Long after Justin had fallen asleep at the bottom of her bed, (Y/n) had sat studying the files and information on her new men, hoping beyond hope that one way or another she could make this work, hoping that there was a real reason that the General had wanted her to take this job on. Yet hoping that neither she nor her new men would be used like so many of their kind before them. As expendable freaks.

And all too soon the sun had risen, and thanks to the General, (Y/n)'s new male form was now suitably attired. She and Justin currently waiting at the bottom of the large staircase that led up to the entrance of Waverly Hall for her driver to arrive.

"You'll do wonders with these guys (Y/n), I'm sure of it. Just remember who you are, and what you can achieve." Justin said, trying to reassure (Y/n) as he stood waiting with her. For despite her new look, Justin had known (Y/n) long enough to know when she was worried, and even though she no longer looked like herself, the signs were still there.

"It's not just that Justin, I really have this terrible feeling that the General is up to something. People like him think that me and my kind are dispensable, and probably that we shouldn't be alive in the first place, I just know he has something planned; bring me in to make these guys into a cohesive unit, and then when they are, use them like sacrificial lambs for some insane scheme." (Y/n) told him, the two friends eyes darting up as the sound of screeching tires and flying gravel could be heard coming up the stately home's long driveway.

"Oh geez, looks like my ride is here." (Y/n) chuckled, as the jeep pulled to a stop just in front of her and Justin, a young man jumping out of the driver's seat and rushing over to where the two captains stood, before he stood sloppily to attention and gave a salute.

"Captain Black? I'm Corporal Sanchez, I'm here to take you to the base, sir." The Corporal said, looking at the two Captain's as the pair stared at him.

"Well Captain, good luck with your new command; and don't forget, don't be a stranger." Justin said, saluting to (Y/n) as Sanchez rushed up and took the large bag from her hands, and threw it into the back of the jeep.

"Don't worry, you don't get rid of me that easy." (Y/n) said, shaking Justin's hand before she climbed into the passenger seat, as Sanchez turned the key in the ignition. The jeep bursting into life and speeding off back down the driveway, taking (Y/n) to her new command.

                                                       >>--------------------------------<<

"Lieutenant Smith is ready for your arrival, and the rest of the men are looking forward to meeting their new commanding officer, sir." Sanchez said, momentarily taking his eyes from the road, as (Y/n) began to chuckle next to him.

"Let me ask you something Corporal, have you ever known a group of men look forward to meeting their new commanding officer before?" (Y/n) asked, looking at the young man by her side.

"No sir, can't say I have." Sanchez confessed, as he swerved to miss a herd of sheep that had just been ushered onto the road.

"Well, that makes two of us Sanchez, so why don't we cut out all the crap. You all hate the fact that you're getting a new XO, especially given the fact that you seemed to have so effectively got rid of your last Captain; but I will assure you, as well as I will assure the others Sanchez, I am not so easy to remove. I'm like a tic, I burrow in deep; so, you boys will just have to learn to get used to it." (Y/n) said, smiling as Sanchez quickly looked at the "man" by his side before turning his eyes back to the road.

                                                      >>------------------------------------<<

The ride was quiet for a while as the jeep sped through the rolling English countryside, American troops standing and saluting as (Y/n) and the Corporal passed through a peaceful village.

"Ok Sanchez, fill me in." (Y/n) suddenly said, breaking the silence.

"Fill you in on what sir?" Sanchez retorted, trying to keep his eyes on the road as well as look at the superior officer next to him.

"Come on Corporal, I've seen your file, so stop playing dumb. I want to know all about M Platoon; tell me what to expect." (Y/n) continued, trying not to smile as Sanchez moved uncomfortably in his seat.

"Well sir, with all due respect, you are inheriting the biggest bunch of fuck ups on this side of the pond. The Lieutenant's a good guy, but he's not as smart as he makes out; in fact, if we went into war with him, we would probably all be dead within the first five minutes. Most of the guys are ok, they just lack real leadership, and basically, they think they can do whatever they want. The Sarg is the only one with any brains, and I'd follow Howlett into battle any day, I trust him with my life; he's actually the one that helped keep us together. Then there's the other Sarg, Vic Creed, not a particularly pleasant individual in all honesty, and he's the biggest problem in the platoon. If ya want my advice sir, I'd keep an eye on him." Sanchez confessed, trying to ignore the fact that his superior was now glaring at him.

"What happened to you last XO, Sanchez? And I want the truth." (Y/n) told him, as the Corporal turned to face her.

"Well, you see it was Creed. He didn't like the fact that the Cap wasn't, well........ wasn't like the rest of us. Creed doesn't like takin orders at the best of times, but he really hates takin them from the normals. He's like the Platoon Sarg ya see, he's a feral, and he scared old Cap Drake to death, I don't think I've ever seen a normal move as quick as the Cap did when he left the camp that night." Sanchez laughed before coughing uncomfortably, as (Y/n) raised an eyebrow.

"I'm sorry sir, I don't mean any disrespect, I don't have anything against normals myself and I didn't mean to insult ya, I'm sure you'll be better than Captain Drake." Sanchez stuttered out his apology, furrowing his brows in confusion, as (Y/n) began to laugh.

"What makes you think I'm a normal, Corporal." (Y/n) said, instantly changing into a copy of him, Sanchez slamming on the breaks of the jeep as he stared wide eyed at himself.

"Y-y-you're a shapeshifter? Wow! Wait till the boys find out." Sanchez gasped, as he watched (Y/n) slowly turn back into Captain Black.

"No. You will say nothing about this, do you understand? This is between you and me Corporal. Because if this gets out before I'm ready, I could make your life very difficult; am I clear?" (Y/n) asked, watching as Sanchez nodded frantically.

"Whatever you say Cap." Sanchez said nervously, as he re-started the jeep and made his way back to the road that led to the base.

The rest of the drive fell back into the previous silence, as what Sanchez had told her filled (Y/n)'s mind, The key was to hope that the rest of the men had the same respect and confidence in Sargent Howlett as he had, and that she could use that to bring the platoon together; but even if they wouldn't rally behind her, having them rally to Howlett was better than nothing. (Y/n) only hoped that Howlett would be as impressive in person as he was on file. From what she had read, he was a first class soldier, and even though he was a feral, which could make him slightly unpredictable and hard to control, he seemed to take orders well. And if he was the one that had managed to keep the platoon together, then he was the best chance of helping her kick this bunch of assholes into a cohesive group.

Slowly the camp came into sight as the hills rolled passed. (Y/n) still mussing over her major problem, Victor Creed. Just as Justin had said the night before, (Y/n) had seen in his file that he was rude, arrogant, stubborn, and every inch a feral. She had been surprised to find that Creed and Howlett were related, and maybe that was why Creed was in the platoon to begin with. He had an atrocious disciplinary record, he was a complete rogue, and seemingly rotten to the core. But (Y/n) had to admit to herself that when Justin had shown her the pictures of the two ferals, she couldn't help but find them both strangely attractive. They were unusual, ruggedly handsome, both with something in their eyes that screamed danger, a danger that appealed to something deep down inside of her.

There was another issue that was also bothering her, an issue that she had not told Justin about when she had found out that the two Sargent's were ferals. Even though she could transform completely into anyone, (Y/n) knew that ferals had heightened senses. And one of those heightened senses was their sense of smell, and no matter what (Y/n) did, her own scent would remain no matter what her form. All she could hope was that both Howlett and Creed would have other things to think about other than her own unusual musk.

Finally, Sanchez pulled the jeep to a stop at the entrance of the camp, the two sentries looking over (Y/n)'s paperwork, before a quick salute and the gate was raised, the jeep heading further into the camp.

"If ya don't mind me asking sir, what do ya plan to do with us?" Sanchez asked, as he slowed down, driving passed the mass of troops that milled about the compound.

"Well Sanchez, I'm gonna make you bunch of reprobates into the best damn platoon in this man's army. I'm gonna prepare you all for whatever Heir Hitler throws at us; and I'm gonna make everyone that ever doubted you, eat their words. How about that?" (Y/n) asked, as Sanchez pulled up outside a makeshift building, a tall, thin, blonde man suddenly standing to attention, and trying to give off an air of confidence, but failing abysmally as his slightly shaky hand shot up to give a crisp salute, as Sanchez turned off the engine.

"I think that you are gonna do just fine Cap." Sanchez said, saluting as he grabbed (Y/n)'s bag from the back of the jeep.

"Captain Black? It's a pleasure to meet you sir. I'm Lieutenant Smith."