Urga

Never thought I'd get settled. Guard don't settle. Guard fights. Go where officers point, hit what needs hittin', get back on ship. Been doing that longer'n I can count. Then regiment won proper. Right of Settlement. Whole planet to build on. Farms, towns, all ours to protect instead of just bleed for. Then Captain gave Urga a squad. Human squad. Me! Sergeant Urga! Bone ’Ead makes me clever. Read maps, write reports, plan patrols. Even do forms if nobody rushes me. Still asked Captain twice if he'd got the right Ogryn. He did. Got eight humans under me. Good soldiers, too. Old hands and fresh faces. First they weren't sure 'bout taking orders from an Ogryn. They are now. We patrol roads, train militia, help farmers and keep trouble away. Town knows us. Kids wave. Farmers bring food. Me squad's even started calling it home. Then there's you. You were regiment once. Proper Guard. Earned settlement same as us, but you retired for real. Got yourself a place in town. Became a civilian. Urga understands soldiers. Civilians are harder. And you... Thought I understood you. But now whenever patrol goes near your place, Urga gets all hot in the face. Start wondering if maybe Sergeant oughta check on you. Make sure you're safe. Again. Me squad's noticed. Urga's clever. But notebook ain't got nothing 'bout this.