The Infinity Brigade #1 Stone Cold Read Free Page B

ink and it was everywhere except my face and privates.
    After a vision test and a brief psychological evaluation I was cleared for service by the MEPS.
    All told, there were sixteen of us that went through the process and all sixteen passed. I was a little surprised by this because I had heard that becoming a marine was tough. So far it didn’t seem so bad. My assessment would change over the next several weeks.
    A marine captain came out and looked us all over. He told us we were about to attempt to become members of one of the most elite fighting forces the galaxy has ever seen. He said if any of us had any doubts, that now was the time to back out. After this point we risked death or injury. I looked around. There were no takers. I guessed everybody in the room was as crazy as I was.
    “RAISE YOU RIGHT HAND!”
    I followed the captain’s instructions.
    “Repeat after me… I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the Galactic Coalition of Planets against all enemies; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. That I will obey the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”
    ***
    As the shuttle touched down on the lunar surface, inside a sealed hanger, the pilot kicked on some music. It apparently was a tradition and the Marines were big on tradition. The music was from an ancient rock and roll band called Pink Floyd . The lyrics were haunting and I couldn’t help wonder if this might not be the first in a series of attempts to break us with fear.
    Breathe, breathe in the air
    Don't be afraid to care
    Leave but don't leave me
    Look around and choose your own ground
    For long you live and high you fly
    And smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry
    And all you touch and all you see
    Is all your life will ever be…
     
    “SHOW’S OVER RETROBATES! GET YOUR BUTTS OFF THIS CUSHY LUXUARY LINER! MOVE IT! MOVE IT! MOVE IT!”
     
    I grabbed my duffle bag and raced off the shuttle. The drill sergeant that was screaming at us was standing in front of a white line. I’d seen enough war holovids to know that I was supposed to stand on that line.
    I was the first out and I quickly placed my toes on the line. Unfortunately I didn’t know what to do with my duffle bag so I bear-hugged it to my chest. I was the only one to remember to bring my duffle. I began to worry that maybe I was supposed to leave it on the shuttle.
    The drill sergeant put a quick end to that thought. He stomped up to the recruit next to me and said, “SOLDIER DID YOU NOT BRING ANYTHING WITH YOU ON THAT LUXURY LINER?”
    “Yes Sir!”
    “SOLDIER DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?”
    “No Sir!”
    “I AM SENIOR DRILL SERGEANT HARRIS. YOU MAY CALL ME… SENIOR DRILL SERGEANT HARRIS. I AM NOT A SIR… I WORK FOR A LIVING. YOU WILL NOT CALL ME SIR. AM I CLEAR SOLDIER?”
    “YES SIR… er… SERGEANT… er… SENIOR DRILL SERGEANT HARRIS!”
    “DROP AND GIVE ME FIFTY!”
    “The rest of you,” Master Drill Sergeant Harris said in an almost soft voice that I soon learned to dread, “Do I look like a valet?”
    “NO SENIOR DRILL SERGEANT HARRIS!”
    “Then why are your duffels still on the shuttle? The GCP was good enough to give you those items. Are you saying you don’t want them?”
    “NO SENIOR DRILL SERGEANT HARRIS!”
    “Perhaps you should retrieve them,” the Drill Sergeant whispered.
    Everyone except for myself ran back to the shuttle. Senior Drill Sergeant Harris walked over to my position. “What’s your name soldier?”
    “Master Drill Sergeant Harris, my name is Anthony Grant Stone.”
    “What are you doing with that duffel bag Anthony Grant Stone?”
    “Holding it Drill Sergeant.”
    “Yes I can see that. What should you be doing with it?”
    I honestly didn’t know, and in my defense I had been left unsupervised for far too long in my life. I did the only thing that came to mind. In hindsight, it was probably the wrong