Author's Note: Here it is! This one is more about introducing the character. PAY ATTENTION ON DATES. Maybe there will be times when I'll go to the past (like now) so it's important for you to pay attention at the dates. The US invasions told here are all true, but the one in Lebanon was changed to a later month so it could fit the story.

Guest from the other chapter, thank you for tellig that, I tried to google the uniforms they used to wear but didn't find it. It'll be changed as soon as I can.

Thank you for the reviews!

March, 1984

It's a big saloon, a real big saloon. The walls were painted white, and the floor was incredibly well-polished. The stage, about 20 inches tall, had a big sign written "Class of 1984". It was filled with military men and women, most of them were already on the left side, with diplomas on their hands. In the middle, there was a general, calling out names and handing the diplomas. And on the right side, only three left waiting to get their diplomas.

Ray looked at the crowd in front of him, sitting on their metal chairs and clapping as each name was called. Mothers and fathers and sons and daughters and wives and husbands. None of them were his.

"Scott, Samuel!"

Again, the claps. A man next to Ray gave one step forward, then turned to his right and walked marching toward the general. Ray clapped along with the others this time. "Go, Sammy" He thought. Sam smiled at his sister and his parents, who waved cheerfully.

But it wasn't like he had no one.

"McKenzie, Rachel!"

He had Hank.

A large group of people, formed from kids to an elder couple, got up from their sits and shouted as a shy Rachel thanked the general and got her diploma.

The general waited until Rachel got to her position and her family made silence to continue. "And now" he said "I would like to introduce the top of the class, graduating with honors."He made a pause for dramatic effect. "Reddington, Raymond!"

The crowd clapped politely. He took one step forward, then turned to his left side and marched. The claps continued as he took his diploma. "Good job, kid." The general gave a small tap on his shoulder and offered his hand. "Thank you, sir." Ray said as he shook his superior's hand.

He looked at the crowd again. In the third roll, still sitting, Hank smiled at him, clapping his hands and nodding in approval. It was good to have him there. Good.

The general began a speech about goals and the future as Ray marched to his colleagues, stopping next to Sam. He smiled at Ray. "Son of a bitch" he whispered "stole the whole moment to yourself." Ray chuckled. "If you want the moment" he replied "then next time make sure to be better than me." To which he answered with a smirk "Done." They both giggled.

The general stopped the speech and looked at them. He was not amused. They straighten up and made silence, trying hard not to laugh. "As I was saying" he continued "all of you have a long life ahead of you. Keep doing what you're doing right now and I promise, the future will be bright."

Oh, how wrong he was.

(x) (x) (x)

June, 1984

The troops have stopped on Yemmen, on their way to the Persian Gulf. Apparently, the government was trying to shut down two Iranian fighter planes over an area of the Persian Gulf proclaimed as a protected zone for shipping. The general said that they would probably have no need for their help, it was just in case.

And as he said, they were there, but didn't really have to do anything.

Ray got a medal for that.

(x) (x) (x)

October, 1984

They were sent to Lebanon, to help out with an operation of peacekeeping. This time was more thrilling, there were bombings and tragedies and explosions. In the end they went away and that was it.

He got another medal.

(x) (x) (x)

October, 1985

The U.S. Navy pilots intercepted an Egyptian airliner and forced it to land in Sicily. The airliner was carrying the hijackers of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro who had killed an American citizen during the hijacking.

His third medal.

(x) (x) (x)

On November 3rd of 1985, he was finished.

He was going to resign and that was it. The army wasn't half as challenging as he thought it would be, and, frankly enough, he was starting to wish for a WWIII to begin just to spice things up. He wasn't a patriotic anyway; in fact, he couldn't care less about that. He just wanted the thrill, and he sure wasn't getting it there.

He called Hank to tell him about his decision. His brother, a former soldier, tried to talk him out of the decision but they both knew that was just him trying to keep Ray in a job, since he quit for the same reason.

By the end of the conversation, it was all set. In about a week the troops would get out of Italy, where they were still settled, and arrive in the US, where he would resign and go to DC, to be with Hank and Julia.

By the end of the week, however, he would change his mind.

(x) (x) (x)

November 5th, 1985.

It was night. Sam was heavily snoring on the top of the bunk bed as Ray tried to sleep, rolling on the bed, looking for a good position. He eventually gave up and just decided to stare at the bed "ceiling".

A few minutes of pure contemplation passed until he heard a phone ring. His phone.

Ray cautiously sat on the bed and paid attention to the sound. It kept ringing. He quietly got up and reached for his bag, taking the phone, still ringing. He had gained this phone from his superior on the Italy operation. Since he was the leader of his team, the general had given him the phone to essential communication only. It had never made or received a phone call until this point.

It continued to ring, resistant. He answered. "Who is this?" He asked suspiciously. "Where did you get this number?" There was silence for a moment, until he finally heard a voice. " Get out of the ship, quietly, and wait in the pier."

Ray's mind started to race. "Why would I do that for?" He heard a scoff coming from the other line. "Because you want to." And it hung up.

Yeah, yeah. Obvious mistery thingie. But it was just a way to get where I'm going to get into. Once again, reviews are what keep me going!