Location: Dorms, AMBER Base
Beaumontia, Epsilon Eridani system
October 30th, 2548
2:30pm
"AMBER Base is just the way it used to be, Celest, so I don't think you need any introductions. I'll help you get settled in. After that, we're meeting the twins for a little chat session,"
"Family gathering, so to speak?"
"You could say that. They're good kids. They will be easy on us, so don't worry. Here we are," The single door slid to an open and he led her in."You're bunking with me."
She stopped in her tracks. "You're kidding me."
With her duffel bag still slung over his broad shoulder, he turned to her and smiled warmly. "Nope."
"So... we get to make up for lost time?"
He lightly shrugged his shoulders at that. "Perhaps."
Without a word, Celestina leaned in leisurely and captured his lips. When she pulled back, she smiled at him as innocently as she possibly could.
"It's been 2 years, Celest... you easily owe me a few hundred more,"
"Oh yeah?! And what about you?!"
Jun plopped her duffel bag onto her bed casually. "Come on. I thought I made it clear that night that my specialty was hugging you from behind and kissing you on the cheek!"
She pulled the 'Alright-I'm-done' face and spun around for the door. "I'm going to see the twins." And that was when she felt those strong arms wrap around her midsection, as well as a tender peck on her left cheek. She giggled harmoniously, unable to contain herself. He had done it again. "You little devil!" She said in between more giggles. "Don't ever change!"
"Good. Now we can go see the twins."
Location: Break Room
"Okay, okay, you two. Favorite memory."
Jun and Celestina changed a look at that. "We have lots of memories," Celestina said. "But I'd go with the time where, when we were a team, we had to capture this small Covenant base on Maker. And a round from a Needler Rifle had broken through my shields. He jumps in front of me like a knight in MJOLNIR armor and takes a round for me!" Happily declaring, she reached over and cupped his chin lovingly.
"What can I say? I'm a knight, she's a damsel in distress... you know the drill."
"Smartass!" She giggled.
Ryan chuckled at that. "I think it's amazing that you two have a relationship as solid as the one you have."
"Yeah well, everyone needs someone looking after them, right?" Celestina glanced to her right where Jun was. "I've got my knight right here. I'm sure the same with you two. I mean, you're twins after all. I bet you two must have been looking after each other since before you two were born."
"You know, I'd like to think that," Rhonda said as she playfully punched her younger-by-9-minutes brother on the upper arm. "After all, without me, he'll fall apart.
"I'm not that helpless, Rhonda!"
And Shadow Team shared a hearty laugh. Celestina opened the next statement with, "You know, boss and boss lady, as much as this is nice, I have to ask... don't we have an Innie association to take down?"
"I know what you mean, Celestina," Ryan replied. "There has been minimal activity at the moment. Like everything's gone dark. We're still unable to locate Jamie Oliver after he last slipped through our grasp."
"After he... you know..." Rhonda simply stated, looking down at her glass.
"I know, Rhonda. I heard that Sally went down fighting. Like a Spartan."
"Then you know that we owe it to her take this organization down," Jun said.
"Agreed," Ryan said, raising his glass in the air. "For Sally."