//------------------------------//
// Chapter 120: Trust 
// Story: XCOM: Ranger 
// by Wanderer D 
//------------------------------//


Ranger


Chapter 120: Trust


By Wanderer D






Bradford watched from the side as their resident nurse fussed over Laetitia, while Annette and Sunset watched.

"Well, nothing seems to be wrong with miss Deciere. It is possible this was caused by stress." The nurse smiled apologetically to Sunset. "Unfortunately, the knowledge of how Psionics might be affected or might affect a person, is still a topic conventional medicine does not understand reliably yet."

"I see." Sunset sighed, pinching her nose. She smiled at the nurse, and nodded. "Thank you. I guess we'll have to contact the Templars and wait."

The nurse smiled reassuringly in return, then left for the other side of the infirmary, leaving Sunset and Annette sitting with the bedridden Laetitia.

"So tell me again." Sunset took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "How long has this been happening?"

Laetitia looked somewhat uncomfortable. "I'm not sure… a couple of months."

Sunset nodded. "Do you need some time off? Maybe a visit back to Templar HQ?"

"N-no," Laetitia said, she smiled tiredly and held Sunset's hand. "Just… a little time, okay? I'm just feeling exhausted… I've put a lot of additional power into my psionic blades and I haven't had enough rest."

Sunset closed her eyes. The truth was that Laetitia had become more withdrawn and pensive since the incident when Twilight had come to this world. A the time, she had assumed that it was because Laetitia had been close to dying… that she just needed some time to get back into full throttle. "It's because of the statue, isn't it?"

"I… I'll be okay, Sunset, just let me rest and I'll be back on my feet in no time."

That was as much of an admission as she would probably get from the Templar. "Is there any lasting damage that we need to worry about?" Sunset asked, her voice wavering a little as she looked down at Laetitia. "Anything I can do?"

Laetitia smiled. "No, you're doing enough, knowing that you care is very reassuring. I just pushed myself too hard, my energy flickered and the stress got to me. I'll be okay in a couple of days, you'll see."

"But I—"

"Sunset," Annette interrupted. "You're supposed to meet the Commander. Why don't you go over? I would like to discuss a possible training regime with Laetitia, and maybe suggest a couple of things to help build up her mental power again."

"That's a very blatant way of telling me to get—"

"...going to the commander, yes." Annette shrugged. "There's nothing that can be done right now, she's safe, comfortable and in good company right now, and I would like to perform some testing of my own. I am, after all, a psionic god."

Bradford started coughing.

"I'm sorry?" Sunset asked, turning to look at Laetitia, who shrugged.

"Psionic energy made flesh." Annette said, standing up to pat Bradford's back. "You're too young to understand. Either way, I would like a private word with her... psionic to psionic, and you have things to do."

Sunset rolled her eyes. "It's one of those strange pop-culture references you guys make, isn't it. Fine." She stood up and looked down at Laetitia with regret on her face. "Make sure you get better, okay?"

"I'll try."

Bradford had recuperated enough to glare at Annette. He straightened up and turned his attention to Sunset. "Ready to go?"

"Ready."





Sunset followed Bradford down the hallways of the Avenger, but she wasn't really paying attention to anything. Her body fell in line behind her quasi-father/mentor figure as it had done back in the day when she was a little filly, distracted and following Celestia, while her own thoughts roamed.

She was concerned. Very concerned. In a way, it brought a lot more than the comparison of a filly following her mother. It brought back memories of Galahad, the griffon, telling her about great generals and heads of state who had become too close, too friendly with their troops.

Although there had been no blame from his words in the anecdotes, she felt like he had been warning her about this kind of thing. Whether the griffon knew on some level she was going to become a soldier or a leader that would decide over the lives of her troops or not, his stories had been full of incidents where leaders had let their emotions take control… felt too closely and ended up losing everything.

But what was she supposed to do? Just… stop feeling anything for her friends? Tell herself that they all knew what they had signed in for and that Laetitia's deterioration was just a consequence of that choice?

She didn't hear what Bradford said, barely noticing that he had spoken. "What?"

"You have to stop blaming yourself for things you cannot do anything about, and are not your fault," Bradford repeated, stopping to face her. They were in the staircase at the end of the hallway. A thick wall separated the area from the elerium generators and the labs, which could be seen from a small bulletproof window.

They were currently alone, which was probably why Bradford had waited until then to speak.

"I know." She took a deep breath. "I really do. But I can't help feeling guilty. Even though she wouldn't admit it, I know that she's in this condition because of the incident with the statue."

Bradford crossed his arms and studied her for a moment. "Maybe. But it is not something you caused intentionally. Tell me, did you have any intention of going through it? Did you know that the magical reaction would send Laetitia into a coma and did it anyway?"

Sunset felt like she had been slapped with the implication. "No! Of course not!"

"Then it was an accident, and as hard as it is to absorb and internalize, Sunset, they're called accidents for a reason."

Sunset nodded, biting her lip and holding her arm, looking away uncertainly. She knew he was right but that still left—

"Now that's something I haven't seen in a couple of years," Bradford said, sounding slightly amused. He walked up the stairs a little, then turned around, sitting on the metallic steps and leaning forward, resting his arms on his knees and entwining the fingers in his hands. He focused on Sunset, with a small, almost fond-like smile.

"I haven't seen you be this self-doubting in a long time, Sunset. I think it was when you were asked out by that kid in New Haven, what was his name? The guy with the dog. Didn't he say his dog spoke to him?"

"Vic, yes," Sunset grumbled. "And we will never speak of him again."

Bradford chuckled.

"You weren't so amused when he followed me all the way to your place," Sunset pointed out. "In fact, you downright glared him away. I was impressed."

"Yes, well, you could've done better than him. I'm glad I didn't have to tell you that then."

Sunset giggled at the memory. There was something nice about remembering that. He had grumbled a lot, those seven months they had lived together in New Haven, but he had also been a bit protective of her too.

"So what's bothering you?" Bradford asked, bringing her back to the present. "If you already know that the accident was not your fault, even if you feel somewhat guilty about it, I can tell something else is on your mind."

Sunset sighed and walked up to sit right next to him on the stairs. It was nice. Oddly enough, she felt like she just wanted to sit there and talk to him for a while about anything… anything but this. And yet, it was what she needed to do, and arguably someone that would give her the right advice… and better yet, do it with an honest interest in her well being.

"I was just thinking about some stories Galahad—the one from my world—had told me about. I think he was telling me about the dangers of becoming too close to your troops. How such a thing had cost generals their lives and sometimes failed missions that would have otherwise been a success."

She sighed, wringing her hands together, looking up at him. "Is it bad? That I care so much? That I… that I see Laetitia there, in bed, suffering because of all of this… hiding things from me… because she wants me to be happy… that I care so much for Angel? That I couldn't think of a better friend than Jane… and… and that I will take them with me to die?"

He looked shocked and she looked down at her hands, unable to face him. "Am I a horrible person because even though we'll probably die out there, and I love them… I'm willing to…" she lowered her voice. Saying it… it was different. "...that I'm willing to sacrifice any of us to save this planet?"

She hadn't realized that she was crying. When had that happened? Sunset Shimmer never cried. She didn't sob either.

Bradford had never hugged her before. And even what he was doing now would still be generous to be called a hug. But he had wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and pulled her closer, allowing her to rest her head on his shoulder. It was… surprising. Touching. And more intimate than she would have ever expected.

As surprised as she was, she had to struggle even harder to not start sobbing uncontrollably.

"No," Bradford said. He wasn't looking at her, but rather straight ahead, his eyes lost in a memory or thought. "No, Sunset. It makes you human to have these attachments… these doubts. It's the price of command… the one that people don't talk about. The duty we take on… and the decisions we have to make."

"But… I love them all. And I'm not going to stop," Sunset replied. "I'm not going to hesitate to send us all into basic suicide… but maybe I'm too close? Maybe I should distance myself?"

Bradford sighed. "I know how you feel… about sending loved ones to fight. But we all are in this together, and we all know what we have to do. I have to ask myself sometimes, if it is a risk I'm willing to take… but I also know that y—they will do well and conquer any challenge I point them at."

He looked a bit more grim, but no less sure of himself. "It's not easy, and if I had a choice… well, things might be different, but right now we're all we have, and our friends here also make these choices. In the end a soldier takes orders because they trust their superior officer… and your rapport, while it might have been frowned upon two decades ago in the formal army… has served you well here."

Sunset took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Bradfords words… didn't fix the issue by a long shot. But he understood. "Thanks."

He chuckled. "Of course. Now, come on, we need to get back to the Commander. I know you haven't heard about what's going on, but it is related to your own world."

She felt her stomach grow cold. "Let's go."


o.0.o End Chapter 120 o.0.o