Into the Fire Once More: Book 1 of Death's Own Daughter

by Jessie Wolf

  “Well ma’am, do you want to know the area scores, or just the total overall score?” was all the 1st Sergeant asked. Thinking about it, I told him the area, followed by the total. I needed to know where I had to improve if I wanted to be able to control all this power.

  “Very well. As far the standard infantry/ jump infantry zones you have a 97.3% kill rate. For the I.F.V. Area, with both mounted troops and dismounted, you have a 94.9% kill rate. For the I.F.V. with AI tank support, 84.7% kill rate and 100% disabled or killed rate for the AI Tanks. For the heavy and assault AI Tanks, 100% full kill rate. Now comes to the fun part. You destroyed two Mustangs, one Fire star and one Wasp. You followed that up with one Stryker, two Kell Hounds and one Wolf Hound. All of this before you got to the heavy A.P.S. class suits. To put it simply, you took out one scout lance and infantry support lance before lining up to have our four Marauders as the main course. Only one had a chance to limp away, the other three are scrap. Following that, it took a Rifleman, a Highlander, a Battle Master and finally a Rhino, to stop you. Of those, only the one hundred ton monster that is the Rhino left the field under its own power. Now if this had not been a holographic battle field, I would have to ramp those numbers up because of the fact you used everything in your arsenal.” The 1st Sergeant looked at me with a lopsided grin. “If I could figure out how to score those sonic blasts of yours, I know the score would be higher, and as far as those nasty little fracking blades of yours go... Well, let’s just say I pity the first young man who so much as looks at you wrong. So, all said ma’am, your overall scoring is off the damn charts. I don’t know where to put you.”

  I know I shouldn’t have, but I giggled. I don’t believe this! I just giggled like a school-girl in front of the 1st Sergeant. Oh God, just kill me now. The longer I go, the more girly-girl I get. “Thank you for the complement, Top. Did you get in on the pool?”

  “Now little lady, that would not be something a fine upstanding gentleman such as myself would do.” The 1st Sergeant replied with a smile.

  “In other words, I started my run-in before you could get the odds on the long money.” I laughed at the hurt look on his face, knowing that it was just as false as my innocent act. “Come on Top. You don’t fool this old grunt. I know for a fact that any Top Sergeant worth his salt goes with the long money, just to teach the youngsters not to gamble.” At which he proceeds to laugh right along with me. But before I could say more, my time to play with the house troops and just be me, came to an end. All three of my maids had arrived with a robe and sandals for me to put on for my return to the house. It would not be proper for the Head of House to be walking around dressed as I was.

  Chapter 9

  Becoming head of house

  So saying good day to them, I deactivate my armor, slip on the robe and put the sandals on. With my maids falling in behind I head back to the house and to the problems that awaited me as the Head of House. To be precise one Vic. Lord High Marshall Reginald Blackstone and those who would be his friend and find profit through treachery against my Family.

  Oh yes, with my head clear and my anger held at bay. I now know why my aunt wanted a Death Dealer here as well as the High Command. It was time for justice to return to the Death Gates System and Planet Hades. I only had one problem. How in the name of all that’s holy and damned was I going to get anyone to take me seriously? Especially when I look like a teenage school-girl. On top of that, thanks to the cover story, I can’t use my old rank or status of being the First High Lord of the Death Dealer Divisions for the Delta sector. As far as anyone outside of my aunt, maids, bodyguards and the Military High Command, Death Dealer Commander (R) James J Owens is dead. Died of a heart attack when his drop ship was attacked by pirates at the jump point of the Death gates system over 30 hours ago.

  Well as one of my instructors was fond of saying ‘When you have more than one problem at a time handle them in the order that you can. But first identify them in order’. With that thought firmly in mind I proceeded to do just that. But unlike my aunt I have the help of one, no two, of the most powerful AIs to ever have been develop by the human mind. Time to put the gang to work.

  (Giggle) “Attention! All AIs report in for duty.”(Giggle)

  Thank god, child you finally decided to pull that lump of granite you call a mind out of your ass and ask for help?(Dee De)

  At your service Commander. Is it time to form a plan of attack? (Charley)

  “Hay give me a break here I just now saw I had a problem. Or I should say problems. First we need to list all of our objectives here and then I need a break down on all the obstacles that are either real or perceived”.

  I’ll work from the civilian point of view Charley. (Dee De)

  Then I shall work backwards form the military point of view (Charley)

  “Thank you both once you have everything compiled get together, compare notes then give me a full report.”

  With Dee De and Charley working on getting me list of all possible problems I felt confident that I will be able to come up with a plan of action. I must have been more distracted and tired than I thought because when I look up we’re back in my rooms and my maids are helping me into a hot bathtub to wash my rather stinky body. Startled by this fact I almost jump out of my skin.

  (Giggle’s) “I see that you decided to rejoin us Lady Maiha. We were afraid that you would have fallen asleep in the tub and drowned had we turned our backs on you.” Said Nia trying very hard to suppress the giggle fit she was having. “You seemed rather distracted for the past half hour or so. Are you ok or are you just over tired from your playing around on the combat range course?”(Giggle’s)

  Looking at all of them standing there I can tell that while worried for my well-being they could see I was fine. “I know I’m going to regret this but how did I get back here so quickly?”

  “My Lady you sort of walked back with a little help from us. We merely kept you from running into anything that could cause you harm.” Was Kina’s reply. “You seem as if once you left the range to fall asleep while walking. I think that little exercise run of yours took more out of you than you realize.”

  “It is as Kina and Nia say, Lady Maiha. But I think I know what it is. I have seen the same thing with my husband Tanaka when he has done extremely well but pushed himself too far.” Gin commented with the same repressed giggles. “You should be proud of what you accomplished today. No one in the past forty five years has ever pushed the combat simulator as hard as you have. Why the House troops thought that you wouldn’t even make it past the first group on infantry.”

  “Oh how I loved the look on their faces when 1stLt. Wolf placed that fifty credits bet, in gold no less, for you to not only clear them but reach the AI tanks before having to slow down.” This came from Nia as she scrubbed my back. “I think that young Sergeant from the infantry support lance was the big winner though in the pool for how far she would go.”

  “Oh yes quite true. But did you see how all of Lady Maiha’s bodyguards were placing their bets at the far end of the course? It was as if they knew that nothing but the heaviest of forces could stop her? It almost seems as if they were betting on one of the Rhinos or Battle Masters that make up the House troop assault class A.P.s’.” Suzume chimed in with.

  I have to find out how they knew about all this. I mean the betting on the pilots of the A.P.S.s’ was not common knowledge. I was worried that if this got out how it would affect the way the people of the compound would see me. I needed to find out where they were during my run and now. “Excuse me, ladies, but how is it you know all of this? It sounds as if you watched it with the house troops.” At their looks of embarrassment I could tell that they had. If that was the case it would also be inappropriate behavior for the Ladies Maids of a Head of House. Yup black mail material if there ever was and they just handed it to me. Could it be any more perfect?

  It was Suzume who answered for them. “Lady Maiha it was my idea to go over to the observation room that the Hous
e troops use when they have their practice runs. I thought that it would be a good idea for your maids to see what you can do in your Yokia form.”

  “What? Wait. What do you mean by my Yokia form?” I asked quickly.

  “Oh. Well when you first engaged your armor here in your rooms none of the others had ever seen you in your combat mode till then. When you just flew off the balcony like you did, they all thought that you looked like one of the mythical Yokia from out of the past.” Suzume was looking at me like it should have been obvious to me. How I would appear as a demon from out of some faraway legend come to life. Now that I think about it I kind of did. At my nod she continued. “So after you left I talked the House troops into allowing them to watch from their observation / training room for the range course.” The smile that played at the corners of her mouth was threatening to break lose into full blown laughter. Oh yes I am going to have to keep an eye on my personal secretary. That girl will be the one to get my little ass in trouble in a big way then happily watch as I literally blow things into little bitty pieces. “As we watched your run through it became every apparent that you have a great deal of fire power at your disposal. Fire power that you control in the way that a Samurai wields his swords.”

  Looking at Suzume I could tell that there was something she wasn’t telling me. And I think I know what it is. So instead of avoiding it I went straight for the point. “So tell me how much did you lose young lady? Am I going to have to cover your losses? Come on Suzume you can tell me. After all you are my personal secretary after all. I can’t have you being in debt to the bodyguards now can I?”

  The look on her face was one of great amusement. For some reason I think I might have it wrong on her owing the guards but the other way around. “Uh my Lady it is they who owe her. Not her owing them.” said Nia.

  Looking over at the rest of them all they did was nod their heads to support this fact. “How bad did you fleece the House troops and bodyguards Suzume?”

  “Let me just say that for the next month I will not have to pay for my alcohol or meals out on the town.” She was smiling as she answered me.

  Maiha I just got the full score posting from our run. I know that as a Death Dealer we should have posted decently on the infantry portions. But we blow past all of that and landed in the A.P.S. score charts. (Dee De)

  Yes we placed quite high even for being an older model. (Charley)

  Just what the HELL do you mean by calling us an ‘older model’ there buddy? (Dee De)

  Exactly that Dee De. We are one of the first D.D.AIs to have the secondary configuration protocols. As such we didn’t have the modifications that the later units had. I have researched this and found that the ones who came after us had far more destructive capabilities. (Charley)

  “All right everyone calm down here. Dee De let’s not get our nose out of joint by the fact that there was units that came after us who were faster stronger and better armed. Charley no more comments on our age please. Dee De gets upset when she’s called old.”

  Hey I don’t need you to stand up for me. (Dee De)

  “Back off girlfriend. I was stating facts. Now what was our finial score?”

  Between the two portions we have a total of 1397. Well over what anybody could have expected. (Charley)

  “My God! That would be better than anything but the assault class A.P.S. scores.”

  “Just do me a favor here. The next time I do this stay out of the pool please? By the way what was the reaction of the troops?” I really wanted to know how they felt. I had started to get out of the tub but was pushed back in by Gin and Nia.

  “You still stink; we’ll let you know when you’re done Lady Maiha. As to how the House troops reacted. Well let’s just say you have reached legendary heights as the Head of House of our House. After the score was posted with, what did you call it Suzume her call name?”

  “Call sign aunt Nia. It’s called a radio call sign.” Suzume supplied.

  “Thank you, child. Yes your call sign. Oh by the way it is one of the most beautiful ones on the wall. Wave Dancer such deep meaning is implied with those words. It is your name as well as a description of your power. Any way the Head Cpt. Pointed to it saying ‘That is the sign of a true Samurai. She is either a Yokai or she is Shinigami himesama.’ It would seem you have become more than just a Head of House to faithful Samurai for the Nakatoma House troops. You might want to spend some time later on in the next week over at the House troop quarters.” Said Nia as she continued to scrub me from the top of my head down to my toes. I swear she must have hit every part of me at least twice before she was satisfied that I was clean. “Now you may exit your bath my Lady.” Now last night I figured that I would have one or two maids as the Head of House but three. I just couldn’t get my head around this fact. As I got out of the tub Kina and Gin began to dry me off as Nia walked out to the dressing area. Seeing her do that reminded me that aunt Dai Etsu said dinner was to be formal.

  “Oh Nia aunt Dai Etsu said to tell you that dinner was formal tonight. Do you know what that means?”

  “We had guessed that it might be so when the cooks began to make dinner. From what we could see there shall be at least twenty or more people at dinner.” Came the reply form the dressing area. Oh boy!!! Now I’m really worried. Over twenty people for one dinner that is ridiculous.

  “By chance did they say who would be joining my aunt and me?”

  “No only that they were told by her Ladyship Nakatoma to prepare for large appetites.” Kina said.

  “Come with us Lady Maiha. We have to finish getting you ready. We only have an hour and a half. We don’t have time to dally.” states Gin.

  And so I let myself be led into the dressing room one time this day. Laid out on the staging self was all my under wear. Everything from panties to corset to tights and socks. Over on a display rack was a kimono of the most beautiful design I had ever seen. Before I could ask any questions my maids began getting me dressed. It wasn’t long before they had me stretched out like a noodle once again. Pulling me between the floor and ceiling so that they can fit me with a damn corset again but I don’t complain this time I just follow their orders like a good little girl. I learned last night that in here they were the ones in charge.

  (Giggle)Oh wow you can teach an old dog new tricks. (Dee De)

  “Bite me Dee De you tin plated bitch. This shit hurts. I don’t know if I can even breathe. I swear if I never have to wear one of these confounded contraptions again it’ll be too soon for me. As is I know I’ll be wearing them till I can get out from under aunties loving eyes.”

  (giggle)That maybe a long, long, time in coming. (giggle)(Dee De)

  “And why is that? In two weeks we’ll be at that boarding school for girls. Once there if I have these three with us I’ll just put my foot down and inform them that in no uncertain terms am I wearing a fracking corset.”

  (giggle)I hate to tell you this honey bunny. But I just got through with the schools uniform requirements download. One of them is that all students and faculty most have enough corsets for a twenty seven hour period of wear. In other words one day corset and one sleep corset for everyday of the weak. Like I said earlier get used to it. Your about to be as girly as a girly-girl can get. (giggle)(Dee De)

  “I don’t believe this not only do I have to deal with that behavioral mind dump but the school will be out to make me even more of a girl. AAAAWWW SHIT!!!”

  Commander I am sorry for the unwanted behavioral modifications that were programed directly into your brain. That part of the reconfigure I had no control over or the population integration program either. Both of those protocols run independent of my own core programming. This was done so that Death Dealers who had gone through the secondary reconfiguration could blend in with the population better. (Charley)

  My attention is brought back to what my maids are doing by them lowering me to the floor. They quickly place the nagajuban around me and belt it in place. Then they place a pair of t
abi socks on my feet. They give me a moment to collect my thoughts before taking me over to the make-up table and doing my face and hair. Fifteen minutes later we were back in the dressing area to put on the kimono. It is truly beautiful. It was a deep blue back ground with light blue and with flowers printed on it. It had a deep purple Obie sash. Needless to say this was no ordinary kimono. I could tell that this one was special. Once everything was in place I asked them if there was something special about the design of this kimono.

  “Tonight you shall be ordained as the Head of House for our Family Owens-Steel Heart Maiha Mana. Those are your coronation robes. After dinner the Captains of the House troops with their Head Captain, the bodyguard units with their commanders and the entire Temple as well as the house hold staff shall watch as I first give you my blessings as the Reverend Mother. Once I have done this you shall stand before the Seat of Power in the Great Hall and take the oaths of first the Head Captain, to be followed by the individual Squad Captains of the House troops. Once this is done each of the commanders of the bodyguard unit will come forward with their own officers to give you their oaths.” Turning to see my aunt standing in the doorway of the dressing room I saw that she wore a similar kimono. It was then I realized the significance of its coloration and pattern. They were the colors of House Nakatoma and the Nakatoma Head of House. The flower blossoms were the sign of the female line. “I see that you realize the importance of your kimonos’ color and pattern. Very good Maiha very good indeed. Now as I was saying after all of the Samurai have given their oaths you will then take your seat on the Seat of Power and give your oath of service to all those who are present and through them to those who are not. Once that has been done there will be no turning back for you. Because at that point going forward you shall be the one and only Head of House and the Nakatoma Family. Are you sure you want to do this?”