Sunglasses Chapter 2: Out of Sight

He couldn't tell precisely what time it was but when Helmeppo woke up that morning, he found himself lying in that dim, deathly silent hour just before dawn. This was unusual…Normally Helmeppo's day would start later at sunrise with his and Coby's first physical training session out in the courtyard. However today something, perhaps an outside noise, must have disturbed his sleep. Lying back and staring at the shadowy ceiling, Helmeppo listened intently. Nothing. Not the tiniest sound. No wind outside, not even a drop of rain. Not even the slightest rustle of blanket or the gentle whisper of Coby breathing in his sleep…

Him! thought Helmeppo and sat bolt upright in bed as the reason for his early awakening suddenly struck him. The very lack of sound had disturbed him. Of course Coby's normal matutinal habits rarely went unheard (that boy was far too energetic most mornings) but only now as Helmeppo stared at the empty, lifeless bed did he realise how differently a day could start.

Hmmph. Damn that little twerp. Well, he was awake now. May as well get up and do something useful rather than brood over the lack of the Pink-Haired Half Pint in the room. (He's not even a half-pint, thought Helmeppo, More like a girl's pink alco-pop) Finally averting his eyes from the immaculate hospital corners left by his former roommate, Helmeppo heaved himself out of bed and went to retrieve his navy-issue towel. Better to wash now whilst it was still early and the shower room was empty.

On a normal day, the training session would begin with a communal shower and whoever awoke first was automatically responsible for rousing the other. Although Coby was frequently first up, the rare occasions when he wasn't left Helmeppo with a great excuse to sit on Coby's face and taunt him until he was eventually thrown off, Coby struggling for breath and berating him. But it was always worth it though, Helmeppo had thought, if nothing but to see that beautifully peaceful, smiling, smug sleeping expression of Coby's suddenly wiped off his face…

Curse that thought. No point remembering that, not now. He slung the towel absent-mindedly over one arm and headed out down the corridor, feeling oddly glum. It felt slightly strange not to have Coby pacing in front of him, that characteristic smile super-glued to his face, his shorter stature somehow managing to stay just that bit ahead of him. Although Helmeppo had never gained any acknowledgement of this, he felt sure that his steps contained a tinge of agitation, that Coby was forcing this speed unnaturally upon himself. Mind you, most people would want a communal marine shower over with as soon as possible due to the ever so sensitive amount of anatomical scrutiny that went on, today being no exception:

"Oi 'Meppo! Where's Pink Pubes this morning!" yelled another early riser. Damn. There went the chance of a solitary scrub.

"Been promoted," replied Helmeppo to the offending marine and once again, as he did every morning, he tried not to think about this namesake of Coby's. Of course it was logical that if the hair on Coby's head was pink… Yet as much as the curiosity prodded and pulled him, Helmeppo could never look. It wasn't as if it were difficult either: the showers stood in orderly rows like a cattle shed. Without fail, Coby always showered directly next to him. But no matter how many comments were made about Coby's unusual features, Helmeppo just couldn't peek. It was as if there mental blinkers attached to either side of his head, forcing every furtive side-wards glance back to the wall in front. And now there wouldn't even be any furtive glances. He had missed his chance. Wait, what chance? For what? To become a raging pervert?!

But his thoughts were violently interrupted by the fact that he lathered his hair up so furiously that he got shampoo in his face and went around red-eyed for the rest of the morning. Or so he said.

However, if anybody else had noticed it, they had probably forgotten about it fairly soon after, for all the entire midshipman brigade could gab about that morning was the promotion of its seemingly nerdy member. How was it that mild-mannered, courteous, book-loving Coby had made his way up to Petty Officer already? It was not unreasonable of them to expect Helmeppo to offer them an explanation. But he was having none of it.

"Well…he studies a lot, ok?"

"Just that?"

"C'mon Blondie you share a room with him…"

"Used to share a room with him," admitted Helmeppo grudgingly.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. So how the hell did he get a promotion?"

Helmeppo hesitated. Embarrassingly, he realised that didn't actually know. The news of Coby's departure had cast all reason out of his mind and made him wish a very uncomfortable, preferably itchy, curse upon Coby's very name. Eventually he retorted:

"Well…he toadies up to Garp, there you go!" and took himself off into the corner to resume training alone. A sudden, awkward weight had descended upon him the moment that the response had left his mouth. Could it possibly be…guilt? Saying that Coby was Garp's bootlicker was almost slander. Coby was strong. He'd seen those muscles. He also knew for a fact that Coby still harboured a (rather healthy) pathological fear of the Vice Admiral. Yet not truly knowing what had become of his companion…no. Better not to think about it. Coby had left him in the lurch and that was that. Helmeppo had his own career prospects to think about. He had to start earning all that lovely money that he'd once had. He had to win back the penthouse, the pool, the thoroughbred horses, the respect, the fear, the glory of the Morgan name! Now the best way to start was to get these press-ups done!

Yet as the exercise drew on, the stone beneath him began to feel rougher and grittier, the early morning light seemed dimmer and already his stamina was starting to fail him. Soon every morning started to feel like this. Miserable Mornings became Dubious Days which quickly turned into Worst Weeks. He couldn't understand it at first. He was doing no more work than before. He was doing the same exercises, staring at the same moronic classmates, even fighting with the same damn wooden swords. Yet it had all become so much more difficult. So much harder without…without a roommate. There had been talk of moving another midshipman into his quarters but nothing had become of it. There was still no one to train with, study with, eat with, sleep with…meaning no motivation of course…

But the link between that motivation and Coby only came to him some time later. He had been trying to find out where his friend had been moved to. Not because he'd forgiven him for his abandonment, but because of this heavy, gut-wrenching feeling he'd been getting - guilt was it? – and somehow he felt that seeing Coby again, just once mind, would cure it. So far he had been unsuccessful. The registry staff helpfully told him, with deadpan expressions, that they were sorry, but they were not permitted to divulge any recruit's personal details. (Yes and I bet you're very sorry during your half-hourly tea breaks, thought Helmeppo sourly after they had kept him waiting for 40 minutes). Then he tried casually asking around the mess room for any info. No gain there either. Still none the wiser, he considered the final and terrifying option: asking Vice Admiral Garp. Whether Garp would tell him anything or just flatten him, he wasn't sure.

Yet the man whose maniacal eyes had once watched him so intently was barely to be found nowadays. So with his conscience still uneasy, Helmeppo was forced to try and forget about his comrade. He tried. He really did. But how can one forget when every day the empty space, in both room and routine, is so glaringly obvious? How could he go on when the voice that had driven him on from the start had fallen silent? He wouldn't admit it but…he was starting to miss Coby.

But finally, nearly a month later, he saw him. Out on manoeuvres around the base, he caught sight of a looming figure walking across the training fields, the distinctive slow, proud gait of the Vice Admiral. Striding behind him, eyes glued to the grass in front of him, was none other than Coby. Helmeppo wanted to wave at him, jump up and down and yell, "Coby it's meeeee! I'm here!" But he didn't. Aside from the fact that it was positively idiotic, he couldn't because he happened to be in the middle of a march. Instead he kept his eyes fixed on Coby, waiting for a sign of acknowledgement. And he saw it. A momentary flicker of eye contact. That was all before Coby strode out of sight.

It took a few seconds to sink in before Helmeppo realised that he was furious. Coby distinctly hadn't wanted to look at him. He had been ignored. The great son of Captain Morgan had been ignored! Well if that was the snooty attitude of the Petty Officer then fine, there was only one thing for it. He too would have to become an officer. A better one than Coby and with more money. Then he'd be able to see Coby and wipe that snobby look off his face!

With that resolve in mind, Helmeppo once again looked ahead of him and began to march harder.


Well...I hope that's a reasonable follow-up to Chapter 1! Let me know what you think!