The Ranch

Carrier pigeon (2)

The man goes back to work as Tih leave for his current task. Tih walks back to A dorms and enters the larger one-story building. He passes the empty reception hall and enters the side room. Tih sees the messy desk and couch are empty. There's no one in the room.

Tih decides to sit on the worn out couch to wait for Major Jax. Finding his position uncomfortable, he squirms around, eventually laying down with a nearby blanket on top of him. Tih repeatedly pets the soft texture of the blanket, waiting for Major Jax.

A while later, the man trudges in haphazardly. He grumbles as he makes his way to the couch, collapsing into it, squishing Tih in the process.

The bony frame of a child pricks Major Jax's back as he lands. He groans in discomfort, sitting up to discover a child. A flash of bewilderment passes through his eyes," Tih? What the f- Why are you laying on my couch." He holds back from cursing in front of what looks to be a ten year old boy.

He heaps Tih's hoodie and pulls him off the couch before replacing him and laying down in a comfortable position.

Tih takes out the plastic square given to him by Private Scott and puts it in front of the disheveled man.

"What." Major Jax was about to drift off for a nap but tries to keep his eyes open. He grabs the usb," Did Scott send you? Tch. I just got back from a trial and he wants me to work?"

A large frown spreads across Major Jax's face. He looks at Tih and laughs at something he thought of," You should join my next trial. Be a good golden thigh and carry a teammate, will ya? Hahaha."

After chuckling at his own joke, Major Jax yawns," Tell that workaholic I'll do it after I wake up." He then proceeds to fall asleep, snoring.

Hearing Major Jax tell him to talk to Private Scott, Tih starts to leave but pauses. He remembers Privates last words of making sure Major Jax uses the plastic square. Instead of leaving and coming back later, Tih stands at the foot of the couch, watching the man sleep. He's waiting for Major Jax to use the usb, which was the job he was given.

After a few hours, Major Jax flinches, startled. He just opened his groggy eyes to see a pale child intently staring at him. As his vision focuses more, he realizes," Kid? Did you...not leave?"

Tih doesn't answer. He laughs awkwardly, getting up. Major Jax takes another look at the child and realizes Tih is staring at the usb.

Major Jax grumbles," You stayed to make sure I did my work? Scott that pretentious stuck-up, did he assign me a babysitter."

He scratches the back of his head roughly," Fine, I'll just do it. I don't think I can handle your stare any longer." He looks at the boy exuding an off-putting vibe that's more apparent when you look into his unfeeling eyes.

Major Jax drops himself into a worn out desk chair. He inserts the usb into a slot on the metal desk. A holographic interface pops in front of his face. Major Jax taps on the top of the desk in different places, controlling the image on screen.

Tih watches the changing blue screen with interest. The boy notices that each spot on the desk has its own function and key commands. Tih dutifully watches Major Jax with his full attention.

The hair on Major Jax's arms prick up," Hey kid, can you not stare at me like that? It's creeping me out."

Tih doesn't move. He was given a job.

"Look, I'm doing my work, see? So go bother Scott instead of me- oh!" Getting an idea, Major Jax scrounges around for some paper and a pen. He writes something down, folds it in half, and gives it to Tih," Go deliver this to Scott for me."

Paper in hand, Tih follows his orders and walks out of the building. Using his normal walking speed, he travels through the entirety of dorms A and B, before finding Private Scott in district C.

Catching him walking out of the central one-story building, Tih walks up to him and takes out the note.

Taking the note from the boy's hand, Private Scott opens up the files paper and reads its contents. He crumpled the paper while muttering under his breath," halfwit."

He then sighs," At least he's doing his work, and it only took a couple hours this time. I guess I should thank you for that?" He looks at the cause of Major Jax's change.

Private Scott stares at Tih, hesitating,"That...it would be a big help if you could use whatever methods you used, to make him do his other work?" He takes out a stack of papers and files.

Tih holds the papers as he heads back to district A.

"Tch, you really are becoming Scott's little errand boy." An annoyed major stares at the boy that entered his office without permission or even knocking on the door. He mumbles," I have a bad feeling this is about to become habit."

Major Jax quickly realizes he needs to get the boy on his side, before he become a permanent employee of Scott's. He rubs his scruff," I bet he's not even paying you, right? All that workaholic cares about is what's in front of him. He doesn't hold even an ounce of concern over his health. If you work for him, you'll burn out soon enough."

Tih sets the papers on the desk and stares at Major Jax, not comprehending anything he just said.

He looks at Tih's emotionless baby face, somehow seeing the confusing behind it. Major Jax thinks to himself," Ah, a child that has the mental age of their actual age. I didn't know we had any of those on the island."

He hums in a gruff voice, picking an easy solution. Treating the other. "Let's go grab some grub, my treat."

"Children like free things, right?" He thinks to himself.

Major Jax's, no, everyone's image of children is a little twisted. The children that are brought to the island are... unique to say the least.