"So today we're on Gill Man duty."
You've got to me kidding me now.
—Jeremy
"So today we're on Gill Man duty."
As soon as those word left my mouth, I could tell Cael seemed to have frozen up, before acting like nothing happened, ah so this must be that traumatic incident for him.
"S-s-so I have to swim again?!?!?" Ah yes, the muscle monster said with panic
"No, new protocol states a single member is stationed outside, in case the Gill Man wakes up early, assuming they do, just press that big red button over there to release highly potent anaesthetics that will get the Gill man down in a few minutes"
"Phew…" she sigh with relief, in a way, it was a perfect time to tease her…
"Who said you were the one stationed outside?"
"Hii-?!?!?"
"Yeah yeah let's—OOF" that damn Evelyn punched my stomach rather hardly. The urge to curse surged through my body, yet that stern gaze from the Old Man tells me I should probably keep it to myself
"Don't scare her now would ya, I don't mind her being the one outside, right guys?"
"Tsk." Old Man Randy muttered, "Do whatever you want", meanwhile Cael only nodded like he didn't mind, I thought Cael would've wanted to be the one outside, but it seems like he's recovered rather nicely.
"Well, let's go, I need grind some War Thunder."
—
[Opening Airlock , please stand still and don't panic] The mechanical voice went as water gush forward the seal
SPLASHHHHHH
The water was cold, seeping through the suit and undergarments, a different kind of cold, not the river cold when we cleaned the Algae's, but a bone piercing one, it didn't matter however. We'll just be cleaning this shit for a few hours and be free.
Bzzzt
[T-t-test, can you guys hear me?] Amanda's voice echoed through the radio, The Silentium had 'upgraded' the equipments persay, I heard they made it more durable, but honestly it looked the exact same, same suits, same helmets.
Corruption by the management? Perhaps, but well what can we lowly cleaners do anyways? Unless another incident happen, then this is just the equipment for cleaning the place.
"Hhhh—Kshhhhh, well let's get going now."
[Roger.]
[Roger~]
[Tsk. Yeah yeah, don't rush me kid.]
Right—Whatever let's get cleaning.
—
Scrub Scrub
TSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSST
Work was going quite fast, far faster then I expected, the manual said it would probably take 3 or 4 hours but…
[Hehe~ it's so much faster compared Hhhh—Kshhhhh to when it was just the 2 of us right Cael? Hhhh—Kshhhhh]
[Yeah.]
Scrub Scrub
I guess my teammates are far too competent these days huh, Cael and Evelyn were working with what looked like familiarity, they didn't even need to speak as they moved the high pressured hose with precision. Old Man was scrubbing the glass nicely, and so am I.
Scrub Scrub
At this rate, it'll probably take us an hour max. Well, that's always good news heh, I can get home faster and Play War Thunder faster.
And right on the one hour mark…
"We done?"
[Yeahhhhh~ it's so much faster with so many of us Hhhh—Kshhhhh working on the tankk]
[Tsk, you're old team must've sucked.]
[Welll~ they kinda do, I wonder are they still alive now though?]
Hm?
[They were demoted to R-class Hhhh—Kshhhhh after all.]
…
…
Oh.
So Evelyn was in that incident to, how did I never notice? Must've been the lack of sleep then. Well whatever.
"Let's head back team."
[Roger~]
[Ite.]
[Yeah Yeah.]
FWSH FWSH FWSH FWSH
[Opening Airlock.] A robotic voice could be heard as the door to the airlock opened, without hesitation we went in one by one and only after all of us went in did the door behind us close.
[Equalizing pressure]
… Everybody was silent as we waited for the water to drain in the airlock, the only sound being the 'Hhhh—Kshhhhh' sound coming from our breathing or Amanda' ensuring we were conscious.
"Hhhh—Kshhhhh we shower then we head back that cool with you all?"
[Sure]
[Tsk. About time.]
[O-o-okay…]
[Kaykay~]
—
"Then see you guys~"
"S-see youuu!!!"
"Yeah yeah."
"Careful y'all" Cael said before we all went to our own paths, calling a cab just felt wasteful after all, besides my place ain't that far from the place, only a 30 minute walk at most. And so—That's what I chose. Obviously. Gotta do some cardio.
Step Step Step
Out of habit I pulled my notebook out, curiosity? Perhaps, but it didn't matter as I flipped through the pages.
Evelyn = Loves Mushroom, Likes Coke (Zero Sugar Only), definitely loves Scuba, owns 17 SCBA helmet probably more. Doesn't know how to say no, can be rather stern.
Cael = Checks Exits, Hates sitting with his back exposed, Watches reflection, Doesn't seem to notice his own habits. Look tired 24/7 Needs better sleep Schedule. No longer as skinny, good for him
Randy = Says he hates cats, definitely likes it. Doesn't talk about his Ex-Wife. A Tsundere,
Amanda = Caffeine Addict. Very Empathetic, Emotional, muscle monster, scaredy cat, can't swim for her life.
Flip
My name is Jeremy, I love War Thunder, I'm the team leader. I gym, A Team leader needs to be responsible.
Step Step Step
…
"Ah. I'm already home huh." Without realizing, I had already walked infront of my door, time really passes by when you keep your head empty.
Creakkkk
"I'm home—Ah right I live alone. Well whatever. Might as well take a shower."
—
"Erika~"
Creakkk
As I walked out of the bathroom, my first instinct being taking my notebook which I placed on the washing machine right infront of the bathroom door.
Step Step step
Pushhh
As I pushed open the door, used some clothes, turned on the AC, and finally—Turned on my PC.
Right, it's time for some War Thunder.
—
"SCHEISSE, CAN YOU PEOPLE EVEN PLAY?"
[WHAT DO YOU MEAN? YOU DINDN'T EVEN SUPPORT US]
"SUPPORT? DO YOU HAVE NO MAP?"
[THEN SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH UP]
…
"LISTEN HERE YOU STUPID FUCKING NIG—"
And as usual, a typical War Thunder match one could say, committing war crimes here and there, having fun, and for a moment, forget everything about real life.
Humans are forgetful creatures. I do to. I hate forgetting things
…
Why did I remember those specific words, the words I said when that Cael brat asked me about why I wrote—Honestly I couldn't remember when it started, I was just your random background NPC, growing old, studying, going to University.
Not one of those famous Universities you see, just your typical one, 4 years pass and I graduated, and as usual, struggling to find a job. AI had become rather relevant, most majors had become obsolete or become a niche.
Well thankfully, the major I chose was a STEM major so it was still kinda relevant, but honestly tell me. Which company would want to hire a rookie? One without any major experience to add on his LinkedIn profile at that.
"Would you like to work with us?" A man, tall, his face covered, wearing a hat.
"Who are you?"
"Well, I have many names, though you can call me Mr. G." Right. Mr. G that was his name, and things happened hear and there, and boom , I became a Cleaner, for a few years, not a rookie, but not a veteran.
"LETSSS GOOOO" Another win in War Thunder
[You know Jeremy, is it just me but when did you get so much better at War Thunder?]
"Stupid stigger, you saying I sucked before?"
[The fuck? What's up with you calling people Stigger, no but actually tho]
…
I don't exactly remember when, but—At some point, I found myself becoming very observant. I could observe and remember things far easier then before. My eyes felt sharper, and so did my intuition? Well Kinda I guess?
—
Step Step Step
Out of habit perhaps, I held the notebook and placed it next to my head, right—Just close your eyes, and drift to sleep. Not that difficult right?
…
…
…
Fuck I can't sleep. I thought to myself as I opened the night lights and the notebook beside me. I flipped it and one of the pages came to view.
My name is Jeremy, I love War Thunder, I'm the team leader. I gym, A Team leader needs to be responsible.
…
My name is Jeremy.
Scratch Scratch
Team Leader Jeremy.
…
No that's a thing of the past. What matters is that we're all alive—None of us died. That's all that matters.
"EVE"
GHHHK—
COUGH COUGH COUGH
…
"Who are you?"
…
I have curly hair.
Scratch Scratch
I'm a female
Scratch Scratch
I'm a male
Amanda.
Amanda.
Amanda.
Amanda.
"Scheisse…" I should've forced Amanda to be quick.
…
If we had left. None of that would've happened to us.
As team leader. I—No. If I told them, they'd probably insist it wasn't my fault.
But even so.
There was a saying that goes.
No matter how much you try to help someone, if the person themselves won't change, then it'll be useless.
And in the same manner—Even if they tell me it's not my fault. I'll always feel guilty.
…
…
"Should I do some more War Thunder?" I thought to myself as I opened the lights, the digital clocked showed 04.00AM
…
Ah fuck. I won't be able to sleep anymore… Ah whatever, I'll just do some matches, I thought to myself as I flipped through the notebook again.
A Tall Man, Really Tall, with a black suit and red tie. No face.
Huh. That's weird, I'd always describe the face and habits of a person when I write them in my notebook—And no name as well? …
… Hotel Prosperity must've really gotten into me.
Well whatever. I'll just do some War Thunder matches before walking to work.
But seriously though, when did I even write this here? I don't remember ever writing it, yet that hand writing's definitely mine…
Hmmmmm….
Well whatever, my minds never been the same ever since Hotel Prosperity. Probably just an illusion or maybe paranoia.
I queued for another match. The screen loaded. Tanks. Maps. Objectives. Familiar. Simple. The notebook sat open beside me. I didn't close it. I didn't need to. It was probably nothing. Just another scar. Just another thing to forget. Just—Scheisse, my left flank's collapsing.
"OI YOU STUPID SCHEISSE CAN YOU NOT PLAY THE GAME CORRECTLY?"
[SCHEISSE SCHEISSE MY SCHEISSE, YOU FUCKING GERMAN YOU THINK YOU'RE SO FUCKING GOOD YOU SON OF A—]
This fucking guy…
"OH YOU WANNA START THIS SHIT? FINE YOU PIECE OF FUCKING STIGGER I'LL SEND YOU TO SCHEISSE MY SELF YOU FUCKING NIGG—"
And in the end. I played until 7AM before heading to work.