The World We Once Knew

Chapter Three

Akoni

The bells ring and I know it's time to get up but I really don't want to. My bunk mates are all getting up and attempting to get dressed. I don't even want to think about that stupid uniform right now.

"Hey Akoni, get up man before the Commander comes in and hangs you." says Finn.

 "Yeah, yeah I'm up." I say, then I throw my pillow at my friend. I finally get up and walk over to the 'closet', in all reality, it's just a hole in the wall with a bar across the top, no door. I grab the uniform that was assigned to me and head out the door to the latrine. There's a line like always but being a Major means I get to go in first. So the boys that are lined up see me and salute. I just wave at them, I don't like all that military nonsense. I walk right in, shower, brush my teeth, dress and walk back to my quarters. I go to lay down for five more minute when the Commander himself walks in. I jump to attention and salute the Commander.

"Sir!" I say as I straighten myself into the correct position.

"At ease Major Kale," says the Commander, "I would like to see you in my office at 0800 hours." 

"Yes Sir!" I answer. The Commander nods and walks back out. Finn comes in and looks at me, I just shrug and walk to the mess hall. I have no idea what the Commander wants with me, but it's either very good or very bad. So I get my meal and sit down with all of the other Majors. I see Finn and wish I could go sit with him but I know I can't, for Finn is a First Lieutenant and I'm not supposed to even talk to him unless it's to give an order. Technically I'm breaking the rules and can be court martialed at any given point because I also didn't move to the new quarters when I moved ranks. I don't really care though, I never wanted to join the military in the first place. My parents made me join, actually they sold me into the army. They needed the money to help pay for medical bills and the army was offering to pay off all of their bills. So they signed me up. They didn't even say good bye.

Someone hits me in the back of the head and I jump up and turn around ready to knock out the person who hit me. But as I look around for the culprit I realize that it was another Major, my mentor actually, David. David starts cracking up and literally falls to the floor. I sit down and just shake my head, finally David comes over to me, "Sorry man, it was just too hard to resist."

 "I'm sure it was David, what's up?" I ask. 

"Well I heard that the Commander came into your quarters this morning." I nod in agreement. "Well what did he want?" David almost shouts.

 "He wants me to meet him in his office at 0800 hours." I inform him. 

David looks at me and goes silent, he shakes his head and clasps my shoulder "Good Luck" and walks away. I get up, put my tray away and make my way to the Commander's office. I get to the door and straighten my uniform. 

I knock twice and hear the dreadful words of the Commander "Come in."

So I walk in and close the door behind me. I stand at attention until the Commander motions for me to sit down in front of his desk. I sit very rigid, very military like. He sits down behind his desk and puts some papers away and pulls other papers out. Finally he breaks the silence; "Major Akoni Maleko Kale, I am hereby promoting you to a Colonel within the United States Army." He stands up and walks around his desk. He takes something out of a box as I stand up and salute him. He pins the eagle onto my uniform. "You should feel honored son. We feel that you have advanced quickly. You will also be getting new quarters, which you will live in. We are already moving your things into them. You will get to pick one other officer to join you at your new post, but they must be a lower ranking officer than yourself." The Commander informs me. 

"Finn. I mean First Lieutenant Finn Nobu Ushiro, will be my choice Sir!" I say. He just nods his head as if this is exactly what he thought would happen.

 "Very well son, we will move his things with yours. You two will be sharing quarters and he will be your second in command. Do you understand, Colonel?"

 "Yes, Sir!" he nods and walks me to the door. There are two soldiers standing there. The Commander shakes my hand and has the soldiers escort me to my new quarters. Two hours later Finn comes in with a big smile on his face. I look at him and know that we will be the best leaders any battalion and brigade has ever seen. With my best friend at my side, nothing can go wrong.