Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Horde of Horrors. Enjoy the 2000-word chapter. I don't own She-Ra, Mattel and a few others do.
(Salineas)
The squadron of 8 skiffs raced across the land, Brennus revving the engines of the lead one. They rode in formation, the spoils of their victory visible seen in the distance. He knew they would attack to liberate it soon enough. An attack on the Fright Zone could also not be ruled out.
Brennus stared through the clouds of brown colored dust. This vehicle was something he had studied before. They had used one to travel from Candila and back. It was interesting to him how they had used it, but it could be improved, all instruments of battle could be.
"You have ridden this vehicle before." Brennus stated, turning to Catra who sat behind him. "Am I not, correct? Something is bothering you." Brennus added, his eyes narrowing under his ebony armor.
"Nothing, just wondering how Adora can call me a coward." Catra said to which Brennus hummed, turning to look over his shoulder. "She runs away all the time. She ran away at the fire city; she ran away here. Adora loves to act like she's so tough, but without her fancy sword and friends…" Catra added as Brennus hummed, nodding.
"Do you not think you have friends of your own?" Brennus questioned, his voice sounding far more confused than she thought. "I respect you enough currently to call you a comrade. Your ally, Scorpia? She seems to regard you as a friend, so does the Horde's science officer, Entrapta." Brennus stated, turning to swerve around a rock formation.
Catra was silent. Even if she HATED being wrong? Brennus had somewhat of a point, only Adora had abandoned her. Scorpia liked having her around, Brennus didn't seem to have any compliant with working under her.
"You seemed a bit scared of Entrapta when she showed up." Catra said to which garnered a shrug from Brennus. "She scares you with her science mumbo jumbo?" Catra teased, smirking as her fangs poked from her jaw.
"Most do not regard me with much fascination in that manner." Brennus responded, turning around once again. "No, she did not. I was surprised by her; she knew much about this armor. It is very ancient. You surprised me more, taking me on in a duel without any weapon or armor." Brennus added, pausing to think.
"To be honest? I thought you were some sort of old robot." Catra stated to which Brennus nodded to himself. "Some of those looks at me? You acted surprised to have seen someone like me." Catra said as Brennus chuckled.
"I did not expect to see one of your species here." Brennus said before watching a raised eyebrow. "I didn't notice anything like you on my home planet. My father had spoken of powerful enemies for the people of Voruta. A race similar to yours was ranked among them." Brennus added before humming.
"You don't talk a lot about Voruta or whatever that planet is," Catra stated as Brennus nodded. "Bad memories?" Catra questioned, earning a shake of the head.
"No, Voruta is… Was, a nice planet." Brennus said before he sighed. "Then came the invaders, powerful monsters led by a mysterious warlord. We struck them with the power and skill of Voruta's armies. Whoever desired to seize power the dishonorable way? Stood with them. My father and I made a stand before we were brought here." Brennus said before pausing to think on this.
"You do not speak of your past." Brennus said, noticing Catra's smirk fade. "Do not worry. I do not intend to pry. I am merely curious what caused you to become the powerful leader of warriors you are. It seems like quite the story." Brennus added before they crested one more hill.
Both could see the Fright Zone in the distance. Their talk grew much more limited, their interests on reporting to Hordak, their victory empowered them.
"We may speak of this later?" Brennus questioned. "Lord Hordak will be happy to hear of our capture of the city. He will be quite interested in hearing all of our this was overcoming in the end. All it requires is some peace and planning to achieve." Brennus added as he sighed to himself.
Catra turned and left, leaving Brennus to thin of his move to come. If it wasn't so easy? He'd have figured out their plan before long. He was quite curious as to their full plan and all it entailed. There was much work to be done. They would not conquer the planet that quickly, the Horde did not have the manpower to conquer Etheria that rapidly.
"Sir, can I speak with you?" Brennus heard, turning his head towards Lonnie.
"Lonnie, yes?" Brennus questioned to which the woman nodded. "Of course, what do you require from me, soldier?" Brennus asked as the woman walked to him.
"Why do you trust Catra if you know her so well?" Lonnie questioned, raising an eyebrow as he hummed to himself. "Catra plays games with people's lives. She only cares about the power she can gain for herself." Lonnie stated to which Brennus hummed, turning to look to the side.
"Bad leaders are people who refuse to change or make up their mistakes." Brennus stated, humming as he started to think about what happened next. "Do you think I'm not smart? There's plenty of details I understand. I know there is plenty of soldiers around the Horde." Brennus added, waving his hands back and forth as he did so.
Brennus watched Lonnie who was carefully thinking of her options, but he knew enough to make her answer.
"I am a warrior, Lonnie," Brennus put in as he hummed to himself. "I know what happened in the battle, did you want to point something out? There is plenty of battles where I've seen people who run the second something goes sideways. If it was that bad? I'd have moved forward in my own plans." Brennus questioned to which Lonnie was silent as Brennus nodded.
"You knew?" Lonnie asked to which Brennus was silent. "Then why stick in the background? You could tell Lord Hordak." Lonnie stated to which he held up a hand.
"Lord Hordak either knows, or is using it to it his advantage, like a smart leader would." Brennus responded as he crossed his arms over his chest. "He is not stupid. What would you like me to tell him? That Catra, his most valued commander and one of his best warriors… Is trying to overthrow him? Would you believe the newest soldier in his ranks?" Brennus stated as he shook his head.
He was quite happy when it came down to it. There was plenty of things that could go wrong, but that made things interesting when he thought about it.
"I know enough about Catra to know what my next move is, Lieutenant." Brennus stated, crossing his hands over his chest. "You started to think about what your next move is, just like how mine is. I will think and do what I feel is the best move, and I urge you to do such things." Brennus added as he turned and moved towards the door.
He left Lonnie to his own thoughts, thinking of his own. He shook his head to himself, however? There was plenty of plans he had to make; the next detail would be quite curious on his mind.
"Brennus!" Brennus heard as he hummed, walking towards the voice. "I heard you left a majority of the city standing." Brennus heard from Hordak.
The man reclined on his throne as he nodded, prepared to defend his reasoning if he had to.
"There was no need to destroy the majority of the city, Lord Hordak." Brennus stated, blinking as he did so. "I didn't think it was an issue what happened there. I did not plan on killing countless people unless they pushed our luck and caused massive losses. Was I wrong to value Horde Lives over results?" Brennus asked as the Horde leader shook his head.
"No, I am still reviewing the data from the droids." Hordak stated to which Brennus nodded to himself. "If you had? It would have led to numerous Horde losses. I did note you and Catra engaged the Princesses in combat… Without any forces." Hordak added as Brennus nodded to himself.
"With all due respect, Lord Hordak?" Brennus questioned to which the Horde leader raised an eyebrow. "The princesses are stronger than the majority of your rank and file, just like how I am. There was considerable risk to these soldiers without my deflection." Brennus stated before he nodded to himself.
"It was Bren's idea." Catra stated to which the Vorutian Prince trend to her. "But it was a pretty good idea. We beat them, Brennus is pretty touch." Catra said as Hordak hummed.
He turned to the duo who seemed more content as to what they had done. It was very possible they had made a far better team then he expected of them. If that was the case? Then he would make the most of this asset.
"You mentioned my brother and the Horde's chief science officer before." Brennus put in to which Hordak nodded. "Are they alight? We defeated the majority of the princesses. I'd be hard pressed to assume they know about a lower their operation." Brennus added before he shook his head.
"Entrapta and your brother are fine." Brennus heard from Hordak. "There is plenty of work to be done, however. If the princesses are allowed to spread and recover from their defeat? It will undo all of what we fought for." Hordak added to which Brennus and Catra shared another look.
Both did not want their victory to be tainted. If there was a way to stop it? Brennus would gladly accept it, eager to get back into combat.
"And what do the stupid princesses have to do with this?" Catra questioned as she crossed her arms over her chest. "We beat them, they're probably running to Brightmoon to whine. They'd been beaten when it came down to it. Why are we still worrying about them, huh?" Catra stated to which Hordak rolled his eyes.
Brennus was quite hopeful that there was plenty of business. There weren't enough battles for him to be here and waiting of what to do next. He was quite hopeful when it came down to it.
"I still have my own mission to do when it comes to it." Hordak added before he looked at the duo. "Your dismissed for now. We will build on this victory, ensure it means something before we get back to business." Hordak added before he cleared his throat.
Both soldiers turned to look around. There was plenty of business to be done. They weren't about to just stand here, but there was very little they could do when it comes down to it. Still? They had orders. It wasn't like they could just disobey them.
'We have more work to if we're going to end up defeating them. That's all I can say about it.' Brennus added mentally before he turned and started to depart, eager to get this done and over with.
Catra turned to Brennus who was already out the door. There was only so much she could take before she snapped and started to go off.
She turned to Hordak who was silent, unsure of what happened next. Brennus was quite happy and so was so currently.
Author Note
Phew. Another chapter done! I want to point out that next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will show their work at the moment and their bond. Next chapter will be 900-6500 words when it comes down to it. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!
P.S: Next chapter will be delayed at the moment and will show more words and it will be longer.