Chapter 6: Reflections
Instead of heading into her office, Kimball led Tucker down a long tunnel until they came out onto a ledge overlooking a vast underground lake lit up by glowing patches of greenery.
"I like to come down here when I need to think," Kimball explained, sitting on the edge of the balcony, "It's peaceful."
Tucker glanced around in wonder, "It's really... glowy."
"That's the algae," Kimball replied, "Don't touch it, it's radioactive."
"Oh," Tucker quickly drew his hand away from a patch of algae and sat down next to Kimball, "Tranquil."
They sat in silence for a few seconds, then Kimball spoke, "Tucker, I'd like to apologize for Felix's behavior. He was out of line."
"Yeah, he's kind of a jerk," Tucker agreed.
"He's just worried."
"Riiight," Tucker drawled sarcastically, "I could really feel his concern when he dislocated my shoulder yesterday."
"He puts on a tough guy act, but... deep down, I know he cares about you guys."
Tucker shook his head, "Kimball, I hate to break it to you, but the dude doesn't give a crap about any of this. He's just in it for the money."
Kimball sighed and bowed her head, "It's... more complicated than that."
"Oh," Tucker gave a crooked smile, "Are you dating?"
"Jesus, no!" Kimball yelled.
"Just sayin'. Guy does stuff for money..."
"We are not dating!"
Tucker slyly cocked his head to one side, suddenly interested, "So, you're single~?"
"Shut up!" Kimball snapped, smacking his hand.
She took a breath to calm down then continued, "Felix may not be fighting for the same reasons we are, but he has more than enough motivation to win this war."
"What do you mean?"
Kimball turned and looked out at the lake, "Things weren't always this bad. The tides have turned time and time again, and we've come so close to victory, only to be pushed back to the brink of defeat. But whenever things looked their worst, Felix was there with vehicles or weapons or even just a plan of attack."
She turned back to the aqua Spartan, "I never wanted to be a soldier, Tucker. None of us did. But Felix? He chose this lifestyle and he chose it because he's good at it."
"You know, for his boss," Tucker noted, "you really make it sound like you need him more than he needs you."
"Well, I wasn't always his boss," Kimball admitted, "He was in this fight before I was even an officer."
Tucker raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"Tucker, I am the fourth person to lead the New Republic."
His other eyebrow went up, "And I repeat, what?!"
"Our first leader was killed in action. The second was assassinated at what we had been told would be a peace treaty, and the third was blown out of the sky while trying to leave Chorus for help."
Kimball turned to Tucker, only to find that he had shuffled himself several feet away from her, "What are you doing?"
"Call me crazy, but I suddenly don't feel as safe around you," Tucker replied.
Kimball chuckled, "I guess my position does have a pretty quick turnover."
"Okay," Tucker beamed, shuffling right next to her, interested again, "Now you're talking my language!"
"Touch me, and you'll sink to the bottom of the lake," she warned.
"No touching!" Tucker yelped, shuffling a few inches away.
"That's what I thought."
"So Felix has been on the rebels' payroll for a long time. What makes you think he won't just up and leave whenever he's made enough money? I know I would..." Tucker broke off nervously when he caught Kimball's glare, "Hahaha, I mean, if I wasn't so invested in your cause."
"Like I said, Felix has more than enough motivation to win this war. The thing that keeps him going?" Kimball paused for a moment then turned to Tucker, "It's the same thing that's kept us from victory for so long. It's what took your friends... It's Locus."
Tucker's eyes became wider than a Warthog's tires and his jaw dropped, "Whaaaat?!"
XXX
"Men! Front and center on the double!"
At this angered command, the four recruits came running out of their sleeping quarters and lined up in front of Grif, who was tapping his foot in anger.
"Is something wrong, sir?" Smith asked
"Oh, you better believe something is wrong, Private Smith!" Grif retorted.
"Wait, I thought we were lieutenants," Bitters cut in.
"I'm a private," Palomo added.
"Lieutenant, private, whatever!" Grif snapped, "Just listen to your captain!"
"I thought Tucker was our captain," Bitters interrupted again.
"No, Tucker is our leader," Palomo corrected, "I think Grif's still a captain."
"Are we thtill lieutenantth?" Jensen put in.
"Well, I don't see why not," Smith replied with a shrug.
"Yeah, is this the line for the bathroom?" Caboose spoke up, having joined the recruits.
"JUST LISTEN TO YOUR CAPTAIN!" Grif bellowed.
Hearing the racket, Rhode and Simmons came in, "Okay, I'll bite. What's going on?"
"We have had a major breach of security, guys!" Grif explained furiously, "A major freaking breach!"
Rhode frowned, "We have?"
"Someone from this squad has stolen from my very secret and very personal food stash."
"Oh, right," Simmons stated sarcastically, "God help us if you only have nine meals a day."
"Oh, this wasn't just petty theft, Simmons," Grif growled, "This was murder."
"Uh, yeah, uh, I didn't do it!" Caboose cried out, "Now we all agree that it was the tank's fault."
The recruits all stared at him in confusion, "What?"
"Focus, people!" Grif yelled, getting their attention back, "A little, dabby, jelly cream pie I've been saving for emergencies is now missing and presumed eaten!"
"No!" Simmons gasped in mock horror, "I don't believe it!"
"Neither can I!" Grif retorted, too angry to notice Simmons' sarcasm.
"You've knowingly had food within arm's reach and haven't eaten it yet?"
"I have been hiding it since basic training, Simmons."
"Wait..." Simmons grimaced, "But that would mean it was... years old?!"
"How many years?" Rhode asked, equally stunned.
"Let's not get into specifics," Simmons said quickly, "Let's just say it's old."
"And still so young," Grif sniffed.
"That's disgusting."
"Oh, I know!" Grif yelled, getting over his despair quite fast, "But we're about to find the sick idiot, so don't you worry about that!"
"Yeah, he's probably got indigestion."
"Yeah, even though we all blame the tank," Caboose added, "I kinda feel like Church had something to do with it too."
"You see, only one man in this squad knew about my food locker. He'd seen it after every training mission I gave him while he was in my squad," Grif paced down the lined up recruits, "After every single raid on the mess hall, he reported back to me and I thought I could trust him, but it turns out I was wrong. Isn't that right..."
He raised his arm and pointed it out at his suspect, "Bitters!"
The others turned to face Bitters, and Grif's eyes narrowed, "Well, what do you have to say for yourself?!"
Bitters just gave a nauseous burp and his face turned green, "I think my stomach is dying..."
"Darn it, Bitters!" Grif snapped, "I thought you were cool! But it turns out you're nothing but a lazy, good-for-nothing, dirtbag!"
"Hey!" Matthews yelled, running out of his bunk, "Leave him alone!"
"Shut it, Simmons!" Grif screamed.
Matthews blinked in confusion, "Si-Simmons?"
"Oh, wait," Grif suddenly corrected, "I-I mean..."
"Grif," Simmons gasped, in genuine disbelief this time, "You're starting to sound like Sarge."
"What the...? I..." Grif stared down at his hands in complete horror, "Simmons, what is happening to me?"
"I think you're having a mental breakdown!"
"Yeah, those are my favorite kind," Caboose said, earning a smack on the head from Rhode.
Ignoring him, Simmons grabbed his teammate's shoulders and stared right into his eyes, "Being thrust into a position of power must be putting too much stress on your brain! Now it's defaulting to what you subconsciously perceive to be the symbol of leadership: Sarge!"
Grif pulled back in alarm and stared around him frantically, "That's not true! That's impossible!"
But he searched his feelings and somehow knew it to be true, and that thought alone was enough to bring him to his knees, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOHOHOOOOOOOOOO!"
The squad just watched in silence before swapping puzzled looks.
"Do you guys have any idea what's going on?" Palomo asked.
"Not in the thlightetht," Jensen admitted.
"I-I think I'm gonna vomit," Bitters groaned, clutching his stomach.
"Groth," Jensen murmured.
"D-don't let me drown in my helmet."
XXX
Tucker shook his head, still in shock, "What does Locus have to do with any of this?"
"When the Federal Army heard we had hired a mercenary to help our side, they decided to do the same," Kimball explained, "But they didn't find just any contract killer. They found Felix's oldest rival. His ex-partner: Locus."
"What?!" Tucker cried, "So you're telling me Felix used to be friends with that psycho?!"
"Not exactly," Kimball gazed out across the lake, remembering the tales Felix had told them when he'd heard of Locus's arrival, "They fought together in the Great War, and their squad saw one of the worst battles in UNSC history. Felix and Locus never got along. They fought over everything, but considering what they were up against, they banded together... and they survived. But surviving isn't always enough."
She closed her eyes and bowed her head, "When the war was over, many soldiers had a difficult time returning to civilian life. And some of them weren't able to return at all. Felix and Locus were always competitive. But when Locus signed up with the Feds, I think Felix took it as a final challenge."
"Final challenge?" Tucker asked.
"Locus knew that his mission would mean killing his former ally, but he took it anyway. Either the money was too good or Locus wanted to know, once and for all, which of them was better. We all have our reasons for fighting, Tucker. And I know that yours are your friends."
Tucker didn't reply.
Kimball let out a breath and got back to her feet, "Your five days are almost up, and I don't know when we're going to get another chance at this."
"You know, I think I respond better to positive reinforcement," Tucker muttered sourly.
"I'm just saying, you should make the most of the time you have left," Kimball smiled and patted Tucker's shoulder, "Your squad may be improving slowly, but they're improving nonetheless. You just need to keep trying."
"Right, because that's been working so well."
Kimball just nodded, "Feel free to come by my office if you ever need anything, Tucker."
And with that, she turned and left.
Tucker sat alone, staring out at the still waters. It was true that his squad were improving, but it was just too slow for him. And trying? All he ever did was try, and never once did they get anywhere closer to succeeding. To make matters worse, Felix, who had praised them the first time he met them, was now criticizing their strategies and making them look like bumbling clowns in front of their own squads. Worst of all, he wouldn't even care if any of their soldiers died on their watch!
That last thought filling his mind with anger, Tucker stood up and lifted his head. It was time to make a decision. Time to stop wasting time and do something!
XXX
The squad members had gone to take Bitters to the medic, leaving their leaders alone. Grif was lying on the ground, still sobbing in despair, Simmons was sitting on a crate nearby, waiting for him to shut up, Rhode watching the situation in amusement, and Caboose, of course, was lost in his own little world.
Then Caboose looked up, "Ah, fun's over. Tucker's back."
Rhode turned and saw the aqua Spartan coming towards them, "So, what's up?"
"Tucker! Tucker, come here!" Grif called out, jumping to his feet.
As Tucker came closer, the orange Spartan grabbed his chest-plate and pulled him closer, a frantic look on his face, "Tell me I'm cool! Tell me I'm lazy and that I don't play by the rules!"
"What?" Tucker asked puzzled.
"I don't wanna Southern accent!" Grif sobbed, burying his head in Tucker's chest.
"Yarr, drop and give me booty!" Caboose growled with a pirate accent.
"That's a pirate accent," Rhode pointed out.
Tucker just raised an eyebrow and turned to Simmons.
"We're dealing with some issues," Simmons explained.
"Well, hurry up and get over it," Tucker said, pushing Grif away, "I need you guys to meet me at the bunks in ten minutes!"
"Why?" Rhode asked as Tucker turned to go, "What's going on?"
Tucker paused and turned to face his friends, "We're leaving."
XXX
Ooooh! Now we're getting somewhere! Till next time guys!
