"Let me get this straight… I left the two of you alone for five minutes. Before you manage to trespass into the culvert, which is a restricted area, spent hours merrily killing giant roaches. Before finding yourselves being ambushed by a slime king and then after a rodeo with an even bigger giant roach. After that, found yourselves stumbling into a Guristas pirate den before being ambushed by a Guristas special force. Not only that, they all get slaughtered by the slime king. Then when the slime king is digesting both of you, Ms. Raine proceeds to slit open her stomach and sucked every single drop of the slime king into her black hole of a stomach. Then, finally, both of you drag your sorry selves up the staircase and seeing us looking for your sorry asses, while we are wondering where could both of you have gone?" Said Iden dryly.
Raine turns her head to look at the whipped Kaidan, not daring to look at his commander in the eyes.
Both Raine and Kaidan is kneeling on the ground while Iden stands in front of both of them, sharpening a Nova knife on a whetstone. The scraping of the sharp edges of the blade on the stone is grating the nerves of both Raine and Kaidan.
Raine shuffled one of her feet awkwardly copying Kaidan's submissive posture while looking at anywhere but the angry Iden who has unsheathed a second Nova knife.
Raine didn't even know Iden has a second blade on her sleeves!
"Well, to be fair it does sound crazy when you narrated it, but it's the truth! You can ask Kaidan, you know him! Would a man as boring and rule stickler as him play along with me if I was making this up?" Argued Raine as she fearfully scowled at the scary and angry Iden playing around with two Nova Knives by shuffling them between her two hands.
Hearing Raine's argument, Iden shifted her attention to the kneeling Kaidan who flinched, unsure whether to be offended at the statement or glad that Iden seemed to reconsider the situation before sheathing both of her Nova knives.
"Fair enough, Kaidan's a cold fish as long as I have known him. We will check out the Guristas pirate den for any loot. And if it's bountiful enough, both of you will be off the hook. But, if the loot is not satisfactory at all, well, I haven't made my clone soup in a while. It'll be interesting to see how both of you would react when tasting your own cloned meat in a bowl of soup." Threatened Iden with a smile showing teeth.
Raine and Kaidan shuddered when hearing Iden's threat but resigned themselves for the punishment they will receive for causing a problem for the rest of the squad.
"Ms. Iden, I believe it is not fair to reprimand both Raine and Kaidan when it is clear that they have not gone against your order…" A sudden voice sounds out from behind Iden.
Raine perk her ears up when she hears Tanya's voice. She lifts her head up where Tanya is standing resolutely beside Ron.
Tanya's expression shows resolve and conviction as she stands directly before Iden.
"Stay out of this Tanya, this is my team, and as the leader, I will decide what I will do with them. If I decided that they deserve punishment for causing a disturbance then that is what they will receive." Said Iden coldly as she turns around to face Tanya.
"I don't care about Mr. Kaidan's fate since he is under your jurisdiction but should you be punishing Raine as well for it? She is the client after all." Stated Tanya coolly as she folded both of her arms.
"A misunderstanding, our client is director Alakoni Ishanoya, CEO of Lai Dai megacorp. Only director Alakoni have hired us to guarantee the safety of Ms. Raine, as she is the objective, not the client. Moreover, after I have just completed the paperwork clearing Ms. Raine's involvement after the state orphanage incident, another issue pops up. Thinking about the extra paperwork I have to do again now makes me not in the mood to play nice when Ms. Raine insist on making my job more difficult by being difficult about her well being." Argued Iden as she glared at Tanya's questioning her method.
"Nevertheless, it is so much more productive if you can have a good working relationship with the objective is it not? Tell you what, let me handle and be responsible for Ms. Raine from now on. Isn't it better if you put me together with her instead? Surely Ms. Raine would be more willing to open up and cooperate with her peers instead of older and larger individuals which she can't relate to?" coaxed Tanya smoothly.
Iden paused and considered Tanya statement as thoroughly as she can, considering the pro and con of letting Tanya being the chaperone for Ms. Raine.
"That is a fascinating idea. However, I am loathed to put two valuable assets together in one basket, now that we have confirmed the veracity of Ms. Raine statement regarding your genetic sequence. I have discussed it directly with director Alakoni, and she has instructed me to incorporate you under Inferno Squad, as something like a perfect human genome would not stay secret for long with the routine corporate espionage played between the mega-corporations. We would rather you sexually mature to procreate rather than risk losing you in combat." Said Iden, as she considers Tanya's proposal.
"Then train me, don't treat me as a golden goose but I also wish to be capable enough to take control of my own life at least." Said Tanya with conviction.
"I have murdered the medical personnel that checked your physical condition and scrubbed the electronic database to keep your secret. Your value is high enough that we have to resort to Black Ops standard operational procedure in the eyes of director Alakoni." Claimed Iden gravely.
"Then tell this director Alakoni, that if she wishes for my cooperation at least offer me some remuneration or compensation for my future value. If she offered nothing in return for my freedom, then I might as well kill myself and save myself from future hardship." Said Tanya tensely.
"... Very well, I will allow your induction into Inferno Squad, and we will train and teach you how to be an effective mercenary. I will relay your feedback to director Alakoni, but she probably won't be happy about this. Now if you're done disrupting me, I will return to settling Kaidan's and Ms. Raine case." Concluded Iden after a brief pause.
"That is all I asks." Said Tanya as she relaxes slightly.
"Now Ms. Raine, do you have anything to say for yourself? I hope you have something good to say with all the extra paperwork you have done for me." Said Iden angrily.
"Hmm… Do we need to report to the station administrator? I'm pretty sure everyone in the pirate's den is dead. So it's not like there is any witness to say otherwise, and even if there is, it's not like they will approach the station authority to report that they have been attacked since they are here illegally." Said Raine miserably.
"If it's as you say, then no we do not have to report it. In fact, it's best if we don't report it so we can take everything inside for ourselves. If we reported it, the state would confiscate everything as ‘evidence' which what has happened to us once in the past, to be honest." Said Iden, as she scowled remembering the upsetting episode.
"Oh, then can I get my share when we raid the den? I mean, I did eat the thing that ate the pirates. So that means I get first dibs on loot right?!" Exclaimed Raine excitedly.
"Sigh, yes Ms. Raine. As they say, you get ‘first dibs' of the loot." Said Iden as she holds her head in her hand in exasperation.
"Yay! I've got the capital to start a business project! I don't have to ask for pity money from Alakoni." Said Raine happily.
"You do know that director Alakoni will give you any amount you requested right Ms. Raine? It's not like she will hold out against you for asking…" Said Iden with an eyebrow raised.
"Tsk… It's about the principle of things, Ms. Iden. Seniors don't demand money from their children's. Plus, it's more meaningful if I prosper entirely from my effort." Explained Raine.
"Some would argue otherwise, but I respect your point. Anyway, I will take Kaidan with me as a guide back to the Guristas pirate den. Ron, I will leave both Ms. Raine and Tanya with you back to the hotel room. Do not leave both of them out of your sight…" Commanded Iden sternly.
Iden picked up Raine like a cat and then tossed Raine over to Ron's outstretched hands.
"Nyaaa!" Squealed Raine as she soared through the air before being caught by Ron's arms.
"Now Kaidan, let's get back to work. What's wrong with your ass? You've been fidgeting and holding it for a while now." Asked Iden as she turned around and linked her arm around Kaidan's.
"I don't want to talk about it." Answered Kaidan as he walks stiffly with the resignation that he has to return to the pirate's den again.
Iden shrugged as both she and Kaidan enters the culvert entrance and disappears underground.
When both Iden and Kaidan are gone, Raine grumbled and struggled in Ron's arms. After a while of Raine's wiggling in Ron's arms, he finally relents and let Raine stand on the ground.
"Well, Ms. Raine looks like you're in a pickle again now. Fortunately for you, as the father of three hyperactive daughters, I am used to it. Let's go to the hotel room, as you need a shower and after that, we can have something to eat alright?" Said Ron patiently.
"Have I ever told you that I love you in a non-sexual way?" Said Raine, as she melted with endearment and rubbed the top of her head against Ron's chest.
"Well this is the first time, but I'm afraid I won't accept the other form love from anyone as I am happily married husband with three daughters." Laughed Ron with good-nature and waving her away from his chest.
Raine forcedly climbed up on Ron's shoulder and proceed to sit there enjoying the higher viewpoint while securing herself by grabbing Ron's head.
"Ah Ms. Raine, careful there. I'd much rather have you walk beside me instead of piggybacking you all the way to the car you know." Said Ron as he carefully secured Raine's footing by holding her legs dangling near his shoulders.
"Hmm, no. Let's go. Time's a wasting just standing here." Said Raine as she refused Ron's request.
"Sigh, I thought I would have passed the piggybacking phase already. Well then hold on Ms. Raine, Tanya give me your hand. Let's go back to the car together." Said Ron kindly as he offered one of his hand to Tanya.
Tanya accepted Ron's hand while blushing as well and trying to hide her face by looking down.
"Ooh, Tanya's have a crush! Ron's super dad and super husband power must be tickling Tanya's feminine instinct!" Teased Raine as she looks down on Tanya from Ron's shoulder.
Tanya's face gets even redder as she flustered and fidgeted from embarrassment.
"Shut up! I do not have a crush on anyone!" Said Tanya angrily as she waved her free hand threateningly at Raine.
"Now girls, don't fight with each other. Let's get along nicely since we're stuck with each other for the foreseeable future alright?" Said Ron as he tries to prevent an argument from breaking out with practiced ease.
Tanya stays quiet after that and just leisurely walk, enjoying the positive familial moment even though they are not related by blood. Sometimes you have people like Ron, supercharged with positive emotion which makes people inherently opens up to him. Even Tanya, a bitter, sarcastic and pessimistic individual cannot help but to be revolving around Ron's orbit and ease her turbulent emotion.
Raine hums and swings her legs without a care as she perched on Ron's shoulders.
Anyone who sees the scene would not be able to help but think about a hard-bitten mercenary having a happy moment with his children after a hard day of work on the battlefield. Some compound guards who have seen this can't help but be touched and wanting to go back home for a moment with their children.
Ron and his charge then reached their parked vehicle, where Raine jump from Ron's shoulder to land on the passenger seat of the two-seater vehicle.
"I call shotgun!" Said Raine gleefully.
"Now Ms. Raine, there are only two seats on the vehicle. I am afraid you have to share the seat with Tanya here." Said Ron as he hops unto the driver seat and gently pushes Tanya further in the passenger's seat.
"Nope, she can sit on your lap." Said Raine as she uses her super power strength to lift Tanya with one hand and placed her on Ron's lap.
Tanya widened her eyes as she is being handled like a kitten by Raine and lifting her with ease even though they are about the same size and age. Tanya wiggled on Ron's lap and her face becoming redder as she came into close contact with Ron's personal space.
"Did you become stronger somehow Ms. Raine? I could swear that I just seen you lift Tanya without any sweat." Asked Ron with amazement as he grappled with the squirming Tanya stuck in between him and the driving wheel.
"Oh, you know. I just grow up so fast." Said Raine with a faux-pass innocence as she strikes at the seat belt on Ron's side and clicked it into place, therefore securing both Tanya and Ron together.
"Raine! I will kill you for this!" Screamed Tanya as she screams bloody murder and trying to strangle Raine but unable to since she is tied up by the seat belt.
"You'll thank me later Tanya! Onward to a hot shower and hot food with haste my good man!" Said Raine with laughter and good humor as she genuinely believes Tanya looks so cute when flustered.
"Aye mistress." Chuckled Ron as he drove the vehicle out of the parking lot and exit the station administrative office.
After driving for half an hour, they stop in front of a hotel, the Galbadia Hotel.
"Well, here we are girls. Our stay for the night." Said Ron happily as he stops in front of the hotel lobby with the guests coming in and out of the hotel.
Once again, Raine jumps from the car and run to the driver's seat to helpfully unbuckle the driver safety belt and lift Tanya from Ron's personal space. She prefers to believe that some of Tanya's ire at her is due to removing Tanya's from her crush. Of course, it's nothing to do with her prank as Tanya struggled like a madman trying to strangle her neck.
Ron exits the car and watches as a utility droid approached the parked vehicle.
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"Good evening master, may I park your vehicle?" Asked the droid in an electronically induced voice.
"You may, my good friend. My room number is 5278, under the code ‘Inferno.'" Answered Ron lightly.
"Very well master Ronald Stoppable, your suite is ready, and another unit will guide your party to your room. Please enjoy your stay with Galbadia hotel, and we wish you a pleasant stay." Replied the utility drone as it bows politely.
The utility drone then enters their vehicle and drive off from the hotel lobby to Presumably to park their car in the hotel parking lot.
"Was that a robot?" Asked Raine as her eyes sparkle again.
"The proper term is droid Ms. Raine, but yes that was a robot. That was an elven Gallentean utility droid. They are very common everywhere you go and so affordable that the State decided that it is too useful to ban even with a nationalistic and xenophobic mindset of the Caldari state." Answered Ron as he took Tanya's hand and held it, before offering the other to Raine.
Raine stares at Ron's offered hand and easily decided to take it.
"Why buy the droid from the Gallentes? Can't we make our own?" Asked Raine with curiosity.
"Economic reason, it's not like we didn't produce any. We did, but we stop because we cannot compete with the Gallente's price that we stop the manufacture of droids and pull out of that industry. The Gallente's manufactured that droid model in the billions as it serves as the workhorse of the federation. Due to the nature of elven physiology, their long lives and extremely low birth rate, they depend on their droid to work and fight their battle for them. What you must consider Ms. Raine is that the Gallente elves consider one of their number to be equivalent to a hundred of human lives, or a fifty orcish lives, or ten dwarves lives. To make up for the low population, they covered their weakness with droids as servants and soldiers to provide labor and safety." Explained Ron as they wait for another droid to show up.
"Oh, that is very interesting. I would like to put my hands on one of the droid one day, just to see what would happen." Said Raine as she spotted the promised droid approaching their group, walking at a brisk pace until it reached them.
"Greetings master, please follow me to your room." Said the droid in a feminine and well articulated human voice as it stands there politely.
"Oh, she's a Caldari droid model. One of the few model that can still compete with the Gallente droid model due to aesthetic and special service program that is banned by the Gallente government." Said Ron with amazement.
"I can see why." Said Tanya dryly.
"So can I. Are the special program meant for men only?" Asked Raine disbelievingly.
"I can ask. Hey Siri!" Asked Ron suddenly.
"Yes, Master?" Replied the Caldari droid politely.
"Did you serve more men or women?" Asked Ron.
"Master, 90% of the time I served women, and I came equipped with double the tool compared to organics. Currently said tools are deactivated. Would you like me to activate it and give a demonstration?" Asked Siri politely.
"No thank you, I think that will be all Siri. Just show us to our room please." Answered Ron politely.
Tanya starts to show a different shade of green on her face while Raine shrugged and started to pull on Ron's arm, making them move to follow after the droid ahead of them.
The Caldari droid ‘Siri' bowed and proceeded to walk away and to motion towards the Galbadia hotel entrance, which leads to the lobby where the floor is white marble, and the opulence of the lobby design screams wealth and luxury at any who enters the hotel.
Raine and her group go through the hotel lobby, ignoring the shouting old dwarf complaining about the quality of the beer available in the hotel to the poor concierge hotel staff.
The group follow Siri into an elevator before it closes and smoothly go all the way up to the 52nd floor of the hotel. As their group exits the elevator, the white marble floor is replaced with thick red carpet. And passing by a few hotel rooms, they finally reached room 5278.
Siri unlocked room 5278 and held the door open before gesturing the hotel guests inside.
Raine is the first one going in the room and whistled at the beautiful room inside. There's a bathtub inside the room and a large TV in front of the queen size bed. Everything looks amazing with an undertone of dark elegance in the room design.
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"Welcome to your room, the bathtub at the center can be used as a jacuzzi, and when you wish to dry yourself, there is a control panel beside the bathtub that can instantly dry your body when you're done. The TV is also a communication screen, communication between star system is possible but will be charged to your account." Explained Siri helpfully.
"Thank you, Siri, that will be all." Said Ron as he dismissed the hotel droid.
"It is my pleasure master. Please call me if you need any special service." Replied Siri before it left and closed the door.
Raine doesn't bother to wait for Ron and Tanya's permission as she starts stripping her helmet, armor and finally her undersuit, but left her cat hairband and mask still on. Leaving her naked except for her covered head. She then hopped into the bathtub before hot shower automatically rain from the ceiling and a couple of drones hovers around her to start lathering her body with soap and start scrubbing her body.
"Ohh that feels nice." Moaned Raine as the drone massage a particularly sore muscle on her back with rotating rubber ball on it's underside.
"Raine! What are you doing?! Who the hell would strip naked when there is still a man in the room?" Screamed Tanya with a red face.
"Oh, sorry about that. I forgot I was a girl for a moment there." Said Raine sheepishly as she took off her mask and put it on the table beside her, leaving her only wearing her ninja mask and her cat hairband.
"Who would forget their own gender?!" Screamed Tanya exasperatedly as she continues to berate Raine who is ignoring her censure.
Tanya continued to rage on her own before a big hand is placed on top of her head. Recognizing the hand as Ron's, Tanya turns around to ask for his assistance to set Raine straight. Only to find that Ron is also more or less naked with a piece of towel wrapped around his waist. Tanya's brain short-circuited before getting redder from looking at Ron's chiseled chest and six-pack abs.
"Why, What?" Said Tanya unintelligibly as she became speechless.
"You'd get a wrinkle before your teen at this rate Tanya. Loosen up, enjoy your time as a child. For most of us, it's a golden age that has past too soon." Said Ron as he rubbed the top of Tanya's head gently.
"But… Why would you strip when there are two young girls in the room?! It doesn't make any sense!" Whined Tanya as she starts getting scared.
Tanya's fear is cut short though when Raine sneaks behind Tanya and start stripping Tanya quickly and forcefully. When Tanya is naked, she lifts Tanya's body and brings her under the hot shower before she starts lathering and scrubbing Tanya's body.
"Have you forgotten Tanya? Men are the home-maker now and women the bread-maker. So as part of their child-raising duty, men are no longer seen as perverted dicks now. However, the opposite is also true, and women are now perverted and horny cougars." Said Raine as she starts shampooing Tanya's blond hair.
Tanya just whimpered and withdrawn to her self, unwilling to accept the change of paradigm in this version of the future which is also her new present timeline.
"Just so, make some room Ms.Raine and pass me some shampoo please." Said Ron as he joins both Raine and Tanya in the bath tub.
Raine shrugged and got some shampoo from the nearby hovering drone, even as she continued to scrub Tanya with one hand and then rinse the soapy sud with the shower handle. Ron washes his head while the drones scrubbed his body automatically and lather it with body foam until the shower on top of the bathtub pour hot water again and rinses everyone's body clean.
"Ahhh I'm alive again." Sighed Raine with satisfaction after a hot shower and being clean from the grime and dirt.
"Yes, a hot shower after a hard day's work is good, but you know what's better?" Asked Ron as he adjusted the white towel cling to his waist.
"No idea? What is better than a hot shower after work?" Said Raine curiously.
"Why take a seat, and I'll show you Ms. Raine." Answered Ron as he took a seat in the bathtub, followed by Raine and a dazed Tanya.
Raine became a bit surprised when hot water starts filling the bathtub and stop when the water level reaches their necks. The temperature is just nice and only gets better when the jacuzzi starts. The bubble and the water pressure massaged their sore muscle which has already become relaxed by the earlier hot shower and the hot soak.
"And to top it all off, ice cold Amarrian Dwarf Beer, imported straight from the Amarrian homeworld. All natural, non-alcoholic, non-genetically modified ice cold goodness for Ms. Raine and the young Tanya. And of course, 50% alcohol content real ice cold Amarrian Dwarf Beer for me. And yes it's really 50% alcohol content beer, those dwarves don't fuck around with their beer I'll say." Said Ron as he took out some provided frosted glasses and filled it with draft beer from the dispenser beside the bathtub, then passing the mini-sized non-alcoholic glass of beers to both Raine and Tanya before pouring an alcoholic beer for himself.
Raine accepted both full glasses from Ron's hand before taking a sip from her glass. Pleasure creeps up from her spine and travels up as she tasted the ice cold beer. The beer is bitter but as smooth as freshly laid snow and tasted very fruity as well with a hint of vanilla.
"Uwaaahh, that is divine beer! Tanya, you should try it!" Said Raine happily as she passed the other beer glass to Tanya's hand.
Tanya snaps out of her daze and stares dubiously at the glass of beer in her hand.
"Oh come on, it's non-alcoholic and tastes amazing! You'll love it I promise." Persuaded Raine as she took another sip from her glass of beer.
Hesitatingly Tanya took a sip before, with a start, she drinks more eagerly in large gulps before finishing her glass to the bottom.
"Oho, we have champion drinker here! Here have another!' Laughed Ron happily as passed Tanya another glass of ice-cold beer.
This time Tanya drink more deliberately as she enjoys the taste appreciatively. She happily drinks the cold beer as she sits in a hot bathtub with the jacuzzi massaging her spine and back. For the first time since reincarnating, she is truly happy and enjoying herself.
Ron drinks his beer heartily, before a knock on the door interrupts his drinking. The door opens, and Siri comes once again with a tray of hot food.
"Master, the food you ordered is here. Where would you like to have them?" Asked Siri politely.
"Ah, what good timing. Just past it to me please, there's nothing else besides the food. So you can return." Requested Ron as he puts down his glass of beer on the edge of the bathtub.
"Very well master, please enjoy the grilled squid rings and the beer." Said Siri as it leaves the plate on the edge of the bathtub before bowing and leaving out the door.
"Anyone want the squid rings and legs?" Offered Ron as he took the plate and held it near Raine and Tanya.
"Oh I do! I always love seafood, and the grilled fish I made back in the ship are really tasty. Even better than when I last remembered eating them in fact!" Answered Raine excitedly as she took the plate from Ron's hand and started to pop them in her mouth and chewing blissfully.
"You're in luck Ms. Raine. The seafood is in fact vastly better compared to the last time you have eaten them. Scientists have shown that five hundred years of no industrial pollution, no overfishing, no floating garbage patch and the colder water temperature of the ocean has reversed the overfishing done by humans over the centuries. The ice age has been the boon of the ocean as a whole, at the expense of humanity. On the upside, the ocean now yields a bountiful harvest of giant blue tuna, tasty giant lobsters and succulent giant squids and clams at a low and affordable price that anyone can enjoy. In fact, we have been exporting them to Gallente federation and Amarr empire. The state seafood product is unmatched anywhere else in the galaxy as the majority of Earth is covered by ocean. Of course, we have learned our lesson and are harvesting this resource sustainably. At the absence of any agricultural product that we can produce, we can only rely on marine products to entirely sustain our growing population. I would recommend the Seaweed udon next time though, as vast area of the ocean floors are transformed into fields of seaweeds to provide carbohydrate for human consumption. Seaweed udon has now replaced rice and bread as the staple of human consumption ever since the ice age decimated the agricultural industry of the world." Explained Ron expertly.
"Oh, I have no idea. How did you know all this? I did not expect a mercenary such as you to be so knowledgeable." Marvelled Raine as she bit off a squid leg and chewed blissfully at the savoriness and saltiness of the squid dish.
"Well besides being a mercenary extraordinaire, I am also a world-class chef. I should let you try my world famous lobster bisque. It's a dish worthy of a God, why I bet if a God tasted it, he/she would be my regular customer forever asking for my lobster bisque." Said Ron proudly as he raises up his glass of beer high and drinks heartily.
"I would love to try the soup since I love all seafood. Clams are especially my favorite but lobsters are a close second. Clam chowders and lobster bisques sound heavenly." Said Raine as she finishes the plate of squid rings and legs by herself.
Tanya stares mournfully at the empty plate and glared at Raine for not sharing it with her, but brightens up when Ron passed another plate of squid rings and squid legs for her to eat. Raine is already staring at the plate, but Tanya turns around to protect her plate from being stolen by Raine.
"Fortunately you prefer seafood. I wouldn't know what to do if you are asking me for a beef burger or something like that. Beef is a luxury food nowadays, fit only for the consumption of the rich and famous. On the opposite end of the scale, now caviars are plentiful enough that we are using it for condiment with a piece of seaweed toast. It helps now that we can harvest the eggs without killing the sturgeons fish producing it. There are sturgeon farms all over the continent, thankfully the fish thrive in arctic condition and live even longer than the domesticated animals of the past. A single sturgeon fish can live up to 100 years, but as the sturgeon fish grows slowly, it will not produce any eggs until it is about 25 years old." Said Ron expertly showing off his knowledge about food as a world-class chef.
"Yes, that is true but can I tell you a secret Ron?" Said Raine bashfully.
"Of course, you can be certain that I will keep it between us." Said Ron as he nodded and gestured at Raine to proceed.
"Actually while I love seafood, I have the suspicion that the ocean and water are out to get me because I have been eating them all this while." Whispered Raine conspiratorially as she whispers right next to Ron's ear.
"Really? And why do you say that Ms. Raine?" Said Ron as he raised an eyebrow at Raine's confession.
"Because while growing up I almost died three times due to the ocean or water! First I almost died when I was ten years old and got caught in an ocean rift and swept faraway from the beach. That was a nightmare, as not only was I almost died, I tried to ask for help from my mother by waving both my hands high above my head and scream to get my mother attention who was sunbathing on the beach. When she noticed me I was filled with relief only to fall into despair when she waved back at me thinking I was having fun." Said Raine as she shuddered.
"Unfortunate, but amusing to hear. Well, thankfully you managed to reach the beach again otherwise I wouldn't be talking to you now." Replied Ron as he nods in sympathy.
"I have no idea how I reached the beach. I was so concentrated on putting one step at a time and feeling the sand under my feet being dragged back by the current. And them finally when I was making progress, a very large wave hit me from behind, rolling me underwater on the sandy ocean floor and the next thing I know I was at the beach looking up from the feet of my mother. Thank God there was no reef at all or that would have been a bloody affair." Sighed Raine with relief that she survived the rip tide.
"Well, that was one near death experience. What's the next one?" Asked Ron as he sipped his beer again.
"The next one was in the middle of the city, and it was flooding. An annual event at that time due to the governance of a corrupt military dictatorship. I was twelve years old at the time and on the way with my mother to the optometrist to check prescription. It was raining heavily at the time, and both my mother and I was holding an umbrella. The flood water reached my knee, and it was difficult to move and walk. As we walk, the incident happened near the store as I got swallowed by an open water canal that I was not able to see due to the murky water. The water reached my neck, and the current was quite strong, thankfully due to holding the umbrella and being tall enough that my head is still above water, I can hold on and not being sucked by the water current. If not, I would surely die after being sucked into the water canal and drown as the water canal leads underground and into the sewer." Said Raine as she shuddered about how close she was to death like a drowned sewer rat.
"It would be an ignoble and insulting death for sure. That was a lucky break that you can survive." Agreed Ron as he nodded sympathetically again.
"Well the worst one was the last one, and this one happens when I was 20 years old. And to add insult to injury, I almost died because of a baby!" Whispered Raine pitifully.
"How did that happen? You were an adult and because of a baby? Surely you exaggerate and what does a baby have to do with the ocean and water?" Whispered Ron with confusion.
"I am getting there! Well, I was working part-time as a waiter in a bar, during my lunch break I ordered calamari from my cook colleague. As I sit there on one of the table, chewing on the calamari, a baby walks towards me and just stares cutely at me. As the baby laughs, which foolishly make me laugh as well. Unfortunately, it causes me to choke on the calamari, and I cannot breathe at all. For a minute or so I tried to cough the food out but unable to dislodge the calamari. Panicking, I run to the payment counter for help. As my bald boss repeatedly karate chop my back and as I was about to black out, I manage to shove my hand into my throat and pull the offending food out of my throat. Traumatised and shaken I left my work early, but not before the baby's mother apologized for my ordeal. I accepted her apology and told her not to worry about it as I do not want to make her feel bad everytime she sees her baby." Whispered Raine with a grimace.
"That's kind of you to consider the mother's feeling Raine. I have just one question for you." Said Ron.
"What's that?" Asked Raine curiously.
"Didn't you just ate squid rings just now?" Asked Ron again.
"Yessss, and just because I almost died choking because of calamari doesn't mean that I have to scream in fright every time I see a baby does it? I happen to like eating seafood, I like going to the beach, I enjoy a dipping in a hot spring, and I like kids!" Retorted Raine emotionally, surprising Tanya and Ron.
Raine did not appreciate Ron trivializing her near-death experiences. Logically Raine understands that as mercenaries, her own experiences are laughable. Who cares about the dangerous environment when there is armed enemy that you would put a higher priority. Still, it hurts when she bares her heart, and the other person makes fun of her in return.
Ron raised an eyebrow at Raine's outburst.
"You know what I mean! It's just so much fun playing with and being a kid that sometimes I envy them. I would also like to go back to that time where everything is simpler and not being crushed by responsibilities of being an adult." Admitted Raine as she deflates from her earlier outburst.
Raine now feels sad and horrible, like being down in the dumps. She sniffled before a pair of arms coiled around her and hugging her tenderly.
"Now Raine, it's alright to admit that we are weak. It means that we are human, everyone has their path to walk in life and sometimes we stumbled, fallen to the ground and gotten hurt because of a moment of weakness. I do that all the time following my amazing wife on adventures. She can do anything, whereas I always felt like a loser when I do something to inconvenience her work. But you know what? I never give up on myself, every single time I have fallen I always pick up after myself and follow behind her every single step of the way. I overcame my fear and insecurities not because she's my wife, but because she's my best friend. The biggest reason I adopted Tanya is not because of her being a perfect human, but because I hope that she can be your best friend in an uncaring universe." Said Ron as he continues to hug Raine tenderly.
Raine sniffed as she gets overwhelmed by emotions.
Tanya shuffles as she sits on the bathtub pointedly avoiding looking at Raine and Ron having a moment, she feels awkward as she is an emotionally stunted person and is not able to handle the feelings exchanged around her.
"Now, let's finish up the bath alright? It's late, let's get you to bed and sleep early tonight. It's a big day tomorrow, and after today ‘s excitement you need the rest more than I do." Orders Ron as he activates the drain command of the bathtub and then activates the drying function of the bathtub.
The water level in the bathtub very quickly disappears down the drain, the hovering drones using their onboard scattered ray gun to evaporate any water droplets on their skin before returning to their port holes or station on the bathtub sides.
Ron gently lifts Raine and exits the bathtub before lowering Raine on the bed, with Tanya helpfully pass Ron a set of bathrobe before wearing a bathrobe herself.
Ron helps Raine cloth herself before removing the mask and the black cat hairband from Raine's person by putting them on a nearby desk, exposing her leaves and face to both Ron and Tanya.
Raine sulking face can be seen, but she lifts one of her arms and pulls Tanya in forcefully before hugging her fiercely. Tanya shouted with surprise before letting herself be hugged with resignation.
"Ah this cuteness is healing my heart!" Said Raine as she rubbed her cheek against Tanya's cheek.
"Can I have a moment's peace without you treating me like a child." Complained Tanya as she sighed heavily.
"Oh but you are a child, and an adorable one at that." Replied Raine innocently as she pets Tanya's soft and clean blonde hairs.
"Looks like you are back to normal. Since you're fine now I would like to sleep on the couch please." Said Tanya as she tries to escape from Raine clutches.
Raine strengthened her grip, with her 11 points of strength, she can lift around 330 Kg or 727 Pound worth of maximum weight. Some of this super strength is transferred to Tanya's tiny frame and cracked the bone joints loudly.
"Ouch! Let go of me you brute!" Yelped Tanya in pain as she struggled in Raine's embrace.
"Ooops… Sorry about that! I'm not used to my strength." Said Raine sheepishly as she hurriedly let go of Tanya.
Tanya melted on top of the bed before she set her shoulder bones back into her joints properly. While she painfully groaned at the sensation, afterward she kneeled on the bed and started pinching both of Raine's cheek with all her strength.
"How do you like that! See how you like being played like a child!" Shouted Tanya with the fire of retribution in her eyes as she pinched and twisted Raine's cheeks with all her strength.
Raine pouted at Tanya's retribution and was going to return the favor at Tanya before remembering her strength. Fearing that pinching Tanya's cheeks would rip it off, she refrains from doing so.
However, there is nothing wrong with retaliating by tickling Tanya's ribs.
Raine tickles Tanya's ribs and armpit mercilessly on the bed, forcing Tanya to release her cheeks to defend herself.
"Hahahaha! Stop it! Stop it! I'm dying here! Ron! Help me you ass!" Shrieked Tanya for help while laughing continuously.
Ron, currently wearing casual clothing to get ready for sleep and grooming himself in front of the mirror, take one look at the scene on top of the bed. He sees Raine on top of Tanya, both girls bathrobes slipped and messy because of the melee. Tanya's on her back trying to fend off Raine's assault on her by hitting Raine over the head with one of the pillows repeatedly.
"Ahhh, just like home." Sighed Ron blissfully as he gets back to brushing his teeth.