Into What Is Impossible (Hiatus, Re-write In-progress)

Part IV

I recover from my shock and quickly reply. "Affirmative, seems to be six or eight individuals total- break- what the hell are these kids doing?!"

They run their way ever closer to the edge of the clearing around the house, a young girl seemingly leading them.

A beep as one-one replies. "Bravo one, I don't know- standby." A momentary pause. "Two-one says some of the kids currently running recognized them as US SOF before running away- break- Zeus, orders?"

I could see Chappy lifting his eyes above the scope as he look on to the running children.

Major Degarmo speaks again after a beep. "Pursue and eliminate two one- break- bravo one can you assist?"

I breathe out as I push the buttons on my earpiece to reply. "Affirmative."

Chappy snaps his head to me. "Wh-what?" He asks in an unbelieving voice.

I keep my eyes on the runners as I reply. "Take them down Chappy."

I could hear him choke on his words.

"I... B-bu-but sir!"

I shakily let out a breath that I've been holding in before turning my head. "Don't make me pull rank here Chappy. You can only make it quick for them."

"They're just kids!"

"DO IT NOW SERGEANT!" I shout.

His eyes widened, but only briefly. Then he goes back to his rifle, takes aim and fires the first shot.

I've returned to my binoculars when he started to take aim, and I saw as the girl that was leading the runners earlier had her head dissipate and her body to fall down to the ground.

More shots followed, and more bodies that will not be added to the count fell. And all of those shots went hit the targets from three hundred meters away while they moved erratically.

When it was all said and done, a team from delta company ran to the place where the runners are and shot the ones that were out of Chappy's line of sight, or those being carried that are now under the bodies.

It was gruesome, remorseless, and efficiently done.

Chappy never took his eyes off his scope.

---

[Present day, Area Zero, 0130 Hours]

I wake up to the sound of someone whimpering. I turn my head to the source and see Chappy's silhouette shaking slightly.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I hope it was quick... I ... I..." Chappy whimpers.

Drowsily, I start to get up from my bunk and approach him. Then put my hand on his shoulders. "Hey man, wake up." and start to shake him.

"No... no..." He whimpers louder and I shake harder.

"Wake up!"

Chappy bolts upright, shouting. I immediately put my hand forward to hold him from slamming his head onto the ceiling.

"Yo man, I'm here." I say while rubbing his back through his tee.

Chappy sobs for a moment, head in hands- I look at him as his sobbing start to subside, until he, with a shaky voice, speaks.

"I swear I didn't want to." The last part came out almost as a whisper.

I keep rubbing his back and stay silent as he stops sobbing and normalizes his breathing to calm down. And when he did, he turns his head to me.