The Pawn and the Joker

JP with Lorem and Jaxx

Once Sgt. Kenny was done checking in with the receptionist, he entered the waiting room to see the med staff for his check up. He looked out of place as he was only wearing long nylon blue shorts, blue flipflops and a black shirt with a dog wearing a banana costume shaking maracas. After checking in he took a seat in a waiting chair and saw more war propaganda on the vid screen. After a few minutes of watching the propaganda, Kenny's eyes rolled up and he reached into his pocket to pull out his palm pilot and earpiece. Then he put on his ear piece and scrolled through his palm pilot to see what was available to help him pass the time. He saw his messages and answered a few to his team and his sister to let them know where he was and he was doing fine. Kenny always gave his dear sister a positive answer to keep her from worrying about him. Then he felt like listening to some music so he pulled up his favorite songs and eventually found one to put him in a chipper mood.

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Kenny smirked as he bobbed his head to the beat of the song. To others he looked like he was happy to be in the clinic.

Elio finished with his last patient and had to quickly take a five minute break in the back medical conference room. He removed his helmet and helped himself to one of the complimentary bottles of water and a small bag of various nuts. He had been at it since 0800 and now it was 1900. He had two more cases on his list, then he could call it a day.

Elio finished his break in silence, placed his helmet back on, and returned to where the physicals were being administered. He picked up his medipad and made his way to the seating area.

“Kenny Wade Wilson … Kenny Wade Wilson” he called out to those still remaining to be seen. He waited patiently to see if the next person checked in by the nurses was present.

Kenny was still jamming out to his music when he saw a medic looking in his general direction. He pulled his ear bud out to hear his name being called. Then he responded, "Uhh here. Be right there man." Then Kenny put his palm pilot and earbud together and then in his pocket as he stood up. He then headed towards the medic and gave a wave as he replied, "Sgt. Kenny Wade Wilson reporting for my check up. I know this is a bit awkward but if you're gonna check my prostate can you at least use some lube? The last guy left me sore and walking funny for a day." Kenny smirked as he hoped this would make the medic freak out of laugh, since both were good for a laugh.

Elio was not thrilled that he got yet another joker, he had received a lot of comments similar to that today. Instead he responded by using a jesting tone back, “What you do for fun on your own time is your business. Around here we use state of the art holographic internal imaging.” His comedic comment alluded to the fact that Kenny must be mistaking a medical checkup with his rest and relaxation time in Sun City.

Elio showed Kenny back into the examination area where there was a medical table available. He then pulled the curtain shut behind them for a modicum of privacy, though it didn’t do much to block out the sounds and people seeing your feet.

Elio looked at the medical readouts on Kenny from his digital chart. It provided him with all the six star alliance medical records for the man. He arched a brow, hidden because his helmet was on. This man was an interesting piece of work according to the data. “Please take a seat.” He gestured to the table.

Kenny smirked at the professional attitude the medic gave him. Either he was annoyed by Kenny's twisted humor or had a long day of jerks with bad attitudes. Ironically there was no shortage of gung-ho idiots in the service. So wanted to like tough and others were tough. Sadly it didn't matter when a bullet exploded in your brainpan. He replied, "Ya sure doc." Kenny took a seat where he was instructed and grinned as he was feeling a bit mischievous. He was curious if the medic would freak out when they realized he was a member of the Wild Cards Squad and had a reputation for suicide attacks. In the past it caused some panic as the medics were afraid to work with nutjobs like himself with no fear of death. Then he tried to break the ice as he asked, "So......doc......did they add more rules to our heath standards again?"

“The campaign standards have been modified, per usual, since the last one. There are some new advances in tech and performance enhancing drugs which have been band. So I will be checking for those on top of the usual check up.” Elios moved in front of Kenny. “Just hold still please while I scan your vitals.” His helmet started providing him with feedback on the man’s internal condition, both natural and augmented.

“So your death count is uncharacteristically high according to your records. How are you handling that?” He inquired.

Kenny smirked when the medic commented on his high death count. He was expecting a more surprised reaction from the medic like in the past with others who he met. This medic, however seemed more composed on that topic. Kenny then replied, "Its the price of fame doc. Gotta give the audience a big show if you want a big payday. My squad has been known to go the extra mile to win our battles, even if we have ta go all kamikaze style. You know how it is in the spotlight right?" Kenny gave a sly smile as he was acting a bit smug since he often hammed it up for the audience.

Elio didn’t appreciate the smugness of the soldier. He valued life as precious and not something so flippantly thrown away for ratings and entertainment. The whole cloning innovation seemed to really cheapen the sanctity of life that most used to hold before death was cheated (well at least for those that could afford it) and allowed psychopaths to skew society in their favor in his opinion. In short, the combat medic thought Kenny’s comment was disgraceful and in bad taste.

He kept his opinions to himself.

Elio continued the examination, everything was looking in fine working order. His brain scans were saturated in neurotransmitters that would promote aggression; however, they were within acceptable limits. As he moved onto the cybernetic parts of his makeup, he curiously asked, “I am curious what your loved ones think of seeing you die, time and time again?” He knew from the charts how many campaigns the man had been in, as well as his next of kin. In addition, he kept it to himself that this would be his first campaign.

Kenny chuckled at the question. Then he replied, "You'd be surprised how many times I get that question doc. Normally I hype up my answer for the media to get them to open their wallets outta "love and admiration for me". Truth be told doc......I ain't got much ta offer tha world other than glorious violence. I started off with a few missing screws to begin with. In tha military your trained to do it, conditioned ta do it and eventually you get to.....like it. (sly smirk) Besides its tha only way I can pay tha bills for my dear sweet lil sister. As you should know by now, Med School ain't cheap and with my folks dead an all.....its my fat paycheck that gets her closer ta being a doc. I know she hates tha idea of her dumbass brother going down in a glorious ball of flame, but she knows I am doin it fer her. So she uses that motivation ta learn as best as she can. Her goal is ta get rich and take care my dumbass when I can retire. Betcha you weren't thinking that when ya saw tha crazy shit I've done eh doc?" Kenny chuckled since he found the whole story amusing.

Elio maintained a steady pace of moving through the different phases of the wellness checkup, while simultaneously paying attention to Kenny’s apologetic. His assessment for the physical was that the man was in the upper percentile of readiness for combat. He found it questionable that Kenny was mentally stable; however, that part of his evaluation had already been approved by the higher ups and was beyond adjusting.

Elio wondered if his sister knew of other alternatives to get to and through medical school. He, himself, didn’t have to rely on a family member dying in the war games in order to do it from an origin of privation. Then again, he looked at the man’s chart, and recognized he came from a different planet which could have different opportunities then his home world. So judgement was suspended.

“I have heard all kinds of stories sir. One common thread is that there is always more than one might presume. I wish your sister Godspeed in her medical training.”

Elio was wrapping up their time together. “Do you have an questions or concerns about your well being before we conclude?”

Kenny paused for a moment as he pondered for a moment to think if anything came to mind. Then he looked at the medic as he asked, "Well if yer serious about my sister's well being....... then if ya get some spare time to forward me some free references for her use fer school, that would be cool. I'll send them to her and see if any of them are useful. She likes it when her big brother tries to help her even if she can't use it." Kenny had done this in the past and sometimes it panned out and other times not so much.

Elio considered the request and nodded. He started to finalize the inputs into Kenny’s records. He was approved for combat. In addition, using the contact link on the file he opened up a folder of materials he had utilized during medical school and forwarded a copy of the files to Kenny’s account.

“I just sent you the materials for you sister. Hope it helps.” He paused, “Well, you are all set for active duty sir.”

Kenny smirked and then checked his palm pilot for the message. He looked at the medic replied, "Thanks doc. I'll send it to her on the way out." After thanking the medic he left the room and signed out with the receptionist. While waiting on his exit form to be filled out, he forwarded the message he got from the medic to his sister with a personal message. In the txt he put, "Hey sis. Just passed my check up and the doc gave me a copy of some medical references for free. I hope some of them help ya out. I know you are working hard in school, so keep yer chin up and remember yer dumbass brother is always cheering fer ya.
Love and kiss,
Kenny."

Then Kenny was released and began walking out of the medical building.

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