I Am Automaton: A Military Science Fiction Novel (20 page)

Peter called over the bartender. “Two whiskey shots, black label.”

Lorenzo nodded his approval.

“So, do you have any regrets?” Peter asked.

“No. I’m a different person now. The army taught me self-reliance…yet, I finally feel like I’m a part of something.”

Peter stared forward. “Yeah, I guess that’s what we all want.”

The shots came. They each picked up a shot glass.

“To belonging to something,” Lorenzo toasted.

“Bottoms up,” Peter responded.

They downed their whiskey.

“Smooth,” Peter commented, and then to the bartender, “Two more beers.”

“So why did you join, Pete?”

Peter had plenty of time to mull this question over given his brother’s recent decision to enlist.

“I was never a good student. I did okay, but let’s just say I wasn’t doctor or lawyer material.”

“Not that there’s any jobs for doctors or lawyers,” Lorenzo added.

“I don’t know. It just seemed right. Some people become cops, some people become firefighters, and some join the army.”

The two beers came.

“Yeah, I guess they’re all dangerous,” Lorenzo said.

“Exactly. Why don’t people ever see that? Especially a cop. A cop can be shot or stabbed at any time. But for some reason, it’s more acceptable than joining the army.”

Lorenzo was making eyes with the brunette again. She was whispering to her friend, who was now casting sultry glances. He elbowed Peter in the middle of sipping his beer, causing him to spill a little in his lap.

“What the hell?”

“Hey, Pete, enough about the army. Those two ladies have been eyeing us since we came in.”

Peter looked over, and the girls met his gaze. He felt the electricity from across the room. “Like shooting fish in a barrel.”

“Amen, brother. Why don’t we go over and introduce ourselves.”

They stood up. Peter stepped back and gestured for Lorenzo to go first. He wanted to see the man in action. “After you. I’ll cover you.”

Lorenzo grabbed his beer off the bar and sauntered over with Peter, where they were received quite warmly.

16 Weeks Later

Carl had completed Basic Training. He sailed through weapons training using the M16, M4 carbine, grenade launchers, and various automatic weapons. He mastered drill and ceremony training, and he struggled through special tactical Field Training Exercises where as a platoon, the recruits practiced decision-making on the battlefield.

He graduated to Advanced Individual Training (AIT) where he would be trained in his Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). Having two years of classes in engineering under his belt, he applied to Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri and was accepted. However, because he did not complete four years of college
, he was not accepted into the engineering program.

This disappointed Carl greatly. He was, however, accepted into the field technician program and received his training at the Edwin R. Bradley Radiological Teaching Laboratories, one of the few actually licensed by the Department of Defense.

Being a natural student, Carl passed his classes with flying colors. After the physical rigor of Basic, he felt like he was back in his element.

He was graduating in a week from the program and faced assignment. It was evening, and he just returned to the barracks from the mess hall. He threw himself on his bed and picked up his textbook on subatomic particles when his com unit flashed that he had an incoming call. He put down his book and touched the screen. It was Peter.

“Hey, Pete.”

“Hey, Carl. How’s it going?”

“Okay. I was just reading about quarks.”

His big brother’s quizzical expression amused him. “It’s a subatomic particle, Pete. I have one last exam tomorrow.”

“You excited about graduation?”

“Yeah, I guess. But I’m a little worried about where I’m going to be assigned.”

“I’m sure you’ll be useful wherever you go.”

“Well, I’m worried about Dad. I’d like to be close to him if possible.”

“Carl, when you enlisted you cut the apron strings. There’s no going back.”

“I know. I know. I just worry about him.”

Peter hesitated. Carl knew that the only time Peter shut up was when he had something important to say.

“What is it, Pete? I have to get back to studying.”

“Well, I was thinking that if you were interested…I could maybe pull some strings and get you assigned to Fort Bliss here in Texas. They need some good techs. There’s a lot of interesting R&D going on here.”

Carl sat up. “Really? What kind of R&D?”

“Classified, bro. But it won’t be if I can get you an assignment.”

“Really? You can do that?”

“I have some connections.”

“That would be great. We’d be on the same base, and close to Dad.”

Peter smiled wryly. He figured he’d torture his little brother a little. “Are you sure you’re not sick of Texas? Maybe you want to see other places.”

Carl took the bait, amusing his brother. “No, no. Fort Bliss would be fantastic.”

Peter hesitated, watching Carl squirm. “Okay. Okay. I’ll see what I can do. In the meantime, you get back to studying. I won’t be able to do squat if you fail your last final exam.”

“Thanks, Pete.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Peter terminated the call. He sat up in his bunk. He had an appointment with Captain London in a few minutes, and wanted to discuss the prospect of bringing Carl into the ID Program.

He stood up, straightened out his uniform, and put on his headgear.

***

“You want to do what?” Captain London asked, the disapproval obvious in the tone of her voice.

“Hey, I think the ID Program Radiology Department could use him. He’s very smart, you know.”

“You just want to keep an eye on him. You know Major Lewis will never allow it. It’s policy. He can’t be in the same unit as you.”

“Major Lewis owes me.”

Captain London sat forward in her chair. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Major Lewis doesn’t
owe
you anything. You follow his orders and army policy. Period. There are no favors, Peter.”

“Tijuana. Major Lewis sent me into a death trap. I joined his precious ID Program and developed it into what it is today. We’re on the verge of being fully operational.”

“Peter, did you ever think that you’d be dragging Carl into dangerous combat scenarios with you? You’re going to be engaging Mexican cartels…with dangerous undead drones no less.”

Peter shook his head impatiently. “He would be a SWEEPER. They don’t directly engage the enemy.”

“And you could keep an eye on him.”

Peter played dumb, but she wasn’t buying it. “Well, now that you mention it,
Doc, I guess that is also true.”

“Oh, come off it, Peter. This request is very inappropriate.”

“Frankly Doc, it’s not your call to make. So why don’t we just let Major Lewis make the call.”

She glared at him, frustrated. “Requesting this of him is not a good idea. If I were you,
I’d just drop it.”

“Is that your clinical opinion,
Doctor?”

She didn’t like him mocking
her, but he continued anyway. “I thought you of all people would be happy to see him.”

She glared at him. “And just what’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know, Frisky’s…”

“And?”

“You thought he was cute.”

She sat back and put her palm to her forehead. “I knew I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Why?”

“Peter, you should’ve seen him trying to hit on me. It was clumsy and pathetic, but I felt bad for him. I wanted to boost his confidence.”

“So you’re saying you don’t think Carl is cute?”

Her voice, for the first time since he met Captain London, now carried an authoritative tone. “This conversation is heading in an inappropriate direction.”

Peter realized he crossed a line. He couldn’t tell if he struck a nerve or she really regretted calling Carl cute, but either way he had to back off.

“Sorry,
Doc.”

She regained her composure. “It’s okay. You were frustrated and were lashing out. Listen, if you want to make that request with Major
Lewis, I can’t stop you. It’s your funeral.”

“Thank you.”

“In the meantime, you need to focus on your duties, soldier, and not concoct fantasies about what I or any other officer find attractive.”

“Yes
, ma’am.”

That was the first time she referred to herself as an officer in session.

“Now get out of here.”

“Yes, ma’am. And I
really am sorry.”

She nodded and gestured for him to leave. “Go.”

Peter heard the door close behind him. He would meet with Major Lewis tomorrow after debriefing. Surely, he would at least have to consider Peter’s request. At least Peter believed he should.

However,
even he knew that what he believed and what Major Lewis would do were two very different things.

***

The next day Peter’s unit assembled into the hangar outside the Labyrinth. Major Lewis had wanted them to practice extraction from a confined area, as their first mission might involve neutralizing cartel members in cenotes.

Peter awaited the signal from Sergeant Lockwood for the beginning of the exercise, and then he signaled the release of the ID.

They staggered out, as usual, into the funnel of the reverse Vee formation, the dogs running alongside of them. Peter scanned the flanks for insurgents.

A private at the mouth of the funnel breached the front door and stepped back into formation. The ID piled into the Labyrinth as they had practiced so many times before.

There was inevitably a small faction of humpers, but Peter identified the squads involved and hit the AI kill switch. He counted to five and reactivated the humpers, and they rose and rejoined the group. His idea four months ago about “resetting” the humpers had worked.

The SWEEPERS ran along the side of the structure, their squads covering them, tracking the ID. The interior walls inside had been removed to simulate a cenote. A crane held a shipping crate aloft, simulating a helicopter.

After the ID were in and the front door was locked to contain them, Peter hit the AI kill switch disabling the ID in the Labyrinth. He then signaled to Sergeant Lorenzo, who was standing on top of the crate.

Lorenzo signaled to the crane operator, who began to lower the crate into the Labyrinth. When the crate was just twenty or so feet above the frozen ID, Lorenzo signaled for the crane operator to stop.

He then repelled down into the Labyrinth and moved ID that were in the way aside. When he signaled the crane operator, the operator lowered the crate until it rested on the floor inside.

Lorenzo opened the crate and climbed back on top, holding on to the tow cable. He signaled to Peter, who reactivated the ID. The two pigs inside the crate began to squeal as hungry ID piled into the crate. It appeared they still had use for pigs after all. When the last ID was in, Lorenzo closed the crate doors from on top and signaled to Peter.

Peter hit the AI kill switch again, immobilizing the entire ID platoon. Lorenzo signaled to the crane operator to take them up. When the crate reached its zenith, Lockwood called time and the exercise was over.

Flawless.

Peter ran over to Lockwood and slapped him proudly on the back. “See you in debriefing, Sergeant.”

Lockwood nodded. “Well done, Lieutenant.”

Peter sauntered into the debriefing room. Farrow was already seated. They waited for Lockwood, Lorenzo, and then Major Lewis.

Major Lewis addressed the group. “Well done. Flawless execution. Your months of training have paid off. The ID Program is nearly operational.”

There were congratulatory comments. Then they were silent, as Major Lewis was not yet finished.

“But the true test will be in an actual combat situation. Mark my words; there will be no paintballs, cardboard cutouts, or second chances. There will only be your training.”

They all nodded solemnly. They had spent so many months working on these exercises, wrangling the
ID that it almost seemed like a game. But this was no rodeo. They were training for a purpose, and they would be tested soon enough.

After a review of some of the finer details of the exercise, they were dismissed. Lockwood strode off, and Lorenzo waited for
Peter, but Peter was waiting for Major Lewis.

“You coming, Lieutenant?”

“No, you go ahead. I’ll catch up with you later.”