A New Direction: Part 3
A brand mission, a brand new world where many things are not as they same and thier true objective is not even known to them.
PART THREE
Wraith had picked up Rhapsody and they had just arrived at the Pennance. "Well, this is it." The songbird noted as they landed. An nearby engineer took the hoverbike, reving in up happily. "Take good care of that m'man. Take it up to where the Phantasm is ok?" The bot nodded.
"The Phantasm?" Rhapsody didn't recognize the name.
Wraith grinned. "That's my ship babe. One-of-a-kind hyper-fighter craft. Functions top class in deep space, zero space, and atmosphere."
"And you had it brought here?"
The wolf grinned again. "I plan to be prepared this time, gorgeous. This is a top-priority mission, so I want my gear. C'mon, I'll show it to you."
He grabbed her hand and led her down to where the Phantasm was docked.
"I... I... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have shouted at you like that back in the apartment. I tried looking for you. I tried the bars, the streets, even the malls. But... but I couldn't find you. And it pained me when you weren't there. I'm sorry, Timber. I really am. I never realised what you were feeling; I never considered anything beyond myself. I am a selfish bastard, and I know I don't deserve you. I..."
The she-wolf placed a finger on his lips, and took the rose from Querion's hand.
"Hush. No more apologies," Timber murmured. She touched the delicate petals of the rose lovingly.
"Does that mean what I think it means? I mean... I..." Querion stammered, a silly grin creeping to his face.
"What do you think?" smiled the she-wolf coyly, as she stepped behind her door, and shut it. Querion could only stare in surprise as he stood outside. What was she playing at?
Dusty prowled slowly around the Phantasm, examining it from every angle. She went round the nose of the ship again and nearly ran into Wraith and Rhaspody, who'd just entered the launch bay.
"Whoops, sorry!"
"Hey, no problem. Spacedust, wasn't it?" Rhaspody smiled at the dingo femme, who grinned and nodded.
"Yeah. Call me Dusty though, if y'want. Everyone else does." She turned back to the starfighter she'd been examinging. "Nice li'l vessel here, know who belongs to it?"
"It's mine, actually," Wraith said with a distinct note of pride in his voice. "What do you think of it?"
"Well..." Dusty paused and grinned, nodding over at her own starfighter parked nearby. "I reckon my Whiplash and I could give ya a damn good run for y'money..."
Back in her room Timber put her back to the door and looked upward, an ecstatic expression on her face. Remembering poor Querion she turned around and composed herself, and let the door swish open again. Her face almost shyly looking down, she hid a devilish smile at the wolf’s continued confusion, and finally took pity on him. Making a great show of putting her arms around his shoulders, (Querion was just a bit taller then her) she pulled herself in close to him, her head resting against his.
“I’m sorry for worrying you handsome, and for overreacting and I’m sorry I hide my emotions from you… it doesn’t make your job easy.”
“My job?”
Timber pulled herself away a bit, leaning against the warrior’s arms wrapped around her side and waist so she could look into his eyes. “You job hun… I just assumed it was something you’d taken on yourself. What you do everyday, what your good at.”
Querion looked perplexed. “What is my job?”
Timber smiled fondly at Querion, wonder shining in her eyes and abandoned all pretence. “Your right hun, it’s not a job, you don’t even realise you do it… you just… DO.”
“What?” Querion half shouted in mock exasperation, a fond smile on his lips too.
Timber leaned in close to the warrior, resting her head against his, filling his nose with the scent of her hair. “You make every single one of my day’s brighter, more exciting and alive. Everyday when I wake up, it’s a joy to know that I’ll see you, and every-night when I go to sleep I hope for dreams of you. You’ve surrounded me with such compassion, love and care.” Here the wolf paused and leaned in just a little closer, breathing into his ear, a catch in her voice. “And I just hope I can do the same for you love.”
With that she moved to look into his eyes, wrapped her arms more tightly around his neck, and tilting her head to the side and leaning in, enjoyed a very long, and very loving sort of kiss.
As the two disengaged, Timber smiled contentedly, her hand going to the door control. “Well… it looks like we’ve made up love, maybe we can get back to the kissing now.” She took Querion’s hand, and silently led him into the room, as he passed through the door, she took a moment, not for the first time, to appreciate his finely formed skidplate. Stepping back she took his hand again, and led him deeper into the room, her eyes locked on his, as the door slid shut.
Wraith grinned at Spacedust. She was certainly a challenger-type, but that was ok. She wasn't the annoying kind. "I'd like to see that, always up for a good run. We'll have to spar them sometime after this mission."
Cut to: Jungle in the gym…
Anger.
(Unidentifiable.)
The dark warrior’s breathing increased. His muscles tensed further. His face - usually bare - began reflecting the inner sensation.
Anger.
(Increasing.)
All stray thoughts were pushed with an unnatural suddenness from the dark warrior’s mind. His pace quickened. His breathing intensified, muscles tensed to their max. The computer sounded; signally the end of the round. Jungle didn’t take notice. Jungle didn’t care.
Anger.
(Unfocused.)
The heavy bag - the dark warrior’s target… he no longer saw it… his mind’s eye was focused on something else entirely. Mech fluid rolled down his hands, originating from their ‘knuckle region’. His pace quickened. Each punch was thrown with more intensity then the previous. His punches ceased varying in style. His face showed him to be… to be a ‘bot processed. The bag had been penetrated, contents spilling to the floor. Jungle didn’t take notice. Jungle didn’t care.
Anger.
(Increasing.)
Calling out like a dieing animal, the dark warrior’s hand swords extend, severing the heavy bag from its holder. One swift kick later and it flies out the door – the electronic eye graciously opening it for it…
Breathing slowing, realization of his actions sinking in; Jungle allows his hand swords to retract just before falling to his knees, organic components dripping in sweat…
… he’s worked out enough for one day…
Filch laughed as he looked over the bottle caps.
"A fine wit you have! Now, seriously, what will you be paying?"
"These!"
"You don't mean to say this is your payment?"
"Yup!"
Filch blinked, and glanced at Rita, then back at Catfish. Something was starting to seem odd about her. He reluctantly scooped up some of the bottle caps and looked at them.
"I'm afraid I can't...er...wait a minute."
Filch looked closely at a cap, and his optics widened. He picked up another one, peered at it, and they widened more. He began mumbling to himself, and Rita could almost hear the gears turning in her friend's brain.
"These are...must be fifty years...some appraisers I know would just...you, lovely lady, have a deal!"
Filch whipped out a small drawstring bag and scooped the bottle caps into it, letting Catfish keep the spoon and headphones.
"Only you would know someone who'd pay good money for bottle caps..." Rita said, shaking her head.
"Quiet you. She knows commerce! Now...care to accompany me onto this ship I hear of? The Happy Customer has been docked."
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Weede stumbled up the ramp, following Rubmur. Rubmur stopped and Weede bumped into his back, and the sloth looked around him to see the ship.
"Shnikty snooch!" Weede exclaimed, seeing the ship. "Uh huh uh huh uh huh."
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Buckshot bounced onto his bed, stretching his legs out. He folded his arms behind his head and grinned at Mimi.
"Hell of a lot better digs than the club." he told her.
"And almost as many cute chicks to ogle, right?" Mimi replied.
"Wha- NEVER!!!"
"Never?"
"Yeah! Except for Timber and Rita and Switchblade and Tundra and Rhapsody and Dusty and-"
Mimi dove onto him and wrestled with him in mock outrage. Buckshot let her take him down, though normally he could have easily overpowered her, and smiled as she straddled him.
"I love you." Mimi told him.
"I know." Buckshot replied with an easy smile. "So...what do you wanna do?"
Trance had most likely been the last one to arrive, though he didn't care. He would be riding his own ship this time around. He docked the <i>Nuclos</i> right beside the <i>Penance</i> and shut down the engines. He opened a line to the battle cruiser, though he showed little emotion as he did.
//Trance here. I'm taking my own ship for the ride. Probably too big to fit inside yours, but oh well.//
"HAPpy customer!" Penji yelled as he bounded off towards the Penance.
Dusty tilted her head to one side and smirked slightly at Wraith. "You're on! I look forward t'sparrin' with ya at the earliest opportunity. Should prove t'be interesting, aye?"
Querion lay on the bed, Timber snuggled up close to him. His hand stroke her hair lovingly, but he seemed pre-occupied. He moved slightly to the right to take a drink, and felt the she-wolf squirm a little. He kissed her forehead in apology and took a gulp of his drink. And sighed.
"What's the matter?" asked Timber.
"I don't know if I can do this, Timber. This mission. It feels wrong. We are here to track down and kill Croak and Grapple, and you know how I feel about killing. I almost pummelled Croak to death on the Brig, and I did not like that feeling of not being in control." He looked at the she-wolf with fondness. "I came here, in hopes that I would find you. I hadn't cared for anything more than that. But now that I've gotten you back, I don't know how I am supposed to carry out this mission."
Timber held his arm reassuringly. Her warmth made Querion feel at ease, but only barely.
"My life is a contradiction. I was made a fighter; fighting and killing is the only thing I am good at. And yet, I am reluctant to do so. I need to stop killing. It sickens me. But there is this... this part in me, that wants to break free. I sometimes wonder if I am rabid."
Timber hugged him even closer. "Of course you're not. You are capable of much more than just killing or fighting. I am sure of it."
"Perhaps," answered Querion doubtfully. He replaced his mug by the small rose, returning to silent brooding.
Catfish squeaked with happiness and set about combining the amulet with other objects from her pack to see if it made anything change color or blow up. You’d be surprised how many things blow up when you smush them together.
“Nah, you promised ‘Fish a tour of your ship.” Rita replied, sitting up again.
“Ah,” Filch replied as he watched Catfish with mounting trepidation. All his finely honed mercantile instincts were twittering nervously about this for some reason, “And when do you remember me saying this?”
“Two cycles ago.”
“You did.” Burnout put in, peering around Rita at the new bot.
“Verbal contracts aren’t binding.”
“You can take Phyphen too. Phyphen!” Rita said, yelling to Phyphen who was sitting on the other side of Burnout, “You want to go see Filch’s ship? It’s got lots of cool junk in it.”
“Madam, I take exception to that comment. I accept only the highest quality goods, all of which are…”
“Expensive cool junk.” Rita corrected herself.
“Merchandise.” Filch countered, “And much of it is very delicate. I can’t have children running around.”
“You’ll be careful won’t you Catfish.” Rita did a double take of her charge, “’Fish that thing goes around your NECK. Here let me do it.”
The kids ended up going off with Filch and Filch ended up fifty credits richer for “babysitting services”.
“We just got swindled.” Burnout said, putting his credit-container away.
“Of course we did. He’s Filch, it’s his nature.” Rita said standing, “Besides, now we can get back to the important things.”
“What important things?” Burnout asked, looking up.
“The ones that were interrupted by this meeting.”
“Ahh.” Burnout grinned, “Where were we again?”
“About here.” Rita said, scooping him up and pecked him soundly on the cheek. Burnout chuckled as he was carted off towards their ship.
Solarflare slowly walked toward the ship. Phoenix, FIre and Brimstone carrying some of his stuff. "Sure you guys will be alright?" The finch asked frowning that he had to leave his crew.
"Absolutly Skip!" Fire said smiling, "We got plenty of cash and we will keep an eye on you." He said winking. Solarflare smiled and shook hands with Fire and Brimstone and got a kiss from Phoenix.
"Don't do anything stupid like get yourself killed." Phoenix said holding onto his hand.
"I'll be ok." He said forcing a smile and turning toward the ship with his things. He turned once to see the Ant brothers playfighting and Phoenix waving to him. Solarflare loved his crew, he would miss them.
The Finch walked slowly through the halls passing and waving too a few of his crew members. He also spotted Jungle coming out of the Gym, his knucles bleeding profusly. Solarflare simply nodded to him. He passed Gaul on the way too picking out his room and tossing his stuff on the ground. He just nodded to Gaul as well. The only thing he thought about was where was Switchblade... he needed his partner.
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Gaul nodded to Solarflare on the way from his room. He was looking fo Jungle. He had a great deal to discuss with him.
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"Well what do you think?" Mimi said smiling at Buckshot. She quickly put the Dog bot into a headlock and told him to ask for mercy.
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"Come on Wraith." Rapsody said grabbing his hand. "Lets go get settled.
Presently aboard Le Vessel de War…
The Maximal Chieftain's trek is interrupted by a sudden pause on his own behalf; Gaul's warrior trained eyes had detected a fluid trail along the decking. Sure a leak or two on this ship wouldn't be unexpected; all crafts have their 'quirks' regardless of classification. The problem laid in; this is mech fluid - the transformer equivalent to blood…
On reflex, his body tensed - it was preparing for battle. Wisely choosing not to ignore that nagging feeling in the back of his head, Gaul spins, finding his second…
"Jungle." Gaul states in a way suggesting a greeting. Jungle's response; a simple nod. Eyes shifting from the panther's face to his hands, Gaul takes note of the fresh bandages, soaked with fluid around the cat's knuckles. Being a smart 'bot, the team leader puts two and two together. "What happened to you?" Jungle smirks slightly, then says the following; "A work related incident."
***Outside the Penance***
Rudau looked at the ship, she had tracked Vinoc for these last two years, finally managing to catch up with him, just before his next mission. The ship's hatchwas wide open, with nothing keeping her from getting in. She slipped in using her amazing speed... and was very quickly picked up by the secuety systems. Siren's went going off through-out the ship. "Well, there goes my big entrance."
The room was nice, for a warship. Spartan, but that was to be expected. The bed was comfortable and that’s all that really matters. There wasn’t much for Yeager to do to do to get ready for an extended deployment. Mainly just wonder. It was the kind of wonder a warrior does before a battle. Reflection upon the past engagements was the main focus of the mental exercise. Mistakes made and lessons learned from them were analyzed in extreme detail. By the time he got to trying to think up new tactics based upon those lessons he had faded off to sleep, or some semblance there of.
At about that time his personal phone rang. “Don’t that just figure. As soon as I actually get some rest the bloody phone starts to buzz.” Puller, his friend and cofounder of their school, was at the other end of the line. “What ya up to boss?”
“Dang it Puller, I told you not to call me that. We’ve been outta the service for three years now and you still think I'm a higher rank than you.”
“Geeze, sorry. I musta woken you up huh?” Puller knew his friend all to well.
“Yes, you did. Now what’s on your mind?”
“Well me and Farragut were sorta wondering if you’d be back anytime soon.” Calling his two partners had slipped his mind after the briefing. But there wasn’t much he could tell them anyway.
“I'm going to be gone for a while. Don’t ask how long or where either. We were both in the military too long to ask that type of stuff.”
“Oh so it is a military mission! HAHA Farragut owes me some dough on that little bit of info.”
“I never said that. That’s not confirmation that your right or saying that your wrong either. Heck I'm not even sure if it is or not yet. Ill just be gone for a while and you two numbskulls don’t go off and get arrested or something else stupid while I'm gone. O.K.?” There was no reply for a while. “I said O.K.?” this time with the emphasis only a sergeant could add to a question.
“Sure, sure. You say that every time you go on a trip. We’ll see ya later….BOSS.” click The line went dead. “I hate it when he does that to me. I hope I make it back so he can do it some more.” Just about that time an alarm sounded. “I didn’t think we’d start so soon. Well either way I’d better get ready for whatever that alarm is about,” Yeager thought to himself. He walked over to where he had stashed his weaponry. He loaded up the grenade launcher with buckshot and the machine gun with a fresh box of ammo. He was also sure to turn that infernal phone off. “Well I guess I should wait for orders since I don’t have a clue what’s going on.” Yeager moved to the doorway and stood in the hatch opening. “All clear so far.” The hall was quiet. That was sure to change soon.
Gaul and Jungle were now on the bridge disscussing how the first leg of the mission should go when some of the censors went off. Gaul looked over them for a moment and grabbed the Ship wide comm. //Attention Attention, Intruder is Sector 2 with Buckshot, Solarflare, Yeager and Wraith please report to Sector 2 and apprehend the Intrudor, Alive if possible. // Somewhere on the ship Rudua swore. //Also would Burnout and Retro-Virus please report to the bridge along with Cross, Spacedust, Trance and Rhapsody. Thank you.//
"So what did you want to talk about?" Jungle asked watching the team shuffeling along.
"First thing is since we have such a large team for a generally small task i figure we should split them up into a First and Second Squad. You would be in Command of Second and I would command First. Sound good?" Gaul said looking over a file.
Jungle nodded agreement. "Did you appoint any Sub command." Jungle said as Gaul handed him a File.
"Some of the specialist will be appointed as Officers. Here is Second squad and thier ranks." He said pointing to the Folder in Jungles hands. It read the Following.
Second Squad
Squad Leader-Jungle Acting command of squad and Operations.
Computer Operations Officer-Retro-Virus-Lead Computer Technition
Assstant Computer Officer-Catfish-Assistant to Retro-V
Chief Security Officer-Trance-Head of Ships secuirty
Assistant Secuirty Officer-Querion-Assistant to Querion
2nd Assistant Security Officer-Relic-Assistant to Above
Janitorial Officer-Vinoc-Incharge of Keeping Ship Clean
Assitant Janitorial Officer-Rumbur-Assistant to Above
2nd Assistant Janitorial Officer-Weede-Assistant to above
Second Command of Squad-Rhapsody-Adivsor to Jungle.
Open titles-Rita Filch Wraith Warriors not yet assigned to a specific duty.
Jungle was suprised at the organization but knew the Gaul was extremely use to Command and the Organization of the army.
Once the Those called to the to Bridge reported they were ordered to take specific areas. None were informed of their titles yet. Spacedust took control of weapons as Burnout was lead pilot. Cross was ordered to set up in the Med lab. The others postion were already explained. After neraly 10 minutes of Prep the Ship lifted off from the Cybertron Space Sport and was undereay.
The Penance glided through the black of space without effort. The two huge transwarp engines began to glow thier erie blue as the ship seemed to speed up and slow down at the same time. Then the engines exploded in a flurry of energy and technological breakthrough and like that the ship was gone. Caught is the cosmic trap of transwarp travel. "That should do it." Burnout said steady the systems of the ship. Gaul nodded and turned to look over the ships systems. The small task force he sent out had put the intruder into the brig for the time being. After a small time of adjusting to transwarp for the first time in a while Gaul and Jungle called the whole ship together.
"Ladies and Gentlemen Welcome aboard the Maximal Ship Penance." Gaul observed the group for a moment some seemed uninterested, some seemed fixed on his postion. "I know that most of you aren't use to a normal Military regimate, most of you have moved past this and are all specialist in your fields. However, With a ship of this size and a crew this large we will need to assign a few tasks in order to maintain the ship. First things first though, we are going to divide you into two squads. This will strictly be for the sake of keeping track of operations for the present moment, don't worry about being seperated from your teamates." Gaul said with a smile and then nodded to Jungle.
"Alright the following are with me, known as Second Squad. Rhapsody, Wraith, Filch, Rita, Catfish, Trance, Querion, Relic, Rubmur, Weede, Vinoc, and last but not least Retro-Virus." Jungle said reading names from a folder and then motioning for the group to follow him.
"The rest of you are first Squad." Gaul said moving towards the group of sitting/some standing bots. Ok like i said MOST not all will have duties that they need to fufill based on their specialties. The Chief Navigational Officer of the Ship will be Burnout. Burnout you will have an assistant officer Phyphen. Phyphen even if you don't have navigation experience i wouldn't worry becuase this is mostly stuff you should already know." Both of them nodded.
"Next is Weapons Officer. This will be Dusty and her assistant Officer will be Penji."
"Mimi will be incharge of Mess Operations with an assistant as Timber and another as Tundra. Your job will be to organize meals and have them ready to go." All three of the Females groaned noticably. "SOrry this isn't the best duty but its better then cleaning the Ship.
"Solarflare will be Second in Command of First squad due to Prior Training In the Crimson Flames."
"And Finally Cross will be incharge of the Med lab with Yeager as an Assistant By defualt. Any Questions?"
Caska, standing in the back, was a little relieved not to have a duty, though she thought for sure with her background she be made a security officer. She had an impulse to go fix up her quarters, but instead decided to stick around, get to know the others, or some such. She only vaguely recognized most of them from that trial from a lifetime ago.
Penji was.. befuddled. They were actually trusting him with resposibility, and, even more unbelievable, weapons? And he had a partner/direct superior? Weird, just.. weird. He waddled about looking for this partner, finally finding her.
"Dusst-eee?"
Dusty was leaning against a bulkhead near the back of the room, arms folded casually across her stomach as she listened to everyone discuss the squad listings. Her assignment as Weapons Officer had come as something of a surprise, but the dingo femme looked forward to the challenge...
Ah, who was she kidding. Dusty just wanted t'get her hands on all those boomsticks, maybe see if there was anything she could adapt for her Whiplash...
"Dust-eeee?"
Dusty blinked and looked up, to see Penji watching her with a somewhat bemused expression. "Hmm?"
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