Tawrich Tech Plant, Indar

2010 Local Time.

"SCU Critical." The base's alarm blared as the facility's spawn systems went critical. The fighting kept going as soldiers of both the NC and VS dematerialized, respawning elsewhere in the metaphorical bloodbath of combat.

VS soldiers retreated into the facility, their goal of drawing defenders away from the base's terminal completed as a shot rang out, one's body falling to the floor. The combat medic crawled, hoping to get inside for a revive.

On the rooftop of the crescent building, a shimmer revealed an NC infiltrator, Bishop scout rifle aiming towards the downed medic. Their finger began to curl around the trigger when the roar of a jetpack ignited, a light assault boosting over the rooftop and shredding them with the carbine in hands. The trundling of a herd of MAX suits thundered as the light assault brought a wrist up to the helmet.

"Alright, Kate, Juno." The feminine voice spoke. "Are you sure this is going to work?"
"Positive!" A gruffer feminine voice replied. "This is the only good use of motor vehicles."
"Just tell us when that MAX crash leaves the crescent, Aurora." Kate responded.

The thundering of exoskeleton footsteps got louder, and then the first of many was spotted. "Now!"

A horn blared out as the wave of exoskeletons reached the building, the herd looking up to see two Sunderer APCs racing to the ground, impacting with a crunch on the still enemies. The vehicles toppled over, crushing more before lights on their undercarriage blinked rapidly.

From the top of the tech plant, a dark brown haired woman pressed the detonator, an explosion erupting and the fireball consuming the rest of the incoming platoon as cheers joined the after effects.

"Eat that, corpo shitbags!" Juno yelled, laughing and giving Kate a high five.

Down closer to the ground, the light assault removed fae helmet, neck length reddish hair flowing out.

"Damn." Aurora whistled, taking a seat. "Great fireball tonight. Probably going to make my way back to point now." Fae hopped down to the balcony, grooving to a whistled tune when fae found faerself face to face with an NC heavy, weapons down. The woman's face showed her tanned skin and brown hair. The two stopped, each unsure of what to do, cheeks slightly warming.

"Well, uh, hi, Naomi." Was the last thing Aurora said before seeing the inside of the spawn tube. "Ugh!"

Sanctuary, Auraxis Orbit

1510 Local Time.

"I'm so proud of how far you've come." Rhea complimented, patting the woman on the back.
Aurora sighed. "Thanks."

"What's the matter?" Aurora winced

"Well, you see, there's this person." Fae kept the pace with the older squadmate. "We see each other sometimes…"

"Anything go wrong?"

J908 Impact Site Outskirts, Indar

3 months ago

Driving along the desert sands, a Flash ATV was stopped as a VS max unborrowed from the sands, grabbing the small vehicle in its tracks before going over the cliff.

"You're not going to run me over this time!" Aurora bosted. Naomi thought before a smirk crept up her face.

"Who said anything about getting run over?" She gunned the throttle—the MAX skidding as Aurora fought the acceleration to not go over the cliff, only to hop off, plant a C4 charge, and detonate.

Eisa Mountain Pass Ruins, Esamir

2 months ago

Naomi's strength returned to her as she got back up, the revive grenade being kicked by as the plasma rounds from Aurora's carbine whizzed into her body.

"Got you!" Fae called out, another revive grenade going off. "Sorry!" Another revive grenade went off. "Ouch!" The body stopped getting up.

Raven Landing, Amerish

1 month ago.

Aurora boosted onto the landing strip, jumping over the engineer placing down mines. Fae ran, tripping over and sliding on faer back as the jetpack ignited again, perforating three NSO Heavy Assaults attempting to flank. Two clicks rang out as fae spotted Naomi, their pistols pointing at each other.

"So. It's you again." Naomi smirked. "Can I get your name at least? I'm having quite a bit of fun with you. I'm Naomi."

"Aurora." Fae explained. "Nice to meet you too? I mean I don't really know what to say to a cute woman." Fae bit faer tongue as both their faces gained a slight bit of red.

Naomi couldn't hold back a giggle, "I can't believe you actually said that oh my god. You're too precio—" She also bit her tongue.

Duck calls went out as a Harasser buggy flew towards the base, the car skidding down the landing pad on its roof and killing both of them.

The occupant got out, the figure's neutral face solemn at the sight. "This one apologizes for the inconvenience." The doll turned around, looking at the wrecked car before it dissipated its nanites into the landscape. "Hippo will be pleased, however."

Sanctuary, Auraxis Orbit

Present.

"Sometimes." Aurora lied, dismissing the memories

"Why don't you try talking to this person?" Rhea pointed out.

"I don't know how" Aurora mumbled.

"Trust me," Rhea smirked. "You do. Just let yourself go with it."

Hopeswell Beachhead, Oshur

600 Local Time

One Week Later

Cal sighed as the APC rumbled into a bush. "Why did we come to this place?"

"Cause we were voluntold, just like every other mission, Cal." Juno scolded before switching to a mutter. "We fight in a stupid war for no damn reason."

"Imagine if we could get out of this fighting." Kate moaned.

"I mean, why did we come here NOW?" Cal yawned. "It's too damn early."

"Cut the chatter." Rhea interrupted. "Now, Aurora, you go ahead and scout."

All eyes were on the squad's light assault. "Uh, okay."

Aurora's body tensed with each crunch of the sands under faer boots.

"Ugh." Fae groaned. "There's no trees here. I can't do anything—" A bush rustled. "Who's there? Show yourself!"

An NC Heavy stepped out, LMG drawn. "Aurora?" The standoff was tense, each woman running the scenario in their heads as they circled.

An engine sputtered to life, parting waves as the 'brrrt ' of miniguns echoed in the distance. A hoard of pink boats rounding the cliff made Aurora duck for cover behind a rock, the cover chipping as bullets ricocheted off.
"Yarr harr harr! I be the sea queen, Merryane!" A voice yelled. "I be a good pirate, 5 TPH each day!" Laughter exploded as the boats skirted across the water.

The noise died only ten minutes later, all of the boats having long since passed.

"Everyone on this fucking planet is insane!" Aurora yelled before noticing what had just happened. Fae looked down, Naomi pinned underneath faer. "Oh, uh…" Their cheeks went red. "Hi."

Rolling off, fae sat next to the other woman.
"Sorry about that." Aurora withered.
"Nah. It's fine." Naomi responded. "Thanks for the save."

"No problem! So, what do we do now?"
Naomi looked at the weapon components on the beach. "Well, we can talk."
"Fine." The VS jumpjetter mumbled, hopping to faer feet. "Better than going back to the panther for more weapons."

"Panther?"

"Sunderer." Aurora self chided. "I mean, it looks like a panther at the right angle and with the right camo."

Naomi gave faer a raised eyebrow. "Yeah, no. Not seeing it." A moment passed. "I don't think others are going to check on us for a few hours so do you want to go walk somewhere else? " She instantly realized what she asked.

Aurora fought faer words. "Sure."

The two women walked on the beach, orange rays of sunlight recoloring the sands pink.

"I can't believe I haven't enjoyed a sunrise since I started fighting years ago." Naomi sighed. "It's only been 25 years of endless life"

"24 for me." Aurora informed. "I mean, I'm getting a good amount of enjoyment. I-I- I like you!" The woman shrunk to the floor.

"Yeah, I like you too." Naomi said, flustered.

"You… do?" Aurora's breathing went back to normal

Naomi nodded. "You're kinda hot and cool. A nimble little asshole that bothers me in combat."

"You're smart too!" Aurora got in her face. "You're too adorable with your equipment. And. And you're too fast for me to catch you by normal means."

"So you caught me now. What are you going to do with your catch?" The two women's eyes met and hesitated, their lips pecking on each other quickly after.

"You know," Aurora muttered. "I've never felt this way before. When I transitioned I felt like there was so many more colors in my life, but I always looked to orange for a new beginning." Naomi booped faer nose.

"Aww, a fellow transbian blossoming in the daylight." Naomi joked before the two kissing deeply. "Your smile is bright, star."

"Thanks."

The two shared a kiss for the rest of the morning.

The End.