“Get lost, you bunch of idiots,” Hammersmith said as he flicked a spent marijuana roach onto the sand in front of the not-so-secret front door of the core redoubt. “I’m sick to death of lookin’ at your faces.”
“Don’t worry, Dr. H.” Krysty threw her arms around him and gave him a hug. “We love you, too.”
Hammersmith rolled his eyes. “Get the fuck off me,” he snarled, but he didn’t seem to be in any hurry to break off the hug.
The rest of the companions went on loading their gear into the wag they’d commandeered from the redoubt. It had been two days since the battle of the core, and they were finally recovered from the ordeal and ready to move on.
The wag wasn’t much, just a weathered Humvee from what was left of the redoubt’s motor pool, but it would be better than marching on foot. The dome light shone like a little beacon in the gritty gray predawn glow, flashing to life every time someone opened a door.
“You sure this bucket of bolts will get us where we’re going?” J.B. asked as he heaved a crate of MREs and canned goods in the back.
“Out of the Shift? Hell yes.” Hammersmith managed a grateful nod to Krysty as she ended the hug. “But if you keep up your bitching about the wag, I’ll toss the keys and let you walk.”
“Other Doc not talk like that.” Jak grinned as he loaded ammo boxes in the back. “Good thing you stay here.”
Hammersmith flipped him the bird. “You couldn’t pay me enough to come along with you bastards.”
“Good!” Jak snapped. “Not invited!”
Everyone laughed.
Ryan started the engine and let the Humvee idle while they finished loading. The sun was just rising, and the companions wanted to get an early start.
That sunrise, in fact, was of particular interest to Doc. He stood apart from the others and watched it in progress, admiring the pink, orange and gold colors of the wispy chem clouds drifting over the horizon.
Ryan walked over to join him. For a moment, neither man said a word; they just let the stately movement flow before them, clouds and sun and planet ticking along like some magnificent cosmic clockwork.
Ryan was the one who finally broke the silence. “Krysty says she’s all clear. No more headaches.”
Doc nodded. “Good.” Sometime after the defeat of Union and her creature, Hammersmith had shut down the modified mat-trans unit. He’d trashed it, making sure it could never be switched on again. Since then, the Shift had stopped shifting. No more transformations, meaning no more early warnings for Krysty or Doc…so far anyway.
“So how’re you doing?” Ryan asked. “Shaking it off, I hope?”
Doc sighed. “Of course, my dear Ryan. What choice do I have?”
“Same as the rest of us.” Ryan put a hand on Doc’s shoulder. “Same as every other morning. Survive or die.”
“Agreed.” Doc watched as the sun bobbed up over the horizon, appearing in full for the first time that day. How many other sunrises would he see in this life of his? Not many, perhaps, given the deadly lands he was traversing. Yet, somehow, that made each one all the sweeter.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Ryan gave Doc’s shoulder a squeeze. “I’m glad you’re here to share it with us again.”
“There have been times, you know.” Doc frowned. “Times when I have wished my life was…otherwise. When I would rather have been anywhere else but here.” He cleared his throat softly. “Or nowhere at all.”
Ryan nodded. “I know the feeling.”
“But now…” Doc hesitated, considering his words. “I was given a choice. Be a victim, resign myself or fight to get back to my friends.” He nodded over his shoulder at the rest of the companions, working at the Humvee. “And I fought, Ryan. I fought my way back, because I realized this is worth fighting for.” He reached out a hand. “We are worth fighting for.”
Ryan took that hand and shook it. “Damn straight.”
“I would still give anything, you know,” Doc said quietly, “to have them back. My wife and children. But I would give anything to have this family back, as well.” He released Ryan’s hand and turned to watch his comrades loading the wag, their shared moment over.
As families went, the companions had their occasional disagreements; they didn’t always enjoy one another’s company.
But when one was hurt, the others rallied to help him or her. And when Doc dwelled too long on the nightmare his life had become, on the people and things he had lost because of fate’s cruel vagaries, his companions did the very best thing they could do for him.
They made him laugh. They helped him forget. They kept him human in a world full of inhumanity.
Sometimes it helped to be reminded.
“Looks as though they’re almost done packing the wag,” Ryan said. “What do you say we get the hell out of here, Doc?”
“Where to? Where are we headed?”
“The redoubt from our last jump, mebbe.” Ryan shrugged. “Away from here, that’s all I know for sure. Anywhere else will be better.”
“My dear Ryan, I would follow you to the gates of hell. Lay on, Macduff!”
* * * * *