He experienced a strange dream. A tall good looking brunette was next to him and he could feel her breathe on his skin.
"Lieutant, wake up! It's time for some early morning exercise!" Makoto yelled into his ear just a few centimeters away from his ears. "Wait, did you drool on your pillow?"
He literally jumped up in bed. Looking through bleary eyes he could see that the whole Special Forces Team was standing around his bed and laughing their asses off. Makoto was towering offer him with a big ass grin.
"You got ten minutes to get ready. The boys organized some combat pants and a Rucksack for you. Get up Lieutant, we're having a nice little run in the morning."
He sighed and contemplated murder on a superior officer for a second before he got off and ready. His Chrono said it was 6 in the morning.
Ten minutes later he was dressed in combat pants, one of his spare shirts, an assault backpack packed with what felt like stones and a rifle hanging on a sling around his neck, standing in front of his bunk bed like the rest of the team. And he thought that after Kamino he might get some more rest finally.
At least they granted him a light weight Chest Rig and not a heavy body armor. Puppy Protection they said, he was flying personnel after all, they mocked him.
As they were standing there in complete gear and weapons he was trying to figure out which swath of nearby land they were going to annex now. Everyone had tons of stuff on, even the two woman.
Makoto and Rudy lead them outside and announced that they'll do a little run around the base for the next two hours.
"Since someone has to make sure that our attached flying personnel does not die I'll be with SunTzu, Rudy leads. Move out!"
They started running and Boy they were fast. SunTzu had to really concentrate to keep up.
After one hour, meaning a few laps in and around the whole base where SunTzu sometimes really struggled to keep up, Jedi Breathing Techniques for extra stamina helped again tho, they were turning in on the Airbase again, when they bumped into the Terra Squadron just starting their Morning Run, sporting training clothes and no extra weight. Team 1 passed them head on with Hulk prominently complaining that without Haruka nobody of the FlyBoys actually even tried to keep up with them.
Mako and SunTzu felt in next to Marvin who was in the back of the group.
"Good Morning Marvin, having a nice relaxing morning walk in the park I see."
„Good Morning Makoto, I see you borrowed my new pilot." Marvin replied.
„Had to show him how fit people without a sedentary work actually have to be. But I promise you get him unhurt. At least physical."
„Great. SunTzu, I see you at latest 10am over at your fighter for some training with the squadron. That is if you're still intelligent enough to fly after spending time with our ground based personnel."
„Yes Sir, I'll be there." he answered breathing quite heavy. Damn, those Team 1 Guys flayed him exactly as that Storm Commando did on Kamino.
„Enjoy the rest of your Morning Walk Marv." Makoto said and started running again.
„Keep on me Lieutant, we're here to actually exercise", she ordered SunTzu and both sped away, passing by all of the other pilots. SunTzu couldn't help but grin mockingly in Ritz's Face when he surpassed him in whole gear.
Another hour later the whole Team plus SunTzu we're back in front of their barrack, dropping off their kit and hydrated.
„Wasn't that relaxing SunTzu? I'm quite surprised you kept up. Good job, although you still could have been a bit faster." she mildly mocked him. „Oh and look here quickly."
She snapped a selfie of both of them with her phone and sent it to the Messenger group of the Senshi, stating that the new guy actually survived his first morning run with Team 1. Goddamn digital age, he thought.
„Okay, everybody. Shower and off to Breakfast."
SunTzu took a shower, shaved and got back into his Flight Suit. The team and him left in a Transport Humvee. Since he didn't have much time left till he had to be at his Starship, they dropped him off at the flight center and went off for breakfast.
He entered and went to the squadron's ready room, having the same breakfast as yesterday. He checked his datapad shortly if anything came in but there were no new messages. He wondered if he'd get the keys to his apartment today or not.
After some sandwiches and a coffee he left for AICA.
Ground crew just finished the pre flight maintenance.
„Good Morning my dear pilot. I hope you rested as well as I did."
„Morning AICA, I'll already run what felt like a marathon. In full Kit. Thank you."
„Oh, don't be grumpy. Have you heard, we're having some training today, so that should cheer you up. It does cheer ME up, tho."
He stored all of his stuff in the starfighter and gave AICA a quick headsup what has happened since yesterday evening.
He then checked all the systems, just to make sure that the ground crew did their job right. Everything looked perfect tho.
Point 10am Marvin came over and greeted both Snub and Pilot.
He gave him a quick rundown of the Training exercise they'll start soon. It was AICA & SunTzu against the other four pilots in their Z-95 Headhunters over the pacific, south of Tokyo, Marvin would be supervising the whole thing in his A-Wing.
„I want you to proceed after GA Standard Mission Procedure in the exercise."
„Affirmative, straight after the textbook."
„Good, I'll get going and contact you when we're leaving. Oh, afterwards I'm taking the Headhunters up to Mars, for joint exercises with the Rest of the Taskforce. I want you train with Haruka and Michiru first before I take you to space. But i managed to get some extra flight time for the afternoon for you, near the coast. Might want to take the time to cruise freely and enjoy flying itself."
Marvin left to brief in the rest of the squadron and to get his A-Wing going.
Ten minutes later the Squadron left and they flew in formation south to the pacific avoiding civilian air traffic.
A few dozen miles south off the coast they parted the formation and SunTzu headed west and the Headhunters went for the East while Marvin stayed in place, hovering.
SunTzu and the Headhunters rushed away from each other and then turned around to face each other. The combatants were closing the distance fast and SunTzu knew that because of the better sensors and weapons of AICA he had an initial advantage. The advantage would decrease drastically after a few seconds although and the Headhunters could play out their trump with simply being in superior number.
As he rushed forward AICA reported lock-on on two of the Headhunters and he simulated the start of two Concussion Missiles. The Headhunters went for Countermeasures and evasive maneuvers but Simulation counted two hits, with Ritz and Odegana taking out of the exercise within not even a minute. The two other Headhunters didn't back down and got at SunTzu ferociously. A wild dog fight developed and SunTzu even scored a simulated hit at one of the Headhunters in pursuit, but the hit wouldn't have been enough to take the attacker down. In the end he was taken out by a volley of missiles started from both of the remaining Z-95, as they performed a Cobra Maneuver while he was chasing them and fell behind him. He had to admit that the other pilots knew their profession and had some tricks up their sleeves. He still wasn't feeling his performance. There was more in him.
„Exercise over. Xenia and Taego won, great flying you two. Not bad at all. But now let's do this again, but this time I want you to fly on your own terms. No standard procedure, just do what do you think would be the best course of action."
Okay, now it got interesting SunTzu thought to himself as he got back . Time for some real action, the GA's Textbook flying was far from being effective anyway in his opinion.
„AICA turn on some music, let's do this our own way."
„Specification needed, what song do you want."
„Oh I know what kind of music I need now" and he told her.
As Marvin gave permission for Round Two, SunTzu actually didn't speed up but rather dived down, heading for the ocean surface, he had a plan to surprise his adversaries. He descended to only a few metres above the water and he found what he needed for his plan. A few hundred metres towards him a large container ship was cruising away from Japan. He moved up to the ship and gently steered to the stern of the Ship, hiding there.
He ordered AICA to shut down all emission radiating systems like radar and stayed there, slowly moving with the ship. Over the advanced Infared Sensors of his A-Wing he could detect a group of two of the Z-95 heading towards him, around 100 metres above sea level. The Headhunters probably worked as Hunter-Killer-Teams but SunTzu didn't want to let them do this so easily. Because he was flying so deep and in the shadow of the huge Ship, the Headhunters couldn't detect him, he just hoped that nobody on board of the Ship would cause a scene that would lead to his detection.
„AICA, when I start climbing, I'll need you to turn one canon to a 180 and be ready to engage targets in front and behind at once, turn on all sensors also. Full power on thrusters, when I break off. We only have split seconds."
„Are you sure you know, what you're doing", the Snub asked.
„Have i ever been? Just be ready."
A pushing song began to play in SunTzu's Helmet as he got ready. Just as the artist started his Verse the Z-95 reached the cargo ship.
As the two Headhunters shot over the ship, searching for SunTzu, he erected AICA skyward and gave Full Throttle, shooting up in the sky, reaching supersonic speed in a mere few seconds.
AICA spinned one cannon around and turned on the sensors, immediately locking the lasers on the both Headhunters, SunTzu opened fire a few metres below the first one and kept firing after rushing through the narrow space both Headhunters had in between themselves in their formation hitting the second one with the backwards cycled cannon, effectively putting out both fighters in less than a second. Both fighters broke their formation in shock and surprised questions came over the comms.
"AICA, switch to missiles and give me a radar lock on the other two."
The other two Headhunters were a couple dozen kilometers away, up high above the clouds, surprised from the sudden loss of their squadron members they tried to change their course but were hit by simulated missile hits a few seconds later. The whole thing didn't last 20 seconds.
SunTzu flew above the clouds too and thought the exercise was over when a fast moving radar contact moved up from the side. A few seconds later he got informed that he got hit by a simulated missile his Squadron Leader shot at him.
Just as he was about to open his comms Channel to protest Marvin came on on his own.
"This was outstanding. After now you just fly like this anymore. But I didn't say the exercise was over, in combat something unforeseen can always happen, so be at alert all the time. Terra Squadron, with this exercise i just proofed to youhow bad standard tactics can be in actual Combat. We will be going against enemies in superior numbers and probably superior equipment, I need all you to fly as their was tomorrow anytime."
He then ordered the squadron back in formation and let it know, that Ritz was the first to be shot down both times today and drinks tonight were on him.
On the way back to the base, the squadron was discussing SunTzu's crazy action and congratulated him on the successful move.
After returning to base and landing, they headed out for lunch. No more jokes about SunTzu as they were discussing space and air fight tactics on the way and while lunch.
Afterwards all the pilots got back to the flight center, Marvin and Z-95 Pilots got ready to fly to space and SunTzu made flight preparations for his afternoon leisure trip with AICA.
Marvin let him know, that he'll keep contact and that they'll see each other tomorrow for the training with Haruka and Michiru.
The other ships took off for space and soon we're out of sight soon. SunTzu was allowed to fly around the Training are from earlier today but Marvin jokingly told him to not harass any ships.
He left off a few minutes after the rest of the squadron, climbed above the clouds and headed south again. It was another beautiful day in March.
SunTzu took it very easy and mostly used the time to gain some navigational info about the coast and to optimize processes with AICA. He left his chest-rig based Life Support System at the base as AICA had her own systems for the cockpit to be even more comfortable while flying. It was a whole vibe. He also took the time to process some data and especially music into AICAs Hard Drives while flying in peace this afternoon. AICA took things maybe a bit too far with creating an E-Mail-Account but hey they had 30 days of free Spotify now and, so there he was, flying the most sophisticated Spacefighter ever manufactured, 80.000 feet above the Japanese coast and burning tax money while organizing Spotify Playlists. Life was good.
He just took a turn left at Mikurajima, while he broke through the clouds taking a look from above on the volcanic island when AICA come on over the intercom.
"I got some heavy activity coming in over one of the Tac-Com Channels, want me to put it through?"
"Put it on" he said, wondering what was going on.
"All Crystal Tokyo Forces, be advised. We got enemy contact in the docks of Chuobohatei. All available personnel check in at your staging points immediately and await further instructions." A Message told on all tactical frequencies and repeated.
SunTzu changed his radio frequency to the flight center one.
"Flight Center, this is Callsign SunTzu checking in, current location about a 180km south of Tokyo Bay, Angels ten, Fighter armed and ready to engage. Interrogative, what's the emergency, over?" SunTzu got back to a dispatcher over the Tac-Com.
"Call Sign SunTzu, current reports say that two Sailor Senshi are engaging an unknown combatant at the Chuobohatei Docks. More information is not available at the moment. Stand by for further instructions. Out."
SunTzu took a hard turn right and accelerated.
"Negative on the Standby, Flight Center. I can immediately head out and help. ETA 5 Minutes. Just make sure Air Traffic is lead away from Tokyo Bay in the Area. Asking permission to immediately respond. Over" SunTzu let the flight Center know.
"Flight Center to SunTzu, Permission to respond denied, I repeat Permission to respond denied. Head back on course 175 and climb to Eagles Thirty to await further instructions. Out"
"Flight Center, I have to let you know that I got my orders to support the Sailor Senshi at any time from the queen herself. Request permission to respond." SunTzu tried again.
"Negative SunTzu, proceed as ordered and await further orders." was the answer he got.
He was contemplating to refuse the order when a third voice came in over the radio.
"This is Captain Kino, repeat this is Captain Kino, Flight Center be advised, SunTzu has his orders from the queen herself. Check out of station and disperse flight traffic over the AO. I take over from here." Makoto declared.
"SunTzu head back to Tokyo Bay as fast as you can. Mars and Mercury a fighting a monster in the docks and it looks like they could use some help."
"Affirmative, going there as fast as I can. AICA full energy on the engines."
"Roger, I got Mercury on another frequency. She and Mars are doing their best but obviously the monster can fly." Sailor Jupiter briefed him.
"Makoto, can you transmit Mercury's frequency to AICA so we can cut in her radio?" SunTzu asked.
"Transmitting now."
"Sailor Mercury, this is SunTzu. I'm on my way to help you, can you give me a Sitrep?"
"SunTzu, we're in the western part of the docks, the monster is a humanoid with wings that can fire boxing gloves. Wait…
Mars, i know you don't run from a fight but please take cover, he's coming around again…" Something hitting Metal nearby could be heard over the radio.
"Mercury, are you still there? Ami?"
"Im here. Are you okay Mars?!" A few seconds of silence followed.
"We're both okay but the monster is fast moving and we can't hit it."
"Hold on, I'll be there in two minutes."
"AICA try to ping Ami's Signal."
"Done, im putting it on the HUD."
SunTzu let down his Helmet Visor with its built in Head-Up-Display and rushed over the Tokyo Bay to the waypoint that it showed.
Down in the docks Mercury and Mars dogded the Attacks of the Monster using the containers, while Mars hurled Fireball after Fireball at the flying devil. It looked like a perverted faceless version of Boxy, the Skyboxer.
"This Motherfucker is too fast to hit him. We need to pin him down somehow." Sailor Mars shouted.
"Help is on the way. SunTzu is on his way already." Sailor Mercury let her know
"Hope the new guy knows what he's doing." Sailor Mars commented as she threw another volley of fireballs after the flying monster.
The sound of plane, breaking the barrier of sound could be heard and a black and grey A-Wing came in sight.
"I can see you SunTzu." Mercury came in on the Radio.
"Roger. Listen I can see the monster, I'll do a turn and try to hit it with Lasers. You two better get to cover ASAP." SunTzu answered her.
"No, no Lasers. There's people running around here everywhere. It's too dangerous for them to shoot."
Fuck, he thought to himself.
"Okay, I have an idea. Try to keep him over a certain area, maybe in front of the buildings behind the containers."
He put AICA in a sharp turn and head out over the sea again.
He took a deep breathe and exhaled slowly. His next action would be even more insane than the stunt he pulled earlier today.
But all of a sudden he could feel it again. The force was back flowing through him and he felt like the time slowed down slightly. He did another turn and headed to the docks again. SunTzu could feel the two Sailor Senshi's Energy, trying to pin the flying monster to a certain spot in front of a line of building at docks. He could feel the monster, dark and black and void of life. He sped up and tried to align the front of the A-Wing towards the monster that was dancing around In the sky.
"Power on the front shields" he ordered AICA.
"What is he up too?" Sailor Mars asked Sailor Mercury when they saw the Starfighter directly head towards the monster.
"Oh no, he's not going to…" Mercury just pressed out.
SunTzu crashed into the monster and dragged it towards a few dozen meters. The Monster crashed on the roof of one of the buildings while SunTzu shot over the building. He turned up for a Immelmann to access the situation when he saw that the monster was actually getting up again. He accelerated for another pass and shot back over the docks again. The monster was tougher than he thought and he hoped that ramming it again would finally do the the trick.
He turned again and sped up. He flew instinctively, with his hands flying over the controls and the force guiding his reflexes.
But then he saw it in his mind, he premonitioned that the monster would dodge this time. The force also told him what he could do instead. That trick would be bit crazy tho.
"AICA on my command, open the canopy" he ordered his Ship opened his seatbelt and draw his pistol. With the other hand on the joystick he aimed the front of the A-Wing at the monster, while AICA took over the control of the thrust.
The monster just took off from the roof again and there was an additional triangular glass roof behind where it had landed.
"AICA now!" SunTzu screamed and AICA opened the canopy. The A-Wing shot over the glass roof while SunTzu used the force to jump out of the cockpit and slam hard into the monster that dodged the A-Wing this time by suddenly dropping down. They both crashed through the glass, the monster hit the back side of the roof before falling down. While falling SunTzu unloaded his pistol in the Monster.
They fell four meters through the roof and SunTzu landed on the monster still shooting, unloading the whole magazine.
The monster didn't move anymore afterwards.
After taking a deep breath he got up and took a few steps back. Damn, he would feel that in the morning.
Why the hell did the force guide him to do such stupid stuff all the time.
He turned around, holstered his now empty pistol and head for the door to tell the two Senshi that the danger was over. Also AICA would probably be worried after this action.
He was already at the door when he heard a sound behind him. Turning around, he saw that the monster got back up.
"Fuck!" was the only thing he could say before the monster launched two boxing gloves at once at him which catapulted him into the door and both him and the door outside of the building. Using the force instinctively he crossed his hands before his chest to absorb the impact with them and he also used the force to soften his impact on the door but being punched out of the building and landing on the door he took with him, still made his world going black for a moment.
Mercury and Mars just stood their frozen, trying to process what just happened. The second time he tried to ram the monster SunTzu missed but as if he knew he would, the pilot jumped out of the cockpit and slammed into the monster. What. a. Lunatic. They heard rapid gunshots that soon ended and everything went quiet for a few seconds when abruptly SunTzu and the door exploded out of the building and landed hard a few metres away.
They immediately ran over to him.
"SunTzu!" Mercury yelled and both Senshi kneeled down next to him.
He opened his eyes and his first thought was that he was dead and he looked into the blue eyes of an angel, only to realize, that he actually was looking into Sailor Mars's blue eyes.
"Owww!" he yelled and made a distorted face.
"Dude, are you okay?! That was insane!" Sailor Mars asked him still completely taken aback by the whole scene she was experiencing the last minute.
"Can I please just lay down here for a bit. Maybe till my retirement or so?" SunTzu pleaded.
The Monster's Scream could be heard from inside the building and they turned their heads.
"Fuck… Okay, stand back, this is something personal now", the Pilot announced while pulling out his pistol. It took a quick moment for him to realize that the Mag was empty and he searched his flight overalls pockets for a spare magazine but didn't had any with him.
"Fuck!" He cursed again.
The monster appeared in the hole where the door used to be.
"Don't worry, we'll take this from here." Sailor Mars announced and both her and Sailor Mercury looked at each other and nodded.
"Let's steam this Bastard!" Mars told Mercury while they stood back up.
"Shine Aqua Illusion!" Mercury summoned her attack.
"Burning Mandala!" Mars summoned hers.
"Sailor Mercury , Sailor Mars, Double Planet Holy Steam Attack!" Both let out in unison while their attacks flew off simultaneously.
The water hit the monster and the fireballs a few seconds later, combining into a high pressured, hot temperaturedc, expanding cloud of steam that basically steamed the monster while the pressure ripped it apart at the same time.
All this in a split second and when the cloud started to vanish all that was left from the Skyboxer was a puddle of black goo.
It was over, the monster was finally beaten.
Sailor Mercury and Sailor Mars both let out a heavy sigh looked at each other and smiled.
SunTzu sighed too and laid back down on the door again.
Ten minutes later the scene was bristling with activity.
Police, Ambulances and Fire trucks arrived at the scene and the dock workers slowly left their hideouts. Some were injured and required medical aid. A police chopper was appearing over the docks.
SunTzu was sitting sideways on the seat of a forklift near the building he left involuntarily a few minutes before, observing the scene.
AICA landed a few metres away and her small sensor eye was making pictures of the puddle of black goo while she was talking over Radio with Amy, who was standing next to the remains of the monster. Sailor Mercury was trying to analyze something with the help of her Mercury Googles and her miniature super computer.
Mars was standing near AICA and talking to some police man, that demanded to know what happened. She explained them that the whole thing was Business of the Moon Kingdom and the Royal Court would provide them answers over the official communication channels.
A dark green Lexus rolled up and stopped between SunTzu and Mars.
Minako and Setsuna got out and head over to Sailor Mars. The older Senshi was wearing a doctor's coat.
They talked for a minute, then Setsuna went back to the car and grabbed a big bag from the backseat of the car.
The three then headed over to SunTzu.
"How do you feel Lieutenant?" Setsuna asked him. "Any feelings of Nausea or dizziness? Any problems with cognitive sensations?"
Setsuna opened the bag, it was full of medical utensils
"Greetings Doctor Meiou. I'm okay I guess but my back saw better days." SunTzu answered.
Before he fell asleep the other night he studied some of the intel on the outer Senshi. Sailor Pluto was actually working as a Doctor in Tokyo these days.
"Minako, what are the indications for a concussion", the older Senshi asked her blond companion, when she handed a small flashlight to the blonde woman who then started to examine his pupils reaction.
Minako rattled down the possible indications and both of the woman performed a quick examination of SunTzu's head and neck.
"You were pushed out of the building along with the door?" Minako asked skeptical.
"Yeah. Used the force to soften the impact a bit. Still not something I'd like to repeat."
"Lieutenant, I need you to take off your upper body's clothing. I have to see your back." Setsuna told him.
With a bit of help of her and under grunts because the pain it caused he pulled down his flight coverall and took off his undershirt.
"Lieutenant, as health professional I have to admit you have great abs," Minako told him with a flirtatious smile.
Did she just pet them? He blushed.
Her statement earned her a stern look from Setsuna who was examining his back.
"This will be a nice bruise. Hold up a second." She fiddled a hand held scanner, newest medical GA Technology, from the bag and scanned his back.
"Looks good, no internal damage. No damaged bones. You were lucky."
"Maybe lucky but definitely not sane. Dude…" Sailor Mars shook her head in disbelief.
As he was about to give a reply, Sailor Pluto pressed on a spot on his back which made him twitch.
A LAAT/i came soaring in and landed near AICA. It's door opened and a completely combat ready Team 1 and Sailor Jupiter, transformed in her Senshi Form, as well as some armed Palace Guards jumped out.
Another Senshi jumped out, a blonde woman with two long braids and two buns on her head
"Sailor Moon!" the rest of the Senshi yelled in unison.
"Who?!" SunTzu asked confused.
Setsuna poked his bruised back again and he twitched again. Then he saw it. It was the queen, just in a Senshi Uniform. Her outfit mildly differed from the one of the others.
The new arrivals walked over to the forklift.
"I'm sorry Queen, I didn't recognize you immediately. I feel through a glass roof and got punched through a door. I meant no offense." SunTzu apologized.
"New guy is either very ambitious or totally suicidal" Sailor Mars stated.
"Most perhaps an uncommon mixture of both." SunTzu replied to the remark.
The Soldiers that came along spread out and took over watch. Setsuna waved Doc Martens over.
"How do you feel SunTzu." Sailor Moon asked.
He let out a sigh and said "I could really use a cigarette right."
Hulk who heard that, turned around and fished a box of Marlboro out of his pockets. He hold on to SunTzu who gladly took it.
"Mind if I take on too?" Sailor Mars asked and took one as Hulk handed the box over.
"Someone got fire?" SunTzu asked.
Hulk was trying to nestle a lighter out of his pockets but Mars shook her head at him.
With a snap of her fingers a small flame appeared over her hand and she lighted SunTzu's cigarette.
As she was lighting her own and took a deep draw, SunTzu complimented her.
"Nice trick. Sure comes in Handy."
Her answer was a hint of a smile across her face.
"Martens, you got some Bacta Patches with you?" Setsuna asked Team 1's Medic. He pulled out a big one from his medic backpack and handed it over. Setsuna than got to work to apply it on SunTzu's back.
"This should help with the Bruise." She applied it over his back.
"Lieutenant, you do know, that smoking is bad for your health?"
Looking at the puddle of black goo over at the building, he answered "Yeah, no Shit?"
A fracture of a second later he was flinching another time because Setsuna poked a finger at his back again. He could have sworn she supressed a smile doing this.
While he was sitting there smoking his cigarette and getting the Bacta Patch on, his gaze fell on Sailor Mars, looking out onto the sea, smoking her cigarette. She turned her head halfway around and gave him another hint of a smile and in this moment it hit him.
Venus was a Tease.
But Mars. Mars meant real Danger.
"Hey Guys, look here!" Minako suddenly requested them. As they all turned to her, she took a Selfie of the scene, with her in the front, smilingly holding up a Peace Sign.
Amy tried to analyze the remains of the monster anymore but couldn't find much other than it seemed to consist of nothing else but evil energy. Some half an hour later they packed up and got ready to leave.
"I need a Drink. But first I gotta get to the Shrine and fix myself. You're coming along Minako?" Sailor Mars asked.
"I'm in, we were done with our shift in the hospital anyway." The Blonde woman answered.
"I'll take you there." Setsuna offered.
"Coming along too?" Mars asked her
"Don't be mad if i just drop you off at the shrine but sorry. I had a long day at the hospital and haven't seen Hotaru all day."
"What about you SunTzu? Where you're heading now?" Sailor Mercury asked.
"Good question, back to base I guess. Organizing a place to sleep."
As he said that, Sailor Mercury went pale and facepalmed.
"I'm so sorry. I got your apartment's keys and all the other stuff for you in my car over at the base. I was about to deliver them to you when Mars showed up and told me she felt the presence of evil in the center and we went to check it out. I'll get that for you immediately when we're back at the base. I can drop you off your place afterwards too."
"Don't worry, I'm good. Wouldn't mind sleeping in my own bed tho."
"Make sure that he doesn't kill himself till he gets home tho Mercury. He seems to be a little bit of a suicidal side." Mars dropped in.
"Don't worry Sailor Mars, I try not to give in to this thoughts and finally crumble under the constant mobbing I receive since ever I got on earth again." He remarked sarcastically.
She wheezed and nodded acknowledging.
"Nice comeback, I have to give you that."
"You'll see, I do have my moments. Even if I just voluntarily jumped through a roof window." he said with a smug grin.
"Let's move out then. Sun is going down soon." Jupiter supposed.
Sailor Mercury approached SunTzu as they were heading out.
"AICA has room for two, right? Mind if I catch a ride with the both of you? Or is it not possible?" She asked him.
"Of course, you don't even need a flight suit to ride along if we don't fly in a too wild manner." he responded and then told AICA over the comm in his watch, "AICA make room for a second passenger, Sailor Mercury hitches a ride with us."
"Finally someone intelligent in my cockpit. Shifting cockpit into passenger mode." was the answer.
Was there someone in this Solar System not completely sarcastic?
They walked over to the A-Wing and AICA opened the Canopy and went off with pre-start procedures.
As they were about to climb in Sailor Moon headed over to SunTzu.
He slightly bowed down.
"Thank you for intervening so fast and protecting my Senshi as you promised. Means a lot to me personally. I am sorry, that there was no time to settle down here in peace Lieutenant." Sailor Moon told him.
"It was my pleasure Neo Queen. I'm happy I could help at the right time." he said and bowed down again.
She gave him a honest smile and walked off to entry into the LAAT/i to get back into the palace.
He climbed up in the cockpit and then helped Sailor Merury to get into the backseat and strapped in.
A few minutes later both spacecraft lift off and flew over Tokyo Bay back to the Palace while the sun was settling in bright colors on the horizon.
"It's actually way more comfortable in here than I thought." Sailor Mercury concluded.
"It was one thing the people designing AICA had in mind, that a ship like this was predestined as a conveyor. But please don't tell that to nobody. Don't want to be used as a taxi all the time." he explained with a smile. "Mind if we turn on some music over the speakers?" He then asked.
"Absolutely not. What's next so? Duty Free and Tomato Juice?" She asked jokingly.
"You should see our assortment of Watches and Perfumes." he laughed and turned on the music.
"So Ami. Sorry, Sailor Mercury…"
"Both are okay, at least when we're in between Senshi and close personnel."
"Okay. So Ami, could you find anything about that monster? Is it normal here that one of these things just appears and attacks people?"
"Not really much information, it was basically completely composed of evil energy and therefore didn't leave much of usable traces. We had these attacks occur every few weeks in the last six months but not on a regular or fixed base. My theory is that something is trying to measure our strength. After the first Attack Queen Serenity ordered us to get back to our training and be ready for combat. A few months later the Idea of Taskforce Sol was born as the Galaxy was getting worse and worse when it came to Criminals and Evil."
"I see. Better keep our eyes open then."
„Oh and before I forget. One more thing." Ami announced. He then heard the typical sound effect when someone took a picture with a smart phone and he turned around.
„Sorry, couldn't resist." Ami said while she tipped on her phone and sent the selfie she made from inside the cockpit to the Senshi's Messenger Group.
„How much?" SunTzu asked.
„How much what," she tried, acting like she didn't know what he meant.
„How much did that Selfie earn you." he asked again.
„Jackpot for being the first to fly along in the A-Wing was at 65 Bucks now." She said, turning slitghty red.
Girls.
He just sighed.
SunTzu turned away at the Airbase while the Gunship flew on to the Palace.
He landed in AICA's new Hangar and helped Sailor Mercury out of the Cockpit. After that he grabbed his datapad and left AICA too.
They said their goodbyes to AICA and the wayward AI told Mercury that she was invited to tag along whenever she wanted to. They went over to the flight center.
"To my Defence, i already was at Flight Center on my way to you, when Rei appeared" Ami said and pointed to a navy blue colored SUV parking at the Flight Center's parking lot."
I got what I could get in that time for you and since I still have time I was thinking to head out shopping first. You probably need clothes."
"If it's not perfectly normal for Tokyo that someone in a GA Flight Suit is running around I guess I do." He admitted.
She wrinkled her nose
"Maybe you take a shower before we head out first. I could use one too. And I should transform back anyway. You got showers in there?"
"As indispensable part of the Earth's First Line of Defence our Flight Center even has decent coffee, if you need one after a shower." SunTzu told her.
"Please lead me on then, Lieutenant."
After a warm shower to relax his muscles and clean him off he got dressed again and headed out. The Bacta Patch really helped too, it even was waterproof and could stay on while taking a shower. At least one thing someone in the GA thought through. He needed a bit longer than usual tho because he couldn't move that great.
He met Ami, now transformed back and dressed in civilian clothing, holding a bamboo cup of coffee in her hands, at the guard's desk, at the entrance of the building.
Since he didn't want to stay around further than necessary because someone could still be ill-humored of his rebellious behavior when attending to the Attack of the monster he greeted her briefly and pointed to the door.
"You in a hurry?" She asked while he let her outside.
"Maybe wasn't the most cooperative with FlightOps while trying to attend to your case of flying monster." He explained.
They got to the car and Ami opened the door and took a pile of documents and envelopes that were placed on the co driver seat. He also got in and she handed him document by document over.
"Credit Card, Debit Card, Accounts are open of course… Apartment Keys… your Service Card, please don't loose this… your copy of the service contract and last but not least, your new phone. It's been modified for enhanced security and encryption. I already saved my contact if you need anything. Marvin's and Makoto' too. Security Regulations are on the datacards i handed you yesterday as well as the phone's hard drive. And that's all by now."
"Thanks a lot, I'm finally a part of society again" He said with a broad grin
"Happy to help. Now let's get you some clothes."
She started the car and they drove off, left the base and headed for the City over one of the bridges over the Bay.
A hour later they left a shop in Ginza and got back to the car. Of course people were staring at the European man, that went shopping in a pilot suit, but since it was Tokyo, it could have been even worse.
"It's so much more pleasant to shop with a man. If you've ever shopped with Usagi you'd understand." She said and got in.
He was carrying a few bags of clothes and other things one needs for daily life and put them in the car.
"Let's head home", she said, suppressing a yawn.
He fell in and covered his mouth. It has been a long day after all and the night was already over the town.
"We don't live far away from your place, if you want I can pick you up tomorrow morning again on the way to base."
"That would be great thanks. Who is we by the way."
She smiled, "Me and my Husband Ryo. He's pretty busy lately unfortunately."
He nodded and smiled, "Ah I see."
They stopped in front of an apartment building and Ami turned off the engine.
"Here we are, you need help to get all this stuff up there?" the blue haired woman asked.
"I'm good. Thanks for everything, and now see that you get home, you did more than enough for me today."
She nodded approvingly. "One last thing, take care. We don't know what, how and when the next attack will happen, but I'm sure it will. Stay ready so.
"On principle I'd be ready, but I forget to take care of more ammo unfortunately." he frowned and showed his holster with the empty gun.
"Glock 19?" she asked.
"Yes."
"Open the glove box." she demanded.
He opened it and inside was a Glock 19 and two spare Mags.
"Take one, I'm better with Ice and Water than with Bullets anyway." she said with a wink. He took one of the Mags.
"Thanks Ami."
"You watched out for me, I watch out for you" she replied and hold up her hand.
They shook hands. Then he got out of the car and took his purchasings from the back.
She rolled down the window
"Have a nice first night In Juban. And don't forget to study."
She left and he went to the building. The key indicated that his apartment was on the second floor so he walked up there.
Apartment Number 203, his new home.
He opened the door and head in.
It was a nice little two room apartment with a living room and a bedroom and all kinds of amenities one needed.
He ditched his flight suit for a pair of sweatpants and a T-Shirt he dropped on the couch. He looked through the window and could make out an enlightened Tokyo Tower in the distance. Not the worst view for a city apartment too.
He hoped that this day was just an exception and even with a supposed combat deployment coming up and dark forces working against the Kingdom that not every of his days would be so crazy like this one had been. He lay there, knowing that he should learn some more but he was struggling to stay awake.
Suddenly the bell rang. What the hell?
Did Amy forget something? No, a person as thoughtful as her would have wrote him a message before. He got up and it rang again. Someone had it urgent with him. He took his gun, which was lying holstered on a commode behind him and slide the fresh magazine in. Keeping the gun behind his back he walked up to the door. He thought about it for a second and then unlocked the door.
Mentally preparing for the worst, he swung the door open. Only to be facing his two female wingmen.
While Michiru was standing there in what could have been a summer dress but now was mostly covered by a Burberry Coat smiling broadly, Haruka was there sporting a rather annoyed look, wearing jeans, Timberland Boots and also a Burberry Coat, holding a bag.
This day's surprises were not over yet.
„We thought you were hungry," Michiru said and nudged Haruka, which then raised the bag.
„We brought you Yaki Udon", the Blonde pressed out.
Michiru got back into grinning from ear to ear again.
„Uhm, come in then please. Make yourself at home."
Both came in and SunTzu stayed in the door's corner, hiding the gun behind his back.
„Nice place" Michiru stated as she walked into the living Room, closely followed by Haruka.
When he was sure, they weren't watching he followed and secretly slipped the gun back into the holster.
„Safety First, right?" Haruka caught him doing so.
SunTzu just wheezed.
Then he walked over and extended his hand to Michiru.
„Happy Birthday Michiru. I hope you had a nice day."
Smiling she shook his hand.
„We had a great day driving south west for a private Hanami until the Rosé Wine finally took effect and she demanded to head over to your place on the way home. Just to hear if the crazy rumors we heard about you today, were actually right. But Michiru gets what Michiru wants on her birthday." Haruka told annoyed.
„Haruka be nice, SunTzu probably had a long day." the teal haired woman admonished her girlfriend. „Anyway, thanks for participating in the gift for me. Marvin brought it over this morning. It really made me happy."
„You're more than welcome, may I take your coats?" SunTzu said and helped Michiru out of her coat, Haruka insisted that she didn't need help. He hung them on the wardrobe near the door and got back. Pointing on the sofa he told them to take a seat.
„You should eat, while it's still warm" Michiru told him, sliding the food over the living room's table towards him. He then remembered for how long he didn't eat and that he completely forgot about dinner.
„Thanks so much, you're godsend." he said and unpacked the food.
„We heard the craziest of stories about you today. Care to tell us if they're really right?" Michiru asked.
„Did you really shot down the whole Squadron in less than half a minute after you hid behind a cargo ship?" put on.
As he sat down on the floor and started eating he told the couple every crazy thing that happened today. Both shook their head in disbelief when he told them about how he attacked the monster the second time.
„Just to know before becoming your wingman and putting Michiru's and mine life into your responsibility, are you suicidal or just a maniac?" Haruka asked in all honest.
SunTzu sighed, why people kept asking that.
„I don't know, it just felt like the right thing to do. Like the force guided me to this crazy stunt." he admitted, finishing his dinner.
„Insane stunt or not, he jeopardized his life to help Mercury and Mars. You have to honor that my Love. It's not something most people would do for someone they barely know for 2 days." She said appreciatively.
The two locked their hands and shared a glance.
„Maybe, just maybe, the Queen was right to take you into her service. But you still have prove yourself to me Mate." Haruka told him. „Tomorrow we'll train together, so I hope you'll be at your best then."
„Don't worry, my back is nothing that a bit of sleep can't fix. I just need some rest. 3 weeks or so wouldn't hurt."
This time Haruka wheezed.
They got off the sofa and SunTzu brought them to the door. Haruka helped Michiru in her coat. They said their goodbyes and SunTzu locked the door behind them. Did Haruka just told him, that she gave him a chance to proof his flying skills to her?
He got ready to bed and laid down. Stretching out felt great but just to make sure he took some painkillers. Then he took up the datapad and started studying again.
And again he fell asleep after a while doing so.
—-
