Jack took a breath, adjusting his collar in the mirror, the military uniform he wore bearing an emblem of the unicorn on his left collar and a rose crossed with a blade on his right collar.

“You look… very dapper honey,” Ada said, hugging Jack from behind

“You think so? I think I look very rigid and generic.”

“Well, trust me dear, your very far from generic although I do miss your long hair.”

“Really? I thought I looked a bit like a hobo.”

“Could you at least have kept the beard?”

“Why? Saying I need man makeup?” Jack joked, giving Ada a light kiss.

“No, I'm just saying I liked your beard,” Ada pouted, laying down in bed, the woman reaching over to a nearby plastic plate to eat last night's leftovers.

Well, her leftovers. Whatever she was eating seemed to be some combination of cheesy chips dipped into strawberry yogurt with a side of peanut butter and ketchup.

Absolutely vile.

Jack had concerns, but decided to keep his mouth shut for fear of his own safety.

“Fine. Maybe I'll grow it out.”

“You promise?” Ada asked, batting her eyes with her mouth smeared with yogurt.

Jack smirked.

“No promises Ada,” Jack said, walking over to the woman to kneel and take her hand. “But I'll try. Just because I'm the Queen's consort doesn't mean I don't have to follow the military grooming standards though.”

“You’re such a good boy,” Ada teased, smiling as a knock on the door sounded.

*Sorry to disturb you two, it's time sir,” Leona said, the woman in matching uniform as Jack but with a lieutenant’s rank where Jack's medallion of a rose was.

“Alright. Time for me to go,” Jack said, wiping Ada’s mouth with a napkin and giving her a kiss.

“I'll miss you,” Ada said, almost tearful.

Jack smirked, “I'll be back, I'll only be gone for a few hours. Oh, and tell Yuki I said hi, I'll try and swing by after.”

“Sure, now hurry up and go so you can hurry back,” Ada said with Jack heading out the door.

****

“Are you sure you're up for this?” Leona asked, she and Jack standing in front of a double door that led to the outside. “I'd really hate to ruin my nails if you aren't.”

“Is Celeste safe?”

Leona raised a brow. “She's with your Aunt and Kamila right now at her mansion. Along with an entire BRose team on standby.”

“Well, vacation time is over. It's time to get to work,” Jack said, Leona shrugging and pulling open the door that spilled daylight onto Jack.

Outside, a convoy of black unmarked cars parked in the driveway, the rear entrance to the palace that was littered by dozens of men and women in gold armor.

“Consort, Mage Lieutenant Tali,” A suit with a cybernetic hand said, standing beside a black armored SUV.

“J-jess- Sergeant Ashfield?!” Jack exclaimed, caught off guard by the woman he hadn't seen in nearly four years.

Jessica smiled, the woman in a black suit and tie. “Lieutenant now. I will be in charge of your security detail sir. If you would, your chariot awaits sir.”

“Seems like everyone is moving up in the world,” Jack said, flashing a look at Leona as he boarded the black leather interior of the car.

“Selfia thought it be better to see a familiar face,” Leona explained, sitting beside Jack who was smiling at the woman across from him. “Or two.”

Corporal Yun Vichecht. The red-eyed blonde woman smiling at Jack.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“Yun!”

“Sir!” The perky woman replied, giving a casual salute. “And here I thought you forgot about me hehe.”

“Buckle up please,” Jessica said, eyeing the pair through the rearview mirror, her brown eyes settled on Jack doing as instructed as she reached for her radio. “Chicken Two this is Chicken One. Big Rooster is on board, lead us out.”

Big Rooster? Jack raised his brow.

“Copy that,” a familiar voice called back. “We're wheels up.”

“Alright, get comfortable. We're off sir,” Jessica said, winking at Jack before the car lurched, taking off through the gilded archway and into the city.

“Yun, it's been ages!” Jack exclaimed, eyeing the blonde in a suit. “How's it been? What have you guys been up to?

“Oh, ya know. Dodging bullets, getting shot at, chasing bad guys,” Yun said, almost giddy. “Lots and lots and lots and lots of classified stuff! Fun stuff! You look good by the way! Real-”

“What she means is that after the Gamma Outpost raid,” Jessica cut in. “We've been working with Queen Selfia on a number of ops.”

“You’re kidding,” Jack said. “Selfia recruited you guys?”

“Jeez. Why do you sound so surprised?” Yun snorted, smiling. “Everyone from Gamma station has combat experience. And we all completed our SERE, OCDTS, and STARs training.”

“Stars?”

“Special Tactics and Rescue training,” Leona cut in, filing her nails. “All Checkmate agents undergo it.”

“Checkmate…” Jack whispered. “Wait, is everyone from Gamma on my protection detail?”

“Yup! Well, almost everyone. Elena is on maternity leave, so we’re using a replacement from Saber Team.”

“Wow! Really? Time moves fast huh,” Jack said, recalling the sharp-eyed who once ambushed him in the showers. “How far along is she?”

“Eh, about a few weeks. She's been vomiting a lot, eating all my snacks, and crying all the time,” Yun replied, rolling her hand in the air. “Usual pregnant stuff unsuited for the battlefield. Ya know last week, she microwaved fish with peanut butter in the office. Had the whole place stinking! ”

“Heh, sounds like someone…” Jack trailed off, his eyes widening.

No… no way?

“Sir?” Yun said, Leona flashing a look at Jack.

“No… can't be,” Jack shook his head, chuckling to himself in disbelief as he rubbed his chin.

“What? What's so funny?”

“Nothing,” Jack sighed. “Tell me more bout what you guys have been doing for the last four years.”

****

Some time passed as Jack rode in the car md listened intently to the woman showing off her prosthetic metal leg.

From the Battle of Frelia, to the Roland v Selfian frontlines, Yun and the others had seen it all, often raiding High Table facilities, their chance run in with a teenage boy altering their destinies.

Since the battle of Gamma station, Yun, Elena, Jessica, Tyrah, and Jena had been serving aboard The All Under Heaven, Selfia's tactical command airship that had been scuttled after the Battle of Frelia and it's fight with the former Queen's Flying Fortress.

“So, you were there. At Frelia.”

“Yuppers. On ship defense duty and DECOM. Now let me tell you that was some SCARY stuff! We had an outbreak on the ship and…” Yun blinked, eyeing both Leona and Jack, the pair holding pensive looks. “Right, anyway yeah. We were there. And got really lucky.”

“Alright. We're almost to our destination,” Jessica called out from the front seat.

Jack looked out the tinted window,, taking in the rows of trees and formations of soldiers and trucks passing by.

Before long, the car stopped.

“We're here,” Jessica said, as a VTOL flew overhead.

Jack blinked as Yun opened the door, his eyes adjusting to the harsh light.

He stepped out of the black SUV, his gaze sweeping over the gathered men and women in blue training fatigues, the soldiers standing formation.

Glancing left and right, Jack surveyed the field he stood upon, the grassland stripped away by countless footsteps, trucks, and mechs to be replaced by dirt.

“ATTENTION!” The officer in charge barked, a woman rendering a salute at Jack.

Jack's jaw clenched lightly, an action not unseen by Leona.

“At ease,” Jack replied, the entire formation shifting to stand at parade rest as the officer approached. “Commander Margaret Houlihan I presume?”

“Yes sir,” The blonde replied, shaking Jack's outstretched hand. “The entire Hundred and Fifth are awaiting your inspection sir, right this way.”

“Good,” Jack said, before turning to Jessica and eyeing Jena and Tyrah, the rest of Gamma squad standing by their cars. “I've got it from here Lieutenant. It was good seeing you again.”

“Uh…” Jessica blinked. “Are you asking us to leave?”

“Is that a problem? You guys don't need to stick around.”

“Yeah, that's not how this detail works sir,” Jessica said.

“You realize that I'm going to be doing some training with the hundred and fifth right?” Jack whispered, making eye contact with the woman.

“Yes, I'm aware of the PR stunt going on. But let me tell you sir. Wherever you go. We go. Our job is to protect you.”

“Right…” Jack said, choosing not to address the glaring issue that his bodyguards weren't awakened. “Right sure. Commander, lead the way.”

Walking with his entourage, Jack was led to a crowded barracks room of women where all eyes focused on him.

Jack calmly walked through, picking up a change of clothes set aside on a bunk for him in the form of fatigues.

He began to strip, taking off his uniform, his muscular body on display much to the shock of everyone inside.

“Holy shit,” Someone whispered, noticing the massive scar on Jack's chest that extended to his back. A rare trait for awakened due to their healing but a reminder of his defeat.

He didn't care though, he quickly changed, taking off his pants with Jessica and Leona standing beside him and also getting undressed.

The bigger splash he made, the more the impact would ripple.

And that was the item on the day's agenda. Causing ripples.