Spots: New Digs

A Web Serial by M.C.A. Hogarth

61. Alien Porn, Alien Humor.	63. Sickbay.

62. New Digs

The Warren. Team Kitty is on patrol.

Fang. "This has been like a ****ing vacation lately."

Claws. "Complain, complain."

Whiskers. "You got to practice your headshots a couple times last corridor over."

Fang. "I don't need practice making shots that ****ing easy."

Hairball. "It is weird. The new guys get here and the crabs hole up."

Whiskers. "Or maybe we killed them all?"

Fang. "You never finish killing the ****ing crabs."

Whiskers. "Still wish there was more for the newbies to do. Makes us look like ****ing ****ies, having them get here to relieve us from ****ing nothing."

Spots. "Does it really bother you that much?"

Whiskers, glancing her way. "**** yes. You seen them in the gym? They're ****ing hardcore."

Fang. "I like them. They're serious about ****."

Whiskers. "You would like them. But like you said before, we're no Dragon Team."

Claws. "Maybe. But this ain't no summer blockbuster either. They think they can go Rambo on **—crap here, they're gonna learn different real quick."

Scythe. "I'm sure there'll be enough work for all of us eventually." At the sudden silence on the com line: "Like Fang says. You never finish killing the ****ing crabs."

A few moments later:

Whiskers. "..."

Whiskers. "Did you say... crap just then? Crap? Seriously?"

Claws. "I'm man enough to use the word "crap," I promise. You're not sure, we can duke it out after class."

They patrol in silence until the next bend, then:

Whiskers. "Seriously?"

Claws shakes an armored fist at him. Hairball snickers. Spots says nothing, but she's grinning.

They complete their patrol with minimal action, return to the Armory and peel down. In the corridor, Spots says to Claws, "Back to the barracks?"

He puts his hand on her shoulder. "Nope. New digs, remember?"

Spots. "You talked to him? He said yes?"

Claws. "I think I can handle one alien, Spots."

Spots laughs. "All right. Let's go!"

They retrieve their practice gear and head up-country to the Door, are waved through and make their way to the testing facility. Claws palms open the door and they step inside: a huge open space, high-tech target dummies, projector fields, recording equipment...

Claws. "Aww, yeah. Now we're talkin'. We just leveled up, you and me. Let's get crackin'!"

61. Alien Porn, Alien Humor.	63. Sickbay.