Friend or Foe

The Five shuffled uncertainly along the tunnel they’d emerged in. Their hearts still pounding enthusiastically after the close Hit Mark / HH Holo (depending on which way your brain was currently wired) escape.

Alex didn’t know why the navy were out here, or why they were wearing such fancy armour these days, but he sure was glad someone had come in to help bale out his squad. Perhaps…

Perhaps they could save Jacob after all.

He gave McReady a quick tight smile - even if she was still dressed like a smeggin’ ridiculous Barbie doll. He grunted a reminder about uniform and looked up at the tall Master Chief, who he’d previously mistaken for Jarvis.
“You came in, just for us?”
“What’s that, dude?” The guy, was preoccupied, looking around with the other armoured one, apparently trying to get some kind of bearing, or clue that they were moving in the right direction.

Alex’s squad was just ten men, one of the few squads still remaining in the hive zone of this godsforsaken rock, it was welcome, but surprising, that anyone would be dispatched to assist them. Especially as the whole slaughterous operation was pretty hush-hush. And why now? They’d needed backup for months. Relief, aid, supplies. Escape.
Hmm. And why the navy, not infantry? Had everyone else died? In this sickness, he wouldn't rule it out, but why hadn’t Lt. Green said anything?
Lt. Green suited his name. He was inexperienced and – unlike the majority of decent, commissioned superiors - thought his being a commissioned officer, meant he was better than the dregs like Alex, who’d signed up without any relevant certificates, and qualified the other way.
Lt Green was a jerkoff butterbar, but he’d have alerted them. Unless…

“Why are you here? Alex's suspicion meter was edging into the red.
“What do you mean? I’m…”
“And why did you call McReady ‘Doctor Jade’?” He snapped, semi-wondering why the name Doctor Jade seemed so familiar, and why it gave him the urge to hold McReady.
Now, ‘course, Alex respected rank, regardless of what branch of the military a person was from, but this guy… he was a h-
“You’re one of them, aren’t you!?” He accused, voice dripping with venom. “You’re a f*ckin’ holo! Gotta be!”
He nudged Jamie. “This guy’s a fuckin’ holo! See 'im off, corporal.”
“Uh, I-“

Poor Jaxx was bewildered and looked at Evelina for guidance. She shrugged.
Then a thought hit him. “Do you have one of those nasty bugs on you again, dude?”
“Bugs!?” Shrieked Solvay. “You’re listening in on us? Monitoring our communications as well?”
He flipped his communicator open and relayed a nonsensical, garbled message to ‘HQ’. Jade wondered what the hell the others would make of that little gem, if they were still receiving.

Noticing the corporal hadn’t yet attempted to grind the - remarkably non-killy - holo to dust, Solvay stalked towards it, his demeanor suggesting he believed that sheer furious willpower alone would get the big guy to admit his status as a head-humping-holo.
“I wanted it to be true!” Alex shouted at him. Jamie looked around, worried the noise would attract some other horrible foe. Hadn’t they been through enough today already?
“I thought you were here to help!” continued Mr Ranty.

Alex’s bad experience in the Belt partially explained his present-day aversion to any kind of responsibility or leadership, he’d endured a terrible kind of responsibility out there. He'd hoped this navy hulk was gonna take the weight off his shoulders. Make it better.
“Terrible!” He bellowed, referring to both said burden of responsibility - and its horrific consequences - and the holo's underhand tricksterism.
Had Jaxx been shorter, the yell would probably have steamed the outside of his visor.
McReady (or Jade, depending on your perspective) put a calming hand on Solvay’s arm. “It’s okay, Al- Sarge.”

The large, armoured individual stared down at him, well, it felt like he was staring at him - it was difficult to tell through the helmet.
“What? No dude, it’s okay, I-“ he protested, not really knowing what Alex was harping on about.
“He’s one of us.” McReady comforted, her voice soft and soothing.

McReady had never lied to him before. He took a step back, and tore his suspicious gaze from the towering MC, looking into the girl’s brown… no, grey, eyes.
“Don’t look like one of us” he pointed out. She nodded. “He is”.
“But…”
“Trust me…”
Trust. He knew that he should never, ever, trust anyone, about anything… But, for some reason, this time… He did.
“Okay” he moved out of Jaxx’s way and sat down, leaning against the wall.
“Why does he keep kneeling and sitting down?” Jamie hissed.
“Give him a break, he’s… Not well.”

The wall. Dark, muddy, curved… Just like-
He began to internally crumble again.

Running feet scuffed distantly, heading their way.
“Guys...” The beard-sprouting corporal warned.
“Eve babe, c’mon!” Ushered the navy guy to his fellow armoured 'sailor'. The three started to move off. Let 'em.
“Sarge!” Barked McReady... Jade... Barbie... whoever the smeg she was.
But he’d given up. He lit a fag.
“Nah. Go.” He let out an enormous sigh. “I’m tired of running.”
Jade blinked. The feet were getting closer.
“I’m not leaving you here you big twit! Up!”
“Show a little respect, McReady. Now smeg off. I’ll be fine.” He waved his SNIG half-heartedly to prove the point. “I can handle myself.”
“Alex don’t be a…” Jade scratched around in desperation for an appropriate word “… dork! Come on!”
“So tired” he admitted, and she wasn’t sure whether he was addressing her or McReady.
“On your feet, soldier" she demanded.
The footsteps were nearing.
“Now!”
“All right, all right” he hauled himself reluctantly up.
Snatching at him, Jade blew out a huff of relief, and dragged the confused man down the corridor, behind the retreating Jamie, Jaxx and Evelina.
"My fag" Alex moaned, having dropped it on Jade's jerk.

“In here!” Jamie had spotted a door.
“I only wanted a rest” Alex murmured, as they all piled through, and into a very dark room.

“It’s dark…” someone pointed out the obvious.
“Shh” Jade commanded – the one truly in charge of the ‘fabulous five’.
"Shall I get out my flashlight?"
"No."
“Why’re we hiding?” Alex whispered “I say let’s get out there, and blow the smeggers to oblivion…”
Jade pulled him down behind what felt like a cupboard and clapped a hand over his mouth.

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<Tag Jade>