milliways_bar | (no subject)

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The sun is setting over the Milliways lake. The air is crisp and cold, and snow covers the ground in a thick blanket. However, there is a large circle of ground where the snow has been cleared away. In the midst of it, there is a person wielding a metal pole in some type of martial arts form.

He is also shirtless and barefoot, but he doesn't seem to be noticing the cold much.

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If Wells knew about the spell that activated all the Potentials, that wouldn't be such a disquieting statement.

"God, I hope not. Anything that means we'd need that many girls's a fucking nightmare and a half."

Who knows? In the Ranger's universe, there are very few true coincidences.

"Indeed," he says grimly. "So only these girls are able to meet the challenge these creatures present?"

"About the size of it, yeah," says Wells. "Not that governments 'n shit haven't tried other ways, but it's amazing how many of them get it completely fucking wrong."

"That is the unforunate tendency of many governments," the Ranger says sympatheticly. Valen knows, he's had to deal with enough of them to see this first-hand. "Though, this one-on-one technique doesn't seem to be the most efficient..."

He looks up questioningly. "Have you gone up against them as well? You said that only one person at a time dealt with them until recently. How did you get the experience to train these new ones?"

"Vampires, no," says Wells. "Werewolves, yeah- straight out of legend and into the hills of Scotland. That's how it all started, for me. My squad got volunteered as bait so's they could capture one, only they didn't tell us shit about what we were in those woods for, nor give us proper weaponry, neither."

The Ranger's eyes go hard.

"That has an unfortunately familiar ring," he says. "Granted, it was a long time ago for my people, but the taste is still bitter. And we still see it in the races we deal with far more often than is comfortable."

"I don't mind danger," says Wells, "and I never minded it when I was ordered into a situation where I might've died in war. That's part of the job, y'know? But this- they lied to us about why we were there, they lied to us about what we were up against, and the things they were going to do if they ever captured their werewolf would've given fucking Unit 731 a bad night. None of us signed up to die for that kind of a lie."

"You will not hear an argument from me, Harry Wells," he says firmly. "Our purpose is to place ourselves in harm's way for the sake of that which we love. But we need to know what it is we are expected to fight and die for...and that it is for a purpose that is worth such sacrifice."

Wells lets out a sigh. "Sorry," he says. "I've been on edge about it lately. The bastard who asked for my squad to be the bait's here. Came in after his death, and he's infected the same as me."

A commisserating smile.

"And the 'no outside business' rule chafes?"

"Dunno that it'd do any good, honestly," says Wells. "I mean, what'm I supposed to do, eh? The best I can do is keep watch on him when the moon's full, make sure he doesn't do something we'll all regret later."

"I suppose that is all anyone can do, at the moment. Although..." He tilts his head to the side, questioningly. "Perhaps you would like some help in the watching? I am not inexperienced in keeping watch over potentially dangerous entities."

"As long as he doesn't get too near the Bar I don't care much where he goes," Wells says. "If you don't mind standing watch over the edge of the forest, that'd be a load off my mind."

The Ranger bows his head slightly.

"I don't mind at all. When will you need me?"

"First three nights of February," says Wells. "That's the next full moon. I put up a schedule by the back door with a warning."

"I'll be ready," he says.

It is the least he can do to repay the help he has recieved here.

"You've got my gratitude," says Wells. "Thanks, mate.... now, not to be rude, but these two need more exercise for the evening before I can take 'em in. D'you mind if we head out?"

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