The Assassin & The Mercenary

Chapter 9

Getting up the next morning is a bitch. I wake up too fucking early to my alarm that I set to wake me up earlier than necessary. I spend the three minutes I specifically set aside for acclimating to the early morning environment around me trying to remember why I agreed to do this.

Exactly three minutes later I push the duvet down my body and swing my legs over the edge of the bed so I can stand. I push my self up onto my feet and take approximately two steps before I trip over some thing and stumble my way into the door frame, hitting my forehead on the edge of the wood.

Fucking energy source.

Moxis decided to spend her night three feet away from any logical space and curling up into a fluffy ball in the middle of the hardwood. She looked up at me with a scowl as in "who do you think you are waking me up like this". I scowled back at her before she nestled her muzzle back to where it was, snuggled between her paws. It's not the first time Moxis stayed the night with me, but I needed her here last night and not stuck in the display case she was mostly confined too. It was convenient not to have to stop by the Flatiron this morning to pick her up, since I have to take her with me on whatever journey we would go on anyway.

I walked into the kitchen, checking the wall clock as I went. I saw that it was only 5:49 in the morning. I didn't have to arrive at the shipyard till 9 o'clock but I had plenty to do before departing.

The rest of the morning in my apartment went by quickly. I made sure my duffle was packed correctly and wouldn't be required to flag as suspicious. I got together a larger duffle filled with all the science related materials I wouldn't be able to get other than bringing them myself. Within the larger duffle is a bag packed with all Moxis necessities.

As soon as I was done properly packing all my belongings, I checked through the apartment to make sure I wasn't going to leave anything behind that could be a problem. It was already close to 8 at this point so there wasn't much else to do at my apartment. As soon as I made sure everything was okay to leave behind, I went to put on the uniform that was required to wear due to my work.

As soon as the clock struck 8 am, I made sure Moxis was ready to go and I went outside so I could lock up the apartment. As soon as that was all secure, we went down to a nearby street and I hailed a cab. Eventually one decided that a dog wouldn't be that big of a problem and took us down to the docks.

✭✭✭

Eventually Moxis and I got down to the docks. The taxi driver decided suddenly that he didnt know what the english language was three times when he decided to get lost due to "not being able to read the signs".

Utter bullshit if you ask me. Especially since the driver was a guy who lived in the same building as me and I knew very well he wasnt that fucking dumb.

I hopped out before letting Moxis drop down beside me. I grabbed my luggage and checked a clock nearby to see that it was only 8:30. Technically no one had to be here until 9 but Howard needed to go over some stuff with me and make sure that the fragile luggage was properly handled.

"Lizzie!" he called as I approached "i've missed you. How has my favorite sister been?"

"We saw each other about 48 hours ago. Theres no way you could have missed me in that time span" I smiled at him.

"Both of those are true" he grinned before his face turned serious "but I'm serious. How are you? This is a big day for you. A big day for all of us if I'm being honest but it's you who's being affected the most here."

"Have you got a cup of coffee somewhere first?" we walked over to a nearby bench and he grabbed a cup of coffee that was sitting atop an adjacent table before sitting down with me. "I'll be okay. I'll have Moxis with me the entire time. Nothing could go wrong with my favorite girl with me".

I took a sip from my cup, its temperature still hot but not to an extreme. I smiled over the cup at Moxis who looked at me with an angled head. One ear folded backwards as she sat. For a sentient being whose entire existence was either unknown or a mystery, she sure enjoyed being a big, aggressive looking dog who lived for the attention she would get.

"I still don't know about that" Howard continued from next to me, bringing my attention back to the present "I just want you to be safe. I know you have this dog and you have your own skills but," i gave him a deadpanned look before rolling my eyes "don't do that Lizzie. I may not totally act like it but I love you and I worry about you. No matter how capable the government deems you. You and your stubborn dumbass self needs to stay safe. For my sake."

"I know" I move to rest my head on his shoulder "I appreciate all your help and all you've done for me. I promise that I can handle myself, but if it helps you feel better than I'll try to keep myself out of those situations."

"I'd appreciate it if you weren't going at all but you've been planning this for entirely to long for me to convince you to stop. I trust you."

"Thank you" I lift my head off his shoulder as I notice the first few recruits lining up to be admitted on to the carrier "best brother out there."

"Your welcome. Best dumbass sister out there." he looks around and moves to get up "it's almost 9 so we better make sure that you get where you need to be. No doubt some of these privates will be pissed at you skipping the entire line."

"Who gives a shit. We're all going to the same place eventually. We'll get there when we get there."

"I swear to god if you say something morbid I will misplace a bag."

"I was going to say Europe." I side-eyed him as we approached the check point that I'm supposed to arrive at. "Dead was only going to be the backup answer. Jeez"

"See you on the other side sis." I turned around to face him and see him waving at me. "Don't be a dumbass and be safe."

"Are you sure you're talking to me?" I laughed at his deadpanned expression of "are you serious" for a good minute before composing myself "I'm kidding. I'll behave. No dumbass antics."

He contemplated my words before nodding, satisfied, and turning around to walk back. I turned around to head through my personal checkpoint the local government set up alongside the S.S.R. so I could get where they needed me. As I walked down the platform to the general entrance to where everyone would board, I heard my name being called from behind me.

I tugged at the sleeve of the soldier guiding me around to signal him that I was stopping. I turned around and looked for the voice who was calling.

"Lizzie!" I heard as I saw one tan hat rushing through a crowd of matching uniforms with a couple civilians bidding them farewells mixed in. "Lizzie."

James finally broke through the crowd and slowed as he approached me. He took off his cap and ran a hand through his chocolate brown hair. He looked extremely fucking nervous to be talking to me.

"Jamie!" I briskly walked the couple of feet of space that was left between us before reaching up to kiss his cheek. His face blushing in the aftermath.

"I didn't see you before the check-in so I was hoping I would be able to see you back here before final boarding."

I totally forgot that I was supposed to meet him out there.

"I'm so sorry but I was in a rush and had to get back here. Do you want to walk onboard with me? I have to get shown to my quarters since I'm here on different orders and the S.S.R. required them to give me my own space to work and live."

He stumbled over his words as he spoke. Moxis found her way next to me and decided to sit down. I don't know where she came from but as long as she didn't make a mess that I have to clean up, I have no problem with her wandering.

"U-Umm, yeah. Yeah I can do that." he looked behind him as if to make sure something was where it was supposed to be before turning back to me to continue "I already said my farewells to my sister and Steve. They came to see me off."

He ran his hand through his hair again as the cap dangled from his other one. He propped his elbow in a gesture for me to loop mine with his. As soon as I did, he took off towards the boarding area and the soldier who was leading me earlier rolled his eyes and walked ahead of us both. Moxis walked at my heel on the opposite side of James.

At least this morning didn't seem so much of a bitch now.