#final stretch

the argument pt15

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It was an average, peaceful day of flight and language drills when the message came in that a rogue gunship was pinged heading towards the eastern sea. Spider had just made peace with his earlier emotional spiral, only to be rocked by this sudden punch to the gut. The change in the Colonel was immediate and unnerving, Blue Leader was suddenly all business, and barking orders.

Spider found himself hurrying like he used to when he was a kid, a little human among Na'Vi who had trouble keeping up. Inconvenient, unwanted. Everywhere he turned, he was in the way, being shoved around by the RECOMs as they prepped their gear. Quaritch made sure he kept up, but it was clear the man's patience had gone brittle.

"Listen kid," Quaritch pulled him aside, before they made ready to depart. "I want you to keep your head down on this one, none of your usual lip, you read?" Spider nodded numbly.

"Good." If the Colonel noticed his anxiety, he chose to overlook it.

Truth be told, the sick feeling that gripped Spider had banished any hint his usual antics. He silently prayed that the intel they'd received was some kind of a fluke, watching the chaos unfold around him in a dreamlike state.

RECOM flew out as soon as the they were granted resources by Ardmore to search a large archipelago. The captain of the commandeered Sea Dragon, Scoresby, wasn't happy when they arrived on deck to take command. The crew eyed them through the windows, their faces a mixture of suspicion and fascination.

The whole thing made Spider nervous. On one hand, it was kinda cool, rolling up with the big dogs and taking over a huge ship. He was impressed with the level of command Quaritch had; these people respected, feared him even. That same commanding presence also disturbed him.

The change in the Colonel resurrected Spider's fears from the old stories he'd heard, the ones about the ruthless head of security that destroyed hometree and viciously killed innocent people.

Spider watched this new Quaritch carefully, trying to reconcile him with the man who had earned his respect over their many months together; the man he almost started to think of as a father.

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Start

ONLY FOUR CHAPTERS REMAIN IN ECLIPSED. I TOOK WORK OFF TOMORROW. SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE I WILL BE PREOCCUPIED UNTIL THIS MONSTER IS FINALLY FINISHED ASDFGHJKL

Last 24 hours wowie! Tomorrow around 1PM CST the campaign ends 🖤✨ 5 regular pins to choose from, 1 free mini pin + sticker! Happy November, get cozy everyone!

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