% And moving on to this:

                          FOX Squadron
                Episode 10 - Getting To Know You
                       By: G.L. Sandborn


     "Bat Four Two, do you copy?" the Veritech pilot called,
anxiously adjusting for the area's heightened ECM environment.
The view screens showed nothing but snow while static mixed with
a hint of communication roared in the headset.
     Hovering in Guardian mode just above the Amazon jungle
canopy,

% Flashback, I'd wager.

 the pilot strained to make some sense of the bits and
pieces of communication that slipped through between the pops and
waterfall-sounding static.

% Fluid... Rodan... buttercream...dildo.

% The pilot stopped trying to make sense of it and turned off the radio.

"Tango.... under... Bat... down...
need... look out!..."
     "Bat Four Leader, come in."
     More static but no answer.  Whatever was jamming
communications in the area had been set to burn-out levels.

% Hmm. Maybe current, then.

  It
overpowered any use of even the most advanced radio systems.
     A flash of light off to the north drew the Veritech into a
tight turn.  Skimming just above the tree tops, it looked for a
fight that had to be going on somewhere below.
     The solid canopy of jungle abruptly opened to a clearing,
revealing two Zentraedi in Female Power Armor

% Quadrano (sp?), or some other style?

     The Veritech hesitated at the sound of such a familiar
voice.  "Back towards the jungle.  I'll cover you."

% Make a called shot for the eye. No, wait, that was how you fight Invid.

     "Negative.  Mobility gone."
     "Hold on.  I'm coming."
     "Get out of here!  There's too many!"
     Without a response, the Veritech screamed towards the
Zentraedi.  Their black and gold dragons painted on dull-looking
and worn armor appeared ominous against the bright green and
brown of the jungle.

% Hmm. Didn't think Zentreadi adorned their armor. Even the Kyron, didn't,
as I recall.

     Gambling on the Veritech's sudden appearance to gain a brief
advantage, it boldly attacked.  If the two Zentraedi could be
convinced there were more Veritechs on the way, they might just
abandon the fight.
     Of course, that was what 'normal' Zentraedi would do.  Their
black trim and dragon insignia proclaimed these to be members of
the infamous Furies; renegade female Zentraedi that NEVER backed
down.

% Ah, I see.

     As targeting mode engaged, one of the Zentraedi ripped the
Excaliber's right P-Beam forearm from its body and began using it
to beat the RDF machine.  Parts flew from the stricken craft in a
shower of sparks with each blow.  The high-pitched scream of
Zentraedi exhilaration bled over the RDF frequencies sending a
chill through whoever heard.  It was murder, plain and simple.
     "Eject!  I'll pick you up!"
     There was no answer.
     The scream of a missile warning filled the cockpit.  A quick
check confirmed the threat was coming from below and behind.

% Two directions. Too bad. Can't 'birth' them with a missile of his/her own.

     With main power offline, the pilot switched to auxiliaries.
Lights on the maneuvering and combat consoles blinked then
glowed.  Partial power restored.  Enough to get back into the
fight.
     A third female Zentraedi joined the other two in the
clearing.   That had to be the one who fired the missile.

% I thought there were multiple missiles fired from different directions.



     "NOOOOO!"  Karen Crowkiller lurched upright in her bed,

% Was right the first time.

     Karen's eyes squeezed shut.  A tremor wracked her body like
a blast of cold air up her spine.  "It's nothing," she gasped.
"Just a nightmare."
     "I'm not surprised," Liz said, running a hand through her
shoulder-length hair.  "South America has given lots of people
nightmares."

% Especially the South Americans that live there. :)

replied with a wry grin.
     "What do you have in that monster?"  Missy reached for her
work coveralls.
     Liz slipped off her tank top.  "Forty caliber, steel
jacket."
     "Well, you better consider hollow points," Missy replied,
sliding a shapely leg into the coveralls.  "Otherwise someone
liable

% someone is liable

     "If she insists on flying her problems solo, she's going to
screw up when we need her the most.  Somebody is liable to end up
dead."
     "What's the difference?  We're all dead anyway."

% Missy: Yes, but it's all a question of timing. I'd like mine to be a very
long time from now instead of the next five minutes. So it does make a
difference to me.

     "I don't believe that and neither should you," Missy said
with her fists on her hips.
     "Come off it.  The only reason we're here is because they
didn't want to waste one of their 'white' squadrons in a snake
pit like this.  We're just so much cannon fodder."

% Err, what about the 'white' Detroid Squad already there? They're somehow
immune to the 'cannon fodder' effect?

     "Yeah," Jeff replied with a chuckle.  "Wouldn't want that."
     "Judging by its condition, I'd say no one has maintained it
in over five years," Daisy noted with a yawn.  She hated mornings

% Amen

and mornings of physical labor unloading supplies were especially
distasteful.

% Double Amen.

     "What's up?" Daisy asked, shoving her hands into the pockets
of her work coveralls.  She also hated cold mornings.

% Ditto. I'd rather run the mile again in 90 degree weather instead of 32.
I'm a warm weather person.

     Jeff sighed.  "I promise to behave myself if you can find
out where our people are.  Everyone was supposed to have reported
to the rail head by now."

% Tsk, tsk. Disicpline is already breaking down if they're the only ones
there.

     Wheezing and hissing, a pair of Lieutenant Bickham's
Gladiator Destroids rumbled up to their staging area off to the
right.  Their giant hands flexing as if the pilot were testing
them.  They would be most useful in unloading the supply
containers.  Three truckloads of Destroid Troop personnel rolled
up behind them.  For a share of the shipped munitions they were
willing to help with the unloading.

% Ammo. A military man's best friend.

     "I don't suppose it would help if we sent the Gladiators out
to push the damn thing in," he finally said to no one in
particular.
     "Probably

% It might. They are big boys.

     "Have any trouble along the way?"
     "We got jumped last night just south of New KC.  Gave 'em a
couple of bursts from the guns and the Veritechs tore up a mess
of trees before whoever it was slipped away.  Probably amateurs."

% Either that or incompetents. I doubt if they were just feeling out the
train.

     "We know these remote bases lack proper unloading
facilities.  So, we bring our own."  Captain Engels beamed with
pride.  "Robotechnology gave us more than your weapons of war."
     Once the unloading vehicle was fully formed, it set to work
removing the containers.  A metal frame on cables descended from
the vehicle's bottom to the top of the first container.  With a
loud bang, the four corner locks latched into place and the
container was easily hoisted a foot or two off the flatcar.
Without moving its six legs, the hoisting cab slid laterally from
directly over the flatcar to the hard surface of the access road.
Slowly, it set the container down on the road.  That's were the
second pleasant surprise revealed itself.

% Yeah. It is a nice baby.

     "I'm surprised it isn't there already," Jeff muttered.
     "Yeah, she's a spooky one all right."

% Got that right.

     By lunchtime, the last container was hooked up to an
aircraft tug and on its way to the North Hangar.  The Destroid
Troop had their share of the munitions and Dutch DeWitt finished
stowing the remainder down in the munitions bunker.

% You know, I'll be darned if I can find typos in this one.

     "I've got a good crew, Colonel.  Next time, we'll try to
bring some mail.  I know how lonely things can get at these
isolated bases," Captain Engels replied.

% Stuart: You supply hookers, too?

% Engels: LIke I said, we know how lonely these bases can get.


     Nancy stepped from the shower and snatched a towel from the
rack.

% Daisy's rack. She was not amused. "My breasts are not a coat hanger" she
explained.

 "So, what's planned for tonight?" she called.
     In the common room, Daisy lounged on the apartment's
utilitarian sofa,

% Utilitarian: ie, Hard as a rock and twice as durable.

 her feet on a coffee table.  "Unless you want
to hang out with the children, I suggest we go see what kind of
action the town has to offer."
     "I donno,

% Found one! dunno

     "Yup, one night to party before we report for duty," Nancy
said, rubbing her wet hair with another towel.

% Why do I predict it won't be that easy?

     "Huh?"  Nancy stopped drying her hair and frowned at her
friend from beneath the towel.  "What are you talking about?"
     Daisy just jerked a thumb towards the window.  Framed in its
clear glass were three of the younger male members of Cindy's
office staff.  All were staring wide eyed with their mouths open
at Nancy, or more accurately, at her exposed chest.

% Heh

     "AHHHHH!"  Nancy crossed her arms and spun away from the
window.  "Why don't people tell me these things?  I thought the
window was like a one way mirror."

% Well then, it wouldn't be a window if it was one way.

     The door to Samantha's bedroom banged open and abruptly
slammed shut as the girl stomped through the common room.  Fully
dressed in her flight suit, her expression practically dared
anyone to get in her way.  Daisy quickly opened the apartment's
door and resumed leaning against the wall.

% Heh

Samantha rewarded the
gesture by slamming the door behind her with such force the whole
wall shook.
     "Not a happy camper," Nancy observed.

% Daisy: Volunteer to take her place

% Nancy: I'm not that sorry for her.

     "Nope."  Daisy frowned at the trail of clothes left behind.
"And messy too."
     "GET OUT OF MY WAY, YA HORNY LITTLE SQUIRTS!" came
Samantha's voice from somewhere down the hall.
     "Not happy at all."
     Daisy yawned.  "So, you still up for a bar crawl?"
     "Wouldn't miss it."
     "Great, I'll go see if Ona wants to come along."

% What, after what happened last time?

     Daisy glowered at the retreating boys.  Curiosity was one
thing but this was becoming obsessive.  The reason for their
interest was obvious.  Word had gotten around about Ona's habit
of wandering her apartment in complete undress.  Getting a chance
to glimpse a female Zentraedi warrior in all her glory was a
powerful lure.  It didn't help that she acted oblivious to it
all.

% probably because she is.

     Ona sighed.  "Very well.  I'll change and meet you in twenty
minutes."
     "Great!  Oh, I almost forgot, we seem to have some young men
wandering around with overactive hormones.

% At that age, overactive is normal.

     "We've got lots of things to eat and drink now and the girls
asked if they could have some sort of celebration," Kay said with
a giggle.  "Especially the younger ones.  They've never been away
from home before and we thought it might be nice to have a little
'Getting To Know You' party."
     Jeff nodded.  It sounded simple enough.

% Which means it won't be.

     "Jeffrey, they're big girls.  They can take care of
themselves.  They'll be all right.  You'll see."

% Famous last words.

     "Okay, you're right," he finally said to Gail once he had
caught his breath.  "I guess it'll be a good chance to check out
the town.  And, being women might just let them investigate
without the trouble Bickham's men experienced.

% No. They'll just get into a different sort of trouble.


     The dryer snapped off.  Karen glared at the mirror.  "Then
she'll be here," she growled.
     "Probably."
     Drawing a deep breath, like a person coming back to life,
Karen caught Liz in her steely gaze.  "Then I DON'T want to be
here."

% That worked well.

     Looking around the small one room Alert Post, her nose
wrinkled instinctively at its Spartan appointment.  Despite the
reactivation team's hard work, it still looked like a little
concrete box half-buried in the ground and exposed at ground
level on one end facing the runway.

% That's pretty much what they're supposed to look like. :)

     It was Samantha's turn to hunch over a bit.  "At least you
had a father,"

% Everyone had one. It's 'At least you knew your father.' :)

     Both sat in silence while Samantha considered what it must
have been like for Missy.  It had to be different having a strong
father-figure around the house.  It couldn't have been worse than
living in almost starvation conditions with a mother who drank to
forget how her husband walked out and never returned after
Samantha was born.
     "What was it like?," Samantha finally asked.
     "What was what like?"
     "Having a father."

% Missy: The sex was good.

% Samanatha: Ack! Too much information.

     Missy drew a deep breath and leaned back in her chair.  "Oh,
I don't know.  Normal, I guess.  Whatever that is."
     "Was he good to you?"
     "Good?  I suppose you could say that.  He never played with
me or anything while I was growing up but he never beat me
either, if that's what you mean by 'good'."
     Samantha shifted in her chair to face her section leader.
"I mean, what's he like?"
     Missy shrugged.  "He's a member of the tribal council.  A
big man among our people, I guess.  Everyone comes to him with
their problems and

% problems, and (I think)

     "Proud?"  Missy almost choked on the word.  "I'm not
supposed to be a warrior, Sam.  I'm a girl.  To him, all I'm good
for is to marry a warrior and spend the rest of my life cooking,
cleaning, and bearing children - male children.

% Yes. We don't need females cluttering up the landscape or anything. :)

 When I signed
up, instead of being pleased, he refused to even speak to me.
I'd thrown away his only chance to have a warrior in the family."

% Err, military women can still have children. It's not exactly unheard of.

     "But surely your escape from Miami Base proved you were as
good as any warrior."
     "Letting an enemy rape me, take from me the only treasure I
could offer a husband?

% Actually, most potential husbands prefer a gal who knows her way around.
Breaking in a virgin can be... tiring. :)

 Losing my virginity is hardly the kind of
thing told around council fires to impress others.  No, what I
did was for survival - survival without honor."  Missy kicked out
of her chair like she wanted to escape.  "I wish there was
something stronger to drink here."
     "But surely --"
     "NO!"  Missy spun around and glared at Samantha.  Carefully
woven defenses to horrible memories seemed to vanish under
Samantha's incessant probing.  "You don't understand.  You can't
understand.  You don't know what it's like.  No matter how many
times you wash, you still feel dirty.  The worst part is I can
never be with a man again.

% Ona: Well, there are always... alternatives. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. Say
no more.


     Outside the cool evening air washed over her like a cold
shower.  Samantha walked slowly around her Veritech, casting
occasional glances at the Alert Post.  She saw Missy collapse on
one of the bunks, holding her head in her hands.  Cursing softly,
she asked herself why she couldn't learn to keep her big mouth
shut?

% It would be less writing for the author and he'd have to come up with
other means to provide conflict. :)

     "We are.  I fly better when hung over.  Don't like
airplanes."

% makes sense.

     "He came in on that transport this morning along with six
food service personnel for the mess hall, three base maintenance
people, two nurses and a couple others whose specialties are
known only to themselves and your resourceful Lieutenant
Wallace."

% Ah. Some form of reenforcements anyway.

     "You're well informed," Jeff noted.
     "In my business, details are what's important."  Richard
noticed Jeff's satisfied expression.  "Before you start thinking
you're sitting in the cat bird seat, let me remind you that a
base of this size requires twenty-eight food service personnel

% Not true. That's only if you have a full base. This one is operating at
the minimum, so they won't need that many. :)
,

     "You were saying something about General Emerson."
     "General Emerson was only following orders from higher up.
I suppose I shouldn't be telling you this but you're just a trip-
wire.  They know the lid is going to blow once the Yorkies think
they're strong enough and get the Grays to join them.  They mean
to sweep over this entire southern half of the sector; from
Florida to the Rockies.  In short, you are all that stands in the
way of them marching straight through to Albuquerque."  Richard
slid his hand across the bar to demonstrate the power of a
combined York/UCS force.

% Ah. Well then, ought to start out by knocking out everything they can and
putting a dent in the enemies forces. Call it 'Friendly Misfires.'

     "They might get a bit of an argument out of those in the
Protectorate," Jeff noted.
     "The Zentraedi are formidable fighters when properly
equipped.  I'll grant you that.  But they cannot maintain the
equipment they currently have and they have no way of securing
new equipment while in the Protectorate.  They're a hollow
military force,

% think you can drop that comma

     "Just between you and me, I don't think they cared what kind
of squadron they put down here.  All they wanted was warm bodies
to get their ass shot off in the assault's opening phase so the
Army of the Southern Cross, not to mention Field Marshal Leonard,
could ride to the rescue."

% Now that is far more likely. He's letting them add fuel so that once the
fire starts, he'll put it out with a friendly jackboot. :)

     "Sounds ambitious."
     "I'll bet Leonard gets hard every time he thinks about it.
Giving him a chance to eliminate the last organized resistance to
his plans is a dream come true.  He can then concentrate on South
America.  Eventually, the World Government will control the
entire Western Hemisphere.  From there, only the EBSIS will offer
any pretense of resistance to reuniting the world under a single
government."
     "You don't sound very encouraging."

% Actually it sounds very encouraging, if you join the ASC. :)

     With a sigh, she stacked the papers before dropping them in
the 'out' box.  Why the RDF still required these hand-written
forms had to be lost somewhere in the bureaucratic tradition of
the military.

% Nah. Just bureacratic tradition period. It's not soely the domain of the
military.


     With their celebration in full swing, Kay and Gail
supervised the others like mothers at a juvenile birthday party.
Soft drinks flowed freely and they were well into their second
batch of popcorn.  Cindy ruled the pool table, beating all comers
with a flourish that suggested she was more than just a little,
owl-eyed office drone.  Mary Cook-Lynn kept the music coming,
although her taste ran decidedly towards the 'bubblegum' variety,

% Yah! I love Priss and the Replicants. :)

while Anne Twotree and Gloria Graywolf mingled with the younger
members like a couple of indulgent older sisters.
     Well after dark, a group of them gathered in the middle of
the room on pillows and blankets to tell stories.  Most told of
things that happened to them or someone they knew.  A few spun
wildly impossible tales about dates that went bad or embarrassing
situations they had endured.

% Like out of a scene from Seinfeld. :)

     Through it all, Kay and Gail laughed along with the girls
and encouraged them to add more details, some turning the
storytellers red with embarrassment.
     "Kay, why don't you tell everyone how you met the Colonel?"

% Kay: It was during this orgy. I lost track of the guys I had sex with by
the time he showed up...

     "I grabbed Julie and told her to go find the fathers.
Pulling on our shirts, Ellen and I ran up the riverbed, watching
the pilot land in the trees.  By the time we got there, he was
tangled upside down in the branches about twenty feet off the
ground."

% Jeff: I prefered Gail's version.

     "I love this part," Gail added.
     Shooting her sister a warning look, Kay continued.
"Standing almost underneath him, wearing only my work shirt, my
legs all splattered with mud and my hair still wet, I saw him
move slightly to look directly at me.  Then he said: 'I must be
dead because I'm looking at an angel.'"
     Some of the girls groaned at the corny line while the others
giggled.
     "Sure he wasn't looking at your cousin?" Gail chided.
     "No, he was looking at me," Kay insisted.

% "Besides. Ellen was a total troll."

     "I hear you had your arms around him all the way back."
Gail grinned like there was more to the story.
     "I had to hold on to something," Kay replied.
     "Sure it was the saddle horn you were holding on to?" Gail
asked with a leer.

% Kay: God, yes! Like he's that big.

     "That's the whole story?" Gloria asked with a confused look.
     "Not quite," Gail prodded.  "He came back that weekend."
     Kay blushed again.  "Yes, he showed up at our annual spring
celebration in his uniform with his arm in a sling.  Only, I
didn't know it at the time.  Father saw him first and detoured
Jeffrey over to the elders.  Our people have always been
impressed with an accomplished warrior and Jeffrey was certainly
that.

% He borrowed Emerson's Dress Uniform, hadn't he? :)


     Virginia chuckled.  "Yeah, I know what you mean.  It's more
fun out here tinkering with my buddy."
     "Your buddy?"
     "My chopper.

% Heh. Pure pilot.

  This old girl an' me have been through a lot
together."  Virginia patted the metal shielding that ran the
length of the helicopter's bottom.  More than once that shielding
had protected her from ground fire.
     "I see."  It was Linda's turn to chuckle.  "Next thing you
know, you'll be giving it a name.  How about 'Alphonse'?"

% Cute. Don't see much PL references.

     "What kind of lunatic names their vehicles?"  Virginia
paused tightening a nut and looked at Linda with a raised
eyebrow.

% Pretty much most of them give a pet name to the vehcile their lives depend
on.

     "I saw it in a TV show.  Some girl who drove a large robot-
like vehicle named her's

% hers (I think)


     "This isn't very impressive," Nancy said, a touch of
disappointment in her voice.
     "Looks to me like they roll up the sidewalks at dusk," Daisy
replied.

% I know towns like that. HAving spent some of my early formative years in
the middle of nowehere, it's like a little slice of hell to me. I like
having people around.

     Ona silently looked left and right when the rover slowed,
like she anticipated an imminent ambush.  Darkened one-story
buildings, some with fake Western facades, loomed on either side
of the street.  The sound of the rover's engine echoed off the
empty buildings, giving them a feeling of isolation.
     "Let's try that place."  Bobbi Jo pointed out what looked
like a bar in the first cluster of buildings.

     "Good as any, I suppose."

% Don't need that line break.

     "We're being watched," Nancy said softly in Lakota.

% No kidding.

grin.
     The old woman eyed her coldly.  "You ladies ain't from
around here, are you?"

% This isn't the sort of place anyone would admit to coming from. :)

     "You sound like you from around here."
     "My ma used to own a laundry up the road a piece."
     Squinting at Bobbi Jo like she was trying to peer through
time, a wave of recognition washed over the old woman.  "Lordy,
are you Mary Baker's little girl?"  When Bobbi Jo nodded, the old
woman clasped her hands to her ample bosom.  "Your momma an' me
knew each other since we were no bigger than a hound dog's
backside.  How are you, girl?"

% Ah. That broke the ice.

     "Y'all call me Momma Jean.  Everybody else does."  The old
woman smiled at each until her eyes fell on Ona.  The smile faded
as she stared at the Zentraedi, her expression straining to
remain friendly.  Tilting her head a bit, her brow furrowed.

     Ona returned the woman's stare for a few moments before

% Another line break you don't need.

     "I still think we should have gone down to the Club," Karen
mumbled as she cast a disapproving look at the bar.  "Lieutenant
Wallace said a club manager came in on the transport today."
     "We can go to the Club anytime," Liz replied, climbing out
of the rover and stretching.  "This is our chance to see some of
the town."

% And realize that seeing it once is quite enough.

     Sitting with her back to the wall, she placed her mug on the
table and fished out a handful of credit notes and coins.  "Hope
I got enough," she said innocently.
     The men chuckled and arranged their own meager stashes of
money.  It was obvious they intended on lightening Bobbi Jo's
financial burden.

% Which means they won't.

     "So, y'all come here often?" she asked, flirting with each
man in turn.  Settling in for a long evening, she watched
carefully as one of the men dealt the cards.

     Time passed quickly, more so for those drinking.

% Lot of line breaks in this part I think you don't need.

Ona
finally relaxed enough to enjoy a pleasant conversation with
Daisy and Nancy about things that happened while unloading the
train.
     Liz, despite the amount of alcohol she poured down Karen,
couldn't get her friend to talk about South America.  All she did
get was confirmation that Karen flew with Skull Squadron and
didn't think much of the new commander who took over from Max
Sterling.

% Hey, there ain't anyone that could follow  up to Max.

     She did notice one thing new; every time Ona Parino laughed,
Karen's face twitched.  While it wasn't a lot to go on, it did
present a clue.  Something in Parino's voice triggered a strong
negative response in Karen.
     Nancy was the first to feel the need to make room for more
beer.  She asked Momma Jean about rest room facilities.
     "'Bout all I got is an outhouse out back,

% Oh. Definitely upscale.

     Ona opened the door and peered in.  "Why don't they put a
light in here?"
     "Believe me, it wouldn't be an improvement.

% Nod, nod.

     Moments later, Ona emerged from the outhouse with a
disgusted expression.  No doubt about it, that place was the
pits.  Her expression abruptly changed when she saw what was
waiting for her.
     Three men, clad in GMP black and gray uniforms surrounded
her, their stunners drawn.

% SOunded like a set up.

     Try as she might, she couldn't place his face with a
location.
     When she shook her head, the man growled.  "Then maybe THIS
will remind you."  His punch landed hard against her stomach,
driving the air from her lungs and doubling her over.  Another
blow landed aside her head and she dropped to the gravel, choking
for breath.  "You ambushed me at that crazy woman's mission
outside Yellowstone.  I've lived for the day I could pay you
back."

% My. Small world.

     He threw a vicious right cross that snapped Ona's head to
the side.  She staggered and collapsed again.  Karen could only
feel a cold satisfaction in watching a female Zentraedi take such
a beating.  It was payback time as far as she was concerned.  Let
them have her, she thought.  Good riddance.

% Methinks that attitude won't last.

     Nuzzling the GMP man's chest, she slowly ran her hand across
his butt.  It wasn't a bad butt, she concluded.  It was just
attached to a thoroughly disgusting man.
     When the other two men went back to pawing Parino, she saw
her chance.  Snatching the man's stunner from its holster, she
jammed it in his ribs and pressed the trigger button.  The man
yelped and went limp, almost pulling Karen down with him.

% Might want to mention that she's not in contact with him, or she'll get a
jolt too.


     There might have been many things that could have been said
about the GMP man on the sidewalk but good timing wasn't one of
them.  He had barely had time to sit up, grasping his head in his
hands, when Nancy came barreling out the door, smashing his face
and knocking him cold.

% Heh

     "Come on, Bobbi Jo!" Nancy yelled, jumping into the front
seat.

     Inside, Bobbi Jo Baker quietly counted her winnings.  "Sorry
boys, but duty calls.  We have to do this again sometime."
Smiling sweetly at the chest-fallen men, she walked to the door,
making certain her every step was the thing men dream about.
     On of the men groaned softly.  "Ah don't care what y'all
say.  Watchin' her walk like that was worth every credit I lost."
He was immediately deluged with playing cards and insults from
those who obviously failed to see his form of 'silver lining' in
their cash losses.

% Heh

     Almost close enough to reach out and touch her friend, Liz
suddenly caught a glint of moonlight on polished metal.  Leaping
back, she avoided being sliced when Karen sprang from her seat,
swinging a vicious-looking knife.  Another attack and she barely
had time to jump again as the knife point tore through her shirt
just under her breasts.  Two additional swipes, more clumsy than
the first, and Liz was able to separate enough from her attacker
to gather herself into a fighting stance.
     "You know I'm the better knife fighter, Casey."  Liz
balanced herself in preparation.

% Yes. but she doesn't have a knife at the moment, so that evens the odds.

     Liz swallowed hard and blinked back sweat from her eyes.
"Who, Casey?" she demanded.  "Who do you want to join?"
     "Stephen."  Karen's voice was barely a whisper.
     "Who's Stephen?"

% Dead loved one.

 Liz asked forcefully, pinning Karen's arm
behind her back and sitting up.  She wasn't taking any more
chances with the unpredictable Crowkiller.
     "My fiance," Karen whined, her face pressed against the
moistening ground.
     "A pilot?"  Liz tried not to sound like an interrogator but
things had progressed to the point where she didn't care anymore.
     "Excaliber pilot."

% Ah. That one. Makes it even worse for her.

     "You choked?" Liz gasped as if she didn't believe what she
just heard.
     "I could have saved him," Karen moaned.
     "You choked and now blame Ona Parino?"
     "She's one of them."  Karen's voice dropped into almost a
growl.
     "She's one of US!" Liz corrected.
     "But �"
     "NO BUTS!"  Liz leaned closer.  "You know better than this.
There are only two rules to warfare.  One, people die.  Two, you
can't do a damn thing about rule one.  You want to morn?

% mourn

     Without a word, Liz got up and walked to her exhausted
friend.  With great effort, Karen raised the knife and held it
out for Liz to take.  To show her mutual grief for Karen's loss,
Liz took the knife, held it up to the moon.  "I do this in honor
of a brave warrior," she said in a loud voice before cutting once
her own arm.  "It is better to die young on the battlefield than
to live to carry a cane."

% Nah. I like being alive. You get to do things other than decompose.

     Karen fumbled to pull out her dog tags, her bloody arms
leaving red trails across her shirt, and snapped the chain.
Between her tags was a small diamond ring, the one Stephen had
given her only days before his death.  Sliding it off the chain,
she handed it to Liz, her bloody fingers staining its metallic
surface red.  "I have no other possession of value," Karen said
in a shaky voice.  "Take it.  It is no longer mine."
     Liz gently took the ring from her friend and held it tight
in a fist.  All the proprieties of proper mourning had been
completed.  There was only one thing left to do.
     "You have mourned enough for the spirit of your departed
love.  It is time you began to live again," she said.  "Return to
your duties.  Comfort yourself in your tasks.

% Screw up in new ways rather than the old.


     Liz tumbled into bed, exhausted and ready for sleep.  Doctor
Takahashi had scolded her for allowing Karen to mutilate herself.

% Little self-mutilation for better psychological fortitude. It's a trade
off.

     "Whatever," she mumbled with a yawn.  Figuring it all out
would have to wait for another time.  Tonight, she was just too
damn tired.

% Very nice work, as I've come to expect. Prose flowed well. Got a lot of
interpersonal stuff done as well as refortifying the base. It moved fast
withou bogging down and there was lots of good character development. Not a
thing to complain about. Already looking forward to reading more

D.B. Sommer






             .---Anime/Manga Fanfiction Mailing List----.
             | Administrators - ffml-admins@anifics.com |
             | Unsubscribing - ffml-request@anifics.com |
             |     Put 'unsubscribe' in the subject     |
             `---- http://ffml.anifics.com/faq.txt -----'