The waiter brought three unopened bottles of Tonic to the table as Washington eyed her cautiously.
"Have you three decided on an order?" The waitress asked.
"We came in today mainly because it was a warm one for this time of year. Little Max here was thirsty so we thought we'd drop by his favorite place for a drink. That said, we're not too hungry on account of our picnic earlier today." Ranger spoke up as Washington balled her fist under the table.
"That's no problem. If that's the case, soda is on the house. If you decide you'd like to eat, please feel free to flag me down and we'll get something started for you." The waitress said as she walked towards the kitchen.
Max began to twist the cap on his soda when Washington stopped him.
"Max, let me." Washington said as Max handed the glass bottle of tonic to Washington. Looking at the bottle, it was a label and company Washington hadn't seen in this restaurant before. And unlike almost every tonic she had seen in the Mediterranean over the past month, this bottle wasn't see through. The label covered the bottle in its entirety. Washington held the bottle to her ear. It was when she did this that a small ticking sound was heard inside the bottle.
"What are you doing, Mama?" Max asked.
Washington shot a glance at Ranger, who nodded and took Max's hand.
"We're going to go and find somewhere nice to sit on the seawall. Washington is going to grab the waters and meet us there." Ranger said as she quickly whisked Max away from the restaurant.
Washington put down money equivalent to the cost of the drinks, took all three identical bottles, and left the restaurant. Washington ran with the bottles to an abandoned well several minutes out of town and dropped the bottles into it. Taking a few steps back, Washington's intuition proved correct as the three bottles she had dropped exploded, shaking the ground beneath her as a dull thud was heard in the area.
"Damn bastards. They know our faces and are trying to eliminate us ahead of the invasion." Washington spat as she walked away from the well moments before it collapsed into a hole created by the underground detonation.
"Ranger. Get Max somewhere safe, those water bottles were bombs. And judging by the state of the well I dropped them in, would have leveled the restaurant if Max had opened his. They know who we are." Washington spoke.
"Gotcha. I'll take Max to one of the hostels in town." Ranger said.
"No. Take him aboard my vessel. He'll be safe there. We need to figure out how to let them know that this island has been compromised." Washington said.
"I sent a message to the Admiral's flagship. I can only hope they got it." Ranger said as Washington stopped.
A man stood on the path ahead of her. The moment she stopped he walked forward. Holding out his hand, he handed Washington a letter.
"Death to the Sirens." The man whispered as he walked past. Washington turned to find him again after a few seconds, but he was long gone, ducked into one of the many alleys in the abandoned part of town.
Opening the letter, Washington read it.
"Raid fleet has returned. Beginning construction of Blueprint ships. Expect reinforcements in 96 hours. Signed Vittorio."
"Ranger. I just got a letter from Vittorio, delivered by one of the intelligence operatives. Four days. If we can hold the line for four days, we will have help." Washington spoke.
"So be it. We can hold out for four days." Ranger said.
"Do we have sealed rations left? Or did we burn through them?" Washington asked.
"I have a few stowed away in the med bay. They were for emergency use just in case we needed to treat the injured though." Ranger replied.
"I'd say this constitutes an emergency. We're in the middle of enemy territory. They managed to take it and replace people with Explorers. Remember Benson. The enemy is among us right now." Washington spoke in a hushed tone.
"Right. I'll pull the emergency rations and set up a more frequent fighter patrol." Ranger said.
"I'll launch my catapult fighter as well. I'm going to need the early warning to get the screws turning." Washington said.
"What do you mean?" Ranger asked.
"It takes me a little longer than my sister and the other battleships to get my boilers up and running, especially after being so laid back this last month. Every extra second I get is a better chance at our survival." Washington said.
"Gotcha. I'll link my fighters to yours so that they can pass information. I can cover more ground than you can." Ranger said.
"You know… in situations like this… you carriers ain't so bad." Washington said with a hint of humility in her voice.
"You still have more firepower than me, Washington. I'm just here to help. You're going to be the MVP if this battle kicks off." Ranger said.
"Let's hope it only does in three days. Four days of fighting is not something we can afford. We can't just evacuate these people either. That'll cause panic." Washington said as she tried to figure out a way to do this.
"Amore? Are you finished in there?" Vittorio asked as she stood outside the bathroom door inside their bedroom.
"Why don't you come in and find out?" New Jersey asked.
"We have to meet the raid fleet. They returned earlier today, and we have begun the process of awakening their blueprints." Vittorio whined.
"Oh alright." New Jersey said dejectedly as she opened the door wearing naught but a pristine white towel.
Vittorio's face turned red and her heart fluttered.
"I absolutely must have you tonight." Vittorio whispered.
"Well, that can come tonight. But as you said, we got work to do." New Jersey said.
"R-right." Vittorio said as she pushed her desire down for the moment.
"How's Jean doing?" New Jersey asked.
"She is recovering. As much as I dislike her, she was the one who kept you safe. Let it be known I am only allowing her here because of that action." Vittorio spat.
"I understand. Thank you. She took quite the beating." New Jersey said as she dropped her towel and got dressed. Not before Vittorio got another glorious view of her lover's stern that she held in such high regard.
"Union shipbuilders went all the way when they laid down your keel, Mi amore. I'd go so far as to say that beautiful stern is America's stern." Vittorio spoke as she closed in on New Jersey.
New Jersey laughed.
"If you think mine looks good, just wait until you meet Iowa." New Jersey said with a chuckle.
"Nonsense. Yours is perfezione. None can top it… except for me~" Vittorio said as she copped a feel just as New Jersey finished getting dressed.
"You keep getting handsy, I'll take the top tonight and show you what it really means to be on the receiving end of American firepower." New Jersey said, reducing Vittorio to a blushing, blubbering mess as New Jersey headed for the door.
"Let's go, honey!" New Jersey called as she walked into the hall to meet the raid fleet.