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Mother Confessor:

Arriving back in the recovery ward after making a quick stop at the armory to receive my field knife. The heavy weapon secured to my belt. Red Wolf looks up from her task of securing the barrel back into the now reassembled rifle. The long-range scope resting in her lap. A look of mild shock in her eyes at my transformation.

“Nice to see that you are looking like a bad ass”, she says to me.

“Thank you, General”, I accept the odd compliment.

“Well to business”, starting off in a strict tone, “I have chosen a suitable candidate to begin your training. It was a bit challenging to narrow it down, but nonetheless I think I chose correctly. Sergeant Mintlia Nimix will be your instructor. She will be along in a few minutes to show you to your new home for the duration of your training.”

Taking a moments pause to finish screwing the long barrel to the body of the rifle, she continues, “You will follow her command without question, failure to do so will result in disciplinary action. Though I think you have what it takes to earn your place on this ship. I want you to know that your negative actions will reflect poorly upon myself as well, so I trust you will not tarnish my standing nor your own. Come here, greenie”, she motions me to her.

She undoes the cuffs on my sleeves and rolls them up just beneath my elbows. “There, now you are ready to make your journey forward”, she says to me as she does, “I wish you luck.” Taking the well wishing from the General with gratitude.

The door to the recovery ward announces the arrival of Sergeant Nimix, and by the looks of her, she is one tough female. She is a bit shorter than the average Centruia female, and stout in stature. Her face wearing a strict mask adorned with a scar on her right cheek running diagonally from the base of her eye to the rear of her jaw. A heavy metal ring in her septum, and three barbells through the bridge. Her muscular arms crossing her ample frame, looking physically hard as her expression.

“Afternoon, General”, the hardened Sergeant address Red Wolf, “This the fresh meat you told me about?” Nodding her head in my general direction.

“Da, this is your cherry”, Red Wolf tells her, “ freshly plucked and ready to become a pit.”

A dark smile comes over the Sergeants hard face, “I shall make a pit of her, General”, she replies to the officer. I ponder over the odd terminology they use in reference to my training and persona. Feeling awkward being referred to as some type of fruit. Will probably make sense in the future.

Concluding this odd introduction, Sergeant Nimix gestures me to follow her. I lockstep behind my mentor, my gear cradled in my arms. Contemplating the consequences for this decision, as we roam the hallways to what will be my new place of residency. I am a wash of excitement and anxiety. We traverse the decks to our first destination.

* * *

Markus:

Now feeling less like a walking corpse, I begin my report of the Pluto incident. Though I am sure that in the distant future historians will look back on the event as deliberate and with intent. All I know is that if I had a chance to repeat those actions that led up to the decimation of the base, I would do it the same way again. That is taking into account the hard decisions made to set things right. Though as of lately, I have questioned whether I am doing all of this for the right reasons. Alternatively, am I just so consumed with hate that I am simply lashing out at the puppet masters? Perhaps it is both, in a twisted up mess of razor wire. Pushing this forward despite my being able to not become that with which I loathe. Those that have past would not have said ‘sometimes the blade is needed, when the pen fails’.

Then it hits me, my fingers making furious keystrokes writing up the report. At least I think I understand what they meant by the statement. Rolling the thought through my mind checking it for error, as my fingers dance manically on the digital keyboard. Haunted by the look on her face, as I indirectly executed the Major with my weapon. Wondering what was on her mind in her final moments. Wondering what would have been, if I had not allowed the series of events to take place in that office back on Pluto. Wanting to change that one outcome in history, now forever carved into the annals of time.

Thinking back to the old days, when we worked together. The times we spent off duty, and places we shared on shore leave. Musing about the way things had been, so long ago, my digits plodding along absent-mindedly at their own task. Diving further into the reverie, Simone was a cornerstone in my life for ten wonderful and trying years. If given the chance, I think she would have enjoyed civilian life in retirement. I think she knew I would not fair so well, and now I see why. I am just a rampaging cave troll looking for something to smash with my club. For first time in my many years of service, I start to see it in me. That is the only thing that I excel at. Running around the schoolyard fucking up some body’s day, though I try to have well meaning behind it.

Recoiling my busy hands from their erratic business, slamming them hard on the smooth surface of the desk. Not now! I bellow in my head. I am more than just a rampaging cave troll smashing up shit with my club! I have purpose in my psychotic pernicious plight. The choices I have made since coming out of the freezer, I have made entirely of my own volition. I shall not take for granted the freedom I have taken, breath after breath. I know I am leaving a river of desolation in my wake, but that is just my nature.

Taking a few deep breaths to calm my nerves, letting the mental turmoil wind down. Chaos is my tool to order. My enemy will use order to make chaos. Accepting this as part of who and what I am, I continue my work. Fingers diligently writing the report once more, with renewed vigor.