“The ship’s secure, sir” Dick reported in, falling heavily on his rump, letting out a tired sigh. The commander nodded, protecting his eyes from the strong rays of the sun, his glasses held in his hand as he glanced out over the landscape. Sitting at the top of the alien spaceship gave quite the view; even if it was a bit slanted, there were handholds that one could easily lean or lay against.

Jimmie was slumped down on one side of the ship, his rifle resting against it, its barrel poking out over the edge. He was leaning out over the edge with his arms crossed together, his head resting on them, leaning out over the ship. It was a nice view, Jimmie thought, even if it wasn’t much to see.

The group had made camp on top of the alien spaceship, night slowly crawling to take the day’s place. The commander had given decided that everyone needed to rest, then saying something about this ship having better protection or something. Jimmie didn’t think too much about it; He was just happy to finally get some longer sleep, even at the cost of a day longer travel.

Jimmie thought back on the day and their scan through the ship. They had found little of interest, only some sort of small alien guns, rooms connected to the many corridors. They couldn’t find any bodies, but the blood splatter and bits of meat strewn around was enough of information for the group. It also smelled, probably the reason for them resting top side instead of inside.

Jimmie turned around, seeing Bill on the other side of the ship, fast asleep. Next to him Dick sat, sleeping loudly, snoring without a care in the world. Piernov was also next to them, but awake and scanning the horizon, although his head was bobbing up and down, looking heavy, exhaustion practically forcing his eyes shut. Jimmie had also been ordered to scout the surroundings, the commander giving them the first watch duty, but Jimmie really didn’t care about that, he was just waiting for the commander to sleep so he could also sleep.

Chris had been placed in the middle of their group, Rick dutifully laying next to him, sleeping with a worried expression. His twitching made Jimmie assume that his dreams were like Jimmie’s, annoying and scary.

Jimmie moved to turn back to the horizon, but as he did, his eyes passed Chris and saw him, wide awake.

Jimmie froze, staring in disbelief. Chris was looking up at the dark sky, blinking slowly and carefully. Seconds ticked by, Chris was breathing in deep, then pushing it out slowly.

Then, just as slowly, he moved to sit up, but as he tried to balance himself with his arm, he missed the ground and fell back down. Chris blinked, this time a little faster, looking confused.

He then slowly brought his arms close to his face. Hands missing, replaced by stumps reaching down halfway to his elbow.

He blinked again, staring at his arms. His eyes slowly going red, blobs of water forming, tears rolling down his cheek.

He blinked faster, blinking away the tears, letting his arms fall back down on his side. And stared up at the now dark sky.

Blinking, the tears rolling down the sides of his face, silently. His frown ugly and honest.

He looked to his right, seeing Rick, then look to his left, seeing Jimmie. And Jimmie met his eyes, his own eyes large and surprised.

Chris blinked, then smiled, tears still rolling down. He whispered, voice cracking and silent.

But nothing came out as he started to violently cough, bringing the attention of Piernov, who stared with wide eyed at him. Rick roused awake, groggily looking around, until he noticed Chris, springing to attention as he screamed out.

“CHRIS, CHRIS ARE YOU ALLRIGHT?”

Rick screamed, startling everyone awake, the commander practically breaking his neck as he swooshed around to have a look. Chris continued coughing, Rick staring down with a worried expression. Second ticked by, and the coughings subsided somewhat, Chris opened his eyes and nodded at Rick’s question, Rick breathing out in relief in response.

Eventually Chris stopped coughing, and looked over at Jimmie again, his smile small, but visibly. His red eyes was not watering anymore, practically the same colour as the rest of his sun scorched skin. Then he whispered, loud enough for Jimmie to hear.

“Your alive.”

He coughed again, lightly this time, still smiling. Jimmie stared meekly at him, leaning against the ship, hands clenched tightly together. The group huddled closer, speaking on top of each other, asking their questions. Chris slowly looked away from Jimmie and up at Rick, saying something Jimmie couldn’t hear.

The group continued bombarding Chris with questions, but eventually grew silent when the commander demanded it. Chris answered to the best of his abilities, but mostly nodded or shook his head, his voice still weak, he was still weak.

Jimmie continued to sit by his corner, hiding behind his arms, clenched around his knees. He stared at everyone, but mostly at Chris. Dick would periodically look up at Jimmie, his face unchanging, but he looked like he was hesitating about something.

And sometime during Jimmie’s staring and the group talking, Jimmie fell asleep, not even noticing it. His mind still exhausted, screaming for sleep.

Jimmie only noticed that he had fallen asleep when he was roused awake by an angry Rick, only seeing the complete darkness. It disoriented Jimmie at first, not capable of hearing Rick’s words, but slowly, he activate his glasses night-vision and focused on Rick.

“You in there, cunt?”

Jimmie shook his head, and slowly look up at Rick, too tired to really express anything. Rick glared down at him, then spoke as he noticed Jimmie looking at him.

“I’m not gonna forgive you. You were stupid, dense, and a fucking disaster. You deserved to die, and no one here thinks otherwise.”

Rick seethed out in a whisper, creeping closer and closer to Jimmie. Jimmie didn’t move, he was perfectly still, looking up at Rick with tired eyes.

“And it's your fault that Chris lost his arms, it's your fault everything went to shit. Everyone knows that.”

He practically spat out, his voice growing louder, but still whispering. Jimmie just blinked, feeling the sprinkles of spit hit his face.

“But Chris saved you, and I respect him. As long as Chris lives, you do... Chris wants to speak with you”

Rick said, rising to his feet and glancing over at Chris, Chris looking worriedly at Jimmie. Jimmie sat still for a moment, letting his eyes move down to Chris. They stared at each other for a moment until Jimmie rose up and walked forwards. Each step heavy and exhausting.

He slowly sat down next to Chris, looking out somewhere above him. Chris motioned for Rick to walk away, something that Rick didn’t like, but agreed on.

And the two were together in silence, Chris looking up at Jimmie, Jimmie looking out at nothing. The silence broken by Chris' silent voice.

“I dont blame you, it was just a freak accident”

He glanced around, down at his empty hands then quickly up to Jimmie again. Jimmie wasn’t looking; He wasn’t talking; He sat silent.

“Please forgive Rick for whatever he said, ever since he’s been a kid he’s been bad with words. I don’t know what he said, but he didn’t mean it, he’s just angry at life.”

He breathed out slowly, following Jimmie’s sight and looking out at the same nothing.

“We all are, I am. It's not your fault we are on this planet, that we are fighting aliens. It's not your fault”

He whispered, letting the silence come back again.

The two staring out at nothing together.

In silence.

“Will you stay with me?”

Jimmie glance down, meeting Chris’ eyes. He raised one brow in question, Chris noticing and saying.

“I saw how many you killed on that hill, it was.. I’ve seen nothing like it... Will you stay?”

Jimmie stayed still, not saying anything. But slowly nodded. Chris smiled at seeing his nod, some invisible tension in his body broken, laying calmly back down on his stretcher, closing his eyes.

Jimmie looked around, noting that everyone had fallen asleep, even Piernov. Jimmie then glanced over his shoulder, seeing Rick talking with the commander, the two staring out at the dark landscape, Rick peeking over his shoulder to look at Jimmie and Chris.

“Why”

Jimmie asked. Chris opening his eyes to look at him.

“Why what?”

“Why did you save me”

Chris looked puzzled, then thoughtful. He lay like that for a moment until he whispered.

“I dont know.”

Jimmie let his head fall down, looking at Chris. Chris met his eyes and said.

“I really dont. My body acted on its own.”

Jimmie nodded slowly, then looked back up.

“Your strong” Jimmie whispered, getting a confused look by Chris, then a small chuckle.

“Hehe, nah, I wouldn’t say that. Stupid yes, strong? No. I’m not like you.”

Chris said with a smile, Jimmie didn’t look down, merely nodding at his words. Stopping when he heard the last part.

“No, no, your strong. I’m weak.”

Chris looked startled by Jimmie’s words, then turning thoughtful for a moment and spoke.

“But you are the strongest in this entire group! Maybe even in the entire army, there isn’t anyone who’s as good of a shot as you.”

Jimmie sneered, huffing out.

“Probably, but I would never have risked my life for someone. I’m scared... I’m weak”

Chris opened his mouth, then closed it, looking down at his empty hands.

“Were all scared-“ Chris tried, but was quickly stopped by Jimmie as he said.

“No, you're not. What you think is being scared is fearing death; You fear what happens later. That’s being human, that’s being strong. I’m scared. I’m scared of myself. I’m scared that I’m weak.”

Chris looked up at Jimmie, seeing a face, a face of a child, of a teenager barely old enough to fight in a war. Jimmie turned his face away from Chris, away from everyone, looking down at his legs.

And then there was silence.

Until Chris spoke again.

“You know Jimmie, I can’t say that I know what you mean by scared. But I know what weak is”

He let the wind rush past before speaking again.

“Being weak just means that you have room to grow stronger.”

Jimmie looked up, not to Chris, but lifting his head, listening intently to Chris' words.

“I don’t understand why you think your weak, but whatever it is, would’t you agree that that, is something you can grow stronger at, right?”

Jimmie turned around to face Chris, Chris face smiling softly at Jimmie.

But before Jimmie could say anything, the commander shouted out.

“Enemy contact, closing in fast”