“Alright, boys. Your stay with SSG Beaver and mycozy little home is done. Now, you're heading to the craziestfucking home in the world. Big Daddy has been waiting on you fuckssince you first got here. I told him this was the most fucked upplatoon in the history of fucked up platoons. He wants topersonally make sure you little fuck-wits won't get yourself orsome other poor SOB killed.”
“I can't wait until Grabowski sees youpiss-ants. Hell, I may take a video camera and a bucket of beer.He's gonna love you little pussies right todeath,” RobertBeaver crowed. He put a heavy emphasis on death.
“Hell, I woulda thought they got rid ofGrabowski when he killed that other recruit last phase, but I guesswhen you need the soldiers you keep even the crazy fuckers,” Roachintoned. “I bet he'll make Gracin his new BFF, take him on romanticdinners, and shit.”
Ryan had been there long enough to know thatbeing the crazy Drill Sergeant’s new BFF was not a good thing. Hewinced visibly. Yeah, he didn't want to even meet the new Sergeant.When he was able to leave this crazy farm, he would find hisrecruiter and kill that son of a bitch with all the new fancykilling techniques that Uncle Sam was teaching him.
The cattle truck, and yes, it was a cattletruck, much to Ryan's dismay, seemed to drive to their new homeslowly. Every man in the truck looked for all intents and purposeslike men heading to their deaths. The ride was difficult undernormal circumstances, but now an uneasy quiet descended on each andevery boy/man in the thing. The heat was so oppressive that severalwere taking deep breaths and some looked faint. Even normally calmPatrick's blue gaze was darting back and forth nervously.
Ryan was still mulling over the Drill Sergeantcalled “Big Daddy” Gas-y something or other. He was fairly surethat the whole killing a recruit thing was just to make them morenervous than they already were. But, of course, it could be true,which made Ryan want to giggle like a mad man. Fuck, he seriouslyhated the Army.
The cattle car lurched to a stop.
For ten long seconds, nothing happened. They allstarted looking around expectantly, like they thought someone wouldjust magically appear in their midst. When none did, a few smilesbroke out. Maybe reception was the worst of it all. Maybe theactual training wasn't all that bad. Just as that hopeful thoughtentered their minds it was dashed when they heard the scream.
“GET OUT OF MY FUCKING CATTLE CAR! AND DON'TFUCKING SCRATCH THE PAINT OR I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!”
That was all the motivation they needed toscramble out of the cattle car, past a tall dark-haired man wholooked like he was Superman or something.
Another Drill Sergeant started pointing to theplaces he wanted them to stand, which they weren't doing right,because he dropped everyone and made them do push-ups until halfthought they were going to puke, and the other half did.
Finally they managed to get all lined up,alphabetically. Ryan once again cursed his last name. He would muchprefer to be in the back behind all of the others. Instead he wouldhave a front row seat for the hell that was Drill Sergeant PhillipGrabowski.
“I am Drill Sergeant King. And this is DrillSergeant Connelly. And-- we are your new mommy and daddy for thenext eight fucking weeks. Now, I know ya'll have heard about DrillSergeant Grabowski, and he's not as bad as they say,” DrillSergeant King said with a friendly grin. And that grin was just badfucking news, according to the scuttle butt Ryan had heard beforehe left for this god forsaken place.
Drill Sergeant Connelly just laughed evilly.“No, he's much fucking worse.” That seemed to be a cue, because assoon as that was said they heard a door slam, and looked forward towhere another man was coming straight for them.
The tallest man Ryan had ever seen walked slowlydown the steps of the building directly in front of them. His hairwas cut short, and the cadre round bill hat was firmly on. Hisuniform looked like it was tailored to suit a man his size. Thecuffs were neatly folded around bulging muscles that made Ryan wantto cry. His boots were so shiny they reflected the sun. He had tobe at least a good three feet taller than Ryan himself. He couldn'tget a look at the man's face, but he was sure it would be ugly. Ithad to be, because the crazy SOB, Sergeant Grabowski wouldn't behandsome. He couldn't be.
“Eyes forward, Gracin. This isn't a nudie show.SSG Grabowski will love knowing how you were eyeballing himthough.” Drill Sergeant King snapped Ryan's head forward until hewas staring straight ahead.
Fuck. Good fucking way to start a bad fuckingday.
Ryan kept his eyes forward, and had to squelchthe need to gulp when the mysterious SSG Grabowski strolled bywithout even pausing to stop. So, far he hadn't said a word. Hejust walked through the lines.
Ryan could feel his fellow soldiers tensing.Hell; he wanted to run like the wind. The other ones were reallyloud, but not SSG Grabowski. He just continued his walk like he wastaking a leisurely stroll in the park.
Once he went around each and every man, hewalked slowly to the front. Unlike Sergeants Connelly and King, henever raised his voice.
“My name is Staff Sergeant Grabowski. Welcome toCharlie 3/10. This will be your new home for the next eight weeks,and it's my job to personally see that each of you are fit, andtrained properly.” For a Drill Sergeant, he was remarkablysoft-spoken. He didn't yell, or scream. He just spoke like theywere all hanging out. “Do not test my patience, because I havenone. Is this understood?”
“Yes, Drill Sergeant!” came the answeringcry.
“I can't hear you.”
“YES, DRILL SERGEANT!” This time, it was abattle cry. Each man shouted from their diaphragm.
“Good.” The man began walking again. This timehe did stop in front of Ryan.
Ryan kept his green gaze straight forward, notlooking at the man, which was not hard, since his eyes were levelwith the strong chin of the Drill Sergeant.
“Gracin. I’ve heard of you.” Really, the man'svoice was nice. It was deep, and had a nice cadence to it. Yeah,Ryan would admit it was kinda gay, but he was gay so he figuredthat was okay.
“Yes, Drill Sergeant,” he said, trying to keephis military posture as much as possible.
“Private, I would appreciate if you looked at mewhile I was talking to you,” SSG. Grabowski said.
That's all the instruction Ryan needed. Hefinally, actually looked at the man. He felt his breath beingstolen from his body. The man was absolutely gorgeous. His face wasperfectly shaped, intense hazel eyes met his green ones, and for amoment, Ryan wondered if he was allowed to lust after the man. Hefelt he could, due to the fact that the Military finally got overthe 'Don't ask, don't tell' crap, and allowed gays in theMilitary.
