Boot Camp Part 2
Lessons Learned
Duo woke up with a pounding headache, groaning as he put a hand to his face. "Anybody get the number of the truck that hit me?" he mumbled.
"Truck indeed!" came a woman's voice.
Duo blinked looking up into a concerned face. "Who're you?"
"Doctor Po," she said with a scowl. "And I swear, if you pull a stupid, macho stunt like that again, I'll have you committed."
"Huh?" Duo was having a hard time remembering what had happened, and why he was lying on a bed with a pretty lady doctor fussing over him.
"I suppose some disorientation is to be expected," she sighed. "Do you remember your name?"
"Er...Duo," he said, looking at her as if she were slightly stupid.
"Do you know where you are?"
"In bed?" he guessed.
She rolled her eyes. "Do you know where your bed is?"
Duo looked around at the institutional cinderblock walls. "Jail?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Are you guessing, or do you really know?" she demanded.
"I know my name is Duo Maxwell," he assured her. "The rest is a little...vague."
"Does Camp Peacecraft ring a bell?"
He sat up sharply...or at least tried to, wincing and falling back at the pain that laced through his temples when he moved. "Ah, shit!" He pressed both hands to his forehead.
"Your headache is the normal aftereffect of being knocked unconscious by a fairly strong electrical field," she said dryly.
"The perimeter fence," he recalled with a groan.
"Yes...the perimeter fence. For all intents and purposes, you can think of it as a really large tazer," she told him. "And you had to go and put it to the test."
"That asshole warden made me," Duo grumbled, closing his eyes to alleviate the ache.
"That's not what he says," Doctor Po replied. "According to him, it was some kind of a dare between you and some of the other boys. A foolish one, young man." She glared down at him until he opened his eyes and saw it. "Don't ever try that again. If you weren't in very good health, or if you had a weak heart, something like that could seriously harm you."
"It already did," Duo muttered, wincing at his headache.
The doctor gave a derisive snort. "Don't be such a baby. It could have been much worse."
"If you weren't a lady, I'd tell you to go fu--, er, jump in a lake," Duo finished wearily.
"C'mon, sit up and I'll put a pillow behind you so you can swallow a couple of aspirin," she chided.
Duo obeyed, letting the doctor prop him up on pillows, and obediently downing the aspirin and glass of water she brought him. Then he looked warily at her as she bustled about the office, making notes on a clipboard. "How long have I been...well... here?"
"About an hour," she told him. "And since it's already supper time, I sent an orderly to bring a meal here for you." She eyed him sternly. "By the time you finish eating, the aspirin should be helping with the headache, and you should be able to go to your barracks. You did get your barracks assignment, right?"
He nodded, pulling the folded card from his pocket. "Yeah...looks like barracks 'G.'" He turned his indigo eyes to the doctor, an almost pleading expression on his face. "I wasn't lying, doc. I didn't test the fence on a dare, y'know."
She simply made a slight scoffing noise under her breath. "Well, whatever the reason, don't do it again." She looked up with genuine concern. "Understood?"
"Yes ma'am," he sighed, glaring down at the card in his hand. Obviously he couldn't gainsay the warden, despite the fact that there'd been a yard full of witnesses. Unfortunately, the doctor hadn't been one of them.
The orderly arrived a moment later, and Duo gratefully wolfed down a plate of food and a glass of milk, having not eaten since bagged lunches on the bus ride. When he finished, Doctor Po looked in his eyes, listened to his heart, and took his blood pressure before pronouncing him fit to leave.
"On your way out, stop at the administration building. Give Warden Kushrenada this form."
He looked down at the medical release, sighing. "I have to see him?"
"Those are regulations. At least until you're under Captain Chang's jurisdiction. Then you'll answer to him."
Duo nodded, wearily dragging himself to his feet and plodding out of the infirmary. It was only a few yards across the compound to the administration building, and he pushed open the door to find the outer office empty.
"Oh this gets better and better," he muttered, walking up to the door labeled "Warden." He knocked warily, hoping there'd be no answer and he could just slip the paper under the door and escape to his barracks.
"Come."
Duo walked in to find the warden seated comfortably at a wide oak desk, listening to classical music on a state of the art stereo, and puffing contentedly on a fat cigar.
"Maxwell." The smug satisfaction in the man's voice instantly raised Duo's hackles. "So, did you learn a little lesson today?"
"Yeah, you reminded me of what an--" Duo stopped himself with effort, swallowing the snide comment. "Yes, I did," he said quietly, eyes half-lidded as he shot a dangerous glare at the man behind the desk. And a hell of a lesson it was. The warden is your enemy. Not that it was news to the L2 street rat who'd been roughed up by that same man the first time he was ever arrested.
"I'm not sure I like that look, Maxwell," said the warden, setting his cigar down in the ashtray. "You better learn right now, defiance won't get you far here."
"Neither will obedience," Duo retorted.
A slow smile spread across the other man's face. "You're learning, convict."
"More than you want me to," Duo crooned back, allowing his hate to gleam brightly in his eyes. "Last time I checked, this was still juvenile lockup. There're rules about what you can and can't do to kids, asshole."
Warden Kushrenada came around the desk to stand towering over the slight young man. "You think you're pretty smart, don't you kid? Conning them into letting you off with kiddie camp instead of hard time?" His tawny eyes narrowed. "But make no mistake...this will be hard time...for you."
"Bite me," Duo snarled back, glaring in return.
The warden half-raised a hand, and it looked like he might backhand the boy.
"Uh-uh," Duo cautioned, a taunting smile on his lips. "Not the face. Public defenders would have a field day with that."
The man's hand swung sharply, striking so hard that Duo's head snapped to the side, and he staggered back a step, dazed. The warden leaned in close, his breath stinking of cigars and beer. "But Maxwell," he crooned quietly. "It's not my fault you fell on the obstacle course and hit your face on one of the supports."
Duo looked up in disbelief, eyes widening.
"Your word against mine," said the warden, with a self-satisfied leer. "Boot camp's rough...they'll expect bumps and bruises...or worse."
Duo's heart sank, realizing it was true. No one would believe him if he claimed the warden struck him. Even the doctor, kind as she was, hadn't believed the warden deliberately made him risk injury.
"Listen up, street trash. You step one foot out of line...you even look at me the wrong way again...and I'll make sure you end up in prison on your home colony." The warden smiled cruelly. "Actually, I'll make sure you end up there even if you don't step out of line." He shrugged nonchalantly. "I've already drawn up the paperwork. It's just a matter of filling in a date and your transgression. I know there'll be one."
Duo held out the medical form without another word.
Warden Kushrenada took it, tossing it behind him onto his desk. "Go on then, Maxwell, get to your barracks before lights out, or I'll be filling that paperwork out tonight."
Duo turned sharply, the warden's laughter echoing in his ears as he made a hasty escape from the office. He walked quickly across the compound, not running, lest he make the guards think he was up to something. When he reached the shadow of the buildings, he slowed, fighting the impulse to scream in sheer frustration. Of all the places he could end up, why did it have to be Warden Kushrenada's facility? His hope for a few months of respite before the inevitability of prison was dashed to bits. In short, he was doomed. And as he reached that conclusion, he also reached barracks "G."
Duo walked into the barracks quietly, eyes downcast, and went straight to the unoccupied top bunk, climbing up and stretching out, turning his back to the room and his face towards the wall. He ignored Quatre and Trowa, who were gathered by Quatre's foot locker, comparing class schedules for the next day.
Quatre stood up and went over, standing on tiptoe by the head of the bunk. "Duo? I--I'm sorry."
The braided boy waved a hand dismissively. "Not your fault."
"But it was," Quatre insisted. "If I hadn't made you talk to me, he wouldn't have gotten mad."
Duo heaved a big sigh. "Yeah, he would've. Forget it, kid."
"But--"
"Forget it!" This time the voice was sharp, tinged with irritation, and Quatre turned away.
He found Trowa watching him as he made his way back to his bunk. "He doesn't want your sympathy," observed the green-eyed boy.
"It's not sympathy," Quatre insisted. "I'm just trying to take responsibility..." He stopped, recalling his father's words to that effect. 'It's time you took responsibility for your own actions. I won't spend any more money to get you out of trouble. This time you can serve your time, and maybe learn a lesson.'
The blonde swallowed hard, sinking down onto his bunk and laying his head on the pillow, trying to keep tears from welling up in his eyes. Oh, he'd learned a lesson alright. The two months he'd spent in juvenile detention before being sent to this boot camp had been a living hell. Bullied, stalked, and beaten by larger, tougher boys, he'd learned a very hard lesson. After being knocked around several times, he'd learned to fight back and do it hard enough that he injured any attackers more than they injured him. Over time, they'd backed off, accounting for Duo's observation that none of the boys who'd gotten on the bus with Quatre had been bothering the pretty blonde.
But Quatre had also learned he was ill-equipped for real prison. If he failed at this last chance, he had no doubt he'd be chewed up and spit out by the prison system. He'd seen in Duo a kindred spirit...someone with enough humanity left in his eyes that he clearly wasn't cut out for hard time. For Allah's sake, they were just boys. Children. How could tossing them into a prison full of serial killers and rapists be an alternative at all? It wasn't as if they'd killed anyone. Or ever would. Was it?
~*~
Moments after Duo left the warden's office, Captain Chang knocked on the door.
"Come."
"Am I interrupting?" asked the Chinese man, hearing the music as he opened the door.
"Quite alright," said the warden, waving dismissively. "Come on in."
The officer stepped in, clipboard in hand, and stood almost at attention in front of the wide oak desk.
"Cigar?" offered the warden, gesturing to the humidor on his desk.
"No, thank you," replied Captain Chang, giving a slightly stiff, polite smile.
"How can I help you?"
"Two recruits were missing at roll call," replied the officer, holding up his checklist. "Maxwell and Yuy."
"Ah, yes. Maxwell's here...just left for the barracks as a matter of fact." The warden smiled rather smugly. "He was insubordinate during orientation."
"And ended up in the infirmary?" asked the officer, frowning slightly.
Warden Kushrenada's smile widened. "Let me tell you a bit about Maxwell, Captain. I was the arresting officer the first time he was picked up on L2...for breaking and entering, and grand theft. He resisted arrest, injured two of my officers, and was also charged with assault. He's what they call 'incorrigible.' A lifer. You're wasting your time and resources on the punk, if I may say so."
"That's not my call," Captain Chang said stiffly. "--yet."
"You have no idea what a calculating little bugger he can be, Chang. I only hope he learned enough of a lesson that you don't have him escaping the first time you turn your back on him."
Captain Chang scowled at that. "I'll keep a close eye on him, I assure you." He gestured with his clipboard. "About Yuy?"
"Ah, the shuttle from L1 was delayed. There was a paperwork error, and by the time they got it straightened out, they missed their departure. Heero Yuy will arrive late tomorrow morning." He shook his head. "From what I read of his file, he's another one you'll want to watch your back around." He gave a dry laugh. "In fact, watch your back around all of them. They aren't military recruits, in spite of the nonsense the Initiative spouts. They're criminals."
The captain made a noncommittal sound. "I sense that you aren't a big fan of the concept of juvenile boot camp."
The warden leaned back in his chair. "Look, Chang...this isn't your typical juvenile facility. It's for kids who either committed seriously violent crimes, or those on their third strike. Most of these kids will end up in prison again as adults. Hell, I'd venture to say they all will. Giving them an 'out' is like rewarding them for what they've done. The Peacecraft Initiative is nothing but a waste of taxpayers' money."
"I beg to differ," Wufei said calmly, his face an expressionless mask. "If we can turn even one of these kids into a responsible soldier, it will be worth every penny. And even those who don't perform well enough to get a chance to attend the Academy will learn lessons about teamwork, loyalty, and the rewards of hard work. Those are lessons that might make a difference. Maybe, as a result, fewer of these boys will end up in prison as you predict."
The warden snorted skeptically. "You're an idealist, Chang."
"Perhaps," conceded the officer. "If seeking justice for these kids instead of punishment makes me an idealist, then I accept the title gladly."
The warden leaned forward across his desk. "You want justice? The only way to get justice is to rule with an iron hand. You show these punks any mercy, and they'll take it as a sign of weakness and eat you alive."
"I don't plan to show them mercy," the Captain said stiffly. "I plan to show them respect."
At that, the warden flopped back in his chair, laughing uproariously. "Now I've heard it all! Respect? You actually want me to believe you respect a bunch of thieving delinquents?"
"When I'm through with them, I will," predicted the officer calmly. "Those that complete the training with acceptable scores will have earned that much from me."
"--if you survive," sneered Warden Kushrenada. He shook his head dubiously. "This is a doomed project from the start, and whoever sent you here to oversee it was probably trying to sabotage your career, Captain."
"I volunteered," Captain Chang said evenly, his eyes as cold and hard as flint.
Again the warden let out a raucous laugh. "If you don't beat all--!" He eyed Captain Chang with a gleam in his eyes. "You must have a death wish." He folded his hands behind his head. "Don't worry, though...my guards will watch your back even if you don't have sense enough to. They're old hands at managing delinquents."
"I was given to understand that the inmates will be under the supervision of my troops and myself," Captain Chang pointed out, squaring his shoulders slightly.
"Oh...certainly...for training they will be. But trust me, you'll need the perimeter watch and the foot and canine patrols to ride herd on them. We wouldn't want you to lose any."
The Captain narrowed his eyes slightly, assessing the warden with a piercing gaze. "Just so we understand that my jurisdiction--"
"Your 'jurisdiction,' Captain, is the training of these reprobates. Mine is keeping them contained," snapped the warden, rising and placing his hands flat on his desk, all pretense of geniality gone. "And if any of them screw up, it's my job to send them to whichever prison hosts their colony's inmates."
"By 'screw up,' you mean break any Earth laws, correct?" clarified the officer.
"What else would I mean?"
"I've made up a list of regulations that are specific to the training," Captain Chang explained. "While serious offenses would necessitate turning an inmate over to you for expulsion...there are also lesser offenses for which I'd assign..." Here a feral smile crossed his face. "...in-house punishment. For example, insubordination usually merits a few laps on the track, or digging an unpleasantly large, blister-producing hole." He eyed the warden carefully. "Do you have a problem with that?"
"Of course not. I'm only concerned with the breaking of real laws...not some boy-scout rules you dreamed up for your so-called 'recruits' to follow." Kushrenada shook his head slowly. "Wait'll one of 'em pulls a knife on you or one of your troops. You'll be the first one screaming to have them 'expelled,' as you so aptly put it."
"I certainly would," agreed Captain Chang. "I just wanted to be clear on the separation of policies here, since the boys will be under much closer supervision by my troops than by your guards." He smiled thinly, with no warmth. "I wish to avoid misunderstandings."
"Hey...as far as I'm concerned, the little bastards are all yours." The warden smiled grimly in return. "But mark my words, you'll soon see I'm right. They're beyond redemption." He sat back in his seat, picking his cigar up from the ashtray. "You call me when you want rid of the Maxwell kid. I predict he'll be the first to make you see reason and want out of this assignment."
Captain Chang nodded stiffly. "That may be the case...but before I turn any boy over to you, I can assure you, whoever it is will have exhausted my rather extensive list of punishments...none of them pleasant."
Warden Kushrenada smirked at that. "Oh, please...can I watch?"
"Of course," conceded the Captain with a gracious half-bow. "I thank you for your time, sir, and will let you know when I have a particularly harsh lesson to teach one of the recruits. You might concede that our methods can be as effective as you seem to think yours are."
"I look forward to it."
Captain Chang bowed again, and made his exit, dark eyes still somber as he considered how very much he had disliked the smug warden from the moment they met. He rather looked forward to proving that the Peacecraft Initiative could actually be a positive force in juvenile rehabilitation.
TBC...
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