A Minor Victory
The Righteous Indignation came out of Hyperspace near the Warren System Bucky's home world with the Space Station directly in sight. The two Pilot's on the ship saw that the repairs on the station have been well underway. All around outside the station repair crews in Space suits were fixing the damage that was done from the attacking Toad Fleet.
Repair vessels were spread all around the station delivering materials or bringing more repairs crews to spots that were in desperate need of repair. The Station looked worse for wear. The Toads almost had it destroyed if Bucky and his crew did not show up in time and Bruiser's on station defense played in favor.
"All hands prepare for docking with Warren Station." Bucky announced on the ships comms. "E.T.A Five minutes."
"Roger that, Bucky me boy. Need to give ol, guns a good tuning. Can't be blasting toadies if me guns go offline mid-fight." Deadeye replied with a chuckle leaning back in the gunnery seat putting his hands behind his head.
Bruiser had unbuckled his strap on his seat and stood up near Deadeye. "After a good day of taking it to the toads I am need of some banana's. A Banana split sounds really good right now." The Berserker Baboon licked his lips at the thought making Deadeye roll his one eye.
"Certainly, Banana on the brains there, Bruiser." He snickered making his friend laugh.
"You bet, Deadeye! And pounding Toads into the ground like the little green nails they are beats up my appetite!" Bruiser again laughed as life couldn't be sweeter. He got to give it to the enemies of the Aniverse and what better way to celebrate another victory than with something delicious as soon as they would dock.
Below deck Willy was working on a small laptop that he kept in the engineering deck. He had put the disk he took from the Toad Base and began to look over the data. Most of the data was encrypted and as fast as Willy was typing the firewalls that came with all the data was troublesome. The Toads really had amped up their security. They were getting better ever since they lost Warren. Willy wished it was still around the times when he first came to the Aniverse. The Toads were on the warpath but with Willy's clever mind and inventions he could get past anything the Toads came at him and his friends with.
His first Void Droid that was meant to be an unstoppable battle Tank could easily be toppled with a simple squirt of water from his water gun that was brought along by accident. But after a few months the Toad's improved the tech which made the Void Droid waterproof. Now their cyber security is much better and his task at decrypting was proving troublesome.
Blinky took notice of Willy's excessive typing. He saw Willy's face was scrunching in frustration. "This humble android asks if friend, Willy is alright?"
Willy stopped his typing turning his head towards the one-eyed android with a small smile. "Actually, the toad's encrypting of the data disk I took from the base is a lot more sophisticated. If I can't get through their encryption then we may not get an idea what the Toads have planned next.
Blinky hummed thoughtfully for a moment. "If friend Willy offers the disk to this humble Android then perhaps, Binky can use his cyphering programs to decrypt the data?"
Willy grinned at the idea. He felt rather foolish that he didn't even think of it. "Of course, Blinky." Immediately he withdrew the disk from the laptop and handed it to the Android that set the disk inside his core system.
"Mmm…disk scrambling." Blinky stood in place and his body shook slightly. The Data was coming across his CPU and hard drive as fast as hyper speed. "Toad's encryption program is substantial but feeble to, Blinky's cyphering algorithms can decrypt. Estimated time of decryption two minutes."
"Fantastic! Let me inform, Bucky." Willy activated his comm on his battle suit. "Bucky! Blinky is decoding the data I got from the base in a couple minutes he should have all that I could get. Sorry that it won't be as much as I hoped."
"Don't worry, Willy. You did a great job how is your wound?" Bucky asked still upset with himself that Willy got hurt on the mission. He had gone with him and the rest of crew on many missions that could have resulted in their demise. But this time Willy got hurt if not minorly. It upset him that a boy of his age got grazed by Toad plasma cannons.
Willy looked over the bandage on his right arm. He pressed on it, and he winced from the poke. "Not too bad. I should be okay."
"That's me boy!" Deadeye chuckled polishing one of his maser's. "Ol Willy can't be kept down." Bruiser pounded his chest in agreement.
"Yeah…Willy's as tough as any space marine!" He grumbled with smile and below the gunnery deck the young boy was blushing. He didn't think too highly of himself. Certainly, he knew more than his fellow age group but everyone upon this craft was much more than he could ever be. Bruiser could bench press him and not break a sweat. Deadeye could shoot a fly off his head with his only eye closed. Jenny could conquer up a spell that could virtually anything from all that he had witnessed and safeguarded as the only being who knew about some of Artificers deepest secrets. And Bucky o Hare the best out of them all who led them through so many battles and came out victorious who was, Willy compared to all these great hero's?
Hearing his crew say their praises towards their fellow engineer made the hare smile slightly. Truly Willy was special in more ways than one. If it wasn't for him then they all would have been prisoners or worse of the Toads a long time ago. Willy's inventions and clever thinking had given them the edge and in this latest mission that had saw the destruction of a Toad Base and the ruination of another offensive against his home world, Bucky was proud to have the boy from another dimension work alongside them.
"Very good. Prepare for docking." Bucky said as Jenny turned the Righteous Indignation towards the hanger and after Bucky had sent in the clearance codes they were allowed to land inside.
Jenny set the vessel down gently upon the hanger floor and powered down the ships thrusters. "Docked and clear, Captain."
"Very good. Blinky how is the decryption coming?" Bucky called to the android at the lower decks through the comms. Blinky blipped and blinked then a soft hum came from him.
"Data Analysis complete, Captain O'Hare. Blinky ready to traverse date into U.A.C database for viewing on Toad tactics and plans." Blinky replied.
"Good work, Blinky. Willy stay here with the ship and see what you can do. Jenny remain as well. You're in charge until I return. Everyone else depart with me we need to take the data to the command center and see what our slimly green friends are up to." Bucky ordered before leaving his chair in the cockpit and climbed down the hatch leaving Jenny alone and the others followed the, Captain out of the hatch and down the slipway into the Hanger.
Bucky along with Bruiser, Deadeye and Blinky left the ship walking towards the elevator some of the repair crews and soldiers stopped to salute the hero's that once again saved the day. The Crew of the Righteous Indignation was a welcome sight to everyone. The Ones who had defeated invasion forces. Invaded the Toad Home world and came out alive. Who destroyed many weapons of mass destruction and helped bring peace to many worlds and forged alliances with some races that most would never think of batting an eye at.
Bucky returned the salute to them as they passed walking to the elevator that opened up for him revealing more repair crews coming out from it to assist their fellow crews in the hanger. The Toad Fleet left a great amount of damage and even with being told by the Captain of the Righteous Indignation of the Toad bases destruction they had to work fast to get the station in working order again before another Toad armada could come by.
Meanwhile on the Righteous Indignation Willy was checking over some of the sub systems in Engineering. Everything seemed to be intact other than a few loose wires that needed replacing. But every time he would reach through some narrow gaps of piping or wiring he winced from the sharp pain of his arm. The Blast that grazed him stung majorly.
Jenny had climbed down from the cockpit to check on Willy with being left alone this was the perfect time for her to help the boy in a way only an Artificer would know how. "Hello Willy. Are you well?" She asked planting her heeled boots on floor while Willy was on his knees replacing some wiring his right arm twitching from irritation.
"Yeah…I'm okay." Willy replied looking at her though his expression betrayed his feelings. Jenny gave him a pitiful smile.
"Come here, Willy I can help you with your wound. But first I must ask can I trust you with what I am about to do?" Her tone was serious. She already knew that Willy was the most trustworthy person she knew but if she was going to do this she had to hear it from, Willy.
When Jenny spoke in such a manner it meant that she was intending to use her Aldebaran magic. Willy has already witnessed so much of the magic Jenny and her fellow artificer's had done that he could imagine anything was possible with them. Even the ships sensors that came from Aldebaran which gave the Righteous Indignation an edge when it came to tracking or exploration across the Aniverse.
"Of course, Jenny." Willy nodded painfully getting to his feet. Jenny's heart sank for Willy seeing him hurt even it was minorly none the less the Toads would answer for it ten-fold the moment they find something useful on the data that Willy downloaded and, Blinky decrypted.
Willy walked over to her, and Jenny carefully took hold of his right arm. "Uh…Jenny what are you doing?"
"Relax Willy. I promise this won't hurt." Jenny assure before shutting her eyes. She called upon the powers she held within her. The Gems on her uniform lit up and, Jenny spoke in such a soft tone that Willy couldn't hear anything. A glow came from underneath Willy's bandage and surprisingly his arm no longer felt aflame or stung. Jenny opened her eyes giving Willy a smile releasing his arm.
Willy took off the bandage and to his complete shock his wound was gone. His skin was healed and all the damage that was left was only on his battle suit. "Wow! How did you do that, Jenny?"
"A Healing spell. A Basic one meant for reforming the flesh if one finds themselves wounded." Jenny said folding her arms glad to see that her friend was better.
"Thank you, Jenny." Willy wrapped his arms around the cat hugging her tightly. Jenny returned the hug, and a soft purr escaped her lips.
"You're welcome, Willy. I do hope I can count on you to keep the secret. I never told you, but it took a great deal of convincing to the Queen to allow you to keep the knowledge of your experiences with me and, Felicia. She still was very reluctant to allow it, but I swore upon my sacred oath that you can be trusted to keep the secrets. I do apologize that I ask constantly but this is a very important matter." Jenny apologized slowly releasing Willy.
"Yes. I made a promise to you, and I intend to keep it through and through." Willy proclaimed putting a hand over his heart crossing it showing he was sincere. This made Jenny smile wider so proud she could rely on Willy.
"Thank you Willy. Do you feel anymore pain?" asked the Cat.
"No, it's completely healed. Your spell is amazing." Chuckled Willy admiring how his arm looked as if nothing ever happened to it. The Magic of the Artificer's was something to behold. "It does make me wonder what more are you able to do."
Jenny frowned at that. "You have seen so much, Willy and you have kept your word which I am thankful for but if it can be avoided of you learning more than you already have known then it must be so. Please understand it."
Willy sighed disappointingly but he knew Jenny and her order were very secretive. He knew a lot more about their magic than anyone else in the Aniverse, but he had to respect the privacy and secrecy of Jenny's order. She already had gone so far out of her way to make sure he didn't have to lose his memory over the discovery of some of their most kept secrets and origins. By now he was familiar with the spell that was used to blank someone's memory if should anyone like Jenny use their powers in front of those that cannot know of their magic.
"I understand Jenny." Nodded Willy.
"Thank you Willy." Jenny leaned over and gave him a kiss on his cheek making Willy turned away blushing holding the spot where her soft lips touched him. Jenny always knew how to show her appreciation.
Suddenly they heard the hatch opening up from above. Someone had to return, and Jenny immediately backed away from Willy her gems already have lost their glow and Willy picked up the tools he was using.
"Jenny where are you? Your needed in the command center!" It was Bucky who had returned after taking the others to the Center where Blinky had begun sharing the data he had decrypted and even with having so little of data it seems that the Toads offensive against Warren was only the first of many. The Toads were intending to regain much of the lost ground with their series of defeats at the hands of the crew of the Righteous Indignation.
"Down here Bucky!" Jenny called up to the gunnery deck and Bucky immediately climbed down the ladder.
"Willy are you doing alright?" Bucky hopped down the last step and looked at Willy noticing the bandage on his arm was gone and to his surprise the wound that he should have hand was gone. "Wow! Seems your wound healed quickly."
Willy shrugged his shoulders trying to play it out. "I guess it wasn't as bad as we thought."
Bucky cocked his head confused for a moment but the relief that his friend was okay made him forget it. "Happy to hear it. Anyway, the data Blinky is showing needs all of our attention I need you, Jenny to come up with me."
"Yes, Bucky." Nodded Jenny before looking at Willy. "Glad to see your wound wasn't as bad. See you later, Willy." She gave him wink glad to see that once more, Willy's trustworthiness is shown before climbing up the ladder disappearing above and the hatch that led out of the ship was heard opening up again.
"What about me, Bucky?" Willy asked setting all his tools away.
"How is the ship? Anything that needs to be repaired?" Bucky asked crossing his arms. Willy shook his head.
"Nope. I rewired a few things but other than that everything is alright. But I did hear that the guns needed tuning, but I think, Deadeye will have that covered." Willy said rubbing his hands in a cloth getting of the grease he had to sleep his hands through covered them.
Bucky nodded with a smile. "Very good. Perhaps you better get home. You have done more than enough today. When we are on patrol again we'll contact you and fill you in, Willy." Suggested Bucky as their mission both protecting the Space Station and their assault on the Toad base had taken up many hours. Willy's parents surely would be worried if he didn't return before they noticed he was gone.
Willy had told Bucky long before about his rather boring life in his world in his dimension. His Parents though Willy loved them never could understand what he truly was doing. Surely if they knew that he was coming and going across dimensions and assisting in a war they would surely lock him away. Their peace-loving ways would never have their son partake in something so grand and dangerous. By now it was starting to become difficult in making excuses every time his parents were home or leaving the house without their son.
The Boy took a look at a clock he had put on the wall in the engineering deck and saw that it was very late in the afternoon by now on Earth. His parents would be making dinner soon and if he didn't come down in time it would be a difficult excuse to explain. Though he would rather stay in the place where he felt more belonged and welcome, Willy couldn't just leave his parents behind like that.
"Your right, Bucky. I better get back." Willy slipped out of his battle suit folding it and putting it down near one of the benches. Walking over to the device that powered the ships drives and every other device and electronic the Photon Accelerator, Willy pulled on the handle and a door appeared just behind him.
Walking back around it Willy saw his bedroom door with his sign upon it quoting "Keep Out! Nuclear Physicist at Work!"
"Well, I better go now." Willy said with a sigh. He hated having to leave his friends behind and head back home where life is dull, and he was misunderstood but he had to as it was an order from the Captain of the ship.
Bucky didn't like seeing him go either and wished he could stay always but, Willy's home was in his dimension, and he had people that would miss him. But with Jenny's memory stone that, Willy carried on him at all times they could call him anytime whenever he was needed or if they simply wanted him to come with them on a special occasion.
"Great job today, Willy. We couldn't have done without you." Complimented Bucky as he stood near the door with, Willy opening up the door revealing his bedroom with the boy walking into it turning around to look at, Bucky one more time.
"Always happy to help, Bucky. Stay safe and call me when you need me." Willy waved at him, and Bucky returned the gesture.
"You bet, Willy. Take care." Bucky replied with a smile before Willy shut down his own photon accelerator in his room and the door to the Aniverse vanished as it never was there, and Bucky disappeared with it.
Willy went over to his bed and collapsed over it. "Oh, what a day." He sighed only to have his thoughts interrupted by the calling of his mother.
"Willy! Hurry up, dear. Your tofu is getting cold!" His mother called making, Willy make a disgusted look.
"Oh, great. I'd rather settle for flies and stinkbugs from the toads menus than that." Grumbled the boy but the days work made his stomach grumble. It was better than nothing. Getting back to his feet he opened his bedroom door only to see the halls of his house instead of the Righteous Indignation. With his accelerator turned off only his dimension can be seen from outside his bedroom door. He could only hope that his friends would need him again soon and knowing that the Toads were up to no good even with their losses it would be very soon.