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Roscoe headed back to the ship after having done some equipment shopping just as some of the other crew members were starting to show: He saw Blitz and Alice coming around the bend and down the stairs, and they both looked positively happy. The mechanics showed up red to their ears and with dizzy expressions and unstable walks; rumbling and mumbling, they each were supported by nurses from the infirmary, who helped them sit down on the ground.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRP10Qwqsw
One of the nurses stood up and turned to Roscoe. “Are you Commander Roscoe?” He nodded. “They're just mildly slapped in the face,” she continued, and Roscoe was surprised by her sense of humor in a case like this. “They'll be fine in a few hours, provided they get some rest as soon as possible. Otherwise they wouldn't be with you at this time.”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBTor5WOgT
“Noted,” Roscoe replied with a solid nod. “I'll get our doc to have a check-up on them, just in case.”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNKmeXkzfO
“As you say, Commander Farewell, and I hope you come visit the Metropolis again.” She and the other nurse did a small nod before they turned and walked back toward the elevator.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeu9brtftWa
“Welcome back, you two,” the Commander smiled as the pilot and his date arrived at the exit to the port cargo hold. “How was the movie?”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTQho0Lweg
“Terrible!" "Awesome!” they both exclaimed simultaneously, and then stared speechlessly at each other.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NUg8xeFkk
Roscoe laughed heartily. “Sounds like you both had your own experience. Why don't you tell me all about it back on the ship.”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn39H0pzp8o
They both nodded, silent and seemingly exposed, and Roscoe suddenly turned his attention towards two giggling girls coming his way. The Latina pointed at the docking bay doors and then at him, and her friend suddenly started blushing slightly. It was clearly noticeable, because she was very pale. The Latina shoved her lightly, grinning. As they approached Roscoe and the rest of the crew the Latina saluted, promoting her friend.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsn0syB3aI8
“Hey Roscoe, this is my friend. She's got something she wanna tell you.”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFr97b1PVz8
“Sir! Eva Lair, sir,” the other girl saluted steadily. “I'd like to join your crew.”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uDw6sCkBR
“Have you had any combat training before, Miss Lair?”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJEW8ldISS
“Yes sir! And please call me Eva. Miss Lair's too formal, sir!"671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfyReVZoY8
Roscoe had to smile at the tension this innocent girl so clearly expression, but he held out a hand to calm her down. “Relax, Eva. How old are you?”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxt620Ru3mJ
“Twenty, sir. I promise having a youngster in your crew won't bring a disadvantage to you.”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpKVZVcI7D
The Commander couldn't help letting out a chuckle. “You may be the youngest, but you won't be the only young one, young one...” He motioned to the Latina next to her as Eva put up a questioning look, and her eyes immediately ran to her friend.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMualwfEFX
“No way... You too?” Michelle's expression broke into a joyous laugh as her threw herself around hr neck. “Why didn't you tell me before?”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfVcxOVtrV
“I wanted it to be a surprise,” Michelle giggled, looked up at Roscoe while trying to contain Eva jumping and screaming for joy in her arms. She lifted and eyebrow to him as motioning with her head toward the extatic girl, as if to say "this is whatcha get. Ready for it?"671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTrpzZj1Rq
Roscoe turned to Alice and Blitz, and acted out a sigh. But at such an occasion, even if she wasn't his objective, he couldn't get himself to just deny her wish; for all he knew her cooperation in the future could be useful, if not vital. And any lack of combat training could easily be fillid-in by the ship's crew between missions.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfwBtJrEEQ
“I guess it's alright,” he shrugged jokingly, and to his surprise he noticed the large camping bags that the Caucasian came dragging along, and wondered how much strength was actually in those arms, because the bag looked heavy even to him.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFc45m6Cuz
"But let me be clear, Eva: as you are technically an unknown to us - we only have your friend's word vouching for you and your own to say you've received combat training, which we'll be testing - and a last-minute case, this will have to be a test run to see how you fare - both in the quarters and in the field. I expect you to follow rules, regulations, the chain-of-command and come to me with unsolvable differences so we can try out a solution. If it doesn't work out or you're a liability when all is said and done, you're out. Got it?"671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanenRYbJGB
"Oh, yes, yes, of course, sir!" Eva beamed as she let go of around Michelle, who adjusted her tank top to cover more of her chest.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMP9pmPb57
“Would you like some time to say good-bye to your family?” he asked.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbEWd4c68j
“It's already done, Commander,” Eva replied shortly as she motioned to the bag beside her.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcI4V7xIq9
Roscoe lifted an eyebrow. “So you were counting on my permission to let you in even before you left home?”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXOkvuSDwX
“Yes, sir, I guess so. Michelle sounded so certain that I'd be let in, so I leaped on her word.”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscd1R7fiuX
“Good, because being prepared even if the odds are zero is what's expected of my crew.”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicHDA8C5EP
“Yes, sir, I've been there before. Technically I still am. Just had some shore leave at the moment.”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nhqeVNYZ1
“So you're already on a crew. Who is your CO?” he asked, a little put off.671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2PiXg6SPP
“Commander Romanov of the Superior, sir. But she ... doesn't like me. I'd much rather be here if the rumors are true that you're a better Captain. Well, technically you're not a Captain … but you know what I mean.”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiy2nElTk05
“Sure.” He nodded slowly, eyes focused on something far away, then he turned to Michelle, who had stood looking at her feet ever since he had mentioned saying good-byes. “And what about you? Do you need some time with your people?”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYycIOEP3Nq
“No,” she said darkly. “It's done, Commander. Let's go.”671Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgHqPfd6az
Roscoe noticed how she refered to his title and he figured that she would only do that if something wasn't "done".
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