Dream [005] 2/11/09
Mozambique, Africa. 1966.
It is late in the evening in Africa. The sun is already down and the only light available comes from the few portable lamps situated around the American military camp. A cigar in hand, Big Boss sits on the ground, enjoying himself one last smoke before bed. He has a lot on his mind at the moment, though the only thing he can bring himself to wonder about is the new kid located in his camp.
Big Boss looks over to the thin child in question. Frank is resting on Big Boss' thin blanket, but not sleeping. There is no way he'd allow himself to sleep in a camp of unknown soldiers. The kid was smart enough to not trust anyone. That was probably why he was still alive.
Another soldier from the camp approaches his commander cautiously. He obviously doesn't want to interrupt the older man's evening cigar. The newcomer is young, early twenties, a cheerfully naive expression on his face. The younger soldier follows his superior's gaze. He speaks in English. "He's a real cute kid, sir. You going to take him back to the U.S. and raise him to be a respectable soldier like us?"
Big Boss laughs, a rough bark as opposed to the humorous chuckle his soldier's usually hear. "I don't need kids. I would never make for a good father."
"...I think you'd be a fine father, commander." Though the camp is dark, there's hint of an embarrassed blush on his cheeks. "You always look out for us new recruits and keep everyone in lin-"
He is abruptly cut off. "I live on the battlefield, soldier. My men are my family. I don't need a family outside of the military. Once we are finished here, I'll drop him off somewhere where he can have a good upbringing."
The soldier quickly salutes his commander and pulls out a crude map of the surrounding area. "I...I just had some questions about tomorrow, sir, if you wouldn't going over them with me again..."
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*sighs, flopping onto his back with his hands behind his head*