"Sir, I have to just protest one final time!" Waterson, General Crota's assigned assistant, protested as the Humvee limousine rolled up to the theater. "This is not a valid use of taxpayer dollars!"
Crota was getting out of the limousine and turned to cast his aide a glance from under his designer sunglasses. "Son, have you ever fought in a war?"
Waterson looked confused. "No, sir."
"Well neither have any of the people in this screening. And yet everyone in America, including those taxpayers, owes them their gratitude and their livelihood. Now, make yourself useful and go buy me a ticket for the best seat in the house. Don't forget that military discount; I didn't become commander of Carson City Camp for nothing."
Straightening his full dress uniform, he prepared to go meet his old friends. At the last surviving member of Cobalt Squad it was his duty to keep their presence alive at this reunion, and he was pleased to have the honor.
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The film was roughly in the middle of the terrorist invasion; the protagonists were just splitting up into two teams, and Shelton's was entering the sublevels to try and reach auxiliary control.
Shakila and Aimee had entered the movie theater. They quietly took seats in the back.
"So...do you know what's going on?" Shakila whispered, staring in confusion as people shot at each other on the Pelvanida roof.
"No idea," Aimee shook her head. "But then, that seems to be standard practice for us. Remember Schutzhund?"
--------------------------
In the front row, Nixx grinned back at Aisha. "Maybe I'll overeat just to give the other teammates a chance to catch up with me."
She took the snacks and paused. Aisha was being awfully giving recently, and Nixx suspected it was due to Nixx not giving Aisha much attention when at home. Unlike Roux, Nixx never really involved into a very romantic person, and was much happier working out or doing practical things than anything the bedroom had to offer. Tonight, she decided, she'll make up for that a little, give Aisha what she wanted.
"Don't eat too much yourself..." she hinted, "you never know how soon your next workout is gonna be..."
