The sun was already climbing into the sky when Sonya opened her eyes. Groggily she looked at her watch.
'08:00 damn why didn't the sarg. wake me up.' She thought and sat up. 'What the..' She thought as she looked around. 'Oh yea I'm a Queen.'
She stood up and walked to the closed and threw it open. There were several kimonos all with the same dragon but they were different colors. She took out the red kimono with the white dragon and put it on.
'Good thing I spent so many years in Japan after I was born.' She thought.
For the first time sense she arrived in Han she walked to the full length mirror on the wall and looked at the kimono.
'It fits rather nicely.' She thought looking from her feet up.
Her face came into view and she screamed when she saw the reflection.
Kiki and Suyo came running into the room. Suyo had his sword in his hand and quickly looked around the room.
"Your majesty what is it?" Kiki asked running to her side.
"M-my face." Sonya said touching her now smooth and fair completion.
"What's wrong with it?' Kiki asked.
"This isn't my face." Sonya said. 'In the service other women would ask me out thinking I was a man.' She thought.
"Your face is different because you are a Taika." Rihan said as she walked into the room.
"A what?" Sonya asked turning to look at her.
"A Taika is someone who was meant to be born here in the twelve kingdoms but was swept to Hourai in a Shoku." Rihan said. "When you were born in Japan or Hourai you were in a shell and when I brought you here you were transformed into your original form you were meant to have."
"So your telling me I'm originally from here?" Sonya asked.
"Yes you are correct." Rihan said.
"So if I go back home will I still look like this?" Sonya asked looking back at the mirror.
"No you will return in to your shell form." Rihan said.
"I see." Sonya said her hops dieing. "Rihan, a guard was killed yesterday and I promised him I would give him a Military funeral."
"What are you asking?" Rihan asked.
"I need to return home to gather the proper equipment and men to give it to him." Sonya said.
"Very well I will take you back to where I found you and go with you." Rihan said with a bow.
Sonya changed back into her BDU's that were now clean and readied to make the return trip.
"Rihan I want you to know this may take me some time. I have to convince my team that this is true. And get clearance for us to take the materials we need." Sonya said. 'And I'll be doing pushups the rest of the day.' She thought.
"I understand." Rihan said and escorted her to the cliffs where she had done the first Shoku to find her.
"I will take us to the waters near the land where I found you." Rihan said and closed her eyes.
"It's the Persian Gulf." Sonya said as the wind started to swirl around them.
Persian Gulf South East of Baghdad
The sea it's self seemed to vanish leaving a light filled hole. Rihan picked up Sonya and jumped from the cliff. The sun was high in the sky and it was hot even for the Iraqi desert. Rihan transformed to her true form which cared the hell out of Sonya.
"You're, You're a unicorn?" She asked.
"This is the true form of a Kirin." Rihan said as they flew over the desert.
It only took them ten minutes to reach the outskirts of Baghdad. Rihan changed back to her human form and they walked the last half mile into Baghdad.
"I can catch a transport back to Fort Freedom. I can sneak you onto the transport and into the base but if get caught I'll spend the next few years in the stockade." Sonya said.
"I understand." Rihan said as they walked into Baghdad.
It was soon after they entered the city that Sonya found a US transport back to Fort Freedom. She left Rihan at a corner as she secured her ride. She got into the last truck in the convoy and signaled for Rihan to follow. There were three US soldiers in the back of the truck one was asleep and the others had bandages around their eyes after an attack leaving them blind.
"Ok this truck will take us into Fort Freedom just keep your head down and if anyone asks you a question don't answer I'll take care of them…I hope." Sonya whispered.
Rihan nodded as the truck left Baghdad. It took about ten minutes for the transport to reach Fort Freedom. The gate guards opened the gates and let the trucks in without checking for threats. Sonya and Rihan got out of the truck and headed straight for the barracks to look for her teammates. Peskentella was sitting on his rack trying to relax after a grueling four hours of PT.
"Peskentella hey Peskentella." Sonya said just loud enough for him to hear her.
"What the hell?" Peskentella said sitting up. "Sonya I should kill you. Where the hell have you been? How the hell is that?"
"Peskentella one question at a time." Sonya said.
"Where have you been? The Sarg is out for your head." Peskentella said standing up.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you where I was." Sonya said. "Listen I know there is a warrant out for my arrest so I need you to get the team and meet me at the Water Hole in Baghdad at 15:30 hours."
"For what?' Peskentella asked.
"You'll see then just get them there." Sonya said and walked out of the barracks.
Peskentella ran after her but she was gone.
'What the hell is with her?' He thought as he ran across the base to get Sergeant Ellis.
"So that was one of your friends?" Rihan asked from above the base.
"Yes that was Peskentella he is the closest thing to a Peskentella I have." Sonya said as she gripped Rihan's mane.
Several hours later at exactly 15:30 hours Sergeant Ellis and the rest of the team walked into the Water Hole fully armed ready to take Sonya back to Fort Freedom, in chains if they had to.
"Peskentella where is she?" Ellis asked.
"I don't know sir she said she would be here at 15:30." Peskentella said looking around.
The bar was empty even the bartender was missing.
"I don't like this." Privet Keller said as she took the safety off her M16A2 Today's Military M16.
"Sir there's some one coming." Privet Cooper said pointing to the door.
"Is it Blaze?" Ellis asked.
"Umm no sir she has blond hair." Cooper said.
The woman walked into the bar and looked at the armed soldiers.
"Sir that's the woman that was with Sonya." Peskentella said.
"Where is Specialist Blaze?" Ellis asked.
"She wants you to swear as US Marines that you'll here her out before taking her in." Rihan said not knowing what she was saying she was just saying what Sonya had told her to say.
Sergeant Ellis was silent for a moment surveying the woman that was in front of him.
"Very well you have my word." Ellis said.
"Please sit down." Rihan said and walked out.
A minute later Sonya walked in and sat with Rihan at the table Ellis was at.
"What's this about Blaze?" Ellis asked.
"This is gonna be hard for all of you to grasp." Sonya said. "But I'll tell you the whole story. You see I'm a……"
Ellis and the team listened in silence as Sonya explained what had happened to her.
"What kind of a fool do you take me for?" Ellis asked. "I've listened to your story as promised now it time we take you in."
"Rihan." Sonya said.
"Yohan Yo-Han" Rihan said and the floor beside her disappeared.
An angel like beast emerged from the vortex and stood next to Rihan. None of the Marines dared to breath in fear that this beast would attack if they did.
"Ok." Ellis squeaked after a moment. "Suddenly your story doesn't seem so far fetched."
"I wasn't kidding." Sonya said.
"So let me make sure I have the situation correct." Ellis said. "You are gonna withdraw from the Marines and rule the Kingdom of Han."
"Yes." Sonya said.
"Cooper, get me that bottle of Tequila on the bar." Ellis said. "I need a drink."
"Yes sir." Cooper said and walked to the bar and came back with the bottle and fourteen shot glasses.
He set the glasses down and emptied the remains of the bottle and handed everyone a glass.
"What is this?" Rihan asked Sonya.
"It's Tequila or ta kill ya." Sonya said. "Its alcohol."
"Is it strong?" Rihan asked. "I've never had a drink of alcohol before. I don't know if a Kirin can drink at all."
"Its good stuff but I think you'll be ok." Sonya said.
"Well here's to ex-specialist Sonya Blaze and now queen." Ellis said raising his glass.
"To Sonya." The team shouted and took their shots.
"Rihan take a deep breath then take the shot and exhale slowly." Sonya said and took the shot.
Rihan did as Sonya told her and took the shot. Her through burned, her eyes watered and she felt like she would vomit.
"WOW Yerk." She said trying to breath.
The team burst into laughter at the site of Rihan with one hand on the table steadying herself and her other hand on her stomach.
"Well you took that better than I did on my first time." Sonya said and applauded. "Good job."
"Do Yerk Do you evYerk Ever get used to that?" Rihan asked.
"I bet if you take tow or three more shots you'll be ok with it." Sonya said. "Cooper, more rounds."
"Ok so you need us to come back to your kingdom with you for a funeral?" Ellis asked.
"That's right you'll be back before anyone knows your missing." Sonya said as Cooper started pouring again.
"Ma'am do you want another?" Cooper asked Rihan.
"I've never met something that could keep me down." Rihan said holding out the glass.
"Hey she has the Marine attitude." Cooper laughed.
They raised their glasses in a salute to the Marine attitude. Rihan took her shot and it went down harder than the first one but she was able to contain herself.
"Connor go back to the base and get your bugle for the funeral and be back here in an hour." Ellis said.
"Yes sir." Connor said and walked out of the bar.
"Let's have a few more drinks before I change my mind." Ellis said and filled his glass.
They had more than a few more drinks in less than twenty minutes. Even the most seasoned drinker would be feeling the effects of the alcohol by now and Rihan is less then seasoned.
"WWhoooo I lik tis tuff." Rihan said drinking right out of the bottle.
"I think its time to cut her off." Ellis said.
"Yea." Sonya said. "Rihan that's enough give me the bottle."
Rihan looked at her funny then with a sad face handed her the almost empty bottle. Connor came back with her bugle and a few cans of .223 ammo for their M16's .233 is the size ammo they use in the Military it is the size of a .22 caliber bullet witch is used for rabbit hunting however this round has WAY MORE gun powder so it travels faster and farther.
"Oh good your back." Sonya said. "I'd like to get back and take care of this funeral." Sonya said and stood on weak legs. "Almost had too much."
"Rihan can you do a Shoku here?" Sonya asked.
"Yeep." Rihan said almost falling over her own feet.
"Well then let's go." Sonya said.
"Blaze I also brought your Rifle." Connor said and handed her her M16.
"Thanks Connor." Sonya said. "Rihan lets go."
The floor beneath them vanished leaving a swirling vortex of light under their feet.
"OOOOHHH SHHHIIIITTTT!!" Peskentella yelled as he fell through the Shoku
When he opened his eyes he wan in a jungle alone.
'What the hell was that?' He thought taking his rifle off his shoulder and removing the safety.
"Where is everyone?" Cooper yelled looking around.
"I'm over here." Peskentella yelled.
He was soon joined by Cooper and Keller.
"MARINES SOUND OFF." Ellis yelled from about thirty yards away from Peskentella and his group.
"Peskentella" Peskentella yelled.
"Cooper." Cooper yelled.
"And Keller sir where are you?" Keller yelled.
"Stay put I'm coming to you." Ellis yelled and started moving in the direction their voices were coming from.
When he got to the small clearing where Peskentella and his group were he saw that Hunt, O'Harra, Rubik and Phipps had joined the group.
"Ok fan out and search for the others but keep in eye sight of each other." Ellis said and they formed a search line.
Soon after they began the search they found Silver, Brooks and Randolph in a small group.
"Now all we have to find is Blaze, Droll and that Rihan girl thing." Ellis said.
"Sir I'm right here." Droll said walking through some bushes. "Blaze is over here and her friend is unconscious."
The team walked to where Sonya was kneeling next to Rihan holding her hand.
"She's not responding." Sonya said.
"What are her vitals?" Keller asked taking off her medic bag.
"Breathing is shallow and slow pulse is good." Sonya said.
"I thinks it's a coma smelling salts is not gonna wake her up so we'll have to transport her." Keller said.
"Ok Cooper, Peskentella and hunt your on stretcher detail get it made as fast as you can I don't like this place." Keller said. "The rest of you form a perimeter."
The team did as they were told and the stretcher was soon ready.
"Blaze where are we?" Ellis asked.
Sonya stood up and looked around and shook her head.
"I don't know sir." Sonya said and sighed. "We could be anywhere."
(He he he I bet you didn't see that coming. As of now I don't know where they are. I'd like it if you can E-mail me with some suggestions as to where they are and I'll make the story revolve around that the best I can."
Rev. Joshua Hunt.)
