*Note: Alright lads and lasses, expect multiple view changes in this chapt chaps! And sorry for splitting this in to two parts, the parts if combined is way too long. Since I don't wanna bore you to death with words, take these two parts up!
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"How was that day again?..."
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HEREFORD. 1056 HOURS. RECRUITMENT DAY.
Monika's prospective:
Why must I always do the greetings to new people around here? I thought to my self. And why can't Six choose someone else to do this!?
It was a thing now, that every new operator must be welcomed by me as they make their first steps on to Hereford, suposivly Rainbow's new Headquarter for it's operations. From the first day I step forward to this place, and ever since I've made quite the impression to a our commander,Thatcher. Six had kept an eye on me ever since, she even had a talk with me once.
Seeing as besides my gift of Fast learning and logistics, I was gifted with a natural charm of some sort, always having the power to make a good mark on people's impression.
That's when She offered me a part time job as you can say. Greeting officers and soldiers as they step forward into the base for their first times, as much as it was a little embrassing to have such profession, I took the job anyways, seeing as we need the best of impressions to our ranks and boosting morale anyways. I became some an icon to the place or some sort, I guess.
I am very much flattered to have this favor, by Six no less! But the fact is while it's nice to have such great attention at first, doing so over and over again, makes it quite annoying. Not to mention standing around waiting is always a pain in the ass, patience is what I was trained to have, but that does not mean I do favor it too much. And it is also quite annoying as I heard some soldiers even started calling me as "The angel of Hereford" with some even with mocking tones to them, which added more discomfort to me as my team mates started teasing me non stop ever since!
But what is there to say? Men… You can never change them.
Without realizing I gave out a puff in the form of a sigh. Why must god curse me with this?
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"Hey, angel. What you thinking about there?"
I turn my attention to our team's red head breaching specialist, Eliza.
"Not zhing, Ash. Just having random thoughts again…" I gave out another sigh, pouting my lips under my mask.
Eliza how ever, gave a chuckle. "Thinking about boys again, are we?" She gave me a stare with a smug smirk.
"For ze last time, Nein."
"Oh really?"
"Ja. Eliza."
"Are you surreee?"
"Ja."
"Are you really surrreee?"
"Ja! I am sure!"
"Oh reallyyy?"
"How long are we going to do this?" I gave her a glare of annoyment.
"Until, you gave me the truth!" She says, still having that Damm smug on her face.
God, want to punch her face right now! But I can't of course, because that will get me fired, or worst. Having to deal with both Thatcher and Six at the same time. So no, I only gave her a look of defeat.
"Fine. I vas, are you happy now?" I glared up at her.
"See? I know you!" She gave an amused chuckle.
It's been three months since I have first met Eliza. Unlike me, Eliza had been stationed in Hereford ever since the beginning of Rainbow's first recruitment phase months ago. Hence she knew more about our organization then most people would. So I sticked around with her from my early days here, and we became good friends soon after. With Ash having my back in combat situations (most of the time…), and she having to trust me enough to even tell me some of her stories when she's in training of the FBI's Quantico. She seems happy when she talks about the silly mistakes she had done or she had seen in her time there, but surprisingly most of her stories are about her and a her best friend, she only refered to as 'Thermite' and every time she says about her time and this person, she seems to have a slightly flushed face when talking, even stumbling sometimes mid conversation.
"Haha, so what have you been thinking about? Hmm? Waiting for that Romeo of yours?" She asked with an expression I can only refer to as: Nosey 13 year old school girl.
Eliza can get really annoying sometimes. But it's not too bad. At least she's not someone like Smoke with his sarcastic filled jokes. Yeah, it's that bad.
"As if you aren't vaiting for yours as vell." I shot her back.
"hehe, yeah right. The boys in the base are cute, but I don't like them." She giggled as she glared off in to the distance.
"Oh. So you are still only vaiting for your Thermite, Ja?"
"Oh, shut up!" She shoved me a little in annoyment, but giggled. "Plus, he's my bestie. You know that!"
"Oh, so itz a he zen, hmm? You never told me zat." I looked at her with a hint of pride. How did that backfired on you? I silently thought to my self.
I belive Eliza is in a loss for words in this very moment, as her skin flushed darker.
"And, so zere iz notzing else between you two, zen? Hmm?..."
Her face is getting pinker by every passing moment, as we speak.
"S-Shut up!"
I giggled in victory. You can't out smart me yet, girl.
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More minutes had passed, as we stood in silent, waiting on the Heli-pad of the base for our new recruits.
With the only sound at that time is the wind brushing lightly on my skin. And the sight shaking of tree leaves in the distance. It was a lovely moment.
But I do not enjoy the quiet too much. So I deceided to brake the slient.
"Oh, you know vhat?"
"What?"
"I over heard Thatcher talking earlier."
"So?"
"So. I heard him saying the names of our new operators that will be joining us today."
"And?"
"And. I heard him saying, about some guy named Bandit, a guy named Blitz and… ze last guy..."
"What's about him?" Eliza looked at me with an itrigued face.
"Oh, I don't know…"
"Tell me!" She gave me a little punch to my arm.
"You might, not like it."
"Oh please, it's not like I'm gonna steal him from ya. Tell me!"
"Well, alright. A person…"
"Yeah?..."
"Who is…"
"Will you spill the beans already?!"
"Named 'Thermite'."
Eliza froze.
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"Pardon?..." She asked again. Her lips slightly parting…
"You heard me fraulin, Thermite."
For some reason, Eliza suddenly reddens.
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"it. It can't be…." She said in a whisper…
"Vat iz zat fraulin?"
"It can't be!" She beamed at me, and almost screamed at my face, gaining the attencion of the two guards standing near the heli-pad.
'Woah, this girl has problems. Did I do something wrong?' I thought to my self.
I can see a clear white tear coming from the corner of her glasses.
'yes, I have done something wrong it seems.' I mentally slaping my self in the process.
"Eliza, vat is wrong?! I didn't meant to harm you!"
"No! You haven't harmed me!"
"Zen vhy are you crying?!"
"Because- Because!..." She desperately choked on her sobs to make out words. Oh no…
I've messed up didn't i?...
I looked at her, and she beamed at me.
I could only expect the worst to come…
"Because I am fucking happy!" She screamed at me, her mouth wide open, and her face red as a tomato with rest of her eyes covered in the shade of crimson, she looks like a maniac right now.
'Wait what?...'
"How could it be!? After all those years!" Her face now shifting from a complete brake down to a crazed wide smile in matter of seconds.
This one have some serious problems. Ja.
But none the less I have never seen Eliza so happy before.
"He's here out of all the places!" She's practicly gagging on joy right now.
'Ok, so this is how a happy Ash would look like.'
"I-I-I can't fucking believe it!"
She leapt at me, holding me in a tight bear hug, her face still has that crazy joyful look to it.
"Thank you! Oh god! THANK YOU!"
Honestly? I have no idea how to respond to this. So the best I could do is to say.
"Uh.. You are velcomed?"
This. Is going to be a weird day.
She is now choking on her own laughter and tears. Wow, this Thermite guy, really has something on her to make her like this.
She continued to hold me, as she hiccupped on my shoulders.
We stood there, in sheer awkwardness.
And to make it worst, the two soldiers are still beaming at us. One with a slight look of confusion while the other is signaling me, if I need any help with my situation.
Yes, I am being attacked by an over joyed mainiac right now. But as they say. I've seen worst things. So I waved at him, and shook my head, signaling a 'no'.
The moment seemed to have dragged longer, as the sounds of leaves in the far distance, the little noise of a near by Hummer with it's engines still cracking, and of course a Isrealian girl crying in sheer amount of happiness.
It was nice moment, but it was awkward as hell.
Eventually she deceided to let go of me, and standing straight up to look at me. Her cheeks still puffed with light red, eyes still glassy, but her breathing was easing.
"Ahem. Haha. T-Thank you."
Good. She's back to normal now. Thank god.
"No problem?..."
"Haha. Sorry, got carried away there."
Still a wide smile on her face as she gain back her professional look. She's grinning like a fool.
"You don't say?"
"Haha, yeah….."
Her giggles died down. And I do think both of us are flushed, as ever. But seemingly the only thing I could think of was.
'Well that was a waste of a good jacket…'
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Silent enveloped us again…
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"Let's… not do that again, fraulin…"
"Agreed…"
Well this is just a weird day.
Looking back at the guards. I could see the both of them biting back the laughter they were desperately trying to hold back.
I do not need another joke about me and my situation to share around. So I deceided speak up.
But before I could even say a word. It seems that Eliza is more aware of this then I am.
"You two!"
The guards both jumped a little. Now there is a very, very angery looking red head beaming at them.
I could even see them visibly flinch.
"NOT. A. WORD. You got that?"
They both quickly nodded. And both looking down to their feet like a pair of puppies getting scowled by their master.
'Ok, this woman. Is definetly the most emotionally confusing person I have ever seen.'
She let out a sigh. And turned back to face the heli-pad.
"Danke." (thanks)
"No problem." She said with a smirk on her face.
'Yep. Most definetly confusing as hell…'
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-MEAN WHILE ON THE CHOPPA-
"Vell vhat could I say? I am a magnet for crazy bitchez!" Bandit triumphly said.
As another round of laughter boomed through the tight cabin of the Hawk.
This has been for awhile now. Just 6 men, one chopper and a bunch of silly stories to tell. All while we all laugh like maniacs. Surely this is a good way to kill time.
"Oh really zen?"
"Ja! No voman can stand my charms!" Bandit says with a hint of sarcasm as always.
"Zen, vat about your ex, eh? I am pretty sure zat charmz of yours verked quite vell on her, eh?"
"Mister 'one hit vonder'!?"
"Oh c'mon Elias! Zat vas a long time ago!"
"Wait. What do ya mean, 'one hit wonder'?"
"Dominic's charms here, not only pulled him into countless one night standz vith all ze voman back in our 'quarterz in Berlin. But it also got him countless kicks from all of zem!"
"Wait what?!"
"Ja! Zat iz vhy he iz nicknamed 'Ze one hit vonder' by our guys back zere!"
"Ouch!"
Another round of laughs had been passed on, even a smile to Dominic's face as well.
"Haha. Very funny Elias. But if you do not know. I had vomen. But you, I believed haven't even gotten laid in ze past 10 years, Ja?"
Oh SchieBe, he got me there.
"Vat? I vas on duties! You can't blame me for zat!"
"Uh yeah, he can partner."
"Vhich side are you on here Thermite?" I looked at him with a slight annoyed expression.
He just sat and giggled, while looking down. Smirking.
"Yea, I got some. When I was on me runs on the ops'."
"Vat!?"
"Yea."
"Same here, mein freund!" Marius said from the front.
I looked dumb struck. Oh, he really got me this time…
"Ohh! It looks like ve have a virgin here!"
I looked down, thanking my decision to wear a mask earlier, or else the whole copter could see me blushing like an idiot right now.
I gave out a sigh. "Shut up..."
And we all gave out our gags.
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"Say, speaking of crazed voman, I think you vould like our breacher back in Herford, Ash, as we called her!"
"Oh. Iz she cute?" Asked Bandit in a half serious, half amused tone.
"Oh Ja! She's got everyzhing you can ask for!"
"Really now? What is she like?"
"Hmm… Let's see… Nice eyes, red long hair, good figure, nice butt and an explosive temper that can only be matched by her 40mm grendes!"
"Soundz fun." Bandit replied with a mischievous look.
I gave Dominic a weary look. Silently screaming to him. 'You gotta be fucking serious?'
But Dominic just shrugged. "I like her already!" He says.
"Oh, just vait until you meet her in person mein freund!" Says the pilot with a bit of laugh.
"Yeah, let's see how ya like her then." Thatcher said. I do believe I saw a grin under his masked face.
"I've seen vorst." He says casually.
I looked back at Thermite, he seems to be distant.
"Hey Thermite. Are you alright?" I asked him.
The only answer he gave me was.
"it can't be…" He said in almost a whisper.
"I am sorry?" I asked him again.
And everyone just looked at him.
"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm fine!" Arms crossed and heads back high to his pose.
"Ya sure mate? Have something on yer mind?"
"Nah, nothin' just some random things."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine! No worries!" He flashed us with a grin.
"Say, Marius, how far are we?" He ask almost in a hushed tone, I think he is trying to re-divert the conversation.
I gave him a look, but before I can ask him again. Our pilot spoke first.
"Not so far, zere is Herford right now!"
We all looked out the window of the cabin.
"Zat is Herford?"
"The one and only!" Thatcher spoke.
"It iz…"
"Small? Yes, but it's comfy." Says the old man while he leans back to his seat.
'So this is for real now.'
'I am going to be a part of Rainbow.'
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"Welcome to yer new homes lads!"
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'it's good to be home then.'
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-BEK TO DUH BASE-
The hum of wind in the distant, is soon to be replaced with a much more loud disturbance.
A black chopper, with a picture of a purple raven on it's side.
There's our girl!
"Look! Zere zey are!"
"Well that just took a small eternity." Eliza commented.
"No SchieBe."
The sounds of roaring engines came closer and closer by the seconds.
The wind picking up violently as the bird came in to land.
Dust, wind, blew every where as we steped a few feet back for the chopper's descent to the ground.
Eventually, the chopper came to a noisy touch down. And the doors opened to reveal 4 men all in combat fatigue. Stepping out one by one.
"Monika!" The old man greets her while he shouts.
"Sir! How vas ze flight!?" I shouted back.
"Good! These blokes here sure are entertaining!"
I gave a light giggle, though it was overwhelmed by the loud engines. "Zat iz gut sir! Are these ze men!?"
"Yeah!" He said, as he ducked and ran back further back. Not wanting to stay out here, for any longer. Why was he in such a hurry, I thought.
The cockpit door opened, to reveal a helmeted man in a kevlar vest. And he was imdiately greeted by a fustraited red hair.
"Oi Jäger! What took you so long!?"
"Ja! Ja! I know! Ve have to take ze long vay around!"
"Why!?"
"Who knows!? It vas Six's orders!"
'That explains…' I thought again.
"Well she could have said something earlier! We have been waiting here for at least half a fucking hour already!"
"It's her fault! Vhy are you shouting at me!?"
Those two. I sighed. 'When will they ever grow up for once?'
Soon, another man in helmet, with an orange jacket soon joined them in their conversation.
It looks like Marius is doing some introductions again.
'Well, guess I'll greet him later then.'
I looked back to the chopper's cabin again. Arms folded.
"Hallo!" A man greeted as he walked up to me, a helmet on his head and he where's a light green jacket.
'A German?'
"Hallo!"
"I am Blitz! I'm here to sign up for Rainbow!?"
"Ja. I've heard! Welcome to Herford!"
I gave out my hand, and he shook it with a very frim grip.
'Strong guy, then.'
"Vere are my manners, you are ma'am?!"
"IQ! Ze Team's techinician and the person that has to do ze greeting everyone at here! "
He gave out a chuckle, but it was hard to hear due to the gust and wind blowing. "I vouln't doubt it!"
'Good. He's not commenting about your ass yet, already an up point to this one.'
"I vould love to continue ze greetings, but I have to ask, vhere are ve going!?"
"Inside of course!"
"Ja! Zis is too loud!"
I have to agree with him on that one. He seems nice, well, he is most deffinetly better then the last guy I've greeted.
"Oi lads! Everyone get inside the base!" Seamus yelled.
We all looked at him and gave our nods.
"Ladies first!" The German man said.
"Vhat a gentleman. Danke!" I said with a smile. From the corners of his mask, I could see his chin raising. "It's vat I do!" He replied, 'looks like he doesn't take irony too seriously. Interesting.'
As we took some steps forward. I soon realised. Who's the last person? Thermite, is it? Dumfkoft! I forgotten one! I scolded my self.
As I turn to face Eliza, telling her that her 'one true Thermite' had come! And see if she could introduce to who ever he was about the base.
Looks like once again, she had beaten me to it, before I could even ask her.
And of course she gave him an even more welcoming greeting then I thought.
I saw Eliza and a man in black fatigues in an embrace.
'Holy SchieBe. Is that him?!'
His face had a smooth shaven touch to it. And a pretty good looking one as well. And it seems that his eyes, were a deep hazel brown. Well he's cute. No wonder Eliza acts is head over heels for this guy.
On one hand he was holding his goggles and the other clung on to the Isrealian's back.
Eliza was once again crying, as I can see her puffy red eyes shutting to prevent more tears from spilling desperately. And what's funny is that I could see his eyes widen in shock. But I saw a single line of water dripping from the corners of his eyes.
And even with the howling sound of the propelent spinning violently. I could still hear the curses and mumbles from the red haired. She gave him little punches to the sides. And he didn't look too happy him self from receiving them. But never did he even let go of her during that moment. They just keep holding one another.
'That's just sweet! Lizzie found a lover!' If I could squeal, I'd do so right now. But I'm more matured then that. So sadly no I didn't.
"Oi, Lovebirds! Get yer arses movin'!" At the far distance Seamus once again called us.
That broke the two's moment. As they looked at them, then echother with a shock as realality crashed down on them on the spot.
'Damm you Seamus!'
They held echother for another moment. Before leaving the embrace.
They both smiled like idiots. And Eliza even gave him a playful punch to his shoulder.
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As we traveled back into the base. I saw soldiers saluting us as we pass through the hallways.
The later end of that day, was just a warm and welcoming lunch to all of us. Greeting the newest members to the team. And speaking the oath we must take as we are Rainbow.
"TO LIVE. TO FIGHT. TO SAVE LIVES! WHO ARE WE?! RAINBOW!"
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As the moment die down, and we continued our meal. I saw our friend Mark, lean over and whispering something to me.
"I've got the whole footage of what happened on the heli pad." He said to me with a mischievous look.
I looked at him back. "hehehe. Gut." I grin.
Eliza got to our table while she was done talking to the new operators. A smile on her face.
"So. Uh. What's up?" She asked casually as she set her tray of food down and sat with us.
"So. You mind tellin' us about your little 'Romeo' right there?" Mark said as he pointed his thumb to another table, occupied by the 6 men earlier.
Eliza gave a look. Who's gaze was returned by the same man with those Hazel eyes. They almost simutainusly looked away. And the blush returning to Eliza's face.
She gave a weak laugh. "hehe. C'mon guys! It's not like that!"
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"We're just friends."
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"I am glad those two found echother zat day."
"Ja."
"But still, another part of me does not vant zem to meet up zat day as well."
I gave a shocked expression.
"And vhy is zat?!"
"They make out too much. It's cool at first, but now it's just gross."
"Ja, agreed… But it vas a memorable day, Ja?"
"Definetly!"
We shared a laugh together
"Still, if ve are ze same, ze vould do ze same. Ja?"
I felt my face heat up at his words.
As much as my civic lessons told me no. But it was hard to deny the truth.
"Ja. I guess so."
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We both burst out laughter.
"Vat vas zat all about!? haha"
"I don't know! Hehe."
"Ha…"
"hehe…"
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'maybe, one day, we'll be like them….'
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"it'z clearing out side now. It would be bad if we miss ze chance to get back now."
"Ja." I said as I got up from my seat. Dusting my jeans.
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"Ladies first.'
"Danke, mein herr."
The both of them shared a giggle in the blissful quiet of the aftermath of the rain. As they head out of the hanger, side by side.
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But in that moment. I think they shared something. More. Don't you think?...
*Author's note: HOLY SHIT, CHAPT 2 WAS SO BAD! ;-;
SORRY FOR KEEPING YOU ALL WAITING FOR A SMALL ETERNITY! BUT HERE'S PART 2 OF 'MEMORIES'! HOLY SHIT. YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW FUCKING HAPPY I AM FOR FINALLY FUCKING FINISHING THIS! MOTHER OF GOD! K stay tune for next week :3