Evermore Darkly

[Buster Commodore]

99X. It was a job rarely ever shown at Eisenhower Recruiting Station on planet Pittsburgh. Marco had never seen this Liberty Navy Assignment Code. 99X. the title was only described as "LGRS". He approached the end of the line where the Navy Reps would scan his code and send him to his next place of duty. The young recruit in front of him bounced on his tip toes nervously waiting for his turn. his code pinched between his fingers, Marco read 16S. Gunboat Ammunition Specialist. poor guy, probably scored low on his recruitment test. "Next" he heard from the front of the room. and two seconds later he took one step forward. only four more to go. his mind wandered back home where his father was home sick with cancer. his mother working 2 jobs to pay for his medical expenses. The only reason he was here... to help his father get the treatment he needed to beat his disease. "Next" only three more. He wanted to be a trader but he couldnt even afford a ship and his fathers ship The New England, had suffered serious damage in a California ice field two years past and hadnt run since. "Next" only two recruits in line ahead of him. he shuffled his Duffelbag from his left shoulder to his right. "LGRS" what did it mean? he had studied all the Job Codes and couldnt recall reading about this one. He was usually pretty good about remembering things but still, He couldnt recall anything about the assignment he was given from the job placement machine. but it had accurately calculated all of his test scores, and personal data files, and printed him this code. 99X. could it have been a mistake? did the machine make some kind of typographical error? he wasnt sure but he was about to find out. "Next" only one more, the Ammo kid was next, like a round in the chamber, he had the most vacant look on his face like he didnt really believe he was there. two minutes passed and they called Ammo to the Desk.

Marco stepped up to the red line painted on the floor. he watched as ammo shuffled clumsily to the officer that would take him to his duty station. what a dufus. "Next" Marco stepped up to the desk and handed his code to the receptionist. she looked at the small piece of paper and sheer bewilderment washed over her face. she looked up at marco and then to the officer waiting to take him to his destination. "one second, soldier" she replied and she walked into the back office. Marco could hear groans and mutters from the line behind him. why did he have to be THAT guy? the one that complicated the process. the receptionist returned with a very burely uniformed man with a gray crew cut. Marco looked at his shoulders and saw the insignias of a Fleet Admiral. Uh Oh, he thought. "come with me soldier" the admiral's voice was stern and directive. he beckoned with a hand the size of a Curacao Melon. Marco immediately regretted ever getting himself into this. but it was far past too late.

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