March 1 5:00 am
-Commander-
My short nap didn't help me much, a sudden time zone shift is always an annoyance too. Tiredly I stood up from the Old man's chair, I felt like a total mess, and that was a clear sign, that I got soft. The thought of that made me really angry, it also managed to sober my drowsy head quickly. After I finished unpacking my belongings I couldn't help but stare at my attire options with slight annoyance. There were eight commanders' outfit sets hanging in the closet, there was also an issue with Lilian's gift. Five brand new suits and note "Clothes do make a man," everyone thinks that they are so clever. Well then, Lilian, Charles, Charles...? Huh...
The visible frustration on Drake's face was instantly replaced with a wicked smile as he began to change his clothing while muttering something about "Better to solve the problem before it gets out of control,". The Grin on Drake's face was not of malicious nature, it was that one of a child's who was up to no good.
When he was done, Drake took a bottle of water with him from the delivered package of goods near the closet "So thoughtful," he said out loud. Seconds later Drake was heading out from his chambers, but then, made a sudden stop right at the doorstep, and took in his surroundings once more. Drake's gaze was fixated at all those photos in the room, the photos of his comrades and their kids. He stared at those photos with a dead cold look for a while, afterward he closed his eyes for a brief moment and left the room with a reminiscent smile on his face.
After leaving his chambers Drake found himself in quite a long, wide, and empty corridor, it was well lit and the walls looked reinforced with sturdy metal. The faint metallic smell convinced Drake that this was recently finished construction. It took a good thirty seconds before Drake finally left the corridor. He found himself in a huge oval-shaped area with a sizeable oval-shaped room in the middle. The room was made of glass, but part of the glass walls was covered with metallic plates, it looked like those could shelter the room from more than just simple curious looks.
There was an automated entrance that was wide open now, the entry point gave a good view of what was inside. You could see a single large oval-shaped table and plenty of chairs around it. There was a man, who leaned on a glass wall near the entrance, and it looked like he is not in a hurry to go in. In his career, Drake saw a lot of military workout nuts, who would do nothing, but pump iron in their free time, despite that, the physique of a man who was leaning on those walls managed to surprise him. He stood around 1.90 meters tall, had a bald, meaty, shaved head with quite a fierce, intimidating face accompanying it, and the fact that he did not shave his beard for at least a couple of weeks added to his wild looks.
Hi's arms and legs resembled tree trunks, even so, with his far from delicate looks Drake had a strange feeling that the man did not sacrifice a lot of functionality in attaining this physique of his.
A guard? Another mercenary? No, Drake dismissed these thoughts immediately after taking the man's attire into consideration. It had a lot of straps and pockets filled with a variety of tools, his clothes were dirty and oiled, and you could say it resembled a mechanics outfit if nothing else.
He was standing there and plucking out his beard strands with a few of his meaty fingertips while holding a serious, thoughtful facial expression as if he was contemplating something intensely. A few good seconds later the man noticed Drake standing there and looking at him, he started to wave his right hand and gesture towards himself giving Drake an invitation to join him.
As soon as Drake approached him the man spoke
Unknown man - Aaaaah, The guest!!!
The man said that with quite an enthusiasm and with such a thick Russian accent that if not for Drakes's training, he would probably have dropped his bottle out of surprise right there.
"Of course," Drake thought to himself but kept listening with a serious face on.
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Unknown man - I assume Major cleared you? Yes? He, let's wander you like this, yes?
Drake nodded and answered only with a "Yes, Major was supposed to pick me up, but he was late".
You could visibly follow the man's surprised eyes and see his puzzled expression as he looked several times at Drake from head to toe. Some seconds later he lifted his left hand and started to rake his chin with those meaty fingers of his. Another several second later he finally asked thoughtfully.
Unknown man - Hmm... You have no dress?
Drake - No, sadly I'm out of dresses
Unknown man - Ha! funny man, and Ahh, well... Major late, Heee... Fight.
Drake - Fight?
Unknown man - Yes, he fight the Good Doctor here. So busy, no come. Ahhh, yes, me no manners
Unknown man - I'm Yuri! Me Chief Engineer here. You?
Drake - Me Drake, I'm your new boss.
Yuri - Boss, is that so? Ahhh, that's why you come from there.
Drake - Yes Yuri, my friend, I'm your new commander.
Yuri - Commander, yes, if Major says so.
Yuri said that with a strong emphasis on Major, and Drake could feel that it was done not because of authority but out of earned respect.
Yuri - You need something - you come to Yuri, but we drink before friend.
Drake's face was lit with a huge smile instantly, he was enjoying the absurdity of it all. No idea why or where he is, sounds of loud, heated arguments resembling screams coming out from the room in front of him, his second in command was late to pick him up on his very first day, and he is greeted by a man straight out of cartoons.
Drake - Yuri, you know why they are fighting? It's getting quite loud out here, you said you want to help, why don't you go there you help me with their attitude? Drake asked with an amused smile.
Yuri - Fighting? Yes, attitude? No... That's your job.
The Good Doctor is - Scary woman Yuri added after a brief moment.
A sigh and a short chuckle left Drake's mouth before he asked for more details of what's this fight all about.
Yuri - the Good Doctor wants Major to capture things, for study.
Yuri's face twisted for a moment and he made a nasty spit before proceeding.
Yuri - Major say, things too dangerous to capture, he kill them.
Drake - Things? What things?
Yuri - Yes, things... Major no tell about things? He will, that's his job.
Yuri - Now we go, we late, need to start.
Yuri said and pointed his meaty fingers towards the entrance.
Drake entered the room first, he barely managed to notice in time Major leaning backward and his twisting shoulders as he was dodging an object, that was flying straight towards Drake's head. Drake managed to capture the flying object just right before it managed to splash into his face. There was a slight whistle following this feat that came from Yuri, who managed to witness what happened just now. Drake blinked, jerked his head slightly, and started to inspected what was that he was able to catch. It was a small carton boxed drink, a milkshake named Meow. "Meow huh." Drake thought to himself.
The infuriated woman who clearly missed her mark noticed Drake for the first time who was standing some small distance behind the Major near the entrance. She stared at him with her eyes wide open and it looked like she's about to snap even harder. A few seconds later, she cocked her head to the right and focused her eyes on the ceiling above her, then she took a few deep breaths before continuing, with a calm voice.
The Good Doctor - Seriously Charles? You were gone for days, and now that you're back, we have tourists roaming our base?! Charles, can it be that you actually lost not only your competence but also your fucking mind?!!!
She shouted the following, then neatly fixed her white coat's collar, and left the room while muttering something in German.
Touchy indeed Drake said to himself with a nod.
Major Charles Donovan dazed off with confusion there for a moment and finally took a look behind him, where he found the tourist that The Good Doctor was talking about.
He was dressed in flip-flops and shorts, that had painted flowers on them, those colorful shorts, they looked like something those of tasteless tourists would wear, and last but not least a white T-shirt with a printed "No" sign and written sentence " I hate pigeons".
Charles - Sir, are those flip-flops sir?
Drake looked at Charles, then at Yuri, and confidently stated with a calm voice
Drake - Yes, those are my lucky - flip flops
Charles - Lucky, yes... I see Sir, luck important Afterall, and sir, are those are Havaii'an flower shorts?
Drake - Indeed Charles! My grandmother gave them to me. Then, Drake turned to Yuri and asked.
Drake - Family is important, right Yuri?
The man looked at him seriously and answered.
Yuri - Yes, family is important. putting a strong emphasis on family.
Charles - And sir, did you not see the outfits that were delivered to your closet? I believe, I ordered 8 sets of them to be brought there.
You could see Charles left eye twitching with nervous ticks it looked like he was about to burst into a nervous outbreak.
Drake - Yeah, but I didn't feel like wearing them, I think it's the weather.
Charles - The what??! Major Charles, a true professional, and a hardened military man stood there baffled and confused beyond belief.
As amusing as it was for Drake, his little Funtime was interrupted by a siren a few seconds later. That siren also managed to snap Major out of his confused mental state. The last time the siren rang, it did so at a great cost for project Anvil. It rang at cost of many operatives and their general Nicolas Foster.
There was no confusion or indecisiveness, Major Donovan's face became stern and focused, he looked all business, all protocol.
Donovan - Sir, follow me to the situation room, Sir.
Donovan left the room hurriedly, Yuri and Drake followed, but for a brief moment there, if anyone was looking, they would be able to see a glint of disappointment on Drake's face.