A soft wet sensation on my nose woke me, followed by a growling whine and what I suspected was a paw trying to enter my nose. The fact the paw was the size of my nose made that a bit awkward and painful.

I opened my eyes slowly. They felt gritty and dry, trying to figure out what the hell was happening. I remembered crying myself to sleep after getting the...puppy. In front of my head was the single most adorable little ball of fluff I had seen in a very long time. The pup was growl whining at me while wagging his tail so hard his butt was having trouble staying still. It lunged at me, a high pitched bark accompanying the motion before it whacked his paw on my nose again. Then the adorable thing spun in a circle and got back into position, wiggling all the while.

I started laughing. I couldn't help it. The pup stopped wiggling and tilted its head to the side at my laughter, confusion written on his little face and then the wiggling began anew, and he started barking like only a puppy can when so happy and excited that it just cannot stand it. It then began hopping up and down and making little lunges at me, wanting to play.

I grabbed the little stinker and rolled him, it was indeed him, onto his back and began attacking his furry little tummy while he put up such a mighty fight. The battle was epic, filled with growls and slobbers while I assaulted that tiny little hairy belly, but he fell in the end, exhausted from the struggle for freedom.

I smiled at the little guy, for once feeling like I wasn’t utterly lost and alone. I spent a few more moments holding the little guy in my arms and scratching his ears while he feebly tried to resist and nip my fingers. I chuckled, knowing I’d need to train him later, but for now, he could be exactly what he was, a baby. I remember The System mentioned food and toys were given as well. I had no idea where the actual hell those were though and judging by the rumbles I was feeling and hearing from his stomach he was starving.

I searched the room a bit, hoping The System had placed it somewhere around here. Luckily it was in my quarters, just not where I expected it. I’d damn near tore the place apart before finding it under the bed. My entire body was screaming at me for the reckless abuse I had just put it through as well. My body could suck it up and be a big boy though; the puppy needed food damn it.

I opened the funky can of wet-food and placed it on the ground, promising to get a few bowls later for the food and water he’d need. That’s when I heard the beeping, beeping coming from my wrist that sounding oddly like a monitor.

Looking at my wrist, I frowned at it. Where the fuck had that come from? Looking at it more closely I realized what it was and about three seconds later I was subjected to Trenton entering my quarters with a very pissed off, and slightly disheveled looking, Andy hot on his heels. Her hair was all over the place, clearly bed-head, and her clothes were a little out of place. I put the wrist behind my back and pretending I was not standing, that I was not out of my bunk, and that there was not a puppy currently trying to eat his way through the can into the floor for more food.

Trenton and Andy both took in everything I was pretending wasn’t present before Trenton promptly spun on his heel and left the room, shutting the door behind him. Traitor. Andy, well, she started yelling at me and forcing me onto the bed before checking my vitals. She was ignoring my mighty protector, the heroic little puppy that was biting at her pant legs and trying his hardest to make her stop ‘hurting’ Daddy.

Once the vitals were taken, a strong final berating from Andy following it she finally looked down at the puppy, scooped him up and immediately, dear God she rasberried my puppy’s belly. “Oh, you’re adorable! Who's a cutie pie? Who’s a cutie pie? You are, yes you are! Pffffht” followed by another raspberry to his tummy and though he kicked mightily to prevent the action, barking so fiercely it was for naught, she was in control, and I could hardly save him. Take the bullet for me this time guy; I’ll make it up to you later!

“Where did you come from huh? I think you’re far too cute for someone like this who doesn’t follow his Doctor's orders” I had to admit she was pretty cute doing that...wait, what?

“Now hold on a moment, Andy, that is my fluff ball.” - “Hush, I’m playing.” The hell? She fucking hushed me? I looked at the puppy, then the tiny woman, and back again. Was it just puppies that did this to women?

“I’m gonna take you with me now.” That got me moving, and I snatched him from her grubby little mitts, the puppy whining, hiding from the scary zerbiting woman.

“You will do no such thing, and he’s my baby!” Andy regarded me, her hands making little grabbing motions and an alarming light in her eyes. That light women get when they see something utterly adorable. She restrained herself a moment later, looking thoughtful.

“Fine, but if you disobey me, or Green again I’m stealing him and keeping him,” I growled at her, my little guy taking up a bark now that he felt safe. He wanted to scare her away no doubt. She got that same look in her eyes, and I hid him behind me on the bed.

“What are you naming him? I think Cuddles works best.” Yea...hell no. “Leo, his name is Leo.” She growled at me for that. What the fuck is going on right now? Why did she look so bloody indignant because I wouldn’t call my big guy Cuddles?

She humphed at me and then adorned her professional look, what I used to see her as, rather than the strange grabby woman she had become when she saw Leo. “He’d be better off known as Cuddles, but fine. Let’s get you in your chair. Green cleared Nova from the emergency room an hour ago, and she can have visitors. She’s still not conscious though, so don’t get worked up.”

That reminder sobered me a bit. I had indeed damn near jumped up so I could rush toward the Barracks. Sighing, I submitted myself to her ‘aid’ which I suspected was nothing more than an excuse to watch the puppy wiggle in my arms in an attempt to flee her grabby hands.

Puppy in hand and Andy shoving my happy ass toward the Barracks with Trenton trailing behind. We made for quite the little group judging by the stares we got after I left the Command Center. I also had a more considerable detachment of Imperial Guards around me, Georgie took up my left flank while Trenton was on my right. Another two in front of me. I frowned at that, but let it go. I didn’t trust that whole ‘one month reprieve’ crap. I fully expected assassins being sent after me.

I had them stop before we set off though, remember to use an Upgrade Card on the Command Center. May as well keep with my plans. The new Star Base could wait until I chose an owner for it to specialize.

Congratulations Player! You have upgraded your Command Center! All SCV Riggs will be created in half the current time for a third of the resources required. The Command Center has unlocked the Tactical Assistance passive ability.

Tactical Assistance - Adjutant A.I will become Faction wide. Assisting all forces under your command during operations and briefings.

Not what I wanted by a long shot, it didn’t even actually change the building. It would be useful though because by the sound of it that meant all my forces, no matter where they were at, would gain that aid.

I sighed a bit wishing I’d gotten the cannon. Perhaps next time I’d unlock something like that. I’d need to make a trip toward The Orion later to upgrade it before I had to leave on the Campaign Map today. I wasn’t looking forward to that argument at all either.

When we arrived at the Barracks, we were met by Fernando who saluted and fell in beside me. “Sir, about the ship...I would like to rescind my previous request. I would instead request you grant me, Swann, once those Battlecruisers are repaired.” I felt my brow raise a bit; I had been prepared to tell him it’d be decided later on. Instead, he utterly left the running for the ship. I had no real reason to deny him either.

“Alright, what do you need him for?” Fernando looked at me as we continued on our way before smiling a bit. “A project, Sir. Something to better defend the men and Civilians.” I narrowed my eyes a bit but decided it’d be better in the long run. So I gave him his request.

He left after we arrived at Nova’s room, eyeing it with evident disdain before saluting me and moving deeper into the Barracks. For my part I stared at the door, afraid to enter, fearful of what I would see when I rolled into the room. “Wait here for me, please,” I whispered, and I felt Andy pause behind me before I heard her very audible sigh.

“Alright, Damian, but only for a moment. Green needs to speak with you after this as well.” I nodded, my Imperial Guard taking up position on either side of the door. I entered the room, little Leo looking around curiously. He had been quiet on our trip here.

What I saw almost made me cry again. Nova on the gurney, a blanket pulled up toward her stomach. She had a gown on, and her head was wrapped in a bandage that hid her hair as well as one of her eyes. One arm was in a cast. The sound of the machines around her, the monitors and such, very loud in the quiet room. I rolled up toward her and placed her unbound hand in mine, squeezing so lightly I doubt you could even call it a squeeze. She seemed too fragile at this moment. The silence and lack of movement heartbreaking in their way. Her breathing was steady and healthy looking at least, a small favor. As long as she was alive, I knew I could get her out of the coma, no matter how long it took.

I was looking down at her face, what was visible, and just started talking. “You know, you scared the shit out of me that day. I thought you died.” a few tears snuck their way out when I continued. “Why didn’t you just stay with Green?”

I lapsed into silence a moment later while taking two deep breaths and shoving down the sadness. She was alive; everything else was fine from that point on. Taking one more deep breath, I pulled out the upgrade card hearing the door behind me open before I could use it.

I whipped my head around; a snarling growl followed when I shouted at the intruder. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? I told you to leave me be a moment!”

What I saw made me frown more, just as the door closed I saw one of my Imperial Guards slumped on the ground, fallen really, but no blood. The hell? Then I saw him, Hiko Morimoto. “What do you want, Assassin? Come to finish the job you started because you had to wait?” I growled.

The man smirked at me, sashaying his way toward me in far too natural a manner. He trailed one hand over my shoulder, moving along my chest while resting a head on my other shoulder and looking at Nova. He utterly ignored my great protector's attempts to bark him to death.

“Oh Boy Toy, such a cute little thing you have there. To answer your question, no, I’m not here to kill you. I just grew tired of waiting for you to finalize our deal. Why, when I heard you were here, I decided to request an audience. Your big beefcake of a man, Trenton was it? He disagreed, so I knocked them all out. He was a tough one.” Hiko chuckled, and I growled. I did not want him touching me.

“Such a shame about the sweetheart there. So young and vibrant yet cut low in a battle due to stubbornness.” I tried to hit him then; it ended pathetically. He snatched my wrist, looking at it for the first time. I’d thrown the hand that held the card in my attempt to punch him.

“Oh my, now where did you get this tasty little thing?” he asked, his eyes widening a little while he lost his smirk and looked serious for once. “I want to change our deal. I want this, name your terms, and I’ll counter, but I will not leave without it.”

I felt his hand squeeze my wrist with enough force to grind the bones and I winced at the pain. Mother fucker! One eye closed I spat at his cheek, the spit landing just shy of his mouth. “Fuck you; this belongs to Nova.”

He smiled a slow, predatory smile, his tongue flicking out to lick the spit away before looking toward Nova. “Only if she is alive…” He all but hissed at me.