THE SHOCKWAVE
BY: INVISIBLE WRATH

Chapter Six:
Change

The training period was about to end and Shockwave was still not sure where he stood. He’d had a meeting with Flint, which seemed to go well enough, the former Delta Force member said he wanted Shockwave on the team and had a spot waiting for him once the training was complete, but he wasn’t sure if he felt right here. As it stood now, there was only one Joe Shockwave spoke to consistently. Spirit. They often pulled guard duty together, Spirit sharing stories of his time with the Joes and the story of his life. It was the stories of Spirit’s life that intrigued Shockwave. Having been raised Catholic, he didn’t know that much about other faiths and ways of life.

“Every man has a totem spirit, my friend.” Spirit said.

“Excuse me?” Shockwave asked, realizing he hadn’t been paying attention.

“A totem spirit. One who guides them, advises them. A guardian.” The shaman explained, drawing a cry from his eagle Freedom, who sat on a perch behind them.

“Is Freedom…”

“Yes, my friend. He is my guide. If you are to complete your journey, you must find your own.” The shaman advised. “Tomorrow, we shall go into the desert and seek your totem creature.” Shockwave nodded, not sure if he believed this. His duty shift ended and he was heading back for his bunk when he heard a struggle and voices….

“Falcon, leave me alone!” he heard Jinx shouted…

“You know you want it, Jinxie…” Shockwave heard a slap and scream and he took off running. Around the corner he found them, Falcon holding Jinx to the wall as he kissed her. She managed to get a hand free and slap him…

“Get off, Falcon!” she screamed. Falcon pinned the hand back to the wall and grabbed her shirt with his free hand and started to tear it…a hand clamped down on Falcon’s shoulder and pulled him off of Jinx, tearing her shirt.

“The lady asked you to get off of her.” Shockwave growled as he used the momentum to send Falcon flying to the ground. “You okay, Jinx?”

“Yeah….I’m…I’ll…” she was obviously rattled…Shockwave took off his BDU jacket and wrapped it around her. “Behind you!” she shouted as Shockwave dodged, Falcon’s punch hitting the side of the hut…

“She’s mine, you pig.” Falcon growled, obviously drunk….swinging wildly at Shockwave. He blocked the punches, trying not to hurt Falcon…Falcon connected to his jaw with a wild punch, knocking Shockwave back…

“Jinx, get help.” Shockwave shouted, slamming his fist into Falcon’s jaw, flooring the Green Beret. Jinx ran towards where Spirit had been, leaving Falcon and Shockwave alone as they circled…

The Green Beret leapt at him, slamming both of them to the ground…. Shockwave biting back a cry as his wounded shoulder slammed into the ground. Rearing back, he slammed both of his feet into Falcon’s chest and pushed off, sending Falcon flying against the hut. Shockwave launched himself at the Green Beret, slamming his knee into the man’s midsection as Falcon whipped his elbow across, slamming it into Shockwave’s face. The two men fought on until rough hands grabbed them pulling them apart.

Shockwave woke up later that morning as the sunlight hit his face in the brig. A man stood outside the cell. Shockwave jerked awake and stood as Hawk entered the cell.

“How is your shoulder, son?”

“Fine, sir.”

“I heard what happened last night, Shockwave.” Hawk frowned.

“Sir, I…”

“I know what you did. Jinx told me everything. You did the right thing, son.”

“Sir?”

“Get out of this cell, Shockwave. You have a one-day pass for what you did. But next time, call the MPs before you beat up an officer. And get some rest, you’ll need it..”

“Yes, sir.” Shockwave saluted and left the cell as ordered. Jinx was waiting for him in the hall.

“I want to thank you. She told him as she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. The kiss was ethereal…

“I’m going into the desert with Spirit. Would you like to join us?” Shockwave asked her, surprised that he had asked.

“I think that is the most I’ve heard you say since I’ve know you. But yes, I’d love to go with you.” Shockwave nodded to her and escorted her to where Spirit waited with their gear.

“I see you have found a friend for our journey.” The shaman said as he handed Shockwave his pack, nodding to Jinx.

The three Joes made their way into the desert, Freedom flying high above them. Spirit knew the lay of the land, leading them towards a water source. Jinx and Spirit spoke, filling their canteens while Shockwave walked a little further down stream, kneeling to fill his canteen. Rocks tumbled into the river on the opposite bank and he looked up to see a huge black wolf staring back at him. He slowly stood, keeping his eyes on the animal, neither making any other moves…

“I see he has found you.” Spirit said, bowing his head to the wolf.

“My totem?” Shockwave asked.

“Yes, my fiend.” The shaman replied. “Like my brother Snake-eyes, the noble wolf will guide you.”

Shockwave bowed his head to the wolf and when he looked up, the wolf was gone. Spirit placed a small carving of a wolf into Shockwave’s hand.

“Wear this, my brother. You guide will always be with you, even if you cannot see her.” Shockwave nodded to the shaman and took the totem.

______________________________________________________

Continued in Part Seven!
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