Chapter 6

-Which Way You Walk

Chiro sat in hallway leading to the medical lab, a packed bag in hand. Two days had past, so it was almost time for their vacation. The old assassin refused to tell them what they were heading to, only sparing them the coordinates. But the way to this place was cut off by several intergalactic safe zones. Meaning it required special authorization to get through. A type of permission only passable to world leaders. How the old monkey was doing this was still beyond them, but Chiro was happy everyone was eager to be surprised.

Vex, regardless of her awkwardly dark yet kind demeanor, never failed when it came to surprises.

Right inside the medical bay was the dark monkey herself. Eyes staring intently down at the medicine propped before her. Taking the needle, she pressed it into the bottle and extracted the dull blue liquids. Then she stabbed it into her neck and injected herself. Her slit pupils dilated to their normal soft circles as her lengthening fangs retracted. The previous brutal starvation eating away her stomach-line dissipated in seconds. She breathed a sigh of relief before getting the bottle and new sterilized needles into a small carry on bag.

"Vex, are you okay?" Chiro asked, poking his head around the corner. Worry etched in with his words.

"Da," she answered bluntly. Noticing the tense look in his eyes, she instantly changed her tone to that of something softer. "A—am… functioning to workable capacity…" the medicine she previously took reflected in her eyes. Though the emotion was well hidden, Chiro got the sense something was wrong.

"Hey, um, I'm not trying to pry… but you've been acting weird since sunrise." He came to her side and placed a gentle hand to her shoulder. "Aren't you excited? Everyone else is."

"N—nyet, not… reason for… it," her medicine, she couldn't stop staring at it.

Chiro followed her gaze and gaped his mouth when realization hit him.

"Oh! You're running low again? Don't worry," he gifted her a large smile. "We have another batch brewing just in case, you don't have to worry…" The chosen one snatched her in a tight hug. "We won't let anything happen to you."

She awkwardly grunted and returned the hug with a gentle pat to his back. The hug lingered on to ten seconds to long, enough time for the formless to try and wiggle away. Close contact was still not her favorite 'activity'. Chiro snorted a laugh and released the she-monkey.

"Alright, guess it's time to get everyone going. I'll go check on the others!"

Once Chiro was out of the shadow simian's sight, he power-walked down the hall. Turning the first corner tight, he ran right smack into Nova. The gold simian caught herself with ease as Chiro was less fortunate and stumbled to the floor. He rubbed his aching hindquarters and muttered under his breath.

"Sorry Nova, I didn't see you there. Are you packed yet?"

Nova's eyes stared down at the young boy. A strange afar feeling deep in those red orbs. Wait, red? Chiro rubbed his eyes and squinted, noticing her eyes were their normal pink. Odd, he could've sworn they were as red as embers a second ago.

"Oh, its fine!" Nova laughed and grabbed Chiro hand to help him up. She quickly dusted him off and pointed her thumb to the back. "Yep, everyone is ready to go! But why were you running down the hall?"

"Um," he slapped himself to get back on track. "Was going to go make sure everyone was ready to go before giving Sprx the signal to launch us. Jinmay and a few allies are prepared for our substitution as the city's guardians till we return." Chiro mentally checked off his list to the carefully listening gold monkey. Then his eyes pinged in memory of one almost forgotten task.

"Oh! And running to check with Gibson on something."

Novas' smile quickly faded to a curious droop.

"Oh? Why?"

"Ah, well, nothing serious. Just that Vex's medicine seemed to be a little low. She dismissed it, but I know the miniscule clues her eyes give off… she's worried about it. That's… far from being a good thing. So, I am going to check with Gibson, just to make sure he didn't accidentally mess with her prescriptions."

The frown was replaced with an unnerving ear to ear grin. Nova snorted a laugh as she gave Chiro a firm smack to the shoulder. Causing him to yelp and rub the spot in annoyance.

"Ah, come on, she'll be fine! We're about to go on vacation, don't get Gibson stuck in his lab for hours on end again. Vex can keep track of her own medications."

"Well…" Chiro sighed, knowing his older sisterly figure had a point. No need in worrying everyone over a task Vex could handle. "Yea, guess you're right… Gibson and Antauri are prone to overreacting to these kinds of things."

"Exactly! So, go buckle up and I'll radio Sprx to get us going!"

"Hah, you got it! Vacation spot here we come, wherever that might be!"

Nova jabbed a thumbs up before playfully dismissing the boy.

The whole robot began to shack as it's massive hull was hoisted from the ground. Flames spurting from the humanoid craft's heels. Its powerful lift doubling in strength till it was off the ground and into the atmosphere in seconds.

"The robot is on course," Antauri alerted his teammates. Typing into the control module the coordinates to their unknown location.

"Alright, guess all we can do now is just hang out till we get there." Sprx leaned back in his chair. Fingers tapping against his metallic arms till they were flung up in immediate boredom. "Okay, I don't give a crap what Antauri or Gibson says, we're playing video games!"

Sprx shoved the silver monkey away from the control panels and plugged in the gaming console. The screen instantly shifted to a start up menu. A cocky grin was Sprx's declaration of war as he held up two spare controllers.

"Whose gonna be my first victim?" He shot Chiro an inviting smug look. Ignoring the steamy hot glare from Antauri. "How about you kid?"

"Em," Chiro twiddled his thumbs, doing his absolute best to avoid Antauri's stern gaze. "I really don't feel like playing today, maybe Otto?"

"No way," the green mechanic protested. "I refuse to play with Sprx till he agrees to stop gloating and play fair."

"Hey, accept loss like a boss, or cry on the fly." Sprx dismissed Otto's opportunity with a rejecting wave. "Yo, babe!" He called to Nova, who just happen to walk in. "You want in on the action?"

Nova smirked as she rolled her shoulders.

"Actually… I have something better in mind." She shoved the remotes aside and shot a burning stare to the whole team. Everyone felt the need to flinch back. Nova chuckled and banged her fist together.

"Since you guys have the city's task defenses up to me, I can see you guys got soft. And… maybe a little cub here and there." She snickered as the males shot her shocked looks. "So, I'm in the mood for a sparring round, something we haven't done as a team in who knows how long. I mean, even Antauri has gotten out of shape… how is that possible for a robot!"

Antauri chuckled, knowing she meant no offense by the reminder of his condition. More so relieved the female was at least acting more like her old self then her new solitary barbarian behavior.

"If you'd wish to spar, I see no harm in returning to our old methods."

"No," Nova smirked, causing Antauri to raise a confused eyebrow. "Not you yet… When I say 'spar' I mean an actual fight. You've always held back, Antauri."

Shock punched the second in command's gut as he fell quiet. Sitting back down in his seat to ponder her words. Then his eyes widened when Nova pointed a digit to the furthest individual from her position.

"I want you to spar with."

Vex's organic eye opened as she looked from her sitting position hidden in the shadows.

"Nyet," Vex flat out refused as she looked away.

Nova's grin twisted to a stubborn smirk as she dropped her hand. Eyes beginning to redden.

"Aw come on, even when we did do regular sparring matches… you always refused complete participation." She cracked her knuckles, the wire's coils straining beneath.

"Come on, you a fighter…" her smirk darkened. "Or… a retreater?"

Both Vex's eyes opened as the larger female stood up. Stepping from the shadows, her eye veins increased. The black armor pulsating with the purple neon lights decorating their sharp ends.

"Why… so… insistent?"

"Why do I need a reason?" Nova whistled as she slid next to the old monkey. Elbowing her in attempt to rile her up. "Come on, you NEVER tell us anything besides the basics… I want to see how you fight… for real."

Vex said nothing, the silence growing Nova's smirk. Just as both females started to show signs of agitation, Antauri immediately came to the rescue. Grabbing his wife's hand, he pulled her to his side. He shot Nova a scolding look.

"Nova, what has gotten into you?" He placed a firm hand on Vex's shoulder. "Do not use anxiety triggers to coax someone into a fight." The monk crossed his arms, showing all his pepped-up authority, and defying the gold monkey till she submitted. "You know very well of my beloved's mental conditions. She is not up for any un-controlled brawls."

Nova snorted and went back to her seat.

"What's wrong with wanting some action? Come on, it'll take us like three days to get to this place…! There's no harm in simply wanting to spar."

Vex looked to her mate's hand, frustration dissipating as she sighed. Softly taking his hand, she nodded to him and turned back to face Nova.

"Ways of which I duel… no longer pleasant to bear. Cannot… undo which has been learnt." She breathed in and began her trek back to her safe spot.

"Presently… forever retired." Vex nestled back into her spot and yawned. "Heart… cannot bear… another sinful act in need of… forgiveness."

Nova crossed her arms, staring at the female.

"Guess you really have become soft. Maybe a bit to soft. There's nothing wrong with maintaining strength, ya know?"

"Enough," Chiro spoke up as he got Nova's shoulder to ease her tension. "Come on, why don't you and I spar?"

"Well… alright," Nova laughed as she shot Vex a sarcastic look. "Guess I was just curious on how many punches she could take! I do kinda owe her a few.'

"Heh, maybe next time." Chiro laughed as he slid into attack position.

The rest of the evening was spent with Nova and Chiro sparing for hours till both were exhausted and went to bed.