Chapter 8: Enemy Mine

January 12, 2024 8:45 AM

Jacob was already awake when his dad came out of his room. Neither him nor Samantha had slept much last night and not because of why they would have liked. No, it was worry and apprehension that had keep them awake. Today would see them going on a mission that could see one or both of them dead. Death was always a part of being a soldier in the Phoenixes, but it was different going on one that Derek himself had called a suicide mission. It made it seem so much closer and more likely that neither wanted to let go of the other.

"Everyone up! We are moving out in ten," Derek said before headed back into his room. Jacob sighed as he buried his head into Samatha's chest, wishing he could just will the night to come back. She stroked his head and gave her own sigh of disappointment. The night was over and their safety with it. They would have more nights together on the way to their mission, but it wouldn't be the same. Out there, the ever present danger of being found or just being stepped on by accident tainted everything, including their nights together. Even tangled up in Samantha, Jacob could not truly relax out there, and neither could anyone else.

"Come on, it's time," Samantha whispered as Jacob, reluctantly, pulled away from her. They both began to get their gear on along with everyone else in the barracks. The Squad Leaders were already dressed, equipped, and ready to move out so they went around to help those that lagged behind. Jacob put his large fur coat over his patch-work clothing and shouldered his rifle. He grabbed his leather pack and slung it over his back after checking to make sure it was full of his supplies still. Samantha was dressed pretty much the same but had a rocket launcher rather than a rifle, with plenty of spare rockets sticking out of her pack. About half their number also had rockets while the rest had rifles like Jacob. In less than five minutes, everyone was geared up and ready to move out. No sooner had the noise died down did Derek come out of his room.

Derek had his usual ill-fitting clothing on but had his own fur coat over it. His laser cannon was on his back and a few spare power sources were hanging from his belt. A large gun that looked to be a machine gun was in his hand. Behind him came the Society fucker who had his odd mix of Society clothing and fur on. An actual backpack was on his back along with a knife on his belt. A rather ramshackle, even by Phoenix standards, rifle was slung over his shoulder. He looked away from the group as they all gave him a death stare. He was the reason they were going out to fucking die. Why Samantha was going to put in so much danger. Over a fucking catmonster no less. Fucking Darius, why the fuck was he in charge when he made these kinds of shitty decisions?!

Derek motioned for Squad Leader Susan to come over and handed her the machine gun.

"You're our best shot, so make good use of it. Sanders here doesn't need it since he will have a catmonster to fight for him," Derek said getting a few chuckles from the Force. Susan took the gun and smiled as she looked it over. Sanders frowned in annoyance which only mad Jacob more angry at him. Fucker should be glad he isn't dead.

"Alright, boys and girls, let's move out," Derek said before pushing Sanders in front of him to lead the way. His dad must want to keep Sanders alive if he was keeping the fucker with him. Jacob was sure he wasn't the only one who would kill that Society piece of shit if given a chance. And why shouldn't they? Those fucks had taken everything from them, including his mother. Maybe putting his ass down would get people to stop calling him Jack-off too...

They headed out of the barracks and up through the bridge support. It was a long climb up, but the lift would have taken too long to get them all up to the top. So they were forced to use the stairs that had been carved out of it, a job Jacob had helped with and still made every part of his body ache when he thought back on it. Finally, they reached the top and came out in the large debris field above Hope. A few hidden watchposts were set up in the debris and a base of sorts was just outside the exit of the support column. Though calling it a base was a bit of a overstatement since all it was was a bunch of tents. 

Derek talked with the leader of the base for a few seconds, but only long enough for people to start to get their breath back from the climb. Then they were moving again, through the maze of debris to the eastern end of the gutter.

While going out the front of the gutter would have been quicker, that route was rarely used. The area was just too open and the risk of getting spotted too great. In this maze of debris, though, it would be next to impossible for anyone to spot them. The risk was so low that they didn't even split into squads and just walked there in whatever order they pleased. There was enough hiding places here that if the alert went out they could all hide and have hiding places to spare. Even the Society asshole could manage to go unseen in here. Dammit...just thinking about him made his blood boil.

"Dammit. Why the hell are we escorting a fucking spy back to his catmonster? This is such bullshit," Jacob said to Samantha, though a few others heard him too.

"For once I actually agree with Jack-off. This is just plain stupid. Should shoot the fucker and be done with it," Jonathon, a guy from Derek's squad, said. A few others nodded their agreement or voiced it.

"We still don't know if he is a spy and you know if he showed any sign of it Derek would have killed him. Let's at least give him some benefit of the doubt and trust Darius and Derek know what they are doing," Samantha said getting a few people to give her a miffed look, including Jacob. Did she honestly think that spy wasn't a spy? Did she think he honestly had a tamed catmonster? He didn't think he had ever thought Samantha had sounded dumber in her life. Thankfully, he didn't have to voice that thought.

"You mean like we trusted Darius that screwed the Snakes over would save Hope and we would finally get some time to relax? Yeah that worked out really well," Mary, a woman from Fulton's squad, shot back getting a few chuckles and agreements.

"That's enough. If you don't want to follow orders you can turn around and go back to Hope and wait for the end. Otherwise, keep your complaints to yourselves," Squad Leader Jeremy said as he came walking by them. Everyone grumbled out a yes, sir and fell silent. No one here wanted to go back and sit on their hands for the end to come, even if it meant doing things that sounded as stupid as this. Jacob sure as hell wasn't going back, not when he still hadn't proven to be just as good as his dad and saved everyone in Hope.

They made their way through the maze in mostly silence, using the coded signs carved into the rocks to find their way, and arrived at the exit that lead out into the forest next to the gutter. They gathered at the base of the gutter for one last briefing before heading into the woods. The Society fucker was still with Derek and Jacob glared at him, though he was busy looking anywhere but at them.

Derek was about to start talking when a rustling got everyone to snap toward a nearby bush. A few of the quicker people managed to grab their guns, but everyone relaxed, a little, once the figure came into view. Scout Leader Lindsey came out of the brush and moved toward them as if she hadn't just appeared out of nowhere. Derek didn't seem at all surprised by her arrival, though.

Lindsey was about the average height of a woman and average everything else as well. Her brown hair and brown eyes were nothing special and her curves were nothing amazing either. Even her clothing was average being just simple patchwork cloth with fur here and there to fight off the cold. The only thing that marked her out was her slight reddish skin thanks to her Native American heritage. Despite her looks, however, Lindsey was anything but average. She was the Scout Leader for a reason after all and the rumors about her were varied and many.

"Scout Leader, good to have you along," Derek said as Lindsey moved to stand beside him.

"Force Commander, glad to be along. Have you told your soldiers what we are doing?" Lindsey said as she looked them over. Her eyes lingered on the Society fucker, but only when he wasn't looking. Whenever his eyes came up to look at her, her eyes had already settled on someone else.

"Most of it, but not all of it," Derek said before turning back to them, "Listen up! You all know what we are doing out here. And that our...friend here is supposed to help by bringing a catmonster. However, we can't risk everyone going to get the catmonster. So, me, Sanders, Lindsey, and three volunteers will all be going to get it. Any takers?"

The force was silent as people looked around. Susan looked about to say something, but Derek shook his head. Apparently the Squad Leaders were excluded from this which made sense. Someone had to lead the rest of the Force while Derek was gone. Jacob shook his head as the thought of his dad having to fight a catmonster nearly on his own gave him a wave of fear. He needed help, and Jacob was going to give him some even if he didn't like it. Not to mention he might get a chance to kill that Society ass, but protecting his dad was more important than that.

"I'll go," Jacob said as everyone looked at him. Derek's face paled a bit and he looked about to say something when Lindsey spoke up.

"That is one, we need two more," she said as Derek snapped to her. She gave him a smirk, but said nothing. Derek sighed and turned back to them without a word as well, though looking more than a bit annoyed.

"Count me in too," Samantha said beside Jacob. Jacob turned to her and might have said something to try and dissuade her, but the look she was giving him let him know he would be wasting his time. She was going and that was that, if he didn't like it, too fucking bad. Jacob had been with Samantha long enough to know a doomed battle when he saw one so he didn't even try. Both of them walked toward his dad and joined the smaller group of people. He eyed Sanders with a look of contempt while the Society spy just looked away with a sigh.

"Dammit, I better go too to make sure Jack-off doesn't fuck shit up," Luke said getting an inward groan from Jacob. Of all the damn people to go with them it had to be him. No one in the force gave him more shit than Luke. And it was no secret he was interested in Samantha as well, a fact that pissed Jacob off like no other. Derek gave him a withering stare from using Jacob's nick-name, but didn't say anything to him.

"Alright. We will go meet this catmonster and either brings its pelt or it back. Till then, Squad Leader Fulton is in charge. In case anyone gets separated, the Southern Group HQ is our rally point. Remember to stay apart, but in sight of each other. A Society giantess might ignore a single Phoenix, they won't ignore a squad. Understood?" Derek said. Everyone gave a yes, sir and Derek nodded to them.

"Good. Fulton, a word," Derek said as both of them headed off to the side to talk for a second. As they talked, the Society fucker turned to them.

"Looks like we'll be working together. I'm Sanders Cutter, by the way, though Sanders is just fine," he said with a smile. None of them took his offered hand as both Jacob and Luke glared at him while Samantha eyed him with suspicion. Seemed Samantha, despite saying to give him the benefit of the doubt, wasn't sold on him yet, either. He was about to put his hand away when Lindsey took it.

"It is good to meet you, Sanders, I'm Lindsey Redfern, the leader of the Scouts. You will have to excuse these three. They are soldiers through and through and have hard time hiding their suspicions" Lindsey said giving all three of them an icy look that sent a chill down Jacob's spine. Samantha and Luke must have felt it too as they looked away as well. Seemed the rumors about Lindsey's stares were true enough...

"Uhh...no its fine. I understand this is...odd to say the least. If I was in their shoes I wouldn't trust me either," Sanders said, taken off guard by Lindsey speaking to him.

"Good. I hope you keep that in mind when Derek comes back. He doesn't hate you on a personal level, just hates the threat you represent to his soldiers. Prove you are not a threat and he will warm to you. Well, maybe not warm but at least not be openly hostile," she said with a warm smile and a slight giggle. Jeez, that giggle did not sound right coming out of someone who had given such an icy glare not a second before.

"I understand, but I swear I'm no threat to him or any of them," Sanders said, trying to look as sincere as he could. Jacob wasn't buying it for a second, though. Spies were supposed to be good a lying, otherwise they wouldn't be a spy. Luke seemed to be of the same opinion though Samantha seemed a bit unsure. Lindsey smiled at that before the smile vanished along with her warmth. Suddenly, she pulled Sanders closer by the collar of his jacket and pressed his own knife into the side of his neck, though not hard enough to draw blood.

"You had best keep that swear. Whatever hell Derek has promised you if you are lying will only be the beginning," she said before her smile returned and she released her grip on him, "Just something to think about." She handed his knife back to him and headed over to Derek and Fulton. Luke chuckled as Sanders stood rooted in place, his face pale. Samantha was staring starry-eyed after Lindsey and Jacob starred as well. Fuck, he had heard Lindsey was terrifying, but damn. That was scary even just to watch, he could only imagine what being on the receiving end was like. Plus, he hadn't seen her grab Sanders' knife, and yet it was in her hand, ready to stab Sanders.

Derek, Fulton, and Lindsey talked for a few more seconds before they headed back toward them. Fulton began to get the rest of the Force into their squads for the march south while Derek and Lindsey came to them.

"Before we move let me make this clear to you three," Derek started to say to them as Lindsey got Sanders to move out of earshot, "I want to put Sanders' ass down just as much, if not more, than any of you do. However, we are not going to do that till we know he is against us. I don't need to tell any of you how badly we are outmatched against a Ranger patrol and that a lot of us will die if we fight one on our own. I don't want that to happen so as long as there is a chance we can use this catmonster to safe our people, Sanders isn't to be harmed. If any of you do decide to take matters into your own hands, Lindsey will be in charge of punishing you. No matter who you are." Derek looked straight at Jacob as he finished and Jacob understood the message. His son or not, Derek would give him over to Lindsey just as quickly as he would Samantha or Luke. Jacob had been partly thinking of ways to have an accident with Sanders, but such thoughts were quickly thrown away. Lindsey scared him WAY too much for him to try anything. Besides, he imagined Lindsey could do a hell of a lot worse than him if that spy did show his true colors.

"Let Lindsey deal with Sanders while we focus on getting to that gas station and dealing with the catmonster, understood?" Derek said as they all gave him a yes,sir. Jacob glanced over toward Sanders and Lindsey and saw them talking. Sanders was giving a half-hearted smile to something Lindsey had said before he turned away with an "oh god why me" look. Well, at least the Society fuckhead would not have an enjoyable trip to the gas station.

With them all briefed, Derek got them moving, taking point himself and letting Luke take rear guard. Samantha wanted it for herself, but being the only one with a rocket precluded her from it. Lindsey keep close to Sanders, much to his obvious discomfort, while Sanders keep watch from the wings along with Samantha.

For the first hour or so, they traveled in mostly silence. A few birds could be heard every so often along with the rustle of deer moving about, but the bare forest was rather quiet. For his part, Sanders proved to be about as skilled as they were at moving quietly. It wasn't proof that he had been a Ranger, but it gave his tale some credibility. Then again, a spy should be able to move quietly too so never mind.

A few minutes after their first hour of traveling, Lindsey went ahead and caught up with Derek. While she talked with him, both speaking too softly to be clearly heard, Jacob took over watching Sanders. Sanders tried to smile at him and make friendly, but Jacob was having none of it. He glared back at him each time till Sanders gave up with a shake of his head. He grumbled out something that Jacob was sure was an insult. Jacob's anger flared and he was about to demand he tell him what he said when Lindsey started to head back. Jacob swore under his breath as he moved away and let Lindsey take over. Fucking bastard...

"Sanders, do you mind if I ask you a question?" Lindsey suddenly asked, breaking the silence. Sanders glanced back at her and shrugged.

"I guess not. What is it?" Sanders said.

"You were on the train that was carrying Dr. Manchent and helped recapture him. So, how did Dr. Manchent die?"

Both Derek and Sanders stopped as they turned to her. Derek gave her an annoyed look before turning a glare toward Sanders. Sanders paled a bit and looked away as he closed his eyes. The rest of them stopped and turned toward Sanders as he shook his head. Fuck he had been on the train and been one of the Rangers who had beat his dad?! Dammit to fucking hell, why were they not KILLING HIM?!

"The bomb collar around his neck went off. I tried to diffuse it, but..."Sander stopped as he looked away again. Jacob had to admit he was good at faking the pained look on his face and in his voice, but fake it was. It had to be. Derek looked at Lindsey and gave a nearly unseen nod to her before looking away himself. Lindsey saw the nod and smiled to herself. What was that about? Was that some kind of test or something? Fuck he hoped he had failed.

"I see. And do you know who put that collar on him?" she asked with a disturbing smirk. That caught Jacob off guard as he snapped to her. Shit, what the hell was she doing? Jacob had not been part of that operation, but he had heard enough from it to know the collar was on him when they got Manchent out of the city. But Lindsey was implying they put it on him! Why the hell would she do that? They would never do something like that!

Sanders glanced up at her in confusion before realization hit him. His pained look shifted to one of blinding rage as his hand went to the rifle slung over his shoulder. He raised it to point at Lindsey just as Luke raised his own rifle. He might have fired if Lindsey hadn't shifted to block his shot. Jacob snatched up his own, but held his fire as Samantha shook her head at him. Dammit, what the hell was going on?!

"You BASTARDS! How the hell could you do that to him?! You monsters are not better than the fucking Society and I am not helping you do shit! Manchent was trying to help you and you MURDERED HIM FOR IT!" Sanders yelled as he keep his rifle pointed at Lindsey's face. Lindsey's smirk didn't fade as she glanced over to Derek.

"Still think he is a spy, Derek?" she asked getting a confused look from Sanders. Derek let out an annoyed sigh as he shook his head.

"No, you have proven your damn point. Fucking crazy woman, you are lucky he didn't shoot you or my men him," Derek grumbled out before turning back and continuing forward. Lindsey giggled at the back of his head and turned to Sanders.

"To answer you, we didn't. The bomb collar was on Dr. Manchent when we rescued him from the Society. We managed to keep the detonate signal from reaching it until...well. Don't feel guilty over it, though. The truly at fault for the lost of that great man are the ones who put the collar on him in the first place," Lindsey said before patting Sanders on the shoulder and moving after Derek. But not before motioning for Luke and Jacob to lower their guns. Luke shook his head in annoyance and cursed under his breath but did as he was told. Jacob did as well and found himself suddenly not sure what to think.

So it had been a test, a way to prove Sanders was not a spy. Now Jacob understood why she had implied they had set the collar on Manchent. No spy would ever have been so stupid as to pull a gun on one of them, and yet Sanders had done just that. Not to mention his reaction to the implications. He was ready to die rather than help them when he thought they had killed Manchent. Jacob...honestly probably would have done the same, but.... but he was a Society spy? Right?... No...Dammit, now he was all kinds of confused. Maybe...Maybe Samantha did have a point back at the maze.

Sanders lowered his rifle as he realized what had just happened as well. He stood there a moment as if processing what had just happened until Luke shoved him forward. He shook off his confusion, shouldered his rifle, and got back into the formation, still seemingly trying to figure out what had just happened. Samantha mouthed to Jacob "that was so awesome" and looked to be fangirling for Lindsey. At least someone was enjoying Lindsey's company...

The rest of the trip was mostly uneventful. Lindsey asked Sanders a few other questions, but they were just about is personal life and such. Sanders sounded...well rather normal to be honest. Jacob had always assumed everyone in New Atlanta had lived in the lap of luxury, but the farm Sanders family ran sounded like it was just as much work to maintain as any other farm. And while things sounded far better in the city, it still had its problems and such. But they were still the enemy even if they were sounding more and more like just people. Or...maybe it was just the Society that was the enemy...DAMMIT!

It was late in the day when they, finally, arrived at the outskirts of the gas station. It was an old Shell station that was now long abandoned and slowly crumbling apart. Its sign had fallen some time before and parts of the roof over the pumps had fallen in as well. The actual station itself was slowly crumbling and its automatic doors had stopping working about halfway open. Most of its windows were badly stained and what few of its signs and such that were left were now all ruined and illegible.

"Alright, I'll go get her," Sanders said as he starting to make his way to the station. Derek stopped him, however, with with his arm and gave him a glare.

"She is a catmonster and can hear you just fine from here. Call her out," Derek said as Jacob, Luke, and Samantha all readied their weapons. They were sure as hell not taking any chances with this catmonster, Sanders being a spy or not. Sanders glared back at them before turning the glare to Derek.

"So you can shoot her the moment she comes into sight? Screw that, I-" he was interrupted as a loud meow came from the gas station. Derek shoved Sanders back as he took out his laser cannon and got it ready to fire. The huge cannon began to glow as he held it at his hip with both hands.

"Derek, I should remind you that this catmonster is important to our mission. Best not to kill it unless we have to," Lindsey said as she took out a rifle she had hidden in her clothing. Unlike his and Luke's, her's almost looked to be from before the shrink and had a number of modifications on it, including a large jury-rigged scope. Jacob couldn't help but be jealous of the impressive weapon, but she WAS the Scout Leader. Made sense she got better stuff than they did.

"Put the weapons down, dammit! She isn't going to hurt you as long as you don't hurt me or her! All you are going to do is scare her and make this harder!" Sanders said trying to get in front of them. Jacob stopped him and held him back with his free arm. Sanders tried to dance around him, but Jacob keep up with him and keep him back. Damn fucking idiot was going to get them all eaten at this rate.

Sanders looked about to start shoving when his eyes locked on something behind them. Jacob risked a quick glance and his blood ran cold as ice. A blonde catmonster came stalking out of the gas station on all fours. She sniffed the air before turning toward them and licking her lips. Jacob froze as he recognized the face on the catmonster. This wasn't just any catmonster, it was the very same one that had attacked him and the other's who had gone to warn the outlying colony of the blizzard. The same one that the four giantesses had sent after them rather than fight them themselves. The same one that had killed ten of the group right in front of his eyes. The same one that had followed the other group rather than his when they had split up. The same one that had caused him to be captured by that red-headed bitch and her fairy and earned him his Jack-off nick-name.

Sanders had pushed passed Jacob in his stunned stupor and took off toward the catmonster. Derek tried to grab him, but Lindsey pulled him back.

"Let him go. Worst case I will make sure he dies too," Lindsey said with a stern look. Derek nodded as he stood his ground with Samantha and Luke, both of who seemed ill at ease. Sanders began to run toward the catmonster who began to run toward him in turn.

Jacob, however, had no intention of just standing here. That damn monster had cost him EVERYTHING. He had wanted to be a hero, wanted to save the people of the colony, lure the giantesses away, come back with the survivors, or at least die a worthy death. But no, all he got was dead friends, captured, humiliation, and a stigma he couldn't get rid of, all because of that damn thing! If it hadn't been there...If it hadn't existed...if it had been DEAD!!

Jacob snapped his rifle around and brought it up. He raised it up just as Samantha turned to him. Her eyes widened in horror as she lunged for him.

"Jacob ST-" she said before Jacob pulled the trigger. He didn't give a damn about anything other that making that damn monster pay for ruining his life! The gun roared out and a bit of blood exploded out of the catmonster's cheek. He started to reload as the catmonster cried in pain. Derek, Lindsey, and Luke all whipped around to him and stared in horror at him. They might have said something, but didn't get the chance to as the catmonster let out a massive hiss of rage. They turned back to see the catmonster charging right for them, a look of murderous anger on her face.

"God dammit Jack-off you fucking shit head!" Luke said before he raised his own gun to fire. Samantha smacked it down before he could, however, as Lindsey did the same to Derek's cannon.

"NO! Firing at it is just going to make it madder!" Lindsey said as she shot a murderous glare at Jacob. Jacob didn't care at all as he loaded another round and raised the gun to fire again. He began to pull the trigger just as something smashing into his chest, throwing his aim off completely.

Jacob slammed into the ground to find Sanders laying on top of him, having tackled him to the ground. Sanders raised his fist and smashed it into Jacob's head. Jacob's world went spinning and exploding with stars as the blow sent him reeling. Even with the blow, though, he managed to bring his gun around and smashed it into Sanders' head. Sanders cried out from the blow and grabbed his head in pain. Jacob kicked Sanders off him while he was reeling and got back to his feet, though still feeling a bit wobbly from the blow to his own head. Damn it was almost like the ground was shaking, that blow had really fucked him up. He started over to the still fallen Sanders and was about to kick him when four massive fingers came around and wrapped around him. SHIT THE CATMONSTER!

Jacob screamed in terror as he felt himself starting to be lifted up and heard his dad yell out to him. His dad would save him, he had the laser cannon and Samantha was there, they would save him, they had to save him!

"PYRRHA! STOP! PYRRHA!" a voice yelled out from below him, getting the catmonster to stop lifting him up. He could feel its breath on the back of his head and had to bite back a whimper of terror. Fuck he didn't want to die. Dammit, he didn't want to die! Not yet, not while he was still Jack-off!

The catmonster gave a low hiss and her breath started to get hotter and closer. Fuck, she was going to eat him alive! He was going to die as Jack-off and never be the hero he wanted to be!

"NO! PYRRHA DON'T MAKE ME DO THIS DAMMIT!" the voice yelled out again. The catmonster stopped for a second before a flash of light caused the catmonster to scream in pain and drop Jacob to the ground. Jacob didn't waste a second to scramble to his feet and took off running in the direction of the light.

His dad's cannon was glowing a dull red as the barrel began to cool. The rest of the group was with him and raised their own weapons. Jacob glanced back at the catmonster and saw it clutching the wrist of the hand that had been holding him. It looked to be in a lot of pain and turned toward his dad and the rest. It gave a hiss so loud Jacob's ears hurt from it and bent down to lunge, her bare breasts dangling over his head. Suddenly, the catmonster cried out again and as the sound of another gun went out. She whipped around, the wind from her sudden move nearly blasting Jacob off his feet, but stopped as she saw where the gunshot had come from.

Jacob slowed when he turned to see Sanders standing alone with the still smoking gun. The catmonster stared at him for a moment before seeming to move away as if scared and hurt. It almost looked like it had tears in its eyes.

"Stop, Pyrrha, no don't run. Look, see no more guns. I didn't want to do that, but we can't kill those people, OK? Come here...come on," Sanders said to Pyrrha as he slung his gun. The catmonster seemed to relax a little as it saw the gun put up and inched back toward Sanders. It leaned down and Sanders hugged himself to its cheek as it nuzzled him a bit, purring as it did so.

"Yeah...there we go. I'm sorry for shooting you, Pyrrha. Just had to get your attention that's all. I know, I'll make sure they don't hurt you again," Sanders said before kissing the catmonster's cheek. To Jacob's horror, and maybe a bit of satisfaction, the catmonster turned and moved its mouth toward Sanders. However, the catmonster pressed its lips into Sanders, giving him a massive kiss, rather than gobbling him up. Sweet Jesus....

"Son of a bitch...he can control it," Samantha said as she and the rest moved up to Jacob, watching the catmonster nuzzle into Sanders. 

"Yes he can. And we would have seen that without the bloodshed if someone had not lost their nerve," Lindsey said glaring at Jacob with a look of utter disgust.

"I didn't lose my nerve I-" Jacob started to explain through gasps, before Luke interrupted.

"Oh save your damn excuses, Jack-off. No one wants to hear it. Sanders should have just let that monster eat you," Luke said before getting a glare from Derek. Luke just shrugged it off and keep moving toward Sanders along with Lindsey. His dad gave him a dissappointed look before following them. Even Samantha shook her head at him before leaving him there. Great...just fucking great. It was like last time all FUCKING over again. Try to explain what happened and no one want's to listen, to busy just assuming the worst about him. Fucking perfect, just FUCKING GOD DAMN PERFECT! And now everyone was going to be all over that damn fucking monster that had ruined him TWICE NOW!!! AND HE HAD BEEN SAVED BY THAT FUCKING SPY!!!! DAMMMIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jacob stomped over to them, trying his best not to just start beating them all with his gun as his rage went to new levels. The catmonster gave a low angry meow at Jacob as he got close, but he just flipped it off. Samantha smacked his hand and glared at him. Dammit...

"I got her calmed down and she should be tame as long as the two of you who shot her don't do it again," he said as the catmonster eyed Jacob and Derek as if to prove his point. Lindsey nodded and looked about to ask something when Sanders suddenly whipped out his gun and smashed the butt of it into Derek's jaw. Derek went reeling back from the blow as Sanders charged past him and toward Jacob. Jacob tried to bring his own gun up to block, but too late as Sanders smashed the butt into his stomach, doubling Jacob over.

Jacob crumbled to the ground as he heard more shuffling of feet and the sounds of a butt hitting someone else.

"Stop it, STOP IT!" Lindsey yelled out before Sanders gasped in pain from something hitting him. A loud hiss came from the catmonster as the ground began to shake from her moving toward them. A few more yells were said before the sounds of fighting seemed to die out.

"Dammit, would you all STOP fighting each other! What the hell is with you guys?!" Samantha said as Jacob began to recover enough to look up. The catmonster was looming over them, giving off a low growl at everyone. Lindsey had her gun out and pointed toward Sanders who was still holding the rifle like a club. He spit out a glob of blood from his mouth as he glared at Derek and Jacob. Luke had his rifle out like a club as well and looked ready to fight while Derek was checking his jaw to make sure it was not broken. Samantha was off to the side looking pissed as hell and ready to beat the next person to throw a punch with her rocket.

"Yes, now that we are even. They hurt Pyrrha and I can't let her pay them back cause she would kill them. So I did it for her. Don't EVER hurt her again or I will let her pay you back," Sanders said putting his rifle away. As if to put home his point, the catmonster gave a low hiss as well. Not that Jacob cared. He got to his feet, anger at being sucker punched like that turning his vision red, and was about to charge Sanders when his dad stopped him with an arm. His mix of angry and disappointed glare snuffed Jacob's rage out like a flame put into water.

"Is that a threat, fucker? Think I am scared of your overgrown freak?" Luke said as he started toward Sanders. He stopped as the catmonster let out another low angry meow and lowered itself down to his level. Even laying on the ground, her eyes were higher up than Luke's and glared down at him.

"She is not freak and you should be terrified of her if you knew what was good for you," Sanders said as he glared back at Luke.

"Enough! This has been nothing more than a waste of time and ammo and I am SICK OF IT! We are out here trying to save Hope and just got the best tool to do that and we are wasting it by trying to kill each other! Jacob, if you fire that gun at the catmonster again I'll shove it so far up your ass you will be spitting bullets. Luke, stop trying to act tough and just admit the giant monster is terrifying. Sanders, if you so much as touch me or anyone else under my command with the intention to cause harm, I will make a pelt out of your catgirlfriend and make you cut the pelt off her yourself! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?!" Derek said looking furious about what just happened and ready to beat them all to a bloody pulp. Jacob and Luke both gave a yes sir while Sanders said yes. Derek let it slide, but gave him a withering look. Even the catmonster seemed to calm down and back off from Derek's rage.

"Good. The catmonster hasn't eaten any of us yet, despite us firing on it," Derek stopped before throwing a glare at Jacob that made him swear in his head, "so I thinks its safe to assume Sanders does have some control over it. And if he wanted us dead he had amply opportunity there as well."

"Does that mean you believe me now?" Sanders asked as he rubbed the catmonster's cheek, getting a soft purr from it.

"That you have a catmonster and want to help us? Yes. The rest of that shit you said back at Hope, not a bit. But that doesn't matter now. What does matter is we have the means to fight a Ranger patrol that might not be suicidal. We need to get back to the Force and get to the mission sight ASAP," Derek said getting a sigh from Sanders, but a nod of agreement from Lindsey

"Fine, I guess the other stuff can wait anyway," Sanders said, looking a bit disappointed. He turned back to the catmonster and began to look over the hole in her wrist. Normally a wound like that would be badly bleeding, but the laser had cauterized the wound.

"I need to go get Pyrrha some food to heal this. You can start heading for the meeting point, me and Pyrrha will be able to catch up," Sanders said.

"Oh hell no. We are not just going to let him wonder off with a fucking catmonster are we?" Luke said tightening his grip on his gun. The catmonster glared at him and let out a low hiss, but Luke only returned the hiss with a growl of his own.

"Of course not. I will go with him and make sure he comes back. While we are gone, you can find your soldiers and we can, then, all head for the Southern HQ together," Lindsey said as she moved over toward Sanders. The catmonster eyed her and sniffed her a bit, but didn't seem opposed to her coming. Derek didn't look like he liked this plan, but didn't voice his objections.

"Fine, do what you want. Just bring back that catmonster, my soldiers lives depend on it," Derek said glancing at Jacob. Jacob wanted to feel angry, but the look of disappointment his dad gave him turned it into shame. But what was he supposed to do when the very thing that had ruined his chances of ever being a hero to the Phoenixes, like his dad, was right in front of him? Just suck it up and let it life?!

"Good. Come on, Sanders and, Pyrrha right?" Sanders nodded, "Pyrrha then. Let's go get some food for our new weapon."

"She is-...fine whatever. Pyrrha, up," Sanders said with a sigh. Pyrrha eyed Lindsey again but did as she was told. She picked them both up and placed them on her head. The two grabbed onto her ears as the catmonster stood up and began to walk off into the woods, her footsteps slowly fading away.

"Samantha, Luke, go scout us a route to the Southern HQ. Keep an eye out for signs of the other squads," Derek ordered. Luke gave a triumphant smirk to Jacob before mouthing, you're fucked jack-off, to him. Jacob's fist tightened, but a touch on his shoulder got him to stop. Samantha shook her head and gave him a light kiss before heading off herself. Jacob sighed to himself as he was left alone with his dad.

"Jacob....what in the world were you thinking?" Derek said looking at Jacob with a mix of anger and disappointment.

"Dad I-" Jacob started to say, but Derek cut him off.

"No...no I don't have time for this. I don't care what got you to do something so stupid, but make sure it doesn't happen again. We have a mission to do and its too important for you to be...I don't even know. Just get your head in the game, son, and quick," Derek said before going past Jacob to follow after Luke and Samantha.

Jacob waited till he left before punching a nearby tree hard enough to leave a dent and bloody his fist. Never anytime to listen, just assumes the worst as always. Like he wouldn't have fired if it had been a catmonster than had killed one of the original eleven. Like he...he wouldn't have seen the big picture and...lives of his soldiers depend...dammit...

Jacob turned his back to the tree and slid down to the ground. Fuck...fuck... In the heat of the moment he had completely forgotten WHY they needed the catmonster. And now Luke was sure to go around telling that story to ever person in the Force and further cement him as Jack-off... Dammit...

He wanted to just sit there and feel sorry for himself. Just wallow in his own self misery and the injustice of what just happened. To just tell everything to fuck off and maybe just go wonder off on his own. Screw the people who thought he was useless and his dad who thought he had lost his damn mind. But his Dad was right about one thing, this mission was too important. Hope and everyone in it were counting on them and failure meant all of them would die. He didn't, no couldn't let that happen. He had promised his mother he would fight to save everyone, and he would even if it meant with people who hated him and thought him useless.

Jacob sucked up his depression and self-pity, got back to his feet, and headed after his dad.

Instructions on typical Phoenix equipment given by Sergeant Hoffman:

Listen up, hatchlings! Today we will be going over the use of the equipment you will be using as a soldier. Your specialist instructor will go over the special stuff you will make use of, but we are focusing on the basics everyone uses.

First and foremost is your weapon. Your weapon will either be a rifle or a rocket launcher. As you can see, they are not pretty or streamlined, but they will get the job done. Your weapon instructors will go over proper use, maintenance, and repairs. Along with your weapon is your ammo which you will never have enough of. If you think you do, you are wrong and will run out when you need it most. Always bring as much ammo as you can carry. And for the love of God be careful with the rockets.

Second is your pack which will usually be made of leather. The pack is your best friend and you need to keep it close at all times. It will hold all the rest of the equipment and losing it is tantamount to shooting yourself in the leg. Keep up with your damn pack and it will save your life.

Third is your drinking skin, also made of leather, though a few are made from plastic. Keep this thing full at all times and remember to hydrate. Nothing is more embarrassing than a soldier who died of thirst.

Fourth is your reflection lens. This will be a piece of broken glass placed into a frame of metal. Keep it clean at all times and make sure it does not break. These things are the only means of communication you have when a giantess is nearby and being without one is to be all alone. I cannot tell you how many people have vanished to never be seen again because they did not take care of their reflection lens.

Lastly is your salted jerky and other such foods. Let me be clear, this is EMERGENCY food only. There is no shortage of game out there to hunt and a good squad can hunt down a deer or rabbit or something to eat just about every day. That can't be done when you are trying to avoid detection and a fire would give you away. For those times you will want this to be here. Only eat these when you have no choice.

Alright, all of you have packs in front of you with all of these supplies. We are going to go and use-

Sergeant Hoffman and his recruits left on training mission. All but one recruit returned safety. Lost recruit was reported to have been lost due to improper reflection lens care.[