'I won't give him back as this is his wish, but I will look after him myself.'
'We're in this together, no matter how much you wish for otherwise.'
A sigh filled the cockpit, as the Eagle made its way to the intended destination; operating solely on auto-pilot. The owner listened to his recent and most prominent thoughts over and over while the ship guided itself. Mechanically he gave his name in order of last and then first, when asked to identify himself before docking.
The ship again began to function on its own, pulling itself into the confines of the dreadnought's hangar. Its pilot missing every word from the docking operator, barely catching the sarcastic tone in his voice, as access was granted.
The cockpit's canopy slid open, its occupant still motionless, as he looked up at the ceiling of the hangar, taking a deep breath. The descent from the ship's cockpit was quick and careless, the pilot, resting his hands on the edge of the cockpit, and throwing his legs over to jump down. The landing was flawless, minus the solid object that sent a thud against the man's head. Looking up, he realized he'd bumped into another person on his way down.
'Sorry about that Lou'¦' The man spoke slowly, having been interrupted from his previous train of thought, a train he was sure no one else could ride.
He took a step back as he saw the eyes staring back at him.
'Anger and resentment,' he thought quietly to himself.
A new shipment of goods and important supplies arrived and was laying in the Hangar.
Some men were sorting out the goods to have them moved to the appropriate location of the Pond.
Lou Zur (Sub Luitenant) was talking to one of the men who was working on sorting out the new supplies.
Henry was one of his old friends. He was one of the men that took care of the logistics onboard of the Pond.
As they were talking about some random daily life stuff that happened in their weekend,
a Eagle flew in the docking bay. Both man looked up with a curious look.
Lou shrugged and continued to talk with Antony. Some other men were moving the boxes on one of the AGV's. (Automated Guided Vehicle)
Somebody bumped into Lou, 'Sorry about that Lou'¦' was heard.
The voice could have easily been recognized, but the moment on which is happened didn't make Lou take any conclusions or even noticing from who this voice was.
Lou turned around 'Watch where yo-'¦'
He paused his sentence as he saw the face of the pilot that had bumped into him.
Henry looked wondering as he saw Mason and Lou exchange eyesight.
'Mason? What the hell man, you 'disappear' and now you're here without even notifying anyone?'
'or did I miss something?'
"I was kind of pressed for time, and I don't expect to be here very long anyway."Mason replied
'So you leave without a word? Without a trace?'
Lou looked up at the vessel behind Mason, it being a Eagle.
''¦ and you return without your Guardian? You do know people have a lot of questions for you right now right?'
'Hell I don't even know where to start'
"What can I say? I didn't need you or anyone else following me around. That over there's a tad more inconspicuous.
Wouldn't you agree?" Mason asked, gesturing towards his Eagle.
'But leaving without telling anyone? You have duties as a officer and simply left them for what they were and left.'
'I just can't buy that man'
'Look, since there are questions that need to be answered about your absence'¦ well I know I'm not the one to ask them.'
'I guess there are others that would like to talk to you. Care to follow me'
Lou gave Mason a 'follow me' gesture. 'I'll talk to you later Hen'.'
'Yeh sure' Henry was already busy typing on his PDA as he returned back to work.
Lou walked off to the main hallway that ended up in the Hanger, expecting Mason to follow.
Davis sat writing up some paperwork in his office, only the gentle sound of a ticking clock could be heard past the typing on his computer, a short beep rang from the intercom on his desk, ignoring it he continued working, a few seconds later another beep followed. Davis looked up at the intercom with a with a frown, he leant over and pressed the button to his secretaries channel 1.
Davis: 'yes? what is it Sergeant?' he said with a gruff but still clear tone
Sgt L Farrell: 'sorry to bother you sir, Captain Lennon wished to inform you that Mason Raulsch has just landed in the hangar bay..'
Davis stopped typing for a moment and concentrated on the intercom, a more serious look appearing on his face followed by a moment of silence as he thought. His secretarys voice breaking the stillness
Sgt L Farrell: 'sir?..'
Davis shook his head a little as her voice brought him back from his thoughts.
Davis: 'Yes thank you.. let him in when he gets here would you'
Sgt L Farrel: 'Sir?..' she said with a confused voice.
Davis: 'That will be all Lea..'
Sgt L Farrel: 'very good sir..' a click was heard as the intercom closed off.
Davis sat back in his chair for a moment in thought, he brushed it off and minimised his planned paper work, instead opening a document containing the career details of one Ralucsh, Mason.
Mason quietly followed Lou through the hallways of the Pond, eventually catching up to him. Eventually the two men were walking side-by-side, it didn't take a great deal of brain power to figure out he was being led to the office he had intended to visit from the beginning. With his gaze directed towards the floor, Mason drowned out the rest of the barrage of questions as he continued down the bare hallway; cutting to the left when necessary. A grin was spread across his face, as he stole a glance at his anger-stricken guide.
'Kid's finally got a set of balls, I remember when he first got here'¦ he was so hopeless and goofy. Maybe now isn't the worst time to jump ship after all. Wait'¦ what am I talking about, I'm about to be thrown off it, maybe lit-' Mason's train of thought was cut short as he walked face first into a door, before he could completely recover himself, the door opened and a woman who he didn't recognize walked out into the hallway, past Lou and himself with little acknowledgement. Mason walked in first, hearing Lou close behind him. He had only visited this office once before, about a year ago, but it was just as simple as he remembered. There was a small bookshelf behind the desk where Davis sat, and a second chair to the right of his desk, filled by its usual occupant.
Mason approached the desk a bit slower than he really meant to, lying his identification on the desk, and slowly switched his gaze from Davis to Paige and back again. Neither looked overly upset as far as he could tell, but neither looked overly pleased to see him either.
'Tammy'¦ Chris,' he mouthed casually in acknowledgement.
'Lou, if you could take yo-'
'He's fine as he is.' Mason interrupted quietly, just loud enough to be heard.
He turned his attention to Lou who seemed to be undecided between leaving and staying, choosing the latter after his superior failed to reassert her will for him to leave after having been interrupted. Satisfied, Mason turned back around to face his 'jury,' both still maintaining their neutral expressions at the sight of his recent appearance, but he was nonplussed.
'You two look like you've some preaching to do before I get booted out of here.' He chimed the words more pleasantly than he meant to, taking a deep breath while he waited for the verdict.
Davis was not fazed by Masons smug attitude, he just sat at his desk looking at mason with a pan expression.
Davis: 'It isn't me that needs to be the one talking, since you aren't an idiot, and you know full well everything I was going to say.. You can start talking first Leiutenant, and it better be good'
A beep came from the intercom and Davis leant over to it and activated it, his secretaries voice was heard.
Sgt L Farrell: 'Sir, Major Keller has arrived'
Davis: 'have him and his men wait there'
Stg L Farrell: 'yes sir..' *click*
He looked back at Mason, leaning forwards a little, without seeming deliberately imposing.
Davis: "Seems the good Major has already caught wind of you, before you speak, let me remind you of something, your only way out is through, there will be no more shortcuts for you..."
Tamara: 'Your current charges are, Destruction of Government Property, insubordination, and worst of all Absent Without Leave bordering on desertion'
Davis: 'so... lets hear it.'
He sat back calmly still staring Mason in the eyes with an almost completely neutral expression.
Mason scratched his head he didn't feel like storytelling, especially to someone who didn't really care what story he had behind his absence. He figured he was going to be locked up anyway; he may as well have a bit of fun before the next 'vacation.' He figured there wasn't much to lose, actually there was nothing.
'Chris, you should be the last one to mention shortcuts, especially to me. Like most of your men, you don't even know me well enough to point out the ones I've taken. As for what I was doing, we'll leave it to 'tying up loose ends.' I'll save the rest for the cellmates; everyone needs a story to tell, right?'
Mason watched Tamara's eye give a slight twitch from across the room, he guessed from the blatant disrespect he was dishing to their superior. He didn't feel repentant, as far as he was concerned, he hadn't said enough, but now wasn't the time to have this conversation.
'Grab the Major if you're ready, like I said earlier, I don't really plan to be long. Starting to get a bad air actually, not sure what it could be.' Mason finished off, looking around the room innocently.
Davis didn't stir he just stared at mason plainly, looking at his officer behaving as if he were 5 years old in the head teachers office of a infant school. he was surprised the data on his screen and the person stood before him were one in the same.
Davis: "your file here says you have repeatedly requested to remain a lieutenant despite all evidence to what you could easily become. Commander Paige tells me the same thing, you're so capable of becoming so much greater its actually pathetic to see you standing like this, throwing in the towel before you even knew you had a towel to throw. When are you going to man up, man up and stop dwelling in self pity, thinking what you are doing is for the greater good when in fact its another chance for you to put your head in the sand and pretend things are better than they are."
Davis's eyes cut to Lou for a moment and he stood up to attention, his gaze cut back to Mason.
Davis: "You have two options, the easy option, where you remain the same under achieving emotional child you are right now, where you continue to act like it doesnt concern you and you go to jail where you will rot, and have all the time in the world to become as introverted as you like.
or the hard option, where you maintain your freedom and gain some self respect, learn to accept the rank you should have and all the responsibilities that come with it, becoming a better man through effort and hard work, and being able to guide your fellow soldiers Like Sub-Lieutenant Zur to greatness, helping him to better himself, showing him what field leadership should be like, and setting the example that you know others will follow.
Because I know you know, people look up to you Lieutenant, you spent a lot of patrol time with Whitehall, she was one of the worst students in the academy, she became better by learning from you, Zur here, look at him now and tell me he hasn't grown into something better than what he was when he first got here. tell me you don't see it. you cant, and thats your doing, again."
As Davis finished talking Mason held up four fingers, signaling how many times he had a conversation of this nature. Mason turned around, directing his attention to Lou, who was leaning against the door, staring at Mason with much the same look since they had bumped into one another, then back around again once he was satisfied. As he opened his mouth to reply, he shot a glance at Tamara, catching her mouthing words, easy enough for him to read out; 'Cut it out.'
Mason's mouth opened without a sound coming out and promptly closed. He nodded slowly while watching Davis lean over the table, wondering what the gesture could possibly mean. 'Alright old man, just sit back, there's not nearly enough suspense to suffer a heart attack.' Davis sunk back into his seat at the conclusion of Mason's answer.
Mason assumed the relief was from his answer, quickly being corrected as he turned around at the sound of someone clearing their throat. Tilting his head to the side, he was able to identify the new entry as Major Keller, accompanied by two women who he didn't know; protection he assumed. Neither appeared to be particularly young or old, probably a bit older than himself, Mason was guessing.
'Glad the two of you could make it, you just missed the commitment.' Paige commented casually, obviously talking to two of the new entries.
'Who're they exactly'¦?' Mason was slow and deliberate delivering the question, thinking in between if he should know them or not.
Davis and Paige exchanged glances before she answered; making it obvious she was struggling for the correct wording. 'They're you're 'partners' so to speak. Grimaldi and Wadsworth will make sure that you're orderly, on task, and in-line. They will accompany you on all your field assignments whenever they're available.' Paige finished curtly, never indicating which of them was who.
Mason's eyebrows were rising slightly with every new detail, while he tried to take it in.
'Babysitters basically,' his tone left no debate whether or not his statement was anything more. Mason turned for the door without wondering if he was actually excused, pushing Lou out in front of him.
'I'll be in the hangar!' He called before whispering to Lou, his hands pressed against the man's back as he pushed him towards the same path he was on. ' We need to talk.'
As Lou was following the conversation that took a unexpected turn, at least he never expected
that they would promote Mason after his sudden unannounced vacation. And then the charges
they named. Not like Lou expected those either.
As he followed the conversation it just confused Lou more, the attitude of Mason wasn't
anywhere near of how he knew him. It just made Lou dig more in his mind about what could
have happened and reasons why Mason actually did all this.
The little push from Mason and the words 'We need to talk' were actually relieving words for
Lou in some way. Although Lou remained quite unsure about what Mason wanted to talk about.
He gave Mason a short nod and started into the direction the little push was directed to.
![[Image: RKaqSve.png]](https://i.imgur.com/RKaqSve.png)