Chapter 18: Triple zero

Xiaoling sighed in relief, she grasped her brothers hand tightly and he gave it a few squeezes acknowledging her.

It was a simple gesture, but to Xiaoling, it meant the world, she trusted her big brother whole heartedly, and it allowed her to feel safe whenever her father went off on a tangent.

She calmed her nerves, sometimes she forgot how eccentric her father was, then recalled how all genius minds work differently from the norm as she replied to her father's previous comment.

"Mhm, I will daddy."

"Good, good girl, oh right, you, thanks for your service, I'll let the base commander know in advance that you'll be leaving us. You will still have to complete a resignation letter after which the base commander will guide you through the proper discharge procedures."

"Alright, I'm going back to work, no one touch that damn board. Or you can go join Dr McClowny over there!"

Dr Wen turns to his son and smiled lightly at him,

"I've already put in leave for us, so let's head home for awhile alright!? Great! Ah, We leave tomorrow night."

With that said, Dr Wen left as quickly as he had arrived and left the other doctors stunned before they headed out and went about their duties.

The doctor that made the bet, got up from the floor and glared at Xiaoling. The commander saw this and sneered,

"Why the dirty look? You make it seem as if my sister pushed you to make the damn bet!"

That doctor realised what he was doing, and who he was doing it to, he quickly lowered his head a quarter in guilt, another in shame and half in fear.

The commander watched on unamused as the doctor scurried out.

"Xiaoling why don't you go get some rest first, I can stay and watch over the commander."

Lieutenant Zhang declared brightly, Xiaoling rolled her ears and was about to retort but was beaten to the punch,

"No need, I'm fine now, Lieutenant go get some rest, we'll have a debriefing at 0500 hours before I dismiss the team."

"Ah but . . "

"Hmm!? Is there something else?"

"That woman, what do you plan to do? No one even knows how she got into the base what if she . . "

"I'll deal with it, no need to trouble yourself lieutenant."

"Ah, oh, yes sir."

After saying so Lieutenant Zhang, reluctantly left the siblings.

Both gave a long sigh before Xiaoling gave the commander a cuddle.

"Ahhh, she's soooo taxing! Brother why don't you transfer into another division, actually why don't you quit all together honestly, you need to get away from her!?"

"Xiaoling stop, you and I both know I can't leave him alone, he may end up blowing up the entire world."

"But . . "

"No buts, listen, I know your worries ok! I've seen it now, I've seen what you've been seeing, so don't worry."

"About damn time! Haaa! You're just as taxing! You know that!?"

"Heh! Alright I need to wash up I'm all sticky and gross,"

The commander quipped as he gently pushed his sister away,

"Pfft! You have no idea!"

"Hmm?"

"Nothing, go, go do your "thing" bahahaha! I'm "heading off" to bed! OMG I'm killing it!"

"Huh!? . . Alright, good night,"

"Nite big brother, . . . Oh right, don't forget to check the security feed."

"Hmm I will, go, get some sleep, and take that mask . . Off! . . . Wait! The mask! Did that sly fox see me without a mask on!?"

"Oh you just realised? Hehe don't worry, Eldest brother just because you're handsome doesn't mean every woman wants you."

"Huh!? No that's not the point, my identity's been compromised! Damn it Ling! . . Why didn't you cover up my face!?"

"Because I was worried about you dying that's why! Hmph! Don't worry, the next time you're dying, I'll remember to put a damn mask on your stupid face! Sorry for even caring!"

Xiaoling stormed out the room quickly, leaving her disbelieving brother to ponder some things alone.

The commander went and showered and was puzzled to see his hairs matted and messy, he quickly pushed it to the back of his mind and washed up.

After changing he sent a message and after getting a reply he got up and went to see the base commander.

"Before you say, do or ask anything, Your team will still be on call, only you've been granted leave. As for the fox, just know that she has triple zero clearance, so if that's all, enjoy your break, dismiss."

The commander didn't even get to sit down, the base commander told him all he needed to know within a single breath.

Even if he wanted to know more about the Phantom Fox, he won't be able to get any answers.

"Yes sir, thank you sir."

The commander left and before he returned to his designated room he called into the bases command centre because he wanted copies of the surveillance tapes of the two rooms and the front gate.

With the recordings in hand, he went back to his room, his brows knotted however when he got closer to his room,

"Lieutenant? Is anything the matter?"

"Boss, no matter how I think about it, the woman in the fox mask is too suspicious, I really think we should take this higher up the chain of command. I just have a gut feeling that . . "

"Lieutenant, there's no need,"

He cut her off mid sentence, then continued,

"I've already been spoken to by the base commander. So regarding her there's no need for you or I to do anything further. Now then if that's all go get some rest."

The commander was about to enter his room when he was grabbed by the arm and pulled back,

"Wait! Does the base commander really know that an unidentifiable person paraded into this base unaccompanied and un-fretted? Boss don't tell me you can't actually see!? This . . This charlatan even has a hold on your sister, surely you don't intend on letting this matter slide on account of Xiaoling? Even if you do I won't stand idly by!"

The commander looked at his lieutenant stone faced while she ranted, trying in vain to stand atop the moral high ground against him, when she finished he replied nonchalantly,

"We can't do anything because even the base commander can't do anything, she has triple zero status, that's the end of that. So leave it alone and leave my sister out of it! . . Go to bed lieutenant we'll be debriefing at 0500 hours."

"Tri . . Triple Zero! Impossible did your father vouch for her already!?"

The commander looked at lieutenant Zhang incredulously and pursed his lips back before replying in a harsh clear tone,

"Huh!? At most, my father is just below the base commander what makes you think he has that kind of pull!? Listen I'm saying this for the last time, don't push it! Lieutenant. Now, leave it the hell alone and go get some damn rest! Look how you're acting! Get yourself together lieutenant!"

With that said the commander shook his head lightly and entered his room closing the door behind him.

Lieutenant Zhang stood there in shock, she couldn't believe that meeting Qin Qianyu once was all it took for her to lose her composure,

"How can she have the highest clearance level she's just an academic! A mere TCM healer and practitioner at best, not even a proper doctor, yet, Did Dr Wen really not say anything, something and vouch for her!? This makes no sense!? Just who the hell is she!?"

Lieutenant Zhang grumbled internally as she made her way back to her room.

The commander sighed as he listened to the footsteps outside his door move further away.

He combed his fingers through his hair as he sat at his desk and pulled out his laptop.

He plugged in a USB device and started the videos inside, first he watched the scene of Qin Qianyu revising the problem on the board, then the incident at the gate.

So far everything was as his sister had told him then finally the treatment she administered.

Suddenly he stood up from his chair abruptly when he saw how he was "cured" and the words that his sister said before he showered thundered in his mind over and over again.

"You have no idea! Go do your thing! I'm heading off!"

Recalling the small nuances she exhibited then the several events from when he woke up, the strange looks from everyone as well as the fleeting glances, he fell back in his chair and buried his face in his hands as he screamed out aloud.

He accidentally knocked the laptop and the video went back a few steps, his moan came through the speaker and he even heard his sisters small prayer,

"Nieces, Nephews, farewell!"

" . . . "

"Farewell your head!"

The worst thing he heard though was when Qin Qianyu's gave her implied inference to his little sister about "cave diving"

At first even he didn't get it, not even when he had watched it just awhile ago, only on the second play through when Qin Qianyu replied to Lieutenant Zhang. He knew now that his sister thought he was gay, only now did he actually understand.

"You're gay! Your whole family is gay! . . Ah damn it all!"

The commander seethed.

Qin Qianyu had no idea about the drama her attending to the handsome uncle was or the fact that she correctly answered Dr Wen's problematic formula which even elevated her status to god level in his eyes.

She was enjoying a peaceful sleep underneath the brightly lit night sky while snuggling into the warm fur of Bai Saan.

"GrandMaster Wú it's done, your disciple won't have any problems now, we've given her triple zero status, as long as she wears the mask and BT cloak she show up as such. Also I'll have someone deliver the Tiger the same day you leave.

"Mhm, you have my thanks,"

"It's just a small thing, if that's all I'll take my leave."

"Mhm, keep well, give my regards to your family for me,"

"Absolutely, take care GrandMaster Wú."

Grandpa Wú hung up the call and looked over at Qin Qianyu.

"Haise! Child, as much as you bring me joy, you don't seem to skimp on the worries either, do you. Hohoho,"

Grandpa Wú said quietly to himself with a light hearted chuckle. He closed his own eyes and drifted off to sleep.