{"id":2360,"date":"2014-02-24T12:00:09","date_gmt":"2014-02-24T12:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/studentweb.bellevuecollege.edu\/belletrist\/?p=2360"},"modified":"2015-03-26T05:15:55","modified_gmt":"2015-03-26T05:15:55","slug":"platform-022-the-assignment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/studentweb.bellevuecollege.edu\/belletrist\/platform-022-the-assignment\/","title":{"rendered":"Platform 022; the Assignment"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Michael Blanding<\/em><\/p>\n

The morning started out rough, all the hot water had been used by his Platformmates, breakfast was made of food they should have eaten yesterday, and Gonzales and Ford had already been in two fist fights by 10:00, so a normal day all in all. After that things went downhill fast. Most Platformers don\u2019t typically enjoy venturing outside of their assigned platforms if they can avoid it, the ground is too rough, the air, too clean, the lack of constant machinery sounds, unsettling, but Gonzales and Ford are not typical Platformers. Gonzales was out for his 11 hundred hour jog, the Platform treadmills lacked the feel of real groun, when he saw Ford coming from the far end of camp. Gonzales still remembered the first time he and Ford had fought. It was the first week of basic and Ford had spiked Gonzales\u2019s dinner in to make sure he won. Gonzales had even failed the gunners test the next day because of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome back for more?!\u201d Ford shouted bringing Gonzales back to the present.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got nothing left to give!\u201d Gonzales answered. Even standing in the shadow of the ten ton Platform, Gonzales was burning up.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s see just how much I have left to give, Shrimpy,\u201d Ford responded. They were now nose to nose.<\/p>\n

\u201cBring it, ugly,\u201d Gonzales shouted in his face. They slowly backed away from each other, attaining the room to move freely. A crowd formed around the two Platformers and bets were being placed fast, as soon as the fighting started, all bets would have to stop. The tension built slowly until finally it broke. Gonzales ducked under Fords guard with a quick jab at his ribs. Ford repelled it effortlessly and countered with a left hook to the head, but Gonzales was already gone. Faster than Ford could react, Gonzales was back in with two or three jabs at his ribs and stomach, only one connected with its intended target. Ford quickly countered with an uppercut that caught Gonzales just as he was trying to move out of the way. This pattern continued for the next few attacks, Gonzales jumping in and out of the much bigger Fords range, Ford countering hard and fast, going for the knockout each time. Gonzales\u2019s breaths were coming short and shallow now, his clothes were drenched in his sweat, and he knew that his next jump in might be his last if he couldn\u2019t get under Ford\u2019s guard.<\/p>\n

Gonzales jumped in, resolved not to leave this time without getting a good chunk of Ford. As Gonzales swung at Ford\u2019s head, Ford ducked down and stepped in, wrapping Gonzales up in his big strong arms. Gonzales knew he was done for. He was bracing for the fury of cannon fire about to rain down on him, when he heard a gruff voice shout, \u201cATTENTION!\u201d The crowd quickly straightened into a line, Gonzales and Ford untangled and took their position in line. Hanging on the ladder to one of the biggest platforms in camp was an Antarctician. He descended the ladder slowly. He walked the length of the line twice before he began addressing the tropes. \u201cWho authorized this gathering?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one, Sir,\u201d they chanted.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd who gave you the right to hold bets?\u201d he asked again.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one, Sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen it\u2019s half rations for all of you, except you two,\u201d the colonel said pointing at Ford and Gonzales. \u201cMajor, take down these men\u2019s names and serial numbers. You two come with me, I have a special punishment for you.\u201d With that he turned and climbed the ladder again. Ford and Gonzales slowly moved towards the platform the loomed overhead. It\u2019s ginormous figure casting a shadow over the grass. It\u2019s two gun installments gaping like arms reaching out to catch a giant missile.<\/p>\n

As they climbed into the belly of the platform, Gonzales went through all the possible punishments the colonel might have for them. KP, latrine duty, 24 hour patrol, maybe even duty as a foot soldier, he was fine with any of them.<\/p>\n

When they got into the platform the colonel turned down a hallway to the right and began climbing a second ladder that led to the commons area, motioning for Ford and Gonzales to follow. When they entered the commons the colonel walked into the senior officer\u2019s quarters. He paced behind his desk, letting them stew for a little bit. As Gonzales stood there he noticed a few things about the colonel’s office. On the desk rested a picture of his two little kids, their little black faces poking out of their winter coats. On the wall behind the cornel hung a map of the earth, all of the UCE (United Continents of Earth) shaded in blue, the UNC (United Nations of Africa) in green, the New Chinese Empire in Red, the Australia Republic in Brown, and little dots of all three scattered in the arctic circle where the different governments had set up small colonies.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoy\u2019s, how long have you been out of Basic?\u201d the colonel asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThree and a half years, sir,\u201d they responded in unison.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right, you left top of your class. And yet here you are, still specialists. Do you know why that is?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s because you can\u2019t seem to get along. You could both be sergeant at least by now if you could just put this old quarrel to rest. As it is, you\u2019re both just lucky none of your commanding officers have court martialed you for dishonoring the uniform. I have had just about enough of your stupid squabbling, and to end it I have a special assignment for you. At 23:30 a truck will approach the convoy from the west. The driver has been instructed to park in a wooded area 20 clicks outside of camp and wait for a platform to come escort it into camp. You will both be assigned to the platform, any complaints and you will be in front of a court martial so fast your heads will spin. You are not to discuss this mission or the contents of the truck with anyone outside of the platform. The contents are to be protected at all costs. And at any time should you fail to follow these orders you will be put into holding by the MP\u2019s and held until the conclusion of the mission. These orders come from the highest authority. Any questions?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho do we report to sir?\u201d Gonzales asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cUntil further notice, directly to me,\u201d the colonel answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat platforms do we have and who is the rest of the crew?\u201d Ford followed up.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou will be on Platform 022, and right now you are the crew. I will try and fill out the other positions as soon as possible, but for the time being learn to live with each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what is the cargo?\u201d Gonzales finished.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll I know is what was in the briefing,\u201d the colonel answered.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd\u2026?\u201d they asked in unison.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd all it said was \u2018the cargo is the jewel of the President\u2019s eye,\u2019\u201d the colonel answered. \u201cI am to know nothing more. When you retrieve the cargo you are to load it onto your platform and escort the truck into camp. I\u2019ve let the sentries know to let you come and go without any questions at precisely 23:00 and 00:00, if you are not back into camp by then you are on your own. If you aren\u2019t here for morning roll call you will be charged with desertion and treason in the highest degree. One of you is to approach the truck on foot while humming the intercontinental anthem. Understand…?\u201d They indicated to the affirmative. \u201cGood. Dismissed!\u201d<\/p>\n

As Gonzales sat down for his last lunch with his platformmates, he couldn\u2019t help but think of the only other time he and Ford had been assigned to the same crew. They\u2019d only barley managed to not kill each other, and that wasn\u2019t from a lack of trying<\/p>\n

Gonzales was just finishing his lunch when an announcement was posted on the view screen in the commons. All personnel were to report to the drill grounds to be addressed by Colonel Hogan. Specialists: Bueller, Ford, Franks, Gideon, Gonzales, and Stuart; Corporal Klink and Second Lieutenant Paterson were to report for reassignment after the address. Gonzales dreaded the new assignment, Platform 022 was one of the oldest platforms in the convoy, it was part of the third model produced for army use back in the early 31st century, since then the technology had improved diez veces. It\u2019d be like living in the dark ages, with a cavern\u00edcola. Gonzales grabbed his necessities, which he always kept in a burlap sack, a trick his papa taught him, and headed to the drill grounds. Colonel Hogan gave instructions to the camp, nothing Gonzales didn\u2019t already know from his talk with him earlier. No one was to approach Platform 022 because it was under quarantine. He conveniently forgot to mention the new truck coming in. After the gathering, Gonzales and Ford reported with a group of soldiers to Colonel Hogan who proceeded to split them up into other platforms. All the other soldiers came from Platform 022 and were more than willing to be assigned to another platform. When he got to Gonzales and Ford the rest had already gone to get set up in there new platforms, so Colonel Hogan reiterated his earlier warning about how if they slipped up once they would be court marshaled so fast their heads would spin.<\/p>\n

On the way over, Ford started singing an off key version of the old American National Anthem. He got about halfway through the second time before Gonzales couldn\u2019t take it anymore. \u201cWould you please stop torturing everyone around you with that awful, old, la paz de estupideces song!\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019d be one thing if you could actually canta.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s big talk coming from a lowly, slandering, miniature, piece of trash Mexican,\u201d Ford responded. \u201cI bet your old platformmates are dancing for joy now that you and your stench are off their rig.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt least mine aren\u2019t holding a fiesta to celebrate the occasion,\u201d Gonzales retorted.<\/p>\n

\u201cRemind me, how\u2019s your mom\u2019s alcoholism coming along? She still using the juice?\u201d Ford redirected.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt least I have a family who still wants me around. How long did it take them to sell you? A week? Maybe a month just to find someone dumb enough to buy you,\u201d Gonzales said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow often does your dad send you letters telling you how disappointed he is that you aren\u2019t a Corporal yet? Once a week, if he can find the money for the postage.\u201d Ford asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cHas your first master learned your name yet, or does he still call you \u2018Chico\u2019?\u201d Gonzales came back. By then they\u2019d reached the Platform, not much to look at from the outside, but it should get the job done. It was so battle scarred from years of storming beaches and forts that it was unlikely that any of the parts on it were the original, none of the color matched. Its living quarters were rust red. Its upper right propulsion system, or right leg, was wood brown with patches of gray where the paint had chipped off. Its entire right canon mount a forest green. Its lower left leg was sea blue, and both bases, or feet, were a mixture of midnight black and sunshine yellow.<\/p>\n

The platform was in the normal position for when it undergoes a complete change in crew, lowered onto the middle of its right leg and its left leg bent out. The ladder fell down between the feet and went straight to the living quarters. \u201cLadies first,\u201d Ford said with a slight bow.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn that case, after you,\u201d Gonzales replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo I insist,\u201d Ford said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine, that just gives me the high ground,\u201d Gonzales pointed out. With that Ford made a break for the ladder. demasiado f\u00e1cil, <\/i>Gonzales thought as he walked to the ladder detr\u00e1s Ford thinking of different versions of the word \u201cdama\u201d to call him, the one he liked the best was the one he got right before he entered the platform, princesa. He never got a chance though, because as soon as his poked out of the hole in the floor Ford had him by the hair and was pulling up so hard he nearly pulled him off the ladder.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow that we\u2019re out of the view of the coronel, why don\u2019t we finish what we started?\u201d Ford growled in Gonzales\u2019s ear.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever you say,\u201d Gonzales responded, twisting as he lowered himself slightly on the ladder to get Ford to release his hair. He dropped a little farther than he meant to, but that just pulled Ford half way out of the platform. Taking advantage of his newly gained upper hand, Gonzales quickly climbed the ladder and slammed his head into Ford\u2019s nose sending Ford careening onto the mess table. Gonzales didn\u2019t waste a second getting in the platform and on top of Ford. He started letting the punches fly aiming for Ford\u2019s newly crooked, red nose.<\/p>\n

Ford quickly regained his composure and threw Gonzales over his head and got up. They were still wrestling when they heard someone climbing up the ladder. They quickly untangled themselves and covered the worst wounds; Ford needed a book to stick his nose in and forgot to make sure he could actually read it before Colonel Hogan appeared in the hatch.<\/p>\n

\u201cAttention!\u201d he shouted when he got off the ladder and straightened into a standing position. His eyes did a quick once over of the room. It might have passed his inspection if it weren\u2019t for the warped table and few broken chairs scattered across the room. \u201cGood to see you\u2019re breaking in the new platform, making yourself comfortable as it were.\u201d He chuckled a little at his own joke. \u201cNow, to business. I will overlook the obvious fact that it took you less than an hour to break the rules, mostly because right now you are the only ones who know about the operation. But you break any other rule, you will be subject to court martial at the completion of this mission. One more rule, no one, and I mean no one, is to enter this platform without you first contacting me for approval and checking their paper on the ground at the foot of the ladder after tonight, and that includes me. I will try and get you a pilot and mechanic before the week is out, but no promises. Repeat my orders.\u201d After Gonzales and Ford had recited orders and operational procedures to the colonel\u2019s satisfaction, the colonel left with a quick old fashioned four finger salute, which Gonzales and Ford returned awkwardly.<\/p>\n

They spent the rest of the day on the opposite side of the platform, checking supplies, hand held guns, ammo for both the handheld and big guns and food rations. They then settled into the Gunners Quarters which had exactly two bunks, a top and bottom, and a desk too small for anything of actual substance to be put on, for the rest of the day. At 22:00 they got up and played a hand or two of cards to decide who would take pilot duty that night. Come 22:55, Ford was in the pilots chair and Gonzales was wishing he was worse at cards.<\/p>\n

They got past the guard post with no problem just like the colonel said they would. Ford stopped the platform with a jerk that threw Gonzales onto the hatch, which buckled a little under his weight. \u201cYou\u2019re up, try and remember the tune.\u201d Ford said over the com.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuavizar pilotaje, idiota,\u201d Gonzales mumbled as he slowly got to his fee. He lowered the ladder and climbed down it as fast as he could, they were on the clock and he didn\u2019t know how long it was going to take to load this cargo up. The walk was long and quiet, too quiet, even with the whistling; Gonzales didn\u2019t like the looks of the forest. Tales had been told of entire platforms that had disappeared into the woods, never to be seen again, and no platformer, not even Gonzales and Ford, liked the woods for that very reason.<\/p>\n

It took him longer than he thought it would to make it to the truck, and when he did he was a little disappointed with what he saw. He was expecting a little more ornate than what he found, a plan convoy truck, with room for some supplies and maybe a bed. A man got out of the truck and approached Gonzales. When the man got with ten meters of Gonzales, he motioned for Gonzales to be quiet and stop. He then proceeded to take out a pair of keys, put them on top of a stump, and turn to leave. Gonzales started to shout out before the man quickly made a silencing motion with his hands and continued on his way. Gonzales didn\u2019t know what else to do, so he walked forward and grabbed the keys. Attached to the keys was a note that said, handle with care.<\/p>\n

Gonzales didn\u2019t know what else to do, so he got in the truck and drove it back to the platform to unload. Whatever they were charged with was heavy, which made Gonzales even happier that he\u2019d decided to take the whole truck. \u201cHay, imbecilic! Get out here and give me a hand with this thing!\u201d Gonzales shouted up when he got back to the platform.<\/p>\n

Ford appeared in the hatch a few moments later and he shouted down, \u201cHow big is it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, haven\u2019t looked yet, and I don\u2019t think we\u2019re supposed to. Just lower the heavy lifting gear please, I\u2019ll get it out of the back.\u201d Gonzales opened the door to a surprise. Sitting on a bed was a beautiful young woman, about 21, with flowing brown hair and an extravagant aqua blue dress.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about time,\u201d she said exasperated. \u201cI\u2019ve been thrown around for the last three month hopping between towns to keep me \u2018safe\u2019, but I\u2019ve never had such a ride as the one I got to day. Do you not know how to drive?\u201d She looked, and smelled, like all the pegado para arriba high society women, over doing the makeup, dress, jewelry, and perfume, Gonzales liked the smell of lilies, they always reminded him of his madre, but dumping a whole bottle on yourself just was too much.<\/p>\n

\u201cFord, forget the winch, lower the ladder.\u201d Gonzales yelled up.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Ford yelled down.<\/p>\n

\u201cLower the ladder, I think this cargo can climb up there on her own. Isn\u2019t that right, Jessie?\u201d Gonzales said, reading the name off a foot locker.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I can, but I would prefer it if you called me Ms. Premier.\u201d She said obstinately.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever you say Princesa.\u201d Gonzales muttered.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you say her?\u201d Ford yelled down.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes I did. Specialist Ford meet del president hija Jessica Premier. Ms. Premier meet the extremely stupid Specialist Thomas Ford. And I\u2019m the extremely handsome Specialist Ricardo Gonzales.\u201d Gonzales said, helping Jessica out of the truck.<\/p>\n

\u201cWow, you don\u2019t expect me to climb all the way up there do you?\u201d Jessica asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh\u2026 s\u00ed, that\u2019s how you get into it.\u201d Gonzales replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know you can make it kneel, I\u2019ve seen it done for my father and his friends all the time.\u201d She said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes but that\u2019s on special occasions. This is more of a stealth operation and we don\u2019t know who\u2019s watching. Plus, neither of us is actually a pilot and I don\u2019t want to see him try, trust me it wouldn\u2019t be pretty,\u201d Gonzales said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine, but you have to carry up my stuff: my wardrobe, my cosmetics case, my perfume, my bed, and my bags,\u201d Jessica said after a few more minutes of arguing.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn second thought, Ford, bring out the winch as well,\u201d Gonzales yelled up. He would have argued that she didn\u2019t need all that stuff, but time was ticking and he didn\u2019t want to be getting back into camp late with a woman on board, bad enough to be getting in late at all.<\/p>\n

\u201cMake up your mind already!\u201d Ford yelled exasperated.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re just going to load my stuff up with a lift can\u2019t I just go up with it?\u201d Jessica asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo! To dangerous, never know when it\u2019s going to sway or jolt, best you climb the ladder,\u201d Gonzales lied quickly. He\u2019d finally convinced her to climb the ladder and cielo le ayude if he wasn\u2019t going to have her climb it. It took them nearly ten minutes to get Jessica and all her things loaded on board and stowed away to her liking in the senior officer\u2019s quarters, which meant they had less than twenty to make it back to camp.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m driving this time,\u201d Gonzales said to Ford.<\/p>\n

\u201cFind by me,\u201d Ford responded. \u201cJust watch it on the throttle, it sticks a little.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGracias for the warning,\u201d Gonzales said. The climb to the cockpit was longer than Gonzales thought it would be, and more than once he thought about using the automated ascending tube before remembering that this was the last model that wasn\u2019t outfitted with it. when he finally made it to the top he was greeted with a surprisingly familiar site, a swivel chair with a couple of joysticks and a window, only this one didn\u2019t just look forward, it was more of a dome with 360\u030a \u00a0view. He sat down and messed with the controls until he got a feel for it. \u201cSe\u00f1oras y se\u00f1ores hold on to something, this will be a bumpy ride.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gonzales didn\u2019t know it was possible, but his bout in the pilot\u2019s seat was worse than Ford\u2019s, and Ford was right about the throttle, it liked to get stuck in either the running position or the standing position, but never in between. They made it back to camp just in time to beat the sentries and return to their original position before anyone noticed them gone. That night Gonzales dreamed of a peaceful trip to Lytha and a reassignment to anywhere Ford wasn\u2019t, only to wake up to explosions, panic… and death.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[typography font=”Droid Sans Mono” size=”9″ size_format=”px”]Michael Blanding is is an aspiring writer. He has spent the last five years writing a book that he hopes to publish by this summer, and has written and had ideas for many more stores he hopes to see on the printed page as well. He has attended Bellevue College for the past two years. Recently he was accepted into BYU-Idaho and hopes to finish his education their after serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Along with writing and his religion. He also enjoys acting and singing in any capacity and hopes to explore this to more at BYU-Idaho.[\/typography]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Michael Blanding The morning started out rough, all the hot water had been used by his Platformmates, breakfast was made of food they should have eaten yesterday, and Gonzales and Ford had already been in two fist fights by … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":141,"featured_media":2122,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4248,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2014-edition","category-prose"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentweb.bellevuecollege.edu\/belletrist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2360","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentweb.bellevuecollege.edu\/belletrist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentweb.bellevuecollege.edu\/belletrist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentweb.bellevuecollege.edu\/belletrist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/141"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentweb.bellevuecollege.edu\/belletrist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2360"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/studentweb.bellevuecollege.edu\/belletrist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2360\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2538,"href":"https:\/\/studentweb.bellevuecollege.edu\/belletrist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2360\/revisions\/2538"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentweb.bellevuecollege.edu\/belletrist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2122"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/studentweb.bellevuecollege.edu\/belletrist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2360"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentweb.bellevuecollege.edu\/belletrist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2360"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/studentweb.bellevuecollege.edu\/belletrist\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}