Braga Platoons First Mission Chapter 2
Tension
Dani and Nathaniel had returned to Nathaniel's quarters and were cuddling in his bed on top of the covers. She rested her head under his chin as he hold his arms around her and move his hand through her dark blue hair.
"What you think of all this"? Dani asked as she played with his beard.
"The whole new team thing"? Nathaniel asked.
"Yeah".
"I like the SFC", Nathaniel pondered.
"Cortana"?
"Yeah, that's her".
"You would", Dani remarked.
Nathaniel smirked.
"Not like that", he assured.
He tilted her head and sniffed her hair. It had a wonderful sent about it.
"There's only one girl for me".
She wrapped her arms gently around him.
"But sense she's not here, you'll have to do", Nathaniel finished.
He looked at her to see her reaction.
"Funny", she marked dryly.
He smirked and kissed the top of her head.
In the frigates recreation room the five clones kept to themselves. They had preferred to work with a Platoon of only clones, instead of these guys. They seemed like rookies and criminals. Digger pushed the cue stick and sent a yellow ball into a hole. Panzer, Digger, Quickie and Voice Cracker play as Smash lean back in the sofa.
"Nice shot", Panzer complimented.
"This is just bullshit", Smash said.
"Hey, it was a good shot", Digger glared.
Smash turned to him.
"Not that", Smash raised his arms and stood up from the sofa. "I mean this. Why can't we get assigned to regular troopers"?
"Who put this chicken shit outfit together anyway"? Voice Cracker asked.
He readied himself for a shot.
"That Twi'lek seems nice", Digger stated smirking. "Probably look even better from the rear".
Panzer smirked and shook his head.
"Cortana", Voice Cracker spoke.
"Huh"? Digger looked up in confusion.
"Sergeant First Class Cortana", Voice Cracker corrected. "Show some respect to your superior".
Digger smirked.
"She isn't my superior in anything else than rank".
"We'll see", Voice Cracker took the shot but missed the target. "Damn".
"Just say that because you like her tattoos", Quickie said.
Voice Cracker sent him a glare.
"Knock it off", Panzer decided. "All three of you".
"Are we really supposed to rely on a hacker for keeping our hardware working"? Smash asked.
"According to her record she have done a lot of good work sense she was arrested last year", Voice Cracker said. "It's either this or jail for her so she'll keep in line". He looked up. "That's what Dover thinks anyway".
Dietrich, Bolton, Lincoln and Emilie entered the recroom. Digger's eyes followed the Human/Trandoshan Hybrid Dietrich. Dietrich sent a warning glare back. Digger decided not to take the fight and returned to the game. The four sat down in one of the couches. They had a low voiced conversation for a few minutes before Quinton came in with Ford right behind. Ford gave a court nod to the clones.
"Sir", Voice Cracker nodded back.
Smash nodded but said nothing.
Ford and Quinton sat down in the couch across the little table from the other four. Quinton let her blonde hair out from the ball it sat up in. Laying her arms back she relaxed.
The two groups ignored each other for a while.
"Why put clones in a Special Ops team anyway"? Bolton asked.
Smash and Panzer stopped to listen to the answer given.
Quinton looked over at the clones and smiled.
"Cannon food", she smirked and cocked her eyes brows.
The clones turned to the group in the sofa. They didn't look thrilled. They were deeply insulted by Quinton's comment.
Ford raised his hand to Quinton. She looked at him and met his eyes. His eyes told her not to take up the fight. She responded with a nod and laid off saying anything else.
She shrugged while looking down at the floor. "Just a thought". She sounded ashamed.
"They ain't good for much else", Bolton shot off an insult.
"Don't go there, man", Dietrich told him.
"You trying to say something"? Digger turned to face him.
He took a step closer.
"Just say it".
Bolton stood up in a threatening position.
"Come on, man", Ford tried. "Sit down".
But Bolton stepped up to Digger and smirked.
"She's just sayin' as it is", he stated.
Emilie bowed her head and wanted to be elsewhere. She were sure this wouldn't end well.
The tension kept growing.
"Don't mind what I said", Quinton cut in. "I was just…. eh… thinking out loud".
Digger clenched his fists and stepped a step closer to Bolton. His eyes burrowing into his soul. Just as Bolton's eyes were those of a man who enjoyed himself right now. It were a piece of a killer in his eyes.
Ford came to his feet and stepped between them.
"K-knock it off guys", he managed.
He laid his hands on both their chests and pushed Digger away while turning his head to Bolton.
"Enough Bolton, or I report you to Commander Helford", Ford promised.
Too angry to realize why he had been pushed away Digger grew angry and clenched his fist. It collided with the back of Ford's head. Ford stumbled forward and fell to his knees where Dietrich caught him.
"You alright"? He asked.
"Hell you doing"! Quickie demanded of his brother.
The next second Bolton punched Digger in the gut and lowered him to his knees with another punch. Panzer rushed up and clocked Bolton in the head. The fact of who started it were lost as the others jumped in to help their buddy. Emilie tried to punch Smash but he blocked her and punched her twice in the head. He punched her with both hands clenched together in the gut and roundhouse kicked her in the chest. She felt all air leave her lungs and she coughed and collapsed on all four.
Voice Cracker got clocked with a pool cue in the head by Quinton. The third time she hit him it broke and he kicked her in the gut. Quickly she retaliated with a kick to the shoulder and a punch that he dodged and countered with a punch in her head. Quickie lived up to his name and Ford four times in the chest before he could react. He aimed the fifth at his head but Ford managed to grab his leg and kicked him in the groin, sending shivers and pain up his body.
Panzer kicked Emilie in the head when she got up. It sent her into the bookshelf with enough force to break it and knock it down over her. Dietrich came to her defense, though too late and punched after Panzer, time and time again. The trooper avoided and blocked him over and over.
Lincoln received a blow from Voice Cracker and were knocked out.
Bolton forced the air out of Digger's lungs with a kick and while he were dazed continued with a series of punches. Digger hit his head on the edge of the pool table and collapsed. Bolton were clocked in the back of his head with an elbow from Smash.
"What the fuck is going on"! A female voice shouted.
The brawl stopped and everyone turned to find Cortana standing in the doorway. Her arms firmly on her hips she stared with an angry expression at them.
"On your feet"! Cortana demanded.
With blood dripping from his mouth Digger staggered up on his feet with a feeling of dizziness running through his body. Smash and Panzer were quickly back on their feet and stood straightened. Ford sat on a close by sofa with his head in his hands. His head ached in agony. Quinton handed him his black cap. Dietrich raised himself next to Bolton.
Emilie staggered to her feet but quickly collapsed. Her head and upper back were filled with pain and she felt incredibly dizzy. She collapsed but before hitting the floor Voice Cracker caught her. Quickie stood leaned against the wall with a painful expression. He had cracked a rip or two.
Cortana glared daggers at Lincoln. As an officer he were supposed to stop this, not join in. He ignored her burning gaze.
Cortana's gaze swim through them all and stopped on Emilie.
"Are you okay"? She asked.
She responded with a painful shake of her head. Cortana turned her attention back to the others.
"Who started this"? Cortana demanded.
Nobody answered.
"Nobody leaves until someone tells me", Cortana warned.
"Sarge", Ford stood up. "I suppose it was me".
Her eyes widened in surprise.
"F-Ford"? She asked. "You started this"?
Her surprised expression turned to disappointment. Her disappointment burned deeply in Ford's mind. He scratched the back of his head.
"Sir", Quickie cut in. "He didn't start it".
"Then who did"? She asked harsh.
Quickie glanced around the room.
"Eh… I, don't know", he replied.
Cortana's eyes narrowed on him.
"But… it wasn't the Corporal", Quickie added.
Cortana sighed and crossed her arms.
"I'm not going to inform Commander Helford and Lt. Commander Dover… yet. If nobody have stepped forward in two hours, I am telling them". She looked at Voice Cracker as her eyes softened at the thought of Emilie. "Get her to the infirmary".
"Yes, sir", Voice Cracker responded.
"I'll give you a hand", Dietrich volunteered.
He pulled Emilie's arm over his shoulder, just like Voice Cracker had already done.
Cortana looked at the soldiers in front of her for a moment.
"You are all confined to quarters until we arrive at Jordeb. Is that understood"?
"Yes, sir"! The said in unison.
"Dismissed".
Almost two hours went by as Cortana entered the infirmary. She had set a few droids on cleaning up the recreation room. She were disappointed on that no one had come to her and told her who started the fight.
"Droid"! Cortana called to the medical droid.
It turned around to face her.
"Sergeant First Class Cortana", the medical droid spoke.
"What's Emilie's statues"? Cortana asked.
"Emilie"? The droid retorted.
Cortana glared in annoyance.
"PFC Yong", she said.
"Ah, yes", it said. "PFC Yong have a concussion. She will be out of action for several days, at least".
Cortana cursed loudly.
She passed the droid and walked over to Emilie's bed.
"She is sleeping", the droid told her.
Cortana looked down on her. She had a few bruises on her head and chest. She laid down with a blanket over her. Cortana grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently.
"Is there another problem"? The droid asked.
"She's supposed to be on a mission in forty-five minutes", she said.
"She is in no condition to take part in any activity. As the doctor on duty, I cannot allow her to leave on any mission".
"Relax, she's not going", Cortana let go of her hand and left.
She found Dover and Helford leaving the changing room to the training room.
"Excuse me, sirs", she saluted with two fingers.
Dover didn't like what he saw as mockery of a military gesture of respect.
"What can I do for you Cortana"? Helford asked.
"Got bad news for you", she replied.
"What"? Helford asked.
"About two hours ago there were a fight in the recreation room", she started explaining.
"What"! Dover exclaimed. "Who was involved"?
"Sergeant Lincoln, Corporal Ford, PFC Yong, Bolton, Dietrich, Quinton… and all the clone boys", she replied.
Helford sighed and his forehead frowned.
So did Dover's.
"Why are you telling us this just now"? He demanded.
"I confined them to their quarters and hope someone would step up and tell me who started it", Cortana explained.
"And did they"? Dover asked.
"No, sir".
Helford sighed again.
"I bet PFC Bolton was in the middle of it", Dover voiced his opinion.
"Probably, sir", Cortana agreed.
"Let's not judge without evidence", Helford suggested.
"That, was the good news", Cortana added unwillingly.
"What the heck's the bad news then"! Helford snapped at her.
"PFC Yong is in the infirmary with a concussion".
"Damn it", Dover cursed.
"She's off the mission", Dover said confirmed.
Cortana nodded. "Droid doc says she'll stay in bed for a few days", she added.