7 – Gray

EVERY bullet went to the forehead of the target paper. Nothing amiss.

Her hand went down. She placed the firearm on top of the counter before she removed the protection from her eyes and ears. She did not bother to check the target. She knew that she did not miss anything. She ain’t rusty despite not being in the service for years.

“Those fingers still working just fine.”

Emma laughed softly. “I heard no complaint from my woman, too.” She added.

She turned to the guy standing on the other shooting stall. She did not realize that a comrade was in the same area.

“How are you, Gray?”

They hugged and clapped each other’s back.

“I’m better, Trig.”

Trigger was younger than her by four years. He was in the service far earlier than her but they went through the same operation four times in the past.

He was a Black American with a muscled physique. He was an inch short of six feet. He was also called ‘Trigger’ because he was an expert in any kind of gun but he shoots better at short ranges.

“Have you seen the others?”

She shook her head.

“I went here as soon as I arrived. I miss holding guns.” She followed it with a chuckle.

Emma finally decides to meet with her old team before she makes a decision. Her father wants her to go back. He did not know the extent of her work in the service. If he does, he would probably not allow her to re-enlist.

“I got a message from Shift that they will be in the old place at eighteen-hundred. You know, for a little catch-up.”

“I also have the same message.”

It was already four in the afternoon. They have decided to go to their old place even before the time of their meeting.

It was not the happy hour yet the place had only a few tables available. Joyful conversation can be heard and it seemed that they were not the only ones who were early.

Most of the customers in the bar were either in the service or used to be in the service. It is seldom that the place has a different client unless a guest of the person in uniform or a family member. The owner used to serve in the Marines until he retired. His wife was a military nurse.

“Yow, man.”

“Trigger, dear Trigger.” The huge white man hugged Trigger before he smiled at Emma. “I would love to hug you but I want my whole body intact, Gray.”

She snickered. She fists bumped with him before occupying the seat opposite him.

The white man was Uncle Sam. He preferred to be called Uncle. He was the same age as Emma. He was the tactician in the team. He has medals to prove. His downside? He was an alcoholic.

While on a mission, he never touched a single drop of anything alcohol but when the mission ended, it would be mandatory to pour him a drink and it would last for about twenty-four hours before they separate ways. Only Emma can stand that long with him while the other members of the team are already looking for a place to lay their backs on. They will wake up when it is time to go home.

The first time that she and Uncle met, she put him on his ass when he tries to touch her bum to prove how fast she can move. It was the reason no one pranked her ever again or tested her capability. Not even Trigger who was good with guns.

Uncle Sam motioned for the waitress to give them another round of drinks.

“Hammer sent me a message that he and Shift were on their way here. Their plane just landed.”

“I saw Gray in the shooting range. I just finished a round when I saw a competition. When I saw that it was her, hands down, I did not pull another.”

The two men laughed.

“And she said, she did not learn how to shoot aside from the training,”

“Man, I have good eyes.” She defended.

She thanked the waitress when their drinks had been served.

“Can I also have a cheeseburger? Double patty. Thanks.” She told the woman when she was about to leave.

“And she got her eyes on that ass.” Triggered added. His eyes were on the waitress’ rump.

“You know if there was something I felt insecure about this woman here?” Uncle Sam pointed his index finger at the only woman in the group. “She knew how to choose a woman. Man, we have been dating gold diggers but this one, she got nice ones.”

“Because you buy women, Sammy. I think Trigger has changed his ways.” Emma stated with a smile on her face.

“Well,” Trigger muttered before he raised his hand. It has a white band on his ring finger. “She found me.”

A Series of congratulations was heard on their table.

They were surprised when another round of drinks came in.

“Hammer called. This one’s on him. He said, I quote, don’t finish this without me. Or I’m going to make all of you pay.” The waitress said with a smile. It was a different woman.

“Where is he?”

“He’s in the restroom.”

“And I am here, the Mr. Nice Guy.”

They clapped the shoulder of the youngest guy in their group, Shift. He is only twenty-seven years old.

The man was recruited because of his brain. He can intercept anything except for space rockets. He was their brain in the digital world. He and Emma went on one mission together. He was very new to the team then.

“I miss you, Gray. Mama Gray.”

The young man sat beside Emma before he opened a bottle of beer. He drank half of it before he faced them all.

“Who missed me?” He moved both of his brows before he glanced at Emma. “I miss you, Gray. No one treats me better than you do."

"You looked better. A man now.”

“Oh, I know. Look, I have a girlfriend. She did not know that I have been stalking her for a while before I asked her for a date.”

Bottle caps were thrown Shift when he said that.

“She’s pretty,” Emma uttered when she saw the picture of the girl on his phone. An Asian.

“Thanks. She’s very kind, too. She was in her last year in grad school. I’m going to surprise her at her graduation.”

“I’m happy for you.”

“Thank you, Mama Gray. I haven’t shown her your picture yet. I might lose her in the process.”

The three men shared a laugh after the Shift said that.

Apparently, she has been the cause of her team’s break-up with their women. No one believed them whenever they said that she was also in the military.

“We hope we all come out alive in our next mission. We almost did not make it last time.” Uncle Sam disclosed. His voice was solemn.

Silence surrounded them before Trigger spoke.

“We should. I am making all of you my child’s godparents.”

Another series of congratulations was heard at their table. Trigger smiled at them proudly. It only stopped when the cheeseburger was served together with the hot sauce.

“Nothing has changed, huh.”

“Yow, boss.”

They all greeted Hammer when he came. He pulled a chair before he seated between Trigger and Shift.

“I’m famished. The airline food was bland.” The new guy complained.

“Steak is here for you, Sir.”

“Thank you, Diana.”

Hammer smiled at the waitress when his food was served.

“I was thinking, are you and Diana together?”

A cap made a landing on Trigger’s forehead when he asked that.

“There are things that you should not ask anymore, man. That woman has been with him for years.” Emma answers.

Four sets of eyes turned to Emma after she said that.

“Was it a top secret, boss?” She asked as she chewed on her burger.

“I told no one about it.”

“You and her have been giving each other a glance when we started as a team. I still wonder why you did not put a ring on her finger.”

“F*ck! Can we not keep a secret from you, Gray?”

She scoffed at Uncle Sa. “When you f*ck that woman in the last mission that we went through, I want to kick your ass. She was innocent. So into you. We both know that we might not get out of that mission alive or you may not be able to see her again.”

The man swore.

“How did you know that?”

She shrugged. “Have you checked if you got her pregnant?”

“W-what?”

The sound of cutleries being pushed aside stopped the argument that was about to start between Uncle and Emma. They gazed at Hammer.

Hammer was the team leader in the group. He was very good with hand-to-hand combat.

“Her good judgment was the reason why I asked her to be reinstated in the service.” Hammer started. “I need her calm demeanor and good eyes. And she has not said yes.”

She heaved a sigh. She finished the burger and pushed it with the beer.

“I’m not really sure. I kind of enjoy life as a civilian.”

“And a woman.”

She did not confirm nor deny the words from Shift. She raised the bottle and drank the rest of the beer.