I do not own any aspect of AD, likewise for Tank Girl.
"Patrol," Sakaki-san announced, her voice loud enough to cover the noise from the television. Her whole body was pulsing, one gigantic bruise, but Sakaki-san knew her duty. "Kaorin-san, Ayumu-san, rotating guard around the house. Chiyo-chan, please be sure our cameras are operating." Kaorin-san and Ayumu-san nodded, equipped weapons and armour, and left.
"Hai," Chiyo-chan nodded, determined, and positively strode over to the pile of human things. Moving aside a framed portrait of a long-gone J-Pop artist, four glittering computer screens were revealed. Each showed a location outside the house. "They're working, Sakaki-san."
"Thankyou Chiyo-chan." Sakaki-san closed her eyes, putting her arm across her face, her mouth curved down in thought. "Do we have a second squad on way?"
"Trouble isn't expected from the Merchants, Sakaki-san," Kagura-san argued. "Why get a second squad?"
"There was no cause for the accident Kagura-san," Chiyo-chan said, frowning a little and sitting on the edge of Sakaki-san's bed. "And whether trouble is expected or not, i doubt the Merchants will wait until we're ready for them. Please get on the radio to the other stations and guard houses; see if anything has happened to them in the last week."
"And that's why you'll make captain soon," Sakaki-san said softly, eyes shining with pride. Chiyo-chan sat on Sakaki-san's bed as the other women went about their business. She blushed, and tears welled in her eyes.
"Sakaki-san, why did you lie today?" Chiyo-chan whispered.
"Because I won't have you demoted simply because you forgot yourself in that situation. You know full well that you leaving me there alone meant I could have been attacked, buried by sand, killed. Your own guilt will punish you fair better than I could." Sakaki-san sighed. It will punish you far more than I want. "I don't like being a commanding officer all the time." she whispered. "Lieutenant Chiyo-chan, your actions were irresponsible and could have killed your commanding officer. As punishment, you will remove every grain of sand from everyone's armour and uniform, fix the quad bikes, and no patrol until all that is done, understood?" Sakaki-san blinked away tears as Chiyo-chan kept her gaze locked on the floor. "I'm sorry," Sakaki-san whispered, a tear escaping. She placed her hand on top of Chiyo-chan's.
"Hai," Chiyo-chan nodded, determined. "I'll start on the uniforms right away, Major!"
"Chiyo-chan, you know squad rules," Sakaki-san said, hurt. "No military address in here."
"I'm sorry," Chiyo-chan said softly. "I know I deserve the punishment, Sakaki-san. I'll get started." Chiyo-chan stood and collected all of Sakaki-san's armour and began to clean it with an old toothbrush. It almost broke Sakaki-san to see Chiyo-chan so small and alone.
The next morning was only known to be so by the alarm going off. A resounding beeping sound filled the underground room. Tomo-chan lurched over to the television and thumped the wall behind it - the beeping stopped. She flopped on the couch and turned on the TV. After a moment or two, she groaned and went to wake up Sakaki-san.
"Sakaki-san," Tomo-chan said in her best morning monotone. "Sakaki-san, please wake up. Sakaki-san." Tomo-chan poked the major, who sat up instantly, a gun raised. Tomo-chan yelled and covered her face. Sakaki-san lowered the weapon, embarrassed.
"Sorry, Tomo-chan," Sakaki-san muttered. She stretched, and gently woke up the other women. Chihiro-san and Kaorin-san were doing their shift of above ground guard. Chiyo-chan was the last along the row of bunks. Sakaki-san woke her gently, and blushed when Chiyo-chan gave her cutest yawn of the day. She rubbed her eyes and stretched; Sakaki-san went red.
"Morning, Sakaki-san," Chiyo-chan said happily. "I'll get started right away on the punishment you gave me!" Chiyo-chan sat up in her bed, smiling and humming to herself. "I'm not mad with you, Sakaki-san," Chiyo-chan looked at Sakaki-san directly, her face serious. "I'm mad with myself for making such a dumb decision and if I hadn't fallen down that dune you could have been killed. I just feel very, very stupid."
Sakaki-san smiled, relieved. "At least you know for next time," Sakaki-san said softly. Chiyo-chan giggled.
"Hai!" she nodded, and began her chores for the day.
Gradually the other women climbed out of bed and stumbled over to the fridge and lone cupboard beside it. "How long til I get R and R at Main Base?" Tomo-chan whined. "I want real food!" lifting out a packet of extremely dried fruit, Tomo-chan wailed.
"Tomo-chan, you and Kagura-san have guard next, so eat up and suit up." Yomi-san ordered from the couch. On her lap was an open packet of crackers and a tiny container of vegemite.
"How can you eat that stuff?" Kagura-san asked, her face a grimace, sitting beside Yomi-san with dry cereal in her hands.
"You get used to it," Yomi-san shrugged, glass-covered eyes intent on the latest news from Sake. "Makes the crackers slightly less cardboard-like."
"Plus the fewer calories, the better, right?" Tomo-chan poked her tongue out at Yomi-san, who ignored her.
"Yomi-san, suit up." Sakaki-san ordered. Yomi-san pulled a face but did as she was told. "Routine inspection of the jeeps. Chiyo-chan, you're in command until we return. Let's go." Sakaki-san pulled on her armour and fastened it with ease. She collected a weapon's belt and waited by the bottom of the stairs for Yomi-san. The two women went above ground and into the vehicle shed. Sakaki-san rounded on Yomi-san, her expression verging on angry.
"Routine inspection, Major?" Yomi-san asked, her face pained.
"We don't have time for this, Captain," Sakaki-san said, her voice low. "I do not need you fainting away in the middle of a fight because you haven't been eating right. There is nothing wrong with your body - you're full of muscle and strength, just like the rest of us. If you don't eat properly, I will personally ship you to Main Base, demote you, and have someone force-feed you each day until you get it. Understood?" Sakaki-san sagged, that many words having drained her scant energy. "You're a good warrior, and a good captain. We certainly need you here, but not if you can't look after yourself." Sakaki-san placed a hand on Yomi-san's shoulder. "As your commanding officer, and your friend, Yomi-san," Sakaki-san sighed and went to the entrance of the shed. "Let's go." Sakaki-san was two steps outside of the shed before a gun shot was fired. Sakaki-san dived into the shed.
"What the hell?" Yomi-san demanded, two guns whipping into her hands as Sakaki-san rolled and rose, also holding guns.
"I'm starting to think someone's after me, Captain," Sakaki-san muttered. "Use a jeep radio to get to the others below ground. Have them check the cameras, and get Lieutenants Ayumu-san and Chihiro-san in defensive positions. I do not want them shot at." Sakaki-san looked around the edge of the shed and another shot was fired. "They're to the north of us. Get the house from that direction to be on alert, just in case, will you?"
"Hai, Major!" Yomi-san immediately began talking into the nearest jeep's radio. Sakaki-san smiled grimly, whirled around the edge of the doorframe and fired two shots from each gun into the distance. She jumped into the jeep Yomi-san was already in, pulling up goggles and scarf. Yomi-san pulled down goggles and finished the transmission. Pulling up the scarf, she took hold of the machine gun handles Chiyo-chan modified to be inside the jeep leaving the gun on the bonnet and slightly to the left.
Sakaki-san threw the jeep into gear and sped out to where the shots had come from and saw a high-powered SUV heading off across the dunes.
"Shoot at it! Blow it up! Those damn Merchants won't get away!" Sakaki-san shouted. Yomi-san nodded, grinning under her scarf. She fired at the SUV, hitting it several times. A dark-cloaked figured appeared out of the sun roof, turned and began shooting at them; Sakaki-san swerved to avoid the shots, but Yomi-san stayed on target hitting the figure several times. It fell back into the SUV, very dead.
"Hit it with flares; it'll confuse the hell out of the driver!" Sakaki-san bellowed rather uncharacteristically. Yomi-san reached into the backseat and unhooked a four-shot flare gun. The things were not renowned for their accuracy, but Yomi-san was one of the best shots in all the Rebel squads.
The first flare hit the dune in front of the SUV; it swerved horribly. The second flare hit beside the driver's side, flowering among the sand. Again the car swerved. Yomi-san's third shot landed right on the bonnet; the SUV turned too sharply and rolled. Sakaki-san sped up and ground to a screeching halt scant metres away from the upturned vehicle. The women climbed out, pulled down face scarves, and pulled the driver from the vehicle. He was dazed, but alive.
"Typical Merchant dirt," Yomi-san muttered, checking the man for weapons. He wore a blue tunic and pants tucked into shining black boots. "You can't even dress like a warrior for war, can you?" Yomi-san spat on the man.
"Filthy Rebels have to get women to do their fighting do they?" the man slurred.
"Right, and who is taking whom prisoner?" Yomi-san punched the man's face.
"Enough, captain. Bind him, gag him, and cover his eyes." Sakaki-san ordered, getting thick ropes and a spare scarf from the jeep. Yomi-san put enough rope around his hands and feet to hold a ship together, but the major said nothing. When his limbs were sufficiently bound, Sakaki-san covered his entire face with the opened scarf. Taking a critical look at the struggling man, she dealt him a powerful punch to the side of his head. He fell down like a stone. Looking slyly at Yomi-san, Sakaki-san held a finger to her lips.
"He hit his head when he crashed." Yomi-san nodded sagely. Without a word the women righted the SUV, hitched it to their jeep, loaded their prisoner in the back of the jeep and went back to the house.
With the prisoner heavily guarded inside the house, Sakaki-san and Chiyo-chan stood beside the shed looking over the SUV.
"I'm not asking you to save it. Just try to salvage something, and then we can sell or trade it for better food, more R and R, or something." Sakaki-san said. Chiyo-chan grinned.
"I'll do my best, Major Sakaki-san!"
"Thanks," Sakaki-san smiled, and placed her hand on top of Chiyo-chan's head, just as she had when they were in high school. Chiyo-chan giggled as Sakaki-san blushed.
"Major!" Kaorin-san's voice crackled over the jeep's radio. Both women jumped, startled out of the moment. Sakaki-san cleared her throat awkwardly and lifted the radio mic. Chiyo-chan frowned. She couldn't have known. She couldn't have.
"Yes?"
"When do you expect the prisoner to be picked up?"
"In perhaps an hour. Is that all?" Sakaki-san asked, puzzled.
"Yes, thankyou Major."
Sakaki-san sighed and replaced the radio mic. Twisting her back, she turned to see Chiyo-chan's unsure expression. "Yes, things are a little odd between Kaorin-san and I. I would have preferred it if she'd been stationed somewhere else, but I can no more refuse orders from Main Base than you can."
Chiyo-chan nodded. The love affair between the major and Kaorin-san had broken off shortly after Kaorin-san had completed her training. Neither of them spoke about their time together. "I know. Major Sakaki-san, why were they shooting at you?"
Sakaki-san turned away and shrugged. "I don't quite know," she said softly. Again the radio crackled.
"Major Sakaki-san, are you there?" a man's voice asked. Sakaki-san frowned, and picked up the radio mic.
"I'm here, commander," Sakaki-san said. Chiyo-chan's face was one of awe. On the radio was the man nicknamed Kenshin, Commander of all Rebel forces.
"House Twelve, the house to the east of you? They were wiped out this morning." the man announced coolly. Chiyo-chan gasped, her eyes frighteningly huge. "An attack was carried out on House Ten, to your west, but they turned the attackers away. They had an extra squad. Major Sakaki-san, you will return to Main Base with the transport this afternoon along with your prisoner. I will speak with you then."
"Hai, Commander Kenshin." Sakaki-san replaced the radio mic again. Chiyo-chan looked at her with large, teary eyes.
"Why are you leaving?" Chiyo-chan asked , her voice high-pitched in panic.
Sakaki-san rested her hands on Chiyo-chan's lower shoulders. "I'm putting you all in danger. It's safer for everyone if I'm at Main Base."
An hour later the transport arrived - a cluster of jeeps roared over the horizon. Sakaki-san awaited the knock on the door, sitting on her now bare bunk with a rucksack beside her. Chiyo-chan sat beside her, clutching something in her small hand. Eventually she placed it on Sakaki-san's lap; it was one of Chiyo-chan's many miniature plushies of a sleeping kitten, and she knew it was Sakaki-san's favourite. Sakaki-san blushed, and placed it under a shirt in her rucksack. They both knew it would not do to have a major as fiercely known as Sakaki-san to own kitten plushies.
The knock at the door came; Yomi-san opened it, her face sombre. Down came two heavily armed burly men, followed by a third. The men bowed to the major before the first two hefted the prisoner roughly and took him above ground. The third approached Sakaki-san.
"Let's make this fast, major." he said briskly before walking out again. Sakaki-san got to her feet and lifted her bag. Chiyo-chan stood and looked up at Sakaki-san with tear-filled eyes.
"He'll protect you, Sakaki-san," Chiyo-chan whispered, indicating the mini plushie.
Sakaki-san placed her hand on Chiyo-chan's head for the second time that day, blushed, and followed the men upstairs and away.