A Web Serial by M.C.A. Hogarth
| 25. Taking Care of Business. | 27. Solidarity. |
|---|
26. Picking the Wrong Fight
Claws walks back into the Armory after his discussion in the corridor with Scythe, finishes suiting up and goes out with Spots to join the two Fangs.
The Warren. The engineers continue laying grid. Claws goes to talk to the engineering team lead.
Fang. "Will you stop hanging so ****ing close to me?"
Spots. "I thought it would be a good idea, since the last couple of times we were attacked we got separated."
Fang. "And that worked out fine. I already got one ****ing growth, I don't need another."
Fang2. "Harsh, man. Harsh. I'd like to at least think I'd merit being called a cancerous growth. Maybe even a tumor."
Spots. "I really think it would be better not to get too far apart. They're changing tactics, they might not let one pair of us go next time."
Fang. "And I really think you should ****ing get off my back. I don't take orders from a ****ing reservist."
Fang2. "Well, technically she's got seniority." Sly. "Actually, she might have had seniority before we were even born."
Fang. "****ing office work doesn't count. What did you do for fifty years, Spots? Shine your boots and type up memos on a ****ing manual typewriter?"
Fang2. "Ouch."
Unruffled, Spots doesn't move.
Fang. "I said—"
Spots. "I heard what you said. I'm not moving."
Fang. "The hell you're not!"
Claws, returning from talk with engineer. "What the **** is goin' on?"
Fang2. "Pissing match."
Fang. "She won't get off my back."
Claws. "What the hell is she talkin' about, Spots?"
Spots. "I'm just worried about getting separated if we're attacked again."
Fang2. "I'm thinking you should be more worried about her getting too un-separated. If you know what I mean." He mimes a punch.
Claws. "Oh for ****'s sake. Get off it, Fang. She wants to watch your back, that's what we're ****in' supposed to do. Remember?"
Fang2. "Actually, that might be kinda hot. Wrestling in armor..."
Claws. "You're not ****in' HELPIN', Fang2."
Fang2. "I'd say I was sorry, but damn, I'm not."
Claws. "We'll stick the **** together."
Fang. "I knew you'd come down on her side."
Claws. "Of course you did, because she's ****in' RIGHT. When she's ****in' wrong, I'll tell her that too. Got a ****in' problem with that?"
Fang. "Yeah. Who died and made you Scythe?"
Claws steps toward her. Spots grabs his arm. He stops moving. Finally, he says, "You got an issue, Fang, you take it out on someone else. Not the team shielding your ****in' rifle while you shoot the bad guys."
Fang. "You calling me a glory hound?"
Absolute silence.
Fang2. "Uh, guys... the engineers are staring. Can we keep it in the family? Like, later?"
Fang. "This isn't over."
Claws. "The hell it's not."
Fang2, relieved. "Crabs!"
They spend a tense patrol handling minor crab incursions. Shift change approaches.
Claws. "Claws to Relief, you up?"
[Team Kitty] [Hairball] : Yeah, we're up.
Fang2. "****, what's wrong, you sound like your mom died."
[Team Kitty] [Hairball] : One of Dusty's dogs just bit it.
Claws. "****, say again?"
[Team Kitty] [Hairball] : One of the guys in the coma. They just lost him.
Fang, whispering. "****."
| 25. Taking Care of Business. | 27. Solidarity. |
|---|
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