by S. A. Tholin
"What does that mean, exactly?" she asked.
"It means that you will be my second-in-command. I run Room 642, and my purpose is to destroy the red demon. You will have access to all our resources, to Major Juneau's research and, if direct action needs to be taken, Rampart will provide ships and Scathach Banneret Company will do what they do best."
"You are aware of my personal relationship with Commander Cassimer?"
"It didn't seem to hurt on Cato or on Earth. In fact, perhaps it's exactly what we need. That's what the new posters are selling, isn't it?"
"Captain Somerset has been a big help putting together the new campaign," Hawthorne said. "It's rare for soldiers to volunteer to participate in the promotional aspect of Bastion, but we do appreciate it."
"It's important to me that what we did on Earth isn't misrepresented," she said. "It wasn't about fighting corruption or hate for RebEarth. It was about trust, and what we can accomplish if we stand together."
"Excellent," Hawthorne said.
"If personal feelings are a concern, Scathach has other commanders available if you ever feel that your judgment might be clouded. Commander Polmak has already expressed an interest," Vantage said. "So, what do you say, Somerset?"
"On one condition."
"Name it," he said, in a way that made her think the sky was the limit.
"Can I have a week's leave first? A friend is renovating her kitchen, and I promised I'd help out."
The towerman smiled with a warmth Hammersmith had never possessed and extended his hand. "It's a deal, Captain."
* * *
In the corridor outside the office, Juneau stopped by one of Bastion's new posters. It showed the seven defenders of the Earth on a cliff high above a burning sea, their commander's boot firmly on the skull of a hideous demon dripping with tentacles. Barring Constant and Joy, none of the team were identifiable, though that didn't stop Hopewell from pointing herself out to anyone in her vicinity. The single word on the poster read UNITY.
"I've started working on a neural network," Juneau said, "but I suppose I can bring you up to speed next week. We're colleagues now, after all."
"How about friends?"
Juneau grimaced, folding her hands behind her back. "How about colleagues who regard one another with mutual, if begrudging, respect?"
"Mine's not begrudging."
"No, but mine is doubly so."
Joy laughed, and after a moment, Juneau's grimace smoothed into a smile.
"I suppose it might not be awful working with you."
"Well, that's a start. See you next Monday, Major Juneau."
* * *
Constant waited in the park. Fresh grass had begun to spring from the ground, the sky once more a bright and artificial blue. He had brought the orchid and had already prepared a hole, but they replanted it together, patting damp soil around its fine stems.
"Do you think it'll thrive?"
"It has the sun and the earth." She interlocked her fingers with his and looked up into his eyes, as dark and rich as the soil. "All it needs now is love."
"Then it has everything it needs."
thank you for reading
LONELY CASTLES
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