Chapter One: Tests and Teams
The Location: Ge Si Eir Special Ops base
The Date: August 13th, Monday, 3230
The Time: 7:00 P.M.
A cat-mobian, wearing a face-covering stealth suit, and a three-way scanner head-piece stood in what appeared to be an underground base, with various crates full of stolen technology, and many armed mobians surrounding her; all carrying guns.
They slowly approached the feline, then just as the first enemy reached out to grab her arm, she grabbed him দ্বারা the neck then span him in front her, blocking all shots fired, then lunged him into some of the others. From there she slid underfoot until she had reached a light-switch. Everything went dark.
The armed enemies ran in all directions looking for the cat, but could not see her, for she was above them, hanging on to a light-fixture. She silently made her way from light to light, until she had passed the first room, and was entering a hallway.
From above her three people stood in a closed-off chamber, observing her actions from a computer screen. The one sitting in front of the computer screen was an aged male chameleon doctor, with pale-slate skin, and grey glasses. The সেকেন্ড was a young male fox, with স্বর্ণ and brown fur, wavy hair, and a sniper strapped to his back. The third was a tall forty-year-old male নেকড়ে with silver fur, and a military uniform.
“She’s doing very well.” The uniformed mobian said, in an American-sounding accent. “I assume that আপনি are proud of your new agent, Doctor Zphen?”
“Verily Commander Armens.” The doctor answered in a Russian accent. “She has progressed very well since her training. The serum was a definite success.”
“When do আপনি think that she will be ready for her first mission?” Commander Armens questioned.
“She definitely has the skills and tactics for such a mission, but we have yet to choose a team for her. She is still in the ‘Loner’ stage… which is surprising seeing how anxious she was about it at first.”
“Can’t say I’m not anxious to work with her, Sirs’.” The শিয়াল joined with an Australian accent. “She’s got the skills and the looks.”
“I can’t disagree that আপনি two would make a very good team, Graiger.” The Commander noted. “Our best stealth agent, and our best gunman would be a very hard force to break through.”
“I try.” Graiger smirked. “So… when we gonna get some try-outs?”
“We’ll start tomorrow, but first, let’s enjoy the view.” The commander hinted, pointing to the cat who was just about finished with her training.
The suited-up-cat practically bounced off the walls with the flexibility and speed she was going. She entered through and air vent, and found herself in a giant generator room. She walked over to the controls and pressed a big red button in the middle of the controls, before rushing out.
As she made her escape the lights flashed off once again, but she could not pull her night-vision goggles over her শিরস্ত্রাণ in time. The feline ran straight into a দেওয়াল just as the lights turned on again, and the enemies were now pointing their weapons at her.
“UGH!!!” She yelled as she yanked off her mask, and threw it to the ground. It was a young white-furred cat, with pale স্বর্ণ eyes, white-fading pupils, and blue-black hair. Talia Reephs.
The enemies faded away, as did the entire area, revealing the building to a holographic training room. The young cat girl kicked her mask repeatedly yelling at it each time.
The three overseers walked in through a holographically hidden doorway, with confused looks on their faces. “Wha’sup with her?” Graiger inquired.
“Miss Reephs, what are আপনি doing?” Commander Armens asked.
“I can’t see anything with this mask on! I failed the mission because of it!” The girl complained.
“You just missed that last part.” Graiger reminded. “You did great the rest of the time. It Wasn’t your fault the mask didn’t work.”
“Yeah I guess…” Miss Reephs sighed. “Could I just wear the head-set, without the helmet?”
“You could, but that would also include the chance of I don’t know… getting shot in the head.” The Commander hinted.
“With my regenerating powers, I doubt that that would be a problem.” Talia reminded. “What is my পরবর্তি task, Sir?”
“Sleep. Tomorrow we are beginning try-outs for who is going to be on your team. We’re going to test their skills, their stamina, and how well আপনি work together. And for that you’ll need all the energy আপনি can save.”
“But I’m not even close to tired. Super-stamina!”
“Believe me, Dee,” Graiger chimed in, “You won’t feel so amazing when ya wake up tomorrow.”
“Okay.” Talia agreed, as she walked out of the training room. “G’night people.”
“She’s a stubborn one, isn’t she?” Craiger teased.
“She’s a teenager.” Commander Armens reminded. “I do believe we had to go through the same problems with you… only আপনি had a scope-rifle the whole time.”
“Hey, what can I say? I like my guns.”
“Indeed…” The doctor pondered as he turned to the commander, “Who is on our তালিকা for the testing tomorrow?”
“As if I would know that.” The commander scoffed. “Ask my assistant.”
“If it’s all the all the same to you, Sirs,” Craiger yawned, “I think that I’ll be turning in now.”
The young শিয়াল walked out, as did the others after a few minutes. Some to sleep, some to try to sleep and fail, and some to work.
The পরবর্তি morning Talia Reephs was awakened দ্বারা her Pod’s (Her bed-room station) every-pleasant alarm clock, which wasn’t really an alarm clock, but an alarm on her door, which would not end until the weight on her বিছানা decreased.
This annoyed her extremely, for she of course wanted আরো sleep. The young feline placed both বালিশ on her head, and they did nothing. She placed her blanket on her head, but could still hear the sound. Finally she got the idea of pushing all of her bedding off, as to lighten the weight, and ergo turning off the alarm. She succeeded… but now she was wide awake.
With a large sigh, and eyes that would not open no matter how awake she was, she got out of bed, took a shower, put her uniform on (which was really just silver jeans, a grey t-shirt, and sneakers), then walked out of her Pod, groaning to herself.
As she walked the base’s hallways, in hopes of eating breakfast, she was approached দ্বারা another unit. “Miss Reephs!” He called out as he walked up to her.
“Yes?” She responded.
“Commander Armens wanted me to have আপনি brought up to the primary-training observation-deck.”
“Without Breakfast?” She groaned.
“Breakfast ended ten মিনিট ago. He ব্যক্ত that আপনি were supposed to be there half an ঘন্টা ago.”
“*sigh*… Well then can আপনি get me something?”
“Me? Well I-“
“Please? I would really appreciate it.” Talia gave the young impressionable male a pleading face, causing him to melt in her presence.
“Alright.” He agreed, then walked off. Talia chuckled lightly as she continued on to the training deck.
An elevator later, she arrived at the front of a room full of action and bruises. Dozens of various agents and soldiers battled, and trained only ten feet from her. She noticed directly in front of her was a yellow line, which went across from left to right, separating her area from theirs.
Out of first glance she noticed three people appearing to be ninjas, due to their orientation and/or fighting, two অথবা three who were basing on strength with weights and such, other stealth agents, who were simply sitting around, doing nothing in particular. It puzzled her as to why there were both ninjas and stealth agents, but she ব্যক্ত nothing, for she was now distracted দ্বারা one knife-wielder.
Seeing how this was the only knife-wielder in the room, Talia instantly wanted to recruit her for fan-girl-ish purposes. She wore a suit that covered her completely, with red lines all around, and a black hood, which seemed to appear from the shoulders. The knives she had were black, making it impossible to see where the girl was pulling them out from. She’d simply flick her wrist, and one would appear.
She had already taken care of four of the others, simply দ্বারা pinning them to the walls. Out of the people Talia didn’t see on first glance, a sword-wielding koala male lunged at the knife-girl from above. The girl instantly fell into what would appear to be very painful splits, then shot her leg upward into the fencer, disarming him, and knocking the breath out of him.
Talia was about to congratulate the female warrior, but then she noticed that she had accidentally stepped in front of the yellow line… and the girl saw her. Before Talia could even say “WAIT!” the girl had launched a blade at her. It was only দ্বারা the ability of her aura-recall and sensor-fielding that she was able to crouch in time… then she ব্যক্ত wait.
“Weakness…” The girl replied in a young-female voice, as she quickly approached her. Talia attempted to run behind the line again, but when she did, it only made the girl আরো ticked. “That won’t help you!” She called out.
The hooded girl landed her foot right in Talia’s palm, then shoved it backward, causing Talia to spin uncontrollably. The stunned Feline took this to her advantage, and swiped the girl’s legs, causing her to fall. Unfortunately the girl broke this fall দ্বারা flipping forward, and ramming into Talia.
“I’m not-“ The girl swiped Talia’s legs, then flipped her completely around, until she was right side up, then shoved her against the wall.
“DarkShade!!!” A voice called from above them. “That is not a candidate! That is Talia Reephs!” It was Commander Armens.
Instantly the girl let go of Talia, and fell back five feet. “My apologies.” She ব্যক্ত just before jumping back into the training area.
“Are আপনি alright?” The commander asked the exhausted feline as he came down from a hovering platform.
“… Peachy. She’s fierce!” Talia replied.
“Yes she is. She did not know আপনি were you. Otherwise she would have been আরো respectful.”
“Is her name really Darkshade? Sounds a bit cheesy, don’t আপনি think?”
“Well আপনি will have to ask her about the naming, but no, that isn’t. She has only let three people that I know of know her name, though it makes no difference.”
“So she’s a secretive type… I like the outfit. Can I have one?”
“Not unless আপনি want to pry it from her skin. She made it herself, and no one else knows how she makes it just right. It’s as if the suit is part of her.”
“Didn’t that silver-suit thing that was in the capsule I got put in when I got my powers fuse like that though?”
“Well not exactly, but in a way, I suppose. We assume that her suit is a symbiote, though she won’t tell us if we are correct, অথবা let us test it.”
“Is she even allowed to be that hostile? Can’t আপনি just order her to?”
“No. She did a very good job at personally leveling all of our best officers, agents, assassins, anything. She chose to fight for us, but she continues to remind us that it is us who need her, and not the other way around.”
“That’s… pleasant… So…can she be on my team????”
“Are আপনি sure? আপনি didn’t exactly get the best first impression.”
“I’m sure. I need at least ONE other girl on my team. Might as well be a tough one. What species is she, anyway?”
“No one knows. No one knows almost anything about her.”
“Well then, let’s hope we meet No-one someday.” The two of them stood on the platform, and began hovering over the many candidates.
“So far,” The commander began, “You have yourself as leader and main Stealth Agent, Your brother as Computer-engineer, Craiger as বন্দুক and Sniper, and Darkshade as assault and knife-wielding agent. আপনি can have one আরো member.”
“Hmm…” Talia searched over the many candidates, searching for anyone that stood out. She did not want the fencer, she didn’t need the ninjas, and she could care less about the other stealth agents. That left the strong ones.
There was one strength-agent who she found fascinating. He was a twenty-or-so year-old mongoose, with one hand covered in black stripes.
“What do those strong people do?” She asked.
“They are meant for protection, and for explosions.” The commander replied. “At least, one of them uses explosives.”
“The one with the black stripes on his hand?”
“Uh, no. That Lop. He just likes tattoos. But he’s not half as crazy as the explosives one. Ken seems to be obsessed with wearing this extremely dense armor, then running into the middle of battles, and setting off the bomb, while still in front of it. And he survives too. But it takes forever to get the armor repaired.”
“… I want Ken!”
“Are আপনি sure আপনি want to decide so quickly? Wouldn’t আপনি at least want to look up backgrounds about them?”
“Nah.”
The commander was angered confused and surprised দ্বারা this simple response, but calmly said, “Alright then. আপনি have your team. Candidates!”
The soldiers stopped in mid training, and lined up on the yellow line in less than five seconds. Talia and the Commander hover down then stood in front of them. “The chosen members are Agents Summers, and Darkshade.”
Ken, who appeared to be a masculine lynx, tall, with brown hair, and very large hands, stepped forward, as did DarkShade. The fencer had issues with this.
“Excuse me Sir, but, are আপনি really going to just choose that quickly?” The fencer questioned. “She barely knows any of the candidates, and we didn’t even go through any type of initiation!”
“Mr. Calpheld, আপনি were not প্রদত্ত permission to speak freely.” The commander scolded. “Not that I need to respond to your accusation, but this is not the final test. They are all going to go through training to determine if they are the best match. And your chances do not increase দ্বারা questioning your superior’s judgment.”
“Sorry Sir.” The fencer apologized as he fell back in line.
Commander Armens gave a small nod to Mr. Calpheld, then led Talia, Ken, and DarkShade to a সেকেন্ড training room. Inside were her brother and Craiger.
“Whoa…” Craiger exhaled in awe of the two ladies in front of him. “Terence, the full package has just arrived.”
“Nice to meet you.” Terence greeted to DarkShade. She nodded in acknowledgement, then was interrupted দ্বারা Craiger.
“A pleasure, Love.” The শিয়াল bowed. DarkShade simply walked on. “Hey Ken! Good to see ya made it.”
“Hey Craiger! How’s life in the sniper business?” Ken greeted with a high five.
“You know everyone don’t you, Craiger?” Talia chuckled.
“Well almost everyone.” Craiger informed. “This is the closest I’ve ever gotten to ‘Black Beauty’ over there. Though it would seem as though I am about to have one of those long-emerging love-life dramas. Anyway, আপনি guys ready for some group training?”
The “Training” as Craiger and the Commander defined it, was not defined the same দ্বারা the others. DarkShade defined it as a waste of time, Ken defined it as overkill, and Talia defined it as a death-stage, অথবা “The Impossible”. Terence did not define it, because he did not have to do this part.
The four trainees were instructed to help each other pass through a giant maze-like tower, inside the base, without falling off the side. The tower was much like one of those marble maze games, where one would have to turn the squares in different directions until the ball went into the correct hole. They were the balls, but there were আরো than one goal.
Along with the tower tilting from side to side, it had five levels for them to go across, which had many holes, and no outer-walls, to brace themselves on. They continued to go back and forth, trying to stick together. Surprisingly enough however, DarkShade seemed to have Talia’s back the entire time, and caught her from falling off the edges আরো than seven times. Craiger and Ken fell off twice.
The two males gapped as they saw Talia and DarkShade now flipping across the field with hands joined, which kept them on balance. They quickly made it to the শীর্ষ of the tower, and landed triumphantly on the large red button in the middle.
“HORAH!!!! HIGH FIVE!” Talia exclaimed to DarkShade, holding up a friendly palm. The hooded agent was reluctant, but gave a slight pat on the hand.
“Victory is not ours unfortunately.” DarkShade said.
“But we just made it up perfectly.”
“Yes bu-“ As DarkShade was about to answer, a hole appeared below them both, and they slid down to the ground, and out of the tower.
“You have failed the test.” Commander Armens informed.
“How?!” Talia asked. “We had some problems, but we beat the course!”
“The point of the exercise was to have ALL of the members reach the goal. Only two of আপনি did.”
“In the defense of… everybody, Sir,” Craiger added, “Ken and I don’t really have acrobatic training. We’re আরো of… close-range fighting, অথবা long range targeting.”
“Hmm… আপনি do have a point, Craiger… We will create specific partnering tests for each of you. This will be allowed as partnership with DarkShade, but we might have a secondary one. Come back within two hours, and a course for Talia and Craiger will be ready.”
The agents nodded, then left to the lounge.
As they waited…
“So what do আপনি think our mission’s gonna be, luv?” Craiger began to kill the silence.
“Something cool I hope.” Talia answered. “It could be a… uh… I actually don’t know. What do আপনি think?”
“Well my specialty is ready-aim-fire, so I’m assuming that it has to do with archery অথবা shooting.”
“Sweet! What do আপনি think our secondary test will be, Shade?”
“Combat perhaps.” The masked one replied. “It doesn’t really matter.”
“What makes আপনি say that?”
“Nothing. Never mind.”
“… Okay… What about you, Ken?”
“I dunno.” Ken replied in a laid-back tone as he leaned back in his chair. “Something with bombs I’m guessing.”
“Sloding stuff’s always fun.” Talia grinned. “So anybody got a good story to tell?”
“Don’t look at me.” Ken replied. “I’ve been a normal guy my whole life. Well, aside from the missions that I’ve been on.”
“Well tell us about em!”
“… Okay. Well one in particular that I do take pride in-“
“Along with everything else.” DarkShade scoffed under her breath.
“was the Allieum Significant mission. That’s what the mission’s code-name was. It was me and two other guys. We had to set up three types of explosives around an Allieum factory. One set was inside the factory, one set was a special compound that would destroy the acid kept in the factory, and the last one would cover up the entire area in rocks and dirt, so that no one could trace it.”
“Until the magic that was a shovel.” DarkShade interrupted again.
“Do আপনি mind?” Ken ব্যক্ত in an annoyed tone.
“Partially.” She replied.
“Anyway… We had set up the charges, but one of my team-mates accidentally set his off first from the inside before we were ready, and the whole thing went kaboom! It short-circuited one of the secondary bombs that my other team-mate was working on, which took him out. It was just me left. I had to finish all of the other charges on the outside and get out of there, before the acid escaped. I was running as fast as I could, and I had gotten two of the thirty charges set, but I was running out of time. Just then, five enemy helicopters came rushing at me, firing everywhere. I ran up the side of the mountain-“
“Without getting hit once. How magical.” DarkShade insulted sarcastically.
“Could আপনি not??... Thank you. So I ran up the mountain, then jumped backwards, onto the helicopter that was on my tail, got in there, took out the crew, then dumped the charges in place as I flew over the marks, and took out the other helicopters. The charges blew just as the acid began to poor out, and my helicopter was hit. I saw that the শীর্ষ blades were damaged on the sides, so I climbed up, pulled them off, then soared into the air, getting nauseous like crazy, then landing safely out of harm’s way.”
“Amazing!” DarkShade congratulated. “Now tell us a true story.”
Ken gave the non-believer a glare, then returned to his resting position.
“Well I liked the story.” Talia complimented.
“Good for you.” Ken replied in a blank tone. “Too bad some people just don’t like a good story.”
“Sure.” DarkShade scoffed. “Now what was that আপনি were saying about being a ‘Normal guy’?”
“Hey, I didn’t say that I was completely normal. As if আপনি have any better of a story.”
“You don’t even know the half of it.”
“What do আপনি mean, Shade?” Talia asked, hoping for another story.
“Nothing.” DarkShade ব্যক্ত with a sigh. “I suppose that I’ll have to put up with being called ‘Shade’ দ্বারা আপনি from now till forever.”
“I could call আপনি Black-Goth if আপনি want.” Talia chuckled.
“Whichever works for you.” DarkShade replied as she got up from her আসন and began to walk out.
“Where ya going?” Craiger asked.
“This is your training session, not mine. I’d rather go train অথবা do something productive, then listen to another egoed-up story from captain Bomber-Man.” DarkShade finished as she left the room.
“What’s with her?” Talia asked.
“She’s has attitude is all.” Craiger replied.
“Yeah, but why’s she so hostile?”
“Who knows. We’re all lucky to get to partner with her in the first place.”
“What makes আপনি say that?”
“Well she hasn’t let anyone get that close to her person unless she’s ‘bout to slice em. No one ever gets to have a conversation with her, and she’s only been on solo-missions. The fact that she talked to us for so long is a complete miracle.”
“Then why were আপনি guys so calm?”
“Craiger told me not to talk to her about it.” Ken groaned.
“In other words,” Craiger began, “we didn’t want to make her feel awkward… অথবা at least Ah didn’t. She’s got spunk, that girl. Surprised that she hasn’t turned on the agency yet.”
“Turned?!” Talia exclaimed in surprise.
“Yep. It happens. There’s been a lot of agents that’ve turned on the agency once they get really good. They start asking questions, then they start learning secrets, then they defect.”
“What types of secrets?”
“Ah dunno. Special ones obviously. I don’t plan on finding them out personally.”
“Why not?”
“Cause I don’t want a whole planet turning on me.”
“Like the Identity girl?”
“Exactly like the Identity girl. She was really good at whatever she did in Supreta, but from what I’ve heard, she got cocky অথবা something, and well, আপনি know the rest.”
“You think we’ll ever have a mission to find her one day?”
“Ah hope so. That would be some fun.”
“Uh guys, I’m still in the room.” Ken interrupted. “And I don’t think that we’re supposed to talk about the… Identity.”
“I seriously doubt that they’d be able to do anything about it, Ken.” Craiger informed. “I mean, we’re all already in a secret facility and all that. Not like they can punish us দ্বারা sending us back into the public world.”
“Wait… আপনি can’t go in public?” Talia asked worryingly.
“No, we can. Just not that often. Wanted in countries and all that.”
“Yeah.” Ken said. “I think you’d be allowed though… speaking of which, don’t আপনি have a dad অথবা something that আপনি live with?”
“Not anymore.” Talia ব্যক্ত lowly. “Dad… is upset with me. I’m not planning to talk to him any time soon.”
“You can’t just avoid him for life, Talia.” Craiger added.
“I didn’t say that I’m avoiding him! I just… need some space- we need some space! I don’t know why he’s so angry though.”
“Maybe because you’re risking your life every দিন now, and are probably going to get killed. Then again I could be wrong. Maybe he’s just upset that আপনি didn’t clean your room.” Craiger ব্যক্ত sarcastically.
“Hey! It was my choice.”
“So? It’s still a risk.”
“Well I like risks! I thought আপনি did too!”
“Ah do. My own risks. Risking someone else’s life doesn’t give আপনি a feeling of adventure, অথবা make আপনি feel good. It leaves আপনি feeling guilty, even if they’re safe. Ah’d imagine that’s how your Dad feels right about now.”
“… I never… that sounds… Wow.” Talia was quiet for a moment, while she fixed her words, then ব্যক্ত “I didn’t want to make him feel guilty, but if I have skills, why not use them?”
“True, but then again, there’s probably some way আপনি can use them elsewhere.”
“Such as…? I doubt আপনি can think of one for your skills.”
“Well I can’t for me. Ah doubt there’s a peaceful job for a sniper, but Ah’d imagine that you’d be able to sell your blood as a cure for stuff অথবা somethin. Seems logical.”
“… Stink. I hope my Dad doesn’t realize that too soon. I like this job.”
“Speaking of job, Ah’m still waiting for there to be something happening.”
“There will be… eventually.” And so they waited… and waited… and waited. It was amazing to think that Talia could be so quiet for so long. Eventually DarkShade walked back in and asked if anything had happened yet. They simply shook their bored faces at her. The hooded-assassin then sat down and waited another twenty সেকেন্ড before saying “So who’s পরবর্তি on th-“ *blam!!!*
A giant explosion shattered the room, sending everyone flying. DarkShade jumped around the room, and braced the others, while Talia started running towards what had caused the explosion. The others quickly recovered, then followed her, just in time to see her fall of the side of the base, and into a forest-like area.
“TALIA!!!” Craiger yelled as he attempted to jump after her. DarkShade quickly stopped him, then shoved him down on his rear, which gave him no small amount of pain. “Ten hours without sitting… yay…” He groaned as he slowly got up. “WHY DID আপনি DO THAT…?”
“Are আপনি a bird?” DarkShade hinted as she jumped down after Talia herself.
“So… DarkShade’s a bird?” Ken asked obliviously. Craiger simply ignored him, then started walking towards the edge of the building.
The two of them slowly climbed down the tall red-wood-trees that were against the building’s side, then regrouped with Talia and DarkShade, অথবা which neither of them were harmed.
“Does anyone have any idea about who caused the explosion?!” Talia questioned.
“Obviously an enemy of Ge Si Eir.” DarkShade noted. “The প্রশ্ন that I would ask is ‘why don’t we see any weapons?’.”
“… Shade, can আপনি throw one of your knives into the sky above the base?” Talia asked.
“You mean over fifty-feet up, of which such a movement would break someone’s arm?”
“Yep.”
“… *sigh* Yes…” DarkShade nudged the others to the side as she walked over to a clearing, then took out one of her daggers, and thrusted it into the air with whiplash-force. When it reached a certain height, a large *DUNK* was heard from above them.
“They must be using a cloaking device.” Talia suggested. “We sho-“ *WEZOOOOOOOOOM!!!* A giant energy beam was sent from where the dagger hat hit, directly at them. It singed off Talia’s arm, which caused her excruciating pain, but then… her arm grew back completely. She looked at it with widened eyes, then ব্যক্ত “Can I do it again?” with a chuckle.
“Not the time, Luv.” Craiger hinted as he pulled her with the rest of them; intent on not letting her arm get destroyed a সেকেন্ড time. আরো energy beams followed the team; getting closer each time.
Ken quickly placed a small antenna-like-device on the ground, which created a reversal shield, that sent the beam back at whatever was firing it. It made a large dent in what was now shown to be a giant hover-craft. It was black, with circular-dents around it, where they assumed the energy beams came out of.
“Can anyone fly us up there?” Talia asked.
“Nop-Agh!!” Ken yanked off his com-link. “And I don’t think we can call anyone either. Unless আপনি want a banshee in your ear, the whole time.”
“… How high can আপনি jump, Shade?” Talia asked as she began to measure the distance.
“… High… 20 feet… আপনি need longer…”
“Get me up to the শীর্ষ of that tree,” Talia ordered; pointing to a nearby red-wood, “then jump up and throw me.”
“… al… right…” DarkShade and Talia ran up to the tree, and used Shade’s knives to climb up it’s side.
“And we’re s’posed ta do… what exactly?” Craiger asked.
“Distract them!!!” Talia yelled as the ship began to shoot at them again.
“… Distract, distract, distr- HEY!!” Ken yelled as Craiger jumped onto his shoulders.
“Don’t get excited.” Craiger smirked as he pulled out a long-electric string from inside his gun. He then turned his gun on, and began to wave it back and forth in the air; causing a blue-electric light to go back and forth. “Don’t just stand there! MOVE!!”
Ken gave a short glare at his passenger, then began to run at random; hopping as he went, with flailing arms, and painful screaming. Mostly the screaming consisted of “CRAIGER OWES ME BIG TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMEE!!!!!”
Talia and DarkShade reached the শীর্ষ of the tree. DarkShade then launched Talia into the air, jumped after her, then launched her a সেকেন্ড time. She flew up the side of the ship, and reached for something to grab, but there was nothing. “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!” She creamed as she began to fall. DarkShade quickly took one of her knives, then threw it directly into Talia’s hand, before she was too late, which sent her into the ship’s side.
Talia shook as she slowly removed the ছুরি from her palm, then stabbed the side of the ship, and held on. A stressed-tear went across her face from the pain in her wounded hand. It quickly healed though, and she began to use both the dagger and her claws to climb to the topside of the ship.
The ship stopped firing at the others, and metal-suited-mobians rose up from the ship’s ceiling; carrying electric-swords. Talai grinned slightly, and ব্যক্ত “sweet” before lunging into one of them in a frontal-spinning move, and grabbing the sword.
The others quickly reacted, and she was soon in a deep fencing battle. The Tex-Meg cat attempted to use her dust-ability, but it had no effect on the suited-mobians for they were artificial life, but the স্যুইটস্ were not. She soon gave up on that idea, and instead began to jump behind each of them in a row, and stabbed them with the electric sword.
Five of them jumped at her from behind, with their swords pointed directly at her. She quickly sliced a large-circular hole in the শীর্ষ of the ship, then jumped backwards as they landed. This caused them to ram into the hole, and shove it’s “cork” down inside the ship, along with them.
From there, Talia found herself in what appeared to be the deck of the ship. A tall-masked Mobian, with a black cape turned to see her from the front of the deck. He then walked over to a case and pulled out a large electric staff.
“… Darth Maul much?” Talia teased as she ran to meet her opponent, who also ran towards her. Sword and Staff clang together, sending sparks of electricity everywhere. They continued to flip, and দোল around the whole deck, until the masked-leader had knocked Talia’s sword out of her hand, while they were upside down on the ceiling, then kicked her down into the ground.
He then lunged down with his staff attempting to finish her off. Talia quickly back-flipped then landed her foot on the bottom of his helmet, which was then forced off… but there was no head underneath.
“I’ve seen enough.” A voice called out. Right after, the entire area faded away. Talia fell a little, then landed on her feet, in the hologram room with the others.
“Wait… this was a test?” She questioned.
“Now what on Mobocan would give আপনি that idea?” DarkShade asked sarcastically. The room’s hidden-doors opened, and Commander Armens walked in.
“… That was cool. Can I do it again?” Talia asked; ready for more.
“Your team-work needs work, but আপনি basically have it down.” He ব্যক্ত as he tried to ignore her question. “You don’t know how hard it is to find a team like that.”
“What do আপনি mean, Commander?” Craiger inquired.
“Well unfortunately, in most cases teams don’t, how is it said… ‘click’. Yours did. It is very rare.”
“And our over-all grade was…” DarkShade inquired.
“We’re still in the process of that. But while we’re doing that, do আপনি have a team name?”
“Hmm… I want to say Tex-Meg, but that seems a bit braggy… plus I’m guessing no-one’s s’posed to know about it.” Talia pondered. “Team… Glue? Nah, that’s stupid. Uh… anybody else got an idea?”
“A hundred… they all stink.” DarkShade ব্যক্ত in her monotone voice.
“Uh… Sorry, Ah’ve got nothing.” Craiger sighed.
“Ken?” Talia urged with a hopeful smile.
“Oh, well uh… team… uh… S-slate?” Ken cringed.
“Why slate?” Talia inquired.
“Well it just seems kind of like the color of the Tex-Maggie… stuff… sounds better than glue.”
“… Okay. We’re Team Slate.” Talia declared.
“We are not Team Slate.” DarkShade disagreed.
“Not your call, Shade.” Craiger smirked.
“… Fine. But I’m not going to say it.”
“Now what, Commander?” Craiger inquired.
“Now,” Armens began, “You all get some rest. Socialize. Do whatever আপনি people do in your spare time. If you’d like, আপনি could go out to the real world, Talia.”
“Really?? COOL!!!” Talia zoomed out of the room… অথবা আরো like ran into a wall, activated the door, then zoomed out of the room, and was soon out in the real world with her brother. She wanted to see the look on the cute Scottish boy, Mark, when he saw her new look.
The Location: Ge Si Eir Special Ops base
The Date: August 13th, Monday, 3230
The Time: 7:00 P.M.
A cat-mobian, wearing a face-covering stealth suit, and a three-way scanner head-piece stood in what appeared to be an underground base, with various crates full of stolen technology, and many armed mobians surrounding her; all carrying guns.
They slowly approached the feline, then just as the first enemy reached out to grab her arm, she grabbed him দ্বারা the neck then span him in front her, blocking all shots fired, then lunged him into some of the others. From there she slid underfoot until she had reached a light-switch. Everything went dark.
The armed enemies ran in all directions looking for the cat, but could not see her, for she was above them, hanging on to a light-fixture. She silently made her way from light to light, until she had passed the first room, and was entering a hallway.
From above her three people stood in a closed-off chamber, observing her actions from a computer screen. The one sitting in front of the computer screen was an aged male chameleon doctor, with pale-slate skin, and grey glasses. The সেকেন্ড was a young male fox, with স্বর্ণ and brown fur, wavy hair, and a sniper strapped to his back. The third was a tall forty-year-old male নেকড়ে with silver fur, and a military uniform.
“She’s doing very well.” The uniformed mobian said, in an American-sounding accent. “I assume that আপনি are proud of your new agent, Doctor Zphen?”
“Verily Commander Armens.” The doctor answered in a Russian accent. “She has progressed very well since her training. The serum was a definite success.”
“When do আপনি think that she will be ready for her first mission?” Commander Armens questioned.
“She definitely has the skills and tactics for such a mission, but we have yet to choose a team for her. She is still in the ‘Loner’ stage… which is surprising seeing how anxious she was about it at first.”
“Can’t say I’m not anxious to work with her, Sirs’.” The শিয়াল joined with an Australian accent. “She’s got the skills and the looks.”
“I can’t disagree that আপনি two would make a very good team, Graiger.” The Commander noted. “Our best stealth agent, and our best gunman would be a very hard force to break through.”
“I try.” Graiger smirked. “So… when we gonna get some try-outs?”
“We’ll start tomorrow, but first, let’s enjoy the view.” The commander hinted, pointing to the cat who was just about finished with her training.
The suited-up-cat practically bounced off the walls with the flexibility and speed she was going. She entered through and air vent, and found herself in a giant generator room. She walked over to the controls and pressed a big red button in the middle of the controls, before rushing out.
As she made her escape the lights flashed off once again, but she could not pull her night-vision goggles over her শিরস্ত্রাণ in time. The feline ran straight into a দেওয়াল just as the lights turned on again, and the enemies were now pointing their weapons at her.
“UGH!!!” She yelled as she yanked off her mask, and threw it to the ground. It was a young white-furred cat, with pale স্বর্ণ eyes, white-fading pupils, and blue-black hair. Talia Reephs.
The enemies faded away, as did the entire area, revealing the building to a holographic training room. The young cat girl kicked her mask repeatedly yelling at it each time.
The three overseers walked in through a holographically hidden doorway, with confused looks on their faces. “Wha’sup with her?” Graiger inquired.
“Miss Reephs, what are আপনি doing?” Commander Armens asked.
“I can’t see anything with this mask on! I failed the mission because of it!” The girl complained.
“You just missed that last part.” Graiger reminded. “You did great the rest of the time. It Wasn’t your fault the mask didn’t work.”
“Yeah I guess…” Miss Reephs sighed. “Could I just wear the head-set, without the helmet?”
“You could, but that would also include the chance of I don’t know… getting shot in the head.” The Commander hinted.
“With my regenerating powers, I doubt that that would be a problem.” Talia reminded. “What is my পরবর্তি task, Sir?”
“Sleep. Tomorrow we are beginning try-outs for who is going to be on your team. We’re going to test their skills, their stamina, and how well আপনি work together. And for that you’ll need all the energy আপনি can save.”
“But I’m not even close to tired. Super-stamina!”
“Believe me, Dee,” Graiger chimed in, “You won’t feel so amazing when ya wake up tomorrow.”
“Okay.” Talia agreed, as she walked out of the training room. “G’night people.”
“She’s a stubborn one, isn’t she?” Craiger teased.
“She’s a teenager.” Commander Armens reminded. “I do believe we had to go through the same problems with you… only আপনি had a scope-rifle the whole time.”
“Hey, what can I say? I like my guns.”
“Indeed…” The doctor pondered as he turned to the commander, “Who is on our তালিকা for the testing tomorrow?”
“As if I would know that.” The commander scoffed. “Ask my assistant.”
“If it’s all the all the same to you, Sirs,” Craiger yawned, “I think that I’ll be turning in now.”
The young শিয়াল walked out, as did the others after a few minutes. Some to sleep, some to try to sleep and fail, and some to work.
The পরবর্তি morning Talia Reephs was awakened দ্বারা her Pod’s (Her bed-room station) every-pleasant alarm clock, which wasn’t really an alarm clock, but an alarm on her door, which would not end until the weight on her বিছানা decreased.
This annoyed her extremely, for she of course wanted আরো sleep. The young feline placed both বালিশ on her head, and they did nothing. She placed her blanket on her head, but could still hear the sound. Finally she got the idea of pushing all of her bedding off, as to lighten the weight, and ergo turning off the alarm. She succeeded… but now she was wide awake.
With a large sigh, and eyes that would not open no matter how awake she was, she got out of bed, took a shower, put her uniform on (which was really just silver jeans, a grey t-shirt, and sneakers), then walked out of her Pod, groaning to herself.
As she walked the base’s hallways, in hopes of eating breakfast, she was approached দ্বারা another unit. “Miss Reephs!” He called out as he walked up to her.
“Yes?” She responded.
“Commander Armens wanted me to have আপনি brought up to the primary-training observation-deck.”
“Without Breakfast?” She groaned.
“Breakfast ended ten মিনিট ago. He ব্যক্ত that আপনি were supposed to be there half an ঘন্টা ago.”
“*sigh*… Well then can আপনি get me something?”
“Me? Well I-“
“Please? I would really appreciate it.” Talia gave the young impressionable male a pleading face, causing him to melt in her presence.
“Alright.” He agreed, then walked off. Talia chuckled lightly as she continued on to the training deck.
An elevator later, she arrived at the front of a room full of action and bruises. Dozens of various agents and soldiers battled, and trained only ten feet from her. She noticed directly in front of her was a yellow line, which went across from left to right, separating her area from theirs.
Out of first glance she noticed three people appearing to be ninjas, due to their orientation and/or fighting, two অথবা three who were basing on strength with weights and such, other stealth agents, who were simply sitting around, doing nothing in particular. It puzzled her as to why there were both ninjas and stealth agents, but she ব্যক্ত nothing, for she was now distracted দ্বারা one knife-wielder.
Seeing how this was the only knife-wielder in the room, Talia instantly wanted to recruit her for fan-girl-ish purposes. She wore a suit that covered her completely, with red lines all around, and a black hood, which seemed to appear from the shoulders. The knives she had were black, making it impossible to see where the girl was pulling them out from. She’d simply flick her wrist, and one would appear.
She had already taken care of four of the others, simply দ্বারা pinning them to the walls. Out of the people Talia didn’t see on first glance, a sword-wielding koala male lunged at the knife-girl from above. The girl instantly fell into what would appear to be very painful splits, then shot her leg upward into the fencer, disarming him, and knocking the breath out of him.
Talia was about to congratulate the female warrior, but then she noticed that she had accidentally stepped in front of the yellow line… and the girl saw her. Before Talia could even say “WAIT!” the girl had launched a blade at her. It was only দ্বারা the ability of her aura-recall and sensor-fielding that she was able to crouch in time… then she ব্যক্ত wait.
“Weakness…” The girl replied in a young-female voice, as she quickly approached her. Talia attempted to run behind the line again, but when she did, it only made the girl আরো ticked. “That won’t help you!” She called out.
The hooded girl landed her foot right in Talia’s palm, then shoved it backward, causing Talia to spin uncontrollably. The stunned Feline took this to her advantage, and swiped the girl’s legs, causing her to fall. Unfortunately the girl broke this fall দ্বারা flipping forward, and ramming into Talia.
“I’m not-“ The girl swiped Talia’s legs, then flipped her completely around, until she was right side up, then shoved her against the wall.
“DarkShade!!!” A voice called from above them. “That is not a candidate! That is Talia Reephs!” It was Commander Armens.
Instantly the girl let go of Talia, and fell back five feet. “My apologies.” She ব্যক্ত just before jumping back into the training area.
“Are আপনি alright?” The commander asked the exhausted feline as he came down from a hovering platform.
“… Peachy. She’s fierce!” Talia replied.
“Yes she is. She did not know আপনি were you. Otherwise she would have been আরো respectful.”
“Is her name really Darkshade? Sounds a bit cheesy, don’t আপনি think?”
“Well আপনি will have to ask her about the naming, but no, that isn’t. She has only let three people that I know of know her name, though it makes no difference.”
“So she’s a secretive type… I like the outfit. Can I have one?”
“Not unless আপনি want to pry it from her skin. She made it herself, and no one else knows how she makes it just right. It’s as if the suit is part of her.”
“Didn’t that silver-suit thing that was in the capsule I got put in when I got my powers fuse like that though?”
“Well not exactly, but in a way, I suppose. We assume that her suit is a symbiote, though she won’t tell us if we are correct, অথবা let us test it.”
“Is she even allowed to be that hostile? Can’t আপনি just order her to?”
“No. She did a very good job at personally leveling all of our best officers, agents, assassins, anything. She chose to fight for us, but she continues to remind us that it is us who need her, and not the other way around.”
“That’s… pleasant… So…can she be on my team????”
“Are আপনি sure? আপনি didn’t exactly get the best first impression.”
“I’m sure. I need at least ONE other girl on my team. Might as well be a tough one. What species is she, anyway?”
“No one knows. No one knows almost anything about her.”
“Well then, let’s hope we meet No-one someday.” The two of them stood on the platform, and began hovering over the many candidates.
“So far,” The commander began, “You have yourself as leader and main Stealth Agent, Your brother as Computer-engineer, Craiger as বন্দুক and Sniper, and Darkshade as assault and knife-wielding agent. আপনি can have one আরো member.”
“Hmm…” Talia searched over the many candidates, searching for anyone that stood out. She did not want the fencer, she didn’t need the ninjas, and she could care less about the other stealth agents. That left the strong ones.
There was one strength-agent who she found fascinating. He was a twenty-or-so year-old mongoose, with one hand covered in black stripes.
“What do those strong people do?” She asked.
“They are meant for protection, and for explosions.” The commander replied. “At least, one of them uses explosives.”
“The one with the black stripes on his hand?”
“Uh, no. That Lop. He just likes tattoos. But he’s not half as crazy as the explosives one. Ken seems to be obsessed with wearing this extremely dense armor, then running into the middle of battles, and setting off the bomb, while still in front of it. And he survives too. But it takes forever to get the armor repaired.”
“… I want Ken!”
“Are আপনি sure আপনি want to decide so quickly? Wouldn’t আপনি at least want to look up backgrounds about them?”
“Nah.”
The commander was angered confused and surprised দ্বারা this simple response, but calmly said, “Alright then. আপনি have your team. Candidates!”
The soldiers stopped in mid training, and lined up on the yellow line in less than five seconds. Talia and the Commander hover down then stood in front of them. “The chosen members are Agents Summers, and Darkshade.”
Ken, who appeared to be a masculine lynx, tall, with brown hair, and very large hands, stepped forward, as did DarkShade. The fencer had issues with this.
“Excuse me Sir, but, are আপনি really going to just choose that quickly?” The fencer questioned. “She barely knows any of the candidates, and we didn’t even go through any type of initiation!”
“Mr. Calpheld, আপনি were not প্রদত্ত permission to speak freely.” The commander scolded. “Not that I need to respond to your accusation, but this is not the final test. They are all going to go through training to determine if they are the best match. And your chances do not increase দ্বারা questioning your superior’s judgment.”
“Sorry Sir.” The fencer apologized as he fell back in line.
Commander Armens gave a small nod to Mr. Calpheld, then led Talia, Ken, and DarkShade to a সেকেন্ড training room. Inside were her brother and Craiger.
“Whoa…” Craiger exhaled in awe of the two ladies in front of him. “Terence, the full package has just arrived.”
“Nice to meet you.” Terence greeted to DarkShade. She nodded in acknowledgement, then was interrupted দ্বারা Craiger.
“A pleasure, Love.” The শিয়াল bowed. DarkShade simply walked on. “Hey Ken! Good to see ya made it.”
“Hey Craiger! How’s life in the sniper business?” Ken greeted with a high five.
“You know everyone don’t you, Craiger?” Talia chuckled.
“Well almost everyone.” Craiger informed. “This is the closest I’ve ever gotten to ‘Black Beauty’ over there. Though it would seem as though I am about to have one of those long-emerging love-life dramas. Anyway, আপনি guys ready for some group training?”
The “Training” as Craiger and the Commander defined it, was not defined the same দ্বারা the others. DarkShade defined it as a waste of time, Ken defined it as overkill, and Talia defined it as a death-stage, অথবা “The Impossible”. Terence did not define it, because he did not have to do this part.
The four trainees were instructed to help each other pass through a giant maze-like tower, inside the base, without falling off the side. The tower was much like one of those marble maze games, where one would have to turn the squares in different directions until the ball went into the correct hole. They were the balls, but there were আরো than one goal.
Along with the tower tilting from side to side, it had five levels for them to go across, which had many holes, and no outer-walls, to brace themselves on. They continued to go back and forth, trying to stick together. Surprisingly enough however, DarkShade seemed to have Talia’s back the entire time, and caught her from falling off the edges আরো than seven times. Craiger and Ken fell off twice.
The two males gapped as they saw Talia and DarkShade now flipping across the field with hands joined, which kept them on balance. They quickly made it to the শীর্ষ of the tower, and landed triumphantly on the large red button in the middle.
“HORAH!!!! HIGH FIVE!” Talia exclaimed to DarkShade, holding up a friendly palm. The hooded agent was reluctant, but gave a slight pat on the hand.
“Victory is not ours unfortunately.” DarkShade said.
“But we just made it up perfectly.”
“Yes bu-“ As DarkShade was about to answer, a hole appeared below them both, and they slid down to the ground, and out of the tower.
“You have failed the test.” Commander Armens informed.
“How?!” Talia asked. “We had some problems, but we beat the course!”
“The point of the exercise was to have ALL of the members reach the goal. Only two of আপনি did.”
“In the defense of… everybody, Sir,” Craiger added, “Ken and I don’t really have acrobatic training. We’re আরো of… close-range fighting, অথবা long range targeting.”
“Hmm… আপনি do have a point, Craiger… We will create specific partnering tests for each of you. This will be allowed as partnership with DarkShade, but we might have a secondary one. Come back within two hours, and a course for Talia and Craiger will be ready.”
The agents nodded, then left to the lounge.
As they waited…
“So what do আপনি think our mission’s gonna be, luv?” Craiger began to kill the silence.
“Something cool I hope.” Talia answered. “It could be a… uh… I actually don’t know. What do আপনি think?”
“Well my specialty is ready-aim-fire, so I’m assuming that it has to do with archery অথবা shooting.”
“Sweet! What do আপনি think our secondary test will be, Shade?”
“Combat perhaps.” The masked one replied. “It doesn’t really matter.”
“What makes আপনি say that?”
“Nothing. Never mind.”
“… Okay… What about you, Ken?”
“I dunno.” Ken replied in a laid-back tone as he leaned back in his chair. “Something with bombs I’m guessing.”
“Sloding stuff’s always fun.” Talia grinned. “So anybody got a good story to tell?”
“Don’t look at me.” Ken replied. “I’ve been a normal guy my whole life. Well, aside from the missions that I’ve been on.”
“Well tell us about em!”
“… Okay. Well one in particular that I do take pride in-“
“Along with everything else.” DarkShade scoffed under her breath.
“was the Allieum Significant mission. That’s what the mission’s code-name was. It was me and two other guys. We had to set up three types of explosives around an Allieum factory. One set was inside the factory, one set was a special compound that would destroy the acid kept in the factory, and the last one would cover up the entire area in rocks and dirt, so that no one could trace it.”
“Until the magic that was a shovel.” DarkShade interrupted again.
“Do আপনি mind?” Ken ব্যক্ত in an annoyed tone.
“Partially.” She replied.
“Anyway… We had set up the charges, but one of my team-mates accidentally set his off first from the inside before we were ready, and the whole thing went kaboom! It short-circuited one of the secondary bombs that my other team-mate was working on, which took him out. It was just me left. I had to finish all of the other charges on the outside and get out of there, before the acid escaped. I was running as fast as I could, and I had gotten two of the thirty charges set, but I was running out of time. Just then, five enemy helicopters came rushing at me, firing everywhere. I ran up the side of the mountain-“
“Without getting hit once. How magical.” DarkShade insulted sarcastically.
“Could আপনি not??... Thank you. So I ran up the mountain, then jumped backwards, onto the helicopter that was on my tail, got in there, took out the crew, then dumped the charges in place as I flew over the marks, and took out the other helicopters. The charges blew just as the acid began to poor out, and my helicopter was hit. I saw that the শীর্ষ blades were damaged on the sides, so I climbed up, pulled them off, then soared into the air, getting nauseous like crazy, then landing safely out of harm’s way.”
“Amazing!” DarkShade congratulated. “Now tell us a true story.”
Ken gave the non-believer a glare, then returned to his resting position.
“Well I liked the story.” Talia complimented.
“Good for you.” Ken replied in a blank tone. “Too bad some people just don’t like a good story.”
“Sure.” DarkShade scoffed. “Now what was that আপনি were saying about being a ‘Normal guy’?”
“Hey, I didn’t say that I was completely normal. As if আপনি have any better of a story.”
“You don’t even know the half of it.”
“What do আপনি mean, Shade?” Talia asked, hoping for another story.
“Nothing.” DarkShade ব্যক্ত with a sigh. “I suppose that I’ll have to put up with being called ‘Shade’ দ্বারা আপনি from now till forever.”
“I could call আপনি Black-Goth if আপনি want.” Talia chuckled.
“Whichever works for you.” DarkShade replied as she got up from her আসন and began to walk out.
“Where ya going?” Craiger asked.
“This is your training session, not mine. I’d rather go train অথবা do something productive, then listen to another egoed-up story from captain Bomber-Man.” DarkShade finished as she left the room.
“What’s with her?” Talia asked.
“She’s has attitude is all.” Craiger replied.
“Yeah, but why’s she so hostile?”
“Who knows. We’re all lucky to get to partner with her in the first place.”
“What makes আপনি say that?”
“Well she hasn’t let anyone get that close to her person unless she’s ‘bout to slice em. No one ever gets to have a conversation with her, and she’s only been on solo-missions. The fact that she talked to us for so long is a complete miracle.”
“Then why were আপনি guys so calm?”
“Craiger told me not to talk to her about it.” Ken groaned.
“In other words,” Craiger began, “we didn’t want to make her feel awkward… অথবা at least Ah didn’t. She’s got spunk, that girl. Surprised that she hasn’t turned on the agency yet.”
“Turned?!” Talia exclaimed in surprise.
“Yep. It happens. There’s been a lot of agents that’ve turned on the agency once they get really good. They start asking questions, then they start learning secrets, then they defect.”
“What types of secrets?”
“Ah dunno. Special ones obviously. I don’t plan on finding them out personally.”
“Why not?”
“Cause I don’t want a whole planet turning on me.”
“Like the Identity girl?”
“Exactly like the Identity girl. She was really good at whatever she did in Supreta, but from what I’ve heard, she got cocky অথবা something, and well, আপনি know the rest.”
“You think we’ll ever have a mission to find her one day?”
“Ah hope so. That would be some fun.”
“Uh guys, I’m still in the room.” Ken interrupted. “And I don’t think that we’re supposed to talk about the… Identity.”
“I seriously doubt that they’d be able to do anything about it, Ken.” Craiger informed. “I mean, we’re all already in a secret facility and all that. Not like they can punish us দ্বারা sending us back into the public world.”
“Wait… আপনি can’t go in public?” Talia asked worryingly.
“No, we can. Just not that often. Wanted in countries and all that.”
“Yeah.” Ken said. “I think you’d be allowed though… speaking of which, don’t আপনি have a dad অথবা something that আপনি live with?”
“Not anymore.” Talia ব্যক্ত lowly. “Dad… is upset with me. I’m not planning to talk to him any time soon.”
“You can’t just avoid him for life, Talia.” Craiger added.
“I didn’t say that I’m avoiding him! I just… need some space- we need some space! I don’t know why he’s so angry though.”
“Maybe because you’re risking your life every দিন now, and are probably going to get killed. Then again I could be wrong. Maybe he’s just upset that আপনি didn’t clean your room.” Craiger ব্যক্ত sarcastically.
“Hey! It was my choice.”
“So? It’s still a risk.”
“Well I like risks! I thought আপনি did too!”
“Ah do. My own risks. Risking someone else’s life doesn’t give আপনি a feeling of adventure, অথবা make আপনি feel good. It leaves আপনি feeling guilty, even if they’re safe. Ah’d imagine that’s how your Dad feels right about now.”
“… I never… that sounds… Wow.” Talia was quiet for a moment, while she fixed her words, then ব্যক্ত “I didn’t want to make him feel guilty, but if I have skills, why not use them?”
“True, but then again, there’s probably some way আপনি can use them elsewhere.”
“Such as…? I doubt আপনি can think of one for your skills.”
“Well I can’t for me. Ah doubt there’s a peaceful job for a sniper, but Ah’d imagine that you’d be able to sell your blood as a cure for stuff অথবা somethin. Seems logical.”
“… Stink. I hope my Dad doesn’t realize that too soon. I like this job.”
“Speaking of job, Ah’m still waiting for there to be something happening.”
“There will be… eventually.” And so they waited… and waited… and waited. It was amazing to think that Talia could be so quiet for so long. Eventually DarkShade walked back in and asked if anything had happened yet. They simply shook their bored faces at her. The hooded-assassin then sat down and waited another twenty সেকেন্ড before saying “So who’s পরবর্তি on th-“ *blam!!!*
A giant explosion shattered the room, sending everyone flying. DarkShade jumped around the room, and braced the others, while Talia started running towards what had caused the explosion. The others quickly recovered, then followed her, just in time to see her fall of the side of the base, and into a forest-like area.
“TALIA!!!” Craiger yelled as he attempted to jump after her. DarkShade quickly stopped him, then shoved him down on his rear, which gave him no small amount of pain. “Ten hours without sitting… yay…” He groaned as he slowly got up. “WHY DID আপনি DO THAT…?”
“Are আপনি a bird?” DarkShade hinted as she jumped down after Talia herself.
“So… DarkShade’s a bird?” Ken asked obliviously. Craiger simply ignored him, then started walking towards the edge of the building.
The two of them slowly climbed down the tall red-wood-trees that were against the building’s side, then regrouped with Talia and DarkShade, অথবা which neither of them were harmed.
“Does anyone have any idea about who caused the explosion?!” Talia questioned.
“Obviously an enemy of Ge Si Eir.” DarkShade noted. “The প্রশ্ন that I would ask is ‘why don’t we see any weapons?’.”
“… Shade, can আপনি throw one of your knives into the sky above the base?” Talia asked.
“You mean over fifty-feet up, of which such a movement would break someone’s arm?”
“Yep.”
“… *sigh* Yes…” DarkShade nudged the others to the side as she walked over to a clearing, then took out one of her daggers, and thrusted it into the air with whiplash-force. When it reached a certain height, a large *DUNK* was heard from above them.
“They must be using a cloaking device.” Talia suggested. “We sho-“ *WEZOOOOOOOOOM!!!* A giant energy beam was sent from where the dagger hat hit, directly at them. It singed off Talia’s arm, which caused her excruciating pain, but then… her arm grew back completely. She looked at it with widened eyes, then ব্যক্ত “Can I do it again?” with a chuckle.
“Not the time, Luv.” Craiger hinted as he pulled her with the rest of them; intent on not letting her arm get destroyed a সেকেন্ড time. আরো energy beams followed the team; getting closer each time.
Ken quickly placed a small antenna-like-device on the ground, which created a reversal shield, that sent the beam back at whatever was firing it. It made a large dent in what was now shown to be a giant hover-craft. It was black, with circular-dents around it, where they assumed the energy beams came out of.
“Can anyone fly us up there?” Talia asked.
“Nop-Agh!!” Ken yanked off his com-link. “And I don’t think we can call anyone either. Unless আপনি want a banshee in your ear, the whole time.”
“… How high can আপনি jump, Shade?” Talia asked as she began to measure the distance.
“… High… 20 feet… আপনি need longer…”
“Get me up to the শীর্ষ of that tree,” Talia ordered; pointing to a nearby red-wood, “then jump up and throw me.”
“… al… right…” DarkShade and Talia ran up to the tree, and used Shade’s knives to climb up it’s side.
“And we’re s’posed ta do… what exactly?” Craiger asked.
“Distract them!!!” Talia yelled as the ship began to shoot at them again.
“… Distract, distract, distr- HEY!!” Ken yelled as Craiger jumped onto his shoulders.
“Don’t get excited.” Craiger smirked as he pulled out a long-electric string from inside his gun. He then turned his gun on, and began to wave it back and forth in the air; causing a blue-electric light to go back and forth. “Don’t just stand there! MOVE!!”
Ken gave a short glare at his passenger, then began to run at random; hopping as he went, with flailing arms, and painful screaming. Mostly the screaming consisted of “CRAIGER OWES ME BIG TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMEE!!!!!”
Talia and DarkShade reached the শীর্ষ of the tree. DarkShade then launched Talia into the air, jumped after her, then launched her a সেকেন্ড time. She flew up the side of the ship, and reached for something to grab, but there was nothing. “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!” She creamed as she began to fall. DarkShade quickly took one of her knives, then threw it directly into Talia’s hand, before she was too late, which sent her into the ship’s side.
Talia shook as she slowly removed the ছুরি from her palm, then stabbed the side of the ship, and held on. A stressed-tear went across her face from the pain in her wounded hand. It quickly healed though, and she began to use both the dagger and her claws to climb to the topside of the ship.
The ship stopped firing at the others, and metal-suited-mobians rose up from the ship’s ceiling; carrying electric-swords. Talai grinned slightly, and ব্যক্ত “sweet” before lunging into one of them in a frontal-spinning move, and grabbing the sword.
The others quickly reacted, and she was soon in a deep fencing battle. The Tex-Meg cat attempted to use her dust-ability, but it had no effect on the suited-mobians for they were artificial life, but the স্যুইটস্ were not. She soon gave up on that idea, and instead began to jump behind each of them in a row, and stabbed them with the electric sword.
Five of them jumped at her from behind, with their swords pointed directly at her. She quickly sliced a large-circular hole in the শীর্ষ of the ship, then jumped backwards as they landed. This caused them to ram into the hole, and shove it’s “cork” down inside the ship, along with them.
From there, Talia found herself in what appeared to be the deck of the ship. A tall-masked Mobian, with a black cape turned to see her from the front of the deck. He then walked over to a case and pulled out a large electric staff.
“… Darth Maul much?” Talia teased as she ran to meet her opponent, who also ran towards her. Sword and Staff clang together, sending sparks of electricity everywhere. They continued to flip, and দোল around the whole deck, until the masked-leader had knocked Talia’s sword out of her hand, while they were upside down on the ceiling, then kicked her down into the ground.
He then lunged down with his staff attempting to finish her off. Talia quickly back-flipped then landed her foot on the bottom of his helmet, which was then forced off… but there was no head underneath.
“I’ve seen enough.” A voice called out. Right after, the entire area faded away. Talia fell a little, then landed on her feet, in the hologram room with the others.
“Wait… this was a test?” She questioned.
“Now what on Mobocan would give আপনি that idea?” DarkShade asked sarcastically. The room’s hidden-doors opened, and Commander Armens walked in.
“… That was cool. Can I do it again?” Talia asked; ready for more.
“Your team-work needs work, but আপনি basically have it down.” He ব্যক্ত as he tried to ignore her question. “You don’t know how hard it is to find a team like that.”
“What do আপনি mean, Commander?” Craiger inquired.
“Well unfortunately, in most cases teams don’t, how is it said… ‘click’. Yours did. It is very rare.”
“And our over-all grade was…” DarkShade inquired.
“We’re still in the process of that. But while we’re doing that, do আপনি have a team name?”
“Hmm… I want to say Tex-Meg, but that seems a bit braggy… plus I’m guessing no-one’s s’posed to know about it.” Talia pondered. “Team… Glue? Nah, that’s stupid. Uh… anybody else got an idea?”
“A hundred… they all stink.” DarkShade ব্যক্ত in her monotone voice.
“Uh… Sorry, Ah’ve got nothing.” Craiger sighed.
“Ken?” Talia urged with a hopeful smile.
“Oh, well uh… team… uh… S-slate?” Ken cringed.
“Why slate?” Talia inquired.
“Well it just seems kind of like the color of the Tex-Maggie… stuff… sounds better than glue.”
“… Okay. We’re Team Slate.” Talia declared.
“We are not Team Slate.” DarkShade disagreed.
“Not your call, Shade.” Craiger smirked.
“… Fine. But I’m not going to say it.”
“Now what, Commander?” Craiger inquired.
“Now,” Armens began, “You all get some rest. Socialize. Do whatever আপনি people do in your spare time. If you’d like, আপনি could go out to the real world, Talia.”
“Really?? COOL!!!” Talia zoomed out of the room… অথবা আরো like ran into a wall, activated the door, then zoomed out of the room, and was soon out in the real world with her brother. She wanted to see the look on the cute Scottish boy, Mark, when he saw her new look.
Sammy Jr. Hedgehog
Kikku kicking a monster
SO FLEXIBLE
