WOLF

Written by: Nick Kish

2006-04-12


The Rookie

01. Night Attack   The military camp is deep in the forest. The soldiers are not that spread out, but most are as comfortable as they can be. There are about 18 in the camp. During the night, a clearly larger force attacks them. The fight is short and most of the company is killed. The Chief (the commanding officer) calls for a retreat of the area and tells Frank (radio) to call for backup, citing heavy losses. Only 6 had survived the fierce battle.

02. Insertion   Two days later, Rookie is dropped in. For his first drop, he actually does quite well, but it is by no means perfect. Shortly after, he meets his contact, Dirt. Rookie begins to tell Dirt his real name but is cut off as Dirt tells him they only refer to each other by nicknames. So the Rookie starts to say that his nickname is Wolf, but Dirt cuts him off, saying that he will just be known as Rookie. Dirt is a bare-knuckles soldier, carrying a hand pistol and sub-machine gun.

03. The Company   Dirt leads Rookie a couple miles back to camp. As they approach, they come upon Goliath (demolitions), who is keeping watch on the perimeter. Dirt and Rookie pass and head towards the new camp. When they arrive at the camp, Rookie meets everyone else: Chief, Screamer (heavy weapons), Bishop (motivator), and Frank. Then, Chief talks with Rookie about Rookie's abilities and potential role in the upcoming counter-attack.

04. Battle Plans   Later that day, Chief pulls everyone together and discusses the plan for the next morning's counter-attack. Rookie is surprised that it will happen so soon. Intel gathered by Bishop reports that there are 20-30 of the enemy forces. He also reports someone new had joined them as well. Everyone seems surprised by this news except Rookie.

05. Restless   The Chief tells them that Rookie will be filling in for Eagle, the former Sniper who was killed in the surprise attack. Everyone seems uneasy with this decision but they are not left with too many alternatives. Rookie sleeps restlessly that night, dreaming of the past. He awakens suddenly the next morning to find it's just before dawn on the morning of the attack.

06. Morning   Rookie looks around to see no one is awake except the Chief, who is fixing some coffee. Chief and Rookie discuss the attack and what is to be done. Then people start waking and rummaging around for food, but no one is really that hungry. Shortly thereafter, everyone starts getting into positions. Rookie circles around with Goliath and Bishop to take up a flanking position. Goliath and Bishop leave Rookie to get into their own positions. There are a few tense moments, while everyone eyes their watches, waiting for the attack to begin.

07. Zero Hour   Chief fires the first shot to mark the start of the offensive. Initially, the enemy is caught off guard, and the company makes good progress. Within minutes, the enemy starts to retreat and Rookie can see the company advancing. The company makes a number of kills, but Rookie misses all of his shots. Within minutes, Rookie notices one of the enemies is not retreating but remaining stationary. Rookie stares this one down. He can see this one trailing one of the company and killing him with a shot to the back of the head. As this one of the company falls, Rookie can see that it is Screamer. Rookie decides that this person, the Pursuer, is his most important target, but he is out of range.

08. Standing Out   The only way Rookie can get to the Pursuer is leaving his current position. He starts to move in the direction Goliath and Bishop went but is quickly noticed by the Pursuer. Rookie runs this way and that, trying to stay hidden. For a few stressful minutes, Rookie waits, thinking he has lost the Pursuer. Then Rookie spots the Pursuer, also trying to stay hidden, moving toward him. Risking further detection, Rookie moves again. Seeing a large hole ahead he moves toward it, thinking it would be a good place to hide. Without looking first, Rookie jumps in to find a number of dead bodies. It looks like the bodies are a few days old and are casualties from both sides.

09. Hidden   There is gunfire ahead where the battle rages in the slight distance from the Rookie's hole but then there is a single gunshot very close behind him. Three others, in quick succession, follow the shot. Then Bishop falls into the hole. Rookie notices that Bishop is covered in blood and leaves. Rookie goes over and holds Bishop in his arms.

10. Arm's Length   Bishop, suddenly noticing Rookie is holding him, whispers something encouraging. Bishop then dies in Rookie's arms. Rookie lays Bishop's body gently down, laying his hands over his chest and closing his eyes. Bishop's words really stick with Rookie, lighting a fire in him and giving him a new sense of strength. He readies his weapons and goes to the edge of the hole, listening for the Pursuer or the enemy. Not hearing anything close, he risks a peek and doesn't see anyone. He jumps out and charges toward the sounds of gunfire.

11. New Impetuous   As he runs he passes Screamer's body on the ground. He pushes forward and sees another bloodied body uniformed like him. The Chief was killed by what looks like an entire clip from a machine gun. Finding strength in revenge and his desire to prove himself, Rookie continues. He sees an enemy soldier ahead, running toward a clearing in the forest. Rookie stops and takes a shot. He hits the enemy in the arm but the soldier keeps running. Rookie continues to head for the clearing. Suddenly noticing how quiet it is, Rookie stops abruptly. There is no more gunfire, no explosions, just a slight wind rustling the leaves in the trees above.

12. The Clearing   He looks around but can't see anybody except a group of soldiers ahead in the clearing. He can hear taunting, but can't make out whom it is. Thinking they must be victorious, Rookie runs toward the clearing. Bursting out of the words, he sees there is a small lake with a shore of twenty feet or so. Between the woods and the lake, Rookie sees Dirt, Goliath, and Frank on their knees with their arms behind their heads. They are encircled by 11 enemy soldiers. The three remaining of his company all look at him. Rookie can feel their eyes bore through him. Behind the three is the Pursuer. The five closest of the enemy all turn their guns on Rookie, and he is forced to surrender. Dropping his guns, he puts his arms behind his head and kneels, facing the other three.

13. Peace   The Pursuer then kills the other three one by one; Frank, Dirt, then Goliath; each falling with a thud on the ground that drives Rookie's pain deeper. The enemy then moves to encircle Rookie as the Pursuer walks up to him. The Pursuer talks to him like they've known each other for years. The enemy soldiers look a little surprised by this, but Rookie is not. Rookie and the Pursuer discuss the state of things tensely. Finally, the Pursuer says he must kill the Rookie and walks behind him. Rookie feels the heat of the Pursuer's gun push against the back of his head.

The woods suddenly go silent and he can no longer hear the taunting of the enemy soldiers or the rustling of the leaves up in the trees. He no longer feels the cool wind on his face or the heat of the gun behind is head. He can no longer support himself, and his body goes limp. His sight of the lake, how beautiful it looks all of a sudden, fades to black.