Gate: Thus, humanity didn't die in the dark.

Chapter 16: The Christmas offensive part 4: Decapitation strike.

"They may be shapeshifters but you are GOC personnel. You are humanity's first and last line of defense." Commander Mathew Clark's addressing GOC personnel after the attack on the GOI HQ.

Falmart. Clarks apartment. 9 pm. December 24th. 1 AEE.

"Took you long enough to return." Said Uriel sarcastically and playfully as I returned from another bullshit meeting with the other GOI leaders. Me and Ulysses got along fine along with the director of ORIA surprisingly but as always I smell bullshit coming from the Engineer and Robert.

When it came to the director of GRU P he was silent most meetings and rarely talked so I don't have any good idea of him.

For the Past 2 days I've taken a very excited Uriel on a tour of the capital when I have the time. "Yes, yes sorry for being late." I say sarcastically back to her. "Ah don't get so worked up by my teasing." She said as she climbed out of the couch while holding a mug of coffee with her one arm.

"Drinking coffee at this time seriously." I said amused. "Hey it's a great drink and I'll be taking some of it back with me to the forge after our week-long get together." She said, "Hey, can I see your eye without the eye patch?" She asked curiously while looking up at me. This and corn out of nowhere and I was quite honestly quite shocked that someone would ask this but she's a dwarf and I'm sure she doesn't get scared easily.

I carefully took off my eyepatch and crouched slightly so I could get to her height(she's 4'6 and our MC is 5'10). My empty socket was revealed to her in all its gruesome glory. "Man that looks awesome you should take your eyepatch more it's a nice battle scar." She said rather happily and with a proud look.

Either she's nuts or all dwarven women are crazy. Ah fuck my life I thought. "Glad you like it I guess." I said awkwardly. "What does someone not like about his little battle scar?" She teased. "Have more pride in your injuries. I lost my arm and I'm perfectly happy." She said in an encouraging tone.

"Point taken?" I said largely not buying into it fully. "I will admit that it's impressive how unfazed you are about losing your arm and how you're rather proud of it." I said. "Hell ya. I'm a ranger proud of losing my arm. It's a nice reminder of me stealing those 5 scales off a dragon my friend." She said,

Uriel had told me this story around a hundred times or so and what I believe to pretty much be the essence of her pride other than her clear genius when it comes to making weapons. On the topic of weapons she had bombarded me on how the tanks worked, fired their shells, and if could resist getting burned by a dragon which was a good question since we haven't seen any of these legendary dragons we've been hearing so much about.

Honestly I say it's good that we haven't seen a dragon yet. I don't want a 100 foot tall lizard flying around burning shit up. "I'm going to head to bed." I got tired and changed the topics of the conversation. "Aww going to sleep so soon." She said annoyed. "Yes I had to deal with another bullshit meeting." I responded as I crashed onto the bed.

While I had earlier offered Uriel a sleeping bag so she could sleep on the inflatable mattress I had set up on the floor for her before I went to pick her up, she however was more than comfortable crashing on the couch and that's where she had been sleeping for the past 2 days.

Uriel shot me several annoyed looks before allowing me to get some sleep. I had gotten use to how fucking energetic she was especially when she was on coffee. She stayed up late and sometimes wouldn't go to sleep until one because she was busy trying to do research on my computer which I had taught her to use.

She was, as I suspect, researching tanks and other military vehicles. Not that I minded. Another thing about her is when she finally decided to sleep she snored a lot. Like she's fucking lound.