Pembrook strides through the
arch, the kid still holding tightly to his neck like a monkey. Behind the
confident stride of the sergeant streams a small cadre of ragged and worn
people. The Sergeants voice booms through the large cavern. "Chief!"
The supply Chief looks up from his clipboard and spots the small group.
Hurrying forward, the Chief reaches them and stops. His eyes graze the small
group of people then turns to Pembrook.
"You're back
then." He says. Pembrook inclines his head.
"Sure as there's shit
in a pig pen!" He responds, grinning. His white teeth shining like a
beacon through his dirt encrusted face.
Shaking his head in disgust
the Chief turns back to face the crowd behind him. "Welcome to The
Resolute. It'll be tight but we've space for you." The Chief says. Turning
to the aide that had followed behind. "Log em and pack em in."
Dismissing the small group from his mind he turns back to Pembrook and the
small boy still held in his arms. Reaching out, the Chief makes to relieve him
of his burden. Pembrook takes a step back, shaking his head.
"That's alright Chief,
I'll take him to the med bay. I need to go there anyway before I report to the
Captain."
The Chief nods. "Glad
to have you back you damn guttersnipe." Pembrook laughs and slaps the
Chief on the back, almost sending him sprawling to the hard ground. The Chief
grunts and steadies himself. "Get the kid scanned then you're free to head
to med bay. Oh and get yourself cleaned up before you meet the Captain. He's
waiting for you on the Bridge." The Chief turns and starts to walk away,
but suddenly turns back. "Any estimate on how many more refugees I can
expect?" He asks.
The glum look on Pembrook's
face gave him an answer even before he responded. Shaking his head Pembrook
said. "No Chief, I don't think there'll be many more."
A disbelieving look crossed
the Chief's face. "But, we've barely had six thousand people show up.
Resolute town has over fifty thousand people! Surely it's not that bad out
there?" He whispers. The awestruck terror on his face begging Pembrook to
say something different.
Laying a hand on the Chief's
shoulder, he sighs. "Yes, it's that bad. God done took a heaping big shit
on us my dear friend. The town is a wasteland. I went out there with ten men.
They were dead in minutes. It's sheer luck that I survived, that and spotting
this little fella in the rubble." He rubs the boys back and sighs.
"Let's hope it's just our own fair corner of the world being hit."
Grimacing, he turns and
walks away.
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