So at this point I'm resigned to the fact that Dimensions and Time will most likely be coming out bi-weekly from here on. The time I have to write is more limited as is the time I'm in the mood for it. None the less content continues. Thank you so much to everyone who reviews, follows and favorites this little story. Let's get going.
Chapter 19: A Night for Small Comforts
"Seriously? Professor Knight is a cop in your world," Clara asked her other self.
Sirius nodded, "Ironic that Arthur's a history professor in this world, he wanted nothing to do with his own history in ours." The two Clara's were comparing notes to try and help Sirius through the process of unraveling her memory from the previous day.
"Well it's a good thing he accepted it eventually, that sword of his seriously saved us when we fought Doom," Kodi said from off to the side. Though not directly involved in the conversation, he was keeping an eye on his girlfriend.
Sirius nodded in agreement and took the time to look around the whole room. Luna was working through her own tangled memories by talking with Ronan, both Fuli and Alice were also talking. It was painfully clear Luna was distracting herself from the heartbreak of her brother's betrayal.
Regina, Rani and Hannah were off in the kitchen making some snacks. Bella was in a mobile pod and was monitoring the four recently rescued mammals recoveries. Reginald was talking about music with Esso; apparently getting some recommendations for songs to exercise to.
Another world, another Esso doing better then...wait a minute! "How can Esso be here?"
"What?" Clara tilted her head at the seemingly random question.
"Or Regina?" Sirius continued without answering. "Kodi, you remember why Doom kidnapped those mammals in the first place?"
"To harvest their powers for his army and...because they were unique to our world," Kodi realized his girlfriend's point.
"Care to fill a clueless wolf in?" Clara huffed, wondering if this was how others had felt when she and her Kodi were taking.
A quick rundown of the relevant details later had Clara contemplating the same question as her counterpart. "So, dimensional research is not my forte, but it seems like your Doom was wrong about the whole unique thing."
"You really think so?" Sirius asked.
"Well, you've run into three Essos in five worlds, seems like a trend," Clara shrugged, "but seriously, the multiverse is hypothetically limitless. The notion that a mammal only shows up once is kind of ridiculous."
"Well when you put it like that," Kodi said in an agreeing tone.
"So, it's more that mammals like Esso and Brenda are just a lot less common," Sirius reasoned.
"Hey look on the bright side: the talking in the third person magic tech genius dictator who's apparently a whole team of heroes level threat is still capable of getting stuff wrong," Clara rambled off.
"Small comfort considering all he can do," Sirius stated, recalling how close Doom had come to defeating two hero teams.
"Take your comforts where you can get them" Kodi spoke up, "you never know when the worlds going to throw you a curveball."
Away from the various groups talking about whatever they felt like, one mammal was sitting alone. Robyn sat at the large L couch by herself looking at her handheld mirror. No matter how hard she tried all she got was static. The group had taken Kodi's advice and was resting for the night, which included finally changing out of their costumes, but that just gave time for reality to set in. Her wife and father were back home, and her sister, mother and son had been left in Reginald's world. She was without access to any of her family for the first time she could remember. Despite having plenty of company, Robyn felt lonely. Eventually she tucked the makeup kit back in her pocket and pulled out her phone. She alternated between starring longing at pictures of her family and friends, wondering how everyone was doing.
000
Ronan's Earth
"I don't understand why we're still using this dingy place," Jack Savage said as his family entered the backup bunker.
"Because of how Robyn's power works," Hannah responded, "she can only see things other than alternate versions of herself if she knows that thing well. This bunker is the only place she spent a lot of time in, so if she and Ronan come back anywhere it'll be here."
Jack grumbled, "This dimension travel nonsense is making my head hurt."
"Well it's nothing compared to what those five are going through," Skye indicated the Wilde family deep in the Bunker, "so keep that to yourself." Jack nodded in agreement.
Nick, Judy, Luna, Marian and Robin were seated around the bunker's monitor setup, forlorn expressions on their faces. Not a minute went by without one of the five looking over to the mirror Ronan, Fuli and their guests had disappeared into. Some of them had been witness to the event and the sheer suddenness of it still boggled their minds.
The Savages approached their old friends and heard Nick moan, "One day, we have our son back for one day and now he's gone again!"
"He's not gone!" Luna insisted, "we know he's out there, somewhere, and he's in good company. He'll find his way back to us."
"I know that sweetie," Judy rested her hand on her daughter's, "but I can't help but worry. Robyn…"
"Yes?" Robin Senior asked, "Oh right she's...damn that's actually confusing." The old thief chuckled, "I wonder how her family got around that?"
"It's amazing how many differences there are even though our world's are so similar," Marian pondered.
"Well it doesn't matter the world, delicious food is still delicious," Skye remarked as she arrived at the small gathering. Holding out a large back containing the dinners they were delivering.
"And takeout is still takeout," Jack joked as that was what his family had actually brought. "You guys really don't want anything better?"
"None of us were in a cooking mood," Luna admitted, "and this isn't really the place for fancy dinners is it?"
"No it isn't," Hannah agreed as she took a seat next to her teammate. The eight mammals were silent for a time as they ate their meals, all of them realizing that they had the usual crowd for their Sunday dinners, except that Ronan wasn't there.
"I wonder if he's eating well," Judy muttered when she was halfway through her meal.
"I'm sure he is," Marian said, though it was with little more than blind hope.
"They got lucky this time," Judy shook her head, "They came in basically already proving they were friendlies."
"You're worried the worlds they wound up in may be hostile," Jack realized.
"I don't know," Skye responded, "questioning for sure, but I don't see them being attacked outright."
"Considering all the other unknowns, that's a small comfort," Nick said as he looked at his own reflection in the monitor, wondering where his son had wound up.
000
Reginald's Earth
"And that's pretty much how Alice joined the family," Judy finished recapping the events to Victoria. The two were seated at Victoria's computer station and had been trading stories about unique events from their respective worlds. If nothing else it helped to distract from how helpless they were to reach the six mammals who had disappeared.
"The White Crow," Victoria shuddered, "glad I never had to meet him. Hell there's a bunch of stuff from your world I'm glad never made it over here, Reginald would not have liked learning that he'd beaten up a bunch of brainwashed mammals. She was referring to the Drowned.
"I am curious what became of Fuli in this world," Judy thought aloud.
"I give her a low chance of having turned out better, giving the track record this world seems to have," Victoria sighed.
"Can't believe I'm actually worried about Fuli," Judy gave a weak laugh, "If you told me that a few days ago I would've called you as crazy as the actual cult leader."
"Same with me and talking to you," Victoria said, "obviously it's not the same but…"
"You really should try and talk with me, er, that is to say the me from this world more often," Judy advised.
"The few times I've tried have been awkward and amounted to little more then status updates," Victoria sighed, "why bother trying at this point?"
Judy made sure to lock eyes with the older vixen, "Because if you really want your daughter to get better she's going to have to confront your Judy at some point."
Victoria looked aghast at the suggestion, "Do you really think it'll ever get to that point!? Don't get me wrong, I want that to happen but she can barely talk to me."
"I don't know," Judy admitted, "but someone has to be willing to make things better or they'll just stay the way they are."
"You always were one for grandiose proclamations," Victoria sighed, the interactions she'd shared with her Judy becoming more nostalgic the more she spoke with the bunny's counterpart.
Judy let out an embarrassed chuckle, "Yes well, it's been working out for me so far." Judy walked up to the keyboard and typed out a number. "Hella, can you check if this is my phone number in this world?"
"It is not Chief Wilde," Hella replied instantly, "perhaps this is an example of minor variations between dimensions."
Judy nodded, "Well either way, I think you should call your Judy about Luna's breakthrough today, and brooch the subject of them meeting."
"So that she's ready for it if it ever happens," Victoria realized, "Judy I...I'll try but...not tonight. I don't think I can face her knowing that her son is missing." Victoria brought the conversation to the very thing they'd been avoiding talking about.
Judy didn't have a good rebuttal to that, "Fair enough."
The conversation was interrupted by an excited squeal from down at the conference table. Judy and Victoria walked over to the railing and saw Hannah and Alice sitting at the table. Hannah had a nervous smile while Alice looked uncharacteristically giddy.
"And what's got you so chipper Frenchie?" Victoria smirked down at the two. Judy stifled a chuckle of her own upon hearing Nick's nickname for Alice followed her across dimensions.
The white rabbit suddenly looked bashful at the sudden attention put on her, so it was Hannah who responded, "She asked me out and I said yes." The striped hybrid chuckled as the older mammals jaws dropped, "I was as surprised as you."
"Same here, but hey, you two finally have a good excuse to leave this sink that isn't a patrol!" Andi snarked as she entered the room at just the right moment. Alice was ready to respond, but Hannah held up a hand. She could tell that Andi's barb was softer than normal.
Up on the higher level, Judy smiled as the three younger ladies started chatting down below. "You know Victoria? You say Fuli might not have great odds in this world, but...you're alive, Oni's alive, Alice isn't a scar canvas board and Andi…" Judy's smile weakened somewhat, "I've never met her, but in my world she was an amoral thrillseeker and in Doom's world an outright monster. I know the negatives really stand out but...this is the only world where you and your daughter can actually be together. I think that counts for something."
Victoria wiped a tear from her eye, "Okay then, fifty fifty shot that Fuli turns out better in this world," the attempt at a joke was matched by a warm smile between the two mothers.
000
Robyn's Earth
"So this is the blue dildo that screwed Doom's mask up, is it always glowing like this?" Rocket asked as he and Hannah stood in front of Excalibur. "Wait, blind. Sorry I forgot."
"It's okay Rocket, not like I usually give off blind vibes," Hannah handwaved the apology. "I don't think the sword glows all the time, it's probably doing it now because it sensed Robyn and Kodi opening that portal…" Hannah trailed off and Rocket realized she'd steered herself right back into the current depressing situation.
"Well, not like even the blue man group wannabe knew much about his own weapon," Rocket attempted to hurriedly wrap up the subject, "wana head over to the shooting range and focus on weapons we do know?"
Thankfully, Hannah took the opening, "Yeah, that's why you're here." As the two started walking off into the Bunker, Hannah asked, "So you're still keeping up the weapon practice even though you're retired now?"
"Damn right I am, a guy needs his hobbies and with this world turning crazier by the day I am not getting rusty, especially if Lyla is in trouble," Rocket stated with determination.
"Not taking the sunrise for granted?" Hannah smiled gently.
"Now you get it," Rocket smirked back. As the two arrived at the target range and Bella prepared a course for them, Rocket counted his lucky stars that Hannah was making this easy.
Hannah your team is worse with this whole drama spiral then the Guardians! I swear if Lyla hadn't asked me...heh, I probably still woulda come. Need someplace where I can keep up practice with these bad boys.
Rocket's initial fears that he'd have to hold back to not worsen Hannah's depressed state by beating her were quickly forgotten. Miserable or not, Hannah was an amazing shot. That said, Rocket noticed there was a lot of aggression in her movements; violent swings, pulling the trigger as hard as possible, and a slightly reserved scowl present on her face.
As they paused following a particularly brutal mobile target simulation, Rocket finally spoke up, "So, do wanna talk about what's bugging you or…"
"No I don't," Hannah snapped, "sorry, sorry it's just...after that blow up with Kion I'm trying to let myself cool off."
"How's that working?"
"Barely," Hannah admitted, "I won't lie, I'm kind of...depending on Robyn and the others to make it home soon, because I don't know what I'm going to do if they don't."
"Look I'm no expert in all this feelings crap, but I know that putting off stuff like this is like not taking care of your guns, ya leave the damage too long and it's gonna fester."
Hannah chuckled at the analogy, "And yet here you are trying to help, the fact that I have a friend who cares enough to try even when he's not great at it is enough to get me through another day. Come on, let's get back to it."
The two resumed their shooting practice, and Rocket was glad the talk had ended when it did. He didn't know all the details about this group's dynamics and he certainly didn't know what had happened after cat-hulk had his face ripped up. Hannah was doing a bit better, and as a relative outsider, he considered that a success.
000
"Damn," was all Blake could mutter after Olivia finished recapping the events that had transpired while she was out of town to him. The two were standing on Olivia's balcony, the lovely sunset view contrasted Olivia's dour mood.
"I seriously thought things were improving, then I leave for a few days and this happens," Olivia sighed, the usual fire in her voice absent.
"Will Kion have scars?"
"No, assuming anyone down there remembers that the big guy has a way out of stuff like that. Not that I blame them if they don't." The mouse drew herself up, "If any good came from this it's that the whole blow up was a reality check for everyone."
"Here meaning?"
"Everyone knows they're at their wits ends and stressed out like mad, so they've started distancing themselves from each other outside of the necessities. Alice is still camped out in the Bunker and someone's always there to help her, but the other's are keeping a...well not healthy but non confrontational distance." Olivia stared off into the distance, "Was retiring a mistake Blake? Maybe if I'd stayed on as leader, not in the field but still in charge while Kodi got more experience, I could've helped avoid all of this."
"Maybe, maybe not," Blake shrugged, "but who made your choice and so far you've stuck with it. You didn't leave your meeting when the emergency signal went off right?"
"Nope," Olivia confirmed, "took some effort to resist the temptation though."
"And if you ask me, Alice, Luna and the others did this to themselves," Blake's face hardened, "there's only so far you can mistreat your loved ones before they snap back."
"Wouldn't I know that," Olivia pondered, knowing all too well that she was guilty of what Blake was describing. "Not exactly the sentiment that's going to fix things."
A soft hand went on her shoulder a moment later, "Didn't mean to dig up bad memories, just saying that, while I do actually have a plan for right now, you've gotta accept that some bridges may be burned within your team."
"Yeah, Robyn and Kion haven't spoken since, wait!," faceing her boyfriend head on, Olvia asked, "you have a plan."
"Well, more of an idea that I'm baking the details on," Blake smiled at his pun.
"Well don't just make endearingly awful jokes, tell me," Olivia demanded.
"How do you feel about spending our romantic evening in the Bunker?"
000
Ryan's Earth
"It is finished," Bella smiled sadly as she finished typing something. Her audience of Ronan, Fuli, Reginald, Luna and Alice all looked confused. Save for Luna, who just looked terribly sad.
"Can't you just will the words into existence Bella?" Ronan asked the question on everyone's minds. He was a witness to how effectively Bella could operate even in Olivia's body.
'I can, and under normal circumstances I would, but it feels right typing these messages out by hand," Bella explained.
"Messages, oh!" Alice gasped, "you've been typing the messages to Blake by hand?" That explanation got everyone's attention.
"Blake?" Reginald asked, unfamiliar with the rat.
"What are you writing about?" Fuli asked.
"And isn't sending out messages from this location ridiculously risky?" Ronan asked in a more urgent tone.
"They are messages to Mr. Gusteau, I have been typing them aside from the first one, Blake Gusteau is Olivia's husband, he is aware that something terrible has happened and forced his wife into hiding but no explicit details, and there's a complex one way sending system I'm using to avoid any attention from Ryan," Bella calmly answered every question.
'Does Blake know that his wife isn't even writing these messages?" Luna demanded.
"...No, I saw no reason to cause him further stress," Bella looked away guiltily, "I maintain that we may be able to revive Mrs. Gusteau's mind once we have better resources."
"A dead mind that you and Ryan caused!" Luna shouted, the news of her best friend's fate alongside Ryan's betrayal was tearing the vixen up.
"Mi amore!" Alice chastised in return, "you know that's not the truth."
"Mrs' Wilde-Kirabito is correct," Bella replied morously, "while Ryan is responsible for putting events into motion, the blame for Mrs. Gusteau's state lays solely at my feet for my poor handling of the situation."
"That's not what I meant!" Alice responded in exasperation.
"But it is the truth irregardless," Bella said softly. "I am so sorry Mrs. Wilde, at the present all I can do is promise to try and bring your friend back."
'No I'm, I'm sorry," Luna apologized tearfully, "it's just that I come out of this mind control haze and everything's gone to hell! My best friend is being piloted by an AI, some of my friends and probably family are literal drones, my team is in hiding and my little brother is..is...why?" Luna tried to choke back a sob, "Why are you doing this Ryan?"
"He went bad," Fuli said bluntly, earning her a few annoyed looks, "look I'm sorry, but speaking as someone who was maybe a day away from becoming a terrorist I can confirm that adversity can change a mammal for the worst." Those not in the know gave the cheetah some strange looks, but Ronan picked up on his girlfriend's thread.
"I hate to say it but Fuli is right. In Robyn's world and my own a group Kiara was with stole the elixir pump from Olivia and she used it for selfish reasons, and in the one Robyn's team visited during their last mission Alice and Andi had completely gone off the deep end and were murderous assassins."
"Who the hell is Andi?" Luna asked, unnerved by the news that her wife had fallen to the dark side in another world.
Ronan and Reginald exchanged surprised and nervous looks. Reginald gave a quick head shake and Ronan nodded in agreement, "No one important here, but the point is that sometimes mammals can go bad."
"I understand that, it's just that it feels like there's something missing from the picture, some piece of the puzzle that explains all of this," Luna grasped for a good metaphor. "Tragedy or no, Ryan wouldn't go from his timid old self to this...self absorbed monster just like that."
"I'm sorry, timid?" Reginald asked. Turning to Alice he followed with, "you made him sound like a second Kodi when you told us about the attack."
Alice looked to the side, "I skimmed over the details cause I wasn't interested in mammalizing the bastard that made me fight my own wife." Alice explained herself and made it clear to her wife exactly why she wouldn't be soft where the younger brother was concerned. "But yes, Ryan's costume was modeled after a stage performer because that is largely what he is; an actor. He puts on a mask of a confident jokester, and you're right to compare him to Kodi since that's who he modeled himself after, largely because he was so reserved and nervous in civilian life."
"He, he always felt a bit inadequate next to everyone else in the family and with his friends; city shaping politicians, vetern agents, a career doctor, a master hacker, a self made CEO, even Hannah was already a great marks mammal before she got powers," Luna listen off a lot of mammals, "Ryan sometimes felt like anything special about him came from his steelblood. He felt like all he had was being a decent enough technician."
"He never gave himself due credit if the current situation is anything to go by," Bella finished.
"Look," Luna steadied herself, "Ryan went bad, I'm not questioning that and I'm not going to hold back. But there's something we're still missing here, I just know it."
Away from that group, Robyn was listening in on the talk. Luna, I know how you feel, I know what that betrayal feels like. Especially wanting to know why. I don't think the explanation is going to make things any better for you then it did for me. And your brother messed up a lot worse than anyone in Alice's group, even Kion. I just hope you realize that an answer isn't likely to change much for you.
000
Ronan's Earth
"We can't keep spending all of our time down here," Nick sighed after the Savages left. "I need to be at City Hall more to help with the fallout of Phelps finally going down, Judy has her Precinct to tend to, and Luna has a job and a boyfriend she's been neglecting."
The other Wildes absorbed the painful and truthful admission in silence. No one wanted to be away from the bunker, it felt like they were abandoning the belief that Ronan would make it back.
"Nick's right," Judy eventually agreed, "Ronan wouldn't want us to neglect the city just so we can sit around worrying about him."
Luna looked at her phone and scrolled through the conversations she'd had with Aleks the past few days, he was very understanding and told her to take her time, but Luna knew her father was right. She texted a message to him explaining that she'd be home tonight.
"Well it's a good thing we aren't very busy," Marian spoke up, "Anything I can do for the team I can do from right here. So there's no need for Robin and I to leave."
"Marian's right," Robin agreed, "we can set up an alert system to let the team know if anything happens while we wait."
The other three considered the options and none of them found anything truly objectionable about the plan. "Alright," Judy agreed, "just make sure that Nick and I are on that alert system, should probably keep Camelot in the loop too."
000
Reginald's Earth
"I think this is helping," the scared Luna said as she nervously paced around the room she and the visiting Luna were occupying. Distinguishing between the two was slightly harder then normal because scared Luna was wearing the Maiden outfit.
"Obviously you can't go around wearing a hero outfit in day to day life, but clothing like hoddies might make it easier for you to be out and about," Maiden observed.
"Maybe...so...next step?"
"Next step," Maiden pointed to the violin case on a bench near Luna. "You should really make an effort to play it every day.
"I know," Luna said very softly as she shuffled over to the case, "how are you able to focus on me with everything going on around you right now?"
'I'm a doctor, comes with the territory," Maiden explained, "Working during the aftermath of the Wave was a nightmare."
Just as Luna was about to reach for the case, there was a knock on the door, "Can i come in?" Judy's voice called.
Luna looked panicked but Maiden quickly rushed over to her, "Let's try and see if she can tell it's you," Maiden said.
"What!?"
"Just go with it," Maiden quickly rushed off to the side of the room, "come in Mom."
Judy walked in and saw the distinctive pink of Maiden's costume, "Hey sweetie."
"...hey Mom," Luna uttered.
"Just checking in, has Aaron managed to get some sleep?"
"He's, he's asleep," Luna replied, "I'm sorry I, I can't…"
"I know it's you Luna, not my daughter," Judy said calmly.
"What?" Luna turned to face Judy, and looked upon the face of her almost mother for the first time since she was a little girl. Short, humble, with eyes both strong and kind, Luna froze up at the sight.
"My daughter was speaking very loudly, I could hear her through the door," Judy explained, she flapped her ears up and down to empathize their size. "I went along with her ploy, and look at you. Is this the first time you've spoken to someone other than Victoria, Olivia or my daughter in years?"
That snapped Luna back to attention, "I, I'm sorry I...I can't do this anymore.' With a quick gasp of air Luna was gone and Andi was back in the driver's seat.
"Damn girl, you are the best thing that's happened to Luna in years," Andi smiled, also deactivating the mask in the process.
"I'm glad I could help," Luna smiled.
Before any further talking could take place, a frantic voice called, "Grandma, Grandma!" An out of breath Aaron rushed into the room.
"Aaron! What's wrong?" Judy asked as she and the two vixens gathered around the young koala.
"I know how we can get through the static stuff blocking Mom's powers!"
A brief moment's pause occured before all three ladies exclaimed, "What!"
000
Robyn's Earth
"I'm failing to see why this is such a big deal," Olivia stated.
"Failing to...my sister slashed my face open," Kion pointed to the stitched up scars on his face with indignation. Kion, his sister and Jasiri were visiting Alice when Olivia had unexpectedly returned to the Bunker with Blake in tow.
"Yes I understand there was a terrible accident, but you can heal it off remember?" Olivia waved her hand.
"What?" Kion asked.
"Just turn into Roar a few nights before you go to sleep and the scars will heal up," Olivia explained. "Plus your girlfriend will get to sleep on that big chiseled chest of yours."
"Olivia!" Kion shouted, aghast at the image being put in everyone's head.
"You know they've done it already," Blake spoke up.
"It's true," Jasiri admitted with a slight blush, "It's so...firm."
"Ohhh, tell us more," Alice grinned.
"This is not a conversation we are having," Kion moaned into his hands.
Off to the side of the room, Kiara leaned against the walls with the Savage family. Hannah turned to the lioness and asked, "Doesn't the elixir pump cause memory loss if you stay in it for too long?"
Kiara nodded, "Yes, but amnesia of a severe level only becomes an issue if you stay in elixir mode for a very long time, a period of several hours will only wipe blotches from said hours." The Camelot agent recalled her own spotty memory of the missions she'd undertaken in elixir mode, though she had no idea which blank periods were caused by the elixir pump in the moment, and which were caused by her time as Lily.
"So he'd only forget what he was dreaming about that night," Hannah concluded.
'Which means the problem is solved," Olivia said with a bit too much casualness for Kion and Kiara's liking. "Now then, with both the former second in command and the new leader MIA, I'm taking temporary command of things around here. Anyone have any problems with that, well tough shit, you inmates are done running the asylum."
"How would you rate that speech Skye?" Jack asked his wife.
"Seven out of ten, got the point across but not amazing," skye shrugged, earning a chuckle from Kiara.
Olivia paid the banter no mind. 'Now then, Kion's injuries aside, a lot of you haven't been eating well and group unity is at an all time low, so we're going to do something about that. Blake?"
"A group bonding activity? Olivia what are you playing at?" Hannah's voice was laidin with skepticism.
"You're all going to cook dinner together!" Blake announced, "That includes you three, he indicated Jack, Skye and Kiara."
Despite some protests, several mammals in the Bunker actually liked the idea and soon the whole group was participating. As the group was nearly all predators, most of the food was for them. Alice was at a table working on a salad for the few herbivores. Alice was keeping an eye on her babies as she sliced veggies with a knife. Kion was seated with her as he worked on grinding up the spices. As this was the first time they'd had any time with just them together since her talk with Mufasa, Alice took the time to fill Kion in on the situation. Kion looked completely demoralized by the end.
"So now even my own son is caught up in all of this," Kion muttered.
"Please don't blame Aaron for this Kion, he had no way of knowing," Alice quietly pleaded.
"I don't, it's my own damn fault for not thinking of it anyway," Kion dismissed.
"The best thing to do is to not overcomplicate this," Alice advised as she chopped up some carrots, "it's you retiring that has him so confused, he doesn't really understand the rest of the situation like Aaron let alone the adults."
"It's just, I didn't even think about how my leaving the team would look to Mufasa. I was just so focused on me and, damn it I was so selfish," Kion moaned.
"Got that right," Hannah muttered from her counter, having overheard the conversation. The blind hybrid was working with Kiara to prepare a broth for the shrimp scampi they were having.
"Oh really? Good, I was worried I'd imitate Mom in the kitchen," Kiara laughed, legitimately worried about holding her own in the cooking. "Hey, remember that time I was babysitting you and you goaded me into making pancakes for dinner?"
Hannah actually smiled at the memory, "Oh yeah! My favorite breakfast place went out of business and I wanted more flapjacks."
"You wouldn't be quiet about it," Jack teased from his station, he and his wife were working on the noodles.
"Don't get distracted Jack!" Blake called from his position overseeing the efforts. He was working with Jasiri to prepare the shrimp themselves.
All in all, it wound up being a fun time for all mammals involved, even the reluctant ones. Fond memories were recalled and no one could deny the enticing scent of the food. Talk during the meal was mostly kept to funny stories relating to various kitchen disasters like Nala's cooking, Skye's utter inability to get meats cooked right and even Blake admitting that he had a harder time getting sweats right then anything else. To the common eye Olivia and Blake's exercise was a success, but Olivia noticed Hannah's face darkened whenever Kion spoke up. Not wanting to disrupt the good mood, she waited until the meal was over and the mammals moved over to the lounge to confront Hannah.
"Hannah is something…"
"I'm sorry Olivia," Hannah blurted out, "sorry for everything in this awful mess."
That wasn't the direction Olivia was expecting, "Hannah, I forgive you but that's not…"
"It's about Kion right?" Hannah deduced, "the five of us need to actually start putting in the effort to make things better after what we did, and so far Luna's been the only one who's even tried. I'm done being nice to any of us content to just lay around and hope the problem fixes…" Hannah trailed off as a stunned look crossed her face.
"Hannah I know things aren't great right now…"
"Shhhh!" Hannah called for Olivia to be silent. The mouse's indignation quickly faded as she also heard it. A voice, very faint, and sounding like every word was being interrupted.
"...th...so...p...or...in...nt...of...ur...or."
While Olivia tried to make sense of the barely audible words, Hannah could only focus on the voice itself.
"Aaron."
000
Ryan's Earth
"Lo...fo...a...rd." Aaron's voice faded and Robyn had no idea what to make of it. She'd been elated to hear her son's voice. But the barely audible word's and her own inability to make sense of it sent her right back into her spot on the sofa.
Damn it, I'm sorry Aaron. Robyn didn't want to imagine how hard it was for Aaron to pierce through Ryan's static barrier, but it looked like the effort was going to waste. She kept quiet for a few minutes, hoping to hear Aaron again, but nothing ever came.
Robyn pulled out her phone and looked up the folder where she kept important group photos. The most recent addition was the picture that had been taken the day they'd adopted Aaron. All three mammals' faces were joyful, though Robyn recognized a tinge of sadness in both mother's expressions. Next were a pair of pictures taken in recent years after Luna and Alice were wed. The first was a family photo of the Wildes and Savages, and the second was of the then seven members of Team Ceartais in civilian garb. There were no forced smiles here; everyone's happy face was genuine; no Luna slipping into bad habits, no betrayal, no treating each other like crap, it was a momento for better times. Robyn looked over most of their faces, even Alice, and felt a heavy pang of loneliness; for the first time ever, she was completely isolated from her family. Robyn went to wipe some water from the screen and realized it was her own tears.
"I want to go home," Robyn cried weakly.
A soft hand was placed on her shoulder and Robyn turned to see Reginald taking a seat beside her. He had a pair of blankets in hand and gave one to her. A moment later a heavier presence came down on the opposite side of her. Ronan was sitting in midair for a moment before Fuli made herself visible again with a cheeky grin that got a sad laugh out of Robyn. Luna and Alice joined them next, sitting on the other side of Reginald. Clara joined them next, sitting on the opposite end of the L sofa. Regina sat next to her with Esso leaning against the large mare. Hannah took the spot next to Luna and Sirius the one next to Esso. Kodi cuddled up to his girlfriend. Rani sat in a meditation position right at the corner where the two sides met. Finally, Bella drove her mobile chair up next to one end of the large sofa and positioned herself next to Clara. If any words were actually said Robyn didn't register them, instead she focused on the comforting presence of so many allies. Ronan and Reginald reminded her that she still had family even in this dimension. As everyone settled in for a long rest before the big day tomorrow, Robyn had one thought.
Ryan, I don't care what you have in store, tomorrow I'm going home.
AN: So maybe some comforts aren't so small.
Next Time: The battle against Ryan begins, our heroes put a plan in motion, but Ryan's ready to up his game.
