Meeting a Gunny

Posted on Tuesday 25 May 2021 @ 12:38 by Gunnery Sergeant Alexander Beck

Mission: A Cry from the Darkness
Location: Merlin/Marine Country
Timeline: Before Planet fall
902 words - 1.8 OF Standard Post Measure

With her going through 2nd Lieutenant Richards Assessment run, Pearl gained a bit more respect for those of this group. She wondered though, what Gunnery Sergeant Beck was like. She hunted around for him to see where he'd be at. Maybe he'd even give her pointers in shooting.

Beck turned a corner and nearly knocked down a young female Lance Corporal. He'd seen her around but hadn't had a chance to meet everyone yet.

"Sorry, Lance Corporal. " he said, offering her a hand up.

Finding herself on the floor once more, Pearl looked up at the Gunny she had been searching for, had a small feeling of irritation then chased it off. She wasn't going to forget what she learned from Richards. Pearl took his offer of help to get off the floor. "Looks like I keep hitting the deck a bit more often these days." trying for a small bit of humor. She wondered though if the Gunny had heard of her stupidity where Lieutenant Scarlet was concerned. "Thanks Gunny... Um my name is LC Bijoux." giving his hand a shake and then letting go. "I was looking for you, heard we had a Gunny Sergeant." she stopped there feeling awkward.

Beck chuckled. "It would appear you found me, Lance Corporal. Gunny Beck. Call me Gunny. " he said.

"Okay Gunny, er do you have a call sign? Or are you just going under the name Gunny" She said with a bit of a smile. So far.. maybe he hasn't heard of her mistake but if he has , well she will have to deal with it.

"Nah, just Gunny. " Beck said. He never used his old call sign anymore, not since he'd left Recon. Back then he'd been known as The Reaper. But those days were behind him.

"Okay Gunny it is then. You can call me Bijoux unless you'd rather call me by my now callsign." She cringed, "Princess." She rubbed the back of her head, "You didn't by any chance hear of the moron who decided to throw a punch at Scarlet? " she pointed at herself, "It didn't meet its mark but... I sure learned a lesson or two or more."

"Haven't had time to catch up on all the scuttlebutt. Just reported aboard and already we got an op in the works. " said Beck.

Pearl smiled, " okay well guess I caught you up on part of the scuttlebutt. But yeah we do have the current ops. Hopefully it will go well.. but one never knows."

"So how'd you get stuck with 'Princess'? " Beck asked.

Pearl winced, "Well according to Scarlet, I was acting like a spoiled princess throwing a tantrum fit due to my taking a swing at him. I had given up hope in finding a decent leader in the marines and was just... throwing away any chances. Had been placed under some not so... experienced officers or those who thought they were the best Lieutenants around and weren't. I got frustrated and did deck a lieutenant, under the guise of doing some sparring. I had told him, "If you knock me down, I'll respect you and will follow you as you have proven your worth. Well that didn't happen. My service record isn't the greatest. It was pointed out to me that I needed to give myself a chance as well as this CO. And Scarlet could have tossed me out on my ear and well I had to learn that he was offering me another chance to redeem myself. He's hard but actually quite fair. I'm very impressed with him."

Beck looked at her. She was tough, and he admired that, but he made a mental note to keep an eye on this one. Not that she was dangerous or a discipline problem, but she could do something stupid trying to prove herself.

"Well, Lance Corporal, let me tell you something. I believe in second chances myself. As far as I'm concerned you have a clean slate. Your problems in the past are where they belong, behind you. Just don't do anything rash trying to prove yourself. I've seen it happen many times, and the ones who do it usually get people hurt. I don't want to see that, and you don't want that on your conscience, believe me. If you get the urge, you come see me and we'll hash it out, either in my office or on the mats if that's what it takes. Deal? " he said.

"Deal and I've been around where someone felt they had to prove a point. And people got killed, it didn't set well with me, buuuut, its all in the past and maybe we can take it on the mats, without my being mad. I need to brush up on my skills anyway, I feel I am lacking. " Pearl replied with a happy smile.

Beck grinned wolfishly. "Sounds like a challenge. I accept. Go gear up. " he said. He always liked the opportunity to show the young pups how the old timers did it.


Pearl gave a lopsided smile, "I am down for that. You are on! Will be back in few." stopped and turned. "With your permission sir?"

"By all means. " he replied.