Chapter Two
Thomas
The military is never late, but commercial flights are. That was how I managed to miss the meeting about my first ever field mission. The Army decided to fly me to California on a civilian flight. My plane was delayed almost eight hours by a surprise tropical storm, and I had to meet with Captain Zane Mayfield as soon as my boots hit the ground on base.
Captain Mayfield filled me in on the mission while he showed me to my bunk. The room was bigger than I'd expected. I had room for my bed and a desk. No one had prepared me for what base housing looked like for a single Omega, and I thought for sure I'd have to share a room with another soldier. Fortunately, that was not the case. The base had built a new expanded barracks, and each soldier now had their own private, if small, room.
I looked around at the room that would be my home for a very short time before I embarked on my first mission. The single bed was made with crisp white sheets and a drab grey cover. It was a stark reminder that my life was nowhere near where I'd thought it would be at that point in my life.
When I'd joined the military after high school, I figured I'd do one enlistment and then go to college. After that, I thought I'd have met an Alpha, settled down, and be on my second or third kid. Never in my wildest dreams did I envision myself going career military.
"We head out at 0500," Captain Mayfield interrupted Thomas's thoughts. "If you have any more questions about the mission, we can answer them then. It's a long flight to Egypt."
"Thank you, Sir," I said as I tried to hide the nervousness in my voice, but it didn't work.
Captain Mayfield looked at me with kindness but not pity. "You'll be fine. I know you probably never expected to be running missions when you joined up, but you were picked for a reason."
"Thank you, Sir."
"Now, get some rest. Make sure you relax tonight, but don't get crazy."
"Yes, Sir," I said, and Captain Mayfield left me with a pleasant smile.
I wished I had an Alpha like Captain Mayfield to look after me. I knew that I'd had combat training, and I could technically handle myself, but that hadn't done much to ease my worried mind.
My heart began to beat a little too hard, and I could hear the blood pounding in my ears. I'd never been a coward, but not knowing what to expect in Egypt made me feel as if my world had been turned upside down. I joined the military so I wouldn't have to fear the unknown because I expected that everything would be laid out for me. I'd been naïve in that sense. No one ever expected the changes that would allow Omegas in Special Forces. Even when I signed up to join elta Squad, I thought I'd be providing support from behind a desk on base.
A chuckle escaped my lips and I shook my head. When I'd headed off to the elite combat training, I had still been in denial about why I'd had to participate. Convinced it was "just in case" I went through with the training even after I'd been given an out.
Before I could allow myself to spiral into a full-on meltdown, my phone rang. I pulled it out of my pocket and saw that it was my sister, Bea.
"Hey, Bea, what's up?" I said when I answered the phone.
"Just calling to check on my baby brother."
"I'm not a baby, Bea. In case you hadn't heard, I'm in Special Forces now." I immediately felt bad for getting short with her, and realized that I sounded exactly like a petulant child. "Sorry, sis. I'm just stressed about this mission. I never expected to be anywhere near action when I enlisted."
"Then why did you join Delta Squad?" she asked.
"I honestly didn't think I'd be in any kind of combat situation. I thought that I'd be riding a desk and communicating with the rest of the squad through a headset."
"The Army isn't a video game, Tommy. I don't suppose there's anything you can do to get out of it now, is there?"
"Short of turning up pregnant in the next twelve or so hours, no," I said.
"Well?" she asked and I could almost hear her foot tapping.
"Well, what?" I asked, and then it dawned on me. "No, Bea. I'm not pregnant. There's absolutely no way. That was a joke."
"It'd better not be a joke forever, Tommy Boy. I want to be an aunt sometime this decade. I'll be the best Auntie Bea ever," she said happily.
"Don’t, worry. When I find the right Alpha, you'll be the first to know."
"You might want to tell him first," she said with the schoolgirl giggle that I loved so much. My big sister had been my best friend for as long as I could remember.
"That's probably a good idea," I said, but the weight of the mission cut through the light mood before I could push it back down.
"Why don't you get out for a while tonight?" she said. "Don't sit there in your bunk obsessing. Go have some fun. Your mission is going to be fine. You're going to be fine. You're the best specialist the Army has ever had. Your squad will never let anything happen to someone so valuable."
"Thanks, Bea," I said and smiled.
"Call me when you get back?"
"Of course. Love you, Bea."
"Love you too, little bro."
I hung up the phone and slipped it back into my pocket. Going out for a drink seemed like a terrible idea, but Bea was probably right. I needed to get out and relax instead of sitting on my bed stewing or spending the evening watching other people play video games on YouTube.
My laptop bag sat propped against the bed. I bent over, picked it up, and gingerly pulled the computer out. If I'd told you how much I spent on the laptop, you'd think I was insane. It was a gift to myself when I made Delta Squad, and in my defense, computers were my whole world.
I set it on the desk and opened it up. There had to be a bar within walking distance of the base. I guessed there were probably many, but I needed to find the "right" one. It was my way of procrastinating about going out.
A few minutes later, I pulled up the website for a place called Ocean Bar. Simple name, and the bar was bright and welcoming. I was glad that I'd found a place that wasn't dark or seedy. I wasn't in the mood to deal with some Alpha asshole grinding on me while I tried to enjoy a rum and Coke.
The Ocean Bar was within walking distance, so I made the decision to drop in for a drink. I swore I'd only have one, or two at the most, and then turn in for an early night. The sun wasn't even down yet. I told myself it wasn't partying but a quiet drink to relax and put my mind at ease.
After a quick shower, I threw on my favorite jeans and a black V-neck t-shirt before lacing up my black boots and heading out the door.