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Post by Norris on Jul 19, 2005 2:01:57 GMT -5
"Very well, but please stop calling me 'sir'. You're my superior, not vice versa!" Adder snapped, and dived into the water and allowed the current to sweep him towards the others nearby.
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Post by Brian the Flying Penguin on Jul 19, 2005 2:04:50 GMT -5
Sijinco looked puzzled.
"He's a strange one."
Conrad nodded, then dived into the water after him. Mission completed successfully, then. She followed.
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Post by Norris on Jul 19, 2005 2:11:38 GMT -5
"I mean," Adder commented as Sijinco surfaced. "That I can tell by your insignia that you are a Squadron Leader. I am a Flight Lieutenant, which the nex rank below Squadron Leader. So please, just stop addressing me as 'sir'. With the fate that Innes has sealed for me, I might not deserve even to be referred to by name."
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Post by Brian the Flying Penguin on Jul 19, 2005 6:03:16 GMT -5
Sijinco tried to work out what Adder was talking about. Then it struck her.
"Oh! I see. No, I don't actually. You see, Kaptain Staan is something of an amateur historian. He gives soldiers under his command ranks based on those used by the third Rigellian Empire. For them a squadron leader was someone who led a squadron, that is, a group of between six and eight ships. Very literal minded, the Rigellians. My standardised rank would only be... what, E6? E7? A sergeant of some sort."
They reached the entrance to the cave complex. The Double Bubbles where were they had left them.
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Post by Norris on Jul 19, 2005 6:17:49 GMT -5
"Let's just get this over with," Adder sighed. "So, what are you all going to get out of this? One medal each or just a little handshake?"
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Post by Brian the Flying Penguin on Jul 19, 2005 7:21:17 GMT -5
Sijinco is gradually getting the feeling that she is missing something. Adder acts like he expects to be executed, despite being vital to the running of the Toxus One base. Something to do with Sludge, she wonders.
"Hardly sir. Just the continuing privilege of being able to serve the great Toad Empire."
She walks over to her Double Bubble, and speaks to her gunner.
"You can fly with Marrik. Can't expect the officer to go two to a bubble."
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Post by Norris on Jul 20, 2005 0:46:43 GMT -5
"Still calling me officer, are we?" Adder frowned. "Well, forget it! After what Sludge has dragged me through, you might as well call me ex-officer."
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Post by Brian the Flying Penguin on Jul 20, 2005 1:58:12 GMT -5
Sijinco would have rolled her eyes, but her time with Staan had taught her that it was sometimes best to be patient.
"That may well be sir, but at the moment you are still an officer."
Everyone else is back in their Bubbles. Sijinco hopes that Adder doesn't plan to make this difficult.
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Post by Norris on Jul 20, 2005 2:01:41 GMT -5
Adder sat down and said nothing more.
It was obvious this group didn't care what he thought, and there was no way back now.
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Post by Brian the Flying Penguin on Jul 20, 2005 4:17:12 GMT -5
Sijinco ran quickly through the pre-flight sequence, and the Double Bubbles lifted off the surface. She activated the on board comm link.
"Sijinco to Lieutenant Innes. We have Flight Lieutenant Adder, and are returning to Toxus One. We should be with you shortly."
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Post by Norris on Jul 20, 2005 5:51:56 GMT -5
By now, Adder had gotten over his feelings for Innes. Now, instead of hearing angels calling her name, it felt as though he were being stabbed with a hundred knives.
Adder frowned when Sijinco mentioned Innes' name, and felt like ejecting, but couldn't as he wasn't in control of the craft.
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Post by Brian the Flying Penguin on Jul 23, 2005 15:07:32 GMT -5
Sijinco is a bit surprised that Lieutenant Innes doesn't acknowledge. Maybe she was busy. Taking a sidelong look at Adder Sijinco couldn't help but feel that there was something odd about this whole situation. Why had Adder been on Toxus Two?
"If you don't mind me asking sir, what exactly is going on?"
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Post by Norris on Jul 24, 2005 2:13:52 GMT -5
"Well, I'd rather not say, but I think you have a righ tto know," sighed Adder, and he began to explain.
"After I'd tipped off Sludges' plot to overthrow the Air Marshal, I sort of developed...affections towards Lieutenant Innes. When she finally found out that I had sent her a love-letter via e-mail, she threatened to arrest me for misuse of Imperial property,"
Adder swallowed slightly. "I knew that because of my affiliations with Sludges' plot, the Toad High Command would try to make a mountain out of a molehill about my arrest, and I feared execution. I was hoping to commit suicide on Toxus Two, but you showed up before I could do anything."
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Post by Brian the Flying Penguin on Jul 24, 2005 11:09:57 GMT -5
Suicide?! Sijinco turns back to her instruments to hide her shock.
"I... I wouldn't worry about that sir. I'm sure that Lieutenant Innes was just irritated. She wouldn't want to loose a valuable officer over something personal."
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Post by Norris on Jul 25, 2005 2:13:50 GMT -5
"Well, it's either that or she didn't want to appear careless," grunted Adder. "But after what Sludge dragged me through all these years, I'm starting to feel like I've lost the will to live, as though everyone is against me."
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