An excerpt from the journals of Combat Search & Rescue Consultant Lana McGee, as provided by Myna Chang
Art by Luke Spooner
Don’t call me a mercenary. Those guys are pricks. Kidnappers and murderers, the lot of them. I’m not like that. Sure, I get paid for my work, and yeah, I love a good explosion. Who doesn’t? But my job is to save people. Pull them out of bad situations. Bring them home safe.
I’m not an asshole.
“I didn’t think you were, Ma’am.”
Oh shit, did I say all that out loud?
“Yes, Ma’am, you did.”
Wow, this pilot doesn’t look old enough to shave, let alone fly a chopper.
“I shave, Ma’am.”
“You heard that, too?”
“Yes, Ma’am. My CO warned me this might happen.”
“Name’s Lana, not Ma’am. So, they told you about my disability?” Their word, not mine.
“They said you got a piece of shrapnel in your head. War souvenir. Said you blurt out whatever crosses your mind.”
“Yep,” I nod. “Frontal Lobe Disinhibition. Basically, if I think it, I say it. That’s why I’m freelancing now.”
“Yes, Ma’am. Not a merc. Got it.”
Don’t call me a mercenary. Those guys are pricks.
To read the rest of this story, check out the Mad Scientist Journal: Autumn 2019 collection.
Combat Search & Rescue Consultant Lana McGee specializes in the retrieval of personnel and property from high-risk environments. McGee is assisted by a Hero-Class German Shepherd named Diamond. McGee has recently raised her consultation fees, and now charges a premium for any “mad scientist bullshit.”
Myna Chang writes flash and short stories. Her work has been featured in Daily Science Fiction, The Copperfield Review, Defenestration, and Dead Housekeeping, among others. Find her @MynaChang or read more at mynachang.com.
Luke Spooner, a.k.a. ‘Carrion House,’ currently lives and works in the South of England. Having recently graduated from the University of Portsmouth with a first class degree, he is now a full time illustrator for just about any project that piques his interest. Despite regular forays into children’s books and fairy tales, his true love lies in anything macabre, melancholy, or dark in nature and essence. He believes that the job of putting someone else’s words into a visual form, to accompany and support their text, is a massive responsibility, as well as being something he truly treasures. You can visit his web site at www.carrionhouse.com.
“Disinhibited” is © 2019 Myna Chang
Art accompanying story is © 2019 Luke Spooner
