Chapter Six: "Down Time"
"I must say, Flogg, this was one your better schemes."
Flogg smiled and leaned back in his chair, surprised to hear Skeletor say such a thing. "Why, thank you Skeletor. I'm a bit shocked to hear you - "
"It's just too bad it's falling apart all around you."
Flogg rolled his eyes. "It's not falling apart."
Skeletor paced in front of Flogg, something that drove the warlord crazy. They were standing alone on the bridge of the Carrier, the entire Patheon now on the planet.
"It's not? Hmm. Did He-Man and all of his allies just zoom off the planet under cloak? Do we know where they are? Did we lose both Fury and Titan?"
"Yes, to all of those."
"Then why are you so happy? How is it not falling apart?"
Flogg smiled plainly. "They're off world. All I need to do is keep them off world for another four days and I've got an entire army of Patheon warriors ready to launch."
"All right. And just how will you do that?"
"We get our Mutant Enforcers and Patheon warriors to take the Inner Council hostage."
"Lord Flogg," came the voice of Genetix as she entered the bridge. "I'm afraid that will be impossible. The Inner Council has just sealed all of their entrances. The Outer Council and off-duty Inner Council members have taken refuge in various military bunkers."
Skeletor looked to Flogg just because he loved to see that angry look on his face. And there it was: vein popping, purple face getting violet, left eye twitching. It was times like these Skeletor actually enjoyed pretending to be subservient.
Skeletor, however, really did have to hand it to Flogg on this one. It had been a fine plan, one of great inspiration. Five months ago, Flogg had come to Skeletor with it and Skeletor had wished he had come up with something similar back on Eternia. Granted, he most certainly did not have the resources Flogg did now.
With the help of the Mutant shape-shifter named Genetix – for her superb power to manipulate genetic structures – everything had simply just fallen into place. Create a group of super-powered 'peacekeepers,' have the Primians be lulled into a fall sense of security . . . and then spring the trap with an entire army. Primus would be reclaimed within a week.
Skeletor's faith in the plan, however, was being lost. With He-Man and his allies out and about, surely it was over now. But Skeletor would march to the tune and follow the course, so as to follow through his original and ultimate plan.
"Genetix, have the Patheon team surround the council chamber. Skeletor, take the Mutant Enforcers and join them."
"Where's Adam? Is he going to be okay?"
He-Man nodded. "He's a resourceful kid, Drissi. Very good at hiding in crowds."
"But they know he's associated with us! They could go after him!"
Master Sebrian placed a hand on her shoulder. "Easy, Drissi. Everything will be just fine. Trust me."
Caz rolled his eyes. "Sorry about my sister, He-Man, but she's all but fallen in love with Adam."
He-Man shrugged. "I didn't notice. I'm sure he'll be okay, Drissi. In the meantime, let's get some sleep, huh? Big day tomorrow."
As He-Man walked off, he could overhear Drissi scold Caz about saying such a thing to He-Man.
"What's the plan?" asked Hydron.
"I'll keep the first watch," He-Man replied. "Everyone either sleeps out in here or in the ship. I'll leave that up to you, Hydron."
Hydron nodded. "Members of the Galactic Guardians, grab some of the emergency camping supplies from the Eternia set-up out here. He-Man, I'll take up the second watch."
"Where am I going to sleep?" asked Caz.
"Inside," He-Man replied. "It's just safer that way."
"Nuts!"
"What about Primus?" asked Flipshot, her new long hair in a ponytail.
"Um, give me through the night to think of a plan," He-Man replied, still a little weirded out by Flipshot's female appearance.
"Understood."
Mara sided up to He-Man. "That's still so strange."
"Yeah."
The group soon started to hunker down. Hydron set up his tent and then entered. His thoughts strayed towards Primus, he concerns of the Inner Council being foremost in this mind. What would become of them if they fell? If the shield fell, then all of Primus would be vulnerable not just to further Mutant attacks, but the very environment of the world would be destroyed.
"Don't think about," he told himself, knowing that if his mind did not block these thoughts out, he'd be up for most of the night.
The zipper of the tent suddenly came open. Hydron looked up and watched as Flipshot came in.
"Um . . ."
"Shut up. I don't want to partner up with any of the others and you're the one who won't stare at my chest all night."
"Uh, right. You know, it's still strange to see you like that."
"Well, how do you think I feel?"
"Um, pretty?"
Flipshot rolled her eyes, then smirked. "Well, duh . . . and I can't tell how much that disturbs me to say that."
Hydron laid back on his sleeping bag. "I don't really care. Primus is my priority. You may be a woman, but you're still Flipshot."
"Right. Still as great a pilot as ever."
"Meh."
"Better than you, at least."
"You wish."
"I got us off Primus in one piece, didn't I?"
"The cloaking device did most of the work there."
"We wouldn't have been able to have a cloaking device if not my great piloting skills."
"Whatever."
Flipshot laid down on her sleeping bag, which was right next to Hydron's. It was quite obvious they were both feeling uncomfortable with this sleeping arrangement, given Flipshot's new body.
"So, er, what's it like?" asked Hydron.
"What's what like?"
"You know."
Flipshot sighed. "Being a girl?"
"Yeah."
"Different. Awkward. This body is very . . . I dunno, weak? No. Not weak. Just not as strong as my real one. It requires maintenance, far more than I thought. The hair is a pain."
"Why don't you get it cut?"
"Because that means I plan on being like this for a while. No, I'll just deal with it while I've got it." Flipshot paused. "The bra is uncomfortable."
"Um, well, I suppose it would be."
"And I miss wearing boxers."
"Yeah."
Flipshot sat up and looked over her body. "I don't know, Hydron. It's a different experience. My point of view has changed. I've had so many guys looking at my chest and undressing me with my eyes. I just wanna shout out 'I'M A GUY!'"
"Except, well, you're not."
"Technicality," she then said and laid down again. "And I won't be for long. As of tomorrow, I'll get to Genetix and have her change me back. I'll be back to peeing standing up and not wearing a bra in no time!"
And with that, Flipshot turned her petite yet very pretty body away from Hydron and willed herself to sleep.
"Hey."
He-Man looked over from his observation post and saw Mara walking towards him. The jungle around them chirped with the sounds of small alien insects, with the occasional animal scurrying nearby. Mara sat next to him and wrapped her arms around his left arm.
"Hey," he replied, kissing her on the forehead and soaking in the sweet smell of her hair.
"Can't sleep?"
She nodded. "Nope," she answered, her eyes moving up to the sky. "The stars are gorgeous out here."
"They are. It reminds me of home, really."
"You miss it?"
"IS that obvious?"
"Oh yes."
He-Man shrugged. "Well, that's not to say there aren't good things here too . . ."
Mara giggled. "I know." Wrapping her arms around his thick, well-muscled waist, she leaned against him. "So, He-Man, what are we?"
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean, am I your girlfriend? Or your fly-by-the-night lover girl? Friends? Best friends?"
He-Man ran his hands across her long braided ponytail. "I don't know, really. I'm still not sure if it's safe to pursue a relationship."
"I like to think it is," she answered.
"Hm," he replied and didn't say anything. Was it fair? Was it right to do this? He really liked being with her and things had been moving along so fast. But was it fair to give to Mara what he had denied to Teela for so long? Was that fair to Teela? Fair to himself?
Teela was different, he thought suddenly. There was more danger on Eternia and the threat was closer. And besides Skeletor, the concern for He-Man was minimal. Flogg and his Mutants were far more interested in all of Primus, not finding ways to hurt He-Man.
Only Skeletor in interested in that.
And He-Man could handle Skeletor.
"Tell you what, Mara," He-Man said then, "let's take this one step at a time. We've been going at this pretty fast, so let's slow it down just a little. Take it slow. See where things go."
Mara nodded a little and kissed his cheek. "Sounds good."