Replacements 2- Epilogue

Chief Anderson smiled as we entered his office.

We all took our helmets off and took our places, ready to talk about the mission and to hear what the Chief had to say.

"Good to see you three back in one piece," He stated, as if trying to mask the relief in his voice.

"Yeah, you had all of us worried sick." Tiny exclaimed, as he plopped down lazily on the sofa and looked at the three of us.

Keyop stood behind the couch and grimaced at Tiny, propping his hands on his hips. "Not…broop…worried…"

"Yeah, right, kiddo…" Jason chuckled softly, walking past the Swallow and rubbing the top of his head.

"Knew…breeep…broop…I'd save the day…" He continued, proudly.

Anderson stopped shuffling his papers for a moment, and glanced at our smallest teammate. "Good work, Keyop." Then, he picked up a stack of papers and stood up to walk around his desk.

"And good work, all of you. You've passed the test with flying colors."

"Test?" Mark, Jason and I chorused.

The three of us stared at the Chief incredulously. Keyop and Tiny didn't seem surprised at all.

"Yeah, Chief Anderson told us all about it while you guys were missing. The Federation set up a fake Spectran outpost just to test us." Tiny explained.

"You mean we nearly got blown up for a test?" Jason griped.

I couldn't help but feel slightly put off, myself, as I looked down at my ragged uniform and tattered wings.

Anderson leaned against his desk. "We didn't expect you to be so aggressive in going after the captain. However, this simulation was set up exactly according to plan, and the dangers were real. And now, I feel confident that you are all ready to face those dangers on an actual mission."

Then Chief continued, "Also, just as if this had been a real mission, you have some reports to fill out. They will be kept in our confidential files."

He walked around and handed each of us a stack of papers.

"You've got to be kidding me, Chief! After all of that, we have homework?" Jason grumbled. "I might as well go back to school."

"I wouldn't have you fill them out unless they were absolutely necessary, Jason." Anderson replied firmly.

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Jason growled, folding his arms across his chest. "Are we done now?"

"Yes. You may go." The Chief answered. "And I expect these papers on my desk before the end of the day tomorrow. Is that understood?"

We all responded in chorus. "Yes, sir."

88888888888888

After the debriefing, we headed down to the Cafeteria. Tiny, Keyop and Jason walked in front of us, and Mark and I lagged behind.

Without warning, Mark grabbed me and pulled me into the broom closet.

"I've been wanting to get you alone." He purred, pulling me close in an instant and tilting my head back.

I nervously glanced back at the door. "What about the others?"

"Who?" Mark feigned innocence, and then smiled impishly. "They won't even notice we're gone."

I knew I couldn't fight it, as his lips closed around mine. Seductive groans of pleasure emanated from his throat as I trailed kisses around to his ear, nipping softly at his earlobe.

"We should transmute." I whispered. "You're too covered up."

"I don't know, Princess." Mark replied softly. "I kind of like you in birdstyle."

I felt his hand slide softly from my thigh up to my hip.

Then the door suddenly swung open.

"Well, there you are…" Jason wore a wide grin. "We were wondering if you two were going to join us."

Mark and I split apart immediately.

"We were having a private conversation, Jason." Mark grumbled.

"I can see that." He had a roguish twinkle in his eyes.

"You're not going to…say anything, are you, Jase?" My voice quivered.

"Well, you see, I have a problem." Jason began as he leaned against the door frame, holding up the papers that were given to him by the Chief. "I have this paperwork that needs to be filled out, and my handwriting is a mess…"

I hastily snatched the papers from him and frowned. "Okay, give them to me…extortionist!"

Jason's wide grin grew even wider. "I knew you'd see it my way. My lips are sealed." He pretended to run a zipper across his lips.

Tiny's voice echoed from down the corridor. "Did you find them, Jase?"

Then, I heard Keyop squeak. "Droot…where'd they go?"

Jason quickly slammed the door shut. I could hear him calling back to our teammate. "Nothing here. The Chief probably called them back for something. Come on, let's go."

He directed them away from us, and back to the Cafeteria.

Whew! Mark and I sighed with relief.

After one more kiss, we transmuted back into our civilian clothes and he grasped my hand, cupping my cheek with the other.

"We'll finish this later. Come on, Princess. Let's go and join the others."

888888888888888

It was nice to finally relax together, gorging ourselves on pizza, and joking around as if the mission had never happened. It was our way of coping.

Mark sat across from me in the booth, and I could feel his eyes on me as I ate and talked with the team. I felt a foot slide up my calf as I took a bite of pizza. I nearly choked.

"You ok, Princess?" Mark grinned.

"What's the matter, Prin, did you swallow something the wrong way?" Jason asked, as he picked up a straw, blew the wrapper off at Keyop, and started chewing on it.

I couldn't speak, so I nodded. Thank you, Jason for that excuse.I thought.

I sent a mock warning glare in Mark's direction.

He shrugged, playing innocent. His bright, blue eyes sparkled.

I coyly smiled back at him and then looked around the table at my teammates.

Tiny, who continued shoveling whole slices of pizza into his mouth, oblivious to the chaos surrounding him.

Jason, ever the instigator, still wading up straw wrappers and shooting them at our junior member.

Keyop, who was now enjoying a true childhood, complete with a new family of his own, and was retaliating quite well against our weapons officer…

…and Mark, our handsome Commander, who was head over heels in love with me.

I am one lucky girl. I thought to myself.

It was certainly nice to see that the five of us, after a shaky start, had truly become a family.