"Vital signs are looking good. I'd say he'll live."

"I appreciate your work, Doctor."

"The hell you do. Stop sending these kids out to war, these medical supplies wont last forever. And fuck you if you think I'll keep trying."

Parker stiffened, feeling a needle slide into his forearm. Clearly morphine was part of the short supply, because he felt every wound on his body in pure and indeniable agony. The doctor didn't seem bother being gentle either.

He recognized the gravel military voice as Colonel Hoffman, a superior officer by a long shot. Someone who has much more important things to do then to check up on the health of one grunt. Parker pretended he wasn't listening.

"Are you going to break the news to him? Or just wait for someone else to drop the bomb?"

He peeked open his eyes just a bit, focusing on a old and rather frail old woman with a steely gaze. She looked as if her voice would break with every word, but instead it came out sharp like a whip. Not exactly the most friendly doctor. Parker chose to close his eyes again.

"He'll get the news. Let him recover first."

"Keep sending these children out to fight and there won't be anyone left, Victor."

There was a small pause, then the conversation ended there, and Parker heard the heavy footfall of a Gear leave the room. He felt the doctor graze his tattered skin a few times, positioning his body more comfortably, then left to continue her job. He let himself breath, still aching from pure agony.

He sat up just enough to study the room; small and clean. Or at least cleaner than most of the world. He was on a rather desolate looking hospital bed, the majority of his armor sprawled in the foor, leaving his chest exposed but for a few bandages. Two measly lights waved overhead, casing enough to see the dozens of needles and scalples and god knows what else lying on a tray next to him. Parker nearly fained when he saw how much blood he was actually laying on. He breifly wondered if it was even his.

I'm not dead...

It didn't seem like much of an acomplishment, but for Parker it was a shock. He hadn't been the most sucessful squad leader... Simon and Catherine, their injuries must be even worse. And having the Colonel himself show up. It probably meant he'd been discharged. The first Gear to ever fuck up this bad.

The heavy footsteps returned, and Parker flopped out of medical bed to greet Hoffman immediately, nearly stumbling in the process.

Fuck, I'm so stupid. This is it. Honorable Discharge my ass.

"Good morning sir, I-"

He stopped, blinking as he realized the stocky man he expected was instead a lanky girl, her arms folded stiffly. She had a runner's build to her, thin and nimble, with muddy brown curls and narrowed eyes that didn't seem pleased. Her armor was missing, showing her army green sweater cut at the stomach and ragged jeans. But Parker didn't need to see the armor to know she was a Gear. She just had that air.

And she had the air of someone who was really, really pissed.

As Parker gawked, Hoffman appeared behind her, not even slightly surprised at her presence. The girl didn't acknoledge him, still staring the lesser Gear down. Parker turned away.

"Parker Nelson?"

"Sir."

Hoffman motioned towards the bed. "May want to sit down for this, soldier."

Parker oblidged, still trying not to stare at the girl. She didn't deter her gaze. But he honestly didn't care at the moment. He tried to pretend that he wasn't scared shitless about the words that were about to come. Honorable Discharge. Honorable. Discharge. Honorable-

"You're squad is dead."

Parker choked. "What?"

He didn't move, just stared for any sign of the truth in his face. Hoffman's gaze didn't change, still hard stone. But his usual stiff expression softened just slightly. The girl still didn't move, but even she looked down. Taking a ragged breath, Parker gripped his knees, numb to any pain he had. They're both dead. His team.

"I'm sorry to say that both Simon Patel and Cathrine Meyer have passed. We secured their weapons, but neither of them have family waiting for them outside the, so their tags need an owner."

He gently pulled out two chains from a pocket off his leg, letting the small little gears tremble in the air, black metal shining in the light. Deftly, Parker took them into his shaking hands. They were clean. The blood that had surely caked the surface was gone. Hoffman bowed his head, then continued.

"We can't fall behind on every death, soldier. Stand tall, and step forward to receive your next assignment."

Simon and Cathrine...

Hoffman continued on, sharing a few words of millitary wisdom and careful advice, but by that time Parker had tuned out the world. Simon and Cathrine were nearly strangers, but they were his squad. He should have made the decision. He should have been a real leader. He should have been a Gear, not a child.

Why am I still here? I don't deserve another assignment.

Hoffman must have seen the doubt, because he did a rare act that Parker never imagined. He lowered his hat, running a hand along his bare head. His usually millitary bravado was gone.

"Look soldier, ever Gear faces the same challenges that you did. Mistakes were made and there were casualties because of it. But you're alive. So take the chance to learn from those mistakes."

He didn't respond, just nodded weakly. Hoffman took it as agreement and placed the hat back on his head. Just like that, the moment was over, and he gave a curt nod to the both of them before introducing the girl.

"This is Sargeant Leah Reyes. Your new squad leader."

Shit.

Parker blinked, trying to stay calm under her gaze. But Leah didn't make it easy. She glared daggers, as if the thought of being in a squad with a rookie was killing her reputation. And honestly that was probably pretty accurate. Parker smiled pathetically. Leah did not.

I just found out my friends are dead, and now you're throwing me to the wolves? God I should have never became a Gear.

Hoffman cleared his throat, clearly having better things to do. "Hopefully this will be a learning experience for both of you. Reyes will be part of your new permanent squad. So get used to eachother." He pulled a small strip of paper out of his pocket, handing it to Parker with the Cog tags still hanging from his fingers. "Find the rest of your squad before sundown. You move out tonight."

And that was that. Hoffman took the moment to leave the room, and Parker became stuck with Leah. For good.

Leah ran.