0 7 3 0
Naomi's positive response didn't make Jonathan feel any less awkward about the situation.
"Alright, fantastic," he cackled as Naomi suggested the idea she would keep him out of trouble. While he knew that it was a joke, he welcomed the idea - it really did seem like trouble did follow him wherever he went. As soon as everybody else was ready, they all made their way to the second APC, which they assumed was going to be their ride.
"Where do you think you're all going?" Jill asked, watching as everyone stared at her with confused looks,
"You idiots think you can show up at the Imperial Palace in a goddamn APC?" She scoffed. For some reason, Jill was wearing a dark hat and leather gloves in addition to her usual bartender attire.
As if on cue, a long, black vehicle pulled up in front of the AFTERLIFE. The sleek, luxurious vehicle contrasted against the run down backdrop of the AFTERLIFE. Moving towards the vehicle, the driver quickly got out, leaving the door open for Jill.
"There's our ride." Jill remarked, hopping into the driver's seat of the limousine. As everyone moved towards the limousine, FOX didn't even want to know how the resistance managed to get one of these.
The members of Squad One shuffled into the limousine one at a time, sitting themselves beside the person that they would be going with. While roomier than the inside of the APC, the luxurious interior only served to make the situation even more awkward and uncomfortable for FOX. He was used to the casual, confined space of an armored vehicle. This... not so much.
As Jill started the limousine, she turned back to the members behind her.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the lovely STINGRAY will be your chauffeur today. Please keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times and please refrain from smoking. Have a wonderful day!" As she finished buckling her seatbelt and adjusting the mirrors, Jill slammed on the gas pedal, kicking the limousine into maximum speed.
"Oh for fuck's sake!" FOX shouted as Jill skillfully drifted the limousine around a tight corner and onto an on ramp. As Jill drove across the freeway like a maniac, everyone in the vehicle bounced around the cabin like pinballs - with the exception of Naomi, who seemed rather unaffected by Jill's rollercoaster style of driving.
"There's some drinks in the back if you want to pop open a bottle!" Jill laughed in almost maniacal fashion. Was all of this necessary?
Of course not. But this was Jill's first time in the field in a long,
long time. It was time to let loose for a minute... or
thirty.
Fortunately, the limousine's erratic driving slowly fell to a more relaxed ride as they neared their final destination. The members of Squad One were sprawled out over one another in awkward positions as everyone still tried to figure out why there were stars in their eyes. Climbing back into his seat beside Naomi, Jonathan tried his best to regain his composure, running a hand through his hair as he let out a sigh.
"Goddamn, Jill." FOX muttered under his breath as he slunk in his seat.
As the limousine pulled up to the Imperial Palace, Jill rolled down both of the side windows. Noticing the APC parked across the street, she shot the surveillance vehicle a friendly wave before turning the car towards the front gate. As the guards came to check them in, Jill reached over to the glove compartment so she could hand them their entry documentation.
"Papers?"
"Oh sure, one second."
Pulling out a suppressed .40 caliber
pistol, Jill nonchalantly placed a round in the man's neck before he could react. As his body hit the ground, Jill leaned one arm out of the window, casually placing another shot into the gate security box, killing the other sentry before he could realize what had just happened.
"I thought you added us to the visitor list." FOX raised a brow, staring at the two dead CLERICs outside the limousine.
"Yeah, but the asshole didn't say please."
Slowly, the limousine continued on past the front gate, finally making its way to the entrance of the Imperial Palace, where hundreds of people and other limousines had gathered.
"Alright, it's showtime everybody. Now get the fuck out of my car."
As everyone sat in the APC, preparing to make their move, Valkyrie watched the cameras.
"Looks like the party's arrived." She remarked, zooming in to see STINGRAY waving towards them in high definition.
"Alright. Since Juniper's in charge here, we'll go with her plan." Valkyrie explained,
"Which means we'll wait for the guard to change and..." before Valkyrie could finish her sentence, she suddenly saw something happen in the corner of her eye.
"What the hell?!"
As everyone came to look at what Valkyrie was looking at, there were two bodies on the ground.
"Alright, alright! No time to waste. We need to clean up the bodies!" Opening the door to the APC, Valkyrie signaled everybody to get a move on. Keeping a lookout for any guards, she followed behind the rest of the team as they made their way across the street and in through the front gate.
"Help me, quick!" Valkyrie whispered hurriedly, grabbing the first body Jill had shot and dragging it across the pavement into the small security room.
"Two of us need to put on these uniforms, now!" Quickly scanning who could fit into the uniforms best, her eyes quickly gleamed over Erja, because of her mask - Aresia - because of her smaller physique and herself, because floating swords weren't exactly stealthy. While Ian was a good candidate, they needed him to set the explosives so that they could later spring the trap.
"Juni, Crusader. Quick, put these on!" Valkyrie began to tear off the men's uniforms and shoes.
"Just play the part for a little while until we give you the all clear."
"Erja, we need to take everyone else out, Aresia and I will watch your back."