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BARRACKS 1830
"Do you think your guy Bootlicker can keep his mouth shut?" Potter asked Assmunch when Sleeper and Zeus were gone.
"No question, Potter. I probably don't know a quarter of what he and Wanker have gotten into since we've been here, but I expect all of it would have them dismissed from the course if not booted from the Army. If you need something that breaks all the rules, he's your guy. He'd do it just for the fun of it." Assmunch answered.
"That's what I need to hear. I need passes for Battles and I, and our entry on the in/out log this morning to disappear. We have been gone since going out last night and will sign back in just after wake up tomorrow. We won't be here at curfew or lights out. We need uniforms from Sleeper and Demon, they're about our size, without nametapes if they have them. We need to look Army, just in case anyone sees us from a distance. We won't be seen, but it's best to cover every angle."
"I'll make it happen. Anything else?" Assmunch asked.
"Just one thing. Do you want to come?" Potter fixed Assmunch with a serious gaze, and Assmunch felt like this was a test.
Assmunch didn't have to give it a lot of thought, he knew he wanted to be there. He wasn't going for the killing and wasn't eager for it but he had to be there because it felt wrong to avoid this part of the distasteful plan. He was responsible for the Brotherhood. And while he wasn't the architect of this plan, he was part of it. He needed to see this through. He would let Potter do the final act but a leader didn't hide behind his men. If he wasn't willing to risk himself, he couldn't ask others to. And he needed to know the moment Potter described without being in it. It would tell him if he had what it took to become a Ranger.
He had to ask, though. "Do you think I'm ready?"
Potter smiled. "I wouldn't have asked if I didn't already think so. And the Bravos have plenty that are ready. Most, actually. And add Weeble to the ready list now, after what he went through. Zeus isn't because he doesn't really see a lot of gray in things. The whole bad/good thing has to shift for him. Right now, only a order to kill will feel right to him."
"Yeah, you're right. We are working on it, and he's better but a long way from where he needs to be." Assmunch answered. "I have to go with you. I have to see this through. Mostly for myself, But also for Weeble."
Corporal Potter nodded. "It's going to be ugly, Andrew. I mean to fuck these assholes up, and then I'm going to kill them. You need to be prepared for it. You're not eligible for an overnight pass, so you have to get out after lights out. You know where the armory is?"
"Yeah, I remember from combat training when I was here before. I think I know the shed Weeble was talking about. It's by itself a little east of the A20 dudded impact area."
"Okay, good. Battles and I will be waiting for you, but Barnell and Delnick will probably get there just before midnight. Don't wait too long after lights out to be on your way."
The next few hours until lights out seemed to crawl by. Potter and Battles left immediately after getting the uniforms from Assmunch, and the passes from Bootlicker, who also made quick work of modifying the in/out to remove Potter and Battles from the morning sign in and substituting in Assmunch's name with a 30 minute in/out for PT, matching the time of a couple other soldiers so it looked like they all went together. Bootlicker magically produced a small bottle of nail polish remover from his locker, saying acetone was an excellent ink remover. Assmunch didn't ask why the bottle was almost empty. He didn't want to know how many or what types of documents or records Bootlicker had changed in his time with the Bravos.
Assmunch was prepared to operate tomorrow on little to no sleep. He didn't know what the night would bring but whatever occurred he had to be back in his bunk by 0330.
Running across the main part of the base where the Airborne barracks were located was an exercise in stealth. He avoided the pools of light provided by streetlights, and floodlights positioned around the buildings. He hid from the single security patrol he saw driving down the street, waiting motionless until the red tail lights disappeared between buildings. His path was not direct but rather a chaotic scurry to the next pocket of darkness in whatever direction was shortest. All was quiet on the silent Sunday night that mocked the nervousness and turmoil within him. It took fifteen minutes by his internal clock to reach the dudded impact zone where the Gun Bunnies lobbed their tootsie rolls for training. Gun Bunnies were what the Artillery grunts were called. Non explosive shells were used most all the time. Live fire training exercises did happen in other zones, but not this one just off the Cantonment areas. When live fire artillery exercises were being conducted the loudspeakers on base that usually played reveille and taps, or the Star Spangled banner, would blare an announcement. During his combat training they'd had two live fire artillery exercises at Benning. They don't warn you about the thrum of pressure you feel with every concussive blast when live artillery was used, even from miles away there was always a soft `whump' against your body not too long after the explosive flash. There had been none in the two weeks he'd been at Airborne and probably wouldn't be while he was here. Live fire artillery exercises weren't regularly conducted.
The impact zone was considered restricted, and no unauthorized personnel were ever allowed there but Assmunch wasn't following rules tonight so he cut directly across the area after jumping the fence. Although night exercises were conducted, again they were done infrequently and away from the Cantonment area that housed the operations buildings, barracks and population. This impact zone was not used for night ops. Anyone looking with infrared or night vision would see him instantly, but he relied on the fact that no one with any sense would run across this area, much less run across the base in the middle of the night, so any security wouldn't be looking here if they were looking at all. The fence line around the perimeter of Ft. Benning was where they were looking and watching, plus the usual patrols in the Cantonment as part of the MP's regular duties. There would be patrols out here as well, but they would be done from vehicles on the road and unless there was something suspicious they were investigating their eyes would simply scan unless something stood out. Tonight, darkness was his friend and he welcomed it inside himself knowing he'd need it for what had to happen.
A less than a half hour later he slowed as he reached the area where the shed would be, cautious. The overcast clouds from the day were gone and the area was minimally bathed by the quarter moon. It was just before midnight, maybe 15 minutes or less. Lying flat on the ground, his balaclava hiding all but his eyes, he watched the shed for movement. He saw nothing.
The hoot of an owl from his left caught his attention. He turned his head slowly, keeping his head close to the earth.
The silhouette of an arm thrust up from a depression twenty feet from his position. He gave a low volume single hoot back and crawled towards it, finding Potter lying on his back, relaxed as if he were going to take a nap. Assmunch mirrored the position.
Potter leaned in towards him. "We'll hear them coming. I heard you twenty yards out. They'll be in a vehicle. Lights off I'm sure, but we'll hear the motor. Battles is opposite. We'll let them get the shed open. Battles and I already cleaned it up, got everything put back together. Didn't see any blood from Victor, so that's good. The only blood in there will be theirs."
"Copy that." Assmunch replied. So they waited, not talking. Assmunch used the time to mentally prepare himself trying to imagine all the ways this could go, forcing his heart to go cold with thoughts of what Weeble had endured. Only the six of them knew the strength it had taken for Weeble to escape and return which increased Assmunch's determination to see this through. The two rapists had probably counted on the normal profile of a jump school student - attending alone, no one to back them up or question where they were until too much time had passed, the usual chain of command bullshit that would delay any search. The initial assumption was always AWOL or Desertion. These guys had their M.O. down and Assmunch wondered how many others there had been, if there had been previous deaths or they'd counted on the shame to keep their victims silent as well as the unfavorable treatment many victims in the military receive after they report a sexual assault. Ostracism was the most common, but far worse happened. And that was just in the ranks. Superiors didn't like troublemakers, squeaky wheels, or soldiers who rocked the boat and disrupted the mission. Especially old guard Superiors, who felt if a soldier couldn't handle their shit they could fuck right out of the Army instead of making it everyone's problem. The Army didn't need pussies who probably put a target on their own back anyway. That was how they treated the men who caused waves... the women got far worse. Good luck with your career if you got that reputation. The worst part was how they appeared to take it seriously then cut the complainer loose to the rumor mill. The details of a sexual assault allegation flew around a base faster than a directive straight from the Pentagon. If a soldier ended up in the hospital, things were taken more seriously, but the post trauma counseling and notations in their record pretty much ensured a discharge of some kind. Unfit for duty for any number of reasons. Only by ignoring it ever happened were you likely to be able to continue to serve.
Potter suddenly hooted twice, and a few seconds later Assmunch heard a vehicle approaching. His heart began to race.
"Breathe." Potter whispered. "Calm. Cold. Just taking out the garbage."
Good advice, which Assmunch followed immediately. He stilled his thoughts. Control. He resisted the reflex to make this personal. He did not care about these feral dogs, they were simply an obstacle. As much as he wanted the rage to warm him, it would only complicate things so he had to stay even, measured, calculating. Without emotion there would be no fear. Without feeling he could not doubt. It was only murder if they killed a human. These two were animals. Such were the lies he allowed himself, thin as they were.
Potter had been right, the vehicle approached without lights and stopped, then the engine silenced. Almost a full minute elapsed before Assmunch heard the doors open. They did not shut again. He imagined Battles approached the rear of the shed, or maybe not.
Potter placed a gloved hand on his shoulder, making an unnecessary gesture to silence with his finger on his lips. Assmunch nodded. Then Potter tilted his head back and sideways to glance over the edge of the depression at the shed.
He held up two fingers and then an `okay' sign. Still watching, he waited until the clear sound of the padlock disengaging echoed in the night. His hand struck Assmunch's shoulder twice and he rolled quietly to his stomach and rose like black steam from the ground without a single sound. Assmunch repeated his movements and took three slow full and deep breaths, careful to control his exhale, and he felt himself settle unexpectedly into that place. The shed door was opening and Potter just started to signal and move when Assmunch mirrored him with steady and fluid steps, knees flexed, body positioned in a crouch. They would not rush and Assmunch knew the optimal location to take them was inside the shed. Automatic brain was in control and hyper focused. His peripheral vision noted the vehicle was empty, drivers side and passenger doors remaining ajar, interior light disengaged.
Five paces. Four. A flashlight flared, and Potter was moving suddenly. Assmunch only a split second behind.
They never registered the body of the Marine that slammed into them, shoving one into the other and sending them both flying towards the shelves at the back of the shed.
Assmunch dodged to the side, his arm reaching out to Barnell's sidearm as he left his feet, simultaneously flicking the securing strap with his thumb and pulling the weapon from its holster.
The grunt from the unexpected contact came just before the sound of crashing bodies. Potter wasted no time and the sound of handcuffs clicked along with a yell of pain. The light from the flashlight rolling to a stop on the floor showed Barnell half on top of Delnick who had hit the shelves before he fell. Barnell was in uniform, Delnick in civvies and Barnell's hands were cuffed behind his back.
Battles entered just as the two began to struggle. Potter raised up and brought his knee to the center of Barnell's back with all his weight. Barnell let out a pathetic cry. Potter's gloved fist slammed into the side of his face, reducing him to a stunned limp piece of meat. Delnick was trying to extricate himself and a quick strike by Potter stunned him as well.
"Get this one's cuffs on the other one." Potter said in a calm, ordinary tone of voice. Taking out the garbage.
Battles withdrew Barnell's cuffs from the utility pouch on his equipment belt and only had a small fight to secure Delnick's hands.
"Let's get him up." Assmunch helped Potter drag Barnell to his feet and before Barnell could tense enough for the bolt they were expecting Potter brought his knee up sideways into Barnell's stomach forcing him to try to double over but Assmuch held his collar and his wrists. His knees buckled with a grunt. Battles had Delnick face down with a knee on his neck.
With Barnell on his knees, Potter said "Hand me that mag light. Assmunch reached down with one hand and retrieved the flashlight from where it had rolled when the animals dropped it. He handed it to Potter who looked at it. "Perfect." He pushed Barnell's head back by the forehead. "Open up."
"Fuck you." Barnell said.
"Open up or I break your jaw to open it for you. Your choice." Potter could have been ordering breakfast at Waffle House. He tapped the end of the mag light on Barnell's chin repeatedly with measured gentle hits a second apart. One...Two...Three...Four.....After the fifth tap, he suddenly raised the heavy metal flashlight filled with four D cell batteries above his shoulder.
"Okay, okay!" Barnell cried. Tears fell from the corner of his eyes as he opened his trembling ugly mouth.
"Wider." Potter ordered calmly.
When the Marine decided the fit was right he lowered the flashlight slowly, allowing Barnell to watch it descend, his head still pulled back so his face was looking up. The barrel of the flashlight was a little over ten inches long and as big around as the cardboard roll inside a sleeve of toilet paper.
"Uh uh... keep it open." Potter warned when Barnell started to close his jaw. He eased the end between Barnell's lips.
"Suck it." Barnell, recognizing this was just hazing, did as he was told, the wild panicked look disappearing from his eyes. Potter pushed another inch in. "Get it wet." Barnell's eyes kept darting from Potter's face to the flashlight, then rolled up to try to get a look at Assmunch.
Potter pushed another inch in, and the panic returned to Barnell's face. He began making guttural noises.
"Don't talk when you're sucking. I don't like it." Potter observed with a bored tone. "You're going to take all of it. Hey buddy, what's that saying you like?"
Battles said in the same casual tone "You mean `if he ain't bleeding, you ain't trying?"
"That's the one." And with that Potter pushed the flashlight down. Barnell began to scream around the object in his mouth and struggle but Assmunch held him tight by the head, his dispassionate eyes unblinking, his foot pressing down on the links between the cuffs and his knee pressed between Barnell's shoulder blades. Potter met resistance about five inches in and pushed with slightly more strength managing to work another inch down.
"Pathetic." Potter remarked. "You can do better. I've seen it in movies." And he pushed again without making any progress. He sighed. "What a waste of time." With that he hammered his fist down on the head of the flashlight punching it down fully into Barnell's throat.
Barnell's eyes bulged and his body jerked.
"Let him go." Potter said, and Assmunch released him to fall to the floor off the shed where he twisted and writhed as he choked, suffocating with incredible pain caused by half of the ten inches of thick hard textured metal being forced into his overstretched throat.
Potter shoved him over on his back with his foot, and knelt down to undo his equipment belt.
"Get his legs." He told Assmunch. Assmunch knelt on either side of Barnell's legs, pinning them in place and sitting down on his shins. Potter tossed the equipment belt aside, then unclipped the slide on his uniform belt. "Pull his pants down, just below his knees."
Assmunch yanked the uniform trousers down. Barnell's struggles were becoming weaker as he suffocated, unable to draw breath around the tube in his throat.
"Let's get him up, on that shelf." Assmunch knew the one he was talking about. They positioned him exactly as Weeble had described, facedown on the middle shelf, his now naked ass sticking out, sliding the cuffs over the J-hook that held the extension cord. Barnell was now limp and Potter grabbed the end of the flashlight and jerked it free from Barnell's mouth. A few seconds went by and Barnell jerked back to consciousness with a gurgling choking gasp that had to be incredibly painful to his abused throat.
"Bring the other one over here." Potter said. Battles yanked Delnick up by the back of his shirt and dragged him on his knees over behind Barnell.
"Eat your buddy's ass." Potter ordered, swinging the mag light in lazy arcs.
"I can't...I don't... Please?" Delnick pleaded.
Potter hit him with the flashlight in the side of the face, which made the light flicker. The crack was followed by blood. "Eat his ass. Get it wet, really wet. Make sure you get his hole. The wetter you make it the shorter you'll have to do it. I won't tell you again."
Delnick slowly moved his face towards Barnell's ass. Barnell's breathing was ragged and suffering. It was probably all he could do to lay there gasping with his throat on fire.
Delnick tried to fake his way through it, for which Potter connected his gloved fist with the other side of Delnick's face, sending his head rocking as he fell over onto his side.
"Please...". Delnick begged. "What do you want? Why are you doing this?" He cried.
"I want -" he kicked Delnick in the stomach. "You to eat his ass." And he leveled another harder kick. "Get up. Get in there. Get it wet."
He yanked Delnick up by his shirt, the jerking motion forcing a button to pop off and roll under the shelves.
"Buddy, why don't you spread those cheeks for him." He nodded at Assmunch, who moved to pull Barnell's asscheeks apart. Potter grabbed the back of Delnick's head and pushed it forward. "Stick your tongue out and lick."
Delnick was crying now, but doing as he was told. He gagged.
"Spit it on his hole, don't swallow it." Delnick obeyed. "Wetter, more spit. He's going to have a hard time of it if you don't get him lubed up."
Delnick pulled back. "You...you're going to fuck him?"
Potter laughed. It was a sound that could barely be described as a laugh. It conveyed no humor. It was an expression meant to mimic laughter by a creature alien to the concept of joy. It weighed the air with poison. "Not me. You. That's probably enough."
Barnell's right butt cheek was smeared with Delnick's blood from the cut on his cheek. Potter pulled Delnick away from Barnell's ass.
"Buddy, take care of that one's hands." He said to Battles.
Battles stepped over to the other shelf and selected a piece of lumber. He hefted it a couple times as he walked back over to Barnell. With an underhanded swing he hammered it into Barnell's exposed right knuckles held in place by the cuffs, not hard enough to break bone but enough to bruise them. Then he rubbed the wood over the punished skin. Battles bent down to get a closer look, then using his own gloved fist he punched Barnell's knuckles three times more and looked again. Barnell was barely responsive. "It'll do." He announced. "Give him another one."
Without warning Potter slammed his fist into Delnick's nose. He fell back groaning to the floor.
"Get up and fuck him." Potter ordered.
"I can't. I won't get hard." Delnick whined as blood trickled out his nostrils.
Potter shoved Delnick over on his stomach with his boot. "Give him two, right hand." Delnick attempted to curl his hands but Battles dropped his knee into Delnick's back just as Potter had done to Barnell earlier. Delnick let out a groaning wail as Battles grabbed his wrists. He twisted the rapist's arms up and towards him, his grip on the cuffs making it impossible for Delnick to hide his knuckles. Battles popped his knuckles twice, then rubbed the wood back and forth a few times before dropping Delnick's wrists.
"You fuck him, and we let you go. That's the deal. You fuck him and this will all be over. I don't care if you have to think about fucking your sister or some hot chick you saw at the PX, but fuck him hard, shoot your load and we leave the key to the cuffs on that shelf over there and go away. This is just payback for that guy you did last year. Just teaching you a little lesson. Fuck your friend like you fucked our friend and we call it even. Hell, I'll throw you a bone and say it's okay if you think about how you fucked our friend, we know THAT got your rocks off. What do you say Delnick? Fuck him hard and give him that load you've been dreaming of fucking into him, or we beat you so much over the next two hours that you get a medical discharge and a lifetime of VA appointments. Your choice." Potter was incredibly reasonable. Assmunch had no problem believing there had been more than just one non-specific friend these two had victimized over the last year.
"You promise? You'll let us go?" Delnick was crying again, blubbering like the coward he was.
"Yeah man, it's a promise. And none of us will say anything about any of this." Potter said with a convincing smile.
"O-o-okay...I'll try."
Potter smiled again. "Remember, just like you fucked our friend, or the deal's off. He told us all about it. That's how we knew about the thing you like to say `if he ain't bleeding you ain't trying'. We really need you to mean it, okay?"
Delnick nodded working his way to his feet.
"You probably need us to help you with your jeans, right?" Potter said. Delnick nodded.
Potter undid the top button on Delnick's 501's, then slowly undid the buttons below it. He rubbed the back of his hand over Delnick's crotch as he moved. In a seductively low voice Potter continued. "Wow, buddy, looks like you're packing a nice piece of meat there. Your buddy is sure gonna enjoy that, feeling you ramming that piece up his warm tight hole. He's probably a virgin, right? He's gonna love you opening him up like a whore, a real man like you, giving him what he secretly wants. Showing him what he's good for, being a fuckhole for you to empty your balls. Yeah, it'll hurt him at first, but that's good, isn't it, shows him how to be a real man."
"Delnick...don't." Barnell's raspy tortured voice came out soft and hoarse.
Potter grinned. "Got a little fight in him, but that's the way you like it, isn't it? He doesn't know how much he's gonna like it though, once you get to pounding. They all settle down after a while, don't they? They fight at first, but then they just lay there and enjoy it, because they love that big dick of yours. They can't help it. Just fucking love this cock...". Potter had pushed Delnick's underwear down to his thighs along with his jeans and was gently stroking his cock that was now hard. "Yeah man, go on, show him how a real man fucks. Show us how you like to do it so we can all go home and get some sleep tonight."
"Please ... no...". Barnell barely had enough control over his torn vocal cords to get the words to come out as more than a whisper.
"Oh, say that thing you like to say." Potter urged with a grin.
Delnick cleared his throat. "If he ain't bleedin' you ain't tryin'"
Potter clapped him on the back. "Hell yeah buddy, show us what it's all about." Potter pointed Delnick's rather average dick at Barnell's hole. "All the way in the first plunge, as hard as you can, just like my friend. Won't it be fuckin' hot when that warm blood coats your big cock? Fuck yeah."
Potter pulled on Delnick's dick one more time, forcing a drop of precum to the top.
"Do it. Now." And gave Delnick a nudge on his lower back.
He thrust forward with all his weight in one violent heave.
The sound that came out of Barnell was a toneless scream of wheezing tortured air, and he bucked forcefully to try to get away. But of course he couldn't.
"Yeah buddy, fuck him hard! He loves it, you'll make him cum if you keep fucking him hard like that. Nice big hot cock ripping into him, fucking him like a real man should. Damn, that's as hot as our friend said, he said he hated it at first, but you fucked him so good he started to enjoy it. You're a real stud. Shit, everyone needs that dick."
Potter kept up the talk, stoking Delnick's ego, giving him an ongoing narrative to get him where he needed him. Whatever it took.
"That's it, it's going to feel so good to unload in that ass. You gotta be close. Watching you take that hole has got me boned, man. See how he's just laying there now? He knows what that hole is for. Go ahead. Shoot your load, let's all go home."
Delnick started thrusting faster, trying to work himself up enough to cum. It wasn't easy. He had no control, no power in this. Without that this was a disgusting fag fuck. He closed his eyes and pictured sexual fantasies, trying to find one that would ramp him up. He was going to cum in Barnell's ass. Hell, his buddy probably DID like it, just a little. He'd probably ask him to fuck his ass again after this. Delnick imagined Barnell begging him to do it just one more time, and imagined himself sneering at Barnell and calling him a desperate faggot hungry for dick. Seeing Barnell's sad shocked face as he spat the insult at him started his balls churning. Yeah, Barnell would probably turn into one of those disgusting homos who couldn't get enough dick. Delnick always figured Barnell leaned that way. The guy was always scoping out the new classes at Airborne. It was Barnell that picked the guy out they would fuck. It was Barnell that arranged everything, planned it out. Delnick hardly thought about it at all until Barnell called him to say he'd picked out another one. Barnell found the places they would take the guys, like this shed. None of this was Delnick's idea, he was just having a little fun, releasing a little stress. The more he thought about it while fucking Barnell's bloody ass they more he realized Barnell was a little faggot too. He probably jacked off thinking about Delnick's dick, he was always so eager to get Delnick into the guys they fucked. Too eager. Well, if Barnell wanted his dick, he was gonna get it.
Delnick started fucking with angry, jabbing thrusts. He wished he had the use of his hands to grab his fellow MP's hips. Barnell was responsible for getting him into this mess. It was all his fault, the dirty fucking pervert. It was no more than he deserved. This was probably what he dreamed about all along, why he'd picked Delnick to be his wing man. He was getting close, real close. He pulled his dick all the way out and shoved it back in making Barnell gasp with pleasure, obviously loving it. He did it again, and again, then a third time when he felt his cum start shooting deep in Barnell's bloody asshole. He pushed further in, letting his seed fill that faggot's hole.
The exertion of his finish was still washing over him when he felt the cuffs release and a hand grabbed his wrist. He felt Barnell's sidearm touch his palm as his arm was pulled forward just as he realized what was happening. The sound of the weapon discharging with two loud pops echoed in the shed as Barnell's body twitched on the shelf. Then the gun was pulled from his hand and placed against his temple. He barely had time register shock when everything went black.
ASSMUNCH
It all happened so fast after Delnick came. Battles pushed Assmunch towards the shed door then immediately unlocked Delnick's right handcuff when Potter grabbed his hand and lifted his arm holding Barnell's sidearm in Delnick's palm. He pointed it Barnell's head and Potter pulled the trigger twice in quick succession then without a pause he dropped Delnick's hand and raised the gun to Delnick's temple at a slight backwards angle. One quick pull saw Delnick's head jerk away. Three seconds. It almost seemed impossible for so many things to happen in so short a time. There was no splatter, no skull explosion like in the movies. Potter dropped the gun from where he pulled the trigger before Delnick's lifeless body hit the floor.
Battles carefully unlocked the left handcuff, reset them, and casually tucked them back into Barnell's utility belt. Potter did a quick scan of the shed, placed the mag light on the upper shelf near the edge and picked up the piece of lumber they'd used.
"Hmmm, his pants need to be pulled back up." Potter said. "Took him a few minutes to think through what he'd done, to figure out there was no way out of this. He'd have pulled up his jeans, just doing the top button."
"Sound right." Battles replied. The two of them made quick work of getting Delnick's jeans back up, and then carefully rearranged him exactly as he fell.
"You understand all this, Andrew?" Potter asked.
Assmunch was still processing it. It was nothing like he'd thought. The puzzling part was how little he felt about seeing two men get shot in the head. Except for the loud retort of the weapon discharge their actual moments of death were sudden and quiet and it seemed like there should have been ... well, MORE. The finality of it, the abrupt stillness argued against the nature of the violence and the buildup that preceded it. It demanded an equal ferocity that would never blossom, like watching lightning strike without the thunder that should follow, the explosion of a mortar without the whump of air pressure. And deeper... a recognition that there was an absence of satisfaction. It should have felt like a resolution, a series of actions that resulted in a sense of completion. If anything, it all felt lacking. Empty. The anticipated cathartic feeling of righteous justice did not manifest in this room. Even Potter and Battles continued on as if nothing of import occurred. The disparity between what he expected to feel and what he didn't feel created an incongruity that would necessitate further examination. But not now. He had a doubt that the reconciliation would ever happen for him, there wasn't enough discord within him to require the type of soul-searching he expected. His non-reaction bothered him more than what might spur a moral conflict.
"Uh, yeah, I think. You want it to look like an argument between lovers. Like Barnell wanted to call it off, they fought, Delnick wasn't on board with that. It got out of control and Delnick realized he was fucked either way so he did Barnell, then offed himself."
Potter nodded. "Pretty close. It reads either way...either Delnick came onto Barnell and was rebuffed and threatened exposure so Delnick raped him and killed him, or they'd been having a lover's spat. The beatings we gave them both weren't punishment, it was just enough to be evidence of a mutual fight between former friends. You fight your friends differently than your enemy. Delnick forced himself on Barnell once he had him subdued. The investigation won't go any further than this shed. Everything is explained with what they find in here and their actions today. I think these two also had the occasional unexplained times when their whereabouts couldn't be explained suggesting they disappeared at times for secret meetups. Are you good, Andrew?"
Assmunch met Potter's eyes. "I'm not sure why, but yeah. Just not sure it won't hit me later. You think it will?"
Potter shrugged. "Hard to say, but you? I don't think so. You stay in your lane. You look ahead, not back. Don't worry about this not hitting you hard. Like I said, everyone is different, and this situation I think falls into one of your `had to be done' categories. If there's one thing I know about you Andrew, is you tackle things head on. They don't creep around in your head taking up space. And at the end of it all, you didn't pull the trigger. You'll be fine. Everything that happened tonight stays in this shed. I'm already erasing it in my head. You should too." Potter then turned to Battles. "Just cleanup left. Andrew doesn't have gloves, make sure you get the top of the mag light where he grabbed, get both their hands on it. CID will fit it into their conclusions however they think goes along with what they decide."
"What about his weapon? I grabbed it." Andrew asked.
"Textured grip. Can't get anything off that. Trust me, there's too much here pointing to only these two being involved. And when they dig deeper into their whereabouts the last 24 hours, then look even deeper and further back, it'll all be crystal clear. What I hope is that at least one or two of their previous victims tried to make a report. And hopefully their hands will be on any investigation, which I would expect they'd volunteer to handle. Once CID starts digging and asking questions, they should figure out who these roaches are and what they might have done. Then, CID won't be looking for any other reason than these two having a falling out. But even if that doesn't happen, THIS piece of shit". He said, gesturing to Delnick's crumpled body. "Fucked THAT piece of shit bloody and dumped his load in his ass. Hard to explain that if someone else did the deed. Get going. Pace your way back, take your time, don't get distracted with thoughts, stay aware. Caution is the priority, not time. You absolutely can't be seen." Then putting it it language more familiar, "Your mission isn't over until you're in your bunk."
Assmunch nodded. Then dipped his head at Battles. "You have a blank check for this, you know that right?" He said.
"It's all a blank check for a brother. That's why we're here. That's why you'll be there when we need it. Isn't that right, Battles? There's no scorecard between brothers."
"Hoo-rah". Battles said in a soft growl without even looking at them while he took care of the final details.
Assmunch turned and left the shed, heading back the way he came, being careful to stick to the path they'd already taken to get to the shed.
WEEBLE
Sleep came hard, and sporadic. The feeling of being trapped forced him to jolt awake repeatedly and jerk his head around to make sure of his surroundings. He'd then spend 20 minutes or more trying to get back to sleep only to wake up again a short time later. He SHOULD feel safe, here in the barracks, surrounded by the Bravos. But he didn't. No, that wasn't right. He felt safe. But he couldn't forget. This time he woke himself up stifling a scream. The image of Delnick and Barnell in the front seat as they drove him to the shed panicked his dream.
He heard a shuffling two bunks over. He turned his head. Zeus was walking toward his bunk, in his puppy dog pajamas. When the giant got close, he whispered "I'm okay Zeus. Just a dream."
Zeus didn't say anything. He pulled Weeble's blanket back and climbed in the bunk.
"No more dreams." Zeus said, pulling Weeble into his arms and surrounding his entire body. The last thing Weeble thought before waking up was how he didn't feel trapped.