=\\TACTICAL WAIFUS QUEST?//=
PART 10: THE NEW DIGS
As you watched your girls strap in for take-off—each and every one of them managing to perfectly frame their… well… you know with the webbing of their harnesses without seeming to notice—you made a mental note to requisition the girls some proper uniforms.
As cute as micro-skirts and thigh-highs might be… that's it. There's no but. that's the problem. The girls look unbearably…let's go with 'cute' for now in their current uniforms. Not like soldiers, more schoolgirls who could tear you in half if they wanted to. You're teetering on the very edge of sanity as it was without them wearing swooshy-swooshy skirts around everywhere.
They're part of the Army now, so they'll be getting proper uniforms. ASUs for dress occasions, ACUs for everything else. You've never known ACUs to look good on anyone, and even your girls' spectacular curves should be spoiled by the baggy digy-cams. Also, the girls will be wearing pants. It's a small victory, especially considering how well Riley filled out her fatigues, but you're going to have to count on small victories from now on. Lord knows you're never gonna get any full victories. Not with these girls.
You leave the girls to themselves and migrate forwards to where Burke's sitting. The lone island in the sea of bizzare cliches that is your girls. Your… Waifus, as they called them.
"Burke," you said.
"Major," he said back. "You know, you should be thankful."
"Hmm?" you said and buckled yourself in.
"It was a long battle convincing them to let the girls wear skirts," Burke nodded towards the girls. Marie was fussing with her harness, apparently unable to make it sit comfortably over her chest, while Riley squirmed around like a squirrel on crack with a beaming smile on her face. Shelby just sat ramrod straight and rested her hands in her lap like a patient schoolgirl. Or maybe some kind of nun.
You blinked. "Please tell me the alternative was pants."
Burke nodded, "Of the British variety."
You scowled. You never thought you'd be so thankful to have your soldier walking around in barely-legal microskirts. This universe in general was just messed up. "Anything the Genotech weebs put into their outfits?"
"Not really," said Burke. "Had to use some carbon nano-thread for Marie's, but other then that, just regular fabric."
You narrowed your eyes. "Carbon… nano-thread."
"Mmm," Burke nodded. "Stronger than steel and lighter too. Three guesses where they used it."
You shook your head. "I'm gonna let that remain a mystery for now."
Before the two of you can converse further, the transport roars forward in a howl of turbo-prop and jet power. The thing shakes itself half to death before the nose comes up and it slowly lumbers into the air. The takeoff is so loud and ungraceful that you barely notice someone hugging your hip.
Wait.
You blinked, and looked down at the seat beside you. Emma King, the short, wiry brunette from the sniper team, has her hands wrapped around your middle and her head all but buried in your chest. Her scruffy brown ponytail's looking more frazzled than usual, and her big brown eyes stare up at you like a wet dog's.
"Um…" She squeezed you a bit tighter, "Hi."
"Hi," you said in return.
"I don't like flying," explained Emma. "Is all." She scooted a tiny bit closer until her slender leg brushed against yours. "I don't like you, uh, Major. Just… hold me?"
You blinked, then slid a hand around her to hold her tight. She's… surprisingly strong for her size. There's none of the softness you anticipated, just lean muscle with just enough give to lend some feminine warmth to her body.
You glanced back into the cargo area. Shelby offers you a brief wink and a kindly smile, Abigail's quite blatantly pouting, and Riley's face is cycling though emotions so fast you haven't the slightest clue what she's feeling.
This sets the tone for the rest of your flight.
—|—|—
Emma doesn't let you scrape her off until well after the plane comes to a full and complete stop, and the roar of the engines fades into the distant burble of pilots finishing their landing checklists.
It's a nice day outside. Warm, but not to the point of making you uncomfortable in your heavy uniform. The sky's dotted with a spare handful of clouds, and the gentle breeze smells lightly of cut grass and jet fuel. You hobble down the ramp onto the battered concrete tarmac.
And almost instantly get an eyefull of Riley stretching after her long flight. You had no idea she was that flexible, and the gentle breeze keeps making her tiny skirt flutter around her hips. If she wasn't wearing those shorts, you'd probably kill someone.
"Heya." Before you can look away, she notices you and pivots on her heel. A bright smile graces her face and she keeps looking past you at the trees. "It's so pretty, isn't it?"
You shrug. It's not the most spectacular place you've ever been. But then again, it's not the worst. You leave the girls with Burke and hobble off to check out your new base. According to the report you got from The Brass, you've got a wealth of rooms to explore.
Not only is there the usual sleeping quarters and kitchen, but there's a library, a gaming lounge/common area, and even a swimming pool for your girls to relax in.
"Heya, Ryan!" Marie bounces over with a smile on her face and a duffel bag slung over her shoulder. It's not a very large bag, especially considering it contains literally all her worldly possessions.
"Marie," you said. You stare at the grass and mentally count off seconds. Knowing these girls, there's got to be some kind of gratuitous bouncing with heart-shaped blurs and inexplicable slow-motion, but you're just going to think about grass until things are back to normal.
"Nice place?" she half-said half-hoped.
You shrug.
"Think you can show me around?" asked Marie. "Riley's still getting unpacked, if that's what you're wondering."
You shrugged again. "Sure."
"Yay!" Marie bounced into the air and smiled even wider. "Where should we start?"
- - - - - - -
>Where do you start?
>Do you go now, or wait for more girls?