Brotherhood with Strangers

The mess hall was the original dining hall of the castle. Long, beautifully crafted wooden tables ran up its length. Along the wall just right of the door were long tables with food, behind which were servers. The food did not look too appetizing, but that didn’t seem to bother the soldiers lined up. Andy also didn’t mind too much. He hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning, before he met Suzie at the lake. Sarge’s boys never stopped for food yesterday, and he had been far too tired to care once they were at the castle. Then today he was so busy meeting the Commandant and sticking around Sarge he just sort of forgot. Sarge himself never stopped for anything more than a snack that day, and Andy simply followed the example without thinking. Now, in a room full of men — and a few women — eating, with the scent of food assailing him, he was deafened by the sound of his stomach. The soldiers behind him stared wide-eyed as Andy piled his tray to the brink of overflowing.

Andy continued following Sarge until they sat by the unit from yesterday. Coulson made eye contact and Andy felt a tinge of regret about their last conversation. He wasn’t quite as pleasant as he should have been. Sanders was pouring over documents while he ate. Andy just gave Coulson and Polski a curt nod when someone tapped his shoulder. It was Spartan.

“This way, Crusader.”

Andy went with him toward the front of the hall, to a small table which could only seat four. Viking sat there, already eating. He glanced up at them and nodded.

“Welcome to another world,” he said. “In a lot of ways, it’s just like home.”

“Yeah, I’ve felt at home all day,” Andy answered. “It’s like I just walked down the street.” He sat down.

Spartan took his seat. “I wanted us all to sit together for your first dinner here. So, what were you doing before coming here?”

Andy shrugged. “I was working.”

Spartan made a look. “Working? Was it retail, computers, what?”

“Retail.”

“Interesting.” Spartan leaned back. “Interesting.”

“What’s interesting?”

“I was working at a hardware store,” Viking said.

“Sporting goods,” came Spartan. “Both were retail. It’s just interesting we all had similar jobs before coming here. Or maybe I’m reading too much into it.”

“Reading too much,” Viking grumbled.

“What were you doing before that?” Spartan asked. “College, trade school?”

“I just went straight to working.” For the first time since being there, Andy felt a desire to talk. “You?”

“Marines,” Spartan declared proudly. “Was even getting ready to head off to the Middle-East before...” His hand drifted to his shoulder. It quickly dropped to the table. “Medical discharge. Never went. Pretty basic after that, went to school, got married, all that.”

Andy’s eyes moved to Viking.

“I didn’t finish school,” Viking said.

Spartan pursed his lips. “Don’t worry. Viking’s never been the talkative type.”

“You really don’t know how we got here?” Andy asked. “Nothing at all?”

Spartan shook his head. “Nothing at all. That’s why I wanted you to sit with us. We’re all in the same boat. We’re from Earth and then we were dropped here on the eve of some big, important battle. We’ve stayed ever since.”

His hope was already gone, and those words only piled more dirt onto the grave.

“I know that’s disheartening, I do. It’s all the more reason we need to stick together. I also think it tells us something. Whatever brought us here, it must have had a reason. It also brought us where the others were. I was on Kurle when Viking showed up, and we were both operating out of this castle when you appeared.”

“I just want to go home,” Andy said. “Where I’m not getting tied up and hiked across the countryside, or sleeping in a cot in a makeshift barracks, or anything else. Just my bed and my home.”

“I know,” Viking said. “It’s not exactly the best. But this is where you’re at now. So what will you do?”

Andy looked around the room, watching the soldiers and officers eating and conversing. He caught sight of Sarge and his boys. Sanders was finally looking away from his papers. If this was Andy’s new reality, there was only one thing he could do.

Turning back to Spartan, he said, “Guess I’ll go where you want me, sir.”

“That’s the problem,” he said. “I don’t know where I want you. Not yet. Is there anything you’re good at? Anything at all?”

“I guess I’m alright with computers, but I don’t see how that’s exactly helpful here.”

Viking nodded.

“You know what? I think I might just keep you with Calhoun’s squad for now. It’ll give you a unit, and I know Calhoun will help you stay alive. How was the day with him, by the way?”

“I felt like I was back in bring-your-kid-to-work day.”

Spartan laughed. “Similar to your old man, then?”

“Yes and no. He took me to the armory.”

“Good. You’re going to need a weapon. Especially in the next couple of days.”

“Why?” Andy suddenly found himself very concerned.

“Didn’t anyone tell you? We’ve possibly got two airships aiming to blow this side of the mountain clean off.”

Andy grew cold. Sarge mentioned those Warmonger ships, but he never mentioned how many or when they’d arrive. Andy was hoping he could find somewhere safer to be.

“Stay with Calhoun, and you’ll be fine. Also, don’t talk about Earth with anyone here. At least not much.”

His fear gave way to confusion. “Why? What’s so bad with talking about home? All of these guys must talk about theirs.”

Spartan shook his head. “We’re in a war. Even if we weren’t, if too much about our world becomes known, it could present an issue in the future. I knew you were from Earth based on that Metatron T-shirt of yours and your driver’s license. IDs and other paperwork are different here. Once I realized where I was, I destroyed mine. Viking’s is gone, too. So’s yours, by the way.”

“What do you mean mine’s gone?” Andy pulled out his wallet and opened it. Empty.

“I’m sorry, but we cannot let anyone have the tools to deceive us,” Spartan calmly explained. “And we need to be able to find more of us if there are any. Can’t give liars the tools to deceive us.”

“He’s right,” Viking chimed in. “Besides, if we ever get home, all those things can be re-issued.”

“Speaking of which, I have to ask: who keeps their Social Security card in their wallet? Were you wanting someone to steal your identity? Oh, before I forget, I’m going to need that Metatron shirt of yours.”

Andy hung his head.