Disclaimer: I do not own Terminator or the Walking Dead or any its characters, except for my OCs
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Chapter 5
Meeting the New Team
Location: Long Beach, California
Time: 10:50 AM
It was a bright morning as the sun shined brightly over the ruined city of Long Beach. As the sun continued to shine in the bright blue and cloudy sky, a Hispanic teenage boy who appeared to 19 years old with reddish tan skin, lime green eyes and chestnut brown hair in a clean fade with a Textured Top style had casually walked around the main gate leading to the still standing remains of the California Army National Guard recruitment center, which served as his Resistance division's main HQ.
"Hey Charlie, this is Moreno. All things are quiet out here up front. How are things on your end?" The Hispanic teenage boy, Pvt. Elias Moreno stated casually over his ear radio as he informed one of his fellow Resistance fighters that things in front of their FOB were pretty quiet and asked on how things were on his side of the base.
"Things out here on the south side are pretty much the same Elias: fuckin' boring." Another teenage male voice answered back in a similar Hispanic accent, reporting that the rear of the base was quiet; just like the front and indicating that he was bored out of his mind.
"I am going to get Weston. I am so going to get him." The 2nd Hispanic teenage boy, PFC. Charlie Rodriguez automatically added while growling softly underneath his breathe...as he deeply hated every second of his current assignment: patrol duty.
"...Tsk, you've been saying that for two weeks." Moreno replied while scoffing softly as he bluntly pointed out to his friend how he'd been planning on 'getting back' at their fellow Resistance fighter the past two weeks and that it never happened.
~Meanwhile inside the base~
As Moreno and Rodriguez continued to patrol the grounds outside, their friends and fellow Resistance fighters were doing their own thing in the main recreation room of their HQ: as a 17 year old Caucasian teenage boy with tan skin, light gray eyes and goldish brown dyed hair in a Crewcut was casually laying down on the 3 seater couch in the center of the room and reading a novel whilst two of of his friends; an 18 year old Indian-American teenage boy and an 18 year old teenage boy of Native American descent light brown skin, cobalt eyes and natural reddish brown hair in a Shaggy Wolf cut style were playing a game of checkers on the coffee table and two other teenage boys; an 18 year old brunette and a 19 year old blonde with a mullet hair style were engaged in a friendly arm wrestling contest on the dining table set up ten feet behind the three seater couch.
"Give it up Marlon. I've got this one in the bag." The brunette stated with a cocky grin on his face as he and the blonde teenage boy shared an amused grin as they attempted to force and pin the other's arm down on the table.
"Yeah, right. In your dreams Mitch." The blonde, Lance Corporal Marlon James replied with a similar smirk on his face as he and the brunette, Cpl. Mitch Weston continued to wrestle and neither of them were giving an inch.
As both Mitch and Marlon continued to arm wrestle with the brunette slowly getting the best of the blonde, that was when an African American teenage boy with black hair in teal tip style dreadlocks had stepped inside the rec room with a towel over his shoulders and a stainless steel water bottle in his right hand.
"What's up guys?" The teenage boy stated as he greeted his friends.
"Hey Louis." Marlon stated with a soft grin as he glanced over his shoulder as he and Mitch continued to arm wrestle.
"How's it going Louis?" The 17 year old brunette asked with a similar smile as he glanced up from the book he was reading.
"The usual. What book are you readin' there Rick?" Louis answered casually while asking the gold brown haired teenage boy about the book he was currently reading.
"Island Bound." The brunette, Pvt. Rick Brennan answered plainly as he revealed the name of the 1997 novel that was written by Betty Levin.
"Island Bound? I've never heard of that book before." The Indian-American teenage boy stated while carefully planning his move and smiling softly, as he moved one of red pieces and jumped over one of his opponent's black pieces...which swiftly turned into a frown: as his friend turned the tables on him and jumped another of his pieces over the one he just jumped.
"Yeah, same here." Louis softly replied, showing that he was unfamiliar with the book as well.
"Hmm, it was practically one of the best sellers in the 1990's." Brennan stated while scoffing softly as he revealed to his two friends on how Island Bound was a top selling novel in the 1990's.
"Well...what's it about?" The African American teenage boy asked, as he was deeply curious to what the book Rick had been reading was about.
"It's about two teenagers, a boy and girl who work together to investigate the myth of a girl that was supposedly abandoned on an isolated island off the coast of Maine that they and their families are vacationing on." Rick answered truthfully as he revealed to Louis on how Island Bound was about a teenage boy and girl, whom are strangers to each other, work together to solve the mystery of a little girl who was left abandoned on the same island that they and their families were vacationing on.
"Oh, wow. It definitely sounds interest..." Louis stated as he was deeply fascinated by the book that Brennan was reading before he was cut off as Mitch and Marlon just finished their arm wrestling match: with the brunette ultimately being the winner as he had finally forced and pinned Marlon's arm down on the table.
"Ha ha, yes! I win!" Mitch cried out with a bright smile on his face as he declared himself the winner whilst Marlon simply glanced away.
"Whose next? Assim? Rick?" He swiftly added while turning to Brennan and challenging him and the Indian-American teenage boy, PFC. Assim Durman to a friendly round.
"Um, weren't you supposed to be on sentry duty with Moreno, Mitch?" Assim softy asked while glancing over his shoulder as he pointed out the rather obvious fact on how the combative brunette was supposed to be on patrol with Elias.
"Ahh, I worked that out with Rodriguez so he would swap for me." Mitch replied while shrugging casually as he revealed to Assim and the others that he had 'cut a deal' with Charlie so he would take his place on patrol duty.
"How?" Louis asked as he and Assim were curious to how the brunette 'persuaded' Rodriguez to take his place on sentry duty.
"We had a little bet." The combative brunette answered, stating how he and Charlie made a simple wager.
"What kind of wager?" The Native American teenage boy asked as he, Louis and Assim were deeply curious to what sort of bet Mitch made with Rodriguez.
"Let me guess: you challenged him to an arm wrestling contest." Marlon answered bluntly and sarcastically as he fairly surmised that Mitch had challenged Charlie to an arm wrestling contest; just like he did with him when they, Assim and the Native American teenage boy, whom they and the rest of their fellow soldiers knew as LCpl. David 'Davey' Blackwood came to relax in the living quarters.
"Good guess...but that wasn't the wager." Mitch replied with an amused smirk on his face, stating that he didn't challenge Charlie to an arm wrestling contest.
"Then what was it?" Assim asked as he and Davey paused their game of checkers.
"Charlie challenged me to a friendly round of boxing when we were working out in the workout center...and we made a little bet to make it interesting: the loser would take the winner's place on sentry duty. And I won." The brunette answered casually as he revealed to his friends on how Rodriguez had challenged him to a friendly sparing match of boxing when they were exercising in the workout center and how they made a wager: how the loser would take the winner's place on patrol duty...and that he ended up the winner.
"How'd Rodriguez take it?" Marlon sarcastically asked as he, Louis, Assim and Davey were curious to how Charlie handled losing the wager; especially since they and the rest of the base hated patrol duty.
"Eh, he'll get over it. Besides, patrol is fucking boring. Nothing ever happens." Mitch answered casually and sarcastically while shrugging his shoulders, stating that Rodriguez would eventually get over losing the bet and showing how much he despised sentry duty.
"Well personally, I like the peace and quiet. The Machines haven't ventured that far south of California and after what we went through back in Lynwood three days ago, we deserve some time off." Rick countered, showing that he preferred the solitude; due to Skynet only being focused on Downtown L.A. while reminding his friends of the search & rescue mission they carried out in Lynwood three days ago.
"...I have to agree with Rick." Davey stated as he instinctively agreed with Brennan; especially after an...unfortunate incident they went through during their mission with Louis, Assim and Marlon nodding in agreement as well.
"By the way Louis, why are you all sweaty?" Mitch automatically asked as he, Marlon, Assim, Rick and Davey noticed the medium sized sweat stain on Louis's shirt.
"I was shooting hoops in the gym with Scott and Eddie. We were playing against Vi, Eric and Brody." Louis answered truthfully as he explained to his friends that he had been playing basketball in the gymnasium with Cpl. Eddie Molina and Scott Young against Violet, Eric and Brody while wiping a small amount of sweat off his forehead with the towel hanging around his neck.
"Who ended up winning the game between you guys and the girls?" Marlon asked with a soft grin, even though he had a good idea whose team ended up winning.
"It was pretty close...but my team and I won." The African American teenage boy answered in all modesty as he revealed that he, Molina and Young ended up winning the basketball game against Violet, Eric and Brody.
"Heh, nice Louis." Mitch stated with an equally soft and proud grin on his face, along with Marlon after hearing Louis reveal that his team had beat Violet's team which when a Caucasian teenage girl who appeared to be the same age as him, Marlon and Louis with gray blue eyes and short auburn red hair had entered the rec room.
"How's it going guys?" The red haired teenage girl asked with a casual grin as she greeted his friends and teammates.
"Hey Brody." Louis, Mitch and the rest of the boys replied as they greeted the redhead, whom was one of their best field medics, PFC. Brody Easton.
"Is something the matter?" Marlon asked as he noted the anxious look on the redhead's face as she slightly rubbed the back of her neck.
"Master Sergeant Hammon is headed this way with Violet and Ruby." Brody answered truthfully as she informed Marlon and the other boys how their commanding officer, MSgt. Kenneth Hammon was headed to the rec room with Violet and their other field medic, Cpl. Ruby Emerson.
"Hey, if Sarge is pissed that I skipped out on guard duty, I..." Mitch started off as he naturally assumed that he was in hot water with their C.O. for bailing on sentry duty and swapping with Rodriguez without his approval before he was cut off.
"This has nothing to do with you Mitch. He just has an announcement that he needs to make." Brody countered as she automatically assured Mitch that he wasn't in trouble for bailing on guard duty and informed him, Marlon, Louis, Assim, Rick and Davey that Kenny simply had an announcement for them to hear.
"Oh. Oh, okay. Good." The combative brunette stated while giving a soft sigh of relief.
"What sort of announcement?" Assim asked as he was immediately piqued by what sort of announcement Kenny had for them, which was the exact moment their commanding officer had entered the rec room with two teenage girls; a 19 year old blonde and an 18 year old redhead standing a few feet behind him.
"A rather brief but important one." MSgt. Hammon answered in a gruff but gentle tone, which immediately earned the attention Brody, Louis and the rest of their friends/teammates.
"Sergeant on deck!" Marlon professionally exclaimed as he, Mitch, Louis, Rick, Davey, Assim and Brody naturally saluted their commanding officer.
"At ease men." Kenny stated with a proud grin on his face at his soldiers professionalism as Ruby and the teenage blonde, PFC. Violet Marshall walked past him and sat down on the two separate transitional chairs.
"Well...seeing as how PFC. Easton has already told you boys, I might as well get right down to it. There's something I need to tell all of you." He softly added as he informed the teenage soldiers under his command that he had some news he needed to share with them.
"What's going on Sarge?" Louis asked as he and his friends/squad mates were curious to what it was their commanding officer needed to tell them.
"...There was an incident in the Resistance division stationed in San Diego. One of the commanding officers, SSgt. Lee Everett was mortally wounded during a standard search and rescue mission in Baldwin Village and unfortunately died from his injuries. Two soldiers under his command were also K.I.A. during that mission." Kenny answered while giving a soft sigh as he informed Louis and the rest of their squad of the events that happened in San Diego: how Lee and two of his best soldiers were unfortunately killed in action during a simple search and rescue mission in Baldwin Village.
"Oh, man/Dear lord." Mitch and Ruby muttered softly while Marlon, Davey and Rick simply closed their eyes in silence.
"Did you happen to know any of the soldiers who died Sarge?" Assim softly asked.
"...As a matter of fact...I did. SSgt. Everett was a very good friend of mine. He and I served together in the same unit at the beginning of the war. He was also there for me...when my wife, Katjaa and son, Ken Jr. died." Kenny answered truthfully as he revealed to his troops that he and Lee were close friends; as they had served together at the beginning of the war against Skynet and how Lee had been there to support/console him when he lost his wife and son.
"...We're so sorry Sarge." Rick softly stated as he, Davey, Violet and the rest of their friends looked at Kenny with sympathetic looks on their faces after hearing what good friends he and SSgt. Everett were.
"It's alright. Anyway, the main reason for this little gathering is this: there was an incident between SSgt. Everett's teenage daughter and one of the refugees that her team rescued from Baldwin Village and the commanding officer in charge of San Diego decided to reassign her to our unit." Kenny softly replied as he informed the teenage soldiers under his command of the main reason behind his announcement: how there was an 'incident' between Lee's daughter, Clementine and Craig Andrews and how Capt. Aguilar had decided to reassign her to their squad.
"...Seriously?" Violet softly asked with eyes widened in surprise after hearing that unexpected news, which instantly earned her friends and their sergeant's attention.
"I beg your pardon, PFC. Marshall?" Kenny asked in a strict tone while softly leering his eyes at the teenage blonde's choice of question.
"I don't mean any disrespect Sarge. It's just...we buried Sophie three days ago and then Minnie left for San Jose." Violet softly stated as she informed her commanding officer that she didn't have anything against Clementine and explained the reason why she wasn't thrilled about her joining their team was because of the loss they endured: how one of their fellow Resistance fighters, Pvt. Sophie Cooke; had died during their mission in Lynwood and her older twin sister, Minerva had been sent to assist the Resistance division stationed in San Jose shortly after Sophie's funeral.
"Look Violet...I understand you're upset. But its a done deal and I promised Lee that if anything ever happened to him, that I'd look after Clementine and I intend to keep that promise." Kenny softly replied, showing that he understood that Violet was still grieving for Sophie; as were Louis, Ruby and the others and how they were still adjusting after Sophie's twin sister, Minerva was transferred to assist the war effort in San Jose while revealing to his troops on how he had made a promise to Lee that he would look after Clem if anything were to happen to him, which he intended on keeping.
"Now, once she arrives, I expect all of you to welcome her and to treat her like your equal. Is that understood?" He automatically asked as he instructed Violet, Louis, Marlon and the rest of their squad to be kind to Clementine and to make her feel welcomed into the team.
"We understand Sarge. We'll be nice to her." Marlon softly answered with Louis, Mitch, Ruby, Brody, Rick, Davey and Assim nodding in agreement before they turned to Violet, whom had silently glanced to her hands.
"Violet? Do you understand?" Kenny asked in a more strict tone as he turned his attention back to the blonde teenage girl.
"...I guess I don't have much of a choice." Violet answered softly and dryly while giving a soft sigh...which didn't sit quite well with her C.O.
"Um, Sarge? Just a quick question." Louis stated, which instantly earned Kenny's attention.
"What is it PFC. Livingston?" Kenny asked as he was curious to what it was the teenage African American teenage boy wanted to ask him.
"Just what kind of person is SSgt. Everett's daughter like?" Louis answered as he, along with the rest of the team were curious to learn what sort of person Clem was.
"Heh, Clementine is practically one the most reliable soldiers that served under Capt. Aguilar's command. She's a remarkable marksman, hacker and a true team player. I think you and the others will take a quick liking to her." Kenny answered while chuckling softly in amusement at Louis's question as he informed him and the rest of the squad on how Clementine was a trustworthy and reliable Resistance fighter/soldier and how she was one of her previous unit's best rifleman as well as a talented hacker.
"When we do meet her?" Marlon asked as he, Mitch, Louis, Rick, Davey, Brody, Assim and Ruby were deeply impressed and fascinated after hearing what a remarkable soldier/Resistance fighter SSgt. Everett's teenage daughter was and were looking forward to meeting her face to face.
"She should be arriving any minute now." Kenny answered in all honesty, as he was looking forward to seeing the young African American teenage girl, whom was like a daughter to him as well.
"Violet? A word." He automatically added as he turned his attention back to Violet and motioned for her to follow him so they could speak in private.
"...Yes sir." The blonde teenage girl replied while giving a soft sigh...as she instinctively knew what it was her sergeant wanted to speak to her about; as did Louis and the others as they watched her and Kenny step outside the recreation room.
"...Okay, Violet. Let's talk..." Kenny started off in a soft but strict tone as he was unhappy with the blonde's attitude about Clementine joining their squad.
"Look Sarge...you know that I didn't any disrespect towards you in anyway. It's just..." Violet stated softly with somber eyes as she apologized to her C.O. for her poor attitude before she was cut off...as Kenny placed a gentle hand on her left shoulder.
"Look Violet...I understand your still hurting about what happened to Sophie. We are all. But there's nothing we can do to bring her back and Minerva's transfer to San Jose is indefinite. There's no telling when she'll be back. Now, you don't have to like Clementine, but you do have to work with her." Kenny replied as he completely understood that Violet was still mourning for Sophie untimely and tragic death, as were Louis, Marlon and the rest of the team and adjusting to Minerva leaving to assist the fighting in San Jose while reminding the blonde teenage girl that she needed to move on and to work with Lee's daughter and other new additions to their squad.
"Got it?" He asked in a gentle yet strict tone, demanding to know if she understood.
"...(Sigh) Got it." Violet answered while sighing and nodding her head softly, showing that she indeed understood and would try to be civil towards Clementine.
"Okay, then." Kenny stated with a soft grin before the earwig radio wedged in his right ear came online.
"Attention, MSgt. Hammon. This is Pvt. Moreno." Elias stated professionally over the radio.
"Go ahead, Moreno." Kenny replied.
"Sir, there's a teenage girl outside the front gate. She claims to be with the Resistance division in San Diego and that she knows you." Moreno stated as he informed his commanding officer that Clementine had just arrived to Long Beach and was right outside their base.
"Let her right in Moreno. We're expecting her. I'll be right outside in just a moment." MSgt. Hammon stated with a bright smile on his face as he instructed Moreno to open the gate.
"Yes sir." Elias replied professionally before they broke contact.
"She's here?" Violet asked as she overheard the brief conversation between Kenny and Moreno.
"She is." Kenny answered with a soft nod before he walked away and headed towards the front entrance to greet Clementine while Violet headed back in the rec room and informed Marlon, Brody and the rest of their squad of Clementine's arrival.
Shortly after his brief chat with Violet, Kenny had walked down the hallway from the base's recreation room to the main entrance and couldn't help but smile brightly...as he had caught of glimpse of Elias escorting Clem from the front gate to the front entrance of the building.
"Kenny!" Clementine exclaimed with a warm smile on her face as she ran towards and threw her arms around Kenny's waist.
"Clem!" The middle aged dark haired man cried back in return with an equally warm smile as he embraced the young African American teenage girl.
"...Kenny...Lee...He's..." Clem attempted to say before Kenny had softly cut her off.
"I know sweetheart. Miguel told me about what happened. I'm so sorry Clem. I should've been there." Kenny stated as he gently revealed to Clem that he already about Lee's tragic death; due to Capt. Aguilar telling him about it when they spoke yesterday and instinctively apologized to the young teenage girl for not being there in San Diego to console her when Dr. Rogers gave her the heartbreaking news.
"It wasn't your fault Kenny. It's no one's fault but Skynet's." Clem softly stated as she deeply appreciated Kenny's comforting words while showing that she blamed Skynet for not only Lee's death, but for Bill's and Sarah's as well.
"Well its going to be alright now, honey. You're in good hands here." Kenny stated as reassured the young teenage girl that she would feel right at home in Long Beach before they pulled away from the hug.
"Well, I'm honored to be working with you Kenny. When do I meet the team?" Clem stated with a soft grin on her face while asking on when she would meet her new squad/teammates.
"Come with me. I'll introduce you to them right now." Kenny stated with an equally warm grin as he walked down the hallway back to the rec room with Clementine following right behind him.
There it is everyone, the ending to the 5th chapter. I would like to apologize if the chapter seems short or lacking in detail. I did plan on having Clem meeting Violet and the others in this chapter, but I decided to safe that for the next chapter. I would also like to apologize if the dialogue seems to be beating around the bush, it was the best I could do with what I could think of at the time. I should the 6th chapter posted sometime in the middle of April. Until next time, bye