The Soldier

A new man

"Well Mr. Joshua you have come very far in the past few days." The doctor is in front of my face waving a flashlight in my eyes.

"How long did you expect me to be in recovery?" I ask

"Well by your condition you should've bled out, but you still had a kick in your heart. But I thought your recovery would take months to a year to recover."

"Did I set the record?" I smiled

"A week to recover from major surgery like that is definitely...something."

There was chatter through the base that the good ole people upstairs wanted to see me in action. I'm kinda nervous because I can walk and do all normal things but combat...I'm not sure about.

"You are a medical amazement Joshua! I haven't seen such progress in such a short time. Before you go out there, lemme give those limbs a look."

He did this almost every day he'd make sure all of my limbs would function like regular limbs.

"...Everything seems to be in order Joshua! Your superiors want to see what you can do today in about a half an hour from now."

"That soon?" I say surprised

"They put a lot of money into you Joshua. They want to see their investment not go to waste."

"Since when did I become the million dollar man?"

"Here's your clothes." He handed me a duffle bag of my belongings and clothes and sent me out the door.

"Thank you doctor." I say

"I believe you'll be ready and capable. Don't you dare prove me wrong."

I laughed

"Don't worry I won't be back here for awhile."

I walked through the corridor and into a room where I signed out of the doctors office.

When I walked to get orders I was stopped by a lady with a notepad.

"Mr. Joshua?" She asked

"Thats me." I reply

"You are requested to meet with your new Senior officer. Follow me."

She led me to the main hall and through the base to the upper level where there was a huge open space fitted with cover, random weapons and gaps between cover.

"Wait here. He will be here shortly." She quickly then walked off.

I rested on the side of the wall waiting for whoever to meet me to show up.

Soon I saw a well dressed man come up and notice me waiting.

"Hello son. I've heard many things about you." He said as he shook my hand very firmly

"I hope they are all good things sir." I say with a small smile

"Well most of them are just rumors but now since you are cleared from the clinic here at base I'm going to oversee your missions and make sure you and your squad comes back safe."

I nodded my head at his words

"But as of now your superiors and mine have been waiting to see you in a combat situation, which is why they set this course up for you here. They did say it was supposed to be thirty minutes from now, but I've brought you here early for you to practice using your limbs for combating purposes."

"So this is my pre trial run?" I ask

"They see you as an unknown factor so they are fearful of the worst. If they see you as a hiccup or a failure they will not hesitate to send you home." He grabbed an ear peice and put it in his ear and handed me another one.

"So do I go in there and just and just act how I normally would?"

"If there are any complications let me know me and I'll notify those able to handle the situation." He then pushed a button and it opened a door to the course.

I followed the path to the very beginning of the course and saw a table with a pistol, mags and protection gear.

"Those are the starting gear setup. There are other peices of guns, ammo and gear out there you can utilize. The simulation will start and you will be in the fray of a battle so be ready. If you don't follow the objective or get hit by a fatal shot the simulation will stop and you will start again."

"What is the objective sir?" I ask as I put on my gear

"This at the moment is set up as a hostage rescue operation. You are to search for hostages throughout the simulation, there will be guards patrolling the area. You need to save at least four or five hostages out of the eleven that are there. As you pressn on the scenarios become more difficult and will test your will and strategies to get them safe. Your superiors will be looking at the way you handle the situation and monitor how you behave in the simulation."

"Get in, save people, don't get shot and don't get sloppy. Got it." I ready my weapon

"This may require practice so take it slow at first." He warned

"Yes sir, I'm ready."

"The simulation will comense in 3...2...1...now."

After he said "now." The room went dark and turned into tight corners and long dark corridors.

"I'll be with you on comms soldier. The guards have spawned and so have the hostages. Remember the mission."

"Yes sir." I whisper

I move my finger onto the trigger and bring my new arm to the bottom of the gun.

I move forward and go room to room searching for weapons and the hostages.

After what felt like an hour I saw contacts in an opening with two female hostages. I checked my pockets for a silencer or a knife. I found a silencer and screwed it on my pistol.

I aimed down the sights and waited for the right shot. I followed their movement patterns and waited for them to be out of sight.

I fired and heard the thud of the man falling I quickly moved and got the two hostages free. I continue on through the hallway and save more hostages.

It was the last three hostages and I couldn't reach them from my position. I moved and then felt a sting in my back, when I turned around it was a guard.

Lights flashed marking the end of my run.

When the lights flashed on I turned and saw everyone on the deck and I really wasn't expecting them to be there.

I got off my gear and walked to them.

"Well Joshua you did very well for coming from the grave." He shook my hand

"Thank you...senior officer...?" I asked

"Senior officer Henning." He said