Church's Crusade # 1: Reminiscence

The walls shook and dust fell from the ceiling at another detonation from outside. The squad huddled in the ruins of the warehouse, waiting for the order to act, yet dreading the moment when they would be forced to break cover. Their sergeant watched them from a short distance away.

I'll have to do something soon, thought Church, as he looked on what was left of his team. He closed his eyes and looked back over the past few months, back to the day when it had all changed, the day it had all gone so horribly wrong. The day he had lost her.

For the first few days he had carried on as he always did, holding the Blues together in a myriad of different ways. It had kept him going for a while, a short return to what was almost normality. Yet now she was gone he no longer had something to focus on. Every little thing grated on his nerves until one day, after an incident with Tucker, Caboose, a misplaced rocket and the east wall off the base, he had finally snapped.

"THAT. IS. IT." he yelled, striding forward, and as Doc and Sister looked on, brought his fist around to connect with Tucker's helmet, sending the man sprawling, before rounding on Caboose. He was about to do the same to Caboose, but stopped himself as he remembered the enormous strength that the blue-armoured rookie easily kept hidden. Besides, Caboose was probably an innocent in this anyway. Instead, he turned and marched back to the base as Tucker pulled himself to his feet, and began to throw his gear into a pack. As he turned to walk to the exit, his way was barred by Tucker.

"What the hell did you do that for?"
Church ignored him and tried to push past, but tucker shoved him back into the room. Church glared at him through the visor of his helmet and tried again. This met with the same results.
"Church, where are you going?" The voice was that of Caboose, who was standing behind Tucker now. Even though he couldn't see his face, Church could imagine the look of innocent concern on the rookie's face.
"Away Caboose. I'm going away for a while." He might be mad at Tucker, but he couldn't look Caboose in the eye.
"What? Like fuck you are!" shouted Tucker. A moment later Caboose asked "Is this about the wall?"
Church sighed, "No Caboose this isn't about the wall. I just need to forget about some things." He tried to leave, but again tucker blocked his path.
"Get out of my way Tucker,' Church growled, 'I'm going whether you like it or not."
"No. Not until we get some answers." Behind him Sister and Doc arrived.
"Fuck! You of all people should understand. You lost your kid on that fucking ship. But you just go back to your life like nothings changed."
"Tex? This is about Tex?,' Tucker stared at Church in disbelief, 'My god man why? O'Mally had her. She would have killed you if she got half a chance. Get over it. She's gone and she is not coming ba - WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?"
Tucker stared in disbelief down the barrel of the pistol in Church's hand. Even Church was surprised.
"I'm not going to say it again Tucker. Get out of my way."
Tucker backed out of the doorway and glared at Church as he stepped into the hall, gun still trained on his old friend.
"I'm sorry Tucker, but this is how it's gotta be,' he looked at the other members of the team, 'Goodbye." He turned and walked out the door of the base. As he stepped down the ramp to the open air he heard Tucker's voice.

"Good riddance..."

The characters Church, Caboose, Tucker, Simmons, Sarge, Grif, Sister, Donut and Doc are owned by Rooster Teeth Productions.