|
|
March 23rd, 2032, Greater Neo York
Master Sargeant John Poole looked around as he walked through the wooden door. The room was made of plain wood, with almost no furnishings except for a desk, a computer, and reams of papers organized in a way known only to one man. That man sat across the desk, looking at John, who looked back. Streaks of gray ran through his hair, and a scar ran across his forehead. The man got up, walked forward and clasped John in his arms.
"It's good to see you, John."
"Been a while, Sam."
Both friends grinned.
"You haven't changed at all, man."
"Neither have you... ya old fart." Poole grinned. "Look at you... sittin' in a wooden presidential chair, gray in your hair - and you look out of shape, too - just as always."
Wychin grinned. "Well, it's probably a good thing you shaved that beard off... I hear the little guys living there started their own civilization - and you know what we do to non-human civilizations..."
Poole nodded. The conversation continued on for a long while, not really going anywhere. In the words of Wychin - 'a pair of old geezers remembering the old days'. The conversation was interrupted by the door opening and a middle-aged woman walking in and tossing a computer disk into a pile of papers. Then, she gasped.
Poole turned around and gasped as well. "Sophie?"
"John?"
Wychin walked over, grabbed the disk and then walked over to the computer. After putting the disk in, he looked up.
"So, John... I hear you want to get back into the action?"
"That's the gist of it, Sam." Poole replied. "I've had enough sitting on my ass... I hear you've got a few openings on the Cold Force..."
Wychin nodded. "That I do. The new lieutenant's a little green... in fact,
the entire unit's a little green, ever since that unfortunate Dallas accident.
I gotta tell you... I wish I could go out there again. I mean, shuffling papers
around is a noble occupation - " He grinned a little, as did Sophie. " - but
nothing beats blasting the shit out of some alien bastard for stress relief..."
"So head out to the training base - I'll authorize a 'live-fire' excercise so you
and the guys can get together... " Wychin paused for a second. "Big things are
happening... and I want someone out there I can trust."
Poole nodded and saluted. "Yes sir!"
"Dismissed, Sargeant." Wychin returned the salute.
"See you around, John." Sophie smiled.
As Poole walked out, Wychin leaned back and rubbed his chin. Maybe I should go out there anyway...
Written on April 4th, 2000 by Andrew Pokrovski AKA President Samuel Wychin