There was a long line filing up to the casket that held his operator's body. Colonel mused at how clichéd the funeral was, it was dimly lit and it was raining outside. There were mostly military personnel coming to pay their respects because Barrel had very few friends outside of work. He said it would be dangerous to have such a luxury, especially since they were entwined in such huge Net conspiracies such as Duo. Barrel was a no nonsense man and very hard to get to open up. Not that it mattered to Colonel, as he could almost always get the hardened fighter to tell him what was wrong even under the worst of circumstances.
Colonel rested in the computer and watched the people file by. Even though he was a navi he suspected he was in something of a denial. He just couldn't believe that his best and only friend was gone from this world. There was a dark time coming ahead and he wouldn't have anyone to share the problems with. But maybe that was for the best. Colonel looked up as a large general came over to the computer. He looked uncomfortable as he cleared his throat, "I'm sorry, about Barrel. I know you two were close."
Colonel nodded, he was vaguely amazed that this man was offering him condolences, especially because he was a navi. "I shall carry on his work," Colonel heard himself say.
The man nodded and gave him a sharp salute then he put on his raincoat and walked out into the dreary world.
For the first time since his operator passed away he gazed into the weathered face of Barrel. It was much older then his young age of 50 and carried the weight of a man who knew much but told little. Colonel was not an emotional navi but he found himself looking away from the serene shell that once was his operator.
As the day wore on more and more people came. Barrel was highly respected and every officer within 60 miles came to pay their respects for the man. Colonel was amazed to see some families come in, and he was even more amazed that he recognized some of them. That woman Barrel helped on the side of the road when her tire was flat. Barrel had helped rescue that child from the woods. So many faces and memories were flooding Colonel's circuits that he almost left then and there.
Colonel couldn't do that, so he stayed. He stayed until the very end when the lone casket was lowered into the muddy ground. Colonel's face did not betray any emotion even though he felt like he was going to break. A friendship of 20 years and now it was only a memory. The mud was pushed onto the coffin and before Colonel left he made sure that the tombstone was erected, it read, 'Here lies Barrel, a good solider and a better man.'
Colonel took off into the net to fulfill his promise to Barrel. He would finish what was started and he would make sure everything turned out the way it should. Because his best friend wished it so he would try his hardest to make the world into what Barrel hoped it could be.
A promise is a promise.
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This is for Planty on the REO forums! Happy B-day Planty :3