The Hidden Rose

By Jayne Amanda Maynes

“I'm not sure I understand. Witches and vampires don't associate with each other. I guess in a way we are terrified of each other. Vampires tend to hide their magic because even the weakest witch in a fight could completely incapacitate the strongest vampire. If we can lure them into our magic before they are able to cast they lose their magic either through death of becoming a vampire.”
“No they don't, it just becomes foreign to them. I can sense the different kinds of magic, and have yet to find anyone who could hide their magic from me.”
“Sam that's not possible. I can sense another vampire but a witch is difficult at best for me and the other creatures that have magic I can't sense at all.”
“Maybe you can't but I can. You don't believe me take me out somewhere and let me prove it to you. The magic calls to me, it wants me. I can tell you are holding your magic hidden right now. You're one of the strongest vampires I've ever come across, even stronger than Mac or Chuck who were both born vampires.”
“Sam you don't have any magic, there isn't a witch alive I can't sense, and you have no magic.”
“I have no magic Chris? I'm a natural born witch. My oldest sister is the most powerful witch to lead White Rose coven in a thousand years and her strength in the elemental magic is as nothing compared to mine. You think you have blood magic? How do you think it is no vampire can hide from me? I can command the blood magic the same as the elemental magic. I am White Rose! I am White Lotus! I am magic!”
Chris stepped back with a look of shock and fear both in his eyes as I drew in my magic and he felt the enormity of it all. I felt all the magic flowing through me and asked again if he loved me.
“How much do you love me Chris? Which is more important to you, your life, or your magic? Is it me you love or the magic I command?”
“I never asked for the magic, a magic that has marked me for the remainder of my life. A magic that is so much a part of the lives of those I care most about. If the cost of sharing in your love is the magic that I have, take it I never asked for it in the first place. I only ever wanted the woman that completes me as a man.”
“For all my life I was thought to be a man, but at no time was that true. I've been hidden away for a special time, a time which is still not here. You see father of blood the daughter of elements cannot be revealed until the time is ripe for her unveiling.”
Kathy and Nicole both came running in fear in their eyes that something had happened to their mother of choice.
I fell in a heap on the floor no idea what happened. Chris was bent over me helping me try to stand a worried look on his face.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jayne Amanda Maynes
• Release date: Jul 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310538322

Jayne Amanda Maynes

I was born in April 1955 as the heir to my father. My older brother should have been, he had the same initials as dad, but he was mentally retarded and had a heart condition from birth. According to my mother she knew from the time I was growing inside her that I would be a boy and the heir they had hope my brother could have been.I have known for as long as I can remember that I was different that there was something not right about me. I am a M2F (male to female) transsexual. I am currently on HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy); I started on HRT October 1, 2007. I have been in therapy for GID (Gender Identity Disorder) since February 2007. I have not set a time yet for completing my transition to becoming the woman I know I am inside. There are so many things involved in transitioning that most people have no clue about. The differences between the sexes are so vast and all of my life I have led a life that just never fit who I am inside. I have learned so much and yet there is still so much that I still don’t know about being the woman I always knew I was.

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The Hidden Rose

Jayne Amanda Maynes

Copyright © 2014 Jayne A Maynes

Published by Jayne A Maynes at Smashwords

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

All characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

ISBN: 978-1-3105-3832-2

Chapter 1

Sam you're up, my coach said.

Let someone else go, I said.

Are you crazy, two outs, the bases loaded, and you're the best hitter we have, the coach said.

I picked up the bat and walked out to the plate. This was so stupid, I didn't care about this game. Sure a home run and we would win, but just what did we win?

Why can't they understand? I don't want to play this kind of game, it has limits, and limits mean only so much room for advancement. They probably think it's because of the rules, but without rules there is only chaos, and chaos leads to disaster. What the girls are doing on the other hand, makes sense. The limit for growth is infinite, the rules sound and just. Limited only by your imagination.

The pitcher couldn't just walk me if he did we would win, that meant he had to try getting me to strikeout, or hit the ball where it could be played. All I had to do was hit the ball as I normally did and the game was over, and my team won. I didn't care, all I wanted was to be able to be myself, and even I didn't know who that was.

The first pitch I watched go by not liking where it was.

Ball one, called the umpire.

Again the pitcher threw the ball and again I just stood there letting it go. My team was counting on me.

Ball two, was the call.

I looked at the runners and nodded, my signal for them to go on this pitch. The pitcher released the ball and I watched keeping my eyes on the ball and lining the swing up with where the ball would be. I felt the bat come around, the ball right in the center of the plate at waist height. I stood there knowing the bat would connect and send the ball flying in the opposite direction it had been traveling. I pulled up and felt the ball hit the sweet spot of the bat shattering the bat and sending the free end flying toward the pitcher.

The ball took off no doubt of where it was going, straight over the center field wall. I watched the end of the bat and realized if the pitcher didn't move soon it would be to late. I was frozen watching what was happening as though in slow motion.

This was insane it was to late for the pitcher to do anything now, he moved to slow and was going to be hit with the end of the bat I had just used to win this stupid game. I tried wishing, hoping without hope I could do something to prevent what I knew was going to happen and all of a sudden the end of the bat dropped on the ground. It didn't make sense the rules of physics said what happened wasn't possible, yet I witnessed it. I set down the part of the bat I was holding and slowly headed for first base.

I rounded the bases crossing home plate, Gary (the catcher for the other team) asked me what it was I said after hitting the ball. I gave him a strange look not understanding what he was talking about since I didn't remember saying anything, I was to worried Mike would be hurt when the broken bat hit him.

Sam, wait up, Mike called out.

I turned around and waited while Mike ran to catch up with me.

That was a great hit, he said.

That was my last. I told the coach I quit, I said.

What do you mean you're quitting? Sam you're the best out there, Mike said.

Thanks Mike, but that was the fourth bat this year and this time it almost killed you. I'm done, it just isn't worth it any longer, I said.

Even my best friend didn't understand that to me games like baseball just didn't matter. They were finite there was only so much room for progression and I had reached that pinnacle, he had said it himself I was the best out there on the field. When I was batting it didn't matter left or right. Pitchers refused to pitch to me except in a similar situation to this time because they didn't have anything I couldn't hit. Mike knew better than to throw the ball down the middle, he knew as soon as he released the ball it was a home run and his team lost. But he didn't deserve to have the end of the bat come flying at him, and that meant I was done, I wouldn't put anyone else at risk like that.

How did you do that Sam? Kathy said running up to me as soon and Mike left.

How did I do what? I asked.

Make that bat break like it did, Kathy said.

I didn't... I guess I wasn't holding it right and it broke. That was the last one I'll ever break though, I quit, I said.

Just like you quit everything else? You'll never get what you want if you always quit Sam, Kathy said.

You're a fine one to talk, always playing those silly magic tricks when you know it's all just a bunch of nonsense. Everybody knows there's no such thing as magic, or at least everyone but my big sister, I said.

You wait Sam. One day I'll be the head of a coven and you'll wish you never said that, she said.

Kathy! She ran off after smacking me for making fun of her and her passion for all things magical. She knew why I quit she was the only one I had ever shared my lack of interest in sports with.

Kathy wait, please, I'm sorry, you know I didn't mean that, I said.

You did mean it. You meant it because you can do those magic tricks better and know the secret behind them, she said.

I was just frustrated because I can't do the kinds of things I like doing. You're the only person I feel safe telling the things I want, I said.

You know I don't tell anybody, she said.

Kathy was the only person I felt safe telling how much I wished I was a girl. She was the only person I had ever shown the kind of clothes I wished I could wear. She was the only person I knew wouldn't ridicule me for wanting to be who I felt I was.

If you don't quit I'll let you wear your favorite, and even help with the make-up, she said.

It's to late I already told the coach I was quitting, I said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

That dress is so beautiful Kathy, I said.

I'm sure yours will be just as pretty when you finally find Mr Right, Sam, Kathy said.

You promised you'd never tell, I said.

I'm sorry I didn't think. Sam, I've never told anyone, Kathy said.

You've never told anyone what Katherine? Mom asked.

Nothing mom, Kathy said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

For the last couple years I refused to go to church with the family. It seemed the only time I had I could be myself, and being myself was the only thing keeping me sane.

I never played baseball again after that game my broken bat almost hit Mike. I did help Mike and a couple others work on their game to become the best they could at something they loved, for me they all knew baseball, though something I was very good at, wasn't something I enjoyed.

Sam it would be nice if you would join us in church this week since it will be Kathy's last time as an unmarried woman, Mom said.

Kathy will always be my sister, and her getting married doesn't make those bigots from your church anymore tolerable, I said.

I don't ever want to hear you say something like that again. Mom slapped me causing me to stagger to stay on my feet.

The biggest advantage I had now was that within a week of Kathy getting married I was leaving for basic training in the Air Force, then I wouldn't have to deal with moms constant preaching about just how good her precious church was.

You know Sam, provoking her that way doesn't solve anything, Dad said.

How can you let that church rule so much of your life dad? Those people are dangerous with their holier than thou attitudes, I said.

I take it that includes me. I didn't think I was holier than anyone, Dad said.

How could I explain so dad could possibly understand.

Dad I hate the church because if what it teaches is right I've been condemned for as long as I can remember. It says people like me are lost simply because we are, I said.

You don't really believe that do you Sam? Dad asked

No, of course that explanation didn't work. How could it? It didn't describe anything about why I felt the way I did.

Dad have you ever felt like you were wrong, like everything about your life was out of kilter with what it was meant to be? I asked

What do you meant Sam? If you mean do I ever have days when it seems nothing goes right, of course I do, everyone does, Dad said.

I mean did you ever feel like you should have been a girl instead of a boy? I asked hoping no one but dad heard.

A spark of understanding finally showed in dads eyes as he took in my words. We both looked around and seeing mom standing as close as she was I wished I hadn't said anything, just taken dads rebuke and let it all wash away like it had so many times before.

You think you should be a girl? You think Sam should stand for Samantha? My fathers name is Samuel and you should be proud to share his name, instead you despise your heritage. Sometimes Sam I have trouble believing you could possibly have come from my womb, Mom said.

I wanted to say something, but I knew if I did dad wouldn't like it and I didn't want him to hate me just because mom did.

I loved having the name Sam since it could be either a male or female name depending on which it stood for, and nothing anyone said, or did would change which I took it for. Samantha Geraldine Waters. It was a beautiful name and I was indeed proud to have it, even if that wasn't what it really was, at least for now. One day it would be my real name my dreams all said so, and my dreams seemed so real so often. The thing that held my dreams from being more real than the reality I lived in, was that Kathy and I were both very powerful witches, and magic didn't exist anymore than the god the family seemed to worship and hold in such high regard.

Why do you always have to fight against us Sam? Why can't you be more like Jeff? Mom asked

I'm not Jeff and I don't follow anything blindly. You and dad use to always encourage us to question everything, but when I do you belittle me if I don't come to the same conclusion you do from the answers I get. I'm glad I only have another week until boot camp. Maybe then I'll be able to find someone who appreciates me just for me, I said.

Oh yes I can see it now. Hello I'm private Samantha Waters. Yes, I'm sure that'll go over real well Sam, Mom sad with so much derision in her words it was pure insult.

That was it, from this point on I no longer cared about this woman. If it weren't for dad and Kathy, even Sarah I wouldn't stay any longer, I would have walked out and if needed slept in a cardboard box until time to leave for Texas and boot camp.

Sam, I'm sorry, but your mother does have a point. If you go telling everyone in the Air Force you feel like a girl they won't let you stay, and some of the people will probably try killing you, Dad said hoping to ease the tension that was hanging so heavily.

Dad I was asking because in my dreams I'm always a girl. I don't remember ever having a dream where I was a boy, I said.

I think that is something you should keep to yourself, at least until you're out of the military, Dad said in a whisper so no one else would hear.

Dad always knew how to keep me from doing something rash, like living in a cardboard box. If it wouldn't have been for him I would have runaway years ago, but I knew he loved and cared even though I always thought his punishments were ten times worse than moms.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Six years from the day I arrived at basic training I'd be free again. I knew there were many of the men in the dorm, or as the Air Force called it the flight, who had signed up for only four years, but I signed for six. I hadn't told anyone back home how long I signed up for, what would have been the purpose? I didn't have a girl friend, or a boy friend for that matter, and I still wasn't sure if mom ever really cared one way or the other. Jeff with his holier than thou attitude had told me in as many words he thought I was damned because I left the church. Dad I knew cared about and loved me, but I wasn't sure he cared for me enough to understand why I wanted nothing to do with his form of religion.

Waters! The drill Sargent said.

Yes Sargent! I replied.

Pack you bags Waters you're being transferred, he said.

Yes Sargent, I said.

What had I done wrong, basic training graduation was only a week away and so far the only people who had been transferred were those having physical trouble keeping up with everyone else. I wasn't having trouble, in fact I had been made flight leader and everyone else in the flight looked to me whenever the Sargent wasn't around. I kind of found it annoying at times, but knew it was an honor to be selected.

You're Airman Waters? the Lieutenant in the office asked.

Yes sir. Sir, I was told to report here with all my gear, I said.

Your ride will be here in fifteen minutes Airman. So take a seat and make yourself comfortable, he said.

Sir, I don't understand. Did I do something wrong? I asked.

Your Sargent didn't tell you? he asked.

He only told me to pack my bags and report here sir, I said.

You've been selected for OCS, you're going to Colorado Springs, where when you get done you'll be a Second Lieutenant, he said.

I've been chosen to become an officer? Thank you sir, I said.

I had no clue what this would lead to, and at the moment it really didn't matter. When I joined I planned on staying in long enough, that breaking the ties of home would be complete. Becoming an officer hadn't been part of the plan, so was a sweet surprise. I needed to let dad and Kathy know, but when? What if I washed out of OCS and ended up a disgrace.

No! This was something I wasn't going to share until I had more information.

Once I was in Colorado Springs everything was different, the military structure was still there, but we didn't have the open dorms like in basic, here it was more like going to college with four beds to each room and several rooms to each dorm. The first six months I was there I had a room to myself, and everything seemed to be going well.

Then I got called to the commandants office. Again I started to panic, no one ever got called to the commandants office unless they screwed up somehow, but for the life of me I couldn't think of anything I had done that could even come close to being considered a screwup.

Lieutenant Waters, please come in, the commandant said.

Sir? I don't understand. Do you mean I've completed my training to become an officer? I asked.

You have Lieutenant, we wouldn't normally handle telling a cadet in this fashion Lieutenant, but you've been selected for special forces training, and I've been informed that on completion of that training you'll be assigned to a covert op team as second in command. I don't mind telling you Sam, I put you in for this, something I only ever do for the best of the best going through our training here, The commandant said.

Sir, what if I don't want to be special forces? I asked.

Is that true Lieutenant? If so why did you take the courses you did from the time you arrived? the commandant asked.

I love a challenge sir, and those courses where the only ones that sounded like a challenge. Sir, I have no doubt I could handle the special forces training, but I was really hoping to have a chance to prove my worth for what the government has invested in me already. I was hoping to start paying back on the training, I said.

Lieutenant you handle special forces training the way you did here and I can assure you when you start giving back it will have been worth the extra training you'll receive, the commandant said.

Yes sir. Sir, if you really feel this is what's best, of course I'll give the training all I have, I said.

I still hadn't let anyone at home know I had gone to OCS and was now an officer rather than an enlisted person. The commandant said the orders for my Lieutenant bars were attached to my transfer orders and handed me not the Second Lieutenant bars I expected, but First Lieutenant bars taking my cadet rank off my jacket and attaching them on my shoulders where they went.

I completely skipped Second Lieutenant, going from Airman first class, out of basic training to cadet during OCS, to First Lieutenant. Two more pay grades and I would be command level, and likely have my own company.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

When I arrived at special forces training I found out just how easy the rest of my military training was. The instructors seemed to think it was their job to make sure everyone, especially officers knew what living in hell was like. The days started a good two hours before the sun came up and didn't end until several hours after it set. Anywhere you went was done at double time and they didn't wait for anyone who couldn't keep up. If you fell behind you washed out of the program. I was determined I wasn't washing out, the government had already spent to much on me for what I had given back and until I felt I had given back at least as much as I had received I wasn't about to quit. I watched as several of the officers I arrived with washed out and went back to other units never to get another chance to prove they were the best.

Lieutenant Waters, your instructors say you're ready for the final test. Tell me Lieutenant, do you think you're ready? The training commander asked.

Sir if my instructors say I'm ready, who am I to question their judgment? I don't mind saying sir, that having heard what the test consists of it scares the hell out of me, but if they feel I'm ready then I feel I'm ready, I answered.

You'll have a six man unit Lieutenant. The test commences in one week. You and your unit will be dropped and have one week to find your way back to base. Lieutenant if one man fails you all fail. You will be the commander on the training mission. I was told.

Five other men counting on me to make the decisions that would get us back to base in one week, and as yet I had no idea who any of the men were, or where it was we would be dropped and with what supplies.

I'd like to introduce you to your unit, Lieutenant. This is Sargent Mac Denvers, Private Kelly Summers, Sargent Pete Upton, Sargent Kevin Wallace, and Seaman Anthony Littlefield. Gentlemen Lieutenant Samuel Waters will be your commander and will have the details of what it is you'll be doing. This exercise is your last before you are assigned to your units. Remember gentlemen if one of you fails you all fail. We do not leave our people behind, The commander said.

For the next week the men I was supposed to command and I did everything together so we knew what we were each capable of. I needed to know each of their specialties and they needed to know I wouldn't ask anything of them I wouldn't be willing to do myself if it weren't they could do it better.

The day we waited for came and still no one had given me anything about where we were going, or what equipment we would have. I grew suspicious the closer it came time to leave.

Lieutenant, any word yet on where we'll be going, or what we'll be taking? Mac asked,

Mac can you have everyone pack survival gear. I have a feeling when they finally tell us anything we won't have time to do more than grab our packs and go. If possible make sure everyone has at least two days of food and water, at least one change of clothes and basic survival gear beyond that. Make sure Littlefield packs a radio as well and see there's a full med kit in my pack if you don't mind. Half a dozen compression bandages splints you know the drill, I said.

Yes sir, I'll see to it right away sir, Mac said.

Mac. He turned back to me. Lose the sir unless there are other people around please, I asked.

I packed my gear a few days earlier so I was carrying a full pack during our workouts over the last week. If I was going to have to carry that pack into the field for who knew how long I wanted to be use to its weight.

Lieutenant are your men ready to go? The commander asked.

Yes sir, we were just waiting for the orders to come down sir, I responded.

You'll be air dropped into this area. There was a map laid out showing about a two hundred mile radius and he told me we were being dropped at least one hundred miles from the base and were expected to make it back to base in one week or be considered AWOL. From there you will have one week to take out a target here, an area that would mean we would need to cover at least double the area a straight line would have given us. Another one here, another detour that would add about fifty miles to our route back. And then be back on base in two weeks. You have one hour to get everything you'll need together and be on the runway. The commander said.

Yes sir. Sir,; may I keep a copy of this map so I can go over it with my men on the way to the drop point? I asked.

He nodded and I saluted and started rolling up the map to see there was another just like it underneath.

Chapter 2

Weapons were something we never went anywhere without. But in our unit we learned weapons most of the military didn't use and those we carries as well. One of the first things I learned when I got to special forces training was crossbow and archery. The crossbow over all was more accurate and could shoot farther, but there were times the bow could be useful as well and was a whole lot easier to make if you didn't have anything other than your knife.

I had a feeling the targets we had been given would know to expect us, but wouldn't know from what direction to expect us.

On the flight to the drop point I went over the map with everyone letting them know to complete this mission it would take all of us working together. Just before we reached the drop point I rolled the map putting it again in my pack and sat apart from the rest of my unit for some quiet time to think. The sound of the aircraft faded into the back ground as did the sound of the men talking and I heard words that made little or no sense to me, but couldn't help repeating them in preparation for what lay ahead.

Praying for our safety sir? Mac asked.

I don't believe in prayer Sargent, I said.

So the words you were saying just now, they weren't some kind of prayer? Mac asked.

None I'm aware of. Just before I go into something I'm not sure of I like a little time alone and these words just pop into my head along with the need to say them out loud, if that's a problem Sargent you can always just give me the time I need without intruding, I said.

I wasn't trying to intrude sir, it's just those words sounded like some a neighbor lady use to say whenever her kids were going out to play with my brother and me. I was just wondering if maybe you knew what them meant. Mac asked.

I don't have any idea, only that they help me think better and come up with safer ways of doing something. We're at our drop point let the others know to get ready, I said.

No sooner did Mac give my orders and the speaker came on with the pilot telling us we would be at our drop point in three minutes.

Each of the men looked at me and smiled as if knowing no matter what else might happen if I could call this that close we would finish this exercise on time with everyone together.

When the cargo doors opened each of the men hooked their tether and waited for the order. I was the last one off and I watched where each of the men landed so I knew where to go looking if for any reason one of them didn't show up at the rendezvous point.

Once on the ground each of the men were to head for the designated clearing where we would be able to get everything together and start mapping out our strategy for accomplishing the objective. I saw the men all holding back from the clearing and started laughing when I saw the reason. I walked out into the clearing and met the problem feeling confident if I explained we weren't there to hurt anyone they would understand and allow the others to come out into the clearing as well.

When I signaled the rest of the unit to come out and join me they did so making sure to move slow so as not to cause a panic.

You know you're all a bunch of wimps letting something like that stop you from your objective, I said.

I'm sorry sir, but we don't all have that magic touch that lets us speak with animals, Tony said.

So you're saying I'm a witch or something because I was able to talk to that bear and let her know we weren't here to give her or her cubs any problems? I asked.

I didn't say that sir, but... Tony stuttered.

Seaman I know what you said and I was just trying to get your goat. Now we're pressed for time so we need to get our strategy worked out. I feel we need to come up with a couple plans for taking out the target at stop one. Stop two will need to be something different since one of the biggest problems is repetition. I would prefer we be completely unpredictable, about the time they think they know what we'll do and commit to it, we hit with something so different they fall into their own trap, I said.

We went over my ideas for an attack on stop one and I gave each member of the unit to chance to voice their ideas and add any insights, or concerns they might have. In the end there were a few modifications to my ideas, but they remained the link to the plan for accomplishing our mission.

Rather than setting up a camp for the night we all agreed we would have cold camps at least the first few nights and work on getting to each target as quickly as possible during the hours we could all see well enough to travel. Mac became my right hand through the mission as the second highest ranking person in the unit. At first I got the feeling each of the men in the unit were sure I was going to be one of those officers who always thought their ideas were right, but after I had allowed each of them the chance of having input into the plan they stopped showing resentment to my orders.

I couldn't accomplish this mission without them and if I had to ride them at ever move, we would never meet the time limit and we would all wash out. Now that I knew I could count on them to be more understanding of my position as commander I felt certain that not only could we meet the time we had been given, but possibly even do so in the time we had been given to reach and take out our first target.

We set a hard pace to our first target reaching it mid afternoon and rather than moving in when we were all tired I ordered camp set up so we had a base of operations while we scouted the situation. For the remainder of that day and night the objective was simply to gather information to further refine our strategy for the greatest chance of success.

Sam I'm not sure these other men will be able to keep the pace to the next target, Mac said.

Are you telling me I'm asking to much of them? I asked.

I'm saying you set a pace even I was struggling with when we got here, Mac answered.

Mac you and I entered this training at the same time. These other men have been going through this training for almost twice as long as we have, they should be able to hold and even harder pace. If the pace I've set is to tough for you I'm willing to slow it down a little, but I would rather pick it up. I want to set a record and I think I have the right men to do just that, I said.

They aren't special like we are Sam. If you want to pick up the pace I have no doubt they would be willing to try, but at what cost? These men are only human, Mac said.

Oh and you and I are more? Come on Mac you're talking as though you believe in Fairy creatures. I'm the smallest person in our unit for size and I don't see one person in this unit who isn't at the peak of physical fitness, I said.

An hour before day light we got our break as the guard for the target was changed and we made our move taking the target and alerting the base that the first target had been neutralized and secured. As soon as we got verification that we had met the first part of the test we were given the go to move onto the next part.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

You do realize General no one has ever been able to cover that distance in that short of time and accomplish securing the first objective without loss? Colonel Talbot asked.

Colonel tell me just how good is this Lieutenant of yours? Do you really think he will be able to keep those men at that pace and level of precision? The General asked.

General, Lieutenant Waters is one of the best I have ever seen. He's been here half as long as most trainees and as you can see from this first leg he is able to command at a level higher than most other officers with ten times the experience, Colonel Talbot replied.

If your Lieutenant can keep those men at the current pace throughout this mission I'll personally see to it he has his Captains bars and a place on one of our best units, The General said.

That would be much appreciated General, Colonel Talbot said.

Colonel, one last thing before we hear from this team of trainees again. Just how long has that Lieutenant been in the Air Force? The General asked.

Sir, Lieutenant Waters enlisted about eighteen months ago. After basic training he was sent to OCS for a year and then here for the last six months, Colonel Talbot answered.

You told me he's a First Lieutenant, Colonel. Just how is it he has already received that grade if he started as an enlisted man? the General asked.

He enlisted for six years to start so came out of basic training as an Airman First Class. He graduated top of his class at the academy and came out a First Lieutenant. If you give him a promotion when he graduates here he will be a Captain within two years of having enlisted, making him the fastest in gaining rank in over one hundred years, Colonel Talbot said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

You heard them gentlemen. The next leg won't be as easy as this one was, because they now think they know what to expect from us, I said.

Sir with all respect perhaps if we pickup the pace getting there we can catch them unaware, Pete said.

I seem to remember hearing each of you complaining about the pace we were moving at getting here, I said.

Yes sir, but we didn't expect to have the rest we did when we got here before having to engage, Kevin said.

I looked over at Mac and smiled as he looked dumb founded that the men under us were asking that we pickup the pace rather than me having to give the order.

Tony how long will it take if we double our efforts before we can get to our second objective and get a base camp set up? I asked.

Sir, with all respect looking at the terrain on this map if we aren't able to double our efforts I'd guess at least a week, Tony replied.

I sat down with Tony to go over likely routes and noticed that only one route looked possible without encountering forces designed to slow us down or even stop us. That route also showed to be the shortest and from what the terrain appeared there would be no reason to think anyone would choose it as a possible.

Rather than make the decision I put it up to the men under me coming up with reasons for and against taking the route I hoped the men would agree to without me having to order it.

With each argument I presented against the route one or more of the men presented an argument for, bringing a smile that told me these men in a crisis situation would have no trouble following my lead. They each seemed to know the route I was arguing against was the route I wanted to take and thus showed why it was the better route. I knew once we finished our training and were assigned to our respective units some of us might not survive when we faced actual combat, but just maybe each of these men would be a definite improvement to whatever unit they ended up in. I just hoped Mac and I would end up in the same unit when this was over.

I've been in the Air Force to long to believe what just happened here was coincidence. These men would follow you into hell, because they know you'd bring them back, Mac said.

And what about you Mac? When this is over if you're given the choice would you be willing to go to whatever unit I get assigned? I asked.

Would you be willing to request me, would be a better question, sir. If any of us are given a choice of assignments when we get back to base it will be you, Mac said.

If they give me that option I would request that you be assigned to whatever unit I am. Mac as long as we're in the same unit you will always be my second. The one person I know I can turn to when I'm not sure, I said.

He smiled letting me know he felt the same. I let the men have the night to get settled after the small victory we had in meeting the first leg of our assignment. And made sure they each knew we would be heading out before the sun came up and I wanted to be at least ten miles into our journey before anyone even knew we had left so the chances of them figuring out what route we were taking would be next to none.

I had Kelly checking the radio constantly after we left so I would know if they had discovered us before we were able to get somewhere that trying to find us would be harder than it was worth.

Sir they just discovered we left, Kelly said.

Thank you Kelly. Men we need to pickup the pace before they discover which route we took out of there. If they figure out what route we're taking we just made their job of stopping us easier. If you remember they have the advantage of all the modern warfare tools and equipment, we don't. I'm not even sure we're supposed to have the radio, but what they don't know won't hurt us, I said.

As fast as we had been moving when we left we doubled our speed and reached our objective route undetected while setting a false trail at the same time. When Mac and Pete joined back up with us word came to double the force along the false trail they set up.

I kept us going well into the night moving at a pace that if we were able to maintain would have gotten us to our second objective in two days time. If only the terrain we were facing would allow for that kind of speed.

I don't mind telling you we're all tired from the day we just put in, Mac said.

I'll stand guard tonight, let everyone get a good nights sleep I want to be out of here as soon as it's light enough to see, I said.

All the men were out as soon as they lay down, all that was except Mac who sat up with me going over all the things that might possibly go wrong.

Sam why did you join the Air Force? Mac asked.

I enlisted as an escape. Mac I'm the oldest boy in my family and everyone expected me to do all the things boys are supposed to do. At my oldest sisters wedding just before I left for boot camp I asked my dad a question, and tried to explain why I am the way I am, why I don't follow along the religious teachings I was brought up with, and it got me nothing but ridicule, mostly from my mother. I still love her, but I can't live under her dictates any longer. As soon as I was eligible to enlist I did. I was selected for OCS right out of basic, and then for special forces as soon as I finished OCS, I answered.

You mean you bypassed second Lousy? Mac asked.

I enlisted for six from the start. I figured by joining the Air Force I'd never serve in anything but a support role, in this conflict I don't happen to believe we should be in. I do believe in our country, or I wouldn't have joined regardless, but... I started.

I know the feeling, I enlisted to avoid the draft. I figured the Air Force was the best chance of missing any actual combat, but after seeing the holes the pilots kept getting in their airplanes I was given a chance to join special forces and make a difference, Mac interrupted.

Why don't you get some sleep Mac I want everyone ready to go when I give the order, I said.

Can I ask one more question first? Mac asked.

You just did. What's your question? I responded.

Have you ever thought maybe you were supposed to be a girl rather than... he started and I cut him off.

Good night Mac. I hope I never hear that question from you again, is that understood? I answered with a look I hoped he would understand to mean that kind of question should never come up again.

Yes sir, perfectly, he replied.

Why would he have asked that question? Surely I hadn't done anything that would have given myself away. That question brought back the way mom and Jeff made fun of me for having asked dad about if he ever wished he were female. As soon as I recovered from that, the time Mac came to me saying the men were tired and he didn't think they could give more came back, something in the way he said it made me wonder even more about the world in which I lived. Why would I have responded the way I had, alluding that he and I might be fairy folk from mythology.

Thoughts and wishes of a time when I could have become, or at least lived as I knew myself to be kept intruding until I decided it was time we get moving before they found out what direction we had really gone.

Up and at 'em boys it's time we get going. I'd like to get at least another hour down the road then we can stop and fix some breakfast. That is if you're in the mood for some fresh spring trout and grouse eggs, I said.

Each of the men looked at me like I had lost my mind until I held up a stringer with enough trout each man could have two and a grass basket of eggs that were about the same size as chicken eggs. It seemed strange because I didn't remember doing any fishing while they slept, nor did I remember weaving together a grass basket and hunting eggs.

Mac looked at me and just nodded as though he knew something I didn't. The only thing at this point I knew for sure, was I was sick of C-rations and we hadn't taken time to hunt for anything else. Camp was broken in record time and we were gone leaving little or no trace we had ever stopped there. When I felt it was safe I called a halt and tossed the trout and eggs at Kevin asking if he thought he could treat us with something extra special for breakfast.

Three days later we were setting up our base camp to obtain our second objective. Kelly was monitoring the radio chatter and said as yet they still hadn't discovered where we had gone. I wanted them defending against an attack far enough away from where we were really going to be it would draw the bulk of their force away from where we intended to strike leaving us with a token resistance to get through.

Mac took Pete and Tony and skirted around our target to make it look like we were set up else where. I made sure he understood I wanted him to make it look realistic like we really were there, but not so easy to find they fell over themselves trying to avoid it.

It took a full day before they were back and another day after that before we had conformation they had stumbled on our camp. Talking to Mac I found out the three of them had set up several different camps each just a little harder to find, but if we didn't move soon we were likely to lose our element of surprise and end up facing a lot bigger force than any of us wanted.

It seemed after we had taken out the first target so fast and easy they had no intention of allowing us the same privilege again, and doubled the size of the force we would be facing, with the security getting tighter and tighter the closer we got to the target.

Any suggestions on a plan here gentlemen? I asked.

I had a plan of attack, but wanted to see if any of these men had the ability to plan a strategy that might be even better than what I had in mind.

They all looked at me not saying anything as though they didn't have a clue what to do to get by the kind of odds we now faced. I laid out what I wanted from each of them, and got strange looks, as they tried to figure out just how I expected them to be able to accomplish what I was asking.

Haven't any of you been paying attention to how I collected plants throughout our travels? I asked.

The light came on as Kevin thought of all the different plants I had gathered.

Sir, it will take me some time to get the paint made, and we might want to see about getting some plants from around here. If we can find the right plants I could make up some tranquillizer to use on darts too, Kevin said.

Tony and Kelly both offered to try finding something we could use as blow guns while Pete said he had seen something that would make excellent darts we could use. I looked at Mac to see what he wanted to contribute and got a blank stare back.

Mac? I asked.

I don't know what I can contribute sir, Mac said.

You can do reconnaissance for us while we work on getting everything ready. Mac it's okay to take prisoners, it's not okay to kill anyone, I said.

Yes sir, I understand sir. I hope that won't always be the case though, Mac said.

If we are ever in a real combat situation Mac, I would have stated that differently. Under real combat I would have said it is okay to kill, but we don't have the man power for prisoners. Is that more along the lines of what you were hoping for? I asked.

Yes sir, I just wanted to know you weren't squeamish about doing what had to be done, he said.

I don't like killing, but do know the necessity of it in war, I said.

We didn't do anything other than prepare for the next two days each member of the unit doing what they could to get everything together so when I gave the order we would be able to strike fast and hard.

None of the patrols sent out looking for us even came close to where we were, but they had found most of the false camps that had been set to keep them busy looking for ghosts that didn't exist.

The morning of the third day the target sent out double the patrols and I gave the order. We were inside the patrols without a single patrol spotting us and moving fast toward the target inside the base. I thought it strange they hadn't done more than give me the location of where each of the targets were, and left it to me to figure out just what it was we were supposed to do. Mac and I found the command building and within moments were inside with still no alarms having been raised.

I came up behind the commander raising my knife to his throat and whispered that if he moved without my consent it would be the last thing he did.

Lieutenant Waters I take it? the commander asked.

It is General. Would you care to let me in on what it is I'm supposed to be after here? I asked.

Me Lieutenant. You're supposed to be after me. If you'll remove that blade I'll call your commander and let him know you succeeded in this part of your exercise and are on the next leg of your mission, he said.

I'd like to talk to him to insure he does understand if I run into any trouble he is going to have unconscious solders between here and our home base, I said.

Lieutenant just out of curiosity how the hell did you make it this far without the alarm being raised. My best men found several of your abandoned camps, but there was no sign you had ever really been in them, he asked.

Those camps were to keep you looking where we wanted you to look. As for how we got this far I've been standing here in this room with you for ten minutes before I let you know I was here, I replied.

The call was made and my commander said he wanted General Wentworth to put us on a transport the test was over.

General Wentworth let his forces know they had failed to protect him and he was extremely disappointed in just how poorly they had done. He called motor pool and arranged a truck to take us back to our base and congratulated me and my men in a job well done.

When we arrived back at base the Colonel wanted me to report to his office before doing anything else. I told the men to go on to the barracks and get their gear stored and get cleaned up and I would let them know what I could as soon as possible.

Colonel Talbot sir. Lieutenant Waters reporting as ordered, I said on entering his office.

I stood at attention waiting to be acknowledged.

At ease Captain. The voice wasn't Colonel Talbot and whoever it was seemed to think I was a Captain not a Lieutenant even though I had stated my rank clearly.

Sir? I asked.

Captain if you could have picked any man on this base to have gone on that mission with you would you have picked the five men you had? some General I didn't know asked.

Sir, all the men did a remarkable job out there. None of them disappointed me, I answered.

That didn't answer my question Captain, the General said.

Sir, with all due respect I am only a Lieutenant, not a Captain. To answer your question, no sir, I wouldn't have chosen the men I had with me, but that doesn't change that every man I had with me proved himself beyond what could be expected, I replied.

Lieutenant when you leave here for your duty station it will be as a Captain. The orders should be cut tomorrow, and would have been here waiting for you, but you saw fit to make a mockery of our other forces with your skills as a warrior. I've been watching you the whole time other than when you and your team fell off the grid after your first stop. I have to ask just how it is you were able to cover such a vast distance in so short a time without being able to be found even by our satellites, the General said.

General if you go in a straight line the distance isn't that great between point one and point two. The terrain is a little rough, but with good men it does make for a nice hike, I answered.

You cut across... are you out of your mind Lieutenant? You could have easily gotten everyone of those men killed, the General said.

General I was told were we would be dropped and where we were going. We knew that to follow the more traveled routes would be suicide since we had every unit in the area looking for us from the first objective to the second, we knew those looking for us were likely doubled thus we took the most direct route that everyone would be sure we wouldn't be foolish enough to even attempt, I said.

He shook his head at the idea I had taken a six man squad over terrain that everyone knew was impassable and succeeded with no casualties.

Jason I didn't believe you when you said this man was just crazy enough to make the impossible possible, now I understand. He turned back to me, Captain take the night off and in the morning I expect to see Captains bars on your uniform instead of those Lieutenant bars," the General said.

I saluted and was dismissed. As soon as I was out the door I started laughing and stopped turning back around and knocking on the door.

Come in, Colonel Talbot said.

Sir I know I've been dismissed, but I have to ask about my men. I really appreciate that you wish to give me a promotion to Captain, but if I deserve a promotion so do those enlisted men I had under my command. If the only promotion from this exercise is for me, I'll have to respectfully decline the promotion and resign my commission, sir, I said.

The General stood there looking at me like I had lost my mind.

Is there anything else Lieutenant? Colonel Talbot asked.

Yes sir, I respectfully request that whatever unit I am assigned to Sargent Denvers also be assigned to that unit as my Sargent, I said.

Thank you Lieutenant I'll take that under advisement. I don't see any reason each of those men can't receive a promotion in rank, but I can't promise Sargent Denvers will be assigned as your Sargent since second in commands don't usually have Sargent's assigned to them, the General said.

I again saluted and did a crisp about face again smiling as soon as the door closed. I didn't care about military protocol in getting back to my men to share with them the news.

Attention, someone said when I entered.

At ease gentlemen. I thought you might all like to know we all got a promotion and will be receiving our duty assignments over the next couple days. To celebrate since we have the night off, I'd like to take you all out for a drink the first round is on me, I said.

Word of our accomplishment spread throughout the base over the next couple days until it seemed everyone knew who we were and wanted to know how we had been able to do what we later found out wasn't supposed to have been able to be done. I had never heard the actual stories about the final test and that it was supposed to be impossible, so impossible that no one had ever made it as far as we did.

Would things have been different if we hadn't been told we either completed the test or we would washout? I don't know I would like to think regardless the men I had with me would have had the drive they showed anyway. I gave each of them the chance to prove who they were and they went beyond anyones expectations. We had all been seen as misfits by so many others going through the training, yet now we were heroes.

Mac and I drew the same company as I had requested and were to report to our new commander by weeks end, when we found out where our new company was stationed we both wished we had washed out.

Sir, Captain Waters and Sargent Denvers reporting as ordered, I said standing at attention in my new commanding officers office.

I understand you both just graduated from the training center. Word is you aced the final test something no one has ever done before. Tell me Captain were you in command of the men in the test? he asked.

Yes sir I was, I replied.

What I heard is you took a foolish risk just to win is that right Captain? he asked.

My men and I proved the test could be beaten sir. We knew the risks and opted for the choice that offered the greatest chance of success, sir, I replied.

I don't accept the kind of risks you took with those mens lives Captain, here I am in command and you'll follow my orders is that clear? he more demanded than asked.

Perfectly sir, I said.

Chapter 3

Lieutenant Colonel Barns was a tough commander who knew battle tactics inside and out. He didn't put up with anyone questioning his tactics and even when he asked for opinions got angry with anyone who had the audacity to disagree with his ideas.

In the second conflict while he was our commanding officer he was wounded and I was left in command, our primary objective had been completed and we were on our way back to base when we encountered the enemy who seemed to know our every move until Colonel Barns was wounded and I took over command to get us back to base.

The fighting slowed as night started falling, I called the men in and asked them to set up a command center where I could gather as much information as possible on just what it was we were facing. With each report I got I saw solders who seemed to think all was lost since we had lost our commander leaving an untried rookie in command.

Mac tell me what I'm going to have to do to get these men to believe in me, I asked.

Get them home and they'd be willing to follow you through the gates of hell if you asked sir, he said.

I want you to share anything you find out no matter how trivial it may seem about our enemies positions and numbers. You might also start spreading the word of what we did to get sent to this hellhole, I said.

I have no doubt once they hear that story they'd be willing to give you a chance, he replied.

By morning I had all my top NCO's willing to give me a chance. Even offering advice on battle tactics that had worked or failed in the past. Breakfast was whatever anyone could