Affinity Chapter 2: Renewed Will
(Disclaimer!)
Cross, Elma, and Lin were about to get a bite to eat.
"And that's why in my opinion, the furious blast is more efficient than the flame grenade," said Cross.
"Can't argue with that," said Lin, "Why shoot one blast when you can shoot multiple."
They saw Irina at a restaurant.
"Finally got some down time Irina?" asked Elma.
"About time I did," said Irina, "My team is great, but we're with each other almost every time, and I decided to get a bite by myself but…"
"You realized its kind of lonely?" asked Lin.
"Not exactly," said Irina.
"Tatsu will be happy to chew and swallow food for poor Irina," said Tatsu.
"Helpful as ever," said Lin.
"You travel with quite the group of characters Colonel," said Irina.
"Well, well, well, if it ain't Irina," said a blade soldier, "Check it out Blake."
"That's Lieutenant Irina Gus," said Blake, "Don't you remember? She was something special on Earth."
"Well now she's a grunt," said Gus, "Just like you and me, right?"
"Something like that," said Irina ignoring them.
"Think about it, she knows damn well what she was given," said Blake, "She even saddled with losers like Gwin, and still manages to pull off one or two missions."
Irina was prepared to kick their teeth in.
"Leave it Irina," said Elma, "Its not worth it."
"Yea ma'am," said Irina.
"See, she's all trained like a puppy," said Gus, "Elma calls the shots, her and that freakshow she calls a team."
"What'd you say?" asked Cross.
"And look, if it ain't the special rook!" said Gus.
"The guy who can't remember a damn thing about his past," said Blake, "And Elma chose him to join her crew? MIS-take!"
"Listen Elma, when you're ready to have some REAL men serve under you, call us," said Gus.
"Ok that's enough!" said Irina, "I was gonna let you off, but you just took it too far by trash talking my team and the colonel."
Elma stepped up.
"I'm sorry Colonel, but I can't ignore what they said," said Irina.
"I know, so I'll help you keep it short," said Elma.
"I hope you ladies don't mind if I get involved," said Cross stepping up.
"The more the merrier!" said Gus, "Fancy title aren't gonna save you here."
"Don't mind at all," said Elma.
"I didn't know you were such a hot head," said Irina, "I like it!"
"I'll handle one blade if you two handle the other," said Cross.
"FREEZE MAGGOTS!" shouted someone.
It was Commander Vandham.
"C-c-commander!" said Gus, "We were… I…. they started it!"
"I saw the whole thing, especially the part where you got into a fight that was about to get your teeth kicked it," said Vandham, "Now get your skinny little asses back to the barracks, cause your tongues have an appointment with toilet seats!"
They headed back.
"You know Rook, I could always understand you about to get in a street fight, but Elma," said Vandham, "You surprised me."
"Well she's been one of my own since we met," said Elma.
"Are you ok Irina?" asked Cross.
"I'm fine, I just can't stand men like this," said Irina, "But I don't think that's why the commander is here."
"Actually I was looking for you Elma," said Vandham.
"A mission?" asked Elma.
"A few loose indigens in the Grieving Plains," said Vandham, "We've lost a few prospectors to them as well."
"We're on it," said Elma.
"Those punks picked the wrong day to mess with us," said Cross.
"Colonel, if it pleases you, I'd like to join you," said Irina.
"But aren't you off duty?" asked Vandham.
"I need to blow off some steam," said Irina, "And I miss working with the Colonel."
"The more the merrier," said Cross.
They headed to Primordia and started fighting off the specific indigens for the mission.
They were giant bird like creatures that could move really fast.
Cross was riding one like a horse.
"I got you right where I want you!" said Cross.
He was riding it into a wall.
"Now that's what I call the Cross Rodeo," he said as he grinned.
"He's definitely a hotehead," said Irina, "And a keeper."
Elma blushed at the word.
"What do you mean by that?" asked Elma.
"I think that's for you to find out," said Irina as she winked.
"These indigens don't seem like the kind that would harm anybody," said Cross.
"This definitely is strange," said Lin.
"Tatsu is strange?" asked Tatsu.
"Aside from you," said Lin, "But they don't seem like the kind to cause this kind of damage."
Elma's comm device rang.
"A powerful indigen is attacking a blade team near your location!" said a blade soldier.
"We'll check it out," said Elma.
They headed to the destination and saw a giant bird.
"Whoa," said Cross.
"There's the real target!" said Elma.
Lin got a good look at the two soldiers.
"Those are the two punks hassling Irina!" said Lin.
Cross got out his sword ready to fight.
"Let's go," he said.
"Wait, you actually wanna help them?!" asked Lin, "After what they said."
"Enough!" said Lin, "Let's move."
"Got it," said Elma.
Cross started shooting at the bird to get its attention.
Irina got out her knife and damaged one of its appendages.
"Cross, go for the wings!" she said.
"On it!" said Cross.
He chopped off one of its wings preventing it from attacking.
After a long battle the bird was destroyed.
"Nice work everyone," said Cross.
"Y…you saved us," said Gus, "Thanks."
"Its alright, just doing our job," said Irina, "Now head on back."
"Listen about earlier…" said Blake.
"I said its fine already," said Irina.
"If I were you I'd start training harder every day," said Lin.
They started to leave.
"Its almost worse when they apologize," said Irina.
"Well I'm sorry too, for hesitating to help," said Lin.
"I was thinking the same thing to be honest," said Irina, "A jerk is still a jerk even if its your job to save them."
"Fair point," said Cross, "But then again we are the only humans on this rock."
"True," said Irina, "My head feels a lot clear now, thanks Elma."
"Anytime soldier," said Elma.
