Truggs isn't greeting them. Because that's something that could be used to prove prior collaboration, and Truggs has a long record of criminality.
Just a couple of things to take care of before I head back down to Earth.
No big rush, after all. They've managed so far without you around, a couple of hours won't really hurt, will it?
I press the activation button on my pilfered Dhorian communicator. "Mister Standing Bear, are you occupied?"
"You want to talk?"
Pity he can't access military records, but those are probably in lockdown because of the crisis.
"Seems like a good time."
"There is no good time. I'm in my barrack."
"Be with you in a few moments."
Just enough time for a military man to prepare his bunk...
It's not practical for us to replace the lift in the prison ship, but we captured this ship entirely undamaged. It's… Well, it's obviously not Maltusian quality, but the build is decent. Some of the signage was clearly designed for people with non-standard eyes, but otherwise it needs no work to make it habitable for humans. Kadabra's busy adding Earth languages to the control system so that people without power rings can actually use it. Fortunately, the Dhorians aren't advanced enough to use anything really weird, or biologically different enough to perceive things differently to have an inhuman control scheme.
Though I'm kind of surprised there aren't emergency ladders or a secondary lift in the prison ship. Or are they how people are getting around over there right now?
Lex's people will adapt.
Mr. Standing Bear picked quarters as far away from everyone else as possible. He said something about not having anything to contribute now that the fighting is over, but I wouldn't have to be an empath to know that was rubbish. Dhorian soldiers had communal sleeping areas, and the officers had fold-away bunks in their officers. Mr. Standing Bear is so big that he had to push three beds together.
Well, that can't be too comfortable. Probably just how he likes it...
I knock on the door, and it opens.
He's taken his helmet and amulet off and stuck the on a shelf in the room's cupboard, doors open so that it's in view the whole time. The man himself is standing at parade rest at the foot of his freshly made bed. Well, I am an officer, so I suppose that's a reasonable approach to take.
At ease, soldier. You're acting like this is a
formal inspection...
"Let's get this out of the way. Eiling implied something about a funeral?"
His face hardens. "Yes."
Finding out the local backstory, eh? I suppose curiosity is a simple drive...
"What happened?"
"I got acquitted. Army paid me to leave anyway."
Ah, not a formal 'dishonorable discharge' on paper, but he clearly considers it to be.
"Right, but acquitted of what?"
"Murder. Man came at my squad with a gun. Shot him dead, bullets kept going and hit the people behind him. Three died."
...Oops. Yeah, that'd just about do it.
Compassionate fellow, if he's taking it this hard...
"How does that relate to a funeral?"
"They came from a funeral. Didn't like American soldiers being near it. We were ordered to be there in case trouble broke out. It did."
Judiciously avoiding commenting on
where this happened, but really, throw a dart at any map...
"Sounds like military thinking to me." I bow my head slightly. "You got off because there was a clear and present danger. If he hadn't wanted to get shot then he shouldn't have drawn a gun. It's unfortunate that anyone else got hurt, but that's what happens when you draw a gun in a crowd."
"That's what my lawyer said. Didn't change much. Too many people decided to blame me."
Including yourself? Be glad, that 's what makes you a better
man than Eiling.
I don't need to look particularly deep to understand the issue. The army gave him structure that was missing from the rest of his life. With the army gone, he didn't have anything. His friends were other soldiers, his family… I'm not seeing strong bonds there.
"You're assigned as security for this ship for the duration of this crisis. After we're done… I don't know if you're interested, but I suspect that Eiling will be able to find work for a man of your talents. If he isn't, I can."
...Wonder if he can manage to channel
Compassion well enough to fire up a Ring?
"Mm."
"If you want to talk to anyone about-"
His face, which had been relaxing slightly, hardens up again.
That'll be a 'no', then.
"¬-your experiences under the Anti-Life, I'm effectively a chaplain. Or I can find someone else, if you prefer."
"As long as I don't have to go back to Earth, I'm just fine."
Sounds like he could benefit from a job with LEGION. Even if his magical amulet doesn't work outside the Solar system, he's still a damn
large man.
I'm sceptical, but there isn't anything to be gained by pushing him at this point.
"As you will. Thank you for speaking with me-. Oh, is there..? Anyone you want me to get in touch with? Tell them-."
Know when to give up, OL. I don't think he wants to be 'fixed' right now.
"No."
"I see."
Honestly, it's more surprising that some organisation or other didn't pick him before now.
Probably because he hasn't really made a name for himself. And honestly, some organisations, you don't
want him joining.
I turn and head out of the door. I've got a meeting set up with Batman and Mister Atom, but they're both very busy people and can't just drop everything to speak with me. I need to fix my rings at some point, but I've got no real idea how to do that.
I raise my right fist as I walk down the corridor.
True, Power Rings are generally not user-servicable. Unless you made them yourself, in which case you know them well enough to qualify as a certified technician anyway.
"Ring, contact Controller Hinon."
Nothing happens for a moment, then there's a sort of static-laden crackling construct appears. That… Might be Hinon, I suppose.
Safe bet that's the fault of the conflicting Indigo and Yellow programming...
"Controller Hin-"
The image collapses.
"-on?"
Let's hope she did get that call, and is
curious as to who was calling.
Now, radio communication works fine. I was able to notify Guy what had happened without any difficulty. Is range a problem? It shouldn't be. The orange light? Did the contamination get further than I though? Don't know, don't know. I can't just ask Guy to try with his ring because they're blocked from long range communication by the Guardians due to the potential for Anti-Life contamination. Alan should-.
"Hey." Tuppence is waiting by the lift entrance, looking… Pensive? It's not an normal expression for her.
Oh, joy. Time-critical side-quests. Such fun.
"Hello Tuppence. How have you been?"
Her eyes narrow lightly. "What's that suppose ta mean?"
Someone's feeling defensive. Any reason for that, hun'?
"It means you've been stuck in an environment with the Anti-Life for a prolonged period of time and I'm concerned about you."
She holds my gaze suspiciously for a moment before looking away. "Sorry."
I bet some part of the Anti-Life has been making her wonder 'why does he care so much about folks like me?'
"It's fine. Ah. Do you want me to put a privacy shield up?"
She shakes her head. "No."
Presumably she doesn't think there's anything that needs that much privacy to discuss. And OL might struggle to keep it up anyway.
"Is Thomas alright?"
She shakes her head again, but her face come up to meet my eyes again. "Nah, he's fahn. Last I saw him, anyways. Lahks bein' a heero."
He's really enjoying the righteous face-punching stuff, huh?
"And you?"
"Got a voice in mah head, tellin' me ah'm a simple-minder killuh. An' ah don't think it's wrong. Only thing that troubled me 'boud this whole thang is when ah couldn't kill someone."
...Okay, that is something that
does deserve privacy...
And I can see the need in her. Now that she's started talking, she wants to keep going, to unburden herself.
"Why don't we.. go to my quarters, where we can get some privacy? I can even magic up some of that cold tea you people like so much?"
Oh, boy. Is
that going to start some rumours...
