Chapter 33:
6:30 pm.
"How's the Commander, Nurse" the Driver asks as he draws a look to his Commander sleeping on the foldable bed.
The Nurse looks at her friend from the gas stove, her only remaining friend is sleeping quietly on a folding bed. She finally gets the rest that she deserves. Wrapped in newly white bandages, fitting snuggly around her body. Not a single stain of blood anywhere.
"I've managed to sew up her wounds but I'm worried about her bleeding out from the inside" Compa answers as she looks back at the chicken she's frying.
"Is she fit to fight tomorrow?"
"I can't stop her. She's been like this ever since"
"You told us, don't worry. Everybody needs to be drunk on something" the Driver said as he leans on the counter behind him and crosses his arms.
"Do you guys want something to drink?" Compa suddenly asks.
"You got some?"
In response, Compa opens up her purse and plunges her hand deep into it. You can hear her rummaging through her belongings as if it was unorganized mess. Eventually, her pulls back her hand, revealing an unsealed bottle of scotch with two-thirds remaining.
"Thanks. How long is the chicken gonna take?" the Driver said as he grabs the bottle, already having two glasses on hand.
"A few more minutes, I guess. There's a lot so, you can take as many as you want" Compa answered.
"Alright. Thanks, Nurse"
The Driver makes his way to the front of the base, where his companion, the Combatant, checks the state of the bikes they're going to use tomorrow.
"Drink up" the Driver said, giving a small glass of scotch to his Companion.
"We're not that fancy" the Combatant said as he looks at the brand labeled on the bottle. Its a very expensive scotch.
"First for everything, plus it might be our last" the Driver sits down on the mat that's sprawled on the ground. After putting down the bottle, he smoothly drinks his drink.
"Shit, this is good" its insanely flavored despite being rough. Even though it doesn't have ice, its like drinking flavored water and realizing later that you're drinking some sort of alcohol.
"That's why I said we're not that fancy, bro" the Combatant said, putting down his empty glass.
"How're the bikes?"
"They're good. Checked everything, gas, spark plug, wiring, breaks, accelerator, clutch, they're all good tomorrow"
"Nice" the Driver said pouring some on the Combatant's empty glass.
"Would be nice if we can take this out for a spin in our backyard" the Combatant says.
"Why?"
"Despite the model, the parts are all modern. This is the kind of sleeper build that would make anyone jealous. I wonder if the Commander is into bikes"
"If she is, are you gonna ask her out?"
"Dude, she looks like a kid, I don't want people to think I have that kind of fetish. Plus, my family are into bikes, so we have our dirt bike course"
"Really? I've watched some with my brother before"
"Yeah, I never rode anything other than bikes"
"Ah, that's why you told me to switch with you for the driver's seat"
"Right. Never touched a steering wheel all my life"
"Huh, guess there's people like that huh" they both drink their shots.
"What about you? Your brother is a reporter, right?"
"Yeah. He's the type that investigates stuff to the point that its basically stalking"
"That's some dedication" the Combatant raises his glass.
"Yeah. He gets into trouble way too fast though, and I have to bust my ass and save him" the Driver says as he pours scotch into their glasses.
"For getting his nose too deep into something?"
"Yeah. That's why he went and became a reporter. You know that idol that became a scandal for dating 10 guys at once?"
"Yo, I know that. It was all over the showbiz news. That's his work?"
"Yup. My brother posed as the 10th guy and literally infiltrated her phone. Seriously, he's scary once he gets going"
"Sounds like something girls won't like"
"Believe me, all the girls in his life left him because of it. And I had to hear him wail about it"
"Pretty sure all those girls were pissed by how nosy he is, haha"
"Got that right" they both drink their shots.
"Is that also why your brother…" the Combatant asks, taking the bottle from the Driver and pours for himself and his comrade.
"Yeah. Lastation ordered the hit when he was investigating the deaths of the CPUs"
"How'd you know its Lastation?"
"My brother knew, he got a recording between two officials talking and dropped his name. Then talking about silencing him"
"I see. You know who they are?"
"The Oracle"
"Th—! Kei Jinjugi!?" the Combatant couldn't hide his shock.
"Yeah. She approved the hit"
"Holy shit bro. That's fucking crazy!"
"Hahaha I know right?" the Driver drinks his shot.
"Is that why you went with the Commander?"
"Pretty much yeah. Ah, thanks Nurse"
Compa brought them a plate full of fried chicken. She laid it on the mat the two are sitting on.
"Do you want some water?" she asks.
"Nah, I'm good. How about you, Jason?" the Driver asks the Combatant.
"I'm good too, thanks Nurse" Jason answered.
"I'll be caring for Iffy, so keep it down a bit, okay?"
"We will. Were we kind loud, sorry?"
"Mh-mhm" Compa shakes her head.
"I see. Alright, thanks Nurse" the Driver thanks the Nurse as she walks away to their sleeping Commander.
"She's always been sticking with the Commander huh, Peter" Jason said, drinking his shot.
"Yeah. Even during the war, she either quietly stayed in her room, or is beside the Commander"
"And the Commander doesn't dismiss her either. She lets her do her thing while issuing commands"
"She even carried her when she was tired while we were making our way to the village. I didn't hear a single complaint from her" Jason takes Peter's glass and pours a shot before returning it.
"…Though I didn't expect the Commander's story"
"We got paired up with a Commander that high up, huh"
"And I thought she was just a Guild hunter"
"You meet surprises every day" they both drink.
"Let's try out the chicken" Jason said as he takes a drumstick. Its still hot, but he ignores the burning sensation on his hands as he takes a huge bite.
"Of! Mnf! Fhit! Foof!" Jason said while chewing.
"Of! Fhit!" Peter also indulges at the hot fried chicken.
From a distance, besides the sleeping Commander, the Nurse watched the remaining soldiers of their fun. Tomorrow is the day that they reach Lowee. Tomorrow is the day that her best friend's plan will finally take into effect. Tomorrow is the day for this fight to finally end.
Compa looks at her Commander, sleeping soundly without any worry at all. The peaceful breathing, the relaxed look of her eyebrows, the way she's so vulnerable. A sight she hasn't seen in months.
Months?
No, that's not quite right.
Ever since she died.
Ever since then.
Compa's remaining friend never slept soundly.
"7 years…" she mindlessly muttered, remembering everything since that day.
7 years ago, IF and Compa lost their best friend. A selfish princess that just wants to do everything her gut instincts tells her. An honest to a fault immature masterpiece of friend that you can't just get angry at. Her smile would bring the best out of you. Her laugh would push to places you didn't know you could. She would always grab you by the arm and lead you around.
And yet, these two are drawn to her. Maybe because of how colorful she is. They don't know why. For them, it just feels right to stay with each other. It feels great to stay with her. A friendship unlabeled because it goes beyond friends. A friendship uncategorized because it goes beyond the deepest of love. A friendship unspecified because they never thought of themselves other than family.
7 years ago, IF and Compa lost that friend.
"Nep-Nep, please forgive me"