Story [Issue 20] Diabetic Tanker, Journal Pt. 1

[SpreadLoveNotHate 374]

Diabetic Tanker, Journal Pt. 1

 

NOTICE: This is intended for more mature viewers. 

 

Preface

 

Joining was not an option. They said they needed more. Bigger means better? 

Since numbers are rapidly decreasing, they aren't doing so good. Progress is little, or that's what they tell us. More tanks are made than are tankers. 

 

You have to expect that once numbers are low, they would start to look for more desperate measures to get people to join. 

Knowing this, I've had preparations made. 

 

I'm next.

No turning back...

 

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I trail off as it's dinner time. Time to get some food. Though before that, I have to get my injection done.

Twice a day, I have to inject insulin into my hip or thigh to supply for the missing insulin my pancreas doesn't make enough of. 

I quickly dial up the syringe to the right amount and just inject. I'm no doctor, but after having done this for most my life, it's routine.

Some days, it hurts when I inject in the wrong place and hit a blood vessel. I wish they could just find a better alternative already. This? It's keeping me alive. Barely. 

 

I go and grab the little food left and turn on the radio. For the past few days, all I've been hearing is about this whole Conscription idea. They said officials are coming to get you to join. Either that, or be imprisoned. No way I'm going to live in a small confined hole in the ground. I'd rather be out fighting for the country, even if I'm forced. 

 

I finish my meal in bitterness and struggle to pick myself up to take a shower. Meal was, well, insufficient. I guess managing my blood sugar will keep me healthier than managing being full after every meal. I finish my shower, and go to sleep early. 

 

** 

 

I'm in a tank...I feel like I'm falling. I am falling. I scream out loud and prop myself up. 

 

I was having a dream. Weird dream. Damn, I'm sweating so much. I piece the puzzle together while still half asleep. Weird dreams, excessive sweating...oh shoot, low blood sugar. I run to get something sweet to thrown down my stomach to bring my blood sugar back up. Suddenly, I peer out the window to see lights. Bright lights, in the early morning. Not a good sign, I think to myself. In no time, a loud knock startles me.

 

I'm greeted by soldiers, the night sky has yet to reveal its colors other than black. They tell me I'm being enlisted to join the tank battalion. If I refuse, they have the right to put me in a little jail hole for years and years to come. I agree, I expected this. I have nothing left to live for in life. Life is a pain from day to day, as I struggle to get sleep without any disturbances from my health state. 

 

They allow me a couple of minutes to get what I need, as this may be the last time I'm coming back here. I grab the suitcase in which I have everything packed already. Good planning eh? No. It's so I won't choose the other option, to be a useless liability to the country. I want to be an asset. This is what the country might need me as. Might, only if I survive the first day. 

 

Then, they walk me away from my house, as I load onto the truck, I get a last glimpse of my freedom. I fall asleep on the truck. 

 

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Day 1

June 2nd

 

The driver of the vehicle woke me up with a pat on the shoulder telling me that I'm here. Training grounds. Great. 

 

I feel like I'm entering a deathtrap already. They held a file with a big CONFIDENTIAL written on the front. I peek in and see my name, written all over the pages. Oh, it's my own profile. I'm sure they know everything about me already. Annoyed, I get off, and follow the officer. 

 

I can infer that they know about my Diabetes. I ask them for clarification. 

 

"Do you know about my current state of health?"

 

"We are quite clear with that, yes." 

 

"Yet I am clearly unfit for infantry, don't you see?" 

 

"Infantry is not what we have in plan for you. I'm sure you've noticed by now the lot of tanks that are put here in this base? You will be trained to drive one of these"

 

"Yet how will I be able to manage my diabetic state while confined in a little cramhole that I may be in for long hours?" 

 

"Well, that's your problem to solve. We need fighters, not problems," as the officer rudely walked away. 

 

I guess I could carry some sweets in the tank for those bad times, but when my blood sugar gets low and blurry vision kicks in, I might not even have any idea what I'm shooting. How little they even care about my well being worries me the most. How am I supposed to survive in this? This might be even worse than being safe and out of harm's way in a confined hole known as jail. 

 

I settled into my little space for a while until a loudspeaker called all trainees to the training ground. It was still early in the morning, the sun barely peeked out of the mountain. We went to do physical training for some reason, and it was constant running and pushups. I feel dizzy and fell into eternal darkness in a split second. 

 

And I'm supposed to last in this. 

 

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[GoldRock 6,165]

Tenses are fine (so looks like that issue has been completely sorted), and I really like the way you make your stories more realistic, and still relate them to Tanki. You've got a very unique writing style too which focusses on the main character and his thoughts/feelings, and I think this in particular is extremely effective. Combine that with a great (and original) idea, and hey presto, you've got an exceptional story. Excellent job, definitely looking forward to the next one in the series.

[D1E 257]

Well done, lok.  Nice story.

[Lt.Tank-Marshall 32]

It is beutiful :rolleyes:

[monkeyburn 13,537]

Almost "poetic"...Not easy cramming an entire book into a preface...Good work. It left me wanting more... :)

[r_Accuracy5 94]

Excellent story.  ^_^

[carefulmatthewtomas 39]

Very good, and all the facts true..i had to do that a long time ago..me diabetic as well..

[hakkeritipu 56]

My friend is diabetic.. :D :D

Edited February 24, 2014 by hakkeritipu

[Superlative 500]

The heading described this whole of the text, accurately. Well done!