834 Words

Chapter Eighteen, Conclusion

A few days later, Becker was walking up and down his line of recruits. "So…have you all enjoyed your little holiday? Did you all get nice and lazy while I was on leave?"

The ARC soldiers chuckled as they stood to attention, a ways off.

"Oh, you're all so quiet. What did the Lieutenant do to you all?" he asked, looking over at Royce.

Royce smiled and shrugged.

Becker turned back. "I feel horrible neglecting you all so much. It's very unprofessional."

The men were silent.

Becker turned to his men. "They're giving me the silent treatment."

The ARC soldiers stifled laughs.

"Recruits, I can't have you so angry with me. What can I do?"

The recruits glanced at each other.

"I know!" cried Becker happily. "Let's spend some quality time together: just me and you. All of you."

The recruits now looked puzzled.

Becker took off his jacket and threw it to Bern. He walked over to the middle of the mats. "Come on. It's all of you against me. Take me down."

No one moved.

Becker put his hands on his hips and sighed. "Really? Not one of you?"

Royce spoke up. "Maybe they're afraid they'll hurt you, Sir." He winked.

Becker chuckled. "That is sweet, but unnecessary."

"You did just get off medical leave," said Corporal Bern.

"True," said Becker, "but I'm fit for duty. Believe me, the medics would love to get rid of me sooner, but they'd never compromise their ethics."

The recruits looked at each other nervously again.

"Take your best shot," said Becker. "Anyone who can take me down gets to graduate."

Finally one of the recruits spoke. "Graduate, Sir? As in…leave the ARC?"

"And you…I mean, your command?" asked another.

The ARC soldiers had to stifle laughs again.

Becker nodded. "Anyone ready to be rid of me?"

Five seconds passed and then Becker was stampeded.

"Ooh, they're vicious," said Sergeant Saunders, wincing at the blows. "Think maybe they're sending Cap a message?"

"Yeah. 'We hate your guts," said Bern.

"They better not," said Royce. "Who do they think they are? We hate the Cap."

The others all laughed.

"Ow," said Bern. "That one hurt."

"Look at the little runt go," said Saunders, pointing to one of the shorter recruits.

"They're doing pretty good," said Lieutenant Keyo. "I bet they gave him two black eyes and at least a dislocated shoulder. Cap will be proud."

They winced more at the fighting: fifteen or so against one. Becker kept up, knocking several to their knees. He was pushed over once but did a backwards flip, kicking two in the head on the way over and jabbing two more with his fists on the way down.

"You know, I was worried," said Saunders. "After all, he did just get off leave."

"Shame on you, Sergeant," said Royce.

"Don't repeat that," answered Saunders as Royce smiled.

"How much longer do you think?" asked Keyo.

"Don't know," said Royce. "They're getting tired."

"Yeah, there go two more down. They put up a good fight, though," said Saunders.

"I'm impressed," said Royce.

Finally, Becker took down the last man. He himself bent over to catch his breath. He looked up and smiled. He held his side for a second. "That…was satisfactory," he said.

The ARC soldiers clapped. The recruits looked at each other confused.

"Oh, 'satisfactory,' is as high as praise goes with the Captain," said Royce, clapping with the others.

Slowly the recruits began to laugh. Becker straightened up. As they composed themselves, they all returned to attention.

Becker, still gasping slightly, said, "You were all a bunch of sorry sad sacks when you walked in here. I was not impressed. Sure, you're all proven and maybe even decorated in your various fields, but the ARC is different."

The recruits chuckled slightly and Becker smiled. "Figured that out did you?"

They laughed.

"You're smarter now too," said Becker. "You've seen what our daily lives are and you've met the challenges with us. I intend to report to your superiors that I'd be glad to have you as back up any day."

The recruits, in unison, said, "Thank you, Sir." It was spontaneous. The ARC soldiers were impressed, both with the recruits and their Captain.

"Still…no one took me down," he said. The recruits sighed in disappointment. "Oh…what the hell? You all hereby graduate."

There was a thunderous roar and loud clapping as the recruits celebrated.

"So…anyone want to enlist?" asked the Captain.

The graduates all groaned.

Behind them, they heard a soft giggle. "Ouch. They don't like you," Jess said.

Becker smiled. "Then my work is done."

Jess shook her head. "Not yet, Captain. I have some personnel files for you. Lester thought that since these boys are leaving us that you might want to read up on possible candidates for the next training."

Becker smiled and turned to the ARC soldiers, who were also smiling. They all said in unison, "Fresh meat."

The former recruits shook their heads. "Poor bastards."

The End