#The blue Monsunos are finally here!!!

[artsymyargentavislove]

Meet good ol' Bosie!!!

Boskomodoensisdionea (Bos for short) is a rather unique Coretech Monsuno, a very experimental attempt at hybridizing plants and animals that was surprisingly successful at the time when Jeredy Suno was still figuring out the logistics of creating Monsunos.

His name is a very technical mix between the scientific names of the Venus Flytrap, Bull and Komodo Dragon (Before it was decided to give cooler sounding names to Monsunos in general when their power and ability for combat was discovered, most Monsunos have two names, their lab names and their field names, which is what we know them as in the series). It was believed a Monsuno couldn't and shouldn't be created with plants on the mix due to DNA instability, Bos was a lucky incident that could not be replicated and his case was thought to be highly unique until the appereance of Droog's overwhelmingly powerful Monsunos that suffered not such drawbacks since the lifeforms of his planet (And himself) are closely related and sometimes indistinguishable from plantlife and viceversa.

Mild tempered and lazy, he would rather spend his time grazing and sunbathing with the ocassional insect sticking to his complex tail. This doesn't mean he isn't capable of fighting, on the contrary, when it's time for battle, he is an opponent not to be underestimated as the sweet smelling secretion that coats his body is able to immovilize several opponents at once, and his flower-like tail is filled with razorsharp teeth that will not let go of it's prey, his strong build and tricky abilities make up for his lack of agility as close combat is his specialty.

He gets along very well with other Monsunos and people in general since he doesn't mind other's presence as long as they don't cause a ruckus and or threaten his controller and her family, that's a foolproof way of earning his wrath.

[ask-the-phan-site]

The Cruel Copy of Greed

>It’s time.

Let’s spin it out!

You’re speaking my language, mate.

I didn’t know that Monsuno was a language.

Dax: It’s not.

Either way, this is going to be fun.

Then off we go!

>With that, Mona becomes our van. We drive off with Dax on his motorcycle to steal the heart of Six.

>At the top of the Clock Tower of Greed, the Captor Spider was waiting for us. Zen was still looked in its tank.

Zen! We’re here!

Rei, be careful! Six has made the security here very high.

Don’t worry. We’re used to this sort of thing.

It’s gonna be difficult, though. Last time we had to fight that thing, we had to do it leg by leg.

Oracle: It shouldn’t be too hard if we divide up the work.

We’ll do that. Me and Yosuke can handle the Lightning Leg.

Yosuke: Right, let’s do this together, partner.

Mona: I think me and Panther can help you.

If I help you, will you give me a discount at Junes? Just kidding.

Yosuke: Good, I’ve already given Chie too many discounts.

I will deal with the Blazing Leg.

If ya Freeze it, me and Crow will shatter it.

I’m set and ready to go.

I’ll help, too.

I can handle the Freezing Leg. I have plenty of those Pumpkin Bombs you got from your friend in New York.

I can help you.

/And me and Labrys will deal with the Whirlwind Leg.

Good. I’ve been meaning to know what kind of Shadow we’re dealing with.

Joker: That just leaves me, Dax, Charade, and Rei to deal with the main body.

Good. I’ve been itching to get on with it.

Rei: I’ve been improving on my Kido skills.

So me and Oracle will make sure no other Shadows don’t interfere.

Here we go! It’s showtime!

NOTE: This fight can go on for awhile. So we’ll fast forward to the end.

>After a most grueling battle, the Captor Spider was now on its last leg.

Yu: Now Rei chan, finish it!

Rei: Ye lord! Mask of flesh and bone, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws. Hadō #33. Sōkatsui!

>A blast of blue flames comes out of Rei’s hand and at the Captor Spider. With that, the beast was gone and Zen was free.

Rei: ZEN!

Zen: REI!

>The two ran to each other and embraced each other.

Rei: (crying) Zen, I missed you so much.

Zen: (also having tears of his own) I missed you, too, Rei.

Dax: Mission accomplished, eh?

Skull: Not yet. We still need to get the Treasure.

Zen: He’s right. Not to mention that Klarion’s curse keeps me trapped in my Gigai which was altered to look like Six.

Queen: If we take his Treasure, it should get Six to stay quiet enough to find a way to get Zen back to his Soul form.

Crow: Oralce, Mona, can you find Six’s Treasure?

Oracle: I’m getting a signal. And it’s strong.

Mona: She’s right. I can feel it, too...

It’s real close!

?????? ???: You are right on track.

>Someone comes out of the shadows.

Looking for this?

>Shadow Six holds up a cane with with a gold handle and a red ruby on it.

Don’t get too attached to that. In a minute, that thing is going to be ours.

Shadow Six: Is it now?

Zen: Six, why do you do this? You know that man doesn’t love you. He may have given you life, but not one worth living.

Shadow Six: But he does love me. He gave me life twice. You should know, he used you to bring me back.

Zen: Because to him, you’re just another object he can own. Another expendable soldier just to take down Chase Suno and his friends.

Dax: He’s got a point there, mate. I’m one of those friends.

Yu: Zen is our friend who has an existence of his own. Your father had no right to take it.

Aigis: But we will take it back.

Rei: That’s right. Me and Zen are going home together!

Shadow Six: Are you sure? You will not find it so easy. I have my Monsuno ready for this.

>Shadow Six takes out a Core. Dax takes out his own.

Shadow Six: Fool, in my world, my Monsuno is too powerful for you.

Dax: We’ll see about that.

Shadow Six: I will not let this happen. My father will change this world. He will make this into his image and bring greatness.

Wolf: That’s not how Dax and his friends see it. Your ‘father’ wants to rule this world with an iron fist. We may not be able to take his heart, but we can sure take yours.

Crow: I know that you’re secretly suffering, Six san. Believe me, I know what it’s like to have a father like that.

Noir: As do I. So please, don’t let him take control of your life like this.

Skull: They’re right. We have a friend who was in a similar situation as yours.

Violet: I believe that maybe fate wanted you to come back only to see the truth. Emmanuel Klipse is no father to you... He’s not your father at all.

Aigis: You may have been created from his DNA, but he treats as no son of his.

Shadow Six: He is only trying to keep me from being soft.

Yu: No, he is only trying to keep you from having any true emotions of your own.

Charade: A true family would treat you with the love and respect someone as young as you need. Dr. Klipse only treats you like just some toy.

Joker: But we’re here to change all that. We will change your heart...

You will see the truth.

Shadow Six: ... So be it. But only if you defeat... Me and my Monsuno. Demise, Launch!

>Shadow Six launches his Core.

Dax: Bioblaze, Launch!

>Dax launches his Core. The moment they both collided, their Monsuno burst forth.

Oracle: This looks bad. Better 1UP it.

>Oracle goes Ultimate.

Oracle: PERSONA!

>Prometheus scans the Monsuno known as Demise.

Oracle: I’m not getting any weaknesses, But you might have a chance with Ice and Bless Skills.

Fox: I guess that means I’m up.

Violet: I’ll still let Sophie go on.

Sophie: I won’t disappoint.

Fox: Then let’s get started.

>Fox goes Ultimate.

Fox: PERSONA!

Sophie: Persona!

>I change Personas.

Joker: Persona!

(Insert song: Nothing is Promised)

>Demise uses Heat Charge to charge its attack. Bioblaze uses Frost Chill (Mabufula). It did major damage. Kamu Susano-o uses Masukukaja. Pandora uses Marakunda. Sraosha uses Kougaon. Demise uses Jaw of Fire on Dax. Because it was Fire-based attack, he was knocked down. Demise then uses Heat Wave. Dax gets back up and Bioblaze uses Wave Cutter. Kamu Susano-o uses Bufudyne. Pandora uses Kougaon. So does Sraosha. Demise uses Heat Spikes (Agilao) on me. Bioblaze uses Frost Chill. Demise was Frozen. Kamu Susano-o uses Rising Slash. Demise shatters. Pandora uses Kougaon. So does Sraosha. Demise uses Jaw of Fire on me. I become Burned. Bioblaze uses Terror Bullets. Kamu Susano-o uses Bufudyne. Pandora uses Kougaon.

Oracle: Super move! Ultra Charge!

>Prometheus uses Charge and Concentrate on us. Sraosha uses Kougaon. The Burn eats away at my health. Demise uses Lava Breath (Maragidyne). Dax dodges it. Fox is knocked down. Demise then simply attacks Fox. Dax uses an Extinguish Orb on me. Kamu Susano-o uses Masukukaja. Sophie uses a Kongou Ofuda. Sraosha uses Debilitate. Demise uses Heat Charge. Bioblaze uses Frost Chill. Demise becomes Frozen. Kamu Susano-o uses Rising Slash. Demise shatters and is now weaker. Pandora uses Kougaon. It was very strong. Sraosha also uses Kougaon.

Shadow Six: The Monsuno my father has given me is more powerful than you can imagine. You will not find it so easy. Demise, Show them your great power!

>Demise uses Desperation. Bioblaze uses Frost Chill. Kamu Susano-o uses Bufudyne. Pandora uses Kougaon. So does Sraosha. Demise uses Heat Wave. Sophie and I dodge it. Bioblaze uses Energy Launch (Megidola). Kamu Susano-o uses Bufudyne. Pandora uses Kougaon. I shoot my gun. Demise uses Lava Breath. Dax and Fox both get knocked down. Dax gets back up and uses a Idaten Ofuda. Fox gets back up and uses Master Curry. Sophie uses a Rasetsu Ofuda. I use a Kongou Ofuda. Demise tries to attack Sophie, but she dodges it. Bioblaze uses Frost Chill. Demise becomes Frozen. Kamu Susano-o uses Deadly Fury. Demise shatters and is now really weak. Pandora uses Kougaon. Sraosha does the same. Demise just hesitates. Bioblaze uses Dual Blasts (Megido). Kamu Susano-o uses Bufudyne. Demise becomes Frozen. Sophie uses her yo-yos and and shatters Demise. Sraosha uses Kougaon. Demise uses Fire Orb (Agidyne) on Fox. He is knocked down. Demise then uses Jaw of Fire on me. I get Burned. Dax uses an Extinguish Orb on me. Fox gets back up and Kamu Susano-o uses Myraid Slashes. Pandora uses Kougaon and Demise is finally gone.

Shadow Six: Damn! How could this have happened?

Dax: Guess your ol’ man isn’t as great as you think he is.

Oracle: That’s right. You really need to be more dependent on your own.

Shadow Six: How dare you. I was created from my father and Chase Suno to help my father take this world. I owe him everything!

Zen: Are you sure about that? To your father, he didn’t give you life, he just gave you power. You are nothing but weapon to him.

Shadow Six: I refuse to believe that.

Zen: Please listen to me, Six, I came here to take you to the Soul Society... But you are far from ready to rest there.

Shadow Six: !

Yu: What are you saying, Zen san?

Zen: It wasn’t easy, but Central 46 has allowed Six to live again. Normally, they would object to this as Six is not even a Mod-Soul. However, with some divine intervention, they have agreed to let Six to live to a ripe old age.

Shadow Six: ...

Zen: So please, Six san, don’t do this. Leave Dr. Klipse so you can live the life you truly deserve. One with a real family who loves you and accept you for who you are.

>Zen offers his hand to Shadow Six. Shadow Six then stick out his own hand as if trying to reach it... But he pulls it back.

Shadow Six: You... YOU’RE LYING!

Dax: You’re? We’re using contractions now? I guess we have our real answer.

Shadow Six: (now real angry) I do not believe what you are saying. I will destroy you and become the only one to exist. You say that I should not be like my father? ... Then maybe we should try THIS!

>With that, a great darkness surrounded Shadow Six. When it cleared...

Yosuke: (shocked) This thing again!?

Zen: Chronos, the Clockwork God. So we must fight him again.

Oracle: If we’re going up against this thing, I better try something better.

>Al Azif scans the Clockwork God.

Oracle: He has no weaknesses. And Bless and Curse Skills don’t work on him.

Yosuke: It’s not surprise. Last time we had to fight him, it took a party of five.

Joker: Yeah, we did something similar in that movie theater. I remember.

Yusuke: Then we’ll do it like then. Aigis san, Joker san, you with me?

Aigis: We are with you all the way.

Joker: Right! If we’re going up against a god here...

I think I might have just the thing.

Dax: Oi, I want in on this, too. No matter how you look at it, it’s still just Six.

Zen: That’s right. So I’ll be fighting, as well.

Skull: Are you sure you can fight after you’ve just been rescued?

Zen: I have recovered enough. I am willing and able.

Rei: (happy) Then let’s do this together!

Zen: (also happy) Yes, together.

Wolf: Hold on, Rei chan’s fighting, too? Wouldn’t that make it a total of six?

Rei: Me and Zen always work together. It’s like we’re one.

Joker: Then it’s settled.

Clockwork God: It does not matter how many numbers there are, I have great power that even you cannot fathom.

Joker: Now you’re just all talk. Even with all that power at your disposal, it won’t make any difference. Because we will, without a doubt...

Take your heart!

>I change to my Ultimate Persona!

Yu, Aigis, and Joker: PERSONA!

Rei: Zen, I’ve been holding on to this for you.

>She hands him a couple of crossbows.

Zen: My Zanpackuto. Thank you, Rei.

Dax: Right, shall we?

Zen: Ready.

Dax: Hyper Airswitch, Launch!

>Dax launches his Core. Zen shots at it. When the arrow hit it, the Monsuno inside bursts out.

(Insert song: The Infinite)

>The Clockwork God uses Gears of Time. Yu said that it will initiate a countdown until it destroys us.

Rei; Does this mean it will really be like last time?

Zen: I doubt it. There is something that’s keeping him from using his other powers. But be careful. He might still be able to hasten the countdown.

Joker: Then we’ll just have to beat him before the countdown finish. But I’m going to need you to buy me some time.

Yu: Right. We’ll buy you as much as we can.

>Izanagi-no-Okami uses Concentrate. Athena uses Marakukaja. Satanael uses Riot Gun. Rei uses a Bakudo Kido spell known as Sai on the Clockwork God. Its effect is similar to Sukunda. Hyper Airswitch uses Mystic Armor (Makarakarn) on me. The Clockwork God uses Marakunda. Then, he uses Agidyne on Dax. Izangai-no-Okami uses Ziodyne. Athena uses Rising Slash. Satanael uses Riot Gun again. Zen uses Cyclone. Hyper Airswitch uses Electro Barrage, an Electricity-based attack. The Clockwork God uses Vorpal Blade on me. Then, he tries to use Pulinpa on Aigis, but thankfully, it didn’t work. Izanagi-no-Okami uses Myraid Truths. Athena uses Akashic Arts. Satanael uses Riot Gun. Zen uses Soul Slice. Hyper Airswitch uses Down Spiral Dive (Garudyne). The Clockwork God uses Bufudyne on Zen and Rei. They become Frozen. Then, he uses Vorpal Blade on them. They are shattered. Izanagi-no-Okami uses Concentrate. Athena uses Diarahan on Zen and Rei. Satanael uses Riot Gun. Zen uses Thunder Clap. Hyper Airswitch uses Down Spiral Dive. The Clockwork God uses Matarunda. He then just hesitates. Izanagi-no-Okami uses Myraid Truths. Athena uses Megaton Raid. Satanael uses Riot Gun. Zen uses Soul Slice. Hyper Airswitch uses Electro Barrage. The Clockwork God uses Ziodyne on Aigis. She is knocked down. The Clockwork God then uses Aigidyne on me. Fortunately, Mystic Armor protects me and the attack is thrown back at him. The Clockwork God just hesitates. Izanagi-no-Okami uses Salvation. Aigis gets back up and Athena uses Megaton Raid.

Oracle: I’ll do something about this!

>Al Azif recovers some of our SP. Satanael uses Riot Gun. Rei uses the Hado Kido, Tenran. Hyper Airswitch uses Down Spiral Dive. The Clockwork god was now at half health.

Clockwork God: You still resist me after everything I have used against you? Very well. Behold the power of death.

>The Clockwork God uses Time Warp.

Zen: He’s hastened it.

Joker: Damn! I’m still not ready yet. I need more time.

Yu: We’re not giving up just yet.

Oracle: He’s right. We’re only half done. Keep going!

>The Clockwork God then uses Ziodyne on Dax. He is knocked down. The Clockwork God then uses Marakunda. Izanagi-no-Okami uses Concentrate. Athena uses Marakukaja. Satanael uses Riot Gun.

Zen: I think I’m ready to release my Zanpakuto.

Rei: Then let’s do it! Fly High, Jikanya!

>When Zen fired his arrow, it became pure Almighty which took a large amount of the Clockwork God’s health. Dax gets back up and Hyper Airswitch uses Mystic Armor on Dax. The Clockwork God uses Maragidyne. Zen and Rei become Burned and the Mystic Armor protects Dax and send the attack back at the Clockwork God. Then, he tries to use Vorpal Blade on Aigis, but she dodges it. Izanagi-no-Okami uses Salvation. This cures Zen and Rei of the Burn. Athena uses Megaton Raid. Satanael uses Riot Gun. Zen uses Thunder Clap. Hyper Airswitch uses Electro Barrage. The Clockwork God uses Garudyne on me. Then, he uses Bufudyne on Dax. He becomes Frozen. Izanagi-no-Okami uses Ziodyne. Athena uses Megaton Raid.

Oracle: Super move! Ultra Charge!

>Al Azif uses Charge and Concentrate on us. Satanael uses Riot Gun. Thanks, to the Charge, it took a large chunk of the Clockwork God’s health. But I need just a little more time before delivering the final blow.

Rei: Time to show you I can be just as strong as Zen. Ye lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south! Hado #31. Shakkaho!

>Rei fires a large blast of red energy from both her hands. Thanks to Concentrate, the attack was stronger.

Clockwork God: No, I cannot allow this! I will not lose my exisitance to the likes of you. I cannot!

>The Clockwork God uses Time Warp.

Dax: We may be making progress, but we’re running out of time, mates.

Joker: I’m almost ready. just gave me a little more time.

Clockwork God: You will not have enough time! I will make sure of that!

>The Clockwork God uses Megidolaon.

Yu: I don’t think so. We will stop you... TOGETHER!

>Izanagi-no-Okami uses Salvation.

Aigis: Yes, let us do this!

>Athena uses God’s Hand.

Joker: And now... TO FINISH THIS!

>With Sinful Shell, the battle was over. The Clockwork God fell and resumed his human form.

Shadow Six: Th- That’s not possible. My Monsuno. My father’s Monsuno. They’re... Not powerful, after all?

Dax: The truth hurts, doesn’t it?

Noir: I understand how you feel, Six san. I sometimes used to think that my father was a great man. But then I saw the truth. But I know he was a good man deep down...

But your father is empty.

Crow: That’s right. I know how you feel, too. My father was a monster. To him, everyone was expendable.

Dr. Klipse treat you the same way.

Shadow Six: ...

Zen: Please listen to them, Six. They speak the truth. But you don’t have to be like this. You can have another chance at life. Just trust us.

Shadow Six: ... Why should I? Why am I being given another chance?

Zen: You know it’s not just Emmanuel Klipse you were created from.

Shadow Six: You mean... Chase Suno? What does have have to do with all of this?

Zen: You know he has a gift that only a few have.

Shadow Six: The Monsuno Sight. Hargrave has it. Why? Are you saying that because Chase Suno has the Monsuno Sight... I might have it, too?

Zen: ... That’s what we're going to find out. But even if you don’t have it, you will still be allowed to live. You can be more than what you were just made to be.

Joker: Yes. We don’t want to hurt you. Nor do we want to fight you any longer.

Just give us the Treasure. Trust us.

>Shadow Six was silent for a moment... Finally, he gives us the Treasure.

Shadow Six: Alright. I trust you.

>Then, the Palace begins to crumble.

Mona: It’s time to go.

>With that, Mona becomes out van. We all get on... Except for Zen who stayed with Shadow Six.

Rei: Zen, come with us!

Zen: I cannot, Rei. Klarion’s curse keeps me trapped in my Gigai with Six. Even going with you through the Metaverse would be pointless.

Rei: But-

Zen: It’ll be fine, Rei. We’ll see each other soon. Just look for me in the facility in the real world. I’ll be waiting.

>Rei knew Zen was right. So she gets on Mona and we drive off.

>Zen goes to Shadow Six who looks up to him. He was worried.

Zen: It’s alright, Six. No harm will come to you... I promise.

>Shadow Six silently nods his head. Zen offers his hand to him... Shadow Six takes it.

>We arrive back in the real world safely.

That wasn’t a very easy fight.

Still, we won. Just like last time.

Aigis: No doubt.

Dax: Say, where is this Treasure we risked our necks for?

Labrys: Yeah, I wanna see it.

It’s right here.

That’s it? That’s what we almost got killed for? It’s kind of a letdown from our last Palace.

Dax: Demise’s Core. The first Monsuno Six ever got from Klipse. Of course he would see it as valuable.

And what about Zen san?

Rei: Klarion’s curse keeps him trapped in his Gigai. He said that we should go into the Eklipse base and see him.

That shouldn’t be a problem. This isn’t the first time we sneaked into a base in the real world. I’ll see if I can make it happen.

Oh, boy, cut me some slack.

Dax: We don’t all have to go, old man. Some of us can go.

Queen: Right, we should discuss who should go in the camper.

>We all agree and go inside the camper... Dax stayed outside. He takes out his phone.

Dax: But just to be sure... Oi, you guys, can I ask a favor of you?

>To be concluded...

[thelanternwielder]

Too Late - Part Eight

Author’s Note:

Although this chapter isn’t too lengthy, you might notice the “keep reading” link below. I have gone back and put the link on all of the chapters because, originally, I was ignorant of the ediquette of posting fanfiction on Tumblr. Forgive me; it is my first attempt at this sort of thing!

Previous part: >Here<

The Start: >Here<

EDIT 2018/07/05: Part Nine is >Here< finally!

Tell me what you think. Feedback is always appreciated.

It was morning time. The cafeteria was quietly buzzing with the chattering of S.T.O.R.M. personnel while they grabbed their breakfasts and took them to their tables on trays.

X-Ray had collected his meal and was lethargically walking towards the cluster of tables at which his teammates sat.

He reached them. His friends turned to greet him.

Bravo said with a smile, “Hey –“ it was dropped in shock, “Whoa…you look wiped out, dude.”

The others were just as surprised.

X-Ray regarded them with incredibly tired eyes that he battled to keep open. He was losing. He wandered over to the seat next to Alpha and placed his tray on the table. He clumsily slumped onto the chair.

Alpha frowned at the bespectacled boy, “What happened to you?”

He weakly replied, “Couldn’t sleep.”

Tango remarked, “What? Too much screen time again?”

“No,” the boy explained with groans, “Nightmare. Woke me up.”

He slid his fingers under his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

Kilo had a mouthful of toast as he spoke, “That must’ve been some nightmare to keep you awake.”

X-Ray gazed at his friends as his eyes filled with fear thinking about last night.

Alpha nudged the boy with his elbow and reassured, “Hey, it’s only a bad dream.”

“But it felt so real.”

X-Ray saw his comrades’ faces of concern. It prompted him to describe the dream.

“I was strapped down on my back. Couldn’t move. There were these…glowing figures. They were green and made out of slime. One of them approached me and grabbed my head. The slime creeped across my face and into my mouth and nose. I couldn’t breathe. I thought I was going to die. The last thing I remember was the grin that monster had while I struggled.”

He shuddered, “Brrrr!”

The feeling of second-hand horror had spread around the table and leached into the children as they listened to X-Ray’s recount.

Tango’s eyes flickered to the side. Those creatures sounded familiar.

“That is so eerie,” she commented, leaning towards X-Ray, “I’ve seen those monsters in one of my dreams that I had last week.”

“Really?” Bravo’s eyebrows were raised.

Kilo crunched on his toast quizzically, bending his ears to the girl.

“Yes,” she said, “Although, I was able to fight them off with my Monsuno. I ended up flying away. They couldn’t catch me.”

Alpha’s eyes sparked with realisation.

“I’ve seen them too,” he smugly smirked, “but they weren’t able to touch me. I was wearing impenetrable steel. I was slicing through them with my sword.”

The girl of the group snarked, “Let me guess: you were a knight.”

“Yeah,” Alpha was serious.

Bravo pretended to cough to disguise his mocking words, “Knight kink.”

“What? Hey!” Alpha slammed his hands on the table as he shot up.

Kilo began to snicker, trying his hardest not to choke as he swallowed.

Bravo held his open hands to the standing boy, slouching back, “What’s wrong, Red? I just coughed.”

Tango was infected by the giggles. It would have claimed X-Ray as another victim, but he was too exhausted to pick up what Bravo had said.

The ginger boy glared at them, “Unlike you knuckleheads, I have an appreciation for a time when people were bold, daring and proudly fought with honour! And none of this tech that we use existed either, so you were relying on your strength and fortitude to win.”

The group’s laughter had calmed as he sat down again. The commotion had caught the attention of another person as he was collecting his breakfast: Chase. The boy in blue began to dawdle past Strike Squad’s seats, eavesdropping.

Kilo gestured to Tango, Alpha and X-Ray with his piece of toast, “So, y’all have seen these weird slime monsters in your dreams?” Chase’s ears pricked, “The same slime monsters?”

Tango shrugged, “Looks like it.”

Chase approached one end of the tables. Strike Squad noticed.

The boy was polite, “Hey guys. I was going to sit with the rest of the team,” he pointed behind himself with his thumb, “You wanna join us today?”

Strike Squad were somewhat suspicious. The two groups never really sat together. They were also still fierce rivals, despite working on the same side.

Chase tried to persuade them into the truce, “C’mon. A change is as good as a holiday, am I right? Eh? Eh?”

“Alright, I’ll bite,” Alpha said, standing up with his tray, “but just this once, Suno.”

“That’s the spirit, Alpha,” Chase smiled, “Any more takers?”

The rest of Strike Squad glanced at each other. They relaxed their scepticism.

“Only for one day. Can’t hurt,” Kilo mentioned as he got up.

The rest followed him, picking their trays up. X-Ray was a sloth in comparison to his friends, lagging behind them.

The boy in blue beamed as he led Strike Squad to Team Core-Tech’s table cluster.

At one of them, Bren saw Chase approaching. He then spotted Strike Squad. The boy with glasses had an expression that was a cross between bemusement and amusement.

“Uh, hi Chase,” he greeted.

Chase sat next to him, grinning back. Alpha sat opposite Chase, next to Jinja.

Jinja regarded the red-headed boy carefully.

“Deciding to sit with us today, huh?”

He looked back with a half-smile, nodding slightly, “Yeah.”

Dax and Beyal paused from their eating and glanced down the tables. Strike Squad had definitely joined them for breakfast. They were not imagining anything.

Dax waved mutedly at the people at the other end, mouth still full of cereal. Bravo waved back.

Before commencing his meal, like the others had already done with a clatter, Chase turned to the boy with the buzzcut, “Hey Kilo. There was something that you said that caught my attention, something about seeing green glowing slime monsters.”

The S.T.O.R.M. specialist was about to take another bite of his toast before he was addressed.

He answered, “Er, yeah. I did. Some of us have been seeing them in our dreams.”

Bravo added, nudging the tired boy in between he and Alpha, “Little dude over here had a nightmare about them.”

X-Ray grunted in confirmation, chewing slowly.

Tango asked, “Why are you interested, you snoop?”

Chase glanced at his team before replying. Both Jinja and Beyal were in reflective states.

“I’m only curious because I’ve seen them in a couple of my dreams recently.”

He took his first bite.

Beyal spoke up with a revelation, “So have I.”

Jinja was the same, “Me too.”

“Whoa…” Bren’s words were trailing off with unease, “That’s so spooky…”

Jinja turned to Strike Squad, “Were they attacking you in your dreams? They were in mine.”

“Attacking?” X-Ray whimpered, “They were trying to kill me!”

Chase gave a troubled look to the boy.

He hesitantly replied, “They were trying to murder me too. They seemed to really despise me, but I was able to retaliate in my dreams.”

“Same,” Tango was beginning to see the similarities.

Alpha nodded, “Yeah, ditto.”

Dax looked at Beyal, “What about you, Monkfish?”

“They tried but they could not land a sludge-coated hand on me.”

Dax turned his gaze to the rest of the group.

“And it’s just been you three,” he gestured to Alpha, Tango and X-Ray, “over there that have had these dreams.”

Kilo responded, “Bravo and I haven’t had those dreams.”

The blond boy shook his head.

Chase added, “And it’s Jinja, Beyal and I who have seen these ghouls too.”

“This can’t just be a coincidence,” Tango stated.

“My thought exactly,” Jinja concurred.

Dax glanced at Beyal again. The monk was pondering deeply.

“Monkfish?”

Beyal blinked out of his brief trance.

“I have realised something,” he said in his neutral tone, “It did not feel like a normal dream whenever those creatures appeared. They felt like visions.”

Everyone stopped eating upon hearing the last sentence. The clanks of cutlery on trays served as a sort of record scratch. There was an astounded silence at the tables.

Bravo was the one to break it, turning to the opposite end at where the monk sat, “Visions.”

“Yes, and every time those otherworldly beings appeared I have also seen the symbol of an X with a line through it.”

Bren’s eyes widened, struck with recognition, “Hey, I remember seeing that symbol at those ice caves.”

X-Ray gulped.

The monk continued, “I do too, before I was kidnapped.”

Alpha added, “And I remember seeing the symbol in my dream. It was on the armour of a knight that I was versing, except it was actually one of the monsters inside it.”

Chase gave the red-headed boy a mystified look before turning to Beyal.

He pointed out, “Isn’t that symbol the one you saw in your vision when you were captured?”

“Yes,” Beyal’s eyes grew as he began to slot the pieces of the surreal puzzle together.

He regarded his peers, “The eight glowing figures…I think I know who they are.”

Team Core-Tech were more familiar with the monk’s vision than Strike Squad, but everyone had a rough idea of what he spoke of.

“Who?” prompted Chase.

“The blue ones are you, me and Jinja. The yellow ones are Alpha, X-Ray and Tango.”

The monk hesitated. Alpha’s eyes narrowed.

“I thought you said eight. That’s only six.”

“The other two, the red ones, I am unsure,” Beyal’s voice was full of uncertainty, “but I believe they were meant to be Dom Pyro and Hargrave.”

The others, who were following the monk’s train of thought, had become derailed by his perplexing remark.

Bren’s eyebrow was cocked, “Uh, what brought you to that conclusion?”

The monk elaborated, “Those dreams that we have had were, in fact, visions.”

Chase stated with scepticism towards his friend, “But I thought you could only get visions if you had the Monsuno voice.”

Amazement began to swell among some of the group at the implication of the boys’ words.

Bren dampened the swell, “Hey, I was able to have a vision…once…and I haven’t been visited by these monsters.”

Chase recalled that moment, “B, you were holding my head while I was meditating. I projected that vision onto you.”

“Yeah,” the spectacled boy crossed his arms stubbornly, “but it still was a vision.”

Kilo had a look of envy flash upon his face.

Dax turned to Beyal, pointing his spoon at him, “Didn’t you do that to Mr Deranged and the Creepy Butler when you were tied up?”

“They did see my vision,” the monk responded, “and were able to do so without touching me.”

Dax’s spoon drooped as his eyes popped.

“That’s not possible,” he declared.

“Not unless they have the Monsuno voice.”

The boy with dreads banged his hands on the table, “You’re bleazing kidding me!”

Beyal reservedly replied, “I am neither bleazing nor kidding.”

Dax had an immense feeling of injustice towards the truth. The others were still attempting to digest all of the new information on top of their meals.

“So, we have this psychic power,” Alpha had a wily grin stretch across his cheeks, “and we didn’t even know it.”

“So do our enemies, apparently,” Chase observed, “And those slime monsters that keep appearing,” he glanced at Bren and Beyal, “are connected, not only to all of us, but to the mountains.”

X-Ray hunched his shoulders, “I don’t wanna go back there.”

Tango commented, “Something tells me that’s where we’ll end up.”

The two unified teams continued their breakfasts, clanking and crunching, reflecting on their discussion and what it could entail for the future.

However, Beyal still had a question left about his enigmatic vision: who was the ninth figure that burst through the floor meant to be? Its crimson colour suggested that it was someone who was associated with Eklipse. But there couldn’t possibly be another member of that team that possessed the Monsuno voice, he reasoned.

The monk mulled it over, munching away.

Meanwhile, in the Eklipse Resistance ship, another mystery was unfolding: The Curious Caper of the Missing Madman. Nobody had seen Dom Pyro get up that morning. He had vanished, it seemed.

Hargrave was the self-appointed detective on the case, determined to solve it as quickly as possible. He was heading straight towards the control room to review the security footage of the last twenty-four hours.

He marched down the hallway that led to the room and abruptly halted when he entered.

Before the butler was Dom Pyro, still in his pyjamas, sleeping awkwardly with his head on one of the chairs in the middle of the room. The rest of the slumbering man was draped along the ground.

Hargrave wandered up to behind the chair, regarded the man for a second and placed his hands on it.

Taking a step back, the butler yanked the chair from underneath the man’s head.

Bang!

The man awoke with a jolt from smacking his head on the floor. The butler contently pushed the chair to the side. He stood in front of the man with his hands behind his back, watching.

Dom blinked, powering up. He lifted himself drowsily to his hands and knees. His eyes met dress shoes. He followed the figure upwards.

“Oh, hello Clockwork Man,” he was dazed, “What are you doing in my bedroom?”

The butler corrected him, “You’re in the control room, Dom.”

“Hm?” the man sat up, gazing around.

He looked back at the butler, “How did I get here?” he clutched his head, “And why does my head hurt?”

“I was sincerely hoping you would be able to tell me but clearly not,” the butler raised an eyebrow, “Perhaps you were sleep-walking and fell, which would explain the sore head.”

Dom shook his head, “But I don’t sleep-walk.”

“How peculiar.”

The butler went to the console and switched the computer on.

The man in pyjamas got up, “I thought I went to bed after what happened last night.”

The butler’s fingers began to rattle the keyboard as he accessed the security footage.

He queried, “Was there some sort of incident?”

“You didn’t hear the squelching sounds?”

He turned to the pyjama-clad man with a furrowed brow, “No.”

Dom pointed to himself with his hand, “Well, I heard this squelching, along with growling, outside my door. It was keeping me up,” he folded his digits into a tight fist as his eyes widened with excitement, “So, I decided to get up and track it down, whatever it was.”

The butler faced the massive screen again, “Why am I not surprised?”

He summoned the footage of the area in front of the bedrooms during last night. He began to speed through it, searching for any movements. The cameras had a night-vision setting so darkness wasn’t an issue.

He paused it when Dom suddenly popped out of his room.

“There I am!” the man recognised himself, “I told you that I got up.”

The butler scrutinised the man in the footage. He noticed something baffling about him.

“Your eyes are closed.”

“Huh?!” Dom’s jaw dropped, “But I was awake! I swear!”

��Our cameras do not lie; those eyes are shut tight.”

Dom was quite bewildered. He was certain of what was real before seeing the contrary on screen.

The footage was played at normal speed. The man in the video was striding down the hallway, as if his eyes were open.

Dom began to narrate, noticing that his movements mirrored what he had experienced when he believed he was awake, “After poking my head out of my room, I spotted this light at one of the ends of the corridor. I approached it. That was where the sounds were coming from.”

As the man in the footage drew near the corner of the hallway, he began to sneak.

But there was no light. In fact, he crept towards nothing.

The butler asked, watching the footage with disbelief, “What colour was the light?”

“Green.”

The butler’s pulse seemed to hasten at that moment. The man in the video suddenly froze and regarded the emptiness with what appeared to be fright.

Dom commented, “I discovered this slimy monster slinking in the hallway.”

The man in the footage began to back away, “It was snarling at me, reaching towards me with its sticky tentacles. It was staring at me with all those eyes. So many eyes!”

The man bolted away, down the corridor and around the corner. Hargrave rapidly threw onto the screen the footage of the camera that would have seen the man. He began to track the man in this manner.

The butler was trying to make sense of the madness, “So, you found this…slime monster and it proceeded to chase you.”

“Yes,” Dom crossed his arms, “I was meant to be the one hunting it, not the other way around!”

The man abruptly skidded to a stop at a corner and tried to go the other way. He was impeded by some invisible force. He glanced at both ends.

Dom said, “At this point, there were these two humanoid figures in front of me, coming towards me. Behind me were three more.”

“There were five of them?” the butler was now horrified, recognising the type of monsters the madman described.

Dom smirked, “Silly slime people! They thought they could trap me,” he chuckled, “Oh, how wrong they were!”

The man in the footage suddenly charged towards the corner, seemingly dodging the obstacles that stood in front of him. He banged against the wall with his back before slipping away.

The man was running so fast that Hargrave had some trouble keeping up with him. He gave up trying to make the footage flow seamlessly.

“For someone who is meant to be asleep, you are awfully rapid!”

The madman chortled again.

Eventually, the camera for the control room was reached. The shut-eyed man slid into the room, head twitching about as if his eyes were seeking something.

Dom’s smile disappeared, “This time, they really did corner me. I could hear them, shouting, calling out to me.”

The butler wondered if the monster with the red streaks under its eyes was one of the beings that pursued the madman.

In the video, the man approached one of the chairs and picked it up. He held it in a weaponised way. He then flattened himself against the wall next to the entryway.

The butler’s eyes narrowed. Another stupid smile appeared on the madman’s face, knowing fully what was about to happen.

The man in the footage, all of a sudden, began to wave the chair violently at his invisible foes. He swung with such force that the swishing that it generated could be picked up by the camera’s microphone. It would have been enough to permanently knock out someone.

“Oh, my giddy aunt!” the butler exclaimed, “What are you doing?”

“Defending myself,” the madman’s teeth gleamed.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Eventually, the man in the video put the chair down.

Dom explained, “Those slime monsters ran away,” he hid his teeth, “but I chased after them with the chair.”

The man began to sway while facing the front of the chair. He collapsed forwards, chair sliding as his head landed on it. The footage then paused.

Dom frowned, “I tried to catch the monsters, but they were too slippery and escaped. Then I went to bed afterwards. Why didn’t I act that out?”

He looked at the butler who was in a state of contemplation as he cupped his chin with a finger and a thumb.

“Clockwork Man?” he tilted his head to the side.

The butler faced him, “Those monsters that you speak of are the same ones that appeared in my last vision,” he gestured to him, “an elaborate dream. However, there were only three in mine.”

Dom glanced at the screen, “A vision. I was enacting a vision,” he began to lean on the terminal, body more angled towards the butler, “So, you reckon that I should’ve only seen three of those things.”

The butler suggested, “Maybe your vision is to inform us that there are actually five of those hideous creatures out there. I hope not,” he sighed, “but visions normally come true, don’t they?”

“Normally.”

The butler turned back to the computer and closed the application for accessing the ship’s security footage.

He briefly regarded Dom from head to toe and remarked, “I recommend that you get dressed. You don’t want to keep the Doctor waiting, do you?”

“No,” the madman began to wander towards the doorway, “I hope we do something today. That dream has put me in the mood for a hunt.”

The butler soon followed suit and departed from the control room, now satisfied that he had closed the case on the morning’s mystery.

As for Dom’s wish, it was never granted. For the entire day, everyone was stuck inside the metal ship recuperating from the last expedition to the ice caves.

Evening fell on the frigid mountains and nothing eventful had happened.

In the steely halls of the Eklipse Resistance ship, Charlemagne had wandered up to one of the bedroom doors and opened it. The light from the hallway silhouetted her figure in the room.

She entered and scanned the bedroom. Large, dark, unoccupied.

She spied the wardrobe. She approached it and slid the door open. Her hand brushed against the garments as she attempted to identify each one.

She snatched one from its coat hanger: a thick dark jacket with a hood.

She turned to the light to see if she had plucked the right one. It was black with red trimmings.

She smiled, electrified with spite. Alternating hands that held the jacket, she slipped her arms into the sleeves of her long white coat. She then draped the jacket over her shoulders while exiting the bedroom.

She reached to the side to pick up a black forked gun that was propped against the wall. It was the same one that she stole from the incapacitated S.T.O.R.M. soldier when she escaped the flying fortress. It still had a few shots left.

She closed the door and trotted down the corridors, keeping an eye out for anyone else. Vengeful electricity was building up deep inside her, like dark menacing clouds on an overcast day.

In her mind, she had escaped one prison just to end up in another. She wanted true freedom, not to be transferred from cage to cage.

She was soon to discharge herself from the ship, to bust out of there. And there was nothing anyone could do to stop her treacherous storm.

[teddyvelvetz]

Souvenir

Summary: Dax gets Rose a souvenir from the museum he and Beyal guarded. Takes place right after Season 3 episode 1. 

           Rose ran towards the H-Tram docks. She’d heard the news that Team Core-Tech ran into some trouble at Westward City’s Museum of Natural History. She had overheard Commandant Marshal Jon Ace mentioning that Eklipse and Forge had been stealing dinosaur bones from museums around the continent. Rose hoped her friends had at least found out what that was all about.

           The young medic arrived just as the H-Tram carrying TCT landed. The door slid open and out walked five tired teens. The last to walk out was Dax. The Lowlander let out a huge yawn. To Rose it looked like he was a combination of tired and bored, not as if he were attacked by two opposing Monsuno factions.

           “Is everyone ok? Is anyone injured?” Rose asked as she approached the group.

           “Mentally maybe,” Jinja replied “, those creeps really had it in for us.”

           “But we pulled through,” Beyal added.

           Bren waved his hand wildly in the air crying out “I think I got a paper cut!”

           “That’s not a real injury you weenie!” snapped Jinja. “Rose means if you’re bleeding gallons of blood or broke a bone.”

           Rose giggled. She was glad that even if S.T.O.R.M and Core-Tech merged factions her friends remained the same and hadn’t let being part of a big military group go to their heads. Reaching into her medic bag she found a band aid.

           “Here Bren, this should help,” Rose said as she handed the mousey boy a pink band aid.

           Bren’s brows furrowed. “Does it have to be pink? I could have sworn you had at least purple ones in there.”

           “Take it or leave it, Glasses,” barked Dax. Rose jumped. He had approached from her blind side so she hadn’t seen him coming. “Be thankful she helped a big whiner like you.”

           Bren grumbled as he walked away forlornly, but he did wrap the bandage around his cut. The moment Bren disappeared from sight; Dax took ahold of Rose’s hands and kissed them. The sudden action made her face heat up. She looked up at Dax, blue eyes having trouble meeting his brown ones. He gave her a cocky smile.

           “What’s wrong Sweetie? The steam from your face is going to fog up your glasses.” Dax chuckled when Rose was unable to find an answer, but it seemed as if he expected it.

           “Ew! Get a room!” Chase called out. Team Core-Tech’s leader was clearly teasing the couple. He was like everyone’s big brother.

           “I have to agree with Chase on this one,” Jinja added.

           “We could have dinner?” asked Beyal. He seemed a mix of uncomfortable and confused as to how Dax was acting. The monk was fairly new to romantic affection and was having trouble dealing with it.

           “Now you’re speaking my language, Beyal!” Chase enthusiastically said before walking in the direction of the mess hall. Jinja and Beyal followed close behind.

           Rose leaned against Dax. He felt so warm and sturdy. She was drawn to him like a magnet. “Do you want dinner?”

           “Hm. We can get dinner in a bit,” Dax caressed the scarred side of Rose’s face “, but this is a perfect time for a little one on one time. Don’t you think, Sweetie?”

           Rose grinned. “What did you have in mind?”

           Dax lead Rose down one of the many corridor’s in Cloud Carrier Epsilon. She felt giddy. Since Core-Tech and S.T.O.R.M teamed up she hadn’t gotten much time with her friends, much less Dax. Jon conveniently put Dax on missions while convincing Rose she was of much more use in the medical wing. Rose loved her adoptive father, but she wasn’t that blind to the fact that he was trying to keep Dax away from her.

           Dax pushed open a set of double doors. It led to a large deck used for when S.T.O.R.M held parties for other fancy government officials. Jon had mentioned it being called the Sky Deck. Tables and benches were bolted to the polished wooden floors, but most of the floor space was used for mingling and dancing. Charlemagne wasn’t much of a party person. Rose only remembered her using the Sky Deck once or twice during her reign as Commandant Marshall of S.T.O.R.M.

           Rose looked up at the surrounding sky and let out a small gasp. The stars were breath taking when one was in the sky like this. It was like she was in some sort of dome with glimmering lights all around her. She felt as if she could reach up and grab a star right from the sky. The clouds wrapped around Cloud Carrier Epsilon in such a way that it felt like they were sailing on an ocean made of clouds.

           “Breathtaking isn’t it?” Dax asked as he wrapped an arm around Rose’s shoulders. He smiled down at Rose as he watched her trying to grasp for the right words to describe the scenery.

           The Lowlander turned Rose to face him. Without skipping a beat he pressed his lips against Rose’s. Rose froze in surprise, but was quick in returning the kiss. She pressed her body against Dax’s, kissing him hard. She was so starved for Dax’s affection. It felt like a million years since she was able to be this intimate and she kissed him as if she wouldn’t be able to kiss him for a million more years.

           When the couple finally pulled away from one another they were both flushed and breathing heavily. Rose had her arms around Dax’s middle with her head resting on his chest. She loved his heartbeat. It felt so good being this close to him again. Dax held Rose close, his body began quivering with laughter.

           “Geez Sweetie. I didn’t know you had it in you to kiss me like that,” Dax wiped the lingering saliva from their kissing off his face. He loved how messy and wild their kisses were.

           They stayed cuddled up and enjoying the sky for a few moments longer before Dax had an idea. He took a step back from Rose and held a hand out to her. “Wanna dance?”

           Rose looked shyly at the ground, “I don’t know how.”

           Dax grabbed her hands and pulled her towards him, “And you think I do?”

           The Lowlander picked Rose up in his strong arms and spun her around. The medic whooped and laughed with glee. He began singing “Ladies of Spain” loudly and terribly out of tune. Rose didn’t mind it when Dax sang. He knew how to have fun. The couple spun in slow circles to old traveling songs Dax had picked up over the years. They chased each other up and down the Sky Deck. Even with half her body stiff from burn scars, Rose was doing ok keeping up with Dax. Playing like this made her feel like an actual kid and not like a breakable, scarred, delicate flower.

           Eventually Rose and Dax grew tired and sat on the ground to rest. Dax laid his head against Rose’s should, enjoying her presence and the way she ran her hand through his dreads. He wouldn’t admit it, but being like this made him actually feel safe. Rose was so soft, kind, and warm.

           Dax suddenly sat upright spooking Rose in the process. “I almost forgot! I got you something at the museum.”

           Rose tilted her head to the side, “You did?”

           “Mhm! I need ya to close your eyes, Sweetie,” Dax instructed.

           “Hmm. Do I have to close both? My left one is blind now so I really only have to close one,” Rose asked, trying to sound joking but unsure if it came out that way. Dax’s slightly struck face told her it hadn’t come off as joking as she wanted it to have been.

           “How about you humor me and close both?” Dax replied as soon as he recovered from Rose’s question.

           “If I must,” Rose sighed as she dramatically closed her eyes as tight as she could.

           She could hear Dax shuffling in his jacket pockets before excitedly whispering, “Ok! Now open ‘em up!”

           Rose opened her eyes to see Dax holding a small pink triceratops statue. It was small enough to fit in the palm of his hand.

           “Wow,” Rose whispered.

           “Don’t be shy. Take it. It’s a gift for you after all,” Dax told her as he gently placed the triceratops into Rose’s hands.

           The little dinosaur was quite a sight. On closer inspection the creature had been carved from rose quartz. The maker had carved the triceratops’s eyes, nose, and toes into the stone. Its three horns and frill were impressively detailed as well. For its small size the stone statue had a good weight to it.

           “I don’t know what to say,” Rose mumbled. She was at a loss for words. “It’s beautiful.”

           Dax caressed Rose’s face, his thumb rubbing the scarred flesh on the left side of her face, “The most beautiful gift for the most beautiful girl in the world.”

           Rose hugged Dax tightly, careful to put the statue safely on the floor first so she wouldn’t accidentally drop it in the process of trying to show her gratitude. She whispered thank yous over and over into Dax’s chest while he pet her fluffy brown hair.

           “Well, I felt bad you couldn’t come to the museum with me,” Dax explained “, I know your special interest is dinosaurs so before the gift shop closed I got you this little souvenir.”

           “It’s perfect!”

           Dax chuckled at Rose’s excitement. He loved the way her eyes lit up over dinosaurs. “You think so? Well in that case, when the museum opens back up we’ll have to go on a date. The baddies and us kinda did a number to it, y’know? It’s hard to control giant monsters. I’m sure everything’s fine.”

           “You promise?” Rose looked up at Dax hopefully.

           Dax held out his pinky finger. “Pinky promise?”

           Rose wrapped her pinky around his. “Pinky promise!’

           Suddenly they heard a shout from inside the building. It sounded like Chase. “Rose! Commandant Jon Ace wants to see you! I’d better get to the mess hall stat before he unravels and looks for you himself!”

           “Oops, looks like we’ve been longer than I thought,” Dax sighed as he stood up, pulling Rose along with him.

           “I had a good time,” Rose said with a shrug “, anytime I get with you is special, Dax.”

           Dax smiled and pulled his beanie over his eyes. “Don’t say stuff like that. It’s took cute for me to bear!”

           Rose playfully shoved Dax. It barely pushed him back a centimeter. She held the rose quartz triceratops close to her chest. “I guess we should get to the mess hall for dinner?”

           “Wanna meet up in your room later?” Dax asked. “I kind miss sleeping next to ya.”

           “Me too,” Rose bit her bottom lip. If they got caught by Jon or Commander Trey they’d be in hot water, but it was a risk she was willing to take to be close to Dax longer. “Come by at eleven tonight? Chase and Alpha usually get into a fight over something silly around that time so Jon and Trey will be too busy breaking that up to notice.”

           “It’s a date,” Dax said in agreement.

           The two lovers shared one last long kiss before heading inside hand in hand.