Not Just a Soldier

Chapter three: Demonstration

I stood inside the Majors office, Roja at my side. Nate and Jordan stood in the doorway. "You called?" I paused, I wasn't exactly the most polite person all the time, even if I tried to be. "Ahem. I mean, yes sir?"

"At ease soldier." The major peered over his paperwork before putting it down on the table. "Phillips, Owens! When'd," he paused to look at me.

"Ross. Sir." I told him.

"Ah, yes, Ross. When'd Ross and Roja get here?"

I snorted. Of course he remembered Roja. Everyone does.

"Last night, around 0300 sir." Nate said looking outside at the blood-red sky.

Sunrise, I thought, shaking off a yawn.

The major nodded in consideration before saying,"Okay dog team. What can you do?"

I felt a grin spread across my face and looked down at Roja. "We're gonna need a volunteer."

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

In less than 10 minuets, the whole base was awake and gathered just outside the gates to watch Nate sweat through his shirts while I explained to him, and the crowd of marines what Roja was about to do.

I fished the bite-sleeve out of Roja's bag and put on her leash, all the while telling Nate to do as best as he could to shake her, trying not to give too much away. When I approached Nate with the bite sleeve he looked shocked, which I found confusing.

"You expect me to wear that thing? That means she's gonna attack me?!?"

"No," I rolled my eyes," I wanted you to eat it." I said sarcastically as I shoved it into his hands. "Rojas really good about not biting the other arm," I kidded, "the worst she'll do is rip your arm from your socket. Anyways, I've done it thousands of times with more aggressive dogs. I think you can handle it." I told him, turning away to lead Roja a couple yards back.

I felt a warm feeling spread through my chest, listening to the other soldiers laugh and chuckle, pointing at Nate, or admiring Roja. If we were gonna do our job here, that meant we had to be in tip-top shape, ready for anything. Practice like this, was always a good way to prepare.

By now, Nate has the bite sleeve on and Rojas going crazy, barking and lunging against the leash, which is gripped tightly in my hands. Nate takes a few steps back, his face turning a flustered shade of red.

"It's OK." I reassured him. "Go get a head start." I catch the Majors eye. I need him to like us, I need him to believe we are cabal of doing our job and proving our job to be important. It'll be his words that decide weather we're a good use for the military or just a waste of money. Not just us, the whole dog program is resting on my shoulders. Yeah, I've got a lot riding on this. I turn my attention back to Nate.

He's sprinting away from us, arms and legs pumping fast. He's also got a good advantage of distance, ahead of us. But I know Roja will catch him. No matter when I let the leash loose, she will catch him. I know it. Swinging my left arm into the air, I let the right arm loose all its tension, dropping the leash and yelling out the command,"Go get 'em!"

With that, Roja burst across the hot sand, with the energy that the heat had drained from the rest of us. Her paws barely seemed to skim the ground as she ran, closing in on Nate. Then, when she was right at his heels, she swiveled around to the front of him, snarling, excitement showing on her doggy face.

I covered my mouth to stifle a laugh. She was a strange one, that Roja of mine. At lackland, the Air Force Base where most MWDs (military working dogs) and their handlers are trained, Roja was never quite like the other Labs or German Shepherds or Belgian Malinois who plain out attacked their unfortunate victims, I knew from experience of being in a bite suit myself. But no, Roja would chase after her victims almost silently, making the volunteer look over their shoulder to see if the dog was actually there. And she wasn't! Right when the person would turn around again, Roja would be there, in front of them, snarling her head off until she lunged and toyed with them, making the person wet themselves. I believe Nate has already has already reached this point.

I check my watch,"Hey! New record on a man peeing himself!" I announced to the marines. "He's broken down in less than a minuet!"

Some whoops and hollers were met by that remark.

I laughed, listening to Nate screaming as Roja sprang up on Nate, digging her teeth into the bite-sleeve, head thrashing as she took him to the ground. Soon his screams were replaced by laughter, his own this time.

"Roja! OUT!" I commanded from across compound. As soon as the words left my mouth Rojas head went up. Her paws were on Nate's shoulders and her hind paws planted firmly on his stomach. She let out a disappointed whine.

Pretending to heave a sigh I reached into my pocket and held up her kong toy, our dogs always received a short play session after good work. They go crazy for it. Roja ran over Nate, literarily, her hind paws sprung off his face putting a bounce into her step as she broke into a bound, racing at me at full speed, her freakishly long tongue flapping as she ran.

Smiling I tapped my chest twice and Roja sprung into the air and collided with my open arms. Licking my face as I held her against my chest.

"Good girl!" I said in my squeaky praise voice and put her down. She went wild with joy, racing in circles, tail wagging. The marines clapped which just made her go even more crazy.

"So, counting this encounter," Jordan was saying when I looked up. "How many times have you gotten beaten up by a girl?"

"Shut up Owens!" Nate snapped, punching Jordan in the shoulder though a grin was spread across his face.

Deciding I could make this fair, I pulled my arm back. "HEY! HEADS-UP JORDAN!" I shouted bringing my arm forward and snapping my wrist. The kong flew into his outstretched hands.

"Hey! Good thr- AHHH!"

Roja was on Jordan, knocking him over and drooling all over his face as she fought against his clasped hands, desperate for the kong. Nate smiled down at them.

Jogging over I picked up the leash and gripped her collar. "Okay girl!" I cooed as I hauled her off Jordan with one hand and extending the other, palm up, waiting for the kong.

Suddenly, there was a shout, and a shot rang off. We all froze, even Roja. Then, all of hell broke loose.