PURGATORY: Bonds Forged In Hellfire (Beauty 0f Life Book 5) Read online

  Moss checked the time, he didn’t have the luxury of worrying about Irwin because Broderick had only forty minutes to prepare. “If that’s all, sir, I must go now.” Irwin dismissed him with a wave and Moss took off at a run.

  CFB Petawawa – Inside Barracks

  Dan bolted upright from his bunk and came to attention with Brody as a lieutenant entered their barracks.

  Lieutenant Moss recognized Broderick in an instant because he looked like a much younger version of General Broderick. “At ease men.” His gaze directed at Hunter, he asked, “All packed?”

  “Yes, sir.” Brody glanced at the gear at the foot of his bed.

  Moss turned his gaze to the general’s son. “Broderick, your application has been approved and fast tracked. You are going to recruit selection testing today. You have thirty minutes to pack your gear. Report to the tarmac in thirty-five minutes.”

  Thunderstruck, Dan stood rooted in place, his mouth gapping open, staring at the lieutenant.

  Brody joyfully whooped it up as he tore into Dan’s locker, tossing needed items onto the bunk.

  He Expects Me to Be Perfect

  3

  June 30

  Military Aircraft En Route to Australia

  Wiping the stunned expression off his face proved rather difficult for Dan. Never in a million years would he have guessed the general would put him in this cycle. It made him extremely happy he and Brody were going together, but a weird sinking feeling began to take hold.

  Why? Why would the general approve me so fast? There is no way in hell he would do this just for me. The general must have an ulterior motive. Dan began to wrack his brain trying to figure out a reason as he continued to distract Brody by keeping up a running commentary. If he kept talking, Brody would make it through this long flight without giving away his fear of flying. Actually, it was more a fear of crashing.

  Brody’s fear was irrational, but that didn’t make it any less real. It all started when his best friend was only ten. One night, Brody woke up and wandered out to his foster family’s kitchen for a drink of water. He caught a glimpse of an old movie with a fiery plane crash. Brody walked in right as some of the passengers ran screaming from the airplane engulfed in flames. Ever since then, Brody feared burning up in a crash. Brody told him the screams on the TV sounded ungodly and he didn’t sleep for a week because of nightmares.

  Dan found out Brody’s fear when Brody helped him deal with his nightmares after the hazing incident. He woke for weeks screaming and sweating profusely as he relived his drowning. Brody comforted him and one night shared with him his own fears. Brody sharing his fear with him and helped Dan come to terms with his new fear of open water and drowning. They helped each other in many ways.

  Lieutenant Moss glanced over at Broderick. The kid was dumbfounded when he told him he had thirty minutes to pack his gear. He flicked his gaze to Hunter. The young man became extremely excited at the news.

  A grin tugged at the corner of Moss’ mouth. Clear as day those two were buddies. He opened Broderick’s file and reviewed the details more in-depth now that he had the opportunity. He needed to reconfigure a few things with an additional man testing.

  Broderick’s application, signed by the general, indicated his core skill as a sniper. His current MOSID 00161 – Military Police (MP) and part of the Rapid Response Team. Broderick was also well versed in recon, assault, and tactical strategy. His IQ was in the top ten percent of the population, and he was fluent in French, Latin, Russian, Spanish, Gaelic, Italian, and German with a smattering of Dutch, Turkish, and Arabic.

  Moss reread the order from the general regarding the five percent stipulation. He closed the file. Damn, too bad Broderick won’t secure a spot. He possesses the right stuff for Special Forces, but the damned condition will likely prevent him from gaining a recruit placement. Moss did the math, the top five percent of thirty men was one point five. No such thing as half a man, which meant Broderick needed to be at the top of every single assessment area to be allowed in. Damn!

  When Moss combined the shocked expression on Broderick’s face with the general’s stipulation, his mind went three directions. One, the general and the kid both wanted this, and the general facilitated early entry, but expected perfection. Two, the general was aware of his son’s capabilities and wanted him in Special Forces, but the kid was forced into it by an overbearing father. Three, the kid wanted to be here, and the general granted the dispensation to appear supportive but wanted to ensure his son didn’t make the cut yet.

  Number two worried him most. He had seen too many kids of high ranking officers forced into a military life which they didn’t choose. That crap rankled him. He didn’t know the general well enough to determine if that was the case. The general was tough and disciplined. He demanded the highest caliber effort from all his men. Though Moss had no clue what the general might be like as a father. Did he push his son to be like him?

  Brody tamped down on his fear of flying—it was one thing which might prevent him from getting into Special Forces. He was relieved Dan was on the flight with him. Dan distracted him, and he was able to appear normal—or at least he gave the impression of normalcy. The anxiety Brody read in his friend’s eyes as he scrutinized Dan helped him crawl outside his head. “You’re worried. Are you wondering why he moved so fast?”

  Surprise flashed in Dan’s eyes as he turned to Brody. Are my thoughts that readable? Brody’s stare told him he had covered, just not well enough to fool his best friend. Dan grimaced. “You read me like an open book. I didn’t fill out the application, which means the general filled it out for me. Why did he move so fast? What is his reason? There has to be an ulterior motive.”

  Brody shrugged. “No idea, but I’m here with you. Whatever it is, we’ll face it together. Got that, brother?” Brody patted him on the shoulder.

  Dan blew out a long breath. “Yeah.” Then he launched them into a discussion on hockey to distract Brody—he was here for Brody too—they covered each other’s six in all ways.

  The more Moss thought on the qualifications of Broderick, the more he wanted him in Special Forces. They could use men like him. He glanced at Broderick again and chuckled at the discussion on hockey which now had six soldiers arguing about which hockey team was the best.

  However, he couldn’t rid his mind of Broderick’s stunned expression. Moss decided he needed to talk to Broderick. There were several questions he needed to ask, and he wanted to understand why he appeared so shocked by the news today. Moss stood and called out over the racket of men’s voices and engines, “Broderick, with me.” He walked to a secluded area in the back of the plane to afford them some privacy.

  Dan glanced at Brody confused and unbuckled his belt at the lieutenant’s call. Brody shrugged again, and his face said, see what he wants. Dan stood and followed the lieutenant to the back of the plane.

  Moss took a moment to assess the young soldier who stood at rigid attention before him. “At ease.” Moss observed Broderick go to parade rest. Military bearing was written all over this kid. “I need to ask you some questions. I assure you this discussion will remain between you and me. I’ll not document your answers nor communicate them to anyone, not even the general. I need you to be completely honest with me. Do you understand?”

  Dan became wary but nodded and responded, “Yes, sir.”

  “I’ll speak plainly. I have no hidden agendas, and I’ll not pull any punches. I read your qualifications. You measure up to the prequalification without issue. However, I don’t know why you have been granted a dispensation to test at your age. You seemed shocked at being included. The general signed your application instead of you. So I’m wondering if this may be your father’s decision and not yours. Is this your choice?”

  “Yes, sir. I did petition for consideration to test early. My shock is at the speed the general granted my request. I only asked yesterday, sir.”

  Moss’ eyes widened. “Yesterday?”

  “Yes, sir.”


  Yeah, that would be a reason to be shocked, Moss thought. “Why do you want to join Special Forces early?”

  Dan stared at the lieutenant, curious about his questions. None of the others had been asked these questions, but then again none of them was the son of the general or under the age criteria. Giving voice to his main reason might be construed many different ways.

  The lieutenant might even think they were gay or something. That wouldn’t do either of them any good. He decided to answer along the same party lines he had given the general. The reasons were the truth but not quite the whole truth. “Two reasons, sir. First, I believe my skills are best utilized in Special Forces. I want to make a difference and to serve my country and protect the citizens to the best of my abilities. Second, I don’t want to wait another few years just hanging around when I’m capable now.”

  Moss considered Broderick’s reasons. It sounded a lot like the police motto to serve and protect, which brought out other concerns. The dates connected with his previous employment troubled him. They didn’t quite add up. “Your file indicates you were a police officer before joining the military. You couldn’t have been an officer long. Why did you leave the police force?”

  He didn’t want to explain his reason for leaving, but Dan knew they could and would find out in the security clearance vetting process, so he answered honestly. “I was on the force for only six months. After helping to put away four dirty cops, I experienced backlash from other officers. Due to lack of backup, I was put in a position where the public was at risk when I responded to a call. Better I left before someone died because my request for backup was ignored.”

  Damn, Moss thought. “How old were you?”

  “Eighteen, sir. I graduated the academy a week after my eighteenth birthday.”

  Moss laughed in disbelief. Broderick graduated a week after his eighteenth birthday which meant he started the academy earlier than allowed. “How the hell did you manage that?”

  Dan grinned and relaxed ever so slightly at the lieutenant’s demeanor. “I guess I’ve always done things earlier than normal, sir. I could’ve graduated high school at sixteen, but I took some time off and graduated at seventeen, right before joining the police academy. I’m not exactly sure who approved me starting early, but I believe Grande Dame Marbella Ridgewater influenced the decision.”

  Okay, this just got more interesting. Moss asked, “You know Grande Dame Ridgewater?”

  “Yes, sir. She was my guardian for two years. I lived with her when I was sixteen and seventeen,” Dan answered. This was getting too personal. He hated to reveal this much, though every detail would be in the background check.

  Moss reflected on what Broderick shared. The kid appeared open and forthcoming with his answers yet seemed uncomfortable answering them. Because he was open with him and starting things earlier than normal appeared a pattern with him, Moss accepted the fact this is what the kid wanted, and he hadn’t been forced into it.

  With that understood, Moss decided to clue Broderick in on the demands his father stipulated. He had reread the actual orders and didn’t find any wording in them which prevented him from telling Broderick about the condition. He detected the sneer in Irwin’s voice and felt the addition came solely from the captain. Moss reported to General Broderick, and his orders superseded anything Captain Irwin may have said.

  He held Broderick’s gaze for several moments. “Okay, Broderick. I accept this is what you want regardless of how quick it was. I want you to know you’ll be measured fairly for your skills. I don’t care who your father is. My focus is on what is best for Special Forces and whether you have the right stuff when under pressure.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “That said, I think it’s only fair to inform you that you’re being held to a higher standard to gain a recruiting spot. By order of the general, you must be in the top five percent in every assessment area. You miss one area, and you won’t attain one of the available slots. Do you comprehend what this means?”

  Dan couldn’t help himself, he snorted and spat out bitterly, “Shit, I knew there had to be a fucking catch. Goddamn, he truly expects me to be the perfect soldier. Nothing less is ever acceptable.” Dan got a hold of himself when he realized to whom he ranted.

  Instinct kicked in and Dan snapped to attention. “Sorry, sir. Yes, I understand the meaning, sir. I must be the best in every area. Five percent of thirty is one point five. Unless there is a half man, I must be the top in all assessment areas. I’ll do my best to meet the expectations since I have been granted special dispensation to test early.”

  The switch from animosity to hard-core soldier surprised Moss. What the hell kind of upbringing produced this complicated young man? It would be interesting to watch him perform during the testing. “That’s correct. You’re dismissed, Broderick. Try to get some rest.”

  “Thank you, sir.” Dan strode back and took his seat next to Brody. As he buckled back in, he began to stew over the general’s stipulation. He turned to Brody and struggled to keep the frustration from his voice. “He’s taunting me. He dangles it in front of me and then yanks it away, Brody.”

  The doleful kicked puppy appearance of Dan’s eyes worried Brody. “What did the general do?”

  Dan spoke so softly that Brody scarcely heard him. The hurt in his voice matched the hopelessness in his eyes. “He expects me to be perfect in every fucking assessment. The general stipulated I must be in the top five percent in everything or I won’t earn a spot. He wants his goddamned perfect soldier. He’s toying with me. How can he expect me to be the best of everything? The general always knows how to rip me apart.”

  “You’ll do your best, and that’s all anyone can expect. Time we grabbed some shut eye.” Brody patted Dan’s knee lightly waiting for a response.

  “Yeah,” is all Dan said as he peered at Brody. He would do his best because there was nothing else he could do. Special Forces was the general’s domain and what he commanded must be followed without hesitation or complaint.

  After Dan answered, Brody forced himself to close his eyes. He moved his left hand to the side of Dan’s thigh out of view of the other soldiers. This more discrete position wouldn’t give the guys the wrong impression, yet the physical connection to Dan gave him the comfort he needed to push his fear of flying down. He prayed he wouldn’t wake up screaming from a nightmare as fatigue drew him into an uneasy sleep.

  Dan waited to close his eyes until Brody’s respirations came slow and regular indicating he had gone to sleep. His insides knotted up. The general hated him. What had he expected? He should have predicted the general would do something like this.

  Every little thing I love or want is ripped from me. What a cruel way for the general to do it. This must give the general a sick pleasure to be so heartless. No fucking way I can live up to the general’s unrealistic expectations. Hell, I can barely swim—and that was before the damned hazing incident.

  His fear of open water was his main weakness, but he had others. Contrary to what Brody might think of his skills, he was nowhere near perfect. He failed so often. Despite his concerns, Dan fell into a fitful sleep.

  Moss watched the interaction between Hunter and Broderick and although he couldn’t hear the words it appeared Hunter tried to make his friend feel better. Moss felt sorry for Broderick, but his hands were tied.

  He would objectively assess Broderick because he had a duty to assess all thirty men impartially. Moss set to work reconfiguring the teams with the addition of Broderick. Then a thought struck him. Are my hands tied? Maybe not so much if I get creative.

  Kismet and Koala

  4

  July 2

  Australia – Bindoon Training Area – Briefing Tent

  Dan and Brody sat in the back of the large briefing tent. After their group landed in Perth, Australia they loaded into transport trucks which drove them to the Special Air Service Regiment base at Campbell Barracks. Once there, a helicopter promptly flew them to
the remote Bindoon Training Area.

  After being assigned cots and stowing their gear, they reported to the tent in the center of camp. When their group entered, they noted the Aussie soldiers congregated inside. Lieutenant Moss joined an Australian lieutenant at the front of the tent along with several other men, mostly sergeants from both Canada and Australia. They found available seats and silently waited for the briefing to begin.

  Brody grinned at Dan, his excitement written on his face. Dan chuckled. Whatever might be in store for him, he was happy for Brody. Quietly he teased, “Why so glum?” Brody’s smile increased as he turned his attention to the front.

  The Australian lieutenant addressed the soldiers. “I’m Lieutenant Roman, and my Canadian counterpart is Lieutenant Moss. The gentlemen behind us are your evaluators. They will observe your performance and run the testing. This is a first ever joint trial. The primary objective is to select recruits for our Special Ops. Though our secondary objective is for both countries to assess our strengths and weakness in our overall training and assessment methods.

  “Therefore, we will be doing things a bit differently from what you might imagine if you tested previously or spoke to someone who did. The first change is testing won’t have a drop clause. You’re here, and you’ll be expected to endure the entire testing phase, serious injuries aside. Second, we will pair one Canadian and one Australian. In head to head tests, you will go against each other. In team against team, you will work together. Each man will be scored individually by the observers.”

  Roman scanned the potential recruits. Always hard to tell at first glance who would be victorious and who would fold under the stress of testing. “You are all superb soldiers to make it this far. But only a few of you will make it to your respective elite training program, and even fewer will complete their training and become Special Forces operators.