A mystery it is, I suppose XD
Okay, first off...I am SSOOOOO sorry about how late this is. My brain. The creative connection cord. No connection.
So, after that last chapter, anyone been building crazy snowmen? Or has the snow already melted with how long it took me to post?
Cleaning up the 'snowman invasion and massacre' was quiet. Each member (except the culprit himself) wondered 'what was to gain from doing this?' As soon as it was finished, Hunter decided it was about time they found out. Ignoring the snow still on the landing gears, he marched everyone inside, and sat them down.
''Alright, gents. Some one got too creative last night and had us surrounded. Who did it?''
There was a long silence.
A long silence.
No body spoke, afraid to be the first lest they be considered the culprit.
''Listen, we can do this the easy way,'' Hunter continued, ''or we can do this the long and hard way. The easy path suggests we all think this through, some one just confesses, no body gets hurt, and this is all over with before three. The hard path would in-tale something around the lines of personalized...torture...for both the culprit and the people who have to be stuck listening to it.''
Here, he rested his hands on the table and leaned in, ''And because I'm stuck with you di'kuts non-stop, I know what makes you crack. Now, outside, there were some pretty creative statues...One of which was holding my helmet. I want to know why and who did it.''
He casually swung his head from one man to the next. ''Anyone want to give themselves up now before we're here for the next five hours? No? Alright. Looks like we'll be doing this the long way.''
Out of his belt, he pulled out three objects and set them carefully on the table in front of him, lined up in a perfect row.
''These, gentlemen, were found at the scene of the-ahem-crime and each one has a connection to each of you. Now what I want to know...is who put this all together, or who worked with who to make this happen.''
Wrecker swallowed.
Tech glanced away.
Crosshair narrowed his eyes.
Hunter took note of their reactions satisfaction; finally, he was getting somewhere. On the table, the three objects sat undisturbed despite how uncomfortable they made everyone else.
Wrecker's commpad.
Tech's thermometer.
And one of Crosshair's pencils.
Still, no one spoke; Then Tech narrowed his eyes. ''Wait a minute. Why are you the one leading the interrogation?''
Crossing his arms over his chest, Hunter raised an eyebrow. ''What's wrong with that if I did?''
''If you were the one asking questions, then no one would suspect you if you were the one who made all the snowmen.''
''Are you saying you think I did it?''
''Maybe,'' Tech retorted. ''Maybe not. I just don't think it's fair that you're the only one leading this.''
''Alright, fine, we'll all cross-examine each other then.''
''Then what would you plead?''
''Not guilty. You?''
Tech lifted his chin defiantly. ''Since this started unfairly, I refuse to answer that.''
''What!''
''You heard me. I am not answering.''
Crossing his arms, Hunter leaned against the wall and peered coolly back at Tech, his gaze steady and his voice low.
Too low to be a purr.
Too soft to be a threat.
Too deadly to be taken lightly.
''So what would prevent us from thinking that you caused this, since you refuse?''
A frown crossed Tech's face, eyes shifting to glance at the others, but he said nothing.
There was a pause...a long pause...then Hunter nodded, turning to the other two. ''Well, I suppose we now have a prime suspect. But that doesn't mean you are out of the question either. Wrecker, what would you say? Are you guilty?''
Wrecker just blinked. ''Uh...No. I'm not guilty. Not yet.''
''For now, I'll take that as a no. Crosshair?''
The sniper smirked, leaning back in his chair at a cocky slant. ''Guilty.'' he hissed.
There was a stunned silence as everyone turned to stare at him.
''Guilty!?'' they all echoed.
''You?'' Hunter asked, raising an eyebrow. ''What makes you say that?''
Crosshair shrugged, some-what amused as he chewed on a toothpick. ''You got nothing on anyone so some one had to say it. Something about 'not conforming to the flow' came to mind.''
''You?'' they all repeated slowly.
Even Wrecker raised an eyebrow. ''The snowball, yeah. Snowmen, no.''
''But you had the snow on your hands after Hunter got hit.''
''Why do you always blame me?!''
''You're too innocent to be innocent.''
''Crosshair,'' Hunter murmured thoughtfully, rolling the name around in his mind before glancing up at him. ''You're good at reading people. Who do you think?''
Peering around carefully at the others, he made a slow examination of each person.
''Tech,'' he said slowly, ''is creative enough to pull it off. Wrecker is...foolish enough to pull it off, but then again, he hates being in the cold at night while alone. Hunter is...not willing to pull it off, but if he has something long term in mind, he could stick to it.''
''Yeah, and it's too far beneath your dignity for you to even consider,'' Tech nodded.
''No it's not,'' Wrecker protested. ''Not if he has someone else to blame! Remember the snowball?''
''Wrecker,'' Hunter groaned, ''We all know that was you.''
''I keep telling you it was-''
''Ah-ah-ah, careful. Remember what I said about your temper before?''
Slumping in his chair, Wrecker crossed his arms, pouting to himself.
Sighing, Hunter rubbed the bridge of his nose. It was days like this that made him wish there was another way around being a commando. When it wasn't exciting (as in life -threatening situations that made your blood chill and sweat bead on your forehead) it was typically filled with what ever crazy thing the boys could think of next (usually something as insane as what's been going on for the past day and a half; although the snowmen massacre was a new one)...
It was also days like this that he wished he could actually pull off a good threat on something this ridiculous. His words on 'personalized torture' had mainly meant... Well, he didn't know...which was the point. In enemy 'torture', that was easy. They'd all done it at least once or twice for a mission but for squad mates and something as petty as building snowmen, how the kriff was one supposed to punish that?
Could he even get on to them for that? True it had annoyed him to no end, but that was a pride thing that if Cody got wind of it...Putting it simply, he'd never hear the end of it. But...if he simply put away the curiosity (as, that was really the only reason the 'interrogation' was going on) of who had managed to build a snowman army, then no one else would know...
Suddenly, Hunter shook his head stubbornly.
I need to get out of here! This place is messing with my mind.
A hours later...
The interrogation had, to put it bluntly, failed...Miserably.
Once again, because of the planet's faster rotation, it was nearly night time and no one had gotten anywhere with it. About halfway through, they had taken a break to clean off the landing gears, allowing the snow to cool their heads but when they returned to the 'investigation,' not much had changed.
Suspicions still ran high among the members and that led to useless arguments that merely confused everyone further. And, needless to say, by this point, they were getting tired of childish running around in circles...(however, since that is the entertainment to us-dear reader-never the less despite the Bad Batch's groans and pains with this, it shall continue in a mostly timely fashion).
They were still sitting around the pull-out table, now staring bleakly at each other and down at the mugs of hot chocolate cupped in between their hands.
In his typical spot, Wrecker glanced down at his cup and made a face, using a spoon to pick at the mallowpuffs floating on the liquid's dark surface. Then he looked at the others, pushing away his mug.
''I don't want it.''
Wearily, Hunter raised a skeptical eyebrow. ''Why?''
Wrecker's expression soured more as he wrinkled his nose. ''I don't like mallowpuffs.''
''Really, Wrecker?'' Tech moaned, gesturing around at the other mugs, ''All the time I spent making these and now you don't like it?''
He peered down into his cup, then lifted his head to gaze back at Tech. ''Yes.''
Crosshair rolled his eyes. ''You don't have to like it. Just drink it.''
''But I don't want to.''
''We'll, you're not getting anything else, buster, so it's this or nothing.'' Tech retorted.
''Couldn't I just get-''
''No.''
''But I-''
''No.''
Wrecker paused.
''Can't we compromise?''
''NO!'' Tech cried, exasperated. ''You should have thought of that earlier before I made this.''
''But I don't like mallowpuffs.''
''What is your problem with them?''
''They look like mushy, squishy alien brains floating in a pool of goopy chocolate blood that's boiling in a witch's cauldron with the steam.''
Next thing anyone knew, Tech smacked his forehead to the table, letting out a self-pitiful whimper as Crosshair reached over and patted his little brother on the shoulder. Despite the pettiness of the situation, Hunter found enough humor in it to let out a short laugh.
Of all the things he could have described it as, he chose that one. Wrecker, Wrecker, Wrecker...
''If it's such a problem,'' Hunter said, ''just take them out.''
''But then I'd have to look at them after they've melted!''
''Then give them to some one else so they'll eat it.''
Wrecker glanced around the table, then spooned out the mallowpuffs, holding them out to the others.
''Any of you want them?''
There was a pause as everyone glanced up at the wet, glistening objects that jiggled on the spoon while pretending to be called 'food' then they recalled Wrecker's description of it...
Glancing back down at his own cup, Tech shook his head. ''Er, no thank you. The three I have are enough for me.''
When he turned to Crosshair, the sniper eyed the mallowpuffs, ''I'll pass.''
Hunter was about to say, ''Fine, I'll take them.'' but then he remembered that Crosshair could see more then he could and if he had refused...
He held up a hand, ''Nope, I'm good.''
''But guys!'' Wrecker began.
At that moment, a warning chimed in the cockpit and Hunter perked.
''I get it,'' he offered, ducking out of the kitchen before he was subject to anymore chaos that ensued.
Jogging up to the cockpit console, he flicked the switch and a two-foot tall Commander Cody stood grinning up at him.
''I figured I'd congratulate you on surviving your first full known day of being grounded. Sooooo, how's it been so far?''
Sighing, Hunter closed his eyes.
In his mind's eye, he could see the snowmen house of horrors, the 'interrogation,' and the current mallowpuff situation going on with Wrecker in the back...
''Pretty chill?'' he offered, cracking an eye open.
''Aahhh,'' Cody nodded. ''A complete nightmare for you then, eh?''
That's one way of putting it.
''You know me too well, Commander.''
''I've trained you boys when no one else would and yet you wonder how I know you? I'm beginning to wonder if I need to take you back through that Ultimate Survival exercise again.''
It was just an inch, but Hunter's lip curled in to a faint smile, remembering.
''You may just have to; that was fun.''
''Fun!?'' Cody scoffed, raising an eyebrow, ''If I recall, you had described it as 'pure torture.' ''
''That was because I wasn't allowed to be the saboteur. You were the only one who was allowed to do that...Or so you said.''
''Well, maybe later. For now though...Well, first, what are the guys doing right now?''
''Arguing over mallowpuffs and alien brains.''
''Okay, tell them I want them back in here; three minutes tops.'' he winked, ''That should be enough time for Wrecker to finish his hot chocolate.''
''Why do you need all of us?''
''I know I said you were going to be grounded there; but I didn't mean grounded in that exact location, just the planet. The reason being is I happen to know a bit about where you're at; Also, there's a possibility for a surprise for you if you all can find it.''
When he returned, Wrecker had some how managed to get rid of his mallowpuff problem, but that had disappeared only to be replaced by another one. When he walked in, he caught Tech's exasperated 'help me' look. Crosshair was just sitting back, enjoying the show.
''But I don't like hot chocolate.''
''Wrecker, we've gone over this.''
''I don't care. I don't like it.''
''No dur,'' Crosshair muttered. ''By the time you finally get to drinking it, it'll be cold.''
Though he had only been in the room for barely three seconds, fed up with the lousy conversation, Hunter growled, ''Wrecker, drink it.''
''But I-''
''Drink it,'' Hunter ordered, this time his voice leaving no room for argument.
Wrecker mumbled a final, 'But I don't like it,' under his breath, then took a cautious sip.
Once he'd settled back in his seat, Hunter finished off his mug while Tech looked up. ''Who was it?'' he asked.
''The Commander. He said he wants us all in the cockpit in three minutes.''
''Yay!'' Wrecker began standing.
''Ah-ah-ah, you sit back down. He said three minutes so you can finish.''
Groaning, Wrecker sat back down, squeezed his eyes shut, and gulped down the cold drink.
At the appointed time, the Bad Batch stood in the spacey cockpit, waiting. Exactly on the dot, Commander Cody of the 212th reappeared. He, as usual, made a show of inspecting them since he knew that they needed at least some one to keep on eye on them. But when he looked them over now, he frowned slightly though the teasing twinkle in his eyes remained.
''Are you all starburned? From yesterday?'' he asked.
Hunter blinked in surprise, then glanced at his reflection in the Marauder's view port...Paused. With a barely noticeable flicker of his right fore-finger, the command to his gloves reacted for his request and the lights in the Marauder dimmed.
''No. I don't think so. Why?''
Cody smirked, obviously noticing the embarrassed micro-expression on their faces. ''What's wrong? Don't like a nice tan?''
When everyone just gave him a flat look, he held up his hands. ''Did you at least have fun in the snow? No? Not gonna answer. Fine. Just don't say I didn't warn you when those sunblisters start to peel.''
''But you didn't warn us.'' Tech pointed out.
''So? That's not the point. And besides haven't you already had an adventure like this? Stuck in one place and something goes wrong...''
''Hey, that was a long night. That was back at Hoth. Completely different story'' Hunter interrupted. ''And planetary rotations timing.'' he added under his breath.
''Though we still haven't figured out who fixed the engine yet.'' Tech frowned, ''I know for sure it was some one here; I still haven't determined who.''
On the holo, Cody winked. ''Eh, I'm sure you'll find out...Maybe. If he lets you.''
Before letting the guys have time to think about that, he continued. ''Now, why I called you here. As you know, when I sent you here for a 'grounding,' since that's what you called it; What I didn't tell you is that I have been there before and that you might run into a little friend of mine. But in order to meet her, you'll have to fly a few clicks east; I'll give you the coordinates.''
''Her?'' Hunter repeated, raising an eyebrow. ''You actually know people outside the GAR?''
''Possibly,'' he hinted, ''but be careful on what you'll expect. You may find yourself surprised. Oh and before I forget, there's one last thing. You were on the Negotiator for your last repair...Peek under the main console.''
Before anyone could say anything, he vanished from view.
Confused, Tech crouched, peering under the control console.
''There's something here!''
It was a thin flimsi note with their next coordinates and something that looked like a rough map of the Marauder, marked with arrows and numbers. Next to the drawing was a simple sentence that didn't make much sense: 'Follow map. Must find in order to have. But do not search till new location. Good luck.'
They talked it over, and decided to leave as soon as they could. With their work earlier that day, they were ready to leave. As for the Commander's message, that could wait. Though, Hunter wondered what they'd find once they got there.
The coordinates led to a mountain-sheltered shelf on another continent. Another storm was gathering to the north, opposite the mountain where they were. Since it was dark, there wasn't much they could do; so Hunter called it a night and told everyone to get some shut eye. But after setting down his armor from cleaning it, just before he finally collapsed in his bunk, Hunter thought he heard a low roar coming from the mountain above them...
I'm sorry if I have just ruined hot chocolate for you. And was that self-advertising with A Long Night? Yes, yes it was XD
Once again, I am SOOOo sorry I'm late; my brain has not been working for writing lately so that probably explains why this chapter was rather kriffy and extremely short.
Also, before I forget, thank you to everyone who left those lovely reviews for the last chapter! They are greatly cherished by yours truly! :D