Hello again,
So I decided to write a second chapter to this story and have an overall story arc in my head right now. I went into this with the intent of making an easy to read story but feel like I'm missing out on way to many details and ideas when I limit myself. These chapters are short right now but if the feedback is good I'll begin to write longer stuff with more details and whatnot. Also I'm not sure why I rated this story M, I guess there are allusions to naked ladies in here but nothing really rated M. Maybe later in the story I'll see if I can use the rating for good. Again, feedback is immensly appreciated, even stuff like spelling mistakes and grammar. ( When I write civilian clothing for Sam I mean the "civilian Anya" multiplayer skin in Gears of War3, just imagine that.)
Chapter 2:
"So what exactly is the plan now baby?" Cole yelled over the sound of Gears having a good time drinking at the bar.
"I'm still working on that Gus; right now getting the last of the stranded on our side is the biggest issue..." Sgt. Fenix told the former thrashball star.
Marcus knew that in order to rebuild everybody had to be on the same side, there was no other way around it. Diplomacy is what the sergeant was aiming for in dealing with the stranded, he knew too well how violence begets more violence. Many of them had already decided to put the past behind them and were cooperating with the remnants of the COG but a few were still harbouring resentment. People like Char's very own Aaron Griffin and his crew of stranded weren't simply going to forgive and forget because Delta squad killed all the grubs. Killing your own people in a time of crisis was inexcusable and Marcus knew the he would have to pay the price for Prescott's, his father's- and everyone else in charge of the Hammer of Dawn program- mistakes. This was the last problem Delta had to deal with, besides rebuilding Sera that is.
How exactly am I supposed to be taken seriously in a diplomatic role?
Marcus was interrupted from his thoughts by Clayton shoving a shot of hard liquor in his face; the oldest of the Carmines petitioning the sergeant to take a drink. This was the life for the gears on Azura for now, drinking at the bar late every night, having a good time and releasing stress. But eventually the real work would have to start and the thought loomed over all of the soldiers, especially Marcus.
"Anyone seen Baird around?" Cole asked the other gears at the bar.
Anya sat at the desk, the dim light of an old lamp shinning on the papers she was working on. Once clean of all the blood the Hotel on Azura was a very nice place to live. Anya set up a small office in her room where she did most of her work. Like many of the other gears she would stay up late at night but was too preoccupied to spend her time drinking. The arrival of the UIR on Azura meant people needed to be managed and given roles. The UIR still had a few engineers and doctors to help out and Anya had to plan out their duties. She had planned out missions as a Lieutenant before but this was different. Running an entire island, especially one as unique as Azura was no easy task. Hoffman expected Delta to take care of business on the island with the same care and expertise they showed on the battlefield. Marcus was a great leader and knew how to rally up people but when it came to paperwork he could not be any further from his element. He was seen as a sort of de facto leader; having earned the respect of people the likes of Miran Trescu and Victor Hoffman but Anya was always in the background helping, doing the hard work. Not that she minded, she was in her element strategizing the rebuilding efforts. She would be there for Marcus whatever it took and knew that behind his brave face Marcus Fenix was a broken man: a man who had lost both his best friends and his father, twice. She knew deep down he loved her but always wondered why he was so afraid of showing it; perhaps loosing the people you love so often made you distant towards others. Now that the war was over would Marcus change his outlook on life and love? These were the sort of questions Anya contemplated over when she was around the man.
"It is way too late to think about this right now..." Anya sighed as she got up and turned off the lamp in her small office. As she made her way into the living room of her and Marcus' suite she contemplated weather to go down to the bar or call it in for the night.
As Sam exited the shower she was almost immediately hit with the cold temperature of her room. She had left her towel outside the bathroom and had to quickly dart to her bed to grab it. The floor she resided on was not receiving any heat because of a broken heater. She cursed Baird for not having fixed it yet but knew he had a lot on his plate. At least he had managed to get the hot water running and that was more than she could ask for. After showering in cold water- or not showering entirely for days- while on the battlefield, this felt like a blessing from the gods.
Sam had a particularly rough day. She was sent out to scout the island with the mission to find any land that could be used for crops; a task that reminded her too greatly of Dominic Santiago and his late-life obsession with growing things. She missed him, they all did, but she knew he was in a better place now. She had long ago realised that she could never be in his heart like Maria and had moved on. Her memories of him were now more about him being an amazing friend and a caring soul rather than a man she was falling for. Besides, there was another man perhaps even more complicated she was developing romantic feelings for. As she dried her naked tan skin she wondered why she always got into these complex situations.
She put on her civilian clothes which consisted of a simple tank top, pants, and a freshly washed green bandana. Her exposed arms showed off the elaborate tattoos native to her mother's people. As she looked them over in the mirror she began to think up of new tattoo designs she could give her fellow gears.
Maybe some sort of victory emblem? A cougar for Cole? A silly red heart with Anya written on it for Marcus?
She finally decided to mull over her favourite hobby another time and headed down to the bar to meet up with the rest of delta squad.