Current location:	Viper Pilot Barracks - Avalon
Entry tags:	( a completed scene), (c) colton west, (c) rosie shayl, (l) avalon

Stowing the last of his incidentals into a foot locker, Cole turned and flopped into one of the metal chairs that surrounded the tiny metal table sitting amongst the collection of bunks, photos and gear that the Black Hydras called home. He glanced around the room for a second and with a sigh he came to the realization that this was his home too. After pondering that thought for a moment or two he wasn't sure whether the idea of this new home was exciting or depressing. Still, the silence and solitude was causing some melancholy to slip into his mood.

He stood once more and took off his flight suit for the first time since he'd come aboard the Avalon. Now in his loose black pants and black and gray combination of sleeveless shirts, he reached for his guitar. Taking the beaten black case into his hands gingerly, he slowly opened the clasps. They groaned from age and wear. It was comforting, familiar sound. No matter where he'd gone in his life, Cole had always had his guitar.

Lifting the simple creation of polished wood and passion, he let the case slide onto the floor beside him and cradled the guitar in his lap like a newborn child. He lowered his head and let his hair tumble down, concealing his features. His hands rose, as if animated by some alien force and his voice drifted like a mourning song across the barracks.

While goin' the road to sweet Athae, hurroo, hurroo
While goin' the road to sweet Athae, hurroo, hurroo
While goin' the road to sweet Athae
A stick in me hand and a drop in me eye
A doleful damsel I heard cry,
Johnny I hardly knew ye.
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns and drums and guns
The enemy nearly slew ye
Oh my darling dear, Ye look so queer
Johnny I hardly knew ye.

Where are your eyes that were so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your eyes that were so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your eyes that were so mild
When my heart you so beguiled
Why did ye run from me and the child
Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye.

Where are your legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your legs that used to run
When you went for to carry a gun
Indeed your dancing days are done
Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye.

I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo
I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo
I'm happy for to see ye home
All from the island of Virgon
So low in flesh, so high in bone
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye.

Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg
Ye're an armless, boneless, chickenless egg
Ye'll have to put with a bowl out to beg
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye.

They're rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo
They're rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo
They're rolling out the guns again
But they never will take our sons again
No they never will take our sons again
Johnny I'm swearing to ye.

His gravelly, mournful voice slipped away into the empty room. He didn't move for a second. Finally, after what seemed like hours to his weary mind, he slowly placed the guitar back into it's beaten leather case. It occurred to him for a moment how much it resembled a coffin, but he let that thought slip away quickly. One he'd tended to 'the dead', Cole reached opened his foot locker and retrieved a small metal flask. He collapsed once more into the unforgiving mental chair and after a deep draw from the flask, he slammed it down onto the table with a loud clang.