Bryan sat typing rapidly at his computer. Nothing seemed to be going right today. Bryan glanced up at the clock again and sighed. He knew he was not going to be able to leave for another forty-five minutes. He was going to be late for his date.
Shaking his head he turned back to his computer. He knew that there was no way he would be able to get this done faster, and Mark had flatly refused to file the report for him.
Bryan opened another browser on his computer and quickly searched out the site and file that he needed to complete his report. He clicked on the link that would give him the information that he needed.
Suddenly sound blared out of his computers speakers.
Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
Bryan jerked back and desperately tried to close the window, his computer seemingly frozen, the song still playing loudly.
Suddenly the music cut out, the screen going blank. Bryan turned in confusion. He saw Steve holding the power cord for his computer.
"Dude, did you just get Rickrolled?" Steve asked in disbelief.
"I guess I did," Bryan groaned and dropped his head to the keyboard.
"It's not as bad as all that. Annoying, but not anything to get worked up about," said Steve, patting Bryan on the shoulder.
"That's not it. I have to do that whole report again," Bryan said, lifting his head and dropping it again onto the board.
Friday, April 1, 2011
First Solo
Joe fidgeted with the zipper on his jumpsuit. His body made jerking movements as if he was not sure if he wanted to run, or if he was just eager to get started. Joe was dressed in a one piece jumpsuit, his helmet on the ground beside him. His fingers twitched as he mentally checked off procedures in his head.
"Hey Joe, how's it going?" Brian asked, grinning from ear to ear. He noted Joe's fingers twitching, and smiled wider. "Nervous much?"
Joe shrugged, taking a deep breath and stilling his hands, "it's my first solo flight."
Brian suppressed the urge to razz his younger teammate. Mark and Brian had taken their qualifying flights the previous month. "Don't worry about it," Brian said, "just do as David taught you, and you'll be fine."
"I know that I know this, but that doesn't stop me from being nervous," Joe said.
"Are you ready Joe?" David asked, as he rounded the corner into the hanger.
"I guess as ready as I will be," Joe said, snapping off a salute.
"Okay. Jump into the Falcon over there and taxi out to the runway," David said.
"Yes Sir." Joe snapped off another salute.
Joe climbed into the cockpit of the fighter jet and checked his instruments, letting the taxi pull the jet to the runway.
David's voice came crackling over the headset into his ear. "Okay Joe, just like you trained. Take a deep breath. You can do this. You know the procedures, you know the maneuvers. Take it slow and do it right," David said.
"Yes Sir," Joe said, nodding, even though David couldn't see him.
Joe pulled back on the controls when he was given the all clear and the flag man had retreated.
The jet rocketed down the runway, gathering speed until it was airborne. Joe climbed swiftly into the sky, grinning at the feeling of freedom.
Joe settled himself and looked at his panel of information. He knew that David would be his spotter on the ground, and Steve would be the air observer. He was not sure who he would be flying against.
Joe rolled his jet to the left as his honed instincts noted the barest movement from the corner of his eye. He banked his jet in a tight turn and climbed steeply, trying to get a visual on his opponent. He saw the other jet below him as he did a roll to the right as his sensors picked up the mock gunfire.
Joe dipped his jet into a controlled dive so that he could get beneath the other fighter pilot. He punched in the code that would send signals to the other pilot of his strafing run. the other pilot looped around him to come up from his tail.
Joe stalled out to slow down enough so that the other pilot would over shoot him. As Joe came up behind the other jet he let loose a volley. A direct hit.
David's and Steve's cheers were drowned out by Joe's own enthusiasm. Joe did a victory roll and streaked back towards the runway.
As Joe exited his plane there was an enthusiastic group waiting for him.
"Way to go Joe!" Mark said, pounding him on the back.
"Good job. I knew you could do it," David said, punching him in the shoulder.
"I think a celebration is in order," Steve said.
"Absolutely," David said, leading the way away from the hanger.
"Hey Joe, how's it going?" Brian asked, grinning from ear to ear. He noted Joe's fingers twitching, and smiled wider. "Nervous much?"
Joe shrugged, taking a deep breath and stilling his hands, "it's my first solo flight."
Brian suppressed the urge to razz his younger teammate. Mark and Brian had taken their qualifying flights the previous month. "Don't worry about it," Brian said, "just do as David taught you, and you'll be fine."
"I know that I know this, but that doesn't stop me from being nervous," Joe said.
"Are you ready Joe?" David asked, as he rounded the corner into the hanger.
"I guess as ready as I will be," Joe said, snapping off a salute.
"Okay. Jump into the Falcon over there and taxi out to the runway," David said.
"Yes Sir." Joe snapped off another salute.
Joe climbed into the cockpit of the fighter jet and checked his instruments, letting the taxi pull the jet to the runway.
David's voice came crackling over the headset into his ear. "Okay Joe, just like you trained. Take a deep breath. You can do this. You know the procedures, you know the maneuvers. Take it slow and do it right," David said.
"Yes Sir," Joe said, nodding, even though David couldn't see him.
Joe pulled back on the controls when he was given the all clear and the flag man had retreated.
The jet rocketed down the runway, gathering speed until it was airborne. Joe climbed swiftly into the sky, grinning at the feeling of freedom.
Joe settled himself and looked at his panel of information. He knew that David would be his spotter on the ground, and Steve would be the air observer. He was not sure who he would be flying against.
Joe rolled his jet to the left as his honed instincts noted the barest movement from the corner of his eye. He banked his jet in a tight turn and climbed steeply, trying to get a visual on his opponent. He saw the other jet below him as he did a roll to the right as his sensors picked up the mock gunfire.
Joe dipped his jet into a controlled dive so that he could get beneath the other fighter pilot. He punched in the code that would send signals to the other pilot of his strafing run. the other pilot looped around him to come up from his tail.
Joe stalled out to slow down enough so that the other pilot would over shoot him. As Joe came up behind the other jet he let loose a volley. A direct hit.
David's and Steve's cheers were drowned out by Joe's own enthusiasm. Joe did a victory roll and streaked back towards the runway.
As Joe exited his plane there was an enthusiastic group waiting for him.
"Way to go Joe!" Mark said, pounding him on the back.
"Good job. I knew you could do it," David said, punching him in the shoulder.
"I think a celebration is in order," Steve said.
"Absolutely," David said, leading the way away from the hanger.
Help is on the Way
"Lieutenant Blackwood." Steve answered the phone.
"Steve!" A panicked voice came over the line."
"Rachel?" Steve was surprised to hear his sisters voice.
"Steve, you've got to help me." Rachel's voice quiet, as if afraid someone would overhear her.
"Rachel, what's wrong? Where are you?" Steve was starting to get more than a little worried. His normally unflappable sister sounded on the verge of a panic attack.
"I don't know where I am. Please you have got to find me." Rachel sounded like she was almost in tears.
"Okay, Rachel, calm down. Where were you last? Where is Mom and Dad?" Steve was kicking into operation mode, trying to get all the facts.
"I was out with some friends, We were going to a bar at the edge of town. I don't know where Mom and Dad are."
"Okay Rachel. I want you to stay calm. I'm coming to find you." Steve said, reassuring his sister.
"Please hurry Steve, I'm scared."
"Hey, have I ever let you down?" Steve asked in a lighter tone, trying to dispel some of her anxiety.
"No," Rachel whispered.
Steve was loathed to hang up on his sister when she needed him, but he had to find her as fast as possible.
Steve tore into the bunk room, grabbing clothes and equipment and stuffing them into a duffel bag. The rest of the team were standing in surprise at the state of the normally calm First Lieutenant.
Steve was running out the door when he ran into David.
"Commander, I have to leave. My sister is in trouble. I have to help her." Steve spoke very fast, trying to edge around his leader.
David nodded, "Let's go men, grab your gear and we will be out in two minutes."
Steve looked at David with gratitude. "Thank you Major."
"Your family is my family Steve," said David, as the team jogged out of the barrack and down the hall towards the aircraft hanger.
"Steve!" A panicked voice came over the line."
"Rachel?" Steve was surprised to hear his sisters voice.
"Steve, you've got to help me." Rachel's voice quiet, as if afraid someone would overhear her.
"Rachel, what's wrong? Where are you?" Steve was starting to get more than a little worried. His normally unflappable sister sounded on the verge of a panic attack.
"I don't know where I am. Please you have got to find me." Rachel sounded like she was almost in tears.
"Okay, Rachel, calm down. Where were you last? Where is Mom and Dad?" Steve was kicking into operation mode, trying to get all the facts.
"I was out with some friends, We were going to a bar at the edge of town. I don't know where Mom and Dad are."
"Okay Rachel. I want you to stay calm. I'm coming to find you." Steve said, reassuring his sister.
"Please hurry Steve, I'm scared."
"Hey, have I ever let you down?" Steve asked in a lighter tone, trying to dispel some of her anxiety.
"No," Rachel whispered.
Steve was loathed to hang up on his sister when she needed him, but he had to find her as fast as possible.
Steve tore into the bunk room, grabbing clothes and equipment and stuffing them into a duffel bag. The rest of the team were standing in surprise at the state of the normally calm First Lieutenant.
Steve was running out the door when he ran into David.
"Commander, I have to leave. My sister is in trouble. I have to help her." Steve spoke very fast, trying to edge around his leader.
David nodded, "Let's go men, grab your gear and we will be out in two minutes."
Steve looked at David with gratitude. "Thank you Major."
"Your family is my family Steve," said David, as the team jogged out of the barrack and down the hall towards the aircraft hanger.
A Vow
David woke up in his bunk, his blankets tucked tightly around him. He blinked back the pain from his hangover. He only vaguely remembered Steve and the others finding him the the warehouse. There was a light coming from off to his right and behind him. Slowly he turned his head to look around; the room spinning around him. His eyes at last landed on Steve.
Steve looked down at him when he saw the movement, "Hey boss," He said quietly.
David blinked, not sure yet if he could speak.
"Rough couple of days sir?" Steve picked up a glass of water and held it to his commanders lips. David sipped at it for a second.
Memories played in David's mind like a bad film that he could not get rid of. Men dying, men that he had killed. "I killed them Steve," David said at last. "I knew every single one of them, and I don't know why I was ordered to terminate them." David could see their faces, see their eyes as the light went out of them. "They had families, people who loved them. They were just boys."
Steve sat in silence, waiting for his commander to finish speaking.
David drew in a shaky breath. "Do you ever stop to ask yourself, why we supposed to kill them? I never used to ask why. But in those faces, I could see the faces of everyone I love. You. Joe. The twins. All the men I have served with."
"You did what you were ordered to do sir," Steve said at last when it seemed David had no more to say.
"I made a vow to myself Steve," David said quietly, almost inaudibly. Steve had to lean close to hear what he had to say. "I vowed I would protect my men, protect my family, the only family I have now.
David turned into the wall and Steve stood to leave.
"I killed them all to save my own," David whispered into the dark.
Steve looked down at him when he saw the movement, "Hey boss," He said quietly.
David blinked, not sure yet if he could speak.
"Rough couple of days sir?" Steve picked up a glass of water and held it to his commanders lips. David sipped at it for a second.
Memories played in David's mind like a bad film that he could not get rid of. Men dying, men that he had killed. "I killed them Steve," David said at last. "I knew every single one of them, and I don't know why I was ordered to terminate them." David could see their faces, see their eyes as the light went out of them. "They had families, people who loved them. They were just boys."
Steve sat in silence, waiting for his commander to finish speaking.
David drew in a shaky breath. "Do you ever stop to ask yourself, why we supposed to kill them? I never used to ask why. But in those faces, I could see the faces of everyone I love. You. Joe. The twins. All the men I have served with."
"You did what you were ordered to do sir," Steve said at last when it seemed David had no more to say.
"I made a vow to myself Steve," David said quietly, almost inaudibly. Steve had to lean close to hear what he had to say. "I vowed I would protect my men, protect my family, the only family I have now.
David turned into the wall and Steve stood to leave.
"I killed them all to save my own," David whispered into the dark.
A Promise Unkept
David stood on top of a hill outside of Rome; the setting sun painting everything gold and red. In the distance he could hear the bells of the many chapels in the valley below calling the faithful to come and worship at evening mass. A warm salty wind blew in off of the Mediterranean sea. David looked to his left and could see faintly the Coliseum on the horizon. A mission had brought him here, and a memory was keeping him here.
David closed his eyes and drew in the breeze, making it a part of himself for just a moment, his thoughts wandering far into the past.
Arianna's voice seemed to come to him on the wind. David's breath caught in his chest, her voice as clear as if she were standing right next to him. "I've always wanted to go to Italy. Let's go to Italy David. Let's just pick up and go to Rome."
He had promised that they would, that they would make it to Italy. He had promised, and she had died.
Tears flowed down his cheeks as the sun finished setting. "I'm so sorry Ari," David whispered into the growing dusk.
David closed his eyes and drew in the breeze, making it a part of himself for just a moment, his thoughts wandering far into the past.
Arianna's voice seemed to come to him on the wind. David's breath caught in his chest, her voice as clear as if she were standing right next to him. "I've always wanted to go to Italy. Let's go to Italy David. Let's just pick up and go to Rome."
He had promised that they would, that they would make it to Italy. He had promised, and she had died.
Tears flowed down his cheeks as the sun finished setting. "I'm so sorry Ari," David whispered into the growing dusk.
Scars
Some wounds are just skin deep.
They scab and flake away,
a scar left behind.
An interesting story.
Some things pull upon your heartstrings;
so that you feel your heart should break.
Thick calloused scars,
buried deep in your soul
They scab and flake away,
a scar left behind.
An interesting story.
Some things pull upon your heartstrings;
so that you feel your heart should break.
Thick calloused scars,
buried deep in your soul
Craft
Rough and calloused hands smooth water across the surface of the leather.
The gentle scent of released tannins permeate the room.
Sure and steady fingers guide the knife as it cuts furrows into the surface;
delicate curves and sharp angles.
Gentle tapping echoes through the house, hour after hour.
Tap. Shift. Tap. Shift.
An image slowly surfaces as the mallet and tools move across the leather.
First an outline, then details are painstakingly added.
The artist breathing life into a piece of hide.
The gentle scent of released tannins permeate the room.
Sure and steady fingers guide the knife as it cuts furrows into the surface;
delicate curves and sharp angles.
Gentle tapping echoes through the house, hour after hour.
Tap. Shift. Tap. Shift.
An image slowly surfaces as the mallet and tools move across the leather.
First an outline, then details are painstakingly added.
The artist breathing life into a piece of hide.
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