Octopus Monkey With an M4

I walk up the same broken branch I used before, perching in the tree. I push away the thick leaves clouding my view. The sniper's nest is housed on that hill around a few thousand meters. For him to be making accurate shots over this range, he must be quite skilled. I drop off the branch, my helmet once more sliding over my eyes as I land. I unbuckle the loose helmet, sliding it on a short branch. Sorry May, but those things are too annoying for me to use. Disregarding the dangling helmet, I round the hillside in search of the fallen soldier. Spotting the place I had ambushed them, I notice one of them had gone missing. I thought my aim was true, but I guess you don't always hit true. I quickly glance around his uniform in search of any flag or identification, receiving none. I begin to turn towards the enemy hillside, pausing to once more observe the body. I guess I could at very least offer him a minor burial.

Placing the final stone atop the nameless soldier's burial, I look to the sky. Mid-day now huh? I should be around the sniper by sunset, perfect time for a quick ambush. I grab my offset rifle and begin to walk towards my target. Along the way I pause to observe the animals running around, picking berries off bushes and trees. If the animals find the berries safe they're edible right? I pluck off a small blueberry from the bush, popping it in my mouth. a sweet flavor roams through my mouth, burning so strongly as if my mouth was on fire. I grab a few more for the trip, continuing through the dense forest. noticing another fallen branch ahead. I run up in, brushing the leaves aside checking my positioning. Yep, still on track. I glance up towards the sun, now sitting around 3/4ths of the way in the sky. I might be on the late side.

"Did you see that kid? The one at that base over there."

I push myself up against the tree's trunk, slowly releasing the leaves. I peer around the stump, spotting two soldiers carrying a wounded third.

Soldier 2: "You mean that kid swinging around in the trees?"

Soldier 1: "No I mean the fucking octopus monkey with an M4. YES, THE KID SWINGING IN THE TREES."

Soldier 2: "Alright, alright I got it... No need to be so harsh damn... But why the hell is the captain sending us to assault a base like that. I mean couldn't they just send in an airstrike?"

Soldier 1: "Too risky apparently, there's someone inside that base that we need to capture first."

They begin to walk out of earshot. rifle at the ready, I quietly drop out of the tree, following the group silently.

Soldier 2: "Who could possibly be at that small ass base in the middle of nowhere. Is whoever we're looking for even worth it. That kid wiped out half of our attack force alone, and look at what he did to him."

He silently bobs his head towards the wounded fellow.

Soldier 2: "We don't even know who our target is! Only the damn higher-ups got a briefing on our target!"

Soldier 1: "I don't know man, we just follow orders nothing else we can do."

Soldier 3: "Would you two shut up already..."

The wounded soldier begins a wheezing cough. I guess that's where the missing guy went, poor bastard. The party stop, propping the wounded guy up against a tree.

Soldier 1: "Yea, sorry... We might need to bandage you up a little better before we continue. Sit still this might hurt a little."

I've heard what I wanted. I begin to rustle through the trees around the party. The screams of the third soldier echos through the trees as the sun begins to fall... I continue my advance.

My eyes shoot open, the echoing scream replaying in my mind. What could these dreams possibly mean? My body feels numb and I'm sitting in a cold sweat. I grab a water bottle on a nearby nightstand, chugging its contents. I sit still, trying to process the reasoning behind these dreams. They're becoming more frequent and vivid... Right, right, I need to go grab my watch from Doc. I stagger up, my body still lagging behind my commands. I catch myself on the nightstand, pausing for a second. After my body calms, I slide on my flight suit and head out the door. As I step out I meet nick heading into his room. he pauses, throwing me a tired wave and smile as he steps inside, gently shutting the door behind him. Walking past his room I head towards Doc's office. I poke my head inside the darkened room. Not here huh? Guess he's in the Testing Hanger. Out of the eight hangers we have on base, four houses Spirit, Jester, Barrage, and Vertex. One is currently vacant, two are used for AeroCord maintenance, and the last is used for testing new equipment and AeroCord technology. I worm my way throughout the base. Stopping for a quick meal at the cafeteria before entering the Testing Hanger. Unlike the empty hangers used for housing our AeroCords, the Testing Hanger is usually quite full. I bounce up the staircase, throwing open the door. I see Doc standing behind a control panel in the middle of the room. On both sides of him lay rows of people manning similar terminals. I look through the glass into the Hanger. Spotting an F15 sitting in the open hanger below.

Jax: "So Doc, what's that? Usually, the room is filled with stuff. It's odd to see just a normal F15 sitting down there."

Doc: "But it's not a simple F15. This F15 is holding hundreds of millions of tiny soon to be swarming micromachines. You've come at the perfect time to witness our first test."

He reaches inside his pocket, dragging out my watch. Without looking away he hands me my watch. I grab it, sliding it on my wrist. 12:59, I overslept quite a bit today.

Doc: "Activate the nanomachines."

The computers all flare up as the F15 awaits patiently.

Doc: "Begin leading-edge adjustments."

The front of both wings begins to slowly expand outwards.

Doc: "YES IT'S WORKING!"

The wings continue expanding until a small portion of the right suddenly stops.

Jax: "Is that supposed to happen?"

I point to the now caved-in portion of the wing.

Doc: "NO, HALT THE TEST!"

The workers begin throwing their fingers around the keyboard trying to stop the ragging machine. Suddenly, the F15 begins to emit a creaking popping noise. Growing louder and louder as the wing continues to grow. Then, the wings freeze, no longer growing an inch.

Doc: "Good work everybody, figure out what went wrong here and we'll try again shortly."

Another pop spits out of the F15, hundreds begin to repeat after it until... The right-wing of the F15 bursts open where the caved-in portion was. Spewing out sand-like machines across the wing and floor. I look to Doc, his face lies dead, showing no form of emotion or soul. Without removing his statue-like posture, he utters to me.

Doc: "Jax... If you would... Please come back another time."

Jax: "Can do Doc..."

I step out the door, leaping over the stairs guardrail. As I'm mid-jump I look down noticing a small girl walking below me.

She glances up, seeing my butt ram against her tiny face.