Chapter 7: Making Amends

An hour later, Claes lay on a cot back in the DC encampment in a tent that served as their infirmary. Marco and Angelica had moved fast once Claes had calmed down. They had quickly loaded her onto the smoking food delivery truck, kicked out its obscuring, blood-splattered windshield, and recklessly drove the entire mess back to the settlement, rushing to get her medical attention.

Truthfully, Claes was touched by Marco's desperate actions. Because of the swiftness with which he acted, she felt that she could almost trust him. There was another reason for this though. When Claes had first regained consciousness, she found her VP70M lying underneath her pillow.

She smiled ever so slightly as she turned her beloved gun over in her hands. Yes, she could almost trust Marco. But just almost. The shock collar still irritated and choked her. Claes didn't care if it had saved her life. Wearing it was demeaning and degrading and she resented the weight of it around her throat. She knew, though, that it had just become important to her as well as to her new handler. If the scientists back in the SWA hadn't botched her obedience conditioning, perhaps she wouldn't need the collar. Seeing as Claes did not agree with the majority of Marco's methods and beliefs, though, she felt the shock collar would need to be put to use again in the future when she would further disobey his orders.

As Claes replaced the weapon underneath her pillow, Angelica entered the infirmary with the combat ration that Claes had opened during breakfast. The lunch and dinner portion were still there, so Angelica had thought her friend would have liked to eat more after her ordeal. After giving the ration to Claes, Angelica took up one of the plastic folding chairs commonly used by the visitors of the infirm and sat next to Claes' cot. "How are you feeling?" she asked concernedly.

Once she had popped a few vitamin tablets and chewed on some bran crackers to clean her system out a little, Claes answered, "I'm not feeling any pain at all, but I'm completely drained of energy." She then proceeded to open the can of tuna and peas in her ration pack, making a face at its unappetizing appearance and setting it aside in exchange for a canned fruit cocktail that tasted somewhat bland.

Angelica remained silent for several seconds, hesitated, and then said apologetically, "Claes, I… I'm sorry Marco treated you the way he did." She bit her lip, bracing for a harsh retort.

However, Claes simply responded indifferently between spoonfuls of diced fruit, "Why? He should be the sorry one. He's the one who gave me an order I couldn't follow. He's the one who tested me. Not you. "

"Well, I mean," Angelica took a pause, trying to organize the thoughts in her mind. She wasn't a very skilled speaker, and she was always afraid of being in the way, which was why she almost never talked. Finally, once she felt ready, Angelica replied, "It's not that I'm sorry," at this, Claes shot her a dangerous look and, panicking, Angelica quickly tried to correct herself, "I mean I know none of this was my fault, but… I don't know… I just wanted to show you that I cared. That's how people say it, right?" As she spoke, Angelica's voice lost what little confidence it had until the final word she spoke was just a nervous little squeak.

Claes had stopped eating during Angelica's repentant, yet frightened apology. Instead, she simply poked uninterestedly at her fruit cocktail as if toying with whether or not to respond in exasperation or empathy. In truth, Claes just wanted to put some time in between Angie's question and her own response to make her friend sweat over it. It wasn't out of cruelty. Honestly, it was just Claes' way of showing affection. Normal people openly tease their close friends. Claes did it covertly. She sighed in mock decision and finally replied, "Yes, Angie, that's how people say it."

Angelica relaxed and beamed. "I'm glad," she said simply. She stood from the plastic folding chair, waving to Claes as she made for the tent flap.

"Where are you going?" Claes questioned, "You just got here."

"I know," Angelica said regretfully, "But Marco says that I need to continue training as soon as possible. He said as soon as you're feeling up to it, you should join us too. I'm sorry."

Claes silently nodded in understanding, allowing Angelica to turn toward the entrance again. Before she exited, though, Angie turned back to her friend and added hesitantly, "By the way…" with the sun behind Angelica, Claes didn't know for sure, but she thought she could see doubt and sorrow in her friend's eyes as she said, "I think Marco is sorry as well." She hurriedly left the tent.

Claes sat in silence, still poking at her fruit cocktail. This time, though, she had genuinely lost her appetite. She could feel her VP70M jabbing at her from underneath the pillow on her cot. She sighed ruefully. I know, Angie, she thought to herself, I know.