"Pride N' Patrol"
*Planet Mordo (Age 745)
Purple skies with streaks of clouds float above the many villages on Mordo. The people loved the morning breeze, atmosphere, and daily tasks. In West Village, they garden mini patches of vegetables and fruits. Alongside gardening, they loved saying hello to neighbors. One hut showed a buff male gray waving his arm towards an averagely skinny companion. "Nice weather, isn't it?" The lanky gray nodded while addressing his friend about his household. "How's Sunni and your boy, Flambe?" Flambe smiled with glorious pride behind it. He loved his family to the ends of the universe. Sunni and her cooking bought a power within him like none other. As for his son, a small gray-skinned boy with abnormally large black eyes and wearing an orange robe tackled Flambe's calf. "Hi, Daddy!" The neighbor chuckled upon witnessing Flambe tend to his only son. He shouted how he'll check on his family and see if fishing season was open. After a friendly conversation outside, Flambe and his son walked into the living room and sat on a ragged couch.
"Now, Jiren. Fishing season's coming up soon, so I want you to keep an eye out for your mommy. Is that right?" Jiren nodded his head aggressively. For five years, Jiren cared for his father and mother. Being the only child meant Jiren took small responsibilities while Flambe went fishing. Sunni didn't mind her little boy helping around the hut, such as putting away items or dusting the coffee table. She was happy to have a child with the man she adored. "I'll make sure Mommy's smiling all day long!" Flambe can't help but laugh at his son's remark. Before Jiren, Flambe was nervous to have a child. Sunni announced her pregnancy, which shocked Flambe's spine. He didn't know what to do or how to be a father. Through all his years on Mordo, Flambe trained his body for offensive and defensive tactics. Thanks to Master Gicchin's teachings, Flambe thought protecting his wife would be the only thing to worry about. However, once Jiren entered the picture, Flambe found a new tune. He patted Jiren's head, smirked comfortably, and leaned closer. "That-a-boy. Maybe one day, you'll be a great warrior. Your power will defend this universe from harm. Just see, Jiren. Believe in compassion, honor, and above all…"
"Pride!"
Planet Netfiss, Netfiss Mall (Age 780)
"Jiren? JIREN!"
Jiren the Gray opened his eyes, jerking his head. His eyes landed on Dyspo, the speedster of the Pride Troopers, crossing his arms and raising a curious eyebrow. "Stop meditating, man. Top told us to monitor the Netfiss Mall for any theft. Ugh, it pains me to say this, but we should have joined the team on an off-world mission. Not be mall surveillance." Next to Dyspo was Cherri, Jiren's roommate and newest member of the team. Jiren softly mumbled about how they got the task. Minutes ago, Top separated the team in two. Dyspo, Jiren, and Cherri went to the Netfiss Mall as its security, while Top and the rest went to Planet Cola to investigate a factory error. While on a lunch break, Jiren thought to squeeze in a five-minute meditation, but he dozed off to sleep. Reminiscing his parents and childhood must have had distracted Jiren, which was rare. He never lost concentration during meditation. He noticed Cherri shyly looking away with her hands planted on her lap. "Sorry, Dyspo. Must have… wasted time focusing my aura. So, have there been disturbances?" Dyspo shock his head, huffing a tired breath of air. It has been thirty and a half minutes and no theft attempts so far.
The three Pride Troopers returned outside, standing proudly on the sidewalks. Jiren folded his arms and closed his eyes, being typical as always. A couple of girls in tight leather attire whistled at Jiren's sexy body, which he ignored. Dyspo, on the other hand, posed in front of them, hoping to get attention on a boring day like this. It only got the attention of one girl with curly orange hair and emerald eyes. "See that? You don't need that standard standing pose to attract girls, Jiren. You need to move that body of yours and let the girls see them abs." Cherri blushed over Dyspo's comment. Over weeks at the Pride Trooper Headquarters, Cherri slowly understood their behaviors—both in and out of missions. She looked at Jiren, who scanned passing citizens like a statue with hidden cameras in its eyes. Her "relationship" with Jiren has grown over four weeks now and Cherri doesn't like it. Because of how much she's beginning to love him. Her mind kept telling her to go for it, while her heart told her not to. Cherri and Jiren have been friends for years on Mordo. After Master Gicchin's death, Cherri felt empty. Her father died from too much smoke around the area, because of his asthma, and Jiren leaving the planet to find purpose. She never believed she would see Jiren again twenty years later, but lo-and-behold. They met on Planet Netfiss during one of Lido's reckless fire drills.
(Maybe I should confess. My head's been feeling major headaches around Jiren and I can't seem to stop it. But if I tell him how I feel, he might not view me as a friend anymore. H-He'll probably start asking for children and that sounds too early!)
"Yo, Cherri?"
"Ah!"
"Sorry, girl. Your cheeks turned red again, and I thought of something. You've been eyeing on Jiren since the mission started. Is there a thing between you and him?"
"O-Oh, uh… N-No, Dyspo. N-Nothing too serious between me and Jiren. W-We're still pals who don't love each other just yet!"
"Whatever you say. Ugh, dammit! How long do we have to stand in front of the Netfiss Mall and look out for criminals?"
"Until the mall closes for today."
"Ngh, that ends around 8 pm! Top and the others might finish their mission before we finish ours!"
"We'll complete our mission, when there's a break in. Don't act childish, Dyspo."
"Oh, I'm being childish? You 'meditated' during the lunch break."
"Like I said, I got distracted."
"Distracted as in you sleeping on the job."
"Actually, Jiren wasn't sleeping on the job. We were taking a break. That doesn't count as breaking protocol."
"Lunch break or not, he still slept on the job. Besides, what distracted you?"
"..."
"Oh, here we go! The silent treatment. I'm not surprised to hear this."
"Jiren, you can tell us. We're your friends."
(Should I? Sharing personal information to a partner is what loyal friends do. Right? Ah, since Top's not here, I might as well.) "If you must know, I was thinking about my family on Mordo."
"Oh, your family. From my knowledge, you never spoke about your family to us. Like what your father looked like? Did he look just like you?"
"Yes. Well, his muscular frame was slightly leaner, but almost the same."
"And your mother?"
"..."
"Back to the silent treatment? Only this time your cheeks are tomato red as Cherri's."
(Th-That's because Mom looked exactly like Cherri.)
Three Hours Later…
The three Pride Troopers sat on the sidewalk, boredom seeping through their skins. Sunlight covered the blacktops and buildings in pale yellow, as each citizen walked past their heroes. Cherri plopped a hand on her cheek, propping it not to droop. The tiredness really got to her. Dyspo got it worse, as he's an active guy on the force. His slim figure could make any track-n-run athlete piss themselves. As for Jiren, he doesn't mind the surrounding boredom. It's probably for the best that nothing occurred near Netfiss Mall. Everyone's shopping with glee, employees still get discounts for working full time, and no unnecessary explosions from crooks. Yep, Jiren can officially say their mission was for nothing.
BOOM!
"Dyspo? You checked the back entrance several times. Did you?" They stood up, watching a plume of black smoke fly into the clear skies. Dyspo nervously stated how he checked the back doors, but forgot to lock it. A face palm would be necessary by how oblivious Dyspo was, but Jiren instructed him and Cherri to follow the explosion. Before Cherri could explain what to do, Jiren and Dyspo blazed into the mall. "O-Okay, Cherri. Remember what Jiren said about your powers. Imagine Dyspo but don't turn into him. Concentrate…" Cherri bent her back, clenched her arms, and closed her eyes. Jiren taught her how to control her mimicry abilities, but since they're weeks in, Cherri still has trouble mastering them. She concentrated her thought method—a technique where she becomes the person from her memories—and a puff of blue clouds surrounded her body. Once the smoke cleared itself, Cherri stepped out as Dyspo. "No, I said don't turn into him! Ugh, forget it! I have to reach the others." Cherri sprinted across the central floor, up the first and second floors, and skimmed straight. She apologized for the standbys, while dashing like a speedboat. She hasn't gotten used to Dyspo's super speed, but Cherri carefully tries not to bump into things. It doesn't take Cherri long to get to the explosion's source and two robbers in dark gray carrying two piles of jewelry.
Dyspo and Jiren stood near the crashed wall where the crooks used explosives, not letting them escape. "Cherri! Notify Top about the mall incident! We'll keep them busy!" Cherri nodded, ran away from the boys in rapid speed, and stopped outside. She pulled out an oval-shaped communicator with a tinted green screen and mini antenna. She pressed certain buttons before holding it near her ear. A few seconds later and Top's thunderous voice blared through the line. "Top, sir. There's been a theft attempt at Netfiss Mall. Is your mission done yet?" Top replied by showing Cherri a hologram image of the team capturing a villainous group on Planet Cola. Apparently, they started the factory commotion and stole tons of soda behind the owner's back. "We'll be there in fifteen minutes, Dyspo. Oh, I mean… Cherri?" Cherri nodded, expressing discomfort. After hanging up, Cherri returned to the scene, only to halt over Jiren dangling the criminals by their neck collars.
"T-That was quick."
"They don't call me Jiren The Gray for show. Did you contact Top?"
"Yes. Fifteen minutes."
"Good. Dyspo's bringing back the stolen jewelry, so we'll keep watch on the crooks."
"But won't they—"
"They're unconscious. They're not going anywhere."
"Whew, good."
Fifteen Minutes Later…
{Top and Kasheral stuffed the crooks in a police car}
"So, Jiren? About your mom? What did she look like?"
"Uh… W-Well, s-she looked beautiful. J-J-Just like you."
"J-Just like me?"
"I-I didn't want to say it out loud, because Dyspo was present."
"I-I understand. Him and ladies are almost creepy as Zoiray's attempt to get a date."
"Hm, you're on the dollar."
"Again, I'm sorry for what happened to your parents. They seemed like great parents."
"No, even better. My father and Gicchin were partners before Sunni came along. Her brightening smile and polite nature pulled Father from his zone and showed him what Mordo had enstored. Then, her pregnancy came and Father became shaken. He couldn't stay calm and worked diligently to prepare himself for their first child."
"Aw, that's so sweet of your father to worry about you and your mom."
"He never stopped worrying over me, after I was born. He always told me to explore the universe, save lives if I grew strong, and gather enough allies. I… I shamed myself for abandoning his quotes, once Gicchin passed."
"And you lost your social awareness?"
"Something like that."
"Well, you don't have to lose it again. Your friends and I are here for you."
"..." (Ah, I wouldn't ask for a better team than them. Especially with Cherri by my side.)
Pride Trooper Headquarters, Top's Office (9 pm)
Top read all documents on his Maplewood desk with a lamp providing shade. By the sign of his red, itchy eyes, reading documents all day must have worn the metabolism out of Top. As leader of the Pride Troopers and upcoming candidate of Universe 11's destroyer god, Top must show hard leadership skills and responsibilities. After finishing the last document for tonight, Top left the office to his nearby bedroom. While undressing, his communicator rang on the bedside. "Hm? Who would call me at 11 pm?" Top picked up the communicator, pressed the call button, and answered. "Big brother? Is that you? It's been so long! How long has it been?" The voice alone jolted Top's nerves. Yes, it has been years since he heard that voice. That soft-spoken voice. "B-Bottoma?! W-why are you calling me this late, sister?" Bottoma, Top's sister, asked about a visit to Netfiss and him assisting her in something. Top sat on his bed, which almost bent underneath his massive stature. "I get it, Bottoma. You're still having issues with your appearance. Is that right?" Bottoma timidly announced her answer. As long as he can remember, Top and Bottoma helped each other before the big separation.
Top got a letter from Flora, the previous Pride Trooper leader, about having a spot on the team. Before leaving his home planet, Top said goodbye to his mom, Lido, and Bottoma. It felt sad of him to leave home, but with the power he carried, Top thought becoming a hero of justice will aid his family in the future. Unfortunately, after departing months later, Top's mother died of an incurable disease she holstered for years. Lido left home, too, but to promote his business. Bottoma, however, she stayed until wanting to seek independence on Netfiss, where Top's headquarters was. "I-I thought you and your Pride Troopers could help me accept my insecurities and flaws. I-I also heard of your accomplishments on news and posters across Western Netfiss. So, I'm coming over in two days. Once more, it's nice to hear your voice again, Top. Bye!" Bottoma hung up, leaving Top bewildered. The team only knew Top has a brother—a jerk who disrespected his employees and hated Top's honorable traits. If they were to see Bottoma's figure, Top wouldn't recover from it. "Let's pray nothing happens, once Bottoma arrives at headquarters."