Counselor Swann arrived two days later and he brought with him a nasty surprise for John Grimm. In addition to his usual bodyguard, Jack Campbell, the Counselor had also brought an RRTS squad led by none other than Sergeant Kawaine Palani, known to most as "Sarge".
Grimm was at his post working security for Alpha Labs with Ryan Walsh when the Counselor arrived. While Grimm had learned of Sarge's survival a few weeks after the "incident", to see the same man who had not only killed innocent civilians, but also executed a member of his own unit given such a high profile position was galling. Grimm watched in shock as the security monitor showed Sarge leading his new team off the transporter jet that had brought them here. While the Ark, a teleportation device created by a now dead race, at Olduvia had been partially destroyed by the grenade Grimm had used in an attempt to kill Sarge after his mutation, two other Ark devices were still functional at other bases. Enyo did not have an Ark device so more traditional methods of transportation were used to get there.
Grimm stood frozen in a sudden blinding rage. Staring at the monitor as his heart pounded in his chest. Abruptly he turned and savagely kicked the desk that had been beside him. The desk was secured to the floor, but he left an impressive dent on the side of it. He then took two large steps and with a guttural shout slammed his right fist into the wall. The shock radiated up his entire arm, through his shoulder and into his back, but he felt no pain.
Those bastards at Headquarters had not only accepted a cold-blooded murderer back into their fold, they had promoted him, ultimately giving him one of the most prestigious positions available. At the same time they had shipped him off to the ass-end of the universe, stripping him of not only of his rank, but his purpose as well. He was a Marine who had whole-heartedly embraced the life of a soldier. Forsaking any life outside of the military so that nothing would ever distract him from his work. Spending countless hours at the firing range, working out in the gym, reading books regarding military strategy and studying reports that analyzed the tactics used in previous operations. Ultimately devoting himself to ensuring the successful completion of each and every mission he was assigned to. Following orders without question. Every order except for one. One lousy order he had disobeyed. Not out of fear or confusion, but because he knew the order to be wrong. Those people on Olduvia did not need to be killed to ensure that the threat posed by the mutated scientists was contained. Yet because of that one decision he had lost everything that had meant anything to him. And the man who gave that order was now being held up as an example to every Marine as the ideal soldier.
Grimm glared at the wall, not even seeing his own blood dripping down it. Hatred and fury consumed him, but underneath that lay a seed of despair. Without even knowing it he had been secretly holding onto the hope that one day he would get called back to Marine Headquarters where they would tell him that he had paid his dues and they would, once again, offer him a position with the elite RRTS division. Now he knew what a hopeless and pathetic dream that had been. He was garbage to them. Like the rest of the Marines there. He had been disposed of and there would be no redemption for him.
"Uh, Reaper?" Came a hesitant voice from over his shoulder, "You ok man?"
"No." He growled, "I am NOT ok."
Ryan watched him silently, unsure what to make of Grimm's outburst.
Grimm took a deep breath and straightened himself up. With a little twist of his head he pulled himself together. He was a Marine after all. A damn good one too, no matter what anyone said. He would deal with this. He would suck it up and deal with this as unemotionally and professionally as he could.
"Sorry Walshy," He grunted, turning back around. "Didn't sleep well last night. I'm fine now."
While Ryan considered the burning rage in his eyes and statue like stillness to be an interesting definition of "fine", he didn't argue the point. "Ok, well, you might want to wash those knuckles off."
Grimm glanced down at his fist. Not only was there blood oozing from his knuckles, but one also looked distinctly out of place. With barely a though he reached over with his left hand to pop it back into place and then he turned to the med-kit on the wall.
In the meantime Ryan turned back to the monitor and watched Counselor Swann and his entourage heading toward the Administration Facility. He wasn't sure which person had triggered Grimm's temper but he had a feeling things were about to get very interesting.
