Puppet {ManxMan}

CHAPTER 25

Rhett was invasive and big headed. Those are the nicest ways I can think of to describe him. I learned about twenty minutes after the meeting ended that he was Roman's nephew. It turns out that when the world went to shit (my bad), Rhett and Roman had been spending some family time together, bonding over a soccer game. Rhett's mother was killed in the initial east coast bombing, but because neither men were there, they were spared.

When I heard this from Arthur, I felt a little bad. I felt bad for Rhett's mother, not for Rhett or Roman. I felt a bit guilty, because it was basically my fault, but Roman already hated me and I didn't want to give him any more reason to lock me up, so I kept my apologies to myself for now.

Kailas didn't have much to say about Rhett when I asked about him. He was just another soldier, one who excelled at vocal manipulation and rifle work. So a gun jockey basically. Not to sound bias, but I don't like guns much. I'm not against them, I just prefer knives. It's easier to confirm a kill that way. True, firearms come in handy now and then, and I always carried at least two handguns holstered at both thighs, but what was the use of having a gun if you didn't even know how to defend yourself with hand to hand?

Don't worry, I asked Rhett himself if he knew any actual self-defense. He just laughed at me and asked why he would need something like that when he had a huge rifle to mow down enemies with. I'll be sure to repeat that when he's cornered without any extra bullets. What? You need help? Just use your rifle.

Dumb shit.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Arthur asked from beside me where he was sitting holding a folded piece of paper. On it was a list of medicines he wanted us to look for.

"I'm fine," I assured him, struggling with the straps that lead down my side.

"I'm just trying to make sure," he was nibbling on the corner of his lip, watching me intently, "After what happened, most people would want to hole up and try and deal with it."

"I don't have time to deal with it," I said simply, reminding myself that even if Kailas now knew about my experiences, no one else did, and I had to watch what I said, "I've come to terms with what happened, Arthur. I had to do it to get everyone out."

The words tasted sour in my mouth, I even felt the need to spit, but I just busied myself with trying, and failing, to secure the stupid straps. I was concentrating so hard on what I was doing that I must have jumped three feet in the air when a hand squeezed my shoulder.

"Don't wear that," Kailas said, pulling at the straps to loosen them, "It looks uncomfortable anyway."

"How else am I supposed to carry all my weapons?" I asked him, and he smiled at me.

"Wear a belt."

Was that a joke? Was I supposed to laugh?

"Kai's right, you look too threatening in that," Cass said, "We can't really stick out when we go to the market, if someone sees us as a threat they'll attack."

"They can try," I simpered, head tilting, and Cass rolled his eyes with a heavy sigh.

Taking note of his outfit, and Dakota's, I did feel overdressed. They had weapons, guns on their hips, but nothing like the swat vest I had. They looked more like they were going out on a stroll, so I relented and let Kailas peel away the vest that held all my knives and settled on a simple white t-shirt.

Rhett had his rifle hanging on his back by a strap that crossed over his chest, and another handgun on his hip. He had more weapons than Cass did. In fact besides the single gun, Cass didn't seem to have any weapon at all. Hopefully his sparring and military training prepared him for serious hand to hand combat.