X-Com's Finest (An X-Com 2 play through)

Operation Ice Age

Halverson quickly stood up, about to burst when Gunner cut in, "Is that really what the war is going to look like Commander? I mean, you really kicked butt there at the end. Are you really going to take over an Avatar or was that you simply not knowing the ending and coming up with something to finish the training?"

The Commander looked around. "Next?"

Gunner was not to be deterred, "Is the war going to be exactly the way the simulator worked?"

"Next."

"Can I at least train as a heavy again?"

"Yes. Next!"

Halverson jumped up again but Corbin spoke up first, "Am I REALLY going to have to go through all that training again?"

The Commander stared at her, "Can you make Ranger Van Dyke walk around backwards squawking like a chicken like you did last time?"

The Ranger looked up alarmed, "WHAT?!?"

Corbin looked around dejectedly. "No....."

The Commander just shrugged. "Next.."

Halverson jumped up again, but Ranger Van Dyke jumped up first, "Now what's this about me squawking like a chicken?!?" Several marines tried to hide their smiles. Svagerko had no such qualms and openly squawked at the Ranger which set the rest of the squad laughing.

The perturbed Ranger stormed out of the room muttering about 'next time'.

Corbin looked back up at the Commander. "Does this mean I still have to do your paperwork?"

The Commander looked around avoiding the question, "Next?"

Halverson just sat down, disgusted as Zalewski started in, "Am I REALLY going to have to put together my own bot next time?"

The Commander looked around, "I don't see why not. No reason to waste precious resources on something that's not useful."

Zalewski jumped up, "SWEET!", before comprehending the rest of the statement. "Hey...wait a second here...."

"NEXT..."

Svagerko chimed in as Halverson looked around, growing hotter and hotter with each passing question.

"Can I have the axes next time?"

The Commander was already shaking his head to the negative before slowing down and reconsidering. He rubbed his chin slightly, then looked back at her. "We shall see."

Gill looked past the now officially steaming Halverson, "Kitty?"

The Commander just rolled his eyes. "Kitty is gone Gill."

"Gone?"

"Yes. Off. Gone. Poof!"

Gill's eyes turned a slight shade of purple, the psionic energy visibly floating behind her eyes.

"You hurt Kitty?"

The Commander looked around. He didn't like the direction this conversation was taking. The rest of the squad slowly backed away.

"I didn't hurt kitty Gill, Kitty never existed."

The purple aura slowly expanded around Gill. "You killed Kitty?"

"Gill, Kitty never existed, it was all pretend. It was a game! You like games don't you?"

The psychic aura was now visibly pulsing around Gill. Her voice, now several octaves lower, came rumbling from her chest. "You. Killed. Kitty."

She began a slow walk towards the Commander.

The squad began to scramble and the Commander slowly inched backwards, "Now Gill, If you want Kitty back, I can bring Kitty back. It's not hard. We can bring him back to the game!"

Gill brought her hands up, pointing directly at the Commander, a ball of psychic energy floating ominously in her hand. "You. Killed. Kitty."

Halverson was the only one who hadn't moved, stewing in her own dark thoughts. She'd finally had enough.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

When she regained her senses, everyone was staring at her, even Gill who had regained her normal demeanor.

"Does NOBODY see the issue here? You LEFT ME FOR DEAD!" The squad looked at each other questioningly.

She pointed at Pubentz, "YOU are the worst leader ever! You can't even count the number of team members on the TEAM! Apparently counting on BOTH HANDS is too difficult for you!

You left me there bleeding out on the side of a building while you went about and did what you needed to do. Only after the glory had been had did you realize that, 'OH I think we're missing someone!'"

The Commander tried to speak, but Halverson kept right on, "And you know what? You didn't even MISS me! I was EXPENDABLE! I am NEVER going on a mission with you again! DO YOU HEAR ME? NEVER AGAIN!"

She looked over at Gunner and pointed. "YOU suck!"
She looked over at Day and pointed. "YOU suck!"
She looked over at Zalewski. "YOU suck! And your robot needs to be sent back to the SCRAP PILE! Repeatedly! That was the only good thing about death, I didn't have to listen to your stupid WHINY ROBOT! I HOPE TO NEVER SEE YOUR ROBOT EVER AGAIN!"
She looked around for the Ranger, but he'd already left, "And that Ranger..." Halverson smiled a smile that never reached her eyes, "I will PERSONALLY make sure he dies a horrible death sometime in the future."

She picked up a piece of paper she'd been doodling on, crumbled it up, and threw it at Gunner with all her might. The shot was a direct hit. The entire squad watched as the piece of paper rebounded off her chest and hit the ground where it settled at Gunner's feet.

Seeing that Halverson was somewhat spent, the Commander finally asked somewhat compassionately. "Feel better?"

She didn't even look at him. "Shut up." She stomped off out of the room.

The Commander looked around. "Any other questions?"

There was silence all around, and the Commander waved them off.

"Dismissed."