Hotel Oscar Tango Echo Lima Hotel Echo Lima Lima

The chirping of the Manjuu beside me got my attention and I looked down to see the one with the officer cap handing me a pair of safety goggles and gesturing to the blast shield that had been set up. This both alarmed me and reassured me that the work on the HVAC system on top of the girl's dorm had been completed, in theory. The downside was, the meowfficers had moved into my quarters as well overnight. I found out by stepping out of my bedroom and stepping on the tail of one of them, promptly waking the girls in the living room, then tripping over Ticonderoga who had taken to putting her bed roll just outside my door.

The upside of her being there, I've had no midnight visitors, the downside is, no midnight visitors. Still, this just added more confusion to the state of things with Ticonderoga. Oh well, that's neither here nor there. Slipping the goggles over my eyes and ducking behind the blast shield, I give a thumbs up to the Manjuu with the hat, it chirps and points to a big red button, just outside the blast shield.

Another of the little birds wobbles out there, looking back at the blast shield and slowly, inches closer to the button, the one with the hat, chirps again, loudly, again making a knife hand, or knife wing, at the button. The one outside hangs its head and hops into the air, landing on it, everything seems to go quiet, all of us holding our breaths. A moment later there is a clunking sound, followed by the whine of a compressor starting up.

A great cheer goes up, then I notice the wind has picked up, the blast shield lifts a little, and an alarmed chirp is heard from outside the blast shield. Risking a glance over top, I watch in horror as the Manjuu that had been on the button is holding on for dear life to the compressor inlet that had the dust cover come off. The feathered wings slowly lose their grip and the bird vanishes into the compressor.

A loud thunk is heard, causing all of us to hold our breaths again, then another thunk, and a whine. I feel a couple of the Manjuu pull me back behind the blast shield just in time for a loud explosion and the smell of ozone and gunpowder to fill the air.

When my ears stop ringing I risk a look above the shield again, the HVAC unit up here has been destroyed, sitting in place though is the Manjuu that had been sucked inside, the yellow feathers looking a little singed, yet still fine, despite the destruction around it.

Behind me, I hear feathered wings slapping together and cheers, turning to see the celebration I say, "I wanted it fixed not blown up!"

The one with the hat chirped and started to chase the other ones around, waving its wings around, clearly, it was mad. Running a hand down my face I sighed, "Well, I guess I'm going to have company for a few more months then."

XXXX

Grabbing a pair of boxer shorts, about as close as I'm going to get to freaking swim trunks right now, I head over to the north beach, lay a towel out, and flop down face first after getting on sunscreen, not like I had anything else to do today. Man, this base is in such a rough state, the equipment is either on its last legs or just dead. At least the girls here are first-rate; I just wish I had the resources to offer them the support they need. With a yawn I shut my eyes and just enjoy the feeling of the sun on my bare back for a bit, I can deal with all the other problems later, somehow.

As I lay there, listening to the gentle rolling of the tide in and out, my ears pick up the odd soft sigh and the odd sound of pleasure.

Pushing myself up, I walk towards where the sound is coming from, a collection of large rocks.

Getting closer I hear a change in the sounds; they're becoming less of a sigh and more of a moan with the odd "MMmm."

I stopped right there and went back to my towel, but I'd watch to see who came out from behind the rocks.

After several minutes, I saw Lexington coming out from behind them, doing up her bikini on the hip. When it was almost done up, she stopped, looked right at me, and winked. I swallowed hard, do I tell Ticonderoga or not, I'm pretty sure Lexington was the one that visited me that night now. Shaking my head a couple of times I head off to the surf to try and really clear my head.

XXXX

XXXX

Standing outside my quarters, I could see the lights on inside, but knowing what I know right now, I'm not sure I want to go in there. If I tell Ticonderoga what I know now, then I'll disrupt things between the girls, they need to be able to trust one another.

On the other hand, I'm not with Ticonderoga, we've fooled around a couple of times now, but we've never kissed, never really talked. All we've done is have sex once and snuggle on my bed to watch some shows one night.

Ugh, I hate that I'm even trying to figure this out right now.

Going around to the back where my bedroom window is, so I can quietly open it and grab a few things before I go off and try to figure out a makeshift tent, I need some time to figure this crap out.

XXXX

Before long, I found that I was standing in front of one of the rundown hangers that lined the decommissioned airfield that ran the length of the base. With a great strain on my part, I manage to get one of the doors open, inside I find an old and falling apart four-engine bomber of some kind, she's got pre-Eagle Union markings, well what's left of them anyway, it looks like she's been stored and forgotten about.

Walking around the hangar I find an office that looks like no one has been inside of in decades. In one corner I see what looks like an old couch.

"It'll have to do." I tell myself while laying out one blanket and my pillow on it.

Knowing it's going to be hot, I strip down entirely and slip in between the sheets to try and get some sleep.

XXXX

XXXX

Late into the evening, I was awoken by the sound of the office door closing, harder than I think the person wanted it to. At the same time, I was kind of alarmed that I was found, but curious if it was going to be Lexington sneaking in here to find me. I got my answer when I heard my name, "Rob?"

It was Ticonderoga, and I felt so relieved.

"Yes?" I faintly ask.

She sighed in relief before I felt her snuggle in beside me on the couch and she whispered, "I was worried, your bedroom window was open and you hadn't come to your quarters."

"It's not like I had anyplace to really go, I mean this island isn't very big." What surprised me, as I was speaking she slid a hand over my side to my belly and started to rub her hand up and down it, stopping when she found out I was lacking underwear.

"Are you naked?" she asks me.

"Yeah, it's going to be hot." I whisper while trying to get comfortable.

"Is it alright, if I stay here tonight?" she asks, burring her nose into the nape of my neck.

Without thinking about it, I reach down and take her hand in one of mine, "Yeah."

Ticonderoga presses her front against my beck while yawning, "Good."

XXXX

XXXX

The extended version is found on AO3.