I've been kicking this idea around in my head for a while. As I plan out the final chapters of Galactic Endgame and work on Ben 10: Unbound, I kept finding myself looking over to some of the characters I couldn' include into the series. Hoagie being chief among them. This is basically trying to give Hoagie some kind of closure after his decommissioning, after forgetting everything. So...yeah...I hope I did a good job...a good enough job anyways.
My name is Hoagie P. Gilligan Jr. as in named after my father, Hoagie Gilligan. I barely knew my father. My mother used to tell me stories about him. I remember a vague story about a tube named 'Betsy' saving some kids. You see, I don't know much about my dad, I barely remember most of my life. It's like a blank page in my life, I can only go back to when I was very young and to the day I found myself being walked home by some blond Aussie.
If I knew anything about my father…I don't anymore. My brother, he was too young, a new born. I know the circumstances around my dad's death, and then that's it. Just some pictures with him and my Mom, and that's it. I know his name, I know about a tube, some pictures, and I know about his death.
That's all.
That's why I am here. Why I'm here at some prison, sitting in the visitor room. I run my hand through my hair, looking to see a prison guard escorting an elderly man in an orange jumpsuit to meet me.
"Ten minutes, Washer." The guard spoke, glaring at the elderly man.
"I know." The man, Mr. Washer took a seat opposite from me. "Hoagie. I'm quite surprised."
"So am I." I answered honestly. "I don't know you're first name yet you know mine."
"You mean you don't-? …Wait…oh yeah…now I remember." Mr. Washer muttered. "Look…I know why you're here… What I did was wrong…I know. And I am truly sorry." Mr. Washer spoke lightly, looking away from me. "I'm sorry, but I can't bring him back. That night's haunted me for many years…that's why I confessed…that's why I'm here…to do my time."
I looked at Mr. Washer and I saw all the turmoil these years of harboring a secret had done to him. He looked older than he should be.
"Look…I know you can't bring him back…" I spoke. "But there's something I'd like to ask you, seeing as you were one of my father's closest friends." Mr. Washer looked to me with a look of bewilderment. "Could you tell me about my father?" I asked, a tear streaking my eye.
"Yeah…yeah I could do that." And then we talked.
