"Absolutely," Marcus told Aria. "You too. Since we haven't done one of these together, just so you know, my task on one of Robert's missions teams is slightly different from everyone else's. I'm not in this to get Marie. My job in this is to make sure that the team who goes after her all get back alive, as best I can make that happen. My orders have been clear from the very first time I ever met Robert. I am the protector, so that's what I'll do. If more protection is needed, generally that assistance is supposed to come from Michael or from Robert himself. But, if it starts to go sideways and you feel like jumping off the offensive team and onto the protections team, I won't object." He smiled and kissed her forehead. When she replied to Sam's question about snogging, Marcus laughed.
"You'd better believe it," Sam nodded, not shying away one bit from the fact that he and Anise were indeed lovers. Anise gave him a sideways glance that was slightly disapproving. No one needed to know anything more about that. She was sure that Angus and Ruby knew that there was more than snogging going on, but she didn't want everybody involved in it.
"Let's go," Angus said seriousy. They all joined together, and Angus apparated them the short distance to the missions headquarters.
Angus was sufficiently impressed. The area that was normally used for offices had been pressed into spaces for a mini hospital unit. There were two exam rooms, one procedure room in case of any emergency surgery need, two rooms with two hospital beds, two bathrooms, two showers, and a medical supply room. A large carpeted lobby area held enchanted maps, a large conference table with clerks, errand runners, and all sorts of command supplies. Two smaller rooms towards the back were supplied with comfortable chairs, some end tables, large chunky coffee table, refreshments, coffee, tea, sodas, water, all sorts of things to help fighters fuel up or recharge.
A warehouse room held cells now, big concrete blocks to serve as indestructable bunks with mattresses tossed onto them. and a central area in the middle of the room held an area for guards who were already stationed there and heavily armed.
A massive garage area for the semi trucks held several enchanted busses. They were not double deckers, they were painted a pretty standard silver color and they had bench style seats and there was a protective thick wire grid between the prisoner seating and the driver and guard seating. Prisoners had to enter from the back, and the driver and guards had to enter from the front.
Still another warehouse area held tables, chairs, a field kitchen, food, cooks, and all manner of food and drinks to feed the fighters a healthy, high protein, ultra nutritious supper and to fuel them up for the hard night ahead. And, there was one more table full of gear for all of those people who had forgotten some of their equipment. Over in a far corner of the room were crammed more more hospital beds. Angus knew what that was for too. If things went completely off the rails and there were more than a couple wounded, this area could be instantly set up as a large hospital ward. He glanced around and saw Nigel in the same area as the extra beds, with a clipboard, going over some sort of arrangements.
"This has been in the works since they first decided to team up together," Angus told Ruby, seeing the hard work and deep thought that had been put into this. "They're ready for anything. This is one of the biggest missions they've ever done together."
"Wonder what's on the menu tonight," Sam asked, trying to see the food line from a distance. Some of the cooks were waving fighters over already so they would come and fix their plates. Sam looked at Anise. "Let's go. Its been a long time since breakfast. I'm starving."
"Wait justs a second," Angus told them. He looked at all four of them. "Now, listen, you four. I want you to eat properly before we go. Do not, under any circumstances, stuff yourselves. I will buy you or fix you however much food you want as soon as we get home tonight. But, you need some protein. Go for chicken or fish. Red meat will make you sluggish. Get some fruit, some vegetables, and absolutely no high fiber foods. Got that?" They nodded, realizing now that eating the wrong foods was going to make them slow and sluggish and could get them killed. They were hesitant now about going and eating.
"Come on, 'Dad'," Evan said to Angus. "You too, Ruby. Let's show them how it's done. They can follow our leads." Angus nodded, and he motioned to Ruby.
"He's right. Let's let them follow our lead. Come on." Angus went to the food line and he went through, picking very carefully. He picked grilled fish with a lemon butter sauce, some brown rice, and some stir fried vegetables. He chose a bottled water for his drink. The kids all picked foods very close to what they saw Angus, Evan, and Ruby pick for their own plates. Angus took his plate and sat down at one of the long tables that were set up. The kids just naturally followed him and joined him. They were chattering about their excitement about their first real mission--all of them except Anise. She looked about as low as Angus had ever seen her. She sat with her plate and just stared at it, not interested in eating.
"Hey," Angus called to her gently. She looked up at him. "It'll be alright. Too many people know about this premonition of yours--including me. I will be extra careful, I promise. And I'll do my level best to stay in eyesight of the others. Fair enough? Now, you really need to eat your supper so you're ready to fight." She nodded and tucked into her plate, but only because he'd asked her to.
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