Six reviews, peeps! That's what I'm talking about! They made my day, so I'll try to get two chapters up this week if I have the chance as my way of saying thank you. Super thanks to all of those who reviewed!
Aria DeLoncray: Another long chapter up! Whoop whoop! Small chapters annoy me, but sometimes it's the best way to end them. (; Hope you enjoy the reveal!
Sunchaser: I'm glad you enjoyed it, and thanks!
Hassingthecoolone: I'll admit, I laughed out loud when I saw your review; my roommate was a little confused, that's for sure. I hope you enjoy the new chapter! (:
HextheDaydreamer: Pssh, you know Spirit; she has no idea what subtly is. Lol! I have a feeling you'll like this chapter for that very reason. (;
blackrosewitch1996: The big reveal is here! Hope that I managed to live up to your expectations for it. (; Hehe!
Thanatos77: Sorry I couldn't exactly get it to be fast, but I hope the length and the humor make up for it!
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I sat in the back with Duke and Ripcord, laying on my stomach with my head between my paws. I'd shifted back to my German Shepherd form after we'd gotten onto the aircraft, doing it as quickly as I could before the others could see; it wasn't exactly pretty to watch and I didn't want to freak out my friends too much.
Duke tolerated my presence for now, though he watched me like I was some kind of alien. I pinned my ears back when I felt his eyes on me, turning my attention back onto Ripcord, who was being treated by the red-haired woman. I felt a pang of longing in my gut; she reminded me so much of Jean. Another, more primal, pang hit me, and my muzzle contorted as I snarled to myself, pushing Phoenix back down into the depths of my belly; as if I didn't have enough problems as it was.
"Hey, you're cute," Ripcord murmured, eyeing the redhead. I mentally chuckled, watching as the redhead seemed to roll her eyes.
"He's going into shock," she said to the ninja on the other side of him.
"What's your name, darlin'?" Ripcord pressed, leaning a little closer to her before biting back a yelp when the black clad man jabbed him with a needle.
The redhead held back a laugh. "I thought all Special Ops guys were tough," she said, her voice sugary sweet.
"We are tough," Ripcord complained. "But also sensitive." His head leaned back against the seat as the drugs did their work. "Who, that's some mucho primo stuff you gave me." I watch as his eyes turn a little glassy, and he looks over at the other large black man, who was currently staring at Ripcord. He reached up and touched the other man's hair. "And a kung-fu grip."
I barked a laugh, startling those around me. I shrugged, putting my head back down between my paws.
"The name's Heavy Duty," the man said, removing Ripcord's hand from his head.
"What kind of outfit is this?" Duke suddenly asked, locking gazed with everyone on board. However, he did avoid looking at me, and I whined softly. "Not regular Army based on the accents. I have you as an Aussie." He nodded towards the redhead. "And you're a Johannesburger. And you: French North Africa. Algiers?" These last two he aimed towards Heavy Duty and the Frenchman.
"Tunisia," the Frenchman replied. "Where were you born?"
"Are you kidding me?" Ripcord interrupted, high on the drugs now. "Duke wasn't born, he was Government-issued!"
Duke rolled his eyes before continuing. "But somehow you're all in the same unit. One you can't tell me the name right?"
"We'd get tossed for telling," the redhead explained.
Ripcord interrupted again, grinning like a madman. "Duke, Duke, don't you get it!" he exclaimed. "They're super secret, they're Mission Impossible! This tape's gonna self-destruct in five —"
"You're gonna go after them aren't you? The ones that hit my convoy?" Duke asked, ignoring his friend. No one answered as he looked from one person to the next. He took a deep breath before speaking again. "Then whoever you are, whatever this unit is, I want in."
I rose to a sitting position, giving a growl of agreement. I wanted revenge on those who'd dared try to hurt my friends.
"Not our call," the Frenchman responded, giving me a wary glance; I seemed to be getting a lot of those lately.
"I want in, too," Ripcord added, attempting to sit up. "That way, we can spend some bunker time together."
I startled when the black clad man brought his sword out close to Ripcord's face. I barely hesitated, getting to my feet and starting to bark a warning.
"Down, Spirit!" Duke snapped, apparently not in the mood. I whined softly, but did as I was told, sitting back down and glaring hatefully at the ninja. Duke watched me angrily, and my ears pinned back flat against my head as I slid down onto my belly, burying my nose in my paws.
"You three a team or something?" the redhead woman asked after a few seconds, trying to diffuse the situation.
"We've been together forever," Ripcord replied before Duke could. He gave a cheesy grin. "But not like that. Spirit joined us about six months ago. I'm Ripcord, by the way."
"Why do they call you that?" she asked curiously.
In response, the Frenchman begins to laugh. "Because his name is Wallace Weems!"
I rolled my eyes, giving a heavy sigh and yawning before doing what every good soldier did: I got what sleep I could for the remainder of the flight.
()()()()()()
I woke up when I felt the aircraft beginning to drop. I yawned, getting slowly to my feet and stretching before bracing myself as we landed. I shook myself out, looking up towards Duke. He still didn't look at me, but he did as least tap his leg for me to follow after him, which I did willingly.
As we stepped out of the aircraft, my senses were assaulted with an array of scents, sounds, and sights. I didn't sense any threats, however, though I was still wary and kept close to Duke and Ripcord. I let the black man lean against me, still getting over the drugs that he'd been given.
"Welcome to the new Pit."
I turned my bicolored gaze onto the General as he approached from the shadows, not surprised when he didn't even flinch.
"Duke," General Hawk greeted.
"General," Duke replied.
The General smiled slightly. "I've read a lot about you three," he said, looking at us.
"Okay, look, I didn't steal that Blackhawk, I was borrowing it . . . " Ripcord started before falling silent at a glare from Duke.
General Hawk ignored him, only having eyes for Duke. "Matter of fact," he continued, "I saw that one of my subordinates tried to recruit you to our littler operation a while back." His gaze turned to me. "And I've been trying to track you and yours down for years now, though you're the last person I expected to see with these two."
I growled, hackles bristling. Duke instinctively reached down to rest a hand on my head, tugging on one of my ears. Realizing what he was doing, he stopped and dropped his hand back down to his side, and my heart plummeted in my chest.
"What do you want with, Spirit?" he finally asked. "What is she? Or it?"
I took a slight step back, hurt by Duke's words. My ears pinned back tightly against my skull as I looked from Duke to Ripcord and back again.
"Spirit's a mutant," General Hawk said, turning his gaze to me, everyone else following suit. "I take it you remember that whole fiasco almost a year ago in San Fransisco at the research lab?"
Everyone nodded.
"Spirit here was apart of the group that helped . . . diffuse the situation," General Hawk continued. "Though, even I am intrigued as to where you were that night. I didn't see you mentioned anywhere within the files; you're a mystery."
I snarled, taking another step back; I didn't like where the conversation was going. I bumped into something, and found that I was being blocked by the ninja, probably his way of getting payback for earlier. I felt a cold burning in my chest, and I shook my head fiercely to try and quell it. Phoenix continued to try pushing forward, sensing my distress and anger. I gnashed my teeth, making those around me back up warily. The cold burning slowly faded, though it took far longer than what it used to. I turned my angry gaze onto General Hawk with a deep growl.
'If you value your life and the lives of your men, you won't inquire about what happened,' I told Hawk, keeping my thoughts for him and him alone. The General took a slight startled step back; he hadn't expected me to talk to him.
"Well, well," he said, obviously impressed. "You're full of talents, aren't you? Please, may I talk to you in person?"
I started to shake my head, but I knew that I was already fighting a lost battle. Reluctantly, I took a step forward, rearing up onto my hind legs to make the transition easier.
'I'm sorry,' I voiced to both Duke and Ripcord before closing my eyes so I wouldn't have to see their faces.
I thought of my human form, and my limbs immediately started to burn. I yelped, though forced myself to stay on my hind legs as fur became smooth skin, claws into fingernails, fangs into flat teeth. Bones contorted under my skin, muscles audibly tearing and melding back together. As my vocal cords changed into those of a human, I let loose a cry, shaking and falling onto my hands and knees as I finished the shift.
"Damn," I panted, using the next few moments to catch my breath. "That hurt."
"I'd imagine so."
I turned my eyes to gaze up at General Hawk, black and blue eyes glaring at him in hatred. Slowly, I got to my feet, stumbling as I got used to being back up on two feet. Nearly all commotion had stopped at the sound of my cry, all eyes on my form as I gazed around, a few dropping in embarrassment.
"Happy?" I finally asked, turning to look at the group standing around me. All of them lowered their gazes from my human body. I held my hands out to the sides. "Nothing for me to hide." My dog tags swung easily around my neck, glinting with the X-Men emblem.
Ripcord, being Ripcord, looked me up and down. "Damn," he said with a low whistle, at which point Duke slapped him and both averted their gazes.
"I'll be happier when you're clothed," General Hawk said flatly. I only smirked, not feeling any discomfort at being completely naked in front of the other humans.
"You asked," I replied smartly. "You wanted to talk. So talk."
"I was under the impression that you shifted with clothes on," Hawk said, clearly a little embarrassed now.
I barked a laugh. "I do," I replied. "When I actually have clothes to shift into. I did not bring anything with me when I joined; what was the point if I was not to shift?"
General Hawk turned, looking for something to cover me with. I only chuckled.
"I do not fear nakedness, General," I said smoothly. "As so many humans do. Now please, what did you wish to discuss? Or did you merely wish just to see me shift?"
General Hawk gave a slight cough, ignoring both of my questions as he finally managed to find a discarded jacket. "Here," he said, handing it to me. To please him, I put it on, though didn't bother buttoning up the front; Logan told me once that the best way to take someone off guard was to make them as uncomfortable as possible. I'd like to think that he'd be very proud of me.
"Well?" I pressed.
"We'll discuss it later," General Hawk replied after clearing his throat a few more times. I chuckled darkly, allowing a bit of my wolf side to show through.
"As you wish," I said, flashing fangs and allowing white to streak my long, dark auburn hair before it vanished as quickly as it had come. "This is going to be fun."
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This was definitely a very fun chapter to write, as was the one after this. Hope you guys enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Reviews are always welcome! Have a wonderful week, you guys! Happy Monday!
ML out