Bomb Squad

It was hard, but manageable, to be in S.E.P. You were required to be out of your room by 7 o clock and take whatever meds were delivered to your room. Breakfast ended at 8 o clock. After breakfast everyone was required to take 1 physical every day. The doctors checked up with you, pumped the 'special stuff' into your blood stream, and reattached your coils for the day. Missions happened more often then you think, but hardly ever in the middle of the day. At the base was a soldier lounge where everyone would congregate after their physicals. It wasn't very exciting. There was a tv complete with an older looking couch. A pool table. A chess table and a small work out space. Water fountains were located in several spots in the base. Soldiers were required to drink at least 2 gallons of water a day. Even If the doctors had to pump it into their stomachs. You had to be careful not to get into a fight. Everyone knows that if your coils break or come off you would die. The 'special stuff' pumped into each soldier slows their heart rate. The coils make sure your blood still moves through your body normally. Every soldier was also required to have at least one hour of traiining per day, whether it be lifting weights or working on combat, it was a requirement. Gabriel had just woken up. He looked over to the digital clock on his nightstand. It read 18:00. He rolled over rubbing his head and grunting.

"I woke up way too early."

Seeing as he couldn't go back to sleep he turned his alarm off and hobbled out of bed. He put on sweat pants and threw a hoodie over his head. A small slit in the wall opened and a sweet voice spoke.

"Soldier 24. Your medication has arrived."

He looked behind him to see a small cup filled with a clear green substance. It was filled to the top and a cup of water sat next to it. He walked over and stared at the liquid in disgust. Gabriel quickly shook his head and took a sip of the substance. Quickly taking it from his lips he nearly fell over. He gagged and coughed into his arm. Looking back down at the rest of the substance in the cup he shook his head and plugged his nose.

"Fuck it!"

He tilted his head back quickly downing the substance in the cup. His arm was thrown back and he chucked the cup across the room to the wall. Gabriel grabbed the cup of water and chugged it. When the cup was empty he sat on his bed begging for air.

"It's like their trying to kill me."

Gabriel cleaned up the mess and headed down to the cafeteria. There wasn't anyone there yet. He looked at the clock on the wall. 18:30. He sat down at one of the tables and waited patiently. To his surprise Jack came down next. Seeing Gabriel he sat down in front of him.

"Did you get that green stuff this morning too?"

Gabriel nodded.

"That shit was nasty."

Jack scratched the back of his head.

"I threw it up my first time today so they had to send another dose."

Gabriel chuckled.

"Where are you from again?"

Jack looked worried.

"I-I'd rather not say."

Gabriel smiled.

"Is it that embarrassing?" Gabriel said looking mischievous. "Now you have to tell me."

Jack was starting to get annoyed. He slammed his hand on the table.

"I don't have to tell you anything, Reyes."

Gabriel grin turned.

"Fair enough. How about this? Everytime you answer a question about yourself I have to tell you something about me. You can ask anything, but there are some things best left unsaid." Gabriel explained.

Jack looked up at him sternly.

"Fine."

"Great. Now where are you from?"

"*sigh*. I'm from Bloomington, Indiana. My parents...they...own a farm."

"A farm boy?! Ha I can't believe it!"

"Would you keep your voice down dammit!!!" Jack said in a whispered tone. "Your turn tough guy! Where are you from?"

"From the streets of Los Angeles, boy scout."

Jack stared at him sternly.

"Don't call me that." Jack said gritting his teeth.

"Didn't know farm boys were so easily offended."

Jack grabbed his head, resisting the urge to strangle Gabriel.

"You gotta let me have this, Jack."

Jack looked up at him.

"You're a dick Gabe!"

They both froze. Jack crouched into his arms trying to hide his bright red face. Gabriel's face grew a bit red as well. He stared at Jack wide eyed.

"D-did you just call me Gabe?"

Jack groaned into his arms. It came out muffled.

"I-I didn't mean to..."

"Morrison it's fine, but I'd rather not let that happen again. It's Gabriel or Reyes, that's it."

Jack looked up and nodded fast. He wanted to hide and never come out. He didn't think that he would ever be able to be that close withca guy like Gabriel. They were almost polar opposites, but somehow still understoldone another. Other soldiers began to pile into the cafeteria. Jack and Gabriel got in line to get their trays. The soldiers were also limited to the things they could eat. They could only have what was given, but there is no rule saying you couldn't trade it. Gabriel and Jack sat down with their trays. Jack began chewing his bacon when he caught Gabriel staring at his tray.

"What is it?"

"Hm, I'll trade you my apple for your bread?"

Jack looked down at his tray and picked his bread up andheldit towards Gabriel.

"Deal."

Gabriel took the bread and gave Jack his apple. The soldiers next to them at the table started laughing and ranting. They looked to Gabriel and started asking him questions.

"Yo Reyes? What kinda chicks are ya into?"

He chuckled.

"Women are too dramatic." Gabriel grinned. "I'm more in to guys."

Jack looked up shooting his gaze at Gabriel. The guys beganto talk amongst themselves again. Jack was shocked to find out that Gabriel was into guys. He pretended not to pay attension and looked back down at his tray. They finished eating and Gabriel was already on his way to the training rooms. Jack sat down in the soldiers lounge pondering what Gabriel had said in the cafeteria. The sound from the tv distracted him. He shook his head and focused on what the reporter on the screen was saying. Time passed and Jack got hooked on a show that came on after the news. When the show ended he stood up and went to the training rooms. He looked through the window to see someone punching a bag. Th9eir hand were wrapped and their shirt was off. It was Gabriel. His body was shining in sweat. He grunted with effort in every punch. Jack leaned on the door and watched. He was intrigued, almost hypnotized by Gabriel's moves. All of sudden the door creeked open. Jack gasped nearly falling into the room. Gabriel looked over startled. He started panting. Jack face, glowing red again, tried to come up with an excuse for this one. Gabriel spoke before him though.

"Either you caught me at a bad time or you were watching me, boy scout." Gabriel said trying to laugh it off.

He walked over to the bench and threw his hoodie back over his head. He took a sip of water and stared at Jack, waiting for some sort of response. Jackquickly tried to think of a comback.

"Lookin like a pro wrestler, but I bet I could lift more."

Gabriel chuckled nearly choking on his water.

"Is that a challenge, farm boy?"

"If I win you have to stop with the nicknames."

"Deal. Let's do it some other time though. I need to shower off."

"Alright. Then it's settled. We'll see who is stronger."

"It's not about strength, but I'm prepared to kick your ass, Morrison."

"Hm, we'll see about that, city boy."

"At least I'm street smart."

Jack chuckled.

"Would ya just go?!"

Gabriel chuckled and walked to the locker room.

Lunch time came around. Gabriel came into the cafeteria late. He was wearing rhe same clothes from earlier and his hair was still dripping wet from the shower. Jack chuckled under his breath. Gabriel saw a smile crack through Jack's lips, but let it go as he sat down with his tray. Jack looked at Gabriel's tray and noticed that he had crackers.

"I'll trade my energy bar for your crackers?" Jack said.

Gabriel narrowed his eyes.

"Hm, I'll take your chips for them?"

"Done."

Jack gave him his chips and took the crackers from his tray. All of a sudden their squad leader walked in with a clip board.

"Alright you guys you know the drill. If I call you stand and walk out to the armory." The squad leader exclaimed to the rest of the cafeteria. "39! 22! 46! 24! 97! 63! 76! and 34! Please head down to the bay! Wheels up in 10! Let's move."

Jack and Gabriel stood leaving their trays and heading down to the armory.

"Put on the heavy gear!"

Heavy gear? Gabriel and Jack looked at one another confused. Heavy gear was only used for the bomb squads. First a mission interrupts lunch in the middle of the day, now they are going on a dangerous mission. They helped one another with their gear and loaded onto the trucks. The gear was nearly twice the size as the regular making it hard to move. Jack and Gabe had to turn their whole bodies to see one another. The helmet was heavy. Jack knew that this wasn't going to be like any other missions. They weren't told to bring guns. They didn't even know what they were doing there or where they were going.

"A medical team will be on stand by. It is your job to get hostages to the medical team. There is believed to be some sort of bomb threat going off. To ensure that you all stay alive we are having you wear the heavy armor. Try your best to move around. Remember you guys are stronger and faster now. Use it! Fallout!"

They all ran from the truck as fast as they could. They all split up and began spreading out looking for any signs of life. In the distance Gabriel saw a piece of debris moving. He ran over and threw a large piece of concrete over to reveal a man holding a small girl in his arms.

"Let's go. I'm gonna get you out of here."

Gabriel grabbed the mans hand and pulled him from the debris. Dust filled the air. Jack looke dbehind him to see Gabriel disapearing into the brush with two survivors. He co tinued forward lifting up as many rocks as he could to find survivors. Soldiers around him were finding some. There were occassionally lifeless bodies around. Jack looked away before it brought him to tears. Continuing foreward he saw a figure in the distance. It was a little boy. As he came closer, cuts and bruises were covering his body. He was crying and sniffling into his hands. Jack ran to him and knelt down.

"You'll be ok."

He picked the boy up and brought him to a parametic. Once everyone was accounted for, they loaded up and headed back to base. Back in the armory. The soldiers began taking off the heavy gear and putting it back in its proper place. When Gabriel's helmet came off he looked like he was concerned about something.

"Reyes? You good?"

His somber look quickly turned to a chuckle.

"I was never really good with kids."

Jack smiled.

"I dunno. I think you did a pretty good job with that little girl and her father."

"It's nice to know that we are making a difference."

Jack's face grew lost.

"Apparently it's not enough to save the whole world."

Gabriel froze his expression on Jack.

"We can't save everyone, blondy."

Jack frowned at the stupid name.

"Really?"

"You're so easy to mess with Jack."

"You realize once I win that bet that you can't call me any other dumbass nicknames."

"Too bad you're not gonna win."

"You are so on, city boy!"