Commander's Rounds

Entry 48: Strange New World

Deep breaths.

Melissa Cartwright needed to calm herself down. Sure, she was invited in, and she even showed up in her work uniform, but she didn't really know what she was going to see beyond that gate this morning- dealing with the girls from this base could be strange enough when she was at her job, but she had no idea what might happen once she went to where they lived. She knew some of the girls through her job, but how many were there in the base. Hundreds? More?

And maybe the ones that she hadn't met were weirder than the ones she had?

So. Many. Questions.

Still, she went up to the gate guards and explained herself, and they did a quick check of her ID and let her in- no muss, no fuss. She had been expected, after all.

And the nerves came back once she heard the gate close behind her. She didn't just hear it- she felt it.

Deep breaths.

She must have looked lost or helpless, because she soon heard someone address her. "My my~. Now, who are you, and what are you looking for?"

Melissa squeaked in surprise as she quickly turned to see who addressed her.

It was a busty, black-haired woman in what appeared to be a white uniform, but that skirt seemed too short for the job, and then she saw those pair of pointy dog ears moving this way and that. Atago smiled at Melissa, waiting patiently for an answer.

"Ah! I'm Melissa Cartwright, and St. Louis said she'd meet me here- maybe I got here early?"

"St. Louis...?" Atago giggled. "Oh, she's probably watching her sister at exercises. I'll send her a message." She took out her phone, did a few quick taps, and then put it away. "So, did you come here alone?"

It was an alarming question, but she felt compelled to be honest. "Ah, yeah..."

Atago giggled. "My~ That won't do, not at all." She put her hand under her chin. "But... Hm! All right, I know what I'll do."

Melissa dared to ask. "So... What?"

Atago smiled. "I've decided. I'm going to go with you- Just think of me, Atago, as your big sister while you're here, all right?"

It was an odd offer, but this one seemed friendly enough. "All right, so, is there something I should know?"

Atago tapped her foot a bit. "There's far too much to tell but I'll let you know something. You may see some things you're not used to, so if you encounter something that makes you confused or nervous, there's something that I can let you do that's sure to help."

"And what's that?"

Atago's fuzzy ears moved around. "You can pet my ears."

She blinked. "And that helps?"

"It works for most people~"

Made as much sense as anything else.

And so, Atago was her big sister for now. Things just worked that way around here, apparently.

It was then that Atago offered a suggestion. "Hm. Well, if we're going to wait for St. Louis, we might as well find a comfortable place to do it. I know a place that will be just fine. Follow big sis~"

And she did follow Atago, though she was free to look around. She did see some of the girls that came to town, as well as many more that she didn't remember- they seemed to be of all ages and types and moods, at least as far as she was able to tell. Atago looked back at her for a moment. "You know, Dunkerque has a place in town. Have you ever visited?"