Master Electrician
Pretty pretty lights
- 107
- Posts
- 16
- Years
- Roland Dille Center for the Arts
- Seen Jul 20, 2009
Gavin glared at the woman? Man? Beside me, although most of the expression was lost behind the shades. He gestured to one of the newspaper vending machines displaying a prominent headline reading, "New Oldtown Destroyed!" accompanied by a massive color photo of the devastation above the fold. The name of the town offended his sensibilities, but the ruins twisted the dagger in his heart. It was almost indistinguishable from what had been done to his own home. Only the background was different, a seaside instead of mountains. He growled, "Not much to be happy about lately, is there?" He picked up up pace, stalking off to Physics.
The rest of the day passed without much event, classes seemed immaterial and he spent most of Geo/Gov perusing the paper for details about the attack. Nothing much had changed, at least that was being released to the press. No known survivors. Sambo was the only thing that really soothed him, he let loose his rage on the punching bags and plastic dummies, barely remembering to check himself when it came time for group sparring. Even then, he fought with a fury and a sadism that was completely unlike his former discipline.
Whwn class was winding down, Instructor Beyman came over to Gavin, looking at him with an odd mixture of approval and concern. He said very simply, "You will return here thirty minutes after your last class." Gavin nodded and saved the curl of his lip for after his back was turned.
Afternoon classes he was similarly indifferent to, barely noticing the transition of one to the next. When the last was done, he walked back to his room, Wraith flying in shortly behind him. From under his bed, Gavin pulled a map of Minami that had been glued to a bulliten board to keep it firm. From his desk, he took a red Sharpie and marked off New Oldtown, then sat down to think. It was odd. All the attacks thus far had been on small towns. That, of course, made sense. No commander, even a rebel[/], he thought with a grimace would risk an unprepared army against anywhere with a sizable garrison. But all of the places attacked had been secluded as well. Places that few people visited, or had even necessarily heard of. No major historical sites. No major natural resources. The kinds of places that most people probably had never even heard of before it began. That was what bothered Gavin. Why take such effort to level these nothing settlements? Wouldn't something that would enflame the population, bring up old grudges and resentments make more sense?
He shook his head. It was time to visit his instructor. He walked back to the athletics complex alone, having told Wraith to stay put. He found the thick-necked, well-muscled man in their usual practice room. He said, "You are two minutes and thirty-eight seconds late, Gavin."
"Sorry," Gaving replied noncommitally.
"You were different today," Instructor Beyman replied. "I could feel your rage. It was good to have you break out of such strict self-control. Rage keeps you alive on the battlefield." The man would know, he had scars from his time in active combat duty. "But you must learn to control it as well. Channel it. What makes you angry?"
Gavin sidestepped carefully. "The attacks on our homeland."
"You have never been much of a patriot before this," the other replied, turning to face Gavin and stepping forward. "Is this something newfound? Or is it more personal?"
Gavin turned and left, saying coldly, "I'm legal, and class is over. I'll see you tomorrow."
As he walked out, he heard his instructor say, "I expect to see an improvement, Gavin, or I will find out these things the hard way."
The rest of the day passed without much event, classes seemed immaterial and he spent most of Geo/Gov perusing the paper for details about the attack. Nothing much had changed, at least that was being released to the press. No known survivors. Sambo was the only thing that really soothed him, he let loose his rage on the punching bags and plastic dummies, barely remembering to check himself when it came time for group sparring. Even then, he fought with a fury and a sadism that was completely unlike his former discipline.
Whwn class was winding down, Instructor Beyman came over to Gavin, looking at him with an odd mixture of approval and concern. He said very simply, "You will return here thirty minutes after your last class." Gavin nodded and saved the curl of his lip for after his back was turned.
Afternoon classes he was similarly indifferent to, barely noticing the transition of one to the next. When the last was done, he walked back to his room, Wraith flying in shortly behind him. From under his bed, Gavin pulled a map of Minami that had been glued to a bulliten board to keep it firm. From his desk, he took a red Sharpie and marked off New Oldtown, then sat down to think. It was odd. All the attacks thus far had been on small towns. That, of course, made sense. No commander, even a rebel[/], he thought with a grimace would risk an unprepared army against anywhere with a sizable garrison. But all of the places attacked had been secluded as well. Places that few people visited, or had even necessarily heard of. No major historical sites. No major natural resources. The kinds of places that most people probably had never even heard of before it began. That was what bothered Gavin. Why take such effort to level these nothing settlements? Wouldn't something that would enflame the population, bring up old grudges and resentments make more sense?
He shook his head. It was time to visit his instructor. He walked back to the athletics complex alone, having told Wraith to stay put. He found the thick-necked, well-muscled man in their usual practice room. He said, "You are two minutes and thirty-eight seconds late, Gavin."
"Sorry," Gaving replied noncommitally.
"You were different today," Instructor Beyman replied. "I could feel your rage. It was good to have you break out of such strict self-control. Rage keeps you alive on the battlefield." The man would know, he had scars from his time in active combat duty. "But you must learn to control it as well. Channel it. What makes you angry?"
Gavin sidestepped carefully. "The attacks on our homeland."
"You have never been much of a patriot before this," the other replied, turning to face Gavin and stepping forward. "Is this something newfound? Or is it more personal?"
Gavin turned and left, saying coldly, "I'm legal, and class is over. I'll see you tomorrow."
As he walked out, he heard his instructor say, "I expect to see an improvement, Gavin, or I will find out these things the hard way."