Chapter 9
When the refugees were finally off of Marcus’s back, he set himself down to sleep on a small grassy knoll on one side of the island where no one else could disturb him. The sun was set, and Marcus was sleepy. Marcus enjoyed the quiet of that area; it allowed him to think in peace, or so he thought.
Marcus forgot about his size and forgot how everyone could easily see him. Colson walked up to him as the sun started to rise. He said, “Well congratulations yet again my fine massive friend, you have officially fucked up our operations. I need you to explain two things to me; one, why did a giant tiger and a giant dog start hollering and then start beating each other in the middle of camp? Two, where the hell have you been? We’ve got stuff to do, and you sleeping around don’t make me look any better.”
“Firstly, the two have some issues, an I will be consulting with them later. Secondly, I was training my sister so she can defend herself and shake your hand without ripping it off. Now if you do not mind, I need to sleep and organize my thoughts so I do not become deranged and mistake you for a pile of meat. GOODNIGHT!”
Marcus put is head on the ground and closed his eyes. His left eye was partially open so he could see the general’s reaction; Colson was afraid and did not hide it. This was an event Marcus thought impossible for the veteran. It took him a moment, but the old man built up the courage to say, “So I guess that’s a no to attending the wake?”
“What do you mean? Did one of your men fall?”
“No, but one of yours did. Jason Michelin died in captivity. I had hoped - since you knew him - that you would at least pay your respects to him and the other fifty soldiers that fell in combat.”
“I will attend the wake, as will Liz. When and where will it be held?”
“Noon today on Angle Island. Be there; that’s an order.”
“Please do me a single favor, place Jason’s coffin at the edge of the field where they will be honored so I may pay my respects in person.”
Colson turned and walked away. When he was out of sight, Marcus heard a motorcycle start and speed off. This must have been a private meeting between the two. Perhaps there was tension between he and Katherine, the human’s chosen leader.
Marcus pondered on old memories of the man as he prepared to go to work. First, he had to deal with Dem and Dragoon’s little feud. Later, he wanted to give Liz a lesson on fighting without her blade. After the wake, Marcus undoubtedly would have a few supply runs as Katherine, who has yet to meet Marcus, demands.
This new leader worried Marcus; she had no trust in any of them. Marcus decided to demand a meeting with her in a few days should she choose to stay hidden.
He was about to take flight with these thoughts in mind when Dem walked up to him from around a group of trees. He said, “Good morning, how have you-”
“I had a meeting this morning I did not expect to have. Do you know who it was with?”
Dem did not respond. When it was clear that he was not going to, Marcus said, “Colson wanted to discuss with me the reasoning behind two men considered to be under my command losing their nerve and brawling in public.”
“It was his fault! Dragoon-”
“Save your curses for our meeting. Stay here; I will return with Dragoon soon enough. If I come back here and you are missing, do not expect me to be in such a good mood.”
With that Marcus took flight. He was not angry, but he was upset at Dem and Dragoon for releasing their anger in public. Had it been a private affair, Marcus would have turned his head to the violence. But now the people knew that their greatest hope for savior was conflicted. Marcus needed to ensure that this did not happen again.
When he found Dragoon on the northern half of the island, Marcus was not surprised to find Mish and him arguing about the day’s earlier events. Marcus landed at a distance and approached with caution; in the lab, there were many instances where he walked in while they were fighting and a stray cooking pot found its way to his skull.
Marcus forgot about his size and forgot how everyone could easily see him. Colson walked up to him as the sun started to rise. He said, “Well congratulations yet again my fine massive friend, you have officially fucked up our operations. I need you to explain two things to me; one, why did a giant tiger and a giant dog start hollering and then start beating each other in the middle of camp? Two, where the hell have you been? We’ve got stuff to do, and you sleeping around don’t make me look any better.”
“Firstly, the two have some issues, an I will be consulting with them later. Secondly, I was training my sister so she can defend herself and shake your hand without ripping it off. Now if you do not mind, I need to sleep and organize my thoughts so I do not become deranged and mistake you for a pile of meat. GOODNIGHT!”
Marcus put is head on the ground and closed his eyes. His left eye was partially open so he could see the general’s reaction; Colson was afraid and did not hide it. This was an event Marcus thought impossible for the veteran. It took him a moment, but the old man built up the courage to say, “So I guess that’s a no to attending the wake?”
“What do you mean? Did one of your men fall?”
“No, but one of yours did. Jason Michelin died in captivity. I had hoped - since you knew him - that you would at least pay your respects to him and the other fifty soldiers that fell in combat.”
“I will attend the wake, as will Liz. When and where will it be held?”
“Noon today on Angle Island. Be there; that’s an order.”
“Please do me a single favor, place Jason’s coffin at the edge of the field where they will be honored so I may pay my respects in person.”
Colson turned and walked away. When he was out of sight, Marcus heard a motorcycle start and speed off. This must have been a private meeting between the two. Perhaps there was tension between he and Katherine, the human’s chosen leader.
Marcus pondered on old memories of the man as he prepared to go to work. First, he had to deal with Dem and Dragoon’s little feud. Later, he wanted to give Liz a lesson on fighting without her blade. After the wake, Marcus undoubtedly would have a few supply runs as Katherine, who has yet to meet Marcus, demands.
This new leader worried Marcus; she had no trust in any of them. Marcus decided to demand a meeting with her in a few days should she choose to stay hidden.
He was about to take flight with these thoughts in mind when Dem walked up to him from around a group of trees. He said, “Good morning, how have you-”
“I had a meeting this morning I did not expect to have. Do you know who it was with?”
Dem did not respond. When it was clear that he was not going to, Marcus said, “Colson wanted to discuss with me the reasoning behind two men considered to be under my command losing their nerve and brawling in public.”
“It was his fault! Dragoon-”
“Save your curses for our meeting. Stay here; I will return with Dragoon soon enough. If I come back here and you are missing, do not expect me to be in such a good mood.”
With that Marcus took flight. He was not angry, but he was upset at Dem and Dragoon for releasing their anger in public. Had it been a private affair, Marcus would have turned his head to the violence. But now the people knew that their greatest hope for savior was conflicted. Marcus needed to ensure that this did not happen again.
When he found Dragoon on the northern half of the island, Marcus was not surprised to find Mish and him arguing about the day’s earlier events. Marcus landed at a distance and approached with caution; in the lab, there were many instances where he walked in while they were fighting and a stray cooking pot found its way to his skull.