He's never been much of a thinker. Never had to be. That's not what the military looks for. He follows orders.
What that says about him, he doesn't know. He just does his job.
He's good at his job. Really good, and they keep telling him so, which is enough of an ego boost to keep him at it. Riley just wonders sometimes if maybe there's more.
In spite of his skills and abilities and hostile-bagging scores, he's just another soldier. Wearing the same uniform as countless other guys. He blends in. He's nothing special.
There aren't many people who are counted as special in this world, and Riley knows he's lucky to be around of the people who are. For all his fans and hangers-on, Jonathan doesn't let too many people in. Out of all the Initiative top dogs, Riley's the only one who gets to call him 'Jonathan'.
Sometimes it's weird hearing them say 'Mr Levinson', like he's just a civilian. Technically, of course, he's Doctor Levinson, but a medical degree doesn't count for much among decorated officers. Riley thinks there should be a rank, though. Jonathan doesn't belong in the crowd.
It's wrong, Riley knows, but sometimes he doesn't want to be part of the crowd either. There's nothing wrong with the crowd, of course: some of those guys are almost family now. Riley still wants to be like them. He just wants to be like Jonathan too.
The big question is, is it worth the sacrifice? If his pursuit of excellence takes him away from his friends, can he deal? Can he leave them behind if it takes him closer to Jonathan?
*****
What that says about him, he doesn't know. He just does his job.
He's good at his job. Really good, and they keep telling him so, which is enough of an ego boost to keep him at it. Riley just wonders sometimes if maybe there's more.
In spite of his skills and abilities and hostile-bagging scores, he's just another soldier. Wearing the same uniform as countless other guys. He blends in. He's nothing special.
There aren't many people who are counted as special in this world, and Riley knows he's lucky to be around of the people who are. For all his fans and hangers-on, Jonathan doesn't let too many people in. Out of all the Initiative top dogs, Riley's the only one who gets to call him 'Jonathan'.
Sometimes it's weird hearing them say 'Mr Levinson', like he's just a civilian. Technically, of course, he's Doctor Levinson, but a medical degree doesn't count for much among decorated officers. Riley thinks there should be a rank, though. Jonathan doesn't belong in the crowd.
It's wrong, Riley knows, but sometimes he doesn't want to be part of the crowd either. There's nothing wrong with the crowd, of course: some of those guys are almost family now. Riley still wants to be like them. He just wants to be like Jonathan too.
The big question is, is it worth the sacrifice? If his pursuit of excellence takes him away from his friends, can he deal? Can he leave them behind if it takes him closer to Jonathan?
*****