Ichor

Colonel (Part I)

Year 7 - Colonel
Planet Primae

° ° ° °

"You're a colonel now, Ichor. It's time."

Major Thomas Berk was holding the needle in hand and positioned it above Percy's left outer bicep. He was about to gain the Chaos insignia that showed he was a leader of the Chaos Army. It was a circle of alternating short and long arrows pointing outwards in multiple directions with a curved line at the base of the shorter arrows that depicted a ring being intersected by the longer arrows.

"Proceed, Major," said Percy, granting permission for Thomas to start the tattoo.

It took a while, but Percy didn't mind. It was nothing like the searing pain of his SPQR brand. Now that was painful, so he could handle this no problem. The two other colonels questioned him about the brand, but he refused to answer. Only Mason and those in the room had ever seen it up close. If fewer people knew about it, fewer questions would be raised. The fewer questions raised, the better kept the secret.

"Barely even flinched. Nerves of steel, Ichor. Or a really high pain tolerance."

"Thank you, Major."

"Drop the titles, Ichor. No need for that right now. We're trying to get to know you. Helps us stay unified. Strengthens our trust and all."

"As you wish, Berk."

"Last name, eh? Well, I can't be too offended. I hear you only use last names."

If Thomas was trying to evoke a response or get Percy to expand on why, it wasn't working. Percy remained as reserved as ever.

"Thomas," Colonel Isa Ng called out, "why don't we take him to do something fun?"

"Oh! We haven't done activity number three in a while!" Colonel Peter Ern suggested.

"Number three, huh? I think that could work. Say, Ichor, how do you feel about pegasi?"

Percy didn't look enthusiastic exactly, but he was clearly interested. "You have them on Primae?" he questioned.

"No, but we know a small planet that has them. It's a good bonding exercise. We should go."

Much to the satisfaction of Thomas and the two colonels, Percy's lip twitched upwards. Not a smile but close enough. Their silent mission was to coax one out of him. Honestly, the army had a running bet on who could get Ichor to actually smile.

"Ok," agreed Percy.

° ° ° °

Planet Si

An hour later, they were all racing on their steeds. The Sians, people from Planet Si, cultivated a nation around their love for pegasi. A handful of pegasi were moved over by Chaos after Poseidon created them. They had populated the planet quickly and bonded well with the natives.

"How on Primae are you so good at this, Ichor?" Peter wondered in awe. "It's like you've got this sixth sense."

"Can't tell you that, Ern. Classified."

"What part of your life isn't classified?" Isa asked in curiosity.

Percy was quiet in contemplation for a moment before replying, "My favorite color is blue."

Thomas couldn't hold back laughter. "On Chaos's name, have mercy. The only thing you can tell us is that your favorite color is blue?"

Percy thought again. "I like cookies," he added with a faint smirk.

This time Thomas, Isa, and Peter were all laughing.

"What about blue cookies?" Peter joked.

Percy's head snapped around so quick he almost got whiplash. "What?"

"You know. What if we like dyed the cookies blue?" Ern suggested, now seriously considering the idea after getting such a reaction.

Percy went quiet again for a long stretch of time. He was questioning if saying yes would reveal too much. If the small memory of home would be nice or if it would be painful. There were more implications of blue cookies than one would think.

The quartet was circling back when Percy spoke again. Conversations had been happening while Percy was deep in thought, but the others kept glancing over, waiting for an answer.

"I think I would like that."

Thomas shot over a genuine smile. "Then let's do it. Let's bake blue cookies. We've cleared the day and the evening, so why not?"

° ° ° °

Planet Primae

And bake blue cookies they did. They baked enough for the entire battalion—all six companies, about 2,400 soldiers. The joy on the soldier's faces was certainly worth it, but the smile that Thomas, Isa, and Peter got to see on Ichor's face when the first batch came out was the real reward.

All three would go on record—there may or may not have been a plaque in Chaos's palace—as the people to make Ichor smile for the fourth time in history. Major Thomas realized when he saw Ichor smile exactly why people wanted to be the cause of it. His face, such a young face as so many of the soldiers were, brightened entirely. His eyes sparkled like the sea reflecting the sun. His complexion radiated warmth and comfort. The smile itself was so beautiful it was ineffable. And he was proud, genuinely proud at the scene he smiled upon.

When Ichor and Thomas made eye contact briefly, Thomas could tell that he was proud. Ichor was proud of a superior showing bonafide compassion, a desire to make his subordinates happy simply because he cared for their well being, cared for their individual lives.

Plus, the cookies tasted fantastic.

"Major Berk," Percy intoned a little while later with a straight face.

"Yes, Colonel Ichor?"

"Are you alright, sir?"

Isa and Peter were just as confused as Thomas.

"Of course I am. Why?"

"You're looking a little blue, sir." And without changing his countenance or uttering another word, Percy walked out of the kitchen leaving the trio to slowly catch up to his horrible joke.

When Thomas looked down, he noticed his hands were still tinged with blue food dye even after cleaning the baking materials and washing his hands thoroughly. A whole thirty seconds passed before all three burst out laughing, dumbfounded that Ichor had cracked a joke without batting an eye. It would not be the last time Ichor left them dumbfounded.