Chapter 2

POV: Scarlett

Honestly the commander was a real jerk sending a report for minorly injuring a terrorist. A freaking terrorist! Someone who wanted to kill others just because they think they're right and everyone else is wrong. I was sitting in the Commanders office waiting for him to send me on my Mary way to a demotion. The man had yelled in my face for a solid three hours because I shot the dude with a bomb on his chest. Plus the incident that occurred on the way back to the base with all of the terrorists dieing. (Not my fault entirely) With several death certificates to give to dead soldiers family members.

I'm not entirely concerned about being in to much trouble since I had a lot of advantages in my rank. I've been working so hard to get where I am now. Considering this guy hates me for no real reason, doesn't seem to realize that I have friends in REALLY HIGH places, and I'm a literal war hero with 50 something medals. He isn't going to be able to actually affect my career all that much. Well any way while I wait for this dip shit to file a report that's gonna get him fired. I'll tell you what happened on the long ride back to the base with the terrorists, and a very bloody crew.

(Back in time to 4 hours ago)

"Well, damn Lieutenant, I didn't think you could talk back to the Commander like that." says Seargent Pi (not an important character). He was sitting on my left as the car hit a rock making everything lift before slamming back down harshly.

"I don't think you realize that the Lieutenant is a force to be reckoned with, newbie." the guy who was driving as bad as a teenager who wasn't listening to their parents advice on driving. God I think we might crash in the middle of nowwhere with nothing but sand if this guy keeps driving.

"And I don't think you realize that if you don't start avoiding the obvious rocks. I will not hesitate to throw you out of the driver's seat, and tie you to the back of the jeep to hit every rock we drive over. But no Seargant I would never talk to someone like that if they had my respect." We hit another bump causing me to bite my tongue. "HEY DRIVER, WATCH THE DAMN ROAD THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY ROCKS OUT HERE!"

"Are you insulting my driving skills?!" he gasped, "I am hurt Lieutenant that you would dessicate my driving skills when you don't even have a license." Ouch. Worse he wasn't even wrong about it either. I mean I can drive anything from a bomber plane to a corvet but I didn't have a license yet.

" Watch the road." I growled at him as I gave him a death glare at the back of his head.

"Aww don't be like that now, Hawthorne. I am watching the road very carefully." he said a smirk visible in voice. I was seething in the back of the jeep next to the poor newbie. He looked conflicted between me and the idiot driving not sure what to do.

"Can you two can it already? We have another 40 minutes of this heat, your arguing, and the smell of B.O coming from all of us." Pi said to get us to shut up. But then again he had a very valid point on the body odor part. If I were to smell myself I think I would gag from just a whiff. Ahhh right, I forgot to tell you the idiots name (AKA Its- Nathan Kale he's also a minor character with a deep relationship with Scarlett. He's been extremely supportive no matter what had happened. No he is not dating Scarlett. Just friends).

We were trailing the guys in front of us getting a direct hit with sand from under their wheels. Good thing we always wore some sort of protective lenses over our eyes. No one likes having sand thrown into their eyes, right? Making sure that nothing happens to the terrorists before they get to the base to be interrogated. After several moments of silence that made every one uncomfortable.

"So.... if we're not gonna fight each other what are we going to do?" I asked.

" Worry about the fact the Lieutenant's gonna get reported~" Kale sang. I'm gonna kill this shit.

"Worry that someone is going to end up on the wrong side of my AK-47~" I sang back to him. He finally shut his trap realizing I was cleaning said gun on my lap. Mind you I have actually shot people for talking to much. No I do not have a short temperament, okay so maybe just a little one.

Rattling from the truck in front of us drew our attention to the front of the jeep. I tensed and Pi asked into a comm if everything was still doing fine. No answer, and he repeated the question again with the same result.

"Get ready I think this is a take over, Scar take the wheel." Driving towards the side of the truck and I leaned forward to take the wheel. Pi aimed his gun at the driver's windshield as we got closer. The driver was slumped over the wheel and foot on the gas. Kale readied himself to jump onto the side of the other vehicle. Meanwhile I am leaning over the driver's seat from the back, feeling the seat dig into my gut. Muttering 'Honestly what the hell are we doing here in the first place? Driving in the middle of nowwhere with almost zero to none back up. Carrying six armed terrorists across the damn desert to be interrogated and still given better beds than us. While the terrorists hold us hostage trying to kill everyone in the name of KEVA. God why can't you give me a break?'

Which led to Kale saying "Scar! Focus holding the vehicles steady I don't want to end up face planting onto the ground. Honestly and you complain about m--" Cutting him off by hitting a huge rock sending him rocketing onto the truck. Landing on his face with his gun right under him. I snickered seeing his position.

"Oh my God, I think I rebroke my rib." He groaned out.

"Focus you two!" Pi yelled trying to get through to the other men using the comm. "No one is picking up on the other side. We can't call for back up." he said seriously, "We need to see if we can't make do with what we got here and take them on."

I looked over at him giving Pi my 'are you kidding me? How the hell are we going to take on six armed terrorists with machine guns, and the three of us who can barely follow orders?' face. He shrugged at me. This idiot is going to get us killed if I don't take this over now. "Alright boys! Pi you get up over me and into the driver's seat of that truck. Kale don't be stupid and get over to the back of the truck and unlatch the door. I'll slow down so whoever comes out the back flying will get hit with the jeep solving our problems. Got that?" I looked over at the two giving me a look saying 'are you really going to kill the terrorists'. " Well you can go with my plan or Pi's." I shrugged.

They did it anyway no matter how stupid it sounded. I slowed back towards the back of the truck watching Kale unlatch the back. It swung open and who ever was back there started firing at me. I swerved to avoid being shot dead immediately and Kale that idiot leaned down and shot the guy. Wait there was only one guy standing and there was six terrorists with 12 soldiers in that truck. Pi slowed the truck down and I got out of the jeep to walk over. A strong scent of iron hit me causing me to gag.

" Oh thats disgusting. How the hell did they get everyone without us noticing?" Kale said looking into the back. But to answer that question it was probably when we were arguing in the jeep earlier. We have some really bad luck on this team.

"We're going to have to report this and tell the commander what the hell happened." Pi called out from the front. I sighed my butt was in so much trouble with the amount of reports I have to fill out now. We had to drive the truck to the base with all of the bodies. I have to skip the part where I was yelled at once again with a promise of another demotion and several other things. Then I was dragged to the Commander's office forced to listen to another hour of lecturing. While I try not to break down from seeing my dead teammates killed off one by one, and thinking how I am going to tell their families.

I, myself can't imagine telling the only people who care for me that someone we cared for died. I would break if either of my brothers died or if my besties were seriously injured. Finally the Commander got a call. The longer he listened to it the whiter his face got. Until the point he looked like he spent to long in a bleach bath.

Hanging up the phone when the other line disconnected, he turned to me " Lieutenant Hawthorne, you are being promoted to Captain of your team. I will be retiring due to several issues. I expect that you will lead your team to many victories in the future." We both stood up and saluted each other for the last time. Walking out as the former Commander packed his office to get the next ride out. I sighed again wondering when the hell does this get any easier.

My phone started vibrating on my chest down in one of my many pockets. It took me way to long to check all over myself to find my phone. I picked it up and listened to the man on the other side.

" Captain Hawthorne, congratulations on your promotion. I wish you well as the new leader of your team. But I still can't believe a kid your age is already getting a promotion this far ahead of everyone else." says the mystery man other phone coyly.

" My age doesn't matter. I can still do my job no matter my age." I said flatly.

"Yes, but who thought a 10 year old child could get away with being a soldier." I flinched at them mentioning my age. No one knew and I've gotten away with just looking older than I actually am. Plus several people supported me secretly in the backround keeping people from questioning my identity. Or my age.

" Your brother Kia, he's doing very good in the air force as well. He even has his permit to fly a plane now."

"Thanks for telling me about my bro. I haven't contacted him in several months now since there isn't service here." I let a smile into my voice. I truly love my brother Kai and I've been with him ever since we ran from our family. Despite them hunting us down no one has found us yet. My other brother Damion couldn't make it with me and I had to leave him there. I'm sure he hates me now. After all I left him there to suffer while I ran from home. I felt like I had failed him and Kai at the same time.

"Yes, well I'm sure there are many unexpected events coming into play. I hope that you will prevail through all." Yes I think that this will happen to. A very bad premonition hit my gut, I don't think this will end well.