Chapter 14

The Battleship landed on an island close to the Okinawa Base shortly after midnight. By the time it touched down support teams were already in place. The area had been cleared and prepared, everyone from engineers to doctors were standing by. Along with some heavy ordinance, were interceptor jets and tactical teams, nobody was taking a risk of turner troops.
The four large thrusters touched down and became silent. From the centre of the craft a bright orange lift extended. Beta team moved to cover the doors which in turn slowly cycled.

Standing there on Earths soil for the first time in nearly six months were the remnants of Operation Starhammer.

"Open your minds!" shouted a Psi-ops agent through a loud haler. Seconds later the team came under a sustained assault from a huge number of minds. Gos alone could have swept the probes aside but this was something the survivors had primed themselves to expect.

"Team down" Ranma ordered slowly. As the agents left the lift they kneeled and those that could placed their hands on their heads. Scanning teams rapidly approached, looking for anything from plague to explosive implants.

"Clean" shouted the Psi-ops leader.

"Bout time" muttered Gos. "Bloody slacker, a guy's gone two seconds and already they start takin' it easy ungrateful…." He trailed off muttering unintelligibly.

One by one the doctors concurred, and the Team were allowed to stand up.

General Jack approached "Guys you care to explain this" he gestured at the ship behind them, "couldn't you find me something smaller?" Ranma flipped his empty sleeve in a mock salute.

"Sir General Sir, Private Saotome requesting permission to kick your ungrateful ass Sir" said Ranma with as straight a face as he could.

"Denied Soldier. Besides you might need a hand to even get close." Replied Jack

"This soldier admits we are a little short-handed, but claims its not his fault Sir" retorted Ranma.

"Any idea where you left it?"

"Sir, no, sir lost it kicking Bug queen floaty ass Sir"

"Lost it! My aren't we getting careless." Jack finished as he clapped his arm around Ranma's shoulders. "I always knew you were coming back," Jack said somewhat unconvincingly, "Nope wasn't worried for a second."

"It was real rough" Ranma said quietly. Jack just nodded.

"Anything I need to know right now?" the general asked

"Only that you need a shave sir" replied Ranma cheekily. Jack just swatted him.

"There's someone waiting to kick your ass back on base" Jack replied deliberately vague.

"I thought she had moved on to pastures new" said Ranma, "You gotta keep her away" Ranma really looked worried, "Not for me but her laugh, its bad for the troops" he finished unconvincingly.

"Yeah the troops" said Jack, "Okay I'll tell Nabiki that you don't want-

"NABIKI?" Ranma shouted.

"Yeah, Sam recruited her soon as you were… dismissed" Jack finished in the direction of Ranma's disappearing back.

-

The helicopter flight seemed to take forever, Ranma repeatedly needing to be told to sit back down. He fixed his hair, fussed over his jacket and tried to buff his boots.

"jeez" said the co-pilot to the pilot "you'd think he'd never been-" whatever he was going to say was cut short when he saw the burning glare from their VIP passenger.

-

Nabiki was waiting in the helicopter hangar, outwardly so calm that the hangar crew were actively avoiding her. Inside was turmoil. She had read the quick report that had been sent on the way in.

Five survivors from the whole expedition, two of them maimed and another only holding onto life by the bearest thread. The survivors had spent nearly two months in freefall, subsisting on scavenged slave rations and minimum oxygen levels.

A helicopter touched down, a great black beast used for fast evacuation, its side door was sliding before it landed.

A dishevelled looking figure jumped out. He was wearing what looked like a shortened Battle gear plug-suit, one sleeve cut away from the shoulder down and open to the waist. The pigtail was intact and the cocky smile. His eyes, however held a hollowness that was all new.

Ranma saw her frank appraisal, and fought down his concern. His hand reached up behind his head, which in turn bowed slightly forward.

"Uh hi Biki-chan, I'm er sorry bout this" he started, colouring. He was cut off by a Ballistic Bob-haired Tendo. Nabiki threw herself into his arms and buried her head into the nook of his collarbone. His good arm wrapped around her and everything was suddenly alright with the universe.

"Took your time Saotome!" Nabiki whispered

"Got hung up out of town, traffic was terrible" Nabiki silenced his jokes with a kiss, a long one. His good hand moved up her back and she let out a purr of satisfaction. And then she hit him.

"Never ever do that again." She ordered

"what, the back thing but I thought-"

"No the nearly getting killed thing" she corrected. "and no more losing bits while you are at it!" she punched him again to illustrate her point.

"Hey, I am an invalid here. No beating on the patients" he turned to protect his injured side.

"Actually he does have a point" interjected a Doctor nearby.

"Doctor Fraser," Nabiki said very definitely "this agent is under my supervision"

"Captain I am sorry but I do need to do a proper physical on your agent" the doctor said with genuine regret. "You can have him back straight afterwards."

Slowly Ranma and Nabiki were separated, they kept eye contact until he was through the door. Nabiki stood for moment gathering herself, smiled and left.

"Sheesh I didn't know she ha it in her" said one crewman to another

"Bastard Saotome gets all the hottest ones." replied the other.

-

The physical was long, painful and far too in depth for Ranma's liking.

"Okay Saotome, scram" said Dr. Fraser.

"You mean it?" he asked

"Yes we are finished for now and you…..can go" she said trailing off because he was no longer here to tell.

First he tried her office, nobody there. So he asked Drew, who said she hadn't been back. Then he tried the mess, and again struck out. Finally he got directions to the room she used while on base. He opened the door but the lights were out so he turned to leave.

"Like to keep a girl waiting don't you stud?" came a woman's voice.

"Nabiki?" he asked

"Shut the door Saotome!" she ordered. So he did. There was just enough light in the room to see her rise from the bed. She beckoned he obeyed. They kissed passionately and Nabiki's nightgown hit the floor.

A little while later Nabiki reached out and turned out the light. AS she did a hand ran up her spine.

"Again?" she purred.