"No coyotes which is a relief..." was a comment that threw both Mila and Tyler for a loop, but instead of saying anything they simply exchanged awkward glances and a couple of shoulder shrugs before chalking it up to the dehydration.
Hillary would talk about and point out random things on their way to the dinning area, however once there she'd quickly part ways with the group and begin to socialize with her usual circle of friends. "Make sure you drink lots of fluid and eat your whole plate sweety!" would be her parting words to Helena.
"Well, I'm gonna go sit with the girls and eat off their plates like usual, catch ya later." Mila piped up with before taking off in the direction of her roommates - suddenly leaving Tyler alone with the rebel factions latest addition.
"Um, fluids, that's what the Doc said right? " he'd say questioningly before gesturing Helena to follow him over towards the serving line.
Within moments of their arrival he'd get a firm pat on the back from crew-mate Mikey just as he picked up a glass of watered-down lemonade and handed it over to Helena.
"Hey man I was wondering where ya were, thought you overslept!"
"I wish, the old man would never let that happen though."
"Ya never know maybe he'd-" Mikey suddenly cut himself short when he caught a glimpse of the conversations inadvertent third wheel "-whoa, you sure do clean up nice hunny!"
"Really man?"
"What??"
"You sound like a creep, that's what."
The two continued exchanging harmless verbal jabs for several seconds before Helena's presence over his shoulder jarred him back into what he was doing.
"Sorry, here." Tyler said, before picking up a plate of Eggs and toast from the counter and handing it to her. "We ration stuff out here in equal proportions but I'm sure you're starving an I'm not all that hungry so-"
He'd grab a plate meant for himself and then begin to scrape the eggs onto Helena's plate, leaving him with only two pieces of toast - one of which he'd also put on her plate even though in reality he was pretty hungry.
"Whoa, how come you never share shit with me man!?!"
Before anything else could be said Frank would stand up at the end of a table several feet away and begin to address the quited group of a hundred or so.
"Come on, we should go sit down."
Tyler lead them through several sets of rugged tables until the threesome found their way to the end of the one were Frank was standing. Mikey took his usual seat but since there wasn't another seat available anywhere close by Tyler offered his seat to Helena and then leaned up against the wall a few feet away to eat his dry piece of toast.
His father would go on about trivial communal things for nearly fifteen minutes before turning towards a slightly more serious topic.
"Now I know we don't usually do patrols on a Sunday but it doesn't hurt to change things up every once in a while so the enemy doesn't find a pattern in our behavior, so please forgive me for stealing some of your sons or daughters away from you for a couple of hours today but it's routine, nothing major, and I'll get them back to ya as soon as possible.....enjoy the rest of your breakfast."
Not believing for a second the bit his father just put out about suddenly switching up their patrolling schedule, Tyler walked over to the table, placed his empty plate down beside Helena's and then leaned over towards his father.
Sensing his sons incoming question the commander quickly spoke up first - conveniently changing the topic as he gathered up his things to leave.
"So this must be the girl you found out in the desert," he'd say before holding out his hand to shake. "Commander Frank Krill - welcome to the Southern California Rebel Faction, I'm sure my son here can show you around and help you with anything you need while I go check on a few things."
With a quick nod of the head the greying older man would turn and begin to walk away, but Tyler quickly caught up.
"Da-I mean, Commander. I understand your point on changing up scheduled patrols, but without notice? What's going on??"
Knowing he couldn't escape his sons questions Frank stopped several feet from where the pair first stood and put his hand on his boys shoulder.
"I don't want you guys to worry, but we sent a few of our couriers out with letters for the Northern Rebel Faction but they came back within twenty minutes, said a line of Mechs ten strong were stationary on a road we usually have no problem traversing."
"Do you think they're tracking us somehow?"
"I doubt it, but it's worth checking out. For now though show the new girl around and make sure she understands how things run here. I won't be sending you guys out for another hour."
"How things run here? You make it sound like a prison dad."
"You know I don't mean it like that, just show her around, relax some....make sure you're outside at 10[am] though."
"Understood."
Unconsciously Tyler began to scratch the back of his head as he walked back towards the table and took a seat in the chair his father had been sitting in earlier.
"So I'm suppose to show you around but I'm not really sure where to start to be honest."
"Hey how about outside, I was gonna take my new lady to the courts to show her how good these guns are with a racket!" Mikey suggested before flexing his arms.
"The kiddies shouldn't be out there yet, so why not?"
Having no other starting point in mind Tyler shrugged his shoulders an agreed before looking over towards Helena again
"If you have any questions about whatever ask away, we'll try to answer them. An if don't feel up to it you don't have to go outside, the tennis courts are a fifteen minute walk at least....I can always show you back to the infirmary." he said before grabbing his Fathers untouched glass of water and taking a sip.
"I mean physically or mentally up to it, since I'm sure you might be a bit turned off from the idea of quality time with the creep beside you." Tyler joked with a wide grin.
"Yeah yeah yeah, hey I'll be back in a second - gotta go find my girl."
Hillary would talk about and point out random things on their way to the dinning area, however once there she'd quickly part ways with the group and begin to socialize with her usual circle of friends. "Make sure you drink lots of fluid and eat your whole plate sweety!" would be her parting words to Helena.
"Well, I'm gonna go sit with the girls and eat off their plates like usual, catch ya later." Mila piped up with before taking off in the direction of her roommates - suddenly leaving Tyler alone with the rebel factions latest addition.
"Um, fluids, that's what the Doc said right? " he'd say questioningly before gesturing Helena to follow him over towards the serving line.
Within moments of their arrival he'd get a firm pat on the back from crew-mate Mikey just as he picked up a glass of watered-down lemonade and handed it over to Helena.
"Hey man I was wondering where ya were, thought you overslept!"
"I wish, the old man would never let that happen though."
"Ya never know maybe he'd-" Mikey suddenly cut himself short when he caught a glimpse of the conversations inadvertent third wheel "-whoa, you sure do clean up nice hunny!"
"Really man?"
"What??"
"You sound like a creep, that's what."
The two continued exchanging harmless verbal jabs for several seconds before Helena's presence over his shoulder jarred him back into what he was doing.
"Sorry, here." Tyler said, before picking up a plate of Eggs and toast from the counter and handing it to her. "We ration stuff out here in equal proportions but I'm sure you're starving an I'm not all that hungry so-"
He'd grab a plate meant for himself and then begin to scrape the eggs onto Helena's plate, leaving him with only two pieces of toast - one of which he'd also put on her plate even though in reality he was pretty hungry.
"Whoa, how come you never share shit with me man!?!"
Before anything else could be said Frank would stand up at the end of a table several feet away and begin to address the quited group of a hundred or so.
"Come on, we should go sit down."
Tyler lead them through several sets of rugged tables until the threesome found their way to the end of the one were Frank was standing. Mikey took his usual seat but since there wasn't another seat available anywhere close by Tyler offered his seat to Helena and then leaned up against the wall a few feet away to eat his dry piece of toast.
His father would go on about trivial communal things for nearly fifteen minutes before turning towards a slightly more serious topic.
"Now I know we don't usually do patrols on a Sunday but it doesn't hurt to change things up every once in a while so the enemy doesn't find a pattern in our behavior, so please forgive me for stealing some of your sons or daughters away from you for a couple of hours today but it's routine, nothing major, and I'll get them back to ya as soon as possible.....enjoy the rest of your breakfast."
Not believing for a second the bit his father just put out about suddenly switching up their patrolling schedule, Tyler walked over to the table, placed his empty plate down beside Helena's and then leaned over towards his father.
Sensing his sons incoming question the commander quickly spoke up first - conveniently changing the topic as he gathered up his things to leave.
"So this must be the girl you found out in the desert," he'd say before holding out his hand to shake. "Commander Frank Krill - welcome to the Southern California Rebel Faction, I'm sure my son here can show you around and help you with anything you need while I go check on a few things."
With a quick nod of the head the greying older man would turn and begin to walk away, but Tyler quickly caught up.
"Da-I mean, Commander. I understand your point on changing up scheduled patrols, but without notice? What's going on??"
Knowing he couldn't escape his sons questions Frank stopped several feet from where the pair first stood and put his hand on his boys shoulder.
"I don't want you guys to worry, but we sent a few of our couriers out with letters for the Northern Rebel Faction but they came back within twenty minutes, said a line of Mechs ten strong were stationary on a road we usually have no problem traversing."
"Do you think they're tracking us somehow?"
"I doubt it, but it's worth checking out. For now though show the new girl around and make sure she understands how things run here. I won't be sending you guys out for another hour."
"How things run here? You make it sound like a prison dad."
"You know I don't mean it like that, just show her around, relax some....make sure you're outside at 10[am] though."
"Understood."
Unconsciously Tyler began to scratch the back of his head as he walked back towards the table and took a seat in the chair his father had been sitting in earlier.
"So I'm suppose to show you around but I'm not really sure where to start to be honest."
"Hey how about outside, I was gonna take my new lady to the courts to show her how good these guns are with a racket!" Mikey suggested before flexing his arms.
"The kiddies shouldn't be out there yet, so why not?"
Having no other starting point in mind Tyler shrugged his shoulders an agreed before looking over towards Helena again
"If you have any questions about whatever ask away, we'll try to answer them. An if don't feel up to it you don't have to go outside, the tennis courts are a fifteen minute walk at least....I can always show you back to the infirmary." he said before grabbing his Fathers untouched glass of water and taking a sip.
"I mean physically or mentally up to it, since I'm sure you might be a bit turned off from the idea of quality time with the creep beside you." Tyler joked with a wide grin.
"Yeah yeah yeah, hey I'll be back in a second - gotta go find my girl."