Tension was high in the pickup truck as it drove to the invader Rift that the girls were going to assault. It had been unanimous that Brittney wasn't allowed to drive, especially as amped up as the small defender was, so Karen had volunteered to drive. Even though only the girls would be going into the base initially, there were a lot of people and equipment coming behind them, so they couldn't travel too fast.

The trip began along highways and roads, headed East, then veered south into a more wooded area. It wasn't a heavily populated place, so the invader presence was light while the conquest priority for the Sentinel Army had been low.

Karen was driving with Emily in the cab beside her. Brittney, Andrea, Alissa, and Abbey shared the uncapped back with Akuji, from Joseph's reapers squad, as well as Tom's two girlfriends in Angeline Victoria, the former reporter, and Marjorie Gales, a former MMA fighter and show commentator. Both had to be good looking for their respective jobs, with Angeline looking like a well put together, elegant lady, and Marj featuring tight muscles and an outgoing energetic personality.

Angeline's class was in the support line, focusing on coordinating teams and communications. She had a tag of "Integration Support" and a level of 22 in the second tier. Marj was a "Breakthrough Brawler" at level 26. Her skills had similarities with Kevin Spence in that she could ignore some defense while fighting, though most of her skills were aggressive attacks using various parts of her body.

Even though their levels and classes were behind the others, their gear was as high quality as the main group's. It was clear that Tom had made sure they were as well equipped as anyone short of Adam. Angeline wore an outfit that resembled the leather an elven archer might wear in fantasy comics, combined with a style similar to a woman's pants suit. As a support, her skills didn't rely on weapons, so she had a simple pair of knives at her waist.

Marj's gear was a bit more unique. She also wore leather, but it was different pieces held together with straps. She had a top that went from her neck to just below her chest, which would have exposed her midsection except for loose, overlapping plates of metal to protect it while not restricting her flexibility or movement. The sleeves were separated from the top, with leather straps tying them to the arm openings. Metal shoulder plates were loosely attached, again to allow full range of motion. She had leather shorts that went halfway down her thighs. Full metal gauntlets with a lot of joints and attached forearm bracers protected her when she punched while matching metal shoes reached past her knees so she could kick and use her joints with protection. The outfit had a very haphazard look featuring many styles but fit her as she brazenly moved her body without issue.

Angeline and Marjorie huddled close together on the truck, whispering in the wind without being heard by the others. They seemed to get along well. Akuji was silent the whole way, staring off into the distance as she smiled while caressing her weapon, a ridiculous scythe that might be found in Anime, matching her very frilly goth dress and leather leggings.

Even restricting their speed, the truck arrived at the rendezvous place earlier than their backup entourage. They climbed out of the vehicle and moved around or stretched. Akuji walked to the edge of the forest, inspected a tree and then snickered at it evilly.

With a blur of swings using her scythe, the tree toppled, while the cut area dropped several stumped. With a toss of each of them, the segments of the tree trunk landed in a circle as if chairs for everyone to gather around. With a nod, she stomped over on her black leather knee high boots that had white bows on the laces.

"Nice, girl!" exclaimed Brittney as she high fived Akuji and the two sat.

Everyone else chose a stump to sit on, although Marj pulled hers closer to the one Angeline was using, so the two were almost shoulder to shoulder. Abbey and Karen pulled out some snacks and drinks they had brought, and the group settled down to wait.

"So, Marj, Angie," said Andrea, trying to get to know them a bit better. "Any concerns about raiding with this small group?"

Angeline looked over to Marj who got a big grin and shook her head.

"We've been involved in a few of the large-scale raids already, so we know what to expect. Our levels are lower than yours, so we'll try to fit in and not step on any toes. From the way Tom talks, you guys in Adam's group are head and shoulders above anyone else in Jackson. He has been so overprotective of us that it prevents us from keeping up with others. Truthfully, I'm looking forward to being able to go all out thanks to this smaller group. There hasn't been an opportunity for me to really test my limits in a fight since coming to Jackson."

For emphasis, Marj slammed her fists together and gave an almost scary, toothy smile.

"Tom is overprotective?" asked Brittney with surprise.

"Oh yeah!" nodded Marj. "That guy just has put so much into placing us in safe assignments, threatening the unit leaders to look after us, and bribing the crafters to get us better gear than others have."

"It's true," chimed in Angeline while agreeing. "I'm a support, so I keep telling him that I'll be the safest anyway, but Tom still tries to make sure we're further away from the violence."

"It's good that you're safe but doesn't that impact your leveling?" asked Brittney.

"That's what I keep telling him!" exclaimed Marj. "I want to be out there, punching these bastards in the face. Without leveling more, we won't be safe in the long run. I know he understands, and he tries to let go, but he is just so gentle and considerate."

"Are we talking about the same Tom?" cried out Andrea with a laugh. "Gentle and considerate are not how anyone would describe him!"

Both Angeline and Marj looked surprised, but they vehemently nodded.

"When not fighting, Tom is the softest soul I've ever met," said Angeline.

Brittney almost spat out the water she had suddenly choked on. Andrea groaned and Alissa began laughing.

"It must have been an unusual situation for both of you to end up with Tom," said Abbey diplomatically. "It isn't everyone who would accept a…person…like Tom. Especially being willing to share him. We still get a lot of questions about it too."

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"Yeah, I've heard how Adam's soul connections bring you four together," stated Angeline.

"Yes, so it seems…odd…that without them things would go well with a…gentleman…like Tom," said Abbey while pausing to make sure she selected appropriate words.

Alissa had no such tact as she barked out laughter and said, "What Abbey means is how did you two end up with a colossal jerk like Tom."

Angeline suddenly blushed and looked at her feet. Marj put a hand on Angeline's leg while a wry smile crossed her face.

"I was sent to Jackson by my bosses after Adam put on that challenge broadcast. They wanted someone with fighting experience. Being one of the better-looking former fighters, if I do say so myself," bragged Marj, with one hand fluffing her short hair, "I was selected. Personally, I was also really curious and excited. A whole culture of combat was forming, and I wanted to get to know that. But when I got here there was no way to get in touch with The General guy.

"After getting shot down a ton for interviews and meets with him, I signed up for the hunting groups and sparred with the guys in the training grounds. I ended up in a group led by Tom. He was so funny and calm, not standoffish at all. While he could insult others, especially in the midst of their whining, it never felt like he was being mean or looking down on them. When I found out that he was part of The General's team, I asked him to dinner to use that as an in.

"Tom showed up in a tuxedo, took me to a fancy restaurant to wine and dine me, and then we ended up spending the night in a private gym where I tried to beat the crap out of him. It surprised me how someone so young and inexperienced was able to easily handle me. I'm not saying I prefer stronger men, but obviously they need some toughness to get along with a gal like me.

"We had a few more meet ups that were less work related. Then he introduced me to this bewitching lady here," Marj said while caressing Angeline's back with her gauntleted hand. "That intrigued me a lot. I moved in with Angie right before the invasions and the three of us have been getting along better since."

"Then Angeline was more your speed than Tom?" asked Andrea.

"Oh no. Both are great," answered Marj. "You need to understand though, when you spend your life kicking the crap out of other girls and getting beat up in return, social norms kind of go out the window. Traditional relationships take a back seat to needing to blow off steam while recovering from having your body bruised and exhausted daily.

"Dating is difficult since most of the guys on that scene think a bit too highly of themselves and look down on women as being weaker. Tom wasn't like that at all, impressed by my techniques and willing to learn from me even though he was stronger due to levels. Then with Angie, she might be softer than the other girls I've been with, but her personality can be just as fierce as the most trained fighters."

Angeline's face became bright red as she looked away from Marj, while at the same time pressing her shoulder and side into Marj.

"Then, you really enjoy being with Tom?" asked Brittney, her eyes wide.

"Of course!" grinned Marj. "I couldn't have asked for a better guy. There is only one issue I have with him."

"He's a jerk?" asked Alissa.

"Disrespect for everyone?" asked Andrea.

"Lack of ethics?" added Brittney.

"His slimy look?" threw in Ajuki.

Everyone paused to look at the polite Abbey who signed before asking, "how manipulative he is to get his way?"

Marj frowned. "No. That he is practically one of The General's wives. I wish he would spend more time with the two of us and not bring up your man all the time."

"I wish he'd spend more time with you guys too," muttered Brittney sarcastically, getting nods from the other General's Wives.

"Anyway, what about you, Angeline," interjected Abbey. "How did you get closer to Tom? I know you had that interview with him after the elves. Then you went to Adam's challenge day, but the next I found out was that you were living in our building."

Angeline perked up a bit and bobbed her head.

"It was all very surreal and fast. At first, we texted and met up a few times. As a female reporter, you aren't given much respect beyond how you look. Then, the better looking you are, the more the men think you belong to them or that they are somehow the reason for your success. I'm not saying we need to sleep our way to the top, but there is always a push in that direction by the program managers who control our assignments.

"With how intense and guarded Adam was, I saw Tom's immaturity and attention grasping as an opportunity to establish my career without having to give in to my more questionable bosses. The situation with the elves was scary, and I believed that we were in for trouble from these invasions. Getting an in with your group also seemed more advantageous than just accelerating my career.

"After a few times talking with Tom, I figured a bit of wine and cleavage would get such a guy to do whatever I wanted. What I didn't expect was that while Tom was a good talker, he was an even better listener."

Hearing that, Brittney did end up spitting out some food, while the other girls looked at Angeline in shock. A defensive look came across Angeline.

"I know he doesn't seem that way, but in private he is very sweet. On one evening after I had a big disagreement with my boss, I ended up drinking too much and venting a ton at dinner with Tom. I got a little too drunk and don't even remember what I told him. In frustration, I pushed Tom to take me to his place where I fell asleep without him taking advantage of me. I woke the next morning to a surprising text from my boss promoting me and giving me a raise.

"It took a few days for me to figure out what had happened. Tom had used your group's police connections and a few of your friends' skills to put together a rather substantial amount of sexual harassment complaints and a list of known affairs. Tom blackmailed my boss for me. It was the sweetest thing.

"After that we were able to get to know each other more genuinely. He introduced me to his family, who were all great and accepting even though I'm older. Then he got me a condo in your building. From there he has been more of a caring gentleman than anyone else I've dated."

The girls stared at her dumbfoundedly. Alissa said, "huh," unsure of how else to respond.

A silence stretched as no one was sure they wanted to find out anymore about Tom's relationships. As much as they all liked Angeline and Marj, their view of Tom was already set, and it didn't match with the two women. Even those two were unsure what else to say as they had heard plenty about Tom from others.

Feeling awkward, Andrea broke the silence by turning to Akuji and asking, "how did you end up in Joseph's unit?"

The gruff Akuji squinted and glared at Andrea before speaking. "The story isn't much different than theirs."

"Then you're in love with Joseph?" gasped Brittney.

"What?! No!" snapped Akuji. "I'd never like that moron. Guess I just didn't care enough to listen to their story.

"My family was friends with Randall's when I was growing up. We got along since he was scared of his sisters, and they left him alone if I was around. It meant the little wimp would do almost everything I asked to stop me from leaving him alone. When Joey became Randall's friend, I realized I could get away with anything if he was around. A little shoplifting? Joey did it. A bit of vandalism? Musta been the boy. Grand theft auto of my neighbor's Porsche? Clearly the cute little 13-year-old girl couldn't have done it," smirked Akuji. "Who do you think even taught him to hotwire a car? The adults always assumed he had done the bad things and he never defended himself. It made it so easy for me to get whatever I wanted.

"When I found out the two of them were involved in killing invaders, I made them let me join up." With a wicked gleam in her eye, Akuji picked up her scythe and began stroking the flat of the blame. With a much softer voice she continued. "Now life is great. No school. No parents or adults telling me what to do. Life has become a game. And I get to feed my baby here all the alien blood it wants."

Her following cackle caused a shiver to go down everyone's spine.

A monstrous roar suddenly drowned out Akuji's laugh. Everyone stood, grabbed their weapons, and turned to the forest. A ten-foot-tall bear was there. It had four arms with gleaming sharp claws. Its mouth split its face in half vertically as thick fangs coated in steaming saliva curved out along the length of its face as it growled.

Akuji looked upon the horrible beast and screamed.

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