"What's in the box?" Asked Bulldog.

"Lunch." Replied the Siberian. Inside the box, Manton wondered why he chose to say that.

The XCOM soldiers exchanged glances.

"Can we look?" Asked Warlock.

"No."

"I'm going to have to insist." Said Doc.

"I'm going to have to eat you." Replied the Siberian.

The monochrome woman smiled, her bloodstained teeth showing.

"What's going on?" Asked Jack.

"Your teammate has a box." Replied Lily.

Jack looked at the Siberian, carrying her box.

"Oh, that's Siberian's box." Said Jack. "Just ignore it."

"It might be a bomb." Noted Warlock.

"Look, I'm curious to, but the box has never been a problem before, so I haven't pushed."

Doc frowned, turning to Siberian. "Look, miss, just-"

"Ja~ack!" Called Bonesaw. "Come on! Terra is getting bored!"

"She called that thing Terra?" Question Bulldog.

"Short for 'Extraterrestrial.'" Explained Jack.

Bulldog looked at Jack. Then at the Skyranger, and the grotesque alien thing that Bonesaw created. Then at Jack again.

"...I give up." She said. "I'm not dealing with you lot unless the concentration of alcohol in my blood can only be described as 'Yes.'"

"Where's Burnscar?" Wondered Bonesaw.

The man watched the woman incinerate anohter ten aliens, before stepping into her field of view.

"Greetings, miss. I'm a representative of EXA-"

"Everything burns~!"

"Who cares?" Replied Shatterird. "Now, help me seduce Jack."

"Ew. No."

Shatterbird pouted, as te Siberian put Manton's Box in the Skyranger.

"Time to go to base." Said the Pilot. "I called the Commander. He's waiting for the weirdos."

"Good." Said Jack. "All aboard, everone."

He paused.

"Wait." Said Bulldog. "The big guy won't fit."

Jack turned to look at Crawler. "Huh..."

"He can walk." Said Shatterbird. "Even if there was room, the Skyranger would break under the weight."

Jack blinked, turning his head to the side. "Hold on..."

The Siberian blinked. "Why are you looking at me?"

Shatterbird pouted.

"Couldn't we leave him behind?" She asked.

"He's too important." Replied Jack.

"I"M SCARED OF HEIGHTS AND SIBERIAN AN-"

"Although it is becoming increasingly tempting to ask Siberian to drop him."

Bradford watched the horizon.

"They're late." He noted.

"They were most likely delayed by the group they encountered earlier." Noted Vahlen. "I cannont blame them for that. From what I have heard, one of them has made some sort of flesh robot from the corpses of several Sectoids."

"Really?"

"Did you not read the reports, Bradford?"

"Bulldog's report consisted of the word 'I need a fucking drink,' repeated several thousand times."

"Several thousand? She certainly types fast."

"From what I've heard, she's had a lot of practice."

"Ah, yes. Did you hear about Sydne-"

She trailed off as the Skyranger appeared on the horizon.

"...How." Said Vahlen. "I... But... How?"

Below the Skyranger was a giant, mutated beast, which was screaming something incomprehendable. Between it and the Skyranger was a woman, completely naked, which was hanging onto both, arms vertical to hold them in place.

Bradford turned, and began walking away.

"I'm raiding your stash, Doctor." He said. "It's the closest source of booze."

Vahlen nodded, staring at the sight before her.

Jack Slash and the XCOM Commander stared at each other.

"Name?"

"Jack Slash. Yours?"

"I don't need one. Just call me The Commander."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "So, how familiar are you with alternate universes?"

"I've heard the theories." The Commander replied. "Although since you are apparently going to say that you are from one, I'm going to pre-emptively say that it's not very suprising at this point."

Jack smiled. Perspective, this one.

"That simplifies things." Noted Jack. "My reality doesn't have any aliens invading. At least, as far as I am aware. Are you familiar with the term 'Parahuman?'"

"No." Replied the Commander.

"Which confirms it."

The Commander thought for a moment, then spoke up. "I have seen the reports from me soldiers." He began. "You and your team managed to kill a number of aliens recently, with no casualties beyond the civilians that died when the aliens first arrived."

Jack took in the Commander's words, then guessed. "You want to recruit us?"

"Correct."

Jack thought about it for a minute.

An interesting offer. While Jack did want to get back to usual busniess, anything the Slaughterhouse Nine did in this world would be competing, or be entirely overshadowed, with what the alien invaders do. Crawler would most likely quit to go fight the aliens, as they seemed tohave better weapons then non-Tinker humans, and thus would hurt Crawler more. Bonesaw has shown great interest in the alien's biology- Something about phychic brain tumours- And would be Very Upset[TM] with him if she didn't let her fight aliens. Shatterbird doesn't care, as long as Jack pretends to. And Burnscar and Cherish were still missing, meaning that joining an organisation that has something like the Skyranger, capable of going halfway across the planet with fast enough to respond to alien attacks, would make finding the two easier.

Plus, it would be extremely amusing to fight off the aliens, become a hero to the people of this Earth, then shock everyone when he begins murdering.

Jack smiled.

"I'm in."

The Commander smiled, then offered his hand. "Welcome to XCOM, Mister Slash."

"Call me Jack."