Chapter 7

Pan awoke to a vibrating and a humming from her hands. She opened her eyes and quickly turned off the alarm in her grasp. It was 5:00am.

"Yes!" Pan whispered and got to her feet. She tiptoed to the bathroom and took a shower. She dressed into a pair of tight but flexible jeans, a black tank top and black trainers. As she flowed her energy, she dried her hair with her Ki and made sure not to raise it enough to wake her parent and uncle. It had been 30 minuets as it had taken her that long to wash and dry her long hair. She looked in her mirror and decided that it would hardly be practical for the Army. Pan went to her drawers and took out a pair of Scissors. She carefully shortened her fringe so it was level and back to its usual length. Then came the hard part. How would she cut her hair? Something about her just told her not to cut it. She liked its new length and decided that a bun would suffice. She tied it back and looked at herself in the mirror.

20 minuets, that all I will have to wait now. 20 minuets and they will be here for me. I will have to be waiting and ready for them or I will have to put up with my folks. Wait! I could meet them down the road so they won't wake up my parents. All I need it the letter and CD for identification, so I can meet them up the road.

Pan took her pre packed bag and tip toed down the stairs. Luckily, she didn't wake any of them as she left the house. She had had practice from sneaking off to train with Vegeta. She walked up the road and looked out for the Car. Or was it a Truck? She couldn't remember. But she was soon reminded as an army vehicle that looked like a four by four in camouflage, pulled up next to her. She said nothing and produced her letter and the CD. At the driving wheel was a black man.

He was bald and looked to be in his late 20s. He had a half smoked cigar hanging out of his mouth and she noticed that he had a tattoo on his arm. It was a large black dog with three heads.

"Cerberus..."

"Yeah?"

"Oh, is that your name? I just saw your tattoo and I, it is Cerberus, isn't it."

"Yeah, what's ya name squirt?"

"Pan Son sir."

"Sir? You say that to me and you will go places. Nice manners. You look clean and smart enough. I like the bun. Practical. And you are early. I like it. Yeah, get onboard Short stuff."

"Yes sir." Pan climbed onto the Truck and dropped her bag next to her. She looked to see she was the only one in there and turned back tot her driver.

"May I ask a question, sir?"

"Go ahead Cadet. That is what you are now. Go on."

"What rank and position do you belong to? I think position is the right word."

"The correct term is base, division and rank. I am Commander Cerberus, for obvious reasons, I belong to the NT Base also known as P base. As General Politico is in charge there. I am a member of the Hurricane squadron, like you."

"I belong to a squadron? Already?"

"Yeah, you must have really impressed General Politico when you met him."

"So he was a general. How long will it be until we arrive?"

"We will meet the boat in about 5 minuets, or if you can hold onto your guts, sooner. I hope you don't have a weak stomach."

"I don't why?"

"Hold on and you will see why." Commander Cerberus (or CC) stomped down on the acceleration and sped through traffic, streets and then stopped with a jerk at the water side. "You alright squirt?"

"Yes sir."

"Here we go." The truck rolled forward onto a boat. It was sealed onto its top and the boat set off. A film of energy covered the top of the boat and it submerged under water. "Hay, Kid!" Pan looked towards him and waited to see what he wanted. "Welcome, to the RRA. I hope you have what it takes, or you don't live that long."

"Huh? Why not?" CC vanished and left Pan alone. She got out the car and swung her bag over her shoulder.

Damn they are fast buggers!

Pan took her things and found herself in a room. It was filled with men and they were all over bulky. CC was stood at the front and the others turned to face her as she entered. They smugly looked at her and she got a few wolf whistles. They were white and all had army hair cuts. They all looked ruff and all had fags or cigars in their mouths. She didn't like the feeling she got from them, being watched and undressed mentally wasn't what she was used to.

"Now you lot move yourselves. This is the newest member to our Squadron. She is Pan. Or Squirt. I call her squirt. Now all of you sit as I brief you of your day. You will meet General Politico and will be briefed on your exercise. You haven't had one in a month and with the arrival if the squirt, you need one to show her how this squadron works. To your feet gentlemen!" every man got to their feet and saluted CC. Pan saw why. In walked General Politico with his head high and a scowl on his face.

"GET THOSE FAGS OUT OF YOUR MOUTHS NOW!" every man including CC spat their cigars and cigarettes into a bin or on the floor. They resumed their salute and stood to attention. Pan felt like she was being watched and saw the general staring at her. She quickly jumped to attention and saluted too.

Damn, forgot that I have to do that now...

"Nice save Cadet. Now for the reason you are on this ship." General Politico stalked over to the main desk and relieved CC from his position. "You will be dropped off in the very centre of of the underwater base. General Saar's men will be situated in places and will be on alert for you. They will try to shoot you with tranquiliser guns and there will be savvier punishments for those who are shot. Your objective is to get from the basement of the underwater base, then to the middle level and find the hostage. The hostage is a military personal that has a voluntary hostage position in this exercise. Under no condition do you let your charge come under fire. Or get shot. You must then escort them to the upper level and apprehend a sub ship and escape in one piece. So basically I am throwing you into the shit and, if you are shot it hurts like hell. Ready, arm up and leave. Move move MOVE!"

Pans eyes were wide open along with her mouth. She was going to be thrown straight into the fire and what did he mean punished? And what did he mean arm up? She soon found out when a man passing her through the door threw her a huge riffle.

"Huh?"

Pan saw that she had to set off with the rest or she would be left behind.

They are all moving so fast! I have to keep up!

Pan set off and ran after the other Hurricanes. She followed them down a hall, a tunnel and into a docking bay. She knew from the sound of moving metal that the door had closed behind her. They were in the base, armed with tranquilisers from the look of them, with other men trying to shoot them, with a hostage to save and a punishment if they failed. She didn't expect to be thrown in head first just yet. What happened to being a cadet, training and graduation first?

Oh my...!

Before Pan one of the soldiers held a packet for her. She took it and gladly gave him the gun. She saw inside it was a black over suite.

"You need to put that on like the rest of us. It is fire proof, bullet proof and heat proof. To stop friction burns." Pan looked around to see that all the other men had started to strip off and shove their other clothes into their back packs.

"You want me to change, here, with all of you!"

"Afraid so princess. Here." He turned round and held his over suite out like a matador to cover her.

"Thank you." Pan took her trousers off and put the suit on. She zipped it up to her hips and tied the sleeves round her waist.

There is no way I am taking my top off here. Not when they can see.

"Thank you very much."

"No problem. It's ruff being new. I know from experience. I was new last year. It was tough. I will look out for ya don't worry. Now. Rumour is that you haven't been trained, at all. Is that true?"

"Yeah. Afraid so."

"Then will you know how to use that gun?"

"No. but don't worry, I won't need it."

"Huh? Are you not coming?" He changed as he spoke.

"Yep, speaking of which, you better hurry up. Everyone else is ready." Pan turned to give him his privacy.

"I'm done. And my name is Kicho by the way."

"My name is Pan."

"Cool. Let's go." Pan followed Kicho as he slung her gun over his arm and ran with the rest of his group. "We're in the centre of the base now Pan." Kicho shouted behind him to Pan and she remembered back to her orders.

"Your objective is to get from the basement of the underwater base, then to the middle level and find the hostage. You must then escort them to the upper level and apprehend a sub ship and escape in one piece."

"So the first bit is complete about us being in the basement. Now we need to find the hostage"

Pan closed her eyes and concentrated as she reached out with her Ki. She sensed the men around her. She sensed the exact location of every man in the building. She tapped Kicho and smiled at him. He smiled back.

"What's up Pan?"

"There are three men round that corner. One has a breathing problem and one is a diabetic. The other is short and can't aim very well."

"Huh?"

"I will show you." Pan ran ahead and shocked all the other hurricane members. She sprint around the corner, unaware that the surveillance cameras were being fed to the personal waiting room of the high General. And he was very impressed so far by her bold action. She ran straight into the faces of three men. One was short, one was very thin like he was suffering from malnutrition and the other had a fag in his mouth. They were shocked that someone had just run straight at them. She powered up slightly and shot a pea sized ball of Ki out of her finger. It collided with one of them sending them flying into the other two, and made them all unconscious.

"I have knocked out three of them. shall we get going?"

"How did you do that and wait! Where are you going?"

"Up these stairs." This is a piece of cake. I know where everyone is now and I know where the hostage is.

Pan flew up a flight of stairs and emerged into a huge group of men, armed to the teeth and looking straight at her. they were surprised by her in-flight enter, but never the less they were confident, seeing she had no gun.

"This isn't fair. There are 20 of you and only 1 of me. You don't have a chance."

Pan smirked and powered up, sending her aura like a hurricane itself towards the men. they were knocked off their feet and into either the wall or each other. She sped past them and landed into an open room. There was a man in a white scientist coat and the words 'CHARGE/HOSTAGE' on his shirt. She picked him up as he was gagged and bound, slung him over her shoulder effortlessly and flew out the room, up some more stairs until she saw a sign that said docking levels. She waited and listened for her men. The hurricanes stormed up the stairs, guns outstretched and ready to use. Kicho saw it was her and told the others to hold heir fire.

"how did you?"

"Not now. Hurry up, I had to wait 10 minuets for you and we have to move. Move!" with a mighty kick, Pan removed the door out of her way and too to flight as she scanned the room for life signs and subs. There was one sub in the departure bay and she signalled to the others where it was. they all moved into tactical positions and prepared for a showdown. But Pan was not going to watch when this could be over a lot quickly and painlessly if she were to intervene. She flew down to the rest of the squadron and placed the hostage with Kicho.

"I will handle this."

"Pan Wait!" Too late. Pan had taken to flight and was headed straight for them.

In the High Generals office he watched the surveillance screen with glee. She was perfect, well almost. But she was defiantly one of the best soldiers in this army. And she had guts. She had just landed in the very middle of the swarm of men and was delivering catastrophic punches and kicks, rendering them unconscious after one blow. He watched as she tried to open a door with a code panel on it. He chuckled as he saw her lose her temper and blast the panel off. The door creaked open and Pan stormed in. He chuckled again as many men suddenly appeared on the screen as they came hurtling out of the room that the youngest Son had entered. She came back and beckoned her men onwards. They all entered the room that was the docking bay. He flipped a switch and the screen changed to see them enter the sub and he watched it submerge under the water.

Pan sat on a seat in the bridge and relaxed as the other men just stared at her. Kicho approached her and sat next to her.

"Now will you tell me how you did that?"

"Which bit?"

"How about all of it. How did you know where those men were, how did you know where the hostage was, how did fight off all those men single handed and without a gun, and how did you know where the ship was? Not to mention how did you do that floating trick?"

"Well I can't explain most of that other than with this simple answer. I am a very special girl." She smiled and Kicho hung his head in defeat.

"Alright I give up. I see why you are promoted straight to the Hurricane squadron now though. You are really good."

"Why thank you mister Kicho, I do like the flattery, but it gets you no where with me." Pan pulled a cheeky smile and looked at him. he smirked playfully and gave her his come back.

"Not even dinner? Tonight?" Pan blushed. She was 16 years old and a grown man was asking her to dinner. She looked him up and down. He was well built for a human, had short black hair, blue eyes and a friendly smile. He looked quiet clean cut. He had been nice to her so far so why not? It isn't as if she couldn't defend herself if he tried anything. But she wasn't going to be easy. She smiled cheekily and leaned towards him, resting her chin on her hand.

"I am flattered mister Kicho."

"Please Pan, call me Kicho."

"Alright. I am flattered but I am also tired. I am doing nothing but sleeping tonight."

"So is that a no, or yes another night?"

"Maybe."

"You aren't going to answer any of my questions are you?"

"No. There see, I answered that question." She smiled and he chuckled at her.

"At least come with me for a coffee."

"You don't take no for an answer now do you?"

"No. not from someone as mysterious and beautiful as yourself."

"Oo more flattery. I think I like you mister Kicho. A coffee might be acceptable. I will have to think about it."

"What is there to think about? Either yes or no."

"Let me put it this way. Either no now, or let me think about it and I might say yes."

"How long do you need?"

"Yes."

"That was quick" they both chuckled and Pan grinned at him.

"I could always change my mind?"

"Don't, please. I am looking forward to that coffee."

"Coffee it is." They smiled at each other and Pan decided that it wasn't going to be too bad in the RRA after all.