Genesis: the Beginning and the End | Band of Brothers

【Ｃｈａｐｔｅｒ ３ － Ｔｒａｉｐｓｅ】

Chapter 3 - Traipse

She decided to go find the Lieutenant from before, steeling herself to go outside and face the expected comments. With a face of complete neutrality, she stepped out, and walked up the street to where she spotted Private Malarkey (at least that was what she thought his rank was), wincing as he looked up at her. But soon she spotted the Lieutenant from before, and went to stand by him, waiting patiently to finish his conversation. He looked up from the map he and others were pouring over upon noticing her shadow.

"Can I help you?"

She smiled, able to be much more pleasant this time around. Claudia might've been brought out for this.

"I certainly hope so. You don't happen to have a spare set o' greens, and maybe some boots?"

She got quite a few raised eyebrows from everyone there, except from whom she was speaking with. She ignored them.

"You seem more agreeable now," he said cautiously, "still armed?"

A swift nod from Claudia, and she was pulling her gun out from the back of her skirt.

"Naturally. Never without my Hi-Power."

For the first time, he smiled back. He had straightened up, and turned to face her, telling her he was sure they could find something for her.

"Thank you. Now, you know who I am – for the most part – I do believe it is time you tell me your name, Lieutenant I believe?"

Everyone around her seemed very confused.

"No," he said slowly, before offering his hand to shake, "Lieutenant Winters, acting CO of Easy Company."

An easy laugh bubbled past her lips, they'd been saying the same thing, but pronunciations had gotten everyone confused.

"Before I go, you haven't heard anything from Michaёl?" At his confused face, she tried to clarify. "Ah, um, my boss? I haven't been graced with their actual name, for...security reasons. They probably told you that you'd be getting me?" Winters shook his head. "I see. Please let me know if you do."

She turned and walked away; her smile having slipped.

"Guarnere, go with her. Help her find what she needs."

He caught up to her quickly, she was only a few steps away. When he was beside her, she answered his and the others' unanswered question, speaking loudly so they'd all hear.

"Can't go traipsing about Normandy in a skirt and pumps, now can I?"

She had hoped for a chuckle at least, but no dice. He just looked confused. His confusion was met with a sigh. Guarnere took her over to where new supplies were being sorted, and they had a bit of a rummage.

"I don't think we'll find anythin' your siz-"

"Just find the smallest size. I'll deal with it." She hadn't meant to snap, or interrupt him. She really hadn't, but that was how it came out and he huffed as he searched. Someone sceptically handed her a pair of boots that looked her size, she thanked him and measured them by eye up against her foot. Guarnere fished her out a spare pack, and the pair of them both found a set of the smallest sized clothes they could.

Guarnere was about to offer to help her carry everything, because chivalry is not dead, but she was already walking down the street, ignoring all stares, and disappearing into a house. He just kind of stood there, not really sure what to do, or how to respond to this girl. In the end he helped sort through supplies.

Half an hour later she had packed up her things into the pack and had time to look at what else was in there. Small med-kit, shoelaces, a bunch of other stuff that wasn't interesting. The tin of condoms, however, made her snort and laugh a lot. It took a little while to compose herself, and when she had, she changed, and packed up the clothes she was wearing into her bag too. Her boots, by some miracle, actually fit. She believed they would be the only pair that size in that supply drop. Her trousers didn't need rolling up too much, only an inch so they weren't a trip hazard. Her sleeves needed rolling up an inch too and she noticed the jumpsuit (was that what it was called? she didn't know) was only one of the sets of clothes she'd been given. The one she hadn't tried on yet were standard issue army greens, trousers with massive pockets, a shirt and jacket. The jumpsuit had the biggest pockets she'd ever seen, and she smiled as her hands got lost in them.

She felt like a child playing dress up when she put the helmet on. But also like one of the dolls she so wanted as a child, that she'd stared at as her mother dragged her past the window on their monthly trip into town. It was weird.

At least now she wouldn't stand out. So much.

After retrieving her other BHP from her room and all the bullets and magazines she could find, Claudia Dupont could finally be laid to rest. Genesis didn't need her anymore.

Claudia was left at the light blue door, watching Genesis leave her. Genesis wouldn't look back.

But she did and stood at the gate of her tiny garden littered with debris, frozen. In the end, the Intelligence Officer dropped her stuff at the gate and tended her garden one last time.

Another vehicle rolled passed, nearly rolled passed.

"What on earth do you think you're doing, trooper?"

She ignored him. He wasn't talking to her.

No, he was. He repeated his question, angry she didn't answer the first time.

"Looking after my flowers." Genesis did not look up.

"Get over there and help out! And you will address me as sir!"

Moving on to clearing the debris, she responded with,

"And why's that?"

"I ought to have you court-martialled for this," he muttered none too quietly, "you will address me as sir because I am your superior officer!"

It was now that she looked at him, in the eyes, as she mentally told him to fuck off.

"I don't think you are, sir," removing her helmet made his composure slip a little. "And you can't do that, I'm SIS, I answer to His Majesty."

That wasn't entirely true, she answered to His Majesty's Secret Intelligence Service. But it had the desired effect, and she was soon left alone. After her garden was somewhat tidy she just sat on the path and watched the world go by, helmet off so she'd be left alone. Ah but she wasn't left alone for long.

"Lieutenant Winters sent me to tell you to get some sleep as we move out in a few hours and to eat something because you look like you're going to pass out. And he's right, you do. I'm Eugene Roe, Technician 2nd-Grade and a medic with Easy by the way."

She didn't shake his hand, only nodding before going back inside.

Being around people when not pretending to be someone else was hard.

_

Just a quick note on Genesis' interaction with Dick.

I'm British, and in Britain, Lieutenant is pronounced Lef-tenant, which is what she said. In America, it is pronounced Lew-tenant, which is where the confusion came from.