{"id":2473,"date":"2023-02-11T17:49:58","date_gmt":"2023-02-12T00:49:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/?p=2473"},"modified":"2023-02-11T17:50:26","modified_gmt":"2023-02-12T00:50:26","slug":"not-until-the-job-is-done","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/2023\/02\/11\/not-until-the-job-is-done\/","title":{"rendered":"Not Until the Job Is Done"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

prompt: Write a story about someone who doesn\u2019t know how to let go.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

available at Reedsy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maria Cointreau looked up at Indri, the tall creature hidden behind the wall with her. Standing on four legs, with two arms with odd joints, four compound eyes, and smooth, grey skin, she looked like a praying mantis from a fever dream. The human-made sub-machine gun she carried just reinforced the image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m out,\u201d Maria said, lowering her assault rifle, \u201cbut if we can get to the warehouse by the river, we can re-supply.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe lost. It\u2019s time to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBullshit!\u201d Maria Owens spit on the ground, blood mixed with her spittle. \u201cAs long as we\u2019re alive, we\u2019ve still got a chance. We\u2019re not giving the squishies your planet. We can take the drainage tunnels to the river, then climb the bank from there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indri knelt, putting her compound eyes on the same level as Maria\u2019s. \u201cIt has been an honor fighting alongside you and the other humans, but our world is lost. If we want to live, we need to head to the evacuation site.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maria grabbed Indri\u2019s arm and leaned in close. \u201cUntil Terra command calls general retreat, we\u2019ll fight. It\u2019s not over, and it\u2019s not just us, you\u2019ll see. But\u2026.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll get you to the warehouse. There should be transpo to the evac site.\u201d Maria loosened her grip. \u201cI\u2019m not leaving but I can\u2019t ask you to stay; it\u2019s only going to get more dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indri followed Maria from cover to cover, spending tense moments hiding in the alleys while scout drones walked the streets. Indri stopped her at one point to change the bandage on Maria\u2019s head. The old one had soaked through, and blood was pooling and drying behind Maria\u2019s right ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After an hour of careful movement, she found what she was looking for. Maria pulled the cover off a storm drain. The design was human, and as such, the ladder down was not something Indri could descend without difficulty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maria growled. \u201cUgh. This one hasn\u2019t been fitted for timinids.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI could just drop down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd risk breaking a leg? No.\u201d Maria stepped onto the ladder. \u201cClimb on my back, I\u2019ll get you down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They followed the tunnels, moving always down. When daylight and the river came into view, Maria motioned for Indri to stay put. She crawled out, her head on a swivel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She was scouting for a way up the slope when she saw a human patrol. Maria raised her hands and stood slowly. \u201cFriendly!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the soldiers broke from the patrol and trotted to her. \u201cSergeant Pall. Where\u2019s your platoon? Are you alone?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLieutenant Cointreau. I\u2019ve got a local hiding in the drain. She needs evac and I need re-supply.\u201d Maria sighed. \u201cMy platoon was wiped out when a drone rushed us and self-destructed. Rescued a new friend, though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know they could do that. Shit. I\u2019ll pass that info up the chain. Go get your friend,\u201d he said. \u201cThe warehouse and immediate surroundings are secure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe patrol?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019ll continue their rounds; I\u2019ll rejoin later. Backup is just a whistle away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWho\u2019s in command?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019d be me, ma\u2019am, unless you want the job. Our platoon was left to secure the site, and the Lieutenant and first squad were killed in a drone attack. We\u2019ve got half a dozen wounded in the warehouse office waiting for evac as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maria returned to Indri. \u201cCome on, they\u2019ve got this area secured. We\u2019re safe here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As they walked up the slope toward the warehouse, Indri put a manipulator on Maria\u2019s shoulder. \u201cAre you sure you don\u2019t want to evacuate? I mean, it\u2019s not even your planet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t leave a job undone. Besides,\u201d she said, \u201cwe protect our friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFriends? We didn\u2019t know each other until this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe timinids and humans are friends. That\u2019s what our treaties mean, and that\u2019s why we were building this city and military installation\u2026to provide protection.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indri followed along, her hand still on Maria\u2019s shoulder. \u201cFriends\u2026. All humans and all timinids?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn theory, at least,\u201d Pall answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The warehouse was cavernous, and Maria\u2019s booted footsteps echoed. Where three days prior she\u2019d seen shelves groaning under the weight of supplies, most were now empty. Shipping crates, long since pried open and broken apart, lay in a heap of scrap to one side. \u201cWhat the hell?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCorporal Jimenez will see to your needs\u2026at least as far as we can.\u201d Pall motioned the corporal over and left to rejoin the patrol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMa\u2019am,\u201d Jimenez said, \u201cI take it you need ammo. How about rations and med supplies\u2026well, bandages at least?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhe\u2014where did everything go?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat wasn\u2019t used up was lifted out last night to a more secure rear supply area. All the blankets and most of the medical supplies were sent to the evac ships for the locals.\u201d He looked at the weapons the two carried. \u201cI\u2019ve got plenty standard ball for the 6.8 but I\u2019m out of 9mil for the SMG.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s okay,\u201d Maria said. \u201cIndri, you should get on the next shuttle out. It\u2019s not safe, and it\u2019s probably going to get worse before it gets better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I keep trying to tell you.\u201d Indri unclipped the strap that held the sub-machine gun and let it drop to the floor. \u201cThis is my home\u2014was<\/em> my home, but it\u2019s not safe. Why are you staying?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause it\u2019s the right thing to do. I won\u2019t let my friends down, especially you.\u201d Maria turned to the corporal who was lugging a case of ammo to them. \u201cYou said supply moved back. What about the front-line units?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe aren\u2019t going anywhere, ma\u2019am. We\u2019re just holding tight until the cavalry gets here.\u201d He set down the ammo box and motioned to the warehouse. \u201cThis is now the FOB until they clear out enough of the city to move HQ back here. That\u2019s why we\u2019re keeping the warehouse and the landing area clear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLanding area?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe bulldozed a shuttle landing just off that side of the warehouse,\u201d he said, pointing to his left. \u201cThe next shuttle should be here in about twenty minutes. They\u2019re bringing more rations and I sent a comm to bring some 9mil as well. Unless you want to swap for a 10mil pistol?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maria waved him off. \u201cI don\u2019t think timinids can handle that kind of recoil, not to mention, it\u2019d be hard to hold with their hands.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indri knelt again, to be on eye-level with Maria. \u201cPlease, come with me. You\u2019re injured. You saved my life, let me save yours now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t saved you yet,\u201d Maria said. \u201cNot until your world is free of the squishies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSpeaking of the squishies,\u201d Jimenez said, \u201cpatrols haven\u2019t seen any in several hours\u2026just scout drones.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe the Navy finally cut their supply lines. No methane for their breathers, no squishies running around.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMa\u2019am\u2026uh\u2026you don\u2019t think they\u2019re pulling out for orbital bombardment, do you?\u201d Jimenez asked as he helped her load magazines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI doubt it,\u201d she said. \u201cWhy does anyone risk ground combat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo save the infrastructure,\u201d Indri said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cExactly. The only launch port that was destroyed was the one we blew up yesterday, before they could take it for themselves.\u201d Maria packed her magazine pockets full to bursting. \u201cI just wish the drones were as easy to take out as the squishies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI might have something for you,\u201d the corporal said. \u201cDo you still have your 10mil sidearm?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSure, not that it does any good against them. Indri\u2019s SMG was only good for getting their attention, and the 10\u2019s not much more oomph.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have some 10mil electro rounds. Slightly lower muzzle velocity than standard ball, but it dumps thousands of volts into them on impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t we have something like that for the 6.8?\u201d Maria asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe only have a couple dozen left, and the patrol is loaded up with them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A deep hum resonated through the warehouse. \u201cIt sounds like the shuttle is early,\u201d Indri said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not a shuttle,\u201d Jimenez said, \u201cthat\u2019s reinforcements.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPersonnel carrier,\u201d Maria said at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, should I wait for\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, they\u2019ll take you back with the wounded,\u201d the corporal said. \u201cNow that we\u2019re reinforced, we can catch our breath. Lieutenant, would you be willing to help offload and get the wounded loaded on before you go? I mean, you\u2019re in better shape than most of the other wounded.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maria nodded. \u201cOf course.\u201d She put a hand up to touch the bandage on her head. It was starting to soak through, but it felt like it had slowed down. \u201cBesides, it\u2019s not that bad. Heads just bleed a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indri put a manipulator on Maria\u2019s shoulder again. \u201cWill you come with me? Please?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Indri, I can\u2019t. The Navy will see you get somewhere safe, until you can all come home again.\u201d Maria turned back toward Jimenez. \u201cCorporal, I hear you could use a platoon leader, and I could use those 10mil electro rounds.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

prompt: Write a story about someone who doesn\u2019t know how to let go. available at Reedsy Maria Cointreau looked up at Indri, the tall creature hidden behind the wall with her. Standing on four legs, …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[208],"tags":[210,228,209],"class_list":["post-2473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-trunk-stories","tag-fiction","tag-science-fiction","tag-short-story"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pxT7i-DT","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2473"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2473\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2475,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2473\/revisions\/2475"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.evardsson.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}