# Task Force - Change in Plans

Author: SrA havenofimage
Tags: Kissing, Love, Military, Snow Leopard, Spec Ops, Story Series, insubordination, marten

#16 of Task Force

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&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;I wanted to rebel so badly right now.&nbsp; I wanted to just give the government the bird and tell the others to stay, but I couldn't.&nbsp; Both arguments went against everything I had ever been taught in training.&nbsp; Whoever had decided this was an ignorant ass who knew nothing of comradery and team cohesion.&nbsp; There was no use arguing now though.&nbsp; What was done was done.&nbsp; Now Jessica and I would have to do the best we could with just the two of us.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Presently she stepped back inside the bunker, securing the large door behind her.&nbsp; She walked over to the table where I was sitting and sat in a chair next to me.&nbsp; I had no idea how long we sat there in silence.&nbsp; It felt as if a physical part of me had been ripped away.&nbsp; As if, in taking my squad mates, I was now missing an arm or leg.&nbsp; Finally Jessica broke the silence.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What do we do now Harper?&nbsp; What's the plan?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "We'll get orders, complete the mission, and go home.&nbsp; That's all we can do for the moment."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Eventually she got up and retired to her quarters.&nbsp; I sat alone for a while longer before doing the same.&nbsp; I lay in my bed staring at the concrete ceiling.&nbsp; Everything about this seamed wrong and I didn't know why.&nbsp; There was something going on in the background that I wasn't being told about.&nbsp; I had no evidence to support this theory, but I had a feeling.&nbsp; I had learned within the first year of training to trust my feelings.&nbsp; They usually served me better than my other senses.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Finally, after lying awake in the dark for an hour, I climbed out of my bunk and walked back out to the main room.&nbsp; I sat on the small couch and picked up my book.&nbsp; I didn't get far because a few minutes later, Jessica came out of her room as well.&nbsp; She looked startled to see me.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Can't sleep?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "No.&nbsp; Mind if I sit with you Kirian?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was one of those rare instances when she used my first name which meant something was wrong.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Sure."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She walked over to the couch in her smooth gait and sat down next to me.&nbsp; Her light hair was pulled back into a short ponytail and, as always, she was bare foot.&nbsp; Her blue violet eyes were turned towards the wall, but appeared to be looking beyond it.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Something's wrong here Kirian."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You felt it too?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I felt it the moment I was finished recovering from the bio alterations.&nbsp; We've been so busy down here I never had the chance to think about it.&nbsp; Now it all comes back, only worse."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I agree, the task force has changed.&nbsp; I don't know why or how, but something is different.&nbsp; It's no longer what I had expected and experienced."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We fell silent until Jessica spoke up again.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Do you think we'll ever have the chance to go back to our old lives?&nbsp; Before we came to Center Seventeen?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I still haven't decided if I would ever want to."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I know what you mean."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This statement brought back a question I had wanted to ask Jessica a long time ago, but had been driven from my mind for years.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What did you give up when you left the academy?&nbsp; I never saw your parents at the funeral.&nbsp; You were the one who seemed the most willing to start over with the task force."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "My parents weren't there because I ran away from home when I was seven.&nbsp; They were rich pricks who had no time for me.&nbsp; I felt I hardly knew them when I left and never cared afterwards.&nbsp; I lived in an orphanage for about a year when I ran from there as well.&nbsp; I ended up hiding in the store room of a public library.&nbsp; One of the librarians found me and took me in, but I preferred living alone.&nbsp; He hid me there and allowed me to stay.&nbsp; I began reading again during that time.&nbsp; My parents had paid for private tutors, and I swore I would never learn again.&nbsp; I had no idea how much fun it was when I wasn't having all their information shoved at me forcibly.&nbsp; I started at A and worked my way through. In the three years I was there."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You read an entire library?&nbsp; By the time you were eleven?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yup.&nbsp; It was then when the librarian died of a stroke.&nbsp; Social services took me and put me back in school.&nbsp; I was back in everything I hated.&nbsp; I put up with it now though.&nbsp; I began learning computers, and started programming.&nbsp; It wasn't long before I was hacking to fix grades for classmates.&nbsp; I was almost thrown out, but one of the few social workers I liked pulled a few strings and convinced them to let me stay, under a personalized education program.&nbsp; Senior year I decided I didn't want to go to college.&nbsp; One of my friends was in a program called R O T C.&nbsp; I didn't know what it was, but I talked to the commander and he told me about the academy.&nbsp; We became close friends and he personally helped me study and get in shape for the applications.&nbsp; He was the only person I knew who showed up at the funeral."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She fell silent at this point.&nbsp; I had never known any of that about Jessica.&nbsp; She never talked about her past.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I don't have anything to go back to if I get out, so I see it as a chance to start a new life.&nbsp; No strings, no connections.&nbsp; Why wouldn't you want to go back?&nbsp; You have your family and friends and Traci."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Perhaps.&nbsp; My family thinks I'm dead.&nbsp; I only had a few friends, my closest being Teague since we were both five.&nbsp; Who knows what Traci is up to any more?&nbsp; Probably married."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Don't worry about it Kirian.&nbsp; Everything will work out for you, no matter what happens here."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "How can you know that?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Because I know you."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I wonder what will happen with us."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What do you mean?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I mean you, me, Teague, Tank, Trestan.&nbsp; The time we've spent together, our experiences, our connections, it's not exactly something that just ends."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I guess we'll see if the time ever comes."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The two of us fell silent again.&nbsp; My mind continued to race as it had always done.&nbsp; Somehow I never had complete control over my thoughts when I was in this state.&nbsp; My brain was programmed for heightened perception and didn't like being idle.&nbsp; A question came into my mind, one I had not thought about for a long time.&nbsp; It seemed odd, and fitting that it would return to me now.&nbsp; I tried to forget it again but it wouldn't go away.&nbsp; I didn't want to think about it, but something told me that I had to ask it, I had to know.&nbsp; Especially with today's events and the situation we had been put in.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Jessica, do you trust me?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Unquestioningly.&nbsp; Why would you have to ask?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Because I need to ask you a question, and I don't want you to think I'm crazy or anything, and I need you to take it completely seriously."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Okay, what is it?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It was amazing that I could take a bullet without flinching yet a simple question made me scared.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Do you love me?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She looked as though the question had taken her off her guard.&nbsp; Not as if she had to think of the answer, but more like she had to remember how to say the answer.&nbsp; She recomposed herself and looked me in the eyes.&nbsp; In a calm, serious, and tender tone, she answered.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Yes."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Why?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Because I know you... and I know you love me."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; How she knew that I had no idea.&nbsp; I couldn't remember ever expressing any emotion towards her since that night in the hospital.&nbsp; She continued.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I know you didn't want to.&nbsp; You tried had to keep your emotions free, as you knew you needed to.&nbsp; In the end, you accepted it, but knew you would never need to express it.&nbsp; It was knowledge for you and you alone to contemplate and comprehend."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She said this all in that same voice, as if trying to express that it wasn't just blind passionate love for each other, but a trusting, calculated, mutual, emotional connection that we would need now more than ever.&nbsp; She was right.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Why didn't you say anything?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Because, you asked me not to, in your own way.&nbsp; Neither of us was ready, even though I wanted to be.&nbsp; When the time was right, we would both know."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Sorry it wasn't as soon as you would have liked."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "It's better this way.&nbsp; Now I know I'm ready."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I leaned over and kissed her.&nbsp; We fell asleep on the couch, Jessica's body curled up in my arms.&nbsp; It had been a strange day, and undoubtedly more were to come.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I woke the next morning, still on the couch, Jessica still there.&nbsp; Ours was a strange relationship.&nbsp; We both knew how we felt, where we stood, and what it all meant.&nbsp; It required no explanation to ourselves, or to each other.&nbsp; I slowly tried to extricate myself from my position without waking her.&nbsp; This became particularly difficult when I noticed my tail was pinned.&nbsp; Eventually I was free, and Jess was still asleep.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I noticed the blue light flashing on the com consol, the signal for a new text document.&nbsp; I sat down and powered on the projectors.&nbsp; Text appeared suspended in the air in front of my face.&nbsp; I focused my vision and scanned the first few lines.&nbsp; It appeared to be an order describing out next set of missions.&nbsp; I scrolled back to the top and began reading it closely this time.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The further I got into the document, the more I worried about the contents.&nbsp; All of these operations were a load of crap.&nbsp; They were all small, insignificant targets which would have absolutely no effect on ending anything here.&nbsp; I began to realize what was going on.&nbsp; For some reason, someone was trying to split the team, and then keep us apart.&nbsp; I reached the bottom where Dr. Hall had written a hasty note.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Though I was strictly prohibited from showing you this, I feel that the task force has become something I never designed for it.&nbsp; Everything is out of my paws.&nbsp; I'm sorry.&nbsp; I never meant for this to happen.&nbsp; I'm leaving the final decision about the fate of the squad to you Kirian.&nbsp; What happens now is in your paws. &nbsp;They all trust you, and will understand and follow your decision. &nbsp;Good luck. &nbsp;I hope to see you again someday."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I read the document one more time, printed a coppy and then erased all traces of its existence.&nbsp; I knew what I had to do now.&nbsp; Dr. Hall was right.&nbsp; This series of missions would turn us into something we had never agreed to do.&nbsp; We had joined knowing we would make a difference in saving Jardinian lives.&nbsp; Now we would be endangering them, if not directly terminating them.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Jessica woke up and looked over at me.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "New orders?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "In a way.&nbsp; Dr. Hall sent us the next phase of operations for both Blue and Red teams.&nbsp; I'll let you read through it and see what you think.&nbsp; I've already made up my mind."

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I went out to the weapon racks and pulled out my sniper rifle. &nbsp;It was time to finish this, once and for all. &nbsp;I began adjusting the set up for the next mission, my mission. &nbsp;I heard Jessica pound her fist on a counter. &nbsp;She must have finished the document and came to the same conclusion I did. &nbsp;The door opened and I turned to see her standing there, a determined look in her eyes.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "What's the plan now Kirian?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "We finish this. &nbsp;We finish this and go home. &nbsp;I can't make you come with me, but I could use a spotter. &nbsp;Are you in, or out?"

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She walked over, wrapped her arms around my shoulders and kissed me. &nbsp;That was all the answer I needed.

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/k1V6xQb1
Part of the series Task Force
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