False Awakening

This is the second and last task for my on-the-job-training then I'm done here.

I hate this weird feeling that I'm trying to fit it where I really don't belong, an IT guy inside a military compound, but I was able to blend in somehow.

I need to complete 400 hours of actual work to have my OJT papers signed. Originally, I was assigned to do paper works, but I'm still thankful for this, choosing between this from other OJT locations where they would only ask you to make coffees and do photo copier tasks, I'll choose here still.

It is no luck that I got here, my father, when he was still alive, already endorsed me to his best friend, Captain Vigor, to accept me as his office trainee for the completion of my school requirements.

Halfway through, Sir Vigor asked me if I want join a field mission, it was just a simple extraction of hostage from site, and all I need to do is sit inside the van and do the techie stuff watching over them with drones and remote cameras. Who would say no to this? Of course this is a once in a life time experience, specially for a techie guy like me. The first field assignment was an easy success, then came this second one, which they say was a bit classified, like an X-file case, very mysterious, but I'm ready for this, last field mission, done with my OJT, next stop, completion of thesis then off to school graduation.

----------

It was a late afternoon inside this remote military camp site. I hopped in to this stealthy Humvee vehicle.

Just by looking inside gives you the high feel of being in the military, it even give chills as soon as you sit on its fresh leather seats.

“Sir, reporting for duty. Sir” I greeted the Senior Officer who was sitting on the driver’s seat.

“Hey Mat Adam, just in time, you ready for this?” the Senior Officer asked.

“Yes Captain Vigor, bit excited and nervous.”

The Captain chuckled in reply. “Just a reminder, this is not a video game or mobile game exercise, real lives involve.”

“Understood clearly, that the reason why I’m so nervous sir…”

A uniformed personnel stepped in to the vehicle.

“Good afternoon Captain Vigor, hey who’s the new guy, are you not a little skinny for a field soldier, sorry no offense meant young fellow.” said by the newly arrived personnel.

“non taker Sir…” I nodded and smiled back to the officer.

“Sergeant Ethan, this is Mat Adam, he will be joining us in this covert rescue mission as our techie guy.” Captain Vigor explained.

“So he’s like a police asset or something, how young are you anyway kid?” Ethan asked.

“I’m no kid sir, I’m already 19 years old, turning 20 next few months. sir”

I heard everyone chuckled, at least it was a funny way to break the ice.

“Don’t worry young Mat Adam, I’m already 21 but I’m also still a kid inside.” Sergeant Ethan said and then suddenly turned serious. “Whoa, I sense a different spiritual energy from this young man.”

“Oh boy, here we go again with that spiritual thing…” Captain Vigor uttered.

Sergeant Ethan sat next to me, slightly facing him and made this hand in prayer like position and closed his eyes. “This is… this is new.. I never sensed someone this strong in spiritual presence, even far stronger than mine.”

Captain Vigor and Sergeant Ethan looked at each other, then they looked at me.

“Well, he is our spirit guide, he is very fond of this mystic learning and beliefs.” Captan Vigor added.

Our vehicle is now travelling at high speed, we must have reached the open high way now.

“Listen Mat, I got a little secret to share, I was once trained to open this sixth sense, like a 3rd eye, but my master said, it was not fully developed. He told me to do some rituals to hasten its opening, but I did not return there to continue my training, been a long time already since then. But sometimes I doubt his teaching since he is a very young master. I think he is slightly younger than you Mat”

We shared a few more chats about his sixth sense and myth stuff that I truly find interesting, I had a few questions in mind, but I’ll rather not share it to him, he might find it crazy or weird.

“Approaching site, remember, this is a basic extraction mission.This should be a walk in the park like mission.” Captain Vigor reminded.

“Copy sir.” Ethan replied.

“Mat, just like what we did last time, never leave the vehicle OK? Unless you are told to.” Captain Vigor instructed. “And no real names over the radio…”

“Got it sir” I replied.

The Humvee parked nearby the target location, I released 2 flying drones to scout the area, both Captain Vigor and Sergeant Ethan are sharing the view from my drones.

Like as planned, things went smooth and fast, they were able to easily knocked down two persons guarding the place, they are now entering the room of the hostage.

“Romeo, Romeo, I am picking up another heat signal on my radar, and its moving really fast. Might want to deal with this one first?” I said

Sergeant Ethan arrived with his pistol pointing down, carefully scanning the room and checking for the other hostage.

“Echo, room clear!” Sgt. Ethan said over the radio

The drones located several Improvised Explosive Devices inside the building and by getting a better visual of it, it has at least two minutes left to the explosive timer,”

“Sir Vigor, are you seeing this? Please acknowledge, Sir Ethan?…”

“No one is responding, I need to move now, sorry sir Vigor, really need to break your rule this time.”

“OK easy, easy, just like what I did during the camp exercise, and, here we go…”

I went for the hostage first, I took her and secured her to the Humvee, then I went back inside for Sir Vigor and sir Ethan. Last 20 seconds before the end of the timer. Saw Sir Vigor unconscious on the ground, pulled him as hard as I could, we almost reached the main door when the explosives sets off.

Someone tripped me, it was Ethan. “What the hell Sergeant?” I gave him a full thrust kick and continued moving to the door while still pulling Sir Vigor. Then the second explosion came and rattled the whole place, we were both caught by the scorching flames.

Then, like a bad memory sucked out from a black hole. I awakened to this dark place, it was deep midnight in this wide misty grassland, I was all alone, there is no sign of the burning place.

I wandered my sight while starting to make a few slow steps before bursting to a run. I saw a rectangular light, it was a door portal. What is this place? How did I got here?

I reached the edge of the cliff facing the door image made of light hanging three meters above the ground. A wrong move could send me to this eternal pit of darkness.

I took several steps back and had this deep breath filling my lungs with air, hoping for a successful exit. A sigh initialized my run and with a full thrust, I leaped and braced myself before entering this light portal.