Six Minutes

The APC rattled and groaned as it crested yet another muddied hill. The soft patter of rain on the armor plating could barely be heard over the throaty roar of the petrol fed engine. The faded camo and mud splattered exterior did little to comfort any poor soul who should happen to see it. The interior was even less inviting. Cold metal seats, dirty rusty floors, and a faulty light that flickered whenever the armored transport took a rough bump in the road. Jack couldn't see most of the features though, there were far too many people in the way.

Jack was seated near the front of the vehicle, the driver's compartment being just on the other side of the metal plating behind his head. Jack shifted in his cramped metal seat and accidentally kicked the man standing in front of him. The burly man turned with a scowl and glared down at Jack.

"Sorry." Jack uttered quietly.

The man scoffed but turned around without a word. Jack couldn't really blame him. The man had been stooped over for almost a half hour straight stuffed into the overcrowded vehicle with over a dozen others. If he was being honest, Jack should have been the one standing since his head barely reached the low ceiling. The only reason he wasn't was the smaller boy sitting next to him.

"How much longer?" Don asked in a barely audible whisper.

Jack leaned over to his younger brother's ear.

"Any minute now. We weren't going too far today."

Jack put his arm around the small boy in what he hoped Don would receive as a gesture of comfort. Jack didn't really know what else he could do. No words could ever properly prepare someone for the task ahead. As if on cue, a man sporting a large mustache and ratty military attire stood up near the rear gate of the vehicle. He cleared his throat loudly and the few quiet conversations fell silent.

"Two minutes out!" The man shouted over the constant roar of the engine. "I want all watches checked and rechecked!"

Don shot Jack a worried look as he retracted his arm from Don's shoulders. Jack shot him a reassuring smile before rummaging through his thick coat pockets. After a moment of searching, Jack pulled out a rugged pocket watch. He gave the knob on the top of the watch a few turns and then pressed the single button on the side. Jack lifted the device to his ear and confirmed that he could hear a rhythmic and consistent ticking from inside.

"Wind them all to six minutes but do not start until my mark!" The man at the front instructed. "After your watch is ready, prep your masks."

Jack obediently reached between his legs and removed a pair of gas masks from their compartment. All around him, people did the same.

"Head up Don." Jack tapped his younger brother's chin until it was high enough.

Jack pulled the hood over Don's head. There were a few moments of adjusting as Don struggled to align the glass eye holes with his eyes. Jack worked on the straps, making sure they were properly tightened to create a firm seal. After he was sure his brother's mask was on securely, Jack began to work on his own.

"Side arms." The man at the front called out. "Take out your side arms and make sure they are empty."

Jack pulled the last few straps in a hurry; he was the only one that had to help someone else get their mask on so he was the last to prep his gun. Jack pulled the handgun from his coat pocket and confirmed the action was open. He flipped the weapon upside down and checked that there was no magazine in the receiver.