1 :: Affected

After being politely offered a drink, Red knew something had gone wrong. Ward had even invited her to sit – in his office, which bothered her more greatly. She had never been freely invited into her superior's quarters – as a matter of fact, she had never been in her superior's quarters.

"I'm sorry to pull you out like this." Ward said apologetically, settling into an arm chair. For quarters, his looked exceptionally nice, the furniture was finely polished and handled; it looked like there was no war happening. "After a battle isn't the most convenient time to say this but it's Alton."

Red leaned forward, her body tensed with concern. "Alton?" She echoed, her throat closing slightly.

Alton was her eldest brother and had stuck up for her when they were younger. He taught her how to be strong and comforted her when their parents were killed. He stood by her side when they would be harassed at the Orphanage, he could make her feel good when things were terrible. Red loved him. He was the reason she became a Gear.

"What happened?" Red demanded.

Ward looked sympathetically into Red's eyes as he slowly exhaled. "The Sergeant had been MIA for a total of three standard days. Just as we were about to give up the search, we found him."

"How come I wasn't notified?" Red inquired, rage boiling inside her.

"He... didn't want... you to know." Ward said reluctantly.

That brought Red back in shock.

"He didn't want you to worry." Ward said quietly.

"You're making that up." Red accused, standing up. Alton would never do that to her, he would never – No, she realized with a jolt, he would do that. To protect me. "Where is he?"

"In the infirmary. When we found him, we was barely alive. He died on the Raven, we couldn't have saved him. No one could have." Ward lowered his head but looked up suddenly. "I'm sorry."

"No you're not." Red whispered, spinning around.

She threw open the door and slammed it.

Alton – he can't be dead. He can't be. Red hoped Ward was lying but something told her that he wasn't. His tone of voice, his empathic expression. She headed hastily for the infirmary, drained.

The infirmary wasn't a place Red often visited but she knew where it was without thinking. When she entered it, she was welcomed by an aroma of unpleasant odors. Sanitizer, blood, sweat, grub guts, and soap. The smells twisted her nose but she held her breath.

She noticed a few Gears perk up at the sight of a young, female Gear as she strode purposefully across the infirmary. She ignored their admiring stares and recognized Alton lying on a examination table. She nearly broke as she got closer.

Suddenly, a large golden yellow Labrador Retriever intercepted her path, growling and snarling, sharp teeth bared. She gasped lightly as she realized who it was.

"Dante? Dante." She cooed, kneeling down.

Dante cocked his head, his warm chocolate eyes lightened up as he recognized a familiar face. His long pink tongue rolled out of his mouth as he seemed to almost smile.

Red stroked Dante's head and down his back.

Dante had been one of the very few dogs that hadn't resumed their recessive hostile nature. He had been a stray and Alton brought him back to base and fed him. Alton would never go anywhere without Dante. If he did, Dante would follow him protectively. Dante grew a strong bond with Alton and they were very pleased with each other.

Red stood and nervously approached the examination table. Red's stomach churned uneasily as she met the vacant gaze of Alton's glazed over hazel eyes. Red could feel her face burn as her gut grew very numb. No feeling but sadness ebbed and flowed in her body.

Alton had been very handsome thirty-six year old. He had a square-shaped face, a strong jaw, sharp chin, perfectly round eyes, and an average shaped nose. His wild red hair lay splayed on his head. He still wore his suit, which was covered in grit and dirt.

Red stroked his cold cheek, unconsciously, letting the tears come to her eyes. Dante nuzzled up against Red's legs, whining.

Alton was gone.

She let her hand drop to her side as her head fell. A hot tear streaked down her cheek. She whipped it away instantly and inhaled deeply. Keep yourself together, you're not dead.

But she felt as if she was. It seemed like the only remnant of her hope had been torn and thrown away like it was useless trash. No one could make up for her loss.

Red identified Alton's COG tags, hanging limply around his neck. She gingerly held them in her fingers and stared blankly at the name etched onto the oval metal piece.

SGT. MAJ. HOOVER, ALTON

She clutched the tag in her hand as she yanked it from his neck. His head swayed for a moment before remaining still. Red knelt down and tied the tag around Dante's neck, just above his green bandanna.

"Come on, boy." Red beckoned leaving Alton's dead body behind her, leaving the only one she loved behind her.

As Red entered the barracks, the feeling morphed instantly as if bringing a dark cloud in. The sharp clinking of Dante's new tag jingled as he followed her in.

The newbie, Scott Kennedy, sat on his cot in bewilderment and stared at the dog. Not far away, Alexander Capps sat cleaning the teeth of the Lancer's chainsaw intently.

"Where'd you get the dog?" Scott asked, oblivious to Red's sorrowful expression.

Red just shot his a glare and didn't answer. Scott's face screwed up as he continued to stare. Alex lifted his head. At first his expression was neutral and entertained but as he took in Red's expression, his face fell.

Red sat on her own cot and began to disassemble her own suit to clean it. "Hey, Red. Where'd you get the dog?" Alex asked.

Red saw Dante's tongue flop out of his gaping muzzle as he stared up at her wondrously.

"His name's Dante." She told them quietly as she rubbed the top of his head. "He was my – brothers." She could barely say the word.

"Your eyes are red." Alex observed.

Red turned her head right to avoid his gaze.

"What happened?" He said.

Red just shook her head and continued to disassemble. "Nothing." She gasped, as the tears welled up.

"It must be something, why are you crying then?" Scott piped.

Red halted and let the tears roll onto her cheek. She breathed unsteadily but continued to disassemble.

"Oh no." Alex's voice was thick with realization as he read her thoughts. "I'm sorry, Red."

Red just shook her head and removed all of her plates and put them in a neat stack. She placed both of her hand on either side and bent over them.

Scott opened his mouth to say something but Alex threw up a hand to stop him.

"Alton was – missing for three days. Three. And I didn't even - know. They found him early today barely alive." Red's voice broke several times as her fiery red hair spilled off her shoulders and surrounded her face with a wall of hair.

"He died while he was getting transported back." She whipped her eyes with her palms and drew to her full height. "Dante use to be his. Now, he's mine."

None of the men had anything to remark or utter so they merely nodded and allowed Red to clean her suit in peace without any more intrusions.