A/N: Hey thanks for the wait! I am pleased chapter nine really pleased you all. I figured Chiro will have to adapt differently to every single one. Otto was obviously the tenderest reaction he is going to have. I would feel ones Gibson or Sprx might be his hardest since those two are so freaking stubborn. Nova and Otto are the only ones with more open minds.

Well he scored one down, let's see how he does with number 2!

Chapter 10

Why So Angry?

A day had passed since Otto's triumph in the training course. Interactions from the others have already began to improve for the green monkey. Discovering his own skill he brings to the team had uplifted his dreary spirits.

Otto sat in the kitchen with the others. This morning was different from previous days. Now the mechanic sat, chatting away as he roped an unwilling Gibson into conversation. "I mean that was the most thrilling thing I have ever experienced in my entire life!" He yelled at the top of his lungs.

Gibson winced as he tried to focus on his holographic tablet. "That is all well and good Otto, but great scott please do lower your voice. I am trying to work." He pulled away from the green primate's grasp. Breathing out a grumpy grunt before turning back to his pad.

Sprx laid half asleep next to Otto as Mandarin watched from the opposite end of the table. His eyes were shut in contemplation. Antauri, who was cooking some tofu pancakes called to Otto. "You did very well my friend." He spoke with a sincere gentle smile. "Your last minute move was most amazing, I am very proud of you."

Mandarin raised his hand, cutting the wise monkey off. "Yes what you did was impressive. But I am still not sold at this being a last minute action. What you did, the angularity and trajectory of that move was clearly thought ahead in advance- which is curious."

"Why is it 'curious'?" Otto asked confused. Placing an innocent finger to his chin.

The eldest monkey narrowed his eyes. "Believe me I am proud of you for taking the time to follow my instructions on planning. But this move… it is clearly a move for battle. I need to know how, or where you learned to make such a move."

Otto rubbed his neck. "I uh…"

Chiro stood outside the door. He bit his tongue, gripping his wrist. The tone of Mandarin's voice sent him on a nervous edge. Knowing all too well what was instore for him if the leader discovered Otto interacted with him.

"I saw it in a movie about martial arts."

Chiro blinked in surprise at that answer. Peeking around the corner, his eyes widen.

Otto smiled confidently as he didn't spill the beans. "I watched this old DVR show that was really cool at the Black Market a few days ago. The moves taught by human kind of related to what you said Mandarin, so i… applied it and found a solution to my problem!" He grinned, this had to be the most convincing lie he ever told.

The results showed as Mandarin's stern look dropped to an approving nod. As he turned away, Otto exhaled a tiny breath before falling quiet. His face fell into its formal neutral look as he stared at the ground.

Antauri glanced over his shoulder. Watching the green monkey closely.

Then Chiro quickly walked past the door. He went unnoticed by the others, except Otto. When the green simian locked eyes with the ghostly blue eyed stranger; he dispersed a tender smile. The soft spoken expression remained on his face when Chiro disappeared back into the hallway.

Antauri raised his eyebrow at that cryptic response. He turned back to focus on finishing the team's breakfast.

"Breakfast is ready team." He brought their plates to them. He looked at Mandarin's glass of orange juice. Shutting his eyes, he concentrated on the distant glass. Raising his hand, he grunted as he used mind over matter. The glass shook in the air as it unsteadily floated to Mandarin. It landed in the orange monkey's paw; not without making a slight mess.

Mandarin wiped his face clean. "Don't worry Antauri, you'll get the hang of it. Anyways, thanks for breakfast." He nodded to his dark brother and dug his fork into the sausage and eggs.

Sprx took a big gulp out of his milk before gagging. He spit the white fluids all over Gibson before throwing Antauri a sour look. "Soy milk? Really Antauri?"

"You disregarded your salad yesterday when you are fully aware you have one day out of the whole week to eat healthy. You did not. So there for today is your healthy day."

Sprx crossed his arms like a sulking kid who just got grounded. "Fine whatever." Before he could stomach another sip of the unappealing beverage, he looked around the table. "Hey anyone see Nova?"

Mandarin swallowed his mouthful. "She's blowing off steam somewhere, no need to worry about it. Finish your breakfast." He narrowed his eyes when Sprx gave a reluctant look. "Antauri slaved over a hot oven all morning to make our breakfast. You will show your brother gratitude and eat it. Got it?"

Sprx nodded nervously as he started eating like a race horse. Mandarin smiled in satisfaction at asserting his authority.

Outside, Chiro overhead the brief topic about Nova's whereabouts. Concerned for the only female, he turned and rushed towards the gold tube.

~Upstairs

Chiro could hear angry growls and heavy thuds echoing from the warrior's room. Slinking to the door, he pressed his ear against the metal surface.

From inside, Nova was whooping the punching bag. Her eyes were blood red as steam fumed from her opened joints. "Stupid… shit head…!" She cussed out loud, something she didn't usually did. "He always is hard on me!" She drove her knuckles into the bag harder; tearing it.

"I try and try and they still… treat me like… I am… freaking dangerous!" She flings her fist and tears the bag right from its chain. It strikes the wall and hits the floor with a loud thrash. Metal blocks that filled the back came pouring out in shiny silver sand. Crushed under her unforgiving Olympian strength.

"I am not dangerous.."

Then came a ginger knock on her door. "Nova?" Chiro called out as gently as he could. "Can I pretty please come in?"

Softening her gaze, she sighed in annoyance. The last thing she wanted was to talk to somebody. But anybody was better than Mandarin, or any of her teammates for that matter. Lowering her brawny arms, she slowly approached and opened the door. She looked up to face the taller simian.

"Sure," she said roughly. "Come in."

Chiro was astounded by her sudden tolerance. He hesitantly stepped in. After seeing the torn up punching bag, he felt the need to carefully pick his words. Last thing he wanted was to upset the already strained monkey.

Nova shut the door behind Chiro after he stepped in. "What do you want?"

"Quick to the point then, I like that." He joked gently as he looked around her room. Taking notice to how messy it was. Weapons and work out equipment littered the floor. It rose his alert levels, but also his curiosity. "May I ask why you have all these weapons?"

Nova shrugged. "I'm the team's main fighter. Not an easy task when you're the only one expected to do all the muscle work."

He glanced back around, then noticed something strange. Some kind of syringe needle attached to a small plastic tube. A medical kit was left half open beneath her bed. But the blood pressure medicine was what caught his attention. Worry filled his heart.

"Why do you have all those medicines?"

Frowning, Nova walked past him. "You weren't supposed to see that." She stuffed it all in the white case before shoving it under her bed.

Chiro dared to inch close to the hot headed simian. "Is something wrong with your health?"

Nova raised her eyebrow at the weird sensation she was feeling from his concerned gaze. She looked away, cheeks flushing a little. She snarled and wrinkled her snout, baring her fangs that were unmistakably larger than her other brothers'. "Why do you care?"

Chiro winced back, but he stood his ground. "Why do I need a reason to care?"

Taken aback by the forwardness of the answer, she dropped her aggressive look. She sighed, slumping her shoulders. "I… had a small accident with Mandarin that kind of revolved around my temper. It led to Mandarin forcing me to take medications to control my temper."

Cold shock struck his heart. "What kind of accident would cause such a reaction for someone to prescribe you… this?"

She sighed. Chiro could feel he was crossing into dangerous territory. But one thing he knew, to get through the fire you need to be cool.

Nova answered. "I have this weird reaction when I get angry. It does not happen often, but when it does I sometimes… lose control. I mean it's not like I wanted to hurt Mandarin, but he just… humiliated me and-" She stopped. Unwilling to go further.

Chiro leaned forward. Sensing the moment of vulnerability as progress. "Please tell me, what does the medicine for you?"

She dropped her gaze. Her eye flickering the embers of her rage she tried to suppress. "Without getting to personal, Mandarin gave me some blood pressure medicine to keep my anger levels down. He does not trust me to control it, so I am forced to take… these."

"Does Antauri know about this?"

Nova shot her head up, cutting Chiro a hard earned stare. "No one knows except me, Mandarin… and you now. The others don't know, nor do I want them to. It's bad enough Mandarin labels me as a danger to the team's safety. But taking medication for it? No, I have been humiliated enough."

Getting Chiro's arm, she pushed him out of her room. "Just leave me alone." She growled, "And if I find out you told anybody about this, I'm gluing your mouth shut. Got it?"

Chiro nodded, "I promise I won't say a thing. You can trust me."

Nova stared at him for a good long time before silently turning away. "I wish I could." She whispered before gently shutting the door.

Chiro stood in the blackness of the hallway. Her last words left him so stunned he stood petrified. He turned away and began reviewing the next obstacle in front of him; which was clearly Nova.

So far Otto was not too hard, he managed to fix him through an exercise of trust. But he had a feeling this next road was going to be twice as hard. So far no words of care or gestures of support worked with her like they did with Otto. He would have to prove to her he was authentic. But how?

He crossed his arms. "Ya think her already hating Mandarin would make it easier. But clearly it left her burnt to disliking everyone… even the rest of the team." He theorized to himself. And the discovery of her forced medications was even more disturbing. Whatever happened between her and Mandarin must've been really bad.

He turned and started walking down the hall. Whatever had to be done would require a much different tactic. He thought hard, maybe like he taught Otto… he would have to get creative to win her trust.

As he walked, he failed to notice another step in front of him. He looked up, coming eye to eye with Antauri. He jumped back in alarm at the calm stare.

So startled, the phase of morrow fell free from his scarf. Antauri glanced at it before looking back up. A small question mark hovered above his head. Taking notice the fine silver watch's blue face matched the same shade of blue as its wearer's eyes.

"Chiro." He greeted gently.

Chiro quickly shoved the watch back into his scarf. He straightened his posture, still nervous. "Eh, hey Antauri."

The black monkey held a five minute stare down. His unchanging facial expression making it impossible to read him. He kept staring into the monkey's eyes, as if seeing his soul. "I'm pleased to see your healing well."

He started to feel very uncomfortable. "Yea, um… remind me to thank Gibson later for his medical assistance."

Antauri nodded. Turning his head, watching Chiro slink past him. "Can do, and while I do that. Otto reminded me to thank you."

Chiro's fur stood on end. His face paled, fearing that the wise simian found out. "Ah uh. Um." He tripped over his words. If Antauri found out, then that meant Mandarin discovered he interacted with Otto! "Yea uh, um." He truly was at a loss for words. "Thank me for what? I didn't do anything. Ehm, well see ya later." He ran off.

Antauri watched the simian retreat before sighing. Truth be told he didn't know anything. Seeing Otto's brief reluctance to the team's questioning on his knowledge of learning that move brought suspicion. But after witnessing the kind smile he gave Chiro just that morning enticed the wise monkey to test this out.

Sighing in exhaustion, he turned and went to his room. Deciding to ponder over this fact tomorrow.

A/N: Wow, Antauri is really clever! Popping that random answer out to get Chiro to indirectly tell the truth! Well even when they haven't met, Chiro has always been unable to lie to Antauri.

But for now, it's obvious the next target is Nova. Let's see how he handles this one!