'Omnica Corp fails to meet projected growth and output for 2043'
'Leaked: omniums fraught with malfunctions for past year'
'Omnica whistleblower brings company's integrity into question'
'Investigations reveal staggering losses and evidence of fraud in Omnica'
'Continued omnic malfunctions puts pressure on investigations'
'Breaking: Omnica Corporation to be dissolved'
'Omniums worldwide to be shut down by October'
Adofo: [Guys I need to talk]
Adofo: [In person]
Khalid: [wassup]
Adofo: [Can't say over phone]
Adofo: [Please]
Layla: [You ok dude?]
Adofo: [I'm kinda scared rn]
Adofo: [Ana can we go to your house]
Adofo: [I don't wanna be overheard]
[Yeah sure]
[Just be quiet wife's sleeping]
Mesi: [Meet downstairs and we'll go together]
Adofo: [Thanks]
So the squad arrived at Ana's living room in less than half an hour, each on their best behaviour so they wouldn't rouse Kamilah, who was sleeping upstairs. They sat in silence while Adofo explained the situation, and continued to stare at him as he started pacing around the room, grinding his metallic knuckles into his palm.
"They can't do this. They can't," he uttered.
"Did they say what the failsafe will do?" Mesi asked. "What will it do to your systems, exactly?"
"It'll shut down everything!" His eyes flared as he spun to face her. "My power core, my processors, my memory banks, everything."
"But they're doing it for your safety, aren't they?" Khalid said. "You said if they flicked the switch, you'll go…inert, then they'll put you in isolated storage."
"Yes, but it's so…it's so fucked up. They're taking our lives into their own hands. And there's not even a guarantee that we'll wake up as the same person we were before." He resumed his pacing. "Who even knows they'll really put us in storage? Maybe they'll just chuck us into a bin and be done with it."
"Now I'm sure they won't… They'll only get more protests if they do that."
"That's why they told us to shut up, didn't they? So they can do it all nice and clean…" He stopped in his tracks when Mesi clasped onto his hand and tugged. Adofo hesitated, then sat on the floor between the sofa and Ana's armchair. He hugged his knees, looking like a lost child with his downturned head and flickering eyes.
Ana patted his head. "Maybe you're overthinking it, Ado. They're doing this for the safety of others…and yours as well."
"Hard not to overthink when they want to install a literal kill switch in you," he muttered. "So many of my friends are planning to quit. But what are we going to do? We're built for the army. That's what we do."
"You can always be a photographer," Layla said. "You're not 100% military, you know."
"And omnic employees are in high demand now, yeah?"
They fell into another bout of silence, watching Ado fidget with his hands and feet. With the imminent shutdown of omniums, dozens of protests and debates on omnic rights had broken out. But they did little to stem the closure of the production facilities, and prejudice began to rear its ugly head. Scattered attacks on omnics were reported in the news, some cases taking place in Cairo itself, where the victims were found with vulnerable joints cut through and wires ripped out. With such a bloody tang in the air, it was only understandable that Adofo was so disturbed.
"What do you want to do?" Ana asked. "Leave the army too?"
"I don't know. Probably stay. Where else can I go," he sighed, shrugging. "Maybe it's better if I got that failsafe. I was built to kill, after all."
"No, you weren't," Hakim said. "You're an engineer. You make things."
"And I can make them stop working."
"Well, technically any of us can do that," Ana pointed out.
"Take your time, Ado," Mesi said. "Think it over. Whatever you want to do, we'll help you. You want to leave? We'll find a home for you. You want to stay? We'll make sure nothing happens to you, as much as we can."
After rocking on the spot for a few moments, Adofo calmed down. And though there was still that nervous click from within his chassis, he said, "Yeah. Thanks."
Contrary to Adofo's predictions, very few omnics left the service within the week, before the failsafe was installed. According to hushed whispers, they were a brave few. In order to secure their status as civilians, they were subjected to a thorough memory wipe – all combat software and military knowledge were purged from their systems, which constituted for more than half of their programming. They were left with just enough to maintain their base personalities, before being discharged.
There was an underlying current of tension among their omnic colleagues after the procedure, and nothing could help to dispel the misery. Whenever Ana laid eyes on Adofo, he appeared more sullen and had a habit of scratching at his chest, as if trying to dislodge something from his body. Further adding to her concern, she noticed that omnics were slowly being phased out of the Guard as well – transferred to other units where they'd be 'more effective'. An invisible divide was slowly growing within the base, its effects palpable but minute enough that they grew used to it after some time.
It was business as usual.
December soon arrived, along with their doctor's appointment. A blood test and ultrasound scan were performed on Ana, and another blood and cell sample was taken from Kamilah. Their test results were in the clear, and so the first phase of the process began…along with Ana's pouting. For the next two weeks, Ana was given two injections daily, in order to stimulate her ovaries. The injections could be done at home, and it naturally became Kamilah's duty to administer them. She was the medic after all, and it was her way to make up for Ana having to endure the constant prick of needles.
They made regular trips back to the doctor's for ultrasound scans, and Ana's medication dosage was tweaked accordingly through the weeks. Then she was given one new, last shot to take before her eggs were retrieved. They went to the IVF centre for their next appointment, and Ana was given a light sedative in the operating room – which she was glad for, after glimpsing the long needle that would be passed through her vagina. The procedure was long complete by the time she came to, though she felt sore and cramped for a while.
Five days after, Kamilah's chromosomes were successfully inserted into Ana's eggs, and they returned to the centre for the embryo transfer. It was a very quick procedure, but Ana was made to lie down for an hour before Kamilah could drive her home. She was assigned to light duties according to the doctor's orders – spending time in the armoury and following her captain around the command centre.
Ana found it interesting that Captain Fahim insisted on her getting hands-on with mission planning, but it soon became clear a week later, when she found herself standing before the promotion board in an interview for the rank of captain. It was a breeze, honestly – Kamilah had drilled her thoroughly for it, and she nailed question after question without breaking a single sweat. Fahim's wink the next morning was all the feedback she needed on her performance.
Before the results of the interview arrived though, Ana returned to the doctor's office with Kamilah for follow-ups in the next weeks, and eventually a pregnancy test. They waited with bated breath as the doctor walked in with a giddy look on her face.
"Ladies, this was just the first try, but you have beaten the odds," she said, grin growing ever wider. "Congratulations. You're going to be mothers."
They celebrated by enveloping each other in a hug and refusing to let go, which meant the sofa became their little nest the moment they returned home. Little giggles and kisses broke the silence now and then, as their new reality settled gently over them. It was happening.
Ana kept her eyes closed, feeling the warmth of Kamilah resting on top of her, and that one particular spot in her body where a new life was growing. Just thinking about it made her feel…everything. She was happy they succeeded, excited yet fearful of what was to come; she couldn't wait to have the baby, but wanted the time to prepare. She was a little scared, and wanted to face each fear right then and there. She felt and wanted to do so many things at once, that her mind worked itself into a blank and let go. She was left with herself again, in a singular moment of crystal clarity.
Bending down to kiss the top of Kamilah's head, she rubbed at her wife's back and noticed the faint snoring, muffled against her shirt. Ana chuckled and patted at Kamilah's cheek, her wife rousing back to life with incoherent mumbles, as if she had drifted off mid-conversation.
"You fell asleep," Ana informed her, and her eyes blinked slowly.
"Oh. Sorry." Kamilah yawned and nestled her head in Ana's shoulder, mumbling, "Baby."
"That's right."
"I'm having another baby."
"Let me guess," Ana drawled. "I'm your first baby."
"Mm." Kamilah hugged about her shoulders. "I love my babies."
"That you do," Ana said, to which there was a soft grunt in reply, then nothing more. Kamilah loved sleep as much as she loved 'her babies', it seemed.
Of course, the next order of business was to break the news. But they chose to wait until the weekend, taking the time to get used to it themselves. Sometimes, Ana didn't even remember that she was pregnant until she saw gleam in her wife's eye. She felt so normal, but also knew she should cherish this feeling before the symptoms came knocking on her door. Kamilah, on the other hand, didn't seem to be able to forget it. She paid more attention to Ana, and kept fluttering about her pregnant wife with a small smile on her face. Ana even received a text from Mesi, asking what's going on because Kamilah's constantly happy demeanour at work was 'kinda freaking everyone out'.
And so, it was time to tell. Her family was first, and they were lucky enough to gather everyone in the same vidcall. Safiya uttered a 'holy shit' while Zahra sat beside her in a quiet surprise. Zaid had pressed his knuckles to his mouth, fixing the screen with a faraway stare.
"Papa?" Kamilah asked when he stayed like this for a while. "You okay?"
"He looks like he's going to have a stroke." Ana leaned forward. "Papa, relax."
He nodded blankly first, his hands lowering to reveal a smile as he tittered softly. "I'm going to be a grandpa."
"Took you that long to realise, huh?" Safiya drawled.
Zaid snickered again. "My daughter's having a baby. I never thought it'd happen so soon."
"You know, me neither. But when Milah asks for something, I can't help it."
"You still haven't gotten me those bookends yet."
Ana clicked her tongue. "We'll get them tomorrow."
"So how'd you do it?" Zahra asked. "Artificial insemination?"
"Er–, IVF," Ana said, sharing a glance with Kamilah. "Yeah, technically we're not supposed to tell anyone…but I assume all of you can keep your mouths shut. Especially you." She stared pointedly at Safiya, who raised her hand in a promise. "We went for an experimental IVF, so there were no donors involved. The baby's just between the two of us."
"Wait, seriously? That's possible?" Safiya asked.
"I'm pregnant now, aren't I?"
"…It's so weird to hear you say that."
"I know."
"So get used to it," Zaid joined in. "You're pregnant now, and you need to take care of yourself. Don't do anything careless or dangerous."
"Yeah, yeah. I know."
"And Kamilah, good luck. If she's anything like her mother when she was pregnant…" He gave an ominous chuckle. "You'll have your hands full."
"Why," Kamilah asked slowly.
"Oh, she was grumpy. Very grumpy. And fierce. I think we were more scared of her when she was pregnant."
"Hey," Ana said, nudging Kamilah. "Sounds just like you." She cackled as a hand slapped against her shoulder.
"Be nice, Ana. She'll be the one getting your midnight snacks in the future."
"Oh shit," Safiya laughed. "Don't piss Milah off or you aren't getting fed."
"I'll just feed her kale," Kamilah said simply.
"No!"
"Then you'll have to listen to me from now on, hm?" She pinched Ana's chin, smiling at her wife's pout.
"So, have you celebrated?" Safiya asked.
"By eating a lot, yes," Ana said.
"You should go out. Treat yourselves. I brought your mom to this nice restaurant by the–"
"No, I mean," Safiya cut in. "Conception in a lab is so sterile. Have you…celebrated?"
"Oh my god," Ana groaned.
"Hey, you gotta have some fun with it. I mean, others do. Even papa did–"
"Oh, wow. Look at the time. I'm very tired."
"Papa, it's only 9."
"Yes, I'm old. And tired. Can't talk anymore. Good night." He reached for his keyboard and paused, flashing them a bright smile. "And congrats, girls. Ask me any questions you need, alright?"
"Yeah, how did you conceive us–"
"Night!" Zaid said loudly, and his window winked off the screen.
Safiya chuckled. "So, can you actually have sex yet?"
"No," Ana sighed. "I'm still on pelvic rest. But soon." She rested an arm around Kamilah's shoulders. "Then you can pretend to impregnate me."
"Technically, I already have," Kamilah deadpanned.
"Aw, that's right." Ana shrugged, turning back to the screen. "So when are you two going to have your own–?"
"Oh, look at the time! We're going off too."
"…You're not old."
"Yeah, and we're not on pelvic rest either."
"What–," was all Zahra could say, before Safiya winked and disconnected.
Ana glanced at Kamilah, wry smile curving her lips. "We could try…"
"No."
She pouted.
As expected, the squad reacted with 'when the fuck', 'how the fuck', and more appropriately, 'congrats'. They were told that Ana conceived through IVF and nothing more, though it seemed to satisfy them well enough. Naturally, it prompted another visit to her house, during which they touched Ana's stomach endlessly, as if they could somehow feel the weeks-old fetus with their hands. They presented a baby rattle and pacifier as gifts, and promised to drop by more often to check on Ana.
Due to the agreement they had signed with the IVF lab, Ana was restricted to non-physically intensive duties, in order to ensure the safety of her baby. Her advanced officer training was postponed until the next year. After the promotion ceremony where Kamilah pinned the captain's star to Ana's epaulet, she was assigned to a temporary position in the command centre, coordinating the Guard's assignments and training sessions. This was far better than her logistics routine at the armoury and frankly, she was thankful for the change of environment. Not just for the safety – she found herself getting tired more easily towards the end of each day, and being able to sit down helped her manage the fatigue better.
Her new role's benefits didn't end there – it also gave her a clearer view of the army's activities. Whether or not Ana was thankful for this insight, she was unsure. Just two weeks into her tenure, disturbing news started trickling in from around the world. It started with the sudden reactivation of the Krasnoyarsk omnium, and the legion of military-grade omnics that spilled from its doors. In the first few hours, it had laid waste to nearly half the city and pushed the death toll into the thousands, before the army stepped in and halted their advance. But for all their equipment and training, they could not hold their defense for long.
The soldier's lines were bloodied and broken within the next few days, and they were forced to retreat, taking the remaining civilians with them. Blockades were set up all along state lines, but the omnics were relentless. Tireless. Reasonless. No offers of parley, no form of communication was responded to, or even acknowledged. The omnic army had one, and only one, apparent motive: to kill. As they pushed out of Krasnoyarsk and spilled into the surrounding cities, omniums in the United States, Mexico, and Australia came to life as well. The story was the same everywhere: for each omnic life taken, the blood of more humans were spilled, along with the shattered alloy of civilian omnics who tried to protect them.
In response to the spreading panic, every defunct omnium was now put under heavy guard. Ana had assisted in deploying two battalions from the Republican Guard to support their infantry at Egypt's omnium – situated within the Suez governorate, just outside Cairo's borders. Defenses were shored up along city borders as well, on close watch for any signs of trouble. There was a certain sharpness to the uneasiness looming in the air – as if they were waiting for an inevitability. How could they not think so? Seeing images of devastation in the news day after day was enough to wear on their hopes. Whole portions of cities lay in ruin, with torn and broken bodies lying among the rubble, despite the armies' best efforts to fight back.
At times, Ana would review their logs of the omnium in the command centre, reading hourly reports and unconsciously holding her breath…
She jumped a little when a hand brushed across her cheek. Ana looked up, and Kamilah smiled softly as she rounded the sofa to sit beside her. Reaching for the remote in Ana's hand, Kamilah flipped the channels until they landed on a local drama.
"Don't stress yourself out," she said. "It's not good for the baby."
"Only the baby?"
"You too. You wear yourself out enough at work. Don't do it at home as well."
"Yes, ma'am," Ana sighed.
"I've been thinking–"
"Need aspirin?" Ana bit down on her lip, but failed to hide her grin when Kamilah raised a brow.
"I've been thinking," Kamilah said again. "About getting a permanent post in base."
"Yeah? Why?"
"The future, Ana. It'll be difficult to raise the baby ourselves if we're both going away on deployments. If I got a post here, I can stay for our baby, and take care of you better in the meantime."
"How sweet," Ana chuckled, playing with the ends of her hair. "But do you want to? I mean, don't you want me to–?"
Kamilah snorted. "You? Stay in base? If you can do that for even one year without complaining, I'll eat your dirty shoes," she said, flicking at Ana's nose when she snickered. "Seriously though, yes. I want to. I'd like the stability."
"It'll be lonely out there without you."
"I know. But I'll take care of things back here when you're out with the Guard. You won't have to worry about us." She touched Ana's stomach gently. "You'll know we're safe. That you'll come home to us."
"My wife and child."
"Your family."
"My family," Ana repeated, savouring the words lilting off her tongue. "That sounds amazing."
"Doesn't it?" Kamilah said wryly. "All my plans sound amazing."
"That's because you're amazing, honey," she crooned.
"You are too, darling." Kamilah smiled, leaning gladly into the kiss Ana pulled her into.
Maybe she should start planning for the future too, Ana thought as she looked into the bathroom mirror. At least, plan for a more immediate future.
The door opened, and Kamilah blinked at the sight of her. "What are you doing?"
Ana hummed, merely tilting her head as she continued pushing gently under her breasts – which had felt a little tender recently.
"Are you going to bathe?" Kamilah asked, probably because Ana was standing in only her underwear.
"No," she drawled. "I'm just thinking when I should get new bras."
Kamilah chuckled, entering the bathroom proper. "You still have a little way to go, dear."
"Yeah, I know," Ana sighed. She turned this way and that, looking over her muscular physique. "Can't wait to wear those ugly maternity uniforms."
"You'll look dashing in them."
"Oh please. I'll look like a bloated fish. And I'll lose these babies." She rubbed a hand over her chiseled abs wistfully, sighing again. "Promise you'll still love me when I don't look sexy anymore."
"Nonsense." Kamilah hugged her firmly from behind, kissing her on the cheek. "You'll always look sexy. And you'll be sexier than Beyoncé when she was pregnant."
Ana laughed. "Please, Milah. That's blasphemy."
"It's the truth." Kamilah smiled, running her fingers down Ana's stomach. "All these don't matter. You'll always be beautiful to me."
"–and that's the study," Ana said, walking out of said room with her video camera in hand. "Wonder how much of this will change when our baby arrives."
Quickly making her way down the stairs, Ana strode into the kitchen and found Kamilah sorting through the groceries on the counter. "There's mommy number 2. Just back from her–"
"Why am I number 2?" Kamilah asked. "And are you making another vlog again?"
"Yeah, just because. Also, you're number 2 because you're double the mommy. Alpha mommy. Super mommy."
Kamilah huffed in amusement. "You don't even know that yet."
"Oh yes, I do. See?" Ana picked up one of the books on the counter and pointed the camera at it. "'The Parenting Handbook: How to Raise Happy & Healthy Kids'. You're already studying how to be a mom." She put the book down and moved over to the groceries, as Kamilah went to stock their fridge. "All these food. Wonder which will make me wanna vomit in the future."
"I know what makes you vomit now." Kamilah reached into a paper bag and withdrew a clear packet of kale.
"Ew, fuck!" She swatted the bag away when Kamilah dangled it in front of her face. "That is hell's vegetable. Only demons eat it."
"What if our kid likes it?"
"Then it's all your fault." Ana slapped lightly at Kamilah's butt as she went to deposit the last of their groceries. Going back to where the books lay, she took a seat and read over the titles. Two handbooks on raising kids, one on pregnancy. When Kamilah turned around, Ana gestured for her to take a seat as well.
"So, tell me one last thing," she said, focusing the camera on her wife. "What do you want our kid to be when they grow up? Astronaut? Lawyer? Doctor?" She gasped. "Singer?"
Rolling her eyes, Kamilah kept silent and thought it over. "I just want them to be happy," she said simply.
"Aw. That's nice. I want that too."
"Yes, you want them to be happy and be like Bey–"
"Okay, end of vlog!" Ana exclaimed, snapping the screen shut. "Come on, Milah. You can't reveal my deep dark secret on camera like that."
Kamilah shrugged, pulling the books over. Ana grabbed one and opened it, looking at the photo of a diapered baby lying on his back.
"You don't really need all these, you know," Ana said, flipping through the book.
"I want to raise my baby right, Ana. I don't want to…screw up or anything."
"You won't."
Kamilah held her gaze for a moment, before relenting with a smile. "Even so, I just want to be prepared. Speaking of which…" She tossed a book to Ana – the one on pregnancy. "I think you should start reading this."
So they formed a habit of doing some bedtime reading together, sharing a book before hitting the pillows. And a week later, Ana was glad for those reading sessions.
One bleary morning, Ana woke from her sleep feeling thoroughly odd. Only when she stood unsteadily, floor lurching beneath her feet, that she realised what was happening. Hand clamping over her mouth, she muffled the retch as she sprinted for the bathroom, barging through the door and falling to her knees before the toilet bowl. She clutched onto cold porcelain for dear life as her head spun, stomach doing another flip and sending a second retch through her throat.
"Ana," she heard Kamilah say, but didn't bother looking up as she heaved again.
Kamilah's hands brushed about her jaw, gathering her hair into a ponytail. There was a certain whiff to her fingers that made Ana's insides curl, and she bent down towards the bowl once more. It took a while before her stomach calmed down, and though she still felt a little nauseous, Ana sat back on the floor in relief. Kamilah touched her forehead and cheeks to check her temperature, but Ana smelled that same scent again and slapped her hands away.
Pressing her own fingers to her nose, Ana asked, "Are you cooking?"
"Breakfast. With last night's chicken."
Just the memory of its fragrance made her want to hurl. Noticing her disgusted expression, Kamilah said, "Does it smell…"
"Yeah."
"Ah. Well, go on and wash up. I'll make something else for you."
Ana muttered a 'thanks', and was helped to her feet. She went through her morning routine more sluggishly than usual, feeling grateful that it was their day off. Ana trudged down the stairs and made for the kitchen, only to swerve away at the last minute because of the chicken's smell. Kamilah brought her a bowl of oatmeal with some berries, and Ana ate her breakfast listlessly in the living room by herself.
Thankfully, her morning sickness was not as severe as its grand entrance. It mostly remained as nausea – which was manageable enough, and she could go about her duties without major interruptions. She had only gone rushing for the toilet on a few occasions – especially when she smelled food at meal times – but other than that, it wasn't as bad as she had imagined it to be.
Besides, it was nice that Kamilah was altering her own diet to fit Ana's new tastes as well. Having some company made her feel that little bit better.
It didn't take long before trouble arrived on their doorstep.
It was sudden, but didn't take them by surprise…at first. Ana was back at her station in the centre, comparing training schedules and assignment rosters when they were plunged into red alert. Reports started flooding in about the reactivation of the local omnium, and the lightning-quick reaction to counter the threat. Civilians had long been cleared of the larger vicinity when the destructive omnics carved its way through the armed forces, and burned a path towards Cairo.
Ana's heart dropped into her queasy stomach as she watched the live-feed, which tracked the vast army of omnics as it marched towards Cairo's borders, barely wavering under the steady hail of AP rounds and rockets. Her mind wandered to Kamilah, worried that she might be deployed to the combat zone to bolster their defenses. But she received her orders then, and had to push the concern to the back of her mind, where it continued to burn as she helped to coordinate troop movements.
The battle took hours, and the army was taken aback by the sheer number of omnics that kept pouring out of the omnium. It turned into a war of attrition, where the army was slowly losing ground which each body they lost. But having their omnic comrades did help to tighten their ranks, and the battle was finally won as the sun cast a dark orange glow over the city, seeming to bleed red over the day's battleground.
The omnics had managed to advance much farther into Cairo than expected, and taken much more lives than they could imagine. It shouldn't have happened this way – they had trained, they were prepared. And yet, the smoking rubble lying near the city borders proved otherwise.
Ana rushed home the moment another officer came to relieve her, and flew into Kamilah's embrace the moment she stepped through the front door. Kamilah had been stationed at the hospital to treat the injured, but most who were wounded didn't live long enough to even see the hospital. Many beds still remained empty, and it was the main reason why she was able to nip back home to see Ana.
They answered the calls from their family to give them some reassurance, before falling into fitful sleep with their arms wrapped tightly around each other.
The weeks seemed to drag on the longer the omnics kept pushing from the omnium. News about the German and Indian omniums' reactivation didn't interest them anymore. The UN had declared this global disaster an 'Omnic Crisis', but it wasn't news to them – it was life.
Ana was fighting a war on two fronts: one in her body, and another in the command centre. She read the casualty reports daily, and pushed orders to send soldiers to the frontlines, where many would end up as another casualty themselves. Since their first attack, the omnics had started heading for cities other than Cairo, forcing the army to concentrate their forces at strategic points so they wouldn't be stretched thin. And disturbingly, the omnics' adaptability had started to work against them as well. They devised tactics to outmaneuver their human foes, and had recently given them a rude shock when the army's bullets were deflected by shields installed in new omnics.
For the moment, they had managed to counter this with the use of drones, grenades, and inspired troop formations, but Ana could almost feel that the army was ready to buckle at its knees. In retaliation, they were throwing everything they could at the omnics, and her old squad was among those to be deployed to the front. Ana made them gather in a group hug at her house, reminding them to 'stay safe and come back in one piece', to which they replied, 'Thanks, mom.'
Watching them walk away from her home with heavy steps was hard enough. And just a week later, Kamilah told her something worse.
"I'm going to be deployed to a field camp next week."
Ana stared at her in disbelief, fear tying her stomach into knots. She took a breath, but her throat squeezed before she could say anything. Kamilah smiled wanly at her crumpling face, and cupped her cheek gently.
"Don't worry, Ana. I won't be fighting. They just need more hands at their hospital."
"But–, didn't you request a transfer?"
"Yes, and I'll be transferred after I return. I'll be gone for only a month. Or two, at most."
"I…still don't like it."
"Me neither. But orders are orders." She wiped her thumb over the tear cutting down Ana's cheek. "Now, don't cry. I'll be back soon, I promise."
Kamilah pulled her into a tight hug, and Ana wrapped her arms around her wife, wishing she could keep Kamilah there forever. Right there, in the safety of their own home, with Ana. With her family.
Ana spent the next week fretting endlessly over Kamilah, who had to keep reminding her to calm down. 'She'll be fine, she'll be back' became her mantra, which calmed her only half the time. Every day she would return home, compete with Kamilah over who will take care of whom, read another section of their handbook, before nestling into Kamilah's arms and falling asleep. With their busy schedules, it was all they could have, and it would have to do. At least she could still see Kamilah every day.
On the morning of Kamilah's deployment, Ana drove her to the briefing centre where she was to report. There were many other soldiers streaming into the facility as well, but none of them held her attention. Ana gripped onto Kamilah's hand as they walked towards the double glass doors, reluctance evident with each slow step they took. Then Kamilah pulled her off to the side, where there were less people about.
Ana's throat constricted again, but she forced a smile to match her wife's.
"Don't worry, amar," Kamilah said, tugging her close. "I'll be back faster than you can rush for the toilet."
That got a thick laugh from Ana. "Promise?"
"I promise." Kamilah pressed her lips to Ana's in a soft kiss. "I love you, Ana."
"I love you too."
Kamilah smiled with a tender gaze in her eyes, and stepped away. Ana's fingertips trailed slowly down her hand, hooking lightly onto Kamilah's slim fingers before they broke apart. Kamilah's wink was the last thing Ana saw, before she walked through the doors and out of sight.
She'll be fine, Ana repeated. She'll be back.
She'll be back.
This is where the beta fic will die-verge and pick up from. But that won't be for a while, so in the meantime, have a pun. ehehehe