Fun in the Desert
The husky raised his voice high over all the commotion and chatter going on in the back of the C-130, "Listen up grunts. We will be leaving shortly for the sandbox. It's a very long flight, and we will be stopping for gas twice on the way there. You will be seated and strapped in unless I tell you otherwise. In the event of an emergency I will direct you to put on your EPOX, located behind you. Pull it open, and pull the strap over your face or muzzle. If you can't figure it out you, don't have enough desire to live. Once we are airborne and at cruising speed, you can move around the cargo compartment, but as you can see, there aint a whole lot of room. Any questions? I didn't think so."
He walked back towards the front where the pilot was waiting for him, "Is everything ready?"
"Yes ma'am. Good to go."
"Good, we are starting engines in 10."
Tyler closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. Here we go again. A small voice from behind him startled him slightly.
"Umm, excuse me sir. Can I ask you a question?"
Tyler turned around to see a human staring at him. The expression on his face was a blend of confusion and fear.
"What's up newbie?" he said to the marine.
"Did it hurt? The transformation I mean."
"Extremely painful. You realize that all the bones were forced to grow and my facial structure was completely rearranged, right? The whole episode took about 20 minutes, after which I couldn't move for about a day. I don't wish it on anyone."
"Oh. Well, what about the rest of you? Everything still work the way it did before?"
"Adjusting to a tail kinda sucked, always ran into everything. And as far as the rest of me, yes. It all works. Granted, my dick isn't that of a human anymore, but then again, neither am I, so I guess it goes with the rest of me."
"I see. So how many times have you been to the desert?
"I completed 3 tours before the change. This is my 12th trip since the change. We go every few weeks transporting you guys back and forth."
"How long were your tours?"
"4 months each."
"That's cool. So, do you enjoy doing this?"
"Is that a real question? This must be your first time out," Tyler gave the marine a paper bag, "This is for when you lose your lunch later on."
"Umm, thanks I guess."
"Buckle up kid, we are heading out in about 5."
The marine complied and jumped a little when the fox next to him spoke up, "Look at you go Tucker, hitting on the flyboy like that," she said with a little giggle.
"Aww, cmon Kate, don't give me that. Even if I was hitting on him, I doubt he likes guys. Besides, he is a Sgt and I'm a private."
"I'd say he is a Sgt and you want his privates," she giggled again, only louder this time.
Tucker blushed and couldn't help but stare at the huskies tail move back and forth as he walked down the cabin, checking all the safety belts and walked outside to start engines. Maybe he did notice me hitting on him. Why else would he have mentioned his dick? Tucker heard something that sounded like an engine beginning to whirr so he put his earplugs in and watched as best he could out the door.
The husky stood outside the door near the front of the plane, scanning something on the side of it, then disappeared to the other side of the aircraft. The sound of two engines starting followed in the next few minutes before the husky appeared once more in Tucker's view. He held up two fingers rock star style followed with a thumbs up before the engine began to turn. He watched the Sgt scan the engine before moving on to the last one; same process as before but only one finger this time. The engine spun up and the husky headed inside wrapping up his com cord and closing the door behind him. He ran threw his checks; and locked eyes with Tucker a few times before the plane began to taxi. The rolled down the taxi way and lined up for take-off. The engines grew louder as power increased and the husky took his place at the front of the cabin facing the marines and strapped in just as the plane began to roll. They took off and reached cruise altitude, upon which Tyler began to go to the beck and call of the marines that couldn't sit still.
Finally about 5 hours into the flight, just about everyone was asleep. Tucker slowly got out of his seat and went to sit on the floor next to Tyler. The husky looked at the marine oddly at first but smiled softly at him and handed him an extra headset.
"Enjoying the flight?" Tyler asked.
"It's been alright. I see things have slowed down for you now that the others are asleep," he said hesitantly.
"Yea, happens the same way every time, and don't worry about talking over the com, I've got us on a different net so we don't disturb the flight deck."
"That's cool. So..."
"Yea?"
"What rank are you exactly?"
"I am a Staff Sergeant, E-5."
"How long have you been in?"
"About 5 years."
"That's cool. So what is it like down range?"
"For me, it's short and sweet. For you it will be hot and dangerous, not to mention long."
"I see. So is it a straight flight over there?"
"No, we will have a few stops along the way. The whole trip is gonna take 5 days or so, assuming we don't break."
"Break?" Tucker said, a little uneasiness in his voice.
"Yea, like we land and can't take off again. Haha, you thought I meant break in the air? No the wont happen till we are being shot at. Then the real fun begins."
"I would hardly call that fun."
"Well that is as good as it is gonna get after the drinking and partying along the way. Once you are there, you are working 24/7 no boos, no sex, nothing."
"That doesn't sound very encouraging, sir."
"It doesn't have to private, it is life, and it is what is happening. No one made you sign that contract. You got yourself into it, so you better hope you pull yourself out."
Tucker looked down, unable to reply to Tyler's statement.
Tyler put his arm on the marine's shoulder, "Aww, cmon kid, cheer up. Deployment sucks for everyone, but you will get through it, just like everybody else."
"You think so?"
"Kid, I know so. Trust me, I've been doin this shit for too long now. Nothing ever happens. The locals cant aim worth a shit anyway."
Tyler cheered up a little bit and caught himself leaning quite heavily into the husky's shoulder, a sort of awkward cuddle. He sat up straight quickly and the Sgt laughed a little to himself, "You had better get some sleep private, we will be landing soon, and I know you will want to go party with all of your buddies.""
Tyler nodded and returned to his seat. Before he knew it he was abruptly shaken awake by a huge thud and rattle. Guess we landed.