Disclaimer: I don't own anything except my OCs.
The Deep Swamp, 5:15 A.M.
Bucum is driving the motorboat with Jay-Jay is in the passenger's seat and is currently fixing the radio. The others are currently asleep. Chizuru is sleeping on Niko's thighs while Niko sleeps upright and Miku sleep on Claudia's shoulder and Claudia sleep on Miku's head
"How is the radio going?" Bucum asked
"It all fixed up now. Should be working now," Jay-Jay said
"Good," Bucum grabs the radio and turn it on to contact the Meta Troopers base
Meta Troopers base, in the medic room, 5:22 A.M.
Rui Tachibana, Maria, and Isaiah Bone are in the medic room and have just come back from a mission.
Maria is treating Bone's injuries he got from the mission while Rui is seating down by the doorway. She is thinking about the mission they completed and worried for her teammates that she thinks are still in the hands of the Nether. Once they first heard that Chizuru, Bucum, Miku, Niko, and Claudia were captured, they wanted to go rescue them but Samin and Joseph stop them going as they thought it was too risky to captured and start an all-out war between the Meta Troopers and the Nether. Of course, the members argue with their leaders as they can't sit around and let the group be at the mercy of the Nether, but in the end, Joseph and Samin stop them. They thought about going behind Samin's and Joseph's back but they have no clear plan on what to do as they don't ins and outs of the base. So they decide to wait and see if they can get more information about the base which they send Reika and Claude to investigate.
Bone hiss in pain as Maria uses a piece of cloth with alcohol to treat the injuries on his face.
"Stay still...the sooner we treat these injuries the sooner it will be over," Maria said in a soft tone as she continued to rub the cloth across his face.
"I get that, but it burns," Bone said as he tried not to wince in pain but he failed as Maria rubbed a little too hard
"My fault," Maria apologized as she decides to be more gentle and take her time with this. Suddenly, someone was speaking through the radio, but it was static.
"I got it," Rui said as she gets from her seat and walk to the radio that was on the other side of the room. She picks up the walkie-talkie and adjusts the radio to clear the static, "This is Rui speaking. How can I help you?"
"Can you hear me clearly, Tachibana?" Bucum asked Rui is caught off guard by this
"Is that you, Bucum?" Rui catches Maria and Bone's attention as they looked at her.
"Yeah, it's me. I know we have a lot of catching up to do, but that needs to wait. Can you grab a couple of people and get us out of here?"
"Of course! Where are you?" Rui is happy to hear from Bucum again as she missed him and the group that Joseph sent.
"We are in the Deep Swamp, in the waters. I don't which part we are in, but tell us you are in the area and we send a single,"
"Got it! We'll be there in a few hours!" Rui put the thing and looks at Maria and Bone who had hopeful expressions on their faces, "Come on, Maria! We are gonna get them." Rui exited out of the room and Maria was about to follow suit, but Bone gets up and head towards Rui.
"You don't need to go, Bone. You pushed yourself on the mission. Get some rest, I promise Rui and I will bring them back safely," Maria said she was worried that Bone might make his injuries as he was already pretty banged up once they got back from their mission.
"No need to worry about me. It was just minor injuries, they recovered quickly. Plus, they need our help," Bone said in a dismissive tone as he walked past Maria and follow Rui. Maria just sighs and follows them. She knows it is no use to argue with any of her teammates as almost all of them are frustratingly stubborn, but she likes that about them.
Deep Swamp, 5:26 A.M.
Chizuru is the first to wake up. She yawns and stretches. God, it feels so good to be free from the clutches of the Nether after 2 weeks and 3 days. She thought that Joseph and Samin abandoned them, but she thought about it and it wouldn't make sense for the two to leave them behind. Sure, Joseph and Samin have a shitty relationship with each other, but she and the rest of the Meta Troopers know that those care for them dearly. She figured it must be too risky of a move to rescue them as all of them know it would start an all-out war and Meta Troopers don't have enough manpower on their own to win the all-out war.
She gets up and walked towards the driver seat
"Morning, Chizuru," Bucum said not taking his eyes off the water, "Get a good night's sleep?"
"Morning. I get some great sleep last night," Chizuru said with a smile, "I needed that." She looks at Jay-Jay, "Managed to get some sleep last night?"
"No. I've been up all night keeping an eye out for any members of the Nether," Jay-Jay answered
Chizuru nods and puts her on His shoulder, "I see, but You need to rest. You have done enough for us. I will be the lookout," She offered, she feels that He has done enough, and now it is their turn to look out for Him as it was only right.
"I appreciate the offer, but I don't need sleep and I love helping out," Jay-Jay politely declined as He continued to look out for any members of the Nether.
"If that's what you want then I won't force You," Chizuru sat back down beside Niko and relaxed. She took out her Colt Diamondback and begins to clean it.
It was quiet for a couple of minutes, but they didn't mind it as it was peaceful and the Deep Swamp is beautiful as they aren't running for their lives so they can appreciate the beauty of the swamp. Swamps aren't really a Chizuru thing, but even she has to admit she found the swamp is beautiful and quiet. Bucum likes the peaceful atmosphere the swamp provided and any loud members of Meta Troopers aren't with them, but he does miss them. Jay-Jay is just admiring what He created as always.
Claudia and Niko begin to wake up as they stretch and crack their bones.
"Morning guys," Chizuru said as she put her weapon away as she was done cleaning it, "Do you sleep well?"
"It was good," Claudia said in a groggy tone, "Although the seats are a bit stiff and rough, I live."
"I sleep like a baby," Niko said he looks at Chizuru, "Did you sleep fine?"
"My sleep was great," Chizuru answered
Miku wakes up and yawns. She sits up and looks around. She saw was in a swamp. Confused, she look around some more and noticed that Niko, Chizuru, Jay-Jay, Bucum, and Claudia are there which makes her even confused. After a while, it all came back to her.
"Umm...you okay, Miku?" Claudia asked in a concerned tone. She noticed a confused look on the girl's face which Claudia worry a little bit.
"I'm fine," Miku said giving Claudia a small smile, "I just thought all of this dream."
"Unfortunately, it not," Claudia said, "But at least, we are free now."
Niko looks at Jay-Jay. He was curious about Him and how He became Joseph's most trusted contact. Jay-Jay did prove that He can hang with the best sharpshooters and gunslingers on the Meta Troopers. 'Actually, scratch that. I'm pretty sure He better than the best sharpshooter and marksman on the team,' Niko thought as he begin to remember when they first begin escaping the Nether. He saw Jay-Jay pull out His two guns with speed he had never seen in anyone before and Niko knows that Jay-Jay didn't miss a single shot. That ain't the confusing part. Niko and everyone on the Meta Troopers know what Joseph works with some shady-ass people that even he and the other seasoned veterans don't feel too comfortable to work with as they were ruthless and maybe a little too ruthless at times, but Jay-Jay seems to be merciful. Niko saw that the bullets didn't penetrate anyone that Jay-Jay shot. Instead, it knocked them out or may them disappear from the battlefield. Actually, all the weapons that Jay-Jay gave them did the same thing which made Niko confused but he didn't question it as he was escaping from the Nether.
"So how do you meet Joseph and how long have You known him, Jay-Jay?" Chizuru asked
"I meet him 5 years ago," Jay-Jay started as everyone begins listening to the story as they were curious, "It was 2 years after the War of the Titans, Joseph was captured by a bandit group that goes by the name of 'The Sapphire Devils'." This made the group confused as they begin to wonder how in the world was Joseph was captured by them.
"Sorry to interrupted but how was Joseph captured by them?" Claudia asked. She has read the history of Joseph's world and knows about 'The Sapphire Devils'. From what the book said...'The Sapphire Devils' was hilariously bad as they couldn't rob or keep the things if their life depended on it. They picked the most obvious spots to hide. So they weren't very smart bandits to put it lightly. Which made Claudia wonder how in the world they managed to stay active for over a hundred years. Not only that, Joseph is one of a hell beast. She and everyone else on the Meta Troopers know that Joseph is one of a hell fighter and one of the best warriors on the team. She thinks the only one that could beat Joseph in a fair fight and is his equal is Samin. She would say Joseph Jr. is one of his equals but he doesn't train and don't how to fight so he obviously out.
"Joseph was in a bad place when he was captured," Jay-Jay said making the group curious about this.
"What do You mean he was in a bad place?" Bucum asked. He and the others may have known Joseph for only 9 months, but Joseph is super open to them and he is close to them as some of them think that Joseph views them as his sons and daughters given how laid-back he is with them and how protective he is over them.
"I let Joseph tell that side of the story as it is not my place to tell y'all," Jay-Jay knows what Joseph been through after the War of Titans was over. He lost over half his kids in that war. The other half resent him as they thought he was responsible for starting the war and cut all contact with him as they don't do anything with him anymore. And the cherry on top, his wife, Qiana, was put in a coma after Joseph's arch-nemesis was the one responsible for that. It isn't all bad as Joseph is still his youngest Joseph Jr...actually, never mind, Joseph Jr., hates his dad's guts and is a douchebag and a fuckboy. He only sticking around because Joseph Jr. hoped his mom will wake up from her coma.
Jay-Jay continued, "I took down 'The Sapphire Devils' once-for-all and look around for anything that they rob or have. I saw Joseph in a cell. Passed out drunk and covered in his vomit. I'll turn in 'The Sapphire Devils' and took Joseph back to his kingdom. I clean him up and lay him down in his bed. The next morning, he heard what I did and meet him. The rest was history from there,"
"I see," Miku said trying to hide the disappointment in her tone but failed
"Not gonna lie, I was expecting an exciting story. Not a mundane story," Bucum said. He was expecting a crazy-ass of how Jay-Jay met Joseph and given that Jay-Jay says He is Joseph's most trusted contact...he was expecting this to be the most off the rail story. Not an ordinary (for them) story.
Jay-Jay shrugs, "They all can't be crazy stories,"
"It's fine. We just know what kind of people that Joseph works with," Niko said
'Not the best people to work with,' Chizuru thought. She shivers at the thought of working with others Joseph's contacts as they weren't the best people to be friends with.
"Can't complain about them. They are good at what they do and given the job we have now," Claudia said
"Yeah, you're right," Chizuru said
Before any could say anything else, the radio came on.
"Are you there, Bucum?" Maria asked
Bucum picks up the walkie-talkie and speaks, "Yeah, I'm here. What up?"
"We have arrived in the Deep Swamp and is wondering can you send the single out now?" Maria asked
"I got you," Bucum looks for the flare gun and saw it in the glove box. He grabs it and loads the ammo in there. He fires it in the air, "See it?"
"I see it now," Maria said
"Hi Maria," Claudia said with a smile on her face. She misses her friend.
"It's good to hear from you again," Niko said
"How are my sisters holding up?" Miku asked
"Did we miss anything important?" Chizuru asked
"It's good to hear from all of you," Even though the group is not with her, they can tell she was grinning from ear to ear, "Listen, we came to you and get y'all out of here. Then we catch up."
"Sounds like a plan," Bucum said, Maria hangs up and Bucum put the walkie-talkie back. They relaxed and enjoy the peace and quiet. They didn't enjoy it for long as Jay-Jay senses danger coming near them. He stands up and puts His hands on His guns. This alarmed the others as they hand on their weapons in case they have to fight.
"Get ready for a fight because something big is coming towards us," Jay-Jay said as He prepared Himself. Suddenly a ragdoll lizard jumps out of the water and had its mouth wide open.
"Holy shit! That big-ass reptile!" Bucum shouted he took his Glock 18 and started busting at the lizard but the lizard ignore the bullets. The Ragdoll Lizard tried to bite of Jay-Jay, but Jay-Jay casually ducked under it causing the lizard to miss and land in the water. The lizard quickly gets up and lets out a roar of fury
"And here I thought we were getting this day without any trouble," Claudia said with a sigh. She cocks her shotgun and aims at the Ragdoll Lizard, "Well, I'm not the one to turn down a fight. So bring it, big boy." She grins as she was getting some workout. The Ragdoll Lizard roars again and charges at them.