Man of War

Be a Man

He looks different from all the other guys. He's swifter and more gentle than everyone else. His face is doll like and feminine, but he's in an all male squadrant. I don't understand. Why is he better than me? He's favored by the sergeant, but he seems weak. I hate him because he's better than me. He's quick on his feet. I didn't plan to hate him, but he's constantly running through my mind. I don't even know why, but I'm not the only one that hates him. The whole squad hates him. They think he's a kiss ass. The sergeant treats him differently than the rest of us and he is constantly getting rescued by him from the other guys. I don't understand why he is so great.

I've been in the marine core for 2 years now, and since I don't have any family except my naggy mom and 2 brothers, I have no cause to return to the civil world. We travel around a lot here so I'm never bored of one spot and I've lost 2 friends so far. It's hard to lose people but it happens. This new kid doesn't have any friends in this place. I think he's a college kid, just looking for a free ride through life. Regardless of that theory, the kid is good. Like I said before, he's better than me. And I'm pretty damn good. My name is Andrew Baker, and I'm a soldier in war.

We had been ambushed on a hot day. We had the upper hand but some of us were done. Some of us had been taken. Not anyone important but no one is to be left behind. When the ambush had been controlled everyone who hadn't been injured in battle had been returned to base and that left a handful. All of them were close friends of mine and they all had a plan. The kid was there. He was in the showers alone. Never a good idea when you're with these sick bastards. The sergeant never let anyone in there except him after a certain time. It's such a blunt way to exhibit favoritism. I should report it but I didn't. I didn't want to let it bother me too much. I guess it was too late for that.

"Hey Baker, I think that kid is still in the showers. We're gonna jump him. You in?" One of my not so close friends Calvin Prince asked with an amusing sincerity. They were all huddled around my chair that I was sitting at in the corner of the barracks where I silently assembled and disassembled my weapon.

I stared in disbelief. "What about the sergeant?" I asked glancing at the commanding barrack across the lot from the squandrant barrack.

"He's at the hospital with the wounded soldiers. It's just the five of us and the kid. Let's get him Baker." My closest friend Blake Copper insisted with a wicked grin. The remaining 2 that made a complete five of us were Preston Miles and Carson Seamly. We weren't usually a violent group, certainly not the most violent of the entire squad, but when it came to this kid, we went crazy for blood.

"Come on Baker, let's just knock him around and then we'll make sure he keeps his mouth shut." Carson said with a nudge.

I rolled my eyes and couldn't contain my sudden urge to beat the living crap out of this innocent kid. I guess war really does change man into a blood thirsty animal.

We all dashed towards the door in which blocked the kid from our fists. Blake slowly opened the door and we all crept in, and immediately heard the soft sounds of water trickling from a faucet. It was slightly foggy and the smell of soap filled the air. I couldn't help but grin slightly in appreciation to kick that kid's balls in. But something in me doubted that he even had balls yet. He looks so prepubescent. We crept up behind him, and he was clearly naked. But as he turned and saw us, we saw that we had made a grave and sad mistake. It wasn't a muscular chest that behold us, or even a flimsy weak chest. Staring us in the eyes was a pair of luscious blobs. Breasts if you may. Or even boobs. There was no junk on this kid that we saw. It was a vagina. And this kid that we were ready to beat up had long flowing dark blonde hair. I stood shocked in that foggy room. Everything suddenly made sense now. The weakness, the swiftness, the favouritism. Everything that I had hated about this person made sense. And my hate vanished into pity and guilt. I had hated a little girl. A beautiful little girl at that. Not only did I feel guilt, I felt arousal because I hadn't seen a real naked girl in almost 2 years.

Before she could run away, Calvin grabbed her arm and threw her against the wall. He didn't really care that he was under the water of the shower with his cloths on either, I think he just wanted a piece of that woman.

"Who are you kid?!" He yelled as he pressed his body hard against her back side. She squeezed tears from her eyes as she stood there helpless and scared.

"I'm Tomi Blain! I'm 19 I've been here for a year now!" She tried to reason in the most shaken tone I've ever heard.

"Well Tomi, have you ever been with a man before?" Calvin asked with the lick of his lips.

"Please don't hurt me! I just came here because my father has been taken and I need to find him!" She cried into the air. I knew her fate, and unless I wanted to get my ass kicked there was no way I could save her. But somehow, a good ass kicking seemed worth it if it meant the preservation of her dignity.

"Oh no, I'm not gonna hurt you unless you resist what I and all the men in this room are about to do to you." He said as he turned her around so the set was in front of him and he grabbed her chin and his other hand wrapped around her waist.

"What do you say guys? How about a little piece of ass before we go home tomorrow?" Calvin announced as he tossed her shaking body to the floor in front of us all.

"I'm in!" Blake said disappointingly at Calvin. I looked at him with the most angered face I've ever worn as the feeling started to overwhelm my blood thirst for this woman. This girl I should say.

"No body's going in anything!" A thundering voice announced from behind. We all turned only to find the sergeant in the door way of the shower. He marched slowly around us as we stood ashamed and shocked at what we had done.

"Please release officer Blain Mr. Prince." The sergeant said with a disapproving and angered face. Calvin stood from where he was knelt over the girl and stood in a salute position in front of the sergeant. The sergeant wrapped Tomi up in a towel and escorted her through the door but stayed after he was sure that she had made her way to the commanding barrack, out of ear shot.

"So you've found out that Officer Blain is a woman, but she is leaving tomorrow just like the rest of you. I hope that you all know what you have done, and you will not be punished, but if you all stay silent I can assure you that you will not be prosecuted for attempted rape and assault on that poor girl." Sergeant said loudly enough for only us to hear it.

The sergeant took me outside after all the others went to sleep.

"Baker, I need you to take care of Officer Blain when she returns home tomorrow. She doesn't have a home to return to and I told her that I could send her with someone. If you respected me at all then you will do this. Her father that has been captured was found dead tonight. He was at the hospital but he was able to instruct us of what to do with her before he passed. He wants you to care for her." The sergeant said as quietly as his thundering voice would allow.

"How does he know me?" I asked with confusion.

"He was in your squandrant, Thomas Blain." He stated almost sadly. Immediately I knew why I felt so protective of this girl. Her father was one of my closest friends. The one that I lost last year. He was an old guy, but he treated me like a son almost. Something that I never had the pleasure of having. My father died in the army too. That's why I joined, hoping that maybe I would die just like him. With honor and dignity. But luckily I didn't. Now Thomas Blain is dead. I felt a sadness in my heart, but now I must care for a girl that I use to hate. I hated her for all the wrong reasons. She just wanted to see her father again, but because I couldn't save him she'll never get that honor. Thomas never spoke much of his family but he did mention that he had a daughter with no mother or grandparents. He was waiting to return to her, but beyond that he never spoke of children. In fact I had forgotten all about that until the sergeant had just made that connection.

"I would be honored to care for her." I stated proudly. I could feel that this girl would be the key to all my happiness once I went home. I was most excited about seeing my mother and brothers. I love my family. Maybe Tomi could be apart of that too.