“Thanks. I do have a few simple requirements: Everyone needs socks. Wearing shoes on bare feet is a terrible idea, unless you’re just walking around the cluster. You’ll need socks for any other outings... Why am I explaining it to you? It’s obvious, I’m sure you understand. So I’ll just list the basic stuff you need for now. Starting with a backpack. One like mine will be fine for the time being. Inside should be an extra pair of underwear, two pairs of socks,” I glanced at the attentive Yorka, and added, “And a small stash of any personal care products you might need. I want you to have all that ready by this evening.”
Even Bask stirred at this, waving a listless hand. Before he could say anything, I added:
“And as your leader, I’ll make sure you have enough money to afford it. Got that?”
“Got it.”
“Got it.”
“Next. All medical costs are on me. Medicine, anything for boosting energy or recovery. And any first aid costs, of course, if anything happens. Yorka has her arm back, next we’ll do Bask’s eyes. No protests — end of discussion! I’ll pay for equipment and weapons too. That’s my responsibility as leader, to make sure everyone on the team has the right gear for the job. And that’s what we are — a team! Once again, it’s not up for discussion. Just accept it. Got it?”
“Got it.”
“Got it.”
“Now, about my expectations. What do I expect from you, as my team? Yorka?
“Um...”
“Bask?”
“To follow your orders? You’re our leader.”
“That’s right. I expect you to follow my orders precisely and immediately. And not because I’m a narcissistic tyrant obsessed with power. No. It’s that any delays or attempts to understand my orders before following them might get us all killed! You can discuss it later once we’re safe, sitting back in the cluster. If I say something, you do it! That’s the only way it’s gonna be. Got that? I want an answer. Quickly now!”
“Understood!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Good. Now, the most important thing I need from each of you is your loyalty. There’s nothing more important to a group than that. And you should expect that same loyalty from me in return. We all need to be absolutely certain that we can trust each other completely — with secrets, with our lives, with anything. We just watched someone abandon their partner and run away. He deserves to get his heart cut out for that! No anesthesia, just dragged out through his ass! Loyalty is the most important thing. We’re a team. We’re a family! I’ll never abandon any of you. If I have to dive into a pit of acid for you, I will. I won’t even hesitate! And I expect the same from you! Got it?”
“Got it,” said Yorka fiercely, swiping at her eyes. “I get it... You dumb goblin... Watch those words of yours! You’re gonna melt our hearts if you’re not careful! Dumbass!”
“Understood.” Bask nodded slowly. “I... I won’t betray you. Ever!”
“Wonderful.” I smiled, then remembered Bask couldn’t see, and tried to add the emotion to my voice. “Well, that was a nice chat. And we’re all well-rested now. Here’s your first gifts. Don’t worry about saving them for later — use ‘em!”
I opened my belt bag, then my backpack, and handed each of them a pair of gloves and two nuts. While they were looking over — or in Bask’s case, feeling — the gifts, I remembered to add:
“Black is our work uniform color! I don’t care what you wear when you’re not working — pink leggings, if you want, whatever. But when we’re doing a job, you wear black! If you can’t find black, gray works too. But only those two colors, goblins! Black and gray! Now let’s get to business. Bask, hang out here on the ledge for a while. Abdominal injuries are no joke. In the evening we’ll take you to the shower, but just drink your nut and rest for now. Did they tell you anything in the medblock?”
“They said not to sit up for six hours,” he answered. “To stay on my back. No drinking for the first three hours, then just small sips after that. Then after six hours they said I should get extra booster shots, two sol.”
“Get ‘em,” I nodded. “I’ll send you the sol through the ATM. You’ll get it later.”
“I can pay!”
“Did you forget what I said already?”
“No, I remember...”
“Good. Keep an eye on the time, rest, go to the medblock. Me and Yorka will do the job. We’ll stop in every now and then to see how you’re doing, but don’t think you have to wait up for us — get some sleep, you need it. You’ll heal faster when you’re asleep.”
“You two are going to work while I just lie here?”
“Yeah. We’re a team. If one of us can’t work, the others do their job for them,” I answered calmly. “That’s how we do it, and that’s the way it should be. Yorka, my two-armed darling, are you ready?”
“You bet! Should I bring the club?”
“Absolutely. Hang it on your belt. And get ready — you have your own special job today.”
“What is it?”
“I’ll tell you about the job after we do the job. Let’s go!”
“Hey! Elb... Tell me... Elb!”
“Let’s go get started on the markings, Yorka the goblin. We have a lot of work ahead of us...”
