I got an anon email asking why I don't focus on the male character appearances too much, simple answer is I like to give only small details on the main male characters appearance because I feel that most people imagine themselves as the characters. I dunno if thats true but if people want me to focus on other aspects then feel free to let me know. Always enjoy reading feedback!
"And in other news. The Tier 3 graduate shortlist has been released by our very own Captain Rays, those who have been waiting for the chance to see if you have what it takes. Go to the application page and see if your names on the list! Good luck and remember, ill be rooting for you." The rather pretty anchor woman for VNN (Valentine News Network) gave a playful wink and a smooth electric music rose from the hologram screen. The faint blue glow powered down for a few seconds before another voice spoke over the music.
"Thank you for watching the VNN. Up next, are you sick of constant rifle maintenance? Melee weaponry may be just for you! a re-run of Combat Today will be on in just a moment, with special guest Mckayla Petrova and her Valkyrie Squad giving us a step by step guide for what weapon is best for you!" Willingham flicked his wrist to dismiss the screen which was produced by the Telecaller. Instantly the blue glow evaporated into thin air. He laid back on his bed, still sore from the day before last. It was his first mission.
Alarms rang loud through the ship when everyone was asleep. The Code Yellow signal letting everyone know that Earth was under attack. While dangerous, it was nothing as bad as some invasions which he grew up with. Large insect like animals came from the sea and swarmed over the calm islands of Japan. Willingham was given the duty of evacuation via a long, exposed bridge which was an easy target for any of the vile creatures who wanted a quick snack on human flesh. He had been knocked around a few times from the opposing force who tried to swoop down and pick someone off the long escape route; but he was ok, only a few cuts and bruises to nurse back to heath.
Will had spent the last two days in his room, ordered by the cute elf nurse who paid him a house visit to take a few days before returning to active duty and training. So he did just that, he spent his time watching re-runs of old Combat Today shows, learning tricks and personal experience skills which scheduled training could not tell you. He had watched the most recent one which featured the stunning Mckayla Petrova at least five times; only paying attention to her soothing voice and how good she looked in her white skintight bodysuit.
He looked around his small and rather empty room, much like most of the others on Tier 2. It had been two weeks since his arrival on the Valentine, and while he enjoyed every second, the only two things he disliked was the cramped space he called a bedroom, and the fact that everything he accomplished by himself resulted in a comparison to his wonderful sister Wendy. It got so bad he even asked her what to do about it. All she could say was sorry for casting a shadow. He stood from the bed and massaged his lower back by rubbing his fingers softly in a circular motion for a handful of rotations. He sighed calmly and adjusted his black t-shirt he wore. Just then a beeping noise came from his immediate vicinity.
The noise was emanating from the Telecaller. A small light glowed bright which stood out in the dimly lit room. He approached the Telecaller and flicked his wrist up. The blue hologram appeared in front of him. On the screen was Lucy, one of his closest friends from the Tier 1 boot camp.
"Hey." She said in a friendly tone.
"Hey, you good?" Will responded simply.
"Been given the all clear, I'm back on duty tomorrow. What about you? I was going to call yesterday but I heard you got pretty banged up." He noticed Lucy was beaten up too, light scratches healing well across her cheek and forehead. Like always her dark ginger hair was tied back into a tight ponytail, makeup lightly dusted across her face. He deduced quickly that she wasn't at home.
"Yeah, I'm feeling better. Maybe a little sore but comes with the job."
"Good." She snapped and smiled, showing her cute dimples.
"Come to the rec room across from our accommodation building. Troy asked a bunch of us to drinks to celebrate our first mission."
"Was I invited?" He asked crossing his arms firmly. Lucy frowned and shrugged.
"No...but he won't care."
"He would care. He probably only invited girls to this little gathering." To Willingham, Troy was nothing more than a guy who joined to pick up girls. Even though he was a good hand in a fight he still seemed only interested in looking impressive for the closest girl to him. He remembered back on Earth during the attack while a small group of people were defending a small family from the giant insects Troy was more bothered about how nice a girls ass looked in battle armor.
"That's very possible. But who cares, if he just wants to hook up with someone we can just go together, are you embarrassed to be around me or something?" She pouted playfully, grinning to him. He smirked and nodded in defeat.
"I guess I can come, not like I have other things to do." He quickly looked at himself to see what he was wearing would be appropriate for the outside, quickly deciding that a plain black t shirt and jeans was presentable enough.
"I'll be down in a second. Meet you there." Lucy nodded and bi him farewell for the moment, signing off as the Telecaller's blue hologram faded. He pivoted on his foot to turn a full one eighty towards the exit.
"So I said 'Hey Johnson, wheres the rife!" The small group of people around the table laughed, excluding Lucy and Willingham. They were cut off from most of the rec room, in the bar section of the wide spread of relaxing activities which took place inside the building. There were two floors, the top floor consisting of a long line of rooms labelled VIP. Often Will would look up above to see people enter and exit the rooms with empty glasses in hand. He had wondered what was up there. Troy was still reeling from the joke which he told to the group. Other than Willingham, Lucy and himself, the rest of the group consisted of Johnson; a smaller gentleman who was known around town as Troy's sidekick, and four girls of human decent, all seemingly infatuated with Troy and his dashing good looks.
"He's a bit of a douche isn't he?" Lucy muttered to Willingham, lingering her gaze on his aqua eyes. He looked from the second floor to her noticing her cute appearance from the effort she put in for the evening.
"A bit?" Johnson leaned over and looked at the duo. Lucy turned and looked surprise.
"You think so too?" Willingham leaned back on the comfortable booth seats and raised an eyebrow.
"Think so? I know so..." He replied scoffing loudly. He knew full well that the arrogant and narcissistic Troy would be too focused on which of these four girls he would try (and more than often fail) to take back to his place.
"Let me tell you. I've seen this guy do so much shit you would not believe!"
"Like? Come on if you dish the dirt ill buy you a drink." Lucy leaned forward and rested her elbow on the table, eager to hear what the one person closest to Troy had to say about him.
"Last week he was meant to send a report to S.I Bishop. Something about her catching him exchanging numbers with a Tier 1 girl on their visit up here. It could have got him relieved of duty...you know how it is here. So he filed the report, but wrote it all in computer code. It was..." Willingham listened with great intrigue; but from behind Johnson, sitting by herself on the bar counter with a tall thing glass of bright green liquid in hand was a woman whom he seemed drawn to. From the distance between them he could tell how attractive she was. Her deep bronze skin smooth and faultless with her long frizzy dark hair hanging loose over her head. Her lips were pouty and coated with a shiny gloss which seemed to glint in the light. She say with one leg over the other, clearly she worked on her lower body, as her toned legs were visible from this distance away. She wore a pair of cream coloured leggings which ended just above her knees, with training shoes on her feet. Covering her upper body was a jumper which exposed one of her shoulders, showing one black bra strap which rested on her shoulder. He seemed to forget that he was meant to listen to what Johnson was saying while looking at her. She looked over at him and stared directly into his eyes. She smiled like any stranger would, before taking a sip of her drink. She looked back at him for a second time, nibbling lightly on her bottom lip.
"Hey Willingham." Troy seemed to have noticed what was happening as Willingham shook his head to get out to the staring contest with the pretty stranger. He realised that everyone in the group was looking right at him.
"W-what?" He said scanning everyone around him. Troy hunched over and spotted the biracial beauty. He scoffed hard, snoring out of his big nose.
"In your dreams." He said simply. The girls giggled before seeing the stranger also. Once they saw her they scowled and gave a bitchy expression, clearly jealous of her being the focus of two of the three men at the table.
"Shes way too hot for a guy like you. You should just settle with a girl who pretends to like you only so they can meet your sister."
"Fuck you Troy." Lucy and Willingham spat angrily in tandem. Johnson smiled and leaned back on his chair.
"Ok then." He shrugged and flicked his arm up in front of the girls and activated his wrist device. A timer formed in the air in a bright blue colour.
