Chapter 1

-Unseen Steam

Nova sat on the metal bench within the police station she ran. Different sized people ran around in a rush to get their guns and uniforms ready, today was a big day. It was a day they were expecting new recruits from another solar system. A big relief to the city's new secondary defenses and to the Hyperforce themselves—except for Nova. Her tired eyes projected the exhaustion from several sleepless nights clamping down on her. Both her prink orbs were dull and downcast with some shadow being casted from beneath her eye's rims.

"General!" One office with hands almost as big as his chubby face called while slowly dashing up to her. Sweat pouring down like rain to show the toll this exercise was taken on his out of shape body.

"At… ease?" Nova awkwardly sputtered, still not used to being called this title. Something that changed since her team settled down to find jobs of their own and leaving the main defenses in her hands. Not that she objected to it—it was after all her idea.

"J—just came to report… phew," he pulled out a handkerchief to dry his soaked forehead. "That the new recruits are being held up due to an oncoming storm. They will not be able to come in till next Thursday."

"That's eight days away," Nova protested while jumping to her feet. "This was not what we agreed on, I've already pushed the arrival dates back several times. I understand a storm, but they have ships to migrate through such environmental situations!"

"We know ma'am, there is just nothing we can do!"

"Ugh, this is unacceptable and adds even more pressure. I've spent many years getting this defense force into shape to give my team a break, I don't want us losing numbers by waiting on more so-called 'prodigy arrivals'." Sighing, Nova turned her back to the large man and waved her arm to signal him to leave.

"Alright alright, tell them the extension is accepted. But this cannot be done anymore, time and resources are not on my side."

"Yes ma'am, I'll go radio it in now."

Once he was out of sight, Nova drug herself into the nearest empty office, closed to the door, and flopped down on the spinning chair in exhaustion. She rubbed her aching temples; this job could sometimes become more then she bargained for. But, due to her stubborn nature, she refuses to let circumstances over power her.

Her strength was something formidable, and her will is one to match the physical side. She was not going to let exhaustion, stress, or circumstances weaken her physically OR mentally. That is not who she is and won't ever let that be objectified. Her title as the team's main warrior was not given to her for nothing.

As she straightened up with forced vigor the phone's ring nearly launched her out of her gold fur. Hands clamored for the phone as she knocked it to the ground and wrestled with the cord till, she managed to press the dumb thing to her ear.

"H—hello, Shuggazoom's Natural Defense AA1, this is General Nova, how may I assist?"

"Since when do Generals do desk donkey jobs?"

Sighing at the familiar flirtatious sounding voice, Nova wiggled to free herself from the tangled mess from the phone cord.

"Not now Sprx, kinda busy at the moment."

"Aw come on, you're always busy!" He whistled into the phone while sucking on, what sounded like, a large soda before a loud burp deafened her. "I think you're in need of some drinks and a date night with yours's truly. Eh?"

Once she freed herself, Nova couldn't contain the smile that overcame her frustrated state. No matter how angry she got, the red pilot just had a weird way of making those butterflies flutter away in her gut. Curse his skill with being a ginormous flirt!

"What'd you have in mind?"

"I get home tomorrow night after I finish this long-distance intergalactic flight. Then I'll take off, got some new pilots that need to put in the hours anyway. Once I get home, I'll go to your room, pose on your sheets, and pour a glass of wine that'll be accompanied with the next best seller romance and action pack movie… All waiting for you."

"Hm, that sounds great… you better clean up nice, I expect you lookin' pretty before I get there!"

"Hah!" Sprx laughed into the speaker. "You got it babe, so it's a date, see you tomorrow night."

Before Nova could greet her love a fond goodbye, his voice stopped her.

"Before I do get back, I need you relaxed. So why don't you call in for the evening and have a, oh I don't know, one of those chatty cathy nights?"

"You mean… girl nights?"

"Yea that! Hang out with the chicks before the men get involved. Hah, what do you say?"

"I don't know… Jinmay is held up with Chiro and I'm not really comfortable hanging out with my co-workers. Not that I don't enjoy their company, but I'm their general… be really unprofessional."

"Then hang out with one eye!"

"Vex? Eh, I don't know… Last time we tried this; girl's night wasn't really… her thing."

"Just do it."

"Alright alright, love you, see you tomorrow night."

"Right back at ya babe, kisses!"

Nova snorted and hung up the phone. "Kisses? Look who's being a girl now," she laughed before grabbing a timecard to stamp herself out of duty.

~Downtown, In Quietest Street Corner~

Nova walked down the road, looking at a small tablet she used to check emails. She remembered notifying the old monkey her request of wanting to hang out, and the only thing she got was a thumb's up. Vex was never good at typing, even after those mind-numbing grammar lessons Gibson threw at her for two years straight.

"Geez, she could've given me a time or something," Nova complained as she scanned the shifty desolated place, she walked in.

"No need when you're locatable…"

Nova almost did a ninety-degree flip before whirling around with battle fist drawn. There on the lowest roof top corner was a dark shadow staring down at her. Only one LCD purple eye staring down at her as she sat casually with arms and one leg crossed. As if oblivious how awkward her arrival looked.

"Stop doing that!" Nova yelled at the old monkey before sourly crossing her arms. "And how the heck did you find me? I thought you were still planning on where to meet!"

The old monkey slowly stood up and threw herself off the building. Whole body hitting the grass with a loud thud, her feet leaving deep imprints from the landing. She did her creepy—wobbly—limp—walk till she stood right in front of the gold warrior, that aged face staring down at her with the same casual yet smoldering intensity look she always bore. Her black bio-tech armor pulsing in rhythm with a heartbeat that no longer lived.

"Forget… how past living was… held…?"

"Yea yea I know, dumb question. You stalked people for a living."

"Nyet… never 'stalked'…" Her eyes didn't falter in their intense stare. "Merely pursued targets chosen by contractor… timing very short."

The old monkey held up Nova's tablet, pointing to the corner.

"Thumbs up… a meaning of agreement to meet in familiar set up… this where you usually meet with company…"

"Well, yea, but—oh never mind, come on." Nova grouchily grabbed the formless' arm and drug her down the road."

Vex's feet were drug across the pavement as she made no effort to stop the gold monkey's aggressive tow.

"Stress levels indicate serious need for friendly contact…" She sighed and shook her head. "I do not… 'embrace' ones. But if this is desired action… agreeable."

Vex planted her feet on the ground so abruptly Nova was almost yanked flat on her back. She pulled her arm free as Nova rubbed her tail before angrily looking back. But anger replaced confusion as Vex slowly opened her arms up and stood stiffly.

"Bring… it… in…" she worded her sentence carefully.

"I don't want a hug, but… ah, oh well." As Nova moved into the older female, her arms were dropped as all the gold monkey embraced was thin air. "Hey," she protested in annoyance. "I thought you were giving me a hug."

"Direct contact dependent on intended nature…" She answered robotically while turning her back to Nova. "For comfort reasons… my discomfort only manageable from three to five seconds…"

"You're kidding, since when do hugs have freaking time limits!" Nova face palmed, good lord, this monkey still was as odd as the day they met. Oh well, least she was… sort of trying.

"…Trade comfort for black out beverage…?"

"Um, you mean a drink?"

Vex just stared at her before slowly nodding. Nova shrugged and went along with the taller female.

"So um, how's life been?" Nova asked, already knowing to prepare herself for whatever random answer would fry from this monkey's mouth.

"Nights: hour and five minutes of slumber. Days: dependent on required sun time task… Therapy sessions: difficult to relay but welcoming for health… Family—" She paused.

Nova titled her head as the dark monkey paused, her constantly calculated eyes seeming to soften up.

"F… family… fun to be around." Emotion seemed to creep in as she looked back to Nova, a TINY smile creaking across her damaged face. "Love every moment…"

Nova felt her heart warm up as the older female's moment of joy was immediately snatched back behind her bored look.

"Let us be venturing to… whichever liquid dynasty of your preference…"

As they walked, they arrived at a local pub many late-night partiers liked to go to for down time. Nova and Vex sat furthest in the back to avoid any awkward stares Vex's appearance might've caught. The old monkey did not object, but Nova could tell by her rattling arms how much it bothered her.

As they sat down across from each other, the long-winded silence returned full force. Normally it would've been awkward, but after getting to know the dark monkey, the silence was comforting. Vex sat as stiff as a stone statue, not budging an inch, except to get an occasional drink of water. Nova dinked her fork against her metal fingers till she looked at her menu.

"So, what'd you like to get?" She quickly pointed to the formless, "No ordering bloody meat this time—you're gonna scare the waiters again."

"Rare red meats delicacy… some having no real taste buds."

"Yea well, let's just order something regular, how about it?"

She nodded. Nova glanced at the menu and scratched her chin.

"Your odor wreaks of manual labor sweat…"

"Uh," Nova blinked at the random comment while putting her menu down. "What do you mean?"

"You… are… tired, nyet?"

"Oh! Yea, that obvious huh?"

Vex just stared, blank eyes seeming to say, 'no duh'. Nova laughed it off and shook her head. Till a frown took refuse on her face.

"I just… it's hard to explain." She took a sip of her drink before propping her face in her free hand. Looking down at her feet.

Vex blinked and did a quick sideways glance to ensure no one was looking. Then, reaching forward, the older monkey gave her a slight nudge on the arm. Getting Nova to look her right in the eye.

"Negatives best not kept silent… can only lead to results, like me."

Nova leaned back in her chair, tipping the two wooden legs off the floor. Watching the fan above them spin slowly around and around. She contemplated the point her company was trying to make, even if said in a weird way.

"I'm supposed to be going out with Sprx later, hopefully things will ease up by then."

"Call place with excuse of sickly ailments… Will substitute for you."

The gold monkey shot a weird look at the old monkey before bursting out with laughter.

"Seriously? No offense Vex, but to fill in for me you'd have to have legal consent with the city as well as the proper military experience to fill in for a general!"

"Legal requirements… files… paperwork?"

"Yes, basically." Nova shrugged and took a sip of her drink. "But I do appreciate the off—" she was cut off by Vex standing up from the table. "H—hey, where are you going?"

Vex walked towards the manager's door and walked right in. Nova sat there; eyes wide on the random action. Some strange shuffling noises were heard before a computer beeped out with Vex exiting the office minutes later. Sitting back down in front of the gold fighter, Vex raised the papers she carried in her long deadly claws.

"Documentations… complete."

"What?" Nova shook her head, "you can't just print out stuff from a random copy machine!" She stared reading the text, jaw almost dropping the more information she observed. "T—these codes, context, labels, background, and even all ten signatures are correct…" She slapped the papers down on the table and jabbed a finger at the old monkey.

"How the heck did you get all this!? Eighty percent of this stuff is classified!"

"Handwriting only needed… rest is… sugar free cake."

"…How the heck did you get all this stuff in five minutes?"

Vex just stared, sipping her drink and casually leaned back in her seat.

"Easy… with websites harboring… Gameboy level… security."

Nova sighed and put some pressure on both sore temples. In complete disbelief this old monkey could hack stuff that fast. But then again, her age and skill couldn't be dismissed so easily.

"Alright, I'll let you take over… BUT—" Nova pointed at Vex. "Just for one day, so I can rest… and don't tell anyone your real name."

"Need no instruction…"

"Guh, fine, but don't do anything like you just did. Never again, got it?"

Vex snapped a lifeless salute as she got up and led Nova to the door. Stopping, she turned to look at the gold monkey and got her in a one arm hugged. Awkward at first, the younger female eventually settled in the warm fluff of her elder's fur. Vex sighed as she patted her back.

"Deeply… your happiness… important." She let go and looked Nova in the eye again. "Please to be… um, slumbering more often."

With the hug seeming to cheer her up, Nova nodded and gave the old monkey a quick fist bump.

"Sounds like a deal."