Headaches, vertigo, and retching made for very bad days. Ana found herself taking the entire week off her duties just to lie in bed and wish the torture was over. The worst day had her lying in bed most of the time, because any attempt to waddle around her room sent her diving back onto the mattress within minutes at best. One evening, Kamilah found her curled up beneath the covers with a thin sheen of cold sweat on her skin, her eyes screwed shut as her head spun horribly. Kamilah took another day off, and while her presence did little to alleviate her body's rough adjustment, it made Ana feel less lonely. Although it made her feel horrible again when she persuaded Kamilah to take her out to town that night, having felt marginally better near evening.
"You'd think with fucking nanites they'd spare me weeks of torture," Ana groused.
"Without nanites you'd be like this for more than a month." Kamilah waited as Ana remained squatted beside the bike. She had stopped in the nearest carpark when Ana patted her insistently and asked her to pull over. The lights flashing past them were too much for Ana to handle.
Ana stayed in position a few moments longer, riding out the dizziness. Then she slowly got onto her feet with Kamilah's help, Ana gripping tightly at her arms. She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders – which ended up stooped despite her efforts.
"Can we go back?" Ana asked.
"We'd better."
Ana climbed onto the bike behind Kamilah, still holding her helmet in her hands. "Could you go slower this time?"
"I was going slower," Kamilah informed her, buckling her own helmet's strap.
"Even slower." Ana put her helmet on and hugged Kamilah tightly about the waist, leaning her head on the rider's shoulder with her eyes closed.
"Okay."
Perhaps she had jumped the gun, Ana decided, and thus swore off vehicle rides for the rest of the week. She forced herself to walk around as much as she could in compensation, and though the sight of Ana dragging her feet around the barracks attracted some concern from strangers, it managed to have some payoff in the end. She no longer suffered a brief spell of headache from a sudden change in light intensity, nor was she forced to lean on a nearby wall for support when the discomfort became too much. Most of the strain came from prolonged exposure, which could be remedied by giving her eyes sufficient rest.
All in all, her plan went rather smoothly. By the weekend, she was ready for whatever shenanigans the squad goofs would pull for her birthday. Except this.
Of all the stunts they had pulled in the past, this was the biggest 'surprise' they had given her: pizza at the benches behind the barracks blocks. No food smushed into the face, no lap dance, no ridiculously long line of shots, no disgusting meat cake to finish before moving on to the actual cake. Just food and a hangout – the mother of surprises. Though she did notice they had picked a spot farthest away from the lamp post, so maybe it was not that unexpected after all.
"I told you we ordered too much," Khalid told Layla as they stacked two untouched boxes in the middle of the table.
"Never too much pizza," came the flippant reply. "So, who wants to take them back?" She cast her eyes around the squad, then thrust one box at Ana.
"Wait, I'm not going to eat all that–"
"Eat it with the wife then. Hope she likes pizza."
"I suspect the wife would much prefer Ana than pizza," Adofo commented.
"Of course." Ana smirked as Adofo cocked his head without a flicker in his blue eyes – his equivalent of a poker face. "I taste so much better than pizza." She knocked her box at Layla's forehead, before she could say anything amid the mix of groans and sniggers. She reached into her pocket for her phone when it buzzed. Her eyes twitched at the stark glow of the screen, bringing the dull ache in her head to the forefront.
Kamilah: [Come to my room when you're done.]
[Wait you're back already?]
Kamilah: [Yes.]
[Coming]
"I cannot taste, sadly," Adofo said.
"Can't eat either," Ebo added.
"I would like to try some pizza if I could. Or just some pepperoni."
"Then maybe you'll invent an…omnic mouth, or something," Ana commented, rising from her seat. "So you can eat anything you want. Introduce eating to all the other omnics in the world. Earn a Nobel Prize."
"That's a very interesting suggestion."
"And where are you going?" Mesi asked, watching Ana swing her legs over the bench.
"The wife has summoned. So, thanks for the food." Ana spun the box on the tip of her finger like a basketball, but failed spectacularly and ended up clutching the box to her chest before it fell to the floor.
"God, does Shadid know how much of a loser you are?" Layla tossed her the bag she had left forgotten on the table – the squad's gift.
"Trust me, she does."
"Then she has shit taste in women."
"And yet she chose me instead of you," was Ana's snippy comeback, and an empty soda can hurtled into her back before clattering to the concrete pavement. "You're picking that up!" were her last words before she zipped back into the building, Layla's latest projectile – Mesi's can – arching through the air and falling harmlessly behind her.
Her right eye twitched shut at the bright lights of the barracks, but she cracked it open little by little, until she could keep it open comfortably by the time she was knocking on Kamilah's door. The amount of strain on her eye became most noticeable when she was led into the darkened room; its ceiling light was off, the only illumination came from the warm night lights plugged into the walls, and a holo-lamp on the table. The 3D projection was currently of a sitting tiger, orange light set to its lowest intensity. Much of the tension in her body, as well as the pressure in her head lifted as she adjusted to this dimmer setting.
The tug on her wrist brought her attention back, and she managed to say "Pizza delivery–" before the rest of her line was stolen by the soft kiss on her lips.
"That'd better get me a bigger tip," Ana said when they parted.
"That was your tip." Her eyes landed on the pink bag in Ana's hand. "Victoria's Secret?"
"'For Shadid's pleasure'," Ana echoed Layla's exact words.
Kamilah's lips quirked in a smile as she took the pizza box and opened it. "Oh good. She didn't forget the peppers."
"What." Ana followed her to the table. "Who didn't forget what?"
"I asked Mesi to order one for me."
"What," she repeated as Kamilah pushed her down into the chair. "You asked Mesi–?"
"Khalid gave me her number."
Ana gasped theatrically. "You're cheating on me."
"Hardly. I just needed her to distract you for me."
"Let me guess," Ana drawled. "Your shift wasn't extended. You just needed time to collect this." She gestured at the cake. "And you're the reason why they didn't buy one themselves."
"How clever. And here I thought you're only two years old." Kamilah lit the candles, then set the lighter aside. "So? Going to make your wish?"
A crooked smile. "This is payback for your birthday, isn't it?" Kamilah merely shrugged, so Ana blew out the candles as instructed. "Aren't you going to ask what I wished for?"
"No." Kamilah reached for a rectangular box on the chair beside her and handed it to Ana. "It's probably something dirty anyway."
"You know me so well," Ana deadpanned as she lifted the lid. She snorted at the first thing she saw and pulled it out, holding the briefs up so she could read 'EAT THIS' printed across the back. "Are you trying to tell me something?"
"Am I?" Kamilah set their plates, then ran a finger down the cream-covered knife, licking the chocolate off her fingertip as Ana dug through the box.
"Did you really…" Ana laughed as she pulled a mug out. "'Best Sniper Ever'?" she read aloud.
"Something for your ego." Kamilah smiled. "It changes colour according to temperature too."
"Remind me to get you one that says 'Best Medic Ever'." She put the mug back down. "Damn, you got a bit of stuff in here." There were a few packets of snacks, a pirate eye patch, a pair of aviator shades, a new phone case to replace her worn one, and…
Ana reached for the black circular pad in the middle of the box. It fit in her hand nicely, but was just a little hefty. She recognised this device – it belonged to a new line of holo-projectors that was released a few months ago. It was popular for photo-viewing, but documents could be stored in them as well. This one gained a lot of attention for being much smaller than its predecessors, and had sold out just weeks after its release.
"Turn it on," Kamilah said, nodding at the projector.
She thumbed the power button on its side, and the pad's lights came to life. The indentation in its middle glowed blue; the display screen on its side showed the folders currently in storage. There were only two at the moment: 'System' and 'Ana'. She chose the one obviously made for her, and the first photo flickered into being over the pad.
"Really?" Ana asked Kamilah, who shoved a forkful of cake into her mouth to stop her laughter. Of course, it had to be the one of her being pushed into the Nile. The second was Ana staring up at the camera, looking flabbergasted. The third was of her already on the boat, but slipping on the deck because of her wet feet. Thankfully the embarrassment ended there – the next few were pictures of her and Kamilah that they had taken through the vacation and the earlier months.
Ana flipped through them with a smile, then one of her squad popped up. She cocked her head as more pictures of her and the other morons appeared. "Where'd you get these from?"
"Your phone. You have a lot of photos in there."
"You went snooping around my phone?"
"Like how you went snooping around my wallet."
"Ah. Then we're square."
"I guess so."
Snickering through her teeth, Ana thumbed through the photos at a faster pace. There were a few more of her squad, then came her family. She felt a pang of longing looking at her sister's dumb face and her father's lop-sided smile, and it grew sharper when her mother's bright grin came into view. The photo was taken just after Zayirah's promotion ceremony, where she was given the crossed sabres which marked her as a Major General. Her arms clung around her daughters' shoulders, who were squeezing the air out of her from both sides. Her husband hugged the three women from behind, his well-groomed hair bearing as many grey streaks as his wife's.
She heaved a sigh at the picture, wondering just how long she had not laid eyes on it.
"You take after your mother a lot," Kamilah said, bringing her gaze up.
"Yeah." Ana's eyes flickered towards the photo again. Despite the lines on her face, Zayirah looked just as youthful as her children. "I mean, all this pretty has to come from somewhere." She ran through the rest of the photos quickly, then switched the device off and placed it back into the box.
"Thanks, sweetheart." She leaned over to plant a sound kiss on Kamilah's cheek, then glanced down at the box. "But damn, this is really a lot. I've to up my game next year."
Kamilah hummed. "Actually I got most of them as compensation." She explained at the raised brow, "I had a skydive booked for tomorrow. But," she drawled, tapping under Ana's chin. "Someone had to go for surgery."
"So it's cancelled?"
"Yes." She smiled at Ana's whine, and tugged her forward by the chin, kissing her pouted lips. "Is this not enough?" Kamilah asked when her lips stayed in a mighty pout. Which lasted but a mere second.
"Of course it is."
Kamilah gazed at her longer, eyes narrowing slightly at the impish look on her face. "But…?"
"There is something else you could do."
She seemed to go through a moment of mental debate, then sighed in defeat. "What else may I do for Her Royal Highness?"
Kamilah's brow quirked the further Ana's smirk grew. Ana reached back into the box, and fished the briefs out.
"Put this on," she said, holding it out to Kamilah who took it with a growing smile.
"On one condition."
"And that is?"
Kamilah nodded at the pink Victoria's Secret bag Ana had set on the table. "Only if you wear that."
Safiya: [Alright bitches. Listen up]
Safiya: [I just got 3 weeks' block leave. So if we wanna meet up before the year ends, better do it soon]
[Did you just call papa a bitch]
Safiya: [Yes we're all bitches here]
Safiya: [Also my people are gonna be deployed somewhere in Jan. Heard some small detachments from Helio and other bases are gonna join us.]
Safiya: [I'll bet my ass you're gonna be in it Ana]
[Papa you heard of this?]
Papa: [Yes. Plans still in the air. Might be pushed further than Jan]
Papa: [But would like to meet before year end]
[How about 3rd week]
[Papa?]
Papa: [I can make it]
Safiya: [Finally]
Safiya: [1 week as usual?]
[Yep]
Papa: [Time to find ear plugs]
[We're not that bad]
Papa: [If only]
[Wow he really is a bitch]
Papa: [ :) ]
Safiya: [I regret my choice of names]
Papa: [ ;D ]
[STOP BEING WEIRD]
The second week of her readjustment went by more smoothly than the first. Aches and strain were still a regular part of her life, but it was getting better by the day. With the help of her new eye, she could scan their squad's training grounds much easier, identifying more well-hidden traps and the most useful advantages in terrain. Of course, with her sentence to light duties only, Ana had to settle for sitting by the sidelines and restraining the urge to cry out in frustration, whenever they fell into ambushes her cybernetic eye had spotted since the start.
The day after her visit to the doctor's and being given the green light, Ana was raring to jump back into training. She was set free in the morning after a stern warning from Kamilah to not overdo it, and then proceeded to overdo it by plunging into PT with one month's worth of pent-up energy. Kamilah spared her from more admonishments during morning mess, knowing it would have just as much effect as the first. So she settled for telling Ana to 'have fun' before traipsing back to the hospital.
And 'fun' did Ana have when let loose onto the training field. She spotted targets much faster than Khalid who complained that she was stealing his job, then that she was being too extra when Ana switched sniping spots more than usual. She relayed information to Mesi ahead of time, giving her those precious few minutes to bark orders and get her squad out of trouble. Ana's upgrade combined with Adofo's capabilities vastly improved their squad's performance, earning Jaida's approving nods on more than a few occasions. Her performance had been closely monitored and declared 'satisfactory' – which worried her a little, but Jaida had assured her it was nothing. The brass would reserve judgment until they had seen her in real action.
After sounding out for future assignments, Ana managed to snag her one week's leave with help from the happier and more pliant Major. Then she had to snag Kamilah out of her mini shopping panic the weekend before they left, by thrusting a cast-iron skillet into her hands.
"Are you sure?"
"Trust me," Ana repeated, putting Kamilah's duffle bag into her car's boot. "He'll love it." Kamilah still looked unconvinced, but let herself be ushered into Ana's car.
"Look, sweetie." Ana took her hand after settling in the driver's seat. "You're not going for an audition. You're going as a guest. No, actually. You know what," she laughed. "You'll only be a guest for… Let's say, a grand total of three seconds."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You'll see." She started up the engine. "Nothing bad, I promise."
Thanks to light traffic, the journey took only an hour. Though it seemed too long for Ana, who started humming to every single song on the radio to entertain herself, while Kamilah stayed quiet and stared out of the window. A smile grew on Ana's lips when she turned into the familiar neighbourhood, slowing down to spot the houses that still remained the same through the years. She slowed to a stop in front of their garage, looking over the house as she waited for the door to open.
"Huh." Ana craned her neck a little farther. "Think my dad's back. His bedroom window is open." Kamilah managed to sneak a peek at said window on the upper floor, before Ana drove in and parked beside the family car.
"He's pretty early."
"Ah well." Ana shrugged, alighting from the car. "Wouldn't surprise me if he came back last night, honestly." She waited for Kamilah to retrieve her belongings from the boot, then slung her own duffle bag over her shoulder. "He would've vacuumed the house and made everything bright and clean for the visit."
Ana strode towards the door then paused halfway, turning around to look at Kamilah trailing quietly behind her. She smiled softly when Kamilah blinked up at her, thrown off by her sudden stop.
"Are you nervous?"
Her feet shifted. "Not…really." She took a breath after the obvious lie. "Look, I've never…" Kamilah gestured at the doorway leading into the house. "I don't know how–"
"Milah." Ana tugged her close. "Relax, alright? You're not here to impress anyone. You're just meeting my family, that's all. Your future family, I might add." She cackled when Kamilah shoved her away, and grabbed her hand. "Seriously though," Ana said as they neared the door. "Just relax and have fun. If anything, I'm the one who has to worry. Don't want my family to scare you off or something."
"'Scare' me off?"
"My sister can be fucking obnoxious sometimes." She held the door open for Kamilah to walk through. "She's fun but god, sometimes I really want to punch her in the face." Ana took Kamilah's hand again, guiding her down the unlit hallway and into the living room, where lights were on.
"I knew I heard the garage doors opening."
The women halted in their tracks, watching the tall figure clear the last few steps of the staircase. At 56 with a full head of white hair neatly combed back, coupled with a stern bearing and angular features, Brigadier General Zaid Amari was an imposing figure to any who laid eyes on him. Any who were not his daughters, of course.
Ana ran towards the old fart for a tight embrace, cracking a smile over his severe countenance, as father and daughter laid eyes on each other for the first time in nearly fourteen months.
"You look as good as ever, papa," Ana said as she broke away. "For your age, anyway."
Zaid sighed. "And I see your sense of humour is still intact, like the rest of you." His gaze lingered on his daughter, before moving onto the woman standing behind them. "Kamilah."
"Yes, sir."
Both Amari broke into smiles at the knee-jerk reply. "At ease, soldier. There are no ranks out of base." Zaid strode over to where Kamilah stayed rooted in one spot. "May I take that for you?"
Kamilah blinked and looked down, as if she had forgotten the flat cardboard box in her hands. She surrendered it immediately. "This is for you, actually."
"And it's not even my birthday," Zaid chuckled. "Thank you." He looked the box over and took a peek inside, eyes widening. "Oh! Just what I need. A new skillet to replace the one Ana destroyed."
"I didn't 'destroy' it. I just dropped it."
"And it broke."
"Not destroyed."
"It broke in three places."
"Whatever," Ana groaned. "I'm not going through this again." She adjusted the bag strap on her shoulder and looked her father over, noting his polo shirt and pants. "Did you just reach home?"
"Yup. Have you eaten?" Zaid asked, looking over at Kamilah. "Join me for lunch?"
"Yes please," Ana said as Kamilah nodded.
"Good. Go put your things down. I'll get the car."
Ana reached back for Kamilah's hand again, pulling her up the stairs as Zaid zipped into the kitchen. "You are just precious, Lieutenant." She snickered again when Kamilah elbowed her in the side.
The three managed to sneak in a little quiet time together until evening, when the click of the front door's lock heralded the arrival of the party. The one-woman party. She would have arrived earlier in the day, but her flight got delayed – which worked out well, in Ana's opinion. It gave Kamilah time to get acquainted with the calmer Amari before–
"What have we here?"
Ana and Kamilah stood from the couch to face the two women standing in the living room's doorway. Despite exchanging numerous photos, Safiya's new look was still quite a jarring change. Her mohawk – which had grown out a little – was styled back to look windswept. She looked good, but unlike the sister she had grown up with. Maybe more reflective of how Safiya really was at heart.
"Look at you!" Safiya grinned, leaving her small luggage on the floor as the sisters strode towards each other. Ana held out her arms when Safiya did the same. For one moment, she was walking over to Safiya. The next thing she knew, hands landed on her left cheek and shoulder, and Ana was shoved to the side.
"Kamilah!" Safiya exclaimed as Ana stumbled, caught just in time by Zahra before she hit the end table and knocked over the lamp.
"Hi," Zahra said with a wide smile when Ana looked up.
"Hey." Ana straightened herself and patted Zahra's arm in gratitude, then turn around to see Kamilah being accosted by Safiya.
"My god," Safiya exclaimed, hands clasping the sides of Kamilah's shoulders. "You're so much more gorgeous in real life!"
Kamilah could barely squeeze out a word of thanks before Safiya sucked her into a firm hug. She looked over Safiya's shoulder for help, only to have Ana shrug at her from the back. Then Kamilah was held out at arm's length again, Safiya giving her a once-over.
"Kamilah, Kamilah," she said. "A woman like you deserves so much better than a baby like Ana."
"Oi!"
"What, am I wrong?" Safiya turned to face her sister, looking utterly unrepentant. "You're like, what. 8? 9?"
"16," Ana clarified.
"That's right, 16. Oh well." She slung an arm around Kamilah's shoulders, and whispered not-too-quietly in her ear. "When you're done with her, I can introduce you to some real women." Safiya smiled down at Kamilah's uncertain expression, then winked and ruffled her hair. She finally let go of Kamilah and strode over to Ana, dipping quickly and clamping her arms around her sister's waist.
"Can you not?" Ana grumbled when she was lifted unceremoniously from the ground, and slung over Safiya's shoulder. Her sister turned around, and Ana caught a glimpse of Kamilah smoothing over her ruffled hair, before coming face-to-face with Zahra.
"Have you two said hi?"
"Yes, babe," Zahra replied. "Now put her down."
"No."
"Put her down."
Safiya clicked her tongue and turned around again to face her girlfriend. Ana kept her feet tucked in close so she would not kick anything to the floor. Already used to this nonsense, Ana rested an elbow on Safiya's back and her chin in a hand, waiting for it to be over.
"I thought you're on my side," Safiya said. Ana could hear the pout in her tone.
"Yes, but you're making a fool of yourself in front of Kamilah. Hi, by the way."
"Hi," came Kamilah's voice.
"So? The sooner Kamilah knows who she's getting involved with, the better. Also," Safiya grunted as she adjusted the human baggage on her shoulder. "You're really heavy, Ana. You getting fat or what?"
"It's muscle."
"Fats."
"Muscle."
"Fats– Oh, fuck–!" Safiya cursed when Ana pressed the sole of her foot onto Safiya's face. "Stop–!"
"Let me down."
"Stop!"
"Do it!" Ana insisted, rubbing at her sister's cheeks with her foot. She grabbed onto Safiya's shirt when the woman shifted on her feet. "Do it before I fucking–"
"Girls."
Ana craned her neck up to look at Zaid entering the living room, before she was robbed of the view when Safiya turned around to face their father.
"Behave, please."
"Fine." Safiya let her sister down with a sound thump, aiming a slap at Ana's back when she received one on her stomach.
"Girls," Zaid repeated when the two raised their arms, which dropped immediately.
Ana slinked back to Kamilah's side as Zaid went to greet Zahra, meeting her with a handshake before being engulfed in a hug by Safiya. She exchanged a glance with Kamilah, then fell back into the couch with an arm around her shoulders.
"Think I can safely say," Ana murmured in her ear. "Welcome to the family."
She returned Kamilah's gentle smile and leaned in to kiss her, when a cushion crashed into their heads. Ana grabbed it before it fell into her lap and flung it hard at Safiya, who was cackling on her way to the stairs.
"Fuck off!"