Wash sat in a chair dressed in sweat pants and his instructor t-shirt. He stared as Webb's chest rose and fell under the blanket. He had been out for three days after barley pulling through surgery. Felix knew exactly where to hit to deal the near fatal wound. Wash had stayed in his room in the med bay along with Karmic and Parlors. The two were on the couch across from the foot of Webb's bed. Karmic was sprawled with his feet on Parlors lap who had dozed sitting up head leaning back. Washs hand was still wrapped around Webb's as he waited. He should have shot Felix when he was first thrown in that bed. Webb groaned and shifted, his eyes fluttered open and looked around the room resting on Wash no longer gripping his hand. "Morning Webb never pegged you as one to sleep in." Wash said smiling as he threw a magazine at Parlors head causing him to jolt up throwing Karmic off the couch. Webb chuckled and held his side as the two dazed soldiers got their bearings. Wash turned his attention back to Webb. His face was pale from blood loss, the scar on his forehead more pronounced. "You ok?" Wash said. "Yeah I'm good, just a little dizzy, and sore." Webb said weakly. "Well get better soon I can't trust either of these two to be my LT. I have to go to a meeting but I'll be by later." Wash said as he walked to the meeting room.
Karmic picked himself up and took Washs chair. "You scared the shit out of us Webb. Don't do that." Karmic said. "I know sorry." Webb said rubbing the pain away from his side. "You know I think I figured out why Wash is so hard on us." Webb said pausing. "He doesn't want to lose us, or be unprepared for shit that goes down like this." Webb said as exhaustion started to creep on him. "I think your right Webb. Get some rest ok we'll be back after lunch to check on you." Karmic said as he and Parlors left.
Webb allowed himself to think for a minute. He had heard the stories about Wash when he was in Project Freelancer. How Wash had seen his whole squad tear itself apart as he picked up the pieces. He felt sorry for Wash, but knew how it felt. Webb remembered back to when he was 18 a new soldier in the war that had claimed his family. His squad, Echo 6 went on a raid on a fed compound. Their pelican had went down hard. Screams of agony ripped threw the new morning air. Locus and his squad walked through the wreckage ending who was still moving. Webb looked up as Locus stalked toward him. A soldier beind him howled in pain as one of Locus's soldiers stepped on their mangled leg and slit their throat. "Leave this one alive let him tell the others." Locus said as two soldiers threw his broken form in the forest. Webb limped on his broken leg and clutched his chest as blood oozed from his stomach. He stumbled through the base gates as the medics grabbed him. He would awake later that night screaming. Karmic and Parlors had helped him that night and every night after that until he joined their squad, then Washs. Wash cared about them, and that's all Webb needed when he drifted to sleep.
Wash walked down the hall toward the meeting room. He walked in the well lit room to see all the captains and Kimball sitting around a table. The table was covered in the latest scouting reports and maps. Wash sat down in a chair between Tucker and Grif. "Hows Webb." Tucker whispered as he flipped through a scouting report. "He woke up and seemed ok just dizzy and sore." Wash whispered back as he grabbed a report. "Ok now that were all here we need a plan." Kimball said sitting her report down taking a drink from he coffee. "We don't even know how far Felix went, if he was working for the feds or someone else." Tucker said. "Well we need to." Kimball was cut off when a soldier walked in. "Ma'am General Doyle wants to talk." The soldier said. "Put him on the screen." Kimball said as Doyles armored form appeared on he screen on the wall. "Greetings Kimball I'm General Donald Doyle." "Yeah what do you want." "I want to know why you felt like turning our good Locus against us." "Wait Locus turned against you too." Wash said standing up. "What do you mean um." "Washington, I mean Felix betrayed us too." "Oh dear." "We need to stop this war Doyle is Felix and Locus both betrayed us they were most likely working together." Wash said. "Kimball I think we should end this to find what's really going on." Doyle said. "Ok truce." Kimball said as Doyle logged off. "Fuck." Wash said running a hand through hair. "Wash can you take your team to Doyle at the capital tomorrow we need to know what's going on on his side." Kimball said. "Yeah we can leave first thing in the morning." Wash said leaving.
Webb woke up, sitting up groaning as the nurse changed the bandage on his back. "Sorry Webb I'll be done in a sec." The nurse said as another held him up. The nurse quickly finished as the other set him back down. As the two left Karmic walked in and sat in a chair on the left side of Webb. "How's it going Webb." Karmic said. "Fine just sore." Webb said. "Wheres Parlors?" Webb asked. "In the mess with Palomo and Smith." Karmic said as Wash walked in. "How was the meeting Wash?" Webb said. "Frustrating, Locus turned against the feds, now we have a truce. Grey teams going to the capital in the morning so we can see Doyle's side." Wash said looking between Webb and Karmics shocked expressions. "Webb you up for it." Wash said. Webb sat up and shakily got to his feet holding his side. "I'm good Wash I'll be ready in the morning to go." Webb said his voice steady. "Good both of you be in the motor pool with Parlors at 0700." Wash said as he turned and walked back to his quarters.
"Hey you think he's ok Karmic?" Webb said steadying himself and breathing deeply. "I think he's just stressed about everthing." Karmic said eyeing Webb. "You okay to walk Webb?" Karmic asked stepping closer to Webb just in case. "Yeah I'm good let's go pack." Webb said as he walked a few steps to the door stopping to breath and rub his back. "I can do this Karmic." Webb said walking down the hall to his room. Karmic stared as Webb strode proud as ever to his room. "Kids gonna kill himself." Karmic mumbled as he walked to his room.
Webb sat down on his bunk breathing deeply as he held his back. He looked around his room. A New Republic flag hung loosely on the wall, a steel desk littered with reports was the only furniture besides his bunk. A single picture was taped beside his bed, he, Karmic, Parlors, and Wash stood in the rec room each holding a bag of Grifs junk food smiling like there wasn't a war outside or a betraying mercenary down the hall, there was just a team. Webb stood slowly and grabbed his duffle. He shoved clothes, equipment and spare armour into the bag. He set it down by his door as he grabbed the bandages the nurse had given him. He pulled off his shirt and started to unwrap the gauze from his abdomen. He paused at the large bandage covering the knife wound. Webb took a deep breath before taking off the bandage. Just below the back of his ribs was a cut nearly four inches long. Webb rewrapped the wound and put his shirt back on before putting the kit in his bag and walking to dinner.
Wash sat a turret crate behind the warthog they were taking. It was 0600 and Wash stretched his stiff knee as he breathed in the cool morning air, this was going to be a hell of a job to unite the two sides. Wash stared as the barracks door creaked open at 0624. Wash watched as Webb walked down to the motor pool with a duffle bag on his shoulder. "Morning Wash." Webb greeted as he set his bag by Wash's in the back seat. "You still up for this Webb?" Wash asked. "Yeah, I'll have to reevaluate that after two hundred miles of bumpy terrain though." Webb said leaning against the warthogs bumper. Wash just chuckled as he looked over at Karmic and Parlors throwing their bags in the back. "So this is the plan were going to the capital to talk with general Doyle, best behavior." Wash said climbing into the drivers side. Webb rode shotgun, Parlors on the turret, and Karmic laying against the duffles in the back seat facing the right door. Wash nodded to the gate guard as they left. "We there yet." Karmic asked. Wash cringed this was going to be a long drive.
Two hours later, they were half there. Webb and Karmic had fallen asleep and Parlors was hunched over the turret watching the horizon lazily. As they approached a fed checkpoint a guard in recruit fed armor walked up to Wash. "Where you headed sir." The guard asked. "To the capital we have a appointment with general Doyle." Wash said. "Ok take the right road, and watch out for black armored figures, Locus soldiers." The soldier said obviously frightened. "Thanks" Wash said as he took a right down a paved road. "EVERYBODY UP." Wash yelled over the engine. Webb snapped up with his gun ready, as did Karmic. Parlors straightened up on the turret. "Were in fed territory now so keep alert. The guard said Locus's men are in black armor and are still very much in the area." Wash drove down the nearly deserted road a few fed warthogs passing every now and again.
"Hey Wash, you think we can do this?" Parlors said scanning the hills. "Do what Parlors?" Wash said waving to another fed vehicle. "This whole unite the rebels and feds and take down whatever Locus has got going." Parlors said. "Simple Parlors people will unite against a common threat, you know nationalism. Plus I think both sides are ready for this damn war to end." Wash said. "Yeah I guess so." Parlors said slipping into thought. He looked out over the darkening hills, the new republic had fought here years ago and now it was peaceful. No gunshots, explosions, or feds attacking them. It just seemed right until a explosion jerked Parlors out of thought.
Wash swerved the warthog as the IED exploded under the front tires. The wheels buckled and the front bumper caught ground flipping the warthog end over end. Parlors jumped from the turret in a effort not to be crushed. He landed harshly on his side watching the warthog roll and come to a stop on its roof. Karmic lay motionless five feet away. As far as Parlors knew Wash and Webb were still in the vehicle. Parlors grabbed a battle rifle and scanned the road, a lone black figure stood and walked toward him rifle at the ready. Parlors didn't hesitate and shot the figure in the head. It fell lifeless as Parlors ran toward Karmic. Karmic was slowly sitting up watching Parlors run toward him. He took of his helmet vomiting as Parlors kneeled next to him. "You ok Karmic?" Karmic wiped his mouth with his sleeve and put his helmet back on. "Yeah just dizzy, go check the others I'll be up in a minute." Parlors nodded as he walked to the passenger side of the warthog. Looking inside he saw Wash trying to fit himself out his side. Webb wasn't there. Parlors looked around frantically for his missing teammate. A noise in front of the warthog startled him. As he rounded the front bumper he found Webb standing, well leaning on the front holding his back. "You ok Webb?" Parlors asked. "Yeah, I'm fine, just waiting for the pain in my back to calm down." Webb said rubbing his back. "Grey team, status." Wash said as he stood up. Parlors walked over as did Karmic, and slowly Webb. "Were all good Wash." Parlors said as a fed warthog pulled up to them. A soldier jumped from the back walking toward them.
"You guys alright we saw the explosion." The soldier said looking frightened. "Yeah were all good soldier." Wash said. "Locus's men have been planting IEDs in the roads over here. Were on orders from the general to escort you the rest of the way." The soldier said motioning to another warthog. Wash nodded and they three grabbed their bags before following the feds. The rest of the trip was uneventful as Wash drove behind the fed warthog. The looming city scape of the capital appeared over the horizon as they drove over a hill. No civilians walked the streets only soldiers in full armor patrol long forgotten shops turned into military storage space. Webb looked at the city with a heavy heart. His family had moved from the capital when he was ten, when the civil war was just beginning, after his dad had been shot for agreeing with the rebels ideas about the government going to shit. His mom had drove down the same tired road to a rebel stronghold father had told her to go to, just in case. She was stopped by feds and gunned down in front of him. After that he ran. He ran through the shouts, the gunfire, the bullet in his leg, he ran to the rebels city. They took him in, raised him as a soldier. He never wanted to think that he might have killed his old friends from this city, but here he was.
Wash watched as the gates to general Doyle's compound opened, a guard waving him in. As soon as Wash parked the other three were out with their duffles looking uneasy as they followed Wash to the general's office. Wash opened the door to se Doyle looking over maps and reports surrounded by his staff. Doyle dismissed them as soon as he saw Wash. "You must be Washington, and these three are?" Doyle said questioning the three soldiers with grey and yellow stripes down their left arms. They each had their bags at their feet. One rubbed his back his tense form denoting pain. Another had a unnaturaly wide stance like something was wrong with his legs. The soldier seemed to notice Doyle's observation and shifted to a defensive stance. Doyle's stare quickly shifted to the shorter soldier probley glaring behind his helmet. "None of your business general, now we have a lot to discuss." Wash said pulling Doyle away from his observations. "Yes, right." Doyle said directing Wash to a map Chorus displayed on the wall. Doyle tapped a tab on the side of the board. The map focused on a area coated in red. "This area is a hot spot for Locus and his men. We can't get in without making a major move on the compound which were not prepared to do even if we wanted to. Also we picked up a faint transmission between Locus and someone named Control." Doyle said. "The new republics in no position to make a big move either general. We need to unite both armies and determine Locus's role in all this before we do anything." Wash said. "That's easier said then done Washington. Our forces have been at war for years, we need something to motivate them." Doyle said tapping a recording file on the board. "I haven't had the chance to listen to it yet so let's see where it takes us."
Doyle pressed play.
["We understand your concern over Felixs death Locus but we have more pressing issues to desk with." Control. "Felix was half the plan to this civil war charade, and theres talk of a truce." Locus. "With your untimely separation from the feds Locus we have only one option left. I will send my clean up forces early to assist you in terminating the weakened armies. Do not fail me again Locus." Control. "Yes sir."]
Wash had his helmet off, running a hand through his hair as he leaned on the table. Doyle turned to him silent for a moment. "Washington, tell Kimball I will do whatever I need to to combat this threat." Doyle said straightening. Wash looked over to his team once slumped and sitting on their duffles now straight and ready to tear into anything that threatens their home. Then looked out over the city seeing soldiers who once walked those streets as carefree young adults now walked it in armor. Wash turned to Doyle. "Kimball will match that, and so will I."
More on it's way soon.