Heero nodded slightly in agreement. “It will take them at least a week to reach Kinekell from their former position,” he concluded. “Since we control the ford at Baruji, they will have to travel farther north to cross the Victoria river.” He caught Vant’s eyes and held them. “That was part of the reason we fought for Baruji’s ford in the first place.”
Vant dragged his eyes to the side -- Heero’s tone had been emotionless as always, but the challenge was hidden in there nonetheless. Six years Heero’s elder, Vant technically outranked him -- it was Heero who had been originally ordered to return to Zion, but Vant had considered Baruji’s Ford a lost cause and pulled rank to send Heero to Baruji in his place. General Chang hadn’t said a word about it, but it was nonetheless a shadow over his name. “That doesn’t matter right now,” he said a little too loudly. Of course it did. “Right now we have to concentrate on intercepting the Oz force before they reach Kinekell.”
Wufei gave him a look that stated in no uncertain terms that he had not missed anything that had gone on. “Well, gentlemen,” he said acidly, pushing the pages forward and leaning backwards in his chair, “that’s what your job is. We may have some time, but it will hardly be enough.”
“I understand, General,” Vant replied, subdued. Heero just nodded silently, and, without further fanfare, stood and walked out.
As soon as Heero had left the tent, Vant collapsed in his seat with an overdramatic sigh of relief. “He’s just past the limit,” he muttered.
“You have something to say, Vant?” Wufei said dryly. Vant met his superior’s gaze and flushed, stammering.
“I only meant... Don’t you think Colonel Yuy was acting rather... tense?”
Wufei gave a sharp, dry laugh as he pushed back his chair and stood. “Interesting choice of words, Colonel. He’s had a... tense week.” The smile vanished from his face, leaving no hint that it had ever existed. “Get used to it. The next week will be worse.”
Heero Yuy had been a soldier all his life; raised in a training camp, taught weapons from the time he could walk, and tactics from the time he could speak. There was nothing that could erase that part of him, and most of his mind whirred away as coldly as the gears of a clock, counting and analyzing and already planning for the dangers ahead. But there was more to Heero Yuy than there had been once, and there was a new part of his mind unconcerned with battles and tactics and war. Instead, as he made his way back to his retreat, part of him dwelled on the concept of gratitude.
Re: Spoil of War, book 2
Date: 2006-02-28 01:30 am (UTC)Vant dragged his eyes to the side -- Heero’s tone had been emotionless as always, but the challenge was hidden in there nonetheless. Six years Heero’s elder, Vant technically outranked him -- it was Heero who had been originally ordered to return to Zion, but Vant had considered Baruji’s Ford a lost cause and pulled rank to send Heero to Baruji in his place. General Chang hadn’t said a word about it, but it was nonetheless a shadow over his name. “That doesn’t matter right now,” he said a little too loudly. Of course it did. “Right now we have to concentrate on intercepting the Oz force before they reach Kinekell.”
Wufei gave him a look that stated in no uncertain terms that he had not missed anything that had gone on. “Well, gentlemen,” he said acidly, pushing the pages forward and leaning backwards in his chair, “that’s what your job is. We may have some time, but it will hardly be enough.”
“I understand, General,” Vant replied, subdued. Heero just nodded silently, and, without further fanfare, stood and walked out.
As soon as Heero had left the tent, Vant collapsed in his seat with an overdramatic sigh of relief. “He’s just past the limit,” he muttered.
“You have something to say, Vant?” Wufei said dryly. Vant met his superior’s gaze and flushed, stammering.
“I only meant... Don’t you think Colonel Yuy was acting rather... tense?”
Wufei gave a sharp, dry laugh as he pushed back his chair and stood. “Interesting choice of words, Colonel. He’s had a... tense week.” The smile vanished from his face, leaving no hint that it had ever existed. “Get used to it. The next week will be worse.”
Heero Yuy had been a soldier all his life; raised in a training camp, taught weapons from the time he could walk, and tactics from the time he could speak. There was nothing that could erase that part of him, and most of his mind whirred away as coldly as the gears of a clock, counting and analyzing and already planning for the dangers ahead. But there was more to Heero Yuy than there had been once, and there was a new part of his mind unconcerned with battles and tactics and war. Instead, as he made his way back to his retreat, part of him dwelled on the concept of gratitude.