DON'T MESS WITH THE NAVY
BY: THE BARD
Part Four
Battle Of The Berets
“FALCON AND DIALTONE!”
“Sir!” The two soldiers jumped at
the sound of Beachhead’s voice, startled out of their conversation.
“Is
there something you two yahoos would like to share with the rest of the Joes?”
the ranger stood with his arms crossed in the middle of the field, tilting his
head to indicate the thirty or so soldiers surrounding him, all dressed in
sweats and tee shirts, enjoying the warmth of the midday sun.
“No…nno
sir.” Dial tone stuttered.
“Are you sure? It seemed pretty
important.”
“Not really sir,”
“Not really…NOT REALLY…and yet you
chose to interrupt me and disrupt this training session for something no one
really needs to know about.”
Falcon flashed his winning smile, “Unless
they want to know of my progress with a certain…”
“SHUT UP FALCON! Just
for that you are going to be first up…now where was I? Oh
yeah…quarterstaffs.”
“Ooo…time to get medieval on your ass, Bazooka”
Alpine laughed as he clunked the big man on the head with the large stick he was
holding.
“That’s enough goat-boy! Unless you want to be scrubbing the
latrines with a toothbrush for the rest of the week!!!!” Beachhead barked and
the mountaineer settled down immediately, “Honestly…insubordinate troops,
parrots setting off the perimeter alarm! It’s a wonder COBRA hasn’t overrun our
sorry butts by now!”
He sighed and shook his head.
“Quick Kick…you
want to explain what we are doing today?”
“Okalee Dokalee Rangerino,” The
handsome Asian man stood up, mimicking the popular Simpson’s character with ease
before addressing the crowd in a more professional tone.
“We are going to
delve do something a little different this afternoon…” he bent to pick up a
staff from the rack and twirled it expertly while he continued to
speak.
“This is a weapon whose use predates written history. As a combat
form, the use of the quarterstaff requires coordination of eye, hand and body
and mind.”
“This is an extremely versatile weapon, it can be used as
freely as a soldier wishes. When used to strike or hit it becomes a sword, when
used to thrust it becomes a spear. Strikes and thrusts can be from either side
of the body.” As he spoke he went through all the movements described with grace
and skill. ”This makes it very difficult for any opponent to respond quickly to
attacks as it can change easily from side to side, and from thrust to strike
without pause…”
“Yeah…” Gung Ho piped up from the audience, “…all fine
and good until a Viper comes up behind you with an uzzi.”
“Says the Cajun
who got his ass kicked by Lady Jaye last week.” Quick Kick smiled as the rest of
the Joes broke into laughter. “You had an M-16 and she had one of her javelins
if I remember correctly…”
“Oh…man…I forgot about that!” the marine
grinned. “Touche…”
“So…as you can see…these babies, when used correctly,
pack quite a wallop. Which is why we are going to be using protective padding on
the…”
Quick Kick’s voice faded to the back of Shipwreck’s consciousness
as Falcon came to sit next to him, Scarlett and Cover Girl.
“Ladies…” He
smiled in greeting, winking at the sailor as he lowered himself to the
ground.
“Falcon. What a surprise…” Cover Girl commented sarcastically,
“…haven’t seen you around the woman’s locker room in a while.”
“Cover
Girl…I’m insulted! Do you think I would be so crass as to peep in on my
sisters-in-arms?”
“So it wasn’t your beret we saw in the window?”
Scarlett narrowed her eyes in mock disbelief; “I guess it was Flint
then…”
“Hey…you never know? Our third in command seems to have some major
issues lately…” Falcon laughed quietly so as not to interrupt the class, “…I
thought you ladies should be aware that you are in for a
disappointment.”
“Really? How so?”
“I am currently ‘involved’ with
another woman.”
Shipwreck smirked and elbowed Torpedo…shifting his head
to indicate Flint, who was standing only a few meters away. Although he looked
to be paying close attention to the demonstration, the slight narrowing of his
eyes indicated that his interest was on the little scene taking place right next
to them.
“Another woman?” Cover Girl’s hand flew to her forehead in a
dramatic gesture, “I’m crushed!”
“Very funny, Courtney…laugh now…but I
swear you girls don’t know what you’re missing!”
“I think we have some
idea…” Scarlett muttered under her breath, trying not to laugh. “…so who is the
lucky girl? Is it someone we know?”
“In fact it is…its Lady
Jaye…”
“WHAT!” Both Cover Girl and Scarlett yelled in unison, forgetting
where they were. The entire class stopped and turned to see what was going
on.
“Are you nuts…” Scarlett hissed as she watched Flint’s face as he
walked towards them, “…you can’t be seriously
considering…”
“Ah…Red…you’re just jealous. The girl wants me! And once
she has had a tasted the Falcon she will never want another… “
“Falcon…I
really think you should…” Cover Girl was pulling on his tee shirt sleeve, trying
to get his attention. Flint was practically on top of them.
“…Mark my
words. I will have her in bed before the week is out…”
“GET UP FALCON!”
His name came out a threatening growl from Flint’s mouth. Falcon rose …expecting
to be chided for interrupting class again.
“I’m sorry Flint. I will be
quiet this time, I promise. You know what its like…bragging about the ladies and
all…” The lieutenant grew confused as Flint’s face clouded over.
“Oh come
on, Duke tells me you were quite the gigolo in your youth.”
“In my
youth…” Flint hissed, but Falcon continued to ignore the warning
signs.
“…and Lady Jaye is hot. I mean you work with her…can you imagine
what she is like in…”
“ENOUGH!”
“What? What did I
say?”
Flint merely threw a quarterstaff at him, which he caught
easily.
“YOU…in the field…NOW!”
Shipwreck was grinning wildly as
the beret clad Joes made their way to the center of the clearing. The rest of
the team were all on their feet surrounding them, cheering as the two men
removed their shirts and took up their sparring positions. Quick Kick was
yelling something about padding, but was completely ignored as the two soldiers
began to circle each other.
“How come I have a strong suspicion you have
a lot to do with this Shipwreck?” Scarlett turned to the old sailor, who was
busy checking his watch as he and the other squids gathered to cheer Flint
on.
“Moi?” Shipwreck clutched his heart, “You wound me,
madame!”
“Don’t give me that innocent look Sailor…you have had it in for
the guy since he came through the gates. Sure he’s a pain in the ass but
…”
“Oh…my…god…” Covergirl sighed.
“What?” Red turned her head and
froze, her mouth dropping open at the sight before her.
Flint and Falcon
stood face to face in the grass and sun, clad only in their grey army sweatpants
and dog tags.
“mmmmm….” Cover Girl licked her lips “Nice…”
Flint
looked every part the warrior as he stood in the sunlight. Scars crisscrossed
his hard, muscular body…thin white lines against his sun- browned skin…a
testament to battles fought and won. He carried himself in a way that suggested
readiness…just a fraction of a second away from swift reaction. He had the look
of someone who had seen and weathered a great deal and understood that loss of
control was a soldier’s worst enemy. There was an enormous calm in his face as
he watched his opponent prepare himself…one that belied the storm in his blue
eyes.
Falcon, on the other hand…presented quite the contrast. His young,
muscular body perfect…smooth, his body strong. His eyes sparkled with
confidence, his face sported an easy smile. He shifted his weight from foot to
foot in anticipation of what was to come, self-assured and certain of his
abilities and skill. He moved with the grace and subtleness of youth, with an
ease that indicated that his confidence was not misplaced.
“Oh boy…”
Scarlett sighed, her eyes locked on the two men, “Lady Jaye is going to be one
satisfied woman when she finally gets Flint to her…”
“Hey! Enough of
that!” Wet Suit exclaimed, “And you guys complain that we are sexist…listen to
yourselves! You two are practically drooling…”
He was interrupted by a
loud crack as Flint and Falcon engaged in battle. They thrust and parried with
amazing speed, stopping to circle each other every so often in order to gage
each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
On and on it went, each fighter
getting in some substantial hits, both standing strong, neither backing down.
Around them, the Joes were screaming and cheering, egging them
on.
“Falcon’s not bad…” Wetsuit commented as the young officer managed to
land a sharp blow on Flint’s arm.
“Flint’s just toying with him.”
Shipwreck commented, “ I can tell he’s holding back.”
“He won’t land the
killing blow,” Roadblock shook his head, “He won’t hurt his best friend’s
bro…”
“Oh man…he isn’t going to back out now!” Torpedo moaned as Ace came
up next to him.
“Ah…I smell victory in the air.” Ace flashed his winning
fly-boy smile, “I would like my winnings in small bills please.”
“Don’t
count Navy out just yet.” Shipwreck grinned, “I think our trump card just
arrived.”
“What the hell is going on here?” Lady Jaye ran up to where
they were all standing, glaring at the two men in the ring…at one of them in
particular. “What are those two goofballs doing? Is that blood?”
“I see
you’ve been busy, Jaye.“ Cover Girl smiled and patted her fellow female Joe on
the shoulder, “I honestly didn’t think you had it in you.”
“Didn’t think
I had ‘what’ in me? What are you talking about?”
“Stringing two men
along…”
“What?!”
“Those two goofballs, as you so aptly described
them… “Scarlett sighed, “…are up there fighting over
you.”
“WHAT!!!!”
At the sound of her voice, Falcon turned and
smiled in her direction.
“Hey there lover, come to cheer me
on?”
“LOVER?! THAT DOES IT!!!!” Flint roared.
Whatever restraint
Flint had shown in the beginning was gone. He poured it on, pushing the other
Joe further and further back…forcing him on to the defensive…moving the staff
with speed and skill that the inexperienced lieutenant couldn’t hope to
match.
The crowd went wild. Over the din, Flint’s voice could be heard as
he growled between blows.
“You will…treat your elders…with the respect
they have earned!” He landed a jab on Falcon’s side.
“You…will…learn…to
respect…the female members…of this team!” Flint swung around and slammed the
staff into his opponents arm.
“And most of all…” he paused as he watched
the young man stagger in front of him.
“HANDS!”
He blocked
Falcon’s retaliatory attack easily….
“OFF!”
…swinging his weapon
around in a flash, knocking the man’s staff out of his
hands.
“MY!”
Then, in one fluid movement, he knocked the young
officer off his feet…
“GIRL!”
…and brought the quaterstaff around,
stopping it suddenly…the butt mere inches from Falcon’s
throat.
“Your…gulp…girl?” Falcon’s moaned as he struggled to catch his
breath, having had it knocked out of him when he fell.
“YOUR GIRL?!” Lady
Jaye yelled. Flint flinched, his eyes growing wide with fear.
“Go Navy,
Go Navy, Go Navy…” The squids were chanting and dancing in the background as
they celebrated their win.
“Ummm guys…” Dialtone spoke, his quiet voice
barely breaking through the raucous laughter.
“Well…Ace…” Wetsuit grabbed
the sullen pilot by the shoulder, “I think I would like my winnings in small
bills.”
“Guys…” the communications expert tried again…this time a little
louder.
“So what do you say my fellow sailors…a night on the town is in
order I think…” Shipwreck was grinning wildly, “Drinking, dancing, pretty
girls…”
“GUYS!” Dialtone yelled at the top of his lungs, and this time
the others turned to him.
“You might want to look at this before you
start celebrating.” He handed them a print out.
“What are you going on
about, Spock…” Shipwreck grabbed the sheet and began to read it, his eyes
growing wide as he did, “I don’t fucking believe it!”
“What? What?”
Torpedo crushed in next to him, straining to see what had the old sailor
glowering.
“Oh my god, “ Ace laughed, “This is just too good…”
“Is
that even legal?” Wetsuit asked.
“This is a betting pool, stupid.”
Shipwreck snapped, “Nothing about it is legal…”
“Hey, don’t take this out
on me!”
“God…can this possibly get any worse!?”
“WHAT THE HELL IS
GOING ON OUT HERE!”
“Ummm…I think you just got the answer to that
question squid.”
In the distance, a very angry General Hawk was making
his way across the grounds towards them, an equally pissed Duke in tow.
______________________________________________________
Continued in Part Five!
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