Superdimensional Fortress Kaguya:Homefront
Chapter Three: Recuperation
March 11th 12:30GST
"You know, Dustine, I really really reshpect you," Fate slurred as they made their way out of the hotspring.
"R...Really," Dustine blushed as Nanoha and she carried fate under each arm. They walked for a little while She then eeped as Fate clung to her then looked to Nanoha. 'Oh god! Nanoha?!'
"Your shoooo cute too, y'know," Fate smiled as she snuggled against her. Dustine gacked as Fate nuzzled her neck and looked at Nanoha again for support.
'Nanoha! HELP!' she thought, but Nanoha was just laughing as she helped support Fate on one side. Dustine, on the other, did her best to avoid the now snuggle happy Fate. They continued on through out the ship.
They reached the woman's quarters without TOO much incident, Fate beaming happily and waving at passerby. The double takes from officers used to the normally serious Fate were pretty funny, too.
Almost as soon as they got Fate onto the bed she dropped off then began to snore cutely.
"Wow..." Dustine blinked. "Is that how she usually is?"
"Sorry about this," Nanoha shook her head, smiling.
"Its all right," Dustine sighed as they quietly padded out of the bedroom and sat down at a nearby table. "She really doesn't have any tolerance does she?"
"She was raised by a very...body-pure scientist." Nanoha sighes as she wanderd over to make some coffee. "I don't think she EVER drank until she left home."
"Which is funny considering I've seen you drink marines under the table," Dustine noted then shook her head. "Which always suprised me. How'd thathappen anyway"
Nanoha smirked at her as she started to brew the coffee. "Being raised in a resturant has it's advantages."
"Ah," Dustine nodded, paused a bit, watching her friend for a bit as she grabbed a couple of coffee cups. "Did you start drinking early?"
"No, but my parents gave me a little on special events, that sort of thing. I built up a tollerance." Nanoha shook her head as she poured two cups of coffee in the cups. She picked up the mugs of coffee and padded over the her. "Here you go."
"Thanks," Dustine nodded as she gently took a cup from Nanoha. She sipped on her coffee then asked her friend. "Mind if I stay here a while?"
"No I don't mind," Nanoha shook her head and took a sip of her coffee. She sighed and glanced at her friend. "Has it been hectic in this system?"
"Very much so, sad to say," Dustine admidtted then sighed. "There always seems to be trouble between Wind, Cardair and Florence. Fortunately, Wind does have allies in An Nam and the Aries Republic. However, we all think that all of our problems come from a single source."
"The Duchy of Artai...?" Nanoha mused.
"Yeah," Dustine nodded then added. "There is evidence that they've provided intelligence to Cardair and Florence on Ares and Ang Nam's weak points in their defense grids several years ago. Both Cardair and Florence have been poking at their defenses in lightning fast raids with suits provided by Artai."
"I see," Nanoha frowned.
"They may have even instigated the conflict between Lutesia Romulus and Remus," Dustine provided then sighed as she shook her head. "But we're still looking for evidence on that."
"Why don't you have stronger proof?" Nanoha asked.
"Because Artai's so secretive its hard to get any information out of them," Dustine sighed. "Besides, the current ruler is a slippery little shit. Its hard to get anything on what his people are doing."
"I...Um..." Nanoha stammered for a moment then shook her head. "I don't think you're supposed to call someone of royality something that vulgar, Dustine."
"You'd call him a little shit too once when you get to know him," Dustine sighed then glanced at her. "Although I really can't see you calling anyone 'A little shit'. '
Anyway, the brass suspects that Artai might have been behind the Remnant Triolian attack"
"Mmmm," Nanoha hummed thoughtfully then shook her head. "Sorry to say but I'd have to disagree with you there. I think it had nothing to do with Artai and had a lot to do with the remnants trying to take advantage of a very tense situation in this system. They did the same thing in the Pandora system a while ago."
"Pandora, I've heard about the troubles in that system," Dustine noted then frowned thoughtfully. "You were stationed there for a little while as I recall."
"Yeah," Nanoha nodded then sighed. "We were testing out new units on Gaia in 2116AD when a paramlitary organization and its allies in the orbital colonies started a civil war against the Gaian federation."
"The Divine Crusaders, right, Dustine hummed then frowned. "What touched off the civil war?"
"Apparently the DC's leader didn't want the Gaian Federation to sign a treaty that would literally hand the system over to an alien civilization known as The Guests." Nanoha sighed and shook her head. "I understand his convictions, but I really wish that the Gaian federation and the DC worked together instead of fighting each other."
"The real culprit here, I think, is the officals who tried to hand over Gaea and the rest of Pandora over to these aliens," Dustine frowned then shook her head. "Think of what it could mean for the rest of the colonies if a antagonistic force had advanced base within the Unity Governments borders."
"Indeed, our teams found out that there was some closed doors deals being made," Nanoha frowned. "Both with Gaean government officials and a prominant corporation as well."
"Isurugi Industries," Dustine hummed then smirked a bit. "Last heard that they were bought out by Professor Habuki's firm, Ashuari-Kreuze, and it's previous owner was a bitch and got thrown in jail for all the dealings that she's done."
"Mitsuko, yes," Nanoha confirmed with a grave nod, then frowned when Dustine's smirk turned into a wry grin."You shouldn't be smirking at that. She did a lot of damage by providing material to rogue forces."
"She got what was coming to her," Dustine shrugged, frowning "Isurugi's covert ops group gave Stonewell Bellcom a lot of trouble a while ago. They sabotaged our gear, our limited production models, did a lot of spying and tried to kill at least a few of our test pilots."
"I see," Nanoha sighed.
"Mmm," Dustine nodded then changing the subject. "Speaking about our limited production models...how has the Messiah handled for you so far? Is it good?"
Smoothest fighter I've ever flown," Nanoha nodded eagerly.
"Good," Dustine beamed then pouted. "I want to fly one."
"You haven't flown one yet?" Nanoha blinked.
"I only flew them during trial sessions," Dustine nodded then sighed and shook her head. "But I really wanted to fly them on our missions. It isn't fair"
"Next promtion, probably." Nanoha smiled, patting her hand.
"I know, I just HATE waiting," Dustine noted.
"I know the feeling," Nanoha notted wryly then changed the subject again. "It was good to hear Alicia sing in person again."
"Aye, she really kept us going," Dustine nodded then smiled fondly. "Some of my squadmates are really big fans of her, so I've asked if they could see her but I've had a hard time due to her agent."
"Do you want Fate to see if she can sign a few?" Nanoha asked.
"Well...I'd hate to use her like that," Dustine stammered.
"It's fine, she wouldn't mind at all," Nanoha waved it off then noted with a warning tone in her voice. "So long as they're not those embarassing photoes from her past. Then she'd mind."
"Like the bathing suit ones?" Dustine noted.
"Especially those." Nanoha frowned then shook her head. "You know how overprotective Fate can be with Alicia."
"R-Right," Dustine nodded, paused when she had a horrifying thought, then noted softly to Nanoha. "You DO realize Alicia is gonna start dating eventually."
"Oh god no. Fate wiull FREAK." Nanoha groaned then sighed. "Is it a blessing or a curse that we've now been assigned to this fleet."
"Maybe..." Dustine nodded then did a double take. "W...Wait what?"
"Hayate called us earlier this morning," Nanoha noted then took a sip of her coffee. "She said that we're transfering from the 131st to the 32nd combined fleet.
"I...I see," Dustine mused then glanced at her friend. "I heard we were consolidating the existing wings, I didn't know new teams were coming in. I'm glad, even if sorting all this out will be a pain in the ass..."
"Especially for a person who's temporarily in charge of the 501st joint wing, right?" Nanoha mused them smiled. "I think you'll do fine."
"Ugh. Coordinating all this is gonna be a bitch. Could I just go on vacation until we finish combining the teams?" Dustine muttered
"I'm sure you'll be fine," Nanoha reassured her
"Erm. Thanks." Dustine nodded then blinked when someone padded up behind her and wrapped her arms around her shoulders. Dustine jerked, looked behind her and saw the sleepy drunk Fate smiling beatifically at Dustine. "F..Fate?!"
"I'm so glad that we're going to be assigned to your ship," Fate slurred.
"Erm...thanks," Dustine nodded then blushes as Fate snuggled closer. She gave Nanoha help me looks but Nanoha just shook her head with an amused expession."
"You're so warm," Fate smile and nuzzled her as she leaned against Dustine. "You know you're a very warm person. She's a warm person, isn't she Nanoha?"
"Yes she is," Nanoha agreed, amused then glomped her. "She's snuggable too."
"N-Nanoha!?" Dustine squeaked at the impact then sat their motionless as the pair nuzzled and snuggled her. She blushed charmingly as they continued to nuzzle her neck and cheek.'Nanoha. Fate.'
"We're so glad that you survived that battle," Nanoha murmured as they continued to nuzzle and snuggle her. "Otherwise we would have been very, very sad that you had died."
"We've missed you so so much, Dustine," Fate noted.
*****06:57 GST March 12th, 2125AD*****
The next morning, Dustine woke up groggily to an unfamliar ceiling in a room that she barely recognized. She blinked the sleep out of her eyes as she tried to remember what she did last night. However, that caused a dull ache in the back of her head. So she closed her eyes and rested for a while. As she did, she noted that she felt very warm underneath the covers. It was as if two warm bodies were laying next to her.
'What the hell...' Dustine thought inwardly, frowning to herself as she tried to remember where she was the night before. The dull ache returned but she powered on through, trying to remember. 'Lets see. I went to the hot spring, left with Fate and Nanoha, carrying Fate under my arm, arrived at suite 48B...'
A sudden feeling of dread came over her, opened her eyes and looked at the person laying next to her. On the right of her was Fate. She was wearing a black nightie and her long blonde hair was slightly messy from a long sleep. She was sleeping peacefully as if nothing happend. She blushed, looking at that sleeping face, gulped and peeked at the other person on her left side. Nanoha was also sleeping peacefully and her hair was pulled into a side ponytail.
'Okay, I have to get out of here,' Dustine decided. She figured one or the other woman would be upset, and she didn't wanna die. The problem was that both of them had their arms wrapped around her.
Turning a bit towards Fate, Dustine carefully tried easing the blonde haired woman's arm up first. Howeverthe sleeping woman frowned and clenched tighter.
"Nanoha." she muttered as she clinged to Dustine.
"Hmmph!" Dustine gasped as her face was inadvertantly pressed into Fate's bust. 'Oh god, if Nanoha wakes up I'm gonna DIE...'
"Hmm," a voice sighed behind her as a pair of slightly larger breasts pressed into her back. "Fate chan."
Dustine blushed furiously at the sensation. She struggled a bit more but that caused them to press tighter. Finally the copper skinned woman blushed and reached out to shake Fate from her slumber. "F...Fate. Wake up."
"Uhh?" Fate blinked drowsilly, peering down at Dustine.
Dustine blushed furiously up at Fate. "G...Good morning. I don't know how we got like this."
Fate looked at her blankly a moment, then went bright red. "W-What...?"
"I'm serious...I don't know what happened." Dustine shook her head frantically.
"Are you two having an affair and no one told me?" Nanoha asked mildly.
Dustine flushed darkly while Fate's face turned bright crimson.
"Nanoha!" Fate yelped
Nanoha laughed warmly as she said, "Calm down you two. You don't remember what happened?"
"Er...well..." Dustine thought a bit recalling more from her memory. "We carried Fate from the hotspring and let her go to sleep. The two of us talked for a while then Fate walked back into the living room and snuggled me. Nanoha glomped me after that...and we chatted for a little while longer..."
"After that you dozed off with Fate clinging to you," Nanoha shrugged then smiled contritely at her. "Hauling you home seemed a bit much, so I dumped you in our bed and we all fell about that."
"Oh." Both Dustine and Fate sighed.
"Disappointed?" Nanoha teased.
Dustine was about to answer her when the phone on the end table near Nanoha started ring. Both Fate and Dustine puffed out a breath as Nanoha leaned over and grabbed the handset off of the cradle.
"This is Takamachi speaking who's calling please?" Nanoha answered the phone.
"Hi Nanoha," Hayate Yagami answered warmly over the line then asked her long time friend. "Is Dustine at your suite? I sent Signum over to her temporary suite aboard the Kaguya but she wasn't there."
"How did you know she was with us?" Nanoha sighed.
"We saw you and Dustine help haul Fate off," Hayate noted. "We thought she might have crashed with the two of you. So is she there?"
"Yes, she is," Nanoha sighed at her question, glancing at the copper skinned woman who was now sitting up in bed. "Do you want to speak to her?"
"Yes please," Hayate answered her friend. "Its important."
"Okay," Nanoha nodded then turned to her friend and held out the handset. "Its Hayate. She says she wants to speak to you. Its important."
"I see," Dustine nodded and took the handset from her. "Good morning Hayate. What can I do for you?"
"I was shocked, SHOCKED o see you, Fate and Nanoha going off together," Hayate teased.
"I was just helping Fate home," Dustine said defensively
"So you say," Hayate continued to tease her. "Yet here you are, the next morning. Did they ravage you? Do you need a rescue?"
"No we just um..." Dustine glanced at her friends.
Nanoha giggled. "You're on your own."
"Gee, thanks," Dustine sighed. "I was tired, I fell aslep, all totally innocent," she told Hayate.
"Aw, that's no fun," Hayate sounded a little dissapointed, but Dustine couldn't tell if she was being playful or not. "At any rate...our search and rescue teams found an escape pod from the Albion yesterday. Captain Suzumiya and the rest of her subbordinates were all present and accounted for."
"Thank goodness," Dustine sighed in relief. After the Albion was sunk by a direct hit she had been worried about her subbordinates onboard that ship.
"Search and rescue will have them over there in no time," Hayate added.
"Oh okay...wait what?!" Dustine yelped.
"Is something the matter?" Nanoha asked her.
Moments later there was a loud banging on the door
"Who's at the door...?" Fate blinked.
"Ageni! We're here to rescue you!" a famniliar voice yelled.
"That would be my staff, here to 'rescue' me," Dustine sighed.
"Its fine Haruhi! I'm fine!" Dustine blurted.
"Well, you'd say that if you were being held captive by ravenous lesbians," Haruhi noted reasonably.
"Ravenous lesbians?" Nanoha and Fate exchanged looks, "What has Hayate been TELLING them?"
Moments later they heard a bit of laughter coming from the handset.
Fate frowned and slipped out of bed while Nanoha grabbed the handset from Dustine's hand.
"If this is a prank. It's going too far, Hayate," Nanoha growled warningly as Dustine slipped out of bed and started to throw on her clothes. Meanwhile Fate strode to the door and opened it, allowing a group to barge right on in. Three girls ran past her while another slowed to speak to her.
"My apologies," Yuki noted calmly as Haruhi and Tsuruya headed straight for the bedroom door, with Mikuru bringing up the rear. "I tried to stop them, but it was fruitless."
"Th...Thats allright," Fate stammered as she threw on some clothes. "Besides..."
"Hey!" Nanoha yelped as Haruhi and the others rushed in. Haruhi grunted as Haruhi lunged at her, deftly slipping aside. Tsuruya was next but she caught the green haired girl and tossed her into Haruhi, causing them to fall to the ground "You can't just barge in here!"
"...and you can't just toss us around." Haruhi blurted, noticed her rank then blanched a bit. "You're a major!?"
"Oh no," Mikuru whimpered then started to cry.
"YOu made MIkuru cry!" Tsuruya yelped.
Nanoha sighed and put the handset near her face. "Hayate...could you kindly tell them the truth please."
"Where's the fun in THAT?" Hayate said a little to cheerfully.
"Hayate," Nanoha murmured evenly and coldly which made the hairs stand on Dustine's back of her neck. "If you don't I'll reveal EXACTLY what happened on your birthday party on Risa. With photos."
There was a beat of silence before Hayate meekly gave in. "Put them on."
"Hayate has some news for you..." Nanoha said evenly as she handed Haruhi Suzumiya the phone.
As an aside Dustine asked, "What DID happen on Risa?"
"It's a secret," Fate sighed then pouted. "Nanoha won't even tell me."
Nanoha smiled saintly. The sad truth is nothing had happened, but Hayate THOUGH it had. She was bluffing, but Nanoha was good at that.
"I see," Haruhi sighed after Hayate explained things to the officer. She glanced over at Dustine with a smile on her face. "So our boss didn't go to her assigned quarters then, huh? She'd better hurry back or she'll miss breakfast...and she knows how Lieutenant Asakura gets when she misses breakfast."
"Ack," Dustine grunted, remembering the times when she slept in due to pulling an all nighter with trainees. Ryoko would barge in, drag her out of bed and toss her into a ice cold shower which would wake her up instantly. She checked her pockets, found a piece of paper, glanced at its contents then looked over to Nanoha and Fate. "Sorry but...I'd better go."
"I understand," Nanoha nodded then smiled while Fate gave her a shy wave "It was good seeing you again. Take care of yourself okay?"
"Right," Dustine nodded then looked over at her at her subbordinates. "Lets go. Can't keep Ryoko waiting."
"Yes ma'am," Haruhi nodded then asked her as they hurried out of the bedroom. "Do you know where to go?"
"Yeah," Dustine nodded as they strode out of the suite and out the door. "Its one deck up."
This place is so large, we got lost," Mikuru noted as they hurried along.
"Thank goodness that one woman gave us directions," Haruhi added cheerfully, They turned a corner and went to the stairway.
"Why stairs?" Dustine complained
"Gotta keep you in shape, ma'am!"
"Ugh." Dustine groaned.
"Now about those two that we just met..." Haruhi mused.
"Don't start...not now..." Dustine rolled her eyes.
"I just wanna know how close are you to those two..." Haruhi frowned.
"I thought they were nice," Mikuru observed.
"You think everyone is nice," Yuki noted dryly as they went up stairs.
"Well, yes," MIkuru conceded.
"Well...!" Haruhi demanded.
"I've known them for years, hell, decades," Dustine relented. She glanced at Haruhi, noticed her scowl, then asked her curiously. "Are you...jealous of Nanoha and Fate, Haruhi."
"I am NOT." Haruhi growled then looked away. "I'm just concerned about your well being that's all ma'am."
"Relax, they're friends," Dustine sighed. They jogged up to her quarters where a attractive blue haired girl waited, her uniform starched and looking annoyed.
"Ageni-san. So NICE of you to join us," Ryouko noted cooly, gazing at Dustine with slightly narrowed eyes. "Where have you been?"
"I spent the night at a friends place..." Dustine explained defensively "...and as I remember correctly you were picked up by search and rescue just yesterday."
"I am a professional," Ryoko sniffed at that then shook her head. "such things do not bother me."
Dustine sighed as Haruhi whined. "Hey, I'm hungry! Is breakfast ready?"
Ryoko relented a bit, "Come in, the meal is ready."
The others trotted to the table, while Dustine stopped long enough to pat Ryoko on the shoulder.
"Thanks," she said quietly, "And I was glad to hear you were all alright."
"Its my job..." Ryoko murmured softly then frowned at the others. "Now eat. We've got a lot to do today."
"Yes ma'am," The others nodded as they descended on the table like ravenous wolves.
"Ugh Blrt Grk?" Haruhi mumbled.
"Haruhi, don't talk with your mouth full!" Dustine sighed.
"Yes mother," Haruhi gulped her food down. "Do we have Dustine's schgedule?"
"I have a schedule?" Dustine blinked then frowned. "I thought I was supposed to rest."
"You ALWAYS have a schedule," Ryoko noted disapprovingly.
"Miss anal retentive strikes again," Dusting sighed softly enough so that no one could hear.
Ryoko produced the schedule and began to read it outloud to Dustine and the rest of her staff.
"First you're going to have a meeting with Commodore Yagami about the reformation of her squadrons," Ryoko noted to Dustine "She phoned us earlier to confirm that you will be there. The meeting is at Oh Nine hundred hours Galactic Standard Time."
"Got it." Dustine nodded then asked her. "Is there any paper work that I have to do?"
"YOu'll need aproximately two hours to complete paperwork," Ryoko nodded then glanced at her. "I've also enquired about which ward the other members of the Hammers are in. You should go see them."
"Wait...what?!" Dustine blinked at that then glanced at Ryoko. "Other members?! I thought it was just Lt Colonel Sakamoto and Colonel Wilcke that was injured."
"Several other pilots...uhm...downplayed injures until returning to base, ma'am." Mikuru offered.
"Damn macho girls," Dustine grumbled then sighed. "Who is it and what are their injuries, Lt Asakura. I want to know what I'm dealing with here."
"Aye," Ryoko Asakura nodded then read down the list. "Captain Barkhorn has some fractured ribs while and a fractured left arm while Captain Yeager has a head injury and a broken left clavicle bone."
"Damn it," Dustine grumbled then sighed. "How long will they be out?"
"You'll have to speak to the medical staff at the ward ma'am," Ryoko shrugged, checked the schedule then looked up at Dustine. "You also have an appointment with Shamal ma'am."
"Why me?"
"After action check-up, ma'am. You skipped it, remember?"
"Ack. Yeah I did." Dustine sighed.
"Commanders," Ryouko shook her head with a sigh.
"Guess I should see Hayate first...can you book a appointment?"
"Of course ma'am," Ryoko nodded.
Dustine sighed as she strode down a long corridor, nodding to non combat officers and pilots alike as they walked past then stopped at a door with a name plate on it. She was about to knock on the door when someone spoke up behind her.
"Dustine? Are you here to see Hayate too?" Nanoha called out to her as Fate walked with her.
"Yeah," Dustine nodded then sighed. "I guess we're seeing her at the same time?"
"Possibly," Fate nodded then smiled contritely. "Did your staff members chew you out?"
"Sort of," Dustine shrugged, backed away then gestured to the door. "Ladies first."
"Such a gentleman," Nanoha smiled at her as Fate walked into the office beside her.
Dustine surveyed the ready room, noting it looked pretty normal, aside for the rack of cosplay outfits that was in the corner. Hayate was smiling at them contritely as she sat at her document laden desk.
"Sorry to ask all three of you here at the same time, things are crazy around here," Hayate sighed then shook her head and gestured for them to sit down. "Please have a seat we have much to discuss."
"Its fine," Nanoha said as she others nodded in understanding as they sat.
Rein smiled as the silver haired woman pushed a cart with food and drinks on it.
"Would you like coffee, tea or soda?" she asked politely.
"Tea please," Dustine nodded.
"Coffee," Nanoha asked
"Just soda for me, thanks," Fate smiled
"Here you go..." Rein handed out the drinks to them, having prepared the coffee and tea to each pilot's tastes.
Nanoha sipped her cup, "You remembered how I take it."
Rein gave her a look, "Of course I did."
"Sweet..." Dustine noted then smiled as she sipped her own just right tea.
"She is a marvel isn't she?" Hayate agreed. "And she's MINE."
"We know..." Nanoha smiled.
"So you wanted to see us?" Dustine asked.
"Yes, officially I need to do stress reviews of you all," Hayate noted calmly.
"Unofficially?" Fate asked
"JUst catching up with everyone," Hayate winked at the trio. She took a sip of her own coffee and sighed as she relaxed into her seat.
"I see..." Dustine hummed.
"Why don't you go first?" Hayate mused.
"Well, its been a hell of a week," Dustine admitted with a tired sigh then began to recount the battles, losses and so on. Nanoha and Fate smiled contritely at her while Hayate listened thoughtfully to her report.
"I see..." Hayate hummed. She could tell Dustine had had a hell of a time, but she was bearing up pretty well. "How is your crew doing?"
"Not to good," Dustine sighed and shook her head. "My commanders are laid up and just today I learned that Yeager and Barkhorn won't be flying for a while. You can't fly with broken ribs and a left clavicle after all."
"Knowing Barkhorn she'd try anyway..." Nanoha sighed
"Yeah..." Dustine agreed then added. "The others are a little shaken but they're all right."
"Good," Hayate nodded then moved on, glancing at the red brown haired woman in front of her. "Nanoha, how did your squadron manage?"
"We took a few hits, honestly." Nanoha replied then shook her head. Not many injuries, but we lost a couple of units to damage."
Dustine sighed. "Yeah. I think a few of ours might need to be scrapped too."
"Or at least salvaged," Fate agreed.
"Aye..." Hayate nodded then glanced at the three officers. "Our maintence teams are assessing the battle damage now, as far as the fighters go. We'll be determining if its easier to rebuild or just scrap them and start over.
"I see," Dustine nodded. "So what now?"
"First, The 501st will be reassigned to the Wolfram," Hayate noted then added. Second, we're considering consolidating our wings or at least compacting them until the injured are well enough. Understood?"
"We do," Nanoha and Fate nodded.
"Consolodating the wings will be a hastle, but I do agree with that," Dustine nodded.
"I'm glad you understand that," Hayate nodded then smiled at her friends. "Until the 501st JFW returns to its full strength I'll be assigning the ATX, Lotus and Scepter Squadrons to it. Understood?"
"Got it," Dustine nodded at her orders, then turned to smile at Nanoha and Fate. "Welcome to the 501st, Nanoha. Fate. You're a good addition to the division. Even if its temporary."
"We're happy to be a part of the 501st," Nanoha smiled. Nanoha smiled and held out a hand.
"Don't get killed," Dustine added as they shook.
"Don't worry, we won't," Fate smiled as she shook Dustines hand too.
"Here's the rest of the roster," Hayate noted as she handed Dustine a data pad which had a list of the other members of the 501st temporary members. "Though honestly you've already met them in the previous battle."
"Thanks," Dustine nodded as she read down the list. "Oh not bad. Lamia would be a good addition...and I see that the Arika and Nina are with the ATX Team. Is Lamia their squad leader."
"In a pinch she can be," Hayate smiled then nodded. "But that's how things were on Gaia."
"I see," Dutine nodded and looked down the list. "Impressive. How are they. Are they okay? Did they take any damage during the battle?"
"Somewhat yes," Hayate nodded then smiled. "A few of them are being overhauled as we speak but we have enough parts for them onboard this ship."
"I see," Dustine nodded as she previewed a few machines. "Most impressive. I like the Alt Eisen Reise, Wildwuerger, Mass Production WildSchwein MK IIs, God Grungust and the Flickerei Geist. They look like sturdy machines.
"You can't keep them," Hayate warned the copper skinned officer, adding as the others looked on. "They're for a special division within the fleet. Got it?"
"Yes ma'am..." Dustine pouted, finishing off her tea.
"Don't worry," Hayate smiled at the woman reaching out to pat her hand when she put it down on the table "You'll get your own unit later. Is that understood, Lieutenant Colonel Dustine Ageni?"
Nanoha and Fate gasped in delight while it took a moment for it to register with the copper skinned pilot. When it did, it hit Dustine like a ton of bricks. Dustine gasped and looked at Hayate. "What?! Lt. Colonel?! Seriously?!"
"Acting Lieutenant Colonel for now," Hayate nodded at at that then smiled at Dustine as she laid her chin on the top of her hands. "But it might be for good, assuming you don't screw up."
"Congradulations, Dustine," Nanoha smiled gently as She laid a hand on Dustines left shoulder. "Out of all of us you deserve it the most. You can count on us. Okay?"
"Like wise, old friend," Fate smiled a bit bashfully at the copper skinned woman as Hayate and Reinforce looked on with a smile.
"Um, thanks," Dustine answered them bashfully. Hayate noted that Dustine was very cute when she blushed. Too bad she didn't have a camera handy. She watched the trio as they bantered back and forth, smiling faintly.
"All right, Lt. Colonel," The brown haired woman asked the attractive dark haired woman. "what's the plan?"
At that moment Dustine got the cutest deer in the headlights look. "W-what?"
"H...Hayate." Fate frowned.
"Don't put her on the spot like that," Nanoha laughed.
"Nanoha...?" Fate blinked.
"Its fine..." Nanoha waved her off.
"Sorry, sorry," Hayate chuckled shaking her head. "Just teasing..."
"Sorry, that's gonna take some getting used to," Dustine agreed then puffed out a breath.
"As long as you dont look around for someone else when they call Lt. Colonel," Hayate told her, "I felt like that when I first got promoted."
"Maybe we should call her Lt Colonel for a while..." Nanoha suggested with a smile then glanced at her copper skinned friend."You know...to let her get used to it? Is that okay, Lt. Colonel?"
"Is this revenge for me staying out of touch for the last several years," Dustine blushed.
"Not at all, Lt. Colonel," Nanoha smiled even more.
'I think she's teasing me,' Dustine thought as the others chuckled at the copper skinned woman. 'She really is a devil.'
Would the Lt. Colonel like some tea?" Rein asked politely as she returned to refill drinks.
"Et Tu, Rein?" Dustine sighed.
Dustine idly fingered her rank insignia as she then stepped into the large medical bay. medical technicians and doctors were making their rounds, taking care of the wounded and ill.
Dustine hummed thoughtfully, looking for someone then smiled when a cheerful voice called out to her.
"Dustine, over here," Shamal Yagami smiled as she stood by an assistants desk.
"Hi Shamal," Dustine smiled as she walked over to the blonde.
"Hi! Oh!" Shamal nodded back to her then blinked when she noticed the new isignia. She smiled happily and trotted up to the copper skinned pilot. Before she could say anything she wrapped her arms around her friend. "Congradulations."
"Eep." Dustine grunted as Shamal hugged her a little too tight.
"I don't think she can breathe, Shamal..." A nurse noted as she walked by.
"Eh?" Shamal blinked, glanced at her condition, then let go of the copper skinned woman. "Ah. Sorry. Sorry. I was just so happy for you that's all."
"T..That's allright," Dustine grunnted then noticed her staffs attire as another nurse walked by. "What's up with the short skirts and tight tops?"
"Hayate SAYS there was a mistake in the order. I kind of doubt it..." Shamal sighed
"Gee that sounds awfully familiar." Dustine frowned then shrugged her shoulders. "Could be worse, she could just have you wearing bikinis."
"Don't SAY that! Hayate might hear you!" Shamal warned her.
"I'll try not to," Dustine sighed.
"Good," Shamal nodded then smiled. "Are you here for your physical or are you here for medical records."
"Physical," Dustine nodded and the pair fell into a quiet conversation. As they talked, another woman in a doctors uniform wandered by. Well, more like swayed, with her impressive bust nearly spilling out of her top. "Eh? Who is that?"
"Oh, you haven't met Dr. Yuko Sagiri, have you?" Shamal asked then waved her over. "Yuko. A moment?"
"No I haven't," Dustine shook her head, mesmerized by her swaying hips and her impressive chest. "Hello."
"Hello there." Yuko smiled at Dustine, winking at the copper skinned woman. "I must say, you're as much a hotty as I'd heard. Wanna sneak off to a empty cubicle?"
"YUKO!" Shamal scolded.
"What?" Yuko pouted at her superior. "I thought she was single."
"This is not the time or place," Shamal frowned then added. "You need to learn to be more subtle."
"Wastes time," Yuko shrugged then added to herself. 'Especially when I need to keep an eye on you.'
Yet another attractive woman, this time a nurse, shimmied by as she commented, "Go change a bedpan, Yuko, and stop bugging her patients. Especially the cute ones"
"Shut up, Miki," Yuko sighed but indeed headed off to attend to something else. Meanwhile Dustine blushed at being called cute.
"Sorry about that," Miki added to Dustine. "She hasn't been laid lately."
"Th...That's alright," Dustine nodded sweatdropping a bit.
"So now...shall we start your physical?" Shamal smiled.
"Of course," Dustine nodded. Both Yuko and Miki looked curious.
"Shoo," Shamal waved them off
"Awww," Both pouted before they left.
Shamal led dustine into a cubicle and ordered her to strip which dustine did. "Nice panties. Why the animated character logo?"
"Would you prefer the UN Spacy symbol?" Dustine shrugged.
"Very well," Shamal nodded, looking her over then smiled contritely when she noticed the scar on her abdomen. "You know, if you ever decide to get the scar removed I have just the cosmetic surgeon for you."
"Aye," Dustine nodded
"Or Yuko, for that manner." Shamal smiled then added. "She's quite skilled."
"I'd be worried about being groped..." Dustine sighed.
"She's entirely professional with patients," Shamal reassured her
"I'll...take your word," Dustine nodded then epped when she felt the cool touch of a stethascope on her back.
"Breathe," Shamal ordered.
"Don't you have more advanced gear," Dustine complained as the cold metal touched her back
"Would you like me to break out the old rectal thermometer?" Shamal teased.
"I'll be good," Dustine sighed as she took a breath as ordered. Shamal smiled then listened to her breathing.
'God, I think she chills the instrument befoe using then,' Dustine sighed mentally
"Not bad, not bad at all," Shamal noted. then pulled out a really big syringe "Its time to take a sample of your blood. Did you abstain from food or drink for 6 hours."
"Eeep." Dustine yelped
"It's not THAT bad." Shamal smiled contritely.
"Its a fricking harpoon," Dustine yelped.
"Very well," Shamal sighed then picked up a much smaller yet thicker instrument. "Would you rather have a rectal probe instead."
"Shutting up now," Dustine grumbled.
"Good," Shamal nodded then gestured to the bed in the middle of the room. "Sit down and I'll take the sample."
"Okay," Dustine nodded and did what she was told. Shamal smiled and cleaned the space inside her elbow with a swab tied a elastic band around Dustine's upper left arm then tugged the cap off with her fingers. She turned to Dustine and nodded "Try not to look okay?"
Dustine nodded then winced as the needle went in. "Ngh."
"You're very brave," Shamal hummed as she drew the sample. "Some just fuss over these things and it makes our job a little more difficult."
"I can imagine," Dustine nodded then puffed out a breath as Shamal removed the syringe and ordered her to hold a cotton swab to the puncture site. Dustine complied then blinked when Shamal got out some measuring tape. "Whats that for?"
"Measurements, what else," Shamal smiled then nodded. "Now hold still. I've gotta update your measurements."
"But you can do that electronically..." Dustine noted.
Shamal put the tape around Dustine's chest as she noted, "But this is much more fun."
"I bet this is Hayate's idea." Dustine grumbled.
"Cosplay costumes for everyone," Shamal agreed cheerfully.
'Besides I like doing this too.' she thought.
Dustine sighed and let Shamal take the measurements, blushing as the blonde wrapped the tape around her bust. "Hmm. You're one size larger. Last year your cup size was 35cms now your at least 36 cm."
"Slowed development from the C2 series life extension booster I guess," Dustine shrugged, making interesting parts of her body bounce.
"Indeed, how old are you now by the way," Shamal asked.
"In my 130s chronologically ," Dustine sighed then shook her head. "Never thought I'd live to be this age, really."
"And by physical age you're," Shamal checked, "probably on the twenty year old cusp,"
"Yeah," Dustine nodded then blinked when Shamal hummed thoughtfully. "W-What."
"You're waist is 2cm thicker," Shamal smiled a little too cheerfully.
"I'm a growing girl," Dustine grunted.
"Sure it wasn't that pie last night?"
"HOW DID YOU KNOW..." Dustine blushed.
"I have spies everywhere." Shamal smiled cheerfully then took her leg measurements then gestured to the device on the floor. "Now up on the scale."
"This is SO old fashioned..." Dustine sighed.
"Actually it's fully digital and can detect quantinum variations in mass/destiny." Shamal explained cheerfully. "I got it from Doctor Lang..."
"And that doesn't worry you?" Dustine arched an eyebrow
"Nah." Shamal shook her head.
As Dustine was weighed sensors in the room did a full body scan, storing the data as well as routing a copy to Shamal.
"Hmm," Shamal hummed thoughtfully as she studied several points of interest. There were still traces of previous injuries on Dustine's scans, if you knew where to look. The gut wound still glared visibly, but the bone breaks and lesser injuries left marks too, even though she was healed.
"Hmm," Shamal hummed thoughtfully then poked her belly where the gut wound is. "Does that hurt at all?"
"Ugh," Dustine grunted then sighed. "If I had eaten breakfast you'd be wearing it right now."
"Don't joke," Shamal frowned. "How does it really feel."
"Yeah, it's okay," Dustine admitted, then sighed. "It just feels a bit numb. That's all."
"Nerve endings take far much longer to repair than regular tissue,' Shamal noted then wondered thoughtfully. "Do you feel anything when you clench your muscles during a high gee maneuver?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary," Dustine shook her head.
"Good," Shamal nodded. Thankfully the scans and her physical exam showed no problems so far. "Looks like the damage is healing on schedule."
"Yay," Dustine said dryly.
"Now, now," Shamal chided the pilot "even 100 years ago a gut wound like that would have killed you. Or sidelined you forever from flying"
"Point," Dustine nodded then sighed. "We still need cybernetics for lost limbs or other body parts though."
"True. There is so much the C2 series and M3 series can handle," Shamal noted somberly, noticed the expression on Dustine's face, then decided to focus on something else. "No other problems."
Moments later her stomach grumbled causing Dustine to blush a bit. "Aside from my stomach rumbling no."
"That's what that noise was! I thought a train was going by." Shamal smiled at her.
"Sure yuck it up..." Dustine rolled her eyes then asked the doctor. "Whats next?"
"Eye exam!" Shamal noted cheerfully
"Okay," Dustine nodded, glad that was relatively unobtrusive.
Moments later Shamal swung a device around and pointed it at here eyes. "Hold still, this won't hurt a bit."
"Funny, a old girlfrind used to say the same thing." Dustine sighed.
"Kinky. Now hold still." Shamal said dryly before scanning her eyes with a laser sensor. It took readings of the shape and curviture of the lenses of Dustine's eyes, compairing them to computer generated optimal configurations.
"Hmmm, not bad," Shamal murmured "You have a one percent deviation, well within norms."
"So you aren't taking a knife to my eyes?" Dustine sighed.
"Only barbarians do that," Shamal shook her head. "I'd use a laser scalpel instead."
"No, no, I'm happy being one percent off," Dustine shook her head.
"Very well," Shamal nodded then asked. "Any...feminine problems as of late?"
"N-None that I can think of," Dustine stammered, blushing. "Though I am still single..."
"Hmm." Shamal hummed then looked at her. "Well, I'm hoping your taking the usual contraceptive pill as well as the STD patch. Just in case."
"Trust me," Dustine sighed as she shook her head. "I probably won't get pregnant from dating a girl."
"Is so," Shamal hummed then gave her a look. "You DO remember that the Arume and certain other species can get you pregnant right?"
"Ack..." Dustine blushed then sighed. "Forgot about that."
"Shamal chuckled, "It happens."
"I guess," Dustine sighed.
"Just be careful when your out on the next date, all right," Shamal warned her.
"Right," Dustine sighed as she slipped her uniform on.
EOF