No trace of Lyla Grunt was ever found. She was eventually declared dead. Buzz didn’t show any wishes to remarry, running the household himself instead. It wasn’t much more work than when Lyla had been around, he thought, but he refused to mention this to his sons.

He got along swimmingly with Tank. The boy was a carbon copy of his father, proud to serve his country and continue the military tradition. Buzz couldn’t wish for a better son.



He would have settled for a slightly worse son, though. Ripp had inherited most of his mother’s personality, along with a very military tendency to brute-force his way through obstacles. He always clashed with his father over the smallest things.

Secretly, Buzz thought that Ripp’s fiery personality would make him a better general than obedient Tank. The problem, of course, was that the same personality would make Ripp a horrible soldier and probably get him court-martialed after less than a year, if he could even be convinced to cut off his long hair and join the army.



Of course, Buzz would never breathe a word about this to Ripp. Besides, Tank was bound to overcome those shortcomings eventually.

Ripp hated his brother for just going along with whatever their father said. And he hated his father because he always made him feel like a failure.



What Ripp lacked in military training, he more than made up in popularity - at least according to himself and most of Strangetown’s teen girls.



Really, Tank kept telling himself. There was absolutely no need for him to be jealous of his little brother. Just because he kept bringing home girlfriends after girlfriends. There was no need for that, after all. You only had to meet the right person once, not… test out every single woman you came across…

And there was no need to hurry. Women loved military men. Right?

Sophia Halfdanarsson is actually trying to steal the Grunt's newspaper, not getting in line for Ripp, but anyway. Also, Gvaudoin Tricou is here to spoil the next update. Thanks, Gvaudoin!



On the other hand, Tank considered, it might be good to get some preparatory training in. Tactical manoeuvers. That sort of stuff. There was no denying that Ripp had a talent for this sort of thing, so after some careful observation, Tank felt confident that he could pull this off. And as fortune would have it, a really cute girl was walking past their house right now.

Taking a deep breath, Tank walked up and said…



“Bugeye???”

“Facepaint.”

Irina Newson looked at him with an expression usually reserved for some ugly insect. Which was really unfair, all things considered. Also, facepaint?

“…Why are you here?”



“Oh, we were heading out.” Ripp said, coming up from behind and shoving his brother out of the way. “To the pool, sweetie?”



Okay, that was just about the last straw. Tank made a disgusted noise and stomped back into the house.


A short update, but one that I really enjoyed writing. The inner workings of Tank's mind are always fun.

I'll probably put up another short one during the week, since I'll be busy during the weekend.

Coming up next, Gabriel Curious and his dead relatives!