'Navy Blue & Marine Green" Author: Hugo "Animal" Chikamori E-mail: hchikamori@yahoo.com Rating: PG-13 Classification: Webb/Other R; Harm/Mac R; Animal/Meg R Spoilers: None, except whatever comes out of Animal's demented mind... Summary: Animal, Harm & Metalman go undercover at a Marine Corps OCS school. Author's note: Please excuse some of the salty language in this story as I just bought myself a Marine Corps cover. My brain just decided to become a DI. -evil grin- Disclaimers: The characters Harm Rabb, Jr., Sarah Mackenzie, AJ Chegwidden, et al. belong in concept if not name) to CBS/Bellisarius. No profit is being made from this story, nor is any infringement intended. JAG HEADQUARTERS FALLS CHURCH, VA 1330 ZULU "Whattaya mean, I owe ya fifty bucks?" claimed an outraged Commander Hugo "Animal" Chikamori to Lieutenant Commander Phil "Metalman" Burrows. Metalman looked at Animal with an ingratiating grin. "Poker Game..." was Metalman's response. "So, ya gonna pay up?" Just then Petty Officer Tiner stuck his head in the door. "Uh, Sir? Lieutenant Commander Burrows? Commander Chikamori? Lieutenant Commander Rabb?" "What's up? Tiner?" Animal asked bemusedly. "Sirs? The Admiral wants to see you three and Major Mackenzie in his office A.S.A.P." "Oh, brother...that's the tenth case this week?" Metalman muttered, "What's got his goat." "Well, asides from your wisecracks..." Animal didn't finish the sentence as Mac stuck her head in the door. "Well???" she grumbled... "Are you three Stooges coming or not?" The three grumbled something incoherent as they got out of their seats and the four headed together for Rear Admiral AJ Chegwidden's office. REAR ADMIRAL CHEGWIDDEN'S OFFICE JAG HEADQUARTERS FALLS CHURCH, VA 1336 ZULU "What in hell took you four so long?" snapped AJ. "Sorting out who was going to enter first, sir." Metalman quipped as Animal shot him a warning glare. Animal as the senior officer of the three with the rank of a full commander, in protocol was supposed to reply for the four. The admiral did not look pleased at all. "Are you familiar with military protocol, Lieutenant Commander?" AJ growled dourly. Metalman looked melodramatically thoughtful for a minute and then said, "I think so, sir, but unfortunately, I neglected to obtain the newest copy of the rules and regulations, sir." Metalman replied with a grin on his face. Animal winced. There was going to be an explosion sooner or later. AJ looked sourly at Metalman, "Lieutenant Commander Burrows, you are aware of the protocol regarding the answering of questions from senior officers & flag officers by officers in a group?" "Yes, sir." "Recite it for me," AJ affixed him with a smug smile. "Sir, the protocol for officers in a group responding to a question from a senior or flag officer is for the senior ranking officer in the group to respond to any questions not directed at a particular officer in question." Metalman grimaced as he realized his faux pas. He gave a sheepish grin... "Oooops..." "Lieutenant Commander Burrows, It would behoove you to try and figure out the regulations for the duration of this meeting. Get yourself a new copy of the rules and regulations as soon as you are able to." AJ stated. "While you are under my command. I expect professionalism from all my officers." "Yes, sir." Metalman's crisp response indicated that he was suitably chastised. AJ then turned to the rest of the officers in his office. "Commander Chikamori, Lieutenant Commander Rabb, Lieutenant Commander Burrows, Major Mackenzie. I have some work for the four of you." He grinned. It was a grin that did not make the four officers comfortable. 'Comfortable' was not a word in a SEAL's terminology. Animal gulped, "What sort of work, sir?" he asked. "I think you'll be able to handle it...Commander." AJ replied. "Master Sergeant Elias Robert Willmott, United States Marine Corps, MCAS Beaufort SC, has been implicated in abuse of his OCS candidates. The press has been having a field day, and we've been asked by the SECNAV and the Commandant of the Marine Corps to quietly find out what the heck is going on, find out why the worms are escaping the jar, slam it shut and sit on it." AJ growled ominously. "And respectfully speaking, sir," Animal asked, "the Marine Corps is asking the Navy to investigate it's problems? Sir?" Animal withstood a glare from Major Sarah "Mac" Mackenzie, USMC. AJ grinned smugly. It still was not a comfortable grin. "That is correct, Commander." AJ looked over at him. "You are going to go undercover, Commander Chikamori," At this Animal's mouth dropped open. "Don't look so surprised, Commander." AJ grinned, enjoying seeing Animal speechless. "Now you'll see what it's like from the ground instead of up at 40,000 feet." Animal looked resigned but he still had one more objection left in him. "But, sir." He stammered. "I'm a naval aviator. I have no experience dealing with JARHEADS, sir!!!" Animal sputtered. Mac shot him a dirty look and would have kicked him one, but the chair was in the way. AJ groaned. Ever since Animal and Metalman had been assigned by SECNAV as fighter squadron liaison officers with the office of the Judge Advocate General, AJ had begun to understand the meaning of MIGRAINE. Animal's VF-41 Black Aces squadron had been assigned to Lieutenant Commander Peter 'Maverick' Mitchell for the six-month duration that Animal and Metalman would be taking the senior and assistant senior liaison officer positions at JAG. AJ groaned again. The two officers were driving him around the bend and they hadn't even completed their first month there. There was still 5 1/2 months to go on their TDY assignment. AJ had thought that Harm had given him major headaches. Animal and his co-hort Metalman took MAJOR HEADACHES to a new level. Mac appeared to look as if she wanted to say something. "Would you like to add something, Major?" asked AJ. "Yes, sir." Mac replied, "Master Sergeant Willmott is a legend in the Corps, sir. He was my instructor at OCS. Marine Corps boot-camps are known throughout the services as being the toughest of all boot-camps. That's why the Marine Corps is a capable fighting force, sir." Harm and Animal rolled their eyes. AJ noticed this and said. "Well, Lieutenant Commander Rabb, you'll be joining Commander Chikamori. As will you..." AJ pointed at Metalman who groaned audibly. "Lieutenant Commander Burrows. Your cover identities will be..." He gestured to Animal, "Commander Chikamori, you will be Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Chang, Lieutenant Commander Rabb, you will be Staff Sergeant James Elwood Price II, Lieutenant Commander Burrows, you will be Staff Sergeant Peter Michel Doumont...Any questions." AJ was satisfied as he heard Harm groan audibly. "But sir...I was a Gunnery Sergeant the last time, sir..." Mac grinned widely as she heard Harm whine. AJ shook his head. 'Good God, you put Harm, Animal and Metalman together, and they all start sounding alike.' AJ thought darkly as he reminded himself to have some words with the SECNAV about this. Putting the 'Three Stooges' together in the same chain of command, whether it be TDY or not, was just asking for trouble. Harm looked sourly at Mac's amused glance, "So what is the Major going to be doing in this investigation, sir?" he asked the admiral. "I'm not at liberty to say. She is here because she has to know your cover stories. And you won't need to know the reason why she is on this case. Lieutenant Commander Rabb." AJ referred to Harm by his rank instead of shortening it, due to the fact that Animal was in the room, and as a full commander, Animal was accorded that title of out of respect. "Yes, sir." Harm replied, not liking it one bit. "Understood, sir." He said, as the four officers resumed their positions of attention. "Dismissed. Commander, Lieutenant Commanders." AJ said as he looked over at Mac, "Major, would you stay for a minute, I have to go over your role in the investigation." Animal, Harm and Metalman filed out as Mac stayed behind. "Yes, sir." Mac replied. MCAS BEAUFORT BEAUFORT, SC. Animal woke up, getting his camouflage fatigues on. "Rise and shine, Staff Sergeant." He kicked Metalman's bunk where Metalman was snoring away peacefully. Sensing no movement from the somnolent log in the bunk, he leaned over Metalman's exposed ear. "GET UP!!! YOU MISERABLE WORM!!!!" Metalman snorted once, opened his eyelids gingerly, and groggily whined, "BUT MAAAAAH... I don't wanna go to school today..." He mumbled, "Do I haveta?" "Rise and shine, you mentally deficient moron." Animal growled, "You don't wanna be late to abuse the recruits now do you?" He growled as he inspected his Marine Corps BDU Cover to see that it had the regulatory eight corners sharply squared away and that his Marine Corps 1st Division T-shirt was clean and immaculate. Nary a stray hair on the shirt. The three of them were muscular and they looked the part of drill instructors, courtesy of a crash course from the JAG headquarters security chief, Sergeant Major James Hoolighan. "Nice to see that you're awake, finally..." came a growl from the door. It was Master Sergeant Willmott. An African-American, he was about as big as a door and dwarfed both Metalman and Animal by a considerable amount. He was big, mean looking and tough as nails. Frankly, he looked as though he could eat bullets for breakfast and coughed up howitzer shells. "Gunny Chang!!!" The Master Sergeant snapped, "You're taking the platoon today!!" "OOH-RAGH!!! Master Sergeant!!!" barked Animal quickly. "Good, Gunny, Take 'em around for a five mile run and then take them over to the Pit." was all that Master Sergeant said. The Pit was a grueling six-foot deep hole filled with muddy water about sixteen feet long and twenty feet wide. The only way that one could get across it was by doing a hand over hand over the pit with a rope hung ten feet above the water. It was difficult to do the Pit without gear. It was damned near impossible to do it with full combat gear on. Animal was in the best shape of his life, but he wasn't sure that he would manage to survive the Pit after negotiating a five- mile run with gear. "Yes, Master Sergeant!!!" was his barked reply. MCAS BEAUFORT SC BEAUFORT, SC OCS BARRACKS Harm, Animal and Metalman walked over to the barracks. Metalman and Animal had sarcastic grins on their faces. As they entered quietly, they could see the racks of OCS candidates sleeping comfortably in their bunks. Animal quietly moved a tin-garbage can to the center of the aisle. Using his combat boot clad foot to kick it down the center aisle, he bellowed in a resounding yell. "ON YOUR FEET... ON YOUR FEET!!!!! YOU RAGGED-ASSED MUTANTS!!!!!!" he boomed. "THE SUN IS SHINING. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE FUCKING NEIGHBORHOOD. NOW GET YOUR ASSES DRESSED AND DOWN TO THE PAVEMENT...NOW MOVE IT!!!!! MOVE LIKE YOU MEAN IT, SAND MAGGOTS!!!!!! OTHERWISE I WILL THROW YOUR SORRY ASSES OUT THE WINDOW." By this time, OCS candidates, thoroughly frightened out of their wits, were flying down the stairs, tripping and falling, as well as taking the stairs two or three at a time. In about three seconds, the barracks were empty. "God, I love this." Animal quipped as he watched the pandemonium. "I shoulda joined the Marine Corps." He grinned. Harm just rolled his eyes. "We've created a monster." Was his only response. Animal ignored him. By this time, the recruits were all out on the pavement blinking in the morning sunlight like owls awoken from their daylight slumber. Animal and his two friends lined up beside each other and gazed un-emotionally at the sight. The formation was ragged. Animal gazed balefully at the recruits' ragged formation. "I have seen hookers on the Olongapo docks line up better than this. YOU ARE PATHETIC sub specimens that somewhat resemble human form!!!" There was a titter coming from somewhere in the crowd. Animal instantly was in the candidate's face. "Am I amusing? Candidate... Was there something that I said, which you found funny?" "No, Gunny." The candidate replied. Animal gazed forbiddingly at the candidate. He saw a trickle of sweat escape the candidate's brow and trace its way along the candidate's cheek. "The tides that wash up against the shore, the rise and fall of the ocean waves, the sunrise, the sunset, the very movement of the earth around the sun; these are some of the things I control in MY world." His gaze was menacing and another trickle of sweat joined the other rivulet running off the nervous candidate's face. Metalman commented in a candidate's ear. "We're all going to die..." That did not reassure the candidate any. Harm barked out at the candidates "CANDIDATES!!!! FIX THE FORMATION!!!!" who moved quickly or tried to. Animal was not pleased at their result. He looked over at them with a glare that would melt concrete. "PATHETIC... Douche-bags!!!! I have seen centipedes with arthritis move faster and do a better job of counting-off then you SAND- FLEAS!!!!" Another snicker, this time from the back of the formation, caused Animal to roughly shove aside three candidates to get to the snickerer at the back. "Do I make you laugh?" Animal asked threateningly as he leaned into give the candidate a hard look. "NO...SIR...I MEAN...YES...SIR...I MEAN NO...SIR." The candidate yelled. "Make up your mind!!! Candidate!!!" Animal snapped, indicating his lack of patience with the confused candidate. "Otherwise, I'll send you to the ARMY, and they can make you their new CHIEF OF STAFF!!!!" Animal looked away at Harm who was trying to suppress a grin. Sensing the candidate relaxing his posture, Animal spun around to glare at the candidate. "AND DON'T YOU DARE CALL ME 'SIR'!!!!! WORM SPERM!!!! I WORK FOR A LIVING!!!!!!" It was all that Harm could do to restrain himself from laughing. It was just then that Harm noticed Colonel Klivan, USMC, standing with Mac. Either Animal hadn't noticed or he was just ignoring them. Animal continued in a stentorian roar. "The Powers that BE...in their infinite wisdom, have made me your DRILL INSTRUCTOR!!!!" He paced glaring at the pathetic specimens with a practiced glare that nearly melted a few of them where they stood. Metalman commented cheerily... "Oh...JOY. Just remember folks, A day in the Marine Corps is like a day on the Farm...I love the Marine Corps, ev'ry meal's a banquet, ev'ry paycheque a fortune. I love the CORPS..." Animal looked over at Metalman wryly... "OK...As I was saying...my name is GUNNERY SERGEANT TOM CHANG...and I am your DRILL INSTRUCTOR, your mentor, your teacher and your ONLY LINK TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD for the next six weeks. And if you SCREW UP...I WILL ALSO BE YOUR WORST FUCKING NIGHTMARE!!!!! YOU WILL BREATHE MARINE CORPS DOCTRINE, YOU WILL EAT UP MARINE CORPS SYLLABUS...YOU WILL DREAM THE MARINE CORPS HYMN. AND BY UNIT, CORPS, GOD AND COUNTRY, I WILL TURN ALL OF YOU INTO MARINE CORPS COMMISSIONED OFFICERS..." Harm rolled his eyes and said, "God help us..." "Close...very close..." Metalman said raising his index finger at Harm. Animal ignored the two comedians. "But if by chance...you fail...IF BY CHANCE...my DILIGENT INSTRUCTIONS fall by the wayside amid the mental rubbish that consists of your brains, at LEAST you may learn enough to become SQUIDS!!!!!" Animal roared. Mac raised her eyebrows at Harm. Harm just shrugged his shoulders. Metalman yelled out cheerfully... "YES!!!! I MADE A NEW RECORD ON TETRIS!!!!" as he fiddled with his new GAMEBOY. Animal glared at Metalman. Harm asked Animal...while looking over at Metalman "Is he normal?" Animal said disgustedly. "Is he ever?" The candidates kept silent not wanting to incur the wrath of their Drill Sergeant. "NOW SQUARE AWAY YOUR GEAR!!!!!" Animal continued, thoroughly enjoying the sound of his own voice, "LADIES AND GERMS!!!!! We are going to have HAPPY HOUR!!!!! We are going on a five mile run...in full combat gear...and fatigues!!!!! This is Marine Corps PT. We do this for fun. We will all work together. We will work as a TEAM!!! And if I see any of you...fall out of step, if I see any of you screw up ...I will one hundred percent goddamned guarantee that you will be the next satellite going around the earth...BECAUSE I WILL PERSONALLY DROP KICK YOUR SORRY ASS INTO ORBIT!!!!!" "They're having Mexican food tonight, right?" Metalman turned to Harm. Harm looked at Metalman confused. "Your point?" Harm asked. "Well, I guess the candidates can be really happy that they're working for Senor Psychopath now..." Metalman grinned. Colonel Klivan grinned. "We do seem to have a very lively Drill Instructor cadre." Mac could only shake her head 'Animal must be having the time of his life out there.' was her only thought. "Gunny Chang?!" Colonel Klivan barked. "Sir...YES SIR..." Animal replied as he snapped to parade ground stiff attention. "This is Major Sarah Mackenzie, JAG. Can we have a moment of your time away from the candidates." "Yes sir..." Animal replied loudly enough so that the rest of the DI's could hear. "Staff Sergeant Esposito...Take the candidates on their five mile run. Don't let up on them. We have to make sure that we whip these maggots into shape." "Yes, Gunny." "Staff Sergeant Doumont" Animal said to Metalman. "You will acoompany Staff Sergeant Esposito." "Yes, Gunny." Metalman looked disappointed, but headed out with the Italian American Marine non-com. Mac curiously looked over at Animal, "Well, it seems like you are enjoying yourself, Gunny." Mac questioned. "OOH-RAH!!! Ma'am!!!" Animal grinned as he stood there looking at Mac with a All-American cheerful-burger expression on his face. "Gunny, Staff Sergeant" Mac grinned, "Aren't you two forgetting something?" Animal looked confused, as Harm whispered with a big grin on his face. "She loves this part...better salute her..." "STAFF-SERGEANT!!!!" Mac said sharply as she looked aggrievedly at Harm. "See..." Harm grinned as Mac gave him a look that could melt steel. Animal and Harm snapped off crisp salutes as Mac returned it. "Sorry Ma'am." Harm replied with a grin on his face. Mac shook her head. "Flyboys!" she muttered. The three of them walked back towards the base headquarters. Part 2/??? (You think I'm omniscient or something????) HEADQUARTERS MCAS BEAUFORT BEAUFORT SC The whine of the jet engines was palpable through the thick concrete blocks that lined the walls of the operations building. This was where the Marine Corps jet fighters were stationed. An expansion of the facility made this the East Coast Marine Corps Master Jet base. At least 7 fully operational USMC F/A-18 squadrons, each consisting of 24 aircraft apiece, were home-based at MCAS Beaufort. The three officers (two undercover, one not) discussed their situation. Mac tabled the dossier. "I pulled his file. It's all in here. Two tours in Viet Nam, won a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star with Valor. Went into Grenada and Haiti. Won his second Purple Heart in Somalia. He's also a veteran of the Gulf War and has been to Bosnia and Kosovo. He's a Rifle and Pistol Expert, requalified as Expert on both for the fourth time. He is also a trained USMC Parachutist and a scuba diver. His personality is Type 'A'. From both personal experience and from reading his file, I know he doesn't like it when he believes someone isn't working up to their full capability." Animal paced the room. Then he turned around and looked over at Mac. "Do you believe in him?" he asked sharply. "He was my instructor." Mac replied. "You didn't answer my question. Major." Animal snapped. "Do you objectively believe that he didn't behave in an abusive manner towards his recruits?" he glared at her walking over to her. "Because if you can't, there's a term for this ...it's called 'conflict of interest.' ." Animal gave Mac a sharp look, eyeball to eyeball. "But Gunnery Ser-..." Mac protested. "No buts...Major." Animal snapped, making sure out of his peripheral vision, that all doors and windows to the office were shut and that no-one was listening. "Either you take the case and investigate impartially to the best of your ability or you cite conflict of interest and withdraw. As senior officer on this investigation, I'm giving you fair warning." Animal, undercover or not, could not switch off his commander's demeanor at will and at times like this, he had to discipline a recalcitrant junior-ranking officer. "Do you understand, Major." He growled ominously. Mac looked sourly at Animal. "I understand my duties, Gunny." She snapped irritatedly. Animal looked at her piercingly. "I'm not saying this as a Gunnery Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps," his voice low and threatening. "but as a Commander in the United States Navy and your superior officer, I am giving you warning, that unless you can investigate this case with an unbiased opinion, you are going to have to detach yourself from this case. Is that UNDERSTOOD?" he spoke harshly, an authoritative tone creeping into his voice. "Yes, sir." Mac looked pissed off, but she knew that Animal was right. She almost lost it though, when Harm chimed in... "He's right, you know, Mac?" Mac looked sharply at the two of them. Two identical bookends in Marine camouflage utilities. She looked sourly at both Harm and Animal, Tweedledum and Tweedledee...they both covered each other. But ultimately she grudgingly agreed with Animal. If she was going to end up staying on this case, she would have to put aside all feelings of loyalty and be impartial. If she couldn't, she would be off the case faster than she could blink. She came to the conclusion that Animal would make a good lawyer, if he ever decided (fat chance of that ever happening) to change his designator from aviator to JAG lawyer. 'He's certainly got the killer instincts and the persuasive vocabulary.' Mac thought. Animal evaluated the situation emotionlessly. As main cover, he would have to be just as hard as the Master Sergeant. Willmott wouldn't have it any other way. If he ended up blowing his cover, he could be in deep sierra before he would even know it. And there was no way in hell that he would allow that to happen. He would observe the situation and if the need was crucial enough, he would act... 'make the arrest so to speak.' If it came down to it, he could and would use deadly force. Only if necessary. He did not take fourteen years of martial arts training for nothing. And after becoming an expert in hand-to-hand combat, he had instructed at Officer Candidate School for an year. Animal could protect himself, but he had no desire to go up against a troop that was fanatically loyal to Willmott. And to have to also deal with a JAG investigation in which the lead 'apparent' senior officer was blindly loyal to her former DI would not make a good combination. Any ways, Animal knew how to protect his own ass. At sea, the threats were much simpler. If there was a threat imminent or encountered, depending on the ROE (rules of engagement), one could either fly circles around the hostile hoping that one could scare the biological excrement out of the bandit or fire missiles or guns at the bandit and make it 'go away'. In this case, retaliation in self-defense was a moral tightrope. The consequences, if one fell off, would be severe. One couldn't just retaliate in self-defense without considering the objective, the consequences and the subsequent fall-out. And the deceptively simple act of negotiating the Washington DC political mine -field, in itself, was a pain in the asss. In colloquial terms, you had to know whose butt to kiss, and when to kiss it. If you didn't, all you got was a face full of horse puckey. Animal just longed for the simple life of enjoying his home-life with Meg and having only to worry about getting his F-14 prepped for the next day's flight. That was life as it should be. Harm also knew that this situation was border-line. If the defense attorney decided to toss 'conflict of interest' into the arena, the case was going to end up hung. But Mac was the only way that they could really get a read on what Willmott was thinking. Neither Animal nor Harm could really get an understanding of the way Willmott operated, since Animal and Harm had been through ROTC and the Academy respectively. ON FIVE MILE RUN MCAS BEAUFORT BEAUFORT SC "Oh, I just love this weather, don't you?" chimed out Staff Sergeant Peter Doumont (LCDR Phil 'Metalman' Burrows) as he looked ingratiatingly at the candidates who looked on the verge of collapse. Staff Sergeant Esposito was yelling at the recruits to step up the pace. Metalman grinned. "Squad...Halt!!!" he yelled. The formation came to a ragged halt. A lot of panting was heard. And at least one recruit fell backwards. Esposito dragged him back up onto his feet. Metalman grinned again as he addressed the candidates. "Welcome to USMC OCS Class 98-045. While you are here, the big Kahuna, Master Sergeant Willmott will either drill you into the ground, or you will have your spines ripped out without the aid of anaesthetic by Senor Psychopath. That way you can all sigh with relief when I am assigned to take you out on your daily trek around the lovely base." Another recruit fell over, puking his guts out. Metalman paused, "Y'know, that's the old good-cop, bad-cop routine. You get me as the good-cop. I want to let you guys rest for a few minutes while you guys try not to puke your entrails out on the path here. Then we'll pick up our packs in about ten and we'll resume our little 'walk in the woods'. Sound good?" The candidates who weren't upchucking what remained of last-night's dinner groaned. All too soon, the ten minutes were up and Metalman hollered out, "OK PEOPLE!!! We'll all grab our packs, get our little tail-ends off the ground and we'll all sing my favorite song... "The POKEMON SONG..." Slightly confused looks were exchanged by the candidates. One candidate, brave soul, piped up, " How does one sing that, Staff Sergeant? We don't know how it goes?" the candidate said tentatively. Metalman sighed, "Oh, well, it was worth a try." He paused and then said. "We'll do the Pokemon Count-off then." Another candidate raised his hand. "How do you do that? Staff Sergeant?" Metalman grinned. "Never fear...young, troubled and timid candidates. I'm here to teach you the ways and the means of getting through this dilemma. It will harden you into tough, resourceful...Marines...and..." Esposito interrupted Metalman's soliloquy by yelling out. "SQUAD...FORWARD ...HARCH!!" "I wanna be a POKEMON Trainer...REPEAT AFTER ME!!!" Metalman yelled. A few eyes rolled...but the candidates dutifully repeated. "I wanna be a POKEMON trainer." "I wanna live a life of danger..." Metalman grinned. "I wanna live a life of danger..." "Lifted a Pikachu without aid of reins..." "Zapped me 240 volts and scrambled my brains..." " COUNT OFF!!!" "One two..." "COUNT OFF... "THREE FOUR..." "REPEAT AFTER ME!!!!" Metalman bellowed again. "Now, this is difficult candidates...What's better than ONE POKEMON?" Dead silence... "OK...uh, guys and gals, this is where...you are supposed to shout out 2 POKEMON. It goes up incrementally, y'know, two-four-eight-sixteen ...you get the picture. OK...so, what's BETTER THAN ONE POKEMON?" "Two Pokemon, Staff Sergeant..." "What's better than two Pokemon?" "Four Pokemon...Staff Sergeant." "What's better than four Pokemon?" "EIGHT POKEMON...Staff Sergeant." As they marched into the forest, one could hear them yelling out the replies to Metalman's request. "What's better than 512 POKEMON?" emanated faintly from the forest. "1024 POKEMON...STAFF SERGEANT." "What's better than 1024 Pokemon?" "2048 POKEMON...STAFF SERGEANT." "What's better than 2048 Pokemon??!!!!!" Metalman paused...looked over at Staff-Sergeant Esposito who was trying to keep a straight face and asked. "You gotta calculator?" One of the candidates whispered to the candidate beside him... "This guy is a fucking lunatic." HEADQUARTERS MCAS BEAUFORT BEAUFORT SC "Harm, be careful, OK?" Mac said to Harm as she looked at him. "Willmott is a certified hand-to-hand expert. Plus he knows the South Carolina woods far better than we do." Mac looked over at Animal, "You too, Animal, you be careful. We don't want him knowing that he's being watched. If he does, he might try and do something about it. Let me talk him into appearing before a board of inquiry. I know that he'll trust me enough to do it." "OK, Major, It's your call..." Animal said. He was getting sick and tired of this case. He missed his wife. If there was one thing that he had hoped, was to have more time with Meg. She and Animal had been talking of trying for a child. This slot for a fighter squadron liaison officer with JAG had come up and Animal had thought that it was the perfect opportunity for him to be at home and to try and start a family. Meg was looking forward to it as well, and then this case came up. Evidently, being able to stay at home with Meg wasn't going to be the case, with being at the beck and call of the JAG. Animal also missed his F-14D Super Tomcat. The only 'D' model in the VF-41 Black Aces squadron, she was babied as the Commander's bird. At least he could trust Maverick with it, Animal thought darkly. Thank goodness Metalman was stuck TDY with him, otherwise Animal would have been fretting over the condition of his F-14D every day. Hopefully, the admiral had managed to get in touch with Meg before Animal had gone on this case. He hadn't had a chance to phone home since Harm, Mac, Animal and Metalman had to go undercover. Animal groaned audibly. Mac and Harm exchanged glances, smiling knowingly. Animal turned around and grumbled, "What are you two looking at?" Mac grinned sheepishly. "Lonesome? Animal?" Animal snorted. "I don't know what you're talking about." Mac grinned. "So how do you do it, Animal?" "Do what?" "Keep your marriage fresh, the way that you and Meg do." Mac asked. Harm was starting to finger the neckline of his camouflage fatigues. It was a bit too tight. "Togetherness." Animal muttered. "Something that Meg and I aren't getting a lot of right now. Meg and I are supposed to be a couple, a family, but..." He sighed. "lately, she's really feeling that empty space beside her at night. With deployments and all, she's lucky if she sees me three months out of the year. The fact that this TDY posting was supposed to bring us closer together, isn't doing too much either." He walked over to the outside window and stared out at the scenery. Mac sighed. Looking at Animal still staring out the window thinking of Meg, she grinned. If only Harm realized...she daydreamed. "So, you and Meg are planning a child?" "Yeah...and the sooner I can get back to her the better." Animal answered quickly. Mac and Harm looked at each other nodding knowingly. "He's got it bad..." Harm commented. "Will you two get your minds out of the gutter, thank you very much." Animal muttered. "I think we'd better get back to the PIT, Harm, and make sure that Metalman hasn't lost any of our candidates yet." "By your leave, Major?" Harm grinned. "You're excused. Dismissed." Mac grinned. "Have fun." Animal rolled his eyes as he and Harm exited the door. "Have fun...my ass..." he muttered as they headed out. "I heard that...Gunny." Came Mac's voice from inside. "Sorry, ma'am." THE PIT MCAS BEAUFORT BEAUFORT SC Master Sergeant Willmott was displeased. He was very displeased. It showed on his face as well as the taut rippling muscles in his forearm. And the part of his enormous biceps not covered by the combat fatigues. "Are these the hoggy pukes that can't do a five mile run without collapsing in heat exhaustion?" He glared at SSGT Esposito. "Yes, sir." The Staff Sergeant replied. Harm and Animal had just returned to the PIT. They arrived on the scene as MSGT Willmott looked over at one of the recruits and growled. "You specimens are pathetic parasites. By the end of this OCS, I want you to be able to shimmy over that pit like a bunch of monkeys on speed. Get these miserable pukes out of my sight before I do something I regret." The Master Sergeant gave one last glare at the sweating candidate before he walked off... 'stalked off' was more like it. Animal and Harm exchanged baffled looks at each other. "LET'S GO...PEOPLE!!!!" Animal bellowed. "You heard the Master Sergeant. We got a lot to do before we send you kiddies off to lunch." MARINE CORPS BARRACKS MCAS BEAUFORT BEAUFORT SC 2200 EST It was a very exhausted Gunnery Sergeant that tumbled into bed, that night. Animal thought to himself as he sighed. Meg would be spending another night without him. Meg seemed to always be in his dreams lately. He missed her terribly. He tossed and turned. It would prove to be a restless night. There was a knock on the bunk below him. It was Metalman. "What's up?" "I don't know...I just couldn't sleep." Was Metalman's response. He looked disturbed about something. "You wanna talk about it?" Animal asked. "Naw something's just not right about this...Call it a hunch, or something, but we're looking for the wrong guy." Metalman whispered. "You know we can't use hearsay as evidence." Animal whispered back. "I know, but I just wanted you to be on the lookout for something more than the main culprit. Y'know like in ACM, don't boresight on the target or might not see the MiG that gets you." Metalman replied. Animal mulled over that as he dropped off to sleep. MARINE CORPS BARRACKS MCAS BEAUFORT SC 0420 EST Animal muttered as the alarm went off. Metalman's hand came out, hit the alarm clock and sent it flying, narrowly missing Esposito who woke up startled, after seeing an illogical vision of a usually stationary time-piece going airborne past his head. Metalman muttered as the alarm clock impacted the wall... "Damn. Broke another one." Animal had already hit the ground and was in the process of pulling his fatigues on. "Where is Harm?" Metalman asked. That question was answered by Harm who was emerging already dressed in fatigues from the entrance to the head. "Eager beaver." Metalman snorted as Harm grinned. "Where's my combat boots?" Esposito asked. "Where's my cover?" Animal demanded. "Where's my brains?" Metalman queried piteously. "On the floor, by your bed, and you don't have any." Harm quipped rapid-fire in answer to the questions. "Very funny." Metalman retorted. By 0430 hours, the DIs had showered, dressed and headed down to the mess-hall to down some chow before they went to wake up the candidates. "I gotta admit that this is rather fun." Animal said. "So, how long have you been in the Corps? Esposito?" "Going on eleven years, Gunny." Staff-Sergeant Ernesto Esposito grinned. "Joined the Corps when I was sixteen. Mama's permission. My buddies are probably still in the Italian section of town, still beating each other up and stealing cars. I got out of that life. Gunny. Ain't got no reason to go back." Animal looked over at Harm who had a sympathetic look on his face. He understood the situation. "So what do you figure you'd be doing if you weren't in the Corps?" SSGT Esposito said. "Well, you know how it is. Gunny. It's a vicious circle, man. I'd probably still be hangin' with my buds stealin' cars from l'il ol' ladies. Probably upgraded to La Familia, Y'know, the business." Animal knew all too well about such. He knew that was the same way the Yakuza operated, but even more vicious than 'the Family'. The Family was a business that one didn't get out of, usually, alive. "I wanted my life to mean something. Gunny." SSGT Esposito spoke passionately, his grin now disappearing. "I didn't want to end up dead in a back alley somewhere. That's how come my Mama gave me permission to join the Corps. It got me out of the hood." Animal looked at his watch. 15 to 5. Just about time to wake up the group. This case wasn't getting any easier. Esposito wasn't one who could even do it. He had too much at stake in the Corps to wash out of it. "So, who usually works on staff with you?" Animal asked. "Staff Sergeant Grissom Michalchuk." SSGT Esposito replied. "He's pretty tough on the candidates. But I haven't seen him hit one of them yet." "So where is he?" Harm asked. "On leave, Staff-Sergeant, He'll be back in a week." SSGT Esposito replied. Part 3/??? (You think I'm omniscient or something????) HEADQUARTERS MCAS BEAUFORT BEAUFORT SC 1430 EST Animal spoke to Mac, "I have a hunch. It's not Willmott or Esposito. Willmott had a chance to blow his top yesterday, didn't take it." He paused and looked over at Mac who was looking at him with a curious expression as if to ask Animal to explain himself more clearly. "Espo doesn't have a mean bone in his body. He used to be a hood, but the Corps beat it out of him. I've got a lead on someone else but he's on leave. I have a hunch, that this goes deeper than the main perpetrator. There's likely to be collusion in the whole deal too. Mac blinked, startled. She hadn't known that Animal could uncover this whole thing so fast. And that thought was probably written all over her face as Animal replied, "My Chinese sign was Dog. I was born in the year of the Dog. That's how come I like to dig..." THE PIT MCAS BEAUFORT BEAUFORT SC "OK...Let's try and get across this thing..." Metalman yelled. "You can do it. This time you're not overpowered with packs and rifles. So let's go..." Esposito was grinning. "They seem to respond to you...Pete..." "Better than being a POKEMON trainer anyday." Metalman replied with a grin. Esposito shook his head and rolled his eyes. The fact that SSGT Pete Doumont still watched cartoons was something that he still was trying to get used to. "OK...folks, if you don't hustle your buns. I'm gonna start singing the Samurai Pizza Cats theme and you definitely don't want to hear my singing." Metalman yelled. The second candidate fell into the PIT with a scream and a splash. "OK... you asked for it." Metalman grinned. The candidates all groaned as Metalman started up. "Samurai Pizza Cats. OOOH, Yeah! Who do you call, when you want some pepperoni? Samurai Pizza Cats They're stepping out crime and you know that ain't baloney..." Esposito rolled his eyes as Harm muttered "He's even worse, than I thought..." Metalman continued ignoring them as the rest of the candidates struggled across the rope. Another candidate managed to get across, but still ended up crumpled on the ground as he slipped. Harm went forward to pick the candidate up. "There's Speedy Cerviche, He's the leader of the bunch... A heckuva fighter, Makes a heckuva lunch, And little Polly Ester Who's never afraid, Of going into battle, When the bad guys invade..." Another candidate fell from the rope screaming and went sploosh into the pit. "Here's Guido Anchovy, A wild romantic rover, This cat gets down With a love hang-over..." Another candidate distracted by the female candidate in front of him ended up losing his grip. "Here come the Pizza Cats... They're so bad... They got more fur than any turtle ever had." "Check out time...Brain please?" Harm quipped at Esposito who looked at Harm and nodded sadly. Metalman had completely flipped his lid. "More fur than any turtle ever had...that doesn't make sense..." Harm continued. "It's not supposed to." Was Esposito's reply. "They're stronger than old cheese." Metalman bellowed. "REPEAT AFTER ME..." "They're stronger than old cheese..." repeated the candidates in unison. Metalman continued. "Stronger than dirt." "Stronger than dirt." "Step on their tails..." The candidates cheerily yelled out. "Get off my TAIL!!!!" "OR YOU'RE GONNA GET HURT!!!!" bellowed Metalman who was enjoying himself. "Don't hurt me..." was the candidates' response. Metalman bellowed. "Samurai PIZZA CATS!!!!" They're fighting crime, All over town." The candidates started yelling. "4-3-2-1... PIZZA CATS ARE ON THE RUN..." Metalman grinned as he looked over at Harm and at Esposito who resignedly rolled their eyes and continued. "The Big Cheese is the villain Who's lower than low... It's a rotten shame, He lives in Little Tokyo. We've got a nasty Bad Bird, And some nasty Ninja Crows... As soon as someone finds the script, We might begin the show... Sit back and rest your feet... And turn the sound up high... And if you want the full effects... Go eat a pizza pie. Hahaha...I crack myself up..." "He's nuts." Animal said as he watched what was going on. He had just come back from his meeting with Mac. "Samurai Pizza Cats... We hope you liked the show, It's the best that we can do... If you could do better, then we'd leave it up to you. Just a reminder, you might like to know. The cats will be back for another big show. HO HO HO...Oh, geez. Samurai Pizza Cats... They're fighting crime, oh yes, all over town. Two-Four-Six-Eight Why do we expectorate. Samurai Pizza Cats. Read all the credits so you'll know who did the work. Samurai Pizza Cats..." Animal, Harm and Esposito shook their heads. Evidently Metalman was a lost cause. "Now that you're finished entertaining these wet candidates. I think we'd better take them on another run." Animal growled at Metalman who just grinned... happily. A WEEK LATER MCAS BEAUFORT BEAUFORT SC Animal looked over at the new Staff Sergeant. Staff Sergeant Michalchuk was a big specimen. He looked like a Caucasian clone of Master Sergeant Willmott. "Staff Sergeant." Animal said. "You, Staff Sergeant Doumont and Staff Sergeant Price will take these candidates on their five mile run. I will be staying back to assess the training reports and get them ready for Colonel Klivan's approval." "Yes, Gunny." Was SSGT Michalchuk's reply. 1200 EST "ALRIGHT...MAGGOTS. YOU HAVE FIFTEEN MINUTES TO DOWN CHOW AND GET YOUR ASSES BACK OUT ON THE DECK!!!!! MOVE YOUR ASSES!!!!" Animal bellowed in an obstreperous voice that seemed loud enough to wake the dead. "SWALLOW YOUR CHOW!!!!!" Harm bellowed. "INHALE IT...AND GET MOVING!!!!!" "EAT...EAT...EAT!!!!" Metalman grinned. "JESUS CHRIST...DICKWORTH...WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING IN MY CHAIR!!!!!!!?" Animal bellowed as he kicked the bench over with his foot, scattering food utensils and Wickworth all over the floor. Esposito yelled in a candidate's ear. "EAT YOUR FUCKING FOOD, MAGGOT. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR...CHRISTMAS!!!!?" Michalchuk was eyeballing a candidate and yelling. "Listen up you spoon- sucking, pencil-necked sewer trout...eat your food before the damned thing grows green fur. GODDAMNIT...you're a slow sonuvabitch." Michalchuk growled menacingly. "You miserable piece of worm-ridden filth." "You are SCROTUM WORMS!!!!" Animal yelled. "MASTICATE THAT FOOD BEFORE IT TURNS ROTTEN. MY SNAILS CAN EAT FASTER THAN YOU SLAG EATING SLOTHS. SHOVEL THAT SPOON IN YOUR FACE...FIFTEEN MINUTES IS UP...GET YOUR ASSES MOVING NOW...WHAT PART OF MOVE DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND...?" Michalchuk 'guided' one of the candidates out the door and threw him out onto the sand. "Move your ass...CHOWTIME IS OVER...MOVE YOUR ASS...SHITHEAD!!!!" "CRAWL!!!!!" Harm yelled as he dumped an entire plate of corn over the guy's head. "Get your stomach kissing the ground. Some Viet Cong sniper is going to shoot your worthless head off if you don't crawl!!!!" Animal sent another candidate flying over the fence into the deep sand as Metalman started singing a Roxette song in ironic counterpoint to the yelling of the DIs. "I wish I could fly now, Wish I could fly now Wish I could fly now Wish I could fly now Around and around, Over this town The dirt on the ground, Wish I could fly now Wish I could fly now" MARINE CORPS OCS CLASS OBSTACLE COURSE MCAS BEAUFORT BEAUFORT SC 1445 EST "You have 2 minutes to get over this obstacle course. If you do not complete this course in the requisite time, you will do this obstacle course over again until you get it right." MSGT Willmott growled dangerously. "AND IT WILL BOHOOVE YOU VERY GREATLY TO NOT FUCK UP!!!!! IF YOU DO NOT GET IN WITHIN TWO MINUTES, I WILL BE VERY DISPLEASED. BECAUSE I WILL HAVE FAILED IN MY DUTY. AND IF I FAIL IN MY DUTY, THEN I WILL HAVE FAILED MY CORPS. AND IF I FAIL MY CORPS, I WILL BE DISHONORED. AND TO MAKE UP FOR DISHONORING MY CORPS I WILL RUN YOUR ASSES TILL MIDNIGHT!!!!!!" "GO...GO...GO!!!!!" Mock explosions went off causing all the candidates to run screaming at the obstacle course. "WHY ARE YOU HERE...? YOU COULD BE OUT ENJOYING YOURSELVES IN A WONDERFUL TROPICAL PARADISE. INSTEAD YOU ARE BEING SHOT AT, HARASSED AND HUMILIATED. ASK YOURSELVES WHY YOU ARE HERE. IS IT BECAUSE YOU LOVE YOUR COUNTRY OR JUST WANT TO LOOK GOOD SO THAT YOU CAN GET LAID!!!!!" " PAIN IS YOUR FRIEND...IT WILL KEEP YOU ANGRY...IT WILL KEEP YOU FOCUSSED. AND IT WILL TELL YOU TO GET THE JOB DONE AND GET THE HELL HOME!!!!" "ABRAMSON...GET YOUR TUSH OVER THAT OBSTACLE. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? YOU AREN'T GOING TO GET LAID ON THIS OBSTACLE COURSE!!!!" The candidates all staggered in a pile. MSGT Willmott looked at them with a glare. "Simpson...Andrews...Mickleson. You three will run that obstacle course again." The three candidates' faces fell. "Are you folks going to DOR on me?" "All right...ANY OTHER PUSSIES LIKE HIM WANT TO DOR!!!!? LET'S GET ALL YOU FUCKING PANSIES OUT OF HERE...SIMPSON...MICKLESON...GET YOUR COLLECTIVE ASSES BACK ON THAT OBSTACLE COURSE AND DO IT...NOW!!!!" MSGT Willmott bellowed. HEADQUARTERS MCAS BEAUFORT BEAUFORT SC 2045 EST "It just doesn't seem to get any clearer." Animal and Harm both looked at each other then at Mac. "Whatever else, Michalchuk seems to be laying low. He's yelled at the recruits but nothing else. Is there a fourth worm that we haven't seen yet?" "The admiral wants a report as to how the investigation is going. So we haven't turned up a single thing." Mac said. Animal sighed. This investigation was getting long and drawn out. He just wished that he could be with Meg. How he missed her arms, her kisses, the way her body felt as they slept together. He was starting to get frustrated and that wasn't good. HEADQUARTERS MCAS BEAUFORT BEAUFORT SC 2045 EST "That JAG officer, that Major...What's her name...Mackenzie?" Colonel Klivan growled at Lieutenant Colonel Robert Lee Greaves. "She doesn't seem to get the message that there isn't anything happening up here." Lieutenant Colonel Greaves replied. "I don't see what they're investigating, sir. There isn't anything that I can see either." "Lieutenant Colonel. The Major is here to see if the Drill Instructor cadre is abusing the recruits. And she won't be satisfied until she gets some answers." Colonel Klivan replied. "Do you think that we can ask the Commandant to have the JAG Corps wrap up their investigation and call their bloodhound off." Lieutenant Colonel Greaves said nodding his head. "SECNAV has approved the investigation. It will take as long as it takes for Major Mackenzie to root a rat." The colonel replied, with a ferocious frown on his face. "And you know that this is doing wonders for the reputation of my command and it isn't doing to much to enhance our record as an OCS training center." "Are you asking me to do something, sir?" The lieutenant colonel inquired. All Colonel Klivan did was stare back at him. Part 4/5 (OK...OK...Part 2 and 3 elicited no feedback...Somebody had better reply or I'm going to go off and SULK...SO THERE!!!) HEADQUARTERS MCAS BEAUFORT BEAUFORT SC 2048 EST Upon receipt of the order from Colonel Klivan to Lieutenant Colonel Greaves...a quiet phone-call was made. The major quickly walked from the headquarters building over to the candidate barracks. Going up the stairs, he headed for the rack of a candidate, whispering something soundlessly, in the candidate's ear. Now awake, the candidate nodded and silently dressing and they both slipped out of the barracks. It was half an hour later that the candidate returned, tossing his clothes towards an incinerator-bound basket and put on a fresh pair of skivvies. NEXT MORNING CANDIDATE BARRACKS MCAS BEAUFORT BEAUFORT SC 1030 ZULU 0530 EST The garbage can again clattered down the center aisle as Animal bellowed. "HEY ...PECKERBREATHS...SKUNKSTOOLS!!!! ON YOUR FEET!!!! NOW!!!!!!!" The candidates all rushed to do as ordered. They were rapidly becoming a team. Animal grudgingly thought. At least they didn't look as awful as they did when they first arrived. Considering that Animal had never been a DI before, things were going well. Staff Sergeant Michalchuk looked over at the recruits. "All present and accounted for, Gunny." The Staff Sergeant barked out. "Great work." Animal said, giving them a feral look. "Load your packs. We're going on a five mile run... Let's MOVE!!!" the volume went back up. "ALL RIGHT...GET MOVING!!!! DOWN TO THE PAVEMENT...AND FALL INTO FORMATION!!! MOVE!!!!!" Staff Sergeant Michalchuk bellowed. "You heard the man...LET'S GO!!!!" Harm yelled. "I'll be home for Christmas...You can count on me..." Metalman grinned as he sang a Christmas carol. Harm rolled his eyes as he headed for the stairs. Esposito muttered. "You know that it's June...Doumont?" "Please have snow and mistletoe...and presents 'round the tree..." Metalman continued as Animal stalked up to him. Esposito and Harm had long-since left. "Metalman..." Animal glared at him with a menacing look. "Christmas Eve...will find me..." Metalman continued...grinning that irritating grin that caused Animal to nearly grind his upper jaw to his gum-line. "METALMAN!" Animal snapped louder, this time. "Where...the lovelight...gle-" "METALMAN!!!!!!!!!!" Animal bellowed in a stentorian roar...that echoed through the now empty barracks. Metalman stopped. "Yeah, boss..." Animal almost ground both jaws to the gum-line. "Did you hear what I just said?" Animal snarled at the disrespectful lout. "You called me?" Metalman grinned as he looked at his glowering senior officer. "NO SHIT...SHERLOCK!!!!" Animal roared. "Any more inspired conclusions you can come up with?" "No...but if you give me..." Metalman was interrupted as Animal barked at him. "FIVE MILE RUN...LET'S GO!!! NOW!!!!" "But, I don't want to..." Metalman whined. "My feet are growing corns and I think I caught a slight chill." Animal picked up Metalman by the scruff of the neck like a recalcitrant kitten and half-carried, half-dragged him down the stairs. THE PIT MCAS BEAUFORT BEAUFORT SC 1320 EST The first fully loaded Marine clambered over the obstacle course with a record time, leaping off the final obstacle with a savage bellow as he grinned ferally. Three more passed over the obstacle course equally quick. It was hot, muggy and the day seemed practically endless as the candidates clambered over the obstacles. As the fifth clambered over the obstacle course and reached for the rope, she managed to hook her legs around the rope, scrambling over the rope hand over hand. Candidate Severn Wallace looked over as Candidate Carla Milckowjski. She looked as though she was doing well. Then, SNAP...the rope separated between her head and her right hand, which was reaching out to grab it. She fell heavily into the water collected in the pit, fully six feet deep. With the pack, there was no way that she could swim. In a flash, Harm and SSGT Esposito had jumped into the pit to drag out the dripping and half-wet candidate before she could drown. She hadn't even had time to utter a gasp of surprise let alone a scream as she fell hard on her back. A heart-rending scream was heard as Candidate Milckowjski sobbed out, "I CAN'T FEEL MY LEGS...I CAN'T FEEL MY LEGS." "Keep her steady. Don't move her." Animal commanded. "Michalchuk, get me a goddamned stretcher. And get the medics down here...NOW!!!" SSGT Michalchuk was halfway down the trail before Animal had finished his command. Metalman had dropped into the pit and pulled out the rope. Looking at it for a long minute, he said, "Animal, get over here..." "What is it." Animal snapped impatiently. "It looks like the rope has been cut into before it even separated..." Metalman started to say. "What?" Animal growled looking at the rope. Metalman showed Animal the end of the rope. "See...this is a clean cut going through four of the twisted fibres. Someone's pre-cut this rope so that it would snap..." "Sabotage?" Animal thought. Candidate Wallace had been backing away towards the trail and as Metalman nodded at Animal's question, Wallace did the last thing that any perpetrator should have done. He ran. "After him!!!" Animal yelled and sprinted after the retreating candidate. Three other candidates followed. Wallace was fast, but Animal was faster. Reaching out to grab Wallace's right arm, Animal spun him around. Wallace tripped and hit a tree, face first, knocking himself out cold. Turning to the three candidates who came up short as they panted from the exertion of the sprint. "Hold him until the guards get here. If he comes to, sit on him." Animal ordered. "I've got some things to take care of." He said, as he gathered up his friends and headed back to headquarters. "Yes, Gunny." MEDICAL WARD MCAS BEAUFORT BEAUFORT SC 1400 EST "Has Wallace come to yet?" Animal asked the Marine medic. "I need to speak with him." He asked the doctor who was checking over a file. "Yes, he has, Commander. He says that his Gunnery Sergeant attacked him, and that he is going to press charges." The doctor replied. Animal looked at the doctor, who was a Marine Lieutenant Colonel, sourly. "I don't think he's going to be doing anything of the sort." "That's his side of the story." Harm replied, holding up a knife. "We found this in his locker. It had his fingerprints all over it." "What does that prove, Lieutenant Commander." The doctor replied. "It could just have easily been planted." "I don't think so, Doc, take a look at these." Harm held up a see through plastic bag containing fatigues that were dirtied by mud, as well as a baggie containing fibres from the rope and matched with fibres from the cloth. "These fibres were found on the blade of the knife. They matched fibres found on these clothes in a clothes hamper bound for the incinerator. Heading for the incinerator, would seem kind of odd, seeing as they were in perfectly good condition. Consistent dirt samples and oil samples taken from the fibre coincide with how much dirt and hand oil which were on the rope and on the clothing. Your patient is guilty of criminal sabotage resulting in injury." "We're talking to him..." Animal said...glaring at the doctor. "He's in no condition..." The doctor objected. "MOVE ASIDE...DOCTOR..." Animal snapped. "Other wise, I'm going to slap a reprimand for interfering with a JAG investigation in your personal folder. MOVE ASIDE NOW!!! COLONEL!!!!" The doctor couldn't say much as he allowed Animal and Harm into the room where Severn Wallace was lying in bed. Wallace looked up "I ain't talking..." Wallace said as he looked away from the two men who had entered his room. Harm and Animal were in US Navy khakis with their regular insignia on. "Who are you protecting? Wallace." Animal growled. "Why the fuck do you want to go to jail? You know with the evidence that they've got, they're going to throw your ass in jail and leave you in there for four to six years. We might even try for attempted homicide, which is from two to twenty. You really want to go to jail, kid?" Animal glared at him. "Jail is a mighty mean place...kid." "Ain't scared of nothin'..." Blustered Wallace. "Listen, Wallace. We have your knife, we have the clothes you threw in the incinerator trash basket. We have all the evidence we need and we have an excellent witness. Candidate Milckowjski won't ever walk again. She's got spinal cord damage." Harm said. "You want that on your conscience? You think you're proud of that? When you cut into that rope, did you think that one of the candidates that you went through the course with would end up not being able to walk again?" Animal grabbed Wallace by the scruff of his hospital greens. "You're a fucking coward. Wallace. Maybe I should have smucked your brains out. You're gonna talk, asshole, and right fucking now." Animal snarled, inches from Wallace's face. "You're no better than some two-bit hood stealing a little old lady's car." Animal continued. "You're a stinking, snivelling coward!!!" "I don't fuckin' care, sir. If I talk, someone's gonna shut me up for good. "Wallace snivelled. Animal's brutal mind-twisting was getting to Wallace. "Who...Wallace!!!" Animal snapped. "I'm a commander in the United States Navy. I'll take these guys down. Wallace...DAMNIT...TALK TO ME!!!" "They're gonna kill me, sir." Wallace broke down. "He said that he was going to kill me if I ratted." "Who...Wallace...Who's said that he's going to kill you." Animal asked Wallace, his voice intense. If he could get Wallace to talk, he could possibly give him the benefit of the doubt. No doubt Wallace was going to spend some time behind bars. But at least he could protect the guy from getting executed by who- ever this rogue soldier was. "If you give me a name, I'll take them down so quickly, they won't know what hit them." Wallace fought an internal battle for a minute, but finally he whispered. "Major Halliday...sir, and Lieutenant Colonel Greaves. Colonel Klivan. They're all in on it, sir." He asked fearfully, "Are you really going to take them down, sir?" Animal gritted his teeth and nodded to the Marine in the bed. "Yeah, Wallace ...I am." Animal waved over the Marine Sergeant on guard. "Marine? I want you to stand guard over this candidate. And my command to you is to not let ANYONE... and I mean ANYONE...near Candidate Wallace. Am I clear on that." "Sir, YES...SIR!!!" was the barked response. Animal and Harm strode out of the medical building and headed for the Armory. Mac sighted them and hurried to catch up with them. Metalman was with her as they came across the street. "What's going on?" was the query from the both of them. Animal replied shortly. "We're heading for the armory." HEADQUARTERS MCAS BEAUFORT BEAUFORT SC 1411 EST "It's done, sir." Lieutenant Colonel Greaves said to Colonel Klivan. "Major Halliday has taken care of everything. The JAG officer should be leaving today." The Colonel looked at the two men. "Was it done cleanly?" Part 5/5 (FEEDBACK...NOW...NOW...NOW!!!!!!!!) HEADQUARTERS MCAS BEAUFORT BEAUFORT SC 1411 EST "No trace of problems, sir." Lieutenant Colonel Greaves replied, looking over at Major Halliday. "The candidate who fell, injured her spine and will be washed out of the program. And we'll just do away with Wallace...wash him out of the program at the same time." "What if he talks?" Major Halliday asked worriedly. "Sir, he's weak-willed; a marshmallow puff." "Then you just get rid of him." The Colonel growled. "You know how...don't you? Surely the Marine Corps has taught you how to eliminate a problem." The door being kicked open startled the three officers. Animal strode towards the center of the room, armed with an M-16A2 and accompanying him were Mac, Harm, Metalman and a contingent of Marines. All fully armed. "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS??!!!" blustered Colonel Klivan. "You're under arrest." Mac said sweetly. "For conspiracy and attempted homicide." "This is ridiculous. I'm going to have you up on charges. And what are you three doing? Gunnery Sergeant, Staff Sergeants. Impersonating an officer is a criminal offense." Lieutenant Colonel Greaves protested vehemently. Animal gave him a stony glare. "I don't think we've been properly introduced. Colonel Klivan, Lieutenant Colonel Greaves, Major Halliday. I'm Commander Hugo Chikamori, United States Navy. This is Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb Jr., and Lieutenant Commander Phil Burrows, all United States Navy. And as senior JAG officer on this investigation, I'm hereby authorized to take you three into custody for the criminal offenses as stated by Major Mackenzie." Animal grinned ferally. "Are you three going to come quietly or do we have to hand-cuff you?" "And I would suggest not doing anything, since these Marines are hereby authorized to use deadly force if necessary." Mac said favoring them with an evil grin indicating that she wished that they would do something. Harm grinned as he cuffed the three Marine officers. Metalman snidely said, "Go ahead...make my day." He shot the remark at Colonel Klivan while brandishing his M92F Beretta sidearm and speaking in Clint Eastwood's raspy drawl. One of the Marines behind Metalman groaned. OUTSIDE HEADQUARTERS MCAS BEAUFORT BEAUFORT SC 0945 EST THE NEXT DAY Mac said good-bye to her former Drill Instructor. "Master Sergeant Willmott, I'm sorry if I ever doubted your innocence." "Sarah, I'm just glad that you made it this far in the Marines. I have a good feeling that you'll make it all the way. Maybe you might even be the next Commandant." MSGT Willmott replied, a big grin beaming all over his face. It was the first time that Animal had even seen Willmott crack a smile. Animal walked over to stand by Mac. "Master Sergeant." "SIR!!!" MSGT Willmott snapped to the position of attention. Animal held out his hand, and Willmott shook it. "It's been a pleasure serving with you, Master Sergeant." Animal grinned. "Thank you, sir." MSGT Willmott replied, and looked at him with a comical expression. "But, sir..." he said disbelievingly. "But...sir...Gunnery Sergeant... Tom...Chang????" Mac and Harm snorted helplessly. Animal shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't get to choose the name." He grinned. MSGT Willmott smiled. "Sir, it's been a pleasure serving with you too, sir. And to be really honest. You don't make a half-bad Marine." "Thank you, Master Sergeant." Animal grinned back. They shook hands. "Good luck, Major Mackenzie." MSGT Willmott said as he stepped back in return to salute both Animal and Mac. The two officers returned the salute. "I'll never forget you...Master Sergeant." Mac's eyes were shiny. Her voice trembled, but she kept from shedding tears. "Neither will I, Major. Hopefully, our next meeting is under better circumstances." MSGT Willmott returned. "Good luck...Commander, Major." He said as he headed off. "Take care, Master Sergeant." Animal replied. As Animal and Mac turned to go, Mac grinned at Animal. "See. Told you so." "Oh, all right." Animal muttered. "You win. So, what's it going to cost me?" He said exasperatedly. "Dinner for four?" Mac smiled mischievously. "You, Meg, Harm and myself." "OK...OK...your choice of restaurant, my credit card." Animal grumbled. "But let's make it some other night, OK?" Animal sighed. "I just want to get home, relax and get seriously naked with my wife." Mac giggled helplessly. "That sounds like fun." "Wouldn't you like to know." Animal riposted and Mac bounced a fist off his shoulder. It stung. "Hey...no hitting senior officers." Animal complained. JAG HEADQUARTERS FALLS CHURCH, VA ADMIRAL CHEGWIDDEN'S OFFICE The rear admiral looked up as the four officers entered his office. "Congratulations on a job well done..." He grinned at the four officers. "Good work, Commander." "Thank you, sir." Animal replied. "Major Mackenzie...something came for you while you were away." The admiral smiled a big smile which nearly split his face in two, as he tossed a packet over, that contained something that rattled around. Mac looked surprised. "What is...it? Sir?" "Open it, Major, we don't have x-ray vision..." RADM AJ Chegwidden said, just as interested as the rest of the group, but trying not to show it. Mac opened it and upended it over her outstretched palm. A couple of collar -sized silver oak-leaves fell out onto her hand, along with a promotion order. Her face lit up in an incredible smile as she looked over at the rest of the officers. "I can't believe this..." she gasped. "Believe it. Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie." AJ grinned. Mac looked over at Animal with a snide look, "Now you don't outrank me any more...Animal." She grinned widely. "May I hug the newly minted Lieutenant Colonel?" Animal grinned, giving her a chaste hug. "Congratulations, Mac, you deserve it." He grinned at her. Harm's jaw was hitting the floor. He then noticed another large packet on the desk. "Sir...Is there another packet on the table, sir." Harm asked curiously. The admiral gave Harm a grin... "And before I forget." He picked up the other packet... "Something came for you too..." He grinned again at Harm and threw the packet over...to Animal who blinked stupidly. Harm's face took on the same look as when Mac had driven up in a wine red shiny new Corvette, just shortly after Harm's vintage Corvette had been found in a chop-shop. "Open it, Commander..." AJ ordered Animal who said stupidly... "For me, sir?" Animal asked. "Yes, it's for you...Commander, or do we have to wait around all afternoon until you get around to opening it." AJ grinned until he thought his face couldn't grin wider. Animal opened it up and like Mac, upended it. A set of Captain's eagles and a golden length of 1/2 inch wide lace dropped out of the envelope along with a piece of paper signifying that Animal had just been promoted to the rank of Captain, United States Navy. AJ handed Animal a sheaf of papers. Animal read the sheaf of papers and whooped. "YES!!!! They're giving me my own Carrier Air Wing. They're giving me Carrier Air Wing Eight, upon completion of my duty assignment." By this time poor Harm looked like a fish out of water. Evidently rewards wouldn't be coming in their direction. "Captain..." AJ grinned. "So, how is Meg doing." "Well, considering that I've been away for the better part of six weeks, I'm surprised that she hasn't filed for divorce." Animal sighed. "By your leave, sir." "Yes, dismissed. Captain." As Animal left, Harm was last seen with Mac teasing her about her promotion. "Yes ma'am...No ma'am. Whatever you say. Ma'am." Was Harm's comment. Mac's reply was. "Shut up...Harm." "Yes, ma'am." MEG AND ANIMAL'S HOME RANDOLPH ST N ARLINGTON VA Animal tiredly walked through the front door of his home and called out to his wife. "MEG...Sweetheart...I'm home." Meg came out into the living room and engulfed her shorter husband in an embrace. They kissed passionately. "I guess that means you're happy to see me?" Animal queried Meg with a lascivious grin. "Oh, yes...dearest husband....I really missed you..." Meg said, giving Animal another passionate kiss that he could feel through the end of his toes. "Now, the acacia needs to be trimmed, the morning glory is cluttering up the back porch, and the awning seems to be tilting the wrong way. The gutters need to be cleaned from last year and sweetheart, I think the fridge has given up the ghost. Not to mention Con Ed called to say that the check for the electrical bill bounced higher than one of those Crazy-balls...and our insurance has gone up again from last year. The bank lost track of how much was in our checking-account and they have to reconstruct our finances from scratch." Animal groaned as he held his forehead in the palm of his hand. Meg continued. "Oh, and I really need you to take a look at the porch. I think a nest of termites has just moved in. Do you think we have to get it fumigated?" Animal stared blankly at his wife who smiled sheepishly. "Oh...and my mother is thinking about coming down for a visit...So...we'll have to repaint the house." Animal gave her a sick smile. "C'mon and let's have dinner." Meg said as she caressed Animal's face and gave him another tender kiss. She smiled sensuously and said "So...do you want to make love tonight?" Animal looked at her with another sick smile... Finally he managed to unloosen his tongue. "Not tonight, honey...I've got a headache..." *****THE END***** FEEDBACK REQUESTED...PLEASE!!!!!