Chapter 2

-A Afternoon Surprise

Nova rustled around the kitchen, knocking boxes of cereal and other appliances over. Grinning as she recovered the item she was searching for, the blasted eggbeater. She wooped the bowl to the center of the table, recovered five eggs from the fridge, cracked them, and poured them in one go. The whisk beat the eggs to a mixture as she checked the time, Sprx wasn't supposed to be in till tonight—so this'd give her time make him one of his favorite meals. It was going to be a big surprise! Given as he had no idea, she'd be home before him.

The temperature seemed to grow cooler, causing Nova's arm wiring to tense a little bit. She sighed, already knowing the cause of the sudden gusty breeze.

"You can come out now," Nova called as Vex lifelessly walked around the corner. She shot a beaming smile to the grumpy faced monkey. "Uh," She paused her cooking to address the elder. "Something wrong?"

"Detesting this… atrocious outfit." Vex raised her arm out, showing the goofy deep azure jacket and shirt with five stars pinned to both her shoulders. "Is gawdy and severely unflattering…"

"Hey!" Nova snapped as she straightened out the jacket. "If you're going to cover for me, you need to at least wear one of my jackets. It's something all new authorities wear, it's a uniform so it all looks the same. Shows your ranking…" She groaned and put two stern hands to her hips.

"Now… what did we discuss early this morning?"

"Repeatable information… unneeded…"

"Just remember, you're only a substitute so you won't have to do anything invasive… but just be professional, polite, strong, and proper."

Dead eyes just stared at Nova as she nodded and went to the exit. Nova waved her hands and shouted before the elder monkey got out of eat shot.

"And don't stare death at people!"

Nova groaned and went back to fixing her snack surprise for Sprx. What the heck was she thinking? Sending an ancient killer simian whose never properly smiled in over a hundred years to sub for her? Geez, she was already regretting this.

She poured some milk into the batter and popped it into the oven after it became doe-like. Sighing, she pressed her back to the cabinet, not much she could do about it. Just pray that Vex doesn't scare anyone so bad they keel over.

"This was such a bad idea…"

~At Work~

Vex stared at the odd sight before her; young officers struggling to get their crap together while older ones barked nay-say answers at them. The floor was in complete disarray, papers and other office supplies being the primary litter. A few spotted her presence at the door and snapped a sloppy salute before rushing back to gather their gear.

"Nyet… pure uncertainty… of what to do." She muttered to herself as she walked in, eyes lingering over every single soul in sight.

"We said this does not go here!" One older man yelled at a teenager who grabbed the wrong set of papers. "How many times must I tell you, Ricco? You can't be trusted with any field work till you actually complete a regular desk assignment!"

"But this is what you asked!" The young Indian boy argued. "How do I get it wrong when I follow your instructions… your WRITTEN instructions!"

Every went right back to screaming at each other. Vex raised a claw and cleared her throat, but no one heard her as their screams bellowed through the whole facility. She wondered why the glass hasn't broken yet, but it was clear to the assassin this squad wasn't gonna listen… unless action was taken.

"Be of… listening please." Vex tried to raise her voice. But just like before, their screams overshadowed her deep whispers.

Sighing, Vex casually walked up to one distracted officer, removed a gun from his holster, cocked the barrel, and took aim to the ceiling. The bullet shattered the light above, a loud BANG rattling the floor under the shot's vibrations. Vex stared at the suddenly quiet crowd, smoke from the barrel floating around her snout.

"Nyet then…" she put the gun back and walked to the front. "Relishing under the silent constraint of your attentive gazes…"

Everyone was so spooked by the sudden gun shot they sat right down in their desks. Eyes still as wide as dinner plates. Vex pretended to not notice as she cracked her neck.

"Absent understanding of chaos… ends immediately." She raised one claw, motioning to her jacket that she was the stand-in for Nova today.

"W… where did you say you were from?"

"Eastern planet known as Romanias…" she shot everyone a warning look. "Not one vampire joke to be made… da?"

They looked at each other, baffled by her strange accent and blunt yet precise vocabulary.

~At Super Robot~

Nova whistled as she finally finished the meal surprise for her love. So much effort showed through the organization and well-placed setting of the butter, utensils, and a large cup of red wine. She gazed dreamily to the sweet red liquids crashing into the crystalline glance till it filled to the top. Sweet on your tongue and red as a heart, just like her man. Not a moment of regret arose in her mind as she joyously bolted out to find some good mood music. It'd be a few more hours till the red monkey returned anyway.

Darting around the corner, she ran right smack into Antauri. Both monkeys went flopping to the floor like a couple of land-stranded fish. She rubbed her nose in pain as panic eyes darted down to her fallen second in command.

"A—antauri!" She rushed to grab his sleeve and help him up. "So sorry… are you okay?"

Antauri graciously let go of her hand, dusted his black and brown sweater vest, straightened his reading glasses, and then knelt to recover his books.

"It's quite alright, my friend," He smiled as Nova handed him his last book that had fallen behind her. "May I ask the reason for the… surprise that hit me?"

"I—it's just excitement," she rubbed her helmet sheepishly.

"I see, due to Sprx's return tonight?"

"Yep!"

"I figured as much, given as you're not at work today." He adjusted his glasses, gazing to Nova with a bit more confusion. "Speaking of which, why are you not at work? Is everything alright?"

"Oh, well, long story short, Sprx was going to meet me tonight before I got off. But excitement was just pulsing my wires, I couldn't weight. So, I just called in sick with a stand in."

"Stand in?"

"Yea, Ve—um," Nova paused, seeing the hint of sternness peeking through his blue optics. She internally cursed, forgetting how protective Antauri was over the one-eye retired warmonger of a she-monkey. He'd have a cow if he learned she allowed Vex to walk right into a police force with all sorts of records involving people like her!

"Nova…?"

"Just got a stand in for me, wasn't hard!"

He crossed his arms, raising a helmet brow.

"I see, curious… as there's not very many Generals in this city that could provide a suitable substitute… perhaps a quick visit would be allowed."

"No no, ugh… alright, Vex volunteered." Nova held her breath, counting to three in her head for the freak out.

3… 2… 1…

"You did… what?" He asked, sternness now reaching max velocity in his eyes.

Yep, right on time.

"It's no big Antauri, she's going under an anonymous name. Besides, she technically is the only one with experience who could fill in for me." She tried to defend her actions.

"I am astounded you didn't notify me of this, Nova. While Vexahlia can clearly do what she pleases, I still make it my obligation as her mate to be aware of her daily plans, at the very least. Her mental health is not yet on the up and up."

"Aw come on, she's fine!"

Antauri sighed frustratingly and walked past Nova. "Luckily I do not have my next appointment till noon, I will go by and check on her."

"Okay, take pictures!" Nova laughed as she got back to her heels and flew to the control room to find some music.

When she made it into the main room, something in the corner caught her eye. She halted her run and glanced at the dark corner. Not seeing any sign of life or movement. Scratching her neck, she shrugged and continued her dash to find some mood music.

~In Town~

Antauri speed walked through the crowded streets of downtown. Man, one thing he did not adjust to when working amongst the commoners was how crowded all areas were. A lot different then coming to and from the robot when his only job was a crime fighter.

"Hey Antauri!" Chiro yelled out as the well-dressed silver monkey passed him by. His long black hair blew in the wind as his healed scars were mere pink lines crisscrossing his face—not as apparent as before, but still noticeable.

"Ah, Chiro," Antauri beamed as he held out his hand to grab his adopted son's. "What brings you around this side of the city this early in the morning?"

"Just was hungry and told Jinmay to hang with Otto at his mechanic shop while I ran to get some hover burgers. What are you doing here? I thought you didn't have to go in till noon."

"I don't, but it has occurred to me that Nova has… um, allowed Vex to fill in for her today…" he sighed and straightened out his glasses. "There's no way I could remain poised today without at least checking on her."

"Uh… Vex… filling in for Nova?"

"Yes, a ridiculous idea I wish they had informed me of before— Chiro?"

Chiro ran out ahead of Antauri in the direction of Nova's facility.

"I got to see this!"

Antauri growled to himself as he returned to his speed walk. Slowly catching up to Chiro till both vanished within the forest of people. But a strange source of movement caught the chosen one's blue eyes as he halted, letting Antauri get ahead of him. The people surrounding him were like a mirage of colors, hard to notice anything out of the ordinary when there was no pattern to spot. Ice continued to tickle at the hairs of his neck, as if someone is this crowd of millions did not belong.

"Chiro," Antauri called, snapping the young man out of la-la land.

"Huh? Oh, sorry!" He laughed off the weird feeling and ran to catch up with his mentor. Antauri gave him a strange look, in which Chiro shrugged in return. "Just… thought I saw someone."

~An Hour Later: With Sprx~

Sprx strolled down the walkway and towards the police/military station. A bow tied around his neck while brushing down his recently polished fur. Everything about him was suave and sleek, just enough to send any interested girl into a puddle of drooling goop. Especially if that interested girl was his mate.

"Man, Nova is so going to love my surprise…" he excitedly ran his hands together while applying a fresh-smelling male cologne to his face. Afterwards applying breath spray to ensure his smell and flavor of his kisses were minty.

The SMD (Shuggazoom Military Department) soon came into sight, it's high brick surface towering above other skyscrapers with its base guarded by a gnarly spikey chain fence. If the appearance was not enough to intimidate you away, the gun turrets circling the roof and front doors definitely would.

Sprx couldn't help but contain his smile at this grand looking facility, his gal sure did a ban-up job with this place.

Once through the front doors, Sprx showed his Hyperforce badge as the guards allowed him in. The floors were freshly polished, all equipment and people looking organized. He grinned; Nova must've really hammered down on some of these rookies. Recalling the memory, his of fiancé telling him how eighty percent of her new recruits were no more experienced then a grand theft auto gamer.

The red pilot heard something around the corner from his standing point in the middle of the hall. Peaking around the corner, he saw the silhouette of a simian coming towards him. A devilish grin slithered around his cheeks as he hid by the corner, body crouched and arms out, readying to take the kill.

When the other rounded the corner, Sprx flung himself out, grabbing the metallic monkey in his grasps and planting a deep wet passionate kiss. The individual before him was stiff in Sprx's constricting embrace, like they were in shock. Odd, Nova was well aware of his kiss-ambushes… until blue eyes glanced up to him.

"Um," came a baritone voice. "What are you doing… Sprx?"

Sprx's eyes shot wide open as he saw the shining face of his silver second in command wrapped snuggly in his arms while dipped towards the floor. His eyes, though mostly blank, showed a bit of shock mixed with confusion. Startled, Sprx dropped Antauri to the ground before wildly wiping at his, as if trying to rid himself of the galaxies' worst flavor. The second in command grunted when he sat up, rubbing his helmet.

"What the—A… Antauri!?" Sprx yelled, face flushing an even lighter red. "The heck are you doing here?"

"I was… simply heading to the exit before you forced a… deep wet kiss on me." He calmly stood up while brushing the dust off his clothes. Kneeling to recover his glasses. "I feel as though I should be asking you this question."

Vex, carrying a stack of papers, was staring at the odd sight she just witnessed. Both males faced the awkwardly silent female. Their faces both flushing as Sprx waved his hands to dismiss both monkeys.

"Hang on, hang on, what the heck is goin' on? I come back early to see Nova and then I end up lip locking Antauri…?" He snapped Vex a harsh look. "And what the heck are YOU doing here? Why are you wearing Nova's uniform? WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?"

"If… both desire privacy… please inform me before hand." She muttered while putting the papers up on a nearby table. "But… refute from… lip locking him again."

"You think I did that on purpose, what the he—"

"Sprx, she is messing with you." Antauri sighed as he slipped towards the taller female and gave her a kiss Sprx tended for Nova. "I will be off by eight pm tonight… on your breaks, please attempt to call or visit me."

Vex nodded and gave him a quicker kiss in return, still shy about public affection as she quickly dismissed herself. She paused at the door and glanced back to them, her organic eye shifting to Antauri's form, studying him up and down. The slit pupil converted to a softer circle as she gave him a small smile and went into the room.

Antauri noticed this look and couldn't contain the smile that stretched from his face. The look back she gave seconds before disappearing, it was a gaze he wanted to see from her for the rest of eternity.

Sprx whipped his mouth clean, gagging at the fact he had just made out with his second in command.

"Hey, why you're gawking at your half-faced lady, why the heck did you let me kiss you!"

Antauri resituated his books snuggly into one arm while adjusting his glasses.

"My goal was to check on my wife, little did I expect to get mauled by the mouth upon exiting this facility. You can understand my surprise would lead to a… moment pause."

"Well…" he grunted, arms crossing over his chest. "Don't tell anyone about this, lord, Gibson would never let me live this down!"

"Perhaps checking on your target next time would due you well then." Antauri walked past Sprx, chuckling at his right-hand-team mate. "I won't breathe a word, not that I'd have any desire to share this anyway. Even I would have my moments of embarrassment."

"Well… that leaves you, but what about her?" He jabs an angry finger to Vex hidden in the office. "How do we know she won't blab?"

Antauri just stared at the red pilot for a few moments, brain absorbing his concern. Laughter broke out of his mouth, surprising the red monkey as he hardly ever sees his stoic second in command display such obvious emotions.

"You, um…" he cleared his throat, trying to ease his voice made hoarse from the laughter. "Are more likely to hear cursing from Otto then to hear rating out from my beloved…"

"Yea, I know she has the silence of a brain-dead sloth, but that still doesn't ease my concern!"

"Just dismiss it… S.P.R.X-77, you're acting as if we broke some sort of ethical laws. Just watch the mouth you dart your tongue in and out from next time."

"You went there!" Sprx complained as he followed the silver monkey out. "Well… guess better you then one eye there. Bet kissing her is like sticking your head in a crocodile's mouth."

Antauri's eye etched in sternness, he didn't mind jokes, but direct teasement of the female was not in his favorite category.

"She's far gentler than you realize, Sprx…"

"Hey, just saying, with Nova—didn't think we both had a thing for bad girls." He slapped his leg laughing, thankful to have the topic of their unwanted kiss dismissed.

Grunting, Antauri said no more on the matter as they both made it downtown before giving an eventual goodbye till they parted ways. Sprx to the robot to surprise his fiancé and Antauri to the Psychology department.