"Hello? Anybody home?" Simmons called out, standing in the doorway. Grif was about fifteen yards behind him.
"Do you see anybody in there?" Grif called out.
"No, I think they're all gone." Simmons yelled back. He looked around. The entire base was empty. "Even their flag isn't there."
"What? What happened?" Grif asked. "Did we take it?"
"No, dumbass. I think we'd remember if we took their flag." Simmons sighed.
"Jerk." Grif grumbled. He grumbles a lot.
"We should probably go look for them." Simmons said, facing Grif.
"Why should we? It's not as if it's any of our business." Grif asked, arms crossed. "Who cares what happens to them?"
"Because, it's…. Shut up, Grif." Simmons said. "Anyway, Sarge told us to keep tabs on them, and that's what we're going to do."
Suddenly, Donut came down the hallway. "Oh, hey guys! Fancy meeting you here. I was just downstairs for my daily 'wine and cheese' hour with Caboose and Doc!"
"Where is everyone?" Simmons asked.
"Where is everyone?" Grif called from behind.
"I already asked, dumbass!" Simmons yelled. "Maybe if you'd come closer, you wouldn't be lost in the conversation!"
"Fine." Grif said, walking closer, standing next to Simmons. "Again, what happened to everyone?"
"Oh, everyone, save myself and Doc, are all having a pool party at the lake." Donut replied. "We're in the middle of my daily 'wine and cheese' hour, like I said. Caboose left for the lake a few minutes ago."
"What lake are you talking about? There was no lake here before." Grif asked.
"Remember the last time we were here, you forgot to turn off the sprinklers?" Simmons said.
"Oh, that." Grif grunted.
"That was you? Thanks! Oh, and Church and Carolina are off on another mission to retrieve some stolen armor. Just thought you should know." Donut replied. "Anyway, do you want to join us? We're all tossing up in here!"
"What?" Grif and Simmons asked at the same time.
"Salads. We're tossing salads. Why, what were you guys thinking?" Donut said.
"Nothing." Grif and Simmons said simultaneously.
-oOoOo-
Over at the lake, Caboose stretched his hamstrings. Then, he paced a few yards away from the small cliff overlooking the water. He stretched again, and began to run. Once he reached the end, he jumped, and cannonballed into the water. Water splashed everywhere.
"Shit! Caboose, what did I tell you about jumping into the water? You're going to get my armor wet!" Tucker complained.
"Tucker did it!" Caboose yelled, underwater. "Arghgarblegarble,"
"Ugh." Tucker sighed, shaking off the water on his armor.
"Speaking of armor, why are you still wearing yours?" Washington asked. He had already removed his armor, and was wearing a pair of grey swimming trunks with yellow trim. His chest was bare, and his spiky blonde hair was uncovered by a helmet. "We're supposed to be swimming and relaxing." He stood near the shore, in waist-deep water.
"If you have to know, I'm preparing to go tanning. I'm just waiting for the sun to move into position." Tucker replied sarcastically.
"Why? Aren't you black?" Wash asked.
"Yeah, so?" Tucker said.
"Uh, nothing." Wash replied.
"Racist." Tucker said, removing his armor.
"Oh come on! You set me up on purpose, didn't you?" Wash asked.
"And you fell for it. Sucker." Tucker snickered.
"Fuck you." Wash said, flipping him off.
Suddenly, there was a huge crash thirty yards behind Tucker. Everyone except Caboose, who was still underwater, turned to see what caused the commotion.
In front of them was a smoldering Pelican, with smoke billowing out of it.
"What the fuck was that?" Tucker said.
"I have no fucking clue." Wash replied, scratching his head. "We don't have any scheduled visitors in the log book, and I didn't get a message from Command."
Through the towering flames and curling smoke, two armored silhouettes could be seen. One was much taller than the other. They walked through the wreckage, the smoke and flames parting for them as if they were royalty. The taller one hopped out of the Pelican, then lifted the shorter figure out and placed it lightly on the ground next to them. As the thick smoke cleared, they became visible.
"Hello, I'm Agent California, and this is York." The shorter one said in a feminine voice.
"York?!"
