September 12, 2031
GDI Military Hospital, London
There was something about being confined to a hospital that was absolutely revolting to independent spirits. Brigadier General Michael McNeil was as independent as they came and by the third day after waking from his coma, some of the nurses were secretly glad he'd been unconscious for the last few months while being put back together. TV held very little appeal for McNeil but his boredom was driving him to stare aimlessly at whatever was on. Thus it was with great relief that a visitor appeared one day. The Major General knocked on the doorframe as he entered and McNeil grinned at the sight of the officer.
"Will!"
James William Langley nodded and returned the grin. "Mac." Pulling up a chair, Langley settled down. "How've you been?"
"Bored out of my mind. You're here to break me out, right?"
Langley chuckled. "Sorry, Mac, but I'm not about to try and overrule doctors. Who knows when I'll need to be in their good graces."
"Too true," McNeil said, raising his voice. "So what brings you to London? It can't be because you wanted to listen to the crockneys."
"That's it! No pillow fluffing for you tonight, Mac!" a female voice sounded from the hallway.
The outburst caused Langley to sit there for several seconds before he looked to McNeil for an explanation. The bedridden soldier cracked a smile.
"One of the nurses, Wendy, I believe."
"I see. Well, as much as I hate to ruin your fun, I've got some good news and I've got some bad news," Langley said, his face stiffening.
McNeil grumbled. "And here I thought I'd heard all the bad news."
"Not quite," Langley stated and pulled out a small velvet box. "This is the good news."
For a second McNeil stared in disbelief as Langley opened the box. In it was a silver star.
"Son of a."
This time it was Langley grinning. "Congratulation, Mac. You've been promoted. You ready for the bad news?"
"I've been assigned a stationary post, haven't I?"
Langley nodded. "Sorry Mac, but you were already an exception as a Field Commander. Traditionally, Brigadiers and higher get posted to a region and are expected to stay put. You got away with it because you were so damn good at the job."
"So how come I can't stay in the job if I'm so damn good?"
"Because they found someone just as good."
McNeil blinked. "Who? Wait, don't tell me. It's Granger, isn't it?"
"Yeah. He really pulled through during Cabal's rampage. And you have to admit, the guy's pretty sharp."
"I'll give him that, but he's still stealing my job!"
"Your fault for being so stubborn. Solomon decided to promote you while you were in the coma so you couldn't protest it. He's pretty sneaky for an old school general. There's a rumor going around that he's looking to have you succeed him. The running joke is that every leader of GDI has to have killed Kane at least once."
McNeil gave Langley a curious look. "You really think he slipped away?"
A shrug. "They can't find a body. I seem to recall a similar situation about thirty years back."
An awkward silence settled in as McNeil stared ahead blankly. Langley tapped his friend on the shoulder to get his attention once more.
"Anyways, I'm also here to deliver your assignment. Once discharged from the hospital, you're to report to Southern Cross."
"In what capacity?"
"Why, as the base CO. General Cortez is being transferred to head the newly formed Department of Mutant Affairs so there's a current opening. Hell Mac, you lived at Southern Cross for two years before everything went to hell. You'll do fine."
"Damn it, that doesn't mean I want the job. Too bad threating to resign won't work."
Langley chuckled and stood. "You could try it, but Solomon isn't likely to buy it. Anyways, I've delivered the news. Enjoy the rest of your vacation."
"Thanks for dropping by," said McNeil. "And next time, try to sneak some booze in. The food here needs some flavoring."
"I'll see what I can do. Maybe bribe one of the nurses to sneak in a bottle of champagne. God knows you've got nothing to offer them."
"Oh lay off already. It's not sporting to kick a man when he's down!"
Langley burst out laughing and shook his head. "You've never been down in your life, Mac."
With that he nodded a farewell and joined his aide outside the room. Once they turned a corner, she spoke.
"You didn't tell him where you're being assigned."
Langley grimaced. "No need to dig up old wounds. Besides, he'll find out eventually."
"Isn't it better you tell him right away?"
A wary grin crossed Langley's face. "Lieutenant, did I ever mention you're incredibly empathetic?"
"Several times, sir.. It's why you ask me for advice on Dr. Boudreau."
"True enough. But that doesn't mean I always take your advice. This time might just be one of them."
"Yes sir."
"That doesn't mean you're to stop giving me advice."
"Of course not, sir."
End
I think it's fairly easy to guess where Langley's been assigned. Anyways, these shorts are basically ideas that by themselves don't make up a full story or I would have trouble integrating into a story. These are just teasers. I've got a few juicy ones down the line. Oh, and I don't own C&C and whatnot. If I did, I wouldn't have let EA butcher it.
Z98