Tex Will be Tex
Church/Tex
Chapter 10
Out of Reach
Ah the headache. I missed beer. When I woke, I could taste the bitter stuff still on my tongue. Rubbing my eyes, I sat up, looking around. The boys had passed out on the ground, and I had been fortunate enough to get the couch. I shivered, pulling the blanket around my neck. Wait… I had a blanket? When did that get there? I didn't remember much from the night before. Wrapping it around me for warmth, I made my way to the kitchen and looked for the fridge. They did have a fridge, right? The room was filled with gray cupboards in place of walls, but had an island-bar-thing in the middle with stools around it.
Deep breath, exhale slowly. My head was throbbing, and I really didn't want to play hide and seek with the fucking milk. I opened a cupboard for a cooking surface to push out and unfold. I jumped with a yell. My god, Blood Gulch was behind on technology. It took a few more tries to find the fridge, which was disguised as a cupboard like the others. There was an average carton of milk, which made me smile. I took a few sips out of the carton before deciding to put it back and get to work. The other guys were in no shape to do anything until at least 2pm.
Life was like that for a few weeks. I got used to wandering around the base, fixing things. It was a wonder half the shit was running in the condition they'd left it in.
I shivered as I slipped my armor on, auto-cleaned by some storage system in the building. It was freezing, and I only owned shorts and tanks at that point. Grabbing my gun and heading outside for my second patrol since I'd arrived, I froze for a minute. The sun was just peaking over the top of the cliff. Sunlight hadn't hit the valley yet, but there was enough for me to make out the light frost on the grass. I shivered once more, goose bumps crawling on every inch of my body. It was so cold here.
I slung my gun on my back and rubbed the rubber of my gloves together as if it would warm my freezing fingers. Looking around, I wondered where to start my search. Where to find a crashed ship from five years ago? As if an answer to my question, I saw the outline of a ship across the valley. Was I really seeing it? Why had they never moved it?
Stupid. I was so hung over, and an airhead. It was the ship. The ship. His ship. I ran as fast as my feet would take me, tripping over rocks and scuffing grass. It warmed me a little and got my blood flowing. When I got to the ship, I rested my hands on the side, pushing all my weight on it. I breathed heavily and stood there in silence for a few moments. Laughter escaped my lips. This was it. The big painted title of B-00002 was on the side. That was his fleet. His soldiers. That was his assigned number.
I shifted to the drop off door. It was wide open. Equipment was everywhere. My heart was racing. This was his. He had owned all of this. I stepped on softly, slipping on frost. My armor cut into my leg, but I barely felt it with the cold and the adrenaline. There was renewed hope in me. I held onto the seats in the side of the ship carefully, examining every belt, every piece of metal. I remembered sitting in one of the seats, talking to his hand-picked crew. Each one of them had a heart of gold and a personality to kill. They lived for each other, and took pride in their system. My vision became blurry as I eyed the name plates of the seats. The first B-00001 to B-00010 of the carrier ships were personalized. The best of the best. Each ship was more valuable than gold. Each soldier worth more than the planets that they fought against.
Wrapped up in memories, I slipped and fell again, another section of armor cutting into my thigh. Pulling myself up, I reached my father's seat. My breath caught in my throat. J. Texas was carved in a plaque over the seat. The personal compartment over the name had a broken lock. I shifted it a few times to pull it off and opened the box.
There were a few folders that I took out carefully. Behind the folders, there was a little pink bear. I stood on my toes to reach back and get it. I held it close. It had been mine as a child, and I'd always let my dad have it when he left on a mission. Its left ear was missing, and its right paw was burned through. Emotion rushed over me for a moment before I remembered the folders. With a deep breath, I blinked tears away. One of the folders was completely ruined. It fell apart as I opened it, and each page was blackened beyond legibility. The second one appeared untouched. Jayson Allen Texas was printed on the top. Opening the folder, I saw that there was a small metal box on a keychain. I recognized it as a personal journal. He had shown me his once. Each member of the crew was required to record at least 2 hours of journaling per 24 hours of each mission for documentation. I held onto it tight. In the rest of the folder were the details for the mission. They were to investigate a strange organism found near the Valhalla sector that was thought to cause danger to humans. It was told to only discuss the mission in their journals and any citizen who was told of the mission goal would be "terminated". I took a deep breath, closing the folder. I didn't want to read further, but my name was on the last folder.
"Fuck," I whispered. Of course they had something about me. I jumped as a shot sounded in the valley behind me, bringing my mind back to my body. I moved my hands around the floor, lucky when I found a storage cube. I pushed the top and held my palm open as it unfolded. I emptied its contents on the floor and put my father's personal items into it. I pushed the closing button and clipped it onto my armor, leaning out of a rip in the side of the ship. I took my makeshift gun and looked around. The valley was silent besides the earlier shot. I heard a sound behind me, but assumed something had fallen from my shifting weight.
"Do you ever just sit back and watch the clouds?" An all too familiar voice whispered behind me. I spun quickly, pinning him to a wall with my knee and pressing my gun hard against his neck. I held him there in silence for a minute.
"I told you not to follow me," I breathed, never relaxing the position.
"I'm terrible at following orders." He reminded me softly.
"I have to find my father." I hissed at him, pushing him farther against the wall. He grunted.
"I know." He said through clenched teeth.
"You're not going to stop me." Strength filled my voice again.
Church stayed silent for a long breath. "I know," he whispered at last. I took a deep breath and let him down, against my instincts. I took a shaky breath and took my helmet off, looking up at him. I felt complete again now that he was back, though I'd never admit it to him. He took his helmet off as well and stepped closer, placing a cold gloved hand on my face. Damn I missed him. I pressed my face into the curve of his palm under the rubber of the glove. "I'm here to help as long as I can," He said, his eyes sparkling with tears. His voice held a pain I hadn't remembered. As if he knew I'd never find my dad. I missed him too, but crying? Was he really crying? And if he thought I wouldn't find my dad, he was dead wrong.
"It's been a long time Allie," Church leaned his face towards mine; touching his warm nose to my frozen pink one. I held my tongue. His words were starting to lose me, so I'd just let him speak to himself. "I've been looking for you for an eternity." He pressed his lips to mine gently and pulled back. "I'll never lose you to my memories again. I promise." He kissed me more fiercely this time, and I matched his passion. I had no idea what he was talking about, or why he suddenly needed me, but I wasn't about to be a bitch where I had been before. I sensed a change in him, and I respected this new Church more. "You'll get what you want someday. I forgive you. I'll always forgive you, and you'll never have anything to prove to me Allie." He started crying. Tears welled in my eyes as well. Something in my stomach relaxed as he spoke those words. I didn't know what he was talking about, but he knew something more than me.
I'd get it out of him one of these days. But for that moment, he needed me to listen and be forgiven for some unnamed thing. We both took deep breaths. "I think you may be going crazy, but I love you Church." I whispered with a smile. He laughed, wiping his eyes.
"I've always loved you Allie. And I always will." He wrapped his arms around me. The way his voice held some kind of overbearing knowledge to it frightened me. What did he know that I didn't?
We'd find my dad. And I hoped whatever he knew would help us.
Author's Note :; ohsnapp! Did you guys watch the last season? If so, you'll totally understand. (:
If not, I'm planning on doing a story that takes place between Church's chapter 9 and Tex's chapter 10. About what Church was up to that gave him the knowlage he now has. ): poor Tex. I love her so much. 33
Special thanks to ;; Ovalord of da Empia of cookies, Martienne, Lycan91, Bel Marduk, and Valen-CK. Iloveyouguyys. (:
I'm not completely sure I'm ready to abandon the story quite yet, so I left enough stuff for me to pick up after the TWBT story. If I get enough harassment for it, I may write a sequil, since the story between chapters 9 & 10 will not involve Tex/Church. )':
I Hope you all enjoyed the ending, and I'm extremely hopeful to get feedback long after I've finished this. I love all of my reviewers, and I love to be bothered. Review all of your thoughts and hopes and dreams and whatever! I also love ideas, so if you'd like to give me ideas for one-shots or request other stories, I'm all for it ! (: