Machine Learning (Captain Allen and DPD SWAT POV)

Stateside

"Dismissed."

He seemed to want me gone, too. Conversation over. I stood, saluted, did everything to a T as I left his office, and as soon as my boots hit the sand, something in my gut told me it would be the last time I'd be there. The last time I'd seen a sunset in Afghanistan, or be up working early enough to see the sunrise.

Chaplain and Pierson were walking towards Henderson with bags on their shoulders. I could tell by their faces that this was their last time in Afghanistan, too.

...

The airport was crowded...but what was most unsettling was all the androids working at the shops. There were even android pilots. While I was stuck in the middle of nowhere, the outside world had changed. Evolved. Things didn't sit well with me...androids had escaped far outside of my bubble in the Middle East. I hadn't been gone for more than a few minutes before my heart missed being back on base - back where things were familiar. Simple.

I hadn't said goodbye to anyone. I hadn't even called my wife until I was in the airport, and even then I'd waited till I made it to the gate, grappling with the same irrational nervousness that came with every visit home.

She answered on the first ring.

"Dave?"

I didn't say anything. Didn't have to - an announcement overhead gave me away.

"Are you...are you in an airport?"

My jaw hardened, my teeth clenched. My fists curled.

Don't cry.

"Mhm." I struggled to answer.

"I heard about what happened. I was giving you space, you know, time to...do what you need to do before you were ready. You don't have to explain it to me."

She was close with the families of those whose loved ones were on base. Of course she already knew. I felt 50 pounds fall off my shoulders - used to carrying more, but the weight was unwelcome.

"When will you be home?" She asked quietly.

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. People were staring at me. The overhead speaker chimed again. The chatter was too loud.

"Send me a screenshot of your itinerary, okay?"

"Okay." I managed.

"Don't forget to include all the flight numbers."

"I won't." My voice cracked.

"I love you. I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Okay." I said again, taking a deep breath and closing my eyes to collect myself, "I love you too."

I hung up and did what she asked, thankful I married her. Thankful she was her, and understood everything without a single word. She was from a military family, and still married into one against all odds. Shit, we were the only people each of us had ever been with since high school. She's done one hell of a job. Sadie Allen saved me more than once.

I had my phone out, thumbs hovering over the keyboard. "Delivered" turned into a read receipt. I typed out my message and hit send before I could change my mind.

"Thank you and I'm sorry."

Deciding I needed to move around, I got out of my seat at the gate and headed to the military lounge. I passed a yellowed room reeking of smoke and dingy light, eyeing the lone figure sitting on a bench with this forehead in his hands, and his elbows on his knees. A cigarette burned between his fingers that clawed at his head.