JR SWAT 1: The Basics

Chapter 21: What now?

"What the hell was that?" Marv asked, as the group recovered after being sent backwards, unto the ground or the wall.

The explosion sounded loud, and very close. The audience in the theater screamed...as terror spread though the halls and rooms of the building.The building shook, the windows rattled in their enclosing. Their ears were still ringing!

Backstage, the five teenagers were shaken up because of the explosion. Almost tumbling to the ground, Chen held on by the curtains in front of the storage door. Meanwhile Rubio, Leyla and Kelly used the wall to keep from falling and Marv placed both hands on his ears, tightly pressing to stop the ringing.

"Bomb?" Chen asked, staring at Rubio.

Between Rubio and Marv, they helped Kelly and Leyla straightened up. All five teens were frightened, as they shared scared frowns. Kelly turned to the box, but it seemed everything was still the same.

"What are we gonna do?" Chen asked, staring at Marv.

Leyla, Kelly and Rubio followed his gaze and stared at Marv. He panicked, as all four sets of eyes darted to his direction. He took a step back and took a look at each, one by by one. What were they expecting?

"Y'all keep looking at me!" he complained.

"What do we do, Marv?" Kelly asked, with cracking voice. Marv could see tears rounding up around her eyes.

Tension and fear was growing within the group, as now they could sense the end was near. They kept sharing scared looks, only to end up staring at Marv.

Shoot! What the hell do I tell 'em? I got no clue what to do!  Marv thought, panicking inside. That's when his mind went down memory lane...

"Young Buc, you gotta remember one thing: you're the one they go'on look up to. You gotta have a Plan A, B, C, D...damn! The whole alphabet, if possible!" Hondo said with a smirk.

"Sarge, how am I suppose to do that if half the time I 'ont even know what to do with ma life!?" Marv complained, as another group went in.

The Brick was full, with more than 3 teams calling next. Hondo had stopped to check in on the youngster after court appointments. The older gentleman leaned back on his car and cross his arms over his chest, frowning at Marv.He kept glancing at the energetic setting.

"Wanna know a secret?" Hondo asked.

"Wut?" Marv said, wiping sweat off his forehead. He had been playing for over an hour, having won seven straight games!

"Neither do I!" Hondo said, shaking his head with a smile. "Marv!" he called. "It ain't about knowing everything, every single time." he paused. "There gonna be times when yo mind's gonna go blank. You ain't go'n have nottin in yo mind, boy. Nothin'! You just...freeze!"

"But man, when I heard Kaykay yelling for help, I didn't know what to do. I hate heights, sarge. Like, for real. But...I 'ont know! Something happen that I just... went fo' it." Marv said shaking his head.

"Yeah, you made a decision." Hondo said nodding his head.

"Yeah, but...it's not always easy, dawg. Like, them kids, they always want me to figure out what to do. I 'ont even know, man. It's too difficult. Goin' blank, that's what happens to me, but...that 'on't happen to you, right Sarge?"

"Course it does! A lot!" he paused to stand straight. "I do have feelings, yo know? I get scared too."

"Word?" Marv said in disbelief. "But, yo' fearless. You got in that helicopter and shot the guy in head!"

"So? I'm still human! Listen, kid, the key is not showing fear."

"Like in the hood when it's 'bout to go down?" Marv asked.