Private Prague, U.N.P.K
Chapter 7

Lifehold Lessons

"Well, that just happened." Elma rubbed her temples as she caught up with Vandham and a black haired man in the briefing room, "Do you think we angered him when we exiled his Millesaur?"

"I wouldn't call it an exile." the black haired man muttered, "More like, a precautionary restraining order... you heard how strong that indigen is."

"Plus, the Private shouldn't be one to hold grudges, seeing he is an-" Vandham was stopped by Elma when Private Prague entered the room.

"I see no reason to banish Larry like that, Secretary Nagi." Private Prague grumbled as he leaned on the table, "He was no threat to NLA or its citizens."

"It was just as an act of caution." Nagi responded, "You must understand that we are still in a very hostile and very alien world."

"But I told you he was alright with humans." Prague argued, "He wanted to help us- What would Larry think now that we banished him back to the wild?"

"Hey, that's a powerful indigen we're talking about here!" Vandham yelled, "An Everlasting Millesaur! We can't just go around letting those things near just because a Private says it's ok!" he refuted the U.N soldier.

"Elma, what do you think?" Private Prague shifted the conversation to the woman.

"I'm thinking Gwin and Irina make a pretty good couple, to be honest." Elma tried to avoid the problem, "You know, don't you ever thin-"

"Come on, Elma." Private Prague groaned, "You're supposed to help me out here!"

"I'm not supposed to help you out." Elma responded, "But in accordance to this issue, I share the convictions of both Secretary Nagi and Commander Vandham... Larry is a powerful creature that could do massive damage to the external walls of New LA if it went rampant."

"He would never do that." Prague sighed, "Why don't you all understand- You know what, forget it, it's foolish going against this system." he looked at Nagi, "To other matters, what is the Lifehold?" he asked.

"The Lifehold is a very important thing to all of us in New LA." Nagi responded, "But why bring this up out of the blue?"

"Because I want to find it." Prague answered, "If I find it, I may be able to become Commander of this Human Colony once and for all." he muttered.

"Well... good luck trying to find it." Vandham scoffed, "All of our best BLADEs have been stumped doing so, including Elma's boyfriend over here, and he's arguably the best we have." he shook his head.

"We've been searching for the Lifehold for quite a while." Nagi added, "But despite Vandham's blunt speaking, you can also help us search for it. Though don't make this into a glory mission." he muttered.

"I'll run you by all the intel of the Lifehold, Private." Elma told the man, "You'll need to know what it is, how it looks like, and what it is important for." she sent the information to his holodev.

"Hm..." Private Prague muttered as he looked at the intel, "I see... so I just have to get this and bring it back?" he asked.

"It's not that simple now." Vandham responded, "The Lifehold is absolutely precious cargo! It's not a box of potatoes that you can simple haul on a truck and drive off!"

"He's right." Elma added, "The Lifehold can't be treated like any old junk, it's like our Holy Grail-"

"But you just told me to retrieve it." Private Prague interrupted her, "That's what bringing it means-"

"Bring it with caution and upmost security." Nagi told him, "You need to bring it like that! That's the specific way, method, and practice you will bring it!" he yelled.

"I don't see the differe-"

"The difference is that one way will be ok and everyone will be fine." Vandham spoke, "And the other way will drag our damn bodies straight into hell and chaos." he grumbled.

"I think I should accompany you on your search, Prague." Elma muttered, "Just so we can do it right and without and major hassles." she informed.

"Huh... I don't see why not." Prague sighed, "But then again, you may take credit for the discovery and I"ll be left in the same position of Private."

"Trust me, you won't." Elma smiled, "You'll move up in rank, I guarantee it."

"Well, we'll be back to the Tower now." Nagi spoke as he and Vandham packed up and started to walk off, "Thank you for your considerations today, Private Prague."

"Yeah yeah." Vandham grumbled and the two stepped out.

0000000

"That's our third bust." Doug groaned as he, Lin, Lao, Prague, Elma, Gwin, and Irina sat down in the barracks, all sweaty and dusty from the day's work.

"At this rate, our chance even to find the Lifehold are non-existent." Gwin grumbled, "I don't like our odds."

"If only we could at least get one clue or bread crumb there." Irina sighed, "That's the last time we're searching in Cauldros." she took off her burnt boots.

"Dang, Irina." Doug chuckled, "I didn't know you were into pedicures." he looked at Irina's bright yellow toenails with little painted white daisies on them.

"Shut up!" Irina growled and recovered her feet, "Oh... I hate you." she hissed and crossed her arms.

"I thought they were pretty cute." Gwin commented, "They really suit your personality." he smiled and patted her back, causing the woman to smile subtly.

"Hm..." Private Prague mumbled to himself, "Where could the Lifehold could be... we have absolutely no evidence or clue to its exact location..." he started to ponder.

"A dollar for your thoughts?" Lao asked the man, "Perhaps you would like to share what you found to BLADEs?"

"Wow, is your name Lao Miiverse?" Lin rolled her eyes, "Can't you see Prague is deep in thought about something... like a girl?" she giggled.

"I am not." Private Prague shrugged off the idea, "I'm actually thinking about the location of the Lifehold..." he muttered and looked to the ceiling.

"We'll round up more clues next week." Lao answered the man, "Maybe then we could find something that leads us to our greatest prize of all." he nodded.

0000000

"If he would stop coming in so late." Lin told Elma as she, Prague, and Tatsu waited for their friend to arrive, "Why is he always away so far off..." she groaned, "I'm starving already."

"Just wait a few minutes." Elma sighed, "Fast Travel's been down for a bit now, I wonder when we're gonna get it fixed."

"Hopefully soon." Private Prague muttered, "I'm tired of wasting so much fuel for my new truck." he muttered.

"Tatsu want to eat now!" Tatsu said with exasperation.

"How is this guy like, Elma?" Private Prague asked to pass the time, "Seeing he has such a great spectrum of food choices via Lin?"

"He's nice, brave... a bit cocky but it's controllable." Elma answered, "He's white, actually from the US like me... Nice man, handsome, well built..." she started to swoon.

"Doesn't talk much, though." Lin commented, "Except when we're fighting, because he has this nasty habit of shouting one-liners like a cheesy action movie." she joked.

"He does not!" Elma argued, "It just puts him in the spirit to fight!"

"Oh yeah, remember when we were talking to that guy who's girlfriend was eaten by an indigen." Lin recollected, "And all he did was Nod his head Pensatively?"

"Well, it seems like I need to go." Private Prague looked at his holodev, "It looks like I'll miss your friend again." he chuckled and started to walk off.

"How would you respond to that?" Lin asked Elma, "Shake your head in Understanding?" she giggled as the soldier left...