Chapter 18

Jason didn’t get much and was the second to return. Captain Harrison left the plate where he was and looked toward the buffet before walking over.

“What is going on, Sir?” he asked in a whisper.

“I was hoping you would be able to tell me. I sure wasn’t told any of you would be here.”

“Last minute orders. Units to follow.”

“Makes no sense. You are just starting to train. None of them would be any good here.”

“Orders are we will resume in three days, here. Signed by the general, sir.”

Jason nodded. “Would have to be to move that many in that little time. No offense, but a Delta team would have been a better option.”

“I guess you weren’t told that either. Delta one through four has been ordered here too.”

Jason sighed. “All forty of them?”

“Yes sir. I believe they will arrive tomorrow afternoon. Sixteen to join us as advisors. We get more details tomorrow.”

“Then I guess we will find out more tomorrow. We are in constant change. Adjusting as needed. Maybe they know more and are preparing.”

It was contradictory to other changes he had discovered. He didn’t say what or let on about anything, but his mind tried to rationalize it all. “Well, you are here; it can’t be changed for now. I would say make the best of it, but I’m sure you already have some plans.”

“Of course, we are the SSG. We can manage anywhere. It is good to have you back, sir.”

He nodded and went back to his seat as others were coming back. He was surprised to see Selena with a plate that was only three-quarters full. For a small woman, she could put the food away.

Ostara kept Selena company most of the night. Even to the dance floor with a couple of the lieutenants. “It’s not often we can leave ranks,” she commented. “we can have a little fun.”

They were out of hearing range when the General laughed. “You could heed the advice of the Captain, Major. One must learn to take the moments given. For it can be lost as quickly as it comes.”

“Very true General. However, sometimes we need to consider the consequences of such actions. Sometimes they do not favor all involved.”

The General didn’t respond but did get up and ask his wife to the dance floor. It was a short song and they were back with just about everyone else. Jason excused himself as the fourth coffee finally filtered through him. When he returned he was blocked to his seat by the General’s daughter.

“Father says that you may not be going off to the floor due to the ranks despite what he said. But I am not military,” she didn’t wait for a response. She just grabbed his hand and started toward the other room.

“Go on, Major. Have some fun,” the General laughed along with everyone nearby.

Jason didn’t pay much attention to music, but he knew enough to know that the one they had walked into was just about over.

“You’ll have to forgive me, Major,” she said softly. “Not often do I get to dance with officers. Most are afraid to even try to because of my father. Add to it having a husband, and it’s even rarer.”

“It is highly unusual,” he followed her lead, not feeling the moment.

“Well, Father said you are very military; well, he should know very well since he is as well. So when he relaxes something, it’s best to take full advantage; it’s a rare moment.”

“For some, that is good thinking. For others, it can prove hazardous.” He was never so grateful to hear the end of a song. But she didn’t budge.

“Maybe that should be left to those affected to consider, you may be an officer but you don’t know everything. People may surprise you.” She continued as the next song started. He knew this one too and tried to pull her off the floor. She held her ground knowing he wouldn’t force things. Officer and a gentleman as the saying went.

“Father doesn’t talk much about work, and I am glad for it. But he seems to have a respect for you that I have not heard him have for many others. You respect him, yet you have no issues challenging him. Gutsy for an officer and hazardous to a career if done wrong. Did you know I almost couldn’t get married? Yeah. My husband Randy tried to talk to him six times about it but couldn’t get past that gruff military exterior. But you seem to do no wrong. At least not enough to get into trouble for it.”

That made Jason laugh. “I’ve had my share of troubles. New officers, mostly. One thinks they know it all because they were just taught and are full of themselves from getting whatever commendations they did.”

It was her turn to laugh. “I have seen officers at many functions and on bases around the world. I also saw every one of the other officers here tonight. They respect my father, but I also saw how they were you. There was a big difference. They will obey Father, but I get the feeling they would follow you into hell if you asked them to go.”

She was pressing into him. She was almost as tall as he was, and she sighed. Her chest seemed to drill into his. “I love my husband. He’s a good man. He may not be military, but he is a police officer. He’s faced snipers and gunmen, as well as gangs and crazy men with shotguns. I take every moment I can. I see the same thing on his face every day as I see in your Private Lopez. You can dress her up and instruct her as much as possible, but you can’t hide that. Not from those of us who have seen it firsthand. But I saw the fight in you. Even you, with all you have accomplished. A great military, intelligent, and worldly man can’t hide it. Try, and it will be worse for both of you.”

There was a tap on his shoulder, and Jason started. Her husband was there with a sheepish Selena beside him as he cocked his head and grinned.

“The General has said we will be leaving shortly, Which means we will be as well. If you don’t mind, Major, I’d like the last dance with my wife. I’m sure the private can fill in. She’s a very good dancer.”

The two shared a grin as they danced to a clear area of the floor. Selena was looking up at him slightly bashful as the song that started was a very slow one.

They had danced before and had learned to dance well. Astrid had maneuvered him into sitting in on several dance lessons. He still didn’t know how she did it. Selena stepped to the side but jumped when he grabbed her hand and just held her there with him. It was a short five minutes, and it was over. She walked behind him as they returned to the table.

“Come on Private we are going to try the zombie challenge.” Captain Felson pulled her to the side. “Ostara there is a lightweight and won’t join up. Think you can do it Private?”

Selena glanced at Jason looking for help. “It’s a bit strong and sneaky. I don’t suggest you try it. A long day tomorrow.”

“Hosh posh major. She will be fine. She’s army, and we are army strong.”

Okay, it sounded as if Felson had taken advantage of the bar already. “I don’t think it is appropriate or within her tolerances. But the General has relaxed the regulations tonight, and I can’t say what she should do. Consequences, and I’m sure there will be some, are hers. She can say no.”

Selena didn’t fight it when she got pulled to the bar. Ostara smiled. “Girls initiation, sir. No worries.”

“I always worry Captain. That’s why I have gray hair.” He didn’t know what the zombie challenge entailed but was sure it wouldn’t do well for Selena. “Her choice.” He conceded. He thought he gave her enough to feel comfortable speaking up if she didn’t want to do it.

Selena looked over her shoulder at him with a glare. Yep. He said the wrong thing again. He decided to follow and watch just to be on the safe side.

The room beside the bar had been cleared of all but a row of tables on each side. Each table held a tray of drinks. And what looked like an empty bucket. Lining the sides of the room looked like a low-level balancing beam.

“Okay, ladies and gents, it is that time,” an older woman shouted as she entered the room. “The zombie challenge is not for everyone. For those of you who are not in the know, this is a drinking challenge. All our contestants are over twenty-one, and I’m told a few are very capable of holding their own even against some of you men. Yes, this challenge is for the ladies tonight. Now, for the ladies, it is simple. They step up to the table, take one of the glasses, and drink its entirety. Then, they must walk the beam to the other side to wait for their teammates. Then they repeat. A team member is disqualified if they fall off the beam or if they fail to finish the glass. The team is not disqualified until the last member is unable to complete the task. In case you are wondering, each glass contains eight ounces of the drink Zombie.

“Now, just in case, there are buckets for anyone getting sick. Getting sick is also a disqualification. Ladies do make all efforts to use them if the need arises. Now, there are fifteen glasses per team member. Now, the objective is to finish all the drinks. That means if one member fails, the other two must finish the remainder of her drinks as well. If two fail, the last must finish any drinks left and still walk the beam. Should any team do that, they will win the prize. If more than one does, which has yet to be seen, a tiebreaker challenge will be conducted.

“Now, here is where the rest of you come in. A lady shouldn’t have to pay for her own drinks. Ladies are walking around now. If you all would be so kind as to chip in and help buy the ladies drinks for the challenge. Also, this is a competition. So, what’s a competition without a team sponsor? Sponsor fees cover some of the other prizes we have, as well as a few consolation prizes, including a tee-shirt that says, ‘I tried the zombie challenge.’ The remaining cash is split fifty-fifty with the winning team minus the team’s sponsor fee plus ten percent for the sponsor.

“Winners also receive a free dinner once a week for a year. Or fifty-two overall, since some of these ladies are in the military and may not be here long enough to do an entire year straight. Now, we will begin in ten minutes. Those of you wishing to sponsor can take the time to talk to the teams and see where you think your investment will do best. A team can be sponsored by more than one person, so if you can’t do it all, split it up with someone or several. Now, feel free to ask questions if I’ve forgotten to cover anything. Time starts now.”

Jason wondered who the third team member was if Ostara had opted out. The hand on his shoulder made him flinch but stopped the normal reaction.

“What say you, Major? Should we go and encourage these ladies even more than they are?” the General laughed as he pushed by.

Jason followed, concerned that this was crossing the line. He may have said he relaxed the regulations, but the truth was, they couldn’t be in reality. The General was just turning a blind eye as it was. But this was a bit much.

Jason was surprised when they got to the area where the ladies were waiting. Several men were around, but none were talking to the staff member behind them. She looked middle-aged and wore a very tight tee shirt. A few did put some cash into the basket that was in front of her. The surprise was the third woman there. He had thought one of the others not from their group had agreed, or maybe Ostara hadn’t opted out at all. The General walked over to his wife and gave her a hug and a kiss.

“What do you think Major? Think we should encourage these ladies?” he asked as if the group was just a bunch of neighbors having a good time.

Jason fought the urge to call it quits. She was her own person. She needed to make choices and live with the consequences. He decided to give her one last chance. “Well, sir, they can still back out. This isn’t an easy challenge. The competition does look brutal.”

“He doesn’t think we have a chance,” the General’s wife teased as she pushed into her husband.

“I didn’t say that. I don’t have enough information about all of you to make such a determination. Just pointing out that none of you have to participate to prove anything.”

Ostara chimed in. “It’s all in fun, Major. Win or lose. How often do we get a chance to let loose?” she put her arm around him for emphasis and winked at Selena. “Tomorrow, we go back to being soldiers or the wives of soldiers.”

Jason held his hands up in surrender. “Ladies choice.” He sighed. “Well General, to paraphrase a movie, if we can’t control them, we may as well support them.” He looked at the woman as she watched smiling at the group. “Just what does it take to sponsor these die-hards?”

“The basic sponsor fee is five hundred dollars. We have a full sponsorship for one thousand. It gives the team a chance at other prizes depending on whether they come in second or third. You can split it however you wish.”

“As if someone comes with that kind of cash,” Jason laughed.

“Well, most times, it’s several people, but we can charge it as well,” she continued to smile.

The General already had his wallet out and fished out a card.