Thanks for the reviews. I definitely appreciate both of your inputs =).
I'm glad Gabriel's character is being well received. I'm definitely glad I took the time to focus on three, rather than having the core 5 in the beginning. I also started to like Gabriel a lot more than I thought I would while writing =).
I tried to cut down on the "..."s and the "-"s this time around.
I hope you'll like this chapter's action scene. Those are always the most difficult to write since It's so hard for me to describe =(. Anyways I'm also glad you enjoyed that little Fatima moment there. All I can say is that in this story, there's a purpose to everything so watch out :D
1x06 – Black in Conflict
The front door to Animal Sitters 4 U opened and Mrs. Johnson quickly entered. Her long purple dress blew in the strong winds as she struggled to get her and Smoogers inside.
"Hi Mrs. Johnson," greeted Fatima, leaning back on a chair, feet on the front desk and eyes on a fashion magazine.
"Oh, hi Fatima. You seem a little too comfortable there," said Mrs. Johnson, unimpressed with the new employee's behaviour.
"Oops," said Fatima, turning red as she quickly sat up properly.
"I know Winston is never here these days but I know Margaret's taking all his shifts. Where's she?" she asked curiously, handing the leash over to Fatima.
"Actually Winston and Margaret are on a date together," Fatima replied.
"Oh my god! Really? Thinking about it, they actually look good together. Or at least that's what I think. Anyway, I'll be back by 6pm tonight. Bye Fatima," said Mrs. Johnson, heading out the door.
"See you later,"
Fatima placed Smoogers in one of the back rooms in a play pen with dogs, similar in size. The walls were painted a plain light blue color and the floor, covered with plain white tiles. An assortment of toys were scattered all over the floor for Smoogers and the two other dogs to play.
"Smoogers, your friends are here! Go play with them," said Fatima placing Smoogers inside the pen, quickly running around chasing the other dogs.
-BMH-
"I really think Margaret should be the fourth BraveMan," said Ava.
Ava, dressed in a suit and lab coat and Gabriel, dressed casually in jeans and a white shirt on his day off, were alone in the war room, sitting across from each other.
"What's stopping you?" asked Gabriel.
"Winston doesn't really think it's the best idea," Ava replied.
"Well I too don't think Margaret is the best choice but honestly, we can't really find anyone who's up to it in such a short time. Who knows when we'll need a new comrade?"
"I guess,"
"And you know what? You created the Brave Project so it should be your call,"
"I don't think you should be going as far as to say that,"
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing,"
"Anyway, I'm sure there are many qualified soldiers to choose from here at the facilities,"
"There's no time to go through each soldier to find a suitable one. Plus, after what you guys did to my lab, there is no way another soldier from Pointcreste defence is getting there hands on this,"
"I'm really sorry about what I did. I still feel bad about it," apologized Gabriel.
"It's okay. That was then, this is now. You're a different person now."
-BMH-
"This is so nice!" smiled Margaret skipping around the gigantic shopping centre. The building consisted of two ovals connected at one end. The building had 4 floors and had numerous shops around the edges of each oval while the center was cut open like a donut and had a water fountain that sat on the ground floor and reached all the way to the ceiling.
"I've never really had the time to look around the colony! I can't believe I've been missing out on this!" she continued.
After leaning on the balcony of the second floor, she began to twirl to the mall music. Her orange floral skirt swaying in the direction she spun.
"Do you really have to do that?" complained Winston who was not too far behind, both hands carrying a variety of shopping bags.
"This is nice too! Can I get this?" she asked trying on a pair of sunglasses from a nearby kiosk.
"Margaret I already bought you all this stuff and you've worked more shifts than me lately. C'mon," argued Winston.
"Fine, fine," replied Margaret, whipping out her wallet from her white purse.
"Maybe if you went to work more often this wouldn't happen," she giggled.
"Yeah," responded Winston in a daze.
"Hey, are you even listening to me?" asked Margaret.
-BMH-
Nicole walked in with her golden retriever by her side. She stretched out her lower lip blew some of her black hair out of her face. She wore a pink shirt and some white shorts.
"Hi, I'm one of Margaret's friends. I'm a regular. I'm just here to drop of Rocko for the day," she greeted, bringing her dog up to the front counter.
"I see," said Fatima, quickly putting away a few items inside a nearby drawer.
Nicole noticed a black stain on some of the papers and a sterling silver table knife with a dried black substance on it.
"Oh my god. Is everything all right?" she asked.
"Oh this? Yeah! I must be having the worst luck ever. Earlier I tried cutting an apple but there must have been some weird stuff in it. Then a few minutes before you came, my pen exploded," she smiled, wiping her hands with a black hand towel.
"Aw. I hope your day gets better. Well I guess I'll leave Rocko with you then until later," smiled Nicole handing over the leash to Fatima.
"I'll see you later," said Fatima, watching Nicole walk out the front door.
-BMH-
"Aquator, how is the creation of the maze coming along?" asked Neptunous.
The king entered the sandy construction site where thick walls of colored stones were being stacked on top of each other. Different seaweed and a variety of plants filled the rest of the structure. Construction was carried out by the fish knights.
Aquator, turned around and greeted Neptunous. The Aqualien had the body of a shark and the head of a stingray. Two tiny set of arms as well as a pair of legs were attached on both sides of the body. Aquator's tail ended with a ball of spikes, similar to a mace.
"Excellent, your highness. We are currently on schedule,"
"Good. We must continue to distract the BraveMen while Neris carries her plan and while we continue working on this surprise for them,"
"Who is next?" asked Dimitrious, who approached the two from behind.
"Send in Samox the Salmon," suggested Neptunous.
"What? He's useless at this point! He's weak against-"
"Don't worry. With that woman keeping the black ranger preoccupied, Samox should be at least be able to get rid of the other two,"
-BMH-
"Jessica!" yelled a young man at the airport.
He helplessly watched the love of his life carry her luggage into security. She paused, turned around and smiled at him.
"Kevin, I'm so sorry. I'm sure we'll see each other again," she said quietly, turning back and continuing what she was doing.
Kevin was at the gym when he found out his girl was leaving. Still in his sweaty grey gym clothes, he had made it in time only to watch her walk away from his life. Jessica reached into the pocket of her long beige spring coat, pulled out a tissue and wiped her tears.
"Kevin, chase after her," cried Margaret, shoving popcorn from the brown rectangular paper bag into her mouth.
Winston turned to her and smiled, placing his right hand around her shoulder. She felt him do so and leaned in closer.
-BMH-
Later that day:
"Yay, you're here! I can finally go now!" smiled Fatima noticing the evening shift employee making his way inside the store.
After he had settled down and returned to the front counter, Fatima quickly grabbed her belongings from the crew room.
"I have to go meet up with someone. Take care!" she smiled on her way out.
"Bye!" waved the employee.
Fatima took a yellow checkered cab to Pointcreste Facilities and made her way to the war room where Ava had rested her head on the table, sleeping.
"Ava, I'm here! Where's Gabriel?" she asked, taking off her coat.
Ava slowly sat up and yawned, stretching her arms.
"He's sleeping at his dorm. Let me give him a call," she said, slowly taking out her cell phone and giving him a call.
While she did that, Fatima opened her yellow bag and revealed an enclosed test tube with a dark liquid inside. She waited for Ava to finish.
"He's on his way," said Ava.
"I guess I'll start then. This is what I was able to get," smiled Fatima.
"What's that?" asked Ava, taking the test tube and holding it at eye level, observing it from all sides.
"A blood sample I was able to get from Servantis,"
"What? But how?"
"I was able to get it after Gabriel's shield sliced through the monster,"
"I see," said Ava, unconvinced.
-BMH-
"Oh my gosh! I can't wait to have dinner! Ever since Pointcreste set sailed, I've yet to really go around the colony but I've always been told that Oceanview Restaurant is the best dining experience we have! Thank you so much Winston!" she smiled.
"I thought you'd like it,"
"I don't want tonight to end. I don't wanna go to work tomorrow,"
"We're working together tomorrow though,"
"Are we? Life is just getting better and better!" she smiled as Winston pulled out a chair for her to sit.
The restaurant had an outdoor beach theme happening. The hardwood floors, the blue skies, the tropical clothed staff and the Hawaiian music in the background all contributed to the experience.
-BMH-
"So when are we gonna find out what we're going up against?" asked Gabriel, who had just been informed of Fatima's findings.
"Not long now. Excuse me," pardoned Ava as she picked up her ringing phone from her pocket, "Yes, this is Dr. Ava Wu. Right now? Where? The park? All right I'll let them know,"
Ava hung up and turned to the two BraveMen.
"What is it?" asked Fatima.
"Trouble at the park. Another one of those fish-looking monsters,"
"We're on it," said Fatima.
"Okay. I'll contact Winston,"
-BMH-
"Look at all these couples spending the evening together at the park! Time to attack!" yelled Samox as he led an army of fish knights to the scene.
The park was filled with lush green grass, coniferous and deciduous trees, a small baseball field and a toy playground.
The Samox was a human sized walking orangey-pink salmon with brown boots and a long white bone for a weapon. His teeth were triangular shaped and appeared when he spoke. The citizens began to scream, shout and run as the creature and his army attacked.
"Aw c'mon," Samox laughed destroying benches and field equipment with his bonestick, "Is there anyone to challenge me?"
"Stop right there!" yelled Gabriel, arriving with Fatima to the scene.
"Mwuahaha! You'll have to get through my minions first!" he smirked as white orbs of light descended from above and morphed into an army of 10 fish knights.
"Gabriel, ready?" asked Fatima.
"Let's do it!" And with a press of a button, Gabriel and Fatima morphed into action.
-BMH-
Winston's phone rang, revealing Ava's name on the caller ID.
"It's Dr. Ava. It could be trouble,"
"Don't worry, I'm sure the other two can handle it right?"
"I don't know," said Winston, staring at the vibrating phone.
"Even if it is a fight, you told me how well Gabriel changed during the last one. He and Fatima should be able to handle them both, right?"
"I... I guess," shrugged Winston, pressing the red phone button and placing it back in his pocket.
-BMH-
Gabriel and Fatima took separate directions into a pool of knights and began to fight their way to Samox, who continued to wreak havoc among the citizens and buildings.
"We have to hurry," said Gabriel, grabbing a fish knight's head behind him and flipping him over, landing on another one in front of him.
"I'm trying!" assured Fatima, kicking a fish knight on her left, another on her right then finishing it off with an elbow to each.
One of the fish knights grabbed Gabriel by neck and raised him up.
"Ugh!" he choked, placing his hands on the knight's.
He quickly stepped on the knight's chest and flipped backwards, releasing the knight's grip.
"Brave Shield!" he yelled before pushing the knight onto the ground with it.
He kicked another knight on the ground and slammed the shield down on him, jumping on top of it. The knight exploded and a green thick liquid squirted in all directions. Still standing on the shield, Gabriel kicked one of the knights out of the way and leaped up onto the air and tackled another down.
"Brave Kix!" yelled Fatima, constantly kicking the knights one at a time.
"Level 1: Brave Hurricane Selected!"
Fatima leaped onto the air and spun into a tornado, finishing the rest of the knights.
"Good job," smiled Gabriel as the two rangers regrouped, "what now fish breath?"
"Not so fast!" Samox laughed, pointing his bonestick at the two rangers, shooting lasers out of its tip.
Gabriel was unable to block the attack from both of them in time. The two fell on their backs and groaned in pain. Gabriel tried to raise his head up but Samox placed the top of his bonestick on Gabriel's helmet and pushed it back down. He proceeded to step on his stomach causing Gabriel to cough.
"Gabriel!" cried Fatima as she pressed and held on a third button on the watch, opposite to the two morphing ones.
"Ava where's Winston!"
"Quiet you!" ordered Samox kicking her in the gut, causing her to release the button.
-BMH-
Winston's phone rang again, once more revealing Ava's name on his caller ID.
"I have to take it," said Winston, still holding his fork on his left hand.
"I'm sure it can wait, right?"
"No, it can't!" he said in a loud enough tone that everyone else in the restaurant turned their heads to them, including the musicians, who stopped playing in the middle of their song. All eyes were on the two.
"I've had enough of this," said Margaret, grabbing Winston's wrists with each hand. Always dumping your shifts on me, breaking movie night and never even seeing me. This is the first time I've gotten to hang out with you since this brave stuff started and now you're just gonna ditch me?"
"Why are you being so selfish?" asked Winston, no longer attracted, as he shook them off.
He shook his head in disappointment, grabbing his jacket and headed towards the exit.
"If you leave now, you'll regret it forever," she begged.
Winston stopped to show he had heard what she said, but quickly continued to exit, signalling his answer.
Margaret stood still, body halfway across the table when she had grabbed Winston's wrists. She slammed one hand down on the table as she finally cried out all tears she had kept inside of her.
-BMH-
"And again!" laughed Samox, repeatedly hitting the two helpless warriors back and forth.
"Stop right there," yelled Winston, already in costume, "I knew I smelled something fishy!"
"What? What's this? Neptunous said I'd only have to fight two of you!"
"Neptunous? Is that who's behind all this fishy stench?" asked Winston.
"None of your business! I guess I'll have to destroy you too!"
"Not so fast! Brave Blaster!" he yelled as the weapon appeared in his hands.
Turning the dial to number 1, he shot the creature in its chest.
"Ahh!" he said, stumbling on his knees.
He pointed the bonestick and shot lasers out of them but Winston quickly threw Gabriel's shield in front of himself, preventing any damage. He slowly looked over the shield to see Samox staring right at him. Samox laughed as he grabbed Winston by the neck and lifted him off the ground.
"Useless," he said as he threw Winston against some of the playground equipment.
"Level 2: Double Brave Shot selected"
Winston barely had any strength to turn the dial as he gasped for air. Samox walked over to him holding the bonestick on one hand and slapping the end of it onto the palm of his other hand. He stopped right in front of Winston and turned him over with his foot. Winston suddenly got up and pressed the nozzle of each blaster into Samox's chest. Holding down the trigger, he ran forward as Samox followed, running backwards, taking every shot until he finally fell on his back.
"Level 2: Brave Handle!"
Gabriel held his shield by the long handle up high in the air before dropping it onto Samox.
"Neptunous you lied!" yelled Samox before glowing white and disappeared.
"Is it over?" asked Fatima, joining the two men, still heavily breathing.
"Looks that way. Should've burned him. Nothing tastes as good as grilled fish," said Winston as he fell on his hands and bum.
-BMH-
"Unbelievable! The black ranger ended up choosing to help his friends instead of the girl! Because of that they destroyed Samox!" said Dimitrious in worry.
Dimitrious and the king were back at the throne room.
"Don't worry, because of his decision, he's lost a close friend,"
"So?"
"Slow steps my young apprentice. Slow steps," he replied deviously.
-BMH-
Winston entered through the front door of Animal Sitters. Already in uniform for the job, he walked by the front desk to see Fatima playing around on her cellphone.
"Hey Fatima," he said walking into the crew room.
"Hi," she said quietly.
"Wait, Fatima?" he said in confusion as he returned to the front desk.
"Wait a minute, I thought I was working with Margaret today," said Winston.
"Actually, she called me late last night and told me that she couldn't work today,"
"Oh," said Winston, recalling what she had said that previous night.
"Actually, she stopped by earlier and left a letter of resignation,"
"What?" asked Winston in surprise.
"I'm Sorry,"