Framing: Sometime after the events of the Private War of Specialist Nene Romanova

Sylia looked over the word the document she was working on, Hawk asked for an efficiency report on her Knight Sabers. It was rare for Hawk to ever give Sylia an order, he never had to. The only time he would give her an order for her stand down to get some sleep or just relax because she would push herself to exhaustion at times. He once joked that he would court martial her if she didn't take some vacation time. Satisfied, she minimize the document and open up a new document for to be placed in her private directory. And she began typing:

How do I describe my Knight Sabers? A good question…

Sgt. Priss Asagiri. When on base she is a certified goldbrick and slacker, by self-proclaimation on the latter! When she's not goofing off a'la Beetle Bailey; she came be found in the motorpool or in a storage area shooting craps or playing poker on Army time or she will be charming some poor fool into doing her KP or latrine duty. Maybe next time I decide to punish her I'll put her on garbage detail! But when there is a job, she can be counted on, even though I'm the one on point. She is courageous, maybe a bit headstrong. During that mission on Cobra Island, she was willing to risk her life to save me. Insubordinate? Yes. But I wouldn't be here to write this, if she weren't. There are those who would rather see her shipped out the unit, such as Beach Head. Beach Head…. I will admit he's a good soldier, but some of his attitudes remind me of what I'd read about Patton. A good general but too rigid. Beach Head is same way with a rigid view of a soldier. While I may drop hammer on Priss on her conduct, but I do turn a blind eye because Priss is someone I depend in combat because I don't want someone who's dogmatic, I want someone who can think for themselves. Priss can think for herself and get job done. I think in time I can trust Priss with the responsibility of command. She has potential. The one thing that does hold Priss back is her temper; her anger does cloud her judgment and that something she to learn to overcome.

Sgt. Linna Yamazki. Some say I can be mysterious and cryptic. They're right I can be. Sometimes I have to be. But Linna is an enigma. Cheerful, outgoing, friendly and upbeat; but she has a load of secrets that she doesn't want to share. Some are personal such as her aversion to guns; she had to use one on Cobra Island out of necessity but she preferred blades such as daggers and swords. Her martial skills are also too well-polished to be picked up here in the states and even in the military. But the other half of her secrets probably have to do with her time Black-ops. Even at my clearance level, I can't get a look at her whole file… much like Snake-Eyes' file. Hell, my mission in Tselinoyarsk is so classified no one can look at that one, I'm under orders not to speak of it. Considering what Linna and I've done, we'll probably end up like Christopher Lee taking our secrets to the grave.

When I said Linna is an enigma that is true. Because I see her becoming a surrogate sister to Nene and developing a close friendship with Allie. But there are times she'll be up an hour before reveille, I would be out for a morning jog, doing Tai Chi, but there a look on her face that something was troubling her but she can tight lipped about it; so I give her privacy. Maybe she doesn't feel comfortable talking to me. That's not my problem. I will never question her skills, because I've seen her spar Snake-Eyes. Both Doc and Lifeline had more than few strong words to the two because they don't hold back. Hawk hasn't stepped in yet. I'd spoke to Linna about it; she answered "we're both experienced fighters; we stop if it gets out of hand." Most of time there matches only drew the occasional dislocation or sprain. Fortunately it hasn't kept from performing her job, actually it keeps skills sharp, so much like Priss' shit; I'd turn a blind eye to it.

Specialist Nene Romanova. Nene. Am I fond of my Knight Sabers? Of Nene? No. I am their commanding officer… therefore any feelings of affection would hinder my judgment when sacrifices have to be made… but am I deluding myself? I know deep down Clayton and I share a father-daughter relationship and that he's been there for me ever since my Uncle Robert died. As a mentor. As a friend. I know he worries about me. But he lets me do the job I was trained to do. I can't always be their friend because that would hindered my judgment. But I rather fond of all them. Nene is, to me, a special project. Because I want to see her succeed so I drive her harder during our one-on-one training sessions because I don't want to write the letter to her parents explaining why their daughter isn't coming home. Maybe I can be a bit protective because I shield her from Beach Head's abuse and told him I would kick his ass if he harass either Priss or Nene; more of Nene, Priss could kick his ass with no problems and sometimes just for the hell of it. But I couldn't help but feel proud of Nene that she survived on her own when the other Knight Sabers and I were captured on Cobra Island; even more when she completed the objective. I want to see her succeed. Much like how Clayton wants to see me succeed. Nene has this almost naïve innocence to her that endears to a lot of a people; Shanna, for one who much like Linna, has become an older sister to Nene. Shanna once jokingly quipped "us redheads have to stick together," and she would affectionally address her as 'kiddo.' Do I have soft spot for Nene? Yes, because even though I used an MP-5 to motivate her on a rope climb, yes I'm aware the Army would frown upon such old fashion methods. But sometimes the old ways are the most effective; but I also treated her when she burned hands on another rope exercise.

Perhaps one day I will call my Knight Sabers my friends.

"One day." Sylia sighed as she saved the file in her private directory. Bringing up the file for the efficiency report on her Knight Sabers she sent it to the printer as her phone rang. "Stingray here."

"Lt." Dial Tone answered, "I have Sgt. Asagiri on the line."

Oh god! She sighed. "Yes, I regret for asking, but what does she want?"

"Well," Dial Tone hesitated to answer, "She's in jail."

"I'm shocked," Sylia answered, reminiscent of Claude Raines as Captain Renault in Casablanca finding out there was gambling at Rick's Café American. "Let me guess, she was in a barroom brawl and she's wants to be bailed out?"

"Yes, Lt."

"Okay here's what I want you to do."

An hour later, Priss stretched out on the bunk waited for Sylia come by with the bail money. She was sporting a few cuts and bruises but that was nowhere near what she gave out. "Hey, Asagiri! You got a visitor!" The guard barked.

"Dial Tone, what the hell, where's the Lt.?" Priss asked after leaping of her bunk and met the Joe at her cell door.

"Well," He chuckled nervously at the red-eyed Knight Saber, thanking god there were bars between them, "she wanted me to give you this."

Dial Tone handed Priss a book. "Crime and Punishment? One of those long winded Ruskie pieces of crap?"

"It's the Lt.'s form of literary irony."

"Shit!" Priss knowing Sylia was sending her a message. Being that she was going to have a bit of stay in jail.