Part 7.

Final year of the Vazer campaign.

Suya packed the last of his clothes into the pack.!br0ken!For a moment he debated on whether or not he should bring his great-sword with him. It was unwieldy and wouldn't fit in the pack, but wasn't it apart of him? Maybe once, but he was old now. He hadn't swung it in years anyway.

Suya zipped his pack up and clipped a dagger onto his belt. He couldn't be too careful, even in his retirement. He felt a mix of bitterness and relief at at this. Bitter that he was being forced to retire before the end of the war, being told he was too old when his commanding officers were even older. They'd muck this up somehow he was sure of that, or perhaps that was just him being controlling over this role in his life. He smiled, the relief was that he wouldn't have to ponder these questions for a while.

Suya frowned, tilting his head towards the sound of approaching footsteps. He unclipped the dagger, assassins? His hearing implants had worn down over the years, but he couldn't tell if that was why he wasn't able to place the footsteps. Something about them was familiar.

Suya thought back, and felt a great shame. How could he forget them, it had only been five years.

A knock on the door, distinctive. "You may enter." Suya called.

Thera opened the door, she was a grown woman now. When Suya last saw her, there had been a hunch and she always had her shoulders tightened, ready for a fight. The woman before him now was a picture of confidence, poise, and complete exhaustion. Suya had thought those footsteps had sounded quick, she'd been running.

He gave her a moment to catch her breath, then Thera asked, "Are you retiring?"

"Yes." He picked up a nearby chair and shoved it roughly towards her. Thera grabbed the top of it and lowered herself into it. "God I've missed these chairs. Only ones in the whole army with padded cushions." The smile was wiped from her face.

"Are you retiring because you want to or is because," her face screwed up "Internal issues."

Suya shrugged. "Internal politics. But I'm mostly fine with it. If I wasn't retired now I probably would have fought until I die, and I don't want to die on a battle field."

"Ah. So you don't want me to, say, kill the higher ups?"

"No. That won't be necessary."

"Should have said hat earlier." Suya stared at her stone faced. Thera cracked a grin, and because it was such a nice sight, Suya gave a small one of his own.

"I wouldn't, Kali's been reining me in, to mixed success." She went quiet. "Hey, I'm sorry that I didn't come and talk to you sooner. I know its been...five years, but-"

"You got too used to not taking with me, despite wanting to talk to me, that you became scared I would get offended when you finally did?" Suya guessed.

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Thera half laughed, half grimaced. "Yeah. Haven't exactly broken that habit. I am working on it. It's just, I always knew this was going to be hard."

Suya decided to be nice and spare Thera the rest of her awkward apology or explanation. "can't have been much harder than taking the head of General Marcus."

Thera smiled again, beaming. "Maybe. The last battle wasn't hard so much as it was long ad tedious. But we won. Kali said the war should be over shortly since the Vazers are forced to treaty with us unless they want the war to continue, and with us right at the doorstep of their capital... Thera shrugged. There was a lot of implied violence at the end of that sentence. It appeared Kali had channeled most of Thera's violent energy into the battle field. Suya still wasn't sure if that was the correct choice, but it was one he had made and he had to live with the consequences.

"I know you say you're fine with it, but I'm still pretty pissed that you're being sent away just as we're about to win. We never would have gotten this far without you, it seems wrong to just send you away. Thera said.

"As I said, I don't much care for the decision. but this war has been long, the longest in all my years of campaigns. Eleven years, that's enough to tire anyone." Suya said.

"I've been here for nine of those, and I'm still raring to go."

"Yes, but you're weird."

Thera glared at him, but there wasn't much malice in it. Much.

"So, what are you going to be doing after the war?" Thera asked.

"I've gathered enough funds and resources that I can retire somewhere quiet, and where I won't let myself be found. That's all you need to know." Thera's eyebrows raised at that, but Suya wasn't going to give her an answer.

"You?" he asked.

"I'll be sticking with Kali. According to her, there are still things we need to do here, but once that's done, I'm returning to the Rathcore capital with her. I'm becoming a proper soldier, just like I said I would." Thera shrugged.

"And you're happy with that?" Suya asked.

Thera gave him a condescending look. "I wouldn't be doing it if I wasn't comfortable with it. Besides, I know how to use violence constructively." Suya doubted that, but didn't voice his complaint.

"Still," he said, "You should make a plan for the future that doesn't involve you still being able to fight."

"I will, but that won't happen for years."

"You assume. Its not just age that can wear you out, you get another injury like the one that hit your leg, only worse and leave you medically unable to fight. This could happen tomorrow. In fact, your implants could wear down before their time, and you'll have to pay thousands to get them removed or replaced. I'm barely in my fifties, but my hearing implants are already worn down. If I don't get it removed, it could draw too much power and make me go deaf. And even when its removed I'll have to get accustomed to hearing without them."

Suya realized Thera wasn't listening to him. She had her head down and was writing something on a notepad.

"Plan for the future, deadline two weeks." She spoke aloud, and looked up. "I learned that its easier to get myself to do things if I give myself a deadline. Sorry, I wasn't listening to most of that."

Suya felt his cheeks go hot and was thankful his cheeks were dark enough that she might not notice. He'd gone a bit of a tantrum there. But, Thera was obviously trying at least, so she might end up better than him in the end.

"Wasn't that important anyway, I can see you're capable enough."

Thera beamed at him again. She was so different from when he met her. She had an air of confidence that was earned, not bravado. Her back was straight because it was what was comfortable for her now, not out of challenge. She still slouched when she sat though. That was annoying.

Suya glanced at his watch, and frowned. "I'm so sorry, but I have to cut this reunion short. I have to get to my train in thirty minutes. Unless you can come with me to the station?"

Thera grimaced, "I've got to be in a meeting with Kali soon. I was going to that when I heard you were being retired."

"Oh. So you were going to b leaving soon anyway."

"Maybe. I think I could get Kali to understand." Suya gave her a condescending look. Thera looked offended, then nodded her head in assent.

"Well, either way it as nice seeing you again." She said. She stepped close to him and gave him a hug. Suya hugged her back.

End.