04:02, Roadblock A, Army exercise area X

"Where is he, I am getting fed up with this slimeball" Lisa thought as the conscript slid his fingers across her surface for the millionth time in the hour he had been on this post, the next guy should come relieve him any minute now.

Markus might not come at all tonight, he might be on the next night's rotation instead, still Lisa kept telling herself he would come. Not that she would ever admit it, especially not to Markus.

Suddenly Pvt. Slimeball stops feeling Lisa up and turns around, lifting his personal weapon to low ready.

"Holy-" he almost whispers, articulating as clearly as he could.

"-George" Markus' voice finishes the password pair.

"About damn time, it's cold out here!"Pvt. Slimeball complains as he calls the tent to confirm that the relief had arrived & he'd be on his way to relieve the fire watch.

"Yeah yeah, just go already before the fire watch falls asleep & burns the tent!" Markus replies impatiently urging him to get going.

After waiting for Pvt. Slimeball to get out of earshot Markus speaks: "And how's my favorite Pokemon tonight?", he says with a grin.

"I'M NOT A POKEMON!" Lisa angrily retorts as she turns into her human form, her wolf ears and tail standing, signalling her anger, fake as it may be, she's dangerously close to wagging her tail due to being called his favorite.

"Please don't be mad, it makes me sad when you are mad at me" Markus pleads with her as he rubs her head.

There it is, Lisa's defenses are obliterated in a split second. "...Idiot" she says as she leans into Markus' hand while wrapping her arms around him, enthusiastically wagging her tail.

"...What's your count now?" she asks after a while, glancing towards Eastern sky where dark blue is already starting to turn light. "...60 and a wakeup" Markus replies after a moment.

"Why can't it be 160? Or 260" she asks with a depressed voice. 

"Well that's just the count to the end of my national service, I have already inquired about staying on as a contracted soldier & my chances of getting the job are looking rather good."

Markus replies with a surprise. "Cadre soldier, you?" she tries hiding her surprise with a sarcastic remark, in her own opinion failing miserably.

"Well, I *am* a review of my thesis away from being a licensed armorer" he shrugs, apparently not noticing her bad acting.

"...And armorer huh? Looking forward to getting your hands on scores of rifles that have seen little use, if any, are we?" Lisa asks, her voice dripping with jealousy.

"As if I'd ever have eyes for anyone but you" he answers uncharacteristically suavely, almost as if- "...You planned this whole conversation beforehand, didn't you?" Lisa asks, pouting.

"I'm not confirming nor denying anything without fingerprints and DNA."

"Suck to be you, then, 'cause I have both!" Lisa exclaims jumping away from Markus & sticking out her tongue.

"...On a second thought, maybe working in an armory potentially full of girls like you isn't such a great idea after all..."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"...Nevermind that, it sounds like a car is approaching" Markus dodges the question as he steps towards Lisa to grab her neck.

"We'll talk later" he says as Lisa turns back into her steel-and-plastic form, a PKM manufactured in 1997.

Markus lifts Lisa up and sets her down in the sand-bagged firing position at the side of the drive path & picks up the radio to inform the command post of the approaching vehicle.