Chapter 11. Temporary HQ.

  Their new headquarters turned out to be a very dated looking building, in need of a paint job. Turning into the compound, the van parked next to several others, in a long-graveled strip of land that looked like it had been designed to allow much larger vehicles to turn around.

  On one side of the building was a series of cargo containers, one with a red cross painted on the side. The others had various other symbols for disaster relief painted on them.

  Tanya grabbed their suitcase and hopped down from the van, Visha at her heels. Following the driver, and translator into the building with rest of their van group.

  At the entryway, while waiting for everyone to remove their shoes, Tanya took the time to explain shoe etiquette to Visha. She then began stripping off her own boots and helped Visha select a pair of new slippers from a basket by the entry, before choosing her own.

  That done, they were greeted by a stern looking middle-aged woman. She was introduced as the Matron of the residence, Ms. Hayashi, who would be taking care of them going forward.

  To the Matron’s left was a number of suitcases matching the one Tanya was pulling behind her. Visha was told to grab one for herself since they contained a set of basic essentials for each girl. The officers then took their leave. The translator letting Visha know he would be back tomorrow, before leaving.

  The Matron directed them to the room they would be sharing with two other girls on the second story. They were told to get settled first, and that an orientation meeting would be held in thirty minutes, where rules for the residence would be gone over, after which dinner would be served.

  Looking over the room there wasn’t much to see. It reminded Tanya a lot of a college dorm or an officer’s barracks from the Empire. Apparently, it had been converted from an old hostel into a disaster relief/long-term shelter a number of years ago. But was currently being used as a shelter for displaced women and victims of domestic violence.

  Looking at the twin bunk beds in the room, Tanya moved over to one side and took the sheets and blanket that had been left folded on the mattress. With military precision her and Visha proceeded to make up their beds.

  “Look Visha, there’s a closet, we can hang up our flight suits for now and see about using the laundry to clean them later.”

  Shrugging out of her heavy flight clothes Tanya was putting her slippers back on after adjusting her uniform pants when another pair of girls entered the room.

  Both were young, Tanya would guess between the ages of fourteen to sixteen. One was a bit shorter than the other, oddly enough, she still managed to look older than the other tall lanky one. Both had frozen in the doorway, staring at Tanya and Visha.

  Visha currently had half her flight suit off and was in the process of stepping out of the legs of it, while Tanya calmly finished putting on her slippers and stood up to greet their new roommates.

  “Hello, I’m Kaizaki Degurechaff Tanya, you can just call me Tanya or miss Kaizaki. This is my friend, Viktoriya Ivanovna Serebryakov, please feel free to call her Viktoriya, or miss Serebryakov, whichever you find easier to say.

  “She doesn’t speak Japanese so if you want to speak to her, you’ll have to speak Russian, German, or English if you want to be understood, otherwise, you will have to find me, and I will translate for her.

  “We’ll be together as roommates until this whole situation gets figured out, so let’s all try to get along.”

  Finishing her introduction, Tanya bowed to the two newcomers. Visha ready this time followed in step, her bow mirroring Tanya’s.

  That seemed to snap the two out of their shock and they quickly introduced themselves. The shorter one going first.

  “I’m Yamamoto Momo pleased to meet you; I’ll be in your care.”

  It took a few more seconds but hesitantly the gangly girl nervously spoke out.

  “I’m Hakurei Reimu with the kanji for spirit and dream. Please don’t eat me, I mean pleased to meet you.”

  The girl had gone incredibly pale and began shaking after realizing her mistake. Tanya spent no small amount of time reassuring her that everyone makes mistakes when they meet new people. Her efforts only seemed to make the girl’s trembling worse.

  Giving the girl some space to put her things away and pull herself together. Tanya moved over to do her own thing.

  Visha was making headway with miss Yamamoto, helping her make up her bed on the other top bunk. The shorter girl turning out to be quite the chatter box as the two worked. Visha using hand gestures and broken English to respond to the girl.

  That left Tanya to organize her suitcase, only to realize that her suitcase had those extra items Visha had brought along. Resigning herself she put both cases on her bed and opened them up, side by side.

  The cases had an almost identical inventory. Both having a toothbrush, toothpaste, and other toiletries. As well as a cheap hairbrush and shower sandals. There was also a towel and wash cloth and small travel sized bottles of soap, shampoo, and conditioner.

  In each case was also a plastic bag full of items. Tanya opened the bag to look in, quickly closing it again after realizing it was yet more feminine health products. Sighing she moved on to the other case.

  Visha joined her pulling out one of the folded dresses and moving to hang it up in the closet.

  “Grab that white one with the blue flower pattern, it’s one of the ones I picked out for you.”

  Tanya grit her teeth and pulled out the dress, flicking it to shake the wrinkles out and moved over to the closet to hang it up.

  “You know I’m perfectly comfortable wearing my uniform until we can purchase our own clothes, Visha.”

  “I know, at first, I grabbed them thinking that we might have needed them to blend in if we needed to escape. But as I was packing them, I just kept thinking how nice they looked, and I found myself wanting to wear them.

  “What’s more is they had a few that would fit you, and I couldn’t stop myself from thinking how cute you would look all dressed up. I could even do your hair for you.”

  “I need to go to the bathroom, finish unpacking without me.”

  Tanya stormed off her face red with embarrassment and anger in equal measure.

  ~

  Visha was well aware of Tanya’s feelings towards dresses and almost all things feminine . But she found it incredibly adorable the way she puffed out her cheeks in anger. She just couldn’t keep herself from teasing her.

  Also, if Visha was to be completely truthful, she got no small amount of glee from taking a little revenge on the Colonel for all the crap she had been put through over the years. Shoot artillery shells at me will you, just wait until I get you into one of those swimsuits I saw in that hospital magazine Tanya!

  Visha smiled darkly as she ran her hand over the dresses now hanging in the closet.

  Turning back to the suitcases on the bed, she began sorting her own. Only to pause in confusion at the items in the bag. Deciding to set it aside and ask Tanya about them later she continued categorizing her new personal effects, leaving their shovels in the suitcase for now.

  After finishing up she took the provided brush and moving in front of the rooms only mirror, began trying to untangle days’ worth of knots from her hair. Shortly after she began, Tanya popped back into the room, her usual no nonsense attitude in place.

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  Speaking in her native language first, the other two girls had already begun to shuffle out by the time Visha knew what was going on.

  “The Matron called the orientation meeting in five, we should head down there and see what’s next for us.”

  “Ok hand me a hair tie, I’ll put this up and finish brushing it out later.”

  Tanya handed Visha one of the hair ties from the luggage. Taking Visha’s hair in her hands, she began to gather it up into a ponytail for her adjutant. Grabbing the proffered hair tie Visha was holding, she secured the ponytail and looked over her work.

  “Better than the East there’s no mud in it this time. Let’s go before we are late.”

  Turning on her heel Tanya marched out of the room, Visha thought the effect lost much of its gravitas when done in white fluffy slippers.

  Following her wingmate and long-time friend, Visha glanced once more at the dress in the closet.

  A whispered, “Next time,” hung in the air as she walked out.

  ~

  They were all gathered in the common room by the entryway, Tanya counted around twenty-seven or so girls. They had all clustered together in the van groups they had rode in with. Standing before them on the stairway was the matron.

  “I am the Matron of this residence Ms. Hayashi please just refer to me as Matron. Your group consists of thirty-one girls. We have a further seven girls who have been living here while they wait for their visas to get sorted.

  “I have four other assistants who work here to help as well as a few retired police officers who work as security. If there is ever an emergency the telephones are located in the kitchen and here in the common room.

  “The television is communal use, so please be sure to check the list of rules on the desk there before using it. The only communal computer with internet access is located in the office near the laundry room. Please use the sign-up sheet under the schedule if you would like to use it and follow the written guidelines.

  “Remember the kitchen is communal and therefore any food stored in any of the cupboards are up for grabs, no exceptions. The same goes for the refrigerator. If you have food you want to keep to yourself, put it in your room. Make sure your read the room rules before you do because opened food cannot be stored in your rooms.

  “We have a weekly meal schedule posted every week. Breakfast and dinner are provided at set times so check the schedule. For lunch it’s up to you to plan or make your own, there are ingredients available as well as prepackaged meals.

  “Most days you will be at scheduled appointments during the day and so will be out for lunch. Plan accordingly.

  “Each of you will be given a small stipend each week for purchasing necessities and general use. If you would like to earn extra money while you are here, you can sign up to help in the kitchen preparing meals.

  “Now before you ask any questions and before we start the tour, I have one more thing to say.

  “I’ve been taking care of this place for a long time, and have seen all manner of tragedy suffered by the girls who pass through here. What I will not tolerate is for any more suffering to be added to them while they are here.

  “Many of you were forced into a horrible situation not of your choice, but for those of you who did find themselves in this situation by choice, don’t go playing your old tricks while you are here, or else!

  “Now follow me, let’s start the tour.”

  ~

  The whole building was laid out in an L shape, with the lower floor mostly used up for the kitchen and recreation areas as well as several offices, a storage area, laundry, and bathroom. With few rooms set up as quarters.

  Most of the quarters were located on the second story. It was essentially a long hallway of bedroom after bedroom, with a bathroom on one end and another in the center. The only showers were communal, being located in the lone downstairs bathroom.

  The Laundry and bathroom were located next to each other in the downstairs leg of the L, right below the upstairs toilet.

  Tanya’s mind, however, was fixated on the computer and she made sure to check the schedule as they passed by it during the tour. Noting the many empty spaces. They finished the tour in what the Matron called the rec room.

  A couple of what Tanya recognized as table tennis tables were located centrally in the room. Currently said tables were covered in open boxes with various labels.

  An old foosball table was near one corner and a couple of couches and lounge chairs were spread around the rest of the room.

  The couches also had labeled boxes covering them and as Tanya got closer, she began to see what was in them.

  “Now everyone line up in single file please, in these boxes you will find a pairs of sandals, socks, underwear, t-shirts, and sweatpants. As well as a sweater, and pajama set. There is a different box for each size of each item in small, medium, and large.

  “As you pass by me take this paper, it has a list of each item and the quantities you are allowed to take of each.

  “Please take your turn and no shoving, the first box contains a drawstring backpack to put your items in. If there is any item that you simply must have, that is not here come see me or if you try the clothes on and they don’t fit. You all remember where my office is I assume.”

  “Alright, hop to it girls!”

  Despite the Matron’s warning, a small amount of predictable chaos ensued. Tanya found that despite her small size, she didn’t have to shoulder or elbow her way forward to each box like many of the others. A small bubble of space seemed to exist around her and Visha.

  With no surprise, Tanya ended up picking the smallest size in everything. When she came to the underwear section, she noted that there was only one style of plain white panty in the three sizes. She didn’t know what she expected, why would they have had boxers or men’s briefs here.

  Collecting her panties she passed by the box of bras not seeing the point for her in using one. Moving on, she noted that even the small sized hooded sweater was going to be big on her. Probably reaching her mid-thigh, with the sleeves hanging well past her hands. Oh well, at least the material felt comfortable to the touch.

  Having trouble fitting it in the bag with the rest of the items, she noticed that many of the girls in front of her had chosen to wear theirs, rather than struggle with the bag. Since it was a bit cold out. Tanya chose to do likewise and found her predictions about the size of the hoodie to be accurate.

  The hoodie easily dwarfed her small frame, making her look like some ridiculous grade schooler in her older sister’s clothes.

  Hearing a giggle behind her, Tanya turned to glare at Visha. Only to lock eyes with the familiar young face of that girl she had knocked out. The whimperer, Tanya thought, not knowing the girl’s name. Though, now that she thought about it. The girl had been in her van group this whole time.

  The girls giggle turned into a look of distress and fear at Tanya’s glare. Good, can’t have the new recruits disrespecting me on day one. Tanya, glad that her drill sergeants glare was still in top form, was just about to demand the girl’s name. When Visha’s arm landed on her shoulder.

  The young girl’s look of fear melted away. Tanya didn’t know where the girl found a spine, but she went so far as to hold up her hand in a high five motion. Her hand, however, was covered by about ten extra centimeters (4”) of sweater sleeve.

  “I guess they didn’t have an extra small for us huh.”

  The girl said smiling, while waving her arm back and forth. Making the sleeve sway about like an elephant’s trunk.

  “Anyway, I’m Hina Kyan, but you two can just call me Kyan, after all, you did save me big sisters.”

  “Miss Hina, I can assure you that we were just as terrified as you were, and it was the police who rescued all of us. And please just refer to us as Kaizaki, and Serebryakov. No need to be so respectful.”

  “Absolutely not, Oneesama (big sister), you were sent by God to rescue us I just know it. How could I disrespect such a.. a…”

  The girl began stuttering, going pale again, seeing the look on Tanya’s face.

  Indeed, Tanya was furious. She was biting her lip and clenching her fist so hard, that it wouldn’t be surprising to see blood any second now.

  Damn that preachy, self-serving, extortionist of a God. Tanya began ranting to herself. Her anger hot, at yet again, being made a figurehead for these Gods to draw the gullible to.

  Tanya’s mind stilled for a moment, as she felt a firm grip squeeze her arm. Looking up she met the concerned face of Visha.

  “Tanya, you’re scaring her. What’s going on, why are you so worked up?”

  “The little imbecile thinks we are messengers from God, sent to save her.”

  Visha found it funny that her friend was so mad, when that is exactly what they were. But she knew her friend’s feelings on the matter, so she quickly moved to defuse the situation. Leaning in to whisper in her ear, Visha tried to calm Tanya down.

  “Relax it’s not like that; she’s just a scared little girl. Looking for something to hold onto.”

  In a louder voice Visha addressed the young woman.

  “I’m sorry, my friend Tanya here blames God for all the horrible things that have happened to her. So, she gets pretty upset when people see her as an emissary of God. She’s not mad at you, don’t be frightened.”

  The girl just stared at Visha, confused.

  Tanya forced herself to take a breath. She really was losing her edge. She couldn’t believe she lost her cool like that, in public no less.

  She repeated Visha’s words for the girl, and that seemed to calm her down, or at least she looked less frightened.

  “I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to offend you. Please forgive me” Hina said bowing deeply.

  This action caused Tanya to instinctually bow back and also begin apologizing.

  “No, the fault was mine, I shouldn’t let my personal feelings interfere when interacting with others who hold different views than I. I’m sorry.”

  The two went back and forth a few more times, with varying apologies. Visha found the whole situation slightly amusing to watch. It reminded her of getting a gift from a friend. How it was expected for you to try and reject the gift several times before finally accepting it.

  “Well, I’m happy to have met you, big sis Serebryakov, big sis Kaizaki. I hope we can be friends. See you around.”

  Bowing the girl bounced off back to her group of roommates.

  “That girl absolutely butchered you name lieutenant.”

  “I’m getting used to it. What does Oneesama mean? She kept calling us that.”

  “Ugh, don’t remind me. It’s technically a term of respect. She’s calling us big sisters but not like we’re family. It’s hard to explain but basically, she put us higher up in the hierarchy than herself. She also used the most respectful form of that word.”

  “Come on let’s go back to our room and get this stuff stored.”

  “Um, Tanya. Do you want me to roll up your sleeves for you, or would you prefer I take your bag for you Ma’am?”

  Tanya looked over at Visha’s smiling face confused, then she looked down at the bag in her hands. The bag, that she was holding through the fabric of the oversized sleeves of her hoodie. She looked as ridiculous as that annoying idiot from earlier did.

  “Schei?e!”

  Tanya gave one final glare at Visha, before she tossed her bag into Visha’s arms, and turning on her heel in a huff marched off down the hall. Her light stomping could be heard going up the stairs.

  Visha was doing the best she could to contain herself. The commander failed to realize she was the picture of cuteness as she marched off. Her floppy sweater arms swinging in military lockstep with the fluffy slippers was a sight to die for.

  Following after her leader in fits and giggles, Visha too made her way back to their room.