Chapter 8

I was asleep. It's been several weeks sense my first encounter with Visser Three. Leo didn't know that the Visser was dead, but he didn't know that he was alive either. It was assumed that I killed him, and that's how it was going to stay. If the Visser was going to attack it would be on me. I damaged his pride and glory. I made him taste real fear. He wasn't going to let me live for that.

That was fine by me of course. If he was looking for me, it would save the trouble of me looking for him. I would kill him the next time I saw him. I was careless at that time. I was playing like a child with a new toy. I was experienced now. I made a mistake and I had learned from it. I will not make the same one again.

I stirred in my slumber. The isolation of the base and lack of things to do were boring me. I had nothing else but to sleep. Jessi and Sabra just bored me. They kept talking about the outside world and how much they miss the mall. I had to admit, the uniform was getting a bit old for me, but not enough to grope about malls. Rattrap and Zane were just as boring. They did nothing but talk about smart kid stuff. Like computers and time machines and stuff like that. Silverbolt was the most interesting one, even if he did get boring sometimes. I could actually hold a decent conversation with him and not fall asleep. He was very much to himself though. Still, he had a gentleness about him that you couldn't help but love. In that way he reminded me of Copper.

I missed Copper. It's been four years now sense I last saw him. I wander how life was for him. Hopefully it was a lot less stressful and complicated as mine was. I could see him living the life of a mall rat. Hanging out with some of his guy friends and gawking at girls. He always gawked at the ones with huge breast. Thank Kami he never saw mine. I might have just whacked over the head if I caught him gawking over me. I wander if he even still thinks about me? We had so much fun as kids. Does he miss me? I miss him.

"Wake up!" Sabra and Jessi jumped on my bed.

"What the hell?!" I demanded, sitting strait up. "Damnit, ya'll I was trying to sleep."

"Oh please, Rip, all you do is sleep," Jessi said. "You're so boring."

"I think you may be animeic," Sabra said.

"Whatever," I replied. I covered my head with my pillow.

"Oh, get up," Jessi said. "Leo has a mission for us."

"A mission?" I questioned. "Like what."

"Not sure," she replied. "He just wants us in his office for it."

Odd, Leo just never gave us a mission like this. Something was up. I walked with them to his office. The boys were already there waiting for is. "What's this all about?" I asked.

"As if we know," Rattrap replied.

Leo then walked in and we all stood erect.

"At ease."

We all loosened up.

"So, do any of you know why you were called here?" he questioned.

We all shook our heads in reply

He chuckled. "Good. I will tell you then." He cleared his throat. "I have called you here because I want to announce to you that you are being permitted a two week, no restriction vacation."

"A vacation?" Jessi asked. "As in we can actually leave the bass without work to be done."

"That's right," he replied. "You six deserve it."

"No restrictions?" I added. "That means we can go where ever we want and see who ever we want to see."

"I don't see why not," he said. "You even have a 500,000 dollar budget to spend."

"Sweet!" Zane said. "What are we waiting for gang. Let's get out there and have some fun."

I could hardly believe it. I was walking the streets like a normal person. I hadn't done this sense I was 12 years old.

"So where to first?" Zane asked.

"The mall," Jessi said. "We so need a wardrobe."

"I agree," Sabra said. "My figure is way to cute to be wasted in this drag."

"Where's Silverbolt?" I asked.

"He decided to spend his vacation with nature or something like that," Rattrap said. "I say we split up in the mall, get our new wardrobe, meet at the food court to get a drink and decide from there. How about it fearless leader?" He looked right at me.

"Sounds sweet to me," I replied.

They were going nuts! They went from clothes rack to clothes rack. Don't get me wrong, I looked to. There was just nothing that was gong to fit my style or my hips.

"Rip, this would look so cute on you!" Jessi said. "Holding up a shirt."

"Too pink," I replied. I wasn't going to get anywhere like this. "Hey chichas, I'm going to do my own shopping. No offense, but this place is too cheery for me."

"Suit yourself," Sabra replied. "Just don't get yourself lost though."

I trudged around store after store. Until a huge smile came across my face.

The dressing room door opened and I walked out.

"Excuse me miss, you have to..."

"Here." A slapped some cash in his hands. "Keep the change." I walked past him." I felt awesome and sly. I was in all black. It wasn't the goth kinda black. It was trim and made my hips look good. My boots were knee high. My skirt was leather and came low enough to keep my modesty. My shirt was cropped and sleeveless. And, I had my shades.

"Whoa, look tight bad girl," Rattrap said. "I'm loving those threads."

"Thanks," I said, sitting down. The drinks were set on our table.

"I say we make a toast," Jessi said. "To a long...

"Long awaited," Zane added.

"And well deserved vacation," I finished.

"I'll drink to that." We toasted. I took a sip.

"Oh god, I was afraid of this," Sabra rolled her eyes.

"Nani?"

"Males," she pointed out.

I turned behind me. Yup, there were there. How dare they stare at me like a piece of meat! I started to get up.

"Whoa hold up," Rattrap said. "If anything we can't get in trouble while we're here. Just lay off. Catch them in the corner at night or something, girl."

I gruffed and sat back down.

"That is no way to treat a lady."

I turned my head around and grinned. "Nice for you to join us Silvy." Here's the thing, Silverbolt is a big guy. When you see him, unless you know your stronger than him, you don't want to mess with him.

"And the king of chiverly strikes again," Zane said as Silvy sat down. "So why did you decide to join the world of the mall rats now?"

"I was feeling lonely," he replied. "Every one else is right here, and I was all alone."

"Hey next time you decide to go enjoy nature, come and tell me," I said. "I'll come with you."

He smiled and nodded.

"Rip?"

I turned around. Golden eyes were staring at me in awe.

"Is it really you?"

"Umm, excuse you," Jessi said. "We you invited to this table?" She lifted an eye brow at him. "I don't believe you were. You just come walk up the ...."

"Hey chill," I snapped at her.

"Dude, let's ditch this place," Rattrap said. "I'm in for a movie. How about ya'll?"

We all stood up. "Umm, I'll catch up with you guys later I said."

He shrugged. "Okay, chicha, whatever. Ja ne."

"Ja ne."

They left.

I turned back around. "Hello, Copper." I smiled.

A look of joy came across his face. "It is you. Wow, man, I mean, I hardly recognize you! You're...so...so...." He was trying really hard not to stare lower than my face.

I chuckled. "It's good to see you too old friend," I said. "C'mon, let's go."

"Nani? Where?"

"To walk," I replied. "So we can talk. I missed out on a lot you know. I want to catch up."

"Man, you have been through a lot," he said. We were walking along the side walk. It was just before dark. Our sun was setting over it's Northern horizen. "I mean, I knew you went of to be in the military, but this?"

I sighed. "Yea it's an ass load of shit," I replied. "I hate it, but I have no choice. Besides Jessi and the others are great. I'd be an ass load of shit if I didn't have them around. No matter if I am the strongest person on the planet right now or not."

"You've changed, Rip," he said. "But I'm glad to see you again."

"Yea, I changed alright," I replied. "I had to. I had to grow up fast. Look at you, you haven't changed at all. I mean sure, you're 16 years old and all so naturally you've matured, but everything else is like how I remember you."

"Is that a good or bad thing?" he chuckled.

I chuckled with him. "It's no a horrible thing." I winked.

"Oh, well, I feel so much better." We both laughed. "Hey. you mind if I ask you something personal, and please don't get offended if I do."

"Sure go on ahead."

"When did you get....breast...?"

I couldn't help but laugh. I knew the question was going to pop up sooner or later. "These? Here's a little secret, Cops, that not even you knew. When I was 12 I did in fact had them. Not as developed of course, but too developed for a 12 year old. I had them always duct taped down."

He couldn't help but laugh. "Are you serious?!"

"Yea," I replied. "I used to be so ashamed that I had these things. I mean I so did not want to look like a girl at that age. And now...."

"You flaunt every essence of you female figure."

"That's just about it," I said. "I mean, I've learned to enjoy what I have, and at this moment, all I have is my body, a few uniforms, a bed, a roof, and my war buddies."

A faint smile went across his face. "It's not the Rip Raptor I remembered, but anyone is better than none ain't it."

I stopped. "You don't like the new me?"

"Nani?! Kami, no! I didn't mean that, Rip," he said. "I'm your friend no matter what, girl. But I mean....wouldn't you want to live another life?"

I looked up. The stars were out now. "If I lived another life, I would not trade it. So, why would I trade this one? This the life I choose. It may be tough, but I am happy. I wouldn't trade it for anything." I looked back at him "So why ask something like that?"

"I mean...it's just..."

"Whoa, Copper, who's the new lady?"

I snapped my face around. "Friends of yours?"

"Not really," he replied. "Remember Brock?"

"You kidding, he used to be so cute," I said. "He so ugly."

Brock walked over with his buddies. "Wow, she's a looker. Say, I taught I told you to share whenever you found a babe like this."

Copper rolled his eyes. "Guys, just go alright. She's not a piece of meat, alright."

"Quiet!"

I glared at Copper. He was letting this punk push him around. Nobody pushing my best friend around and treats me as a piece of meat and lives.

"Say what's you're name, sweet?"

I shot an evil glare at him. "I'm surprised you didn't recognized me," Brock I said. I held up my hair in a pony-tail. "Now, think no boobs."

"Oh, yea, you're that lesbo chick, Rip from middle school."

"Excuse you."

"Man you turned out hot," he said. "Are you still lesbo?"

"I was never one," I replied. "Just modest."

"Oh, good," he said. "Say, why don't you and I have some fun tonight and diss this fruit."

I rolled my eyes. "C'mon, Copper, let's go. This guy bores me."

I turned around and he grabbed my arm. "How dare you, you bitch!"

I snatched my arm back. "Touch me again, and I will kill you."

"This gothic whore got an attitude boys," he said. "Apparently she doesn't know who's she's dealing with. Get her."

I turned to Copper. "This is how the universe's most power chick does her dirty work." The first guy that game after me came forward and I kneed him in the gut. The other came from the back. I flipped him over my shoulder and onto the one I kneed. They were so weak. I looked up at Brock. "Sorry, man. Apparently you didn't know anything."

I turned away from him. Then I felt it. I dodged the Sabratooth. "What's he's a freak?"

He had to be his power level increased too much. He turned to me. "Not too cocky now, are you bitch?"

"That's old news buddy," I replied. ZIP!

He vanished and got me into a arm lock behind me. I started to struggle. "First, I'm going to knock you off bitch. You either going to die with horrible screams are a huge smile across your face when I'm through with you."

I growled. "I...told...you...not...to....TOUCH ME!" I screamed in rage as my ki rose blowing him off. My midtransformation surfaced. I was going to kill him. I jumped on my hands and caught his neck with my legs. I then slipped him to the ground with me. With one twist of my anckles his neck broke. "I told you, if you touched me again I was going to kill you."

I stood up. I looked at Copper. He was frozen with emotions that had no words. "Sorry, you had to see that man," I said.

"You killed them."

"Well, they deserved it," I said.

"You couldn't just like break an arm or something and turn them in?" he questioned.

"Hmmm," I guess I could of. "But there's no thrill in that."

"Thrill?! Thrill?!" he raged. "Rip, are you telling me you get your kicks out of killing people? You no better than some .....murderer."

"Copper, I don't murder people," I said. "I'm a soldier, I have no choice but to kill."

"You did just now!" You killed them and you didn't have to. "Sure, they're jerks, but you killed them. You get 'thrills' from killing people Rip!"

I blinked a few times. I didn't understand.

"Damnit, Rip," he said. "Did those people brain wash you so much the idea of killing was 'ok' to you."

"No," I replied. "That desire was within long before I was forced to fight." I kept a solomn look. I didn't understand him and he wasn't understanding me.

He started backing up. "No, you're not Rip," he said. I saw his eyes feel with tears. "You're not my Rip. I don't know who you are, but the Rip I know would've thought twice before she killed someone!"

"Copper...." I started to walk towards him.

"Don't come near me," he snapped. "You scare the hell out of me."

I froze. That struck me like a sword to the heart. "I changed, Copper, I changed. I grew up, I am who I am. I though you just said you'd be my friend no matter what?"

He curled his bottom lip in. "I ...I....I don't know Rip!"

"Copper..."

"Just leave alone...okay." He shook his finger. "I ...I need to go think or something." He turned and ran.

"Copper!" I called, but he didn't answer or turn around.

I fell to my knees. I never felt so aweful in my life. I never felt so hurt before. I cried and the rain came down with me.