Author's Note- Sorry it's taken so long but real life, writers block, and a number of other things got in the way. It's only a partial update but it's better than nothing I guess.
Chapter 7- Infiltration- AKA School Days
Sure go back to high school, embrace my school years. Argh, I'm going to strangle that bastard, but … Ugh… So boring….. The young athletic boy dropped his head onto his desk again struggling to fight off boredom in his mandatory science class. The teacher was stuck droning on about some physics theory Carter explained to him multiple times in the past. It was some hypothetical particle or another. Hhhhmmm that new red head is pretty cute….. Argh no remember you're old enough to be her father…. can't wait for spring….. Argh stupid teenage hormones!
Meyrin put on her best interested face sitting through another boring science lecture struggling to maintain her cover as your average American high school student. Seriously I mastered this stuff when I was ten. How did I end up with the short end of the stick? Ha it's probably because I'm the most normal looking of us and the least likely to kill anyone. Eh it could be worse. Is he checking me out, maybe borrowing some of Lunamaria's stuff wasn't such a bad idea after all. It took all of Meyrin's will power not pump her fist in the air, for possibly the first time in her life the boys were ogling her the book worm little sister of Lunamaria Hawke. I'll have to wear this around Athrun. Meyrin giggled wondering if he went for the zettai ryouiki look, wondering why she didn't think of this sooner, the style let her show off her figure without putting a lot of skin on display.
"Ms. Hawke, since you find my class so interesting, would you mind explaining the theory," the teacher scolded shocking Meyrin out of her stupor.
Taking a quick glance at the board Meyrin began, "Well sir your equation is all wrong."
"Would care to explain it to us then, professor," the teacher replied rather annoyed with another smart-alecky student, when he was trying to make the class more interesting.
With a heavy sigh Meyrin walked towards the board quickly rearranging several parts to the equation. The class was surprised as the new girl gave a quick explanation of how waves and particles could interact with one another, while the teacher was left speechless. Seriously single waveform interference, take that you boring old coot. I'm a communications specialist this stuff is a piece of cake compared to calculating the effect of the N-Jammers on…. Oh crap! Meyrin found a stunned class starring at her as the bell rang.
"Meyrin you're a genius," Cassy beamed as the teacher called her over, while it was all Meyrin could do not to bolt out the door positive she had blown her cover.
"Ms. Hawke, why are you not in a more advanced class, you could easily slide right into my AP physics II class." the teacher asked.
Crud, because I need to stay to observe a girl whose mother happens to work at the Cheyenne Mountain complex. "I've only made a couple of friends so far and I would like to stay with them, plus I have to help out my sister at home," Meyrin replied.
Running a hand through his hair, "Alright Ms. Hawke, I will allow it for now, but I do not want to see such a gifted young mind go to waste." the teacher said.
"Thank you sir," Meyrin replied before rushing off.
What the hell, the hypothetical heavy element she used in the equation is identical to naquedah. Who is that girl? Quickly scribbling down the equation the boy grabbed his bags chasing after the red head.
"Hey Cassy," Meyrin asked as they headed off to lunch
"Who is…..," Meyrin asked nodding her head to a brown haired boy.
"Oh that's Angus MacGuyver, but he prefers to go by Jack." he transferred in a while back. Nice enough guy, he keeps to himself most of the time." Cassy replied.
"Oh," Meyrin replied.
"But he seems to have taken an interest in you," Cassy replied as they caught Jack looking at them again.
"Yeah right, he probably just wants to copy my homework. Nobody wants a nerdy girl like me," Meyrin said wistfully. Athrun wants a real princess not a nobody like me.
"I don't know who put those ideas in your head but you are insane. Stay here," Cassy ordered. "And don't steal my lunch."
Wouldn't dream of it, I finally got my fat ass into this skirt I'm not giving it up anytime soon. "Wait what are you doing," Meyrin called out as Cassy marched across the cafeteria.
"You know if you want to join us, all you have to do ask," Cassy said pulling Jack out of his daze.
Awe hell. "I don't," Jack said quickly his face turning red.
"Bullshit, you've been googly eyed over Meyrin all week, now come on," Cassy said grabbing his lunch.
Dam it Cassy, I got you a dog for crying out loud. "Hey that's my lunch," Jack called out chasing after her.
Cassy plopped his lunch down across from Meyrin, "Angus MacGuyver, Meyrin Hawke," Cassy said proudly.
"Hi," Meyrin said meekly. Argh… I can order people around a battlefield, but I still can't talk to boys. How the hell does Luna do it?
"Yo, and you can call me Jack, I hate that name," Jack replied.
"Why," Meyrin asked quietly.
Because that bastard….. Great now I'm calling myself a bastard. "Let's just say it was my uncles suggestion, and he is terrible with coming up with names," Jack replied.
"Oh," Meyrin replied looking down at her lunch. Meyrin was spared as the bell rang signaling the end of lunch.
"It was nice meeting you Meyrin," Jack said with a wave before heading off to class.
"You to," Meyrin replied.
"You know for a hawk, you sure to act like a mouse," Cassy joked.
I hate school…. but he is kinda cute.
Section Break
"Why the hell would anyone want to live out here," Lisa groaned as she trudged through the underbrush.
"And here I thought ORB was known for strong women," Ile shot back.
"Hey there's more to being tough than marching through the woods all day," Lisa shot back.
"Yeah, but do you think you could carry some of this." Ile said.
"Why would I do that when I have a big strong man to do it for me," Lisa said turning and smiling at her larger companion. "Besides, I thought that the extendeds were the equal of any coordinator, even the great Kira Yamato."
Ile scowled at his companion, "give me that," Ile growled grabbing Lisa's bag as he stomped by her.
So predictable… Ile and Lisa continued their hike through the wilderness surrounding the Cheyenne Mountain complex.
"Nene, that's the last one," Lisa said over the radio as Ile hammered the last sonic probe into the ground.
"Good let me check the system," Nene replied from the small command center they set up in the basement of their house in the outskirts of Colorado Springs.
"Nene, wasn't placing one of these every kilometer over kill. It didn't take nearly to find the underground Zaft facilities during the war." Ile asked.
"No, didn't you listen during the briefing. During the war we didn't care if ZAFT found us or not since they already knew where we were. If we set off a full power sonic scan we'll blow out the eardrums of everyone down there and tip our hand. We need complete coverage for a passive scan to work." Nene said.
"Ok," Ile replied. "But what if the SGC finds them?"
"The probes are set to overload melting the critical components should they be removed from the ground." Nene replied.
"Works for me," Lisa added.
"Good the system is up and running, mission complete. We should have a preliminary map of the complex in a few days." Nene said.
"Roger, do you need us to pick anything up on the way back," Lisa asked.
"Yeah, could you find me some pocky I haven't had any in ages," Nene replied.
"No problem," Lisa said as they made their way down the mountain.
"Ile hold up I want to get a picture of the sunset," Lisa called out as they passed a small break in the trees.
"Alright make it quick," Ile said taking a quick break as Lisa broke out her camera gear spotting a reflection in the distance.
Beautiful…. I haven't seen the sun like this in far too long….. Snapping away Lisa captured the mountain and the city below being set ablaze by the last rays of the sun before it dipped behind the mountains. Hello… As the sun continued to dip over the horizon a faint reflection caught Lisa's eye, using skills she mastered working for Terminal after the first bloody Valentine war she zoomed in on the reflection.
"Nene, mark grid 16 beta, with an air vent and access hatch. Given the lack of weathering and overgrowth these are still in use. I suspect the hatch is a secondary entry and egress point during emergencies, and the air vent is used to help circulate air underground." Lisa said.
"Roger that, now get out of there quick. If you were close enough to spot that you may have crossed the boundaries of the base.
"You heard the lady, now get on," Ile said kneeling down.
"What?" Lisa gasped.
"Look if we did get to close they are going to be on us like boys at a Meer Campbell concert. We can move a lot faster even with me carrying you." Ile explained. Lisa gulped slowly placing her arms around Ile, before he took off with speed that would make the craziest tough mudder jealous.
Section Break
With the success of the casino mission in Australia and Lina's financial maneuvering the crew of the Phoenix was beginning to feel human again as supplies slowly trickled onboard the ship.