Welcome to Chapter Nine! After the successful operation to ensure safe extraction for a group of wounded T-Dolls, Ian decides to host a small celebration for not just his Echelon's success, but also Independance Day. However, AK-47 is forced to relive some of her worst moments in her career, and the Commander must help her recover.

I decided to make this chapter a party when I was thinking of the party MP5 mentioned where A-91 and AK-47 got drunk and went at it, and as it's still July 4th in the story, I wanted Sector 09 to celebrate Independence Day in some form. However, I ended up writing this. Anyways, I figured that in the same way World War 3 haunts Ian, the attack on Sector 09 haunts all the S09 old-timers like M1911, AK-47, and G36.

Poor Kalina suffers from both WW3 and the Sector 09 attack.

I sure hope that I'm not going too fast, because a lot of fics were damaged by the authors going too fast.

Warning: I am total shit at the comfort part of hurt/comfort, so sorry if it sucks.

Sector 09 Base

Neo-Soviet Union

July 4, 2062

Commander Ian Becker

It was getting close to dark when Echelon 1 and their new T-Doll returned. Standing at the edge of the helipad, Ian watched as the Blackhawk descended, mirroring the day he went to the academy two months ago. The only thing missing was M1911 trying to keep her skirt in place.

Kalina seemingly took the HG's place, though.

The helicopter landed on the aging helipad and the door opened to reveal Echelon 1 getting out, its members coated in red or purple fluids and worn-looking with the exception of a short T-Doll with blonde hair in a plait down her back, blue eyes, and a round face. She wore a brown hat with crosshair pins in her hair, a red scarf, a white shirt with a brown vest, a short skirt, and brown boots.

"Mission accomplished, Commander!" M1911 announced, raising her arm to wave-- only to shout in pain and clutch her wounded shoulder.

"You okay, 1911?!" he asked as he and Kalina joined the HG's team in trying to see her injury.

"I'm fine, it's just some minor damage." she insisted.

"Any kind of damage is bad. I'll contact the repair bay and tell them to wait for your arrival." the Commander told her, letting her head back inside as he faced his new Doll.

"And you must be FNC."

"Yup! FN-FNC at your service!" she said through a mouthful of chocolate.

"Welcome to Sector 09. I'd normally automatically assign you to Echelon 01, but it's kind of full, so I'll try to get another Echelon put together."

"Come on, I'll show you around." Kalina told FNC as she guided the T-Doll inside.

As Ian looked at the rest of the Echelon, he noticed AK-47's more downcast expression, which was a far cry from the last time she returned from an operation.

"AK, what's wrong?" he asked her.

"Nothing. I'm going to my room." the AR replied, heading inside and leaving Ian confused.

"I think Miss AK may have been reminded of the attack on Sector 09 MP5 mentioned." Sten told him quietly. "I think it may be best for you to give her some space."

Ian swore under his breath, seeing AK disappear into the base with a bottle of vodka in hand. He wanted to console her in some manner, but if she wanted to be left alone, then so be it.

Tactical Doll G36

G36 dutifully swept up the dirt and dust her fellow T-Dolls tracked across the base, her expression stoic as always. She loved the humans and Dolls of Sector 09 dearly, but their lack of hygiene drove her mad.

Of course, she couldn't blame M1911 for being unclean, as she was nursing her bloodstained shoulder and winced any time she moved it too much or bumped into something.

However, she was fully prepared to give AK-47 an earful when she noticed the normally upbeat T-Doll's defeated expression, her eyes dull-looking as she beelined towards her room.

That isn't normal for her, even when she's been banned from drinking... It's like when the base was destroyed all over again.

Making a mental note to talk to AK-47 after finishing her job, G36 simply continued with her work, as it was clear that the Russian didn't want to be bothered.

(Journal Entry)

July 4, 2062

In the span of a few hours, I have acquired two new T-Dolls, got the base cleaned up, and completed my second combat mission.

The two new Dolls are FN-49, a freshly built Rifle-class I got after the first mission, and FNC, an AR-class AK-47 found in a bandits' hideout.

Speaking of her, she was acting rather depressed when she got back, which is weird for a Doll like her. Sten told me she started acting this way after the mission ended, which has got me very confused. Maybe Kalina can give me some insight.

Unnaturally dejected AK aside, Helian's sending funds to use for the base, so I won't have to deal with the base being completely ruined aside from basic functions, and the base's Springfield Doll returned, which put the staffs' morale up a bit.

Maybe I should let the staff throw a party.

P.S. You know what? Fuck it. It's the Fourth of July anyways.

Kalina

Kalina descended into the Data Room with her datapad in hand, ready to transfer the mission's combat telemetry to her ancient computer, only to find the Commander standing next to her workstation.

"Komandir, what are you doing here?" she asked as she set her tablet down.

"I just wanted to ask you something." he replied casually. "You noticed how defeated AK looked when she got back, right?"

Kalina nodded, remembering how uncharacteristicly depressed the drunkard was acting earlier.

"I was hoping you might clue me in on that."

That made sense to her, as she knew Sector 09's staff very well. Sitting down at her desk, she plugged her datapad into the computer and selected the combat footage for transfer.

"She acted this way for a week and a half after the base was attacked." she recalled quietly. "She lost many friends that day, including most of her teammates. Among them was A-91, who was her coworker and friend before they both joined Griffin."

"G36 told me there was an A-91 who worked here. Was that the same one?"

"Da. Her death affected AK greatly, but I don't think this is only about her." Kalina exhaled, looking at the scrapped server that once held A-91's backup data.

"Is that why she drinks so much?"

"She always loved her vodka, but she started drinking more after the attack."

The Commander remained silent, eyes focused on the ginger as she worked.

"I managed to get Helian to float some money our way." he said after a prolonged silence, changing the subject. After the last syllable left his mouth, Kalina looked up at her superior with a curious expression on her face.

"Does that mean I'm no longer stuck with this museum piece?" she asked hopefully.

"Yup. No more 'ten hours to produce one Combat Report' bullshit for you, and the Dolls get to have real beds."

"That is great news! Thank you for talking to Miss Helian about it!" the ginger thanked him enthusiastically.

"Did she not listen to any requests for funds before?" the young man asked.

"She did, but since things were pretty bad on HQ's end, she could only do it one time. That's why only the Command Room's brand new."

"Alrighty then." The Commander exhaled, looking at the door. "I need to go talk to AK before I forget to. I'll see you around, Kalina."

He stood up, giving her a small smile before he reached the door, and when he went to leave, he paused.

"Oh, I'm thinking about hosting a little party to celebrate the last mission's success, so could you help me, G36, and Springfield set it up?" the dark-haired man asked. Not ordered, but simply asked.

"Are you sure? I've still got to process the data Echelon 1 brought back from the last mission." Kalina questioned. Despite her generally carefree attitude, she took her job very seriously. Even if said job involved spending ten hours slaving over a hard drive to extract precious data.

"I'm sure. I want to do this, it'd give me the chance to get to know you all better, and everyone else gets to wind down. Besides, I'd prefer that you do those reports with a newer computer."

Once again, she didn't like to leave work for later (partly because she wouldn't earn her salary if she did things half-assed,) but if the Commander wanted her to leave it for tomorrow, then she would do so.

"Okay, I'm in. When do we start?"

"You can go get started right now, and I'll join you after I talk to AK. I'll see you later, Kalina."

The Commander finally left the room, leaving Kalina to process what just happened. After registering it all, she let out a little cheer and turned her computer off, glad that she could get out of torturing herself via writing Combat Reports.

Commander Ian Becker

Ian reached Echelon 1's dorm room to see M1911 and MP5 standing outside the room, somber expressions on their faces.

"Something wrong, you two?" he asked them.

"She won't let us talk to her. Keeps saying it's her fault I got shot." M1911 replied, nursing her shoulder.

So she blames herself for M1911's injury...

"I'll take care of it." Ian said, entering the dorm room to see AK-47 laying on her makeshift bed with an arm draped over her eyes, two bottles of vodka sitting beside her. Her bandoiler was removed, revealing her taut stomach to him, and her bag was sitting with the vodka.

"I thought I told you to go away, comrade." she grumbled, not looking at him.

"That's no way to speak to your commanding officer." he gently chided, causing the T-Doll to stiffen slightly as she realized her mistake.

"Sorry, Boss. Can you leave me alone for a couple of hours?"

"No. I want to know why you're acting this way. It's not like you to be so melancholy."

"How do you know what I'm usually like? You've only been here for two days."

"True. But the point still remains. Does it involve the last mission?" the Commander asked. "Because 1911 told me you kept telling her you were to blame for her getting shot."

The blonde AR didn't say anything for a few moments, then she removed her arm from its place to look at her superior.

"You remember when Kalina told you about my FCC issue?"

"Yeah. Improper installation."

"So you're aware of how bad I am as a T-Doll."

"The results of the two missions I led beg to differ." Ian commented.

"But it was just those two missions that I did well. In the old days, nobody wanted to be have me on their team, and for good reason. Wasteful, inaccurate, stupid... I've been called many things throughout my career at Griffin." she told him with a sad tone. "A-91, the old Commander, Kalina, and the Dolls of Sector 09 were the first ones to believe in me, and it was their support that helped me improve upon my many flaws. But in the end, I wasn't good enough to save them."

So essentially, she hates herself. I have experience with that...

"And before you say anything about how it wasn't my fault," she continued, "do you know where I was when the first shells hit and the Commander was taken out? I was at the bar, drinking away like it was any other day! And after that, even though I had jumped up to defend the base like everyone else, I couldn't save anyone I cared about..."

AK-47 sat up and leaned on the wall, turning her head away from her Commander. Before he could ask himself why, a sniffle escaped the distressed AR, and then it clicked; she was crying, and she wasn't willing to let him see her face as she did so, as if he'd call her weak for letting her emotions loose.

"I-I thought I had it u-under control three months later, b-but when I saw those wounded Dolls being carted off to the chopper, all b-bloodied up and disfigured, it reminded me of the attack on the base, and everything I couldn't save."

Ian could relate to that, as he had lost not only friends, but also family, to the Third World War, and despite the fact that their fates were out of his control, he couldn't help but feel responsible for their deaths.

"You're not the only one who's haunted, AK." Ian admitted, sitting down beside the blonde AR.

"Y-you lost people to the war?" she asked him, her voice quivering from her sobs.

"Yeah, I have. I'd be lying if I told you I didn't."

"Th-then do you blame yourself for their deaths? Do you f-feel like you'll never be good enough to protect those you care about?"

Ian though about that tidbit, remembering how angry he was when the Russians washed up on his shores, when their bombers wreaked havoc upon his people and took away those he cared most about. He remembered how terrible he felt, and how he wished he had been able to save them.

He knew that he wasn't responsible for what happened, but it didn't stop him from feeling like shit. Which was why he didn't feel that he was suited for comforting anyone who was mourning. But here he was, trying to make a dejected drunkard feel better.

He gently placed a hand on AK-47's shoulder, causing her to look at him in inquiry.

"I was very angry at myself, I'll admit that. But I knew deep down that they wouldn't want me to blame myself for their deaths for the rest of my days." he said, internally cringing at how cliché he sounded. "So I pressed on. I accepted that it wasn't my fault they died, and I moved on. I'm sure that your friends are proud of you for getting as far as you have, and I'm sure that you'll be able to move on as well."

Through her light sobs, AK-47 chuckled a little.

"Y-you know how cliché you sounded, right, Boss?" she asked, letting a small half-smile form on her face.

"I'm not good at this whole comforting shit, AK..." Ian replied, defending himself. "Besides, you got my point, right?"

"Yup. Anyways, thank you. I needed someone to talk to." the blonde AR said, her voice now clearer.

"Why didn't you want go talk to your teammates, then?"

"I didn't feel like talking to them at the moment. You want a drink, sir? I've still got a bottle left."

Now that AK was seemingly feeling better, Ian then decided to tell her about the upcoming celebration.

"You know what? I'm gonna host a party in an hour or two to celebrate our latest success, so let's save the drinking for later."

"Heh. We didn't get a party for the last mission." she pointed out.

"It's also the Fourth of July." the rookie admitted.

"Oh, crap! How did I forget that?!" M1911's voice came from the dorm room's door, muffled but still audible.

"Huh. We had an audience and we didn't know..."

"GO AWAY, PRIDURKI*!" AK-47 yelled angrily at her nosy teammates, nearly blowing Ian's eardrums out in the process.

"Ow, fuck!" he yelled, covering his ears. "That was almost as loud as artillery fire!"

"Sorry." she apologized, sitting up again.

I guess she's back to her old self, now. Kind of.

He watched as she replaced her bandoiler and attached her bag to her waist, standing up and grabbing her namesake rifle.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm gonna go squeeze off a few rounds. If you don't need help with your party." AK-47 added.

"It's fine. I've got G36, Kalina, and Springfield helping me with that. Go get some practice in." Ian told her.

"Yes, sir!"

With a salute, AK-47 left the room, her long hair trailing behind her like a flame. Not even a few moments later, he heard her getting onto her teammates for eavesdropping, eliciting a laugh from the rookie. She was definitely feeling better now.

Tactical Doll AK-47

After giving her older teammates (and FNC) an earful for eavesdropping, AK-47 continued towards the on-base firing range to find FN-49 with a crate of ingredients in her arms.

She looked at her senior teammate and, noticing her improved mood, smiled demurely at her and balanced her crate on her leg to wave at her.

"H-hello, Miss AK..." she greeted, grabbing the crate again. "You seem to be feeling better now..."

"I had a talk with the Commander." AK-47 explained simply.

"I did see him entering the dorm room..."

"Did you listen in on us?"

"N-no. I tried to stop the others, but Miss 1911 wouldn't listen to me. I think she wanted to know if you would be okay, but FNC was being nosy..."

The drunk expected this; FNCs were nosy T-Dolls.

"Well, nothing happened in there, except for the Boss saying some sappy, cliché words." she explained to her teammate. "You helping Springfield with her stuff?"

"Y-yes, I am... Where are you going?" FN-49 asked.

"Komandir Becker told me to go practice my aim while he prepared the whole celebration thing."

"Oh, o-okay..."

"See you later, newbie."

AK-47 ended the conversation there, continuing on towards the range without a care in the world. However, her mind fell onto what her Commander said to her. Despite what he said about moving on, he had sounded like he was holding his grief in, suppressing it.

Just like how she herself had been, and she suspected that it would take a while to fully move on.

M1911 had told her that the Commander sometimes felt like he had betrayed the United States by joining Griffin, and that got her thinking; how much worse did her commanding officer have it than her? Did he have nightmares of those he cared about accusing him of treason on top of being forced to watch their deaths over and over again?

As T-Dolls were incapable of dreaming, the AR immediately decided that the Commander had it worse.

Finally. I am total shit at writing hurt/comfort. Well, I'm good at the hurt part of it, but comfort? At least Ian's bad at it, too. Anyways, I'll do the party next, as it'll give me a chance to write some more characterization.

I've also gotten some ideas concerning the Recollection, including some flashbacks (or a separate story) set in GFL's World War 3. Either way, I'll have to create characters to staff Ian's squad in the US Army.

Oh, pridurki is the plural version of asshole in Russian, while mudak is singular.

See you in the next chapter!