The sunset seemed to be almost mirroring what was happening. Standing on the rooftop of The Wensleydale Building, John looked eastwards as footsteps sounded behind him. Not even moving to turn around, John lifted his chin slightly and said "Hello Delta" Letting out a light laugh; Delta moved to John's side and looked at the sunset with him. "I was told I might find you up here, I don't know why you are though"
John still didn't look at Delta as he spoke to him, "It was here when I reached what was the pinnacle of my career at the time ... I was promoted to 2nd in Command of STARS by Chris Hollis in this very building ... We ended the First PH War in the building ... it holds a lot of memories for me ... some that I won't be letting go of because they are mostly good ... despite what has happened in this city"
Delta nodded his head and sat down at the edge of the building, "So why aren't you staying then? I mean, if this is where you lived most of live, and where you commanded one of the finest groups in southern Malton, why move on?" This time, John finally did look at him, but the eyes were still diluted with years of pain suffered in the City, "Because I've seen too much here ... I need to move on and try to make best of what little time I probably have here"
The reason was pretty solid to Delta's ears and he accepted it. Standing up, he looked John in the eye and started talking, "Well, here's to an enhanced future between our two groups. Your co-operation with us, and vice versa, will no doubt yield positive results for us both. That sounds like something Alvaro would say ... He's kind of like a more military version of you ... he knows how a group works, except he's quite a bit stricter and disciplined"
John managed to hint at a smile at Delta's last words. Then he held out his hand, to which Delta took it and shook it. "Also, Marshall wishes to join, you have a position for him?" Delta added as their hands parted. "Indeed I do, tell him he'll be known as Deputy Commander General Marshall" John said, putting his hand in his pocket and caressing the pendant in his pocket. He felt the familiar pain, but also the good time he and Linda had had as friends.
Delta nodded and said his goodbyes; leaving John alone once more on the rooftop as he went to find Alvaro and get his own group started ... The Grayside Police Department ... Funny really. John had been part of the East Grayside Branch of the Malton Police Department when the City wasn't quarantined. And now he was allied to a group that shared its name slightly ... though that group was a Trans-suburb Group, operating in both East and West Grayside.
However, he wasn't alone for long, as someone else came up behind him ... though this time, it was Dan. "How are you doing John?" he asked as he neared him. Looking at him, he motioned for Dan to stand next to him, "I'm doing better now that my wishes have been fulfilled ... how is STARS?" Dan looked at the ground before answering him, "It won't be the same without you there ... you were pretty much the last thing that remained of the groups past ... it'll just seem a little hollow without you there now explaining the past to us"
John laughed lightly, "I was a Dinosaur there Dan ... I needed to move on eventually, I guess this was just the opportunity I was looking for in the end. Still, I trust you'll be able to lead the group just as capably as me, Serge, Chris and Stephen have ... You're the 5th Commander in Chief now Dan ... Take care of the group and make sure it never falls to external or internal influence ... it needs to live in order for the legacy of men like me and men before us who were once part of STARS".
Dan nodded, and then looked puzzled as John withdrew the pendant from his pocket and put it on his neck. "Are you sure you should do that?" he asked, but John managed another laugh, this more heartily, "To be honest Dan ... I reckon if I didn't, Linda would of busted my balls if she had been here ... I'll miss her" Dan looked almost sheepish now, as though he didn't want to ask the question he was about to ... "Were you and Milley ever ... more than friends?"
John looked at Dan and smiled. He still had the naivety to him that made him just as capable a leader as the rest of them, "No Dan ... we were always friends, never more. Wouldn't have worked out, but the point was, we were close because we had one of the longest professional relationships in the group ... though back then, I was more of her superior then I was when she was promoted. She was always first and foremost a ball buster ... but she was also a drinking buddy that I could talk to ... In fact, it was her I talked to about my reservations of taking over leadership from Serge."
Dan's cheeks gained a redness to them as he realised his silliness, but John clapped him on the shoulder, "Still, the past is the past ... I trust STARS will be co-operating with us when we try to liberate Wray Heights?" Dan stood to attention; retaining a Commanders pose of importance ... he'd learnt well. "Indeed we will John, anything to help ... what's the name again?"
John turned to the sunset once more as it finally went out of view, leaving only a hue of orange and blue behind. His mind wandered to the talks he'd had with Linda shortly before her death, in which they talked about a professional group of Black-Ops ... the name of which she had wanted to call Delta Squad...
"The name ... is Task Force 141"