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Chapter 5
"And so Rei walks out of the ritziest cafe in Tokyo with some incredible hot guy on her arm."
Mako's eyebrow's raised, "Rei? You've been holding out on us?"
Rei turned a particularly bright shade of red, "It's not what you think."
Minako poked Rei in the side, "He's very cute. I'm impressed. Does he have a friend?"
"You guys...stop it. Usagi, help me out here!"
Usagi lowered her magazine and regarded Rei with an uncharacteristically faint smile, "Girls, it's sorta unfair to make Rei tell you things that are her own personal business."
"Thank you! Someone is being reasonable here!"
Usagi's smile faded and she spoke with even more solemnity, "But Rei, as a sailor senshi, and my very best friend, I think it you would be failing in your duty if you didn't tell us every single thing in the most minute detail." She grinned, "Spill it."
Rei sighed, "Look, he's my boss. I got hired and he took me out for a congratulatory lunch."
Mako sighed, "An office romance, no less? How touching. And on your first day too!"
Minako laughed, "He's very cute too. Nice dark blond hair, quite tall. Nearly two meters as I remember. Muscular. Ooh ooh and a face to die for! Snazzy dresser. If you don't go after him, I might!"
"Please. I think he already has a girlfriend."
"Hey, guys are never unavailable until they take themselves off the market. Unless of course, you're the girlfriend."
Rei covered her face with her hands, "I'm never going to live this down, am I? He's seven years older than me. An old man! Cute, but the age gap is just too wide anyway."
"Never say never Rei. You guys seemed to hit it off pretty well if I do say so myself."
"How would you know? You guys barely saw us."
Minako tapped the side of her head, "My love sense told me."
"You guys are so mean to me. What are we doing for the rest of the day?"
As they discussed their plans for the rest of the afternoon, light shone through the skylights of Mamoru's apartment. Mamoru had left for medical school and the girls were alone. Usagi had moved in with him only a few months before and they seemed to be on the verge of marriage. However, Mamoru had wished to wait until he had graduated medical school before they made their final vows.
Rei fought back that tiny knot of envy which she held for the happy couple. She was beginning to get lonely, as her closest friends began to spread out to their quickly separating lives. Minako, carefree senshi of love, had begun to date again, attracting a large following. Mako was wrapped up in her work at the restaurant....everything seemed to be falling into the lull that peacetime brought.
She closed her eyes, then decided to take action. "Anyone want to go shopping?"
Usagi looked up gleefully, "Shopping!"
Mina jumped up, car keys in hand, "Great! We can ring up debts on your forthcoming pay check!"
Mako grabbed the keys away from her, "You're not driving in that state, I don;t trust you."
Rei smiled slightly. They hadn't completely left her.
"I hate plane flights."
Dana straightened my tie and unbuttoned my jacket, "You look great hon. Now get back in one piece."
"Miss me already?"
"Na, just worrying about the job."
I picked up the briefcase, "Glad to be loved. Alright. I'll see you later. Tell Jerry to have those reports ready by the time I get back. And show Rei the ropes."
"Will do. See ya!"
I smiled rakishly, bowed slightly and boarded the aircraft. First class had been booked weeks in advance and I headed back to business class. The seats were still spacious and I had a nice view out the window to accomodate me. I stared outside as landing technicians led the plane out of the boarding area with tiny orange glo rods. The plane flight would be long and I settled in for a nap. I would have precious little enough time to sleep once we landed and I needed to take advantage of the free time.
But first, I took out my laptop. Usually I despise the things, but this one was about the size of a notebook and fit well into my briefcase. A few modifications by the computer geeks in technology and research had increased the battery efficiency considerably. All things considered, I could get a good five hours out of my system. Which was perfect enough for my purposes.
Without the internet, I would have none of the interesting information, nor the occasional gaming that the internet provided for me. I admit, I have always had a weakness for Warcraft III. I suspect it has something to do with my old job, commanding an army. In a way, it was a poor substitute for the thrill of being a battle commander, responding to new threats quickly and flexibly. My old friends had always scorned my affinity for tactical command, leading from the front, sharing with my troops the terrors and experiences of bloody hand to hand combat.
In this age, warfare is conducted in a much more efficient way, with a small platoon of soldiers armed with automatic rifles able to accomplish what a regiment could not do. Had my men been armed like modern infantrymen, Earth would have never fallen to Beryl's forces, nor would have the Silver Millenium have fallen into disarray.
Those final days had been hectic and terror filled. Kunzite's heavy assault divisions had been smashed, with the survivors barely managing to extract themselves after the death of their leader. The other two generals too had fallen along side their troops. Only my forces were relatively intact, having managed to slip past the heaviest concentrations of enemy forces and inflicting serious damage to the relatively unguarded supply train. Despite her formal training, Beryl was not a particularly proficient military commander. She was clumsy on the offensive, and indeed her only saving grace was that she had an extraordinary numerical advantage.
My special operations forces were not particularly heavy hitters, but had excellent mobility. On that final day, I rejoined the survivors of the heavy assault group, and placed them on a ridge overlooking Endymion's palace. My special operations division split into three brigades and undertook a series of hit and run attacks, drawing forces away from the primary axis of attack. By the time she reached the royal palace, her forces were sufficiently spread for the remainder of the heavies to thwart her attack. But my forces were sufficiently spread out, that she ignored her primary objective, and began manuevers to trap and annihilate my division. One of the brigadiers held out in a defensive stand comparable to the defense of the Golan heights, holding out for five brilliant hours, extricating a casualty rate of seventeen to one before succumbing to the overwhelming odds. Another managed to extract half his force and rendevous with the heavy assault divisions, which promptly withdrew to the castle walls.
I was trapped with the third brigade in a large forest. My men sacrificed themselves in a futile break out attack, securing a hole in enemy lines large enough for myself and my personal guard to escape. I know now that not a single one survived.
What happened afterwards was a moot point. Indeed, I remember very little, save that I fell before Beryl's magic.
There is no point in dwelling on the past. The laptop began to burn into my knees, and I winced and pulled out the folding tray table. I had a few things to review before sleep: profit reports and the like. It was tedious, but a necessary evil. Sighing, I looked over my schedule and then began to work.
Somewhere in the middle of my work, I fell asleep only to be woken by the gentle shaking of an airline stewardess.
"Excuse me sir, but we're landing."
"Oh," I coughed, "Thank you."
"No problem, sir."
I blinked several times, and my hand went immediately to my hair. It wasn't too messed up, but I needed to look immediately presentable.
After we landed, I exited the airplane with my briefcase. Chalmers, as he promised, was waiting outside. Stolid and businesslike as usual, he walked over to shake my hand, "Good to have you back Ryan."
"Good to be back. Japan is a bit too humid for me."
"I can tell. Your hair is starting to frizz."
I smirked and gestured to his receding hairline, "At least I still have mine."
Chalmers smiled, the crow's feet around his eyes sharpening slightly. He shrugged almost imperceptibly, "I was not blessed with your blinding good looks, Ryan. Just remember, I get In and Out burger everyday."
"You win. When and where?"
"I'll drive you out to the facility. Then lunch."
"Lead the way. Hey, don't you have work to do?"
"Of course I do. My desk is always on the brink of disaster. But this seemed slightly more important. Plus, I think that the company will run without me for a day or two."
"So you;re expendable?"
"Yessir. As are you and all the other executives."
"Astute observations. Promise not to tell the workers?"
"I won't if you won't."
"This is why we work together so well."
Steve smiled faintly, "I don't think that deception is the basis for a good business relationship."
"Sure it is. I call it 'corporate culture.'"
Chapter 5
"And so Rei walks out of the ritziest cafe in Tokyo with some incredible hot guy on her arm."
Mako's eyebrow's raised, "Rei? You've been holding out on us?"
Rei turned a particularly bright shade of red, "It's not what you think."
Minako poked Rei in the side, "He's very cute. I'm impressed. Does he have a friend?"
"You guys...stop it. Usagi, help me out here!"
Usagi lowered her magazine and regarded Rei with an uncharacteristically faint smile, "Girls, it's sorta unfair to make Rei tell you things that are her own personal business."
"Thank you! Someone is being reasonable here!"
Usagi's smile faded and she spoke with even more solemnity, "But Rei, as a sailor senshi, and my very best friend, I think it you would be failing in your duty if you didn't tell us every single thing in the most minute detail." She grinned, "Spill it."
Rei sighed, "Look, he's my boss. I got hired and he took me out for a congratulatory lunch."
Mako sighed, "An office romance, no less? How touching. And on your first day too!"
Minako laughed, "He's very cute too. Nice dark blond hair, quite tall. Nearly two meters as I remember. Muscular. Ooh ooh and a face to die for! Snazzy dresser. If you don't go after him, I might!"
"Please. I think he already has a girlfriend."
"Hey, guys are never unavailable until they take themselves off the market. Unless of course, you're the girlfriend."
Rei covered her face with her hands, "I'm never going to live this down, am I? He's seven years older than me. An old man! Cute, but the age gap is just too wide anyway."
"Never say never Rei. You guys seemed to hit it off pretty well if I do say so myself."
"How would you know? You guys barely saw us."
Minako tapped the side of her head, "My love sense told me."
"You guys are so mean to me. What are we doing for the rest of the day?"
As they discussed their plans for the rest of the afternoon, light shone through the skylights of Mamoru's apartment. Mamoru had left for medical school and the girls were alone. Usagi had moved in with him only a few months before and they seemed to be on the verge of marriage. However, Mamoru had wished to wait until he had graduated medical school before they made their final vows.
Rei fought back that tiny knot of envy which she held for the happy couple. She was beginning to get lonely, as her closest friends began to spread out to their quickly separating lives. Minako, carefree senshi of love, had begun to date again, attracting a large following. Mako was wrapped up in her work at the restaurant....everything seemed to be falling into the lull that peacetime brought.
She closed her eyes, then decided to take action. "Anyone want to go shopping?"
Usagi looked up gleefully, "Shopping!"
Mina jumped up, car keys in hand, "Great! We can ring up debts on your forthcoming pay check!"
Mako grabbed the keys away from her, "You're not driving in that state, I don;t trust you."
Rei smiled slightly. They hadn't completely left her.
"I hate plane flights."
Dana straightened my tie and unbuttoned my jacket, "You look great hon. Now get back in one piece."
"Miss me already?"
"Na, just worrying about the job."
I picked up the briefcase, "Glad to be loved. Alright. I'll see you later. Tell Jerry to have those reports ready by the time I get back. And show Rei the ropes."
"Will do. See ya!"
I smiled rakishly, bowed slightly and boarded the aircraft. First class had been booked weeks in advance and I headed back to business class. The seats were still spacious and I had a nice view out the window to accomodate me. I stared outside as landing technicians led the plane out of the boarding area with tiny orange glo rods. The plane flight would be long and I settled in for a nap. I would have precious little enough time to sleep once we landed and I needed to take advantage of the free time.
But first, I took out my laptop. Usually I despise the things, but this one was about the size of a notebook and fit well into my briefcase. A few modifications by the computer geeks in technology and research had increased the battery efficiency considerably. All things considered, I could get a good five hours out of my system. Which was perfect enough for my purposes.
Without the internet, I would have none of the interesting information, nor the occasional gaming that the internet provided for me. I admit, I have always had a weakness for Warcraft III. I suspect it has something to do with my old job, commanding an army. In a way, it was a poor substitute for the thrill of being a battle commander, responding to new threats quickly and flexibly. My old friends had always scorned my affinity for tactical command, leading from the front, sharing with my troops the terrors and experiences of bloody hand to hand combat.
In this age, warfare is conducted in a much more efficient way, with a small platoon of soldiers armed with automatic rifles able to accomplish what a regiment could not do. Had my men been armed like modern infantrymen, Earth would have never fallen to Beryl's forces, nor would have the Silver Millenium have fallen into disarray.
Those final days had been hectic and terror filled. Kunzite's heavy assault divisions had been smashed, with the survivors barely managing to extract themselves after the death of their leader. The other two generals too had fallen along side their troops. Only my forces were relatively intact, having managed to slip past the heaviest concentrations of enemy forces and inflicting serious damage to the relatively unguarded supply train. Despite her formal training, Beryl was not a particularly proficient military commander. She was clumsy on the offensive, and indeed her only saving grace was that she had an extraordinary numerical advantage.
My special operations forces were not particularly heavy hitters, but had excellent mobility. On that final day, I rejoined the survivors of the heavy assault group, and placed them on a ridge overlooking Endymion's palace. My special operations division split into three brigades and undertook a series of hit and run attacks, drawing forces away from the primary axis of attack. By the time she reached the royal palace, her forces were sufficiently spread for the remainder of the heavies to thwart her attack. But my forces were sufficiently spread out, that she ignored her primary objective, and began manuevers to trap and annihilate my division. One of the brigadiers held out in a defensive stand comparable to the defense of the Golan heights, holding out for five brilliant hours, extricating a casualty rate of seventeen to one before succumbing to the overwhelming odds. Another managed to extract half his force and rendevous with the heavy assault divisions, which promptly withdrew to the castle walls.
I was trapped with the third brigade in a large forest. My men sacrificed themselves in a futile break out attack, securing a hole in enemy lines large enough for myself and my personal guard to escape. I know now that not a single one survived.
What happened afterwards was a moot point. Indeed, I remember very little, save that I fell before Beryl's magic.
There is no point in dwelling on the past. The laptop began to burn into my knees, and I winced and pulled out the folding tray table. I had a few things to review before sleep: profit reports and the like. It was tedious, but a necessary evil. Sighing, I looked over my schedule and then began to work.
Somewhere in the middle of my work, I fell asleep only to be woken by the gentle shaking of an airline stewardess.
"Excuse me sir, but we're landing."
"Oh," I coughed, "Thank you."
"No problem, sir."
I blinked several times, and my hand went immediately to my hair. It wasn't too messed up, but I needed to look immediately presentable.
After we landed, I exited the airplane with my briefcase. Chalmers, as he promised, was waiting outside. Stolid and businesslike as usual, he walked over to shake my hand, "Good to have you back Ryan."
"Good to be back. Japan is a bit too humid for me."
"I can tell. Your hair is starting to frizz."
I smirked and gestured to his receding hairline, "At least I still have mine."
Chalmers smiled, the crow's feet around his eyes sharpening slightly. He shrugged almost imperceptibly, "I was not blessed with your blinding good looks, Ryan. Just remember, I get In and Out burger everyday."
"You win. When and where?"
"I'll drive you out to the facility. Then lunch."
"Lead the way. Hey, don't you have work to do?"
"Of course I do. My desk is always on the brink of disaster. But this seemed slightly more important. Plus, I think that the company will run without me for a day or two."
"So you;re expendable?"
"Yessir. As are you and all the other executives."
"Astute observations. Promise not to tell the workers?"
"I won't if you won't."
"This is why we work together so well."
Steve smiled faintly, "I don't think that deception is the basis for a good business relationship."
"Sure it is. I call it 'corporate culture.'"