The Pride
By: Patricia A. Morse
Text copyright © 2012 Patricia A. Morse
Cover art and design copyright © 2012 Patricia A. Morse
All Rights Reserved
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form without written permission from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and Incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons; living or dead, places, or events is entirely coincidental.
I would like to dedicate this book to my wonderful family and friends who have supported me unconditionally. To my loving husband, Brent, who patiently read and reread my chick book, Thank you. I also have to thank my mother in law Theresa who edited with the keen eye and grammar skills of a seasoned pro. Alexandria Joy, my little love, thank you for encouraging your old mommy to get it done! I have to give props to my wonderful cousin TJ Morse for the beautiful cover art. I would also like to thank Kirkus McGowan and Suza Kates, two wonderful authors, whose incredible works of fiction inspired me to finish telling my story.
Mom and Dad, this book is for you!
Thanks for being my biggest fans!!!
Table of Contents
Happy Birthday
The Briefing
Bon Voyage
Domus Aurea
Meets and Greets
Link
Pandemonium
Midnight Snack
Washington D.C.
Terrible Terrible Bliss
Vegas
Operation Pride
A Return to Domus Aurea
Nashville
The Fellas
He Returns
Out of Body
The Cave
Run Away
Where Am I?
It’s a Date
Stormy Weather
Adios West Coast
The Missing Link
I’ve Arrived
Emotions
Alpha Male
So Stupid
End Game
The Aftermath
Reflections
Chapter 1
Happy Birthday
Lexie
August fifteenth was the day I became a member of an elite group of super soldiers known only as The Pride. I remember it vividly. I awoke with my senses running wild. I could hear, smell, see, and taste everything in the building. It was overwhelming. I was the last to wake from the grueling transformation. It had taken days to become the catlike warrior I now was. Thank God for anesthesia! I stared at myself in the mirror, hardly recognizing the face staring back at me. My hair was luminescent and golden, my skin flawless and glowing, and my eyes the color of emeralds. I guess the combination of lion and human DNA makes for a nice package.
It took a moment to feel the six other pairs of eyes staring at me. Six highly decorated soldiers from every division of the US armed forces apprehensively watched my every move. Colonel Dan Laughlin was the head of our operation, and my new boss. Laughlin was strikingly good looking. His dark hair had a hint of grey, which made him look distinguished. His olive complexion and brown eyes offset his salt and pepper hair with a handsome perfection. Evie Bourocher, Lance “Camelot” Camryn, “Luscious” Lenny Banicek, Paul “Diablo” Nicholas, and his brother Brent “The Grizzly” had all volunteered to become like me, a new breed of super human.
Eveliene, or Evie as she preferred to be called, faired nicely in the transformation as well. She’d always been pretty, but now she was exquisite. Her black hair looked illustrious, and her already blue eyes were icy and mesmerizing. She was always very serious, yet motherly somehow. Lenny, always the proverbial playboy, was dashing with his strawberry blond waves danced around his bronzed face. His puppy dog brown eyes were even more playful than before. Cam was always full of muscles, but now they somehow seemed even bigger and bulkier. He gave me a toothy grin when he noticed I was staring at him. I blushed. He winked at me playfully with his flirtatious hazel eyes. Brent and Paul were identical twins, with each man reaching heights of six foot five, and as strapping as a redwood tree. Laughlin made them wear different colored shirts so everyone could tell them apart. They were jokesters, and always kept us laughing. Brent was very clumsy and always tripping over his own feet. I’d trip too if I wore size megatron shoes. His ability to poke fun at himself was endearing. Paul was the grumpy one, but his sarcastic sense of humor kept everyone in good spirits during our time together. The Bronx Brothers, as we called them, were the kind of men you appreciated when fighting for your country, but you wouldn’t want them living on your street.
The experiment, codename “Pride”, was the brainchild of Colonel Laughlin after the September 11th attacks on the United States. With the aid of the country’s top scientists, he was able to infuse human and lion DNA to create our country’s newest super weapon. Obviously, Operation Pride was a success. Well, we were all still alive at least. Col. Laughlin cleared his throat to bring me to attention. I had always been a bit of a narcissist, but now I was smoking hot and could barely pull myself away from the tiny mirror on the bland beige wall, but I fell into line with my new brothers and sister.
“Ladies and gentlemen, you’ve survived, and now it’s time to get serious! You have been created to protect our great country, but there is work to be done before I can let you go onto the battlefield. We must train and hone your new abilities. All of you will not make it unless the will and effort are present. We will begin immediately. We do not yet know your strengths, nor do we know your weaknesses, but you will be closely monitored during your training periods. You will be evaluated up one side and down the other. This will not be easy even with your new abilities. You have to be honest and forthright with your trainers for this operation to be a success. Now let’s get started.”
The weeks of training were grueling. It was very evident from the first day that I was not as perfect as the others. I was much slower. Cam and Evie could outrun the rubber bullets, but I kept getting pelted by them. Evie just gingerly flipped and floated away from them. Cam just muscled himself out of the way knocking down trees, soldiers, walls, and even me. Lenny, Paul, and Brent were a tad slower than the others, but I couldn’t even keep up with them. The boys could obliterate trees with their bare hands while I barely made a scratch in them. Evie wasn’t very strong either, but her speed and agility more than made up for her lack of strength. As we played war games I did find a certain talent that the others didn’t have. I could beguile the shooters with a glance. The shooters would just stare at me until I turned to run. It would give me just enough time to escape the impending sting from the rubber bullet. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one bewitched by my new found beauty. I figured I would still be bruised and battered by the end of the day, but I didn’t have a scratch on me. Neither did my new brothers and sister. Our combatants didn’t fare as well though. Colonel Laughlin had to put in a fresh batch of new shooters almost every hour. I guess we were being a little rough on the normal humans.
At dinner we were all buzzing about our new abilities. Cam was still dumbfounded by his super strength and couldn’t stop bragging and flexing his muscles for all of us. Evie was adrift in the memories of soaring through the air, catching the branches and floating from tree to tree. The brothers from the Bronx, Brent and Paul were silent, but I could tell they were pleased with their performance by the look of complete satisfaction both had plastered on their faces. I on the other hand was worried that I would not make it. Lenny could see the worry on my face, but his reassurances did nothing to calm my fears. If I didn’t make it into The Pride, would I be destroyed like a homeless cat at the animal shelter? They
certainly couldn’t turn me back into a human now. I already knew too much about Operation Pride. Would I face the firing squad? Lenny stood and looked at the group. “Pretty exciting day today ay guys?”
Cam raised his glass. “Yeah, Lenny. Did you see the looks on their faces when we threw that tree at them?”
“Duuuude! That was awesome!” The Bronx brothers high-fived.
Evie raised her eyebrow. “You guys, we’ve got to start working as a team now. Today was just play time. Tomorrow we each need to find our role.”
Lenny nodded in agreement. “We didn’t beat them today; we only played duck and cover. Tomorrow we have to beat them or all of this will be for nothing.”
I didn’t know where I could possibly fit in on this team. The others were far more skilled than me. I had lost my confidence. “Um, I guess I just stand behind you all and look pretty ay, Lenny?”
“Hell no you won’t, Lex! You’ll be the first one in. I saw how you stopped those guys dead in their tracks. You’ll be the flame, and they’ll be like moths dumbfounded by your glow. “
“But those little rubber pellets really sting!”
“Don’t worry. They won’t have time to shoot. We’ll rush them from the flanks.” Cam laughed proudly. “They’ll still be at half mast when we knock them outta their boots!”
Evie rolled her eyes. “I see you’re still quite the gentlemen, Cammy!”
“I only call’em like I see’em, hotstuff! Cam giggled as he gave Evie a playful smack on her backside. She shot him an icy look that I’m sure he could feel in his bones.
After dinner I was so full of energy I nearly burst, so I decided to take a run before sleeping. Would I even need to sleep? I changed into a pink sports bra and matching pair of bike shorts. Hardly military issue, but I was comfy. I put my hair into a pony tail and stared at my perfect reflection in the tiny mirror. I blew myself a quick kiss of encouragement, tied my laces, and sprinted out the door. I chose to run off the base and out into the woods. The night was perfect. The sun was nearly set, spewing hues of pinks and oranges into the newly midnight blue sky. The leafy canopy above seemed to mimic the orange color of the sky. It was absolutely awe-inspiring. Nearly twenty miles later I realized that I had not even broken a sweat. I wasn’t winded or achy in the slightest. Too bad I didn’t possess these abilities for boot camp. I ran ten more miles into the quaint Bavarian town of Gaylord, before turning around and heading back to base. When I arrived, Lenny was outside of the barracks.
“Hey Len! What’cha doing?”
“Well aren’t you a naughty sight for sore eyes!”
I blushed.
“Actually I was just out here watching the stars. They look different now somehow,” he whispered dreamily as he gazed up into the night sky.
“I think they look even more beautiful than before. More colorful and brighter somehow. Like that one for instance.” I pointed to the North Star. “It used to be just bright and green. Now it’s a swirl of bold colors, and it twinkles like diamonds.” I felt a bit of reassurance that he too was seeing the world with a bit more vibrancy.
“I can’t stop looking at you.” His voice was soft and gentle as he moved towards me opening his arms to pull me into his chest.
I blushed again, flattered by his admiration, but I backed away and crossed my arms defensively in front of my chest.
“Lenny, if we’re gonna work together you can’t think like that.”
“I can’t help it, Lex. You’re way more stunning than any old star… you always have been.”
I pushed him away as he leaned in to kiss me. “It’s not like that anymore Len. Besides, you can’t dip your pen in the company ink! If Laughlin found out he’d destroy us both.”
“C’mon Lex, just give me a chance. I’m pretty sure Laughlin wouldn’t mind. In fact, he told me that the Spartans would romance each other. It made them fight harder. Ya know, all that team work mumbo jumbo.”
“Well Cam and Grizz are right inside. Help yourself!”
“Aww Lexie, it’d be like old times! The hot tub’s still a sizzling 105 degrees ya know.”
“It’s not going to happen Len. Not now. Not like this.”
I turned my back to him and walked away in a huff. I knew I’d broken his heart again, but I had to. Lenny needed to focus on the danger at hand. If I became a distraction, he could get hurt or killed. Lenny had always been overly protective of me, and I think that is why he volunteered to give his life for Operation Pride. I didn’t have a family to go home to. This was my only choice. Well, this or a cardboard box on a cold street corner. I was left on a church doorstep when I was just a few days old, probably abandoned by a teen- aged high school dropout who’d never been taught how to use a condom. Lenny had loving parents waiting for him in California. He had the promise of a good job and a nice house. He gave it all up for me. I knew this, but now he was forced to think of me as his sister, and not a former fiancé. I didn’t know how I was going to derail his advances, but I had to try. It was for his own good, and the good of the team.
I ran back to my barracks. Evie was in her bunk reading. It was nearly 4am and I was still not one bit sleepy. I removed my running clothes and hopped into the shower, letting the hot water wash away my memories of the relationship Lenny and I used to share. Lenny was good to me, but the chemistry just wasn’t there. He deluged me with gifts, and promised me the world. He respected my wishes of no sex before marriage, and was willing to wait for me until I was ready. I played along, hoping to have the life I’d always dreamed of once we left the Marines. Then one day I just couldn’t handle being smothered any more. Every time I turned around he was there waiting with a hug or another piece of jewelry that his mom had sent from California. I felt like I was suffocating. I never had a moment away from him. I wasn’t in love with Lenny. I realized I was in love with the life that Lenny could give me once we finished our tour of duty. Lenny could give me everything I’d ever fantasized about while I was a girl living at the orphanage. He could easily provide for the family of my dreams. I knew in my heart if I’d stayed with Lenny, the world would have been my oyster. I could have had my white house with the picket fence, two point five children, and a dog named Tuffy that would eat our son’s broccoli from under the kitchen table. Lenny deserved more than I could offer.
I was ready to tell him that our relationship was over, when one afternoon we were on a combat mission in a tiny militant- infested town near Baghdad. Everything was eerily quiet, which is usually a bad sign. Lenny always stayed very close to me; I guess he felt responsible for my protection. We had just passed a row of small houses, and found no signs of trouble. Just as we doubled back, I heard the first gunshot. Lenny jumped in front of me and took the bullet to the neck. I closed my eyes and began firing wildly, dragging Lenny to safety between rounds. Several members of my platoon were injured that day, but none as seriously as Len. I got him to the medic tent as soon as the gunfire ceased. I tried to stop his blood loss as we crouched behind a crumbling wall from a bombed-out house, but he’d lost so much blood that the doctors were uncertain he would recover. I was worried sick about him as he lay in that hospital bed recovering from the bullet that was intended for me. The guilt I felt was overwhelming. If he died, it would be because of me, because I was not strong enough to let him go. He was fighting for his life because I didn’t have the guts to be honest about my feelings. If I had been courageous enough to let him go, just a day earlier, he wouldn’t be lying on a gurney barely clinging to life. I decided right then, that if he survived, I would break it off with him and transfer to a different unit. Lenny recovered nicely, but the break-up was worse than that bullet that had pierced his neck, or so I’ve been told. I couldn’t even look at his face when I broke the news to him, so I decided to leave him a letter. I requested a transfer of duty, which was granted quickly, being as I was now considered a hero who saved her platoon.
Before packing up my meager belongings, I penned a note, which I stuffed in an
envelope, and then left with his bunk mate to be delivered to him at the hospital. I Dear Johned him and walked away from the relationship, thinking I would never have to look back. I knew my conviction to end our relationship would die as soon as I saw his generous sweet smile. I convinced myself over the years that I had done the right thing. Honestly, I’d hoped to never see him again, but we crossed paths again at Annapolis. We had both been chosen as possible candidates for Operation Pride. I did everything I could to convince him to go home to his parents. I tried to make life on the outside look like a dream, but he was still madly in love with me. No dream was as good as the reality of a life with me. Lenny was delusional. I was, and still am, far from perfect. If he only knew how big of a coward I really was! For gosh sakes, I didn’t have the courage to share my feelings with someone who loved me unconditionally. Why didn’t he hate me? He almost lost his life once because of me, and now he’s given it up again. And for what? A life of fighting terrorist organizations just to be close to me? I might be a coward, but Lenny is a total mental case. I’m so not worth the hassle. I can only hope someday he’ll see what I see.
Anger swept over me like burning lava. The hot water from the shower felt chilly on my skin as tears of rage began to form in my eyes. Tears? What? I shouldn’t be able to cry. Shoot! I shut off the water and threw the towel around my dripping torso. I ran into the main living quarters. Evie peered up at me over the top of her book.
“Evie! Can you cry?”
“Um, I don’t know Lex. Haven’t really had a reason to cry. Why?”
“I can still cry. This isn’t good. I thought we were supposed to have limited emotions….I must really be messed up or something.”
“What are you crying about?” Evie looked very confused.
“I got really mad at Len…I…I just got really mad, and I started to cry.”
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