Starsky stared at the landscape ahead of him. Wide dirt tracks carved through the jungle served as roads. Very bumpy, barely recognizable, roads. The terrain suitable only for the tanks that his platoon was using to push forward. He hoped that the enemy was farther away than they really were.
“You still awake up there, Starsky?” The voice belonged to his sergeant, Carlton ‘Rocko’ Rockwell.
“Sure, Sarge, wide awake.” The tug on his pants leg sharpened his already heightened senses. Starsky hated this part of maneuvers. Not that any part of this damn war made him happy. Being the turret guy, the searcher, whatever the hell the army called this part of his job, grated on his last nerve. One slip up and he could miss the subtle signs that an explosive might be buried in the ground ahead.
“Better be, Curly. Depending on you.”
“Suck it, Jimbo,” he said with the barest amount of humor he could muster. Jim Cooper was his best buddy in this godforsaken place. He was driving this metal monstrosity.
Starsky was a sniper. He did his best work concealed up high. He snickered. The joke was on him. He hated heights. His 20/20 vision and expert gun skills had been discovered during training and had determined his status in the team. Adrenaline took care of the fear; heights weren’t his only fear out here.
For the next few miles, this was his treetop. His and the other snipers in his platoon. Metal replaced leaves as his cover. He wasn’t sure which was the safest. He felt less exposed in the trees. Though he was usually alone up there, each sniper covered an allotted area. Here, at least, there was safety in numbers, or so it seemed. Numbers didn’t count if your vehicle triggered a goddamn bomb. He’d seen tanks reduced to twisted metal enough times to know that.
He bit his lip. Best not to dwell on things. Do your job, boy, he warned himself. Thinking would get them killed. Observations, reflexes, patience, were a soldier’s friend. Patience was not a virtue he held. Hours on his own, in the trees, the turret, even the trenches, hadn’t taught the self-discipline of stillness that it should have. He was always praying for that movement, for some action, anything, that would end his vigil, and allow him to use the energy balled up inside.
All he had to do was survive this cesspool of a country. Then he would be on his way back to civilization. Back home. Back to wondering what to do with his life. Full circle with no purpose to his days.
Uncle Al’s car lot didn’t tug at him the way it used to. Cars had been his salvation during his teens, after his dad died. Now, he’d seen things he could never have imagined. He needed to do more, needed a reason to get up every day. Fighting suited him. He was good at it.
But where did combat fit into the real world? He sure as hell didn’t want to go back east. That would only lead to gangs, and bad things. He’d been there. The very reason his mom had sent him to Aunt Rosie’s. West, that was his plan, but how could he make a difference in Bay City?
Rocko had told Starsky that he’d been a cop before he was drafted. Maybe Starsky would ask him more if he had the chance.
Disclaimer: The picture in no way depicts tanks used in a specific war. Neither does this story contain military facts. It’s purely fictional, and not intended as historical in any way, shape, or form.
The image was originally posted on December 15th in the 2017 Advent Calendar.
So glad he became a cop! Very nice.
Me, too. Thank you.
This is so plausible! Thanks for the Advent gift.
You’re welcome. Glad it works for you. Thank you.
Great back story, wightfaerie.
Thank you for this enlightening gift.
You’re welcome. Happy it works for you. Thank you.
You already know I love this glimpse into Starsky’s ponderings and concerns, WF, but now I get to say it for all to read: I LOVE this! Thanks so much for putting words to that wonderful image from last calendar. Nicely done, kid!
Thank you so much, sweetie. You were the one who made me want to write this, with your wonderful Iron Throne stories. The Kid is grateful to you xx
Glad Starsky got the chance to discuss job options.
Me, too. Thank you.
It’s great to get to see what thoughts and circumstances lead Starsky to becoming a cop. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve seen many stories that draw a clear line between Starsky’s army duty and his choice to join the police, so I appreciate that you’ve done it here!
You’re welcome. So happy that it works for you. Thank you for your lovely comment. I’ve used his father being a cop as his reason in other stories, so thought I’d go a different direction this time. The picture helped the direction I went.
I like your little story. Thank you!
? Thank you, Kat
Very intense. I liked this!
Thank you, sweetie. So happy that you like it ?
Love this insight into Starsky before he was Starsk.
Thank you, Spence. Happy it works for you.
We don’t hear much about Starsky’s war experiences. Thanks for filling in the background!
You’re welcome. I agree. We need more. Happy that my offering works for you. Thank you.
Very clever and original glimpse of Starsky’s military background as a reason to become a cop. It’s so like Starsky to look for a positive outcome of his current situation. Thanks for writing it.
You’re welcome. Thank you for your lovely comment. So glad it works for you.
Wonderful to add detail to his Army background.
Thanks, sweetie x