"THOSE MOTHERFUCKERS! THEY HAD ONE JOB! HOW COULD THEY FUCK IT UP?" Annette was swearing left and right between the calls, trying to retrieve their misplaced stuff. A human error made two addresses switch in the system, making the moving company mix up the delivery. That is how the three teenagers ended up in the hotel with the belongings of an elderly couple.
"Calm down, it's not like they are missing, just in a different city. It'll take them one additional day or two, but they'll reimburse us in full. Look at the bright side!" Lena had been in a suspiciously good mood since yesterday, sometimes smiling stupidly at the blank wall. Her friends didn't need to ask who she was thinking about, as it was obvious.
"Easy to say for YOU! Your work equipment doesn't cost more than your ten-year salary… If they damage ANYTHING, I will so fucking sue them…" She dialed the company's number again, trying to speed up the process and yell some more. Charlotte shook her head at Lena, signaling her to back down and not risk a verbal punch.
"Then what about our outing? We were supposed to meet at the square in the afternoon and later come here. Since we don't have any of our stuff here, should we move the after-party?" Lena ignored the warning, trying to figure out the solution. Char sighed, preparing her ears for another round of cursing, but to her surprise, Annette responded rationally.
"Can't we move it to their place? We all are in the same clothes from yesterday; those are not conditions to host guests. I wish we didn't wait for the right delivery until all the stores were closed. Now I feel filthy." The woman shuddered, thinking about the pathogens they must have encountered in that half-abandoned place. She wanted to go on a shopping spree and bury herself in new garments.
"I guess I can ask them. I doubt they'll agree though…" Lena replied reluctantly but made the call.
Contrary to her worries, everything was rearranged smoothly, and just a few hours later six girls met up on a central street. Char parked the car near the plaza and when they got to the meet point, the Spearhead Squadron girls were already there. Kurena looked like she was going to a fight, Frederica glared at Lena sketchily, and Anju was the only one who seemed genuinely happy to be here. The atmosphere was awkward, the absence of the boys, who were more friendly to the trio and worked similarly to a buffer, was palpable.
The crowded street itself was bustling with life. Merchants were vigorously advertising their shops, with opulent showcases tempting to spend a lot of money. Everything seemed to be here, from garments and jewelry to shops specializing in extremely specific niches like oriental ceramics. Vibrant colors mesmerized passer-byes, street musicians entertained people by playing trendy songs on their unconventional instruments and the place didn't resemble a country in the middle of the war in the slightest.
"I've never seen a place like that before, it's mesmerizing!" Lena tried to make a small talk, to break the awful silence.
"Obviously! The Federacy is a powerful country, that takes care of its citizens. Our cultural heritage spans centuries!" Frederica proudly responded, feeling a sense of accomplishment. Happy faces of the ordinary civilians, casually living their lives, were the best testament that their fight wasn't futile. It gave the girl hope she desperately needed.
"Is it so lively every day?" Char tried to continue since the little girl was fond of the subject.
"On weekends and holidays, it is almost impossible to walk here freely, you have to move according to the crowd's will. Today is fairly decent, but many come here after work to unwind during the week. Most go straight to the bars and restaurants though." She was smug, showing the best sides of her country. It wasn't often that she had the occasion to brag with the proof right before her.
"You seem so knowledgeable! Could you recommend where we should go first?" Annette noticed what the girls were doing, tickling Frederica's ego and pride. The eleven-year-old didn't seem to be aware of the scheme, playing right into it.
"I am glad you have a keen eye. Yes, perhaps I could choose our destination. Gabrielle is a talented seamstress with a salon not too far away, and Kurt is the best man in the business. I propose we start there." She pointed to the direction where a prominent logo depicting a ball gown outshone the neighboring shops.
"Great idea! Do you have an idea what you are looking for?" Anju asked the Alba, trying to cross the mental bridge between them. Kurena quietly scoffed, annoyed by the attempt, but didn't intervene.
"I can answer for them since they were born without an ounce of fashion sense. Lena would look the best in a low back cut dress, but she always refused from shyness. It's a shame to waste those kind of curves. Char was born to wear a baby doll or apron type, and she is reasonable enough to listen to me. I like to go strapless. Those clavicles weren't made to be hidden." Annette winked, feeling confident in her assessment. Anju laughed earnestly, amused by her comment.
"Then can you give me your professional advice? I've never been good in that kind of stuff." She twirled around, trying to give Annette a better idea of her silhouette.
"Easily. You have similar hair to Lena in terms of length, so an open back and high hairdo would guarantee a wow effect. On the other hand, you strike me as a silent beauty, turtleneck sleeveless gown could highlight the mysterious aura." Annette scanned her from top to bottom, trying not to miss any detail. The silvery-blue hair was almost begging to be adorned by a navy blue dress, but she didn't want to impose too much.
"I'm afraid the no-back clothes aren't the best choice for me, but the high-neck one sounds intriguing! I'll make sure to try at least one. Can you also take a look at those shy beauties?" Anju pointed to Kurena and Frederica, trying to engage them. The scar on her back was a deeply personal subject Annette probably knew nothing about, so she didn't want to debate further. There was once a person who made her more confident despite it, but he no longer walked on this Earth.
"I don't need some prissy advice! I know I can do well by myself." Kurena crossed her arms, trying to convey her disdain. Frederica followed her lead, ignoring the offer.
"Are you sure? They say the dress makes the woman. Maybe Annette's knowledge could help you impress a certain person. Of course, if you are not interested in being seen as a woman, there is no need to listen…" Anju sneakily suggested, playing on Kurena's weakness. Everyone knew Shin felt something for Lena, but until they were official, the girl thought she still stood a chance.
"…Well… Do you truly have those skills?" She took the bait, even if it wounded her pride a bit. Time was of the essence since the tension between their leaders was awfully obvious. Kurena had to use all available weapons.
"Trust me, I'll make you a Pretty Woman in a flash. Think of me like a fairy godmother, and Mr. Zimmerman's credit card is my magic wand. Trumpet dress with a sexy leg cut and you'll be set. For the little one, the princess ball gown is the obvious choice." Annette crouched before the little girl, trying to appear more friendly. Frederica got mad in response, feeling annoyed by the three intruders.
"Silence, I have never asked for your input. I was on top of the Giad's fashion since I was born, there is no need for some foreigner to tell me what to do. I should be setting the trends-" Frederica almost spilled her biggest secret, but Anju covered her mouth in time. No one thought much about it, since the girl tended to ramble.
The shopping itself was a big success. Gabrielle's salon had indeed the most splendid garments, and after three hours of tireless trying on the different dresses, they finally made the purchase. Annette's suggestions were spot on, reflected in their choices, but her tyranny in making them fit dozens of outfits united them all against her.
When they arrived at the Zimmerman's house, the boys couldn't believe the cheerful vibe emanating from the girls. They were laughing and joking around, even Kurena and Frederica put their guards down a little. The multiple bags of expensive clothing piled up at the entrance, making an impressive mountain worth thousands.
"Am I seeing things?" Raiden whispered to Theo and Shin, still in disbelief.
"If you're seeing things then so am I." Theo pinched himself on the cheek, but it didn't wake him.
"Maybe we all died long ago, and this is just a hallucination." Shin was stunned by the peaceful atmosphere when they were fully expecting an open feud.
The girls ignored them with a sense of satisfaction, seeing how they stood frozen with their mouths gaping. They giggled while walking into Anju's space, deciding not to invite the men, to taunt them some more. Annette suggested making it a full slumber party, changing into their newly bought nightgowns.
"See? They weren't even that expensive, but when you accidentally bump into Shin in the kitchen, his mind will be blown." Annette nudged Lena with her elbow, seeing her friend embarrassed by the red skintight tank top she was wearing. Kurena frowned and quickly changed her T-shirt for a slightly more revealing vest.
"Don't underestimate them! I remember how they used to peep when we were playing in the water. You wouldn't believe how perverted those boys can be!" Anju recalled an old memory, made in the Eighty-Six sector. It was funny years later, but she remembered the outrage.
"Even Shin?" Lena asked horrified.
"I wish…" Kurena mumbled unhappily.
Annette, Charlotte, and Anju burst out laughing at their opposite reactions. Frederica didn't fully understand what was so funny about it, but she didn't want to let others know. Anju disappeared for a moment but came back with two grocery bags filled with something that sounded like glass.
"Frederica, it's late, Ernst would be disappointed to see you still awake. I think it's time for adults to have some alone time." Anju patted her on the head, ignoring the desperate plea made with puppy eyes.
"But… but… wasn't this supposed to be girls' night?" Frederica begged, trying to look as pitiful as possible.
"You're too young to be drinking, and drunk girls can be pretty dangerous when unchecked. I swear we're doing it for you." Annette guessed what was in the bag, and why the underage girl's presence could be problematic.
"I promise I will not cause any trouble!" She wasn't giving up, insistently coaxing anyone who made eye contact with her.
"Well… I'm terrible at handling alcohol, so I'll pass today and watch Frederica. That way you can have fun, but I'll intervene if you have too much of it. How about that?" Lena admitted her weakness, wanting to help Frederica a little. She wasn't fond of group drinking, since she always was the first to pass out.
"That's a shame, I wanted to see three drink flirty Lena. It's been ages since I last saw her. Fair enough, I'm fine with that solution if the rest agrees." Annette sighed and turned to the group to see their opinions.
"I'm in!" Anju replied quickly, with Kurena joining her reluctantly. Charlotte didn't hesitate even a bit.
"I can be the bartender if you let me." Lena confidently offered her services, despite having zero mixology experience.
"Heck, why not? Bring it on." Kurena felt like it was a challenge, in which she could prove herself and win. She wanted to show Lena, how tough of an opponent she is.
"That...well...thank you…" Frederica didn't know how to convey her gratitude to a person she normally was against, so the words didn't come to her easily. Lena still was someone who could snatch Shin away, but maybe she wasn't as awful as Frederica wanted to believe.
"No problem. Now, girls. It's time to have some fun."
August 2nd Republic Year 357 (Stellar Year 2138)
30 days until the Start of the Legion War
Waking up before dawn was more like a habit than a necessity. She always began her day with a cup of black coffee, triple espresso to be more precise. It was bitter, but so was life. You could get used to it with enough tries.
The upside of getting up so early was that no one else bothered her. The never-ending calls, emails, and in-person visits were nonexistent at four in the morning. It was a comforting thought, knowing you have the time only for yourself. Most people didn't have that luxury, but then again, nobody stopped them from waking up before the day started.
Small things like that made up her routine no matter where she was, bringing her a sense of stability. Traveling was annoying but necessary for progress. The woman held herself in high esteem, but at the end of the day, she was only one person. She cursed the stupidity of the officials, halting future innovations because of sheer political disputes. The world was losing many things because of its division.
"Still can't believe that kid figured it out before me…" Zelene Birkenbaum stared at the shiny apple, her usual breakfast since long ago. It was doing a terrible job as a doctor repellent, but she still enjoyed its taste. She pondered on her last visit to the United Kingdom of Roe Garcia, which exceeded even her wildest expectations.
How could a five-year-old do something she had been dreaming about for years? It took a jab at her pride, but she admitted full defeat. That little purple snake had the brains capable of shaking up the world, and the royal family was bound to regret condemning him one day in the future. If he was born in the Empire, she would undoubtedly make the boy her protegee.
It took her months to perfect his prototype, with gruesome experiments and bloodshed needed to speed things up, but the result was astounding. Calling it Artificial Intelligence was overexertion in her opinion, since the model still needed a human basis, but it far exceeded any preexisting software. A thing capable of individually planning, analyzing the various data, and carrying out orders to the note, was a pinnacle of modern science.
Everything would be perfect if not for the annoying feeling of guilt weighing on her chest. Scientist should base their decisions on reason and information, not fickle brain chemicals floating around as they please. Zelene always regretted not being a machine. Robots are analytical and logical, flawless if not for their lack of creativity. It was the one obstacle she never managed to overcome. No matter how great the AI was, it didn't change the fact it was solely an algorithm, incapable of original thoughts.
The thing humans, weaklings broken by the slightest force, were superior at. Zelene spent many hours trying to find the answer, but the conclusion was always the same. If she took the single thing mankind was unrivaled at, what was the point of existing anymore?
That is why it would be easier to be an automaton. Machines don't get stupid existential crises, holding up their life's work. They just do.
"It fucking sucks." She mumbled to herself, fiddling with an apple core.
Hours passed in the underground laboratory, during which she had to answer an unfathomable number of questions, constantly sent from her Alma Mater. Zelene Birkenbaum was officially a Major in the army, but it didn't release her from her duties as a university researcher. She had enough of the dean's nagging about not teaching any classes, so the woman offered an alternative solution. Answering undergrads' questions was a burdensome task, but at least it could be done remotely. After all, she wouldn't have to do it for long.
Zelene came back to her office in the afternoon, preparing herself to face a pile of documents. The second worst thing about science was the documentation. The mechanics were obvious in her mind, if others didn't understand it, why did she have to waste her time, explaining it step by step? Those morons in charge won't look at it anyway. Luckily for her, she was saved by the bell.
"Who is it?" The woman didn't get many unexpected visitors, since she was famously living as a recluse. Her aversion to people was well-known in social circles, and she viewed it as a tremendous success.
"Mistress, it's Madame Zimmerman, she wants to come inside. Can I let her in?" Miriam, her most trusted maid, asked from the intercom. It wasn't an unprecedented situation, since Mathilda preferred barking in by surprise. If it were anyone else she would have turned them away, but Zelene had a soft spot for the woman. They both loved Carl in their own ways, and she found comfort in someone who knew the pain of missing him.
"Let her in. And prepare oatmeal cookies when you're at it. Birkenbaums didn't step so low, as to starve their guests."
