Lt. Colonel Jude Aikens
Role in Story: Orion team member
Occupation: Army ranger, Sniper/Spotter for Jane

Lt. Colonel Jude Aikens, AKA “BullDog”, was one of the first children along with Tom to be tested in Howser’s military school in Pretoria, South Africa. He is the first introduction to the realities of what is in store for Jane upon her arrival. He realistically paints a ‘do or die’ image for Jane, helping her to leave behind her childhood and enter the new world of Orion. Two years into the program, Jude feels seasoned and in control, yet Jane’s fast friendship with Tom, and her hidden family ties to Howser soon undermine Jude’s confidence in his position. From the beginning he is taking a back seat and over time his anger  swells below the surface. Constantly having to prove himself, Jude takes incredible risks that seem to go unnoticed by Jane. Jude’s mother died of a heroine overdose when he was nine; which subconsciously motivated Jude to opt into accepting deep undercover missions targeting major drug cartels. The vice tightens as Jude cannot escape the substance that killed his mother, nor can he escape his developing rage towards Jane.

A Personal Perspective from Jude:

“Am I glad I shot her? Yeah, and that’s all you need to know.”

“If you really want to train hard, first learn how to run. There is a right way and a wrong way to run. If you are even considering enlisting, spend about six months learning how to run. I want you to watch how a football player runs. they are big guys, and they are quick and agile. Now they don’t really have to go running for seven to fourteen mile runs at top speed. They couldn’t possibly run like they do and last. Now go watch how a deer or a gazelle runs. Its light, easy, and effortless. Watch a dog or a wolf running. They can run like that all day, because they are light and efficient, and their minds are not on the act of running. The dog isn’t thinking ‘four more miles, I only have four more miles. I wonder how many calories I have burned. My feet hurt.’ They are just running. When you are running to train, hop, turn around, skip, lift your legs and pounce and see how lightly you can land every few miles. alternate between the grass, pavement, up on rocks and down into ravines. This will get your mind used to transitioning between different surfaces without thinking. The key is to do it without thought, (mindlessly), and without effort, (lightly). Run like a gazelle, run like a wolf. You will need this in a real like situation. You will need this to save your butt. This will help you make it through any boot camp. Learn how to run.”

Favorites:

Favorite food: “Spaghetti with spicy sausage links and loads of homemade sauce, garlic bread, and a really big salad that I can throw away…I hate salad.  I also like east coast lobster, a huge buttery cold water lobster.”

Favorite weapon: “Anything that gets the job done. We have had to use a fork before, so really the weapon doesn’t matter as much as the skills of the user. If I had to not be without one thing, it would be my Gerber Tool.”

Relaxation: “Riding my GSX 1300R Hayabusa up in the mountains, wrapping around tight curves.”

Favorite movies: “Fast-n-Furious, Transformers, Predator, Transporter, all the Die Hard movies, any of the new James Bond series.”

Favorite music: “Pantera, Slayer, Korn, Slipknot, Rage Against the Machine.”

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