DTSA II - Brush In The Brush

II - Brush In The Brush

From Brush's perspective.

"WE'RE SPOTTED!" roared Wave. "GO LOUD, TAKE THEM OUT!"

That was the last thing I heard before the world was engulfed in chaos. The patrol that had spotted us was clumsy and slower to react than Wave - he was mown down by the ACR that Wave's expert hands had drawn from the camouflaged holster in a split-second. The immediate danger was past, but that ACR wasn't silenced - and not 50 yards ahead, the enemy base would have surely heard the fire. That gave us about… Ten seconds to get the hell out of there.

How the hell did I find myself here?

It was August 2009. I was obtaining my exam results. I was beaming with joy. My friends were telling me to remember them when I was Dr. Klar, rich and famous.

It was three hours later. I was phoning the college to confirm my attendance for next year.

The phone was ringing. My father stormed into the room. I can't go to college. I have to go and find a job. I have to support my hardworking parents. Repay the debt I owe them for looking after me for all these years.

It was that same night. I was crying. The TV was on. "Army. Real training. Real qualifications. Real opportunities. Army.mod.uk."

The prospect was appealing to me. Money to keep my precious, precious father happy. Qualifications I could use to come out and get a career, go my own way. Then I could go back to college. Maybe even University. Make something of myself. Make everyone proud.

I visited the website, and made the phone call.

I was in a bedroom that was not my own, sitting next to her. I was telling Ambellina of my plan. Beautiful, precious Ambellina. In tears.

"The… The army, Al?"

I nodded slowly and tersely. She knew my decision was set in stone.

She stopped for a moment. Swallowed. "I love you, Al. Please, be careful out there. Come back to me… I can't bear the thought that the day you go to the front line might be the last time I see you. You'll come back… Won't you?"

"You know I can't promise that."

"…I know. I'm sorry. I just… I can't bear to lose you."

"Nor I you. You honestly think a little thing like death is going to come between the two of us?"

Ambellina managed a half-hearted chuckle. "Nice try, Al. But it might, you know that as much as I do."

"I do. I'm sorry, Amby. But this is the only way. I can't do anything without my father's permission, and he's completely close-minded about me going to college. This is the only way I can please my parents and gain some qualifications to go to university later on."

"I know."

The next thing I knew, she'd pressed her lips to mine. A familiar sensation, yes, but… It was never this intense. Not from her. She truly felt… Felt that our time was short.

It was the first day of basic training. I was being presented to Wave.

"This is Recruit Alex Klar, sir. The others have been calling him "Brush."

"Brush? What th'hell kind of a name is Brush?"

That was the last time I heard my real name. From then until now, I was just Brush.

And now Brush was in the brush. How ironic.

"We have to get out of here, now. Follow me, double-time, and for fuck's sake, stay in formation!" hissed Wave from behind me. "Move, move!"

So we ran. Movement behind us. They'd discovered the body. Too late. We'd already disappeared, gone in the black of the night. We might have failed to infiltrate the base, and their security would be tighter next time, but everyone had made it out. Wave pushed is hand onto his head silently - a signal, meaning "on me", or, in normal terms, for everyone to gather around him. We all rushed in.

"Is everyone here?" Wave hissed. "Brush?"

"Yeah." I responded swiftly.

"Squirrel?"

"Aye." Squirrel was a war-hardened Scottish veteran, and everyone had huge respect for him. He'd served 25 years, and had a wise old head on his shoulders. He was wily as a fox, but despite his age, he could run as fast and as far as the most sprightly new recruit.

"Venom?"

"Mhm." Venom didn't speak much, but was a keen eye, an outstanding shot and highly disciplined. Not much was known about him.

"Clover?"

A grunt was all Wave got in response from Clover. He was miserable, but focused. Not the most enjoyable to be around, but a good soldier. You had to give him that one.

"Hypo?"

Silence.

"Hypo?" Wave hissed, slightly louder and more insistently.

…
"Shit."