[FIC] Porcupine, porcupine {Chapter 25}

[dd]

The Mithril courier had brought a number of communiques, a handful of data discs, a few mission expenditure forms, and an envelope labeled "URGENT."

Captain Teletha Testarossa, tired from a day saturated by the less pleasant things in a submarine commander's itinerary, prioritized the items into various piles. The items that required her personal attention were further sorted into a "will do it tomorrow after I get some rest" pile and the "better see whether or not it can wait" pile. A single item sat by its lonesome in that latter pile.

URGENT.

Tessa stared at that envelope. If it were TRULY urgent, it might mean a longer night, which would soon enough be turning into another day. She wanted a soak. A warm soak and some chilled coffee. And then some sleep. Hopefully not all three at once.

Thinking of the soaking tub brought a mix of feelings. She thought of companions...some by choice, and some by fate. Some for but a brief moment, and some for longer. Melissa came to mind. Someone she could talk with who didn't treat her like a pretty china doll. True, it might mean a stack of beer cans here and a couple of ashtrays full of cigarette butts there...but what was that compared to friendship? Especially for a woman who was both 'young' and a 'Captain,' two words which had no business being in the same place or same person. And Melissa told it to her straight, no holds barred.

Where was Melissa? How was Melissa? Was there even a Melissa anymore?

URGENT.

"Urgent, " Tessa said to herself. So many things seemed to be 'URGENT' these days. She sighed. She had taken on the responsibility, and certain things come with responsibility. "Bigger things come with bigger responsibility," she said. "More 'URGENT' things come with bigger responsibility." After fighting back tears, she asked herself "Why do I NEED this responsibility?!"

Tessa looked at the clock on her cabin wall. She didn't see the time. She saw the flashing ":" between numbers, seemingly synchronized to the beat of her heart. One beat. Two beats. Three beats. Three seconds of her life gone. Three seconds older. And older and older and older.

Tessa admonished herself. She wouldn't help herself falling too deeply into melancholy. Any submarine Captain had better things to do than fall into clinical depression. That went double for the commander of the TDD-1.

Nonetheless, she wondered what it might be like to be not only young, but also relatively free. And that brought to mind someone else who had once shared a soak with her and Melissa. Someone with whom she had joined forces to save the TDD-1 and everyone aboard. Someone who was fortunate enough to have had things she wished she herself could have.

Kaname Chidori.

That name made her prickle at times, as if she could feel herself grow spines. Long sharp spines. Miss Chidori was althletic and sure-footed where she herself was clumsy and a injury prone. Miss Chidori was full-figured and moved with grace, where she herself was more petite and awkward. Miss Chidori was popular with her peers, people who wished to me more like her. She herself was popular amongst older subordinates, people who thought of her as The Cute Captain, a child performer taking on an adult's role. A curiosity. Their curiosity.

Of course, Tessa had her own skills, and they were far beyond anything a high school girl might have. But, at that moment, they seemed cold consolation. Miss Chidori had the enviable opportunity to form relationships with boys: something so very important to girls their shared age. And---Tessa admitted---Miss Chidori often had almost unlimited access to one particular young man: Sousuke Sagara.

Tessa never really knew how to feel about Sousuke.

It was hard wearing the hat of a Captain on her head and the heart of a young woman on her sleeve. When she thought of Sousuke, her outward spines disappeared almost entirely; but, in their place, inward spines grew. He just didn't seem capable of seeing her for anything but a commanding officer. She constantly found herself wanting to grab him by the collar and yell "I'M A WOMAN DAMMIT...LOOK AT ME LIKE I'M A WOMAN." And when she dreamed, she often found herself holding out her arms to him, asking him to desire her like she's a woman. She always woke up before anything ever reached fruition.

Perhaps the conversation they'd had before he headed back to Japan was an indication that he was at least open to something more than a purely professional relationship....

URGENT

Tessa was the designer and Captain of the most advanced and most powerful submarine the world had EVER seen. She had great men, men of experience and distinction, serving as her advisors. The crew she had must surely be one of the best above or below the seas. And still, at moments like this, she felt cursed. She felt like SHE had fired a bolt into the breast of THAT albatross. She shook her head when she thought of the lives of other women. There were some who grew to think of their spouses or their children as weights around their necks. Would she ever be able to fill her life with the softer responsibilities, or would she be wedded to steel and the sea for the rest of her days?

Tessa finally had enough of introspection. This was not a new thorn in her side. She told herself that there was still time for many things in her life. There would come a time when she would step down, and find a different role in the organization. Until then, perhaps she should take time some day to set reasonable and attainable short-term and long-term goals. Short-term first. Why not now?

For Mithril? To give the organization her all.

For Melissa? A safe return.

For Sousuke? She would perservere, but would not set her hopes too high.

For Kaname Chidori? Perhaps she sould stop seeing her as a rival, and see if she could be a friend. A very admirable sentiment!

URGENT

Yes, and for the envelope? It was time to open it.

She pulled out the papers...Oh, it was THIS! The assignment she had given Sousuke. He had gotten to it very promptly, despite all the things he had been going through. She would not have expected anything less of Sousuke. Let's see what he has had a chance to come up with:

She started reading Sousuke's thoughts on Miss Chidori. It did not take long before her face turned pink...pinker...red...redder. Most scientists are well away of the nature of the term 'infrared.' If any scientist had been in that cabin at that time, he would have gotten an understanding of the term 'ultra-red!'

Physical contact! Karma Sutra! Freakish and infirmed! Stamina! Self-lubricating parts! Stick of a girl with breasts of a boy!

Tessa threw those papers aside and picked up the ones with HER name. More of the same! Personality of a pet! Aiming for things out of reach! Shoot myself if I were her! Misplaced and fruitless! Love not likely! Sexual relationship, Why?!!!

If the envelope had been clever, it would have erased that 'URGENT' before coming in here on THIS night! Hell. if it had any common sense, it would have just jumped into the shredder! She would show that envelope the meaning of 'URGENT.'

It had not taken Tessa overly long to realize that this was not Sousuke's doing, even though these were the original papers. It also did not take Tessa long to figure out WHO was responsible. And why SHE had done this. The only real question was how she had come across Sousuke's papers, and whether or not he had any active role in this. Her guess would be "no." And that would be easily proven to her satisfaction when Sousuke read THOSE responses himself!

Tessa twisted at her hair angrily. To think she had thought of trying to offer some form of reconcilliation! To run up a flag of truce! She had just taken a broadside, pure and simple...but she had the wind at HER advantage. And, she had the larger ship.

Two could play at jokes and deceptions. The blinding light of inspiration filled her mind: she had just the plan. She would remain responsible, and would maintain as much dignity as she could. And she would use the coincidence of events to her advantage. She had no intention of removing Sousuke from his current position on a permanent basis. Especially not for personal reasons. But, with Sgt. Major Mao and Sgt.s Weber and Conrad missing...not to mention the TDD-1 being short on Arm Slaves at the moment...Sousuke would best serve them all by being aboard the submarine. That decision had already been made and approved.

Tessa reached into her desk drawer and removed an envelope labeled 'URGENT.' She got to work typing the message she needed. It might be worth reactivating the spy cams Mithril had secreted in Miss Chidori's apartment, but activated only in times of true potential need. It might make a nice show. Perhaps with wine, cheese, and crackers!!! She had only been joking, but....

*************************************************************

Kaname had to admit it was a fine day. She was still on cloud nine from her date with Sousuke two days before, and was in orbit because of their kiss, as awkward as it was. She certainly had no reason to complain!!! Being able to think Sousuke, date, and kiss all at once was a staggering accomplishment.

She hadn't told anyone at school...but it must show, as so many people had asked what was going on. Asked her what was RIGHT with her! She wasn't ready to tell them yet...this was HERS to hold onto for a while.

Of course, she had to keep things in perspective. She had to learn patience, just as Sousuke had to learn to reach out more, and let go more. Things hadn't exactly blossomed since their date, but Sousuke was more attentive to her feelings, and that was a good start. She would have killed for that alone, a week ago. And, she thought looking at the date jar she had taken out from under her bed, SHE was in charge of the next date. Perhaps she would have an opportunity to tutor Sousuke in the subject of kissing....

Things were certainly looking up!!! It was a fine day to be Kaname Chidori!!!

There was a loud knock at her door. COULD THAT BE SOUSUKE?!! He hadn't said anything about coming by, but he had shown her that he could certainly surprise her.

Kaname ran to the door...but when she opened it, no one was there. An envelope lay on the floor, marked 'URGENT,' and addressed to her. She suddenly felt a prickly sensation at the back of her neck. A VERY prickly sensation.

URGENT

What could be so "URGENT?' Who would send anything 'URGENT?' Could it be some ploy of Sousuke's? Thinking of Sousuke reminded her where she had seen crimson letters of that size and font before. The Mithril courier....

The Mithril courier...and the envelope containing the 'homework' papers she had mailed to Tessa. Kaname started to be concerned, wondering what message someone in Mithril might be sending to her in this manner. Why not just relay a message through Sousuke? SOUSUKE?!!! Could this have something to do with Sousuke?

Kaname's previous joy from puncturing Tessa's inflated ego turned to ashes on her tongue. Kaname had almost perished from the inflation of a huge balloon...might she be be in even greater danger from the bursting of something the size of Tessa's pride?

URGENT

Kaname stared at the envelope. It did not move. It did not make the first move. It did not seem moved.

It just sat there.

It did not open itself.

It did not burst into flame.

And Kaname did not have ruby slippers to click together. But she was certainly very suddenly afraid of the Wicked Witch!!!

She considered calling Sousuke, thinking she might feel better opening the envelope if he was there with here. She might even consider that to BE the next date, if that was what it took!!! Kaname was well aware of something at that moment: the more you gain...the more you have to lose.

URGENT

Enough nonsense! Wasn't she Kaname Chidori? Hadn't she been through SO MANY things and always come out standing?!!! Problems don't go away just because someone refuses to look at them.

Kaname opened the envelope, and removed a letter with the letterhead of the Mithril Financial Department:




Dear Miss Chidori

It has come to our attention that we have been remiss in sending you the ongoing bills for our services. These were to have been sent out quarterly, but by means of a program error, the bills were being sent to an unnamed dead file, escaping the attention of our accountants and the courier service.

You will be pleased to know that we will add no penalty for late payment. Likewise, as you are a priority 1A resource, you will not be charged interest.

Preferred payment is in nontraceable electronic funds or gold bullion. Quarterly payments can of course be handled with payment of funds by yourself in timely fashion. If you wish, given your designated status, we would be glad for you to visit our department in order to apply for a loan. With your references within our organization, there is a good chance that such a loan would be approved.

At the insistance of high ranking members within the organization, your account has been credited with a significant positive balance, due to services rendered by yourself to said members and their subordinates. The numbers below take such a credit into account. Further services by yourself may serve in similar fashion, at the dicretion of members of the Accounting Staff.

The amount due listed below should be paid as promptly as possible. As resources within the organization are currently at a low point, allocation of Mithril equipment and personnel will be both a sensitive and a strategic issue. Accordingly, until total payment is received and verified, all Mithril services to yourself will be considered to be on hold.

Because you are such an important asset to the organization, and because you have rendered services far beyond most non-members, you will not be expected to pass through a review board to obtain reinstatement of the aforementioned services. We at Mithril wish to honor those who serve with distinction.



The remainer of the letter was numbers. Too many numbers. Numbers that made her hospital repair bill look like a pittance. Kaname looked at the Date Jar, and thought it may need to be relabled the Meager Rations Jar.

This was terrible news. Perhaps it was a misunderstanding. Could this just be a joke?! How bad could things really be....

The phone rang.

"Hello?" Kaname answered. It was Sousuke.

"What? When? Are you certain? Has anybody said 'why' or 'for how long?....'" The conversation went on for some time after that.

************************************************************

The bottom line was that Sousuke had been recalled to the TDD-1. For unknown reasons. For an unknown length of time.

[darkbane]

***goes to sharpen his knife collection***

[grahf]

*polishes his bullets*

[dd]

An interesting tennis match is going on between Tessa and Kaname...

Think this might be enough to later prompt a CAT FIGHT?!

[dd]

Inspiration. I now know what will happen. Why, where, and how the cat fight will happen. Some of the things that will be said (...n-a-s-t-y ). The outcome.

There will be preceding discussion with Kalinin. Tessa will show Sousuke the offending homework papers. Sousuke...fresh from his chat with Kalinin and remebering things he'd thought about himself... will take things into his own hand, devising a contest and later putting the two women together in a locked room until they cooperate and hammer out the variables he leaves open.

The contest will occur. The plot calls for Kurz, so he and Melissa will be seen to be back.

The contest itself will be a second mini-Cat Fight ...with the happy added bonus of some Kurzisms.

The outcome will be sweet in its own way and open up something new, if not ongoing.

Just gotta find the time some day....

[darkbane]

ongoing is good, give us ongoing... new is good too, if it's ongoing that is. well go ahead and write it

[grahf]

w00t!! cool, dd..... now go write.

[HELLFIRE]

"I'M A WOMAN DAMMIT...LOOK AT ME LIKE I'M A WOMAN."

now HOW many times does it take before Sousuke figures THAT out?!