Just the two of us

[soulmusician]

"Yep," Peter said. "We're all in one piece." His face fell. "You were right, though, about those two monsters not belonging in the ruins..." He wondered what this ment for the future of the Front if the monsters were moving around more and getting larger. <No, don't think that> he told himself. <It was just a fluke>

[sr9jes]

Seren nodded her head and squinted her eyes at her lap. Those monsters troubled her the most. The ruins were meant to be a place for materials, and the only monsters that ever showed up there were flying ones. Did that mean... That the monsters were learning their moves? Impossible.... Seren shook her red head a little and brought her attention back to the man from the Attack Force. He was getting his leg treated and seemed to be in deep thought.

" I..am Seren Manchess. Thank you for.. dealing with me and bringing me here. I...never did catch your name.."

[soulmusician]

"I'm Peter," he said. "...just Peter. Nice to meet you." He was reminded of the fight again as the doctor finished treating his leg. "That's a pretty powerful cannon you have," he commented.

[sr9jes]

Seren grinned at Peter and nodded her head.
" It's taken me a while to get all of the right parts for it. Though it does have a large amount of power, I'm afraid I overdosed it a bit.."

She happily glanced at the corner where someone had placed her cannon and sighed in relief that there were no large problems, that she could tell anyway. Maybe if she had enough time, she could... Wait.

" P-peter.. What.. time is it?"

[soulmusician]

"Um..." Peter had no watch-he was afraid it'd just get broken. He stood up, placing his weight on his uninjured leg and stuck his head outside the room door. There was a clock in the hallway. "It's two in the afternoon. Why?"

[sr9jes]

" No... It's just... Ah...I'll be leaving now!"

Seren anxiously jumped out of the bed she was laying in and grabbed her cannon before running out the door. Thankfully, she wasn't as weak as she was before and seemed to move without a single problem. Though every now and then her head throbbed, it was a minor thing.. She glanced back at the window and gave Peter an awkward wave goodbye before running with determination. She passed the junk shop, a toy store, a bakery, and a daycare center before running into her apartment and throwing down her cannon. She quickly made a few calls on the phone system and confirmed that she was properly checked out of work. Luckily, she wasn't as late as she had originally thought she was and quickly set to work on her cannon.

She took apart each component, double checked nothing was wrong, and reassembled it. As delicately as she could, she placed it next to her bed and began to rummage through her closet. She felt bad for leaving Peter after all he had done, but the day was moving without her.

At last, she found what she was looking for, and quickly changed out of her bloodied t-shirt and pants. Happily, and with great ease, she threw them into her laundry hamper and put on a clean outfit. She patted down her casual dress and holstered on her cannon.

" It's not nice to keep them waitting."
She was off to the park.

[soulmusician]

have to go now, chamber thing, will post later.

[sr9jes]

K

[soulmusician]

"Ah, I feel rejected," Peter laughed as he watched Seren race down the street. He told the doctor that he was leaving, and thought about finding his friend who would be telling the head of the Attack Force about the unusual encounter they had had with the monsters, but figured that his side of the story wouldn't change much from anyone else's. Besides, he was supposed to be off work an hour earlier. Peter walked to his apartment building sleepily, climbed the stairs to his unit, and collapsed face first on his bed. He was amost asleep when a large weight was added to his back. "Get off, Dog, get off," he said into his pillow. His dog-which never really had a name, because Peter couldn't remember it's name and just preferred to call it Dog anyway-got up and started licking the side of Peter's face. "Ew, ew," he said, but was laughing. After protecting the Front's meager existance every day, it was nice to know that there were creatures out there who didn't want to eat humans.

[sr9jes]

" I apologize for being late!"

Seren placed her palm on her bandaged head and looked up from her quick run.

" It's alright. You're actually considerably early."

" Ah.. Is that so? I would like to get down to business as soon as possible."

" Of course, of course."

Seren nodded her head every now and then at the man's words, but mostly just kept quiet. Seren was all work when it came to her cannon. As the two walked through the park, they discussed different possible parts and materials needed to improve her cannon.

" The thing is, I'm afraid it's a bit too flimsy. I would like it if we could improve it's material."

" Ah, yes, yes. Of course. Well, if everything goes accordingly, the shop should have some stronger parts in by next week. If you want, we could hold some of the parts for you and see how your cannon works with them."

" Thank you very much, sir!"

" Any time. I do have... one question though."

Seren blinked herself away from her mind filled with happiness and gave the man a quizzical expression.

" Yes?"

" Why are you wearing a dress?"

" Oh, I apologize if you feel awkward about it. I went out of the front with a group to collect materials when we were confronted with a monster. After the battle, my work clothes receivied some nasty stains, and I thought that it would be best to wear clean clothes."

" I see, I see.. Well, keep up the good work, Miss Defense Force Member."

After waving goodbye, Seren sighed and fingered her cannon. She needed to get stronger. To help the Front.
-----

If you don't know what to write, just move on to the next day or expand more on Peter.

[soulmusician]

The next day, Peter was stationed at the barrier. His leg injury wasn't serious, but he couldn't yet travel much faster than a brisk walk. And so, it was a day of staring out across the vast landscape, looking for monsters. <Have they ever even come to the Front?> Peter wondered as he twirled one of his swords around lazily. He sighed. It was a slow day.

[sr9jes]

Seren went through her usual schedule smoothly. She woke up with a slight throbbing in her head as a reminder of the day before, ate a not so healthy breakfast and packed herself lunch. She checked through her cannon's components and went off to work. The day was comfortably slow, letting Seren catch her breath from the busy day before. The area surrounding the Barrier was quiet, and nothing seemed to be amiss. Occasionally, she spoke to her bored co-workers, but always concentrated on work in the end.

" Seren."

Seren pricked her ears and turned to the direction of the voice.

" Captain...?"

A young woman with curly brown hair smiled and gave a little wave.

" When the Night shift workers check in, all Day workers are to report to the Academy for a breifing on yesterdays events."

" Roger."

After a quick wave goodbye, Seren watched the Defense Force Head speak to other members. It was refreshing to see her face again. Seren could hardly recall the last time they had spoken.

In fact, Seren could hardly recall the last time she had been to the academy.
Located in the center of the Front, the Academy was a small building about half the size of the Defense Force, but was an overwhelming building all the same. Almost every child in the front would dream of the day they were old enough to apply for a Force, to train in the academy, and help the Front survive in the world.

Although everyone called it the Academy, it was more like a school for the young and a meeting place for the old. Lost in thought, Seren narrowed her eyes and turned her attention back to the barren lands.

" What are the Smiths planning...?"