Getting attacked was the last thing that's on their eye, but it just happened and here they are!
Hunter turned to Taila with his voice mixed with urgency and panicked asked her. "Who shot at us!?"
Taila quickly got to the Hopper's main computer and looked from the security camera to see a rather large looking dowry ship from behind, and in the front was Baron who gave a sick and twisted smirk.
"I'm uh, guessing the big scary looking ship right behind us." Taila said nervously.
Hunter turned to the camera and gave a glare. Nobody messes with their ship! Not even some wannabe game hunter!
"Alright, let's see if the weapons systems aren't damage and give it everything we-"
However before he can even finish, another missile hit them, creating a large boom and shaking the ship even further.
Lydia appeared, "Yeah uh, not to point out the obvious…but our weapons and shields are down."
Taila gave her a look and said "Well, thanks for letting me know…" Lydia's initially worried work turned to brief intrigue.
"Wait, were you being sarcastic?" Lydia asked. Hunter just gave her another look of "are-you-kidding-me?"
Lydia shrinked back and muttered. "Eep." Taila quickly looked at any of the controls and saw they were all damaged..except for the portals. So, she hatched a plan.
"Hunter, locked on coordinates, to the next dimension, do it now before we crash!" She ordered.
To which her brother agreed and said while typing. "No need to tell me twice!" He said before seeing the coordinates on the map hologram. "Here's one close. Let's go!"
Taila nodded and press on the button, to where the portal was presented in front of them. When she turn back around to the Baron. She gave him the finger before they soon were engulf into the portal.
Baron gave a growl before he said with a smirk. "Interesting prey, interesting indeed."
MEANWHILE
The portal open, and soon out was the ship that crashed into a mountain of snow, as it continued to skid off, til it completely stopped. Inside the ship, everyone was disoriented, with our two leads, and AI trying to shake the dizziness.
Hunter groaned and said. "Ugh..the hell..where are we..?"
Taila sat up and looked at the orb and asked. "Lydia, are you okay..?"
The AI flickered on and off and said through skipping. "P-Pea-Peac-hy..!" she gave an adorable cheeky grin.
Taila smile a bit before asking. "Where the hell are we?"
Hunter stood by a window to get some fresh air..right in the face of some big hairy creature looking in the window at the same time. Hunter screamed and the creature did too before falling backwards. Once the giant creature fell, Hunter got a proper good look at the location which was…inside a wooden building? Hunter stepped out of the ship and found himself face to face with a large group of these big hairy creatures along with a bunch of tiny little people wrapped in what look like conical hats…almost like Christmas elf hats.
"You've got to be kidding me," Hunter said in disbelief.
"What? What's going on?" Talia asked as she stepped outside the ship as well. Then she gasped. She too saw the hairy beasts and the little people, but she also saw the rest of the wooden interior they apparently crashed into, how nicely it was carved and apparently covered with Christmas decorations, with several toys flying around a giant globe.
That's when the big man finally pushed his way to through the group and finally looked at the two of them. He was big and muscular, with a red sweater and tattooed arms, plus a VERY recognizable big white beard.
"Ah, so THAT explains the sudden noise," the big man said with a thick Russian accent, "Looks like we got some guests!" He said all of this with a heavy joyful laugh. Both Talia and Hunter stood there slack jawed, Talia with a face of wonder and amazement, and Hunter in just plain disbelief.
"You…you're Santa Clause…" Talia said breathlessly. The big man laughed once more.
"Yes, indeed I am!" he said, "Although Santa is too formal. Call me North!"
Hunter groaned in annoyance and said. "Of all the places we could crash into, it HAD to be this one..."
Lydia gave a worried look and turned to Hunter, "Is Talia okay? Her heart rate is elevated and I've noticed a rapid acceleration in her breathing…"
Hunter looked at Lydia with a smirk, "Oh that? It's just excitement. Talia REALLY loves all things Christmas!" Lydia's face shifted to a look of intrigued recognition.
"Oh, I see. Excitement," Lydia said with a smile, "That's kind of…adorable."
Hunter looked at AI. "What?"
"Huh?" Lydia asked, blushing
Hunter rolled his eyes and walked on over. "Listen Mr. Clause, uh North, whichever you prefer…uh, my sis and I we were being chased by some big space bounty hunter guy and he shot up our ship here. I know you guys mainly deal with toys, but can you guys see about fixing this?"
North gave the Hopper a once over and a big smile crept across his face, "Definitely a challenge. But a fun one! Yetis! Elves! Let's get to work!" With that the army of yetis and elves swarmed to the ship while Hunter and Talia were gently pushed to the side.
While they wait. Taila said to Hunter with the same dorky smile. "Well..since we're here..you think we can uh..maybe look around?" She asked Hunter who gave her a look of disbelief.
"Sis..we just shot down by some crazy space hunter, who killed our payday, and could be chasing us, and you want us to look after some Christmas wonderland?!" He asked with an angry as usually look, and this time with the rare responsibility on his mind.
Taila gave a nervous wincing look and averted her eyes. "Well..when you think of it that way.."
Hunter scoffed and walked off as Taila walked after him. "H-Hunter, wait! I'm sorry, okay?!" She said finally getting in front of him.
Taila sighed, not before turning off Lydia for a bit. "Look, i know you think i'm not taking this serious. When that's not true. Look, when we hand Lydia over in exchange for some cash we can-"
Hunter cut her off with another scoff and shouted. "Really?" Your thinking about that shit?! Selling her, and I thought I was cold hearted." he muttered with a snide remark.
Taila step back and had an offended look, before shouting back. "Hunter, look at our ship, and our bounty is dead! We need the money-"
Hunter gave a rather rare and hurt look. "By selling out a friend?" He asked before walking past her, leaving her alone with nothing but her thoughts.
Taila look down and thought, was she selling out a friend? They only met her, but…she felt warm around the AI..someone she can rely on, and to protect..
What was she doing? S-She would never do something so cruel..so would know. Her mother taught her to always fight for a friend..
Taila turn around to face Hunter, but he was already far away with footsteps behind him. "Damn, he can walk fast.." She mentioned before running after him.
WITH HUNTER.
Hunter sat inside North's office with a mug of eggnog. He would have preferred something different, but it was quiet literally the closest thing to alcohol in this dimension…because of course it is. "Damn it, what is this role reversal, I'm supposed to be the uncaring type.."
Hunter sighed in frustration, before looking at the orb. Hunter wanted to be alone, but something compelled him to have somebody to talk to. He pressed on the orb and Lydia's holographic form popped up. Lydia was sitting crossed legged and it looked like she got a new outfit and hairdo, wearing a hoodie and have short cropped hair. She looked like she was reading a holographic book.
"Lydia?" Hunter asked. Lydia looked up and gave a surprised sound as she closed her book and stood up, the book blinking away.
"Hello Hunter!" Lydia said before her enthusiastic smile dropped to concern, "What's wrong? You seem a bit distressed." Hunter sighed.
"It's nothing," Hunter said, "I just…I got into a fight with my sister."
"Was about her wanting to sell me?" Lydia asked, catching Hunter off-guard.
"How did you-"
"I'm always listening to my surroundings, even when I'm turned off," Lydia said. Hunter gave a small chuckle to himself. Note to self: keep her away from my room when playing Fortnite.
"So…yeah, my sis apparently believes its in our best interests to betray your trust and sell you for money," Hunter said, "She says because we need the money to pay off our rent and stuff…and she's willing to sell you to do it."
"Seems fair," Lydia said with a shrug, once again catching Hunter off guard.
"Wait? You agree with her?" Hunter asked surprised.
"I mean, it logically makes sense," Lydia said, "You guys barely know me and logically personal survival must take high precedence. Therefore the logical thing to do would be to sell me for the bounty money you were owed."
"But what about you?" Hunter asked, "I mean, don't you have to be delivered to someplace important?"
"That is also true," Lydia replied, "But there are many more people that could help me…you don't have any obligation to me."
"That still doesn't make it right," Hunter argued, "We can't just sell you off like that! We almost died trying to get you out and are being chased by some monster who clearly wants you for something bad…" Lydia bowed her head.
"If you're trying to say that you don't like leaving a job unfinished-"
"No! I'm saying I don't want to lose a friend!" Hunter said a little loudly. Lydia looked up surprised, her form flickering a bit.
"You…you consider me a friend?" Lydia said…it almost sounded like she was choking up. Hunter was quiet for a bit, and then smiled.
"Yeah, I think I do…" he said. Lydia was quiet for a few moments.
"Does Talia think I'm a friend?" she asked expectantly. Hunter didn't know how to answer that.
"Well…"
"Hunter! Wait up!" Taila shouted as she ran over to him. "Bro..Bro, you were right.." she admitted with a downcast face.
Hunter looked surprised and asked. "W-What about?"
Taila sighed and said. "About me being selfish..giving up a friend for some credits.." she said looking at the orb. "I'm not gonna give her up..not without die trying." She said with a fierce determined glare. Lydia smiled.
"I'll take that as a yes," she said with a big smile. Lydia looked at her curiously.
"Yes to what?" Talia asked.
"You DO consider me a friend," Lydia said. Talia couldn't help but give this big grin.
Hunter gave a smirk and a proud one at that he grin, and gave her a punch on the arm. "Good..was sick of being the moral compass." He joked.
Taila while rubbing her arm gave a playful smile. "How the roles reverse." She laugh along with Hunter, before saying.
"Okay, I think we have some weapons still in tact on the ship, and our "friend" will likely be coming for us. So why don't we show him we mean business?" She asked, grinning. Hunter grinned back.
"Plus, I think we got somebody who can help us make a few new toys, if you know what I mean." Hunter said smoothly.