Chapter 1: The Newbies in the Canyon

"Nooooooooo!"

A loud scream echoed through the canyon like that of a child throwing a tantrum in defeat. From every corner it bounced back into the box and irritated all that fell victim to it. A momentary relief followed, with only for the Mexican accented man to begin once more. He stood at the side path of the canyon, just hardly covered by a rock formation moulded into the wall above. He sought refuge, just as he also wished to stir the peace. He raised his head high, encased within a dark blue helmet with white stripes, a colour scheme that painted his whole armour. He took a deep breath and began another scream. "Noooo, why?!"

The Mexican man, Cholo held his chest out forward as the screams continued. Yet another inhabitant of the canyon, encased in a dark teal armour paced up towards the edge that Cholo stood at. "God, what is it with you screaming like this first thing in the morning?"

Marcus stopped as Cholo continued his wild wail. "Cholo, if you don't shut up, you will find your little pinkie toe missing the next time you wake up."

"Oh come on, that's just Marcus being Marcus," Cholo challenged as he prepared for yet another scream. Marcus quickly moved closer as he stepped on one of Cholo's toes. Marcus leaned in closer and asked, "Care to tell me why you are being a retard first thing in the morning?"

"I'm practising my Tucker."

"Again?"

"Again," said Cholo with a massive head nod. "Remember when he had realized that it was only Red team that got the girls, and none on our side?"

A huge grin painted itself on Marcus' face as he slowly stepped off of Cholo's foot. "Yeah, kind of hard to forget seeing that visibly distraught figure as the two women had marched their way over into Red team's base."

"Especially since he thought that Red base was going to become a love cave or something," Cholo mused, earning himself a small smile out of Marcus. As Cholo took another deep breath, Marcus stepped in Cholo's personal space once more, he raised a finger and jabbed it into Cholo's chest. "Keep all that singing up again, and I think I will have your vocal cords. I'm sure those will make some interesting noises."

Inside Red base, in one of the occupied rooms, a black armoured soldier, with a red under suit stood up. An outlining of white covered his whole body, that stretched with his body. An annoyed squeal escaped his mouth and his eyes gazed out the small rectangular window in the direction from which the scream originated. He tightened the helmet around his head and he exited the room towards the base's exit. Out on the hot barren land, stood two of his team mates as they observed the two men on the side of the canyon. He looked out from inside the building, and dreaded the very feeling of stepping out into the heat. "Eh, what is all the commotion about?"

The woman in bright red, once a psychologist, but now turned soldier looked at him with her arms crossed. She scoffed, "Cholo is being a good for nothing again, just like Grif."

"Come on now, Bonnie," spoke the one beside her friend. She fashioned a light pink armour. "We should all just relax. I know, how about I make us all some green tea?"

The light pink armoured woman quickly turned around towards the base and entered the cool reprieve. Bonnie quickly turned around with her arms held out by her sides as she tried to stop her friend. "Don't go wasting resources on things like tea, Daisy!"

In the commander's quarters, Grif lied in bed with eyes wide open. He slightly shifted his head towards the room's door as he overheard his name exit Bonnie's mouth. Nothing new there, he pondered as he turned his whole body weight to his left and against the wall. Nothing's new today, nothing new would happen, nothing will change. He gently trailed his hand against his belly and felt the fat stick out like a sore thumb. He knew just from the feel that he has gotten fatter. Grif's lazy lifestyle did not help his case. He heard a sudden knock and looked with surprise towards the door. From behind the door he heard the sweet, yet small voice of Daisy. "Do you want to have some breakfast with us?"

Grif turned back towards the wall, and she somewhat expecting this left in disappointment. I suppose I will try again tomorrow as well. She stopped midway in the hallway and glanced back at the still door, no sounds whatsoever echoed from behind it. It was understandable to her why so many of her colleagues wondered if he was still alive or not. You could have at least given a yes or no response. She gently rested her back against the wall and slapped the sides of her helmet. I can't think like this. Losing all of those friends must have been tough, especially his sister.

Cliff side, Cholo and Marcus stared out at the canyon in silence. Marcus looked at the overhead formation and commented, "This is a good spot."

"Yup."

"Too bad you use it to annoy the crap out of us every morning."

"Yup."

"It's a great spot for you to sleep in now every night from now on as well."

"Yu- wait, what?"

"Heh," Marcus snickered as he tapped Cholo on the shoulder pads. "I almost got you there."

"Yeah," Cholo agreed with a heavy nod. "Almost, but not there yet."

The two found themselves in the folds of silence once more. Cholo this time broke it and asked, "Is Caboose up yet?"

"I heard a lion like snoring when I left the base."

"So no then," Cholo replied as he began to walk down towards Blue base, with Marcus following closely. As the two neared the base, Cholo looked around at the quiet and peaceful canyon. "You know, I expected things to be hectic here everyday."

"But not quite what we got," Marcus added. Cholo looked at his friend upon entering the base with an agreeable nod. "But I like it here."

"Same."

"I'm glad I got assigned here," Cholo noted. Marcus agreed, "Yes, and as a bonus I'm glad that no one here is freaked out by me."

"Well, 'freaked out' is not exactly the phrase I would use to describe my thoughts on you."

Marcus in response pulled out a knife and played with it from one hand to the next. "Mind being a little more clearer about what you mean?"

Cholo quickly found his hands up in the air as a defence mechanism with a wide smile painted across his face. "Did I say something? It was probably very stupid, you know Cholo, always saying something."

Suddenly the two stopped as they heard the loud growls. Cholo's very toes shook in his boots. He hid behind Marcus very quickly and prompted his friend to enter first. As they stood in front of the door that vibrated from the very pressure behind it, Marcus felt his hands freeze from the fear that grasped his body. But continue they must, and so he did. He opened the door only to be nearly blown off his feet. Cholo on the other hand was quickly flopped back against the wall as he squealed in the pain that coursed through his spine. As Marcus walked into the room, Freckles took notices of his presence with the quick flicker of the flashlight on the gun. Marcus tip toed in close to Caboose, but the moment he felt victory at hand, he was pushed back just like with Cholo against one of the corners in a most uncomfortable position.

"You okay Marcus?" Cholo inquired as he peeked his head inside the room, only to find his friend under a messy pile of paper and clothing. Marcus raised a white sock in he air and as his head spun with stars all around, he spoke, "Tag out. I think I'm good with just sticking to packing Caboose's lunch."

He slowly dragged himself out for fear of being blown away again should he stand. He crawled out on all fours out of the room and rested against the wall. "You, Mexican man, you can take care of waking him up."

"Hey, that's racist," Cholo pointed out. But with a big smug grin on his face, he said, "Fortunately for you, I revel in the stereotype for I'm a proud Mexican man...with a big wang."

"Right, always with the wangs, of course."

"If only the two sexy ladies in this canyon would see that, if only they would see the value," Cholo balled his hands into fists as he shook them in the air. "Then I can get all the deliciously spicy Mexican food cooked by their cute hands, all for me!"

"You know," Marcus began as he cleaned himself off from the ground. "Sometimes I question your priorities man."

Cholo walked over and gently poked Caboose's chest. Like a big 'do not touch' red button, it reacted with extreme response and nearly blasted Cholo off his feet from the sheer force of Caboose's snore. Cholo again poked his chest, but harder this time, still no response. I really do envy him for being able to sleep through this. If only it were so easy for everyone, thought Cholo as he began to punch Caboose's chest, before he finally stirred awake. Caboose gently rubbed his eyes as he giggled to himself. "That tickled, who was it, which one of you tickled me in my sleep?"

Tickled, seriously? The two men wondered as Caboose stretched his back and stood up with Freckles in hand. Caboose looked around to find the rectangular room to be rather suffocating. "Is it morning already?"

"Sure is," Cholo patted Caboose's back and pointed out the door. "Come on, time to crash Red base for some morning grub."

"Yay!" Caboose followed the two men outside in a well paced march. "I hope they make something delicious today, and not just the food from those packaged boxes."

"The MREs?" Marcus asked as he quickly then agreed. "Those things suck balls."

As the group travelled across the canyon, mid-way through they all but Caboose felt the affects of the heat. The dark blue armoured soldier hummed a happy tune, but one that sounded also a little sad to say the least. Caboose noticed Red base coming closer. "I hope Tucker is having a good vacation with Junior."

"I'm sure he is," Cholo responded enthusiastically. "It's better for him to get away from the canyon once in a while as well."

Caboose thought of Cholo's words for a while before asking, "Will you do the same in the future?"

Cholo looked back with a small, somewhat lonely smile on his face as he shook his head. "I don't really have anywhere else to go. Well, that is to say that this is the only place I feel like I really belong at."

Cholo quickly held his head with a small squeal however as he felt the sharp knuckles of Marcus's fist against his helmet. Marcus then patted Cholo on the shoulder and said, "Quit being so melodramatic. Don't you still have that sexy cousin sister that you keep on going on about always back on Earth?"

The trio reached Red base. Cholo looked inside to find the way wide open. "Yeah, but I don't know when I would return, if ever."

"I thought you made a promise," Marcus replied with a big smirk on his face. "But if you don't want to, I wouldn't mind taking your place. It would be nice to get familiar with your cousin."

"No!" Cholo quickly replied as he then stopped midway. Their noses raised on quick alert as a smell most foul entered their nostrils. It was an odour worse than the open sewers back on Earth. The smell was reminiscent of burning charcoal. Bonnie quickly rushed out from the cafeteria room, with heavy coughs exiting her exasperated lungs. Cholo looked with anticipation at the black smoke that followed, but was quickly left disappointed. "Where are Johnny and Grif?"

"Those two bums?" Bonnie asked with a very quick to judge tone. "They are in their rooms. They probably don't care if there would be a fire or not so as long as they can sleep in."

"That's insensitive towards Grif, don't you think?" Marcus asked, only to find her chuckle in response. She crossed her arms and rested the majority of her weight to one side of her body. "This coming from the psychopath, this is rich."

Marcus felt her beginning to tug at his strings as his foot automatically begun to tap the ground in a rhythmic motion. He crossed his arms and looked down at the ground with a deep breath escaping him. "You know, I will be more than happy to show the extent of my 'fantasies' to the good psychologist if you would like."

"Fine," Bonnie undid her arms and looked back towards Grif's room. "I admit that I'm being insensitive. But it's not like that makes it any easier to get Grif to come out of his shell. If anything, I can only feel the frustration grow. He doesn't even try talking to any of us now. Ever since we came here, aside from a few greetings here and there, it always felt like there has been a rift between him and us. And now, he has completely retreated into his room."

"Does he come out at all?" asked Cholo as he scratched his head in concern. Bonnie shook her head with further clarification, "Hardly. But only for getting food, filling up on beer and to go to the washroom."

"Hmm," Caboose looked up at the sky in the midst of the heat much to their continued shock. No matter how long they watched him, he continued to surprise them even to this day. "I don't like this, I want for Grif to come out and be friends again with me!"

"It's okay Caboose. We will all be there for him. We will help him," Cholo gently patted the blue soldier on the back as he then quickly rushed back into the shadows. He told Bonnie, "It will just take time I suppose, a long time to get over his loss."

"It's not the loss that I see as the cause," Bonnie replied back. Marcus raised an eyebrow at her statement and asked, "What is it that you think is the problem then?"

But before either of them could continue the conversation, Daisy rushed out from the kitchen with a trail of black smoke following closely behind her. She coughed her way in to the base's entrance. She wiped her hands clean with the apron around her waist. Cholo felt his eyes almost pop out and break through the visor with heart shaped pupils. Hello sexy woman. Daisy looked at the group with a wide smile on her face as she clapped her hand together. She wondered, "So, who is hungry for some breakfast?"

Suddenly, as if a bucket of icy water came showering down on their bodies, both Marcus and Cholo found their mouths tightly shut. Their eyes trailed from left to right, all around the room, and gazed at every detail in there but at Daisy. Bonnie looked at the two men slightly amused, but equally worried for she too knew that she would be a victim. "Listen Daisy...how do I say this?"

"Um," Bonnie cleared her throat as she rubbed the back of her neck. "You see...well it's like...no...how to put it?"

"Are you that hungry that you are lost for words?" Daisy inquired very innocently. Bonnie took a cautions step back as she stared at the new trail of smoke follow from the kitchen. "Daisy, that smoke is not a good sign. I think your food is overcooked and burned."

Wait a go be subtle, thought the two men. Daisy looked back and rested a finger against her chin in wonder. "But I thought it smelled fine."

"I agree," Caboose spoke rather loudly for all to hear within the canyon. "Iowa would have thought it smelled fine as well and would have wanted to dig in right away!"

Everyone froze at the mention of that name. They all looked at Caboose with their visors hiding their true emotions. Pity was shot in Caboose's direction. However, the blue soldier paid no attention as he walked past the staring crowd with a loud, and a proud whistle of a happy man. Bonnie crossed her arms and sighed with relief. "I remember seeing Caboose go into a depressive trance every time Iowa was mentioned the first time I met him."

"Well I wouldn't say he is completely over it," whispered Cholo just as the green fragment formed beside Caboose. "Caboose, if you are ever feeling down, I remember York telling me that at times like those, appropriate body contact can help. Perhaps a hug might just do the trick."

Daisy's ears perked up in curiosity at Delta's suggestions and spoke, "I love hugs!"

She opened her arms wide for Caboose and he in turn said, "I love hugs as well!"

The two quickly embraced one another into a big bear hug. Cholo looked with his mouth wide open as he slowly inched closer only to be stopped by Marcus. "Don't ruin this moment."

"But, but I want the huggsies as well...from the pretty woman."

Bonnie shook her head and looked down with a small smile as one singular thought echoed in her head. What a bunch of airheads. The group proceeded inside to the canteen area where their dinner table resided. As everyone took a step into the smokey room, all but Daisy and Caboose felt their legs wobble. The very strength of the smoke that invaded their air filtration system left them speechless. In the center of the table sat the abomination created by Daisy's own hands. The black tar, almost soft like jello sat in a large bowl, ready for serving. Daisy walked forward and motioned towards the chairs all around. "Please, dig right in!"

Dig right in, easier said than done, thought Marcus as he shuffled in his spot. No one wanted to take the first step. But when they all heard Caboose's stomach roar, they knew that he would be the first one to go for the man had to answer the stomach's cries no matter what. Caboose sat down with Freckles to his side and began to take a spoonful of the food into his bowl and took the first bite. His child like smile painted ever so innocently as he continued to enjoy Daisy's hard work with much appreciation. Bonnie taken by surprise every time, she could not help but wonder, just how strong is his mental fortitude to be able to eat down such toxic material?

Cholo was the next to follow. Okay, you are doing this to make the beautiful Daisy happy. You can do this, eat it like you mean it, like a man! Cholo took a small piece on his fork and let it rest in his mouth for a bit. His face turned pale as a shade of purple quickly covered the top of his head to his eyes. The fork dropped to his side and he held his throat in panic. "Someone help, choking here...gah, water, first aid!"

His bloodshot eyes looked at Bonnie and held her foot. His mouth tugged up from one side as he begged. "Please, give me mouth to mouth procedure."

"I will employ my foot to your crotch procedure if you don't quit being a pervert," she snarled in response. Marcus watched Daisy, who struggled to eat her own dish, with a smirk. Her next action could not help but cause him to laugh. She took big spoons of sugar and dumped it into the bowl, before rigorously mixing the contents together. Johnny walked a few minutes later into the eating area with a loud yawn, as he scratched his back. "What is all the commotion about out here?"

Johnny looked at the set, empty plates even though now the majority of the group present. Cholo continued to die. Bonnie was throwing up in one corner of the room, like a water fall it did not seem like an end was in sight for her. Marcus simply stared at the continued entertainment and laughed heartily. Daisy poked her own dish, now too scared to even put it in her mouth. In the center of the table however sat the near empty bowl of the dish. Johnny looked at the continued struggle of his teammates. "Anyone going to eat that?"

Marcus heard Johnny's stomach rumble, and a light bulb went off in his head. "Nah, you have a blast with it."

"Nice," Johnny took the remaining bit into his own little bowl. "Thanks man."

He finished scraping the dish dry and let out yet another long yawn. "If anyone needs me, I will be in my room to eat and then sleep this food off."

Only mere moment later, everyone in the canyon heard a loud and agonizing scream from Johnny's room. Marcus broke out into an even bigger laughter as he slapped his own thigh in continued excitement. As Bonnie's waterfall ended, she looked back whilst wiping her mouth clean. "You know, you are truly evil."

She stood up and sat across from him, only to quickly join him in the laughter.

A/N: Welcome back to the canyon and hope that you enjoyed the first visit back. If you have not read my mini-story for the new recruits, I would highly recommend doing so as it gives them back stories and more character. I will not focus on re-treading the same ground again over here.

What is your opinion on the tone of this chapter in comparison to the prologue?

Did it feel a little more light hearted?

I hope you like these new characters as they will play an integral role in the lives of our remaining BGC original cast. I would love to read your feedback please :).

I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter and see you in the next one!

Thank you!

~ Monty Mason