Author's Note: Sorry this one took so long. I had to get back into the normal flow of things and there was a day or two where I kind of put off the writing. But just to lay any worries to rest, this story ain't gonna end anytime soon. The real challenge for me though will be creating entirely new content for the third act.

Chapter 44: Solice

January 21st 2011 0004 Hours

Aboard the Crimson Sparrow, The South China Sea

If she was on deck or the bridge, the lights of the city of Shanghai and China itself was fading away the further and further they sailed. Below she was glad for the warmth as she made her way to the sick bay to finally talk face to face with her other best friend and sister. Kasper's ship was far better suited for quick escapes in the current situation that Koko was in. It was a weird concept of a ship based on Kasper's needs and wants and it was the only one of its kind. Needless to say that he paid for the construction of the ship himself and she scoffed at his tastes on being a mixture of both luxury and blandness. Weighing just little over half of her own cargo ship its main hull was that of a fast combat support ship while the structures above deck looked very similar to that of a modern day destroyer. Complete with a tactical operations room normally befitting of war at sea or the amphibious type if the situation called for it. As well as a hanger for the several UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters he had below deck. Only thing that kept it from being a full fledged warship was that it didn't have any visual armaments, keyword being visual. And they weren't the ones neatly stacked in containers below the decks.

While both their ships were armed enough to discourage any possible raiders or pirates, Kasper took a more serious approach to conflict at sea. The Stinger that Chiquita used was just the basic tool for anti-air defense. Near the bridge, hidden under concealed hatches were two 20mm M61 Vulcan cannons. Perfect for taking down any close range aircraft or incoming missiles. For his own missile batteries, near the bow were two RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles and at the stern were two AIM-9 Sidewinder anti-air missiles. If anything Kasper wanted to make sure that no one got near his wares without a fight. Or if he'd even give them a chance.

She had just missed the both of them, as the ships doctor told her that the moment Valmet had her wounds treated she darted off somewhere with Damien. Who, while he was in sick bay, had asked the doctor to fix the stiches that he had opened back up during some strenuous physical activity to rescue her. For a brief moment, Koko had assumed the worst of where they both went and would only imagine Kasper never letting Damien hear the end of it. But she knew Damien practiced common sense, at times, and he wasn't one of the horny morons most young men his age never decided to grow out of.

There wasn't really a whole lot of places for them to go and the crew was asleep and not leaving the ship anytime soon so she took her time and started from top to bottom. But she realized she must have been more tired than she let on, it was an obvious place where he always went after being at work for longer periods. He was always starving at the end of them. As she approached the galley she smelled the aroma of chicken and when she opened the swinging doors there was a mess of used pots and pans along with some used knives left in the sink. Damien always did clean up the messes in her galley but it seems that since this was Kasper's "house" he didn't care. His tolerance of him still didn't thaw well enough, but he did thank him for giving him and her crew a ride out of China. After checking a few more rooms she then smelled the chicken again and followed the scent, which led to the crews lounge. And upon further inspection the door was apparently pried open, it was often locked during the night hours according to Kasper as a bit of a disciplinary measure. Once again, Damien didn't care.

She immediately heard the TV inside the lounge that was the only source of light. From what she could hear was the ever growing unrest that was going on in North Africa that had spread from Egypt, to Tunisia, and about from her logical conclusion would be Libya next. The light diming out what actually resembled a pub rather than a lounge, complete with a full bar, pool table, dart boards, and couches placed at angles around the TV. On the one in the center she saw the familiar black hair of her sister and some deep breathing coming from her but it wasn't her snore.

"Hey."

Valmet then turned to face Koko. Smiling even with her face bandaged up from the cuts.

"Hi Koko."

She then walked over and found the source of the sound of deep breaths. Valmet held her finger to her mouth to let Koko to watch the noise. Damien resting his head on Valmet's blanketed lap. His tall and large form spread out across the rest of the couch. No surprise that he seemed mentally and physically exhausted from the last two days. Judging by the plate of leftovers on the coffee table in front of them, cooking a meal for her after she didn't eat for a whole day was what finally broke him.

"Well this looks awfully familiar don't it?" She said squatting down and resting her arms and head on the end of the couch.

Valmet knew of what she meant but didn't think it was anywhere near as bad as what happened when she left on her rouge mission and Damien following her. The aftermath though was still up in the air.

"I don't think he's gonna wake up anytime soon though." Valmet said looking down at Damien. His head facing away from the light of the television and towards her.

Koko then gently stroked Damien's head. His skin felt cold, his fear of what might happen to Valmet were most likely what caused him to push himself so much. Koko wondered if he would truly feel the same for her if a similar situation happened.

"He was thinking about you the whole time you know?"

I'd say I feel a little jealous.

"I know. But…seeing him like this compared to earlier. Well…it kind of frightens me."

Koko looked to her sister confused. "Why would you be afraid of him? You know how nervous he gets around you whenever he's caught with his pants down."

A nervous look then formed on Valmet's face. Koko's attempt at humor did little to dissuade her thoughts on the savage act Damien had perpetrated on another human being. Then falling asleep comfortably in her arms with a clear conscience. Even after all the time they spent together she still couldn't figure him out. She braced herself and told her brief but bloody memory to Koko.

"He tore a man's throat out with his bare hands right in front of me. He didn't notice I was looking right at him while he was doing it. And looking at him right now all content and peaceful…."

Koko paid attention to how Valmet explained the event. Normally such things are said in exaggeration but she said it as matter of fact. She then looked at the innocently sleeping Damien and rubbed her thumb on the silver shield he gave to her. He had all of the physical features that made him appear to be larger than life. A collective opinion would say a handsome youth ready to find their place in the world, sort of stereotypical view. Those that placed reality above all else would say that all of that would disappear after a soldier see's the reality of war, they were the ones that were right. But Damien was more than that, in more ways than anyone in the world would even imagine. He was a Green Beret and had all the knowledge, skills, and strength that make them some of the deadliest men in the world. And no matter what he would always have a violent side. Molded by the bitter selfishness of fools. But to Koko, he was just Damien. And she hoped he'd be more than that in the new world she had now began to create.

"Just because he's killed a lot of people in a lot of ways doesn't mean he doesn't have a heart. So when he wakes up I'll tell him to start using a softer hammer. Granted they deserved it for what they did to you. But don't make one act he did define him as who he is because you know he's more than that." She then stood up and wrapped her arms around her head. "I'm so glad you're ok."

Valmet then held one of her arms. "Let's hope the PLA doesn't try this again."

"They won't ever again. I swear on my life they won't. This is the second time they tried to take you from me. There won't be a third." She said with reassurance.

"By the way Koko. How did you manage to find me so quick?" She asked as they let each other go.

She smiled. "Let's just say my work paid off but it still has a few kinks to work out. But that's for later, right now I need to make a declaration."

Valmet raised her eyebrow as Koko looked down at Damien still unconscious.

"No more underhanded bouts or petty jealousy or arguments or letting anger threaten our little family. Both of us care for him. So may the best woman win." She said with her trademark smile.

Valmet then stared back to Koko unable to formulate a response to what she was entailing. Despite on how they would sometimes bicker over trivial things in all the years they'd known each other, a man would be the last thing on both their minds. Now she knew how awkward Damien felt whenever the topic of him and women came up. She knew when because of the subtle twitch of his mouth baring teeth he did every time it happened. But now she realized that she cared about Damien, just as much as she did Koko. Juggling a intimate relationship between two people was not a good idea so it looked like she had to make a choice just like Damien.

"Koko we had this discussion before. Think about what he wants." She said as if she was warning her.

"I am. Whatever choice he makes, I'll honor it. But I have to hear it from his mouth. Only problem is he's too stubborn to shake off his tough guy persona. It's real annoying isn't it?"

Valmet chuckled. "I wouldn't put it in his top five flaws, but I prefer that over the times when tries to be funny but he ends up looking like an ass."

Koko giggled as well. "Well lets both agree to try and break him out of THAT shell. But starting tomorrow…" She then leaned in closer to Valmet's face. "…it's on."

Valmet always did whatever Koko asked of her without hesitation. But everyone grows and learns, she'd be fool if she didn't and Damien would have called her out on it if she did. It was why he prided himself on knowledge, mostly because he was trying to figure out a way to right all the wrongs he'd ever done. But one thing she picked up from Koko that she shared with her was there was always a gray area in everything. This would be another part of it, but she wondered on how Koko would win a losing battle. She had already went all the way with Damien, she knew Koko couldn't beat that.

"How do you even plan on starting since your so far behind?" Valmet said closing her own distance to her.

"Two things." Koko said holding up two fingers. One on each hand. "One; a woman's appeal does not rely solely on the size of her bust." She said prodding both of Valmet's breasts.

"And the second?" She said unfazed. It wasn't the first time she had grouped her a little more than she should have.

Koko once again looked down to the still sleeping Damien. She knew that he was too exhausted to do anything but it would be interesting to see the look on his face if he was aware of what the two of them were discussing. As often as he likes to project that he doesn't care about things, she knew it was just a cover, and his reactions were nothing shy of glorious.

But she had a promise to fulfill to him. To let him be the first to see her new world. It would be one where he would never have to worry about killing people again. Or be a pawn to a faceless yet constantly changing group of fools. He'd live a life in peace, with her, for the rest of their lives. Taking the initiative, Koko leaned down and kissed Damien on his forehead. It was a little longer than Valmet was comfortable with.

"You already know that answer." Koko said looking back at her. "But we'll leave this be for now. I'm just so glad you're ok. I'll be right back. I'm just gonna grab another blanket and I'll sleep on the other couch."

Koko then quietly left the room so as not to wake Damien, then ran down the hall. Leaving the two of them alone. She did know the answer, but she was afraid of how Damien would react to it. He often did have a poor sense of optimism and he was still afraid of himself more than anything. He thought if he heard it come from her that something horrible would happen as if every time he made any type of choice for anything it would make everything worse. And with what he had been through in the last three years, she couldn't blame him. So it seemed like there was something else she would have to help him realize. Only he is in charge of his life, nothing of what's happened to him is his fault, and she would never let him be alone ever again. He wasn't aware of what she'd say, but it was a start.

"I love you Damien."

January 27th 2011 1000 Hours

Engine Room

I wondered how much longer we would stay on Kasper's ship. Granted that was a stupid question I thought to myself after we just narrowly declared a private war between China and Koko. But even though this was killing me to admit this, again, Kasper had picked us up when we were with our backs to the wall and we had to fight our way out. One damn thing was for sure, we wouldn't be setting foot in China for a while or even in public because this is what normally happened every time something would erupt. Either a deal goes sour, the wrong people start snooping around, your garden variety hitman shows up, or rival competition that is not too friendly. All these things lead to the possible development of tinnitus, sore shoulders and index fingers, ruined clothes, destruction of property, and unnecessary overuse of ammunition.

"Ahh. Just another day on the job." I said to keep myself motivated as I fell off the pipe I was holding on doing pull ups.

Life had returned to a somewhat state of normal until we had to go on our next scheduled business stop. Like in war we did whatever we could to keep ourselves sane from boredom. Me especially after nearly achieving a colossal failure that more than likely would have sent me on another rampage. But at least I could get some time to myself to blow off some stress with some exercise in the engine room below deck. The heat and thick air made the workout a bit more challenging. Slowly but surely the injury to my hip was healing without complication and I wasn't walking with a limp or any more pain. Didn't mean that I wouldn't hinder my daily routine and pain was something that I had been constantly in ever since I first put on the uniform, regardless of how short the time was officially. So whenever I started hitting the punching bag with my high kicks, all I could feel was just the muscles stretching and the impacts on the bag. The one I borrowed was larger and more bottom heavy, a fighters bag more or less. Since real fights were never in bare feet I always wore my boots since it would give me a hint more power in the strike. Gloves were never necessary for me either but instead of wrapping up my knuckles in tape I just wrapped up some rags on my hands.

Needless to say my strikes had more force behind them as of recent. They've connected with many a man and woman, broke many bones, and bled a lot of flesh.

"No surprise you're the one that stole my bag."

I turned the sound of the voice of an older woman over the noise of the ships engines. Lo and behold one of the receiving ends of my fists decided to pay me a visit. It wasn't the first time on this little pleasure cruise she tried to break the ice. To be fair she did and when it was all over the floor then that was it. The little cub crap she always said to me was getting old. I often wondered if that fucking smile on her face was just a botched face lift. Couldn't be any worse than the other possible time she went under a knife to keep those beach balls from being deflated.

Then again, Sophia told me hers are real and…Wait a minute! What the hell am I thinking!?

I quickly got THAT lucid thought out of my head by punching the bag even harder. Then again Lehm's ex wasn't really discreet about what she had. She even dressed similarly to Sophia with simpler attire except she had a preference for clothes her age but it seemed she always wanted to show that tattoo on her forearm.

"You keep hitting that hard you'll break your hand before you break your opponent." She said walking to the other side of the bag. Arms crossed and hair in her face.

"I've been in plenty of fights and I've always walked away alive." I said with a kick to the side of bag that sent it to my left with some momentum. While trying to give the indication that I wanted to be left alone.

But as I went to follow up with another with a little more force, the bag didn't even move. As I held my position I saw the sole of Chiquita's boot on the other side. Apparently she hit the bag with a spinning back kick while I hit the bag with my kick at the same time. The gender stereotype of women in combat came down with little effort on me a long time ago so it didn't surprise me on how well she held her ground against me twice in a fight. I don't boast my strength or speed or technique, I simply AM an expert in my profession. Regardless of the fact that I disgraced and abandoned my nation and it's military. I can't just unlearn all those skills in waging war. But it didn't change the fact that a woman who had at least twenty years on me had stopped my kick on a bag that had an average weight of a seasoned US Marine. You'd have to experience this moment for yourself to understand how somewhat terrifying it is.

"You've never won against me, mishka." She said as we both relaxed our stances as she made her way to face me.

"You had interference from the Three Stooges and Koko stopped me from blowing your head off. As far as I'm concerned they were both draws. And stop calling me that. I ain't your fuckin' pet cub."

She then held her hand to her chin. "You right. Your Valmet's and that wouldn't be fair to her."

I just gave her a look of annoyance, I did kinda walk into that one. Plus she wasn't wrong. But as far as relationships went with her and Kasper, it was strictly business. I was still a novice in trying to learn from Koko on how to operate in the gray area even though they did save us and gave us a place to hide out for a while.

"I don't got time for this shit. Do you need something? Cause you're interrupting my regiment."

"You got shot again didn't you?" Her permanent smile relaxed a bit.

"Yeah so what?"

"Don't "So What?" me mishka. It's no secret you and Valmet care about each other on a level more than you'd like to admit. But from what the old man was telling me you acted rather reckless this time and if one thing went wrong you would have died. And that would have made Valmet very sad. Koko even more. I haven't been around her as much as Lehm has but I've known her and her brother all their lives since I first started working for Floyd. They're as much my family as I am theirs."

"Your point?"

"I'll teach you a few things that will help keep you alive for a little bit longer."

I disagreed instantly. "I have no-"

"You don't have a choice in this matter Damien." But then she cut me off. "Floyd saved my life and I won't let his daughter be protected by an overconfident dumbass that doesn't care if he lives or dies. So shut up and follow me."

As she then turned away with her hands in her pockets I noticed that her permanent smile turned into a neutral line. First time I ever saw her without it, like at all. Including wondering what the hell she meant by old man Hekmatyar saving her life.

"And before you say anything else I've got Koko's, the old man's, and Valmet's approval to get you to drop that loner bullshit that you still don't wanna let go." She stopped to turn around with her smile plastered on again. "So you can deal with them if you don't want to."

Of course you did. Goddamnit.

"Don't look so disappointed mishka. It'll be fun. Trust me."

1045 Hours

Cargo Hold

Not really having much of a choice I then followed her to the much more open cargo holds. A few padded rubber mats were laid on the floor so as whatever the hell we were about to do we didn't break something if we landed on solid metal. I figured I just get this over with listen to whatever she had to say and mimic whatever she was gonna teach me. I had more than enough experience with my own styles in Pencak Silat, Mui Thai, and Krav Maga. I hoped that whatever she was about to show wasn't flashy but I could take in the fact that she took combat as seriously as I did. Unless you have to take someone alive and/or unharmed, you just shoot 'em and move on.

"I understand that you're pretty good at disarming your opponents by using their own momentum against them and targeting the joints. Your own variety of martial arts is good too but it comes with a big weakness."

"Don't just say that I rely on my size and strength, I can't help how I'm built. And despite what you may think I'm a lot more flexible than you realize." I really didn't wanna deal with this master pupil bullshit.

"I wasn't going to even say that. You know of your own limitations and compensate for them. However you use your abilities to their fullest potential."

Took me a little by surprise. "How is ending a fight as quick as possible not a good thing? Combat ain't supposed to be pretty."

"It's because you think that everyone you come across is going to be on the level of people like us. Not to mention that your average opponent is below you in terms of ability as well as the literal physical sense. You wanting to throw all your might into a strike WILL burn you out and make your moves sloppy. You do have a limit on how many men you can fight against and even though it's rare name a time when you've fought an enemy that was truly by themselves. So if and when you do get back to your gun you'll be slow on the trigger. So…"

She then reached behind her waisted and pulled out her Sig Sauer and unloaded it. I was somewhat interested in where this was going to go but I noticed that the gun looked a little cleaner and somewhat less used as compared to last time I saw it. I then got to look at it closer as she tossed it to me. It wasn't a 226 it was a 2022.

"Hey wait a damn minute, this is my gun!"

"Quite an arsenal you have. You do have to tell me who made that fancy travel case." She said uncaring.

"The fuck were you doing looking through my gear!?" I demanded.

"Calm down, Valmet gave me permission. Plus it's your own fault that you left it unlocked and wide open. That was just still in its case."

I just growled in annoyance. Just cause I didn't use this pistol didn't mean it gave her an excuse to take it.

"I also needed it because this is part of the exercise. And I got these from Valmet too." She then pulled out a rubber practice knife from her pocket. "Now just hold that gun like you would normally and walk toward me."

I just stared at her. It was starting to dawn on me that this really wasn't worth it. I'd prefer the scolding from Koko.

"Look Damien I get it." Her quirky attitude then turned somber. It was followed by the second loss of her smile. "You have every right to be furious and not trust Kasper or me for what we did to you. But I'm asking you to believe me that how all that went down was not on a personal level. I don't want to sound cliché but it was just business. It was in the past. If you think he took it too far then it was an accident. Kasper said it himself, he didn't want to kill you. And neither did I. Why are you still holding onto this grudge? Didn't we send those kids off to where they would be happy? Didn't we just recently just give you and Koko a hiding spot?"

She wasn't berating me, she was more along the lines of trying to see what they did was wrong. These were the moments in my life in which I hated sometimes. Surprisingly kind acts by people that are on some level or another, terrible. And here I am acting like a fucking hypocrite again. This was my life now, I had to get used to it no matter how awkward and mentally unbarring it can be sometimes. But I couldn't apologize to her and tell her she was right. Not yet anyway.

"You said approach you like I would normally." Palms pressed together like normal. "What's next?"

That lazy smile came back. "Fall into the moves."

Not knowing what to expect I just approached her as if I was gonna put her in zip ties next. But what came next was her using one hand to pull my gun forward and her other hand to strike my ear. She then leaned into my side and landed an elbow at the top of my sternum. Then she used her body weight to push me to the floor by the face while putting pressure on my wrist to force me to let go of the gun. Even with the rubber mat there was a very audible thud when I hit the floor, pretty hard.

"I said fall into the moves. Not take every strike."

I just cursed under my breath as I rubbed the back of my head.

"Alright get up we'll try something a different approach. Come at me again."

Regretting it but doing it anyway I came at her with a more aggressive movement. Sensing she would go for the wrist again I would move into her and sweep her leg out. I was right but she was quicker than she looked. While pulling my arm she got behind me and pulled me down by the nose while falling backward over her knee.

"Come on mishka you're acting like an amateur. Try again."

She was right, I was fighting like a complete loser. I had to shake off this funk I had placed myself in after worrying about Sophia so much. The two hard landings on the floor did a damn good job of getting me to realize I would have to go back into the fray soon and I would be dead if I acted like this. Getting back on my feet I opened the distance between her and myself with the gun up ready to go.

Ok. New approach.

She tilted her head as if she was expecting something different and she was right, I just couldn't let her see it until the last possible second. As her black bangs drooped down across her green eyes I approached again. When all else fails; be unpredictable.

Just as I got within range I dropped the gun and caught her own wrist just as she was about to grab mine while connecting elbows. Sensing a follow up I saw her about to counter with her free arm. Catching it and pushing it to the side I took her other arm and wrapped it around in a lock. Stepping into her front I let the pressure points do their work and as she shouted in pain I threw her to the ground. Finishing up by stomping next to her head with the thud echoing around the cargo hold. It wasn't really the proper way in Silat but normally once you have your enemy on the ground you have to finish them off. That's where my operator training came in when I would use either a gun, knife, or stomp on their throat.

In spite of all that, she still had that damn smile on her face. Only difference was the surprised look in her eyes.

"Better?" I asked letting her know I hadn't rusted up the slightest.

"Much." She answered while getting up herself. I wasn't gonna offer a hand anyway.

"I'm also not going to learn anything if you don't tell me what your actually doing."

"It's called Systema. A free form martial art that focuses on disabling an opponent using pressure points and joints. Similar to your Krav Maga but all of its moves can be used with knives and pistols. I can teach you how to implement a rifle into it but that would take a month or two. And you're not stay on this ship for that long."

She looked like she had been practicing that type of form her entire life. Then again she was a veteran with leagues more experience than I had but I would hold my guesses on how she actually learned that. Another question that I was asking myself from a while ago was what did she mean when Floyd Hekmatyar saved her life. With my curiosity peaked I dove into one of my dictionaries on another language I hoped I got the proper response.

"Otkuda vy eto uznali?"

(Where did you learn this?)

Her smile widened a little more. I guessed right.

"Ochen' davno. Kogda zanaves nakonets nachal padat'."

(A long time ago. When the curtain was starting to fall.)

It was not really a priority on figuring out who she was when we first met, I was more concerned with staying alive and making sure those kids got away. But it is a bit of an interesting experience from meeting someone that long ago was technically supposed to be a part of the United States' sworn enemy. Then again politics tend to determine who a nation should hate so it fits their own fucking agenda. People are different. They all have stories from when they were young, events they took part in, little quirks that make them all unique. I didn't think I'd ever come across one that was the mirror version of the CIA. Or from my experience, the same shit only in a different bucket.

"Ya poluchay eto seychas. Chto sluchilos'? Vy uznayete, chto Mat'Rossiya ne takaya slavnaya?"

(I get it now. What happened? You find out Mother Russia isn't so glorious?)

Her smile remained but her green eyes narrowed. It also appeared she wanted to change back languages.

"To me it never was. It's not even where I was born. My father just took me and my mother back to Russia from Estonia when I came of age." She then looked up to the cargo holds flickering lights. "A beautiful, strong, ideal, family fit to be the perfect example of the Motherland." She said sarcastically.

I then got back into my defensive stance. Get her to do two things at once and maybe give me a bit of an advantage.

"So how does the KGB fit into all of this?" I didn't need to catch it on the nose.

"Try and get out of this next arm lock." She then got into her own stance. "The initial plan was to just to expand his reach and pull." I stepped forward with a swing and she used both her arms to lock mine into place. "But I saw it as a new home and a chance to put some adventure in my life." She then put a little extra pressure on that caused me to yelp in pain. "The adrenaline is just a bonus."

Using some quick footwork I put myself on her side. "When'd old man Hekmatyar step in?" Using my near half foot height advantage on her I then locked her own arm behind her head. "Somehow I got the feeling the Soviet's didn't let you go willingly." Then I finished her off with a knee to the sternum and used my own momentum to throw her to the floor. "Two for two. We're even."

She then twirled her legs on the ground to get me at a distance and then got back on her feet. "After everything around them was falling apart and not wanting to admit it, I took some information that they didn't want to let leak out." She then stepped forward with a kick. But as I dodged it she leapt in the air and used her other leg to trap me in a scissor like move and let her weight drop me to the ground. Springing back up, she went to deliver a finishing kick but I caught it at the last moment. Unfortunately I caught it with both hands and she then twirled and kicked me in the jaw with her free leg. "It was around that time Floyd was making a name for himself. In exchange for keeping me hidden from the Russians I helped him make a slew of arms deals and connections in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa that he still has today." I didn't get up immediately after that last blow. Reaching inside of my mouth I saw blood on my finger-tips. "Come on get up. Something like that won't slow you down." She said crouched down on one knee, her hand out, still smiling. Not wanting to show off the attitude of a complete dick I took it. But not without protest.

"Are you actually going to teach me anything or are we just going to pick up where we left off?"

She then walked back and grabbed my 2022 that was still on the mat.

"I need to know what I'm working with. And it has experience with a great amount of room for growth. My only regret is that I wish I had more time to develop it more."

These used to be the types of things I tended to get jumpy around. But sometimes I do tend to overthink things. Cause I remembered what she said earlier about old man Hekmatyar. I only just wished she wasn't praising me for potential cause at my core I wasn't worth it. At least I could return the professional courtesy properly now.

"I'm grateful. But don't even think that I'm gonna turn out into a younger version of your ex-husband. I ain't him and it would be creepy and weird."

She then approached me and tapped the grip of the pistol on my chest.

"He and I had our differences but despite his dry and lazy demeanor he puts protecting Koko above everything else. I am glad that she's found someone that can do more than that."

I then took my gun back. "Might be a problem. She and Sophia have been doing a little more than their staring contests and I'm in the middle of it."

She chuckled. "I thought you already made your decision?"

"It's…complicated." I said looking at the unused sidearm Koko gave me.

I then felt a pat on my head. "I won't lie and say that I know what you've been through. But you still have your youth Damien, don't waste it. Koko has the closest group of people I've ever met in my life. I want her to be happy just as much as you do. But what your doing right now is not healthy for you, her, or Valmet." Her hand moved from my head to my face. "So far right now you've been lucky and it's not going to last. You need to make a choice and this time you have to make it your final decision."

"This" time? Oh shit.

"What did she tell you?" I asked dreading the answer.

She took her hand away. "Enough to come to the conclusion that you care about them both. But you're too stubborn to say that there's only one of them you love."

I just groaned and ran my hands through my long hair. "Like I said it's complicated."

"Well uncomplicate it mishka."

"Seriously. Stop calling me that."

"Hmm. Tell you what, we still have a two hours until lunch. If you can perfect the basic moves and we get up to knife fighting before that, I'll consider it."

I didn't believe that for a second and now I'd have to cook again once this was over. But what the hell. I still get a new set of skills to use to beat someone's ass.

"Well? What's the first step?"

"Get that hair out of your face. You like Kurt Cobain on his bad days."

Her observation was on point. I hated it when that happened.

1320 Hours

Mess Hall

I was actually kind of surprised she took lessons she was giving me seriously. I did have a bit of a problem trying to break away from my consistency in what I already knew but some of the moves were just the same type in a different name. I did however forgot that it really drains your energy doing the same move in repetition. Carbo loading tends to fix that.

"The meatballs are good but the sauce is pretty thin. Seven out of ten, mishka."

Everyone's a critic.

I decided best not react and give her more ammo.

"It's not his fault my brother can't tell the difference between food and grease."

As well as not running an even greater risk of two massive fucking powder kegs sitting across from us. Chiquita at least sat next to me so that I wouldn't be the cause of the friction that would have more than likely set them off. I just continued to eat in peace and hopefully they would too.

"Oh damn it." Sophia cursed as the meatball fell off of her fork and onto the floor.

It was her own fault for putting too much spaghetti on it. But as she went down to clean it up off the floor with her napkin Koko snatched up the last one on her plate. Scarfing it down quickly before Sophia got back up.

Oh God really?

As she got back in her seat she noticed something obviously wasn't on her plate. I just kept eating, Chiquita just looked at her indifferently, Koko couldn't hide all the spaghetti she shoved in her mouth.

"Koko, where's my meatball?"

She finished chewing, swallowed, and dropped her fork on her plate and ran out the galley.

"Get back here!" She shouted chasing after her.

A few moments after that happened, Chiquita broke the awkward silence.

"No comment Damien?"

"What's there to comment about? Koko was hungry. You clean since I cooked." I then wiped the red sauce off my mouth. "And I'm full. Later."

Chiquita then put her hand on my arm before I left the table.

"They're not going to keep up that innocent routine forever Damien."

I leaned back and then slid down the chair a bit. It be best to reassure her that I was gonna handle this properly. Starting from the beginning.

"I actually already told Koko no."

"Well then what happened?" She asked trying to look me in the eye.

"My fucking mess of a life is what happened." I paused for a moment. She let me continue. "It was first during that ambush in Hungary. On New Years Koko told me something rather significant after I witnessed first hand her not so pleasant relationship with her father. And of course you know all about what happened last week. I just…fucking wish all this shit would stop following me around and leave me the fuck alone!"

I then leaned forward, growled, and started slowly clawing my hands across my face. But before any more bad memories wormed their way into my head I caught the sight of a cross surrounded by a sunburst and being pulled into, dare I say it, something rather soft. Along with rubbing on the top of my head.

"Stop trying to blame yourself for things you have no control over Damien. I know your smart enough to know that life isn't painless. You'd know that better than anybody. But not everyone gets a second chance, so don't take it for granted. Make a choice and accept the results."

She was right, I did get another chance. And I was just caught up in too much shit to even realize it. I still had a long way to go to try and make up for what I've done. But most of all, I wanted to figure out what Koko meant by getting me to go back home. The real challenge that lies ahead of me though doesn't even involve trying to stay alive. I already knew what I wanted, but I had to think of the long term consequences. But speaking of not realizing things, learning about others tends to be pleasant at times. Especially if you learn about who or what they are.

"Thanks Anya."

She let out an audible surprise as she let me go. "How'd you figure that out?"

"The moron that owns this rust bucket we're sailing in isn't the only guy in this line of work that's good in finding out things." I said simply.

"Actually I was wondering how you managed to figure out gratitude."

I then started to laugh. That was pretty good. I liked that one.

"And laughter too. You're on a roll."

"Alright you dried up old hag don't ruin it."

She giggled. "That's my mishka."

2200 Hours

In a few days we'd be off Kasper's ship and back to our scheduled business trip around Asia. The MSS's interference didn't really make a significant delay in Koko's plan's but that didn't mean it wasn't painful. I wondered though what we would be doing once we were done out here. As I was sitting on the bed in my cabin, checking the news on my phone before I decided to go to bed. I saw the news had been abuzz with the full fledged rebellion that had erupted in Egypt two days ago. North Africa was becoming a massive hot spot with a series of revolutions to what a lot of people are calling, The Arab Spring. It seemed like people were finally done living under the thumb of dictators and had enough. While noble and I applauded them for wanting to be better nations and better people I kept my expectations low. It's simply a common theme that happens in a lot of third world countries. Those that look like heroes then turn into villains because of what they gained through their victories. Economic problems still left behind from those that were previously in charge. Minorities leave majorities in the rut and vice versa. Free elections are promised and then the same guy never leaves office.

"Ugh. Give them another twenty years and they'll be at it again. I'm surprised the US hasn't stepped in yet."

I then caught the silhouette of Sophia coming in the dim cabin. Hair wet and towel around her shoulders from the showers.

"What was that Damien?" She asked.

"Nothing. Just checking the news. Egypt won't be on anyone's vacation spots for a while. Crazy to think we were just there not more six months ago."

She tossed the towel on a chair and sat next to me leaning over to look at the pictures of surprisingly massive amounts of people taking to the streets calling for the ousting the President and his cabinet. It wasn't bloodless but it was fascinating to see that the people wanted to make this thing as painless as possible.

"Yeah, it was. This tends to happen more than you think. Whenever Koko supplies the demand it gets used. Only a matter of time of whether it gets used or not."

"Hmm."

I then shut my phone off and then the light. Sophia then crawled under the blankets next to me. I did want to talk to her, but not yet. It wasn't the time.

"I'm proud of you."

"For what?"

"Manning up and putting a past experience behind you."

"Well, one step at a time."

She smiled and then kissed me good night on the forehead. The bruised portion when Chiquita kicked it. She closed her eye and went right to sleep, but I just kept looking at her for a few minutes.

Why is she so beautiful?

The choice was not going to be easy for any of us. Both of them saved my life but she and I share so many experiences and things. The real question was finding out the appropriate way to make the final decision. I won't screw this up.