Boone
Pep talks were never my forte. I'm pretty sure I got through to Liam but I know I didn't have all the right words. I'm not sure if there really were any right words but I know that not matter what I might say nothing just stops the pain. One thing mystery to me is that I don't know when I started thinking of Liam as Liam. At first he was too much the hero everyone made him out to be. In my mind I kind of saw him as a younger Doors. Some one to follow and respect but not someone to get close to. Liam is different. He's a man who invites friendship. Look at how he changed Augur how he engendered loyalty from everyone he meets. He's no longer a stranger that's all I know and he's no longer just my boss but my friend.
I stood sipping my coffee just outside Liam's door and watched as people scurried around me. The place used to look like a thief's den now it's so close to the old headquarter it's scary. Everything has become so organized and - efficient by god.
When I first set off to start my independent cell I had no idea how much work it'd be. I was mostly involved in with the undercover thing and Doors general disapproval of me kept me from focusing too much on the organizational side of the Liberation. That aversion didn't help me when I found myself in charge. Too much time in those military organization probably. I was used to the right hand not knowing what the left was doing so I never considered it important to figure out just how Doors got so many rebel-minded people to get anything done. Or how/where he got the supplies to feed everyone or the spies to get his information. I didn't have a clue who to bribe and who to avoid. After watching Liam I realized I was rally out of my league. I find myself suddenly respecting Doors a whole lot more than I had when he was alive. I know now what I did wrong but even now I'm not sure I could have pulled it off. For one thing I would never be able to handle the paper work. Paperwork and rebellion are two words most people would put together but the amount that is needed to keep track of everything is staggering. I barely was able to handle what came with being a Companion Protector and the Leader of the Resistance had to deal with a whole level higher than that.
What amazed most of all this though, and Liam too, was the rush of people that poured in when word got out he was alive. I know I was kind of hoping that he'd boost morale but I never dreamed for the reaction we got. So many people showed up crowding Liam's office to catch a glimpse of him ALIVE that he threw them out. A smile stretched over my face at the memory. He sulked for two whole hours like a little kid. He wouldn't let anyone in. They've taken to calling it "The Major's Great Rebellion." When he finally opened his door again the normal trickle came it with reports barely hiding their smiles. A ditty started circulation days later. " There was once a guy named Liam. And all the people came to see him. He took one look at the masses and threw them out on their asses." Liam took the teasing well only burin his head in his hands the first time he heard it. Lately he's even bucked up enough to give a pained smile when someone recites it. Augur took no such low key approach. He fell out of his chair laughing when he heard the story. Augur was running back and forth trying to get all the equipment we needed desperately at the time complaining and bemoaning the whole time so he missed it.
I spotted Augur working furiously at one of the five double blind terminals he'd set up. 'I better let him know what happened. He's been worried ever since the mission.' I made my way through the throng to his side only bumping into one courier and two cooks, both who gave me dirty looks when they had to rebalance their loads. Standing behind the hacker I looked at what he had on the screen. It was a pro-Atavus web site. 'Shows there are crazies willing to worship anything.' I read further and shook my head at the vampire motif. "Well they've got the look and area as hard to kill as those blood suckers." Augur wasn't as deeply absorbed in his work as I thought because he nodded and said, "Too bad a good stake and garlic won't work. " He paused. "How is he?" Though he hadn't turned around I could read the worry in his voice. "Better I think. He took the kid's death pretty hard."
"He was young." Only my training kept me from jumping as Liam's voice came from behind my shoulder. Augur had no such defense. He jumped then swiveled around in his chair and glared at Liam. While I stared at him in something akin to shock. 'Shit is he quiet.' I was worried though. I thought I'd cheered him up but his voice sounded so dead I began to worry again.
"And you aren't?" Augur's voice was semi-accusing. I half turned to check if anyone was paying attention. 'Well no more than the usual.' A couple people were staring but they were too far away to be doing more than hero- worshipping.
"I never had a choice." His voice was still too careless like he was talking about the weather.
"Oh yeah? And what was he supposed to do? Chose to do nothing knowing what was going on?" Now Augur sounded practically furious. His tone was biting.
"Damn it yes, if it kept him alive." Now I heard some emotion coloring Liam's voice.
"He could never have done it," Augur said soothingly, " No more than I could or you could. If you had a choice would you have chosen any different?"
"Yes. No. I don't know." His confusion and anger was clearly written on his face. 'That's it Augur get him angry. You can't be sad when you're angry.'
"Yes you do." Liam took a deep angry breath then he let it out. He looked like a deflated balloon for a moment then he straightened up. A wry smile quirked the corner of his mouth.
"Okay if we're done letting me act my age. Augur what have you got?" At once he was again the man who had pulled the Resistance back together and no longer the defeated figure he had been I could actually feel the mood lighten around me as the others sensed the change in their leader and activity sped up and conversation became more animated.
I heard Augur mutter, "The angst, the angst." As he twirled his chair back around to face the monitor. Liam snorted. I hadn't thought he'd be able to hear but apparently Augur had pitched it so it was just loud enough for him to hear. Liam grinned sheepishly at me while Augur was busy clicking his buttons and working his computer magic to pull up whatever he wanted to show us. Augur tapped his screen and Liam and I moved practically shoulder to shoulder to squeeze in to see what had Augur so excited. "Alright we've figured for a while that there is a mole in the Flat Planet ever since Gere disappeared. "We just don't know who it is." 'Minor detail.' "It could be a hybrid or a human hired by Sandoval." I glanced at Liam but he showed no reaction to mention of his father. 'Of course he probably learned long ago to not react.' Augur who was more used to pretending Sandoval was nothing other than the enemy showed no sign of his concern except he passed him some read outs he tilted his head slightly. Liam gave a tiny nod. Augur looked back at the data. "Now you see this?" I squinted and was barely able to make out some faint black smudges on what looked like a bulletin board.
"It says 'met 4:00." This time I didn't bother to be surprised. 'I guess I'm becoming jaded in my old age.'
Augur nodded, "Yep, well our spy's getting his messages through this board." Augur grinned. "It's the last place anyone would have looked. This is an anti-Atavus discussion board."
Liam looked at both Augur and me quizzically almost amused, "You think our spy has a sense of humor?"
"Augur shrugged, "Who knows maybe it's just good tactics. This message," he taped the screen again, "is around five days old. According to my analyst of the intervals after I found the hidden messages the next one should be relatively soon."
"Do we have a plan?" I asked. Augur shook his head. "We know when they meet but not where. If they let it slip then we'll have them."
Sighing I stood up. "So we're relying on luck again? Seems like that's our whole strategy is based on luck. Luck that we'll find Atavus chambers. Luck that we'll be able to blow them up before they wake because we sure as hell can't kill them with what we've got." I rubbed my wrist where Raven used to be. "I seriously miss my Skrill. I sure could use Raven now." Liam straightened an gave me a funny look.
"That just might be the answer." He rushed past me back to his office.
Puzzled I turned to Augur. "What I say?"
Pep talks were never my forte. I'm pretty sure I got through to Liam but I know I didn't have all the right words. I'm not sure if there really were any right words but I know that not matter what I might say nothing just stops the pain. One thing mystery to me is that I don't know when I started thinking of Liam as Liam. At first he was too much the hero everyone made him out to be. In my mind I kind of saw him as a younger Doors. Some one to follow and respect but not someone to get close to. Liam is different. He's a man who invites friendship. Look at how he changed Augur how he engendered loyalty from everyone he meets. He's no longer a stranger that's all I know and he's no longer just my boss but my friend.
I stood sipping my coffee just outside Liam's door and watched as people scurried around me. The place used to look like a thief's den now it's so close to the old headquarter it's scary. Everything has become so organized and - efficient by god.
When I first set off to start my independent cell I had no idea how much work it'd be. I was mostly involved in with the undercover thing and Doors general disapproval of me kept me from focusing too much on the organizational side of the Liberation. That aversion didn't help me when I found myself in charge. Too much time in those military organization probably. I was used to the right hand not knowing what the left was doing so I never considered it important to figure out just how Doors got so many rebel-minded people to get anything done. Or how/where he got the supplies to feed everyone or the spies to get his information. I didn't have a clue who to bribe and who to avoid. After watching Liam I realized I was rally out of my league. I find myself suddenly respecting Doors a whole lot more than I had when he was alive. I know now what I did wrong but even now I'm not sure I could have pulled it off. For one thing I would never be able to handle the paper work. Paperwork and rebellion are two words most people would put together but the amount that is needed to keep track of everything is staggering. I barely was able to handle what came with being a Companion Protector and the Leader of the Resistance had to deal with a whole level higher than that.
What amazed most of all this though, and Liam too, was the rush of people that poured in when word got out he was alive. I know I was kind of hoping that he'd boost morale but I never dreamed for the reaction we got. So many people showed up crowding Liam's office to catch a glimpse of him ALIVE that he threw them out. A smile stretched over my face at the memory. He sulked for two whole hours like a little kid. He wouldn't let anyone in. They've taken to calling it "The Major's Great Rebellion." When he finally opened his door again the normal trickle came it with reports barely hiding their smiles. A ditty started circulation days later. " There was once a guy named Liam. And all the people came to see him. He took one look at the masses and threw them out on their asses." Liam took the teasing well only burin his head in his hands the first time he heard it. Lately he's even bucked up enough to give a pained smile when someone recites it. Augur took no such low key approach. He fell out of his chair laughing when he heard the story. Augur was running back and forth trying to get all the equipment we needed desperately at the time complaining and bemoaning the whole time so he missed it.
I spotted Augur working furiously at one of the five double blind terminals he'd set up. 'I better let him know what happened. He's been worried ever since the mission.' I made my way through the throng to his side only bumping into one courier and two cooks, both who gave me dirty looks when they had to rebalance their loads. Standing behind the hacker I looked at what he had on the screen. It was a pro-Atavus web site. 'Shows there are crazies willing to worship anything.' I read further and shook my head at the vampire motif. "Well they've got the look and area as hard to kill as those blood suckers." Augur wasn't as deeply absorbed in his work as I thought because he nodded and said, "Too bad a good stake and garlic won't work. " He paused. "How is he?" Though he hadn't turned around I could read the worry in his voice. "Better I think. He took the kid's death pretty hard."
"He was young." Only my training kept me from jumping as Liam's voice came from behind my shoulder. Augur had no such defense. He jumped then swiveled around in his chair and glared at Liam. While I stared at him in something akin to shock. 'Shit is he quiet.' I was worried though. I thought I'd cheered him up but his voice sounded so dead I began to worry again.
"And you aren't?" Augur's voice was semi-accusing. I half turned to check if anyone was paying attention. 'Well no more than the usual.' A couple people were staring but they were too far away to be doing more than hero- worshipping.
"I never had a choice." His voice was still too careless like he was talking about the weather.
"Oh yeah? And what was he supposed to do? Chose to do nothing knowing what was going on?" Now Augur sounded practically furious. His tone was biting.
"Damn it yes, if it kept him alive." Now I heard some emotion coloring Liam's voice.
"He could never have done it," Augur said soothingly, " No more than I could or you could. If you had a choice would you have chosen any different?"
"Yes. No. I don't know." His confusion and anger was clearly written on his face. 'That's it Augur get him angry. You can't be sad when you're angry.'
"Yes you do." Liam took a deep angry breath then he let it out. He looked like a deflated balloon for a moment then he straightened up. A wry smile quirked the corner of his mouth.
"Okay if we're done letting me act my age. Augur what have you got?" At once he was again the man who had pulled the Resistance back together and no longer the defeated figure he had been I could actually feel the mood lighten around me as the others sensed the change in their leader and activity sped up and conversation became more animated.
I heard Augur mutter, "The angst, the angst." As he twirled his chair back around to face the monitor. Liam snorted. I hadn't thought he'd be able to hear but apparently Augur had pitched it so it was just loud enough for him to hear. Liam grinned sheepishly at me while Augur was busy clicking his buttons and working his computer magic to pull up whatever he wanted to show us. Augur tapped his screen and Liam and I moved practically shoulder to shoulder to squeeze in to see what had Augur so excited. "Alright we've figured for a while that there is a mole in the Flat Planet ever since Gere disappeared. "We just don't know who it is." 'Minor detail.' "It could be a hybrid or a human hired by Sandoval." I glanced at Liam but he showed no reaction to mention of his father. 'Of course he probably learned long ago to not react.' Augur who was more used to pretending Sandoval was nothing other than the enemy showed no sign of his concern except he passed him some read outs he tilted his head slightly. Liam gave a tiny nod. Augur looked back at the data. "Now you see this?" I squinted and was barely able to make out some faint black smudges on what looked like a bulletin board.
"It says 'met 4:00." This time I didn't bother to be surprised. 'I guess I'm becoming jaded in my old age.'
Augur nodded, "Yep, well our spy's getting his messages through this board." Augur grinned. "It's the last place anyone would have looked. This is an anti-Atavus discussion board."
Liam looked at both Augur and me quizzically almost amused, "You think our spy has a sense of humor?"
"Augur shrugged, "Who knows maybe it's just good tactics. This message," he taped the screen again, "is around five days old. According to my analyst of the intervals after I found the hidden messages the next one should be relatively soon."
"Do we have a plan?" I asked. Augur shook his head. "We know when they meet but not where. If they let it slip then we'll have them."
Sighing I stood up. "So we're relying on luck again? Seems like that's our whole strategy is based on luck. Luck that we'll find Atavus chambers. Luck that we'll be able to blow them up before they wake because we sure as hell can't kill them with what we've got." I rubbed my wrist where Raven used to be. "I seriously miss my Skrill. I sure could use Raven now." Liam straightened an gave me a funny look.
"That just might be the answer." He rushed past me back to his office.
Puzzled I turned to Augur. "What I say?"