A/N: This is a bit shorter, but I hope it's still good. I don't own anything!
Meet the Family Ch 5
Maxxor was still awake when Tangath Toborn and the representatives returned late that night. He was standing on the massive balcony overlooking the entire city when Tangath padded up behind him. The green-skinned Creature took in the silence of the city and the crisp night air before speaking.
"How did it go?" he asked quietly. Tangath sighed just as quietly, grinning tiredly.
"Well, we first arrived at a military base after we entered the portal, if the uniforms and Battlegear had anything to go by. Then we were guarded for awhile until we were order to the humans' mess hall," Tangath began. Maxxor nodded, beginning to walk back into his castle, Tangath following and talking at the same time. "Introductions were made, quite politely, I might I add. The captain had apologized for the security guards, and Ario had said that it was understandable because of the kids."
Here the lion Creature turned grim. "A woman, a mother, misunderstood our words when we were explaining how we know the Players. She attacked Nebres, and it took the captain and two men to drag her off. Owis and Raznus had explained how the players were transported here."
Tangath frowned at the humans' reactions to the news. "They apparently didn't know about their children's Chaotic selves. I had to explain the concept to them."
"Did they see the letters?" Maxxor wanted to know. Tangath nodded. "After a certain boy of ours cousin came banging into the meeting, a corporal screeching after her."
Tangath gave a deep chuckle, remembering how hyper the little girl. Maxxor raised a brow. "Tom's cousin is energetic?"
"Very much so. It took a chase, a staring contest with Dardemus, and a quiz from me to get her wind down a bit." Tangath said. They reached Maxxor's study and went into the room to bask in the fire within. Tangath continued, "She's very young, but being around Tom might have had an influence on her."
"Really?" Maxxor asked, curious.
"She threw a shoe at Dardemus when he was being rude," came the simple explanation. Maxxor chuckled.
"So overall, it was a good relations visit with the adults?"
"Good nothing. It was great," Tangath clarified. "We meet two others of Tom's family."
That perked Maxxor to attention. "Really? Who?"
"His older brother and sister. Kaz's mother was there as well, though she arrived later."
"Tom's own mother wasn't there?"
"No, apparently she's still in an 'apocalyptic rage' over the fact that Tom was missing and there were no clues to where he was," Tangath said, remembering what was said after Talia's quiz. The study door opened to a staggering Intress, eyes tired and tail limp. Immediately, she plopped in Maxxor's lap, closed her eyes, and was instantly asleep. Tangath looked at the sleeping tigress Creature with surprise while Maxxor just smoothed her fiery red hair down and allowed her to snuggle closer to him.
"Dare I ask how everyone else's day went?" the lion Creature asked quietly, mindful of Intress. Maxxor couldn't help it; he shook in quiet laughter at the question.
"We tried your game when the Tribal Alliance came together for the first time. With the blindfolds and rope? It didn't really work out as planned. The humans already had a game like it, but they used fellow humans in various positions to create an obstacle course of sorts," Maxxor explained quietly. "A human was on each end of the course, one blindfolded and the other able to see. The 'seeing' human called out instructions to the blindfolded human to guide them through the course."
"Did it work?" Tangath asked excitedly, though still quiet. Perhaps he could use this game to train more warriors to unite their strengths with each other.
"Yes, and no," Maxxor said. Tangath looked at his leader confused. "The humans did learn teamwork, but there was a lot of giggling and laughing in the process. They didn't take it very seriously, but some of the Creatures didn't either."
"Some Creatures?" Tangath repeated curiously.
"The kids practically dragged Venta, Rothar, Frafdo, even Odu-Bathax, and some others into their game. Poor Frafdo looked like he was about to go to his doom!" Maxxor explained, lightly laughing.
"How did they know the game?"
"A kid that did drama mentioned it when we introduced your game. He said that it was similar to the game he played when his class's play was finished."
"Anything else?" Tangath asked.
"Races, Chaotic matches, some other games, the usual. They just had so much energy to burn off," Maxxor whispered.
"Bet you're grateful the kids are sleeping like logs, right?" Tangath teased.
"Well, some of the men took the younger kids home with them, so I'm glad for that," Maxxor chuckled.
"Pity them?"
"A little," Maxxor admitted. He stretched his arms over his head and stood, picking up Intress.
"Come. Tomorrow is another busy day for all of us," Maxxor told his friend and brother. Tangath stood and they both left the study.
…
Prince Mudeenu was watching his own Creatures and players sleep when Ario reported the human visit to him. Mudeenu was silent for a few seconds before turning to Ario.
"You said that their Battlegear mainly consisted of black metal sticks?" he asked quietly. Ario nodded.
"They kind of looked like our own Cyclances," Qwun supplied, having entered Mudeenu's temporary chambers with Ario.
"They're probably not as dangerous as our Battlegear," Ario confidently declared, though his eyes shifted uneasily at the thought.
"We should still ask the kids what their Battlegear does rather than winging it and having someone injured," Prince Mudeenu said. "Ask them in the morning; waking them in the middle of the night is not the best option in Perim to do."
"Ah, so someone has learned his lesson then?" Ario wickedly teased his prince. Prince Mudeenu frowned at the old Mipedian, hating the memory that roused with the "lesson."
A Mipedian player had fallen asleep inside his castle once and he made the mistake of thinking that he would wake her up and had her move to a different location to sleep. Never had he heard such a verbal abuse! Such an assault! Not even his dirtiest soldiers could match the fury of the snarling female as her rest was disturbed. His ears were ringing from the sheer fury. The Royal Council, all the members staying well behind the Prince, were stunned into submission as the female went back to sleep when she lost enough steam to scream obscenities at them.
This incident was told to several boy players, with the question of the behavior of the girl was common in most females. The humans had laughed when Prince Mudeenu recited some of the words to them. Apparently, they were sailor words.
Prince Mudeenu snorted. "Everyone learned a lesson that day."
"Who wouldn't?" muttered Qwun.
"Who should we ask about human Battlegear?" Ario asked, going back to the original question.
"Someone whose family has military background," Prince Mudeenu immediately declared. Qwun shook his head.
"One of the civilians looked like he was going to take a Battlegear and attack us with it," he mentioned. "I bet anyone can use it, even without special training."
"Just like our own," Mudeenu muttered, beginning to pace in front of a window. "Humans are closer to Creatures than we thought."
Silence filled the chambers as Mudeenu continued his pacing; the soft clicks of his talons reaching the floor was only sound.
"We'll just ask Peyton. He's friends with the brother of the man who was so kind to us," suggested Qwun. Mudeenu stopped his pacing and looked at the Scout, as did Ario. Qwun shifted uneasily at their glazes. Finally, Prince Mudeenu slowly smiled.
"That might just work," the prince purred.
…
Odu-Bathax listened to Raznus and Ekuud's reports seriously as they retold all that had happened. He was…somewhat grateful for the distraction. Some of the Danians' teenage humans were still wake and not being quiet as the rest got their own rest. Several times he marched over to the jabbering humans and each time they acted like they didn't know what he was talking about! He was about to give the lot of them Sleep Stings when Raznus and Ekuud showed up.
"Any idea on when the paperwork will go through?" Odu-Bathax whispered when the two Danians finished up. His experience with explorations with Muges had always begun with a large amount of hateful papers that needed approval from first the Council and then the Queen.
Sometimes, no, most of the time the explorations were denied.
Raznus shrugged. "The captain wasn't sure, but he said that he would express mail the work. The urgency alone should be enough. The visiting general was staying at a different fort when we came over."
"If not, he and his team could just contact the 'papernews' and have an article out on the streets!" Ekuud chuckled.
"It's 'newspaper' and in order for there to be an article, there needs to be proof," Raznus reprimanded.
"The portal's enough, right?" Ekuud countered. Odu-Bathax ignored them in favor of the little group that continued to talk. He snuck over to the group of three and just towered over them. It took a good thirty seconds for the humans to realize that their little whispering fest was about to come to an unplanned and unexpected end.
Slowly, three human heads looked up to see the blue armored body of Odu-Bathax diminishing their size to nothing. The great head lowered to their level and snapped quietly as to not wake the others in the room, "If you three don't go to sleep right now, I will separate you lot and treat you like infants. Clear?"
The two males looked at him like he wouldn't do such a thing, but the girl fortunately took him seriously. She nodded rapidly and settled down quickly to almost instantaneously fall asleep. She must be tired of hearing the boys. Or she just doesn't want to be treated like an infant, Odu-Bathax thought. He returned to glaring at the two boys, who had just lied down and were not asleep. He snorted in satisfaction, for now, and returned to Raznus and Ekuud. Ekuud looked his fellow warrior with respect.
"Where were you when it's time to bed down the troops?" he asked incredulously. Odu-Bathax snorted.
"Right next to my post," he countered. He returned his attention to the portal problem. "So, do we have anyway of contracting the humans again when everything goes through?"
Raznus nodded. "Yes, the Overworlder Blazier is there while the Underworld sent Rarran. Siado is there as well and Wamma had to be ordered to stay put."
"So in other words the scouts will send us the news?" Odu-Bathax shrewdly concluded.
"Basically, yes," Raznus confirmed just as the two boys began to whisper again. Odu-Bathax scowled at the two and marched over them and grabbed one non-too-gently by the scruff of the neck and carried him across the room to Junda. The Danian Squadleader woke the instant the boy landed in front of him with a THUMP! A questioning look to the higher ranking Danian before him and a series of hand signs told him everything he needed to know. Junda quickly placed a hand over the human's mouth and with his other hand pinched the ear to drag him back.
Odu-Bathax went back to the other human male and grabbed him to drag across to the opposite side of the room to Bierk, who had woken up around the same time as Junda. Another boy dropping to the floor, and Bierk had his claws on the teenager and pulling him closer. A swift smack and a yelp later, Bierk settled down with the human underneath him.
Odu-Bathax took in the two horrified teenagers with a smirk. He had treated them like infants.
….
Chaor awaited the end of Agitos's report while keeping a close eye on his mate and half-awake human on his bed. Takinom was tired from all of the activities that the humans had commenced while Agitos and the representatives were talking to the human adults, hence why she wasn't standing at attention as usual. Kaz, on the other hand, was still awake because he was a "night-owl", as he put it.
When Agitos finished, Chaor was thinking of someone else other than the humans under his protection. Takinom sensed his uneasiness.
"What is it, Chaor?" she asked her mate. Chaor looked at her and the somewhat more wake Kaz.
"Has Von Bloot received any word of the portal?" he asked Kaz. Kaz shook his head no.
"Klay and Krystella have been here the whole time, griping. Thank goodness Jystella dragged her twin away before things turned nasty," the boy explained. "And I don't know many players that actually like Von Bloot who would trade information like that for a scan. We don't really know where he is, either."
"Skithia and Krekk are still lurking around somewhere. They can relay the information to Von Bloot wherever he is," Takinom interjected.
"But they won't make a deal, not even for their master. Krekk's too much of a coward to actually make a deal and Skithia's as slippery as Bloot. No sane player will go to them," Kaz countered.
Chaor hummed in approval of both of their reasoning. Agitos piped up as well.
"Von Bloot might not know about the portal, but he can still take a human and torture him or her into speaking."
"But we know how get away from Bloot. All you have to do is make a false promise, stay away for a little while, come back to say that you've found nothing, and port away as fast as you can!" Kaz said with a small smirk.
"Very true, Gothos Tower has received more holes in it when you all showed up," Takinom mused with a small smile. Chaor chuckled as well.
"Von Bloot could be a problem in the future, but not now. Now, we have to deal with the adults that might be coming," Chaor stated. "There are scouts posted at the portal. When the adults are ready, the scouts will contact us and bring them in."
Kaz began to giggle. Agitos swung his head to the giggling human. "And what is so funny?"
"I just imagined what Diego's reaction to all of this! He's going to flip when he sees everything!" Kaz began to cackle.
"I'd be more worried about his sister than anyone else," Agitos replied drily.
"She's that bad?" Chaor asked incredulously. Kaz and Tom had told some horror stories about Anamaria but this might just prove that she's as violent as they claim.
Agitos snorted. "I wouldn't be surprised if she tried to attack a Creature if they annoyed her enough. Even the mothers would go after a Creature if we cross a line."
"So what we need to is watch our step?" Takinom suggested. Chaor nodded.
"We'll definitely watch our step," he firmly said, just as Kaz finally nodded off at Takinom's shoulder.
…..
(Two days later)
Diego could barely contain his grin as he stood in front of his commanding officer, Colonel Regan Smith. The colonel was grinning from ear to ear at the news.
"General Vagent approved of the exploration of the portal and the world beyond!" Diego could barely keep in his excitement. Finally, after five days of worry, he can search for his little brother.
"On a couple of conditions," interjected Smith seriously. "You are to take Kaz's family and your own family with you, no ifs, ands, or buts. Talia can come with for guidance and information only, but if there's any fighting, she stays in one of the Humvees. That goes for all of the civilians."
"Yes sir," Diego nodded sharply, grin gone.
"Secondly, no mass explosive weapons like grenades. Just our handguns and machine guns should do the trick. We're trying to be peaceful, not boogymen."
"Yes, sir. Of course, sir. Tiny won't happy about it, sir, but he'll have to live with it, sir," said Diego, referring to Private First Class Timothy Hither, who was well known throughout the base for his size of his height and explosions and sarcastic remarks.
"He'll have to get over it," Colonel Smith firmly said, wagging a finger at him. "I want your sister to be on her best behavior while we're there too."
Diego laughed. "I'll ask Mama to threaten her with something, sir."
"Very good," Colonel Smith settled into his chair, picking up a stack of folders to hand to Diego. "These are the supplies were going to need. I want your squad ready by 0600 hours tomorrow, family and all."
"Yes, sir." Diego took the folders and tucked them under his arm.
"Dismissed." Colonel Smith saluted and Diego saluted back before leaving the colonel's office. Quickly he delivered the files to the quartermasters before heading to his mother's house.
When he arrived, the Kalinkas family was already there, trying to figure out how to get into the portal without being seen. Talia had told him as soon as he walked in the door. He laughed.
"No worries, Talia. Marietta and Nathanial are coming with us! Mama and Anamaria, too!" he told Talia as he swung her up to carry into the kitchen.
"All of us?" Talia excitedly asked. "You mean I'm coming, too?"
"Courtesy of Colonel Smith himself," Diego confirmed.
"Yippee!" came the squeal of delight.
A/N: Enjoy? Review, please!