My Navy Specialist

Mike

LIAM

"Oh, that...well you see..."

I start to stutter.

Suddenly, the boat rocks to the one side sending Helena and me into the wall. I try to protect Helena from the wall and throws myself in between her and the wall. I hit the wall hard and the extra weight from her makes it worse but I just wince a little. Then I feel a sharp pain in my shoulder and realizes that the bullet wound has opened again.

"Are you okay?"

I hold her by her shoulders

"Yeah, thank you"

I put my hand on my shoulder and then I see blood on my hand. Damn…

"What is going on with the ship?"

I look into her eyes and say.

"Baby, it's very serious, The Admiral will speak to you soon but I have to go now, I am sorry"

"Oh god! Okay, yeah, of course, go"

I walk towards the door and then I turn around.

"Helena, be safe, okay?"

"Yes, I will"

I walk out the door, almost running.

ALICE

I am walking through the corridors on my way to sickbay. Suddenly, the ship rocks, and I fall against the wall, slamming me to the floor. I get up slowly and something inside me knows, that this is not supposed to be happening. I did not hear a gunshot and we are definitely not under attack. That must mean that....that the ship is sinking.

"Oh god!"

I run to the sickbay and Nita meets me halfway.

"Alice! We have to get our stuff, we are evacuating. Take only what you can carry, also, get some clothes on that you do not mind wearing for a long time"

"Where are we going?"

"I do not know. The Admiral is still going to speak to us, we must meet him outside on the deck of the ship after we get our stuff. Now let's go"

She takes me by the arm and I run to my room. I first run for my photo of my family. Then I get dressed in something useable. I grab all the important belongings and I head up to the deck. Everyone is gathered and the Admiral lifts up his hand to quiet them down.

LIAM

"Okay guys, let's get to the boat we are going to have to move quickly. The Admiral just informed me know that we have to evacuate in less than 5 hours. So, we have to find a place for the people to be safe. Let's get in the boat and get it done"

The team gets in the boat and we ride to the island close by. We are on the lookout for any suspicious activity, stopping just short of the island, we get into the water into shooting position. We slowly walk in the water towards the beach. Everything looks quiet and we make our way onto the beach.

I take the lead and then I hear something. I hold up my hand and make a fist. The team stops dead in their tracks. I show with my fingers that two of the team should follow me. Then I walk slowly around a corner and aim immediately but all I see is a rabbit. I can not help but smile at my fellow teammates. I then order the rest of the team to clear a perimeter by showing a few hand signs.

We walk further into the island when I hear a familiar "click" sound. Everyone stops and we all look at our teammates. It is easy to see who everyone should look at, the fear on his face is unmistakable and everyone knows that there is no way out of an anti-personnel mine. We all gathers around him. I walk up to him.

"Mike..."

"Just go, sir"

"Mike, it's not sir, it's Liam. Now let us have a look at this mine"

I bend down and slowly removes the dirt around the mine. What I see, shocks me to my core.

"Just do not hide anything, please. What is it?"

"It's a bounding mine. It's a CR-38"

All Navy Seals are trained in every possible bomb threat there can be and we know that when we hear the word CR-38, there's no way of getting out alive. I slowly stand up.

"I think you should just get out of here, sir"

"This does not change a thing Mike, not a single thing. I am going to excavate around the mine and then I am going to render it safe"

I bend down and move more of the dirt away from around the mine. I look closer to inspect the mine and I know deep inside me that Mike would not make it but I will not give up.

"Master Chief, sir. Could we have a word?"

Jack calls me aside.

I turn around and look at Jack, then stand up and walk to him.

"Yes?"

"Sir, Mike's leg is shaking, his muscles are going to spasm, and when that happens..."

"No! We are not leaving him! He has a wife and an unborn child for god's sake!! No!!"

"Of course! Yes, sir!"

I go back to Mike.

"Sir!"

I ignore him and I bend down again to look at the mine. I can not face what is about to happen.

"Liam!!"

"What?"

"Tell my wife-"

"NO! No, Mike!"

I lift my hand in the air to stop him from speaking.

"I am sorry, Liam, but you have to listen to me now"

I feel the tears running down my face and I turn away from him with my hand massaging my forehead. Then I walk closer to Mike. I whisper to him, clenching my teeth.

"f**k, Mike....why did you do this? f**k!"

I can not help the tears falling from my eyes. He looks at me.

"Listen to me Liam, please listen to me"

"I am here Mike. I am right here"

"Now, please f*****g please, tell Lillian that I love her so f*****g much, tell her that my heart only beats for her and that I loved her for a thousand years. Tell her that my love will never die and tell her I..."

He sobs so hard that I can not help crying with him. I lightly put my hand on his shoulder, making sure not to move him.

"Tell her that I love her and that I love my unborn child. f**k! Tell her, if love was enough...Dammit! Tell her to live and have a happy life. Will you do that Liam....will I do that?!"

I can not stand it anymore, my entire being and reason for living want to crash into the ground. I want to trade places with Mike, I want to give everything I can to be the one on the mine. I want Mike to go home to his wife and child. I struggle to get the words out cause it is just too unfair. He does not deserve it.

"Yeah, Mike *sobs* Yeah, I will tell her man, I promise"

"Thank you, thank you..."

Then, Jack pats me on the shoulder. I know what that means, radio silence. We look around and see someone moving in the bushes. We all move in position. I look at Mike.

"Go, Liam, I will cover you"

"I am not leaving you, Mike. We can figure something out"

The enemy is closing in and I know what needs to be done but I can not seem to get myself to move.

"f**k! Move, sir!!"

He shouts at the top of his voice, attracting the enemy to him. Then he opens fire and I move like a speeding bullet opening fire to cover Mike...