30th July, 1951
This was it, the last time I'd ever look in the mirror in this place. Then I'd be gone. Slowly, I pulled at my new uniform, smiling slightly at the thought of Parkers reaction when she saw me. I hadn't kept everything she'd given me. Instead, I'd . . . well . . . edited it a little. A pair of dog tags hung from my neck, a constant reminder of my little brother, the one who had been there for me through everything. Well, almost everything. Taking a deep breath, I stepped backwards, ready to leave when the knock resounded throughout the room.
"Come in." Red hair, green eyes, beret. The only person I didn't want to see.
"Hey, Cartwright."
"I heard you're leaving?" Biting my lip, I nodded, looking to the floor.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I just . . . I didn't want you to think that your friendship didn't mean anything."
"People are more likely to think that if they're left out of the loop. Good thing I know that you're no good with understanding feelings, isn't it?" Smirking, he stepped forwards, holding out a plain box. I stared at it in confusion, my eyes darting between it and the man holding it.
"A leaving present."
"No! No, you can't get me something for leaving you! That's wrong! No, I can't take it!"
"You bloody well will take it! You don't know what I had to go through to get this!" Grinning, I nodded, taking the gift and lifting off the lid. Then I laughed.
"You remembered!"
"Of course I remembered! It was one of the first things you said to me."
"'Can I wear your hat?'" I murmured, pulling out a replica of Cartwright's beret.
"Here. If you wear it, you've got to wear it right." And sure enough, he positioned it exactly like his own.
"Now, I won't be with you to correct it everyday, so you better do it right."
"Yes, sir," I replied, beaming as I turned back to the mirror.
"Can I ask where you're going?" Nodding, I spun around, darting to the other side of the room and grabbing a note.
"It's a facility that specialises in Chimeran activity. 'Special Research Projects Administration', or SRPA for short. They have loads of information, but I'm nothing they've ever seen before. They need the information, and I'm a good soldier to boot. It's a golden opportunity, one they haven't passed up on. And look on the bright side - I get to fight a ton of Chimera. It's practically heaven on Earth," I explained, handing him the reminder. I knew what it said off by heart: VTOL pick-up, 30th July, midday.
"You've only got a few minutes then?"
"Yeah. Cartwright . . . before I go . . ." Then I stopped, hesitant to voice the question.
"What is it, Boo?"
"Did he really know?" I whispered, glancing up quickly. "Or did he die thinking I . . ."
"He knew, Boo. We all did."
"And Hybrid was . . . happy, right?"
"Yeah. He was in the field, killing the Chimera, and he was allowed to blow up a bridge. He was happier than I'd ever seen him before. Now, come on. Your 'one question' has turned into three. It's time for you to get going, sniper girl." Without a second thought, I wrapped my arms around the lieutenant, trying to keep the tears at bay. After all, I'd done so well so far.
"Thank you. For everything."
"Look after yourself, Boo. Try and come back one day," he replied, copying the gesture.
"I promise."
It was go time. Cartwright had been sent out on a retrieval mission moments after we had left my room. Consequently, it was only Parker and I at the pick-up point.
"Miss Clearwater, what the hell are you wearing?! I thought I told you to wear the new uniform!"
"You did. And I am. I just customised it a bit."
"That shirt is ridiculous! It's hanging off of you and . . ."
"It was his." And that was the end of all conversation, neither of us having anything to say. At least she hadn't told me to remove it. I guess she wasn't as cold-hearted as I had thought, not that I liked her any better for it.
"One thing, Miss Clearwater. Lieutenant Cartwright has informed me of certain . . . uh . . . thoughts you had about Sergeant Hale's visit to my office on the 18th. I can assure you that nothing of that nature ever took place."
"Why was he in there?"
"To request a room transfer," she replied quietly. "He explained, rather reluctantly, that he had been feeling things about you that were . . . inappropriate. He wanted a room transfer so that nothing that would cause you to feel uncomfortable would happen." Slowly, I looked to the ground, my eyebrows knitting together as I concentrated.
"But . . . that makes no sense. Why wouldn't he just tell me that?"
"Did you ever think that maybe he was embarrassed? Especially when it was so obvious to everyone else that you liked him."
"I . . . I-I didn't even think . . ."
"At least you know now."
"Even if it is too late." A thick wind filled the area, the VTOL coming in to land quickly and efficiently, a single man standing in the open doorway, disembarking as the vehicle landed.
"Private Clearwater?" he asked, looking between Parker and I. Slowly, I raised my hand, stepping forwards with a nod.
"I'm Major Richard Blake. It's good to finally meet you."
"It was a pleasure to hear of your organisation - it's nice to know there's somewhere I'll fit in. Sort of." Grinning, he nodded, motioning to the plane before moving towards it.
"Look after yourself, Parker," I muttered, following him forwards. "And do try not to get killed. You'd be doing me out of a job." Then we were on the VTOL and flying into the distance. I stood at the door for a while, waving to nothing at all, yet waving goodbye to everything.
"Private Clearwater?"
"You can call me Boo, you know. I'm not one for manners and formalities."
"Somehow, I figured that out. Are you . . . sure you want to go through with this?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
"You seem like you regret leaving," he explained, sitting on the seat gently. I collapsed onto the one next to him, leaning backwards and staring upwards.
"I never regret anything."
"Good to know. Are you aware of what tests will be being performed?"
"No, and I don't care. Before, I would have been forced to get every detail. Now, I have nothing to stop me from being reckless. The battle for London took them all," I murmured, turning to face the floor, swiping at my eyes, refusing to downgrade myself. Again.
"We've all lost someone to them. That's why we fight."
"I know. It's just . . . it's hard. I lost my brother, and then someone close to me. In the space of a few hours."
"How close?" I stared up at him, cheeks reddening slowly.
"Oh, right. Well . . . uh . . . the doctor couldn't wait to meet you. He's back at SRPA 3. We just got a new soldier who required immediate attention. He asked for you to meet him in his surgery when we arrive. He should be finished be that time. Does that sound alright, Private?"
"Change the ending."
"Does that sound alright, Boo?" he asked, smirking.
"That sounds fine."
The facility was beautiful, more beautiful than I thought possible. Half-submerged in the water, shining, new and . . . amazing. The inside was fantastic too, closely packed, but secure and safe. The route to the surgical room was long, but that may have been due to the tour I got on the way, chaperoned and commentated by Richard Blake. Needless to say, I was smiling by the time we reached the closed doors, despite the increasing nervousness with every step.
"Well, this is it - the doctor's surgery. Here's where the Sentinels get their inhibitor, meaning we sit in here for hours and hours trying to find a way past the plains of hell inside us. Does it work? More or less. Mostly less. But there you have it. Anyway, the doctor should be finishing up by now. In you go. I'll catch you later." And then, with a final salute, he was gone, strolling down the corridor, leaving me on my own. This was it. Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door.
"Enter." Russian? Well, who was I to judge? Slowly, I pushed open the door, stepping inside with (slightly hesitant) steps.
"Doctor Malikov?" The man that turned around was old and frail, no denying that, but there was a look in his eyes that radiated knowledge and power beyond control. He was single-handedly, the weakest and strongest man I had ever laid eyes on.
"Ah! You must be Private Clearwater!"
"Just Boo, please."
"Boo?" That voice. But that . . . that was impossible. And yet . . . there he was, sitting on the bed, shocked into silence and completely stunned. As stunned as I was.
"N-Nathan? B-b-but this is . . . this can't be happening. I saw you go into the tower. I saw it blow up! No-one was coming out of there alive!" I moved over to him, stopping only inches away, watching as he stood. Slowly, his hand reached out, coming to rest on the side of my face, wiping away the tears I didn't realise had fallen.
"I came out of there alive." But still I shook my head.
"I don't understand. I thought you were dead. I . . . I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD!"
"I know! I know! And I'm sorry. I tried to contact you, Boo, but . . . it didn't work."
"I cried for you," I muttered, not daring to meet his eye. "I looked like an idiot."
"I know."
"No, you don't." Then I slapped him, as hard as possible, leaving a rather visible red mark. He raised a hand to his face, raising an eyebrow my way. But I wasn't done yet. My hands reached up, latching onto his collar and pulling him down to my level as I kissed him, smiling as it finally sunk in. He was alive and he was here.
"I know, by the way," I murmured, pulling away. "Why you were in Parker's office, I mean. You could have just told me."
"I think we've both been stupid."
"I'm never stupid. A reckless idiot, maybe. But not stupid. That's your job." Laughing, he leant down again, pressing our lips together until I had to pull away to breathe.
"How the hell did I miss you throwing insults at me left, right and centre?"
"I guess you're just a sucker for punishment, aren't you?"
"Only if you're the one dealing it," he replied, smirking at my embarrassed expression. "God I missed you."
"And . . . I . . . I missed you, too. When I saw the flames coming from the tower . . . it hurt more than I thought possible. To lose Hybrid, and then you . . . I-I couldn't deal with being alone, Nathan. Promise me that, from now on, you'll be careful."
"From now on?" His tone was questioning, but his eyes were hopeful.
"You didn't honestly think I was going back to Britain? What, and let you have all the fun? Please. Do you even know me at all?" Laughing, he went to lean down once again, only to be stopped by someone clearing their throat. That someone being Dr. Malikov. And someone else wolf-whistling. That someone being Major Blake.
"Well, Sergeant Hale, I need you in Command. I need to brief you on your next assignment. As for you, Private Clearwater, I do believe Dr. Malikov has some tests to run. Unless now is a bad time?" Blushing, I stepped backwards, allowing Nathan to walk towards the corridor.
"I'll see you later, Boo."
"Yeah. Yeah, you will." And I guess that was the moment that it truly sunk in. I would probably never see Cartwright again, even though I had promised. Hybrid was gone. Forever. Even though I had swore to look after him. My future wouldn't be anything more than slaughtering hoards and hoards of Chimera. But Nathan was in my future. And . . . I guess that was why I was smiling. It was small, subtle, but it was there. And, best of all, it was genuine.