#chorus bits.

“Kinda yeah. I mean, You just started to talk to me about intelligence like it matters. That’s why Grif didn’t tell us that he’s some kinda super genius and probably thinks none of us have noticed it. He didn’t tell us he was a medic until one of us nearly DIED. “ Tucker shook his head. “ And he was able to live with us because no one gives a shit. Well… no one who’s alive now does. Except for Simmons. But that ‘s cause he’s insecure.”

“Pot calling the kettle.” Washington sniped. Tucker glared at him and rolled his eyes again.

“Yeah. I’m insecure. So sue me, I’m used to being treated like I’m stupid and I just learned to act like this so no one expects much from me. Same reason Grif acts like he does. We don’t want to have to do stuff we don’t want to do.”

“… Ah. So it’s not lazieness?”

“Not with Grif, it’s not. He doesn’t… want the responsibility. ‘Cause something happened… something really bad. He won’t tell me about it.” Tucker shook his head. “Same with Caboose. I can tell bad shit happened to them. And to Doc too… But I don’t ask them about it cause we have this rule. We don’t talk about our lives before we came here. That would make it harder for us to fight each other. And hurt more when…”

“...Did someone die before Caboose came in?”

“Yeah. Our Commanding officer died. Church accidentally poisioned him with Asprin.”

Washington made a face. “ That’s… a rare allergy…” he said.

“...And the Red team lost someone too. But she might’ve just abandoned them and went Awhol. Sarge never told us what happened. She was just gone one day and no one said a word about her since.”

Tucker paused. “ That Herandez chick… that’s on the maroon team, she sounds like her. “

Washington nodded his head. “Carolina will find out if that’s the same person.”

“It doesn’t matter if she is. Grif would just be happy to know she’s still alive.” Tucker shrugged.

“You know, Grif and Caboose are the smartest human members of the Blood Gulch squad. Sarge is smart too. Actually...everyone in Blood Gulch is smarter than most of the people in the Freelancer project. “ Washington mumbled.

“...Wash, We don’t care about that.” Tucker said.

“...Look,I’m not mad and I don’t think Caboose would hold it against you but … don’t talk about mental capacies or intelligence around Grif or anyone else. You’re going to make them uncomfortable. “ Tucker said after David did not respond.

“I know. I’m just..trying to say that I like being with you all. And I want to stay with you.” Washington said.

“Dude… no one is going to kick you out. Chill out.” Tucker breathed, gently shoving Washington’s shoulder. “Caboose loves you and… S-so do I.”

“Where is Grif?” he called on the radio.

“What?” Grif’s annoyed, exasperated voice came on. “I’m kinda busy?”

“...Caboose needs your help.”

There was nothing for a moment. “Fuck. Hold on.” Grif left his radio on and they heard the entire exchange between the married couple. Neither of them was surprised to see Simmons had come along. Grif needed his nurse.

“Oh ...Fuck.” Grif breathed as he crouched down. “...Shit…” he swallowed loudly. “I’ll do what I can to stabilize him but you gotta call Dr. Grey to come get him,” he said, his voice strained. Tucker knew that tone. He had been around Grif long enough to know that was not a good sign. Grif was scared.

That was really bad.

A barrier went up around Grif and the others. Tucker blinked, looking back at that. How did… Caboose do that? Or was it… No, Grif had never done that before. Simmons could not have altered his… It didn’t matter as long as they had a shield.

Tucker felt numb, the shock of this was too much. He turned and looked out at the battlefield. Went back to firing and fighting. His mind was distracted but he managed to disable or kill most of the enemy soldiers.

When he came back, Washington was helping the soldiers to put Caboose into the flatbed of the Truck. But he was not the only one. Sarge was the only one who was able to stand. Simmons looked like hell. His right arm was gone. Parts and wires hung out of the socket and… Grif.

God, Grif - he looked like he was dying. Because he was… he…

Tucker remembered nothing else. Other than Washington turning to look at him and then rushing forward. “LAVERNIUS! “

The next thing he knew, he was sitting on a chair in a white-walled room next to Washington. Caboose was in the bed, covered in wires and asleep. But his heart was beating, and his brain activity was all over the place.

“...Fascinating…” Dr. Grey said. “...I’m amazed that he is able to deal with them being in there.” she was being cryptic. Tucker missed the explanation of what she and Washington were talking about.

“I could barely hold one… Caboose is amazing.”

“… We can’t remove them...without risking his health so,” Dr. Grey shrugged. “ Nothing I can do. Not that I would. They seem to be helping him. And that barrier you mentioned…”

Tucker began to tune out the nerd speak. He looked at Caboose.

It hit him like a ton of bricks to the head. Caboose almost died that day. And… where was Tucker? Fighting… getting all the ‘ glory ‘ … using a suit powered by their friend… who erased himself… to save them.

And Caboose … Epsilon’s best friend, almost died.

If that guy was here, he would be chewing Tucker out. Church would let him have it.

Tucker wondered where Simmons and Grif were. If Grif made it out. 

He stood up and walked out. Washington did not notice in time to stop him.

Tucker hovered outside the room that housed Grif and Simmons. Looking in through the narrow blinds at the scene. Simmons talking to that Bitters kid. And suddenly the kid was crying. Tucker felt his blood run cold.

Please not Grif. I can’t… lose another friend.

But what about CABOOSE?

Tucker started running. He reached the roof and pushed open the door. There he found Carolina, staring blankly at Chorus’s cityscape.

Tucker froze at the door when she turned and looked at him. She nodded her head. “… I’m going to stick around,” she said. “ I...promised him that I would watch over you all. And I keep mine.”

Tucker awkwardly gave a thumbs up. He walked into the stairwell and down a step. Then sunk down on the next row.

Tucker kept losing friends. God or whatever must hate me.

He walked back into Caboose’s room and sank down next to the bed. His hand gripped Caboose’s hand tightly.

“...Don’t. You dare. Leave me too, Asshole.”

The next thing that Tucker knew, Caboose was awake. Alert as ever and chatting with Washington as though he had not been fighting for his life a day ago.

Dr. Grey was baffled by his recovery time. Muttered something about Them again. Tucker ignored it. He went right back to his normal banter with Caboose. Caboose looked strange without his helmet. There was something beautiful about how handsome his face was. The way his floppy, reddish-brown hair framed it. The warmth in his light grey eyes.

Tucker paused.. reddish brown? He remembered it was dark brown the last time he saw Caboose without his helmet. It had been a long time.

Caboose never took his armor off. 

He was paranoid like that. The last time, Church had pulled it off him. Lectured him, in a shrill tone of voice, and Caboose had completely ignored the whole thing.

But Caboose’s helmet was in his hands.

“ You’re very lucky, Yeong-Su…” Dr. Grey said. Caboose snapped his head to look at her. “ Caboose is fine, Doctor,” he said. His voice sounded strange.

“Right. Whatever. I’m going to hold you for another day but as long as you don’t crash – again – I’ll let you leave tomorrow. “ they said.

She glanced at Tucker. After shaking her head, Dr. Grey turned and looked at Washington. “ Keep an eye on him for the next week,” they said.

Caboose looked down at his helmet and started to put it back on.

“No. Leave that off for today. You can put it on tomorrow.” Washington said, patting Caboose’s hand. “No one is going to take it from you.” he eyed Tucker. “Right? “

“ Yeah… I don’t want it. It probably stinks in there.” Tucker huffed, putting a nonchalant air. Caboose stared at him and looked down.

“You don’t have to stay here with me, Tucker. Go check and see if Griff is alive.” Caboose said. Tucker tensed up. He stood and let out a huff. “ Fine… But I’m going to come back and report my findings to you guys. So… See you later.” he waved and rushed out of the room.

"Oh... Sorry. These are Captain Rings! " Simmons said, taking one of them and putting it on his index finger.

"Oh..." Grif looked at the ring left. It had an orange star in the middle.

"... Wait. What did you Th-"

"... Forget it. Thanks, " Grif took it and placed it on his right hand's third finger.

Simmons's face flushed immediately. " DEX!! That's the wrong finger!'

"Is it? " Grif made no move to fix its placement.

" I'm hungry. I'll be in the cafeteria." Grif said with a smile.

When Grif saw Simmons later, he noticed the ring had changed fingers to the same placement as his own. Grif snickered and scouted up to him.

"Don't take off your ring unless you're a coward," he whispered

"Dexter Grif..., You're impossible. " Simmons grumbled.

Now he realized why they did. They were all plotting against him.

He remembered why he made the rings in the first place. That moment when he was once again, forced to realize how much Grif meant to him.