Leonid
Risk and Reward
23:35; November, 12, 2065
Neil fully expected… something… to happen when he stepped up to the scanner. He didn't know what, exactly, because he never saw anyone with a Phantom infection, let alone a person like that go through the sensory equipment. For all he knew, the demonic device killed the carrier and the alien upon detection. He'd never taken much of an interest in the things.
He could imagine the look on Jane's face when she found out that he was infected. He didn't want to, but it was just there. He didn't look at her, not wanting to see that, and instead closed his eyes as the freezing heat passed through his body. He waited for the inescapable announcement…
"Next, please."
That never came. Incredulous, Neil stepped down from the machine and it reset itself. He was clean! Well, in a relative sense, anyway, seeing as he was still plastered in mud and dirt. He didn't know what to think or feel; he only knew that he felt very pleased. He smiled.
Jane was next, and the operant-technician squinted sharply at the readout.
"Hold on, ma'am," the man said, and Neil nearly panicked, "Never mind, sorry. You're clean, congratulations. Next."
Jane stepped down, looking thoroughly bored with the whole process. Neil's relief was limitless. So the little field trip didn't go as well as planned…. They were okay. And it was fun, although he could have done without the Phantoms.
He pulled her close, and kissed her, and laughed at her expression… Something between amused and annoyed. She looked over her shoulder at the group of strangers, most of which were still parted from them by the glass wall. Only two of them were watching them with any interest. She ruffled Neil's hair lightly, undauntedly betraying her play of indifference while caught up in the euphoria of being alive.
---
1:17; November, 13, 2065
"Yes, sir," Captain Edwards answered the officer before him. He barely registered the questions anymore, wishing only to get the process done and over with. He should have known that the early disappearance of a certain pair of soldiers under his command would be a bad sign. He shot an angry glance in the enlisted in questions' direction before turning to answer another of the major's statements, "No, sir."
Across the room, Neil fidgeted in his chair. Okay, so things could have gone a little bit better.
"He's gonna kill us," the technician discerned, "They called him to his office and he was in his room with a girl, and they called him up here and now he's gonna kill us when that guy leaves."
Exponentially calmer, Jane looked up from her hands to her commander, "What? What makes you say that?" She didn't see anything abnormal, just a very angry man. Maybe Neil was right, but… who cared?
"I mean, maybe it wasn't a girl but…"
"When's the last time you were on the ground?" Jane asked suddenly before Neil could fully answer her first question, "Before tonight, I mean." She wasn't entirely sure that they weren't out of their superiors' hearing range.
"I dunno," Neil answered, barely noticing the change of subject, "Flagstaff, I think."
"What was that? Last year?"
"Earlier. Why?"
"Nothing," the woman said softly, "You did well tonight was all."
He stared at her, slightly dazed by the statement. She had praised him. She said that he had done well. The words sunk in, and he beamed as he reclined in the chair. He might have pursued it further, had the sound of the door not caught his attention. They both stood as Gray did, and Neil stammered on the brink of an excuse.
"Save it," Gray snapped, his smoldering rage contained by his will alone, "Because I don't want to know. I am sick and tired of having to cover for you every time I turn around."
"I don't want to hear it," he reasserted, interrupting Neil's second attempt at an explanation, "At this point, I'm seriously thinking of getting one of you transferred so I don't have to deal with this anymore."
Jane hated this. She felt bad as he continued so vehemently, wondering if Gray fully knew what he was going through at times like this, or if he simply went with it like she used to. She slipped her hand into Neil's while staring across the room, silently asking for help from the only source she would ever allow. And the sympathetic peacemaker wouldn't ignore it.
"Captain,"
"What?" Gray demanded. The sergeant that had been waiting quietly in the corner simply nodded towards Neil. The tech, for all his effort to endure, was visibly shaken. The captain's anger faded into irritation and slight remorse. How did they always make him feel so bad about this? He took a deep breath.
"Get out of here," he ordered coldly, "I don't want to see, or hear anything from either of you again tonight, understand? Not if you're sick, not if you're dying, nothing." His soldiers assented and he escorted them out the door. As they started down the hall, he added, "Separate quarters tonight, you're assigned them for a reason." He closed the door before he could hear either of them protest, and returned to his chair.
"Ouch," Ryan chuckled, advancing on the desk and picking up the electronic pad, "A little extreme?"
"They aren't going to listen," Gray yawned, "And you know it."
Ryan remained silent, starting to read the fresh report. Surprised at what he saw, he looked at his friend curiously, "Did you even take a look at this?"
---
1:46; November, 13, 2065
Jane made a mental note regarding estimation and abilities as she skidded to a stop.
"I win," Neil huffed, leaning heavily against the door to her room and looking all too pleased with himself. He nearly fell inwards when Jane opened the door. Light flooded the hallway… she realized that she hadn't turned them off.
Tired, battered, and still not feeling well, she sank onto her bunk and removed her saturated boots, paying little attention as Neil prowled around the room and furtively made his way to the bathroom. She noted with slight dolor that she would probably have to get new footwear. She dropped them to the side and began peeling off her similarly neglected jacket.
It was in this time of weakness, when she was unsuspecting and her arms were still stuck in sleeves, that Neil, armed with a damp washcloth, decided was good to attack.
"Hey!" the protesting exclamation went unheeded as he managed to pin her down on the bed. With the washcloth, he began cleaning her face gently but persistently. He made some progress in his endeavor, although in some places he merely spread the dust and grit around further.
Jane managed to free one arm from the coat. She grabbed his hand and pulled it, along with the cold, wet textile, away from her head, "What the hell?"
His explanation was simple, "You're all dirty."
Yeah… and? She stared at him, a little confused. "Well, so are you," she countered poorly, trying to free her right arm, "Get offa me." The tone was threatening, and, after a minute's hesitation, her adversary let her have the washcloth and crawled over her to the far side of the bed.
Neil sat against the wall as he watched her pull her arm from her coat and angrily throw it across the room. Suddenly self-conscious, he removed his own boots, and leaned forward to place them on the floor.
"Neil," he sat up and looked at her, and she stared at him without expression, "About tonight," she thought for a minute, trying to find the right words with which to express her entreaty. Without them, she improvised, "If you ever do something that stupid again, I'll…." She didn't have a warning, and in her silence, Neil smiled.
"That doesn't sound like much of a threat," he remarked, trying to hide his dejection. She hadn't liked it.
"Yeah, well, you wont like it," she finished, unable to come up with anything solid.
"It was a dumb idea anyway," Neil said, sullen, "You won't have to worry 'bout it."
Jane sighed, moving to sit beside him. "It wasn't a bad idea," she started, placing her arm around his shoulders, "It was a nice idea. It's a bad time, and that's all."
"What if there isn't anythin' else?" he asked, crossing his arms, "This stupid war could go on forever. What if it's the only thing that's ever happened or ever will happen?"
"If it is," the woman considered, "Then I don't know. I guess you'd just have to make the most of it." Neil almost brightened. Jane smirked and squeezed the washcloth for all it was worth, and the technician leapt forward with a yelp as cool water ran down his neck.
