Redirection

Posted on Sun Feb 16th, 2020 @ 11:38am by Major Kachiko Bayushi

532 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: E1 Only The Beginning
Location: Earth, Minsk

"Mom!" Reiko squeaked behind her fast walking mother, her hand held by the petite Marine. "Slow down!"

"I can't, Reiko," Kachiko sighed."I just got orders and don't have much time before we have to leave."

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see, sweetie," Kachiko kept her voice and face impassive. She had put Reiko through enough. Her year long cry session had tried even the twelve years old girls patience, even with how incredibly empathetic the pre-teen telepath was. Though Kachiko could feel Reiko's annoyance right now.

They arrived at a traditional Russian dacha, their feet crunching in the snow alerting the lone resident of their arrival. As soon as they stepped up onto the porch, the door opened and a fifty-ish Russian woman with red hair looked down at the two short females, "Dobroye utro!"

The woman winked at Kachiko before crouching down in front of Reiko, "So you're the lil girl your mom told me about! You're just as cute as your mom said."

"Hi there, I'm Alexandra and I heard that today is someone's birthday?" Alex asked.

"Uh huh," shy little Reiko replied."I am twelve now!"

"Chiko, how have we gone twelve years without you introducing me to this adorable girl?" Alex grinned at Reiko before standing back up to her usual six feet.

"So it's your birthday, darling?" Alex continued."Your mom asked me if I had something you would like and I told her I had just the thing."

"Come inside and I will go get it, sweetie," Alex turned, leaving the door open. Kachiko lead the apprehensive preteen inside, where the two waited only a moment before Alex came back, cradling something in her arms Reiko couldn't see.

"It's kind of fragile, sweetie, so be careful. I'm going to put it in your arms, but close your eyes first."

Reiko complied, holding her arms like she was cradling a baby, her dark brown eyes closing. She then felt a slight weight settle in her sweater-clad arms and opened her eyes to look down.

In her arms was a ball of fluff. Gray white and black, the fur long. Then she noticed it's tail had faint black ring fur markings. Then it lifted it's little head and looked up at her, mewing once.

"Oh my gosh!" Reiko said in an excited but hushed tone! "He looks like a little lion! He is so cute!"

"He's yours, darling," Alex grinned."Happy birthday!" Then the retired Marine Colonel turned her attention to Kachiko, "You shipping out, Major?"

"I am," Kachiko sighed. "The Magellan needs a Company Commander and I think Command wants their damaged laundry kept out of sight. In other words, me."

"Well, doll, I wish you two happy trails," Alex leaned down and hugged her old friend and shipmate.

Thirty minutes later, Kachiko paused as she looked down at the dacha in the distance, "Farewell, friend." Reiko was in the aft cabin playing with her new best friend, giggling at the Maine Coon kittens antics. With that settling Kachiko's momentary melancholy, she punched the thrusters, bringing the craft into a steep ascent until it safe to engage the impulse engine.

The Bayushis were on their way!

 

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