Another short but quickly updated chapter, about 2,200 words. Only two people have made any comment about the length vs time issue, so if anyone else has an opinion on this, let me know! On the subject, just a heads up, I have three exams next week so it may be two weeks before another update because I probably won't be writing much next week.

Also, here's a link to how a jackal sounds in case you're curious. It's very odd.

watch?v=A2BpdynocbA

Fira stood at Wash's side, clad in full armor and fighting to not stare at the jackals that seemed intent on making Blue Base their new home. Instead, she focused on Wash and Felix as they looked out over the canyon, watching Tucker fix Caboose's helmet. Fira was somewhat surprised that Tucker was able to do so, considering he didn't know much about the communications tower, but apparently all the equipment maintenance lessons Wash had forced on him actually did something.

"So how bad is this?" Wash's question was the first words uttered since they had split from the rest of the group. Fira could tell how tense Wash was, perhaps more tense than he had been since they chased blindly after the Director.

"The man coming for us is named Locus. He's a merc, like me, only, you know…terrifying. That bird of his isn't much better. I've never heard it make a sound."

Fira unsheathed her claws anxiously. That would be a fight more for Lovebird and Scales then. If only they had done more work training the birds on how to bring down an opponent to her level. Fira would be much more comfortable if she could help them.

*It's too late now for regrets. Time to do what we can.* Wash soothed her, even though she knew that he too wished they had spent more time on training, especially with the Reds.

"Locus?" Wash asked.

"Yeah." Felix explained. "Guy's so far off the deep end he prefers to go by the name of his armor rather than the name he was born with." He whistled.

Wash walked forward, leaving Fira as a point between them and the jackals. "That's unsettling."

Felix chuckled. "Oh, are you first name Agent, last name Washington? That's so weird."

"That's just…old habits."

Fira flinched at Wash's words. He had explained to her one night why he didn't go by his name anymore. She resisted the urge not to snarl at Felix's brash attitude.

"Ah well, here's to hoping those old habits of yours kick in once he shows up." There was a pause, filled with the ambient sounds from the canyon, and the jackals' quiet noises. "I thought there would be more of you guys. Weren't you with another Freelancer, and an AI?"

Wash sighed. "They disappeared not long after we crashed."

"Sheesh. Any idea where they went?"

"No."

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I haven't heard anything about them over the radio so…that's probably good."

Wash was ready to move on. "How was he able to cloak himself?"

"Hm?"

"Locus. He turned invisible. How?"

"Federal Army's got all kinds of toys. I got my light shield off of a dead soldier." Felix activated the shield with an audible "fshzoom" sound effect, and a "wah!" as he deactivated it, reminding Wash oddly of Tucker's sword swishing noises. "Pretty cool."

"It's just that I've never seen that kind of technology outside of Project Freelancer."

Felix walked away from the opening, causing one of the jackals to run up to him, presumably his partner. "Welcome to the future, Wash. Technology is amazing, and everyone uses it to try and kill each other."

Fira spared a look at Wash when she felt a wave of emotion from him. Wash had just been reminded on how much older he was than most everyone here, barring Sarge. He had been fighting long before they had, anyway.

He covered up his feelings in his voice, though. "Does that mean your guys have the same equipment?"

Felix shook his head. "I wish. The New Republic's barely getting by as it is. You wouldn't happen to have any high-tech armor aboard that ship, would you?"

Wash looked at the ship. "Plenty of armor, just nothing special."

"Wellll at least you can accessorize! Eh?" He sounded vaguely like Donut and Fira wrinkled her nose. "Try a little…color combo? Mix it up? I-I'm sorry, I'm just trying to lighten the mood."

Fira's ears perked up as Wash straightened. "Actually, I think I might indulge in some of those habits you were talking about." He walked away from the opening, touching Fira's head in a signal to follow. "Follow me." He told Felix.

Felix stared after them. "Man, you are just cryptic, like, all the time. Do you know that?"

Fira felt a pulse of amusement from Wash and purred softly, soft enough that no one could hear it. He glanced down at her, feeling her own happiness. *Ready for a bit of a change?*

She tilted her head and Wash sent an image over their connection, causing her to purr again, louder this time. She liked the gray armor.

Wash led the way to the work room he had used for Caboose's helmet, rifling through containers to find what they needed. His armor was nothing special- he could use any of the same model that was on board. But Fira's…that would be more difficult. Fira huffed as she watched him try to find armor that would fit her. Jaguars were an odd size, different than a large dog, and stockier than most big cats. Her armor had been made specifically for a jaguar, and it was unlikely that there was any like it on board.

With a triumphant noise, Wash pulled a bucket out.

Fira could hear Felix's frown. "Paint stripper?"

Wash nodded and began removing Fira's armor. She sighed in content once it was off and began scratching. She didn't normally wear armor, finding it rather uncomfortable, but Wash had deemed it best if she did until it was safe enough for her to go without it.

He got to work on her armor, using the paint stripper to remove the layer of blue and yellow paint that had been applied so long ago, to reveal the dark gray armor, still intact despite the passage of time as blue, although there were a few notable scratches.

"Ok, now I'm seriously confused. What's going on?"

"Our armor wasn't always blue. During Project Freelancer, my partner and I were gray and yellow. We only painted it blue when…when we joined the Blue Team." Wash was hesitant about revealing that they were hiding from the Chairman. Fira was grateful; she did not want to go back.

"Oh, so throwing back to your elite days. Nice." Felix nodded his head. "Fira, that would make you how old? You must be getting up there!"

Fira drew her lips back in a snarl, causing him to raise his hands in defense. "Woah, not that you look old or anything!"

Wash stepped in, his tone clipped. "My partner from the Project was killed. Fira is my second partner."

Felix lowered his hands. "Oh. I…I'm sorry."

Wash didn't raise his head. "You didn't do it."

"Still…it must have been awful." Felix persisted.

"Yeah."

Finally taking the hint, Felix fell silent, watching the jackals explore the base. One of them came boldly up to Fira, sniffing. Fira held still, watching as the jackal came closer. It made an odd noise and spun in circle. Fira lowered her head, stopping its motion and sniffed. The jackal was definitely a male, and probably the dominant member of the pack, if the smell was anything to judge by. Dolo, then.

Dolo trotted away, tail waving proudly. Fira huffed out a breath and began to wash herself, enjoying the time without her armor.

The room was relatively quiet, for the most part. The jackals would occasionally make noises, and Felix would ask a random question about something within the ship, or start whistling. Wash and Fira were content to sit quietly, comfortable with the silence. Once he finished her armor, Wash proceeded to do the same to his armor, stripping the blue paint off before retouching both his and Fira's armor, covering the various scratches and wears in the material. When he was finished, they looked almost completely new.

"Impressive." Felix said, watching as Wash, already in his armor, geared up Fira. Fira nodded her head, looking appreciatively at herself and Wash. The blue was too noticeable anyway; how could that possibly have been a good form a camouflage?

Wash looked over Fira as well, then gave a sharp nod. "Let's go see how the guys are doing."

They walked out together, Wash and Fira slightly ahead of Felix and his pack. The canyon looked completely different; above ground mines littered the area, sand bags provided cover, and other barriers had been moved into place. The tank was out too, as well as some of the Warthogs, conveniently positioned for easy access, yet still protected at least in part behind some of the barriers. The Reds and Blues were gathered around, except for Sarge, under Freckles' watchful eye…or sensors. Either way, the robot hadn't been a problem since Caboose had turned control over to Wash.

"Well, it just goes to show that with time, effort, and a little bit of elbow grease, we really can achieve wonders." Fira heard Donut say.

*Now that's what I call family fun.* Chester agreed.

"We spent hours turning this place into a war zone, and you made me hate it in one sentence." Tucker deadpanned.

"It's what he does." Grif explained.

Wash stepped forward, Fira at his side. "Donut's got a point though," he interjected. "I think we're ready."

"Oh, back in black!" Donut said appreciatively. "Looking good."

Fira purred briefly and sat down. She reached out to touch noses with Scales as the parrot flew over, as though ensuring that it was truly her.

"Yeah, that brings back some memories." Caboose agreed. "Like when we first met. And then we met again, and you shot Donut and attacked Chester."

Fira flicked her ears back and watched Scales fly back to Caboose as Wash, Felix, and the pack moved to be more in front of the small group.

"I'm impressed, guys. This place looks good. Between the land mines, Freckles, and the tank, I don't think anyone can stand a chance against us."

Just as Wash finished his sentence, a shot rang out. Fira jumped and extended her claws on reflex, ignoring the sudden cacophony of surprised outbursts.

"Run for your lives!" Sarge's voice rang out, causing Diego to let out a distressed cry. Ava jumped in front of him, stopping him from blindly running headlong into the attack.

"Sarge?" Simmons called.

"Oh shit, they're here!" Grif raised his weapon in the direction the shot originated.

"Everyone, get ready!" Wash ordered, moving forward himself.

*Lovebird, Scales, get us eyes in the air.* Fira ordered sharply.

Before the birds could take off, Felix cut in. "No, wait, this isn't right. Locus wouldn't attack like this!"

"Well who else on this planet wants us dead?" Tucker demanded, looking at Felix.

Fira narrowed her eyes as a female voice entered the conversation, speaking…Spanish? Sure enough, there was Sarge, running in a serpentine pattern from another Mantis. Seriously, where did that come from?

"Dos Point Oh, seize fire! No mas, no mas!" Sarge yelped, mimicking Diego's own cries.

"Dos Point Oh?" Grif said incredulously.

The Mantis said something, but it didn't matter. Fira recognized the sight and sound of the cannons heating up. She snarled and tensed, knowing that there was little she could do against the Mantis.

The Spanish words were cut off when a shot hit the Mantis. "Ow."

Freckles made his way in front of the group, standing protectively between them and the other Mantis. "Deadly force authorized."

"Freckles!" Caboose shouted, sounding fearful for the robot.

The other said something once more, sounding frustrated.

"Yes!" Donut cheered. "Deadly robot fight. Totally called that on BaseBook."

"Wait! Everyone, calm down!" Wash ordered, looking around. Fira shifted her weight, nostrils flaring as the jackals abruptly began calling, letting out loud, high pitched whines that tapered.

"Shit!" Felix cursed, activating his shield as he moved to intercept a bullet.

Fira snarled, positioning herself so she could keep an eye on both the attacking Mantis and Locus and his bird.

The other calmly reloaded his rifle. "Surrender now, and I promise I'll only kill the mercenary." Felix didn't say anything, holding steady with his weapon ready.

"Well, fuck." Simmons said as Ava growled lowly at his side.

Grif opened his protective hatch, allowing Adama entrance as he spoke. "Oh yeah? You and what army?"

"The Federal Army of Chorus." Locus answered as more soldiers in white armor shimmered into sight behind him.

Diego hissed. *Idiot.*

Grif didn't argue. "Well. Guess I walked into that one."

"Looks like back up isn't getting here in time." Felix's words only made the jackals louder, the pack slowly fanning out.

"Uh, Wash? What's the plan?" Tucker asked shakily.

Wash put his head down in thought. *What do you think?* He asked Fira, even though he sounded already resigned to the task.

Fira lowered her head and snarled. *Not much of a choice.*

Wash closed his eyes. *Stay safe.* Wash raised his weapon, catching Locus in his sights.

"Deadly force authorized." Freckles rotated, facing Locus and the Federal soldiers.

A roar burst out of Fira, the rest of the animals joining not a second later.

So it began.