[i][/i]Kaitlyn's reintroduction to the military was a hurricane of activity; no sooner had she returned to duty was she reallocated to Task Force Obsidian– [color=0054a6]They're still alive![/color] –and shipped to... The Phillipenes? She tries to remember if she had ever heard anything about the Phillipenes, other than that they're apparently a bunch of islands. [color=0054a6]Kind of like Hawaii.[/color] [color=0054a6]Of course you're already thinking about vacation. Barely landed your boots on the ground and you already want to slack off.[/color] [color=0054a6]No, that's not true! I–[/color] [color=0054a6]You want to be a [i]hero[/i]. Where were you these last 3 months again?[/color] She doesn't have time for this. She can't be arguing with herself like this. Not again. [color=0054a6]Not again ~[/color] The mocking tone of her own inner voice is not the least bit comforting. Why is she so schizophrenic? Maybe she should see a doctor. Or a therapist. [i]Another[/i] therapist. A therapist who understands what it means to watch a hundred people be swallowed into the sand and filled with glass while you just watched. A therapist who understands the terror of watching a magical shield break, of somebody having a hole [b]seared[/b] through their chest by a death ray as a second sun rises over the battlefield like God's personal death sentence. "Are you alright?" Somebody asks beside her. She snaps back to attention. Right. The new mission. Or, well, 'mission.' She was kind of correct. She did return from 'vacation' just to be sent on another. Of a sort. A team bonding exercise. It'll... It... It will be good to see some familiar faces after so long away. Some familiar faces, anyways. Whatever happened to Myron? The twins? They didn't bring Hannie back in her absence, did they? She thinks of Noel. How unsympathetic he was. She swallows, then fishes out a piece of chocolate to occupy her mind. Belatedly, she remembers she was asked a question and responds with something she forgets immidiately. It seems to have assuaged them for now. [b]Mexican Restaurant, Municipality of Lubao, Pampanga Province, Philippines - 1/1/2023.[/b] When she arrives at the... Returaunt... –actually, why a restaurant again? Why not a mess hall? A secure conference room with room service? Why a [b]Tex-Mex[/b] in the middle of what looked like the Third Fucking Impact? [color=0054a6]Not the time, Katie. This is a team bonding exercise. Get in there and socialize. You need it. You [i]really[/i] need it.[/color] She really needs this. She really needs this... She really needs... ... She needs a Bible. God have mercy, is that a [i]devil[/i]? She'd been thinking of Angels jokingly because Evangelion, but– those are curved horns. Jesus Christ, it smells like sulfur and brimstone in here! Unironically– what the hell? She's so busy staring at the honest to God devil that she barely notices the celebratory standing amongst them. In hindsight, she's surprised she didn't notice the red-white-and-blue of her home country the moment she walked through the door. He was like a walking American flag. For some reason, being in the same room as him made her a little uncomfortable, and she frowned. Cautiously, she picks her away across the restaurant, trying to absorb as many details as possible before she reaches her destination. There appeared to be living death metal cover sitting next to... Was that... Her name was Callie, right? She was important, she remembered that. And there's a cute girl, too– ! Nope [color=0054a6]Nope[/color] No [color=0054a6]Bad Katie.[/color] [color=0054a6]You can't...[/color] [color=0054a6]Well... Quingshe was... Quingshe was nice. Nice,[/color] her subconscious sarkastically parrots back to her. She can't help but recall the snake woman's intimidating appearance. And other qualities. Other qualities... [i]Fuck[/i]. Suppressing a blush, she beelines for a space right next to the blue-haired lady and Callie, smiling awkwardly and making a failed attempt to introduce herself as she sits down. [color=0054a6]"Um. H– hi. I uh... I'm Kaitlyn. Um. Private Price. Kaitlyn Price, I mean!" Very smooth.[/color] She kinda wishes she was back on Lingayen Beach. She looks at the girl a moment longer, then turns her attention to the rest of the crowd, avoiding Everett's eyes. To her chagrin, her eyes land on the devil instead. She stares, transfixed by those unnatural golden eyes. Of course she has the evil-type pupils. Is nobody here bothered by this? Should she find the nearest church and grab a cross? [color=0054a6]Um. God bless me. Please.[/color] Good enough. Wait, is that–? [color=0054a6]"Nil! You're alive!"[/color] [color=0054a6]Of course she's alive, stupid. [/color] She grimaces and mentally kicks herself. Nil was an Arms Master. But then... Well, that doesn't mean much here, does it? [color=0054a6]"You haven't seen... Hannie around... Have you?"[/color] She really hopes not, but she has to confirm. If she recalls correctly, Nil was pretty honest and straightforward.