7Seven Secret Space Guppies
Good day, you! Time to get back into the story! Enjoy!
Chapter 5: Wrong feelings
"Attention. The ETS must report to the briefing room in 30 minutes." The loudspeaker said.
"Déjà vu!" Deema said, stretching her arms.
"Half an-hour. Guys, it's time to hurry." Molly said. The group prepared themselves, showered and went to the cafeteria for breakfast.
"Amateurish. They don't even have cereals." Nonny said sitting down.
"Just take some fruit. It's fresh." Oona said. She poked Nonny with a banana.
"So we'll finally understand what's going on here in space." Goby told, switching subjects.
"The OD sure wasn't idle after we kicked them off Earth." Molly said.
"Can't wait to destroy them. I hope it won't be too complicated." Zooli said.
"With us 2 as the BEST pilots, it will go perfectly!" Gil added.
"It's, funny that you became the co-pilot, Zooli. You never flew in a spaceship." Molly commented. Zooli didn't know what to say.
"Ehheuh I'm sure Zooli will learn it very quickly. It's not that hard. You just gotta inform me of where the enemies are by using 'hours' and other technical stuff. Co-piloting!" Goby grinned. Zooli smiled to Gil.
"Let's keep an eye on them... Like the good old days." Deema whispered to Oona.
The group left for the briefing room. Valen, Laurent and Mccrab were sitting around the holographic projector.
"Greetings Commander!" The 7 said.
"I was never a fan of this behavioural codes. We all know each other, after all. I have no other choice than to be polite... Hello ETS, take a seat. I'm sure you are all curious about what the plans will be. We didn't tell you anything about the situation or the objectives." Valen started. The group sat down around the table.
"The HQ you guys destroyed on Earth was, the actual OD headquarters, but... Apparently they had a backup base."
"We must find and destroy it like the first one!" Gil said.
"The good news is that we know where the second OD HQ is... Located on the Moon around 'Tycho crater'."
"And you will send us to it immediately?" Molly asked
"The situation is far more complex. It would be suicide to send you there, even with WPP assistance. No, the HQ can't be touched. It is protected by an unknown force field. Nothing goes through it. Missiles, laserbeams... nothing."
"That's not good." Deema commented.
"I'm sure you have a plan to deactivate that force field." Nonny said, rubbing his chin. Valen grinned.
"We recently discovered that the force field was regulated by 3 control panels. All of whom we have the location of. We will send you guys to deactivate each panels. Destroying it won't be enough. They could repair it. We will give you a hacking module that will corrupt their system. No access to the panel will be possible from then on."
"Tell us where to find the first panel, and we'll take it out." Molly said.
"Our first target is the Theta outpost in the area called 'Sinus Iridum'. But you'll only go tomorrow, some logistics and technical reasons. Nothing to worry about." Nonny looked suspicious, but didn't speak.
"So, we have nothing to do?" Oona asked.
"Don't tell me you can't do anything in this ship! You can do whatever you want today. Just don't get completely waisted, we need you tomorrow." The group greeted and left.
"Woah, I'm excited for tomorrow!" Deema said, sitting on her bed. The rest smiled.
"Our first real mission! In space!" Oona added.
"I wonder if the OD is aware of us being here. They might expect our arrival..." Nonny said.
"Hmm, chances are small. The OD fighters that saw us here all got destroyed during the defence of the Hannibal." Gil said.
"They won't have time to report it because we destroyed them before they can!" Zooli said while poking Gil. He laughed.
"I don't want you 2 to play superheroes! We have rules and strategies that must be followed!" Molly said strictly. The rest were silent.
"You're right, Molly! We should train. Come, Zooli." The 2 left and Molly was boiling.
"Jealous again." Deema added.
"Aargh! Don't get me wrong, Zooli is a good teammate, but why the hell is she so like us?! It's a robot, after all, and she is clearly trying to flirt with Gil!" Molly said dramatically.
"There's little we can do about it, you know..." Goby answered with.
"Why did they give her those abilities? Following orders, okay! Transporting stuff, okay! But not flirting!"
"I think you are overreacting a bit now. Now that you've vented, you should come back to your common sense." Deema said.
"Well, I consider Zooli as one of us. A Guppy and a group member." Oona said. Nonny nodded slowly.
"Look at her. She's identical to us! You can't see the difference from the outside..." Goby said.
"She can be hacked by the OD!" Molly said.
"Remember the gas they used on Oona. Similar." Nonny responded with.
"This discussion is getting way too ethical," Molly said, "we should stop here."
"But we must solve your problem with Zooli..." Deema said. "You should talk to Gil first."
"It's actually pretty simple," Goby added, "accept Zooli how she is." The rest stayed silent.
"Again! I have no problems with her as a person, ehh robot! Just that she is doing all those things with Gil!" Goby facepalmed.
"Molly," Deema said, approaching her, "this is just pure jealousy. But you know, Gil. He w...
"He can be manipulated easily!"
"No! He would never cheat on you. Why would he do that?" Molly was silent for a moment.
"Well, what if she did what she's doing to Gil right now with Goby or Nonny! You wouldn't have the same speech now!".
"I can't know that because it didn't happen! Molly, sigh... I'll talk to you as a friend. You are making an issue of this. You must trust Gil, and convince yourself that Zooli ISN'T flirting with him. You see things that aren't real. Take our advice. Go on a little walk and think about what we've said." Deema finished. Molly sighed.
"It's hard to admit when someone's wrong... Give me time to think." Molly left. Deema sat down.
"What now?" Oona asked.
"We just gotta wait!" Goby answered.
"I found it a pretty, worrying opinion of Molly. That Zooli is just a robot." Oona mentioned.
"... She's actually right. It is just a robot. But it fits better in our minds to think that she's a Guppy like us." Nonny explained.
"I still find it mean. Zooli has emotions and can get hurt by what we say. If that's not human..."
"We all love her and will treat her like one of us. Molly does it too, unconsciously. She's just jealous and had to blame something for it. The robot-being of Zooli. Furthermore, Molly and Zooli had pleasant experiences in the past. They were very good friends. I say it again, it's just jealousy, and apparently Molly is very sensitive to that. It's a sign she's afraid to lose Gil, that she loves him so much."
"Thank you psychology expert Nonny!" Deema said laughingly.
"Molly is intelligent and rational enough to understand that she is creating concerns. She knows that if she continues to behave like that, it will eventually explode. As a result, the ETS will become inactive because of internal problems. Not acting maturely enough might result in cancelling the project. She knows the consequences. Now I'm done."
During the same time, Gil and Zooli were going to do a flying exercise.
"Here you go! Our own spaceship. Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte!" Gil said Zooli giggled. "Get in! I'll show you the things you have to do in a real fight." The 2 entered the ship and left the Hangar.
"Woahh! This is superb!" Zooli said, staring out the cockpit.
"It really is! Now, I'm the pilot, so I fly around and shoot at things. You as my co-pilot must keep an eye on the environment for enemy Mosquitos. That's how we call the OD light aircraft around here. We also use the clock and hours to say where something is. For example, enemy at 9 o'clock. Enemy on our left. You got that?"
"Got that, over."
"Perfect. To do so, you have a radar and cameras on the back and on the sides of the ship. You can also use a laser-chaingun to shoot behind us. It got installed recently. I think it's the blu HOW SHIT did you shoot?"
"Yep, blue button. Sorry haha!"
"I thought we were under attack. Now you know how it feels in here and what your tasks are. You wanna go back to the hangar?"
"Let's stay a little more, I need to ask you something."
"Uh okay..." Gil started the engines and flew a bit around the HQ.
"What do you wanna ask me?"
"It's about Molly... She feels so... jealous? I don't know how to say..."
"I saw that she wasn't very kind to you last time. She doesn't approve you as my co-pilot, I think."
"Is she jealous, then? That I'm with you most of the time..."
"Maybe, she can be like that. But hey, I haven't seen you in months since last week."
"I missed you all too. You in particular. Always optimistic and funny." Gil smiled through his cockpit. He flew back to the hangar and landed.
"What are you planning to do for me with Molly?" Zooli asked. Gil hesitated.
"I feel bad when Molly is unhappy. And these tensions could hurt the unity in our squad, but she created a problem out of the situation. I never felt wrong doing anything. We should clarify everything by talking with her. I'll go find her and reassure her." Gil said. Zooli smiled.
"Thank you for doing this! Everything will be much better now. I, really like you." Zooli touched Gil's fingers. They made eye-contact. Gil looked away.
"Hopefully, nothing will get wrong..." He thought. The 2 went back to the quarters.
"Do you guys know where Molly is?" Gil asked.
"She went for a walk." Deema said. Gil left to search for Molly.
"He wants to talk with her," Zooli said, "but I don't know if you already know..."
"We know. It was obvious." Oona answered.
"Molly and Gil will certainly talk it out." Deema added. "For the preservation of the group, the WPP, and their relationship."
"I can't imagine someone else with Gil or Molly! They are made for each other." Goby mentioned. Zooli smiled a little.
"And could you imagine me or you with someone else, Goby?" Deema asked.
"Of course not! We were made for each other." Goby answered, giving Deema a kiss.
"I don't need to ask that question." Oona said, putting her head on Nonny's shoulder.
Gil ran around the Circle, searching for Molly. She was nowhere. Gil had a last option, the briefing room.
Molly stood there, staring out of the windows.
"Molly!" Gil said being exhausted. Molly turned around. "I searched for you."
"Gilly..."
"I need to talk. I felt something was wrong." Gil stood in front of her. Molly nodded slowly.
"You shouldn't worry about me and Zooli. Everyone saw your jealousy. It's just that I haven't seen her for months and that she is a great friend of me. Of you too! She really likes you."
"You guys are right, it's hard to admit. But yeah, I created this issue. I'm jealous just because I love you and don't wanna lose you." Gil hugged her.
"It's okay."
"I will be more kind to Zooli and try to be less jealous. For me, for you, for the group." Gil smiled and the 2 kissed.
"Owoww, I think there's an important briefing right now." Valen said entering. The couple turned around and blushed.
"It's okay. You don't need to explain it. Actually it's good that you 2 are here so that we can discuss the strategy for tomorrow." Valen made a sign that the 2 had to come closer.
"Lieutenant, we need you at the briefing room immediately." Valen said to his radio. A couple of minutes later, the 'lieutenant' arrived.
"I think you collaborated in the past? To find a piece of crypted-code." Valen said.
"Lieutenant Moon. Greetings!" The 2 teens said.
"Greetings, ETS. Glad to have you all back."
"The ETS and your squad will attack the control panel together." Valen projected a map of the outpost. "Sinus Iridum is surrounded by craters in the North and the West, the South-East is more accessible. You will be send to one of our bases there. Then you will intercept a transport personnel buggy, take it and infiltrate the base. Those bastards stole and copied our spacesuit technology. They repainted it to fit their colours. For once this will help us. We will provide OD coloured spacesuits . With them, you won't get spotted."
"I will stay in the vehicle with my soldiers, if the situation would get out of hand." Moon added.
"Molly, Gil, the ETS counts 7 members. Going all in wouldn't be discreet. Split up and spread into the complex. Preferably alone, to increase your chances of succeeding."
"Won't they spot us when we are in the inside? They might recognize us, we are quite famous within the OD." Molly added.
"That's where the plan continues. You will find an airlock on the left of the base. Enter it and normally, you guys should find the laboratory. Enter it and find hazmat suits. Present yourself as scientist doing some experiments. Those suits have one-way plastic glass so nobody will recognize you." Gil nodded in satisfaction.
"That was everything for the briefing. Inform your teammates about the plan. Tomorrow you will get transported for the first time to the Moon's surface. Briefing out." Molly, Gil and Moon greeted Valen and left.
"Hopefully, nothing will get wrong..." Gil thought.
Ohohh, what's up with Zooli and Gil? How could it expand into the future? Was it just a by accident contact? Will it impact the integrity of the group? We'll see that in the next chapters!