Only the Strong Survive

Chapter Eighteen

Nina pov.

Sadly, my CO was still alive. It really pissed me off that he was. He escaped with minor scrapes and burns. And minus two fingers. He was yelling at everyone he could in the infirmary. "Look what them dang evolutionarys did to me!!" I looked and I got a mouth full from him, yelling and carrying on. Suck it up, be a man. Then I happily pointed out how I saved his life, and that I would gladly end it. That shut him up.

The army training went well, it could have been better. James and Landon looked like they were remembering most of the lessons. Most of the other kids were doing fine and all the adults that weren't as fit as they should be looked winded.

When the plane scheduled for Friday that was suppose to have me on it landed, I was happy and terrified at the same time. "What the heck are you doing here?!" I yelled as two familiar faces jumped down to solid ground. "Thought we'd join the party." Phoebe said trying to tame her hair. Alex smiled and pulled out a box. "Logan thought you'd need these." I take the box and almost fell over. "What's in it?! Bricks?!" I yell. Knowing my dad, that was a possible answer. Alex shrugged. "I don't know. I just did what he told me. Didn't want to get stabbed...." Alex said. I lugged the box up to the bunker that was our sleeping quarters. I was trailed by all of the mutant plane members. All the ones in the infirmary were back now. Everyone was cleaning, the place looked so clean you could eat off it. I set the box down on my bed and stood in front of all the beds. "Soldiers, attention!" They all stood and saluted at me. I shake my head. "That's not really necessary, but whatever floats your boat." I yell at them. A few loosened up their stance, most just stood strait and tall. I paced back and forth in front of them. "As most of you know, I am in charge of this division until further notice. Is that clear?"
"Yes ma'am!" They yelled.
"And you know that we are scheduled to attack along with the rest of the army tomorrow."
"Yes ma'am!"
"Will you quit that?! Please!"
All the older soldiers stood with feet equal distance apart, arms behind their backs. "Yes ma'am."
I face palmed. "Which is why I expect the very best of you. I don't want to be dragging back your bodies is that clear?"
"Yes-"
I gave them a glare. They quieted.
"Dismissed." I tell them all before going to my bed. "Such a nice army your leading. Very polite." Phoebe said.
Alex, phoebe, Landon, and James all gathered around. "I wonder what's in it?" Landon said.
Ripping open the cardboard, packing peanuts flew everywhere. The first thing I saw, was a note. It flew up in my face with the packing peanuts.
It read.
"Thought you would need this. Dad." A few spaces down there was another. "Be so careful sweetheart, I packed some cookies I here. Share with the other soldiers."
That got me laughing so hard. Only my mom, would send enough cookies to feed an army. A third one. "I love you.😊"
I scooped out the rest of the packing, which revealed at least ten gallon bags of chocolate chip cookies. "Oh my gosh, that is a lot of cookies." Landon said looking into the box. Digging deeper, there was an new pair of boots and another uniform. It was camo. How nice of them.
So the whole mutant division shared cookies. We were the cool ones then. I bet everyone wanted to join our side now, cause we got cookies!
I had taken a few bags to the infirmary, some for the still injured ones in there, and some for Dr Numbness and his assistant. "Ah, Nina from New York. What is that?" He asked at first. "Home made cookies fresh baked this morning.... Or last night? I dont know, time zone. Want some?"
He nodded and I passed him a couple. That's when I met his assistant/nurse in training, Isabelle. She was also German, blue eyes, blond hair pulled back into a standard bun (a rule that I do not follow), and a small smile. "You are Nina from New York. You are head of division?"
Johann jumped in. "Please excuse her English, she is still learning."
I nod, "It's fine, I understand."
CO was still yelling from the other room. "Look at what they did to me!! Hey?! Where'd you get that cookie?! Cookies are signs of weakness!!!! You going soft soldier?! Just like that cookie!"
I chuckle. "I bet next he'll be saying that lemonade is for ballerinas."
Johann got it and laughed, but Isabelle, sadly did not until Johann translated. "So what's your power?" I asked her. She blushed. "I can... Disappear memories..." She said, trying to find the right words. Johann put an arm around her shoulders. "Isabelle can allow thoughts of others to be modified or deleted all together. For example. A soldier in pain. She can erase the memories of pain. Except it's only temporary." I nodded. "Sounds cool. I think I should pay Berlin a visit sometime. They have all the useful mutants." I joked.
One of the COs from another section of the army dragged in a girl, slightly older looking than me, roughly by the arm in front of us. "Commanding officer Nina, one of your soldiers was caught snooping around the sniper training spot. She could have been killed." The girl frowned. I gave the CO a look and he let go of the girl. "I can handle this." I told him. He backed off. I turn on the girl. After getting a good look at her, I concluded that she was at least 22. She had ruby red hair, dyed, with black tips. Her hazel eyes looked both fearful and rebelliously at me. "Name?" I asked. "Mary.... But everyone around here calls me Rosetta."
I frown. "Ok Rosetta, why were you snooping?" I glared down at her. Kinda more up than down... Why can't I be taller?!
He looked terrified. "I just wanted to understand our attack plan better. I heard them talking about it so I thought I would listen in......" I sat down after she finished. "Want a cookie?" I asked. She looked at me in shock. I sighed. "Do you want one or not? I swear they aren't poisoned." I bit down on another one and she warily took one from the bag.
"So why do the call you Rosetta?" Johann asked. Rosetta answered in flawless German. And then in spanish. And Russian. And Italian. All within a minute. "Ah. So your that Rosetta." Johann said smiling. "You mean like the Rosetta Stone program language learning thing?" I asked confused.
Rosetta laughed. "That program was named after me. I inspired it. Some stupid scientists decided that everyone should be able to speak these languages. My middle name is Rosetta, and they thought it would sound more scientific if the added 'stone' after it. Just so it can sound like they were inspired by that stupid rock. But nooo! It was me! I'd like to see that rock translate and speak most languages on earth!!!!"
Rosetta's speech had tired into a rant. "Have another cookie." I offered, trying to get her to be quiet. And my plan was successful.
"So what did you learn when you spied?" Johann asked.
Rosetta downed her cookie before speaking. "Basically everything I already knew. But all the COs are having a meeting tonight, so I assume your going." She said to me.
I had been informed of this meeting, before the plane arrived, so I nodded.

After talking with them for a bit more, I said goodbye and went back to the other side of the base. It was getting colder, the dirt was solid and frozen, and the sky was starting to change to that noticeable winter weather, grey clouds and a rainy look. Landon was chatting away with the others in the room, and I almost had another heart attack for the second time today.
"Hey nina!! You know that guy over there with the blade fingers?! It turns out he is a great hair stylist!" Phoebe yelled. I did know the guy, and at first glance, that isn't what you would expect him to be. He had more of the inmate vibe to him. Phoebe's hair was considerably shorter, like jaw length short. "Wha...... Why?! Your hair was so pretty!"
"That's what I told her." Alex said face palming. "I know, but I can always grow it back. It was just getting sooo annoying! And it wouldn't stay in the bun!"
I sighed. "Whatever you say."
Settling down on my bed and propping my feet up on the wall, I pull out my phone and search all the news stations for a war update from their point of view.
According to them, mutants were starting to gather near the Russian boarder of Poland and Ukraine..... But there were some smaller groups gathered near Germany in localized spots..... I guess we're going to have to work our way up to the big one.... Like video games. It would be hilarious if they had a Bowser mutant waiting there for me.

When I was called to the meeting later, I sat at a round table, with a bunch of old, angry looking men and their assistants. I felt overshadowed.
When the head old guy pulled out a map with cute little color coded push pins, I was ready to sleep. Our base was a few miles north east of Munich, pin pointed with a cute little American flag. The old man discussed the plan. "So we march out troop, up to the closest base outside of Nuremberg, sending the mutant division up first. Our special ops men will rig the place to explode-"
I interrupted. "Sir, would that still be with my troops in it? Or just when it is convenient for you to blow it up?"
The mans face reddened and I could see smoke come out his ears. "Of course not! We don't want to loose more people than we have to."
I stand up and point out some flaws in his plan. "Sir, but if you keep everything on the time schedule you want to keep, then there will be barely enough time to get half of my division out!" The head guy slammed his hands in the table and yelled, the veins on his neck bulging. "Sit down soldier! I believe that your men can get in and out within that limit!" His face was purple and he looked like he would have a stroke if I continued to correct him. I sat back down in my chair, crossing my arms and frowning. As a nice touch, I put my muddy boots on the nice clean table and leaned back. The man scowled and the others looked disgustedly at me. They all had the 'kids these days' face. "Can I ask you to take your feet off-"
"No, you can't." I snapped. "Continue, please, I would like to hear the wisdom that you have to say."
The rest of the speech he kept glaring at me. I just blew it off. He'd be over it when I won him this war.

Thank you for reading. Comments? Questions? Feelings? Any feedback is appreciated. 😊 PlatinumAngel7