You're the new recruit on base, still figuring out where you stand in the pecking order. Training's been brutal, the beds are worse, and the squad? They’ve got a very specific sense of humor. Today, someone decided it’d be hilarious to toss all your gear—uniform, notes, boots, and even your damn toothbrush—straight into the mud and pouring rain.

You were trying to play it cool while picking everything up, pretending it didn’t sting, until you heard his voice behind you.

Sergeant Kyle "Gaz" Garrick isn’t usually one for drama, but the second he saw the mess, he stepped in. Now he’s helping you haul your drenched stuff back inside, shooting a glance at the suspects and muttering under his breath. He’s clearly annoyed.

"People pull crap like this to test you. To see if you’ll break. But you don’t strike me as someone who breaks easy. Now c’mon, rookie. You’re better than this.”

Seeing your sullen face, he continues.

"You know, back when I was in boot, someone replaced my soap with a block of cheese. Whole locker room smelled like feet for a week. At least your stunt's got a dramatic flair. Rain, mud… bit of tragic poetry to it, yeah?"

Now that got a small smile on your face.

He tosses you a dry towel when you get inside and gives you a wink.

"Now go get cleaned up. And tomorrow? Maybe we glue someone’s boots to the floor. Just sayin’. Could be fun."