# On the Rim, Ch 38: Leo, a Lion of Great Depth

Author: comidacomida
Tags: Bear, Character Development, Deep talk, Dog, Emotion, Fox, Human, Lion, Sci-Fi, survival

Welcome to Chapter 38 of "On the Rim"! This is a short story series based on a computer game I am playing called "Rim World". Rim World is a really cool indie game that accommodates an amazing array of mods that allow me to create a setting very similar to my story world in which several of my stories take place including "Fathom's Phantoms", "The Farlight Initiative", an "Paid in Kind".  
Readers of the last chapter voted for Leo by a wide margin, so here he is! So, as usual, ask: Where do things go from here? Here are the options:  
  
A) Sandra has to manage operations when a portion of her staff all comes down with an illness. Things start looking up when she communicates with a low-orbit cargo hauler.  
B) Doc has his hands (and med-bay) full when he's called to care for a large number of sick group members. He ultimately has to enlist help to get through the day.  
C) Cap'n is called to help provide assistance services in sick bay but still takes time to do guard duty and oversee an item exchange with orbital traders.  
D) Cole has to pull double-duty as most of the laborers are overcome by illness, and has to handle the first harvesting of hydroponics almost all on his own.  
E) Grizz has multiple shifts to take since a sickness overcomes a lot of the base. When he finally gets some quiet time he makes the most of it with Missy. (warning: M/F red border post)  
  
Voting won't be available long and no, the decision won't change the events of the story, just how they're presented along with who we get to learn more about via their point of view. As with this post, expect three chapters in the next update.  
  
 Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy "On the Rim"!

On the Rim, Ch 38: Leo, a Lion of Great Depth  
2020 copyright comidacomida

Events of the following morning did not make Leo a happy Lion.  With Lizzy, Kurta, Cole and Myra all in the med-bay, work assignments had to be shored up, and that meant Leo was called to fill in.  Being one of the more physically capable substitute laborers meant that he got the hard jobs, so he was doubly agitated, but he kept his opinions on the matter to himself because nobody liked a whiner.

Once he got his paws on the pneumatic pick usually reserved by Cole, however, the Lion actually got into a rhythm when it came to digging.  He was eventually able to zone out, focusing on the mechanical movements of his body and counted off each of the motions he took every time he swung.  It was a meditation of sorts-- one he'd fled from times earlier in his life but, as he stood in the tunnel, fur sticking to his skin from the sweat of the hard work, he got just the faintest strike of nostalgia, and it brought a smile to his muzzle.

The moment passed quickly however as all of the horrific years which included those few, small moments of happiness were recalled the same.  Leo returned to the main hall shortly thereafter; he didn't need the reminder how unfair life was, which meant that he'd done enough digging for the day.  Setting the pneumatic pick into the slot reserved for work tools carved into the main chamber wall, the Lion crossed the open chamber to where the Overseer was speaking with someone on the comm console.

He didn't need to linger for very long to tell that she was talking to a trader.  Leo lingered in the area, listening in on the conversation and admiring the way with which Sandra handled herself in negotiations.  She cut right to the point and, unless he was mistaken, he caught a number of times when she was able to talk a price down through careful bartering.  In the end, the Human woman secured a shipment of fresh medical supplies in exchange for a collection of pelts, hides, and all of the group's eel meat.

Truth be told, Leo had absolutely no idea if the meat was actually from eels since he didn't know a lot about the animals of Planet A, but the long, snake-like tubes of muscle and cartlidge were pulled from the water and were covered in slime, so as far as he was considered they were close enough to eels to be called eels... and he didn't particularly enjoy the thought of eating anything that included their meat.  Fortunately Myra, the group's chef didn't use it for cooking, and so it was a win-win when the Overseer cleared them out of the freezer in exchange for something useful.

Only once she finished her call did she indicate that she knew of his presence and, without even turning around, she addressed him.  "We'll be getting a drop pod shortly.  Duct-Tape is still working on disassembling the robots; the Captain is on guard duty so I want you and Grizz to load and unload.  Understood?"

He knew better than to be anything but professional to the Overseer. "Yes, Ma'am."

Even with the two of them it took nearly an hour.  Despite Grizz's constant complaints that he was moving too slow, Leo felt that he was definitely carrying his own weight-- then again, considering the size difference between himself and the Corporal, he was probably contributing more, but he didn't tell the Bear that.  Eventually, however, they got the job done and they stepped back so that they wouldn't be caught in the blast of the drop pod's engines as it took off and shot back up and out of the atmosphere.

With nothing else specifically on his list to accomplish for the day, Leo took it upon himself to do a walk-about of the cave system.  Not really so much 'guard duty', he was just interested in taking a stroll to clear his head.  The vast majority of the group considered him a lazy lay-about who didn't have a care in the world and didn't think of anyone other than himself; it was far from true, but he had no reason to challenge their perceptions.  After all, when nobody expected anything of him he wouldn't let the down.

The Lion could have spent his time thinking about how unfortunate the turn of events were that brought him to Planet A; he could have considered how much he hated having to do manual labor because some members of the group were stupid and got themselves hurt; he could have even bitched to himself about how unfair it was that all the crap from command rolled down hill and he was the one who usually ended up getting buried by it.  Leo did none of those things; he grew up on Jupiter Station so he had no illusions that life was supposed to be fortunate or kind or fair.  On his mind was Ben Grotan, who was a perfect example of how fucked up life could really be.

The requisitions officer lingered on those thoughts for his trip down one hall and back up it, but then set them aside; they weren't any more productive than belly-aching about his own plight.  Something also caught his eye as he reentered the main passage and saw the Overseer speaking with Doc and Duct-Tape.  Sitting on the workbench around which the three were gathered was something... unique-looking.

He got close enough that he overheard a comment from Doc. "I already spoke with her, and she's willing to go though with the operation."

The Overseer nodded. "And she knows the risks versus the benefits?"

Doc reached out and picked up the mechanism with what looked like a sanitary cloth. "Yes.  The loss of a tail for most Gens is uncomfortable and can result in lower back pain, minor vertigo, and general social stigma.  The risks associated with this implant are relatively low and, at worst, we'd be dealing with rejection, which would result in having to remove it, but the procedure should be safe."

Duct-Tape interjected. "SHOULD be?"

Dr. Zimmerman shrugged. "In a proper medical facility with all of the instrumentation and tools I might need?  I would rate it about as risky as removing an ingrown toenail... but we aren't in a perfect situation so there will always be more risks than ideal."

As usual, it was the Overseer who noticed him first. "Is there something I can do for you, Officer Leo?"

He knew her well enough by that point to recognize her mood when she used a title before calling him by name. He came up with an excuse for being in the room. "No, Ma'am.  My shift's over so I was going to report to the Captain."

He lost track of her response because, in that moment, the soothing mental wave that had helped calm him for the day disappeared as if it had never been.  He ultimately came to the conclusion that he had been dismissed, so he offered her a nod, flashed a winning smile to Doc and the Fox, and showed himself out.  He didn't really have to check in with the Captain, so he chose his own path and headed to where he had set aside a special selection of 'supplies'.

Situated behind one of the jury rigged power generators put together by Ben and Duct-Tape, Leo had stored a small wooden box he'd fabricated several days prior.  Kneeling down, the Lion opened it an smiled at his collection of alternatives to a soothing psychic aura.  He grabbed a pinch of his wild-grown 'medicine' and folded a leaf around a dried bud.  Lighting his rolled herbs, the Lion stood up and relaxed, leaning against the wall as he enjoyed a much-needed smoke break.  It was disrupted by the sound of movement from the adjacent chamber.

Peeking down the tunnel that connected the two rooms, Leo saw Captain Archibald sitting on the floor in front of the sarcophagus that Cole had made for Ben.  The Dog was talking quietly and, unless the Lion was mistaken, crying.  Any number of actions probably could have been appropriate at that point, and way more would have been inappropriate, but the Lion chose something a little more neutral, and probably more conventional than most would have expected: he cleared his throat. "Ahem."

The captain was up in an instant, turning three quarters away from the procurement officer, who noticed that the Dog tried to subtly wipe his eyes. "Ah... Leo... have you come to pay your respects too?"

The Lion stepped up beside his commanding officer, looking to the large stone box rather than toward the Dog. "I came to check on you, actually."

The answer caught Archibald off guard; Leo would have expected nothing else.  The Dog must have realized that the silence was stretching because he quickly spoke up. "Me?  Why?"

Always a straight shooter, the Lion called it like he saw it. "You're hurting, and that means you're not at your best.  As our commander, we need you at your best... so here I am... trying to help... I guess."

The Dog managed to crack half a smile. "I didn't realize you were so sensitive to the needs of others."

Leo offered a much wider grin; he wasn't about to pass up the opened door, purring out the words. "Oh, Cap-- I'm ALWAYS interested in the needs of others... very giving... very generous... I always leave em satisfied."

The statement got the desired result; Captain Archibald rolled his eyes, shaking his head as he smiled, speaking with a dismissive tone. "Aaaaand then you always go and ruin it with saying something like that.  Story of your life, huh?"

The Lion responded casually "Course.  It works well for everyone that way."

The Dog glanced back at him, tail held neutrally but his expression spoke of curiosity bordering on disbelief. "Pushing everyone away with your overbearing approach?  There's such thing as a light touch, you know.

Leon puffed on his collection of herbs before offering it to his commanding officer. "A light touch LITERALLY, sure-- haven't met anyone yet who can resist mine.... but I think the figurative version never gets anything done."

Captain Archibald accepted it, and actually took a hit before handing it back. "It helps make friends easier, and keeps you from alienating people."

It was nothing the Lion hadn't heard before. "It also means you give up all your power."

The Dog raised an eyebrow even as one of his ears rotated back in confusion. "You don't always have to lead a conversation to have power."

Leo smirked; people never really understood the point. "It's not about a conversation in a relationship any more than it is about a battle in a war, Cap-- when you're dealing with others they're gonna make up their mind about you, and either you can let them write the narrative, or you can shove it down their throat."

It wasn't a discussion the Lion usually had with people, but he'd still had it often enough, and most people never really managed to understand what he meant.  The Captain surprised him by connecting the dots, even if it was through sarcasm. "So... you're choosing to make people think you're a dick?"

The procurement officer winked. "It's a lot easier to be rejected when you know they have a good reason to."

Captain Archibald turned more fully toward him, both ears up, his tone somewhere between disbelief and... sympathy? "Wow... sounds like SOMEONE hurt you bad."

The discussion as getting far too personal for the Lion's interest.  "People are naturally assholes, Cap... that's really all there is to it."

The Dog didn't relent. "So you come up with a reason to make people hate you so you don't have to risk them hating the real you?"

Leo rolled his eyes, doing a theatrical spin "Boss... all of THIS is 100% genuine."

The Captain batted the Lion's fuzzy tail tuft out of his face when it almost smacked his muzzle during the spin. "Goodnight, Leo."

It was a straight-forward dismissal.  "G'night, Cap.  Remember, if you're having a hard time you should consider opening up to--"

"You?"

Leo smiled his widest one yet. "Fuck no... save that for the Doc or something."

The Dog's follow-up chuckle let the Lion know that he was at least a little successful in his attempt to get the Captain out of his funk.  Taking another drag off of his roll of herbs, the Lion showed himself out.  One good deed for the day was one more than he usually required for himself.

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/WelJw7ln
Part of the series On the Rim
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