21st May 2013 Tuesday
Day 141
More Zenny until the end of the month, it's a good time, plus very easy to write.
Disclaimer: I do not own the show.
"Ok, so I suppose you're all wondering why I called you here," Dex began, addressing his entire team in the control room. There was a murmur of agreement as everyone nodded their heads.
"Is it because our last mission was unsuccessful?" Jenny queried, to which Dex shook his head in disagreement.
"Is it because the forest pavilion is experiencing a drought?" Zap questioned. Dex shook his head once again.
"Is it because Tung flooded the bathroom when he tried to take a bath?" Bream asked. Dex shot his head up to look at her.
"What?"
Tung stammered quickly to try and cover his fault. "Uh, nothing."
"Ok," Dex spoke quickly, clasping his hands together.
'Well that solves the mystery of why there's a drought.'
His head turned to Jane, who nodded solemnly before the leader turned back to his crew. "No, there's a new mission that needs to be attended to."
"That's it?" Jenny interrupted, beginning to stand. "That doesn't seem so serious. I'll test the system's engines while everyone else can stock the ship."
"No, no, it's not that," Dex gestured for her to sit down. She obliged wearily. "There…it's a job for only one entomologist."
Everyone exchanged confused glances, wondering who it was that would be completing the mission by themselves.
"Zap, you've always wanted a solo mission, right?" Dex asked, startling the pilot. The bug boy looked over to the clone, both looking pretty glum.
"Well, yeah," he stammered, remembering his mission to collect spider snot in order to save Jenny. "But, is this mission well suited to me?"
Dex could tell the pilot was trying to avoid the task, but he gave him a look that reminded the bug boy of their previous conversation.
Just to warn you now though, it might be more difficult than you want to think.
"But, Dex," Zap questioned softly, placing his hand on Jenny's knee. "I don't want to go."
"It's only for ten days, Zap," the leader began to reassure him with his stern yet caring fatherly expression. "It will give you an experience of perhaps, fending for yourself outside the habitat."
Jenny met Zap's sad gaze. "Does anyone really have to go? Can't we just leave this mission?"
"It's been put off too long for us to ignore any longer," Dex informed, his hands held firmly behind his back as he rocked nervously on the balls of his feet.
"Well, it should be all right," Jenny spoke, grasping Zap's hand in her own. Her voice however didn't sound convincing to herself. "I mean, it's only for ten days."
Bream exchanged a confused look with Tung, shrugging with uncertainty.
"You, uh, ship out tomorrow," Jane chimed in, causing Zap to flick his head up in surprise.
"That's…soon," was all he could say, his eyes and words directed to the floor.
"Jenny, would you mind collecting these items," Dex handed her a small list of required equipment. "Zap's going to need them."
"Sure," she mumbled softly, taking the list, well almost snatching it out of her boss' hand and walking out of the room. Zap placed his hand on his forehead as the new information registered in his head. Dex walked up to him, taking the chair beside him and resting his hand on the pilot's shoulder once again.
"I told you it might be more difficult than you want to think," he began, trying to comfort the pilot. Zap shook his hand from him roughly, an agitated look on his face.
"I don't see how this is going to help," he snapped, his voice a whisper to keep it from cracking.
"Trust me, it will," the leader reassured. When the bug boy left the cold room without another word, Dex looked worriedly to his wife.
"We're doing the right thing," Jane comforted, walking up to Dex. The two were startled from their gaze as Tung cleared his throat, Bream standing next to him with an equally lost and puzzled expression.
"Is there something we're missing?"
Next chapter we say a small farewell to Zap, but there will be his point of view in the ten chapters as well. Kind of getting sad, but it might get better. R&R!