~~

"Tyler, I said on that side, not this. Do not make me repeat myself," I shouted, frustrated. Just then, we heard a knock on the door.

"Go get it!" I whisper-yelled. But before he could get to it, Jake did the honors. Our gazes landed on two boys, about Jake's age, standing with their hands inside their pockets.

"What can I help you with?" Jake said with a frown.

"Boy, what's going on? Can you stop arguing? Who are you arguing with?" they yelled at him. He looked at them innocently.

At first, they didn't notice who was behind him, but it wasn't long before one of them saw me and Tyler. He elbowed his friend as a sign to shut up. They both simultaneously saluted, taking their hands out of their pockets. "Sorry Captain Jackson and Captain Tyler, we didn't see you there," he said with an apologizing face.

"It's fine, Peter, that's your name, right? But do you all always communicate like this? You sound so rude," I said, allowing some of my authority to seep into my voice.

"Sorry, Sir," Peter replied, while looking down.

"I think you deserve a little punishment. Why don't you help us prepare this room, huh?" I smirked.

"Sure thing," the other kid replied while faking a smile.

"This is going to be fun!" Jake exclaimed.

"Help them, Jake," I urged him.

"Fine," he sighed.

Tyler and I sat and looked around. "Damn! You're so smart," Tyler said, and lunged out to hug me.

"Damn! Why're you so clingy?" I asked, imitating him, and shoving him in the chest. He glared at me and gulped down the drink he had poured for himself minutes ago, giving me silent death glares over the rim of the mug.

~~~

Seconds, minutes and hours passed by and I finally woke up when my neck started to hurt. I noticed that the boys finished preparing the room and, exhausted, we accidently fell asleep in not-so-comfortable positions. I woke up everyone and told the kids to go to their room after thanking them for helping us. Tyler, Jake and I then left to the barracks, locking the door behind us.

On my way, I remembered I had to inform General that we'd completed the task. "Guys, I'll join you soon," I said, and they hummed in response.

~~~

I was knocking on the intimidating door from earlier for what felt like the millionth time, but still, no answer from the general. I assumed he had left, but caught the sound of light snoring from behind the door as I was about to leave. I opened the door cautiously and entered. The room was eerily dark, save for the small desk lamp perched on his monstrous mahogany table. I switched on the lights to get a better view.

The sight in front of me was hard to describe. General was sleeping, sporting messy hair and parted lips, hugging some papers tightly to his chest and with his glasses not perched in their rightful position. I wanted to laugh but controlled it somehow. I called his name multiple times in an attempt to wake him up. After what felt like forever, he startled awake, and looked at me as if I was from another world. I wanted to leave as soon as possible, so I dropped the keys into his outstretched palm, making sure he was in his right mind, then quickly left the room calling out a hurried, "Good night!"