Chapter 10
The plane just landed on an airstrip somewhere in Miami one high noon as it touched down from a flight from the southwest. It was actually military as it is affiliated to the U.S. army, but particularly, the Army Special Forces.
The plane taxied to the nearest hangar and the steps were deployed. Out came a general with medals on his uniform and a hat symbolizing his strength and age in the service. He walked down with only one luggage and stepped off the stairs when a mechanic came running from the hangar. "General Patton! You got yourself a call!"
Patton raised his eyebrow and walked to the mechanic. "Are you sure? I just arrived."
"Yeah, it's urgent."
The Liberion general then walked into the hangar and was directed to the phone he would use. He noticed that the handset was down and someone is waiting and so, he picked it up. Then a voice came in from the phone, and he recognized her as the female secretary.
[Sir, it seems the report was accurate all along.]
Kenzie? Then he sighed before continuing to ask. What do you mean?
[I've looked into the report that Zyuganov and Fray were able to submit… and both of them had to indeed take drastic measures.]
The general was disappointed. Ever since Tyler left Romagna, their attempts to reestablish communications with its DSD branch were left useless because of his report that they were mind-poisoned. It seemed Patton expected only witches to be hit with the mind-poison but as well as his people. That left him one clue: The neuroi were trying to breach their ranks. SON OF A BITCH!
[Please calm down, sir.]
How in the world are you expecting me to do that?! My agent just shut down the Romagnan branch… and for all I know… he may have killed people from inside!
[There's something else from his report. He actually sent samples of the formula.]
Patton was taken aback, knowing that even Fray would be that helpful. Explain.
[It's the same formula that was used to alter the blood stream and brain waves of the recipient.]
And what else did he add to the report?
[He only had to kill to defend himself. There was no bringing back the people from that facility into their normal selves… and it was too long. That facility was already under the neuroi's control for one whole month. It clearly explains why Zyuganov wasn't able to update us during the festival in the same country where she was tracking a threat. She was actually put as a prisoner and not a guest of the base.]
But how did Fray deal with the staff and security?
[He isn't the first to pull the trigger. It was actully Zyuganov who escaped to rescue him from their hands. You'll get the full report. You don't need to hear…]
No, no… I want to hear it. All of it.
The secretary sighed and continued. [Alright, to continue: The only way they actually had to get out of there is run over a man carrying a dead man's switch to all bombs rigged there. They got out of a warehouse of that base after killing the guy and bombs have detonated. They escaped alive in a military truck. I'm sorry to inform you… that besides the formula, all else was perished in flames in the same base. The Romagnan base is destroyed, sir.]
Patton's eyes widened to a point that he couldn't believe what she said. 'What the hell?! They didn't have to destroy the damn base! Shit…'
Then there's nothing I can do but retrieve the formula.
[It's in our facility now and being processed. It'll take time.]
Good. Once I arrive back at the base, I want you to immediately give me a stat report. We need to start getting an antidote to the mind-poison. We can't let the neuroi beat us with this, and it's a damn long shot.
[The better, I suppose if we try getting an upgrade to our cooling system.]
Granted. Make sure we use what we can to get antidote going. Those neuroi don't know a shit storm when they see one. And I intend to piss them off.
[Very good, sir.]
Now get that stat report ready. I'll see you back there, Kenzie.
[Acknowledged. God Speed on your journey sir.] Kenzie said before hanging up.
*501st base… 0718 hours… Shirley's room…*
Fray was invited to play some poker with Charlotte. It was actually half an hour ago that they started playing a few rounds. Fray thought he could try his luck with some poker with the Liberian captain, but he made a mistake on betting too big with his money.
"SON OF A…" Fray's voice trailed off when he saw a straight flush on Shirley's hand, which beats his three-card deck. "You're kidding me."
Shirley chuckled. "I thought your luck was building?"
"Shit. I said I had to try my luck and it was in a streak."
"And it looks like a losing streak is building too. No way am I gonna lose."
"Yeah… after having 10 bucks?"
"Of course… MY ten bucks. Besides… you're beginning to love your losses in this game."
"Says Fran, your only friend who seems to see supporting you instead."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"She likes you, silly. It's what she would have said." Fray explained before Lucchini came into view on a window on Shirley's room as she interrupted them.
"Hey!" Lucchini said. "I'm actually supporting Fray this time! I'd rather have something to bet on against Shirley for once! She's becoming boring!"
And THAT shattered a piece from Shirley, then stood up in anger. "WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" She shouted and Lucchini left the view of the window.
Fray laughed and knew that his luck was changing with his cards. "Hey, look back and check it out!"
Shirley said and she looked clearly. 'A straight flush?' And the thought worried her. She looked at her deck and only has a pair. Her eyes widened in fear. 'What the hell?! I just lost 15 bucks?!' "You… you tricked me!"
"Obviously didn't… and not in the mood to cheat."
"Oh, you are. Best two out of three!" Shirley said in frustration when someone at the door interrupted them. It was Junko.
"You two going to breakfast or what?" The Fusoan lieutenant asked. "And Tyler, Minna's asking your presence at her office just before you take your meal." She said before leaving.
He sighed and put his cards down. "Oh, we'll just have to deal with it next time. Shirley, care to join me?" He said before he stood up.
She raised her eyebrow to see if the older agent didn't have any tricks. Seeing that he didn't have, she followed suit as she put her cards down and left with him.
*Hallway…*
"So…" Shirley stated. "…What's up with you and Minna?"
"Huh? Where'd that come from?"
"Oh… from the time I've been sometimes seeing her getting to your room? Classic."
Then he glared at her. "Hey… she's been concerned of a few things and wanted to give me something good to ponder on. I know you guys have regulations for relationships with men while in military service, and I'm well aware of it."
"Of course you are, next for you being the attractive one."
"What's THAT supposed to mean?"
"I can already see a normal Liberian right now. You're falling in love, aren't you?"
"AM NOT!"
"Then why are you denying it too quickly?" Shirley sincerely asked which took him off-guard. He didn't reply immediately, and that's what got her thinking of the obvious. "A-ha!"
"Hey… doesn't mean anything." He calmed and shrugged. "Look… Minna and I are just friends… and we remain that way."
Shirley's head got conspicuously close and he noticed it as something to get him to talk. "You love her, don't you?"
"Damn it, alright. Guilty as fucking charged."
"See? I knew I was right!" Shirley stopped walking and so did he. "So tell me… how did it start?"
"Well… it's gonna be a violation of a sort. I know I can't be the one to break the news."
"Are you talking about rules? Minna's not perfect and I know none of us are. I'm cool with it, and it's only our secret. You can count on that." Shirley said before a wink. "Please tell me."
Tyler knew he was getting over his head. 'Damn. What the hell did I do to get myself talking anyway?' "Fine. It started with one night…"
*Commander's Office…*
Tyler went in the office, leaving Shirley to ponder in her thoughts. She was jumping and mentally jumping for joy for him and the commander.
The elite looked at the busy form of Minna while she's signing and stamping papers on the papers of the 501st and the 64th DSD Wing members. The Derby Witches recently arrived for patrol and defense duties. She DID make a glance and smiled at the elite however. "Hey, Tyler." She said as she stopped and stood up. "Sorry about the short notice call… but we're expecting someone else to join up the meeting." Then she heard the door was knocked.
"Hey." Shirley greeted the Orussian elite. "Something you wanna tell me?"
Sasha looked back at the Liberian. "It's none of your business." And from there, cold stares began between the two of them before she opened the door, entered, and shut it.
"Hmph." The Liberian thought. 'I'm outta here.' She shook her head and left with disappointment of what she saw from Sasha.
Sasha saluted. "Elite Zyuganov reporting."
"At ease." Minna replied and Sasha put her hand down. "Now that you're both here, take your seats." And eventually, the two elites found some chairs in the room and took their seats in front of her desk followed by herself. "The two of you have been called to my attention because the two of you are elites in the DSD. Air Marshal Dowding and General both talked to me about assigning the two you to short-distance missions."
"What for?" Tyler asked.
"It's simple as this: Targets as those who are working closely for the neuroi. Patton and Dowding have concluded that the same mind-poison formula inserted into those witches during the raid on our base is actually with no doubt… dangerous and cannot be cured unless an antidote is made. Fray, I'm aware you've brought back a sample to the Deep Science Division. Am I correct?"
"Uh-huh."
"That said, I think it's clear that the neuroi are specifically assigning human personnel as main workforce. Patton had it coming and he's making sure to clear them out, to capture or kill any personnel tied to the neuroi. There are more who were mind-poisoned than the ones who volunteer for their cause, and we're certainly not getting any younger to counter them.
"I've been given a report recently that the secret service agents from Liberion have been stuck in getting intel out from one Key West City in Florida. Recently, there was a set up that there was intel for neuroi that could help out in the war, but none of the agents came back. It's happened 2 weeks ago with no progress. We believe that infantry elites are possibly the cause."
"Wait, wait… hold that thought." Tyler interrupted. "What do you mean by infantry elites?"
"They're the kind of elites who have more accurate shooting than your usual neuroi infantry unit, and they're more skilled in close combat, so you have to be careful. Recently, they were spotted coming in Liberion as I've been informed. Patton will tell you the details about it if you call your CO."
"And what's my story?" Sasha asked, having felt being left out.
"You're gonna be having this mission with Tyler himself, because you're an elite infantry witch, and most likely in my case, an assassin class personnel."
"Yup. And you're expecting I come with him?"
"To make sure you have an even ground with the infantry elites of the neuroi, you've got to come with him. Those humanoids are certainly us a headache, like the neuroi witch imitation units we've dealt from last time."
"True. They're starting to adapt to our way of combat." Tyler explained. "DSD is responsible for analyzing their tactics and new tricks. It's a good thing they shared it with you…"
"…and with other military groups and wings included." Sasha continued. "Of course. Why didn't I think of it? We should be updated on what they're doing and counter them on what we've got. It's possibly the biggest revolutionary war we could experience thanks to whatever is new on either side."
Minna sighed. "The neuroi have obviously infiltrated Key West City to gain some ground. So the two of you would have to investigate. As of this moment, they've made sure a Liberion fleet was placed south of the city, leaving them surrounded. Also… there's a wing present somewhere southeast of Key West in CRNS Calypso Super-Carrier itself."
Tyler raised an eyebrow. "Surely you don't mean…?"
"…the Triple Nickels?" The Orussian continued. "Interesting. I've heard of them."
The male elite then sighed at this. 'Why did it have to be the 555th?' "Yeah. Their reputation during their one year service was enough to get name up on the others… but we're looking at a toddler detachment. The youngest is actually three years and a half now."
"It doesn't matter." Minna interrupted. "If they've proven themselves even as toddlers, they understood they have a lot to catch up on in their normal lives. However, they signed up and they'll grow to be hardened, but it's up to them if they want to join, which they already accepted almost a year ago. Patton has agreed the two of you will rendezvous with members of the 202nd Liberion Army Special regiment Guillotine 6-1 to walk you in and give you support. That neuroi infantry cell must be eliminated, along with the close followers of the neuroi. We have no other choice because we can't spare an army to take out this threat."
"And you need the best to deal with it." Tyler said. "Consider it done."
"You're quite confident." Minna raised an eyebrow.
"I don't care if the 555th may be toddlers. For your word, I trust you." Tyler replied making the Orussian look at him, with him not exchanging the glance before she turned her back on the commander. "Alright let's look at it again: You're assigning us from now on to missions requiring the clearing of neuroi cells under human management. You're putting us on assignment to destroy our first, which is in Key West City in Florida to retrieve any intelligence about the neuroi, once assigned to the Liberion Secret Service. You're gonna have us escorted by the 202nd Liberion Army Special Regiment Guillotine 6-1 and engage the neuroi cell. And you're expecting us to get air support from the Triple Nickels while we're at it."
"That's about everything, Tyler." Minna said without delay.
"Then we got ourselves a mission. What about our flight back?"
"Your transport will wait until you're going back to West Gallia in Key West City."
"Thank God for that. We'll do our best."
"And I expect it. You're both dismissed." Minna said before both of them stood up and left the room.
*Hallway…*
When the Orussian was walking with Tyler, she felt pissed… so she suddenly grabbed his collar and pinned him to the wall. "When were you planning to tell me?!" She whispered while exchanging furious glares with him.
"About what?!"
"Don't fuck with me." Sasha snapped back. "I know that look, your speech pattern and most definitely the trust factor with your girl, Minna. Obviously, you fucked her yourself."
He then scoffed at the statement. "How do you know?"
"You think I can't see a dirty mind when I see one back in the office? Remember that I fucked Sanya, and the thought is the same with you and the commander."
"What do you have against it?"
"Nothing, except if the others know… you're gonna be put to hell for it." Sasha said before putting him down. "You know how regulations go for relationship with males. How long was it?" She asked while calming down.
"Look… Minna and I get along just fine. And we've been at it for two weeks."
"So how does it feel?" Sasha asked with a seductive voice. "Did you like it when you were inside her?"
Tyler's face blushed beet red. He then shook the feeling off while he groaned. "Seriously? Here?"
"Just tell me! It's kinda natural, you know!" Sasha said with a chuckle.
He sighed and just led her by walking again. "I'll just tell you on the way to Florida. Besides you… I told Shirley about it by feeling guilty. But she's not telling the others, which I trust she'll keep as a promise."
"Obviously. Same old 'Ghost'."
"Shut up."
"Not until you keep your stick between your pants from getting hard." Sasha laughed loudly while they walked to get to the mess hall together.
*Key West City, Florida… "The Conch Republic" 16 hours later… 2024 hours…*
Tracking: 202nd Army Special Forces…
George "Torque" Bolton was a Private First Class of the 202nd. He was waiting at an airstrip and he's making sure to keep an eye out on a prototype transport jet that the Karlsland Air Force recently issued. Then, he used his binoculars and saw some lights approaching the runway. The prototype He-662 jet transport was landing. Its wheels are down and the landing lights were on. As soon as the wheels touched the ground, the brakes were immediately applied and some screeching was heard. Bolton put his binocular down and put ears on his ear comm. "They're here." He said before walking to the plane.
Tyler got out of the plane with two luggages, with one for clothing and the other for his portable radio, followed by the Orussian Sasha with only one. As soon as elites are off the stairs, they found Bolton. Then the private saluted. "Private First Class George Bolton at your service." He said before putting his hand down. "Follow me."
*Hangar…*
They entered the hangar of that airstrip and there were lights illuminating the equipment and military hardware, along with the soldiers of the 202nd. Tyler was impressed of seeing the prototype rifles like the AR-15. 'I thought the Black Rifles were scheduled for production at 1950?'
"This is impressive." Sasha commented. "Though why are you testing prototypes?"
"Oh? Those guns?" The private stated. "Those are recommended from the good reviews of different military wings. The DSD wanted them tested first hand in combat to see its effectiveness. I remember one of the Derby Witches used to handle an AR-15 if I'm right. Her name's Bella Jenkins if I got it right."
"You are." Fray answered. "Just know Jenkins like compliments. Keep it coming and she won't pin you at the wall."
"Really?"
"Really." Tyler replied, then spooking the private a little.
Eventually they arrived to see a man in his forties… with a fatigue on and he was standing looking at some things in a folder when he saw the two elites along with the private. "Ah, so the two of you are finally here. Captain Finn Burke's the name and plain assault and infiltration's the game. I hope the flight wasn't too hard on you, Elite Ghost."
"Ain't about the flight." Tyler replied. "It's about the tendency of trust to believe someone they can get your ass over there anyway."
"Good to know. Please." He showed them their seats.
"Nah. We won't be here for long anyway. We got somewhere to get to for resting up."
"Alright. At least you got to answer. Anyway, just need to tell you a heads-up. Did you CO just tell you about a tracking job?" Burke asked before Tyler nodded. "Good. The one being tracked is this person codename Cryo. According to them, he's a researcher with an unknown name, and also a defector to the neuroi. He decided to take chances with the neuroi's victory over our race… which makes him number one priority, as he's spotted talking to several other contacts. It'll take time, but we have to find him first to confirm his whereabouts. Because if he gets to the main headquarters of the neuroi cell here, he's confirmed to be in contact, and that will put suspicious allied parties to eliminate him. Our mission's to spare him to make sure WE DO NOT get him killed. He's priority number one. That's our intel. The second is getting the harder intel from inside their HQ. By that, we need him first, and we can't let him in the HQ. Last location was the airstrip you landed in, and got in here two hours ago. Our boy just last tracked him to a nearby hotel here, in which he's in the 7th floor, Room 714. If you're staying at that same hotel, it's better."
"Never mind about staying there. We'll be made for sure even if we finish up things because I have another plan. I say we hit it now while we got time." Tyler said immediately. "The longer we talk over here, the more the tendency of us missing our window before he makes in HQ. We gotta make a move."
"Exactly on my mind." Burke said with a chuckle. "I like your style, Elite."
"And we'll see yours soon." Tyler nodded before the two of them turned their backs and left. "We'll find ourselves a place. We'll keep in touch and we know the frequency." He said as he walked away.
*Hotel… 2044 hours…*
The two elites eventually found the hotel. While they were in the elevator going to the seventh floor, the two of them talked about the job… and how the army guys found the hotel where he resided in. It seemed that Uncle Sam was doing the elites a favor. Knowing the two of them with their expertise of breaching and clearing rooms, the two of them seemed to adapt that they're the best in that certain field. Later, the elevator doors opened and they both exited to find the door.
They later got to the door of Room 714. He then contacted the 202nd with his earpiece communicator.
This is Ghost to the 202nd.
[Beavertown responding. What's your status?]
We're in front of the door, ready to breach and clear.
[We recently got a call that the good researcher is gonna move again. Now's the time to get a move on.]
Roger. We'll let you know once he's captured.
[Acknowledged. Good luck.]
"Ready?" Tyler asked Sasha and she nodded.
"Are you?" She asked and he smiled at this. She then equipped a Welrod silenced pistol. "We go in quietly, but we can't attention if we bust the door down either. Your call."
"Do it." Tyler ordered and she nodded.
Then she saw the hinges are rusted. "Roger. 3, 2, 1… Breaching." She said calmly before kicking the part of the door with the hinges. She immediately puts her weapon in front of her and he gets his shotgun out. She looked around and found Cryo, covered in a blanket on a bed. 'There he is.' She aimed her weapon at the person behind the blanket covers of the bed. "You… come out!" The person behind the bed was only shaking and not responding. She repeated again. "Move the cover… now."
"Do it!" Tyler demanded, but the person behind the cover isn't responding. Then they heard some beeping. 'What's that sound?' And it was coming from the blanket cover.
Sasha already knew that something was wrong. The beeping was clearly something else and she took time to double check her intelligence, 'Could it be a beacon? No… a tracking device?' Then suddenly the covers were moved. It revealed a neuroi infantry humanoid, and it was laughing. The Orussian fired a shot and killed off the infantry unit, splitting it into white pieces. But something was once attached to its chest, and her face color was drained in shock and horror. "GET BEHIND ME!" She said before dropping her pistol and deploying her shield.
"SHIT!" Tyler cursed before he heard a long beep as he got behind her in time.
The bomb exploded in the room, incinerating almost everything inside that was exposed to the blast of the bomb. The windows broke because of the intense heat. The walls and the furniture were burnt to a crisp. The bed was in pieces thanks to the explosion.
The Elites' ears were hearing bells because of the loud explosion. Sasha opened her eyes to find that she was still standing with him still behind her. Because of the intense explosion, she was weakened and her knees buckled and she was on the floor. Sasha was panting as her magic was used up to a point, and she didn't expect the neuroi to outsmart the ones tracking him down.
They went out of the hotel to find emergency crews rushing to the building. Fire truck sirens rang as they set up their hosing station when they were near a fire extinguisher. Eventually, the hoses got water out and started to spray water into the building. Tyler cursed himself for not thinking the neuroi had the smarts to put up a move like that and move the target somewhere else. For all they know, the target is already in HQ, and he's having a hard time in this.
Sasha and Tyler got to a side alley in time just to let them rest for a while. They almost had Cryo, but they were set up. "That… asshole!" Tyler said as he panted. "Why didn't we see that coming?!"
"That wasn't expected at all." Sasha commented before she contacted the 202nd.
This is Sasha. Target location was a decoy. It seems the neuroi already knows we're tracking him.
[Shit.] The voice of the captain was heard on the radio. [Then chances are that he's already inside the damn cell homebase. We gotta try and find him while we still can. You two should rest up. I got a few ideas up my sleeve. For the meantime, we've arranged for your stay, not in any building but in the 555th mobile CRNS Calypso itself. Looks like you guys have some shit to recover from. We'll let you know how it goes. Until then, lie low.]
I see. So the Calypso is at the pier then?
[Not quite. Some crew members will pick you up from there to get to the Calypso via rubber boat. The rest of its members are somewhere on the North Sea with an established FOB, battling neuroi spotted at North Britannia. You'll be expected by Commander Diana Evans, Lynn Kim and Cindy Jablonski.]
You sure you can handle this yourselves?
[Tracking's no problem on our agenda as well. You two need your rest. Don't worry about us bastards.]
It's not about worrying. It's about doing your job.
[We're just about qualified for anything. You have our word for it.]
Then we'll wish you luck. Sasha out. She said before she nodded at him and they kept walking. "We'll have to take shelter. They're right about getting to the 555th. It's a secure location."
"Yeah, let's. Good thing you grabbed the weapon." Tyler said and she later revealed the weapon to be with her… still burnt because of the blast, but she was able to conceal it. "Didn't get hurt?"
She shook her head. "It doesn't matter. What's important is we don't leave evidence. Are you okay?"
"Couple of knives are nothing. Couple of bombs could kill anyone, but not me. I'm still kicking.
"We may have left safely but the only problem is… just where we're standing is already evidence." Tyler groaned to the point that he remembered she was shielding both of them from the blast. Unlike the rest of the room that was incinerated from the blast, only their places on where they once stood was not burned at all.
"The neuroi won't expect us coming. Count on it." Sasha said before she led them both.
But Tyler knew different. 'I have a bad feeling about this.'
*11 minutes later…*
The both of them were able to get to the pier of the city and like what Captain Burke said on the radio, a rubber boat was ready with two crew members, with one carrying a Browning BAR and the other on the engine with an M19A11. Both elites knew that they can trust the crewmen and boarded the rubber boat and it immediately left for the Calypso.
*CRNS Calypso… Bridge…*
Captain Gary Reynolds was looking through his binoculars after hearing of thick black smoke coming from the city. He put his binoculars and looked around before he was surprised seeing the 8-year old commander looking with another binocular viewer. "Forgive me, commander, but you're still up."
Diana pretended not to hear and focused on the smoke coming out of the city. She sighed in disappointment. 'So that's where it came from. Oh… I hope there's something we could do. We only came back with coordination with the Strike Witches and the DSD.' What she didn't notice next was that the captain's mouth was already next to her ear.
"Commander Evans?"
"WAAAH!" Diana was shockingly knocked off her feet, then dropping the binoculars. She shook her head and looked at the captain with surprise. "Captain… maybe you could have told me you were calling me?"
The captain chuckled. "Maybe if you could have listened, I would have done so."
"I'm sorry." Diana picked up her binoculars and got on her feet. "I kinda worry when it comes to people getting hurt or other buildings getting a bad jump on buildings."
"According to the 202nd, they were tracking down an affiliate of the neuroi."
"I didn't expect that this 'Cryo' would actually take the aliens as allies."
"They got more reason for them to say that they're much powerful and they can provide everlasting peace."
"Isn't that better?" Diana was confused. She was still young and some other aspects of the terms of neuroi needed to be understood.
"Most people who fight them think that what is next is slavery. You know how colonizers tend to enslave people?"
Diana then thought of the history lessons she took recently. 'Oh yeah. The Britannians had ways against us too while in war with Gallia at the same time.' She thought while matching the situation with the present one. "I see. With people killed on our side, the neuroi's move is enslaving our race?"
"Yes."
"Well that isn't good." She sighed. "I just hope we have better terms then. Cindy thinks all neuroi are bad. When I studied about the war from before… I kinda see more that the neuroi are just fighting to take over our planet, not kill all people in it."
"Exactly. You're smart." The captain was impressed of how she thinks. "One thing we want to avoid is a war. But they say that we retaliated their offering of peace. I'd rather believe that because we don't know what they are, or what they do."
She nodded and had a determined emotion. "But we're still here to defend ourselves and not kill for revenge. That's what I wanna teach to Cindy one day." Her words stuck to the captain's head and he admired her words of declaration.
Then a lieutenant recently got off the radio. "Captain, the elites just got on board with the pickup you requested."
"Good to know. I'm meeting them. Commander?"
"Teehee! Way ahead of you!" Diana giggled as she walked ahead of the captain, both going to the boat docking area.
*CRNS Calypso… boat dock area… A minute ago…*
"Yay!" Cindy recently looked at a letter she received from her mother Sandra. "Ow… I miss her."
"Hey, you'll see her again, you know! I had time when I cried, but you're really happy seeing it!" Lynn said with a giggle while she read the kid's letter. 'Although Megan could be the better caretaker, I'm actually getting a hang of this pretty well!' Then she sensed an incoming presence. With that, she decided to use her power. Her whole body glowed and her familiar fox ears and tail came out. 'Hey… we got visitors!' "Cindy… back away from the doors! We got guests!"
"Yay! More friends!" The three-year old said before stepping back from the rear boat entrance.
Soon, the rear entrance opened up and the elites saw the water around them, with the ports partly submerged. The crew member driving the boat then parked it on a spot, and finally saying the other can guide the two off the boat. "Here we are! Just watch your step and enjoy yourself in the Calypso." The polite crewmember said before the two elites were accompanied off the boat.
Fray was impressed with the layout of the boat docks as it was able to store up to 6 boats. "It's a Super-Carrier after all."
"Can't argue." Sasha said in reply. "It isn't really compared with the size of one of the Fuso carriers I've gotten on once. This is much bigger than what I expected."
"Hi!" Cindy walked to the two elites joyfully.
The Orussian girl noticed Tyler kneel down as the toddler neared him. Fray put up a smile and looked at the toddler with curiosity. "You must be little Cindy."
Lynn them came to them. "Hi! You already know Cindy?"
Tyler nodded. "The info came from a friend, of a friend, of a friend of my cousin. Kinda got a feeling we've meet like this. So you're the Minna Wilcke of the group, huh?"
"Wow! Looks like you know my ability!"
"3D Space Understanding is a good ability. Just keep it up and you'll span up to more than 50 miles than Commander Wilcke."
The Orussian looked at the three with ease and noticed Cindy was looking at her. 'The toddler's looking at me?'
"Show me yow animal, please?" The kid asked politely and the Orussian elite seemed hesitant but nodded. So, she got her familiar Black Persian ears and tail out. Cindy was more fascinated by Sasha's tail and touched it. "Wow… Oooh!" Sasha must have figured out that Cindy likes its smoothness.
Tyler chuckled. "Yo Sasha, she seems to like you."
Sasha then rolled her eyes. "Duh." She giggled before looking back at Cindy.
Diana and the captain soon arrive to meet the elites. Lynn stepped aside while Diana neared Cindy. "Come on, Cindy. You gotta get your sleep. Lynn, take her to bed will ya?"
"Of course!" Lynn happily said as she saw Cindy's hand, in which the toddler found a little disappointing.
"Aw! Nighty, friends!" Cindy smiled at the visitors as she and Lynn left the docking area. Later, Sasha retracted her familiar features and focused on the captain.
The captain sighed as the two left. "Sorry about the trouble. Jablonski seems to have a liking to any visitors not neuroi."
"It's rather natural." Sasha replied. "She tends to enjoy a lot of things."
"So you're the elites they're talking about, huh?" Diana talked like she was the boss. "Name's Diana Evans by the way. We're glad to see ya aboard!"
Tyler put her hand out and Diana shook it. "Tyler Fray, and my partner, Sasha Zyuganov. We're originally assigned to investigate an individual associated to the neuroi, but Plan A's a bust. I'm gonna get an update from my CO for the next move. We can't just assault the cell base head on."
"True." The captain said. "While you need reinforcements, you're welcome to share what we have for your usage until the time comes for your big operation."
"Thank you." Then Tyler looked at Diana. "So, how's the brainy one doing?"
Diana then scoffed. "Tsk. Did it have to be 'Brainy' out of all adjectives? Darla's doing great back in Michigan. At least she's got a good set of ideas for new strikers."
"Most especially exotic ones, right? I heard of Tonya's single engine striker. I got a tip: If you're going for ground attack with her Projectile Guidance ability, use Panzershrecks for a change. It's good against tanks. If you ever find neurified tanks, blast them with it while she guides the round there."
"Cool!" Diana exclaimed. "That's setting a one-two punch!"
"Except the two ain't expected. So you're a fan of Dom and Jane, huh?"
"THEY… ARE… AWESOME!" Diana jumped for joy. "I wish I could be like Dom."
"Not that far, I guess. You got the same familiar as she does." Tyler said before the captain cleared his throat. "Oh, sorry. We'll talk another time, Diana. Sasha and I better hit the hay."
"Sure thing! Goodnight!" Diana greeted the two them while a crewmember escorted them to their quarters.
*Normal quarters… Sasha and Tyler…*
Tyler was forced to turn his back on Sasha after discovering she was naked in bed. Then he groaned while he was still awake. "You're a real queen of temptation, aren't you?"
She seductively giggled. "Whenever Sanya is not around, I can get men's hearts to give up and make them fuck me."
"Screw that. You know I'm not into you."
"But your pole doesn't say that."
"Shut up."
Sasha giggled again. "Get used to sex with others for a change. Arya may be one girl, but Minna's another."
"And you're someone?" Tyler snapped. "To me, you look like a hooker."
Sanya was surprised and was a little furious. "Gosh… just trying to cheer you up, ублюдок."("Bastard.") Sasha decided to get annoyed and got her eyes closed. "You're no fun."
He chuckled. "Ain't fate a bitch for you?"
"Shut up."
In his mind, he laughed while he smiled. 'Why is it I like to get her angry like that?' He thought before going to sleep, pondering in his own thoughts until he took himself to his slumber.