"One hour to arrival," The conductor announces on the speaker.

My blue eyes flutter open, as my mind resurfaces into consciousness. I raise my head from my pillow slightly, blinking a few times as bright images flow through my mind.

"Comfortable?" A scruffy voice sarcastically sounds next to my ear, slightly startling me. I look up to see Tank, and realize that my soft 'pillow' has turned out to be his broad shoulder.

"Sorry..." I say tiredly, unable to prevent a blush from rising to my cheeks. I look out the window quickly to conceal the color on my skin.

"As long as you're happy," He jokes, chuckling. I turn to him with a smile.

I then realize the situation at hand.

"One hour..." I repeat, sighing audibly. My heart thumped soundly in my chest, as images of the countryside fly by the window.

"Try not to think about it." Tank says, crossing his arms. "We just have to get on a boat after this anyway."

"Right," I agree, although my demeanor doesn't change.

~

"Five minutes to arrival," The conductor once again affirmed.

I notice my friend tense up slightly beside of me, as he inhales. I glance at him to see his eyes closed, and his brow furrowed.

"What's the matter?" I ask, placing a hand on his arm out of concern. He seems to be startled, and he looks down at me with an expression that, for once, I cannot read. I have never seen him with such an emotion behind his eyes, and I was very taken aback.

"I-"

He starts, but he is cut off by the screeching halt of the iron beast. He looks at me, and instinctively, we both rise to our feet.

"Corporal Dempsey, Corporal Washington, Corporal Jenkins, and Corporal Price, please secure your bags and proceed to the boarding dock." Speaks a Captain, as he continues toward the other soldiers.

The weather outside is frightful, and there is no fire to keep us warm this time. Rain pours down in sheets of freezing moisture and already, a turning and churning feeling enters my stomach.

"Well, what a wonderful day for a trip to France," Tank growls, as he holds a bag over my head in an attempt to keep me dry. I nearly laugh at the effort, but appreciate it nonetheless. I can't help but notice that even now, he stands close to me, as if the wind would pick me up and carry me away.

Our boots hit the frosty and slick steel of the boat, and we proceed to the hull of the ship.

"At least there's an underside." I comment, as we venture toward the inside of the ship.

"Alright, men! From this point on, we are a covert operation. Our job now is to arrive at shore. Once we are there, we will cart over to the base. Capiche?" Seargeant Dinkley briefs the ship.

I look down at my black fingerless gloves, and realize that perhaps I shouldn't have cut off the digits. It was already cold, and the temperature is dropping steadily.

I have always had a fear of boats. I was afraid that something would happen, the engine would fail, or there would be a hole in the starboard, and we would all die a cold, icy death in the waters of the vast ocean. Asphixiation happened to be one of my greatest mortal fears.

~

Closer.

Just a bit further now.

It has been three days since the voyage had began. I have nearly thrown up from seasickness at least three times.

"Not again..." I place my hands over my mouth, as if the bile would be stopped.

"That way!" Dempsey shouts, pointing away from him.

"Relax, I'm fine...I think." I shiver and curse myself for not bringing a larger jacket.

Suddenly, I feel a drape set itself upon my shoulders, instantly warming me up. I glance beside me, and the culprit is again, Tank, so I smile.

"Don't you need this?" I ask, looking up at his tired eyes.

"You need it more than me." He shrugs, crossing his arms.

"That's classic." I laugh quietly. "Here, we can share it." I spin my arms around to use the large coat as a cover, laying it over myself and the man beside me.

Tank smiles and accepts. "Thanks."

"Land ho! Prepare the troops for landing!" A muffled voice comes from upstairs, stirring the lower quarters of the ship.

"Alright! This is it! Everyone out!" The Seargeant sounds loudly, and we obey without reason.

The storm outside has stirred and magnified. We are no longer on American soil. The atmosphere has changed. The smell of gunpowder and fires and smoke meets my nostils instantly as the bright light of the cloudy sky sears my irises.

In the distance, as the rain pours down, I can spot land about a mile away. Already, planes can be seen circling the land mass, smoke fuming out of various places, though I cannot see clearly.

Tank looks up and spots the many aircrafts circling around a singular position.

"What the hell is going on here..." I heard the captain of our squadron gawk.

"War, I think." A younger recruit gulps.

My eyes fill with determination as I look to Tank with a nod.

"Two minutes to shore!"

The warning comes as a suprise to me, but I stand ready to face anything. Suddenly, a loud bang is heard from above our vessel and my eyes widen as I look to the sky.

"Everybody! Jump!!!"

________________________

Author's Note: For those of you that have been following me for a while, you know that I have another book called "The Scientist and the Servant". I know you would probably much rather have that one updated, and that's still coming! But I just felt like updating this one a bit... even if it isn't as popular. Thanks, as always, for your support! I wish you all well!