“You’re the biggest baby here. You never quit whining.” You look her dead in the eye as you repeat your words and expand on them, so there’s no doubt as to what you meant. Sarah might be a super soldier, but you’re not going to be threatened by her.

“Settle down,” Terra orders, steel back in her tone. “Both of you.”

Sarah shoots you another dirty look, then throws the remnants of her rations into the fire. “This food is gross,” she says. “I’m done.”

“I would have finished that,” Boris says.

“You would have eaten the tray,” you add. Boris’ appetite is legendary.

Sarah gets up from the fire and walks away. She’s sulking like the baby she’s accusing everyone else of being and you’re not impressed.

“You weren’t dismissed, soldier,” Terra calls out.

“I don’t care.”

Terra stands up and follows Sarah. The expression on her face makes you glad it isn’t you she is looking at. She looks determined. And determination is worse than anger when it comes to Terra.

“Get back here.”

“Why!?”

They’re arguing beyond the ring of light cast by the fire, and you can’t see them, but you can hear the tone in Terras voice.

“Because I am your commanding officer, and you do as you’re told. You know what the alternative is.”

“Being locked in a box until I die. Yeah, I know.”

You and Boris exchange looks again. Her words make you feel a little bad. Sarah is obnoxious, but her life is hell and most of it probably isn’t her fault. If you were in her situation, you’d probably have an attitude too.

Boris shuffles around beside you. “What do you reckon she did?”

“Who knows,” you shrug.

“I feel sorry for her,” he mutters.

“Yeah,” you agree.

“Well FUCKING DON’T!”

You and Boris turn to see Sarah fuming behind you. She must have heard what you were saying to one another. Apparently her hearing is well beyond normal ranges. She looks furious, the fire light making her face appear even more contorted as she snarls at you and Boris.

“I don’t need the pity of couple country bred…”

“Sarah!” Terra interrupts her rant. “Go and take the North West post. Report in if you spot anything.”

Sarah gives you all a hard, cutting look and disappears into the night.

Terra returns to her seat and the rest of her rations. There is a less than comfortable silence as you and Boris wonder what is going on. You have to share a tent with Sarah. You’re not really looking forward to that. Sarah scares you more than a little. It’s not just the super human power, or the temper, it’s the rage that you can feel inside her. She’s very, very angry about something. And she’s looking for someone to take it out on.

“Boris, take the North East when you’re done. Cadet, I’ll see you in my tent now.”

Terra’s demeanor has become ultra professional again.

“Uh, ma’am?” Boris coughs the question.

“Yes?”

“How long will I be on the North East post?”

“All night, cadet.”

“Oh. Yes, ma’am,” Boris says. He doesn’t seem thrilled with his posting, but he knows better than to poke the same bear Sarah just finished poking.

You follow Terra into her tent, unsure of what to expect. Your eyes fall on her hips and rear as she walks in front of you, lifting her hands to her head to free her hair from the clips which hold it contained. It falls in a dark silken cascade to the center of her back, and instantly you’ve forgotten all the stress and tension of Sarah’s tantrums.

“I’m sorry, cadet,” Terra says. “I knew this would not be an easy unit to handle. It’s small, but its volatile. Sarah will require everyone’s help to integrate. When she needles you, try not to respond.”

“Yes, ma’am,” you nod understandingly as she turns to face you, her hair falling over her shoulders. God. She is stunning.

“Not that I blame you for what you said,” she says, her cheek dimpling with amusement. “And not that you were entirely wrong.”

“No, ma’am.”

You watch as Terra sits on her wide cot. It is covered with an air mattress and looks a lot more comfortable than your meagre bed roll. She proceeds to remove her boots and then her outer clothing until she is sitting there in a white vest and soft pink-hued leggings. She swaps her uniform socks for longer white woolen ones which go up just below her knee. She looks cozy and sexy and warm and you suddenly feel very stiff and prickly in your uniform.

“Does this make you uncomfortable, cadet?”

You’ve never seen Terra in anything other than a uniform. It didn’t really occur to you that she could wear more casual clothing. You’re not uncomfortable so much as you are stunned and overloaded. Her vest is slightly see through, and you catch sight of the line of her breast, not hidden as it usually is below layers of fabric, but held in her bra beneath soft material.

“No, ma’am,” you hasten to assure her.

“Good,” she says. “Take those boots and that uniform off. You won’t need them.”

“Uhmm…” you hesitate. You’re not wearing as much as she is underneath your uniform. If you take off the clothes she says to, you’ll be standing in a light vest, panties, and nothing else.

She stands up, taller than you even in socked feet. She takes a step toward you, closing the distance. Then Terra reaches out with her finger and traces gently underneath your chin, along your jawline in a teasing, soft touch.

“Are you going to disobey a direct order, cadet?”

Blushing, you’re not sure where to look. Her eyes are so alluring, so sophisticated and mature. You feel like a mouse cat in a cat’s gaze. She has plans for you, you can feel them. You’re just not sure what they are yet.

“Don’t forget,” she murmurs. “When you joined this unit, the rules of the academy ceased to apply. You’re mine, cadet.” Her eyes meet yours with a heat which sends an electric jolt through your body. “Mine in any way I please. Now, are you going to take this uniform off? Or am I going to have to strip you?” The question is alluring and warm, but you know she means it.