On the Rim, Ch 19: "Claw", Reasonable Badger of Polite Discourse
Story by comidacomida on SoFurry
Welcome to Chapter 19 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".
Claw won the vote last chapter so in this one we get to see the following day from his point of view. It's a letdown for the poor guy, as he spends the morning in sick bay, noon-time running errands, has a 'pleasant' conversation with a subordinate, and receives some fairly unpleasant news... such a bummer. It also looks like the group is getting ready to stage a rescue missions, so whose point of view should we follow on that? Here are the options:
A) Grizz is once again in charge of the group and leads them to the site, organizes the combat, and has the party engage the enemy!
B) Missy (and Roscoe) play outrunner for the group, interact with a group of tribesmen also on the road, and helps scout out the camp of the tribesmen who attacked Lizzy's work base.
C) Leo follows along as backup for Grizz and makes good on his minimal combat training when confronting the people who captured Lizzy's coworkers.
D) Lizzy takes her new companions to the site of where her coworkers are being held. She distracts the tribesmen while the group gets into combat position, then joins the fray!
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 19: Claw, Reasonable Badger of Polite Discourse
2020 copyright comidacomida
Claw had never been a babysitter before and, frankly, he'd always thought he'd be really bad at it; he had few interpersonal skills, always spoke his mind, and had a tendency to be blunt-- on more than one occasion he'd been told that he'd make little kids cry. He really didn't appreciate babysitting figuratively, but that was his duty the following day.
The group's resident researcher was a thin, frail, sickly little fellow who had trouble walking from his room to his work desk in the main room so it didn't particularly strike Claw as odd when the meek, geeky lupine was hacking and coughing on his way in to join everyone for breakfast. Granted, it was a little more eye-catching when he fainted, but the Badger really didn't see how that was his problem... until the Overseer told him to take Ben to the med-bay.
From there things didn't really get any easier; since Claw was the one to deliver him to Dr. Zimmerman's care the Doctor told him to remain in case he was needed. The Badger was not very happy about lingering in any place that reminded him of a laboratory. "Nah... that's okay, Doc-- you got it from here. I need to get back to--"
Doc leveled his gaze. In most circumstances the Human was quiet and reserved but, for some reason, when he was acting in a professional capacity he had superhuman powers, and that included a willful tone. "You need to be here. If something happens and I need to do an emergency procedure I'll need to have you go get the Overseer."
Ben gasped. "... emergency.... procedure?"
The Human offered a pleasant bedside smile. "If, Ben... and it's just a standard precaution for when a med-bay doesn't have an attendant to assist the do--"
Claw wasn't interested in reasons. Taking a seat on a stone stool by the door he crossed his arms over his chest, interrupting. "This is bullshit."
He was, as expected, ignored. Although the Badger realized that he probably could have slipped out without anyone noticing, he was not one to shirk responsibilities or assignments and the Doctor was technically Claw's superior. Sighing, he continued to grumble, but mostly to himself; if anything at least it helped pass the time. Eventually, after almost an hour, Doc got Ben into one of the sick bay beds before turning to the Badger. "I am going to keep Mr. Grotan here for observation."
Claw hrumphed. "So I can go?"
Doc nodded. "Yes, just let the Overseer know that I need to see her. Mr. Gotran is sick, but I'm confident I can treat it. Still, she needs to be properly informed."
The Badger was already half out the door before he acknowledged the request with a straight-forward. "Status update. Got it."
Heading out into the main hall, Claw looked around until he caught sight of Cole. A quick inquiry to the Stallion and the security officer had his direction: the Overseer was in with the prisoners. Knowing how important it was to provide a united front (and not get in the way of interrogation, or whatever the hell she was doing), he waited (im)patiently outside in the hall until she emerged. The Human woman seemed surprised to see him, but not at all displeased. "Ah... Claw. Please find the Captain and tell him I've decided to release the prisoners."
He nodded. "Right, Ma'am... but Doc wanted me to tell you that the Wolf is sick and he's in the med-bay for observation."
Ms. Simpson acknowledged his statement with a nod. "Alright. I'll go look into that and you report to the Captain."
The Badger nodded again. "Ma'am."
Claw found Captain Archie down the hall that led to everyone's' private rooms; Grizz was with him. The Dog also had the Cytkus woman along and was explaining to her with a gesture. "This is your room... you can do whatever you want with it and what's already inside. If you break anything you have to go to the Overseer to get a replacement requested."
Claw couldn't help himself. "Oh... so the Overseer's expanding the base again, huh?"
The Dog about-faced to address the Badger, a slightly irritated expression on his muzzle. "Lizzy was invited to stay with us because her employment is presumed terminated at her last base of operations."
Before joining the survivors of the Venture it had been awhile since Claw had heard corporate speak; he took it in stride. "Oh... well at least there's less mouths to feed-- the Overseer asked you to release the prisoners."
Captain Archie looked like he'd sucked on a lemon. "I see..."
Lizzy turned back toward them. "Oh! I'll go with you. I was going to talk to the Overseer about the people who attacked my work center-- they took prisoners, and I'm fairly sure I know where they--"
Claw interrupted. "Well, the Overseer's not at the prison. She's in the sick-bay with Doc. Apparently Ben came down with something and Doc wants to update her on his condition."
The hallway emptied out quickly, leaving only Claw and Grizz. The Bear turned to look at him. "I'm heading out on a walk-about. You get afternoon duty so make sure you're outside by the trading post in four hours."
The Badger offered his superior officer a proper salute. "Yessir."
It might have once bothered Claw that he'd been a Private for somewhere around twenty years but, mixed in with the motley crew from Relegra he realized that being alive was a lot more important than being promoted. True, he had the most combat experience out of every single member of the security team but, for the most part they were good enough to give him the respect he was due even if he didn't outrank them.
Just then, Leo came around the corner; there was certainly one member of the team who didn't know the meaning of respect. Claw weighed his options of keeping his head down and going through the motions of getting along with everyone, or solving a developing problem before it became a full blown one. Never one to hide his intentions, the Badger went for the second option.
Leo smirked at him as they passed one another in the hall. "Lookin' good today, Private... that a new styling gel you have in your--"
sliding his fingers around the Lion's wrist, Claw pivoted his stance, adjusting his center of gravity, and swung his weight around in a wide circle, carrying Leo with him in a wide arc, face-first into the rock wall of the cavern. Rather than give the fulfillment officer a chance to recover from the surprise, the Private had the Lion's arm twisted around behind his back and ground his face while applying a liberal amount of weight to the slacker's back. He didn't bother keeping a growl out of his voice. "I was hoping to run into you."
What followed was an almost ten minute discussion on the importance of understanding the chain of command. Combining straight-forward dialogue with a generous amount of physicality, Claw worked to make it clear that Leo was a member of the security team and that meant maintaining a certain amount of professionalism, loyalty, obedience, and, most importantly, keeping-the-fuck-up-edness. He finished his long monologue with "Do we understand each other?"
The Lion's tail thwapped the Badger's thigh and he responded mockingly. "You done already, Sweety? Keep it up, hon... just a little more and you'll make me cum."
Claw growled again, spinning Leo around and drawing back one of his metallic arms; he balled it into a fist to make sure he didn't kill the belligerent ass, but, before he could strike, Grizz called from down the hall. "Leo! Get your ass down here! Overseer and Cap'n're assigning positions for an away mission!"
The Badger let the Lion go and moved to follow, but Leo glanced back toward him. "Corporal just asked for me, lover."
Claw growled again, batting the inappropriately playful tail away from his crotch. Ignoring the Lion, he called out to the Bear. "What about me, Corporal?"
Grizz called back. "He only asked for Leo. I think you're here on guard duty to protect the civvies."
Sighing, Claw sighed, realizing that he was, once again, relegated to babysitting.