Old Soldiers
31 October 2019 15:02![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
outpostcommanderWhen Van Wall returns to the Nexus, he's followed by a haggard man in uniform. Usually Garry wouldn't be one for the Viper's Pit, but he doesn't know this place and follows the helicopter pilot. He's not lost, exactly, but this in unfamiliar territory with unfamiliar rules. He has no authority here, even over his own crew.
"We're not the only ones here," Van explains over a drink. "Kinner was the first, and Blair and I after him. McReady was wondering if you'd stop by, and he wanted me to apologize on his behalf. He has the rest of the crew to run back home, and sent me along to keep an eye on things. He said if you want to take charge of the crewmen here - Blair, Kinner - he'd have no complaints. McReady can't be in two places at once. He needs a second-in-command here."
Garry blinks, then bows his head slightly. His own beer is untouched. "It isn't McReady's acceptance I'm worried about. I failed the team."
"Wasn't your fault. You were a fine commander under circumstances that would've made most men crack. Mac himself says he's sorry things happened the way they did. Somebody had to take charge. He was the deputy. Not getting into the fact that, well, you weren't yourself at the time." Van sips from his mug of coffee, a wry smile under his beard. "None of us were our best selves, but not all of us were monsters."
"One way of putting it." Garry doesn't remember being assimilated, which is probably for the best. "I'm glad the situation was handled. Tell Commander McReady that there's no grudge here. If our places had been switched, I'm sure he would have wanted me to do the same thing."
Garry looks at his hand, as if expecting it to turn into a blue mass of goo. The creature McReady killed wasn't him, not really, and there's no need to hold a grudge. McReady earned his place as leader. Garry has no intentions of reclaiming his spot. McReady's better in a crisis, as things turned out. Besides, he's sure he'll find a place here in the Nexus. He can shoot, so if fighters are ever needed he can fight. He's got leadership experience, he's fairly brave, and knows how to handle harsh conditions.
Kinner's here, and he's not a Thing. Garry's pretty sure he's not a Thing, either, though he'll privately ask Mac and Van to carry out a blood test. It's a relief to be human.
"Interestin' time you chose to drop by, boss," says Van. "Winter's coming. Everybody's getting ready. Winters here in the Nexus are weird, and unpredictable. Reckon you could give a helpin' hand in organizing." He notices Garry hasn't touched his alcohol. "Best thing 'bout the Nexus? No rules. I mean, there's a couple things, but all the social rules back home? Out the window. You've got a chance to do whatever you want with your life now. Burdens of bein' in charge are gone. Mac just needs to know what's goin' on here when he's out, and he thinks you're the right guy to help."
Garry smiles slightly, picking up his drink. "I'll think about it."
"We're not the only ones here," Van explains over a drink. "Kinner was the first, and Blair and I after him. McReady was wondering if you'd stop by, and he wanted me to apologize on his behalf. He has the rest of the crew to run back home, and sent me along to keep an eye on things. He said if you want to take charge of the crewmen here - Blair, Kinner - he'd have no complaints. McReady can't be in two places at once. He needs a second-in-command here."
Garry blinks, then bows his head slightly. His own beer is untouched. "It isn't McReady's acceptance I'm worried about. I failed the team."
"Wasn't your fault. You were a fine commander under circumstances that would've made most men crack. Mac himself says he's sorry things happened the way they did. Somebody had to take charge. He was the deputy. Not getting into the fact that, well, you weren't yourself at the time." Van sips from his mug of coffee, a wry smile under his beard. "None of us were our best selves, but not all of us were monsters."
"One way of putting it." Garry doesn't remember being assimilated, which is probably for the best. "I'm glad the situation was handled. Tell Commander McReady that there's no grudge here. If our places had been switched, I'm sure he would have wanted me to do the same thing."
Garry looks at his hand, as if expecting it to turn into a blue mass of goo. The creature McReady killed wasn't him, not really, and there's no need to hold a grudge. McReady earned his place as leader. Garry has no intentions of reclaiming his spot. McReady's better in a crisis, as things turned out. Besides, he's sure he'll find a place here in the Nexus. He can shoot, so if fighters are ever needed he can fight. He's got leadership experience, he's fairly brave, and knows how to handle harsh conditions.
Kinner's here, and he's not a Thing. Garry's pretty sure he's not a Thing, either, though he'll privately ask Mac and Van to carry out a blood test. It's a relief to be human.
"Interestin' time you chose to drop by, boss," says Van. "Winter's coming. Everybody's getting ready. Winters here in the Nexus are weird, and unpredictable. Reckon you could give a helpin' hand in organizing." He notices Garry hasn't touched his alcohol. "Best thing 'bout the Nexus? No rules. I mean, there's a couple things, but all the social rules back home? Out the window. You've got a chance to do whatever you want with your life now. Burdens of bein' in charge are gone. Mac just needs to know what's goin' on here when he's out, and he thinks you're the right guy to help."
Garry smiles slightly, picking up his drink. "I'll think about it."