Warnings: Drowning, Choking, Fighting & Violence


Scout wasn't exactly happy to leave Rook but he understood the need for privacy. He didn't have a family but he could respect that Rook did and what that meant for him. He knew his presence would only make things worse for his friend and he didn't want that to happen. It was fine. He could handle being on his own for a bit.

Besides, how long had it been since he could just do nothing? At the Academy, he was always doing something. Studying, training- even breaks were deliberate. He never got the chance to just sit down, take a few deep breaths, and soak in the sun. He never got the chance to just relax.

He selected a hill not far from Rook's home but far enough to wait on. He wasn't particularly interested in wandering around at the moment. He was tired. The stress from awaiting his exam results plus the anxiety surrounding finding a mentor took its toll on him. Maybe now he could take the time to let it all sink in.

It was a beautiful view from up here. There was nothing like this on Anur Transyl. Anur Transyl was dark. And cold. The whole system was. Revonnah, on the other hand, had three suns. Three suns! Three massive light sources. Three planet-wide heaters. Back home, Scout could never dream of something like this.

The light illuminated everything. He could see forever. Well, not really. Rook lived in the mountains. The peaks obstructed a bit but the fields were vast and the terraces were far enough that he couldn't make out all the details of the various platforms. The area felt plenty big, even if it wasn't endless.

From above, the fields were fascinating. Some of them were organized, rows and rows of crops Scout had never seen before, and some of them were more scattered. Amber ogia, he assumed, if Rook's tales were anything to go off of. The fruit was a stubborn one. They didn't take kindly to control. They just popped up wherever they pleased, assuming the farmers set the right conditions for them to grow. With his sharp eyes, Scout could see a few figures in the distance that he thought were farmers tending to them. He wondered if Rook would ever show him all the work that went into producing a fruit. While he was here, he should probably work.

Some things were a bit easier to see than the farmers. He could see Wat-Sen's home from here. It seemed Xylene and Bahrvad had arrived. He wondered if they were upset about Rook and Scout going ahead. Probably not but he realized he should still apologize. They weren't babysitters. They didn't deserve all the stress Rook, Scout, and Ship were putting on them.

Speaking of Ship, Scout could see him from up here, playing by the riverside with Young One. A protective side of him eyed them carefully. If either fell, he wouldn't be able to reach them so he tried to push the thought from his mind. Young One wouldn't be on his own if he couldn't be trusted not to drown and Ship was more than equipped to save himself or someone else if the situation called for it. The little guy played a massive role in defeating Malware, for Luna Lobo's sake. He could definitely figure out how to turn into something buoyant.

Scout stretched, rolling his shoulders, and settled down on a path of rough earth. The sun felt nice on his fur and he found it lulling him into a doze. He didn't let it but it was nice to just relax for a bit.

He ended up relaxing so much he didn't hear footsteps approaching.

"You are Blonko's companion, are you not?" a voice asked, making him jump. His head swiveled, spotting a Revonnahgander girl standing not far off. She was holding a basket and didn't seem very inclined to hit him with it. He flopped back down, pricking his ears to show he was listening. "I never thought I would see so many aliens on Revonnah."

"I never thought I'd be on Revonnah so we're in the same boat," Scout quipped, pausing for a moment. Rook had a hard time understanding expressions. The other Revonnahganders probably would too. "I mean, uh, obviously we're not in a literal boat. I just meant like- I don't know. I was trying to sound… not weird. Guess I failed, didn't I?"

She laughed. "Very much so. You definitely sound weird. I am Rayona."

Recognition clicked in his mind. "Oh. Rook- I mean Blonko- mentioned you before. You guys are friends? I'm Scout, by the way."

"Scout," she repeated before brightening. "It is nice to meet you as well. And… Yes. I would say Rook and I are friends."

Scout nodded absently. "Did you spend a lot of time with him after he found the Omnitrix? No need to answer if you don't want! I just- I'm, uh, I was just a bit surprised a Revonnahgander was talking to me. Because, y'know, alien."

She hesitated. "I… I must admit I am a bit unnerved to be speaking with an alien. My past experiences with aliens have not been good. And that includes Blonko."

"Oh." That… Rook hadn't told him about that. "May I ask what happened?"

Rayona looked away, wrapping her arms around herself. Scout wondered if he'd overstepped but she continued before he could ask. "We- Blonko and I- were attacked by some alien bounty hunters once. He turned into this terrifying flying creature and carried me off to that crystal friend of his. And then I did not react well when I saw him transform for the first time. I… I regret it. I am still unsure how I feel but I do not wish to… further alienate him, for lack of a better word."

"Terrorsaur."

"What?"

"His flying form. He calls it Terrorsaur," Scout explained. "He looks pretty scary when he turns into it and sometimes he has a bit of trouble controlling himself. He didn't hurt you, did he?"

"I- no." She shook her head before chuckling softly. "I do not believe Blonko could truly hurt someone if he tried. He has a good heart."

"He does." But that didn't change the fact he was a trained Plumber and the wielder of the most powerful weapon in the universe. Rook could definitely hurt someone if he tried. Scout had seen him do it. But Rayona already seemed so scared yet bent on extending the olive branch. Scout couldn't bring himself to say anything about it. He looked down, scratching one of his ears with a couple claws. "So, um-"

He was cut off by a fearful gasp. Scout's head snapped up, worried he'd somehow scared her, but her eyes were focused on something behind him. He whipped around, looking down at the fields below, trying to pinpoint whatever could've startled her.

"I think there is commotion by the river," Rayona told him, extending a finger to help him find what she was looking at. Scout's stomach dropped.

"That's where Rook's brother went with Ship."

"Who?"

"My, uh, pet," Scout told her, already trying to find the best path down there. "He's kind of like a puppy. Wait, you guys don't have those here. He's an animal but his body is made of technology. Young One seemed interested in him so Rook had Ship distract him for a bit while he talked to his family. I didn't think they'd get into trouble."

"Revonnah are not fond of aliens or technology," Rayona responded, picking up the skirt of her dress as she began hurrying down the hill. "I trust you are trained to fight, yes? I fear who may be attacking your pet. You may have to step in to protect him and Young One."

"Young One?" Scout echoed. Why would Young One need protecting? He gave up on finding his footing and scooped Rayona up in his arms, earning a yelp. "Apologies, miss, but I think I can move a bit faster."

She nodded, consenting to being carried, as Scout let himself start sliding down the side of the hill, claws digging into the earth and giving him enough control to keep them from tumbling. "Master Kundo often trains by the river at this time of day. He's a very powerful warrior, the one who taught Blonko Revonnah Kai actually. He… He hates technology. Aliens even more."

"And you think he might hurt Young One? Why? He's a Revonnahgander."

"He is but…" Rayona bit her lip just as Scout skidded to the bottom of the hill. He put her down, letting her run on her own. "Master Kundo has become nasty in the past seasons. He rallied the village against Blonko when we discovered his powers. Most of the villagers lost their passion but Kundo has become scary."

Scout was surprised. "You're scared of one of your fellow villagers?"

Rayona didn't look happy to admit it but she nodded. "Scared enough to trust an alien stranger over him. I would not have let you touch me otherwise."

"Point taken." Had she really been so scared to be touched by an alien? He didn't smell any fear on her but the alarm was evident. He'd just assumed it was from the adrenaline rush she got from the prospect of Young One in danger.

From down here, they didn't have as clear of a view but at least Scout had the freedom to run on all fours. He tried not to trample any plants but he wasn't really in the right mindset to be careful. It didn't look like anything too important. He was sure Young One and Ship's safety took priority over a few crops.

"Go find some other villagers," Scout barked over his shoulder in Rayona's shoulder once it became clear she couldn't keep pace with a charging Loboan. "I'm just a visitor here. I don't know how much I can do."

He didn't see her nod but he sensed her veer off her path. Maybe it was foolish to trust her but she'd already shown a lot of trust for him, despite her better judgement, so he decided to be optimistic for once. And it wasn't like he had many other options. This was Ship and Rook's brother they were talking about.

The scent in the air changed, telling Scout he was nearing the river, just over this ridge. Once he'd reached the top, he skid to a stop, taking a moment to soak in the situation. A split second later, he wished he hadn't wasted the time. There were only a few Revonnahganders present, most of them bystanders. They didn't matter. The only ones who did were Ship, Young One, and the tall, elderly figure whose foot just punted Ship across the riverbed.

Scout saw red.

A sonic howl ripped through his mandibles before he knew what he was doing. The sound alerted the people down below to his presence but Scout didn't really care. Anything to draw attention from Ship and Young One.

The elderly man- Kundo, presumably- dodged the blast easily but Scout hadn't really intended to hit him. The attack just gave him enough time to position himself between the attacker and his tiny victims. Scooping Ship up in one paw and curling his tail protectively around Young One, Scout took an aggressive stance and snarled. "Back off!"

Scout finally got a good look at Kundo's face. It was tight and pinched, like the guy lived in a perpetual state of… He didn't even know. Anger? Arrogance? Pride? Propriety? Who in the webs was this guy? And how dare he have the audacity to look annoyed when he was the one attacking a puppy and a child?

"Another alien," Kundo observed, voice betraying nothing.

"Um, yeah. I'm an alien." Scout didn't really know how to respond to that. He hadn't thought this far ahead. What was he supposed to do now? "Can you maybe, uh, not attack us?"

"Your technology is corrupting a Revonnahgander child."

Okay, now he really didn't know how to respond to that. "You mean Ship?"

Scout didn't respond because a fist was suddenly flying at his face. With his free hand, he brought up a palm to catch it. Quickly as he could, he shoveled Ship off into Young One's arms and whipped his tail, tossing Young One to the side. Granted, he could've been a lot more gentle but he was more worried about Kundo here than Young One getting a scraped knee. "Go hide!"

He could hear Young One scurrying away but couldn't turn to look. Kundo's other hand was thrust forward and sharp fingers were jabbed into his ribs. Scout grunted in pain, releasing his hold on Kundo. The Revonnahgander's hands wrapped around his forearm and suddenly Scout was being slammed into the ground.

On reflex, Scout rolled onto his back as quickly as he could and split his muzzle to release another sonic blast, this one less concentrated than the last. It was a sloppy technique but noise could be useful even if it wasn't being used as an attack. At the very least, it could be distracting and disorienting and that was just what Scout needed right now.

Kundo stumbled, ceasing movement halfway through a strike, which gave Scout the chance to get up. The four tentacle-like appendages around his mouth closed and he flew upward, carefully pulling his claws into a fist and slamming it on Kundo's shoulder. He didn't want to injure the guy but he wasn't afraid to use a little Loboan strength to make him hurt.

Kundo rolled with the blow, using the momentum to flip back onto his feet and retaliate quickly. Scout was suddenly met with a flurry of blows too fast for him to do little against. He raised his arms, protecting his face as he was forced backward. His tail brushed the water and a foot suddenly slammed into his knee, forcing his leg to give out and send him tumbling into the river.

That was- ugh. He was all wet now and his thick coat wasn't helping. Were Revonnahganders slowed by the water? He didn't think so but water made Scout all heavy and uncomfortable. Where was Tidetail Wave when you needed him? Or a hairdryer? At least falling into the river gave him enough distance to howl again.

This time, the sonic blast made contact, hitting Kundo square in the chest. Scout leaped out of the water and shook himself out the best he could, spraying Kundo in the process. It felt petty but he told himself he had to or he'd lose the advantage. With Kundo on the ground, he had the chance to pin him down. With his superior weight, it shouldn't be all that hard. He just had to make sure Kundo's hands weren't free.

Evidently, Kundo was a lot stronger than he thought. Scout sat on him, rendering his lower half useless, but his hands were grappling with his in a heartbeat. Scout snarled in his face, trying to force his arms down, but Kundo moved in a way that Scout didn't notice until too late and suddenly pain was shooting up Scout's arm from the elbow and Kundo was wrestling for control.

It was kind of embarrassing how quickly Kundo turned the tide of battle but Scout was more focused on defending himself at the moment. He'd ended up on his back, snarling and snapping like an animal, but Kundo managed to position himself in a way that kept Scout from flipping himself over while also staying out of range of his claws and teeth. He felt like a puppy being put in his place at the back of the pack. How did Kundo know how to do this? Revonnahganders weren't pack animals and there weren't any animals shaped like a Loboan for him to practice on. Was Kundo just that good?

Kundo didn't even seem to be relishing in his moments of control. His yellow eyes were narrowed, cold and calculating. There was no thrill of battle glowing in them, no warrior's spirit. It was like everything was just automatic, like fighting was a game of moves and counters. It was, in a way, but Scout had just never encountered someone who approached combat so methodically and succeeded.

A hand was on his throat. Scout snarled, brain too focused on the fight to form words like a civilized species, and snapped at the hand but the angle was all wrong to get his teeth on the wrist of his attacker. He kicked up with his hind legs, finding the freedom to use them, but he couldn't bend his body in a way that would let him batter Kundo with his back claws. He tried reaching up with his arms but Kundo still had those pinned too firmly to use them.

Some deep instinct inside him told him to submit but the rational part of his mind forced the thought out of his head. This was no pack challenge and Kundo was no alpha. He wouldn't let him go just because he admitted defeat. Besides, the guy attacked Ship and Young One. He didn't deserve the satisfaction.

So, he kept struggling. But the problem with that was Kundo wasn't giving up there either. It wasn't until his ears were wet did Scout realize Kundo was using his powerful Revonnahgander legs to push him into the water.

Thank Luna Lobo for his long snout or he wouldn't have gotten a full breath before his face was submerged.

He'd trained in the water before. He knew how to hold his breath. He could hold it for awhile, actually. But there wasn't a lot of water on Anur Transyl. He'd held his breath while fighting turrets and his classmates, sure, but that was always training. It was only now he realized he'd never felt like he was in any real danger. He never knew danger could keep him from holding his breath.

His body was telling him to fight and fighting meant breathing but he couldn't do that, not with both the water and Kundo's hand keeping him from doing so. Kundo's grip on the rest of his body loosened but Scout was too disoriented from the water to do much about it. Kundo flipped him around, forcing more of his body into the water while he remained on land to reap all the control it gave him.

That was the problem, wasn't it? Kundo was in complete control. Scout had given him a good fight for it but he'd lost it and now there wasn't a thing he could do about it. Kundo could do whatever he wanted and-

Oh Luna Lobo, he was going to die wasn't he?

The realization gave him a burst of energy but Kundo's grip was too well placed. Still, he kept fighting. He didn't want to die. Not now, not when he'd achieved so much. He'd just graduated. The next chapter of his life had begun and it was looking good. He wanted to see it. He wanted to see new planets and meet new people. He wanted to finish his training on Revonnah and rise in the ranks of the Plumbers. He wanted to enjoy true freedom for once in his life.

He didn't want to die without seeing Anur Transyl again. He didn't want Young One or Ship to see him die so violently. He didn't want to leave Rook without a partner this soon. He didn't want to die.

But then the grip on his throat was gone and powerful hands were on his shoulders. Powerful, familiar hands.

Scout let out a gasp, sucking in all the free air he could, as Bahrvad hoisted him out of the water. His blurry vision saw Xylene forcing Kundo away from him but he barely noticed. Right now, the only thing that mattered was the strong, safe feeling of his Tetramand friend holding him.

"Scout? Scout?" Bahrvad sounded worried. "Are you alright? Can you hear me?"

Scout coughed, trying to find it in himself to respond but the words wouldn't form. He heard Xylene grunt like she got hit. He tried to look up. Was she fighting Kundo? She couldn't fight Kundo! Xylene was the best Plumber he knew but Kundo was crafty. He didn't want her getting beat like he did.

"Stop!" a voice cut through the battlefield and a green light flooded Scout's vision. "Diamondhead!"

"You again!"

Scout wasn't sure who Kundo thought Diamondhead was but he didn't care. He was just glad to see Rook there and in a form that Kundo couldn't hurt. Probably. Hopefully.

"Check on Scout, Xylene," Diamondhead ordered, voice deeper and steadier than Scout was used to hearing from his friend. "I will handle this."

Xylene nodded as Diamondhead positioned himself between his alien companions and his former master. Scout tried to watch the fight but Xylene was blocking his view. "Scout? Scout, are you alright? Can you breathe?"

Yes, he could, but he wasn't sure if he could tell her that. He nodded and kept coughing. Xylene tilted him forward in Bahrvad's arms but no water spilled out. Scout wondered if that was a good thing or not. At least he could cough easier like this.

"I'm okay," he croaked when his lungs felt spent. He let himself flop back down in Bahrvad's arms. "Is Rook okay? What's happening?"

As if on cue, Diamondhead slammed his hands down on the ground. Xylene turned to see what was happening, giving Scout a view of the scene. Crystal erected from the ground, enveloping Kundo's hands and feet. The man struggled against it but few beings were strong enough to break peranite and Kundo was not one of them. His face twisted in anger and Scout couldn't help but smirk in satisfaction. How'd it feel, jerk?

Diamondhead crossed his arms, glowering at the elderly man, but he didn't hit him. Scout thought he kind of deserved it but he supposed it would be wrong to strike a man while he was down. "Stay there or this will only get worse for you, Kundo."

"Kundo?" Kundo sneered. "Not Master? Where did your respect go, child?"

"What is going on here?" a voice demanded. Scout turned to see that Rayona had returned and she had another Revonnahgander in tow. Diamondhead shifted at the sight of him so Scout imagined he was important but he didn't have the faintest idea who he was. He seemed to recognize Diamondhead though. Or at least he thought he did. "Tetrax?"

Diamondhead shook his head. Gently, he slapped the symbol on his chest and returned to his usual form. "Blonko. It is good to see you, Father."

That was Rook's father? He started forward and Scout half expected him to slap his son but Rook was quickly enveloped in a tight hug. Scout couldn't see Rook's face from here but he swore there were tears in Rook's father's eyes. "My son."

"You still claim this thing as your own, Da?" Kundo called out. He'd stopped struggling but he still looked absolutely livid. "I would say I am surprised but you have proved yourself to be weaker than I thought these past seasons."

"You cannot speak to my son that way," Da said, face hardening. He looked around and Scout realized other villagers had gathered, forming a ring around the scene. "What happened here? Why is my son fighting Kundo? Who can tell me what happened?"

Rook kept his head up even though Scout could tell he wanted to look away. "I am not sure what happened. I heard Scout's howl and I came running. When I arrived, Bahrvad was holding Scout and Xylene was fighting Kundo."

"Kundo was drowning Scout when we showed up," Xylene reported, crossing her arms. "I'm not sure what got them fighting but I'm sure Scout's got a good explanation for it."

Bahrvad, deciding Scout was well enough to stand on his own, put the Loboan down. "So what is it, Scout? I know you're not the type to pick a fight for no reason."

Scout tried to speak but his voice came out more as a rasp than anything. He pawed it and tried again but Rayona beat him to it. "I spoke to Scout briefly on the hilltop when I saw Kundo attacking Young One and Blonko's other friend by the river. I ran to find Rook Da and Scout said he could handle Kundo."

Both Blonko and Da looked alarmed. "Kundo attacked Young One?"

Scout nodded. "I told them to hide. I don't know where they are."

Da looked alarmed but remained calm. "Blonko, Shar, go find your brother. Take your friend if he is well. I… I will find Wat-Sen. He will know what to do about Kundo."

"I can get Wat-Sen," Xylene offered. "No offense but I think I'm a bit faster than you. I can give him the rundown of the situation on the way over. Even if Kundo is an esteemed member of the village, he attacked a villager, tried to harm two Plumbers, and fought two more. I don't care who he is. That is not acceptable."

"I'd like to go with Blonko, Shar, and Scout," Bahrvad spoke up, eyeing Scout worriedly. "I don't want to leave them alone right now."

"I would like to come too, if that is alright," Rayona added. Da gave her a nod of approval. Scout wondered if Da had some kind of power position here but his brain was too muddy to think too hard about it.

Rook shot Scout a worried look when he ambled over. "Are you alright? Kundo is no easy opponent to face and Loboans are not meant to spend much time underwater."

"We'll give him a once over once we get back to Wat-Sen," Bahrvad told them as they started walking, "but he's breathing now so he should be alright."

"I do not think that is how it works," Rayona and Shar muttered in unison but didn't argue.

"They went this way," Scout spoke up, willing more energy into his limbs. All he wanted to do was curl up and take a nap but he couldn't afford to be weak right now. "I don't think I can sniff them out right now but I don't think they could've gotten far."

"Let's split up," Shar suggested. "Blonko and Rayona can head up the ridge to see if they ran toward the village. The rest of us will stay by the river."

"Oh, we do not-"

"Shar, Rayona and I-"

"This is not an effort to push you two together," Shar snapped, interrupting them both. "I think this is the best way to find Young One. I am worried about him. There is no hidden agenda here. Just go."

Rook and Rayona looked a bit guilty but did as they were told. Scout wondered what was up with that. "Did… Were Rook and Rayona together before he left?"

Shar shrugged. "I do not know. I do not think so though. I am not worried about that though. I just want to find my little brother. He did not take Blonko's departure well. I am worried about what Kundo's attack could have done to him."

Scout nodded along and picked up the pace. He tried sniffing for Young One and Ship's scent but his nose was still too muddled up with river gunk to get anything useful. His efforts just left him coughing again. Bahrvad hovered at his side worriedly. "We can head back if you need to."

Scout shook his head. "I'm fine. Really. I wouldn't lie about this, Bahrvad."

"I know," the Tetramand responded but all four of his eyes still shined with worry. "Let's just hurry."

It took longer than Scout would have liked to find their quarry. Shar, Scout, and Barhad spent a good amount of time wandering down the river calling Young One and Ship's names before hearing a response. They'd managed to get pretty far thanks to one of Ship's transformations. The trio found Young One curled behind a rock, holding onto Ship for dear life and scared out of his skin.

He'd burst into tears at the sight of his sister and was still crying pretty heavily by the time Bahrvad retrieved Rook and Rayona, clinging and refusing to let go of the former all the way back. Ship, sensing Scout's weakness, climbed up onto Bahrvad's shoulder, shooting Young One and Scout worried looks until they reunited with Xylene and Rook Da.

Kundo wasn't there when they returned to the former battlefield. Rook shot his father a silent question, one the man wasted no time answering. "Wat-Sen ended up just sending him back home. House arrest, though I do not think there is any way to enforce that. He said that we do not have strict enough rules for there to be a proper response."

Scout's face soured. "So he's just walking free?"

"We need all the hands on the field that we have," Rook answered, sounding unhappy. Understanding but unhappy. "And he is right. We have no legal system to enforce imprisonment or something like a restraining order. But, the village saw what he did. This was a deep blow to his honor and reputation."

"I don't care about his honor and reputation."

"That is about the worst punishment he can get," Rook told him patiently. "The village is life. Exclusion from it is painful. Exclusion means lonely nights, self-reliance for food and water, and a loss of friends and family. It will take time for the village to forgive him. He may end up leaving on his own or, if the village decides, he could end up banished. Since Kundo was so highly regarded, he will have a hard time adjusting to the change."

"...Oh." That actually sounded pretty bad. Scout really didn't know a thing about the guy other than the fact he attacked him so maybe he was biased but he wasn't sure if that sounded harsh or not enough.

"I should get going," Rayona announced, putting her hands on her hips. "I can take Young One back to Bralla if you would like. I am sure you would like to visit with Blonko, Da."

To Scout's surprise, Da shook his head. "I can tell one of my sons needs me more than the other at the moment. Blonko is not going anywhere. I am sure he would like to do his Plumber business more than listen to his father tell him about the past two farming cycles."

"Father," Rook said, sounding a bit sad, "I still would like to catch up with you but you are right. Young One needs you more right now. I will join you on the field tomorrow. We can speak then."

Rook nodded silently and passed his brother off to his father. Then, with chins raised high, the group headed back to Wat-Sen's mountain home.