Outpost 5

Chapter 2

Yesterday had gone fairly well, Junmyeon thought, proudly. There were no explosions and the only alarms that went off were supposedly just for tests. Most importantly, everything that was supposed to be done had, miraculously, gotten more or less done. The new recruits were supposed to show up at 9, so he had told everyone to be in the lounge by 9:30, and looking presentable. He could only pray no one would show up in their pajamas looking like they just exited a tornado and happened to wind up in the common area of Outpost 5. They had stayed up as late as he would let them all arguing over what alternate name to give the place. Baekhyun had been forbidden from speaking after the first three suggestions, all of which were innuendos (that Jongdae obviously did not get and Yixing didn't understand anyway because Korean happened to be his second language). In the end, they had begrudgingly agreed to wait for the newcomers to get here so they could have a say in the matter. After that the conversation had moved onto what the newcomers would look like. Sehun was terrified that one of them would be a devastatingly handsome blond who would challenge his good looks. Baekhyun was secretly hoping at least one would be a girl, and everyone was terrified of the fact that they were Americans.
"They'll have like, nine rows of abs!" Baekhyun had commented.
"Will they have pet bald eagles and stuff?" Chanyeol was anxious to know.
"Guys, I think those are just myths..." Yixing shook his head.
At this point, Junmyeon had decided it was probably wise for everyone to go to bed, because some people (namely Baekhyun) like to sleep until 10AM and from now on that is absolutely unacceptable and if anyone shows up in anything other than their standard military issue uniform they are in big trouble. After that warning, everyone had shuffled off to their respective rooms to bed.

Junmyeon was up at an obnoxiously early hour, partly because he was an early riser, but also because he was nervous. Did all Americans really have nine rows of abs?! He was sitting in the lounge tapping his foot at this point, resisting the urge to stress eat the entire bowl of M&M's that was on the table.
He was joined by Minseok and Jongdae a bit later, and they became occupied preventing Jongdae from trying to mix skittles and M&M's in the same bowl.

****************************************

Jay Burr hated being late. On the list of things that she dislined in the world, it was pretty high up. However, she was also far too nervous to show up early. Her solution? Show up 15 minutes early, then stand awkwardly outside out of sight and finish eating her breakfast burrito and pick all the cat hair off her uniform skirt. So, that was why she was leaning up against the door to Outpost 5, waiting for her other two colleagues to show up, and doing exactly that. A sudden gust of wind blew her light pink curls everywhere and she made a disgusted sound as she pulled strands of her hair out of her mouth and her burrito.
At that moment, another car drove up and parked next to hers.
The volume at which the music was playing was definitely a good indication that it was Kris. She took another bite out of her burrito and lowered her sunglasses to look at the girl exiting the car.
"Two minutes early! I'm impressed. Did you bring my coffee?" she asked expectantly.
"Well hell yeah I did. The good shit. As in, I added alcohol to it." Kris handed her a blue sparkly canteen with the words "I <3 Cats" written on it as a grin spread across her face.
"Ah yeah? You the main hommie!" Jay shook her hear back from her face again and took a long swig of the coffee. "Oh that is really good. Is that Cinnamon Flavored Whiskey I taste?"
"Yes." Kris lifted her sunglasses and squinted at Jay with blue eyes. "You didn't bring a cat with you, did you?" she asked her suspiciously.
"No no, I'm gonna ask what's his face in charge if I can though because I don't want to leave Carmel at home alone." Jay fished around in her expensive purse for her keycard. "Here it is. Anyway, it's 9:00 we should probably head in."
"Ugh I hate introductions. Where the shit is Cass?" Kris asked, looking around and finishing the last of her Red Bull before throwing it in the small garbage can next to the entrance.
"I don't know but I'm not waiting around. You can if you want but I am going to be on time." Jay scanned her badge over the pad by the door and it lit up green and gave an affirmative beep.
"You going to finish that burrito?" Kris called after her, hurrying to catch up with her taller friend's strides.
"Oh." Jay stuffed the rest of the burrito in her mouth and passed the foil wrapping back down to Kris. "Run that back down to the trash for me?"
Kris gave her a look but took it none the less. "Only because you're doing the talking." she called up over her shoulder as she took two steps back down and tossed it into the trash.
"I can't believe I even considered that."
"Because you speak effin twenty-five languages, and these dudes here be speaking Korean. And Cass and I be speaking very little. Girl!" Kris replied in a fake exasperated tone.
"Ugh this is going to be so awkward. What's worse is this dumb uniform is having...issues." Jay fiddled with the front button of the yellow and black blazer irritably as she climbed the steps, Kris following behind. As the front door slid shut again, they vaguely heard a car approach and screech to a halt.
"That would be Cass. And what kind of issues exactly?" Kris asked, getting on the tone that Jay knew all too well "Ohhhh...that issue. Girlfriend, you have to stop being so cheap and go to the seamstress."
"Yeah yeah..." Jay grumbled. She preferred to spend money on food and music than wasting money getting clothes tailored. "Nice hair by the way."
"Oh thanks. Just got it done yesterday." Kris ran her hair through her newly dyed auburn hair. "The highlights were something new but I like them. Nothing like you going pink but eh."
They reached the top of the stairs and paused before the door to the lobby.
"Should we wait for Cass?" Jay asked, feeling a little guilty.
"Yeah probably." Kris nodded, pushing her sunglasses up onto her head.
The door slid shut behind Cass and she hurried up the stairs as best as she could with an armful of seven books in one hand and a massive case in the other. She arrived at the top of the steps extremely out of breath.
"Hi guys. Sorry I'm late...." she greeted.
"Apology accepted, but you're not going in there like that!" Jay tisked. "Here. Hold my coffee Kris." she handed her canteen off to Kris who took a sip before holding it.
Jay began to fix up Cass.
"Okay, button this, don't leave your blazer hanging open.... Hair out of face...okay..." Jay brushed a few wrinkles out of Cass' skirt before nodding. "Okay better."
"Thank you soooo much." Cass said gratefully. "Uhh, one more favor? Push up my glasses for me will ya?"
Jay laughed and pushed the other girl's thin wire framed glasses up her nose.
"Okay, you all ready now?" she asked, retrieving her coffee from Kris. Everyone nodded. "Right. Okay. Cool." she took a deep breath. Then looked at the other two who were looking at her strangely. "What I'm allowed to be a little nervous about this alright? I hate introductions and small talk and weird awkwardness."
"Just...open the damn door and get it over with." Kris whispered fiercely.
"Okay okay. Wait!" she paused halfway between keying in the entry code. "You guys remember how to introduce yourselves in Korean right?"
"Duhhhhhh!" the two groaned, irritated.
"Just because we don't speak fluently like you doesn't mean we're so bad we don't even know how to introduce ourselves." Kris rolled her eyes.
"Yikes Jay I didn't know you thought so lowly of us." Cass teased, feigning indignation
"Oh! Look how feeble we small minds are!" Kris placed a hand over her heart dramatically.
"Would you guys knock it off?" Jay hissed, her English trailing into French at the end of the sentence.
Cass and Kris giggled and Kris fist bumped Cass as best she could considering Cass had her hands completely full.
"Okay are we finally ready? It's almost 9:15 we've been out here screwing around for so long." Jay muttered.
"English, Jay." Kris sighed tiredly.
"What language was that in?" Jay asked, in English this time, looking at the two quizzically, who looked back at her equally quizzically.
"German, I think. Maybe Swahili."
"Alright, there is a big difference between German and Swa— "
"Open the door." Kris ordered.
"Yes please my arms are getting tired." Cass chimed in.
"Okay!"
Jay keyed in the entry code she had been texted last night and the door slid open.