Let's have some fun, shall we?
Chapter Two
Official Leave (Part One)
(Inkopolis, Inkling and Octoling Command Center)
Cass led her sisters to the infirmary, where Elise was waiting with her hands on her hips. "Major." Cass nodded to her. "Elise." The field medic
asked, "Where were you?" Cass faced her, not out of frustration, but confusion. "We went to the Metro to get my other sisters out." Elise spoke
up. "Let me rephrase that. Half an hour ago, you were in a firefight. As your doctor, it's my duty to carry out medical checks after every mission."
Cass sighed. "Elise, when it comes to my personal health, and the wellbeing of others, others come first."
Elise was unimpressed. "Get in the chair. That's an order." Clair looked at Elise, confused. "She outranks you." Elise faced her. "But as her doctor,
I can give her orders for medical reasons." Cass sighed. "She's telling the truth. Section 38, paragraph 12. Went into effect a year ago." Chloe
spoke up. "Hey, um, Cass has never looked better to me." Elise faced her. "Not the point. It's the principle of the matter." The others were simply
watching in fascination. Elise faced them. "Don't worry, you'll get your turns next."
Cass sighed and sat down. Elise brought over a small cylinder. "Now, open your mouth." Cass did. Elise looked inside, hummed in interest, then
said, "Okay, close it." Cass did, and looked over at Clair, who was facepalming. "I hate that regulation..." Cass replied, "It's inconvenient, I agree,
but rules are rules." Elise came back over. "Arm, please." Cass held it up, and Elise put a strap around it, checking Cass's ink pressure. "All right.
I just wanted to be sure."
Cass got off the chair, and walked over to Clair. "Cheer up. It could've been worse." Elise faced Chloe and the others. "Since you guys were
Sanitized-." Cass spoke up. "I already fixed it, Elise. Leave their medical exams for their new field medics." Elise looked at her, as if to protest.
Cass stopped her with, "That's an order." Elise sighed. "Yes, ma'am." Clair patted Cass's shoulder, and whispered, "Thank you." in her ear.
Commander Traeger walked in, facing C Group.
"I have good news." They all faced her. "DJ Octavio has decided that, for Cassandra's outstanding service and performance over the last two
years, for Clair's wisdom, and for the trauma the rest must be experiencing, you are all being placed on official leave for six months." Cass faced
Traeger, shock on her face. "Official leave?" Julia nodded. "That's right." Cass groaned. "But I had-." Julia interrupted her. "Work to do with the
Gorge forces?" Cass nodded.
Julia sighed. "Taking time off is never bad for you, Cassandra. It can actually be good for you. Everyone needs time off, even super soldiers. I'm
surprised Sieg didn't have you take time off." Cass faced her. "I didn't have a reason for official leave." Clair spoke up. "Oh, I can think of a good
reason. Mental health. I mean, living under a different name and keeping your real name a secret for so long has to be mentally exhausting."
Cass sighed. "Good point..."
Julia faced Cass. "Additionally, the mayor of Inkopolis has something for you, as his way of showing his gratitude for your timely intervention.
He's asked to meet you at the address on this paper." She handed it to Cass. The Predator sighed, and accepted the paper. "All right..." Clair
gently hugged Cass. "I can understand wanting to end the war quickly. But rushing in unprepared won't solve anything." Cass nodded. "I know..."
They were given t-shirts and shorts, and walked to the address on the paper.
The mayor of Inkopolis was waiting for them. "Ah, excellent." Cass stepped forward. "I was told you had something for me?" The mayor nodded.
"Look to your right." Cass did, and took note of a large mansion. She faced the mayor in shock. "I'm not worthy of this..." He shook his head. "I
admire your humility, but no one deserves that mansion more. I paid billions of coins to build it out of my own money. As the commanding officer
of the Gorge forces, you have earned one of the highest paychecks a citizen can earn."
Cass faced her sisters, who were giddy with excitement. "Cass, do you have any idea how much fun this is gonna be?!" She faced the mayor
again, and he said, "We've already furnished it, including a refrigerator, an oven, and a television. Enjoy your vacation. You've earned it." With
that, he left, and the rest of C Group walked over to Cass, and Clair touched her sister's shoulder gently. "Cassie, if you can't forgive yourself,
then what good is working to right your wrongs?"
The Predator thought that over. Facing Clair, she hugged her. "Thank you..." They went inside, and Clair went over to the oven, putting in two
pizzas to celebrate the reunion of C Group. They enjoyed their meal, and Cass told them of her exploits as Raven. She was in the middle of telling
them about her first hand-to-hand training match as Raven. "...And he looks me over, and-." Cathy spoke up. "He starts monologuing?" Cass
nodded. "He starts monologuing!"
Everyone laughed. "I mean, the instructor thinks that because I was a Private at that point, that this would be easy for him, and he won't shut up
about it!" They kept laughing. Soon enough, it was 9 PM, and the sisters went into bedrooms, Cass bringing Clair to the Master Bedroom. When
Clair faced her with a raised eyebrow, Cass explained. "You're the big sister." Clair chuckled. "Your mansion." Cass sighed. "I don't feel like I
should sleep in that comfy of a bed while my troops work their butts off."
Clair replied, "Octavio gave all the Octo Gorge forces official leave as well, for their performance against the Codlings." Cass smiled. "They
deserve it. I bet Elise and Eye are having fun." Clair faced her. "Speaking of, is Eye his real name?" Cass shook her head. "No, it's Ivan. He just
goes by Eye because he lost his left eye in a fight against rogue Salmonids two years ago." Clair gasped. "Poor thing..." Cass closed her eyes, a
smile still on her lips. "I admire him. He refuses to let life get him down." Clair cupped her sister's cheek. "You should follow that example, then.
It took me a year to forgive myself for what happened two years ago. I can help you, Cassie." Cass hugged Clair, and said, "You know what? Let's
share the master bedroom. We're not gonna do anything to each other, right?" Clair laughed. "Come on, let's get ready for bed."
A/N
Another chapter is told. More is to come.