Sorry about the wait! Happy Reading :)
Overlooking the scene the red pilot carefully edged his way over to the scientist. Clocking the scanner in his hand he whispered quietly. "Where are they?"
Catching the attention of the silver monkey too, the scientist slyly glanced to his scanner. The dot moving rapidly north bound within the citadel of bone, provided the evidence for Gibson's theory; either Chiro or Nova was wearing the transmitter.
As a small smile crossed the scientist's lips that was enough of an answer for Antauri and Sprx to provide the answer to his question.
"This is a really ballsy plan Chiro." Nova warned as they ran further into the citadel. Heading for the master's throne room at speed.
"We've got to be ballsy Nova!" Chiro stated as they ran. "It's our only chance! We've just got to double cross them so we can have as much time to get to the crystal. If they think we're outside they won't be looking for us in here."
"Sending them on a wild goose chase though? It might be just crazy enough to work! But if it fails Chiro, I don't think Skeleton King will hesitate in ripping this ship apart to find us."
"I'm kind of counting on my plan working Nova, or at least staying one step ahead of them." Chiro said shakily, as they turned a corner. "What do they say? Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."
"True." Nova began before she was interrupted.
"Your plan better work, Skeleton King will be tame compared to what I will do if you fail to retrieve my crystal Chiro."
Growling as Maezono's voice erupted over the communicator, Chiro put his hand to his ear piece. His teeth gritted as he spoke his reply sternly. "I doubt that doc."
"Chiro please don't…" Nova intercepted, silencing the boy desperately with her tail. As much as she loved to wind the robotic commander up, just like Chiro, now was not the time. Though she did have to admit the boy had a sneaky forte for this!
Sighing, Chiro slowed to a walk, freeing himself from Nova's tail as he did. Activating the communicator Chiro took a deep breath. He would be civil for Nova, the worry on her face mattered to him, not some bossy tin can. "Look just trust me the plan will work. Mandarin will be the one sent out as a foot soldier. Guaranteed. We've just got to make him look in the wrong places so we can ourselves sometime!"
"Very well." Maezono finished.
"Chiro?" Nova asked, gaining the boy's attention instantly. Walking beside him a little way before she stopped completely. "Will here be good enough?"
"As good as any, I guess." Chiro figured as he looked up, trying to pinpoint a weakness in the structure above.
"Chiro… I have a question though before we begin… What happened in the other room back there? I mean I could hear it all, but I could not see a thing."
Turning his head to his companion, Chiro's face mirrored confusion. Unsure of what she meant, it took a little while for his mind to click onto what Nova was asking. "Huh... Oh well… I'm not exactly sure myself Nova." Chiro said uneasily. "I probably saw and heard even less than you."
As Nova tilted her head, she became thoughtful, Chiro did indeed looked healthier now, stronger even. But all of his wounds were still very much visible. How much they hurt him, she still hadn't gauged yet but this was a start. "You look better, whatever it was."
"I do feel it. But all I can remember is…"
Flashback:
As the blast settled the light inside the broken tank began to dim. Gasping for breath, the figure left inside the chamber began to move. Ripping the breathing mask and broken restraints off his body as pulled himself upright. His numb legs allowing him to stumble out the wreckage; through the puddle of black ooze that had seeped onto the floor.
"Urgh… What happened?" Chiro asked himself, as he eventually freed himself. The feeling began to return to his legs as he wiped some of the ooze out of his clothes and hair.
"Chiro?"
Hearing his name being called out the raven haired boy turned sharply, trying to gauge where the voice had come from.
"Nova?" he called out in recognition. His senses somewhat off, he waited to see if a reply came. Shortly afterwards it did.
"Chiro I'm in here."
"Nova!" Chiro exclaimed as he suddenly followed a path that went behind the tank that had held him captive. Her voice sounding louder and clearer now he jogged a bit before seeing the yellow monkey in the cell in front of him. His eyes lighting up when he saw his companion was okay. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Think you can lend a hand?" Nova asked raising the gauntlets up in front of her as the raven haired teen smirked.
"Sure, stand back I'll break you out!"
Smiling back, the yellow simian sprung back elegantly to a safe distance.
Moments later the bars of her cell disintegrated into dust. Allowing the yellow monkey to join the boy, as he soon got to work on slashing open her gauntlets with his spearo technique.
Thirty seconds later the yellow simian's hands were free. Flexing her hands as she grinned with joy, as she looked to Chiro. "Thanks Chiro." Nova said as she soon tackled the boy into a hug.
Finally releasing the boy from her arms she watched as he straightened himself out a bit. He looked better now which was pleasing to see. But as the predicament of the situation began to dawn on Nova, her expression became a more serious. "Alright, we're free, but now what? How are we going to complete this mission? Mandarin, Skeleton King, and Sakko are all out there."
"Mandarin and Skeleton King are not here, Sakko is down." Chiro stated, as his eyes widened at the revelation of an idea. "Nova this is our chance! But we've got to run, come on." The teen exclaimed as he dragged the primate along with him until she ran at his side. Running deeper into the citadel the pair were nose to nose at their fast speed.
End of Flashback.
"That's how much I remember Nova." Chiro said as he looked across to his companion again.
"I see. But it doesn't make sense why they would try and make you better?" Nova commented as Chiro shrugged it off.
"It doesn't to me either. But it was there mistake I'm afraid."
"Ready then?" Nova asked, as Chiro nodded cupping his hands and holding them at the side of his body.
"Aim for the ceiling." Chiro instructed as he released his attack. "Monkey fu."
"Flame fist fury." Nova yelled simultaneously, her attack hitting the same point in the ceiling as Chiro's.
The roof crumbled instantly from the combined force of both attacks. The powerful blast was easily enough to light up the sky for some time. With a dazzling mix of yellow and red colour as it did.
Leaving no time to admire their handiwork Chiro grabbed Nova's arm. "Run now!" Chiro instructed as they began to head to the throne room at top speed.
"CHIRO." Mandarin yelled, hovering by the hole caused from the first explosion.
"Like he's going to come out and answer his name!" Tanmay mocked on the side lines. Earning himself two icy glares from Mandarin and Jinmay in the process.
"Mandarin why do you continue to disappoint me?" The Skeleton King bellowed. His staff dangerously aimed at the orange monkey, again.
"But my lord are they inside the ship or out…"
Just before Mandarin could finish his sentence, another smaller explosion rocked the ship. The Skeleton King stumbled, as the bone rock walls groaned from the increase in structural damage.
"What on Shugazoom was that?" Sprx asked turning to his team mates, before their attention was diverted by the evil pair.
"Ahh" Skeleton King yelled, as he bent over double again. "Mandarin you fool your letting them get away from our ship. Get after them now!"
From his position, Mandarin could clearly see the smoke blowing out from the centre of the ship. "So they've made their escape to the outside." Mandarin seethed, activating his dagger in one hand and his bone claw in the other, as he did. "Well not for long." Mandarin stated as he jumped into the air, desperate to put an end to the constant mocking the escapees were dishing out.
Backing out the citadel completely, the Hyper Force regrouped in the sky above. Looking down on the chaos that ensued. Mandarin was just about to reach the area, but something about this latest blast seemed amiss.
"What are they up to?" Sprx asked quietly, as Gibson steeled another sly glance at the scanner in his hand.
"Well my scanner detects the transmitter to be moving further northwards inside the ship."
"Why would they want to stay inside the ship though?" Jinmay whispered, her mind racing with possibilities. "Why bother making another blast?"
"I believe I know why." Antauri stated his arms crossing over his body. "I think our best next course of action would be to try and trace their route upon their escape."
"Oh it's a diversi…" Otto began as Sprx silenced him with his hand.
"Thank you Otto." Sprx intervened, finally releasing the mechanic when he was sure he wasn't going to blurt out everything in his voice.
"I see, they want the best chance of escape." Tanmay stated, a sudden grin forming on his lips. "But when they do decide to bust out and away from this dump I'm going after them. They'll struggle to double cross me."
"We are all going." Jinmay silenced her counterpart. Noticing the bone war lord, had walked out of his dungeon now. Standing on the ground that surrounded the ship.
Surveying the situation with a menacing look in his eyes Skeleton King hounded his slave again. "Mandarin why have you not found them yet? They are hardly difficult to miss!"
"But my lord I just can't seem to locate them." Mandarin replied.
As Chiro and Nova reached the throne room, they began their search for the crystal immediately. Panting heavily with breath they searched the room until the Skeleton King large chair. Nearing it slowly, they eventually both clocked onto the crystal the same time. Unguarded and out in all its glory, the crystal still glinted in the dim light.
"Up there!" Nova screeched in joy, activating her jet pack as she soon snatched the crystal from the arm rest of the chair with ease.
"Too easy." Chiro cheered, as Nova lowered her altitude to land right next to him. Handing over the crystal so Chiro could safely store it in his pocket.
"Chiro? Nova?" Maezono's voice came over the pair's communicators.
"Coming in crystal clear doc." Chiro teased, his smirk wide on his lips.
"Well done with getting the crystal, return to my laboratory immediately. I thought this little mission would have taken more time."
"Doc I told you my plan was rock solid!"
"Stop trying to be funny with me Chiro and get back here now. Both of you!" Maezono finished as the communicator line fell silent again.
"Well you heard the walking scrap heap, let's go Nova." Chiro snickered as he thought about the next part of the plan carefully. "Ready?"
"Ready!" Nova replied enthusiastically.
"Do I have to do everything around here?" Skeleton King demanded.
As the orange clone visibly cowered, the Skeleton King closed the gap between them.
"They should not have gotten far Mandarin, they are either both hiding and laughing at your incompetence nearby or there are still inside my ship…"
The remaining colour drained from the orange monkey's face as realisation dawned. Spinning on the spot, the primate took off for the northernmost point of the ship. Before seconds later another he was pushed skyward by an almighty blast sending him spiralling off course.
Eyes wide in shock, the Skeleton King yelled. Throwing his staff into the ground as the explosion roared ahead. "My throne room! Those double crossing filthy…" The Skeleton King cursed loudly, heading to the area on foot. Realising the plan he had been blind too. "They've gone after my crystal! Mandarin if they have touched it!" Skeleton King continued to threaten and call. Watching the orange clone desperately try to break through the blast in order to access the room below. Several minutes later Mandarin finally re-emerged empty handed.
"Mandarin where is my crystal?"
"My lord it is gone. They must have taken it."
"Execute them both!" Skeleton King demanded.
"Hyper Force retreat!" Antauri ordered instantly, his brow rising from the risks the missing members were taking.
"We can't just leave Antauri. What if they recapture them?" Jinmay asked.
"Yeah, we can't just leave the kid and Nova. They're going to be really messed up if they get of them." Sprx argued.
"We will not leave them." Antauri reassured. "My plan is for us to cut them off further away from here. So we can block them from where they are trying to return too." Antauri stated, a grin forming on the others faces.
"Gibson do you have a lock on that transmitter signal."
"Affirmative" Gibson stated with a grin.
"And it looks like they've already covered some distance. Quite impressive." Otto chimed, as Gibson coughed to gain the others attention again.
"Follow me." Gibson said as he led the way for the others, scanner firmly in hand.