Heeeeeeey! I bet you weren't expecting an update to come THIS fast! :D

SoLow: Oh no . . .

KFee: She's actually updating in less than a month!

SoLow: Make that less than a week!

KFee: So that means . . .

SoLow: HIDE THE REDBULL! AND THE SUGAR! AND MAKE SURE SHE DOESN'T GET TO THE SHIPPING POINT WHERE SHE STARTS BASHING ANIMATED PAIRINGS SHE DOESN'T LIKE!

Me: I don't bash pairings, why would I do that?

SoLow: Wait, you don't bash your most hated animated pairings anymore?

Me: No, I'm WAY over that!

SoLow: Oh good cause that would make you-

Me: I burn the living sparky out of them! :D

SoLow: Wait, WHAT?!

Me: *pulls out RedBull and a ton of matches* TIME TO DIIIIIIIIIIE!

Chapter 4

I'm Coming For You

Nova didn't respond. Even if she could, she wouldn't know how. She just couldn't sum up what just happened.

First Sparx wouldn't say anything to her, then he raged like never before in front of Gibson and now he was . . . cradling her in his arms and crying?

He was actually crying.

Out of all the outcomes that could have happened after this fit, Sparx was the last monkey on the planet Nova expected to see cry. He would hold a grudge or make angry comments or maybe just sit there, fuming. But this time he was actually crying, his tears splashing onto Nova's helmet.

She looked up and could tell that neither of them knew how he was feeling. His face was full of rage yet the tears kept falling from his scrunched up eyes, his shaky arms tightening their grip around Nova's body.

"Sparx . . ." Nova couldn't bear to see him so emotional. She reached up and tenderly touched his cheek, brushing away the tears with her fingers. Sparx sighed, his face relaxing a little, even tinting a slight smile. He gently pushed Nova's head down and kissed the top of her helmet, showing her that he still cared.

Nova sniffed as he pulled away, squeezing her as tight as he could manage.

"I'm sorry," he whispered again.

"I know," Nova murmured. She looked back up at him. "You're crying."

Sparx quickly wiped his tears. "D- don't worry about it."

But Nova couldn't help feeling more concerned than ever. "It's not your fault, Sparx."

"I know."

She brought her hand down from his cheek to the fur on his chest and began running her fingers through it, nuzzling her cheek against that smooth fur.

"I'm sorry," Nova sighed.

Sparx loosened his grip on her and stared at her in disbelief. "Nova, what are you saying?"

"The whole war thing . . . it's my fault."

The red simian just gaped at her, gobsmacked that she would suggest such a thing. He took a moment to take in what Nova had just said . . . then quickly shook his head. "Nova, please don't start blaming yourself."

"No, go on. We'd all love to hear more about you, Nova. Like what a waste of space you are?"

Nova froze. "No . . ."

"Refusing to share more, hmm? Why doesn't that surprise me?"

She shook her head frantically. "No! Please! Not again!"

"Nova?" Sparx took hold of her head in his hands. "Nova! What's wrong?"

"I'll tell you what's wrong . . . You're just a sad helpless little coward, tagging along, tearing your team apart . . ."

"That's not true!"

"What's going on?" Sparx demanded, not sure whether to feel scared or confused or both as Nova began to freak out in his arms. He was really squeezing her head now, shaking it desperatly in an attempt to knock some sense into her. "Nova, look at me! Look at me!"

"Why bother? After all he's the one who tried to kill you . . ."

"THAT'S NOT THE SAME!"

She was so panic stricken that she thrust herself out of Sparx's arms and banged onto the floor, trying to catch her frantic breath between screams of terror.

"NOVA!" Sparx jumped down and tried to grab her but it was pointless. Glancing between her and the med bay door, he then reluctantly but frantically raced out of the room. "GIBSON! SHE'S FREAKING OUT AGAIN!"

"And now he just leaves you there. I always knew he never really cared . . ."

"No!" Nova cried. "He's just trying to help me! They're all trying to help me!"

"They never tried to help you! Did they bother to help you when you were lost in that wormhole? I don't think so? Did you care when you were captured by that group . . . that 'Wild Five' I think it was? DID THEY BUDGE WHEN SPRX 77 HELD YOU HOSTAGE IN HIS OWN ELECTRICITY?"

"STOOOOP! YOU'RE LYING, MANDARIN!" Nova screeched.

"Me? Lying? I think I'm being perfectly honest! Think about it! They never cared for you back then. And now you're just tearing the team apart. You heard them arguing over YOU. YOU were the one who caused this conflict between your two teammates. And you're only making it worse . . ."

"MANDARIN SHUT UP!"

"SILENCE! You think you're brave back chatting at me like that? It only makes you weaker, less brave . . . a COWARD!"

"I'm not a coward!"

"Well admit it then! Even someone braver than you would have to admit that they're a coward every once in a while!"

"BUT I'M NOT A COWARD!" Nova screamed as loud as she could manage. "I'M A WARRIOR!"

"A warrior? HA! And you say that I'm lying! You're just as pathetic as you were when we were a team! I should have killed you when I had the chance!"

"Mandarin, please!"

"Please right back at you! I'm sick of your weak little pleas and cries. I've had enough! I think it's time I shut you up!"

Nova blocked her ears, trying to get the ringing sound of Mandarin's voice out of her ears. "No! DON'T START! DON'T DO IT!"

"Oh I will do it, dear Nova. I'm coming for you . . ."

She shook her head frantically. "No . . . NOOO!"

"Oh yes. And as soon as I find you, I'm gonna kill you. Like I longed to those many years ago. I''ve been waiting to kill you for a long time. And it'll feel good. Not for you maybe but for me . . . Oh yes. I think I'll enjoy killing you."

"NOOOOO-"

Suddenly the pain in the back of Nova's neck felt stronger, more sharper, like someone had just stabbed it. Nova screeched in agony, her neck throbbing. Next thing, that all-too familiar wooziness began to kick in again . . .

"I'm coming for you, COWARD!"

Her arms collapsed. But someone grabbed her by the head before she could knock her jaw. Next thing, she felt Sparx roll her over onto his lap. Ahead of him, she could just make out Gibson backing away . . . with another tranquilizer in his hand. A weak moan escaped her lips. She fought to keep her eyes open.

"That a girl, Nova," Sparx whispered gently as her eyes felt heavier. "That's it . . ."

Nova could barely move. Her body felt like it weighed a ton- no, a thousand of them. She only just managed to open her mouth and rasp out "Mandarin's gonna kill me."

"He's not gonna kill you, Nova," Sparx insisted.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that . . ."

Nova somehow found the leftover strength to heave her heavy arm up and clutch Sparx's shoulder.

"Help me . . ."

And she passed out.

"He's not gonna kill you, Nova! Do you hear me?" Sparx shook her in some hope of getting some sort of an answer from her unconcious body. "I'm not gonna let Mandarin kill you!"

"Well . . ." sighed Gibson. "I think we've found the answer to Nova's nightmares and hallucinations. The problem is . . . how to we find the solution to get rid of them?" He raised the tranquilizer. "I only have so many of these. I must save them for the war ahead. And if I overdose Nova with them, it'll only make things worse."

Sparx lowered his eyebrows, a determined look spreading across his face. "I got a solution for ya!"

"What is it, Sparx?" asked Gibson.

"We find Mandarin Bone Bag and kill him ourselves!"

SoLow: *slaps her own face* WHAT IS WITH YOU AND KILLING CHARACTERS IN YOUR FICS?

Me: What? Everyone loves a good character death! Why do you think people love Final Destination and Saw so much?

KFee: Because of the good storylines?

Me: Well I've got those in my fics too :P

SoLow and KFee: *facedesk*

Please Read and Review and check out my other stories and until next time- Saw, hmmm? That's actually not a bad idea . . . *evil grin* Hey SoLow, I wanna play a game ;D