Chapter Five

Fanny's POV

So here we were, Hoagie Gilligan and I crammed in a space pod for the next hour or so. It was weird, both of us together on a mission I mean. The whole 'I don't talk to him unless he's nice to start with' charade was no different from any other time. He merely sat on the other side of the pod, occasionally eyeing some of the controls and stuff. I couldn't help but notice how innocent he looked as he lifted his yellow lensed glasses to examine some of the instructions Nigel had given him. He scratched his cap in confusion, and continued to read. He caught my eye for a second, so I merely turned away and pretended to be busy with something. I looked back to see him roll up his white sleeves and pull a face as he reached the middle of the report. I heard a beeping, and noticed a report from TND HQ coming through. I ripped it off, and began skimming over it. From the corner of my eye, I noticed 2-T's eyes on my back. I turned around as I read the report, and his eyes went back down.

"So, what's so interestin' that you have to keep looking at me for?" I asked bluntly. He merely shrugged.

"Well, I just noticed a new report coming through." He was really good at making excuses. Typical boy. "So, anything interesting you'd care to share…Toots?"

He was really pushing it now. I fumed slightly, then thrust the paper in his face before sitting back down.

"How about you read yourself, Jerkface." I folded my arms and crossed one leg across the other.

"Hey, have you actually read this?" I gave him a look that answered his question. "Right, sorry…It gives us a list of potential foes and how to eliminate them."

"At least one thing's gone right today." I mumble. "So, any interesting ones?"

He skimmed over. "Well, there's like the basic enemies…Umm, Mummified Zombie People."

"Come again?" I leant forward more to listen with interest. I was hoping it wasn't some kind of prank Rachel was pulling on us.

"Well, they're obviously zombies mummified…" He noticed I was listening with interest, and was leaning in close. It somehow made him a little uncomfortable. "Umm, well they seem pretty strong physically according to this, and the only way to beat them is…eewww, nope, I can't say it. Here, read for yourself."

He pushed the paper in my view, and I gagged. The solution to turn the zombified individual back was to kiss them. Not just a peck, I meant like…you know what I'm talking about.

"That's the dumbest thing I've ever read in my life." I pried the paper from his hands, and skimmed over again. "These are even dumber; Weredogs, Killer cats, Turrets controlled by sasquatches…obviously someone's trying to tug our chains. We're turning back."

"But, 86-T…" He began. "Do you want 362-T to find out you refused an order?"

That made me stop dead in my tracks. I looked at the lever I was holding onto, and realized we were sent on a mission, no matter how stupid it seemed. I took my hand away, and just sat on the floor with a sigh.

"And just when I thought today was starting to get better." I leant my head back on a drawer on the dashboard, and noticed the boy was yet again looking at me. But at the moment, it didn't bother me for some reason. I guess I was a little tired there and then, and annoyed at the possible 'attacks' we might encounter. The ship came to a thud, and I realized we had landed. I got up, and opened the door for us to get out. I took my new mustard gun out, in case of a surprise attack. And as it looked at it for a slight moment, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. I guess I should've been a little nicer…

I shook my head. Man I was thinking weird things lately. I made a hand signal for him to follow, and we made our way to what seemed to be an abandoned facility.

"This must be the place." 2-T said, looking at a radar gun Nigel had given him. "There is some activity in there…but according to this, the place is huge."

"Well that's just great, isn't it?" I said, placing a hand on my hip. "First the bogus report, and now a maze of metal! Tell me it can't get any worse."

"Umm…" He looked at me sheepishly.

"What now?" I glared at him as he looked away up at the building. He was really trying my patience right now.

"Well, you told me not to say it couldn't get any worse…" He started. I slapped him across the back of the head.

"I didn't mean literally not tell me!" I screeched. "So, what could be worse?"

"Umm, the front door is up that ladder." He pointed up, and my blood boiled.

"Typical cruddy mission…" My fist shook as I made my way to the ladder. I began ascending, with the stupid boy right behind me.

"You're lucky you're wearing pants under that skirt…" He commented snidely. If I could kick well and I wasn't climbing the ladder, I would've pounded him right there and then. I merely huffed, and reached the top. I helped the lazy boy up with great difficulty, and we both headed down a small dark corridor.

"It seems we have visitors."

"Indeed we do. They'll be easy to crush. They can't possibly foil our plans."

"Right you are. Let them have their fun…for now."