Michael had just drawn his blanket up to his chin when the fattest fella he’d ever seen waddled in dressed like some medieval knight. The doctors all froze at seeing him, face going pale as bedsheets before they went back to their individual tasks. They were scared of this guy, that was for sure. The man approached the side of his cot, staring down at Michael with searching eyes before sighing and sliding the bag off his shoulder and laying it at Hoplite’s feet. Fatty didn’t seem bothered by the massive armored super-soldier standing next to him… maybe they had already met or something? He must not of known that this was the thirty-seven himself based on how he acted all casual like. Lance followed in through the flap soon afterward, right as Hoplite lifted up and began rifling through the contents of the sack.

Gorgeous guns he realized. Man what he wouldn’t give to have one in his arms right now… The woman, Lance, approached Hoplite as he finished his inspection, laying the bag back on the ground and giving her a sharp nod. Lance didn’t seem to notice the gesture as her eyes fell on the fat man. Michael furrowed his brow as fatty leaned down closer, smelling of rank sweat. Until suddenly those big lips of his pursed, planting an oh so uncomfortably wet kiss right on Michael’s forehead.

“Hell’s wrong with you!?” Michael shouted, digging himself further down into the pillow as he used the sheet to wipe away the horrid wetness on his forehead “Don’t you kiss me freak!”

“I am Gali, Mayor of the Fiendwall. As of today, you are my tenth son.” He said in a formal tone.

“You ain’t look nothing like my pa!” Michael shouted “Sir we gotta get outta here, tubby's trying to do things to me!"

Hoplite just cocked his helmet toward Gali, and the mayor turned his gaze to thirty-seven with a cool expression.

“It do be just a formality. I had to do it to save his life from those idiots outside.” Gali said with a scowl “To be my tenth son is to be… well, it do mean that you’re now the tenth in line to be mayor. I have no real children, to be adopted as a son by a mayor means that you do have legitimacy to the title of mayor once I do retire. I do be guessing you no want the job, but that’s fine.” Gali said, laughing as he shook his head “Got nine other ‘sons’ I’ve adopted the same way, but the killing of a ‘son’ is a death sentence for any Fiendwaller.” He looked to Hoplite then, the smile fading from his face as his tone turned serious “I know you do care for this lad hero, consider this a small repayment for your service here the other day.”

Hoplite simply nodded in response, tying the sack shut and laying it by his feet as Michael stared dumbfounded at Gali. His tenth son? In line to be mayor? So… did that mean Gali saved his skin? Well, in that case Michael supposed that Gali was actually pretty cool… for an old fart anyway. Michael didn't know how to feel about the whole 'mayor' thing… wait, no he did.

Absolutely friggin' not.

“The threat has been neutralized?” Hoplite asked, Gali and Lance both opening their mouths to speak.

They both stared at one another for a brief instant before Lance gestured for the mayor to go on. Gali then shrugged “It do be…reduced, but no drop your guard. I will post defenders to watch my son until he do be fully recovered, if you’ll allow it. The defenders follow my word as if from Foundation himself.”

Hoplite said nothing, looking to Lance who stiffened under his gaze “I am sorry.” Hoplite said simply.

Michael and Lance both stared wide-eyed at Hoplite, with Lance's jaw even dropping a fraction.

"I did not give you clear orders when I left you with the bag." Hoplite told her flatly.

She stared.

"You… didn't say anything Hoplite." She said slowly "I did assume you meant for me to guard it though."

Hoplite gave a visible nod "We will not repeat this mistake."

Lance let out a breath and smiled “We won’t buddy.”

Michael himself stared, his jaw dropping open for an instant before he snapped it shut. Buddy? Did she just call a Hoplite ‘buddy’? That was a first, maybe the first in the history of mankind, as far as Michael knew. Thirty-seven didn’t reply to the odd comment, turning to Gali who, despite his own great size, was still dwarfed by Hoplite.

“We will hold this position for now. Hostiles will be eliminated if they pose a threat.” Hoplite told the mayor.

Gali sighed “Do try to just give them a beating? They do be my people, stupid stubborn fools that they are.”

Hoplite remained quiet for a long while before finally saying “If they are unarmed, I will.”

Gali nodded “Aye, that’s good enough for me. Now, if there do be nothing else, I must go bring my defenders to guard my son-”

“Negative.” Hoplite said in a flat tone “Your defenders could be compromised.”

Gali lifted an eyebrow and actually smirked at thirty-seven. Lance’s eyes widened at the fat man’s expression and Michael’s brow furrowed.

“Somethin’ you know that we don’t?” Michael asked him.

Gali cleared his throat “The defenders are… well, they do be bound to me. They are unable to resist my commands… but I do be thinking that you’d need to see such a thing to believe it. I do like to think that they follow my orders of their own free will nowadays… but I still can force them if I do have to.” Gali said, finishing with a small groan “I no want to pressure them however, they be good fellows. Tell you what hero, how’s about I give you your own tent to keep my son in, set it up where you want and I will no tell anyone where it is.”

Hoplite paused a moment. Just what was the guy thinking? Michael himself thought it was a pretty good idea. All they needed to do was bring that mush they’d been feeding him and a nice comfy blanket. He’d probably be up and ready to go wherever Hoplite wanted here pretty soon… Michael could probably even get going tomorrow; what with how that mush was working on him. It was like… packed with carbs or something. Already he was beginning to fill out more even though it had only been a day since Hoplite had saved him.

He’d get his arms back in no time baby!

Lance seemed to think this was a good idea as well, based on the way she nodded her head along with Gali’s words.

“...Affirmitive.” Hoplite said “We’ll get set up tonight.”

“Aye I’ll have the tent brought to you now.” Gali said, not moving an inch from where he stood.

A long moment of silence passed before Lance spoke up.

“I thought you were going to go get it?” She asked with a frown.

Gali blinked and looked her way “Sorry, I do be forgettin’ that you folk no understand how the bond works.”

The bond? Probably like… Michael couldn’t really put a word to it, those bionics that the higher ups used to communicate through thought. Those were rare though, and fat chance that Gali would have one installed. No… no Michael didn't think he did.

“My defenders do be linked with my intent, as are all defenders to mayors. That’s how it’s been since the Fiendwall was formed from the bedrock deep beneath this soil.” Gali said, linking his hands together over his gut-plate.

Michael stared “So… they’re coming with the tent.”

“Aye.” Gali replied with a deep confident smile.

“...Alright then.” Michael said after a moment's pause, turning to look up at Hoplite “Sir? Do you know where we’ll set up camp?” Michael asked.

Hoplite simply nodded, but didn’t elaborate.

“Sir?” Michael asked again.

“We’ll leave soon.” Hoplite replied flatly.

Lance sighed and shook her head lightly as Gali turned his head toward the tent flap, as if he had heard something approaching. And sure enough, something was. An armored man with a tall tower shield and spear in one hand and a rolled up canvas bundle in the other marched straight for Gali, stopping before Michael’s cot and handing Hoplite the bundle.

The guy then bowed to Gali, and simply walked off after a word of thanks from the mayor.

“That do be a tent capable of fitting ten men, I could send for some smaller separate tents though if you wish.” Gali said as Hoplite lifted the bag up to his helmet.

“That would be prefe-”

“Negative. This will work fine. Thank you.” Hoplite said, cutting Lance off.

“Now wait just a minute here!” Lance shouted “I am not sharing a tent with you two!”

Michael sighed and pulled the blanket up over his head, no longer wanting to be a part of this conversation. He was getting pretty sleepy anyway… sleepy… Wait… now it was too dark! He briefly panicked a moment before he remembered what he promised himself he’d do once he got out of that darkness. He pulled the blanket back down to look at Hoplite with eyes full of intent, drawing his attention from Lance.

“They were buried right?” Michael asked groggily yet still keeping a firm tone.

Hoplite nodded “Affirmative.”

Michael sniffed, his eyes filming over with unshed tears as Lance gave a small nod, a tiny frown on her face as she looked him right in the eyes.

“Aye, I did have the defenders take care of it. They do be buried up on the hills surrounding this valley.” Gali said in a reassuring tone “None will know it was your friends my son.”

Michael nodded, his chin quivering as he turned his head from their gaze. He would not let them see him weep, especially not the Hoplite. They hadn’t been his friends true, but they were still marines, they had all gone through the same hellish training he had and fought the same relentless enemy as well. Only to have their lives ended so suddenly… while Michael got to live…

No, he would not get drawn into survivor’s guilt. It was like thirty-seven said…

it was wasted effort.