On the Rim, Ch 60: Riggs "Wolf" Carrow
Story by comidacomida on SoFurry
Welcome to part 60 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".
Chapter 60 is devoted to getting into Wolf's head and learning a little about his past, his current outlook, and his drives. Staring on the next post we'll be jumping forward a little in the story-- hitting up overviews of days and focusing only on one or two important events per time period. Here are the important events for the next several chapters:
a) Leo's PoV: an unanticipated accident requires Ben and Doc to fabricate yet more cybernetics.
b) Duct-Tape's PoV: another solar flare hits while Duct-Tape is already dealing with other technical and mechanical issues so he has to double-time his efforts.
c) Sandra: the research outpost has another task for the Group Under the Mountain and, despite not wanting to be mercenaries, the offer is a good one.
d) Grizz's PoV: on the front lines when the group is attacked by pirates, he sees the worst of what they have to offer, and the best of his team fighting them back.
e) Doc's PoV: Dr. Zimmerman often has to look for things to keep him busy but the next four days have no limit to obligations he must fulfill.
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.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy "On the Rim"!
On the Rim, Ch 60: Riggs "Wolf" Carrow
2020 copyright comidacomida
There had been many times during his career when Lieutenant Carrow had been called prejudiced, close-minded, or even a bigot. He'd been told by commanding officers, managers, and HR directors that it was a lot easier to climb the corporate ladder of security personnel if he wasn't so vocal in how little he trusted Geneticons-- or that he called them Geneticons at all, for that matter. The PC term, they always reminded him, was 'Gens'. Riggs really wasn't the PC sort, so he stuck with Geneticons or, on his less gracious days, 'Animals'.
People always told him that it wasn't okay to be prejudice; they said he had no right to judge others before he got to know them but the truth of the matter was that Riggs DID know Geneticons. The lilting solar panel foils just entering into adulthood were always talking about inclusiveness, acceptance, and celebration of what made people unique. When Lt. Carrow was at his worst, he'd often tell them to their face that they weren't old enough to remember Mars. Rigs, however, didn't just remember it; he'd lived it.
The Geneticon uprising on Mars was brutal, barbaric, and senseless, just like most Geneticons who hadn't been properly integrated into polite society. Riggs had been 12 when it happened and he watched his family butchered in front of his eyes. He was rescued; the only colonist on his block who made it out alive. Other survivors had talked about him as 'the poor kid who lived through it'. They all wondered if his family had been torn apart by Bears or Wolves or Badgers or whatever. He never bothered telling all of the well-wishers that it had been two Mice. Two. Fucking. Mice.
His commission with the survivors from the Relegra Corp ship attack had started with a discussion about his 'obvious problems with Gens'. The Group Under the Mountain was led by a Human, which was a good start as far as Riggs was concerned. The woman had asked him why the folks at the LLC said he had a problem with Gens, at which point he explained that he didn't have a problem with Geneticons; he just didn't treat them like they were special. As far as he was concerned everyone had to earn his acknowledgement, his respect, and his trust-- just because they were covered in fur didn't mean that they were any different.
In truth, Riggs had worked with plenty of Geneticons he respected and trusted, but he wasn't interested in spouting that out as a defense; he could already tell by the way her nose bunched up distastefully when he said 'Geneticon' instead of 'Gen' that going too defensive wasn't going to help the situation. In the end, he simply gave it to her straight. "Listen, Ms. Simpson, it's like this: I get paid to keep the peace, not break it. I don't got a problem with anyone unless YOU got a problem with em."
It was a line that worked well in the corporate world, but Sandra Simpson apparently wasn't quite that corporate. "You're assuming we can pay you what you're worth."
Well, he realized, corporate enough to translate "This job don't pay shit." into "I don't want you to be offended when I offer you a quote." Money didn't really have much use out on the rim, so he decided then and there that there was no point in haggling. "I hear your group plans on leaving Planet A. You gimme two hots and a cot with a promise to get me a trip back to the core systems and I'd call that pay enough."
They'd agreed with a handshake with the stipulation that, should either party decide it wouldn't work out, the group would supply him with safe travel to a nearby settlement so he could be on his way, and Riggs was welcomed into the group. He noticed that the Overseer watched him close when she introduced him to his commanding officer: a Geneticon Dog.
It was a slap in the face in one way considering she presumed that he had THAT much of a problem with the furry folk, but he got a twisted sense of satisfaction when he forced her to check her own expectations by being the perfect soldier. Riggs knew the chain of command and he wasn't about to let the fact that his CO had a tail bother him. Besides, he reasoned, he could tell some wicked weather was on the way so there was no sense creation a commotion. As expected, the thunder storm hit early in the morning.
Even as the rain and lightning raged outside, Captain Archibald wasted no time in introducing Riggs to the rest of the security team; the Human was honestly surprised that almost every last member was a Geneticon. Interestingly enough, the Dog also informed the rest of the team that Riggs was second in command; the Captain had elected to maintain his rank despite being a new hire. Even more surprising: nobody objected.
Everyone was quiet after the announcement was made so the Lieutenant took it upon himself to speak up. "Captain's orders're my orders. I don't take shit, and I don't hand it out either. You follow directions and you get treated right; you DON'T follow directions, and you get treated right."
The group's Corporal addressed the Captain. "Cap'n, will this extra manpower change patrol schedules?"
The Dog shook his head. "No. With the increased pirate presence we're on high alert. We've been doing single patrols for too long; I want us all to double up. No less than two on patrol at any time."
Only once the Bear had turned did Riggs notice the barcode on his neck, and the realization struck him like a ton of bricks. He regarded the Corporal critically. "Marsfab?"
There had been a number of Geneticon labs on Mars several decades past, but that number dwindled down to only two once the riots had come to an end. The Corporal looked his direction, paw moving up to cover the mark. "Yessir. Lieutenant. Holfield Facility, Batch 419-B."
The Human nodded. "Yeah. I figured."
Introductions went around so the Lieutenant could familiarize himself with everyone. The Captain was his superior officer, Corporal Grizz was next in line beneath Riggs himself, followed by the Badger, Private Claw. The final two members of the security detail were a Procurement Officer Lion and a kid barely old enough to be called a recruit.
The Lieutenant had done more with less so he wasn't all that concerned. The chain of command was casual though, which he knew would take some getting used to, especially when the Captain pointed out that they often brought non-security personnel along to help shore up the limited manpower. The discussion could have gone on further, but a commotion from the base caught everyone's attention and Captain Archibald pulled everyone back to the main room to figure out what was going on.
Rather than it being a concern, it turned out that several members of the group were celebrating. In addition to clearing a site for increased power output, their engineers had linked up the main electrical systems, allowing them to repurpose the main engine of the escape shuttle they'd been using to provide energy to half the base. That, and their head researcher's 'eureka moment' resulted in enough excess energy that the Captain's requests for automated defense systems could finally be addressed.
Riggs was more interested in that final point, and he had no objection with giving the frail-looking wolf a hearty slap on the back. He saw the way the Overseer glanced at him so he made a point of looking at her before saying "I've met plenty of smart GENS in my lifetime. Good to know we have one of those here with us."
His careful dedication to her preferred terms for Geneticons got her attention to move on. The group socialized a little longer until they finally broke up to get on with their daily business. As the Captain was providing assignments, the Corporal stepped up beside Riggs. "Hey... Lieutenant?"
"What's on your mind, Corporal?"
The Bear shifted his ample bulk from one foot to the other. "Ah... I... noticed that you have a barcode too. Are you a Neo?"
Riggs was used to wearing his helmet most of the time but his new employer discouraged it except in the field; his body armor didn't completely cover his neck, and he hadn't even considered it. Raising a hand to brush across the tattoo he shook his head. "No. I got it in honor of my husband after he passed."
Apparently he'd spoken louder than he thought he did because several eyes were suddenly on him. The Lion was the only one that bothered addressing the comment. "So... you were married to a Gen?"
Riggs noticed that the schedule had him on patrol so he pulled his helmet on over his head, tapping the side up near the temple where his call sign was clearly labeled. "Yep. Happily. Ten years. Canis Lupus Sapien. That's why my squad mates started calling me Wolf."
With nothing more to be said, Lt. Wolf headed off out of the cave, hoping he could have a quiet patrol. Unfortunately, he was paired with the Lion, and quickly learned why teaming up with Leo Calico was the 'shit assignment'.