"What took you guys so long?" Lance asked
"We traveled 10 miles in 30 minutes, I think we were pretty quick." Travis responded
Tay walked up. "Alpha team, what are your numbers?"
"3,150 for Campbell, 3,075 for Gonzales, 2,900 for Miller, 2,500 for me, 2,450 for O'Neil, and 2,400 for Turner." Lance said.
"Well then, Private Justin Turner, congratulations. You have the lowest numbers in the entire squad, so the first round tonight is on you."
"Yeahhhh... I was hoping Trav would be below me but he's not even close. How did you guys get so many?"
Travis put his arm around Justin's shoulder "I'll tell you about it after you buy me that drink you owe me."
Kiara did the same on his other side. "And after that, you're buying my drinks tonight."
"Yeah yeah. I'll get you next time though."
They headed to the barracks, which was a large tent with a table so covered in liquors there wasn't space to put a single coin. Around the tent was folding tables and chairs. Behind the "bar" stood a man about 20 years old, who wore gloves and an apron over his uniform.
"Welcome to Rum Row!" He said as the group entered. "What can I get you all?"
They all made their orders, ensuring they rubbed in the fact that Justin was buying. Then they found an open table, and sat, recounting each of their stories.
"How the hell did you guys get so deep into the lines?" Lance asked, amazed "Rebecca and I barely made it 5 miles, and it was the most intense fighting I've done in my life."
"We had them on the run most of the time." Kiara explained. "It was less of a fight and more a hunting party."
"Yeah her hammer made it pretty clear they couldn't hold their position." Travis added.
"Must be nice." Victor mused. "I had to keep them off of this bozo the entire time. It was exhausting."
"Hey! At least 200 of your kills are because I held them in place and made them easy targets." Justin retorted. "And you still lost to Kiara."
They all laughed at that, as Tay approached them. "Hey bro, how does it feel to know I beat you."
"What?"
"I got an even 3,000. Not as many as Victor or Kiara, but more than you." She smiled teasingly.
"How did you manage that? You were fighting alone."
"A magician never reveals her secrets. But I wasn't alone. Now, since I beat you, you should buy me a drink. "
"Fine, keep your secrets. But did you two plan this? Why do the women in my life want to make me broke fueling their alcoholism?"
Kiara smiled at Taylor. "Because we know you won't say no. And yes everything was planned, you can't escape from under our thumbs."
The two women busted out laughing as Travis got up to buy his sister a drink. The bartender got the order for him. "Im glad you are having fun, but this is the last one, take it to your tents so I can close up."
"Is everything ok?"
"Depends on your definition of the word. My unit rotates to the front in an hour so I need to prepare. Someone will come to replace me, but they're coming off the battlefield so it'll be a few hours before this place opens back up."
"I understand. We'll clear out so you can do your thing."
○○○
The group headed back to their sleeping area, a large tent with lots for all of them and a portable cooler that helped with the heat but not the humidity.
Travis and Victor held Justin between them. He had decided to drown his disappointment about being the worst in the unit in alcohol, and could barely stand.
They laid him on the bunk, where he muttered: "Waiter! I need more beer!" His words so slurred it took a couple seconds to decipher them. Then he curled up and passed out.
The two men stared at him in amazement, then laughed. The rest of the squad walked in and grabbed their clothes so they could shower and change before bed.
Kiara walked up beside them and smiled deviously at the sleeping form of her friend. Then she pulled out a permanent marker, paused to make sure Victor and Travis weren't going to stop her, then wrote "loser" on his forehead in big bold letters and a mustache on his lip.
She stepped back admiring her work, before nodding.
Victor turned to her. "Remind me to never get wasted around you."
"Oh don't worry, you don't have to get wasted, just don't sleep to heavily." She grinned devilishly before collecting her things and walking out.
"So should we sleep in shifts or just resign ourselves to our fate?" Travis asked.
"She's your partner man, you'll have to deal with her way more than me. Might as well let her do it now. Even if they can't see it, fighting the Empire with my face looking like I was at a frat party might just kill me."
They both sighed, knowing they'd already lost before grabbing their stuff and hitting the showers.
○○○
They got out and put their gear aside, preparing for bed, when Taylor walked up to Travis. "Hey, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure sis." He got up and followed her outside. They walked for a while in silence, before she turned and hugged him.
"Thank you for coming back Trav. I'm so happy we can spend time like this again. I missed you." He voice was shaky, and her breath ragged, like she was trying her best not to cry.
He hugged her back, stroking her hair. "Of course Tay. I wouldn't leave you alone after Mom and Dad died."
They stood like that for a while, before eventually turning in for the night.