Spots: Roles and Protocol

A Web Serial by M.C.A. Hogarth

68. Mother's Council.	70. Avalanches Start Slowly.

69. Roles and Protocol

Avril. "This is... serious. Is there any way we could tell for certain? That they're running a... a lab?"

Samuel-Colt. "Possibly. We would have to smell one of the children while still alive."

Claws. "**** that, we can't put you anywhere near them, they might eat your brain and then we'd be ****ed six ways to Sunday."

Avril. "Eat his brain?"

A very pained silence.

Spots, quiet. "He doesn't know...?"

Avril. "Know what?"

Peaches. "The crabs, they eat one another's brains. While they're still alive. It lets them absorb memories and knowledge. They've been trying to do it with us, but we're too different from them for it to work."

Avril: !

Avril. "Why the **** weren't we told??"

Peaches. "Maybe it would make us hate them too much."

Claws. "Hatin' the enemy too much didn't hurt us at Iwo Jima."

Before Gunny can say anything, Avril says: "You're a real smart ***, you know that, Corporal?"

Claws. "Yes, sir!"

Spots, interrupting before Peaches, Gunny or Avril can respond: "This can't be the first test-bed, Samuel-Colt. The... Enemy... might not innovate often, but they must have at some point in order to fight us in so many environments."

Samuel-Colt, uneasy melody. "You are correct, Mother-soldier. But not all labs are successful. As we have explained before to your escort, our engineering attempts are... hit-or-miss. Many more of the latter than the former. We believe that you have the misfortune of having stumbled onto a lab with a higher success ratio."

Avril. "That just makes it all the more important that we do something about it. Maybe we could capture the Queen?"

Peaches. "We'd have to get into the breeding chamber for that, and you heard what that would be like. It's suicidal without more people."

Avril, frowning a little. "We'll have to ask for more people, then." At Peaches's expression: "No, no, I'm not going to throw us at something we have no chance of taking—"

Claws mutters something that sounds like, "Thank ****."

"—but if we can get reinforcements and we have a chance, this is an amazing opportunity, Savannah. Let's push it up the chain and see if we can get some support for it."

Samuel-Colt, rising note. "Lieutenant-Paul-Avril is correct. To capture or destroy one of the few Queens breeding new designs would be a powerful blow against the Enemy."

Peaches. "All right. But we need real support. Not another half-strength company, a quarter of whom are in sickbay."

Avril winces. "Ouch." Lifts his hands at her expression. "No, I agree with you completely."

Samuel-Colt. "May we do anything else for you?"

Peaches faces him and bows awkwardly. "Not right now. Thank you, Samuel-Colt. You've been very helpful."

Samuel-Colt. "It is our greatest desire."

The two officers leave. Gunny hangs back and gives Claws the Eye. "I should rip a ****ing strip out of your hide, Corporal, but I think I'll leave the pleasure to your sergeant."

Samuel-Colt, rising arpeggio, staccato. "Pardon me, Maiden's Escort."

Surprised at the interruption, Claws and Gunny look at him.

Samuel-Colt. "We understand you must maintain discipline within your ranks. But among us, a Mother's Escort has the right to speak when he believes he must, to save the Mother from potential danger."

Gunny. "..."

Claws. "..."

Samuel-Colt, low drone. "The Mother's Escort spoke to point out issues with the officers' plans, or to share relevant information. That is his duty."

Gunny. "I don't want to offend you, sir—"

Samuel-Colt, sharp note, once, bounced. "Then do not." Tilting head. "You have left your maiden unescorted." Which is so clearly a dismissal that Gunny leaves.

When the three of them are alone, Claws says: "Aww, ****, Sam. You didn't have to do that."

Samuel-Colt, falling note. "You are presuming we did it on your behalf, Mother's Escort. But we did not."

Claws. "Come again?"

Spots, murmuring, "It's because you need them to remember you're a Violinist, isn't it? And to give you the proper respect, and to use your protocols when interacting with you." She looks up. "Otherwise, we might ask you for things you can't do and then get upset because we think we have the right, and that you don't have the right to refuse."

Samuel-Colt bows to her.

Claws. "Uh. Hmm. Damn."

Spots, scowling. "Would you STOP that? I've been listening to you curse all evening. I want to punch you!"

Both males stare at her. Claws busts out laughing.

Spots sighs. To Samuel-Colt, she says: "I sympathize with you. No one takes me seriously either." She looks at him. "You gave us really useful information today and it must have been really hard for you. Can we do anything for you? As a thank-you?"

Samuel-Colt, spreading upper hands. "It is a kind thought, Mother. I do not know what I would ask for."

Spots thinks. Then: "You're usually listening to music when we visit you in your room. Would you like me to bring you some music? Things I like? We could share."

Samuel-Colt, startled rising glide. "Ah? Yes...! Yes, that would be interesting."

Spots. "All right. After our next patrol." She bows, more gracefully than Peaches. "Good night, Samuel-Colt."

Samuel-Colt. "Mother. Mother's Escort. You are always welcome."

Spots and Claws spend the walk to the barracks in silence. Once in their room:

Spots. "You know, you're not doing a great job of making them think you're dumb."

Claws. "What now?"

Spots. "The accent you turn on and off when you want to fool people into thinking you're uneducated? It doesn't work very well if you keep saying smart things. Lieutenant Bonnet's not dumb, Claws. I don't think Lieutenant Avril is either."

Claws. "What the hell smart thing did I say?"

Spots. "It's not just one thing. It's everything." She looks at him. "You think like an officer, Travis."

Claws glances at her, wide-eyed.

Spots pulls the blanket over her shoulder. "Just saying. Night, Claws."

68. Mother's Council.	70. Avalanches Start Slowly.