#the o.r salute

[finchy4077]

just got to rewatching season 8 ep 4 & 5 no one hmu i’m hysterical

[drpierceandmrhyde]

top 5 hawkeye moments so far

I can’t rank them so I’m going chronologically

In “O.R.” when he learns that the patient he revived ultimately didn’t make it and the brief impromptu therapy session that results from his brief but very intense emotional breakdown. He sounds so close to crying when he says “I thought I got to him in time.” And when he says that he had no choice but to become a doctor because it’s all he’s ever cared about - it’s Hawkeye becoming a doctor because he wants to help people rather than him helping people because he’s a doctor.

The bit in “Dear Sigmund” when he walks around post-op in a tuxedo and flippers with the very clear goal of making the patients laugh. It’s an underrated demonstration of Hawkeye’s belief in the love and healing power of laughter.

When he salutes Radar in “Fallen Idol” and again in “Goodbye Radar, Part 2.” He has such disdain for the Army and everything it stands for and therefore almost never demonstrates any Army decorum, but he salutes a man of an inferior rank not once but twice. It’s so powerful.

Everything about the hypnotherapy scene in “The Billfold Syndrome.” “Sidney, his brother.” “Not that, too.” And when Jerry collapses sobbing into Sidney’s arms and Hawkeye puts his hand on Jerry’s back. He’s so compassionate. so compassionate. His compassion for traumatized patients is beautiful to see in general, but that scene in particular got to me.

Basically all of his interactions with the baby in “Yessir, That’s Our Baby.” He is so sweet and gentle with her and wants to do whatever it takes to get her into a semi-decent environment even though that’s all but impossible. It’s heartwarming, but the unintentional GFA foreshadowing kills me.

[sorry-i-spaced]

The Lost Hawk - Re-Imagined

I read a fanfiction a while back talking about how Hawkeye was a Hawk (the bird) but they never explained how he turned into a bird. I was talking about the fanfic with my friend last week and they challenged me to write my own version of how Hawkeye turned into a bird... so I present to you: The Lost Hawk - Re-imagined

“Battalion Aide needs a surgeon and I know none of you want to go, so we’ll be drawing tongue depressors,” said Colonel Potter as he motioned for Klinger to begin walking around to each surgeon so they could pull their fate. BJ picked first and a huge wave of relief washed over his face when he revealed a normal size stick in his hand. The next surgeon to go was Hawkeye. Lifting the stick from Klinger’s stash revealing the snapped in half stick, his face fell grim. 

“Har har har,” quipped Frank, thankful he could stay behind. 

Everyone knew how bad it was down at the front and everyone always feared the worst when it came their time to make a visit. 

“Alright Pierce!” Potter began. “I expect you to come back in one piece! Klinger will have your jeep ready in an hour.”

“Eye Eye Captain!”

“That’s colonel to you and just yes sir will suffice” 

“Yes sir,” mocked Hawkeye as he saluted and marched out of the office.

Frank looked at Potter and BJ and rolled his eyes, “what a do do.” 

****

Hawkeye has been on the road for a short amount of time. As he rounds a bend he sees a Korean soldier standing in the middle of the road flailing his arms about. Hawkeye comes to a stop and looks at the man.

“Uh, can I help you?” asks Hawkeye unsure of which side of the war this man was fighting for.

“Out” yells the man curtly. 

“I’m not an infantry man, I’m just a doctor, you don’t want me I promise I’m no fun” scrambles Hawkeye.

“Out” yells the man again. 

“Okay, I’m going” replies Hawkeye as he stumbles out of the jeep and raises his hands. The Korean leads Hawkeye off the main road. Once out of sight he spins Hawkeye around so that his back is facing him. He takes the butt of his gun and rams it across Hawkeye’s head. The blow knocks the man unconscious. 

****

MASH 4077 

“I hate that we must work under such primitive conditions,” whined Frank over his patient.

“Suction! Frank quit your yapping. I’ve only been here for a couple of months now and I already know that our unit is more advanced in equipment than other MASHs” retorted BJ.

Just then the O.R door burst open and in rushed Klinger.

“Colonel Potter! The aid station called Hawkeye never showed up. I put a call into some of the checkpoint MPs and they found Hawkeye's jeep. Untouched.But no Hawkeye to be found”

“Hawk? Potter you have to let me go find him” shouted BJ 

“Hunnicutt! It is no use to be down two surgeons! You need to stay here. Klinger get on the horn to ICorpse and tell them to put a look out for Pierce.” said Potter, surprisingly calm for the brevity of the situation. 

****

Unknown Location

Slowly opening his eyes Hawkeye notices he’s in a small room- looking to be no more than 5 x 10. He notices he’s lying on a small cot near the door and that he can feel the inner workings of a headache forming. That’s when he begins to feel the walls caving in. Jumping to his feet he begins taking heavy labored breaths. Stepping towards the door he shakes the handle. Locked. He soon begins banging on the door and screaming “Let me out!” “I can’t breathe!” “The walls are caving in” “get me out” 

Soon the door yanks open and standing before him is the Korean from before and two new guys who Hawkeye is sure are the head Korean’s goons. The two new guys are carrying a litter and restraints. Abandoning his current fear of death by small space he begins to fear the new one being presented ~ being operated on. The two Korean henchmen grab his arms and Hawkeye begins to kick and scream. Thrashing about. Somehow the men are unfazed and get him onto the litter and strap him down. 

Lifting the litter they follow the head Korean.

“You know, I’m perfectly healthy. No need to waste precious time and medical equipment on me.” Began Hawk. The men just keep on walking. 

“If this is about earlier, I’m fine. Just a little claustrophobic. It developed when my mom died.” 

Nothing. They had now plopped his stretcher down on an operating table. 

“Come on guys, I’m fine. I’m a doctor. You can trust me.” Tried Hawk one last time. 

A different Korean walked over to Hawkeye’s side, with a syringe full of a yellow-reddish substance. As a mash was being placed over his face he saw out of his peripheral vision the syringe being injected into his forearm.  That was the last thing he saw before darkness consumed him.

****

MASH 4077

“I won’t say it again Hunnicutt! If you try to go AWOL again I will put you under house arrest!” beckoned Potter. 

“Honestly sir, why don’t you because I will do it again. Why hasn’t anyone done anything!” cried BJ. 

“We are doing all that we can as fast as we can. But these things take time.” eased Potter.

“Ugh” grunted BJ as he began to walk away. 

“Klinger! Get Goldberg to stand watch outside the Swamp. He is to not let Hunnicutt out of his sight!” called Potter.

“Yes sir” saluted Klinger.

****

Unknown Location

Slowly opening his eyes, Hawkeye raises his head only to realize he was left lying on his stomach. Sitting up he hears the faintest bird flap. Looking over his shoulder to see if there was a window in the room that he somehow missed during his previous inventory. He is met with a mouthful of huge angelic white satin feathered wings. Touching the edges of them ever so gently he begins to cry. His sobs are anything but quiet. Alerting his captures of his awakeness, the door opens and the three Koreans from before are back. The two who restrained him before drag him to his feet and they drag him outside. 

Once outside they hoist him into a jeep and get in themselves. Once two miles from the 4077 the head Korean yanks Hawkeye to the ground and spits “Now your name fits you! Bye Bird Boy! Have fun learning to fly! If you give up, walk back the two miles back to your camp” and with that the three Koreans drive off laughing. 

Getting up off the ground Hawkeye begins attempting to teach himself how to fly. Each time falling flat on his face. Each time injuring a different part of his body. Finally giving up he remembers what the Korean had said.

Bye Bird Boy….walk back to camp

“Shit! No one will want me. Beej. My dad. Who wants a half bird half man as a son. Let alone a friend. With that he starts sobbing again. After a moment he composes himself and wipes the tears and snot off his face. He realizes what he must do. Trying to fly again, he begins flapping his wings harder and harder. He begins to lift off the ground and starts floating in the direction of camp. But he doesn’t want to go back to camp per say. What he is really looking for is trees and buildings. He doesn’t even care that he taught himself to fly anymore. He rams his body into as many trees and buildings until he feels like the injuries sustained are adequate enough that they might just kill him. He slowly lands back on the ground. Beginning to feel a concussion forming he lies down so he can seal his fate. In a hushed tone he whimpers out the words, “bye Beej. Sorry dad.” and shuts his eyes. 

****

MASH 4077

Due to the strange loud noises no one was accustomed to hearing Klinger was assigned to not only patrol the compound but the area surrounding Rosie’s Bar. On his second loop, the noises stop and Klinger notices a body lying next to Rosie’s Bar. Running over, he sees wings. And human legs! Not knowing what Chinese  medicine voodoo experimental shit he’s just stumbled upon he runs back into camp to wake Potter. 

“It’s half man half bird sir. Sorry to wake you.” stammered Klinger as the two rushed over to the unconscious body with a litter. 

“That’s quite alright son. Once we get him into pre-op, get Burns.”

“Not BJ?” asked Klinger confused on why Potter would choose Burns for a case so unamerican esc. 

“Hunnicutt is still on house arrest” replied Potter. 

In pre-op the doctors began assessing the man's wounds.

“This man has wings! That’s not natural” quipped Frank. 

“V-very good Frank” weakly shot back the unconscious man who was starting to wake up.

Frank turned his head uneasily, “Pierce?” he managed to get out.

“Live and in stereo”

Potter ran to his side. “Pierce! It’s good to see you. We need to fix your injuries” stated Potter calmly, taking on a rather fatherly tone. 

That triggered something in Hawkeye. 

“No! Leave me alone. Don’t touch me” he screamed as he thrashed around. Potter and Frank tried to hold the flailing man. 

“Pierce, come on buddy you know it’s routine to fix injuries.” reasoned Frank.

“No! You just want to hurt me like they did.” thrashed Pierce some more. 

“Klinger, get me a sedative!” called Potter

“You're just like them. You're not really getting a sedative. You're going to inject me with something else. I know it! Leave me alone -”

“-Owe! He’s biting me” yelled Frank whose arm was now in a Pierce teeth sandwich. 

Klinger ran back in and handed the syringe full of the sedative to Potter, who quickly slid it into Pierce’s forearm. 

Slowly the thrashing stopped and his jaw loosened just enough for Frank to yank his arm out of Pierce’s mouth. 

Opening his eyes to the sharp light of the post - op, Hawkeye quickly screwed them shut again. Opening them a 2nd time, more slowly this time, he notices BJ asleep in the chair beside his bed. Reaching out to touch his arm ever so slightly BJ jolts awake. Retracting his arm quickly Hawkeye stares. 

“Hawk!” 

“The one and only” 

“How are you?”

“Fine. Dandy. Mind telling me what’s the damage doc”

“Concussion, lacerations to the torso, broken ribs mostly in digits 5 and 6, lots of cuts and bruises, dislocated shoulder, oh and you have wings.” deadpanned BJ.

“Joyus” 

In walks Potter, noticing the boys chatting he walks over. 

“Pierce! You’re awake. I’m going to cut to the chase. You said some rather weird things before we sedated you. The weirdest one being that the people who took you injected you with stuff. What did you mean by that? 

“Colonel, I’m scared that they may have poisoned me. I watched them inject this yellow-reddish substance in my arm before they put me under. But I don’t know how many times before and after that, that they did it.” cried Hawkeye. 

Potter’s facial expression grew warm and sad. 

“I think we should get a blood sample and send it to Seoul. To see what we can do. I also think we should do another surgery to remove the wings they surgically implanted.”

BJ had at some point gotten up during the conversation and retrieved the necessary tools for extracting a blood sample.  He motioned for Hawkeye to give him his arm. Which he complied. 

“Colonel, I really don’t want another life altering surgery.” protested Hawkeye. 

“Pierce, it will help make things go back to normal”

“No! I don’t want it.” cried Hawkeye. 

BJ was just finishing up putting Hawk’s name on the sample tube and put it down before inserting himself into the conversation to try and remedy it. “ Hawk, I know it’s scary to go through not one but two life changing surgeries in the span of a few days. No one is saying it will be easy. But you know as well as I do that this will help make things go back to somewhat normal. I know we don’t know what exactly happened to you out there, but I want you to know that you're the bravest person I know.” tried Beej. 

“Fine. I’ll do the surgery” sighed Hawk

“Really! My speech worked?” asked Beej

“As long as it gets you to shut up then yes.” retorted Hawk.

****

Several Weeks Later

Hawkeye was sat up in the swamp on his cot hooked up to a makeshift blood transfusion machine. BJ was sat on his own cot reading Hawkeye’s hometown newspaper aloud to keep to his friend company during his weekly transfusion.  It had been hell the past several weeks. The surgery to remove the wings went swimmingly. Hawkeye was so happy he almost forgot they had to wait for his results from the blood sample to come back from Seoul that he got piss drunk and made out with a nurse. That was until news regarding his blood sample came back. The North Koreans did in fact try to poison Hawkeye.  Potter figured that transfusions would solve the problem. 

Beej stopped reading the article he was reading and lowered the newspaper to face Hawkeye. 

“What” asked Hawkeye

“God Hawk, I’m glad you're safe and sound.”

“Me and you both”

“I’ve missed you in O.R, Frank isn’t fun to torment alone”

“Potter figures I can get off biweekly transfusions by sometime next week, which means I can start helping out more in O.R and I can get back to chasing nurses and tormenting Frank”

“I heard that you ninnies”

The two laughed 

The End

[anon-e-miss]

Broken Vows - Part 2

Jazz wondered if he was building himself up for sparkbreak. First Aid had decreed that they would not open the pod here beneath Praxus. It was a precaution, but a reasonable one. Another mega-cycle in the sterile pod would not harm its occupant(s), but exposure to rust, or any other contaminants could be lethal to the mechanism(s). Reviving a mechanism from stasis could be a straightforward thing, or it could be complicated or even fatal. The spark fading was a real danger. Ratchet was best equipped at staving this dire complication off. Nonetheless, Jazz wished the pod had a window just so he could see for certain if it held Prowl, or Smokescreen, or some stranger. He told him, over and over, that he needed to be realistic, and he needed to temper hope. It was impossible. Finding those Cons with the corroded chassises had made the mad hope he had descended below Praxus with seem reasonable. It had taken only that little evidence to convince Jazz’s spark that Prowl had to be in that pod.

It had taken two mega-cycles to free the pod from the heavy, unstable rubble, and then one more to carefully lifted it up through the shaft, and then down the tunnel, and out to where Jackhammer had been hidden this entire time. The Jackhammer was not a roomy ship at the best of times. With a team comprised of large mechanisms, it had been a tight enough fit the flight over. Blade declared he would fly under his own power, and help guide the Jackhammer through the crevasses they would be flying through. Wheeljack had needed no guidance on flight to Praxus, he did not need it now. But with one fewer bot in the hull, the pod fit far more easily. It was still a squeeze. Jazz left the jump seats to the others, and sat on the floor, next to the pod. Wheeljack would have been back here fussy over his invention, but the flight path Jazz had assigned them prior to ever leaving Iacon required a high level of piloting skill, and familiarity of the craft, and that left Jackie in the pilot’s seat with Streetwise as his co-pilot. That post had been the saboteur’s on the flight in. No one questioned the change.

The flight home was rocky. To keep themselves below the Decepticon’s superior radar, Wheeljack had to fly extremely low, which meant a lot of quick, precise turns to avoid the occasional hill or cliff face. Jazz kept servo against the pod. It grounded him, and reassured him that the pod had been well really there. This was not a memory flux. The waking purge might still come. If the reality did not match his matchless hope. He need Prowl to be in this pod. He needed Smokescreen to be with him. In ten vorns he had come to terms with the grief for a loss that was not really his. It had only taken Wheeljack’s revelation about the Core to see the acceptance disappear, replaced by denial, hope. Would it take him another ten vorns to accept Prowl and Smokescreen were long lost if the pod opened and they were not in it? Or would that fresh grief finally drive him mad? Jazz believed he was strong enough to survive any torture, but to do so you had to want to live hard enough. Would he? Did he?

No one spoke the entire flight back to Iacon. Grapple was trying to keep his fuel tank under control and as the Jackhammer whipped left and right as he dodged the jagged terrain, Trailbreaker looked similarly ill. First Aid tended to Hot Spot.   The leader of the Protectobots had brushed off his gestaltmate’s attempts to tend to his tends in the previous mega-cycles. With nothing left to do until they landed in Iacon, Hot Spot finally surrendered himself to First Aid’s ministrations. The final Protectobot, Groove was silent. Overall, Jazz was happy with the silence. He did not want to pretend he was not holding himself together by a single wire. One half of him was elated, the other half despairing as if determined to believe only the worst could be possible. Jazz offlined his optics and will those thoughts away. Though his processor was conflicted, his spark was not. No, his spark soared with hope and elation. He was ever an optimistic fool.

At some point he must have slipped into recharge. Jazz was jerked awake as the Jackhammer landed. His helm whipped up. The guards on his arms opened but he did not draw his blades. As he regained controlled of his spark, he looked around to see his comrades in similar states. It was embarrassing, as an operative, to recharge on the job. He had not recharge more than a half joor here or there since leaving Iacon. Jazz had never recharged deeply, and never easily, certainly not on a mission. With this mission, with his spark so invested in the outcome, the saboteur had not been able to lower his guard enough to really rest. Soon, he would find his berth. As Jazz waited for the hatch to lower, his spark began to raise faster and far. He would go to his berth soon, but not until the pod was opened, and he knew.

Ratchet appeared on Wheeljack’s heals, and he trudged up the ramp after the good-natured inventor. He glanced about the hull, and finally settled his optics on Jazz. The mech in question gave him a casual salute. Jazz had no desire to distract the medic from his real job. Though the CMO had been a great ally in his later recovery, Jazz had written his broken code with the help of a medic called Meltdown. A psychologist rather than a mnemosurgeon, the even tempered medic had been precisely what Jazz had needed. It was rare for him to touch base with Meltdown anymore, just a couple times a stellar-cycle. With the discord in his processor, he might need to schedule a session, regardless of the outcome.

Before he worried about maintenance, Jazz thought of his friends’ mission. Because they had been out of radio contact for the better part of two orns he did not know if they had been successful, or if they had failed. In fact, Jazz did not know if Mirage and Hound remained in the field. He knew they had not been captured, and he knew that they were still alive. Bumblebee, a wizened operative at a painfully young age, had been given orders to make contact if either horror were to occur. It had been Jazz’s order, no one else’s. His duty to his bots, especially his friends, remained unflinching in his spark.

Jazz would always care more than others would consider proper. Though he had thought this source of his breakdown, and as a result something he had to change, Meltdown had helped him recover his sanity while remain true to who he had always been. Not feeling, and not caring were not the key to his processor health, but rather accepting that grief, and loss, and failure were aspects of life that he could face, and process, and survive. Whatever the outcome now, Jazz would not face any of it alone. Mirage and Hound were true friends, and true allies. Optimus Prime was a commander who did not want a killing machine, but an effective ally. They would not let him fall back into dark destruction. He was not alone. Whether he was welcome or not, Jazz followed Wheeljack, First Aid and Ratchet as they loaded the pod on a hover gurney, and guided it into the Auto Base. He probably was not welcome. Ratchet loathed an audience. But Jazz was prepared to beg. Just let him stay long enough to see. That was all that he needed. As he passed the medbay’s waiting room, he saw his friends, Mirage and Hound. Just the sight of them made him feel relief he could not adequately describe.

“Good to see ya both safe,” he said.

“Same goes for you,” Mirage replied. “It’s done. We laid it flat, with everything in it.”

“I knew ya could handle it.”

“With your playbook, how could we not?” Hound asked with a little snicker. It was true. Jazz had scribbled down instructions, noting exactly where to place the bombs, before he had hopped aboard the Jackhammer. He had not shirked his duties, or forgotten his friends on his personal mission.

“Even wit out it... ‘M gonna go in. In a few kliks, I’ll know either way.”

“Did you want company?” The spy asked. He could have rebuffed them. At one point he might have insisted they leave him lone.

“Yeah, I would. Thanks, mechs.” Jazz clasped his friends on their shoulders. He had learned in the course of his recovery that he did not always need to be strong. He did not always need to wear a smile on his face. With these two mechanisms, he could be vulnerable.

They walked into the medbay. Those patients not so delicate as to need private rooms were relegated to medberths here in the large, open bay as they waited for their repairs to integrate. Several conscious patients were sitting up on their arms, staring down the hall. Jazz followed their optics and knew where to go. Hoist, the attending medic, frowned in the trio’s direction. Hound broke off, silently volunteering to explain their presence. Jazz did not dare linger as the scout made their case, instead he quickly crossed the room, and through the doors that led to the surgical wing. It was unlikely that Ratchet would have expected to perform surgery. His choice of this room was certainly based more on its sterility than anything else, with the added benefit of advanced life support equipment being readily available. There was no barging into any of these rooms, as much as he wanted to. Ratchet would not tolerate any trespass. Jazz peered through each window in each door, until he caught sight of Wheeljack working on the Core as Ratchet, Fixit and First Aid stood back, waiting. Hoist must have lost the coin toss. It was torture to wait. He dug in deep to find his last dredges of patience. Wheeljack plugged the pod into the O.R’s power grid, and then himself into the pod. Jazz watched as the inventor exclaimed excitedly. To his displeasure, Jazz could not hear what Wheeljack was saying. Frustrated at his helplessness, wishing he could do anything at all, Jazz watched on.

“I need to get passed,” Hoist declared from behind them. He was pushing a portable medberth. “Wheeljack found three spark signatures in the pod.”

Stunned to silence, Jazz and Mirage both stepped aside. The door opened for Hoist, and slid shut behind him. Three... Jazz tried to reason why Prowl would have another with him, other than Smokescreen. The pod did not seem big enough for three, unless they were sparklings. Certainly, there could be no more than one grown mech. As Hoist locked the second medberth into place, Wheeljack continued his work on the pot. The process of opening the pod was agonizingly slow. To Jazz it felt like it had was taking joors. When he checked his chronometer he found less than a joor had passed. He began to turn away from the door, feeling the need to pace before he jumped out of his plating. But before he could even finished scolding himself, Mirage caught his shoulder and pulled him back to the door’s window. The hatch was open, Ratchet’s solid frame blocked his view. Holding his ventilations, Jazz watched as the medic leaned in and lifted something from the pod.

Someone. At the sight of the small, gray arm Jazz’s spark chattered. It could not have been Smokescreen, but it was still an innocent newling. Mirage hugged him ‘round his shoulders. Before Jazz could speak a prayer of deliverance for the bitlet, he saw flashes of dulled red on the little one’s legs.  Fixit took the newling and carried him quickly to a medberth. He was a mechling, a tiny little Praxian who looked like he had not been even a vorn old at the time he went into statis lock. His tiny doorwings were stiff and still. Young as he was, his systems should not have been strong enough to tolerate stasis for so long, and yet by the red on his legs was an unmistakable sign of life. He was a miracle. Not Jazz’s miracle, but still a miracle. Tears pooled in the saboteur’s optics, and his legs felt weak. A sob got caught in his throat. Jazz had wanted, he had so, so wanted for it to be Smokescreen, and Prowl.

“Jazz...” Hoist said as he stepped up to join him and Mirage.

Blue. Jazz cleared the tears from his optics as he saw Ratchet pull another Praxian mechling from the pod. In a cruel coincidence he looked like he could have been about Smokescreen’s age. That stung. In contrast to the newling’s mostly subdued colouring, the older meching was quite colourful. First Aid carried him over to the medberth holding the newling. Big enough for mechanisms the size of Optimus Prime, it easily fit the two mechlings. Hoist took charge of the mechling. The medics were not frantic. That suggested to Jazz that their sparks were stable. They were not his, but Jazz was glad he had gone down there and brought them back into the light. He took a step back, his friends at his side. Hound hugged him and Jazz clung to him. The tears did not come yet. That sob was still stuck in his throat. He had been convinced Prowl and his mechling would be in that ununtrium tomb.

“Jazz!” Wheeljack exclaimed as he darted out of the O.R. Jazz and Hound stumbled back. Mirage disappeared, and then reappeared several steps away. The inventor grabbed his arm and and started to pull him over to the door. “Come on! Come on!”

“What, ‘Jackie?” Jazz asked, digging in his peds. He wanted space so he could fall apart and get to the hard work of putting himself back together. Again.

“Look!” His friend gave him a quick shake. There was joy in his voice that Jazz could not process, and he opened his mouth the curse at the mech. “Jazz. Come on. Look! It’s Prowl.”

“Prowl?”

[etherealhood]

Lighthouse - Part One

author: @etherealhood

word count: 3,422

warnings: mentions of car accidents, mentions of injuries, calum being promiscuous

a/n: this site is killing me over here with all it’s bugs. i’ve literally posted this like six times and it won’t show up in the tags so i’m kinda seething in anger right now. anyway, please enjoy the beginning of the series everyone!

pairing: neurosurgeon!calum x pediatric/neonatalsurgeon!reader

Leaving another softer kiss to her mouth, Calum Hood pressed his lips to those of the nurse he had pressed up against the locked door of the on-call room of Crossroads General Hospital. Her hand worked at tying the waistband of his dark blue scrub pants before pulling his shirt back down.

She pulled away from him, smiling up at the man before her. “Okay, I’ve gotta go.” The nurse said to him, pushing Calum back before she stepped out of the way of the door. “You go first.”

As he unlocked the door, he gave her a two-finger salute. “I’ll talk to you later, Taya.” She nodded in agreement, knowing that meant that the next time he needed to get off, they’d talk. She folded her arms over her chest as she began mentally counting, waiting sixty seconds before she exited the room after Calum.

The surgeon pulled open the door, closing it behind him. He cleared his throat as he looked up and down the halls, seeing other doctors and nurses walking and running around for things they needed. He looked at his watch and read the time, noting it was only ten in the morning as he grabbed his pager from the pocket of his long white coat, reading the pages he’d been getting while he was rolling around in the sheets with yet another nurse in his workplace.

Calum was well known for sleeping around with women at the hospital. He wasn’t necessarily a player, he was careful with women’s feelings and made sure they knew that he just wanted sex when they got together. He made it crystal clear that he wasn’t at all interested in actually dating, and if a woman wanted more than what he was offering, then he wouldn’t hook up with her. However, even with the respect and kindness he displayed, he was still labeled as the heartbreaker in the hospital.

He had just looked up from his pager as he heard his name being called from a pair of voices behind him. Approaching him was two of his best friends, Luke Hemmings and Michael Clifford, who were fellow surgeons army Crossroads General. He nodded as he saw them, slowing his pace so the two men could catch up with him.

“Whatcha been up to, Cal?” Luke asked, wearing a knowing smirk as he raised an eyebrow.

Calum looked down at his shoes, shrugging. “You know… just workin’.”

Luke nodded, sharing a look with Michael, who shook his head. “Mhm. Workin’ in the sheets?” He teased.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Calum wore a smug smile as he feigned innocence. At that moment, the door of the on-call room opened and Taya walked out, pulling her hair into a ponytail while she still looked quite flushed. The three men all looked to see her come out, Calum's lie falling to pieces as they realized that she still looked like she’d just had sex. “Okay, yeah. I lied.”

“You’re a disgusting, man.” Michael told Calum, laughing at Calum’s falter in expression. They were getting closer to the Emergency Room as they noticed that there was a commotion of people, making it clear that ambulances were coming to the pit and the surgeons needed to be ready to work.

“You know what’s really disgusting?” He quirked a dark eyebrow. “Being in a relationship.”

This retortion caused both Luke and Michael to scoff, seeing as they were all in relationships. Actually, all of their friends were in relationships, save for Calum. To his close friends, Calum was known for not believing in love and not liking relationships at all. No one ever really knew why he was so cynical when it came to love, but he always was and no one ever dared question it.

Before Luke or Michael could give a response, they heard the voice of their other best friend and Chief of Surgery, Ashton Irwin. They looked up and over their shoulders to see him rushing to help you put on a cover up as he spoke to you, someone that Luke and Michael hadn’t officially met until today, but someone who Calum had no idea who you were. “So the EMTs said there were children in the cars, fortunately, you came on a terrible day.” He said to you as he tied up the back of your cover-up.

“Did they say anything about injuries?” You asked, your long hair pulled back as you pulled on the gloves that you grabbed from the box by the door.

“No, it looks like we’ll have to just see the damage when they arrive.” He said, looking to a darker skinned woman who had curly brown hair that was pulled back into a bun, a few of her stray curls framing her face, known as Marie Kirkwood. He smiled at the woman who just so happened to be the attending Cardiothoracic Surgeon and his fiancée, before clearing his throat and raising his voice to grab everyone’s attention. “Alright, everyone, there was five car pile-up on the freeway this morning, we’ve got our hands full today!”

Calum was looking at you as you had a conversion with Marie, and the red-headed, blue-eyed General Surgeon, yours and Marie’s best friend, Aerielle Gates. He noticed that you, Marie, and Aerielle seemed to speak like you’d all known each other for years, similar to the way you interacted with Ashton. He was curious to know why were you so comfortable with people he’d been seeing everyday for the past two years when he’d never even heard of Marie and Aerille having another friend.

He nudged Michael in the ribs, nodding towards you, the mysterious, new surgeon who had piqued his interest. “Hey, who’s that?” He asked with furrowed brows, his eyes still on you.

Michael looked over to who his friend was talking about. He noticed who you were talking to and understood why Calum was curious about you. Marie and Aerielle were close friends, a fact that everyone working in Crossroads General knew. However, since Marie was in a serious relationship with their friend, she’d joined their friend group and brought Aerielle along with her. “Oh, that’s Doctor Y/N Y/L/N. She just moved here from Seattle. Met her this morning.”

Calum looked back to Michael. “She seems comfortable with Marie and Aerielle.” He noted.

“Yeah, she went to college, med-school, and did her internship with them. She’s known them for years.” Michael explained your relationship with his friends to the Maori man, as he was pulling on his white latex gloves.

“Ashton’s been trying to her to come work down here for years.” Luke added to the conversation.

Calum hummed in understanding, looking back to you. Your arms were folded over your chest as you listened to whatever Aerielle was saying, nodding along to show you were listening. He looked you and down, finding himself wanting to know more about you. You were clearly going to be a part of the friend group, seeing as you had such strong relationships with three of his friends.

Luke looked over his shoulder to see you and their two other friends, tying the back of his cover up. “Y/N’s the new head of the Pediatrics and Neonatal department.”

“I thought you were going for head of Pedes and Neo?” Calum asked the man to his left wearing glasses. He remembered Michael saying something about Ashton offering him the spot a few months ago and him wanting to accept it, but not being sure if he had the patience to do so.

Doctor Clifford shook his head, grimacing at what Calum had said to him. “Nah, it’s too stressful. Besides, Y/N is brilliant, I mean she worked up in Seattle with some of the best surgeons in the world. It’s no wonder why Ashton was so keen on getting her down here.”

“Huh.” Calum clicked his tongue against the roof his mouth, his attention going to the ambulance as he heard it pull up in front of him. He looked away from you, but still had you in the back of his mind as he approached the back doors of the red ambulance.

“Forty year old male with what seems to be a penetrating brain injury and a broken nose!” One of the EMTs said as the ambulance opened and they carried a man out on a gurney. Calum perked up after hearing about the head injury, knowing that was in neuro, his department.

“That’s me!” The neurosurgeon called out, raising his hand briefly before coming up next to the patient, looking over the injuries briefly. They had come inside, heading to one of the trauma rooms. “Make sure an O.R. is ready, I can already tell this is gonna need operating!” He demanded, watching as the EMT held the oxygen mask on the man’s face.

Calum brushed past you, his shoulder bumping against yours as he muttered an apology, not realizing who he was talking to. You watched him as he and resident approached an opening elevator, silently and briefly wondering who he was before you heard the EMT call out the information about the child you were to be assigned to.

Your head snapped towards the incoming patient. “She’s one of mine! Trauma room two.” You called out, rushing next to the tiny little girl. The girl, who couldn’t have been any more than five years old looked up at you with tears in her bright green eyes. You smiled warmly, touching her forehead gently as you entered the trauma room. “Hey, sweetheart. Can you tell me your name?”

“Layla.”

“Well, Layla, No need to cry, we’re gonna fix you all up, alright?” You asked.

She still seemed scared as she looked up at you, but nodded affirmatively. “Grandma? I want my grandma!” She cried.

A nurse inside the room with you whispered to you she’d already been contacted and was on her way. “Don’t worry, she’ll be here soon and then you can see her. We’re going to put you on this bed now, okay?” The little girl nodded tearfully as you gripped the sides of the gurney. “One, two, three!”

-

Calum was standing at the nurses’ station, a clipboard on the counter in front of him as he filled out the papers in one of his patient’s charts. As he wrote across the papers, he occasionally bit into the apple he was holding since it was about lunchtime and he wasn’t going to be able to get to the cafeteria until later on in the day since he had so much work he had to do before going home at the end of the day.

You had just walked out of surgery, pulling off your scrub cap that was covered in little puppy prints. You yawned, stretching your arms as you’d been at the hospital since very early that morning when you were called in to repair a ruptured intestine on a premature newborn that had been in your NICU for two weeks, as long as you’ve been at Crossroads General. The surgery had gone on much longer than you anticipated as you had ran into problems throughout the surgery, but you came out with a patient that was well on their way back to health.

As you turned down a hallway to find one of the on-call rooms, a woman stepped out of the elevator, looking around until she saw you. “Doctor Wilkins!” She said, getting your attention by calling your old title, causing you to look up and meet the familiar face of your divorce attorney. She smiled and began walking towards you, holding a folder against her chest and a her briefcase in her hand.

You frowned and shook your head, crossing your arms over your chest as you looked at the woman tiredly. “I’m not keeping his name. It’s Doctor Y/L/N.”

“My apologies. Doctor Y/L/N.” Your lawyer nodded affirmatively. “I’m actually here for you to sign your papers and then I’ll send them to Mr. Wilkins’ attorney and before you know it, you’ll be divorced.” She handed you the file, letting you look at what the papers said.

“He’s not fighting for anything?” You asked, raising an eyebrow as you glanced from the papers to the woman before you.

She shook her head, smiling softly. “No, he agreed that whatever you wanted, you would have, whether it be the apartment, the cars, anything. He’s been very considerate of you during this whole thing.”

You nodded with a soft smile. He was always looking out for you, you thought. You began searching your pockets for a pen, but sighed frustratedly when you realized that you didn’t have one. “I don’t have a pen. Do you have one?” You asked your lawyer. She began to open her briefcase, but she struggled as she didn’t have anything to set it on except for her knee. You looked around and saw a familiar surgeon, seeing that he was working on his charts and eating a green apple as he stood at the nurses’ station.

Approaching him, you tapped his shoulder. “Doctor Hood?” The interruption caused him to stop chewing as he turned around, his eyebrows furrowed until he saw who had grabbed his attention. “Hi, sorry to bother you, do you have a pen I could borrow real quick?” You asked, doing a writing motion in the air as you rolled your lips between your teeth.

Calum began chewing the food in his mouth and offered you the pen that he was writing with. “Uh, here.” He mumbled as your lawyer approached the two of you, standing behind you. You nodded in thanks at him, offering a shy smile before setting the file on the counter and scribbling your signature in the places that were highlighted for your convenience.

He watched as you flipped through the papers, your lip pulled between your teeth. Your face contorted as you quickly read over what you were instructed to write down. Suddenly, your pager started beeping and you grabbed it, pulling it from the hem of your dark blue scrub pants. You mumbled a small curse as you read the page before scribbling the rest of your signatures, before closing the file then you handing it to your lawyer.

“Thank you.” You hastily said to the woman, clicking the pen and putting in your chest pocket as you took off back down to the NICU. Calum lifted his hand in protest and went to call out to you as you ran off with his pen, but he realized that you were long gone and wouldn’t hear him even if he didn’t call out for you.

He let a small smile break onto his lips at the fact that you took off with his pen. For some reason that he didn’t understand, you running off to get to where you were needed was amusing to him. He shook his head and closed the charts he was writing on, handing them to one of the nurses who would put them on the cart for him to come back to later on.

After work later that night, Calum found himself sitting at the bar down the street, his fingers tapping against the countertop as he ordered another beer from the bartender. He’d had a long couple of days and that led him to go to the bar to get a couple drinks so he could relax from everything that’s happened at the hospital, thinking about the surgeries he did today and what he’d go to do tomorrow.

Most nights that he wasn’t at the hospital, he was often at the bar drinking a couple beers as he talked with the owner and head bartender of the bar. He didn’t have anyone to go home to or talk to and sometimes he got lonely, so he’d sit at the bar and just think while in the presence of others or even talk to some of the other doctors that also came down here.

That night wasn’t much different save for the fact that there was a new face walking in through the doors. You’d just gotten out of work and were needing something to eat. You had been told by Aerielle that the bar served some ‘damn good food’ and you should try eating there that night. Clearly, you’d taken your best friend’s advice and you found yourself walking into the bar on a Thursday night.

Looking around, you saw some total strangers who happened to be eating and a few doctors who you’d seen around the hospital. As your eyes fell to the bar itself, you noticed a certain tall and dark-haired man that you’d only had one encounter with since moving into town. He was wearing a leather jacket, his curls messy on top of his head. He looked exhausted as he nodded in thanks at the bartender who had slid another bottle of beer to him, but you’d learned that fatigue was a common look among people who worked in the medical field.

You remembered your interaction with him earlier that day, noting that you still had his pen in your purse. You walked over to where he was sitting after pulling out his pen, standing next to him as you leaned against the countertop. As you placed the pen on the counter, you slid it over to him with a small smile.

“Thank you for letting me use your pen.” You smiled. He looked at you and then looked to the pen, chuckling as he realized what you were doing. His smile reached his eyes, causing them to crinkle up a bit at the sides. He reached out to grab the pen, clicking and unclicking it.

He nodded and looked up at you with those brown eyes of his that you’d somehow immediately found comfort in. “Anytime. Honestly, I didn’t think I was gonna get it back.” You were a bit taken back by the twinge of an accent he had in his voice as you hadn’t noticed it earlier when you first talked to him. You quickly figured it made sense as Ashton, Luke, and Michael all had an accent as well.

“Yeah, I’m sorry about that. A tiny patient needed me.” You laughed softly. “Though I should tell you that I very briefly thought about keeping it.”

“Because it writes so smooth, I’m assuming?” He said, smirking at you. You giggled quietly and nodded. A small moment of silence passed, but Calum spoke up because he didn’t want you to walk away. “Mind if I ask what you needed my pen for?”

Your smile was gone as you thought of your divorce. Honestly, you weren’t sure you wanted to tell him; you didn’t know him. You were hardly even acquaintances. Telling him about something so personal such as your divorce seemed a little weird to you. However, your coworker noticed your face drop and he immediately apologized. “You don’t have to tell me, if you don’t want to.” He told you as he shook his head and put out a hand.

“It’s fine.” You said with a shrug. “I’m actually getting a divorce, my lawyer brought me my papers today.”

Calum frowned as he listened to your explanation. “Sorry to hear that.” He said, you only shrugged in response. Another small silence passed, but this time you were the one who broke it.

“Would you mind some company?” You asked him, gesturing to the empty seat beside him. Somehow after having just a little, meaningless conversation, you already liked it and wouldn’t mind getting to know him a better. He was best friends with both your old and new friends at the hospital after all. He looked from the seat to you and then nodded with a small smile.

You slid into the barstool, placing your bag on the counter. Calum held out his hand for you to shake. You looked down at it, noticing the rings he wore on his long fingers and the initials on the back of his hands. There was even a silver bracelet wrapped around his wrist. You’d never thought he would have been the kind of guy to wear rings, but as you looked at his long fingers you thought they suited him very well.

“Well, I’m Calum.” He said, introducing himself. You took his hand and shook, nodding politely at him.

You offered him another small smile. “I’m Y/N.”

[theblueskyphoenix]

Grid Ghost Chapter 5: Forward

“Shaylin is seriously going to trust you with a scalpel?”

“You bet ya she is!”

Takashi was currently in an O.R. helping set up some of the equipment that was going to be needed for Obake’s operation with Eboni. Mainly the equipment Shaylin and Eboni were going to use for their part of the procedure.

“Well, more so my tools and some weird ones the guy brought in.” Eboni grinned, picking up a tool neither recognized. “Regardless, I get to do a form of surgery!”

“Lucky…” Takashi glanced to the side, giving a slight pout. “Wish I could help.”

“Maybe you could ask if you could assist?” Eboni chuckled. “I mean, someone’s gotta hand the tools to us and track the vitals and since this is a pretty airtight operation that not many can know about I don’t see why you couldn’t help. You’re pretty knowledgeable about this med stuff so you’d be useful.”

Takashi had a hopeful look in his eyes.

“You really think so?”

Eboni winked.

“I know so. I’m sure I can convince them.”

“... I love you. Like a sister.”

“Love you too, Takashi.” Eboni chuckled. “Now, shall we get back to set up?”

“Yes!”

oooooo 

He was drowning. It seemed like he was caught in the ocean with the taste of salt water that was in his mouth but the green coloring of the water said otherwise. 

“Obake…”

Obake looked around frantically, trying to swim up but to no avail. He was too heavy. He just kept sinking lower and lower.

“Obake…”

He looked above, seeing Liv standing on the surface of the green water, a sinister grin on her face. 

“Run as you like but you can never escape me. I will find you.” 

Obake cried out at electricity pulsing through his body, the left side of his head screaming in pain. 

“I’ll always find you.”

“Bob! Bob, wake up!”

Obake’s eyes snapped open as he sat up quickly, a gasp escaping his mouth. 

He was back in the hospital room now, Liv nowhere to be seen. His breathing was rigid as he looked around, his eyes soon landing on Kim, who was standing next to his bed, concern in her pale blue eyes.

“K-Kim…?”

Kim nodded, taking hold of one of his hands. 

“I’m right here.” She pushed him back gently to lay down. “It was just a nightmare. You’re okay.”

Obake nodded, trying to steady his breathing.

“R-Right…” He closed his eyes, bringing a hand to where his implant was. “She… She’s not here.”

Kim frowned at this.

“Liv is nowhere near this hospital and there is no way I would let her get within a 100 feet of this place without throwing a scalpel at her forehead.”

Obake looked to Kim with some slight amusement in his eyes.

“So violent.”

Kim gave a small smile.

“I do what I have to, to protect my family.” She stroked his hair. “Especially from devil women like her.”

Obake nuzzled her hand, relaxing.

“Not sure if you’d be saying that if you knew what I’ve been doing for the past year…” Obake sighed. “Kim… I… I did some pretty awful things while I was gone… things I’m not proud of.”

Kim pulled up a chair, sitting down, still keeping a grip on one of his hands.

“I’m listening.”

Obake closed his eyes.

“Kim… I almost destroyed San Fransokyo. On. Purpose.”

Kim’s eyes widened at this.

“What?”

“I don’t know if you heard of it by now but a star appeared that could’ve possibly wiped out the city if it weren’t for the work of Big Hero 6. I’m the one who created that star.”

Kim brought a hand over her mouth.

“I remember Shaylin mentioning that to me… Oh my goodness… Bob… What-?”

“I was played.” His free hand gripped at his blanket. “Liv… she convinced me to do the things I did. That if I was to be remembered I had to destroy the city and rebuild it in my image. That it was the only way I could be respected. That it was the only way for me to be seen as the genius that I dreamt of myself to be. That I wanted to be.” Obake’s eyes were misty. “She made me forget the things that mattered so much to me… She made me think that was all gone. That I had nothing. So I had to make something from nothing…” Obake looked to Kim. “Kim… I hurt a lot of people… I hurt them and I didn’t even care that I did because my brain was not in the right mental state… and I hate myself for it. I hate that I bought into her lies. I hate that I thought I had to take drastic measures to become a legend, so much as to try and replicate the work of someone who never intended harm with it. I hate that… I forgot about you and Trina… I…” He lowered his head. “I’m not sure there’s anything I could ever do that would make up for all that. The only thing I feel I can do is to keep Liv from causing more damage or harm to anyone else. I’m not sure exactly what her game is but I can’t sit back quietly and do nothing. I’m not sure exactly what to do but I have to do something…”

Kim squeezed his hand, giving him a gentle look.

“And I’m sure you’ll figure that out in time.” Kim frowned a bit. “Bob… I can’t say I’m not upset to hear that you caused a lot of problems in San Fransokyo. But… I can’t place all the blame on you. I saw the notes for the implant. She caused you to have amnesia so you couldn’t recall certain things or events. She stripped away your freedom with that shock control. She turned you into Obake. It wasn’t your choice. You were manipulated. You were used. You did everything you did because you were beaten into submission and you weren’t even aware of it. I can’t excuse everything that happened… but the fact you want to do something about it is enough for me.” She leaned in, resting her forehead against his. “Bob, I can’t say whoever you hurt will forgive you but at the very least, trying to stop Liv is very much a way to try and make up for all that happened. To keep her from harming anyone else, like she harmed you and others who got caught in the crossfire.”

Obake nuzzled Kim, tears escaping his eyes.

“Kim…” He let out a shakey breath. “I don’t deserve someone as patient as you…”

“You stop that right now.” Kim looked him right in the eyes. “I never have and will never love anyone else as much as I love you, Bob. You messed up but that’s behind you now. What matters is what’s happening in the present and what you plan to do going forward. In which, you’re going to correct what you did as best as you can. You’re here and back in mine and Trina’s lives. You did a lot of horrible things but that doesn’t mean you’re beyond help and not deserving of anything good. And no matter what happens, know this…” Kim leaned in closer. “I’m never giving up on you.”

Obake’s eyes were wide in shock before a small smile came to his face, leaning in closer himself.

“Thank you.”

The distance between them closed as both their eyes slid shut. Obake brought his hands up to Kim’s cheeks, Kim doing the same with his. They held like this for a moment before pulling back gently, gazing into each other’s eyes, smiling.

“I forgot how good those felt.” Obake chuckled. “I may not be able to tell right from wrong very well at the moment but I won’t deny how right that did feel.”

Kim giggled.

“I missed them.” She nuzzled him. “And I’m going to correct that problem soon. All I want you to worry about right now is resting and recovering. Okay?”

Obake nodded, nuzzling back.

“Okay.”

Kim kissed his cheek before pulling away, standing up.

“I’ll be back again soon to take you in for surgery. Trina should be back before then to keep you company.”

“Good. Where did she run off to? Could’ve sworn she fell asleep with me last night.”

“She did. She just got up before you did. Had to take care of something.” Kim smirked, making her way for the door. “Secret stuff. She’ll let you in on said stuff when she’s ready.”

Obake chuckled.

“I see. Very well then.” He blew a kiss her way. “I’ll see you on the other side then.”

Kim smiled.

“See you then.”

oooooo 

Trina was coming in from an early morning patrol. While she preferred being with Takashi when she was out on patrol it wasn’t unusual for the girl to be by herself sometimes. She could take care of herself and well… sometimes she had to be alone.

And someone had to be sure no shady figures were sneaking around Saga.

Trina slipped into the back of the hospital through the ER bay. Soon as she was sure no one could see her she removed her mask, undoing the braid her hair was pulled back in.

And if there had been, they would’ve known the wrath of Kame.

Trina heaved a sigh of relief as she made her way down a hallway, poking her head into one of the ORs. There, she saw Eboni, Takashi and Shaylin finishing up preparation for Obake’s surgery. 

Takashi looked up, taking note of her.

“Ah, Trina, welcome back.” He smirked. “Though you could have invited me to go with you. Just saying.”

Trina chuckled.

“Nah, had to go it solo this time. By the way, no weird activity.”

“Yet.” Eboni held up a finger, not looking up from her work of organizing tools. “Key word is “yet”. Not sure what it will be or when it will happen but when weird stuff like this happens something else is going to follow. Need I remind everyone here for Dragoness?”

Takashi shuddered.

“Thankfully that devil woman has been quiet but point taken.”

Trina nodded.

“Well, when something comes, we’ll be ready. I know I certainly will be.”

“I’ll be counting on that.” Eboni grinned. “So, you gonna tell your dad that you become a ninja turtle now or you gonna wait till later?” She eyed the armor that Trina was still wearing.

“Not yet. He’s got enough to worry about.” Trina gave a sheepish look. “I think I’ll tell him after the surgery stuff is over.”

“Sounds solid.” Eboni focused back on her work. “Then you get changed up and get a word in with him. His surgery is coming up fast and he needs to stay relaxed.”

Trina gave a salute.

“You got it.”

“Good. Now, away with you, we need to sterilize the area.” Eboni smirked, giving a wave with one of her hands. 

Trina chuckled before hurrying out. She quickly changed out of her armor and into her casual clothes before heading to her father’s room.

Knock knock knock!

“Come in.”

Trina smiled as she poked her head into Obake’s room, seeing the man was sitting up, reading something on a tablet. He looked to her, smiling back, gentleness in his pale blue eyes.

“Ah, Little Star.”

“Hey, Daddy.” 

Trina made her way over, sitting on the edge of his bed. 

“How you feeling?”

“Still slightly sore but doing better… and just wanting to be done with hospitals for awhile.”

“Totally understandable. Never fun being stuck in bed… or being denied scones.”

“Not for much longer.” Obake snickered. “I will have my revenge.”

Trina giggled.

“Indeed.” She eyed the tablet in his lap. “What’cha reading?”

Obake’s grin faded as he looked at the article he currently had open.

“Just seeing how San Fransokyo is doing. They… had a bit of an almost catastrophe happen over there.”

Trina frowned, looking at the article.

“Yeah, heard about it from Shaylin. It was the strangest thing. But things are doing okay over there from what I hear.”

“Yes…”

Obake scrolled down, seeing a picture of Big Hero 6. He smiled a little, seeing they were still going about their duties.

Good, that means there’s still someone out there to keep Liv in check if she tries something.

“Oh yeah, those guys.” Trina smiled. “They’re pretty awesome. Especially that Hiro kid.”

Obake’s eyes went wide at hearing this, looking to Trina.

“How do you know the leader’s name?”

Trina rubbed the back of her neck.

“From a special source. I got a lot I need to tell you Dad but now is really not the time. I want you to focus on getting better first before I tell you about some of the insanity that’s been going on for the past year.”

“Okay then…?” 

Obake raised an eyebrow at this but shook it from his mind, focusing back on his tablet, going to a different article had opened on a separate tab.

Trina’s face gave a sour look at seeing it. Especially with the photo that was displayed at the top of the article.

“Eck… That lady.” Trina crossed her arms. “I don’t know how she just walks around with that smile on her face when behind the scenes she’s such a monster.”

“It’s part of her game.” Obake narrowed his eyes at the photo of Liv. “I don’t know exactly the goal of that game but the act is part of it. The act of being kind and welcoming, charitable, to lure her victims into her web and before they have a moment to escape it’s already too late and no one's the wiser because no one could ever believe such a kind and loving person would ever do such horrendous things.” Obake sneered. “A monster with the mask of a beautiful smiling face.”

“Sounds about right. She’s lucky I’m not there in San Fransokyo. She would’ve gotten a nice hard wack from my bo staff to the face.” Trina grinned. “Then she would actually match how she looks on the inside… after a few more wacks.”

Obake chuckled at this, patting Trina’s head.

“I knew you were my favorite daughter.”

Trina giggled.

“I’m your only daughter.”

“Exactly.” Obake smiled. 

Sort of but I am not divulging that right now. In due time.

“Bob?”

Trina and Obake looked to the door to see Kim present, a gentle look on her face.

“It’s time.”

Obake nodded, turning off the tablet and handing it to Trina.

“Hold onto this for me, will you?” He asked.

Trina nodded.

“Of course.” She kissed his forehead. “Love you, Daddy.”

“Love you too, my Little Star.” Obake smiled.

Trina smiled back, stepping away as Kim walked in with nurses behind her, adjusting Obake’s bed for transfer. As he was rolled away, Trina followed for as long as she could until the OR doors stopped her in her tracks. 

She stood there for another moment, staring at the OR before heading off down the hall. 

Her mother had work to do and so did she. 

[mash-notes]

In “Mulcahy’s War,” Hawk and Beej approach Sgt. Hodkey on the chopper. “My buddy’s much worse,” says the sergeant. “Please do a check on him, he saved my life!”

Cpl. Cupcake damaged his leg and paw when he tripped a landmine so that Hodkey wouldn’t walk into it. He is treated at the MASH, reluctantly, by Frank while most of the others look on in admiration. When Mulcahy comes into the O.R., he asks, “What denomination is he?”

“He’s a German Shepherd,” says Hawk. “I guess that makes him a Lutheran.”

21-bark salute for the war hero Corporal Cupcake. (And shoutout to @houliwife who also capped Cupcake a couple of days ago!)

[k2kid]

Confidential War Diary of 18th CANADIAN BATTALION – 2nd CANADIAN DIVISION

From 1st December, 1918 to 31th December, 1918

Volume 40 With appendices 1 – 30

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information       Maps for reference: Marche 9, Germany 1 M, 1 L, 2 L. 1/160,000 attached. Appendix No. 27. 28. 29, and 30. Mean- 23.05.40. Marche 9 1   The Battalion moved in full marching order 08.00 Hrs. for VILLERS STE. GERTRUDE, the usual noonday halt was made for dinner. From the Noon Hour on the country became rolling, and hilly and very heavily wooded. The Battalion arrived at the destination at 15:00 Hours. Capt. T.H.C. Rayward, and batman returned from Instructor’s Course at Senior Officer’s School, Aldershot, England. 1 O.R. to hospital. 1 O.R. from leave. Appendix No. 1. Villers Ste. Gertrude. 2-G.95.35 Marche 9 2   Battalion resting in billets. 12 O.R’s on leave and 2 O.R’s returned from leave. 3 O.R’s to Hospital and 1 O.R. returned from Hospital.   3   Battalion resting in Billets awaiting move order. 2 O.R’s to hospital.   4   The Battalion moved in full marching order at 08:30 Hours and marched via GRAND MONIL to ODEIGNE. It rained practically during the entire march of the day. A noonday halt for dinner was made, the Battalion arriving at its destination at 16:00 Hours. The march to-day was stedily [sic] uphill into the heart of the Ardenne Mountains. Lieut. R.E. Rouse and 2 O.R’s from leave and 2 O.R’s to Hospital. Appendix No. 2. Odeigne 3-I 20.10 Marche 9 5   The Battalion moved off at 08:30 Hours in full marching order for COUTRIL, dropping down the latter part of the march into open country. Battalion arrived at its destination at 15:00 Hours. 2 O.R’s to Hospital. Appendix No. 3. COUTRIL 4-K 98.60 6   The Battalion moved off at 08:00 Hours in full marching order for WALL RODE, Germany, crossing the Frontier shortly after 10:00 Hours, and passing through St. Vith about 14:30 Hours, arrived at destination at 16:00 Hours. 8 O.R’s from leave and 3 O.R’s to hospital. Appendix No. 4. WALLERODE 5-C 90.35 Germany 1-M 7   The Battalion moved off at 08:30 Hours for MANDERFELD, arriving there at 15:30 Hours. The country roundabout assuming more of an agricultural aspect. 1 O.R. to Hospital and 2 O.R’s returned from Hospital. MANDERFELD 4-H 60.10 Germany 1-M 8   Battalion resting in billets. Capt. R.R. Hartry and 7 O.R. from leave. 2 O.R’s to Hospital. MANDERFELD 4-H 60.10 Germany 1-M 9   The Battalion moved off at 08:30 Hours for DAHLEM, arriving at destination at 16:00 Hours. The Battalion Headquarters being located in the Post Office. 1 O.R. from leave and 1 O.R. on Course. Appendix No. 6. DAHLEM 3-K 60.45 Germany 1-M 10   The Battalion moved off in fighting order at 08:30 Hours and marched to MUNSTEREIFEL, arriving at destination at 15:00 Hours. Lories provided by Brigade, carrying the Men’s packs. The Battalion was billeted in a Boy’s Boarding School. Appendix No. 7. MUNSTEREIFEL Germany 1-L 11   The Battalion moved at 08:30 Hours in fighting order, and marched to KUCHENHEIM, arriving at destination at 13:30 Hours. The Battalion Headquarters being located in the Burgomeister’s house. 18 O.R’s from leave 1 O.R. to hospital and 1 O.R. returned from Hospital. Appendix No. 8. KUCHENHEIM Germany 1-L 12   The Battalion moved in fighting order at 08:30 Hours and marched to DUISDORF, arriving at 12:00 Hours. 2 O.R’s from leave and 1 O.R. to Hospital. 1 C.S.M. and 11 O.R’s [to] 2nd Divisional Headquarters, Bonn, for Guard Duty. Appendix No. 9. DUISDORF Germany 2-L 7 D 35.40 13   The Battalion moved off in full marching order at 08:00 Hours and marched via Bonn, crossing the famous RIVER RHINE at that point to its final destination in the town of Hennef (Sieg). In passing through Bonn the Battalion marched with rifles at the slope and bayonets fixed and passed in review at the east end of the Bonn Bridge, before the Corps and Divisional Commanders. Lieut.-General A.W. Currie, Corps Commander, taking the salute. Maj.-Gen. H.E. Burstall, Commander of the Division, and the Divisional Staff being immediately in the rear of Lieut.-Gen. Currie on the reviewing stand. Upon the arrival of the Battalion in Hennef, 13:30 Hours, Batt’n. Hdqr’s was located in the office of a manufacturing establishment on Frankfurter Strasse, and Hdqr’s officers were billeted in a large Chateau nearby. The Men of “A”, “C” and “d” and Hdqr’s Companies were assigned to billets they were to occupy during their stay in the area. These billets being in private homes of the civilian population. “D” Company proceeded without delay to the village of Happershass, where they were to be on duty as Outpost Company. 3 O.R’s from lave. Appendix No. 10. HENNEF 6 G 90.80 Germany 2-L 14   On this second day of the stay of the Battalion in this are the Officers and men rested in their billets, recovering in a measure from the hardships of the march. Conforming with Army Orders issued to the Burgomeister and from him to the population in general, many civilians have reported to Batt’n. Hdqr’s. for the necessary Identification Passes for use in the local area. These passes being a description of the holder and having further, his or her photograph attached thereto. Several men of the Battn. having knowledge of the German Language, have been selected for Batt’n. duty as Interpreters, etc. 1 O.R. on Hand Compositors Course. 5 O.R’s from leave. 2 O.R. Canadian Corps Cyclists returned to their unit. 2 O.R’s to Hospital.   15   The Battalion formed up on parade and marched though the town to a theatre, in which nothing in the way of amusement was presented for quite some time, and in which the Battalion now held Church Service. The Padre, being in fine form, gave the Battalion an excellent sermon, which was thoroughly appreciated by all members of the Batt’n. present. 1 O.R. to Brigade Duty as Paymaster’s Clerk. Appendix No. 11 attached.   16   The Battalion carried on with training, as per syllabi attached. Between “A” and “D” Companies’ billeting areas a fine large field was located and it served as an excellent Drill Square or Parade Ground. 1 O.R. to Hospital. Appendix No. 12.   17   Battalion Headquarters Staff and Company moved today to the village of Allner, locating the Battalion Orderly Room in a magnificent large Castle, or as termed in the German tongue, Schloss. The Schloss is a huge and very fine specimen of Architectural Art of an earlier period, and is built entirely of stone. Its is surrounded by a beautiful park. When one has seen the Castle and Grounds he is immediately struck with the thought that it is emblematic of the utmost in luxury and convenience. The Batt’n. Headquarters Officers have appropriated the entire Castle and appurtenances for their quarters, having installed themselves in the Sleeping Chambers and using the Breakfast Rooms, Dining Rooms, Drawing Rooms, Billiard Rooms, etc. at their will. The Castle maintains a large staff of servants and consequently the order of the house is of the finest and our Officers are living, as is their due, in every luxury. In a large forest in the rear of the Castle Grounds Dear [sic] and small game abound and the Officers of the Battalion secure a great measure of enjoyment from their hunting and shooting expeditions. The remainder of the Battalion remain in Hennef and are continuing with their training as per syllabi attached. 6 O.R’s from leave. 1 O.R. to Hospital. Appendix No. 13. Allner 6 G 90.80 Germany 2-L 18   The Men of the Battalion have now fully recovered from the hardships of the march and are training as per Syllabi attached. The spirit of the men is superb and they are entering into the daily routine of their stay here and are carrying on their various duties with an eagerness and willingness that is proverbial with the Canadians as a whole. Clothing parades are being held almost daily and the various Company Quartermasters are as rapidly as possible fitting the men with the required new clothing so that the Battalion has now approached the appearance of smartness that is second to none in the allied Armies and in the Canadian and British Armies in particular. 1 O.R. to Hospital. Appendix No. 14.   19   The Battalion continued their training as per syllabi attached. Lieut. S.G. Stokes and 4 O.R’s on leave. Appendix No. 15.   20   “B” Company moved to-day to Brel to continue their duty as Outpost Company there. The remainder of the Battalion continuing their training per Syllabi attached. 3 O.R’s on leave. Appendix No. 16.   21   The Battalion continues training as per Syllabi attached. 4 O.R’s on leave, 1 O.R. to Hospital. Appendix No. 17.   22   The Battalion attended Church Service to-day and enjoyed an excellent sermon, the Padre being in his usual good voice. Major J.J. Richardson and 3 O.R’s on leave. 2 O.R’s attached to Battalion as interpreters. Appendix No. 18.   23   The Battalion continued training as per Syllabi attached, and are maintaining duties in control of the area in the following manner:-

  Duties of Commandant and Town Major combined in towns of Hennef (North of Railway), ALLNER, Happerschloss, Heisterschloss, Brehl, Mushmuchl and Weldergoven, in the person O.C. Battalion occupying this district. Headquarters at Schloss in Allner. One H.Q. Officer has office at Hennef permanently for purpose of stamping identification cards. District Administration is carried on by the Battalion Administration through the Burgomeister. No civilians are employed.

  One Railway Control Post on broad gauge Railway station at Hennef, which has phone connection to Inter-Allied Railway Commission at Cologne. On the outpost line we have two main Control posts, four subsidiary posts and tow patrols, reference map Germany 2-L.

  No. 1 Post (subsidiary) at railroad bridge under V. in Weldergoven.

No. 2 Post (subsidiary) on dirt road just east of village of Weldergoven, just above N. in Weldergoven.

No. 3 Post (subsidiary) on bridge over river where Hennef road joins Allner road. Directly above W. in Weldergoven.

No. 4 Post (Main Control) on bridge in Muschnuehl road, directly below M. in Muschnuehl.

No. 5 Post (subsidiary) on foot bridge S.E. of village of Brehl halfway between l. in Brehl and T in Triesch.

No. 6 Post (Main Control) on bridge where main road Winterschield crosses river.

No. 1 Patrol covers ground between No. 4 and No. 5 Posts.

No. 2 Patrol covers ground along river from junction main Winterschield road with main Brehl-Schied Road.

Traffic with Neutral territory only through main control posts.

Subsidiary posts to guard bridges and prevent traffic to foot paths etc.

No. 377223 Pte. Bihl W. (193 Labour Co’y) and No. 3108760 Pte. Wieber J. (11th Co’y Cdn. Forestry Corps) are attached from 4th C.I.B. as interpreters at Railway Control Post. We have no F.(b) Police attached.

3 O.R’s on leave and 3 O.R’s returned from leave. 5 O.R’s attached to 2nd Divisional Train. 1 O.R. to Hospital. Appendix No. 19.

    24   The Battalion continued training as per Syllabi attached. 4 O.R’s on leave and 2 O.R’s returned. Appendix No. 20.   25   “‘A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL’. Christmas  Day dawned bright and clear, with just a touch of snow upon the ground, which gave the vicinity a very “Christmas-like” appearance.

The members of the Battalion were in excellent spirit and thoroughly prepared for anything the day might bring forth. The Officers of the Battalion made every preparation for a fine Christmas Dinner and the men were awaiting it with very keen anticipation. At the appointed hour the tables in the different Company mess-rooms, especially selected for the day, were teeming with good things to eat, and they assuredly presented a most pleasant sight.

“A” Company Mess-room was located in a large hall in the Northern section of the town. “C” Company enjoyed its dinner in a very picturesque theatre in the centre of the town, while “D” Company had theirs in one of the schools the town affords. “B” Company being on duty as Outpost Company, had arranged to  have dinner in one of the schools in the village of Brohl.

Each of the mess-rooms was decorated in a most pleasant and “Christmas-like” style and tended to heighten the then very high spirit of the men. The tables were loaded with Apples, Oranges, Nuts, Ginger-ale, Cakes, etc. and from the serving tables in the rear came the most appetizing odours of Turkey, meats, vegetables, Christmas Plum Pudding and other items to be served as the dinner progressed.

The men took their places at the tables in a very business-like manner, the different platoons being kept together, and then began what was their first Christmas dinner and also, in all probability their last one in German Territory.

Lt.-Col. L.E. Jones and ad Staff Officers and the Officers of the different Companies were in attendance at each of the dinners of the Companies and during the progress of the dinner Lt.-Col. Jones made a short [entered in pencil] speech of good will, wishing the members of the Battalion a “Very  Merry Christmas” and every prosperity for the coming year, which as he remarked would be the one year that would never be forgotten by any one present or by the world in its entirety, being the Anniversary year of the Ending of the War. He again complimented the members of the Battalion upon their share of the conflict and expressed himself as being more than pleased with their conduct in the past and present.

At the close of his address the men express their appreciation of his remarks by rising and giving him three of the most hearty cheers and a “Tiger”.

At the close of the dinner the faces of the men showed, very glowingly, their entire satisfaction. Altogether the occasion was carried off in an excellent manner and it will be one that will never be forgotten by any of the members of this battalion.

2 O.R.s on leave and 3 O.R.s returned.

  26   The Battalion continued training as per Syllabi attached. 4 O.R’s on leave and 1 O.R. returned. 1 O.R. to Hospital. Appendix No. 21.   27   The Battalion continued training as per Syllabi attached. 3 O.R’s on leave and 24 O.R’s  returned. 4 O.R’s attached to Repatriated Prisoners of War Camp, Wahm. 1 O.R. attached as reinforcement. 2 O.R’s to Hospital. Appendix No. 22.   28   The Battalion continued training as per Syllabi attached. Lieut. C.D. Smith and 4 O.R’s on leave. Appendix No. 23.   29   The Battalion attended Church Service and enjoyed another of the Padre’s excellent Sermons. Capt. C.H. Boulden and Capt. W.A.S. Porter and 5 O.R’s on leave, and 1 O.R. returned. 1 O.R. to Fitters Course at Duran. 1 O.R. to Hospital. Appendix No. 24.   30   The Battalion continued training as per Syllabi attached. 1 O.R. on leave to Paris and 1 O.R. returned from leave, from United Kingdom. 1 O.R. returned from Hospital Appendix no 25.   31   The Battalion continued training as per Syllabi attached. 4 O.R’s on leave. 1 O.R. to Hospital and 1 O.R. returned from Hospital. Appendix No. 26.

War Diary

Appendices (Not Including Maps)

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War Diary of the 18th Battalion: December 1918 Confidential War Diary of 18th CANADIAN BATTALION – 2nd CANADIAN DIVISION From 1st December, 1918 to 31th December, 1918…

[gll-chui]

Special Delivery

☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲

★彡( 𝙻𝚘𝚐𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙾𝚗 )彡★

Well shit, he didn’t think that this would have happened to him today. 

It was supposed to be a simple drop off mission. Garuru was given the task to hop into a mech suit and deliver a single cartridge to the drop-off point on one of Nimona’s craters. It seemed simple enough, so simple that Garuru even instructed his team that they could remain on the ship and continue to circle the small moon while he goes ahead on his own. Though, the moment he started to land at the given coordinates he realized that something was wrong. The drop-off camp which would usually be bustling with other Keronian soldiers and waiting for his arrival were seemingly all gone, some shady figures were in place in their stead. Vipers.

His keen eyes got a good glimpse of these insolent creatures before goundfall but it was already too late, he was already a projectile coming in from the atmosphere at a couple hundred miles an hour and he was aiming right for the landing pad near the very center of the desolate camp. Garuru could only brace himself for the impact and make a couple of commands to the mech suit with his fingertips to start loosening up the straps that kept him in place. Was it a foolish idea? Definitely, but he needed to get out of the suit quickly if he didn’t want to get turned into nothing but holes. 

They didn’t even know that Garuru and his suit were coming in until he was merely seconds from landing on the platform with a loud deafening ‘crunch’ in the moon’s grit. The Lieutenant had already stiffened himself to ready the blow he was no-doubt going to receive to the back of his head from the harsh impact, but damn did that shit hurt. All in the same second Garuru opened the hatch that was in the center of the Mecha’s chest and jumped out to get cover behind some hefty metal crates not too far from the landing pad. Sure, some could argue that he could just remain in the suit and open fire the moment he landed, but after coming in hot like that from the atmosphere? It would be detrimental if that one lucky bullet found its way into the fuel chamber on his suit. 

Ka-Boom. To put it simply. 

Despite the pain radiating from the back of his head to the space in between his eyes Garuru managed to take aim and shoot at a couple of those vile Vipers, he ducked accordingly when the lucky few had taken cover to start returning fire as well. He remained close to the ground, letting his right hand reach up to the back of his head, throbbing and stinging under his touch. If it wasn’t for the pain he was already feeling then it was surely the wetness at the back of his head that gave it away that he was surely injured. Garuru peeked at his hand then wiped it off on his thigh to clean it off, that...was quite a bit of blood. It was a miracle he didn’t kill himself from blunt force trauma in the suit. 

“Garuru to Platoon, come in platoon, I’m under attack--” Garuru ducks down even further, lifting his left hand with the pistol just enough over the cargo box he took for cover and trying to fire back. If he hit someone, good, but more importantly he took those shots so that he could force them into cover and get himself a breather. The communicator in his other hand crackled with Taruru’s voice, and then Pururu’s, but he couldn’t hear a word that they were saying. The Lieutenant flips the com over so he could look at the connection, the signals were jammed. He presses a single button that was there to get in contact with his dispatcher, usually the function was for the dispatcher themselves to connect to the team to let them know he was under attack, or injured, etcetera. His com blinks a few times, then vibrates and…..nothing. “Fuck.” he musters with a short aggrivated sigh. Well, that means he was on his own for this, that’s fine by him.

At least, he thought he was alone.

Garuru was readying his sniper so that he could immediately start taking shots the moment he got out of cover, but before he could even come out he heard screams...the Viper’s screams. And more gunshots. His years worth of tactical training and survival instincts kicked in, he had to find a new form of cover--higher ground and all of that--so he could see what the hell was going on. The Lieutenant peeks over, seeing a small group of metal containers stacked upon one another then decides to run for it, keeping his head ducked down and sliding into position at the very bottom of it. He hops up onto the metal crate and pauses to hear the bursts slowing down. There was no more screaming now, but a couple of well aimed shots did shoot at the container Garuru had used for cover before running over to this side. He held his arm up to shield his eyes from the dust and debris that flew over, then silence fell on the camp again. 

It was a deafening few seconds before Garuru had the nerve to look out from his cover. He removed his scope from the sniper and kept it on his lap at first, grabbing a small pack that was beside him and underhanded it into the opening. No shots were made at it. He then slid slowly towards the edge of the crate that covered him, taking his scope and inching it out so that it peeked out from his hiding place. Nothing. For sure if this person was a sniper they would have shot at the tiny glistening metal and glass in his hand if they suspected it to be an enemy peeking out from cover. Hell, he would. 

Garuru sighed, getting on his knees to move to the edge and finally look through the scope to see where this other person was. He didn’t see anything at first, and the scanner that came equipped inside his scope couldn’t find any traces of life among the lifeless moon landscape either when he continued to look. But then he saw it, a little glitter? No. It was Keronian morse code. ‘E.N.E.M.Y’? After a pause it started up again. 

K.E.R.O.N.I.A.N / O.R / E.N.E.M.Y 

Garuru tilted his thumb so that it could cover the scope then removed it again to see through it in a pattern, knowing that the reflection from the sun was already making his scope glisten and tried to sign back as best as he could. 

K.E.R.O.N.I.A.N / S.O.L.D.I.E.R / A.L.Y 

He waited patiently then signed his message back again. Whoever it was he was signalling to seem to know Keronian Morse code very well because it only took them the second time of seeing his message before they began their reply. 

H.O.W / M.A.N.Y 

Garuru’s reply. 

O.N.E 

A Keronian appeared from what looked like to be out of thin air, he was sand colored with yellow eyes and red markings on his face under his sharp eyes and two belts across his chest. Garuru even jolted when the random Keronian appeared, did he have some cloaking device on him that made him stand out in the opening like that? Then again, it would make sense how he managed to take down three Vipers on his own without so much as breaking a sweat if they couldn’t see him. After making his presence known the Keronian used what looked like a small flashlight in his hand to click it on and off to signal back. 

K.E.R.O.N.I.A.N / S.P.E.C.T.R.E / A.L.L.Y / C.O.M.E / O.U.T 

A Keronian spectre? That was lucky of him. Usually Keronian Spectres have worked off galaxy side, fighting or indoctrinating other sides of the cosmos in hopes of spreading Keron’s territory, not running around on a moon that was so close to their home. Garuru slid off of the crate and onto his feet, wobbling a little as he did so but he wasn’t worried, his vision was still clear, his breathing was fine, he didn’t think his body was going into shock or anything...yet. Garuru makes one more glance around to ensure that it was indeed just the two of them before getting out of cover, then slowly making his way past the Vipers that all laid there pathetically in the moon sand. Huh, he managed to hit one of the  guys when he wasn’t looking, that was also lucky of him. 

The other Keronian was already standing at the foot of Garuru’s mech suit, looking at it as though he was just a passerby admiring a good piece of machinery and not that he just killed some enemies on their home turf. “Sir.” Garuru greeted with a salute, being that the other soldier turned and gave him a casual salute back only meant that they were the same rank so Garuru put his hand down and met him at the mech. “I appreciate you helping me out back there.” 

“There’s a lot of blood in there.” the sand colored soldier stated, nodding his head to the mech suit and the Lieutenant winced inwardly when he saw the roof of the suit covered with blood. Yup. His blood. “It wouldn’t warrant those bastards to come this close though.” 

“It wouldn’t, that blood is mine. They were already here when I was starting to land.” Garuru explains, turning his head slightly when the other soldier leaned over so that he could look at the back of his head, it must not be good if the guy audibly hissed at the sight. “I was supposed to meet with a group here for a delivery mission, but we didn’t receive word or anything about the campsite getting taken over.” The soldier nods his head, looking back at the Vipers that laid about and then back to Garuru, asking him what he was supposed to deliver. “A package, for the Lieutenant Colonel in charge of this crater.” 

“I’m Lieutenant Vern, or carrier seven-one-eight-six-three.” the soldier finally speaks up, bringing his wrist up so that a holographic screen could come in between them. The screen flickered with different information and files before coming set onto one that showed a picture of Garuru and his platoon all together, Garuru could read that the file name was in Keronian but the rest of the file itself was in another language….Nimonian? No doubt about it, it looked Nimonian but unfortunately he didn’t know a lick of it. “You must be Lieutenant Garuru then, of the Garuru Platoon. I think we were supposed to meet originally on behalf of the Marquees Greedo.” 

“That sounds about right.” Garuru states, nodding in affirmation. He and his platoon were supposed to meet someone with the identification numbers seven-one-eight-six-three when they had received their orders, of course they were also supposed to meet in a ‘fortified camp’ as well, but things change, and even though Garuru was curious to find out what the hell happened here it wasn’t part of the mission to know. Just to deliver this package to said Marquees who...might or might not be among them anymore if they had the scene at this meeting place to go by. Garuru was about to jump back into the suit to grab the package but was instead stopped by Vern who grabbed his shoulder when his back was turned and held him in place. The Lieutenant was about to ask the guy what he was doing before he felt a slight pinch and a whole lot of burning in the back of his head, making him swear aloud. 

“My apologies, it’s just better to seal this hole in the back of your skull before it has the chance to get any worse.” the soldier behind him states, though his voice was monotone and deep it sounded a bit playful near the end of it, almost as if he was smiling at his own little joke. Nonetheless, Garuru appreciated it. 

“Do you know what happened here?” 

 “Only about as much as you, I just got here as well.” They stood in silence a little more before Vern’s grasp finally let go of Garuru’s shoulder and the burning in the back of his head subsided as well, no longer did it throb and pulsate but instead felt numb. Garuru sighed in relief, stretching his stiffening neck and shoulders then running his hand gently behind his head to feel the injury that was as distant as a misplaced memory. The skin there had healed up and the blood was now dry, the area itself was still a little sensitive to the touch but nothing compared to when it was fresh.

“Thank you, Vern.” Garuru was sincere with his thank you, if it was any other soldier they would turn a blind eye if a comrade was hurt but they learned that a medic was in their platoon. ‘Why should I waste my resources if a medic is nearby?’ would be their mentality, but this guy was kind enough to heal his injury enough so that he could keep on working. The soldier didn’t looked all that pleased at his thanks, nor didn’t say ‘your welcome’ or ‘no problem’ or ‘anyone would have done the same’, this guy stayed true to the Nimonian stereotype and just answered back a short and simple: 

“Let’s get you back on the mission, Lieutenant.”  

☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲☲

★彡( 𝙻𝚘𝚐𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙾𝚏𝚏 )彡★

[rionebuys]

'I'm in...' (Chapter 5)

Annabelle Parker. She was constantly on Daniel's mind. She was beautiful, yet she was shy and innocent. Daniel liked that, he didn't know how innocent but it was clear that she was more focused on her career than anything else. He loved her ambition, her passion and most of all he loved her talent. Being in Cape Town and spending time with her really showed him a different side of women. She wasn't like the rest, she was a gem, she was golden and he liked that about her. She didn't think the way other girls did and she didn't dress like them either, she stood out above all of them and he was glad he had the eyes to see her. Daniel just landed at O.R. Tambo international airport, he was back in Johannesburg and he already missed her. He got a text timed last night at 10pm from Donovan. 'Hey bro, both Matt and I landed and arrived safety at your condo. Matt is still heavy jet lagged but we're looking forward to seeing you.' Daniel smiled slightly as he read it, he missed Donovan and Matt, he could imagine the fourteen year old being passed out and his bed being ruined. Ever since Matthew was born he had formed a close with his uncle Danny. If there were sleepovers Matt always insisted on sleeping next to his uncle or at least taking his uncle's bed. Daniel never minded, Matt could be his son for all he cared, he loved that little guy so much. Sometimes when he got visits like this or went back to New York he would feel guilty for being so distant at times with his family, but he couldn't help it, there was a hole in his heart and no one could fill it. Except Belle. He thought, too soon? Speaking of, Daniel saw it was past midnight, he wondered if he should call her and tel her he's safe. Mmm maybe she won't care, or she's asleep. Debating this Daniel decided to just send her a text. 'Just landed and now on my way home. I miss you already. -D' He locked his iPhone and looked out the window as he took the sight of the city again. Being back in JHB was good but he wished that Belle was here with him. He could imagine going to visit her on a daily basis, bringing her flowers, having dinner with her, just not having to rush an or cut their time together short. The way her hair danced with wind on the beach, her content smile playing on her lips as her eyes closed, facing the sun and listening to the waves. Daniel took a mental picture of her that way and it was the only way she replayed in his head. 'Glad you're safe. I miss you too. Sleep tight. X -B' Daniel had a bright smile on his face, he thought she would be asleep by now. Was she busy with studies? Maybe she waited for his text? No she was probably studying. The look of her text told him that she was tired and going to bed. 'Sweet dreams xx -D' Just as Daniel sent the text, Travis pulled up at his penthouse and he took a deep breath. He wasn't as tired as he should be, after Belle's text he was more awake, but he knew he had to sleep and get rest, especially with a fourteen year old in the house. Walking into his penthouse he put his keys down in the bowl by his front door and bid Travis goodnight. The house was quiet telling him they were both asleep. Daniel went to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water, taking it with him upstairs to his room. Entering his room he saw Matthew passed out, lucky for him the bed was king size so there was enough space for him. Daniel took a minute to look at him. He had the same light hair as his father and the same jaw. He had grown taller in the last three months that he hasn't seen the little guy. Daniel smirked as he knew soon Matt was going to break hearts. Daniel took a shower and got dressed in pajama pants and a white shirt. Slipping into bed next to his nephew, his head hit the pillow and he fell asleep with one thing on his mind. Annabelle Parker. "Waaaaaake upppp!!!" Daniel heard a voice trying to sound like Batman? Smirking Daniel groaned pretending to be asleep. "Noo!! Come on uncle Danny, wake up! You have to spend the day with me!" He was doing his whiny voice knowing Daniel's walls would crumble, it always did. Turning around Daniel looked at Matthew with one open eye. "Happy now?" He grumbled and Matt shook his head shaking Daniel's shoulders. "Okay okay I'm up!" Daniel said in defeat, making Matt attack him with a hug. "I'm so glad we've been reunited Uncle D, the forces has kept me long enough, I almost didn't make it, but I survived." Matt said dramatically, ever since he was little Daniel and him had this hidden game world they lived in, the family tried to understand them but gave up after failing. "I would sure hope so. I can't afford to loose my best soldier to Dr. Evil." Daniel said making Matt's eyes widen. "Her sir, but in battle I think I got infected, not sure but I'll need the antidote." Matt said 'scratching' his chin. That was code for pancakes, the boys' favorite breakfast that they only ate when together. Pretending to be thinking Daniel stood up and put both arms behind him staring down at Matt. "Well soldier, I heard the doctor was in town, just to be sure we would advice you to clean up before further examination." "Yes sir!" Matt said excitedly saluting Daniel before running and giving Daniel a bone crushing hug that he returned. "I missed you uncle D." Daniel's heart swelled at this boy, he loved this kid so much and was happy to have them visit for a while. "I missed you more Matty. Go get dressed and all, I'll make us some pancakes." Matt nodded a left. After Daniel took a shower and got dressed he started on the pancakes. It was the only thing he knew how to make. Throwing choc chips in, he mixed it all together and started making them in the pan. Matt and Don both made their way downstairs just in time as Daniel placed the last pancake on the plate filled with a tower of pancakes. "Smells great! Hello brother." Don said as both him and Daniel gave each other wide smiles and a bro hug. The rest of the day was spent with the three of them doing tons of things, Daniel took them to the zoo and go-cart racing. Daniel felt home again as he had boys time with his boys, Matt was in heaven having his uncle with him and telling him all about the school and girls. Don and Daniel both caught on with the businesses and their lives. All the while Daniel kept texting Belle, he wished they could meet her, they would love her. But Daniel knew that somehow he had to get her here. It was late afternoon, all three of the boys were sitting on Daniel's pent house balcony drinking a cold one. Yes the men drank a beer while Matt drank his beer. They were looking at the sunset out on the city. Taking a deep breath all three of them took a sip of their drinks in sync. "Okay, who is she?" Don asked the question he had been waiting to ask. Matt looked at them and smirked, he was happy at the idea that his uncle found someone. "What are you talking about?" "You've been hooked on your phone as well as had a goofy smile for at least all day not to mention you are not your usual distant self. I was like that once, when I met Sophie, so who is she?" Dan asked smirking. "Annabelle, her name is Annabelle Parker." As he said it in memory of her, they heard a glass broke, both of them looked to their right at Matt who dropped his glass and stared open mouth at them. "A-A- Annabelle Parker? As in you tube singer, gorgeous girl, love of my life Annabelle Parker?" Both raised an eyebrow at him and Daniel nodded. "How dare you break bro code uncle Danny? I had dibs on her first. Is she hot? Like on the videos or better?" Matt asked, Daniel turned his head to Don who only shrugged and drank his beer. Turning back to Matt he answered. "Yes the one and only. She's beautiful, inside and out, she has this sort of elegance and beauty to her that I can't explain. She's like a siren, she hypnotized me with her music and her voice." Daniel said thinking back to their time in Cape Town. "How did you find her?" Matt asked breaking his trance. "She found me. After I saw the link you send me, I was invited to one of ACA's recitals in Cape Town. She is a student there, on her last year. She just preformed and I was lost. I asked her to coffee the next day and she agreed. We had lunch and went to the beach just in each other's company and she stole my heart. Everything about her is so pure and innocent." Don looked at Daniel as he spoke, he had a grin on his face, he couldn't believe it. Daniel actually found his match. The look in his eye, the smile on his face, the way he spoke about her, was all signs of at Don did and looked like when he found Sophie. He thought the exact thought about her. She was his everything the minute they met. He wanted her and he got her. He'll admit he was persistent but how else? "Let me tell you man, when it comes to the ladies, you let them come to you, you know what I'm saying?" This came from Matt and it made both men look at him with an raised eyebrow. Matt just shrugged his shoulders and kept drinking his coke. Shaking his head, Don turned towards Daniel. "So what's the problem?" Daniel looked at him confused, as Don saw this he sat up a little straighter and continued. "There is always a problem. Something keeping you from being with her. Mine was that she was a few years younger than me and still in high school." As he said this both Daniel and Don chuckled. Daniel remembered this, he was fourteen when Sophie told their parents that she had met a guy and that they were in love. Everyone was fine with it until twenty two year old Donovan Shepard stepped through the door. He was a colleague of Conrad, still a college student but on his way to success. Conrad was not too fond of the idea that his seventeen year old daughter fell for this guy and made it almost impossible for them to see each other. At the end of the day Conrad saw the love and devotion in his eyes and gave them his blessing. Sophie was twenty one when they got married. A year later she gave birth to Matt and a year after that, Conrad was no longer. "I remember, dad made it impossible, always sitting between the two of you in a movie and spoiling your time together with work problems." Daniel said as he laughed at the memory, it felt good to laugh with Don again. "Why do you think I took another job at the next opportunity?" Both shook their head and let out a laugh. "So you see, problems, which is yours?" "A few days ago, before I went to Cape Town, I got a call from Jeremy." Don frowned at this. "Your right hand at the company Jeremy?" Daniel nodded taking a sip of his beer. "Yeah, he told me that some things weren't going as well in New York and that it would be wise to relocate." "Relocate? Does that mean you're moving back home? To New York?" Don was excited, he missed having Daniel there, everyone did. Him moving back would be great. Nodding Daniel replied. "Yeah, but Annabelle is here, in South Africa, she's still studying." Don sighed taking a sip of his beer before turning to Daniel. "So what? Get her to move with you." Daniel's face was frowning and Don continued. "ACA is also in New York. She can finish her studies there, as for being too soon, when you know, you know. Sophie and I officially dated a week before moving in, she was fresh out of high school and we got a place together, close to college and work." "What if she says no?" "Then she says no, and you wait until she's ready. Sophie turned me down four times before we did move in together." Daniel chuckled and the rest of the night they went out for dinner and spent the rest of the night together. It's been about a month since Don and Matt came to visit. A lot were on Daniel's mind, the work, what Don said about asking her to move in, Annabelle. She was constantly clouding his mind. They talked everyday, morning, evening and sometimes even through lunch hour. Daniel was falling for her everyday and he knew she was too. He had to move to New York soon, his time was running out. So he thought it smart to go back to Cape Town and discuss this with her in person. Or so his mother advised him. So with a heart beating towards the sky, he entered Anne's cafe. The place was it's usual busy self. He looked around, in search for Belle but couldn't see her, neither could he see Anne. "Hi handsome, what can I do for you?" A voice broke him from his search. He looked to his left and found a girl with blonde dyed hair, a top showing too much and make up that was just as much. Very unprofessional. Daniel thought. "Hi, I'm looking for Annabelle." He said polite. She furrowed her eyebrows and looked at him from top to bottom. Recognition crossed her eyes and her face fell. "You must be Daniel then? The guy from last time, also the guy she won't shut up about." She said mumbling the last part. That made Daniel smile, he was glad that he wasn't the only one to constantly talk about her. "She's at the back with Anne, I'll go get ." she said and walked away. Daniel waited patiently for her to come back with Belle while having a smile on his face. The smile widen once he heard a loud 'What?!' Coming from the back. It was Belle, and the next thing he knew, she came running out with a look of disbelief. "Daniel?" She whispered and when he nodded she ran to him, giving him a big hug he returned. "What are you doing here?" She asked shocked but so happy. Daniel pulled back still holding her hips as he sighed. It was now or never. "We need to talk." He said and her smile dropped. The couple were seated on the deck at the cafe, both having coffee in the hands, both admiring each others looks while in a serious conversation. "So you're moving to New York?" Belle asked, her tone deflating. She just found him and now he had to leave? Was the universe against both of them? Daniel felt like crap seeing her face fall. He didn't want to leave without her. He needed her, she was his light among other things. He was happy with her around. Daniel  his mug down and grabbed a hold of her soft hand. "I have to yes, Jeremy says that people are going crazy without the authority in the offices. But the reason why I'm here doing it in person is, I want you to come with me. I know it's a big step and that we've only known each other a little while but, you don't have to stay with me, I can get you your own place, you can transfer to ACA in New York. This could work." "Wow you've really thought this through. I-I just need time to think please." Daniel nodded his head in understanding, he was worried that she would say no, what was he to do then? The rest of the day Daniel spent with Belle forgetting the awkward encounter earlier. He had a great time with her but had to say  goodbye since he had to go back to work and to JHB. He was getting anxious, it's been three days since they talked about NY. Daniel didn't bring it up in their phone call and neither did she. He didn't want to push her but his time was running out, he already started packing and getting things done to leave in a few weeks. Daniel was busy at the office, it was already past eight at night and he had a few files that needed his attention. As he typed away on his computer his phone buzzed signaling a text message. He checked it and saw it was from Belle. The text made him smile , it  him excited. 'I'm in. -B.' Copyright © 2015

[k2kid]

CONFIDENTIAL WAR DIARY -OF-

18th CANADIAN BATTALION – 2nd CANADIAN DIVISION

From 1st June to 31th June 1917 Volume 22

With appendicies 1-3

Place Date Hour Summary of Events and Information   1   Map reference WILLERVAL 1/20,000

  Battalion in Brigade Support with H.Qrs at T.27.d.3.5.

  During the night Battalion was relieved by 15th Canadian Battalion and the whole of the 4th Brigade moved back to RIDGE Line with H.Qrs at ZIVY CAVE.

  2 12 noon. Battalion relieved by the 7th Canadian Battalion and moved back into Reserve camp near NEUVILLE-ST-VAST. Lieut. H.N. Bawden admitted to hospital (sick).   3 10. a.m. 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade relieved the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade. 18th Battalion marched back to billets in BARLIN[i]. 6 o.rs rejoined from hospital. 2 instructors from Canadian Corps Gymnastic Staff attached to Battalion for instructional purposes. BARLIN 4   Battalion resting and settling down in billets. “ 5   Battalion Pay and Bath parades. 9 o.rs returned from hospital. “ 6   Clothing parades and completion of Bath parades. Lieut. C.H. Biscoe and 42 o.rs arrived as reinforcements, many of them old men rejoining.[ii] “ 7   Inspection of Companies by Company Commanders. Syllabus of training to be carried out (attached). 7 o.rs arrived as reinforcements. “ 8[iii] Morning

    Afternoon

Company parades and training. Specialists training under qualified instructors.

  Recreational training and sports. 2 o.rs admitted to hospital.

“ 9 Morning

  Afternoon

Physical training under special instructors.

  Recreational training.

“ 10 9. a.m. Church parade. Remainder to day spent in recreation. 3 o.rs admitted to hospital. “ 11 Morning Training according to syllabus. Afternoon, recreational training. Lieut. L.A. Bissell and 18 o.rs arrived as reinforcements. “ 12 Morning “C” Company on specialist training under specialists Officers. “A. B. & D” coys training according to syllabus. Lieut. H.N. Bawden and 15 o.rs returned from hospital.

  A Horse show was held by Brigade at which we gained 1 second and 2 third prizes.

“ 13 Morning “B” Company at ranges on Musketry instruction. Special training by R.S.M. Price[iv] of N.C.Os. 52 o.rs arrived as reinforcements. 3 o.rs returned from hospital. “ 14   Battalion training to according to syllabus. 3 o.rs accidentally wounded. “ 15[v]   Battalion sports held at RUITZ. Races, Tug of War, Football and Wrestling during the day and a concert in the evening by the Battalion Band. “ 16 Morning Training according to syllabus. 48 o.rs arrived as reinforcements. 5 o.rs returned from hospital. “ 17 9.a.m. Church parade. “C” Company on Musketry at ranges. Afternoon being spent in recreational exercise. Battalion Football team played and beat the 4th M.G. coy in competion [sic] for the Divisional Championship. “ 18 9.15.a.m. Battalion parade to Brigade sports. Battalion Football team making a draw with 20th Battalion for Brigade Championship. Prizes were presented at the close by Brig-General R. Rennie, C.M.G., V.O., D.S.O. “ 19 Morning “A” and “D” companies on special training under Physical instructors. “B” and “C” on usual syllabus training. “ 20 “ Syllabus training. 11.15.a.m. Battalion parade.   21 “ “D” Company on Musketry at Ranges. “C” Company on Specialist training, remainder of Battalion carrying on with usual syllabus of training. 5 o.rs admitted to hospital.   22   Training according to syllabus. Lt.-Col. L.E. Jones proceeded on leave. Major J.A. McIntosh assumed command of the Battalion.   23   Company bath parades in morning. Voluntary parade to Divisional sports in the afternoon, Lieut. W.S. Caldwell[vi], J.G. Doherty, J.D. Parsons arrived as reinforcements.   24 9.a.m. Church parade. 3 o.rs returned from hospital. Lieut. J. M. Fisher returned from leave.   25   Parade of all casuals for Musketry training at ranges. Company training as per syllabus. 1 o.r. admitted to hospital (injured).   26   Company inspections. Platoon training in attack. Physical training and Bayonet fighting. Major W.J. Gander and 4 o.rs admitted to hospital (sick).   27   Commanding Officer’s inspection of Companies and Units. 3 o.rs returned from hospital. Capt. J.S. Bell rejoined the Battalion from Divisional school.   28 11.a.m. Battalion inspected by G.O.C. 2nd Canadian Division. Battalion paraded in full marching order at 10 a.m. and was highly complimented on their smart appearance.   29   Platoon training in attack and Bayonet fighting. Lieuts. H.L. Mitchell and H.B. Johnson arrived as reinforcements.   30   Company inspections. Close order and Arm drill. Battalion parade at 11.00 a.m. 2 o.rs admitted to hospital.

  53730 L/Sgt. Sifton E.W. (Killed in Action 9.4.17) Awarded VICTORIA CROSS. “For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty.  During the attack in enemy trenches Sjt. Sifton’s company was held up by machine gun fire which inflicted many casualties. Having located the gun he charged it single-handed, killing all the crew.  A small enemy party advanced down the trench, but he succeeded in keeping these off till our men had gained the position.  He was killed just as he returned with the second man.In carrying out this gallant act he was killed, but his conspicuous valour undoubtedly saved many lives and contributed largely to the success of the operation.”

Appendix 1

18TH (WESTERON ONTARIO) CANADIAN BATTALION. SYLLABUS OF TRAINING. MUSKETRY COURSE

Instruction on Aiming and Trigger Pressing                 2 hours.

Instruction in indication and recognition of Targets 2 hours

On the Range 8 hours.

(Practice in 1 and 2 to be carried on my units not actually firing.)

Lieutenant Actg/Adjt. 18th (Western Ontario) Canadian Battalion

5.6.17.

18TH (WESTERON ONTARIO) CANADIAN BATTALION. SYLLABUS OF TRAINING – 3 WEEKS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Tuesday 5.6.17

1ST WEEK

Organization – Drill and Discipline 4 days

Musketry – 1 day

Brigade Route March 1 day

Each Day – Mornings

Gas helmet drill, saluting etc. 1 hour

Physical Training and Bayonet Fighting 1 hour

Squad and Platoon Drill 1 hour

Arm drill ½ hour

At disposal of Platoon Commanders ½ hour

Afternoons

Training of Specialists –                                          2 hours per day.

  2ND WEEK

Platoon Training 4 days.

Musketry – 1 day

Brigade Route March 1 day

For the week – Mornings

Close order drill                 2 hours

Physical Training and Games 2 hours

Extended order Drill 4 hour

The value of the different weapons and their independence.                                                                 1 hour

Formation of Platoon for Attack 1 hour

The Platoon in the Attack – open warfare                                                                 4 hours

The Platoon in Trench Attack 2 Hours

Afternoons

Training of Specialists –                                          2 hours per day.

  3RD WEEK

Company Training 4 days.

Musketry – 1 day

Brigade Route March 1 day

For the week – Mornings

Close order drill                 2 hours

Physical Training and Games 2 hours

The Attack by stages as a Drill 6 hours

1st Stage – Artillery Formation.

2nd Stage – Extension into lines.

3rd Stage – Building up a Firing Line.

4th Stage – The Assualt.

5th Stage Consolidation and Protection.

Tactical exercise on new ground involving the above                                                                 3 hours

The Trench Attack 3 hours

Afternoons

Training of Specialists –                                          2 hours per day.

  Appendix 2

18TH (WESTERON ONTARIO) CANADIAN BATTALION.

The Battalion Sports will be held on Friday June 15th at the Y.M.C.A. Grounds RUITZ, at 3.00 p.m.

The following events will be staged:

100 yards race 220 yards race 440 yards race (obstacle) 1 Mile Race. Boat Race. 100 Yards Band Race. 3 Legged Race. Sack Race. Long Jump (Standing) High Jump Horse-back Wrestling. Mule Race. Tug-of-War (8 men per team) Blind-fold Respirator Race.

Entries for the 100 yards, 220 yards and Long Jump are limited to 4 per Company.

Entries for various events to be handed in to Battalion Orderly Room by 12.00 noon June 14th.

Battalion Football Championship will be decided, followed by a Concert.

Officers are earnestly request to make inquiries among their Companies for singers and entertainers for this Concert.

Special Feature

Tug-of-War between “Q.M. Details” (Captained by Bandmaster G.W. Thomas[vii]) and “Transport Section” (Captained by Sgt. H. Green) will be decided as the result of challenge by the letter.

    PROGRAMME OF 4TH CANADIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE SPORTS CHATEAU GROUNDS COUPIGNY

TIME EVENT REMARKS 1 10.00 a.m. OUTDOOR BASEBALL FINAL 2 11:30 a.m. FOOTBALL FINAL 3 11:30 a.m. OFFICERS INDOOR BASEBALL FINAL AFTERNOON 4 02:00:00 100 YARD DASH (OFFICERS) 5 02:15:00 100 YARD DASH (OTHER RANKS) 6 02:30:00 220 YARD DASH (OTHER RANKS) 7 02:40:00 1 MILE RELAY (OTHER RANKS) 8 02:50:00 OFFICERS RELAY RACE (440 YARDS) 9 03:00:00 HIGH JUMP – FINALS (OPEN) 10 03:00:00 RUNNING ROAD JUMP (OPEN) 11 03:15:00 TUG OF WAR 12 03:30:00 OBSTACLE RACE (OPEN) 13 03:30:00 SACK RACE 14 03:30:00 THREE LEGGED RACE 15 03:45:00 BAND RACE 16 04:00:00 BOAT RACE 17 04:00:00 BLINDFOLD RACE 18 04:15:00 MULE RACE 19 04:30:00 HORSEBACK WRESTLING 20 04:45:00 BOXING – WEIGHT 12O Pounds BOXING – WEIGHT 135 Pounds BOXING – WEIGHT 145 Pounds BOXING – WEIGHT 160 Pounds and over 05:45:00 OFFICERS MOUNTS JUMPING 06:00:00 PRESENTATION of PRIZES by BRIG-GENERAL R. RENNIE C.M.G., M.V.O., D.S.O.

      OFFICIALS   HON. MARSHALL OF THE FIELD   BRIG-GENERAL R. RENNIE C.M.G., M.V.O., D.S.O. HON. JUDGES   Lieut.-Col. L.H. MILLEN HON JUDGES   Lieut.-Col. H.V. RORKE D.S.O. HON JUDGES   Lieut.-Col. L.E. JONES HON JUDGES   Lieut.-Col. T.F. ELMITT JUDGES   Major D.E. MACINTYRE, D.S.O., M.C. JUDGES   Major H.E. HATCH JUDGES   Major G.H. MUSGROVE JUDGES   Major W. FORBES-MITCHELL, D.S.O. CLERK OF COURSE   Major H.D. FEARMAN, D.S.O. STARTER   Captain H.C. PATTERSON, Y.M.C.A. ASST. STARTER   Captain MOORE, Y.M.C.A.[viii] TIMER (TRACK EVENTS) Captain R.N. JAGO SCORERS (FIELD EVENTS) Captain E.V. BENJAMIN, M.C.     Lieut. A.P. CHRISTMAS SCORER (BOXING) Major C.E. SINCLAIR, M.C. ANNOUNCERS   R.S.M. T.F. JORDAN, M.C., 21st Bn.     R.S.M. J. COLLETT, 20th Bn.

    [i] Barlin is a commune west of Lens approximately 15 kilometers.

[ii] The reference to “old men rejoining” is unclear but is probably alluding to men of the original draft of the Battalion who joined between October 1914 and March 1915 are returning to the Battalion after being wounded or ill and upon completion of their rest and refitting in England and in France.

[iii] On June 8, 1917 a SPECIAL ORDER was forwarded to all units. This order was a letter to the members of the Canadian Corps by Lieutenant-General Julian Byng saying “Goodbye” to the Corps.

[iv] The identity of this soldier has not been confirmed. Possibly Price, George:  Service no. 928158.

[v] See Appendix 2.

[vi] Lt. Caldwell was one of the 18th Battalion “originals” and rose from the ranks. See his digitized service record for more information.

[vii] Soldier not identified at this time.

[viii] Soldier unknown at time of post.

War Diary of the 18th Battalion: June 1917 CONFIDENTIAL WAR DIARY -OF- 18th CANADIAN BATTALION – 2nd CANADIAN DIVISION From 1st June to 31th June 1917…