Calm before the storm
The Righteous Indignation zoomed across the Aniverse at hyper speed. At that speed, any ship traveling at such a velocity could be across some of the known regions of the galaxy within minutes if not a couple of hours depending on where exactly they were going.
The Photon Accelerator hummed loudly in the engine bay with, Willy sitting close by keeping an eye on the power levels to make sure they were remaining steady. The Device was drawing in a great deal of power to allow the frigate to move at such speed and one had to be very cautious when operating the device as any sudden change or a mishap could cause server catastrophic catastrophes.
In the history of the ship such a catastrophe had happened to the former engineer of the Righteous Indignation, Bruce the betelgeusian baboon. Battle Damage during an attack caused the photon accelerator to malfunction and while, Bruce attempted to fix it the device powered up and caused a vortex to appear and suck the baboon in where presumably he had perished but thankfully during the months after it was discovered he was simply in another dimension where it is presumed he is working a way to escape it as once before.
Willy did his very best to make sure such a disaster would not happen again. As the Engineer it was his duty and responsibility to oversee everything on the ship including the very device that powered it. Blinky remained close to Willy as they sat together patiently awaiting for when the frigate would arrive at its destination.
Even though it would seem a boring few minutes with the ship traversing across the Aniverse it was never a bother to, Willy. Every time he was on the ship it was an adventure in itself. He was doing something that most on his world would not be able to do in their lifetime. He cherished every minute of it including the solitude sitting in the engine bay keeping an eye on the Photon Accelerator.
"All hands!" Bucky paged over the intercom. "Prepare for arrival!"
Willy gripped the handle next to him along with, Blinky within a few seconds a sudden jolt came from all over the ship indicating it just exited hyperspace. Willy immediately stood up heading over to the device on the wall and adjusted the power levels to a lower setting to not draw anymore power than what was needed. He had been with the crew long enough to know when to act on something without being told to do so.
Once he was done Willy pressed a button that was under a microphone on the wall. "Power levels are now low and stable, Captain!" He reported.
"Good Willy. Come up to the bridge I think you would want to see how Warren's new station is looking." Jenny asked.
"I'm on my way up." Willy said letting go of the button.
"This Humble Robot will oversea care of the Engine Bay until friend Willy returns or receive new instruction." Blinky saluted as, Willy began to climb up the ladder giving, Blinky a smile before disappearing up to the gunner deck where he saw, Deadeye laying back on his gunner's chair with his legs crossed with his hands behind his back.
Willy smiled at the scene as Deadeye would always be awaited for the moment when a Toad ship would come across his sights and he would blast it away. He headed up the next ladder that took him up to the bridge.
Just across from the entry way he saw the cockpit chairs had both the frigates Captain and First Mate sitting in their designated chairs. Jenny the white furred aldebaran who sat in the left chair peered behind her and saw, Willy emerge. She gave him a warm smile with green eyes as her long pink hair flowed just over the chair.
"Hello Willy! Its so good to see you back with us." She greeted warmly.
"Hey, Jenny! Its good to be back!" Willy smiled as he climbed up onto the bridge. "A Week away from you all seems like a month."
Jenny chuckled as always Willy had become very attached to them all. He was a vital member of the crew and a dear friend. Who they could all count on when they needed him and in a personal note he could be trusted with some of the most vital secrets of her people that he accidently discovered. He swore to keep all that he saw a secret and he had kept that promise since then.
"Why don't you come up here and take a look?" She suggested gesturing him with her right hand. Bucky remained in his seat peering through the scanners and a monitor that was going over the database of some events that were happening currently that he had to watch to see if anything was of interest from a distress call or new orders then he would answer it.
Willy walked over behind the Captain's chair as Jenny continued to smile at him. Willy looked out through the window to see millions of stars and were passing a planetoid. Far in the distance he could see, Bucky's home world Warren coming into view.
The Boy continued to stare out into space and marveled at the sight. Jenny took notice of his staring. "Something out there intrigues you, Willy?" she asked.
"Yeah. I mean I have been with you guys for long enough now to see much of Space and the planets we have been to and the bases we either raided or visited its just I can never but look out there. On my Planet for someone to be able to even go to space that's very rare and only the best of the best have even the slightest chance but here I am a twelve-year-old who is part of crew of a strong and formidable frigate always on patrol across a whole other dimension." Willy explained as he adjusted his glasses. "In everything I been through with all of you I wouldn't trade it all for anything."
"That's rather sweet of you say." Jenny smiled reaching over and took his hand squeezing it gently. "We certainly would have not been here this day if it wasn't for you."
Willy blushed. "I really didn't do all that much. I was glad I was able to help when I did."
Bucky turned away from the monitors for the moment. "Willy you need to give yourself a lot more credit. You deserve it all for everything you have done for us as well as all free people of the Aniverse."
Willy blushed more he never believed himself to be of a special sort. He always just wanted to do the right thing. If there was one thing his parents taught him was that some things are so important that are worth doing no matter what the cost.
Thinking of his parents he sighed as parents did not know anything about him coming to the Aniverse at all. He knew that they wouldn't believe him if he told them and even if they did they may prevent him from coming back to it. But a lot of times he was only able to come to the Aniverse due to them being gone a lot.
Jenny cocked her head at Willy. "What's wrong, Willy. I feel as if you have grown sad."
Willy knew that Jenny was sensing his feelings. With the little he knew about her sacred sisterhood he had a vague knowledge of their abilities but even his knowledge was limited as their sisterhood prided itself on keeping their sacred traditions a great secret from all who were not of aldebaran.
"I was just thinking about my parents." Willy admitted standing just behind the middle of the chairs.
"Something wrong with them?" Bucky asked.
"No. Not exactly. Its just…" Willy tried to find the right words to explain it. "I really do love my parents, but I wish they were more like parents."
"That's a peculiar way to put it. How do you mean?" Jenny asked as for as long as she and the rest of the crew knew, Willy he never had talked about his parents much and this would be a good opportunity to know them better.
"Well, my parents are not exactly soldier material. They stand up for the belief in keeping our world and its inhabitants healthy and livable." Willy explained.
"That is noble in itself." Bucky said as he kept his eyes on the monitors as Jenny steered the ship in the direction of Warren that was getting closer by the minute.
"Perhaps its just they are always gone a lot. Off at a rally that requires them to stay for hours if not a day or so. Protesting the latest technology as they believe tech destroys the world around them. Or they had some festival having a time which only their kind of people can know about. I find it rather boring and repulsive. They always tried to make me go with them but after the first few times I manage to talk them down from taking me as I would rather be home and tinker with my projects or in this case be with you all to assist in anyway possible." Willy explained more.
Bucky and Jenny now had a better understanding about, Willy's parents. They sounded like they were of a decent folk, but they did sound rather neglected towards their son who they had no idea how much good he has done for so many.
"Don't you ever want to try and go back to these…rallies or festivals with them?" Jenny asked. "I understand I may not know all about them, but one should not turn away from family like that."
"I don't know, Jenny. I mean I love them but what my parents are, are completely different from what I am. Were practically polar opposite. At least my father wasn't always like this." Willy replied remembering something of his Father that helped set him up to becoming a tech whiz.
"How do you mean about him?" Bucky asked as he kept on course toward Warren.
"For Example, my Father was once a scientist. At least from what I read through some old notes of his from long before he met my mother. He worked for some big labs and even designed some of fascinating devices meant for engineering. One of the very schematics he made was of the very photon accelerator I have in my room." Willy explained.
"My! That is quite amazing!" Jenny smiled seeing now that Willy comes from a very brilliant man. It made sense now why he was so smart.
"I never found out why he gave it all up. It had to be around when he met my mother. He gave up being what he was to being what he is now. I don't want to say I hate it, but I just wish he and my Mother would be more accepting of what I am." Willy admitted feeling a bit sad. Now that he had thought about it he wished his parents were with him more and a lot more understanding.
"Willy don't feel like that. I understand that your parents are completely different. You may want something to change about them but if you look at it another way if they were different don't you think that maybe it would have changed you? Or such events would not have happened, and you would not have found yourself here?" Jenny pointed out.
Willy sat down and thought of what she said. "You know, Jenny. I never really thought of that! Am I being disrespectful about them?" He asked with some shame.
Jenny put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I know you don't mean any form of that. You had something on your mind. Perhaps you should talk to your parents. Sit down with them and talk about how you feel and perhaps participate in these activities your parents seem to do. They may not be something of your interest but if you give it a try maybe it could be a stepping stone into having them understand you better and for you to understand them. You may even find an answer to one of your questions."
Willy looked up to her and smiled. "You know your right, Jenny! When I go back I'll talk with them."
Jenny smiled rubbing, Willy's shoulder. "That's the spirit, Willy."
Bucky smiled at the scene. Jenny was always someone who anyone could talk to about a troubling matter. Somehow she always knew how to find an answer to help those that had so much on their minds. She certainly was worthy of being the First Mate to his ship. So long ago she proved herself to be trustworthy and she always kept everyone in check a lot better than he could when times were tough. There was no one else he was prouder to have than her by his side along with every other member of the Righteous Indignation.
Suddenly the communications alarm blared as the monitor went red. "Jenny?" Bucky asked as, Willy stood up and looked forward out through the cockpit. He saw Warren was close and the Orbital Station was coming into view. But then he saw something else. He could see many tiny ships flying all over the station. Then he noticed there were blasts coming from the station and outside of it as well.
Jenny opened up the priority call that was coming in. Coming on screen was a familiar face they all knew. Appearing on screen was a betelgeusian baboon they all knew well. The Baboon had a nose ring that was implanted on his left nostril and a tiny chain was hooked onto it that went up to his left ear. He wore a sliver plated spiked pieces of armor on shoulders along with a yellow spiked collar on his neck along with tiny pieces of armor covering his upper body and lower body covered with blue clothing. He was covered silver braces and his legs were covered in silver plated armor down to his knees.
"Bucky! Can you hear me?" Bruiser called trying to keep the comms open as explosions rocked around him as many mammals were running around in many directions in a state of panic.
"We hear you, Bruiser! What's going on?" Bucky demanded.
"Them toads, Bucky! They trying to take over the station! Could use a little assistance!" Bruiser reported as he growled cracking his knuckles when he heard a loud band came by the nearby door. He cracked his knuckles. "Pardon the interruption but gotta welcome some station invaders!" Bruiser then cried out a battle cry that was known to all Toads as Bruiser rushed out of sight of the monitor.
"It's a berserker Baboon!" A Voice off screen that sounded like a toad in panic then the sounds of blows being delivered were heard as the screen went dark.
"Bucky communications have been cut!" Jenny explained as she began to try to reconnect with communications. Bucky then expanded the scanner ranger and detected multiple signals. But he didn't need glyphs on the monitor to indicate there was a lot of trouble ahead.
"Toad Double Bubbles!" Willy pointed ahead seeing a couple dozen of the two piloted attack crafts of the Toad armada was flying all over the space station as tiny landing frigates were landing in the hanger bay.
"Looks like our small counter from earlier was just the icing on the cake!" Bucky exclaimed tightening his grip on the controls. He pressed the intercom button. "ATTENTION ALL HANDS BATTLE STATIONS!"
"Alright, me bucko! Ol Deadeye is ready fry some warts!" Deadeye over the intercom laughed eagerly.
"Willy head back down to your station you know the drill!" Bucky ordered.
"Roger, Captain!" Willy responded before heading over to the ladder and started to climb down it.
"Alright everyone! LETS CROAK TOADS!" Bucky cried out as he pushed the throttle up on the engines making the Righteous Indignation fly fast towards the battle that was starting to take its toll on the orbital station over Warren.
