Liam
I knew I looked like an idiot with my mouth hanging open but I was too shocked to truly care. After our long journey on that damn boat about all I had been ready to do on arrival at Boone's headquarters was take a long nap. I was a little surprised that Boone was heading a separate cell than Renee, I would have figured her wanting to keep her major assets close, but I shrugged it off. I was too tired tax my brain over Renee's idea of tactics. I wasn't prepared for the sight that greeted me when we got there. The place was a wreck. The facility was an abandoned warehouse so I had expected a degree of disrepair but this was incredible.
A drunk staggered past me obviously looking for a place to throw up. Beer cans littered the floor along with pizza and Chinese take out containers. People were scattered around in various stages of unconsciousness on pieces of beat up furniture. Snapping out of my shock I turned my gaze on Boone who was standing beside me. He was fidgeting with obvious embarrassment the grimace on his face telegraphing his distaste. I could tell he was just as upset about the state of things as I was. I opened my mouth ready to ask what the hell was going on when Boone grabbed my elbow and pulled me off to the side. He whispered. "Things are bad. The number of people willing to fight who are reliable only make up 1/5th of our groups. The rest…they're in it for the money." I jerked. My attention hadn't really been on what he was saying instead on the antics of those around us but that caught me off guard. Boone noticed. "Yes, money. Damn it. We've sunk to hiring mercenaries and amoralists because there is no other way. Why do you think I was so desperate to find Augur? To get you here?" I nodded grimly.
"They're going to have to go." I whispered back. The state of affairs had revived me. "Having these types is more dangerous than having no one. You have to realize that." I pointed to a pair quickly drinking themselves into oblivion. "These people will turn on us in a minute. They aren't in it for humanity and there are easier ways to make a profit. When it comes down to it they're not going to take a stand they're going to turn tail and run." Max flashed through my mind. "Or be bought out."
Boone flashed me a snappy grin like this was the chance he had been waiting for. 'Uh oh.' "Okay boss so what do we do?" I felt like I'd been slapped. It seemed like just a minute ago that I'd been divested of that responsibility and here I was being presented it again. 'I don't want it! I don't want to be in charge of who lives or dies! I don't want the power, the responsibility, or the guilt! I don't want to be the one on which everything hinges! ' Taking a deep breath I calmed myself. 'Stop it Liam. You're acting like a child. You have to be a grown up.' For a second I thought I heard a childish voice saying, 'but I don't wanna.' Then I shook it off. 'The Resistance doesn't need lunatics they've already got enough.' I glanced around once again at the interior of the warehouse. 'See.' I still felt like I was being backed into a corner. 'I can't not help. I couldn't the first time I was asked, I couldn't when Boone asked me to come back, and I can't now. Damn it I knew I shouldn't have left bread crumbs.'
Taking another deep breath I slowly let it out. With it went all of my anger and frustration to be replaced by resolve. I shifted gears shoving my resignation and sense of injustice into the tiny box where I toss all of my pesky emotions when it comes to leading. Too bad the lid was faulty and things leaked out occasionally. Calmly all business I surveyed the warehouse noting the depth of corruption and greed around me and I made a rapid decision.
I turned to Boone and said bluntly, "We get some sleep." He looked a little surprised. "What do you think I'm a fool? I'm tired and they're drunk. We wait till tomorrow when they're hungover then break the bad news. We do it gradually too. Keep the ones who have skills till we find someone to replace them." I looked around then turned to Boone. "Now where can I grab some shut eye?" He pointed to a group of doors off to the left. Nodding I headed that way. I paused and turned to Boone a thought striking me. Smiling I said, "Don't feel bad. Some are born to command some to follow. I'd stick to following if I were you." I heard a snort behind me.
Augur
I managed to get my equipment unloaded and into the warehouse in time to see Liam's exit and catch his last comment. 'Ah, I've taught him well.' Saddling up next to Boone I couldn't help myself. "Jeez, what a dump." He gave another snort but didn't turn. He stayed facing the door that Liam had walked through. We just stood like that for a couple minutes watching as drunks passed out and others broke things. I was waiting. I've changed over the years but Boone hasn't. I guess it would be kind of hard for him to. One up in my favor I guess. I can sense the turmoil rolling off of him. He was never the actor that Liam was, his father after all wasn't Sandoval Master of the Iron Face and his teacher wasn't Augur Master of the Total Bullshit. I knew he'd crack in 5…4…3…2…1…0. 'Damn my watch must be off.'
"He's right." 'So close.' "I never was much of a leader. I was always the lone ranger. Oh, I could command small groups but organizing something this size." He waved his hand indicating the dump we were standing in. "It's beyond me. I'm turning control over to him." 'So that's what this is about. Boone wants Liam to take control. I should have seen it coming.' He finally turned to look at me. "I am doing the right thing?"
I opened my mouth then closed it. My first instinct was to shout, 'No!' But God help me that was parental instinct. I wanted to protect him. 'It's too late for that. Besides I would never be able to stop him.' I sighed. "Do you mean will he be a good leader?" Boone nodded. Unable to look him in the eye I turned my gaze to the floor. I was acting against every instinct inside of me. "Liam was an great leader Boone. The people respected him." I kicked a convenient pebble. "They died for him, though he'll never admit it. He lead the Resistance when we had no hope. He kept us together. He's a better leader than Doors ever was. He's probably the best shot we have at getting through this alive." I paused. "And I wish to hell it wasn't so." I was unable to keep the anger out of my voice. I didn't like this I didn't like this at all. How could I? The whole situation sucked. It never ends. It never ends.
I knew I looked like an idiot with my mouth hanging open but I was too shocked to truly care. After our long journey on that damn boat about all I had been ready to do on arrival at Boone's headquarters was take a long nap. I was a little surprised that Boone was heading a separate cell than Renee, I would have figured her wanting to keep her major assets close, but I shrugged it off. I was too tired tax my brain over Renee's idea of tactics. I wasn't prepared for the sight that greeted me when we got there. The place was a wreck. The facility was an abandoned warehouse so I had expected a degree of disrepair but this was incredible.
A drunk staggered past me obviously looking for a place to throw up. Beer cans littered the floor along with pizza and Chinese take out containers. People were scattered around in various stages of unconsciousness on pieces of beat up furniture. Snapping out of my shock I turned my gaze on Boone who was standing beside me. He was fidgeting with obvious embarrassment the grimace on his face telegraphing his distaste. I could tell he was just as upset about the state of things as I was. I opened my mouth ready to ask what the hell was going on when Boone grabbed my elbow and pulled me off to the side. He whispered. "Things are bad. The number of people willing to fight who are reliable only make up 1/5th of our groups. The rest…they're in it for the money." I jerked. My attention hadn't really been on what he was saying instead on the antics of those around us but that caught me off guard. Boone noticed. "Yes, money. Damn it. We've sunk to hiring mercenaries and amoralists because there is no other way. Why do you think I was so desperate to find Augur? To get you here?" I nodded grimly.
"They're going to have to go." I whispered back. The state of affairs had revived me. "Having these types is more dangerous than having no one. You have to realize that." I pointed to a pair quickly drinking themselves into oblivion. "These people will turn on us in a minute. They aren't in it for humanity and there are easier ways to make a profit. When it comes down to it they're not going to take a stand they're going to turn tail and run." Max flashed through my mind. "Or be bought out."
Boone flashed me a snappy grin like this was the chance he had been waiting for. 'Uh oh.' "Okay boss so what do we do?" I felt like I'd been slapped. It seemed like just a minute ago that I'd been divested of that responsibility and here I was being presented it again. 'I don't want it! I don't want to be in charge of who lives or dies! I don't want the power, the responsibility, or the guilt! I don't want to be the one on which everything hinges! ' Taking a deep breath I calmed myself. 'Stop it Liam. You're acting like a child. You have to be a grown up.' For a second I thought I heard a childish voice saying, 'but I don't wanna.' Then I shook it off. 'The Resistance doesn't need lunatics they've already got enough.' I glanced around once again at the interior of the warehouse. 'See.' I still felt like I was being backed into a corner. 'I can't not help. I couldn't the first time I was asked, I couldn't when Boone asked me to come back, and I can't now. Damn it I knew I shouldn't have left bread crumbs.'
Taking another deep breath I slowly let it out. With it went all of my anger and frustration to be replaced by resolve. I shifted gears shoving my resignation and sense of injustice into the tiny box where I toss all of my pesky emotions when it comes to leading. Too bad the lid was faulty and things leaked out occasionally. Calmly all business I surveyed the warehouse noting the depth of corruption and greed around me and I made a rapid decision.
I turned to Boone and said bluntly, "We get some sleep." He looked a little surprised. "What do you think I'm a fool? I'm tired and they're drunk. We wait till tomorrow when they're hungover then break the bad news. We do it gradually too. Keep the ones who have skills till we find someone to replace them." I looked around then turned to Boone. "Now where can I grab some shut eye?" He pointed to a group of doors off to the left. Nodding I headed that way. I paused and turned to Boone a thought striking me. Smiling I said, "Don't feel bad. Some are born to command some to follow. I'd stick to following if I were you." I heard a snort behind me.
Augur
I managed to get my equipment unloaded and into the warehouse in time to see Liam's exit and catch his last comment. 'Ah, I've taught him well.' Saddling up next to Boone I couldn't help myself. "Jeez, what a dump." He gave another snort but didn't turn. He stayed facing the door that Liam had walked through. We just stood like that for a couple minutes watching as drunks passed out and others broke things. I was waiting. I've changed over the years but Boone hasn't. I guess it would be kind of hard for him to. One up in my favor I guess. I can sense the turmoil rolling off of him. He was never the actor that Liam was, his father after all wasn't Sandoval Master of the Iron Face and his teacher wasn't Augur Master of the Total Bullshit. I knew he'd crack in 5…4…3…2…1…0. 'Damn my watch must be off.'
"He's right." 'So close.' "I never was much of a leader. I was always the lone ranger. Oh, I could command small groups but organizing something this size." He waved his hand indicating the dump we were standing in. "It's beyond me. I'm turning control over to him." 'So that's what this is about. Boone wants Liam to take control. I should have seen it coming.' He finally turned to look at me. "I am doing the right thing?"
I opened my mouth then closed it. My first instinct was to shout, 'No!' But God help me that was parental instinct. I wanted to protect him. 'It's too late for that. Besides I would never be able to stop him.' I sighed. "Do you mean will he be a good leader?" Boone nodded. Unable to look him in the eye I turned my gaze to the floor. I was acting against every instinct inside of me. "Liam was an great leader Boone. The people respected him." I kicked a convenient pebble. "They died for him, though he'll never admit it. He lead the Resistance when we had no hope. He kept us together. He's a better leader than Doors ever was. He's probably the best shot we have at getting through this alive." I paused. "And I wish to hell it wasn't so." I was unable to keep the anger out of my voice. I didn't like this I didn't like this at all. How could I? The whole situation sucked. It never ends. It never ends.