The dawn broke, early and bright. One blink and the sight became a little more believable.

Yes, that was a breakfast of eggs and bacon settled on a small crate before me. Yes, that was coffee next to it. Yes, that was a morning paper from my hometown sitting there next to the plate. There was even a small vase with a flower stuck in it; some pink thing.

There was even a cloth napkin, and silverware. The only thing missing was the orange juice.

"Grex, what the hell is this?"

Grex faded into sight. "That is breakfast, of course. What ails you, my Mistress?"

"I didn't ask for any breakfast, and you let me sleep late. Why did you get food for me, from where, and why did you let me sleep?"

"I wanted to. Your current diet is... unbefitting. I let you sleep because you needed the rest," Grex pointed wide. "All is in preparation for this nature hike of yours."

"Did you do anything to the food which would cause me not to eat it, if I know what you've done to it?" I asked, because with Grex you always had to ask.

"No, I've anticipated your question and I've been good," Grex confirmed with a smarmy grin that he long since should have trademarked. "Neither the breakfast I've made for you, nor the coffee, or indeed anything else I've made for you thus far today fails to conform to the rules for normal human consumption in your culture."

That was... pretty exact, and had to be true, given that any lie he fed me immediately broke our contract in my favor. "So, no bugs?"

Grex kept his smile up, but I knew the question irritated him. It was the small victories, sometimes.

"No, no maggots, roaches, leeches, or demonic fungi were used in the meal."

It was best to let that pass; I'd have time to ask later, probably.

He was probably trying to put me off my feed, as the saying went. With a shrug I took a bite; the bacon tasted right to me.

My soldiers were staring at me and my plate in turns. Some of them were even drooling.

As always, Golem voiced their thoughts. "Come on, really?"

Well, they didn't know. "He can't lie to me, it's part of the terms of our contract. So if he says the food is to my taste and fit for human consumption, it is. If you guys don't say anything... I'll share. How about tonight being pizza night?"

"Works for me."

"Pizza from where?"

"I'm in!"

Well, that was easy. I answered the question. "Lewd, pizza from this authentic fake Italian place I know, back in my hometown. Basically delivery pizza, not cardboard."

Golem just shook his head. "I don't get paid enough for this shit."

I couldn't fight down the urge. "No need to worry about price, I'll pay for it."

Golem growled at me, sounding just like a big dog warning me off.

"Secondary mission for the day; everyone think of the toppings they want." That should keep them occupied.

Grex hadn't been exaggerating the situation either, aside from me and my sleeping bag, everything was packed up and ready to go. I hurried as much as I dared without descending to the level of gross mannerless heathen, and grabbed the paper.

"Grex, clean this up."

I was tempted to tell him to fill in the foxholes, but I had a feeling I'd need them.

No, wait, they offered a good hiding place for demons, if demons came this way.

"Also, fill in the foxholes once we're out of them and away. When you're done, catch up with us."

Grex bowed, and ground out "As you command, my Mistress."

His teeth squeaked, he was clenching them so hard. Nice. He was more pissed now than when I asked him to dig the hole. Maybe I should be worried; an angry demon looks for opportunities, as the summoner saying goes.

I rolled my sleeping bag up, tied it off, and slung it with my backpack. "Alright, let's move. Lewd, point. Dod, left wing, Eve, right wing, with 20 feet apart."

I got close to Golem as the others started off. "I get why Grex didn't wake me up, but why didn't you?"

"I couldn't get close enough with that thing floatin' over you, and I wasn't about to yell," Golem whispered back, making it a point not to look at the demon we were leaving behind.

That was fair.

"Sorry, I'll have him loom less next time."

"No need to apologize," Golem told me. "You did what you felt you needed to do."

It was pretty clear that he was insincere.

"I didn't do it because I was afraid. At least not for me; the fact is if I'm asleep, Grex can respond to and deal with ninety-nine percent of all threats by himself. I want us all going home, and if I have to rub my power in your faces to do that, I certainly will."

"A noble sentiment," Golem hissed back with some heat. "And that's exactly how the past three summoners we've had assigned us felt just before they went off the rails. They told us so themselves."

That was sobering. "Then I'll buck that trend."

I was different after all, at least in the scale of power I had if nothing else... wasn't I?

"I hope so," Golem hissed again, this time with the fire in his voice gone. "But we've seen it before. Most summoners start out sure they will change things or stop the war. Sure that they will buck the trend. Most... don't, and let's just leave it at that. It's a small jump from commanding your demon to watch over us, to having the same demon murder us in our sleep."

I wanted to say I'd never do such a thing, but Golem had clearly heard all that before.

"I get it. But you're just going to have to trust me, here."

"You aren't making it easy," Golem spit out, glaring at Perry, who had been getting close enough to hear. "Demons sent on pizza runs? Demons summoned all night, and more than one? I've seen summoners, strong summoners, break under half the pressure you've got to be under. The only explanation you've given so far is 'I bargained well'. I call bullshit."

That was one misconception I was happy to clear up. "No. I never meant to say or imply I bargained well. I said my contract was good; the fact is, I gave up... much. The amount I've lost is perhaps equal to what I've gained, if I squint just right, but I don't think so."

I had to be careful about what I said next. Things could go terrible for me here.

"However, the demon I've contracted is a Lord among their kind, among their most powerful... and because of all I've lost, for the next ten years he's mine. My mother used the same demon to halt the demons along this very front, and I can probably do the same. So in that case, I am right about being different."

"Really? The same one? So you're one of the families, then?" Golem asked.

One of the families? Not sure what that meant. "Grex set me up before I was born, somehow. Not sure what went on there exactly, since he can avoid those questions; prior contracts and all."

"Some demons have some families marked," Golem said. "They follow those families, and whenever there is a summoner, that demon is the first to show up."

That... sounded ominous. "I don't think my family is anything like that. Mom told me Grex just asked for first crack at me if I became a summoner myself. She used those exact words, 'if', not 'when'. But there is no doubt that Grex is powerful enough to help, because he's done it before."

"Families don't have strong demons, usually, so maybe you're not. Maybe Grex saw the chance. Did he ask you to follow your kids?"

Yeah I wasn't going to answer that; all sorts of bad ends led down that road. "I don't think I'm going to have kids," I started out, before remembering my Mom had said the same thing, way back when. "But even if I do, they are safe. Grex didn't put any stipulation like that in my contract. He got... other things instead."

Like the name I still couldn't remember, and the fundamental sense of self torn from me with it. I knew something was gone, but not what it was; I just felt the loss. And my soul, can't forget that. But that part was every summoner, so that wasn't really extra. I felt like there was more I was forgetting.

Either way, it wasn't important now.

"Well that's good at least," Golem replied. "Having a demon follow your kids through all the generations of your line doesn't sound like a solid idea to me."

"On that we agree," It was anybody's guess whether having demons out at all was worth it. All we were doing was slowing down the destruction of humanity, not stopping it. "Whatever happens, for better or worse, that buck stops with me."

"Yeah."

Weird, Golem sounded subdued there - almost sad. Wonder what the big guy was thinking now?

I wasn't going to ask. Any more of this conversation and questions would be asked. questions I did not want to answer or lie about.

Grex came to bail me out. He was walking along, seeming to be unhurried as he loped along slowly and somehow catching up to us as if moving twice as fast. It was a neat trick - I wonder if it was something I could learn? Despite the digging I had him do, he was impeccable. "I have finished with my humble task, my Mistress."

"Great; fall in and keep watch." It was a good thing Grex didn't need sleep like the rest of us.

"Understood my Mistress."

Golem gave me a sidelong glance. I could keep Grex out forever by this point, and Golem knew it. People were going to have to start believing me about stuff. I guess the best way to have that happen was to prove it.

So, more walking. Birds were chirping, bees were singing, little woodland creatures were roaring (but not really), it was a normal day. A normal boring day. Unlike yesterday however, there was something else. A tickle in the back of the mind, a sort of creeping dread. The feeling that something was going to happen, and soon. A feeling I hadn't had last night, come to think of it.

So of course nothing did; we had an uneventful hike in the sunshine, and uneventful lunch, then another uneventful hike. We didn't even find tracks. Which meant something of course, because animal tracks should have been all over, and yet we couldn't find anything larger than a fox or badger.

It was enough to make my not fully existent wings itch.

At five I stopped us. "Alright, let's dig in. Grex, make the call to the pizza place."

I was about to let Grex have thirty minutes free time to himself while waiting on pizzas.

I looked to my less than loyal troops. "Well?"

"You were serious?" Dod asked.

Idiot. "Your topping choice?"

"Pepperoni and mushrooms."

Odd combo. I took the rest of the tally, and we almost ended up with a pie for each of us. Pepperoni and sausage was the most popular, followed by cheese. Who ate just cheese pizza? That was weird; beyond weird, really. I used my still not confiscated phone to set a timer, then made the call. I knew the number by heart; so many late nights with Karen crashing at my place after work.

To give Grex a break and keep in shape, I dug my own hole, this time. It was more shallow than the home I had last night, but less grave-like. It also didn't need stairs.

No sooner had I finished than the phone alarm went off. Or maybe I used the excuse of my alarm to stop, not that I'd ever admit that out loud or in a court of law. I dug out my still not confiscated debit card, and handed it over.

"Okay Grex, time to go. Get the pizzas, pay for them, come back, and don't do anything I wouldn't do. Most importantly, behave."

Grex frowned, but I could tell it was mostly for effect - there weren't enough teeth showing. "I live to serve." he admitted before vanishing in a puff of fire that was... a little weak.

Lewd summed it up best: "He's not even trying anymore. I think you broke him, somehow."

"Or he's lying in wait for me to screw up."That was always a concern when dealing with demons.

I'd almost wanted to give him a time limit, but then he would have crashed any line. Things would not end well, there.

I checked my phone... three minutes. Wait, why had my phone worked on a call to Arizona? Weren't they supposed to be region locked? How did my phone work? More importantly, could I ask or not? If I asked and some shenanigans were being pulled, people would know I had no idea and crap would hit the fan. Time to rely on Grex again, once night fell. If I was really lucky, I might be able to get a second opinion on that which I didn't use summoning circles for.

Grex poofed himself back into existence, using even less flames than before; just a lot of smoke. Three pizzas in each hand, held straight. Each in its own foil bag, and with small cards taped to them.

"Names? Foil bags? Where did you even get foil pizza bags?"

"To be fair," Grex returned. "You didn't say I couldn't do nice things, or be considerate."

Well, no, of course I didn't. Why would I? "So you... decided to be nice in order to troll me?"

There the teeth were, in hair-raising display. Every single one. "Yes."

Well he couldn't lie to me. It was best to reward behavior like that, and throw the thoughts of puppies and dogs from my mind. Maybe I should get a dog if I survive.... "Well it worked. Good on you."

The pizzas were gently set on the ground, and Grex stepped away. Then looked at my loyal troops, and stepped back again. Those same loyal troops waited a moment then descended upon the feast like a pack of hungry wolves.

I waited a moment longer, then got my small mess kit out. Sure no one else was bothering to, but I wasn't going to eat like a savage.

An oversight; Grex might have forgotten something. "Napkins?"

My demon rolled his eyes at me, and removed a wad of papery goodness from his jacket pocket. I gave his offering the stink-eye; there had to be twenty napkins there. Which, given the conditions, might be just enough.

Between my small plate-skillet, the tin fork and knife, it should be enough. My first victim was the sausage and black olive pizza, which was probably going to be all mine. Not sure why everyone hated olives, but they were not loved.

The pizza was just the right amount of fat and grease; it was heavenly.

Lewd sidled up to me. "So... this is a bribe, right? To stop us from telling on you breaking procedure?"

"Absolutely," I answered. It was best to be honest. "Pizza, and maybe some other choice foods, in exchange for not going to the Colonel."

What was the Colonel going to do, really? Send me to another front?

I suppose he could view me as a threat and loose cannon, and kill me. That was an option.

"Works for me," Lewd agreed easily, chomping down half a slice of her bacon and cheese pizza in one gulp.

Golem chewed on his cheese slice thoughtfully. "I suppose some things can be left out of the official report. After all, the Colonel doesn't really need to know every little detail."

Hearing him say that was a relief. I wrote reports, but as the senior non-com so did he, and his were trusted more because he wasn't tied to a demon for ten years. Which was fair, but if we matched up or came close, the Colonel wouldn't do anything.

Well, not anything lethal at least. I'd really not like trying to prove how useful I was to avoid a firing squad - I wouldn't know where the cutoff was, and it would be all too easy to go too far.

Technically, it was possible to pull some major shenanigans here without even leaving the base. All I'd need to do was ignore certain regulations I was already ignoring.

Enough thinking. Pizza was good, that was the thing to think about.

We finished a bit early. "Alright, Dod, E.T., set the traps. The rest of you, clean the mess up so we don't attract anything we'd rather not see. Grex, you're dismissed; go get some rest and I'll call you if I need you."

Grex bowed low and vanished without a word, feet first and grin last. Everyone else got to work while I checked the map. We had stopped early, but we were still on pace, according to my best reckoning. We wouldn't be able to mess around tomorrow, however. We'd need to power walk to make pace.

Maybe we could use some energy drinks tomorrow, like Gatorade or something. Nah, no reason to spoil us all; coffee and water would be enough.

The pizza boxes were consigned to a grave of sorts, complete with mourners who hadn't been able to eat everything. Good rich dirt heaped over to cover the scents, and moss over that to cover the signs of digging.

Then we settled in to wait yet again.