Star Darlings; The Soldier

Hey How About Another Ship?

"Fort Windsor, one of the 3 major bases..." Valour muttered. "I've been there before; it has a good reputation for being the most weaponized base; they have multiple turrets, hundreds of crafts and deadly vehicles, and are the suppliers of most of the guns."

"For once, you do something," Fortitude muttered.

"Shut up." Valour sighed. "The point is, a full-on raid or attack won't work; they'd shred anything that moves."

"You're saying we sneak in."

"Yes. They also have prisoners; many of them. They'll most likely use them as hostages. But that's not the biggest threat." Valour said. "Team Nightstalker, the second-ranking Myrmidon team, is currently there. They are the most dangerous, most cutthroat Myrmidons ever; they painted the picture of us being brainwashed killing machines."

"That sounds dangerous..." Peter muttered under his breath.

"Because they are. They hold the most kill counts, though we've gone on more successful missions." Virtue said. "The times I've interacted with them... they do earn the name Nightstalker. They'll be there waiting for us."

"I was part of this team before they put me and Fortitude in Team Mercy," Valour said. "They're the coldest, most cruel people I've ever met; I've seen the leader kill and torture prisoners for information."

"They're basically the opposite of us," Fortitude said. "The exact opposite of mercy."

"After Andrew's back, we'll set out." Colin decided. "We'll be at full strength after we secure the supplies. Besides, we should give them some days for their food to run out so that they'll be weaker."

"The War of Attrition begins," Valour said.

The dream opened his eyes. He looked around in confusion.

What happened? Why am I... who... what... why... where... Ugh. he shook his head. The last 2 hours were blank in his memory. He stood up, stumbling. A strong hand caught him. He looked over his shoulder to see Valor.

"Are you alright?" Valor asked. "You were gone for an hour now."

"I don't know..." Dream shook his head again. "It's just blank..."

"You went through another blackout?" Valor asked. "It's the 3rd one this week; they rarely come at all."

"I don't know..." Dream said. "It's alright... I don't even remember it."

He shrugged off Valor and headed back to his room. Unlike last time, one image was still edged into his mind.

The image of the woman, falling asleep for the last time.

Mother... Dream thought, somehow knowing.

Andrew picked off another person on the head, before signalling for the force he had forward. He jumped from the trench he was in, running in the lead.

He broke down the wall a bit, enough for a big opening for the others as he leapt through the debris. He was faced by dozens of soldiers, all trembling in fear from the feat. He shrugged before the ground cracked below them, swallowing everyone around as one of the Assassins ran past him.

Andrew smirked as he moved through the crowd of people, literally snapping them into pieces (Courtesy of Austin; He taught Andrew how to do that). Soon, the Skylars were on the ground. Most were captured, though the Myrmidons there went boomed on themselves.

They got to work, going through the supplies. The sheer amount of people they can feed with this... they're going to need a bigger truck. And maybe send some supplies to the refugees up north.

Andrew nodded at Natalie, who'd accompanied them on the operation.

He started lifting the mountains upon mountains of supplies and started carrying them back to the trucks. After making sure they were secure and ready for shipping, Andrew motioned for the others to follow; it'll only be a bit before reinforcements come.

Just as they left the base into the land around it, the sky erupted as Myrmidons dropped from the sky.

Tessa looked up as Gemma tapped her shoulder.

"Andrew's back," Gemma said. "He and the ones we sent to Base Kitsap are here."

"I'll be there," Tessa said, shutting off the stove. "After I finish the stew."

"Wow... not even getting up to see your boyfriend..." Gemma muttered. Tessa flushed.

"Who said that!" Tessa snapped. "I'll come..." she pushed past Gemma.

"Works every time... love seeing Andrea," Gemma muttered to herself as Tessa disappeared around the corner.

Tessa entered the conference room, where Andrew already was. He was explaining everything to the others before noticing Tessa.

"Tessa." He said, rushing forward and greeting her with a hug. "I'm back!"

"Andrew!" Tessa exclaimed, returning the hug. "How did the mission go?"

"Narrowly missed being dive-bombed by 20 Myrmidons, but everything else is fine," Andrew said, smiling.

"We'll give you your privacy..." Austin called from the other side of the room. Andrew gave him a look before pulling Tessa out the door.

Immediately after entering their room, Tessa buried her head into Andrew's chest cavity. Y'know how the chest bursters from Alien? Yeah, Tessa was doing the exact opposite of what they do. Burying her head like she's trying to do the reverse chest-burster (I don't know why I rewatched the Alien movies now I can't think of anything except how the heck chest bursters break through your rib cage and how my stomach acid didn't dissolve the egg. I get the weirdest shower thoughts).

Andrew chuckled. "What's going on, Tes? Missed me?"

"Just worried," Tessa said. "You know me."

"Oh, I know you too well to know that you were most likely worried about everything," Andrew said.

"As they say; Mommy Tessa," Tessa said, laughing. "I don't even care about that nickname anymore."

Andrew smiled, kissing her forehead. He hadn't had enough chances to spend some time with Tessa; as one of the 4 oldest and most experienced Star Darlings, he was the one chosen for multiple missions, especially after Nicholas was taken.

"Are you alright?" Tessa asked, looking up. "You went silent there for a while."

Andrew's red eyes softened. "I'm just sorry I didn't get to spend time with you."

"It's alright; after this war is over, we'll always be together," Tessa said.

Andrew smiled, though he knew Tessa was looking at the bright side. Fort Gorgan was still ahead, and until they found Nicholas, they wouldn't have much of a chance with the Chancellor. Or Apollon, the infamous general of the Skylars. He'd faced Apollon before; even with his Power Crystal, he was still at her mercy if not for Colin.

Tessa bobbed him on the nose. "Look at me; stop drifting away." She said sternly. "Focus on something instead of going back there, ok?"

"Got it," Andrew said, staring ever so intently at Tessa. "I'm just going to focus on you; is that ok?"

"I didn't mean..." Tessa said as Andrew kissed her. "I guess that's ok."

"You better say that," Andrew said as Tessa kissed him back.

(Who's up for Andrea?)