Part 1
Chicago, after the war, was not a pretty sight. That was what Wolf
Bronski thought as he
looked toward the ruins of the city. He stood at the window in his
quarters at Exofleet's new
base, just outside of what was left of Chicago. He glanced at the
clock beside his bed and sighed
heavily, "I gotta be the only schmuck awake at two in the morning.",
he muttered. He decided to
take his mind off of all of the destruction with a snack.
The building was quiet as Wolf Bronski made his way to the mess hall.
He entered the
cafeteria and made his way to the kitchen. Pawing through the fridge, he
muttered to himself,
"There's gotta be something to eat around here." Bronski pulled his head
from the appliance and
made for the cupboard. Realizing it was rather dark in the kitchen, he moved
to the doorway
and flipped the light switch. "Hey Bronski, what's up?", Rita Torres asked
from where she stood
leaning against the doorway. Bronski nearly jumped out of his boxers.
"Sarge, what are you doin here? Ya scared the heck outta me!"
She smiled slightly at him, "Couldn't sleep. Maggie's having one of her
nightmares again. So I thought I'd get something to eat. What about you?"
"I couldn't sleep either. . .", Wolf muttered.
Torres studied his somber expression. She laid a
hand on his shoulder, "You
wanna talk about it?"
He pulled away, heading toward the cupboard once
more. "No. . . talking about
it won't bring Eve back." He pulled a bag of cookies
from the shelf. "So Weston's still
havin' nightmares? Thought she'd get over 'em when
DeLeon came back."
"Mm. . .so did I, but I guess not.", she said, going
along with the change in subject. She
followed him into the cafeteria and sitting down next to
him.
"He pulled a handful of cookies from the bag and
began to eat. Rita watched him
silently for a moment before she spoke, "J.T.'s
thinking of taking us on a flight exercise
tomorrow. A whole week away from this place."
"Sounds great.", Wolf said, but it lacked
enthusiasm.
Torres looked at him, cocking an eyebrow, "I thought
you'd be glad to get the chance to fly in yer frame
again."
"Yeah, it'll be just like old times.", he stared
intently at his hands.
"I've heard the Andes are lovely to fly through in
an e-frame.", she said
nonchalantly. Bronski's head snapped up, "What did
you say!?"
Torres looked at him with mock confusion, "We're
going to the Andes. Is that a problem?"
"I thought J.T. couldn't get authorization for a
rescue mission. . ."
"He couldn't, but he did get authorization for a
flight exercise in the southern US.
Maggie can mess with the scanners and make it look
like we're a few hundred miles north of where we really
are. After all, she's in charge of them.", she smiled
at him.
"You guys have really been planning this, haven't
you?", he asked.
"You bet. Eve was a member of our squad, even if
she was new. We take care of our own, remember. So get
back to bed trooper, we leave at nine o'clock sharp.",
and with that, she left him alone.
_______________________________________________________ ____
The next morning Admiral Jensen entered the e-frame
storage wing to find Rita and Maggie performing systems
checks on all of Able Squad's frames.
Have either of you seen Commander Marsh this
morning?", he asked.
Maggie didn't look up from the fusion pack she was
inspecting, "Yeah, he and Marsala were getting supplies
for the trip. They should be back any minute."
Just then Marsala and J.T. came through the door,
each with an armload of food.
"That'll feed Bronski, what about the rest of us?",
Rita asked sarcastically.
"Why don't you go help Marsala carry the rest of the
rations down here, I wouldn't want anyone to starve.",
Marsh quipped.
"Yes sir.", she followed Marsala from the room.
J.T. dropped the load he'd been carrying on the
floor, "Commander Marsh, just the man I was looking
for.", the admiral said.
J.T. turned, noticing him for the first time, "What
can I do for you, sir?"
"I've just received a young woman from the Academy.
She graduated early. She's quite the e-frame pilot, so
I'm assigning her to Able Squad. You're missing a few
pilots these days, and I figured since you were going on
a flight exercise that it would be good to introduce her
before you go so she can accompany you, get a feel for
her frame and the squad."
J.T. flashed Maggie, who'd stopped to listen, a
worried look. She shrugged in return. "When does she
arrive, sir?", he asked apprehensively.
"She's already here; I came to get you to meet her.
You can introduce her to the rest of your squad before
you leave.", Jensen said, turning to go.
"Maggie, can you finish up here?", J.T. inquired.
"Yeah, no problem."
Jensen turned suddenly back to Maggie, "Prep the
frame in storage unit 247 along with the rest.", he
ordered, then he left.
"I'll send Alec down to help you.", J.T. said.
Maggie gave him a grateful smile. Then he followed
Admiral Jensen from the room.
_______________________________________________________ ___
The Admiral had told J.T. to find Alec first, and
then to come to his office. J.T. had found Alec in his
quarters reading a book. After sending him to assist
Maggie, he'd headed back toward Jensen's office.
He knocked on the door, hoping that the woman had
somehow disappeared. No such luck. Jensen opened the
door, and there she stood next to his desk. J.T.'s
eyebrows rose slightly.
_______________________________________________________ ___
"There is no frame in 247. We did an equipment
check last week. . . we only have 246 e-frames.", Alec
and Maggie were walking down the row of storage units in
the e- frame storage. "He said 247.", Maggie assured
him.
"Maybe he was mistaken. But there is no frame in
247.", Alec stated.
They stopped in front of the correct door, "We'll
check, and if there's nothing there, we'll ask the
Admiral.", she punched in the key code for the door. It
slid open silently, revealing an exo frame. "That's
impossible!", Alec said. Maggie looked at the frame
curiously, "It's new. I've never seen one like it."
The frame was smaller than most of the others the
fleet had, as well as more fluid and aerodynamic. The
weapons included blasters and rockets, much like the
rest of theirs, but of a higher calibre. The scanners
and sensors were also very sophisticated.
"Whoa, this is really high tech.", Maggie muttered.
"I think your frame has competition, Alec." Alec just
stared at the e-frame in awe. Maggie laughed, "I guess
we had better get it out of here so we can check it
out."
Half an hour later the entire squad was assembled
and ready to go with the exception of J.T. and their new
member.
Bronski stood talking to Rita and Marsala, "What if
we can't go? She could tell the Admiral and we could
all get courtmarshalled...again."
"We'd have to kill her.", Rita proclaimed.
"Why would we kill her for telling the truth?",
Marsala inquired innocently.
"I was joking, Marsala.", Torres said, exasperated.
Marsala looked puzzled, "I have yet to understand
why terrans find such statements amusing."
Torres was about to respond when the hanger doors
opened and an exo fighter came in at top speed. They
watched as it soared over their heads, turned sharply at
the end of the building and came to a screeching halt
only a few feet away from them.
Torres rolled her eyes as the cockpit opened and
Kaz Takagi jumped out, "Hey everybody! Man, I missed
you guys!"
"Yeah", Bronski teased, "By about a foot."
"Takagi, if you ever do that again, I'll box yer
ears!", Rita threatened.
"How, pray tell, do you box ears?" Marsala asked.
"Welcome back, kid.", Maggie greeted him, giving him
a hug.
"Thanks, Maggie.", Kaz said, embracing her back.
"Are we ready to go?", they all turned to look at
J.T. standing in the doorway, then at the young woman
next to him. She wasn't what anyone had expected. She
was petite, about 5'5" tall. Her jet black hair was
long; it fell to the middle of her back, even in a
braid, and her eyes were an extremely dark shade of
blue.
Her uniform was interesting, to say the least. It
was black with yellow arm and leg bands and belt as well
as purple gloves and calf boots. There were really only
two major differences between her uniform and those the
others wore. The lack of sleeves, and the lack of a
middrift. The fact that her uniform was a two piece
accentuated her slim waist as well as her rather girlish
figure. As well as showing off her shiny gold navel
ring.
"Everyone, I'd like you to meet Jade, the newest
member of Able Squad.", J.T. announced. "Jade, meet
Alec DeLeon, Sgt. Rita Torres, Wolf Bronski, Lt. Maggie
Weston and...", J.T. noticed Kaz for the first time,"Kaz
Takagi...our newly returned cadet."
Jade smiled, looking a bit nervous, "Nice to meet
all of you."
"Okay, let's frame up, we've got a long flight ahead
of us.", J.T. ordered. "Kaz, is your fighter prepped?"
"Yeah, where are we going?"
"South America.", Marsh replied simply, heading for
his e-frame, Jade followed closely behind him.
"She ain't even old enough to drink.", Bronski
muttered to Kaz.
"I'm not here to drink, I'm here to fly.", Wolf and
Kaz turned to see Jade glaring at them her hands poised
on her hips.
"She's got a point Wolf.", Kaz remarked.
"Yer siding with her!?", Bronski demanded.
Kaz shrugged, "I'm not old enough to drink either.",
and with that he headed for his exo-fighter. "Nice uniform.",
he told Jade as he passed her. She watched
him get into his fighter with a slight smile. She seemed
oddly intimidating for as small as she was.
"Move it you two!", Torres yelled.
Bronski and Jade both got into their frames without
a word.
"Okay! I don't want *anyone* running off on their
own.", J.T. shot a pointed look at Bronski. "You'll
always be with at least one other person, and you'll get
*my* permission before
you go *anywhere*. Understood?", everyone voiced their
agreement, and they took off.
_______________________________________________________ ___________
Six hours later, Able Squad had landed in southern
North America, near what used to be the border between
Mexico and the States.
"So what do you think of the squad so far?", Maggie
asked, sitting next to Jade by the fire. She and Rita
had just listened to Wolf's hour long lecture on why
real fires were better than the lanterns they usually
used, and, frankly, she was ready for a more exciting
conversation.
"It's okay, I guess. But I don't have much to go
by.", the younger woman replied without looking up from
the flames.
"Not exactly exciting since the war ended", Maggie
admitted, "but I'm glad it's over."
"Yeah, all of the people who died...it was terrible.
My whole family was killed.", Jade said in a near
whisper.
Maggie nodded, "I saw a lot of good fleet members
killed in battle. It's almost like losing a brother or
sister sometimes.", her voice trailed off.
Jade turned to look at her suddenly quiet companion
to find her staring dismally into thin air, tears
threatening to fall from her eyes, "I'm sorry, I didn't
mean to upset you!", she said worriedly.
Maggie was jerked back to reality by her words,
"Huh? Oh, you didn't.", Maggie assured her. "I upset
myself."
"Are you sure?", Maggie nodded. "Do you wanna talk
about it or something?"
"No, it's nothing. I'm fine, really.", she smiled,
wiping the tears away, "Come on, let's go see if Bronski
left us anything to eat."
After a moments hesitation, Jade smiled back and
followed Maggie. Neither of them was aware of the
person watching them from a short distance away.
"What's up, Alec?", J.T. asked from behind him.
"Maggie...she's crying.", Alec sounded slightly
dejected.
J.T. tried to reassure him, "A lot's happened to her
in the last year, the last four actually. I'd say she's
handled it all pretty well."
"I guess you're right.", Alec sighed. "I just wish
there were something I could do to make her feel
better.", he watched as everyone laughed at something
Kaz said.
It hurt J.T. to see Alec so depressed he placed
reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder,
"All you can do is be there for her, and let her know
that you care about her. That's all any of us can do.",
Alec nodded.
"Come on, let's go eat.", J.T. said.
"But J.T., I don't..."
"Neither does Marsala", J.T. cut him off, "but he's
not anti-social about it. Now come on."
"So, where are you from?", Kaz was asking Jade when
they joined the others.
"Chicago.", she responded, "I've lived there all my
life."
"How old are ya?", Bronski demanded.
Jade shot him a reproving look before replying
coolly, "Eighteen, if it's any of your business."
"Ya don't hafta get snappy.", Bronski said
tauntingly.
"Enough!", Torres warned.
Jade and Bronski both spared her a glance, but
continued to glare at each other.
"We ain't got room for a kid. She'll just get in
the way.", Wolf hissed.
Jade's composure crumbled and she blew up at him, "I
am *not* a kid! I can fly an e-frame just as well as
any of you can! How can I prove that if you don't even
give me a chance!?", and before anyone could stop her
she was up and headed for the nearby hills.
"Jade, wait!", Maggie called after her, but she
didn't even slow down. "Way to go, Bronski.", Maggie
admonished as she took off after Jade.
"Maggie, wait up!", Kaz called, running to catch up
with her.
"Traitor.", Wolf muttered.
"Bronski!", Wolf turned to see a very angry J.T.
Marsh.
"Yeah?"
"I don't *ever* want to hear you talk to her, or
anyone else, like that again! Got it!?"
"Yeah, I got it.", Bronski said.
J.T. saw the pain in Wolf's expression and his tone
softened, "I know you're anxious, but picking on Jade
isn't going to help. Get some rest and try not to
worry."
"Humph, yeah, not worry.", Wolf murmured as he
started for his e-frame.
_______________________________________________________ ___________
"There she is.", Kaz was pointing to the slight
figure in the distance. Jade sat on the rocky ledge of
a cliff, staring out over the desolate landscape. She
didn't hear them until Maggie sat next to her; and even
then, she barely acknowledged that they were there.
"You okay?", Maggie asked.
"I'm fine, you don't have to baby me.", she
retorted.
"I'm not", Maggie paused, "Bronski was way out of
line to say what he did...it must have hurt."
"I don't care what he says.", Jade said coldly.
"I think you do. I know I wanted to be accepted
when I first joined he fleet. Most everyone does.",
Maggie proclaimed.
Jade turned to face her companions, "Okay, maybe I
do! But he's still gonna nag me 'cause I'm so young!"
"Nah, the first time you save his butt, he'll lay
off of ya.", Kaz stated.
Jade looked at him thoughtfully, "Do you really
think so?"
"Trust me. How do ya think we got to be such good
friends?", he grinned broadly.
She couldn't help it, she smiled back at him,"Thanks.
You too Maggie. It's good to know everyone
doesn't hate me."
"Nobody hates you.", Maggie assured her.
"Torres and Bronski...", she was cut off by Kaz's
laughter. "What's so funny?", she demanded.
"Torres is like that with everyone, she seems tough,
but believe me, she doesn't hate you! And Bronski's
just under a lot of stress. He's a great guy once you
get used to his...faults.", Kaz said.
"If you say so.", Jade relented. She stood and
slipped a necklace she'd been holding over her head, "We
should be getting back."
Kaz stood and helped Maggie to her feet, "Yeah, late
nights and early mornings don't mix very well. And J.T.
will kill us if we aren't ready to go on time."
_______________________________________________________ ___________
"You wanted to see me, J.T.?", Rita Torres asked
skeptically.
"Yeah, I did.", he motioned for her to sit next to
him. She sat on the ground, wondering why J.T. seemed
so somber. "Is something wrong?", she asked.
"No, nothing's wrong. I...I'm leaving Exo Fleet.",
Rita was taken totally by surprise. "Why?", she finally
said.
"I'm not the fighting type. I want to settle down,
know that I'm not putting my life on the line every time
I turn around. I want to help rebuild and fix all of
the damage Phaeton caused.", Rita simply nodded, not
knowing how to respond. "The reason I wanted to tell
you first was that now that Nara's...gone...you get
first shot at my place when I leave. If you want it,
it's yours."
"What about Maggie? She should have first offer at
the position.", Rita inquired.
J.T. smiled slightly, "Maggie isn't the leading
kind. Besides, I think she has her hands full at the
moment. Are you trying to say you don't want the
position?"
"No! It's just that she's the senior officer...",
Rita stopped.
"Senior *tech* officer, and I already offered, she
told me the same thing I just told you."
"Are you sure you want *me* to take your place?",
she still seemed apprehensive.
"Rita, your the first person I'd choose to take my
place.", he assured her, standing up.
Torres stood, facing J.T."All right, I'll do it.",
she stated.
"Good, you start as soon as we get back to
Headquarters.", he was gone before she could say
anything more.
_______________________________________________________ ___________
Jade, Maggie and Kaz were still half a mile from
camp, and conversation had dwindled to nothing. Jade
finally broke the silence, "Who was she?"
"Who?", Maggie and Kaz asked in unison.
"The woman we're looking for."
"Eve Hanley...she was a member of our squad.",
Maggie answered.
" Were she and Bronski close. He seems pretty
worried, and more than a little nervous."
Maggie and Kaz glanced at each other, "She...was his
wife.", Kaz said quietly.
"She still is.", they looked up to see Wolf sitting
atop a large rock.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean...", Kaz began.
"I know.", Wolf interrupted,"Just clarifying." He
turned to Jade, "Listen...what I said earlier; I didn't
mean it. I was just taking my frustration out on you."
Jade looked at him, trying to judge the sincerity of
his words, "Who told you to apologize?", she asked
suspiciously.
"No one. I figured you were right, I should give
you a chance."
Her eyebrows rose in disbelief at what she was
hearing,"Okay. Apology accepted.", Bronski jumped down
and turned to go. "Bronski."
He turned to look at her, "Yeah?"
"Thank you...for giving me a chance."
"Just don't make me regret it, kid."
She smirked at him, "Don't worry, I won't", she said
with conviction.
"I don't doubt it one bit.", and he was gone.
"Now there's something you don't see every day;
Wolf Bronski admitting he's wrong.", Kaz laughed at
Maggie's all-too-true statement.
"Well, I can see why he's so nervous.", Jade
muttered. "We better hurry, it's late", the three of
them continued on their way.
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