Chapter 9

-Hazy Laser Tag

Everyone walked through the town, eyeing all the impressive features of the place. Otto ran about, sniffing down hotdog stands to antique stores. So much to see but with only two eyes he felt limited. The mechanic shuffled a huff and returned to his companions. Still a little on edge over his accident from earlier.

"This place is so neat, but a little stuffy. Wonder what we can do for fun around here." Otto looked back down the street of fast-food joints.

"Yea, this place is too old for my style." Sprx scratched his chin, onyx optics scanning the streets till something caught his attention. "Hey hey!" He waved his hand while pointing, "check out at that place!"

All tall facility adorning several purple lights and complex word patterns flickered in the dim sunlight. Its eccentric display of oddly shape windows and bold colors screamed entertainment. Like a casino with even more lights shining through the tinted windows. They couldn't see inside, but a lot of action was going on inside.

"Wonder what this place offers," Gibson led the walk to the entrance. He opened the door and peaked in, cringing when he looked to Antauri with concern. "It's um… an arcade, a big one."

Antauri gawked, crossing his arms in firm refusal. "We are not adjuring here, come we're going som—" he was cut off when everyone flattened him to get inside. Vex pulled the silver monkey up as he dusted himself off. Grumbling in annoyance, man… he just couldn't catch a break. Were videogames so important that couldn't go one day without them?

"Sterling… personal patience is low… perhaps take word… and allow them moments here…" She gently whispered in his ear. Knowing this was a riot from her, the CEO of avoidance and silence. But hey, even she was humble enough to know when it was time for others to have fun. Be best if sterling thought this way to, even just for a moment.

"Very well," he finally agreed while taking her hand. "But, later, I expect your support when I must peel their glued gazes from the TV… agreed?" His hand lovingly tightened on her's. "There's no harm in being stern once in a while… you don't always have to play the good guy."

The female gazed at him, blank look asking for an explanation for this sudden statement. Antauri chuckled and gently ran his fingers along the long strands of fur hanging from her scarred cheek.

"Beloved… I know you are trying very hard to be better than you once were. I see the change in you… even your eyes glow with such warmth. It makes me proud to display you by my side," he massaged her hand with his thumb. "But I also notice you try to avoid confrontations as often as possible… afraid of being seen that way again… you refuse to say no to any of them. Please, understand saying no is not a bad thing… sometimes it's for another's benefit."

Vex stared long and hard at the shorter male cozying up to her. His face as calm as day, as if clueless of his brave accusation. She grunted and went into the door after him. Those words were true, no matter how much she disliked it. But she did have a hard time playing the bad guy… ironic as she used to be a very good one. Maybe she wasn't separating these new feelings from her past enough? Guh, Vex rubbed her head in sheer annoyance. This was not easy to reflect on.

Once inside, Otto, Sprx, Chiro, and Nova's eyes glistened at the astonishing environment. Every video game one could ever image pressed neatly together in a dimly lit A/C powered room. The lights blinked and sounds bleeped, they could barely contain themselves. Antauri looked as those he was about to have a cow. His protests were silenced when they all ran full speed ahead.

"Bout time we found someplace exciting!" Sprx yelled while eyeing a line in the back room. His eyes lit up as he grabbed Chiro's sleeve. "Hey, Kid! Check it out, laser tag!"

"Um… haven't we played this enough in the robot?"

"Come on Kid, this time we have a chance to beat Antauri!" He whispered in his ear, "We just gotta get one-eye on our team."

Thumb pressed to chin, Chiro thought for awhile and nodded. "Alright, long as we don't keep losing this time."

Even against Antauri's wishes, he and Gibson were dragged into the line. Their arms crossed and brows furrowed, the silver and blue males complained till Sprx made fake crying sounds at them.

"Oh boo-hoo ya old farts, get over it and have some fun! Geez."

They muttered and ceased their protests. The line eventually disappeared, and it was their turn. Inside the black room, their metallic parts lit up from the black lights shining down on them. Each member got their pick of the laser gear and armor.

"Okay," a bored seventeen-year-old wearing the place's uniform called out. Bubble gum smacking in his teeth. "When the clock rings, you guys will enter the forest's maze… teams must stay together, only shoot the targets on the armor's chest and back… last one shot on the team loses. All members must be tagged before a team can win. Good luck."

Sprx, Nova, and Chiro teamed up against Gibson, Antauri, and Otto. Vex stood their awkwardly and proceeded to leave, till Sprx grabbed her arm.

"Hold on creeper, where do you think you're going?"

"Even numbers… uneven with my presence… not fair."

"Psh!" Sprx spat and flickered her ear. "Look, we're used to being outnumbered… besides, this'd be a good time to check your aim one-eye!" He grabbed her mane and drug her to the racks, forcing her to suit up. Then he towed her over to his team. "One eye is with us!"

"Four against three?" The teenage host sighed and got his own laser gun. "Guess I'll be on a team with the three of them to ensure the rules are fair." He typed in a code that caused a huge metal door to slide open. A big makeshift forest arena came into view. The employee armed his laser. "Okay, good luck everyone, let's go!"

They all split up and darted to opposite sides of the dark forest. Chiro and his team took cover behind some bushes and Antauri's team took the trees. With Gibson having to help their human addition up as he kept sliding back down. Sprx peaked around the corner, barely seeing the glow of Antauris' silver body.

"Ok, we got to get Antauri out and the rest are a piece of cake." The red simian smiled at the dull faced monkey before him. "Work your magic!"

Vex just stared at him, looking a bit perplexed at the laser gun in her hand. Sprx facepalmed and got her jaw to help her read the instructions on the gun. He released her hand and pointed angrily to the opposite side of the arena.

"Don't play dumb, you're our ticket to winning… now get over there and get them!"

On the other side, Antauri chuckled as he cocked the laser gun.

"Sorry my beloved," he took aim right at the old female who wasn't even bothering to take cover. "But all's fair in battle." The laser shot from the barrel and using his telekinesis to guide it. It circled around the trees, beneath the bushes, and hit Vex point blank.

Yet her armor didn't beep. Something it should've done when one got tagged and was out. He zoomed in to her form, now noticing the laser went right through her. But the shape that resembled her suddenly disappeared. Like some kind of decoy.

"What in the world?"

A loud beep cut him off as Antauri's armor went off. He had been shot, Otto and Gibson were in complete shock. The silver monkey looked around, completely dumbstruck.

"Who shot me?"

A small pebble bounced off his head. All four of them looked up and saw Vex hanging on the ceiling. Her shadows moving back towards her feet. She cracked her neck and instantly vanished. Reappearing on the opposite side where her team hid. Sprx and Chiro looked at her with hopeful looks as she nodded.

"Sterling is… removed."

"Hah!" Sprx yelled while leaping out of the bushes. "That's what it feels like to be out-cheated Antauri!" His armor suddenly bleeped, ending his happy rant while Otto waved at him.

"Haha, sorry Sprx, shouldn't do the victory dance till you actually win!"

"Gah!" Sprx angrily stomped over to the side where Antauri hung. He gave his teammates an angry look. "Come on guys, don't let them win… take them out!"

The game instantly intensified as lasers from both sides started bouncing off the roles. Chiro continued to shoot till he eventually got the teenager that was assisting them. Otto managed to dodge Nova's blast before whirling around and hitting her spot on.

"Oh crap," Chiro bit his nails as he grabbed Vex and hauled her down. "Otto is a really good shot, we gotta take him out! Think you can do your shadow decoy again?"

"Nyet… once enough… decoy meant… for sterling's defeat… only."

"Seriously? Okay, fine. I'll draw his fire, you get him. Okay?"

Nodding Vex went far off and took aim as Chiro darted into the open. Heart started to pound as her world began to lighten. Claws trembling with her mind beginning to cloud. All around her started to breathe and grow faint. The old assassin tightened her teeth, beads of sweat dripping from her snout. What was going on?

Otto managed to shoot Chiro. Vex began to fall even further out of it, barely hearing Chiro's caution shout as another laser barely hit her. Her armor bleeping as both she and Chiro were out. Her senses immediately came back.

Everyone stared in shock, even Otto was surprised.

"What!" Sprx yelled as the arena lights came on. He dashed to Vex as she sluggishly slid down from the tree. "What the heck happened? How could we lose to Antauri's team AGAIN!" His face boiled a deeper shade of red as he poked Vex between the eyes. "What the heck one-eye? You should've nailed Otto with your eyes closed!"

She looked down to her claws, feeling the light-headedness return. Teeth grinded together as she leaned against the wall for support. But hid the nausea by crossing her arms to make the wobbly stand look intentional.

"Nyet… warned you—head was absence in… da game."

Antauri noticed the misfocused look in her eyes and gently got her shoulder.

"Vexahlia… are you feeling unwell?" He pressed a hand to her forehead.

She gently pushed his hand away and inhaled a shaky breath. His worried eyes burrowing into her soul as she looked away.

"Being… alright… just… inkling of… exhaustion."

"I knew these games would be to energy draining for your participation," he firmly got his wrist. "We're going back to the room so you can rest."

"Being fine," she protested while reeling her arm back, preventing Antauri's hold. The silver monkey frowned and crossed his arms, stern gaze challenging his wife. But unlike before, Vex didn't give way to his stares. "Underestimating desire… for fun…"

"Hah, well you guys go whatever you like, me and Nova are going to go have some alone time." Sprx smirked as he got his girl's hand and drug her away.

Once out of sight, Sprx quickly pinned her to the wall. Face dangerously close as he flashed her a cunning smile. "Man, some game… I'm all sweaty. Want to help dry me off?" the pilot snickered before pressing a firm kiss to her mouth

Nova was quiet, hearing her own heart pulse in her ears. Sprx's eyes were closed, lost in bliss. Memories came forth of his evil glare and slit pupils. A look that came with a voice threatening to pull her circuits out. Anger started to come on as steam rose from her metallic parts. Veins expanding over her eyes… all the times he humiliated her…

Sprx felt the kiss begin to heat up to the point his lips almost burnt off. He yanked his head away like he ate a hot tamale and fanned tongue.

"Woah! What the heck?"

She instantly calmed down, the steam and heat disappearing till it was at normal levels.

"Maybe we've been in the sun to long?" She pointed to the stand behind her. "Maybe a nice cold drink would do us both some good."

"Um… yea," Sprx rubbed his tongue and stared at his mate. "Guess that… could be it."

Sensing his perplexion, Nova grinned at him. All her large fangs protruding outwards.

"By the way… is it true you kissed Antauri?"

"What!" Sprx waved his arms around in a fit of rage. "Who the heck told you that!?"

"You know there's security camera footage I can access through my private links… right?"

Gawking, Sprx whipped his head away. Face reddening in sheer embarrassment.

"I went to surprise you and thought he was you… an accident!"

"Well, that explains why you've been so tense around him lately. Don't go running off with him now." She laughed and gave his back a firm slap. Almost knocking the angered pilot over.

"Yea yea, ha-ha ha-ha, never bring this up again!" He sourly grabbed her hand and towed her to the drink stand. "Way to ruin the mood babe."

"Oh, I'm sorry… didn't realize you snogging our second in command would kill the vibe." She was failing miserably to hide her laughter's.

"It. Was. An. Accident!" Sprx yelled in rebuttal as Nova continued to laugh.