[Backdated to the first group returning from the trip]
[Even as the ding of the elevator signals their arrival on the third floor, Kallen still doesn't wake from her nap as Rookie carries her piggyback out of the lift. She mumbles a bit, but ultimately stays unaware of her surroundings.
[He's a little confused about her reaction. Something that was obviously hard to conceal as he canted his head to the side and waited for her laughing fit to be over. And although his expression was slowly shifting into one of humor as it continued, that comment of her's was what finally caused that big and bright smile to return to his face.]
[She reaches over to the chair next to her and gabs a pillow before lobbing it at him. Of course, she wasn't really trying.]
No, but sometimes people need things repeated to remind them about certain aspects of themselves. Stating the obvious is a good way to start. You could learn a thing or two.
[He appears to be a little conflicted on how to best answer that, taking a few moments to sort of sit there silently in order to think about what it was he actually missed about home.
When his memories proved to turn fuzzy and unclear - as they often did when involving things like this - he settled for something more recent.]
My teammates, I suppose. [Slight pause, rethinking.] Or maybe it's just being around other ODSTs in general.
ODST is short for Orbital Drop Shock Trooper. We're also sometimes called Helljumpers, since as the name suggests, our main purpose is to drop from orbit and directly into the firefights below.
Not always the safest way to travel, but that's what we're best known for. [Slight pause.] It's also why all ODSTs are volunteers.
Each unit also tends to be divided into Battalions, which can range from eight hundred to one thousand of us. Then Platoons, which are around forty, and then Squads, which can vary in size.
Ah. It's -- [Nothing, is what he wants to say, but.] -- just that I know there's some people who don't have much time back where they're from, so...
[Falling silent and looking ridiculously embarrassed, because he didn't really mean to draw attention towards that topic. But she did ask, and he was curious.]
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Took you that long to notice?
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No, but sometimes people need things repeated to remind them about certain aspects of themselves. Stating the obvious is a good way to start. You could learn a thing or two.
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Thanks. [Picking the cushion right back up and softly chucking it towards her with a loud laugh.] I'll try to remember that.
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You better.
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I have a feeling you won't let me forget.
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What about you?
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When his memories proved to turn fuzzy and unclear - as they often did when involving things like this - he settled for something more recent.]
My teammates, I suppose. [Slight pause, rethinking.] Or maybe it's just being around other ODSTs in general.
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[May as well ask just to be safe.]
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1/2
He'll allow a light-heartened sigh, however, before leaning forwards to prop his chin on his hands.] All right.
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Not always the safest way to travel, but that's what we're best known for. [Slight pause.] It's also why all ODSTs are volunteers.
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1/2
[Then he's giving a considering pause.]
If you mean in general? Too many to count. The unit I'm with had around twenty thousand before -- ... well. There's still a lot of us left.
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There are five others in mine, though.
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They're who you miss then, huh?
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[Rookie sounds a little more cautious, if only because he's not sure if he should ask - or want to know, really, about what she meant by that.]
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What is it?
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[Falling silent and looking ridiculously embarrassed, because he didn't really mean to draw attention towards that topic. But she did ask, and he was curious.]
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