Post by Bergy on Dec 7, 2014 8:30:17 GMT
BACKGROUND
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In front of Danny, a corporal with his eyes on the undergrowth a few yards away put his foot down, triggering a click.
The corporal heard the sound, and as is natural among those who have just stepped on a landmine, he began to panic. “Keep it together Corporal,” his sergeant said with a rare calming tone. “Reeds, can you take care of it?” Danny stepped up. “Make it quick,” the sergeant continued, “we can't afford to stay here for very long.”
Danny knelt by the shaking corporal. “Try not to move too much, you take enough pressure off these things and they'll blow.” Danny was doing his best to stay calm himself, but he knew the severity of his situation.
He dug into the ground by the corporal's feet, revealing the homemade explosive. “Sergeant, you need to get everyone back. I'll do what I can, but there's no telling with the ones they just throw together.”
The sergeant took his men back as the private removed a plate of metal from the mine's side, exposing its innards. The firing mechanism was held in place by the corporal's weight, holding back the explosive charge. “Damn,” Danny spat, “Sarge, there's no way I'm disarming this thing without blowing it.” The sergeant swore heavily, asking the private if he had any ideas between the obscenities spewing from his mouth.
Danny looked around him, spotting a fallen tree nearby. “Stay there,” he told the corporal as he dragged over massive log. “Listen to me closely. I'm going to put my knee on the mine, right by your foot. When I tell you, you will step off, and retreat back to the sergeant. “Copy?” The corporal quivered. “I said, COPY?”
“Y-y-yes,” the corporal finally gasped out.
“Alright,” the private said, shifting his knee onto the mine and leaning his weight into it, watching to make sure the firing mechanism stayed put.
“Get back now,” he let out with a heavy breath. The corporal lifted his foot, and then quickly scampered back to the other troops. Danny positioned the log on the top plate of the mine, sliding it on while his leg slid off, his eyes never leaving the small metal rod that stood between him being able to walk away, or being dragged by his sergeant away from a crater in the jungle.
He moved slowly, taking his own weight cautiously off the mine. He grinned at the lack of a boom. Got it, he thought, as he took a few paces back. “GOT IT!” he called to his sergeant. He turned, took another couple of steps, and then the grin quickly left his face. *click*
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PERSONALITY
He woke up, drenched in sweat. It felt like the nightmares got worse every night. He hadn't always had them, but shell shock doesn't necessarily hit at the same time as the shells.
Even with one leg, he had for some time been able to hold steady work. An honorable discharge was enough to get a man an entry level position then.
___________________________________________________________________________________
In front of Danny, a corporal with his eyes on the undergrowth a few yards away put his foot down, triggering a click.
The corporal heard the sound, and as is natural among those who have just stepped on a landmine, he began to panic. “Keep it together Corporal,” his sergeant said with a rare calming tone. “Reeds, can you take care of it?” Danny stepped up. “Make it quick,” the sergeant continued, “we can't afford to stay here for very long.”
Danny knelt by the shaking corporal. “Try not to move too much, you take enough pressure off these things and they'll blow.” Danny was doing his best to stay calm himself, but he knew the severity of his situation.
He dug into the ground by the corporal's feet, revealing the homemade explosive. “Sergeant, you need to get everyone back. I'll do what I can, but there's no telling with the ones they just throw together.”
The sergeant took his men back as the private removed a plate of metal from the mine's side, exposing its innards. The firing mechanism was held in place by the corporal's weight, holding back the explosive charge. “Damn,” Danny spat, “Sarge, there's no way I'm disarming this thing without blowing it.” The sergeant swore heavily, asking the private if he had any ideas between the obscenities spewing from his mouth.
Danny looked around him, spotting a fallen tree nearby. “Stay there,” he told the corporal as he dragged over massive log. “Listen to me closely. I'm going to put my knee on the mine, right by your foot. When I tell you, you will step off, and retreat back to the sergeant. “Copy?” The corporal quivered. “I said, COPY?”
“Y-y-yes,” the corporal finally gasped out.
“Alright,” the private said, shifting his knee onto the mine and leaning his weight into it, watching to make sure the firing mechanism stayed put.
“Get back now,” he let out with a heavy breath. The corporal lifted his foot, and then quickly scampered back to the other troops. Danny positioned the log on the top plate of the mine, sliding it on while his leg slid off, his eyes never leaving the small metal rod that stood between him being able to walk away, or being dragged by his sergeant away from a crater in the jungle.
He moved slowly, taking his own weight cautiously off the mine. He grinned at the lack of a boom. Got it, he thought, as he took a few paces back. “GOT IT!” he called to his sergeant. He turned, took another couple of steps, and then the grin quickly left his face. *click*
___________________________________________________________________________________
PERSONALITY
He woke up, drenched in sweat. It felt like the nightmares got worse every night. He hadn't always had them, but shell shock doesn't necessarily hit at the same time as the shells.
Even with one leg, he had for some time been able to hold steady work. An honorable discharge was enough to get a man an entry level position then.
