Once more, I welcome you to The Will of Repay! Last time, we've caught up with some of our characters in these times leading towards Operation: Uncharted Shores. Not much here to say in that case, so let's get into the story.
Let's begin!
Chapter 3
January 13, 2169
12:34
Novosibirsk, Russia, Earth
"Mikhail, can you hand me over that wrench?"
"Sure thing, sis."
Mikhail came up to the tool rack and grabbed the wrench for his sister. She grabbed it and quickly used it on the thing that needed fixing on the engine.
"Thanks."she said."Now give me that 3/8."
"3/8…?"Mikhail asked.
She looked away from the engine and at him.
"You still don't know which one it is?"she asked.
"It's hard to remember them all!"Mikhail argued.
"Bro, how long have you been helping me in here?"
"Lena, you know that I'm more into computer stuff than mechanical."
Lena Sergeyevna looked at her brother with disapproving look.
"Why are you giving me 'You're a disappointment look' look?"Mikhail asked, crossing his arms.
"I'm not."Lena argued.
"Yeah, right…"Mikhail said, narrowing his eyes.
Lena just sighed and approached the tools rack, grabbing the 3/8 and quickly returning to fixing the engine of the car. She was supposed to fix it by yesterday, but unfortunately, she got convinced by her friends to stay up and drink through the night, what made her sleep through yesterday. So now, she was working with double the speed.
"When is the client supposed to be here?"Lena asked.
"Somewhere around 15:00."Mikhail replied, looking into his phone.
"Great."She sighed.
She remembered the mouthful she received from the client when she told him, that there will be a delay. The guy was a government officials, so she knew he was gonna be a complete asshole, though she wouldn't dare to say it in front of him. She just had to bite away her pride and just do her job. That was basically all she was doing for the past couple of years.
Ever since the Laconian occupation ended, basically all she was doing was stay in her parents workshop and repair whatever was brought here to repair. It was her way of trying to escape the reality after what she's been through. Same happened after GGW. It was hard to get her out of the workshop for a few years.
"Okay, now give me the big screwdriver."Lena said.
Few seconds later, the tool landed in her hand.
"Oh, that was faster than normal."she said.
"You're welcome."Ester said.
Lena almost hit her head on the opened hood of the vehicle when she jumped up from surprise. She quickly spun around, seeing smiling Ester standing behind her, arms crossed, a smile on her face.
"Ester?"Lena asked, surprised."Why are you here?"
"Can't I just visit a friend?"colonel replied.
Lena looked at Mikhail, who stood there equally surprised as his sister. She just showed him to go. He nodded and left the workshop.
"Well, I certainly didn't expect to go so far as to come to the Siberian wasteland to see a single person."Lena smirked, cleaning her hands with a rug.
"You should know me."Ester smirked."I will go to all lengths to see my friends."
They stood there, smirking, for a few seconds, before both of them erupted in laughter and wrapped their arms around each other in a tight hug.
"I'm so glad to see you."Lena said.
"Me too, Lena. Me too."Ester replied.
"So."Lena said, breaking the hug."Why don't we move to the kitchen and open up a cold one?"
"To the kitchen? Yes. A cold one? You know I don't drink stuff like that."
"Your loss."
Lena led her friend through the same door Mikhail left through and they entered the house. After moving through the chill of Russian Winter, Ester was pleased to find that her friend's home was luckily very warm inside, the radiators working extra hard since the very early morning.
The two of them reached the small kitchen, where Lena showed Ester to take a seat. Colonel did as her friend went to the fridge and pulled out two bottles of Coca Cola.
"Can I get some tea?"Ester asked."My frail, Western European body will probably not withstand cold drinks after being exposed to cold outside."
Lena giggled and placed the bottles back in the fridge, after which she grabbed the kettle, poured water into it and set it up on fire.
"So. How's it going?"Lena asked, leaning on the countertop, crossing her arms.
"Pretty good. Although you probably know how my work is."Ester winced.
Lena smirked again.
"Paperwork."she stated.
"All the way."Ester sighed and shook her head."I should've expected that when I got my new position."
"Yes, you should."
"Not even gonna try and console me?"Ester asked with puppy eyes."Lenaaaaaa…"
The Russian snickered.
"I missed this."she said.
"Good to know, haha."Ester laughed.
They were silent for a few minutes, waiting for the tea to get ready. After these few minutes, the kettle started whistling, so Lena turned off the fire. She then opened the cupboard and pulled out two cups.
"What kind of tea do you want?"she asked.
"Green, if possible."
"Always possible."
Lena pulled out a box of green tea and dropped two sachets into the cups. Next, she poured the water from the kettle and mixed with the spoon. After that, she placed the cups on the table, with sugar between them.
"Here you go."she said.
Ester then put two spoonfuls of sugar in her tea and mixed until the sugar was gone. Then, she took a sip.
"Ah, perfect."she said.
"Yes it is."Lena winked."Don't question my tea making skills ever again, mortal."
Ester laughed.
"Understood, miss goddess."she replied, saluting.
Lena smiled.
"So. Is there something else you needed from me?"she asked.
Ester took a few sips of her tea, thinking. She knew what she was here for. So she couldn't evade the subject forever.
"In fact, except of a friendly visit, I do have a business with you."she said.
"What kind of business?"
Colonel gulped. Here goes nothing.
"Uncharted Shore related."she said.
"That operation into Andromeda everyone's been talking about?"Lena asked, tilting her head."Yeah, I know about it. But what does it have to do with me?"
"Aqi called me and she…asked me to reform White Squadron."she said.
Lena almost chocked on her tea.
"What?"she asked.
"Aqi plans on personally joining and leading Tertan forces that are to be part of Uncharted Shores."Ester explained."She already applied for Special Operations Force to be recreated. And she asked me to go and ask all of you if you want to recreate White Squadron for it."
Lena placed down the cup on the table.
"Ester, you know me."she said, sighting."As much as I'd like to go and kick some ass again, I think it's not for me anymore. I have a business to run, especially now since Mikhail's out of job right now and our parents are away."
"Oh."Ester said, lowering her head."That's fine. It's your choice."
Russian placed her hand on top of Ester's.
"I'm sorry."she said."But I don't feel like this life's for me anymore."
Ester nodded. As much as she understood her friend's way of thinking, she was kinda disappointed that the first person she decided to visit refuse her. For now, she just decided to swallow it up and go with it.
"Well, at least I have that behind me."she said, taking a sip of the tea.
"So. Wanna talk about something else now?"
And so, the rest of the time Ester spent at Lena's was filled with talking about life and recent events. After a few hours, she leaves, as Lena watches her catch a bus that carries the colonel back to the city proper.
One down. Six more to go.
January 14
09:43
Tokyo, Japan
She was sitting in the dark room, with the only source of light being the turned on computer screen. On the screen, a group of soldiers was trying to get through heavily defended enemy position, hoping to turn the tides of the war. However, before the one from who's POV the whole thing was presented could do anything, the screen went red and then black.
She shook her head.
"Okay, maybe I went a bit overboard on the difficulty with this one…"she said, scratching the back of her head.
She's been working on this game for weeks now and for now, it seemed like she still didn't get it right. It was starting to get frustrating.
"Yuko?"the voice from behind the door said.
Yuko Hagamoki turned her seat around.
"What is it?"she asked.
"Maybe you should get our of your room?"her brother, Huroshi, asked."You've been sitting in there for some time now."
"I know. I just have to lay these finishing touches."
"You said you have time until September to finish this game?"
"I do. But it still doesn't feel right."
The door opened and Huroshi stepped in, turning on the light. Yuko immediately squinted.
"You shouldn't sit in so much dark, either."he said."Turn the light more often."
"It simply escapes my brain, that's all…"
Huroshi shook his head and crossed his arms.
"Yuko, as your older brother, I tell you to open up more."he said firmly."Ever since the end of Great Galactic War, you turned into a complete shut-in."
"Did Seyi made you say that?"
"No. You know, she didn't invent the term shut-in."
Yuko just rolled her eyes, making Huroshi sigh again.
"What happened to that open, happy girl that I remember?"he asked.
"She's seen some shit."Yuko replied."And she didn't disappear completely. I just…you know…decided to spend more time on my job as independent game producer."
"These games get you millions, right?"
"Maybe not millions, but the money from them is indeed good."
"And yet, you still live with our parents."
Yuko slumped in her chair.
"I don't like changing work environment."she said.
"I'm not trying to throw you out."Huroshi said, lifting up his hands in defensive gesture."I just wonder why?"
"Alright."she said."I promise, that by the end of the year, I will move out. Now that I think about it, being in early 40s and living with your parents is actually kinda pathetic…"
"You know you're not pathetic."He placed his hand on her arm."You are a talented programmer and game producer. Your games are popular across all Human Space. You're better than spending whole days in dark rooms in your parents' houses."
Yuko lowered her head.
"I'm sorry."she said, sounding like a scolded little girl.
"It's fine. I'm just worried about you. I know you've seen some things during both Galactic Wars that nobody should look at. But you know you can't just harbor it all in. You're not alone."
"I know. You know, maybe I actually start trying getting my life on track?"she pondered.
"Do as you think you should. I will go now. Mom and dad wanted me to just check on you. And Seyi sends her birthday wishes for you."
Yuko frowned.
"Birthday?"she asked.
"Your birthday was two weeks ago."
Yuko blinked a few times before slapping her face.
"Fuck. I missed my own birthday. I really need to come out of my room more…"she laughed dryly and scratched the back of her head.
"Yes. I will go now. See you later, sis."
"See ya."Yuko said.
She watched her brother go and turned back to her game. She quickly opened the programming window and started working on it.
Her brother was right. She really should finally start leaving her room more. Back before she joined up during the Great Galactic War she certainly came out of her cave more often. Mostly for school, but also to see her friends. And now…Most of her friends were spread all over the Human Space and she couldn't contact them. These days, only meetings with friends she was doing were the annual reunions of White Squadron. And it's been a few years since that as well. Everyone was busy in post-2nd Galactic War times. Especially the ones who were taking part in military operations during and after the war and because of that, their annual reunions turned into more…random ones.
Yuko took a deep breath and started working more focused.
The door opened again.
"Is there something else you need?"she asked.
"Just a few minutes of your time."Ester said.
Yuko spun around again, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Ester?"she asked."What are you doing here…?"
"Well, there are few reasons I wanted to come here."Ester replied, approaching Yuko's bed and sitting on it."I passed your brother on the way here. Did he give you another lecture on life?"
"Oh, come on, he doesn't do that THAT often."Yuko waved her hand."But yes, he did. One that made me think about my life choices."
"If you say so."
There was a few seconds of silence.
"So, what business do you have with me?"Yuko finally asked.
"That obvious, huh?"Ester replied, leaning back.
"I mean, I don't doubt the fact that you'd like to pay me a friendly visit, but you have some 'official business' painted all over your face."
"Well, I guess I must learn to hide things better."Colonel pouted.
"Yes you do."Yuko giggled."So, what is it?"
"I'm trying to reform White Squadron for Uncharted Shores."
There was a moment of silence.
"What?"Yuko asked.
"Aqi called me a few days ago."Ester explained."She said, that she pulled some strings for Special Operations Force to be reformed and since she's gonna take part in Uncharted Shores personally, she wanted me to try and reform the White Squadron for it. So, what do you say?"
"Hmmm."Yuko hummed."Ester, as much as I know you'd like to see me agree, unfortunately, I have to refuse."
Ester didn't show any reaction to that.
"Oh."she just said."Alright."
"I just…don't feel like doing it anymore."Yuko explained."I'm not trying to be lazy, really. It's just…you know."
"I know. I'm not gonna argue with you or force you into anything. It's your decision."
Yuko smiled.
"Thanks, Ester."she said.
"Of course."Ester looked past Yuko's shoulder on the screen."So, how's the new game going?"
"Oh, let me show you…"
For the next few hours, Yuko proceeded to show Ester all the matters related to her new game. After that, Ester left her house and went towards the airport again.
Two down, five to go.
January 15
13:54
Paris, France
She looked at the crowds gathered in front of the stage as she bowed and turned to walk away after her part of the performance. Crowd's cheering was heard behind her as she entered backstage and another band went to take her place.
"Phew."she sighed."That was great."
"True that."her manager said.
"So, what now?"she asked.
Manager shrugged.
"You're free for the rest of the day."he said."No more performances for the next few weeks."
"Shame."
"Everyone needs a break sometimes, Arlette. Even such talented singers like you."
Arlette Blancharde giggled.
"Come on, Simon, you know you had more talented people than me under your wings."she said."I'm just another fish in the sea."
"You really are too humble, aren't you?"
"That I am."Arlette said, smiling.
"Okay, now go and rest a bit."
"On it."
She then walked through the bowels of the stadium, passing by different members of the concert's personnel and other artists preparing for their part. She hummed a cheerful tune under her breath as she walked.
Her career literally rocketed skywards after the end of 2nd Galactic War. She was already a popular singer before the war, but after it, she became even more recognizable, mainly due to her input into the resistance actions during the Laconian occupation. It wasn't one of her goals, she was just doing what she thought was right, but more recognition was always welcome. Fortunately, the fame didn't get to her head. Or at least she hoped it didn't.
After a few minutes of walking, she reached the room she used to prepare for her performance. She looked at the golden star with her name in it displayed on the door and stepped in. She closed the door behind her and sighed.
"That was a very good performance."Ester said, standing in the corner.
Arlette nearly jumped.
"My God, Ester!"she exclaimed."You scared me half to death!"Right then, Arlette frowned."Wait. What are you doing here?"
Ester grinned and shrugged.
"Well, I came here…"she started, but Arlette stopped her.
"No, I mean, how did you get in here, to the backstage."she asked.
"It was surprisingly easy."Ester replied."I just showed my ID and I was let in. Somehow, I feel like you had something to do with it?"
Arlette giggled.
"Yeah, I always give the security a list of people allowed to come in. This includes all of my old teammates."
"Huh. Convenient."Ester said."Perks of being an interstellar super pop star?"
"Oh, I wouldn't go as far as to say 'interstellar'."Arlette waved her hand."Interplanetary? Yes. Interstellar? Not so much."
"Shame. I thought that after nearly 20 years of work, you'll get bigger recognition"
"It's enough for me."
She approached her stool and sat down on it, pointing at another one standing just next to it.
"Take a seat and we can talk."she proposed.
"Gladly."Ester said, taking the seat.
"So, what brings you here?"
"Well…"Ester scratched the back of her head."Two reasons."
"Which are?"
"I wanted to see how you're all doing. And…well…I'm on a certain mission."
Arlette risen her eyebrow.
"What mission?"she asked.
"Aqi got me to try and recreate White Squadron."Ester replied.
There was a moment of silence.
"What for?"Arlette finally asked.
"For Uncharted Shores, that operation into the depths of Andromeda."
"Oh, right, I heard about it. Everyone did."
"Yeah. Aqi already pulled some strings to recreate Special Operations Force."colonel explained."She also wanted me to get the gang back together, so to say. Since she's going to take part in the operation personally."
Arlette leaned back into her stool and looked at the ceiling.
"Going back into the fighter, huh?"she said."I never really thought about it, even after GWII."
She looked back at Ester.
"Am I the first one you're asking, or…?"
"I first went to Lena and then to Yuko."
"What were their responses?"
Ester sighed.
"They both refused. I can understand their reasons, though."she replied."You know I'm not gonna force people into anything."
"I know."Arlette nodded.
"Now that I think about it…I was going to go and ask Fatima, too. But I doubt her husband would allow her to go once again."
"Agreed. On your place, I'd leave this one be."
"Yeah. So, what is your answer, Arlie?"
Arlette lowered her head.
"I'm sorry, but…I have to refuse as well."
"Oh."Ester said."Well then. Understandable."
"I just…don't think this life is for me anymore."
"You don't have to say anything, Arlie."Ester said, smiling."I already said I'm not gonna force you to anything, right?"
Arlette giggled.
"I know."She crossed her legs."Now, tell me. How is it going?"
And so the spent the rest of their time together chatting about their everyday lives and how it was going on both ends. After that, Ester left and made her way to the airport.
Three down, four…Three to go.
January 16
11:21
Tatra Mountains, Poland
The breeze chilled everyone gathered everyone who visited the Kasprowy Wierch. Tourists from all corners of the world, and Milky Way, walked around, looking over the mountaintops in the distance. Many chose this place as their vacation spot due to it's undisturbed beauty and simply the atmosphere of the mountains.
Among them was a woman with a baby stroller, which she rocketed back and forth, musing a silent lullaby for the baby in it.
After the baby went to sleep, she leaned on the railing and looked at the mountains. Their serenity caused all kinds of emotions to boil inside her. From awe to sadness to melancholia. And she didn't know which one she preferred more.
"I wish you could see it, my love."she whispered.
"It would be romantic, that's for sure."Ester said, leaning on the railing next to the woman.
The woman didn't recoil or anything. She just smiled.
"Hey Ester."she said.
"Hi Ana."Ester replied and smiled.
Anastasia Tocchelli looked back towards the mountains.
"How did you find me?"she asked.
"Your agent was nice enough to tell me."Ester replied."I'm sorry to disturb you."
"It's fine. My depression is not as bad as it was before."
"I know…"
Ester looked at the baby sleeping in the stroller. It's been a year already since everything went down. Since what happened to Anastasia's husband.
"Got any new movie roles?"colonel asked.
After the end of Great Galactic War, Anastasia decided to chase her actress career. Safe to say that she was successful basically from the very start. She became one of the best known young actresses of the time relatively quickly and went on a real streak with successful movie roles. One of them allowed her to evade Laconian invasion, since she was making a movie at the time.
She wasn't acting as much as she used to, but her career wasn't completely dead.
"I'm really ashamed of myself for asking for what I'm gonna ask for…"she said.
"Whatever it is, ask."Ana said.
"Would you…like to recreate the White Squadron?"
The woman looked at her with a risen eyebrow.
"Aqi called me some time ago."Ester explained."She wanted me to recreate the old team for the Uncharted Shores, the operation into Andromeda. I already visited some others and you were next in line."
Ana didn't reply for a few seconds, instead looking at the stroller.
"Ester, I hope you'll understand my answer."she said."I know it's probably important to you. But…I can't. Not after everything that went down. Not after Mathias…"
She stopped and gulped.
"I have to stay. For Amelie."Once more, she looked at the stroller and the baby in it.
Ester nodded.
"Don't worry, I understand. Your reason is completely justified. Besides, you're not the first to refuse."
Anastasia risen her eyebrow.
"Really?"she asked."I expected others to be more eager. Who else refused?"
"Everyone I asked so far."
"Okay, that's surprising."
"Eh, not really."
They stayed silent for a few seconds.
"Ester, could you…stay with me and look at the mountains for a few more minutes?"Ana asked, blushing.
Ester smiled.
"Sure. I've got time."
"Thank you."
And so, they stood there, looking at the mountains for the next hour or so, in complete silence, with crowds of people passing by.
Four down, two to go.
January 17
13:54
London, United Kingdom
"Emiko, could you come here?"a voice from the kitchen asked.
Emiko Creekford-Jukotori looked over from her phone and put it down. She quickly made her way to the kitchen, where her wife, Julie Mitchell, was making a cake.
"What do you need?"Emiko asked.
"Could you pour the baking powder into the bowl while I mix?"Julie asked.
"Sure."Emiko replied.
She approached the cupboard and pulled out the baking powder. She came up to Julie, who pointed at the bowl.
"Pour until I tell you to stop."
"Okay."
Julie started mixing the mass in the bowl, while Emiko opened the box and started pouring in the baking powder.
"Okay, that's enough."Julie said after a few minutes."Thank you for help, sweetie."
She then placed a kiss on Emiko's cheek.
"I will take care of the rest."
"Will the cake be ready in time?"Emiko asked.
"Of course it will! Remember you're married to the best baker seen in the last fifty years!"Julie declared proudly.
Emiko giggled.
"I know, I know."she said and walked out of the kitchen.
She sat down on the couch and picked her phone back up, looking through the news. Most of them were about the approaching Operation: Uncharted Shores. First military expedition into Andromeda galaxy, meant to find and bring Erecans and Zorzalites to justice. She sighed. Did she really miss this life? Life of death, struggling to survive and killing? The life that cost her sister her life?
She looked at the shelves in the living room. There, she could see all the trophies she got in the years she spent as a member of British national swimming team. Most of them were for first places, while some were for second places. Her career was short, but she didn't regret ending it. At least thanks to it, she could fully commit to her personal life.
On another shelf, she saw several photos. They showed her with the rest of White Squadron before the end of Great Galactic War, her and Julie on their wedding and some others. She took a deep breath.
"What am I thinking about?"she thought."Even if I wanted, Julie will never let me go…"
While she loved Julie with her whole heart, Eiko couldn't help but feel that she was a bit too overprotective of her at times. The level of it could easily be compared to the way Fatima's husband made her promise she would never ever again risk her life like that. Which was completely understandable. Emiko remembered how after 2nd Galactic War Fatima and Amir nearly got divorced after she joined back up with IDF for the duration of Siege of Earth. Fortunately, they worked things out.
It wouldn't go like that with Julie. And Emiko didn't want to lose the first and only girl, other than her sister, to ever love her. She still remembered the tantrum she's thrown when Emiko tried to go and join the underground resistance to fight Laconians. Julie didn't speak to her for a week.
As she sat there, thinking, there was a sudden knock on the door.
"Can you see who is it?"Julie asked from the kitchen.
"On it."Emiko replied.
She stood up and approached the door. She looked through the eye of Judah and after seeing who stood behind them, she quickly opened them.
"Hi, Emiko."Ester said with a smile.
"Ester…?"Emiko asked, surprised completely.
"Can I come in?"
"Sure, feel free."
"Thanks."
Ester stepped into the flat and Emiko closed the door, still looking at her with surprise. As they entered the living room, Julie stepped out of the kitchen.
"Oh, hello."she said.
"Hi Julie. How's it going?"Ester asked."Can I sit?"
"Of course!"Julie replied with smile.
Ester sat down on the couch. Emiko and Julie followed.
"As for how's it going, it's going great."Julie replied.
"Yeah."Emiko said."We're actually going to a friend's birthday in a few days and Julie's making a cake."
"I can smell."Ester said."You really are the best baker on the planet, huh?"
Julie smiled brightly.
"So, Es."Emiko said."What brings you here?"
Ester took a deep breath. Emiko could see that she was tense. She tensed too, as if she knew what was gonna happen.
"I'm recreating White Squadron."she said.
Silence fell in the living room. In a second, Julie's face shifted, her typical cheerful self disappearing. Emiko gulped.
"What for?"Julie asked slowly.
"For Uncharted Shores."Ester replied."Aqi called me a week ago and after that, I've traveled the planet and asked about what others think."
"And what did they say?"Emiko asked.
Julie gave her The Look. Emiko shivered.
"They all said no."Ester replied, crossing her arms."Which isn't surprising. And knowing you, Julie, I sure know the answer I receive."
"If you do, why did you come here?"Emiko asked.
"I don't know. Maybe I just wanted to see you? Then again, I realized I probably wouldn't get Fatima, so I didn't go."Ester shrugged."Maybe I actually hoped I'll get Emiko's support…"
"I'm sorry Ester, but…"Emiko glanced at the picture of Liz holding her on her shoulders. She made her mind up."…I really can't. Not after what happened to Liz. Not after everything I've seen. I'm…sorry."
She hung her head. Julie quickly wrapped her arm around her wife, trying to comfort her.
"It's fine, you know it."Ester said with a reassuring smile."I'm not gonna force you to it. But…"
They both looked at her.
"…since I'm here, why not spend some time together on gossiping about?"She winked.
Julie and Emiko smiled.
"That would be nice."Emiko said.
"I will prepare the tea."Julie said, returning to her cheerfulness.
She stood up and left the room. She returned half an hour later, carrying a tray with teacups. She placed it on the table and everyone took one. They spent next several hours talking about their lives and what was gonna happen. After that, Ester left.
She walked down the stairs and when she stepped onto the streets, she sighed. There was one more person she had to talk to. And she didn't feel like leaving the planet, so she pulled out her phone and picked the right number.
She leaned against the wall of the building, waiting for the connection to be established. It worked.
"Hello, Chancellery of Prime Minister of Mars, what's your business?"a female voice from the other side asked.
"Can I speak with Prime Minister Felinainen?"Ester asked.
"Who's asking?"
"Colonel Ester Barkhorn."
"Oh! Of course, I'm switching to a priority connection!"
There was a moment of silence on the other side and after a few seconds, a new voice was heard.
"Yo, Ester! Wassup?"Suvi asked.
"Hi Suvi."Ester said."It's alright. How about you?"
"Same. Just some typical administrative bullshit."Prime Minister said."Gonna love it, right?"
"Yeah."colonel replied, smirking."Now, I'm calling with a certain business…"
"Ooo, you got my interest."
Ester gulped.
"Wanna join the White Squadron again?"she asked.
Silence hung on the other side for such a long time, that Ester thought Suvi ended the call. But after that time, she heard:
"Sure I do!"
"Okay, I under…Wait, what?"
"Of course I wanna do it! Who wouldn't?"
"Don't you feel like this life's not for you anymore? Besides, don't you have duties as the PM of Mars?"
"I do, but there's nothing I can't place on my deputy."Suvi giggled."Besides, I feel like I've gone rusty because of such a long time of sitting behind the desk. Even that whole thing with me running the resistance during Laconian occupation didn't help me get better."
"Wow."Ester said."I'm honestly speechless…Everyone else said no."
"Their loss, I guess."Suvi said.
"Well then."Ester said, still trying to figure out what to think."See you sometime in the future then."
"See ya!"
With that, the call ended and Ester walked away.
January 20
09:32
Dortmund AFB, Germany
Ester stood outside the main building of the base, together with Elsa. They were both dressed in their more combat-oriented uniforms, carrying bags with some of their belongings with them. They watched Tertan Protectorate shuttle slowly coming to a landing in front of them.
"You know, you still can back off and stay with Kurt."Ester told Elsa.
"I talked to him about it and he said he's cool with me going."Elsa replied."He just told me to report to him regularly."
"Report, huh?"Colonel smirked.
"You know what I mean."
"I do."
The shuttle came to landing in front of them and they approached. The side door opened and Aquexymeva stepped out, wearing standard issue Tertan combat suit. She looked around and then at the two.
"I see you're already ready."she said.
"All packed and ready indeed."Ester said."I reported everything to my superiors and they will give my duties to someone else. We're free to go."She sighed."Still a bit of a shame it didn't work out and others didn't come…But I can understand that."
"We know."
Hearing this voice made Ester spin around. There, slowly approaching them, she saw Lena, Arlette and Yuko. They had their own bags with them, as well as a set of uniforms. As they approached, they smiled.
"But…"Ester said."…you refused…"
"Yeah."Lena said.
"But we thought about it for a bit…"Yuko said.
"…and decided that maybe one last ride is something we need."Arlette finished.
Ester looked around.
"I guess Emiko and Ana didn't change their minds?"she asked.
"Nope."Yuko said."I called them and they still stand by it."
"Which we can understand."Lena said.
The three nodded.
"I even tried calling Fatima, but as you probably can imagine, she decided to keep her promise."Arlette said.
"We should expect that, though."Yuko added.
Ester smiled.
"Thanks guys."she said.
"Let's get this party started then!"Yuko exclaimed.
"Good to see you in such high spirits."Aqi said."Now let's go. We're gonna stop by Mars and pick up Suvi."
"Oh, Suvi's going too?"Arlette asked as they started boarding the shuttle.
"Yup."Ester said."She was the only one who said yes."
"Huh, somehow, we're not surprised."Lena said.
They got aboard the shuttle and took their places, while the side door closed. Next, the machine took off and flew to meet with the Tertan Heavy Cruiser that brought it here.
XXX
And this is where we end for today. As always, feel free to leave a review, follow and favorite. It will be highly appreciated!
See you in the next chapter!