States Of Bliss
By Jade Blue
Copyright 2011
Smashwords Edition
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.Com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Chapter 1 - The Three Caballeros
Chapter 4 - The Origin Of Thor
Chapter 5 - A Moment To Remember
“Life imitates art far more than art imitates Life”
-Oscar Wilde
Chapter 1 - The Three Caballeros
Stay hydrated.
The warning echoed repeatedly her head as she hopped from the white van. From the moment she woke, a container of water was in her hand. She sipped from a water bottle even now, as her bladder screamed for a bathroom break. Looking at her watch, she saw it was 1100 hours. Eleven o’clock in the morning. The other people who arrived with her silently disembarked and headed for a large white trailer, known as their base of operations. The night crew was already there, buzzing around and eager for their departure. To avoid the blazing heat of the Mew Mexico desert, the new arrivals sought cover in shady areas located on the perimeter of the trailer.
It felt like a lifetime ago when a noticeably larger group of data collectors, or DCs, gathered at the Marriott in El Paso for RAM training. In essence, the group learned how to monitor the functionality of experimental weaponry and equipment used by the military. A number of prospects quit during the month-long training session. The remaining civilians traded the climate controlled comfort of the hotel conference room for searing desert sand. A significantly smaller group boarded white government vans every day and made the one hour drive from El Paso, Texas into White Sands, New Mexico. During the summertime assignment, daytime temperatures consistently remained between 95 and 102 degrees.
After the unnecessarily difficult process of exchanging notes and gear, shift change between the two groups officially ended. During morning briefing, their fearless leader, who prided himself on being a dick, indicated that this would be no ordinary day. Units were in simulated battle mode for the rest of the day. No one noticed as the girl rolled her eyes behind a pair of black sunglasses. While the group expressed their displeasure at the recent turn of events, she performed a quick mental inventory of her rucksack.
Simulated combat was very exciting, there was no doubt about that. However, unit missions turned a 12 hour shift into a 16 hour adventure. Horror stories circulated about DCs becoming lost in the wilderness after they were separated from their unit. Even if things went well, the group might not see civilization until sometime tomorrow. With an exasperated sigh, she took a look down at her meager rations. Limited food and a gallon-sized CamelBak. For a possible 20 hour shift. Great.
“Ugh, things couldn’t possibly get worse“. After listening to some more irrelevant topics, she walked over to her vehicle.
Adjacent to the trailer, a series of older model Bronco trucks called Cutvees sat in neat rows. Some of the vehicles were already idling, which created a thick blanket of diesel fumes. The vehicles were not state-of-the-art. They had no radio and no air conditioning (very comfy in the scorching desert). A thick layer of sand permanently covered the interior and exterior of the truck. Every time it rained, the sand transformed into a mud slick that covered anything in its path. Plastic zip out windows allowed some air to circulate only when the vehicle was in motion. The identical vehicles were identifiable only by a yellow sticker with black numbers placed on the front and rear bumpers.
After arriving at her vehicle, the girl placed the key in the ignition and turned it towards the dashboard. The action created a high-pitched, whining sound. A light imprinted with the word “Wait” illuminated for a second and turned off. It was now safe to start the vehicle. The engine made a low growl as she turned the key completely in the ignition. The exhaust fumes of her vehicle began to mingle with the pre-existing cloud.
The vehicles began their organized departure, pulling out one at a time and lining up on the side of the road. She could kick herself for walking into a reassignment that placed her 45 minutes away from the rest of the group. How nice it would be to go back in time and not tell the Supervisor to go fuck himself when they first arrived. They say hindsight is 20/20. Waiting for the “Go” signal from her supervisor, sweat pooled in the small of her back. The long sleeved, grey polyester shirts and jeans they were required to wear seemed to attract and trap heat. Removing her cap (another required uniform piece) and sunglasses, she wiped her face with a small towel. After reassembling herself, she looked around for her partner, a small blonde woman how did not know when to keep quiet.
Everyone started out. The two women headed to their assigned unit, a group testing large weapons placed on the rear of flat-bed trucks. The group spent their entire shift in wide, open fields without another soul in sight. The solace was a bit of a relief. The girl spent most of her time reading magazines or listening to her iPod.
Since being exiled to what she affectionately referred to as Thunderdome, the girl was exclusively monitoring weapons for one duo. Samuel drove the weapons vehicle. Short and slightly overweight with tanned skin and brown hair, he barely reached the girl’s chest. Samuel’s supervisor, a tall man named John, had blonde hair and glasses. Sitting in the passengers seat of the truck, he constantly talked about his new bride and little baby daughter.
When the women arrived on location, their unit was sitting around playing cards, listening to music and chatting. Missions had not started yet. Everyone kept one eye (or ear) on the equipment. After conducting status updates, the girl retuned to her truck. Missions began not long after.
Later in the day, the sun began to set across the New Mexico desert. As darkness swept across the area, everyone began to congratulate themselves on a job well done. Missions were officially over. And in less time than originally planned. Another long workday behind them, the group prepared for departure. But nature had other plans.