Agent Nebraska (RVB Blood Gulch Chronicles)

A shadow of his former self

Tucker: (calls in the radio) Come in, Blue Command. This is Blood Gulch Outpost Alpha. Do you read me?

Caboose: Okay, that is the last of it. Your armor is clean now!

Tucker: Did you get all the black stuff off?

Unknown: yep, he did.

More radio noise is heard. Vic sitting at his control panel.

Vic: This is Blue Command. Come in, Blood Gulch Outpost Alpha.

Tucker: Hello, Command! We need help!

Vic: Roger that, Blood Gulch. What is your request?

Tucker: I don't know what the technical military term is for it, but, uh, we're pretty fucked up down here. We need men!

Vic: (pauses) Dude, how long have you guys been down there?

Tucker: No, no, no, n-not like that! We need more men to help us.

Vic: Roger that. Did you get the tank we sent?

Tucker: Yeah, that got blown up too.

Vic: Wow. Sucks to be you.

Tucker: Yeah, we know.

Vic: Okay, here's what I can do. The nearest Blue forces can be there in 16 days, or I-

Tucker: 16 days!? That's almost 2 weeks!

Vic: OR I can hire a nearby Freelancer and get him there within a few hours.

Caboose: I like the "in an hour" one.

Unknown: yeah, let go with that one.

Tucker: Yeah, me too. Roger that, Command. We prefer the quicker solution.

Vic: 10-4, Blood Gulch. We'll contact Freelancer Tex and have them there post-haste. Command out.

The radio cuts off.

Tucker: Whoever he is, make sure he can fix a tank.

Unknown: free-lancer? (Try's to remember something but his head starts hurting so he stops)

Caboose: What's a Freelancer?

Tucker: Freelancers are independent. They're not Red or Blue. They're just guns for hire who'll fight for whoever has the most money.

Caboose: Like a mercenary.

Tucker: Right. Or like your mom when the rent's due.

Caboose: ...Oh, that's funny.

Tucker: Yeah? You didn't think that was too obvious?

Caboose: No, no, not at all. It- It was good.

A semi-transparent Church fades into view between Tucker and Caboose.

Church: (ghostly voice) Unknown ... Tucker ...

Unknown: what the hell?!

Tucker: Who the hell are you!?

Church: I am the ghost of Church, and I've come back with a warning!

Caboose: You're not Church! Church is blue. You're white!

Church: (normal voice) Rookie, shut up, man! I'm a freakin' ghost! Have you ever seen a blue ghost before?

Tucker: Yeah, that's definitely him.

Unknown: (sarcastically) oh, what made you have that idea?

Church: Now I gotta start over again. (clears throat, resumes ghostly voice) Unknown ... Tucker ...! I've come back with a warning!