I don't own Tank Girl or AD.

Yomi-san and Tomo-chan paled as they heard the explosion. Yomi-san accelerated dangerously, spying the orange glow over the nearest dune. They flew over the top, the captain cursing into her face scarf. Up ahead was a smouldering heap, previously a jeep. Not far away were the collapsed forms of Chiyo-chan and Sakaki-san. Yomi-san braked as suddenly as she dared and leaped from the vehicle, long legs carrying her to major quickly. Tomo-chan attempted to imitate the captain, but with considerably less eloquence, and rushed to Chiyo-chan's side.

"Lieutenant Chiyo-chan! Chiyo-chan, can you hear me?" Tomo-chan shouted, testing for a pulse. Finding it, she sighed with relief; it was as strong as ever. Gently Tomo-chan rolled the younger woman onto her side, remembering her first aid training. "How's the major?" Tomo-chan asked Yomi-san.

"Give me a hand rolling her over, ok?" Yomi-san asked, already crossing the tall woman's ankles. Tomo-chan was shocked as Yomi-san addressed her as a friend for the first time in years. She sat, dumbfounded, before Yomi-san looked up.

"Come on Tomo-chan, get it in gear," Yomi-san said, faintly annoyed.

"Hai!" Tomo-chan tucked Sakaki-san's arm into her neck and together the two women rolled Sakaki-san onto her side.

"Get on the radio, make sure that Chihiro-chan and Kagura-san have unloaded at the house, and then get another squad from Main Base out here to investigate. I don't want our squad so split up. Make sure to tell them our location, Tomo-chan. Be quick about it, I want to be out of here soon."

"Yes, captain," Tomo-chan went back to their jeep and did as she was instructed.

"Major Sakaki-san! Major, can you hear me? Major Sakaki-san!" Yomi-san shouted.

"She couldn't hear me before," Chiyo-chan said, voice slurred. She sat up slowly, rubbing her ears. "Our jeep rolled, and I couldn't wake her, so I-"

"Stayed with me until I came around," Sakaki-san mumbled in a monotone. Yomi-san helped the woman to sit up.

"Are you alright, major?" Yomi-san asked. Chiyo-chan watched Sakaki-san with huge, wide eyes.

"Thankyou, yes. I want a squad out here to tell me why my jeep blew up." Sakaki-san said, putting on her 'major' voice.

"I have taken the initiative and already radioed Main Base for an investigative team." Yomi-san smiled.

"Good thinking, captain. I'll be recommending you for promotion soon." Sakaki-san smiled as Yomi-san glowed. "Right," she began seriously. "We'll load up your jeep with what we salvaged, and get the hell out of here as fast as we can." Sakaki-san got to her feet, and the four women began unloading the shell of supplies and filling the jeep. It was only a few brief minutes before the shell was empty. Quickly the warriors strapped themselves into the jeep and pulled up scarves and goggles as Yomi-san sped across the dunes.

The house was a collapsing farm house with flaking white paint, revealing weathered brown boards beneath. A low tin roof, coming from a peaked top, smothered the veranda surrounding the house. Darkened windows peeped out from underneath. The shed behind the house was completely dilapidated, made entirely of rusting corrugated iron. Yomi-san pulled into the shed which housed another two jeeps. A trap door in the middle was heavily padlocked, and led to the store of petrol and other mechanic supplies. The four young women climbed out of the jeep, Sakaki-san almost falling.

"Major Sakaki-san! Are you alright?" Chiyo-chan exclaimed, rushing to the Major's side. Sakaki-san blushed, and nodded. She smiled slightly, just as she had in high school, whenever she saw a cute cat. Chiyo-chan grinned hugely at seeing her old friend so human.

The warriors walked into the house, their every senses alert to the desert around them. Entering the gloomy house, it was completely bare of any furnishings. The huge room had a door in the middle of the floor. Yomi-san stamped heavily on the door three times before scuffing her foot against it twice. She stepped onto solid floor as the door was unbolted and opened by an unhappy Kagura-san. Opening her mouth to speak, Yomi-san held up her hand.

"No disrespect to senior officers, thankyou Second Lieutenant!" She declared as she walked down into the real house.

Downstairs was room at least as large as the house, with four bunk beds along one wall. Underneath the stairs was a huge collection of very human things; broken toys, trophies, a cracked computer monitor, clothes, and boxes labelled 'misc'. A TV was pushed to the front of the pile, and a couch and mattress lay in front of it. Behind the couch in the middle of the room was a large table, and opposite the bunk beds was a tiny kitchen area with stovetop and fridge. Along the wall of the kitchen hung armour when not in use, and weapons underneath those hooks. At the other end of the room from the stairs was a series of shower cubicles - water wasn't used, but a special kind of harmless gas used to remove grime and odour. The pit toilets were underground next to the mechanic storeroom, away from the living area.

"Yomi-san, what the hell?" Kagura-san demanded. Sakaki-san sat wearily on her own bed, a tell-tale plushie hidden underneath her pillow. Chiyo-chan bounded over to help the major out of the tough armour.

Again Yomi-san held up a hand to Kagura-san. "The major and second lieutenant were hurt. I had to order your return for your own safety, Kagura-san. It is dangerous for us all if we are split into more than three."

Kagura-san sagged and sat with the other women in front of the TV. All that was ever broadcast was news updates from an untraceable figure by the name of 'Sake'. No one was ever quite sure who's side Sake was on.

"Chihiro-chan, please radio Main Base to confirm an investigative team has been sent to where my jeep blew up." Sakaki-san asked wearily. Chihiro-chan nodded and went to the radio, buried amongst old toys.

Chiyo-chan released the last strap of Sakaki-san's torso armour, catching both in her now strong grip. "Ta-da!" she proclaimed. Sakaki-san sagged happily, her sweat-soaked tee sticking to her giantess form. Blushing as Chiyo-chan unlaced the arm guards, Sakaki-san looked at her boots. After a brief moment Chiyo-chan placed the guards carefully on the floor and lifted Sakaki-san's feet onto the bed, unlacing her boots gently. "Someone please get me a bright light, a torch maybe?" Chiyo-chan asked. Kaorin-san nodded, and walked over to the pile of human junk. Chiyo-chan felt odd; it's only fair of Kaorin-san to help out. It has nothing to do with her and Sakaki-san, not anymore.

Sakaki-san raised herself up on her elbows, watching Chiyo-chan closely. "Is everything alright?" she asked, her low voice quiet.

Chiyo-chan nodded cheerfully. "Hai!" she smiled her cutest ever smile as she pulled off Sakaki-san's huge boots. Sakaki-san smiled and blushed once more as she lay back down. Gently Chiyo-chan peeled off sweaty socks as Kaorin-san returned with a torch.

"Here," she offered quietly, smiling.

"Thankyou Kaorin-san," Chiyo-chan smiled before turning her attention back to Sakaki-san. Peeling back Sakaki-san's left eyelid, Chiyo-chan turned on the torch, and chuckled as Sakaki-san flinched.

"Ow," she murmured.

"Sorry!" Chiyo-chan grinned as she examined Sakaki-san's left eye, then her right. Satisfied, she turned off the torch and proceeded to gently rub Sakaki-san's stomach. "Does this hurt you at all?" Chiyo-chan asked, her face deadly serious. Sakaki-san lay there, suspended, before responding.

"No, not at all, Doctor Mihama." Sakaki-san said seriously. Chiyo-chan giggled.

"I don't think you were seriously hurt. Tell me if anything starts to hurt suddenly, or if you have a headache and it won't go away. Alright?" Chiyo-chan gently demanded. Sakaki-san smiled. "I'll look after you!" Chiyo-chan declared happily with her hands on her knees, looking for all the world like a ten year old again, despite being in her twenties.

Sakaki-san smiled wearily. I'll look after you, Chiyo-chan.