This is a small story I’m calling “New Assignment”.
This is another small side story that takes place in Zech’s timeline in the Team Prototype universe, focusing on Trask and his team.
I hope you all enjoy!
--
"Cyan, will you stop gawking at yourself in the mirror already?"
Krosser and Cyan were in their office; the odd-colored Gorm looking at himself in the mirror with a huge grin on his face.
"How can I?" Cyan asked, his voice brimming with excitement. "I finally got it! I finally got a promotion! After all this time! This is a dream come true!" He grinned, rubbing and polishing a the single strip rank badge he wore now.
Krosser shook her head, "You've been doing that for the past hour today, and I don’t know how much time you’ve watsed before then. Could you stop for a little while and try and get some work done?"
As they spoke, the door opened up and Trask came marching in the office, looking a little more downcast than normal. They both stood up as he came in, though he didn't say anything.
Krosser gave him a side glance, a faint worried look appearing for a moment. "Is everything alright, Colonel?"
"Huh?" Trask stopped and he looked over to Krosser, then to Cyan, seeming to just now notice them. "Yes. Yes, everything is fine Captain." He said, looking over to Cyan. "Oh, and congratulations on your promotion, Lieutenant."
"Thank you sir!" Cyan said, puffing his chest out.
Krosser only let out a quiet murr and watched as Trask walked into his office. She paused for a moment before she stepped from her station. She went over to Cyan's station and took the mirror away from him before she stepped in after Trask.
The larger Gorm was standing by the window that overlooked the desert region of their station, seeming to be lost in thought. Krosser was quiet only for a moment before she let out an "ahem" to catch his attention. He turned to look at her, twitching an ear a bit. "Krosser...what can I do for you?"
"You seem troubled, sir." She said, taking a few steps inside. "You have not been yourself since you got that message from command, and it seems worse now."
Trask was quiet, looking at her before he looked back out the window. Finally, he let out a rough sounding sigh. "Command is 'recommending' that I consider retirement. At least before they consider giving me mandatory retirement."
Krosser twitched her ears. "I had a feeling it was something like that." She said, though she was still surprised to hear it.
Trask just grunted, sounding a little annoyed.
"Forgive me, sir." She said, "I did not mean to be insulting. I'm merely pointing out at the fact that you are...quite possibly the oldest Gorm still in the service. You've been working for well over fifty years now."
"And I would for another fifty." Trask said, "I feel fine."
"You are, sir." She said, "And you've impressed many for-" She paused, "if I may say so sir, for being an older model."
The colonel took in a deep breath and slowly let it out again. "...cannot help but feel like..." He turned to face her, "...feel like that's what worries Command. Older models can be...unpredictable."
"Much older models than you, sir." She said, "I don't think that is really what the problem is. Fifty years is a long time, most would have retired off-world or chosen to pursue other ventures outside of the service."
Trask sighed out much more noticeably now and he sat down at his desk. He was quiet for a few moments before he looked back up at her. "...what do you think I should do?"
Krosser twitched her ears again. "Honestly sir? I think it would be best if you retired on your terms rather than Command's."
"Which means sooner rather than later." He grumbled, "I don't even know what I would even consider doing."
Krosser put her arms behind her back. "Have you considered perhaps becoming a Caretaker?"
Trask gave her a curious look. "Me? As an actual Caretaker?"
"It is a possibility, sir." She said, "We already work closely with them. And you do rather well with children."
Trask twitched, but he let out a small chuckle at that. "Thank you...but...taking care of kids is...a little harder, I imagine."
"Perhaps, but you could talk to others about it. I'm sure Radar would be happy to give you some of his thoughts."
Trask sighed. "Perhaps...we do have some time to catch up on some things." He looked up, straightening himself in his seat a little. "Which reminds me...just why exactly are we behind with everything?"
Krosser twitched an ear as she too straightened in her posture to her usual, serious self. "That would because of Cyan,sir. His mind has been on his promotion since the ceremony."
"Still?" Trask shook his head, "I suppose he should enjoy it, at least until it starts to interfere in our duties." He grunted a bit, pausing. "I suppose that if I do consider this retirement thing...I will need to promote someone to take my place."
"Of course, sir." Korsser said. There weren't any words spoken on who, since Trask already had her in mind.
Trask grinned, "You know, I heard rumors that the docs might have another prototype to field test here soon. Our team is going to need a new member."
Krosser's look became a little concerned. "...sir. I hope you're not implying that I might have to contend with two Cyans..."
Trask smiled, "I'm not implying anything, Captain. And...who knows...maybe our team will grow in number pretty soon."
Krosser twitched in the way that Trask knew that she silently cursing her luck.
--
"I feel almost naked without any armor." Trask looked at himself in the mirror, kind of twitching as he tugged at the feathered vest; having changed into the proper Caretaker apparel and he rubbed his head. "...I look...weird like this."
"You look fine." Radar said, trying to be reassuring. "Give it a few days, you'll hardly notice it by then." He grinned at the larger Gorm. "Trust me, you're gonna do fine, to worry about the little things, hm?"
"I'm trying." He said, shifting a little before he turned to the smaller Gorm. They stepped out and met with Doctor Demeter and another Caretaker doctor. Demeter smiled at the two, "Hello Trask! It's good to see you again!"
"You as well, Doctor." He said, nodding to them.
"Let me introduce you to Doctor Belon." She said, introducing the other scientist. "He's the lead scientist for our latest hatchery."
"Pleasure to meet you, and welcome to the Caretaker program, Colonel." The other Gorm nodded his head and lead them into the hatchery proper. "And, if I may say so, you have some amazing timing in your joining."
Trask raised a brow. "Really? Is there a problem?"
"Well, yes and no." Belon said, "It's nothing too disastrous though. You see, we just had more eggs hatch than we were projecting, so we have more hatchlings than we have guardians to watch over them." He lead them over to one of the observation windows where they could look into one of the 'nests'. Inside they could see three small Razorwing chicks: a bald eagle, a dove and a turkey, all huddled together and asleep. Belon handed a pad over to Trask to look at, but the larger Gorm was just looking at the three a bit slack-jawed. Radar took the pad instead, chuckling to himself and he read it off: "Their names are Adams, Martha, and Franklin." He looked over to Trask, "I think congratulations are in order."
Trask was silent, feeling kind of...overwhelmed. He had interacted with kids before, but seeing these three...it was different. They were...his. His responsibility to watch over, take care of and protect. It was not a feeling he was expecting.
It was a feeling that Radar could easily recognized and he smiled at him. "Are you sure you're ready for this?"
Trask was quiet, but he slowly nodded. "How soon can I take them?"
"As soon as you're ready!" Belon said. "Sooner you take them, the sooner they can start bonding with you."
Trask nodded and they stepped into the nursery and approached the sleeping chicks. He knelt down to get a closer look at them, starting to smile. "Hello there, little ones."
Radar grinned, "I hope you're ready, Trask. Things are going to get tricky from here onward."
Trask nodded, still looking at the sleeping chicks as the eagle opened his eyes and looked at him blearily. "I think I'll be ready."