Chapter 17

(Hours after returning from the complex)
Raiden and Shadow return to the house in the dead of night
The walk in to find Kozak sleep with Selene in her arms
Raiden gently moves Kozaks arms away from Selene and carries Selene to her room
He then walks back and gently picks up Kozak then carries her back upstairs to the room her shares with her
He sets her down gently in their bed and puts the blankets on top of her then kisses her forehead
He walks back downstairs to discuss the Stealth suits with Shadow
Phoenix comes walking downstairs
Raiden: Ah just in time Cyara. Check out the s**t we got.
Phoenix: This ought to be good.
Raiden takes off his backpack and takes out one Stealth device and puts it on his hip
He then looks for the switch on the device then switches it on
Phoenix, Shadow and Raiden: Holy s**t!
Raiden looks at his arm and finds even he can't see his own arms
Raiden: So far there's only one drawback.
Shadow: Which is?
Raiden: You can't see your own limbs.
Phoenix: Well that might pose a problem later if we don't master this now.
Shadow: What do you mean?
Phoenix: Well i assume that since you cant see your own limbs you cant see your own equipment so we'll just have to remember where our equipment is on our body.
Raiden: I guess we could do that but it seems like it could be kinda tedious.
Phoenix: Nah trust me.
Raiden: Alright.
Raiden then gives Phoenix a Stealth suit.
Then Shadow
He then walks upstairs and lays one on Kozaks bed
He does the same for Warfighter and Selene
After that he goes to sleep with Kozak in his arms
(The next week)
Everyone is packing their bags for Russia
Raiden: Everybody have what they need?
Kozak: Yep
Shadow: Yeah.
Warfighter: All set.
Selene: Yes dad.
Phoenix: Almost just gotta grab my katana.
Raiden: Alright then, we'll start walking to the car.
Phoenix: Alright ill catch up.
They all leave while Phoenix searches for her katana
She goes upstairs to look in her room and finds it standing up next to her bed
She then goes downstairs and wraps a rope around the bottom and top of the hilt so she can carry it on her back
She tugs at it to make sure its secure then runs outside to the car
She gets in the back seat and they pull off
Raiden still having an affinity for driving is at the wheel
They start to converse among themselves
Raiden : So Selene, what do you think about our awesome adventure?
Selene: I think its going to be cool dad!
Raiden: Thats my girl.
Griffin: So hows the relationship going Britt and Yahz?
Raiden: Kozak?
Kozak: Pretty well i mean he can be so focused on other things at times but its not bad.
Raiden: Anybody found any guys while we were here?
Phoenix: I did.
Raiden: Was he a good guy?
Phoenix: Yeah but he was too much of a b***h.
Raiden: What do you mean?
Phoenix: He had a sort of "Yes Mistress" vibe when i kept seeing him.
Raiden: Oh i see.
Raiden: Charlene?
Shadow: Just waiting for that special guy.
Raiden: Allison?
Griffin: Well there was nothing really here to check out so im still in a dry spell.
Raiden: Sounds like a personal problem.
Warfighter: F**k you.
Raiden: Well in Russia they got some buff dudes and stuff should be easy pickins for you.
Warfighter: I hope so.
Raiden: Wow you really would think about getting with a guy while we're recruiting people for the cause.
Griffin: Well f**k dude a dry spell's a dry spell.
Raiden: Still.
They arrive at the Cuban airport hours later
They drive onto the runway and steal a small passenger airplane
Shadow is piloting the airplane
Shadow: Alright depending on weather we should be there in about 12 hours. So everybody go to sleep.
Kozak: Fine.
About 8 hours into the flight everybody except Raiden and Shadow is still sleep
Raiden sitting next to Shadow starts to have a conversation
Raiden: So Charlene i gotta ask, do you really think we'll be able to pull all of this off?
Shadow: Yahz i have to admit, im just as on the fence as you are.
Raiden: Yeah cause i mean look at the scale of our mission its massive in size and scope.
Shadow: Thats what puts me on the fence.
Shadow: If we do gather all the forces we need who will watch over them and make sure we have no traitors.
Raiden: We could all split up when its time for the final push?
Shadow: True but we would need a chain of command.
Raiden: Damn i forgot about that.
Shadow: Yeah we would need generals, admirals etc.
Raiden: Charlene can i be honest for a sec?
Shadow: Yeah go ahead.
Raiden: I never felt cut out to be a leader. I never really wanted to fight. I personally hate the way i drag you guys into combat.
Shadow: Well you cant say you're a bad leader since well look at the people around you.
Raiden looks at his friends
Raiden: Yeah what about em?
Shadow: We are still alive and breathing.
Raiden: I guess you're right but still.
Shadow: But still even though we are drawn into the face of death we still come out alive to see the next day and so on and so forth. I mean lets be honest if you were really a bad leader one of us would have either A. Killed you or B. Kicked your a*s.
Raiden: I guess you're right. I know for sure Cyara would have kicked my a*s a long time ago.
Shadow: See. You're not doing a bad job.
Raidnen: Charlene promise me something.
Shadow: Yes?
Raiden: If at anytime i die during this grand mission of ours that you will watch over Selene for me.
Shadow: You have my word Yahz.
Raiden: Good.
Raiden: So off topic, what are your plans after this is all over?
Shadow: I honestly don't know. Settling down seems kinda impossible now since we've all seen battle one too many time.
Raiden: Who know if we can rally our forces the way i have it planned you might meet a nice guy.
Shadow: Maybe.
Raiden: Or who know, when this is all over we will need to rebuild maybe you can train local law enforcement or be like a vigilante or something.
Shadow: I'd rather train law enforcement.
Raiden: See you got something on the list already.