This has been a couple days in the making already; I have a few chapters ready for the holiday season, and since it's the week leading up to Christmas Day (which is this Friday), they'll be posted throughout the week. Probably the most effort I've put into my fanfiction career in a while (based on my usual time spent between updates), and after my computer had a brief near-death experience a couple days ago, it's something I want to go through without much procrastination.

I hope you enjoy the start of what's to come, and Happy Holidays!


At the moment, the Ikari Warriors were out on a brief travel into the snow-caked greens of the forests not too far from HQ – however, it wasn't long before something happened to cause backup to helicopter over towards it, as a result of what could've easily evolved into a big flaming mess if it wasn't a snowy winter at this stage of the year.

Flanking the small fleet of emergency forces to survey the noticeable soot and smoke in the forest, was Whip, carrying with her the namesake she called Voodoo.

As she was dropped off from her transport, she was quickly met with two-thirds of the Ikari team in Leona and Clark – from the hastened pace of how they emerged from the greens, they didn't seem to have much time to anticipate the arrival of others.

For this was more a business matter than anything else, Whip was straight to the point, if with a little bit of selective sass.
"We just got reports about a small explosion in the middle of the woods. Not suspecting Ralf, of course, but considering the team here..."

Leona stepped forward first, briefly saluting. "Whip – just so you know, what happened here was not fully agreed with..."

Whip's expression soured further, slightly. "...It was Ralf, wasn't it?"

Clark nodded. "Yes. Yes it was."

"Of course," Whip groaned... "What did he do this time?"

Leona glanced back at the forest behind the Warriors... "I think you might be able to see for yourself..."

Basically summoned into the scene, the man with the explosive fists finally reunited with the rest of his team, hoisting with full forearm and shoulder over his right side, an uprooted tree that looked almost tall enough to touch its tip with the height of which the helicopters flew over here at.

Ralf saluted and proclaimed, "Hey Whip, glad you're here; look at this big green beast! Might need a lot of lights if we're gonna be setting this up back at the base, though...!"

As soon as she clicked two and two together and realized, Whip facepalmed.
"You're kidding... we had word about a possible wildfire, and it's all for the sake of a single Christmas tree? The hell even happened then?!"

Clark responded, "Let's just say Ralf and I agreed to a bet..."

Leona continued, "...A bet that, before it was accepted, was already agreed upon as a 'potential disaster'."

"In short – errgh~!" As he prepped to answer with his own flair, Ralf readjusted the weight of the tree upon his shoulders with a mighty grunt. "I 'Galactica Phantomed' a tree; and it works, Whippy – it fuckin' works!"

It worked better than expected from the looks of it – aside from the burnt, smoldering hole driven into the tree bark from where it made impact.

Among the small flock that followed the young whip-bearer, one soldier approached, among the many willing to help extinguish what was probably left. "We're ready to give aid if it's necessary, ma'am..."

Whip ordered back, after slight reluctance under frustration...
"Just scope out the inside to see how far the damage has gone... best scenario, we won't need to do as much as the snow will."

As the small squad that joined her dispersed, Whip laid her eyes fully onto the Ikari trio, drifting halfway as she looked at the tree-carrying Ralf and the handful of the 'cleanup crew' scoping out into the forest. She was uncertain whether this odd situation would demand some sort of reprimand, whether for reason or for result.

Ultimately, she sighed...
"I guess we're all lucky this isn't the type of weather that helps spread the flames..."


I imagine Whip just wants to live a peaceful life sometimes.