trying to chase the muse again; here's an idea i've been kicking around. Keep writing, yes/no?
Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad.
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
"Sergaent Cage," the general reached over his desk and shook her hand in greeting." Thank you for getting here so promptly. Please have a seat. How's the general like her retirement?"
Cass fought back the impulse to snort. "Enjoying it fine, sir." It seemed a more diplomatic answer than 'You mean when she's not banging Dad like a screendoor on the reg?'
"Good. Now our business here..." the older man pushed a small manilla folder towards her. "Standard recon for your team. We have intel that the Black Dragon are moving arms again. Big time stuff. Nukes."
Even for that group, nuclear weapons were a big game. Cass let out a low whistle and leafed open through the pages.
"Exactly. We need surveillance, find out who they're dealing to this time. Our concern is with Kano dead and Jakob now running the show, it might be a powerplay. Assert his position and all that."
That one, Cass understood, the whole parental footsteps and all. Looks like Jakob wanted to impress his way outta daddy's shadow.
"In there, you'll find coordinates for your Netherrealm rendevzous." he gestured at the papers. "Also, your designated contacts. It is imperative that you maintain communication with base at regular intervals. Furthermore, and I cannot stress this enough, at no time do we want you to engage with the Black Dragons. This is a fact finding mission only, Sergaent Cage. Once we understand their intentions, I will personally decide the course of action to follow."
"Understood, General." All ready making plans and phone calls in her head, the younger blonde woman pushed back her chair to stand.
" Excellent. Your Lin Keui liasion will be Grandmaster Liang."
My what the what now? Aw, hell no. "The Lin Keui are involved in this mission? Sir, is that necessary?"
"They are our allies and have scouted the Netherrealm for years. It would be foolish not to avail ourselves of their assistance." With hands steepled, the general leaned back in his seat. For a second, a hint of challenge made his light eyes stand out against his dark skin. "Unless you are unwilling to cooperate with protocol, Sergaent?
Ouch. Ok, she had that coming. Never question a superior officer when taking orders. That lesson was the first thing they hit you with in bootcamp. Cass cleared her throat. "Not at all, sir. I will assemble my team and brief them now. "
"That will be all, Sergaent."
From one high to a new low. Cass fumbled her way out of Administrative and made her way to her car. People around the base called out her name in greeting but she was too dazed, could only nod, not really seeing them.
Hey Cass, what's wrong, she mimicked a conversation in her head. Oh nothing, just got news I'm stuck working with Hit it and Quit it Frosty the Snowdick. Yikes. So maybe that wasn't fair. The hit it part happened, the quit it was a big looming question mark. After that whole Shinnok battle, she'd been feeling like a fucking rockstar. All that adrenaline and no outlet..until she'd come across Kuai and ...
They'd just sort of ...exploded on each other. One night of something intense and... just.. there weren't words. It was some next level sex. He crawled through her body like he owned it.
And then...nothing. Not even an awkward morning after. Grandmaster Kuai, formidable warrior and Lin Kuei leader up and disappeared. That's what pissed her off. He didn't want anything serious? Cool. She was a big girl. Could have said that to her but whatever...
Anyway, she was a professional and she had a mission. This girly feely stuff was for off duty hours. After a quick text to Jacqui, she shelved the introspection and began planning work.