Victoria awoke with a start as she realized she wasn’t in her own bed and someone was lying next to her. Remembering the previous night she relaxed before a hand slapped her in the face. Krystal had suddenly rolled onto her back and swung her arm out effectively back handing the older woman. The sudden grunt and curse woke Krystal from her semi-conscious state and she suddenly realized she had a bed mate.

    “Ah!” she shouted shoving the other woman, “What are you doing in my bed?”

     Victoria hit the floor with a groan and another string of expletives before getting to her feet.

     “You were having a nightmare last night…”

     “So you decided to take advantage of me!”

     “What, no I was trying to help…”

     “You mean help yourself.”

     “You’re impossible!” Victoria shouted throwing her hands up.

     “You’re a ert!”

     Victoria pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a labored breath before she chuckled.

    “I wouldn’t touch you if you were a bucket of water and I was on fire,” she shook her head as a red light began blinking above them on the ceiling.

    “Damn,” Krystal slid out of bed and began gathering clothing.

    “Everybody in here!” Sulli called as the others exited their rooms.

    “What’s going on?” Amber asked.

    “We’ve got a mission,” Sulli’s fingers flew across the keyboard.

    “Well what is it?” Luna urged her to start talking.

    “Hang on, still deciphering the encryption and…” her fingers slowed down and she pressed enter, “Done.”

    “Looks like data recon, underground facility in…” Sulli shuddered, “The tundra.”

    “When do we leave?”

    “Now,” Sulli shrugged, “We’ll suit up in the TAC room, board a chopper and be there in about 4 hours.”

    “Alright everyone let’s move out,” Victoria gave the order and the women dispersed.

    “Okay everyone you know your seats,” Victoria spoke as they filed into the chopper and it began to take off.

    Sulli sat sandwiched between Luna and Amber on one side as Victoria and Krystal sat opposite of them.

    “Once we’re in we’ll split up and cover more ground,” Victoria directed as they each looked at a map on miniature computers attached to their forearms of their uniforms.

    “According to the intel the whole place is on lockdown, which means backup generators are only running minimum power, no computers, no surveillance, nothing,” Victoria explained, “Sulli I want you to locate the central hub and patch in, I want to know if and how we can turn the main power back on, I want cameras on point, you’ll be our eyes and ears.”

    “Piece of cake,” Sulli smiled and gave a mock salute.

    “The teams will be Luna and Amber, and Krystal you’re with me,” Victoria finished.

     “Anybody know exactly what it is we’re looking for and why they’re sending us?” Krystal smirked as everyone just blinked at her.

    “If they’re sending us, it means they’re in the up to here,” Amber held her hand above her head.

    “They weren’t clear on the data, it’s been left up to our discretion,” Victoria continued, “Up until a week ago this facility didn’t even exist.”

    “Survivors?” Krystal checked the magazine in her weapon.

    “When the facility went dark there were over 150 employees on site, the agency was very clear that the data is priority,” Victoria met each of their gazes as if to make a point.

    “So this is a cleanup operation,” Krystal smirked.

    “We’re going to kill innocent people?” Luna pinned Victoria with her eyes.

     “This bird can hold 8 people max,” Krystal sighed, “Are you going to be the one who decides who stays and who gets left behind?”

     “But we could call for an Evac…” Luna trailed off as Victoria shook her head.

     “This is not search and rescue, besides whether they are innocent or otherwise is not for us to judge, this facility has been operating off the grid, which means whatever they were doing down there was probably not for the good of mankind.”

     “I still don’t like it Victoria-unnie,” Luna frowned.

      “Don’t worry about it, I doubt there’s anyone left alive anyway,” Krystal relaxed back into her seat and Luna growled.

      “Enough,” Victoria growled louder than Luna and everyone became silent, “We’ve had worse missions and if there are survivors we’ll figure something out deal?”

      “Deal,” Luna nodded as Victoria’s words gave her some comfort.

      “You’re too soft,” Krystal rolled her eyes, “The Alpha’s word is final, and they don’t compromise.”

      “My team respects my decisions, and they follow me because they want to not because they have to.”

      “They follow you because they’re sheep,” Krystal’s snarky reply had Luna out of her seat and in the young woman’s face.

        She grabbed her by the straps on her tactical vest and Krystal locked onto her wrists as Luna growled.

       “Luna don’t,” Amber had gotten up too and gently tugged at Luna’s shoulders.

        After one last glare Luna released the other woman with a shove into the metal side of the chopper to emphasize her distaste. Luna sat down by Sulli again who hooked their arms together and rested her head on her shoulder.

        “Watch your step, next time I’ll let her go,” Amber warned.

        “Don’t threaten me with a good time,” Krystal straightened her gear and crossed her arms.

         The rest of the ride was made in silence as Sulli fell asleep against Luna who was humming softly and her hair.