Chapter 26- You Look Like Her

Mako had just finished making the main course when Saphir burst into the kitchen.

"Is Colonel's meal ready yet?" Saphir set down a bottle of sleeping pills. "Put some into it and deliver it to Colonel right now."

Minako swiped the bottle into her hand. "I'll do it. On one condition."

"This is an order." Saphir's eyes widen in anger.

Minako hopped onto the kitchen counter and looked at her wrist. "Tick, tock...judging by your look earlier, this is urgent. Just give each of us a gun and some amno. We all know what's coming, and we would like some protection."

Saphir reached for his gun but he was too slow. Mako grabbed his arm backwards, painfully. "Stop now and I won't hurt you. Let's just talk this through, since we are on the same damn side."

He nodded and freed himself from Mako's hold. Rubbing his shoulder and wincing in pain, Saphir glared at the two. "Elsa is trapped in his office now. If she's found, she will be executed. Save her and I'll fulfill your wish."

Minako's face paled and she jumped off the counter. She opened the bottle and dumped a few in into the soup. "Next time, open with that..." She turned and carried the tray out.

Initially, she was mad at Elsa and had vowed for vengeance. Lately though, after been forced to work with her, Minako found that Elsa wasn't a bad person. Without her, Minako wouldn't be able to know what's going on in the lab or the outside world…Slowly, she had come to appreciate Elsa. That girl was one hell of a soldier…

Her heart raced as she walked down the hallway, all the while trying to appear normal. She couldn't lose Elsa….

Her feet froze when she got to the door. Colonel was talking to someone. "I will make Usagi fall in love with me. I will have her."

Minako grit her teeth and knock on the door. She could hear a drawer being closed and then Colonel telling her to come in.

"Hi, Colonel." Minako flashed her fake smile and turned her charm on. "Here is Makoto's special soup and fried rice."

Demande pulled out a bottle of wine from his desk. "About time. You are late."

"Ah, Mako thought the soup was too bland so she tried to fix it. Why don't you try it and see if it's suitable." Minako placed the tray on the table and edged it towards him.

Minako did a quick look around as Demande focused on opening his wine bottle. She could spot Elsa behind the armchair so Minako inched over, obscuring the view from Demande.

He sat back down and slurped at the soup. "Thank goodness I found you girls. After the last cook was being eaten by the zombies, we didn't have a decent meal till now. Maybe I should keep her..."

"Say, Colonel, once the vaccine is made, we are all free to go, right?"

He looked up and his dark eyes stared back. Then he waved his hands nonchalantly. "Sure, sure. Although I don't see why you would want to leave."

"We appreciate everything you've done for us. Providing us with food and shelter and protection..." Minako gulped back her disgust and continued to smile. "It's just this is not our home."

"Mhm. Sure." He tilted his head back and finished his wine.

"I was wondering if I could join the next supply run with Elsa." Minako continued to buy time. Five more minutes before he passes out.

Demande poured himself another glass and stood up. He approached Minako menacingly with his eyes narrowed. "Hmm...doesn't want to waste a beauty like yourself. Let Elsa and the team handle it. If you need anything, just write her a list."

Minako took a step back. Her heart was racing in full speed now and her breathing was becoming shallow. She waved a hand near her face. "Phew, it's getting hot here."

He reached out with his monster hand and placed it on Minako's neck. "Feel free to lose some clothing. It's weird, isn't it? You look like Usagi under certain light. I bet if you do your hair like hers, you guys could be twins."

"Hahaha." Minako forced out a laugh. "Come on, I am way sexier."

"Sure. I bet you are." Demande was starting to slur his speech. His eyes were unfocused and his wine glass was tipping to the side. "Maybe I will keep…"

He never got to finish his sentence. He plopped down to the ground, spilling the wine all over the floor.

"Colonel? Are you okay?" Minako bent down to double check. He was out like a light.

"Elsa. Come out. Help me get him back to his desk."

The two of them hoist him up and half dragged him back to his chair. Minako tilted his head back and start to pour more wine down his throat.

"Easy. Don't drown him." Elsa cautioned. "Still need him alive for now."

"I know what I am doing." Minako poured some wine in his glass and then set the almost empty bottle next to it. She then went over and cleaned up the spill on the floor. "He will wake up thinking he's had too much to drink again and black out."

Elsa nodded. "Good plan. Now let's get out of here..."