So, this is kind of the first real story I've uploaded in, like, a year and I apologize profusely for that. You might or might not have guessed that I'm a Potterhead but I'll bet you didn't know I'm also a Starkid. Huh? Huh? (As you can see, I'm feeling the incessant need to ramble in this Author's Note because I haven't communicated with y'all in forever and a day) Anyway, this is a Starship fic, obviously. The weirdest pairing you'll ever read about (don't look at me, my six year old brother suggested it. He's a Starkid too.) but I hope you like it. Onwards and forwards, children. Here we go again.
Redemption.
One - Recovery 148.
Junior rolled over on his side, the pain of the larva's bite marks searing through his body. "Ow. Fuck." He mumbled, trying to push himself up. He couldn't and just ended up falling back onto the dusty ground, his head knocking against his hand. He caught sight of the bite marks on it and winced. Those would leave pretty hideous scars. Why must I always do things to try and impress Dad? He thought, watching as a little stream of blood trickled down his index finger and onto the dirt, creating a foul smelling sort of paste. I wanted to be a Communications Liaison, but no. I had to try and impress him. I had to become a freaking Starship Ranger. And now I'm going to bleed out and he'll pass it off like he did with Mom. In his life, Junior had done some horrible things-particularly lately. This was his karma, he didn't really deserve to live. Evil and bad to the bone, He thought, dryly. More like pathetic and stupid to the core. Junior's eyes watered and looked up towards the sky. He didn't know if the sky was Heaven like people said in all those fairytales and folk stories but, if it was, that's where he hoped his Mother would be. "Mom," He winced again as his voice caught in his throat, a burning sensation filling his lungs. "Forgive me." He managed to choke out and then everything went dark.
Penelope Harding, known to the other Rangers as "Specks", strolled around Bug's planet, her eyes widening at everything she saw. She hadn't gotten the chance to take a look around before and, now that it was evening, she had snuck out of Starship 15A2 and gone exploring. This place was enchanting. The ground was soft and springy, the air smelled of honey and the evening sky was beginning to glow and twinkle. A mix of both stars and fireflies, she assumed. There was a warmth also, to this planet, that there wasn't on earth. The temperature had been a constant heat since they arrived and only changed with the occasional gust of wind. Penelope let her head fall back in order to gaze at the magnificent stars, taking in a deep breath of honey scented air. "This place is so-WHOA!" She stumbled over something and landed chest-first on the floor, loosing her glasses in the process. Penelope felt around on the floor for her glasses, her hand coming in contact with what felt like human skin. A moment or so later, her fingers wrapped around the glasses and a human body came into view. "Junior!" She gasped, lunging forward and pressing her fingers to his neck, trying to locate a pulse. There was a faint pulse, one that probably wouldn't be there much longer. Penelope tried to turn Junior over onto his back, but failed. She was smart, but not as strong as the other Rangers. She had gotten into the Ranger Corps purely through intelligence. "Junior," She said, as calmly as she could muster. "If you can hear me, I'm going to get help." She pulled back her hand, his blood staining her fingers a deep crimson. Pushing up from her heels she set back towards the 15A2, memorizing the route. She knew exactly who would help him.
"Commander Up, Commander Up, wake up! Commander!" Penelope shook the Commander awake and he stared at her for a moment, bleary eyed.
"Specks?" He rubbed his palm against his right eye. "What in the name of Dead God is going on? Are we under attack?" As he said the word attack, he threw his feet out of the covers and onto the floor.
"No, Sir." Penelope shook her head. "It's Junior, he's hurt. Badly, Sir. I know you're the only one who will help because you care now… Sir." She bowed her head slightly with the final bit, not wanting to offend her commanding officer.
"Junior? That scoundrel got what he had coming, kid." Up shook his head.
"We can't just let him die, Sir. He may be a dick but he's still human. He's still a Ranger. He's one of us." Penelope searched Up's eyes, which had softened slightly. "Please…?" She begged and Commander Up sighed in capitulation.
"Que pasa, idiota?" Taz's shrill voice echoed through the medical wing of Starship 15A2 the next morning, her fiery eyes locked on Up's. "Joo telling me that joo are so mullido now that joo not only save a robot but you also save the hijo de puta that sent us here in the first place!"
"Oh, c'mon now, Taz," Commander Up's southern accent was the quintessence of calm. "He may be a pain in the ass, but Junior is one of us. Querida, he's a Starship Ranger too."
"Don't joo call me Querida, joo smelly, old fart!" Taz marched toward Up and punched her finger in his chest angrily.
"She's in a rage, man." Krayonder took a step away from her. "I think this is the maddest she's ever been, dude."
"Naw, I don't know," Tootsie scratched his head. "She seemed pretty mad that time she stabbed you in the back…" He paused. "Literally." Then he giggled at his own joke.
Krayonder mouthed "Ooh yeah," and took another step away.
Taz huffed, her face going redder by the second. "Joo better have a muy bien explanation for this, Up, or I swear to Dios muerto-"
"It wasn't Up's idea, it was mine." Penelope interjected. "Up had nothing to do with this, other than helping me bring Junior here."
"Por qué," Taz looked at Penelope with wide eyes. "Specks, why? The bastardo nearly got us all killed."
"I'm not like you, Taz." Penelope sighed, rubbing her hand against her forehead. "I couldn't live with myself, knowing that I had let him die. I can't handle these things like you do, amiga. I'm poco convincente." Penelope stumbled slightly over the Spanish words, but managed to get her meaning across.
Krayonder and Tootsie shared a look of confusion as Taz bowed her head.
"Joo are lucky I like you, Specks." She sucked in a breath and rolled her shoulders back. "But Hun-ee-air had better watch his cuello. Or I will arruinar su vida. She cracked her neck and punched her knuckles together.
Up breathed a sigh of relief as Taz turned back down the hall. Krayonder and Tootsie shared another look before Krayonder plucked up enough courage to ask; "Um, Up? Why are we here?"
"Well," Up started, before yawning. "Myself and Specks are going to stay put for a while, find out how Junior's doing, and we need you two to take care of our duties for the day."
"Aw man!" Krayonder cried. "More chores?" Tootsie elbowed him in the ribs.
"We'd be happy to do the work, Sir." He beamed. "We love you."
"Excusez-moi," A brunette woman stepped into the hallway from a door marked 'Recovery Room 148'. "Monsieur Up?" She nodded toward the door. "You may see Monsieur Junior now, but be very quiet s'il vous plait. He is still very weak."
Up and Penelope shuffled tentatively into the room. Junior was hooked up to a large machine, different wires attached to different parts of his bitten skin. Up winced upon seeing three particularly large marks on Junior's forehead. It was almost like he had been scrawled by a tiger in a downward motion, just above his eyebrow and reaching all the way back to his hairline. Up knew from experience that cuts that deep would leave a scar.
Penelope stood back, allowing her commanding officer to step up next to the bed.
"Junior?" He whispered and Junior's eyes fluttered open. "Welcome back to the Land of the Living, boy. We thought you were a goner." Up patted Junior's shoulder reassuringly and Junior looked at him with surprised eyes.
"I…" He blinked. A pause. "Why?" He asked, confused. "I tried to get you all killed."
"Ask Ranger Harding," Up looked over his shoulder. "She found you."
Penelope stepped forward, giving Junior what she hoped looked like a supportive smile, but it probably looked more like an uncertain grimace.
"Specks?" Junior asked, the look of confusion crossing his features again.
"That's me," Penelope said quietly.
"Why did you…?" He paused. "I mean, in light of what I did…" Junior couldn't believe it. His hatred for Starship Rangers shrunk a little at the thought of these two people, who he'd betrayed, coming to his rescue.
"I've always been a firm believer that everyone deserves a second chance." She pushed her glasses up her nose. "Besides, I took an oath when I became a Starship Ranger. I promised I'd never leave a man behind." She paused, before adding; "If they're alive, that is."
Junior, at a loss for words, wished that he could have had the strength, the courage, to retain that oath, instead of allowing himself to be corrupted by greed. Not knowing how to react, he said the first thing that came to mind.
"Thank you." And, for the first time in his life, he meant it.
Yeah, you've guessed it. It's a Junior/Specks (I haven't seen that been done yet, so hopefully at least one person might read this-yeah, Beth, I'm looking at you) with a side of Taz/Up if you squint and tilt your head to the left. It's good to be back, guys! -Hayley.