~*~*~
Higgins
I placed the camera on the workbench by my cot in the barracks, Rico and Dizzy were having a row by the door and I had almost dropped the camera there; it's odd how none of the others seem to realise how much this stuff is worth! The whole ship seemed to be in an uproar, Dizzy was angry that she would have to move barracks due to the fact that SICON didn't want her sharing barracks with the men who were joining us from another squad, you have to question how much they trust us all.
We all knew how strong Dizzy was, argue with her too much or hurt her and you risk the pain of loosing something very valuable, so SICON's decision seemed a little insane.
I haven't even heard of Romeo squad before, most everyone has heard of Alpha team, Razak's Roughnecks one of the most respected units in the MI but Romeo squad was relatively new; I have heard that it's made up of several other units, or the ones who had survived Kilica.
I am somewhat glad that I wasn't there, a squad was lucky to keep two people out of the original eight members from when it arrived. The most famous was Delaney's devils, or foxtrot squad, they were lucky enough to have five people survive.
The door opened and Razak entered, I bolted to attention as did Dizzy and Rico, I have no idea where the others are right now; knowing Goss and Doc probably eating. "Clear out when I have finished Flores, you've been assigned barracks please stick to them," I noticed that Brutto was stood in the corner near the back; he must have been sitting on his bunk which was at the back of the barracks.
"I am sure that you are all aware that Romeo squad are joining us today," Razak said, he motioned for us to stand easy. "You may also be aware that we have been joined by two psychics."
I was glad to see that I wasn't the only one who looked confused; I knew there would be one psychic joining us but I had no idea about the second. "The first is a Skinnie, the only psychic Skinnie ever know and the second is a human, you are to treat them both with the uttermost respect, am I making myself clear?"
"Sir Yes sir,"
"Where is this Skinnie?" I asked, after an interview with the one and only psychic skinnie. Razak glared at me and I felt some of my spirits melt.
"He is staying in T'Phai's barracks."
"Who's the human?" Rico queried softly as the door opened again, allowing a pale faced youth entry. "Carl?" My own joy at seeing my old squad mate was huge and I was glad the unit was 'complete' again; I couldn't help but wonder how T'Phai and he would be towards each other mind.
"Yes Johnny, it's me," Dizzy threw her arms around his neck in delight at seeing her old friend. "No need for those sorts of thoughts Sarge," He muttered; Brutto looked at him blinking slightly. "I am not cracking, I am better and I am stronger then before. Not quite as strong as the other psychic mind you, I can feel his mind from here."
"Romeo squad are arriving at 1700 tomorrow, I want you all bunked on the same side of the barracks is that clear?"
"Sir yes sir."
Razak made sure that Dizzy left with him and I, after snatching up my camera, left too, going in search of T'Phai and the psychic Skinnie. I walked the short distance to the Skinnie barracks, pulling on a powersuit so I could enter; Ellen had to be there too; there was only one suit left.
I pressed the buzzer and T'Phai opened the door, greeting me with a slight bow of his head; I've never seen him out of uniform before and I took it in carefully. He wore a plain green suit, much like the black ones we all wore without the ribbing, and his ankle supports, which I knew that Skinnie's had to wear most of the time; I'm not even sure if they come off they may very well be part of his ankle.
We had a day of R and R on the Valley Forge and I supposed that T'Phai had little point to be wearing the suit, as he wouldn't leave the barracks; technically speaking we had two days R and R but we all knew that Razak would be taking the other one up with training.
"Hi," I started nervously, there were two other Skinnies sitting on one of the cots, the taller of the two was tending to a nosebleed the other was having. "I came to . uh ." I couldn't very well say I came to talk to the psychic. T'Phai looked at me; he had guessed why I was here.
"Hey Higgins, you come to introduce yourself?" Ellen asked, she was lounging on one of the bunks, probably T'Phai's. "I suppose you heard about our young psychic." The other two Skinnies were talking in their own language and T'Phai turned to them, he nodded and spoke back. "That was the, he can speak with us but he can put the camera away request." I slouched visibly, and Ellen grinned widely.
I slipped the camera into its pocket, standing still by the door. "Please have a seat," T'Phai stuck to the niceties offering me a seat on the bunk besides Ellen, he then stood by the back wall watching us all intently; he was worse then my dad when I took a girl home and I was only asking for an interview!
The younger Skinnie, well I assume he was younger because he was shorter then the other two, stood and came towards me. "I am the one you are after, I am not just a psychic, I have a name too." He had a soft, childish voice, he had to be younger then I was!
"Pardon?"
"I am psychic, I can read your thoughts, doing so is one of the few things that does not hurt me!" The other Skinnie stood by him, resting a hand on his shoulder. "My name is T'Alos, I have been psychic since I was younger but my mother did not tell anyone until I had blown up my first bug using my mind."
"Do you really think this is the right time to be doing this?" The other Skinnie asked, to my surprise, she was female, I've never met a female Skinnie before and she looked just like a male Skinnie to my untrained eye; I suppose there must have been differences but I couldn't see them.
"Let me introduce myself, I'm Robert Higgins, I'm a federal Network reporter assigned to the front lines after stories; I'm just curious like the rest of my planet, my viewers."
"I will be alright L'Meariea; it is fair enough that he be curious."
I stayed seated and he sat on the bunk closest me, "I will not read your mind during this, I will not prepare answers to your questions." He told me, I looked into his deep black eyes and nodded slightly.
"Alright," I clicked on a Dictaphone and rested it on my lap. "This is Robert Higgins, interviewing the only known Skinnie psychic, T'Alos. So, T'Alos you predicted the whole incident at Kilica, was there a reason SICON went ahead with the campaign."
"Psychic evidence is not pure evidence, Lieutenant Delaney believed me but she was the only high ranking officer who did." He lowered his head and L'Meariea moved in towards him, resting a hand on his shoulder again.
~*~*~
Brutto
Psychics, uh they freak me out like nothing else, what's the point in seeing the future, whatever happens happens, you don't need warning for it. SICON depend too much on them, I've seen a psychic fail before, I've seen squads depend on them to much and die because of it.
"Have you met the other psychic?" Rico asked Higgins as he came back, the reporter placed his camera on the bench by his bunk.
"Yes,"
"Well don't keep us in suspense,"
"He's good, I walked in and he could've told me what I was going to ask him!"
"Like I said he's powerful," Jenkins injected, I looked towards the pale- skinned kid, and he looked back to me. I don't hate the kid, to be fair, I'm just a little scared by what he and others like him can do, thoughts are called personal thoughts for a reason and I didn't want anyone poking around in mine.
"Alright Sarge I won't poke around in your head any more."
I ignored him, not even giving a scowl in the kid's direction; he had already invaded the bloody things! "To be fair I was never any good at that side of things anyway."
"Not like T'Alos, he says it's the only thing he can do without hurting himself, says it's like reading his own thoughts now!" I cringed slightly, that idea was less then comforting, two brain boys and one of them can do it without thinking about it!
I doubt I'll ever trust psychics, why would I? Errors are made on their words and that is not a good thing.
~*~*~
Dizzy
Anyone would think I'm worried about sharing a bunk room with the guys, why would I be? I've put up with the others for ages and some of the smells they make so what's different compared to sharing with the new lot?
I threw myself onto the best-looking bunk, which was furthest from the door so that I wasn't first up in the mornings; it makes sense! I hadn't even spoken with Carl very long yet and with the LT making sure I stayed put I wasn't likely too.
The door side comm went and I stood and went to answer it; Ellen was on the other end, wearing a cooling suit. "Hey Diz, how's things?" I felt a little confused, Ellen wasn't someone I knew well, true we had started to consider her as one of us but that was it really; she was T'Phai's friend and she was a nice person in all but she wasn't someone I knew well.
"LT's got me confined to this barracks, I'm not allowed in the guy's room any more."
Ellen laughed at me, she could laugh all she liked, if it were anyone else I'd hit them but Ellen happened to be the best friend of a certain 7ft being I didn't really want to cross. "Sorry there, I just thought you said that you couldn't share with the guys. Doesn't Razak trust you all?"
"I don't know; how's T'Phai?"
"I am well, thank you," The Skinnie interjected from just off the screen. He moved into my line of site with a slight smile. "When do Romeo squad arrive?"
"1700 tomorrow, what about your room mates?"
"Did everyone except me know about this?" He asked in an oddly bitter tone for a Skinnie. "No one told me that I would be sharing barracks." This cheered me up a little bit, at least I wasn't the only one forced into doing something against my will.
"He just realises he can't strut around nude any more." I got some highly unappreciated mental images due to what Ellen had said.
"Thanks, I thought things couldn't be any worse then you gave me that picture!" I yelled at her, she was laughing her head off and her friend looked indignant. "No offence T'Phai," I apologised to the alien who accepted the apology, he looked about ready to bite Ellen's head off though!
There was a commotion from their side as someone entered; T'Phai spoke a greeting in his language. "Ah your room mates, what are they like?"
"I remain unsure, I have had little opportunity to speak with them; there is little time left now though. Razak has just informed me that we have sim training tomorrow."
"Yeah I heard that too,"
"Doesn't give you guys a break does he?" Ellen asked, "I get the whole trip R and R, yep I can come and watch you slaving away."
"You will end up joining in, you will be bored alone." T'Phai predicted, I nodded, I knew little of Ellen but I knew she was someone who got bored easily.
The door in my barracks opened, "Well I've gotta go, see you around." I cut the link and turned to see who had entered. "LT," I bolted upright, he motioned that I should sit again and remained by the door. I looked at him hoping he saw how confused I was.
"Training tomorrow Flores,"
"Sir why have I been made to move?"
"SICON's orders private, I just give them out." He looked to me, he had been one of my tutors in school, he had known Rico, Carl and I before we'd joined up. "I think Romeo squad has more female Apes, better to separate the two off so you can form bonds with one another."
"C'mon sir we all know what'll happen,"
Razak did know what would happen, I'm sure of it; I had a conflicting personality and I wasn't likely to get on with them all. He left me and I moved to the bunk.
~*~*~
Higgins
I placed the camera on the workbench by my cot in the barracks, Rico and Dizzy were having a row by the door and I had almost dropped the camera there; it's odd how none of the others seem to realise how much this stuff is worth! The whole ship seemed to be in an uproar, Dizzy was angry that she would have to move barracks due to the fact that SICON didn't want her sharing barracks with the men who were joining us from another squad, you have to question how much they trust us all.
We all knew how strong Dizzy was, argue with her too much or hurt her and you risk the pain of loosing something very valuable, so SICON's decision seemed a little insane.
I haven't even heard of Romeo squad before, most everyone has heard of Alpha team, Razak's Roughnecks one of the most respected units in the MI but Romeo squad was relatively new; I have heard that it's made up of several other units, or the ones who had survived Kilica.
I am somewhat glad that I wasn't there, a squad was lucky to keep two people out of the original eight members from when it arrived. The most famous was Delaney's devils, or foxtrot squad, they were lucky enough to have five people survive.
The door opened and Razak entered, I bolted to attention as did Dizzy and Rico, I have no idea where the others are right now; knowing Goss and Doc probably eating. "Clear out when I have finished Flores, you've been assigned barracks please stick to them," I noticed that Brutto was stood in the corner near the back; he must have been sitting on his bunk which was at the back of the barracks.
"I am sure that you are all aware that Romeo squad are joining us today," Razak said, he motioned for us to stand easy. "You may also be aware that we have been joined by two psychics."
I was glad to see that I wasn't the only one who looked confused; I knew there would be one psychic joining us but I had no idea about the second. "The first is a Skinnie, the only psychic Skinnie ever know and the second is a human, you are to treat them both with the uttermost respect, am I making myself clear?"
"Sir Yes sir,"
"Where is this Skinnie?" I asked, after an interview with the one and only psychic skinnie. Razak glared at me and I felt some of my spirits melt.
"He is staying in T'Phai's barracks."
"Who's the human?" Rico queried softly as the door opened again, allowing a pale faced youth entry. "Carl?" My own joy at seeing my old squad mate was huge and I was glad the unit was 'complete' again; I couldn't help but wonder how T'Phai and he would be towards each other mind.
"Yes Johnny, it's me," Dizzy threw her arms around his neck in delight at seeing her old friend. "No need for those sorts of thoughts Sarge," He muttered; Brutto looked at him blinking slightly. "I am not cracking, I am better and I am stronger then before. Not quite as strong as the other psychic mind you, I can feel his mind from here."
"Romeo squad are arriving at 1700 tomorrow, I want you all bunked on the same side of the barracks is that clear?"
"Sir yes sir."
Razak made sure that Dizzy left with him and I, after snatching up my camera, left too, going in search of T'Phai and the psychic Skinnie. I walked the short distance to the Skinnie barracks, pulling on a powersuit so I could enter; Ellen had to be there too; there was only one suit left.
I pressed the buzzer and T'Phai opened the door, greeting me with a slight bow of his head; I've never seen him out of uniform before and I took it in carefully. He wore a plain green suit, much like the black ones we all wore without the ribbing, and his ankle supports, which I knew that Skinnie's had to wear most of the time; I'm not even sure if they come off they may very well be part of his ankle.
We had a day of R and R on the Valley Forge and I supposed that T'Phai had little point to be wearing the suit, as he wouldn't leave the barracks; technically speaking we had two days R and R but we all knew that Razak would be taking the other one up with training.
"Hi," I started nervously, there were two other Skinnies sitting on one of the cots, the taller of the two was tending to a nosebleed the other was having. "I came to . uh ." I couldn't very well say I came to talk to the psychic. T'Phai looked at me; he had guessed why I was here.
"Hey Higgins, you come to introduce yourself?" Ellen asked, she was lounging on one of the bunks, probably T'Phai's. "I suppose you heard about our young psychic." The other two Skinnies were talking in their own language and T'Phai turned to them, he nodded and spoke back. "That was the, he can speak with us but he can put the camera away request." I slouched visibly, and Ellen grinned widely.
I slipped the camera into its pocket, standing still by the door. "Please have a seat," T'Phai stuck to the niceties offering me a seat on the bunk besides Ellen, he then stood by the back wall watching us all intently; he was worse then my dad when I took a girl home and I was only asking for an interview!
The younger Skinnie, well I assume he was younger because he was shorter then the other two, stood and came towards me. "I am the one you are after, I am not just a psychic, I have a name too." He had a soft, childish voice, he had to be younger then I was!
"Pardon?"
"I am psychic, I can read your thoughts, doing so is one of the few things that does not hurt me!" The other Skinnie stood by him, resting a hand on his shoulder. "My name is T'Alos, I have been psychic since I was younger but my mother did not tell anyone until I had blown up my first bug using my mind."
"Do you really think this is the right time to be doing this?" The other Skinnie asked, to my surprise, she was female, I've never met a female Skinnie before and she looked just like a male Skinnie to my untrained eye; I suppose there must have been differences but I couldn't see them.
"Let me introduce myself, I'm Robert Higgins, I'm a federal Network reporter assigned to the front lines after stories; I'm just curious like the rest of my planet, my viewers."
"I will be alright L'Meariea; it is fair enough that he be curious."
I stayed seated and he sat on the bunk closest me, "I will not read your mind during this, I will not prepare answers to your questions." He told me, I looked into his deep black eyes and nodded slightly.
"Alright," I clicked on a Dictaphone and rested it on my lap. "This is Robert Higgins, interviewing the only known Skinnie psychic, T'Alos. So, T'Alos you predicted the whole incident at Kilica, was there a reason SICON went ahead with the campaign."
"Psychic evidence is not pure evidence, Lieutenant Delaney believed me but she was the only high ranking officer who did." He lowered his head and L'Meariea moved in towards him, resting a hand on his shoulder again.
~*~*~
Brutto
Psychics, uh they freak me out like nothing else, what's the point in seeing the future, whatever happens happens, you don't need warning for it. SICON depend too much on them, I've seen a psychic fail before, I've seen squads depend on them to much and die because of it.
"Have you met the other psychic?" Rico asked Higgins as he came back, the reporter placed his camera on the bench by his bunk.
"Yes,"
"Well don't keep us in suspense,"
"He's good, I walked in and he could've told me what I was going to ask him!"
"Like I said he's powerful," Jenkins injected, I looked towards the pale- skinned kid, and he looked back to me. I don't hate the kid, to be fair, I'm just a little scared by what he and others like him can do, thoughts are called personal thoughts for a reason and I didn't want anyone poking around in mine.
"Alright Sarge I won't poke around in your head any more."
I ignored him, not even giving a scowl in the kid's direction; he had already invaded the bloody things! "To be fair I was never any good at that side of things anyway."
"Not like T'Alos, he says it's the only thing he can do without hurting himself, says it's like reading his own thoughts now!" I cringed slightly, that idea was less then comforting, two brain boys and one of them can do it without thinking about it!
I doubt I'll ever trust psychics, why would I? Errors are made on their words and that is not a good thing.
~*~*~
Dizzy
Anyone would think I'm worried about sharing a bunk room with the guys, why would I be? I've put up with the others for ages and some of the smells they make so what's different compared to sharing with the new lot?
I threw myself onto the best-looking bunk, which was furthest from the door so that I wasn't first up in the mornings; it makes sense! I hadn't even spoken with Carl very long yet and with the LT making sure I stayed put I wasn't likely too.
The door side comm went and I stood and went to answer it; Ellen was on the other end, wearing a cooling suit. "Hey Diz, how's things?" I felt a little confused, Ellen wasn't someone I knew well, true we had started to consider her as one of us but that was it really; she was T'Phai's friend and she was a nice person in all but she wasn't someone I knew well.
"LT's got me confined to this barracks, I'm not allowed in the guy's room any more."
Ellen laughed at me, she could laugh all she liked, if it were anyone else I'd hit them but Ellen happened to be the best friend of a certain 7ft being I didn't really want to cross. "Sorry there, I just thought you said that you couldn't share with the guys. Doesn't Razak trust you all?"
"I don't know; how's T'Phai?"
"I am well, thank you," The Skinnie interjected from just off the screen. He moved into my line of site with a slight smile. "When do Romeo squad arrive?"
"1700 tomorrow, what about your room mates?"
"Did everyone except me know about this?" He asked in an oddly bitter tone for a Skinnie. "No one told me that I would be sharing barracks." This cheered me up a little bit, at least I wasn't the only one forced into doing something against my will.
"He just realises he can't strut around nude any more." I got some highly unappreciated mental images due to what Ellen had said.
"Thanks, I thought things couldn't be any worse then you gave me that picture!" I yelled at her, she was laughing her head off and her friend looked indignant. "No offence T'Phai," I apologised to the alien who accepted the apology, he looked about ready to bite Ellen's head off though!
There was a commotion from their side as someone entered; T'Phai spoke a greeting in his language. "Ah your room mates, what are they like?"
"I remain unsure, I have had little opportunity to speak with them; there is little time left now though. Razak has just informed me that we have sim training tomorrow."
"Yeah I heard that too,"
"Doesn't give you guys a break does he?" Ellen asked, "I get the whole trip R and R, yep I can come and watch you slaving away."
"You will end up joining in, you will be bored alone." T'Phai predicted, I nodded, I knew little of Ellen but I knew she was someone who got bored easily.
The door in my barracks opened, "Well I've gotta go, see you around." I cut the link and turned to see who had entered. "LT," I bolted upright, he motioned that I should sit again and remained by the door. I looked at him hoping he saw how confused I was.
"Training tomorrow Flores,"
"Sir why have I been made to move?"
"SICON's orders private, I just give them out." He looked to me, he had been one of my tutors in school, he had known Rico, Carl and I before we'd joined up. "I think Romeo squad has more female Apes, better to separate the two off so you can form bonds with one another."
"C'mon sir we all know what'll happen,"
Razak did know what would happen, I'm sure of it; I had a conflicting personality and I wasn't likely to get on with them all. He left me and I moved to the bunk.
~*~*~