Thankfully, our two-hour sojourn was free of insect interference. We were slow and cautious, stopping a number of times to conduct a situational awareness test. Sam was completely on board, and possibly even more cautious than me. We did not speak more than absolutely necessary and when we did it was short, quiet, and to the point.

As we round the corner of a brick building into a wide alley with solid stone or steel buildings on the left, right, and behind, I see the small defensive position. It has mana shields set up in a crescent formation but powered low, likely to save on mana stones. Behind the mana shield barrier were six armed and armored humanoids and at least two dozen civilians behind them.

“Friendlies!” I call out loudly as we come into view. I bring my hands up above my head and ask for assistance. “Friendlies requesting shelter. Please don’t blow us up.”

The two humans, two elves, a dwarf, and a gnome who were just raising their weapons lowered them.

“Come on then. Don’t dawdle," called the human in the middle.

I notice he is the only one with no head protection – or hair for that matter – and only thin cloth armor with occasional beast leather plates.

I jog forward, Sam close at my heels. We pass through an opening they create in the middle of the dim mana barriers.

“Thank you,” the relief obvious in my voice.

The human who called us turns to Sam and orders, “Report."

I notice he is holding a rod of some sort and not a projector pistol as I first thought. It’s about ten inches long and deep red, almost black.

I wonder if he is a human Special. Assuming he is of sufficient level, that could very strongly up the defensive strength of this position.

Sam glances at me, I nod and he proceeds to speak to the possible Special. “We are what remains of patrol team 13-1. Our team leader and pilot were killed. We’re all that’s left.” Sam and I had agreed in advance what to say openly. We can report privately to the headquarters on what actually took place.

“Your flyer?” the human asks.

“Crashed,” Sam answers. “We need to report in but wanted to find a safe location.”

The human nods at Sam and asks impatiently, “Did you see any of the enemy on your way here?”

I guess I don’t measure up. I suppose since we both put away our weapons and I’m in a t-shirt, sweats, and sneakers while Sam is in his hunter gear it makes sense. He probably thinks I’m some sort of civilian who got roped in with poor armaments.

“No,” Sam answers with a shake of his head. “It was quiet. We also didn’t pass any humanoid life.”

“Fine,” he the bald human says curtly. “Go report in and let them know you are in defensive position thirty-three and we have recruited you. You will report back here for further instructions.”

I see Sam stiffen up and I can see his jaw muscles bulge from his face. Then the human looks in my direction but not in my eyes, “You get with the civilians and stay out of the way with the rest of the non-fighters.”

Sam opens his mouth to speak but I reach up and put my hand on his shoulder. He stops and looks over at me.

“We better report in,” I say quietly.

His body relaxes and I walk towards the group of scared non-combatants with Sam close on my heels. Once we’re out of hearing range of the warriors, I say to Sam, “You call in, I need to change into my armor.”

“You have armor?” he asks with clear surprise in my voice. Then with exasperation, “Well, why the hell weren’t you wearing it?”

I blush slightly. “I wish I did. Maybe I should have. But it kind of takes me a bit to get into it and I have to strip so I’m vulnerable. There was really no safe opportunity between the Pike, the assignment, the patrol op, and the crash. Now is really my first chance to do it in a secure location with the required time. Will you act as a guard while I get it on?”

I chuckled as Sam’s face turns bright red and he turns his face from me. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he mumbles. “Why don’t you ask the female civilians to create a circle around you so you can do that?” I notice his voice raises to a higher pitch at the end.

I roll my eyes at humans and their sensitivities. Honestly.

“Fine,” I say, exasperated. “Let’s report in first.”

***

“Thank you so much, ladies," I say as I step out from the encircling human female crowd. I give them each a hug and personal thank you. I also slip each a gold coin in appreciation and recognition of their efforts to keep nosy males from trying to peek. Of course, I couldn’t give a gryphon shit, but they were absolutely firm in their belief that “propriety,” as they called it, had to be maintained. In fact, a rather formidable woman, who reminds me of Vic’s new head of financial services, whacked a human male with a stick of unknown origin for getting too close. She received two gold.

I’m now fully dressed in my green healer armor with hood and, for the first time, face covering. The half-mask is a piece of infused green silk that covers from my nose down. My golden eyes show but most humans don’t automatically assume that means life magica. Eyes come in all shapes, sizes, and colors with us non-humans after all.

Turning back to the circle of woman, I say. “Here. You ladies distribute this as you see fit." I tap my ring and drop two boxes of water canteens and two boxes of nutrition bars. Of course, they didn’t actually come out of the ring on my finger. They came out of the tiny gold ring I have on my pinky toe. Vic loves fiddling with that one in the tub and on the couch, especially after we make love. Aaaaaand I need to stop getting distracted by my labeto.

Saying a final farewell to my group of matronly guards, I can hear them giving orders about lining up, children first, and whatnot. I work my way through the crowd of likely hungry and thirsty civilians, walk up to the defensive line and stand straight in front of the human Special. Sam confirmed to me over our comm that he is indeed a nano-activated human, although he would not share his level.

“Reporting for duty on the defensive line and awaiting instructions,” I say firmly but at normal volume.

The human looks me up and down derisively. “Who sent you?” he asks with bite. “I told HQ I won’t fight with women.”

Oh. Well, this is going to go well. I try to stay professional as I tell him, “I'm a healer, nature magica, and crack shot with a crossbow. You can use me and I won’t cause any trouble.”

“I don’t care. Leave or return to the civilian group,” he orders with a finger pointing at the group.

I take a breath and try again. “Sam and I have already worked together well. How about I just stay-”

“No!” he snaps that in a near yell. “Get away from my defensive line before you impact discipline!”

Impact discipline? What. The. Fuck. Who does this dumb fuck think he is? Fine. If he wants to do things that way, I’ll deal with it myself.

Turning around, I walk just out of earshot and touch my earpiece. “Command, this is Aria Victory from team 13-1 reporting in. Please confirm my profile.”

A few moments of silence and then I hear in a high-pitched male voice, likely a gnome. “Aria Victory, life and nature Magica, high accuracy with crossbow. No munitions or armaments required. Confirm.”

“Confirmed,” I respond. “I'm currently at defensive position thirty-three with my surviving unit member Sampson Georgia and requesting instructions.”

Another voice comes on, this time I hear a gravelly voice, likely a dwarf. “Lass, ya at thirty-three wit tha Special, Charlie sumptin, who na like ladies. Orders incomin. Go ta him in a minute.”

I slowly walk my way back to the defensive line and stand a few meters behind asshole Charlie whateverhisnameis. First Sam, then the dwarves, now this guy. Why are so many people assholes?

Aaaaaand I sound like Vic again. Next thing I know, I’ll start talking about exploding people. At least Sam seems to have mellowed.

I see the human put his fingers to his ear. I don’t know if it was done on purpose, by accident, or through sneaking around, but I hear the “conversation” in my earpiece. The HQ voice is a human female which must really drive this Charlie human over the edge.

“Commander DP thirty-three, please respond.”

“Here, HQ,” Charlie responds.

“I have new orders. You have in your group a useful elf that can add value to your team. Her name is Aria Victory. Confirm orders.”

“Command, you know I don’t fight with women and I won’t have one on my defensive line. She can stay with the civilians or you can come get her in a transport.”

“Negative, commander. We have no transports available and her skills would be wasted with the civilians. You are ordered to assign her to your line and make full use of her capabilities. She can heal, conduct some crowd control, and do damage with her crossbow.”

I can see his obvious irritation growing as his fists are tight and shaking and his body is as straight as Vic’s spear-staff.

“Fuck you, Command,” he growls. “I won’t allow a woman to fuck up the discipline of my team. I refuse the order.”

“That was not a request, commander, nor an order you may refuse. Not only will you assign her to your line, but you will also offer her the respect someone of her position and skills deserves. Refusal will result in your being removed from command and disciplined. Acknowledge orders.”

“You can’t do that. I’m a fucking Special and I don’t have to take shitty orders from you. You can fuck off and so can your little elven bitch!” he spits venomously.

I hear a sigh before the woman says, “Charlie, I'm going to give you this one piece of advice before you do something you won’t live to regret. You have no idea who you’re dealing with. You being a Special doesn’t mean orc shit compared to that little elf you have with you. You could be disappeared some night because of what you just said and nobody would blink an eye, Special or no. Whatever connections you think you have aren’t shit compared to what’s backing her. Don’t fuck this up. Command out.”

I give the dumb shit a moment to compose himself and so it doesn’t look like I was listening in. I then walk up to him and say calmly, “I just received instructions from Command." He whips around with a red face, visibly clenched teeth, and his fists clenched and shaking by his sides. I continue speaking anyway. “I'm to be assigned to your defensive line. I’ll happily stand with Sam all the way on the end there and be out of your way.”

His face turns an even deeper red. “Get out of my sight,” he snarls with spittle flying out of his mouth.

I nod and walk over to Sam, taking my place on the end of the crescent. My loaded crossbow appears in my hand and I stand ready like the three other on-duty team members. Now we wait and hope to be bored out of our minds until this is all over.

Somehow I don’t think we’ll be that lucky.