Viper

Intel

WARNING - STRONG LANGUAGE. READER DISCRETION ADVISED.

David was once again left to ponder the best course of action to take. Now he felt guilty about wanting to leave and questioning why or what he wanted to leave too. The positive of this was that now he didn't feel as responsible about the condition that the family was in and for his mother's death.

Grams was right. He had seen many families devastated by fallen soldiers, or victims of warlords, or crime. He always told those who were close to the fallen, that they were experiencing survivor's guilt. He had been told the same by a counselor when he was young but still, it was something he had to battle with from time to time.

It turned out David needed the pep talk after his talk with Liz, and Grams true to her nature, was there. But he still needed to find his place back home. Although Grams had said he didn't need to contribute, David felt useless and wanted to feel like he was making an impact. Some sort of a difference. There was someone he still wanted to talk to and had the info from Grams about where he might be able to reach them. But he still needed to get more details.

He would also need to do something about the cast but didn't want to worry about it just yet. David waited for Cheeto to see if he would make his way over like he had in the past but after about an hour David decided to go out on his own.

"The one time I actually want Cheeto to show up, he doesn't," David lamented.

It was early, around nine in the morning when David headed out to look for the only people he thought would have all the information he needed The Capt'n and Ramba. The morning was just as all the others had been. The sun shining down on the streets below with the promise of a good day, except for those who had things to do to be wasted indoors. The click and clatter of the kids going to school with their mothers walking the little ones to the local elementary reminded David of the few instances his mother walked him with Liz in tow to his elementary school in Mexico.

He didn't remember much why they were there and why they even came back to the States. He did remember loving his childhood back there. How things were so much easier for him there. He remembered things being much calmer and even his mom and dad being happier. They weren't there for long since David was back in the U.S. by the time he was eight or so.

David remembered these changes being sudden. He spoke English before returning to the states because of his parents teaching both Liz and him. But Spanish was what they spoke predominantly as kids. The adjustment was difficult to make form speaking English as a second language to having to speak it primarily in school and everywhere else.

Suddenly losing all of his school friends and the world he knew for this more complicated city was a lot to handle as kids. That's why Liz follower her big brother so much back then. She too was uprooted and didn't know much more than her older brother who was the only consistent face familiar to her other than her parents.

Those early years were very confusing and hectic for them. But at the end of the day they always counted on seeing each other and knowing there was at least one other person there who understood what the other had gone through. And that made it alright for one more day.

David made it to a freeway entrance he remembered Capt'n hanging around back in the day. Upon reaching the spot and seeing Capt'n still roaming, David smiled seeing that not everything had changed.

"Hey Sargent Pepper! Hahaha" shouted the Capt'n upon seen David.

"Or maybe Colonel Sanders!" the Capt'n said clearly euphoric on something though not alcohol, or drugs. He was high on life. Every accomplishment no matter how small, gave the Capt'n reason to celebrate and appreciate life. Even making it through the night. Seeing a new player on the scene was enough cause for the Capt'n to smile. He got to meet a lot of new people every day being on the streets and this too gave him joy.