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Chapter 4
Reassignment
After the heated fist fight between her and Craig in the hallway outside the gun range, Clementine went straight to the infirmary as Capt. Aguilar ordered; where Janice had rinsed the blood off her right hand/fingers and gently cleaned the small cuts covering her right knuckles with a clean cloth soaked in hydrogen peroxide before wrapping her knuckles in elastic bandages. Once Cpl. Billings had finished patching up her hand, Clem exited the infirmary and headed straight to Capt. Aguilar's office, where she opened the door and spotted her commanding officer, sitting behind his desk while going over paper work.
"Capt. Aguilar?" The young teenage girl softly asked while clearing her through, which automatically earned his attention.
"Ahh, Pvt. Everett. Please, come in." Capt. Aguilar stated professionally as glanced up from the paperwork he had been going over and motioned for Clementine to step inside his office, which she did and immediately sat down in the empty that sat in front of his desk.
"So...I'm fairly certain you know the reason why I asked you to my office." The middle aged Hispanic man started off softly as he brought up the reason why he ordered Clem to his office: to discuss a certain...'event' that happened not too long ago, which caused her to glance down and look at her hands in silence.
'That mouthy son of a bitch had it coming. He's just lucky that I didn't jam my Beretta down his throat and shoot him like I should've.' Clementine mentally stated as she didn't feel the slightest guilty for the beating she had given Craig: as he deserved after he insulted Sarah, Bill and her beloved father, whom was also her chalk leader and softly clasped her left hand over her bandaged right.
"Now...even though I understand the reason behind the incident that took place back in the hallway outside the firing range, you and the rest of the soldiers under my command know very well that I do not tolerate this sort of behavior." Capt. Aguilar started off professionally, stating that even though he completely understood Clem's reason for beating up Craig the way she did: as he had the audacity to insult to insult them, along with Morris, Parker and SSgt. Everett; whom gave their lives to save the arrogant teenage boy and his family...he still did not condone nor approve her actions in the matter.
Clementine remained silent with her head still down while glancing at her hands and was grateful that her captain and C.O. didn't acknowledge that she wasn't looking at him. Everyone in the Resistance knew that Aguilar had a reputation of being a hard-ass during his service during the war against the Machines, but was also a leader of integrity: as he valued the lives of his men under his command and even acted as a surrogate father figure to them whenever they were going through an incredibly hard time/crisis.
"Now...normally you'd be in a lot of trouble." Capt. Aguilar continued as he pointed out to the young African American teenage girl that she would be in major trouble for the beating she had given John's and Clara's disrespectful teenage son.
"...But you're not." He softly added as he informed Clementine that she wasn't...much to genuine surprise.
"...I'm not?" Clem asked as she glanced up to her captain with a surprised expression on her face!
"No, you're not." Aguilar answered softly as he rested his hands and intertwined his fingers together on his desk as he reassured Lee's daughter that she wouldn't be facing any sort of punishment for the fight between her and Craig!
"Well...why aren't I?" She softly asked, as she was deeply curious to why she wouldn't be reprimanded for her actions...and would be deeply stunned/speechless by the answer.
"Because...I would've done the same thing, along with anybody else in this base." Capt. Aguilar answered solemnly as he pointed out to Clementine that he understood her reason for beating up Craig the way she did: as Lee was a good friend of his and how Harris, Dante, Adams and the rest of their fellow Resistance fighters would've roughed up the arrogant dirty blonde haired teenage boy after the way he disrespected/insulted Bill, Sarah and SSgt. Everett.
"...However, you can't just physically assault civilian refugees like you did with Mr. and Mrs. Andrews teenage son." He softly added, claiming that even though he sympathized with the young teenage girl for the loss of her father she still couldn't viciously attack civilians like she had done with Craig, even though he deserved.
"Now...due to the events of what conspired outside the shooting range and after careful consideration...I've decided to reassign you to a different Tech-Com unit." Capt. Aguilar started off as he softly informed Clementine that she would be transferred to another Resistance division...much to her initial surprise.
"So you are punishing me." Clem stated softly with a somber look on her face as she naturally felt that her commanding officer was punishing her for the beating she had given Craig.
"I'm doing this to help you." The middle aged Hispanic countered as he explained to Clementine that he was actually looking out for her instead of punishing her as he stood up from his chair and walked around his desk..
"...Look, Pvt. Everett. Clementine..." He softly added, which instantly earned the young African American teenage girl's attention as he leaned against the side of his desk.
"Every man and woman on this base knows what Staff Sergeant Everett meant to you...and how difficult it'd be to walk down these halls every day while expecting to see your father either in the mess hall or gun range." Capt. Aguilar continued softly with gentle eyes as he informed Clem the reason he was assigning her to another unit was as a favor to her: so she wouldn't have to suffer through the relentless torment of Lee's death, along with Bill's and Sarah's; due to the base holding a lot of good memories of her and her squad.
"...Where would I be transferred to?" Clementine softly asked with tears slowly building in the corner of her eyes as she knew her commanding officer's words were true and was curious to which Resistance company she would be reassigned to.
"Do you remember Master Sergeant Hammon whose stationed out in Long Beach?" Capt. Aguilar asked as he reached across his desk for a handful of paper tissues and offered them to the young teenage girl, which she gladly accepted and wiped the tears.
"Yeah, of course." She answered with a soft nod, showing that she indeed remembered MSgt. Kenneth Hammon: as he and Lee were close friends; as they served together in the beginning of the war against Skynet and how he acted as a secondary father/uncle figure to her.
"Well, apparently...one of his best rifleman had been loaned out to San Jose and luckily...he's got a spot open on his chalk." The middle aged Hispanic stated as he revealed to Clementine on how MSgt. Hammon had been forced to loan one of his best soldiers to assist the fighting in San Jose...and that he fortunately had a spot open on his squad that needed to be filled.
"...When would I be leaving for Long Beach?" Clem softly asked.
"You'll be headed out at first light tomorrow morning and your personal belongings will be transported as well." Capt. Aguilar answered as he informed the young African American teenage girl that she would be driven to Long Beach tomorrow morning...which wasn't that too far away.
"What about Molly and Clark?" Clementine softly asked as she was curious to what her two remaining squad mates were supposed to do while she was sent off to Long Beach.
"As soon as Pvt. Ganz is back on her feet, she and PFC. Harris will assigned to GySgt. Myers' squad." Capt. Aguilar answered modestly, stating that once Ganz had recovered from the injuries to her side and was back to 100%, she and Harris would be placed under Gunnery Sergeant's chalk, much to her delight: as Chris, Matthew, Frank and Ronnie served under Myers' command.
"...Captain Aguilar?" Clem softly asked.
"Yes, Pvt. Everett?" The middle aged Hispanic replied...even though he had a rather good idea to what it was Clem was about to say.
"...It's been an honor serving under you...and...I'm really going to miss this place, you and the others." She softly answered humbly as she stood up from her seat and saluted her commanding officer.
"And it's been an honor having an exceptional soldier like you under my command Clementine...and the others and I shall miss you as well." Capt. Aguilar replied, stating that he was proud and honored to have a promising young soldier like her under his command as he saluted Clementine back in return.
Shortly after they saluted each other and shook the other hands firmly, Clem exited Capt. Aguilar's office and headed straight to the mess hall, where she saw Clark and the rest of their friends casually sitting behind the various tables and spotted Chris telling a small handful of their fellow Resistance fighters about the scrap between her and Craig Andrews.
"No way! Clementine actually socked that little asshole in the nose two times?" One of the Resistance fighters, a teenage boy that appeared to be in his 20's asked as he and the other two teenagers: an 19 year old girl and 18 year old boy smiled and laughed after hearing how Clem punched the dirty blonde haired teenage boy's nose two times.
"3 actually. The third time was after she 'fixed' Craig's nose and said and I quote, 'Nah, I think it looked better the other way'." Adams answered while smiling and chuckling softly as he revealed to his fellow friends that Clementine had punched Craig in the nose three times: as she had punched him in the nose a 3rd time after she 'fixed' the arrogant and disrespectful teenage boy's broken/bloody nose and quoted what she had said with the two boys and girl laughing and clapping their heads in applause.
"No! Really?" The teenage girl asked as she and the teenage boy smiled and chuckled softly as they got their laughing fit under control.
"Yep and after that, Ivers, Hoffman and Burrows dragged Craig, kicking and screaming like a little bitch to the Gym for a..." Chris answered with the smile still on his face, revealing how Frank, Ronnie and Ben had dragged Craig towards the gymnasium for a 'little chat' while the dirty blonde haired teenage boy had screamed/cried out for his parents to rescue him...before stopping in mid-sentence, as he eventually noticed Clementine, whom had leaned back against the wall with her left leg propped up, arms across her chest and a light grin on her face.
"For a 'private chat'?" Clem asked with the smile still on her face as she finished her friend's tale, which immediately earned the attention of the other Resistance fighters, whom swiftly turned around the second they heard her voice.
"Ohh, Clementine. How'd it go with the captain?" Clark asked as he and the rest of their friends were curious to how her conversation with Capt. Aguilar went.
"Are you in any deep trouble for the ass kicking you gave that little asshole?" Matthew asked as he and others were curious to how much trouble the young teenage girl was in for the well deserved beating she had given John's and Clara's disrespectful teenage son.
"Not really. The captain just had me pulled into his office for a brief talk and to remind me that I can't just assault civilians." Clementine answered truthfully while shrugging her shoulders as she informed her friends that she wasn't even in the slightest of trouble and how their C.O. simply gave her a talking to for the justified beating she had given Craig.
"Ohh, well that's good." The 20 year old teenage boy, whom was known by his friends and fellow Resistance as LCpl. James Durant stated as he, Dante, Adams and the others were relieved to hear that Clem didn't have to face any form of punishment for the well deserved beating she had given Craig.
"Clem, what's wrong?" Chris asked as he and Clark noticed the saddened look on the young teenage girl's face...and instinctively knew that they and the rest of their friends wouldn't like the answer.
"...There's something you guys need to know. I'm pretty sure Capt. Aguilar plans to announce it later before we all turn in for the night...but I felt you guys needed to hear it from me first." Clem answered softly with somber eyes as she informed her friends that she had rather...unsettling news she needed to share with them.
"...Tell us what?" Dante softly asked...even though he had a good idea to what it was his friend and teammate was about to tell him and the others.
"..I'm being transferred to another Tech-Com unit." She answered softly as she revealed to her friends and fellow Resistance fighters that she was being reassigned to another Resistance squad...much to their genuine shock/dismay.
"...Where?" Clark asked softly as he and the others where curious to which part of California Clementine was being transferred to.
"Long Beach." Clem answered softly.
"When...When do you head out?" Adams softly asked as he and rest of their friends/fellow soldiers were curious to learn when the young teenage girl was supposed to leave for Long Beach...and would be stunned by the answer.
"...I head out first thing tomorrow." Clementine answered softly and somberly as she revealed to her friends and fellow Resistance fighters that she would be heading out to Long Beach tomorrow morning.
"But...But why? Oh, don't tell us the captain decided to transfer you to another squad because of the ass-kicking you gave Mr. Andrews dickhead of a son!" Matthew cried out as he fairly surmised the reason their commanding officer was reassigning Clem to a different squad was because of the beating she had given Craig!
"This has nothing to do with that shithead, Craig. The unit stationed in Long Beach is down a fighter and they need a new rifleman." The young African American teenage girl calmly countered as she explained to her friends the reason why Capt. Aguilar was transferring her to Long Beach was because the Resistance division stationed there was down a fighter and was in need of a new marksman.
"...But...But Clem...Y-You can't just leave..." The 19 year old teenage girl, whom was known by her friends as Pvt. Lori Garcia stated, showing that she and others didn't want to see her leave; especially after they had just lost Bill, Sarah and Lee.
"...It's already done. Besides, we all know its that it standard procedure for Resistance units to trade for manpower." Clem softy stated while reminding her friends and fellow soldiers on how the various Resistance cells spread throughout the West Coast could request to borrow a certain soldier from another division if they had a spot open on their squads.
"...We're all gonna miss you Clem." Clark softly replied with Chris, Matt and others nodding in agreement, showing that they would all miss not having and seeing the young African American teenage around.
"...Thanks Clark. I'm gonna miss you and others too." Clementine softly stated as she walked up to the older brunette and wrapped her arms around him in a friendly/sisterly manner, which he instinctively returned.
"Take care of yourself, sis." The older brunette stated softly as he held the young teenage girl in his arms and placed a brotherly peck on her forehead.
"You too, brother." Clem softly replied with tears slowly building in the corner of her eyes.
"Excuse me, Clark? Clementine?" Janice softly asked as she stepped inside the mess hall, which immediately earned their attention.
"What is it Janice?" Harris softly asked as he and Clementine softly released their hold of each other.
"How's Molly doing?" Clem softly asked after her friend and squad mate.
"Pvt. Ganz is alright. The electrical burns to her side weren't that lethal and we were able to treat them. Carson and I gave her some morphine for the pain, but she'll be down for a couple of days." The golden brown haired medic answered truthfully as she informed Clem and Harris that Molly was resting comfortably in the medical bay from the wounds she sustained from their mission in Baldwin Village.
"Oh, thank god." Both Clementine and Clark stated while turning to each other and sighing softly as they were deeply relieved to hear that Molly was recovering from her non-fatal injuries and that they hadn't lost her like they lost Bill, Sarah and Lee.
"Can we see her?" Harris softly asked, wondering if he and Clem could check on their friend and teammate.
"Of course. As a matter of fact, she's been asking for you guys." PFC. Billings answered with a soft nod as she informed Clark on how Molly had been asking to see him and the young African American teenage girl ever since she, Hollings and Todd took her to medical to have her wounds patched up.
"Ok. Thanks Jan." Clem softly replied.
As soon as she and Clark thanked Janice for the wonderful news, they headed straight to the medical bay, where they spotted Molly laying comfortably on a bed with a clean light blue-grayish bedsheet over her and her chest lightly moving up and down; showing that she was either napping or sleeping from the morphine that Billings had given her to dull the pain from the burns to her side.
"...Molly? Molly?" Clementine whispered as she and Harris walked over to her bed and softly clasped her right hand over the sleeping brunette's that rested comfortably on her left side and smiled brightly...as her friend gently brushed/rubbed her thumb against her fingers before she slowly opened her groggy eyes.
"...C-Clementine. C-Clark." Ganz muttered weakly with a soft grin on her face as she greeted her two remaining friends/teammates, whom smiled back at her.
"Hey Moll. How do you feel?" Harris softly replied as he and Clem pulled up two vacant chairs and sat down next to the bed and asked on how she was feeling.
"...Heh, like I got stabbed with a burning fire poker." Molly answered half jokingly as she compared the burns she received from the Scout Droid to someone 'stabbing' her with a searing hot fire iron.
"Ohhh, ouch..." Clem stated while trading a playful smile with Clark as they both detected the sarcasm in Ganz voice as she became more awake and sat up straight on the bed.
"...Clem?" The young brunette softly asked, which automatically earned the African American teenage girl's attention.
"Yes Molly?" Clementine softly asked...even though both she and Clark instantly knew what she was going to say.
"...I heard about what happened with Lee. I'm so sorry." Molly answered softly as she informed Clem that Janice told her on how Lee died from his injuries on the operating table and immediately offered her friend her condolences.
"...You and Clark are all I've got now." Clem softly stated with tears in her eyes as she informed Molly and Clark on how they were the only members of their squad that she had left.
"You don't have just us Clem...you've also got Chris, Matt and the others." Harris softly replied as he pointed out to Clementine that she didn't just have him and Ganz: she also had Adams, Dante and Capt. Aguilar with Molly nodding in agreement.
"Molly...there's something that I need to tell you." Clem softly stated which immediately earned the brunette's attention.
"What is it?" Molly asked as she was curious to what her friend wanted to tell her while Clark lowered his gaze to the floor and closed his eyes...as he knew what the young African American teenage girl was about to tell Ganz.
"I'm being reassigned to the Resistance unit stationed out in Long Beach." She answered truthfully.
"...When?" Molly softly asked as she wad deeply surprised after hearing how her friend was being transferred to another to a different unit and curious to when she was supposed to leave for Long Beach.
"I leave first thing in the morning." Clem answered softly as she revealed to Ganz that she would be leaving for Long Beach tomorrow.
"...The others and I already know." Clark softly added as he informed Molly that he, Matthew, Chris and the rest of their friends already knew about Clementine's reassignment; due to her telling them first after her chat with Capt. Aguilar.
"Clem, are you sure this is what you really want?" Molly softly asked.
"...To be honest? No. But you guys know that we really don't have much of a choice. Besides...perhaps a change of scenery could do me some good." Clementine answered softly, showing that she wasn't happy about her transfer, but decided to go along with it.
"Clem, you know that Molly and I got your back. And if things don't work out in Long Beach, you'll always have a place here in San Diego." Clark softly stated, claiming that he and Molly would always support Clementine and that they and the rest of their friends would welcome her back with open arms if things didn't work out or she was unhappy/miserable during her time in Long Beach.
"Thanks guys." Clem softly stated with tears slowly forming in her eyes as she and Clark embraced each other in another brotherly/sisterly manner before they pulled away and she turned to Ganz.
"We're going to miss you Clem." Molly softly whispered as she and the African American teenage girl wrapped their arms around each other in a sisterly hug.
"I'm gonna miss you, Clark and the others too Molly." Clementine whispered back while planting a sisterly peck on the brunette's forehead.
"...Clark, could you give me a hand with my stuff?" She softly added while turning to Harris as she asked for his help in packing up several items she planned on taking with her to Long Beach.
"You got it Clem." Clark answered plainly with a soft nod, showing he was more than glad to help Clementine pack up whatever clothes she planned on taking with her in the morning for her reassignment.
As soon as she and Molly shared one last sisterly hug and she wished her friend the best of luck on her transfer, Clem and Clark exited the medical room and headed straight to her personal quarters, where they went straight to work in going over what clothes she would be taking with her, along with two items that held a lot of sentimental value to her: a handheld framed photograph of their team; her, Sarah, Clark, Molly, Bill and Lee and a white/purple baseball cap with a capital 'D' on the front that she casually placed on her head.
A/N: There it is everyone, the 4th chapter to Together Against the Odds as promised. I would like to apologize to my friends/followers and fellow Fanfic authors for the slight delay. I meant to have to it posted last week, but I was sick with a very terrible cold and the medication I'd been taking had been messing with my head and made it difficult for me to work on my Fanfic projects. The next chapter will be posted sometime mid March. Until next time, bye.